cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pharmacology of Systemic Antifungal Agents

Traditionally, many invasive fungal infections were associated with a poor prognosis, because effective therapeutic options were limited. The recent development of new antifungal agents has significantly contributed to the successful treatment of fungal diseases. These drugs offer novel mechanisms of action and expanded spectrums of activity over traditional treatment options. However, with these new agents comes the need for increased awareness of the potential interactions and toxicities associated with these drugs. Therefore, an understanding of the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of the classes of antifungal compounds is vital for the effective management of invasive fungal infections. This review provides a summary of the pharmacologic principles involved in treatment of fungal diseases. The number of agents available to treat invasive fungal infections has increased by 30% since the turn of the millennium. Although that statistic is impressive, it brings the total number of approved systemic antifungal drugs to only 14 [1], with the potential for 1 more product to possibly emerge this year. These recent additions have provided clinicians with a tool previously lacking in the management of these life-threatening infections: therapeutic alternatives. Along with new options, however, comes the need to understand the uniqueness of each agent, including its role in therapy, toxicity profile, and interactions with concomitant medications. To attain the maximum effect from these agents, clinicians should also become familiar with strategies to optimize efficacy through an understanding of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties. These characteristics are unique for each class of antifungal drug and even for each member within a class. In many cases, this variability is not subtle and merits careful attention.
Contact Resistance Measurements in GaAs MESFET's and MODFET's by the Magneto‐TLM Technique

Le modele de la ligne de transmission pour la mesure de la resistance de contact des contacts plans est ameliore: 1) par l'addition du champ magnetique, qui permet de mesurer la mobilite et la concentration des porteurs de charge dans le materiau massif et la mobilite des porteurs de charge en dessous du contact; 2) par l'extension au cas de deux couches, ce qui permet d'appliquer le modele aux transistors a effet de champ a dopage module (MODFET). Application a un MESFET en GaAs et a un MODFET en AlGaAs/InGaAs. Dans ce dernier cas, on constate que les electrons dans InGaAs qui se trouvent directement en dessous du contact en Au/Ge/Ni recuit ont une mobilite inferieure a celle des porteurs de charge dans la masse, tout en conservant leur caractere bidimensionnel
Anode Structure Degradation Model for Planar-SOFC Configuration Under Fuel Gas Contaminants

Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) is one of the enabling technologies that are being extensively researched for clean power generation from coal-derived syngas. Anode structural degradation is one of the problems that limit the SOFCs operation lifetime and it is further aggravated by some common contaminants found in coal syngas such as phosphine. An accurate model for predicting the degradation patterns inside an SOFC anode operating under different conditions will be an effective tool for advancement of this technology. In this study, a structural durability model developed earlier for button SOFC anodes is extended to simulate the planar-SOFC anodes. The model accounts for thermo-mechanical and fuel gas contaminants effects on the anode material properties to predict evolution, in space and time, of degradation patterns inside the anode and consequently its lifetime. The temperature field and contaminant concentration distribution inside the SOFC anode are the required inputs for the degradation model which are obtained from DREAM-SOFC: a multi-physics code for SOFC modeling. Due to larger active areas compared to button cell, planar-SOFCs bear greater spatial and temporal temperature gradients which lead to higher thermo-mechanical degradation. Moreover, fuel contaminants are distributed on the anode surface which leads to non-uniform microstructure degradation along the fuel flow. For the case of co-flow configuration, anode thermo-mechanical degradation is severe at the anode-electrolyte interface at the fuel outlet. Whereas the fuel gas contaminants effects on the anode microstructure begin at the fuel inlet and propagate through the anode thickness and along the fuel flow. This research will be useful to establish control parameters to achieve desired service life of SOFC stacks working under coal syngas.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Motion-sensitive cortex and motion semantics in American Sign Language.

Abstract Previous research indicates that motion-sensitive brain regions are engaged when comprehending motion semantics expressed by words or sentences. Using fMRI, we investigated whether such neural modulation can occur when the linguistic signal itself is visually dynamic and motion semantics is expressed by movements of the hands. Deaf and hearing users of American Sign Language (ASL) were presented with signed sentences that conveyed motion semantics (“The deer walked along the hillside.”) or were static, conveying little or no motion (“The deer slept along the hillside.”); sentences were matched for the amount of visual motion. Motion-sensitive visual areas (MT +) were localized individually in each participant. As a control, the Fusiform Face Area (FFA) was also localized for the deaf participants. The whole-brain analysis revealed static (locative) sentences engaged regions in left parietal cortex more than motion sentences, replicating previous results implicating these regions in comprehending spatial language for sign languages. Greater activation was observed in the functionally defined MT + ROI for motion than static sentences for both deaf and hearing signers. No modulation of neural activity by sentence type was observed in the FFA. Deafness did not affect modulation of MT + by motion semantics, but hearing signers exhibited stronger neural activity in MT + for both sentence types, perhaps due to differences in exposure and/or use of ASL. We conclude that top down modulation of motion-sensitive cortex by linguistic semantics is not disrupted by the visual motion that is present in sign language sentences.
Modulating N-versus O-arylation in pyrazolone-aryl halide couplings

