cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dose uniformity of loteprednol etabonate ophthalmic gel (0.5%) compared with branded and generic prednisolone acetate ophthalmic suspension (1%).

Introduction Loteprednol etabonate (LE) ophthalmic gel 0.5% (Lotemax®) is a new polycarbophil-based, nonsettling topical ophthalmic formulation. The formulation is a semisolid gel at rest and a shear thinning fluid when expressed through a dropper tip. The present study was undertaken to determine how the nonsettling character of LE ophthalmic gel affects dose uniformity. Prednisolone acetate ophthalmic suspension 1% (Pred Forte®) and a generic prednisolone acetate suspension 1% were used as comparators. Methods Drug concentrations of LE ophthalmic gel, Pred Forte, and a generic prednisolone acetate suspension were determined following simulated dosing - consisting of 2 drops, expressed four times daily for 2 weeks, with bottles that were shaken or not shaken immediately prior to expressing the drops. Drug concentrations were determined using a reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method and reported as a percentage of the declared (labeled) concentration. Comparative kinetics of drug particle sedimentation were also determined for each formulation, using dispersion analysis under gravity. Results Mean drug concentrations in drops of all three formulations were within a few percentage points of the declared concentration when the bottles were shaken for 5 seconds prior to dispensing. Only LE ophthalmic gel showed consistent and on-target concentrations when the bottles were unshaken prior to dispensing, with a mean (standard deviation [SD]) percent declared concentration of 102% (1.92%) over the 2-week dosing regimen. Drug concentrations for the branded and generic prednisolone acetate suspensions following expression from unshaken bottles were highly variable (overall relative SDs of 16.8% and 20.3%, respectively), with mean concentrations for both falling significantly below the declared concentration for drops expressed at the beginning of the 2-week dosing regimen and significantly above the declared concentration for drops expressed near the end of the dosing regimen. Dispersion analysis at 120× g showed no drug particle sedimentation for LE ophthalmic gel over the 24-hour testing period, whereas the prednisolone acetate suspensions settled in less than 6 hours. Conclusion LE ophthalmic gel 0.5% provided consistent dose uniformity at the declared concentration whether or not the bottle was shaken prior to dispensing, whereas Pred Forte® and the generic prednisolone acetate required shaking to provide consistent drug concentrations. LE ophthalmic gel may be beneficial to patients because it eliminates the potential impact on the clinical response of both under- and overdosing.
‘Was nemlich mehr sei, das Ganze oder das Einzelne’: Hölderlin’s Hyperion as an Unresolved Crisis

Hyperion enacts Holderlin’s philosophical crisis of the late 1790s over how to constitute a differentiated unity, a totality which simultaneously allows for particularity. The final version of the novel manifests Holderlin’s struggle to discover whether the particular or the whole is more significant in this endeavour; it does not represent the completed development and accompanying attainment of wholeness by the narrator-poet intimated in earlier versions, but instead demonstrates the pursuit of this philosophical question to its painfully negative conclusion. In the course of the novel the narrator tests several resolutions to this problem but rejects each in turn. He leaves the reader in a crisis similar to Holderlin’s, facing only negative options — neither particular, nor whole — without a positive alternative. Hyperion ultimately represents a failed effort to establish the primacy of the particular in relation to the whole, a failure that forces Holderlin to choose between the whole and the particular. Holderlin neither makes this choice nor resolves this crisis in the novel. He fails to provide the reader with a sense of closure to this crisis, and in so doing he anticipates the similarly unsettling philosophical and poetic ventures into particularity that characterise his later career.
An approximate expression for the minimum plate height produced by Knox's equation

The van Deemter (h=A+B/v+Cv) and the Knox equations (h=av1/3+b/v+cv) are the most widely accepted equations for describing the dependence of the plate height on mobile phase linear velocity. The simple form of the analytical solution for the minimum plate height obtained from van Deemter's equation allows one to locate the optimum velocity and minimum plate height and to obtain insight into the contribution of A, B, and C terms to the minimum plate height. Although Knox's equation provides better fit s to liquid chromatography data than van Deemter's equation, the exact solution of the minimum plate height based on Knox equation is too complicated to be informative. In this work, we describe a simple approach to estimating the minimum plate height based on Knox's equation. For typical HPLC conditions, the relative error of the estimates is generally less than 3%. The approximate analytical solution for the minimum plate height based on Knox's equation indicates the important contribution of the column packing term to the minimum plate height. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Micro Sep10: 149–152, 1998
Retinoids: a review.

