cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A controlled trial of automated classification of negation from clinical notes.

Identification of negation in electronic health records is essential if we are to understand the computable meaning of the records: Our objective is to compare the accuracy of an automated mechanism for assignment of Negation to clinical concepts within a compositional expression with Human Assigned Negation. Also to perform a failure analysis to identify the causes of poorly identified negation (i.e. Missed Conceptual Representation, Inaccurate Conceptual Representation, Missed Negation, Inaccurate identification of Negation). 41 Clinical Documents (Medical Evaluations; sometimes outside of Mayo these are referred to as History and Physical Examinations) were parsed using the Mayo Vocabulary Server Parsing Engine. SNOMED-CT™ was used to provide concept coverage for the clinical concepts in the record. These records resulted in identification of Concepts and textual clues to Negation. These records were reviewed by an independent medical terminologist, and the results were tallied in a spreadsheet. Where questions on the review arose Internal Medicine Faculty were employed to make a final determination. SNOMED-CT was used to provide concept coverage of the 14,792 Concepts in 41 Health Records from John's Hopkins University. Of these, 1,823 Concepts were identified as negative by Human review. The sensitivity (Recall) of the assignment of negation was 97.2% (p < 0.001, Pearson Chi-Square test; when compared to a coin flip). The specificity of assignment of negation was 98.8%. The positive likelihood ratio of the negation was 81. The positive predictive value (Precision) was 91.2% Automated assignment of negation to concepts identified in health records based on review of the text is feasible and practical. Lexical assignment of negation is a good test of true Negativity as judged by the high sensitivity, specificity and positive likelihood ratio of the test. SNOMED-CT had overall coverage of 88.7% of the concepts being negated.
Differential Effects of NGF and NT-3 on Embryonic Trigeminal Axon Growth Patterns

We examined the effects of neurotrophins nerve growth factor (NGF) and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) on trigeminal axon growth patterns. Embryonic (E13–15) wholemount explants of the rat trigeminal pathway including the whisker pads, trigeminal ganglia, and brainstem were cultured in serum-free medium (SFM) or SFM supplemented with NGF or NT-3 for 3 days. Trigeminal axon growth patterns were analyzed with the use of lipophilic tracer DiI. In wholemount cultures grown in SFM, trigeminal axon projections, growth patterns, and differentiation of peripheral and central targets are similar to in vivo conditions. We show that in the presence of NGF, central trigeminal axons leave the tract and grow into the surrounding brainstem regions in the elongation phase without any branching. On the other hand, NT-3 promotes precocious development of short axon collaterals endowed with focal arbors along the sides of the central trigeminal tract. These neurotrophins also affect trigeminal axon growth within the whisker pad. Additionally, we cultured dissociated trigeminal ganglion cells in the presence of NGF, NT-3, or NGF+NT-3. The number of trigeminal ganglion cells, their size distribution under each condition were charted, and axon growth was analyzed following immunohistochemical labeling with TrkA and parvalbumin antibodies. In these cultures too, NGF led to axon elongation and NT-3 to axon arborization. Our in vitro analyses suggest that aside from their survival promoting effects, NGF and NT-3 can differentially influence axon growth patterns of embryonic trigeminal neurons.
Nuclear sieving ofDidymium iridis plasmodia

Abstract The normal diploid plasmodium of the slime moldDidymium iridis can pass through a membrane filter having a uniform pore size of 3 μm and form a new reticulum on the other side; tetraploid plasmodia will not pass through this filter. In similar experiments using senescent plasmodia (which contain both diploid and large polyploid nuclei) only diploid nuclei and cytoplasm pass through the filter. The resultant “filtered” plasmodia live longer than untreated subline plasmodia. Studies involving the transfilter contact of two plasmodia across 1-μm-pore-size Nucleopore filters indicate that heterokyaron incompatibility does not involve a cytoplasmic toxin.
Reliability of laparoscopic compared with hysteroscopic sterilization at 1 year: a decision analysis.

To estimate the probability of successful sterilization after an hysteroscopic or laparoscopic sterilization procedure.An evidence-based clinical decision analysis using a Markov model was performed to estimate the probability of a successful sterilization procedure using laparoscopic sterilization, hysteroscopic sterilization in the operating room, and hysteroscopic sterilization in the office. Procedure and follow-up testing probabilities for the model were estimated from published sources.In the base case analysis, the proportion of women having a successful sterilization procedure on the first attempt is 99% for laparoscopic sterilization, 88% for hysteroscopic sterilization in the operating room, and 87% for hysteroscopic sterilization in the office. The probability of having a successful sterilization procedure within 1 year is 99% with laparoscopic sterilization, 95% for hysteroscopic sterilization in the operating room, and 94% for hysteroscopic sterilization in the office. These estimates for hysteroscopic success include approximately 6% of women who attempt hysteroscopically but are ultimately sterilized laparoscopically. Approximately 5% of women who have a failed hysteroscopic attempt decline further sterilization attempts.Women choosing laparoscopic sterilization are more likely than those choosing hysteroscopic sterilization to have a successful sterilization procedure within 1 year. However, the risk of failed sterilization and subsequent pregnancy must be considered when choosing a method of sterilization.
Expression and Activity of Fyn Mediate Proliferation and Blastic Features of Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

