cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
United States National Institutes of Health grant funding for psychedelic-assisted therapy clinical trials from 2006-2020.

Abstract Background Medicine is currently experiencing a “psychedelic renaissance”, said by many to have commenced in 2006. Since then, clinical trials have consistently demonstrated promising findings for psychedelic-assisted therapies in the treatment of various mental health conditions and addictions. While most of this work has been privately funded, governmental biomedical research funding bodies in countries such as Australia, Canada, Israel, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom have begun supporting it. Given that the United States National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world, it is important to understand the degree to which the organization is supporting clinical trials of psychedelic-assisted therapies. We are unaware of existing literature quantifying direct NIH grant support for psychedelic-assisted therapy clinical trials, so we sought to answer this important question by searching all NIH grants awarded since the beginning of the psychedelic renaissance. Methods We queried NIH RePORTER, NIH’s grant database, for grants awarded from 2006-2020 mentioning the psychedelics 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT), ayahuasca, dimethyltryptamine (DMT), ibogaine, lysergic acid (LSD), mescaline, peyote, and psilocybin. We manually reviewed resulting grants to determine whether they directly funded psychedelic-assisted therapy clinical trials. Results We identified zero NIH grants directly funding psychedelic-assisted therapy clinical trials during the study period. Conclusion While governmental biomedical research funding bodies in other countries have begun funding clinical trials of psychedelic-assisted therapies during the psychedelic renaissance, NIH has yet to directly fund a single psychedelic-assisted therapy clinical trial. Concerns about risks related to psychedelics, a federal law preventing promotion of legalization of Schedule 1 drugs, and prioritization of grants for other types of studies on psychedelics may explain the dearth of NIH funding for psychedelic-assisted therapy clinical trials.
Tiled linear algebra a system for parallel graph algorithms

High performance parallel kernels for solving graph problems are complex and difficult to write. Some systems have been developed to facilitate the implementation of these kernels but the code they produce does not always perform as well as custom software. In this space, we propose Tiled Linear Algebra (TLA), a multi-level system based on linear algebra but with explicit parallel extensions. Programs can be first written in a conventional manner using linear algebra and then tuned for parallel performance using our extension. This separation allows programmers with different expertise to focus on their strengths with writing original codes that can then be tuned by parallel experts.
Phage display of peptides and protein domains

Abstract Phage display of peptides and proteins is a versatile and promising tool for protein engineering and drug discovery programs because of the vast libraries of sequences that can be rapidly screened for biological function. Over the past year, reports have appeared in which these libraries have been used to investigate the binding properties of a variety of receptors. Several functional protein domains have also been displayed. A novel selection scheme using both protein and peptide display has been devised for determining protease cleavage specificity.
University Learning Skills: a first year experience orientation course for engineers

Knowing the 'smart' way to approach academic and personal challenges can make a big difference in the undergraduate experience at a university. University Learning Skills (ULS), an optional First Year Experience (FYE) one-credit orientation course, was established at the University of Connecticut in an effort to help students modify their high school study habits to those needed for success in college. Data on retention shows an alarming figure of 20-30% of engineering students departing after the first year. The high number of students who either have academic difficulty or decide to change careers prompted the creation of the ULS course. The ULS course includes material on study skills such as time management, the Cornell note-taking method, and the SQ3R approach to textbook reading. It also introduces students to engineering facilities and university offices such as counseling services, career services, library, etc. Improved retention of these students who take the ULS course has occurred. Student evaluation of the course has been positive with 3 out of 4 feeling that it met or strongly met the objective of promoting a positive adjustment and assimilation into the university.
The High Altitude Observatory / Lowell Observatory Solar / Stellar Spectrophotometry Project

We propose to study chromospheric activity on time scales of rotation and activity cycles in the Sun and solar-like stars using a high-dispersion, dedicated fiber-fed spectrograph facility currently being completed. Using CCD detectors we will record the line intensities of Ca II H and K, Hα, the Ca II IRT and other optical lines reflecting chromospheric activity. To study magnetic activity on rotational time scales we will obtain near nightly observations of about 40 stars over a 120 day time base for several seasons. We hope to extend the detection of rotation periods using rotational modulation of chromospheric emission to later spectral types and other stellar population groups than are currently available. To study stellar cycles we will obtain observations of about 200 stars once per month over a long time base. We plan to define cycle properties (amplitude, shape, morphology) as a function of stellar mass, age, rotation rate, chemical composition, etc.
Tissue metabolism in experimental toxemia of pregnancy

