cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
LP‐Based Multi‐Vehicle Path Planning with Adversaries

We consider the problem of deriving optimal paths for a group of autonomous vehicles in an adversarial environment. To this end, both friendly and enemy vehicles are modeled as different resource types in an arena of sectors, and the path planning problem is viewed as a resource allocation problem. Simple model simplifications are introduced to allow the use of linear programming (LP) in conjunction with a receding horizon implementation for multi-vehicle path planning. Stochastic models based on the current positions and velocities of opposing vehicles are used to describe their possible future trajectories. The utility of the LP-based algorithm is tested in the RoboFlag drill, where both teams of vehicles have equal path planning capabilities using the proposed algorithm. Results show that the LP-based path planning in combination with a simple enemy model can be used for efficient multi-vehicle path planning in an adversarial environment.
A comparison of broad phonetic and acoustic units for noise robust segment-based phonetic recognition.

In this paper, we compare speech recognition performance using broad phoneticallyand acoustically-motivated units as a pre-processor in designing a novel noise robust landmark detection and segmentation algorithm. We introduce a cluster evaluation method to measure acoustic unit cluster quality. On the noisy TIMIT task, we find that the acoustic and phonetic segmentation approaches offer significant improvements over two baseline methods used in the SUMMIT segment-based speech recognizer, a sinusoidal model method and a spectral change approach. In addition, we find that the acoustic method has much faster computation time in stationary noises, while the phonetic approach is faster in non-stationary noise conditions.
Solving Multiple Dataflow Queries Using WPDSs

A dataflow query asks for the set of reachable (abstract) states, given a starting set of states. In this paper, we show how to optimize multiple queries on the same program (each with a different starting set of states) for better overall running time. After a preprocessing phase, we obtain an asymptotic improvement in answering dataflow queries. We use weighted pushdown systemsas the abstract model of a program. Our techniques are interprocedural. They are general, yet provide an impressive speedup. We applied our algorithm to three very different applications, one based on finding affine relations using linear algebra, and others for model checking Boolean programs, and obtained 1.5-fold to 7-fold speedups.
Of Coase, Calabresi, and Optimal Tax Liability

The Coase Theorem and the vast literature it inspired explore two basic questions: to whom should responsibility for external harms be assigned and how will that assignment matter. Building on the Coasean insight in the torts context, Guido Calabresi observed that the assignment of tort liability can indeed matter from an efficiency perspective and should, under certain assumptions, be assigned to the "cheapest cost avoider." This article applies a similar Coasean/Calabresian framework to a related (though not identical) set of questions in the tax context: To whom should the responsibility for remitting taxes be assigned and when and how will that assignment matter? Following Calabresi's canonical formulation for the design of an optimal tort system, we conclude that an optimal tax remittance regime requires that tax liabilities be assigned so as to minimize the overall social costs of compliance and administration for a given level of achievement of the tax law's desired distributional and revenue goals. This will sometimes mean assigning tax remittance responsibility to the lowest-compliance-cost remitter, and other times not - if that party happens also to be the lowest-cost liability avoider (the party best able to evade the tax). This comparison of tax remittance responsibility and tort remittance responsibility produces a number of positive and normative insights. For example, it helps to explain why the remittance responsibility for the retail sales tax lies primarily with the sellers rather than the buyers, as well as why we have wage withholding for the income tax. And it helps to explain some existing types of non-wage withholding, such as withholding on payments to foreign taxpayers. This framework also supports a number of reforms in the current U.S. regime for tax enforcement such as expanding the withholding requirement to payments made to independent contractors, which are a type of payment that currently contributes significantly to the overall U.S. federal tax gap.
ATTUNING TO THE CHEMOSPHERE: Domestic Formaldehyde, Bodily Reasoning, and the Chemical Sublime

Chronic domestic chemical exposures unfold over protracted timelines and with low velocity. In this article I argue that such microscopic encounters between bodies and toxicants are most readily sensed by less nameable and more diffuse sensory practices. The apprehension of conventionally insensible toxic exposures is informed by sustained attention to barely perceptible alterations of somatic function and atmosphere. Slight biochemical impressions, which at first appear simply meaningless or puzzling, accumulate in the bodies of the exposed and reorient them to the molecular constituents of the air and the domestic infrastructure from which such chemicals emanate. Through the articulation of these small corrosive happenings, residents of contaminated homes can accumulate minute changes to body and atmosphere across time and space in a process I call the “chemical sublime,” which elevates minor enfeebling encounters into events that stir ethical consideration and potential intervention. The chemical sublime is a late industrial experience that inverts an Enlightenment-era, yet still dominant, conception of the sublime. Across authoritative and questioned bodies, companion species and humans, this essay asks: in what ways do diffuse sensory practices generate knowledge of, attention to, and engagements with the chemical world?
The Ecological Restoration Alliance of Botanic Gardens: A New Initiative Takes Root

