cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An interfacial mechanism and a class of inhibitors inferred from two crystal structures of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis 30 kDa major secretory protein (Antigen 85B), a mycolyl transferase.

Abstract The Mycobacterium tuberculosis 30 kDa major secretory protein (antigen 85B) is the most abundant protein exported by M. tuberculosis, as well as a potent immunoprotective antigen and a leading drug target. A mycolyl transferase of 285 residues, it is closely related to two other mycolyl transferases, each of molecular mass 32 kDa: antigen 85A and antigen 85C. All three catalyze transfer of the fatty acid mycolate from one trehalose monomycolate to another, resulting in trehalose dimycolate and free trehalose, thus helping to build the bacterial cell wall. We have determined two crystal structures of M. tuberculosis antigen 85B (ag85B), initially by molecular replacement using antigen 85C as a probe. The apo ag85B model is refined against 1.8 A data, to an R-factor of 0.196 (Rfree is 0.276), and includes all residues except the N-terminal Phe. The active site immobilizes a molecule of the cryoprotectant 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol. Crystal growth with addition of trehalose resulted in a second ag85B crystal structure (1.9 A resolution; R-factor is 0.195; Rfree is 0.285). Trehalose binds in two sites at opposite ends of the active-site cleft. In our proposed mechanism model, the trehalose at the active site Ser126 represents the trehalose liberated by temporary esterification of Ser126, while the other trehalose represents the incoming trehalose monomycolate just prior to swinging over to the first trehalose site to displace the mycolate from its serine ester. Our proposed interfacial mechanism minimizes aqueous exposure of the apolar mycolates. Based on the trehalose-bound structure, we suggest a new class of antituberculous drugs, made by connecting two trehalose molecules by an amphipathic linker.
Driving force effects in proton coupled electron transfer

The rates of reduction of the nickel(III) oxime‐imine complexes, [Ni III (Me2L)] and [Ni III (Me2LH)] 2 by the corresponding iron(II) species are determined. Comparisons with rates calculated with the use of Marcus theory reveal that reactions of [Fe II (Me2LH)], where the electron transfer product is the highly acidic [Fe III (Me2LH)] 2 , show rate enhancements of several orders of magnitude. These are ascribed to a strong coupling of the electron transfer with the concomitant, thermodynamically favorable proton transfer. A free energy correlation supports this conclusion. © 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.
Zeolite encapsulated vanadium oxo species for the catalytic reduction of NO by NH3

Vanadium oxo species have been introduced into the supercages of Y-zeolite by adsorption and decomposition of VOC13 to produce catalysts for the study of the effects of oxo vanadium site isolation on catalytic reduction of NO with NH3. 51V solid-state MAS-NMR of calcined samples with up to 4 V atoms per supercage show that Y-zeolite stabilizes vanadium with octahedral, V2O5-like square pyramidal, and most commonly, tetrahedral coordinations. Two distinct isolated tetrahedral environments were identified with NMR resonances around −530 and −830 ppm. There was no NMR evidence for oxygen bridge-bonded vanadia structures in the tetrahedral species in these catalysts. DRIFTS shows that ammonia adsorbs primarily on Bronsted acid sites associated with both the zeolite and the vanadium oxo species. DRIFTS during NO reaction with preadsorbed NH3 shows the production of a hydroxyl species at 3690 cm−1, which was assigned to V+4-OH, in agreement with the literature. Turnover frequencies, based on NO conversion and total vanadium loading, range from 1 × 10−5 to 3 × 10−4 s−1 with selectivity to N2 of 90–100%. Steady-state reaction experiments indicate that isolated vanadia species are viable sites for the catalytic reduction of NO.
Laser optoacoustic tomography for medical diagnostics: principles

This paper is to describe principles of laser optoacoustic tomography for medical diagnostics. Two types of imaging modes are presented. The first is the tomography in transmission mode, which utilizes detection of stress transients transmitted from the laser-excited volume toward the depth through thick layers of tissue. The second is the tomography in reflection mode which utilizes detection of stress transients generated in superficial tissue layer and reflected back toward tissue surface. To distinguish the two modes, we have abbreviated them as (1) laser optoacoustic tomography in transmission mode, LOATT, and (2) time-resolved stress detection tomography of light absorption, TRSDTLA, in reflection mode where emphasis is made on high spatial resolution of images. The basis for laser optoacoustic tomography is the time-resolved detection of laser-induced transient stress waves, selectively generated in absorbing tissues of diagnostic interest. Such a technique allows one to visualize absorbed light distribution in turbid biological tissues irradiated by short laser pulses. Laser optoacoustic tomography can be used for detection of tissue pathological changes that result in either increased concentration of various tissue chromophores such as hemoglobin or in development of enhanced microcirculation in diseased tissue. Potential areas of applications are diagnosis of cancer, brain hemorrhages, arterial atherosclerotic plaques, and other diseased tissues. In addition, it can provide feedback information during medical treatments. Both LOATT and TRSDTLA utilize laser excitation of biological tissues and sensitive detection of laser-induced stress waves. Optical selectivity is based upon differences in optical properties of pathologically different tissues. Sensitivity comes from stress generation under irradiation conditions of temporal stress confinement. The use of sensitive wide-band lithium niobate acoustic transducers expands limits of laser optoacoustic tomography. The technology allows us to determine directly temperature distributions in tissues and locate tissues volumes with different absorption. To demonstrate principles of TRSDTLA, experiments were conducted in vivo with mice-model for breast cancer using specially designed front-surface transducers- reflectometers. To present advantages and limitation of LOATT, experiments were performed in phantoms made of gel with polystyrene spheres colored with copper sulfate. Our experimental results and theoretical calculations show that TRSDTLA can be applied for non- invasive histology of layered tissues with in-depth resolution of up to 2 microns. TRSDTLA in acoustic reflection mode is promising for diagnostics of skin and ocular diseases. LOATT in acoustic transmission mode can be applied for detection of small tissue volumes with enhanced absorption located inside organs at the depth of up to 10 cm.
Density Distribution of Sodium Chloride Aerosols formed by Condensation

