cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantum Fluctuations in the Tunneling between Superconductors

Quantum fluctuations in a microscopic model of a Josephson junction including dissipative effects, parametrized by $\ensuremath{\eta}=\frac{\ensuremath{\hbar}}{2\ensuremath{\pi}{e}^{2}R}$ with $R$ the resistance, are discussed. It is shown that the parameter space divides sharply into two regions: One in which scaling trajectories lead to a vanishing mean tunneling rate at $T=0$ and the other in which they do not.
Generating r -regular graphs

For each nonnegative integer r, we determine a set of graph operations such that all r-regular loopless graphs can be generated from the smallest r-regular loopless graphs by using these operations. We also discuss possible extensions of this result to r-regular graphs of girth at least g, for each fixed g.
Abstracts from the Proceedings of the 2007 Annual Predoctoral Meeting of the Society for Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM)

The Society for Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM; http://www.stfm.org) is a community of professionals devoted to teaching family medicine through undergraduate, graduate, and continuing medical education. This multidisciplinary group of physicians, educators, behavioral scientists, and researchers works to further STFM's mission of improving the health of all people through education, research, patient care, and advocacy. STFM holds an annual conference each spring and a predoctoral education conference each winter. STFM held its 33rd annual Predoctoral Education Conference in Memphis, Tennessee, from January 25 to 28, 2007. Elizabeth Garrett, MD, MSPH, professor and predoctoral director in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Missouri, Columbia, opened the conference with a stirring plenary about the direction of family medicine and the legacy we, as predoctoral educators, must create in the future of our students. Thomas Schwenk, MD, chair of the Department of Family Me...
The elastic properties of elastin

The thermoelastic properties of elastin immersed in water or in aqueous solutions of alcohols closely resemble those of typical polymers in the rubber elastic state. The evolution of heat much in excess of the work performed on elastin when it is stretched while immersed in water at ca. 25°C is attributable to the exothermic heat of dilution by water absorbed into the polymer during elongation. The negative sign of the temperature coefficient of swelling is confirmatory of this explanation. A network of random chains within the elastin fibers, like that in a typical rubber, is clearly indicated. The elastic properties of elastin are not explicable in terms of a two-phase model consisting of discrete globules of compact elastin molecules fused one to another by cross-linkages, with diluent (water) filling the interstices.
Alterations in t-butylbicyclophosphorothionate binding in the brains of lidocaine-kindled rats

This autoradiographic study examines regional GABAA receptors in lidocaine-kindled rats. [35S]t-Butylbicyclophosphorothionate (TBPS), which binds in or near the chloride channel, was used to radiolabel GABAA complexes. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected daily with lidocaine (65mg/kg, i.p.). Seizure activity was evaluated using the Racine Scale (Racine, 1972). The animals displayed a gradual increase in the indices and by day 20 greater than 50% were in stage 4 or 5. Regression of behavior was seen in half of the experimental group and this subgroup was considered ‘compensated’. Autoradiographs were analyzed using a computer-based image analysis system. Several regions within the kindled group display a decrease in TBPS binding, including the subiculum, posterior lateral thalamic nuclei, the lateral hippocampus CA1, and the lateral hippocampus CA3. Conversely, within the compensated group these regions display normal or heightened TBPS binding. The data support the theory that alterations in the GABAA receptors are involved in the kindling model of epilepsy.
The Nature of Urban Growth and the Commuting Transition: Endless Sprawl or a Growth Wave?:

The concept of an urban growth wave expanding outwards is used to examine the commuting characteristics of residents of recently developed housing areas within the 50 largest US metropolitan areas at multiple points of time between 1980 and 2000. The results show that not only do areas of recent housing booms have longer commuting times and differing socioeconomic characteristics than older parts of the cities, but this commuting time will subside as these areas age (although average commuting times may rise for the entire metropolitan area). Like a growth wave, a commuting transition move outwards and therefore newer growth areas (or sprawl) should be considered as a temporary stage in the ongoing process of urban growth. Focusing on building cycles avoids the pejorative sprawl label and reconceptualises this sort of low density, auto-dependent urban form as a normal part of the urban growth process.
226 HUMAN LACTOFERRIN EXPRESSED IN COW MILK CAN EXTEND THE SHELF LIFE OF MILK

