cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Assessment of a tablet drug delivery system incorporating nonoxynol-9 coprecipitated with polyvinylpyrrolidone in preventing the onset of pregnancy in rabbits

Abstract Objective: To assess the in vivo efficacy of the tablet drug delivery system containing nonoxynol-9 coprecipitated with polyvinylpyrrolidone by delivering the spermicidal agents vaginally and evaluating their ability to prevent the onset of pregnancy in rabbits. Design: Controlled clinical study. Setting: Division of Laboratory and Animal Resources, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky. Animal(s): Forty-two New Zealand White female rabbits. Intervention(s): The rabbits were artificially inseminated at various intervals after vaginal insertion of the tablet drug delivery system containing either polyvinylpyrrolidone only (0 minutes) or nonoxynol-9 coprecipitated with polyvinylpyrrolidone (polyvinylpyrrolidone/nonoxynol-9; 0, 3, 30, 180, and 360 minutes). The rabbits were induced to ovulate 6 hours before insemination by IM injection of hCG (200 IU). Main Outcome Measure(s): The onset of pregnancy in the rabbits was evaluated after insertion of the tablet drug delivery system containing polyvinylpyrrolidone only or polyvinylpyrrolidone/nonoxynol-9 at various intervals, followed by artificial insemination. Result(s): The onset of pregnancy was not reduced significantly when the tablet drug delivery system containing polyvinylpyrrolidone or polyvinylpyrrolidone/nonoxynol-9 was used and insemination was performed immediately after tablet insertion (time 0). However, pregnancy rates (PRs) were reduced significantly in the rabbits that received the tablet drug delivery system containing polyvinylpyrrolidone/nonoxynol-9 and were inseminated at 3, 30, 180, and 360 minutes after tablet insertion. The highest PR reduction occurred between 30 and 180 minutes after insertion of the tablet drug delivery system containing polyvinylpyrrolidone/nonoxynol-9. Conclusion(s): The tablet drug delivery system is an efficient method of delivering the tested spermicidal agents vaginally. The design and dosage used in preparing the tablet drug delivery system provide short- and long-term release of the spermicidal agents, which results in almost immediate and extended enhancement of their contraceptive properties.
HIV-related behaviors among black students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) versus white students attending a traditionally white institution (TWI)

Recent data indicated the unexpected movement of the HIV epidemic in the Southeastern US and the transmission among college students especially in black campuses. The current study is the first one attempted to assess and compare HIV-related behaviors among black students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and white students attending a traditionally white institution (TWI). Black students were recruited from HBCUs (n=222) and white students from a TWI (n=335) via online surveys. The majority of students in both samples were between 18 and 24 years old (mean = 20.65) and self-identified as heterosexual oriented (91%), although the HBCU sample revealed slightly higher proportion of females (81.1% vs. 72.5%). Data indicated different behavioral patterns. Although, both groups reported similar prevalence of oral and anal sex; after adjusting for age and gender, HBCU blacks were more likely to have had vaginal sex (OR = 1.7) and at younger age (16.3 vs. 17.5 years), more likely to have had Sexually Transmitted Infections (OR = 4.4), have been or gotten someone pregnant (OR = 3.6). They were, however, less likely to use alcohol before sex of any type, and more likely to have been tested for HIV (OR = 8.4), ask partner's status (OR = 3.8) or being asked of status (OR = 2.9). Comparing with TWI whites, HBCU blacks also perceived higher risk of HIV infection, higher peer norms toward vaginal and anal sex. The findings showed HBCU students taking more protective behaviors in some aspects while practicing riskier behaviors in others. Results have implications on developing tailored HIV behavioral interventions.
The importance of relict burrow structures and burrow irrigation in controlling sedimentary solute distributions

Abstract Some areas of the seafloor, particularly the deep sea, are characterized by large numbers of apparently uninhabited or relict burrow structures formed by macrobenthic organisms. Because of low sedimentation rates or lack of physical disturbance these structures are stable for long periods of time and could potentially influence solute diffusion patterns in surface sediments. A two-dimensional diffusionreaction model which allows for diffusive rather than advective transport within stagnant, water-filled burrows demonstrates that, in the absence of advective irrigation, relict burrow structures are unlikely in most cases to significantly alter average solute distributions from those predicted by one-dimensional vertical models. This conclusion assumes changes in diffusive transport properties alone and does not account for any effects of relict structures on reaction rates or physical ventilation of deposits by bottom currents. Significant changes (≥5%) in solute distributions are generally produced only when the ratio of the halfdistance between burrows to relict burrow radii is ≤10 and sedimentary diffusion coefficients are ≤60% that in free solution. Because solute distributions in stagnant burrow waters are nearly that in surrounding sediment, sediment-water solute fluxes are also essentially unaffected by relict burrows except at extremely high abundances or fairly large differential diffusion rates between sediment and free solution. In contrast, even at low abundance, biologically irrigated or physically ventilated burrows produce major changes in solute transport and build-up patterns.
Writing content predicts benefit from written expressive disclosure: Evidence for repeated exposure and self-affirmation