FOR the calibration of sizing instruments and for laboratory experiments, the use of well defined aerosols is highly desirable. Not only should all particles be of the same phase and chemical composition, but also the same size and shape. Preferably all particles should be spherical and of identical diameters. For this purpose a whole class of condensation aerosol generators, known as LaMer-type generators, are widely used1. It is anticipated that the particles formed by the generator have the same density as the bulk material; and it is generally assumed that once the aerosol exhibits higher order Tyndall spectra (HOTS) the particle size distribution resembles a rather monpdispersed aerosol2. The fact that HOTS are observed is not necessarily an indication of a very narrow distribution, however, since for σ= 15% HOTS are still recognizable3.
Suppression of impurity and interface-roughness back-scattering in double quantum wires: theory beyond the Born approximation

The effect of higher-order corrections to the Born approximation is studied for the previously obtained giant conductance enhancement in tunnel-coupled double quantum wires in a magnetic field by including both impurity and interface-roughness scattering. The enhancement is caused by an abrupt suppression of back-scattering of electrons which occurs when the chemical potential is in the anticrossing gap of the ground tunnel-split doublet. The calculated conductance enhancement is large, and the relative higher-order correction to the enhancement is found to be significant for long-range scattering potentials. However, this relative higher-order correction will be reduced as the range of scattering potentials becomes small. The correction depends on various effects, such as the magnetic field, electron and impurity densities, impurity positions, symmetric and asymmetric doping profiles, centre barrier thickness, and degree of interface roughness.
Investigation of electromechanical properties of piezoelectric structural fiber composites with micromechanics analysis and finite element modeling

Abstract This paper investigates the electromechanical properties of piezoelectric structural fiber (PSF) composites with the combined micromechanics analysis and finite element modeling. The active piezoelectric materials are widely used due to their high stiffness, voltage-dependent actuation capability, and broadband electro-mechanical interactions. However, the fragile nature of piezoceramics limits their sensing and actuating applications. In this study, the active PSF composites were made by deploying the longitudinally poled PSFs into a polymer matrix. The PSF itself consists a silicon carbide (SiC) or carbon core fiber as reinforcement to the fragile piezoceramic shell. To predict the electromechanical properties of PSF composites, the micromechanics analysis was firstly conducted with the dilute approximation model and the Mori–Tanaka approach. The extended Rule of Mixtures was also applied to accurately predict the transverse properties by considering the effects of microstructure including inclusion sizes and geometries. The piezoelectric finite element (FE) modeling was developed with the ABAQUS software to predict the detailed mechanical and electrical field distribution within a representative volume element (RVE) of PSF composites. The simulated energy or deformation under imposed specific boundary conditions was used to calculate each individual property with constitutive laws. The comparison between micromechanical analysis and finite element modeling indicates the combination of the dilute approximation model, the Mori–Tanaka approach and the extended Rule of Mixtures can favorably predict the electromechanical properties of three-phase PSF composites.
Pisiform ligament complex syndrome and pisotriquetral arthrosis

PLC syndrome is a spectrum that encompasses PLC instability and ends with PTA. Early recognition and treatment of PLC instability may disrupt its progression to PTA. The pisiform tracking test is a provocative maneuver that aids in diagnosing PLC syndrome. Pisiformectomy with preservation of the soft tissue confluence remains the treatment of choice for severe PLC syndrome that does not respond to nonoperative treatment.
Single nucleotide polymorphism associated with mature miR-125a alters the processing of pri-miRNA

