cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hydrogen bonding. Part 63. IR study of hydration of dimethonium and pentamethonium halides and NMR study of conformation of pentamethonium ion in solution

Abstract We have investigated hydrate formation by dimethonium and pentamethonium — (CH 3 ) 3 N + (CH 2 ) n  + N(CH 3 ) 3 where n = 2 and 5 — bromide, chloride, and fluoride. Dimethonium bromide forms a dihydrate which contains a C 2h (H 2 O·Br − ) 2 planar cluster. Dimethonium chloride forms a hypobarogenic dihydrate which is crystalline at reduced pressure but disproportionates to anhydrous material and liquid hexahydrate. Dimethonium fluoride forms three hydrates, a hexahydrate, tetrahydrate, and dihydrate. These hydrates, which represent fluoride ion trihydrate, dihydrate, and monohydrate respectively, have water-fluoride structures similar to those observed for a variety of other quaternary ammonium fluoride hydrates of corresponding stoichiometry; the dihydrate contains C 2h (H 2 O·F − ) 2 clusters. Pentamethonium bromide and chloride form crystalline dihydrates (halide ion monohydrates) which do not contain planar (H 2 O·X − ) 2 clusters. Pentamethonium fluoride forms a trihydrate with unknown structure and, unlike other quaternary ammonium fluorides, does not form a fluoride ion monohydrate with (H 2 O·F − ) 2 clusters. The fact that the odd-numbered pentamethonium ion ( C 2v ) fails to form halide dihydrates with planar (H 2 O·X − ) 2 clusters while the even-numbered dimethonium, hexamethonium, and decamethonium ions ( C 2h ) all do may be a function of ion symmetry; however, further studies are required to clarify this point. FT-NMR study of the pentamethonium ion in aqueous solution and molecular modeling shows that rotation about the C1–C2 and C4–C5 σ-bonds is not possible, while rotation about the C2–C3 or C3–C4 bonds does take place.
Susceptibility of DPOAEs to sound overexposure in inbred mice with AHL.

The notion that three inbred strains of mice, i.e., C57BL/6J (C57), BALB/cByJ (BALB), and WB/ReJ (WB), which exhibit differential rates of age-related hearing loss (AHL), may also exhibit differential susceptibility to noise-induced hearing loss was tested by comparing the effects of sound overexposure on these strains. The aftereffects of noise overstimulation on the distortion-product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) of these three strains were compared and contrasted to those for the CBA/CaJ (CBA) strain, which does not show changes in hearing threshold sensitivity up to 15 months of age. Two cohorts of mice, one at 2.5 and the other at 6 months of age, were first exposed to a tonal overstimulation paradigm, were allowed to recover, and then were later re-exposed to an octave band noise (OBN), at 3 or 7 months of age, respectively. The two sound exposure episodes were designed to produce either a temporary (tonal exposure) or permanent (OBN exposure) reduction in the levels of the 2f1 - f2 DPOAE in the WB strain, which exhibited the fastest rate of AHL. Although the tonal paradigm resulted in a temporary decrease in DPOAE levels for all strains at both ages, the 2.5-month BALBs showed the greatest susceptibility to this overexposure, while the 2.5-month WBs exhibited the least effects on DPOAEs. At the older age of 6 months, tonal overexposure produced essentially the same reduction in DPOAE levels for all four strains. In addition, there were no differences noted between CBAs and C57s, at either of the two ages. The OBN paradigm resulted in a permanent decrease in DPOAE levels in all the strains exhibiting early AHL, i.e., the C57, BALB, and WB mice, for frequencies about one-half to an octave higher than the exposure frequency, regardless of age. In contrast, the CBA strain was not significantly affected by the OBN overexposure.
Reconstruction of Aquarium Station

This paper discusses the analysis and design for the reconstruction of the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) Aquarium subway station in downtown Boston. This unusual design includes rebuilding and extension of the Blue Line rapid transit station, and construction of the new 1-93 Central Artery highway tunnel directly above it. All construction work will be performed while the existing I-93 viaduct remains in service overhead, the MBTA subway operations are ongoing, and surface street vehicular and pedestrian traffic is maintained.
Modification of a crown remover.

1. Make an irreversible hydrocolloid impression of the intaglio surface of the completed denture (Fig. 1). 2. Remove the impression, trim it, and place it in a vacuum-forming app~at~, such as the Biostar (Great Lakes Orthodontics, Ltd., Tonawanda, N.Y.) or StaVac (Dental Mfg. Co., Inc., Brooklyn, N.Y.) (Fig. 2). 3. Vacuum-form a sheet of 2.5 mm thick plastic splint material over the irreversible hydrocolloid impression to
Novel technique for endovascular salvage of a folded aortic endograft

Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) has been established as a safe and effective treatment modality for infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms. Endograft migration resulting in a proximal type I endoleak can be one of the most difficult challenges following EVAR. Often, this precludes endovascular treatment and necessitates conversion to open surgical repair. We report a case of a high-risk patient who presented with impending abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture as a result of endograft migration following EVAR performed 5 years prior. The endograft had folded over on itself within the aneurysm sac and was successfully repaired using a total endovascular approach.
The Microsomal Ethanol Oxidizing System and Its Interaction with Other Drugs, Carcinogens, and Vitamins

