cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Serial plasma oncotic pressure levels and echoencephalography during and after delivery in severe pre-eclampsia.

Abstract Plasma colloid osmotic pressure (PCOP) and echoencephalograms were monitored serially during and after labour in nine nulliparous severe pre-eclamptics receiving parenteral fluids, including infusions of magnesium sulphate and hydralazine. Nine normotensive, age-matched, nulliparous women in labour served as controls. PCOP, lower in the pre-eclamptics (16·1±SD 0·6 mm Hg vs 19·9±0·7 mm Hg in controls, p vs 22·7±0·8 mm Hg; p
Method of Questioning and Placement of Questions: Effects on LD Students' Comprehension:

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of method of questioning and placement of questions on the comprehension of silently read materials by students with learning disabilities. Adjunct questioning, oral recitation questioning methods, and middle / end and end-only placement of questions were examined. Analysis of the data indicated a significant effect of method and a significant interaction between level and focus of questions. These results are discussed in terms of their potential implications for instructional programming for students with learning disabilities.
A germination model for natural seed populations

Abstract A general model for determining time and rate of germination under continuously changing temperatures and other environmental parameters is proposed. The seed population may vary in size and density. The principle of the model is based upon the adherence of seed germination to an Arrhenius type system. The model, with slight modifications, may be applied to many temperature or other environmentally dependent biological systems.
Content-Aware Modeling and Enhancing User Experience in Cloud Mobile Rendering and Streaming

Cloud mobile rendering (CMR), where compute intensive rendering is performed on cloud servers instead of on mobile devices, can be a promising approach to enable rich rendering based multimedia applications on battery and CPU constrained mobile devices. However, since the video rendered in the cloud has to be streamed to the mobile device over a wireless network with fluctuating and constrained bandwidth, the resulting user experience can be impacted. In the work of Wang and Dey, 2013, adaptive rendering was proposed as a solution, wherein multiple rendering factors can be adapted such that the encoding bit rate of the rendered video is compatible with network bandwidth. However, changing the rendering factors may itself have adverse impact on user experience, which has not been studied earlier. Moreover, the impact can vary depending on the content scene and complexity. In this paper, we analyze the impairment of rendering factors on user experience while considering content characteristics, and combine the rendering impairments with impairments due to video encoding factors (like bit rate and frame rate) and network factors (like bandwidth and delay) to propose a content-aware model to measure user experience. We demonstrate the accuracy of the content-aware model through subjective testing. Furthermore, we use the model to: 1) demonstrate and investigate the tradeoff between rendering quality and encoding quality of the resulting video; and 2) derive a content-aware adaptive rendering (CAAR) algorithm which can dynamically adjust the rendering factors depending on current network conditions, so as to obtain an optimal tradeoff between rendering and encoding quality and maximize the overall user experience at any time. By conducting experiments in a real cellular network, we demonstrate that the proposed CAAR algorithm can greatly enhance the user experience of cloud rendered and streamed mobile video.
X-ray and UV photoemission studies of valence electronic structure of NiO

Abstract The X-ray and UV photoemission valence band spectra of NiO are interpreted using the molecular orbital theory for the NiO 10− 6 cluster and the sudden approximation (monopole selection rules). They exhibit the effects of crystal field splitting, multiplet splitting, electron shake-up (O 2pe b g → Ni 3de a g ). relaxation and Ni 3dO 2p hybridization. Shake-up satellite data indicate that the NiO optical absorption edge near 4 eV is associated with an O 2p → Ni 3d transition. The NiO valence electronic structure obtained in this work is compared with band structure models of Wilson and Mattheiss.
Effect of particle size on reactions of powdered sound human enamel and dentine with stannous fluoride solution.

Abstract Enamel and dentine specimens in the size range 250-177, 176-125, 124-74, 73-63,62-37 and less than 36 μm were immersed in a 10 per cent SnF 2 solution for 1 hr and examined by optical and X-ray diffraction techniques. Reaction of dentine, in all size ranges, with the SnF 2 solution produces X-ray detectable amounts of Sn 3 F 3 PO 4 . With decreasing grain size, progressively larger amounts of the tin fluorophosphate were produced. Optical studies showed that Sn 3 F 3 PO 4 was present in all enamel samples, but abundance varied inversely with the size of the particles. Cell parameters of the residual hydroxyapatite remained constant at a = 0.944, c = 0.688, and showed that fluorine was not incorporated.
Streptozocin-induced diabetic mouse model of urinary tract infection.

