cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Amide Bond Bioisosteres: Strategies, Synthesis, and Successes

The amide functional group plays a key role in the composition of biomolecules, including many clinically approved drugs. Bioisosterism is widely employed in the rational modification of lead compounds, being used to increase potency, enhance selectivity, improve pharmacokinetic properties, eliminate toxicity, and acquire novel chemical space to secure intellectual property. The introduction of a bioisostere leads to structural changes in molecular size, shape, electronic distribution, polarity, pKa, dipole or polarizability, which can be either favorable or detrimental to biological activity. This approach has opened up new avenues in drug design and development resulting in more efficient drug candidates introduced onto the market as well as in the clinical pipeline. Herein, we review the strategic decisions in selecting an amide bioisostere (the why), synthetic routes to each (the how), and success stories of each bioisostere (the implementation) to provide a comprehensive overview of this important toolbox for medicinal chemists.
The AdS5 × S5 superstring.

The duality between the type IIB superstring theory in an AdS5 × S5 background with N units of five-form flux and N=4 super Yang-Mills theory with a U(N) gauge group has been studied extensively. My version of the construction of the superstring world-sheet action is reviewed here.
436 Rational sequencing of immune-oncology therapies achieves durable response and immunologic memory

Background Oncologically-sound standard of care therapy often indicates ablation of draining lymphatic basins to eradicate repositories of metastatic disease. However, emerging cancer immunotherapies often necessitate intact secondary lymphoid organs to achieve maximum effect. Therefore, multimodal immune-oncology (IO) therapeutic approaches introduce an inherent paradox into the clinical management of the cancer patient: how to reconcile the clinical benefit of lymphatic ablation with the destruction of an indispensable immune organ. Methods Here, we leverage a novel preclinical model of tobacco-signature head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) to examine the impact of lymphatic ablation on the efficacy of immunotherapy and to identify sequences of therapy that maximize durable response without compromising oncologically-sound standard of care therapy. Results We show that cervical lymphatic ablation in tumor bearing animals abolishes the response to CTLA- 4 blockade by eradicating lymph-node associated conventional dendritic cells and restricting CD8 T cell priming and subsequent tumor infiltration. By modelling recurrent HNSCC, we find that upfront, elective cervical lymphatic ablation eliminates the tumor response to adjuvant CTLA-4 blockade in contrast to a lymphatic-sparing approach, which preserves sensitivity to CTLA-4 blockade. In the neoadjuvant setting, we show that delayed, but not early, cervical lymphatic ablation leads to durable response after CTLA-4 blockade. Lastly, we demonstrate that a successful tumor response to CTLA-4 blockade begets long-lasting immunologic memory, resistant to delayed cervical lymphatic ablation. Conclusions Collectively, this work addresses an inherent paradox in the delivery of combination IO therapy, informs optimal sequencing of multimodal therapy and affords a premise for the introduction of CTLA-4 blockade into the clinical management of HNSCC.
Barriers to responsible innovation of nanotechnology applications in food and agriculture: A study of US experts and developers

Abstract The use of nanotechnology and engineered nanomaterials in food and agriculture (nano-agrifood) sectors is intended to provide several potential benefits to consumers and society, such as the provision of more nutritious processed foods, edible food coatings to extend shelf lives of fresh cut produce, and more sustainable alternatives to traditional agrochemicals. The responsible innovation of nano-agrifoods may be particularly important to pursue given previous case studies involving other agrifood technologies that experienced significant public consternation. Here, we define responsible innovation following Stilgoej et al. (2013) that establishes processes to iteratively review and reflect upon one's innovation, engage stakeholders in dialogue, and to be open and transparent throughout innovation stages – processes that go beyond primary focuses of understanding environmental, health, and safety impacts of nano-enabled products and implementing safe-by-design principles. Despite calls for responsible nano-innovation across diverse sectors, it has not yet been clear what types of barriers are faced by nano-agrifood researchers and innovators in particular. This study therefore identifies and builds the first typology of barriers to responsible innovation as perceived by researchers and product developers working in nano-agrifood sectors in the United States. Our findings report 5 key barriers to responsible innovation of nano-agrifoods: Lack of Data (reported by 70% of all interview participants, and represented 34.6% of all barrier-related excerpts), Lack of Product Oversight (reported by 60% of participants, and represented 28.7% of excerpts), Need for Ensuring Marketability & Use (reported by 70% of participants, and represented 21.3% of all barrier-related excerpts), Need for Increased Collaboration (reported by 40% of participants, and represented 10.3% of excerpts), and finally Lack of Adequate Training & Workforce (reported by 30% of participants, and represented by 5.1% of excerpts). We also relate these key barriers across three main nano-innovation phases, including 1) Scientific and Technical R&D, 2) Product Oversight, and 3) Post-commercialization Marketability & Use, and discuss how these barriers may impact stakeholders as well as present opportunities to align with principles of responsible innovation. Overall, these findings may help illuminate challenges that researchers and innovators face in the pursuit of responsible innovation relevant for the field of nanotechnology with relevancy for other emerging food and agricultural technologies more broadly.
Pharmacokinetic Drug-Drug Interactions with Drugs Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2020: Mechanistic Understanding and Clinical Recommendations

