cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gastrin Releasing Protein Receptor Specific Gold Nanorods: Breast and Prostate Tumor Avid Nanovectors for Molecular Imaging

Gastrin releasing protein receptor specific bombesin (BBN) peptide-gold nanoconjugates were successfully synthesized using gold nanorods and dithiolated peptide. The gold nanorod-bombesin (GNR-BBN) conjugates showed extraordinary in vitro stabilities against various biomolecules including NaCl, cysteine, histidine, bovine serum albumin, human serum albumin, and dithiothreitol. Quantitative measurements on the binding affinity (IC(50)) of GNR-BBN conjugates toward prostate and breast tumor cells were evaluated. The IC(50) values establish that GNR-BBN conjugates have strong affinity toward the gastrin releasing peptide receptors on both the tumors. Detailed cellular interaction studies of GNR-BBN conjugates revealed that nanorods internalize via a receptor-mediated endocytosis pathway. The receptor specific interactions of GNR-BBN conjugates provide realistic opportunities in the design and development of in vivo molecular imaging and therapy agents for cancer.
Mixed septicemias and gastrointestinal disease.

Mixed bacterial species were recovered from blood cultures of 32 patients, of whom 21 were classified as having probable, 7 possible, and 4 improbable mixed septicemias. Those with probable mixed septicemia were characterized by a high incidence of alcoholism, hepatic and gastrointestinal disease; by a severely septic course, and high mortality rate (81%), despite vigorous antibiotic therapy. Mixed septicemia has been described most often in association with leukemia and gastrointestinal disease. Therefore the recovery of mixed bacterial species from blood cultures should alert the physician to the possible presence of such conditions.
Acute effects of haloperidol on cerebral cortex blood flow in normal and schizophrenic subjects.

To evaluate the effects of neuroleptic medications on cerebral blood flow (CBF), cortical perfusion was quantified by the 133 xenon technique in 8 unmedicated schizophrenics and 9 healthy controls before, and 1 and 3 hours after, administration of haloperidol (5 mg per os). At 3 hours, the normal subjects, but not schizophrenic patients, showed a significant increase in global mean perfusion (17 ± 13%). Changes in CBF were not associated with plasma haloperidol levels or the presence of extrapyramidal side effects, and remained significant after controlling for pCO 2 . The lack of change in CBF in schizophrenic patients following acute haloperidol administration may be due to prior neuroleptic exposure, absence of anxiety, or other nonspecific factors, or may reflect a more fundamental feature of underlying pathophysiology in schizophrenia.
Fused organs in the adherent1 mutation in maize show altered epidermal walls with no perturbations in tissue identities

In the absence of wounding, the epidermis is only rarely involved in cell or organ fusion events; in fact, intact epidermal layers prevent graft unions. In Zea mays L. the mutation adherent1 (ad1) shows abnormal fusions between cells and organs. Fusions involve epidermal cells of vegetative and floral organs and occur early in the ontogeny of organs. Even so, epidermal cell types differentiate normally in the fused regions and internal tissue identities are maintained. In contrast, the extracellular matrix (cell wall and cuticle) of the epidermal cells is perturbed. Epidermal cell walls in adherent leaves are thicker than normal. Epicuticular wax particles appear reduced in size and number and altered in shape in mutant leaves. In addition, the outer epidermal cell walls of adherent leaves fluoresce when stained with aniline blue, a reagent that binds to callose. Immunolocalizations to specific cell wall epitopes suggest that pectins but not arabinogalactans may have a role in the fusion events. Taken together, these results suggest that the ad1 mutation results in cell-wall and epicuticular-wax defects similar to responses seen in wounding, pollination by incompatible pollen, or pathogen attack. Since cell wall components and epicuticular waxes are extracellular secreted products, the ad1 mutation may disrupt normal functioning and/or composition of the secretory pathway and its cargo.
Toxoplasma gondii influences aversive behaviors of female rats in an estrus cycle dependent manner

The protozoan Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) manipulates the behavior of its rodent intermediate host to facilitate its passage to its feline definitive host. This is accomplished by a reduction of the aversive response that rodents show towards cat odors, which likely increases the predation risk. Females on average show similar changes as males. However, behaviors that relate to aversion and attraction are usually strongly influenced by the estrus cycle. In this study, we replicated behavioral effects of T. gondii in female rats, as well as expanded it to two novel behavioral paradigms. We also characterized the role of the estrus cycle in the behavioral effects of T. gondii on female rats. Uninfected females preferred to spend more time in proximity to rabbit rather than bobcat urine, and in a dark chamber rather than a lit chamber. Infected females lost both of these preferences, and also spent more time investigating social novelty (foreign bedding in their environment). Taken together, these data suggest that infection makes females less risk averse and more exploratory. Furthermore, this effect was influenced by the estrus cycle. Uninfected rats preferred rabbit urine to bobcat urine throughout the cycle except at estrus and metestrus. In contrast, infected rats lost this preference at every stage of the cycle except estrus. Commensurate with the possibility that this was a hormone-dependent effect, infected rats had elevated levels of circulating progesterone, a known anxiolytic.
The complexity of nonrobustness effects

