cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of Ligand Environment in Zr(IV) Assisted Peptide Hydrolysis.

In this DFT study, activities of 11 different N2O4, N2O3, and NO2 core containing Zr(IV) complexes, 4,13-diaza-18-crown-6 (I′N2O4), 1,4,10-trioxa-7,13-diazacyclopentadecane (I′N2O3), and 2-(2-methoxy)ethanol (I′NO2), respectively, and their analogues in peptide hydrolysis have been investigated. Based on the experimental information, these molecules were created by altering protonation states (singly protonated, doubly protonated, or doubly deprotonated) and number of their ligands. The energetics of the I′N2O4, and I′NO2 and their analogues predicted that both stepwise and concerted mechanisms occurred either with similar barriers, or the latter was more favorable than the former. They also showed that the doubly deprotonated form hydrolyzed the peptide bond with substantially lower barriers than the barriers for other protonation states. For NO2 core possessing complexes, Zr-(NO2)(OHH)(H2O/OH)n for n = 1–3, the hydroxyl group containing molecules were found to be more reactive than their water ligand po...
Improving Assessment of Work Related Mental Health Function Using the Work Disability Functional Assessment Battery (WD-FAB).

Purpose To improve the mental health component of the Work Disability Functional Assessment Battery (WD-FAB), developed for the US Social Security Administration’s (SSA) disability determination process. Specifically our goal was to expand the WD-FAB scales of mood & emotions, resilience, social interactions, and behavioral control to improve the depth and breadth of the current scales and expand the content coverage to include aspects of cognition & communication function. Methods Data were collected from a random, stratified sample of 1695 claimants applying for the SSA work disability benefits, and a general population sample of 2025 working age adults. 169 new items were developed to replenish the WD-FAB scales and analyzed using factor analysis and item response theory (IRT) analysis to construct unidimensional scales. We conducted computer adaptive test (CAT) simulations to examine the psychometric properties of the WD-FAB. Results Analyses supported the inclusion of four mental health subdomains: Cognition & Communication (68 items), Self-Regulation (34 items), Resilience & Sociability (29 items) and Mood & Emotions (34 items). All scales yielded acceptable psychometric properties. Conclusions IRT methods were effective in expanding the WD-FAB to assess mental health function. The WD-FAB has the potential to enhance work disability assessment both within the context of the SSA disability programs as well as other clinical and vocational rehabilitation settings.
The Discourse of the Enemy

This article proposes a more fine-tuned version of Jan Assmann’s account, appearing in this volume, of “total religion” and the zeal that it produces. Acknowledging the difference between active zeal and reactive zeal—between zeal that is grounded in God and zeal that is responsive to imperial power and its constraints—allows for a more thorough assessment of religion in the public sphere. In addition, this would allow Assmann to avoid the unjustified charges of anti-Judaism that nonetheless continue to be made against him.
Management of Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension

Pulmonary endarterectomy, which 25 years ago was only performed at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), is now widely recognized as an effective way of treating pulmonary hypertension as a result of chronic thromboembolic disease. The operation is carried out using cardiopulmonary bypass to achieve profound hypothermia and circulatory arrest, which results in the bloodless field necessary for the visibility required for this delicate operation.
Board Attributes and Processes, Board Effectiveness, and Organizational Innovation: Evidence from Nonprofit Organizations

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between boards of directors and innovation in nonprofit organizations. The results showed that not only board attribute variables and board process variables were directly related to innovation, but they also had a potential to affect innovation and capacity for innovation indirectly—through board effectiveness. Board culture (critical questioning), social capital (structural and cognitive), human capital, and diversity in industrial background were significantly related to innovation, accounting for 29.8% of its variance. Board culture (decision-making process and critical questioning), social capital (structural and cognitive), cohesiveness, and human capital were significantly related to capacity for innovation, accounting for 49.8% of its variance. The mediating effect of board effectiveness was partially confirmed. The effects of board culture (critical questioning), cognitive social capital, and human capital on innovation and capacity for innovation were either partially or fully transmitted through board effectiveness. Based on the results of this study, practice implications are discussed. The author wants to thank three anonymous reviewers for their constructive feedback and suggestions for improving the manuscript and Jinn Jonp (JJ) Bau, Ph.D. from OIBR at the University of Georgia for helping with statistical analyses.
Properties of the Fourier Transforms

In this chapter we cover various properties of the Fourier transform. In addition to getting a deeper understanding of the machinery of the Fourier transform, by understanding the properties of the Fourier transform we are better fit to deal with new problems and/or deal with older ones more efficiently and faster. The studied properties include linearity, time scaling, reciprocity, time shifting, frequency shifting, time differentiation, time integration, frequency differentiation, frequency integration, time convolution, and frequency convolution. For each of the properties we do a thorough derivation accompanied with one or more examples demonstrating an actual application of the property. We also demonstrate the property flow visually and simultaneously on a time-domain and frequency-domain plot. We single out the convolution property due to its importance and in anticipation of further use throughout the text.
Abstract 4021: The evaluation of carcinogenicity evidence of dibenzanthracenes