Abstract Pregnant rats fed a diet containing 5 per cent of fractions V, VI, VII-H, and VIII recovered from the molecular distillation of oxidized cod liver oil. Experimental toxemia of pregnancy was produced in the animals ingesting fraction VII-H and in 2 animals of the fraction VI series. Measurements of oxygen uptake and of rates of anaerobic glycolysis revealed placenta slices of the toxemic rats to have depressed metabolic rates. Slight depressions of splenic metabolism were found, while kidney slices from toxemic rats functioned similarly to the control kidneys. In the presence of 10 −4 M succinate slices of placenta from the toxemic VII-H series were caused to have an uptake of oxygen similar to that of the controls. It is postulated that one or more sites of metabolic inhibition exist, which cause the observed depressed function in toxemic placenta. The depressions of placental function correlate with the observation that the earliest histologic changes of this disease are in the placenta.
Expert assessment of the top platform independent cybersecurity skills for non-IT professionals

Cybersecurity threats are causing substantial financial losses for individuals, organizations, and governments. Information technology (IT) users' mistakes, due to poor cybersecurity skills, represent about 72% to 95% of cybersecurity threats to organizations. As opposed to IT professionals, computer end-users are one of the weakest links in the cybersecurity chain, due to their limited cybersecurity skills. Skills are defined as the combination of knowledge, experience, and ability to do something well. Cybersecurity skills are the skills one possess to prevent damage to IT via the Internet. However, the current measures of end-user cybersecurity skills are based on self-reported surveys. This study is the first phase of a larger research project that is aimed to develop a scenario-based iPad application to measure cybersecurity skills based on actual scenarios with hands-on tasks that the participants complete in demonstrating their skills. To design a measure that has both high validity and reliability, the first phase of the study was set forth to follow the Delphi method in seeking subject matter experts' opinion on the top platform independent cybersecurity skills for non-IT professionals. A total of 18 experts from the Florida chapter of the InfraGard, a public-private partnership between the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)'s cyber division and private sector that focus on cybersecurity, along with subject matter experts from other federal agencies such as the United States Secret Services' (USSS) Electronic Crimes Task Force team and industry, took part in our Delphi expert panel process. The exploratory expert panel data was recorded and categorized into similar groups of comments for improvements, along with quantitative rankings. Comments were then solicited again for expert consensus, to derive the rankings of the top nine platform independent cybersecurity skills. The paper ends with some discussion on the next phase of this ongoing research along with some initial implications of the findings to practice and research.
Glucans synthesized in situ in experimental salivary pellicle function as specific binding sites for Streptococcus mutans.

Abstract Many researchers have suggested that the role of glucan-mediated interactions in the adherence of Streptococcus mutans is restricted to accumulation of this cariogenic bacterium following its sucrose (i.e., glucan)-independent binding to saliva-coated tooth surfaces. However, the presence of enzymatically active glucosyltransferase in salivary pellicle suggests that glucans could also promote the initial adherence of S. mutans to the teeth. In the present study, the commonly used hydroxyapatite adherence assay was modified to include the incorporation of glucosyltransferase and the synthesis of glucans in situ on saliva-coated hydroxyapatite beads. Several laboratory strains and clinical isolates of S. mutans were examined for their ability to adhere to experimental pellicles, either with or without the prior formation of glucans in situ. Results showed that most strains of S. mutans bound stereospecifically to glucans synthesized in pellicle. Inhibition studies with various polysaccharides and fungal dextranase indicated that alpha 1,6-linked glucose residues were of primary importance in the glucan binding observed. Scanning electron microscopic analysis showed direct binding of S. mutans to hydroxyapatite surface-associated polysaccharide and revealed no evidence of trapping or cell-to-cell binding. S. mutans strains also attached to host-derived structures in experimental pellicles, and the data suggest that the bacterial adhesins which recognize salivary binding sites were distinct from glucan-binding adhesins. Furthermore, glucans formed in experimental pellicles appeared to mask the host-derived components. These results support the concept that glucans synthesized in salivary pellicle can promote the selective adherence of the cariogenic streptococci which colonize human teeth.
Cobalt doping, etching, and attachment of gold nanoparticles and quantum dots on ZnO nanorods

ZnO is an important material for optoelectronic applications such as solar cells and sensors due to its wide band gap and functional properties. Optimizing the growth mechanisms of ZnO nanorods as grown in a low temperature, wet chemical method will allow for an enhancement of material, optical, and electronic properties in a low cost production method. Our group fabricated nanorods on indium tin oxide (ITO) and glass substrates. The alignment and optical properties of the ZnO nanorods depend greatly on the initial seed layer of (doped) ZnO as well as the growth parameters. In this study we investigated the changes in the optical absorption properties of ZnO nanorods doped with cobalt. Cobalt doping was achieved by adding a percentage of cobalt chloride to the total volume of chemical bath precursor solution of Zinc nitrate and hexamethylentramine. Optical and energy dispersive X-ray measurements reveal that the optical absorption of ZnO nanorods extends from 385 nm to 700 nm when doped with cobalt from 0.1 at.% to 9.7 at.%. In addition, we investigated the selective etching of ZnO with 3 molar concentrations of potassium chloride solution. Etching under 3 molar solution concentration produced ZnO nanotube structures that can be used for enhancing optical and chemical sensitivity. We also present absorption profiles of ZnO nanorods decorated with metallic nano particles of gold as well as CdSe quantum dots (© 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Demographic Attributes of Mississippi Nursing Students and Family Influences

