cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Permanents of cyclic (0,1) matrices

Abstract An efficient method is presented for evaluating the permanents Pnk of cyclic (0,1) matrices of dimension n and common row and column sum k. A general method is developed for finding recurrence rules for Pnk (k fixed); the recurrence rules are given in semiexplicit form for the range 4≤k≤9. A table of Pnk is included for the range 4≤k≤9, k≤n≤80. The Pnk are calculated in the form P n k = 2 + ∑ τ − 1 [ k − 1 2 ] T τ k ( n ) where the Ttk(n) satisfy recurrence rules given symbolically by the characteristic equations of certain (0, 1) matrices Πrk; the latter turn out to be identical with the r-th permanental compounds of certain simpler matrices Π1k. Finally, formal expressions for Pnk are given which allow one to write down the solution to the generalized Menage Problem in terms of sums over scalar products of the iterates of a set of unit vectors.
The effect of ultraviolet irradiation on nucleic acid isolated from tobacco mosaic virus.

Abstract The effects of ultraviolet irradiation, mainly of 2537-A wavelength, on RNA extracted from tobacco mosaic virus were studied. Breakage of RNA by irradiation was measured by use of the ultracentrifuge. The quantum yield for breakage of RNA in solution was calculated to be 3.5·10−6 moles/einstein. Frozen RNA solutions, irradiated at dry-ice or liquid-nitrogen temperatures, gave a quantum yield for breakage of 8.1·10−6. The heating to 68–70° of RNA solutions which had been irradiated at dry-ice or liquid-nitrogen temperatures increased the apparent quantum yields for breakage. The quantum yield for material irradiated at dry-ice temperature and heated was 2.0·10−5, and that for material irradiated at liquid-nitrogen temperature and heated was 3.6·10−5. The observed variations in quantum yield can be explained in terms of a model suggested by Doty et al. They suggest that the tobacco mosaic virus RNA strand has helical regions interspersed with regions of random coiling. A. hydrogen-bonded secondary structure is believed to stabilize the helical regions. The quantum yield for biological inactivation of frozen RNA solutions irradiated at dry-ice temperature was 7·10−4, in reasonably good agreement with the value of 3·10−4 reported by McLaren and Takahashi for inactivation in solution.
Network control in global communications

Abstract The author examines the impact of technology on international communications in terms of the changing concept of the telecommunications ‘user’, the development of private networks, and the emergence of service bureaus. After defining and discussing the resulting policy problems, he briefly reviews the policy process and questions its adequacy in the new world of telecommunications.
Gas chromatographic—mass spectrometric determination of plasma and brain cocaine in mice

A gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric method is described for the determination of cocaine in mouse plasma microsamples and brain. Cocaine and [2H3]cocaine were extracted with pentane-isopropyl alcohol (97:3, v/v), chromatographed on a (5% phenyl) methylpolysiloxane capillary column, and detected by selected-ion monitoring of electron impact generated m/z 182 and 185 fragment ions. The small sample size (50 microliters), simplicity of workup, and high response linearity (mean r = 0.9993) distinguish the method. Cocaine was found in mouse brain at approximately 5 times greater concentration than in plasma after 20 or 40 mg/kg subcutaneous doses.
Comparison of two microenvironments and nurse caregiving on thermal stability of ELBW infants.

ABSTRACTPURPOSEThis study tested a novel bioinstrumented radiant warmer (RW), designed to provide a reduced-intervention nursing caregiving environment (RINCE) on the ambient and body surface temperature stability of extremely low birth-weight (ELBW) infants (<1,000 g) during caregiver disruptions.
Transnational digital government research collaborations: purpose, value, challenges

Transnational networks involving government are emerging as an important feature of international relations. These networks generally involve public sector professionals and other actors in various domains acting at the sub-national level to share knowledge and information in order to better understand or address a problem that crosses national boundaries. These Transnational Public Sector Knowledge Networks (TPSKNs) are becoming increasingly important to address critical global issues and problems such as environmental quality or market regulation. While these networks are growing in number and diversity, so far we know little about the nature of these efforts and the factors that may promote or hinder their success. This panel focuses on TPSKNs as an emerging area within the domain of Digital Government (DG) research and practice. It highlights some of the challenges of conducting research in this area - particularly research that is both theoretically solid and useful to government. Panelists will share their goals and experiences from several such efforts and discuss with the audience the lessons learned so far and the future prospects for conducting this kind of work in the future.
Trans-Fats and Coronary Heart Disease

A large body of data from epidemiologic, clinical trial, animal, and in vitro studies demonstrate adverse consequences of industrially synthesized trans fatty acids (TFAs) on the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). A growing database of more recent research from virtually all experimental models demonstrates evidence of detrimental consequences of TFAs on the risk of diabetes. Evidence is accumulating about the physiological and cellular mechanisms of action that account for the many adverse effects TFAs have on CHD and diabetes. In a relatively short period of time (i.e., from around the early 1990s to the present time, or almost 20 years), we have gained a good understanding of the health effects of TFAs from epidemiologic studies, clinical trials/studies, animal research, and in vitro experiments that collectively justify current dietary recommendations made by numerous government agencies and health organizations to consume a diet with as little TFAs as possible. Public policy actions have been impl...
The feasibility of perpetual deficits

