cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Identification and characterization of two ankyrin-B isoforms in mammalian heart.

Aims Excitation–contraction coupling in cardiomyocytes requires the proper targeting and retention of membrane proteins to unique domains by adaptor proteins like ankyrin-B. While ankyrin-B has been shown to interact with a variety of membrane and structural proteins located at different subcellular domains in cardiomyocytes, what regulates the specificity of ankyrin-B for particular interacting proteins remains elusive. Methods and results Here, we report the identification of two novel ankyrin-B isoforms AnkB-188 and AnkB-212 in human, rat, and mouse hearts. Novel cDNAs for both isoforms were isolated by long-range PCR of reverse-transcribed mRNA isolated from human ventricular tissue. The isoforms can be discriminated based on their function and subcellular distribution in cardiomyocytes. Heterologous overexpression of AnkB-188 increases sodium–calcium exchanger (NCX) membrane expression and current, while selective knockdown of AnkB-188 in cardiomyocytes reduces NCX expression and localization in addition to causing irregular contraction rhythms. Using an isoform-specific antibody, we demonstrate that the expression of AnkB-212 is restricted to striated muscles and is localized to the M-line of cardiomyocytes by interacting with obscurin. Selective knockdown of AnkB-212 significantly attenuates the expression of endogenous ankyrin-B at the M-line but does not disrupt NCX expression at transverse tubules in cardiomyocytes. Conclusion The identification and characterization of two functionally distinct ankyrin-B isoforms in heart provide compelling evidence that alternative splicing of the ANK2 gene regulates the fidelity of ankyrin-B interactions with proteins.
A new theory of the nematic-smectic A-smectic C transition in liquid crystals

A new free energy for the nematic-smectic C transition is introduced and used to calculate the liquid structure factor just above the nematic-smectic C transition. As the temperature is lowered, the peaks in the scattering intensity move off the z-axis and simultaneously change in shape from tails characterized by quadratic to those with quartic behaviour. Recent experimental data is well described by the theoretical results Une nouvelle energie libre pour la transition du titre est introduite et utilisee pour calculer le facteur de structure liquide pres de la transition nematique-smectique C. Quand la temperature est reduite, les pics de l'intensite de diffusion s'ecartent de l'axe des z et simultanement changent de forme passant d'une queue quadratique a une queue quartique. Des experiences recentes sont correctement decrites par les resultats theoriques
Screening Effect in Electromagnetic Production of Electron-Positron Pairs in Relativistic Nucleus-Atom Collisions

We study the screening effects of the atomic electrons in the electromagnetic production of electron-positron pairs in relativistic nucleus-atom collisions for fixed target experiments. Our results are contrasted with those obtained in bare collisions, with particular attention given to its dependence on the beam energy and the target atom.
PREDICTABILITY OF PROTOTYPE MACHINE LIQUID CAVITATION AND DROPLET IMPACT EROSION FROM LABORATORY TESTS

Abstract Computer models of cavitation bubble collapse and also of liquid jet and droplet impact are described. These can predict local stresses and strains as a function of time in the impacted material, but not as yet the erosion rates to be anticipated. A pressure pulse spectrum measuring technique for a priori prediction of eventual erosion rates is described. Initial results, which appear very hopeful, are described.
Theatres, Metaphors, and E-Collaboration: An Examination of Web-Based Cooperation of Regional Nonprofit Theatres

A metaphor methodology was used to understand and interpret the Web presences of 15 nonprofit theatres that comprise the regional theatre of Southern New Jersey that is present on the Web. In addition, findings from our earlier studies of off-Broadway and regional theatre festivals were extended to analyze the Web presence of the theatres in Southern New Jersey. The contribution of the work resides in its systematic and intense consideration of the strategic importance of the Web for nonprofit theatre arts groups in the Southern New Jersey region and in its use of the metaphor methodology in order to facilitate a fully developed picture of the Web and nonprofit organizations. This is intended to help administrators become aware of the need for strategic use of e-collaboration via creation of a regional theatre Web presence for South Jersey that enacts a more evolutionary metaphor, perhaps that of the organism. Theatres are encouraged to practice collaborating on the Web by creating reciprocal links and thus cooperating as a region.
Transitions in lattice superconductors induced by quantum fluctuations

Abstract The effects of changing in lattice superconductors are investigated using quantum Monte Carlo methods. For relatively small values of the ratio of charging to Josephson energies, α, the system undergoes a first-order transition from a superconducting to a new coherent state dominated by quantum fluctuations. For larger values of α we present strong evidence which indicates that these systems undergo a reentrant transition, i.e. a normal-superconducting-normal transition at finite temperature.
Cycloviolins A-D, anti-HIV macrocyclic peptides from Leonia cymosa.

