cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Disease Course in Patients With Pentosan Polysulfate Sodium-Associated Maculopathy After Drug Cessation

Importance Recent studies have linked a vision-threatening maculopathy with long-term use of pentosan polysulfate sodium (PPS). Objective To evaluate the disease course in PPS-associated maculopathy after drug cessation. Design, Setting, and Participants In this retrospective case series, patients diagnosed with PPS-associated maculopathy with at least 6 months of follow-up after drug cessation who were treated at the Emory Eye Center, Atlanta, Georgia, or the Casey Eye Institute, Portland, Oregon, were included. Data were collected from April 2014 through November 2019. Main Outcomes and Measures Change in visual acuity and retinal imaging characteristics over time. Results Of the 11 included patients, all were female, and the median (interquartile range [IQR]) age was 53 (44-63) years. Participants had a baseline visit at a median (IQR) of 2 (0-4) months after drug cessation and were subsequently observed for a median (IQR) of 12 (8-26) months. The median (IQR) cumulative PPS exposure was 1.97 (1.55-2.18) kg. No eyes exhibited a demonstrable improvement in disease after discontinuing PPS. A total of 9 of 11 patients (82%) reported worsening visual symptoms at the final visit. The mean (SD) logMAR visual acuity was 0.14 (0.23) and 0.14 (0.34) at the baseline and final visit, respectively. Visual acuity improved by 2 or more Snellen lines in 1 eye (5%) and declined by 2 or more Snellen lines in 2 eyes of 1 patient (9%). There was evolution in the pattern of fundus autofluorescence changes and/or optical coherence tomography findings in all eyes. A total of 17 eyes (77%) exhibited expansion of the area of involved tissue. A total of 7 eyes (32%) had macular retinal pigment epithelium atrophy at the baseline visit, and atrophy enlarged after discontinuation of PPS in all 7 eyes, with a median (IQR) growth rate of 0.32 (0.13-0.38) mm per year. Conclusions and Relevance These retrospective data among 11 patients suggest PPS-associated maculopathy continues to evolve after drug cessation for at least 10 years. In some cases, progressive retinal pigment epithelium atrophy encroaches on the foveal center and thus may pose a long-term threat to central vision.
Teaching economics with a bag of chocolate: A classroom experiment for elementary school students

Abstract This paper describes a classroom experiment suitable for elementary school students in which participants are actively engaged in making trading decisions. Students are provided an endowment of gum and are asked to make trading decisions to acquire chocolate. As the opportunity cost of acquiring a piece of chocolate rises, fewer students are willing to make trades. This interactive classroom exercise illustrates three fundamental economic concepts: the law of demand, opportunity costs, and gains from trade. Assessment test results reveal that two days after this classroom exercise, fifth grade students register significant improvements in their understanding of three fundamental economic concepts.
Comparison of the Diet ID Platform to the Automated Self-administered 24-hour (ASA24) Dietary Assessment Tool for Assessment of Dietary Intake.

Collecting multiple 24-hour recalls (24HR) can be burdensome, necessitating alternative methods to assess dietary intake in the research setting.This cross-sectional study compared the use of the D...
Theoretical Bearing Capacity of Very Shallow Footings

The bearing capacities of very shallow, perfectly smooth strip and circular footings are obtained by integration of the equations of plastic equilibrium of soils. The equations are integrated numerically by a finite difference approximation based on the method of characteristics. Calculations are carried out for cohesionless soils with angles of internal friction of 30○ and 40○. The results are linearized to obtain bearing capacity factors Nγ and Nq and shape factors for a circular footing. The increase of the calculated bearing capacity with depth of burial is sufficiently large to indicate that the small footing settlement prior to failure is a significant factor in the large discrepancies between theoretical and experimentally observed bearing capacities.
Diagnosing Kudoa Thyrsites (Myxozoa: Myxosporea) Infections in Fish

The genus Kudoa (Myxozoa: Myxosporea) is comprised of at least 44 species that infect marine fishes worldwide (Moran et al. 1999b). Several Kudoa spp. are parasites of the musculature of commercially important fish species and are, therefore, of considerable concern to retailers of fish products. This growing concern is not limited to the wild fisheries as several salmonid aquaculture producing countries, such as Canada (Whitaker and Kent 1991), Spain (Barja and Toranzo 1993), and Ireland (Palmer 1994), have reported problems resulting from this parasite’s negative impact on product quality. Furthermore, a Kudoa species morphologically similar to Kudoa thyrsites has been recently observed in netpen-reared Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) from Chile, the second largest producer of farmed salmon (Whipps et al. 2001).
Development and reliability of a correction factor for parent-reported adherence to pediatric antiepileptic drug therapy.

