cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fighting Gun Violence from the Doctor’s Office

Gun violence remains a sensitive topic in public health, politics, and the media. Policy statements from physician groups urge healthcare providers to address the topic with their patients. While pediatricians want to have these conversations, there are barriers preventing them from making it a routine part of the pediatric visit. However, studies as recently as 2016 show that the majority of families want physicians to talk about firearm safety (Garbutt et al. J Pediatr 179:166–71, 2016). In this chapter we outline the current policies and position statements from the largest professional physician societies. While laws vary by region, we examine the current status of the physician gag law. Using the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendations, we provide resources and suggestions, including changes we have made in our own clinical practice, to help implement a more universal approach to pediatrician-led, developmentally-informed firearm safety counseling. We hope to inspire and empower pediatricians to start tackling the epidemic of gun violence from their office. (Please note that throughout the chapter, “pediatricians” is the term we use to describe primary health care providers for children. We recognize that many children receive such care from other providers, such as a family medicine physician or nurse practitioner, or a pediatric nurse practitioner. We think such providers will find this chapter just as applicable to their practice.)
Prevention, Use of Health Services, and Genes: Implications of Genetics for Policy Formation

We evaluate the hypothesis that genetic factors influence the use of health services and prevention behaviors in a national sample of adult twins in the United States. The analysis compares the correlation of these outcomes between identical twins, who share all their genes, to the correlation between nonidentical twins, who share, on average, only one-half of their genes. Because the environmental similarities of twins are assumed to be the same for identical and nonidentical twin pairs, researchers can partition the variance in behavioral outcomes that are due to genetic and environmental factors. Using established methods in this field, we find evidence of significant genetic influences on preferences toward prevention, overall prevention effort, routine checkups, and prescription drug use. Use of curative services does not appear to be influenced by genes. Our findings offer several implications for policymakers and researchers and suggest that genetics could be informative for health services and policy research.
Investigating the Value of Spiritual Well-Being and Psychosocial Development in Mitigating Senior Adulthood Depression

Abstract While society often associates aging with despair, many older adults journey through the final stages of life with integrity, hope, and wisdom. Spirituality facilitates healthy aging by providing senior adults with a sense of meaning, purpose, and self-integration. Based on the existential and psychosocial paradigms, this study investigated the relationships between older adults' spiritual well-being, personality development according to Erikson's model, and level of depression. Participants included 78 senior adults ages 65-95 who were recruited from 4 senior centers, 1 church, 2 federally funded low-income independent living facilities, and 1 private independent living facility. The Geriatric Depression Scale, the Spiritual Well-Being Scale, and the Measure of Psychosocial Development Scale were used to examine the relationships between depression, spirituality, and psychosocial development. Results from the multiple correlation coefficients supported the following hypotheses: (1) it was predic...
Bank Integration and Local Credit Cycle:Evidence from Japan

This paper investigates how the integration of local banking markets affects the credit and economic cycle of local economies by using both a data set on the branch network of nationwide city banks and a prefecture-level panel data set on the formation and collapse of the real estate bubble in Japan. The empirical results show that the presence of city banks does not seem to have lessened the effects of local financial shocks on local economies. On the contrary, we find evidence that nation-wide city banks aggressively transmitted financial shocks that originated from major cities to local peripheral economies. These results suggest a dark side of large nation-wide banks: they can be a source of financial and economic volatility when they elect to take concentrated risk and spread out the impacts of large financial shocks to peripheral economies.
Discriminative, Semantic Segmentation of Brain Tissue in MR Images

A new algorithm is presented for the automatic segmentation and classification of brain tissue from 3D MR scans. It uses discriminative Random Decision Forest classification and takes into account partial volume effects. This is combined with correction of intensities for the MR bias field, in conjunction with a learned model of spatial context, to achieve accurate voxel-wise classification. Our quantitative validation, carried out on existing labelled datasets, demonstrates improved results over the state of the art, especially for the cerebro-spinal fluid class which is the most difficult to label accurately.
Realization of a 10 7 Reynolds Number Helium Facility

We describe preliminary work directed toward the development of a flow facility capable of sphere Reynolds number of order 107. There are two components to this paper. First, results from a preliminary experiment to measure sphere drag to Re > 105 in He I and He II are presented and discussed in terms of current understanding of the problem. These results have encouraged the second part of the present work, which involves the conceptual design of a 107 Reynolds number facility. Comments on the feasibility of hydrodynamic testing with liquid helium are included.
Expression of HSP86 in male germ cells.

Abstract A comparison of HSP84 and HSP86 mRNA expression in adult mouse tissues revealed distinct expression patterns for these highly homologous genes. Particularly striking is the germ cell specificity of HSP86 expression in the testis, suggesting distinct roles for HSP84 and HSP86 with respect to testicular function and development.
Remarkable morphological variability of a common RNA folding motif: the GNRA tetraloop-receptor interaction.

