cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adrenal Gland Scintigraphy

There is no question that high-resolution imaging techniques have revolutionized the approach to diagnostic imaging. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging provide exquisite images of the adrenal glands and offer the best initial imaging approach in the evaluation of patients with suspected adrenal disease. However, an assessment of anatomy is only a portion of the diagnostic effort, which begins with a biochemical evaluation to establish the presence of adrenal gland dysfunction. With a confirmed biochemical diagnosis in hand, a logical and stepwise diagnostic approach can be tailored to a particular patient. Where scintigraphy fits in the evaluation of diseases of the adrenal cortex and medulla in the context of high-resolution imaging and which radiopharmaceuticals should be deployed has changed substantially during the last 2 decades. Adrenal functional imaging has evolved from classic planar scintigraphy to single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) using tracers that, by targeting specific metabolic or synthetic processes within the gland, have depicted adrenal pathophysiology. New PET/CT and SPECT/CT technologies integrate anatomic and functional information and redefine the radiotracer principle in the larger context of high resolution anatomic imaging.
Parallel channels and rate-limiting steps in complex protein folding reactions: prolyl isomerization and the alpha subunit of Trp synthase, a TIM barrel protein.

A kinetic folding mechanism for the alpha subunit of tryptophan synthase (aTS) from Escherichia coli, involving four parallel channels with multiple native, intermediate and unfolded forms, has recently been proposed. The hypothesis that cis/trans isomerization of several Xaa-Pro peptide bonds is the source of the multiple folding channels was tested by measuring the sensitivity of the three rate-limiting phases (t1, t2, t3) to catalysis by cyclophilin, a peptidyl-prolyl isomerase. Although the absence of catalysis for the t1 (fast) phase leaves its assignment ambiguous, our previous mutational analysis demonstrated its connection to the unique cis peptide bond preceding proline 28. The acceleration of the t2 (medium) and t3 (slow) refolding phases by cyclophilin demonstrated that cis/trans prolyl isomerization is also the source of these phases. A collection of proline mutants, which covered all of the remaining 18 trans proline residues of aTS, was constructed to obtain specific assignments for these phases. Almost all of the mutant proteins retained the complex equilibrium and kinetic folding properties of wild-type aTS; only the P217A, P217G and P261A mutations caused significant changes in the equilibrium free energy surface. Both the P78A and P96A mutations selectively eliminated the t1 folding phase, while the P217M and P261A mutations eliminated the t2 and t3 folding phases, respectively. The redundant assignment of the t1 phase to Pro28, Pro78 and Pro96 may reflect their mutual interactions in non-random structure in the unfolded state. The non-native cis isomers for Pro217 and Pro261 may destabilize an autonomous C-terminal folding unit, thereby giving rise to kinetically distinct unfolded forms. The nature of the preceding amino acid, the solvent exposure, or the participation in specific elements of secondary structure in the native state, in general, are not determinative of the proline residues whose isomerization reactions can limit folding. q 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved
Short cervix: A cause of preterm delivery in young adolescents?†

Objective: To test the hypothesis that at midgestation younger adolescents (> 16 years of age at conception) have shorter cervices than older adolescents (16–19 years of age at conception).Methods: At midgestation (22.9 ± 2.4 weeks) we measured cervical length by transvaginal ultrasound in a group of 46 13–19-year-old participants in an intensive, adolescent-oriented, antenatal program. Subjects were also comprehensively screened and treated for other recognized physiologic, microbiologic, obstetric, behavioral, and psychosocial factors associated with preterm delivery. Univariate, bivariate, and logistic regression analyses were used.Results: The 18 younger adolescents had significantly shorter cervices than the 28 older adolescents (30 ± 11 mm vs. 39 ± 8 mm; P = 0.002). The younger adolescents' cervices were also more likely to be ≤25 mm long (33% and 4%, respectively; P = 0.02) and to exhibit funneling (39% vs. 4%; P = 0.01). Teenagers with cervices ≤25 mm long were younger, thinner, more apt to report...
Elastic constants of EuF2 and SrCl2