Diabetics have a higher incidence of urinary tract infection (UTI), are infected with a broader range of uropathogens, and more commonly develop serious UTI sequelae than nondiabetics. To better study UTI in the diabetic host, we created and characterized a murine model of diabetic UTI using the pancreatic islet β-cell toxin streptozocin in C3H/HeN, C3H/HeJ, and C57BL/6 mouse backgrounds. Intraperitoneal injections of streptozocin were used to initiate diabetes in healthy mouse backgrounds, as defined by consecutive blood glucose levels of >250 mg/dl. UTIs caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UTI89), Klebsiella pneumoniae (TOP52 1721), and Enterococcus faecalis (0852) were studied, and diabetic mice were found to be considerably more susceptible to infection. All three uropathogens produced significantly higher bladder and kidney titers than buffer-treated controls. Uropathogens did not have as large an advantage in the Toll-like receptor 4-defective C3H/HeJ diabetic mouse, arguing that the dramatic increase in colonization seen in C3H/HeN diabetic mice may partially be due to diabetic-induced defects in innate immunity. Competition experiments demonstrated that E. coli had a significant advantage over K. pneumoniae in the bladders of healthy mice and less of an advantage in diabetic bladders. In the kidneys, K. pneumoniae outcompeted E. coli in healthy mice but in diabetic mice E. coli outcompeted K. pneumoniae and caused severe pyelonephritis. Diabetic kidneys contained renal tubules laden with communities of E. coli UTI89 bacteria within an extracellular-matrix material. Diabetic mice also had glucosuria, which may enhance bacterial replication in the urinary tract. These data support that this murine diabetic UTI model is consistent with known characteristics of human diabetic UTI and can provide a powerful tool for dissecting this infection in the multifactorial setting of diabetes.
Managing the Impact of Rapid IT Change

Rapidly changing information technology is increasing the complexity of IT management. Research has suggested that such change causes nine different problem types for IT managers. It also suggested that these problems cause IT managers to use five categories of coping mechanisms to alleviate the problems. The current study used responses from 246 IT professionals to a survey about the problems and coping mechanisms related to rapid IT change. As examples, new integration refers to the incompatibility or need for interfaces between multiple ITs, and Education and training refers to staying informed of new IT as it becomes available and instructing or providing guidance for its use. The study developed and found support for an overarching hypothesis stating that the more extensively organizations experience the problems of rapid IT change, the more extensively they use coping mechanisms to address them. It also found support for ten specific sub-hypotheses about the effect of individual problems and on individual coping mechanisms. For example, organizations appear to address the problem of new integration needs with the increased use of the coping mechanism of Consultant support. They also cope with User resistance via Vendor support, and with Vendor oversell via internal procedures. The findings provide IT managers, vendors, and consultants with alternative perspectives about the problems of rapid IT change and how others address them. Future research should focus on how specific coping mechanisms ameliorate specific problems.
Acoustic Radiation Force for Vascular Cell Therapy: In Vitro Validation

Cell-based therapeutic approaches are attractive for the restoration of the protective endothelial layer in arteries affected by atherosclerosis or following angioplasty and stenting. We have recently demonstrated a novel technique for the delivery of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that are surface-coated with cationic lipid microbubbles (MBs) and displaced by acoustic radiation force (ARF) to a site of arterial injury. The objective of this study was to characterize ultrasound parameters for effective acoustic-based delivery of cell therapy. In vitro experiments were performed in a vascular flow phantom where MB-tagged MSCs were delivered towards the phantom wall using ARF generated with an intravascular ultrasound catheter. The translation motion velocity and adhesion of the MB-cell complexes were analyzed. Experimental data indicated that MSC radial velocity and adhesion to the vessel phantom increased with the time-averaged ultrasound intensity up to 1.65 W/cm2, after which no further significant adhesion was observed. Temperature increase from baseline near the catheter was 5.5 ±0.8°C with this setting. Using higher time-averaged ultrasound intensities may not significantly benefit the adhesion of MB-cell complexes to the target vessel wall (p=NS), but could cause undesirable biological effects such as heating to the MB-cell complexes and surrounding tissue. For the highest time-averaged ultrasound intensity of 6.60 W/cm2, the temperature increase was 11.6 ±1.3°C.
Total internal partition sums for molecules of astrophysical interest

Abstract Total internal partition sums (TIPS) are calculated for several molecules, which are abundant in non-terrestrial planetary atmospheres. For all molecules, calculations are performed for the most abundant isotopic species. Partition sums for lesser abundant isotopomers of several molecules are determined as well. The calculations are made for temperatures between 70 and 300 K . The resulting TIPS are fit to a polynomial expression, which is fourth order in temperature. The methods of calculation of the TIPS, the convergence, and the quality of the polynomial fits for each isotopomer are discussed.
Structure of the cleavage-activated prefusion form of the parainfluenza virus 5 fusion protein

The paramyxovirus parainfluenza virus 5 (PIV5) enters cells by fusion of the viral envelope with the plasma membrane through the concerted action of the fusion (F) protein and the receptor binding protein hemagglutinin-neuraminidase. The F protein folds initially to form a trimeric metastable prefusion form that is triggered to undergo large-scale irreversible conformational changes to form the trimeric postfusion conformation. It is thought that F refolding couples the energy released with membrane fusion. The F protein is synthesized as a precursor (F0) that must be cleaved by a host protease to form a biologically active molecule, F1,F2. Cleavage of F protein is a prerequisite for fusion and virus infectivity. Cleavage creates a new N terminus on F1 that contains a hydrophobic region, known as the FP, which intercalates target membranes during F protein refolding. The crystal structure of the soluble ectodomain of the uncleaved form of PIV5 F is known; here we report the crystal structure of the cleavage-activated prefusion form of PIV5 F. The structure shows minimal movement of the residues adjacent to the protease cleavage site. Most of the hydrophobic FP residues are buried in the uncleaved F protein, and only F103 at the newly created N terminus becomes more solvent-accessible after cleavage. The conformational freedom of the charged arginine residues that compose the protease recognition site increases on cleavage of F protein.
Activity of some enzymes in experimental hypertension in the rabbit

