cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tracheal, bronchial, and pulmonary papillomatosis in children.

Objectives: To compare the clinical course of tracheal, bronchial, and pulmonary papillomatosis with clinical course of laryngeal papillomatosis in children. Study Design: The records of the 448 children with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis treated in St. Vladimir Moscow Children's Hospital between 1988 and 2003 were reviewed. In all cases, the diagnosis was confirmed histologically. Age at onset of symptoms, age at first surgery, number of surgical procedures, mean duration of surgical interval, possible causes, and age at a point of papillomatosis spread in the lower airways and course of the disease were analyzed. Setting: Academic children's hospital. Results: Papillomas extension down to lower airways was observed in 40 children (8.9%). Among 40 patients with lower airway recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, 8 (20%) demonstrated pulmonary involvement. The basic cause of papilloma extension to lower airways appeared to be tracheotomy performed in children with laryngeal papillomatosis (92.5% of cases). Incidence of satellite pharyngeal and esophageal papillomatosis is significantly higher in patients with lower airways papillomatosis, presenting evidence of lager process extension. The clinical course of lower airways papillomatosis is more aggressive as compared with laryngeal papillomatosis, and treatment efficacy in such children is lower. Conclusions: All the patients with laryngeal papillomatosis having a history of tracheotomy require a regular endoscopic control and chest radiographs or computed tomography scanning because tracheal or pulmonary papillomatosis may occur in such patients even several years after decannulation. The prognosis for the disease after development of pulmonary papillomatosis is always serious.
Some Problems on Commercial Banking in China

In this paper, I discussed two problems faced by commercial banks in China in the early to mid 90's when inflation rate was high. The first problem is the use of interest rates indexed to inflation to stop disintermediation of bank deposits during the high inflation period. I observed that commercial banks cannot easily recover the additional cost of funds due to inflation from their borrower. Nor can the banks hedge the inflation risk in a public market. Banks accepting inflation-indexed deposits will then be exposing themselves to high bankruptcy risk. A proposal of offering deposit products that are denominated in RMB but indexed to gold or US$ prices is recommended as replacements for inflation-indexed deposits because for both deposit products, banks can hedge the fluctuations in interest rates through international public markets. The second problem is how banks can serve as effective monitors of economic performances of the State-Owned-Enterprises (SOEs) by allocating more credit to more efficient SOEs and by refusing credit to very weak ones. I review the problems currently faced by managers in the SOEs and in the commercial banks. I then recommend managers in commercial banks to be trained as effective loan managers capable of helping SOE managers build good businesses. Further, they have to conduct their own businesses in a very professional manner.
Seeding of vascular grafts with an immortalized human dermal microvascular endothelial cell line

Small-caliber vascular grafts ( one layer thick in other areas. Cells were also shown to remain viable after freezing.2+These results suggest a potential practical method for
Alterations in Zinc, Vitamin A, and Retinol‐Binding Protein in Chronic Alcoholics: A Possible Mechanism for Night Blindness and Hypogonadism

Deficiencies in zinc and vitamin A may play a role in the night blindness and hypogonadism of some chronic alcoholics; abstinence and zinc and vitamin A therapy may be of some benefit in these processes.
Influence of Temperature on Microhabitat Choice by Fishes in a California Stream

Abstract We used eight microhabitat variables to examine the assumption that the variables normally included in instream flow studies are adequate to discriminate among species' microhabitats. When eight variables were available in stepwise-discriminant analysis models to distinguish among the microhabitats of four fish species in a northern California stream, the variance explained ranged from 52 to 77%, and 59 to 86% of the observational records were correctly classified to species. The variables measured were temperature, total depth, focal point elevation (distance of fish from the bottom), focal point velocity (water velocity at fish's snout), mean water column velocity, surface velocity, substrate, and cover. When the number of variables available was reduced to the three normally used in instream flow studies (i.e., total depth, mean water column velocity, and substrate), the variance explained ranged from 0 to 20%, and 46 to 55% of the observational records were correctly classified to species. Wh...
Statistical Anomaly Detection in Mean and Variation of Energy Consumption

The timely detection of abnormal energy usage is one of the major ad-hoc techniques to optimize energy efficiency. Typically an alarm is triggered either by a significant drift from the baseline consumption level or by a period of large variations. In this paper we propose a statistical predictive method for detecting anomalies both in mean and in variation. The criterion behind is based on the prediction intervals (PIs) of the baseline, which is estimated by the Generalized Additive Model (GAM), and of the variations of baseline, which is estimated by the Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedastic Model (ARCH). Our proposal on systematically studying the time-dependent variations of energy consumption by ARCH is novel. This is of great importance to, technically, guarantee the resulting PIs of baseline is valid and, practically, to reduce the energy cost incurred by oscillation. As a key component of anomaly detection algorithm, we propose to use the residual based bootstrap for the construction of PIs to minimize the bias caused by imposing hypothetical distributions on observations. We illustrate the proposed method with a real-life example on building energy consumption throughout the paper and in addition, justify our approach is theoretically consistent.
Does an increase in irradiance influence periphyton in a heavily-grazed woodland stream?