Purpose—Study aims were 1) to document and examine associations between parent-report and electronic monitoring of pediatric antiepileptic drug adherence, 2) determine the sensitivity and specificity of parent -reported adherence, and 3) develop a correction factor for parent -reported adherence. Methods—Participants included 111 consecutive children with new-onset epilepsy (Mage = 7.2 ± 2.0; 61.3% males; 75.8% Caucasian) and their primary caregivers. Antiepileptic drug adherence was electronically monitored for three months prior to the 4-month clinic follow-up visit. parentreported adherence captured adherence one-week prior to the clinic visit. For specificity/sensitivity analyses of parent-reported adherence, cut-points of 50%, 80%, and 90% were used with electronically-monitored adherence calculated one-week prior to the clinic visit as the reference criterion. Results—Electronically monitored adherence (80.3%) was significantly lower than parentreported adherence (96.5%; p < 0.0001) one-week prior to the clinic visit, but both were significantly correlated (rho=0.46, p < 0.001). The 90% parent-reported adherence cut-point demonstrated the most sensitivity and specificity to electronically monitored adherence; however, specificity was still only 28%. A correction factor of 0.83 was identified as a reliable adjustment for parent-reported adherence when compared to electronically monitored adherence. Discussion—Although electronic monitoring is the gold standard of adherence measurement for pediatric epilepsy, it is often not clinically feasible to integrate it into routine clinical care. Thus, use of a correction factor for interpreting parent-reported adherence holds promise as a reliable clinical tool. With reliable adherence measurement, clinicians can provide adherence interventions with the hope of optimizing health outcomes for children with pediatric epilepsy.
Mutagen Stability of Alkylation-Sensitive Mutants of Bacillus subtilis

A series of mutations of Bacillus subtilis, conferring sensitivity to methyl methanesulfonate (MMS), were transferred by transformation to a suppressible his− stock. The introduction of certain sensitivity mutations prevented the ultraviolet- or MMS-induced, but not the spontaneous, reversion of his− to his+. Not all sensitivity mutations led to this resistance to mutagenesis; a strain with altered deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) polymerase activity behaved almost normally with respect to its mutagen response, as did an excision-defective, ultraviolet-sensitive strain used as a control. One of the mutagen-stable strains responded to mutagenesis with nitrosomethylguanidine; another appeared stable even to this mutagen. All mutagen-stable strains had DNA polymerase and DNA ligase activity.
Efficacy of Metolazone and Furosemide in Children with Furosemide-Resistant Edema

The effect of a combination of metolazone (0.2 to 0.4 mg/kg/d) and furosemide (2 to 4 mg/kg/d) in achieving a natriuresis and diuresis was measured in 14 children during 22 episodes of edema resistant to furosemide alone. Urinary volume increased from 24 +/- 14 mL/kg/d for patients receiving furosemide to 51 mL/kg/d with combined diuretic therapy (P less than .01), and sodium excretion increased from 34 +/- 5 mEq/d to 155 +/- 176 mEq/d (P less than .01). Two children with severe hypoalbuminemia (serum albumin level less than 1.5 g/dL) and normal renal function, and five children with chronic renal insufficiency (71%) did not respond to combined diuretic therapy. The combination of furosemide and metolazone offers a useful and effective oral therapy in most children with edema resistant to furosemide. Children with chronic renal insufficiency and furosemide-resistant edema did not respond to combination diuretic therapy.
Retos en la industria de procesamiento de plásticos y compuestos

La industria de los plasticos actualmente se enfrenta a una variedad de retos relacionados con sostenibilidad, calidad y eficiencia de procesos. La demanda de produccion a gran escala e implementacion de nuevas tecnologias a nivel industrial requiere avances en herramientas de modelado y simulacion de procesos para la solucion de problemas y superacion de retos actuales. Este trabajo presenta tres casos practicos en la industria de plasticos donde el modelado y simulacion en el procesamiento representan un papel fundamental en la evaluacion y disponibilidad de nuevas tecnologias
Hypoxia, metabolism, and long-lived plasma cells (LYM6P.765)

Evidence from multiple laboratories agrees that long-lived humoral immunity derives from long-lived plasma cells (LLPC) that reside in the bone marrow (BM), and existing literature makes a compelling case explaining that short-lived PC die due to high metabolic stress. However, the mechanism by which LLPC escape the same fate as SLPC is unexplored. We tested the hypothesis that glycolysis is used by BM LLPC, which might be triggered by hypoxic areas of the bone marrow. Hypoxyprobe™-1 (PIM) was used as an indicator of BM LLPC residing in areas of low O2 tension. PIM positive stain in PC suggests that most BM LLPC reside in hypoxic niches. In addition, data obtained from both ELISPOT and 24h ELISA suggest that Ig secretion from BM cultured in a hypoxia chamber (3% O2) is slightly enhanced in hypoxic versus normoxic conditions. Since BM PC appear to reside in hypoxic niches, we assessed whether glycolysis is the predominant metabolic strategy employed by PC. Using the MitoTracker probe that fluoresces upon oxidation in respiring mitochondria, we found BM PC in both MitoTracker-hi and -lo populations, suggesting PC may differ in their metabolic strategies, using aerobic respiration and glycolysis, respectively. BM LLPC in both Mitotracker subsets are functional as determined by ELISA and ELISPOT. Future studies will assess the role of the plasma cell “niche” in promoting and sustaining a metabolic phenotype, which likely governs long-term immunity.
Lineage effects and the index of dispersion of molecular evolution.

