cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A robust microporous zinc porphyrin framework solid

A robust microporous zinc(II) metalloporphyrin framework solid has been synthesized. The proposed structural model developed from X-ray single crystal data has an interpenetrated three-dimensional framework of zinc trans-biscarboxylate tetraarylporphyrins whose carboxylates coordinate the six edges of tetrahedral Zn4O6+ clusters, maintaining a charge-neutral framework. This cubic framework has 74% free volume and 4 × 7 A pores. N2 adsorption gives a type I isotherm with a surface area of 800 m2/g, which is greater than that of a typical zeolite. Experimental evidence indicates that the interpenetrated frameworks of the evacuated solid remain intact and retain a microporous structure. This is a versatile framework system: alteration of the metal in the porphyrin may create a catalytically active solid, and modification of the 10-, 20-substituents of the porphyrin can provide control over both the polarity and the size of the pores.
Evolution and utilization of Magsat

For a variety of reasons, some circumstantial, I have been acquainted with the development of the concept of satellite measurement of the terrestrial magnetic field since nearly its beginning. It was with more than usual interest therefore that I read the account by Langel, in the September 18 issue of EOS, of the developments that have led to the impending launch of Magsat. In reflecting on the article however, I feel that there are two omissions in Langel's account, which if not vital to an accurate picture of these developments, at least add a reality, particularly to that aspect of Magsat that is concerned with anomalies of crustal origin. The first omission concerns the pre-1970 activities, when the concept was in its earliest stages. It was during this period that a collaboration arose between Gordon Andreasen of the U.S. Geological Survey and Joseph Cain, then of NASA, presently with the U.S. Geological Survey. This collaboration led to the earliest attempts to isolate magnetic anomalies that have their origin in the earth's crust. Andreasen and Cain were joined by Isidore Zietz of the Survey, who drew on his own pioneering experiences in aeromagnetics to add valuable insights to the efforts. As with all attempts of this type, the earliest results met with varying degrees of scientific skepticism. I think that Andreasen, Cain, and Zietz deserve credit not only for their foresight but for their courage and perseverance, which in my opinion played a seminal role in the long series of events that have resulted in Magsat.
Dermatitis in the mining industry: incidence, sources, and time loss.

Occupational skin diseases and disorders are the most commonly reported nontrauma-related category of occupational illness in the United States, and mining has one of the highest incidence rates among all industries. The authors' objective in this study was to describe mining industry dermatitis incidence, sources of exposure, and resultant time lost from work. The authors reviewed Mine Accident, Injury and Illness Reports. From 1983 to 2002, the Mine Safety and Health Administration reported 975 cases of dermatitis in mines across the United States and its territories. Average annual incidence was 14.4 cases per 100 000 employees. Upper extremities and multiple body regions were most commonly involved. Twenty-five percent of miners with dermatitis lost at least 1 day of work. Exposure to plants, trees, and vegetation accounted for 24% of all cases. A greater understanding of this condition will assist health professionals in focusing on appropriate intervention strategies to reduce the occurrence of derm...
End to the cosmic ray spectrum

The primary cosmic-ray spectrum has been measured up to an energy of $10^{20}$ eV, and several groups have described projects under development or in mind to investigate the spectrum further, into the energy range $10^{21}-10^{22}$ eV. This note predicts that above $10^{20}$ eV the primary spectrum will steepen abruptly, and the experiments in preparation will at last observe it to have a cosmologically meaningful termination.
Self-assembling Behavior of Designer Lipid-like Peptides

Even though enormous progress has been made in our understanding of soluble proteins and enzymes, our knowledge of membrane proteins, particularly integral membrane proteins, still lags far behind. Although a large number of chemical detergents and lipids are available, so far they are inadequate for tackling the problem of solubilizing and stabilizing membrane proteins outside of the lipid bilayer. Thus, the development of new detergents and lipid-like molecules is an important prerequisite for solving those problems. We have designed a class of lipid-like peptides that are less than 10 natural amino acids in length and structurally amphiphilic. Each peptide consists of a hydrophilic head-group composed of charged or polar residues and a hydrophobic tail consisting of a string of hydrophobic amino acids. In aqueous solutions, they self-organize to form different supramolecular structures such as vesicles, nanotubes or membranes. It has been shown that they stabilize the functions of several membrane prot...
Remarks on ISS and Integral-ISS Stabilization with Positive Controls

Abstract We consider nonlinear systems with both control and disturbance inputs. The main problem addressed is the design of state feedback control laws, achieving ISS and integral-ISS disturbance attenuation, with restricted control under the assumption that an appropriate control Lyapunov function is known. Our results generalize the previous results on ISS and integral-ISS stabilization to the restricted cases when controls are only allowed to take positive or bounded positive values.
Aspects of the Hamiltonian dynamics of interacting gravitational gauge and Higgs fields with applications to spherical symmetry