The interaction of ethanol with the oxidative drug-metabolizing enzymes present in liver microsomes results in a number of clinically significant side effects in the alcoholic. Following chronic ethanol consumption, the activity of the microsomal ethanol oxidizing system (MEOS) increases. This enhancement of MEOS activity is primarily due to the induction of a unique microsomal cytochrome P-450 isozyme, which has a high capacity for ethanol oxidation, as shown in reconstituted systems. Normally present in liver microsomes at low levels, this form of cytochrome P-450 increases dramatically after chronic ethanol intake in many species, including baboons. The in-vivo role of cytochrome P-450 in hepatic ethanol oxidation, especially following chronic ethanol consumption, has been conclusively demonstrated in deer-mice lacking liver ADH. Induction of microsomal cytochrome P-450 by ethanol is associated with the enhanced oxidation of other drugs as well, resulting in metabolic tolerance to these agents. There is also increased cytochrome P-450-dependent activation of known hepatotoxins such as carbon tetrachloride and acetaminophen, which may explain the greater susceptibility of alcoholics to the toxicity of industrial solvents and commonplace analgesics. In addition, the ethanol-inducible form of cytochrome P-450 has the highest capacity of all known P-450 isozymes for the activation of dimethylnitrosamine, a potent (and ubiquitous) carcinogen. Moreover, cytochrome P-450-catalyzed oxidation of retinol is accelerated in liver microsomes, which may contribute to the hepatic vitamin A depletion seen in alcoholics. In contrast to chronic ethanol consumption, acute ethanol intake inhibits the metabolism of other drugs via competition for shared microsomal oxidation pathways. Thus, the interplay between ethanol and liver microsomes has a profound impact on the way heavy drinkers respond to drugs, solvents, vitamins, and carcinogens.
Color image quantization by minimizing the maximum intercluster distance

One of the numerical criteria for color image quantization is to minimize the maximum discrepancy between original pixel colors and the corresponding quantized colors. This is typically carried out by first grouping color points into tight clusters and then finding a representative for each cluster. In this article we show that getting the smallest clusters under a formal notion of minimizing the maximum intercluster distance does not guarantee an optimal solution for the quantization criterion. Nevertheless our use of an efficient clustering algorithm by Teofilo F. Gonzalez, which is optimal with respect to the approximation bound of the clustering problem, has resulted in a fast and effective quantizer. This new quantizer is highly competitive and excels when quantization errors need to be well capped and when the performance of other quantizers may be hindered by such factors as low number of quantized colors or unfavorable pixel population distribution. Both computer-synthesized and photographic images are used in experimental comparison with several existing quantization methods.
Structural basis for serpin inhibitor activity

The mechanism of formation and the structures of serpin-inhibitor complexes are not completely understood, despite detailed knowledge of the structures of a number of cleaved and uncleaved inhibitor, noninhibitor, and latent serpins. It has been proposed from comparison of inhibitor and noninhibitor serpins in the cleaved and uncleaved forms that insertion of strand s4A into preexisting beta-sheet A is a requirement for serpin inhibitor activity. We have investigated the role of this strand in formation of serpin-proteinase complexes and in serpin inhibitor activity through homology modeling of wild type inhibitor, mutant substrate, and latent serpins, and of putative serpin-proteinase complexes. These models explain the high stability of the complexes and provide an understanding of substrate behavior in serpins with point mutations in s4A and of latency in plasminogen activator inhibitor I.
Favorable effect of time delays on tracking performance of type-I control systems

Time delays in a control system are usually considered to degrade system performance. This is true when stability margins (gain and/or phase margins) of the control system are taken as the performance criteria. However, there are many instances when performance criteria other than stability margins are used for control system design and controllers comparison. For example, tracking error is one such performance criterion that is widely used for designing many real control systems. When tracking error is considered as the performance criterion, it is shown that consistent time delays in the feedback path can actually reduce the steady-state tracking error of a control system to polynomial reference inputs (such as ramps).
Evidence Supporting the Superiority of Intraperitoneal Cisplatin Compared to Intraperitoneal Carboplatin for Salvage Therapy of Small-Volume Residual Ovarian Cancer