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that inhibit expression of specific target genes at the post-transcriptional level. Sequence variations in miRNA genes, including pri-miRNAs, pre-miRNAs and mature miRNAs, could potentially influence the processing and/or target selection of miRNAs. In this study, we have systematically identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with 227 known human miRNAs. Among 323 total SNPs that we identify, 12 are located within the miRNA precursor and one is at the eighth nucleotide (+8) of the mature miR-125a, which has been proposed to play a critical role in recognition of mRNA targets by miRNAs. Through a series of in vivo analyses, we unexpectedly find that this miR-125a SNP significantly blocks the processing of pri-miRNA to pre-miRNA, in addition to reducing miRNA-mediated translational suppression. Thus, our study reveals an additional structural requirement for pri-miRNA processing and emphasizes the importance of identifying new miRNA SNPs and their contributions to miRNA biogenesis and human genetic disease.
Renal Artery Stenosis: Current Perspectives on Imaging and Endovascular Management

Renal artery stenosis in its early phase is now considered a treatable cause of hypertension. The most common causes of renal artery stenosis (RAS) are atherosclerosis and fibromuscular dysplasia. It is important to be familiar with the various modalities for diagnosis as well as treatment of RAS, especially due to the increasing availability of minimally invasive therapies. These diagnostic modalities include ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and nuclear medicine scans. RAS if not treated leads to progressive development of renal insufficiency and renal failure. The minimally invasive therapies for treatment of RAS include percutaneous balloon angioplasty and stent placement. The objective of this article is to provide an overview of the diagnosis of renal arterial stenosis using newer imaging technology, as well as to familiarize the readers with the advances made in the realm of endovascular treatment.
Characterization of a putative receptor protein for bovine viral diarrhea virus

In a previous communication, we reported a 50-kDa cell surface protein from Madin-Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cells as a putative receptor for bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV). The present study delineates further characterization of the receptor protein. Protease treatment of cultured MDBK cells adversely affected the receptor, thus abolishing the binding of anti-D89 (BVDV anti-idiotypes) to the cells. However, pretreatment of the cells with either phospholipases or glycosidases did not significantly change the anti-D89 binding to the cells. Additionally, pretreatment of cell monolayers with proteases decreased BVDV attachment and replication in the cells. These results suggested that the receptor for BVDV is a protein in nature, and glycosylation and phosphorylation may not play a direct role in BVDV attachment to cells. The BVDV receptor gradually regenerated on the cell surface after the protease-treated cells were cultured in normal growth medium. Regeneration of the BVDV receptor to a normal level took about 4 h as indicated by flow cytometric analysis and this process was inhibited in the presence of cycloheximide, a protein synthesis inhibitor. The 50-kDa receptor protein purified by electro-elution inhibited BVDV infection in a plaque reduction assay. It also inhibited anti-D89 binding to cells as analyzed by flow cytometry. These data demonstrated the nature of the 50-kDa protein as a specific receptor for BVDV.
Isostatic compensation on a continental scale: local versus regional mechanisms

Summary. Using the techniques of linear and quadratic programming, it can be shown that the isostatic response function for the continental United States, computed by Lewis & Dorman (1970), is incompatible with any local compensation model that involves only negative density contrasts beneath topographic loads. We interpret the need for positive densities as indicating that compensation is regional rather than local. The regional compensation model that we investigate treats the outer shell of the Earth as a thin elastic plate, floating on the surface of a liquid. The response of such a model can be inverted to yield the absolute density gradient in the plate, provided the flexural rigidity of the plate and the density contrast between mantle and topography are specified. If only positive density gradients are allowed, such a regional model fits the United States response data provided the flexural rigidity of the plate lies between 1021 and 1022 N m. The fit of the model is insensitive to the mantle/ load density contrast, but certain bounds on the density structure can be established if the model is assumed correct. In particular, the maximum density increase within the plate at depths greater than 34 kin must not exceed 470 kg m−3; this can be regarded as an upper bound on the density contrast at the Mohorovicic discontinuity. The permitted values of the flexural rigidity correspond to plate thicknesses in the range 5–10 km, yet deformations at depths greater than 20 km are indicated by other geophysical data. We conclude that the plate cannot be perfectly elastic; its effective elastic moduli must be much smaller than the seismically determined values. Estimates of the stress-differences produced in the earth by topographic loads, that use the elastic plate model, together with seismically determined elastic parameters, will be too large by a factor of four or more.
Cardiorespiratory Responses to Inhaled Laryngeal Irritants

AbstractNumerous protective and defensive reflexes are elicited from the upper airway, but the extent to which receptors with myelinated and nonmyelinated fibers contribute to these reflex responses is not known. In this study we compared the effects of capsaicin (CAPS), a specific C-fiber receptor stimulant, and ammonia (NH3), a nonspecific stimulant, on breathing pattern, heart rate, and blood pressure in anesthetized, spontaneously breathing rats and dogs. Nebulized CAPS and NH3 vapor were added to a constant stream of air passing through the functionally isolated upper airway In the rat both CAPS and NH3 prolonged the expiratory duration TE (p <.05) and increased blood pressure (p <.05) and laryngeal resistance (p < .05). The respiratory and cardiovascular responses to CAPS occurred with a longer (5–7×) delay compared to NH3 and were markedly reduced or abolished by superior laryngeal nerve section (SLN). In contrast, in the dog CAPS did not alter any of the parameters monitored, and NH3 inhalation pr...
Crop Yield Skewness Under Law of the Minimum Technology