An international consortium of botanic gardens and arboreta is launching a collaborative Ecological Restoration Alliance under the auspices of BGCI (Botanic Gardens Conservation International). We describe the Alliance and the ways in which it serves worldwide restoration efforts. Botanic gardens and arboreta are uniquely positioned to contribute to restoration science and practice. They have the plant collections and information required to understand flora and vegetation, and the horticultural expertise and experience needed to propagate, grow, manage, and conserve plants, all of which are essential for successful restoration. Botanic gardens work beyond their walls to network, educate, advocate, develop policy, build capacity, and engage in restoration projects throughout the world.
Technological and economic potential of poly(lactic acid) and lactic acid derivatives

Abstract Lactic acid has been an intermediate-volume specialty chemical (world production ∼ 40,000 tons/yr) used in a wide range of food processing and industrial applications. Lactic acid has the potential of becoming a very large volume, commodity-chemical intermediate produced from renewable carbohydrates for use as feedstocks for biodegradable polymers, oxygenated chemicals, plant growth regulators, environmentally friendly ‘green’ solvents, and specialty chemical intermediates. The recent announcements of new development-scale plants for producing lactic acid and polymer intermediates by major U.S. companies, such as Cargill, Ecochem (DuPont/ConAgra), and Archer Daniels Midland, attest to this potential. In the past, efficient and economical technologies for the recovery and purification of lactic acid from crude fermentation broths and the conversion of lactic acid to the chemical or polymer intermediates had been the key technology impediments and main process cost centers. The development and deployment of novel separations technologies, such as electrodialysis (ED) with bipolar membranes, extractive distillations integrated with fermentation, and chemical conversion, can enable low-cost production with continuous processes in large-scale operations. The use of bipolar ED can virtually eliminate the salt or gypsum waste produced in the current lactic acid processes. Thus, the emerging technologies can use environmentally sound processes to produce environmentally useful products from lactic acid. The process economics of some of these processes and products can also be quite attractive. In this paper, the recent technical advances in lactic and polyactic acid processes are discussed. The economic potential and manufacturing cost estimates of several products and process options are presented. The technical accomplishments at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) and the future directions of this program at ANL are discussed.
Single versus combination antibiotic therapy for pneumonia due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa in neutropenic guinea pigs.

Studies of therapy for experimental pneumonia due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa have failed to document fl-lactam-aminoglycoside synergy for most antibiotics examined, in contrast to results usually observed with pseudomonas infections at other sites. The neutropenic guinea-pig model of pseudomonas pneumonia was modified to resemble more closely therapy for clinical infections. Animals were treated 16 hr after infection with ticarcillin, azlocillin, ceftazidime, tobramycin, and netilmicin, alone and in combination. As predicted by in vitro synergy testing, in all cases combination drug therapy was more effective than the corresponding drugs given alone (P < .05), as assessed by quantitative lung culture. Among single-drug regimens, those in which peak antibiotic levels did not exceed the minimal bactericidal concentration for the organism were significantly less effective. Resistance to aminoglycosides did not develop during therapy, and therefore, in this study does not explain the mechanism of synergy observed with (3-lactam antibiotics.
A spectral approach to determine location and orientation of azo dyes within surfactant aggregates.

Abstract The UV–vis absorption properties of azo dyes are known to exhibit a variation with the polarity and acidity of the dye environment. The spectral properties of a series of anionic azo dyes were characterized to further probe the interaction of these dyes with two types of surfactant aggregates: (1) the spherical micelles formed in aqueous solution by alkyltrimethylammonium bromide (CnTAB) surfactants with n = 10–16 and (2) the unilamellar vesicles spontaneously formed in water from binary mixtures of the oppositely-charged double-tailed surfactants cationic didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB) and anionic sodium dioctylsulfosuccinate (Aerosol OT or AOT). The observed dye spectra reflect the solvatochromic behavior of the dyes and suggest the location and orientation of the dye within the surfactant aggregates. Deconvolution of the overall spectra into sums of Gaussian curves more readily displays any contributions of tautomeric forms of the azo dyes resulting from intramolecular hydrogen bonding. The rich variation in UV/vis absorption properties of these anionic azo dyes supports their use as sensitive tools to explore the nanostructures of surfactant aggregates.
Relaxation training in essential hypertension: A failure of retraining in relaxation procedures†

Twenty-two participants in a large-scale controlled outcome study of the effects of relaxation training in essential hypertension, who showed substantial initial blood pressure lowering followed by a return toward baseline values, were randomly allocated either to retraining in the relaxation procedures or to routine follow-up care. While retraining was associated with reductions in blood pressure, these changes were not significantly different from those receiving only routine follow-up. Unobtrusive measures suggested that participants complied with home practice instructions. Thus, we conclude that retraining in relaxation procedures is no more effective in producing blood pressure lowering than routine booster sessions, and that attention should be given to relapse prevention rather than retraining after relapse.
Suppression of human lymphocyte proliferation by activated neutrophils or H2O2: surviving cells have an altered T helper/T suppressor ratio and an increased resistance to secondary oxidant exposure.