Four novel anti-HIV macrocyclic peptides containing 28−31 amino acid residues, named cycloviolins A−D, have been isolated from the hitherto unstudied tropical plant Leonia cymosa. Their primary str...
The Role of Androgens in Female Vertebrates

The role of androgens in vertebrate females has been overlooked until recently. We examine the functional significance of androgens in females by reviewing studies that document relatively high levels of circulating plasma androgens, androgen receptors, or androgen-metabolizing enzymes in females. Among the mechanisms of androgenic action identified are enhanced neuron survival, stimulation of muscle satellite cell proliferation, alteration of ion current kinetics, and release of somatostatin. These mechanisms are not sex specific and thus we hypothesize that androgens play a significant role in normal female development. We encourage study in this nontraditional research area.
THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PERSONNEL SELECTION OF APPARENT DECLINES IN PREDICTIVE VALIDITIES OVER TIME: A CRITIQUE OF HULIN, HENRY, AND NOON

Hulin, Henry, and Noon (1990) reviewed evidence from a number of studies which supported, in their view, the position that predictive validities decreased over time. If correct, their results would have significant implications for personnel selection practice and research. However, further analysis of their evidence suggested that their results may have only limited generalizability. More specifically, few of the studies they used to support their claim of decreasing predictive validities were field studies of prediction-criterion pairs. Furthermore^ reported data on lagged intercorrelations were of limited relevance to the question of decreasing validities. Finally, a large body of data relevant to the issue of time-lagged validities in a personnel selection context were omitted because the data did not meet Hulin et al.'s restrictive criteria.
In vivo 1D and 2D correlation MR spectroscopy of the soleus muscle at 7T.

Aim This study aims to (1) undertake and analyse 1D and 2D MR correlation spectroscopy from human soleus muscle in vivo at 7T, and (2) determine T1 and T2 relaxation time constants at 7T field strength due to their importance in sequence design and spectral quantitation.
A random covering interpretation for the phase transition of the random energy model

The random energy model is related to a random covering of the real line. The phase transition is interpreted as the passage from a regime where a family of random intervals covers the line (high temperature) to a noncovering regime (low temperature).
Sex, race, and psychomotor reminiscence

This study extended the search for boundary conditions of the well-known female dominance in psychomotor reminiscence by comparing subjects of Caucasoid and Negroid ancestries. Apportioned equally among the four combinations of sex and race, 72 subjects engaged in alternating periods of massed practice and rest on a mirror tracking task. Females of both races reminisced more than their male counterparts, but race contributed virtually nothing to the variance of reminiscence. However, Caucasoid subjects maintained an essentially constant margin of task proficiency over Negroid subjects across the practice sequence. Various hypotheses concerning this effect are discussed.
Production and trapping of hydrogenlike and bare uranium ions in an electron beam ion trap.

An equilibrium population of approximately 500 hydrogenlike U[sup 91+] ions and ten fully stripped U[sup 92+] ions has been produced and trapped in an electron beam ion trap at 198-keV electron energy. The equilibrium ionization balance, determined from the intensities of radiative recombination x rays, gives values of 1.55[plus minus]0.27 and 2.82[plus minus]0.35 b for the electron impact ionization cross sections of hydrogenlike and heliumlike uranium, respectively. These values are somewhat larger than relativistic distorted wave calculations, and much smaller than previous values inferred from stripping of accelerator beams.
Fluorescence, Cyto-, And Photo-toxicity, And Structural Studies Of Substituted Piperidones: Potential Sensitizers For Two-photon Photodynamic Therapy

Two-photon photodynamic therapy has the advantages of being highly localized in its effects and allows for deeper tissue penetration, when compared to one-photon photodynamic therapy. N-alkylated 3,5-bis(arylidene)-4-piperidones, with a donor-pi-acceptor-pi-donor structure, have the potential to be useful two-photon sensitizers. We have measured two-photon cross sections (using femtosecond excitation), fluorescence quantum yields, fluorescence lifetimes, and x-ray crystal structures for a number of these compounds. Most two-photon cross sections are comparable to or larger than that of Rhodamine B. However, the fluorescence quantum yields are low (all less than 10%) and the fluorescence lifetimes are less than 1 ns, suggesting that there may be a significant energy transfer to the triplet state. This would encourage singlet oxygen formation and increase cellular toxicity. Results of dark cyto-toxicity studies with a number of human cancer cell lines are presented. White light photo-toxicity results are also presented, and suggest that increasing the number of double bonds, from one to two, in the piperidone “wings” increases the photo-toxicity with little corresponding change in the dark cyto-toxicity. Two-photon photo-toxicity studies are also underway (exposure in the range of 740 - 860 nm) as well as singlet oxygen detection studies(detection at about 1270 nm).
Heterogeneity of serum peptides with immunoactivity detected by a radioimmunoassay for proinsulin-like growth factor-II E domain: description of a free E domain peptide in serum