Expressive disclosure regarding a stressful event improves psychological and physical health, yet predictors of these effects are not well established. The current study assessed exposure, narrative structure, affect word use, self-affirmation and discovery of meaning as predictors of anxiety, depressive and physical symptoms following expressive writing. Participants (N = 50) wrote on four occasions about a stressful event and completed self-report measures before writing and three months later. Essays were coded for stressor exposure (level of detail and whether participants remained on topic), narrative structure, self-affirmation and discovery of meaning. Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count software was used to quantify positive and negative affect word use. Controlling for baseline anxiety, more self-affirmation and detail about the event predicted lower anxiety symptoms, and more negative affect words (very high use) and more discovery of meaning predicted higher anxiety symptoms three months after writing. Findings highlight the importance of self-affirmation and exposure as predictors of benefit from expressive writing.
Effects of acute thioridazine, metoclopramide and SCH 23390 on the basal activity of A9 and A10 dopamine cells

Abstract Extracellular single-unit recording techniques were employed to examine the effects of various dopamine (DA) antagonists on the basal activity of spontaneously active DA cells. Metoclopramide and thioridazine were both effective in reversing apomorphine-induced suppression of A9 and A10 DA cells. SCH 23390 produced only a partial reversal of this suppression. When the antagonists were given without any pretreatment, thioridazine preferentially increased the firing rate of A10 DA cells, and was relatively ineffective in altering A9 activity. Metoclopramide, on the other hand, increased the activity of most A9 DA cells, but was less effective in doing so with A10 cells. SCH 23390 did not significantly affect the basal activity of either cell subpopulation. These data support the hypothesis that the so-called ‘atypical” antipsychotic drugs act preferentially on the A10 DA system. Taken together with previous results, they also suggest that the acute effects of DA antagonists on DA cell subpopulations coincide with their chronic effects.
Comparison of the human pharmacokinetics of VM-26 and VP-16, two antineoplastic epipodophyllotoxin glucopyranoside derivatives

Abstract The pharmacokinetics of the epipodophyllotoxin glucoside derivatives VM- 26 and VP- 16 have been evaluated in patients who have received 67–90 mg/m 2 of VM- 26 and 130–290 mg/m 2 of VP- 16 by short intravenous infusion. Whereas VM- 26 plasma decay kinetics follow a triexponential function and correspond to a three-compartment open model (mammillary type), VP- 16 plasma decay kinetics follow a biexponential decay and correspond to a two-compartment open model. The 3 -times-larger excretion rate ( 0·112 hr −1 ) and correspondingly larger renal clearance ( 13·6 ml/min) of VP- 16 over VM- 26 is correlated with the 3 -times-larger equitoxic dose ( 290 mg/m 2 ). Although VM- 26 appears to be slightly more metabolized ( 86% vs. 66% ) than VP- 16 , the much larger tolerated dose of VP- 16 can compensate for this difference. The discrepancy between the fraction of drug metabolized based on pharmacokinetic analysis and fraction of cumulative metabolite in the urine is explained on the grounds of extensive tissue storage of the parent compounds or their metabolites. The extent of tissue depot was evaluated by reference to body water and indicates it to be more extensive than some long-acting barbiturates. The integral coefficient for VM- 26 and VP- 16 in the central ( 1·14 vs 2·26 hr) and peripheral ( 3.74 vs 3·93 hr) compartment 2 suggest that the bioavailability of VM- 26 to be only slightly less than VP- 16 in those compartments. On the other hand, the bioavailability is greater for VM- 26 in peripheral compartment 3 compared to peripheral compartment 2 of VP- 16 .
The anion gap is not a reliable screening test for lactic acidosis in emergency department patients

Study objectives: Lactic acidosis portends a poor prognosis in trauma, sepsis, and other shock states and is useful for triaging and resuscitating emergency department (ED) patients. The anion gap is commonly taught to be a good predictor of lactic acidosis. However, some ICU studies show that the anion gap may be insensitive to lactic acidosis. We seek to determine whether the anion gap is a sensitive predictor of lactic acidosis in the ED setting. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort design using a laboratory database and explicit medical record review in a military academic ED with a 50,000 annual census. Participants were all ED patients over a 7-month period who had lactic acidosis level drawn for clinical indications. Patients were excluded if the anion gap and lactic acidosis values were drawn more than 60 minutes apart or for presence of ketoacidosis or an anion gap–inducing toxic ingestion. Baseline demographic data, hospital mortalitye the outcome measures. Venous or arterial lactic acidosis specimens were analyzed on a Vitros 950 using colorimetric methodology (normal up to 2.5 mmol/L). The anion gap was calculated by [Na–Cl–CO 2 ] on the Vitros 950 using potentiometric methodology. Sensitivity analyses with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the anion gap for detecting presence of lactic acidosis were calculated for the traditional anion gap normal value (anion gap present if >12.0) and for the lower anion gap normal value when using newer ion-selective electrode assay (anion gap present if >6.0). Results: We performed an interim data analysis of 207 patients, of whom 61 were excluded by protocol. Of the 146 patients remaining, the average age was 66 years (range 16 to 94 years), and 48.6% of patients were women. There were 33 cases of lactic acidosis (22.6%) in this highly selected ED patient population. The most common diagnosis in the lactic acidosis cohort was severe sepsis. Hospital mortality was significantly higher in patients with lactic acidosis (24.2%) than in patients without lactic acidosis (2.6%; P Conclusion: Using the traditional definition of anion gap greater than 12, an electrolyte panel with calculated anion gap is poorly sensitive for presence of lactic acidosis. When using the newly revised anion gap of greater than 6 on ion-selective assays, the anion gap is more sensitive but very nonspecific for detection of lactic acidosis (indeed, 84% of our highly selected ED patients had an elevated anion gap >6). Therefore, with either defined cutoff value, following an anion gap screen stepwise approach is inappropriate. Therefore, we recommend ordering a specific lactic acidosis assay immediately on suspicion of a shock state, instead of awaiting the anion gap results. Furthermore, emergency physicians should be advised of the new normal value of anion gap is [Na–Cl–CO 2 ] greater than 6 when using ion-specific electrolyte assays.
The extraction of niobium (V) and Tantalum (V) by Octylarsinic acid in chloroform

