cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Formal Specification Language and Agent Applications

Recent computational problems in computing include several areas, which are prime candidates as applications of agent systems, such as artificial intelligence, logistics, and data analytics. Specification of such agent systems using formal languages not only results in reliable systems, but also provide for the validation of agent-based systems. The advantages of using formal methods in specifying agent systems during the entire life cycle has not been exploited in practice since the field is still emerging. This chapter has topics that cover the use of a formal specification language and discusses in detail the tool support developed to execute the specifications written using the extended Descartes specification language. Software agent-based systems come with various characteristics, such as autonomous, reactive, proactive, and goal-oriented. These agent characteristics fit inside various application areas. The application areas included in this chapter are in information management, electronic commerce, and medical applications where agents are used in patient monitoring and health care. Rather than building the applications from scratch, this chapter makes use of existing applications alongside of the formal specification language, the Descartes specification language to analyze the language features for crucial aspects of the applications. Descriptions of the case studies are explained to describe an agent system and the formal specifications written for specifying such a system. The applications consider agent systems that are defined using specific agent properties along with the interaction of an agent with its environment.
Etiological Factors in Pediatric Stone Recurrence

We followed 270 pediatric stone patients during a 27-year period to determine the recurrence rate of stone disease. Stone disease recurred in 42 patients (16 per cent). When these patients were categorized according to etiology of the stone disease the recurrence rates were infection 14 per cent, idiopathic 14 per cent, anatomical 27 per cent and metabolic 30 per cent. The most prolonged interval to stone recurrence in each category ranged from 7 to 13 years and, thus, long-term followup of pediatric stone patients seems to be important.
Irinotecan in the First-Line Treatment of Colorectal Cancer

Irinotecan (CPT-11 [Camptosar]) is currently approved for use as a second-line agent in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. Phase II studies have also shown substantial single-agent activity of irinotecan in the
Envelope Pseudotypes of HIV and HTLV

The course of viral infections can be influenced by a variety of host factors as well as by co-infection of the host with one or more other viruses. Studies in cells co-infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and a second virus have demonstrated transactivation of transcription from the HIV LTR by products of the second virus. Several classes of viruses, including papovaviruses (6), herpesvirus (8, 13, 15) and hepatitis B virus (23) have been shown to have this transactivating property. A second virus can also activate transcription of HIV proviruses by indirect mechanisms, such as by inducing the transcription factor NFkB, which acts on the HIV LTR (14). The human T cell leukemia viruses (HTLV-I and HTLV-II) may enhance HIV replication by a different means; HTLV particles have a direct mitogenic effect on T cells (possibly by binding to a cell surface growth factor receptor) and thus stimulating production of HIV from infected T cells (5, 28).
Reduction in multipactor breakdown threshold due to a parallel magnetic field

Multipactor breakdown may occur in an RF component when the electron transit time across a gap satisfies a resonant condition and the secondary electron yield from surfaces is sufficiently high to overcome electron losses from the breakdown region and produce net electron population growth. In devices such as isolators and circulators that have a magnetic field oriented parallel to the RF electric field, transverse mobility of electrons is inhibited. This electron confinement reduces losses and can lower the multipactor threshold power by several decibels compared to the unmagnetized case. Fundamentals of this process have been studied in a simple stripline geometry with an externally applied uniform magnetic field of variable strength. Laboratory experiments are compared with particle tracking simulations as well as an analytical theory that takes into account the distribution of secondary emission energies.
Patterns of predation of native reef fish by invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish in the western Atlantic: Evidence of selectivity by a generalist predator

Abstract Among invasive species, introduced predators have some of the most dramatic impacts on native biodiversity, causing declines and extinctions. Selective predation by invasive predators may contribute to their effects on native taxa and taxa that are preyed upon out of proportion to their abundance may be at greatest risk of decline. In this study we aimed to document patterns of selective predation by a spreading invasive species, the Indo-Pacific lionfish ( Pterois volitans / miles ), with the goal of the identification of native taxa that may be subject to future decline. We took advantage of published data on invasive lionfish stomach contents and native reef fish abundances from a single region (hardbottom reef habitats of North Carolina) and applied a null simulation model to identify native fish taxa that were occurred as lionfish prey more or less frequently than would be expected based on their abundances. Using this method, we found that six of 28 native fish families were significantly under-represented in lionfish stomachs, suggesting that these taxa are avoided by lionfish or occur in different microhabitats. Twelve taxa appeared as prey items only as frequently as would be expected, given their abundance. We identified ten fish families that occurred as lionfish prey drastically and significantly more frequently than would be expected based on their abundance alone. These families include ecologically important species that play important functional roles and help maintain reefs (some parrotfish; Scaridae) and popular food and sport fish and some of the few native species to have been observed eating lionfish in the wild (some groupers; Serranidae). Preferred families were consumed at rates up to 90 times greater than would be expected based on natural abundance, suggesting the potential for local population declines as a result of lionfish predation.
Prognostic significance of p16 in squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx and hypopharynx