Drug-drug interaction (DDI) data for small molecular drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2020 (N = 40) were analyzed using the University of Washington Drug Interaction Database. The mechanism(s) and clinical relevance of these interactions were characterized based on information available in the new drug application reviews. About 180 positive clinical studies, defined as mean area under the curve ratios (AUCRs) {greater than or equal to} 1.25 for inhibition DDIs or pharmacogenetic studies and {less than or equal to} 0.8 for induction DDIs, were then fully analyzed. Oncology was the most represented therapeutic area, including 30% of 2020 approvals. As victim drugs, inhibition and induction of CYP3A explained most of all observed clinical interactions. Three sensitive substrates were identified: avapritinib (CYP3A), lonafarnib (CYP3A), and relugolix (P-gp), with AUCRs of 7.00, 5.07, and 6.25 when co-administered with itraconazole, ketoconazole, and erythromycin, respectively. As precipitants, three drugs were considered strong inhibitors of enzymes (AUCR {greater than or equal to} 5): cedazuridine for cytidine deaminase, and lonafarnib and tucatinib for CYP3A. No drug showed strong inhibition of transporters. No strong inducer of enzymes or transporters was identified. As expected, all DDIs with AUCRs {greater than or equal to} 5 or {less than or equal to} 0.2 and almost all those with AUCRs of 2-5 and 0.2-0.5 triggered dosing recommendations in the drug label. Overall, all 2020 drugs found to be either sensitive substrates or strong inhibitors of enzymes or transporters were oncology treatments, underscoring the need for effective DDI management strategies in cancer patients often receiving poly-therapy. Significance Statement This minireview provides a thorough and specific overview of the most significant pharmacokinetic-based DDI data observed (or expected) with small molecular drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2020. It will help to better understand mitigation strategies to manage the DDI risks in the clinic.
Distinct and synergistic roles of FcγRIIB deficiency and 129 strain-derived SLAM family proteins in the development of spontaneous germinal centers and autoimmunity.

The inhibitory IgG Fc receptor (FcγRIIB) deficiency and 129 strain-derived signaling lymphocyte activation molecules (129-SLAMs) are proposed to contribute to the lupus phenotype in FcγRIIB-deficient mice generated using 129 ES cells and backcrossed to C57BL/6 mice (B6.129.RIIBKO). In this study, we examine the individual contributions and the cellular mechanisms by which FcγRIIB deficiency and 129-derived SLAM family genes promote dysregulated spontaneous germinal center (Spt-GC) B cell and follicular helper T cell (Tfh) responses in B6.129.RIIBKO mice. We find that B6 mice congenic for the 129-derived SLAM locus (B6.129-SLAM) and B6 mice deficient in FcγRIIB (B6.RIIBKO) have increased Spt-GC B cell responses compared to B6 controls but significantly lower than B6.129.RIIBKO mice. These data indicate that both FcγRIIB deficiency and 129-SLAMs contribute to elevated Spt-GC B cell responses in B6.129.RIIBKO mice. However, only 129-SLAMs contribute significantly to augmented Tfh responses in B6.129.RIIBKO mice, and do so by a combination of T cell-dependent effects and enhanced B cell and DC-dependent antigen presentation to T cells. Elevated Spt-GC B cell responses in mice with FcγRIIB deficiency and polymorphic 129-SLAMs were associated with elevated metabolic activity, improved GC B cell survival and increased differentiation of naive B cells into GC B cell phenotype. Our data suggest that the interplay between 129-SLAM expression on B cells, T cells and DCs is central to the alteration of the GC tolerance checkpoint, and that deficiency of FcγRIIB on B cells is necessary to augment Spt-GC responses, pathogenic autoantibodies, and lupus disease.
The study of emotion in neuroeconomics.

Publisher Summary The distinction between emotion and cognition (or reason) has been prominent since early philosophical writings and this simple dichotomy continues to influence folk psychological theories and scientific thought, including economic and neuroeconomic research on decision-making. In neuroeconomics, this dual systems approach has gained prominence in studies attempting to characterize the impact of emotion on decision- making. However, as research on the structure of cognition over last fifty years has demonstrated, cognition can best be construed as class of functions, including memory, language, attention, and reasoning, that may be interconnected, but also represent discrete processes that are independent. For economic and neuroeconomic researchers to understand the impact of emotion on decision-making, it may be important to further clarify the relation between the concepts of value and emotion. To the extent that emotion can be considered a relevant detector that lets the organism know what is important, the overlap with the economist's view of value may be quite extensive.
Leukocyte GPR120 differentiates hypolipidemic vs. anti-inflammatory effects of long chain n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in inducing atherosclroprotection in LDLrKo mice (1146.7)

