cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Management of patients with acute non-lymphocytic leukemia who fail first cycle of induction therapy

The charts of 36 newly-diagnosed ANLL patients treated with intensive combination chemotherapy were retrospectively analyzed to see if we could find clinical parameters which would predict those patients who, after failing their initial treatment cycle, would respond to subsequent cycles of the same regimen. Three groups of patients were identified. Twenty-two patients achieved complete remission with one cycle of chemotherapy; seven patients achieved remission with a second cycle of the same regimen and seven did not. These three response groups did not differ significantly with regard to any of multiple pretreatment parameters. Consequently marrow studies obtained following the first cycle of therapy were analyzed. Patients who subsequently responded to the regimen differed from non-responders in the residual blast percentage in the marrow obtained 21 days after the first cycle. Patients who responded to a second cycle had 2–27% blasts (median 7.3), while non-responders had 35–93% blasts (median 58%) (p < 0.01). We conclude that patients with more than 30% blasts in their bone marrow 21 days after the initiation of the first cycle of the chemotherapy regimens used should receive an alternate regimen for their second cycle of induction therapy.
Contamination Source Determination for Water Networks

We formulate and solve an estimation problem for identifying both the time and location of contamination sources in municipal water networks using concentration measurements from a sparse sensor grid. Previous work showed that the direct sequential approach was insufficient to solve the time-dependent problem. Instead, a direct simultaneous approach is used, converging the network model and optimization problems simultaneously. An origin tracking algorithm is presented to reformulate the pipe expressions and characterize the time delays associated with network pipes. This algorithm removes the need to discretize along the length of the pipes and is efficient for large networks with many source and output nodes. The solution of the resulting nonlinear program provides the complete time-dependent injection profiles, identifying both the time and location of potential contamination sources. The effectiveness of this formulation is demonstrated on a network model for a real municipal water network.
A PUNCHED CARD PROCEDURE FOR THE METHOD OF SUCCESSIVE INTERVALS

A punched card procedure for a general weighted least squares solution to successive intervals is described. Use of zero weights permits application of this procedure to cases of incomplete data. The procedure outlined suggests use of an IBM Type 101 statistical sorter for obtaining frequency counts. Conversion of frequencies to normal curve deviates and assignment of weights is accomplished on a gang punch. The main procedure is an iterative process with repetitive cycles of computation using a calculating punch, Type 602-A, and a tabulator. A numerical example is given to illustrate the machine sequences. The example employs data collected by Saffir (8). The resulting scale values and discriminal dispersions are approximately linearly related to corresponding values found by Saffir (8) and Gulliksen (6).
Modeling Hair Cell Tuning by Expression Gradients of Potassium Channel β Subunits

The receptor potential of sensory hair cells arises from the gating of mechanosensitive cation channels, but its amplitude and time course also depend on the number and kinetics of voltage-gated ion channels in each cell. Prominent among these are "BK" potassium channels encoded by the slo gene that support electrical tuning in some hair cells. Hair cells tuned to low frequencies have slowly gating BK channels, whereas those of higher-frequency hair cells gate more rapidly. Alternative splicing of the slo gene mRNA that encodes the pore-forming alpha subunit can alter BK channel kinetics, and gating is dramatically slowed by coexpression with modulatory beta subunits. The effect of the beta subunit is consistent with low-frequency tuning, and beta mRNA is expressed at highest levels in the low frequency apex of the bird's auditory epithelium. How might an expression gradient of beta subunits contribute to hair cell tuning? The present work uses a computational model of hair cell-tuning based on the functional properties of BK channels expressed from hair cell alpha and beta slo cDNA. The model reveals that a limited tonotopic gradient could be achieved simply by altering the fraction of BK channels in each hair cell that are combined with beta subunits. However, complete coverage of the tuning spectrum requires kinetic variants in addition to those modeled here.
Randomized Kinodynamic Motion Planning with Moving Obstacles

This paper presents a novel randomized motion planner for robots that must achieve a specified goal under kinematic and/or dynamic motion constraints while avoiding collision with moving obstacles with known trajectories. The planner encodes the motion constraints on the robot with a control system and samples the robot's state × time space by picking control inputs at random and integrating its equations of motion. The result is a probabilistic roadmap of sampled state ×time points, called milestones, connected by short admissible trajectories. The planner does not precompute the roadmap; instead, for each planning query, it generates a new roadmap to connect an initial and a goal state×time point. The paper presents a detailed analysis of the planner's convergence rate. It shows that, if the state×time space satisfies a geometric property called expansiveness, then a slightly idealized version of our implemented planner is guaranteed to find a trajectory when one exists, with probability quickly converg...
Patterns of oxygen isotope depletion, multiple hydrothermal circulation systems, and the cooling history of the Stony Mountain intrusive complex, Colorado