Abstract We discuss some aspects of the Hamiltonian dynamics of interacting gravitational Yang-Mills-Higgs fields. Special attention is paid to the difference between proper and improper gauge and coordinate transformations and their relation to surface integrals in the Hamiltonian and gauge generators. The Hamiltonian formalism is specialized to spherically symmetric fields and the main points of the general theory are illustrated and discussed in detail in that case. Two kinds of spherically symmetric fields are considered: “manifest spherical symmetry” and “spherical symmetry up to a gauge”. In the former case the Yang-Mills-Higgs potentials themselves are spherically symmetric whereas in the latter (which deals with SO(3) only) a rotation in physical space is compensated for by a gauge rotation of the same magnitude. The 't Hooft-Polyakov monopole and the Julia-Zee dyon belong to the latter class.
Accuracy of predictions of survival at admission to the intensive care unit

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy of outcome predictions made on the day of intensive care unit (ICU) admission by critical care physicians, critical care fellows, and primary team physicians. Patients and Methods: Fifty-nine consecutive patients admitted to a Medical-Surgical ICU were included in the study. Two ICU attending physicians and two critical care fellows, not involved in medical management, evaluated each new ICU patient at admission and after 48 to 72 hours. Altogether six ICU attendings and six fellows were involved in the study. Each investigator separately assigned probability to each patient of being discharged alive from the ICU and the hospital. On the day of admission the primary service was also asked to estimate the likelihood of successful outcome. All values are expressed in percentiles. Statistical analysis was performed by a logistic regression procedure with a binary outcome. Data are presented as mean±SD. Results: Fifty-nine patients were surveyed. Twenty-six (44%) patients died in the ICU, 3 (5%) died in the hospital wards, and 30 (51%) were discharged alive from the hospital. ICU attendings most reliably and accurately estimated patient outcome on admission compared with critical care fellows and primary team physicians. ICU attendings were more consistent than ICU fellows at predicting outcome at 48 and 72 hours. Clinical predictions were better for patients at the extremes of disease severity, and the accuracy of predictions in these patients was highest. Accuracy was diminished in patients with moderate compromise of clinical status. Conclusion: ICU attendings predicted most accurately and consistently the final outcome of patients, and ICU fellows estimated outcome more reliably than the primary service. For the most part, the primary service tended to overestimate the probability of favorable outcome of patients for whom ICU admission had been requested. Additionally, clinical accuracy of survival or mortality was best for those patients at the extremes of clinical compromise: this point seems to confirm the validity of using clinical judgement as a guide to restricting ICU resources for those severely compromised or mildly compromised. This study also indicates that predictions of outcome in critically ill patients made within days of admission are statistically valid but not sufficiently reliable to justify irrevocable clinical decisions at present.
Mediated Resistance: The Construction of Neoliberal Citizenship in the Immigrant Rights Movement

On 25 March 2006, between 500 000 and 1 million protesters took to the streets of Los Angeles to protest anti-immigrant legislation. The march was the largest in Los Angeles history, and astounded organizers, participants and pundits alike. Spanish-language mass and news media played an important role in mobilizing support and shaping the tactics of protest used during the march. This critical reading of the media coverage highlights the ways in which the Spanish-language media reporting served to promote an extremely limited model of citizenship and political agency particularly suited to neoliberal, post-9/11 tactics of governance and control. This paper also examines how these discourses are taken up by pro-immigrant protesters themselves, who internalize these discourses of citizenship and legitimacy.
Single-step method for the isolation and surface functionalization of cellulosic nanowhiskers.

Surface modification of cellulosic nanowhiskers (CNW) is of great interest, especially to facilitate their use as polymer reinforcements. Generally, alteration of the surface chemistry is performed using multiple reaction steps. In contrast, this study demonstrates that the needed hydrolysis of amorphous cellulose chains can be performed simultaneously with the esterification of accessible hydroxyl groups to produce surface functionalized CNW in a single step. The reaction is carried out in an acid mixture composed of hydrochloric and an organic acid (acetic and butyric are both demonstrated). Resulting CNW are of similar dimensions compared to those obtained by hydrochloric acid hydrolysis alone; sizes are verified by multiangle laser-light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. However, narrower diameter polydispersity indices indicate that surface groups aid the individualization of the nanowhiskers (Px = 2.5 and 2.1 for acetic and butyric acid, Px = 3.0 for hydrochloric acid). More than half...
Evolution of Genome Size in the Grasses