Background: Whether anti-inflammatory effects of leukocyte GPR120 impart atheroprotection in-vivo was unknown. We determined contribution of leukocyte GPR120 in n-3 vs.n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) induced atheroprotection. Methods: Leukocyte GPR120 wildtype (WT) or knockout (KO) mice in the LDLr-/- C57BL/6 background were generated by bone marrow transplantion and were fed one of the four atherogenic diets for 16 weeks (palm (+ control), fish(- control), echium (n-3 PUFA enriched) or borage oil (n-6 PUFA enriched), (PO, FO, EO or BO)). Plasma lipids-lipoproteins, circulating and splenic leukocytosis, monocyte recruitment to aortic root and aortic atherosclerosis were analyzed. Results Compared to PO, mice fed BO and EO had significantly lower plasma total cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol, aortic root intimal area and aortic Cholesteryl Esters (CE) levels comparable to the FO group. EO and FO also had lower plasma triglyceride concentrations compare to PO and BO. Lack of leukocyte GPR120 did not sign...
An unusual barrier to gene flow: perpetually immature larvae from inter-population crosses in the flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum.

We genetically characterize an unusual hybrid incompatibility phenotype manifest in F1 offspring of crosses between two populations of Tribolium castaneum. Hybrid larvae cease development at the third larval instar, persisting as ‘perpetually immature larvae’ thereafter. Although unable to produce viable adult hybrid offspring with one another, each population produces abundant, fertile hybrids with other populations, indicating a recent origin of the incompatibility and facilitating genetic studies. We mapped the paternal component of the hybrid phenotype to a single region, which exhibits two characteristics common to hybrid incompatibility: marker transmission ratio distortion within crosses and elevated genetic divergence between populations. The incompatible variation and an elevation in between-population genetic divergence is associated with a region containing the T. castaneum ecdysone receptor homologue, a major regulatory switch, controlling larval moults, pupation and metamorphosis. This contributes to understanding the genetics of speciation in the Coleoptera, one of the most speciose of all arthropod taxa.
Differential support of cell adhesion and growth by copolymers of polyurethane with hyaluronic acid.

Mechanical mismatch, along with inadequate hemocompatibility and endothelialization, contribute to the high failure rate of many synthetic vascular grafts. However, due to the dueling nature of these requirements (i.e., inhibiting platelet adhesion frequently means inhibiting endothelial cell (EC) adhesion), the creation of materials that simultaneously satisfy the mechanical and biological design criteria needed for small diameter vascular grafts has been an elusive goal. In this work, we demonstrate the ability of polyurethane (PU) containing hyaluronic acid (HA) in its backbone structure to reduce protein adsorption, platelet and bacterial adhesion, and fibroblast and macrophage proliferation while allowing the retention of both ECs and vascular-appropriate mechanics. Irrespective of HA molecular weight (MW), PU-HA materials selectively supported the growth of ECs relative to fibroblasts, reduced platelet adhesion, and performed comparably to negative controls with respect to bactericidal activity. The extent of EC growth on the PU-HA materials did differ with HA MW, with a lower HA MW yielding improved EC growth in both two-dimensional (2-D) films and 3-D electrospun fibrous scaffolds. These findings illustrate that HA incorporated into the backbone of a synthetic polymer structure can retain bioactivity, with subtle differences in HA MW significantly impacting the physical and biological properties of the biomaterial; in particular, PU modified with low-MW HA appears promising for vascular graft applications. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 101A: 2870–2882, 2013.
Las ciperáceas (Cyperaceae) de la Estación Biológica La Selva, Costa Rica

The Cyperaceae of La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica. The family Cyperaceae is cosmopoli- tan and includes some 115 genera and 3 600 species. Costa Rica has 25 genera and 210 species. Here I present keys and descriptions for 34 species (10 genera) that occur in La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica. The genus Cyperus is represented by 12 species, followed by Rhynchospora (6), Scleria (5), Calyptocarya (2), Eleocharis (2), Kyllinga (2), Mapania (2), Hypolytrum (1) and Lipocarpha (1). Oxycaryum cubense (Poepp & Kunth) Palla, has been collected in the vicinity and could eventually be found at the Station. Rev. Biol. Trop. 57 (Suppl. 1): 93-110. Epub 2009 November 30.
A Review of: “Virtual Voyages: Cinema and Travel”

A New York Times article from the 2005 climbing season in the high Himalayas profiles a Sherpa 1 who has been working as a porter for Everest expeditions for the past decade. Apa Sherpa, as it turn...
DCIS in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers: prevalence, phenotype, and expression of oncodrivers C-MET and HER3

