cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
THE TRANSITION REGION IN THE SEEDLING OF RICINUS COMMUNIS: A PHYSIOLOGICAL INTERPRETATION

The orientation of the xylem and phloem conducting strands differs in the root and stem regions of the axis of vascular plants. The vascular continuity of the entire axis is maintained, however, by an area between root and stem, where rearrangement of the bundle elements occurs. This so-called " transition " from root to stem structure has been a subject of interest to the plant anatomist since the days when Gerard, and later van Tieghem, followed in detail the changing paths of xylem and phloem throughout this particular zone. The work of van Tieghem and the later morphologists is summarized by Compton (8). Three types of transition are described by van Tieghem, and a fourth is added by Sargant (X7). Some of the more recent investigators retain the descriptive terms of van Tieghem, and talk of the " splitting," " rotation," and " fusion " of the vascular bundles. Kean (I5) describes the seedling anatomy of Mesenmbryanthe'n'iium in this manner. Eames and MacDaniels ( I I ) summarize the four main methods of division, rotation, and reunion of the conducting strands, and refer to a " transition region where root and stem meet, and where the various parts of each organ mnerge into the other." Avery (i) identifies the seedlings of maize, oats, and wheat as representative of van Tieghem's three types of transition, but he considers these three to be probable variations of one main morphological type. A somewhat deeper interpretation of the root-stem transition phenomena is introduced when the subject is approached from the standpoint of phylogeny. If the law that " ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny " is accepted, the first trace of vascular system to appear in the developing seedling is to be regarded as the prototype of the conducting system of vascular plants in general. The seedling has been followed through consecutive stages of growth by a number of different workers, and we find that the results of these investigations have been variously interpreted. The development of the vascular system is fully described by Chauveaud (6) and summarized in the "law of basifugal acceleration." In the root there occurs a primitive type of vascular pattern, which is gradually suppressed during the growth of the stem and replaced by a distinctly different arrangement. That is to say, the centrifugal structture of the stem, which results in the suppression or elimination of the original centripetal condition, is secondary and superposed
Distributed control of spatially invariant systems over Sobolev spaces

We consider spatially invariant systems where the underlying state space is an inner-product Sobolev space. Such systems arise when considering certain state-space representations of partial differential equations of higher temporal order. We show how standard results on exponential stability, stabilizability and optimal control with quadratic criteria can be generalized to those systems. These generalizations require some bookkeeping of spatial frequency weighting functions related to the Sobolev inner products, and simple recipes for doing so are given. The results are illustrated with examples of distributed control of wave and beam equations.
Visualizing the history of ideas

This presentation surveys the field of citation data visualization and presents new prototypes that illuminate broad intellectual regions (epistemes) through their temporal structures (paradigm shifts).
Unified theoretical analysis of experimental swelling data for irradiated austenitic and ferritic/martensitic alloys

Central concepts in the theory of swelling based on defect reactions are reviewed. The critical radius and critical number of gas atoms, which determine the initiation of swelling, and the ratio of the dislocation and cavity sink strengths, which dictates the swelling rate, are demonstrated to be of great utility in the understanding and control of swelling. Over the past two decades, a large data base has been accumulated covering austenitic and ferritic/martensitic alloys, the leading candidate materials for both fusion and fast fission reactor applications. This collection of data naturally serves as the largest source of information on which to develop and test mechanistic understanding of swelling. Over wide ranges in materials and irradiation parameters, including composition, temperature, damage rate, and helium generation rate, we find that apparently divergent swelling behaviors can be explained in a unified manner within the present theoretical framework. Principles for microstructures that insure swelling resistance, together with results from the necessary confirmatory experiments, are described.
Partitioning and placement for buildable QCA circuits

Quantum-dot cellular automata (QCA) is a novel computing mechanism that can represent binary information based on spatial distribution of electron charge configuration in chemical molecules. In this paper, we present partitioning and placement algorithms for a large-scale automatic QCA layout. The purpose of zone partitioning is to initially partition a given circuit such that a single clock potential modulates the inter-dot barriers in all of the QCA cells within each zone. We then place these zones during our placement step. We identify several objectives and constraints that will enhance the buildability of QCA circuits and use them in our optimization process. The results are intended to define what is computationally interesting and could actually be built within a set of predefined constraints.
The importance of striatal interneurons in age-related effects upon potassium- and amphetamine-stimulated dopamine release.

Abstract The ability of superfused corpus striatal tissue fragments to release endogenous dopamine (DA) in response to potassium (K + 30 mM) stimulation was significantly attenuated in 18- to 24-month-compared to 2- to 4-month-old male rats. These age-related effects on K + stimulation were completely abolished with the addition of tetrodotoxin (1 μM) to the superfusion medium. Moreover, no difference in stimulated DA release was obtained between these two age groups following amphetamine stimulation (10 μM).
Combining Data From State and National Monitoring Surveys to Assess Large-Scale Impacts of Agricultural Policy

An increasing number of state and national databases are available to assess agricultural and environmental trends in natural resource populations. We use a case study approach to consider methodologies for combining state and national data to assess the impact of agricultural policy on state wildlife populations. The scientific question is to assess the impact of the Conservation Reserve Program on pheasant populations in Iowa, using land cover/use data from the National Resources Inventory and count data from an annual state pheasant population survey. Our approach involves identifying a common spatial polygon for linking summaries from each of two datasets, and then estimating parameters that describe temporal trends in land cover and in pheasant populations over a common time period within each polygon. Estimated pheasant population parameters are regressed on land cover summaries to investigate the impact of the Conservation Reserve Program on pheasant populations in regions of the state. Results reveal that the population response to the Conservation Reserve Program varies by region in relation to the physiography and agricultural use of the region, in ways that were not anticipated by policy developers. Statistical considerations for developing appropriate models for combining data are discussed.
Pediatric nurse practitioners in the United States: current distribution and recent trends in training.