The retinoids are synthetic derivatives of vitamin A. Isotretinoin (13-cis-retinoic acid) is now being widely used in the United States for severe acne and etretinate is available in Europe and other countries for psoriasis. These drugs are also effective for a number of other skin diseases. This is an attempt to review basic knowledge of retinoids with which the practicing dermatologist should be familiar, to review the current status of studies, and to speculate on the present and future roles of these drugs in dermatology.
Desensitization of Muscarinic Receptor‐Coupled Phosphoinositide Hydrolysis in Rat Hippocampus: Comparisons with the α1‐Adrenergic Response

In the presence of lithium, carbamylcholine chloride (carbachol) and epinephrine increase the accumulation of inositol monophosphate severalfold in hippocampal slices from the rat. The stimulation by carbachol (EC50, 31 microM) is mediated by muscarinic receptors, whereas the effects of epinephrine (EC50, 2 microM) are due to activation of alpha 1-adrenergic receptors. The responses of epinephrine and carbachol are additive, even under conditions that significantly reduce the levels of phosphoinositides and free inositol, suggesting that the muscarinic and adrenergic receptors may be located on separate cells. At concentrations that saturate their respective receptors, epinephrine induces an increase in inositol monophosphate that is linear with time to at least 60 min, whereas the response to carbachol begins to reach a plateau by 20-40 min. When hippocampal slices are preincubated with saturating concentrations of carbachol, the subsequent response to carbachol is reduced by 42%. However, preincubation with carbachol or epinephrine has no effect on the subsequent response to epinephrine. Despite the lack of adrenergic desensitization by this paradigm, preexposure of hippocampal slices to the tumor-promoting phorbol ester, phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate, reduces the response to epinephrine to a significantly greater degree (57%) than it reduces the muscarinic response (25%). These studies indicate that, although they utilize the same second messenger, the muscarinic and alpha 1-adrenergic receptors of hippocampal slices have different characteristics and regulatory mechanisms.
Seleniivibrio woodruffii gen. nov., sp. nov., a selenate- and arsenate-respiring bacterium in the Deferribacteraceae.

A Gram-type-negative, obligately anaerobic, selenate-respiring bacterium, strain S4(T), was isolated from activated sludge of a wastewater treatment plant in New Jersey after enrichment with 10 mM selenate as the sole electron acceptor. In addition to its selenate-respiring capability, strain S4(T) also respired arsenate with acetate as carbon source and electron donor. Fermentative growth was not observed. The optimum growth temperature was 37 °C and optimum pH was pH 7. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that strain S4(T) is a novel member of the family Deferribacteraceae, with the type strain of Denitrovibrio acetiphilus as its closest cultivated relative, with 91.5 % sequence similarity. The cellular fatty acid profile was composed predominantly of straight-chain fatty acids C14 : 0, C15 : 0, C16 : 0, C17 : 0 and C18 : 0, which distinguishes this organism from its closest relatives. The DNA G+C content was 47.7 mol%. Together, these findings support the conclusion that strain S4(T) represents a novel genus and species, for which the name Seleniivibrio woodruffii gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Seleniivibrio woodruffii is S4(T) ( = DSM 24984(T) = ATCC BAA-2290(T)).
Influence of Rice Seeding Rate on Efficacies of Neonicotinoid and Anthranilic Diamide Seed Treatments against Rice Water Weevil

Rice in the U.S. is frequently seeded at low rates and treated before sowing with neonicotinoid or anthranilic diamide insecticides to target the rice water weevil. A previous study of the influence of seeding rate on rice water weevil densities showed an inverse relationship between seeding rates and immature weevil densities. This study investigated interactive effects of seeding rate and seed treatment on weevil densities and rice yields; in particular, experiments were designed to determine whether seed treatments were less effective at low seeding rates. Four experiments were conducted over three years by varying seeding rates of rice treated at constant per seed rates of insecticide. Larval suppression by chlorantraniliprole was superior to thiamethoxam or clothianidin, and infestations at low seeding rates were up to 47% higher than at high seeding rates. Little evidence was found for the hypothesis that seed treatments are less effective at low seeding rates; in only one of four experiments was the reduction in weevil densities by thiamethoxam greater at high than at low seeding rates. However, suppression of larvae by neonicotinoid seed treatments in plots seeded at low rates was generally poor, and caution must be exercised when using the neonicotioids at low seeding rates.
Metallic Mercury Embolism

Venous embolization of metallic mercury is rare. It results from the accidental or deliberate injection of mercury into a peripheral vein. In most cases, the clinical manifestations, if any, are mild and of short duration; supportive care suffices; and prognosis is good. Findings on chest radiograph are striking and should immediately suggest the diagnosis. One or both …
INTERMITTENT PRECOCIOUS BREAST DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATED WITH MILD BRONCHITIS

The case is presented of a 4-year-old girl who experienced periodic episodes of mammary enlargement and slight genital precocity with hypersecretion of gonadotropin and estrogen, during attacks of mild respiratory infection. When in good health the patient did not present any evidence of unusual elaboration of estrogen, and the earlier manifestations of precocious sexual development subsided. A review of the association of pulmonary diseases with gynecomastia is presented. The possible causes of such mammary development are discussed, based upon the premise that the stimulus for the development originates in the lungs. The hormonal changes following this stimulus and the sentivity of the breasts to these factors are also considered.
Progress in targeting HIV-1 entry

Current HIV entry inhibitors target the binding of the viral envelope glycoprotein gp120 to cellular CD4 and co-receptors, or block a late stage of the fusogenic activation of adjacent gp41. New targets are suggested by the role of cell surface protein disulfide isomerase (PDI), which attaches to the primary receptor CD4 close to the gp120-binding site. This could enable PDI to reduce gp120 disulfide bonds, which triggers the major conformational changes in gp120 and gp41 required for virus entry. Inhibiting cell surface PDI prevents HIV-1 entry. The new potential targets outlined are PDI activity as well as the sites of PDI-CD4 and PDI-gp120 interaction.
Treatment of postvitrectomy fibrin formation with intraocular tissue plasminogen activator.