We have reported that normal human sera contain immunoactivity (IA) detected by a RIA directed against the first 21 amino acids of the E domain of proinsulin-like growth factor-II (pro-IGF-II). Marked elevations of E-21 IA were found in the serum of patients with nonislet cell hypoglycemia (NICTH) and patients with renal failure receiving chronic hemodialysis. In this paper we describe some of the properties of the E-21 IA of normal and abnormal sera. The E-21 IA eluted from a calibrated acid Sephadex G-50 column as two major peaks. In normal serum the first major peak had a mol wt (Mr) between 14,000-15,000, and the second peak had a Mr between 5,000-6,000. When E-21 IA from serum of a patient with NICTH was similarly studied, most of the IA was present as a Mr 11,000 peak and only a small amount was present as a 5,000-6,000 Mr peak. In contrast, most of the E-21 IA present in the sera of patients on hemodialysis was present in the smaller molecular form, which eluted from a reverse phase column as a sin...
Thermodynamically Predicted Miscibility Gap in the System BeF2LiF

A thermodynamically predicted miscibility gap has been computed from activity-coefficient data in molten BeF/sub 2/--LiF, with the consolute temperature at 534/sup 0/C and composition 0.781 mole fraction BeF/sub 2/. The Cook--Hilliard relation was verified for compositions on the binodal and spinodal curves in this system, which is structurally analogous to silicate systems.
Thermodynamic Treatment of Undercooled Cu-Mg Liquid and the Limits for Partitionless Crystallization

The thermodynamic properties of the binary Cu-Mg system are examined with a focus on equilibria involving the liquid phase, which is described with a four-species association model, incorporating a two-state treatment for the pure component liquids below their respective melting temperatures. The terminal and intermediate crystalline phases are described as substitutional solid solutions, employing two sublattices for the latter. Model parameters are fitted using available experimental data, and the resulting phase diagram is reported over the full range of compositions in the binary system. We also report the associated T0 curves, indicating the limits of partitionless crystallization and compare these with reports of amorphous solid formation during rapid solidification processing.
The emission spectrum of the 1B1(π*-n+) state of 1,2-cyclobutanedione excited at 488.0 nm

Abstract The spectrum of the emission from the 1 B 1 (π * -n + ) state of 1,2-cyclobutanedione excited at 488.0 nm has been measured. Wavelengths and vibrational assignments are reported for 24 bands between 490 and 550 nm, 12 of which can be identified with hot bands in the absorption spectrum. Prominent bands in the emission spectrum are associated with excitation of V '' 8 , the symmetric in-plane carbonyl bend (281 cm −1 ); v '' 12 , the asymmetric carbonyl wag (488 cm −1 ); and v '' 7 , a symmetric ring distortion (522 cm −1 ). Sequences in v 13 , the ring-twisting vibration, are also prominent; the initial excitation lies in the 13 3 3 absorption band, while the emission shows intensity maxima for v ' 13 = 0 and 2, and a bimodal vibrational relaxation is suggested.
Long-range interactions between transcription factors

We discuss a method for analysing the number of GFP–LacI fusion transcription factors bound to a construct of 256 contiguous LacI binding sites using photon bleaching statics. We show by using a combination of imaging of the construct in nanochannels, photon statistics and addition of IGFP that the binding coefficient of the LacI decreases with increasing occupation of the construct, with a binding coefficient of 10−6 M when only 15 of the 256 possible sites are occupied. We model this effect by assuming that the GFP–LacI dimer introduces elastic strain into the helix by generalized deformations, and that this strain propagates over distances at least as large as the persistence length.
Effect of a low temperature step during fermentation on the physico-chemical properties of fat-free yogurt

Abstract The effect of a cold step during the fermentation of fat-free yogurt was studied. Fermentation of skim milk was stopped at approximately pH 5.2 by reducing the temperature to 4 °C for 30–120 min. After each cold step, fermentation continued at 40 °C to approximately pH 4.6. Yogurts from milk subjected to a cold step exhibited a protein matrix with a strong solid-like behavior and improved whey holding capacity when compared with control yogurts (uninterrupted fermentation). TEM showed a strong micellar aggregation in the case of control yogurts but a thin casein protein matrix for yogurt stored at 4 °C for 60 min before the fermentation was complete. These findings indicate that introducing a cold step during the fermentation process is a potential method to improve the resistance to syneresis of fat-free yogurt without the need to add stabilizers or gums that may be considered undesirable by consumers.
The Effects of Language Anxiety on Students' Oral Test Performance and Attitudes

the development of students' speaking proficiency is considerable. This concern with oral competence, however, may be intensifying the already high levels of foreign language anxiety experienced by some learners. Research suggests that the oral skill is problematic for second language learners (22; 40; 42; 45; 49); although students indicate they are most interested in developing their capacity to communicate verbally in the target language (33), the anxiety they experience may have a debilitating impact on their ability to speak it. Unfortunately, this apprehension will likely be intensified by the ever-growing use of communicative oral testing, for research also provides ample evidence that anxiety increases in evaluative situations (55). This paper reports on a study that examined the effects of students' anxiety on performance on an oral test of French and investigates the attitudes of selected highly anxious students towards that exam. I argue that, although many variables may interact to affect language learning, foreign language anxiety should be of considerable concern to language educators and students because of its potential impact, not only on performance on oral tests, but also on students' affective reactions, hence their attitudes toward language learning in general.
Dental extractions after radiation therapy in the head and neck area and hard tissue replacement (HTR) therapy: A preliminary study

