cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
NSAIDs Alter Lipid Bilayer Mechanical Properties

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) are a class of widely prescribed medications that have analgesic, antipyretic, anti-thrombotic and anti-inflammatory properties. Their primary mechanism of action is through non-selective inhibition of the Cyclo-oxygenase enzymes (COX-1 and COX-2), which mediates many of the clinical - and side - effects of NSAIDs. Other effects are mediated through COX-independent mechanisms, however. Given that NSAIDs are amphiphiles, that they modulate the function of many different, structurally unrelated membrane proteins, and that the lipid bilayer serves as a gate-keeper/regulator for many different cell functions, we tested whether NSAIDs could alter lipid bilayer material properties. To measure such changes in bilayer material properties, we used gramicidin A (gA) channels as molecular force transducers. We found that salicylate, ibuprofen, diclofenac, sulindac sulfide and flurbiprofen are potent modifiers of bilayer properties. At pH 7, NSAIDs were found to increase both the lifetime and appearance rate of channels formed by both short (13-residue) and long 15-residue gramicidin analogues, with the larger effects on the shorter channels - the channels with the larger hydrophobic mismatch, which shows that NSAIDs decrease lipid bilayer stiffness by increasing the bilayer elasticity. These effects were achieved at the high end of clinically relevant concentrations. This suggests that in both the clinical and research setting, NSAIDs may have effects that arise from modulation of lipid bilayer mechanical properties.
Power balance of negative-glow electrons.

Laser-induced fluorescence and absorption spectroscopy are used to study the mixing of populations of excited He atoms due to electron collisions in the negative glow of a dc He discharge. These measurements yield the density (${\mathit{n}}_{\mathit{e}}^{\mathit{c}}$\ensuremath{\simeq}5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{11}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}3}$) and temperature (0.1 eV\ensuremath{\le}${\mathit{k}}_{\mathit{B}}$${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{e}}^{\mathit{c}}$\ensuremath{\le}0.2 eV) of the low-energy (or ``cold'') electrons in the negative glow. The cold electrons are trapped in a potential-energy well. In a complementary investigation, Monte Carlo simulations are used to determine the density (${\mathit{n}}_{\mathit{e}}^{\mathit{h}}$\ensuremath{\simeq}${10}^{9}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}3}$) and temperature (${\mathit{k}}_{\mathit{B}}$${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{e}}^{\mathit{h}}$\ensuremath{\simeq}3 eV) of the high-energy (or ``hot'') electrons in the negative glow. Results from the experiments and Monte Carlo simulations are combined to study the power balance of the cold trapped electrons. The cold-electron temperature is established by a balance between cooling from recoil during elastic collisions with neutral atoms, and heating due to Coulomb collisions with hot electrons. The linear variation of hot-electron density with discharge current density causes a linear variation in cold-electron temperature with current density. Hot electrons also excite metastable atoms to higher radiating levels to produce most of the light from the negative glow.
Colonic adenocarcinoma in rhesus macaques.

Abstract Colon cancer is the second most common cause of cancer mortality in human beings, but relatively few cases have been described in macaques. The present report documents two fatal cases of colon cancer in aged rhesus macaques. Case 1 was a 20-year old female in which extensive invasion of the caecum by a scirrhous adenocarcinoma led to perforation and a severe fibrinopurulent peritonitis. Case 2 was a 32-year old male with a stricture at the ileocaecal junction, also caused by a scirrhous adenocarcinoma, which had metastasized to a regional lymph node. Both neoplasms showed aggressive local involvement of the proximal large bowel, which appears to be a predilection site in rhesus monkeys. Descriptions of spontaneous cases of colon cancer in non-human primates may lead to the development of models for certain aspects of the disease in man.
Molecular complexes of maleic anhydride with acetone and benzene

Abstract Concentration and temperature-dependent NMR chemical shifts for maleic anhydride in acetone and benzene solution are interpreted in terms of equilibria between monomers and solvent-solute molecular complexes. Calorimetric heats of dilution and heats of solution give thermodynamic parameters that agree with those determined in the NMR experiments. The thermodynamic parameters obtained are similar for both systems, and it is possible that the previously established role of a ground state complex in the benzene-maleic anhydride photochemical cycloaddition reaction can be extended to the acetone-maleic anhydride photocycloaddition.
Co/Al2O3 lean NOx reduction catalyst

Certain Co/Al2O3catalysts are active and stable for the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NOxby propene or propane. The addition of 30 ppm SO2to the feed only mildly affects the catalytic performance. The effectiveness of Co/Al2O3in the SCR process depends strongly on the Co loading, the calcination temperature, and the source of alumina. Characterization of the catalysts with UV-vis spectroscopy under ambient conditions, temperature-programmed reduction by H2(H2-TPR), XRD, iodometric titration, and BET surface area measurements led to the proposal that there exist four different Co species: Co2+ions in CoAl2O4, small Co3O4particles that interact strongly with Al2O3, large Co3O4particles, and dispersed surface Co2+ions in octahedral coordination. The latter Co2+species are likely the catalytically most active species. Their propensity to interact with NOxis reminiscent of that of Co ions in ZSM-5.
Spin lattice relaxation of 29Si in offretite and NaY