Studies report conflicting evidence regarding the existence of a DCIS-associated premalignant pathway in BRCA mutation carriers. We aimed to examine the prevalence, phenotype, and expression of oncodrivers in pure DCIS (pDCIS) and invasive breast cancer with concurrent DCIS (IBC + DCIS) in mutation carriers. A cohort of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers >18 years old who underwent surgery for breast cancer at an academic hospital (1992–2011) and had pathology available for review were included for study. Invasive breast cancer (IBC) and DCIS were stained for ER, PR, HER1, HER2, and HER3, and C-MET. DCIS prevalence was evaluated. Correlation of IBC and DCIS phenotypes was evaluated in patients with IBC + DCIS. DCIS and IBC expression of tumor markers were examined by BRCA mutation. We identified 114 breast tumors. Of all BRCA1-associated tumors, 21.1 % were pDCIS and 63.4 % were IBC + DCIS. Of all BRCA2-associated tumors, 23.3 % were pDCIS and 60.5 % were IBC + DCIS. In BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers with IBC + DCIS, there was a significant correlation in ER, PR, and HER3 expression between the DCIS and IBC components. Most BRCA1-associated DCIS did not express ER, PR or HER2, while most BRCA2-associated DCIS did express ER and PR. BRCA1− as well as BRCA2-associated DCIS had expression of HER3 and C-MET. The majority of BRCA-associated tumors had DCIS present. Concordance of DCIS and IBC phenotypes was high, arguing for the existence of a DCIS-associated premalignant pathway. Oncodrivers HER3 and C-MET were expressed in the DCIS of mutation carriers, suggesting an opportunity for prevention strategies.
The Relationship between Social Network Body Size and the Body Size Norms of Black and Hispanic Adults.

Objective To examine the relationship between the body size norms of Black and Hispanic adults and the body sizes of their social network members.
Loansome Doc(r) and Hospital Libraries in the Southeast

Abstract This study investigates the extent to which hospital librarians use and are satisfied with Loansome Doc. One hundred and ninety-two libraries in the southeast region were surveyed. Results indicate that hospital libraries using Loansome Doc were not overburdened with end-users or requests. Hospital libraries' satisfaction with Loansome Doc was generally high. However, many libraries did not offer Loansome Doc services due to limited staff, fear of increased workload, cost/billing issues, and unfamiliarity with the system. Hospital librarians should consider offering Loansome Doc because of the potential for considerable timesaving benefits. Also, Loansome Doc can be an important promotional tool, fostering user confidence in the library's ability to quickly and conveniently meet information needs.
Twenty-Nine Years in the Making: Newton's Opticks

The 300th anniversary of the publication of Isaac Newton's Opticks in 1704 provides an occasion to review the history of its composition and publication. As a preliminary to presenting that history, Newton's attitude to publication and response to criticism are examined. Newton's clashes with Hooke and his presumed role as the cause of the delay in the publication of the Opticks until after his death are also scrutinized. Rather than simply presenting Newton and Hooke as quarrelsome, which they indeed were, they are presented as rivals to be England's leading optical authority. Although Newton announced his intention to publish a book very much like the Opticks in the winter of 1675–76, he did not begin to write it until 1687. It was composed in various stages, including new experimental investigations, by 1692, except for the part on diffraction. A planned, but unfulfilled, revision of the part on diffraction was responsible for delaying its publication for a number of years.
Apparatus for vapor phase preparation of mixed compounds

Abstract An apparatus for vapor phase preparation of experimental samples has been designed and tested. The apparatus is simple to construct, easy to operate and adaptable to a wide variety of materials. Various binary and ternary compounds and mixtures have been prepared.
SCAR R&D Symposium 2003: Comparing the Efficacy of 5-MP CRT Versus 3-MP LCD in the Evaluation of Interstitial Lung Disease

The efficacy of two medical-grade, self-calibrating, gray scale displays were compared with regard to impact on sensitivity and specificity for the detection of interstitial lung disease (ILD) on computed radiographs (CR). The displays were a 5-megapixel (MP) cathode ray tube (CRT) device and a 3-MP liquid crystal display (LCD). A sample consisting of 230 anteroposterior (AP), posteroanterior (PA), and lateral views of the chest with CT-proven findings characteristic for ILD as well as 80 normal images were compared. This double-blinded trial produced a sample sufficient to detect if the sensitivity of the LCD was 10% or more reduced (one-sided) from the “gold standard” CRT display. Both displays were calibrated to the DICOM gray scale standard and the coefficient of variation of the luminance function varied less than 2% during the study. Five board-certified radiologists specializing in thoracic radiology interpreted the sample on both displays and the intraobserver Az (area under the ROC curve) showed no significant correlation to the display used. In addition, an interobserver kappa analysis showed that the relative disagreement between any observer pair remained relatively constant between displays, and thus was display invariant. This study demonstrated there is no significant change in observer performance sensitivity on 5-MP CRT versus 3-MP LCD displays for CR examinations demonstrating ILD of the chest.
Maternal separation produces, and a second separation enhances, core temperature and passive behavioral responses in guinea pig pups

During separation in a novel cage, guinea pig pups exhibit passive behavior that appears due to increased proinflammatory activity. To determine if separation also produces a febrile response, the present study used telemetry to provide continuous core temperature measurement of pups exposed to a novel cage for 3 h while either alone or with their mother on two consecutive days. Separation from the mother increased core temperature, with the clearest effects occurring early during separation the second day. The increased temperature was not associated with an increase in locomotor activity. Further, passive behavior during isolation exhibited pronounced sensitization from the first to second day of separation. These results show that separation produces an increase in core temperature in our testing situation, and suggest that this increase represents true fever. The findings also provide further support for the hypothesis that maternal separation induces aspects of an acute phase response in guinea pig pups. The potential role of proinflammatory activity in promoting change across days in temperature and behavior is discussed.
Urologist Compliance With AUA Best Practice Guidelines for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Medicare Population