Bei durch Nierenarterien-Drosselung nach kontralateraler Nephrektomie chronisch hypertonischen Kaninchen wird mit Antirenin regelmassig eine bestimmte hypotensive Wirkung erzeugt. Auffallend niedrige Reninblutwerte, stark herabgesetzte Monoaminoxydase-Aktivitat und deutlich gesteigerte Dopadecarboxylase-Aktivitat sind charakteristisch. Der Befund zeigt die Bedeutung der Niere in der Erzeugung der Blutdruckamine im Laufe einer chronischen Hypertonie.
Constructing test functions for global optimization using continuous formulations of graph problems

A method for constructing test functions for global optimization which utilizes continuous formulations of combinatorial optimization problems is suggested. In particular, global optimization formulations for the maximum independent set, maximum clique, and MAX CUT problems on arbitrary graphs are considered, and proofs for some of them are given. A number of sample test functions based on these formulations are proposed.
Directional sensitivity of the auditory midbrain in the mustached bat to free-field tones

To ascertain the directional characteristics of the auditory system in the mustached bat, Pteronotus parnellii, we measured the summated neural response at the lateral lemniscus (N4) in response to pure tones at 30, 60 and 90 kHz, frequencies that are typical of the harmonics of this species' biosonar signal. Stimuli were presented at various vertical and horizontal locations in the contralateral hemifield. Intensity-response functions were measured at different horizontal locations for the second harmonic, and showed no variation in shape with variations in azimuth. There was little difference in directionality measured from either threshold or amplitude of N4 potentials. Our results show that areas of maximum sensitivity (best areas) were significantly different for each of the harmonics (P< 0.05). The centers of the best areas were: first harmonic (30 kHz), 39° azimuth and -19° elevation; second harmonic, 20° azimuth and 0° elevation; and third harmonic, 12° azimuth and -11° elevation. Thus, with increasing frequency best areas shifted toward the vertical midline. Directionality to first harmonic stimuli was broader than to either of the two higher harmonics.
Charge transfer transitions in extended correlated electronic systems

Abstract The positions are intensities of dipole-allowed charge transfer (CT) excitations are found exactly for model hamiltonians with one valence state per site, nearest-neighbor electron transfer, and equal number of electrons N e and sites N . Diagrammatic valence bond (VB) methods yield the complete analysis of configuration interactions in free-radical stacks of N 3 = N = 4 and 6 sites and in donor-acceptor stacks of N e = N = 4, 6 and 8 sites, which suffice for N → ∞ extrapolarations. The previously used dimer model ( N e = N = 2) of CT transitions is significantly modified in extended systems when, as in π-molecular free-radical or CT solids or in linear polyenes, the correlations are comparable to the bandwidth and there is extensive configuration interaction mixing of VB states with different electron distributions. The roles of correlations, of nearest-neighbor interactions, and of temperature are discussed, and constrasted to dimer results, for CT transition in both segregated an mixed stacks.
Outcomes of repeat colonoscopy in patients with polyps referred for surgery without biopsy-proven cancer

Background Despite advances in endoscopic treatment, many colonic adenomas are still referred for surgical resection. There is a paucity of data on the suitability of these lesions for endoscopic treatment. Objective To analyze the results of routine repeat colonoscopy in patients referred for surgical resection of colon polyps without biopsy-proven cancer. Design Retrospective review. Setting University hospital. Patients Patients referred to a colorectal surgeon for surgical resection of a polyp without biopsy-proven cancer. Interventions Repeat colonoscopy. Main Outcome Measurements The rate of successful endoscopic treatment. Results There were 38 lesions in 36 patients; 71% of the lesions were noncancerous and were successfully treated endoscopically. In 26% of the lesions, previous removal was attempted by the referring physician but was unsuccessful. The adenoma recurrence rate was 50%, but all recurrences were treated endoscopically and none were cancerous. Two patients were admitted for overnight observation. There were no major adverse events. Limitations Single center, retrospective. Conclusions In the absence of biopsy-proven invasive cancer, it is appropriate to reevaluate patients referred for surgical resection by repeat colonoscopy at an expert center.
Nonphytate phosphorus requirement and phosphorus excretion of broiler chicks fed diets composed of normal or high available phosphate corn with and without microbial phytase