Lactoferrin (LF) is an antimicrobial protein that is produced at high levels in human secretions, including milk, but is present at very low levels in the milk of ruminants. Lactoferrin is an iron-binding protein, and because iron is required by some bacteria to grow, lactoferrin can reduce the growth of certain bacteria. Lactoferrin can inhibit the growth of gram-negative bacteria, gram-positive bacteria, yeast, and some antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Lactoferrin also has bacteriocidal activity, killing the organism by inducing membrane perturbations often in conjunction with other antimicrobial agents such as lysozyme. Due to these properties, lactoferrin has the potential to increase the health of lactating animals as well as extend the shelf life of the milk. A herd of cows were genetically engineered to produce milk containing recombinant human lactoferrin (rhLF-milk) at approximately the same concentration found in human milk. In this study, growth of bacteria in raw milk samples from 2 control cows was compared with that from 2 cows that produce rhLF-milk. The experiment examined the shelf life of milk at room temperature over a 72-h period and the shelf life of milk left at 4°C over 3 weeks by plating aliquots on agar plates and counting the number of bacterial colonies that grew on plates after 24 and 48 h. The milk left at room temperature was plated at 0, 24, 48, and 72 h. The milk left in at 4°C was measured at 0, 4, 7, 11, 14, 18, and 21 days. Statistical evaluations were conducted using SAS statistical software, version 9.3 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA). Bacterial data were compared using the repeated-measures function in SAS and the Greenhouse-Geisser epsilon test to determine differences. For all tests, P-values <0.05 were considered statistically significant. The rhLF-milk showed less bacteria growth than control milk over the 4 time periods when left at room temperature (P = 0.0029), but did not inhibit the growth of bacteria when held for longer periods at 4°C (P = 0.6031). This shows that rhLF-milk may have an extended shelf life at room temperature and thus may be a means to increase food availability in developing countries. The next step in this research will be examining the populations of bacteria in the milk to determine how rhLF alters the populations of bacteria growing in milk over time, the different types of bacteria populations between the rhLF and control milk and what their effects are.
Imaging and Spectroscopy of Defects in Semiconductors using Aberration-corrected STEM

The distribution of single dopant or impurity atoms can dramatically alter the properties of semiconduc- tor materials. The sensitivity to detect and localize such sin- gle atoms has been greatly improved by the development of aberration correctors for scanning transmission electron mi- croscopes. Today, electron probes with diameters well be- low 1 A are available thanks to the improved electron op- tics. Simultaneous acquisition of image signals and electron energy-loss spectroscopy data provides means of charac- terization of defect structures in semiconductors with un- precedented detail. In addition to an improvement of the lat- eral spatial resolution, depth sensitivity is greatly enhanced because of the availability of larger probe forming angles. We report the characterization of an alternate gate dielec- tric interface structure. Isolated Hf atoms are directly im- aged within a SiO2 thin film formed between an HfO2 layer and the silicon substrate. Electron energy-loss spectroscopy shows significant changes of the silicon valence state across the interface structure.
Measuring Qualities for OSGi Component-Based Applications

Component-based software engineering (CBSE) begins to reach a certain level of maturity. Indeed, for the development of complex applications the use of component paradigm has become common. Therefore, the evaluation of the quality of these applications becomes necessary. In this context, the use of metrics is considered very important. Several metrics specific to component-based applications have been proposed. However, any of these metrics gained the consensus of the CBSE community and mainly there is no proposed tool to support them. As a large part of frameworks for component-based application development is based on object-oriented technology, we propose to use some object-oriented (OO) metrics to evaluate component-based applications produced with this kind of framework. Indeed, these metrics became a standard in OO community. So, they are well-defined, well-known and empirically validated. To identify which object-oriented metrics are useful for the evaluation of component-based applications, we have conducted an experimental study on 10 OSGi applications. This study also gives us the opportunity to discuss on the respect by OSGi developers of some properties pointed out by the literature.
Rapid assay for immune complex bound antigens from urine of cancer patients

Abstract Concentrated urine from patients with various types of cancer was fractionated by S-500 gel filtration chromatography to yield high molecular weight (mw) immune complexes (IC) and lower mw immunoglobulin (Ig) fractions. Column fractions were assayed for the presence of IgM and IgG by immunoblot probing using anti-human IgM and anti-human IgG alkaline phosphatase conjugates. These results were used to define IC fractions (those from high mw S-500 fractions which were positive for immunoglobulin) and Ig fractions (those from medium mw S-500 fractions which were positive for immunoglobulin). Antigen components of high mw S-500 IC fractions were then determined by immunoblot probe using medium mw S-500 Ig fractions as the antibody probe (i.e. autoantibody). This method for identification of immune complex antigens has the potential to probe for tumor-associated antigens, autoantigens, or foreign antigens from starting material which contains both immune complex and free immunoglobulin.
The application of NMR-pattern-recognition methods to the classification of peracetylated oligosaccharide residues: effects of intraclass structure.

Abstract In the present study a variety of homo- and hetero-nuclear correlation spectroscopies have been used to assign the acetoxyl carbonyl carbon, the pyranosyl proton and the acetoxyl methyl proton resonances of thirteen oligosaccharide derivatives peracetylated with [1,1′-13C]acetic anhydride. The nonderivatized forms of these structures occur as d -glucose, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy- d -glucose, d -galactose and 2-acetamido-2-deoxy- d -galactose containing substructures of O-linked glycans. On the basis of the assigned NMR variables, two pattern recognition methods, K-nearest neighbor (KNN) and SIMCA, were used to classify residues contained in these and previously studied peracetylated derivatives according to their structure and anomeric ring configuration. It was found that the SIMCA method was able to classify residues into one of eight structurally homogeneous classes with greater than 99% accuracy. In contrast, the KNN method proved to be most successful in classifying residues into one of six larger more structurally diverse classes, where some of the classes were formed by members of the same residue type but having different anomeric ring configurations. While the performance of the KNN method was improved by using variable subsets as a basis for classification. SIMCA performed best using the full compliment of 15 NMR variables. Neither of the methods was able to classify residues well when only proton chemical shifts and coupling contants were used to assign structures. This suggests that those previous methods which have traditionally used limited 1 H NMR data to make structural assignments of carbohydrate residues may be significantly improved by using complimentary 13C NMR data.
Estimates and Meanings of Marital Separation