Objective To assess the current distribution and training patterns of pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs). Study design Secondary data analysis from the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and the 2008 US Census Bureau were used to estimate the distribution of PNPs per 100 000 children. Data on nurse practitioner (NP) graduation and specialty education programs were obtained from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Results PNPs have the greatest concentration in the New England and mid-Atlantic regions and a narrow band of Midwestern states. States that allow PNPs to practice or prescribe independently do not consistently have a higher density of PNPs per child population. There has been a slight decrease in the proportion of programs that offer PNP training. In the last decade, the proportion of NP graduates pursuing family nurse practitioner education has increased, and the proportion pursuing PNP education has decreased. Conclusion Workforce planning for the health care of children will require improved methods of assessment of the role of PNPs and the volume of care they provide. Increased use of PNPs in pediatrics will likely require greater effort at recruitment of NPs into the PNP specialty.
Fiber optic system on NASA GLAS spaceflight instrument

GLAS is a satellite laser altimeter designed to measure ice-sheet topography and cloud and atmospheric properties. The onboard Nd:YAG laser emits 1064nm and (frequency doubled) 532nm light, which is reflected from the Earth and atmosphere and collected by a telescope. A small portion of the light emitted toward the Earth is picked off by a free space to fiber optic coupling system and routed around the instrument by connectorized fiber optic cables. There is also a 2 km fiber optic delay line to provide for onboard timing calibration, a fiber optic pigtailed diode laser onboard test source and a fiber optic connectorized LED onboard test source. The stability of the signals through the fiber optic system must be maintained to 10% in amplitude and 20ps in timing for certain critical signal paths. It has been challenging to meet these requirements with the spacecraft resources available. Components from many commercial vendors have been used to satisfy these requirements. The system design, components selected and testing performed will be discussed in this paper.
John B. Barlow: Master clinician and compleat cardiologist

This paper reports the case of a 76-year-old man in whom atrial flutter with varying atrioventricular block and intermittent right bundle-branch block was found. This is the first report on tachycardia-dependent right bundle-branch block associated with supernormal conduction in a case of atrial flutter. When an impulse is conducted to the ventricles beyond 0.72 s after a QRS complex of right bundle-branch block configuration, the impulse falls after the abnormally long effective refractory period of the right bundle branch and passes through the right bundle branch. When the conducted impulse occurs within 0.72 s after a QRS complex of right bundle-branch block configuration, the impulse usually falls in the refractory period and is blocked in the right bundle branch; however, only when the impulse occurs 0.48 or 0.49 s after that does it fall in the supernormal period and passes through the right bundle branch. The findings in the present report strengthen our previous suggestion that the presence of supernormal conduction plays an important role in the initiation of reentrant ventricular tachycardia.
Contention resolution and QoS provisioning using sparse fiber delay lines in WDM networks

In this paper, we combine fiber delay lines (FDL) and optical wavelength conversion (OWC) as the solution for the burst contention problem in optical burst switching (OBS). We present a placement algorithm, k-WDS, for the sparse placement of FDLs at a set of selected nodes in the network. The algorithm can handle both uniform and non-uniform traffic patterns. Our extensive performance tests show that k-WDS provides more efficient placement of optical fiber delay lines than the well-known approach of placing the resources at nodes with the highest experienced burst loss. Performance results are also given to compare the benefit of using FDLs alone, OWCs alone, as well as a mixture of both FDLs and OWCs. A new algorithm, A-WDS, for the placement of an arbitrary numbers of FDLs and OWCs is presented and evaluated under different uniform and non-uniform traffic loads using network simulation of the NSFNET topology and randomly generated graphs. The paper is concluded by presenting the design of a cost-effective optical switch equipped with variable-delay FDL bank. Based on the switch design, a scheme to provide differentiated services for multiple classes of traffic is presented and evaluated.
Effect of nuclear magnetic resonance on chromosomes of mouse bone marrow cells

Abstract Three groups of six male Balb/c mice, subjected to 30 MHz continous wave NMR exposure in a static magnetic field of 7.05 K Gauss for one hour, were each compared to another group of ten unexposed mice with respect to chromatid and chromosomal aberrations. The exposed groups were sacrificed at two hours, 24 hours and 48 hours following NMR exposure respectively. Control mice were sacrificed 24 hours after sham-exposure. All groups had approximately 0.02 apparent aberrations per cell. These apparent aberrations were in the form of metacentric chromosomes, possibly resulting from a union of chromosomes at their centromeres or possibly simply chromosomes in association. The results are consistent with earlier in vitro findings that NMR exposure causes no adverse cytogenetic effects.
Swelling and plastic properties of coal devolatilized at elevated pressures of H2 and He: Influence of potassium and silicon additives