Abstract A study was conducted to evaluate the ability of the young (0 to 3 wk) broiler chicken to utilize the P provided by a high available P corn [HAPC; 0.27% total P and 0.17% nonphytate P] in comparison with yellow dent corn (YDC; 0.23% total P and 0.03% nonphytate P), and to determine the extent to which supplementation with exogenous phytase enzyme could reduce the demands for dietary P and subsequently reduce P excretion. Diets prepared using the two types of corn differed in the amount of phytate-bound P, with the HAPC diets containing approximately 50% less phytate-bound P. Treatment diets were prepared by varying the amount of dicalcium phosphate, and ranged from 0.10 to 0.50% nonphytate P for YDC diets, and from 0.18 to 0.50% nonphytate P for HAPC diets. Sublots of each diet were supplemented with 800 units/kg phytase. Each diet was fed to six pens of five male chicks of a commercial broiler strain from 1 to 21 d of age. Regression analysis was used to estimate nonphytate P requirements for each corn type with and without phytase supplementation. The greatest need for nonphytate P was for maximum tibia ash, with requirements of 0.39, 0.29, 0.37, and 0.32% in diets with YDC, YDC plus phytase, HAPC, and HAPC plus phytase, respectively. Addition of phytase liberated approximately 50% of the phytate-bound P from each diet. These levels were sufficient to support body weight, feed conversion, and livability. Fecal P content of broilers fed diets with YDC at the NRC (1994) recommended level of 0.45% nonphytate P was 1.21%, whereas at the respective requirement points indicated above, the P content was 1.09, 0.87, 0.78, and 0.64% in feces from broilers fed diets with YDC, YDC plus phytase, HAPC, and HAPC plus phytase, respectively. Thus, fecal P output could be reduced while maintaining optimum performance by the use of reduced dietary nonphytate P, introduction of HAPC, and phytase supplementation. One of the greatest benefits of phytase supplementation appeared to be maintaining livability at lower dietary levels of nonphytate P.
Anti-bacterial function in the sexually dimorphic pollinator rewards of Clusia grandiflora (Clusiaceae)

Many species of the dioecious, neo-tropical plant genus Clusia secrete a viscous, hydrophobic resin from glandular tissues in both male and female flowers. This substance is readily gathered by meliponine and euglossine bees for whom it most often serves as the sole pollinator reward. Bees use Clusia resin as a nest-building material. As such, resin clearly serves an indispensable mechanical function. However, resins with antimicrobial properties may also serve to reduce the risk of pathogenesis in the nest. If resin-gathering apids benefit from antimicrobial properties in nesting materials and are able to discern these characteristics in the forage they gather, one might predict that the resin reward presented in Clusia could have evolved under selection for both mechanical and antimicrobial properties. In dioecious species, where females and males each present a resin reward, selection regimes may differ between the sexes with the result that resin form and function diverge. We investigated both the form and function of the male and female pollinator reward resins of Clusia grandiflora. Using thin-layer chromatography (TLC), we compared the chemical compositions of floral resins from five widely separated populations of this species growing in southeastern Venezuela. We found that male and female resins exhibited a marked chemical dimorphism, with females having two major TLC-resolvable fractions and males having seven. This dimorphism was stable: there were no component differences between populations in either sex. Using a disk-diffusion technique, we surveyed the same resins for antimicrobial activity using assay microorganisms isolated from eusocial meliponine bees. Both male and female Clusia grandiflora resins had pronounced but relatively directed antimicrobial activity: both were toxic to 10 of 11 Gram-positive bacteria, 7 of 15 Gram-negative or variably-staining bacteria, 0 of 3 yeasts, and 0 of 3 filamentous fungi. Again with the disk-diffusion technique, we performed more detailed tests of resin bioactivity using two Gram-positive honeybee associates, Paenibacillus larvae and P. alvei, as model pathogens. Both male and female C. grandiflora resins were highly toxic to these honeybee pathogens. Female resin, however, produced zones of inhibition with more than twice the mean diameter of those produced by the male resin. This divergence in form and function of the C. grandiflora pollinator reward resins could be in response to different selective regimes as mediated by the pollinating insects.
Characterization of Interval Fuzzy Logic Systems of Connectives by Group Transformations

The global structure of various systems of logic connectives is investigated by looking at abstract group properties of the group of transformations of these. Such characterizations of fuzzy interval logics are examined in Sections 4–9. The paper starts by introducing readers to the Checklist Paradigm semantics of fuzzy interval logics (Sections 2 and 3). In the Appendix we present some basic notions of fuzzy logics, sets and many-valued logics in order to make the paper accessible to readers not familiar with fuzzy sets.
Effect of Pregnancy Intention on Child Well-Being and Development: Combining Retrospective Reports of Attitude and Contraceptive use

Prior research has documented a relationship between unintended pregnancy and negative consequences for infants and children. Much of this research is based on retrospective reports of intention, but this method has been critiqued as subject to biases in recall and reporting. Non-retrospective measures have also been employed, but these are less widely available and tend to be hindered by limited samples. Using the 1988 National Maternal and Infant Health Survey and its 1991 Longitudinal Follow-Up, a composite measure of reported pregnancy intention and birth control use is constructed to attempt to overcome some limitations of the use of retrospective reports of intention. This composite measure is compared to more conventional measures through analyses predicting the effects of pregnancy intention on child health, activity, and development. Across the different constructions of the pregnancy intention measure, children from unintended pregnancies have poorer outcomes. They are more likely to have less than excellent health, undesirable activity levels, and below median scores on a development assessment. The composite measure predicts similarly to the more conventional measures of intention, but provides an additional dimension that helps address some of the concerns about bias in retrospective reporting, while maintaining the benefit of application in existing large and representative samples. Researchers and policy makers need to continue their concern about the effects of unintended pregnancies, and need widely available measures to understand determinants, consequences, and prevention strategies.
Neuroscience: State-sanctioned synchrony