Abstract Statement of problem. Dental extractions in patients who had radiation therapy for cancer in the head and neck region carry with them the risks of delayed healing, prolonged alveolar bone exposure, infection, and osteoradionecrosis. Among the precautions to minimize these risks are antibiotic coverage, limited extractions at any one time, soft tissue closure, and hyperbaric oxygen treatment. Rapid epithelization and minimal bone exposure are essential after extractions in irradiated patients. Purpose. This study examined the effects of hard tissue replacement on head and neck cancer patients who were treated with radiation therapy. Material and methods. In a series of eight patients who had radiation doses from 4000 cGy to 7440 cGy in the head and neck area and who had 44 teeth extracted, hard tissue replacement material mixed with tetracycline powder was placed in the extraction sites. Results. Of the 44 teeth extracted, 19 mandibular molars and premolars were in the direct field of radiation in seven patients. One patient also had 6 mandibular anterior teeth and 12 maxillary teeth extracted that received minimal radiation exposure. One patient had 6 mandibular anterior teeth extracted that were not in the area of direct exposure. One patient had a mandibular first molar extracted in an area that received minimal radiation exposure. Clinically, complete epithelization occurred in all patients. No infections developed. Radiographically no bone dissolution could be identified in the extraction area(s). The follow-up times ranged from 7 months to 18 months when the patients were seen last. Conclusion. The hard tissue replacement particles appears to provide a matrix for fibrous connective tissue formation. (J Prosthet Dent 1998;79:317-22.)
Effects of pentazocine in experimental head injury.

In previous studies we demonstrated the adverse effects of ethyl alcohol in murine head injury. Using this model in this study, effects of prior administration of pentazocine (Talwin) on the survival of mice are reported. Swiss Webster mice were randomly divided into one of three groups. Group I (n = 20) received pentazocine and Group II (n = 20, controls) received saline. Groups I and II were then injured under ether anaesthesia by allowing a weight to fall from a height of 15 cm on the cranium. Ten animals received pentazocine and were anaesthetized but had no head trauma (Group III). In Group II, 85% survived 24 h, and in Group I, 35% survived; all mice in Group III survived 24 h (significance: χ2, p < 0.005; Group I versus Groups II and III). Pentazocine increases the lethality of murine head injury.
Solubility and partial molar volume of carbon dioxide and ethane in crosslinked poly(ethylene oxide) copolymer

Experimental solubility and sorptive dilation data are reported for carbon dioxide and ethane in a crosslinked poly(ethylene oxide) (XLPEO) rubbery copolymer. Five differ- ent temperatures (253 ≤ T (K) ≤ 308) were considered, with a maximum gas pressure of 2.09 MPa (20.6 atm). The polymer was prepared by photopolymerization of a solution containing 70 wt % poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate (PEGMEA) and 30 wt % poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA). Sorption isotherms were described by the Flory-Huggins model. For each gas, the Flory-Huggins interaction parameter was a decreas- ing function of temperature and did not show a composition dependence. Dilation and sorption data were combined to calcu- late the partial molar volume (PMV) of the gases in the polymer, which was an increasing function of temperature. Based on a comparison with literature data for a XLPEO homopolymer prepared from pure PEGDA over the same range of operating conditions, an effect of the network composition on both gas solubility and PMV was found. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 456-468, 2010
Effects of High Initial Engine Start Up Speeds in Isothermal Fluid Flow and Piston Skirts EHL

In the medium and high speed normal engine operating conditions a fully established elastohydrodynamic lubricating (EHL) film between the piston skirts and cylinder liner surfaces reduces friction and prevents adhesive wear. In the initial engine start up the absence of EHL film causes wear of piston skirts, especially at high speeds. In a few initial cold engine start up cycles, a highly efficient cooling system may not let the temperature to rise significantly and affect the viscosity and other characteristics of a lubricant. In view of the vulnerability of piston skirts to adhesive wear at high initial engine start up speeds, the hydrodynamic and EHL of piston skirts is modeled numerically. A 2-D Reynolds equation is solved by coupling the secondary piston motion and using a finite difference scheme. Transient hydrodynamic film thickness profiles are generated at a relatively high engine start up speed. In the EHL regime, the profiles of rising hydrodynamic pressures and film thicknesses are predicted by using the inverse solution technique in fully flooded conditions. The study is extended to a range of high engine start up speeds while using a fairly viscous engine lubricant. Numerical simulations show significant changes in the piston eccentricities and film thickness profiles in the hydrodynamic and EHL regimes at different start up speeds. Such variations alter the hydrodynamic and EHL pressures and visibly affect the load carrying capacity of the lubricant. This study suggests to optimize the high engine start up speed for the given viscosity grade engine lubricant when considering the vulnerability of skirts and liner surfaces to adhesive wear in the initial engine start up.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
State of the art in surgical robotics: clinical applications and technology challenges.