Objectives To improve benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) care, the American Urological Association created the best practice guidelines for BPH management. We evaluated the trends in use of BPH-related evaluative tests and the extent to which urologists comply with the guidelines for these evaluative tests. Methods From a 5% random sample of Medicare claims from 1999 to 2007, we created a cohort of 10 248 patients with new visits for BPH to 748 urologists. The trends in use of BPH-related testing were determined. After classifying urologists by compliance with the best practice guidelines, the models were fit to determine the differences in the use of BPH-related testing among urologists. Additional models were used to define the extent to which individual BPH-related tests influenced guideline compliance. Results The use of most BPH testing increased with time ( P P P = .416). Northeastern and Midwestern urologists were more likely to be in the lowest compliance group compared with Southern and Western urologists (29%, 27%, 13%, and 19%, respectively; P = .01). The testing associated with high guideline compliance included urinalysis and prostate-specific antigen measurement ( P P = .03), cystoscopy ( P P P = .02) were associated with low guideline compliance. Urodynamics, postvoid residual urine volume, cytology, serum creatinine, and upper tract imaging were not strongly associated with guideline compliance. Conclusions Despite the American Urological Association guidelines for BPH care, wide variations in the evaluation and treatment were seen. Improving guideline adherence and reducing variation could improve BPH care quality.
Type I error rates for Huynh's general approximation and improved general approximation tests

For split plot designs exact univariate F tests of the within-subjects main effect and the between × within interaction are based on the assumption of multi-sample sphericity. Type I error rates are reported for three tests designed for use when multisample sphericity is violated: the general approximation test, the improved general approximation test and a revised improved general approximation test. The results indicate that when sample sizes are unequal and dispersion matrices are unequal, using the improved general approximation or revised improved general approximation test of the interaction allows better control of the Type I error rate than does the -adjusted test.
Susceptibility to emotional contagion : Its measurement and importance to social work

Abstract This article reports a psychometric evaluation of a measure of susceptibility to emotional contagion, designed to measure the degree to which a person is vulnerable to “catching” and sharing the emotion experienced by another. The scale was examined to test its application to depression, burnout, and impairment among practicing social workers. Data from a probability sample of 751 practicing social workers were collected in an anonymous survey about social workers' health and work issues. The sample was split to conduct exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. The factor analyses resulted in a revised scale that demonstrated acceptable internal consistency reliability, good content validity, excellent factorial validity, and preliminary construct validity. Susceptibility to emotional contagion was related to burnout, depression, and professional impairment. Future recommendations are made and this instrument may be a useful tool for the identification, prevention, intervention, and education...
Naevoid basal-cell carcinoma syndrome with unilateral neoplasms and pits.

SUMMARY A patient with the naevoid basal-cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS) is reported in whom non-aggressive neoplasms developed predominantly on the right side of the body. It is proposed that a post-zygotic somatic mutation is most likely to be responsible for the unilateral manifestation of the syndrome in this patient.
Suppression of Tumor Growth in Mice by Rationally Designed Pseudopeptide Inhibitors of Fibroblast Activation Protein and Prolyl Oligopeptidase

Tumor microenvironments (TMEs) are composed of cancer cells, fibroblasts, extracellular matrix, microvessels, and endothelial cells. Two prolyl endopeptidases, fibroblast activation protein (FAP) and prolyl oligopeptidase (POP), are commonly overexpressed by epithelial-derived malignancies, with the specificity of FAP expression by cancer stromal fibroblasts suggesting FAP as a possible therapeutic target. Despite overexpression in most cancers and having a role in angiogenesis, inhibition of POP activity has received little attention as an approach to quench tumor growth. We developed two specific and highly effective pseudopeptide inhibitors, M83, which inhibits FAP and POP proteinase activities, and J94, which inhibits only POP. Both suppressed human colon cancer xenograft growth > 90% in mice. By immunohistochemical stains, M83- and J94-treated tumors had fewer microvessels, and apoptotic areas were apparent in both. In response to M83, but not J94, disordered collagen accumulations were observed. Neither M83- nor J94-treated mice manifested changes in behavior, weight, or gastrointestinal function. Tumor growth suppression was more extensive than noted with recently reported efforts by others to inhibit FAP proteinase function or reduce FAP expression. Diminished angiogenesis and the accompanying profound reduction in tumor growth suggest that inhibition of either FAP or POP may offer new therapeutic approaches that directly target TMEs.
Identities of the Rogers-Ramanujan-Bailey Type

Abstract A multiparameter generalization of the Bailey pair is defined in such a way as to include as special cases all Bailey pairs considered by W.N. Bailey in his paper [Identities of the Rogers–Ramanujan type, Proc. London Math. Soc. (2) 50 (1949) 421–435]. This leads to the derivation of a number of elegant new Rogers–Ramanujan type identities.
The statistical mechanics of belief sharing in multi-agent systems

