cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pathogen-reduced platelets in pediatric and neonatal patients: Demographics, transfusion rates, and transfusion reactions.

BACKGROUND Pathogen-reduced platelets (PR PLT) are the emerging standard for proactive transfusion-transmitted infection (TTI) mitigation. There is, however, continued hesitation to transfuse PR PLT in children due to limited published data. We report demographics, rates of transfusion, and transfusion reactions (TR) associated with FDA-approved PR PLT in pediatric and neonatal patients at an academic medical center. METHODS Retrospective review was performed for patients <18 years receiving at least one platelet over a 300-day period at a large, tertiary care hospital. Patients were transfused PR or conventional (CONV) PLT, based on inventory availability. Statistical analysis was performed using Fisher Exact Test. RESULTS During the study period, 191 patients received 1010 platelet transfusions (892 units). Sixty-eight patients received PR PLT only (1.3 units/patient, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1-1.5; 1.8 transfusions/patient, 95% CI 1.4-2.2), and 56 patients received CONV PLT only (1.4 units/patient, 95% CI 1.1-1.7; 1.6 transfusions/patient, 95% CI 1.3-1.9). Patients with hematologic malignancies undergoing chemotherapy/radiation and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant received the most platelet transfusions and more commonly received both platelet types. Of 506 PR PLT units, 5 TRs occurred; 386 CONV PLT resulted in two TRs (p = .7052). Of 51 neonates, 37 received PR PLT without adverse events, including 13 receiving phototherapy. No TTIs were identified in any group. CONCLUSION There was no significant difference in rates of transfusion or TRs between PR and CONV PLT. Our study provides additional evidence that PR PLT can be transfused to pediatric and neonatal patients without increasing the risk of acute adverse events.
Facile Synthesis of Palladium-Based Nanocrystals with Different Crystal Phases and a Comparison of Their Catalytic Properties

A relatively unexplored aspect of noble-metal nanomaterials is polymorphism, or their ability to crystallize in different crystal phases. Here, a method is reported for the facile synthesis of Ru@Pd core-shell nanocrystals featuring polymorphism, with the core made of hexagonally close-packed (hcp)-Ru while the Pd shell takes either an hcp or face-centered cubic (fcc) phase. The polymorphism shows a dependence on the shell thickness, with shells thinner than ≈1.4 nm taking the hcp phase whereas the thicker ones revert to fcc. The injection rate provides an experimental knob for controlling the phase, with one-shot and drop-wise injection of the Pd precursor corresponding to fcc-Pd and hcp-Pd shells, respectively. When these nanocrystals are tested as catalysts toward formic acid oxidation, the Ru@Pdhcp nanocrystals outperform Ru@Pdfcc in terms of both specific activity and peak potential. Density functional theory calculations are also performed to elucidate the origin of this performance enhancement.
Regulatory variants active in iPSC-derived pancreatic progenitor cells are associated with Type 2 Diabetes in adults

Pancreatic progenitor cells (PPC) are an early developmental multipotent cell type that give rise to mature endocrine, exocrine, and ductal cells. To investigate the extent to which regulatory variants active in PPC contribute to pancreatic complex traits and disease in the adult, we derived PPC from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) of nine unrelated individuals and generated single cell profiles of chromatin accessibility (snATAC-seq) and transcriptome (scRNA-seq). While iPSC-PPC differentiation was asynchronous and included cell types from early to late developmental stages, we found that the predominant cell type consisted of NKX6-1+ progenitors. Genetic characterization using snATAC-seq identified 86,261 regulatory variants that either displayed chromatin allelic bias and/or were predicted to affect active transcription factor (TF) binding sites. Integration of these regulatory variants with 380 fine-mapped type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk loci identified regulatory variants in 209 of these loci that are functional in iPSC-PPC, either by affecting transcription factor binding or through association with allelic effects on chromatin accessibility. The PPC active regulatory variants in 65 of these loci showed strong evidence of causally underlying the association with T2D. Our study shows that studying the functional associations of regulatory variation in iPSC-PPC enables the identification and characterization of causal SNPs for adult Type 2 Diabetes.
National Trends in Post-Acute Care Costs Following Total Hip Arthroplasty from 2010 through 2018.