The regioselective, copper-catalyzed coupling of a tautomeric pyrazolone/pyrazole with 2-halopyridines was investigated. Conditions were developed to preferentially form either the N-aryl or O-aryl product.
Fast computation of the covariance of MAP reconstructions of PET images

We develop an approximate theoretical formula for fast computation of the covariance of PET images reconstructed using maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimation. The results assume a Poisson likelihood for the data and a quadratic prior on the image. The covariance for each voxel is computed using 2D FFTs and is a function of a single data dependent parameter. This parameter is computed using a modified backprojection. For a small region of interest (ROI), the correlation can be assumed to be locally stationary so that computation of the variance of an ROI can be performed very rapidly. Previous approximate formulae for the variance of MAP estimators have performed poorly in areas of low activity since they do not account for the non- negativity constraints that are routinely used in MAP algorithms. Here a `truncated Gaussian' model is used to compensate for the effect of the non-negativity constraints. Accuracy of the theoretical expressions is evaluated using both Monte Carlo simulations and a multiple-frame 15O- water brain study. The Monte Carlo studies show that the truncated Gaussian model is effective in compensating for the effect of the non-negativity constraint. These results also show good agreement between Monte Carlo covariances and the theoretical approximations. The 15O-water brain study further confirms the accuracy of the theoretical approximations.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Concerning the molecular weight, shape, and size of polyglucose isolated from HeLa cells

Abstract Light-scattering measurements were made on a preparation of polyglucose isolated from HeLa cells. The molecular weight was determined, from a Zimm plot of the data, to be 4.6·10 6 . The character of the angular dependence of the particle-scattering factor suggests the shape of the particle in solution with 779 A gyration radius approximates that of a rigid rod, 2700 A in length with a thickness of 50 A. By quantitative electron microscopy, using reference latex spheres, the molecular weight was estimated to be 1.35·10 6 . Electron micrographs show the preparation when air-dried on a collodion membrane to be composed of relatively uniform spheroid particles, approx. 300 A in diameter.
Role of the Pulmonologist in Ordering Post-Procedure Molecular Markers in Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Implications for Personalized Medicine

In the growing era of personalized medicine for the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), it is becoming increasingly important that sufficient quality and quantity of tumor tissue are available for morphologic diagnosis and molecular analysis. As new treatment options emerge that might require more frequent and possibly higher volume biopsies, the role of the pulmonologist will expand, and it will be important for pulmonologists to work within a multidisciplinary team to provide optimal therapeutic management for patients with NSCLC. In this review, we discuss the rationale for individualized treatment decisions for patients with NSCLC, molecular pathways and specific molecular predictors relevant to personalized NSCLC therapy, assay technologies for molecular marker analysis, and specifics regarding tumor specimen selection, acquisition, and handling. Moreover, we briefly address issues regarding racial and socioeconomic disparities as they relate to molecular testing and treatment decisions, and cost considerations for molecular testing and targeted therapies in NSCLC. We also propose a model for an institution-based multidisciplinary team, including oncologists, pathologists, pulmonologists, interventional radiologists, and thoracic surgeons, to ensure adequate material is available for cytological and histological studies and to standardize methods of tumor specimen handling and processing in an effort to provide beneficial, individualized therapy for patients with NSCLC.
Strain-induced crystallization in elongated polyisobutylene elastomers

Abstract Elastomeric networks were prepared from a sample of polyisobutylene having 2 mol% isoprene units as unsaturated sites for free-radical crosslinking. Four samples having different degrees of crosslinking were obtained by peroxide thermolysis, and were then studied with regard to their thermoelastic properties in elongation. Each network strip was elongated at 338 K to ensure that it was completely amorphous, and then held at this constant length. The temperature was then slowly decreased at intervals, and the equilibrium value of the elastic force recorded for each temperature. The temperatures at which crystallization was observed from changes in the stress-temperature dependence were taken to be approximate melting points. The temperature range over which crystallization occurred was found to narrow considerably with increase in elongation. It was found that at lower elongations, the nominal melting points increased gradually with increase in elongation, while at higher elongations, their dependence on elongation became linear and more pronounced. The dependence of the melting points on the molecular weights between crosslinks and on strain were documented, and then compared with relevant theory. For each degree of crosslinking, estimated degrees of crystallinity were found to increase substantially and linearly with increase in elongation.
The Effect of Aminothiadiazole on Glycogenesis and Glycogenolysis in Fetal and Neonatal Rat Liver