Many exciting, emerging applications require that a group of agents share a coherent view of the world given spatial distribution, incomplete and uncertain sensors, and communication constraints. This article describes an analysis and design methodology for distributed algorithms that coordinate the exchange of information for extremely large groups of agents maintaining a coherent belief in some environment property. The design methodology uses the tools of statistical mechanics to create a probability distribution which relates groupings of agents, called Sharing Groups, to pair-wise agent divergences and social temperature. Social temperature is a decision parameter, the same for all agents, that agents use probabilistically to decide when to join a Sharing Group. We show empirically as well as via Monte-Carlo simulations that for a critical value of social temperature the Sharing Groups formed result in bandwidth efficiency and divergence from ground truth that is simultaneously optimal independent of the method of information exchange.
Phonon-mediated electron-spin phase diffusion in a quantum dot.

An effective spin relaxation mechanism that leads to electron spin decoherence in a quantum dot is proposed. In contrast with the common calculations of spin-flip transitions between the Kramers doublets, we take into account a process of phonon-mediated fluctuation in the electron spin precession and subsequent spin phase diffusion. Specifically, we consider modulations in the longitudinal $g$ factor and hyperfine interaction induced by the phonon-assisted transitions between the lowest electronic states. Prominent differences in the temperature and magnetic field dependence between the proposed mechanism and the spin-flip transitions are expected to facilitate its experimental verification. Numerical estimation demonstrates highly efficient spin relaxation in typical semiconductor quantum dots.
A Conservative Staggered-Grid Chebyshev Multidomain Method for Compressible Flows. II. A Semi-Structured Method

We present a Chebyshev multidomain method that can solve systems of hyperbolic equations in conservation form on an unrestricted quadrilateral subdivision of a domain. Within each subdomain the solutions and fluxes are approximated by a staggered-grid Chebyshev method. Thus, the method is unstructured in terms of the subdomain decomposition, but strongly structured within the subdomains. Communication between subdomains is done by a mortar method in such a way that the method is globally conservative. The method is applied to both linear and nonlinear test problems and spectral accuracy is demonstrated.
Modeling surgical loads to account for subsurface tissue deformation during stereotactic neurosurgery

For more than a decade, surgical procedures have benefited significantly from the advent of OR (operating room) coregistered preoperative CT (computed tomographic) and MR (magnetic resonance) imaging. Despite advances in imaging and image registration, one of the most challenging problems is accounting for intraoperative tissue motion resulting from surgical loading conditions. Due to the considerable expense and cumbersome nature of intraoperative MR/CT scanners and the lack of high spatial definition of intracranial anatomy with ultrasound, we have elected to pursue a physics-based computational approach to account for tissue deformation in the context of frameless steroetactic neurosurgery. We have developed a computational model of the brain based on porous media physics and have begun to quantify subsurface deformation due to comparable surgical loads using an in vivo porcine model. Templates of CT-observable markers are implanted in a grid-like fashion in the pig brian to quantify tissue motion. Preliminary results based on the simplest of model assumptions are encouraging and have predicted displacement within 15% of measured values. In this paper, a series of computations is compared to experimental data to further understand the impact of material properties and pressure gradients within a homogeneous model of brain deformation. The results show that the best fits are obtained with Young's moduli and Poisson's ratio which are smaller than those values typically reported in the literature. As the Poisson ratio decreases towards 0.4 the corresponding Young's modulus increases towards the low end of the values contained in the literature. The optimal pressure gradient is found to be within physiological limits but generally higher than literature values would suggest for a given level of imparted loading, although differences between our experiments and those in the literature with respect to tissue loading conditions are noted.
Teaching motivations, characteristics and professional growth: results from the Great Expectations (GE) programme in the United States

This present study sought to explore reasons given by K-12 teachers about their motivation to remain in teaching, their motivation for engaging in professional development, and characteristics of their teaching. Participants (N = 151) were public teachers of different grade levels from the USA enrolled in a one-week professional development training. Respondents’ ratings on reasons for continuing teaching revealed that four key-specific factors were the main influences for continuing to teach, namely intrinsic reasons, extrinsic reasons, job perception, and extended reasons. Further analysis indicated that their reasons for teaching were correlated with specific incentives for attending the professional development training, with teachers’ instructional beliefs, and with professional development programme outcomes. Study results are discussed in relationship with teaching motivation and implications for teachers’ professional growth.
Efficient Ion Heating via Finite-Larmor-Radius Ion-Cyclotron Waves in a Plasma

Ion heating by externally launched ion Bernstein waves is investigated in the ACT-1 hydrogen plasma. Detailed measurements of wave absorption and of the ion temperature profiles have clearly identified various heating layers near the ion-cyclotron harmonics of deuteriumlike and tritiumlike ions. The observed bulk ion heating with heating quality factor of 10 eV/W.(${10}^{10}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$) and the power balance estimates suggest excellent overall efficiency for finite-Larmor-radius-ion-cyclotron-resonance-frequency heating.
Design criteria and correction factors for field wear testing

