cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Placental regulation of immune functions

Abstract The placenta is a highly specialized organ that serves as the primary interface between the maternal environment and the fetus. One important placental function is to promote the development of maternal immune phenotypes that will prevent detrimental immune activation in response to paternal antigens. For example, trophoblast-derived cytokines promote the development of “M2” or tissue-repair phenotypes in decidual macrophages, which are less likely to become activated and gain pro-inflammatory phenotypes. Trophoblast cells can inhibit NK cell activation by secreting soluble or exosome-associated ligands for NK cell inhibitory receptors. T-lymphocytes are also influenced by placental paracrine factors, some of which promote regulatory and anti-inflammatory T-cell polarization and others that induce apoptosis in T-cells with pro-inflammatory phenotypes. Therefore, the placenta helps to shape a very unique maternal immune environment that is both supportive and protective of pregnancy. But, not only does the placenta regulate maternal immune functions, but it can also affect the development and maturation of the fetal immune system. A key regulator of fetal growth and programming, the placenta secretes immune factors that enter fetal circulation where they are proposed to influence fetal immune development. The fetal immune system is also sensitive to in utero programming by environmental exposures, such as maternal stress and inflammation, which are linked to increased risk for immune-related diseases in offspring. While we are only beginning to understand the mechanisms underlying the links between these exposures and postnatal immune outcomes, the placenta is likely to play an important role. In this chapter, we will examine how the placenta regulates both maternal and fetal immune systems to support pregnancy and fetal development.
Late-in-life neurodegeneration after chronic sleep loss in young adult mice.

Chronic short sleep (CSS) is prevalent in modern societies and has been proposed as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). In support, short-term sleep loss acutely increases levels of amyloid β (Aβ) and tau in wild type (WT) mice and humans, and sleep disturbances predict cognitive decline in older adults. We have shown that CSS induces injury to and loss of locus coeruleus neurons (LCn), neurons with heightened susceptibility in AD. Yet whether CSS during young adulthood drives lasting Aβ and/or tau changes and/or neural injury later in life in the absence of genetic risk for AD has not been established. Here, we examined the impact of CSS exposure in young adult WT mice on late-in-life Aβ and tau changes and neural responses in two AD-vulnerable neuronal groups, LCn and hippocampal CA1 neurons. Twelve months following CSS exposure, CSS-exposed mice evidenced reductions in CA1 neuron counts and volume, spatial memory deficits, CA1 glial activation, and loss of LCn. Aβ 42 and hyperphosphorylated tau were increased in the CA1; however, amyloid plaques and tau tangles were not observed. Collectively the findings demonstrate that CSS exposure in the young adult mouse imparts late-in-life neurodegeneration and persistent derangements in amyloid and tau homeostasis. These findings occur in the absence of a genetic predisposition to neurodegeneration and demonstrate for the first time that CSS can induce lasting, significant neural injury consistent with some, but not all, features of late-onset AD.
Competing Ion Behavior in Direct Electrochemical Selenite Reduction

Anthropogenic selenium (Se) released in industrial and agricultural wastewaters presents toxicity challenges for local ecosystems. Se direct electrochemical reduction (SeDER) is an effective and th...
Examining the Effects of Passing a Campus Carry Law: Comparing Campus Safety Before and After Georgia’s New Campus Carry Law

Although there has been an increase in research on support for campus carry laws, few studies have examined how these laws influence campus safety. Using longitudinal data from a university sample,...
Hydrogen by Process of Water Electrolysis for Power Generation and a Review of Fuel Cell Technologies

Hydrogen is abundant in nature, and this paper presents how power can be generated and used at a distribution level for small domestic purposes. Many see hydrogen as the clean fuel of the future, because its only by-product is water which is abundant as well as cost-efficient. As a fuel, not containing carbon, we can potentially eliminate the local emission of CO and CO2. This work uses “Live Hydrogen” technique which is the main advantage of the design. Only required amount of hydrogen will generate from electrolysis of water and accordingly that water will utilize, which gives more stability to the system. The consequences will be highly beneficial not only to mitigate the emissions problem but also to encourage the utilization of more renewable resources to produce hydrogen. Working principle, applications, and advantages of the hydrogen internal combustion engines and fuel cells are discussed and compared.
A review of pharmaceutical labeling for overdose treatment and toxicity data.