Abstract The nuclear spin lattice relaxation time, T1, of 29Si has been measured in a number of samples of offretite. Unpaired electron spin concentrations have been measured with e.s.r. The data indicate that the T1 of 29Si is dominated by the dipolar coupling of the 29Si nuclei to the paramagnetic centres located in the sample. Furthermore, the data indicate that a specific paramagnetic centre is responsible for the observed behaviour of relaxation.
Image reconstruction in transcranial photoacoustic computed tomography of the brain

Photoacoustic computed tomography (PACT) holds great promise for transcranial brain imaging. However, the strong reflection, scattering, attenuation, and mode-conversion of photoacoustic waves in the skull pose serious challenges to establishing the method. The lack of an appropriate model of solid media in conventional PACT imaging models, which are based on the canonical scalar wave equation, causes a significant model mismatch in the presence of the skull and thus results in deteriorated reconstructed images. The goal of this study was to develop an image reconstruction algorithm that accurately models the skull and thereby ameliorates the quality of reconstructed images. The propagation of photoacoustic waves through the skull was modeled by a viscoelastic stress tensor wave equation, which was subsequently discretized by use of a staggered grid fourth-order finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. The matched adjoint of the FDTD-based wave propagation operator was derived for implementing a back-projection operator. Systematic computer simulations were conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the back-projection operator for reconstructing images in a realistic three-dimensional PACT brain imaging system. The results suggest that the proposed algorithm can successfully reconstruct images from transcranially-measured pressure data and readily be translated to clinical PACT brain imaging applications.
A Comparison of Some Methods of Deriving the Instantaneous Unit Hydrograph

The geomorphological instantaneous unit hydrograph (IUH) proposed by Gupta et al. (1980) was compared with the IUH derived by commonly used time-area and Nash methods. This comparison was performed by analyzing the effective rainfall-direct runoff relationship for four large basins in Central Italy ranging in area from 934 to 4,147 km2. The Nash method was found to be the most accurate of the three methods. The geomorphological method, with only one parameter estimated in advance from the observed data, was found to be little less accurate than the Nash method which has two parameters determined from observations. Furthermore, if the geomorphological and Nash methods employed the same information represented by basin lag, then they produced similar accuracy provided the other Nash parameter, expressed by the product of peak flow and time to peak, was empirically assessed within a wide range of values. It was concluded that it was more appropriate to use the geomorphological method for ungaged basins and the Nash method for gaged basins.
δ-N-Methylarginine Is a Novel Posttranslational Modification of Arginine Residues in Yeast Proteins

Abstract We have found a novel modification of protein arginine residues in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Intact yeast cells lacking RMT1, the gene encoding the protein ω-N G-arginine methyltransferase, were labeled with the methyl donorS-adenosyl-l-[methyl-3H]methionine. The protein fraction was acid-hydrolyzed to free amino acids, which were then fractionated on a high resolution sulfonated polystyrene cation exchange column at pH 5.27 and 55 °C. In the absence of the ω-N G ,N G-[3H]dimethylarginine product of the RMT1 methyltransferase, we were able to detect a previously obscured 3H-methylated species that migrated in the region of methylated arginine derivatives. The [3H]methyl group(s) of this unknown species were not volatilized by treatment with 2 m NaOH at 55 °C for up to 48 h, suggesting that they were not modifications of the terminal ω-guanidino nitrogen atoms. However, this base treatment did result in the formation of a new 3H-methylated derivative that co-chromatographed with δ-N-methylornithine on high resolution cation exchange chromatography, on reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatography, and on thin layer chromatography. From these data, we suggest that the identity of the original unknown methylated residue is δ-N-monomethylarginine. The presence of this methylated residue in yeast cells defines a novel type of protein modification reaction in eukaryotes.
Sb-Induced Surface States on (100) Surfaces of III-V Semiconductors

The existence of both empty and filled surface states derived from the rehybridization of dangling Sb bonds is demonstrated for the first time in GaSb. The empty states are nearly degenerate with those derived from dangling cation bonds and are located near the bottom of the conduction band. The filled states lie \ensuremath{\sim}0.8 eV below the valence-band edge. Similar sets of states were observed for Sb adsorbed on GaAs and InAs.
Multiple Roles of a Conserved GAF Domain Tyrosine Residue in Cyanobacterial and Plant Phytochromes

The phytochrome family of red/far-red photoreceptors has been optimized to support photochemical isomerization of a bound bilin chromophore, a process that triggers a conformational change and modulates biochemical output from the surrounding protein scaffold. Recent studies have established that the efficiency of this photochemical process is profoundly altered by mutation of a conserved tyrosine residue (Tyr176) within the bilin-binding GAF domain of the cyanobacterial phytochrome Cph1 [Fischer, A. J., and Lagarias, J. C. (2004) Harnessing phytochrome's glowing potential, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 101, 17334−17339]. Here, we show that the equivalent mutation in plant phytochromes behaves similarly, indicating that the function of this tyrosine in the primary photochemical mechanism is conserved. Saturation mutagenesis of Tyr176 in Cph1 establishes that no other residue can support comparably efficient photoisomerization. The spectroscopic consequences of Tyr176 mutations also reveal that Tyr176 regu...
Algebraic Formulation of Diffraction Applied to Self Imaging