Abstract Oxygen isotopic compositions of 27 whole rock and mineral samples from the three intrusive phases of the Stony Mountain stock, San Juan Mountains, Colorado, have been measured and are combined with published analyses to obtain a history of the meteoric water circulation that cooled the intrusions. The order of intrusion was: the Outer Diorite, the Gabbro and the Inner Diorite. The new whole rock data give δ 18 O (SMOW) + 1.9 to + 3.7‰ for the Gabbro, and + 0.4 to + 4.9‰ for the Inner Diorite. Five mineral analyses are reported for the Inner Diorite: three feldspars (ranging from + 0.2 to + 4.3), one quartz (+8.2), and one pyroxene (+5.3). All three intrusions are significantly depleted in 18 O relative to normal igneous rocks. This depletion occurred by subsolidus exchange of oxygen isotopes, as shown by the correlation between the extent of depletion and the grain size, and by the non-equilibrium 18 O concentrations in coexisting minerals. The patterns of 18 O depletion, which are complex, suggest that separate hydrothermal circulation systems were set up by the cooling of each intrusion in turn. The minimum water to rock ratio required to effect the observed depletion in the Inner Diorite is approximately 0.18, although the ratio for the total flux was probably much greater. The mineral data show marked 18 O depletion in the feldspars and little, if any, depletion in the quartz. Application of oxygen diffusion data for feldspar and quartz leads to the conclusion that the effective temperature for oxygen isotope exchange was below 600°C and above 400°C. Furthermore, these data place constraints on convective cooling times for this intrusion. Minimum times for cooling of the 500-m-diameter Inner Diorite through this temperature range are on the order of 14 to 900 years. For comparison, a maximum time limit of 4000 years would be needed if cooling occurred only by conduction.
Public health-specific personal disaster preparedness training: an academic-practice collaboration.

Objectives: To measure the following three relevant outcomes of a personal preparedness curriculum for public health workers: 1) the extent of change (increase) in knowledge about personal preparedness activities and knowledge about tools for conducting personal preparedness activities; 2) the extent of change (increase) in preparedness activities performed post-training and/or confidence in conducting these tasks; and 3) an understanding of how to improve levels of personal preparedness using the Extended Parallel Process Model (EPPM) framework. Design: Cross-sectional preinterventional and postinterventional survey using a convenience sample. Setting: During 2010, three face-to-face workshops were conducted in three locations in West Virginia. Participants: One hundred thirty-one participants (baseline survey); 69 participants (1-year resurvey)—representing West Virginia local health department (LHD) and State Health Department employees. Interventions: A 3-hour interactive, public health-specific, face-to-face workshop on personal disaster preparedness. Main outcome measure(s): Change in 1) knowledge about, and tools for, personal preparedness activities; 2) preparedness activities performed post-training and/or confidence in conducting these activities; and 3) the relationship of EPPM categories to personal preparedness activities. Results: One year postworkshop, 77 percent of respondents reported having personal emergency kits (40 percent at baseline) and 67 percent reported having preparedness plans (38 percent at baseline) suggesting some participants assembled supply kits and plans postworkshop. Within the context of EPPM, respondents in high-threat categories agreed more often than respondents in low-threat categories that severe personal impacts were likely to result from a moderate flood. Compared to respondents categorized as low efficacy, respondents in high-efficacy categories perceived confidence in their knowledge and an impact of their response on their job success at higher rates. Conclusions: Personal disaster preparedness trainings for the LHD workforce can yield gains in relevant preparedness behaviors and attitudes but may require longitudinal reinforcement. The EPPM can offer a useful threat and efficacy-based lens to understand relevant perceptions surrounding personal disaster preparedness behaviors among LHD employees.
Stochastic Higher-Order Generalized Perturbation Theory for Neutron Diffusion and Transport Calculations

The role of scientific computing has been heavily promoted in many fields to improve understanding the physics of complex engineering systems in recent years while conduct the experiments can be time-consuming, inflexible, expensive and difficult to repeat, e.g. nuclear reactor systems. The ultimate goal of scientific computing is to provide more reliable predictions for engineering systems within certain acceptable tolerance. To realize the benefits of scientific computing, extensive effort has been devoted to the development of efficient algorithms for Sensitivity Analysis (SA) and Uncertainty Quantification (UQ) whose numerical errors is under control and understood. However, the repeated execution of the simulations with different samples is computationally intractable for large-scale system with large number of Degrees of Freedom (DOF). The object of this manuscript will be focus on presenting our own developments of stochastic higher-order generalized perturbation theory to address the explosion in the computational load burden. Additionally, an overview of the current state-of-the-art of SA/UQ will also be provided.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Extraintestinal stages of Eimeria bovis in calves and attempts to induce relapse of clinical disease.