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the prognostic significance of p16 expression among patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx (LSCC) and hypopharynx (HSCC). Methods The medical records of all patients with locally advanced, non-metastatic LSCC/HSCC were reviewed. p16INK4A (p16) protein expression was evaluated on pathological specimens by immunohistochemistry (IHC), and the Kaplan–Meier method was used to estimate overall survival (OS) and locoregional control (LRC). In select cases, p16 expression was correlated to high-risk and low-risk HPV genotypes using in situ hybridization (ISH). Results Thirty-one patients (23 LSCC; 8 HSCC) were identified. Seventeen (54.8%) patients were p16 negative; 14 (45.2%) were p16-positive. The primary treatment modality was radiation therapy for 22 (71.0%) patients and surgery for 9 (29.0%). Nineteen (61.3%) patients were evaluated for high-risk HPV and low-risk HPV genotypes by IHC, of whom 2 (10.5%) patients were positive for high-risk HPV and 1 (5.3%) was positive for low-risk HPV. For high-risk HPV, the positive predictive value (PPV), sensitivity, and specificity of p16 was 20.0%, 100%, and 52.9%. There was no significant difference in the 2-year actuarial rates of OS (91% vs. 64%, p = 0.34) or LRC (51% vs. 46%, p = 0.69) between the p16-positive and p-16 negative patients. Conclusion In this small cohort of 31 LSCC and HSCC patients, p16 was not a significant predictive of either LRC or OS. Furthermore, p16 was poorly correlated with HPV genotyping as identified by ISH.
Uranium Detection - Technique Validation Report

As a LANL activity for DOE/NNSA in support of SHINE Medical Technologies™ ‘Accelerator Technology’ we have been investigating the application of UV-vis spectroscopy for uranium analysis in solution. While the technique has been developed specifically for sulfate solutions, the proposed SHINE target solutions, it can be adapted to a range of different solution matrixes. The FY15 work scope incorporated technical development that would improve accuracy, specificity, linearity & range, precision & ruggedness, and comparative analysis. Significant progress was achieved throughout FY 15 addressing these technical challenges, as is summarized in this report. In addition, comparative analysis of unknown samples using the Davies-Gray titration technique highlighted the importance of controlling temperature during analysis (impacting both technique accuracy and linearity/range). To fully understand the impact of temperature, additional experimentation and data analyses were performed during FY16. The results from this FY15/FY16 work were presented in a detailed presentation, LA-UR-16-21310, and an update of this presentation is included with this short report summarizing the key findings. The technique is based on analysis of the most intense U(VI) absorbance band in the visible region of the uranium spectra in 1 M H2SO4, at λmax = 419.5 nm.
Halide Perovskites for Tandem Solar Cells

Perovskite solar cells have become one of the strongest candidates for next-generation solar energy technologies. A myriad of beneficial optoelectronic properties of the perovskite materials have enabled superb power conversion efficiencies (PCE) exceeding 22% for a single-junction device. The high PCE achievable via low processing costs and relatively high variability in optical properties have opened new possibilities for perovskites in tandem solar cells. In this Perspective, we will discuss current research trends in fabricating tandem perovskite-based solar cells in combination with a variety of mature photovoltaic devices such as organic, silicon, and Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)2 (CIGS) solar cells. Characteristic features and present limitations of each tandem cell will be discussed and elaborated upon. Finally, key issues for further improvement and the future outlook will be discussed.
Fibromyalgia: Treating Pain in the Juvenile Patient

Presently, evidence for the efficacy of medications for the treatment of juvenile fibromyalgia syndrome (JFMS) is limited. While there are medications approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (duloxetine, milnacipran and pregabalin) for adults with fibromyalgia syndrome, there are none for the treatment of JFMS. A variety of medications have been prescribed for the treatment of JFMS, including (but not limited to) non-opioid analgesics, opioids, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, and muscle relaxants. Psychological therapies, most prominently cognitive behavioral therapy, are the most evidenced-based treatment modalities for JFMS. A multidisciplinary approach, combining pharmacological, behavioral and exercise-based modalities is currently the standard of care for JFMS. In the future, more stringent randomized, controlled trials with longer follow-up periods are needed in order to determine the long-term efficacy and safety of medications in the treatment of JFMS. Additionally, improved recognition of JFMS will allow for better patient recruitment to permit for adequately powered study designs.
EXPERIMENTAL LIFE: HEELAN ON QUANTUM MECHANICS

“Measurement is not an impersonal event that occurs with impartial universality,” says Niels Bohr in Michael Frayn’s Tony-award winning play Copenhagen. “It’s a human act, carried out from a specific point of view in time and space, from the one particular viewpoint of a possible observer.”1
Quadrupedal rodent gait compensations in a low dose monoiodoacetate model of osteoarthritis.