Recent efforts to estimate the index of dispersion [R(t)] of molecular evolution-i.e., the ratio of the variance in the number of substitutions on a lineage to the mean number-have suffered from an inability to adjust the data for lineage effects. These effects may include the generation-time dependency of the rate of evolution or improper assumptions about the branching pattern of a phylogenetic tree. In the present paper a method for correcting for lineage effects in the estimation of R(t) is presented for trees made up of three species. The recent data published by Li et al. for 20 loci in three orders of mammals is examined, and the average R(t), corrected for lineage effects, is shown to be 7.75 for replacement substitutions and 3.3 for silent substitutions. Thus the high values reported earlier may not be dismissed as due to generation-time effects or improper assumptions about phylogenies. Computer simulations are presented to give confidence in the estimate for replacement substitutions but also to demonstrate that the estimate for silent substitutions is sensitive to corrections for multiple substitutions and is not as reliable. This work's implications for our understanding of the mechanism of molecular evolution are discussed, and the arguments in favor of the hypothesis that replacement substitutions are mostly selected while silent substitutions are mostly neutral is presented.
A rapid and simple method of producing high-resolution zymograms from Brassica and related species on isoelectric-focussing gels.

Isozymes are potentially valuable genetic markers in the identification of hybrid plants, the assessment of seed purity, and in molecular and conventional genetic maps. The starch gels commonly used to prepare Brassica zymograms have very low resolutions. Consequently, isoelectric-focussing polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis was explored as a means of producing high-resolution zymograms of four Brassica isozymes. Crude sap extracts were found to be unsuitable for electrophoresis. Centrifugation, passage over sepharose beads and overnight dialysis were tested as alternative means of clarifying samples. The zymograms presented here demonstrate that isoelectric focussing, following overnight sample dialysis, results in zymograms which, in comparison to their starch counterparts, have vastly improved separation and resolution.
SPINAL EVOKED RESPONSE IN THE PEDIATRIC AGE GROUP

Summated responses to peroneal nerve stimulation were recorded from surface electrodes placed over the lumbar, thoracic, and cervical spine of 50 normal infants and children. These potentials progressively increased in latency rostrally. In bipolar leads over the cauda equina and rostral spinal cord initially positive triphasic potentials were recorded. Leads over the caudal spinal cord yielded larger, more complex potentials. The conduction velocity of the response from lumbar to cervical recording sites was about 25 meters/sec, in the newborn; it progressively increased with age reaching adult values (65M./sec.) after 3 years. In 2 children with spinal cord lesions clinically judged to be complete, responses caudal to the lesion were normal; leads rostral to the lesion yielded no response. In 1 child with a clinically asymmetrical cord lesion responses were normal with stimulation of the unaffected leg; stimulation of the affected leg yielded responses only caudal to the lesion. In 2 children with diabetes mellitus conduction velocities from lumbar to cervical recording locations were slow. Although preliminary, these results suggest that this method may be of value in the neurological assessment of infants and children.
Primary osteosarcoma of the ribs: CT findings

We report the CT appearance of primary osteosarcoma of the ribs in three patients. CT evaluation is important because this lesion may present a diagnostic dilemma on chest radiographs. The tumor should be suspected if CT demonstrates dense calcification within a mass that is centered in a rib.
Supersymmetry anomalies: Further results

Abstract We consider anomalies in local supersymmetry. An expression for the gauge (Lorentz) noninvariant part of this anomaly for 2 n dimensional spacetime is given. The result agrees with explicit calculations in two dimensions. Complete expressions for rigid supersymmetry anomalies in two, four and six dimensions are also given.
Regressions Between Biological Oceanographic Measurements in the Eastern Tropical Pacific and Their Significance to Ecological EFFICIENCY1

Simple regressions of various standing stocks on each other and on primary productivity were compared by covariance analysis for different seasons, latitudes, and longitudes in the eastern tropical Pacific. The stock of zooplankton varies significantly with that of chlorophyll a to a power <1.0 in all seasons and areas, and it is shown that a similar relation probably exists between the corresponding rates of daily production. A similar relation holds in the regression of standing stock of fish-cephalopod micronekton, suitably lagged, on stock of zooplankton. Thus the relative amount of organic matter transferred from one trophic level to another probably decreases with an increase of stock and production at the lower level, so that ecological efficiency is higher in oligotrophic than in eutrophic situations, in tropical oceans. Standing stock of chlorophyll a varies significantly with primary productivity to a power 1.0, which is interpreted as a feeding aggregation.
Studies on pharmaceutical powders and the state of subdivision. iv. the application of spray-drying techniques to pharmaceutical powders

