cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The use of plasma immersion ion processing in the synthesis of protective coatings for Al die casting

Abstract Plasma immersion ion processing (PIIP) has been used to synthesize adherent coatings on steel substrates that are wear-resistant and provide wetting resistance to molten aluminum. Synthesis procedures were developed for two coatings, boron carbide and a chrome-carbi-oxide. The coatings were produced using a plasma generated by the pulsed glow discharge method with various gas mixtures. Boron carbide coatings were produced using mixtures of diborane (B 2 H 6 ) diluted with He and mixed with acetylene (C 2 H 2 ) gas, and the chrome-carbi-oxide coating was produced using Cr(CO) 6 . The boron carbide coatings were found to be amorphous with hardness values in range of 12–13 GPa. The Cr-based coatings were somewhat harder with values in the range of 14–20 GPa. Both coatings show some resistance to reaction with molten Al; the boron carbide coating showed limited reaction with Al while the Cr–C–O coating showed no reaction. The non-wetting properties of the chrome-carbi-oxide coating have been ascribed to the formation of a thin Al 2 O 3 membrane around the molten Al that kinetically and thermodynamically inhibits a reaction between the Al and the Cr–C–O film.
Ceftaroline Fosamil: A Cephalosporin With Activity Against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus

Abstract Background Ceftaroline is a cephalosporin with expanded gram-positive activity recently approved for clinical uses by the US Food and Drug Administration. Objective This article provides an overview of the in vitro and in vivo activities, mechanism of action, pharmacologic and pharmacokinetic properties, clinical efficacy, and tolerability of ceftaroline. Methods Relevant information was identified through a search of PubMed (1990–April 2011), EMBASE (1990–April 2011), International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (1970–April 2011), and Google Scholar using the key words ceftaroline, PPI-0903, PPI-0903M, T-91825, and TAK-599 . A review of the reference lists of identified articles, a search of the US Food and Drug Administration Web site, and posters and abstracts from scientific meetings yielded additional publications. Results In vitro, ceftaroline exhibits activity against most aerobic gram-positive isolates, common aerobic gram-negative respiratory pathogens, and some gram-positive anaerobes. The MIC range for most Staphylococcus aureus isolates, including vancomycin-resistant strains was between ≤0.008 and 4 μg/mL. In Phase III studies (CANVAS 1 and CANVAS 2), ceftaroline was found to be noninferior to vancomycin + aztreonam for the treatment of complicated skin and skin-structure infections, with a clinical cure rate of 91.6% among clinically evaluable patients (ceftaroline versus vancomycin + aztreonam: difference, −1.1; 95% CI, −4.2 to 2.0; P = NS). Ceftaroline's efficacy has also been assessed for the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia in 2 Phase III studies (FOCUS 1 and FOCUS 2) and was equivalent to ceftriaxone, with cure rates of 84.3% and 77.7%, respectively, among clinically evaluable patients in the combined analysis (ceftaroline versus ceftriaxone: difference, 6.7; 95% CI, 1.6 to 11.8). The recommended dosage for patients 18 years and older is 600 mg IV every 12 hours. Dosage adjustment is necessary in patients with renal impairment (creatinine clearance ≤50 mL/min). The pharmacokinetic properties of ceftaroline in patients with hepatic impairments are currently unavailable. Ceftaroline appeared to be well tolerated generally. The most frequently (>3%) reported adverse events were nausea, headaches, diarrhea, pruritus, rash, and insomnia; all were usually mild to moderate, self-limiting, and of little clinical significance. Conclusions Ceftaroline is a cephalosporin with broad gram-positive activity, including Methicillin-resistant S aureus and vancomycin-resistant S aureus . Its gram-negative activity includes common respiratory pathogens and members of the Enterobacteriaceae. Clinical trials have reported that ceftaroline was noninferior to ceftriaxone, and vancomycin + aztreonam for the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia and complicated skin and skin-structure infections, respectively.
Observation Volumes and γ-Factors in Two-Photon Fluorescence Fluctuation Spectroscopy

Fluorescence fluctuation spectroscopy has become an important measurement tool for investigating molecular dynamics, molecular interactions, and chemical kinetics in biological systems. Although the basic theory of fluctuation spectroscopy is well established, it is not widely recognized that saturation of the fluorescence excitation can dramatically alter the size and profile of the fluorescence observation volume from which fluorescence fluctuations are measured, even at relatively modest excitation levels. A precise model for these changes is needed for accurate analysis and interpretation of fluctuation spectroscopy data. We here introduce a combined analytical and computational approach to characterize the observation volume under saturating conditions and demonstrate how the variation in the volume is important in two-photon fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. We introduce a simple approach for analysis of fluorescence correlation spectroscopy data that can fully account for the effects of saturation, and demonstrate its success for characterizing the observed changes in both the amplitude and relaxation timescale of measured correlation curves. We also discuss how a quantitative model for the observed phenomena may be of broader importance in fluorescence fluctuation spectroscopy.
Aminolysis of Epoxides in Ionic Liquid 1-Ethylpyridinium Trifluoroacetate as Green and Efficient Reaction Medium