One of Rayleigh’s diffraction integrals is generalized as to the nature of the functions on which it operates. These functions comprise the well-known Hilbert space ℒ2 of square-integrable functions. The algebraic properties are apparent in the existence of a left inverse for the diffraction operator, and in other places where the ordering of a sequence of operations is important. The conditions for self imaging are completely characterized by a certain part of the mathematical spectrum of the diffraction operator. The contribution of the evanescent waves to this spectrum is clearly shown. Both the infinite- and finite-aperture cases of diffraction are treated. In the infinite-aperture case we can employ a vector theory in which we obtain a complete characterization of self imaging. This self imaging is of an approximate nature. For the finite-aperture case we employ a scalar theory and obtain some partial results. However, in contrast to the infinite aperture we prove, for the case of an arbitrary finite aperture in a black screen, that there exist fields which image themselves exactly through the diffraction process. These fields are the eigenfunctions of a diffraction operator which corresponds to the sequential operations of inserting a screen into the incident field, discarding the evanescent-wave contribution, and diffracting through a distance z. The operator which corresponds to just the first two processes of inserting the screen and discarding the evanescent waves is of the type which generates the so-called generalized prolate spheroidal functions. These functions correspond to fields which have the interesting optical property of giving the same diffraction pattern whether the screen is applied or not (i.e., to within a constant positive factor). A conjecture is put forth concerning the evanescent-wave contribution to measurements that have been taken near the aperture. If the conjecture proves correct, it may be possible to show a consistency between the first Rayleigh diffraction integral and near-aperture measurements.
An adaptive fast direct solver for boundary integral equations in two dimensions

Abstract We describe an algorithm for the rapid direct solution of linear algebraic systems arising from the discretization of boundary integral equations of potential theory in two dimensions. The algorithm is combined with a scheme that adaptively rearranges the parameterization of the boundary in order to minimize the ranks of the off-diagonal blocks in the discretized operator, thus obviating the need for the user to supply a parameterization r of the boundary for which the distance ‖ r ( s ) − r ( t ) ‖ between two points on the boundary is related to their corresponding distance | s − t | in the parameter space. The algorithm has an asymptotic complexity of O ( N log 2 N ) , where N is the number of nodes in the discretization. The performance of the algorithm is illustrated with several numerical examples.
LIQUID CRYSTAL SHEAR STRESS SENSOR FOR BLOOD AND OTHER OPAQUE VISCOUS FLUIDS

A liquid crystal-based photochromic coating was formulated to enable direct visualization of shear stress in flowing blood. The coating was comprised of a low durometer silicone rubber elastomer combined with a cholesteric liquid crystal to expand the functional shearsensing range and improve its durability when exposed to viscous flow. The coating was evaluated with black and red opaque viscous fluids as well as blood for spatial resolution and sensitivity. Experiments were conducted in rectangular channels and a cylindrical Taylor–Couette device with shear stress up to 300 dyne/cm in blood, and 3000 dyne/cm in glycerol. The results illustrated the feasibility of a liquid crystal based shear stress sensor for visualizing the spatial distribution of biologically relevant shear stress.
Reduction Kinetics of Graphene Oxide Determined by Electrical Transport Measurements and Temperature Programmed Desorption

The thermal stability and reduction kinetics of graphene oxide were studied by measuring the electrical resistivity of single-layer graphene films at various stages of reduction in high vacuum and by performing temperature programmed desorption (TPD) measurements of multilayer films in ultrahigh vacuum. The graphene oxide was exfoliated from the graphite oxide source material by slow-stirring in aqueous solution, which produces single-layer platelets with an average lateral size of ∼10 μm. From the TPD measurements, it was determined that the primary desorption products of the graphene oxide films for temperatures up to 300 °C are H2O, CO2, and CO, with only trace amounts of O2 being detected. Resistivity measurements on individual single-layer graphene oxide platelets resulted in an activation energy of 37 ± 1 kcal/mol. The TPD measurements of multilayer films of graphene oxide platelets give an activation energy of 32 ± 4 kcal/mol.
Expert Testimony for the Plaintiffs in the Case that Brought Ohio Ground‐Water Law into the 20th Century

. The 1984 Ohio Supreme Court ruling on Cline v. American Aggregates changed Ohio's ground-water law from an 1861 ruling based on the English Rule of absolute ownership to a doctrine of reasonable use which recognizes that landowners have the privilege to use the water beneath their land but can be held liable to others if their use of ground water causes others unreasonable harm. The Ohio Supreme Court did not define unreasonable harm in the Cline case. As a result, unreasonable harm is being established through case law, the first such case being the relitigation of Cline v. American Aggregates. Depositions and expert testimony presented during the Cline cases, which represent a group of 56 landowners in a single lawsuit, showed the diverse ways in which the quantity and quality of ground water used for domestic-water supplies were affected by operation of a dewatering system at an aggregate mine. The testimony highlighted the complex interaction between regional hydrodynamics, variations in local hydrogeologic settings, well-construction methods, spatial variations in infiltration and recharge, and vertical leakage with the effects of the regional decline in water levels produced by the dewatering system.
Integrating microcomputer software packages into the business curriculum