PURPOSE: Adverse drug reactions, including overdose are a major cause of morbidity and mortality, yet clinical toxicology data is limited at the time of drug approval. This study was conducted to determine the quality of clinical toxicology data available for newly approved pharmaceuticals and time to labeling revisions. METHODS: The labeling data of 100 new molecular entities (NMEs) approved between 2005 and 2011 was systematically reviewed. Initial approval data and subsequent labeling revisions were evaluated. The type and quality of clinical toxicology data present at the time of approval as well as the time to any labeling revisions was recorded. The presence of black box warnings and Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) was noted. RESULTS: Of the NMEs reviewed, 27 had agent-specific toxicology data at approval. General recommendations for overdose management were made in 45 cases. Eight pharmaceuticals had toxicology updates during the study period. The average time to labeling revision was 27.4 months. Expanded adverse effects from case reports comprised 7/8 of the updates, and animal data was added in one case. Over a third of the NMEs had a black box warning or REMS status, suggesting potential for significant human toxicity. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests there is a paucity of clinical toxicology data at the time of drug approval, with a notable lag time between initial approval and labeling revisions. This lack of toxicology data limits the ability of providers to optimally care for poisoned patients. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Language: en
Semantical considerations on some primitives for agent specification

Intelligent agents, invented in artificial intelligence (AI), are finding application in a number of traditional areas. Classical AI notions such as knowledge and intentions can serve as natural primitives for the specification of agents. However, in order for them to live up to their promise, these notions must be given rigorous definitions. We propose formal definitions for intentions, knowledge, and know-how in a general model of actions and time. Our definitions are conceptually simple and are designed to be modular, in the sense of being orthogonal to one another. Using these definitions, we are able to prove a success result for agents that is akin to the notion of liveness in traditional computing. Others have been able to prove similar results only with the support of rather strong additional assumptions.
Experimental Verification of Eddy-Current Flaw Theory

Carefully machined flaw samples in plates and tubes were examined with eddy-current coils of accurately known dimensions. Both near- and far-side flaws were measured using absolute and differential coil modes. The experimental data were compared with computer calculations based on the flaw theory of Burrows and the analytical solutions of Dodd and Deeds. The experimental and theoretical data are in good agreement whenever the flaw size is small compared to the other significant dimensions, but large enough to give a reasonable signal-to-noise ratio for the measuring instrument. The experimental and analytical readings are also used to check our flaw inversion theory.
The Library as a Preferred Place for Studying: Observation of Students’ Use of Physical Spaces

Objective – To determine students’ utilization of physical spaces in the library, excluding computer labs or stacks. Design – Observational research, unobtrusive method. Setting – Areas of space in the University Library, as well as within adjoining areas at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, such as carrels, tables, soft chairs, and study rooms. Subjects – Students using the library’s space. Methods – The researcher chose to collect data via observation of individuals and groups in a particular space in the library, noting the gender of the individuals using the space and whether or not they were using laptops. Areas of space examined were carrels, group study rooms, chairs and sofas, tables and chairs in the Academic Commons, and benches and chairs within corridors. The unit of analysis used was equal to an individual seat. The research excluded stack space as well as any space with fixed computer stations. The time periods chosen to study the spaces were selected based on the author’s previous research. Due to higher daytime usage than evening, data was collected at two time periods during the day: 12-1 p.m. and 3-4 p.m., Monday through Friday. The researcher recorded the time of the semester as well, choosing weeks 14-17 in Fall 2007 and weeks 10-17 in Spring 2008. Space diagrams for collecting data were created, and each area had different collection times. All data was entered into a database in which each area was recorded with the number and type of users. Each area had a different capacity as to how many individuals it could hold. If the percentage of capacity was higher than 50%, the usage was considered to be notable. Main Results – The researchers observed a few patterns from their data collection. Gender analysis provided information regarding the use of laptops; men were more likely to use them than women. While men were a smaller part of the overall university demographic while this research took place, they utilized the library spaces most. As expected, library usage increased as the end of each semester neared, suggesting that the spaces are used mainly for study purposes. The author also chose to collect data regarding library usage by semester, which is questionable because the student population declined from fall to spring and a Campus Center opened, providing another study space. The most attractive spaces in the library were study rooms, and for the most part, groups, as opposed to individual students, utilized these rooms. The chair and sofa areas of the library were the next most popular areas, but the study carrels were also popular, especially toward the end of a semester. Conclusion – According to the researcher, the data collected points to the library as a preferred place for studying, as opposed to other activities. By observing the use of areas such as study carrels, soft chairs, and group study rooms, one can derive data that will allow for future space planning, as well as gain an understanding of how a current space is being used.
The Utility of Polyglycolic Acid Mesh for Abdominal Access in Patients With Necrotizing Pancreatitis