Although it has been over 15 years since the first recorded use of a robot for a surgical procedure, the field of medical robotics is still an emerging one that has not yet reached a critical mass. Although robots have the potential to improve the precision and capabilities of physicians, the number of robots in clinical use is still very small. In this review article, we begin with a short historical review of medical robotics, followed by an overview of clinical applications where robots have been applied. The clinical applications are then discussed; they include neurosurgery, orthopedics, urology, maxillofacial surgery, radiosurgery, ophthalmology, and cardiac surgery. We conclude with a listing of technology challenges and research areas, including system architecture, software design, mechanical design, imaging compatible systems, user interface, and safety issues.
A case-based approach to planar linkage design

We describe a method to store and retrieve design cases of four-bar linkages. The method abstracts relevant features from the planar curve that characterizes each linkage design, and records these features at several levels of abstraction. This allows use of a fast multi-level retrieval procedure, that successively eliminates inappropriate cases at each level. The retrieval incorporates tolerance measures and allows for incomplete problem specifications. Adaptation methods are then used to transform the cases retrieved to match the new design problem. Results of experimental studies to evaluate the efficacy of our method are presented.
Changes in Cation Concentration in Spores of Bacillus licheniformis During Germination Induced by L-alanine

Abstract Dormant spores and partially germinated spores of Bacillus licheniformis were analyzed for 5 cations by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry. The concentrations of Ca, Mn, Mg, Zn, and Fe in dormant spores were 15,553, 7,764, 1,013, 188, and 14ppm, respectively. As the dormant spores germinated in response to L-alanine, Ca decreased 50 and 75%, Mg 20 and 25%, Zn 20 and 45%, and Mn approximately 100% in 80 and 95% germinated spores, respectively. No significant change In Fe occurred during germination of spores.
Current results of operation for mitral stenosis. Clinical and hemodynamic assessments in 124 consecutive patients treated by closed commissurotomy, open commissurotomy, or valve replacement.

Among 124 consecutive patients undergoing operation for pure or predominant mitral stenosis between 1964 and 1969, closed commissurotomy was carried out in 53 (43%). There were no early or late deaths, and the hemodynamic and symptomatic results of operation were excellent. In 51 (41%) of the patients, valvular anatomy was such that valve replacement proved necessary. As a group, these patients were more severely symptomatic preoperatively and had worse hemodynamics than patients in the closed-commissurotomy group. With replacement, operative (24%) and late (12%) mortality were high, but surviving patients enjoyed hemodynamic and symptomatic benefits comparable to those of the patients undergoing closed commissurotomy. In 20 patients whose preoperative clinical and hemodynamic characteristics were intermediate between those of the closed-commissurotomy and valve-replacement groups, open commissurotomy was performed. Early (10%) and late (5%) mortality were less than with mitral replacement, but in general hemodynamic and symptomatic benefits were modest.
Quantitative Measurement of Iodine Concentration in the Liver Using Abdominal C-Arm Computed Tomography

Rationale and Objectives C-arm computed tomography is an option on a C-arm angiographic system capable of acquiring projections while rotating the C-arm around the patient and reconstructing cross-sectional images with improved contrast resolution of 5 to 10 Hounsfield units. Typical abdominal C-arm computed tomographic (CCT) images, however, exhibit artifacts with spatially varying and drifting pixel values. Considering liver tumor oncologic procedures, the aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of liver iodine concentration (IC) estimated from CCT images under such challenging conditions. Materials and Methods The proposed method estimates the IC in a region of interest (ROI) using pixel values of CCT images measured at the ROI and a nonenhanced background. Two approaches to measure the background value were tested: one approach, L-BG, measured a corresponding local background value near each ROI, and the other, G-BG, used one global background value for the entire object. The accuracy of estimations using CCT and computed tomographic scanners was evaluated; an elliptical cylinder water phantom with iodine solution inserts and seven patient data sets with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization were used. Results With the least “truncation” (the edge of the object being outside the field of view) of 27 mm, the IC was accurately estimated with CCT images (n = 9; root-mean-square error [RMSE], 1.60–1.63 mg/mL; normalized RMSE, 11.8%; r2 = 0.97; P Conclusion The liver IC can be accurately estimated with abdominal CCT images.
The plasma carboxypeptidases and the regulation of the plasminogen system.

Abstract Central to the regulation of the plasminogen system, a proteolytic network that mediates degradation of fibrin and facilitates cell migration, is the binding of plasminogen to carboxy-terminal lysines. These residues occur either naturally on plasmin substrates or cell surfaces or are generated as a consequence of partial plasmin degradation. The basic carboxypeptidases of plasma are capable of removing such carboxy-terminal lysines. Carboxypeptidase N, which is constitutively active, suppresses plasminogen binding to cell surfaces; plasma carboxypeptidase B, which must be proteolytically activated, not only suppresses cellular binding of plasminogen but also dampens fibrinolysis. Thus, the plasma carboxypeptidases may constitute an important regulatory pathway for controlling the activity of the plasminogen system in physiologic, pathophysiologic, and pharmacologic circumstances . (Trends Cardiovasc Med 1997;7:71–75). © 1997, Elsevier Science Inc .
Modeling the structure and electronic properties of Ti O 2 nanoparticles