Lindsay, D.S., Dubey, J.P. and Fayer, R., 1990. Extraintestinal stages of Eimeria bovis in calves and attempts to induce relapse of clinical disease. Vet. Parasitol., 36: 1-9. Monoclonal antibodies to all life cycle stages of Eimeria bovis were used in an avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase test to examine extraintestinal tissues from experimentally infected calves for developmental stages of the parasite. First-generation meronts of Eimeria bovis were found in the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) of three of four calves examined during the first 18 days of primary experimental infection. No extraintestinal stages were found in the MLNs of two calves examined 69 days after a primary infection or in five calves examined 6 months after a challenge infection. Tissue homogenates of liver, spleen, and MLNs from immune calves were not infectious for nonimmune recipient calves following oral or intraperitonial inoculation indicating that infectious stages were not present in these extraintestinal tissues at the time of inoculations. Relapse of clinical coccidiosis and reoccurrence of oocyst shedding were not seen in E. bovis immune calves that were stressed by being put on a 16-week corticosteroid treatment program.
Paradigm Shift in Reference Services at the Oberlin College Library: A Case Study

ABSTRACT This case study focuses on reference services in the main library at Oberlin College. It traces the development of the current service model, which has evolved as the Reference & Instruction Department has anticipated, managed, and responded to changes related to increased teaching and instruction activities, shifting reference usage patterns, and changes in student research behaviors. Emphasis is placed on a popular and highly personalized research appointment service; a robust program of course-related library instruction; reliance on students to help staff the reference desk and make effective referrals; developing and maintaining strong relationships with teaching faculty; and creating welcoming spaces conducive to research, studying, socializing, and interacting with library staff.
Destination Choice Modeling for Home-Based Recreational Trips: Analysis and Implications for Land Use, Transportation, and Air Quality Planning

Attraction-end choice studies have primarily focused on nonurban recreational trips or nonrecreational urban trips. Relatively little attention has been focused in the literature on urban recreational trips. However, urban recreational trips are contributing increasingly to overall urban travel. Attraction-end choice models for home-based urban recreational trips are examined. A nonlinear-in-parameters multinomial logit model is estimated using the 1996 Dallas-Fort Worth household activity survey. The effects of level-of-service, zonal attribute, trip attribute, and sociodemographic variables on recreational attraction-end choice are examined, and the implications of the results for land use, transportation planning, and air quality analysis are discussed.
Neurophysiologic response to intraoperative lumbosacral spinal manipulation

Abstract Background: Although the mechanisms of spinal manipulation are poorly understood, the clinical effects are thought to be related to mechanical, neurophysiologic, and reflexogenic processes. Animal studies have identified mechanosensitive afferents in animals, and clinical studies in human beings have measured neuromuscular responses to spinal manipulation. Few, if any, studies have identified the basic neurophysiologic mechanisms of spinal manipulation in human beings or animals. Objectives: The purpose of this clinical investigation was to determine the feasibility of obtaining intraoperative neurophysiologic recordings and to quantify mixed-nerve root action potentials in response to lumbosacral spinal manipulation in a human subject undergoing lumbar spinal surgery. Methods: An L4-L5 laminectomy was performed in a 62-year-old man. Short-duration ( Results: During the active trials, mixed-nerve root action potentials were observed in response to both internal and external spinal manipulative thrusts. Differences in the amplitude and discharge frequency were noted in response to varying segmental contact points and force vectors, and similarities were noted for internally and externally applied spinal manipulative thrusts. Amplitudes of mixed-nerve root action potentials ranged from 200 to 2600 mV for internal thrusts and 800 to 3500 mV for external thrusts. Conclusions: Monitoring mixed-nerve root discharges in response to spinal manipulative thrusts in vivo in human subjects undergoing lumbar surgery is feasible. Neurophysiologic responses appeared sensitive to the contact point and applied force vector of the spinal manipulative thrust. Further study of the neurophysiologic mechanisms of spinal manipulation in humans and animals is needed to more precisely identify the mechanisms and neural pathways involved. (J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2000;23:447-57)
A Basis for Polynomial Solutions to Systems of Linear Constant Coefficient PDE's

Abstract LetKrepresent either the real or the complex numbers. LetPk,k=1, 2, …, rbe constant coefficient (with coefficients fromk) polynomials innvariables and letN⩽M={u(x)∈K[x]⩽M∣Pk(∂/∂x1, …, ∂/∂xn) u(x)=0;k=1, 2, …, rbe the set of all polynomial solutions (of degree ⩽M) to this system of partial differential equations. We solve the problem of finding an easily computed basis for the vector spaceN⩽M. To do this we use a certain associative, and commutative algebra (defined overK), namelyK[β]=K[β1,β2, …,βn] where {Pk(β)=0∣k=1, …, r} and {β1m1β2m2…βnmn=0∣m1+…+mn=M+1}. Let the vector spaceK[β]⩽Mequal the span overKof {β1m1β2m2…βnmn∣m1+…+mn⩽M}. We show how the expression ∑Mj=0(x1⊗β1+…+xn⊗βn)j/j! can be used to find an easily computed basis forN⩽M.
INFLUENCE OF PROLONGED EXERCISE ON THE 24-HOUR FREE TESTOSTERONE - CORTISOL RATIO HORMONAL PROFILE.