The BCR-ABL1 oncogene is a tyrosine kinase that activates many signaling pathways, resulting in the induction of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Kinase inhibitors, such as imatinib, have been developed for the treatment of CML; however, the terminal, blast crisis phase of the disease remains a clinical challenge. Blast crisis CML is difficult to treat due to resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors, increased genomic instability and acquired secondary mutations. Our recent studies uncovered a role for Fyn in promoting BCR-ABL1 mediated cell growth and sensitivity to imatinib. Here we demonstrate that Fyn contributes to BCR-ABL1 induced genomic instability, a feature of blast crisis CML. Bone marrow cells and mouse embryonic fibroblasts derived from Fyn knockout mice transduced with BCR-ABL1 display slowed growth and clonogenic potential as compared to Fyn wild-type BCR-ABL1 expressing counterparts. K562 cells overexpressing constitutively active Fyn kinase were larger in size and displayed an accumulation of genomic abnormalities such as chromosomal aberrations and polyploidy. Importantly, loss of Fyn protected mouse embryonic fibroblast cells from increased number of chromosomal aberrations and fragments induced by BCR-ABL1. Together, these results reveal a novel role for Fyn in regulating events required for genomic maintenance and suggest that Fyn kinase activity plays a role in the progression of CML to blast crisis.
Localization and Expression of CSF-1 Receptor in Rat Dental Follicle Cells:

Colony-stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1) accelerates tooth eruption in rats and is localized in the dental follicle, a loose connective tissue sac that is necessary for eruption to occur. CSF-1 enhances the cellular events that occur in the follicle prior to eruption--namely, an influx of monocytes into the follicle early post-natally to form the osteoclasts needed to resorb bone for the eruption pathway. Because CSF-1 levels are at a peak at day 3 post-natally, and because CSF-1 has an autocrine effect on its own gene expression, the question remains as to what causes the subsequent decline in CSF-1 protein and mRNA after day 3 post-natally. To determine if the autocrine effect is inhibited through the CSF-1 receptor, analysis of the CSF-1 receptor mRNA levels in cultured dental follicle cells reveals that high concentrations of CSF-1 reduce the gene expression of the CSF-1 receptor. Interleukin 1 alpha, a molecule that enhances CSF-1 gene expression, has no effect on CSF-1 receptor mRNA levels. Immunostaining for the CSF-1 receptor protein shows that it is present in the dental follicle early post-natally and is either absent or greatly reduced by day 10 post-natally. Earlier studies showed that the mRNA levels of the CSF-1 receptor also parallel this time course. Thus, the above results suggest that the feedback inhibition of the autocrine effect of CSF-1 on its own expression is through the effect of CSF-1 inhibiting the translation and transcription of its receptor. In turn, these molecular interactions possibly regulate the cellular events that occur in the follicle prior to and during eruption.
Nicotine Acts Directly on Pituitary GH3 Cells to Inhibit Prolactin Promoter Activity

We have employed the GH3 rat pituitary cell line to investigate whether nicotine can regulate prolactin (PRL) gene expression. Nicotine strongly inhibited (45%) transient expression of a construct containing the first 187 base-pairs of the rat PRL promoter cloned upstream of the chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) gene. This implies that nicotine acts directly on the GH3 cells to inhibit transcription directed by the PRL promoter. Expression of a control reporter construct containing the CAT gene under the control of the RSV promoter was not affected by exposure of the cells to nicotine, demonstrating that the effect of nicotine is promoter-specific. The inhibition by nicotine of PRL promoter activity was not blocked by hexamethonium, suggesting that this effect of nicotine may be mediated by a novel type of nicotine receptor previously described in frog pituitary cells. Nicotine was also observed to yield a concentration-dependent inhibition of the stimulation by thyrotrophin-releasing hormone (TRH) of PRL promoter activity, implying that nicotine can also interfere with hormonal regulation of the PRL gene. These results suggest that the reduced serum PRL levels that result from smoking may originate in part from decreased transcription of the PRL gene resulting from a direct effect of nicotine on pituitary PRL-secreting cells.
Safety Issues Related to Retroviral-Mediated Gene Transfer in Humans

ABSTRACT The first three approved human clinical trials utilizing retroviral-mediated gene transfer are now underway. While this technology holds great promise for the study and treatment of human disease, it also poses a number of safety concerns. In evaluating clinical protocols, potential complications and the likelihood of their occurrence are estimated by review committees so that a risk/benefit assessment can be made. Current knowledge, reviewed in this article, suggests that no acute complications secondary to retroviral-mediated gene transfer are likely, but the possibility of long-term or unforeseen sequelae in patients suggests the need for post-treatment monitoring.
Atomic features of protein-carbohydrate interactions

Abstract The number of well refined X-ray structures of proteins complexed with carbohydrates has continued to increase, especially in the past year. These structures have contributed immensely to our understanding of the features of the atomic interactions between proteins and carbohydrates.
Potential health and economic impact of adding a human papillomavirus vaccine to screening programs.

