cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fluorescence Applications in Parathyroid Surgery

Indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence angiography can be used to quickly and accurately localize parathyroid glands during parathyroid and thyroid surgery with minimal risk. Because the technique relies on an intact vascular pedicle, it can also be used to assess parathyroid gland perfusion, which can be used as a surrogate for postoperative parathyroid gland function. Several commercially available near-infrared imaging systems can be used for this technique, and their adoption for a wide array of indications has grown in recent years. ICG fluorescence angiography should be considered as an adjunctive method for parathyroid localization during parathyroid surgery.
Randomized Global Sensitivity Analysis and Model Robustness

Global sensitivity analysis allows the modeler to assess the importance of a model parameter in terms of its impact on the variance of the model output. Parameters that are not important can be frozen, and the important ones can be treated with care. This information, however, could be sensitive to data used in estimation of the parameters. To address this, we develop a notion of robustness of a model using randomized Sobol’ sensitivity indices. We use the robustness definition to compare some models from computational finance.
Are the metabolic changes of pregnancy reversible in the first year postpartum

Aims/hypothesis Maternal metabolic alterations are essential to achieve healthy pregnancy outcomes, but increasing maternal parity may be associated with long-term metabolic dysfunction risk. As existing data are limited by study design, our aim was to employ robust metabolic measures to determine whether or not physiological pregnancy alterations in maternal metabolic function persist at 1 year postpartum.
In the crosshairs : The perils of environmental journalism

Journalists covering environmental issues around the globe are at heightened risk of murder, arrest, assault, threats, self-exile, lawsuits, and harassment because environmental controversies often...
Automated Linux Secure Host Baseline for Real-Time Applications Requiring SCAP Compliance.

With the emergence of Linux real-time applications and the ever-growing cyber security requirements being imposed on those systems in high security environments, a need has developed for an automated and quantitative approach for developing a solution. The development and mandate for a Department of Defense Windows Secure Host Baseline has provided a framework for how to approach an equivalent Linux Secure Host Baseline. However, a method for automating a cyber security compliant Linux distribution with real-time capability has not yet been created.
Implementation of Rapid Molecular Diagnostic Tests and Antimicrobial Stewardship Involvement in Acute-Care Hospitals

Background: In recent years, several rapid molecular diagnostic tests (RMDTs) for infectious diseases diagnostics, such as bloodstream infections (BSIs), have become available for clinical use. The extent to which RMDTs have been adopted and how the results of these tests have been incorporated into clinical care are currently unknown. Methods: We surveyed members of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America Research Network to characterize utilization of RMDT in hospitals and antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) involvement in result communication and interpretation. The survey was administered using Qualtrics software, and data were analyzed using Stata and Excel software. Results: Overall, 57 responses were received (response rate, 59%), and 72% were from academic hospitals; 50 hospitals (88%) used at least 1 RMDT for BSI (Fig. 1). The factors most commonly reported to have been important in the decision to adopt RMDT were improvements in antimicrobial usage (82%), clinical outcomes (74%), and laboratory efficiency (52%). Among 7 hospitals that did not use RMDT for BSI, the most common reason was cost of new technology. In 50 hospitals with RMDT for BSI, 54% provided written guidelines for optimization or de-escalation of antimicrobials based upon RMDT results. In 40 hospitals (80%), microbiology laboratories directly notified a healthcare worker of the RMDT results: 70% provided results to a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant; 48% to the ASP team; and 33% to a nurse. Furthermore, 11 hospitals (22%) had neither guidelines nor ASP intervention. In addition, 24 hospitals (48%) reported performing postimplementation evaluation of RMDT impact. Reported findings included reduction in time to antibiotic de-escalation (75%), reduction in length of stay (25%), improved laboratory efficiency (20%), and reduction in mortality and overall costs (12%). Among the 47 hospitals with both RMDT and ASP, 79% reported that the ASP team routinely reviewed blood culture RMDT results, and 53.2% used clinical decision support software to do so. Finally, 53 hospitals (93%) used 1 or more RMDT for non–bloodstream infections (Fig. 1). Fewer than half of hospitals provided written guidelines to assist clinicians in interpreting these RMDT results. Conclusions: RMDTs have been widely adopted by participating hospitals and are associated with positive self-reported clinical, logistic, and financial outcomes. However, nearly 1 in 4 hospitals did not have guidelines or ASP interventions to assist clinicians with optimization of antimicrobial prescribing based on RMDT results for BSI. Also, most hospitals did not have guidelines for RMDT results for non-BSI. These findings suggest that opportunities exist to further enhance the potential benefits of RMDT. Funding: None Disclosures: None
Introduction to Engineering Heat Transfer