Either activated neutrophils (PMNs) or nanomole amounts of reagent hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) were found to cause catalase-reversible suppression of concanavalin A (Con A)-stimulated human lymphocyte proliferation. Suppression required PMN activation and occurred with PMN/lymphocyte ratios found in peripheral blood. Inhibition by reagent H2O2 occurred with 10–40 nmol H2O2/l × 106 lymphocytes, a noncytolethal amount which is produced readily by PMA-activated PMNs. Lymphoblasts recovered from suppressed cultures were two- to fourfold less sensitive than control lymphoblasts to a second exposure to H2O2. These relatively H2O2-resistant lymphoblasts also scavenge H2O2 at higher rates than do control lymphoblasts. Progeny lymphocytes from suppressed cultures contain an unusually high percentage of T helper cells with a concomitant decrease in T suppressors. These studies demonstrate a potential immunoregulatory role for phagocyte-released oxidants, especially H2O2, and suggest a possible additional mechanism to explain the excess of T helpers observed in situations of chronic inflammation.
Antibody response to melanoma helper-peptide vaccine correlates with survival

had a T cell response. Survival was strongly associated with antibody response, with median survival of 1.2 years in those without antibody response, but median survival not reached (greater than 5 years) for those with antibody response (p = 0.01). Discussion Antibody responses to NY-ESO-1 are well-characterized, but the occurrence and significance of antibody responses to other melanoma antigens is not known. The peptides in this vaccine mixture are derived from gp100, MART-1/MelanA, tyrosinase, MAGE-A3 and other MAGE proteins. These intermediate length peptides, administered in incomplete Freund’ sa djuvant plus GMCSF, induce strong antibody responses. Concern that the antibodies might interfere with immunogenicity by binding the peptides and clearing them is not supported because the presence of antibody is associated with CD4 + T cell response. On the other hand, these antibody responses appear to be clinically significant because they are strongly associated with patient survival. It is conceivable that these antibodies could lead to antigen-antibody complexes that support antigen uptake and presentation by dendritic cells.
Exploring the subcategories of stereotypes : not all mothers are the same

Stereotypes of mothers employed outside the home, unemployed at home with their children, and whose work role was unspecified were compared and contrasted. Two hundred and twenty-six randomly assigned university students rated how typical personality traits were of one of the three mothers. While the employed mother was perceived as retaining feminine qualities, she was described as less feminine, more masculine, and generally less desirable than the other mothers. Ratings for the mother with role unspecified paralleled those for the at-home mother, suggesting that she was assumed to be a mother at home rather than a generic or general entity. Implications for projects in which stereotypes of generic individuals have been described or evaluated are discussed.
Some axisymmetric problems for layered elastic media: Part II-solutions for annular indenters and cracks

We solve the problem of the axisymmetric annular indenter for the layered half space. Multiple contact region solutions are studied and the problem of an axisymmetric punch with internal pressure is solved for the layered half space and also for the special case of a layer with a traction-free lower surface. Finally, the problem of an annular crack in a homogeneous or layered structure is solved
Corneal Topographic Evaluation of Decentration in Photorefractive Keratectomy: Treatment Displacement vs Intraoperative Drift

Purpose To evaluate treatment displacement and movement during treatment (drift) after excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy using tangential topographic maps. Methods Forty-eight eyes of 48 patients showing axial decentration of 0.30 mm or more at 1 month posttreatment were reevaluated retrospectively to determine treatment displacement of the center of the photorefractive keratectomy ablation from the center of the pupil. A drift index was calculated to determine the relative degree of movement (drift) during treatment. We subdivided patients into four groups based on the degree of treatment displacement and drift and compared the mean axial decentration and the mean best-corrected logMAR visual acuity among the subgroups. Results Mean treatment displacement ± SD from the center of the entrance pupil was 0.34 ± 0.21 mm. Thirty-eight eyes (79.2%) had ablations within 0.50 mm from the center of the entrance pupil. We observed downward displacement in 27 eyes (56.2%) and upward displacement in 21 eyes (43.8%). The drift index showed a positive, statistically significant correlation with best-corrected visual acuity ( r = .58, P r = 0.64; P = .009). Conclusions In patients with gross decentration by axial topography after photorefractive keratectomy, tangential corneal topography is valuable in evaluating and differentiating photorefractive keratectomy treatment displacement from movement during treatment (drift). Patients with high drift index have worse visual outcomes after photorefractive keratectomy than those exhibiting high treatment displacement.
A 30-mW 8-b 125-MS/s pipelined ADC in 0.13-μm CMOS

An 8-b pipelined ADC constructed in 0.13-μm CMOS is described. This ADC uses a dual-supply technique to yield 8-b performance at a sampling rate of 125 MS/s while consuming 30 mW from 1.8-V and 1.2-V supplies. Active area is 0.4 mm2. Numerous challenges associated with this choice of process technology were overcome, such as limited dynamic range, copper metallization and the effects of gate oxide leakage.
Effects of phenethyl alcohol on transport reactions, nucleotide pools and macromolecular synthesis in Novikoff rat hepatoma cells growing in suspension culture.