Irradiance level and grazer density were manipulated in a factorial design to examine the relative effects of biotic and abiotic factors on periphyton biomass, productivity, and taxonomic structure in a heavily grazed, woodland stream. Irradiance levels were increased from 0.26 to 12.42 mol quanta/m2/d by placing metal halide lamps over the stream. The major grazer in this system was the prosobranch snail Elimia clavaeformis. Its densities were reduced from ca. 750 individuals/m2 to near zero by raising platforms off the stream bottom. Experimental treatments were maintained for 48 days. Biomass-specific carbon fixation rates increased significantly in response to higher light levels, indicating that periphyton communities were light-limited at this time of year. However, positive effects of irradiance on areal-specific carbon fixation and biomass were detected only when grazer density was reduced. Basal cells of the chlorophyte Stigeoclonium dominated communities exposed either to low light or high grazing pressure. When light was increased and grazer density reduced, large or upright diatoms became more abundant. Results from this study indicated that limitation of periphyton photosynthesis could be mitigated by increasing the levels of an abiotic resource (light) to this system, but that periphyton biomass was controlled by biotic interactions.
Procedures preceding the prosthodontic prescription

Abstract A toothless person is a handicapped person, sensitized to a degree by his handicap; the degree depends on his personality. The loss of the natural teeth is not a minor loss; no animal in Nature survives the loss of his teeth. Man survives because of artificial methods of food preparation before ingestion. Man's physical survival points up the need for psychologic adjustments to lessen the feeling of toothlessness. The procedure outlined in this article will help us to rehabilitate the patient, to help him live more philosophically with his handicap. If your objective is to deal with each edentulous patient amicably, pleasurably, and profitably, this objective will have a better chance of fruition if you insist on a detailed diagnostic study before arriving at the prosthodontic prescription. In prosthodontics, it is easy to mistake a difficult mouth situation for a difficult patient. Difficult patients are few; difficult mouth situations many.
Experimental and theoretical study of flow fields surrounding boattail nozzles at subsonic speeds

An investigation has been conducted to determine the effects of jet exhaust on the subsonic flow surrounding boattail nozzles with and without separated boundary layers. Measurements of local Mach number and flow angle were made at free-stream Mach numbers of 0.60 and 0.80. Jet exhaust flow was simulated with a solid sting and with high-pressure air at jet total pressure ratios of 3 and 5. The results show that there are strong effects of the wave structure of the jet on the external flow field. The local Mach numbers and flow angles for the models with solid sting jet simulators were in good agreement with subsonic inviscid/viscous flow theory. The theoretical method does not, however, adequately predict the flow about the models with high-pressure air jets.
Contributing factors to engulfments in on-farm grain storage bins: 1980 through 2001.

ABSTRACT Since 1978 Purdue University has maintained a national database of agriculture-related engulfment cases that have occurred in loose agricultural material in both commercial and on-farm facilities. The database presently contains 502 documented cases of fatal and non-fatal engulfments from the U.S. and Canada. A review of the more recent on-farm fatal and non-fatal engulfment cases, those occurring in 1980 through 2001, was conducted in order to characterize engulfments and identify contributing factors that would be relevant to future intervention strategy development including the implementation of design standards for on-farm structures. From 1980 through 2001, 197 cases were identified that occurred in on-farm grain bins, 156 of which were fatal and 41 were non-fatal. A rate of approximately seven fatal and two non-fatal cases per year were identified from 1980 through 2001. The magnitude of the engulfment problem is continuing, based on six and seven fatal cases reported in the years 2000 and...
20.3: Full Color Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Display with High Color Performance

A 10 inch full color cholesteric liquid crystal display ChLCD with high reflectivity and high resolution is demonstrated. This display consists only one ChLC panel which is fabricated by the development of the pixelized vacuum filling PVF technique. The reflectivity of our ChLCD was improved to about 26% with 4bit color, its contrast ration is over 6 and the resolution is 100 ppi.
SU-E-T-389: Effect of Interfractional Shoulder Motion On Low Neck Nodal Targets for Patients Treated Using Volume Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT)