This new text integrates fundamental theory with modern computational tools such as EES, MATLAB®, and FEHT to equip students with the essential tools for designing and optimizing real-world systems and the skills needed to become effective practicing engineers. Real engineering problems are illustrated and solved in a clear step-by-step manner. Starting from first principles, derivations are tailored to be accessible to undergraduates by separating the formulation and analysis from the solution and exploration steps to encourage a deep and practical understanding. Numerous exercises are provided for homework and self-study and include standard hand calculations as well as more advanced project-focused problems for the practice and application of computational tools. Appendices include reference tables for thermophysical properties and answers to selected homework problems from the book. Complete with an online package of guidance documents on EES, MATLAB®, and FEHT software, sample code, lecture slides, video tutorials, and a test bank and full solutions manual for instructors, this is an ideal text for undergraduate heat transfer courses and a useful guide for practicing engineers.
The stereospecific and enantiospecific synthesis of indole alkaloids which culminated in the ambidextrous Pictet–Spengler reaction for the C-19 methyl–substituted sarpagine family

Abstract The Pictet-Spengler reaction continues to be widely employed in the synthesis of bioactive natural products, as well as synthetic compounds containing the THβC and THIQ moieties. The asymmetric version of this reaction has been central to the enantiospecific total synthesis of >150 sarpagine/macroline/ajmaline alkaloids. The diastereospecific Pictet-Spengler reaction under thermodynamic control is crucial to the large-scale synthesis of the important tetracyclic bicyclo[3.3.1] core in >98% ee towards many indole alkaloids from this superfamily. Extensive exploration of the Pictet-Spengler reaction for the emerging class of C-19 methyl-substituted sarpagine/macroline/ajmaline alkaloids has resulted in the ambidextrous version, which has enabled access to both the natural and unnatural enantiomers of alkaloids starting with either D- or L-tryptophan, at will. Some noteworthy recent applications of the large scale Pictet-Spengler reaction in the total synthesis of sarpagine-related alkaloids and the development of the ambidextrous Pictet-Spengler reaction are described in this chapter.
Structural Basis for SARS-CoV-2 Envelope Protein in Recognition of Human Cell Junction Protein PALS1

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has created a global health and economic emergency. SARS-CoV-2 viruses hijack human proteins to promote their spread and virulence including the interactions involving the viral envelope (E) protein and human proteins. To understand the structural basis for SARS-CoV-2 viral-host recognition, we used cryo-electron microscopy to determine a structure for the human cell junction protein PALS1 and SARS-CoV-2 E protein complex. The structure shows that the E protein C-terminal DLLV motif recognizes a pocket formed exclusively by hydrophobic residues from the PDZ and SH3 domains in PALS1. Our structural analysis provides an explanation for the observation that the viral E protein recruits PALS1 from lung epithelial cell junctions resulting in vascular leakage, lung damage, viral spread, and virulence. In addition, our structure provides novel targets for peptide- and small-molecule inhibitors that could block the PALS1-E interactions to reduce the E-mediated damage to vascular structures.
Comorbid Substance Use Disorder Profiles and Receipt of Substance Use Disorder Treatment Services: A National Study.

Objective:Those with comorbid substance use disorders (SUDs) are a particularly vulnerable group. Information regarding the nature of these comorbidities and how they relate to receipt of substance...
Engineering a natural ligand-based CAR: directed evolution of the stress-receptor NKp30

B7H6, a stress-induced ligand which binds to the NK cell receptor NKp30, has recently emerged as a promising candidate for immunotherapy due to its tumor-specific expression on a broad array of human tumors. NKp30 can function as a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) extracellular domain but exhibits weak binding with a fast on and off rate to B7H6 compared to the TZ47 anti-B7H6 single-chain variable fragment (scFv). Here, directed evolution using yeast display was employed to isolate novel NKp30 variants that bind to B7H6 with higher affinity compared to the native receptor but retain its fast association and dissociation profile. Two variants, CC3 and CC5, were selected for further characterization and were expressed as soluble Fc-fusion proteins and CARs containing CD28 and CD3ς intracellular domains. We observed that Fc-fusion protein forms of NKp30 and its variants were better able to bind tumor cells expressing low levels of B7H6 than TZ47, and that the novel variants generally exhibited improved in vitro tumor cell killing relative to NKp30. Interestingly, CAR T cells expressing the engineered variants produced unique cytokine signatures in response to multiple tumor types expressing B7H6 compared to both NKp30 and TZ47. These findings suggest that natural CAR receptors can be fine-tuned to produce more desirable signaling outputs while maintaining evolutionary advantages in ligand recognition relative to scFvs.
Factors affecting virus prevalence in honey bees in the Pacific-Northwest, USA