BACKGROUND Post-acute care remains a target for episode-of-care cost reduction following total hip arthroplasty (THA). The introduction of bundled payment models in the United States in 2013 aligned incentives among providers to reduce post-acute care resource utilization. Institution-level studies have shown increased rates of home discharge with substantial cost savings after adoption of bundled payment models; however, national data have yet to be reported. The purpose of this study was to evaluate national trends in post-acute care utilization and costs following primary THA over the last decade. METHODS We reviewed the cases of 189,847 patients undergoing primary THA during 2010 through 2018 from the PearlDiver database. Annual trends in patient demographics, discharge disposition, and post-acute care resource utilization were evaluated. Post-acute care reimbursements were standardized to 2020 dollars and included outpatient visits, prescriptions, physical therapy, home health, inpatient rehabilitation, skilled nursing facilities, and any rehospitalizations or emergency department (ED) visits within 90 days of surgery. RESULTS From 2010 to 2018, the mean episode-of-care costs ($31,562 versus $24,188; p < 0.001) and overall post-acute care costs ($5,903 versus $3,485; p < 0.001) both declined. Post-acute care savings were primarily driven by reduced costs of skilled nursing facilities ($1,533 versus $627; p < 0.001), home health ($1,041 versus $763; p = 0.002), inpatient rehabilitation ($949 versus $552; p < 0.001), ED visits ($508 versus $102; p < 0.001), and rehospitalizations ($367 versus $179; p < 0.001). Post-acute care costs declined by $578 (p = 0.025) during 2010 to 2012, $768 (p = 0.038) during 2013 to 2015, and $884 (p = 0.020) during 2016 to 2018. CONCLUSIONS Over the last decade, the rate of home discharge after THA increased while rehospitalization and ED visit rates declined, resulting in a substantial decrease in total and post-acute care costs. Post-acute care costs declined most rapidly after the introduction of the new Medicare bundled payment programs in 2013 and 2016.
Synthetic Analogs of 1α,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 and Their Biological Activity

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the synthetic analogs of 1α, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and their biological activity. Five hydroxylated metabolites of vitamin D, and one of vitamin D, have been characterized. The compound which represents the major circulating vitamin D, metabolite, is significantly more active than vitamin D, as an antirachitic agent, acts more rapidly in inducing intestinal calcium transport and bone mineral mobilization and slimulates calcium mobilization from bone cultures where vitamin D, is ineffective. The observed inverse relationship between production of 24,25- (OH)2D3 versus 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin 11(1,25- (OH)2D3), depending on the level of calcium, phosphorus, and parathyroid hormone, does suggest a possible functional role for 24, 25- (OH)2D3 but it is equally possible that 24, 25- (OH)2D3 and 25,26- (OH)2D3, represent nonfunctional, though partially active, intermediates eventually destined for side-chain degradation and excretion. The roster of known vitamin D, metabolites is completed by adding 1,24,25-trihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,24,25- (OH)3D3. The activity of the dihydrotachysterols and 5,6-trans-vitamins certainly suggests that a C-3 hydroxy group may not be an essential prerequisite for biological activity.
Architecture and analysis of a self-assembled 3D array of carbon nanotubes and molecular memories

Carbon nanotubes and molecular memories have emerged as potential building blocks for functional nano-devices. We analyze the feasibility of integrating single-walled carbon nanotubes and molecular memories into a three-dimensional crossbar array using DNA-directed self-assembly. We describe a process flow for fabricating such arrays and derive design constraints for achieving electromechanical switching with low leakage currents. Finally, we develop a simulation model to incorporate the various device elements.
Performance improvement of a solid rotor line start permanent magnet motor by copper coating

This paper presents the design, transient finite element analysis, and prototyping of a line start permanent magnet motor in two cases: with solid rotor, and with a composite rotor. In the composite rotor, the solid rotor is coated with a thin layer of copper. The thickness of the thin layer of copper is about 0.05 mm. Results of finite element analysis show that with the composite rotor, both starting torque and synchronization capability are improved significantly in comparison with the solid rotor. To verify simulation results, two prototypes of line start permanent magnet motors have been fabricated and tested. The experimental results confirm the simulation results.
Ready Reference Collections: A History

Ready reference collections were originally formed, and still exist, because they perform a valuable function in providing convenient access to information that is frequently used at the reference desk. As library collections have been transformed from print to electronic, some of the materials in these collections also have inevitably been replaced by electronic resources. This article explores the historical roots of ready reference collections and their recent evolution.
A formula for Regge residues in terms of trajectories and phase shifts

The asymptotic behavior for largez = cos θ is derived for a recent analytic continuation of the scattering amplitude in potential theory and is shown to be consistent with Eegge behavior. This leads to a new formula for the Regge residues in terms of trajectories with Re αn > -1/2 and real physical phase shifts. The residues are approximately compared with exact results in potential theory and asymptotic limits discussed.
Nickel-hydrogen cell low-earth-orbit life test update

When individual pressure vessel (IPV) nickel-hydrogen (Ni/H2) cells were selected as the energy storage system for Space Station Freedom in March of 1986, a limited database existed on life and performance characteristics of these cells in a low earth orbit (LEO) regime. Therefore, NASA LeRC initiated a Ni/H2 cell test program with the primary objectives of building a test facility, procuring cells from existing NASA contracts, and screening several cell designs by life testing in a LEO 35 percent depth of discharge (DOD) scenario. A total of 40 cells incorporating 13 designs were purchased from Yardney, Hughes, and Eagle-Picher. Thirty-two of the cells purchased were 65 A-hr nameplate capacity and eight cells were 50 A-Hr. Yardney and Eagle-Picher cells were built with both the Air Force recirculating and the advanced back-to-back electrode stack configurations and incorporated 31 and 26 percent KOH. Acceptance testing of the first delivered cells began in March of 1988, with life testing following in September of that year. Performance comparisons of these cells are made here while specifically addressing life test data relative to the design differences.
The Abrupt Impact of Welfare Reform: Evidence from Enrolling Recipients in New York City's Mandatory Workfare Program