• Twenty-five micrograms of human recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) was injected intracamerally into the eyes of three aphakic patients who developed severe intraocular fibrin formation within 24 hours after vitrectomy surgery. Fluid obtained from gas-fluid exchange specimens taken 24 hours after tPA injection was analyzed for tPA by an enzymelinked immunosorbent assay and a spectrophotometric solid-phase fibrin assay. In each of the three patients, complete fibrin resolution occurred within four hours after the tPA injection. There were no complications associated with the intraocular tPA injections. There was measurable tPA activity 24 hours after the initial injection ranging from 0.23 to 1.4 μg. In contrast, tPA was undetectable in gas-fluid exchange specimens obtained from seven patients who did not receive intraocular tPA injections. Intraocular tPA is an effective means of treating postvitrectomy fibrin formation in selected aphakic patients.
Graphs Containing Every 2-Factor

For a graph G, let $${\sigma_2(G)=\min\{d(u)+d(v):uv\notin E(G)\}}$$ . We prove that every n-vertex graph G with σ 2(G) ≥ 4n/3 − 1 contains each 2-regular n-vertex graph. This extends a theorem due to Aigner and Brandt and to Alon and Fisher.
Brain aromatase in Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes): Molecular characterization and role in xenoestrogen-induced sex reversal.

Abstract In female fish estrogen is required for the development of primary and secondary sex characteristics and is derived from the aromatization of androgens by aromatase. There are two isoforms of aromatase in several teleost species, brain and ovarian. The objective of this study was two-fold: clone and sequence the coding and promoter region of brain aromatase in medaka, and determine the effects of exposure to an environmental estrogen ( o , p -DDT) on sex determination and brain aromatase transcription and activity. The brain aromatase coding sequence was obtained by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and PCR-based genomic DNA walking was used to clone the promoter of the brain aromatase gene. The promoter sequence revealed potential binding sites for the estrogen receptor and for transcription factors involved in primary neurogenesis and sex determination. Medaka fry were exposed to increasing o , p -DDT concentrations (0–5.5 μg/L) from days 1 to 15 after hatch and brain aromatase expression and activity were measured on days 5, 9, and 14. A complete male-to-female sex reversal occurred at 5.5 μg/L o , p -DDT and aromatase activity and expression data showed a significant five-fold increase at this concentration at day 14. This information suggests that brain aromatase is involved in the abnormal sexual differentiation of fish treated with xenoestrogens.
Locus of control, neuroticism, and stressors: Combined influences on reported physical illness

Abstract The extent to which locus of control beliefs influence reported physical illness may depend on the moderating effects of neuroticism and Stressors. In a test of this theory, 173 community-dwelling 35–55 year-old men and women completed self-report questionnaires assessing general locus of control, neuroticism, stressors, coping behaviors, and a symptom-free illness scale. Results showed that external locus of control was associated with high levels of neuroticism, experiencing many stressors, using more emotion-directed and fewer problem-directed coping behaviors, and experiencing high levels of perceived stress. Cross validation hierarchical regression analyses demonstrated that the strongest predictor of reported illness was a complex interaction term of nonlinear neuroticism, nonlinear locus of control, and stressors. The main effect of stressors added further independent variance to the illness prediction. There appears to be a reliable influence on illness of extremely external locus of control beliefs, high levels of neuroticism that is independent of symptoms that overlap with illness, and stressors.
Elastic-wave propagation through disordered and/or absorptive layered systems

Using the transfer-matrix method, we study the propagation of elastic waves through disordered solid multilayers constructed from two different materials and assumed periodic on the average. Results for different incident angles are reported; the effect of the mixing between longitudinal and transverse type of waves in the case of incident angles different from normal is discussed. We also study absorbing systems and how the localization length changes in the presence of dissipation.
Emissions Taxes Versus Intensity Standards: Second-Best Environmental Policies with Incomplete Regulation.

The best emissions tax or emissions cap may be an inferior instrument under incomplete regulation (leakage). Without leakage, an intensity standard (regulating emissions per unit of output) is inferior due to an implicit output subsidy. This inefficiency can be eliminated by an additional consumption tax. With leakage, an intensity standard can dominate the optimal emissions tax, since the implicit output subsidy prevents leakage. The addition of a consumption tax improves an intensity standard's efficiency, may prevent leakage, and may be efficient. Comparing intensity standards to output-based updating shows that the latter dominates if updating is sufficiently flexible.
Directive effect of bromine on stilbene photocyclizations. an improved synthesis of [7]helicene

Abstract Bromine atoms direct photocyolizations away both from positions they occupy and from those adjacent, providing previously unavailable selectivities in syntheses of [7]helicenes.
Genetic resistance to flaviviruses.