Purpose: To quantify the dosimetric impact of interfractional shoulder motion on targets in the low neck for head and neck patients treated with volume modulated arc therapy (VMAT). Methods: Three patients with head and neck cancer were selected. All three required treatment to nodal regions in the low neck in addition to the primary tumor. The patients were immobilized during simulation and treatment with a custom thermoplastic mask covering the head and shoulders. One VMAT plan was created for each patient utilizing two full 360° arcs. A second plan was created consisting of two superior VMAT arcs matched to an inferior static AP supraclavicular field. A CT-on-rails alignment verification was performed weekly during each patient's treatment course. The weekly CT images were registered to the simulation CT and the target contours were deformed and applied to the weekly CT. The two VMAT plans were copied to the weekly CT datasets and recalculated to obtain the dose to the low neck contours. Results: The average observed shoulder position shift in any single dimension relative to simulation was 2.5 mm. The maximum shoulder shift observed in a single dimension was 25.7 mm. Low neck target mean doses, normalized to simulation and averaged across all weekly recalculations were 0.996, 0.991, and 1.033 (Full VMAT plan) and 0.986, 0.995, and 0.990 (Half-Beam VMAT plan) for the three patients, respectively. The maximum observed deviation in target mean dose for any individual weekly recalculation was 6.5%, occurring with the Full VMAT plan for Patient 3. Conclusion: Interfractional variation in dose to low neck nodal regions was quantified for three head and neck patients treated with VMAT. Mean dose was 3.3% higher than planned for one patient using a Full VMAT plan. A Half-Beam technique is likely a safer choice when treating the supraclavicular region with VMAT.
Hydrogenation of dinitrosarcophagine Co(III); the crystal structures of Co(II) and Co(III) complexes of diaminosarcophagine

Abstract The catalytic hydrogenation of a dinitrosarcophagine Co(III) complex is reported, along with the X0ray crystal structures of protonated forms of the resulting diaminosarcophagine Co(II) and Co(III) complexes.
Ground state magnetic dipole moment of K-35

The ground state magnetic moment of $^{35}\mathrm{K}$ has been measured using the technique of nuclear magnetic resonance on \ensuremath{\beta}-emitting nuclei. The short-lived $^{35}\mathrm{K}$ nuclei were produced following the reaction of a $^{36}\mathrm{Ar}$ primary beam of energy 150 MeV/nucleon incident on a Be target. The spin polarization of the $^{35}\mathrm{K}$ nuclei produced at 2\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} relative to the normal primary beam axis was confirmed. Together with the mirror nucleus $^{35}\mathrm{S}$, the measurement represents the heaviest $T=3/2$ mirror pair for which the spin expectation value has been obtained. A linear behavior of ${g}_{p}$ vs ${g}_{n}$ has been demonstrated for the $T=3/2$ known mirror moments and the slope and intercept are consistent with the previous analysis of $T=1/2$ mirror pairs.
Experimental and numerical investigation of two-dimensional parallel jets

The flowfield of dual, parallel planar turbulent jets is investigated experimentally using an x-type hot-wire probe and numerically by solving the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations. The performance of both differential Reynolds stress (RSM) and standard k-e turbulence models is evaluated. Results show that the numerical models predict the merge and combined point characteristics to good accuracy. However, both turbulence models show a narrower width of the jet envelope than measured by experiment
Pathway of galactitol catabolism in Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Abstract Cell extracts of galactitol-grown Klebsiella pneumoniae phosphorylate galactitol by means of a phosphoenolpyruvate:galactitol phosphotransferase system. Both the product and authentic L-galactitol-l-P are oxidized with NAD+ by a dehydrogenase to yield D-tagatose-6-P, which is phosphorylated with ATP by a kinase to form D-tagatose-1,6-P2. This ketohexose diphosphate is cleaved by an aldolase to yield dihydroxyacetone-P and D-glyceraldehyde-3-P. Mutants deficient in either the dehydrogenase, kinase, or aldolase failed to grow on galactitol, indicating that the described pathway is of physiological significance in this organism.
Droplet spindown in a high-temperature gas environment

Abstract The spindown and heating of a spherical droplet in an initially undisturbed infinite fluid is investigated by means of a numerical model based on finite-difference discretization techniques. The nonevaporating droplet enters the hot gas while rotating about a diameter and has no translational motion with respect to the suspending medium. Special attention is given to the transient secondary (nonrotational) motion developed as a result of shear interaction between the two phases. The results indicate that for droplet sizes and rotation frequencies representative of droplet combustion applications; i.e., Reynolds ∼ O(0.1), the secondary motion in both phases remains weak and heat transport is conduction-dominated. On the other hand, the secondary motion is strengthened with increased values of the rotational Reynolds number. The characteristic time for droplet spindown is found to be proportional to the square of the droplet radius. The results also show that the rotational deceleration time is of the same order of magnitude with the translational response time of the droplet. Finally, the thermocapillary stress effects on fluid dynamics and heat transfer are investigated in this flow configuration.
A 30-cm diameter bombardment thruster with a variable magnetic baffle

Thruster performance and stability over a range of beam currents is a function of the hollow cathode propellant flow which depends in part on the baffle geometry. Variable magnetic baffles have been used to allow a change in baffle geometry to improve thruster performance and stability. Test results of a 30-cm thruster with magnetic baffle are presented. Thruster performance characteristics are analyzed to show how the magnetic baffle field strength can improve performance at a fixed beam current, as well as increase the range of ion beam current for throttling.
Molecular and Transcriptional Basis of CD4+ T Cell Dysfunction during Chronic Infection

