cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of 2,4‐diaminopyrido[2,3‐d]pyrimidines and 2,4‐diamino‐quinazolines with bulky dibenz[b,f]azepine and dibenzo[a,d]‐cycloheptene substituents at the 6‐position as inhibitors of dihydrofolate reductases from pneumocystis carinii, toxoplasma gondii, and mycobacterium avium

The synthesis of four previously undescribed 2,4-diaminopyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines (3,4) and 2,4-diaminoquinazolines (5,6) with a bulky tricyclic aromatic group at the 6-position is described. Condensation of dibenz[b,f]azepine with 2,4-diamino-6-bromomethylpyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine (8) and 2,4-diamino-6-bromomethylquinazoline (17) in the presence of sodium hydride afforded N-[(2,4-diaminopyrido[2,3-d]-pyrimidin-6-yl)methyl]dibenz[b,f]azepine (3) and N-[(2,4-diaminoquinazolin-6-yl)methyl]dibenz[b,f]-azepine (4), respectively. Condensation of 5-chlorodibenzo[a,d]cycloheptene (19) and 5-chloro-10,11-dihydrodibenzo[a,d]cycloheptene (20) with 2,4,6-triaminoquinazoline (13) afforded 5-[(2,4-diamino-quinazolin-6-yl)amino]-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cycloheptene (5) and the corresponding 10,11-dihydro derivative (6), respectively. The bromides 8 and 17, as hydrobromic acid salts, were obtained from the corresponding nitriles according to a standard three-step sequence consisting of treatment with Raney nickel in formic acid followed by reduction with sodium borohydride and bromination with dry hydrogen bromide in glacial acetic acid. Compounds 3–6 were evaluated in vitro for the ability to inhibit dihydrofolate reductase from Pneumocystis carinii, Toxoplasma gondii, Mycobacterium avium, and rat liver. Compounds 3 and 4 were potent inhibitors of all four enzymes, with IC50 values in the 0.03–0.1 μM range, whereas 5 was less potent. However the selectivity of all four compounds for the parasite enzymes relative to the rat enzyme was 100-fold selectivity for the T. gondii and M. avium enzyme and 21-fold selectivity for the P carinii enzyme.
Multi-spectral analysis of the Amazon basin using SeaWinds, ERS, Seasat scatterometers, TRMM-PR and SSM/I

The Amazon basin represents a vast geographical zone containing large proportion of global biomass. We use the SeaWinds scatterometer (QSCAT), ERS-1/-2 scatterometer (ESCAT), NASA scatterometer (NSCAT) Seasat scatterometer (SASS), Tropical Rain Measuring Mission Precipitation Radar (TRMM-PR) and Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) data to study the multi-spectral microwave response of Amazon vegetation. Incidence angle signatures of combined backscatter measurements (/spl sigma//sup o/) from the scatterometers and precipitation radar indicate a good inter-calibration of the sensors. The multi-frequency signatures of both /spl sigma//sup o/ and radiometric temperature measurements (T/sub b/) from SSM/I are also studied. Temporal variability of the Amazon basin is studied using C-band ERS data and a Ku-band time series formed by SASS, NSCAT and QSCAT data. ESCAT data reveals a possible mismatch in the calibration of scatterometers between ERS-1 and ERS-2. Although the central Amazon forest represents an area of very stable radar backscatter measurements, portions of the southern region exhibit backscatter changes over the past two decades.
Correlation of UV damage threshold with post-annealing in CVD-grown SiO 2 overlayers on etched fused silica substrates

Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) has been used for the production of fused silica optics in high power laser applications. However, relatively little is known about the ultraviolet (UV) laser damage threshold of CVD films and how they relate to intrinsic defects produced during deposition. We present a study relating structural and electronic defects in CVD films to the 355 nm pulsed laser damage threshold as a function of post-deposition annealing temperature (T HT ). Plasma-enhanced CVD, based on SiH 4 /N 2 O under oxygen-rich conditions, was used to deposit 1.5, 3.1 and 6.4 μm thick films on etched SiO 2 substrates. Rapid annealing was performed using a scanned CO 2 laser beam up to T HT ~2100 K. The films were then characterized using X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and photoluminescence (PL). A gradual transition in the damage threshold of annealed films was observed at T HT up to 1600 K, correlating with a decrease in NB silanol and broadband PL emission. An additional sharp transition in damage threshold also occurs at ~1850 K indicating substrate annealing. Based on our results, a mechanism for damage-related defect annealing is proposed, and the potential of using high-T HT CVD SiO 2 to mitigate optical damage is also discussed.
Breast Carcinoma with Neuroendocrine Differentiation and Myocardial Metastases

