cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cross section measurements for proton induced reactions on natural La

Abstract We report measured cross sections for radionuclides produced via proton irradiation of stacked nat La foils at the Isotope Production Facility at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Incident proton energies of approximately 100 MeV were degraded to ten energy positions ranging from 88 MeV to 46 MeV. HPGe gamma spectrometry was used to quantify residuals at LANL and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Of particular interest was the cross section of 134Ce due to its potential as the imaging component of a theranostic pair with 225Ac. Theoretical values from TENDL (2017) proton libraries are compared with the experimental cross section measurements of 134Ce and other radionuclides.
Efficient Multimodal MRI Evaluation for Endovascular Thrombectomy of Anterior Circulation Large Vessel Occlusion.

Abstract Background MRI and CT modalities are both current standard-of-care options for initial imaging in patients with acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion (AIS-LVO). MR provides greater lesion conspicuity and spatial resolution, but few series have demonstrated multimodal MR may be performed efficiently. Methods In a prospective comprehensive stroke center registry, we analyzed all anterior circulation LVO thrombectomy patients between 2012–2017 who: (1) arrived directly by EMS from the field, and (2) had initial NIHSS ≥6. Center imaging policy was multimodal MRI (including DWI/GRE/MRA w/wo PWI) as the initial evaluation in all patients without contraindications, and multimodal CT (including CT with CTA, w/wo CTP) in the remainder. Results Among 106 EMS-arriving endovascular thrombectomy patients, initial imaging was MRI 62.3%, CT in 37.7%. MRI and CT patients were similar in age (72.5 vs 71.3), severity (NIHSS 16.4 v 18.2), and medical history, though MRI patients had longer onset-to-door times. Overall, door-to-needle (DTN) and door-to-puncture (DTP) times did not differ among MR and CT patients, and were faster for both modalities in 2015–2017 versus 2012–2014. In the 2015–2017 period, for MR-imaged patients, the median DTN 42m (IQR 34-55) surpassed standard (60m) and advanced (45m) national targets and the median DTP 86m (IQR 71-106) surpassed the standard national target (90m). Conclusions AIS-LVO patients can be evaluated by multimodal MR imaging with care speeds faster than national recommendations for door-to-needle and door-to-puncture times. With its more sensitive lesion identification and spatial resolution, MRI remains a highly viable primary imaging strategy in acute ischemic stroke patients, though further workflow efficiency improvements are desirable.
A meta-analysis of BRF2 as a prognostic biomarker in invasive breast carcinoma

Deregulation of the RNA polymerase III specific TFIIIB subunit BRF2 occurs in subtypes of human cancers. However, correlations between BRF2 alterations and clinical outcomes in breast cancer are limited. We conducted this review to analyze BRF2 alterations in genomic data sets housed in Oncomine and cBioPortal to identify potential correlations between BRF2 alterations and clinical outcomes. The authors queried both Oncomine and cBioPortal for alterations in BRF2 in human cancers and performed meta-analyses identifying significant correlations between BRF2 and clinical outcomes in invasive breast cancer (IBC). A meta cancer outlier profile analysis (COPA) of 715 data sets (86,733 samples) in Oncomine identified BRF2 as overexpressed in 60% of breast cancer data sets. COPA scores in IBC data sets (3594 patients) are comparable for HER2 (24.211, median gene rank 60) and BRF2 (29.656, median gene rank 36.5). Overall survival in IBC patients with BRF2 alterations (21%) is significantly decreased (p = 9.332e-3). IBC patients with BRF2 alterations aged 46 to 50 have a significantly poor survival outcome (p = 7.093e-3). Strikingly, in metastatic breast cancer, BRF2 is altered in 33% of women aged 45–50. BRF2 deletions are predominant in this age group. This study suggests BRF2 may be an prognostic biomarker in invasive breast carcinoma.
Challenges and Workarounds of Conducting Augmented Reality Usability Tests Remotely a Case Study.

It has been demonstrated that virtual prototypes can be used productively in usability testing. Virtual prototypes, Augmented Reality (AR) in particular, has received some focus as it combines both the real and virtual worlds and because platforms capable of supporting AR have become more ubiquitous.
To bind or not to bind

Gene expression is regulated by transcription factors binding selectively to particular portions of the genome. To what extent are these protein–DNA interactions influenced by the intrinsic sequence-specific recognition properties at each protein, and to what extent are they affected by other factors, such as chromatin structure or cooperative interactions with other proteins. Genome-wide surveys of DNA binding by transcription factors in vivo are beginning to provide some answers.
Simon Kuznets: Cautious Empiricist of the Eastern European Jewish Diaspora

Simon Kuznets, Eastern European Jewish immigrant and Nobel laureate, typified data-driven caution of the discipline of empirical economics he helped found. Yet a motive force behind his path-breaking development economics of inequality, culture, institutions, demographics and human capital was a desire to understand his past and people. This connection, hidden in his relationship to mainstream economics, manifests itself in his less-known work on Jewish history and economics. The subtle synergy of Kuznets’s motivation and methodology parallels a broader paradox of how, in the twentieth century, Jews of Eastern European descent transformed one of the most informal and anti-Semitic American sciences.
Marijuana, Gender, and Health-Related Harms: Disentangling Marijuana's Contribution to Risk in a College “Party” Context