T cell exhaustion is common during chronic infections. Although CD4(+) T cells are critical for controlling viral load during chronic viral infections, less is known about their differentiation and transcriptional program. We defined the phenotypic, functional, and molecular profiles of exhausted CD4(+) T cells. Global transcriptional analysis demonstrated a molecular profile distinct from effector and memory CD4(+) T cells and also from exhausted CD8(+) T cells, though some common features of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell exhaustion were revealed. We have demonstrated unappreciated roles for transcription factors (TFs) including Helios, type I interferon (IFN-I) signaling, and a diverse set of coinhibitory and costimulatory molecules during CD4(+) T cell exhaustion. Moreover, the signature of CD4(+) T cell exhaustion was found to be distinct from that of other CD4(+) T cell lineage subsets and was associated with TF heterogeneity. This study provides a framework for therapeutic interventions targeting exhausted CD4(+) T cells.
Polysaccharide characterization by hollow-fiber flow field-flow fractionation with on-line multi-angle static light scattering and differential refractometry.

Accurate characterization of the molar mass and size of polysaccharides is an ongoing challenge, oftentimes due to architectural diversity but also to the broad molar mass (M) range over which a single polysaccharide can exist and to the ultra-high M of many polysaccharides. Because of the latter, many of these biomacromolecules experience on-column, flow-induced degradation during analysis by size-exclusion and, even, hydrodynamic chromatography (SEC and HDC, respectively). The necessity for gentler fractionation methods has, to date, been addressed employing asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation (AF4). Here, we introduce the coupling of hollow-fiber flow field-flow fractionation (HF5) to multi-angle static light scattering (MALS) and differential refractometry (DRI) detection for the analysis of polysaccharides. In HF5, less stresses are placed on the macromolecules during separation than in SEC or HDC, and HF5 can offer a higher sensitivity, with less propensity for system overloading and analyte aggregation, than generally found in AF4. The coupling to MALS and DRI affords the determination of absolute, calibration-curve-independent molar mass averages and dispersities. Results from the present HF5/MALS/DRI experiments with dextrans, pullulans, and larch arabinogalactan were augmented with hydrodynamic radius (RH) measurements from off-line quasi-elastic light scattering (QELS) and by RH distribution calculations and fractogram simulations obtained via a finite element analysis implementation of field-flow fractionation theory by commercially available software. As part of this study, we have investigated analyte recovery in HF5 and also possible reasons for discrepancies between calculated and simulated results vis-a-vis experimentally determined data.
Women in Recovery from Drug Misuse: An Exploratory Study of Their Social Networks and Social Support

This cross-sectional research examined the effects of ethnicity, age, and primary drug (alcohol or other drug) on recovering women's social network size and social support. Study participants included 21 African-American, 39 Anglo-American, and 3 Mexican-American women in continuous recovery for a minimum of 6 months. Study findings demonstrated statistically significant increases in social network size and in the amount of social support received from pretreatment to posttreatment recovery periods. Ethnicity, age, and primary drug had little effect on social network size and amount of social support received.
Guest column: a casual tour around a circuit complexity bound

I will discuss the recent proof that the complexity class NEXP (nondeterministic exponential time) lacks nonuniform ACC circuits of polynomial size. The proof will be described from the perspective of someone trying to discover it.
Late results of isolated mitral annuloplasty for "functional" ischemic mitral insufficiency.

BACKGROUND Repair of functional ischemic mitral regurgitation (MR) due to annular deformity and leaflet restriction remains a challenge for the surgeon and lacks well-documented outcomes. We investigated outcomes in the treatment of functional ischemic MR corrected by annuloplasty techniques alone. METHODS From May 1980 to July 1999, 174 patients underwent repair for functional ischemic mitral insufficiency with annuloplasty alone (128 ring annuloplasty; 46 suture annuloplasty). Acute insufficiency was present in 25 (14.4%). Concomitant procedures included CABG (n = 152; 87.4%). Patients were studied longitudinally with annual follow-up and echocardiograms. RESULTS Overall hospital mortality was 17.8% and was increased by NYHA Class 4 (23.8% vs. 8.7%; p = 0.011), diabetes (25.0% vs. 13.6%; p = 0.059), and chronic mitral insufficiency (16.4% vs. 8.0%; p = 0.070). Multivariate analysis revealed age (beta = 0.099; p = 0.049) and ejection fraction < 30% (beta = 1.260; p = 0.097) as significant predictors of hospital death. Mean postoperative mitral insufficiency was 0.84 +/- 0.86 (scale of 0-4). NYHA Class 4 (beta = 2.33; p = 0.034) and simple suture annuloplasty (beta = 2.08; p = 0.07) were associated with increased risk of late cardiac death. Cumulative incidence of mitral reoperation was 7.7% at 5 years. At follow-up, 89.7% of patients were in NYHA Class 1 or 2 with 83.4% having none or only mild mitral insufficiency. CONCLUSIONS Ring annuloplasty is associated with a survival benefit when compared to simple suture repair in ischemic patients who require annuloplasty alone to correct the MR. Mitral reconstruction with a ring annuloplasty offers durable results in this homogeneous subset of functional ischemic MR patients. Ischemic mitral insufficiency is associated with significant late mortality.
Scatter in 240-kVp mobile chest radiography