Abstract Purpose: To examine the relative efficacy of cisplatin-based intraperitoneal (IP) therapy versus carboplatin-based IP therapy as salvage treatment of small-volume residual ovarian cancer. Patients and methods: We retrospectively examined the surgically defined response rates of patients with ovarian cancer treated at the Memorial SIoan-Kettering Cancer Center on four organoplatinum-based salvage IP trials (cisplatin/etoposide, cisplatin/cytarabine, carboplatin/etoposide, carboplatin/etoposide + recombinant human erythropoietin). Additional criteria for inclusion in this analysis were: (a) small-volume residual disease (microscopic disease only or largest residual tumor mass ⩽ 0.5 cm) when IP therapy was initiated; (b) prior response to organoplatinum-based systemic therapy; (c) laparotomy evaluation for response to the IP salvage program. Results: The surgically documented complete response rate for patients with microscopic disease treated with cisplatin-based or carboplatin-based therapy was 46% (6/13) versus 38% (6/16), respectively ( P > 0.25). In contrast, the surgically documented overall and complete response rates for patients with small-volume macroscopic disease treated with cisplatin or carboplatin were 71% (12/17) versus 32% (6/19) ( P 2 test with Yates' correction), and 41% (6/17) versus 11% (2/19) (p Conclusion: In agreement with experimental data demonstrating that the concentration of platinum within tumor is higher following equimolar doses of cisplatin, compared to carboplatin, we have observed, in this retrospective analysis, a higher surgically documented response rate for patients with small-volume residual macroscopic ovarian cancer receiving salvage cisplatin-based IP therapy. While a randomized trial will be required to definitively address the question of the relative effectiveness of the two commercially available organoplatinum agents for IP treatment of ovarian cancer, our data suggest that cisplatin is the superior agent for regional therapy in this disease.
Presynaptic enhancement of synaptic transmission in hippocampal cell cultures by phorbol esters

Abstract The calcium-diacylglycerol activated protein kinase (C kinase) plays an important role in synaptic plasticity, and possibly in long-term potentiation (LTP). We have found that phorbol esters, which activate this protein kinase, increase the frequency of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPCs) in hippocampal cell cultures. An analysis of distributions of these miniature synaptic currents shows that amplitudes, and thus postsynaptic function, are not influenced by phorbol esters. Synaptic transmission is therefore enhanced by phorbol esters at a presynaptic locus. The method of analysis employed here is applicable to a broad range of situations involving modification of synaptic transmission in the mammalian central nervous system.
Advances in digital quantification technique enhance discrimination between mild and advanced liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C

: Background and Aims: The necessity of liver biopsy for staging fibrosis and its quantification in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) remains controversial. Semiquantitative scoring of fibrosis is considered more subjective and less objective than digital quantification by image analysis. However, measurement of fibrosis using digital image analysis is thought to be less reliable in determining early stage fibrosis as compared with advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis. Our aims were to correlate all Ishak stages of fibrosis (0–6) with fibrosis percentage (%) using computerized digital image analysis, and thereby seek to improve discrimination between varying levels of liver fibrosis. Methods: Fibrosis % data were obtained by image analysis on 164 trichrome-stained liver biopsies from untreated patients with CHC, representing all Ishak stages of fibrosis. Results: Digital analysis of fibrosis % was highly correlated with Ishak scores of fibrosis (Kendall's τ–β=0.86, P<0.001). Receiver–operator characteristic curves showed reliable discriminative capability of our digital image measurement of fibrosis when compared with semiquantitative assessments of fibrosis. Excellent interobserver reliability was found. Conclusions: Recent advances in digital quantification of fibrosis have resulted in improved discrimination between the varying stages of liver fibrosis, including mild fibrosis. This method is reproducible, can detect early as well as advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis, may prove to be the best assessment of mild fibrosis, and may be more precise than semiquantitative estimation of changes for monitoring fibrosis progression or regression during clinical therapeutic trials.
Product self-management: evolution in recycling and reuse

This paper explores the potential to make product recycling and reuse easier by shifting responsibility for product management toward the product itself. Examples range from barcode-enabled Internet sales of used products to RFID-enabled garbage trucks that identify recyclable items and provide rebates. Initial steps toward product self-management have made opportunistic use of product bar codes and Internet markets. In the United States, Internet markets are driving increased reuse of products. In the European Union, recycling and waste management policy is driving the use of radio electronics in waste management. Prospects for product self-management are assessed from both a technological and an economic perspective. The technological analysis indicates that radio-frequency tags offer some advantages over bar codes, but their application to product self-management requires considerable investment in the waste management infrastructure. This suggests that early applications of advanced product tags are most suitable for Germany and other countries where the waste management industry has already integrated information technology into its operations. The economic analysis indicates that increased reuse of products can reduce consumption of new products and materials, although on a less than one-to-one basis, simultaneously reducing costs for consumers and deriving more value from existing products.
An organization-level analysis of voluntary and involuntary turnover.

Although there are many individual-level models of turnover, little research has examined the effects of human resource management practices on quit rates and discharge rates at the organizational level. This study used organization-level data from 227 organizations in the trucking industry to explore this issue. Results show that human resource management practices predict quit rates and discharge rates but that the determinants of each are quite different. Implications are derived and directions for future research suggested.
Intrinsic electrical properties of spinal motoneurons vary with joint angle

The dendrites of spinal motoneurons amplify synaptic inputs to a marked degree through persistent inward currents (PICs). Dendritic amplification is subject to neuromodulatory control from the brainstem by axons releasing the monoamines serotonin and norepinephrine; however, the monoaminergic projection to the cord is diffusely organized and does not allow independent adjustment of amplification in different motor pools. Using in vivo voltage-clamp techniques, here we show that dendritic PICs in ankle extensor motoneurons in the cat are reduced about 50% by small rotations (±10°) of the ankle joint. This reduction is primarily due to reciprocal inhibition, a tightly focused input shared only among strict muscle antagonists. These results demonstrate how a specific change in limb position can regulate intrinsic cellular properties set by a background of diffuse descending neuromodulation.
The size of L(1, χ) for real nonprincipal residue characters χ with prime modulus