While the demographics of nursing students are well documented, the role that family members and partners play in both recruitment to nursing school and post-graduation plans are not as well known. We posted a web-based survey on the Internet at the beginning of the 2010 fall semester and provided the open-access URL (web address) to deans of all nursing programs in Mississippi who were asked to forward it to their student population. Total responses to the survey were 1,008, and the response rate among the participating nursing student population was 22 % in this convenience sample. We found that 88 % were female and 75 % were white. When asked about family influences, 38 % said that a family member or close friend influenced them to enter the health care profession. Of those, 53 % cited their mother, stepmother, or mother-in-law as influencing their career decision. With an eye toward consideration of post-graduation plans, we found that 66 % are married or in a relationship. More than half (56 %) of those in the subset of “in a relationship or married” would consult/negotiate with their spouse or partner before choosing job location, 33 % of the nursing graduates would be the leading spouse and 6 % report that their practice location would be dependent upon where their partner/spouse’s career takes them. Thus, family and partner relationships may influence both the decision to enter the profession and post-graduation plans.
Methods for isolation of Bordetella pertussis from patients with whooping cough

Culture remains the standard method for diagnosis of whooping cough. While in the past attempts at isolating Bordetella pertussis from patients with suspected whooping cough were often unsuccessful, new methods have recently been developed which are suitable for use in routine microbiology laboratories. Recent advances include the use of calcium alginate tipped swabs for taking nasopharyngeal swabs, use of charcoal horse blood agar for transport and culture, and the inclusion of cephalexin as a selective agent in agar media. Experience shows that careful application of these new methods often enables Bordetella pertussis to be isolated from clinical specimens, thereby permitting a diagnosis to be made at an early stage of the disease.
AVOIDANCE BEHAVIOR IN ADULT SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION1

A study was designed to ascertain whether syntactic avoidance behavior could be demonstrated for two groups of ESL learners—native speakers of Arabic and native speakers of Spanish and Portuguese—in accordance with contrastive analysis (CA) difficulty predictions. The study also investigated the predictability of learners' avoiding the use of various structures. Subjects participated in tasks designed to elicit passive, present progressive, infinitive complement, and direct object pronoun structures. An avoidance pattern was found, in accordance with CA difficulty predictions, which could not be attributed to differences between the groups' comprehension of the target structures. Furthermore, when the frequency of use of the target structures was correlated with various affective measures, the following pattern emerged: for those structures which a particular group avoided, several of the affective variables correlated with use in the predicted direction; for those structures which a particular group did not avoid, the affective variables did not correlate significantly with use. The findings suggest that while CA is a fairly good predictor of avoidance there is an intersection of linguistic and psychological variables in determining learner behavior in a second language in that structures which otherwise would be avoided are likely to be produced depending on the affective state of the learner.
The accumulation, interpretation, and presentation of data pertaining to metabolic balances, notably those of calcium, phosphorus, and nitrogen.

IN 1927, Bauer and Aub (12) described the ward routine and methods then employed in studies of inorganic salt metabolism on the Research Ward of the Massachusetts General Hospital. The present communication is a survey of the methods now employed by the authors. It will serve as a paper of reference as to the procedure used in studies already published (1, 4, 5, 7) and for others in progress; it is hoped, furthermore, that some of the methods, especially those concerned with the presentation of the data, may be adopted by others, thus establishing some uniformity in this field. I. ACCUMULATION OF DATA The metabolic of unit The research unit (Ward 4) consists of 5 two-bed rooms under the charge of a graduate nurse and two assistants. There is a separate dietetic kitchen run by a full-time dietitian assisted by two student dietitians and a kitchen helper.
Broadband acoustic projector for low-frequency synthetic aperture sonar application

Possibilities for increased mine detection and classification techniques have established a need for broadband, underwater acoustic projectors. An advanced version of a low frequency synthetic aperture sonar (SAS) for the mine reconnaissance hunter program has recently been developed. The transducer is resonant at 100 kHz but has been designed to deliver constant high sound pressure levels over an operating frequency range of 10 kHz to 100 kHz. This wide band operation is accomplished because of an absence of spurious modes within the operational frequency decade. The actual projector is constructed with a two layered 1 - 3 piezocomposite material stacked in mechanical series and electrically wired in parallel. This arrangement was selected in order to maximize the source level output. The center electrode of the monolithic 1 - 3 piezocomposite layers has been segmented to offer four individual elements such that combinations of the sectors offer the ability to access nine different apertures. A constant source level is maintained through the use of a preshaped transformer between the driver and the projector. The combination of the transformer design with the clean spectrum response of the composite material results in an acoustic projector with constant source level.
Modeling geomagnetic storm dynamics: New results and challenges