This study examines marijuana's contribution to “risky partying” and the health-related harms experienced by college students in a “party” context. Data from a self-report survey of 787 undergraduate students at a large residential university show that marijuana users are more likely than non-users to drink excessively, use other drugs and, in turn, experience health-related harms (illness, blackouts, injury from accidents, and injury from fights). But it is primarily the frequent and heavy use of alcohol by marijuana users, and additional drugs for men, that contribute to these harms. Within a party context, students who use alcohol, marijuana and other drugs (AMD users) experience the most harms, and female AMD users experience more harms than men, despite using less. But even as marijuana use increases women's harms (specifically, blackouts and injuries from accidents), marijuana has no contributory effect on men. Implications for future research are discussed.
Measurement and analysis of critical CTOA for an aluminum alloy sheet

The stable tearing behavior of thin sheets of 2024-T3 aluminum alloy was investigated for middle crack tension, M(T), and compact tension, C(T), specimens. The surface crack-tip opening angle (CTOA), applied loads, crack extension, and local displacements were measured. A critical CTOA fracture criterion was incorporated into a two-dimensional, elastic plastic finite element code and used to simulate the experimental fracture behavior. The CTOA measurements and observations of the fracture surfaces have shown that large values for surface CTOA were observed for small crack extensions (less than the sheet thickness); substantial tunneling of the crack was associated with small crack extensions; crack tunneling in the M(T) specimen was less than that observed in the C(T) configuration; for larger crack extensions, the measured CTOA values were determined to be approximately 6 degrees for both the M(T) and C(T) configuration; and for larger crack extensions, crack tunneling remained constant. The two-dimensional finite element predictions of fracture behavior assumed a constant critical CTOA value of 6 degrees and accounted for local crack tip constraint with a plane strain core of elements ahead of the crack tip. The plane strain core extended 5 mm above the crack plane. The simulations were within +/- 4 percent of the maximum applied load for the C(T) tests within 2 percent for the M(T) tests.
Asymmetric release of estrone and estradiol derived from labeled precursors in perfused human placentas.

Abstract Human placentas were perfused in vitro through fetal vessels of a single cotyledon with a solution of tritiated androstenedione (A) or tritiated testosterone in oxygenated Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer containing glucose. The same buffer, without labeled steroids, was used to perfuse the maternal side of the placenta. Fractions of unrecycled "fetal" and "maternal" perfusates were collected to estimate the steady-state rates of output into each perfusate of labeled estrone (E 1 ) and estradiol (E 2 ), formed by aromatization of the perfused androgens. An unequal distribution of the two estrogens was observed, i.e., a significantly larger proportion of E 2 than of E 1 was released to the maternal perfusate. Addition of unlabeled A or ethinyl estradiol (10 −5 M) to the fetal perfusion buffer resulted in a redistribution of the E 2 output toward the fetal perfusate. These in vitro results are similar to the findings of Walsh and McCarthy, who detected by tracer experiments an unequality in the in vivo fetomaternal distribution of the output of placentally produced E 1 and E 2 in rhesus monkeys. These results also support the possibility of the existence of saturable specific E 2 carriers in the syncytiotrophoblast, postulated by the same authors to explain their findings. However, an extrasyncytial conversion of E 2 to E 1 could also account for the disproportion in the relative output of the estrogens toward mother and fetus. The perfusion system used in these studies may be useful for the elucidation of factors determining the relative rates of placental secretion of steroids toward mother and fetus
The Role of the Amino Group in Subunit Association and Receptor Site Interaction for Ovine Luteinizing Hormone as Studied by Acylation

Abstract The positively charged amino groups (in physiological pH range) of ovine luteinizing hormone (oLH) and its subunits (oLHα and oLHβ) were acylated to produce negatively charged (maleylated) or neutral groups (carbamylated) in their place. In both reactions, the number of modified e-lysine amino groups in luteinizing hormone (LH), LHα, and LHβ was 10, 9, and 2, respectively. The NH2 termini were also completely acylated in both reactions. Maleylation or carbamylation did not alter the hydrodynamic volume of oLH or oLHβ significantly, although a greater Stokes radius was obtained with the oLHα derivatives compared to native oLHα as judged by Kav values from molecular exclusion chromatography. Maleylated LHβ combined with native LHα as well as the native subunits recombine, but maleylated LHα recombined with native LHβ less effectively. Efficiency of recombination was judged by the quantity of material with a hydrodynamic volume similar to LH under specified recombination conditions. Maleylated LHα and maleylated LHβ recombined very poorly. The series of recombination products with carbamylated subunits were all obtained in yields comparable to those observed with the recombination of the native subunits. Biological activities of the various recombined products were examined by both the in vivo ovarian ascorbic acid depletion assay and the in vitro radioligand receptor assay and the results agreed. Intact oLH which had been carbamylated or maleylated, as well as the recombined subunit derivatives from these reactions were completely inactive. Either the carbamylated or maleylated oLHα plus native oLHβ, and native oLHα plus maleylated oLHβ gave a low biological activity with response characteristics different from that of the native hormone. The recombined native subunits, or native oLHα plus carbamylated oLHβ, gave products that were slightly less potent than native oLH, with response characteristics that paralleled those of the native hormone. These results suggest that the charges on lysine e-amino groups in the oLHα play a role in the recombination with oLHβ, but that the charge on the oLHβ amino groups is not crucial for subunit-subunit interaction. It may also be concluded that the charge on the free amino groups of oLHβ must be positive or neutral for receptor site interaction. At least a portion of the amino groups on the oLHα must carry a positive charge for maximum hormone-receptor site interaction.
Changes in the Portfolio Allocation of Private Colleges' Endowments: Recent Trends and Implications for Relative Investment Performance

