cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis and Secondary Bacterial Peritonitis—a Comprehensive Review

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) and secondary bacterial peritonitis are life-threatening complications of cirrhosis if not recognized immediately and managed appropriately. SBP occurs in ~ 3.5 to 10% of patients with cirrhosis and ascites, whereas secondary bacterial peritonitis occurs in 5%. Prompt recognition of SBP variants is vital for tailoring therapy to decrease mortality rate from 90 to 20%. Our objective is to provide an update on the recent publications to elucidate the variants of SBP and provide a management algorithm for the potentially life-threatening complications of cirrhosis. The general guidelines for the management of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis are mostly unchanged, but there are newer data regarding trends in bacteriology and pathogens and newer prophylactic strategies. Spontaneous fungal peritonitis, spontaneous bacterial empyema, and secondary bacterial peritonitis can be clinically challenging if not diagnosed promptly. Nutrition is an under-recognized but important aspect of the management of ascites and SBP prevention. Emerging options for the management of diuretic refractory ascites and infection management are discussed in detail. Early diagnosis and treatment of SBP and secondary bacterial peritonitis are usually associated with good outcomes, but mortality remains as high as 40%. There is a higher risk of other decompensating cirrhotic events after the initial episode of SBP or secondary bacterial peritonitis that portends poor prognosis. The emphasis should be to identify the precipitating cause and focus on the modifiable risk factors to improve outcomes and survival. Newer strategies for SBP prophylaxis and ascites management appear promising until liver transplantation. Personalized approach is crucial to improve the morbidity, quality of life, and mortality in every patient with decompensated cirrhosis.
High- and low-molecular-weight chitosan act as adjuvants during single-dose influenza A virus protein vaccination through distinct mechanisms.

The investigation of new adjuvants is essential for the development of efficacious vaccines. Chitosan (CS), a derivative of chitin, has been shown to act as an adjuvant, improving vaccine-induced immune responses. However, the effect of CS molecular weight (MW) on this adjuvanticity has not been investigated, despite MW having been shown to impact CS biological properties. Here, two MW variants of CS were investigated for their ability to enhance vaccine-elicited immune responses in vitro and in vivo, using a single-dose influenza A virus (IAV) protein vaccine model. Both low-molecular-weight (LMW) and high-molecular-weight (HMW) CS-induced interferon regulatory factor pathway signaling, antigen-presenting cell activation, and cytokine messenger RNA (mRNA) production, with LMW inducing higher mRNA levels at 24 h and HMW elevating mRNA responses at 48 h. LMW and HMW CS also induced adaptive immune responses after vaccination, indicated by enhanced immunoglobulin G production in mice receiving LMW CS and increased CD4 interleukin 4 (IL-4) and IL-2 production in mice receiving HMW CS. Importantly, both LMW and HMW CS adjuvantation reduced morbidity following homologous IAV challenge. Taken together, these results support that LMW and HMW CS can act as adjuvants, although this protection may be mediated through distinct mechanisms based on CS MW.
A systematic review of noninflammatory cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers for clinical outcome in neonates with perinatal hypoxic brain injury that could be biologically significant

Neonatal encephalopathy (NE) that purportedly arises from hypoxia-ischemia is labeled hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Perinatal asphyxia is a clinical syndrome involving acidosis, a low Apgar score and the need for resuscitation in the delivery room; asphyxia alerts one to the possibility of NE. In the present systematic review, we focused on the noninflammatory biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that are involved in the development of possible brain injury in asphyxia or HIE. A literature search in PubMed and EMBASE for case-control studies was conducted and 17 studies were found suitable by a priori criteria. Statistical analysis used the Mantel-Haenszel model for dichotomous data. The pooled mean difference and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were determined. We identified the best biomarkers, based on the estimation approach in evaluating the biological significance, out of hundreds in three categories: cell adhesion and proliferation, oxidants and antioxidants, and cell damage. The following subtotal-population comparisons were made: perinatal asphyxia versus no asphyxia, asphyxia with HIE versus asphyxia without HIE, asphyxia with HIE versus no asphyxia, and term versus preterm HIE newborn with asphyxia. Biological significance of the biomarkers was determined by using a modification of the estimation approach, by ranking the biomarkers according to the difference in the bounds of the CIs. The most promising CSF biomarkers for prognostication especially for the severest HIE include creatine kinase, xanthine oxidase, vascular endothelial growth factor, neuron-specific enolase, superoxide dismutase, and malondialdehyde. Future studies are recommended using such a combined test to prognosticate the most severely affected patients.
Trans-synaptic degeneration of the optic radiation from optic nerve atrophy.