Abstract The influences of SiO2 and potassium additives on the swelling and plastic properties of a low volatile bituminous coal have been characterized at elevated pressures of H2 and He using a high-pressure microdilatometer. The results suggest that non-porous SiO2 serves as a ‘diluent’ as it has only a minor influence on the nature of the thermoplastic properties of coal. In marked contrast, K2CO3 or KOH significantly reduced the swelling of coal at low pressures ( 2.0 MPa), the swelling behaviour of K2CO3 or KOH loaded coal was reduced only slightly compared with the behaviour without additives. The influence of potassium additives is a function of coal particle size, heating rate and mode of addition (dry-mixed or solution impregnation). The presence of K2CO3 or KOH resulted in increased coke yield (i.e., reduced weight loss of coal during pyrolysis). This increase in coke yield was accompanied by a slight reduction in total light gases monitored (primarily C2C4). It is suggested that char-forming crosslinking reactions that can be catalysed by K2CO3/KOH facilitate increased thermosetting solid yield. At elevated pressures of H2, the maximum swelling parameter in the presence of these potassium compounds was further increased compared with that noted in He. This behaviour is explained by suggesting that a hydrogen atmosphere reduces the extent of cross-linking reactions.
New ionic organic compounds containing a linear tris(imidazolium) core and their thermotropic liquid crystal behaviour

Imidazolium-containing thermotropic ionic liquid crystals (TILCs) are of interest because of their structural similarity to imidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs), allowing them to exhibit some IL-like properties in addition to the LC order. More imidazolium units are important for increasing the IL character; however, the effect of multiple imidazolium units on LC behaviour is not well known. Most reported imidazolium TILCs contain one imidazolium unit; only a handful containing multiple imidazolium units is known. The only examples of TILCs with multiple imidazolium units sequentially linked with a flexible spacer are based on an alkyl- or oligo(ethylene oxide)-bridged bis(imidazolium) core with an n-alkyl tail at each end. Herein, a series of 10 new symmetric compounds containing three hexyl-bridged imidazolium bromide units as the core and two terminal n-alkyl chains was synthesised and analysed. Thermotropic LC phases were generally not observed for homologues with even-numbered tails less than 16 car...
Selenosulfonation of allenes

Abstract Se-Phenyl p -tolueneselenosulfonate ( 1a ) undergoes highly regioselective, photoinitiated, free-radical addition to allenes (R 1 CHCCR 2 R 3 ) to afford the regioisomer R 1 CH(SePh)C(SO 2 Ar)CR 2 R 3 ( 13 ) arising from addition of the p -tolylsulfonyl group to the central carbon of the allene and transfer of the phenylseleno group to the less highly substituted of the two terminal carbons. This regioselectivity, which contrasts with that observed in the majority of radical additions to allenes, can be explained by reference to concepts proposed by Heiba as being important in determining the orientation in different radical additions to allenes. Oxidation of the PhSe group in 13 to PhSe(O) gives allylic selenoxides that undergo a reaction sequence of facile, concerted, [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement followed by hydrolysis of the resulting selenenate to afford β-tolylsulfonyl-substituted allylic alcohols, R 1 CHC(SO 2 Ar)C(OH)R 2 R 3 ( 14 ) in 70–98% yield. Photoaddition of 1a to allenes, followed by the conversion of 13 to 14 thus provides a simple, high-yield route to a wide variety of 14 , a class of compounds that would seem to have a number of interesting possible uses in synthesis.
Anthropometric factors and physical activity and risk of thyroid cancer in postmenopausal women

To investigate the associations of anthropometric factors and physical activity with risk of thyroid cancer in a large prospective study. We examined these associations with risk of incident thyroid cancer in a cohort of 144,319 postmenopausal women enrolled in the Women’s Health Initiative. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for factors of interest with risk of all thyroid cancer (n = 294) and of the two major subtypes: papillary (n = 245) and follicular thyroid cancer (n = 32). After adjustment for covariates, measured height at baseline was positively associated with thyroid cancer overall (HR for highest vs. lowest quartile 1.48, 95% CI 1.04–2.13, p for trend 0.02) and with papillary carcinoma (HR 1.49, 95% CI 1.01–2.21, p for trend 0.03, respectively). For each 5 cm-increase in height, the HR for all thyroid cancer was 1.15, 95% CI 1.04–1.27 and for papillary thyroid cancer was 1.14, 95% CI 1.03–1.27. In addition, self-reported weight at age 18 was positively associated with risk of papillary thyroid cancer. In contrast, baseline weight, body mass index, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-hip ratio, weight change from age 18 to baseline, and level of self-reported recreational physical activity were not associated with risk. Our results suggest that attained stature is a risk factor for thyroid cancer in postmenopausal women. This association may reflect the influence of either genetic or environmental factors in early life on risk of thyroid cancer.
A basis for the local solutions of an elliptic equation