Abstract Duke JW, Rubin DA, Daly W, Hackney AC. Influence of prolonged exercise on the 24-hour free testosterone – cortisol ratio hormonal profile. Med Sport 2007, 11(2):48-50. Aim of the study: This study examined the response of the free testosterone and cortisol ratio (fTC) to prolonged endurance exercise. Methods: A trained sportsman performed treadmill exercise at 70% of maximal oxygen uptake to volitional fatigue. Frequent blood samples were collected over 24 hours and analyzed to determine changes in the fTC ratio. Results: Exercise caused an initial increase in the ratio followed by a rapid decline in the immediate recovery from exercise. Approximately 8 hours into recovery from exercise, there was a pronounced and persistent (~6 hours) secondary increase in the ratio. Conclusions: Results suggest that the fTC ratio responds to intensive exercise, but that aspects of the response can be of a delayed nature occurring many hours into recovery. Exercise scientists who wish to monitor this parameter should be aware that the time course by which they choose to conduct their blood sampling could impact upon the interpretation of their data.
Executive veto and spending limitation: Positive political economy with implications for institutional choice

The consequences of institutional change in the budgetary process are not generally determinate independent of the preferences of political actors. Nonetheless, this study shows for a general class of preference configurations that the legislative branch cannot be made better off by a spending limitation unless the executive is empowered with a line-item veto. In the absence of executive item-veto authority there is no incentive for the legislature to constrain spending.
Major intrinsic polypeptide (MIP26K) from human lens membrane: Characterization of low-molecular-weight forms in the aging human lens

Antisera made against a C-terminal octapeptide of bovine MIP26K and against an N-terminal nonapeptide from the same protein have been used to determine the location of age-dependent cleavage sites of MIP26K in the human lens. Neither the C-terminal antiserum (anti-MIP26K256–263) nor the N-terminal antiserum (anti-MIP26K1–9) binds to the 22000 MW form of MIP26K, suggesting cleavage from both the N- and C-terminus during lens aging. Anti-MIP26K256–263, but not anti-MIP26K1–9, binds to 20000 and 15000 MW forms of MIP26K, demonstrating that age-dependent production of these forms occurs by cleavage from the N-terminal side of the molecule. Together, these results show that age-dependent processing of MIP26K in the human lens occurs from both ends of the molecule, with cleavage from the N-terminal end being mainly responsible for production of the lower-molecular-weight 20000 and 15000 MW components.
Slow light in fiber Bragg gratings

We demonstrate through numerical simulations that a fiber Bragg grating operated in transmission can support much slower light than previously anticipated. This is accomplished by increasing the grating's index modulation, reducing its loss, optimizing its length, and apodizing its index profile. With current fiber Bragg grating loss and index modulation, we predict that group velocities lower than c/1000 are attainable. We validate this concept with a record measured group index of 130 in a strong apodized grating (index modulation of ~1.1 10-3) with a nearly optimized length of 1.2 cm and an inferred loss coefficient of 1 m-1.
Wilhelm Reich's self-censorship after his arrest as an enemy alien: The chilling effect of an illegal imprisonment

After discussing Wilhelm Reich's place in psychoanalysis, the article explores his arrest as an 'enemy alien' in December 1941. Reich's emotional responses to his imprisonment (which was illegal and which lasted nearly a month) are explored. A number of scholars have suggested that many European radical psychoanalysts refrained from sharing their former political ideas once they emigrated to the United States. Following a brief discussion of this pattern of 'silencing,' it is argued that Reich's withholding certain documents from publication was due to a self-imposed censorship, motivated in part by the fear of further governmental interference with his life and work. This fear, however, did not extend to his discussion of his newly developed theory of orgone energy.
Marker-Assessed Retention of Wheat Chromatin in Wheat (Triticum aestivum) by Jointed Goatgrass (Aegilops cylindrica) Backcross Derivatives

With the advent of herbicide-resistant wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), there is a concern with the potential for gene migration between wheat and jointed goatgrass (Aegilops cylindrica Host). This is especially true for genes on the D genome, since this genome is shared by wheat and jointed goatgrass. To study the potential for gene migration, BC 1 and BC 2 plants were produced with jointed goatgrass as the male recurrent parent. To determine if wheat chromatin was retained at expected Mendelian frequencies in these backcrosses, 14 simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers associated with the long and short arms of the D genome chromosomes were used. Chi-square analysis showed that 12 of the 14 markers fit the expected ratio for retention of wheat alleles in the BC 1 generation. In the BC2 generation, 11 of the 14 markers fit the expected frequencies for the retention of wheat alleles. The markers not fitting the expected frequencies in both generations deviated in the direction of more heterozygotes than expected, indicating a higher than expected retention of wheat alleles. Furthermore, recombination between the D genome chromosomes of the two species was observed. On the basis of these results, it appears that it is possible for a gene on the D genome of wheat to move into jointed goatgrass if the BC 1 and BC 2 generations were produced in the field.
4f7 -4f7 emission from Eu2+ in the system MF2 · AlF3