Abstract The recent economics literature has pointed out that the Ricardian equivalence notion—where bond financing implies future taxes, so that bonds are not net wealth—is valid only if perpetual deficits are impossible. The literature further asserts that perpetual deficits are possible if and only if the growth rate of real output exceeds the real interest rate. This paper shows that this condition is not robust with respect to the policy of how to apportion deficit financing between money and bond creation. In general, the feasibility of perpetual deficits depends in a policy-dependent manner on various structural parameters in the model.
Energy, complexity, and sustainability: A historical perspective

Abstract The common view of history assumes that complexity and resource consumption have emerged through innovation facilitated by surplus energy. This view leads to the supposition that complexity and consumption are voluntary, and that we can therefore achieve a sustainable future through conservation. Such an assumption is substantially incorrect. History suggests that complexity most commonly increases to solve problems, and compels increase in resource use. This process is illustrated by the history of the Roman Empire and its collapse. Problems are inevitable, requiring increasing complexity, and conservation is therefore insufficient to produce sustainability. Future sustainability will require continued high levels of energy consumption to address converging problems.
Clearance of corticosteroids in yearling coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch, in fresh water and seawater and after stress

The metabolic clearance rate of corticosteroids determined after a single injection of [3H]cortisol was higher in fish acclimated to seawater (SW) than in those acclimated to fresh water (FW). Uptake and retention of corticosteroids in liver, gill filaments, and gall bladder bile were greater in SW than in FW fish. The stress of long-term (5 days), but not short-term (12 hr), continuous confinement apparently increased the clearance rate of corticosteroids in both FW and SW fish. Chronic, but not acute, administration of exogenous cortisol, yielding cortisol titers close to the physiological range, appeared to increase the clearance rate of corticosteroids in FW fish.
Photoluminescence-Based Sensing With Porous Silicon Films, Microparticles, and Nanoparticles

Here, chemical sensors made from porous Si are reviewed, with an emphasis on systems that harness photoluminescence and related energy- and charge-transfer mechanisms available to porous Si-derived nanocrystallites. Quenching of luminescence by molecular adsorbates involves the harvesting of energy from a delocalized nanostructure that can be much larger than the molecule being sensed, providing a means to amplify the sensory event. The interaction of chemical species on the surface of porous Si can exert a pronounced influence on this process, and examples of some of the key chemical reactions that modify either the surface or the bulk properties of porous Si are presented. Sensors based on micron-scale and smaller porous Si particles are also discussed. Miniaturization to this size regime enables new applications, including imaging of cancerous tissues, indirect detection of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and controlled drug release. Examples of environmental and in vivo sensing systems enabled by porous Si are provided.
Comment on the decay curves of hydrogenlike atoms observed at long times following excitation

Explicit calculations demonstrate that cascade repopulation effects are a possible explanation of the t$sup -1$.$sup 5$ dependence in the decay of Ly- $alpha$ radiation at long times after excitation observed recently by Braithwaite, Matthews, and Moore. Good agreement with all available experimental data is obtained with reasonable population models; excitation proportional to n$sup -$/subm/ with m=2.2--4 is indicated.
Facilitating electrical cardioversion of persistant atrial fibrillation by antiarrhythmic drugs: update on clinical trial results.

Results from clinical trials suggest that antiarrhythmic drugs (AD) can facilitate electrical cardioversion (EC) for persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) (duration >48 hours, no spontaneous termination) by suppression of immediate reinitiation of AF following the procedure. Class IC agents may increase the atrial defibrillation threshold (DFT) by significantly reducing the availability of Na+-channel for depolarization. In contrast, class III agents may decrease the atrial DFT by markedly prolonging atrial refractoriness. Among all AD, ibutilide and amoidarone have been shown to be most effective in enhancing the acute outcome of EC.
The medical management of depression

Major depression, which affects 5 to 13 percent of medical outpatients, is often undiagnosed and untreated. Treatment with antidepressant and adjunctive medications and prevention of future episodes are discussed in this article.
The Fine Structure of Differentiating Merozoites of Haemoproteus columbae Kruse