Abstract Background: Necrotizing pancreatitis is a poorly understood process that has been treated by a variety of surgical approaches. Despite advances in operative interventions and critical care, this disease often requires prolonged resource allocation and continues to cause substantial morbidity, with mortality rates ranging from 11% to 40%. We report on our recent series of patients with necrotizing pancreatitis and our experience with the use of an absorbable mesh in a subset of these patients to facilitate their surgical care. Study Design: From 1985 to 1994, 40 patients with culture-proved necrotizing pancreatitis underwent operative debridement and drainage. Surgical outcomes were compared among patients who underwent a single debridement and drainage, those requiring multiple procedures, and those having placement of polyglycolic acid mesh. Results: The overall hospital mortality rate was 30%. The mean length of hospital stay was 35 days. The rate of infected pancreatic necrosis was 60%, with a mortality rate of 45% in patients having infected pancreatic tissue at surgery. Patients without infected pancreatic tissue at surgery had a mortality rate of 6% (p = 0.03). Eleven patients requiring multiple operations had placement of absorbable polyglycolic acid mesh. Clinic followup was possible in five of six survivors who underwent mesh closure. Abdominal-wall hernias developed in two patients and were repaired electively, and three patients had spontaneous closure by granulation without abdominal-wall hernias. The average number of operations for debridement and drainage was 2.5 (range, 1–15). Patients with limited pancreatic necrosis required a single operative debridement and drainage, and this was associated with improved outcomes. Conclusions: Necrotizing pancreatitis remains an important challenge in surgical care. It requires prolonged hospitalization, costly resources, and causes substantial morbidity and mortality. Our patients with infected pancreatic necrosis or clinical deterioration underwent open staged necrosectomy and debridement. Those patients requiring repeat laparotomy often had placement of polyglycolic acid mesh. This provided open drainage of the abdominal cavity and simplified further care by allowing easy abdominal access for repeat drainage procedures, often performed in the intensive care unit. These patients had a high rate of fistula formation, which may be decreased by changes in wound care. Polyglycolic acid mesh is a useful adjunct in the surgical care of selected patients with necrotizing pancreatitis.
Laboratory Studies of Rydberg Atoms

Time and again the world of atomic physics has been illuminated and stimulated by astrophysical discoveries, and though it may be an exaggeration to claim that the field of Rydberg atom research sprang from the discovery of recombination radiation in 1965, there is no doubt that my own involvement started from that point. News of Hoglund and Metzger’s discovery was reported with great excitement at Harvard, where I was an assistant professor, by Ed Purcell. A few matchbook calculations were all it took to show that highly excited atoms represented an essentially different species from atoms in their low-lying states, the traditional stock of atomic physics. Cross sections, dipole moment, radiative lifetime, density of states - all the familiar properties are fantastically distorted. Unfortunately, a few more matchbook calculations were all it took to show that simply because radio astronomers had a galaxy of highly excited atoms more or less waving for attention, it did not necessarily follow that the atoms could be studied in isolation in the laboratory. In fact, by the techniques of the 1960Ts the task of preparing highly excited atoms seemed formidable. Radiative association is too slow to be practical in the laboratory, while optical excitation of ground state atoms into Rydberg states would require spectral sources far brighter than anything then available.
“Fraternal” nations and challenges to sovereignty in Ukraine: The politics of linguistic and religious ties

Vladimir Putin's recent assertions that Russian “compatriots” were suffering in Ukraine contributed to a rapid escalation of instability and violence in this borderland country that defines the margins of Europe and the edge of Eurasia. After 23 years of independence, Ukraine retains significant regional diversity and strong local identities. At the same time, social differences understood in terms of ethnicity, language choice, and religious affiliation have become less defined, as Ukrainians have embraced fluid linguistic and religious practices that defy easy characterization. On the basis of long-term fieldwork in Ukraine, I argue that “non-accommodating bilingualism” and “ambient faith” characterize everyday linguistic and religious practices in this postcolonial, post-Soviet-socialist space. This flexibility is adaptive domestically. Paradoxically, it contributes to the vulnerability of Ukrainian sovereignty when polarizing, politicized categories based on supposedly identifiable cultural attributes inject a spurious precision into everyday practices with the aim of redefining state sovereignty.
Contributions of liver and kidneys to glycerol production and utilization in the dog

The classical concept holds that liver and kidneys are the main sinks of glycerol released by adipose tissue. However, rates of glycerol appearance (Ra) exceed the rate of glycerol delivery to liver and kidneys. We measured the hepatic and renal contributions to glycerol production and utilization in anesthetized dogs that were fasted either overnight or for 24 h after 3 days on a carbohydrate-free diet. Dogs were infused with [2H5]glycerol, and the concentration and 2H enrichment of glycerol were measured across liver and kidney. After a baseline period, either norepinephrine or glucose plus insulin was infused to alter the rate of glycerol production. Our study shows that the production of glycerol by liver and kidneys amounted to 4-9% and 4-7% of the Ra of glycerol, respectively. Uptake of glycerol by liver and kidneys amounted to 26-30 and 10-19% of the Ra of glycerol, respectively. Thus, contrary to the classical concept, the bulk of glycerol utilization occurs in nonhepatic, nonrenal tissues that have very low glycerol kinase activity per gram.
EFFECTS OF BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS ON THE NESTING SUCCESS OF CHIPPING SPARROWS IN SOUTHWEST COLORADO