A 63-year-old Japanese woman was diagnosed with metastatic well-differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma presenting as a perianal mass without an obvious primary site. Two years later, she presented with a breast mass determined on histologic examination to be the primary neuroendocrine carcinoma. The tumor was weakly positive for estrogen receptor and clearly originated in multifocal ductal carcinoma in situ. At the same time, she was found to have multiple metastases in bone and liver and, later, heart. Most studies report a relatively poor prognosis and limited treatment responsiveness for neuroendocrine breast carcinoma. Better understanding of the cellular origin and molecular pathogenesis of this relatively enigmatic rare disease is required.
Transatrial access to the normal pericardial space: a novel approach for diagnostic sampling, pericardiocentesis, and therapeutic interventions

Background—A nonsurgical means to access the normal pericardial space could provide opportunities for diagnostic sampling and therapeutic interventions. Because there are currently no approved nonsurgical methods to accomplish this, we tested a new approach in large animals. Methods and Results—A catheter system was employed in a percutaneous approach from a femoral vein to pierce the right atrial appendage. Pericardial access was confirmed by placement of a radiopaque guidewire visible under fluoroscopy (6 dogs, 13 pigs). In 7 of the pigs, pericardial tamponade, produced by injection of saline or heparinized blood into the pericardial space through this route, was confirmed by fluoroscopy and hemodynamic evidence. The feasibility and safety of this access route were tested with multiple repetitions in all 19 animals. At the end of each of the 17 acute experiments, direct inspection after thoracotomy revealed no hemopericardium, laceration, or bleeding on catheter withdrawal. In 24-hour survival studies p...
Evidence against the occurrence of tissue-specific variants and isoenzymes of phosphoglucose isomerase.

Abstract Phosphoglucose isomerase (EC 5.3.1.9) from a variety of rat and human tissues has been studied by several electrophoretic techniques. When heart, liver, kidney, brain, erythrocyte, or skeletal muscle extracts were subjected to electrophoresis on cellulose acetate, a broad electrophoretic band was observed. When tissues were subjected to isoelectric focusing in sucrose density gradients or polyacrylamide gels, multiple peaks were observed unless the extracts were prepared and focused in the presence of reducing agents. In the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol or dithiothreitol phosphoglucose isomerase from different tissues co-focused as a single peak (apparent isoelectric pH = 9.23 for human and 8.40 for rat), suggesting that the enzyme from the various tissues is identical, and that tissue-specific variants do not exist. The electrophoretic multiplicity previously reported by other investigators may be due to artifacts arising from oxidation of the enzyme.
Listen (on the frequency domain) before you talk

Conventional WiFi networks perform channel contention in time domain. This is known to be wasteful because the channel is forced to remain idle, while all contending nodes are backing off for multiple time slots. This paper proposes to break away from convention and recreate the backing off operation in the frequency domain. Our basic idea is to pretend that OFDM subcarriers are integer numbers, and thereby, view today's random backoff process as equivalent to transmitting on a randomly chosen subcarrier. By employing a second antenna to listen to all the subcarriers, each node can determine whether its chosen integer (or subcarrier) is the smallest among all others. In fact, each node can even determine the rank of its chosen integer, enabling the feasibility of a TDMA-like schedule from every round of contention. We develop these ideas into a Time to Frequency (T2F) protocol and prototype it on a small testbed of 8 USRPs. Experiments confirm its feasibility, along with promising throughput gains of more than 35% at high bit rates. A fuller design and thorough evaluation of T2F is a topic of ongoing work.
Sedimentary facies of the upper Cambrian (Furongian; Jiangshanian and Sunwaptan) Tunnel City Group, Upper Mississippi Valley: new insight on the old stormy debate

Abstract New data from detailed measured sections permit a comprehensive revision of the sedimentary facies of the Furongian (upper Cambrian; Jiangshanian and Sunwaptan stages) Tunnel City Group (Lone Rock Formation and Mazomanie Formation) of Wisconsin and Minnesota. Heterogeneous sandstones, comprising seven lithofacies along a depositional transect from shoreface to transitional-offshore environments, record sedimentation in a storm-dominated, shallow-marine epicontinental sea. The origin of glauconite in the Birkmose Member and Reno Member of the Lone Rock Formation was unclear, but its formation and preserved distribution are linked to inferred depositional energy rather than just net sedimentation rate. Flat-pebble conglomerate, abundant in lower Paleozoic strata, was associated with the formation of a condensed section during cratonic flooding. Hummocky cross-stratification was a valuable tool used to infer depositional settings and relative paleobathymetry, and the model describing formation of this bedform is expanded to address flow types dominant during its genesis, in particular the importance of an early unidirectional component of combined flow. The depositional model developed here for the Lone Rock Formation and Mazomanie Formation is broadly applicable to other strata common to the early Paleozoic that document sedimentation along flooded cratonic interiors or shallow shelves.
Developing realistic stimuli for assessing observers' perceptions of male and female body types.