Starting in 1995, welfare recipients were required to participate in a mandatory workfare program. Initially, recipients were enrolled in weekly waves. I identify the effect of enrolling recipients (who were previously unexposed to welfare reform) in the program using a natural experiment in which enrollees are compared to concomitantly eligible, non-enrolled recipients. I find that enrollees were over eight percentage points more likely to exit welfare. The majority of the former recipients remained off welfare for at least six months. Observed differences were not due to macroeconomic shocks. The program passes a cost benefit test.
TSPY potentiates cell proliferation and tumorigenesis by promoting cell cycle progression in HeLa and NIH3T3 cells

TSPY is a repeated gene mapped to the critical region harboring the gonadoblastoma locus on the Y chromosome (GBY), the only oncogenic locus on this male-specific chromosome. Elevated levels of TSPY have been observed in gonadoblastoma specimens and a variety of other tumor tissues, including testicular germ cell tumors, prostate cancer, melanoma, and liver cancer. TSPY contains a SET/NAP domain that is present in a family of cyclin B and/or histone binding proteins represented by the oncoprotein SET and the nucleosome assembly protein 1 (NAP1), involved in cell cycle regulation and replication. To determine a possible cellular function for TSPY, we manipulated the TSPY expression in HeLa and NIH3T3 cells using the Tet-off system. Cell proliferation, colony formation assays and tumor growth in nude mice were utilized to determine the TSPY effects on cell growth and tumorigenesis. Cell cycle analysis and cell synchronization techniques were used to determine cell cycle profiles. Microarray and RT-PCR were used to investigate gene expression in TSPY expressing cells. Our findings suggest that TSPY expression increases cell proliferation in vitro and tumorigenesis in vivo. Ectopic expression of TSPY results in a smaller population of the host cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. Using cell synchronization techniques, we show that TSPY is capable of mediating a rapid transition of the cells through the G2/M phase. Microarray analysis demonstrates that numerous genes involved in the cell cycle and apoptosis are affected by TSPY expression in the HeLa cells. These data, taken together, have provided important insights on the probable functions of TSPY in cell cycle progression, cell proliferation, and tumorigenesis.
CYTOGENETICS OF DISOMICS, MONOTELO- AND MONOISODISOMICS AND ml1 st1 MUTANTS OF CHROMOSOME 4 OF COTTON

The linkage relationships and arm locations of the ml, and st, mutants of cotton were determined with the use of monotelodisomics, a monoisodisomic and disomics. The mZ, st, mutants are more than 50 cM apart on chromosome 4. The ml, locus is in the short arm and 16 cM from the centromere, and st, is in the long arm and 48 or more CM from the centromere. Recombination in the monoisodisomic was twice the expected value and higher, but not significantly, than in its monotelodisomic counterpart. It was concluded that the increase indicates a greater frequency of proximal exchange in the monoisodisomic than in the monotelodisomic. HIS paper reports the results of the linkage relationships and the arm locations of the ml, and st, mutants on chromosome 4 of cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L. Chromosomes that are telocentric for the long and short arms were used in the mapping studies. Recombination data involving an isochromosome for the short am are also given.
Erosion of the small intestine with hemorrhage following aortic resection: Roentgen findings.

Massive gastrointestinal bleeding is a recognized late complication of aortic replacement surgery. In some instances, the bleeding is due to erosion and perforation of the intestinal tract by the prosthesis without an aortico-enteric fistula. Bleeding at this time from the wall of the intestine may be moderate in degree and of long duration. The roentgen findings in this situation are specific and consist of identification of the area of intestinal perforation. The prosthesis may protrude into the lumen of the intestine through the perforation, or contrast medium may extravasate through the perforation to outline the external margins of the graft. The crimped tubular pattern of the commonly used Dacron prostheses, when observed, affords positive identification.
Language and Metaphysics in Johann Georg Hamann's Aesthetica in Nuce and Philologische Einfälle und Zweifel

Because Hamann’s work maintains a focus on both theology and philology, recent interpretations have split into theological readings of Hamann’s work by John Milbank and John Betz on the one hand and post-structuralist approaches by Manfred Geier and Carol Jacobs on the other hand. While the theological approach has tried to argue for a Christological reading of Hamann’s ideas, the post-structuralist perspective has downplayed the theological implications altogether. This article argues that Hamann’s work in fact merges the theological with the philological in order to imagine a theory of culture that gives priority to language as an autonomous sign system while at the same time emphasizing the metaphysical implications of this priority.
Wrist biomechanics during two speeds of wheelchair propulsion: An analysis using a local coordinate system