Abstract Theoretical approaches to quantitatively model the dynamics of energetic ions and electrons in the coupled inner magnetosphere and the challenges they pose are briefly reviewed. Recent studies have shown the importance of high-resolution convection electric field models for reproducing ring current injection and morphology, and the necessity of development of models that calculate self-consistently the inner magnetospheric electric and magnetic fields. In situ observations have indicated that besides radial diffusion, local acceleration processes may contribute as well to the transport and energization of radiation belt particles, thus demonstrating the need of including self-consistent treatment of transport and wave instabilities in models. We present results from our physics-based model recently extended to relativistic energies, which solves the kinetic equation for H + , O + , and He + ions and electrons, and simulates the global distribution and variability of these populations during geomagnetic storms. The model is coupled with a time-dependent plasmasphere model and includes time-varying plasma inflow from the magnetotail, both convective and diffusive transport, and losses due to collisions, dayside outflow, and self-consistent wave-particle interactions. The model reproduces well ring current buildup during the rapid main phase of the 21 October 2001 large geomagnetic storm with Dst = - 187 nT , but underestimates the second Dst = - 165 nT minimum on 23 October. New results from this coupled ring current–radiation belt model demonstrate that strong electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) and whistler mode waves may be excited by the anisotropic ring current populations during storm time. Our simulations of ring current dynamics during a detached proton auroral arc event observed with the instruments on IMAGE satellite show that pitch angle scattering by the EMIC waves causes significant proton precipitation into the atmosphere in the postnoon sector, in good agreement with observations.
Long-term extracellular matrix metabolism by cultured human osteogenesis imperfecta osteoblasts

Osteopenia due to deficient extracellular matrix synthesis is a hallmark of osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), Previous studies carried out within 72 h of osteoblast subculture, at an early stage of matrix synthesis, indicated that for osteoblasts derived from human OI patients the total amounts of collagen, osteonectin, and three proteoglycans were significantly reduced, while total amounts of thrombospondin, fibronectin, and matrix hyaluronan were elevated compared with age-matched controls. The current study was undertaken to follow OI osteoblast matrix metabolism as that matrix is synthesized, deposited, and matured. Steady-state metabolic radiolabeling was used to follow the metabolism of collagen, hyaluronan, and total proteoglycan by OI and normal osteoblasts for up to 5 weeks. Trabecular osteoblasts from non-OI controls showed an increase in total and matrix-associated collagen synthesis during the first and second week, reaching steady-state levels by week 4. In contrast, cultured OI osteoblasts did not increase either the total (medium + matrix-associated) or matrix-associated collagen during the entire 5-week period. Proteoglycan synthesis exhibited a pattern similar to that for collagen. OI-derived proteoglycans differed from controls in that levels in OI cultures did not reflect the normal time-dependent increase in total proteoglycan and proteoglycan matrix deposition. OI osteoblast hyaluronan synthesis was increased when compared with age-matched controls during 4 weeks of culture. In contrast, the ratios of calcium to phosphorus solublized from control and the OI extracellular matrix were not statistically different. Thus, with respect to the synthesis of collagen, proteoglycans, and hyaluronan, OI osteoblasts fail to parallel controls in depositing and elaborating extracellular matrix during 35 days in culture.
Development of Microorganisms and Fluorescence on Poultry Dipped in Water Containing Irona

SUMMARY Studies were undertaken to determine the effects of iron on the microbiological quality and fluorescence of poultry dipped in solutions containing different concentrations of the metal. When pseudomonads were grown in different broth media, fluorescent pigment production differed with bacterial species, amount of iron, and medium used. Growth was inhibited by the chelating agent, 8-hydroxyquinoline; inhibition was reversed by addition of iron. When chicken was dipped in solutions containing 0, 0.1, 1, and 5 ppm iron, and stored 1 week at 5°C, fluorescence was greatest in broth inoculated with organisms from poultry treated with the two highest concentrations. Bacterial growth was also greatest on chicken in the presence of 1 ppm added iron.
A high-performance liquid chromatography method using ultraviolet detection for the quantitation of flavopiridol from human plasma.

Flavopiridol is an inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinase, a key regulator of cell cycle, and is currently under clinical trials. We developed and validated an HPLC assay method for the quantitation of flavopiridol in human plasma samples. The sample preparation consisted of protein precipitation with acetonitrile. Separation was accomplished on a C18 column and a C18 precolumn insert utilizing a gradient profile consisting of ammonium acetate and methanol. Ultraviolet detection was set at 268 nm for flavopiridol and 323 nm for umbelliferone, the internal standard. The method was validated over flavopiridol concentration range of 0.025–3.0 µg/mL using 250 µL of plasma. The assay was linear over this concentration range with a coefficient of variation less than 10% for inter- and intra-assay. The retention times were around 6.2 min for umbelliferone and 9.8 min for flavopiridol. The recoveries of flavopiridol and umbelliferone were 88.6 ± 1.0% and 97.1 ± 3.7%, respectively. This method is suitable for quantifying flavopiridol in plasma samples and further characterizing the clinical pharmacology of this compound. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Possible Role of Epstein-Barr Virus in Rheumatoid Arthritis