Global efforts to assess honey bee health show viruses are major stressors that undermine colony performance. Identifying factors that affect virus incidence, such as management practices and landscape context, could aid in slowing virus transmission. Here we surveyed viruses in honey bees from 86 sites in the Pacific Northwest, USA, and tested effects of regional bee density, movement associated with commercial pollination, julian date, and hive management on virus prevalence. We also explored patterns of virus co-occurrence and spatial autocorrelation to identify whether local transmission was a primary driver of pathogen distribution. Our surveys found widespread prevalence of Deformed wing virus (DWV), Sacbrood virus (SBV), and Black queen cell virus (BQCV). BQCV and SBV were most prolific in commercial apiaries, while Chronic bee paralysis virus (CPBV) was more common in hobbyist apiaries than commercial apiaries. DWV was most common in urban landscapes and was best predicted by mite prevalence and julian date, while the incidence of both SBV and BQCV were best predicted by regional apiary density. We did not find evidence of additional spatial autocorrelation for any viruses, although high co-occurrence suggests parallel transmission patterns. Our results support the importance of mite management in slowing virus spread and suggest that greater bee density increases transmission. Our study provides support that viruses are widespread in honey bees and connects known mechanisms of virus transmission to the distribution of pathogens observed across the Pacific Northwest. HighlightsThree viruses were widespread in honey bee populations across the Pacific Northwest, USA Black queen cell and Sacbrood viruses were most common in high density hives Deformed wing virus was most common in hives that had high mite loads The presence of many viruses in bees suggests parallel or synergistic transmission
Design of Aluminum Tubular Members

Formulas are presented for determining the local buckling strength of round aluminum tubes in compression, bending, and torsion. The formulas cover both the elastic and inelastic stress ranges and, for compression and bending, apply to circumferentially welded as well as nonwelded tubes. Predicted strengths are found to be in good agreement with the results of tests and analytical studies on buckling of tubes. Experimental studies considered are confined to tubes of aluminum. However, analytical considerations indicate that the proposed formulas may be applicable to other materials with similar stress-strain characteristics. Design data on mechanical properties, column strength, and weld strength of aluminum tubes are also given.
Revisiting synthesis of GR(1) specifications

The last few years have seen a rising interest in the problem of synthesizing systems from temporal logic specifications. One major contributor to this is the recent work of Piterman et al., which showed how polynomial time synthesis could be achieved for a class of LTL specifications that is large enough and expressive enough to cover an extensive number of complex, real-world, applications (despite a known doubly-exponential time lower bound for general LTL formulae). That approach has already been used extensively for the synthesis of various applications and as basis for further theoretical work on synthesis. Here, we expose a fundamental flaw in the initial processing of specifications in that paper and demonstrate how it may produce incorrect results, declaring that specifications could not be synthesized when, in fact, they could. We then identify a class of specifications for which this initial processing is sound and complete. Thus, giving an insight to the reason that this problem arises in the first place. We also show that it can be easily checked whether specifications belong to the sound and complete class by using the same synthesis techniques. Finally, we show in the cases that specifications do not fall into this category how to modify them so that their processing is, indeed, both sound and complete.
Development of community-based partnerships in minority aging research.

The Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research (RCMAR) initiative was established in 1997 and currently includes six centers across the United States. The model of community engagement developed by all the RCMARs is Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR). This supplement explores the diverse methods of partnership building in each RCMAR and highlights some of the successes and challenges encountered in CBPR. Two articles focus on how the CBPR infrastructure facilitates the conduct of research in minority communities. Two other manuscripts discuss the unique experiences at those RCMARs in the CBPR partnership development process. The final paper describes the mentoring processes used at each of the RCMARs for both junior academic investigators and community members. We conclude that CBPR is a difficult and long-term process requiring substantial buy-in and commitments from both the academic and community partners in a continuous and evolving collaborative partnership. (Ethn Dis. 2007;17[suppl 1]:S1-3–S1-5)
CONCEPTS, THEORY, AND TECHNIQUE

The problem of maintaining a balance between production output and demand growth during new product introductions is analyzed. In many cases, the introduction of a new product results in both rapid demand growth and significant changes in the production rate through-out the startup period, during which productivity and product output increase significantly. It is demonstrated that, if these two phenomena are not estimated and used as a basis of closely coordinated planning between production and marketing, very large costs can be incurred – either lost sales and potential introduction failure related to stock out conditions caused by “underproduction” or excess inventory holding, obsolescence and opportunity costs when an over production imbalance occurs. Following a description of the problem examples are used to illustrate the benefits of increasing rigor in the joint planning of new product introductions. Finally, a general methodology based upon an heuristic pattern search algorithm is employed to provide an optimal solution to a multivariate planning example.
Semi-Thue Systems with an Inhibitor

A i>semi-Thue system with an inhibitor is one having a special symbol, called an i>inhibitor, that appears on the right side of every rule but does not appear on the left side of any rule. The main result of this paper is that the uniform halting problem is decidable for the class of such systems. The concept of i>inhibitor is related to the concept of i>well-behaved derivation in systems without an inhibitor. The latter concept has received some attention from those interested in the open question as to whether the uniform termination problem for one-rule semi-Thue systems is decidable.
CHARACTERIZATION OF THE LYSOGENIC BACTERIOPHAGE MAV1 FROM MYCOPLASMA ARTHRITIDIS