The goal of this research was to create more realistic stimuli for research in assessing observers' perceptions of male and female body types. Stimuli were developed by classifying large samples of photographs and using representative photographs to illustrate body types. Resultant stimuli go beyond current stereotypic stimuli to provide realistic representations of commonly occurring body types among men and women ages 18 to 40 years. Realistic stimuli can be used in a wide range of research both to understand observer perceptions and to teach the reality of human variation.
Tutorial 4: Web Services on Rails: Using Ruby and Rails for Web Services Development and Mashups

One of the interesting aspects of the Web 2.0 'evolution' is the wide-availability of various Web applications as APIs or Web services. These APIs expose informational services on the Web and take many form of remote invocation of functions using standard Web protocols and XML for data representations, e.g., REST, SOAP/WSDL, XML-RPC, and other approaches. The services (or APIs) are also usually accompanied by user facing Web applications for human-consumption. Canonical examples are Google Maps, Yahoo! Flykr and del.icio.us, EVDB's Eventful's application and API, Amazon.com's S3, ECS, Alexa, and many others. The Ruby programming language and its Rails framework are ideal for programming Web applications and services in the Web 2.0. Ruby's modern and dynamic features make it an excellent language for rapid prototyping and integration of various Web services. Rails' superb support for rapid Web application development, database access, and AJAX, make it well suited for creating front-ends and back-ends to the next generation of Web applications and services. In this tutorial we will take a hands-on deep-dive into the Ruby and Rails platform and learn how they can be used to: (1) create Web applications backed by a relational database, (2) consume Web services, (3) create and deploy APIs or Web services, and (4) mashup of existing Web services and applications. No a priori knowledge of Ruby or Rails is required - although some programming in a modern OO language and Web application development are definite plus
Axioms for Strong Reduction in Combinatory Logic

In combinatory logic there is a system of objects which intuitively represent functions, and a binary relation between these objects, which represents the process of evaluating the result of applying a function to an argument. (This is explained fully in [1].) From this relation called weak reduction , “≥,” an equivalence relation is defined by saying that X is weakly equivalent to Y if and only if there exist n (with 0 ≤ n ) and X 0 ,…,X η such that It turns out that equivalent objects represent the same function, but two objects representing the same function need not be equivalent.
Effect of low-oxygen storage on chilling injury and polyamines in Zucchini squash

Wang, C.Y. and Ji, Z.L., 1989. Effect of low oxygen storage on chilling injury and polyamines in Zucchini squash. Scientia Hortic., 39: 1-7. Chilling injury of Zucchini squash (Cucurbitapepo L., cultivar 'Ambassador') was reduced by a low-oxygen atmosphere. The extent of surface pitting after exposure to 2.5°C was less under 1% 02 than when kept in air. The low-oxygen-stored squash also maintained higher levels of spermidine and spermine during storage at 2.5 or 12.5 ° C. Putrescine and spermidine in the skin tissue increased in response to exposure to chilling temperature. However, no significant increase of these polyamines was detected during storage at the nonchilling temperature.
Efficacy in CB1 receptor‐mediated signal transduction

CB1 receptor cellular signal transduction is dependent on the expression of G proteins to which the receptor couples, the potential for precoupling of particular G proteins to the receptors either by scaffolding mechanisms or colocalization in lipid raft domains, and the effector mechanisms that these transducer molecules regulate. This discourse will evaluate studies of efficacy for CB1 receptor-Gi/o activation at the molecular level. Evidence for brain regional differences in CB1 receptor signal transduction efficacy and agonist selectivity for G proteins will be summarized. The possibility that CB1 receptors interact with Gs or Gq will be evaluated, and questions with regard to the constitutive activity and G protein sequestration will be posed.
The transform-domain forward-backward LMS adaptive filter with applications

The authors present the transform-domain forward-backward least-mean-squares (LMS) (TFBLMS) adaptive algorithm, its properties, and applications. The authors demonstrate that the TFBLMS adaptive line enhancer (ALE) gives significantly improved convergence speed for various applications with colored noise inputs and same level of reduced misadjustment as the forward-backward LMS (FBLMS) ALE for a given convergence factor (adaptive step size). The authors examine the impacts of the backward prediction error and forward prediction error individually on the total misadjustment in both the FBLMS and TFBLMS algorithms. The choice of a suitable transform is discussed as an implementation issue for the TFBLMS algorithm. >
Foreign Language Proficiency of At-Risk and Not-At-Risk Learners Over 2 Years of Foreign Language Instruction A Follow-Up Study

In this follow-up study, students at risk for problems with learning a foreign language who were taught using a multisensory, structured language approach to Spanish made significant gains over 2 years on three native language phonological/orthographic measures and a foreign language aptitude test. Despite gains, at-risk students did not “catch up” with not-at-risk students on these measures. Qualitative between-group differences were noted on foreign language proficiency measures.
JOINTLY‐DETERMINED ECOLOGICAL THRESHOLDS AND ECONOMIC TRADE‐OFFS IN WILDLIFE DISEASE MANAGEMENT