Abstract Dioctylarsinic acid (HDOAA) in chloroform solution extracts Nb(V) and Ta(V) efficiently from solutions containing oxalate and oxalic acid at hydrochloric acid concentrations greater than 1 M .The extraction coefficients are 92.5 at 7 M hydrochloric acid and 251 at 6 M hydrochloric acid for niobium and tantalum, respectively. These metals can be extracted even more efficiently from sulfuric acid solutions. The results of the reagent- and pH-dependence studies suggested that a trimeric, monobasic oxoacid of niobium, associated with ten HDOAA molecules, is extracted. Tantalum appears to be present in the organic phase as (H 2 DOAA) + [Ta(C 2 O 4 ) 3 (HDOAA n ] (n=l or 2).
Detecting aseismic strain transients from seismicity data

[1] Aseismic deformation transients such as fluid flow, magma migration, and slow slip can trigger changes in seismicity rate. We present a method that can detect these seismicity rate variations and utilize these anomalies to constrain the underlying variations in stressing rate. Because ordinary aftershock sequences often obscure changes in the background seismicity caused by aseismic processes, we combine the stochastic Epidemic Type Aftershock Sequence model that describes aftershock sequences well and the physically based rate- and state-dependent friction seismicity model into a single seismicity rate model that models both aftershock activity and changes in background seismicity rate. We implement this model into a data assimilation algorithm that inverts seismicity catalogs to estimate space-time variations in stressing rate. We evaluate the method using a synthetic catalog, and then apply it to a catalog of M ≥ 1.5 events that occurred in the Salton Trough from 1990 to 2009. We validate our stressing rate estimates by comparing them to estimates from a geodetically derived slip model for a large creep event on the Obsidian Buttes fault. The results demonstrate that our approach can identify large aseismic deformation transients in a multidecade long earthquake catalog and roughly constrain the absolute magnitude of the stressing rate transients. Our method can therefore provide a way to detect aseismic transients in regions where geodetic resolution in space or time is poor.
Handedness, heritability, neurocognition and brain asymmetry in schizophrenia

Higher rates of non-right-handedness (i.e. left- and mixed-handedness) have been reported in schizophrenia and have been a centrepiece for theories of anomalous lateralization in this disorder. We investigated whether non-right-handedness is (i) more prevalent in patients as compared with unaffected siblings and healthy unrelated control participants; (ii) familial; (iii) associated with disproportionately poorer neurocognition; and (iv) associated with grey matter volume asymmetries. We examined 1445 participants (375 patients with schizophrenia, 502 unaffected siblings and 568 unrelated controls) using the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory, a battery of neuropsychological tasks and structural magnetic resonance imaging data. Patients displayed a leftward shift in Edinburgh Handedness Inventory laterality quotient scores as compared with both their unaffected siblings and unrelated controls, but this finding disappeared when sex was added to the model. Moreover, there was no evidence of increased familial risk for non-right-handedness. Non-right-handedness was not associated with disproportionate neurocognitive disadvantage or with grey matter volume asymmetries in the frontal pole, lateral occipital pole or temporal pole. Non-right-handedness was associated with a significant reduction in left asymmetry in the superior temporal gyrus in both patients and controls. Our data neither provide strong support for ‘atypical’ handedness as a schizophrenia risk-associated heritable phenotype nor that it is associated with poorer neurocognition or anomalous cerebral asymmetries.
Images of Crime and Justice in Early Commercial Radio—1932 to 1958

Between 1929 and 1962, radio reached audiences comparable to those of contemporaneous pulp magazines or motion pictures and was one of the most significant mass media in the construction of America’s fundamental values and attitudes. This study examined radio logs and over 200 hours of radio programming drawn from 97 crime-related programs broadcast between 1932 and 1958 and confirmed that crime-related programs were a significant portion of radio programming to the American public. An analysis of the programs themselves found that three subgenres dominated crime radio: Outsider or Detective programs (over 50% of the total), Police or Criminal Justice Dramas, and Mystery programs. Radio programs continued a tradition derived from pulp magazines and dime novels and distorted the actual nature of crime and criminal justice. In the programs, the criminal justice system was presented as strongly front end loaded, with police work being the sum of crime fighting. The characteristics of crime and criminals were...
Alkylidene dynamics in the cluster complex Cp∗Rh(CpCo)2(CO)2(μ-CH2): Observation of an intermediate containing a μ3-methylidene ligand ☆