Abstract We documented effects of Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) parasitism on Chipping Sparrows (Spizella passerina) in southwest Colorado. Overall, 17 of 77 nests (22%) were parasitized. Abandonment was significantly higher among parasitized nests (29%) than unparasitized nests (5%). More Chipping Sparrows hatched and fledged per unparasitized nest than per parasitized nest. Reduction of host hatching and fledging rates in parasitized nests was attributable to smaller clutch size and higher abandonment. The major source of nest failure was predation, not parasitism; overall, 53% failed from predation, and only 6% failed from parasitism. There were no differences in weight, ulna length, tarsometatarsus length, or length of outermost primary between sparrow nestlings in parasitized and unparasitized nests. Only 18% of cowbird eggs laid resulted in a fledged cowbird. We observed no differences in nest placement or nest concealment between unparasitized and parasitized nests.
Review of the PE Metrics Cognitive Assessment Tool for Fifth Grade Students

Summary Study aim: this study examined the item difficulty and item discrimination scores for the HRFK PE Metrics cognitive assess ment tool for 5th-grade students. Materials and methods: ten elementary physical education teachers volunteered to participate. Based on convenience, participating teachers selected two 5 th grade physical education classes. Teachers then gave students (N = 633) a 28-question paper and pencil HRFK exam using PE Metrics Standards 3 and 4. Item difficulty and discrimination analysis and Rasch Modeling were used data to determine underperforming items. Results: analysis suggests that at least three items are problematic. The Rasch Model confirmed this result and identified similar items with high outfit mean square values and low Point Biserial correlation values. Conclusions: teachers are in need of valid and reliable HRFK assessment tools. Without the removal of three items in the PE Metrics HRFK exam for 5th-grade students, complete use of the exam could offer incorrect conclusions.
General Surgery Resident Satisfaction on Cardiothoracic Rotations

Objective General surgery residents' exposure to cardiothoracic (CT) surgery rotations has decreased, which may affect resident satisfaction. We surveyed general surgery graduates to assess the relationships among rotation satisfaction, CT disease exposure, rotation length, mentorship, and mistreatment. Design A survey assessing CT curriculum, exposure, mentorship, and satisfaction was forwarded to general surgery graduates from 17 residency programs. A Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used to assess statistical significance of ordinal level data. Statistical significance was defined as p Setting This study was conducted at the University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor, MI, a tertiary care center. Participants The survey was sent to approximately 1300 graduates of general surgery residency programs who graduated between the years of 1999 to 2014. A total of 94 responses were completed and received. Results Receiving adequate exposure to CT procedures and disease management was significantly associated with higher satisfaction ratings for all procedures, particularly thoracotomy incisions (p Conclusion Rotation satisfaction is positively associated with procedure exposure, better mentorship, and the absence of mistreatment. Longer rotation length was not associated with satisfaction. Shorter rotations are not detrimental to training if they have focused clinical exposure and invested mentors to maximize resident satisfaction. These specific markers of rotation quality are useful in curricular design.
Children's Developing Theory of Mind:

Studies from the developmental research perspective inform analytic understanding of the neuropsychological preconditions necessary for children's increasing awareness of their own and others' mental lives. Conversely, psychoanalytically informed observations of children's early development demonstrate how the child's emerging understanding of other minds is contextualized in the earliest interactions between parent and child. The notion of a gradually developing understanding of mind that becomes most evident in observational studies between 4 and 6 years of age provides a developmental context for considering children's capacity for internalization, their creation of an inner, psychic reality, and their response to therapeutic interventions during an analytic hour. Significant for psychoanalytic work with children is the suggestion that only after children are able to understand how their own and other's mental states are constructed and how such states are behind all actions and language can they then reflect upon their own thoughts and mental life. Developing a theory of the mind of the other integrates psychoanalytic notions of self-other differentiation, of the development of internalized representations of others, and ultimately of the capacity for self-reflection.
Detection of three novel translocations and specific common chromosomal break sites in malignant melanoma by spectral karyotyping.

Chromosomal aberrations in malignant melanoma cells have been reported using standard chromosome banding analysis and comparative genomic hybridization. To identify marker chromosomes and translocations that are difficult to characterize by standard banding analysis, 15 early passage malignant melanoma cell lines were examined using spectral karyotyping. All 15 tumor cell lines had lost all or part of 1p and 10q. Losses of material on chromosome arms 4p (12/15), 6q (12/15), 9p (15/15), 12p (13/15), 12q (13/15), 13q (11/15), and 19q (14/15) were the next most frequent events. Gain of chromosome arms 1q (11/15), 6p (13/15), and 20q11 (14/15) was also observed. Interestingly, we identified translocations der(12)t(12;20)(q15;q11), der(19)t(10;19)(q23;q13), and der(12)t(12;19)(q13;q13) in 4/15 tumors. Three recurring translocations involving four of the most frequent break points were detected. The identification of recurring translocations and unique chromosome break points in melanoma will aid in the identification of the genes that are important in the neoplastic process. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Minireview: Meeting the Demand for Insulin: Molecular Mechanisms of Adaptive Postnatal ß-Cell Mass Expansion

