cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Letter to the Editor Regarding "Diagnostic Considerations for COVID-19 in Recipients of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation".

SARS-CoV-2 in hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients is associated with severe coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) and higher mortality. SARS-CoV-2 infection is definitively diagnosed by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) typically using nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs, and less commonly, samples from the lower respiratory tract, including bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). In highly prevalent regions, stepwise evaluation, and management, as in the pre-COVID era, risks false-negatives and delay in therapy for COVID-19.
Abstract #3990: The pan-Bcl-2 family inhibitor ABT-737 synergizes with DNA damaging agents by enhancing apoptosis in acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells

Background: DNA damaging agents are the most common chemotherapy for human cancers, and combining them with agents that modulate resistance mechanisms can enhance activity. Etoposide, cyclophosphamide, and doxorubcin are DNA-damaging agents that are employed against a variety of cancers including recurrent pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). We determined if the BH-3 mimetic pan-Bcl-2 inhibitor ABT-737 could enhance the cytotoxicity of DNA damaging agents in ALL cell lines. Methods: Cytotoxicity was determined using a fluorescence-based digital imaging assay (DIMSCAN). Changes in various proteins were detected by immunoblotting. Apoptotic cells were detected by flow cytometry using Annexin-V and propidium iodide. Mutational status of TP53 was evaluated by sequencing PCR amplified DNA. Results: Combining ABT-737 with etoposide, cyclophosphamide (as 4-HC), or doxorubicin caused synergistic cytotoxicity (combination index values: Citation Information: In: Proc Am Assoc Cancer Res; 2009 Apr 18-22; Denver, CO. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; 2009. Abstract nr 3990.
Game-Theoretic Planning for Self-Driving Cars in Multivehicle Competitive Scenarios

In this article, we propose a nonlinear receding horizon game-theoretic planner for autonomous cars in competitive scenarios with other cars. The online planner is specifically formulated for a multiple-car autonomous racing game, in which each car tries to advance along a given track as far as possible with respect to the other cars. The algorithm extends previous work on game-theoretic planning for single-integrator agents to be suitable for autonomous cars in the following ways: 1) by representing the trajectory as a piecewise polynomial; 2) incorporating bicycle kinematics into the trajectory; and 3) enforcing constraints on path curvature and acceleration. The game-theoretic planner iteratively plans a trajectory for the ego vehicle and then the other vehicles in sequence until convergence. Crucially, the trajectory optimization includes a sensitivity term that allows the ego vehicle to reason about how much the other vehicles will yield to the ego vehicle to avoid collisions. The resulting trajectories for the ego vehicle exhibit rich game strategies such as blocking, faking, and opportunistic overtaking. The game-theoretic planner is shown to significantly outperform a baseline planner using model-predictive control, which does not take interaction into account. The performance is validated in high-fidelity numerical simulations with three cars, in experiments with two small-scale autonomous cars, and in experiments with a full-scale autonomous car racing against a simulated vehicle (video is available at https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmIcLEh8KMje4rYBqRANDuKvqFvj7LCRp ).
Political parties: insights from a tri-planar model of political economy

What is the place of political parties within a democratic system of political economy? Parties are often described as intermediaries that lubricate the political process by facilitating the matching of voter preferences with candidate positions. This line of analysis flows from a bi-planar model of the political process where politicians appeal directly to voters. In this paper, we examine how construction of a meso level of analysis that lies between micro and macro levels might influence the relationship between candidates and voters. This meso level interjects such organizations as political parties between candidates and voters, with those organizations comprising interest groups within a democratic process, as against serving simply as neutral intermediaries. In this case, political parties can exert substantive effects on democratic outcomes as they take on characteristics of interest groups, bringing to mind Michels (Political parties: a sociological study of the oligarchical tendencies of modern democracy, Hearst’s International Library, New York, 1915) analysis of the unavoidably oligopolistic nature of democratic political organization.
Spectroscopic Studies of z~5.7 and z~6.5 Galaxies: Implications for Reionization

The recent development of large, complete samples which identify high-redshift galaxies at z~5.7 and z~6.5 from deep, wide-field surveys provides detailed information on the earliest galaxies, their numbers, spatial and kinematic distributions, and implications for early reionization of the IGM. In this contribution we present results of spectroscopic studies of z~5.7 and z~6.5 galaxies identified from our deep, Lyman alpha narrowband and multicolor surveys conducted with the SuprimeCam mosaic CCD camera on the 8.3-m Subaru telescope and observed with the DEIMOS multi-object spectrograph on Keck. The luminosity function of the z~6.5 galaxies is shown to be similar to the luminosity function of the z~5.7 galaxy samples, suggesting that a substantial star-forming population is already in place at z~6.5. Comparisons of both individual and stacked spectra of galaxies in these two samples show that the Lyman alpha emission profiles, equivalent widths, and continuum break strengths do not substantially change over this redshift interval. The wide-field nature of the surveys also permits mapping the large-scale distribution of the high-redshift galaxies in spatial structures extending across individual SuprimeCam fields (~60 Mpc). Field-to-field variations in the number of objects at z~6.5 may shortly be able to place constraints on the porosity of the reionization boundary.
Interchangeable utilization of metals: New perspectives on the impacts of metal ions employed in ancient and extant biomolecules