Instruction in American business schools is increasingly being influenced by technological developments. The development of specialized software has provided opportunities to integrate microcomputer applications into courses traditionally taught by using text material or case studies. Pressure to incorporate software applications in business courses has largely been a product of accreditation requirements and the demand by employers for students graduating from business schools who are computer literate. In addition, the use of software has provided an opportunity for instructors to vary the format of a course and for students to enhance their skills in the job market. This paper describes some current applications of software in business courses. Three areas of business—human resource management, production and operations management, and management information systems—are discussed from an instructor's perspective. Specific applications of software in the business curriculum are described, together with some of the limitations and educational implications of these applications.
Biodiversity Under Global Change

Many common plant species, such as prairie grasses, have evolved traits for the efficient capture and use of two key resources that limit terrestrial productivity: nitrogen (N) and carbon dioxide (CO2). Over the past 60 years, human activity has vastly increased the availability of these resources. Atmospheric CO2 concentration has increased by 40%, and N availability has more than doubled. These changes are likely to have important consequences for species interactions, community structure, and ecosystem functioning. On page 1399 of this issue, Reich investigates one important consequence, biodiversity loss, based on a long-term elevated CO2 and nitrogen fertilization experiment ( 1 ).
Long-range interaction of protons and deuterons with neon atoms

Abstract Mobility data for H + and D + ions in Ne gas are directly inverted to find the long-range potential in the gap between the existing potentials and the asymptotic long-range induction potential.
Zonal Penetration Scale of Midlatitude Oceanic Jets

Abstract It is shown that subtle changes in the velocity profile across the seaward extension of midlatitude jets, such as the Gulf Stream, can lead to dramatic changes in the zonal-penetration scale. In particular, if α = dq/dψ > 0, where q is the absolute vorticity and ψ is a streamfunction for the geostrophic flow, then the jet tends to penetrate across to the eastern boundary; conversely if α < 0, the jet turns back on itself creating a tight recirculation on the scale of order |α|−frac12;. This behavior is demonstrated in a quasigeostrophic ocean model in which a jet profile is prescribed as an inflow condition at the western margin of a half-basin, and radiation conditions along the remainder of the western boundary allow the injected fluid to escape. Jet inflows with both vertical and horizontal structure are considered in one and one-half-, two-, and three-layer models. Finally, the implications of our study for numerical simulations of ocean gyres, which frequently show sensitivity of jet penetra...
Anisotropy of Cobalt-Substituted Mn Ferrite Single Crystals

The anisotropy of cobalt-substituted Mn Ferrite single crystals has been measured by the usual microwave techniques. Both composition and temperature have been varied, with particular emphasis being placed on achieving zero or minimum anisotropy.
National Humiliation and National Assertion: The Chines Response to the Twenty-one Demands

The Japanese Twenty-one Demands toward the Chinese government headed by Yuan Shih-k'ai in 1915 marked a milestone in Sino-Japanese relations as well as in the Chinese response to imperialism. Yet studies on the event, particularly on its consequence and influence in China, are still insufficient. Studies by Chinese scholars have not gone far beyond Wang Yun-sheng's publication of collected materials more than fifty years ago. The only book-length study on the event is the first volume of Li Yu-shu's study, published in Taiwan. This last does not even cover the whole period of Sino-Japanese negotiations. His second volume has not yet appeared. Li's contribution is that he has made use of more Japanese documents than Wang. In mainland China, the most current study on the event is a chapter on the Demands in the first volume of the work by Li Hsin and Li Tsung-i. This chapter is based primarily on the works of Wang and Li Yu-shu. Compared with Japanese studies on other landmarks of Sino-Japanese relations, the coverage of this episode is rather thin. There is only one book-length study, published in 1958. As for works in English, Madeleine Chi's book has a chapter dealing with the Sino-Japanese negotiations. Two general works examine the event from a broader perspective.
Structural determinants of antimicrobial activity and biocompatibility in membrane-disrupting methacrylamide random copolymers.

Low molecular weight random copolymers bearing protonated primary amine groups and hydrophobic alkyl groups in the side chains were synthesized and their activities against E. coli, S. aureus, human red blood cells, and human epithelial carcinoma cells (HEp-2) were quantified. The mole fraction of alkyl side chains in the copolymers (falkyl) and the length of the alkyl chains were major determinants of the activities. Against E. coli cells, activity was diminished as falkyl was increased from 0 to about 0.2, but was then enhanced dramatically as falkyl was increased further. Activity against S. aureus was diminished continually with increasing falkyl. The cytotoxicity to human epithelial carcinoma cells also decreased with increasing falkyl. Conversely, hemolytic activity showed monotonic enhancement with increasing falkyl. The cationic homopolymer (falkyl = 0) completely inhibited S. aureus growth at 3 μM (10.2 μg/mL) and completely inhibited metabolic activity in HEp-2 cells at 10 μM (34 μg/mL), althoug...
Ton 155 and 156: a double quasar?