Abstract Background Rodent gait analysis provides robust, quantitative results for preclinical musculoskeletal and neurological models. In prior work, surgical models of osteoarthritis have been found to result in a hind limb shuffle-stepping gait compensation, while a high dose monoiodoacetate (MIA, 3 mg) model resulted in a hind limb antalgic gait. However, it is unknown whether the antalgic gait caused by MIA is associated with severity of degeneration from the high dosage or the whole-joint degeneration associated with glycolysis inhibition. Research question This study evaluates rodent gait changes resulting from a low dose, 1 mg unilateral intra-articular injection of MIA compared to saline injected and naive rats. Methods Spatiotemporal and dynamic gait parameters were collected from a total of 42 male Lewis rats spread across 3 time points: 1, 2, and 4 weeks post-injection. To provide a detailed analysis of this low dose MIA model, gait analysis was used to uniquely quantify both fore and hind limb gait parameters. Results Our data indicate that 1 mg of MIA caused relatively minor degeneration and a shuffle-step gait compensation, similar to the compensation observed in prior surgical models. Significance These data from a 1 mg MIA model show a different gait compensation compared to a previously studied 3 mg model. This 1 mg MIA model resulted in gait compensations more similar to a previously studied surgical model of osteoarthritis. Additionally, this study provides detailed 4 limb analysis of rodent gait that includes spatiotemporal and dynamic data from the same gait trial. These data highlight the importance of measuring dynamic data in combination with spatiotemporal data, since compensatory gait patterns may not be captured by spatial, temporal, or dynamic characterizations alone.
Residential Mobility and Cognitive Function Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults in China.

Objectives:To assess the association between rural and urban residential mobility and cognitive function among middle-aged and older adults in China.Method:We used data from the World Health Organi...
Demand-driven Cache Allocation Based on Context-aware Collaborative Filtering

Many recent advances of network caching focus on i) more effectively modeling the preferences of a regional user group to different web contents, and ii) reducing the cost of content delivery by storing the most popular contents in regional caches. However, the context under which the users interact with the network system usually causes tremendous variations in a user group's preferences on the contents. To effectively leverage such contextual information for more efficient network caching, we propose a novel mechanism to incorporate context-aware collaborative filtering into demand-driven caching. By differentiating the characterization of user interests based on a priori contexts, our approach seeks to enhance the cache performance with a more dynamic and fine-grained cache allocation process. In particular, our approach is general and adapts to various types of context information. Our evaluation shows that this new approach significantly outperforms previous non-demand-driven caching strategies by offering much higher cached content rate, especially when utilizing the contextual information.
Differences in overnight polysomnography scores using the adult and pediatric criteria for respiratory events in adolescents.

OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA (OSA) IS A COMMON SLEEP DISORDER WITH A PREVALENCE OF 1% TO 2% AMONG CHILDREN.1 It is a treatable condition which can affect growth, school performance, and cardiopulmonary health.2 Polysomnography (PSG) is required for definitive diagnosis of suspected OSA in both children3 and adults.4,5 It is a useful tool that can identify respiratory events such as apneas and hypopneas, as well as resulting desaturation, arousal, and hypercarbia.6 Because sleep disordered breathing in childhood has both a different epidemiology and pathophysiology than in adulthood,7–9 respiratory scoring criteria specifically for use in children have been developed and recently updated for use.4,10 Adolescents represent a unique population in medicine in their passage through a variety of dramatic biopsychosocial transitions from childhood to adulthood.11 However, they have not been well represented in published studies of sleep disordered breathing and its associated pathophysiology. In fact, a consensus report from a national conference on pediatric sleep medicine in 2005 identified adolescent sleep as a research priority for the field.12 As a group, adolescents have typically been lumped with prepubertal children or young adults, but not consistently considered separately.13,14 It makes intuitive sense, however, that adolescence would be the time of transition between childhood and adult respiratory physiology. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends specific pediatric rules for scoring respiratory events in children aged < 13 years. Pediatric respiratory criteria were designed taking into account differences in the pathophysiology and epidemiology of obstructive sleep apnea between children and adults. Adolescents aged 13-18 years fall in a gray zone. They are in a time of transition between childhood and adulthood, as is most obvious in their pubertal development but which is manifested throughout their physiology. They may behave in some ways more like adults in terms of their risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea.15 The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), in their updated scoring manual, admits that there are inadequate data to determine whether to use adult or pediatric scoring criteria in the adolescent age group. According to the AASM, “Empiric observations would suggest that adult criteria could be used in some older children.”4,10 New AASM guidelines for pediatric and adult respiratory scoring of polysomnographic data were published in 2007, so literature on the use of these guidelines is still emerging.16,17 We hypothesized that pediatric criteria would capture more respiratory events than adult criteria. We therefore evaluated the differences resulting from applying adult and pediatric respiratory criteria to polysomnograms performed on adolescents who were clinically referred for evaluation of suspected obstructive sleep apnea in order to assess the impact of use of different scoring criteria in this population.
The variation of the prices of cotton, wheat, and railroad stocks, and of some financial rates