A sleepy brain pays little attention to its surroundings, and its neurons are lulled by a common oscillation. As the brain swiftly rouses from this sluggish state, its neurons function more independently.
Demystifying critical thinking

Critical-thinking scholarship is in a mystified state. No single definition of critical thinking is widely accepted, but stakeholders in higher education often enter conversation about critical thi...
The role of substrates for glycine acyltransferase in the reversal of chemically induced porphyria in the rat

Abstract Experimental porphyria in the rat induced by the porphyrogenic agent, 3,5-dicarbethoxy-1,4-dihydrocollidine, was reversed by sodium benzoate or p -aminobenzoate treatment. In porphyric rats, benzoate and p -aminobenzoate markedly decreased the urinary excretion of the heme precursors, δ-aminolevulinic acid, porphobilinogen, and porphyrins, as well as the levels of tissue and blood porphyrins. The administration of glycine prevented the reversal of the porphyria. Neither benzoate, p -aminobenzoate, nor their respective metabolites, hippurate and p -aminohippurate, had an effect on δ-aminolevulinic acid synthetase in vivo or in vitro , indicating that the reversal of porphyria could not be explained by an effect on the rate limiting enzyme for heme biosynthesis. Hippurate, administered intraperitoneally, had no effect on the porphyric state. These results indicate that benzoate and p -aminobenzoate, substrates for glycine acyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.13), promote the diversion of glycine from the heme biosynthetic pathway to hippurate biosynthesis, thereby altering the biochemical pattern associated with the porphyric state.
Weak global symmetry

The Feynman, Gell-Mann model of weak interactions is modified by the introduction of neutral « currents », both of the strangenesss preserving (J) and strangeness changing (S) variety. The various currents, neutral and charged, are chosen and coupled in such a manner as to guarantee the |ΔT|=1/2 selection rule. TheJ currents, charged and neutral, are taken together to form an isotopic vector. The chargedS currents are taken to satisfy ΔS/ΔQ=+1. These conditions automatically impose on theS currents the property that they transform like the components of an isotopic spinor. The arbitrariness in the currents which remains at this stage is now removed by a definite choice, patterned after and meant to exploit Gell-Mann’s model of global symmetry for strong baryon-pion interactions. In so far as the latter constitutes a useful first approximation to strong interaction physics, we can make certain fairly definite and verifiable predictions concerning leptonic decay of hyperons, and notably: the protons in Σ+→p+π0 decay should be polarized in an opposite sense from those produced in Λ0→p+π− decay; and Ξ and Λ decays should show the same polarization properties. Presently known properties of Σ, Λ, and Ξ decays are well correlated in the present model.
IL-10 and GM-CSF expression and the presence of antigen-presenting cells in chronic venous ulcers.

Abstract Background. White cell trapping and activation occurs in the legs of patients having chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), and it is thought that this process may be important in the development of CVI ulcers. This study has compared the tissue distribution of proinflammatory (GM-CSF) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10) and inflammatory cell markers (CD68, HLA-DR) between CVI ulcers, other chronic and acute wounds, and autologous nonwounded skin to determine whether cell-mediated immunity (CMI) is impaired in CVI ulcers. Methods. Wound and donor site tissue was obtained from 10 patients with CVI ulcers and 10 patients with other chronic and acute wounds. Serial Formalin-fixed sections were processed by standard hematoxylin and eosin staining or by indirect immunoperoxidase histochemical staining. Results. HLA-DR-positive antigen-presenting cells (APC), including CD68-positive macrophages and dermal dendritic cells, were found with greater frequency in CVI ulcers than in other chronic or acute wounds ( P = 0.0015) or in the autologous CVI donor site tissue ( P = 0.006). CVI ulcers also demonstrated increased IL-10 staining of the entire epidermis compared to non-CVI wounds ( P = 0.0019) or autologous donor site tissue ( P = 0.004), whereas there was no significant change in the presence of the counteracting cytokine, GM-CSF. Conclusions. These findings suggest that although the cellular components of CMI are present in CVI ulcers, their function may be impaired by the increased level of IL-10. Future studies will examine whether IL-10-mediated suppression of CMI and/or inhibition of GM-CSF-stimulated keratinocyte proliferation may contribute to the chronic nature of CVI ulcers.
Synthesis of a novel tricyclic 1,2,3,4,4a,5,6,10b-octahydro-1,10-phenanthroline ring system and CXCR4 antagonists with potent activity against HIV-1

Stereorandom and diastereoselective syntheses of a novel 1,2,3,4,4a,5,6,10b-octahydro-1,10-phenanthroline ring system are described. Derivatives of all four diastereomers were prepared and isolated in >98% ee. The pure enantiomers were compared in order to determine the preferred absolute and relative configuration required for optimal anti-HIV activity. Anti-HIV potency and pharmacokinetic properties of the newly synthesized tricyclic octahydrophenanthroline inhibitors are presented and comparisons are made to previously reported bicyclic (8S)-N-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-8-quinolinamine analogs.
On the rectilinear prediction of oblique factors

The general problem of estimating correlated or uncorrelated factors is treated. It is specifically indicated wherein the prediction of oblique factors differs from that of orthogonal factors. A shortened method of estimation of correlated factors is developed.
The prevalence of hepatitis B viral markers in anesthesia personnel.