The grasses (Poaceae) exhibit marked conservation of gene content and order (synteny and colinearity), a feature that promises the extension of genomic information from one grass species to another using a unified comparative approach. Grasses also show striking differences in the size of their genomes. Since this complicates the treatment of the grass family as a model genetic system, there is need to better understand the patterns and processes that drive genome size evolution. This requires knowledge of phylogenetic relationships, especially deep branching patterns that unify the grass subfamilies. In this study, a phylogeny of 66 grass species with known genome size, most of them diploid, was assembled. The phylogeny described relationships integrated from shared and derived characteristics in molecular and morphological data and the branching order of basal lineages recently inferred from RNA structure and large-scale chromosomal rearrangements. Evolutionary -changes in genome size that exclude the effect of polyploidization were traced along the branches of the tree using parsimony methods of character state reconstruction. Most levels of change did not exceed twofold, and few exceeded threefold. The frequency of changes in genome size appears to decrease exponentially with the magnitude of change. The ratio of increases-to-decreases in genome size increased in the order Ehrhartoideae, PACCAD (panicoids, arundinoids, chloridoids, centothecoids, aristidoids, and danthonioids), and Pooideae clades. However, there were clear patterns of increase and decrease in all major clades, and notable genome size changes in the Pooideae and Chloridoideae subfamilies. This shows different tendencies in genome size diversification in these major grass lineages. Depending on the tracing method, the genome of the ancestor of the grass family had 3.0 to 5.2 pg DNA per 2C nucleus. Results extend early proposals that suggest genome size has both increased and decreased along grass lineages, and show that different models of character evolution imparted different frequencies and levels of change along the branches of the trees.
A new look at the PPAC

The Parallel Plate Avalanche Counter (PPAC) has been used mostly for measuring the energy loss of single, heavily ionizing particles. A PPAC is even more effective with high-energy showers for which a single event causes hundreds of electrons to pass through it. For operation at reduced pressures, the alkanes such as isobutane, C4H10 are excellent PPAC gasses with the quality of performance increasing with the size of the molecule. Under some circumstances the perfluoroalkanes such as perfluoropropane, C3F8, may be preferred. For operation at atmospheric pressure, CF4 and mixtures containing Ar and CO2 work well.
Editor's Forward to the Article “Psychologists and the Use of Torture in Interrogations” and Invited Comments about That Article

In early 2006, the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI), the society that produces Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy (ASAP), charged a task force with examining the research on interrogations and drafting a statement for Council review. During the Council discussion of the proposed statement, President Shinn raised a fundamental general issue to consider, asking, “To what extent do we want to say that torture shouldn’t be done because there is research that says so, and to what extent will we say so based on an ethical point of view?” The task force report was shared with the Council at its June 2006 meeting. The report, focused on research on interrogation and confessions, was presented by task force chair Mark Costanzo, and its other members, Ellen Gerrity and M. Brinton Lykes. The report and its recommendations were endorsed by the SPSSI Council at that same meeting. The article that appears here, co-authored by Costanzo, Gerrity, and Lykes, is a revision of the task force report. Even though it is not exactly the document endorsed by the Council, it is substantively consistent with what was endorsed. Although the SPSSI Council seemed largely of one mind in support of this perspective, it has not been so for all psychologists. As a result, ASAP invited
Design and stereoselective preparation of a new class of chiral olefin metathesis catalysts and application to enantioselective synthesis of quebrachamine: catalyst development inspired by natural product synthesis.

A total synthesis of the Aspidosperma alkaloid quebrachamine in racemic form is first described. A key catalytic ring-closing metathesis of an achiral triene is used to establish the all-carbon quaternary stereogenic center and the tetracyclic structure of the natural product; the catalytic transformation proceeds with reasonable efficiency through the use of existing achiral Ru or Mo catalysts. Ru- or Mo-based chiral olefin metathesis catalysts have proven to be inefficient and entirely nonselective in cases where the desired product is observed. In the present study, the synthesis route thus serves as a platform for the discovery of new olefin metathesis catalysts that allow for efficient completion of an enantioselective synthesis of quebrachamine. Accordingly, on the basis of mechanistic principles, stereogenic-at-Mo complexes bearing only monodentate ligands have been designed. The new catalysts provide significantly higher levels of activity than observed with the previously reported Ru- or Mo-based complexes. Enantiomerically enriched chiral alkylidenes are generated through diastereoselective reactions involving achiral Mo-based bispyrrolides and enantiomerically pure silyl-protected binaphthols. Such chiral catalysts initiate the key enantioselective ring-closing metathesis step in the total synthesis of quebrachamine efficiently (1 mol % loading, 22 °C, 1 h, >98% conversion, 84% yield) and with high selectivity (98:2 er, 96% ee).
PSYCHOMETRIC EVALUATION OF THE HALL PROFESSIONALISM SCALE