Abstract The dynamic behaviour of the methylidene ligand in the triangular cluster complex, Cp∗Rh(CpCo)2(CO)2(μ-CH2) 3, has been investigated using multidimensional NMR techniques. Two distinct processes have been identified whereby the methylidene ligand moves between bridging different metal-metal bonds in the complex: (1) methylidene jumps from a RhCo bond to the CoCo bond and (2) degenerate methylidene jumps between the two RhCo bonds of the metal triangle. An intermediate has been observed for the latter process. Based on 1H and 13C NMR data, we propose that the methylidene ligand in this intermediate occupies a triply-bridging coordination position above the metal triangle, simultaneously interacting with all three metal atoms in the complex. To our knowledge, this is the first observation of an intermediate involved in the dynamic behaviour of an alkylidene ligand. Furthermore, it is only the second example of a μ3-methylidene ligand to be reported. The implications of these results in the areas of alkylidene mobility on metal surfaces and catalysis are discussed.
Reactions of polyfunctional amino acids with N,N′-carbonyldiimidazole in aqueous solution oligopeptide formation

1. Serine reacts with N,N'-carbonyldiimidazole in aqueous solution at 0 degrees C to yield Nalpha-[imidazolyl-(1)-carbonyl]-L-serine. This compound slowly transforms to L-2-oxo-oxazolidine-5-carboxylic acid. We found that L-2-oxo-oxazolidine-5-carboxylic acid was stable to hydrolysis under a variety of conditions and did not oligomerize to yield peptides. Threonine was found to react in an analogous manner with N,N'-carbonyldiimidazole, yielding Nalpha-[imidazolyl-(1)-carbonyl]-L-threonine and L-(+)-trans-5-methyl-2-oxo-oxazolidine-5-carboxylic acid. 2. Histidine reacts with N,N'-carbonyldimidazole in aqueous solution at 0 degrees C to yield a variety of histidine-containing intermidiates. These slowly transform to give 7-carboxy-imidazole-[1,5cotetrahydropyrimidin-5-one in up to 90% yield. 3. The polymerization of 7-carboxy-imidazo-[1,5c]-tetrahydropyrimidin-5-one in imidazole buffer at 30 degrees gives excellent yields of oligohistidines.
Dysregulation of the Annexin Family Protein Family Is Associated with Prostate Cancer Progression

Hormone refractory prostate cancer (PCa) is invariably lethal despite aggressive clinical treatment strategies. Detection strategies are needed to identify aggressive PCa before it becomes widely disseminated. Recently, two studies identified annexin 1 and 7 as potential biomarkers in the development of PCa progression. The annexins are a group of calcium-binding structural proteins that may play a role in the regulation of membrane trafficking, cellular adhesion, and cell signaling. Therefore the goal of this study is to simultaneously characterize the multiple members of the annexin family of genes in advanced PCa. Prostate samples from men with advanced hormone refractory PCa were compared to samples of hormone-naive PCa and noncancerous prostate tissue. Samples from 15 patients with advanced hormone refractory PCa were used. To examine the annexin family, gene expression profiles from 21 noncancerous prostate tissues, 16 clinically localized PCas, and 20 hormone refractory PCa samples were used. By cDNA microarray analysis, annexins 1, 2, 4, 7, and 11 were significantly decreased in hormone refractory PCa when compared to localized hormone-naive PCa with 2.2-, 1.5-, 1.3-, 1.4-, and 1.8-fold decreases, respectively (all P values <0.05). Interstudy validation of annexin family transcript expression was performed by meta-analysis of three other published prostate profiling studies. High-density tissue microarrays were used to validate a subset of annexins at the protein level by immunohistochemistry. Tissue microarray analysis revealed a significant decrease in protein expression for annexins 1, 2, 4, 7, and 11 in hormone refractory PCa as compared to localized PCa with 1.68-, 2.46-, 2.52-, and 3.01-fold decreases, respectively (Kruskal Wallis test, all P values P < 0.05). However, no significant differences were detected between the clinically localized PCa and noncancerous prostate tissues. These findings suggest that down-regulation of several members of the annexin family may contribute to PCa tumorigenesis. Annexins 1, 2, 4, 7, and 11 may play a role in tumor progression through distinct mechanisms or, alternatively, they may have redundant tumor suppressor activities. This study also suggests that a meta-analysis of existing gene expression data is useful in confirming findings from individual studies. Finally, down-regulation of several annexin family members may play a role in the development of the lethal PCa phenotype.
Microlepidopteran herbivory in relation to leaf sesquiterpenes in Copaifera langsdorfiiadult trees and their seedling progeny in a Brazilian woodland