Janes and Lynds1 have shown that Ton 156 is a quasar, although they were unable to determine a satisfactory redshift. My spectroscopic observations made with the Mauna Kea 224 cm telescope, have shown that Ton 155, located at about 35″ arc north preceding Ton 156, is also a quasar and have allowed redshifts to be determined for both objects.
Synthesis and deprotection of β-silylethyl protected O,O,O- and O,O,S-trialkylphosphorothioates

Abstract Functionalized 2-(diphenylmethylsilyl)ethyl protected thymidyl-thymidine phosphorothioate dimers are easily accessible and stable under conditions used in oligophosphorothioate synthesis. Deprotection with ammonium hydroxide occurs through β-fragmentation. Methylamine and tetrabutyl-ammonium fluoride rapidly and selectively remove the DPSE protecting group of O , O , O - and O , O , S -trialkylphosphorothioates.
Electric-field-induced association of colloidal particles.

Dilute suspensions of micron diameter dielectric spheres confined to two dimensions are induced to aggregate linearly by application of an electric field. The growth of the average cluster size agrees well with the Smoluchowski equation, but the evolution of the measured cluster size distribution exhibits significant departures from theory at large times due to the formation of long linear clusters which effectively partition space into isolated one-dimensional strips.
Modified Radical Hysterectomy in the Treatment of Early Squamous Cervical Cancer

Abstract Objective. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of modified radical hysterectomy in the treatment of early cervical cancer. Material and Methods. A retrospective chart review of 56 patients with stage I (IA in 35, IB in 21) squamous cervical carcinoma treated with modified radical hysterectomy and followed for a minimum of 5 years (mean, 12 years; range, 5.1–29) was conducted. All pathology slides were reviewed for tumor size, grade, depth of invasion, and lymph–vascular permeation. Results. The mean depth of invasion was 0.5 cm (range, 0.1–2.5 cm), and the mean tumor size was 1.1 cm (range, 0.1–7 cm). Only 3 patients (5.4%) had positive nodes. None of the patients with tumors 2 cm or less in size had positive nodes, whereas 33.3% of the patients with tumors more than 2 cm in size had positive nodes. A recurrence developed in 2 patients (5-year recurrence rate of 3.6%). There were 10 deaths during the entire follow-up period, but only 2 were related to cervical cancer. The disease-specific and overall 5-year survival rates were 96.4 and 94.6%, respectively. The disease-specific 5-year survival rate was 100% among the 47 patients with tumors 2 cm or less and 75% for the 9 patients with tumors larger than 2 cm. Univariate analysis identified stage, lymph node status, and tumor size as statistically significant prognostic factors for overall survival. Tumor grade, lymph–vascular permeation, and depth of invasion (1–3 mm vs >3 mm) were not statistically significant for overall survival. Conclusions. Modified radical hysterectomy appears to be effective surgical therapy for patients with squamous cervical carcinoma 2 cm or less in size.
A kinetic model of troponin dissociation in relation to thin filament regulation in striated muscle.

Abstract The apparent rate of troponin (Tn) dissociation from myofibrils has been used as a method to study thin filament regulation in striated muscle. The rate is dependent upon calcium and strong crossbridges and supports the three-state model for thin filament regulation. The dissociation rate of Tn is extremely low so it is not intuitively clear that such a slow process would probe thin filament regulation. We have investigated this issue by developing a simple kinetic model to explain the Tn dissociation rate measured by labeled Tn exchange in the myofibrils. Tn is composed of three interacting subunits, TnC, TnI and TnT. In our model, TnI’s regulatory domain switches from actin-tropomyosin to TnC followed by TnT dissociation from actin-tropomyosin. This TnI regulatory domain switching is linked to the transition of the thin filament from the blocked state to the closed state. It is calcium dependent and several orders of magnitude faster than TnT dissociation from actin-tropomyosin. By integrating the dimensionless rate equations of this model, we have computed the time course of each of the various components. In our numerical simulations, the rate constant for TnI switching from actin-tropomyosin to TnC was varied from 10 s −1 to 1000 s −1 to simulate the low calcium, blocked state to high calcium, closed state. The computed progress curves for labeled Tn exchange into the myofibrils and the derived intensity ratio between the non-overlap and overlap regions well explains the intensity ratio progress curves observed experimentally. These numerical simulations and experimental observations reveal that the apparent rate of Tn dissociation probes the blocked state to closed state equilibrium of the myofibrillar thin filament.
Constant-volume pair potential for Al-transition-metal compounds.