Summay.-An assessment of the psychometric properties of the Hall Professionalism Scale (1968) was made to evaluate its use in today's dynamic business environment. Responses of 143 salespeople did not support the original five dimensions in confirmatory factor analysis. Through exploratory statistical rechniques, modifications ro this scale are discussed. Further research is recommended. Consumers' expectations and demands toward all aspects of business have risen dramatically in the last few years. Consumers have become more educated, more sophisticated, and more knowledgeable when interacting with business organizations. Responses to these behavioral changes in consumers on the part of both government and businesses have included ad&tional legislation, drect guidelines, and self-regulation. Hence more rigorous self-regulation has become an important aspect of many professions. Professional groups of physicians, attorneys, teachers, accountants, and nurses have all taken steps to improve their images. Some of these activities have included higher ethical standards, exacting continuing education, and professional certification (Bell, 1990). One group in the process of entering this arena is sales personnel. Sales, as a-profession, has evolved through-the production, sales, and customer-oriented eras and is now entering a period of relationship-building or partnering (Weitz, Castleberry, & Tanner, 1995). It has become necessary to improve interactions with customers (Mohr & Spekrnan, 1993). In today's highly competitive marketplace in which partnerships or relationships are built on honesty, integrity, trust, and highly ethical behavior (Wotruba, 19901, enhanced professional status and possibly certification are the apparent steps for successful sales organizations. In fact, groups around the country, e.g., Sales and Marketing Executives Lnternational and International Association of Sales Professionals, are developing professional certification programs for sales managers and salespeople (Marketzng Tools, 1995). Practitioners and academics need to understand better the process of movement toward professionalism by salespeople as well as other groups attempting to upgrade their professionalism status. To do so, it is necessary
Effects of grazing, topography, and precipitation on the structure of a semiarid grassland

Structural aspects of the shortgrass steppe plant community, functional groups, and species populations were examined in response to long-term heavy grazing and exclosure from grazing, contiguous wet or dry years, and an environmental gradient of topography. Of the three factors, relatively greater differences in community similarity were observed between catena positions, particularly on the ungrazed treatments. Grazing was intermediate between catena position and short-term weather in shaping plant community structure. Grazed treatments and ridgetops had a less variable species composition through fluctuations in weather. An increase with grazing of the dominant, heavily grazed species was observed. Basal cover and density of total species was also greater on grazed sites. The more uniform grazing lawn structure of the grazed plant communities had an influence on segregation of plant populations along topographical gradients. Segregation was less on grazed catenas, but diversity and the abundance of introduced and opportunistic-colonizer species was also less. Although the shortgrass steppe community was relatively invariant, less abundant species were dynamic and interactions occurred with respect to grazing, weather, and catena position. The effects of grazing may be mitigated by favorable growing seasons but magnified in unfavorable years in populations that are adapted to favorable sites. Grazing can be considered a disturbance at the level of the individual but it may or may not be a disturbance at the level of the population, and it is not a disturbance at the level of the community in this particular grassland.
Intrauterine growth and neuropsychological performance in very low birth weight preschoolers.

In this study we examined the association between intrauterine growth, indexed either as a categorical variable or continuous dimension, and neuropsychological outcome, in a very low birth weight (VLBW) sample of 143 preschoolers. When the commonly used split at the 10th percentile rank was applied to classify intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), we found that the growth restricted group (n = 25) exhibited significantly poorer performance in the global motor domain, but not on any other neuropsychological measure. In contrast, when adequacy of intrauterine growth was indexed by standardized birth weight, a continuous dimension, this early risk factor explained a unique portion of the variance in global cognitive abilities and visuospatial skills, as well as in global, fine, and gross motor skills. These findings are consistent with recent magnetic resonance imaging data disclosing global neurodevelopmental changes in the brains of preterm infants with IUGR. When cases classified with IUGR (<10th percentile) were excluded, the relationship between adequacy of intrauterine growth and global cognitive abilities remained significant despite range restriction. Hence, an association between appropriateness of intrauterine growth and global intellectual outcome may be observed even within the population of VLBW preschoolers with adequate standardized birth weight. (JINS, 2012, 18, 200–211)
Cell Adhesion to a Motif Shared by the Malaria Circumsporozoite Protein and Thrombospondin Is Mediated by Its Glycosaminoglycan-binding Region and Not by CSVTCG*

The malaria circumsporozoite protein (CS), thrombospondin (TSP), and several other proteins including the terminal complement proteins and the neural adhesion molecules F-spondin and Unc-5, share a cell adhesive sequence. In CS this sequence is designated as region II-plus (EWSPCSVTCGNGIQVRIK) and in TSP it is found in the type I repeats. Previous studies aimed at fine mapping the amino acid residues required for cell adhesion have yielded discrepant results. Here we show in three different cell lines that the downstream basic residues are required for cell adhesion whereas the CSVTCG sequence is not. Using mutant Chinese hamster ovary cells selected for deficiencies in proteoglycan synthesis, we show that in wild type cells, heparan sulfate proteoglycans are the binding sites for this motif. This finding is supported by additional experiments with two other cell lines demonstrating that treatment with heparitinase but not chondroitinase abolishes cell adhesion to peptides representing this motif. Using Chinese hamster ovary cell mutants deficient in heparan sulfate proteoglycans but possessing chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans, we show that cell surface chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans can also mediate binding to this motif although higher concentrations of peptides are required for adhesion. Chondroitinase, but not heparitinase, treatment of these cells destroys cell surface-binding sites. Taken together, these results indicate that cell adhesion to this motif involves an interaction between the downstream positively-charged residues and the negatively charged glycosaminoglycan chains of heparan sulfate, or in some cases chondroitin sulfate, proteoglycans on the cell surface.
Acceptance Sampling? The Enterprise Strikes Back! AS9100 c = 0 Plans; when Slogans Supplant Science