Abstract In this paper it is shown that, as q runs through the odd primes in an arithmetic progression, the sum ∑ n−1 ∞ n q 1 q has considerable variation in size. The proof uses the uniform prime-number theorem and a recent version of the large sieve.
Comparing states with and without growth management Analysis based on indicators with policy implications

Abstract In 1973, Oregon adopted its Land Use Act. Florida adopted its Growth Management Acts during 1985 and 1986. Both Oregon and Florida aim to prevent urban sprawl, preserve farmland, improve accessibility, make transit a more viable option, reduce energy needs, and minimize tax burdens. Are they effective? Relative to a reasonably comparable state without growth management, Georgia, nearly all indicators developed in this study show that the growth-management efforts of Florida and Oregon are effective. Policy implications are offered.
Hunter syndrome: isolation of an iduronate-2-sulfatase cDNA clone and analysis of patient DNA.

Abstract Iduronate 2-sulfatase (IDS, EC 3.1.6.13) is required for the lysosomal degradation of heparan sulfate and dermatan sulfate. Mutations causing IDS deficiency in humans result in the lysosomal storage of these glycosaminoglycans and Hunter syndrome, an X chromosome-linked disease. We have isolated and sequenced a 2.3-kilobase cDNA clone coding for the entire sequence of human IDS. Analysis of the deduced 550-amino acid IDS precursor sequence indicates that IDS has a 25-amino acid amino-terminal signal sequence, followed by 8 amino acids that are removed from the proprotein. An internal proteolytic cleavage occurs to produce the mature IDS present in human liver shown to contain a 42-kDa polypeptide N-terminal to a 14-kDa polypeptide. The IDS sequence has strong sequence homology with other sulfatases (such as sea urchin arylsulfatase, human arylsulfatases A, B, and C, and human glucosamine 6-sulfatase), suggesting that the sulfatases comprise an evolutionarily related family of genes that arose by gene duplication and divergent evolution. The arylsulfatases have a greater homology with each other than with the non-arylsulfatases (IDS and glucosamine 6-sulfatase). The IDS cDNA detected RNA species of 5.7, 5.4, 2.1, and 1.4 kilobases in human placental RNA and revealed structural alterations and gross deletions of the IDS gene in many of the clinically severe Hunter syndrome patients studied.
Birth in free-ranging howler monkeysAlouatta seniculus

This report describes two live births in the red howler monkey (Alouatta seniculus) at Hato Masaguaral, Venezuela. Both births took place during the afternoon on a limb of a tree. An adult troop male was next to the females during delivery.
Two invaders achieve higher densities in reserves.

1. Invasive species threaten marine biodiversity on a global scale. 2. To test whether marine reserves provide resistance to invading species, the abundance of two conspicuous invaders, a seaweed and an oyster, were measured inside marine reserves and in comparable areas outside reserves in north-western Washington State. 3. Densities of both invaders were significantly higher in marine reserves than in comparable unprotected areas outside reserves. Although the causal mechanisms have not yet been identified, differential rates of human harvest do not appear to be responsible for the patterns observed. 4. It is provisionally suggested that physical or biological aspects of the reserves themselves may directly or indirectly facilitate biological invasion. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Breakthroughs in the Analysis of Leakage Failures in PBGA Packages

In the event of leakage failures in Plastic Ball Grid Array Packages (PBGA), standard failure analysis procedure includes acid etching (called decapsulation) of the mold compound to expose the die. Those that are recovering after decapsulation were just closed as a random event caused by a foreign material (FM) in the mold compound. The need to determine the actual defect, which was suspected to have been removed during decapsulation, prompted other ways of characterizing and understanding the failure other than the standard failure analysis flow. Failure analysis (FA) tools and methods that are normally not utilized for analysis of leakage failures will be showcased here like mechanical grinding of mold compound, Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) and Conductive Atomic Force Microscopy (C-AFM) analyses. In this paper, we would like to present how we used these tools to find the defect, to fully characterize it and to use the data for rootcausing efforts.
Defining predictable patterns of craniomaxillofacial injury in the elderly: analysis of 1,047 patients.

Purpose Currently, nearly 1 in 5 Americans is at least 60 years of age. Bone atrophy, decreased capacity for tissue repair, and chronic disease are known to influence fracture patterns and operative algorithms in this age group. This study presents craniofacial trauma injury patterns and treatment in an elderly population at a major urban trauma center. Methods Patient records were retrospectively reviewed from February 1998 through December 2010. Patients at least 60 years of age who met the inclusion criteria for craniofacial fractures identified by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision code review and confirmed by author review of available computed tomograms were studied. Demographic information, fracture type, concomitant injuries, and management were recorded. Results Of 11,084 patients presenting with facial fracture, 1,047 were older than 60 years. The most common mechanism of injury was falls (50%), and most patients were men (59%). Commonly fractured areas included the nose (n = 452, 43%), maxilla (316, 30%), zygoma (312, 30%), orbital floor (280, 27%), and mandible (186, 18%), with 51 patients (5%) having a concomitant basilar skull fracture. Inpatient mortality and length of stay were significantly increased compared with the nongeriatric population (P Conclusions Fractures in the elderly tend to be minimally displaced midfacial fractures that do not warrant surgical intervention. Despite conservative management, the elderly are hospitalized longer than their younger counterparts, have increased critical care needs, and have higher mortality. These data support national medical preparedness in anticipating the craniofacial trauma needs of the aging US population and can be used to update treatment algorithms for these patients.
Deuterium oxide dilution can be used to determine the net energy content of feeds for dairy cattle and goats