An examination of the usefulness of the spray-drying apparatus in modifying the physical, pharmaceutical, and pharmacological properties of medicinal substances is reported. Spray-drying appeared to be a useful method of modifying the surface area of a powdered substance during its preparation. The addition of wetting and suspending agents modified spray-dried powders, such as precipitated sulfur and mercuric sulfide, so that aggregation effects of the drying procedure were eliminated. The method produced a free-flowing, easily wetted, monodispersible powder. Methylcellulose can be spray-dried to a fine powder; by previously adding a wetting agent, the methylcellulose so produced was found to redissolve rapidly as well as disperse in oil, and with the subsequent addition of water to yield a stable emulsion. Colloidal sulfur was prepared and spray-dried. The dried product was found to be redispersible into its original unaggregated state. Surface areas are reported and preliminary bacteriological data are presented showing the relation of the antiseptic action to the surface area of the various sulfurs.
Subcellular distribution and properties of rabbit liver aldehyde dehydrogenases

Abstract In rabbit liver, both NAD + - and NADP + -dependent aldehyde dehydrogenases were identified. The activities were distributed among at least three major groups of isozymes identifiable by gel electrophoresis. These isozymes also differed in their substrate and coenzyme preferences, subcellular distributions, and/or responses to effectors. The NAD + -dependent aldehyde dehydrogenase activity was distributed among the mitochondrial, microsomal, and cytosolic fractions. The NADP + -dependent aldehyde dehydrogenase activity was largely microsomal, with little true cytosolic NADP + -dependent activity demonstrable. Aliphatic aldehydes were oxidized equally well by aldehyde dehydrogenases in all three fractions. Aromatic aldehydes, however, were preferentially oxidized by microsomal aldehyde dehydrogenases. Disulfiram significantly inhibited mitochondrial (45 per cent) and cytosolic (93 per cent) NAD + -dependent aldehyde dehydrogenase, but it did not cause significant inhibition of microsomal NAD + -dependent activity. Disulfiram inhibited the NADP + -dependent aldehyde dehydrogenase activity (>71 per cent) in all subcellular fractions. Diethylstilbestrol activated both NAD + - and NADP + -dependent aldehyde dehydrogenases in mitochondria and cytosol. Microsomal aldehyde dehydrogenases were not affected by diethylstilbestrol.
The Knower and the Known: symbolic violence and representations of women in popular music

(1995). The Knower and the Known: symbolic violence and representations of women in popular music. Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education: Vol. 16, No. 3, pp. 365-375.
Toward Greater Public Health Relevance for Psychotherapeutic Intervention Research: An NIMH Workshop Report

A multidisciplinary group of experts was convened by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to discuss new opportunities in psychotherapy research. Participants agreed that more research is needed to assess stakeholders’ needs, to better understand techniques commonly used in clinical practice, and to test efficacious treatments in community settings. These steps will require increased collaboration across different disciplines, development of new research methods, and a willingness for investigators to ask novel research questions. Participants outlined obstacles to conducting public health-oriented research such as the current dearth of supportive infrastructure (e.g., lack of training opportunities for new investigators), concerns about how applications for conducting new or hybrid methodologies will fare when evaluated by NIMH initial review groups, and the obvious differences in terminology used by relevant stakeholders.
Simulation of nuclear quasicontinuum gamma-ray spectra

Abstract A Monte Carlo code is described, which simulates the low-energy ( E γ ⪅ 5 MeV) part of the largely unresolvable gamma-ray spectrum from heavy-ion fusion reactions. It provides a flexible framework for the modeling of nuclear structure at high spin and finite temperature. New features include a formula for the energy dependence of the entry distribution based on thermodynamical considerations, and the implementation of improved line shapes for the giant E1 and rotational E2 strength functions.
Antiviral therapy with nucleotide polymerase inhibitors for chronic hepatitis C

The treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) has made significant advances with the development of new direct-acting antivirals. Nucleotide polymerase inhibitors are one class of these new medications that have been shown to be highly effective, safe and well tolerated as part of an antiviral regimen. Sofosbuvir has become the first drug in this class to be approved for clinical use, supported by results from extensive phase II and phase III clinical trials. This review will further discuss nucleotide polymerase inhibitors, including the data supporting their use as part of interferon-free HCV treatment regimens.
A life cycle decision methodology for recycle of radioactive scrap metal

During the past five years, a number of U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funded efforts have demonstrated the technical efficacy of converting various forms of radioactive scrap metal (RSM) into useable products. While health and safety and other technical issues have been addressed, the question remains: do the benefits of fabricating products from RSM outweigh the costs? This paper presents a decision methodology for use within DOE to evaluate the costs and benefits of recycling and reusing some RSM, rather than disposing of this RSM in an approved burial site. The methodology consists of two distinct phases: the Life Cycle Assessment phase and the decision phase. The Life Cycle Assessment approach proposed here differs from traditional life cycle assessments because it considers economic and other impacts of concern to stakeholders, and includes secondary and indirect impacts that may occur upstream or downstream of the decision.
Addressing the provenance challenge using ZOOM