M 1963b{E14} argues that the description of price variation requires probability models less special than the widely used Brownian, because the price relatives of certain prices series have a variance so large that it may in practice be assumed infinite. This theme is developed further in the present chapter, which covers the following topics.
Circulating serum fatty acid synthase is elevated in patients with diabetes and carotid artery stenosis and is LDL-associated.

Abstract Background and aims Diabetes is an independent risk factor for carotid artery stenosis (CAS). Fatty acid synthase (FAS), an essential de novo lipogenesis enzyme, has increased activity in the setting of diabetes that leads to altered lipid metabolism. Circulating FAS (cFAS) was recently observed in the blood of patients with hyperinsulinemia and cancer. We thought to evaluate the origin of cFAS and its role in diabetes-associated CAS. Methods Patients with diabetes and no diabetes, undergoing carotid endarterectomy (CEA) for CAS, were prospectively enrolled for collection of plaque and fasting serum. FPLC was used to purify lipoprotein fractions, and ELISA was used to quantify cFAS content and activity. Immunoprecipitation (IP) was used to evaluate the affinity of cFAS to LDL-ApoB. Results Patients with CAS had higher cFAS activity (p Conclusions Serum cFAS is higher in patients with diabetes and CAS, appears to originate from the liver, and is LDL cholesterol associated. We postulate that LDL may be serving as a carrier for cFAS that contributes to atheroprogression in carotid arteries of patients with diabetes.
Rate of penetration of a fluid into a porous body

Abstract The rate of penetration of a liquid hydrocarbon or an alcohol into a glass capillary is more rapid if the capillary has been outgassed, than if its surface is covered with a duplex film of the liquid. The increase in rate is as large as 10%. If the pore walls are covered by an adsorbed film, the thickness of which is comparable to the pore radius, this leads to an accelerated rate of penetration in comparison to systems in which the pore radii are large. In the systems studied, there was a notable difference between hydrocarbons and octyl alcohol, which appeared when the glass was outgassed at 200°C under vacuum.
Global Behavior of Some Nonautonomous Delay Difference Equations

Our aim in this paper is to investigate the permanence, the extreme stability, and the periodicity of positive solutions of the nonautonomous delay difference equation of the form $$ x_{n+1}=a_{n}x_{n}f(x_{n-k}),\quad \quad n=0,1,... $$ where \(\left\{ a_{n}\right\} \) is positive and periodic with period p, and f satisfies some additional assumptions. The results are applied to some classical periodically forced population models with delay such as Pielou logistic model, Ricker’s model, and Hassel’s model.
Use of Dexmedetomidine for Postoperative Pain Management Following Spine Fusion Surgery in a Highly Opioid-Tolerant Patient.

AbstractA 51-year-old man with metastatic renal cell carcinoma whose fentanyl requirement was 3000-4000 µg/h in inpatient hospice presented for a thoracic (T) vertebral 4–10 posterior spinal fusion...
Corneal perforation with uveal prolapse: An initial presentation of orbital metastatic breast cancer.

Abstract Purpose Metastasis to the orbit is a rare and typically late manifestation of a systemic malignancy. Breast cancer is the most common orbital metastatic malignancy and as the prevalence of breast cancer rises, the incidence of orbital metastasis is expected to increase concomitantly. The purpose of this report is to illustrate a unique case of orbital metastatic breast cancer with grave ophthalmic sequelae and to review the salient findings and features of orbital metastatic disease. Observations Herein, we describe the case of a 61-year-old woman with no known history of malignancy who presented with a large compressive orbital mass that resulted in corneal perforation with uveal prolapse after initial treatment for orbital cellulitis followed by orbital pseudotumor. Anterior orbitotomy with biopsy of the mass ultimately revealed a diagnosis of metastatic breast carcinoma. Conclusion As the incidence of breast cancer increases, ophthalmologists will play an increasingly important role in detecting both undiagnosed and recurrent breast cancer.
B is for 'Big Mac': GCs crave a high-fat diet.