We treat the problem of two transition-metal atoms embedded in Al by means of a simple s-d model Hamiltonian with localized d orbitals. A Green's-function analysis gives the electronic density of states and total energy as functions of the separation between the two transition-metal atoms. The pair potential thus obtained is strong and has Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuga-Yosida-type oscillations as its asymptotic behavior. It is applicable to cases in which transition metals are not nearest neighbors. With this pair potential, we calculate the structural energy differences of ${\mathrm{Al}}_{3}$M compounds in the L${1}_{2}$ and ${\mathit{DO}}_{22}$ structures, where M includes all of the group III, IV, V transition metals and the whole 4d row. Comparison with ab initio results reveals good agreement for the transition metals in group V and beyond, but not for the earlier transition metals, in which the p-d covalent bonding and three-body interactions are likely more important. We also calculate the (100) antiphase boundary (APB) energies for ${\mathrm{Al}}_{3}$V, ${\mathrm{Al}}_{3}$Nb, and ${\mathrm{Al}}_{3}$La, and find a strong correlation between the APB energy and the structural energy difference. The low-order moment-expansion method is used to obtain short-ranged potentials in an effort to obtain better convergence for the structural energies. This approach fails, giving magnitudes for the structural energy differences that are much too small.
Site-selective, cleavable linkers: quality control and the characterization of small molecules on microelectrode arrays.

A “safety-catch” linker strategy has been used to release a portion of the products of a Diels–Alder reaction conducted on a microelectrode array for characterization of stereochemistry. The attachment and cleavage of organic compounds from the surface of selected electrodes in the array can be accomplished by site-selective generation of base or acid at the electrode. It was found that the surface of the array had a minor influence on the stereochemistry of the Diels–Alder reaction, leading to slightly more of the exo-product relative to a similar solution-phase reaction.
Fire Alarms, Garbage Cans, and the Administrative Presidency

This exploratory essay offers an analytical framework for assessing the implications of the administrative presidency for what Heclo termed the "larger organizational life of government. " It begins by offering a four-cell typology of policy initiatives associated with the administrative presidency. The essay then links disparate types of political dynamics to these four types. A threefold argument is presented. First, presidential appointees using administrative strategies to alter agency agendas routinely find themselves trying to cope with "fire alarm " oversight. Second, the type of policy initiative pursued (quantum, emergent, convergent, and gradualist) will affect the nature, scope, and intensity of conflict spawned by this type of oversight (disintegrative, adversarial, manipulated agreement, and mutual accommodation). Finally, the dynamics illustrated indicate that the administrative presidency is more permeable to both micro- and macropolitical intervention than commonly portrayed by either its ...
Optical absorption of island films of noble metals: wave length of the plasma absorption band

Abstract Experimental measurements of the positions of the optical plasma resonance band for thin island films of noble metals agree closely with positions calculated from a simple equation with no disposable parameters. The equation includes the volume fraction of particles, the refractive index of the substrate, and the real part of the dielectric constant of the metal. This equation is derived from the Lorentz–Lorenz or Clausius–Mossotti conditions. The particles in the films are right cylinders, and have polarizabilities consistent with the equation. There is no need to assume fitting parameters involving particle shapes and sizes and their distributions.
Dental abnormalities in children preparing for pediatric bone marrow transplantation.

The purpose of our study was to describe the types and frequencies of altered dental development in pediatric patients preparing for bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Retrospective review of the medical records and panoramic radiographs of all patients who underwent BMT at St Jude Children's Research Hospital between 1990 and 2000 for whom pre-BMT dental examination and panoramic radiography records were available. All patients were treated on institutional protocols. We recorded patient demographics and radiographic evidence of microdontia, hypodontia, taurodontia, root stunting, caries, enamel pearls, and pulpal calcifications. The 259 patients identified (150 male and 109 female) had a median age of 12.82 years (range, 3.18–25.93 years) at the time of BMT. In total, 203 were Caucasian, 38 were African-American, and 18 were of other races. In all, 150 (57.9%) had abnormal dentition. The most common dental abnormalities were caries (n=84), pulpal calcifications (n=34), and dental extractions (n=33). Developmental abnormalities occurred less frequently: taurodontia (n=8), hypodontia (n=10), microdontia (n=11), and root stunting (n=11). Dental abnormalities are prevalent in children undergoing BMT. Pre-transplant oral hygiene and dental examination should be standard care in order to minimize potential sites of infection.
A multiple scarifier for allergic tests

Abstract A description is given of a scarifier producing six incisions simultaneously of practically uniform length and depth and with a minimum degree of pain and skin trauma.
The influence of sodium-calcium exchange inhibitors on rabbit lens ion balance and transparency.

