cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Potential effect of anti‐inflammatory drug use on PSA kinetics and subsequent prostate cancer diagnosis: Risk stratification in black and white men with benign prostate biopsy

BACKGROUND Rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels are associated with both increased risk of prostate cancer and prostatic inflammation. The confounding effects of inflammation on the utility of PSA kinetics to predict prostate cancer may be partially mitigated by anti-inflammatory drug use. We investigated the influence of anti-inflammatory drug use on the association of PSA kinetics with prostate cancer risk. METHODS We studied 488 prostate cancer case-control pairs (290 white, 198 African American (AA)) nested in a retrospective cohort of men with a benign prostate biopsy. A series of multivariable models estimated prostate cancer risk associated with PSA velocity (PSAV) at different levels of anti-inflammatory drug use while adjusting for the presence of both clinical and histologic prostatitis. RESULTS In men with one, two, or three or more courses of anti-inflammatory drug use, for each ng/mL/year increase in PSAV, prostate cancer risk increased 1.21-fold, 1.83-fold, and 1.97-fold, respectively ( P < 0.0001). In controls with histologic prostatitis, anti-inflammatory drug use was associated with a significantly lower PSAV ( P < 0.0001). This association was not observed in men with histologic prostatitis who were subsequently diagnosed with prostate cancer. A positive interaction between anti-inflammatory drug use and PSAV-associated prostate cancer risk was only observed in AA men, as well as a strong positive association between any anti-inflammatory drug use and clinical prostatitis ( P = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS In men with benign prostate biopsy, accounting for the presence of histologic prostatitis and anti-inflammatory drug use, particularly in AA men, may help distinguish between men with rising PSA because of prostatitis vs undiagnosed cancer.
Code-Pass and Code-Reject Filters for Simultaneous Transmit and Receive in 45-nm CMOS SOI

This paper demonstrates generalized code-selective filters for code-pass and code-reject signal processing at RF. A code-reject scheme using a quarter-wave ( $\lambda /4$ ) impedance transformation is also demonstrated to overcome tradeoffs of insertion loss (IL) and linearity compared to series band-reject $N$ -path filters. A 45-nm CMOS SOI implementation consumes a power of 9.32 mW from 1 to 1.8-V supplies at the frequency of 0.35–1.1 GHz and the chip area is 1.73 mm2. The measured transmit rejection is up to 22.6 dB with 4-dB IL. The in-band third-order-intercept point (IIP3) is up to 22.6 dBm and noise figure (NF) of 4–6 dB depending on the applied codes.
Mie particle Phonon Laser

We theoretically describe a levitated Mie particle phonon laser, obtained by coupling the particle oscillations to a whispering gallery mode via laser radiation. We show that ultrasensitive force sensing can be performed using this platform.
The Geometry of Polygons in ℝ5 and Quaternions

We consider the moduli space \(\mathcal{M}\)r of polygons with fixed side lengths in five-dimensional Euclidean space. We analyze the local structure of its singularities and exhibit a real-analytic equivalence between \(\mathcal{M}\)r and a weighted quotient of n-fold products of the quaternionic projective line \(\mathbb{H}\mathbb{P}\)1 by the diagonal PSL(2, \(\mathbb{H}\))-action. We explore the relation between \(\mathcal{M}\)r and the fixed point set of an anti-symplectic involution on a GIT quotient Grℂ(2, 4)n/SL(4, ℂ). We generalize the Gel'fand—MacPherson correspondence to more general complex Grassmannians and to the quaternionic context, and realize our space \(\mathcal{M}\)r as a quotient of a subspace in the quaternionic Grassmannian Grℍ(2, n) by the action of the group Sp(1)n. We also give analogues of the Gel'fand—Tsetlin coordinates on the space of quaternionic Hermitean marices and briefly describe generalized action—angle coordinates on \(\mathcal{M}\)r.
A Community of Practice Model for Infusing Active Learning in the Classroom

This work outlines a model for creating momentum for active learning at the departmental level through a Community of Practice. This approach focuses on empowering members of the community by provi...
Behavioral Health and Service Usage During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Emerging Adults Currently or Recently Experiencing Homelessness.

Abstract Purpose This study provides information on how the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak is affecting emerging adults currently or recently homeless in terms of engagement in protective behaviors, mental health, substance use, and access to services. Methods Ninety participants in an ongoing clinical trial of a risk reduction program for homeless, aged 18–25 years, were administered items about COVID-19 between April 10 and July 9, 2020. Results Most participants reported engaging in COVID-19 protective behaviors. Past week mental health symptoms were reported by 38%–48% of participants, depending on symptoms. Among those who used substances before the outbreak, 16%–28% reported increased use of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana. More than half of the participants reported increased difficulty meeting basic needs (e.g., food), and approximately 32%–44% reported more difficulty getting behavioral health services since the outbreak. Conclusions Innovative strategies are needed to address the increased behavioral health needs of young people experiencing homelessness during events such as the COVID-19 outbreak.
The Distribution of Household Income in the United States, 1946-2015