The factors determining nonrobustness are numerous and their effects are complicated, often being interactive rather than additive. This makes it hazardous to generalize the results of robustness studies beyond the exact conditions investigated in a study or to attempt to predict the unknown effects of several factors in combination on the basis of their known effects in isolation. Among other things, it is shown (with graphs based on results of a large sampling study) that when both the normality assumption and the equal-variances assumption of certain classical tests on means are violated, (1) the degree of nonrobustness resulting may far exceed the sum of the degrees resulting from the same specific violations of the normality assumption alone and the equal-variances assumption alone, (2) robustness does not necessarily increase with increasing absolute sample size or with enlarging significance levels, and (3) taking equal-sized samples does not necessarily prevent extreme nonrobustness (in fact, it does not necessarily do so even if only the normality assumption is violated).
The feasibility of palpating the lateral pterygoid muscle

Although dysfunction of the lateral pterygoid muscle could contribute to the pain associated with TMJ disorders, it has been demonstrated through the use of dissections and lateral head radiographs that it is not possible to palpate the lateral pterygoid muscle directly by conventional clinical techniques without applying pressure through the overlying superficial head of the medial pterygoid muscle. The possibility of confusing temporal muscle hypersensitivity with that of another muscle in this region is suggested.
Sleep-Dependent Learning and Memory Consolidation

While the functions of sleep remain largely unknown, one of the most exciting and contentious hypotheses is that sleep contributes importantly to memory. A large number of studies offer a substantive body of evidence supporting this role of sleep in what is becoming known as sleep-dependent memory processing. This review will provide evidence of sleep-dependent memory consolidation and sleep-dependent brain plasticity and is divided into five sections: (1) an overview of sleep stages, memory categories, and the distinct stages of memory development; (2) a review of the specific relationships between sleep and memory, both in humans and animals; (3) a survey of evidence describing sleep-dependent brain plasticity, including human brain imaging studies as well as animal studies of cellular neurophysiology and molecular biology. We close (4) with a consideration of unanswered questions as well as existing arguments against the role of sleep in learning and memory and (5) a concluding summary.
An experimental and numerical investigation of phase change electrodes for therapeutic irreversible electroporation.

Abstract Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a new technology for ablating aberrant tissue that utilizes pulsed electric fields (PEFs) to kill cells by destabilizing their plasma membrane. When treatments are planned correctly, the pulse parameters and location of the electrodes for delivering the pulses are selected to permit destruction of the target tissue without causing thermal damage to the surrounding structures. This allows for the treatment of surgically inoperable masses that are located near major blood vessels and nerves. In select cases of high-dose IRE, where a large ablation volume is desired without increasing the number of electrode insertions, it can become challenging to design a pulse protocol that is inherently nonthermal. To solve this problem we have developed a new electrosurgical device that requires no external equipment or protocol modifications. The design incorporates a phase change material (PCM) into the electrode core that melts during treatment and absorbs heat out of the surrounding tissue. Here, this idea is reduced to practice by testing hollow electrodes filled with gallium on tissue phantoms and monitoring temperature in real time. Additionally, the experimental data generated are used to validate a numerical model of the heat transfer problem, which is then applied to investigate the cooling performance of other classes of PCMs. The results indicate that metallic PCMs, such as gallium, are better suited than organics or salt hydrates for thermal management, because their comparatively higher thermal conductivity aids in heat dissipation. However, the melting point of the metallic PCM must be properly adjusted to ensure that the phase transition is not completed before the end of treatment. When translated clinically, phase change electrodes have the potential to continue to allow IRE to be performed safely near critical structures, even in high-dose cases.
Evaluation of InGaAs camera for scientific near infrared imaging applications

Performance data from a new InGaAs focal plane array (FPA) camera is presented. The camera was developed specifically for low-light scientific NIR imaging and spectroscopy applications that often require long integration times and lower dark noise. While commercial InGaAs FPA cameras offer no or minimal cooling to reduce troublesome dark current, the cameras meant for scientific applications offer -100°C or deeper cooling. The performance comparison between uncooled and cooled states is presented. Other operating specifications such as read noise, read out rate and linearity are optimized through careful design of electronics. The improved performance of cooled InGaAs cameras allows detection of low light fluorescence from single walled nanotubes. The availability of such low noise InGaAs cameras is enabling researchers to perform quantitative NIR imaging and spectroscopy measurements in novel applications ranging from semiconductor failure analysis to singlet oxygen detection.
Dynamic Flow Phantoms For Digital Radiography (DR) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)