Abstract One of the most common RNA tertiary interactions involves the docking of GNRA hairpin loops into stem-loop structures on other regions of RNA. Domain 5 of the group II intron interacts with Domain 1 through such an interaction, which has been characterized thermodynamically and kinetically for the ai5g intron. Using this system, it was possible to test the morphological tolerances of the GNRA tetraloop involved in tertiary interactions. The data presented herein show that a GNRA tetraloop can still participate in tertiary interaction after being physically cut at any phosphodiester linkage within the loop. The “nicked tetraloop” can be expanded by many nucleotides in either direction and the covalently continuous loop can also be expanded without loss of interaction energy. In the context of the nicked tetraloop, the second nucleotide of the tetraloop sequence can be completely deleted without loss of function. By examining radical alterations in tetraloop structure, this study helps define the minimal sequence and structural requirements of a GNRA motif involved in long-range tertiary interaction. It shows that “tetraloop”-like structures capable of forming tertiary interactions can be imbedded in unexpected contexts, such as internal loops and apparently open structure within RNA. It demonstrates that pentaloops and hexaloops can form the same type of interaction, with almost equal affinity, as a tetraloop. Taken together, these data suggest a more generic term for the GNRA tetraloop-receptor interaction: It is proposed herein that the term “GNRA tetraloop” be replaced by “GN n /RA“, where n represents a variable number of nucleotides and / indicates that the loop can be divided and interrupted by other sequences.
The interchangeability of vectorcardiographic systems

Abstract The simultaneously recorded QRS complexes of the scalar leads of three orthogonal vectorcardiographic systems (SVEC-III, Frank, and axial) have been converted to digital form and examined by means of computer analysis for the characteristics of transformation between any two systems in 35 normal subjects. A set of individual transformation coefficients fitted by the method of least-squares for the entire phase of ventricular depolarization in each subject was obtained, so that when applied to the voltages of one lead system, the configurations of the QRS complex in the leads of the other system could be closely approximated. There was, however, considerable variation within the group, so that average transformation coefficients for the normal subjects sometimes gave very poor approximations of the desired set of scalar leads and vector loops from a given set. An attempt was made to determine whether this variation in transformation characteristics depended upon certain physical parameters, such as height, weight, age, body surface area, relative obesity, or orientation of the mean spatial electrical axis of the QRS. Mild trends were noted toward relating the components of Z in the Frank-to-axial transformation to body weight, and of the components of Z in the axial-to-SVEC-III transformation to the orientation of the mean spatial axis of the axial vectorcardiogram; otherwise, the variation in transformation coefficients appeared to be random. Our tentative conclusion is that, although interesting approximations can be obtained in the laboratory from the knowledge of average transformation coefficients, the practical interchangeability of quantitative information obtained from one lead system into that obtainable by another is seriously limited because of the wide range of biologic variation in transformation characteristics.
Ultrastructural localization of immunoreactive neurotensin in the monkey superficial dorsal horn

Neurotensin, a tridecapeptide, has been proposed to have a role in sensory systems, especially those mediating pain. The light microscopic and ultrastructural localization of neurotensin immunoreactivity in neurons of the monkey spinal cord was studied with the aim of examining their synaptic interactions. At the light microscopic level, neurotensin-containing cells were located in laminae II and III and immunoreactive axons and terminals were found in laminae I, II, and III. Neurotensin-positive axons were mostly thin and unmyelinated and their boutons contained both clear and large granular vesicles. Boutons varied considerably in size (1-3 micron) and in their relative content of large granular vesicles, which appeared occasionally in presynaptic locations. In lamina I neurotensin-immunoreactive terminals formed synapses with cell bodies which varied both in size and subcellular features. Some large dendrites in lamina I were contacted by numerous neurotensin-positive axons and also unlabeled terminals. In lamina II boutons with neurotensin immunoreactivity formed synapses mostly with small unlabeled dendrites some of which contained vesicles. The present results together with recent anatomical and physiological findings suggest that spinal cord neurons which contain neurotensin synapse with cells in the superficial dorsal horn that receive either input from primary afferents conveying nociceptive information or form part of the spinothalamic tract, or both. The diversity observed both in the morphology of neurotensin-positive terminals and in their synaptic patterns may indicate that they arise from more than one type of dorsal horn cell.
Homocores, cores and operational inefficiency in superadditive n-person games†

Defect in the core as a solution to n-person superadditive characteristic function games are examined and the process of achieving a ‘ reasonable- ’ core by changing the value of tho grand coalition is studied. A new unique solution concept, the ‘ homoeore ’, is proposed based on the ‘ homomollifier ’ notion interpreted as the result of implicit bargaining and weighted averages of coalitional worth. Thereby unreasonable cores are excluded but a core-like dominance property on the average is maintained. It also yields a measure of ‘ operational efficiency ’ where the game may be interpreted as an economic situation of decreasing marginal productivity
High affinity uptake systems for glycine, glutamic and aspartic acids in synaptosomes of rat central nervous tissues