Abstract The emission from Eu 2+ , which is isoelectronic to Gd 3+ , in all previously investigated systems consists of a broad (R~ 2000 cm -1 band, which at low temperatures may be accompanied by a zero-phonon line. We have discovered a group of compounds including SrAlF 5 , BaAlF 5 , and Ba 3 Al 2 F 12 in which the emission consists of a number of lines of narrow (less than 5 cm -1 ) width, at higher energies than the Eu 2+ bands previously seen. On the basis of the similarity of these spectra to that of Gd 3+ and of the luminescence decay times (τ ≈ 10 -3 sec, compared to τ ≈ 10 -6 sec for the usual case), the emission is identified as resulting from transitions within the 4f 7 configuration, rather than between the 4f 6 5d and 4f 7 configurations as in other materials doped with Eu 2+ . The excitation is seen to be broad band, indicating that the 5d configuration lies only slightly above the 4f levels. Investigation of the excitation spectra for the individual emission lines and decay measurements on these lines show that in the mixed fluorides there are several inequivalent sites with little interaction between ions on the different sites, as the number of lines attributed to the 6 P 7 2 to 8 S 7 2 transition is several times the number predictable on the basis of a single site.
A Reverse Oscillatory Flow microreactor system for the synthesis of uniformly-size CdS nanoparticles

A Reverse Oscillatory Flow (ROF) microreactor system is used to explore the continuous synthesis of CdS nanoparticles with a narrow particle size distribution and characteristic diameters of less than 5 nanometers. In continuous flow microreactor systems, particle size distribution is known to be greatly affected by the parabolic velocity profile within microchannels. To minimize these effects, efforts were made to reduce mixing times and variations in residence time due to laminar flow. This ROF method reduces mixing time by employing both diffusional and advective mixing. The oscillatory nature of the ROF method reduces the residence time variation by retarding the development of the parabolic laminar velocity profile. Nanoparticle characterization includes TEM and XRD analyses.
A New Robust Control Design for Linear Systems With Norm Bounded Time Varying Real Parameter Uncertainty

In this paper, a new methodology for robust control design of linear systems with time varying real parameter uncertainty is presented. The distinctive feature of this method is that it specifically offers robustness guarantees to real parameter uncertainty thereby providing a much needed alternative design method compared to existing design methods such as H∞ and μ-synthesis methods which tend to be conservative when specialized to real parameter uncertainty. The proposed robust control design method is inspired by sign (qualitative) stability idea from ecology, leading to a specific structure in the desired closed loop system matrix involving pseudosymmetry. The design procedure is simple and straightforward without requiring intensive computation. The proposed design algorithm is illustrated with aerospace applications. This algorithm is quite promising with considerable scope for extensions and improvements, finally adding to the bank of available control design methods for linear state space systems.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Channel gain cartography via low rank and sparsity

Channel gain cartography aims at inferring the channel gains between arbitrary points in space based on measurements (samples) of channel gains taken from finite pairs of transceivers. Channel gain maps are useful for various sensing and resource allocation tasks, essential for the operation of cognitive radio networks. In this work, the channel gain samples are modeled as compressive tomographic measurements of an underlying spatial loss field (SLF), postulated to have low-rank structure corrupted by sparse errors. Efficient algorithms to reconstruct the SLF are developed, from which arbitrary channel gains can be interpolated.
First-order seasonal autoregressive processes with periodically varying parameters

Abstract A time series model combining a first-order periodic autoregressive structure and the Box–Jenkins multiplicative seasonal autoregressive model is introduced. Stationarity conditions (in the periodic sense) for this so-called SPAR(1,1) process are established and its autocovariances are derived. Least-squares estimates of the model parameters are obtained and their limit distribution is derived. An extension to higher-order SPARMA models is suggested.
Secure communications over a public fiber-optical network

We develop a spread-spectrum based approach to secure communications over existing public fiber-optical networks. The secure channel is hidden under the noise floor of the network thus allowing cryptographic and steganographic security capabilities.
Carbon nanostructures in opposed-flow methane oxy-flames

Carbon nanostructures formed in the opposed-flow flames of methane- and oxygen-enriched air are studied experimentally using thermophoretic sampling technique and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Reconstructed evolution of soot particles along the burner centerline shows the existence of two characteristic layers. The narrow layer of polydisperse precursor particles is located on the oxidizer side of the stagnation plane. The precursor particles undergo carbonization and agglomeration as they are driven to the stagnation plane forming the layer of mature soot aggregates on the fuel side of the precursor layer. High-resolution TEM imaging performed on precursors and mature soot particles reveals the presence of highly organized carbon nanostructures formed inside the tarlike amorphous condensate by carbonization process. Two characteristic structures are observed. They resemble shapes of carbon onions and carbon nanopolyhedral particles. Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) appeared ...
Calculation of density matrices in the formation of positronium

We study single collisions between spin-polarized positron beams and targets that result in the production of positronium and target ions. We consider unpolarized as well as polarized targets with $0,1$, and $2$ unpaired electrons. First, we use angular momentum coupling to calculate the spin scattering matrices in all three cases. Then, for some targets, we define an angle $\ensuremath{\beta}$ between the polarization vectors of the positron beam and the target, and calculate density matrices whose elements are functions of $\ensuremath{\beta}$. Finally, from the density matrices, we obtain the probabilities of forming para- and ortho-positronium atoms for specific spins of the target ions. We present ratios of para- to ortho-positronium yields as well as total positronium annihilation rates.
Facile synthesis of 4-N-phosphonomethyl-2,4-diamino-butyrates as inhibitors of glutamine synthetase