Digital radiographic flow patterns were analyzed during series of pulsed contrast bolus injections in both phantoms and canine arteries. The effects of stenoses in the phantoms and canine vessels on the flow patterns were also studied. Our digital radiographic results indicate that it is possible to determine the velocity of flow by the pulsatile injection mode and that the large variations in flow patterns observed is a strong function of the elastic properties of the flexible phantoms or arteries as well as of the degree of stenosis. Both cardiac gating and choice of injection site proved important in the canine studies. Work is underway to extend these results to NMR.
Simplified Analytical Approach to Predicting Asphalt Pavement Temperature

AbstractThe temperature profile within the asphalt layer of a flexible pavement plays an important role in the design of hot-mix asphalt and in the performance models of asphalt concrete materials such as low-temperature cracking and asphalt binder oxidation. In this paper, the time-dependent temperature profile within an asphalt concrete layer is modeled as the heat conduction problem in a one-layer pavement system, where the surface boundary condition is simply the pavement surface-temperature history during the time period of interest. An infinite series solution for asphalt layer temperature prediction was derived using measured pavement surface temperatures. The main mathematical tools employed in deriving the analytical solution are separation of variables and Duhamel’s principle. Mathematically, the infinite series are proven to converge uniformly over the finite physical domain at a fixed time t. Field validation based on measured in situ temperature data demonstrated that the proposed closed-form...
Cardiac localization of transvascular bioptome using 2-dimensional echocardiography

Two-dimensional (2-D) echocardiography was added to standard fluoroscopic localization of transvascular endomyocardial biopsy in 7 children with heart muscle disease whose ages were 6 months to 18 years. One left ventricular and 11 right ventricular biopsies were carried out without complications using the fluoroscopic-echocardiographic technique. Two-dimensional echocardiographic monitoring has the advantages of reducing radiation exposure and providing anatomic information about intracardiac structures as well as bioptome localization. Lateral beam spread and reverberation artifacts represent potential problems with 2-D echocardiography, but they did not cause significant difficulties in this study.
Acute behavioral and cardiac effects of cocaine and alcohol combinations in humans.

Subjects received acute doses of orally administered alcohol (0–1.0 g/kg) and intranasal cocaine (4–96 mg/70 kg) alone and in combination in two experiments. Results generally were consistent across both experiments. Cocaine administered alone improved Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) performance, increased subject ratings of stimulant-like effects, heart rate and blood pressure, and decreased skin temperature. Alcohol administered alone disrupted DSST performance, increased ratings of drunkenness, heart rate and skin temperature, and decreased blood pressure. Combining cocaine and alcohol attenuated the disruptions in DSST performance observed with alcohol alone, and either did not change or attenuated the improvements in performance observed with cocaine alone. Combining the drugs also attenuated effects observed with the drugs alone on skin temperature and, to a lesser extent, blood pressure. By contrast, drug combinations increased heart rate above levels observed when cocaine or alcohol were administered alone. Effects of the drug combinations on subject ratings were variable.
An assessment of the job prospects of MIS doctoral students in the academic marketplace

Abstract A survey was conducted on 322 new MIS doctoral graduates in the USA to investigate their profiles, qualifications, research and teaching interests, and job placement during the two years of their graduation. Several important findings emerged: the MIS candidates are found to be more experienced in teaching and productive in research publication than previously; more candidates are found to be interested in teaching MIS, Systems Analysis and Design, and Decision Support Systems; Artificial Intelligence and Expert Systems are found to be the most intensive research areas of recent MIS graduates; the average salary for new MIS hires, on a 9-month basis, was found to be slightly above $50,000; and finally their degree stage, gender, proceedings publication, and DSS/AI/ES specialty are found to be significant factors in affecting job placement.
A production engineering approach to grinding temperatures

Abstract Grinding temperatures play a very important role relative to surface integrity and wheel life. This paper presents a simplified approach based on dimensional analysis. The key to a simplified analysis of grinding temperatures is the observation that a boundary condition of the second kind is involved and that this leads to surface temperatures expressed in terms of a single compound thermal property ( k ∂ C ) 0.5 ( k = conductivity , ∂ C = volume specific heat ) . After deriving the proportionality of importance this is applied to a typical grinding problem — horizontal spindle surface grinding without crossfeed. The paper is concluded by identifying some rules of thumb for use in solving grinding temperature problems in the workshop.
Learning from feedback in probabilistic environments

Abstract Probability-learning studies have documented people's inability to learn probabilistic relationships from outcome feedback. However, the real world is inherently probabilistic, and people do seem to be able to develop some understanding of their environment. It is proposed that typical probability-learning tasks fail to capture some important learning processes because they focus only on the perception of the shapes and magnitudes of cue-criterion functions, and because they have characteristics that encourage an inappropriate deterministic mental set. It is hypothesized that learning in natural environments takes place primarily through the discovery of new valid predictive cues, and the incorporation of these new cues into the learner's predictive model. Results of a recent study provide evidence of this model-building process in a suitable experimental setting. Further research into model-building processes can elucidate the role of learning from feedback in the development of real-world expertise.
Paroids: a canonical format for combinatorial optimization