Abstract We have studied the kinetics of uptake of several l -amino acids into homogenates of rat cerebral cortex and spinal cord. These accumulated amino acids are localized to synaptosomal fractions obtained by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. The accumulations of glutamic and aspartic acids in the cerebral cortex and spinal cord and glycine in the spinal cord are best described by two kinetic systems with low and high affinities respectively. By contrast, for glycine in the cerebral cortex and for several other amino acids in both areas, only single low affinity transport systems are detected. The uptakes of glutamic and aspartic acids were mutually competitive in both cerebral cortical and spinal cord preparations, suggesting that they utilize the same uptake mechanism.
Pharmacokinetic Evidence Supporting an 8-Hour Administration Interval for Cefotaxime in Infants and Children

We conducted a multiple dose, open-label study to evaluate the serum concentrations of cefotaxime (CTX) and desacetylcefotaxime (dCTX) in infants and children following a 75.0 mg/kg dose of CTX given on an 8-hourly schedule. 12 hospitalised infants and children were enrolled; their ages ranged from 1.5 to 58 months, with a mean age of 20.2 months for the entire group. All patients received CTX every 8 hours for the duration of prescribed therapy. Cefotaxime and dCTX serum concentrations were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The trough serum concentrations for CTX at steady-state were below quantifiable limits in 4 of 12 patients, whereas only 1 of 12 patients had an undetectable trough serum concentration of dCTX. A 1-compartment open model was used to estimate the elimination rate constant (Ke) for CTX from the 3 postdose serum concentration vs time points. In those patients where an 8-hour concentration could not be reliably quantified (n = 4), the Ke for CTX was estimated using the following equation: $${\rm K}_{\rm e} = {\rm(ln\;C_1 - ln\;C_2)/(t_2 - t_1)}$$
Block form stability in removable partial dentures.

Summary Block form stability is one of the many factors which must be considered to render a removable partial denture successful. A thorough diagnosis must be followed by complete oral treatment wherein all phases of oral health must be considered. 9 Methods of developing block form stability were discussed and the advantages of this design for removable partial dentures were described.
The catabolic fate of nitric oxide: the nitric oxide oxidase and peroxynitrite reductase activities of cytochrome oxidase.

Stimulation of cardiomyocytes to endogenously evolve nitric oxide is shown by microsensor measurements on single cells to lead to transient nitric oxide concentrations of a few hundred nanomolar. At these submicromolar concentrations, no evidence could be found for the expected reaction between nitric oxide generated and the oxymyoglobin present in the cells: nitric oxide + oxymyoglobin → nitrate + metmyoglobin. No metmyoglobin formation was detected by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, and microsensor measurements revealed near quantitative conversion of the nitric oxide to nitrite rather than nitrate ion. Moreover, the rate of nitrite formation is shown to be too rapid to be accounted for by non-enzymatic means. The essentially quantitative and rapid catabolism of nitric oxide to nitrite ion can plausibly be explained on the basis of a cycle of reactions catalyzed by cytochrome c oxidase. It is demonstrated with the purified hemoproteins in vitro that the terminal oxidase can outcompete oxymyoglobin for available nitric oxide. It is proposed that under normal physiological and most pathological (non-inflammatory) conditions, reaction with cytochromec oxidase is the major route by which NO is removed from mitochondria-rich cells.
The Application of the Theory of Reasoned Action to Senior Management and Strategic Information Systems

In recent years MIS research has been concerned with the development and use of information systems to achieve a competitive advantage. One of the many encompassing issues related to this topic is the need to gain the support and commitment for such systems from senior management. Although previous research has discussed some of the difficulties with and reasons for senior management's reluctance to adopt strategic information systems, there does not appear to be the application of any integrated theory or framework to this problem. In this paper, we discuss an established and well-researched theory, the Theory of Reasoned Action, and we provide a basis for how it can be applied to the acceptance of strategic information systems by senior management. Initially, a general discussion of competitive advantage and strategic information systems is provided as foundation. Next, the Theory of Reasoned Action is discussed in detail. Finally, the theory is applied to senior organizational executives, with an emphasis on a methodology, to uncover some of the underlying reasons for resistance to adopting strategic information systems.
Solvation dynamics in acetonitrile: a study incorporating solute electronic response and nuclear relaxation.