ZOOM* UserViews presents a model of provenance for scientific workflows that is simple, generic, and yet sufficiently expressive to answer questions of data and step provenance that have been encountered in a large variety of scientific case studies. In addition, ZOOM builds on the concept of composite step-classes—or sub-workflows—which is present in many scientific workflow systems to develop a notion of user views. This paper discusses the design and implementation of ZOOM in the context of the queries posed by the provenance challenge, and shows how user views affect the level of granularity at which provenance information can be seen and reasoned about. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
HISTOLOGY IN MIXED GERM CELL TUMORS. IS THERE A FAVORITE PAIRING

ABSTRACTPurpose: Mixed germ cell tumors account for approximately 30% to 50% of testicular tumors. To our knowledge a systematic review with statistical analysis of the associations of histological subtypes in mixed germ cell tumors has not been done previously. It was our impression that such associations exist. Delineating concordant histological types may provide insight into the ontogeny of testicular tumors and also have important clinical implications.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the testis cancer data base at our institution. The primary tumor of orchiectomy specimens was examined in 2,589 patients. Of these patients mixed histology was noted in 1,765 (68.2%). ORs were calculated for all possible combinations of teratoma, embryonal carcinoma, yolk sac tumor, choriocarcinoma and seminoma. In addition, we evaluated the association of various histological types with teratoma at post-chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection.Results: Of 10 possible combinations of histolo...
Collision-induced dissociation of the lower alcohols. A thermochemical study†

Collision-induced dissociation of the molecular ions and of some of the fragment ions foremed on ionization of methanol, ethanol and n-propnol have been studied at high energy resolution in a mass spectrometer. The translational energy lost upon collision and the kinetic energy releasedupon fragmentation of the collisionally excited species have been measured by the methods of ion kinetic energy spectromety. The results of the translational energy loss measurements compare well with excitation energies predicted for each reaction form breakdown curves showing the relative abundances of the ionsas a fuction of internal energy. This correspondence is evidebce that the ionic reactions following electron-impact excitation and those following collisional excitation with neutral molecules at relative traslational energies in the range of several kilovolts are at least qualitatively independent of the method of excitation. The occurrence of the corresponding spontaneous fragmentations in the alcohols has also been studied and the kinetic energy releases accompanying these reactions have been determined. In a few cases, metastable peaks were observed which did not increase in intensity when collision gas added and this phenomenon is associated with particular features of the reaction thermochemistry. Reactions which generally occur to very small extents in mass spectromety, such as methylene elimination, have been observed in highly excited ions. The methods developed in this study allow the decription of the thermochemistry of the reaction of highly excited ions, indlcuding the experimental determination of the partitioning of the nonfixed energy of the activated complex. This procedure complemets and extends energy partitioning studies made on metastable ions in which the partitioning of the reverse activation energy is the more readily accessible.
Ab initio quantum chemistry calculations on the electronic structure of heavier alkyne congeners: diradical character and reactivity.

The electronic structure of the heavier congeners of alkynes has been studied with emphasis on characterizing their extent of diradical character. Four orbitals play a crucial role in determining the electronic structure in planar trans-bent geometries. Two are associated with an out-of-plane π interaction, π and π*, and two are associated with in-plane interactions and/or in-plane lone pairs, LP(n-) and LP*(n+). The ordering of these orbitals can change depending upon geometry. One extreme, corresponding to the local minimum for Si−Si and Ge−Ge, is a diradicaloid multiple-bonding configuration where LP and π are nominally occupied. Another extreme, corresponding to a local minimum for Sn−Sn, is a relatively closed-shell single-bond configuration where LP and LP* are nominally occupied. This ordering leads to predicted bond shortening upon excitation from singlet to triplet state. For the heavier elements, there appears to be very little energy penalty for large geometric distortions that convert from one...
Monolithically integrated twin ring diode lasers for rotation sensing applications

Design, fabrication, and characterization of monolithically integrated ring diode lasers (RDLs) with relatively large size are reported. Fully functional optoelectronic integrated circuits containing integrated unidirectional RDLs, photodetectors, and coupling waveguides are demonstrated. Multiple switching of lasing direction is observed in RDL with quantum-well active regions, and an S-section or spiral absorbers are used to suppress directional switching and to obtain a more stable unidirectional operation. Unidirectionality of the RDL operation is greatly improved in lasers with quantum-dot active regions.
Efficient adiabatic fast passage for NMR population inversion in the presence of radiofrequency field inhomogeneity and frequency offsets

Abstract Adiabatic fast passage is a powerful tool for uniformly inverting magnetization in the presence of rf magnetic field inhomogeneity and frequency offsets. Long pulses or large rf powers are necessary for this technique to be effective, however, when the usual linear frequency sweep is used. A sweep of the form ω(t) − ω0 = ω1tan(αω1t), on the other hand, is shown to be an order of magnitude more efficient than the linear sweep. Here ω(t) is the rf field frequency, ω0 is the Larmor frequency, w1 = -γB1 (gyromagnetic ratio times rf field strength), and α is a constant determined by w1, the total sweep time, and the range of the frequency sweep. This tangential frequency sweep can produce substantially better inversion than composite pulses of the same amplitude.
Applications of free energy derivatives to analog design