Almost all successful exact approaches to hard combinatorial optimization problems are firmly rooted in the theory of a single canonical model format—linear integer programming. Some heuristic or approximate strategies for hard combinatorial problems are also structured around linear programming, but many of the most effective, including greedy and local search schemes have no close ties to the linear format. This paper introduces a new structure we call a paroid we believe has the potential to remedy these difficulties by providing a purely combinatorial canonical format in which discrete problems can be “naturally” modeled, and in which notions of combinatorial search can be studied and compared. A paroid is formed by a matroid and a partition of the underlying ground set into “all or nothing” parity sets. We offer as exemplars fairly natural paroid optimization formulations for seven classical combinatorial problems. Then a structural hierarchy of paroids is introduced and many of the seven models are seen to fall in the easiest class. We show that standard matroid theory can be extended with natural notions of paroid duals and minors, and investigate invariances over our classes. Finally, we briefly review the results in thecompanion Rardin and Sudit (1988) showing the power of a generic paroid search algorithm to unify a number of quite diverse combinatorial algorithms.
Sensitivity to the Anticonvulsant Effects of Ethanol and Pentobarbital in Mouse Lines Genetically Selected for Ethanol Sensitivity

Mouse lines genetically selected for susceptibility [long sleep (LS)] or resistance [short sleep (SS)] to the acute hypnotic effects of ethanol were tested for sensitivity to maximal electroshock seizures. LS mice were slightly more sensitive than SS mice. Ethanol or pentobarbital pretreatment elevated seizure thresholds in both lines. LS and SS mice were approximately equally protected by ethanol, but LS mice were somewhat more protected than SS mice by pentobarbital. These studies do not provide evidence that sensitivity to the anticonvulsant effect of ethanol is mediated by substantially the same genes as those mediating sensitivity to EtOH's hypnotic effects. However, sensitivity to pentobarbital's anticonvulsant effects may be genetically correlated.
A rapid alkali-wash method of refining cottonseed oil for refined color determination

A very simple, rapid, reproducible method of refining crude cottonseed oils, for refined color measurement, has been developed. The results can be used to predict the colors of these oils when refined by the American Oil Chemists' Society Cup Method.
Temporal and Spatial Characterization of Rainfall Over Central and South Florida

: requency evaluation and spatial characterization of rainfall in Central and South Florida are presented. Point frequency analysis performed at all available sites has shown that the 2-parameter Gamma probability density function is the best model for monthly rainfall frequency over Central and South Florida. The model's parameters estimated at 145 stations were used to provide monthly rainfall estimates for 10- and 100-year dry and wet return periods. Experimental and theoretical variograms computed for these estimates, as well as the Kriging estimation variance maps, show that the existing rain gage network is less capable of resolving monthly rainfall variation in the wet season than the dry season. May is the dry-to-wet transition month, while October is the wet-to-dry transition month with average rainfall of 4.5 inches. Monthly average rainfall is above 7 inches during the wet season and below 3 inches during the dry season. Two-thirds of the annual rainfall is accumulated in the wet season. Annual average rainfall is maximum (above 60 inches) in many areas along the east coast, and is minimum (below 45 inches) in many areas over Lake Okee-chobee and Central Florida. Rainfall maps show a changing pattern between the wet and the dry seasons. Frontal rainfall occurs in the dry season, while convective rainfall, tropical depression, and hurricanes occur in the wet season. Average rainfall is higher along the east coast area in the dry season and it is higher along the west coast area in the wet season.
Pain-related Fear is Associated with Cognitive Task Avoidance: Exploration of the Cogniphobia Construct in a Recurrent Headache Sample

Pain-related fear is related to self-reported avoidance of physical activities that might induce pain (kinesiophobia), as well as diminished physical performance in non-headache chronic pain. A related concept, “cogniphobia,” has been proposed by others, which suggests that individuals high in headache-related fear will avoid cognitive tasks (by putting forth less effort) in an attempt to minimize the risk of bringing on or exacerbating existing headache symptoms. In the present study we explored the psychological, cognitive, and behavioral correlates of cogniphobia in 74 young adults with frequent headaches. Latent variable analysis of the cogniphobia measure revealed a component focused on fear of headache pain and avoidance of behaviors that would induce pain, which was related to sustained attention performance, performance on a symptom validity measure, and pressure pain threshold on the head, consistent with existing kinesiophobia research in non-headache pain. Results have implications for neuropsy...
Preparing Teachers for Teaching Immigrant Students Through Service-Learning in Immigrant Communities