Collecting long run and geographically precise income data from the Internal Revenue Service, this paper estimates annual, state-level distributions of household income of the United States population from 1946 to 2015. Additionally and critically, by studying the central range of the U.S. distribution of income over this time period, it focuses on an area of investigation that has received little or no attention in the literature which either focuses on a shorter time period or on top earners. Simulations also demonstrate the appropriateness of our estimation technique. Specifically, if earnings follow a known distributional form, the proposed method is found to be superior for estimating inequality indices when compared to alternatives for dealing with binned data. Various measures of inequality derived from the estimated distributional parameters are presented. National inequality represented by the Theil index shows the rise of inequality is concentrated in periods beginning in the late 1940s and the early 1960s. The movement of relative earnings among the 10th, 50th, and 90th percentile of earners supports the well-known “hollowing out” effect. Owing to the rich historical aspect of the data collected, we extend the understanding of the presence of this effect to the mid-20th century, i.e., the late 1940s and 1950s. State-level inequality follows a similar pattern to the national trend, but with some variation. While within-state inequality is the most substantial part of national inequality, an inverted W shaped pattern of between-state inequality is also found, with peaks in the early 1950s and early 2010s.
Macroeconomic Crises and Poverty Monitoring: A Case Study of India

This case study for India finds an explanation for the drop in average household consumption in rural areas occurring in the year after the 1991 stabilization program instigated to deal with a macroeconomic crisis. A number of factors contributed to falling average living standards, including inflation, a drop in agricultural yields, and contraction in the non-farm sector. The same factors resulted in high poverty measures, although there was also a sizable unexplained shift in distribution. Despite their having an unusually rich data base, the authors nevertheless are unable to account for a large share of the increase in measured poverty, and cannot rule out the possibility that it was the result of sampling and non-sampling errors. Only about one-tenth of the measured increase in poverty is explicable in terms of the variables that would be expected to transmit shocks to the household level. Soon after, the poverty measures returned to their previous level. The study cautions users of survey-based welfare indicators not to read too much into a single survey, particularly when (as here) its results are difficult to explain in terms of other data on hand. However, the usefulness of objective socioeconomic survey data for longer-term poverty monitoring should not be thrown into doubt by these results.
Iterative optimal control synthesis for nonlinear switching systems

This paper introduces computational control solutions to the constrained optimal control problem for nonlinear switching systems. The proposed approaches enable direct incorporation of the system's full-scale dynamics and also allow the system to operate with multiple irregular (distinct) switches. The optimal control signal is synthesized by iteratively solving a sequence of linearly constrained quadratic programs. The effectiveness of the proposed framework is illustrated on the control synthesis of different legged robot models.
Is Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) associated with Crohn's Disease?

Abstract Objective This retroactive meta-analysis assesses the relationship between Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) and Crohn’s Disease (CD). Methods A meta-analysis of PCR– and culture–based studies was conducted to determine if there is a relationship between MAP and Crohn’s Disease. The chi-squared test of independence was also conducted to determine if MAP infection and Crohn’s disease onset are independent events. Results The studies analyzed were able to provide evidence that Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis is highly associated with Crohn’s disease. It is also shown that, regardless of detection method, MAP can effectively be detected in Crohn’s patients. Conclusion MAP is strongly connected with Crohn’s Disease. Summary This paper examines the incidence of MAP in the tissue of Crohn’s disease patients. We found evidence to support MAP being strongly associated with Crohn’s disease.
ADA and the Internet: Standardizing the Accessibility of Web Sites

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is currently considering what standards should be applied to commercial web sites to make online information and services accessible to people with disabilities. Should the overall performance of a website be the measuring standard, or would compliance with technical rules be a sufficient measure of web accessibility? There are dangers in adopting web accessibility technical standards in DOJ regulations. The process of updating regulations is slow and will not keep pace with changing technology. Accessibility issues involving detailed technical standards would likely deteriorate into battles about computer programming techniques. Compliance with technical standards does not necessarily guarantee that a Web site is accessible. Worse still, technical standards in DOJ regulations may be an unconstitutional regulation of commercial speech. For these reasons, the DOJ should adopt performance standards in applying the ADA to web sites. However, based on the public comments submitted to the Federal Register last year, performance standards are not what the public wants. This paper explores the public opinion, why technical standards in regulations will ultimately weaken the effect of the ADA, and why performance standards in DOJ regulations are the best choice in applying the ADA to web sites.
Fault isolation and event correlation for integrated fault management

An algorithm for fault isolation and event correlation in integrated networks is presented. It reconstructs fault propagation during run-time by exploring relationships between managed objects and provides improved focus and efficiency compared to similar algorithms. The functionality of the algorithm is generic, straightforward, efficient, and applicable for different management architectures such as SNMP and TMN. Clearly defined interfaces allow parallel execution of problem investigation, integration of different management architectures and systems, and incorporation of other correlation techniques.
Gene Expression Based Leukemia Sub-Classification Using Committee Neural Networks