. We investigate wildlife disease management, in a bioeconomic framework, when the wildlife host is valuable and disease transmission is density-dependent. Disease prevalence is reduced in density-dependent models whenever the population is harvested below a host-density threshold a threshold population density below which disease prevalence declines and above which a disease becomes epidemic. In conventional models, the threshold is an exogenous function of disease parameters. We consider this case and find a steady state with positive disease prevalence to be optimal. Next, we consider a case in which disease dynamics are affected by both population controls and changes in human-environmental interactions. The host-density threshold is endogenous in this case. That is, the manager does not simply manage the population relative to the threshold, but rather manages both the population and the threshold. The optimal threshold depends on the economic and ecological trade-offs arising from the jointly-determined system. Accounting for this endogene-ity can lead to reduced disease prevalence rates and higher population levels. Additionally, we show that ecological parameters that may be unimportant in conventional models that do not account for the endogeneity of the host-density threshold are potentially important when host density threshold is recognized as endogenous.
Performance analysis of a shared-medium ATM switch

In this paper, we present an approximate analysis of a generic shared-medium ATM switch with input and output queueing. Input traffic is assumed to be bursty and is modelled by an interrupted Bernoulli process (IBP). Three different bus service policies are analyzed: time division multiplexing (TDM), cyclic, and random. The output links may have constant or geometric service time. The analysis is based on the notion of decomposition whereby the switch is decomposed into smaller sub-systems. First, each input queue is analyzed in isolation after we modify its service process. Subsequently, the shared medium is analyzed as a separate sub-system utilizing the output process of each input queue. Finally, each output queue is analyzed in isolation. The results from the individual sub-systems are combined together through an iterative scheme. This method permits realistic system characteristics such as limited buffer size, asymmetric load conditions, and nonuniform destinations to be taken into consideration in the analysis. The model's accuracy is verified through simulation.
Stage Analysis of Centrifugal Compressors for Design: CFD Validation

Impeller and diffuser interaction effects in a centrifugal compressor stage, steady or unsteady, has been a subject of considerable interest to a designer to quantify the extent of technology advancement that can be achieved. Component optimization Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) procedures for impeller and diffuser yield a good workable design methodology, however significant technology advancement can be realized through utilization of validated stage CFD models. Unsteady stage interaction CFD methods offer a physically more realistic approach, but their computing resource requirements are incompatible with design environment needs of rapid design option evaluation. Steady methods, if successful, offer an alternative to relieve this requirement. However, modeling issues such as stage interface, turbulence, diffuser grid topology & stage interface flow extraction are some of the few challenges that need to be carefully addressed in collaboration with existing compressor test data. This paper summarizes the steady CFD results of transonic stage centrifugal compressors. It is shown that a stage model based on steady mixing plane interface boundary condition is capable of predicting the impeller performance as well as diffuser recovery / overall stage performance. Computational results are presented to show design speed line map comparison with test data and flow details that highlight some critical flow phenomena of significance in a centrifugal stage compressor
Effect of insulin-like growth factor I in murine muscular dystrophy.

In muscular dystrophy there is an imbalance between muscle protein synthesis and protein degradation, resulting in net muscle catabolism and progressive muscle weakness and wasting. Both insulin and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) are known to have an anabolic effect on skeletal muscle, which is believed to be enhanced in the presence of elevated concentrations of amino acids. We examined the effects of 4-week administration of recombinant human IGF-I (rhIGF-I), both alone and supplemented with a high protein diet (HPD), on muscle metabolism, morphology, and function in the 129 ReJ dystrophic mouse. rhIGF-I significantly reduced muscle protein degradation (P < 0.001), increased muscle protein content (P < 0.05), decreased fiber area variability (P < 0.01), and increased hind limb utilization (P < 0.01). Supplementation of rhIGF-I therapy with a HPD resulted in a significant increase in muscle protein synthesis (P < 0.05) in addition to a further increase in the above parameters. We conclude that rhIG...
Concussion in athletes.

Concussion or mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) is a major sports medicine issue in the current medical literature and in the popular media. Well-publicized cases of careers ended by the results of multiple concussions as well as the potential for long-term neurocognitive deficits due to multiple concussions have raised concerns. This review will discuss the epidemiology, anatomy, and physiology of concussion, as well as the clinical evaluation, grading scales, risk of chronic traumatic brain injury, and research on genetic risk factors for concussion. The main focus of this article is to review the clinical evaluation and management of concussion, including return to play criteria and use of neuropsychological testing for the practicing physician. An estimated 300,000 sports-related traumatic brain injuries of mild to moderate severity occur in the United States each year.' Football, ice hockey, soccer, and rugby are sports with the highest concussion prevalence. Some studies show that up to 15% of people diagnosed with MTBI experience persistent disabling symptoms.^"''
Cytoskeletal alterations leading to Mallory body formation in livers of mice fed 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine

Summary Cytoskeletal alterations of hepatocytes were studied in mice fed 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine from the onset of the experiment to the time when Mallory bodies were induced, using immunofluorescent microscopy and a method which we devised in order to visualize the cytoskeletal framework of hepatocytes. The results showed that the cytoskeletal framework of the normal murine hepatocyte is composed of a network of uniformly distributed, interconnecting bundles of filaments. In the drug-fed mice, the cytoskeletal network of the hepatocytes became coarser and distorted. The Mallory body-containing hepatocytes were mostly devoid of cytoskeletal filaments, containing only a few thick bundles of filaments, which appeared partly smudgy and electron-dense. These results suggest that the formation of Mallory bodies in this animal model is associated with a marked derangement of the cytoskeletal framework, which appears to result from the progressive loss of normal filaments and the aggregation of abnormal ones.
Surface Passivation of p-GaTe Layered Crystals for Improved p-GaTe/n-InSe Heterojunction Solar Cells

GaTe and GaTe:In single crystals were grown from high purity Ga (7N) and zone refined Te (>7N) precursor materials. InSe thin films were deposited by thermal evaporation onto the sulfur passivated GaTe:In substrates at various substrate temperatures from 450K-550K to fabricate p-GaTe:In/n-InSe heterojunction solar cells. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to characterize GaTe:In crystals and InSe thin film surfaces. The current-voltage characteristics of p-GaTe:In/n-InSe solar cells were measured under dark and under illumination of 75mW/cm 2 . Dark J-V measurements showed that the reverse saturation current density (J 0 ) decreased from 3.8 x 10 -6 A/cm 2 to 1.5 x 10 -9 A/cm 2 and the ideality factor was reduced from 2.04 to 1.15 as a result of surface passivation. Under illumination of 75 mW/cm 2 , the open-circuit voltage (V oc ) increased from 0.54V to 0.68V and short-circuit current density (J sc ) increased from 7.19 mA/cm 2 to 8.65 mA/cm 2 for solar cells with surface passivated GaTe:In substrates, leading to an increased solar cell efficiency of 5.03%. EPMA measurements revealed that the InSe thin films deposited at 550 K on GaTe:In substrates were near stoichiometric with enhanced grain size contributing also to better solar cell performance.
Charaterization of UHMWPE fiber/matrix adhesion by dynamic mechanical spectrometry

The tensile and dynamic mechanical properties of polystyrene and a poly(styrene-co-buty1 acrylate-co-cyclohexy1 methacrylate) statistical terpolymer (terpolymer) reinforced by randomly oriented, discontinuous ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers are presented in terms of the fiber/matrix interfacial properties. Using a thermomechanical block model based on the parallel rule of mixtures, the adhesion characteristics of poly(butyl acrylate) (PBA) and poly(cyclohexyl methacrylate) (PCHM) grafted, plasma treated, and untreated fibers were determined. The model successfully predicts the tan δ response of the composites including peak height variations and the development of additional loss dispersions associated with the interphase. Moreover, the model yields a fiber reinforcement efficiency factor, K, which gives a quantitative measure of adhesion. The contact angle of PBA and PCHM grafted high density polyethylene (HDPE) films are also included and are compared to the contact angle of plasma treated fibers. The results indicate that PBA and PCHM grafts enhance adhesion through polymer graft/matrix interactions, not simply by improved wetting.
Design for a high-resolution small-animal SPECT system using pixellated Si(Li) detectors for in vivo /sup 125/I imaging

We propose a design for a high-resolution SPECT system for in vivo /sup 125/I imaging in small animal using pixelated lithium-drifted silicon (Si(Li)) detectors. The detectors have high detection efficiency (>90%), good energy resolution (<15% FWHM), and good intrinsic spatial resolution (/spl sim/1 mm FWHM). The SPECT system has a dual head detector geometry with the distance between the detectors ranging 30-50 mm to allow for the shortest imaging distance between the mouse and the detectors. The detectors, each with an active area of 64 mm/spl times/40 mm (64/spl times/40 array of 1 mm/sup 2/ pixels and a 6 mm thick Si(Li) detector), are mounted on a rotating gantry with an axial field-of-view of 64 mm. Using a high-resolution parallel-hole collimator, the expected spatial resolution is 1.6 mm FWHM at an imaging distance of 20 mm, and sensitivity is 6.7 cps//spl mu/Ci. /sup 125/I is a readily available radioisotope with a long half-life of 59.4 days and it is commonly used to label biological compounds in molecular biology. Conventional gamma cameras are not optimized to detect the low emission energies (27 to 35 keV) of /sup 125/I. However, Si(Li) detector provides an ideal solution for detecting the low-energy emissions of /sup 125/I. In addition, a SPECT system based on Si(Li) detector can potentially be less expensive than other detector technology because of its ease of operation and the availability of many resources for processing silicon. This will increase the availability of small-animal SPECT systems in biomedical research, thereby providing an important tool to facilitate the research in mouse biology.
Introduction – Lawyers, Swamps, and Money: U.S. Wetland Law, Policy and Politics