Burgeoning immigrant populations fuel discussions about preparing preservice teachers to teach students who have limited English proficiency and diverse cultural backgrounds. This article contributes to the conversation by presenting service-learning in immigrant communities as an effective pedagogy to develop an awareness of students’ worlds away from school. This qualitative case study investigates the transformative aspects of a course that places graduate students in service-learning experiences with Spanish-speaking families. The data provide evidence that focused academic study and community experience promote understanding challenges English language learners (SDELs) and their families face, as well as understanding their future roles as teachers of SDELs.
Animal use in undergraduate psychology programs

Chairpersons of undergraduate institutions that offer a psychology major but no graduate program were surveyed concerning their use of animals currently and 5 years ago. Results show that, despite the efforts of animal rights activists, there has been little change in the number of schools that use animals (about 50%) or in the aversive procedures to which animals are subjected. Surprisingly few institutions have had direct contact with animal rights activists. Chairpersons in departments that use animals report that students generally respond favorably to animal use and that American Psychological Association and National Institutes of Health guidelines are appropriate. Alternatives to animal use reported by respondents include computer simulations, video presentations, prepared slides, and human participants.
Machining economics with phase-type distributed tool lives and periodic maintenance control

A Markov decision model is proposed to update dynamically the optimal cutting speed and tool replacement policy based on information gathered on-line about tool wear. The underlying tool wear process is modeled as a continuous Markov chain, while the mean time to malfunction is dependent on the cutting speed through the Taylor tool life equation. We show that under appropriate assumptions the generator matrix of the underlying Markov chain exhibits a separability property that greatly facilitates the solution procedure. The procedure is demonstrated through a numerical example. The proposed model can lead to substantial savings since the optimal machining parameters are computed based on actual tool wear information instead of empirically predetermined estimates for the tool life parameters.
Choice of Consistent Family, and Quantum Incompatibility

In consistent-history quantum theory, a description of the time development of a quantum system requires choosing a framework or consistent family, and then calculating probabilities for the different histories that it contains. It is argued that the framework is chosen by the physicist constructing a description of a quantum system on the basis of questions he wishes to address, in a manner analogous to choosing a coarse-graining of the phase space in classical statistical mechanics. The choice of framework is not determined by some law of nature, though it is limited by quantum incompatibility, a concept that is discussed using a two-dimensional Hilbert space (spin half particle). Thus certain questions of physical interest can only be addressed using frameworks in which they make (quantum-mechanical) sense. The physicist's choice does not influence reality, nor does the presence of choices render the theory subjective. On the contrary, predictions of the theory can, in principle, be verified by experimental measurements. These considerations are used to address various criticisms and possible misunderstandings of the consistent-history approach, including its predictive power, whether it requires a new logic, whether it can be interpreted realistically, the nature of ``quasiclassicality,'' and the possibility of ``contrary'' inferences.
Men's Motivation to Perform the Testicle Self-Exam: Effects of Prior Knowledge and an Educational Brochure

College men reported their attitude and intention to perform the testicle self-exam (TSE) and they rated the likelihood of various consequences of performing the TSE, as well as the likelihood that several other people approved of this behavior. Half of these men had read a brochure about the TSE before completing the questionnaire, and half had not. Also, about half had heard about the TSE prior to the experiment and the others had not. Men's beliefs about the consequences of doing the TSE clustered into two factors: Beliefs about practical consequences and beliefs about health consequences. Men with (vs. without) prior knowledge about the exam and men who read (vs. did not read) the brochure endorsed more positive beliefs about practical and health consequences and more positive TSE attitude and intention. However, the effect of the brochure was far stronger for men without than with prior knowledge. In addition, factors influencing TSE attitude and intention differed for men without versus with prior TSE knowledge. Although the findings were generally consistent with the theory of reasoned action, some findings supported elements of protection motivation theory. Implications for promoting the TSE are discussed.
Plasma spraying of Al2O3 and Al2O3Y2O3

Abstract A microstructural study has been carried out of plasma-sprayed Al 2 O 3 and mixed and sintered Al 2 O 3 Y 2 O 3 . In order to ascertain the degree of metastability achieved by plasma spraying, these results are compared with a similar experiment utilizing a CO 2 laser for melting and the hammer-and-anvil technique for quenching of the same materials. X-ray diffraction methods were used to determine the obtained phases and crystal structures. In addition, transmission electron microscopy was used to confirm the phases present and to study their morpology. The porosity was studied with both mercury intrusion porosimetry and small angle neutron scattering. The addition of Y 2 O 3 is shown to decrease the porosity from 15% to 7.5%. Adhesion is likewise related to the addition of Y 2 O 3 and it is seen that adhesion of the mixture is measurably improved over that of pure Al 2 O 3 . The implication of these results is discussed.
Cloning and sequencing a putative pyrophosphate-dependent phosphofructokinase gene from Entamoeba histolytica☆

Pyrophosphate-dependent phosphofructokinase (PPi-PFK) gene from Entamoeba histolytica was cloned from its genomic library and sequenced. The open reading frame has 1149 by and codes for a protein of 41.5 kDa. The deduced amino acid sequence of E. histolytica PPi-PFK has 25 to 28% identity to the PPi-PFKs from Propionibacterium freudenreichii, Naegleria fowleri and potato. The amino acid residues known to contribute to the active site of PPi-PFK from P. freudenreichii are conserved.
Angle independent Doppler color imaging: determination of accuracy and a method of display.