The effect of the teratogen 2-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazole on glyco- genesis and glycogenolysis was investigated in the fetal and neonatal rat liver. At day 15,16, or 17 of gestation (sperm day = day 0) pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats received a single IP injection of an aqueous solution of aminothiadiazole. Dosages used were teratogenic (100 mgkg maternal body weight) and nonter- atogenic (10 mgkg). At day 16 some rats received nicotinamide (100 mg/rat) in addition to a teratogenic dose of aminothiadiazole. Livers were recovered for assay at fetal day 20 and postnatal day 1. Only at day 16 did a teratogenic dose induce a significant depression in the fetal activity of glycogen synthetase (to 49.6% of control activity) and glucose-6-phosphatase (to 72.2% of control activity), and in glycogen accumulation (to 72.6% of control accumulation). At day 15, a teratogenic dose significantly depressed glucose-6-phosphatase activ- ity but not glycogen synthetase activity or glycogen accumulation. Nicotina- mide, given immediately after aminothiadiazole, was effective in blocking the inhibition. Teratogenic treatment had no effect on the postnatal activity of glucose-6-phosphatase. Apparently some event associated with birth releases the enzyme from its prenatal inhibition. These results demonstrate a parallel- ism between the perturbing effect of aminothiadiazole on biochemical devel- opment and morphological development with respect to time of insult, dose response, and protection with its antiteratogen. The mechanism of action whereby aminothiadiazole depresses the activity of glycogen synthetase and glucose-6-phosphatase remains to be determined.
TENDON TRANSFERS TO THE HAND IN BRACHIAL PALSY.

Abstract Sixteen cases in which tendon transfers were performed at the Mayo Clinic for paralysis of the hand due to lesions of the brachial plexus were reviewed. A classification is suggested, which aids in the evaluation and treatment of the problem. Results were gratifying and the procedures were found helpful, even in cases of severe paralysis.
Type V Collagen Controls the Initiation of Collagen Fibril Assembly

Vertebrate collagen fibrils are heterotypically composed of a quantitatively major and minor fibril collagen. In non-cartilaginous tissues, type I collagen accounts for the majority of the collagen mass, and collagen type V, the functions of which are poorly understood, is a minor component. Type V collagen has been implicated in the regulation of fibril diameter, and we reported recently preliminary evidence that type V collagen is required for collagen fibril nucleation (Wenstrup, R. J., Florer, J. B., Cole, W. G., Willing, M. C., and Birk, D. E. (2004) J. Cell. Biochem. 92, 113–124). The purpose of this study was to define the roles of type V collagen in the regulation of collagen fibrillogenesis and matrix assembly. Mouse embryos completely deficient in pro-α1(V) chains were created by homologous recombination. The col5a1–/– animals die in early embryogenesis, at approximately embryonic day 10. The type V collagen-deficient mice demonstrate a virtual lack of collagen fibril formation. In contrast, the col5a1+/– animals are viable. The reduced type V collagen content is associated with a 50% reduction in fibril number and dermal collagen content. In addition, relatively normal, cylindrical fibrils are assembled with a second population of large, structurally abnormal collagen fibrils. The structural properties of the abnormal matrix are decreased relative to the wild type control animals. These data indicate a central role for the evolutionary, ancient type V collagen in the regulation of fibrillogenesis. The complete dependence of fibril formation on type V collagen is indicative of the critical role of the latter in early fibril initiation. In addition, this fibril collagen is important in the determination of fibril structure and matrix organization.
Weak extremely-low-frequency magnetic field-induced regeneration anomalies in the planarian Dugesia tigrina

We recently reported that cephalic regeneration in the planarian Dugesia tigrina was significantly delayed in populations exposed continuously to combined parallel DC and AC magnetic fields. This effect was consistent with hypotheses suggesting an underlying resonance phenomenon. We report here, in a parallel series of investigations on the same model system, that the incidence of regeneration anomalies presenting as tumor-like protuberances also increases significantly (P < .001) in association with exposure to weak 60 Hz magnetic fields, with peak intensities ranging between 1.0 and 80.0 μT. These anomalies often culminate in the complete disaggregation of the organism. Similar to regeneration rate effects, the incidence of regeneration anomalies is specifically dependent upon the planaria possessing a fixed orientation with respect to the applied magnetic field vectors. However, unlike the regeneration rate effects, the AC magnetic field alone, in the absence of any measurable DC field, is capable of producing these anomalies. Moreover, the incidence of regeneration anomalies follows a clear dose-response relationship as a function of AC magnetic field intensity, with the threshold for induced electric field intensity estimated at 5 μV/m. The addition of either 51.1 or 78.4 μT DC magnetic fields, applied in parallel combination with the AC field, enhances the appearance of anomalies relative to the 60 Hz AC field alone, but only at certain AC field intensities. Thus, whereas our previous study of regeneration rate effects appeared to involve exclusively resonance interactions, the regeneration anomalies reported here appear to result primarily from Faraday induction coupling. These results together with those reported previously point to two distinct physiological effects produced in regenerating planaria by exposure to weak extremely-low-frequency (ELF) magnetic fields. They further suggest that the planarian, which has recently been identified elsewhere as an excellent system for use in teratogenic investigations involving chemical teratogens, might be used similarly in teratogenic investigations involving ELF magnetic fields. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Carbon monoxide effects on calcium levels in vascular smooth muscle