At cytostatic concentrations, phenethyl alcohol has immediate and reversible effects on multiple metabolic processes of Novikoff rat hepatoma cells growing in suspension culture. These include an inhibition of the transport of various low molecular weight substances into the cell, an inhibition of DNA and protein synthesis and the processing of ribosomal RNA, and a degradation of ribosomal RNA. All effects might be explained as resulting from an interaction of the chemical with cellular membranes. Phenethyl alcohol does not have an immediate effect on RNA synthesis per se. The immediate failure of phenethyl alcohol-treated cells to incorporate uridine from the medium into RNA is due to an inhibition of the uridine transport reaction.
SRV2, a gene required for RAS activation of adenylate cyclase in yeast

We have identified a gene, SRV2, mutations of which alleviate stress sensitivity in strains carrying an activated RAS gene. Epistasis analysis suggests that the gene affects accumulation of cAMP in the cell. Direct assays of cAMP accumulation indicate that mutations of the gene diminish the rate of in vivo production of cAMP following stimulation by an activated RAS allele. Null mutations of srv2 result in lethality, which cannot be suppressed by mutational activation of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase. The sequence of the gene indicates that it encodes an adenylate cyclase-associated protein. These results demonstrate that SRV2 protein is required for RAS-activated adenylate cyclase activity, but that it participates in other essential cellular functions as well.
Natal dispersal in the cooperatively breeding Acorn Woodpecker

Abstract Dispersal data are inevitably biased toward short-distance events, often highly so. We illustrate this problem using our long-term study of Acorn Woodpeckers (Melanerpes formicivorus) in central coastal California. Estimating the proportion of birds disappearing from the study area and correcting for detectability within the maximum observable distance are the first steps toward achieving a realistic estimate of dispersal distributions. Unfortunately, there is generally no objective way to determine the fates of birds not accounted for by these procedures, much less estimating the distances they may have moved. Estimated mean and root-mean-square dispersal distances range from 0.22–2.90 km for males and 0.53–9.57 km for females depending on what assumptions and corrections are made. Three field methods used to help correct for bias beyond the limits of normal study areas include surveying alternative study sites, expanding the study site (super study sites), and radio-tracking dispersers within a...
Genetic Tools for the Industrially Promising Methanotroph Methylomicrobium buryatense

Aerobic methanotrophs oxidize methane at ambient temperatures and pressures and are therefore attractive systems for methane-based bioconversions. In this work, we developed and validated genetic tools for Methylomicrobium buryatense, a haloalkaliphilic gammaproteobacterial (type I) methanotroph. M. buryatense was isolated directly on natural gas and grows robustly in pure culture with a 3-h doubling time, enabling rapid genetic manipulation compared to many other methanotrophic species. As a proof of concept, we used a sucrose counterselection system to eliminate glycogen production in M. buryatense by constructing unmarked deletions in two redundant glycogen synthase genes. We also selected for a more genetically tractable variant strain that can be conjugated with small incompatibility group P (IncP)-based broad-host-range vectors and determined that this capability is due to loss of the native plasmid. These tools make M. buryatense a promising model system for studying aerobic methanotroph physiology and enable metabolic engineering in this bacterium for industrial biocatalysis of methane.
A new method for determining the extent of proline hydroxylation by measuring changes in the ratio of [4-3H]:[14C]proline in collagenase digests

Abstract A new method has been developed to determine the extent of proline hydroxylation in collagen. This method relies on the measurement of changes in the ratio of [ 3 H]:[ 14 C]-proline in bacterial collagenase digests, resulting from specific loss of tritium from the 4- trans position of the proline during hydroxylation. Proline hydroxylation can be measured in the presence of large amounts of noncollagen proteins, and simultaneous quantitation of the rates of collagen and noncollagen protein synthesis is obtained. The dual-labeled proline method is simple, rapid, and accurate. There was a very good correlation between this method and both ion-exchange chromatography and chloramine-T oxidation/toluene extraction procedures currently used for the measurement of proline hydroxylation.
A comprehensive system for protein purification and biochemical analysis based on antibodies to c-myc peptide.

The genomics revolution has created a need for increased speed and generality for recombinant protein production systems as well as general methods for conducting biochemical assays with the purified protein products. 9E10 is a well-known high-affinity antibody that has found use in a wide variety of biochemical assays. Here we present a standardized system for purifying proteins with a simple epitope tag based on c-myc peptide using an antibody affinity column. Antibodies with binding parameters suitable for protein purification have been generated and characterized. To purify these antibodies from serum-containing medium without carrying through contaminating immunoglobulin G, a peptide-based purification process was developed. A fluorescence polarization binding assay was developed to characterize the antigen-antibody interaction. Protein purification protocols were optimized using a fluorescein-labeled peptide as a surrogate "protein." Binding and elution parameters were evaluated and optimized and basic operating conditions were defined. Several examples using this procedure for the purification of recombinant proteins are presented demonstrating the generality of the system. In all cases tested, highly pure final products are obtained in good yields. The combination of the antibodies described here and 9E10 allow for almost any biochemical application to be utilized with a single simple peptide tag.
Evolution of DNA Replication Protein Complexes in Eukaryotes and Archaea