Abstract Fourty-seven-year-old woman with 5-year history of progressive decreased left eye vision. Optical coherence tomography showed optic nerve atrophy (left > right) and brain MRI revealed T2 hyperintense signal along the course of left optic radiations. We present a case of a trans-synaptic degeneration of the optic radiation in a patient with confirmed optic atrophy. Trans-synaptic degeneration of the optic radiation without associated infarct or inflammatory disease has not been reported before in patients with optic atrophy.
A-Free Measures and Applications

These notes record the lectures for the CIME Summer Course held by the author in Cetraro during the week of September 2–6, 2019. The goal is to give an overview of some recent results concerning the structure of PDE-constrained measures.
The Association Between Birth Weight and Fat, Sugar, and Vegetable Consumption in a National Sample of U.S. Preschool Age Children

Adverse prenatal development is a contributor to obesity susceptibility in children. Dietary behavior is one mechanism through which adverse prenatal development may promote obesity, but evidence for the role of prenatal overnutrition in dietary intake in young children is scant. We used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009–2014. Our study sample included 1782 U.S. children 2–5 years old with available birth weight and two 24-h dietary recalls. We used linear and Poisson regression to examine the association of birth weight (LBW 4100 g) and 2-day average intake of dietary variables. We tested interactions between birthweight and breastfeeding (breastfed > 5 months vs. not breastfed or breastfed 0–5 months), and report breastfeeding-specific results. In multivariable regression analysis, in boys, LBW was associated with 2.4 (95% CI − 4.3, − 0.5) lower percent of kcal from solid fat; lower sugar intake, marginally lower saturated and total fat intake, and 0.6 cup (95% CI 0.1, 1.0) greater vegetable consumption; HBW was marginally associated with lower fat. Birth weight was unrelated to diet in girls. Breastfeeding modified associations between birth weight and dietary intake, but the direction of modification was mixed. Our findings do not support the hypothesis that LBW or HBW are associated with adverse diet consumption in preschool age U.S. children. Improved understanding of the role of early life development of dietary behavior requires further research on the development of appetitive traits and the role of the family and preschool food environments.
Single-Molecule Manipulation of Macromolecules on GUV or SUV Membranes Using High-Resolution Optical Tweezers

Despite their wide applications into soluble macromolecules, optical tweezers have rarely been used to characterize the dynamics of membrane proteins, mainly due to the lack of model membranes compatible with optical trapping. Here, we examined optical trapping and mechanical properties of two potential model membranes, giant and small unilamellar vesicles (GUVs and SUVs, respectively), for studies of membrane protein dynamics. We found that optical tweezers can stably trap GUVs containing iodixanol with controlled membrane tension. The trapped GUVs with high membrane tension can serve as a force sensor to accurately detect reversible folding of a DNA hairpin or membrane binding of synaptotagmin-1 C2AB domain attached to the GUV. We also observed that SUVs are rigid enough to resist large pulling forces and suitable for detecting protein conformational changes induced by force. Our methodologies may facilitate single-molecule manipulation studies of membrane proteins using optical tweezers.
Enzymatic kinetic analyses that employ high-performance liquid chromatography. Competition between orotate- and hypoxanthine/guanine-phosphoribosyltransferases for a common substrate.

Abstract Enzymatic assay procedure that employ high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) have been proven to be sensitive and versatile methods for accomplishing kinetic analyses of enzyme-catalyzed reactions, with nucleotides as substrates or products. Both orotate phosphoribosyltransferase (OPRTase) and hypoxanthine/guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRTase) have been purified from Baker's yeast and analyzed kineticaly using a modification of published HPLC procedures. Because these two enzymes exist in the cytosol of yeast and might compete for the limiting ( ≈15 μ M ) concentration of phosphoribosyl α-1-pyrophosphate (PRibPP), we elected to examine both equilibrium and steady-state effects of one enzymatic reaction on the other with HPLC. First, under the condition of equivalent mass concentrations of OPRTase and HGPRTase, the initial rate of orotidine monophosphate synthesis and the equilibrium state were greatly affected by the presence of HGPRTase acitivity. In conrast, the presence of the OPRTase activity had no effect on the HGPRTase-catalyzed reaction under these conditions. Second, to examine a competition by these enzymes for PRibPP in vivo , we have established that the total activities (units/ml) of OPRTase and HGPRTase in yeast cell extracts were f740 units/ml and 450 units/ml, respectively )a 1.7:1 ratio). These relative activities were then employed in an in vitro reaction competition analysis. The results were similar to the those obtained from experiments where equivalent OPRTase and HGPRTase activities were employed and reveal profound initial velocity and equilibrium effecfs one one reaction on the other. Thus a real competition between these enzymes for PRibPP may occur in the yeast cell cytosol, as determined by this unique HPLC competition assay procedure.
Varus Posteromedial Instability

Varus posteromedial instability of the elbow is a result of traumatic injury to the medial facet of the coronoid and usually the lateral collateral ligament. Treatment of these fractures is usually surgical; poor outcomes have been described with nonoperative treatment. Surgical management consists of coronoid fracture fixation with plates, screws, or sutures and radial collateral ligament repair. Outcomes of these injuries are mixed, but most series report fair to good objective scores. The purpose of this article is to describe the pathophysiology of varus posteromedial instability, discuss the management of this injury, and report the outcomes of treatment.
The insertion and extrusion of heterosulfur bridges. XII. Selectivity and side reactions in the bridging process