Type 2 diabetes results from pancreatic s-cell failure in the setting of insulin resistance. This model of disease progression has received recent support from the results of genome-wide association studies that identify genes potentially regulating s-cell growth and function as type 2 diabetes susceptibility loci. Normal s-cell compensation for an increased insulin demand includes both enhanced insulin-secretory capacity and an expansion of morphological s-cell mass, due largely to changes in the balance between s-cell proliferation and apoptosis. Recent years have brought significant progress in the understanding of both extrinsic signals stimulating s-cell growth as well as mediators intrinsic to the s-cell that regulate the compensatory response. Here, we review the current knowledge of mechanisms underlying adaptive expansion of s-cell mass, focusing on lessons learned from experimental models of physiologically occurring insulin-resistant states including diet-induced obesity and pregnancy, and highlighting the potential importance of interorgan cross talk. The identification of critical mediators of islet compensation may direct the development of future therapeutic strategies to enhance the response of s-cells to insulin resistance.
HONE: Joint Host-Network Traffic Management in Software-Defined Networks

Applications running in modern datacenters interact with the underlying network in complex ways, making administrators run multiple traffic management tasks to tune the system. However, today's traffic management solutions are limited by an artificial division between the hosts and the network. While network devices only have knowledge of the network layer, the hosts can provide more visibility into how applications interact with the network. This paper proposes to extend the scope of traffic management to the end-host network stack. We present a software-defined networking platform for joint HOst-NEtwork (HONE) traffic management. HONE presents a uniform view of a diverse collection of measurement data, minimizes measurement overhead by performing lazy materialization of fine-grained statistics, and scales the analysis by processing data locally on the end hosts. HONE offers a simple and expressive programming framework for network and service administrators. We evaluate HONE by implementing several canonical traffic management applications, measuring its efficiency with micro-benchmarks, and demonstrating its scalability with larger experiments on Amazon EC2.
Thirring model partition functions and harmonic differentials

Abstract The partition function of the Thirring model on a Riemann surface is calculated using the representation of the model as a fermion interacting with an auxiliary vector potential. The Hodge decomposition of the potential is used and the integral over the harmonic forms is shown to reproduce exactly the soliton sum in the bosonic version of the theory.
Obsolescence of Aging Electrical Equipment: Management Program in Oil and Gas Industrial Facilities

This article presents the lessons learned and challenges during the development and implementation of an electrical equipment obsolescence management program at a large oil and gas company. A methodology was developed to identify obsolete equipment by a rational application of obsolescence criteria and ranking mechanisms. Major investments in replacing aging electrical equipment is required for operational continuity and reliability, continued viability, and cost effectiveness of the existing company's assets. The key strategies for successful strategic planning with capital investment in the existing facilities are outlined. The obsolescence management program helps to minimize capital expenditures by using cost-effective alternatives that will extend the economic life of electrical equipment, while maintaining the required operational safety and availability.
High Temperature Photochemistry (HTP): Kinetics and mechanism studies of elementary combustion reactions over 300-1700 K

Abstract The HTP technique makes it possible to study the kinetics and mechanisms of elementary reactions of important combustion-related free radicals over wide temperature ranges. It utilizes standard flash photolysis methods to generate the radicals and resonance fluorescence diagnostics to follow their time-dependent concentrations, from which kinetic and mechanistic information is derived. The use of a single technique to explore the kinetics of reactions over wide temperature ranges gives high confidence in the experimentally determined temperature dependences and provides a precise data base for both theoretical and empirical extrapolation of kinetic parameters to other temperatures of interest. Results obtained in HTP studies of the reactions O+CH3, H+H2O, OH+CH4, and OH+C6H6 are discussed.
Cytosine Deaminase Gene as a Positive Selection Marker (

Cytosine deaminase (EC 3.5.4.1), a non-mammalian enzyme, catalyzes the deamination of cytosine and 5-fluorocytosine to form uracil and 5-fluorouracil, respectively. Eukaryotic cells have been genetically modified with a bacterial cytosine deaminase gene to express a functional enzyme. When the genetically modified cells are combined with 5-fluorocytosine, it creates a potent negative selection system, which may have important applications in cancer gene therapy. In this paper, we introduce a novel positive selection method based upon the expression of the cytosine deaminase gene. This method utilizes inhibitors in the pyrimidine de novo synthesis pathway to create a condition in which cells are dependent on the conversion of pyrimidine supplements to uracil by cytosine deaminase. Thus, only cells expressing the cytosine deaminase gene can be rescued in a positive selection medium.
On smoothness terms in multidimensional Whittaker graduation

Abstract Multidimensional Whittaker graduations are obtained by minimizing a linear combination of a measure of lack-of-fit between the graduated and ungraduated values, and measures of lack-of-smoothness of the graduated values across each dimension. For convenience we shall use the terminology ‘smoothness’ rather than ‘lack-of-smoothness’ when referring to the terms included in the objective function. Standard smoothness terms are sums of squares of differences, with respect to a single variable, of the graduated values. Consequently, such terms may be thought of as measuring lack-of-smoothness in directions that are parallel to the various axes. Additional smoothness of the graduated values may be obtained by including smoothness terms that are based on mixed differences. In this paper a method is developed for determining which smoothness terms to include in the objective function. This analysis assumes the graduator has pre-specified a polynomial model which represents the graduated values under ideal or ultimate smoothness. A second problem of determining formulas for these smoothness terms is also solved. Whittaker graduation is most efficiently done when the objective function is expressed in terms of matrices. Smoothness terms may then be written as quadratic forms in the graduated values. Lowrie (1993) explains how to construct the matrices of these quadratic forms; however, a basic formula for these matrices has not been found. In this paper formulas for these matrices are developed in terms of Kronecker products. An extension to nonstandard smoothness terms is also discussed.
Structure and photochemical activity of chlorophyll-containing particles from Rhodospirillum rubrum.