Analysis of gene expression data provides an objective and efficient technique for sub‑classification of leukemia. The purpose of the present study was to design a committee neural networks based classification systems to subcategorize leukemia gene expression data. In the study, a binary classification system was considered to differentiate acute lymphoblastic leukemia from acute myeloid leukemia. A ternary classification system which classifies leukemia expression data into three subclasses including B‑cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, T‑cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia was also developed. In each classification system gene expression profiles of leukemia patients were first subjected to a sequence of simple preprocessing steps. This resulted in filtering out approximately 95 percent of the non‑informative genes. The remaining 5 percent of the informative genes were used to train a set of artificial neural networks with different parameters and architectures. The networks that gave the best results during initial testing were recruited into a committee. The committee decision was by majority voting. The committee neural network system was later evaluated using data not used in training. The binary classification system classified microarray gene expression profiles into two categories with 100 percent accuracy and the ternary system correctly predicted the three subclasses of leukemia in over 97 percent of the cases.
Bowlby, John (1907–90)

Keywords: Ainsworth; Mary; Bowlby, John; Donald Winnicott; psychoanalysis; psychoanalytic criticism; unconscious; attachment; loss; trauma
Ascetics and Brahmins: Studies in Ideologies and Institutions

This volume brings together papers on Indian ascetical institutions and ideologies published by Patrick Olivelle over a span of about thirty years.
Thermomechanical Response of Shape Memory Alloy Hybrid Composites

This study examines the use of embedded shape memory alloy (SMA) actuators for adaptive control of the thermomechanical response of composite structures. A nonlinear thermomechanical model is presented for analyzing shape memory alloy hybrid composite (SMAHC) structures exposed to steady-state thermal and dynamic mechanical loads. Also presented are (1) fabrication procedures for SMAHC specimens, (2) characterization of the constituent materials for model quantification, (3) development of the test apparatus for conducting static and dynamic experiments on specimens with and without SMA, (4) discussion of the experimental results, and (5) validation of the analytical and numerical tools developed in the study. Excellent agreement is achieved between the predicted and measured SAMHC responses including thermal buckling, thermal post-buckling and dynamic response due to inertial loading. The validated model and thermomechanical analysis tools are used to demonstrate a variety of static and dynamic response behaviors including control of static (thermal buckling and post-buckling) and dynamic responses (vibration, sonic fatigue, and acoustic transmission). and SMAHC design considerations for these applications. SMAHCs are shown to have significant advantages over conventional response abatement approaches for vibration, sonic fatigue, and noise control.
Plio‐Pleistocene denitrification in the eastern tropical North Pacific: Intensification at 2.1 Ma

[1] Global climate has changed substantially over the past ∼4 million years (Ma) toward, on average, colder conditions and higher amplitude oscillation between glacial and interglacial periods. Corresponding changes in marine biogeochemistry could have linked oceanic circulation changes to the global carbon cycle, but remain poorly understood. We report a high-resolution, 4-Ma-long δ15N record from Ocean Drilling Program Site 1012 on the California margin, which monitors denitrification intensity in one of the principal Oxygen Minimum Zones (OMZs) of the open ocean. The δ15N record demonstrates that eastern tropical North Pacific (ETNP) denitrification was weak for much of the late Pliocene. Though there was no apparent change associated with Northern Hemisphere glaciation (NHG) at ∼2.7 Ma, denitrification strengthened substantially (by ∼2‰ in δ15N) at ∼2.1 (Ma). Since 2.1 Ma, intense denitrification in the ETNP occurred during interglacial periods and was generally very climate-sensitive. We infer that two oceanic changes, the shoaling of the thermocline in the eastern Pacific (and thus the strengthened Walker circulation) and the development of a modern-like frontal system in high-latitude southern ocean around ∼2.1 Ma provided favorable conditions for intensification of ETNP denitrification that was also likely mirrored south of the equator. Intermediate water circulation changes likely created the poorly ventilated zones susceptible to the suboxic condition required by denitrification. 2.1 Ma thus marks a critical point for the reorganization of the ocean's nitrogen cycle in which open ocean denitrification became a significant loss term during interglacial phases of climate. Given linkage between the ocean's N and C cycle, ETNP denitrification changes probably contributed to Plio-Pleistocene climatic changes.
Gain dynamics and spectral hole-burning in In(Ga)As self-organized quantum dots

The dynamics of spectral hole burning, gain saturation and carrier capture are important in the design of semiconductor QD lasers and amplifiers, especially in high speed applications. Using femtosecond three-pulse white light pump and probe differential transmission spectroscopy, we have observed spectral hole burning in both the excited and ground states, which directly shows the carrier relaxation between the discrete energy levels in QDs with a population inversion. The gain recovery due to both relaxation of confined excited states and carrier capture are observable in our spectrally and temporally resolved experiments.
CHEMISTRY OF HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS: A RENAISSANCE