This article explores a technique for measuring the energy (NEL) value of feeds without respiration calorimetry or slaughter. The objectives were to compare results obtained from goats with those from cows, and to describe factors which limited the precision of these NEL estimates. One lactating Alpine doe and one lactateing Holstein cow were assigned to each of six different sequences of three 56-d feeding treatments consisting of low, medium, and high doses of the basal diet, rice bran, or hominy feed. This resulted in 30 observations of the basal diet and 12 of each byproduct feed for each species and utilized a total of 18 cows and 18 does. The NEL values of the basal diet, rice bran, and hominy feed were calculated as the sum of milk energy, change in body energy, and estimated fasting heat production per kilogram of feed dry matter. Milk energy was determined by bomb calorimetry and body energy from live body weight and deuterium oxide space. The NEL (MJ/kg) determined in this manner were basal diet, 5.73 and 5.98; rice bran, 7.11 and 7.07; and hominy feed, 6.99 and 8.20 for cows and goats, respectively.
Erwinia asparaginase in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Introduction: Asparaginase is a major a component of therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and has been used for over 40 years. Hypersensitivity reactions limit the use and efficacy of asparaginase products. However, Erwinia asparaginase gained the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in November 2011, for use in patients with allergic reactions to Escherichia coli-derived asparaginase. Areas covered: Erwinia asparaginase is an enzyme that hydrolyzes the amino acid asparagine. This review examines the properties of Erwinia asparaginase compared to the two other preparations of asparaginase available for use in the United States. Results of selected clinical trials involving Erwinia asparaginase, including the pivotal study resulting in FDA approval, are presented. Expert opinion: Erwinia asparaginase is well tolerated, and it is effective in achieving asparaginase levels associated with efficacy in the treatment of ALL. With FDA approval of Erwinia asparagainse, oncologists now have an alt...
Inhibitory effects of stress on postprandial gastric myoelectrical activity and vagal tone in healthy subjects.

Abstract The aim was to investigate gastric myoelectrical activity (GMA) and vagal activity in response to stress. The study was performed in 10 healthy subjects in three sessions (control, relaxation and stress). The control session was composed of 30-min recordings before and 30-min recordings after a test meal. The protocol of two other sessions was similar except that the fasting recording was extended to 60 min and the subjects were continuously watching a horror movie (stress) or guided meditation tape (relaxation) after the 30-min baseline. GMA was recorded using electrogastrography and heart rate variability (HRV) was derived from the electrocardiogram. Meal resulted in a postprandial increase in the dominant frequency (2.91 cpm vs 3.17 cpm, P < 0.007), dominant power (30.0 dB vs 32.5 dB, P < 0.05), and percentage of normal slow waves (79.8%vs 87.4%, P = 0.09). Similar responses were found in the relaxation session. Stress inhibited all these normal postprandial response and reduced the regularity of gastric slow waves (82.0%vs 66.0%, P < 0.01). In addition, spectral analysis of the HRV demonstrated an inhibition of postprandial vagal activity and an increase of postprandial sympathetic activity with stress. Stress has an inhibitory effect on postprandial GMA and this may involve both vagal and sympathetic pathway.
Analytic strategies to detect linkage to a common disorder with genetically determined age of onset : Diabetes mellitus in Pima Indians

Segregation analysis suggests that the high prevalence of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in Pima Indians may be partially due to a single locus with a major effect on age of onset. A simulation study was conducted to evaluate the power of various age-adjustment strategies in linkage analysis to detect this putative gene in 1,862 sib-pairs from 264 potentially informative nuclear families. Simulations were performed at a recombination fraction (theta) of 0.05 for values of polymorphism information content (PIC) ranging from 0.38 to 1.00. Under the codominant age-of-onset model supported by segregation analysis, power to detect linkage (at P < 0.0001) at PIC = 1.00 was 75% for the Haseman-Elston (HE) sib-pair test and 63% for the affected sib-pair test (ASP) with no age adjustment. Substantial improvements in power were possible for the HE test by defining the trait as a survival analysis "residual" (power = 91%) and for the ASP test by use of an age-of-onset threshold above which individuals are not included in the analysis (power = 90%, for age of onset < 45 yrs). The parametric method of linkage analysis was most powerful, as long as both the analysis model and the simulation model involved a genetic effect on age of onset, regardless of whether dominance at the trait locus was misspecified. Methods of age adjustment based on the probability of eventually becoming affected only improved power when the genetic effect was on susceptibility rather than age of onset. The method of age adjustment in linkage analysis may depend on whether one anticipates a genetic effect primarily on age of onset or on ultimate susceptibility.
Roseomonas gilardii infection: case report and review