The effects of scatter radiation on signal‐to‐noise ratio and optical density contrast are quantitatively compared for three tissue interfaces at 85, 110, and 240 kVp in mobile chest techniques. It is shown that scatter in the mediastinal portion of the radiograph is virtually independent of energy, while it substantially increases with energy in the lung fields.
Multiphoton absorption in the presence of two finite-bandwidth lasers

Interactions between a three-level atom and two amplitude-fluctuating lasers are studied theoretically. One interesting feature of the interactions is the influence of the finite laser bandwidth and the two-laser cross-bandwidth on the absorption rate into the third level. As an example, it is shown how the partially saturated absorption process depends on both the autocorrelated and cross-correlated laser bandwidths.
The representation of dynamic flow effects in a Lagrangian puff dispersion model

Abstract A technique for incorporating buoyancy-driven dynamics in a Lagrangian puff model is described. The dynamic effects are non-linear and therefore proper treatment requires interaction integrals for overlapping puffs. Conservation laws for the volume integral of momentum and buoyancy over an individual puff are based on the fundamental equations of motion. A simplified representation of the field of motion associated with the buoyancy-driven dynamics is then used to move and distort the puffs. The effects associated with dense gas `slumping' on the ground are represented by lateral divergence of the velocity field, with a magnitude based on conservation of the moment of vorticity. The model predictions are compared with a number of experimental results on buoyant plume rise and dense gas dispersion.
Lipoprotein lipase in rat lung. The effect of fasting.

Abstract We measured lipoprotein lipase activity in dried defatted preparations of rat lung using doubly labeled chylomicron triglyceride as substrate. The enzyme activity was linear for the first hour of incubation at 37° C, had a pH optimum of 8.1 and was completely inhibited by 0.5 M NaCl. Lungs from fed rats hydrolyzed chylomicron triglyceride at a rate of 13.00 μmoles/g per h; the activity rate was unchanged by fasting 8–72 h. Heparin infusion into isolated lungs caused immediate release of lipoprotein lipase to the venous effluent. The activity released was equivalent to about 10% of total lung lipoprotein lipase activity in both fed and fasted rats. Since the ability to remove blood triglyceride is directly related to the level of lipoprotein lipase activity, these findings indicate that the lung is one of the few tissues able to remove efficiently blood triglyceride during fasting.
Predicting Blood Loss and Transfusion Requirements During Radical Prostatectomy: The Significant Negative Impact of Increasing Body Mass Index

ABSTRACTPurpose: Radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) has been associated with significant blood loss and/or transfusion requirement. While still a concern, routine autologous blood donation has not been standard at our institution for more than a decade. We assessed recent blood loss and transfusion requirements in contemporary patients undergoing RRP and examined the possible predictive impact of preoperative variables.Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of 436 consecutive patients who underwent RRP between July 1999 and December 2001 was performed with the primary purpose of analyzing estimated blood loss (EBL) and blood transfusion requirements as well as possible preoperative risk factors, including clinical demographic characteristics, body mass index (BMI), defined as weight in kg/height in m2, comorbidities, American Society of Anesthesiologists classification and Charlson index score.Results: A total of 436 consecutive patients with a mean age of 60 years (range 39 to 78) underwent RR...
Making psychology incorruptible

Abstract This paper is a response to criticisms, by Peterson (1995) and others, of positions I took in an earlier article, “Manifesto for a science of clinical psychology” (McFall, 1991) . I had argued that professional practice and training in clinical psychology must be governed by a scientific epistemology, and had outlined some of the specific reasons and implications. In this article, I attempt to correct misinterpretations of my previous arguments, to clarify ambiguities, and to fill any serious omissions. The fundamental points of the original Manifesto are defended, buttressed, and extended. In response to issues highlighted by the criticisms, two new corollaries are added to those offered in the original article. These summarize the arguments presented in this paper, with special emphasis on the essential role of skepticism as the best protection against the corruption of knowledge and practice in psychology.
Flies by Night: Effects of Changing Day Length on Drosophila's Circadian Clock

In Drosophila, two intersecting molecular loops constitute an autoregulatory mechanism that oscillates with a period close to 24 hr. These loops touch when proteins from one loop, PERIOD (PER) and TIMELESS (TIM), repress the transcription of their parent genes, period (per) and timeless (tim), by blocking positive transcription factors from the other loop. The arrival of PER and TIM into the nucleus of a clock cell marks the timing of this interaction between the two loops; thus, control of PER:TIM nuclear accumulation is a central component of the molecular model of clock function. If a light pulse occurs early in the night as the heterodimer accumulates in the nucleus of clock cells, TIM is degraded, PER is destabilized, and clock time is delayed. Alternatively, if TIM is degraded during the later part of the night, after peak accumulation, clock time advances. Current models state that the effect of a light pulse depends on the state of the PER:TIM oscillation, which turns on the changing levels of TIM. However, previous studies have shown that light:dark (LD) regimes mimicking seasonal changes cause behavioral adjustments while altering clock gene expression. This should be reflected in the adjustment of PER and TIM dynamics. We manipulated LD cycles to assess the effects of altered day length on PER and TIM dynamics in clock cells within the central brain as well as light-induced resetting of locomotor rhythms.
Transport of H2S and HS(-) across the human red blood cell membrane: rapid H2S diffusion and AE1-mediated Cl(-)/HS(-) exchange.