I was a graduate student in the Department of Microbiology at the University of Pennsylvania in the late 1960s and chose to do my dissertation research with Hilary Koprowski at The Wistar Institute, even though I was warned that this might not be the best training situation for me. However, because I wanted to work on virus-host interactions and virus-induced disease rather than on the biochemical projects available in other virology labs, I did not change my mind. Dr. Koprowski first assigned me to work on rabies in Tad Wicktor's lab. There I learned the basic techniques of virology and cell culture and worked with both virulent and attenuated strains of rabies viruses in a small cubicle behind a sliding door equipped with a Bunson burner and cotton-plugged glass pipets used for mouth pipetting. Careful technique was very important to becoming a successful researcher. I was later vaccinated with one of the first batches of the new rabies vaccine that was developed at Wistar.
Departments of Medical Specialties: A Solution for the Divergent Missions of Internal Medicine?

Between the 1960s and the early 1990s, the evolution of subspecialty divisions in academic departments of internal medicine was characterized by an impressive blend of research, clinical and techno...
Determination of the active stereoisomer of the MEP pathway-targeting antimalarial agent MMV008138, and initial structure-activity studies.

Abstract Compounds that target isoprenoid biosynthesis in Plasmodium falciparum could be a welcome addition to malaria chemotherapy, since the methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway used by the parasite is not present in humans. We previously reported that MMV008138 targets the apicoplast of P. falciparum and that its target in the MEP pathway differs from that of Fosmidomycin. In this Letter, we determine that the active stereoisomer of MMV008138 is 4a , which is (1 R ,3 S )-configured. 2′,4′-Disubstitution of the D ring was also found to be crucial for inhibition of the parasite growth. Limited variation of the C3-carboxylic acid substituent was carried out, and methylamide derivative 8a was found to be more potent than 4a ; other amides, acylhydrazines, and esters were less potent. Finally, lead compounds 4a , 4e , 4f , 4h , 8a , and 8e did not inhibit growth of Escherichia coli , suggesting that protozoan-selective inhibition of the MEP pathway of P. falciparum can be achieved.
Branched chain mono-glycerol ethers from a taiwanese marine sponge of the genus Aaptos

Abstract 3-(13-Methylhexadecyloxy)-1,2-(S)-propanediol ( 6 ) and 3-(15-methyloctadecyloxy)-1,2-(S)-propanediol ( 7 ) were isolated from an Aaptos species of marine sponge from Taiwanese waters and characterized by spectroscopic methods. Homolog 6 was independently synthesized.
Why do we trust new technology? A study of initial trust formation with organizational information systems

Recent trust research in the information systems (IS) field has described trust as a primary predictor of technology usage and a fundamental construct for understanding user perceptions of technology. Initial trust formation is particularly relevant in an IS context, as users must overcome perceptions of risk and uncertainty before using a novel technology. With initial trust in a more complex, organizational information system, there are a number of external determinants, trusting bases, that may explain trust formation and provide organizations with the needed levers to form or change individuals' initial trust in technology. In this study, a research model of initial trust formation is developed and includes trusting bases, trusting beliefs, trusting attitude and subjective norm, and trusting intentions. Eight trusting base factors are assessed including personality, cognitive, calculative, and both technology and organizational factors of the institutional base. The model is empirically tested with 443 subjects in the context of initial trust in a national identity system (NID). The proposed model was supported and the results indicate that subjective norm and the cognitive-reputation, calculative, and organizational situational normality base factors significantly influence initial trusting beliefs and other downstream trust constructs. Factors from some of the more commonly investigated bases, personality and technology institutional, did not significantly affect trusting beliefs. The findings have strategic implications for agencies implementing e-government systems and organizational information systems in general.
White Matter Integrity and Behavioral Activation in Healthy Subjects

Individual differences in behavioral inhibition and behavioral activation may place certain people at greater risk for neuropsychiatric disorders and engagement in risky behaviors. Therefore, studying the neural correlates of behavioral inhibition and activation may help us understand neural mechanisms underlying risk behaviors in both clinical and non-clinical populations. To investigate, we assessed the relationships between white matter integrity and measures of behavioral inhibition and behavioral activation in 51 healthy participants using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and the Behavioral Inhibition System/Behavioral Activation System (BIS/BAS) scale. Scores on the Fun-Seeking subscale of the BAS positively correlated with DTI fractional anisotropy in the left corona radiata and adjacent superior longitudinal fasciculus, and with mean diffusivity in the left inferior longitudinal fasciculus and inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus after controlling for age, gender, and education. These findings suggest that the integrity of white matter connecting extensive brain regions implicated in self-control and the processing of rewards and emotions are associated with individual differences in the motivation for seeking and participating in fun and novel experiences.
Call recognition in the bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana: Generalization along the duration continuum