1-Phenylnaphthalene undergoes sulfur bridging at 500° in the presence of hydrogen sulfide and a heterogeneous catalyst to produce benzo[b]naphtho[1,2-d]thiophene (13%). 3-Methylphenanthrene and 9-formylphenanthrene diethyl acetal (7b) give sulfur bridging to produce phenanthro[4,5-bcd]thiophene, i.e. with loss of the ring substituent. Additionally, 7b hydrogenolyzes to 9-methylphenanthrene. With decadeuteriobiphenyl as a substrate, the dibenzothiophene formed, as well as the biphenyl recovered, is largely devoid of deuterium label. Confirmation that benzene and toluene react under sulfur-bridging conditions is presented.
Concern About Gag Rules

With regard to Donald Kennedy's Editorial “The new gag rules” (17 Feb., p. [917][1]), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Science Advisory Board (SAB) is deeply concerned about reports of attempts to suppress and/or distort the reporting or representation of scientific
ON A CUBIC LIFTING

Let\(\widetilde{SL}_2 \)% MathType!End!2!1! be the three-fold cover of SL2. We prove there is a lifting of the genuine automorphic representations of\(\widetilde{SL}_2 \)% MathType!End!2!1! to the automorphic representations of SL2, using a relative trace formula.
Tillage impacts on microbial biomass and soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics of corn and cotton rotations

Abstract Long-term no tillage (NT) may enhance soil C sequestration and alter soil C and N dynamics. The objectives of this study were to investigate the impacts of tillage on soil C and N sequestration and microbial C and N dynamics of corn (Zea mays L.) and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cropping sequences after 20 years of management. Tillage regimes included conventional tillage (CT), moldboard plow (MP), minimum tillage (MT), and NT. No tillage increased soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (SON) concentrations in surface soil (0–2.5 cm) for cotton but not for corn. Few tillage effects on SOC and SON were observed in subsurface soils. For corn, SOC and SON were 11 and 21% higher under NT than other tillage regimes at 0–2.5 cm, but were 22 and 12% lower under NT from 2.5 to 20 cm. Averaged between depths, SOC and SON for cotton were 8 and 7% greater under NT than CT, while NT and MT had 24 and 43% greater SOC and SON than MP. Soil organic C and SON were significantly greater for corn than cotton, but this did not result in greater microbial biomass and mineralizable C and N than for cotton. Microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) were often highest under NT and MT in surface soils, but few tillage impacts were observed at 2.5–20 cm. Mineralizable C and N were highest under NT and MT in surface soils for corn and cotton, and in subsurface soils for cotton. Even though SOC and SON were greater for corn than cotton, cotton exhibited greater soil mineralizable C and N under NT and MT than corn, especially in subsurface soils. These results indicate a greater potential supply of N for the cotton than corn crop during the growing season. Increased SOM content in surface soils under reduced tillage may increase N mineralization and the nutrient supply to crops, but the potential of these soils for C and N sequestration appeared limited.
Statistical correlation of inline defect to sort test in semiconductor manufacturing

A yield analysis method using basic yield and inline defect information to statistically determine significant root-causes of yield loss in semiconductor manufacturing is presented. Using simple statistics on pass/fail die and defect maps, the goal of this method is to provide the fab process line with feedback on the yield loss impact for defect inspected process layers. Quantifying these losses, in terms of yield loss percent and statistical confidence allows the fab to set priorities for defect reduction work and achieve maximum yield enhancement. Using statistics, valid yield loss sources can be separated from nonkiller or nuisance defects. This tool can also be used to select the most effective inspection tool or recipe for a given inspection layer. Results are readily integrated with additional yield analysis results for a comprehensive yield loss accounting system.
Supraglottic airway devices in the ambulatory setting.

Modern anesthesia practice was made possible by the invention of the endotracheal tube (ET), which made lengthy and complex surgical procedures feasible without the disastrous complications of airway obstruction, aspiration of gastric contents, or asphyxia. For decades, endotracheal intubation or bag-and-mask ventilation were the mainstays of airway management. In 1983 this changed with the invention of the laryngeal mask airway (LMA), the first supraglottic airway device (SGA) that blended features of the facemask with those of the ET, 1 providing ease of placement and hands-free maintenance, along with a relatively secure airway. In the United States, more than 75% of all surgical procedures are performed on an outpatient basis. 2 This situation has created an ever-increasing demand for anesthetic agents and techniques that improve the efficiency and safety of anesthesia, aiming for faster induction, emergence and recovery, fewer and milder side effects, and earlier discharge of the patient. SGAs lend themselves particularly well to outpatient anesthesia, offering several advantages over the ET. Insertion of an SGA may be less stimulating to the sympathetic nervous system than direct laryngoscopy and placement of a semirigid ET into the trachea, thereby decreasing the risk of adverse cardiovascular events in patients with coronary artery disease. The laryngeal mask airway (LMA) is also tolerated at lighter levels of anesthesia than an ET, 3 potentially decreasing side effects and length of stay. While one study showed no differences between an LMA and an ET in average time to placement of the two airway devices or time from end of surgery to removal of the airway device, length of stay in the postanesthesia care unit and time to ambulation were significantly shorter in the LMA group, although there were no differences in the times to ‘‘home readiness.’’ 4 Another study did demonstrate that LMAs reduce induction time when
Effect of the new pyrazole carboxamide fungicide penthiopyrad on late leaf spot and stem rot of peanut.