Marital separation is an informal transition that may precede or substitute for divorce. Various surveys collect data on marital separation, but the data have produced mixed estimates. The authors used data from the 1995 and 2006 waves of the National Survey of Family Growth (N = 2,216) and the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, 1979 cohort (NLSY79; N = 1,990) to examine separations among women born between 1961 and 1965. In the National Survey of Family Growth, separations were typically short and followed by divorce. In the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, 1979 cohort, separations were longer and less likely to end in divorce. The authors relate these discrepancies to differences in study design, question universe, and question wording between the 2 surveys and show that different measures of separation lead to different conclusions about educational and racial/ethnic inequalities in the trajectories of marital disruption.
Bias in leaf area ― sapwood area ratios and its impact on growth analysis in Pinus contorta

Two alternative estimators of individual tree leaf area (A1) area are used to derive estimates of leaf-area index (L) for 40 plots in Pinus contorta Dougl. stands. One estimator of A1 is based on the common assumption of a constant ratio between A1 and sapwood cross-sectional area at breast height (As). The second estimator of A1 accounts for tree-to-tree variation in the relation between A1 and As. The apparent relationship between stand growth and leaf-area index is strongly dependent on the way leaf area is estimated. When L is derived from a constant A1∶As ratio, stand growth appears to be strongly correlated with L. However, when L is based on estmates of A1 that account for tree-to-tree variation in the A1 — As relation, stand growth is seen to be only weakly related to L. Stand structure, quantified as percent live-crown, accounts for a great deal of the observed variation in leaf-area efficiency. These contrasting relationships illustrate the importance of unbiased estimates of L in interpreting the link between stand-level processes and leaf area.
The imagery and structure of Middlemarch

(1971). The imagery and structure of Middlemarch. English Studies: Vol. 52, No. 1-6, pp. 425-435.
Detection and characterization of selenoproteins by tandem mass spectrometry assisted by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry: application to human plasma selenoproteins

Accurate assessment of selenium status and selenium nutritional requirement in humans through the detection, identification and quantification of human plasma selenoprotein P (SelP) and glutathione peroxidase 3 (GPx3) has been an on-going effort and long term goal. Although several HPLC-ICP-MS analyses of human plasma/serum have reported SelP and GPx3 measurements, none of them have yet to demonstrate unambiguous mass spectrometry-based identification of these proteins. This study explored the potential of mass spectrometry techniques for the detection and identification of selenoproteins in a human plasma candidate Standard Reference Material (SRM) 1950 Metabolites in Human Plasma, with a total selenium concentration of 105.5 ± 2.3 ng g−1. Since the classical proteomic shotgun approach of depleted human plasma is not specific and sensitive enough to identify low abundant selenoproteins, a laser ablation (LA) inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) method was developed. The challenge was to develop a highly sensitive method to target selenoproteins at physiological concentrations by using a conventional laser device and a sensitive LA-ICP-MS method easily transposable to other equipped laboratories. Through a combination of better sample preparation, by concentrating selenoproteins onto membranes, and increased sensitivity of Se detection, by humidifying ICP with an organic solution, a LA-ICP-MS method 80 times more sensitive compared to classical LA ICP-MS methods was developed. This method was successfully applied to the detection of SelP and GPx3 selenoproteins at physiological concentrations in samples of human plasma. Once detected, these low abundant selenoproteins were unambiguously identified by tandem mass spectrometry. This study highlights the importance of an approach combining ICP-MS and tandem mass spectrometry for unequivocal selenoprotein detection and identification at physiological concentrations. This procedure can be easily performed in other laboratories to study selenoproteins or other heteroatom-tagged proteins in humans or other biological samples using widely available instrumentation.
Propanolol preserves ultrastructure in adult cardiocytes exposed to anoxia/reoxygenation: A morphometric analysis

The protective effect of d,l-propranolol was studied using freshly isolated canine ventricular cardiocytes (1.5 x 10(6)/mL) exposed to 30 min anoxia (95% N2/5% CO2) and 0, 3, 20, and 45 min of reoxygenation (95% O2/5% CO2). In addition to preventing lipid peroxide formation, propranolol maintained cellular viability, and minimized ultrastructural alterations. In the absence of propranolol, the outer mitochondria become swollen and rounded up within the first few minutes of reoxygenation. The perinuclear mitochondrial area increased only slightly. We observed that the cellular injury process proceeded differentially from the exterior to the interior, with a mitochondrial area increase and outer membrane rupture. Sarcolemmal damage was also observed with prevalent blebbing and membrane loss. The Z-lines became wider and more diffuse with reoxygenation. Injury to the nuclear double membrane was observed. Incubation with propranolol showed significant protection during postanoxia reoxygenation. In contrast, the more water soluble beta-blocker atenolol only exhibited slight protection. In addition, d-propranolol (the non beta-blocking isomer) and the antioxidant enzymes, SOD and catalase, showed significant protection. These data support previous findings concerning the antioxidant properties of propranolol which appear to be independent of beta-receptor blockade.
Current management of primary central nervous system lymphoma.