Roseomonas gilardii is a bacterium that has been indicated as a rare cause of human infections. The case of a patient presenting with cellulitis and bacteremia secondary to R. gilardii is described together with the clinical characteristics of infection with this organism obtained from a review of cases previously reported.
Novel Science: Fiction and the Invention of Nineteenth-Century Geology

Adelene Buckland's Novel Science is a book that historians of nineteenth-century science will profit from but that literary scholars of nineteenth-century Britain need to read. For unlike many lite...
Isolation and Characterization of a Novel Nucleoside from Human Cancer Urine

Abstract A novel modified nucleoside, 5-carboxymethyluridine was isolated from 24 hour collection of urine from a lung carcinoma patient. The structure was assigned on the basis of UV, NMR and mass spectrometry, and confirmed by comparison of the spectral data and HPLC and paper chromatographic mobilities with those of the authentic sample. Possible origin and significance of this nucleoside is discussed.
Dose‐dependent pharmacokinetics: Experimental observations and theoretical considerations

Clinically, absorption and elimination of most drugs follow linear kinetics, and pharmacokinetic parameters describing absorption and elimination of a drug do not change over the therapeutic dose range. However, dose-dependent pharmacokinetics have been reported more frequently in preclinical studies, particularly in toxicity studies, where high doses are often employed. This review highlights the major types of dose-dependent pharmacokinetics with unique examples. Before setting out on a pivotal subchronic and chronic toxicity study of a new drug, a pilot study is often performed to establish a dose range in which a reasonable relationship between plasma AUC and dosage exists to ensure sufficient exposure of animals to the drug. Theoretical bases and possible causes of dose-AUC disproportionality are discussed. Factors affecting the distribution and elimination of drugs and causes of dose-dependent tissue distribution and elimination are also discussed. Often, the non-linear kinetics complicate the design of dosage regimens and prediction of efficacy and toxicity. Thus, an understanding of the influence of dose on the pharmacokinetics is important in the evaluation of the efficacy and toxicity of new drugs.
Research on Coordinated Control System of Unit Considering Regenerator System Based on Bilinear Fit

The validity of mathematical model direct impact the research result of the boiler-turbine coordinated control system. In this paper, applying the mechanical modeling method to set up model of boiler-turbine coordinated control system, and obtain its parameter by parameter identification. The mathematical model of boiler-turbine coordinated system has been modified and supplied by bilinear fit. And, for the practical problems that need to be resolved in research work of the coordination controlled object’s mathematical model, the mathematical analysis was carried out by the regenerator system integrated into heat balance of generator unit and a new type of simulation mathematical model of coordinated control system with regenerator system was researched. The mathematical model was verified through the simulation test. Based on the thought that dynamic energy and static energy separation, the of intelligent controller is structured and applied in coordination control system of generator unit. Simulation results show that not only load response and anti-interference ability are improved, but also dynamic overshoot greatly reduces
A U.S. epidemiologic survey of superficial fungal diseases

Abstract Background: Large-scale studies performed outside the United States have demonstrated that most cases of onychomycosis and tinea pedis are caused by dermatophytes, primarily Trichophyton rubrum . However, other studies have suggested that yeasts and nondermatophytic molds may play a role, particularly in onychomycosis. Objective: This study was undertaken to determine the epidemiology of superficial fungal infections in a U.S. population. Methods: Fungal cultures were performed on patients with clinically suspected tinea cruris, tinea corporis, tinea capitis, tinea pedis, and onychomycosis. Results: Dermatophytes were the most commonly isolated fungi in each type of superficial fungal disease studied. T. rubrum was the most commonly isolated dermatophyte species, although Trichophyton tonsurans was more common in tinea capitis and equally common in tinea corporis/tinea cruris. In tinea pedis and onychomycosis, dermatophytes appeared in approximately 95% and 82% of isolates, respectively. Candida albicans and nondermatophyte molds played only a minor role in onychomycosis; C. albicans was isolated in 7% of nail cultures and nondermatophytic molds were isolated in 11%. Conclusion: These results are in general agreement with other major epidemiologic studies performed outside the United States. Dermatophyte fungi cause most superficial fungal infections.
A Two-dimensional analysis of membrane thickness in a hollow-fiber-contained liquid membrane permeator

Abstract For theoretical calculation of effective liquid membrane thickness in a hollow-fiber-contained liquid membrane gas permeator, a two-dimensional diffusion equation model is presented. Four possible feed-sweep fiber configurations have been investigated. Pure component permeation and multicomponent gas mixture separation have been modelled, taking into account the pressure variation inside the feed and the sweep fibers. Using water as liquid membrane, pure CO 2 permeation and three-component gas separation experiments with a number of CO 2 -N 2 feed gas mixtures and a pure helium sweep gas have been carried out to verify the mathematical models. Effects of hollow fiber size and packing density on the liquid membrane thickness have been analyzed.
Parallel Paths to Predictive Biomarkers in Oncology: Uncoupling of Emergent Biomarker Development and Phase III Trial Execution

It is within pivotal phase III clinical trials that predictive biomarkers have the greatest potential to affect clinical practice by targeting drugs under development to relevant patient subgroups. Predictive biomarkers can be integrated into phase III clinical trials by a variety of approaches, including trial designs that uncouple the processes and actively anticipate the emergence of new biomarkers during trial execution. Here we describe the various approaches in an oncology context.
Time evolution of the organization of multi-muscle postural responses to sudden changes in the external force applied at the trunk level.