Dibenzanthracenes (DBAs) are identified as carcinogens and are on the California Proposition 65 list. DBAs are five-ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). This chemical group consists of three isomers: DB[a,c]A, DB[a,h]A, and DB[a,j]A. DBAs are products of the incomplete combustion or pyrolysis of organic matter and can be formed during high temperature cooking. They are air pollutants present in engine exhaust, tobacco and marijuana smoke, and may also contaminate soil and water. DB[a,h]A is a well-studied International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Group 2A carcinogen, whereas fewer studies relevant to carcinogenicity have been conducted with DB[a,c]A and DB[a,j]A. Carcinogenicity evidence from multiple data streams was integrated in the hazard identification of this chemical group. These data streams include animal cancer bioassays, mechanistic studies and other relevant data, including high-throughput studies (e.g., ToxCast), toxicogenomic studies, and information from quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models. Structure activity comparisons across the three DBAs and related carcinogenic PAHs served to bridge the data gaps for the two less studied isomers. The results of our analyses showed that each of the DBAs share similar biological activities in animals: all induce tumors in mice, are mouse skin tumor initiators, form DNA adducts, are genotoxic, and form metabolites that are also genotoxic and initiators of mouse skin tumors. All three DBAs activate the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) in reporter gene assays, and DB[a,h]A and DB[a,c]A have been shown to bind to the AhR. In addition to strong evidence of genotoxicity, other carcinogenic mechanisms are likely also operative, including receptor activation (e.g., AhR), immune suppression, altered cell proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle regulation. There are strong structure-activity similarities among the DBAs and several carcinogenic 4-, 5- and 6-ring PAHs, including benzo[a]pyrene and dibenzo[a,h]pyrene. In addition, DB[a,c]A and DB[a,j]A were predicted to be mutagenic and carcinogenic in several QSAR models, including VEGA, Lazar and OECD QSAR Toolbox. Integration of the evidence from these multiple data streams resulted in the identification of the DBAs as a chemical group as carcinogens. Citation Format: Feng Tsai, Jennifer C. Hsieh, Gwendolyn Osborne, Martha Sandy. The evaluation of carcinogenicity evidence of dibenzanthracenes [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4021.
Division Points over Number Fields

We know from Chapter 2, §1 that over any field K, the Galois group of the field obtained by adjoining to K all coordinates of points of finite order on an elliptic curve A defined over K is representable as a closed subgroup of the product $$\prod\limits_{\ell } {G{{L}_{2}}\left( {{{Z}_{\ell }}} \right)} , $$ taken over primes l.
The Mass Matrix

While the mass and rotational inertia of a body are the elemental quantities for studying single rigid body dynamics, the mass matrix plays the corresponding role for multibody systems. One crucial difference is that the mass matrix varies with the configuration of the system. In this chapter, we derive expressions for the mass matrix of a serial-chain multibody system, study its properties, and develop related computational algorithms.
Role of nitric oxide in maintenance of basal anterior choroidal blood flow in rats.

RESULTS. Intravenous administration of L-NAME produced a dose-related depression of anterior choroidal blood flow in the 0.3- to 30-mg/kg range. Maximal depression of approximately 60% occurred at the 30-mg/kg dose, peaked at approximately 30 minutes, and lasted throughout the 60-minute experimental period. At 10 mg/kg, L-NAME reduced ocular blood flow by approximately 50%, an effect that was abolished by pretreatment with intravenous L-arginine (300 mg/kg). Both D-NAME (10 mg/kg, intravenously) and 7-nitroindazole (50 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) were inactive with regard to ocular blood flow depression. CONCLUSIONS. Laser Doppler flowmetry appears to be a useful tool for continuous, online measurement of anterior choroidal blood flow in the rat eye. Results with L-NAME and 7-nitroindazole suggest that local tonic generation of endothelial NO plays an important role in the maintenance of basal anterior choroidal blood flow in this species. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Set. 1998;39:559-564)
Targeted Gene Delivery

Receptor-mediated endocytosis can be exploited to achieve efficient cell-specific gene delivery. Our laboratory has used two approaches for targeted gene delivery. One uses polycation as a carrier for plasmid DNA and the other uses peptide nucleic acid (PNA) as a carrier. Targeted gene delivery using polycation carriers has been widely utilized with some success. This approach mainly suffers from large particle size and nonspecific interaction with blood components. These drawbacks have limited the use of this type of vector for in vivo applications. Using PNA as a carrier, on the other hand, allows for smaller particle size and less nonspecific interactions. The stability of this vector in the circulation may be a limiting factor. In addition, both types of vector lack mechanisms for endosome escape and nuclear transport. In this chapter, current developments and uses for targeted gene delivery of each approach (polycation vs. PNA) are reviewed.
Essence and Existence