Abstract With a view toward applications to eigenfunction expansions and spectral asymptotics for partial differential operators with continuous spectra, the authors study the problem of characterizing a solution of a given second-order elliptic linear differential equation by its behavior at a given point. When the elliptic operator is the Laplacian plus lower-order terms, and the coefficients of those terms are sufficiently smooth in the angular directions about the chosen point, the classification of harmonic functions by their local behavior (via spherical harmonics) can be carried over intact to the solutions of the more general equation, because local solutions of the two equations can be placed in one-to-one correspondence. Under this correspondence, the images of the standard basis of harmonic polynomials constitute a basis for expanding every solution that is definable in some neighborhood (no matter how small) of the point.
Occurrence of Nitidulid Beetles (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) in Texas Oak Wilt Centers

In 1984–85 free-flying nitidulids were trapped in centers of oak wilt, Ceratocystis fagacearum (Bretz) Hunt, for 1 year at six locations in central Texas. Two of the 10 species identified, Cryptarcha concinna Melsheimer and Colopterus maculatus (Erichson), accounted for 57 and 35%, respectively, of the total number (3,397) of beetles trapped. Peak nitidulid activity occurred during March-May at all sites. Beetles exhibited some preference for tree location within a trapping site, visiting healthy live oaks, Quercus fusiformis Small, in greater numbers than dead Spanish oaks, Quercus texana Buckley.
Understanding Clinical, Legal, and Ethical Issues in Child Emotional Maltreatment

Emotional maltreatment is associated with detrimental outcomes in youth, yet research investigating its phenomenology, prevalence, and detection has lagged behind that investigating other forms of maltreatment. Researchers, practitioners, and policymakers are challenged by how best to address and identify emotional maltreatment in childhood, given that the indicators are often less overt than those seen with sexual or physical abuse. These challenges are also relevant for professionals legally mandated to report incidences of child maltreatment. The goals of this article are threefold: (a) to present a brief review of empirical research on the occurrence and sequelae of child emotional maltreatment, (b) to describe the current legal and ethical implications regarding emotional maltreatment for clinicians and other professionals identified as mandated reporters, and (c) to enumerate the challenges that such professionals face due to ambiguities in legal and ethical guidelines, using previous research on ma...
Very large array observations of solar active regions

The first very large array (VLA) synthesis maps of solar active regions are presented here. The observational capabilities, and the basic techniques of using the VLA to observe the Sun are also described. Comparisons of VLA maps with magnetograms are also made.
Identification and characterization of RBM44 as a novel intercellular bridge protein

Intercellular bridges are evolutionarily conserved structures that connect differentiating germ cells. We previously reported the identification of TEX14 as the first essential intercellular bridge protein, the demonstration that intercellular bridges are required for male fertility, and the finding that intercellular bridges utilize components of the cytokinesis machinery to form. Herein, we report the identification of RNA binding motif protein 44 (RBM44) as a novel germ cell intercellular bridge protein. RBM44 was identified by proteomic analysis after intercellular bridge enrichment using TEX14 as a marker protein. RBM44 is highly conserved between mouse and human and contains an RNA recognition motif of unknown function. RBM44 mRNA is enriched in testis, and immunofluorescence confirms that RBM44 is an intercellular bridge component. However, RBM44 only partially localizes to TEX14-positive intercellular bridges. RBM44 is expressed most highly in pachytene and secondary spermatocytes, but disappears abruptly in spermatids. We discovered that RBM44 interacts with itself and TEX14 using yeast two-hybrid, mammalian two-hybrid, and immunoprecipitation. To define the in vivo function of RBM44, we generated a targeted deletion of Rbm44 in mice. Rbm44 null male mice produce somewhat increased sperm, and show enhanced fertility of unknown etiology. Thus, although RBM44 localizes to intercellular bridges during meiosis, RBM44 is not required for fertility in contrast to TEX14.
Long-Term Safety and Effectiveness of the “OptEase” Vena Cava Filter

Purpose To assess the long-term safety and effectiveness of the OptEase inferior vena cava (IVC) filter.
Probing the connectivity of neural circuits at single-neuron resolution using high-throughput DNA sequencing

There is growing excitement in determining the complete connectivity diagram of the brain—the "connectome". So far, the complete connectome has been established for only one organism, C. elegans, with 302 neurons connected by about 7000 synapses—and even this was a heroic task, requiring over 50 person-years of labor. Like all current approaches, this reconstruction was based on microscopy. Unfortunately, microscopy is poorly suited to the study of neural connectivity because brains are macroscopic structures, whereas synapses are microscopic. Nevertheless, there are several large-scale projects underway to scale up high-throughput microscopic approaches to the connectome.Here we present a completely novel method for determining the brain's wiring diagram based on high-throughput DNA sequencing technology, which has not previously been applied in the context of neural connectivity. The appeal of using sequencing is that it is getting faster and cheaper exponentially: it will soon be routine to sequence an entire human genome (~3B nucleotides) within one day for $1000.Our approach has three main components. First, we express a unique sequence of nucleotides—a DNA "barcode"—in individual neurons. A barcode consisting of a random string of even 30 nucleotides can uniquely label 10^{18} neurons, far more than the number of neurons in a mouse brain (fewer than 100 million). Second, we use a specially engineered transsynaptic virus to transport “host” barcodes from one neuron to synaptically coupled partners; after transsynaptic spread, each neuron contains copies of "invader" barcodes from other synaptically coupled neurons, as well its own "host" barcode. Third, we join pairs of host and invader barcodes into single pieces of DNA suitable for high-throughput sequencing.Modern sequencing technology could in principle yield the connectivity diagram of the entire mouse brain. Similar approaches can be applied to Drosophila and C. elegans.
Inhibition of oxidizing enzymes by metronidazole.