Abstract We studied muscle activation patterns in response to perturbations of posture (sudden changes in the external force applied to the thorax) during two time intervals corresponding to pre-programmed postural reactions and voluntary corrections of posture. A hypothesis was tested that a set of postural muscles could be used to form stable groups (M-modes) whose composition changes in different time intervals after a perturbation. Perturbations were applied at the sternum level to standing subjects at an unexpected time. Principal component analysis with factor extraction allowed to identify sets of three factors (M-modes) during the two time intervals, 80–180 ms ( T 1 ) and 250–450 ms ( T 2 ) after the perturbation. The composition of M-modes was similar within each time interval across subjects and perturbations but differed significantly between T 1 and T 2 . In particular, M-modes during T 1 were characterized by more co-contraction patterns. The results suggest that the neural controller is able to rearrange M-mode composition in real time based on a safety-efficacy trade-off. The results also support the idea that M-modes represent synergies in the muscle space, while they may be used as elemental variables to form synergies at a higher hierarchical level to produce desired mechanical effects.
Short-term visual storage

The delay between the offset of a briefly exposed array of letters and digits and the onset of an arrow pointing at one of the array positions was varied from 0 to 5000 msec. In addition, the luminance of the stimulus array was varied over three levels. The Ss reported the item in the position indicated by the arrow. Luminance, delay, and the luminance by delay interaction were all significant I Performance monotonically decreased from a delay of 0 msec to a delay of 250 msec, but the percent correct remained fairly constant from 250 msec to 5000 msec. With delays shorter than 250 msec, high luminance arrays showed better performance.
Open problems and conjectures

Our aim in this chapter is to present some conjectures and some open problems about some interesting types of difference equations.
First-Principles Molecular Dynamics Study of the Rupture Processes of a Bulklike Polyethylene Knot

The rupture properties of a polyethylene knot are studied by first-principles molecular dynamics calculations. While earlier works were conducted in isolated-molecule approximation, we presently report a study focused on a more realistic system where the bulk environment is taken into account through the inclusion of nearest-neighboring chains and a proper set of constraints. Our work shows that the nature of the break in real samples containing knots is essentially intramolecular and that the multimolecules model reproduces results very similar to those of both bulk polyethylene and single-chain systems, thus confirming the relevance of earlier findings.
The reeff horizontal seismograph and its calibration

A new horizontal seismograph, having high magnification and excellent initiation of phases, has recently been invented by Nicholas Reeff. The instrument consists of an inverted pendulum seismometer, an electrodynamical generating system, and galvanometric registration. Since the pendulum mass is less than seven kilograms, galvanometric reaction on the seismometer motion must be considered in the calibration procedure. For calibration, the first adjustment suggested by Eaton was applied. For the periods of the seismometer and galvanometer both equal to 1.92 sec, the damping of the galvanometer equal to 1.00, and the damping of the seismometer equal to 1.70, the peak magnification was determined to be 5050 at a period of 1.9 sec.
Mechanism of uptake of the phosphonate analog (S)-1-(3-hydroxy-2-phosphonylmethoxy-propyl)cytosine (HPMPC) in vero cells

Abstract The cellular uptake of phosphonylmethoxypropyl cytosine (HPMPC) was characterized to gain insight into the molecular properties that allow this anticytomegalovirus drug to permeate cell membranes. The time course of uptake of HPMPC into Vero cells was linear between 10 and 75 min and proportional to the concentration in the medium from 10 −6 to 10 −2 M. HPMPC uptake was temperature sensitive and the rate of uptake was considerably lower at 27° than at 37° and almost totally inhibited at 4°. In competition studies with naturally occurring nucleotides, nucleotides or the phosphonylmethoxyethyl derivatives, none affected the uptake of HPMPC at concentrations up to 2000-fold molar excess. The uptake of [ 3 H]HPMPC into Vero cells was compared with that of [ 14 C]sucrose, a probe for fluid-phase endocytosis. Kinetics for both compounds were very similar, as were the effects of the microtubule antagonist colchicine and the tumor promoting agent phorbol myristate acetate. Colchicine and the phorbol ester are known to, respectively, inhibit and stimulate endocytosis. It is concluded from these data that HPMPC enters Vero cells by fluid-phase endocytosis and that once internalized it may accumulate in the lysosome. Protonation of the negative charge on the phosphonyl group in HPMPC may allow its diffusion across the lysosome membrane and eventual activation to its putative active diphosphorylated form in the cell cytoplasm.
Toxic effects of cembranolides derived from octocorals on the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis Müller and the amphipod Parhyale hawaiensis (Dana)