Abstract Aminolysis of epoxides has been carried out using the ionic liquid 1-ethylpyridinium trifluoroacetate ([EtPy][TFA]) as reaction medium. The reactions went smoothly under mild conditions without any catalyst to afford corresponding β-aminoalcohols in high conversions. Moreover, further enhancement in the conversions was observed when AlCl3 was used as Lewis acid catalyst.
Processing and Yield Characteristics of Bobwhite Quail

Abstract THE use of Bobwhite quail in genetic, nutritional and management research is well documented; however, very few references are available concerning the preparation and use of these birds for human food, (Crispens, 1960; Greenberg, 1949). Several methods for feather removal were mentioned by Greenberg (1949), including scalding at different temperatures, wax plucking and removal of feathers by hand. No research was cited to indicate which method was preferred. One method for processing Coturnix quail was discussed by Marsh (1967) in which he recommended that birds be held, the heads clipped off with some type of scissors, and the feathers “scraped” off after scalding at 148°F. He reported that “. . . if it (water) is much hotter or colder, feathers will not come off easily.” Greenberg (1949) reported that Bobwhite quail reach adult size at about 9–10 weeks, with sex not readily distinguishable. At 12–14 weeks of age…
Zinc solid-state NMR spectroscopy of human carbonic anhydrase: implications for the enzymatic mechanism.

The pH dependence of the (67)Zn solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of human carbonic anhydrase (CAII) has been investigated to characterize the nature of the fourth ligand. CAII, through the Zn(2+)-bound hydroxide, catalyzes the deceptively simple reaction: CO(2) + H(2)O HCO(3)(-) + H(+). The accepted mechanism for CAII would predict that water would be bound to the Zn(2+) at pH 5 and hydroxide would be bound at pH 8.5. The measured values for the electric field gradient (EFG) or quadrupole coupling constant (Cq) for CAII are independent of pH within the limits of the experimental error, i.e., 9.8 +/- 0.2 MHz. The EFG interaction has been predicted by ab initio electronic structure calculations for water and hydroxide bound to the zinc, including various levels of hydrogen bonding. After comparing the predicted Cq's with the experimental values, we conclude that the species present from pH 5-8.5 is the hydroxide form. The NMR data presented here is not consistent with the accepted mechanism for CAII. We show that the NMR data is consistent with an alternative mechanism of CAII.
Determination of heats of adsorption on activated carbons by flow microcalorimetry

Abstract Heats of adsorption of different adsorbates on base and impregnated carbons were measured with a flow microcalorimeter using a pulse injection technique. Water, methanol, freon 22, n-hexane and n-heptane were utilized as adsorbates. BPL carbon, ASC carbon and TEDA-ASC carbon were used as adsorbents. The heats of adsorption of each adsorbate were measured on each carbon at two different relative humidities (0 and 70%) to determine the effect of moisture. Methanol adsorbed on silica gel was chosen as a reference system to establish the accuracy and reproducibility of the technique.
Expression of phycobiliprotein genes in Escherichia coli

The cpcA and cpcB genes, which encode the α- and β-subunit apoproteins of Synechococcus 7002 phycocyanin (PC), respectively, are efficiently expressed in Escherichia coli. Studies performed with a series of deletions produced from the parental plasmid pAQPR1 suggest that transcription of these genes in E. coli is initiated from a promoter located not more than 384 bp upstream from the translation start of cpcB. An examination of the nucleotide sequence of this region reveals a consensus E. coli promoter centered approx. 374 bp upstream from the cpcB translation start. The cyanelle-encoded allophycocyanin α- and β-subunit apoprotein genes (apcA and apcB) of Cyanophora paradoxa are also expressed in E. coli.
W1 and WO production by colliding e+e− beams

We examine the colliding beam process, e+e− → Wo±W1∓, as occuring by the one- photon process. Wo is the spin-zero intermediate boson conjectured to exist by Lee. W1 is the spin-one boson, which is the familiar weak interaction theory intermediate boson. The anomalous magnetic moment of the W1 is assumed to be zero and the masses of the two bosons are assumed to be related, for example, by mo = 12m1. We choose m1 = 2 GeV and at s = 10 GeV2, it follows that the total cross section for e+e− → Wo±W1∓ is about 4 × 10−33 cm2.
Adaptive control with convex saturation constraints

This study applies retrospective cost adaptive control to command following in the presence of multi-variable convex input saturation constraints. To account for the saturation constraint, the authors use convex optimisation to minimise the quadratic retrospective cost function. The use of convex optimisation bounds the magnitude of the retrospectively optimised input and thereby influences the controller update to satisfy the control bounds. This technique is applied to a multi-rotor helicopter with constraints on the total thrust magnitude and inclination of the rotor plane.
Pimonidazole: A novel hypoxia marker for complementary study of tumor hypoxia and cell proliferation in cervical carcinoma