The lysogenic bacteriophage MAV1, which is associated with the arthritogenicity of Mycoplasma arthritidis, was characterized. Several strains of M. arthritidis were examined for their ability to support growth of MAV1. A PFU assay was developed, and the sensitivity of phage to various chemical treatments was assayed. The most notable result was the resistance of MAV1 to proteinase K. The MAV1 genome is a double-stranded, linear DNA molecule of about 16 kb. The site of MAV1 DNA integration in the host chromosome was investigated. The ends of MAV1 DNA were cloned from three independent lysogens shown to have MAV1 DNA inserted at different sites in the host. The nucleotide sequences of the ends of the MAV1 genome and of the MAV1 DNA-chromosomal DNA junctions from each of three lysogens were determined. Sequences flanking the integrated prophage and the ends of native MAV1 DNA were determined, allowing the identification of the phage DNA (attP) and bacterial DNA (attB) recombination sites. Analysis of the left MAV1 DNA-chromosomal DNA junction sites showed a single-base heterogeneity located within MAV1 DNA sequences immediately adjacent to the attB sequence. A model for MAV1 integration-excision is proposed.
Ganglionic Mechanisms Contribute to Diminished Vagal Control in Heart Failure

Background—Previous work has shown that spontaneous and stimulated vagal activity is diminished in heart failure (HF) despite upregulation of functional postsynaptic cholinergic mechanisms. We therefore examined function of the postganglionic neuron in the paced canine model of HF as a possible site for diminished control. Methods and Results—We measured sinus cycle length changes in response to electrical stimulation of preganglionic and postganglionic parasympathetic neurons innervating the sinoatrial node in control and HF dogs (both, n=8). Cervical vagus stimulation (preganglionic) demonstrated attenuated responses in the HF group at all levels of stimulation (P<0.05). Stimulation of the right atrial fat pad, containing both postganglionic nerves and terminals of preganglionic neurons, showed no such difference between control and HF (200±25 versus 192±18 ms). To ensure that preganglionic input and different levels of baseline sympathetic activity did not contribute to the group difference, similar st...
Alkyl bromides as mechanistic probes of reductive dehalogenation: reactions of vicinal dibromide stereoisomers with zerovalent metals.

Whether reductive dehalogenation proceeds via a one- or a two-electron mechanism has been suggested to affect product distributions, hence potentially influencing the success of engineered treatment systems. In this work, we explore vicinal dibromide stereoisomers as “probes” of the concertedness of electron transfer in reduction by aqueous suspensions of iron and zinc metal. Dibromides consisted of 2,3-dibromopentane (diBP) stereoisomers and (±)-1,2-dibromo-1,2-diphenylethane. All dibromides reacted with metals to give the same E:Z ratio of olefins observed during dehalogenation by iodide (a two-electron reductant). Reduction by Cr(II) (a one-electron reductant) yielded distinctly different proportions of E and Z olefins. Although this might be construed as evidence that metals function as two-electron reductants, high stereospecificity was also obtained for reduction of diBPs by Fe(II) adsorbed to goethite, a presumed one-electron reductant; this can be explained by two single-electron transfers in rapi...
Monte-Carlo simulation of complex vapor-transport systems for RIB applications

In order to minimize decay losses of short-lived radioactive species at ISOL based RIB facilities, effusive-flow particle transit times between target and ion source must be as short as practically achievable. A Monte-Carlo code has been developed for simulating the effusive-flow of neutral particles through vapor-transport systems independent of materials of construction. The code provides average distance traveled and time information associated with the transit of individual particles through a system. It offers a cost effective and accurate means for arriving at vapor-transport system designs. In this report, the code will be described and results obtained by its use in evaluating several prototype vapor-transport systems using specular reflection, cosine and isotropic particle re-emission about the normal to the surface models following adsorption. Simulation results obtained with an isotropic distribution are in close agreement with experimental measurements of the properties of prototype vapor-transport systems fabricated at the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility.
Magnetically-aided evolution of protoplanetary disks

We investigate the global evolution of a turbulent protoplanetary disk incorporating the effects of Maxwell stress due to a large-scale magnetic field permeating the disk. A magnetic field is produced continuously by an αΩ dynamo and the resultant Maxwell stress assists the viscous stress in p roviding the means for disk evolution. The most striking feature of magnetized disk evolution is the presence of the surface density bulge located in the “magnetic gap”, the region of the disk where the degree of ionization is too low to allow for coupli ng between the magnetic field and the gas. The bulge persists for a time of the order of 105–106 yr. The presence and persistence of the surface density bulge may have important implications for the process of planet formation and the overall characteristics of resultant planetary systems.
Registration of functional magnetic resonance imagery using mutual information

Accurate statistical correlation of brain activation in functional magnetic resonance image (MRI) studies depends on the reduction of artifacts induced by patient motion. We have addressed this problem in two ways. First, we have eliminated gross movement by the development of an immobilization mask. Second, we have implemented the image registration procedure, mutual information. This registration procedure is used to correct remaining misalignments due to patient motion. We have chosen maximization of mutual information because it is applicable to a broad range of image registration problems because it requires no segmentation, feature extraction, a priori information, or operator-assisted extractions. Initial results, as applied to fMRI data, are also presented. Our results indicate that we have reduced the motion artifacts present in our original data sets with sub-voxel accuracy.
Using lidar and effective LAI data to evaluate IKONOS and Landsat 7 ETM+ vegetation cover estimates in a ponderosa pine forest