English translation in Chemistry of Heterocyclic Compounds , 2012, 48 (1), p 1 http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10593-012-0958-6
Anthropological Archaeology in 2012: Mobility, Economy, and Transformation

In 2012, archaeologists continued to grapple with large questions concerning process and structure and how they shaped the nature of humanity. The movement of populations, ideas, and material culture stands out prominently, including mobility's role in promoting social change and how forms of travel and communication, such as pilgrimages or long-distance trade, promoted social interaction. Research concerning the structure of ancient economies acknowledges the amazing diversity within which prehistoric communities organized food production and material goods manufacture and exchange. Social complexity as transformation illustrates how local histories supported alternative pathways to power and how factors such as climate change and environmental limitations might have affected long-term social histories. Finally, there is ongoing interest in modeling human–environmental interactions—in particular, human adaptability in the face of climate change and natural disasters and how particular cultural and natural elements allowed certain societies to be resilient and sustainable in the long term.
A Clinically Relevant Closed-Head Model of Single and Repeat Concussive Injury in the Adult Rat Using a Controlled Cortical Impact Device.

Abstract Repeat concussions (RC) can result in significant long-term neurological consequences and increased risk for neurodegenerative disease compared with single concussion (SC). Mechanisms underlying this difference are poorly understood and best elucidated using an animal model. To the best of our knowledge, there is no closed-head model in the adult rat using a commercially available device. We developed a novel and clinically relevant closed-head injury (CHI) model of both SC and RC in the adult rat using a controlled cortical impact (CCI) device. Adult rats received either a single or repeat CHI (three injuries, 48 h apart), and acute deficits in sensorimotor and locomotor function (foot fault; open field), memory (novel object), and anxiety (open field; corticosterone [CORT]) were measured. Assessment of cellular pathology was also conducted. Within the first week post-CHI, rats with SC or RC showed similar deficits in motor coordination, decreased locomotion, and higher resting CORT levels. Rats...
Conditional quantile analysis when covariates are functions, with application to growth data

Summary. Motivated by the conditional growth charts problem, we develop a method for conditional quantile analysis when predictors take values in a functional space. The method proposed aims at estimating conditional distribution functions under a generalized functional regression framework. This approach facilitates balancing of model flexibility and the curse of dimensionality for the infinite dimensional functional predictors. Its good performance in comparison with other methods, both for sparsely and for densely observed functional covariates, is demonstrated through theory as well as in simulations and an application to growth curves, where the method proposed can, for example, be used to assess the entire growth pattern of a child by relating it to the predicted quantiles of adult height.
New arterial cannulation techniques in cadaver kidney preservation.

Abstract A technique is proposed for the perfusion of cadaveric kidneys to minimize damage to the renal artery.
The impact of case characteristics on detectives' decision making

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of victim and offense characteristics on the amount of time detectives allocated to burglary and robbery investigations. Data were derived from an analysis of 292 robbery and 317 burglary investigative reports obtained from a medium-sized mid-western municipal police department and through six months of observations in the setting. The quantitative results showed that offense characteristics are by far more powerful predictors of time spent than victim characteristics. The qualtiative results showed interaction and dependency effects among many of the victim characteristic variables and highlighted the complex calculus by which causal influences are manifested in detectives' decision behavior. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Bahianite, Sb3A15O14(OH)2, a New Species

Bahianite, Sb3Al5O14(OH)2-Sb3Al5(Al, Be, Si) v. The crystal structure represents a new type and is based on hexagonal close-packed oxygens. It is related to the structure of simpsonite Ta3Al14O13(OH).
Ion beam irradiation of polytetrafluroethylene-loaded polyetheretherketone

Experiments were performed to study the radiation tolerance and mechanical stability of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) loaded polyetheretherketone (PEEK) exposed to alpha particle radiation. Accelerator generated alpha beams were used to provide the extreme upper limit for the radiation environment of actinide sources where the polymer is employed in real applications. Before irradiation, a simplistic approach was used to determine possible exposures/doses a polymer could receive from a variety of actinides. Volatile gas emission from the polymer as a result of alpha radiolysis was measured by a quadruple mass spectrometer. Mechanical properties of irradiated polymer were measured to assure the robustness of the product in radiation environments. Results of all measurements indicate that PEEK performs excellently in alpha particle radiation environments. Volatile fragments generated from the polymer during alpha radiolysis are not observed to interact with nearby reactive metals such as actinides themselves to form undesirable compounds.
Kinetic analysis of data obtained from studies on microbial degradation of cement waste forms, using shrinking core models.