SYNOPSIS. The first sign of merozoite formation in schizonts of Haemoproteus columbae is the accumulation of dense material at intervals beneath the plasma membrane of the schizont. The schizont's membrane then invaginates in deep furrows cleaving the parasite into pseudo-cytomeres. thereby increasing the area of membrane available for differentiation. Signs of differentiation appear under this membrane as soon as it is formed. Rhoptries and polar rings develop in the region of the dense accumulations, the cytoplasm containing these structures begins to elevate, and each evagination differentiates into a merozoite. When the merozoite is half-formed, the cytostome appears, then dense bodies at the apex of the organism, and finally a spherical body intimately associated with a mitochondrion. These merozoites of Haemoproteus are assumed to be the forms that penetrate erythrocytes and become gametocytes. They contain the same organelles as merozoites of Plasmodium. However, the merozoites of Haemoproteus are oval like the erythrocytic merozoites of Plasmodium rather than elongate like the exoerythrocytic merozoites. This body shape may be a generic characteristic or it may indicate a structural difference between exoerythrocytic merozoites and merozoites that infect erythrocytes. When the merozoites of Plasmodium, Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon are compared, the first 2 genera appear closely related, but Leucocytozoon seems very different. Perhaps it should not be included within the Haemoproteidae.
Nonequilibrium condensates and lasers without inversion: Exciton-polariton lasers

We analyze elementary properties of exciton and polariton lasers --- devices that generate coherent optical and matter waves using final-state stimulation of exciton-phonon scattering. First we discuss the relation between the conditions for the onset of equilibrium and nonequilibrium excitonic condensates. Provided that the thermal de Broglie wavelength ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{\mathit{T}}$ exceeds the exciton Bohr radius ${\mathit{a}}_{\mathit{B}}$, an exciton laser operates without electronic population inversion. In contrast to previous proposals, this is a different type of laser without inversion which utilizes many-body coherences. When the excitonic character of the polariton branch vanishes, a polariton laser becomes indistinguishable from a photon laser. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
Apolipoprotein(a) Binds via Its C-terminal Domain to the Protein Core of the Proteoglycan Decorin IMPLICATIONS FOR THE RETENTION OF LIPOPROTEIN(a) IN ATHEROSCLEROTIC LESIONS

Abstract Although it is known that lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) binds to proteoglycans, the mechanism for this binding has not been fully elucidated. In order to shed light on this subject, we examined the interactions of decorin, a proteoglycan with a well defined protein core and a single glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chain, with Lp(a) and derivatives, namely Lp(a) deprived of apo(a), or Lp(a−), free apo(a), and the two main proteolytic fragments, F1 and F2. By circular dichroism criteria, the decorin preparations used had the same secondary structure as that previously reported for native decorin. Authentic low density lipoprotein from the same human donor was used as a control. In a solid phase system, Lp(a−)and low density lipoprotein bound to decorin in a comparable manner. This binding required Ca2+/Mg2+ ions, was lysine-mediated, and was markedly decreased in the presence of GAG-depleted decorin, suggesting the ionic nature of the interaction likely involving apoB100 and the GAG component of decorin. Free apo(a) also bound to decorin; however, the binding was neither cation-dependent nor lysine-mediated, unaffected by sialic acid depletion of apo(a), and markedly decreased when either reduced and alkylated apo(a) or reduced and alkylated decorin was used in the assay. Of note, the binding of apo(a) was unaffected when it was incubated with a spectrally native decorin that had been renatured from either 4 m guanidine hydrochloride by extensive dialysis or cooled from 65 to 25 °C. On the other hand, the binding significantly increased when decorin was depleted of GAGs, which by themselves had no affinity for apo(a). The binding of apo(a) to the decorin protein core was also elicited by the C-terminal domain of apo(a), and it was favored by high NaCl concentrations, 1 to 2m. No binding was exhibited by the N-terminal domain accounting for the lack of effect of apo(a) size polymorphism on the binding. In the case of whole Lp(a), the binding to immobilized decorin was mostly GAG-dependent and ionic in nature. A minor contribution by apo(a) was detected when GAG-depleted decorin was used in the assay. Our results indicate that the binding of Lp(a) to decorin involves interactions both electrostatic (apoB100-GAG) and hydrophobic (apo(a)-decorin protein core), and that the binding of apo(a) requires decorin protein core to be in its native state.
Differential changes of retina dopamine binding sites and adenylyl cyclase responses following 6-hydroxydopamine treatment

Both dopamine D1 and D2 receptors are present in rat retina. D1 receptors are positively coupled to adenylyl cyclase, while D2 receptors are negatively coupled. After intraocular administration of the neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) there is depletion of retinal dopamine by about 90%, as well as a decrease of the number of D1 and D2 receptor binding sites. Following the 6-OHDA lesion, there is an enhancement of the D1 receptor-stimulated accumulation of cyclic-AMP and a loss of D2 receptor-inhibited accumulation of cyclic-AMP. Our results suggest that some of the retinal D2 receptors are coupled to adenylyl cyclase and some are not.
American Airlines Experience With Turbojet/Turbofan Engines

The turbojet engine JT3C-6 and JT3C-7 entered commercial service on American Airlines Boeing 707/720 Aircraft after a considerable period of experience resulting from military J57 operation. Although the commercial operation uncovered problem areas, the causes were defined and the engine reliability and serviceability responded to various improvement programs. The time between overhauls (TBO) increased from 800 to 2100 hr at a rate unparalled in commercial engine operation. The turbofan is now going through a period of commercial “growing pains.” Problems have resulted from higher thrust, use of new materials, higher temperatures within and outside the engine, complexities of a fan air-thrust reverser, and so on. The airframe and engine manufacturers have defined these problems and together with the commercial operators are engaged in programs to insure performance and reliability compatible with the tremendous success of the first generation JT3C-6 and JT3C-7 turbojets.Copyright © 1962 by ASME
Gambling, underage gambling, and risk approach motivation.