Highly proliferative cells have classically been thought to rely on anaerobic glycolysis for fuel. Weisel et al. show that germinal center B cells break this rule, as they primarily utilize fatty acid oxidation to meet their metabolic demands.
[2-(3-Fluoropyridinium-1-yl)-1-hydroxy-1-phosphonoethyl]phosphonate

The title compound, C7H10FNO7P2, crystallizes in the zwitterionic form. In the crystal structure, mol­ecules are linked via inter­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds involv­ing phospho­nate groups, forming a two-dimensional framework. In addition, weak inter­molecular C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds involving the pyridinium groups further connect mol­ecules, forming a three-dimensional framework.
Printed Electroceutical Dressings for the Inhibition of Biofilms and Treatment of Chronic Wounds

We report on an innovative, fabric-based conformable, and easily fabricated electroceutical wound dressing that inhibits bacterial biofilm infections and shows significant promise for healing chronic wounds. Cyclic voltammetry demonstrates the ability of the electroceutical to produce reactive oxygen species, primarily HOCl that is responsible for bacterial inhibition. In vitro investigation with the lawn biofilm grown on a soft tissue mimic assay shows the efficacy of the dressing against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria in the biofilm form. In vivo, the printed electroceutical dressing was utilized as an intervention treatment for a canine subject with a non-healing wound due to a year-long persistent polymicrobial infection. The clinical case study with the canine subject exhibited the applicability in a clinical setting with the results showing infection inhibition within 11 days of initial treatment. This printed electroceutical dressing was integrated with a Bluetooth® enabled circuit allowing remote monitoring of the current flow within the wound bed. The potential to monitor wounds remotely in real-time with a Bluetooth® enabled circuit proposes a new physical biomarker for management of infected, chronic wounds. [2020-0129]
Tutorial on Biostatistics: Longitudinal Analysis of Correlated Continuous Eye Data.

Purpose: To describe and demonstrate methods for analyzing longitudinal correlated eye data with a continuous outcome measure. Methods: We described fixed effects, mixed effects and generalized est...
Data labour on Workplace by Facebook

The proposed paper examines the collapse between the role of user and worker in the extraction of data labor on Workplace by Facebook. Workplace, a social media platform for companies, adopts the popular Facebook interface with a few variations. While scholarship on audience labor has explored the idea that user generated content and consumption of advertising can be regarded as labor, this paper examines a modified phenomenon where the creation of content on enterprise social media is incidental to, and required as, part of paid employment. Workers are thus users encouraged and required to perform both the production of work and emotional labor in form of communicative practices like networking and social media engagement. In examining the production of content on Workplace, this paper draws and extends an analogy with work in the twentieth century when, according to some historical accounts, the need to transcend the individual inspired the creation of repositories of knowledge through record keeping and written communication. As such, companies were less sensitive to worker departures because written records made it easy for new workers to gain the knowledge held by the old. I argue that the adoption of enterprise social media like Workplace further blurs the line between work and non-work, leading to the production of social content under surveillance of the company, and extending collection and archival of knowledge to include affective data. The data derives from: (1) Facebook's websites and user interfaces, and (2) Media discourse of Workplace. It analyzes these data with the aim of highlighting how Facebook and Workplace-adopting companies exert their power by extracting affective data from workers; how that data in turn perpetuates the power disparities between capital and labor; and the possibilities for challenging this asymmetry in the capture and usage of workers' affective data.
Protective cellular retroviral immunity requires both CD4+ and CD8+ immune T cells.

Abstract We have found previously that postexposure chemoprophylaxis with 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (also known as zidovudine or AZT) in combination with recombinant human alpha A/D interferon fully protected mice exposed to a lethal dose of Rauscher murine leukemia virus (RLV) against viremia and disease. After cessation of therapy, over 90% of these mice were able to resist rechallenge with live RLV, thus demonstrating an acquired immunity. Adoptive cell transfer of 4 x 10(7) cells from immunized mice fully protected naive recipients from viremia and splenomegaly after RLV challenge. However, when these immune T cells were fractionated into CD4+ and CD8+ subpopulations, only partial protection was found when 4 x 10(7) T cells of either subset were given. Full protection against RLV challenge was seen again when the T-cell subsets from immunized mice were recombined and transferred at the same number into naive mice. We conclude that cellular immunity alone is protective and that both CD4+ and CD8+ cell types are required for conferring full protection against live virus challenge.
Incorporating English Language Learner Instruction within Special Education Teacher Preparation.