Abstract Model equations based on analytical solutions of two shrinking core models (acid dissolution or shrinking unreacted core (SUC) model, and bulk diffusion model), were used to analyze the kinetics of microbial degradation of cement waste forms. Two current approaches of waste form microbial stability evaluation (Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) method and refined biofilm formation) were used to generate the data. Good linear correlations with R 2 >0.95 were obtained for the leaching data from both the NRC and biofilm approaches, using the model equation based on the bulk diffusion concept. Analyses using the model equation based on the acid dissolution model generally gave poor correlations except when data obtained from biofilm formation method was normalized.
Treating late-life depression with interpersonal psychotherapy in the primary care sector.

Background Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) is an empirically-validated intervention for treating late-life depression. Objective To determine the manner in which IPT is utilized by primary care physicians in relation to antidepressant medications. Methods The authors reviewed treatment logs prepared by care managers during the first 12 months of a patient's participation in the PROSPECT clinical trial to determine initial and longitudinal treatment patterns utilized by physicians, and clinical outcomes associated with initial treatment assignment. Results Primary care physicians in practices randomized to PROSPECT's intervention arm initially prescribed an antidepressant medication for 58% of eligible patients and referred only 11% of them to IPT. Over time, however, 27% of patients participated in IPT as monotherapy or augmentation therapy. Initial treatment assignment was not associated with depressive status at 4 and 12 months nor with suicidal ideation at 4, 8, and 12 months. Conclusion IPT is an effective treatment for late-life depression whose greater use by primary care physicians should be encouraged. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dominance Rank and Access To Estrous Females in Male Savanna Baboons

Data on sexual consortships in a troop of chacma baboons are analyzed in relation to a priority-of-access model and to critical demographic and social variables. The data show a robust association between adult male rank and mating success, and a close approximation to priority-of-access type mating. Principal findings were: (1) Mating activity peaked during the four most likely days of ovulation, and was greater on conceptive than on nonconceptive cycles. (2) On each day of estrus, males of the alpha rank consorted more frequently than did males of other ranks for both classes of cycles. (3) Moreover, on each day of estrus, alpha males consorted at higher rates on conceptive cycles than they did on nonconceptive cycles. (4) Male dominance rank and consorting success were positively correlated, including a perfect rank correlation on conceptive cycles. (5) Mean consort duration was also positively correlated with male dominance rank. (6) The most striking aspect of male mating patterns was the predominance of alpha males. Male dominance rank and consort success were in qualitative but not perfect quantitative agreement with predictions of a priority-of-access model. Alpha males consorted on 86% of the days and 94% of the conceptive cycles they were expected to, and were selective of conceptive over nonconceptive cycles. (7) The size of the adult male cohort had no effect on the consort success of alpha males. (8) Alpha male consort success was reduced during intervals when two or more females were synchronously in estrus. Inconsistent results from other savanna baboon field studies have often led to the conclusion that dominance rank is not important as a determinant of male mating success. Analysis of the literature indicates that some of the reported variability among studies is explained by factors that are associated with differences in group demography. In addition, the importance of male dominance rank has often been treated superficially in discussions emphasizing alternative mating tactics, due in part to the uneven representation of published accounts emerging from individual study sites. I conclude that there is a general, underlying relationship between male dominance rank and access to mates in savanna baboons. Dominance rank is inarguably the primary determinant of mating success among high-ranking males, while the mating success of subordinate males is determined both by rank and the extent to which coalitions are expressed in the group. Rank/mating measures tend to be strongest in the chacma subspecies, among which male-male coalitions over mates are unknown. Male-male competition based in both solo and coalitional tactics appears to dominate the expression of individual partner preferences.
Computational study of negative differential resistance in graphene bilayer nanostructures

Although graphene has fascinating electronic properties, lack of a band-gap reduces its utility for conventional electronic device applications. A tunable bandgap can be induced in bilayer graphene by application of a potential difference between the two layers. The simplest geometry for creating such a potential difference consists of two overlapping single layer graphene nanoribbons. Numerical simulations, based on π-band nearest neighbor tight binding model and the nonequilibrium Green's function formalism, show that transmission through such a structure has a strong dependence on applied bias. The simulated current voltage characteristics mimic the characteristics of resonant tunneling diode featuring negative differential resistance. It is found that the bandgap of the nanoribbons and length of the bilayer region have significant effects on the current voltage characteristics. In particular, the peak to valley ratio decreases with increasing length of the bilayer region. And the cut-in voltage is strongly modulated by the bandgap of the GNRs.
Above and Below: Toward a Social Geometry of Header

For modem common sense, hierarchy is a ladder of command in which the lower rungs are encompassed in the higher ones in regular succession. It is significant that we say that something is “high” or “superior”-or conversely “base” or “inferior”-without considering why what we most praise (goodness, strength, and so on) must be located high.
MMPs and TIMPs--an historical perspective