Abstract One concern about the spread of casino gambling is the effect it might have on underage gambling. In this study the gambling behaviors of a university student sample were investigated. Students with higher levels of risk approach motivation gambled more and were more likely to play games that involved a mix of chance and skill. However, there was no relationship between optimum stimulation level and gambling behavior. Underage students reported gambling but most did so infrequently. The typical amount wagered and lost by underage students was small.
Individualizing dentifrices: the dentist’s responsibility

Polishing agents appear to be essential for reducing accumulation on the teeth and to be valuable in increasing enamel luster. However, these agents may wear away exposed root dentin in varying degrees. The dentist can determine on an individual basis which dentifrice will prevent accumulation with a minimum of abrasion.
The political economy of privatization in developing countries

Abstract Privatization in LDCs refers here to the sale or leasing of assets in which the state has a majority interest, and the contracting out of publicly provided services. Privatization is in part a response to the need for fiscal austerity. Its pace and scope will be determined importantly by the way in which the public sector was built. Privatization is easier to implement than has been supposed because its austerity and equity costs are relatively small compared to those of broader structural adjustment processes in which it is commonly situated. However, the payoffs from privatization are relatively small too. There is high opportunity cost in time and management for the complicated task of preparing public assets for sale. Capital market thinness characterizes LDCs, and “popular capitalism” does not appear to be a realistic option. In LDCs, privatization is likely to be entangled in regional and ethnic conflicts. These may be as consequential for formulating and implementing programs as are the critical coalitions that form between economic sectors such as capital and labor or importers and exporters. We believe that privatization is not a linear or ineluctable process. Indeed, many privatizations may be implemented in the absence of a commitment to market forces, but where the state seeks to redefine the instruments and scope of its interventionism.
Overexpression of growth hormone genes in transgenic mice shortens free-running periods in constant light

Abstract Transgenic mice were produced by microinjection of male pronuclei with approximately 2.7Kb DNA fragment, containing a metallothionein‐I promoter (MT) or a phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) promoter linked to human growth hormone (hGH) or bovine growth hormone (bGH) structural genes. Transgenic mice from resulting lines have substantial levels of circulating heterologous GH and are much larger than normal mice. Since these animals have reproductive abnormalities, and since reproductive hormones have significant effects on the circadian timing system, experiments were designed to determine whether these animals had altered freerunning periods. Transgenic female mice and their normal female siblings were individually housed in cages with activity wheels and exposed to constant dark (DD) or constant light (LL) for durations exceeding two weeks. Locomotor activity was continuously monitored by computer. The period of the circadian rhythm of locomotor activity and the duration of activity were ...
Proline Metabolism Increases katG Expression and Oxidative Stress Resistance in Escherichia coli

The oxidation of l-proline to glutamate in Gram-negative bacteria is catalyzed by the proline utilization A (PutA) flavoenzyme, which contains proline dehydrogenase (PRODH) and Δ(1)-pyrroline-5-carboxylate (P5C) dehydrogenase domains in a single polypeptide. Previous studies have suggested that aside from providing energy, proline metabolism influences oxidative stress resistance in different organisms. To explore this potential role and the mechanism, we characterized the oxidative stress resistance of wild-type and putA mutant strains of Escherichia coli. Initial stress assays revealed that the putA mutant strain was significantly more sensitive to oxidative stress than the parental wild-type strain. Expression of PutA in the putA mutant strain restored oxidative stress resistance, confirming that depletion of PutA was responsible for the oxidative stress phenotype. Treatment of wild-type cells with proline significantly increased hydroperoxidase I (encoded by katG) expression and activity. Furthermore, the ΔkatG strain failed to respond to proline, indicating a critical role for hydroperoxidase I in the mechanism of proline protection. The global regulator OxyR activates the expression of katG along with several other genes involved in oxidative stress defense. In addition to katG, proline increased the expression of grxA (glutaredoxin 1) and trxC (thioredoxin 2) of the OxyR regulon, implicating OxyR in proline protection. Proline oxidative metabolism was shown to generate hydrogen peroxide, indicating that proline increases oxidative stress tolerance in E. coli via a preadaptive effect involving endogenous hydrogen peroxide production and enhanced catalase-peroxidase activity.
Isolation and characterization of minichromosome particles that contain a glucocorticoid-modulated promoter