BACKGROUND: Management of early leaf spot (Cercospora arachidicola Hori.), late leaf spot [Cercosporidium personatum (Berk. & MA Curtis) Deighton] and stem rot (Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc.) of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in the southeastern USA is heavily dependent upon sterol biosynthesis inhibitor (SBI) and quinone outside inhibitor (QoI) fungicides. Effective new fungicides with different modes of action could improve overall disease control and extend the utility of the current fungicides. Penthiopryad is a pyrazole carboxamide fungicide being evaluated for use on peanut. Field experiments were conducted from 2004 to 2007 to determine the effect of a range of rates (0–0.36 kg AI ha−1) of penthiopyrad on leaf spot and stem rot and the relative efficacy of penthiopyrad and current fungicide standards chlorothalonil, tebuconazole and azoxystrobin. RESULTS: Leaf spot control in plots treated with penthiopyrad at 0.20 kg AI ha−1 or higher was similar to or better than that for the chlorothalonil standard. The incidence of stem rot for all penthiopyrad treatments was usually less than that for the tebuconazole or azoxystrobin standard treatments. Pod yields for all penthiopyrad treatments were similar to or higher than those for the respective standards. CONCLUSION: Penthiopyrad has excellent potential for management of late leaf spot and stem rot of peanut, and may complement current SBI and QoI fungicides. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry
The Changing Role of the Personnel Manager

The new challenges facing the personnel manager were the theme of a paper I presented over seven years ago to the Midwinter Personnel Conference of the American Management Association. I began with these observations:
Interactions between prim done, carbamazepine, and nicotinamide

The effect of nicotinamide on the conversion of primidone to phenobarbital was studied in mice and in three epileptic patients. In mice, 200 mg per kilogram of nicotinamide increased the half-life of primidone by 47.6%, and the conversion to phenobarbital and phenylethylmalonamide was decreased by 32.4% and 14.5%, respectively. Nicotinamide also decreased the conversion of primidone to phenobarbital in patients. The dose of nicotinamide correlated directly with the primidone-phenobarbital ratio (r = 0.861, p less than 0.01). Nicotinamide also increased carbamazepine levels in two patients treated with this drug. The data demonstrate that nicotinamide inhibits metabolism of primidone in mice and metabolism of primidone and carbamazepine in humans. This probably occurs by inhibition of cytochrome P-450 by nicotinamide.
Clinical update on peanut allergy.

Background Peanut allergy is common, potentially severe, and there has been a recent surge in clinical investigation of this important food allergen. Objective To provide the reader with a clinically oriented update on peanut allergy. Data Sources English language articles were selected from PubMed searches (search terms: peanut allergy, food allergy, anaphylaxis) and selected abstracts with a bias toward recent (3 years) studies judged to have immediate, practical clinical implications. Results Peanut allergy is an increasing problem in western diets that include this food. Both genetic and environmental factors influences the expression of this allergy. The at-risk subject is an atopic individual, with heightened risk for those with atopic dermatitis and/or other food allergies. The allergy is long-lived for most, may increase slightly in severity over time, but approximately 20% of young children will develop tolerance. Parameters that may identify the subset likely to achieve tolerance have been identified. Several large studies have determined laboratory parameters (skin tests, peanut-specific serum immunoglobulin E concentrations) with excellent predictive value (>95%) to diagnose current clinical reactivity or tolerance, although oral food challenges are necessary for a definitive diagnosis. Numerous practical lessons concerning management (avoidance, treatment, and prevention) have been identified. Conclusions Recent studies provide the clinician with an armament of improved diagnostic and treatment modalities for peanut allergy. Studies are underway that are likely to provide more definitive therapies in the near future.
Quadratic programming for inverse dynamics with optimal distribution of contact forces

In this contribution we propose an inverse dynamics controller for a humanoid robot that exploits torque redundancy to minimize any combination of linear and quadratic costs in the contact forces and the commands. In addition the controller satisfies linear equality and inequality constraints in the contact forces and the commands such as torque limits, unilateral contacts or friction cones limits. The originality of our approach resides in the formulation of the problem as a quadratic program where we only need to solve for the control commands and where the contact forces are optimized implicitly. Furthermore, we do not need a structured representation of the dynamics of the robot (i.e. an explicit computation of the inertia matrix). It is in contrast with existing methods based on quadratic programs. The controller is then robust to uncertainty in the estimation of the dynamics model and the optimization is fast enough to be implemented in high bandwidth torque control loops that are increasingly available on humanoid platforms. We demonstrate properties of our controller with simulations of a human size humanoid robot.
Resource Utilization by the ATLAS High Level Trigger during 2010 and 2011 LHC Running