Background The replication of DNA in Archaea and eukaryotes requires several ancillary complexes, including proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), replication factor C (RFC), and the minichromosome maintenance (MCM) complex. Bacterial DNA replication utilizes comparable proteins, but these are distantly related phylogenetically to their archaeal and eukaryotic counterparts at best. Methodology/Principal Findings While the structures of each of the complexes do not differ significantly between the archaeal and eukaryotic versions thereof, the evolutionary dynamic in the two cases does. The number of subunits in each complex is constant across all taxa. However, they vary subtly with regard to composition. In some taxa the subunits are all identical in sequence, while in others some are homologous rather than identical. In the case of eukaryotes, there is no phylogenetic variation in the makeup of each complex—all appear to derive from a common eukaryotic ancestor. This is not the case in Archaea, where the relationship between the subunits within each complex varies taxon-to-taxon. We have performed a detailed phylogenetic analysis of these relationships in order to better understand the gene duplications and divergences that gave rise to the homologous subunits in Archaea. Conclusion/Significance This domain level difference in evolution suggests that different forces have driven the evolution of DNA replication proteins in each of these two domains. In addition, the phylogenies of all three gene families support the distinctiveness of the proposed archaeal phylum Thaumarchaeota.
Relationship Between Blood Pressure and Stroke Recurrence in Patients With Intracranial Arterial Stenosis

Background— Many clinicians allow blood pressure to run high in patients with intracranial stenosis to protect against hypoperfusion. We sought to determine whether higher blood pressure decreases the risk of stroke in these patients. Methods and Results— Data on 567 patients in the Warfarin-Aspirin Symptomatic Intracranial Disease (WASID) trial were analyzed. Time to ischemic stroke and stroke in the same territory of the stenotic vessel was compared in patients grouped by mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) and mean diastolic blood pressure (DBP) during the study. Additional analyses were based on severity and location of stenosis. Ischemic stroke risk increased with increasing mean SBP and DBP on univariate analysis (P<0.0001, P<0.0001) and after adjustment for risk factors (P=0.0008, P<0.0001). Elevated mean SBP and DBP also resulted in increased risk of stroke in the territory in univariate (P=0.0065, P<0.0001) and adjusted (P=0.0002, P=0.0005) analyses. The increased risk of stroke with increasing SB...
Blood Parameters in Leucocytozoon smithi Infected Poults Fed Clopidol

Poults naturally infected with L. smithi demonstrated a significant (P less than 0.01) decrease in arterial PO2 (mm. Hg) during the second and third weeks after exposure to black fly bites. Poults fed Clopidol (0.0125%) during the exposure period and subsequent experimental periods showed very little parasitemia and no significant reduction in arterial PO2.
Estimates of degradable organic carbon in deep-sea surface sediments from 14 C concentrations

Organic carbon sources, degradation and burial in surface marine sediments control the exchange of this carbon pool with that in the ocean and provide the key to understanding the response of the sedimentary reservoir to changing environmental conditions. We explore these subjects by organic-carbon concentration profiles and newly determined radiocarbon activities from three deep-water locations. Previous 14C studies in deep-sea1,2 and near-shore3 marine sediments revealed deep penetration of relatively recent organic carbon, some of which was believed to carry 14C from atmospheric nuclear-weapons testing. Our results suggest that the bulk of the organic matter in the surface mixed layer of marine sediments has a planktonic origin, and up to 50% of this reservoir is degradable on a timescale of ≤l,000yr; short enough to have responded to glacial–interglacial changes. The degradable fraction is estimated to be presently 50 ± 15 x 1015 g C and may have been several times larger during the past glacial period.
Influence of processing conditions on structure development and mechanical properties of poly(butylene terephthalate) filament

A study of the relationship between the drawing and annealing conditions of melt-spun poly(butylene terephthalate) filaments and the resulting structure and mechanical properties is described. The relative amount of β-form crystal content was found to increase with increase in draw ratio and to be directly proportional to the drawing stress for a given draw ratio. As drawing stress decreases with increase of draw temperature, the β content decreases rapidly with increased draw temperature. Annealing reduces the amount of β-phase but increases the α-phase content and crystallinity. The effect of these structural variations on the mechanical properties is examined. The mechanical properties are shown to be very sensitive to the structure of the filaments and, hence, to the processing conditions.
Immune Reconstitution in the HAART Era, Part 2: Implications for Practice

As discussed in Part 1 of this series, HIV infection alters the function of the immune system. These alterations include declines in CD4-positive lymphocyte counts, disturbances in the function of the CD4-positive lymphocyte, diminished delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) skin test responses and cell-mediated immune responses, phenotypic changes in lymphocytes, and changes in cytoxic T-lymphocyte and natural killer cell function. Although highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has dramatically improved CD4-positive lymphocyte counts and quality of life, there have been unforeseen consequences of immune reconstitution. For example, cytomegalovirus (CMV) and hepatitis C flares have been observed in HAART-treated patients coinfected with HIV and CMV and hepatitis C (HCV).Part 2 of this series will examine the clinical consequences of immune reconstitution in persons with HIV infection.
Renin-Angiotensin Inhibition in Diastolic Heart Failure and Chronic Kidney Disease