“I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore! 1 ” First, we stopped working on acceptance sampling because one or two prominent consulting experts called it into question and because the literature editors know what's good for us. Now, to add insult to injury, we're victimized by a new aerospace specification that calls for c = 0 sampling plans. 1Peter Finch, Network, MGM Productions, 1976. See what happens when you stop teaching literature on a useful tool? The following provides a light, although somewhat lengthy, read on acceptance sampling theory, a practical demonstration of application from first principles using Microsoft Excel, and illustrates in spades why c = 0 is either the unforeseen consequence of popularity-based science or the last indicator that Nostradamus was indeed right—the end is near.
Separation of the myogenic and chondrogenic progenitor cells of undifferentiated limb mesenchyme

Abstract Undifferentiated limb bud mesenchyme consists of at least two separate, possibly predetermined, populations of progenitor cells, one derived from somitic mesoderm that gives rise exclusively to skeletal muscle and one derived from somatopleural mesoderm that gives rise to the cartilage and connective tissue of the limb. In the present study, we demonstrate that the inherent migratory capacity of myogenic precursor cells can be used to physically separate the myogenic and chondrogenic progenitor cells of the undifferentiated limb mesenchyme at the earliest stages of limb development. When the undifferentiated mesenchyme of stage 18 19 chick embryo wing buds or from the distal subridge region of stage 22 wing buds is placed intact upon the surface of fibronectin (FN)-coated petri dishes, a large population of cells emigrates out of the explants onto the FN substrates and differentiates into an extensive interlacing network of bipolar spindle-shaped myoblasts and multinucleated myotubes that stain with monoclonal antibody against muscle-specific fast myosin light chain. In contrast, the cells of the explants that remain in place and do not migrate away undergo extensive cartilage differentiation. Significantly, there is no emigration of myogenic cells out of explants of stage 25 distal subridge mesenchyme, which lacks myogenic progenitor cells. Myogenic precursor cells stream out of mesenchyme explants in one or occasionally two discrete locations, suggesting they are spatially segregated in discrete regions of tissue at the time of its explantation. There are subtle overall differences in the morphologies of the myogenic cells that form in stage 18 19 and stage 22 distal subridge mesenchyme explants. Finally, groups of nonmyogenic nonfibroblastic cells which are fusiform-shaped and oriented in distinct parallel arrays characteristically are found along the periphery of stage 18 19 wing mesenchyme explants. Our observations provide support for the concept that undifferentiated limb mesenchyme consists of independent subpopulations of committed precursor cells and provides a system for studying the early determinative and regulatory events involved in myogenesis or chondrogenesis.
Localization of human tissue factor antigen by immunostaining with monospecific, polyclonal anti-human tissue factor antibody

Abstract Tissue factor, the cofactor for factor VIIa-catalyzed activation of factors IX and X, plays an important role in the initiation of hemostasis. However, the distribution of tissue factor in the body has not been defined until recently. In the present study frozen sections of non-malignant human tissues were immunostained using polyclonal, monospecific rabbit antihuman tissue factor antibodies. Specificity of the antitissue factor antibody was established by Western blotting. Sensitivity of the immmunostaining technique for tissue factor antigen was confirmed by correlating staining of non-perturbed and perturbed cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells with their surface membrane tissue factor coagulant activity. Brain, lung and placenta, all known to possess large amounts of tissue factor procoagulant activity, stained strongly for tissue factor, as did peripheral nerves and autonomic ganglia. Epithelium of skin, mucosa, and glomeruli also stained; however, epithelium lining excretory ducts failed to stain. Skeletal muscle did not stain, but cardiac muscle stained faintly. Smooth muscle also did not stain except for the muscularis mucosa of the esophagus, which stained brightly. Fibroblasts varied in stainability; those found in the adventitia of vessels stained strongly. The endothelium, tunica intima and tunica media of blood vessels consistently failed to stain. The distribution of tissue factor antigen as demonstrated by immunostaining supports the hypothesis that maintenance of a physical barrier between tissue factor activity and blood is key to the normal regulation of hemostasis.
Metabolism, cytotoxicity, and genotoxicity of the pyrrolizidine alkaloid senecionine in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes.