Abstract In 2010 and 2011, the ATLAS experiment successfully recorded data from LHC collisions with high efficiency and excellent data quality. ATLAS employs a three-level trigger system to select events of interest for physics analyzes and detector commissioning. The trigger system consists of a custom-designed hardware trigger at level-1 and software algorithms at the two higher levels. The trigger selection is deﬁned by a trigger menu which consists of more than 300 individual trigger signatures, such as electrons, muons, particle jets, etc. An execution of a trigger signature incurs computing and data storage costs. The composition of the deployed trigger menu depends on the instantaneous LHC luminosity, the experiment's goals for the recorded data, and the limits imposed by the available computing power, network bandwidth and storage space. This paper describes a trigger monitoring framework for assigning computing costs for individual trigger signatures and trigger menus as a whole. These costs can be extrapolated to higher luminosity allowing development of trigger menus for a higher LHC collision rate than currently achievable.
Localized coverage boundary detection for wireless sensor networks

Connected coverage, which reflects how well a target field is monitored under the base station, is the most important performance metrics used to measure the quality of surveillance that wireless sensor networks (WSNs) can provide. To facilitate the measurement of this metrics, we propose two novel algorithms for individual sensor nodes to identify whether they are on the coverage boundary, i.e., the boundary of a coverage hole or network partition. Our algorithms are based on two novel computational geometric techniques called localized Voronoi and neighbor embracing polygons. As compared to previous work, our algorithms can be applied to WSNs of arbitrary topologies. They are also truly distributed and localized by merely needing the minimal position information of one-hop neighbors and a limited number of simple local computations, and thus are of high scalability and energy efficiency. We show the correctness and efficiency of our algorithms by theoretical proofs and extensive simulations.
An acidocalcisomal exopolyphosphatase from Leishmania major with high affinity for short chain polyphosphate.

Abstract We report the cloning, overexpression, purification, and characterization of the Leishmania majorexopolyphosphatase (LmPPX). The product of this gene (LmPPX), the first related to polyphosphate (polyP) metabolism isolated from an eukaryotic organism different from yeast, has 388 amino acids and a molecular mass of 48 kDa. LmPPX differs from other exopolyphosphatases previously investigated. Heterologous expression ofLmPPX in Escherichia coli produced a functional enzyme that was similar to the yeast exopolyphosphatase with respect to its Mg2+ requirement, optimum pH, and sensitivity to cations, amino acids, and heparin but that, in contrast to the yeast enzyme and other exopolyphosphatases investigated before, acts on polyP of short chain lengths with higher rates and affinity. LmPPX is a processive enzyme, and it does not hydrolyze pyrophosphate, ATP, orp-nitrophenylphosphate. Confocal immunofluorescence microscopy using affinity-purified antibodies against the recombinant enzyme indicated an acidocalcisomal and cytosolic localization. High levels of short chain (21.4 ± 3.0 mm) and long chain polyP (55.9 ± 5.6 mm) were detected in L. major promastigotes. The unique characteristics of LmPPX andL. major polyP metabolism may facilitate the development of novel antileishmanial agents.
Olefin Chemistry in a Premixed n-Heptane Flame

Three different n-heptane mechanisms were used to simulate a fuel-rich normal heptane premixed flame in order to identify major reaction pathways for olefin formation and consumption and areas of u...
Proline transport in Leishmania donovani amastigotes: dependence on pH gradients and membrane potential

Amastigotes of Leishmania donovani develop and multiply within the acidic phagolysosomes of mammalian macrophages. Isolated amastigotes are acidophilic; they catabolize substrates and synthesize macromolecules optimally at pH 5.5. Substrate transport in amastigotes has not been characterized. Here we show that amastigotes exhibit an uphill transport of proline (active transport) with an acid pH optimum (pH 5.5). It is dependent upon metabolic energy and is driven by proton motive force. Agents which selectively disturb the component forces of proton motive force, such as carbonyl cyanide chlorophenylhydrazone, nigericin and valinomycin, inhibit proline transport. Transport is sensitive to dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and insensitive to ouabain, demonstrating the involvement of a proton ATPase in the maintenance of proton motive force. It is suggested that the plasma membrane pH gradient probably makes the greatest contribution to proton motive force that drives substrate transport in the amastigote stage.
Nanoscale dendritic organoplatinum antitumor drugs