Background Tumor hypoxia may be associated with treatment resistance, cell proliferation, and metastatic potential, which contribute to poor prognosis. Complementary techniques for detecting hypoxia, cell growth, and metastases are required to study these relationships. Objectives The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the clinical feasibility of quantitative hypoxia detection with pimonidazole, a novel hypoxia marker, and to correlate hypoxia with S-phase markers of tumor proliferation. Methods Pimonidazole binds to thiol-containing proteins specifically in hypoxic cells. Ten patients with cervical carcinoma received 0.5 g/m2 pimonidazole intravenously followed by biopsy of the cervical carcinoma the next day. Hypoxic cells were recognized by immunohistochemical detection of pimonidazole using a mouse monoclonal antibody. Cell proliferation was detected with a commercially available monoclonal antibody for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Assessment of hypoxia and cell proliferation was made qualitatively with light microscopy and quantitatively using point counting and image analysis software methods. Results No clinical toxic effects were associated with pimonidazole administration. Immunostaining with pimonidazole antibody was observed in 9 of 10 tumors, suggesting that hypoxia is a common occurrence in cervical carcinoma. Quantitatively, tumors that had large numbers of hypoxic cells had the greatest percentage of S-phase cells, but some tumors with smaller amounts of hypoxia also had substantial numbers of S-phase cells. Conclusion Pimonidazole can be used for qualitative and quantitative assessment of tumor hypoxia.
Investigation of capillary forces using atomic force microscopy

An atomic force microscope tip, coated with a small amount of liquid silicone, was used to investigate the wetting and capillary bridging forces on various low- and high-energy surfaces. The low-en...
An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for quassin and closely related metabolites

Abstract A microtitration plate enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay has been developed for quassin and closely related seco-triterpenes. The method is much more sensitive than conventional chromatographic techniques and enables the routine analysis of large numbers of samples with a detection limit of 5 ng quassin. Antibody production was elicited by injecting a conjugate of iso-quassinic acid linked to bovine serum albumin into rabbits. Important features of the technique are (a) the use of a double-antibody, noncompetitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for a low-molecular-weight, nonantigenic compound using microtitration plates; and (b) that the initial incubation of samples with primary antiserum can be carried out in buffer containing up to 20% ( v v ) methanol with minimal loss of sensitivity. The structural requirements for recognition of the hapten by the antiserum are considered based on the levels of cross-reaction found with a wide range of other quassinoids.
Immune responses to Listeria monocytogenes

Listeria monocytogenes is a Gram-positive bacterium that is often used to study the mammalian immune response to infection because it is easy to culture, is relatively safe to work with and causes a highly predictable infection in laboratory mice. The broad application of this mouse model has resulted in a torrent of studies characterizing the contributions of different cytokines, receptors, adaptors and effector molecules to resistance against infection with Listeria monocytogenes. These studies, which are yielding one of the most comprehensive pictures of the 'battle' between host and microorganism, are reviewed here.
Three-dimensional imaging of trabecular bone using the computer numerically controlled milling technique.

Abstract Although various techniques exust for high-resolution, three-dimensional imaging of trabecular bone, a common limitation is that resolution depends on specimen size. Most techniques also have limited availability due to their expense and complexity. We therefore developed a simple, accurate technique that has a resolution that is independent of specimen size. Thin layers are serially removed from an embedded bone specimen using a computer numerically controlled (CNC) milling machine, and each exposed cross section is imaged using a low-magnification digital camera. Precise positioning of the specimen under the camera is achieved using the programmable feature of the CNC milling machine. Large specimens are imaged without loss of resolution by moving the specimen under the camera such that an array of field-of-views spans the full cross section. The images from each field-of-view are easily assembled and registered in the postprocessing. High-contrast sections are achieved by staining the bone black with silver nitrate and embedding it in whitened methylmethacrylate. Due to the high contrast nature and high resolution of the images, thresholding at a single value yielded excellent predictions of morphological parameters such as bone volume fraction (mean ± SD percent error = 0.70 ± 4.28%). The main limitations of this fully automated “CNC milling technique” are that the specimen is destroyed and the process is relatively slow. However, because of its accuracy, independence of image resolution from specimen size, and ease of implementation, this new technique is an excellent method for ex situ imaging of trabecular architecture, particularly when high resolution is required.
Equilibria and instabilities of a Slinky: Discrete model

Abstract The Slinky is a well-known example of a highly flexible helical spring, exhibiting large, geometrically non-linear deformations from minimal applied forces. By considering it as a system of coils that act to resist axial, shearing, and rotational deformations, we develop a two-dimensional discretized model to predict the equilibrium configurations of a Slinky via the minimization of its potential energy. Careful consideration of the contact between coils enables this procedure to accurately describe the shape and stability of the Slinky under different modes of deformation. In addition, we provide simple geometric and material relations that describe a scaling of the general behavior of flexible, helical springs.
Gamma-interferon activation of macrophages for killing of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and evidence for nonoxidative mechanisms