Male bullfrogs emit multicroak, quasiharmonic advertisement calls that function in mate attraction and neighbor recognition. The degree of variability of acoustic features in these calls can influence perceptual decisions by conspecific receivers. Analysis of duration of individual croaks in spontaneous advertisement calls of a sample of males shows considerable intraindividual variability in this feature, even within short chorusing bouts. The influence of this intraindividual variability on behavior was examined in a series of evoked calling experiments. When presented with synthetic calls whose croak durations varied over the range of the natural variability in this feature, males responded similarly to intermediate and long duration croaks, but significantly less to short duration croaks. When presented with playbacks of calls with croak durations outside the natural range of variability, males again responded significantly less to shorter durations. The response gradient for duration is thus asymmetrical, with stimuli at the shorter end of the continuum evoking fewer responses than stimuli at the longer end. This asymmetry may be related to the biological demands of rejecting perception of heterospecific advertisement calls, and of mediating appropriate responses to conspecific aggressive calls. The shape of the response gradient for duration may reflect a process of stimulus generalization.
Raman spectra of gases—XX. Disilylsulfide and disilylsulfide-d6

Abstract The Raman spectra of gaseous, liquid and solid S(SiH 3 ) 2 and S(SiD 3 ) 2 have been recorded from 50 to 3500 cm −1 , and the infrared spectra of the gas and solid have also been investigated. A vibrational assignment is proposed and a normal coordinate calculation carried out using a modified valence force field.
The insect antimicrobial peptide, L-pyrrhocoricin, binds to and stimulates the ATPase activity of both wild-type and lidless DnaK.

Recent reports have indicated that insect antimicrobial peptides kill bacteria by inhibiting the molecular chaperone DnaK. It was proposed that the antimicrobial peptide, all-l-pyrrhocoricin (l-PYR), binds to two sites on DnaK, the conventional substrate-binding site and the multi-helical C-terminal lid, and that inhibition of DnaK comes about from the lid mode of binding. In this report, we show using two different assays that l-PYR binds to and stimulates the ATPase activity of both wild-type and a lidless variant of DnaK. Our study shows that l-PYR interacts with DnaK much like the all-l NR (NRLLLTG) peptide, which is known to bind in the conventional substrate-binding site of DnaK. l-PYR antimicrobial activity is thus a consequence of the competitive inhibition of bacterial DnaK.
Filamentous phage pre-coat is an integral membrane protein: Analysis by a new method of membrane preparation

We show, using a simple, rapid fractionation method, that the precursor to the filamentous phage major coat protein is an integral membrane protein. The method, which consists of treatment of Escherichia coli with 0.1 N NaOH followed by centrifugation, leaves a subset of inner and outer membrane proteins in the NaOH pellet. Most proteins partition into the NaOH pellet (membrane) or supernatant (cytoplasm and periplasm) in a manner consistent with their subcellular location as determined by more conventional techniques. We find no evidence for cytoplasmic filamentous phage pre-coat protein in either wild-type of mutant-infected cells. Our evidence suggests that a protein identified as "soluble procoat" by K. Ito, G. Mandell and W. Wickner may be the amber fragment of a different phage protein.
Tunneling measurement of quantum spin oscillations

We consider the problem of tunneling between two leads via a localized spin 1/2 or any other microscopic system (e.g., a quantum dot) which can be modeled by a two-level Hamiltonian. We assume that a constant magnetic field ${\mathbf{B}}_{0}$ acts on the spin, that electrons in the leads are in a voltage driven thermal equilibrium, and that the tunneling electrons are coupled to the spin through exchange and spin-orbit interactions. Using the nonequilibrium Keldysh formalism we find the dependence of the spin-spin and current-current correlation functions on the applied voltage between leads V, temperature T, ${\mathbf{B}}_{0},$ and on the degree and orientation ${\mathbf{m}}_{\ensuremath{\alpha}}$ of spin polarization of the electrons in the right (\ensuremath{\alpha}=R) and left (\ensuremath{\alpha}=L) leads. We show the following (a) The spin-spin correlation function exhibits a peak at the Larmor frequency, ${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{L},$ corresponding to the effective magnetic field $\mathbf{B}$ acting upon the spin as determined by ${\mathbf{B}}_{0}$ and the exchange field induced by tunneling of spin-polarized electrons. (b) If the ${\mathbf{m}}_{\ensuremath{\alpha}}\mathrm{'}\mathrm{s}$ are not parallel to $\mathbf{B}$ the second-order derivative of the average tunneling current $I(V)$ with respect to V is proportional to the spectral density of the spin-spin correlation function, i.e., exhibits a peak at the voltage $V=\ensuremath{\Elzxh}{\ensuremath{\omega}}_{L}/e.$ (c) In the same situation when $VgB$ the current-current correlation function exhibits a peak at the same frequency. (d) The signal-to-noise (shot-noise) ratio R for this peak reaches a maximum value of order unity, $Rl~4,$ at large V when the spin is decoupled from the environment and the electrons in both leads are fully polarized in the direction perpendicular to B. (e) $R\ensuremath{\ll}1$ if the electrons are weakly polarized, or if they are polarized in a direction close to ${\mathbf{B}}_{0},$ or if the spin interacts with the environment stronger than with the tunneling electrons. Our results of a full quantum-mechanical treatment of the tunneling-via-spin model when $V\ensuremath{\gg}B$ are in agreement with those previously obtained in the quasiclassical approach. We discuss also the experimental results observed using scanning tunneling microscopy dynamic probes of the localized spin.
OCTAL: online course tool for adaptive learning (abstract only)