Abstract Calcium regulation is essential to the maintenance of lens transparency. To maintain cytoplasmic calcium concentration at the required low level the lens must export calcium continuously. Here, studies were conducted to test whether sodium–calcium exchanger (NCX) inhibitors disturb calcium balance in the rabbit lens. Intact lenses were incubated up to 48 h in the presence or absence of the NCX inhibitor bepridil. Lens sodium, potassium and calcium content were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Fluo-4 was used to measure epithelial cell cytoplasmic calcium concentration in an intact lens preparation. NCX1 protein expression in lens epithelium was examined by western blot. NCX1 band density was similar in central and equatorial epithelium samples. Lenses exposed to bepridil (30 μM) lost transparency at the anterior and exhibited significant changes in electrolyte and water content. After 48 h, lens calcium content more than doubled, sodium increased four fold and potassium was significantly reduced. In contrast, lenses exposed to inhibitors of reverse mode calcium transport by NCX (KBR7943 or SN-6) remained transparent and the electrolyte and water content of the lens remained unchanged. The ability of bepridil to cause significant changes in lens transparency and electrolyte content points to an important role for NCX-meditated calcium export in the lens.
Distributed and collaborative tracking for energy-constrained ad-hoc wireless sensor networks

An energy-aware, collaborative tracking algorithm is proposed for ad-hoc wireless sensor networks. The algorithm is implemented distributively by passing sensing and computation operations from one sensor to another. In order to maximize the life-time of the network, this active sensor is chosen by a high end sensor in order to minimize the cost function based on the total energy spent by the network at each time instant. Assuming a wireless ad-hoc sensor network in which low end sensors are randomly distributed with data gathering node as a high end sensor, a state-space model for a target motion and sensor measurement and a cost function based on energy requirements for communication and sensing has been derived. Simulation results for the performance of the proposed scheme have also been presented.
THE DYNAMICS OF STELLAR CORONAE HARBORING HOT JUPITERS. I. A TIME-DEPENDENT MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMIC SIMULATION OF THE INTERPLANETARY ENVIRONMENT IN THE HD 189733 PLANETARY SYSTEM

We carry out the first time-dependent numerical magnetohydrodynamic modeling of an extrasolar planetary system to study the interaction of the stellar magnetic field and wind with the planetary magnetosphere and outflow. We base our model on the parameters of the HD 189733 system, which harbors a close-in giant planet. Our simulation reveals a highly structured stellar corona characterized by sectors with different plasma properties. The star-planet interaction (SPI) varies in magnitude and complexity, depending on the planetary phase, planetary magnetic field strength, and the relative orientation of the stellar and planetary fields. It also reveals a long, comet-like tail which is a result of the wrapping of the planetary magnetospheric tail by its fast orbital motion. A reconnection event occurs at a specific orbital phase, causing mass loss from the planetary magnetosphere that can generate a hot spot on the stellar surface. The simulation also shows that the system has sufficient energy to produce hot spots observed in Ca II lines in giant planet hosting stars. However, the short duration of the reconnection event suggests that such SPI cannot be observed persistently.
Trial of Zolpidem, Eszopiclone, and Other GABA Agonists in a Patient with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy

Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a progressive, debilitating neurodegenerative disease of the Parkinson-plus family of syndromes. Unfortunately, there are no pharmacologic treatments for this condition, as most sufferers of the classic variant respond poorly to Parkinson medications such as levodopa. Zolpidem, a gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) agonist specific to the -1 receptor subtype, has been reported to show improvements in symptoms of PSP patients, including motor dysfunction, dysarthria, and ocular disturbances. We observed a 73-year-old woman with a six-year history of PSP, who, upon administration of a single 12.5 mg dose of sustained-release zolpidem, exhibited marked enhancements in speech, facial expressions, and fine motor skills for five hours. These results were reproduced upon subsequent clinic visits. In an effort to find a sustainable medication that maximized these beneficial effects while minimizing side effects and addressing some of her comorbid neuropsychological conditions, a trial of five other GABA receptor agonists was performed with the patient’s consent, while she and her caregivers were blinded to the specific medications. She and her caretakers subsequently reported improvements, especially visual, while on eszopiclone, and, to a lesser degree, temazepam and flurazepam.
Hyperspectral target tracking

We introduce a non-kinematic based approach to autonomous target tracking using a new set of Independent and Indirectly Generated Attributes (IIGA) from hyperspectral imagery.12 The IIGA method addresses the detection of rare signal appearance (i.e., targets represented by a few pixels), which is often the case in remote sensing target tracking. The proposed method demonstrates that object distinctness can be preserved, or perhaps accentuated, by contrasting hyperspectral samples, indirectly, through differences between each sample and a series of unrelated random samples in order to generate new attribute sets. Object distinctness is captured by features of the new attribute sets' underlying distributions. Preliminary results are promising using a small but challenging dataset.
Plasma-surface interactions

Materials processing is at a crossroads. Currently a large fraction of industrially viable materials processing is via plasmas. Until recently it has been economical to just examine the influence the plasma properties on the desired surface processes and through this ultimately optimize manufacturing. For example, it is well known that the surface processes (etch or deposition), occur in the top few mono-layers of the surface. Thus, in film growth one requires that molecules from the gas-phase land and bond on the surface. However as processing has reached the nano-scale, development of viable processes has become more and more difficult. In part, this is because of all of the free parameters that exist in plasmas. To overcome this economic issue, tool vendors and semiconductor companies have turned to complex computational models of processing plasmas. For those models to work, one requires a through understanding of all of the gas-phase and surface-phase processes that are exhibited in plasmas. Unfortunately, these processes, particularly those at the surface, are not well understood. In this article we describe a viable model of the surface-phase based on cross sections for processes that occur. While originally developed of fluorocarbon systems, the model also appears to be applicable to hydrocarbon systems.
Regulation of Histidyl-Transfer Ribonucleic Acid Synthetase Formation in a Histidyl-Transfer Ribonucleic Acid Synthetase Mutant of Salmonella typhimurium