Structural and functional analyses of ecosystems benefit when high accuracy vegetation coverages can be derived over large areas. In this study, we utilize IKONOS, Landsat 7 ETM+, and airborne scanning light detection and ranging (lidar) to quantify coniferous forest and understory grass coverages in a ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) dominated ecosystem in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Linear spectral mixture analyses of IKONOS and ETM+ data were used to isolate spectral endmembers (bare soil, understory grass, and tree/shade) and calculate their subpixel fractional coverages. We then compared these endmember cover estimates to similar cover estimates derived from lidar data and field measures. The IKONOS-derived tree/shade fraction was significantly correlated with the field-measured canopy effective leaf area index (LAIe) (r2=0.55, p<0.001) and with the lidar-derived estimate of tree occurrence (r2=0.79, p<0.001). The enhanced vegetation index (EVI) calculated from IKONOS imagery showed a negative correlation with the field measured tree canopy effective LAI and lidar tree cover response (r2=0.30, r=−0.55 and r2=0.41, r=−0.64, respectively; p<0.001) and further analyses indicate a strong linear relationship between EVI and the IKONOS-derived grass fraction (r2=0.99, p<0.001). We also found that using EVI resulted in better agreement with the subpixel vegetation fractions in this ecosystem than using normalized difference of vegetation index (NDVI). Coarsening the IKONOS data to 30 m resolution imagery revealed a stronger relationship with lidar tree measures (r2=0.77, p<0.001) than at 4 m resolution (r2=0.58, p<0.001). Unmixed tree/shade fractions derived from 30 m resolution ETM+ imagery also showed a significant correlation with the lidar data (r2=0.66, p<0.001). These results demonstrate the power of using high resolution lidar data to validate spectral unmixing results of satellite imagery, and indicate that IKONOS data and Landsat 7 ETM+ data both can serve to make the important distinction between tree/shade coverage and exposed understory grass coverage during peak summertime greenness in a ponderosa pine forest ecosystem.
The Basidial Stage of Phymatotrichum Omnivorum

The sexual stage of Phymatotrichum omnivorum (Shear) Duggar developed in four isolates of the fungus grown on a medium containing vitamin D3 under visible light Vegetative cultures produced clamp c...
Molecular model of the solution structure for the paramagnetic four-iron ferredoxin from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Thermococcus litoralis.

A molecular model for the three-dimensional solution structure of the paramagnetic, four-iron ferredoxin (Fd) from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Thermococcus litoralis (Tl) has been constructed on the basis of the reported 1H NMR spectral parameters [Donaire, A. (1996) J. Biomol. NMR 7, 35-47]. The conventional use of long mixing time NOESY cross-peak intensity, backbone angles, and hydrogenbonding constraints for building the structure was augmented by short mixing time NOESY, steady-state NOE, paramagnetic relaxation constraints, and the angular dependence of the ligated Cys H beta contact shifts. Distance geometry was used to generate various initial structures, and these structures were refined with the simulated annealing protocol. The family of structures with inconsequential violations exhibited low RMS deviations for the backbone except for a few residues in the immediate cluster vicinity and traces out a secondary structure very similar to those of the structurally characterized single cubane cluster Fds. The ability to describe the cluster environment depended on the use of numerous paramagnetic relaxation constraints which resulted in even the cluster loop residues exhibiting well-defined orientations, with the exception of one residue (Ilel1) whose 1H signals have not been located. Comparison of the structure of Tl Fd to those of mesophilic ferredoxins reveals that Tl Fd possesses the same secondary structural elements, two beta-sheets, two helices, and four turns, with the exception that the beta-sheet involving the termini incorporates a third strand in Tl Fd. Several minor structural adjustments in Tl Fd relative to other Fds, in addition to the third strand for beta-sheet, include the incorporation of the termini into the beta-sheet, a likely salt bridge from the side chain of the third beta-strand to the N-terminus, and a more hydrophobic and compact interaction between the large beta-sheet and the long helix. It is likely that each of these modifications, among others not yet well-defined (i.e., surface salt bridges), contributes to the extraordinary thermostability of Tl Fd.
Transformation of a dwarf Arabidopsis mutant illustrates gibberellin hormone physiology and the function of a Green Revolution gene

The introduction of dwarfing traits into crops was a major factor in increased grain yields during the "Green Revolution." In most cases those traits were the consequence of altered synthesis or response to the gibberellin (GA) plant hormones. Our current understanding of GA synthesis and physiology has been facilitated by the characterization of mutants. To introduce concepts about GA hormone physiology and plant transformation in an undergraduate laboratory course we have used ga5, a semi-dwarf Arabidopsis mutant with reduced activity of GA 20-oxidase. In this laboratory exercise, Arabidopsis ga5 mutant plants are transformed by the floral-dip method using Agrobacterium tumefaciens carrying plasmid constructs conferring kanamycin resistance and containing the GA5 gene. Within 4 weeks, seeds of transformed plants can be easily screened by antibiotic resistance on plates. After transfer to soil the dwarf mutant plants transformed with a wild-type version of the gene show normal size. In addition to offering a visual understanding of the effect of GA on stem elongation, students learn additional techniques in this experiment, including PCR and agarose gel electrophoresis. This experiment is cost effective and can be completed within a 4-month term.
The Effect of Register-Transfer Design Tradeoffs on Chip Area and Performance