The number of students who are English language learners (ELL) is increasing significantly across the United States. As this number increases, so does the number of students who are ELL and being i...
Evolution parabolic inequalities for pseudo-monotone operators

In this article, we prove the existence of weak solutions of variational parabolic inequalities with pseudo- monotonicity and nonzero initial data using finite differences in time.
Robotics and remote systems for hazardous environments

This is the first volume in a series of books to be published by Prentice Hall on Environmental and Intelligent Manufacturing Systems. The editors have assembled an interdisciplinary collection of authors from industry, government, and academia, that provide a broad range of expertise on robotics and remote systems. Readily accessible to practicing engineers, the book provides case studies and introduces new technology applicable to remote operations in unstructured and/or hazardous environments. Chapter 1 gives an overview of the US Environmental Protection Agency's efforts to apply robotic technology to assist in the operations at hazardous waste sites. The next chapter focuses on the theory and implementation of robust impedance control for robotic manipulators. Chapter 3 presents a discussion on the integration of failure tolerance into robotic systems. The next two chapters address the issue of sensory feedback and its indispensable role in remote and/or hazardous environments. Chapter 6 presents numerous examples of robots and telemanipulators that have been applied for various tasks at the DOE's Savannah River Site. The following chapter picks up on this theme and discusses the fundamental paradigm shifts that are required in artificial intelligence for robots to deal with hazardous, unstructured, and dynamic environments. Chapter 8 returnsmore » to the issue of impedance control first raised in Chapter 2. While the majority of the applications discussed in this book are related to the nuclear industry, chapter 9 considers applying telerobotics for the control of traditional heavy machinery that is widely used in forestry, mining, and construction. The final chapter of the book returns to the topic of artificial intelligence's role in producing increased autonomy for robotic systems and provides an interesting counterpoint to the philosophy of reactive control discussed earlier.« less
X-Ray Observations of Supernova Remnants

Supernova remnants (SNRs) are low density, coronal plasmas that are shock heated by the explosion of a supernova. Spectroscopic observations of several bright SNRs have allowed us to deduce some of the physical properties of the emitting plasma. I emphasize the question of equilibration between electron temperature, ion temperature and ionization temperature. Inconsistency between several observations leaves open the question of whether or not the electrons and ions have reached equilibrium. On the other hand, both moderate and high resolution spectra show clear departures from ionization equilibrium. Ionization ages deduced using ratios of various emission lines, including the forbidden and resonance lines of He-like ions, are derived for Puppis A, Cas A and the Cygnus loop and found to be consistent with estimates from independent measurements. Even the 20,000 year old Cygnus Loop SNR is found to be underionized for its temperature. We consider possible departures from Maxwellian electron distributions, although there is neither evidence for them nor a compelling reason to expect them. Future missions, such as ASTRO-D, Spectrum X-Gamma, and particularly AXAF, will greatly enhance our ability to study the plasma properties of SNRs. As one example, AXAF will permit the use of satellite lines as diagnostics of electron temperature, ionization state and non-Maxwellian electron distribution functions on many dozen SNRs.
Properties and amino acid composition of polyoma virus purified by zonal ultracentrifugation.

Abstract Virion and capsid preparations of three different strains of polyoma virus have been purified by the use of the Anderson zonal ultracentrifuge. This technique permits good recovery of the infectivity of large volumes of virus-infected mouse kidney cell lysates and yields polyoma virion and capsid preparations with a high degree of purity, as determined by equilibrium density-gradient centrifugation, band- and boundary-centrifugations, and by chemical composition analysis. Briefly, the procedure consists of the concentration of the virus particles by ammonium sulfate precipitation (50% saturation), extraction of the particles from the precipitate with 0.5% sodium deoxycholate, 0.02 m Tris-HCl (pH 9.0) and the fractionation of the virions and capsids by centrifugation in the zonal ultracentrifuge. The amino acid compositions of purified virion and capsid preparations representing three strains of virus have been determined. The virion preparations have a higher content of lysine, arginine and alanine and a lower content of aspartate, methionine and leucine, when compared to capsids of the same strain. It is suggested that the virions contain a basic polypeptide in addition to the structural capsid protein present in both virions and capsids. The amino acid compositions of the two large-plaque strains have been found to be similar. The small-plaque strain contains more lysine and serine residues and less methionine, when compared to either of the large-plaque strains. The immunologic reactivities of the three strains, determined by complement fixation, are in agreement with the amino acid analyses. The two large-plaque strains are antigenically identical; the small-plaque particles are significantly different from the large-plaque particles.
Initial management of hand injuries in the emergency patient

Abstract Failure to develop a proper routine for complete examination and documentation of the injured hand may result in the inability to make the proper diagnosis. Less than optimal treatment may result. Ultimately, the end result is unnecessary functional loss and, frequently, medical-legal difficulties. Initial emergency department management of acute hand is reviewed: recognition of surgical emergencies, proper initial treatment of tendon and nerve injuries, splinting, and record keeping are emphasized.
Characterization and partial purification of multiple electron transport activities in plasma membranes from maize (Zea mays) roots