The Online Course Tool for Adaptive Learning (OCTAL) is an adaptive exercise system that customizes the progression of question topics to each student. By creating a concept dependency graph of topics in a course and modeling a student's knowledge state, the tool will present questions that test knowledge within a student's zone of proximal development. We intend OCTAL to be a formative assessment tool that is not tied to any specific course by providing language-agnostic questions on computer science concepts. While the tool will be generalizable for many courses, our first prototype will include a concept map and question set from an introductory CS1 course, UC Berkeley's CS10: The Beauty and Joy of Computing. Using the tool, we are investigating metacognitive improvements in the identification of knowledge gaps by presenting online course material in a nonlinear fashion.
Mass dependence of ground-state properties of wannier exciton in a quantum dot

Abstract A simple variational study of the ground-state properties of an electron-hole system confined to a three dimensional spherical quantum well is presented. The two-parameter trial wavefunction allows for the asymmetric combination of the coordinates of the two particles. The mass dependence of the ground-state energy and the average particle separation is discussed.
Hormone-dependent β-casein mRNA stabilization requires ongoing protein synthesis

The role of ongoing protein synthesis in mediating the posttranscriptional effects of hormones on casein gene expression in the COMMA D mouse mammary epithelial cell line was investigated using the protein synthesis inhibitors, cycloheximide and anisomycin. When COMMA D cells were pretreated with insulin and PRL for 24 h, the addition of glucocorticoids induced a greater than 20-fold increase in β- casein mRNA accumulation with an apparent lag of greater than 8 h. Addition of cycloheximide and anisomycin not only prevented this increase, but unexpectedly, resulted in the rapid disappearance of preexisting β-casein mRNA with a half-life of approximately 2 h. Under the same conditions, the levels of β-actin and histone H4 mRNAs were increased markedly. In contrast, when cells were pretreated with all three lactogenic hormones for 48 h before the addition of either protein synthesis inhibitors or actinomycin D, the effects of these inhibitors on the levels of β-casein mRNA were greatly diminished. This diffe...
Long-term weight control study. IV (weeks 156 to 190). The second double-blind phase

To assess continued efficacy of anorexiants after 3 years of use, 52 participants (43% of those starting) entered a second double-blind trial to compare 60 mg sustained-release fenfluramine plus 15 mg phentermine resin versus placebo added to behavior modification, caloric restriction, and exercise. Although participants in both the active medication and placebo groups gained weight, participants receiving fenfluramine plus phentermine (n = 27) gained significantly (p less than 0.01) less (4.4 +/- 0.5 kg or 5.3% +/- 0.5% of initial weight) than participants receiving placebo (n = 24) (6.9 +/- 0.8 kg or 8.5% +/- 1.1% of initial weight). At week 190, both groups were still below their initial weight (fenfluramine plus phentermine group, 5.0 +/- 1.4 kg; placebo group, 2.1 +/- 1.2 kg; p less than 0.01). Overall, 12 participants (23.5% of those still in the study) were greater than or equal to 10% below initial weight. One participant dropped out during this phase because of personal reasons and loss of medication efficacy. During the 30 weeks, participants receiving fenfluramine plus phentermine had 26 moderate or severe complaints versus eight participants receiving placebo. Fenfluramine plus phentermine provided better appetite control and only slightly more bother. Analysis of participant response in this phase by treatment assignment in the first double-blind phase (weeks 6 to 34) indicated that initial receipt of medication did not have negative learning effects. Eleven participants receiving active medication between weeks 6 and 34 and receiving placebo between weeks 160 to 190 gained 5.1 +/- 1.0 kg. In contrast, 13 participants originally taking placebo gained 8.3 +/- 9 kg in this second double-blind phase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Psychostimulants act within the prefrontal cortex to improve cognitive function.