A self-consistent tight-binding method and density functional theory were used to study structures and electronic properties of anatase nanoparticles. Full geometry optimization resulted in both surface relaxation and a slight overall contraction of the nanoparticles. Analyzing electronic properties using electron localization function and Mulliken populations, we found nonbonding electrons at the edges and corners of the nanoparticle. The results of tight-binding and density functional theory calculations are in good agreement, suggesting the tight-binding scheme to be a useful tool for studies of larger nanoparticles in the range of hundreds to thousands of atoms. The self-consistent tight-binding results on nanoparticles of sizes up to 1365 atoms and some structural, electronic, and energetic trends as a function of nanoparticle size are also reported.
Mannison on inexplicable knowledge and belief

(1977). Mannison on inexplicable knowledge and belief. Australasian Journal of Philosophy: Vol. 55, No. 1, pp. 87-90.
Structure-based thermodynamic design of peptide ligands: application to peptide inhibitors of the aspartic protease endothiapepsin.

The prediction of binding affinities from structure is a necessary requirement in the development of structure-based molecular design strategies. In this paper, a structural parameterization of the energetics previously developed in this laboratory has been incorporated into a molecular design algorithm aimed at identifying peptide conformations that minimize the Gibbs energy. This approach has been employed in the design of mutants of the aspartic protease inhibitor pepstatin A. The simplest design strategy involves mutation and/or chain length modification of the wild-type peptide inhibitor. The structural parameterization allows evaluation of the contribution of different amino acids to the Gibbs energy in the wild-type structure, and therefore the identification of potential targets for mutation in the original peptide. The structure of the wild-type complex is used as a template to generate families of conformational structures in which specific residues have been mutated. The most probable conformations of the mutated peptides are identified by systematically rotating around the side-chain and backbone torsional angles and calculating the Gibbs potential function of each conformation according to the structural parametrization. The accuracy of this approach has been tested by chemically synthesizing two different mutants of pepstatin A. In one mutant, the alanine at position five has been replaced by a phenylalanine, and in the second one a glutamate has been added at the carboxy terminus of pepstatin A. The thermodynamics of association of pepstatin A and the two mutants have been measured experimentally and the results compared with the predictions. The difference between experimental and predicted Gibbs energies for pepstatin A and the two mutants is 0.23 ± 0.06 kcal/mol. The excellent agreement between experimental and predicted values demonstrates that this approach can be used in the optimization of peptide ligands. Proteins 30:74–85, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Cognitive-behavioral treatment of rheumatoid arthritis pain: maintaining treatment gains.

Objective. This paper critically reviews research studies examining the long-term effects of cognitive-behavioral therapy interventions for managing pain in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Methods and Results. The first section of the paper evaluates long-term results obtained in studies of cognitive-behavioral therapy, arthritis education inter ventions, and combined cognitive-behavioral therapy-arthritis education interventions. These studies show that although some rheumatoid arthritis patients are able to maintain initial improvements inpain and disability, other rheumatoid arthritis patients do not. In the second section of this review, a cognitive-behavioral model of maintenance of pain coping skills is presented. This modelmay be useful in increasing our understanding of the relapse process and in planning interventions toenhance and prolong cognitive-behavioral therapy treatment gains. The final section of thispaper addresses important future directions for research. The need for empirical studies of relapse and maintenance processes is underscored. Conclusions. Controlled studies are needed to test the utility of new cognitive-behavioral interventions designed to enhance the long-term maintenance of treatment gains inRA patients. We suggest that a focus on issues of relapse and maintenance may be just as important for medical and surgical interventions for rheumatoid arthritis pain, as it is for cognitive-behavioral therapy interventions.
Analytic expansions of luni-solar gravity perturbations along rotating axes for trajectory optimization—Part 2: The multipliers system and simulations☆

Abstract An efficient self-contained trajectory optimization software is generated by making use of de Pontecoulant's analytic lunar theory removing the need for an outside third body ephemeris program to compute the lunar and solar position vectors at each integration step. The accelerations being further resolved along the rotating Euler–Hill frame after expansion to third order in the spacecraft radial distance, the adjoint differential equations are derived in a direct manner complementing the generation of the dynamic system of equations for full compatibility. Because the variation of parameters equations are cast in terms of the nonsingular equinoctial elements with the perturbation accelerations resolved in their analytic form along the rotating axes, the adjoint equations are also derived in the same manner providing a highly efficient and accurate system of equations for rapid computations in conjunction with Aerospace Corporation's NLP2 nonlinear programming codes to search for the initial values of the multipliers that steer the spacecraft towards its target orbit in minimum time. Numerical simulations show that the solutions obtained by the analysis developed in this paper are essentially identical to the more indirect approach based on the use of inertial accelerations obtained from a separate ephemeris generator and subsequent conversions to the thrust frame and equinoctial system.
An Aging Game Simulation Activity for Allied Health Students