Primary central nervous cell lymphoma (PCNSL) is an uncommon neoplasm of the brain, leptomeninges, and rarely the spinal cord. Initially thought to be characteristically associated with congenital, iatrogenic, or acquired immunosuppression, PCNSL is now recognized with increasing frequency in immunocompetent individuals. The role of surgery is limited to establishing diagnosis, as PCNSL is often multifocal with a propensity to involve the subarachnoid space. A whole-brain radiation volume has empirically been used to adequately address the multifocal tumor frequently encountered at the time of PCNSL diagnosis. Despite high rates of response after whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT), rapid recurrence is common and long-term survival is the exception. Chemotherapy alone or in combination with WBRT has more recently become the treatment of choice. Most effective regimens contain high-dose methotrexate and or other agents that are capable of penetrating the blood–brain barrier. High response rates and improved survival with the use of chemotherapy has led to treatment strategies that defer or eliminate WBRT in hopes of lessening the risk of neurotoxicity attributed to WBRT. Unfortunately, elimination of WBRT is also associated with a higher rate of relapse. Combined chemotherapy and WBRT regimens are now being explored that use lower total doses of radiation and altered fractionation schedules with the aim of maintaining high rates of tumor control while minimizing neurotoxicity. Pretreatment, multifactor prognostic indices have recently been described that may allow selection of treatment regimens that strike an appropriate balance of risk and benefit for the individual PCNSL patient.
Visceral and somatic pain thresholds in healthy and IBS volunteers across the menstrual cycle

Visceral and somatic pain thresholds in healthy and IBS volunteers across the menstrual cycle
Delayed protein digestion in the alligator following carbonic anhydrase inhibition.

1. 1. Small alligators were injected with a carbonic anhydrase (CA) inhibitor (dichlorphenamide) and a day later they were fed large amounts of lean beef. The rate of protein digestion was determined and compared with that in controls fed the same amount. 2. 2. The controls began digestion at once, while in the CA-inhibited ones, digestion was blocked for over 10 hr. The inhibitor decreased gastric HC1 production to one-third that in controls and delayed activation of pancreatic and intestinal proteases. After 15 hr, digestion began in the inhibited group and proceeded to completion. Once digestion began, further injections of the inhibitor could not block it. 3. 3. It seems that CA inhibition blocks digestion (for a time) by reducing HC1 synthesis. NaHCO3 to neutralize the acid chyme in the intestine, was derived from that in the plasma.
HAVE THE DIFFUSE COSMIC X RAYS AN ANISOTROPIC COMPONENT.

WE have recently shown1 that if one assumes that the far-infrared radiation2 is galactic, then inverse Compton scattering of these photons with cosmic ray electrons would explain the flux and the energy spectrum of diffuse X-rays. We also predicted a large anisotropy which seemed to be at variance with experimental data which indicated that diffuse X-rays are isotropic within about 10 per cent. Recent measurements by Cooke, Griffiths and Pounds3, however, now present evidence in support of the existence of anisotropy. They observed excess X-rays from the region of the galactic equator in the 1.4 to 18 keV region with an intensity of 0.3 photons (cm2 s rad)−1 near l = 260°, increasing to 0.5 near l = 300° in the Centaurus region. Perhaps these results indicate that the diffuse X-rays result from two separate mechanisms, one producing an isotropic component and the other an anisotropic component ! Thus, in the light of these new results, we feel it is worth while to look more closely at the predictions of our model regarding anisotropy. The X-ray flux I is directly proportional1 to the integration path-length L. Restricting our present discussion to the galactic equatorial plane corresponding to the measurements of Cooke et al.3, it follows by simple geometry that the X-ray flux at a longitude l, I(l) say, is proportional to where R is the radius of the galaxy and a is the distance from the Earth to the centre of the galaxy. Taking a/R = 2/3 we obtain in good agreement with the value of 1.7 obtained by Cooke et al.3. We also obtain to be compared with the experimental upper limit3 of 3.3. This gives us added confidence in our model, but it is clearly desirable to have much more experimental confirmation of the anisotropy measured by Cooke et al.3.
Membrane damage in human erythrocytes caused by captan and captafol