The prevalence of hepatitis B viral markers is increased in some groups of medical workers who are exposed to blood from patients carrying the virus, but this has not been studied critically in physicians and others who administer anesthesia. Physician anesthesiologists (M.D.) and nurse anesthetists and anesthesia assistants (non-M.D.) at four university-affiliated hospitals were evaluated for hepatitis B markers as determined by seropositivity for hepatitis B surface antigen, antibody to the hepatitis B surface antigen, or antibody to the hepatitis B core antigen. In the 86 subjects (38 M.D., 48 non-M.D.) who represented 80.4% of possible participants, the overall prevalence of serologic markers of hepatitis B was 23.3%. The frequency did not differ between M.D. (23.7%) and non-M.D. (22.9%) groups or between men (20.3%) and women (26.9%). Of 81 subjects who had no clinical history of hepatitis, 16 (19.8%) had positive serologic markers. The frequency of seropositivity increased with time since graduation from medical school (M.D.) or nursing school or college (non-M.D.). The prevalence of serologic markers of hepatitis B virus in this study of anesthesia personnel is five to eight times that of the general population but is similar to that of other medical workers who frequently are exposed to blood.
Effects of neonatal methylmercury exposure on adrenergic receptor binding sites in peripheral tissues of the developing rat.

Abstract Neonatal exposure to methylmercury produces changes in patterns of tissue growth and function, in part, due to alterations in adrenergic neuronal input. To explore the mechanisms by which these changes come about, newborn rats were exposed to methylmercury (1 or 2.5 mg/kg per day) throughout the preweaning stage and the ontogeny of adrenergic receptor binding sites evaluated in liver, kidney, heart and lung, using [ 3 H]prazosin ( α 1 -receptors), [ 3 H]rauwolscine ( α 2 -receptors) and [ 125 I]pindolol (β-receptors). In the kidney, methylmercury caused decreases in β- and α 1 -receptor binding and increases in α 2 -binding; previous work has shown that β-receptor-mediated responses are generally enhanced in methylmercury-exposed pups, and the down-regulation of β-receptor binding thus probably represents a compensatory action secondary to alterations in post-receptor coupling mechanisms. The effects of methylmercury on hepatic adrenergic receptors were different from those seen in the kidney, with substantial elevations in β- and α 1 -receptor binding apparent in the preweaning stage; this agrees also with the differences in effects of the mercurial on trophic reactivity and growth in the 2 tissues. Despite the fact that methylmercury causes activation of neonatal cardiac sympathetic nerves, β-receptor binding sites in the heart were unaffected by methylmercury exposure; the failure to down-regulate cardiac postsynaptic receptors in the face of increased nerve activity again represents an anomaly of synaptic regulatory function. These results indicate that methylmercury alters adrenergic responsiveness, in part, through actions on the development of receptor binding sites, and further, that the organ-specificity and receptor subtype-selectivity are consistent with subsequent effects of the organomercurial on adrenergic participationin target organ growth; however, changes in receptor binding alone do not account for all of the effects of methylmercury on synaptic activity or trophic responses.
Formation and bacterial utilization of dissolved organic carbon derived from detrital lignocellulose

In various wetland ecosystems, lignocellulose from aquatic vascular plants is the most abundant reservoir of organic material. During microbial degradation of lignocellulose, soluble decomposition products are released into the environment. The importance of lignocellulose-derived dissolved organic carbon (EC-DOC) to ecological and geochemical processes depends on the rate of formation of these compounds and their subsequent fates. In laboratory microcosms, rates of formation of LC-DOC from the salt marsh plant Spartina alterniflora varied from 0.7 to 1.0% of particulate lignocellulose per day and decreased as decomposition progressed. Rates of bacterial utilization of LC-DOC for pools formed at 1, 2, 7, and 13 weeks into decomposition indicated that soluble intermediates produced throughout the first 3 months of lignocellulose degradation, although gradually decreasing in amount, were of similar composition. Bacterial mineralization of each pool was initially very rapid (12% in 16 h), indicating the presence of labile compounds in LC-DOC. Rates slowed after the first day, however, resulting in mineralization of 30% of the original pool after 30 d. LC-DOC formation and its subsequent bacterial utilization were also documented for the dominant vascular plant in two other aquatic ecosys,tems-a freshwater swamp and a mangrove swamp. Up to 40% of total lignocellulose mineralization in these marine and freshwater systems can be traced to use of LC-DOC by both free-living and attached bacteria. However, some components of LC-DOC, presumably those compounds recalcitrant to microbial action, accumulated during lignoccllulose decomposition. This unused LC-DOC may play a role in the formation of humic substances in wetland environments or other aquatic ecosystems with substantial inputs of vascular plant detritus.
Vγ2Vδ2+ T cells and anti-microbial immune responses

Vγ2Vδ2+ T cells exist only in primates and constitute the majority of circulating human γδ T cells. Recent studies have demonstrated that this unique γδ T cell subpopulation can be a component of adaptive immune responses and contribute to anti-microbial immunity to infections.
Effects of chronic ethanol feeding and acetaldehyde metabolism on calcium transport by rat liver mitochondria.