A procedure for the enrichment of minichromosomes, composed of bovine papilloma virus and the long terminal repeat element of the mouse mammary tumor virus (MTV), from isolated nuclei is described. Up to 60% of the minichromosomes were extracted as nucleoprotein particles. These particles sediment in sucrose gradients as 160S complexes. Hormone-labeled glucocorticoid receptor co-purifies with these complexes in a specific fashion. Between four and six molecules of receptor are bound per minichromosome molecule. Analysis of DNase I hypersensitivity demonstrates that hypersensitive sites are preserved through the purification procedure in a manner that reflects the hormone-dependent in vivo pattern of digestion. These purified minichromosomes will allow features of chromatin structure that may be important for steroid hormone modulation of transcription to be studied in vitro without resorting to destructive nuclease digestion procedures.
The Bougie: An Inexpensive Lifesaving Airway Device

Abstract Background “Bougies,” otherwise known as endotracheal tube introducers, remain preferred devices for the emergency physician when faced with a difficult airway. Bougies have high success rates for the prehospital provider and the first-time emergency department (ED) user, with few reported complications. Inexpensive, disposable models provide simple yet valuable tools in the challenging patient with an anterior airway or limited neck mobility. Objectives Use of the bougie is similar to standard endotracheal intubation. Correct placement is determined by feeling “clicks” as the device passes over the tracheal rings and a “hold up” when entering the distal airways. Case Reports Three recent cases from our ED are briefly reported, in which the bougie was invaluable in the management of the difficult airway. All patients had limited visualization of the glottis but were intubated successfully. Conclusion This article discusses three example cases, and then reviews the history of the bougie, placement technique, and current evidence for use.
Lab management strategies for IT database curriculum

Academic departments teaching information technology are faced with competing pressures, resources are limited, but student and curricular needs are seemingly "unlimited". Computing labs exemplify this contention. Resources in terms of physical space, computer equipment, and support staff are limited. However the demands on and expectations of academic computing labs are high and ever changing. A typical computing lab must be the following:Highly functional:Support different curriculaSupport different usesProvide a flexible environmentSupport activities that continue over multiple sessionsHighly available:Provide a maximum of useable timeProvide a homogeneous environment Easily maintainable:Be quick and simple to "re-image"Be easy to upgradeSupport licensing agreementsSecure:Provide a stable environmentThis paper will discuss how the database labs of the Information Technology Department at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) are designed and managed from both the physical and the curricular perspective to address the issues above. Topics covered will include how the labs are designed to support different levels of curriculum: introductory undergraduate courses, upper-level undergraduate courses, graduate courses, and graduate work. Lab management details in terms of equipment, software, hardware, and procedures will also be discussed.
Novel C3-symmetric molecular scaffolds with potential facial differentiation

The conversion of 1,3,5-substituted benzene and mesitylene by electrophilic aromatic substitution and Sonogashira cross-coupling, respectively, furnished the C3-symmetric, hexasubstituted benzene derivatives 1 and 2 with an alternating substitution pattern. Based on the molecular scaffolds obtained, the two systems serve as model compounds for novel receptor molecules with distinct geometric features. X-ray structures have been obtained for 1 and 2, which are discussed in regard to their aptitude as receptor platforms or supramolecular building blocks. By looking at the rotational barriers for the functional groups placed around the molecular scaffolds by variable temperature 1H NMR spectroscopy, 1 and 2 turn out to exist in rapidly interconverting conformations. The alignment of these potential binding groups around the molecular scaffolds should be strongly biased by specific interactions with suitable guest molecules.
Asymptotic results for random sums of dependent random variables

Abstract Our main result is a central limit theorem for random sums of the form ∑ i = 1 N n X i , where { X i } i ≥ 1 is a stationary m -dependent process and N n is a random index independent of { X i } i ≥ 1 . This extends the work of Chen and Shao on the i.i.d. case to a dependent setting and provides a variation of a recent result of Shang on m -dependent sequences. Further, a weak law of large numbers is proven for ∑ i = 1 N n X i , and the results are exemplified with applications on moving average and descent processes.
Democracy, Difference, and Reconstruction: Religion, Theology, and the Spirit of Pragmatism

This essay is an outline of the most salient themes in American pragmatism. It seeks to flesh out those themes in relation to theology and religion. In doing so it stresses the reconstructive and democratic character of pragmatic thought and the manner in which they are expressed through a variety of pragmatic voices. This essay provides a general sketch of the origins and development of American pragmatism. It offers an overview of the pragmatic worldview. It identifies select representatives and expressions of pragmatic thinking. And it lays out the enduring challenges to pragmatism as a philosophical disposition and ethical practice. Overall, this essay offers a broad survey of pragmatic thinking since its emergence after the Civil War. It stresses the significant shifts which it has undertaken during in its short history. By giving attention to matters of race, religious pluralism, and changing contexts, this essay treats pragmatism as an intellectual and ethical impulse that is committed to human progress. Democracy, difference, and reconstruction are at the center of its efforts to improve our world.
From "Forgotten and Ignored" to Standards and Certification: Gerontological Counseling Comes of Age.

