cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reordered (Sorted) Spectra. A Tool for Understanding Pattern Recognition Entropy (PRE) and Spectra in General

Pattern Recognition Entropy (PRE) is a summary statistic for comparing and understanding spectra. Here we introduce the concept of the ‘reordered spectrum’ in the context of PRE as an intuitive, visual representation of spectra. The shapes of reordered (sorted) spectra correlate with their PRE values and help explain them. We illustrate these concepts with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) spectra. Reordered spectra should have value beyond PRE for comparing and understanding spectra.
Inclusion of non‐English‐speaking patients in research: A single institution experience

Background Considering the recent increase in medical care provided to patients from foreign countries and the diversity of languages spoken by families living within the United States, it is important to determine whether non-English-speaking patients have access to participate in clinical research from which they may benefit. Aims We aimed to determine the number of non-English-speaking patients presenting to Boston Children's Hospital for medical care between 2011 and 2016, the number of clinical research protocols active within the Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine approved to enroll non-English-speaking patients, as well as the number of both non-English- and English-speaking patients approached and enrolled in these studies. Furthermore, we attempted to determine barriers that may have prevented non-English-speaking patients from inclusion in clinical research. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of various data sources during a 5-year period. Data included the number of non-English-speaking patients presenting to Boston Children's Hospital for care as well as the number of English- and non-English-speaking patients approached for studies at the Department of Anesthesiology each year. Additionally, we reviewed data from the IRB which included the justification that research teams provided when opting to exclude non-English-speaking participants. In addition, we attempted to determine the barriers that may have prevented these patients from inclusion in research protocols. Results We found that the number of non-English-speaking patients presenting to Boston Children's Hospital increased over time. However, the number of studies approved to enroll non-English-speaking patients within the Department of Anesthesiology and the rate of enrollment of these patients did not increase at the same rate. Conclusion In order to increase the number of non-English-speaking patients approached to participate in research, we must improve cultural awareness and provide investigators with resources for interpreter and translation services.
Relation of Environmental Tobacco Smoke to Diet and Health Habits: Variations According to the Site of Exposure

Abstract It has been postulated that the relationship of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure to cancer or cardiovascular diseases may be confounded by social class or diet because women exposed to ETS by their smoker spouse belong to lower social classes and have an unhealthy diet. In a population survey in Geneva, Switzerland, 914 female never-smokers were interviewed about sociodemographic factors, health habits including a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire, and exposure to ETS according to the site (home, work, leisure). Compared to women unexposed to ETS, those exposed to ETS at work ate less fibers, cereals, vegetables, lean meat, had a lower intake of iron and beta-carotene, and had a lower total energy intake; women exposed during leisure time ate less cereals, drank less skim milk, and had a lower intake of complex carbohydrates. But the diet of women exposed at home did not differ from the diet of those unexposed to ETS. Thus, “living with a smoker” in Geneva does not necessarily imply adopting his health and dietary habits. We conclude that confounding factors of the association of ETS and disease vary according to site and populations and therefore should not be invoked as a systematic source of bias in all studies.
LOW BACKGROUND LIQUID SCINTILLATION COUNTERS

Abstract Counting low level radioactive samples with a liquid scintillation counter requires optimized calibration for low background response, high counting efficiency and maximum counter stability. Instrument background count rate can be reduced by almost an order of magnitude without loss in counting efficiency through the use of special sample counting vials and selective choice of minimum sample-cocktail volume. Counter stability can be enhanced by operating the counter in a balance point mode of counting. Electronic background noise can be diminished through the use of faster coincidence timing and selection of matched low dark current noise photomultiplier tubes. Background caused from external radiation can be lowered through the use of an anticoincidence guard and additional massive shielding. The purpose of this paper is to discuss these means and the results of their application to optimizing liquid scintillation counters for low level counting.
A search for macroangiopathy in patients with latent diabetes.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses macroangiopathy in patients with latent diabetes. In an experiment described in the chapter, the results of the initial diagnostic glucose tolerance tests performed on patients aged 9–17 at diagnosis were shown. The results of the highest glucose tolerance tests obtained in these subjects were presented. Plasma levels of insulin for 15 of these patients who were nonobese were also presented. After administration of glucose, the diabetic group exhibited a significantly subnormal increase in plasma insulin. The mean sum of increments in plasma insulin above fasting levels for all six intervals of the test was significantly less than for control subjects. Results of the glucose tolerance tests performed on patients aged 18–25 years at diagnosis were shown. The mean increase in plasma insulin in 21 of these patients who were nonobese was delayed. 17 of these 21 patients had subnormal levels similar to those of younger patients, while 4 showed responses which, although delayed in reaching peak levels, were greater than the mean response of control subjects.
On a Family of Selfcomplementary Graphs

Let X be a selfcomplementary graph, J its complementing permutation and F = {Y x | V(X)} a family of graphs such that Y x = Y J(x) for all ɛ V(X). Then the generalized X-join of F is a selfcomplementary graph.
Stability Results for Some Higher-Order Difference Equations