Comparative studies on isolated chromatophores and on sectioned cells of the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodospirillum rubrum confirm the assumption expressed in earlier investigations that the photochemically active chromatophores isolated from disrupted cells represent structural chlorophyll-bearing components of the protoplast. Actively growing cells from light-grown cultures about 12 hours old do not release chromatophores when disrupted in dilute buffers, but do release smaller, chlorophyll-containing structures about 25 mµ in diameter. Sections of such cells do not reveal chromatophores, but contain in the ground cytoplasm numerous particles somewhat smaller in size than the 25 mµ chlorophyll-containing particles released from disrupted cells. Similar particles are obtained by the sonication of isolated chromatophores obtained from cells of 1-day-old cultures. The small, subchromatophore particles described here appear to be functionally complete units which are photochemically active in photo-oxidation, photoreduction, and photophosphorylation, and it is postulated that they represent the basic biochemical and structural components of the chromatophore.
Vector-meson mass generation by chiral anomalies.

We show that the chiral Schwinger model, which is anomalous, yields a consistent and unitary, although not gauge-invariant, theory. The model is exactly solvable and contains a free massive vector boson plus harmonic excitations.
Typical Prenatal Vitamin D Supplement Intake Does Not Prevent Decrease of Plasma 25-Hydroxyvitamin D at Birth

Objective: The objective of this longitudinal study was to determine what typical vitamin D predictors influence the change in vitamin D status from mid-pregnancy to birth.Methods: Plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] was determined at mid-pregnancy (8–20 weeks gestation) and following birth (n = 193). Usual predictors of vitamin D status [body mass index (BMI), race, season] in addition to prenatal supplemental vitamin D intake and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) status at delivery were assessed for their interaction on the change on plasma 25(OH)D concentration between the two time points.Results: Forty-nine percent of women had inadequate vitamin D status [categorized as deficient (<30 nmol/L) or insufficient (30–49.9 nmol/L) by IOM guidelines] at mid-pregnancy and 82% were deficient or insufficient at birth. Plasma 25(OH)D concentration dropped 61% from mid-pregnancy to birth. Season of birth (F = 7.86, P = 0.006) and mid-pregnancy plasma 25(OH)D concentration (F = 6.17, P = 0.014) were significant variabl...
Mechanisms of HNO biology

Nitroxyl (HNO) is the one-electron reduced and protonated congener of NO. It has been reported that HNO has numerous important and therapeutically useful biological properties. Although it has not been demonstrated that HNO is endogenously generated, developing HNO-donors as pharmacological agents has become an area of significant interest. Similar to NO (although chemically distinct), two primary sites of HNO interaction with biological systems are thiols/thiol proteins and metals/metalloproteins. It is likely that the chemistry of HNO with these types of biological targets is responsible for its unique and potentially useful biological properties. Interestingly, other established small-molecule signaling agents such as hydrogen peroxide share a target profile with HNO. Thus, HNO and H 2 O 2 may be intimately linked in their signaling functions. This chemistry and relationship will be discussed.
Enzyme electrode system for oxalate determination utilizing oxalate decarboxylase immobilized on a carbon dioxide sensor

Abstract A highly selective enzyme electrode system for oxalate is described in which the enzyme oxalate decarboxylase is immobilized on a carbon dioxide gas-sensing electrode. The response of the system is linear with the logarithm of the oxalate concentration between 2 × 10-4 and I × 10-2 M with a slope of 57–60 mV/decade. The oxalate detection limit is 4 × 10-5 M. Electrodes used with chemically immobilized enzyme are not affected by phosphate and sulfate at levels normally found in urine and are very stable showing no decrease in response after one month of operation. The enzyme electrode system functions well in urine, requiring minimal sample pretreatment. The recovery of oxalate added to five aliquots of a human control urine sample averaged 97.7% with an average relative standard deviation of 4.5%.
Self‐consciousness in Chimps and Pigeons

Abstract Chimpanzee behaviour with mirrors makes it plausible that they can recognise themselves as themselves in mirrors, and so have a ‘self‐concept’. I defend this claim, and argue that roughly similar behaviour in pigeons, as reported, does not in fact make it equally plausible that they also have this mental capacity. But for all that it is genuine, chimpanzee self‐consciousness may differ significantly from ours. I describe one possibility I believe consistent with the data, even if not very plausible: that the chimpanzee is aware of itself only as a material being, and not as a subject of any psychological states. As I try to make clear, this possibility exists even if the chimpanzee has psychological states, and is aware of some of them.
Dimensions of Peer Evaluation, Overall Satisfaction, and Overall Evaluation: An Investigation in a Group Task Environment