The specialty of gerontological counseling has a 20-year history that began with a dearth of information and has progressed to the development of preparation standards and a national certification, both based on a nationally endorsed statement of competencies for gerontological counselors. The question of whether generalization or a specialization will best serve the needs of older persons continues to be central to the development of this specialization.
Positron emission tomography detector development for plant biology

There are opportunities for the development of new tools to advance plant biology research through the use of radionuclides. Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, Duke University, West Virginia University and the University of Maryland are collaborating on the development of radionuclide imaging technologies to facilitate plant biology research. Biological research into optimizing plant productivity under various environmental constraints, biofuel and carbon sequestration research are areas that could potentially benefit from new imaging technologies. Using 11CO 2 tracers, the investigators at Triangle University Nuclear Laboratory / Duke University Phytotron are currently researching the dynamical responses of plants to environmental changes forecasted from increasing greenhouse trace gases involved in global change. The biological research primary focus is to investigate the impact of elevated atmospheric CO 2 and nutrients limitation on carbon and nitrogen dynamics in plants. We report here on preliminary results of 11CO 2 plant imaging experiments involving barley plants using Jefferson Lab dual planar positron emission tomography detectors to image 11CO 2 in live barley plants. New detector designs will be developed based on the preliminary studies reported here and further planned.
Morphology and local electronic structure of metal particles on metal oxide surfaces: a scanning tunneling microscopic and scanning tunneling spectroscopic study

Abstract Metal particles (Au, Pd and Ni) with an average diameter between 7 to 100 A have been prepared on thin metal oxide films (TiO 2 , MgO and Al 2 O 3 ), epitaxially grown on refractory metal substrates {Mo(100) or Re(0001)}, and imaged using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Information regarding the local electronic structure has been obtained using scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS). Controlled manipulation of the metal particles with the STM tip is also demonstrated.
Maintenance of ischemic β cell viability through delivery of lipids and ATP by targeted liposomes

Islet transplantation is a promising treatment for type 1 diabetes, but despite the successes, existing challenges prevent widespread application. Ischemia, occurring during pancreas preservation and isolation, as well as after islet transplantation, decreases islet viability and function. We hypothesized that the liposomal delivery of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) could prevent the loss of cell viability during an ischemic insult. In this work we use a model β cell line, INS-1 to probe the liposome–cell interactions and examined the ability of liposomes functionalized with the fibronectin-mimetic peptide PR_b to facilitate the delivery of ATP to ischemic β cells. We demonstrate that PR_b increases the binding and internalization of liposomes to the β cells. Unexpectedly, when comparing the ability of PR_b liposomes with and without ATP to protect INS-1 cells from ischemia we found that both formulations increased cell survival. By probing the functional activity of ischemic cells treated with PR_b functionalized liposomes with and without ATP we find that both lipids and ATP play a role in maintaining cell metabolic activity after an ischemic insult and preventing cell necrosis. This approach may be beneficial for preventing ischemia related damage to islet cells, especially in the organ preservation stage.
Landscape patterns of CH4 fluxes in an alpine tundra ecosystem

We measured CH4 fluxes from three major plant communities characteristic of alpine tundra in the Colorado Front Range. Plant communities in this ecosystem are deter- mined by soil moisture regimes induced by winter snowpack distribution. Spatial patterns of CH4 flux during the snow-free season corresponded roughly with these plant communities. In Carex-dominated meadows, which receive the most moisture from snowmelt, net CH4 produc- tion occurred. However, CH4 production in one Carex site (seasonal mean = +8.45 mg CH4 m 2 d 1 ) was significantly larger than in the other Carex sites (seasonal means = -0.06 and +0.05 mg CH 4 m 2 d 1 ). This high CH4 flux may have resulted from shallower snowpack during the winter. In Acomastylismeadows, which have an intermediate moisture regime, CH4 oxidation dominated (seasonal mean = -0.43 mg CH4 m 2 d 1 ). In the windswept Kobresia meadow plant community, which receive the least amount of moisture from snowmelt, only CH4 oxidation was observed (seasonal mean = -0.77 mg CH4 m 2 d 1 ). Methane fluxes correlated with a different set of environmental factors within each plant community. In the Carex plant community, CH4 emission was limited by soil temperature. In the Acomastylis meadows, CH4 oxidation rates correlated positively with soil temperature and negatively with soil moisture. In the Kobresia community, CH4 oxidation was stimulated by precipitation. Thus, both snow-free season CH4 fluxes and the controls on those CH 4 fluxes were related to the plant communities determined by winter snowpack.
Circuit development using biological components: Principles, models and experimental feasibility