Abstract Senecionine, a pyrrolizidine alkaloid isolated from Senecio vulgaris, was a potent toxicant to primary cultures of adult male rat hepatocytes. A nontoxic dose of [14C]senecionine (1.9–2.4 nmol/106 cells) was rapidly taken up from the culture medium by hepatocytes and converted to more polar metabolites recovered in the culture medium. Concomitantly some metabolites formed stable covalent bonds with cellular macromolecules. After a 24-hr incubation, 88% of the dose was water soluble while only 10% could be extracted with chloroform; 1.3% of the dose was bound to trichloroacetic acid-precipitated material and could not be extracted with organic solvents. Senecionine was a potent cytotoxin as evidenced by the leakage of lactate dehydrogenase from the hepatocytes into the surrounding culture medium and the loss of cells from the collagen substratum. A linear dose-response relationship for cytotoxicity was obtained for doses ranging from 2.6 to 128 nmol per 106 cells. Senecionine was also genotoxic as suggested by the evidence of covalent binding and the stimulation of DNA repair. The lowest dose that stimulated DNA repair was 16 nmol/106 cells. Based on these data, one would predict that senecionine is not only a potent hepatotoxin but is also likely to be carcinogenic.
Construction of the tricyclic ABC ring subunit of manzamine A via a novel intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction

Abstract A novel entry to the manzamine A (1) has been designed that features an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction of a vinylogous imide for the facile construction of the tricyclic core of 1 as illustrated by the conversions 8 and 16 → 9.
The Salmonella typhimurium tyrosine phosphatase SptP is translocated into host cells and disrupts the actin cytoskeleton

The Salmonella typhimurium protein tyrosine phosphatase SptP is a target of the centisome 63 type III protein secrtion system. This system is essential for the interaction of these bacteria with host cells. We have shown here by a combination of biochemical and microscopy techniques that S. typhimurium directs the translocation of SptP into cultured epithelial cells. Translocation requires the function of the secreted proteins, SipB, SipC and SipD, as strains carrying mutations in any of the genes encoding these proteins fail to translocate SptP. Microinjection of purified GST-SptP into cultured cells results in the disruption of the actin cytoskeleton and the disappearance of stress fibres. These changes are reversible, as microinjected cells regain the normal appearance of their actin cytoskeleton upon prolonged incubation. Microinjection of the catalytically active GST-SptP(C481S) protein results in changes similar to those induced by the wild-type toxin. Furthermore, microinjection of a fusion protein between GST and the first 285 amino acids of SptP also leads to identical disruption of the host cell actin cytoskeleton, indicating that the amino-terminal half of SptP is sufficient to mediate this effect. However, microinjection of a fusion protein between GST and the last 259 amino acids of SptP also disrupted the normal appearance of the cytoskeleton. These results support the hypothesis that SptP is an effector protein arranged in modular domains that may co-operate with each other to exert relate functions.
Developing entry-level competencies in sterile product preparation: An emerging challenge for pharmacy schools and experiential practice sites

Purpose Factors influencing the decision of hospital experiential sites to allow advanced pharmacy practice education (APPE) students to compound parenteral admixtures during their rotation experience were evaluated. Methods A survey was sent via e-mail to APPE sites used by Illinois Pharmacy Coalition schools in spring 2011. One preceptor from each site was identified to complete the survey. Results Of the 166 surveys delivered, 89 responses (53.6%) were obtained, and 1 participant opted out. Forty respondents (45%) reported an average daily census of ≤ 100 patients. The majority of respondents ( n = 49, 55%) had an average daily census of at least 100 patients. The majority of the reporting facilities ( n = 38, 43%) were classified as community nonteaching hospitals. All of the practice sites had a cleanroom, a compounding aseptic isolator (glove box), or both. A total of 19 respondents (21%) indicated that their facilities did not permit APPE students to prepare sterile admixtures. Extensive training requirements established by hospitals was the most common reason cited for not allowing students to prepare admixtures (63%), followed by liability concerns (56%) and the cost and time associated with media-fill and glove fingertip testing (38% and 31%, respectively). Conclusion The results of a survey of preceptors at a sample of APPE practice sites indicated that 21% did not allow pharmacy students to prepare sterile admixtures. Extensive training requirements, liability concerns, and the cost and time associated with media-fill and glove fingertip testing were cited as the most common reasons for not allowing students to prepare admixtures.
On the design of broadband elliptic impedance-matching networks

Abstract The paper provides practical means for selecting the optimum parameters for the design of a lossless coupling network that equalizes the parallel RC load to resistive generator and to achieve the n th-order elliptic transducer power-gain characteristic. Fundamental gain-bandwidth limitation and other restrictions are established in their full generality.
Human pegivirus RNA is found in multiple blood mononuclear cells in vivo and serum-derived viral RNA-containing particles are infectious in vitro