The present account of Edith Stein’s philosophy has described her search for the essential structures of person, of community and the state, of woman and education. Like the other members of the original Husserlian circle at Gottingen, she explores and attempts to implement the Master’s concept of phenomenology as a science of essences (Wesenswissenschaften). Her method models Husserl’s ideal of phenomenological inquiry into the essential nature of things by way of descriptive analysis of the objects given to consciousness. From her earliest writings, however, to her final philosophical work, Finite and Eternal Being (Endliches and Ewiges Sein), she insists on examining the question of the relation of essence (Wesen) to existence (Sein),a question from which Husserl prescinds in his method. The object for Husserl is always the intentional object. He directs his attention to the world-for-consciousness, although he holds that the intentions which are directed to the “things” of cognition are ultimately founded through sensation and perception.1 Stein and other associates of Husserl were constantly questioning how the mental activity of the subject, working on the raw material of sensation, constructs its world in manifold acts and assemblage of acts. As she expresses the question, “How is the world constructed for a consciousness which I can explore in immanence?”2
Assessing the effects of mesh enclosures on invertebrates and litter breakdown in a floodplain forest of the Southeastern USA

The litter bag method has been used to study litter breakdown for over 50 years but remains a criticized technique. One major criticism is the effect of mesh enclosures, specifically the use of two or more mesh sizes to evaluate the role of arthropods, on litter breakdown. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a new basket-style mesh enclosure in mitigating microclimatic mesh effects while still excluding invertebrates. We evaluated five basket treatments constructed from 300-µm mesh: no basket, closed basket, closed basket with bottom slits, open basket, and open basket with bottom slits, which held invasive Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense) litter on the Oconee-River floodplain, GA, USA. After 134 days, we found that temperature and humidity did not vary among treatments but that litter breakdown rates (k) and invertebrate composition were different among treatments. Litter breakdown was faster in the no basket treatment (the most open treatment) than in closed baskets without slits (the most closed treatment). Microinvertebrates were not effectively excluded from baskets but most macroinvertebrates were excluded from baskets (open and closed) without slits, except for some small predators. Unexpectedly, we found some evidence that using litter bags of two different mesh sizes may have a secondary trophic effect on litter breakdown, further complicating how best to evaluate the impact of arthropods on litter breakdown.
Evaluating Patients for Elective Outpatient Foot and Ankle Surgery: Insurance as a Predictor of Patient Outcomes:

Background. Elective surgical procedures necessitate careful patient selection. Insurance level has been associated with postoperative outcomes in trauma patients. This study evaluates the relation...
Strategies for Gaining Access to Deliver Sport Programs with Highly Vulnerable Youth

Sport programs have been widely studied for their efficacy in helping youth develop important social, psychological, and physical skills. Extensive research has explored the challenges related to design, implementation, and evaluation of sport programs with a developmental focus. However, when designing sport programs specifically tailored for youth from vulnerable backgrounds, the challenges become multiplied, particularly when accounting for barriers that exist before the program starts. The following article describes best practices for gaining access to non-traditional, hard-to-access environments, such as foster care systems, juvenile detention centers, youth residential mental health facilities, and programs situated in high-risk communities. Recommendations are provided for the initial phase of sport program development for vulnerable populations, including protecting youth, choosing appropriate sport content, and addressing barriers in the research process. Generally, these best practices are applicable for the development of any youth program. However, this article provides context-specific guidance and precautions that should be considered to protect and foster the well-being and welfare of youth from highly vulnerable populations.
A church space that could be a library, media room, meeting room, performance space, or dining room—or with proper room acoustic modifications—An effective sound reinforcement system including audio recording, and suitable video recording and projection it could function as all of the above noted spaces

In a nearby church that was recently visited a space was viewed that is nicely appointed from an aesthetic viewpoint but primarily due to room acoustics, noise issues, and lack of proper sound and video systems, it did not seem to adequately serve any of the functions noted by the title of this presentation. The church is considering a renovation of this space. This presentation will describe how the space can serve all of the noted functions with relatively simple and easy to operate acoustic, sound system, and video modifications without significantly disturbing its current and desirable appearance.In a nearby church that was recently visited a space was viewed that is nicely appointed from an aesthetic viewpoint but primarily due to room acoustics, noise issues, and lack of proper sound and video systems, it did not seem to adequately serve any of the functions noted by the title of this presentation. The church is considering a renovation of this space. This presentation will describe how the space can serve all of the noted functions with relatively simple and easy to operate acoustic, sound system, and video modifications without significantly disturbing its current and desirable appearance.
Left renal vein aneurysm in a young woman with renal nutcracker syndrome

Abstract A 17-year-old girl presented to our institution with abdominal and pelvic pain found to be due to extrinsic compression of the left renal vein, causing a saccular aneurysm and renal vein dilation with varices consistent with nutcracker syndrome. She was managed with an open aneurysm resection and transposition of the left renal vein.
Successful Surgical Removal of the Largest Known Spleen.