This paper describes an experiment to determine how register-transfer tradeoffs affect the resultant silicon area and performance of layouts. Six register-transfer level designs, each performing the same function with different register transfer level structures, were implemented using a library of CMOS/SOS standard cells, and an automatic placement and routing program. The consumption of area and the critical path timing were calculated for each design. The results show that register-transfer design variations do produce changes in area and performance at the layout level. However, optimistic timing analysis at the RT level, variations in relative storage timing across technologies, and omission of fanout and path length delays altered the resultant area and timing from that predicted at the RT level.
Creating a healing environment: An innovative educational approach for adopting Jean Watson's Theory of Human Caring

Current focus on empirical data and evidence-driven nursing practice highlights the need to re-examine the importance of nursing theory to guide practice. The purpose of this article is to describe the rationale, approach, and outcomes of an innovative educational approach to teaching Jean Watson's Theory of Human Caring.
Significance of Thrombin- E in the Prothrombin Activation Sequence

THROMBIN-E, or esterase thrombin, is an enzyme that uses fibrin monomer and fibrin as a substrate, but not fibrinogen1,2. Blood does not clot in the presence of thrombin-E, but on the contrary there is a tendency for lysis. It is derived from prothrombin, and arises before thrombin-C, which is the traditional enzyme considered in the blood coagulation literature3. In this report we emphasize the significance of thrombin-E in a prothrombin activation sequence. We describe some pharmacological effects of a purified thrombin-E preparation, chief of which is its fibrinolytic effect upon intravenous infusion in dogs. This in vivo fibrinolysis is far more powerful than its in vitro fibrinolytic effect. These facts are consistent with previous postulations4,5 as follows: certain chemo-receptors excite themselves with thrombin and through a reflex arc call into play a neurohumoral mechanism involving a physiological anticoagulating system.
X-ray Diffraction Studies of the Thick Filament in Permeabilized Myocardium from Rabbit

Low angle x-ray diffraction patterns from relaxed permeabilized rabbit cardiac trabeculae and psoas muscle fibers were compared. Temperature was varied from 25°C to 5°C at 200 mM and 50 mM ionic strengths (μ), respectively. Effects of temperature and μ on the intensities of the myosin layer lines (MLL), the equatorial intensity ratio I1,1/I1,0, and the spacing of the filament lattice are similar in both muscles. At 25°C, particularly at μ = 50 mM, the x-ray patterns exhibited up to six orders of MLL and sharp meridional reflections, signifying that myosin heads (cross-bridges) are distributed in a well-ordered helical array. Decreasing temperature reduced MLL intensities but increased I1,1/I1,0. Decreases in the MLL intensities indicate increasing disorder in the distribution of cross-bridges on the thick filaments surface. In the skeletal muscle, order/disorder is directly correlated with the hydrolysis equilibrium of ATP by myosin, [M.ADP.Pi]/[M.ATP]. Similar effects of temperature on MLL and similar biochemical ATP hydrolysis pathway found in both types of muscles suggest that the order/disorder states of cardiac cross-bridges may well be correlated with the same biochemical and structural states. This implies that in relaxed cardiac muscle under physiological conditions, the unattached cross-bridges are largely in the M.ADP.Pi state and with the lowering of the temperature, the equilibrium is increasingly in favor of [M.ATP] and [A.M.ATP]. There appear to be some differences in the diffraction patterns from the two muscles, however. Mainly, in the cardiac muscle, the MLL are weaker, the I1,1/I1,0 ratio tends to be higher, and the lattice spacing D10, larger. These differences are consistent with the idea that under a wide range of conditions, a greater fraction of cross-bridges is weakly bound to actin in the myocardium.
A subspace of R3 for which Cmp ≠ def

Abstract We construct a separable metric space E in R 3 for which both the small and large compactness degrees cmp E= Cmp E=1 and the compactness deficiency def E=2 . This improves on the example in R 4 given by R. Pol (1992) as a counterexample to the well-known conjecture of J. de Groot.
Impairment of alternation learning in rats following microinjection of carbachol into the hippocampus.