No satisfactory motivation has been forwarded in favor of any crop yield distribution, including the normal. This article explores the foundations of yield distributions for the Law of the Minimum resource constraint technology at the plot level of analysis. With independent, identical, uniform resource availability distributions the yield skew is positive, whereas it is negative whenever the distributions are normal. Simulations show how asymmetries in resource availabilities determine skewness. It is suggested that a negative yield skew occurs whenever production is tightly controlled so that the left tails of some resources availabilities distributions are thin. Irrigation may increase yield skewness. Copyright 2009, Oxford University Press.
A homologous radioimmunoassay for human prolactin.

We have developed a sensitive homologous radioimmunoassay for human prolactin (hPRL). Prolactin isolated from human pituitary glands was used for generating antibodies in rabbits, for iodination, and for standards. The assay is highly specific for hPRL and measures concentrations of hPRL as low as 1 ng/ml of human plasma. In this assay, the plasma concentrations of hPRL in a group of randomly selected male and female individuals averaged 13 ± 4 (SD) and 14 ± 4 ng/ml, respectively. In contrast, hPRL in the pooled plasma of pregnant women assayed 80 ng/ml; a post-partum plasma measured 215 ng/ml. Of 6 patients with acromegaly, 5 possessed hPRL levels above 34 ng/ml, the average being 40 ± 9 ng/ml. Administration of TSH releasing hormone increased plasma hPRL concentrations by 4-fold in both a male and a female subject, while LH releasing hormone depressed them slightly. The concentration of hPRL in pituitary glands removed at autopsy was 1.5 μg/mg for a male and 1.3 μg/mg for a female. These values approxim...
Tripping Network Protectors to Protect Service Entrance Conductors to Industrial and Commercial Buildings

A most vital part of the electric system in large commercial and industrial buildings is the service entrance. Unfortunately it is located in a "no-man's land" between the electric power company's system and the low-voltage system. Much better understanding of the disadvantages and danger in providing a single 6000?18 000-ampere service entrance into a building is needed by electric power company engineers, low-voltage system consultants, and code-making authorities. Some codes and authorities are still insisting on a single service entrance into a building with little consideration of the possibility of loss of power to the entire building due to an arcing burndown or of the problem of high operating temperatures in these special high-current services. This paper shows how, in one case, arcing protection for the service entrance busway and switchboard was provided by using a groundfault relay to trip four network protectors. Six recommendations are made for improving the safety and reliability of future service entrances.
The Venoarteriolar Response in Diabetics

Resting skin blood flow and the venoarteriolar response (VAR) were studied in 40 patients with diabetic microangiopathy and neuropathy, in 40 diabetics with microangiopathy, and in 30 normal subjects by means of laser-Doppler flowmetry. In patients with microangiopathy and neuropathy, resting flow (RF) was increased and the VAR was impaired to a greater extent than in patients without neuropathy. There was also a significant delay in the VAR in diabetics, particularly in patients with neuropathy. The microangiopathy index (VAR/RF) was on the average 71.3 in normal subjects, significantly lower (p less than 0.05) in diabetics without neuropathy (34.8), and even lower in those with neuropathy (13.6). The VAR was evaluated with different postural changes; The authors observed that in the passage from supine to standing the VAR is more evident. In conclusion these results confirm that the postural control of blood flow in the skin of the foot is impaired in diabetic microangiopathy, particularly in patients with neuropathy. The increased skin blood flow and the impaired VAR are causes of edema and may contribute to the thickening of capillary basement membranes observed in diabetes.
Mapping of the Auto-Inhibitory Interactions of Protein Kinase R by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

Abstract The dsRNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR) is a key mediator of the anti-viral and anti-proliferative effects of interferon. Unphosphorylated PKR is characterized by inhibitory interactions between the kinase and RNA binding domains (RBDs), but the structural details of the latent state and its unraveling during activation are not well understood. To study PKR regulation by NMR we assigned a large portion of the backbone resonances of the catalytically inactive K296R kinase domain, and performed 15N-heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC) titrations of this kinase domain with the RBDs. Chemical shift perturbations in the kinase indicate that RBD2 binds to the substrate eIF2α docking site in the kinase C-lobe. Consistent with these results, a mutation in the eIF2α docking site, F495A, displays weaker interactions with the RBD. The full-length RBD1 + 2 binds more strongly to the kinase domain than RBD2 alone. The observed chemical shift changes extend from the eIF2α binding site into the kinase N-lobe and inside the active site, consistent with weak interactions between the N-terminal part of the RBD and the kinase.
The etiology of swine dysentery. I. Oral inoculation of germ-free swine with Treponema hyodysenteriae and Vibrio coli.