ContextRecently published results suggest that effective vaccines against cervical cancer—associated human papillomavirus (HPV) may become available within the next decade.ObjectiveTo examine the potential health and economic effects of an HPV vaccine in a setting of existing screening.Design, Setting, and PopulationA Markov model was used to estimate the lifetime (age 12-85 years) costs and life expectancy of a hypothetical cohort of women screened for cervical cancer in the United States. Three strategies were compared: (1) vaccination only; (2) conventional cytological screening only; and (3) vaccination followed by screening. Two of the strategies incorporated a vaccine targeted against a defined proportion of high-risk (oncogenic) HPV types. Screening intervals of 1, 2, 3, and 5 years and starting ages for screening of 18, 22, 24, 26, and 30 years were chosen for 2 of the strategies (conventional cytological screening only and vaccination followed by screening).Main Outcome MeasuresIncremental cost per life-year gained.ResultsVaccination only or adding vaccination to screening conducted every 3 and 5 years was not cost-effective. However, at more frequent screening intervals, strategies combining vaccination and screening were preferred. Vaccination plus biennial screening delayed until age 24 years had the most attractive cost-effectiveness ratio ($44 889) compared with screening only beginning at age 18 years and conducted every 3 years. However, the strategy of vaccination with annual screening beginning at age 18 years had the largest overall reduction in cancer incidence and mortality at a cost of $236 250 per life-year gained compared with vaccination and annual screening beginning at age 22 years. The cost-effectiveness of vaccination plus delayed screening was highly sensitive to age of vaccination, duration of vaccine efficacy, and cost of vaccination.ConclusionsVaccination for HPV in combination with screening can be a cost-effective health intervention, but it depends on maintaining effectiveness during the ages of peak oncogenic HPV incidence. Identifying the optimal age for vaccination should be a top research priority.
Programmable ANalog Device Array (PANDA): A Methodology for Transistor-Level Analog Emulation

The design and development of analog/mixed-signal (AMS) integrated circuits (ICs) is becoming increasingly expensive, complex, and lengthy. Rapid prototyping and emulation of analog ICs will be significant in the design and testing of complex analog systems. A new approach, Programmable ANalog Device Array (PANDA) that maps any AMS design problem to a transistor-level programmable hardware, is proposed. This approach enables fast system level validation and a reduction in post-silicon bugs, minimizing design risk and cost. The unique features of the approach include: 1) transistor-level programmability that emulates each transistor behavior in an analog design, achieving very fine granularity of reconfiguration; 2) programmable switches that are treated as a design component during analog transistor emulating, and optimized with the reconfiguration matrix; and 3) compensation of ac performance degradation through boosting the bias current. Based on these principles, a digitally controlled PANDA platform is designed at 45 nm node that can map AMS modules across 22-90 nm technology nodes. A systematic emulation approach to map any analog transistor to 45 nm PANDA cell is proposed, which achieves transistor level matching accuracy of less than 5% for ID and less than 10% for Rout and Gm. Circuit level analog metrics of a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) emulated by PANDA, match to those of the original designs in 22 and 90 nm nodes with less than a 5% error. Several other 90 and 22 nm analog blocks are successfully emulated by the 45 nm PANDA platform, including a folded-cascode operational amplifier and a sample-and-hold module (S/H).
ANESTHETIC AND ANALGESIC CONSIDERATIONS IN THE EXPERIMENTAL ANIMAL

Many new compounds and combinations of many of the more traditional drugs have been used in a wide range of species. This, plus the rapid development in equipment for inhalational anesthesia, has simplified the restraint, anesthetic, post-surgical, and analgesic management of experimental animals.
Steroidogenic factor I, a key regulator of steroidogenic enzyme expression, is the mouse homolog of fushi tarazu-factor I.

We proposed that a cell-selective regulatory protein coordinately regulates the expression of three enzymes that are required for the biosynthesis of corticosteroids: cholesterol side chain cleavage enzyme, steroid 21-hydroxylase, and the aldosterone synthase isozyme of steroid 11 beta-hydroxylase. In this report, we identify a 53-kilodalton protein, termed steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1), that interacts with the related promoter elements from these steroidogenic enzymes, and we isolate and characterize a cDNA that very likely encodes this protein. We first showed that nuclear extracts from bovine adrenal glands interact with the mouse steroidogenic regulatory elements, forming complexes indistinguishable from those produced by nuclear extracts from mouse Y1 adrenocortical cells. These bovine adrenal extracts were subjected to sequential ion exchange and affinity chromatography to yield a highly enriched preparation of SF-1. The predominant protein in the affinity-purified preparation comigrated with shift ...
A posteriori error analysis for discontinuous finite volume methods of elliptic interface problems

This paper presents two types of a posterior error estimations for discontinuous finite volume methods to elliptic interface problems. One is the residual-based estimator and other one is the recovery-based estimator. For both a posterior error estimators, we establish reliability and efficiency bounds. Numerical experiments are conducted to validate our theoretical conclusions.
The peak atrioventricular pressure gradient to transmitral flow relation: Kinematic model prediction with in vivo validation☆