Background. Splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL) is a rare subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that typically presents with symptomatic splenomegaly. The optimal treatment of SMZL not well established. Case Presentation. A 44-year-old man with a history of low-grade B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder previously treated with chemotherapy presented with a three-month history of rapidly enlarging abdominal girth. He was found to have large symptomatic splenomegaly by computed tomography. After workup, he underwent preoperative angioembolization of the splenic artery followed by successful splenectomy. The spleen measured 45 cm in greatest dimension and weighed 12.14 kg, more than 12% of the patient’s total body weight, making this both the largest spleen on record as well as the largest spleen ever surgically removed. Pathology was consistent with splenic marginal zone lymphoma. The patient did well and was discharged home on postoperative day 3. Conclusions. SMZL is an infrequent condition that leads to progressive symptomatic splenomegaly which can be managed surgically providing symptomatic improvement and an overall satisfactory oncologic outcome. A multidisciplinary approach to complex cases of SMZL splenomegaly is imperative to achieving optimal outcomes.
Adding carbon fiber to shoe soles does not improve running economy: a muscle-level explanation

Abstract In an attempt to improve their distance-running performance, many athletes race with carbon fiber plates embedded in their shoe soles. Accordingly, we sought to establish whether, and if so how, adding carbon fiber plates to shoes soles reduces athlete aerobic energy expenditure during running (improves running economy). We tested 15 athletes during running at 3.5 m/s in four footwear conditions that varied in shoe sole carbon fiber plate bending stiffness. For each condition, we quantified athlete aerobic energy expenditure and performed biomechanics analyses, which included the use of ultrasound imaging to examine soleus muscle dynamics in vivo. Overall, increased footwear bending stiffness lengthened ground contact time (p=0.048), but did not affect ankle (p≥0.060), knee (p≥0.128), or hip (p≥0.076) joint angles or moments. Additionally, increased footwear bending stiffness did not affect muscle activity (all seven measured leg muscles (p≥0.146)), stride averaged active soleus volume, (p=0.068) or aerobic power (p=0.458) during running. Hence, footwear bending stiffness does not appear to alter the volume of aerobic energy consuming muscle in the soleus, or any other leg muscle, during running. Therefore, adding carbon fiber plates to shoe soles slightly alters whole-body and calf muscle biomechanics but does not improve running economy.
Making faces: Testing the relation between child behavior problems and mothers' interpretations of child emotion expressions

We examined the relations between preschool boys' behavior problems and mothers' interpretations of children's emotion expressions. A sample of 31 mothers of oppositional boys and 28 control mothers responded to standard stimuli depicting child emotional reactions to maternal control attempts; mothers were instructed to think of the stimuli as either (a) their own child or (b) an unfamiliar child. Mothers of oppositional boys were more likely to generate negative interpretations than were control mothers when thinking of their own children; however, this difference did not generalize to the explicitly unfamiliar child condition. Mothers of oppositional boys demonstrated negative and comparison mothers demonstrated positive interpretive tendencies toward their own children. Findings suggest that child emotion cues may trigger biased maternal cognitions even in the absence of child misbehavior.
Digital Sampling of Quantum Accurate AC and DC waveforms

Using a Josephson Arbitrary Waveform Synthesizer (JAWS), we measure the AC-DC difference of a sampling digital voltmeter (SDVM) through direct sampling and subsampling. We also perform direct and differential sampling measurements of the amplitude of an AC voltage source, built at the National Research Council Canada (NRC), against the JAWS. Such calibrations of the SDVM and NRC voltage source could help maintain AC voltage traceability in between JAWS operations.
Lexical Diversity, Lexical Sophistication, and Predictability for Speech in Multiple Listening Conditions

When talkers anticipate that a listener may have difficulty understanding their speech, they adopt a speaking style typically described as “clear speech.” This speaking style includes a variety of acoustic modifications and has perceptual benefits for listeners. In the present study, we examine whether clear speaking styles also include modulation of lexical items selected and produced during naturalistic conversations. Our results demonstrate that talkers do, indeed, modulate their lexical selection, as measured by a variety of lexical diversity and lexical sophistication indices. Further, the results demonstrate that clear speech is not a monolithic construct. Talkers modulate their speech differently depending on the communication situation. We suggest that clear speech should be conceptualized as a set of speaking styles, in which talkers take the listener and communication situation into consideration.
A 20–40 GHz High Dynamic Range HBT N-Path Receiver with 8.9 dBm OOB B1dB and 8.55 dB NF Consuming 130 mW

A millimeter(mm)-wave widely-tunable mixer-first noise-cancelling receiver is demonstrated in 130 nm BiCMOS where an HBT LNTA loaded by a quadrature mixer is protected by an HBT-based N-path filter with linear-periodically-time-varying feedback for impedance transparency providing bandpass filtering. 20–40 GHz tunable, dual-resonant LO buffers use inductance to resonate out the mixer capacitance but still generate 25% duty-cycle LO pulses to reduce overlap-induced loss. The receiver simultaneously achieves +8.9 dBm OOB B1dB and 8.55 dB NF while functioning across an octave in the mm-wave band.
An Event-driven Approach for Modeling R&D Project Selection Process