The solvent reorganization process after electronic excitation of a polar solute in a polar solvent such as acetonitrile is related mainly to the time evolution of the solute−solvent electrostatic interaction. Modern laser-based techniques have sufficient time resolution to follow this decay in real time, providing information to be confirmed and interpreted by theories and models. We present here a study aimed at the investigation of the different steps involved in the process taking place after a vertical S0 → S1 excitation of a large size chromophore, coumarin 153 (C153), in acetonitrile, from both the solute and the solvent points of view. To do this, we use accurate quantum mechanical calculations for the solute properties within the polarizable continuum model (PCM) and classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, both equilibrium and nonequilibrium, for C153 in the presence of the solvent. The geometry of the solute is allowed to change in order to study the role of internal motions in the time-d...
Experimental pure fluid and binary mixture performance in a heat pump equipped with a distillation column.

An experimental heat pump system that included a distillation column, accumulator/sump, and heater was experimentally investigated using two different working fluids, R32 and a mixture of R32/134a. Performance variations with changes in sump heater power, condenser and evaporator heat transfer fluid flow, and compressor speed were examined. Heating capacity generally increased with increases in the factors tested. Heating capacity increases were generally smaller with the R32/134a tests than with the R32 tests, except with variations in sump heater power. An increase in sump heater power caused a pronounced increase in the circulating R32 concentration during the mixture tests, and the heating capacity increased markedly. The increase in heating capacity with sump heater power during the R32/134a tests was on par with the increase with compressor power during these same tests. The increase in capacity with sump heater power during the R32/134a tests also was substantial even when compared with the capacity increase with compressor speed during the R32 tests.
Conical intersections and double excitations in time-dependent density functional theory

There is a clear need for computationally inexpensive electronic structure theory methods which can model excited state potential energy surfaces. Time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) has emerged as one of the most promising contenders in this context. Many previous tests have concentrated on vertical excitation energies, which can be compared to experimental absorption maxima. Here, we focus attention on more global aspects of the resulting potential energy surfaces, especially conical intersections which play a key role in photochemical mechanisms. We introduce a new method for minimal energy conical intersection (MECI) searches which does not require knowledge of the non-adiabatic coupling vector. Using this new method, we compute MECI geometries with multi-state complete active space perturbation theory (MS-CASPT2) and TDDFT. We show that TDDFT in the linear response and adiabatic approximations can predict MECI geometries and energetics quite accurately, but that there are a number of qualitative deficiencies which need to be addressed before TDDFT can be used routinely in photochemical problems.
Developing a global leadership perspective through the use of student‐created reusable learning objects

Study abroad programs have been identified as one of the most effective methods of globalizing curricula and students. The purpose of this study was to examine the current framework of the Leading Change in Costa Rica Study Abroad Program and its ability to diffuse leadership theory to the participating students and to students who are not able to take part in a study abroad opportunity. This study abroad program used reusable learning objects (RLOs) as an assignment to develop global leadership competencies by applying the learned leadership theory in an international context. Students were impacted by the experience. They gained knowledge of the course content, developed and expanded their cultural competencies, and expanded their views of developing countries. The Leading Change in Costa Rica Study Abroad Program also made an effort to develop the intercultural competencies and global leadership abilities of students who are unable to study abroad. The student-created RLOs have been used in class presentations and made available to interested faculty to use in classrooms across disciplines.
The effect of furosemide on renal function and renin in water snakes.

Abstract 1. Water snakes of the genus Natrix were given a two day regimen of furosemide administration and subjected to a water load. 2. As compared to water loaded controls, the furosemide group showed significant increases in urine flow and osmolality and significant decreases in fractional sodium, potassium, water and distal osmotic reabsorption. Potassium secretion was elevated in the diuretic group. 3. All of these changes occured in the absence of change in GFR or plasma electrolyte or protein concentration. 4. Renal renin content of the furosemide group was significantly elevated over the control group. 5. We concluded that furosemide has both a proximal and distal tubular site of action in Natrix . It is suggested that since no loop of Henle or macula densa is present in this animal furosemide may have a direct effect on juxtaglomerular cells.
Cyclic AMP mediates keratinocyte directional migration in an electric field