Fungicidal activity of murine peritoneal macrophages for the yeast form of the dimorphic fungal pathogen P. brasiliensis was studied. Killing was assessed by reduction of colony forming units (CFU) using a new medium which has a good plating efficiency. Resident peritoneal macrophages phagocytosed but did not kill P. brasiliensis. Macrophages treated overnight with recombinant γ-interferon (IFN), lymph node cells plus concanavalin A (Con A) or Con A-stimulated spleen cell culture supernatants (Con A Sup) reproducibly killed three different isolates of P. brasiliensis (35 − 55%, P<0.05 − P<0.001). This is the first demonstration of killing of this organism by macrophages. Activated macrophages did not show enhanced phagocytosis of P. brasiliensis. Activation of macrophages for killing by IFN was dose-dependent and, varying with the isolate, 100–10,000 U/ml was required for inducing significant fungicidal effects against P. brasiliensis. Activation of macrophages by IFN or Con A Sup was abrogated by anti-IFN antibody. These results suggest that immune modulation may be an roach to therapy of paracoccidioidomycosis. Killing was not significantly inhibited in the presence of superoxide dismutase (450 U/ml), catalase (20,000 U/ml), dimethylsulfoxide (300 mM) or azide (1 mM). This indicated that killing mechanism(s) did not depend upon products of the oxidative burst. These results show that P. brasiliensis can be significantly killed by activated macrophages without products of the oxidative burst.
Unexplained infertility: Evaluation of the luteal phase; results of the National Center for Infertility Research at Michigan*

Objective: To evaluate the luteal phase in women with rigorously defined unexplained infertility. Design: Prospective study. Setting: National Center for Infertility Research at Michigan. Patient(s): Evaluation of 1, 885 women with infertility identified 12 women who met the rigorously defined criteria for unexplained infertility: [1] infertility of ≥24 months duration, with no male factor, anatomic-functional disorders of the reproductive tract, or immunologic infertility; [2] normal body mass index (BMI); [3] ovulatory cycles ranging from 26 to 32 days; [4] normal luteal phase determined by endometrial biopsy; and [5] normal baseline hormonal profile. Controls (n = 12) were healthy, parous women with normal ovulatory cycles, normal hormonal screen, and were matched for age and BMI to patients. Main Outcome Measure(s): Pattern of follicular growth rate and luteal phase hormonal profile. Result(s): Women with unexplained infertility did not differ in menstrual cycle characteristics, follicular growth rate or mean preovulatory follicle diameter, or endometrial biopsy dating. The mean levels of P tended to be lower in the unexplained infertility group throughout the luteal phase, but only the midluteal interval reached statistical significance. Luteal phase mean integrated P or urinary PDG levels of unexplained infertility women did not differ from those of fertile controls. The ratio of integrated E 2 :P also was significantly greater in women with unexplained infertility than in fertile controls. Conclusion(s): Women with rigorously defined unexplained infertility have subtle hormonal anomalies during the luteal phase when compared with fertile controls.
CRYPTIC SELF‐INCOMPATIBILITY AND THE BREEDING SYSTEM OF CLARKIA UNGUICULATA (ONAGRACEAE)

Analysis of 2,117 segregating progeny from competitive pollinations involving self and foreign pollen reveals that Clarkia unguiculata possesses a cryptic self-incompatibility mechanism. This mechanism promotes outcrossing when foreign pollen is available, yet allows for high fecundity through selfing in marginal or catastrophically reduced populations. Competitively based selfincompatibility in the species suggests that discrimination against genetically similar siblings may also be possible. The preferential self-exclusion system insures that a seed crop of maximal size and genetic heterogeneity will be produced despite unpredictable environmental perturbations. SEED SET FOLLOWING SELF-POLLINATION and
Spontaneous phase separation during self-assembly in bi-dispersed spherical iron oxide nanoparticle monolayers

Recent developments in the synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles have resulted in the ability to fabricate roughly spherical particles with extremely high size uniformity (low polydispersity). These particles can form self-assembled monolayer films at an air-water interface. When the polydispersity of the particles is low, these monolayers can be well-ordered over a length scale dozens of times the particle size. The van der Waals force between the particles is what drives this self-assembly. Through the use of Grazing Incidence X-Ray Diffraction we demonstrate that, when these films are formed at the liquid surface from bi-dispersed solutions containing 10 and 20 nm spherical particles suspended in chloroform, the particles phase separate into well-ordered patches during the self-assembly process. Furthermore, the domain sizes of these phase separated regions are at most 2–3 times smaller than that of a film comprising only mono-dispersed particles and their degree of disorder is comparable. This is shown for multiple solutions with differing ratios of 10 and 20 nm particles.
Probabilistic quickest path algorithm

Due to the increasing role of quickest paths for on-demand routing in computer networks, it is important to compute them faster, perhaps, by trading-off the quality for computational speed. We consider the computation of a quickest path from a source node to a destination node for a given message size in a network with n nodes and m links each of which is specified by bandwidth and delay. Every known quickest path algorithm computes m shortest paths either directly or indirectly, and this step contributes to most of its computational complexity which is generally of the form O(m2 + mnlogn). We present a probabilistic quickest path algorithm that computes an approximate quickest path with time complexity O(pm + pn log n) by randomly selecting p ≤ m bandwidths at which the shortest paths are computed. We show that the delay of the computed path is close to optimal with a high probability that approaches 1 exponentially fast with respect to p/m. Simulation results indicate that this algorithm computes the optimal quickest paths with p/m 40. We also present an algorithm to compute the path-table consisting of these approximate quickest paths with the same time complexity of O(pm + pn log n)
Stretching the timescale of intravital imaging in tumors