R&D project selection is a critical area of capital budgeting for technology-oriented enterprises or government funding agencies, for which researchers have proposed many decision models as well as supporting tools. However, existing literature seldom takes it as an organizational process in which manpower and other resources collaborate. This makes the organizational planning for risk management unavailable. It seems also difficult to carry out a further analysis of such process, especially a quantitative one. In this paper, R&D project selection process is identified as a discrete-event dynamic process which can be modeled with high-level Petri net. With advantages like explicit expression of concurrency, conflicts etc., Petri net can well describe R&D project selection as an organizational process. In addition, the availability of different analysis methods makes it possible to evaluate and compare Petri net models, as well as to predict threats and manage emergency. Therefore, business processes can be improved and risk can be controlled.
Communication target selection for replicated MPI processes

VolpexMPI is an MPI library designed for volunteer computing environments. In order to cope with the fundamental unreliability of these environments, VolpexMPI deploys two or more replicas of each MPI process. A receiver-driven communication scheme is employed to eliminate redundant message exchanges and sender based logging is employed to ensure seamless application progress with varying processor execution speeds and routine failures. In this model, to execute a receive operation, a decision has to be made as to which of the sending process replicas should be contacted first. Contacting the fastest replica appears to be the optimal local decision, but it can be globally non-optimal as it may slowdown the fastest replica. Further, identifying the fastest replica during execution is a challenge in itself. This paper evaluates various target selection algorithms to manage these trade-offs with the objective of minimizing the overall execution time. The algorithms are evaluated for the NAS Parallel Benchmarks utilizing heterogeneous network configurations, heterogeneous processor configurations and a combination of both.
Romance is Dead: Mail Order Brides as Surrogate Corpses

Sex trafficking and the mail-order bride industry should be understood as a public health problem, namely necrophilia.
Regulation of enzymatic activity: one possible role of dietary boron in higher animals and humans.

It is well established that vascular plants, diatoms, and some species of marine algal flagellates have acquired an absolute requirement for boron (B), although the primary role remains unknown. Discovery of naturally occurring organoboron compounds, all iono phoric macrodiolide antibiotics with a single B atom critical for activity, established at least one biochemical role of B. The unusual nature of B chemistry suggests the possibility of a variety of biological roles for B. At physiological concentrations and pH, B may react with one N group or one to four hydroxyl groups on specific biological ligands with suitable configuration and charge to form dissociable organoboron compounds or complexes. Suitable ligands include pyridine (e.g., NAD+ or NADP) or flavin (e.g., FAD) nucleotides and serine proteases (SP). B reacts with thecis adjacent hydroxyls on the ribosyl moiety of the nucleotides or, in the serine proteases, the N on the imidazole group of histidine or the hydroxyl group on the serine moiety. Reversible inhibition by B of activity of SP or oxidoreductases that require pyridine or flavin nucleotides is well known. Therefore, a proposed essential role for B is as a regulator of relevant pathways, including respiratory burst, that utilize these enzymes.
Chapter 2.2.1 Subtractive cDNA hybridization and brain: then, now and tomorrow

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the discussion of three generations of cDNA subtraction, each of which built on lessons from the previous applications and capitalized on emerging state-of-the-art technologies in molecular biology. It outlines a general protocol for current uses of Directional Tag PCR (DTP)-Subtraction and makes strategic comments based on first-hand experience with the method. As subtractive cDNA hybridization can reliably identify subsets of rare mRNAs in a given target tissue, a variety of subtraction-based approaches to differential screening have played a prominent role in the isolation of cDNA clones of novel proteins expressed in a specific brain region or neural cell type. The chapter suggests ways in which newer technologies for subtraction such as Representational Difference Analysis (RDA) and Suppression Subtractive Hybridization (SSH) can converge with DTP to identify a comprehensive set of brain cDNAs on high density microarrays.
Laparoscopic Plication of Perforated Ulcer

The laparoscopic approach is an alternative to the open repair of perforated peptic disease. Repair is achieved by placing the omentum over the ulcer and securing it with suture plication. Conversion to an open approach is required in 10–15% of patients and is most often secondary to larger diameter perforations.
The histologic diagnosis of Hodgkin's disease.