Metal ions provide considerable functionality across biological systems, and their utilization within biomolecules has adapted through changes in the chemical environment to maintain the activity they facilitate. While ancient earth's atmosphere was rich in iron and manganese and low in oxygen, periods of atmospheric oxygenation significantly altered the availability of certain metal ions, resulting in ion replacement within biomolecules. This adaptation mechanism has given rise to the phenomenon of metal cofactor interchangeability, whereby contemporary proteins and nucleic acids interact with multiple metal ions interchangeably, with different coordinated metals influencing biological activity, stability, and toxic potential. The ability of extant organisms to adapt to fluctuating metal availability remains relevant in a number of crucial biomolecules, including the superoxide dismutases of the antioxidant defense systems and ribonucleotide reductases. These well-studied and ancient enzymes illustrate the potential for metal interchangeability and adaptive utilization. More recently, the ribosome has also been demonstrated to exhibit interchangeable interactions with metal ions with impacts on function, stability, and stress adaptation. Using these and other examples, here we review the biological significance of interchangeable metal ions from a new angle that combines both biochemical and evolutionary viewpoints. The geochemical pressures and chemical properties that underlie biological metal utilization are discussed in the context of their impact on modern disease states and treatments.
Historical ecology can inform restoration site selection: the case of black abalone (Haliotis cracherodii) along California's Channel Islands

Identifying appropriate ecological conditions for population restoration is important for endangered species such as black abalone (Haliotis cracherodii) in California, but limited information exists regarding restoration locations. Using a combination of ancient and historical archaeological data and modern commercial fishing records, four optimal locations for restoration based on past relative abundances of black abalone were identified: north-western, north-eastern, and south-central San Miguel Island and western San Nicolas Island. These locations around California's Channel Islands have supported dense black abalone populations for at least 10 000 years and may offer optimal environmental conditions to enhance the success of black abalone restoration. The strategy outlined here illustrates the promise of integrating prehistoric, historical, and modern fishery data to inform restoration of threatened and endangered abalone, oysters, and other shellfish around the world. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Taylor's formula with remainder

In this paper, we present a proof in ACL2(r) of Taylor's formula with remainder. This important theorem allows a function f with n + 1 derivatives on the interval [a, b] to be approximated with a Taylor series of n terms centered at a. Moreover, the formula allows the error in the approximation to be bounded by a term involving the (n + 1)st derivative of f on (a, b). The results in this paper were motivated in part by Jun Sawada's work with ACL2(r) verifying that the approximation used in the square root calculation of the IBM Power4 processor has the accuracy required. Sawada's proof effort used a Taylor approximation to the square root function. However, the support for such development in ACL2(r) is lacking [17]. This paper shows how such results can be proved in ACL2(r). It also shines a spotlight on some limitations of ACL2(r) that complicate the proof. Future work will address these limitations.
Price and Information Type in Microinsurance Demand: Experimental Evidence from Mexico

Poor households in developing countries face large and varied risks, but often have inadequate informal tools to manage them. Microinsurance is being developed to create a better alternative, and it should in theory be in high demand. Yet take-up of microinsurance remains low. I study the impact of price and information type on the demand for life microinsurance among borrowers of a large microfinance institution in Mexico. Borrowers were assigned in two separate randomizations to a high or low price of insurance coverage, and to information emphasizing the financial or emotional toll of premature death on the remaining family. Increasing the price of coverage by eliminating the subsidy decreased coverage. While the type of information did not impact coverage on average, the nature of the marketing message mattered. The emotional information led to a lower drop in coverage than the financial message among young borrowers, and a larger drop among middle-aged borrowers. The findings add to the literature on how information drives behavior in developing countries, and suggest that information can be a key policy instrument of development policy and household risk management.
Finding lips in unconstrained imagery for improved automatic speech recognition

Lip movement of a speaker conveys important visual speech information and can be exploited for Automatic Speech Recognition. While previous research demonstrated that visual modality is a viable tool for identifying speech, the visual information has yet to become utilized in mainstream ASR systems. One obstacle is the difficulty in building a robust visual front end that tracks lips accurately in a real-world condition. In this paper we present our current progress in addressing the issue. We examine the use of color information in detecting the lip region and report our results on the statistical analysis and modeling of lip hue images by examining hundreds of manually extracted lip images obtained from several databases. In addition to hue color, we also explore spatial and edge information derived from intensity and saturation images to improve the robustness of the lip detection. Successful application of this algorithm is demonstrated over imagery collected in visually challenging environments.
Assignment with En route training of navy personnel