In a southeastern Brazilian woodland, growth and mortality of a major oecophorid foliovore was monitored. The success of larvae feeding on leaves of adult Copaifera langsdorfii trees and larvae transferred onto leaves of their seedling progeny was related to leaf sesquiterpene composition, concentration and yield. Leaf sesquiterpene composition was generally similar between adult and progeny, but leaf sesquiterpene yield was more than three times as high and the concentrations of the major compounds, α- and β-selinenes and caryophyllene, were significantly greater in seedlings compared to adult trees. No mortality occurred in larvae reared on leaves of adult trees whereas 48% of the larvae reared on seedling progeny died either as larvae or pupae. Both late larval instars and adult moths of seedling-reared larvae weighed significantly less than those reared on adult trees. The relation between leaf sesquiterpenes and herbivory in parent tree and seedling progeny in this woodland ecosystem is contrasted with those in rainforest, subdeciduous riparian forests and dry forest patches in savanna. Although woodland seedling progeny are compositionally similar to one another and to their parents, as compared to those in rainforests, their higher leaf sesquiterpene yields, along with differences in concentration of caryophyllene and α and β selinene, appear significant in restricting herbivory on these plants at a vulnerable stage in their development.
Calculations of electrostatic intermolecular repulsion in tetrafluoromethane: evidence for a ‘hedgehog’ contribution to perfluoroalkane volatility

Abstract Intermolecular repulsion by peripheral polar bonds is proposed as a contribution to the volatility of perfluoroalkanes, other perhaloalkanes, and possibly octahedral hexafluorides. The calculated electrostatic contribution to the average interaction energy of two tetrafluoromethane molecules is 0.05–0.20 kJ mol −1 , which would lower the boiling point by only 2–7 K. Electrostatic energies for some pair geometries are much larger, but these are offset by geometries with negative energies. Steric considerations suggest that electrostatic repulsion should be more important for larger perfluoroalkanes. These considerations rationalize trends in boiling points of perfluoroalkanes relative to alkanes, including trends for isomers.
Soybean knowledge base (SoyKB): Bridging the gap between soybean translational genomics and breeding

Many genome-scale data are available in soybean including genomic sequence, transcriptomics (microarray, RNA-seq), proteomics and metabolomics datasets, together with growing knowledge of soybean in gene, microRNAs, pathways, and phenotypes. This represents rich and resourceful information which can provide valuable insights, if mined in an innovative and integrative manner and thus, the need for informatics resources to achieve that. Towards this we have developed Soybean Knowledge Base (SoyKB), a comprehensive all-inclusive web resource for soybean translational genomics and breeding. SoyKB handles the management and integration of soybean genomics and multi-omics data along with gene function annotations, biological pathway and trait information. It has many useful tools including Affymetrix probelD search, gene family search, multiple gene/metabolite analysis, motif analysis tool, protein 3D structure viewer and download/upload capacity for experimental data and annotations. It has a user-friendly web interface together with genome browser and pathway viewer, which display data in an intuitive manner to the soybean researchers, breeders and consumers. SoyKB has new innovative tools for soybean breeding including a graphical chromosome visualizer targeted towards ease of navigation for breeders. It integrates QTLs, traits, germplasm information along with genomic variation data such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) data from multiple genotypes, cultivars and G. soja. QTLs for multiple traits can be queried and visualized in the chromosome visualizer simultaneously and overlaid on top of the genes and other molecular markers as well as multi-omics experimental data for meaningful inferences.
Rheumatoid disease with encephalopathy

A 63-year-old woman developed progressive rheumatoid disease complicated by a confusional state as well as persistent cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis and hypoglycorrhachia. Neuropathological examination revealed extensive rheumatoid lesions in the cranial dura, falx, and choroid plexus. The choroid plexus has not been affected in any of the 16 previously reported cases of pathologically verified rheumatoid disease of the central nervous system. The findings in this patient support the observations of others regarding the role of the choroid plexus in development of CNS manifestations in systemic immune complex disease.
The Sidelobe Inversion Window

A new parameterized window function over a fixed support is presented in this work. It is derived through the process of iterative side lobe inversion, which is used to achieve a window with optimal side lobe properties for any given main lobe width. Side lobe inversion is presented as an operator on window functions, which results in new window functions of the same length over the same finite fixed support. For any given set of windows with the same main lobe width in the frequency domain, it is shown that iterative application of side lobe inversion converges to a fixed window function. This new window can thus be created for any main lobe width and has small peak side lobes and reduced total side lobe energy, outperforming many of the known window functions.
Polymers derived from 2,5‐diamino‐p‐benzoquinone‐diimide and related compounds

A number of new polymeric materials have been prepared by the self-condensation of 2,5-diamino-p-benzoquinonediimide and by its condensation with 2,5-diamino-p-benzoquinone, 2,5-dihydroxy-p-benzoquinone, and 2,5-dichloro-p-benzoquinone. Ladder polymers were expected, but in every case polymers with some open rings were obtained. 2,5-Diaminohydroquinone was condensed with 2,5-diamino-p-benzoquinonediimide and with 2,5-diamino-p-benzoquinone to produce heat stable polymers but the expected ladder structures were not obtained. Thermogravimetric analyses of the polymers in nitrogen all showed a weight loss at 100–150°C of 3–14% which was presumably due to loss of either chemically combined or absorbed water on the polymer and then only a 5% weight loss up to about 600°C with a final weight loss of 19% at 900°C.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE GROWTH CAPACITY OF PRIMARY TUMORS AND THE DISTRIBUTION OF METASTASES OF A TRANSPLANTED TUMOR OF THE RABBIT