Re-epithelialization of wounded skin is necessary for wound closure and restoration of barrier function and requires directional keratinocyte migration towards the center of the wound. The electric field (EF) generated immediately upon wounding could be the earliest signal keratinocytes receive to initiate directional migration and healing. Keratinocytes express many β2-adrenergic receptors (β2-ARs), but their role in the epidermis is unknown. We have previously shown that β-AR agonists decrease keratinocyte migration in a cyclic AMP (cAMP) independent mechanism involving the activation of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A). Here, we ask whether β2-ARs play a role in keratinocyte galvanotaxis. We report a bimodal response. When keratinocytes were exposed to higher concentrations of β-AR agonist (0.1 μM), their tracked migratory speed was inhibited, in both the presence (directional migration) and the absence (random migration) of a 100 mV mm–1 EF, as expected. At lower agonist concentrations (0.1 pM to 0.1 nM), there was no effect on migratory speed; however, all directionality was lost – essentially, cells were `blinded9 to the directional cue. Preincubating the cells with β-antagonist restored directional migration, demonstrating that the `blindness9 was β2-AR mediated. Incubation of keratinocytes with agents known to increase intracellular cAMP levels, such as sp-cAMP, pertussis toxin and forskolin, resulted in similar `blinding9 to the EF, whereas random migration was unaffected. The inactive cAMP analog rp-cAMP had no effect on keratinocyte migration, whether directional or random. However, rp-cAMP pretreatment before β-agonist addition fully restored galvanotaxis, demonstrating the complete cAMP dependence of the attenuation of keratinocyte directional migration. This is the first report that cAMP is capable of mediating keratinocyte galvanotaxis. β-AR agonists and antagonists could be valuable tools for modulating re-epithelialization, an essential step in the wound-healing process. Thus, β-ARs regulate the two distinct components of keratinocyte directional migration differently: migration speed via a cAMP-independent mechanism and galvanotaxis by a cAMP-dependent one.
High-speed dual-slot KCD for bone imaging

A prototype kinestatic charge detector (KCD) has been built at the University of Tennessee, Memphis, with a resolution of 0.2 by 0.2 mm and a field of view of 40 by 40 cm. This KCD prototype was designed specifically for chest radiography, and has produced clinical chest radiographs with lower patient dose and higher image quality than can be achieved with screen/film or photostimulable phosphor systems. In a previous publication the ability of the KCD prototype to acquire dual-energy x-ray images was demonstrated by scanning the same object twice, at two different kVp settings and with two different filters. The accuracy and repeatability of the KCD allowed separate bone and tissue images of a frozen turkey to be produced. For clinical dual-energy x-ray imaging, it would be desirable to acquire the two images of the patient at two different x-ray spectra in one scan, in order to prevent image artifacts due to patient motion. A dual-KCD imaging system for acquiring such images simultaneously is described in the patent literature. This paper describes one of the embodiments of such a dual-KCD dual-energy x-ray imager, which uses only one kVp, but two different filters. Images of a human chest phantom have been acquired using this single- kVp dual-filter technique using the KCD prototype, and are compared with dual-kVp dual- filter images, like those from Ref. 1, taken at the same skin dose.
Evaluation of pumice as a perlite substitute for container soil physical amendment

Abstract Shallow‐drained horticultural soils utilized in containers, sporting areas, and landscape sites tend to retain excess water and be poorly aerated as a consequence of capillary retention following irrigation or precipitation. This problem is usually corrected by soil physical amendment with coarse‐textured particulates which add pores sufficiently large to drain and provide adequate aeration. A variety of materials are used for soil physical amendment. One of the most common and successful amendments is perlite. This study examined the feasibility of using pumice, a very similar mineral, as a substitute for perlite in soil amendment. The physiochemical properties of pumice important to its use as a container soil amendment were found similar to those of perlite.
Apparent mineralocorticoid excess: A personal history

Abstract A personal memoir records the discovery of a new form of hypertension, apparent mineralocorticoid excess, which came about through painstaking analysis of the symptoms of a Zuni Indian girl.
Flame speed measurements at the tip of a slot burner: Effects of flame curvature and hydrodynamic stretch

The effects of flame curvature and stretch upon the laminar flame speed are investigated experimentally and compared to theoretical predictions. The flame speed at the tip and side of a slot burner is measured using particle tracking velocimetry. Temperatures are measured using Rayleigh scattering. Flame tip curvatures are measured using direct flame photography. For a range of mean exit velocities from 1 to 2.5 m/s and a diffusionally neutral mixture, the flame speed at the tip is found to exceed that at the side by a factor as high as 6.25. The flame speed ratio is found to depend linearly upon the hydrodynamic stretch factor as predicted by the analysis of Matalon and Matkowsky. Equivalently, the flame speed ratio is found to increase nonlinearly with the flame curvature. Comparison with published results from a cylindrical burner shows similar trends.
Folds on Europa: Implications for Crustal Cycling and Accommodation of Extension

Regional-scale undulations with associated small-scale secondary structures are inferred to be folds on Jupiter's moon Europa. Formation is consistent with stresses from tidal deformation, potentially triggering compressional instability of a region of locally high thermal gradient. Folds may compensate for extension elsewhere on Europa and then relax away over time.
Sensitivity of 341 non-fermentative gram-negative bacteria to seven beta-lactam antibiotics.