Germ-free swine varying in age from 5 to 20 days were inoculated orally with cultures of either a spirochete (B-78), Vibrio coli, or a combination of the two. Both agents readily colonized the intestinal tracts of the exposed pigs without producing clinical or pathologic signs of swine dysentery. Acute disease and deaths occurred only when piglets were exposed to whole, ground colonic material reportedly from animals with swine dysen- tery. Disease and deaths were associated with Salmonella infantis.
Receptors for uric acids. 2. A cautionary observation

Abstract Receptor 4 was designed to exceed the already high affinity of 1 for 2 . Synthesis of 4 and its binding with 2 are described.
Regulation of Exocellular Proteases in Neurospora crassa: Induction and Repression of Enzyme Synthesis

Neurospora crassa strain 74A grown on Vogel's medium containing bovine serum albumin (BSA) as principal carbon source secretes proteolytic enzymes which appear in the culture filtrate. Low concentrations of sucrose (0.1%) are necessary for growth from conidia, as conidia will not germinate on BSA alone. Once growth is initiated, however, protease production begins and at 5 to 6 hr growth and enzyme production are parallel. Higher concentrations of sucrose (0.5-2%) repress protease synthesis. Other metabolizable materials (sugars, amino acids, peptide mixtures) also repress protease synthesis. Some sugars will not sustain growth but allow germination and full induction of protease in the presence of protein. A material found in culture fluids of cells during induction of protease synthesis when added to repressed cultures causes a five-fold increase in the amount of protease production, although this is still approximately half that of normally induced cells. This material appears to be produced by induced cells in as little as 2 hr of culture, which is before detectable levels of protease can be found. It is heat-stable, of low molecular weight, and is not a simple product of protein digestion by the N. crassa proteases.
Optoelectronics in Japan: A Market Evaluation of Government High-Technology Policy

In survey after survey of US firms, the business environment is viewed as the greatest area of disadvantage for high-technology firms. In this area such surveys suggest that American high-technology firms are at their greatest disadvantage when compared with firms operating in Japan. It is argued that the role the Japanese government plays within the Japanese economy puts American firms at a particular disadvantage when competing globally with Japanese firms. The most commonly cited Japanese government practices include ‘financial support . . . . . including R&D grants/credit, favorable tax treatment and low interest rate loans to finance exports, R&D and investment’ (US Department of Commerce, 1994, p. V-8). This particular characterization of Japanese government practices comes from the responses of firms included in the US Department of Commerce’s assessment of the US optoelectronics industry. When these firms were asked, however, to provide specific examples of such practices, the US Department of Commerce notes many companies mentioned MITI of Japan, but few gave specific examples of how MITI programs benefitted the optoelectronics industry’ (p. V-8). This paper attempts to fill this gap. The first section of the paper discusses the distinctive characteristics of the optoelectronics industry and why a government might want to promote its competitiveness. The second section catalogues aid given by the Japanese government and contrasts these programs with US government activities. In the final section of the paper, the impact of Japanese government programs on the competitiveness of Japanese and US firms is assessed.
Ubiquitin-proteasome system and Parkinson's disease

Increasing genetic, pathological, and experimental evidence suggest that neurodegeneration in both familial and sporadic forms of Parkinson's disease (PD) may be related to a defect in the capacity of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) to clear unwanted proteins, resulting in protein accumulation, aggregation, and cytotoxicity. This concept is supported by in vitro and in vivo laboratory experiments which show that inhibition of UPS function can cause neurodegeneration coupled with the formation of Lewy body-like inclusions. This hypothesis could account for the presence of protein aggregates and Lewy bodies in PD, the other biochemical features seen in the disorder, and the age-related vulnerability of the substantia nigra pars compacta. It also suggests novel targets for putative neuroprotective therapies for PD.
Truncated Newton’s optimization scheme for absorption and fluorescence optical tomography: Part I theory and formulation

The development of non-invasive, biomedical optical imaging from time-dependent measurements of near-infrared (NIR) light propagation in tissues depends upon two crucial advances: (i) the instrumental tools to enable photon "time-of-flight" measurement within rapid and clinically realistic times, and (ii) the computational tools enabling the reconstruction of interior tissue optical property maps from exterior measurements of photon "time-of-flight" or photon migration. In this contribution, the image reconstruction algorithm is formulated as an optimization problem in which an interior map of tissue optical properties of absorption and fluorescence lifetime is reconstructed from synthetically generated exterior measurements of frequency-domain photon migration (FDPM). The inverse solution is accomplished using a truncated Newtons method with trust region to match synthetic fluorescence FDPM measurements with that predicted by the finite element prediction. The computational overhead and error associated with computing the gradient numerically is minimized upon using modified techniques of reverse automatic differentiation.
Nonlinear photoacoustic signal increase from endocytosis of gold nanoparticles