Abstract Physiologists and cardiologists estimate peak transvalvular pressure gradients ( ΔP ) by Doppler echocardiographic imaging of peak flow velocities using the simplified Bernoulli relationship: ΔP (mm Hg) = 4V 2 (m/s). Because left ventricular filling is initiated by mechanical suction, V can be predicted by the motion of a simple harmonic oscillator by the parametrized diastolic filling formalism that characterizes E-wave contours by 3 unique simple harmonic oscillator parameters: initial displacement ( x o cm); spring constant ( k g/s 2 ); and damping constant ( c g/s). Parametrized diastolic filling predicts peak atrioventricular pressure gradient as kx o , the peak simple harmonic oscillator force. For validation, simultaneous (micromanometric) left ventricular pressure and E-wave data from 19 patients were analyzed. Model-predicted peak gradient ( kx o ) was compared with actual gradient ( ΔP cath ) and with 4V 2 . Multiple linear regression results for all patients yielded highly significant relation between kx o and ΔP cath ( kx o = m 1 ΔP cath + b 1 , where m 1 = 40.7 ± 8.0 dyne/mm Hg, b 1 = 1540 ± 116 dyne, r 2 = 0.97, P 4V 2 and ΔP cath ( 4V 2 = m 2 ΔP cath + b 2 , where m 2 = 0.01 ± 0.03, m 2 /s 2 /mm Hg and b 2 = 2.07 ± 0.44 m 2 /s 2 , P = nonsignificant). We conclude that E-wave analysis by parametrized diastolic filling predicts peak atrioventricular gradients reliably and more accurately than 4V 2 .
On a Defence of Autosegmentalism.

Haile and Mtenje (I988) raise counter-arguments to my criticisms of an autosegmental analysis of Arabic verb morphology and also offer criticisms of the alternative analysis which I presented in Hudson (I986). The Arabic facts and the issues are somewhat complex, and to review them thoroughly here would require repetition of much of the three earlier articles. Perhaps I should trust those who have read all three articles to judge accurately the second in relation to the first and third. A response seems necessary, however, because the issues are important as well as complex, and because Haile and Mtenje do not give a clear or even reasonable presentation of my argument.
Characterizations and Properties of Thyroid Iodoproteins from Severely Iodine-Deficient Rats

The iodoproteins from goitrous rat thyroid glands (300–800 mg), obtained by prolonged (20 months) and severe iodine deficiency, were isolated and characterized. The animals were given a low iodine diet (2 μg 1/100 g diet) containing 125I for 81 days (approach to equilibrium) and then they were pulse—labeled with 131I and 3H—leucine 2 hr prior to sacrifice. Thyroglobulinlike iodoproteins represented only 5% of the total protein in the crude soluble extract with 19 S comprising 90% and 27 S 10%. There was almost no iodine in 19 S while 27 S contained 0.12% iodine. Therefore a large proportion of the iodine stored in the soluble iodoproteins was due to the iodine in the 27 S protein. The turnover of iodine in 27 S, however, was much slower than in 19 S. In these severely iodine deficient animals the distribution of soluble thyroid iodoproteins was not significantly different from that observed in normal glands; the low iodine content, however, affects the stability of thyroglobulin. The iodinefree 19 S was m...
Case report: misdiagnosis of tailgut cyst presenting as recurrent perianal fistula with pelvic abscess ☆

Tailgut cysts are uncommon lesions that usually occur within the presacral space. The relative rarity and nonspecific complaints associated with these lesions often lead to misdiagnosis or unnecessary procedures before the correct diagnosis is made. We describe a case of a 16-year-old female who presented with pelvic pain. She had previously undergone several procedures at an outside institution for recurrent perianal fistula and perirectal abscess. Subsequent evaluation under anesthesia revealed a presacral cystic mass with a well-developed tract within the anorectal ring in the posterior midline. This mass was surgically removed using a combined transanal and posterior sagittal excision technique and was found to be a tailgut cyst upon pathologic evaluation. Tailgut cysts and other presacral masses should be included in the differential for patients with recurrent abscess in the presacral space or fistula within the anal canal. A variety of surgical approaches are available depending on the anatomy of the lesion.
Vibrational and structural mapping of [Os(bpy)3]3+/2+ and [Os(phen)3]3+/2+