Eine unerwartete Moglichkeit, wie Metronidazol zu einer nur scheinbaren Hemmung der Alkoholdehydrogenase fuhren konnte, wird aufgedeckt.
Bis[(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)ammonium] ethane-1,2-disulfonate dihydrate

The title compound, 2C12H20N+·C2H4O6S22−·2H2O, crystallizes with the edisylate anion situated on a center of inversion. All conventional hydrogen-bond donors and acceptors are utilized, forming two-dimensional sheets.
Quantitation of cutaneous blood circulation in the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta).

Die Durchblutung der Haut von Rhesus-Affen (Macaca mulatta) wurde mittels Verteilung radioaktiver Kugelchen gemessen und betragt etwa 7% des HerzMinutenvolumens.
Early corticosteroid withdrawal under modern immunosuppression in renal transplantation: multivariate analysis of risk factors for acute rejection.

Abstract Early corticosteroid withdrawal has been shown to be effective in low-risk patient populations in a number of US and European multicenter trials. However, patient populations traditionally considered to be at high risk for acute rejection (eg, African Americans, repeat transplant recipients, sensitized patients) are usually excluded from these trials. Since our initial experience with early withdrawal almost 10 years ago, we have included high-immunologic-risk patients. We have accumulated enough high-risk patients with early withdrawal to allow the first multivariate analysis of risk factors for acute rejection in early withdrawal under modern immunosuppression. Methods Early withdrawal was performed under prospective IRB-approved protocols. Statistical analysis included chi square test and logistic regression. All rejection episodes were biopsy proven and graded by Banff 1997 criteria. Results A total of 164 patients underwent early withdrawal: 82% had at least one mismatched DR antigen, 17% had delayed graft function, 33% were African American, and 18% were repeat transplant recipients. Multivariate analysis of risk factors for acute rejection indicated that two factors induced a statistically significant alteration in acute rejection risk: repeat transplant recipients (4.3-fold increased risk) and thymoglobulin induction (0.30 risk (ie, 70% reduction in risk compared to patients not receiving thymoglobulin induction). Sensitized recipients and African Americans were also at increased risk but did not quite reach statistical significance. These data strongly support the use of T-cell depleting antibody induction therapy in high-risk patients undergoing early withdrawal under modern immunosuppression.
Rotavirus NSP1 Inhibits NFκB Activation by Inducing Proteasome-Dependent Degradation of β-TrCP: A Novel Mechanism of IFN Antagonism

Mechanisms by which viruses counter innate host defense responses generally involve inhibition of one or more components of the interferon (IFN) system. Multiple steps in the induction and amplification of IFN signaling are targeted for inhibition by viral proteins, and many of the IFN antagonists have direct or indirect effects on activation of latent cytoplasmic transcription factors. Rotavirus nonstructural protein NSP1 blocks transcription of type I IFNα/β by inducing proteasome-dependent degradation of IFN-regulatory factors 3 (IRF3), IRF5, and IRF7. In this study, we show that rotavirus NSP1 also inhibits activation of NFκB and does so by a novel mechanism. Proteasome-mediated degradation of inhibitor of κB (IκBα) is required for NFκB activation. Phosphorylated IκBα is a substrate for polyubiquitination by a multisubunit E3 ubiquitin ligase complex, Skp1/Cul1/F-box, in which the F-box substrate recognition protein is β-transducin repeat containing protein (β-TrCP). The data presented show that phosphorylated IκBα is stable in rotavirus-infected cells because infection induces proteasome-dependent degradation of β-TrCP. NSP1 expressed in isolation in transiently transfected cells is sufficient to induce this effect. Targeted degradation of an F-box protein of an E3 ligase complex with a prominent role in modulation of innate immune signaling and cell proliferation pathways is a unique mechanism of IFN antagonism and defines a second strategy of immune evasion used by rotaviruses.
Functional bracing of fractures of the second through fifth metacarpals

A simple new brace aids in the reduction and immobilization of fractures of the second, third, fourth, and fifth metacarpals. This brace incorporates an adjustable strap and pads made of radiolucent materials. It provides 3-point fixation while allowing full range of motion of the wrist and digits. It has been preferred by patients to an ulnar gutter splint, and its use resulted in less residual angulation of the fracture than occurred with other methods.
Atomic redistribution and mass transport in the formation of Bi1.80Pb0.43Sr1.71Ca2.14Cu3O10+x