As an adjunct to the study of a transplantable malignant tumor of the rabbit an index of malignancy has been developed which has proven useful in evaluating the severity of the disease for the purpose of statistical investigations. The index consists of two figures, one of which expresses the growth capacity of the primary lesion on a volume basis, and the other the extent of the metastatic lesions according to the distribution of peripheral tumors. In the present communication these two values for each animal are utilized for the study of the relationship existing between the size of the primary tumor and the distribution of metastases in this experimental tumor. The data from a group of 128 rabbits form the basis of the analysis. These animals represent three entire series that had been used for the purposes of other experiments at various times, all, however, conducted under carefully controlled uniform conditions. The indices of malignancy of these animals were analyzed by means of graphs, in which individual values are preserved while at the same time investigation of mass behavior is permitted. From this analysis it is concluded (1) that the severity of the disease as a whole is very irregular among individuals of a series and from series to series, and (2) that the relationship between the extent of the primary lesions and that of the secondary lesions is inconstant among individuals but assumes definite proportions when the data are viewed in the mass. For the mass proportion between the two phases of the disease is predominatingly a direct one, but in certain small groups of seriously affected rabbits the proportion shows a tendency to reversal, while, in addition, there occurs a reduction in the rate of growth of the primary tumor, which reduction, together with the reversal in relationship, appears to be more pronounced from series to series as malignancy increases. An attempt has been made to account for these results in the light of what has been ascertained of the modes of defense of the rabbit host against the inroads of the cells of this transplanted tumor.
Allosteric changes in protein structure computed by a simple mechanical model: hemoglobin T R2 transition.

Information on protein dynamics has been usually inferred from spectroscopic studies of parts of the proteins, or indirectly from the comparison of the conformations assumed in the presence of different substrates or ligands. While molecular simulations also provide information on protein dynamics, they usually suffer from incomplete sampling of conformational space, and become prohibitively expensive when exploring the collective dynamics of large macromolecular structures. Here, we explore the dynamics of a well-studied allosteric protein, hemoglobin (Hb), to show that a simple mechanical model based on Gaussian fluctuations of residues can efficiently predict the transition between the tense (T, unliganded) and relaxed (R or R2, O2 or CO-bound) forms of Hb. The passage from T into R2 is shown to be favored by the global mode of motion, which, in turn is driven by entropic effects. The major difference between the dynamics of the T and R2 forms is the loss of the hingebending role of a1 ‐b2 (or a2 ‐b1) interfacial residues at aPhe36-His45 and bThr87-Asn102 in the R2 form, which implies a decreased cooperativity in the higher affinity (R2) form of Hb, consistent with many experimental studies. The involvement of the proximal histidine bHis92 in this hinge region suggests that the allosteric propagation of the local structural changes (induced upon O2 binding) into global ones occur via hinge
Dynamic model for industrial robots based on a compact Lagrangian formulation

A compact Lagrangian formulation has been developed and discussed to deal with the highly coupled non-linear dynamic equations of robotic manipulators. It bridges the dynamic and kinematic problems of robotics closely together by means of Jacobian and subjacobian matrices. Its numeric computational complexity has been reduced to O(n2) time. When n<6, the number of operations required for computing all joint torques is almost close to that of Newton-Euler approach. Due to its significant insight of the robot behavior, it is concluded that the compact Lagrangian formulation offers a convenient approach to building up a feasible real-time adaptive control strategy for computer-based manipulators. Finally, it has been found that all information required for solving the dynamic equation and the adaptive control problems is concentrated in Hessian matrix of the kinetic energy for a given robotic manipulator.
Bona Cogitare : An Epicurean Consolation in Phil 4:8–9

Despite the fact that Phil 4:6-7 and 4:8-9 both conclude with similar promises of divine peace and thus appear to be part of the same line of reasoning, modern scholarship has yet to offer a compelling account of the relationship between these two texts. Indeed, for most scholars Phil 4:6-9 remains a kind of redactional hodgepodge, 4:6-7 and 4:8-9 being drawn from what were originally separate letters.' In this short note I argue, to the contrary, that Phil 4:69 constitutes a unified consolation.2 The burden of my argument will be to show
Detecting 802.11 MAC Layer Spoofing Using Received Signal Strength

MAC addresses can be easily spoofed in 802.11 wireless LANs. An adversary can exploit this vulnerability to launch a large number of attacks. For example, an attacker may masquerade as a legitimate access point to disrupt network services or to advertise false services, tricking nearby wireless stations. On the other hand, the received signal strength (RSS) is a measurement that is hard to forge arbitrarily and it is highly correlated to the transmitter's location. Assuming the attacker and the victim are separated by a reasonable distance, RSS can be used to differentiate them to detect MAC spoofing, as recently proposed by several researchers. By analyzing the RSS pattern of typical 802.11 transmitters in a 3-floor building covered by 20 air monitors, we observed that the RSS readings followed a mixture of multiple Gaussian distributions. We discovered that this phenomenon was mainly due to antenna diversity, a widely-adopted technique to improve the stability and robustness of wireless connectivity. This observation renders existing approaches ineffective because they assume a single RSS source. We propose an approach based on Gaussian mixture models, building RSS profiles for spoofing detection. Experiments on the same testbed show that our method is robust against antenna diversity and significantly outperforms existing approaches. At a 3% false positive rate, we detect 73.4%, 89.6% and 97.8% of attacks using the three proposed algorithms, based on local statistics of a single AM, combining local results from AMs, and global multi-AM detection, respectively.
OS9: a novel olfactory gene of Drosophila expressed in two olfactory organs.