Abstract Objective: To describe motion, forces, and moments occurring at the wrist in anatomic terms during wheelchair propulsion; to obtain variables that characterize wrist function during propulsion and are statistically stable; and to determine how these variables change with speed. Design: Case series. Setting: Biomechanics laboratory. Participants: Convenience sample of Paralympic athletes ( n = 6) who use manual wheelchairs for mobility and have unimpaired arm function. Intervention: Subjects propelled a standard wheelchair on a dynamometer at 1.3m/sec and 2.2m/sec. Biomechanical data were obtained using a force and moment sensing pushrim and a motion analysis system. Main Outcome Measures: Maximum angles, forces, and moments in a local, wrist coordinate system. Each variable was evaluated for stability using Cronbach's alpha. Measures found to be stable (∝ > .8) at each speed were then compared to look for differences associated with speed. Results: The following measures were stable at both speeds: maximum wrist flexion, ulnar deviation, and radial deviation angles, peak moments acting to cause wrist flexion, extension, and ulnar deviation, peak shear forces acting between the radial and ulnar styloids, and peak axial force acting at the wrist. Of these measures, the following measures differed ( p Conclusion: This study found stable parameters that characterize wrist biomechanics during wheelchair propulsion and varied with speed. Ultimately these parameters may provide insight into the cause and prevention of wrist injuries in manual wheelchair users.
One-to-many matching: An alternative trading cost comparison technique☆

Abstract We compare the relative merits of different matching techniques used in cross-market studies. Using the latest November 2007 data from both NASDAQ and the NYSE, we conduct simulations in which the firm characteristic distributions differ on the two matching sides. We keep the sample size small to create a difficult matching environment and highlight the relative strength of the different matching approaches. We propose a one-to-many matching method that has not been used previously in cross-market studies; each NASDAQ stock in our sample is matched with several comparable stocks from the NYSE. This method yields small matching errors than the widely used one-to-one matching process. Our simulation shows that choosing the best-matching technique actually matters. The one-to-many method consistently produces the correct result while the standard one-to-one without replacement method generates wrong answers under difficult matching environments.
Contraposition of the conditional

Let us say that a conditional ( p ~ q ) isf irm in a belief state, Pr~, iff Pr(q,p) is high 1 and that it is supported iff Pr(q,p) is higher than Pri(q, "~p). Let us say that a belief state, Pri, is factual with respect to a conditional (p ~ q) iff Pri(p A q) is high; semifactual iff Pr i iff Pri(..~p A q) is high; counterfactual if Pr i (Np A ,.~ q) is high. Let Pr(p A q)=a, Pr(p A .~q)=b, Pr(..~p A q)=c, Pr (~p A .~q)=d. In a factual belief state, the conditional, p--r q, is firm (to at least the extent that the state is factual, since a/(a + b) >>. a). It may or may not be supported, since c/(c+ d) may take any value between 0 and 1. In a semifactual situation the conditional may or may not be firm. Firmness does not guarantee support, since by hypothesis c/(c + d) is high and a/(a+ b) must be higher for support. Support thus does guarantee firmness. In a counterfactual situation, the conditional may or may not be firm. Firmness, however, here guarantees support since, by hypothesis, c/(c + d) is low. Support does not guarantee firmness.
Ca Release Unit Heterogeneity and Entrainment of Ca Waves in Cardiac Myocytes

Calcium (Ca) is a ubiquitous second messenger regulating many biological functions. The elementary events of local Ca signaling are Ca sparks, which occur randomly in time and space, and integrate to produce global signaling events including intracellular and intercellular Ca waves and whole-cell Ca oscillations. In a recent study using a computational model of Ca signaling in a cardiac myocyte and then experimentally in mouse ventricular myocytes, we demonstrated that criticality is the underlying theoretical mechanism that governs the transition from local Ca sparks to global Ca waves, analogous to a second-order phase transition in thermodynamics. Theoretically, criticality predicts that wave initiation sites should occur randomly and uniformly in space. While this has been demonstrated experimentally at relatively low Ca loads, recent experiments suggest that at higher Ca loads certain regions of the cell dominate the wave initiation process, acting as pacemakers to entrain whole cell oscillations. Here we show that the formation of these pacemaking sites is still governed by the theory of criticality, however, heterogeneities of the ryanodine receptor clusters result in different firing frequencies, with the fastest regions tending to entrain the whole cell. We demonstrate that there is a critical size and relative degree of heterogeneity that must be reached for entrainment to occur, with the novel finding that the degree of entrainment depends on the overall Ca load of the cell. Furthermore, we show that the stochastic nature of the ryanodine receptor channel is crucial to the wave generation process.
An efficient genetic algorithm for solving the quay crane scheduling problem

This paper addresses the quay crane scheduling problem (QCSP), which has been shown to be NP-complete. For this reason, a number of studies have proposed the use of genetic algorithm (GA) as the means to obtain the solution in reasonable time. This study extends the research in this area by utilizing the GA that is available in the latest version of Global Optimization Toolbox in MATLAB 7.13 to facilitate development. It aims to improve the efficiency of the GA search by (1) using an initial solution based on the S-LOAD rule developed by Sammarra, Cordeau, Laporte, and Monaco (2007), (2) using a new approach for defining the chromosomes (i.e., solution representation) to reduce the number of decision variables, and (3) using new procedures for calculating tighter lower and upper bounds for the decision variables. The effectiveness of the developed GA is tested using several benchmark instances proposed by Meisel and Bierwirth (2011). Compared to the current best-known solutions, experimental results show that the proposed GA is capable of finding the optimal or near-optimal solution in significantly shorter time for larger problems.
Electron-transfer salts of 1,2,3,4,5-pentamethylferrocene, Fe(II)(C5Me5)(C5H5). Structure and magnetic properties of two 1:1 and two 2:3 Fe(C5Me5)(C5H5) electron-transfer salts of tetracyanoethylene.