Previously we showed that carbon monoxide (CO) relaxes vascular smooth muscle in the working heart and thoracic aorta preparations perfused with hemoglobin-free, Krebs-Henseleit (KH) solution. The CO-induced relaxation was not caused by hypoxia, nor was it mediated by adrenergic influences, adenosine, or prostaglandins. In these studies the effect of CO on calcium (Ca++) concentrations in vascular smooth muscle was determined using 45Ca as a tracer. Isolated rat thoracic aorta segments were incubated with 45Ca and gassed with O2, N2, or CO for 60 min. Verapamil was used to verify the effectiveness of the test system. Ca++ concentrations were 488 +/- 35 and 515 +/- 26 mM/g tissue (X +/- SE) in aortic rings gassed with O2 and N2, respectively. CO reduced Ca++ concentrations significantly (P less than 0.01) by 29% to 369 +/- 18 mM/g tissue. Verapamil treatment reduced Ca++ concentrations by 40% to 314 +/- 23 mM/g tissue. These results suggest that CO relaxes vascular smooth muscle and dilates blood vessels by decreasing Ca++ concentrations in vascular smooth muscle.
Clarification and review of Lepidopilum affine and L. grevilleanum (Callicostaceae)

Lepidopilum grevilleanum Mitt., long considered a synonym ofL. affine C. Mull., is a distinct and rare species of western Ecuador.Lepidopilum affine is widespread, presently known from the western and northern Amazon basin, Atlantic region of northern South America, and the Pacific coastal region of Central America. Several new synonyms are proposed forLepidopilum affine: L. allionii Broth.,L. ambiguum Broth.,L. antisanense Bartr.,L. mittenii C. Mull.,L. obtusulum C. Mull., andL. subobtusulum Broth.Lepidopilum pulcherrimum Steere is a synonym ofL. grevilleanum.
Electrical substation service-area estimation using cellular automata: an initial report

The service areas for electric power substations can be estimated using a Cellular Automata (CA) model. The CA model is a discrete, iterative process whereby substations acquire service area by claiming neighboring cells. The service area expands from a substation until a neighboring substation service area is met or the substation`s total capacity or other constraints are reached. The CA-model output is dependent on the rule set that defines cell interactions. The rule set is based on a hierarchy of quantitative metrics that represent real-world factors such as land use and population density. Together, the metrics determine the rate of cell acquisition and the upper bound for service area size. Assessing the CA-model accuracy requires comparisons to actual service areas. These actual service areas can be extracted from distribution maps. Quantitative assessment of the CA-model accuracy can be accomplished by a number of methods. Some are as simple as finding the percentage of cells predicted correctly, while others assess a penalty based on the distance from an incorrectly predicted cell to its correct service area. This is an initial report of a work in progress.
Specific isotopic labeling of sugars: Applications in mass‐spectral analysis. The mass spectrum of 1,6‐anhydro‐2,3‐O‐iso‐Propylidene‐β‐D‐talopyranose

Derivatives of 1,6-anhydro-2,3-O-isopropylidene-β-D-talopyranose (I) specifically deuterated at C-3 (II), at C-4 (III), at C-3 and C-4 (IV), and in the isopropylidene group (V) have been examined by high-resolution, electron-impact mass spectrometry. From the elemental compositions of the fragment ions, the mass-number shifts upon deuterium incorporation, and analysis of metastable transitions, it was possible to identify the origin of the hydrogen atoms in all fragments formed from I and to present a complete scheme of fragmentation pathways undergone by this molecule.
Historical data-driven state estimation for electric power systems

This paper is motivated by major needs for accurate on-line state estimation (SE) in the emerging electrical energy systems; accurate state and topology are needed to support operator's decisions as system conditions vary both during normal conditions for enhanced efficiency and during contingency conditions to ensure reliable operations. We propose a new SE method which is based on a combined use of informative historical data with the extended state space formulation for managing the nonlinear nature of AC power flow equations and related numerical problems. Specifically, the approach comprises two stages. First, based on historical data maximum-likelihood parameter estimation is conducted to update model parameters. The second stage utilizes these estimated model parameters and on-line measurements to estimate the state. Instead of using the extended Kalman Filter we are using a Kalman Filter in a model-based physically meaningful kernel feature space. This leads to ax two-stage Kalman Filter which can overcome problems created by the occasional missing data or data available at different rates (SCADA and PMU data); therefore, we claim that its performance is highly robust. This claim is confirmed by the simulation results performed for several IEEE test systems which show significant improvements over the performance of both the static SE with Newton's method and the extended Kalman Filter SE approach; once the parameters are learned, the computational time is smaller than the currently used SE, making it feasible in operations.
Family and Class: the Household Economy of Languedoc Winegrowers, 1830-1870:

This article addresses the debate over the peasant household by using the example of a French wine commune to challenge the notion of the universal nuclear family. Household organization and family demographic patterns varied distinctively among laborers farmers and landowners in this commune in the nineteenth century. The influence of inheritance marriage patterns fertility and work patterns on household organization is explained. It is also found that "extended households increased in number between 1836 and 1866. Far from disappearing with modernization extended households enabled some families to adapt to market forces by mobilizing household resources and labor in new ways." (EXCERPT)
Inés Lucía Cifuentes (1954–2013)