Nonlinear photoacoustic effects, rarely seen in biomedical photoacoustic imaging of tissues, can manifest themselves strongly when plasmonic nanoparticles are used as imaging contrast agents. Specifically, nonlinear behavior of photoacoustic signal with modest laser fluences can occur when nanoparticles undergo cellular endocytosis and aggregation leading to thermal coupling and subsequent localized temperature enhancement. Our study demonstrated this effect using in vitro tissue models containing cells. While the photoacoustic signal amplitude was linearly proportional to the cell/nanoparticle concentration, the photoacoustic signal increased nonlinearly as the laser fluence increased. Our results, therefore, suggest that the nonlinear effects can be exploited in molecular/cellular photoacoustic imaging.
The characteristic numbers of smooth plane cubics

The characteristic numbers for the family of smooth plane cubics are computed, verifying results of Maillard and Zeuthen
Disorders of Thought Are Severe Mood Disorders: the Selective Attention Defect in Mania Challenges the Kraepelinian Dichotomy—A Review

Kraepelin said severe mental illness was due to 2 diseases subsequently characterized as disorders of thought vs disorders of mood, ie, the Kraepelinian dichotomy. Schizophrenia, traditionally considered the disorder of thought, has been defined by the presence of hallucinations, delusions, catatonia, and disorganization. Tangentiality, derailment, loose associations, and thought blocking are typically considered pathognomonic of schizophrenia. By contrast, the mood disorders have been characterized only as disorders of the emotions, though both depression and mania, when severe, are now recognized to include the same psychotic features traditionally considered diagnostic of schizophrenia. This article addresses disordered thinking in mania in order to clarify the relationship between schizophrenia and psychotic mood disorders. Normally, the brain's selective attention mechanism filters and prioritizes incoming stimuli by excluding from consciousness extraneous, low-priority stimuli and grading the importance of more relevant data. Because this "filter/prioritizer" becomes defective in mania, tangential stimuli are processed without appropriate prioritization. Observed as distractibility, this symptom is an index of the breakdown in selective attention and the severity of mania, accounting for the signs and symptoms of psychotic thinking. The zone of rarity between schizophrenia and psychotic mood disorders is blurred because severe disorders of mood are also disorders of thought. This relationship calls into question the tenet that schizophrenia is a disease separate from psychotic mood disorders. Patients whose case histories are discussed herein gave their written informed consent to participate in this institutional human subjects committee-approved protocol.
Morphological integration of the skull in craniofacial anomalies

OBJECTIVES - To understand how surgical interventions impact the organization and internal integration of the major components of the skull, we address the functional and developmental relationships during perinatal development. METHODS - A number of methods for quantifying modularity and integration of morphological data are available. Here, measures derived from three-dimensional computed tomographic (CT) images are used to investigate the statistical relationships among measures of the cranial vault, face and cranial base. First, we establish the pattern of associations among quantitative measures in a sample of children unaffected by a craniofacial anomaly. We statistically compare these normative patterns of cranial integration to those of a sample of children with a facial anomaly (complete unilateral complete cleft lip and palate), and to children with a neurocranial anomaly (isolated sagittal synostosis). Finally, we test whether surgery affects the strength and pattern of associations among measures within the cranial base in the affected children. RESULTS - Our analyses reveal strong internal integration of the cranial base in unaffected children and in our samples of unoperated cleft lip and palate, and sagittal synostosis. Post-operatively, the magnitude of integration of the cranial base is reduced relative to the pre-operative condition in both samples of children with craniofacial anomalies. CONCLUSION - Our results show how the cranial base adjusts to its broader structural context, and provides added support for the developmental and structural integration of cranial base with both cranial vault and face.
Bayesian-Based Iterative Method of Image Restoration

An iterative method of restoring degraded images was developed by treating images, point spread functions, and degraded images as probability-frequency functions and by applying Bayes’s theorem. The method functions effectively in the presence of noise and is adaptable to computer operation.
The Meridional and Seasonal Structures of the Mixed-Layer Depth and its Diurnal Amplitude Observed during the Hawaii-to-Tahiti Shuttle Experiment

Abstract We describe the meridional and seasonal structures of daily mean mixed-layer depth and its diurnal amplitude and their relation to atmospheric fluxes by compositing mixed-layer depth estimates derived from density observations. The diurnal mean mixed-layer depth shows a ridge at the equator, troughs, which vary seasonally in intensity, at 10° to 15°N and 5° to 10°S, and a trough appearing just north of the equator in the second half of the year. This is in contrast to the ridge-trough structure of the top of the main thermocline, which reflects the dynamic topography associated with the equatorial current system. The diurnal amplitude is significantly different from zero for most latitudes year-round, indicating that the diurnal cycle of mixed-layer depth is a widespread phenomenon. For sufficiently strong heating, both the mixed-layer depth and its diurnal amplitude are significantly correlated with Monin-Obukhov length scales based on the mean net heat flux, mean wind stress, and mean shortwave...
Green's Function Approach to Exciton-Phonon Interactions