The reaction of Fe(II)(C5Me5)(C5H5), FeCpCp, with percyano acceptors, A [A = C4(CN)6 (hexacyanobutadiene), TCNQF4 (perfluoro-7,7,8,8-tetracyano-p-quinodimethane), and DDQ (2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyanobenzoquinone)], results in formation of 1:1 charge-transfer salts of [Fe(III)CpCp]*]*+[A]*- composition. With A = TCNQ (7,7,8,8-tetracyano-p-quinodimethane) a 1:2 electron-transfer salt with FeCpCp forms. With A = TCNE (tetracyanoethylene) a pair of 1:1 salts as well as a pair of 2:3 salts of [FeCpCp]2[TCNE]3.S (S = CH2Cl2, THF) have been isolated and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. [FeCpCp][TCNE] consists of parallel 1-D.D(*+)A(*-)D(*+)A(*-)D(*+)A(*-). chains, while [FeCpCp][TCNE].MeCN has a herringbone array of D(*+)A2(2-)D(*+) dimers separated by solvent molecules. Although each [TCNE](-) is disordered, the diamagnetic [TCNE]2(2-) dimer is structurally different from those observed earlier with an intradimer separation of 2.79 A. The [TCNE](-) in the 2:3 [FeCpCp]2[TCNE]3.S exists as an eclipsed diamagnetic [TCNE]2(2-) dimer with an intradimer ethylene C.C separation of 2.833 and 2.903 A for the CH2Cl2- and THF-containing materials, respectively. The bond distances and angles for all the cations are essentially equivalent, and the distances are essentially equivalent to those previously reported for [FeCp2](*+) and [FeCp2](*+) cations. The average Fe-C5H5-ring and Fe-C5Me5-ring centroid distances are 1.71 and 1.69 A, respectively, which are 0.05 A longer than reported for Fe(II)CpCp. The one-electron reduction potential for Fe(II)CpCp is 0.11 V (vs SCE). The 5 K EPR of [FeCpCp](*+)[BF4](-) exhibits an axially symmetric powder pattern with g(parallel) = 4.36 and g(perpendicular) = 1.24, and the EPR parameters are essentially identical to those reported for ferrocenium and decamethylferrocenium. The high-temperature magnetic susceptibility for polycrystalline samples of these complexes can be fit by the Curie-Weiss law, chi = C/(T - theta), with low theta values and mu(eff) values from 2.08 to 3.43 mu(B), suggesting that the polycrystalline samples measured had varying degrees of orientation. [FeCpCp][TCNE] exhibits the highest effective moment of 3.43 mu(B)/Fe and weak ferromagnetic coupling, as evidenced from the theta of 3.3 K; however, unexpectedly, it does not magnetically order above 2 K. The formation of the four phases comprising FeCpCp and TCNE emphasizes the diversity of materials that may form and the present inability to predict neither solid-state compositions nor structure types.
HLA‐DM: arbiter conformationis

The recognition by CD4(+) T cells of peptides bound to class II MHC (MHCII) molecules expressed on the surface of antigen-presenting cells is a key step in the initiation of an adaptive immune response. Presentation of peptides is the outcome of an intracellular selection process occurring in dedicated endosomal compartments involving, among others, an MHCII-like molecule named HLA-DM (DM). The impact of DM on the epitope selection machinery has been known for more than 15 years. However, the mechanism by which DM skews the presented repertoire in favour of kinetically stable complexes has remained elusive. Here, a review of the most recent observations in the field is presented, pointing to the possibility that DM decides the survival of a peptide-MHCII complex (pMHCII) on the basis of its conformational flexibility, which is a function of the 'tightness' of interaction between the peptide and the MHCII at a specific region of the binding site.
B physics results at CDF

In this paper we present B physics results from 1.8 Tev proton-antiproton collisions recorded with the Collider Detector at Fermilab (CDF). Measurements of the B meson masses, lifetimes, B{degrees}{bar B}{degrees} mixing, and polarization are described. The prospects for measuring CP violation with the upgraded Fermilab collider and CDF detector are also briefly described.
In vitro prion protein conversion suggests risk of bighorn sheep ( Ovis canadensis ) to transmissible spongiform encephalopathies

Background Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) affect both domestic sheep (scrapie) and captive and free-ranging cervids (chronic wasting disease; CWD). The geographical range of bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis; BHS) overlaps with states or provinces that have contained scrapie-positive sheep or goats and areas with present epizootics of CWD in cervids. No TSEs have been documented in BHS, but the susceptibility of this species to TSEs remains unknown.
Unified error analysis of terrestrial inertial navigation systems

Unified error analysis application to altimeter- aided terrestrial inertial navigation systems
Developmental Factors in Speech Recognition

(1970). Developmental Factors in Speech Recognition. International Audiology: Vol. 9, No. 1, pp. 30-38.
Highly efficient multifunctional MnSe/ZnSeS quantum dots for biomedical applications