Background At low and clinically relevant doses, psychostimulants enhance cognitive and behavioral function dependent on the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and extended frontostriatal circuitry. These actions are observed in individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, as well as in normal human and animal subjects. Despite the widespread use of these drugs, the sites of action involved in their cognition-enhancing and therapeutic effects are poorly understood. Indirect and/or correlative evidence suggests the cognition-enhancing/therapeutic effects of psychostimulants may involve actions directly within the PFC or extended frontostriatal circuitry. The current studies examined the degree to which methylphenidate (MPH) (Ritalin) acts within distinct frontostriatal subfields to improve PFC-dependent cognition as measured in a delayed-response test of spatial working memory. Methods Working memory performance was assessed following microinfusion of vehicle or varying doses of MPH (.03–8.0 μg/500 nL) directly into the dorsomedial PFC (dorsal prelimbic and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex), the ventromedial PFC (infralimbic), and the dorsomedial striatum of rats ( n = 69). Results Methylphenidate infusion into the dorsomedial PFC, but not ventromedial PFC, elicited an inverted U-shaped facilitation of PFC-dependent cognition as measured in this task. The magnitude of this improvement was comparable with that seen with systemic administration. Additional studies demonstrated that although the dorsomedial striatum is necessary for accurate performance in this task, MPH infusion into this region did not affect working memory performance. Conclusions These observations provide the first definitive evidence that the PFC is a site of action in the cognition-enhancing and presumably therapeutic actions of low-dose psychostimulants.
Exploring national identification programs among web‐enabled professionals

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide practitioners of management a sense of importance in providing a balance between providing customer service and still safeguarding personal identity through a national identity program.Design/methodology/approach – A review of the applied literature on national identity programs and a personal interview of 252 professional and semi‐professional people was conducted, representative of the service industries located in the metropolitan section of Pittsburgh, PA.Findings – Via multiple linear regression, χ2, and factor analysis, virtually all the basic personal information and customer relationship management (CRM)‐related tenets of benefits with identity program, global security concerns, technology enabled, personal identity concerns, standardization concerns, wealth and education factors, cost of capita, online experiences, and confront with personal information, were found be statistically significant and positively related to the degree of invasion of pr...
Carbohydrate metabolism prospectively studied in women using a low-estrogen oral contraceptive for six months

Abstract Twenty-four women were prospectively evaluated for their carbohydrate metabolic status before and after six months of using an oral contraceptive containing 0.035 mg ethinyl estradiol and 0.4 mg of norethindrone. At each testing, a 100-gm oral glucose load was administered and blood glucose and plasma insulin values were measured over a three-hour period. Nineteen women with “normal” control tests demonstrated a significant decrease in their fasting glucose values and two of these women (10.5%) had a slight: deterioration of their glucose curves. There were no other significant glucose or insulin changes. They had no change in weight and there was a significant reduction in their blood pressure during the treatment time. Five women had “borderline abnormal” control glucose tests, and four of these (80%) improved during the six months of treatment, and two of them (40%) became “normal.” Thus, there is no evidence of an adverse effect of this low-estrogen oral contraceptive on carbohydrate metabolism during six months of therapy.
Microfluidic model of ductal carcinoma in situ with 3D, organotypic structure

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a non-invasive form of breast cancer that is thought to be a precursor to most invasive and metastatic breast cancers. Understanding the mechanisms regulating the invasive transition of DCIS is critical in order to better understand how some types of DCIS become invasive. While significant insights have been gained using traditional in vivo and in vitro models, existing models do not adequately recapitulate key structure and functions of human DCIS well. In addition, existing models are time-consuming and costly, limiting their use in routine screens. Here, we present a microscale DCIS model that recapitulates key structures and functions of human DCIS, while enhancing the throughput capability of the system to simultaneously screen numerous molecules and drugs. Our microscale DCIS model is prepared in two steps. First, viscous finger patterning is used to generate mammary epithelial cell-lined lumens through extracellular matrix hydrogels. Next, DCIS cells are added to fill the mammary ducts to create a DCIS-like structure. For coculture experiments, human mammary fibroblasts (HMF) are added to the two side channels connected to the center channel containing DCIS. To validate the invasive transition of the DCIS model, the invasion of cancer cells and the loss of cell-cell junctions are then examined. A student t-test is conducted for statistical analysis. We demonstrate that our DCIS model faithfully recapitulates key structures and functions of human mammary DCIS and can be employed to study the mechanisms involved in the invasive progression of DCIS. First, the formation of cell-cell junctions and cell polarity in the normal mammary duct, and the structure of the DCIS model are characterized. Second, coculture with HMF is shown to induce the invasion of DCIS. Third, multiple endpoint analyses are demonstrated to validate the invasion. We have developed and characterized a novel in vitro model of normal and DCIS-inflicted mammary ducts with 3D lumen structures. These models will enable researchers to investigate the role of microenvironmental factors on the invasion of DCIS in more in vivo-like conditions.
Quantification of regurgitant flow through bileaflet heart valve prostheses: Theoretical and in vitro studies

A theoretical treatment using turbulent jet theory has yielded a new equation for predicting regurgitant flow through bileaflet heart valve prostheses, the most commonly implanted mechanical valve design. Previously reported techniques assuming an axisymmetric jet are not applicable to the slot-like orifices presented in these valves. The equations were therefore rederived in the context of the prosthetic valve geometry. The purpose of this study was to develop such a method and demonstrate its applicability in principle by using in vitro models. The method was validated under both steady and pulsatile flow conditions. Having derived a method geometrically specific to the orifices presented in bileaflet mechanical heart valves, it should be applicable from patient to patient due to the rigid nature of the valve. These idealized in vitro studies, along with the accompanying theoretical derivation, will guide implementation in the clinical setting.
Fine-resolution satellite-based daily sea surface temperatures over the global ocean