The main motivation of this chapter comes from Diagana et al. [58], in which not only a basic theory for almost periodic sequences on \(\mathbb{Z}_{+}\) was introduced and studied but also discrete dichotomy techniques were utilized to find various sufficient conditions for the existence of globally attracting almost periodic solutions to some first-order nonautonomous system of difference equations. Furthermore, Diagana et al. [58] subsequently applied their abstract results to study discretely reproducing populations with and without overlapping generations.
The Enchantment Effect: A Semiotics of Boundary and Profit

Central to market transactions and capitalism more generally is an orientation to boundary—mine/not-yours. What is the nature of that boundary? This chapter proposes that, while dependent upon lower-level semiotic processes, the boundary is ultimately a matter of enchantment, in which accepted patterns of discourse make mine/not-yours distinctions appear to be part of the natural order of things. More than simply naturalizing property distinctions in a static manner, however, discursive enchantment renders some types of property both desirable and acquirable under the right circumstances. Moreover, change is introduced as new patterns of discourse take shape, spreading out in waves that modify older patterns of enchantment.
Interstitial Nephritis Presenting as Acute Kidney Injury Following Ingestion of Alternative Medicine Containing Lead: A Case Report.

Introduction: Some studies have shown that patients consuming alternate medicine can suffer from complications like acute kidney injury (AKI) due to heavy metal poisoning. The use of traditional ayurvedic herbal remedies may be difficult to identify as a source of toxicity, especially if the treating doctor is not aware of this habit, unless a detailed history is taken. In this report, we describe a patient who had consumed ayurvedic supplements for treating fever and abdominal pain and presented to our emergency department (ED) with AKI. Case presentation: A 24-year-old male presented to the ED with complaints of abdominal pain, fever and loose stools. His blood tests revealed AKI and he was started on emergency hemodialysis. His renal function improved after only one cycle of dialysis and he was discharged in a stable condition. Conclusion: Acute lead toxicity should be suspected in patients with abdominal and neurological dysfunction who have a history of chronic ayurvedic medicine intake and thus should be promptly treated. Physicians should rule out potential toxicity from these supplements and have a heightened level of suspicion for lead toxicity in patients presenting with abdominal pain and AKI without any obvious cause.
Characteristics of Persons Who Inject Drugs with Recent HIV Infection in the United States: National HIV Behavioral Surveillance, 2012.

We evaluated characteristics associated with recent HIV infection among persons who inject drugs (PWID) from 19 U.S. cities who participated in 2012 National HIV Behavioral Surveillance. Recent infection was defined as having a reactive HIV test, a Bio-Rad Avidity index cutoff ≤ 30%, no reported HIV diagnosis ≥ 12 months before interview, and no evidence of viral suppression. Of 8667 PWID, 50 (0.6%) were recently HIV infected. Having a greater number of sex partners (≥ 2 partners vs. 0) [prevalence ratio (PR) 4.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3–17.8], injecting heroin and other drugs (PR 3.0, 95% CI 1.3–6.6) or exclusively non-heroin drugs (PR 5.9, 95% CI 1.7–20.7) compared to injecting only heroin, and having male–male sex in the past year (PR 7.1, 95% CI 3.0–16.6) were associated with recent infection. Promoting not only safe injection practices but also safe sex practices will be key to preventing new HIV infections.
Marx’s Ideas and Conceptions of Socialism in the Twenty-First Century

The failure of the statist models of socialism poses a challenge to socialists in conceiving a feasible non-statist model. In taking up the challenge, guided by Marx’s ideas that (i) socialism will be the outcome of the struggles of the working classes in response to their capitalist conditions of existence; and (ii) its two pillars are “social property” and “conscious social regulation,” which ensure its superiority over capitalism, the defining feature of the contemporary financial capitalism (the separation between ownership and operation of working conditions) together with Marx’s two concepts underlying the two pillars (“the republican association of free and equal producers” and “the equal right”) are taken into consideration, and a framework of socializing economic activities grounding a non-statist model of socialism is suggested, whose ontological foundation (the Marxian associations) and operational logic, guided by socialist norms and regulated by the Marxian associations, are different from that of capitalism.
Evaluating the use of variation graphs for the characterisation of yeast rDNA arrays

Over the past decade, we have gained considerable insight into the identification of sequence variation within the rDNA array of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and its closest wild relative, Saccharomyces paradoxus. Yet considerable challenges remain in the computational characterisation of this complex genomic region. This study aimed to evaluate the use of variation graphs for this purpose, formally comparing their effectiveness with traditional linear approaches. Specifically, we aimed to identify both partial and fixed variants (i.e. pSNPs, SNPs, pINDELs and INDELs) in the rDNA arrays of 10 diverse, haploid Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains with high quality genomic datasets. We constructed two computational pipelines using two highly different approaches. The first pipeline used the BWA read mapper and the BCFtools variant caller to identify variants against the linear S288c reference, with the second pipeline using the vg tool to call variants against a graphical reference (either based on a graphical representation of the S288c genome or a Saccharomyces cerevisiae pan-genome). The results showed that the graph-based pipeline was able to identify more variants than the linear pipeline, and in particular partial variants, while also missing some key variants identified by BWA/BCFtools. A major discrepancy between the two pipelines was found in the read coverage at loci where the vg pipeline identified variants. In the coming months, we aim to investigate the cause of these differences and to develop a new graph-based computational pipeline that can accurately identify the full range of sequence and copy number variation within this key genomic region.
Cefoxitin-Serum Creatinine Interference in a Patient With Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Ventriculomeningitis.