Colloidal quantum dots (QDs) are of interest for a variety of biomedical applications, including bioimaging, drug targeting, and photodynamic therapy. However, a significant limitation is that highly efficient photoluminescent QDs available commercially contain cadmium. Recent research has focused on cadmium-free QDs, which are anticipated to exhibit significantly lower cytotoxicity. Previous work has focused on InP and ZnO as alternative semiconductor materials for QDs. However, these nanoparticles have been shown to be cytotoxic. Recently, we have synthesized high quantum efficiency (exceeding 90%), color tunable MnSe/ZnSeS nanoparticles, as potentially attractive QDs for biomedical applications. Additionally, the manganese imparts magnetic properties on the QDs, which are important for magnetic field-guided transport, hyperthermia, and potentially magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The QDs can be further biofunctionalized via conjugation to a ligand or a biomarker of disease, allowing combination of drug delivery with visual verification and colocalization due to the color tunability of the QDs.
Interactions of Mg(II), Co(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II) with phytic acid. VIII. A calorimetric study.

Abstract The interactions of Mg(II), Co(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II) with phytic acid to form soluble complexes have been studied by calorimetry. The reactions were examined at metal ion:phytate mol ratios ranging from 1–6. The heats of reaction were endothermic over this range of mol ratios. Enthalpies were calculated in terms of cal mol−1 phytate. These enthalpies are a composite of a number of factors, among which are the heat of complex formation, the heat of dehyrdation of both the phytate and the various metal ions, the heats of ionization of the phytate, and the heat of hydration of protons released from the phytate. The enthalpies of complex formation of these metal cations with phytic acid are compared to those of two other metal cations, Mn(II) and Cu(II), which were studied under similar conditions. Based on the enthalpies, it is suggested that the order of affinity of these various metal cations for phytic acid is Cu(II) ≥ Zn(II) > Mn(II) > Mg(II) > Co(II) > Ni(II) In one instance, Mg(II), the heat of precipitation (which includes binding, solvation changes, etc.) to form the insoluble Mg(II)-phytate complex was determined. The reaction was endothermic and had an enthalpy of 12.9 kcal mol−1. This quantity is markedly different from the reported heats of precipitation reactions involving Cu(II), Zn(II), Mn(II), Ca(II), Co(II), and Ni(II) with phytate. From measurements of the Mg(II) concentration, it was calculated that 5.2 mol Mg(II) binds per mol of precipitated phytate.
Secondary Neoplasms of the Esophagus

A review of 62 cases of esophageal involvement by secondary neoplasms is reported. The common routes of esophageal involvement are by direct extension of the tumor from the contiguous or adjacent organs (45.2%), via mediastinal nodes (35.5%), and hematogenous spread from a distant primary (19.3%). In the first 2 modes of esophageal involvement, the diagnosis is usually obvious but hematogenous metastases to the esophagus usually pose a diagnostic challenge. Radiologically, hematogenous metastases show a spectrum of features consisting of a short segment of progressive stricture with normal to minimally irregular mucosa, a submucosal mass with or without ulceration, a polypoid mass or masses, and defects in esophageal motility including secondary achalasia. Since endoscopy and biopsy have limited diagnostic yield, radiologic diagnosis plays a key role in the diagnosis of secondary neoplasms of the esophagus irrespective of their mode of spread to the esophagus.
Automated measurement of vocal fold vibratory asymmetry from high-speed videoendoscopy recordings

Purpose In prior work, a manually derived measure of vocal fold vibratory phase asymmetry correlated to varying degrees with visual judgments made from laryngeal high-speed videoendoscopy (HSV) rec...
Electrophysiological effects of left ventricular hypertrophy. Effect of calcium and potassium channel blockade.

BACKGROUNDTo define the arrhythmogenic effects of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in the intact heart, we carried out a detailed electrophysiological assessment in our previously validated feline aortic-banding model and then tested the effects of agents that blocked either the slow inward calcium or voltage-dependent potassium channel.METHODS AND RESULTSWe measured intraventricular and interventricular conduction times, excitability thresholds, ventricular effective refractory periods, and monophasic action potential duration at several sites in cats with LVH as well as in concurrent control (sham-operated) cats. In addition, we assessed vulnerability to ventricular arrhythmia using direct measurement of ventricular fibrillation (VF) thresholds and by standard techniques of programmed stimulation. Despite finding no difference between LVH and sham-operated cats in mean values for several electrophysiological parameters, the former group was significantly more vulnerable to VF, with more spontaneous VF...
Emotional Empathy in a Courtroom Simulation: A Person-Situation Interaction1

A pair of experiments were conducted using a simulated courtroom trial of a criminal case. In Experiment I subject-jurors were asked by defense counsel either to imagine themselves as the defendant (empathy-inducing appeal) or to pay close attention to evidence (nonempathy appeal). Later the judge delivered only general instructions or, in addition, charged jurors to give consideration only to the facts presented. When there was no Fact-focused judge's charge, juror-subjects who heard the empathy-inducing appeal rated the defendant's actions as more lawful and attributed less of the cause for the incident to his personality than did their counterparts in the nonempathy condition. Experiment II included individual differences in the tendency to empathize as an additional mediating variable. The original pattern of effects found for the manipulated variables in Experiment I appeared again, but were overshadowed by the stronger effects of the individual difference variable and of subject sex. Subject-jurors who scored high on the empathy individual difference measure rated the defendant less guilty, assigned less cause to him, and showed corresponding mood shifts when they heard the empathy-inducing appeal. In addition, male subjects empathized more strongly with the male defendant and viewed him more favorably.
Public health law for the collection and reporting of health care-associated infections.