Since the time it was pioneered in 1992, intravital imaging of tumors at cellular resolution has offered us the extremely important opportunity of "seeing biology." However, until now, most studies were monitoring tumor cell behavior in the same animal over short times, requiring the combining of acquired data into a hypothesis via statistical analysis. In the last year, different groups have independently developed techniques to extend the time scale of intravital imaging to several days. This improvement allows one to address the connection between tumor cell behavior and the microenvironment which surrounds them. We can now assess dynamics of the cell-cell interactions in tumors, analyze tumor cell fate and changes in the tumor extracellular matrix which accompany tumor progression.
Studies on the Himbert Intramolecular Arene/ Allene Diels – Alder Cycloaddition. Mechanistic Studies and Expansion of Scope to All-Carbon Tethers

The unusual intramolecular arene/allene cycloaddition described 30 years ago by Himbert permits rapid access to strained polycyclic compounds that offer great potential for the synthesis of complex scaffolds. To more fully understand the mechanism of this cycloaddition reaction, and to guide efforts to extend its scope to new substrates, quantum mechanical computational methods were employed in concert with laboratory experiments. These studies indicated that the cycloadditions likely proceed via concerted processes; a stepwise biradical mechanism was shown to be higher in energy in the cases studied. The original Himbert cycloaddition chemistry is also extended from heterocyclic to carbocyclic systems, with computational guidance used to predict thermodynamically favorable cases. Complex polycyclic scaffolds result from the combination of the cycloaddition and subsequent ring-rearrangement metathesis reactions.
An Attempt at Reversal of the Truth-lie Relationship as Measured by the Psychogalvanic Response

(1952). An Attempt at Reversal of the Truth-lie Relationship as Measured by the Psychogalvanic Response. The Journal of Psychology: Vol. 34, No. 1, pp. 55-66.
Size effects, process zone and tension softening behavior in fracture of geomaterials

Abstract In this paper we review experimental and field observations of the process zone, K Ic size dependence in concrete and rock and suggest that a valid K Ic test for such materials may require impractically large specimen sizes. Direct application of linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) to toughness testing of quasi-brittle geomaterials has not been consistently successful. An alternative material property the tension softening curve is better suited to characterize crack formation and growth in geomaterials, and can be determined in the laboratory with reasonable specimen sizes. An experimental technique, originally developed for concrete, can be used to determine the tension-softening curves of rocks.
Function of a Plant Stress-Induced Gene, HVA22. Synthetic Enhancement Screen with Its Yeast Homolog Reveals Its Role in Vesicular Traffic

Expression of the barley (Hordeum vulgare) HVA22 gene is induced by environmental stresses, such as dehydration, salinity, and extreme temperatures, and by a plant stress hormone, abscisic acid. Genes sharing high level of sequence similarities with HVA22 exist in diverse eukaryotic organisms, including animals, plants, and fungi, but not in any prokaryotic organisms. The yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) HVA22 homolog, Yop1p, has been shown to interact with the GTPase-interacting protein, Yip1p. Deletion of YOP1 led to only a modest reduction of the stationary phase titer at 37C. A synthetic enhancement mutant screen was performed in the yop1 deletion background to identify genes interacting with YOP1. The open reading frame YOR165W (renamed SEY1 for synthetic enhancement of YOP1) was identified as a YOP1-dependent complementation gene. The yeast SEY1 is a homolog of the Arabidopsis RHD3 gene whose mutations cause the accumulation of transport vesicles near the tips of defective root hairs. The yeast double mutant of yop1 and sey1 is defective in vesicular traffic as evidenced by the accumulation of transport vesicles and the decrease in invertase secretion. Based on these observations, we suggest that Yop1p/HVA22 regulates vesicular traffic in stressed cells either to facilitate membrane turnover, or to decrease unnecessary secretion.
Duration of transcranial magnetic stimulation effects on the neuroendocrine stress response and coping behavior of adult male rats.

Background: Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a relatively novel, noninvasive method of altering cerebral electrophysiological activity that produces localized and reversible changes in brain tissue. TMS has been shown to have antidepressant properties in both human trials and animal models. Additionally, TMS may alter hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) function resulting in a normalized dexamethasone suppression test in some depressed subjects and an attenuated stress-induced increase in adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and a possibly lowered basal corticosterone (CORT) concentration in rats. This research was undertaken to investigate the duration of these behavioral and neuroendocrine effects of TMS in rats. Methods: In this study, serum ACTH, CORT, testosterone, and luteinizing hormone (LH) concentrations following and immobility parameters during a forced-swim test in adult male rats were evaluated immediately and 1, 3, 5, 7, and 14 days subsequent to a 10-day course of once-daily TMS or sham application. Results: TMS animals had significantly higher ACTH and CORT concentrations immediately following the 10-day course of TMS compared to sham controls. Higher CORT concentrations (numerically but not statistically) were displayed by TMS-treated animals 1 and 3 days after the 10-day application course, although there were no significant differences between TMS and sham groups for ACTH or CORT levels 1, 3, 5, 7, and 14 days following application of sham or TMS. No significant differences were found between groups for serum testosterone and LH levels at any given collection time point. Immobility time, a measure of coping ability that is predictive of human antidepressant response, was significantly decreased (i.e., time spent actively swimming was significantly increased) immediately after the 10-day course of TMS. Thereafter, a nonsignificant numerical trend at 1 and 3 days after TMS application for immobility times between the TMS and control groups was observed (TMS<control values). No significant differences in immobility between TMS and control animals were found at subsequent time points. Conclusions: The present findings suggest that the HPA stress axis is significantly altered immediately following a 10-day course of TMS in that a significant increase in ACTH and CORT levels in TMS-treated animals corresponded to a significant decrease in immobility times in the forced-swim test compared to control values. Finally, based upon the obtained results, the TMS effects in rats appear to be of relatively short duration.
Glucocorticoid therapy in sepsis/shock caused by gram-negative microorganisms.