Over the past fifteen years, many U.S. colleges have engaged in a substantial reallocation of their endowment investment portfolios, reducing the share allocated to U.S. stocks and bonds and raising the share allocated to alternatives investments including hedge funds, venture capital, private equity, natural resources, and real estate. The present study, while affirming the presence of an overall reallocation trend, emphasizes the variation that exists among colleges in the extent of reallocation and its impact on investment performance. As has been widely reported, more highly-endowed private colleges have tended to move earlier and more extensively to an alternatives allocation. That pattern has persisted from 1995 to 2007 with some evidence of an increasing divergence among colleges of different endowment sizes in their alternatives allocation. Also as has been widely reported, more highly-endowed private colleges have tended to earn higher cumulative investment returns than less highly-endowed private colleges from 1995 to 2007. Dividing the overall time period into three four-year periods, this tendency is more apparent from 2000 to 2003 and from 2004 to 2007 and less apparent (though still present to a more limited degree) from 1996 to 1999. Some of the impact of endowment size is realized through more highly-endowed colleges' tendency to invest more extensively in alternative assets. Investing more highly in alternatives has a positive effect from 2000 to 2003 and from 2004 to 2007 but actually tends to suppress investment returns from 1996 to 1999. Thus, any analysis of the impact of endowment size and alternatives allocation on investment returns must be sensitive to variation across different years.
Simulation of shock and vortex interactions

Numerical simulations of the interaction of a shock with either a single vortex or a vortex pair are used to investigate the resulting shock structure and the production of acoustic waves. The results include the interaction of a shock (M=1.5) with a strong vortex which has a peak velocity equal to the velocity of the fluid behind the shock. The simulations show that at early times, the distortion of a shock by a strong vortex can be predicted using a simple linear model. In addition, a quadrupolar wave propagates upstream as predicted by linearized theories. At later times, the interaction of the diffracted and refracted portions of the shock produces connected reflected shock structures. For the strong shock, the reflected shock structure merges with the quadrupolar wave to produce the asymmetric acoustic wave observed in experiment.
Tearing into the heart: dissociation of aortic cusp with rupture of the interventricular septum.

![Figure][1] [![Graphic][3] ][3][![Graphic][4] ][4][![Graphic][5] ][5][![Graphic][6] ][6] A 48-year-old man was brought to our emergency department after a high-speed motor vehicle accident. A nongated computed tomography scan with contrast of the chest was suspicious
Law as a Means to an End: Nineteenth-century legislation and legal profession

Although non-instrumental views of law were widely repeated through the end the nineteenth century, as the foregoing two chapters establish, in two important arenas instrumental views of law had already take hold earlier. Legislation was seen in throughly instrumental terms throughout this period, and expanded in volume and significance with the passage of time; the practice of law, in crucial respects, was also described and perceived in instrumental terms. Both of these arenas of instrumental understandings of law – explored in this chapter – fed into and set up the more pervasive instrumentalism to come in the twentieth century. Contest between legislation and common law In eighteenth-century England, and for at least a century before that, legislation was an increasing source of law-making. Classical views of the common law allowed little place for the active creation of law by legislation, however. Within the common law tradition, the proper role of legislation was mainly to declare preexisting customary law (although it often did more than that). Jurists claimed that the common law was coherent, ordered, and comprehensive. Legislation posed a threat to the systematic and rational nature of the common law. Jurists accorded supremacy in the hierarchy of law-making to the common law, for only common law judges were trained in rational science of law, not legislators, and only judges could be trusted to faithfully recognize the customs of the people. Judges were openly hostile to the increase in the frequency and scope of legislation, which they opposed at every turn.
Body capital and the geography of aging

The 2010 US Census recorded 40.3 million residents aged 65 years and older mostly living in urban environments that were not originally designed for older adults. This potential social and spatial mismatch is made worse by the unavoidable decline of physical adaptability that could come in older age. Ultimately, within residential settings that have remained mostly unaltered for decades, diminished physical and cognitive capacity can force older adults to face undesired and, most importantly, unplanned transformations of their established routines in everyday life. The article expands on Pierre Bourdieu's concept of habitus and body capital to advance the need for research on the interaction between bodies and places. By highlighting theoretical arguments that express dissonance between aging populations and built environments, the paper further explores the concept of habitus. Of importance is how diminished body capital not only changes habitus, but also changes how other people see older people, contributing towards ageism. The conclusion addresses how the European ENABLE-AGE project and the World Health Organization Age-Friendly cities are developing processes to mitigate this change.
Learning algorithms for fault tolerance in radial basis function networks