Abstract Treatment of human erythrocytes with 5 × 10−5 M captan or captafol caused a rapid increase in the efflux of intracellular potassium. Captafol had a more pronounced effect than captan on cation permeability. Captafol also decreased anion permeability whereas captan did not affect this process. Glutathione (5 × 10−4 M) had little effect in reducing potassium efflux when added to the cells after they were incubated for 1 h with captan or captafol, but it was effective in reducing the potassium loss when added to the cells prior to their treatment with the fungicides. Captafol caused an increase in osmotic fragility of the cells. Incubation of the cell membranes with captafol resulted in the liberation of a small fraction of membrane phospholipids, whereas captan produced no effect. Both the fungicides readily reacted with the sulfhydryl groups in the isolated membrane; 31.5 and 45.7% of the membrane sulfhydryl groups had disappeared following treatment with captan and captafol, respectively. It is suggested that the reaction of captan or captafol and/or their reaction products with the sulfhydryl and amino groups of the red cell membrane protein produces changes in the structure of the membrane with consequent alteration in its permeability.
New Experimental Limits on Non-Newtonian Forces in the Micrometer Range

We report measurements of the short-range forces between two macroscopic gold-coated plates using a torsion pendulum. The force is measured for separations between 0.7 and $7\text{ }\text{ }\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$ and is well described by a combination of the Casimir force, including the finite-temperature correction, and an electrostatic force due to patch potentials on the plate surfaces. We use our data to place constraints on the Yukawa-type ``new'' forces predicted by theories with extra dimensions. We establish a new best bound for force ranges 0.4--$4\text{ }\text{ }\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$ and, for forces mediated by gauge bosons propagating in ($4+n$) dimensions and coupling to the baryon number, extract a ($4+n$)-dimensional Planck scale lower limit of ${M}_{*}g70\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{TeV}$.
Effect of reactor configuration on nitric oxide conversion in nitrogen plasma

The configuration of a nonthermal plasma reactor strongly affects the rate of electron collision reactions. Experiments involving the decomposition of NO in N2 were performed in a reactor in which the number of parallel reactor tubes varied from 1 to 10 at a constant pressure of 147.6 kPa and ambient temperature. A previously developed lumped model of the reactions accurately predicted the effects of varying the initial concentrations of NO (from 240 ppm to 593 ppm) and gas residence time (from 1.93 to 7.42 s). With an increasing number of parallel reactor tubes, the rate of electron collision reactions decreases because the energy input per unit reactor volume at unit time decreases, while the energy consumption per molecule of NO converted to N2 and O2 decreases due to electrical and geometric effects associated with the decreasing peak width of the discharge voltage pulses and increasing reactor capacitance. Therefore, increasing the number of parallel reactor tubes provides a viable scale-up method for constructing more efficient pulsed corona discharge reactors. © 2005 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2005
Bringing Together Technology and Students: Examining the use of Technology in a Project-based Class

This case study was conducted at a New England public high school which experienced a recent technological and accompanying pedagogical revolution. The overall purpose of this study was twofold: 1)...
Cost Effectiveness (CE) Comparison Of Prevention Strategies For Neonatal Group B Streptococcal Infection: Application In a Metropolitan Area(Greater Cincinnati). • 596

Cost Effectiveness (CE) Comparison Of Prevention Strategies For Neonatal Group B Streptococcal Infection: Application In a Metropolitan Area(Greater Cincinnati). • 596
Model Reduction Techniques for Characterization of Fractured Subsurfaces

Abstract One of the most diffcult tasks in reservoir simulations is reliable characterization of fractured subsurfaces. A typical situation in petroleum engineering employs dynamic data integrations such as the oil production history to be matched with simulated responses associated with a set of porosity and/or permeability fields. Among the challenges found in practice are proper mathematical modelings of the flow in the presence of fractured systems, persisting heterogeneity in the porosity and permeability, and the uncertainties inherent in them. In this paper we propose a Bayesian framework Monte Carlo Markov Chain simulation (MCMC) to sample a set of subsurface's characteristics from the posterior distribution that are conditioned to the production data. This process requires obtaining the simulated responses over many realizations. The flow for this simulated response is governed by a dual porosity, dual permeability model. As this can be a prohibitively expensive endeavor, we address the possibility of using the Multiscale Finite Volume Element (MsFVEM) combined with a sparse stochastic collocation technique to provide a venue for an effcient computation. A set numerical examples illustrating the procedure will be presented.
Algorithm 832: UMFPACK V4.3---an unsymmetric-pattern multifrontal method

An ANSI C code for sparse LU factorization is presented that combines a column pre-ordering strategy with a right-looking unsymmetric-pattern multifrontal numerical factorization. The pre-ordering and symbolic analysis phase computes an upper bound on fill-in, work, and memory usage during the subsequent numerical factorization. User-callable routines are provided for ordering and analyzing a sparse matrix, computing the numerical factorization, solving a system with the LU factors, transposing and permuting a sparse matrix, and converting between sparse matrix representations. The simple user interface shields the user from the details of the complex sparse factorization data structures by returning simple handles to opaque objects. Additional user-callable routines are provided for printing and extracting the contents of these opaque objects. An even simpler way to use the package is through its MATLAB interface. UMFPACK is incorporated as a built-in operator in MATLAB 6.5 as x = Abb when A is sparse and unsymmetric.
Dominicans and Suspect Opinion in the Thirteenth Century: The Cases of Stephen of Venizy, Peter of Tarentaise, and the Articles of 1270 and 1271