Cefoxitin is a second-generation cephamycin antibiotic, which at concentrations ≥100 µg/mL is known to modestly interfere, for up to 2 hours post-infusion, with serum creatinine measurement via the...
Temperature gradient along superfluid 4 He films in the presence of superflow

We have measured the nonlinear thermal conductance of a thin film of $^{4}\mathrm{He}$ as a function of temperature and heater power for a fixed film thickness. When heat transfer through the gas is included we obtain a qualitative understanding of the data in terms of Kosterlitz-Thouless theory as extended to finite superflow by Ambegaokar et al. The exponent in the power law relating conductance and heater power exhibits the universal jump at ${T}_{c}$ predicted by its simple relationship to the areal superfluid density.
Systemic therapy for patients with breast cancer and one to three brain metastases (BM).

1090Background: Despite advances in systemic therapies and improved overall survival of metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients, the development of brain metastases (BMs) remains a challenging comp...
Controlling Magnetization Vector Depth Profiles of La0.7Sr0.3CoO3/La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 Exchange Spring Bilayers via Interface Reconstruction.

The La0.7Sr0.3CoO3-δ/La0.7Sr0.3MnO3-δ (LSCO/LSMO) bilayer system is an ideal perovskite oxide platform for investigating interface reconstruction and its effect on their magnetic properties. Previous studies have shown that LSCO can separate into magnetic sublayers, which possess distinct trends as the total LSCO thickness increases. In this study, we used polarized neutron reflectometry to quantify changes in the magnetic and chemical depth profiles, and it confirms the formation of ∼12 A-thick interfacial LSCO and LSMO layers, characterized by a decreased nuclear scattering length density compared to the bulk of the layers. This decrease is attributed to the combined effects of oxygen vacancy formation and interfacial charge transfer, which lead to magnetically active Co2+ ions with ionic radii larger than the Co3+/Co4+ ions typically found in bulk LSCO or single-layer films. The interfacial magnetization values, as well as Co2+ ion and oxygen vacancy concentrations, depend strongly on the LSCO layer thickness. These results highlight the sensitive interplay of the cation valence states, oxygen vacancy concentration, and magnetization at interfaces in perovskite oxide multilayers, demonstrating the potential to tune their functional properties via careful design of their structure.
A Novel Solution to Biased Data in COVID-19 Incidence Studies

Complete novelty and uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic have created many challenging scientific problems, including biased data arising from a lack of random
Patient expectations and perceived social support related to return to sport after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in adolescent athletes.

Abstract Objective Examine the relationship between pre-operative competitive status and return to sport expectations post-operatively among adolescents undergoing ACL reconstruction. Assess the association between perceived levels of social support and doubts in returning to sport after ACL reconstruction. Design Cross-sectional. Setting Outpatient sports medicine clinic at a single institution. Participants 12–18 years old with an ACL tear who were planning to undergo ACL reconstruction. Main outcome measures Psychovitality questionnaire responses and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) questionnaire scores. Results 86% of participants expected to return to sports in six months or less after surgery; there was no significant difference in expected time to return to sport between competitive vs. recreational athletes. Competitive athletes were less likely to be content returning to a lower activity level after surgery compared to recreational athletes. There were no significant differences in MSPSS scores between those who did and did not report doubts in their ability to return to their previous sports. Conclusion Most of our adolescent athlete population expected to return to sport after ACL reconstruction within six months of surgery. Those with and without doubts in their ability to return to sports did not significantly differ in levels of perceived social support.
Psychosocial interventions to reduce eating pathology in bariatric surgery patients: a systematic review.

Bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment for severe obesity; however, a subset of patients experience suboptimal outcomes. Psychosocial interventions that address eating pathology may ameliorate negative consequences, although their efficacy has not been examined. Thus, a systematic review to evaluate the impact of psychosocial randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on eating pathology in adults pre and post-bariatric surgery was conducted. Six scientific databases were searched for psychosocial trials assessing eating pathology as an outcome. Ten RCTs representing seven distinct interventions were identified (i.e., four preoperative and six postoperative). Trials utilized cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based approaches, acceptance-based treatment, motivational interviewing, and psychoeducational interventions. Findings provide initial support for reducing eating pathology pre and postoperatively in the short-term (i.e., 6 months); however, the small number of RCTs and heterogeneity among postoperative trials made it difficult to draw conclusions. Additional longitudinal studies are needed to determine the long-term impact of psychosocial interventions that address eating pathology in bariatric surgery patients endorsing significant eating pathology.
Social-Ecological Resilience and Sustainability, Chapter 3

Resilience and sustainability provide analytical frameworks to help understand and address new, changing, and complex economic, environmental, and social systems. These frameworks provide new and innovative ways to explain complex systems and in turn rethink traditional notions of law and policy. This book will help students learn about and utilize resilience and sustainability theories and principles by introducing resilience and sustainability as analytical frameworks and illustrating how these concepts apply in various contexts including: water, food, shelter/land use, energy, natural resources, pollution, disaster law, and climate change. While the authors do not intend this book to teach all of the law and policy of the various contexts, the book is sufficiently comprehensive to serve as a survey course for those schools who do not have the teaching resources, or the student demand, to offer separate courses for each area of the law and policy we address. Chapter 3 facilitates the assessment of R&S by describing the basic need for water, and the large role in plays in R&S.
Experimental Validation of a Hybrid Storage Framework to Cope With Fluctuating Power of Hybrid Renewable Energy-Based Systems

The technology of supercapacitor is vastly examined by researchers to cope with a lower power density of battery. It is validated that a hybrid battery-supercapacitor storage (HBSS) framework can improve the overall efficiency due to taking advantage of battery's higher energy density and supercapacitor's higher power density. Despite the extensive investigations on this hybrid storage scheme in the electric vehicle (EV) industry, its experimental implementation in the power grid to cope with non-dispatchable nature of wind and solar energy is still in its initial stages. As a result, this paper concentrates on analysis of its experimental implementation on a lab-scale hybrid microgrid located at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, USA containing two wind turbines and two photovoltaic (PV) modules. The objective of this work is to promote the utilization of the experimentally validated lab-scale HBSS in power industry.
Gender-oriented statistical discrimination: Aggregate fertility, economic sector, and earnings among young Chinese workers

Abstract Previous studies usually attribute residual gender pay gap net of human capital, job characteristics, and family responsibilities to discrimination against women, without directly exploring the underlying discriminatory mechanisms that generate gender inequalities in the labor market. By applying and extending a previously developed statistical discrimination model to post-socialist urban China, we examine the association between period age-specific fertility rate (ASFR), as a proxy for the likelihood of women taking maternity leave, and the earnings of young working women and men, as well as its variation across economic sectors. Using data compiled from a random sample of the 2005 one-percent mini-census of the People’s Republic of China, our analyses reveal gender-asymmetric associations between ASFR and earnings among young workers before their prime fertility age, where ASFR on average was negatively related to the earnings among young women, but not among young men. Moreover, such negative association was limited primarily to female workers in the private sector, negligible in state-owned and collective enterprises, and even reversed to positive among those working in government agencies and public institutions. Our findings suggest that employers in the private sector may use aggregate fertility to “evaluate” potential training and replacement costs and the productivity of female employees associated with maternity leave, thereby reinforcing and perpetuating stereotypes and discrimination against women in the workplace.
Expression, characterization, and tissue distribution of a new cellular selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase, GSHPx-Gi

We have characterized a new selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase, GSHPx-GI, by expressing a GSHPx-GI cDNA isolated from human hepatoma HepG2 cells in human mammary carcinoma MCF-7 cells, which have virtually undetectable expression of either the classical cellular enzyme, GSHPx-1, or GSHPx-GI at the protein level. One of the G418-resistant clones, neo-D1, expresses the transfected GSHPx-GI cDNA. This is based on 1) the presence of an additional GSHPx-GI DNA restriction fragment detected by Southern analysis; 2) the presence of a 1.9-kilobase (kb) GSHPx-GI mRNA in addition to the 1.0-kb endogenous mRNA by Northern analysis; and 3) the appearance of a 22-kDa 75Se-labeled protein which is absent in parental MCF-7 cells revealed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. GSHPx-GI expressed in neo-D1 is a tetrameric protein localized in cytosol. GSHPx-GI does not cross-react with antisera against human GSHPx-1 or human plasma glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx-P). Similar substrate specificities are found for GSHPx-1 and GSHPx-GI; they both catalyze the reduction of H2O2, tert-butyl hydroperoxide, cumene hydroperoxide, and linoleic acid hydroperoxide with glutathione, but not of phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxide. GSHPx-GI mRNA was readily detected in human liver and colon, and occasionally in human breast samples, but not other human tissues including kidney, heart, lung, placenta, or uterus. In rodent tissues, GSHPx-GI mRNA is only detected in the gastrointestinal tract, and not in other tissues including liver. In fact, GSHPx-GI appears to be the major glutathione-dependent peroxidase activity in rodent GI tract. This finding suggests that GSHPx-GI could play a major role in protecting mammals from the toxicity of ingested lipid hydroperoxides. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that GSHPx-GI is the fourth member in the selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase family, in addition to GSHPx-1, GSHPx-P, and phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPX).
A Robust Method for Edge-Preserving Image Smoothing