A review of the literature reveals that glucocorticoids have: 1) a protective effect both in vitro and in vivo against bacterial endotoxins and exotoxins, and 2) a protective or therapeutic effect in sepsis/shock caused by Gram-negative microorganisms. At the Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, the 1968–1973 mortality rate for general sepsis/shock due to Gram-negative organisms was 16.6 percent and for urologic sepsis/shock 15.3 percent. This low rate was the result of early diagnosis and early use of massive dosages of glucocorticoids (hydrocortisone, methylprednisolone, dexamethasone), beta-adrenergic isoproterenol, and bactericidal antibiotics (gentamicin, kanamycin, carbenicillin, cephalothin-cefazolin, ampicillin).
Fault Detection in Heat Exchangers

We have examined the feasibility of using artificial neural networks for the detection of faults in steady state operation of heat exchangers, and compared the results with standard statistical and nearest neighbor classification methods. Both deviations from normal states of measurements as well as physical causes of the faults were investigated. The results of using artificial neural nets and nearest neighbor classification were surprisingly sensitive and superior to discrimination methods.
Genesis and death of vocal control neurons during sexual differentiation in the zebra finch.

Several song-related regions in the adult zebra finch brain have substantially more neurons in males than in females. Such differences appear to arise from sex differences in circulating steroids during early posthatch life. In the present study, developmental mechanisms involved in the production of sex differences are explored by examinations of the normal time course of posthatch neurogenesis and cell death in vocal control circuits. As a first step toward determining whether rates of neuron production may be different in males and females, tritiated thymidine, a marker of cell division, was administered to zebra finches at various times during the first month after hatching. Birds were sacrificed at 60 d. The number of cells formed after hatching and present at 60 d was then evaluated in 3 vocal control regions--HVc (hyperstriatum ventralis pars caudalis) and its 2 principal targets, RA (robust nucleus of the archistriatum) and Area X. Cell death was quantified by counts of normal and pyknotic, degenerating cells made in these nuclei in additional, untreated birds of both sexes at 5 d intervals from 5 to 45 d of age. The combined results of these experiments suggest that differential cell death is a major factor in the development of sex differences in the song control system and provide the first direct evidence for sex differences in cell death in the developing telencephalon. Although developmental time tables differ among the 3 brain areas examined, at specific ages significantly higher numbers of pyknotic cells were observed in HVc, RA, and presumptive Area X in females compared to males. Peak levels of cell death in RA occur 4–6 weeks after hatching. This is about 3 weeks after the onset of sex differences in steroid levels that, in turn, lead to differential organization of song system nuclei. This pattern of results suggests that designation for death and actual cell loss are temporally dissociated in this system. Neuron proliferation for HVc and Area X, but not RA, continues throughout the first 30 d after hatching, and a significant sex difference was found in the number of cells present in HVc at 60 d that were formed after hatching. Comparisons of the timing of cell death and cell incorporation suggest that this difference may be best accounted for by differential survival of neurons formed after hatching rather than differential rates of neuron production. Neither differential neurogenesis nor differential neuron death can fully account for the apparent extreme sexual dimorphism in the number of neurons in Area X.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Scheduling to minimize maximum lateness on unequal parallel processors

Abstract One important problem in deterministic scheduling theory is to schedule a set of independent jobs on a set of parallel processors without any preemption. When the jobs have fixed due dates, the objective often is to minimize the maximum lateness. The problem is NP-Complete[7]. In this paper a fast heuristic procedure is developed to solve this problem. It is applicable to both equal and unequal processors. The “average” behavior of the procedure is tested against a truncated Branch and Bound algorithm in a large scale computational study consisting of about 10,000 different examples. The results show that the procedure is highly efficient.
Population Dynamics and Susceptibility for Ethnic Conflict: The Case of Bosnia and Herzegovina