Abstract Histologic criteria for the diagnosis of Hodgkin's disease are being modified, primarily as a result of phenotypic analysis. it seems likely that non-Hodgkin's lymphomas have been diagnosed as mixed-cellularity and lymphocytic-depletion Hodgkin's disease on the basis of previously accepted histologic criteria. As a result, phenotypic studies are indicated in all examples of lymphocytic-depletion Hodgkin's disease and in those cases of mixed-cellularity Hodgkin's disease in which the histologic findings are unusual. The effects of genotypic analysis on histologic criteria remain to be elucidated.
Matrix‐Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) is an enabling approach for the characterization of biomolecules, synthetic polymers, petroleum products, and various other inorganic and organic materials. Its popularity can be attributed to the discovery that the addition of a light-absorbing compound (the matrix) to the sample solution enables the desorption and ionization, without attendant fragmentation, of traditionally labile compounds. This chapter begins with a historical development of the technique. Next, the variety of matrix options that exist in MALDI, including suspension matrices, ionic matrices (room temperature ionic liquids, RTILs), carbon nanotubes (with/without functionalization), combined detergent/MALDI matrices (to solubilize hydrophobic analytes and enhance signal), and the most popular and successful chemical matrices along are discussed. MALDI instrumentation and analytical methods are presented, with a particular focus on how MALDI-MS can be used to obtain molar mass and structural information from various classes of biomolecules. Finally, the chapter concludes by examining several applications of interest in the pharmaceutical field, such as bacterial genotyping, high throughput screening of small molecules, and characterization of drug delivery vehicles. While MALDI-MS has not been a traditional “first-choice” for pharmaceutical research because of the widespread utilization of liquid chromatography-based mass spectrometry (LC-MS) methods, there are several areas where MALDI-MS provides clear and compelling advantages in pharmaceutical research. Keywords: MALDI mass spectrometry; matrix preparation; MALDI-TOFMS; MALDI fundamentals; MALDI pharmaceutical applications
Electrophoretic mobility shift assay.

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the practical use of the electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) in the analysis of specific protein-DNA complex formation and the use of this technique in the characterization of these important interactions. Molecular approaches to the study of gene regulation and expressionhave demonstrated that the transcriptional activity of a given gene is regulated, in part, by protein complexes associated with specific DNA sequences within that gene. This observation has been facilitated greatly by the addition of techniques which analyze specific protein-DNA complexes. Although a pattern of gene expression may be extremely complex, the ability to analyze defined regions of DNA sequence with respect to the protein(s) bound by those sequences remains a relevant and useful measure for the binding of these elements and the subsequent analysis on transcription. The source of protein used in EMSA is of critical importance and requires at least some educated guesses about the nature of the protein one believes might bind to a given DNA sequence. The chapter reviews the preparation of extracts ranging from the easiest yet crudest form, the whole cell extract, to the analysis of DNA binding proteins whose coding sequence have been cloned.
A cO survey of the large magellanic cloud

Frank Kerr, in collaboration with J.V. Hindman and B.J. Robinson (1954), undertook the first 21-cm survey of the LMC, so I thought this meeting to commemorate Frank's retirement was appropriate for a brief presentation of the results of the first CO survey of molecular clouds in the LMC. A few CO observations toward some of the more prominent Population I objects in the LMC had been done prior to our work or were underway (Israel 1984; Israel et al. 1986; and references therein), but no systematic survey existed. It was clear to us from the previous work that CO is weak in the LMC relative to the Milky Way, owing presumably to the lower metallicity, and that a sensitive receiver and long integration times would be required to accomplish a useful inventory of the molecular clouds which the flamboyant star formation in the LMC suggested must surely exist. Our survey was done with an improved copy of the 1.2 m millimeter-wave telescope with which we have been studying molecular clouds with CO in the northern sky since 1975 (Cohen et al. 1986). The southern telescope was installed in Chile on Cerro Tololo late in 1982, and the LMC survey was assigned a high priority: roughly 6 hours/day for the next two years were dedicated to observing its inner 6 ° x 6 ° on a 7!5 grid, with a typical integration of about 40 rain per position. The line surveyed was the standard 1 ---* 0 CO transition at 115 GHz used for nearly all large-scale molecular cloud work in both the Milky Way and external galaxies. The beamwidth of the telescope at that frequency is 8{8, so the sampling interval is somewhat less than one beamwidth (85%). Our spectrometer was a standard filter bank with 256 channels, each 0.5 MHz wide, for a resolution in radial velocity of 1.3 km s -1 and a range of 333 km s -1. Integrations were generally continued until the rms noise per channel was reduced to 0.06 K in radiation temperature (antenna temperature corrected for the beam efficiency of 0.82), but a few positions of particular interest were observed for as long as 10 hr. Like most of the projects undertaken with the Chile Telescope the LMC survey was the result of a collaboration between our laboratory and scientists from the University of Chile. Richard Cohen was responsible for building the telescope and installing it in Chile; he provided a superb instrument--one that was extremely reliable and rugged with a sensitive liquid nitrogen cooled
Physics of supernova neutrinos: flavor conversion effects

I review the effects of flavor conversion of neutrinos from stellar collapse due to masses and mixing, and discuss the motivations for their study. I consider in detail the sensitivity of certain observables (characteristics of the energy spectra of nu_e and antinu_e events) to the 13-mixing (sin^2\theta_13) and to the type of mass hierarchy/ordering (sign[Delta m^2_13]). These observables are: the ratio of average energies of the spectra, r_E = / , the ratio of widths of the energy distributions, r_Gamma = Gamma/\bar Gamma, the ratios of total numbers of nu_e and antinu_e events at low energies, S, and in the high energy tails, R_tail. I show that regions in the space of observables r_E, r_Gamma, R_tail exist in which certain mass hierarchy and intervals of sin^2\theta_13 can be identified or discriminated. Finally, I discuss the potential of studying regeneration effects on nu_e and antinu_e in the matter of the Earth and point out that both the observation or exclusion of these effects lead to model-independent information on sin^2\theta_13 and the mass hierarchy. The extraction of this information would highly benefit from the presence of a new, large, long lived nu_e detector, and from the progress of theoretical predictions of the fluxes and energy spectra of the neutrinos originally produced in the star.
EFFECT OF BACTERIA AND BACTERIAL PRODUCTS ON ANTIBODY RESPONSE.

Publisher Summary The chapter discusses the adjuvant effects of mycobacteria, the action of endotoxins of gram-negative bacteria on antibody responses, and the peculiar activity of Bordutella pertussis in enhancing anaphylactic sensitivity in rodents. Many bacteria stimulate antibody formation in animals. The most effective are acid-fast and gram-negative bacteria, but a few gram positive cocci and certain fungi are also active. The materials in these bacteria responsible for the adjuvant effect seem to be different in different organisms. The lipo-polysaccharides in the gram-negative bacteria, and also to a certain extent in the acid-fast bacteria, associated with endo-toxin activity act as adjuvants. There are many conditions involving proliferation of bacteria in the animal body and toxic fractions of bacterial cells which also stimulate antibody-forming cells. For most bacteria and their products, the most important mechanisms are possibly the stimulation of antibody-forming cells and the better distribution of antigen throughout the body because of increased permeability of the tissues and capillaries. The chapter discusses acid-fast bacteria such as the effect of mycobacteria in oil-in-water emulsions, original observations, characterization of active material, and mode of action of mycobacteria . Effect of endotoxins from gram-negative bacteria, such as, nature and general biological characteristics of endotoxins, original observations, effect of various endotoxins preparations, and mode of action of endotoxins are also presented . The effect of Bordutella pertussis such as general remarks, general biological effects, characterization of active material, and possible modes of action of Bordutella pertussis are also discussed,as are . miscellaneous bacteria and bacterial products, and possible mechanisms of bacterial adjuvants. are also presented in this chapter.
Moderators and Mediators of the Stress-Aggression Relationship: Executive Function and State Anger

The present study examined the effects of executive function (i.e., EF) and anger/hostility on therelationship between stress (across individual stress domains, as well as at the aggregate level) andaggression. Two independent groups of participantsa college sample and a low-income communitysamplewere administered a battery of self-report measures concerning the subjective experience ofstress, aggressive behaviors, and feelings of state anger and hostility in the last month, along with abattery of well-validated neuropsychological tests of EF. Across both samples, the stress domains thatdemonstrated the strongest associations with aggression were those involving chronic strains of dailyliving (e.g., job, financial, health) versus interpersonal stressors (e.g., family, romantic). In the commu-nity sample, analyses also revealed a significant interaction between perceived stress (aggregated acrossdomains) and EF in predicting aggressive behavior. Specifically, participants with relatively low EFabilities, across different EF processes, showed a stronger relationship between different domains ofstress and aggression in the last month. Similar effects were demonstrated in the college sample, althoughthe interaction was not significant. In both samples, experiences of anger and hostility in the last monthmediatedtherelationshipbetweenperceivedstress(aggregate)andaggressivebehavioramongthoselow,but not high, in EF. These findings highlight the importance of higher-order cognitive processes inregulating appropriate affective and behavioral responses across different types of individuals, particu-larly among those experiencing high levels of stress.Keywords: aggression, stress, executive function, anger, hostility
NOVEL POLYPHENYLENES CONTAINING ORTHOGONAL PHENYL AND BENZO-CROWN-ETHER GROUPS

The synthesis of a new class of polyphenylenes substituted with a large number of phenyl and benzo-crown-ether groups has been described. The polymers, prepared by Suzuki cross-coupling reaction between polyphenylated dibromide and benzene-1,4-diboronic acid, exhibit outstanding solubility in common organic solvents such as THF and chloroform. Preliminary results on molecular weights and thermal analysis of one representative polymer are discussed.
The CMU RT-CAD system: an innovative approach to computer aided design

As technology has evolved the primitive components available to a digital system designer have changed dramatically. Twenty-five years ago the designer constructed systems out of circuit level components such as resistors and diodes. Subsequently switching circuit level components, as represented by gates and flip-flops, became available as small scale integration (SSI) components. With the introduction of medium scale integration (MSI) register transfer level components appeared: arithmetic and logic units, registers, shift registers, etc. The advent of large scale integration (LSI) has made memories and even processors primitive components from which systems are designed. Two trends can be observed from this technological evolution: (1) primitive components continue to increase in complexity and (2) the rate of introduction of new components continues to increase.
On thermal and thermal deflection analyses in substrates during coating deposition

Abstract Thermal deflection of a cantilever substrate and a circular wafer during and after film deposition is analyzed. Simple and accurate expressions for the substrate temperature are obtained under the assumption of a constant heat flux at the front surface, heat dissipation according to Newton's law at the rear surface during deposition and heat dissipation at both surfaces after deposition. The solution is then applied to extract, from published measured total deflection history data, the deflection history of the substrate due to intrinsic stress only.
Temporal patterns of mortality from an entomopoxvirus and strategies for control of the migratory grasshopper (Melanoplus sanguinipes F.)

The temporal pattern of mortality was investigated in a laboratory population of the migratory grasshopper, Melanoplus sanguinipes (F.), following per os inoculation with the M. sanguinipes entomopoxvirus. The effects of starvation and dosage on the temporal pattern and the implications for the epizootiology of this virus were also investigated. The temporal pattern of mortality was characterized by two modes. The first mode of mortality occurred prior to ca. 12 days postinoculation (PI), and 98.9% of the cadavers were devoid of spheroids (the occluded form of the virus). The second mode of mortality began after ca. 14 days PI. Spheroids were present in 92% of the grasshoppers that died on or after Day 16. The timing of spheroid formation corresponded with the time after which cadaver homogenates were infectious, which suggested that the occluded form of the virus is necessary for transmission in the field. Percent infection and rates of early mortality increased with dosage; however, the number of infected grasshoppers that survived long enough to produce spheroids was negatively related to dosage. Our observations suggest that high application rates may be desirable in field control efforts where a rapid reduction in host density is necessary. Alternatively, reduced rates might be of more value at lower grasshopper densities, when transmission between grasshoppers in the field is desired to retard population growth.
Mobile media and political participation: Defining and developing an emerging field

Mobile media have become increasingly popular and important in recent years as a means of accessing political information and participating in politics and elections worldwide. However, the emergen...
PilJ Localizes to Cell Poles and Is Required for Type IV Pilus Extension in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Twitching motility allows Pseudomonas aeruginosa to respond to stimuli by extending and retracting its type IV pili (TFP). PilJ is a protein necessary for this surface-associated twitching motility and bears high sequence identity with Escherichia coli methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins (MCP). Here, we report that whereas wild-type P. aeruginosa PAO1 cells have extended pili at a single pole, pilJ mutant cells have shortened pili often at both poles despite normal levels of pilin accumulation, suggesting that PilJ is required for full TFP assembly/extension. Using yellow fluorescent protein fusions (pilJ-yfp), both plasmid born and in-frame chromosomal constructs, we determined that PilJ localizes to both poles of the cell. Overexpression of pilJ-yfp resulted in the protein accumulating between the poles.
Chromosomal variation in the plains woodrat: male meiosis and breeding studies.

Four chromosomal morphs are known in the plains woodrat, ( Neotoma micropus Baird). It is known that this polymorphic system includes a pericentric inversion; therefore, one might expect to observe meiotic abnormalities in individuals heterozygous for the inverted and normal chromosomes. However, breeding studies and examinations of meioses from heterozygous males yield no evidence of abnormal meiosis in any individual. This suggests that the inverted region, which is composed entirely of heterochromatin, does not participate in crossing over which would result in the production of segregational errors found in more classical examples of pericentric inversion. An alternative explanation is that a more thorough analysis of pachytene is needed to detect such errors. The author believes that the latter is probably the case.
Occurrence of Alkyltrimethylammonium Compounds in Urban Estuarine Sediments: Behentrimonium As a New Emerging Contaminant

The distribution of alkyltrimethylammonium compounds (ATMAC), cationic surfactants used in a wide variety of applications, has been determined in sediments from Jamaica Bay (NY). Total concentrations in surficial sediments collected between 1998 and 2008 ranged from 361 to 6750 ng/g. The highest values were found in samples from a deeper basin directly affected by treated wastewater discharges. Behentrimonium, a mixture dominated by a homologue having 22 carbon atoms in its alkyl chain (ATMAC 22), was identified for the first time using time-of-flight mass spectrometry and accounted for approximately 80% of the total ATMAC in recent sediment samples. Analyses of a dated sediment core and subsequent surface grab samples revealed an exponential increase in concentration over the last three decades with a doubling time of 3.9 years. Similar temporal trends were seen in surface samples from other sites in Jamaica Bay and Newton Creek (NY), another site greatly influenced by wastewater discharges. This dramatic increase in ATMAC 22 reflects greater use of behentrimonium and likely replacement of other products containing other ATMAC homologues in personal care products. Further monitoring is recommended to assess the environmental risk and fate of this persistent emerging contaminant.