Image smoothing is a critical preprocessing step in many image processing tasks. In this paper, a generalized edge-preserving smoothing model is derived from robust statistics theory, and its connections to anisotropic diffusion and bilateral filtering are established. The relationships allow us to derive an improved numerical scheme in the context of a robust estimation process for edge preserving smoothing. Experiments illustrate that the proposed smoothing algorithm is capable of effectively reducing the distracting effects of noise without sacrificing image edge structures. The robust edge-preserving smoothing method performs several dB better in terms of PSNR compared to anisotropic diffusion, bilateral filtering and the Bayes least squares Gaussian scale mixtures a wavelet-based methods for image enhancement.
Business data communications

Teach networking your way. Modular design lets you tailor material to your personal teaching approach. The printed text has 11 core chapters plus 10 advanced modules. Additional readings as the book's website give you more basic material plus hot-off-the-press information. Can serve as one-quarter course, but enough material for a two-semester course.
Physical properties and binding capacity of testosterone-estradiol-binding globulin in human plasma, determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

Abstract Testosterone-estradiol-binding globulin in human plasma was characterized and quantified by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Testosterone and estradiol were shown to bind to a single homogeneous protein over a wide range of experimental conditions. Testosterone binding to cortisol-binding globulin (transcortin) and estradiol binding to albumin were clearly demonstrated; both transcortin and albumin were separated from testosterone-estradiol-binding globulin by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, as was transferrin, a serum protein similar to testosterone-estradiol-binding globulin with respect to size and charge. The molecular, radius, apparent molecular weight, and net charge of testosterone-estradiol-binding globulin were obtained at three different pH values at 0°. A molecular radius of 2.95 nm was estimated and a molecular weight of 98,000 was computed with the use of a partial specific volume of 0.66. These values were independent of the presence or absence of ligand and were also obtained in urea concentrations up to 4 m. Testosterone-estradiol-binding globulin capacity was routinely determined with 5α-dihydrotestosterone-5H as a ligand because of its high affinity for the protein. Binding capacities in plasma expressed as micrograms of steroid bound per 100 ml were men, 0.49 ± 0.04 (S.E.); women, 1.42 ± 0.22; pregnancy, 10.91 ± 0.74; estrogen-treated women, 10.70 ± 1.04. The usefulness of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis for the study of steroid-binding and other binding proteins in biological fluids or tissues is discussed.
Helium-3: Status and Prospects

We report on our continuing efforts to determine 3He abundances in H II regions and planetary nebulae. Our detections of 3He in some PNe show that some stars produce large amounts of 3He. However the H II region abundances show no evidence for this production. From our sample of > 40 H II regions, the subsample which should yield the most reliable abundances has 3He/H abundances which scatter between 1–2 × 10−5. There is no trend with either galactocentric distance or metallicity. Even if we do not understand the underlying mechanisms, we see empirically that stars neither produce nor destroy 3He in a major way. We thus suggest that the level of the “3He Plateau” (3He/H = 1.5 −0.5 +1.0 × 10−5) is a reasonable estimate for the primordial 3He.
A UNIVERSAL MODEL FOR NON-PROCEDURAL DATABASE LANGUAGES

We propose a language which can express every computable query. The language is syntactically based on the first-order predicate calculus, but semantically is interpreted as post-conditions, unlike the customary calculus query languages. The language has a capability to restrict itself to reasonable queries, accepting criteria of reasonability as a parameter.
The napF and narG Nitrate Reductase Operons in Escherichia coli Are Differentially Expressed in Response to Submicromolar Concentrations of Nitrate but Not Nitrite

Escherichia coli synthesizes two biochemically distinct nitrate reductase enzymes, a membrane-bound enzyme encoded by the narGHJI operon and a periplasmic cytochrome c-linked nitrate reductase encoded by the napFDAGHBC operon. To address why the cell makes these two enzymes, continuous cell culture techniques were used to examine napF and narG gene expression in response to different concentrations of nitrate and/or nitrite. Expression of the napF-lacZ and narG-lacZ reporter fusions in strains grown at different steady-state levels of nitrate revealed that the two nitrate reductase operons are differentially expressed in a complementary pattern. The napF operon apparently encodes a "low-substrate-induced" reductase that is maximally expressed only at low levels of nitrate. Expression is suppressed under high-nitrate conditions. In contrast, the narGHJI operon is only weakly expressed at low nitrate levels but is maximally expressed when nitrate is elevated. The narGHJI operon is therefore a "high-substrate-induced" operon that somehow provides a second and distinct role in nitrate metabolism by the cell. Interestingly, nitrite, the end product of each enzyme, had only a minor effect on the expression of either operon. Finally, nitrate, but not nitrite, was essential for repression of napF gene expression. These studies reveal that nitrate rather than nitrite is the primary signal that controls the expression of these two nitrate reductase operons in a differential and complementary fashion. In light of these findings, prior models for the roles of nitrate and nitrite in control of narG and napF expression must be reconsidered.
512: Evidence for participation of the acute phase reactive protein haptoglobin (Hp) in pathophysiologic events related to preterm birth (PTB)