While it is recognized that the progenitors of war are multilayered and complex and that they consist of political, historical, religious, demographic, economic, and psycho-cultural forces, this article reports on research that looked at the role of one them, demographic trends. Demographic trends can influ- ence the rise of ethnic territoriality and ultimately violent resolution. Two of the three protagonists in the war, namely the Bosnian Muslims and the Bosnian Serbs, are the focus of the study. The level of abstraction at which these rival ethnic groups were sensitive to demographic trends, and therefore the level at which that rivalry played out, was the local municipality, the opstina where competition over jobs and political power was manifest. It is at this level that basic tenets of ethnic competition theory are considered to have been at work. An index of ethnic competition is introduced to measure compe- tition in terms of the relative balance of ethnic populations. This index is complemented by analysis of the trend of relative ethnic population numbers over the two decades prior to the war. Data from the Yugoslavian census show how the demographic position of the Bosnian Serbs declined dramatically in over 90% of the opstinas throughout the country. These population trends are translated into an index of demographic disadvantage. Positive correlations between the two indices (ethnic competition and demographic disadvantage) and discrete-event data of hostilities between Serbs and Muslims are found to be significant. In addition, there is some evidence that the geographic pattern of the propensity for violence, while clearly part of a broad strategic Bosnian Serb national campaign, is also associated with local prewar demographic dynamics.
Carbanions 27. Rearrangements of (9-alkyl-9-fluorenyl)-methyllithium (or cesium) and 2,2-diphenyl-3,3-dimethyl-butyllithium ☆

Abstract A study has been made upon the products from warming various (9-alkyl-9-fluorenyl)methyllithium (or cesium) compounds in THF to near 0 °C followed by carbonation. When the 9-alkyl group is ethyl, the result is chiefly the protonated product (9-alkyl-9- fluorenyl)methane; a similar product evidently is formed when the 9-alkyl group is 1-norbornyl. When the 9-alkyl group is tert-butyl, the minor product is 9-neopentylfluorene-9-carboxylic acid from a [1,2]-migration of the tert-butyl group while the major product is 9-methylfluorene-9-carboxylic acid from an intramolecular elimination as shown by deuterium labeling. When the 9-alkyl is neopentyl, the major product is 9-neopentyl-9,10-dihydro-phenanthrene-9-carboxylic acid along with some 9-neopentylphenanthrene which becomes the major product in diethyl ether solution at 35 °C. 2,2-Diphenyl-3,3-dimethylbutyllithium undergoes predominantly [1,2]-phenyl migration in THF at 0 °C. From an x-ray crystal study upon 9-tert-butyl-9-(chloromethyl)fluorene and 9-neopentyl-9-(chloromethyl)fluorene, it is concluded that steric acceleration is responsible for the unusual reactions of (9-alkyl-9-fluorenyl)methyllithiums when the 9-alkyl groups are tert-butyl and neopentyl.
Effect of temperature on race times on a synthetic surface

Summary Reasons for performing study: Differences in racing times have been noted on synthetic track surfaces that appear to depend on the temperature of the track. No published study to date has considered this effect in a systematic manner. Objectives: To investigate the relationship between temperature of track and speed of horses racing on a synthetic surface. Potential changes in the wax component of the synthetic track were investigated as one possible cause of changes in the track speed at the temperatures observed. Methods: At Del Mar racetrack (California, USA), the air, surface and subsurface temperatures at 4 depths in the synthetic race surface were measured periodically throughout the day over a 42 day period. The 6 furlong (1.2 km) race (afternoon) and fast training ‘work’ (morning) times were also compiled. Samples of the track were obtained and the wax separated using a solvent separation technique. Differential scanning calorimetry was used to determine the range of temperatures at which the wax from the track underwent softening and other material changes. Transformation temperatures were compared to temperatures acquired from the track to evaluate the likelihood of changes in the wax properties during racing. Results: Average air, surface and subsurface temperatures changed significantly throughout the day. Temperatures were higher during the afternoon race sessions and race times were significantly slower compared to morning work times. Temperatures at which some of the components of the wax began to soften were found to be within the range of temperature measured during track operation. Conclusions: A correlation was found between temperature of the synthetic track and speed of horse. Wax separated from the track showed that the temperatures experienced in the surface during normal operation exceed the temperatures at which the wax begins to experience thermal transformation. It is therefore hypothesised that the wax may be a cause of the observed changes in the track performance. Potential relevance: Future work should include a study of components of the synthetic track responsible for the change and epidemiological association of risk of injury.
Analyzing a quantitative coordination relationship

Coordination is a crucial behavior in cooperative distributed problem solving (CDPS). Analyzing coordination requires an understanding of the interplay between the agents, their problem, and their environment. The core behaviors ofdistributed coordination in CDPS systems are the coherent specification and scheduling of tasks over the set of distributed agents working on sets of interrelated problems. The complexity of, and uncertainty about, the problem interrelationships make distributed task coordination difficult. This article describes a causal model of this process that links the interrelationships, calledcoordination relationships, to the local scheduling constraints of distributed agents. Besides coordination relationships, environmental uncertainty and the lack of infinite computational resources also make distributed coordination difficult. It is not only the presence or absence of a coordination relationship that is important, but its quantitative properties: how likely is it to appear, how significant is its effect, and so on. These aspects determine the usefulness of a particular coordination relationship in the context defined by an environment, a problem to be solved, and an agent architecture. This article discusses the analysis of coordination relationships, using as an example our abstract model for thefacilitates relationship. We detail the derivation and assumptions of this model and apply it to the design of a generalized coordination module that is separate from, and interfaces cleanly with, the local scheduler of a CDPS agent. A set of simulation experiments is described that test our assumptions and design process in the coordination of a group of real-time problem-solving agents.
Serovar distribution and antimicrobial susceptibility of swine Salmonella isolates from clinically ill pigs in diagnostic submissions from Indiana in the United States