The rates of H2S and HS− transport across the human erythrocyte membrane were estimated by measuring rates of dissipation of pH gradients in media containing 250 μM H2S/HS−. Net acid efflux is caus...
Magnetic properties of free cobalt clusters

We report in this paper results of Stern-Gerlach experiments for all the systems we have studied to date. Three distinct behaviors are observed. Cobalt exhibits superparamagnetic behavior, with a magnetic moment per atom of 2.29 ± 0.08µ B for N = 115. The rare earths gadolinium and terbium exhibit superparamagnetic behavior for certain clusters, while other clusters exhibit behavior consistent with their moment being locked to the crystal lattice. In both cases, the moments are considerably reduced from the bulk values. The third behavior is no measurable deflection at all, as demonstrated by vanadium, palladium, chromium, and aluminum.
Seizure duration and clinical effect in electroconvulsive therapy.

Abstract It is vital to understand the nature of the seizure produced during convulsive therapy as it is the seizure itself that produces the beneficial effect rather than other factors associated with the treatment.1–5 With the advent of monitored electroconvulsive therapy (MECT) and multiple monitored electroconvulsive therapy (MMECT),6,7 it has become possible to measure certain parameters of the seizure produced during treatment. Induced seizures can vary in duration and intensity and such variance can be produced in part by manipulations of the treatment team. For example, increasing the oxygenation of the brain by more forceful artificial ventilation just prior to and during the seizure can increase its duration.8–10 Increasing or altering the stimulus properties can also increase duration and enhance EEG amplitude.11,12 Seizure durations and intensities can be measured and clinical effects correlated with these parameters. It would be important to know whether there is an optimum seizure length to produce beneficial effect or whether there is a minimum total seizure duration below which benefits will not accrue. The availability of the MECT apparatus for several years has enabled us to accumulate data on 110 patients given MECT. The present study examines number of seizures, number of sessions, and seizure durations produced during ECT to determine whether such parameters are of importance in assessing clinical effects. Seizure intensity is not reported as it cannot be measured based solely upon examination of the EEG record.13,14 Special cumulative recording apparati are necessary for such measurement; a report on this is planned in the future.
Sternal cancellous bone graft harvest for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with interbody cage devices

Abstract Study design Retrospective chart review, technical note, cohort study. Objective To describe the clinical outcome of a modified method of obtaining cancellous autograft from the manubrium of the sternum for use in interbody cages during anterior cervical fusions. Summary of background data Harvest of structural grafts from the anterior iliac crest (AIC) for anterior cervical fusion has well-established morbidities. In an effort to minimize morbidity and maximize fusion, we utilized interbody cages filled with autologous cancellous bone. In cases needing corpectomy, local bone graft from the corpectomy is used to fill the cage. In cases needing discectomy alone, no local bone is resected and therefore alternative donor sources must be used if autograft is to be used and the complications of AIC harvest are to be avoided. This technique is especially useful in countries where allograft is either not available or available in limited quantity. Methods We have developed a modified technique for the harvest of autologous cancellous graft from the sternum which can be used as a fusion substrate with cervical interbody cages. This technique incorporates either a small incision just above the sternal notch or subcutaneous tunneling from the discectomy incision and use of a bone graft harvester. We retrospectively analyze the clinical outcome and fusion rates. Results Using the described technique, one-hundred sternal graft harvests ( n =100) have resulted in three minor complications: one wound hematoma which resolved with observation, and two superficial wound infections which required treatment with oral antibiotics. All the patients were satisfied by the cosmetic appearance of the incision. Spinal fusion was achieved in all patients at the end of 12 months. Conclusions We describe a modified technique of harvesting the sternal graft and also for the first time describe the long-term clinical outcome of using sternal autograft for ACDF. The sternal manubrium provides a viable alternative to AIC grafting. It confers the advantages of autograft fusion without the complications associated with AIC graft harvesting.
Community in Cyber Space?: The Role of the Internet in Facilitating and Maintaining a Community of Live Music Collecting and Trading

The interactions based around the taping, trading, and collecting of live music performances have evolved into a phenomenon that may aptly be referred to as a community. What is most remarkable abo...
Language Attitudes in San Sebastian: The Basque Vernacular as Challenge to Spanish Language Hegemony