reactive protein haptoglobin (Hp) in pathophysiologic events related to preterm birth (PTB) Megan McCarthy, John Hardy, Antonette Dulay, Christine Laky, Ramesha Papanna, Catalin Buhimschi, Irina Buhimschi Yale University, Ob/Gyn & Reprod. Sci., New Haven, CT OBJECTIVE: Hp plays key immunoregulatory roles. Its gene is polymorphic with evidence of functionally distinct phenotypes (Hp1-1, Hp2-1, Hp2-2). Fetal Hp is not expressed in utero unless an inflammatory response to infection is triggered. Given that in sepsis Hp has a vascular endothelial prostaglandin (PG) inhibitory effect, we hypothesized that when expressed, fetal Hp modulates placental biosynthesis of PG and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and that this effect is phenotype dependent. STUDY DESIGN: Placentas from pregnancies complicated by PTB (n 11, GA: 26 3wks) were immunostained and scored for intensity of Hp expression. Histological chorioamnionitis (HCA) was present in 6 of 11 cases. Placental Hp gene expression was evaluated by RTPCR. Cord blood was obtained in all cases, and fetal Hp switch-on and phenotype status was determined by Western blotting. A villous trophoblast explant system (term elective CS, n 5) was used to investigate the effect of Hp phenotypes 1-1 and 2-2 on PGE2 and MMP9 biosynthesis in the presence and absence of LPS (50 ng/mL). Hp dose (10 ug/mL) mimicked fetal circulating level when exposed to infection. HEK-Blue LPS Detection Kit ruled-out LPS contamination of purified Hp. PGE2 and MMP9 were quantified by ELISA. RESULTS: There was positive Hp immunoreactivity within the vascular fetal spaces of all cases with HCA (n 6). There was no significant difference in the Hp gene expression level between placentas with and without HCA. In vitro, in the absence of LPS, Hp1-1 did not alter the release of PGE2 or MMP9, while Hp 2-2 exhibited an inhibitory effect (P .05). In the presence of LPS both Hp phenotypes upregulated PGE2 release (2-fold over the LPS level, P .05), while MMP9 biosynthesis remained unaffected. CONCLUSION: We provide evidence that in the presence of endotoxin, Hp stimulates placental PGE2 biosynthesis in a phenotype-specific manner, implying that this protein could play a role in infectioninduced PTB.
Ethylene from 2-keto-4-thiomethyl butyric acid: the Haber-Weiss reaction.

Abstract 2-Keto-4-thiomethyl butyric acid is cooxidized, with production of ethylene, by the xanthine oxidase reaction. Ethylene production was inhibited by either superoxide dismutase or catalase indicating an essential role for both O 2 − and H 2 O 2 . Ethylene production was dependent upon iron complexes, while a variety of other metals were found ineffective. At pH 7.8 ethylenediaminetetraacetate-iron was much more effective in facilitating ethylene production, in the xanthine oxidase system, than was diethylenetriaminepentaacetate-iron; yet these two chelates were equally effective in ethylene production dependent upon the Fenton reaction. pH was an important variable in determining the activity of iron chelates in facilitating ethylene production in the xanthine oxidase system. The effectiveness of hydroxyl radical scavengers, in preventing ethylene production, was directly related to their abilities to scavenge OH · and this was the case in the presence of any of the several chelating agents tested. The proximal oxidant, responsible for ethylene production, thus appears to be OH ·, rather than some metal-oxy complex.
EFFECT OF VITAMIN E ON THE IMMUNE RESPONSE TO INFLUENZA VIRUS VACCINE AND THE INCIDENCE OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE IN MAN

Dietary antioxidants may ameliorate the increasing susceptibility to infectious disease with age as they have been shown to enhance both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. To evaluate this possibility, the effect of vitamin E at 0, 200 mg and 400 mg per day was determined on the humoral responses by 103 patients (aged 24–104) in a chronic care facility to a polyvalent influenza virus vaccine (Fluogen) and concurrently on the incidence of pulmonary, urinary tract and other infections.
The Darwin -Wallace myth of 1858

A careful reading of the 1858 papers by Charles Darwin and Alfred R. Wallace reveals that Wallace did not present a complete nomological theory of evolution and cannot be considered a co-discover of the theory of evolution by natural selection. Darwin must have misinterpreted Wallace’s manuscript and became paranoid that Wallace came up with the same detailed theory he conceived and worked on for more than two decades. Darwin biased both Hooker and Lyell about Wallace having presented exactly the same theory that he had been developing for the past two decades, and they further biased readers of the published papers. The central point in Wallace’s paper was that modifications observed under domestication are not true evolutionary changes as they reverted back to the original condition if the domesticated form became feral. This forms the origin of the myth that both Darwin and Wallace discovered the theory of evolution by natural selection. Wallace did advocate the cause of selective agents, but not the other essential causes for phyletic evolution. Charles Darwin alone must be credited with the development of this new paradigm of biological evolution which proved to be one of the major changes in human thinking.
Revision of the Kosicki-Paul model for resonant and bound states in n-GaSb(Se) from hydrostatic pressure measurements☆