Abstract The prolonged feeding of ethanol to rats alters in vitro mitochondrial transport of calcium. Hepatic mitochondria isolated from rats fed ethanol for 7 weeks exhibited decreased retention of calcium in the presence of 4mM-Pi. This defect was associated with enhanced efflux of calcium when mitochondria were incubated with EGTA. Acetaldehyde at low, “physiological” concentrations (100μM) enhanced calcium retention by mitochondria but this response was blunted after chronic ethanol administration. The in vitro actions of acetaldehyde appear to be mediated, in part, by its metabolism in mitochondria since pretreatment of rats with cyanamide (an aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitor) prevents this effect.
An unusual thermal oxidation of triaryloxazoles

Abstract Triaryloxazoles undergo slow but smooth thermal oxidation at 135–175 °C to produce nitrile and anhydride products apparently arising from endoperoxides formed from the addition of oxygen to the heterocyclic ring. The Hammett ρ value of ca. −0.7 and activation energy of ca. 87 kJ/mol (21 kcal/mol) seemed to rule out an electron-transfer mechanism. A mechanism involving a peroxidic biradical and a triplet to singlet spin flip is suggested.
Mitochondrial localization of P-glycoprotein and peptide transporters in corneal epithelial cells--novel strategies for intracellular drug targeting.

This study was designed to investigate functional localization of both efflux (P-glycoprotein, P-gp) and influx (peptide) transporters in the mitochondrial membrane of cultured rabbit primary corneal epithelial cells (rPCECs). Isolation and purification of mitochondria was performed by optimized cell fractionation method. Mitochondrial integrity was measured by JC-1 uptake experiment. The efflux activity of P-gp was assessed by performing in vitro uptake studies on isolated mitochondria with Rhodamine 123 (Rho-123) alone and in the presence of P-gp inhibitors (quinidine and cyclosporine A) using fluorimetry and flow cytometry analysis. Functional activity of peptide transporter was assessed by performing in vitro uptake studies of [3H] Gly-sar on isolated mitochondria in the presence or absence of peptide transporter substrate (Val-Val). Molecular characterization of P-gp and peptide transporter was assessed by western blot and confocal analysis. Enhanced JC-1 accumulation in the isolated fraction confirmed mitochondrial membrane integrity. Significantly higher uptake of Rho-123 on isolated mitochondria was observed in the presence of quinidine (75 and 100 μM) and cyclosporine A (10 μM). Significantly lower uptake of [3H] Gly-sar was observed in the presence of val-val due to competitive inhibition of peptide transporter on isolated mitochondria. Western blot and confocal analysis further confirmed the presence of P-gp and peptide transporter on the mitochondrial membrane of rPCECs. The present study demonstrates the functional and molecular characterization of P-gp and peptide transporters in the mitochondrial membranes of rPCECs. This knowledge of mitochondrial existence of P-gp and peptide transporter will aid in the development of subcellular ocular drug delivery strategies.
Control of Systolic Blood Pressure in Elderly Black Patients

To study what effect the level of control of systolic blood pressure (SBP) has in elderly persons with systolic-diastolic hypertension, 503 elderly black hypertensive patients were followed up for as long as nine years. The combined rate of hospitalizations and mortality for hypertension-related disorders was significantly (P less than 0.01) higher for the group with inadequate control of SPB (mean, 183.6 mm Hg) than for the group with partial (mean, 151.2 mm Hg) or complete (mean, 131.5 mm Hg) control. The group with complete control of SBP had a significantly (P less than 0.005) higher combined rate of hospitalizations and mortality for hypertension-related disorders than did the group with partial control. This suggests that a target goal for control of systolic as well as diastolic blood pressure should be set for elderly black hypertensive patients. However, the control of SBP should not be to rigorous.
Sub-T/g/ annealing studies of advanced epoxy-matrix graphite-fiber-reinforced composites

Annealing at temperatures below the glass transition temperature (sub-T/g/ annealing) in structural epoxy network glasses is found to affect long-term mechanical properties of symmetrically (+ or - 45 deg) reinforced 16-lamina graphite/epoxy composites. Post-cured specimens of Thornel 300 graphite/Narmco 5208 epoxy are sub-T(g) annealed at 140 C for about 10, 100, 1000, 10,000, and 100,000 min with a prior quenching above T(g). The ultimate tensile strength, strain-to-break, and static toughness of the composite materials are found to decrease as a function of sub-T(g) annealing time, while no weight loss is observed. Time-dependent changes in properties are explained by a physical aging concept based on free-volume decreases in the nonequilibrium glassy state of network epoxies, and results imply that changes in composite properties may occur with the service time.
Implementation of a field programmable gate array for wireless control of a lab-on-a-robot