Free energy derivatives, which were first used to analyze the sensitivity and the convergence of free energy calculations, have recently been proposed for use in analog design. In this article, we review the published applications of free energy derivatives to analog design, discuss the possible reasons for the success and failure of such applications, and describe our recent study on an alternative use of free energy derivatives in analog design. It is too early to definitively evaluate the usefulness of the free energy derivative method to yield valuable insights into analog design. Our recent study suggests that free energy derivatives hold promise in evaluating possible different binding sites for a given ligand and suggesting the sites of a ligand that are not suitable for further structural modifications.
Chemical and Photochemical Ligation of Oligonucleotide Blocks

Abstract Several efficient means for joining oligonucleotides in dilute solution by non-natural internucleotide bridges are discussed. It is also shown that an oligonucleotide containing a -OP(O)(O−)S- link can hnction as an effective template in PCR amplification and that oligonucleotide probes containing stilbenedicarboxamide groups can serve in monitoring the presence of mismatched bases in an oligonucleotide target.
Carbon vaporization into a nonequilibrium, stagnation-point boundarylayer

The heat transfer to the stagnation point of an ablating carbonaceous heat shield, where both the gas-phase boundary layer and the heterogeneous surface reactions are not in chemical equilibrium, is examined. Specifically, the nonequilibrium changes in the mass fraction profiles of carbon species calculated for frozen flow are studied. A set of equations describing the steady-state, nonequilibrium laminar boundary layer in the axisymmetric stagnation region, over an ablating graphite surface, is solved, with allowance for the effects of finite rate of carbon vaporization.
Measurements of the nearly isotropic turbulence behind a uniform jet grid

Wind-tunnel turbulence behind a parallel-rod grid with jets evenly distributed along each rod is nearly isotropic. Homogeneity improvement over prior related experiments was attained by the use of controllable nozzles. Compared with the ‘passive’ case, the downwind-jet ‘active’ grid has a smaller static pressure drop across it and gives a smaller turbulence level at a prescribed distance from it, while the upwind-jet grid gives a larger static pressure drop and larger turbulence level. ‘Counterflow injection’ generates larger turbulence energy and larger scales, both events being evidently associated with instability of the jet system. This behaviour is much like that commonly observed behind passive grids of higher solidities.If the turbulent kinetic energy is approximated as an inverse power law in distance, the (positive) exponent decreases with increasing (downwind or upwind) jet strength, corresponding to slower absolute decay rates. No peculiar decay behaviour occurs when the jet grid is ‘self-propelled’ (zero net average force), or when the static pressure drop across it is zero.The injection does not change the general behaviour of the energy spectra, although the absolute spectra change inasmuch as the turbulence kinetic energy changes.
Enhanced Light Trapping in Periodic Aluminum Nanorod Arrays as Cavity Resonator

Metallic nanostructures can exhibit different optical properties compared to bulk materials mainly depending on their shape, size, and separation. We present the results of an optical modeling study on ordered arrays of aluminum (Al) nanorods with a hexagonal periodic geometry placed on an Al thin film. We used a finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method to solve the Maxwell’s equations and predict the reflectance of the nanorod arrays. The thickness of the base Al film was set to 100 nm, and diameter, height and nanorod center-to-center periodicity were varied. Incident light in the FDTD simulations was an EM-circular polarized plane wave and reflectance profiles were calculated in the wavelength range 200-1800 nm. In addition, we calculated spatial electric field intensity distributions around the nanorods for wavelengths 300, 500, and 700 nm. Our results show that average reflectance of Al nanorods can drop down to as low as ∼50%, which is significantly lower than the ∼90% reflectance of conventional flat Al film at similar wavelengths. In addition to the overall decrease in reflectance, Al nanorod arrays manifest multiple resonant modes (higher-order modes) indicated by several dips in their reflectance spectrums (i.e. multiple attenuation peaks in their absorption profiles). Positions of these dips in the reflectance spectrum and spatial EM field distribution vary with nanorod height and diameter. Multiple reflectance peaks are explained by cavity resonator effects. Spatial EM field distribution profiles indicate enhanced light trapping among the nanorods, which can be useful especially in optoelectronic and solar cell applications.
Global Solutions of Nonlinear Magnetohydrodynamics with Large Initial Data

A free boundary problem for nonlinear magnetohydrodynamics with general large initial data is investigated. The existence, uniqueness, and regularity of global solutions are established with large initial data in H1. It is shown that neither shock waves nor vacuum and concentration in the solutions are developed in a finite time, although there is a complex interaction between the hydrodynamic and magnetodynamic effects. An existence theorem of global solutions with large discontinuous initial data is also established.
Immunoreactive urinary prostaglandins A and E in neonates, children, and adults

Urinary prostaglandins were measured by radioimmunoassay in neonates (31–35 weeks gestational age), children (4–15 years) and adults (24–36 years). Neonates showed significantly lower levels of both iPGE and iPGA compared to children (p<0.01) and adults (p<0.01). Children also had significantly lower levels than adults (p<0.01). Since urinary prostaglandins reflect intrarenal levels of prostaglandins, the results support other studies that suggest prostaglandins may play a role in controlling renal blood flow in infants.
Modulation of chronic hypoxia-induced chemoreceptor hypersensitivity by NADPH oxidase subunits in rat carotid body

Previous studies in our laboratory established that reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by NADPH oxidase (NOX) facilitate the open state of a subset of K+ channels in oxygen-sensitive type I ce...
Absorption, disposition and metabolism of di-isononyl phthalate (DINP) in F-344 rats.