Abstract An effective synthesis of N-substituted 2,4-diaminobutyric acids is described involving reaction of amines with methyl 4-bromo-2-phthalimidobutyrate, followed by hydrolysis. This approach was applied to the synthesis of 4- N -phosphonomethyl-2,4-diaminobutyric acids as inhibitors of glutamine synthetase.
The Role of Environmental Exposures in Neurodegeneration and Neurodegenerative Diseases

Neurodegeneration describes the loss of neuronal structure and function. Numerous neurodegenerative diseases are associated with neurodegeneration. Many are rare and stem from purely genetic causes. However, the prevalence of major neurodegenerative diseases is increasing with improvements in treating major diseases such as cancers and cardiovascular diseases, resulting in an aging population. The neurological consequences of neurodegeneration in patients can have devastating effects on mental and physical functioning. The causes of most cases of prevalent neurodegenerative diseases are unknown. The role of neurotoxicant exposures in neurodegenerative disease has long been suspected, with much effort devoted to identifying causative agents. However, causative factors for a significant number of cases have yet to be identified. In this review, the role of environmental neurotoxicant exposures on neurodegeneration in selected major neurodegenerative diseases is discussed. Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis were chosen because of available data on environmental influences. The special sensitivity the nervous system exhibits to toxicant exposure and unifying mechanisms of neurodegeneration are explored.
An empirical test of einstein’s unified field theory

An outline of an analysis of Einstein’s theory of the nonsymmetric field is presented showing that there are particles in the theory which interact in lowest approximation through the conventional classical electromagnetic interaction. Also associated with these particles is a weak nonconventional electromagnetic interaction important only over astronomical distances. The form of this nonconventional electromagnetic interaction is examined, and based on this examination a possible empirical test of Einstein’s theory is described.
Viscous aerodynamic analysis of an oscillating flat-plate airfoil

CONSIDERABLE progress has been made in the prediction of the unsteady aerodynamics of oscillating airfoils. These analyses are typically limited to inviscid potential flows, with the unsteady flow assumed to be a small perturbation to the mean flow and the Kutta condition imposed. By considering the airfoils to be zero-thickness flat plates at zero mean incidence, the steady and unsteady flowfields are uncoupled, with the steady flow being uniform and parallel. In this paper, an analysis is developed that models the unsteady aerodynamics of an harmonically oscillating flatplate airfoil, including the effects of mean flow incidence angle, in an incompressible laminar flow at moderate values of the Reynolds number. The unsteady viscous flow is assumed to be a small perturbation to the steady viscous flowfield. The nonuniform and nonlinear steady flowfield is described by the Navier-Stokes equations and is independent of the unsteady flow. The small-perturbation unsteady viscous flow is described by a system of linear partial differential equations that are coupled to the steady flowfield, thereby modeling the strong dependence of the unsteady aerodynamics on the steady flow. Solutions for both the steady and unsteady viscous flowfields are obtained by a locally analytical method in which the discrete algebraic equations representing the flowfield equations are obtained from analytical solutions in individual local grid elements. The locally analytical method for steady two-dimensional fluid flow and heat-transfer problems was initially developed by Chen et al. 1*2 They have shown that it has several advantages over finite-difference and finite-element methods, including being less dependent on grid size, with the system of algebraic equations relatively stable. Also, since the solution is analytical, it is differentiable and is a continuous function.
The syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) as a consequence of neck dissection

The syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) can have multiple causes. Surgical neck dissections may have an association with this syndrome and represent the basis for this study. A retrospective review of 50 patients undergoing neck dissections was performed to evaluate for the development of hyponatraemia as a consequence of SIADH. Based on the results of this review, a prospective study of 20 consecutive patients undergoing 22 neck dissections was performed to determine the incidence of SIADH. A control group of 25 consecutive patients undergoing major non-neck dissection surgery was also studied. SIADH developed in nine of 50 patients (18 per cent) of our retrospective group with a high incidence of development in those who had jugular vein ligation (JVL) (22 per cent), pre-operative radiation therapy (25 per cent) or squamous cell cancers (32 per cent). SIADH developed in six patients undergoing 22 neck dissections (27 per cent) in our prospective group. A high incidence was also noted for those with JVL (42 per cent), pre-operative radiation therapy (67 per cent) or squamous cell cancer (40 per cent). No patients developed symptomatic hyponatraemia. No patients in the prospective control group developed SIADH. Neck dissection surgery is associated with a significant risk for the development of SIADH. Factors such as jugular vein ligation (JVL), pre-operative radiotherapy and squamous cell cancer appear to increase this risk.
Olig1 is expressed in human oligodendrocytes during maturation and regeneration.