Abstract The sound velocity in single-crystal EuF 2 between 77 and 300°K and the sound velocity in SrCl 2 between 195 and 300°K have been determined using an ultrasonic pulse-echo technique. From the sound velocity the elastic constants, anisotropy factor, Debye temperature and frequency have been calculated.
The Third World in Japanese Foreign Policy

The continued and growing access of Japanese firms to the markets and resources of the Third World has been a vital aspect of Japan’s rise to economic prominence. In 1986, 38 per cent of Japan’s total trade and 46 per cent of its accumulated foreign investments (1958–86) was with the Third World.1 For the most part this access has had minimal costs and maximum benefits. Japan’s immensely successful foreign policy was geared toward maintaining a low political profile while concentrating on maximising its overseas economic penetration. Tokyo managed to avoid getting entangled in any significant political issues, and even when it was forced to take a stand, as in the Middle East in 1973, succeeded in minimising its difficulties. By tying most foreign aid to the purchase of Japanese goods and services, Tokyo gave its producers a tremendous export subsidy which enabled them to capture markets from their foreign competitors while ‘fulfilling’ Japan’s obligations as an OECD member. The chief purpose of its intermediary role in various regional conflicts was to solidify and justify its continued economic links with both sides, rather than conflict resolution.
Second harmonic ac voltammetry study of a fast faradaic process in the presence of the uncompensated resistance

Abstract A procedure is presented for the analysis of faradaic admittance obtained by the second harmonic ac voltammetry in the presence of the uncompensated resistance. The procedure involves the analysis of the equivalent circuit with a current source at the double frequency and normalization of the second harmonic faradaic current to the square of the interfacial potential. A system was developed for both instrument control and data acquisition in order to implement this method. The procedure was applied to an ac quasi-reversible (over the frequency range 100 Hz to 1 kHz) case for a freely diffusing redox species Ru(NH3)63+. The validity of the suggested method was established by comparison of the parameters derived from the first and second harmonic faradaic admittance data.
Population Data for a Novel, Highly Discriminating Tetra-Local Y-Chromosome Short Tandem Repeat: DYS503

POPULATION: Population samples for gene diversity studies were obtained from the Virginia Division of Forensic Science (bloodstains), Richmond, VA. Ninety-eight Caucasian and 100 African American samples were included in this study.
Load independence of the rate of isovolumic relaxation in man.

This investigation was designed to determine whether the rate of isovolumic left ventricular pressure decline is affected by load in man. Fourteen patients were instrumented with micromanometer left ventricular and right atrial pacing catheters to maintain a constant heart rate during control conditions and infusion of methoxamine or nitroprusside. The isovolumic relaxation period was defined as the time from peak (-)dP/dt to 5 mm Hg above left ventricular end-diastolic pressure of the following beat. The rate of isovolumic relaxation was calculated as time constants (Tau) from the linear regression of natural log pressure vs time (Tln) and instantaneous (-)dP/dt vs pressure (TD), which includes a variable asymptote (PB). The mean heart rates and average (+)dP/dt values normalized at 40 mm Hg development pressure (DP40) did not differ significantly, despite 33% and 43% increases in left ventricular peak and end-diastolic pressures during the infusion of methoxamine (p less than .001 and p less than .01, respectively) and 24% and 29% decreases during the infusion of nitroprusside (p less than .001 and p less than .01, respectively). The average Tln and TD values were not significantly affected by these alterations in load. In two patients, an inverse linear relationship was demonstrated between decreases in Tau and increases in contractile state produced by an infusion of dobutamine, as shown by correlation of Tln and TD with (+)dP/dt/DP40 (r = -.88 and -.83, respectively). We conclude that the time constants of left ventricular isovolumic relaxation are unaffected by modest alterations in loading conditions in man when heart rate is maintained constant.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The lageos lense-thirring precession and the LAGEOS non-gravitational nodal perturbations — I