Abstract Hall effect, resistivity, and Shubnikov-de Haas results are discussed with respect to the existence of possible resonant states above the Γ 1 band edge in n -GaSb(Se). It is suggested that at helium temperatures, the states determining the Fermi energy lie much closer to the L 1 band edge than the states which account for the pressure dependent behavior in the range 77–300 K.
Esophagectomy for end-stage achalasia

Achalasia is a disease for which treatments are palliative in nature. Success of therapy is judged by a number of metrics, the most important being relief of symptoms, such as dysphagia and regurgitation. Patients often compensate for symptoms though a variety of dietary and lifestyle modifications, making symptomatic assessment of therapeutic outcome unreliable. Given this fact, and the progressive nature of the condition if left inadequately treated, patients not infrequently present with the disabling manifestations of end-stage disease for which esophagectomy is the best option. In appropriately selected patients, and when performed in experienced centers, esophagectomy with foregut reconstruction can be undertaken successfully with acceptable rates of morbidity and mortality, as well as a good long-term symptomatic outcome, in cases of end-stage achalasia.
Impact of Living Alone on the Care and Outcomes of Patients With Acute Stroke

Background and Purpose—Outcomes among patients living alone at stroke onset could be directly affected by reduced access to acute therapies or indirectly through the effects of social isolation. We examined the associations between living alone at home and acute stroke care and outcomes in the Registry of the Canadian Stroke Network. Methods—Between 2003 and 2008, 10 048 patients with acute stroke (87% ischemic, 13% hemorrhagic) who were living at home were admitted to 11 Ontario hospitals. Outcomes included arrival ≤2.5 hours of onset, thrombolytic treatment, discharge home, 30-day and 1-year mortality, and 1-year readmission. The effects of living alone versus living with others were determined using multivariable logistic regression. Results—Overall, 22.8% (n=2288) of patients were living alone at home before stroke. Subjects living alone were significantly older (mean, 74.6 versus 71.5 years), more likely to be women (61.5% versus 41.4%), widowed (53.7% versus 12.3%), or single (21.5% versus 3.8%). Pa...
Two early Proterozoic successions in central Wisconsin and their tectonic significance

Geological mapping of 7,500 km 2 of previously virtually unmapped Precambrian rocks in central Wisconsin suggests the presence of two early Proterozoic sedimentary-volcanic-plutonic successions. Evidence for the two successions includes structural, stratigraphic, metamorphic, and lithologic relations that are consistent throughout the area. The older succession unconformably overlies Archean rocks. It is characterized by amphibolite-facies metamorphism, folding about west- to northwest-plunging isoclinal (F-1) fold axes with more open, coaxial F-2 folding. Basal quartzite and pelitic sediments of the older succession are overlain by volcanic rocks and intruded by syntectonic tonalite, granodiorite, and trondhjemite plutons. The younger succession consists primarily of a greenschist-facies calc-alkaline basalt-rhyolite sequence that unconformably overlies the older amphibolite-facies rocks. Structures in the greenschist sequence trend northeasterly with fold axes that plunge easterly. The plutonic rocks are dominantly syntectonic to late tectonic granites and quartz monzonites with only minor tonalite. In most areas, the two successions have been juxtaposed along major faults. The older amphibolitic sequence may correlate with the Chocolay Group farther north in the Lake Superior region, and the younger green-schist rocks with the Menominee and/or Baraga Groups. If this correlation is correct, the deformation, metamorphism, and intrusion of the green-schist succession would have occurred during the Penokean Orogeny. Metamorphism to amphibole rank, isoclinal folding, and tonalite intrusion of the older succession would be a major pre-Penokean erogenic event within the early Proterozoic that may correlate with the post-Chocolay-pre-Menominee break in northern Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. We suggest that this earlier event has been unrecognized and that it may be a significant part of the early Proterozoic history of the Lake Superior region.
Acoustic Imagery in Children's Phonetically Mediated Recall

In previous work (Locke, in press) 4-yr.-old Ss who were presented pictorial stimuli recalled pictures whose labels rhymed more accurately than pictures with nonrhyming labels. Failure to observe similar list differences in the recall of 3- to 5-yr.-old children in other work (Conrad, in press) was attributed to an absence of speech mediation. The present study questioned whether young Ss' absence of phonetic mediation effects also was explainable as the result of a specific inability to match whatever acoustic images might be elicited by pictorial stimuli. Of the 20 Ss seen previously, 16 were seen again 24 days later, this time being asked to identify which of the task (pictorial) stimuli “sounded alike.” Ss with superior recall of pictures with rhyming labels also were significantly more accurate in identifying rhymes than Ss whose recalls of rhyming and nonrhyming series were essentially equal, suggesting that children's phonetic mediation may be a function, at least in part, of their ability to form ...
Flow birefringence study of sharkskin and stress relaxation in polybutadiene melts