Abstract A multiple beam technique was utilized to obtain angle independent Doppler color images (AIDCI) using an ultrasonic scanner with a linear transducer. A quantitative study using steady flow models has been performed to evaluate the accuracy of this method in velocity measurements. The results show that the velocity amplitudes measured with this method correlated with those calculated from the measured flow rates (r = 0.95–0.98). The flow angles obtained with this method also correlated with those calculated from the coordinates of the tube image (r = 0.93–0.96). To improve the interpretation of the angle independent results, a method for visualizing two-dimensional flow fields is presented and compared with two existing methods.
Renal transplantation in children with thrombosis of the inferior vena cava requires careful assessment and planning

Children with end-stage renal disease and inferior vena cava (IVC) thrombosis are rare, and their condition is complex and high risk for renal transplantation. Detailed imaging studies of the recipient’s abdominal vasculature should be carried out prior to transplantation, followed by careful pre-operative joint planning by the pediatric transplant surgeon and nephrologist. Critical decisions need to be made as to whether a deceased child’s kidney or an adult-sized kidney is to be used, and if the latter, whether it should be from a deceased or living donor. In addition, the contemplated site of the donor’s renal vein anastomosis needs to be determined with a consideration of the possible consequences of the various choices. Sixteen cases of renal transplantation in children with pre-existing IVC thrombosis are reviewed, including the three reported by Shenoy et al. in this journal. With a full understanding of the difficulties noted, renal transplantation in a small child with IVC thrombosis can be successful. However, it requires thorough recipient assessment, coupled with a careful and thoughtful examination of options, to determine the best possible approach to the transplantation.
A re-examination of Sharpey's fibres in alveolar bone of the mouse.

Abstract Van Gieson or colloidal iron staining techniques showed in serial sections of the mandible of the mouse that Sharpey's fibres passed without interruption through the entire thickness of the surrounding alveolus and were not anchored at the bony margin. Rather, these “transalveolar” fibres joined adjacent teeth to each other or blended with overlying collagenous fibres on buccal, mesial and distal surfaces. In light of these unconventional observations, the orientation and distribution of the various cemento-alveolar groups are examined in detail. The implications of these new findings are discussed as they relate to the role of the periodontal ligament.
Tris(1,10-phenanthroline-N,N')chromium(III) triperchlorate hydrate.

The structure of the cation in [Cr(C12H8N2)3](ClO4)3·H2O consists of the Cr atom bonded to the N atoms of the three 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) ligands, resulting in a distorted octahedral arrangement with the six Cr—N distances ranging from 2.040 (4) to 2.055 (4) A. One of the perchlorate anions is disordered and is located around two special positions.
Structural optimization, biological evaluation, and application of peptidomimetic prostate specific antigen inhibitors

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a serine protease produced at high levels by normal and malignant prostate epithelial cells that is used extensively as a biomarker in the clinical management of prostate cancer. To better understand PSA's role in prostate cancer progression, we prepared a library of peptidyl boronic acid-based inhibitors. To enhance selectivity for PSA vs other serine proteases, we modified the P1 site of the inhibitors to incorporate a bromopropylglycine group. This allowed the inhibitors to participate in halogen bond formation with the serine found at the bottom of the specificity pocket. The best of these Ahx-FSQn(boro)Bpg had PSA Ki of 72 nM and chymotrypsin Ki of 580 nM. In vivo studies using PSA-producing xenografts demonstrated that candidate inhibitors had minimal effect on growth but significantly altered serum levels of PSA. Biodistribution of (125)I labeled peptides showed low levels of uptake into tumors compared to other normal tissues.
Submersion incidents: a review of 39 cases and development of the submersion outcome score

The optimal treatment of the submersion victim continues to be revised and debated. Accurate analysis of therapeutic response to resuscitation after submersion will require a validated prognostic scale. The patient population is very heterogenous, with few cases presenting at many sites. We selected 11 potential predictive variables to be reviewed in 39 submersion incidents. These included the five variables comprising the Orlowski score. Three ‘physiologic' variables were identified which, in combination, also predict neurologic outcome: pH less than or equal to 7.10, PaO 2 /PAO 2 ratio less than or equal to 0.35, and anion gap greater than or equal to 15 mEq −1 . Refinement and validation of a submersion outcome score limited to variables accurately ascertained at presentation will facilitate comparison of treatment protocols.
High Energy Density Lithium–Sulfur Batteries: Challenges of Thick Sulfur Cathodes