Abstract Some general criteria for wear testing are presented. Laboratory wear tests can be designed to meet the criteria but test results generally do not accurately predict wear under field conditions. Field wear testing is needed to optimize the final selection of materials for the given application. The concept of wear gradient is introduced. Wear gradients, with respect to time and location, are small and reproducible in laboratory tests but generally are significant and fluctuate under field conditions. Field tests are classified as sequential series, concurrent series, and concurrent group tests. The use of reference specimens for establishing time-averaged wear gradients is discussed and formulae for correcting the test specimen wear for non-uniform triboconditions over the test area are presented. A field test for abrasive wear of a linear array of specimens is described. The corrected wear values of duplicate specimens agree within 5% of the mean.
Permanently charged chiral 1,4-dihydropyridines : Molecular probes of L-type calcium channels. Synthesis and pharmacological characterization of methyl (ω-trimethylalkylammonium) 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-(3-nitrophenyl)-3,5-pyridinedicarboxylate iodide, calcium channel antagonists

We report the synthesis of the single enantiomers of permanently charged dihydropyridine derivatives (DHPs with alkyl linker lengths of two and eight carbon atoms) and their activities on cardiac and neuronal L-type calcium channels. Permanently charged chiral 1,4-dihydropyridines and methyl (ω-trimethylalkylammonium) 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-(3-nitrophenyl)-3,5-pyridinedicarboxylate iodides were synthesized in high optical purities from (R)-(−) and (S)-(+)-1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-methoxycarbonyl-4-(3-nitrophenyl)-3-pyridinecarboxylic acid, obtained by resolution of racemic 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-methoxycarbonyl-4-(3-nitrophenyl)-3-pyridinecarboxylic acid. Competition binding experiments with radioligand [3H]-(+)-PN200-110 and the block of whole cell barium currents through L-type calcium channels in GH4C1 cells show that the compounds with the eight-carbon alkyl linker optimally block the L-type Ca2+ channels, and that the S-enantiomer is more potent than the R-enantiomer.
Recognition and catheter ablation of subepicardial accessory pathways

Abstract Objectives . The purpose of this study was to characterize left-sided accesory pathways that traverse the atrioventricular (AV) groove subepicardially and to describe results of radiofrequency catheter ablation within the coronary sinus in the patients studied. Background . Radiofrequency catheter ablation has proved to be a safe and effective method for treatment of accessory pathways; however, subepicardial accessory pathways may account for some of the failures encountered during endocardial ablation. Methods . The study group comprised 51 consecutive patients with a left-sided accessory pathway who were undergoing radiofrequency catheter ablation. Initially, the ablation catheter was introduced into a femoral artery and positioned on the ventricular aspect of the mitral annulus. If this endocardial approach was unsuccessful, the ablation catheter was introduced into the coronary sinus and energy applied at sites with shorter activation times than those recorded from the endocardium. Results . Five (10%) of 51 patients with a left-sided accessory pathway could not have accessory pathway conduction interrupted with a median of 18 endocardial radiofrequency energy applications. Accessory pathway potentials were less frequent during endocardial mapping in these 5 patients than in the 46 patients whose accessory pathway was successfully ablated from the endocardial surface. All five of these patients later had successful ablation using one or two applications of radiofrequency energy from within the coronary sinus. Effective target site electrograms in the coronary sinus were characterized by an accessory pathway potential that was larger than the corresponding atrial or ventricular eltctrogram. There were no complications or recurrences after ablation within the coronary sinus. Conclusion . Some left-sided accessory pathways may be difficult to ablate from the endocardial surface because they traverse the AV groove subepicardially. The absence of an accessory pathway potential during endocardial mapping in combination with a relatively large accessory pathway potential within the coronary sinus may be a useful marker of a subepicardial pathway. In this select group of patients, radiofrequency catheter ablation from within the coronary sinus appears to enhance efficacy.
SEARCH FOR PATTERNS IN COMPRESSED TIME SERIES

We describe a technique for fast compression of time series, indexing of compressed series, and retrieval of series similar to a given pattern. The compression procedure identifies "important" points of a series and discards the other points. We use the important points not only for compression, but also for indexing a database of time series. Experiments show the effectiveness of this technique for indexing of stock prices, weather data and electroencephalograms.
Infant pulmonary testing - techniques, physiological perspectives and clinical applications