Abstract A sample of nominal Bi 1.80 Pb 0.43 Sr 1.71 Ca 2.14 Cu 3 O 10+ x (Bi-2223) composition consisting primarily of fine grains of Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8+ x (Bi-2212) and Ca 2 PbO 4 was synthesized under pure oxygen by a solid-state reaction. This assemblage was then converted to large grains of the 110 K superconducting Bi-2223 phase by annealing at 860°C in air. Utilizing scanning electron microscopy and wavelength dispersive X-ray spectroscopy we show that a redistribution of Ca and Pb occurs throughout the matrix during the formation of Bi-2223. These results indicate that the driving for Pb doped Bi-2223 formation may be due to the large change in entropy caused by melting of one or more of the precursor phases and mixing of the liquid constituents. Melting may be driven by the dependence of the conversion Pb 4+ ↔Pb 2+ on the oxygen partial pressure, with Pb 4+ in Ca 2 PbO 4 and Pb 2+ in the Bi-2223 phase.
Cutaneous γ/δ T-Cell Lymphoma Treated with Radiation and Denileukin Diftitox

Abstract Cutaneous γ/δT-cell lymphoma (CGD-TCL) is a rare and usually fatal lymphoma that is generally resistant to chemotherapy and radiation. It has recently been included as a provisional entity in the combined 2005 World Health Organization—European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer consensus classification. Subcutaneous panniculitic T-cell lymphomas with a γ/δ T-cell receptor phenotype are now distinguished from the less aggressive α/β panniculitic T-cell lymphoma. We describe a patient with deep ulcers initially diagnosed as pyoderma gangrenosum, which was reclassified as CGD-TCL. Local radiation followed by weekly infusions of denileukin diftitox put the patient into remission.
COLONIZATION OF A VIRGIN SHORELINE IN PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND, 2000 TO 2007, COMPARED TO RECOVERY OF OILED AND CLEANED SHORELINES

ABSTRACT A new landslide-created shoreline in Prince William Sound offered an opportunity to monitor colonization of virgin rock and to compare that colonization with that of nearby oiled and cleaned sites monitored during the early 1990'S. The intertidal zone of six well-separated vertical landslide surfaces were photographed annually from 2001 to 2007 and the photos used to estimate changes in cover of conspicuous intertidal seaweeds. Colonization by rockweed (Fucus sp.) was rapid and by 2003 appeared to converge with density comparable to adjacent undisturbed (control) shoreline. Percent cover of Fucus declined in 2005, then increase again in 2006 and 2007. This pattern of evolving zonation, and rapid increase and then decrease in Fucus cover, was nearly identical to the patterns observed at oiled and cleaned sites in the early 1990'S suggesting that what was seen then was an entirely normal process of intertidal colonization. Additional monitoring would be useful to determine (1) the development of th...
Mechanical vibration-assisted modulation of E. coli binding to poly-l-lysine coated biosensor surface

Abstract We show for the first time that intensity of transverse vibration of a surface modulates binding and unbinding of Escherichia coli JM101 (negatively charged) from a poly- l -lysine (PLL; positively charged) coated surface. Excitation voltage of a piezoelectric-excited millimeter-sized cantilever (PEMC) sensor, when increased from 0.1 to 1 V, its displacement magnitude and surface acceleration increases by 10-fold which caused decreased E. coli attachment on the PLL-coated surface as measured by scanning electron microscope. A flow configuration, designed for ensuring identical experimental conditions for both test (with vibration) and control (without vibration) surfaces, was used in examining the effects of surface vibration on binding and unbinding. Increase of surface vibration intensity was effective in reducing E. coli attachment to the PLL-coated surface. In a similar vein, removal of pre-attached E. coli cells increased with increased vibration intensity and time of vibration used.
An application of non-extensive statistical mechanics to nanosystems

We review the time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) and its use to investigate excited states of nanostructures. These excited states are routinely probed using electromagnetic fields. In this case, two different regimes are usually distinguished: (i) If the electromagnetic field is “weak”— as in optical absorption of light—it is sufficient to treat the field within linear response theory; (ii) Otherwise, nonlinear effects are important, and one has to resort to the full solution of the timedependent Kohn-Sham equations. This latter regime is of paramount relevance in the emerging field of research with intense and ultrashort laser pulses. This review is divided into two parts: First we give a brief overview of the theoretical foundations of the theory, both in the linear and non-linear regimes, with special emphasis on the problem of the choice of the exchange-correlation functional. Then we present a sample of applications of TDDFT to systems ranging from atoms to clusters and to large biomolecules. Although most of these applications are in the linear regime, we show a few examples of non-linear phenomena, such as the photo-induced dissociation of molecules. Many of these applications have been performed with the recently developed code octopus (http://www.tddft.org/programs/octopus).
Differential binding of NAD+ and NADH allows the transcriptional corepressor carboxyl-terminal binding protein to serve as a metabolic sensor