High energy and cost-effective lithium sulfur (Li–S) battery technology has been vigorously revisited in recent years due to the urgent need of advanced energy storage technologies for green transportation and large-scale energy storage applications. However, the market penetration of Li–S batteries has been plagued due to the gap in scientific knowledge between the fundamental research and the real application need. Here, a facile and effective approach to integrate commercial carbon nanoparticles into microsized secondary ones for application in high loading sulfur electrodes is proposed The slurry with the integrated particles is easily cast into electrode laminates with practically usable mass loadings. Uniform and crack-free coating with high loading of 2–8 mg cm−2 sulfur are successfully achieved. Based on the obtained thick electrodes, the dependence of areal specific capacity on mass loading, factors influencing electrode performance, and measures used to address the existing issues are studied and discussed.
The Communication of Suicidal Intent By Completed Suicides.

This article reviews the literature on the communication of suicidal intent by completed suicides. Research problems and methodological differences which limit knowledge about suicidal communications are discussed. Despite these difficulties, available data confirms that suicides frequently do communicate their intent. Furthermore, suicides identified as noncommunicators may, nevertheless, provide cues suggesting their intent. Although a few differences are indicated, attempts to distinguish communicators from noncommunicators according to such variables as sex, age, marital status, education, religion, social status, and clinical diagnosis have met with little success.
Carnegie Mellon University traditional informedia digital video retrieval system

The Carnegie Mellon University Informedia group has enjoyed consistent success with TRECVID interactive search using traditional storyboard interfaces for shot-based retrieval. For TRECVID 2006 the output of automatic search was included for the first time with storyboards, as an option for an interactive user. This access mechanism, query-by-best-of-topic, complements other access strategies, namely query-by-text (dominated by closed captioned text), query-by-image (primarily color-based syntactic lookup), and query-by-concept (using concept classifiers trained through machine learning techniques). The interface is tuned to support efficient performance required for TRECVID interactive search tasks where a maximum of 15 minutes can be spent per task. This 4-strategy Informedia interface scored significantly better than all other TRECVID 2006 interactive search systems. Interface attributes will be demonstrated in shot-based retrieval from news corpora.
Response by H. H. Pattee to Jon Umerez’s Paper: “Where Does Pattee’s “How Does a Molecule Become a Message?” Belong in the History of Biosemiotics?”

Umerez’s analysis made me aware of the fundamental differences in the culture of physics and molecular biology and the culture of semiotics from which the new field of biosemiotics arose. These cultures also view histories differently. Considering the evolutionary span and the many hierarchical levels of organization that their models must cover, models at different levels will require different observables and different meanings for common words, like symbol, interpretation, and language. These models as well as their histories should be viewed as complementary rather than competitive. The relation of genetic language and human language is the central issue. They are separated by 4 billion years and require entirely different models. Nevertheless, these languages have in common a unique unlimited expressive power that allows open-ended evolution and creative thought. Understanding the nature of this expressive power and how it arises remains a basic unsolved problem of biosemiotics.
The intra-aortic balloon for left heart assistance: An analytic model

Abstract The intra-aortic balloon, a device for providing mechanical assistance to the failing circulation, acts as an additional valveless ventricle in series with the heart. It consists of a gas-filled bag, mounted on a catheter, which is introduced into the aorta and caused to inflate and deflate under the action of a pressure source outside the body. A mathematical model of the arterial system called the “non-uniform elastic tube model” is developed consistent with physiologic measurements of hydraulic input impedance. In conjunction with a simple model of the balloon, the “pressure-node, flow source” model, any two of the four variables, heart pressure, heart flow, balloon pressure, and balloon displacement flow may be predicted as a function of time, given the remaining two. The model in fact applies to any counterpulsation scheme of heart assist involving the introduction and withdrawal of blood volume at a local point in the aorta. A principal conclusion is that the balloon should be both inflated and deflated during diastole for maximum benefit to the heart.
Heparin-Mediated Conformational Changes in Fibronectin Expose Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Binding Sites†

Regulation of angiogenesis involves interactions between vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and components of the extracellular matrix, including fibronectin and heparan sulfate. In the present study, we identified two classes of VEGF binding sites on fibronectin. One was constitutively available whereas the availability of the other was modulated by the conformational state of fibronectin. Atomic force microscopy studies revealed that heparin and hydrophilic substrates promoted the extended conformation of fibronectin, leading to increased VEGF binding. The ability of heparin to enhance VEGF binding to fibronectin was dependent on the chemical composition and chain length of heparin, since long (>22 saccharides) heparin chains with sulfation on the 6-O and N positions of glucosamine units were required for full activity. Treatment of the complex endothelial extracellular matrix with heparin also increased VEGF binding, suggesting that heparin/heparan sulfate might regulate VEGF interactions within the extracellular matrix by controlling the structure and organization of fibronectin matrices.
Correcting whole‐stream estimates of metabolism for groundwater input