There are currently 25 known vertebrate matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and 4 tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). This article reviews these proteases from an historical perspective in terms of who discovered each protein, when the sequence was established, when action on protein substrates was demonstrated, and what names have been used. A similar approach is taken for the TIMPS, and their multiple functions in addition to protease inhibition are emphasized. MMPs from invertebrates, plants, and bacteria are also discussed. This review is an outgrowth and update of a chapter by the same name originally published in Matrix Metalloproteinase Protocols, pp. 1-23, edited by I. M. Clark and published by Humana Press in 2001.
Facile analysis and purification of deblocked N-terminal pyroglutamyl peptides with a strong cation-exchange sulfoethyl aspartamide column

A high-performance strong cation-exchange Sulfoethyl Aspartamide column was used to analyze and purify five N-terminal pyroglutamyl peptides after treatment with Pyroglutamate Aminopeptidase. The resulting deblocked N-1 peptides possess an increased positive charge and are therefore retained to a greater extent by the column. Salt gradient elution in a pH 3 mobile phase was then used to recover the desired peptides and the purified deblocked peptides were directly subjected to N-terminal sequence analysis. The same digests were also chromatographed on a C18 reversed-phase column using standard trifluoroacetic acid-acetonitrile gradient elution. The elution order for the parent peptide and the N-1 peptide on the reversed-phase column was reversed from that on the Sulfoethyl Aspartamide column and the resolution of the two peptides obtained on the reversed-phase column was less than that observed on the cation-exchange column. In addition, the Sulfoethyl Aspartamide column was shown to be useful to monitor the extent of N-terminal glutamine cyclization formed during peptide purification and storage.
THE LIVER IN THE SCHWARTZMAN REACTION

The effects of Gram Negative endotoxin (E. Coli 0111B4) on the liver of rabbits has been studied. In 22 animals 92% developed liver necrosis following two intravenous doses of 50 mcg per kg of endotoxin at a 24 hour interval. Of 91 animals 42 survived for more than 12 hours following a large single dose (250-1000 mcg per kg) of endotoxin administered slowly intravenously for an 8 hour period and most of these developed a generalized Schwartzman reaction (GSR) and hepatic necrosis. Of 20 animals given a single dose of 50 mcg per kg endotoxin 15 developed piecemeal necrosis associated with microthrombi. Before endotoxin was administered liver function tests (SCOT, SGPT, LDH isoenzymes, 5' nucleotidase, and serum albumin) in all animals and liver biopsy in the 10 rabbits in which this was carried out were normal. After endotoxin the liver function tests and coagulation tests (PT, PTT, platelets, factors I, II, V and VIII) and split products of fibrinogen (SPF) were abnormal. A mild to moderate decrease in factor VIII and a slight increase in SPF suggest that disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) participated in this reaction. Although most of the hemostatic alterations could be attributed to hepatic damage, these studies indicated a close interaction between liver dysfunction and DIC in determining the effects of Gram Negative endotoxin in these animals.
A note on the iron-organic relationship in natural water

Abstract The percentage of iron in the aquatic environment which is associated with organic matter can be measured by fractionating unconcentrated water samples on Sephadex gel filtration columns. The use of concentrated samples should be avoided since they exaggerate the importance of the iron-organic relationship.
Effects of pantothenic acid on growth performance and carcass characteristics of growing-finishing pigs fed diets with or without ractopamine hydrochloride.

Two experiments evaluated effects of added pantothenic acid on performance of growing-finishing pigs. In Exp. 1, 156 pigs (PIC, initial BW = 25.7 kg) were used in a 3 x 2 x 2 factorial to evaluate the effects of added pantothenic acid (PA; 0, 22.5, or 45 ppm), ractopamine.HCl (RAC; 0 or 10 mg/kg), and sex on growth performance and carcass traits. Pigs were fed increasing PA from 25.7 to 123.6 kg (d 0 to 98) and RAC for the last 28 d before slaughter. Increasing the amount of added PA had no effect (P > 0.40) on ADG, ADFI, or G:F from d 0 to 70. A PA x sex interaction (P 0.38) on carcass traits. Added RAC increased (P 0.45) on ADG, ADFI, or G:F, and no differences were observed (P > 0.07) for carcass traits. In summary, adding dietary PA to diets during the growing-finishing phase did not provide any advantages in growth performance or carcass composition of growing-finishing pigs. Furthermore, it appears that the pantothenic acid in corn and soybean meal may be sufficient to meet the requirements of 25- to 120-kg pigs.
Simulation of magnetic positive positioning for space based fluid management systems

Experimental and computational studies have shown that a sufficiently strong magnetic field can influence a magnetically susceptible liquid. An improved simulation integrates an electromagnetic field model and incompressible flow model to predict fluid reorientation using realistic magnetic fields. Flow fields are presented incorporating several realistic magnetic fields to verify and validate the connectivity of the integrated models. Conclusions are drawn about the fidelity of the integrated simulation in modeling magnetically induced fluid flows. The simulation is used to model the application of magnetic positive positioning of LOX in a reduced gravity experiment utilizing a realistic magnetic field. Preflight experiment predictions of the performance of the magnetic field in reorienting LOX are presented and recommendations are made for future design.
Relation of the Enzymes of Butter to the Production of Tallowiness by Copper Salts and Over-Neutralization