Ines Lucia Cifuentes, seismologist and educator, well known for her study of the great Chilean earthquake of 1960 and for developing science-based teacher-training programs, died on 16 December 2013 at her home in Takoma Park, Md., after a long battle with breast cancer. She was 59.
Acquiring and Inhibiting Prepotent Responses in Schizophrenia Event-Related Brain Potentials and Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Background: Schizophrenia is associated with deficits in using context to establish prepotent responses in complex paradigms and failures to inhibit prepotent responses once established. Objective: To assess prepotent response establishment and inhibition in patients with schizophrenia using event-related brain potential (ERP) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in a simple NoGo task. To combine fMRI and ERP data to focus on fMRI activations associated with the brief (approximately 200 ms) moment of context updating reflected in the NoGo P300 ERP component. Design and Setting: We collected ERP and fMRI data while subjects performed a NoGo task requiring a speedy button press to X stimuli (P=.88) but not to K stimuli (P = .12). The ERPs were collected at the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, Calif; fMRIs were collected at Stanford University, Stanford, Calif. Participants: We recruited patients withDSM-IV schizophrenia (n=11) from the community and the VA hospital and sex- and age-matched healthy control subjects (n=11) from the community. Main Outcome Measures: Behavioral accuracy, P300 amplitudes and latencies, and fMRI activations suggested that patients with schizophrenia did not establish as strong a prepotent tendency to respond to the Go stimulus as healthy subjects. In healthy subjects, NoGo P300 was related to activations in the anterior cingulate cortex, dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex, and right inferior parietal lobule and caudate nucleus, perhaps reflecting conflict experienced when withholding a response, control needed to inhibit a response, and stopping a response in action, respectively. In patients with schizophrenia, NoGo P300 was modestly related to activations in the anterior cingulate cortex, which is consistent with experiencing conflict. Conclusions: The difference in ERP and fMRI responses to Go and NoGo stimuli suggested that inhibiting a response was easier for patients with schizophrenia than for healthy subjects. Correlations of P300 and fMRI data suggested that patients with schizophrenia and healthy subjects used different neural structures to inhibit responses, with healthy subjects using a more complex system. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2004;61:119-129
Immune response to CMV in solid organ transplant recipients: current concepts and future directions

Despite advances in immunosuppression and antiviral therapy, CMV continues to be a significant opportunistic pathogen adversely affecting the outcome of solid organ transplantation (SOT) recipients. While a significant proportion of CMV disease is caused by reactivation of latent virus, the risk is highest among CMV donor+ and recipient- SOT patients. CMV is responsible for both direct (e.g., pneumonitis, colitis) and indirect (e.g., rejection, atherosclerosis) morbidity and mortality. Healthy CMV-seropositive individuals have a high frequency of CMV-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells that provide immune protection by limiting CMV reactivation and replication. Changes to the innate and adaptive immune system from immunosuppressive therapy following SOT contribute to CMV disease pathogenesis. CMV disease after SOT is associated with poorer outcomes, thus novel strategies to prevent it are an area of active research. In this article, we review the current state of knowledge on the immune response to CMV followi...
Free energies of urea and of thermal unfolding show that two tandem repeats of spectrin are thermodynamically more stable than a single repeat.

Free energies of both urea and thermal denaturation have been measured for three pairs of one- and two-repeat fragments, cloned in tandem from the cytoskeletal protein, α-spectrin, from chicken bra...
X-ray injury to lens epithelium: effect of half-shielding on acid phosphatase in rabbits.

Abstract Lead shields were used to protect one-half the lens of albino rabbits during exposure to a cataractogenic dose of X-irradiation (4000 rad). Whole lens mounts were prepared to demonstrate acid phosphatase activity. Loss of acid phosphatase in the germinative zone of the exposed half similar in amount to that seen with whole lens X-irradiation was found at 5, 25 and 45 days after exposure. At 65 and 85 days, increasing amounts of acid phosphatase were demonstrated in the germinative zone on the exposed half in contrast to the continued decrease seen with whole lens exposures. There was no evidence of diffusion from the central area or the shielded half, and the increase in acid phosphatase seemed to come from the previously injured cells in the germinative zone. The reason for this recovery was not apparent.
Hypnosis as an Adjunct to Medical Care in the Management of Burger's Disease: A Case Report

Abstract Burger's disease is a peripheral vascular disorder characterized by constricted blood flow, ischemic pain, and necrotizing tissue processes. This report describes the application of a brief hypnosis intervention in conjunction with standard medical procedures to increase peripheral blood flow in a patient with advanced Burger's disease. Using suggestions for foot warming and increased blood flow, substantial increases in surface foot temperature were obtained prior to and following an epidural sympathectomy. As a result, the procedure contributed to keeping necrotic tissue loss to a minimum, decreasing ischemic pain, and hopefully preventing the need for amputation. Treatment gains were maintained through discharge and at two month follow up. The results suggest that hypnosis may serve as a parsimonious, yet efficacious adjunct to standard medical care in the management of reduced peripheral blood flow in patients with Burger's disease. Further, it illustrates the feasibility of hypnosis as an ad...
Characterizing and controlling approximation in hierarchical perceptual grouping