Carboxyl-terminal binding protein (CtBP) is a transcriptional corepressor originally identified through its ability to interact with adenovirus E1A. The finding that CtBP-E1A interactions were regulated by the nicotinamide adeninine dinucleotides NAD+ and NADH raised the possibility that CtBP could serve as a nuclear redox sensor. This model requires differential binding affinities of NAD+ and NADH, which has been controversial. The structure of CtBP determined by x-ray diffraction revealed a tryptophan residue adjacent to the proposed nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide binding site. We find that this tryptophan residue shows strong fluorescence resonance energy transfer to bound NADH. In this report, we take advantage of these findings to measure the dissociation constants for CtBP with NADH and NAD+. The affinity of NADH was determined by using fluorescence resonance energy transfer. The binding of NADH to protein is associated with an enhanced intensity of NADH fluorescence and a blue shift in its maximum. NAD+ affinity was estimated by measuring the loss of the fluorescence blue shift as NADH dissociates on addition of NAD+. Our studies show a >100-fold higher affinity of NADH than NAD+, consistent with the proposed function of CtBP as a nuclear redox sensor. Moreover, the concentrations of NADH and NAD+ required for half-maximal binding are approximately the same as their concentrations in the nuclear compartment. These findings support the possibility that changes in nuclear nicotinamide adenine dinucleotides could regulate the functions of CtBP in cell differentiation, development, or transformation.
Super-active analogs of growth hormone-releasing factor (1-29)-amide.

Abstract Human pancreatic growth hormone releasing factor (1–29)-amide [hpGRF (1–29)-NH 2 ] and the following analogs: [D-Tyr-1]-hpGRF (1–29)-NH 2 , [D-Ala-2]-hpGRF (1–29)-NH 2 , [D-Asp-3]-hpGRF (1–29)-NH 2 , and [N-Ac-Tyr-1]-hpGRF (1–29)-NH 2 were synthesized using solid phase methodology and tested for their ability to stimulate growth hormone (GH) secretion in the rat and the pig in vivo. [D-Ala-2]-hpGRF (1–29)-NH 2 was approximately 50 times more potent than the parent molecule in eliciting GH secretion in the rat. The other analogs were less active, but all were more potent than the 1–29 amide in the rat. [D-Tyr-1]-hpGRF (1–29)-NH 2 was 10 times more potent, [D-Asp-3]-hpGRF (1–29)-NH 2 7 times more potent, and the acetylated molecule approximately 12 times more potent than hpGRF (1–29)-NH 2 .
Superinhibitory Phospholamban Mutants Compete with Ca2+ for Binding to SERCA2a by Stabilizing a Unique Nucleotide-dependent Conformational State

Abstract Three cross-linkable phospholamban (PLB) mutants of increasing inhibitory strength (N30C-PLB < N27A,N30C,L37A-PLB (PLB3) < N27A,N30C,L37A,V49G-PLB (PLB4)) were used to determine whether PLB decreases the Ca2+ affinity of SERCA2a by competing for Ca2+ binding. The functional effects of N30C-PLB, PLB3, and PLB4 on Ca2+-ATPase activity and E1∼P formation were correlated with their binding interactions with SERCA2a measured by chemical cross-linking. Successively higher Ca2+ concentrations were required to both activate the enzyme co-expressed with N30C-PLB, PLB3, and PLB4 and to dissociate N30C-PLB, PLB3, and PLB4 from SERCA2a, suggesting competition between PLB and Ca2+ for binding to SERCA2a. This was confirmed with the Ca2+ pump mutant, D351A, which is catalytically inactive but retains strong Ca2+ binding. Increasingly higher Ca2+ concentrations were also required to dissociate N30C-PLB, PLB3, and PLB4 from D351A, demonstrating directly that PLB antagonizes Ca2+ binding. Finally, the specific conformation of E2 (Ca2+-free state of SERCA2a) that binds PLB was investigated using the Ca2+-pump inhibitors thapsigargin and vanadate. Cross-linking assays conducted in the absence of Ca2+ showed that PLB bound preferentially to E2 with bound nucleotide, forming a remarkably stable complex that is highly resistant to both thapsigargin and vanadate. In the presence of ATP, N30C-PLB had an affinity for SERCA2a approaching that of vanadate (micromolar), whereas PLB3 and PLB4 had much higher affinities, severalfold greater than even thapsigargin (nanomolar or higher). We conclude that PLB decreases Ca2+ binding to SERCA2a by stabilizing a unique E2·ATP state that is unable to bind thapsigargin or vanadate.
Anaphylaxis in a New York City pediatric emergency department: triggers, treatments, and outcomes.

Background Anaphylaxis incidence is increasing. Objective We sought to characterize anaphylaxis in children in an urban pediatric emergency department (PED). Methods We performed a review of PED records for anaphylactic reactions over 5 years. Results We identified 213 anaphylactic reactions in 192 children (97 male patients): 6 were infants, 20 had multiple reactions, and the median age was 8 years (age range, 4 months to 18 years). Sixty-two reactions were coded as anaphylaxis; 151 additional reactions met the second symposium anaphylaxis criteria. There was no increase in incidence over 5 years. The triggers included the following: foods, 71%; unknown, 15%; drugs, 9%; and "other," 5%. Food was more likely to be a trigger in multiple PED visits ( P = .03). Epinephrine was administered in 169 (79%) reactions; in 58 (27%) reactions epinephrine was administered before arrival in the PED. Patients with Medicaid were less likely to receive epinephrine before arrival in the PED ( P P P = .05). Conclusions Food is the main anaphylaxis trigger in the urban PED, although the International Classification of Diseases-ninth revision code for anaphylaxis is underused. Treatment with 2 doses of epinephrine is associated with a higher risk of hospitalization; epinephrine treatment before arrival to the PED is associated with a decreased risk. Children with Medicaid are less likely to receive epinephrine before arrival in the PED.
Fluctuation-driven directional flow in biochemical cycle: further study of electric activation of Na,K pumps