For this study, the authors developed a multi-item, multidimensional scale for peer evaluation encompassing five key dimensions: dependability, task and maintenance orientation, domineering behavior, free-riding behavior, and individual competence. They also tested the relationship between these dimensions and two outcome variables: overall evaluation and overall satisfaction. Results indicate that although dependability and competence influenced overall evaluation, task and maintenance orientation and free-riding behavior influenced overall satisfaction. The authors also tested the scales for stability across gender and prior familiarity with the group member and found them to be reasonably invariant.
Where are length of stays longer and total charges higher for pediatric burn patients

Treatment of pediatric burn patients is costly and may require long length of stay in the hospital (LOS). Establishing where these LOS and charges are highest is warranted. The current study investigated whether pediatric burn patients had higher total charges and longer LOS when seen at teaching hospitals, when compared with nonteaching hospitals. The study reviewed inpatient admissions for pediatric burn patients in 2003, 2006, and 2009 by using the Kids' Inpatient Database, which is part of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project. International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes 940-947 were used to define burn injury, LOS, total charges, and type of hospital. The authors tested for differences between the LOS and total charges between children seen at three types of hospitals (pediatric, nonpediatric/teaching, nonpediatric/nonteaching) while adjusting for traditional risk factors (eg age, total burn surface area) by using generalized linear mixed-effects modeling. A total of N=28,777 children had burn injuries (n=16,115, 56.0% seen at pediatric hospitals; n=9353, 32.5% seen at nonpediatric/teaching hospitals; and n=3309, 11.5% seen at nonpediatric/nonteaching hospitals). Pediatric burn patients seen at pediatric hospitals, unadjusted, have significantly longer LOS (5.54 days vs 4.25 days and 4.00 days, P<.001) and more total charges in 2009 dollars ($31,319 vs $24,413 and $21,499, P<.001). In addition, patients seen at pediatric hospitals had significantly more total burn surface area (P<.001), more comorbidities (P=.021), and were younger (P<.001). After adjusting for total burn surface area, number of comorbidities, and age, no differences existed between teaching and nonteaching hospitals for LOS (P=.481) or total charges (P=.758). Although pediatric burn patients may have increased LOS and total charges when seen at teaching hospitals, when taking an unadjusted perspective, this may be an artifact that teaching hospitals see pediatric burn patients who are younger, have more comorbidities, and have more total burn surface area. As such, after adjustment, type of hospital may have no influence on LOS and total charges.
An improved pulse-slimming method for magnetic recording

This paper briefly summarizes various pulse-slimming methods for enhancing magnetic recording signals. It then describes the compensation methods used in a recently announced mass storage system. The advantages of the new methods of compensation are compared with previous methods. A key feature of the new design is a basic pulse-slimming block that enables the leading and trailing edges of an isolated read pulse to be slimmed independently. This, combined with an integrator to convert peaks to zero crossings, equalizes the phase and amplitude of the recording channel.
Purpura simplex (inflammatory purpura without vasculitis): A clinicopathologic study of 174 cases

Purpura simplex manifests clinically as macular purpuric and petechial pigmented, golden, annular, or lichenoid lesions. These subtypes have been termed Schamberg's purpura, lichen aureus, Majocchi's purpura, and Gougerot-Blum purpura. Histologically, there is inflammation and hemorrhage without fibrinoid necrosis of vessels. One hundred seventy-four cases were retrospectively reviewed. In some patients, the eruption was related to medications. Treatment was usually of limited benefit. Fifty-eight of 87 patients (67%) who had follow-up data did eventually have clearing of lesions. Because of the clinical and histologic similarities among the subtypes, the inclusive term purpura simplex is favored.
Synthesis of steroidal cyclophosphamides

Abstract The Reformatsky product of estrone methyl ether and ethyl bromoacetate was transformed by two separate routes to 21-amino-3-methoxy-17 α-pregna-l,3,5(10)-trien-17β-ol ( 9 ). Cyclization with bis-(2-chloroethyl) phosphoramide dichloride produced the steroidal cyclophosphamide 10 . Analogous syntheses transformed androstenolone into steroidal cyclophosphamide 20 and androstenedione into steroidal cyclophosphamide 28 .
Hemodynamic Studies Two Weeks to Six Years after Repair of Tetralogy of Fallot

Hemodynamic studies were made 2 weeks after repair of tetralogy of Fallot in 18 cases and 2 months to 6 years after operation in 5 cases. Intracardiac and intravascular pressures, oxygen uptake, arteriovenous oxygen content difference, cardiac output, heart rate, stroke index, and pulmonary and systemic resistance were measured. Residual intracardiac shunts and residual pulmonary stenosis and incompetence were assessed. Results were compared with similar studies on postoperative days 1, 2, and 3. Further insight into patterns of convalescence as well as into the favorable hemodynamic state usually pertaining after repair are provided by these data.
Investigating performance of limited angle dedicated breast TOF PET