A novel olfactory gene, OS9, has been identified in Drosophila by subtractive hybridization. OS9 transcripts have been detected in the third antennal segment, the primary olfactory organ in Drosophila, and in the maxillary palp, which has recently been shown to have olfactory function. The OS9 gene thus represents a molecular link between two distinct olfactory tissues in Drosophila. Little if any OS9 expression has been detected in other segments of the antenna or in other tissues examined. The gene is located in region, 38AB on the cytogenetic map. OS9 encodes a protein of 159 amino acids, which contains a putative leucine zipper. Polyclonal antibodies raised against the C-terminal half of the encoded protein react with a 24 kD antennal protein. Antisera raised against both C-terminal and N-terminal halves of the OS9 protein appear to react with cell nuclei in both the third antennal segment and the maxillary palp; interestingly, both antisera also stain cells in the head, including photoreceptor nuclei, as if OS9 were an olfactory-specific member of a family of nuclear proteins, possibly transcription factors. 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
UNLISTED TRADING PRIVILEGES, LIQUIDITY, AND STOCK RETURNS

In this study we examine the effect of dual trading through unlisted trading privileges (UTPs) on liquidity and stock returns. Stocks with UTPs trade in a different market structure than stocks listed and traded only on the AMEX and NYSE. Differences in market structure may affect stock returns through liquidity services provided by the competing markets. The sample comprises 852 AMEX and NYSE firms that began unlisted trading on the Philadelphia, Pacific, Midwest, or Cincinnati exchanges between 1984 and 1988. The results show significantly positive abnormal returns around the SEC's announcement of a regional exchange's filing for UTPs. The results also suggest that increased competition improves trading liquidity. Only stocks with low liquidity before UTPs announcements experience significantly improved liquidity and positive stock returns.
Understanding endothelin-1 function during craniofacial development in the mouse and zebrafish

Morphogenesis of the face and neck is driven by an intricate relay of signaling molecules and transcription factors organized into hierarchical pathways. The coordinated action of these pathways regulates the development of neural crest cells within the pharyngeal arches, resulting in proper spatiotemporal formation of bone, cartilage, and connective tissue. While the functions of many genes involved in these processes were initially elucidated through the use of knockout technology in the mouse, increasing numbers of zebrafish craniofacial mutants have led to a rapid expansion in the identification of genes involved in craniofacial development. A comparative analysis of signaling pathways involved in these processes between mouse and zebrafish holds the potential not only to pinpoint conserved and therefore crucial gene functions in craniofacial development, but also to rapidly identify and study downstream effectors. These complementary approaches will also allow rapid identification of candidate genes and gene functions disrupted in human craniofacial dysmorphologies. In this brief review, we present a comparative analysis of one molecule involved in craniofacial development, endothelin-1, a small, secreted protein that is crucial for patterning the neural crest cells that give rise to lower jaw and throat structures.
Cutting Edge: T Cell Migration Regulated by CXCR4 Chemokine Receptor Signaling to ZAP-70 Tyrosine Kinase

Chemokines regulate the homeostatic trafficking of lymphocytes and lymphocyte influx into sites of injury and inflammation. The signaling pathways by which chemokine receptors regulate lymphocyte migration remain incompletely characterized. We demonstrate that Jurkat T cells lacking the ZAP-70 tyrosine kinase exhibit reduced migration in response to the CXCR4 ligand CXCL12 when compared with wild-type Jurkat T cells. Expression of wild-type, but not kinase-inactive, ZAP-70 resulted in enhanced migration of ZAP-70-deficient Jurkat T cells. The tyrosine residue at position 292 in the interdomain B region of ZAP-70 exerts a negative regulatory effect on ZAP-70-dependent migration. Stimulation of Jurkat T cells with CXCL12 also resulted in ZAP-70-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of the Src homology 2 domain-containing leukocyte protein of 76 kDa (SLP-76) adapter protein. Although CXCL12-dependent migration of SLP-76-deficient Jurkat T cells was impaired, re-expression of SLP-76 did not enhance migration. These results suggest a novel function for ZAP-70, but not SLP-76, in CXCR4 chemokine receptor signaling in human T cells.
A robotics package assembly system

A robotics packaging assembly system for use in demonstrating the manufacturability of new RF module designs in a package development environment is described. The programmable line accommodates a variety of flip chip technologies, substrate materials and process conditions by means of stored program retrieval and execution. System requirements are discussed along with principles used in package design for assembly in a machine vision environment. Flip chip technology is one of the central design elements used to obtain automated assembly of low cost, small outline packages with stable RF performance. System performance is given for the assembly of flip chip Si and GaAs devices. >
“Berlin … Your Dance Partner Is Death”

Dance and death combined in post-WWI Germany to complicate the material authority they were seen to share. Using nascent modern dance techniques to exploit the expressive capacities of the dancing body, choreographers turned to dances of death to portray the increasingly difficult conditions of humanity. The logistics of performing these spectacles of the real are investigated through three choreographer/performers of the Weimar Republic: Kurt Jooss, Valeska Gert, and Anita Berber.
Relationship of the eye to the bony orbit, with clinical correlations.