KEYWORDS infant pulmonary function; pulmonary function; infant; thoracic compression technique; infant physiology A number of technologies have been developed to assess airway physiology in health and disease in infancy. The most commonly used in research related publications include assessment of resistance and compliance of the respiratory system, analyses of tidal volume parameters, various methods of measurements of flow, assessment of lung volume by gas washout or plethysmography, and measurements of gas mixing to assess ventilation inhomogeneity. Physiologic measurements of the infant airway have been most frequently used in longitudinal studies of populations. Such applications have elucidated aspects of airway and lung development, and have given insights into airway size as a contributing factor to wheezing, airway hyperreactivity, as well as the natural history of diseases such as RSV infection, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and cystic fibrosis. A frequently quoted example of an important application of infant pulmonary function tests (IPFT) is the series of studies conducted in Tucson, Arizona, over the last 2 decades, which were seminal in furthering the understanding of the development of wheezing in infancy and early childhood. 1 The utility of these techniques for assessment of health and disease in individuals, has been more limited. A comprehensive review of the whole range of IPFT is unrealistic within the scope of this session on the wheezy infant, and I will therefore focus on
Branches of that Good Olive Tree: 21st Century Liturgical Challenges and Possibilities

As indicated in the title, the article’s starting point is the dual affirmation in Nostra Aetate , §4 that the Church “draws its sustenance from the root of that good olive tree,” and that its mystery involves “the spiritual bond” linking it “with Abraham’s stock.” Noting the Church’s commendable liturgical efforts of the past post- Nostra Aetate decades, it observes that the “density” of the present time calls for a more comprehensive approach in the Church’s 21st century liturgical renewal efforts. Due to the rapid and complex confluence of religious, political, intellectual and cultural movements marking the present time, courageous and creative efforts are necessary for the Church’s liturgical response to retain its efficacy and authenticity. The goal of this two-part article is to encourage liturgical conversations that will help foster creative developments in a responsible manner over the next post- Nostra Aetate decade. To enable a more comprehensive overview of recent developments in liturgical theology and liturgical history, Part One briefly explores today’s richly pluriform action of liturgy, and shows the effects, at significant historical moments, of ensuring or neglecting both continuity and change in the Church’s liturgical expressions. After identifying four events or movements contributing to the density of the present historical moment, it proceeds, in Part Two, to outline a three-point focus for 21st century liturgical transformation. This then serves as the lens directing an exploration of new liturgical possibilities relating to the Liturgical Year and the Advent-Christmas cycle.
Oxidation of nickel-cobalt alloys in the range of Curie temperatures

Abstract The surface oxidation kinetics of metallographically polished nickel-cobalt alloys, 10.5 and 25.1% cobalt, have been studied in the temperature range 400° to 800°C using a vacuum microbalance technique. The alloy of largest cobalt concentration oxidized most rapidly. The oxidation rates have been represented, to a first approximation, by cubic and parabolic time laws. In the temperature range of the second order magnetic transformation below the Curie temperature, the Arrhenius temperature coefficients of the rate constants demonstrate continuous variations. It is proposed, with results for nickel oxidation as datum, that these variations are caused by electronic properties of the metal substrate, which influence the rate determining reaction step of metal ion diffusion through the surface oxide layer.
Production of 167Tm for medical use

A method is described for producing sufficient amounts of 167Tm for medical use in a carrier free form on a small medical cyclotron. Using enriched 167Er2O3 up to 75 μCi/μAhr can be produced. The biological distribution of 167Tm HEDTA in rabbits is also presented. Most of the activity (up to 70 per cent) is localized in the skeleton and the rest is excreted.
Drying of Porous Materials in a Medium With Variable Potentials

This paper presents an application of the Luikov system of heat and mass transfer equations in dimensionless form to predict the temperature and moisture distributions in a slab of capillary-porous material during drying. The heat and mass potentials of the external medium in the boundary conditions are assumed to vary linearly with time. The method of solution is illustrated by considering the drying of a slab of lumber. Numerical results based on the estimated thermophysical properties of spruce are presented.
Electrophysiological evidence for a non-opioid interaction between dynorphin and GABA in the substantia nigra of the rat.

Abstract Interactions between neuronal responses mediated by dynorphin A1-8 and GABA were investigated in the substantia nigra zona reticulata. Extracellular recordings and microiontophoresis were performed using five-barrel microelectrodes in chloral hydrate-anesthetized male rats. When ion-tophoresed alone, dynorphin A1-8 significantly inhibited the firing of 22% of the neurons tested. The inhibition was rapid in onset and recovery and was dose-dependent. In another 22% of the cells, iontophoretic dynorphin produced an increase in the baseline firing rate which was slow in both onset and offset; the remaining 56% were unaffected by dynorphin. When GABA and dynorphin A1-8 were applied in conjunction, the inhibitory action of GABA was attenuated in 61% of the cells; whereas, when dynorphin and GABA were ejected simultaneously onto the cells that were inhibited by dynorphin A1-8, the respective inhibitory effects of dynorphin and GABA appeared to be additive. The kappa antagonist, MR-2266, failed to block the ability of dynorphin A1-8 to attenuate the action of GABA. In addition, the non-opiate peptide des-tyr-dynorphin A2-17, produced effects similar to that of dynorphin A1-8. The role of dynorphin in the basal ganglia and its interaction with the other major transmitter in the substantia nigra zona reticulata, GABA, is discussed.
A Predictive Model for SIVH risk in Preterm Infants and Targeted Indomethacin Therapy for Prevention

A Predictive Model for SIVH risk in Preterm Infants and Targeted Indomethacin Therapy for Prevention