Each year over 200000 Navy enlisted personnel are assigned new jobs at a cost of over 250 million dollars in moving expenses. The task of selecting assignments is complicated by the fact that an individual can be sent to a technical school (which has a limited capacity) to obtain additional training which makes him eligible for additional jobs. The optimal assignment of Navy personnel with en route training is addressed via an assignment problem with specially structured side constraints. This article presents a new algorithm to solve the integer network problem which is based on resource-directive decomposition in conjunction with Lagrangian relaxation. The new solution procedure is very fast compared to alternate methods. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Liquidity Risk and Classical Option Pricing Theory

The purpose of this paper is to review the recent derivatives security research involving liquidity risk and to summarize its implications for practical risk management. The literature supports three general conclusions. The first is that the classical option price is "on average" true, even given liquidity risk. Second, it is well known that although the classical (theoretical) option hedge can not be applied as theory prescribes, its discrete approximations often provide reasonable approximations. These discrete approximations are also consistent with upward sloping supply curves. And, third, risk management measures like value-at-risk (VaR) are biased low due to the exclusion of liquidity risk. A simple adjustment for incorporating liquidity risk into standard risk measures is provided.
Discrimination of human T-lymphotropic virus type-I and type-II infections by synthetic peptides representing structural epitopes from the envelope glycoproteins

Synthetic peptides representing the immunodominant structural motifs of the envelope region of human T-lymphotropic virus types I (HTLV-I) (Env-1(191-214) and Env-5(242-257)) and II (HTLV-II) (Env-20(85-102 and Env-2(187-209)) were used to develop an enzyme immunoassay that could discriminate between HTLV-I and HTLV-II. Serum specimens from individuals whose infections were confirmed and typed by means of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the new assay. When 73 PCR-confirmed HTLV-I specimens were tested with the HTLV-I peptides, the absorbance values for 71 (97.3%) were at least two times higher than the values obtained with the HTLV-II peptides; these samples thus were classified as HTLV-I. Two specimens reacted with all the peptides and, therefore, could not be typed. Conversely, when 59 PCR-confirmed HTLV-II specimens were tested with the HTLV-II peptides, 55 (93%) produced high absorbance values and were typed as HTLV-II; 4 specimens could not be typed. None of the specimens was incorrectly typed; hence, the specificity of this assay was 100%. When this assay was compared with other HTLV immunoassays, the degrees of sensitivity and specificity were similar. The main advantage of this new assay is that synthetic peptides representing variant sequences can easily be added as new variant HTLV strains are identified.
Evaluating endoglucanase Cel7B‐lignin interaction mechanisms and kinetics using quartz crystal microgravimetry

The kinetics and mechanisms of protein interactions with solid surfaces are important to fields as diverse as industrial biocatalysis, biomedical engineering, food science, and cell biology. The nonproductive adsorption of cellulase enzymes to lignin, a plant cell wall polymer, reduces their effectiveness in saccharifying biomass. Cellulase has been shown to interact with lignin, but the heterogeneity of lignin surfaces, challenges in measuring irreversible components of these interactions, and fast adsorption rates make quantifying the reaction kinetics difficult. This work employs quartz crystal microgravimetry with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) for real-time measurement of adsorbed mass on a flat lignin surface. We have developed a method for casting homogeneous lignin films that are chemically similar to lignin found in pretreated biomass, and used QCM-D to compare three models of reversible-irreversible binding behavior: a single-site transition model, a transition model with changing adsorbate footprint, and a two-site transition model. Of the three models tested, the two-site transition model provides the only kinetic mechanism able to describe the behavior of Cel7B binding to lignin. While the direct implications of lignin-cellulase interactions may be limited to biomass deconstruction for renewable energy and green chemistry, the analytical and experimental methods demonstrated in this work are relevant to any system in which the kinetics and reaction mechanism of reversible and irreversible protein adsorption at a solid-liquid interface are important.
N,N',N''-Tris(p-methoxyphenyl)phosphoric triamide.

The title compound, C 21 H 24 N 3 O 4 P, is a self-complementary hydrogen-bond (HB) building unit, with (P=)O as the primary HB acceptor and N-H as the HB donor. Each of the four crystallographically distinct and nearly parallel molecules of the unit cell has a net dipole moment along the P=O bond direction and all of the dipoles are directed in the same general crystallographic direction. Head-to-tail N-H...O=P double-HB strands stack adjacent molecules into one-dimensional infinite polar columns. Each polar column is a 2 1 helix and all columns are essentially parallel, resulting in polar order throughout the entire crystal.
Low-density particles of bacteriophage λ