Summary Small quantities of carbachol solution or saline were injected into the dorsal hippocampus of rats. The carbachol injections resulted in a decreased ability of the animals to learn an alternation task, with carbachol-treated rats making almost twice the number of errors as saline-treated animals. The injections did not appear to influence choice latency. These results suggest that cholinergic neurons in the dorsal hippocampus may play a role in the learning process.
Non-coagulopathic spontaneous hemothorax in dogs

Objective: To determine the history, clinicopathologic findings, underlying causes, and outcomes for dogs with non-coagulopathic spontaneous hemothorax. Design: Retrospective case series. Setting: University referral hospital. Animals: Sixteen client-owned dogs. Interventions: The medical records database was searched for dogs with hemothorax. Dogs with trauma, secondary coagulopathy, recent thoracic surgery, or pericardial intervention were excluded. For the remaining dogs, signalment, clinical signs, clinicopathologic findings, radiographic findings, histopathologic findings, interventions, and outcome were recorded. Measurements and main results: The most common presenting signs were tachypnea (n=9) and lethargy (n=5), typically of <1-week duration. The most common cause of non-coagulopathic spontaneous hemothorax in dogs was neoplasia, which was diagnosed in 14 patients (88%). Identified malignancies included hemangiosarcoma (n=1), malignant mesothelioma (n=1), metastatic ovarian carcinoma (n=1), osteosarcoma (n=2), and pulmonary carcinoma (n=2). An intrathoracic mass was visualized in 7 other dogs; however, histopathology was not obtained. Pancreatitis and lung lobe torsion were each diagnosed in 1 dog, and survival was prolonged with both surviving at least 1 year post discharge. Only 6 of 14 dogs that were diagnosed with neoplasia were discharged from the hospital. For the 4 dogs with cancer with available outcome data, median survival time was 16 days (range 1–70 days). Two dogs were lost to follow-up and had unknown survival times. Conclusions: The development of non-coagulopathic spontaneous hemothorax warrants a high-index suspicion for neoplasia, in particular thoracic wall neoplasia.
Pattern classification using neural networks

The author extends a previous review and focuses on feed-forward neural-net classifiers for static patterns with continuous-valued inputs. He provides a taxonomy of neural-net classifiers, examining probabilistic, hyperplane, kernel, and exemplar classifiers. He then discusses back-propagation and decision-tree classifiers; matching classifier complexity to training data; GMDH (generalized method of data handling) networks and high-order nets; K nearest-neighbor classifiers; the feature-map classifier; the learning vector quantizer; hypersphere classifiers; and radial-basis function classifiers. >
Cerebral lipids in a case of systemic Gm2-gangliosidosis of a late infantile type.

—Quantitative analyses performed on the lipids of cerebral grey matter from brains of a normal child and a child with Tay-Sachs (T-S) disease were compared with such analyses on the brain of a 6-year-old, non-Jewish male with systemic GM2-gangliosidosis of a late infantile type (GM2-LI). Analysis of gangliosides showed a 3·5-fold increase of total gangliosides in the GM2-LI brain and a six-fold increase in the T-S brain, compared to normal brain. Both pathological brains had similar distribution patterns for gangliosides, with the GM2-ganglioside component constituting more than 80 per cent of the total. Lipid components in the T-S brain were below normal values except for lecithin and cholesterol, while in the GM2-LI brain there were increases in sulphatides, cerebrosides, sphingomyelin and cholesterol. Approximately twice as much ceramide trihexoside was present in the T-S brain as in the GM2-LI brain, and none could be detected in the normal brain. The clinical, pathological and biochemical data support the conclusion that this case represents a new variant of systemic late-infantile gangliosidosis in which there is an accumulation of the GM2-ganglioside like that in Tay-Sachs disease.
Interlayer spacing and lattice-gas melting of ternary GICs

Abstract We review our theoretical studies on two different types of physical properties of ternary graphite intercalation compounds assuming these to be quasi-two dimensional solid solutions. The c-axis expansion in A 1−x B x C n as a function of x has been investigated within continuum elastic and discrete lattice version of the layer rigidity model. In particular we discuss how the rigidity parameter P which measures the initial increase of the average interlayer spacing with x, depends upon the transverse layer rigidity and intercalant compressibility. Melting and superlattice ordering of these solid solutions have been studied using lattice-gas model and Monte Carlo simulation.
"Beyond one's control": life course and the tragedy of class, Boston, 1800 to 1900.

Although historians suspect that life course and class are equally important in influencing single women's need for employment, they have been unable to prove the importance ofclass. By examining the relationship between class and those variables that influence life course (a woman's age at marriage, her father's age at marriage, her family size, and her father's age at death), this article demonstrates the hidden relationships between class and life course and shows that a majority of working-class women were likely to lose their fathers before marriage and were hence more in need of employment.
Cochlear implants in young children: informed consent as a process and current practices.