L'A. etudie le role des ordres mendiants dans les enquetes et les jugements prononces contre les enseignements potentiellement faux ou heretiques dispenses parmi leurs propres membres. L'A. se demande si les proces internes a leur ordre, comme celui d'Etienne de Venisy (1241) et Pierre de Tarentaise (1267), n'ont pas introduit une nouvelle juridiction faisant concurrence aux autorites episcopale, papale ou universitaire en la matiere
Estrogen control of scent marking in female mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus)

Ovarian hormones control a species-specific scent marking behavior displayed by female Mongolian gerbils. The present studies examined steroid induction of scent marking in female gerbils that regularly displayed the response prior to treatment and in females that rarely or never scent marked. In females that regularly scent marked preoperatively, marking behavior and scent gland size decreased after ovariectomy and were reinstated by estrogen given alone or with progesterone. Steroid injections did not stimulate scent marking in ovariectomized females that scent marked very seldom preoperatively, although the hormones promoted gland growth. In contrast to other studies, estrogen and estrogen plus progesterone proved equally effective in all cases.
Signal reconstruction from multiple correlations: frequency- and time-domain approaches: reply to comment

The time-domain reconstruction method of Giannakis [ J. Opt. Soc. Am. A6, 682 ( 1989), Subsec. 3.B] is correct and was derived under the assumption that a matrix containing certain triple-correlation lags has full rank. Although the counterexample of Tugnait [ J. Opt. Soc. Am. A8, 452 ( 1991)] violates this assumption, I show that a full-rank triple-correlation matrix exists. Recent important results that establish a unique reconstruction of two-sided pole-zero signals and their orders are also presented.
Inter- and Intramolecular Reductive Coupling Reactions: An Approach to the Phorbol Skeleton

An expeditious convergent route to the ABC-tricyclic core of the phorbol esters is described. The chemistry capitalizes upon both inter- and intramolecular reductive coupling processes promoted ele...
Corneal backscatter after penetrating keratoplasty

Purpose: To determine changes in corneal backscatter in clear grafts after penetrating keratoplasty (PK) and in grafts that had failed from late endothelial failure (LEF). Methods: Sixty-one grafts, deemed clear by slit-lamp examination, in 46 patients and 12 grafts with LEF in 11 patients were examined at 1 to 30 years after PK. Backscatter was measured from the anterior, middle and posterior thirds of the cornea from a digitized image of a high magnification slit-beam through the center of the cornea. Clear grafts were compared to grafts with LEF and to 41 normal (unoperated) corneas of 41 subjects by using unpaired t-tests. Photopic low contrast visual acuity (LCVA) was measured in 32 of the clear grafts. Generalized estimating equation models were used to account for correlation between fellow eyes of the same patient. Results: Backscatter was increased by 80%, 49% and 34% in grafts with LEF compared to clear grafts in the anterior (P< 0.001), middle (P< 0.001) and posterior (P= 0.01) thirds of the cornea, respectively. Backscatter was increased by 16%, 18% and 29% in clear grafts compared to normal corneas in the anterior (P< 0.001), middle (P< 0.001) and posterior (P< 0.001) thirds of the cornea, respectively. Backscatter from clear grafts correlated with time after keratoplasty in the anterior (r= 0.23, P= 0.005), middle (r=0.21, P= 0.006) and posterior (r=0.32, P= 0.003) thirds of the cornea. LCVA correlated with backscatter in the anterior (r= -0.63, P< 0.001), middle (r= -0.56, P< 0.001) and posterior (r= -0.51, P= 0.003) thirds of the cornea. Conclusions: Backscatter from penetrating corneal grafts is higher than normal, and substantially higher in grafts with LEF. Backscatter increases with time after keratoplasty, and increased backscatter is associated with decreased LCVA.
Intermediate metabolism of electric tissue in relation to function. III. Oxidation of substrates by tissues of Electrophorus electricus as compared to other vertebrates

Abstract Some aspects of intermediary metabolism of electric tissue of Electrophorus electricus have been studied and compared to that of other tissues of the same species and of other vertebrates. 1. 1. The pathways by which glucose is utilized in electric tissue have been investigated with specifically labeled glucose. The radiochemical yields of carbon dioxide were much higher from G-1-C14 than from G-6-C14, the average ratio being close to 0.2. These results confirm and extend the previous suggestion that a considerable fraction of the carbohydrate used is not metabolized according to the Embden-Meyerhof scheme but by other pathways. 2. 2. Essentially the same results were obtained with electric tissue slices and with intact electroplax. 3. 3. Muscle of electric fish showed average ratios of radiochemical yields similar to those obtained with electric tissue. 4. 4. In contrast, the brain of electric fish not only metabolized glucose at a much higher rate than the other tissues tested, but apparently utilized more nearly exclusively the Embden-Meyerhof route. 5. 5. Muscle slices of another species of fish (carp), a reptile (cayman), a bird (pigeon), and a mammal (rat) also indicate a considerable amount of non-Embden-Meyerhof metabolism, but the diaphragm of the mammal used (rat) appears to utilize the added glucose essentially by the Embden-Meyerhof route. This and the rate of utilization for the diaphragm are in good agreement with the data of other investigators. 6. 6. Under conditions of the present experiments, all of the tissues tested appeared to oxidize much more endogenous substrate to carbon dioxide than added glucose. 7. 7. Malic and succinic acid dehydrogenase activities were also determined on homogenized suspensions of various tissues of the electric fish. The tissues tested—electric organs, liver, heart, and kidney—show appreciable levels of the two enzymes. 8. 8. Glutamic acid dehydrogenase, while present in liver, appears to be virtually absent from electric tissue.
Regulation of biogenic amine methyltransferases by glucocorticoids via S-adenosylmethionine and its metabolizing enzymes, methionine adenosyltransferase and S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase.