Susceptibility of 341 isolates of non-fermentative gram-negative bacteria to carbenicillin, piperacillin, cefoperazone, moxalactam, cefotaxime, ceftizoxime, and N-formimidoyl thienamycin was determined by the agar dilution and disc diffusion methods. Piperacillin was the most active agent againstPseudomonas aeruginosa, thienamycin the most active againstPseudomonas fluorescens andPseudomonas putida, and moxalactam the most active againstPseudomonas maltophilia. Piperacillin and thienamycin were the most active agents against the otherPseudomonas species studied. Thienamycin proved to have excellent activity againstAcinetobacter calcoaceticus − 90 % of strains were inhibited by ⩽ 1μg/ml. The two most active drugs againstAlcaligenes species were piperacillin and thienamycin, both of which inhibited 90 % of isolates at a concentration of 2μg/ ml. All drugs were active againstMoraxella species. The broad sensitivity spectrum of piperacillin, thienamycin, and the third-generation cephalosporins against non-fermentative gram-negative bacteria indicates their potential use in infections caused by these organisms.
Zinc speciation in a contaminated aquatic environment: Characterization of environmental particles by analytical electron microscopy

Analytical electron microscopy (AEM) was used to characterize individual aquatic particles in a lake that has been contaminated by zinc smelting operations. Samples were collected from the sediments and the water column of the lake along a gradient of metal contamination. The samples were prepared to preserve their aqueous nature, and thin sections were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Zinc bearing particles were characterized by different morphologies ranging from near spherical large colloids (i.e., a few 100 nm) to small grains either intimately associated with biological templates or present as separate amorphous entities. Elemental associations were determined for each individual particle by X-ray energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS). These analyses revealed the pervasive presence of Zn through the aquatic environment and its intimate combination with Fe and P in biotic structures. The association of Zn and P was most prevalent close to the source of contamination, whereas afar Zn ...
On the electrodeless arc in high-pressure air

Abstract The results of a comprehensive numerical analysis of the energy balance in the high-frequency electrodeless discharge in high-pressure air are compared with key predictions from the “eddy-current” theory of this discharge.
Interaction of meso-1,2,3,4-Butanetetracarboxylic Acid with Phosphorus-Containing Catalysts for Esterification Cross-Linking of Cellulose

In the presence of catalysts, polycarboxylic acids such as meso-1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid (BTCA) can cross-link cellulose in a process believed to involve cyclic anhydrides as intermediates. This study was undertaken to explore, in the absence of cellulose, interactions between catalysts and polycarboxylic acids that might explain the catalysts' role. Aqueous solutions containing equimolar amounts of BTCA and a catalyst (NaH2PO4 or NaH2PO2) were evaporated to constant weight. The residues were subjected to thermal analysis and to infrared spectroscopic analysis after heating. As the BTCA−NaH2PO4 residue was heated, the BTCA remained complexed with phosphate until a monoanhydride formedthe same monoanhydride that formed when BTCA alone was heated to a higher temperature. In the BTCA−NaH2PO2 system an anhydride apparently formed at an even lower temperature than in the phosphate-containing system but then reacted with the hypophosphite.
Anomalous electron bunch length due to fast instability

Abstract A theory of bunch lengthening in electron storage rings is proposed. The equilibrium bunch length is determined by a balancing of beam induced fields tending to cause coherent instability and bunch frequency spread tending to prevent the buildup of coherent modes (Landau damping). The mechanism is related to the existence of a single bunch, single mode “fast” longitudinal instability. For such an instability to develop, the growth rate must be sufficiently faster than the synchrotron frequency. It is suggested that the source of the anomalous electron bunch length is a broad band resistive impedance at high frequency which could be produced by the combination of many closely spaced high frequency resonators, such as vacuum flanges. It follows that bunch lengthening and the observed higher mode heating are directly correlated. A scaling law for the equilibrium bunch length is derived. The scaling parameter is g =( hV cos ϕ s )/ I , with h , V and ϕ s the usual rf parameters and I the average beam current. Data taken in SPEAR I and II, data in which g extends in value by more than three orders of magnitude, can be fit with an appropriate choice of coupling impedance. The impedance functions for SPEAR I and II are taken to be the same, a reflection of the fact that the high frequency sources are chamber discontinuities rather than structures connected with the rf systems. A parameter search leads to an impedance characterized by a central frequency ∼5 GHz, a width (fwhm) ∼1.8 GHz and a peak value ∼0.2 M Ω . In addition to the agreement obtained between predicted and experimentally observed bunch lengths, the measured higher mode resistance (i.e., heat dissipated) in SPEAR is also found to be in agreement with the theoretical predictions.
Directed endothelial differentiation of cultured embryonic yolk sac cells in vivo provides a novel cell-based system for gene therapy

Cultured murine yolk sac cells transfected with the cytomegalovirus immediate early promoter/human growth hormone (CMVIE-hGH) fusion gene, expressing high levels of hGH in culture, and suspended in Matrigel™ were subcutaneously (s.c.) injected into experimental mice. The injected cells were shown to form discrete vesicular structures within the Matrigel implant, suggesting directed differentiation of the embryonic yolk sac cells into endothelial tissue. Human growth hormone radioimmune assay of these mice showed sustained physiologically significant levels of hGH in their serum for beyond four months. These results confirmed that long-term cultured murine embryonic yolk sac cells can be induced to differentiate into endothelial cells both in vivo and in vitro and suggested a novel approach to the delivery to the circulation of therapeutic proteins for the treatment of inherited and acquired diseases.
Mass and heat transfer to an ellipsoidal particle