Open-channel metabolism is commonly measured in streams, but these measurements may be strongly biased by small inputs of low-O2 groundwater seeping into the study reach that will appear to increase community respiration (CR), but decrease gross primary production (GPP). We developed a new equation that considers groundwater inputs when calculating metabolism. When streamwater O2 concentrations are much higher than groundwater O2 concentrations, a small amount of groundwater input can substantially bias CR. For example, a 200-m, 100-L s−1 stream reach that increases in discharge by only 5% may overestimate CR by two-fold. Unlike CR, the degree of bias for GPP is unaffected by O2 concentration in groundwater, therefore it is easily calculated as a function of groundwater flux into the study reach. We applied this new correction for a cowpasture spring stream in Wyoming that increased in discharge by 50% over our study reach. Uncorrected CR was −18.8 g O2 m−2 d−1 and GPP was 11.6 g O2 m−2 d−1 in the spring stream; corrected CR was −11.4 g O2 m−2 d−1 and GPP was 16.2 g O2 m−2 d−1. Our modeling and data show that ecosystem metabolism estimates are extremely sensitive to groundwater inputs, even inputs that are difficult to measure by using mass-balance of tracers. The largest unknown is the concentration of O2 in groundwater when correcting CR. We suggest that investigators attempt to correct for the impact of groundwater on any stream where the inflows are detectable.
On the relationship between unimolecular lifetime and relative translational energy distributions

Abstract Relative translational energies are computed for H C C Cl decomposition using classical trajectories. It is found that excited molecules with non-RRKM lifetime distributions dissociate to products with RRKM translational energy distributions. This result suggests that statistical relative translational energy distributions do not necessarily imply complete intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution.
A unified thermodynamic theory of elasticity and plasticity

A thermodynamics is developed for a unified theory of elasticity and plasticity in infinitesmal strain. The constitutive equations which relate stress and strain deviators are rate type differential equations. When they satisfy a Lipschitz condition, uniqueness for the initial value problem dictates that the stress and strain will be related through elastic relations. Failure of the Lipschitz condition occurs when a von Mises yield condition is achieved: Plastic yield then occurs and the deviator relations turn into the Prandtl-Reuss equations. The plastic yield solution is stable during loading and unstable during unloading. The requirement that the solution followed during unloading be stable dictates entry into an elastic regime. Appropriate thermodynamic functions are constructed. It then appears that stress deviator (not strain deviator) is a viable state variable, and the thermodynamic relations are constructed in terms of a Gibbs function. The energy balance leads to satisfaction of the Clausius-Duhem inequality (and thus the second law of thermodynamics) in an elastic regime because it is shown that in an elastic regime entropy production is caused only by heat flux. During yield, the proper method of differentiating yields entropy production terms in addition to those arising from heat flux. These terms are positive during loading, whence it is concluded that the requirement that a stable solution be followed leads to satisfaction of the Clausius-Duhem inequality during plastic as well as elastic behavior.
Permanent sterilization of mentally disabled individuals: a case study.

This case study addresses the issue of a physician performing a permanent sterilization on an 18-year-old woman with moderate mental retardation who wishes to become a mother in the future. It discusses the three possible options available to the obstetrician/gynecologist in this situation and provides the ethical determinations in this case.
Occlusion processing and smooth surface shading for fully computed synthetic holography

Computation for synthetic holography typically takes one of two forms: the `stereogram' approach, in which a large number of 2D perspective views are rendered and assembled into a composite fringe pattern; and the `fully computed' approach, in which the physics of light propagation from geometric surfaces and the resulting interference patterns at a recording plane are all simulated. Algorithms implementing the stereogram approach often generate their component perspective views by taking advantage of dedicated graphics hardware, capable of rapid rendering with hidden- surface removal and smooth shading. However, these standard computer graphics schemes for occlusion and shading are inappropriate for fully computed hologram synthesis. We describe an efficient algorithm that starts with a standard- form geometric description of the desired scene and generates a list of simple holographic `primitives' that can be transformed into the final interference pattern by a simple fringe rendering program. The algorithm simultaneously performs the multiple-viewpoint equivalent of hidden surface removal, so that nearer surfaces and objects properly occlude those more distant, and surface shading, so that each object appears solid and exhibits the correct visual behavior in response to lighting in the scene.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Criticality problems for slabs and spheres in energy dependent neutron transport theory

Abstract The steady-state equation for energy-dependent neutron transport in isotropically scattering slabs and spheres is formulated as an integral equation. The Perron-Frobenius-Jentzsch theory of positive operators is used to analyze criticality problems for transport in slab and spherical media consisting of core and reflector. In addition, with an adroit selection of diffusion-like solutions, this theory is used to obtain an expression relating the critical radius of a homogeneous sphere to a parameter characterizing fission production.