The sera of patients with rheumatoid arthritis form a precipitate with an antigen present in the sonicate of a human B (bone marrow-derived) lymphoid cell line (WiL2). The antibody is distinct from rheumatoid factor. The antigen can be demonstrated by an immunofluorescence technique to be distributed within the nucleus of the WiL2 cell and shows a discrete speckled pattern of nuclear staining. The nuclear antigen is not detectable in organ extracts from many animal species or in human T (thymus-derived) lymphoid cell lines. The current evidence suggests that the nuclear antigen is detectable only in human B lymphoid cells infected with Epstein-Barr virus. It is not clear at present whether the nuclear antigen is a viral protein or a cell protein induced by the EpsteinBarr virus as a result of polyclonal B cell activation. For many years, our laboratory has been engaged in the study of autoantibodies to intracellular antigens. These autoantibodies are present in the sera of patients with systemic rheumatic diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's syndrome, scleroderma, and mixed connective tissue disease. In the course of these studies, we have demonstrated that anti
A Shared Binding Site for Propofol and Thiopental in ELIC

The intravenous general anesthetics propofol and thiopental target pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (pLGIC) and inhibit cation-conducting nAChRs. These drugs also inhibit ELIC, a prokaryotic pLGIC. However, the binding sites for these anesthetics are unknown for either nAChRs or ELIC. Here, using photoaffinity labeling, two-electrode voltage clamp electrophysiology and molecular docking, we identified a functionally relevant binding site for thiopental and propofol in ELIC. Molecular docking identified two binding pockets: an intrasubunit site near M265 of TM3, partially overlapped with the previously identified propofol binding site in GLIC; and an intersubunit site near W220 of TM1, which overlaps with the bromoform binding location identified previously. We generated two mutants, one targeted both predicted binding sites (W220F/W224F/M265C) and another targeted only the intrasubunit site (M265C). Functional measurements on Xenopus oocytes expressing the W220F/W224F/M265C mutant show a significant decrease of anesthetic inhibition, with a five-fold increase in the propofol IC50 and abolishment of thiopental inhibition. Interestingly, the M265C mutation alone could produce the same effect as the W220F/W224F/M265C mutant. Photoaffinity labeling experiments with a light-activated derivative of propofol (aziPm), in conjunction with mass spectrometry, confirmed the binding site at M265 for aziPm. Altogether, the results show that propofol and thiopental bind to a common functionally relevant site. This intrasubunit action site may also be shared by other intravenous anesthetics. Research supported by grants from the NIH.
Noninvasive differentiation of cardiomyopathy from coronary disease; pulse transmission time and systolic time intervals.

Systolic time intervals and central pulse transmission time were compared in cardiomyopathy (CM) patients and age-and sex-matched patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Significant differences were found in pulse transmission time (shorter in the CAD patients (p less than .001) and in the pre-ejection period (p less than .001), ejection time index (p less than .05), and in the ratio of the pre-ejection period to the left ventricular ejection time (p less than .001); all were markedly abnormal in the CM group. Pulse transmission time differences may have been the result of more generalized arteriosclerotic disease in the CAD patients. It appears that both systolic time intervals and pulse transmission time clearly distinguish CM from CAD.
Charge density of the fermionic vacuum

We examine the properties of the matter vacuum in the absence of fermion-photon interactions. We calculate the spatial distribution of the vacuum’s charge density associated with model nuclear interactions and show that even in the absence of photons, the fermionic vacuum can screen off the Coulomb field around a nucleus. For force fields that vary on spatial scales larger than the electron’s Compton wavelength, the resulting charge density is proportional to the spatial derivative of the nuclear force field. As a result we can estimate the electric permeability of the one-dimensional fermionic vacuum to be 5.1 × 10−7.
Controller design and Gauss-Lucas theorem

In this paper, we demonstrate how the classical Gauss-Lucas theorem can aid in the determination of stabilizing controllers for feedback systems. Moreover, we show how to apply the Gauss-Lucas theorem in the construction of new necessary conditions for Schur stability; the application is not limited to Schur stability, however.
Interhemispheric transfer and the completion of reversible operations in non-conserving children.