Today most VLSI circuits are built in silicon using CMOS transistors. Developments in design automation and process fabrication have resulted in the progressive increase of the number of transistors per chip and decrease in the size of the transistors. But transistor designers are fast approaching fundamental physical barriers to further size reduction. Thus engineers are looking at alternate technologies such as nano-devices and bio-circuits for next-generation circuits. In our research, we concentrate on the development of bio-circuits and their applications. Our eventual goal is the design and simulation of complete systems integrating bio-circuits and VLSI technology appropriately. Bio-circuits are circuits developed in vivo or in vitro, using DNA and proteins. A biological process such as glycolysis or bioluminescence can be viewed as a genetic regulatory circuit, a complex set of bio-chemical reactions regulating the behavior of genes, operons, DNA, RNA, and proteins. Similar to voltage in an electrical circuit, a genetic regulatory circuit produces an output protein in response to an input stimulus. We can engineer bio-circuits to meet design specifications, using genetic engineering. Our aim is to build a library of in vitro bio-circuits representing the Boolean functions. The bio-circuits from this library can be further cascaded to form larger circuits. In this paper, we review the feasibility of building bio-circuits. We discuss the construction of Boolean logic gates such as NOT, AND, and OR and their verification by simulation. We also address important aspects such as cascading of the bio-circuits and practical implementation. In addition, we describe an algorithm "Box" that can help to control bio-circuit characteristics such as gain and switching behavior. This approach is similar to design space exploration in traditional VLSI, but takes into account biological knowledge obtained through experiments. We also provide insight into the robustness of bio-circuits in the presence of noise. This paper is intended to pave the pathway for electrical engineers to start exploring the field of bio-circuits.
Packet Content Matching with packetC Searchsets

Increasing speeds and volumes push network packet applications to use parallel processing to boost performance. Examining the packet payload (message content) is a key aspect of packet processing. Applications search payloads to find strings that match a pattern described by regular expressions (regex). Searching for multiple strings that may start anywhere in the payload is a major obstacle to performance. Commercial systems often employ multiple network processors to provide parallel processing in general and use regex software engines or special regex processors to speed up searching performance via parallelism. Typically, regex rules are prepared separately from the application program and compiled into a binary image to be read by a regex processor or software engine. Our approach integrates specifying search rules with specifying network application code written in packet C, a C dialect that hides host-machine specifics, supports coarse-grain parallelism and supplies high-level data type and operator extensions for packet processing. packetC provides a search set data type, as well as match and find operations, to support payload searching. We show that our search set operator implementation, using associative memory and regex processors, lets users enjoy the performance benefits of parallel regex technology without learning hardware-specifics or using a separate regex toolchain’s use.
Trends in pelvic lymphadenectomy at the time of radical cystectomy: 1988 to 2004.

Purpose: Studies suggest that patients who undergo thorough lymphadenectomy for bladder cancer benefit from improved survival. We evaluated the incidence of and trends in lymphadenectomy in conjunction with radical cystectomy for bladder cancer. Materials and Methods: Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results registry we identified 8,072 eligible patients with bladder cancer who underwent radical cystectomy with or without lymphadenectomy from 1988 to 2004. After stratification by age group, race, stage, grade and year of diagnosis we performed logistic and linear regression to correlate variables to the mean number of lymph nodes sampled and the likelihood of undergoing lymphadenectomy (classified as 1 or more, 5 or more and 10 or more nodes removed). Results: In the final cohort 1,660 patients (21%) did not have any lymph nodes sampled at radical cystectomy. This number decreased from 37% in 1988 to 16% in 2004. During this period the mean number of lymph nodes removed increased by 2.6 nodes over all definitions of lymphadenectomy and the percentage of patients undergoing any form of lymph node dissection increased by an average of 19%. Year of diagnosis was most strongly predictive of the likelihood of undergoing lymphadenectomy and most correlative with the mean number of nodes sampled. Conclusions: Over time there has been improvement in terms of the performance of lymphadenectomy and node counts obtained during radical cystectomy. If these trends continue the incidence and quality of lymphadenectomy should continue to increase, ultimately to the benefit of the patients being treated.
Analytical Methods to Measure the Carbonaceous Content of Aerosols

Increased use of diesel fuel and coal over the next decade could lead to increased amounts of carbonaceous material in fine particle aerosols. For this reason, EPA has for the past few years been developing and evaluating a number of analytical methods to characterize ambient concentrations of carbonaceous aerosols. These include methods based either on combustion of carbonaceous material to CO2 (or CH4) with subsequent detection, or on nondestructive optical measurements. These methods are designed so that the carbon content of aerosols can be measured in samples collected by dichotomous samplers using a variety of filter media. The combustion method uses a Dohrmann Model DC-50 carbon analyzer with a detection limit of 0.5μg.Optical measurements are made with prototype light transmission and photoacoustic instruments. Comparisons of combustion and optical methods are presented for carbon in aerosols collected in Houston, TX and the Shenandoah Valley of VA.
Setting parametric limits on dialectal variation in Spanish