[1] The accuracy and relative merits of two sets of daily global sea surface temperature (SST) analyses are examined and compared. The 1/8° Modular Ocean Data Analysis System (MODAS) of the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) is based only on infrared satellite retrievals. The 1/2° Real-Time, Global (RTG) SST analysis of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) supplements infrared satellite observations with ship and buoy data. The accuracy of both products is reported, providing potential users of either data set a common basis to assess the strengths and weaknesses of either product. Differences between the two show the impact of horizontal resolution, inclusion of source data streams, and different assumptions regarding error covariances. The global average of the root-mean-square (RMS) SST difference between MODAS and RTG is found to be 0.51°C, with almost no mean bias. A global set of yearlong daily SST time series from moored buoys during 2002–2005 provides extensive validation data for this study. Comparisons at the locations of these 420 yearlong time series give a median RMS SST difference of 0.40°C between MODAS and RTG. RMS error relative to the buoy observations is comparable, 0.38°C for MODAS and 0.36°C for RTG. The seasonal cycle of SST is well produced by both products with respect to the buoys with a median correlation coefficient of 0.94 for both products. Overall, higher resolution is an advantage for MODAS in improving pattern of daily SSTs, while including in situ SSTs is an advantage for RTG.
Plastics additives and green chemistry

The plastics enterprise depends on a small number of commodity polymers to per- form in diverse applications, requiring additives to produce desired properties and perform- ance. Toxic effects and environmental persistence of certain additive chemicals impact the sustainability of the industry. Green chemistry has been and will continue to be applied to find solutions to these issues. This review focuses on alternatives to phthalate plasticizers and halogenated flame retardants, two categories that together account for a significant portion of the global additives market and the global dispersion of endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Small-molecule alternatives that exist in various stages of research and commercialization will be discussed, with emphasis on the use of renewable resources. The rise of biorefineries and new bio-based monomers may help overcome existing economic barriers to adoption of alternatives. Increasing the molecular weight of additives or covalently linking them to poly- mer backbones are two promising strategies for reducing both mobility and toxicity that will also be discussed. Finally, the design of new polymers that show desirable properties with- out the use of additives will be considered. The substances put forward as "green" alterna- tives have yet to receive the same level of scrutiny as diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP, also known as dioctyl phthalate) or polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Cooperation between chemists, engineers, and the environmental health community will be critical to ensure the safety and sustainability of new technologies.
The Human Mars Mission: Transportation Assessment

If funding is available, and for NASA planning purposes, the Human Mars Mission (HMM) is baselined to take place during the 2011 and 2013/2014 Mars opportunities. Two cargo flights will leave for Mars during the first opportunity, one to Mars orbit and the second to the surface, in preparation for the crew during the following opportunity. Each trans-Mars injection (TMI) stack will consist of a cargo / payload portion (currently coming in at between 65 and 78 mt) and a nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) stage (currently coming in at between 69 and 77 mt loaded with propellant) for performing the departure (Delta)Vs to get on to the appropriate Mars trajectories. Three 66,700 N thrust NTP engines comprise the TMI stage for each stack and perform a (Delta)V ringing from 3580 to 3890 m/s is required by the trajectory (with gravity losses and various performance margins to this for the total TMI (Delta)V performed). This paper will discuss the current application of this NTP stage to a Human Mars mission, and project what implications a nuclear trans-Earth injection (TEI) stage as well as a bi-modal NTP stage could mean to a human visit to Mars.
Risk factors for delirium tremens in trauma patients.

Background The development of delirium tremens (DT) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. This study identifies characteristics in trauma patients that are predictive of DT.Methods Data from 1,856 trauma patients who either developed DT (n = 105) or had a positive blood alcohol con
Covering-Location Models for Emergency Situations That Require Multiple Response Units

In this paper we propose a new criterion for coverage which is suitable for two kinds of applications: i location of fire trucks in a geographical area in which some demands require multiple fire trucks to be within an acceptable distance standard to achieve coverage; and ii location of ambulances in an environment in which a large demand volume often leads to the unavailability of the most desirable response unit. The set covering location problem and the maximal covering location problem are examined in the proposed modeling framework. Properties for these models are developed, and limited computational experience is reported.
Evaluation of the microwave spectrum of Venus in the 1.2-22 centimeter wavelength range based on laboratory measurements of constituent gas opacities

Laboratory measurements of the microwave (1.2-22.3 cm) spectrum properties of Venus' gaseous atmospheric constituents were performed using an apparatus for simulating conditions of the middle atmosphere of Venus (gaseous H2SO4 + CO2 at 1 to 6 atm). The results have shown that at wavelengths longer than 1.8 cm, gaseous H2SO4 and CO2 are the predominant microwave absorbers, while at wavelengths from 1.2 to 1.8 cm, SO2 and CO2 are the predominant absorbers. These results were used to develop a model for the microwave emission spectrum of Venus, which correlated well with microwave observations of this planet.