Evidence that concerns interhemispheric transfer deficits in young children is reviewed, and it is suggested that the late maturation of the corpus callosum may prevent the transfer and thus verbal expression of knowledge concerning equivalence relationships in non-conservers - operations normally performed by the right hemisphere. Because previous findings with "split-brain" patients indicate that interhemispheric transfer can be achieved when questions are phrased in the context of a reward (e.g., "preference"), questions concerning the conservation of a non-equivalent volume were posed to 65 non-conservers in terms of an imagined reward (preference condition). Questions also were phrased so as to require comparative-relational determinations as well as expectation of an empirical reversal of the stimulus conditions so as to determine differences/similarities in the reasoning process. Significantly more non-conservers demonstrated an awareness of empirical reversal or performed the preference relational operation correctly as compared to conditions that required comparative-relational judgments. The evidence also suggests the presence of two fundamentally distinct cognitive approaches to the problem, which appear to resist integration in children of this age group.
On Negative Inertia of Pick Matrices Associated with Generalized Schur Functions

It is known [6] that for every function f in the generalized Schur class $$\mathcal{S}_{\kappa } $$ and every nonempty open subset Ω of the unit disk $$\mathbb{D}$$ , there exist points z1,...,z n ∈Ω such that the n × nPick matrix $${\left[ {\frac{{1 - f(z_{i} )f(z_{j} )^{*} }}{{1 - z_{i} \overline{z} _{j} }}} \right]}^{n}_{{j,i = 1}} $$ has κ negative eigenvalues. In this paper we discuss existence of an integer n0 such that any Pick matrix based on z1,...,z n ∈Ω with n ≥ n0 has κ negative eigenvalues. Definitely, the answer depends on Ω. We prove that if $$\Omega = \mathbb{D}$$ , then such a number n0 does not exist unless f is a ratio of two finite Blaschke products; in the latter case the minimal value of n0 can be found. We show also that if the closure of Ω is contained in $$\mathbb{D}$$ then such a number n0 exists for every function f in $$\mathcal{S}_{\kappa }$$ .
SOME OPTICAL AND MAGNETIC PROPERTIES OF IRRADIATED LiF

Abstract The optical oscillator strength of the F -band in LiF is determined as f L , == 0.82 from combined optical and magnetic measurements on X-irradiated and neutron-irradiated samples. The number of F -centers formed in LiF as a function of neutron dosage was measured over a broad range of dosage by either optical or magnetic techniques. The formation of F -centers saturates in the vicinity of 8 × 10 19 centers cm 3 ; and saturation occurs for neutron dosages considerably smaller than those required for saturation of vacancies and interstitials. Experimental evidence is presented to indicate that F -centers are separated by more than six lattice units in the most densely colored samples
Failure as a unifying theme in design

Abstract The concept of failure, which plays a central role in successful design, is viewed as a unifying principle of the whole design process. This idea is elaborated upon and illustrated for the problem of designing a hypothetical bridge, which is presented as a paradigm. Brief case studies of some real bridges are employed to reinforce the argument, and the danger of designing by emulating success are cautioned against.
Statistical properties of N random sinusoidal waves in additive Gaussian noise

Abstract The first order probability density functions of the sums of N independent sinusoidal waves having random amplitudes and phases in additive Gaussian noise are studied for the cases where N is fixed and where N in Poisson distributed. The conditional moments about the origin are obtained in closed form or both situations. The corresponding probability density functions for the envelope are also studied. The even conditional moments about the origin are also obtained in closed form. Representative numerical results are presented.
Effect of Various Hormone Preparations and Nutritional Stresses in Chicks

Abstract THE physiological responses of chicks to stress or to the hormones of the pituitary-adrenal axis have not been thoroughly studied. These responses are different from those of mammals (Newcomer, 1957). Current interest in the effect of dietary limitations on the growth rate of chicks (Ackerson and Mussehl, 1956; Schneider, Bohren and Anderson, 1955) makes it important to know more about the responses evoked by feed and water restrictions. Therefore feed and water limitation or deprivation, and water deprivation in combination with hormone therapy, have been studied. In this presentation the experimental procedures of feed and/or water limitation or deprivation are considered to be stressful. The term “stress” is applied to the action of these procedures on the experimental animals, and the term “stress group” to any group of animals so treated. METHODS AND RESULTS Test 1. Crossbred (New Hampshire male×Barred Plymouth Rock female) male chicks were injected In the breast …
Advanced compilation techniques in the PARADIGM compiler for distributed-memory multicomputers

The PARADIGM compiler project provides an automated means to parallelize programs, written in a serial programming model, for efficient execution on distributed-memory multicomputers. .A previous implementation of the compiler based on the PTD representation allowed symbolic array sizes, affine loop bounds and array subscripts, and variable number of processors, provided that arrays were single or multi-dimensionally block distributed. The techniques presented here extend the compiler to also accept multidimensional cyclic and block-cyclic distributions within a uniform symbolic framework. These extensions demand more sophisticated symbolic manipulation capabilities. A novel aspect of our approach is to meet this demand by interfacing PARADIGM with a powerful off-the-shelf symbolic package, Mathematica. This paper describes some of the Mathematica routines that performs various transformations, shows how they are invoked and used by the compiler to overcome the new challenges, and presents experimental results for code involving cyclic and block-cyclic arrays as evidence of the feasibility of the approach.
The Low Molecular Weight GTPase Rho Regulates Myofibril Formation and Organization in Neonatal Rat Ventricular Myocytes INVOLVEMENT OF Rho KINASE