The Aging Game, a simulation activity, has been used successfully with medical students in the development of empathetic attitudes toward older adults. To date, the Aging Game has not been used extensively with allied health students. It has been viewed as too costly, time-consuming and labor-intensive. The purpose of this study was to examine the administrative feasibility of implementing a modified version of the Aging Game for use with allied health students. The study showed that the Aging Game can be easily modified for use with allied health students, and it can deliver positive results for improving empathetic attitudes toward older adults.
Don't GO to VOD

Hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD) is one of several regimen-related toxicities that results from high-dose cytotoxic therapy used to prepare patients for stem cell transplantation. Injury to sinusoidal endothelial cells is the initiating event in the pathogenesis of VOD and leads to sinusoidal
The Effect of Antiarrhythmic Agents on Myocardial Contractility and Arrhythmia Frequency

: Most patients requiring antiarrhythmic therapy for ventricular arrhythmias have underlying organic heart disease which causes left ventricular dysfunction. Treatment of these patients' arrhythmias requires knowledge of the hemodynamic as well as antiarrhythmic effects of the available agents. These effects may differ during acute and chronic oral therapy. Several of the newer agents and quinidine are very effective in suppressing ventricular ectopic activity, allowing demonstration of drug effect during ambulatory monitoring. The clinical significance of this for prevention of sudden death has yet to be shown. However, prevention of ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation in the electrophysiology laboratory and suppression of ambient ectopy may generally be separate phenomena, as has been demonstrated for amiodarone.
Premium or Discount in Hotel Room Rates? The Dual Effects of a Central Downtown Location

The hotel industry generally recognizes the advantages of a central business district location, resulting in higher demand, pricing ability, and profitability. What research has not done is to consider the negative effects of agglomeration and competition among centrally located hotels. Reasoning that hotels engage in price competition through revenue management, the authors developed a theoretical framework of bounded price competition. The authors theorize that rate-based competition would intensify among contiguous hotels, but they also propose that such rate-based competition is contingent on demand levels. When demand is strong, one would not expect rate-based competition. A test of this hypothesis using data from the downtown Chicago hotel market supported that a central location has a dual effect on hotel room rates. Hotels see higher premiums in the peak season, due to strong demand, and steeper discounts in shoulder seasons, as a result of competition with nearby hotels. The findings also suggest...
Spatiotemporal Adaptation Algorithm for Two-Dimensional Reacting Flows

A spatio-temporal adaptive algorithm for solving the unsteady Euler equations with chemical source terms is presented. Quadrilateral cells are used in two spatial dimensions which allow for embedded meshes tracking moving flow features with spatially varying time-steps which are multiples of global minimum time-steps. Blast wave interactions corresponding to a perfect gas (frozen) and a Lighthill dissociating gas (nonequilibrium) are considered for circular arc cascade and 90 degree bend duct geometries.
Space Vector PWM with DC Link Voltage Control and Using Sequences with Active State Division

This paper proposes a new, high performance space vector PWM technique that takes advantage of (i) the ability to control the dc link voltage through front-end PWM rectifiers in motor drives and (ii) a class of recently introduced switching sequences that involve division of the active state duration in a subcycle. The modulation index is always kept at the maximum value, and the dc link voltage is varied to control the magnitude of ac line voltages. The new class of sequences is most suitable at high modulation indices. Hence, the proposed PWM results in significant savings compared to conventional SVPWM with or without dc link voltage control. The THD performances of the various techniques are analyzed using the concept of stator flux ripple. Experimental results validate the superior performance of the proposed technique.
In vitro production of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol.

Abstract The metabolism of vitamin D3 to its biologically active form, 25-hydroxycholecalciferol, has been investigated in perfused rat livers and in rat liver homogenates. In both systems, significant conversion of vitamin D3 to 25-HCC was observed, supporting earlier data which indicate that the liver is the major, if not the only, site of conversion of vitamin D3 to 25-HCC.
Alteration of soybean oil composition by plant breeding

Experimental lines selected from the cross PI 90406 × PI 92567 are being used in an attempt to improve soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) oil by altering fatty acid composition through plant breeding. Preliminary evidence shows that the concentration of linolenic acid in soybean oil is reduced by selection for high levels of oleic acid. Levels of poly-unsaturated acids in “high oleic” selections are lower, to various degrees, but the concentration of saturated fatty acids is not different from that of the variety Dare, a representative southern commercial cultivar. In triglyceride from the “high oleic” selection, N70-3436, levels of palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acid are 9.5, 2.0, 40.1, 43.3, and 5.1 mol %, respectively. The types of triglyceride structures observed in the experimental lines which were examined also are changed. The combined level of triolein, monooleyl-dilinolein, and dioleyl-mono-linolein in seed from N70-3436 is doubled and constitutes ca. 50% of the oil.
Enhanced electric fields near gratings: Comments on enhanced Raman scattering from surfaces

We report calculations of enhanced electric fields near gratings which show that as the amplitude of the grating is increased, radiative damping of surface polaritons on the grating limits the maximum enhanced field to modest values. We then comment on the possible implications of this result on the origin of very large Raman signals found for adsorbed species on certain metal surfaces.
Post processing wrapper generated tables for labeling anonymous datasets