After a brief description of the experiment to detect the gravitomagnetic field using high altitude laser ranged artificial satellites, several nongravitational perturbations that affect the LAGEOS nodal longitude are studied. It is shown that the error in the calculated value of the secular nodal precession or the value of the secular nodal precession itself is, for each perturbation, less than 1 percent of the gravitomagnetic drag.
Growth Hormone, Insulin, and Glucose in Suckling, Weanling, and Mature Ruminants

Abstract Experiments were designed to test growth hormone and immunoreactive insulin responses of goats and sheep at three stages of development to known stimulators of growth hormone release. Glucose, deoxyglucose, insulin, and arginine were injected intravenously into ruminants in which glucose utilization rates differed, and immunoreactive growth hormone and insulin, and glucose were measured in serum. Increased blood glucose was followed by increased serum growth hormone. Deoxyglucose injections increased glucose but decreased glucose utilization and increased growth hormone (most in suckling and least in mature ruminants). Insulin injections caused the most severe hypoglycemia in weanling ruminants, but there was no age-related difference in the growth hormone response as has been reported for humans. Arginine injections increased growth hormone and insulin in all groups although increases were least in the youngest animals. When compared with the pattern of responses previously reported, especially in mature primates, growth hormone responses to similar stimuli in mature ruminants were more sluggish and the peaks attained were lower. In ruminants intravenous glucose is a potent growth hormone stimulus whereas in primates it is a depressant.
A framework for automated control and commissioning of hybrid ventilation systems in complex buildings

Abstract Complex commercial buildings consume a significant amount of energy through their ventilation and cooling systems. Hybrid ventilation can help reduce these loads while providing building occupants with a comfortable environment. This research develops a generic automated hybrid ventilation control for public spaces of complex commercial buildings, and identifies a commissioning methodology which determines the best way to operate a hybrid ventilation system in a retrofitted or occupied building. This control was verified through a case study of a complex building. The results show that the system could be used through 28% of the 128-day cooling season resulting in 20% energy savings in comparison to traditional mechanical ventilation in the public space. The implementation of the automated control helped develop a hybrid ventilation operation protocol through commissioning during the operation phase in lieu of developing complex air-flow models for the installed system in the case study building.
Testing the Present Value Relation for Housing Prices: Should I Leave My House in San Francisco?

Abstract We examine the efficiency of residential housing markets by examining price, rent, and cost of capital indices generated from a transactions level data base for Alameda and San Francisco Counties in Northern California. We can reject both constant and nonconstant discount rate versions of the housing price present value relation in the short run. Long-run results are consistent with the housing price present value relation when we adjust the discount factor for changes in both tax rates and borrowing costs that characterize our 1970–1988 sample period. Our preferred explanation for the short-run rejection of, but long-run consistency with, the present value model is the high transaction costs that characterize the housing market. However, we cannot rule out the possibility that deviations of actual and present value price are due to asset market bubbles or nonrational expectations.
Doping-Free Organic Light-Emitting Diodes with Very High Power Efficiency, Simple Device Structure, and Superior Spectral Performance

Today's state-of-the-art phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes (PhOLEDs) must rely on the host-guest doping technique to decrease triplet quenching and increase device efficiency. However, doping is a sophisticated device fabrication process. Here, a Pt(II)-based complex with a near unity photoluminescence quantum yield and excellent electron transporting properties in the form of neat film is reported. Simplified doping-free white PhOLED and yellow-orange PhOLED based on this emitter achieve rather low operating voltages (2.2–2.4 V) and very high power efficiencies of approximately 80 lm W−1 (yellow-orange) and 50 lm W−1 (white), respectively, without any light extraction enhancement. Furthermore, the efficient white device also exhibits high color stability. No color shift is observed during the entire operation of the device. Analysis of the device's operational mechanism has been postulated in terms of exciton and polaron formation and fate. It is found that using the efficient neat Pt(II)-complex as a homogeneous emitting and electron transporting layer and an ambipolar blue emitter are determining factors for achieving such a high efficiency.
Weak solutions of the three-dimensional vorticity equation with vortex singularities