Abstract Structural changes between [OsIIL3]2+ and [OsIIIL3]3+ (L: 2,2′-bipyridine; 1,10-phenanthroline) and molecular and electronic structures of the OsIII complexes [OsIII(bpy)3]3+ and [OsIII(phen)3]3+ are discussed in this paper. Mid-infrared spectra in the ν(bpy) and ν(phen) ring stretching region for [OsII(bpy)3](PF6)2, [OsIII(bpy)3](PF6)3, [OsII(phen)3](PF6)2, and [OsIII(phen)3](PF6)3 are compared, as are X-ray crystal structures. Absorption spectra in the UV region for [OsIII(bpy)3](PF6)3 and [OsIII(phen)3](PF6)3 are dominated by very intense absorptions (e = 40 000–50 000 M−1 cm−1) due to bpy and phen intra-ligand π → π∗ transitions. In the visible region, relatively narrow bands with vibronic progressions of ∼1500 cm−1 appear, and have been assigned to bpy or phen-based, spin–orbit coupling enhanced, 1π → 3π∗ electronic transitions. Also present in the visible region are ligand-to-metal charge transfer bands (LMCT) arising from π(bpy) → t2g(OsIII) or π(phen) → t2g(OsIII) transitions. In the near infrared, two broad absorption features appear for oxidized forms [OsIII(bpy)3](PF6)3 and [OsIII(phen)3](PF6)3 arising from dπ–dπ interconfigurational bands characteristic of dπ5OsIII. They are observed at 4580 and 5090 cm−1 for [OsIII(bpy)3](PF6)3 and at 4400 and 4990 cm−1 for [OsIII(phen)3](PF6)3. The bpy and phen infrared vibrational bands shift to higher energy upon oxidation of Os(II) to Os(III). In the cation structure in [OsIII(bpy)3](PF6)3, the OsIII atom resides at a distorted octahedral site, as judged by ∠N–Os–N, which varies from 78.78(22)° to 96.61(22)°. Os–N bond lengths are also in general longer for [OsIII(bpy)3](PF6)3 compared to [OsII(bpy)3](PF6)2 (0.010 A), and for [OsIII(phen)3](PF6)3 compared to [OsII(phen)3](PF6)2 (0.014 A). Structural changes in the ligands between oxidation states are discussed as originating from a combination of dπ(OsII) → π∗ (bpy or phen) backbonding and charge redistribution on the ligands as calculated by natural population analysis.
Central angiotensin II induces thirst-related responses in an amphibian.

Angiotensin II (A-II), a potent inducer of thirst-related behavior in many vertebrate species, was injected into the third ventricle of the brain of the spadefoot toad, Scaphiopus couchii. Following injection of 10 ng A-II the animals demonstrated a significant increase in water absorption response (WR) behavior, in which toads press their ventral skin to a moist surface and absorb water by osmosis. This increase in the frequency of WR behavior was positively correlated with an increase in water gain during a 2-hr period indicating that centrally injected A-II stimulates water intake by this amphibian species. We have previously demonstrated that WR behavior is also induced by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of A-II in several anuran species, including S. couchii. Thus, amphibians, like other vertebrates, demonstrate an increase in water intake in response to either centrally administered or circulating A-II. A second series of experiments was conducted to determine whether the above response to A-II might be secondary to increases in the circulating levels of aldosterone (ALDO) or antidiuretic hormone because the release of both of these hormones has been shown by others to be stimulated by A-II. Scaphiopus couchii injected i.p. with either ALDO or arginine vasotocin in dosages of 1, 10, and 100 micrograms/100 g body weight showed no increase in WR behavior relative to toads injected with saline alone. These results suggest that A-II acts directly on the brain of S. couchii to induce WR behavior.
Quantum effects in a model of cosmological compactification

The quantum effects in a Kaluza-Klein theory with a Robertson-Walker ansatz are studied. Explicit wave functions for this model are obtained, their normalization and certain effects of the boundary conditions used are discussed.
On the unitability of a class of partially ordered rings that have squares positive

In [ 15, Theorem 1 ] it is shown that an I-prime f-ring which has an fsuperunit and in which the square of every element is positive is a domain. In [lo, pp. 5365381 Henriksen and Isbell have shown that a totally ordered ring (domain) R can be embedded in a unital totally ordered ring (domain) if and only if R has a superunit or is infinitesimal. The question arises as to whether or not an I-prime l-ring with squares positive and anfsuperunit can be embedded in a unital I-prime Z-ring with squares positive. In this paper we show that the answer is yes for the large class of generalized semigroup and power series I-rings of Conrad and McCarthy [6]. In fact, we consider the question, more generally, for such a po-ring Z. It is shown that if C is an f-ring with squares positive and an f-superunit, then C can be embedded in a unital po-ring with squares positive and, modulo its nil radical, it can be embedded in a unital Z-ring with squares positive. If R is a lattice-ordered ring (I-ring) and a E R, then a is called an Selement if b A c=O implies la/ h A c=b Ial A c=O. If Tdenotes the set of f-elements of R, then T is a convex I-subring of R, and R is a subdirect product of totally ordered T-T bimodules [13]. If T= R then R is an fring. The element e > 0 of the l-ring R is called a left (right) superunit if exBx (xe>x) for each XER+; and e is a superunit if it is a left and right superunit. R is infinitesimal if x2 0 whenever a > 0 and b > 0; it is l-prime if the product of two nonzero I-ideals is nonzero; and it is I-semiprime if it contains no nonzero nilpotent l-ideals. An l-ideal P of R is an l-prime l-ideal if R/P is an l-prime l-ring. If N(R) is the intersection of the l-prime f-ideals of R, then Diem [S] and Shatalova [12] have shown that R is l-semiprime if and only if N(R) = 0. Let A be a partially ordered set (po-set) with an associative partial multiplication So for some c(, b E A c$ is defined and
Study and characterization of a MEMS micromirror device