Organoplatinum compounds exhibit broad antitumor activity. Cisplatin [cis- dichlorodiammine platinum (II)] is the most prominent of this family and is currently the most prescribed cancer drug. It is widely used for the treatment of human testicular, ovarian, bladder, head and neck carcinomas. However, it is an extremely toxic compound and side effects such as nephrotoxicity and myelotoxicity are major drawbacks for its use in clinical applications. A way to combat the side effects associated with the administration of platinum drugs would be to generate a prodrug conjugate that, when present in the extracellular fluid, would slowly release active platinum species at a level below the threshold for side effects. Traditionally, linear hydrophilic polymers have been examined for potential application as carrier platforms for these drugs. The advent of dendrimers, which are highly branched macromolecules with precisely controlled nanoscale size, shape and end-group functionality, has provided an excellent opportunity to design and formulate novel multivalent time-release drug systems. For example, treatment of a generation 4.5 (carboxylate surface) poly(amidoamine) [PAMAM] dendrimer with diaquo(1,2-diaminocyclohexane) platinum(II) generates a nanoparticle with forty platinum moieties attached at the surface. This polymer-drug conjugate displays a very good release profile for the platinum species. Under physiological conditions about 80% of the platinum units are released over the first 24 hours. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Information complexity: a tutorial

The recent years have witnessed the overwhelming success of algorithms that operate on massive data. Several computing paradigms have been proposed for massive data set algorithms such as data streams, sketching, sampling etc. and understanding their limitations is a fundamental theoretical challenge. In this survey, we describe the information complexity paradigm that has proved successful in obtaining tight lower bounds for several well-known problems. Information complexity quantifies the amount of information about the inputs that must be necessarily propagated by any algorithm in solving a problem. We describe the key ideas of this paradigm, and highlight the beautiful interplay of techniques arising from diverse areas such as information theory, statistics and geometry.
Measurement of Enzyme Kinetics Using a Continuous-Flow Microfluidic System

This paper describes a microanalytical method for determining enzyme kinetics using a continuous-flow microfluidic system. The analysis is carried out by immobilizing the enzyme on microbeads, packing the microbeads into a chip-based microreactor (volume ∼1.0 nL), and flowing the substrate over the packed bed. Data were analyzed using the Lilly−Hornby equation and compared to values obtained from conventional measurements based on the Michaelis−Menten equation. The two different enzyme-catalyzed reactions studied were chosen so that the substrate would be nonfluorescent and the product fluorescent. The first reaction involved the horseradish peroxidase-catalyzed reaction between hydrogen peroxide and N-acetyl-3,7-dihydroxyphenoxazine (amplex red) to yield fluorescent resorufin, and the second the β-galactosidase-catalyzed reaction of nonfluorescent resorufin-β-d-galactopyranoside to yield d-galactose and fluorescent resorufin. In both cases. the microfluidics-based method yielded the same result obtained ...
Responses to a saline load in gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist-pretreated premenopausal women receiving progesterone or estradiol-progesterone therapy.

The effects of estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) on fluid and sodium regulation may have important clinical implications with respect to cardiovascular and renal disease as well as reproductive syndromes such as preeclampsia and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. We tested the hypothesis that sodium excretion is reduced in response to a sodium load during combined P4-E2 treatment, but P4 administration alone has little effect on sodium regulation. Fifteen women (22 ± 2 yr) used a GnRH antagonist to suppress endogenous E2 and P4 for 9 d; for d 4–9, eight subjects used P4 (200 mg/d), and seven subjects used P4 with E2 (two E2 patches, 0.1 mg/d each). On d 3 and 9, isotonic saline (0.9% NaCl) was infused [120 min at 0.1 ml/kg body weight (BW)·min], followed by 120 min of rest. Compared with GnRH antagonist alone, P[P4] increased from 1.6 ± 0.8 to 9.4 ± 2.3 ng/ml (5.1 ± 2.5 to 29.9 ± 7.3 nmol/liter, P < 0.05) in the P4 treated group, with no change in P[E2]. In the P4-E2 treated group P[P4] increased from ...
Electrocardiographic QT interval and mortality: a meta-analysis.

Abnormal prolongation of the electrocardiographic QT interval (whether genetically determined or acquired) predisposes to malignant ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death.1–2 While the association of extremely abnormal QT intervals with sudden cardiac death is well established, the mortality implications of variations in QT interval length in the general population are unclear. Indeed, a qualitative review of 7 major prospective cohort studies (total n = 36,031) published in 2004 concluded that there was no consistent evidence of an association between QT-interval prolongation and risk of total mortality, cardiovascular mortality, or sudden cardiac death in the general population.2 However, that review did not quantitatively synthesize results from the various studies. Several additional population-based studies investigating the association between prolonged QT interval and mortality endpoints have been published since then,3–25 and this evidence has not been summarized systematically. The objective of this meta-analysis was to quantitatively synthesize the available literature on the association of QT-interval length with the risk of total, cardiovascular, and coronary heart disease mortality, and with sudden cardiac death in the general population.
Diels-Alder reactivity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon bay regions: implications for metal-free growth of single-chirality carbon nanotubes.