The use of a modified scheme for the dynamics of vortex singularities is shown to lead to a weak solution of the three‐dimensional inviscid incompressible vorticity equation.
Understanding the experience of crime victims with disabilities and deaf victims

Interpersonal violence is a serious problem for adults with disabilities. The purpose of this study was to understand experiences of crime victims with disabilities and barriers they faced when reporting crime. Fifty-two adults with disabilities whose interpersonal violence was reported to law enforcement participated in focus groups investigating their experiences and recommendations. Participants identified barriers and improvement strategies related to disability identification and disclosure, victim involvement and blaming, credibility and misunderstandings, communication challenges, and accommodations. Barriers exist for people with disabilities navigating the criminal justice system. A need for improved understanding between the disability community and law enforcement was noted.
Motor constraints on the development of perception-action matching in infant reaching

Abstract Previous studies on reaching and grasping have suggested that infants need considerable experience at both seeing and touching in order to develop responses adapted to the environment. Such an account, however, does not reveal how appropriate perception-action matching emerges from these repeated experiences at seeing and touching. The present research addresses this issue by investigating the dynamics of perceiving and acting in 5- to 9-month-old infants as they saw, reached for, touched, and grasped objects of different sizes and texture. To gain insights into the mechanisms of change that underlie pattern formation, we observed infants’ responses as a function of time, as infants reached for and manipulated objects successively. We found that the developmental process by which appropriate perception-action matching emerges is tied to important changes in the motor system. Before 8 months, infants’ reaching responses are constrained by systemic motor tendencies that conflict with the process of perceptual-motor mapping. When these motor tendencies disappear, infants are able to use and integrate visual and haptic information to scale their actions to objects. These results are consistent with a dynamic systems approach, which views behavioral changes and their underlying psychological processes as the product of continuous tensions and interactions between the organism’s own constraints and the characteristics of the task at hand.
A note on Roy's largest root

The name “Roy's largest root” and similar names are used in practice to label two different but functionally related statistics—one proportional to anF, and the other, a squared canonical correlation. This note presents the logic that leads to the two formulations, states which statistic some popular statistical packages use, and shows the possible source of this inconsistency in the original work of Roy (1953) and Heck (1960).
Photoionization detector for open-tubular liquid chromatography

Abstract A vapor-phase photoionization detector developed for open-tubular liquid chromatography is described. This detector has been designed such that each of the three major processes, vaporization, ionization, and collection of the photoions, can be investigated separately. Characteristics of the detector, including detection efficiencies, detection limits and the linear dynamic range for some solutes, along with two example chromatograms are presented. A discussion on the theory of the detector's response is given as well.
Prenatal DES exposure in relation to breast size

Prenatal DES exposure has been associated with increased risk of breast cancer, but the mechanisms are unknown. Larger bra cup size has also been associated with increased breast cancer risk, although not consistently. We investigated the relation of prenatal DES exposure to mammary gland mass, as estimated by bra cup size. In 2006, 3,222 DES-exposed and 1,463 unexposed women reported their bra cup size, band size (chest circumference), and weight at age 20. Prevalence ratios (PR) were calculated for DES exposure in relation to large bra cup size, with control for year of birth and study cohort. Primary analyses were carried out among women who reported a chest circumference of no more than 32 inches because their cup size would be less influenced by fat mass. Within this group, DES-exposed women had an estimated 45 % increased prevalence (95 % CI 0.97–2.18) of large cup size (C or greater) relative to unexposed women. The PR was further increased among women in this group who had a body mass index of < 21 at age 20: PR = 1.83 (95 % CI 1.11–3.00). The PR for high-dose DES exposure relative to no exposure was 1.67, 95 % CI 1.02–2.73, whereas there was no association of bra cup size with low-dose exposure. These results provide support for the hypothesis that in utero DES exposure may result in greater mammary gland mass. Taken together with previous research on bra size and breast cancer risk, these findings suggest a mechanism for a possible association of in utero DES exposure with increased risk of breast cancer.
Recognition for sale

Abstract I examine the consequences of letting players compete for bargaining power in a multilateral bargaining game. In each period, the right to propose an offer is sold to the highest bidder, and all players pay their bids. If players vote according to any rule in which no player has veto power, then the first proposer captures the entire surplus. If a full consensus is needed for an offer to be accepted, then the first proposer shares the surplus with at most one other player, and as the period length between offers vanishes, one player may capture virtually the entire surplus. In settings with a stochastic or an endogenous surplus, players are unwilling to efficiently delay agreement or invest in the surplus.
Bone marrow disorders with associated eosinophilia

Abstract Clinically relevant eosinophilia is defined as a persistently elevated peripheral absolute eosinophil count (> 600 cells/μl) with accompanying bone marrow eosinophilia. The infiltration of eosinophils into body tissues can lead to tissue damage secondary to the release of eosinophil granule contents, and cause significant morbidity. The aetiology of eosinophilia varies greatly and may reflect either a reactive expansion of normal eosinophils to benign or neoplastic processes, or the expansion of a neoplastic haematopoietic clone with eosinophilic differentiation. Recently, several neoplastic eosinophilic disorders have been associated with balanced chromosomal translocations that constitutively activate cellular tyrosine kinases. These discoveries make it critical for pathologists to recognize the specific features of these entities, for both accurate diagnosis and delivery of effective therapies that target these activated kinases. The major causes of reactive and neoplastic eosinophilia will be reviewed, with an emphasis on the current 2008 WHO classification system for these entities.
Modeling space-based multispectral imaging systems with DIRSIG

The Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM) focuses on a next generation global coverage, imaging system to replace the aging Landsat 5 and Landsat 7 systems. The major difference in the new system is the migration from the multi-spectral whiskbroom design employed by the previous generation of sensors to modular focal plane, multi-spectral pushbroom architecture. Further complicating the design shift is that the reflective and thermal acquisition capability is split across two instruments spatially separated on the satellite bus. One of the focuses of the science and engineering teams prior to launch is the ability to provide seamless data continuity with the historic Landsat data archive. Specifically, the challenges of registering and calibrating data from the new system so that long-term science studies are minimally impacted by the change in the system design. In order to provide the science and engineering teams with simulated pre-launch data, an effort was undertaken to create a robust end-to-end model of the LDCM system. The modeling environment is intended to be flexible and incorporate measured data from the actual system components as they were completed and integrated. The output of the modeling environment needs to include not only radiometrically robust imagery, but also the meta-data necessary to exercise the processing pipeline. This paper describes how the Digital Imaging and Remote Sensing Image Generation (DIRSIG) model has been utilized to model space-based, multi-spectral imaging (MSI) systems in support of systems engineering trade studies. A mechanism to incorporate measured focal plane projections through the forward optics is described. A hierarchal description of the satellite system is presented including the details of how a multiple instrument platform is described and modeled, including the hierarchical management of temporally correlated jitter that allows engineers to explore impacts of different jitter sources on instrument-to-instrument and band-to-band registration. The capabilities of a new, non-imaging instrument to simulate the measurement of platform ephemeris is also introduced. Finally, the geometric and radiometric foundations for modeling clouds in the DIRSIG model will be described and demonstrated as one of the more significant challenges in registering multi-spectral pushbroom sensor data products.
EFFECT OF MATERNAL ANTIBODIES AND ENTERIC CHALLENGE WITH ANTIGEN ON THE UPTAKE OF BYSTANDER PROTEIN IN NEONATAL RABBITS

Antibodies, passively acquired from the mother, were previously shown to limit the circulation of antigen given enterically to newborn rabbits. In the present experiments, we tested the effect of passive immunization and enteric antigen challenge on uptake of bystander protein. Female rabbits were immunized with bovine gamma globulin (BGG). Litters from these animals were tested prior to suckling by the intragastric administration of bovine serum albumin (BSA) plus BGG (test) or ovalbumin (OVA) (control animals). Three hrs. later, serum from both groups was tested for immunoreactive BSA by radioimmunoassay. Test animals had significantly less serum iBSA than controls. In other experiments the same protocol was followed except for the addition of 14C-polyethylene glycol (14C-PEG). Three hrs. after challenge, the concentration of radioactivity in various segments of intestine was determined. There was less 14C-PEG in the small intestine of test compared to control animals. These findings suggest enteric antigen-antibody interaction in intact animals may limit contact of protein with the absorptive surface on the enterocyte and thus diminish uptake of bystander protein in the neonate.
Effect of oxygen partial pressure on properties of Nb-doped In2O3 thin films

Abstract Nb-doped In 2 O 3 thin films were deposited by pulsed laser deposition technique. The effect of oxygen partial pressure on electrical, structural and optical properties was studied. The conductivity, carrier concentration and mobility of the films decrease with increase in the oxygen pressure after attaining maximum. Low resistivity (9.61 × 10 −5 Ω cm) and high mobility (65 cm 2 V −1 s −1 ) is observed for the film grown under oxygen pressure of 1.0 × 10 −3 mbar. The average transmittance of the films is more than 85%. The optical band gap is found varying between 4.09 and 4.23 eV for various oxygen pressure.
Comparison of the treatment of vascular lesions with the copper-vapor laser and flashlamp-pumped dye laser

Vascular lesions such as port-wine stains and telangiectases are sometimes treated with carbon-dioxide lasers, argon lasers or argon-pumped dye lasers; however these lasers are non- specific in their thermal effect on tissues and as a result often cause significant scarring. Recently, evidence has accumulated that the flashlamp-pumped dye (585 nm) and copper- vapor (578 nm) lasers, which produce pulsed light that is efficiently absorbed by hemoglobin, are more selective in coagulating abnormal vascular tissue and as a result give a superior clinical result. It is not yet clear what the most important physical and biological mechanisms are during the light-tissue interaction mediated by these two lasers. The post-treatment sequence of events is different for tissue irradiated by each laser; most significantly, the flashlamp-pumped dye laser causes significant transient purpura, whereas the copper vapor laser causes blanching and eschar formation. The clinical outcome, that is regression of the lesion, is equally successful with either laser although some evidence has accumulated showing that the flashlamp-pumped dye laser is best suited to the treatment of small vessel disease while the copper-vapor laser is better for the treatment of large vessel disease. In this paper, we will discuss our observations of the treatment of vascular lesions on humans with the copper-vapor and flashlamp-pumped dye lasers using empirically derived efficacious treatment parameters. Mathematical models of light and heat propagation and in vivo experiments involving mice ears and rat skin flaps will be used to elucidate what we feel are the important underlying mechanisms of this vascular lesion laser therapy.
Alphabet-Independent and Scaled Dictionary Matching

The rapidly growing need for analysis of digitized images in multimedia systems has led to a variety of interesting problems in multidimensional pattern matching. One of the problems is that of scaled matching, finding all appearances of a pattern in a text in all sizes. Another important problem is dictionary matching, a quick search through a dictionary of preprocessed patterns in order to find all dictionary patterns that appear in the input text. In this paper we provide a simple algorithm for two-dimensional scaled matching. Our algorithm is the first linear-time alphabet-independent scaled matching algorithm. Its running time is O(|T|), where |T| is the text size, and is independent of |?|, the size of the alphabet. The main idea behind our algorithm is to identify and exploit a scaling-invariant property of patterns. Our technique generalizes to produce the first known algorithm for scaled dictionary matching. We can find all appearances of all dictionary patterns that appear in the input text in any discrete scale. The time bounds of our algorithm are equal to the currently known exact (no scaling) two-dimensional dictionary matching algorithms.
Effects of different infrared beak treatment protocols on chicken welfare and physiology