The plasma membrane of eukaryotic cells contains endogenous, integral electron transport proteins. In the maize (Zea mays L. cv. Golden Cross Bantam) root plasma membrane, these activities include NAD(P)H-ferricyanide reductase. NAD(P)H-duroquinone reductase (1.6.5.1) and NAD(P)H-ascorbate free-radical reductase (EC 1.6.5.4). Differences in degree of stimulation upon vesicle rupture with detergent and in specificities for pyridine nucleotides suggest that these activities constitute distinct components in the membranes. Solubilization of reductase activities was examined using Triton X-100 over a wide range of retergent-to-protein ratios. The Triton-solubilized enzymes were purified using dye-ligand affinity chromatography on Cibacron blue 3G-A agarose utilizing biospecific elution with NADH. Resolution of the redox activities was accomplished upon differential elution with 0.1.1.0 and 10 mM NADH. The distinctive characteristics of the enzymes and the differential chromatographic behavior of the respective activities provided evidence for the presence of separate enzymatic redox components in maize root plasma membranes with implications for an electron transfer chain.
Diamine oxidase activity in fibroblasts from normal and cystic fibrosis patients.

Summary: Diamine oxidase is the initial enzyme involved in the degradation of polyamines, whose metabolism has been reported as abnormal in cystic fibrosis (CF). Diamine oxidase activity, using putrescine as substrate, was measured in homogenates of human fibroblasts cultured in vitro from normal and cystic fibrosis patients. The pH optimum of the crude enzyme was 7.8. Diamine oxidase activity per μg protein peaked during periods of greatest proliferative rate and reached its nadir when fibroblasts grew in static (confluent) phase. No difference was found between normal and CF fibroblasts in specific activity of diamine oxidase, but CF cells exhibited a slightly lower protein content during logarithmic growth when compared with normal cells. Speculation: Aberrations in the levels of polyamines in blood, despite normal levels of polyamine biosynthetic enzymes in fibroblasts, have been reported in CF patients. No differences were found between normal and CF fibroblasts in the levels of the polyamine catabolic enzyme, diamine oxidase, suggesting that an abnormality of the oxidative deamination of polyamines, as expressed in the fibro-blast, is not the primary defect in CF. The altered blood levels of polyamines may be a secondary phenomenon found only in vivo, or may be due to an aberration of polyamine acetylation or conjugation. The establishment of normal values of diamine oxidase for different phases of growth of human fibroblasts may in the future allow comparison with fibroblasts in which a defect in polyamine catabolism is suspected.
A Chaotic Home Environment Accounts for the Association between Respect for Rules Disposition and Reading Comprehension: A Twin Study.

Abstract This study examined the association between socioemotional dispositions from the developmental propensity model and reading comprehension and whether those associations could be accounted for by level of chaos in the home. Data from 342 monozygotic and 333 same-sex dizygotic twin pairs age 7–13 years were used. A parent rated the twins on sympathy, respect for rules, negative emotionality, and daring and level of chaos in the twins' home. Reading comprehension was measured using a state-wide school assessment. Only respect for rules significantly and uniquely predicted reading comprehension. Biometric models indicated that respect for rules was positively associated with reading comprehension via the shared environment and home chaos accounted for a significant amount of that shared environmental variance even after controlling for family income. Children with higher respect for rules have better reading comprehension scores in school and this relationship owes partly to the level of chaos in the family home.
Applying patient perspectives on caring to curriculum development

Abstract Objective To report how patient viewpoints on caring inform curriculum development for teaching sessions on delivering bad news, making the transition to palliative care, and communicating about a medical error. Methods We conducted focus groups that used patients recruited from the surrounding community to view videotapes of physicians delivering bad news, talking with a patient about palliative care, and communicating about a medical error. We used focus group results, combined with evidence from the medical literature to inform curriculum content for workshops conducted with Internal Medicine and Family Medicine residents at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Results Patient perspectives on caring gathered through focus groups differed in significant ways from the existing medical literature on caring when providers are communicating in the challenging situations that were depicted. Our data pointed out that individual reactions were unique and sometimes contradictory in that one person saw behavior as caring that others thought was uncaring. Participants often used qualifiers in their comments like “appropriate” amounts of information, “measured” empathy, chooses words carefully to reflect the relative nature of caring. “Arranges to meet healthcare needs,” an issue that extends beyond the encounter, was seen as a new component of caring not previously described. Applying these concepts to curriculum required that we not only focus on the behavioral skills involved in these tasks, but also the processes of assessing patient's informational and emotional needs, and then taking steps to meet them, while adjusting behavior in real time to meet patients needs for caring. Workshops delivered were highly evaluated by residents. Conclusion Patient perspectives on caring when providers deliver bad news, discuss transitions to palliative care, and communicate about a medical error reinforce that patient expectations for caring are highly contextualized and physician behavior needs to be individualized. We taught residents not only behavioral skills, but also the process skills of anticipating patient reactions, recognizing patient clues, planning and choosing effective strategies on the fly, and assessing one's own performance characteristic of communication expertise. Practice implications Teaching caring attitudes with challenging communication tasks requires that learners appreciate and value not only caring behaviors but also learn the process by which they must adjust and titrate their actions to meet patient needs.
Comparison of Py•+/dU•- Charge Transfer State Dynamics in 5-(1-pyrenyl)-2‘-deoxyuridine Nucleoside Conjugates with Amido-, Ethylenyl-, and Ethynyl Linkers