In this paper, advances in our study and characterization of a MEMS micromirror device are presented. The micromirror device, of 510 mm characteristic length, operates in a dynamic mode with a maximum displacement on the order of 10 mm along its principal optical axis and oscillation frequencies of up to 1.3 kHz. Developments are carried on by analytical, computational, and experimental methods. Analytical and computational nonlinear geometrical models are developed in order to determine the optimal loading-displacement operational characteristics of the micromirror. Due to the operational mode of the micromirror, the experimental characterization of its loading-displacement transfer function requires utilization of advanced optical metrology methods. Optoelectronic holography (OEH) methodologies based on multiple wavelengths that we are developing to perform such characterization are described. It is shown that the analytical, computational, and experimental approach is effective in our developments.
Swing Dynamics and Input-Shaping Control of Human-Operated Double-Pendulum Boom Cranes

Boom cranes are used for numerous material-handling and manufacturing processes in factories, shipyards, and construction sites. All cranes lift their payloads by hoisting them up using overhead suspension cables. Boom cranes move payloads by slewing their base about a vertical axis, luffing their boom in and out from the base, and changing the length of the suspension cable. These motions induce payload oscillation. The problem of payload oscillation becomes more challenging when the payload exhibits double-pendulum dynamics that produce two varying frequencies of oscillation. This paper studies the swing dynamics of such cranes. It also applies input shaping to reduce the two-mode oscillatory dynamics. Experiments confirm several of the interesting dynamic effects.
Effect of iron on growth and toxin production byClostridium botulinum type A

The kinetics of growth and toxin production by the Hall strain ofClostridium botulinum type A was examined in the presence of various concentrations of iron (0.1 to 10.1 μg/ml, 1.8 to 182 μM) in a chemically defined medium. At concentrations below 0.5 μg/ml, iron insufficiency limited the growth of the organism. The maximum amount of toxin produced varied by only twofold (6×105 to 1.2×106 mouse median lethal doses/ml per A540 unit) over the 100-fold range of iron concentrations used. High concentrations of iron did not reduce the elaboration of botulinum toxin, in contrast with its marked inhibitory effects on the production of many bacterial toxins. Iron is unlikely to be a regulatory effector for the formation of botulinum toxin by the Hall strain of type A.
A regiospecific synthesis of (±)-decarbomethoxyaklavinone

Abstract Condensation of the dilithio derivative of 3-methoxybenzanilide with the bicyclic ketoaldehyde 12 leads to a convergent and 100% regiospecific synthesis of (±)-decarbomethoxyaklavinone ( 19 ).
Determination of starches and dietary fiber polysaccharides in cooked dried beans : Comparison of different temperatures and dimethyl sulfoxide treatments

Cooked dried beans contain an appreciable amount of starches that escape digestion by human gastrointestinal enzymes. Such “resistant starch” possesses physiological characteristics similar to thos...
Extending Minimal Varieties

Introduction The purpose of this paper is to study the general problem of extending minimal varieties across closed subsets in riemannian manifolds. The analogous theory in the complex analytic case falls into two categories: extension theorems for functions (Hartog's phenomenon) and extension theorems for varieties (the RemmertStein-Shiffman Theorem). The discussion here splits along similar lines. In w 1 we analyze the Bers, deGiorgi-Stampacchia results on removing singularities of solutions to the non-parametric minimal surface equation in codimension one. This theorem does not carry over directly to higher codimension. However, certain parts of their argument can be generalized and lead to a strong reflection principle for minimal submanifolds and a uniqueness result for minimal cones. Also a theorem for surfaces in general codimension is proved. The remainder of the paper is devoted to proving extension theorems of the following type for varieties. Let M be a riemannian manifold and A ~ M a compact subset of sufficient smoothness and appropriate Hausdorff dimension. Then any k-dimensional minimal variety which is stationary (or area minimizing) in M A extends to a minimal variety which is stationary (or, resp., area minimizing) in M. The proof falls into two parts. The first is to show that the mass of the variety is finite across A so that an extension exists (w 3). The second is to prove the properties of minimality for the extension. The main conclusions are stated precisely in w 5.
Development of a Crack Sealant Adhesion Test (CSADT) Specification for Hot-Poured Bituminous Sealants

Current crack sealant specifications utilize a simple empirical bond test [ASTM D5329, “Standard Test Methods for Sealants and Fillers, Hot-Applied, for Joints and Cracks in Asphaltic and Portland Cement Concrete Pavements”] to measure a sealant’s ability to adhere to concrete briquettes. However, no correlation exists between the results of this standard test and a sealant’s field performance. To bridge the gap between sealants’ fundamental properties and field performance, performance-based guidelines for the selection of hot-poured crack sealants have been developed. This paper proposes a new test procedure to help assess the capability of sealants to adhere to the sides of cracks in pavement. The proposed crack sealant adhesion direct tensile (CSADT) test procedure calls for the use of a direct tensile tester with modifications to the end pieces and the specimen holder. Sealant is confined between two aluminum pieces, which will move apart at 0.05 mm/s until failure occurs. Failure load and the displacement at failure are recorded and then used to assess the sealant’s adhesion capability. A crack created on one side of the assembly during specimen preparation determines the initial failure location and ensures that the failure occurs at the interface and not within the sealant. The specimen preparation is designed to simulate sealant installation, and experimental conditions have been developed to represent crack openings during pavement contraction in cold weather. The repeatability of the suggested procedure was acceptable with an average coefficient of variation of 10.9 %. No significant difference existed between two operators or between two test setups.
Bird Populations of the Highlands (North Carolina) Plateau in Relation to Plant Succession and Avian Invasion