Human pegivirus (HPgV; previously called GB virus C/hepatitis G virus) has limited pathogenicity, despite causing persistent infection, and is associated with prolonged survival in human immunodeficiency virus-infected individuals. Although HPgV RNA is found in and produced by T- and B-lymphocytes, the primary permissive cell type(s) are unknown. We quantified HPgV RNA in highly purified CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells, including naive, central memory and effector memory populations, and in B-cells (CD19+), NK cells (CD56+) and monocytes (CD14+) using real-time reverse transcription-PCR. Single-genome sequencing was performed on viruses within individual cell types to estimate genetic diversity among cell populations. HPgV RNA was present in CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocytes (nine of nine subjects), B-lymphocytes (seven of ten subjects), NK cells and monocytes (both four of five). HPgV RNA levels were higher in naive (CD45RA+) CD4+ cells than in central memory and effector memory cells (P<0.01). HPgV sequences were highly conserved among subjects (0.117±0.02 substitutions per site; range 0.58–0.14) and within subjects (0.006±0.003 substitutions per site; range 0.006–0.010). The non-synonymous/synonymous substitution ratio was 0.07, suggesting a low selective pressure. Carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester (CFSE)-labelled HPgV RNA-containing particles precipitated by a commercial exosome isolation reagent delivered CSFE to uninfected monocytes, NK cells and T- and B-lymphocytes, and HPgV RNA was transferred to PBMCs with evidence of subsequent virus replication. Thus, HPgV RNA-containing serum particles including microvesicles may contribute to delivery of HPgV to PBMCs in vivo, explaining the apparent broad tropism of this persistent human RNA virus.
Biochemical properties of somatostatin receptors

Somatostatin (SRIF) induces its biological actions by binding to and stimulating membrane-associated receptors. To investigate the molecular mechanisms by which SRIF induces its biological effects, we have characterized the biochemical properties of SRIF receptors. SRIF receptors can be solubilized in an active form with the detergent CHAPS and can be detected with the high-affinity SRIF analog [125I]MK 678. The pharmacological characteristics of solubilized SRIF receptors from brain are similar to the receptors in membranes, suggesting that the solubilized receptors retain their biological activity. Solubilized SRIF receptors appear to be tightly associated with GTP-binding proteins, since analogs of GTP can greatly reduce agonist labeling of the solubilized SRIF receptor. The solubilized SRIF receptor migrates as a mass of approximately 400 kd and is a glycoprotein since it can specifically interact with lectin columns. The solubilization of the SRIF receptor has allowed for its purification by affinity chromatography. The purified SRIF receptor migrates as a mass of 60 kd in denaturing gels. Using affinity chromatography, the receptor can be purified to near homogeneity. Present studies are directed toward sequencing and cloning cDNA encoding the SRIF receptor in order to further characterize its physical properties and expression.
Amino Acids Important for DNA Recognition by the Response Regulator OmpR

Response regulators undergo regulated phosphorylation and dephosphorylation at conserved aspartic acid residues in bacterial signal transduction systems. OmpR is a winged helix-turnhelix DNA-binding protein that functions as a global regulator in bacteria and is also important in pathogenesis. A detailed mechanistic picture of how OmpR binds to DNA and activates transcription is lacking. We used NMR spectroscopy to solve the solution structure of the C-terminal domain of OmpR (OmpRC) and to analyze the chemical shift changes that occur upon DNA binding. There is little overlap in the interaction surface with residues of PhoB that were reportedly involved in protein/protein interactions in its head-to-tail dimer. Multiple factors account for the lack of overlap. One is that the spacing between the OmpR half-sites is shorter than observed with PhoB, requiring the arrangement of the two OmpR molecules to be different from that of the PhoB dimer on DNA. A second is the demonstration herein that OmpR can bind to its high affinity site as a monomer. As a result, OmpRC appears to be capable of adopting alternative orientations depending on the precise base composition of the binding site, which also contributes to the lack of overlap. In the presence of DNA, chemical shift changes occur in OmpR in the recognition α-helix 3, the loop between β-strand 4 and α-helix 1, and the loop between β-strands 5 and 6. DNA contact residues are Val203 (T), Arg207 (G), and Arg209 (phosphate backbone). Our results suggest that OmpR binds to DNA as a monomer and then forms a symmetric or asymmetric dimer, depending on the binding site. We propose that during activation OmpR binds to DNA and undergoes a conformational change that promotes phosphorylation of the N-terminal receiver domain, the receiver domains dimerize, and then the second monomer binds to DNA. The flexible linker of OmpR enables the second monomer to bind in multiple orientations (head-to-tail and head-to-head), depending on the specific DNA contacts.
Alleviation of polyatomic ion interferences for determination of chlorine isotope ratios by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

A simple variation in sample preparation and introduction allows the measurement of chlorine isotope ratios by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP/MS). Dissolution of the sample in D2O rather than H2O attenuates the major polyatomic ion 36ArH+ and frees m/z 37 for determination of 37Cl+. The isotope ratio 35Cl/37Cl in a 50 mg/L solution of Cl as LiCl is determined with a relative standard deviation of 0.21%. Sample memory is low, as the 35Cl signal decays to less than 1% of its original value after ∼2 min of cleanout with D2O . The detection limit for Cl using this procedure is approximately 20 μg/L.
Windowless Tubes for X‐Ray Spectroscopy

X-ray spectroscopy of light elements by the elimination of the window between target and a fluorescing sample of a demountable x-ray tube
Quality control for global software development