In this paper we report rheo-optical and rheological observations made through a transparent slit die attached to a capillary rheometer. We find that the flow birefringence signal oscillates periodically near the die exit when sharkskin-like extrudate distortion is present. In contrast, steady behavior is observed in the die inland region. Specifically, the flow birefringence varies at the die exit with a period identical to that measured directly from the sharkskin extrudate. We also show that the exit flow instability leading to sharkskin can be observed directly through cross-polarizers in terms of the temporal change of the retardation order. We demonstrate that the same kind of interfacial flow instability can occur at a boundary discontinuity within the die land where the upper portion of a clean die wall meets the lower portion of a polysiloxane-coated die wall. Finally, stress relaxation upon the cessation of the slit die flow of two polybutadiene melts is studied through time-dependent flow birefringence measurements. The stress relaxation is then correlated with sharkskin time scales to describe the role of relaxation in sharkskin ridge formation.
Energy Industry Executives Call for Looser Government Regulations

The polar vortex blast of Arctic air brought record-breaking frigid temperatures across parts of the United States last January. It also caused peak electricity loads across parts of the country and almost forced one of the nation's largest electric utilities to shut off power to some customers to keep most of its system running.
Impact of patient mutations on heterodimer formation and function in human galactose-1-P uridylyltransferase.

Impairment of the human enzyme galactose-1-P uridylyltransferase (hGALT) results in the potentially lethal disorder, galactosemia. One of the fundamental questions with regard to this dimeric enzyme involves the possible influence of patient mutations on heterodimer formation and activity. Indeed, considering that many if not most galactosemia patients are compound heterozygotes, this is an issue of clinical as well as basic science interest. We have utilized a yeast expression system for the human enzyme to test whether each of a small number of mutations in hGALT (S135L, F171S, F171W, Q188R, N314D, and R333W) impact either heterodimer formation or function. Our results clearly demonstrate that while a majority of the alleles tested show precisely random patterns of subunit assortment, two deviate slightly but significantly from this pattern. Similarly, while some heterodimers exhibit apparent independence of subunit activity, others do not. These data not only demonstrate that common patient mutations in hGALT can influence both heterodimer formation and function in heterozygotes, they further raise the question of whether such interactions may also occur between different mutant alleles in compound heterozygotes (i.e., patients). Indeed, such influences may underlie some of the biochemical and clinical heterogeneity observed in the galactosemia patient population.
Oximeter Performance: The Influence of Acquisition Parameters

Study objective This study was designed to determine whether different desaturation indexes (DIs) would be obtained in patients with sleep-disordered breathing by systematically altering two acquisition parameters: the recording setting and the display mode. Design Prospective clinical study. Setting Community sleep-disorders center. Patients The study included 75 patients who were suspected of having sleep-disordered breathing. Interventions Each patient had simultaneous pulse oxyhemoglobin saturation (Sp o 2 ) traces at three recording settings (3 s, 6 s, and 12 s) during the diagnostic phase of split-night polysomnography. On-line and memory displays of those data at each recording setting were obtained. DIs for ≥ 3% desaturation events per hour were calculated for each of the six traces. Results The mean on-line DIs significantly differed from each other, with slower (longer) recording settings resulting in lower values than faster (shorter) settings. The memory DIs all significantly underestimated the on-line DIs. Pearson correlations ranged from 0.82 to 0.90 between the on-line/memory DI pairs, but Bland-Altman analysis detected disagreement at higher levels of disordered breathing. Conclusions These findings confirm that significantly different Sp o 2 data are obtained at various acquisition options. The recording setting and display mode parameters should be disclosed in all reports employing oximetry with the fastest recording setting and on-line display mode preferable for case finding of sleep-disordered breathing.
Substance P-like immunoreactivity in cerebellar mossy fibers and terminals in the red-eared turtle, Chrysemys scripta elegans.

Abstract Using immunohistochemical methods, a population of mossy fibers and terminals with Substance P-like immunoreactivity has been observed in the cerebellum of the turtle, Chrysemys scripta elegans . The immunoreactive axons of mossy fibers can be traced into the granule cell layer of the cerebellum from a distinct bundle of axons with Substance P-like immunoreactivity in the tegmentum. Their terminals are most numerous in the rostrolateral part of the cerebellum. The mossy fiber terminals and their axons do not stain in control sections treated with antisera blocked with synthetic Substance P or in sections processed for enkephalin-like immunoreactivity. The cells of origin of the immunoreactive mossy fibers were not identified. The observations provide further evidence that cerebellar mossy fibers differ histochemically and that such differences may be related to their use of different transmitters or modulators. The observations also suggest that there are significant species-differences in the projections of neurons which contain Substance P.