This paper is the table of contents and introduction to Royal C. Gardner, Lawyers, Swamps, and Money: U.S. Wetland Law, Policy, and Politics (Island Press 2011). The book is an accessible guide to the complex set of laws governing America's wetlands. After explaining the importance of these critical natural areas, the book examines the evolution of federal law, principally the Clean Water Act, designed to protect them.Readers will first learn the basics of administrative law: how agencies receive and exercise their authority, how they actually make laws, and how stakeholders can influence their behavior through the Executive Branch, Congress, the courts, and the media. These core concepts provide a base of knowledge for successive discussions of:the geographic scope and activities covered by the Clean Water Act; the curious relationship between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency; the goal of no net loss of wetlands; the role of entrepreneurial wetland mitigation banking; the tension between wetland mitigation bankers and in-lieu fee mitigation programs; enforcement issues; and wetland regulation and private property rights.The book concludes with policy recommendations to make wetlands law more effective.
The Effect of Erbium Additions on the Solidification Behavior of γ-Tial

The titanium-aluminum-erbium system has been studied using electromagnetic levitation and ultra high speed imaging in order to quantify the solidification velocity as a function of undercooling. Measurements were made on Ti-60 at% Al alloys with 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 at% Er additions. Boettinger and Aziz 1 show that in ordered alloys it is thermodynamically possible at large enough interface velocities, corresponding to large undercoolings, to solidify a disordered phase with the same composition as the liquid. The result of the transition from ordered to disordered solidification is a discontinuity in the relationship between solidification velocity and melt undercooling. The experimental results for the solidification velocity as a function of melt undercooling will be presented and discussed for each alloy.
Tight glycemic control in children--is the target in sight?

Should a strategy of tight glycemic control with the use of intravenous insulin be used to normalize blood glucose concentration in critically ill children as part of their therapy? This approach significantly reduced morbidity, mortality, or both in two randomized, controlled trials involving children1,2 but not in a third, in which continuous glucose monitoring was performed.3 The patient populations differed among the three studies, with one involving children with severe burns, one involving children who were in the intensive-care unit (ICU) after cardiac surgery, and one involving children who were in the ICU for a variety of reasons. The . . .
Generic drug product equivalence: current status.

UNLABELLED This activity is designed for healthcare professionals involved in the selection of multisource drug products. GOAL To understand the basis for approval of generic drug products by the Food and Drug Administration. OBJECTIVES 1. Identify the criteria employed by the Food and Drug Administration to approve generic drug products. 2. Discuss controversial issues that have been raised relative to generic drug products. 3. Identify narrow therapeutic index drugs. 4. Describe the different types of bioequivalence studies that are required by the Food and Drug Administration. 5. Discuss the responsibilities underlying the selection of multisource drug products by healthcare professionals.
Factors Influencing Homesite Selection by Gray Wolves in Northwestern Wisconsin and East-Central Minnesota

One of the most critical aspects of population dynamics in any animal species is the birth and successful rearing of young. Therefore, understanding the characteristics of areas where wolves give birth and rear pups (den and rendezvous sites) is important for proper management. In the Great Lakes region, the gray wolf has made a remarkable recovery, from a small remnant population in northeastern Minnesota to the recolonization of most of northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. In this chapter, we review relevant literature on wolf dens and rendezvous sites and attempt to determine those factors most critical in the selection of homesites in the upper Great Lakes region.
Inscribing Optical Excitability to Non-Excitable Cardiac Cells: Viral Delivery of Optogenetic Tools in Primary Cardiac Fibroblasts

We describe in detail a method to introduce optogenetic actuation tools, a mutant version of channelrhodopsin-2, ChR2(H134R), and archaerhodopsin (ArchT), into primary cardiac fibroblasts (cFB) in vitro by adenoviral infection to yield quick, robust, and consistent expression. Instructions on adjusting infection parameters such as the multiplicity of infection and virus incubation duration are provided to generalize the method for different lab settings or cell types. Specific conditions are discussed to create hybrid co-cultures of the optogenetically modified cFB and non-transformed cardiomyocytes to obtain light-sensitive excitable cardiac syncytium, including stencil-patterned cell growth. We also describe an all-optical framework for the functional testing of responsiveness of these opsins in cFB. The presented methodology provides cell-specific tools for the mechanistic investigation of the functional bioelectric contribution of different non-excitable cells in the heart and their electrical coupling to cardiomyocytes under different conditions.
An Executable Specification for SPARQL

Linked Data on the web consists of over 1000 datasets from a variety of domains. They are queried with the SPARQL query language. There exist many implementations of SPARQL, and this rich ecosystem has demanded a precise specification and compliance tests. However, the SPARQL specification has grown in complexity, and it is increasingly difficult for developers to validate their implementations. In this paper, we present a declarative specification for SPARQL, based on relational logic. It describes SPARQL with just a few operators, and is executable: queries written in it can be directly executed against real datasets.
On the Anatomy of the Dynamic Behavior of Polymorphic Viruses