The development of dedicated breast PET imaging has great potential for improving the diagnosis and staging of breast cancer. A number of positron emission mammography (PEM) systems have been developed for imaging of the compressed breast in conjunction with mammography. Another class of breast PET systems is being investigated for imaging of the uncompressed breast in the prone position (referred to as BPET). In this study, a computer simulation is used to evaluate the effect of TOF PET on various BPET geometries using an average size, cylindrical breast phantom model (14 cm diameter, 11 cm axial length) and a BPET system with 25 cm diameter. The Geant4-based GATE Monte Carlo package was used to model a dedicated full ring breast PET scanner consisting of 96 rings with 12 modules and 32×96 2×2×20 mm LYSO crystals in each module. The diameter of the rings was 250 mm and the axial length in field of view (FOV) was about 200 mm. PET geometries consisting of 5/6 ring and 2/3 ring were also studied. To investigate performance of time-of-flight (TOF) PET, different coincidence time resolutions (FWHM) of 280 ps, 425 ps, and 850 ps were modeled. It was observed that TOF using full-ring breast PET provided SNR improvement for 3 mm spheres of 8%, 35%, and 42% for 850 ps, 425 ps, and 280 ps timing resolution. Using TOF reconstruction with an incomplete ring geometry caused reconstructed spheres to be slightly geometrically distorted, and in general using TOF did not fully compensate for the loss of SNR due to the incomplete ring geometry.
On the spectra of infinite-dimensional Jacobi matrices

Abstract The Green's function method used by Case and Kac is extended to include unbounded Jacobi matrices. As a first application an upper bound on the number of eigenvalues is calculated, using the method of Bargmann. Another bound is found using the Birman-Schwinger argument, which is valid for matrix orthogonal polynomials.
Pulsed H/D-exchange studies of folding intermediates

Abstract Pulsed peptide H/D exchange has been used recently to study intermediates on the folding pathways of nine small proteins, in eight laboratories. Patterns of folding behavior are beginning to emerge and some results are quite unexpected. The data are compared with predictions of a molten-globule model of protein folding.
Wound healing and collagen thermal damage in 7.5-microsec pulsed CO(2) laser skin incisions.

Background and Objective Wound-healing delays caused by lateral thermal damage to tissue remain a drawback of CO2 surgical lasers. This study compares the thermal damage and wound-healing properties of a 7.5-μs pulsed CO2 laser with scalpel and continuous wave (CW) CO2 laser incisions. Study Design/Materials and Methods We created incisions on the dorsal pelts of rats with a 7.5-μs pulsed CO2 laser at 5-, 10-, or 15-Hz repetition rate, a conventional CW laser, or scalpel. Animals were euthanized at postoperative days 3, 7, 14, 21, and 80. Tissue was harvested and analyzed histologically and for wound tensile strength. In addition, tissue was harvested acutely and analyzed for acute thermal injury lateral to the incisions. Results Incisions made with the pulsed laser had significantly higher tensile strength and histologic rankings than did CW laser incisions at days 3–21, producing 118 μm of thermal damage to tissue as compared with 333 μm for CW laser. Pulsed laser incisions were not statistically different than scalpel incisions at days 3–14 of healing. Mathematical modeling showed the pulsed laser to produce a wound healing delay of 1.0 day by tensiometry and 1.9 days by histology, compared with 3.2 days by tensiometry and 6.0 days by histology for CW laser. There were no significant differences in wound healing when the pulsed laser was used at repetition rates of 5–15 Hz. Conclusions Using a 7.5-μs pulse duration, CO2 laser incisions healed at a rate similar to scalpel incisions and reduced the wound-healing delay seen with typical surgical CO2 lasers. Lasers Surg. Med. 26:22–32, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Land classification used to select abandoned hazardous waste study sites

The biological effects of hazardous substances in the environment are influenced by climate, physiography, and biota. These factors interact to determine the transport and fate of chemicals, but are difficult to model accurately except for small areas with a large data base. The requirement for a large data base may be reduced locally if the regional influences of these factors were predetermined from existing data. Knowledge of the regional factors would also relax the restriction to considering only small areas. This paper advocates consideration of regional characteristics of the environment in the early stages of waste management strategy development. It presents as an example a procedure for selecting study sites from candidate-abandoned hazardous waste dumpsites in the southeastern United States. It uses small-scale maps of low resolution from the National Atlas to delineate the boundaries and to determine the environmental characteristics that prevail over units of land within the region. A computer map-overlay and graphic approach is used to facilitate the grouping of land types. Abandoned hazardous waste dumpsites found within land types that best represent the region are surveyed for selecting a study site. It is expected that environmental impact data obtained from a representative site would be useful for predicting impact potentials in similar remotely located areas within the same general region.