A large number of wrappers generate tables without column names for human consumption because the meaning of the columns are apparent from the context and easy for humans to understand, but in emerging applications, labels are needed for autonomous assignment and schema mapping where machine try to understand the tables. Autonomous label assignment is critical in volume data processing where ad hoc mediation, extraction and querying is involved. We propose an algorithm Lads for Labeling Anonymous Datasets, which can holistically label tabular web document. The algorithm has been tested on anonymous datasets from a number of sites, e.g music, movie, political, demographic, athletic obtained through different search engines such as Google, Yahoo and MSN. The comparative probabilities of attributes being candidate labels are presented which seem to be very promising, achieved as high as 93% probability of assigning good label to anonymous attribute. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first of its kind for label assignment based on multiple search engines' recommendation.
Adaptive critic design for intelligent steering and speed control of a 2-axle vehicle

Selected adaptive critic (AC) methods are known to be capable of designing (approximately) optimal control policies for nonlinear plants. The present research focuses on an AC method known as dual heuristic programming (DHP). In particular it is seen as useful to explore correspondences between the form of a utility function and the resulting controllers designed by the DHP method. Based on the task of designing a steering controller for a 2-axle, terrestrial, autonomous vehicle, the present paper relates a pair of critics to "divide the labor" of training the controller. Improvements in convergence of the training process is realized in this way. The controllers designed by the DHP method are reasonably robust, and demonstrate good performance on disturbances not even trained on encountering a patch of ice during a steering maneuver, and encountering a wind gust perpendicular to direction of travel.
Seizures and the Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit

The cause of seizures in the neurosurgical intensive care unit (NICU) can be categorized as emanating from either a primary brain pathology or from physiologic derangements of critical care illness. Patients are typically treated with parenteral antiepileptic drugs. For early onset ICU seizures that are easily controlled, data support limited treatment. Late seizures have a more ominous risk for subsequent epilepsy and should be treated for extended periods of time or indefinitely. This review ends by examining the treatment algorithms for simple seizures and status epilepticus and the role newer antiepileptic use can play in the NICU.
Correlation of prenatal and postnatal MRI findings in schizencephaly.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Schizencephaly is a rare malformation of the brain characterized by a gray matter–lined defect extending from the pial surface to the lateral ventricles. The purpose of this study was to correlate imaging findings of schizencephaly and associated anomalies on fetal and postnatal MR imaging and assess possible changes that may occur from the prenatal-to-postnatal state. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of subjects with schizencephaly who had both pre- and postnatal MR imaging was performed. Subject age, cleft type, number, location, and features of the defects and associated anomalies were recorded. Normalized dimensions of the defect and ipsilateral ventricle were measured and correlated to changes in the clefts between pre- and postnatal imaging. RESULTS: Ten subjects with 18 clefts (8 bilateral) were included. Most defects (83%) were open on prenatal MR imaging, but 47% of those were found to have subsequently closed on postnatal imaging. Evidence of prior hemorrhage was seen in 83%. Prenatal MR imaging detected all cases of an absent septum pellucidum but detected a fraction of gross polymicrogyria and missed all cases of optic nerve hypoplasia. The normalized ipsilateral ventricular and inner and middle width dimensions of the defects were significantly decreased at postnatal imaging (P .05). CONCLUSIONS: In our series, nearly half of prenatally open schizencephaly defects had closed on postnatal imaging. Prenatal MR imaging was only able to demonstrate some of the associated anomalies.
UNCEIN MAY BE A POTENTIAL TARGET FOR SULFUR MUSTARD ALKYLATION

Severe blister formation in theepidermal and dermal junction is one of the characteristic cutaneous lesions caused by bis-2-chloroethyl sulfide (sulfur mustard, HD), a bifunctional alkylating agent. Uncein is a newly discovered anchoring filament-associated antigen that has been shown to be undetectable in all forms of junctional epidermolysis bullosa, therefore suggesting its role in maintaining the integrity of the epidermal-dermal basement membrane zone. To test uncein as a potential target for HD alkylation in HD-induced vesication, uncein was biosynthetically labeled with 35 S-methionine and purified by immunoprecipitation with a 19-DEJ-1 monoclonal antibody from the medium of normal human keratinocyte (NHEK) cultures. The 3 5 S-labeled uncein was incubated with 50 muL of 10.0 mg/mL of HD in ethanol (ETOH) or ETOH, which served as the control in 50 mM Tris-Cl buffer (pH 7.4) for 2 h. In addition, 10.0 mg/mL of HD was incubated with uncein pretreated with 3 mM sodium thiosulfate, an HD scavenger. Unce...
Current Status of Binary Vectors and Superbinary Vectors

A binary vector was invented soon after it had been elucidated that crown gall tumorigenesis was caused by genetic transformation of plant cells with a piece of DNA, T-DNA for transferred DNA, from a Ti plasmid (tumor-inducing plasmid) harbored by the soil bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens ([