cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Generating Cylindrical Representation Of Solid Objects From Surface Representation

AbstractAn algorithm which converts a surface representation of three -dimensional objects to a cylindrical representation is presented. Given a surface representationwhich describes the topological relation among the faces, edges and the vertices ofthe objects, the algorithm generates an augmented quadtree which represents a set ofsquare cylinders approximating the volume of the objects. The augmented quadtree is similar to the conventional quadtrees used to describe two- dimensional image regionsexcept that the z- dimensional information of the cylinders is added to each node ofthe quadtree. This algorithm is described for polyhedral objects but can be appliedto curved objects also. The complexity of this algorithm is proportional to the number of unit cells in the total projected images.IntroductionThree -dimensional object representation is an important issue in computer vision as well as in computer graphics. Both surface representation and decomposition - based volume representation have be
Complete Plastid Genome Sequences of Three Rosids (Castanea, Prunus, Theobroma): Evidence for At Least Two Independent Transfers of rpl22 to the Nucleus

Functional gene transfer from the plastid to the nucleus is rare among land plants despite evidence that DNA transfer to the nucleus is relatively frequent. During the course of sequencing plastid genomes from representative species from three rosid genera (Castanea, Prunus, Theobroma) and ongoing projects focusing on the Fagaceae and Passifloraceae, we identified putative losses of rpl22 in these two angiosperm families. We further characterized rpl22 from three species of Passiflora and one species of Quercus and identified sequences that likely represent pseudogenes. In Castanea and Quercus, both members of the Fagaceae, we identified a nuclear copy of rpl22, which consisted of two exons separated by an intron. Exon 1 encodes a transit peptide that likely targets the protein product back to the plastid and exon 2 encodes rpl22. We performed phylogenetic analyses of 97 taxa, including 93 angiosperms and four gymnosperm outgroups using alignments of 81 plastid genes to examine the phylogenetic distribution of rpl22 loss and transfer to the nucleus. Our results indicate that within rosids there have been independent transfers of rpl22 to the nucleus in Fabaceae and Fagaceae and a putative third transfer in Passiflora. The high level of sequence divergence between the transit peptides in Fabaceae and Fagaceae strongly suggest that these represent independent transfers. Furthermore, Blast searches did not identify the "donor" genes of the transit peptides, suggesting a de novo origin. We also performed phylogenetic analyses of rpl22 for 87 angiosperms and four gymnosperms, including nuclear-encoded copies for five species of Fabaceae and Fagaceae. The resulting trees indicated that the transfer of rpl22 to the nucleus does not predate the origin of angiosperms as suggested in an earlier study. Using previously published angiosperm divergence time estimates, we suggest that these transfers occurred approximately 56-58, 34-37, and 26-27 Ma for the Fabaceae, Fagaceae, and Passifloraceae, respectively.
THE XIANBEI IN CHINESE HISTORY

AbstractThe Xianbei were perhaps the most prominent of the various non-Chinese peoples active in north China during the Age of Division. They established a number of imperial dynasties there, some of which were admittedly no more than ephemeral footnotes to history, but others of which—notably including the Northern Wei—are commonly viewed as having been major dynasties, squarely in the legitimate line of Chinese dynastic succession. In addition, the Xianbei were also central to the origins of the gloriously reunified Sui and Tang dynasties, even though the Xianbei role in their formation has not always been sufficiently appreciated. Despite their very real importance in Chinese history, the Xianbei remain today relatively little known, especially in English language scholarship. This article therefore aims to provide the most comprehensive study of the Xianbei available yet in English, to assess the overall role of the Xianbei in Chinese history, and also to examine the Xianbei as a critical case study i...
Child Care “Packaging” Among TANF Recipients: Implications for Social Work

This article reports the results of a study that examined the ways in which current and recent TANF recipients assembled or “packaged” their child care arrangements among formal and informal providers. The findings are drawn from in-person, in-depth interviews with current and former welfare recipients. The study found that most of the respondents used multiple providers within the category of informal child care for reasons including availability, the use of a network of social acquaintances as a problem-solving resource, the need to accommodate irregular work hours, and personal trauma that contributed to a distrust of strangers in formal settings. The findings can affect the efficacy of practice with TANF recipients by contributing to social workers’ understanding of the context of decision-making regarding child care.
Multiple Approaches Converge on the Structure of the Integrin αIIb/β3 Transmembrane Heterodimer

Integrins link the cytoskeleton to the extracellular matrix and regulate key signaling events that coordinate cellular processes such as secretion, migration, and proliferation. A single integrin molecule can exist in a resting state that does not bind extracellular ligands or in an active state that can engage ligands and form large signaling complexes. Activation signals are transduced between the cytosolic region and the extracellular region by a binary on/off switch in the integrin's transmembrane (TM) domain; the integrin's α and β subunits each have a single TM helix that forms an α/β heterodimer in the resting state, and the TM heterodimer separates to transduce an activation signal across the membrane. In this article, two methods used to generate models of the TM heterodimer, both converging on the same structure, are described. The first model was generated by a Monte Carlo algorithm that selected conformations based on their agreement with published experimental mutagenesis results. The second model was generated by threading the integrin's sequence onto TM helix dimers parsed from the Protein Data Bank and by selecting conformations based on their agreement with published experimental cysteine crosslinking results. The two models have similar structures; however, they differ markedly from some previously published models. To distinguish conformations that reflect the native integrin, we compared the Monte Carlo model, the threaded model, and four published models with experimental mutagenesis and cysteine crosslinking results. The models presented here had high correlation coefficients when compared with experimental findings, and they are in excellent agreement, both in terms of accuracy and in terms of precision, with a recent NMR structure. These results demonstrate that multiple approaches converged on the same structure of the resting integrin's TM heterodimer, and this conformation likely reflects the integrin's native structure.
A low-cost, rapid deposition method for "smart" films: applications in mammalian cell release.

The “smart” polymer poly (N-isopropyl acrylamide), or pNIPAM, has been studied for bioengineering applications. The polymer’s abrupt change in hydrophobicity near physiologic temperatures makes it ...
Sex ratios in dairy cattle under various conditions

Abstract Current calving information was obtained on 35,102 single births in 2254 dairy herds. The overall proportion of males to females was 50.8%. The 5 dairy breeds did not differ. Only 6 of 111 sires studied produced calves with a sex ratio different from breed average at P≤0.5. This is the number expected by chance alone. A slight bias seems to occur when reporting the sires of the cows according to the sex of the cow's calf. The sex ratio deviated from expected in a small sample of repeat breeder cows, but when a new and larger sample of 2,084 such cows which calved was obtained, there was no change associated with service number. The time of insemination was recorded for 12,764 heifers and cows first seen in estrus in the morning and 4,799 animals first seen in estrus in the evening. There was no effect of time of insemination on sex ratio. Likewise there was no effect of age of cows or season of breeding on sex ratio at birth. Because the sex ratio for cows requiring one insemination per pregnancy was not different from repeat breeders it is suggested that the sex ratio at fertilization and birth may be similar.
Modeling the Soret-Resonant Raman Intensities of Metalloporphyrins and Heme Proteins. 1. Nickel Porphine

A framework is developed for modeling the resonance Raman (RR) intensities of metalloporphyrins, with a view toward rationalizing the enhancement patterns observed in the spectra of heme proteins. The geometry of the S2 excited state of nickel(II) porphine is computed using INDO/1s methods, and the structural changes resulting from S0−S2 photoexcitation are projected onto the ground-state normal modes to calculate the intensity of each Raman-active vibration. The RR intensities derive mainly from expansion of the CαCm and CβCβ bonds in the excited state, with the relative intensities strongly influenced by the phasing between CαCm and CβCβ stretching coordinates. Analysis of the ν8 overtone shows the INDO predicted geometry changes to be about 25% too large. Results are compared at successive levels of approximation, demonstrating that inclusion of displacements along bending coordinates in the excited state are essential, as are frequency-dependent scaling factors which are determined from the absorption...
Cell line cross-contamination: who wins?

The elegant paper on the negative function for RAGE (receptor for advanced glycation end products) in cell membrane repair by a β-catenin-dependent manner adds new elements to clarify the very intriguing cross-talk of this promiscuous receptor with many cellular functions (1). However, these results are difficult to evaluate on the view that ECV-304 is no longer considered of endothelial origin. This cell line has been confirmed as a derivative of the urinary bladder carcinoma cell line T-24 (2, 3). Cell line cross-contamination has emerged as a real problem that seriously compromises the quality of research (4).
Cation templating and electronic structure effects in uranyl cage clusters probed by the isolation of peroxide-bridged uranyl dimers.

The self-assembly of uranyl peroxide polyhedra into a rich family of nanoscale cage clusters is thought to be favored by cation templating effects and the pliability of the intrinsically bent U–O2–U dihedral angle. Herein, the importance of ligand and cationic effects on the U–O2–U dihedral angle were explored by studying a family of peroxide-bridged dimers of uranyl polyhedra. Four chemically distinct peroxide-bridged uranyl dimers were isolated that contain combinations of pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate, picolinate, acetate, and oxalate as coordinating ligands. These dimers were synthesized with a variety of counterions, resulting in the crystallographic characterization of 15 different uranyl dimer compounds containing 17 symmetrically distinct dimers. Eleven of the dimers have U–O2–U dihedral angles in the expected range from 134.0 to 156.3°; however, six have 180° U–O2–U dihedral angles, the first time this has been observed for peroxide-bridged uranyl dimers. The influence of crystal packing, countercat...
“Organizational Terrorism” and Moral Choices – Exercising Voice When the Leader is the Problem

We introduce the concept of “organizational terrorism” to describe dysfunctional leaders who are abusive and who treat organizational members with contempt and disregard. After identifying the moral duties of leaders in organizations, we explain how organization members respond to their dissatisfaction with organizations through Exit, Voice, Loyalty, or Neglect. We explain why exercising voice is the most effective moral choice in dealing with dysfunctional leaders.
Stress granules form in Brachionus manjavacas (Rotifera) in response to a variety of stressors.

article i nfo Article history: Many eukaryotes share a common response to environmental stresses. The responses include reorganization of cellular organelles and proteins. Similar stress responses between divergent species suggest that these pro- tective mechanisms may have evolved early and been retained from the earliest eukaryotic ancestors. Many eukaryotic cells have the capacity to sequester proteins and mRNAs into transient stress granules (SGs) that protect most cellular mRNAs (Anderson and Kedersha, 2008). Our observations extend the phylogenetic range of SGs from trypanosomatids, insects, yeast and mammalian cells, where they were first described, to a species of the lophotrochozoan animal phylum Rotifera. We focus on the distribution of three proteins known to be associated with both ribosomes and SG formation: eukaryotic initiation factors eIF3B, eIF4E and T-cell-restricted intracellular antigen 1. We found that these three proteins co-localize to SGs in rotifers in response to temperature stress, osmotic stress and nutrient deprivation as has been described in other eu- karyotes. We have also found that the large ribosomal subunit fails to localize to the SGs in rotifers. Further- more, the SGs in rotifers disperse once the environmental stress is removed as demonstrated in yeast and mammalian cells. These results are consistent with SG formation in trypanosomatids, insects, yeast and mammalian cells, further supporting the presence of this protective mechanism early in the evolution of eukaryotes.
The morbidity of urethral stricture disease among male Medicare beneficiaries

Background: To date, the morbidity of urethral stricture disease among American men has not been analyzed using national datasets. We sought to analyze the morbidity of urethral stricture disease by measuring the rates of urinary tract infections and urinary incontinence among men with a diagnosis of urethral stricture. Methods: We analyzed Medicare claims data for 1992, 1995, 1998, and 2001 to estimate the rate of dual diagnoses of urethral stricture with urinary tract infection and with urinary incontinence occurring in the same year among a 5% sample of beneficiaries. Male Medicare beneficiaries receiving co-incident ICD-9 codes indicating diagnoses of urethral stricture and either urinary tract infection or urinary incontinence within the same year were counted. Results: The percentage of male patients with a diagnosis of urethral stricture who also were diagnosed with a urinary tract infection was 42% in 2001, an increase from 35% in 1992. Eleven percent of male Medicare beneficiaries with urethral stricture disease in 2001 were diagnosed with urinary incontinence in the same year. This represents an increase from 8% in 1992. Conclusions: Among male Medicare beneficiaries diagnosed with urethral stricture disease in 2001, 42% were also diagnosed with a urinary tract infection, and 11% with incontinence. Although the overall incidence of stricture disease decreased over this time period, these rates of dual diagnoses increased from 1992 to 2001. Our findings shed light into the health burden of stricture disease on American men. In order to decrease the morbidity of stricture disease, early definitive management of strictures is warranted. Background Although the true incidence of urethral stricture disease in men is unknown, Medicare utilization rates for men age 65 and over were 0.9% in 2001, a decrease from 1.4% in 1992 [1]. Utilization data from the Veteran Affairs (VA) in 2003 revealed a prevalence rate of 193 per 100,000 diagnoses (0.2%) [2]. Urethral stricture disease imposes a great burden on both health and quality of life in men. Previous studies of male urethral stricture disease have shown that nearly 90% of men present with complications [2]. The majority of men with a stricture suffer from obstructive and irritative voiding symptoms, and many experience hematuria, recurrent urinary tract infections, and the need for repeated procedures such as dilation or urethrotomy [2-5]. More severe complications, including acute urinary retention, urethral carcinoma, renal failure, Fournier’s gangrene, and bladder
Unsupervised Segmentation With Dynamical Units

In this paper, we present a novel network to separate mixtures of inputs that have been previously learned. A significant capability of the network is that it segments the components of each input object that most contribute to its classification. The network consists of amplitude-phase units that can synchronize their dynamics, so that separation is determined by the amplitude of units in an output layer, and segmentation by phase similarity between input and output layer units. Learning is unsupervised and based on a Hebbian update, and the architecture is very simple. Moreover, efficient segmentation can be achieved even when there is considerable superposition of the inputs. The network dynamics are derived from an objective function that rewards sparse coding in the generalized amplitude-phase variables. We argue that this objective function can provide a possible formal interpretation of the binding problem and that the implementation of the network architecture and dynamics is biologically plausible.
Nucleotide sequence of the Spiroplasma citri fibril protein gene.

Electron microscopic observation of spiroplasmas lysed by detergent (sodium deoxycholate) revealed the release of bundles of fibrils from the cells. Individual fibrils are 4 nm in diameter and possess a 9-nm periodicity along their length. These fibrils are thought to function as cytoskeletal structures involved in the shape and motility of spiroplasmas. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of density gradient-purified fibrils showed a protein of approximately 55 kDa. Oligonucleotide probes were constructed from the N-terminal amino acid sequence of two peptides obtained after V8 protease hydrolysis of the fibril protein. The probes were used to identify the clones in a genomic DNA library of Spiroplasma citri that contained inserts carrying the probe sequence. Sequencing of a 3.3-kbp fragment yielded the full open reading frame of the fibril protein gene and the start of a second open reading frame of an unknown protein. The fibril protein is composed of 515 amino acids, which have a computed molecular mass of 59 kDa. Northern (RNA) blot hybridization and primer extension experiments showed that transcription of the fibril protein gene starts from a promoter located 100 nucleotides upstream of the initiation codon and stops at a rho-independent type terminator, leading to a 1.7-kbp transcript. Southern blot hybridization of genomic DNA using the fibril protein gene as the probe showed that a single copy of the gene is present in the chromosomes of both S. citri and Spiroplasma melliferum. The genotypic symbol fib is proposed for the spiroplasma fibril protein gene. Images
Supplier evaluation as a new marketing tool

Abstract Sales people contacting potential industrial buyers are selling more than just a physical product or a service, they are selling the total benefits offered to the buying firm—the “augmented” product. (P. Kotler, Marketing Management. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1976). In today's market, the product benefits that are critical in making a sale are those that a firm adds “to their factory output in the form of packaging, services, advertising, customer advice, financing, delivery arrangements, warehousing, and other things that people value” (T. Levitt, The Marketing Mode. McGraw-Hill, New York, 1969). The salesperson, however, may often err in the presentation of the “augmented” product to the customer due to lack of information on the buyer's needs. These errors are compounded by lack of knowledge about which dimensions of the “augmented” product give the competitive advantage to the firm. This article proposes a new role for supplier performance evaluation that can contribute greatly to the effectiveness of the industrial marketer.
Teaching software tools via design patterns

Commercial software tools are increasingly used for teaching computer science courses. Because they are powerful and complex, they are often difficult to learn and to use. It is critical to balance benefits and problems that a software tool may bring about. Visual C++ is used as a tool for developing GUI applications in our “GUI Design” course. We identified examples of several well-known design patterns with Visual C++ and based our lecture on these patterns when teaching the tool. Our experience shows that design patterns help deal with the complex and flatten the learning curve without diverting too much attentions from the course's primary objectives.
Co-regulation of nuclear respiratory factor-1 by NFκB and CREB links LPS-induced inflammation to mitochondrial biogenesis

The nuclear respiratory factor-1 (NRF1) gene is activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which might reflect TLR4-mediated mitigation of cellular inflammatory damage via initiation of mitochondrial biogenesis. To test this hypothesis, we examined NRF1 promoter regulation by NFκB, and identified interspecies-conserved κB-responsive promoter and intronic elements in the NRF1 locus. In mice, activation of Nrf1 and its downstream target, Tfam, by Escherichia coli was contingent on NFκB, and in LPS-treated hepatocytes, NFκB served as an NRF1 enhancer element in conjunction with NFκB promoter binding. Unexpectedly, optimal NRF1 promoter activity after LPS also required binding by the energy-state-dependent transcription factor CREB. EMSA and ChIP assays confirmed p65 and CREB binding to the NRF1 promoter and p65 binding to intron 1. Functionality for both transcription factors was validated by gene-knockdown studies. LPS regulation of NRF1 led to mtDNA-encoded gene expression and expansion of mtDNA copy number. In cells expressing plasmid constructs containing the NRF-1 promoter and GFP, LPS-dependent reporter activity was abolished by cis-acting κB-element mutations, and nuclear accumulation of NFκB and CREB demonstrated dependence on mitochondrial H2O2. These findings indicate that TLR4-dependent NFκB and CREB activation co-regulate the NRF1 promoter with NFκB intronic enhancement and redox-regulated nuclear translocation, leading to downstream target-gene expression, and identify NRF-1 as an early-phase component of the host antibacterial defenses.
Cost Efficiency in U.S. Corn Production

Diewert's quadratic lemma is used to derive indexes of intertemporal and interregional cost efficiency and of economies of scale for a sample of U.S. corn regions. Using U.S. Department of Agriculture farm enterprise survey data, the results indicate that intertemporal cost efficiency in U.S. corn production increased 1.3% per year, on average, between 1974 and 1983. Regions in Illinois and Iowa have a competitive advantage in corn production over those in Indiana and Nebraska. Between 1974 and 1983, very large corn enterprises (500–1,000 acres) were 4%–8% more cost efficient than large enterprises (300–460 acres) and 8%–15% more efficient than medium size corn enterprises (175–290 acres).
Reduction of perchlorate in river sediment.

The transformation of perchlorate was investigated in river sediment during laboratory batch and column studies to determine if reduction of perchlorate is a viable pathway in natural sediment without previous exposure to perchlorate. Perchlorate at an initial concentration of 10 μM was reduced quantitatively to chloride in 3 d after a lag phase of 2 d in sediment slurries amended with lactate. Raising the initial concentration of perchlorate to 1,000 μM increased the lag phase to 20 d before reduction occurred. At perchlorate concentrations greater than 1,000 μM, the reduction of perchlorate was not observed within 40 d. We speculate that the high concentration of perchlorate specifically was problematic to the microbes mediating the reduction of perchlorate. High levels of nitrate inhibited the reduction of perchlorate as well. In sediment slurries amended with 870 μM sodium nitrate, the reduction of perchlorate at an initial concentration of 100 μM did not occur before day 15 of the experiment, but complete removal of nitrate had occurred by day four. Sediment column studies further demonstrated the dependence of perchlorate reduction on endogenous nitrate levels.
Ehrlichia chaffeensis Expresses Macrophage- and Tick Cell-Specific 28-Kilodalton Outer Membrane Proteins

Ehrlichia chaffeensis, a tick-transmitted rickettsial agent, causes human monocyte/macrophage-tropic ehrlichiosis. In this study, proteomic approaches were used to demonstrate host cell-specific antigenic expression by E. chaffeensis. The differentially expressed antigens include those from the 28-kDa outer membrane protein (p28-Omp) multigene locus. The proteins expressed in infected macrophages are the products of p28-Omp19 and p28-Omp20 genes, whereas in tick cells, the protein expressed is the p28-Omp14 gene product. The differentially expressed proteins are posttranslationally modified by phosphorylation and glycosylation to generate multiple expressed forms. Host cell-specific protein expression is not influenced by growth temperatures and is reversible. Host cell-specific protein expression coupled with posttranslational modifications may be a hallmark for the pathogen's adaptation to a dual-host life cycle and its persistence.
The Small Scientific Satellite (S3) Program and Its First Payload

The Small Scientific Satellite (S3) program provides a scientific "bench" which can be used by experimenters for a wide variety of investigations in the magnetosphere and near interplanetary space, employing the Scout launch vehicle. In the conduct of these scientific missions, the S3 program affords the experimenter control over parameters affecting the investigation, e. g. orbit, attitude control, and orientation. In addition, complete in-flight control of the data format is available through the use of an on-board set of stored program instructions which govern the collection of data and which are reprogrammable via ground command. Many of the spacecraft subsystems are modular and are used according to the experimenter's needs. This talk will describe the approach to the S3 program, the characteristics of the various subsystems, research capabilities of the program, and the first payload as a space nuclear instrumentation system.
commissureless Controls Growth Cone Guidance across the CNS Midline in Drosophila and Encodes a Novel Membrane Protein

The commissureless (comm) gene was identified previously in a large-scale screen for mutations that disrupt CNS axon pathways in Drosophila. The comm gene has a unique mutant phenotype: the complete absence of most axon commissures, while midline cells and other aspects of CNS fate and patterning are left unchanged. Here, we report on the molecular cloning, characterization, and expression of the comm gene. comm encodes a novel protein of 370 amino acids that lacks a signal sequence, has a transmembrane domain, and biochemically copurifies with membranes. COMM mRNA and COMM protein are dynamically expressed during embryogenesis, including by CNS midline glia during the formation of the axon commissures. Anti-COMM antibodies reveal strong staining of organelles likely to include the Golgi complex and endosomes and weaker staining of the cell surface. As commissural growth cones contact and traverse the CNS midline, COMM protein is apparently transferred from midline glia to commissural axons.
Effect of prolactin versus growth hormone on islet function and the importance of using homologous mammosomatotropic hormones.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of homologous rat PRL (rPRL) and rat GH(rGH) on islet B-cell function in neonatal and adult rat islets in vitro. In neonatal rat islets,exposure to rPRL for more than 24 h was necessary for a stimulatory effect on insulin secretion. By day 4, insulin secretion was 3.8-fold greater in the islets culturedwith rPRL. rGH had a modest effect on insulin secretion, and this effect was additive with that of rPRL. Both rPRL and rGHincreased islet insulin content and [3H]thymidine incorporation. After removal of rPRL, more than 24 h were necessary to detect a reversal in the level of insulin secretion. In addition, even after 5 days without rPRL the previously treated islets still had elevated levels of insulin secretion. In a dose-response study of rPRL on insulin secretion, adetectable effect was observed at 62.5 ng/ml, with a half-maximal effect of approximately 100 ng/ml. Glucose oxidation by neonatal islets was enhanced by rPRL treatment, but not ...
Pulmonary Resection of Metastatic Colorectal Adenocarcinoma: A Ten Year Experience

During a ten-year period, 66 patients with known primary colorectal adenocarcinoma underwent thoracotomy for pulmonary metastases. The median post-thoracotomy survival was 3.5 years and the cumulative survival at five years was 38 percent. The number of pulmonary metastases was significantly associated with post-thoracotomy survival (p less than .001). Patients with a solitary metastasis had a better survival than those with multiple pulmonary metastases. The association of disease-free interval and post-thoracotomy survival was of borderline significance (p = 0.1). Age, sex, grade of tumor, location of primary cancer, location of pulmonary metastases, size of resected metastases, initial stage of the primary colorectal cancer and the type of pulmonary resection had no influence on post-thoracotomy survival.
Computer generation of characteristic polynomials of edge‐weighted graphs, heterographs, and directed graphs

The computer code developed previously (K. Balasubramanian, J. Computational Chern., 5,387 (1984)) for the characteristic polynomials of ordinary (nonweighted) graphs is extended in this investigation to edge-weighted graphs, heterographs (vertex-weighted), graphs with loops, directed graphs, and signed graphs. This extension leads to a number of important applications of this code to several areas such as chemical kinetics, statistical mechanics, quantum chemistry of polymers, and unsaturated systems containing heteroatoms which include bond alternation. The characteristic polynomials of several edgeweighted graphs which may represent conjugated systems with bond alternations, heterographs (molecules with heteroatoms), directed graphs (chemical reaction network), and signed graphs and lattices are obtained for the first time. I. INTRODUCTION The evaluation of the characteristic polynomials of graphs has been the subject of numerous inve~tigationsl-~~ in recent years. The evaluation of these polynomials for graphs is generally regarded as a tedious problem owing to the combinatorial complexity involved in this problem. There are a number of chemical applications of these polynomials, many of which are discussed in the literature,'-34 particularly the more recent references. In summary, the characteristic polynomials have applications in chemical kinetics,37 quantum chemistry, dynamics of oscillatory reactions, and in determining the stabilities of reaction networks,35 lattice statistic^,^^ estimating the stabilities of conjugated system~,~~ formulation of TEMO theorem,39 enumeration of walks and self-returning walks,3 and electronic structure of organic polymers and periodic stu~tures.~~" In earlier investigations, we discussed an algorithm2 and computer code' to generate the characteristic polynomials of graphs containing a large number of vertices with very little computer time using an elegant recur
Robert Curvin, Inside Newark: Decline, Rebellion, and the Search for Transformation (New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 2014)

Newark is the largest city in New Jersey and one of the most challenged. Like many other American urban centers it has been decimated by suburbanization, waylaid by deindustrialization and disinves...
Studies on the hormonal regulation of plasminogen activator production in the rat ovary.

When granulosa cells are prepared from rats primed with PMSG, it is possible to induce plasminogen activator (PA) production in vitro with a variety of hormones. We have compared the effects of the gonadotropins FSH and LH on granulosa cells in culture. Although both hormones can induce enzyme secretion, the time courses of their effects are different. Whereas FSH yields a linear increase in PA production starting 2 h after the time of hormone addition, the effect of LH shows a longer lag phase, but it eventually reaches the same degree of stimulation as FSH. Experiments with an inhibitor of prostaglandin (PG) synthesis, indomethacin, and with PGs suggest the following interpretation. Granulosa cells that can produce PA can be directly stimulated by FSH, but only a small fraction of these cells can be induced by LH. However, the population that is responsive to LH begins to produce PGs after hormone treatment, and the PGs can then stimulate the entire population. Cumulus cells, which have few LH receptors...
Complexity of Allocation Problems in Spectrum Markets with Interference Complementarities

Markets are often viewed as a key ingredient in facilitating more efficient dynamic spectrum access. In this paper we consider how such spectrum markets are influenced by a key property of the wireless medium: interference. Interference can result in "complementarities" among the "spectrum goods" being traded, which complicates the design of an efficient market mechanism. We consider several alternative models for defining such spectrum goods, and explore the impact of these choices on the complexity of the resulting market.
Systematic design of mmWave PLLs based on n-push oscillators

A frequency synthesizer architecture is presented, which alleviates the problems in the interaction between the VCO and the divider in typical mm-wave synthesizers. The presented architecture eliminates the need for an injection locked frequency divider, by creating a direct by-pass path from mm-wave VCO to the static dividers, improving the operation range of the synthesizer. The designed 60 GHz CMOS PLL is based on a triple-push VCO, which acts as a combined mm-wave VCO and divider (C-VCO/D). A systematic design flow that links device level to system level is presented for noise and dynamic performance optimization. The paper also highlights design considerations and floor planning issues associated with mm-wave PLLs based on Npush oscillators. The validity of the concept is supported by simulation results.
MAVEN Explores the Martian Upper Atmosphere

After decades of exploration by landers, rovers, and orbiting spacecraft, Mars continues to capture imaginations and reveal surprises. Indeed, the more we learn about Mars, the more we see the connections between its interior, surface, and atmosphere. Answering questions about the potential for
Synthesis and Properties of Sulfonium Polyelectrolytes for Biological Applications

Sulfonium macromolecules displayed for the first time nucleic acid binding and transfection in vitro. Conventional and controlled radical polymerization techniques coupled with subsequent alkylation generated a sulfonium homopolymer, poly(DMSEMA), and a sulfonium diblock copolymer, poly(OEG-b-DMSEMA). DNA gel shift assays probed the ability of sulfonium macromolecules to complex nucleic acids, and luciferase assays examined the transfection efficiency and cytotoxicity of both sulfonium macromolecules. Poly(DMSEMA) and poly(OEG-b-DMSEMA) bound pDNA at a charge ratio of 1, and both induced significant luciferase expression in HeLa cells under serum-free conditions. Colloidal stability studies using dynamic light scattering highlighted the excellent colloidal stability of poly(OEG-b-DMSEMA) under salt and serum conditions due to the sterically stabilizing OEG block. Sulfonium macromolecules offer an alternate route to design cationic macromolecules for nonviral nucleic acid delivery, and future work will aim...
A Quantitative Difference in the Immune Response between Male and Female Mice

SummaryThe immune response to a protein antigen (BSA, bovine serum albumin) was compared in male and female mice. It was found that female mice developed a stronger and longer lasting immune response and that female mice were more responsive to small doses of antigen. An explanation based on the effect estrogens have on phagocytosis is discussed.
Creating a Knowledge Infrastructure: KM in Libraries

As library professionals, our daily stock in trade is information. We strive to provide our patrons with the information resources and services they need to be successful. However, how often do we focus our information gathering and dissemination skills inward, towards those in our own organization? Are policies and procedures adequately updated and disseminated? Are best practices written down? When employees leave the organization, are their years of knowledge and expertise captured? This is the focus of “knowledge management” (KM), a field that first gained prominence in organizational management circles in the early 1990s and has since gained traction in other fields including finance, computer science, public health, and library and information science. KM can be loosely defined as:
Multiple sclerosis as a comorbidity: a study of resource utilization and outcomes of care.

The purpose of this paper is to compare the resource utilization and outcomes of care of elderly hospitalized patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) as a comorbidity to a comparison group without multiple sclerosis, matched by age, gender, and diagnosis related group (DRG) using the 1989 Quality Care (QC) MEDPAR file. The results of this paper demonstrate some differences in resource use. MS discharges incur lower average charges ($8698 for MS discharges, $8977 for controls), although the results are not statistically significant. Proportionately fewer MS discharges use intensive or coronary care services (14.7% versus 18.5%, P < .05). MS patients had a lower, but not statistically significant, 30-day mortality rate than the comparison group matched by age, sex, and DRG (7.6% versus 8.8%), a lower rate of readmission (13.9% versus 16.7%, P < .05), and a lower rate of complications (2.6% versus 4.7%, P < .05), although the results are not consistent across DRGs. Charges, length of stay, and intensive/coronary care utilization were lower, as expected, for a subset of less comorbid MS discharges and controls with, at most, four diagnoses. In this subset, MS discharges and controls were not statistically different, with the exception of overall complication rates (1.0% for MS versus 4.1% for controls, P < .05) and surgical complication rates (2.1% for MS versus 10.0% for controls, P < .05). It is unclear whether these results are due to differences in disease severity, case-mix within DRG, surgical risk, patient surveillance, or quality of care.
Remediation/Alleviation of Metal(s) Contaminated Media

A major role of geochemistry in environmental projects is to assess clean-up possibilities for ecosystems that contain pollutant concentrations of potentially toxic metals that could access a foodweb. This role extends to remediation of environments where, in addition to heavy metals, extreme conditions occur that threaten ecosystem life such as low pH (acidic) waters or waters with limited BOD capacity The targeted cleanup media include solids, liquids and gases from contaminated soils, groundwater and surface waters, sediment (fluvial, lacustrine, estuarine, marine), waste disposal sites and sewage sludge (industrial, agricultural, mining and municipal), and chimney emissions (e.g., smelting and electricity generating facilities).
The site of decarboxylation of exogenous L-dopa in the rat striatum

L-DOPA, the agent most widely used to treat Parkinson’s disease, apparently acts by replenishing reduced dopamine (DA) levels in the basal ganglia after being decarboxylated to DA by the enzyme aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AAAD; Hornykiewicz, 1974). During long-term administration, its therapeutic efficacy often declines gradually, and it has been suggested that this decline is due to the continuous death of nigrostriatal neurons as Parkinson’s disease progresses, reducing the enzyme responsible for L-DOPA’s decarboxylation (Fahn and Calne, 1978). However, various findings suggest that L-DOPA might be decarboxylated to DA outside DA neurons, in structures not primarily affected by Parkinson’s disease, i.e., in serotoninergic neurons (Ng et al., 1973), endothelial cells of brain capillaries (Bertler et al., 1966), or even by a non-enzymatic process (Vogel, 1969). Aided by the availability of specific neurotoxins and by recent advances in liquid chromatographic techniques for measuring DOPA, DA, and DA metabolites in small brain areas we have reinvestigated the possible sites at which exogenous L-DOPA is decarboxylated in the rat corpus striatum.
Structure and crystallization behavior of poly(ethylene oxide)/Ti3C2Tx MXene nanocomposites

Abstract MXenes represent a new family of 2D transition metal carbides and/or carbides that has attracted a great deal of attention in various applications because of their unique electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties. In this work, we report on the structure and crystallization behavior of poly(ethylene oxide)(PEO)/MXene nanocomposites. MXene Ti 3 C 2 T x (where T is a surface termination) was synthesized and used as the nanofiller to form polymer nanocomposites using a solution blending method. Their morphologies, structures and crystallization behaviors were investigated using transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, polarized light microscopy, wide-angle X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry. Both non-isothermal and isothermal crystallization behaviors were studied. We show that the presence of 2D Ti 3 C 2 T x accelerates PEO crystallization at very low MXene contents, while it inhibits PEO crystallization as the loading increases. The fastest crystallization rate was observed at 0.5 wt% MXene content. This was attributed to the competition of nucleation and confinement effect of the 2D filler.
The Effects of Product Placement in Fictitious Literature on Consumer Purchase Intention

Three experiments tested whether brand-name products placed in a short story would be more often selected when two identical products with different brand names were presented in either a picture or text format in forced choice purchase intention and placement recognition tests. In Experiments 1a and 1b, there was no significant influence of product placement in a pictorial purchase intention task. However, in Experiments 2a and 2b, a reliable and equal level of recognition memory was observed, regardless of whether the products were presented in a picture (Exp. 2a) or text (Exp. 2b) format. In Experiment 3, the products were presented in a text format in the purchase intention task and participants more often and more quickly chose the brand-name product from the story. At a practical level, these results suggest some limits to the usefulness of product placement in text.
History of the Research Section of the American Association for Health and Physical Education

(1938). History of the Research Section of the American Association for Health and Physical Education. Research Quarterly. American Association for Health and Physical Education: Vol. 9, No. 3, pp. 25-36.
The Dominant Value System of Chinese Gay Males in Family, Couple, and Community Relationships: A Qualitative Study

ABSTRACTThe number of Chinese gay males in Asia and overseas is approximately 27 million; however, the study of family, couple, and community relationships regarding this population is lacking. This study aims to explore knowledge about the dominant values of Chinese gay males in three relationships. Based on the lens of social learning theory and symbolic interactionism, the research question is “What are the social schemas which Chinese gay males learned and contributed back to their family, couple, and community relationships?” This qualitative research includes data collection through semi-structured interviews 60–90 minutes in length with 14 Chinese gay male participants in Asian countries and data analysis through a phenomenological approach. In findings, the dominant value system of this group is composed of the following: (1) masculinism; (2) exam-oriented education; (3) status-oriented interaction; (4) indirect communication; and (5) enmeshed relationships. The results also included their cultura...
Macroarthropod response to time-since-fire in the longleaf pine ecosystem

Abstract Fire is an important disturbance worldwide, and literature supports the use of prescribed fire to restore and maintain fire-dependent ecosystems. However, fire could alter the abundance and persistence of some arthropods, in turn influencing vertebrate taxa that depend on those arthropods as a food source. We used replicated prescribed fire treatments to evaluate macroarthropod response to time-since-fire in the fire-maintained longleaf pine ( Pinus palustris ) ecosystem. We sampled macroarthropod assemblages using vinyl gutter pitfall traps for 5 consecutive days in each month of the study (May-August 2014) in each replicate burn block. We identified macroarthropods to Order and dried and weighed the samples to determine biomass (g) of all taxa detected. We focused our analyses on 4 macroarthropod taxa important as food for wild turkey ( Meleagris gallopavo ): Araneae, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, and Orthoptera. We used standard least squares regression to evaluate the effect of time-since-fire on total biomass of the 4 Orders (and we also evaluated those Orders independently). The analysis indicated that time-since-fire had no effect ( p = 0.2616) on combined biomass of these 4 taxa. Analyzing the 4 Orders separately, biomass of Araneae ( p = 0.0057) and Orthoptera ( p = 0.0004) showed significant effects of time-since-fire, while Coleoptera ( p = 0.9465) and Hymenoptera ( p = 0.1175) did not. Parameter estimates (Araneae = 0.0084; SE = 0.0029; Orthoptera = 0.0137; SE = 0.0036) indicated that greater time-since-fire resulted in greater biomass for those 2 Orders. Overall, time-since-fire did not appear to have substantial effects on macroarthropod biomass. However, responses by Araneae and Orthoptera provided evidence that longer time-since-fire may result in greatest levels of biomass for some taxa. Our results indicate the use of frequent prescribed fire to restore and maintain longleaf forests is unlikely to pose risks to overall macroarthropod biomass, particularly if heterogeneity in fire frequency and spatial extent occurs on the landscape.
Compensation of frequency response function measurements by inverse RCSA

Abstract This paper describes an analytical approach for compensating accelerometer-based (contact-type) modal testing results for both mass loading and cable energy dissipation (damping). The inverse Receptance Coupling Substructure Analysis (RCSA) approach is implemented, where a lumped parameter model of the accelerometer-cable is decoupled from the measured receptance (or frequency response function) to isolate the structure's receptance. Experimental results are presented for a 12.7 mm diameter cantilever rod, a 6.35 mm diameter cantilever rod, and clamped-clamped-clamped-free boundary condition thin ribs.