Abstract The present investigation departs from the perspective that dialects of languages may exemplify typological distinctions, and as such, may be defined within parametric limits. More specifically, this synchronic study focuses on the inter- and intra-dialectal variation attested within the Spanish language, heretofore exempted from the scrutiny that has characterized syntactic studies of other Romance languages. The analysis of said variability, which centers on the licensing of null and overt subjects, reveals intralingual differences that serve to bolster syntactic-theoretical argumentation and corroborate the structures and principles of the Minimalist Program.
Assessment of Cognitive Insight: A Qualitative Review

The concept of cognitive insight was introduced in 2004 to describe the capacity of patients with psychosis to distance themselves from their psychotic experiences, reflect on them, and respond to corrective feedback. The Beck Cognitive Insight Scale (BCIS) was developed to evaluate these aspects of cognitive flexibility and to complement scales that describe the lack of awareness of mental illness and its characteristics. The BCIS has generated a moderate research literature, which is the subject of the current review. Several independent groups have demonstrated that the BCIS is reliable, demonstrates convergent and construct validity, and distinguishes patients with psychosis from healthy controls and patients without psychosis. While the majority of the studies have focused on the relationship of the BCIS to delusions, several have examined its relationship to negative symptoms, depression, anxiety, and functional outcome. Cognitive insight has predicted positive gains in psychotherapy of psychosis, and improvement incognitiveinsighthasbeencorrelatedwithimprovementin delusional beliefs. Finally, preliminary findings relate neurocognition, metacognition, and social cognition, as well as reduced hippocampal volume to cognitive insight. A heuristic framework is presented to guide future research.
A low-energy computation platform for data-driven biomedical monitoring algorithms

A key challenge in closed-loop chronic biomedical systems is the ability to detect complex physiological states from patient signals within a constrained power budget. Data-driven machine-learning techniques are major enablers for the modeling and interpretation of such states. Their computational energy, however, scales with the complexity of the required models. In this paper, we propose a low-energy, biomedical computation platform optimized through the use of an accelerator for data-driven classification. The accelerator retains selective flexibility through hardware reconfiguration and exploits voltage scaling and parallelism to operate at a sub-threshold minimum-energy point. Using cardiac arrhythmia detection algorithms with patient data from the MIT-BIH database, classification is achieved in 2.96 µJ (at V dd = 0.4 V), over four orders of magnitude smaller than that on a low-power general-purpose processor. The energy of feature extraction is 148 µJ while retaining flexibility for a range of possible biomarkers.
Molecular analyses on host-seeking black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) reveal a diverse assemblage of Leucocytozoon (Apicomplexa: Haemospororida) parasites in an alpine ecosystem

Molecular studies have suggested that the true diversity of Leucocytozoon (Apicomplexa: Haemospororida) species well exceeds the approximately 35 currently described taxa. Further, the degree of host-specificity may vary substantially among lineages. Parasite distribution can be influenced by the ability of the parasite to infect a host, vector preferences for certain avian hosts, or other factors such as microhabitat requirements that increase the probability that vertebrate hosts and vectors are in frequent contact with each other. Whereas most studies of haemosporidians have focused on passerine hosts, sampling vectors in the same habitats may allow the detection of other lineages affecting other hosts. We sampled abundant, ornithophilic black flies (Simuliidae) across a variety of sites and habitats in the Colorado Rocky Mountains throughout the summer of 2007. Black flies were screened with PCR using Leucocytozoon-specific primers that amplify a portion of the cytochrome b gene, and the sequences were compared to the haplotypes in the MalAvi database. Infections of Leucocytozoon from birds sampled in the same area were also included. We recovered 33 unique haplotypes from the black flies in this study area, which represented a large phylogenetic diversity of Leucocytozoon parasites. However, there were no clear patterns of avian host species or geography for the distribution of Leucocytozoon haplotypes in the phylogeny. Sampling host-seeking vectors is a useful way to obtain a wide variety of avian haemosporidian haplotypes from a given area and may prove useful for understanding the global patterns of host, parasite, and vector associations of these ubiquitous and diverse parasites.
The Rise and Fall of Criterion Referenced Measurement

How frequently have articles about CRT appeared? What advances in measurement have been influenced by the CRT movement? What has been the lasting contribution of the CRT movement?
Sources of diagnostic uncertainty for chronically psychotic cocaine abusers

OBJECTIVE: This study determined the sources and frequency of diagnostic uncertainty for patients with chronic psychosis and active cocaine abuse or dependence and assessed the usefulness of prospective follow-up in clarifying diagnosis. METHODS: A total of 165 male patients with chronic psychoses and cocaine abuse or dependence on inpatient units of a Veterans Affairs medical center were evaluated using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R (SCID-R), urine tests, hospital records, and interviews with collateral sources. An algorithm allowing key SCID-R items and diagnostic criteria to be designated as provisionally met or uncertain was applied, resulting in a provisional diagnosis and a list of alternate diagnoses. The assessment was repeated 18 months later in an attempt to resolve diagnostic uncertainty. RESULTS: In 30 cases (18 percent), initial assessment produced a definitive diagnosis, including 21 cases of schizophrenia, six of schizoaffective disorder, and three of psychostimulant-induc...