Abstract Lysates of phage λ prepared in broth that has been diluted in saline have very low titers. The addition of either Ca ++ or Mg ++ greatly increases the yield of phage per cell. Strains of phage carrying the i λ allele are more strongly affected by low concentrations of these divalent ions than are strains carrying the i 434 allele. A high proportion of the phages produced under conditions of low divalent ion concentrations are of low density. These low-density particles (LDP) are not defective phages and carry all the genetic information of normal phage. They revert to normal density in a single cycle of growth without recombination. The transducing phages λbio and λgal , which may also be of low density, appear in unusually high proportions in Ca ++ - and Mg ++ -deficient media in the same way as LDP. It is suggested that similarities in the structure of LDP and transducing phages may account for similarities in their density distribution and in their ability to be formed in media lacking in Ca + and Mg ++ .
Multiple DNA-dependent RNA polymerases from mouse leukemia L1210 ascites cells

Abstract 1. 1. Three classes of DNA-dependent RNA polymerase have been solubilized from mouse leukemia L1210 cells by sonication in high salt. 2. 2. These enzymes were resolved on DEAE- and CM-Sephadex. 3. 3. Each enzyme form was characterized by sensitivity to α-amanitin, Mn 2+ and Mg 2+ optimum and (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 activation. 4. 4. Although each enzyme form appeared analogous to those described in other eukaryotic systems, it is significant that the ratio of polymerase I to polymerase II is higher in this tumor cell line than that reported for normal mouse tissues.
CORN SILAGE AS A FEED SUPPLEMENT FOR GROW-OUT OF Macrobrachium rosenbergii IN PONDS

Feeding trials were conducted with Macrobrachium rosenbergii to evaluate corn silage as a nutrient source for prawns in the pond environment. Cages were placed in a commercial pond and stocked with juvenile prawns at a density of 10 animals/m2. Cage bottoms were buried in the pond mud, allowing animals access to the detrital layer. Diets of commercial prawn pellet, corn silage, and a 50:50 pellet and silage mix were fed at rates of 2.5% and 5% (dry weight basis) biomass per day. Control cages received no applied feed. Diets were isocaloric and growth was measured as weight gain. During the 10-week trials, animals receiving the commercial pellet and the 50:50 diet grew similarly at the 5% feeding rate but not when fed at 2.5%. Positive contribution of silage in the 50:50 diet fed at 5% is suggested By the facts that when fed at 2.5%, pellet alone was insufficient to promote growth equal to that on pellet fed at 5%, and silage alone produced more growth than non-fed controls. Survival in cages averaged 95% for the fed treatments (90–100%), 89% for the non-fed controls (88–90%). Data suggest that high fiber feeds such as corn silage can play a role in supporting the pond production of prawns and that the cage technique can be a useful tool in assessing prawn feeds in a pond environment.
On green's function for hyperbolic-parabolic systems

Abstract We study the Green's function for a general hyperbolic-parabolic system, including the Navier-Stokes equations for compressible fluids and the equations for magneto hydrodynamics. More generally, we consider general systems under the basic Kawashima Shizuta type of conditions. The first result is to make precise the secondary waves with subscale structure, revealing the nature of coupling of waves pertaining to different characteristic families. The second result is on the continuous differentiability of the Green's function with respect to a small parameter when the coefficients of the system are smooth functions of that parameter. The results significantly improve previous results obtained by the authors.
Time-of-flight spectroscopy and fast imaging studies of carbon dimers in laser-produced plasmas

Summary form only given. The interaction between laser ablation plumes and a background gas has recently received increased attention due to its importance in pulsed laser deposition and carbon-cluster production. Carbon clusters, like C60 and higher fullerenes are known to be produced by laser ablation of carbon in the presence of an ambient atmosphere. However, there is a great uncertainty as to when and where these clusters are formed within the laser-ablated plume. Moreover, understanding the particle generation in laser ablation plumes is very important for pulsed laser deposition, laser ablation sample introduction in ICP-MS, etc. In the context of carbon clusters, it is articulated that the molecular C2 plays a prominent role in their formation. Laser ablation has the unique advantage that most of these molecules are formed in their excited states, and hence, spectroscopic measurements offer an excellent means to investigate their evolution and dynamics. We investigated the effect of helium ambient gas on the dynamics of molecular C2 formation. For producing plasmas, graphite targets were irradiated with 1064 nm, 6 ns pulses from an Nd:YAG laser and the helium ambient gas pressure was varied from high vacuum to 5 Torr. The emission from C2 species were studied using spectrally-resolved fast imaging and space- and time-resolved emission spectroscopy. The ICCD imaging was also used to characterize the propagation and expansion dynamics of the laser generated graphite plasma. Space- and time-resolved spectroscopy provided the time-of-flight distribution of the C2 species in the plasma. The temporal evolution of carbon dimers are found to be significantly influenced by the pressure of the ambient gas. A multi-peak temporal intensity distribution is observed for carbon dimers at moderate pressure levels. The dynamics of C2 emission and the role of helium ambient pressure on its spatial and temporal evolution are analyzed and discussed.
Rethinking Premodern Japanese Buddhist Texts: A Case Study of Prince Shōtoku’s "Sangyō-gisho"