The system of a tightly bound exciton which is weakly coupled to phonons is treated by means of manybody Green's functions. Relevance of the formalism for the calculation of absorption and emission spectra, quasiparticle properties, lattice distortion, and exciton propagation is established. A variational technique is found useful for deriving formal relationships. Evaluations are carried out for an approximate Hamiltonian representing excitons in a one-dimensional lattice; both Einstein-model phonons and one-dimensional acoustic phonons are investigated. Approximations include a one-phonon approximation and, for many-phonon processes, the replacement of the exciton-phonon vertex function $\ensuremath{\Gamma}$ by unity. The relation of these approximations to perturbation theory is assessed in specific cases. Finite-temperature calculations performed apply to excitons whose energies are large compared to $\ensuremath{\kappa}T$. Among the results is the conclusion that the interacting exciton is not merely "renormalized"; instead, as in the case of electron-phonon interactions, the spectrum of excitations includes many diverse quasiparticle modes and other complex structure.
Relativistic Many-Body Theory of Electric Dipole Moment of Atoms Due to Parity and Time Reversal Violation

For a non-degenerate quantum mechanical system to possess a permanent electric dipole moment (EDM), there must be a simultaneous violation of parity (P) and time-reversal (T) symmetries [1]. Since P-violation in weak interactions is now well-established, the significance of observing a permanent EDM is that it would be a direct confirmation of T violation. An atomic EDM can arise due to: (i) Intrinsic EDM on an electron (ii) P and T violating electron-nucleon interaction (iii) P and T violating electron-electron interaction (iv) Intrinsic EDM on a nucleon (v) P and T violating nucleon-nucleon interaction While all of the above-mentioned sources of atomic EDM are interesting in their own right, I shall concentrate only on the first case. Several particle physics models which call for CP violation in the lepton sector predict an intrinsic electric dipole moment of the electron [2].
INFECTIVE VEGETATION IN THE INTERVALVULAR FIBROSA: 3D-TRANSESOPHAGEAL ECHO AIDS ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS AND TRACKS THE NATURAL HISTORY

A 75-year-old male with prior bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement (AVR) presented with chest pain and elevated troponins. Coronary angiogram was normal. A cardiac MRI revealed an inferolateral infarct, presumed embolic. CT-abdomen showed new splenic and renal infarcts. He endorsed recent fevers/
Injection-Level Spectroscopy of Metal Impurities in Silicon

Using a modified photoconductive eddy-current technique, excess carrier decay can be measured and used to identify the specific defect dominating recombination. As the dynamic range of the measurement system is linear over about three orders of magnitude, the injection-level spectroscopy technique can be performed in a single measurement for rapid defect identification.
Nonhemolytic and Antibacterial Acrylic Copolymers with Hexamethyleneamine and Poly(ethylene glycol) Side Chains

Amphiphilic acrylic copolymers with hexamethyleneamine and poly(ethylene glycol) side chains can show >100-fold selectivity toward Escherichia coli over red blood cells. Homopolymer with cationic pendant amine groups is highly hemolytic and antibacterial. Incorporation of approximately 33 mol % of poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA) led to 1300 times reduction in hemolytic activity, while maintaining high levels of antibacterial activity. The hemolytic activity of these PEGylated copolymers depends on the overall content and spatial distribution of the PEGMA units. Higher activity against Escherichia coli than Staphylococcus aureus was observed for this polymer system, likely due to hydrogen bonding ability of the PEG side chains with polysaccharide cell wall of the bacteria. Field emission scanning electron microscopy analysis confirmed the bacterial membrane rupture activity exerted by these copolymers, whereas time-kill studies revealed significantly different bactericidal kinetics ...
Generation of Power Plant Artificial Immune System Using the Partition of the Universe Approach

The process of generating an artificial immune system for a complex power plant using an alternative method is presented in this paper. As compared to the clustering approach, the proposed partition of the universe approach is less computationally intensive and facilitates the use of full-dimensional self for system abnormal condition detection. In conjunction with a positive selection-type detection algorithm, it does not require explicit non-self generation. Using full-dimensional self prevents the hiding of non-self regions within self projections. These advantages are illustrated using the self for an acid gas removal unit built with the partition of the universe approach to detect the occurrence of several abnormal conditions. Excellent detection performance is obtained in terms of detection time, false alarms, and detection rate. Therefore, the proposed approach can potentially represent an effective and efficient tool for complex system abnormal condition monitoring.
Electrical safety in the hospital—1974