This paper investigates the incorporation of fault tolerance at the learning stage into Radial Basis Function (RBF) networks. The approach is particularly attractive since the cost of fault detection and correction in a practical VLSI implementation of such networks could be prohibitive due to the large number of neurons and connections. The RBF networks considered are applied to the task of analog function approximation. A fairly general fault model is considered wherein faulty neurons are assumed to be stuck at a random value. Two new learning methods based on regression are proposed to learn the weights and one new regression based learning method is proposed to learn the centers. Simulation results are presented which show that a considerable improvement in fault tolerance can be achieved over the non-fault-tolerant learning algorithm.
Law of the Land, Law of the Sea: The Lost Link Between Customary International Law and The General Maritime Law

This Article proposes a different way of thinking about the question of whether customary international law is the "law of the land." It looks back to the nineteenth century and to the once-parallel treatment of customary international law and general maritime law, finding that the two were linked closely by the end of the century. But, in the twentieth century, their treatment diverged dramatically as Supreme Court decisions "constitutionalized" the general maritime law and did not do the same for customary international law. General maritime law is supreme under Article VI of the Constitution and preempts contrary state law, but it does not automatically allow matters arising under it to be characterized as federal questions. This Article proposes that customary international law be re-linked to general maritime law and share both its status as "law of the land" and its implied preemption of state law.
Getting Your Work in Print

Eventually all medical writers must submit their work for publication, which generally involves the peer review process. This chapter tells some of the hurdles on the way to publication and how they may be avoided. Also described are some of the little known influences on what actually gets published in scholarly journals. Every medical writer needs to know the truth about open-access journals and predatory publishers, as well as the common reasons that manuscripts are rejected by reputable journals.
The role of morphogenetic cell death during abnormal limb-bud outgrowth in mice heterozygous for the dominant mutation Hemimelia-extra toe (Hmx)

A dominant mutation in the mouse, Hemimelia-extra toe (Hmx), induces congenital limb malformations in heterozygotes. Typical expression includes axial shortening of the radius, tibia and talus ('hemimelia'), with supernumerary metacarpals, metatarsals, and digits ('polydactyly'). Pathogenesis was investigated during developmental stages 16 through 22 (11th through 15th days of gestation). Full expression was apparent during stage 20 when the limb pattern was comprised of pre-cartilaginous anlagen. Formation of a pre-axial protrusion on the autopod during stage 17 or 18 was the earliest gross abnormality, and foreshadowed the development of supernumerary digits. Microscopically, there was an alteration in the pattern of physiologic cellular degeneration (PCD) programmed to occur within the zeugopod and autopod. The 'opaque patch' (mesodermal necrotic zone normally occurring between tibial and fibular anlagen) was overextended pre-axially causing resorption of the tibial precartilage. Additionally, PCD normally occurring within the basal cell layer of the apical ectodermal ridge (AER) and the 'foyer primaire preaxial' was not expressed in the mutant autopod. This occurred in association with outgrowth of the protrusion. The pre-axial portion of the AER remained in an abnormally thickened, viable, proliferative state, and did not undergo scheduled degression. This may have been the basis for prolonged induction of pre-axial outgrowth. Paucity of mesenchymal cell filopodial processes extended along the basal lamina, as well as a rarefaction of the filamentous material normally associated with the mesodermal face of the basal lamina, was detected at the pre-axial AER-mesenchymal interface on stage 18. A potential involvement of epithelial-mesenchymal interactions in the induction of epithelial PCD is discussed.
IMPACT OF HIGH DOSE ASPIRIN IN MEN VS. WOMEN AFTER ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION: RESULTS FROM THE HORIZONS-AMI TRIAL

Absrac Caegory: 7. CI - Adjuc harmacologyreseao Number: 2536-631Auhors: Jennifer Yu, Roxana Mehran, Georgios Vlachojannis, Usman Baber, Ke Xu, Alexandra Lansky, Cindy Grines, Giulio Guagliumi, Ran Kornowski, Bernhard Witzenbichler, George Dangas, Gregg Stone, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY, USA, Cardiovascular Research Foundation, New York, NY, USABackground: revous sudes have show ha compared o me, wome are a creased rs o bleedg aer acue myocardal arco (MI). However, he assocao bewee varyg maeace doses o aspr (AA) ad raes o bleedg as well as adverse schemc eves me vs. wome has o bee vesgaed.Methods: We examed 3 year oucomes rom he HORION-AMI ral (=3602 TEMI ps udergog prmary CI wh AA ad clopdogrel) accordg o sex, ad hgh (>200mg/day) vs. low (≤200mg/day) AA dose a hospal dscharge.Results: O 2,1 hospal survvors who uderwe prmary CI ad were dscharged o low dose AA, 1,838 (76%) were male ad 576 (2%) emale. Amogs he 61 dscharged o hgh dose AA, 86 (79%) were male ad 128 (21%) were emale. Compared wh me, wome were older wh hgher prevalece o hypereso ad hyperlpdema boh subses o AA dosage, whle me were more lely o be smoers, ad have pror MI ad coroary revascularzao. 3 year oucomes are show he Table. Formal eraco esg o deerme he mpac o AA dosage o me vs. wome was o sgica (p=0.82).Conclusion: I boh subses o AA dosage, wome had hgher raes o major bleedg ha me up o 3 year ollow-up aer he al TEMI . The hghes raes o bleedg occurred wome prescrbed hgh dose AA. There were o sgica dereces schemc edpos amog he subses o AA dosage ad sex. These daa sugges he roue use o low dose AA me ad wome aer TEMI. 3 year pos-dscharge oucomes accordg o aspr dose ad gederVarable (3-year eve raes gve)Low dose AA Me (N=1838)Hgh dose AA Me (N=86)p-valueLow dose AA Wome (N=576)Hgh dose AA Wome (N=128)p-valueNe Adverse Clcal Eves 17.8% (317) 25.% (113) 0.000 18.7% (10) 28.5% (3) 0.009MACE 17.3% (308) 23.2% (103) 0.006 17.2% (96) 2.2% (29) 0.06Moraly .3% (75) 5.0% (22) 0.51 .3% (2) 6.9% (8) 0.22Rearco 5.7% (100) 8.3% (36) 0.06 5.0% (27) 8.6% (10) 0.08roe 1.3% (23) 1.6% (7) 0.66 1.1% (6) 3.3% () 0.06TVR or schema 11.0% (192) 1.% (63) 0.06 10.8% (59) 15.% (18) 0.12e hromboss* 3.1% (51) 5.5% (22) 0.02 2.5% (12) 5.0% (5) 0.1Major Bleedg (o-CABG relaed)1.3% (22) 5.3% (23) <0.0001 2.6% (1) 11.5% (13) <0.0001Major Bleedg (cl. CABG relaed)1.6% (28) 6.0% (26) <0.0001 2.9% (16) 13.0% (15) <0.0001*Deie or robable e Thromboss as per ARC deios. MACE = moraly, rearco, schemc TVR or sroe, TVR = arge vessel revascularzao.
Nhp6 Is a Transcriptional Initiation Fidelity Factor for RNA Polymerase III Transcription in Vitro and in Vivo

The binding of the RNA polymerase III (pol III) transcription factor TFIIIC to the box A intragenic promoter element of tRNA genes specifies the placement of TFIIIB on upstream-lying DNA. In turn, TFIIIB recruits pol III to the promoter and specifies transcription initiating 17-19 base pairs upstream of box A. The resolution of the pol III transcription apparatus into recombinant TFIIIB, highly purified TFIIIC, and pol III is accompanied by a loss of precision in specifying where transcription initiation occurs due to heterogeneous placement of TFIIIB. In this paper we show that Nhp6a, an abundant high mobility group B (HMGB) family, non-sequence-specific DNA-binding protein in Saccharomyces cerevisiae restores transcriptional initiation fidelity to this highly purified in vitro system. Restoration of initiation fidelity requires the presence of Nhp6a prior to TFIIIB-DNA complex formation. Chemical nuclease footprinting of TFIIIC- and TFIIIB-TFIIIC-DNA complexes reveals that Nhp6a markedly alters the TFIIIC footprint over box A and reduces the size of the TFIIIB footprint on upstream DNA sequence. Analyses of unprocessed tRNAs from yeast lacking Nhp6a and its closely related paralogue Nhp6b demonstrate that Nhp6 is required for transcriptional initiation fidelity of some but not all tRNA genes, in vivo.
A review of the effects of hazardous waste on reproductive health.

Abstract Approximately 1 in 4 Americans lives within 4 miles of a hazardous waste site according to the Environmental Protection Agency. In light of this large proportion and the public’s high level of concern that hazardous waste causes health problems, it is important for primary care physicians and other health care providers to know that residential proximity to some kinds of hazardous waste sites is associated with adverse reproductive effects. Findings from both state-based surveillance programs and studies of individual hazardous waste sites have shown increased risk of congenital malformations and reductions in birth weight among infants born to parents living near hazardous waste sites. This article summarizes salient literature on human health effects of hazardous waste and suggests actions for primary care providers to consider. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1999;180:S12-S16.)
X-Ray Emission from Laser-Produced Plasmas

We measured several characteristics of the x-ray emission from plasmas produced at the focus of a high-power (\ensuremath{\sim}10 GW) laser. X-ray spectra in the 1-2-keV region show that the plasmas contain highly stripped atoms (10-12 electrons missing from Al, 20-22 from Zn, and 36-38 from Gd). The laser-plasma x-ray source can emit about 0.1 J of x rays above 1 keV in 1 nsec from a volume about 100 \ensuremath{\mu}m in diameter. This corresponds to more than ${10}^{13}$ W/${\mathrm{cm}}^{3}$.
Innovations in drug delivery systems

SummaryThe history of pharmaceuticals has reflected a concern with the development of new chemical entities. Only recently has the importance of dosage form design been recognized as a vital component of effective therapy. Not only has the time and expense involved in the research of the new molecules escalated dramatically, but it has been discovered that many of these products might be improved through incorporation in rate-controlled dosage forms. Conventional formulations have provided vehicles with which to introduce agents into the body. New therapeutic systems offer great versatility since they permit localized treatment of specific tissues, sophisticated methods of animal experimentation, and controlled-release methods, for systemic delivery. These new dosage, forms are diverse, precise, and adaptable in many therapeutic situations. A membrane-controlled gastro-intestinal therapeutic IGIT) system resembling a conventional tablet in external appearance has recently been developed. This system is de...
Determining pore size distributions of ultrafiltration membranes by solute sieving - mathematical limitations

Abstract The mathematical problem that results when the pore size distribution of an ultrafiltration membrane is calculated from the dependence of solute sieving coefficient on molecular size is studied. The problem is shown to be mathematically ill-posed and extremely difficult to solve. Using three different solution techniques, it is shown that the exact membrane pore size distribution cannot be uniquely determined from the dependence of sieving coefficient on molecular size. However, one of the proposed solution techniques resolves the pore size distribution into a three-pore equivalent. The resulting three-pore equivalent distribution is useful for estimating the mean, variance and skewness of the membrane pore size distribution.
Medical Record Documentation of Patients’ Hearing Loss by Physicians

BACKGROUND Anecdotal evidence suggests that hearing loss, even when sufficient to prevent full access to spoken communication, often is underreported by patients and not documented by physicians. No published studies have investigated this issue quantitatively.
Cyclotron production of no-carrier-added 97Ru by proton bombardment of 103Rh targets

Abstract Targetry and radiochemical methods are reported for the production of no-carrier-added 97 Ru (2.88 d; 100% EC; 216 keV, 86%; 324 keV, 11%). 97 Ru has potential as a label in radiopharmaceutical synthesis and as a tracer in diagnostic nuclear-medicine procedures. Proton-induced reactions on 103 Rh targets were studied using an external beam of 67.5-MeV protons from a 1.93-m (76 in.) isochronous cyclotron. Thick-target yields (mCi/μAh) for 97 Ru were measured in the 67- to 37-MeV proton-energy range. Cumulative 97 Ru yields, as well as the total cross section, were also calculated. 97 Ru yields of 1.36 mCi/μAh (at end-of-bombardment) were measured from metallic Rh targets. Radiochemical methods are described for the separation of 97 Ru from isotopes of the elements Pd, Rh and Tc that can also be produced. The method described here has several basic and practical advantages over other reported procedures, and can be utilized for the production of radiopharmaceutical-quality 97 Ru.
Inflammatory Response After Neonatal Cardiac Surgery and Its Relationship to Clinical Outcomes

Background Cardiac surgery in infants results in a profound inflammatory response secondary to cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and the need for blood products. It is not clear how this inflammatory response modulates postoperative course or whether quantification of proinflammatory cytokines can aid with risk stratification. In this study, we prospectively assessed a panel of candidate markers to determine the time course for inflammation and the association of specific markers with clinical outcomes defined as intensive care unit length of stay (LOS). Methods We obtained preoperative blood samples from 92 neonates undergoing surgery with CPB and then serially for 5 days after surgery. Numerous interleukins were assayed along with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interferon (INF)-gamma. The most common surgical procedures were arterial switch procedure (n = 35) and Norwood operation (n = 34). Multivariate analysis was performed to determine if inflammatory mediators could independently predict prolonged intensive care unit LOS. Results Compared with the presurgery level, there were statistically significant increases ( p p = 0.002). Cytokine values measured on postoperative day 3 were most valuable in predicting prolonged LOS. A model that included use of circulatory arrest, and day 3 measures of IL-6 and IL-8 yielded an area under of the curve of 0.88 (95% confidence interval 0.79 to 0.96) for predicting a prolonged LOS. Conclusions In summary, neonatal heart surgery for complex lesions elicits a broad inflammatory response. This early inflammatory response appears nonspecific and did not predict clinical course. Persistence of specific inflammatory mediators on the third day after surgery, however, provided important prognostic information. As such, select cytokines may serve as valuable biomarkers in this population. Whether strategies targeting specific cytokines can alter clinical course is not known.
Periodicity and memory in mice

Mice given ECS after training on an inhibitory avoidance task showed greater retrograde amnesia when training and treatments were given near the crest of the daily activity rhythm as measured by rectal temperature.
Irradiated mentor pollen: its use in remote hybridization of black cottonwood

REMOTE hybridization, the bringing together of distantly related genomes, has many useful purposes1–4 but is often hindered by incompatibility barriers. Pollen mixes have been successfully used, particularly by the Michurin school of plant breeders, to overcome such incompatibility barriers1,2,5. Often, these mixes combined the pollen intended for syngamy with “mentor” pollen of the maternal species the function of which it was to stimulate the female floral tissue. Although the chemical nature of the stimulus is still poorly understood, it is likely that specific enzymes and hormones play an important part in the process6–8.
Examining the indirect impact of showroom entertainment on hourly slot gaming volume: the case of a Las Vegas hotel-casino.

Abstract With the advent of the destination casino resort featuring multifaceted entertainment and convention venues in the gaming industry, researchers have attempted to estimate the indirect gaming contributions of non-gaming casino amenities such as showroom entertainment and restaurants. The daily data of aggregate gaming volumes analyzed in previous gaming research, however, do not allow exploring transient gaming volumes associated with casino amenities during a much narrower range of time periods (i.e., hourly). The current investigation addressed this limitation by examining the relationship between showroom headcount and hourly slot gaming volume for the time period that fell adjacent to the show's start and end times. Based on the time-series regression analysis of daily data from a Las Vegas Strip hotel-casino, the current study found a positive and statistically significant effect of showroom headcounts on hourly slot volume at 6 p.m., 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. The estimated incremental slot revenue per paid showroom attendee, however, was financially immaterial. Considering major investments in showroom entertainment at many casinos, the current study will help casino operators evaluate the showroom's return-on-investment.
Hierarchical storage in information retrieval

A probabilistic analysis is employed to determine the effect of hierarchical storage organizations on information retrieval operations. The data storage hardware is assumed to consist of n-levels of linearly connected memory hardware with increasing data access times and increasing data storage capabilities. A system might, for example, consist of fast semiconductor memory, computer core memory, extended core storage, disk memory, and data cells. Equations are derived to predict the effect of such a system on data access times using sequential files, random access files, and structured files employing multiple-hierarchical linked lists.
INTERNAL FRICTION AND HARMONIC GENERATION IN IRON

Mesure du frottement interne du fer Armco autour de 20 KHz pour des deformations atteignant 5-10 −4 . Observation de l'amortissement de Granato-Lucke a l'etat aimante ainsi que de l'amortissement suivant la loi de Rayleigh a l'etat desaimante
Natural Gas Potential of the United States

Updated resource estimates of the natural gas potential for the United States using the results of developments through 1978 are now available. The estimated resources include 200 trillion cubic feet of proved reserves and 1,019 trillion cubic feet of potential resources from conventional reservoirs. More than 50% of the proved reserves are located in three principal areas: South Louisiana; Alaska; and the Mid-Continent region of Oklahoma, Kansas and the Texas Panhandle. Approximately 50% of the potential resources are located in four areas: the northern and central Rocky Mountain states, the Mid-Continent region, offshore Alaska, and offshore Louisiana. Projections indicate that these potential sources, including Alaska, can continue to provide through the year 2000 approximately the same amount of gas, on an annual basis, as is currently being produced in the US. Slnce 1968, proved reserves of gas in the lower 48 states have declined. Part of the decline can be attributed to the decline in drilling activity from 1956 through 1972, but location and depth of wells are also important. About 14% of oil wells drilled in the United States in 1978 were drilled as new field wildcats and only 4% of the successful gas wells completed were drilled as new field wildcats. In 1977, 80% of the wells were completed in areas and at depths where only 22% of the natural gas resource potential is believed to exist. Clearly, the emphasis on exploration and drilling must be redirected toward those areas of greater gas resource potential in order to meet future needs.
Background data for the warm rain project

A brief description is given of the area in Hawaii where a cooperative study of rain mechanisms in warm clouds was conducted during July and August 1965. The nature of the project and its general objectives are outlined, and local weather and atmospheric structure is characterized in order to provide background information for discussions of specific project results. DOI: 10.1111/j.2153-3490.1967.tb01489.x
An asymptotic theory for the vibration of anisotropic plates

A two-dimensional theory for the motion of anisotropic plates is derived in a systematic and consistent manner without making any of the usual a priori assumptions regarding the dependence of field variables on the thickness coordinate. The method of asymptotic integration of the three-dimensional elasticity equations is used. It is shown that only six elastic constants are present in the first approximation, which also includes the effect of rotatory inertia.
Enhancing chemistry teaching and learning through cyberinfrastructure

In this paper, we discuss strategies used in the Institute for Chemistry Literacy through Computational Science (ICLCS) that have impacted high school teachers and their students from small rural communities in Illinois. The overarching goal of ICLCS, a program of the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, is to infuse high school chemistry curricula with computational models and simulations in order to increase the content knowledge of both teachers and their students and promote inquiry in the classroom. Schools in rural communities present issues that are closely related to their size and location, but these issues resonate in larger communities as well. By bringing leading-edge technologies to classrooms and intensive professional development to teachers not only have we increased student achievement and teacher content knowledge in chemistry, but we have also used technology to improve access and opportunity for this underserved population. This paper gives an overview of two aspects of the ICLCS program---the cloud enabled environment designed to deliver a computational chemistry web service for education and the virtual professional learning environment that serves as a community of practice---as solutions to problems we encountered as we implemented the intervention.
Multi-color photometric observations of facular contrasts

We have analyzed high-resolution, digital, photometric images of solar active regions made at various center-limb positions on 21–24 July, 1983. The images were made at three continuum wavelengths: 5245 A in the green (bandpass 1.5 A), 6264 A in the red (bandpass 1.5 A), 10 000 A in the infrared (bandpass 3 A), and also at 8662 A in the Caii infrared line (bandpass 3 A). In all continuum colors, the contrasts of facular patches, as opposed to individual facular elements, appear to behave as linear functions of 1/cos θ, where θ is the heliocentric angle (μ = 0 at the limb, 1 at disk center). The relative contrasts in the different continuum colors are roughly proportional to (wavelength)-1, as expected from a Planck distributioin in the Wien approximation. The observed variation of the relative contrasts with center-limb position is compared to two simple theoretical models.
The somatoform conundrum: a question of nosological values.