Background State-based laws for reporting of health care-associated infections (HAI) have developed and changed dramatically in recent years, affecting the costs of reporting and impact on infection rates. It is necessary for practitioners of infection control to understand these changing legal frameworks and their application to practice. Methods Employing systematic state-based research, the researchers have documented legislation and administrative regulations for institution-specific HAI reporting, using this information to create a comprehensive resource on state-based laws for mandatory HAI reporting. Results As of August 27, 2007, 24 states have adopted laws requiring reporting of HAI rates, with an additional 7 states currently considering legislation that would require HAI reporting and 19 states employing detailed regulation in the absence of any current legislative authorization specific to HAI. This study documents (1) which states require reporting of HAI and, if so, whether this is done by legislation or administrative regulation; (2) whether the specific HAIs to be reported are identified in state law or codified generally as “diseases of public health importance,” with reporting specified by administrative regulation; and (3) what reporting policies and procedures are detailed in law. Conclusion Through analysis of the collected information, the researchers have examined the degree to which states have modernized their respective public health laws to approach mandatory reporting by way of general legislation regarding “matters of public health importance” and subsequent detailed administrative regulation to specify those matters.
Radioimmunoassay and the hormones of thyroid function

Radioimmunoassay (RIA) has provided the tools for wide-reaching investigations that have changed and continue to change many important concepts of thyroid physiology and pathosphysiology. The RIA for human thyrotropin (TSH) was developed in 1965; development of the RIA for triiodothyronine (T 3 ), thyroxine (T 4 ), thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG), and, recently, thyrothropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and thyroglobulin (Tg) followed. The capacity to measure nanogram and picogram concentrations with relative ease and speed has permitted the demonstration of dynamic relationships of the intrathyroidal and circulating thyroid hormones to each other and to the pituitary and hypothalamic regulating hormones. Evidence for the presence of cross-influences between TRH and other hypothalamic regulating hormones on the secretion of pituitary hormones has accumulated. The impact of the new information on clinical practice is now becoming evident. There is new appreciation of the value of assaying serum T 3 and TSH concentrations in the clinical management of patients with disturbed function of the thyroid, pituitary, or hypothalamus. The necessary components for RIA performance can be purchased separately or in kit form from commercial sources. With appropriate quality-control procedures, precise, sensitive, and reliable data can be generated. Awareness of the specific technical problems relating to the RIA of these hormones is absolutely necessary to assure reliable results. The availability of kits or their components permits the performance of these studies in the community hospital and in reliable commercial-service laboratories.
Discovery and expository methods in teaching visual consonant and word identification.

An experiment was conducted to examine the processes involved in lipreading as well as to investigate an optimal approach to teaching lipreading skill. We compared discovery and expository methods ...
Expression, purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of the olfactomedin domain from the sea urchin cell-adhesion protein amassin.

A family of animal proteins is emerging which contain a conserved protein motif known as an olfactomedin (OLF) domain. Novel extracellular protein–protein interactions occur through this domain. The OLF-family member amassin, from the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, has previously been identified to mediate a rapid cell-adhesion event resulting in a large aggregation of coelomocytes, the circulating immune cells. In this work, heterologous expression and purification of the OLF domain from amassin was carried out and initial crystallization trials were performed. A native data set has been collected, extending to 2.7 A under preliminary cryoconditions, using an in-house generator. This work leads the way to the determination of the first structure of an OLF domain.
Nonconvex process optimization

Abstract Difficulties associated with nonconvexity in successive quadratic programming (SQP) methods are studied. It is shown that projected indefiniteness of the Hessian matrix of the Lagrangian function can (i) place restrictions on the order in which inequalities can be added or deleted from the active set, (ii) generate redundant active sets whose resolution is nontrivial, (iii) give rise to quadratic programming (QP) subproblems that have multiple Kuhn-Tucker points, and (iv) produce nondescent directions in the SQP method that can lead to failure. Related issues concerned with the use of feasible or infeasible starting points for the iterative quadratic programs, forcing positive definiteness to ensure convexity, and using iterative methods to solve the linear Kuhn-Tucker conditions associated with the QP subproblems are also studied. A new active set strategy that (i) monitors projected indefiniteness to guide the addition of constraints to the active set, (ii) permits line searching for negative values of the line search parameter, and (iii) does not necessarily delete active constraints with incorrect Kuhn-Tucker multipliers is proposed. Constraint redundancy is circumvented using an algorithm that identifies all nontrivial redundant subsets of smallest size and determines which, if any, exchanges are justified. Nondescent in the NLP's is resolved using a linear programming (LP)-based trust region method that guarantees descent regardless of merit function. It is also shown that there is no justification for using feasible starting points at the QP level of the calculations, that forcing positive definiteness to ensure convexity can cause termination at undesired solutions, and that the use of iterative methods to solve the linear Kuhn-Tucker equations for the QP's can cause a deterioration in numerical performance. Many small chemical process examples are used to highlight difficulties so that geometric illustrations can be used while heat exchange network design and distillation operations examples are used to show that these same difficulties carry over to larger problems.
Atomic-scale characterization of (mostly zincblende) compound semiconductor heterostructures