Simulation numerique du tranfert de chaleur et de masse pour les particules ellipsoidales en vue de determiner la vitesse de combustion des semicokes du charbon a partir de l'equation Laplace.
Physical parameters affecting living cells in space

Abstract The question is posed: Why does a living cell react to the absence of gravity? What sensors may it have? Does it note pressure, sedimentation, convection, or other parameters? If somewhere in a liquid volume sodium ions are replaced by potassium ions, the density of the liquid changes locally: the heavier regions sink, the lighter regions rise. This may contribute to species transport, to the metabolism. Under microgravity this mechanism is strongly reduced. On the other hand, other reasons for convection like thermal and solutal interface convection are left. Do they affect species transport? Another important effect of gravity is the hydrostatic pressure. On the macroscopic side, the pressure between our head and feet changes by 0.35 atmospheres. On the microscopic level the hydrostatic pressure on the upper half of a cell membrane is lower than on the lower half. This, by affecting the ion transport through the membrane, may change the surrounding electric potential. It has been suggested to be one of the reasons for graviperception. Following the discussion of these and other effects possibly important in life sciences in space, an order of magnitude analysis of the residual accelerations tolerable during experiments in materials sciences is outlined. In the field of life sciences only rough estimates are available at present.
Submillimeter-wave phonon modes in DNA macromolecules.

A detailed investigation of phonon modes in DNA macromolecules is presented. This work presents experimental evidence to confirm the presence of multiple dielectric resonances in the submillimeter-wave spectra (i.e., \ensuremath{\sim}0.01\char21{}10 THz) obtained from DNA samples. These long-wave (i.e., \ensuremath{\sim}1\char21{}30 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$) absorption features are shown to be intrinsic properties of the particular DNA sequence under study. Most importantly, a direct comparison of spectra between different DNA samples reveals a large number of modes and a reasonable level of sequence-specific uniqueness. This work establishes the initial foundation for the future use of submillimeter-wave spectroscopy in the identification and characterization of DNA macromolecules.
The contribution of phenotypic plasticity to the evolution of insecticide tolerance in amphibian populations

Understanding population responses to rapid environmental changes caused by anthropogenic activities, such as pesticides, is a research frontier. Genetic assimilation (GA), a process initiated by phenotypic plasticity, is one mechanism potentially influencing evolutionary responses to novel environments. While theoretical and laboratory research suggests that GA has the potential to influence evolutionary trajectories, few studies have assessed its role in the evolution of wild populations experiencing novel environments. Using the insecticide, carbaryl, and 15 wood frog populations distributed across an agricultural gradient, we tested whether GA contributed to the evolution of pesticide tolerance. First, we investigated the evidence for evolved tolerance to carbaryl and discovered that population-level patterns of tolerance were consistent with evolutionary responses to pesticides; wood frog populations living closer to agriculture were more tolerant than populations living far from agriculture. Next, we tested the potential role of GA in the evolution of pesticide tolerance by assessing whether patterns of tolerance were consistent with theoretical predictions. We found that populations close to agriculture displayed constitutive tolerance to carbaryl whereas populations far from agriculture had low naive tolerance but high magnitudes of induced tolerance. These results suggest GA could play a role in evolutionary responses to novel environments in nature.
Nominalization and Montague Grammar: A semantics without types for natural languages

We started from the fact that type theory, in the way it was implemented in IL, makes it costly to deal with nominalization processes. We have also argued that the type hierarchy as such doesn't play any real role in a grammar; the classification it provides for different semantic objects is already contained, in some sense, in the categorial structure of the grammar itself. So, on the basis of a theory of properties (Cocchiarella's HST*) we have tried to build a language (IL*) whose syntax does not contain any explicit typing of expressions. Some of the consequences that this move brings about in the overall organization of the grammar can be summarized as follows: (a) it allows for a simple treatment of infinitives, gerunds, factives and, in general, all those phenomena which might be analyzed as cases of nominalization; (b) it provides a simpler and more constrained semantics than IL, since IL* doesn't go beyond second order, and its non-modal basis is axiomatizable; (c) it suggests that the role of logical form in a theory of grammar could be that of a family of theories of semantic objects; (d) it eliminates the extrinsic limitations of a type hierarchy on the choice of the system of syntactic categories.
The long-run relationship between inflation and output in postwar economies☆

Abstract We investigate the relationship between inflation and real output in a large sample of postwar economies. Our methodology is to use a structural vector autoregression to estimate the response of the level of real output to permanent inflation shocks separately for each country. We find that a permanent shock to inflation is not associated with a permanent movement in the level of real output for most countries in our sample. The main exceptions are certain low inflation countries, in which permanent inflation shocks permanently increase the level of output. We also find that permanent inflation shocks do not permanently influence real output growth rates in our sample.
Genes with triplet repeats: candidate mediators of neuropsychiatric disorders.