Femtosecond, picosecond, and nanosecond transient absorbance (TA) and picosecond emission kinetics results are presented for three 5-(1-pyrenyl)-2‘-deoxyuridine nucleosides each with a different two-atom linker joining pyrenyl C-1 to uracil C-5. The linkers are respectively −NHCO−, −(CH2)2−, and −C⋮C− for PAdU, PEdU, and PYdU. For all three nucleoside conjugates, most conformers undergo intramolecular charge transfer (CT) from their pyrenyl 1(π,π*) excited states to form Py•+/dU•- CT products in ultrashort times: ≤0.6 ps for PAdU, ≤30 ps for PEdU, and ≤100 ps for PYdU (instrumentally limited times). Additionally for all three nucleosides, a small fraction of conformers also undergoes slower intramolecular CT from their pyrenyl 1(π,π*) states in times as long as tens of nanoseconds. Importantly, for use of these nucleosides in studies of excess electron transport in DNA, the lifetimes the CT products in MeOH lengthen significantly in the above series: 6.0 ps for PAdU, 560 ps for PEdU (the shortest of thr...
Immunomodulatory Activity of Synthetic Triterpenoids: Inhibition of Lymphocyte Proliferation, Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity, and Cytokine Gene Expression Through Suppression of NF-κB

Synthetic oleanane triterpenoids (CDDO, CDDO-Im and CDDO-Me) are potent anti-inflammatory agents, but have not been investigated for effects on T cell-mediated immune responses. Here we demonstrate that CDDOs have profound immunosuppressive effects on T cell proliferation, development of IL-2 activated LAK cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), and expression of cytokines at concentrations of 1.25 μM to 0.078 μM. Treatment with CDDO-Me also inhibited the generation of allo-reactive T cell responses in vivo. The suppression of these cell-mediated immune responses by CDDO-Me was associated with the inhibition of NF-κB transcription factor.
Successful endovascular therapy of a penetrating zone III internal carotid injury

Penetrating injuries to the internal carotid artery in zone III of the neck can be a significant challenge to the operating surgeon. Direct surgical exposure and repair of the internal carotid artery at the skull base can be extremely difficult, and surgical options for treatment of a pseudoaneurysm at this location are limited. We present a case of an 18-year-old man who sustained a single gunshot wound to the distal cervical internal carotid artery that led to a pseudoaneurysm managed with endovascular exclusion. Recent literature on the surgical and endovascular management of distal carotid injuries is reviewed.
Nanostructures Boost the Thermoelectric Performance of PbS

In situ nanostructuring in bulk thermoelectric materials through thermo-dynamic phase segregation has established itself as an effective paradigm for optimizing the performance of thermoelectric materials. In bulk PbTe small compositional variations create coherent and semicoherent nanometer sized precipitates embedded in a PbTe matrix, where they can impede phonon propagation at little or no expense to the electronic properties. In this paper the nanostructuring paradigm is for the first time extended to a bulk PbS based system, which despite obvious advantages of price and abundancy, so far has been largely disregarded in thermoelectric research due to inferior room temperature thermoelectric properties relative to the pristine fellow chalcogenides, PbSe and PbTe. Herein we report on the synthesis, microstructural morphology and thermoelectric properties of two phase (PbS)(1-x)(PbTe)(x)x = 0-0.16 samples. We have found that the addition of only a few percent PbTe to PbS results in a highly nanostructured material, where PbTe precipitates are coherently and semicoherently embedded in a PbS matrix. The present (PbS)(1-x)(PbTe)(x) nanostructured samples show substantial decreases in lattice thermal conductivity relative to pristine PbS, while the electronic properties are left largely unaltered. This in turn leads to a marked increase in the thermoelectric figure of merit. This study underlines the efficiency of the nanostructuring approach and strongly supports its generality and applicability to other material systems. We demonstrate that these PbS-based materials, which are made primarily from abundant Pb and S, outperform optimally n-type doped pristine PbTe above 770 K.
Precise predictions for neutrino masses and mixings

This report discusses the motivation and the results of predictions of neutrino masses and coupling constants.
Strong tip effects in near-field scanning optical tomography

A model for the interaction of the scanning probe in near-field scanning optical microscopy is presented. Multiple scattering of the illuminating field with the probe is taken into account. The implications of this so-called strong tip model for the solution of the associated inverse scattering problem are studied through simulations.