Purpose: To examine normal anatomic relationship of the globe to the bony orbit, and relate variations in this relationship to clinical parameters. Methods: Seventy-nine axial and sagittal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the globe and orbit were studied. Any patients with pathology, as reported by the radiologists’ findings, were excluded. Measurements were made on the images to determine the position of the globe relative to the bony orbit and to describe the configuration of the anterior face of the maxillary sinus. Clinical measurements were performed on photographs of 36 patients who underwent MRI scans. An independent observer rated these photographs for two clinical findings: inferior scleral show and tear trough deformity. Results: Correlations were found in the following sets of variables. (i) Corneal projection from infraorbital rim and corneal projection from lateral rim; (ii) corneal projection from supraorbital rim and corneal projection from lateral rim; (iii) scleral show and corneal projection from lateral orbital rim; and (iv) tear trough deformity rating and angle of anterior face of maxillary sinus. There were no significant correlations found in the other data variables. Conclusions: The data show that abnormal relationships between the globe and the bony orbit can have clinical consequences. Inferior scleral show is shown to be related to relative globe prominence, measured from either the lateral or the inferior orbital rims. The tear trough deformity is correlated with a sloping maxillary face. The results provide a rational basis for surgeries designed to normalize these relationships.
Evolution of early embryogenesis in rhabditid nematodes

The cell-biological events that guide early-embryonic development occur with great precision within species but can be quite diverse across species. How these cellular processes evolve and which molecular components underlie evolutionary changes is poorly understood. To begin to address these questions, we systematically investigated early embryogenesis, from the one- to the four-cell embryo, in 34 nematode species related to C. elegans. We found 40 cell-biological characters that captured the phenotypic differences between these species. By tracing the evolutionary changes on a molecular phylogeny, we found that these characters evolved multiple times and independently of one another. Strikingly, all these phenotypes are mimicked by single-gene RNAi experiments in C. elegans. We use these comparisons to hypothesize the molecular mechanisms underlying the evolutionary changes. For example, we predict that a cell polarity module was altered during the evolution of the Protorhabditis group and show that PAR-1, a kinase localized asymmetrically in C. elegans early embryos, is symmetrically localized in the one-cell stage of Protorhabditis group species. Our genome-wide approach identifies candidate molecules-and thereby modules-associated with evolutionary changes in cell-biological phenotypes.
Job stress in managers, professionals, and clerical workers

Abstract The intensity and frequency of occurrence of 30 job stressors as measured by the job stress survey (JSS) were examined in white-collar employees of a large manufacturing firm, consisting of 68 managers, 171 professional (mostly engineers), and 69 clerical personnel. The highest levels of stress intensity were attributed to ‘lack of opportunity for advancement’ and ‘poor or inadequate supervision’. Individual stressors rated as occurring most often during the past six months were ‘frequent interruptions', ‘meeting deadlines’, and ‘dealing with crisis situations’. Factor analyses of the ratings of individual job stressors identified two job-stress factors, job pressure and lack of support, which were differentially related to age, gender, occupational level, locus of control, and job tenure and satisfaction. All three occupational groups attributed greater intensity to stressors that reflected lack of organizational support than to job pressures. Managers reported experiencing job pressures more of...
A rapid phytohemagglutinin induced alteration in lymphocyte potassium permeability.

The exposure of rat and human lymphoid cells to mitogenic concentrations of phytohemagglutinin resulted in an apparent decrease in cellular K+ without a significant change in cellular Na+ when the cells were washed with isotonic Hepes buffered choline chloride prior to cation determination. The apparent reduction in total cellular Na+ plus K+ concentration, however, was not accompanied by a change in cell volume. We inferred that the constant cell volume could occur only if the lost intracellular K+ was exchanged for an external cation during the washing procedure used to prepare cells for Na+ and K+ measurement. This inference was supported by the quantitative recovery of lost cellular K+ in the choline chloride washing solution and the demonstration that a comparable proportion of 86Rb+ (K+ analogue) 42K+ was lost from prelabelled cells during choline chloride washing. Use of medium 199 with Hanks salts, 150 mM NaCl, or 100 mM MgCl2 as the washing solution did not prevent K+ exchange although exchange was less in the presence of MgCl2. These findings indicate that phytohemagglutinin produces a rapid alteration in lymphocyte plasma membranes so as to allow abnormal K+ exchange. This observation is of importance because investigators who measure intracellular solutes in phytohemagglutinin-treated lymphocytes must consider the possibility of loss during preparative washes. Also, changes in membrane permeability following phytohemagglutinin treatment may modulate mitogenesis and/or permit the transmission of chemical messages between cells.