Abstract In this paper, we present a multilevel grouping scheme that groups primitive image features based on properties of perceptual organization, and groups higher-level structures derived from prior grouping to more closely approximate complex objects for recognition. Typically, the choice of candidates for grouping is controlled by thresholds on a set of criteria. Our scheme replaces the thresholds by fuzzy sets, so that the degree of membership in a grouping criterion set reflects the degree to which a particular element or set of elements fits the criterion. By adjusting these memberships, the degree of approximation in grouping can be controlled, allowing for more robust higher-level reasoning. This paper addresses both lower-level and higher-level grouping. At the lower level, specific membership functions are defined for grouping according to collinearity, parallelism, symmetry, and junction. Higher-level grouping strategies are described for three recognition tasks; extracting curves, extracting natural branching structure, and extracting polyhedral objects.
Permeability of the neonatal rat choriocapillaris to hemeproteins and ferritin

The permeability of the endothelium of the capillaries of the rat choriocapillaris to circulating macromolecules was examined during the first post-natal week of development using hemeproteins of different molecular dimensions and ferritin. At this stage of development capillaries and photoreceptor cells in the neural retina are not fully formed, but the choriocapillaris has an adult-like morphology. Thus, through these differences in neural and vascular architectures the possible functional relationships between the retina and choriocapillaris can be explored. High levels of horseradish peroxidase [Einstein-Stokes radius (ESR) 3 nm] activity were localized in Bruch's membrane within 2 minutes after intravenous tracer injection. In contrast, scant levels of hemoglobin (ESR, 3.2 nm) and no catalase (ESR, 5.2 nm) activity were observed here at 75 and 90 minutes, respectively. Only a few ferritin particles (ESR, 6.1 nm) crossed the choriocapillary endothelium after a 90-minute circulation. The results demonstrate that in the neonatal rat the choriocapillaris has the same restrictive properties as have been described for the adult eye (Pino and Essner, 1980, 1981), even in the absence of retinal capillaries and functional photoreceptor cells.
k-Quasiconformal extension criteria in the disk

The method of Loewner chains is used to establish univalence and k-quasiconformal extension criteria for functions analytic in the unit disk. Results include univalence and k-quasiconformal extension criteria that generalize two of Nehari's Schwarzian derivative univalence criteria. Various criteria involving z 2 f1;(z)/f 0(z) and its logarithmic derivative are developed.
Adsorption of D2O on Ni(100) at 100 K and the influence of the coadsorbates O(a), CO(a) and D(a)☆

Abstract The adsorption of D2O on Ni(100) at 100 K in the presence and absence of the coadsorbates O(a), CO(a) and D(a) has been investigated using thermal desorption spectroscopy, ultraviolet and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and work function change measurements. Adsorption of D2O is molecular, but some dissociation does occur on heating and the extent of dissociation depends strongly on small coverages of coadsorbates. Cluster formation and island growth are not observed for D2O(a) alone on the surface. The interactions between D2O(a) and O(a) are dependent on the extent of oxidation of the Ni surface. Low coverages of O(a) react on heating with two D2O(a) to produce a new species with the stoichiometry 2 OD(a).D2O(a). CO(a) tends to inhibit decomposition of D2O(a), and evidence is presented for some D2O-CO hydrogen bonding effects. High coverages of D(a) inhibit decomposition of D2O(a) and significantly weaken the D2O(a)-Ni interactions. This increases the tendency for cluster and island formation as a result of the enhanced relative importance of hydrogen bonding. Each of the three coadsorbates causes shifts of the D2O(a) valence levels to lower binding energy relative to the Fermi level. These shifts are largely the result of changes of the work function of the system. Shifts of the O(1s) level to lower binding energy are also observed, but are not equivalent to the valence-level shifts.
Basal metallothionein in tumors: Widespread presence of apoprotein

A survey has been conducted of solid and ascites tumors from mice and solid tumors in rats for the presence of metallothionein or metallothionein-like protein. In most tumors, a positive identification was made on the basis of Sephadex G-75 and HPLC-DEAE chromatography followed by competitive radioimmunoassay for metallothionein. Apometallothionein was revealed in a number of tumors for the first time by comparing the Sephadex G-75 chromatographic profiles of Zn in native cytosol and Cd in cytosol incubated briefly with CdCl2 to saturate free binding sites on the protein before Sephadex G-75 chromatography. In two cases unsaturation of metallothionein was correlated with a lack of zinc in the ascites fluid which supplies the tumor with zinc.
Cerebrovascular reactivity measured with arterial spin labeling and blood oxygen level dependent techniques.

Purpose To compare cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) quantified with pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (pCASL) and blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) fMRI techniques.
Characterization of FdmV as an amide synthetase for fredericamycin A biosynthesis in Streptomyces griseus ATCC 43944.