Global sourcing of software has become a viable option for many U.S. corporations. Technical solutions have removed barriers such as distance and time, but quality concerns remain. Customers are demanding that their software suppliers prove they can deliver reliable, highâ€“quality software systems on a repeatable basis. This paper examines the ISO 9000 series of standards and the process maturity guidelines offered by the Software Engineering Instituteâ€™s (SEI) Capability Maturity Model (CMM) as well as some wellâ€“known related variants of these models that offer both customers and suppliers of software guidance on improving software quality by focusing first on process.
Management of microbial processes in cattle-dipping vats containing coumaphos

The organophosphate veterinary insecticide coumaphos (0-3-chloro-4- methyl-2-oxo-2H-chromen-7-yl 0,O-diethyl phosphorothioate) is used by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the United States Department of Agriculture in its program designed to prevent re-entry of the southern cattle tick (Boophilus microplus Can.) and the cattle tick (B. annulatus Say) into the United States from Mexico. Large amounts of waste acaricide are generated annually in this program. One event that triggers disposal of coumaphos dips is the accumulation of potasan (O,O-diethyl O-4-methyl-2-oxo-2H-chromen-7-yl phosphorothioate). This process was shown to occur under anaerobic conditions and to be inhibited by mercury ions, indicating that anaerobic micro-organisms were responsible for a reductive dechlorination. Maintaining coumaphos suspen- sions at pH < 7 prevented the reductive dechlorination of coumaphos and left a suspension that was amenable to disposal by biodegradation. A field trial on an 11 000-litre capacity coumaphos dipping vat demonstrated the applicability of using acid to extend the life of coumaphos solutions and of biodegradation for the disposal of spent material.
Psychedelic drug flashbacks: subjective reports and biographical data.

Abstract Subjects were psychedelic drug users experiencing recurrence of psychedelic drug effects (i.e. flashbacks) after they ceased taking the drugs and after a period of relative normalcy. They were asked to describe their flashbacks, events triggering them, and their personal theory of why flashbacks occur. Their drug taking history, motives for taking drugs, and personal changes due to drugs were compared with psychedelic drug users not having flashbacks. Flashbackers, non-flashbackers, and non-drug taking controls were compared on self-descriptive adjectives, extent they sought help for mental health problems, and various demographic data. One year later subjects were again interviewed to assess changes due to time. Subjective accounts are included to clarify findings regarding the flashback phenomena.
Relationship between density, refractive index and structure of B2O3 glasses at low and high pressures

Abstract The density and refractive index of B2O3 glass quenched from 1200°C at 40 kbar increase by 22.5% and 3.7%, respectively, relative to 1-atm values. On the basis of Raman spectroscopic evidence, it is proposed that the increase in the fraction of BO3 triangles in a closely packed random network relative to the fraction in boroxol rings with increasing pressure is responsible for the observed increase in density and refractive index of the glasses. No evidence is found for the presence of B3+ in fourfold coordination in the high-pressure glasses.
CHANGES IN BODY COMPOSITION IN PEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE UNIT (PICU) VS WARD (W) PATIENTS

We performed a prospective survey of PICU and W patients to compare changes in body composition over time. On admission and hospital day 3, we recorded weight (WT), midarm circumference (MAC), triceps skinfold thickness (TST), and therapeutic intervention score (TIS). Anthropometries were normalized as a percentage of the value for day 1 to minimize size and age effects. We compared WT, MAC, TST, and TIS score on day 1 with day 3 by 2-way ANOVA. P≤0.05 was considered significant. Values are expressed as mean ± SD. By Least Significant Difference (P ≤0.05), day 3 PICU TST is less than both day 1 PICU and day 3 W TST. These results suggest that a rapid loss of fat stores occurs in PICU but not in W patients over time (P=0.04). TIS scores were higher in PICU vs W patients on both days (P=0.045). Decline in fat stores may be related to severity of illness or to deficient provision of supplemental nutrition. We can make no conclusions about differences in premorbid nutritional state between PICU and W patients.
Giant Peripheral Ossifying Fibroma: A Case Report and Clinicopathologic Review of 10 Cases From the Literature

Peripheral ossifying fibroma (POF) is most often a self-limiting, sessile or pedunculated, gingival nodule that is believed to be a reactive rather than neoplastic pathologic process. The lesion is typically <2cm, however it has been recognized that some examples may grow quite large and may displace teeth. The mass-like clinical presentation and radiographic appearance of soft tissue calcification may lead to misclassification; however the histologic appearance is diagnostic. Giant POFs (GPOF) have been referred to in the literature by several other names (large, atypical, huge, gigantiform). The distinguishing characteristics of GPOFs and the factors that contribute to their growth have primarily been explored through case reports. We present a new case of POF that was giant and review 10 previously reported giant lesions, with focus on the clinical presentation, radiographic features, and outcome to explore the possibility that this represents a distinct clinical subset of lesion, with a unique set of features that warrant recognition for accurate diagnosis.