Abstract This report examines the possibility that glucocorticoids control the degradation of adrenal phenylethanolamine n-methyltransferase and pineal hydroxyindole O-methyltransferase by regualting endogenous concentrations of the cosubstrate, S-adenosylmethionine, via its metabolic enzymes, methionine adenosyltransferase and S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase. Assays for these latter enzymes were established and optimized in the adrenal and pineal glands. The effects of hypophysextomy and dexamethasone or ACTH treatment on these enzymes were monitored along with concomitant changes in methyltransferase activity. Hypophysectomy simultaneously decreases methionine adenosyltransferase and S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase activity in both tissues. Dexamethasone administration to hypophysectomized animals does not alter either methionine adenosyltransferase activity of S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase activity in the adrenal gland. However, it does increase S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase activity in the pineal gland. In contrast, ACTH administration restores both enzymes in the adrenal while being ineffective in the pineal. These results suggests that glucocorticoids may be regulating S-adenosylmethionine levels and methyltransferase activity via the metabolic enzymes, methionine adenosyltransferase and S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase, but that glucocoticoid control may be both tissue- and drug-specific.
Sorption of solutes by poly(ethylene oxide). I. Infinite-dilution studies

Gas–liquid chromatography was used to study the equilibrium sorption by poly(ethylene oxide) of small amounts of 14 organic solutes and water between 70°C and 150°C at essentially atmospheric pressure. The effect of polymer degradation on the results is discussed and taken into account. Comparison between these results and those of other workers indicates fair agreement.
Use and outcomes of extended antibiotic prophylaxis in urological cancer surgery.

Purpose: Although perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis prevents postoperative infectious complications, national guidelines recommend cessation of antibiotics within 24 hours after the procedure. Extended antibiotic prophylaxis beyond 24 hours may contribute to hospital acquired infections such as Clostridium difficile colitis. We evaluated practice patterns of antibiotic prophylaxis in genitourinary cancer surgery and assessed the impact of antibiotic prophylaxis on hospital acquired C. difficile infections.Materials and Methods: We identified 59,184 patients treated with radical prostatectomy, 27,921 who underwent partial or radical nephrectomy, and 5,425 treated with radical cystectomy for prostate, kidney and bladder cancers, respectively, from the Premier Perspective Database (Premier Inc., Charlotte, North Carolina) from 2007 to 2012. We constructed hierarchical linear regression models to identify patient and hospital factors associated with extended antibiotic prophylaxis. We evaluated the associa...
A New Streak-Tube Design With A High Signal-To-Noise Ratio And Fast Time Response

A new streak tube is in the preliminary design and review phase. Modeled after the newly designed microchannel-plate (MCP)-based x-ray-framing camera at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), this streak tube incorporates an MCP at the light input to amplify the signal before noise is introduced into the system. The signal-to-noise ratio of the streak tube is directly dependent on the gain setting of the MCP and can thus be greater than 1000:1. Temporal resolution will be about 30 ps, and the dynamic range should be greater than 500:1. Another tube of the same design, but employing a photocathode instead of the photocathode/MCP combination, has been studied briefly. With some minor modifications, it should be possible to achieve a dynamic range of about 20 with this version of the design, and to reduce the magnification to about 1 and improve the time response to 150 fs.
Developmental immunology: clinical application to allergy-immunology.

Background An increase in prevalence of allergic diseases has been seen at an unprecedented rate in many countries throughout the world. Associated with this increase in allergic disease has been a disturbing increase in morbidity and mortality of such diseases as asthma despite the availability of several new therapeutic agents over the past 2 to 3 decades. The search for both environmental factors, eg, new allergens, as well as biologic markers of genetic susceptibility, eg, respiratory viruses, has yielded considerable promise for an explanation for this rising prevalence of allergic disease. Objective To present a central unifying hypothesis based upon recent knowledge concerning the developing human immune system and its interaction with external environmental factors, particularly viral infections, as a basis for a clearer understanding of the changing faces of the allergic diseases throughout the lifespan of the individual. Data Sources English language articles were selected from PubMed, as well as selected abstracts that would have immediate, practical clinical implications. Results Review of the current literature strongly suggests a relationship between delayed acquisition of Th 1 function in the allergy-prone infant, not only as a predictive marker of susceptibility to the development of allergic disease but also as an explanation for the unique vulnerability of these infants to viral infection, eg, bronchiolitis. Furthermore, viral infection during early development in the allergy-prone infant appears to facilitate allergic sensitization in early infancy. This interesting triad of immune deficiency, viral infection, and atopic genetic susceptibility may provide a basis for early detection of allergic disease and may offer new intervention strategies for the prevention of allergic and infectious disease in the young infant.
A Bayesian Time-Course Model for Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Data