Abstract Background The role of renin-angiotensin inhibition in older patients with diastolic heart failure and chronic kidney disease remains unclear. Methods Of the 1340 patients (age≥65 years) with diastolic heart failure (ejection fraction≥45%) and chronic kidney disease (estimated glomerular filtration rate 2 ), 717 received angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers. Propensity scores for the use of these drugs, estimated for each of the 1340 patients, were used to assemble a cohort of 421 pairs of patients, receiving and not receiving these drugs, who were balanced on 56 baseline characteristics. Results During more than 8 years of follow-up, all-cause mortality occurred in 63% and 69% of matched patients with chronic kidney disease receiving and not receiving angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers, respectively (hazard ratio [HR], 0.82; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.70-0.97; P = .021). There was no association with heart failure hospitalization (HR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.82-1.18; P = .816). Similar mortality reduction (HR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.66-0.995; P = .045) occurred in a subgroup of matched patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate less than 45 mL/min/1.73 m 2 . Among 207 pairs of propensity-matched patients without chronic kidney disease, the use of these drugs was not associated with mortality (HR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.80-1.33; P = .826) or heart failure hospitalization (HR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.76-1.30; P = .946). Conclusions A discharge prescription for angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers was associated with a significant reduction in all-cause mortality in older patients with diastolic heart failure and chronic kidney disease, including those with more advanced chronic kidney disease.
Pre-employment drug-testing in the full-service restaurant industry and its relationship to employee work performance factors.

The purpose of this research is to assess the effect of pre-employment drug-testing policies on aspects of employee work performance in the full-service restaurant industry. Specifically, this study attempts to compare aspects of employee work performance in full-service restaurants with pre-employment drug-testing policies against the aforementioned aspects of work performance in full-service restaurants without pre-employment drug-testing polices. For the purpose of this study, work performance factors include absenteeism, turnover (voluntary and termination), and documented work-related injury/accidents. Results indicated no difference between employee absenteeism, turnover, or accidents among establishments with and without pre-employment drug-testing policies.
Design and synthesis of substrate-mimic inhibitors of mycothiol-S-conjugate amidase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Abstract The Staudinger reaction between a polymer-supported triphenylphosphine reagent and pseudo-disaccharide azides is successfully applied to synthesize a variety of substrate-mimic mycothiol analogs. Screening of this new group of analogs against the mycobacterial detoxification enzyme mycothiol- S -conjugate amidase (MCA) yielded several modest inhibitors (IC 50 values around 50 μM) and provided additional structure–activity relationships for future optimization of inhibitors of MCA and its homologs.
Application of anti-methotrexate Fab fragments for the optimization of intraperitoneal methotrexate therapy in a murine model of peritoneal cancer.

ABSTRACT Anti-drug antibodies may be used to impart regio-specific alterations in drug disposition, potentially enhancing the therapeutic selectivity of intracavitary chemotherapy. In the present study, we tested the hypotheses that systemic therapy with anti-methotrexate antibodies would allow increases in the maximum tolerated dose of intraperitoneal methotrexate (MTX) and allow increases in the therapeutic efficacy of intraperitoneal MTX in a murine model of peritoneal cancer. Monoclonal anti-MTX Fab antibody fragments (AMF) were produced, purified, and characterized. AMF pharmacokinetics were determined following i.v. bolus injection (0.4 g/kg) and s.c. bolus injection (0.4, 0.8, 2.2 g/kg). MTX efficacy was investigated in mice bearing peritoneal sarcoma 180 tumors, following administration of MTX via 72 h i.p. infusion at 1.9, 2.8, 3.8 mg/kg, and following combination therapy of 7.5 or 10 mg/kg i.p. MTX (72 h infusion) and 4.2 g/kg s.c. AMF. The mean terminal half-life of AMF was found to be 10.9 ± 3.3 h and was not dose-dependent, and s.c. bioavailability was 28% ± 7% at 2.2 g/kg. In mice bearing peritoneal tumors, the maximally tolerated dose of i.p. MTX increased from 1.9 mg/kg (following i.p. MTX alone) to 10 mg/kg (with co-administration of s.c. AMF). Median survival times for saline-treated control animals and animals receiving i.p. MTX (1.9, 2.8, 3.8 mg/kg) were 9, 12, 10, and 7 days, respectively. However, for animals receiving combination therapy with i.p. MTX 7.5 or 10 mg/kg and 4.2 g/kg s.c. AMF, median survival time increased to 17 and 14 days, respectively. As such, the present data suggest that systemic administration of AMF may allow increases in the maximally tolerated dose of i.p. MTX, and allow increases in the therapeutic efficacy of i.p. MTX chemotherapy of peritoneal tumors. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association.
The Nicotiana chloroplast genome IX. Identification of regions active as prokaryotic promoters in Escherichia coli