Di-isononyl phthalate (DINP; CAS no. 68515-48-0) is a general-purpose plasticizer for polyvinyl chloride. It produced liver and kidney effects when given to rodents at high oral doses, but there were no target organ effects in primates treated under similar conditions. To assist in understanding the basis for these species differences, the pharmacokinetic properties of DINP were evaluated in rodents following both oral and dermal administration. These studies demonstrated that the pharmacokinetic properties of DINP are similar to those of other high-molecular-weight phthalates. When orally administered to rodents, DINP is rapidly metabolized in the gastrointestinal tract to the corresponding monoester, absorbed and excreted, primarily in the urine. Shortly after administration, DINP is found primarily in liver and kidneys, but it does not persist or accumulate in any organ or tissue. It is very poorly absorbed from the skin, but once absorbed it behaves in the same way as the orally administered material. The results of these rodent studies contrast with data from studies involving humans or other primates, which indicate low absorption at low oral doses and much more limited total absorption at high doses. It appears that many, if not all, of the effects of DINP in rodent studies are associated with internal doses that would be difficult, if not impossible, to achieve in humans under any circumstances. Thus, the results of rodent studies may not be very useful in assessing the potential risks to humans from high-molecular-weight phthalates.
A unified derivation and critical review of modal approaches to model reduction

Six of the most commonly-used modal reduction techniques are represented by means of signal flow diagrams connecting inputs and state variables. In this representation, the derivation and the cross-comparison of the various methods are greatly facilitated. Each method is then analysed to determine key characteristics, i.e. (i) steady-state agreement, (ii) initial-value agreement, (iii) independence of the reduced model on the choice of retained state variables and inputs, and (iv) eigen vector orientation. Realistic, large-scale systems are used to evaluate the static and dynamic characteristics of each model reduction method numerically. These studies reveal some important, and often unrecognized, weaknesses of several traditional techniques and confirm the strength of the newly-developed technique of Litz.
Role of platelet antagonists in coronary artery disease: Implications in coronary artery bypass surgery and balloon-catheter dilatation

Platelets play an important role in regulation of hemostasis and maintenance of vascular tone. Endothelial disruption occurring during coronary artery bypass surgery and balloon-catheter dilatation may promote platelet adhesion, aggregation, and thrombus formation. Recent studies suggest that platelet-endothelial interaction is mediated in part through products of arachidonic acid metabolism. Understanding of the platelet interaction with blood vessels is important in pharmacologic interventions directed at prevention of thrombus formation in bypass grafts. Although it remains to be proved, use of platelet-suppressive drugs may also improve patency of coronary arteries after balloon-catheter dilatation.
Algebraically rectifiable parametric curves

Abstract Sufficient and necessary conditions for the arc length of a polynomial parametric curve to be an algebraic function of the parameter are formulated. It is shown that if the arc length is algebraic, it is no more complicated than the square root of a polynomial. Polynomial curves that have this property encompass the Pythagorean-hodograph curves—for which the arc length is just a polynomial in the parameter—as a proper subset. The algebraically rectifiable cubics, other than Pythagorean-hodograph curves, constitute a single-parameter family of cuspidal curves. The implications of the general algebraic rectifiability criterion are also completely enumerated in the case of quartics, in terms of their cusps and intrinsic shape freedoms. Finally, the characterization and construction of algebraically rectifiable quintics is briefly sketched. These forms offer a rich repertoire of curvilinear profiles, whose lengths are readily determined without numerical quadrature, for practical design problems.
Frequency and Amplitude of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Stimulation and Gonadotropin Secretion in the Rhesus Monkey

In adult ovariectomized rhesus monkeys bearing hypothalamic lesions which reduced circulating LH and FSH to undetectable levels, sustained elevated gonadotropin concentrations were reestablished by the intermittent administration of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) at the rate of 1 microgram/min for 6 min once every hour. The effects of varying either the frequency or the amplitude of these GnRH pulses on gonadotropin secretion were examined in such animals. Increasing the frequency of GnRH administration from the physiological one pulse per h to two, three, or five pulses h while maintaining a constant infusion rate and pulse duration resulted in gradual declines in plasma gonadotropin concentrations. These declines were most profound at the highest frequencies and the consequence of reduced pituitary responses to individual GnRH pulses. Decreasing the frequency of GnRH pulses from one per h to one every 3 h led to variable declines in plasma LH levels, but circulating FSH invariably rose. Reducing the GnRH infusion rate from 1 to 0.1 mg/min while maintaining constant frequency and pulse duration resulted in abrupt declines in plasma LH and FSH to immeasurable levels, although pulsatile increments in circulating GnRH concentrations without a concomitant reduction in plasma LH concentrations, which remained unchanged. An infusion rate of 0.5 microgram/min resulted in unstable plasma LH and FSH levels. These results demonstrate that changes in the frequency or amplitude of hypophysiotropic stimulation have profound effects on plasma gonadotropin levels as well as on FSH to LH ratios in the circulation. The physiological implications of these observations are discussed.
A newly recognized structure of renomedullary interstitial cell origin associated with high prostaglandin content