The sophistication of novel strains of polymorphic viruses, such as Stuxnet, has increased over the last decade. Traditional tools such as anti-virus, firewalls, intrusion detection/prevention systems, etc. may be incapable of detecting such strains. As a result, new methods need to be introduced in order to detect this family of malware. Combining dynamic malware analysis techniques with machine learning tools can prove useful in the progression of developing an effective and efficient classifier. This paper explores the use of dynamic analysis of malware and machine learning to create a classifier for polymorphic virus detection.
Genome Sequence of the Thermotolerant Foodborne Pathogen Salmonella enterica Serovar Senftenberg ATCC 43845 and Phylogenetic Analysis of Loci Encoding Increased Protein Quality Control Mechanisms

ABSTRACT Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica bacteria are important foodborne pathogens with major economic impact. Some isolates exhibit increased heat tolerance, a concern for food safety. Analysis of a finished-quality genome sequence of an isolate commonly used in heat resistance studies, S. enterica subsp. enterica serovar Senftenberg 775W (ATCC 43845), demonstrated an interesting observation that this strain contains not just one, but two horizontally acquired thermotolerance locus homologs. These two loci reside on a large 341.3-kbp plasmid that is similar to the well-studied IncHI2 R478 plasmid but lacks any antibiotic resistance genes found on R478 or other IncHI2 plasmids. As this historical Salmonella isolate has been in use since 1941, comparative analysis of the plasmid and of the thermotolerance loci contained on the plasmid will provide insight into the evolution of heat resistance loci as well as acquisition of resistance determinants in IncHI2 plasmids. IMPORTANCE Thermal interventions are commonly used in the food industry as a means of mitigating pathogen contamination in food products. Concern over heat-resistant food contaminants has recently increased, with the identification of a conserved locus shown to confer heat resistance in disparate lineages of Gram-negative bacteria. Complete sequence analysis of a historical isolate of Salmonella enterica serovar Senftenberg, used in numerous studies because of its novel heat resistance, revealed that this important strain possesses two distinct copies of this conserved thermotolerance locus, residing on a multireplicon IncHI2/IncHI2A plasmid. Phylogenetic analysis of these loci in comparison with homologs identified in various bacterial genera provides an opportunity to examine the evolution and distribution of loci conferring resistance to environmental stressors, such as heat and desiccation.
Animal models for studying epithelial barriers in neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis, inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer.

ABSTRACTThe intestinal epithelial cells line the luminal surface of the entire gastrointestinal tract which is crucial for the absorption of nutrients and prevention of pathogens entering from the external environment. The epithelial barrier plays an important role in organ development, disease pathogenesis, and aging. The major component of an epithelial barrier is the single columnar epithelium and tight junctions. Tight junctions are located at the most apical region of the junctional complex and contain many integral membrane proteins, such as occludin, the claudin family, and junctional adhesion molecules (JAMs). The disruption of intestinal epithelial barriers may lead to several pathophysiological conditions causing malabsorption of nutrition and chronic inflammation. In this review, we provide an update on the alterations of epithelial barriers associated with gut diseases using experimental animal models; we appraise the role of tight junctions in neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), inflamm...
Race and Socioeconomic Status Independently Affect Risk of Major Amputation in Peripheral Artery Disease

BackgroundBlack race has been shown to be a risk factor for amputation in peripheral artery disease (PAD); however, race has been argued to be a marker for socioeconomic status (SES) rather than tr...
Dynamic programming approach to adaptive slicing for optimization under a global volumetric error constraint

In Additive Layer Manufacturing, the layer-based nature of the process results in error in the final object, termed staircase error. This error can be reduced by using a smaller layer thickness, and hence more layers, to print the object. However, in 3D printing with stereolithography, the print time is mostly determined by the number of layers, since the movement of the laser in the X-Y plane is much faster than the movement of the build platform. Therefore, using finer layer thicknesses can significantly increase the print time. In this work, we propose a novel adaptive slicing algorithm that balances accuracy and print time. The proposed, near-optimal, dynamic programming (DP) based algorithm for adaptive slicing minimizes the number of layers subject to a global volumetric error constraint. Our approach reduces slice count by up to 36% (52%) compared to a state of the art adaptive slicing (uniform slicing) method under the same volumetric error. The results were tested on Formlabsunder the same volumetric error. The results were tested on Formlabs Form1+ SLA-based printers. The print time was improved by up to 32% (53%) for a selection of objects.
Acute Kidney Injury Following Failed Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty.