The galK-expression plasmid vector system pKO1 has been used to clone Nicotiana chloroplast (ct) promoters that function in Escherichia coli. The randomly cloned promoter-containing restriction fragments have been located on the ct genome and originate both from those regions encoding ribosomal and transfer RNAs and from locations elsewhere on the ct genome. The results provide the first demonstration that sequences which function as prokaryotic promoters exist in the ct genome.
tFPR: a fuzzy and structual pattern recognition system of multi-variate time-dependent pattern classes based on sigmoidal functions

Abstract tFPR is a hybrid fuzzy and structural pattern recognition system that uses fuzzy sets to represent multi-variate pattern classes that can be either static or dynamic depending on time or some other parameter space. The membership functions of the fuzzy sets that represent pattern classes are modeled by sigmoidal functions. The choice of sigmoidal functions was motivated by their ability to represent efficiently and concisely different multi-variate pattern classes. Given a set of input data and a pattern class specification, that is defined as a fuzzy set, tFPR estimates how closely the data match the pattern class specification using the grade of membership of the data in the fuzzy set. The input data may be a number of time-dependent signals whose past values may influence the evaluation of the pattern class. In that case, structural pattern recognition methods, in addition to fuzzy ones, are employed in order to match multi-dimensional curves (rather than points) in the input domain. Two different structural (segmentation) methods are presented. The first is an efficient greedy algorithm that is linear to the number of input data points while the second is an algorithm that is optimal under certain conditions but is slower than the first method. Although efficiency is a very important consideration in tFPR, the main issues are knowledge acquisition and knowledge representation (in terms of pattern classes). tFPR has been implemented in the BB1 blackboard architecture. It is currently being applied in a system for medical monitoring. Potential applications in other domains are under investigation.
Aluminum speciation and equilibria in aqueous solution: II. The solubility of gibbsite in acidic sodium chloride solutions from 30 to 70°C

The solubility of gibbsite in aqueous solutions was measured at ten ionic strengths made up of NaCl, HCl, and AlCl{sub 3} at 30, 50, and 70C with the initial acidity controlled by addition of HCl. The aluminum concentration was determined by ion chromatography, while the final equilibrium pH was measured at temperature. The equilibrium quotients for the reaction Al(OH){sub 3} + 3H{sup +} {r reversible} + Al{sup 3+} + 3H{sub 2}O were modeled using both an empirical equation including the Debye-Hueckel term and the Pitzer ion interaction treatment which incorporated the relevant single electrolyte and mixing interaction parameters currently available in the literature. In the latter treatment only four independent variables, including {theta}{sub AlNa}, {psi}{sub AlNaCl}, and two terms describing the equilibrium constant at infinite dilution, were needed to fit the data well within the projected experimental error. In general, these new equilibrium quotients differ markedly from results of all but the most recently published solubility studies. The thermodynamic parameters at infinite dilution are compared with those calculated from the individual components of the reaction available in the literature. These calculations lead to recommended thermodynamic values for the Gibbs energy of reaction at 25C of {minus}44.2 {plus minus} 0.3 kJmore » mol{sup {minus}1}, and a {Delta}G{sub f}{sup 0} (Al{sup 3+}, aq) of {minus}487.7 {plus minus} 1.5 kJ mol{sup {minus}1}, and a {Delta}H{sub f}{sup 0} (Al{sup 3+}, aq) of {minus}540.9 kJ mol{sup {minus} 1}. No evidence for aluminum chloride complexation was found by comparing solubility experiments in the presence of varying concentrations of sodium trifluoromethanesulfonate and sodium chloride at 50C and ca. 5 molal ionic strength.« less
Coprostanol formation. II. The opposing action of dietary lactose and calcium on cholesterol absorption.

Abstract 1. 1. Rats fed diets containing 40% lactose for 5 days exhibited higher total liver cholesterol values than controls fed a basal sucrose diet. Lactose-supplemented diets markedly reduced the formation of coprostanol, suggesting a possible relationship between this finding and cholesterol absorption. Quantitative balance studies demonstrated the absorption of 40.4% of administered cholesterol by sucrose controls in contrast to 66.2% of the same dose by lactose-fed rats. 2. 2. Both 2% and 4% calcium chloride inhibited cholesterol absorption when the diet was supplemented with lactose, while as much as 4 % calcium chloride was required to produce a similar effect on a sucrose diet. Calcium ion in the form of 2.2% calcium carbonate was less inhibitory than 2% calcium chloride, and 2.7% potassium oxalate overcame the action of 2% calcium chloride. 3. 3. Calcium chloride has no effect on cholesterol absorption when added to fat-free diets containing bile salts.
Backscatter x-ray radiography: Medical applications