Aims: To determine serovar distribution and levels of antimicrobial susceptibility of Salmonella isolated from clinically ill pigs in diagnostic submissions. Methods and Results: A total of 197 Salmonella isolates were obtained by the Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory from 2003 to 2005. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined using the standard microbroth dilution method. The top four serovars identified were Salm. enterica serovar Typhimurium variant Copenhagen, Salm. Derby, Salm. Choleraesuis var. Kunzendorf and Salm. Typhimurium. All isolates were susceptible to the fluoroquinolones tested except that eight isolates were intermediate to difloxacin. The isolates showed a low prevalence of resistance to trimethoprim/sulphadiazine (Sxt), gentamicin (G), ceftiofur (Cf) and cephalothin (Cp) with low MIC50 value of ≤0·5, 0·5, 1 and 4 μg ml−1, respectively. They showed a high prevalence of resistance to tetracycline (T; 83·8%), and a moderate prevalence to ampicillin (55·8%), spectinomycin (42·6%), ticarcillin (41·6%) and florfenicol (41·1%). There were more isolates of Salm. Typhimurium, including var. Copenhagen and Salm. Agona, that possessed multiple antimicrobial resistance to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, ampicillin, ceftiofur and cephalothin (AxApCfCp) than the other serovars. Conclusions: The swine Salmonella isolates were susceptible to the fluoroquinolones, Sxt, G, Cf and Cp, but resistant to T. Significance and Impact of the Study: These findings provided useful information regarding antimicrobial susceptibility and resistance in dealing with clinical salmonellosis in pig herds.
Do Cost-Based Pricing Biases Persist in Laboratory Markets?

Abstract Past accounting experiments have demonstrated significant effects of absorption vs variable costing systems on pricing decisions, but in individual settings that suppressed market features. The main finding of the current study is that a cost-based pricing bias did not persist in laboratory product markets. Given the opportunity to learn from profit and market feedback, sellers revised their price offers toward optimum in a manner that compensated for absorption vs variable cost signals. The effects of demand conditions, as revealed through actual trades, dominated the effects of alternative costing systems.
A glutamatergic network mediates lithium response in bipolar disorder as defined by epigenome pathway analysis.

Aim: A regulatory network in the human brain mediating lithium response in bipolar patients was revealed by analysis of functional SNPs from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and published gene association studies, followed by epigenome mapping. Methods: An initial set of 23,312 SNPs in linkage disequilibrium with lead SNPs, and sub-threshold GWAS SNPs rescued by pathway analysis, were studied in the same populations. These were assessed using our workflow and annotation by the epigenome roadmap consortium. Results: Twenty-seven percent of 802 SNPs that were associated with lithium response (13 published studies gene association studies and two GWAS) were shared in common with 1281 SNPs from 18 GWAS examining psychiatric disorders and adverse events associated with lithium treatment. Nineteen SNPs were annotated as active regulatory elements such as enhancers and promoters in a tissue-specific manner. They were located within noncoding regions of ten genes: ANK3, ARNTL, CACNA1C, CACNG2, CDKN1A, CREB1...
Long‐Term Clinical Benefit of Sirolimus‐Eluting Stents Compared to Bare Metal Stents in the Treatment of Saphenous Vein Graft Disease

Objective:The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) in the treatment of saphenous vein graft (SVG) disease. Background:Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of SVG lesions with bare metal stents (BMS) is associated with frequent in-stent restenosis, progression of disease in nonstented SVG segments, and suboptimal clinical outcomes. While SES have been shown to reduce restenosis rates in various native lesion subsets, the long-term clinical impact of SES use in SVG lesions is less clear. Methods:We compared our first 59 patients who underwent SES implantation in SVGs with 50 consecutive patients who received BMS in an equivalent time period prior to SES availability. Clinical outcomes were compared in both groups. Results:Baseline clinical variables between the two groups were similar. Mean graft age in the SES cohort was older than that in the BMS cohort (12.9 years vs. 9.4 years). At follow-up, the SES group had a 24.6% absolute lower incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) (25.4% vs. 50.0%), driven by a 20.7% absolute lower incidence of target vessel revascularization (TVR) (15.3% vs. 36.0%). The SES treatment group had a 24.1% lower rate of clinical restenosis (11.9% vs. 36.0%). The use of a SES was an independent negative predictor of MACE at a mean follow-up of 20 months (odds ratio [OR]= 0.48,P = 0.03). Conclusions:Despite the placement of longer stents in patients with older, smaller SVGs, the use of SES in the treatment of SVG lesions appears to be safe and is associated with less clinical restenosis and more favorable long-term clinical outcomes as compared with BMS.