Abstract Recently a new form of human mutation — expansion of trinucleotide repeats — has been found to cause the diseases of fragile X syndrome, spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy, myotonic dystrophy and, most recently, Huntington's disease. We review the emerging data on the genetics and neurobiology of these disorders. Three are characterized by unusual patterns of inheritance, in particular, genetic ‘anticipation', in which the severity of the disorder increases and the age of onset decreases in successive generations of a pedigree. Several idiopathic neuropsychiatric disorders have features of inheritance consistent with anticipation. In bipolar affective disorder, there is evidence for both earlier age of onset and more severe illness in the second generation of a subset of unilineal pedigrees. There is also the suggestion of anticipation in some forms of schizophrenia, spino-cerebellar atrophy and autism. Triplet repeats are present in additional known genes, both in coding regions and untranslated regions. Furthermore, many novel genes with triplet repeats are expressed in the human brain, and these are candidates to cause some forms of these neuropsychiatric disorders.
Rapid pulmonary dissemination in mycosis fungoides simulating pneumonia. A case report and review of the literature

Mycosis fungoides is a neoplastic disease with extranodal dissemination most frequently to the lung. The roentgenographic and clinical manifestations in these patients may simulate pneumonia and delay appropriate treatment. Disseminated disease is thought to occur in the setting of involvement of the peripheral blood with the neoplastic cells. A case of rapid pulmonary involvement with mycosis fungoides which simulated pneumonia is presented in which there was no peripheral blood manifestation of the disease.
Heat production during diving in the fresh water turtle, Pseudemys scripta.

Heat production was measured calorimetrically in the turtle, Pseudemys scripta elegans, (a) while submerged and (b) while partially submerged and breathing various gas mixtures. Submersion resulted in a profound reduction of heat production (80%). This reduction was not merely a response to the dive per se, but depended on the oxygen concentration available to the turtle prior to the onset of the dive. Heat production while breathing gas mixtures with different O2 concentrations was unchanged down to 5% O2. At 3% O2, heat production was 50% of normal, and at 100% N2, it was 20% of normal. Uptake of dissolved O2 from water was found to be 6% of the O2 uptake from air by these turtles. These results suggest that following diving, there is a profound reduction in metabolic rate, but not until the O2 stores are depleted. This low rate is primarily anaerobic and only a very low oxidative metabolism can be supported by O2 extracted from the water.
The relative influence of urban climates on outdoor human energy budgets and skin temperature II. Man in an urban environment

Four typical urban neighborhoods or street canyon settings (including street parks) were simulated. These urban morphologies were exposed to typical summer and winter climatic scenarios for latitudes 10‡, 34‡, and 50‡N. The changes induced in the components of the human energy budget were examined. Resultant skin temperatures were compared with non-urban, unobstructed environments.
Monolayer Growth of Chicken Neuroglial Cells in Tissue Culture

Abstract THE development of techniques for the cultivation of nervous tissue in vitro has contributed much to the study of neuroglial cells. In tissue culture, distinguishing characteristics are generally more discernible because the cells spread out in a thin layer and are contrasted against a non-cellular background. In ordinary histological preparations glial cells are obscure; and special, selective staining methods must be employed to demonstrate their various structural features. Previous in vitro observations have centered on the area surrounding flattened fragments of tissue where growing and migrating glial cells are more distinct (Pomerat and Costero, 1956). Although previous attempts to maintain strains of glial cells in vitro have generally been unsuccessful, Seiden and Korey (1959) did succeed in maintaining a strain of cells obtained from trypsin dispersed monkey brain white matter for a period of 8 months. Although the monkey brain cells resemble glial cells, Seiden and Korey made no attempt…
Nε-/l-DEOXYFRUCTOSYL/-LYSINE IN URINE AFTER INGESTION OF A LACTOSE FREE, GLUCOSE CONTAINING MILK FORMULA

For some time we were intrigued by an unknown compound appearing on amino acidschromatograms of urine from patients receiving a lactose free evaporated milk in which lactose had been replaced by glucose. The unknown substance was isolated by ionexchange chromatography and identified as Ne-/1-deoxyfructosyl/-lysine/edFrclys/ by chemical degradation, elemental analysis, field desorption mass spectrometry, and chromatographic comparison with the synthetic reference compound. edFrcLys, an Amadori product, was bound to the protein of this particular milk in a concentration of about 2 g per 100 g milk protein. It has practically no nutritional value since about 16% were excreted as intact dFrcLys in urine and about 55 % in faeces.