A soluble bisanthene derivative, 4,11-dimesitylbisanthene, has been synthesized in three steps from bianthrone. In hot toluene, this bisanthene undergoes a clean Diels−Alder reaction with diethyl acetylenedicarboxylate to give a rearomatized 1:1 cycloadduct and, more slowly, a rearomatized 2:1 cycloadduct. In a competition experiment with the shorter “periacene” perylene, only the bisanthene reacts, and the perylene remains unchanged. The experimental results stand in complete accord with density functional calculations (B3LYP/6-31G*), which predict that the activation energies for Diels−Alder cycloadditions in the bay regions of periacenes should diminish monotonically as the length of the molecule increases. This structure−activity relationship offers hope that single-chirality carbon nanotubes can be grown from suitable hydrocarbon templates, without metal catalysis, by a Diels−Alder cycloaddition/rearomatization strategy, using acetylene or a “masked acetylene” as the dienophile.
Evidence for a minimal competence core of consonant sounds in the speech of African American children: A preliminary study

Most studies have stressed those aspects of African American English (AAE) that differ from Standard English (SE) varieties. Therefore word‐ final consonant performance has been investigated most often. In contrast, this intensive study aimed to reveal whether a common core of initial consonants is used by typically developing AAE children at or close to the 3rd birthday. More than 2000 phonetically transcribed utterances were extracted from the audiovisual archives of natural samples of speech for seven children. All seven children met the productivity criterion for a shared core of 15 sounds in their repertoire of correctly produced word‐initial consonants. The children also met the criterion for using word‐initial consonant clusters or blends that commonly included the stop+sonorant type. The results provided preliminary evidence for a minimal competence core of word‐initial consonants that is consistent with developmental data on typically developing speakers of SE and other languages besides English....
Crowdsourcing and Gamification of Enterprise Meeting Software Quality

Microsoft has a 10+ year history with the application of gamification techniques to help crowd source quality related efforts. While this paper includes a brief review of previously published material about past success stories and lessons learned, the focus is on an autumn 2014 project designed to encourage employees to respond to enterprise online meeting software quality survey requests. The product team and IT department have come together to help improve meetings and improve the lives of people around the world. "Meeting Needs" is a proposed experiment that allows you to help us improve your Lync online meeting. At the same time, "Meeting Needs" builds in a charitable feature where participants are able to raise funds on behalf of a set of humanitarian agencies. Enterprise meeting quality is difficult to measure and there are many factors that make up a good meeting. Since the number of employees who typically reply to survey requests is generally low (often < 30%) there is a unique opportunity to create a feedback loop that will ensure that high quality and a higher rate of survey completion through the use of game mechanics and charitable giving elements.
A 23–35 GHz MEMS tunable all-silicon cavity filter with stability characterization up to 140 million cycles

A connectorized RF MEMS tunable two-pole band-pass filter is demonstrated as the first all-silicon evanescent mode cavity filter operating in the K-Ka band. All filter components are fabricated with cost-effective silicon micromachining techniques. The filter's poles are controlled by two micro-corrugated MEMS diaphragms that are engineered to be independently controlled with voltages below 140 V. Advanced fabrication techniques are applied for the first time to ensure independent pole-frequency control with no additional filter loss and improved fabrication accuracy and stability. The filter's measured tuning range is from 23 GHz to 35 GHz (0-140 V) with fractional bandwidth ranging from 0.8% to 4%. The filter's measured loss varies from 4.2 to 1.5 dB including its connectors. The extracted filter quality factor varies from 530 to 750. The maximum actuation voltage of 140 V is 2× lower than previous demonstrations for similar tuning ranges. The filter's stability has been tested up to 140 million cycles (0-70 V cycling) with no failures observed. The filter exhibits a burn-in period of about 40 million cycles. The filter provides a stable behavior after the initial burn-in period.
Denitrification in constructed free-water surface wetlands: II. Effects of vegetation and temperature

Abstract Constructed wetlands are increasingly being used for treating nitrogen-rich wastewaters. Of the 115 treatment wetlands listed in the North American Treatment Wetland Database which record nitrogen data, a large portion are used for treating secondary treated or lower quality (e.g. primary, agricultural runoff, stormwater) wastewater. Twenty-five percent treat agricultural and stormwater runoff, and only seven are used for either advanced secondary or tertiary treatment. Yet constructed wetlands may provide an attractive and economical alternative to conventional treatment plants for denitrifying high quality, nitrified wastewater. In populated areas where this is most needed, high land costs will increase the capital costs of this technology. Moreover, in semi-arid regions like the western and southwestern USA, high evaporation and evapotranspiration rates may hinder this technology by concentrating total dissolved solids (TDS) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations. Implementation of management and design practices for denitrification may be one method to increase efficiencies, reduce costs and increase reliability. One relatively unknown variable in denitrification is the role of different plant species. If one plant provides substantially better conditions for denitrification, wetlands designed for denitrification could be smaller and less expensive. Three commonly used free-surface marsh vegetation treatments (bulrush Scirpus spp., cattail Typha spp., and a mixed stand of macrophytes and grasses) were used in replicated macrocosms to determine nitrate removal rates. Nitrate removal rates between vegetation types were large and differed significantly ( P −2 day −1 , bulrush=261 mg N m −2 day −1 , and mixed=835 mg N m −2 day −1 ). Mass balance calculations demonstrated that bacterial denitrification rather than plant uptake was the main mechanism for nitrate removal. Both water temperature (temperature–activity coefficient θ =1.15–1.22) and organic carbon availability affected denitrification rates whereas surface water dissolved oxygen (DO) and nitrogen concentrations did not. This experiment could not distinguish why the different vegetation types resulted in different denitrification rates. Plant productivity differed between treatments. Plant physical structure, waterfowl grazing pressures and wind disturbance affected the rate litter entered the water column. The literature reports that plant decomposition rates depend upon the plants C:N litter ratio and the plant fiber content. All these factors likely affected the rate bioavailable organic carbon was made available to microbial denitrifiers. Based on our study and a literature review, in organic carbon–limited free-surface wetlands, a mixture of labile (submergent, floating) and more recalcitrant (emergent, grasses) are recommended for improving denitrification rates.
Stress Analysis of Adhesively-bonded Joints Under In-plane Shear Loading