The assembly of contractile proteins into organized sarcomeric units is one of the most distinctive features of cardiac myocyte hypertrophy. In a well characterized in vitro model system using cultured neonatal rat ventricular myocytes, a subset of G protein-coupled receptor agonists has been shown to induce actin-myosin filament organization. Pretreatment of myocytes with C3 exoenzyme ADP-ribosylated Rho and inhibited the characteristic α1-adrenergic receptor agonist-induced myofibrillar organization, suggesting involvement of the Rho GTPase in cardiac myofibrillogenesis. We used adenoviral mediated gene transfer to examine the effects of activated Rho and inhibitory mutants of one of its effectors, Rho kinase, in myocytes. Rho immunoreactivity was increased in the particulate fraction of myocytes infected with a recombinant adenovirus expressing constitutively activated Rho. Rho-infected cells demonstrated a striking increase in the assembly and organization of sarcomeric units and in the expression of the atrial natriuretic factor protein. These Rho-induced responses were markedly inhibited by co-infection with adenoviruses expressing putative dominant negative forms of Rho kinase. A parallel pathway involving Ras-induced myofibrillar organization and atrial natriuretic factor expression was only minimally affected. α1-Adrenergic receptor agonist-induced myofibrillogenesis was inhibited by some but not all of the Rho kinase mutants. Our data demonstrate that activated Rho has profound effects on myofibrillar organization in cardiac myocytes and suggest that Rho kinase mediates Rho-induced hypertrophic responses.
A further characterization of lipoprotein lipase.

Abstract The isolation of hydrolysis products from glyceryl [1- 14 C]trioleate provided a sensitive and reproducible assay system to measure plasma post-heparin lipolytic activity and adipose tissue lipoprotein lipase (glycerol-ester hydrolase, EC 3.1.1.3). Essentially no lipolytic activity was detected in pre-heparin plasma. With this system hydrolysis at 37° ceased by 60 min and temperatures lower than 30° were required for linear hydrolysis rates. At 27° zero-order kinetics could be obtained for more than 2 h. Hydrolysis of triglyceride by adipose tissue lipoprotein lipase was also greater at 27° than at 37°. Up to 50% of the original post-heparin lipolytic activity was retained after lyophilization and extraction of plasma with organic solvents, permitting measurement of enzyme activity after nearly complete removal of endogenous substrate, even in patients with gross hypertriglyceridemia. These studies thus suggest two ways that assay of post-heparin lipolytic activity may be improved: the use of lower temperatures to achieve greater stability of the enzymatic activity and delipidation of post-heparin plasma to remove competition from endogenous glycerides.
Optimal Control of Chaotic Systems

The problem of controlling a chaotic system is treated from a long term statistical basis. Unlike the OGY targeting method that exploits individual unstable orbits, this approach is concerned with targeting the density function of an invariant probability measure. Given a point transformation T, possessing a density function f, we choose , a different probability density function, to be the target. Using optimization methods, we construct a point transformation , close to T, whose invariant probability density function is , or close to .
Applying morphometrics to early land plant systematics: A new Leclercqia (Lycopsida) species from Washington State, USA

PREMISE OF THE STUDY Early land plant fossils can be challenging to interpret due to their morphological simplicity and often fragmentary nature. Morphometric techniques using commonly preserved characters might increase diagnostic value of such material. To evaluate the utility of morphometrics in assessing morphospecies boundaries in the Devonian, we compared degrees of variation within the cosmopolitan lycopsid genus Leclercqia with that of living relatives (Lycopodium-Spinulum spp.) Of particular interest was determining whether a new morphotype of Leclercqia from the Middle Devonian Chilliwack flora of Washington State fell within or outside the range of variation of previously described species. METHODS Morphological variation of Leclercqia was assessed across the geographic range of the genus using six vegetative and three reproductive characters. The new morphotype and two previously described species (L. complexa, L. andrewsii) were compared using linear discriminant analysis (LDA). Extant Lycopodium-Spinulum species and variants were similarly analyzed to assess inter- vs. intraspecific variation in living lycopsids. KEY RESULTS The LDA comparisons of Lycopodium-Spinulum yielded notable morphological disparity between species but substantial overlap between intraspecific variants. Among the fossils, LDA separates the new morphotype, Leclercqia complexa, and L. andrewsii to a similar degree as Lycopodium and Spinulum species. Based on these results and further study, we describe a new species of Leclercqia: Leclercqia scolopendra Benca et Stromberg sp. nov. CONCLUSIONS Morphometric analyses can aid in informing taxonomic assignment of fragmentary early land plant fossils using readily preserved features, even in the absence of reproductive structures. Applications of this approach to the Chilliwack flora suggest Leclercqia displayed greater morphological variation, taxonomic diversity, and biogeographic extent than previously thought.
Biomolecular Motion On Surfaces And Membranes

Laser/microscope fluorescence methods for studying adsorption/desorption kinetics and surface diffusion of molecules reversibly associated with biological membranes are discussed. These methods, which include fluorescence excitation by evanescent waves generated by total internal reflection, and fluorescence quenching by thin metal films, may also find application in the design of in vivo biosensors and in studies of transmembrane transport and chemical kinetics.
Enzyme histochemical investigation of glycol methacrylate embedded chick embryonic tissue.