A new x-ray perspective and tomographic imaging technique which employs the field backscattered by an object has been demonstrated to have interesting medical applications. The resulting radiographs appear as if the objects' internal features were interrogated by an "x-ray eye." Uncollimated detectors are placed on the same side of the object as the incident radiation. A flying spot technique creates a backscatter image. Spatial resolution of the system is dictated by the diameter of an x-ray beam which raster scans the object under study. One millimeter resolution at penetration depths of several centimeters of tissue equivalent material is demonstrated with the use of short pixel dwell times to achieve radiation dose levels of the order of 10 mR. A system which generates real time x-ray backscatter images was constructed and used to examine biological and test objects. Two modes of image formation have been employed: 1. The unusual perspective of an x-ray backproj ection of internal features. 2. The differentiation of different peak voltage scans to obtain longitudinal tomographic images. The system is sufficiently practical with several medical x-ray sources that medical diagnostic radiography could immediately derive benefit from the changed point-of-view.
The effect of age on the determination of race from the pelvis

Determination of race from the postcranial skeleton has been a subject of several morphometric studies. A finding of those studies was that race assessment from the pelvis could be enhanced if the age of the specimen was known (scan, 1983) . Blacks sampled in this earlier study were considerably younger than Whites, raising the question of whether or not the discriminant functions used to differentiate race were responding primarily to age differences rather than genetic differences. This question was analyzed with 400 pelves (100 from each sex/race group of American Blacks and Whites) obtained from the Terry collection. Two types of discriminant function tests were employed. The first function utilized the original variables, i.e., bi-iliac breadth, and the transverse diameter and anteroposterior height of the pelvic inlet. The second function was generated after the effect of age on pelvic dimensions was removed by means of simple regression analyses. The results of the study indicated that there was, on the average, a decrease in the accuracy of racial classification from 80% to 77% in males and 84% to 75% in females. These decreases were not significant.
Final decisions: How hospice enrollment prompts meaningful choices about life closure

Objective:The purpose of this study was to explore and describe decisions that faced newly enrolled hospice patients and their caregivers after hospice enrollment.Method:An exploratory, descriptive, cross-sectional design was employed using qualitative methods. In-depth in-person interviews were conducted with current hospice patients (n = 35) and caregivers (n = 45) from 53 families.Results:The decision to enroll in hospice was a critical juncture on the trajectory of a terminal illness that allowed patients and their families an opportunity to consider subsequent tasks that were important for life closure. A typology of five decisions is presented: (1) operationalized advance care planning (ACP): a renewed focus on decisions about care at life's end; (2) surrogate decision-making: caregivers begin making both informal and formal decisions for the dying person; (3) meaning-making: the foreshortened time brings into focus decisions about seeing special people, attending events, and creating memories; (4) Location of death: decisions about whether the person wants to and can remain at home to die; and (5) final acts: decisions about funeral arrangements, wills, and leaving a legacy become central. ACP was found to exist on a continuum that ranged from absent ACP, dormant ACP, simplified ACP to activated ACP. Hospice enrollment became a catalyst for reactivating discussion of end-of-life choices.Significance of results:Hospice enrollment prompts the need to consider subsequent important choices that contribute to meaningful life closure, are central to the completion of a family relationship, and may influence adaptation in bereaved caregivers. It is important for clinicians to recognize that well-timed encouragement to consider and explore the use of hospice services, although it may indeed diminish hope for cure or recovery, simultaneously offers an opportunity to engage with important and time-sensitive developmental tasks.
The isolation of endoplasmic reticulum from barley aleurone layers

Techniques for the isolation and purification of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) from aleurone layers of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) were assessed. Neither differential centrifugation nor density gradient centrifugation of a homogenate separate the ER or other organelles of this tissue from the lipidcontaining spherosomes. Isopycnic sucrose gradient centrifugation of organelles first purified by molecular sieve chromatography on Sepharose 4B, however, results in separation of the organelles based on their differing buoyant densities. Manipulation of the magnesium concentration of the isolation media and density-gradient solutions affords isolation of ER at a density of 1.13–1.14 g cc-1 and 1.17–1.18 g cc-1. Electron microscopy shows that the membranes sedimenting at 1.13–1.14 g cc-1 are devoid of ribosomes and are characteristic of smooth ER, while those sedimenting at 1.17–1.18 g cc-1 are studded with ribosomes and have the features of rough ER. Endoplasmic reticulum isolated by isopycnic density gradient centrifugation can be further purified by rate-zonal centrifugation.
Acquisition of South Asian material for the libraries of North America and Europe: Problems, prospects and perspectives☆

North American and European libraries have, over the years, experienced a great many problems in the acquisition of material from South Asia. Depleted budgets, high costs of books, and the near end of the “excess currency” of the PL, 480 program have compounded the problems of acquisition from that region. In this paper, the author identifies these and other difficulties, and provides substantive recommendations for the efficient acquisition of material from the countries of South Asia. The appendix includes such useful material as names and addresses of suppliers in the West as well as in the South Asian region. Also included are names and addresses of book review journals, both in English and in regional languages, published in the West as well as in the respective countries, and bibliographies useful for book selection.