Abstract Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a new technique for studying the workings of the active human brain. During an fMRI experiment, a sequence of magnetic resonance images is acquired while the subject performs specific behavioral tasks. Changes in the measured signal can be used to identify and characterize the brain activity resulting from task performance. The data obtained from an fMRI experiment are a realization of a complex spatiotemporal process with many sources of variation, both biological and technological. This article describes a nonlinear Bayesian hierarchical model for fMRI data and presents inferential methods that enable investigators to directly target their scientific questions of interest, many of which are inaccessible to current methods. The article describes optimization and posterior sampling techniques to fit the model, both of which must be applied many thousands of times for a single dataset. The model is used to analyze data from a psychological experiment...
Effect of Hemorrhagic Shock on the Phagocytic Function of Kupffer Cells

This report concerns the phagocytic behavior of the Kupffer cells in the rat during hemorrhagic studies by quantitative technics. The rate of clearance (measured by colloidal carbon) was suppressed by 50 per cent after 3 hours. Efficiency of clearance (measured by uptake of radioisotope labeled albumin and chromium phosphate) was likewise markedly below normal. This factor was not due to reduced blood flow through the liver, as evidenced by measurements made 1 hour after blood replacement. Histologic evidence suggests two possibilities: a localized impairment of Kupffer cell activity in the area about the central veins of the lobule, or an abnormal circulation through preferential pathways restricted to the periphery of the liver lobule.
Estimating Unsaturated Hydraulic Functions for Coarse Sediment from a Field-Scale Infiltration Experiment

Conglomeratic alluvial sediments (sand–gravel–cobbles) are common in fluvial, periglacial, and tectonically active regions but have received little attention with respect to unsaturated flow, specifically moisture–tension–conductivity relationships, due to difficulty in making measurements in the field or laboratory and lack of agricultural value. We used a field-scale infiltration experiment, a one-dimensional layered forward model, and parameter estimation modeling to examine in situ flow behavior between residual and partial saturation in a four-layer system under steady infiltration (0.84 cm h −1 ) for 19 h. Prior information from ground-penetrating radar, grain-size distributions from core samples, and long-term tension (ψ) and moisture (θ) monitoring were used to define geologic structure, simulate test behavior, and provide initial parameter estimates. Vertically distributed measurements of ψ( t ) and θ( t ) from the experiment were matched using four parameters (θ s , α, n , and K s ) of the van Genuchten–Mualem (VGM) relationships for each material layer and a Metropolis–Hastings (MH) search with multiple, independent-chain runs to 10 6 samples each. Scale reduction factors indicated convergence of independent chains for 11 of 16 parameters. Final distributions of individual parameters varied from normal to nearly uniform distributions, and some parameter pairs showed high cross-correlation ( R 2 > 0.9). Results showed that (i) VGM relationships can be applied to these coarse, conglomeratic soils to characterize unsaturated flow behavior across the natural range of partial saturation, (ii) even under high sustained infiltration rates, these coarse conglomeratic soils remain well drained, despite relatively low porosity and significant cobble fraction, and (iii) high uncertainty and nonconvergence of MH chains does not lead to significant misfit of the observed data. These findings imply that a significant cobble fraction does not markedly reduce infiltration at low saturation levels that develop under natural recharge conditions.
Wettability estimation of low-permeability, siliceous shale using surface forces

Abstract This work evaluates shale/oil wettability and wettability alteration by solutions whose pH ranges from 3 to 12. The reservoir rocks are siliceous shale that are fractured and low permeability oil-bearing rocks. Wettability alteration is evaluated in terms of estimated thin-film stability, contact angle, and fines migration. Previously, we presented core-scale spontaneous countercurrent imbibition and forced displacement results for the crude oil/brine/rock system. The new surface forces results for stability of wetting films and contact angle compare favorably to the previously measured Amott index to water. The pH = 3 and pH = 12 solutions result in greater water wettability in comparison to neutral pH brine. The possibility of fines migration, that is one of the scenarios of wettability alteration, is explored. Results show that a balance of the surface forces as a function of brine chemistry explains wettability alteration of these siliceous shale samples. The trend of small contact angles for the aqueous phase for basic and alkaline solutions is consistent with the oil recovery characteristics, and fines migration does not trigger wettability alteration for this particular crude oil/brine/rock system.
Experience curve effects in agriculture: An application to tennessee dairy farms

Existence of an experience curve effect for Tennessee dairy farmers was examined using cross-sectional data. The strongest experience effect was found when data was indexed by the farmers' level of production in the inaugural year of farming. There also appeared to be a strong relationship between experience effect and productivity of the dairy herd when first purchased. Using years of experience as a proxy for accumulated output appeared to slightly overstate the experience effect in most cases. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.