The advantages of the water-soluble glycol methacrylate (GMA) embedding procedure make it highly applicable for use with fragile early embryonic material. Not only can one obtain tissue sections containing excellent histological detail, but numerous enzymes are retained for subsequent histochemical localization. For the purpose of establishing a methodology whereby concomitant histology and histochemistry could be obtainable, various fixatives and fixation times have been evaluated on GMA embedded chick embryonic mesonephros and gonad. It was found that fixing the tissues for 1 h in a solution of 95% ethanol, 5% acetic acid and 10% neutralbuffered formalin resulted in the retention of not only excellent histology but also alkaline and acid phosphatase. Thus, with this procedure, more specific investigations of early embryonic tissue can be performed.
Aporphines XXVI: GLC and mass spectrometric properties of trifluoroacetyl derivatives of N-methyl-, N-propyl-, and noraporphines

The O-trifluoroacetyl and N, O-trifluoroacetyl derivatives of a series of aporphine and noraporphine alkaloids were prepared, and their GLC and mass spectrometric characteristics were determined. The positional isomers apocodeine and isoapocodeine were resolved chromatographically as their trifluoroacetyl derivatives, and their mass spectra were distinctly different. Mass spectrometric fragmentation processes apparently unique to N-trifluoroacetyl derivatives of noraporphines were observed. Plausible mechanisms for the formation of the major ions in the mass spectra of the various compounds are given.
Comments on "A Nonreciprocal Circular Polarizer" (Correspondence)

In the above-named work [ibid., vol. MTT-15, pp. 37-41, Jan. 1967] the author described two models of a nonreciprocal circular polarizer. The second model was a two-stage device in which the second stage provided a refinement of the approximate circular polarization produced by the first stage. The device used for this purpose consisted of a circular waveguide with a ferrite rod along its axis, so dimensioned that one sense of circular polarization could propagate but not the other. It has been called to the author's attention that a theoretical basis for such a device was provided in a series of papers by R.A. Waldron ("Electromagnetic wave propagation in cylindrical waveguides containing gyromagnetic media," J. Brit. IRE, vol. 18, pp. 597-612, 677-690, 733-746, 1958). Furthermore, a patent embodying the applicacation of this principle was obtained by him (British Patent 850 054, September 2S, 1960).
Colchicine site inhibitors of microtubule integrity as vascular disrupting agents

Drugs that bind to the colchicine binding site of tubulin and induce tubulin depolymerization hold promise as antitumor drugs through their ability to induce cell cycle arrest and to kill cancer cells through apoptosis and mitotic catastrophe. However, development of this group of compounds as direct antitumor cytotoxic agents has not proved successful. Over the last few years, the potential of these compounds to act as selective vascular disrupting agents has been recognized. Several agents have advanced to phase I and phase II clinical studies, and their capacity to suppress growth of the tumor vasculature has been confirmed. Toxicity in terms of cardiovascular and thromboembolic events remains a major concern and their therapeutic efficacy as single agents has been disappointing. Nevertheless, a more comprehensive understanding of tumor compensatory mechanisms and potential combination strategies with anti-angiogenic agents suggest that vascular targeting therapy may be a fruitful direction for the further development of this class of drugs as anticancer agents. Drug Dev Res 69:352–358, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Microfabrication technology: Organized assembly of carbon nanotubes

Cunning refinements help to customize the architecture of nanotube structures. Nanoscale structures need to be arranged into well-defined configurations in order to build integrated systems. Here we use a chemical-vapour deposition method with gas-phase catalyst delivery to direct the assembly of carbon nanotubes in a variety of predetermined orientations onto silicon/silica substrates, building them into one-, two- and three-dimensional arrangements. The preference of nanotubes to grow selectively on and normal to silica surfaces forces them to inherit the lithographically machined template topography of their substrates, allowing the sites of nucleation and the direction of growth to be controlled.
Optical constants in the IR from thin film interference and reflectance: the reststrahlen region of muscovite mica.

A new technique for determining the IR optical constants of materials that can be formed into thin films is presented. At a given wavelength the thickness of the film t, the index of refraction n, and the extinction coefficient k combine to produce interference effects in the film, which in turn control reflectance from the film. When reflectance is plotted vs thickness the resultant curve is a unique function of n and k. Values of n and k are determined by curve fitting. The technique is illustrated using thin films of muscovite mica, and values of n and k are reported for wave numbers from 1200 to 400 cm−1, which include the reststrahlen region of mica.