This paper examines the effects of Basque- versus Spanish-language schooling on the language attitudes of secondary school students in San Sebastian, in the Basque Autonomous Community (BAC) of Spain. By mandating the teaching of Basque (‘euskera’) in schools, and by requiring Basque proficiency of civil servants, the Basque government is attempting to increase the utility and use of Basque. By teaching people Basque, the Basque Government is also trying to create a link between Basque language and identity. I will show that schooling has no independent effect on language attitudes; rather, positive attitudes towards Basque are correlated with exposure to Basque in both the home and school domains. Further, whether they attend Basque- or Spanish-medium schools, students who speak only Spanish at home exhibit identical language attitudes. Finally, regardless of the language(s) they use at home and school, all students favour vernacular Basque, which is not used for instruction. This suggests that, in devel...
Calculation of the Capacitance between Two Wires of a Three-Conductor Cable

This paper develops a formula for calculating the capacitance between two wires of a three-conductor cable. A direct method of calculation is employed, based on the work of Doctor H. B. Dwight. This method gives accurate results independent of empirical or restricted premises.
A lysophosphatidic acid-binding cytosolic protein stimulates mitochondrial glycerophosphate acyltransferase

Rat liver cytosolic fraction caused up to five fold stimulation of mitochondrial glycerophosphate acyltransferase apparently by removing the lysophosphatidic acid formed by the acyltransferase. When mitochondria were incubated with palmityl-CoA, [2-3H]-sn-glycerol 3-phosphate and the cytosolic fraction and the supernatant fluid of the incubated mixture was passed through a Sephadex G-100 column, labeled lysophosphatidic acid eluted in three peaks with Mrs (i) 60-70 kDa, (ii) 10-20 kDa, and (iii) less than 5 kDa. Proteins, responsible for binding of lysophosphatidic acid in peaks (i) and (ii), were purified to near homogeneity as judged by electrophoretic analysis. The lysophosphatidic acid binding protein in peak (i) appears to be serum albumin and peak (iii) represents largely unbound lysophosphatidic acid. The 15 kDa protein, purified from peak (ii), bound lysophosphatidic acid, stimulated the acyltransferase and export of lysophosphatidic acid from mitochondria.
Mechanisms for the desorption of large organic molecules

Abstract Energizing mechanisms and models for the ejection of biomolecules due to electronic excitations by fast ions are compared and discussed. The energizing processes are also compared with those induced by UV photons in organic solids and by electronic sputtering of low-temperature condensed-gas solids by fast ions. The calculation of a yield for an ejected species is roughly divided into the determination of the probability of creation/survival of the species, an effective area, and an effective depth, which is determined by the radial dissipation of energy when ions are at normal incidence. Aspects of this calculation can be tested separately by experiment and the various models proposed in the literature often only address a part of the yield calculation. The measured low-temperature, condensed-gas sputtering yields for H2O indicate that a much larger material volume is removed than that suggested by the recent neutral yields for the ejection of whole leucine molecules. It is seen that significant radial energy transport determines the yields for water ice sputtering at high excitation densities but probably not the leucine yields. The general nature of a model for the total yield is discussed and differences between this and the observed energy density dependence for neutral leucine yields are considered. A rough estimate of the neutral leucine yields is given based on the initial track parameters for the energy deposited and assuming the incident ion induces a local expansion of the solid. Further, differences in the dependencies of the biomolecular ion yields and neutral yields on energy density deposited suggest that the ions do not come uniformly from the ejected volume.
Structure and Optical Properties of Amorphous Semiconductors

Amorphous semiconductors are of growing importance in applications which typically involve the use of large-area thin films. A prominent example is the promise of hydrogenated amorphous silicon as a solar-cell photoreceptor (1). Other examples are the use of amorphous chalcogenides in xerography and their potential use in high density optical memories. Also, as described later in this paper, amorphous semiconductors turn up during the technological processing of crystalline semiconductors in the microelectronics industry.
An analysis and experimental investigation of the binistor

This article is an analysis of a four-layer semiconductor device known as the binistor. An approximate equivalent of this device may be constructed from suitably connected NPN and PNP transistors. Analysis of the equivalent circuit configuration by means of the small-signal hybrid parameters enables a prediction of the circuit characteristics. From this analysis, it is shown that the device exhibits a voltage-stable negative-resistance characteristic in contrast with the usual current-stable negative resistance obtained from circuits employing a four-layer semiconductor device. This analysis indicates the manner in which the negative-resistance portion of the collector current-voltage characteristic is dependent upon the small-signal parameters of the NPN and PNP transistors and upon a certain resistance external to the device. A linear model of the device is proposed. Use of the model allows a prediction, within experimental accuracy, of the switching characteristics of the binistor used as a bistable device. Switching between the two states may be accomplished by three methods of control. This model suggests that the transfer characteristic between two particular ports should have the hysteresis characteristics of a mechanical relay. This analysis is born out by experiment. A circuit formed by a series combination of two binistors is shown. This circuit has two stable states with a stable output either at essentially the supply voltage, or at approximately ground potential. A modification with an intermediate stable state is also obtainable with the proper bias conditions. A logical extension of the binistor structure to a device that may have any desired number of stable states is proposed and a circuit of this type with three stable states is shown and discussed. Because of certain internal interaction phenomena, the device may be used as a modulator, and an experimental modulator circuit is developed and investigated.
Lot allocation and process control in semiconductor manufacturing - a dynamic game approach