Fredericamycin (FDM) A is a pentadecaketide natural product that features an amide linkage. Analysis of the fdm cluster from Streptomyces griseus ATCC 43944, however, failed to reveal genes encoding the types of amide synthetases commonly seen in natural product biosynthesis. Here, we report in vivo and in vitro characterizations of FdmV, an asparagine synthetase (AS) B-like protein, as an amide synthetase that catalyzes the amide bond formation in FDM A biosynthesis. This is supported by the findings that (i) inactivation of fdmV in vivo afforded the ΔfdmV mutant strain SB4027 that abolished FDM A and FDM E production but accumulated FDM C, a biosynthetic intermediate devoid of the characteristic amide linkage; (ii) FdmV in vitro catalyzes conversion of FDM C to FDM B, a known intermediate for FDM A biosynthesis (apparent Km = 162 ± 67 μm and kcat = 0.11 ± 0.02 min−1); and (iii) FdmV also catalyzes the amidation of FDM M-3, a structural analog of FDM C, to afford amide FDM M-6 in vitro, albeit at significantly reduced efficiency. Preliminary enzymatic studies revealed that, in addition to the common nitrogen sources (l-Gln and free amine) of class II glutamine amidotransferases (to which AS B belongs), FdmV can also utilize l-Asn as a nitrogen donor. The amide bond formation in FDM A biosynthesis is proposed to occur after C-8 hydroxylation but before the carbaspirocycle formation.
Accumulation rates from well-dated late Neogene carbonate platforms and margins

Abstract Margins of large carbonate platforms, isolated platforms, and atolls are dynamic settings that both generate and accumulate sediments. With the exceptions of modern platforms, the rates of accumulation are often poorly constrained due to inadequate or unreliable subsurface age data. A compilation is here presented of well-dated late Neogene “ice-house” platform and margin accumulation for the interval from ∼7 to 2 Ma. The rates are grouped according to platform type and setting. Sea-level effects and subsidence-bathymetry control are the significant influences. The six settings are: (1) slow-aggraded platform; (2) partially drowned platform; (3) fast-aggraded platform; (4) atolls; (5) prograded margin; and (6) periplatform. Mean rates are: 10 to 20 m/my for slow-aggraded and partially drowned platforms; 20–40 m/my for atolls and a fast-aggraded platform; ∼40 m/my for a current-dominated prograded margin; and 40–110 m/my for most prograded and periplatform systems. The maximum rates measured from the age-depth plot are generally two- to three-times as high. The mean accumulation rates and maximum rates are primarily related to the influence of sea level and, to a lesser extent, regional subsidence. The shallow platforms and atolls are directly sea-level controlled , whereas the deeper margins are sea-level influenced . The platform-top deposits have the lowest rates of accumulation (10–26 m/my) due to subaerial exposure and only intermittent flooding. The deeper platform margins, below lowstand base level, are influenced by events on the shallow platform, mainly to sediment production and offbank transport. Slope erosion and redeposition are also important. Prograded margins and periplatforms accept large volumes of allochthonous sediment and can have periods of extremely high (>200 m/my) vertical accumulation separated by intervals of non-deposition, erosion, or sediment bypass. These data, despite limitations, provide some basic values for ice-house carbonate accumulation and the relevant extrinsic controls. The late Neogene rates can help constrain the sediment dynamics of the carbonate platform and flank system, data especially important for calibration of computer models and for the resultant reservoir attributes.
Defining language phenotypes in autism

Abstract All children with autism spectrum disorders have deficits in pragmatic aspects of communication; however, formal language abilities are extremely heterogeneous, ranging from nonverbal to superior linguistic skills. Recent studies have focused on defining different language phenotypes among verbal children. One subtype has been compared to specific language impairment (SLI), a language disorder that is diagnosed on the basis of delays and deficits in language acquisition in the absence of hearing impairment, frank neurological damage or co-morbid psychopathology. Two behavioral studies address the question of whether children with autism and language impairment have specific language deficits that are similar to those found in SLI. These experiments focused on phonological processing in a nonsense word repetition task, and use of grammatical morphology in conversational speech. The findings from these studies are discussed in the context of recent neuroimaging and genetic studies of autism.
Staggered and eclipsed conformations of C2F6: A systematic ab initio study

Abstract Molecular geometries, energies, and vibrational frequencies for eclipsed and staggered conformers of perfluoroethane were determined by ab initio calculations. Basis set effects were investigated systematically with progressively larger basis sets, up to triple zeta, d and f polarization functions plus diffuse functions on all atoms. Electron correlation was included by means of Moller-Plesset perturbation calculations to the third order. Vibrational frequencies, calculated at both Hartree-Fock (HF) and second order Moller-Plesset perturbation (MP2) methods, were used to make zero-point energy and thermal corrections to electronic energies. Some semi-empirical methods and molecular mechanics force fields were also employed for comparison. The rotational barrier (3.81 kcal mol−1) predicted from the HF/6-311 + G(3df) method is close to the measured electron diffraction value of 4.40 kcal mol−1 (−0.90, + 1.10). The MP2/6-31 1G(d) level gives a lower barrier of 3.33 kcal mol−1, and the best MP3 calculation, MP3/6-311 + G(3df)//MP2/6-311G(d), a value of 3.55 kcal mol−1.
A new transportation system for efficient and sustainable cities: Development of a next generation variable speed moving walkway