Abstract Background Acute kidney injury (AKI) can complicate primary total joint arthroplasty (TJA) of the hip and knee, although the incidence of AKI following revision TJA including prosthetic joint infection (PJI) is poorly defined. We assessed the incidence and risk factors for AKI following revision TJA including surgical treatment of PJI with placement of an antibiotic-loaded cement (ALC) spacer. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 3218 consecutive failed TJAs. Patients with aseptic failure were compared to those with PJI. AKI was determined by RIFLE creatinine criteria. PJIs treated with placement of ALC were compared to PJIs without. Risk factors for AKI were determined by multivariable analysis within the whole group and within those with PJI. Results AKI developed in 3.4% of 2147 patients revised for aseptic reasons and in 45% of 281 with PJI, including 29% of 197 receiving an ALC and 82% of 84 patients treated with other procedures. By multivariable analysis, age, surgery for PJI, total number of surgeries, and estimated GFR 60-90 compared to >90 cc/min/1.73 m2 were significantly associated with AKI in the whole cohort. Among PJI patients, age, Charlson comorbidity index, and reimplantation surgery were associated with AKI by multivariable analysis. No differences were found between patients with PJI treated with or without ALC. No modifiable factors were found. Conclusion AKI develops following aseptic revision TJA at a rate similar to primary TJA, but at a significantly higher rate following surgery for PJI with or without placement of ALC.
Grignard Derivatization and Mass Spectrometry as Techniques for the Analysis of Butyltins in Environmental Samples

When analyzing environmental samples for tributyltin (TBT) and its breakdown products, it is important to speciate the various organotins that may be present in the samples. Most commonly used methods require a derivatization step to form volatile organotin hydrides or tetraalkyltin derivatives. The tetraalkyltins formed by reaction with Grignard reagents are stable compounds that are readily separated by gas chromatography and produce characteristic mass spectra that are easily interpreted. Various types of Grignard reagents and solvents have been used in the published methods for the analysis of TBT in environmental samples. When the longer chain (pentyl and hexyl) derivatives are formed, sample extracts can be concentrated to small volumes without significant losses from volatilization.
Hepatotoxicity of Antibiotics: A Review and Update for the Clinician

Collectively, the various classes of antibiotics are a leading cause of drug-induced liver injury (DILI). However, acute antibiotic-associated DILI can be difficult to diagnose, as the course of therapy is usually brief, and other confounding factors are often present. In addition to the broad clinicopathologic spectrum of hepatotoxicity associated with the antimicrobials, the underlying infectious disease being treated may itself be associated with hepatic dysfunction and jaundice. This review provides summarized information on several classes of antimicrobial agents, highlighting new agents causing DILI and updating information on older agents.
Are Substance-Use Disorders in the USA a Crime or Crisis? Restorative Justice to Reclaim Voting Rights for Disenfranchised Nonviolent Offenders

There have been conflicting responses from state and federal governments in the USA concerning the penalization of substance use. Some substance users, such as users of crack cocaine, have been harshly criminalized for drug possession in comparison to users of powder cocaine, despite both substances being different forms of the same drug. Furthermore, the government has responded to the contemporary opioid crisis by framing it as a national public health crisis and promoting rehabilitative treatment. The observed disparities concerning the response to substance use in the USA prompts the examination of mass incarceration and subsequent felony disenfranchisement of substance users, which has systematically resulted in social inequalities involving the revocation of voting rights and restrictive criminal records that result in discriminatory and stigmatizing perceptions concerning employment, housing, and education. A brief model for restorative justice is provided inclusive of strategies that social workers can employ to engage in social policy advocacy that supports the reestablishment of voting rights for criminalized substance users.
Utility of adding clinical data to a molecular results portal for improving clinical trial prescreening efficiency.

e18182Background: Bioportals that aggregate patient genomic results and diagnosis data elements can be used as a tool for identifying potentially eligible patients for molecularly-driven clinical t...
Finite automata decomposition for flexible manufacturing systems control and scheduling

Despite the efforts in scheduling and control of flexible manufacturing systems (FMSs) with resource constraints, the current pool of scheduling techniques faces two major drawbacks: modeling and complexity. Modeling is the task of converting the FMS data to a set of information, ready to be processed by a scheduling algorithm. Complexity has a direct relation with the amount of effort required to execute a scheduling algorithm successfully on the information set generated in the modeling phase. In this paper, we use finite automata (FA) theory to develop a modeling formalism and its accompanying scheduling algorithm for control and scheduling of FMS with resource constraints. While the FA-based modeling is completely automatic and does not need any human-designer interference, its related algorithm is both effective and efficient. We use IDEF3 standard to capture the FMS activities and resource data. We propose a three-step procedure. In the first step, the IDEF3 data set is converted to a finite automaton, preserving the activity precedence relationships. In the second step, the resulted finite automaton is decomposed to smaller (in size) scheduling problems that can be independently optimized. In the third step, a heuristic scheduling algorithm is used to handle each problem separately. We applied the developed procedure to 100 problems. The results are satisfactory and promising.