Myelin repair is inhibited in multiple sclerosis (MS), ultimately leading to axonal damage and disability. We aimed to understand the transcriptional mechanisms of regeneration in primary human oligodendrocyte cultures isolated from white matter of medically intractable epilepsy patients. Cultures at isolation contained 84% mature oligodendrocytes and 16% oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPC). The two populations showed a protracted regeneration of membranes expressing myelin proteins after 2–3 weeks in culture, and were kept long-term to study membranes maintenance. We profiled by quantitative PCR (qPCR) the sequential mRNA expression of transcription factors Olig1, Olig2, Nkx2.2, Sox10, PPARd ,P PARg, cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (CNP), myelin basic protein (MBP), myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG). In summary, Olig1 was not expressed in freshly isolated oligodendrocytes, but was expressed from the beginning of process extension until membranes maintenance. In contrast, Olig2 expression was restricted to isolation and during membranes production. We show for the first time PPARd expression and absence of PPARg in human oligodendrocytes. Nkx2.2, Sox10, PPARd, CNP, MBP and MOG messengers were expressed at any time, while MAG messenger was expressed at mature stage only. Myelin proteins CNP, MBP, MAG, and MOG were confirmed by immunocytochemistry. Our findings point to different roles of Olig1 and Olig2 in regeneration of cultured adult human oligodendrocytes. Noticeably, the transcriptional profiles found in cultured neonatal rodent OPC are different. More studies are necessary to elucidate myelin repair in the adult human brain. V C 2011
Thermal Fluctuations in the Shape, Thickness and Molecular Orientation of the Liquid Ordered Phase of Lipid Bilayers

We present a unified continuum-level model for (cholesterol+lipid) membrane energetics that includes the effects of bending, compression, molecular orientation (tilting relative to the monolayer surface normal), and microscopic noise (protrusions). Expressions for thermal fluctuation amplitudes of several physical quantities are given. These predictions are shown to be in good agreement with molecular simulations.
Meteorological data acquisition in Ecuador, South America: problems and solutions

The acquisition of meterological data for public use is often taken for granted. A recent consultation trip to Ecuador, South America demonstrated that this is not always true. Meteorological data acquistion in Ecuador is hindered by: 1) lack of meteorological expertise, 2) lack of media presentation, 3) lack of cooperation between existing weather stations, 4) an unwillingness of weather facilities to share data with the public and 5) a lack of dedication to data collection responsibilities. These hinderances are further compounded by lack of power and communication lines, power failures, civil unrest, and a slow, unreliable postal service. This report discusses these problems and how two communities are solving them. Short-range solutions lie in establishing small weather stations where they are needed the most. More long-range solutions lie with the introduction of weather data to radio broadcasts, and the establishment of the first provincial climate data center in Ecuador.
Semiparametric inference for survival models with step process covariates.

The authors consider Bayesian methods for fitting three semiparametric survival models, incorporating time-dependent covariates that are step functions. In particular, these are models due to Cox [Cox (1972) Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, Series B, 34, 187–208], Prentice & Kalbfleisch and Cox & Oakes [Cox & Oakes (1984) Analysis of Survival Data, Chapman and Hall, London]. The model due to Prentice & Kalbfleisch [Prentice & Kalbfleisch (1979) Biometrics, 35, 25–39], which has seen very limited use, is given particular consideration. The prior for the baseline distribution in each model is taken to be a mixture of Polya trees and posterior inference is obtained through standard Markov chain Monte Carlo methods. They demonstrate the implementation and comparison of these three models on the celebrated Stanford heart transplant data and the study of the timing of cerebral edema diagnosis during emergency room treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis in children. An important feature of their overall discussion is the comparison of semi-parametric families, and ultimate criterion based selection of a family within the context of a given data set. The Canadian Journal of Statistics 37: 60–79; © 2009 Statistical Society of Canada Les auteurs considerent des methodes bayesiennes pour ajuster trois modeles de survie semi-parametriques incorporant des covariables dependant du temps. En particulier, ces modeles sont dus a Cox [Cox (1972) Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, Series B, 34, 187–208], Prentice et Kalbfleisch et Cox et Oakes [Cox & Oakes (1984) Analysis of Survival Data, Chapman and Hall, London]. Une attention particuliere est donnee au modele de Prentice et Kalbfleish [Prentice & Kalbfleish (1979) Biometrics, 35, 25–39] dont l'utilisation est tres limitee. La densite a priori pour la distribution de reference pour chaque modele est un melange d'arbres de Polya et l'inference a posteriori est faite en utilisant les methodes de Monte-Carlo markoviennes standards. Ils illustrent l'implantation de ces modeles et ils les comparent a l'aide des celebres donnees de transplantation cardiaque de Stanford et sur une etude du temps de diagnostic de l'sdeme cerebral lors du traitement a l'urgence d'enfants souffrant d'acidocetose diabetique. Les points importants de leur argumentation portent sur la comparaison de familles semi-parametriques et le critere de selection final d'une de ces familles en fonction du jeu de donnees. La revue canadienne de statistique 37: 60–79; © 2009 Societe statistique du Canada
MOBY-a mobile peer-to-peer service and data network