The topic of electrical safety in the hospital has been of considerable interest since it covered that certain catheterized patients can be accidentally electrocuted by currents well below the perceivable level. Prompted by a safety scare that began in 1969, hospitals and manufacturers of medical equipment have since become safety conscious and have taken steps to effectively reduce the safety hazard to both patients and hospital staff. This paper is intended to provide the reader with a basic understanding of electrical safety problems in the hospital. The phisiological effects of electricity in the body, electrical safety hazards in the hospital and methods of protecting patients from both macroshock and microshock hazards are described and discussed. The paper concludes with recommendations for a relatively inexpensive, but effective and up-to-date electrical safety program for the hospital.
Clinical Management for In-Hospital Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Patients After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Objective:To analyze the clinical management for in-hospital gastrointestinal bleeding(GIB) in patients after percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI).Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 68 consecutive GIB patients after receiving PCI who were treated in our hospital from September 2002 to July 2012.There 34/68(50%) patients suffered from acute coronary syndrome,and 27/68(40%) patients had emergent PCI;64(94%) patients received drug eluting stents(DES) and 4(6%) received bare metal stents(BMS) treatment.Results: The clinical management of post PCI GIB included blood transfusion in 24/68(35.3%) patients and intravenous infusion of high-dose omeprazole in 68(100%) patients.There were 18(26.5%) patients ceased of aspirin and 14(20.6%) stopped clopidogrel,and 52(76.5%) patients received oral hemostasis medication.There were 5(7%) patients died for stroke or multiple organ failure and no one had major adverse cardiac events(MACE) during the in-hospital period.Conclusion: Post GIB could be effectively treated by short term cessation of aspirin,selectively continuing clopidogrel with fasting and hemotasis medication.That management may protect the patients from in-hospital MACE after PCI.
Optimizing chemoradiation in locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.

Gemcitabine has demonstrated activity in a broad range of solid tumors with good tolerance. In combined modality therapy, gemcitabine has achieved response rates ranging between 30% and 60% in patients with non-small-cell
Group chats on Twitter

We report on a new kind of group conversation on Twitter that we call a group chat. These chats are periodic, synchronized group conversations focused on specific topics and they exist at a massive scale. The groups and the members of these groups are not explicitly known. Rather, members agree on a hashtag and a meeting time (e.g, 3pm Pacific Time every Wednesday) to discuss a subject of interest. Topics of these chats are numerous and varied. Some are support groups, for example, post-partum depression and mood disorder groups. Others are about a passionate interest: topics include skiing, photography, movies, wine and foodie communities. We develop a definition of a group that is inspired by how sociologists define groups and present an algorithm for discovering groups. We prove that our algorithms find all groups under certain assumptions. While these groups are of course known to the people who participate in the discussions, what we do not believe is known is the scale and variety of groups. We provide some insight into the nature of these groups based on over two years of tweets. Finally, we show that group chats are a growing phenomenon on Twitter and hope that reporting their existence propels their growth even further.
Methods development for separation of inorganic anions, organic acids and bases, and neutral organic compounds by ion chromatography and capillary electrophoresis

A novel anion-exchange resin containing three amine groups was prepared by reaction of a chloromethylated polystyrene-divinylbenzene (PS-DVB) resin with diethylenetriamine. After being protonated by contact with an aqueous acid, this resin can be used for ion chromatographic separation of anions. The charge on the resins can be varied from +1 to +3 by changing the mobile phase pH. The selectivity of the new ion exchangers for various inorganic anions was quite different from that of conventional anion exchangers. The performance of this new anion exchanger was studied by changing the pH and the concentration of the eluent, and several different eluents were used with some common anions as testing analytes. Conductivity detection and UV-visible detection were applied to detect the anions after separation. The new resin can also be used for HPLC separation of neutral organic compounds. Alkylphenols and alkylbenzenes were separated with this new polymeric resin, and excellent separations were obtained under simple conditions. This report contains Chapter 1: General introduction and Chapter 6: General conclusions.
Latin nominatives with and without verbs

Although the nominative case has typically been viewed as a syntactic device marking the subject of the verb of a sentence, that case in Latin must instead be understood as a communicative tool operating at the discourse level if its entire distribution is to be accounted for. Attested instances of the Latin nominative case without any verb force this shift. Nominatives with and without verbs alike can be accounted for if concentration of attention at the discourse level is treated as the operative factor. Once the function of the Latin nominative case is properly understood, its distinction from other grammatical morphology (verb forms and demonstrative forms) can be better appreciated. There may be implications for other languages with nominative case morphology that is independent of the verb.
Sensations and Images

This chapter deals with the fundamental building blocks of solipsism — sensations and images. While no one denies the occurrence of these entities, there has been a great deal of controversy about their status. Since much of this controversy has concerned the sense-datum theory either explicitly or implicitly, we must try to isolate the confused as well as the correct elements in that theory.
Temperature dependence studies of Er optical centers in GaN epilayers grown by MOCVD

We report the temperature dependence of Er optical centers in GaN epilayers prepared by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition under the resonant excitation (4I15/2 →4I9/2) excitation using a Ti:Sapphire laser (λexc = 809 nm). High resolution infrared spectroscopy and temperature dependence measurements of photoluminescence intensity from Er ions in GaN have been performed to identify the crystal filed splitting of the first excited state,4I13/2. Here, we have employed a simple approach to determine activation energies which are related to the thermal population of electrons from the lowest level to the higher level of the crystal field splitting of the first excited state.