This article examines the Sangyō-gisho 三経義疏 (Commentaries on the Three Sūtras), three Buddhist texts written in classical Chinese that have been attributed to Japan's Prince Shōtoku (574-622 CE). I will focus on the different ways in which four figures from the Kamakura era (1185-1333 CE) understood, used, and valued these texts. Even among this small group of contemporary monks from the thirteenth century we will find distinct notions of what constitutes the "text," some of which differ in important ways from modern scholarly conceptions of the Sangyō-gisho . Through highlighting these different perspectives, I offer an alternative approach to a large body of modern scholarly studies, which has focused on a set of technical concerns looking back to the moment of the texts' composition.
Bisphosphonates and cancer

Bisphosphonates form a family of drugs characterized pharmacologically by their ability to inhibit bone resorption and pharmacokinetically by similar intestinal absorption, skeletal distribution, and renal elimination. Two groups of bisphosphonates exist chemically, non-amino-bisphosphates and amino-bisphosphonates. The amino-bisphosphonates have greater antiresorptive capabilities and represent a newer generation of bisphosphonates. The primary mechanism of action of bisphosphonates is inhibition of osteoclastic activity. Non-amino-bisphosphonates are incorporated into the energy pathways of the osteoclast, resulting in disrupted cellular energy metabolism leading to apoptosis. Amino-bisphosphonates exert their effect on osteoclasts via their inhibition of the mevalonate pathways, resulting in disruption of intracellular signaling and induction of apoptosis. Bisphosphonates also inhibit cancer cell proliferation, induce apoptosis in in vitro cultures, inhibit angiogenesis, inhibit matrix metalloproteinase, have effects on cytokine and growth factors, and are immunomodulatory. Clinical applications in oncology could include therapy for hypercalcemia of malignancy, inhibition of bone metastasis, and therapy for bone pain. Although bisphosphonates are regarded as metabolically inert in the body, adverse effects do occur and include esophagitis, gastritis, suppression of bone repair, and allergic reactions. Little is published on the effects of bisphosphonates in dogs with cancer. Further research into the role of bisphosphonates in veterinary oncology is needed to identify clinical efficacy and safety of these potentially beneficial drugs.
Habitat and microsite influence demography of two herbs in intact and degraded scrub

Identifying environmental factors associated with vital rate variation is critical to predict population consequences of environmental perturbation. We used matrix models to explore effects of habitat and microsite on demography of two widespread herbs, Chamaecrista fasciculata (partridge pea) and Balduina angustifolia (yellow buttons). We evaluated models simulating population dynamics in common microsites (shrub, litter, bare sand) within two habitats (intact, degraded Florida scrub) using data on experimental populations initiated by sowing seeds, and natural seed production. Models included four stages (seed bank, small vegetative, large vegetative, reproductive) and three vital rates (survival, growth, fecundity), summarized in sixteen transitions. We conducted life table response experiments to assess contributions of each habitat and microsite to population growth rates. We found that (1) C. fasciculata had greatest population growth in degraded habitat and litter microsites, (2) B. angustifolia had similar population growth between habitats and greatest in bare sand microsites, (3) advancing growth transitions of C. fasciculata had greatest elasticity on population growth in degraded habitat, shrub, and litter, as did seed survival in intact habitat and bare sand, (4) seed survival and advancing growth transitions of B. angustifolia had greatest elasticity on population growth in both habitats, as did seed survival in shrub and litter, and advancing growth in bare sand. Greater population growth of C. fasciculata in degraded scrub is probably explained by release from belowground competition; B. angustifolia may be most affected by competition with shrubs. Microsites in intact scrub were not ecologically equivalent to those in degraded scrub emphasizing that intact scrub is ecologically complex and critical to preserve.
Use of skin grafting in the foot

Skin grafting is a useful adjunct to treating open wounds. It not only provides rapid wound coverage, but also eliminates the pain and the risk of further infection associated with open wounds. A successful skin graft take requires a well vascularized and relatively sterile bed, as well as complete resolution of any surrounding infection. The author reviews the indications and techniques for obtaining a successful skin graft take.
Empirical Tests of Stochastic Dominance in Capital Investment Planning: A Spreadsheet Framework

The empirical inadequacy of direct application of stochastic dominance rules and their variants has led to the development of statistical tests for making dominance inferences. Yet very little is known about their application in capital investment planning, and the algorithms for their implementation are not readily available to the analyst who uses spreadsheets for capital investment planning. Therefore, this article develops a spreadsheet framework for conducting empirical tests of stochastic dominance when comparing alternative capital investment plans under uncertainty. It uses bootstrap and simulation methodology to compute the p-values required for making first- and second-order dominance inferences. Results from numerical examples show that empirical tests yield robust inferences when the structure of risk profiles and their integrals is such that dominance inferences by visual inspection are difficult. Therefore, analysts should model and empirically test for these relationships if they want to ma...
Use of direct-probe mass spectrometry as a toxicology confirmation method for demoxepam in urine following high-performance liquid chromatography.

Abstract The identification of the metabolite demoxepam in human urine establishes that chlordiazepoxide, a common benzodiazepine, has been administered. Like N-oxide metabolites of other drugs, demoxepam cannot be detected by gas chromatography—mass spectrometry (GC-MS), due to thermal decomposition, and the product, nordiazepam, is a metabolite common to many benzodiazepines. Demoxepam can be readily screened using a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system such as REMEDi HS; at 35°C, no thermal decomposition will occur. Currently, there is no confirmation method available for the detection of demoxepam in urine samples. In this study, we demonstrated that following collection of the HPLC fraction, demoxepam can be confirmed using the technique of direct-probe MS. The mass spectra of demoxepam and nordiazepam differ and are easily distinguishable from each other. Ten urine samples that were analyzed by HPLC and determined to contain demoxepam were evaluated; demoxepam was confirmed in each case by direct-probe MS.
The 3'-terminal sequence of the small subunit ribosomal RNA from hamster mitochondria.

Abstract The 220 3'-terminal nucleotides of the small ribosomal subunit RNA (13S) of hamster (BHK-21) cell mitochondria have been sequenced and the positions of post-transcriptionally methylated residues within this sequence have been established. Also, we have derived the secondary structure of the 3'-terminus of mitochondrial 13S rRNA by 1) searching nucleotide sequences of 13S rRNA, procaryotic 16S rRNA and eucaryotic 18S rRNA for common secondary structures and 2) using single-strand specific endonucleases to map secondary interactions in 13S rRNA. The pyrimidine tract CCUCC in E. coli 16S rRNA, which participates in base-pairing with bacterial mRNA, is absent in mitochondrial 13S rRNA. We believe that the binding of mRNA to mammalian mitochondrial ribosomes is not mediated by a conventional Shine-Dalgarno interaction.
Realist-normative power Europe? Explaining EU policies toward Lebanon from an IR perspective

This article seeks to explain the relationship between the European Union (EU) and one of its Middle Eastern neighbors: Lebanon. By conducting an in-depth empirical single case study and engaging in competitive theory testing, this article shows that the EU in Lebanon behaves at the same time as a normative and a realist power. This article challenges both the scholarship on the EU that sees the EU as a normative power as well as scholarship that focuses on structural neorealism to explain the EU's role in its neighborhood. This article adopts an approach that is different from the mainstream approaches in two ways. First, it focuses on the entire set of policies that the EU has implemented or not in Lebanon. Second, it provides an in-depth case study centered on the interaction between the EU and Lebanon, while also looking at the regional dynamics and at the domestic tensions within Lebanon. By doing so, it shows that the EU is a ‘realist-normative’ power in the specific case of Lebanon. Thus, these two frameworks are a false dichotomy and the argument shall be tested on other cases to make it generalizable. This suggests that the constructivist-realist divide coexists in practice.
Increased biotic metabolism of the biosphere inferred from observed data and models

A 35 year record of production and respiration in the Northern Hemisphere bas been derived from monthly records of atmospheric concentration, fossil fuel combustion, and oceanic absorption of carbon dioxide using a method developed by Hall et al. The original conclusion of Hall et al. that there was no significant change in biotic metabolism, is confirmed by measuring both production and respiration from 1958 to 1972. But the analysis of the subsequent record shows that both production and respiration have been enhanced since the early 1970s by some large scale global change, probably of human origin. Our results also show that high-latitude regions in the Northern Hemisphere are changing more than regions further south. Nevertheless, the ratio of production to respiration (P/R) remains unchanged during the time period examined. Thus, no argument can be made for net carbon storage of or release from the biosphere from this analysis, although the turnover rate of the biosphere appears to be enhanced.
Immunosuppressive factor(s) specific for L-glutamic acid50-L-tyrosine50 IV. In vitro activity and immunochemical properties

The responsiveness of BALB/c spleen cells to the terpolymer L-glutamic acid60-L-alanine30-L-tyrosine10(GAT), the copolymer of L-glutamic acid50-L-tyrosine50 (GT) and the corresponding complexes with methylated bovine serum albumin (MBSA) has been studied in vitro in a modified Mishell-Dutton culture system, Cultures of BALB/c spleen cells respond to GAT, GAT-MBSA and GT-MBSA over a wide dose range. Contrary to in vivo findings BALB/c spleen cell cultures respond to GT in vitro although in a much narrower dose range. Lymphoid extracts from GT-primed BALB/c or B10.BR mice (GT-TSF) specifically suppress the GT-MBS A response in vitro. This culture system has allowed us to further investigate immunochemical properties of both BALB/c and B10.BR GT-TSF. GT-TSF from both strains display affinity for GT-Sepharose and bear determinants encoded by the I region of the H-2 complex. Moreover, we demonstrate that the suppressive activity from B10.BR mice is a molecule or a molecular complex which displays affinity for GT and bears determinants of the I-J subregion of the H-2k haplotype.
Classification of multiplicity free symplectic representations

Abstract Let G be a connected reductive group acting on a finite-dimensional vector space V. Assume that V is equipped with a G-invariant symplectic form. Then the ring O ( V ) of polynomial functions becomes a Poisson algebra. The ring O ( V ) G of invariants is a sub-Poisson algebra. We call V multiplicity free if O ( V ) G is Poisson commutative, i.e., if { f , g } = 0 for all invariants f and g. Alternatively, G also acts on the Weyl algebra W ( V ) and V is multiplicity free if and only if the subalgebra W ( V ) G of invariants is commutative. In this paper we classify all multiplicity free symplectic representations.
Nox4 as a potential therapeutic target for treatment of uremic toxicity associated to chronic kidney disease.

Watanabe et al. report that Nox4 NADPH oxidase catalytic moiety and the subunit p22phox mediate the increase in oxidative stress and human tubular epithelial cell injury induced by p-cresyl sulfate, a protein-bound uremic toxin. These findings could be instrumental for the design of novel therapeutic intervention utilizing small-molecule inhibitors specifically targeting Nox oxidases to prevent or slow down the progression of chronic kidney disease and the associated disorders due to uremic toxicity.
Structure-related initiation of reentry by rapid pacing in monolayers of cardiac cells

This study examines how a zigzag pattern of conduction, a form of structural heterogeneity frequently found in old or diseased hearts, affects the vulnerability to reentry during rapid pacing. A central rectangular island (8x4 mm) containing a predefined zigzag pattern was created in cultured isotropic monolayers of neonatal rat ventricular myocytes. Impulse propagation was optically mapped from 253 sites using voltage-sensitive dye and was anisotropic within the zigzag island. With increasing interval between neighboring transverse connections (a), relative to the distance between longitudinal strands (b), transverse conduction velocity (CV) decreased to 66+/-6%, 20+/-2%, and 15+/-2% of CV in the surrounding isotropic region, whereas longitudinal CV increased to 102+/-8%, 113+/-12%, and 131+/-23% for a:b ratios of 1:1, 1:5, and 1:9, respectively. During rapid pacing, propagation distal to the island was steered from the side of the island with more transverse connections ("dominant" side) toward the side with fewer connections ("weak" side). Increased asymmetry in the pattern accentuated this effect, and resulted in increased rate-dependent differences in CV on the 2 sides. Consequently, a functional obstacle formed on the weak side, followed by development of single loop reentry. The reentrant wave revolved around a line of block defined by the border of the island. Reentry chirality was determined by the weak side location, and the pacing rate needed to initiate reentry decreased with increased asymmetry in the pattern. In conclusion, reentry is readily induced by rapid pacing in confluent cardiac cell monolayers containing a central and asymmetric island of zigzag conduction.
High heat flux x-ray monochromators: What are the limits?

First optical elements at third-generation, hard x-ray synchrotrons, such as the Advanced Photon Source (APS), are subjected to immense heat fluxes. The optical elements include crystal monochromators, multilayers and mirrors. This paper presents a mathematical model of the thermal strain of a three-layer (faceplate, heat exchanger, and baseplate), cylindrical optic subjected to narrow beam of uniform heat flux. This model is used to calculate the strain gradient of a liquid-gallium-cooled x-ray monochromator previously tested on an undulator at the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS). The resulting thermally broadened rocking curves are calculated and compared to experimental data. The calculated rocking curve widths agree to within a few percent of the measured values over the entire current range tested (0 to 60 mA). The thermal strain gradient under the beam footprint varies linearly with the heat flux and the ratio of the thermal expansion coefficient to the thermal conductivity. The strain gradient is insensitive to the heat exchanger properties and the optic geometry. This formulation provides direct insight into the governing parameters, greatly reduces the analysis time, and provides a measure of the ultimate performance of a given monochromator.
American college of rheumatology quality indicators for rheumatoid arthritis: Benchmarking, variability, and opportunities to improve quality of care using the electronic health record

Objective To measure how rheumatologists across our health system performed with the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) quality indicators (QIs) for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and methotrexate (MTX) drug safety, and to develop opportunities for improvement. Methods An electronic health record (EHR) review of 1,062 unique RA patients seen by 15 rheumatologists in a 1-year period was performed. Percentage of each QI met, reasons why the metric was not met, and performance of rheumatologists based on years of experience were evaluated. Results The percentage met was high for QI-2 (RA disease-modifying antirheumatic drug use; 94%), QI-3 (intervention if RA worse; 85%), and QI-4 (MTX risks discussion; 87%). Percentage met was lower for QI-1 (RA core data set; 69%), QI-5 (MTX baseline studies; 41%), and QI-6 (MTX followup studies; 46%). QI-1 and QI-5 were low due to most physicians missing a single test, and QI-6 was low because of few physicians driving the percentage down. Better QI performance was seen in rheumatologists with ≤10 years versus >10 years of experience for QI-1 (90% versus 64%; odds ratio [OR] 4.21, P = 0.004) and QI-3 (96% versus 82%; OR 4.47, P = 0.019). EHR chart review for this population required 179.3 hours. Conclusion Measurement allows us to better understand the quality of care that we deliver. In this systematic benchmarking of the ACR QIs in a large RA cohort, performance was excellent in RA treatment–related QIs. Significant variability was noted in RA and MTX monitoring measures, which can be addressed using process redesign techniques.
A rhetorical schema for the evaluation of visual imagery

In this essay, a schema is proposed for the evaluation of visual imagery from a rhetorical perspective. In the schema, judgments of quality about a visual image are made in terms of the function communicated by the image. Three processes are involved in such judgments— identification of a function or functions communicated by an image, assessment of the degree to which substantive and stylistic dimensions of the image support the communication of the function, and evaluation of the legitimacy of the function. The schema is illustrated in applications to a chair from the Memphis design consortium and to The NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt.
A 16-element phased-array head coil

Volume-array coils offer increased signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) over standard volume coils near the array elements while preserving the SNR at the center of the volume. As the number of array elements is increased, the SNR advantage as well as the complexity of actually constructing the array increases also. In this study, a 16-channel receive-only array for imaging of the brain is demonstrated and compared to a circularly polarized (CP) head coil of similar shape and diameter. The array was formed from a 2 × 8 grid of square elements placed on a cylindrical form. Mutual coupling was minimized by a combination of overlapping element placement and current-reducing matching networks. Simultaneous data acquisition from the 16 individual elements was performed using a four-channel receiver system with each channel time domain multiplexed by a factor of 4. Theoretical and experimental comparisons between the array and a standard CP head coil show that the array offers an increase in SNR of nearly a factor of 3 near its surface while maintaining a comparable SNR to that of the CP head coil in the center of the region of interest.
Children's Relational Knowledge of Addition and Subtraction

Knowledge of addition combinations has long been thought to facilitate the learning of subtraction combinations (e.g., 8 - 5 = ? can be answered by thinking 5 + ? = 8). Indeed, it follows from Siegler's (1987) model that an associative facilitating effect should make the correct answer the most common response to a subtraction combination, even in the earliest phase of mental-subtraction development. Children in the initial or the early phase of development were examined in 2 studies. Study 1 involved 25 kindergartners and 15 first graders in a gifted program; Study 2 involved 21 first graders in a regular program. Participants were presented with pairs of items, such as 4 + 5 = 9 and 9 - 4 = ?, and asked if the first item helped them to answer the second. Many participants, particularly the less developmentally advanced ones, did not recognize they could use a related addition equation to determine a difference. Study 2 participants were also administered a subtraction timed test. Contrary to Siegler's m...
Adaptive filtering approach to chirp estimation and inverse synthetic aperture radar imaging of maneuvering targets

In inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) imaging, due to the noncooperative motions of maneuvering targets, the Doppler shifts of scatterers are usually time-varying, and the radar return signals are usually chirps. Thus, chirp estimation plays an important role in the performance of ISAR imaging. Li and Stoica (1996) presented an adaptive finite impulse response (FIR) filtering approach to estimate the amplitudes and phases of sinusoidal signals and applied it to the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging with the sinusoidal signal model. We extend the Li and Stoica's algorithm to estimate the chirps and then apply it to the ISAR imaging of maneuvering targets. The extended algorithm is verified by some raw ISAR data.
Strain and site dependence of polyploidization of cultured rat smooth muscle

Smooth muscle cell (SMC) growth may play an important role in the pathogenesis of vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis and hypertension. Recent studies have demonstrated that, under different growth stimuli in vivo, SMC may respond by proliferation of diploid cells, polyploidization to the tetraploid (or even octaploid) state, or both. In this study, we used flow cytometry to evaluate the intrinsic tendencies of aortic SMC and nonarterial cells from rats of different strains, ages, and blood pressures to polyploidize in response to in vitro growth stimulation. Significant strain-related differences in polyploidization of aortic SMC were found (P less than 0.001): highest in WKY (normotensive inbred rat related to SHR), intermediate in SHR (genetically hypertensive rat), and lowest in Sprague-Dawley and Fischer (normotensive outbred and inbred rats). Animal age had less or no effect on the degree of polyploidization. Nonarterial cells (venous SMC and lung cells) from WKY and SHR remained essentially diploid, suggesting tissue specificity of in vitro polyploidization. Studies of the growth kinetics of uncloned and clonal populations of aortic SMC revealed decreased proliferation as the ploidy increased in WKY, SHR, and Sprague-Dawley. These findings suggest that genetic strain factors as well as cell type/site of origin significantly influence in vitro polyploidization, whereas animal age and blood pressure do not. The findings also emphasize the need to consider ploidy changes when evaluating in vitro SMC growth kinetics. Further studies will improve understanding of SMC growth regulation and the functional significance of vascular polyploidy.