Birds, during the breeding season at least, are proving to be favorable subjects for the study of population dynamics in nature. Their conspicuousness and territorial behavior aid population measurements and make birds especially promising material for the study of competition, habitat selection, niche relations, and the relation of population density to plant succession, distributional changes, and to speciation. The study of wild bird populations in North America in recent years has been influenced by two important trends: (1) the development of the spotmapping technic (see summary by Williams, '47), and (2) the increasing emphasis on population measurements of definitely delimited areas which are ecologically uniform or represent single, rather than mixed, communities. The annual "Breeding Bird Census" sponsored by Audubon Magazine, and subsequently Audubon Field Notes, for the past 12 years has particularly accelerated the latter trend. Although population estimates made with comparable technic are now available for a variety of communities in many biotic regions of North America, many gaps, both regional and ecological, must be filled before the student of populations can profitably analyze the results for elucidation of the basic problems mentioned above. Population measurements of major communities of the southeastern United States are especially needed, since few censuses from this region have been published. During
Calibration With Respect to the Beam Direction of a Non Contact Point Sensor

Accurate calibration is required for high-precision mechanical stages used for inspection of mechanical parts. Because of the high cost involved in purchasing and maintaining Coordinate Measuring Machines (CMM), it is common that a dedicated or reconfigurable inspection machine is designed and built to give a solution for a specific inspection task. High precision stages and high precision sensors that are needed for this task can be purchased as off the shelf products. However, when precision is needed, the assembly of the sensor to a linear stage becomes a complex task. This task becomes even more complex when using a non-contact probe since them are more unknowns added to the problem. In this paper we give a method for calculating the angle between the probe beam and the motion stage. The calculation is done directly from the measurements obtained by the non calibrated system. Using the calculated angle, the inverse of the affine transform resulting from the lack of perpendicularity between the probe beam and the motion stage can be determined and can be fixed in software. The method utilizes a high precision cylinder for the task. By using the proposed method, the assembly of a non contact probe to a linear motion stage becomes as simple as bolting down the bolts on the sensor connection panel. The method has been verified by computer simulation, with and without random noise added to the measurements. The results are presented via graphs and tables at the end of this paper.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
HPLC determination of acyclovir and zidovudine in maternal plasma, amniotic fluid, fetal, and placental tissues using ultra-violet detection.

ABSTRACT A sensitive and reproducible HPLC assay has been developed and validated for the separation and analysis of acyclovir and zidovudine from plasma, amniotic fluid, placental homogenate, and fetal homogenate. Acyclovir (9-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)-methyl]-guanosine, ACV) is the oldest and most widely used compound to treat episodes of genital herpes (herpes simplex virus-2, HSV-2). Zidovudine (3-azido-3′deoxythymidine, AZT) is the premier reverse transcriptase inhibitor released for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Both of these drugs have been used in pregnant women to prevent the vertical (mother-to-child) transmission of their respective viruses. This gradient HPLC assay aids in the quantitation of these drugs from the matrices associated with pregnancy (maternal plasma, amniotic fluid, fetal tissue, and placenta). The mobile phase consists of 30 mM acetate/ citrate buffer ( pH 3) and methanol. The plasma and amniotic fluid samples are prepared using a combination of protein precipit...
Yeast mitochondrial tRNATrp can recognize the nonsense codon UGA.

DNA sequence analysis of mitochondrial genes that code for some mitochondrial proteins has suggested that the opal terminator, UGA, is used as a sense codon in mitochondria1–4. The complete sequences of both the yeast2,4 and human3 genes coding for cytochrome oxidase subunit II contain UGA codons in the reading frame. When the protein sequences predicted by these DNA sequences are compared with the known protein sequence of bovine mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit II, there are regions of homology, in which UGA codons correspond to tryptophan residues. Therefore it has been suggested that UGA specifies tryptophan in the mitochondrial code. We have isolated a yeast mitochondrial tRNATrp and used it to locate the mitochondrial tRNATrp gene in pBR322-mitochondrial DNA recombinants. DNA sequence analysis of this gene revealed that the mitochondrial tRNATrp anticodon is 5′UCA3′. Because there is a U in the wobble position, this tRNA can recognize and insert tryptophan into a growing polypeptide chain in response to the nonsense codon UGA.
A Task-Based Ontology Approach to Automate Geospatial Data Retrieval

This paper presents a task-based and Semantic Web approach to find geospatial data. The purpose of the project is to improve data discovery and facilitate automatic retrieval of data sources. The work presented here helps create the beginnings of a Geospatial Semantic Web. The intent is to create a system that provides appropriate results to application users who search for data when facing tasks such as emergency response or planning activities. In our task-based system, we formalize the relationships between types of tasks, including emergency response, and types of data sources needed for those tasks. Domain knowledge, including criteria describing data sources, is recorded in an ontology language. With the ontology, reasoning can be done to infer various types of information including which data sources meet specific criteria for use in particular tasks. The vision presented here is that in an emergency, for example, a user accesses a Web-based application and selects the type of emergency and the geographic area. The application then returns the types and locations (URLs) of the specific geospatial data needed. We explore the abilities and limitations of the OWL Web Ontology Language along with other Semantic Web technologies for this purpose.
K+ K+ correlations at 14.6-A/GeV/c