Directional flow of information and energies is characteristic of many types of biochemical reactions, for instance, ion transport, energy coupling during ATP synthesis, and muscle contraction. Can a fluctuating force field, or a noise, induce such a directional flux? Previous work has shown that Na,K-ATPase of human erythrocyte can absorb free energy from an externally applied random-telegraph-noise (RTN) electric field to pump Rb+ up its concentration gradient. However, the RTN field used in these experiments was constant in amplitude and would not mimic fluctuating electric fields of a cell membrane. Here we show that electric fields which fluctuate both in life time and in amplitude, and thus, better mimicking the transmembrane electric fields of a cell, can also induce Rb+ pumping by Na,K-ATPase. A Gaussian-RTN-electric field, or a field with amplitude fluctuating according to the Gaussian distribution, with varied standard deviation (sigma), induced active pumping of Rb+ in human erythrocyte, which was completely inhibited by ouabain. Increased values for sigma led to a nonmonotonic reduction in pumping efficiency. A general formula for calculating the ion transport in a biochemical cycle induced by fluctuating electric field has been derived and applied to a simple four-state electroconformational coupling (ECC) model. It was found that the calculated efficiency in the energy coupling decreased with increasing sigma value, and this effect was relatively small and monotonic, whereas experimental data were more complex: monotonic under certain sets of conditions but nonmonotonic under different sets. The agreement in general features but disagreement in some fine features suggest that there are other properties of the electric activation process for Na,K-ATPase that cannot be adequately described by the simple ECC model, and further refinement of the ECC model is required.
Frequency combs: Spatial coherent control

Combining concepts from Doppler-free spectroscopy, coherent quantum control and frequency comb spectroscopy leads to new opportunities for the precision excitation of atomic species with high resolution, both spectrally and spatially.
A Projection Method for the Integer Quadratic Knapsack Problem

In this paper we present a new branch and bound algorithm for solving a class of integer quadratic knapsack problems. A previously published algorithm solves the continuous variable subproblems in the branch and bound tree by performing a binary search over the breakpoints of a piecewise linear equation resulting from the Kuhn-Tucker conditions. Here, we first present modifications to a projection method for solving the continuous subproblems. Then we implement the modified projection method in a branch and bound framework and report computational results indicating that the new branch and bound algorithm is superior to the earlier method.
Spin Correlations in Magnetized Haldane Chains

Neutron scattering experiments have been carried out in high magnetic fields to understand the magnetized state of the uniform spin-1 antiferromagnetic chain. In zero field this system has a cooperative singlet ground state with a gap to a propagating triplet excitation. The quasi-one-dimensional uniform spin-1 antiferromagnets NENP (Ni(C2D8N2)2NO2CIO4) and NDMAP (Ni(C5D14N2)2N3PF6) were examined. NENP has an alternating g-tensor such that staggered magnetization is induced for arbitrarily small fields and there is no finite field phase transition. In the high field phase the lowest energy mode has a field dependent gap and an unusually small effective spin wave velocity. NDMAP has only one spin per unit cell and hence a uniform g-tensor. This system has a critical transition at a finite field. Surprisingly the high field phase has quasi-two-dimensional or three-dimensional long-range order depending on the direction of the applied field. In the paramagnetic high field phase immediately above the ordering transition of NDMAP, there are gapless magnetic excitations that are broader in Q than the higher energy gap mode. The data is compared to theoretical predictions of a gapless incommensurate phase above the critical field.
Passive Navigation Using Image Irradiance Tracking

Rotorcraft operating at low altitudes require navigational schemes for locating the terrain and obstacles. Due to the covert nature of missions to be accomplished, a passive navigation scheme is desirable. This paper describes the development of a passive navigation scheme combining image sequences from a vehicle mounted camera with vehicle motion variables. Geometric properties of perspective projection together with an image irradiance tracking scheme at each pixel are used to determine the range to various objects within the field-of-view. Derivation of the numerical algorithm and simulation results are given. Other applications of the proposed approach include navigation for autonomous planetary rovers and telerobots.
System architecture and information model for integrated access to distributed biomedical information

ABSTRACT The current trend to wards systems medicine will rely heavily on comput ational and bioinformatics capabilities to collect, integrate, and analyze massive amounts of data from disparate sources. The objective is to use this information to make medical decisions that improve patient care. At Georgetown University Medical Center, we are developing an informatics capability to integrate several research and clinical databases. Our long term goal is to provide researchers at Georgetowns Lombardi Comprehensive Ca ncer Center better access to aggregated molecular and clinical information facilitating the investigation of new hypotheses that impact patient care. We also recognize the need for data mining tools and intelligent agents to help researchers in these efforts. This paper describes our initial work to create a flexible platform for researchers and physicia ns that provides access to information sources including clinical records, medical im ages, genomic, epigenomic, proteomic and metabolomic data. This paper describes the data sources selected for this pilot project and possible approaches to integrating these databases. We present the different database integration models that we considered. We conclude by outlining the proposed Information Model for the project. Keywords: data integration, biomedical information, interopera bility, information retrieval, master data management