We report the design of a digital system to wirelessly control microchip capillary electrophoresis (CE) equipment and a mobile unit for chemical analysis. The digital system consists of an embedded processor designed for digital control, decoding and applying of wirelessly-transmitted test parameters, data acquisition, and mobility control. The design is implemented on a field programmable gate array (FPGA) and its development board interfaces with four digital-to-analog converters on a newly-designed 3-channel high voltage power supply, electrochemical detector, wireless modems for communications with a base unit, mobile platform motor controllers, GPS sensor, and an air micropump. The FPGA allows for all the interfacing hardware to perform CE and transmission of the data acquired from the interfacing electrochemical detector. The work described herein extends the utilization of microchip capillary electrophoresis to include remotely controlled field applications.
Protein Analytical Assays for Diagnosing, Monitoring, and Choosing Treatment for Cancer Patients

Cancer treatment is often hindered by inadequate methods for diagnosing the disease or insufficient predictive capacity regarding therapeutic efficacy. Targeted cancer treatments, including Bcr-Abl and EGFR kinase inhibitors, have increased survival for some cancer patients but are ineffective in other patients. In addition, many patients who initially respond to targeted inhibitor therapy develop resistance during the course of treatment. Molecular analysis of cancer cells has emerged as a means to tailor treatment to particular patients. While DNA analysis can provide important diagnostic information, protein analysis is particularly valuable because proteins are more direct mediators of normal and diseased cellular processes. In this review article, we discuss current and emerging protein assays for improving cancer treatment, including trends toward assay miniaturization and measurement of protein activity.
A variational principle and an energy theorem for small-amplitude disturbances of electron beams and of electron-ion plasmas

Abstract Small-amplitude disturbances of electron beam and electromagnetic field configurations may be conveniently represented by the electromagnetic potentials of the field perturbation and the displacement (or “polarization”) vector representing the perturbation of the electron assembly. With this choice of dynamical variables, it is possible to establish a Lagrangian function for small-amplitude disturbances, in which both field and particles are described by “field-like” variables. This derivation is carried through in relativistically covariant form. It is shown that, by a variant of a formula due to Schrodinger, we may establish an acceptable formula for the energy-momentum tensor of the field-particle assembly. The more important formulas are given also in nonrelativistic three-dimensional form. The differential equation satisfied by the energy-momentum tensor represents a generalization of the so-called “power theorem” of electron-tube theory. It is anticipated that this variational principle, which may be readily extended to include a number of beams, or a distribution of electron velocities, will provide a convenient basis for certain electron-tube analyses, and for the investigation of certain stability problems in plasma physics.
Peripheral input to L4 neurons whose activity is modulated by neck rotation.

Abstract We studied, in decerebrate cats, peripheral input from the ipsilateral hindlimb to L4 neurons whose activity was modulated by neck rotation (‘neck-modulated neurons’). Most neurons received convergent input from muscle, cutaneous and mixed nerves. In about half the neurons muscle input consisted of short-latency group I or group II excitation or inhibition, with group II effects far more frequent. Such synaptic actions were produced almost entirely by stimulation of quadriceps or sartorius. In the other neurons muscle afferents produced only late, diffuse excitation or inhibition, with thresholds usually in the group III range.
Wideband arrays using irregular (polyomino) shaped subarrays

Irregular polyomino-shaped subarrays are shown to provide a practical and effective means for introducing time delay into an array with phase steering. The elimination of quantisation lobes, with resulting peak sidelobes suppressed more than 14 dB below the quantisation lobes of an array of rectangular subarrays, is demonstrated.
A Study of the Convective Boundary-Layer Dynamics Using Single Doppler Radar Measurements.

Abstract The kinematic and dynamical properties of the convective planetary boundary layer (CBL) with shear are studied using single Doppler radar measurements. The data were collected using single K-band (0.87 cm) Doppler radar operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Wave Propagation Laboratory. An analysis technique has been developed and tested that is an extension of the velocity azimuth display (VAD). The technique and its associated error analysis are described in detail. Profiles of the mean wind, vertical velocity, associated momentum fluxes, and variances are estimated. In agreement with the classical picture of the CBL, the profile of the vertical velocity variance achieves a relative maximum magnitude in the lower part of the mixed layer. Large magnitudes of vertical flux of horizontal momentum are found at the top of the mixed layer, while countergradient momentum fluxes are found in part of the CBL. The second moment of the Doppler spectrum is utilized, so that the mom...
Memristor based adders

Currently memristors are being researched to offer logic and memory functions. Recently, ultra dense resistive memory arrays built from various two terminal semiconductor or insulator thin film devices have been demonstrated. This paper presents memristor-based designs of commonly used (ripple carry, conditional sum and parallel prefix) adders. The latency and area of these adders are compared.