Abstract A closed-form stress analysis of an adhesively-bonded lap joint subjected to spatially-varying in-plane shear loading is presented. The solution, while similar to Volkersen's treatment of tension loaded lap joints, is inherently two-dimensional and, in general, predicts a multi-component adhesive shear stress state. A finite difference numerical solution of the derived governing differential equation is used to verify the accuracy of the closed-form solution for a joint of semi-infinite geometry. The stress analysis of a finite-sized doubler is also presented. This analysis predicts the adhesive stresses at the doubler boundaries, and can be performed independently from the complex stress state that would exist due to a patched crack or hole located within the interior of the doubler. The analytical treatment of lap joints under combined tension and shear loading is now simplified since superposition principles allow the stress states predicted by separate shear and tension cases to be added toge...
Operational characteristics of a harware-based pattern matcher

The design and operation of a new class of hardware-based pattern matchers, such as would be used in a backended database processor in a full-text or other retrieval system, is presented. This recognizer is based on a unique implementation technique for finite state automata consisting of partitioning the state table among a number of simple digital machines. It avoids the problems generally associated with implementing finite state machines, such as large state table memories, complex control mechanisms, and state encodings. Because it consists primarily of memory, with its high regularity and density, needs only limited static interconnections, and operates at a relatively low speed, it can be easily constructed using integrated circuit techniques.After a brief discussion of other pattern-matching hardware, the structure and operation of the partitioned finite state automaton is given, along with a simplified discussion of how the state tables are partitioned. The expected performance of the resulting system and the state table partitioning programs is then discussed.
Cyclic AMP and adrenergic receptors in melanophore responses to methylxanthines.

Abstract Skins of the lizard Anolis carolinensis darken in response to melanophore stimulating hormone (MSH), methylxanthines (e.g., theophylline), and catecholamines, the latter through β-adrenergic receptor stimulation. α-Adrenergic blocking agents inhibit MSH, β-adrenergic blocking agents inhibit catecholamines, but neither inhibit methylxanthines. Catecholamines lighten MSH-darkened skins through α-receptor stimulation but, in contrast, increase the darkening of methylxanthine-darkened skins through β-receptor stimulation. Apparently, α-stimulation dominates in the presence of MSH whereas, in the presence of methylxanthines, β-receptor stimulation dominates. α-Adrenergic stimulation apparently decreases cyclic AMP levels within melanophores, possibly by stimulation of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity which would lead to cyclic AMP degradation. In the presence of methylxanthines which inhibit phosphodiesterase, α-stimulation would then have less effect and, therefore, β-stimulation would dominate.
The Tandem of Full Spin Analysis and qHNMR for the Quality Control of Botanicals Exemplified with Ginkgo biloba

Botanical dietary supplements and herbal remedies are widely used for health promotion and disease prevention. Due to the high chemical complexity of these natural products, it is essential to develop new analytical strategies to guarantee their quality and consistency. In particular, the precise characterization of multiple botanical markers remains a challenge. This study demonstrates how a combination of computer-aided spectral analysis and 1D quantitative ¹H NMR spectroscopy (qHNMR) generates the analytical foundation for innovative means of simultaneously identifying and quantifying botanical markers in complex mixtures. First, comprehensive ¹H NMR profiles (fingerprints) of selected botanical markers were generated via ¹H iterative full spin analysis (HiFSA) with PERCH. Next, the ¹H fingerprints were used to assign specific ¹H resonances in the NMR spectra of reference materials, enriched fractions, and crude extracts of Ginkgo biloba leaves. These ¹H fingerprints were then used to verify the assignments by 2D NMR. Subsequently, a complete purity and composition assessment by means of 1D qHNMR was conducted. As its major strengths, this tandem approach enables the simultaneous quantification of multiple constituents without the need for identical reference materials, the semiquantitative determination of particular subclasses of components, and the detection of impurities and adulterants.