Control of formation of the histidyl-transfer ribonucleic acid (tRNA) synthetase with an increased Km for histidine was studied in a hisS mutant of Salmonella typhimurium. Histidine restriction of both the hisS and hisS+ strains resulted in a derepression of synthesis of histidyl-tRNA synthetase. When grown in a concentration less than the Km (100 μg/ml) of l-histidine, the hisS mutant maintained a higher level of histidyl-tRNA synthetase than the hisS+ strain. Addition of excess amounts of l-histidine to the growth medium of the hisS mutant culture grown with 100 μg of l-histidine per ml resulted in a repression of histidyl-tRNA synthetase formation to equal that of the hisS+ strain grown in 100 μg of l-histidine per ml. These data confirm previous findings that histidine tRNA is involved in the repression of synthesis of histidyl-tRNA synthetase.
Case, inflection and subject licensing in child Catalan and Spanish.

The development of specified tense and number morphology in child Catalan and Spanish is found to correlate with the onset of overt subject use. The data come from four monolingual child Catalan-speakers (from the Serra & Sole corpus) and one monolingual child Spanish-speaker (from the Linaza corpus) who were studied longitudinally from 1:0 to 3;6, approximately. The simultaneous emergence of tense and number morphology on one hand and overt subjects on the other in the children's speech is taken as evidence that a particular aspect of Universal Grammar, Case Theory, determines the possible co-occurrences of verbal inflections and subject types in developing grammatical systems. Parallels in verbal inflectional development are found in other child languages, while such parallels are not found in regard to subject use. Possible modifications to Case Theory, which would allow a unified account of the cross-linguistic developmental patterns of subject use, are considered. The possibility of explaining the early absence of overt subjects in these null subject languages as the result of an early sentence processing deficit is explored and rejected. The children's knowledge of whether their language is a null subject or overt subject language even before acquiring adult-like verbal inflection is taken as further evidence for what has been called 'early convergence' on parameter settings.
SURFACE PLASMON RESONANCE IMAGING MEASUREMENTS OF ULTRATHIN ORGANIC FILMS

The surface-sensitive optical technique of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) imaging is used to characterize ultrathin organic and biopolymer films at metal interfaces in a spatially resolved manner. Because of its high surface sensitivity and its ability to measure in real time the interaction of unlabeled biological molecules with arrays of surface-bound species, SPR imaging has the potential to become a powerful tool in biomolecular investigations. Recently, SPR imaging has been successfully implemented in the characterization of supported lipid bilayer films, the monitoring of antibody-antigen interactions at surfaces, and the study of DNA hybridization adsorption. The following is included in this review: (a) an introduction to the principles of surface plasmon resonance, (b) the details of SPR imaging instrumental design, (c) a short discussion concerning resolution, sensitivity, and quantitation in SPR imaging, (d) the details of DNA array fabrication on chemically modified gold surfaces, and (e) two examples that demonstrate the application of the SPR imaging technique to the study of protein-DNA interactions.
Successful strategies in the discovery of small-molecule epigenetic modulators with anticancer potential

As a class, epigenetic enzymes have been identified as clear targets for cancer therapeutics based on their broad hyperactivity in solid and hematological malignancies. The search for effective inhibitors of histone writers and of histone erasers has been a focus of drug discovery efforts both in academic and pharmaceutical laboratories and has led to the identification of some promising leads. This review focuses on the discovery strategies and preclinical evaluation studies of a subset of the more advanced compounds that target histone writers or histone erasers. The specificity and anticancer potential of these small molecules is discussed within the context of their development pipeline.
Breeding biology of the Spotted Barbtail (Premnoplex brunnescens)

ABSTRACT The Spotted Barbtail (Furnariidae) is poorly studied but shows some extreme traits for a tropical passerine. We located and monitored 155 nests to study this species for 7 years in an Andean cloud forest in Venezuela. Spotted Barbtails have an unusually long incubation period of 27.2 ± 0.16 days, as a result of very long (3–6 hr) off-bouts even though both adults incubate. The long off-bouts yield low incubation temperatures for embryos and are associated with proportionally large eggs (21% of adult mass). They also have a long nestling period of 21.67 ± 0.33 days, and a typical tropical brood size of two. The slow growth rate of the typical broods of two is even slower in broods artificially reduced to one young. Nonetheless, the young stay in the nest long enough to achieve wing lengths that approach adult size.
Leakage-aware redundancy for reliable sub-threshold memories

In this work, we are the first to consider the optimization of sub-threshold stand-by V DD while simultaneously considering memory yield and redundant row/column usage. We propose a fast, optimal fault-repair analysis framework that is 200–600% faster than previous works and show that leakage can be reduced 10–14% using redundancy without sacrificing yield.