Abstract Urban areas require safe, fast, energy-efficient public transportation in order to provide sustainable living conditions. Unfortunately, many cities do not have the space or resources to provide robust public transport systems, such as subways. We investigate moving walkways as another mode of transportation. To date, moving walkways have served a minor role in transportation and are typically located only within airports. The key challenge that we overcome is how to design and integrate variable speed moving walkways so that they become a fast mode of transport that can integrate with urban infrastructure to provide an alternative or supplement to systems such as busses and subways. We address how to safely control and operate such walkways. In comparison with existing forms of public transportation, this mode of transportation allows lower latencies with higher throughput by operating continuously and allowing acceleration and deceleration of passengers.
Quenching of Singlet Oxygen by a Carotenoid–Cyclodextrin Complex: The Importance of Aggregate Formation

The Girard’s reagent P derivative of canthaxanthin ((GRP)2-canthaxanthin), a dicationic carotenoid, forms a highly water-dispersible complex with (2-hydroxypropyl)-γ-cyclodextrin. The UV–visible light spectrum of the complex is consistent with some degree of aggregation, but the spectrum is independent of concentration from 7.5 to 750 μm. Stern-Vomer plots for singlet-oxygen quenching by the complex are linear over a concentration range of 0–20 μm. In the presence of 1 mm (2-hydroxypropyl)-γ-cyclodextrin, the singlet-oxygen quenching constant for the complex is 7.9 ± 0.9 × 108 m−1s−1. This is about an order of magnitude lower than the singlet-oxygen quenching constants for (GRP)2-canthaxanthin in various organic solvents. The properties of the complex are also compared with the properties of (GRP)2-canthaxanthin solubilized in neat water and in water containing various detergents. The singlet-oxygen quenching constant for (GRP)2-canthaxanthin in micelles depends strongly on the specific detergent used, varying from 9.4 × 108 m−1s−1 for hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) to 1.24 ± 0.4 × 1010 m−1s−1 for sodium dodecyl sulfate. The small quenching constant in CTAB micelles correlates with spectroscopic evidence for aggregation of the (GRP)2-canthaxanthin in this detergent.
Ecological sustainability in policy assessments: A wide-angle view and a close watch

Abstract We give a perspective from two practitioners on some of the challenges of addressing sustainability concerns in environmental policy assessments. We focus on the ecological dimension of sustainability, which is closely related to the concept of “ecosystem resilience.” First, we discuss several recent benefit–cost analyses conducted by EPA that illustrate many of the practical difficulties analysts have faced when attempting to assess the ecological benefits of proposed regulations. Next, we discuss the importance of increased coordination of policy assessments among offices and agencies that traditionally operate more or less independently. We conclude by using a stylized model to illustrate how using an “adaptive management” approach to designing and evaluating policies can help to avoid some of the limitations of standard policy assessments highlighted in this special section of Ecological Economics and elsewhere.
Experimental Single-Particle Level Spacings in the Region of the 1 f 7 2 Shell

A review is presented of experimental information about the relative position of single-particle states in odd-$A$ nuclei in the region of the $1{f}_{\frac{7}{2}}$ shell. In Appendix I a discussion of the assignments is given for all the included level schemes. Some striking empirical regularities in nuclei with odd nucleon numbers g28 are mentioned in Appendix II.
Heptanuclear zinc carboxylate complex: New supramolecular building unit and unique supramolecular architecture

Abstract The reaction of the bifunctional ligand (1,8-naphthalimido)propanoate (LC2−), containing a carboxylate group for metal bonding and a 1,8-naphthalimide group for π···π stacking interactions, with Zn(O2CCH3)2(H2O)2 yields a novel heptanuclear complex [Zn7(O)2(LC2)10(DMF)2]. In the solid-state structure, a central zinc(II) cation is linked to six terminal zinc(II) cations by ten bridging carboxylate ligands and two μ4-O ions forming a vertex shared bitetrahedron, a new type of secondary building unit (SBU). The heptanuclear units are organized into a complex three-dimensional architecture by π···π stacking interactions of the 1,8-naphthalimide groups. Eight of the naphthalimide rings on each heptanuclear unit form π···π stacking interactions with rings on eight adjacent units generating a unique “single linked” three-dimensional architecture. The TGA data indicate this structure is robust and luminescent studies show the solid emits in the green region.
Vasoactive intestinal peptide elevates cyclic Amp levels and potentiates secretion in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) elevates the levels of cyclic AMP in primary cultures of highly purified chromaffin cells isolated from the bovine adrenal medulla, an effect that is potentiated by inhibitors of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases. This elevation occurs within minutes and elevated levels of cyclic AMP are observed for as long as 24 hr in culture. The half-maximally effective concentration of VIP was approximately 1 microM. The VIP-induced elevation in chromaffin cell cyclic AMP levels was potentiated by simultaneous addition of secretagogues which alone also elevated cellular cyclic AMP levels. VIP alone failed to evoke catecholamine secretion from chromaffin cells, but potentiated potassium-, veratridine-, and nicotine-evoked secretion. Because VIP is found in nerve terminals innervating the adrenal medulla, this neuropeptide appears to be a modulator of chromaffin cell function, possibly via regulation of cyclic AMP levels.