Abstract This report documents a newly recognized structure of human renomedullary interstitial cell origin associated with high prostaglandin content.
An updated survey of four policies and practices in American adult corrections

Abstract Results of recent (1977) national surveys on four policies and practices in American adult corrections are compared with results of similar surveys conducted six years earlier (1971). The home furlough policy was the only one to change noticeably from the 1971 survey. Study release, ex-offender employment, and good-time policies remained relatively unchanged. Brief comments on and recommendations for expansion or modification of the four policies and practices are included.
Object classification with efficient global self-similarity descriptors based on sparse representations

Object recognition entails extracting information about which object class(es) are present in an image. In order to enhance the performance of object recognition, reducing the redundancy in the data is absolutely essential. Prior literature [1, 2] introduced local and global self-similarity features to highlight the areas in an image which are useful for object classification and detection. We introduce an efficient self-similarity measure based on sparse representations and propose two different descriptors. Our measure of self-similarity is determined across multiple scales and is more efficient than prior work. We test our self similarity descriptor using support vector machine based classification on the PASCAL VOC 2007 database consisting of 20 object classes. Comparative results indicate performance competitive with the prior approaches of computing self-similarity descriptors.
Multiple perspectives: Concept, applications, and user guidelines

The evolution of the multiple perspective approach and its range of applications over the past decade are reviewed. The traditional technical perspective of systems analysis is augmented with organizational and personal perspectives. The three types of perspectives have inherently different characteristics and properties. The applications show that each perspective yields insights on a system that are not attainable with the others. The organizational and personal perspectives also focus more attention on problems of implementation. The concept is serving as an effective and practical vehicle to overcome the limitations of systems analysis in dealing with complex real-world situations.
Biomimetic Platforms for Tissue Engineering

Bioengineering platforms that combine cell/tissuespecific transport and signaling with precise control of culture conditions and multiparametric insights into the cell function are critical to our efforts to study tissue development, regeneration, and disease under conditions that predict the human in vivo context. Because living cells respond to the entire context of their environment – in vivo and in vitro, under normal and pathological conditions – the biological foundation of our bioengineering designs that is often described as the “biomimetic paradigm” is critical for unlocking the biological potential of the cells. This brief review focuses on some of the key principles for designing and using biologically inspired engineering platforms. Four examples are used to illustrate the designs and applications of biomimetic platforms.
The importance of palpation in food selection by a polyphagous grasshopper (Orthoptera: Acrididae).

The behavioral responses of final-instar nymphs of Schistocerca americanato a variety of acceptable and unacceptable plants were recorded. Palpation occurred on all plants and the palps are involved in both acceptance and rejection. On most unacceptable plants, rejection was at first dependent on biting the leaf, but subsequently on Lantana, Machaeranthera, Moms,and Physalis,rejection often occurred after palpation of the surface alone. This is consistent with the suggestion that associative learning occurs. This response did not wane even when the insects had been without food for over 2 h. There was also some evidence of an innate response to the surface characteristics of Physalis.The features of the surfaces that produced these responses were not determined.
The influence of surface defects on the interaction

Abstract Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and angle-resolved secondary ion mass spectrometry (ARSIMS) have been used to examine how surface defects influence the oxygen adsorption and oxidation process on Al(100). The influence of surface defects was investigated by comparing results obtained for two Al(100) surfaces that were subjected to different surface polishing procedures which produced substantially different concentrations of defects on the two surfaces. Surface defects are shown to dramatically increase the rate of oxygen adsorption, strongly facilitate penetration of oxygen into the subsurface, enhance subsurface oxidation and reduce the exposure required for the onset of oxide formation. Interestingly, it is also shown that once oxidation begins, the enhanced rate of oxygen adsorption caused by defects does not significantly alter the rate of oxidation of the near-surface region, but instead contributes primarily to enhanced penetration of oxygen into the subsurface and subsurface oxidation.
Smallpox vaccines: current and future.

T he cases of anthrax that accompanied the postal attacks in 2001 confirm that biologic weapons can and will be used against civilian populations. Smallpox has the same potential and has been weaponized to serve as a biologic weapon. As a result, the US government has committed substantial resources to assure broad access to the current vaccine and to develop new vaccines to defend against this possibility. In this review, we summarize the production, composition, application, indications and contraindications of the current commercially available smallpox vaccine Dryvax (Wyeth Laboratories, Inc, Madison, NJ). In addition, we highlight innovative features of new smallpox vaccines and consider how advances in vaccine technology may lead to the successful creation of improved smallpox vaccines.