This paper describes the design and implementation of MOBY, a network for mobile peer-to-peer exchange of services and data. Constraints on computing power of mobile devices, limited hardware, networking, and software resources, and ad-hoc nature of mobile clients pose considerable challenges from the points of view of supporting performance goals, ease of service integration, and adaptation. These challenges are addressed in MOBY by dynamic service location and client mapping, surrogates for mobile clients, and standardized interfaces built upon off-the-shelf software components.
Sensitivity of handoff algorithms to variations in the propagation environment

The authors have developed a model (1992) for analyzing the performance of handoff algorithms based on relative signal strength measurements in a lognormal fading environment. Handoff decisions are made by averaging the received signal level over an interval d/sub av/ and using a hysteresis margin h (that is the mobile is handed off to a new base station when the averaged signal level from that base exceeds that from the current base by h dB). When d/sub av/ and h are increased, the mean number of handoffs is reduced, but the delay in handing off increases causing a reduction in link quality. Hence, the parameters d/sub av/ and h need to be chosen to optimize the tradeoff between these two criteria. In this paper, the model is exercised to obtain certain criteria for designing practical handoffs algorithms, in particular, for designing algorithms that are robust with respect to variations in the radio propagation environment. The lognormal fading process is characterized by its standard deviation /spl sigma//sub s/ and its correlation distance d/sub o/. The sensitivities to variations in /spl sigma//sub s/ and in d/sub o/ and also to jumps in received signal strength (as with the street corner effect in microcells) are analyzed. These sensitivities indicate how to choose (d/sub av/, h) pairs for robust performance in the presence of the variations.
Thomas Jefferson and the Vision of Democratic Leadership

Is there a form of leadership which is compatible with the demands of strong democracy? While there is a natural and inevitable tension which exists between leadership and democracy, there are ways to develop a style of leadership which conforms to the requirements of robust democracy. Thomas Jefferson pointed the way with his view of democratic leadership, and this article attempts to highlight that view in hopes of reviving the debate on the dilemma of democratic leadership.
Importance sampling for tail risk in discretely rebalanced portfolios

We develop an importance sampling (IS) algorithm to estimate the lower tail of the distribution of returns for a discretely rebalanced portfolio --- one in which portfolio weights are reset at regular intervals. We use a more tractable continuously rebalanced portfolio to design the IS estimator. We analyze a limiting regime based on estimating probabilities farther in the tail while letting the rebalancing frequency increase. We show that the estimator is asymptotically efficient for this sequence of problems; its relative error grows in proportion to the fourth root of the number of rebalancing dates.
Construction of Irregular LDPC Convolutional Codes with Fast Encoding

We propose a novel code design technique for irregular LDPC convolutional codes. The constructed codes can be encoded continuously in real time with the help of a shift-register based encoder. For moderate values of the syndrome former memory, simulation results show that the constructed codes outperform LDPC block codes with comparable hardware (processor) complexity.
Potential Positive Effects of Fire on Juvenile Amphibians in a Southern USA Pine Forest

Prescribed fire is a common tool used to conserve and manage the integrity of forest ecosystems. We investigated shortterm juvenile amphibian capture and body condition changes subsequent to fire (i.e., one prescribed burn and two wildfires) in a southern United States pine forest. We surveyed amphibians and predatory invertebrates before and after fires occurring during summer 2010. We tested for treatment (i.e., control, wildfire, or prescribed burn) and status (i.e., preburn or postburn) differences in 1) genus-level captures, 2) amphibian health (inferred through a body condition index), and 3) predatory invertebrate captures. Bufo and Scaphiopus captures increased in the prescribed burn treatment; whereas, no differences in Gastrophryne captures were observed. We did not detect a burn status effect on amphibian body condition. Predatory invertebrate captures were higher postburn in the control and wildfire treatments. Neither a low-intensity prescribed burn nor high-intensity wildfires negatively impacted short-term juvenile amphibian captures. Further, we speculate that Bufo and Scaphiopus survivorship may have been higher after the prescribed burn.
Anxiety Interacts With Expressed Emotion Criticism in the Prediction of Psychotic Symptom Exacerbation

Psychotic symptoms are exacerbated by social stressors in schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder patients as a group. More specifically, critical attitudes toward patients on the part of family members and others have been associated with a higher risk of relapse in the patients. Some patients appear to be especially vulnerable in this regard. One variable that could affect the degree of sensitivity to a social stressor such as criticism is the individual’s level of anxiety. The present longitudinal study assessed 27 relatively stable outpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and the single “most influential other” (MIO) person for each patient. As hypothesized, (1) patients with high critical MIOs showed increases in psychotic symptoms over time, compared with patients with low critical MIOs; (2) patients high in anxiety at the baseline assessment showed increases in psychotic symptoms at follow-up, compared with patients low in anxiety, and (3) patients with high levels of anxiety at baseline and high critical MIOs showed the greatest exacerbation of psychotic symptoms over time. Objectively measured levels of criticism were more predictive than patient-rated levels of criticism.