Abstract We present preliminary results for the one-dimensional K + K + Bose-Einstein correlation function for centrally triggered interactions of 14.6 A·GeV/c 28 Si on 197 Au. After correcting for the Lorentz transformation properties of the correlation function, the K + source radius is the same, within error bars, as the π + source radius measured by the same experiment.
An NFKB1 promoter insertion/deletion polymorphism influences risk and outcome in acute respiratory distress syndrome among Caucasians.

BACKGROUND Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) is required for transcription of many pro-inflammatory genes and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We hypothesized that a known functional polymorphism in the promoter of the NFKB1 gene may affect susceptibility to and outcome from ARDS. METHODS A case control study was conducted among a cohort of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with risk factors for the development of ARDS. 379 patients with ARDS and 793 at-risk controls were studied. Patients were followed for 60 days with development of ARDS as a primary outcome; ARDS-related mortality and organ dysfunction were secondary outcomes. RESULTS Patients homozygous for the 4 base pair deletion in the promoter of NFKB1 (del/del) did not have an increased odds ratio (OR) of developing ARDS in unadjusted analysis but were more likely to develop ARDS in the presence of a significant interaction between the del/del genotype and age (OR 5.21, 95% CI 1.35-20.0). In multivariate analysis, patients with ARDS and the del/del genotype also had increased 60 day mortality (HR 1.54, 95% CI 1.01-2.36) and more severe daily organ dysfunction (P<.001) when compared to ARDS patients with other genotypes. CONCLUSION The del/del genotype is associated with an age-dependent increase in odds of developing ARDS. Patients with the del/del genotype and ARDS also have increased hazard of 60 day mortality and more organ failure.
Inhibition ofSchizachyrium scoparium (poaceae) by the allelochemical hydrocinnamic acid.

Bare zones around shrubs in the Florida scrub indicate the possibility of allelopathy by shrubs controlling the distribution of grasses invading from adjacent sandhills. The allelochemical, hydrocinnamic acid, has been identified as a breakdown product of ceratiolin, which is released from the shrubCeratiola ericoides. Here, hydrocinnamic acid (HCA) was shown to have a strongly inhibitory effect on shoot and root biomass of the grassSchizachyrium scoparium in greenhouse bioassays lasting 4.5 months. Linear increases in the concentration of HCA from 0 to 200 ppm, applied biweekly, resulted in exponential decreases in root and shoot biomass at harvest. Plants grown at 200 ppm HCA had root and shoot biomasses 13% and 17% of controls, respectively. Concurrent investigation of reduced nutrient levels indicated greater inhibition by HCA in a reduced nitrogen (N) treatment and in a reduced potassium (K) treatment relative to HCA inhibition in the full nutrient treatment. The negative slopes of the regressions of log of biomass on HCA concentration were steepest in the reduced N and reduced K treatments. Root and shoot biomasses in reduced N treatments were 20–43% and 24–34% less than the respective biomasses in the full nutrient treatment. Comparable reductions in the reduced K treatment were as much as 19% and 10% for root and shoot biomasses, respectively. The effects of HCA in a reduced phosphorus (P) treatment and in a reduced P and K treatment were not significantly different from the effects of HCA in the full nutrient treatment. Extraction of the soils at harvest indicated no buildup of HCA at the end of the experiment. The sensitivity ofSchizachyrium scoparium to HCA in general and increased sensitivity under low N and low K solutions may be important in the Florida scrub community where levels of N and K are known to be low.
Reaching beyond Uncle William: A century of William James in theory and in life.

During the hundred years since his death, James's works have developed a reputation for literary flair and personal appeal, but also for inconsistency and lack of rigor; this has contributed to more admiration than influence. He had a talent rare among intellectuals for popularization of complex ideas. Meanwhile, his difficult coming of age and his compelling personality have contributed to an iconic status as a kind of uncle figure in philosophy, psychology, religious studies, and more fields that he influenced, and in American intellectual life in general, rather than as a major philosopher and scholar. Often reflecting these ways of depicting James, his biographies have gone through three phases: in the early-to-middle twentieth century, emphasis on his development of theories as solutions to personal problems; since the 1960s, increased scrutiny of deep troubles in his private life; and recently renewed attention to intellectual factors especially as amplified by greater appreciation of James's theories in the last generation. Now, with so much knowledge and insight achieved for understanding his personal life and his contributions to many fields, a next frontier for biographical work will be in synthesis of these strands of the life of William James. Recent and prospective work offers the promise of finding deeper meaning and implications in his work beyond, and even through, his informal style, and with integration of his apparent inconsistencies.
Morphological transformation using optical symbolic substitution

Phase-only hologram based optical symbolic substitution architecture is used for realizing digital-optical morphological transformations. Accordingly, symbolic substitution schemes are applied to binary images to perform erosion, dilation, opening, and closing operations.