Abstract The diterpenoids eunicin, eupalmerin acetate, and crassin acetate derived from octocorals were found to be toxic to the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis Muller and the amphipod Parhyale hawaiensis (Dana) at estimated concentrations ranging from 1 ppm to 100 ppm. Exposure of animals to a concentration ⩾ 1 ppm resulted in either loss of swimming activity or mortality at 48 h. No ciliary loss was evident in the rotifer as had been reported in ciliated larvae of the nudibranch Phestilla sibogae Bergh. The cembranolides may serve as chemical defenses against predation and in the competition for space amongst the sessile organisms on coral reefs.
The Kolmogorov filter for variable screening in high-dimensional binary classification

Variable screening techniques have been proposed to mitigate the impact of high dimensionality in classification problems, including t-test marginal screening (Fan & Fan, 2008) and maximum marginal likelihood screening (Fan & Song, 2010). However, these methods rely on strong modelling assumptions that are easily violated in real applications. To circumvent the parametric modelling assumptions, we propose a new variable screening technique for binary classification based on the Kolmogorov--Smirnov statistic. We prove that this so-called Kolmogorov filter enjoys the sure screening property under much weakened model assumptions. We supplement our theoretical study by a simulation study. Copyright 2013, Oxford University Press.
Characteristics of chemically reacting compressible homogeneous turbulence

Direct numerical simulations (DNS) are conducted to study the turbulence-chemical reaction interactions in homogeneous decaying compressible fluid flows. The reaction is of a single-step irreversible Arrhenius type. The results indicate that the heat of reaction has a noticeable influence on the solenoidal and the dilatational turbulent motions. The effect of reaction on the solenoidal velocity field is primarily due to variation of the molecular diffusivity coefficients with temperature and appears at small scales. However, the dilatational motions are affected more than the solenoidal motions and are intensified at all length scales. The decay rate of the turbulent kinetic energy is dependent on the molecular dissipation and the pressure-dilation correlation. In isothermal reacting cases, the net contribution of the pressure-dilatation is small and the turbulent energy decays continuously due to viscous dissipation. In the exothermic reacting cases, the pressure-dilatation tends to increase the turbulen...
ATWS — An Update from NRC

This paper is a snapshot of the current status of one of the longest standing regulatory issues — Anticipated Transients Without Scram (ATWS). It borrows heavily from an NRC paper numbered SECY-83-293, dated July 19, 1983, now pending action before the Commissioners. (David Pyatt of NRC’s Office of Research was the author of the Commission paper.) Its central question is what improvements, if any, should be required by regulation in the design of light-water-cooled nuclear power plants to reduce the risk of ATWS events to an acceptable level.
Patient Perception of Transvaginal Mesh and the Media

Objective To assess the penetration of media-based information on transvaginal mesh (TVM) in our patient population and to determine whether exposure affects patient opinion. Since the 2011 Federal Drug Administration communication on TVM, many advertisements from legal practices have been directed toward patients. Materials and Methods An 18-item survey was administered to female patients at 2 sites from August 2012 to April 2013. Patients presenting with new diagnoses of pelvic organ prolapse or stress urinary incontinence or patients who reported prior mesh surgery were excluded. Results Ninety-nine questionnaires were completed. Sixty-six of the patients (67%) were aware of TVM; and of these, 38 (58%) cited advertisements as the initial source of information. Only 12% were aware of the Food and Drug Administration's communication. Regarding opinion of TVM, 9% chose “it is a safe product,” 9% “safety depends on factors related to patient,” 4.5% “not a safe product,” 1.5% “safety depends on the doctor,” 68% “I don't know,” and 4.5% marked 2 selections. Only 12% indicated knowing the difference in the use of TVM for pelvic organ prolapse vs stress urinary incontinence. When asked what influenced their opinion of TVM the most; responses were as follows: advertisement (33.3%), medical professional (22.7%), friends or family who underwent TVM procedure (12.1%), media article (6.1%), and “not sure” (25.8%). Conclusion Advertisements of TVM lawsuits had a high penetration into our patient population but did not produce an overtly negative response in our sample. Clinicians should be aware of the impact of these advertisements on patient opinion and counsel patients accordingly with unbiased and scientifically accurate information.
WE WERE DANCING IN THE CLUB, NOT ON THE BERLIN WALL: Black Bodies, Street Bureaucrats, and Exclusionary Incorporation into the New Europe

In this essay, I explore the micropolitics of citizenship and sovereignty via the emerging street bureaucratic status of “white” German women in relationships with “black” men in Germany and Berlin. In the midst of the fallen Berlin Wall and increasing Europe-wide restrictions on immigration and asylum, it examines further the extent to which a consistent “black” male hypersexual performance is necessary for legal recognition via “white” German women who, taking on an informal bureaucratic status, ultimately decide which “black” subjects to marry. A history of desiring “black” bodies, the essay argues, coincides with several important moments of sexual liberation (incl. post–World War II African American military occupation, 1970s West German feminism, and the fall of the Berlin Wall), which make these relationships both possible and public; however, the hypersexualized conditions under which “black” subjects get incorporated into contemporary German life are also ultimately exclusionary.