Abstract This paper critically reviews the values and perspectives evident in the formulation of the category of Somatoform Disorders in the widely used Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-IV (DSM-IV) [1] of the American Psychiatric Association. The conflict of values evident in the DSM Committee’s elimination of causal issues and including only descriptive criteria in the final classification is emphasized. In this approach, causation was dismissed and only a description of popular clinical entities was allowed. It becomes clear that there was a conflict between causal and descriptive factors in the formation of the current classifications. The dubious logic and the inconsistencies that underlie the linking of the various diagnoses under the Somatoform Disorder (SD) rubric is presented. A heuristic model of the interaction of psychological and somatic variables is described. These variables act in a causal fashion and should be the basis for any nosological system of the SDs. There is ample evidence to support the importance of causal factors in the development of SDs, and the current descriptive nomenclature does not do justice to the rapidly growing field of Psychosomatic Medicine. A new scheme is proposed, using the presence or absence of stress as the connecting link for the diagnoses offered. The old nosology enhances the perpetuation of the mind-body dichotomy. Stress, representing the way in which the environment impinges on the human being, allows the mind-body dichotomy to be eliminated. The preferred synthesis of mind-body interaction as partly the result of experience in the environment becomes the basis for the new nosology.
Reproductive endocrinology: Live birth prediction in polycystic ovary syndrome

Anovulatory infertility is common in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Clinicians who provide first-line treatment have to decide how best to induce ovulation with the desired outcome of live birth, a decision often complicated by the phenotypic heterogeneity of PCOS. could a new livebirth prediction model of different ovulation induction methods developed from basic clinical parameters help select infertility treatments?
Id4 protein is highly expressed in triple-negative breast carcinomas: possible implications for BRCA1 downregulation

BRCA1 germline mutation carriers usually develop ER, PR and HER2 negative breast carcinoma. Somatic BRCA1 mutations are rare in sporadic breast cancers, but other mechanisms could impair BRCA1 functions in these tumors, particularly in triple-negative breast carcinomas (TNBCs). Id4, a helix-loop-helix DNA binding factor, blocks BRCA1 gene transcription in vitro and could downregulate BRCA1 in vivo. We compared Id4 immunoreactivity in 101 TNBCs versus 113 non-TNBCs, and correlated the results with tumor morphology and immunoreactivity for CK5/6, CK14, EGFR, and androgen receptor (AR). Id4 was present in 76 out of 101 (75 %) TNBCs: 40 (40 %) TNBCs displayed Id4 positivity in >50 % of neoplastic cells, 23 (23 %) in 5–50 %, and 13 (13 %) in <5 %. In contrast, only 6 (5 %) of 113 non-TNBCs showed focal Id4 positivity, limited to fewer than 5 % of the tumor (p < 0.0001). Id4 expression significantly associated with high histologic grade (p = 0.0002) and mitotic rate (p = 0.006). Id4 decorated all 12 TNBCs with large central acellular zone of necrosis in our series, with positive staining in 10–90 % of the cells. Id4 signal strongly correlated with cytokeratin CK14 reactivity (p < 0.0001), but not with CK5/6 and EGFR. All apocrine carcinomas in our series were positive for AR and most for EGFR, but they were negative for CK5/6, CK14, and Id4, with only two exceptions. Our results document substantial expression of Id4 in most TNBCs, which could result in functional downregulation of BRCA1 pathways in these tumors.
Forward Scattering of Light by a Coulomb Field

The complex scattering amplitude for the scattering of light by a Coulomb field (Delbr\"uck scattering) in the forward direction is calculated exactly by two methods. First, the Feynman method is used and necessitates very tedious and complicated calculations. Then, the method of analytical continuation is applied to the pair production cross section and yields the same result much more easily. An exact analytical expression is obtained for the dispersive and absorptive parts of the amplitude. The result is plotted as a function of energy. The low energy limit agrees with previous calculations for this limit by Kemmer and Ludwig.
Clues to depression in primary care practice

Depression is a common but highly treatable mood disorder. Unfortunately, two thirds of depressed patients may never receive appropriate intervention. Because of individual and societal barriers to the diagnosis, depressive symptoms often go unrecognized. However, primary care physicians are in a unique position to surmount these obstacles by being alert to manifestations of the disorder. Treatment with antidepressant drugs, psychotherapy, electroconvulsive therapy, or a combination of these is very efficacious. The choice of method is based on such factors as history of previous response, severity of disease, concomitant medical illness, and patient preference.
Electron Microprobe Analyses of the Remineralization of Enamel

The electron microprobe was used to analyze the calcium and phosphorus concentrations of sound, acid-etched, and remineralized enamel. By use of a weak acetic acid-potassium acetate buffer, it was found that the demineralization probably affected only the first 10 micrometers of the enamel surface. This demineralized enamel was successfully remineralized by the use of a calcifying solution. The changes in calcium and phosphorus concentrations and the Ca/P ratios were determined.