Summary Tallowy butter was produced by the addition of 0.017 per cent copper lactate to both raw cream and cream which had been pasteurized at 79° to 80°C. In each of three such experiments typical tallowiness and bleaching occurred in the raw cream butter some time before it appeared in the butter made from the pasteurized cream. Samples in which over-neutralization of the cream was practised, previous to inoculation with copper-lactate and ripening, failed to show any appreciable acceleration of tallowiness compared with samples not treated with alkali. The results of the experiments are discussed with reference to the chemical reactions involved in the tallowy decomposition. The view is favored that the natural oxidases of butter aid in producing tallowiness in butter made from raw cream or cream pasteurized at a temperature which does not inactivate the enzymes, rather than that hydrolytic enzymes of butter are essential for the splitting of the neutral fat into glycerol and fatty acid, the oxidation products of which are believed to cause the tallowy odor and flavor. The possibility of the metallic salts acting as hydrolytic enzymes is also suggested. Authors' note. When the experiments reported in this paper were undertaken they were intended to be preliminary to a more extended study of the chemical factors involved in causing tallowiness. The fact that both of the authors have since left the University of Missouri seemed to make advisable the publication of the preliminary results herewith set forth.
Successive Refinement for High-Dimensional Identification Systems

The asymptotic tradeoff between the number of distinguishable objects and the necessary storage space (or equivalently, the search complexity) in an identification system was characterized previously. This paper extends that single-letter characterization to the multi-stage scenario whereby data is stored in increasing levels of accuracy, and depending on the number of entries, the identification is performed by utilizing part or all of the recorded bits in the database. It is also shown that a sufficient condition for a multi-stage system to achieve single-stage capacities at each stage is Markovity of the optimal test channels. Whether Markovity is also necessary remains elusive.
Measurement of carrier lifetime profiles in diffused layers of semiconductors

This paper describes a method for the measurement of carrier generation lifetime profiles within diffused layers in semiconductors. Knowledge of the lifetime distribution is the key to being able to accurately predict terminal electrical properties as well as understanding the physical processes operating in devices. In addition, the lifetime profile should be a sensitive measure of the quality of the device processing. Although many methods have been developed and applied to the measurement of lifetime in uniformly doped semiconductor regions, this is the first time that lifetime profile measurements have been achieved within diffused layers. In this paper, the lifetime measurements were done by the ZERBST technique using an MOS capacitor created by anodization of the wafer surface. The use of ZERBST plots allows the easy separation of surface recombination from the bulk lifetime eliminating one major source of error during lifetime measurements. In addition, the MOS capacitor used for the lifetime measurement can also be used for the measurement of the carrier concentration allowing excellent correlation between the lifetime and the doping concentration. The anodization techniques used for these measurements allow the stripping of small sections of even shallow diffused layers providing good depth resolution during the profiling. Using this method of lifetime profiling, lifetime measurements have been made up to concentrations of 1018atoms/cm3in both n- and p-type diffused layers in silicon.
Hollow Crystals from Buffer Solutions of Sodium Diethyl Barbiturate

Buffer Solutions of sodium 5,59-diethyl barbiturate, after standing at 4° to 8°C for 7 weeks, were observed to contain large tubular crystals. The crystals appear to have the composition of 5.59-diethyl bairbituric acid. They clan be grown readily from fresh seeded solutions.
Palladium Complexes with N‑Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands As Catalysts for the Alkoxycarbonylation of Olefins

Palladium catalysts, generated from Pd(OAc)2 and 2 equiv of N,N-dialkylbenzimidazolium iodide, are effective for the alkoxycarbonylation of olefins in high yields (>90%). Alkoxycarbonylation of 1-h...
Synchronized laser array as a source for quantum communication

A synchronized broad-area laser array (SBLA) can produce a highly coherent light source whose output intensity is proportional to the square of the number of lasers in the array. High contrast optical intensity modulation can be achieved by utilizing the nonlinear response of the total output intensity to the injected light, resulting in fast optical switching. SBLA can be applied to phased array antenna and beam steering. Semiconductor laser array capability provides a unique opportunity not only for free-space adaptive optical communication but also for free-space quantum adaptive optical communications through the atmosphere. In this paper, we propose a paradigm that illustrates how quantum communication (which provides quantum ultra-security) can take advantage of ultrashort pules, high repetition rate, high power density (due to coherent beam coupling), and spatial beam control.
The impact of hydrogen in a fusion reactor environment on titanium alloys

Abstract The impact of hydrogen in a fusion reactor on a titanium first wall and blanket structure has been investigated. Hydrogen is of concern in titanium because the combination of hydrogen isotopes in a fusion reactor and titanium's high affinity for hydrogen has the potential for producing hydrogen embrittlement and increasing the tritium inventory. The solubility of hydrogen in titanium depends upon a number of variables, chief of which is the type and amount of phase present, (alpha, beta, or alpha-beta). In this study the influence of alloying elements on phase stability and hydrogen solubility was investigated. The effects of three major sources of hydrogen were examined: (1) hydrogen produced via neutron transmutation reactions, (2) deuterium and tritium from the plasma chamber, and (3) tritium from the breeding material or coolant. Results indicate that under the conditions studied hydrogen from transmutation reactions does not raise the hydrogen concentration significantly above the level currently allowed in commercial alloys. However, significant amounts of deuterium and tritium can be absorbed in the first wall at the higher gas pressures encountered during the refueling cycle. The tritium concentrations anticipated with lithium or lithium oxide present, result in low tritium concentrations in titanium structures whereas tritium pressures anticipated for a lithium-lead breeding blanket may result in substantial tritium concentrations in a titanium structure.
Theory of the Ellipsoidal Concave Grating. I

Optical properties of the ellipsoidal concave grating have been studied. The ellipsoidal concave grating has a circle as the focal curve which is similar to the Rowland circle in the spherical concave grating mounting. The grating equation is also the same as that of the spherical concave grating. By proper choice of lengths of the semi-axes of the ellipsoid, images are made nearly stigmatic and the optimum grating width is made wider than that of the spherical grating in a limited wavelength region. Comparison of optical properties of the ellipsoidal concave grating with those of the spherical concave grating is also shown graphically. The only difficulty in utilizing the ellipsoidal grating is the technical problem in ruling the gratings and in preparing the proper blanks.
Effects of Bending and Torsional Potentials on High-Frequency Viscoelasticity of Dilute Polymer Solutions

To understand the mechanism of energy dissipation of dilute polymer solutions at high frequencies, we carry out a Brownian dynamics study of a linear polymer chain where beads represent individual backbone atoms and bending and torsional potentials are imposed to realistically model an alkane chain. We observe the end-to-end vector autocorrelation function from our simulations is in excellent agreement with the theoretical Rouse model predictions. Nevertheless, the backbone bond vector autocorrelation function exhibits a much slower decay than is predicted by the coarse-grain Rouse theory except near the longest relaxation time. We find that both the bending and torsional potentials slow down the contributions of local relaxation modes which brings the relaxation of short chains closer to single-exponential behavior than to the Rouse spectrum. This result is in qualitative agreement with measurements of birefringence relaxation (Lodge, T. P.; Miller, J. W.; Schrag, J. L. J. Polym. Sci.: Polym. Phys. Ed. 1...
Strategies for cellular identification in nucleus tractus solitarius slices

The indistinct regional anatomy and intermixing of second order neurons with projection and interneurons make cellular studies more difficult within the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS). Here, we outline experimental strategies to join in vitro electrophysiological with neuroanatomical protocols to discriminate specific subpopulations of NTS neurons. Horizontally cutting the brain stem produces slices in which electrical activation of the solitary tract (ST) is free of local interneuron contamination. Such ST excitatory synaptic currents (EPSCs) functionally identify second order NTS neurons by their minimal variation of latency (jitter). Sapphire blades, cold cutting temperatures and a mechanically stable microtome were critical to consistently obtain viable slices that were optimized for infrared and fluorescence microscopy. Anterogradely transported carbocyanine dye implanted on the aortic depressor nerve anatomically identified second order NTS neurons and their ST synaptic performance conformed to the minimal jitter signature of second order neurons. Retrograde tracers and green fluorescent protein labeled neurons afford two additional promising approaches for discriminating NTS neuron phenotypes in broader system contexts. Detailed methods and troubleshooting are described. Coupling tracing techniques with electrophysiology adds important new dimensions to NTS studies and such strategies provide bridging information between cellular mechanisms, neuroanatomy and systems integration.
A Class Number Relation Over Function Fields

Abstract A class number relation for function fields is obtained by studying intersections of Drinfeld modular correspondences.
Local anesthetic pharmacology in pediatric anesthesia

In the last 25 years there has been an increase in the use of regional blocks in children. This is due to several converging factors: a better knowledge of the pharmacology of local anesthetic agents in the child, the availability of equipment adapted for children’s anatomy, the recognition of the remarkable hemodynamic stability of the young child during an neuraxial block, as well as the recognition of the need to treat pain not just in the operative period, but in the postoperative period of time as well. The safety of performing regional anesthetic blocks in children depends on the practitioner’s recognition of three important differences between adults and children: (1) their frequent inability to allow the performance of a regional anesthetic block unless under general anesthesia (which is a subject of controversy that is beyond the scope of this review), (2) the anatomic differences between adults and children, and (3) the pharmacologic/pharmacodynamic differences between adults and children. The purpose of this review is to examine the pharmacology of the local anesthetic agents commonly used in children.