This paper provides an overview of our recent atomic-scale studies of semiconductor heterostructures, based primarily on combinations of zincblende compound materials grown by molecular beam epitaxy. Interfacial strain due to lattice mismatch inevitably causes growth defects to be introduced. Analysis of defect type and distribution using image filtering allows residual strain to be estimated. Exploratory investigations using aberration-corrected electron microscopy, which enables individual atomic columns to be resolved, are also described.
Fission of singlet excitons into pairs of triplet excitons in tetracene crystals

Abstract Fission or dissociation of singlet excitions into pairs of triplet excitons in tetracene crystals is demonstrated by investigation of the magnetic field dependence of the prompt fluorescence intensity.
The Geographer, the Teacher, and a Child's Perception of Maps and Mapping

Abstract This paper is a response to the two-fold thesis of Bartz; namely, that (1) maps are not really important in our society today, and (2) educators say that they value maps and mapping, but the evidence of children's performance in using maps is contradictory. In exploring problems related to Bartz's contention, the author arrives at four tentative conclusions : A child can and does learn many but not all of the map concepts and skills at an earlier age when taught them developmentally, systematically, functionally, and effectively. Mere manipulation of materials does not constitute a concrete experience for a child. Map-related concepts must be taught prior to, and continued concurrently with, map skills. The commercially prepared map tends to appear near the highest level of abstract mapping and is therefore not necessarily the most effective means of map instruction for the elementary teacher. A most significant implication from the conclusions is the need to re-examine the preparation of the ele...
A Classification of Objective Methods for Measuring Texture and Consistency of Foods

SUMMARY The numerous methods for objectively measuring the textural properties of foods are classified on the basis of the variable or variables that are the basis of measurement. Physical methods of measurement are classified under the headings force-measuring, distance-measuring, time-measuring, energy-measuring, ratio-measuring, multiple-measuring, and multiple-variable instruments. There are also some chemical methods for measuring texture objectively. Methods that do not fit into any of the above categories make a special, miscellaneous group. Examples are given of the kinds of instruments found in each category.
Liquid-assisted vortex grinding supports the single-step solid-state construction of a [2.2]paracyclophane

We employ vortex grinding to generate a [2.2]paracyclophane in the organic solid state. The vortex grinding is aided with the addition of a small amount of liquid phase to facilitate topochemical [2 + 2] photodimerizations that generate the cyclophane stereoselectively and in up to quantitative yield. The use of the liquid phase increases the scope of the vortex method.
Nω-nitro-L-arginine inhibits vasodilations and elevations of both cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP levels in rat aorta induced by calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)

Abstract Our previous studies showed that vasodilations and elevations of both cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP levels in rat aorta induced by rat calcitonin gene-related peptide (rCGRP) are inhibited by hemoglobin and methylene blue, blockers of the endothelium-derived relaxant factor (EDRF, now recognized as nitric oxide [NO]). In the present study, we used Nω-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA), a selective inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, to test whether rCGRP-induced relaxations and cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP responses in rat aorta require de novo synthesis of NO. L-NNA (30 μM, 15 min) inhibited by 84, 76 and 73% the relaxations induced by rCGRP at 1, 10 and 100 nM, respectively. D-NNA (30 μM), which does not inhibit nitric oxide synthase, did not block rCGRP-induced vasorelaxations. Addition of L-arginine (3 mM) 5 min before L-NNA completely prevented the L-NNA-inhibition of CGRP-induced relaxations. L-NNA (30 μM, 15 min) also inhibited the elevations of both cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP levels caused by CGRP (100 nM). The data suggest that de novo synthesis of nitric oxide from its precursor L-arginine is required for rCGRP to induce vasodilations and elevations of both cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP levels in rat aorta.
Measurement Method for Imbalance Factors in Direct-Conversion Quadrature Radar Systems

In quadrature direct-conversion Doppler radar systems, the I and Q receiver channels are subject to amplitude and phase imbalance factors caused by circuit and component imperfections. This nonideality results in an undesired linear transformation of the baseband output signals which degrades output accuracy and sensitivity. With known imbalance factors, compensation can be achieved through digital signal processing, but accuracy is affected by circuit modifications required to determine those factors. Presented here is a new measurement method for I/Q imbalance factors that can be performed without significant modification to the radar system, allowing more precise imbalance correction to be achieved. A phase shifter is introduced at the receiver input to simulate a target approaching with constant velocity, resulting in sinusoidal outputs which can be easily compared to determine phase and amplitude imbalance