This paper proposes a framework to study lot allocation (dispatch) policies for improved process control. Minimizing the sensitivity of overall process performance to process and inventory disturbances is proposed as a performance criterion. The specific policy presented considers process performance in making lot allocation decisions, and introduces soft dedication of machines in case of low-running material. Lastly, this policy is non-idling, and is driven by the contents of a buffer controlled by a daily planning system, or a dynamic scheduling algorithm. It is hoped that this paper will lead to additional studies on the interaction between scheduling/dispatch and semiconductor process control, especially in high-mix environments.
Significance of Battery Cell Equalization and Monitoring for Practical Commercialization of Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles

In order to increment gas mileage and meet CO 2 emission targets, automakers have recently started making serious advances towards all-electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV). Since the last decade, the main obstacle has remained the same: energy storage. In recent years, lithium batteries have been vastly explored, but have not yet met the energy requirements for PHEVs. The main issues are: cost, cycle life, calendar life, energy density, power density, and more recently, safety. These grave issues can be easily addressed using an extremely practical approach: a suitable battery cell voltage equalizer. The main aim of this paper is to demonstrate the role of an appropriate cell equalizer to reach the cost breakpoint of a PHEV. Lithium rechargeable cells have been studied thoughtfully, but they do not include the cost benefit analysis of using advanced electronics to protect and equalize the cells. The paper will also introduce lithium battery degradation effects, in order to demonstrate the practicality of battery cell voltage equalizers. Thereafter, the paper presents an economic comparison between a typical cell equalizer topology and the proposed topology. Finally, the economical feasibility of a power electronics intensive equalizer-managed PHEV storage system will be proven.
A formal approach to software synthesis for architectural platforms

Software-intensive systems today often rely on middleware platforms as major building blocks. As such, the architectural choices of such systems are being driven to a significant extent by such platforms. However, the diversity and rapid evolution of these platforms lead to architectural choices quickly becoming obsolete. Yet architectural choices are among the most difficult to change. This paper presents a novel and formal approach to end-to-end transformation of application models into architecturally correct code, averting the problem of mapping application models to such architectural platforms.
A Minimalist Substrate for Enzymatic Peptide and Protein Conjugation

Recently a number of nonnatural prenyl groups containing alkynes and azides have been developed as handles to perform click chemistry on proteins and peptides ending in the sequence "CAAX", where C is a cysteine that becomes alkylated, A is an aliphatic amino acid and X is any amino acid. When such molecules are modified, a tag containing a prenyl analogue and the "CAAX box" sequence remains. Here we report the synthesis of an alkyne-containing substrate comprised of only nine nonhydrogen atoms. This substrate was synthesized in six steps from 3-methylbut-2-en-1-ol and has been enzymatically incorporated into both proteins and peptides by using protein farnesyltransferase. After prenylation the final three amino acids required for enzymatic recognition can be removed by using carboxypeptidase Y, leaving a single residue (the cysteine from the "CAAX box") and the prenyl analogue as the only modifications. We also demonstrate that this small tag minimizes the impact of the modification on the solubility of the targeted protein. Hence, this new approach should be useful for applications in which the presence of a large tag hinders the modified protein's solubility, reactivity, or utility.
Monotone convex sequences and Cholesky decomposition of symmetric Toeplitz matrices

This paper studies off-diagonal decay in symmetric Toeplitz matrices. It is shown that if the generating sequence of the matrix is monotone, positive and convex then the monotonicity and positivity are maintained through triangular decomposition. The work is motivated by recent results on explicit bounds for inverses of triangular matrices.
Fat in Infancy

One interesting way the newly born infant assures a stable supply of energy to both body and brain, aside from breast milk, is through its reserves of body fat. Human newborns are the fattest babies in the mammalian world, fatter in fact than seals and sea lions (Kuzawa 1998:181, Table 1; see also Wells 2006). This is one area in which humans differ dramatically from their nearest primate relative, the chimpanzee, whose babies are thin, gaunt, and very wrinkled – almost prune-like – in appearance.
Address-Identifier Mapping System for scalable routing

The main architectural problem with the current inter-domain routing model is the overloading of IP addresses due to their use for identification, location, and forwarding. This makes it hard to support the need for multi-homing, traffic engineering, and mobility while maintaining address hierarchy that is essential for scalable routing. Thus, there is a need to separate identifiers from locators. In this paper we identify architectural and protocol changes in addressing and routing needed to provide major improvements in scalability. We design a corresponding protocol solution (Address-Identifier Mapping System — AIMS) based on separation of identification and addressing, and a mechanism for mapping ID to address.