Purpose This study examined the types of information that pediatric cochlear implant (PCI) centers and teams provide to parents of deaf children and the extent to which the informed consent process...
Hankel operators on the Segal -Bargmann space and symmetrically -normed ideals

Abstract Starting with the Segal–Bargmann space, we investigate the Hankel operators with symbol functions in a certain linear space. Given an appropriate symbol function, we consider the associated Hankel operator together with the Hankel operator associated with that symbol function's complex conjugate. We give a necessary and sufficient condition for the simultaneous membership of these two operators in the symmetrically-normed ideal associated with any given symmetric norming function.
Uroporphyrinogen III Cosynthetase Activity in Fibroblasts from Patients with Congenital Erythropoietic Porphyria

The activity of uroporphyrinogen III cosynthetase is lower in extracts of fibroblasts from patients with congenital erythropoietic porphyria than in extracts of fibroblasts from control subjects. The porphyric extracts do not inhibit the cosynthetase activity of control extracts. The genetically determined enzymatic defect in this disease can thus occur in other tissues besides bone marrow.
Using industrial organization and demand models for agribusiness research

Much recent theoretical and empirical industrial organization and demand research is directly useful in framing and conducting agribusiness research, in particular research on firm strategic decision making. This article discusses selected recent work that applies these models to analysis of firms' branding, product introduction, advertising, and entry/exit strategies. It then turns to applications of such models to analysis of how firm strategy interacts with government regulatory policies in the areas of antitrust, food product safety and quality, and food labeling. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Back to the Most Basic of Basics.

Early adolescence is a period of rapid physical and emotional change, and youngsters at this age have some very special needs. The authors feel many educational programs are not well suited to such young people, and make some suggestions they believe will "make education for the young adolescent easier on everyone."
A biomimetic synthesis of (−)-ascorbyl phloroglucinol and studies toward the construction of ascorbyl-modified catechin natural products and analogues

Abstract A method for appending the ascorbyl moiety onto the framework of phenolic natural products has been developed. This reaction proceeds in two steps from l -ascorbic acid and employs acetic acid catalysis. Excellent stereoselectivity is observed during C–C bond formation between the phenolic compound and dehydroascorbic acid, and the process is also chemoselective for phenol derivatives bearing electron-donating substituents in each of the 1, 3, and 5 positions. Further, good regioselectivity was also observed when phenols lacking an axis of C2 symmetry were employed. This method has led to the synthesis of (−)-ascorbyl phloroglucinol as well as the tetracyclic core of ascorbyl-modified catechin natural products.
Deaths attributable to injuries in infants, United States, 1983-1991.

Objective To describe risk factors for injury death among infants in the United States by the specific external cause of death. Methods. Data were analyzed from the US-linked birth/infant death files for the years 1983–1991. Potential risk factors for injury death were identified from birth certificate data and included both maternal and infant factors. Injury rates were calculated by external cause of death. Characteristics of infants who died from an injury were compared with those of the entire birth cohort. The independent effect of potential risk factors was assessed in multivariate analyses using a case–control study design. Results. A total of 10 370 injury deaths were identified over the 9-year study period (29.72/100 000 live births). The leading causes of death were homicide, suffocation, motor vehicle crashes, and choking (inhalation of food or objects). There was no significant temporal trend in the overall rate of injury death; however, this was because significant increases in the rates of death from homicide (6.4%/year) and mechanical suffocation (3.7%/year) were offset by decreases in rates of death from fires (−4.7%/year) and choking (−4.6%/year). In adjusted analyses, infants born to mothers with no prenatal care, <12 years of education, two or more previous live births, Native American race, or <20 years of age were at twice the risk of injury death compared with the lowest risk groups (initiation of prenatal care in the first trimester, ≥16 years of education, no previous live births, white, or ≥25 years of age). When analyzed by the specific cause of death, the factors that were associated most strongly with death varied. For example, Native Americans were at greatest risk of a motor vehicle related death (compared with whites: OR: 3.6; 95% CI: 1.8–7.1), and infants with birth weights of <1500 g were at greatest risk of death attributable to inhalation of food (compared with ≥2500 g: OR: 9.6; 95% CI: 3.3–28.0) or objects (OR: 11.8; 95% CI: 4.5–30.5). Conclusion. A number of sociodemographic characteristics are associated with an increased risk of injury-related death in infants. The strength of associations between specific risk factors and death varies with the external cause of death, thus identifying high-risk subgroups for targeting of cause-specific interventions and simultaneously increasing our understanding of the individual and societal mechanisms underlying these tragedies. infant, injury, suffocation, motor vehicle, homicide, drowning, inhalation, fire.
Bacterial expression of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme Ubc7

The coding sequence for the yeast ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme Ubc7 was obtained by PCR from Saccharomyces cerevisiae genomic DNA. This sequence was placed in a plasmid containing the lambdaPL promoter and was used for temperature-regulated expression in Escherichia coli. The expressed 18-kDa protein was isolated in the inclusion body fraction from bacterial lysates, in contrast to the soluble nature of other yeast ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes expressed in E. coli. Selective solubilization of the protein using 5 M urea followed by dialysis, MonoQ FPLC, and Superdex-75 FPLC yielded electrophoretically pure Ubc7 protein. The purified protein was enzymatically active as determined by formation of enzyme-linked thiolester with ubiquitin. The ability of Ubc7 protein to regain enzymatic activity after urea denaturation appears to be attributable to the stable core alpha/beta folded structure common to the ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes whose structures have been determined to date.