ABSTRACT Infrared beak trimming provides an alternative to conventional trimming, purporting to provide a welfare-friendly means of trimming. The infrared system can be adjusted to use multiple plate and power settings. In the present study, we used 2 different plate sizes (27/23C, less severe; 25/23C, more severe) with each of 3 power settings: high (52), moderate (48), and low (44). These birds, along with conventionally (hot blade; HB) trimmed birds were maintained in an industry egg-laying facility. Physiological and behavioral measures were taken at 5, 10, 20, and 30 wk. All birds followed a similar growth curve; birds from the 27/23C (48) protocol were the heaviest across all ages and 25/23C (44) birds were the lightest. Upper and lower beak growth curves showed birds trimmed with 25/23C protocols had shorter upper and lower beaks compared with 27/23C protocols or HB. Birds trimmed using 27/23 (44) and (48) had consistently longer upper and lower mandibles. Amount of feed wasted was greatest in HB and 27/23C birds and tended to be reduced in 27/23 (48) and 25/23 (48) and (52) birds (P
Plasma-treated switchable wettability of parylene-C surface

The wetting behavior of biomaterials is of great importance for the issues such as biofouling control and biocompatibility improvement. Therefore, tailoring of their wettability is particularly useful and has been attracting a lot of interests. This paper focuses on the modification of surface wettability on the parylene-C film, which is exclusively used as a coating material for insulating implantable biomedical devices. The oxygen (O 2 ) and sulfur hexafluoride (SF 6 ) plasma were applied to treat parylene-C samples successively. Super hydrophilic (∼0°) and super hydrophobic (∼160°) surfaces were achieved under very low plasma power. The Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results strongly suggest that the surface roughness and the incorporation of oxygen or fluorine bonds on the surface are the two main factors accounting for the significant change of wettability. Moreover, the parylene-C surface has been proved to be switchable between super hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity by applying only an additional short O 2 or SF 6 plasma treatment, which greatly benefits the use of parylene-C in a wide range of biomedical applications.
Alterations in phospholipid catabolism in Mycobacterium tuberculosis lysX mutant

Mycobacterium tuberculosis lysX mutant, defective for production of lysinylated phosphatidylglycerol (L-PG), is sensitive to cationic antimicrobial peptides, is not proficient for proliferation in mice lungs and exhibits altered membrane potential [1]. In the present study we show that a lysX complement strain expressing lysX from inducible tet promoter is proficient in restoring lysX phenotypes confirming that the observed phenotypes are specific to lysX. To evaluate the correlation between changes in membrane potential and lysX activity, we visualized regions of cardiolipin (CL), one of the abundant phospholipids of mycobacteria, by staining with fluorescent dye 10-N-nonyl-acridine orange (NAO) and found that CL is localized as bright spots at septal regions and poles of actively dividing cells, but not in stationary phase cells. lysX mutants were elongated and showed more numerous and brighter CL staining at both midcell and quarter cell septa, compared with wild type, indicating a defect in the cell division process. Evaluation of 14C-acetic acid incorporation into major phospholipids such as CL, phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylinositol and their degradation between lysX mutant and its parent revealed differences in the turnover of PE and PI. Our results favor a hypothesis that alterations in phospholipid metabolism could be contributing to changes in membrane potential, hence the observed phenotype of lysX mutant.
Responsiveness and discrimination during sleep

La discrimination tonale a ete analysee chez des chats dresses pendant l'etat de veille a repondre a un son d'une freuence donnee (son «positif») et a ne pas repondre aux autres frequences sonores (sons «negatifs»). Pendant la veille, l'efficacite des sons «negatifs» diminue au fur et a mesure que la difference de frequence avec le son «positif» augmente. Pendant le sommeil lent et de haut voltage, l'efficacite du son «positif» ne change pas ou diminue peu, tandis que celle des sons «negatifs» est reduite: ainsi, le chat endormi possede encore la possibilite de faire des discriminations precises. Pendant la phase «rhombencephalique» du sommeil, l'efficacite de tous les sons disparait: on discute la nature de ce manque de reactivite.
Tracking the Origins and Explosive Growth of the Internet

The Internet had its origins more than 30 years ago in a US government research project with the modest goal of linking a few high power computers around the country. It erupted as a commercial success about 10 years ago thanks to a remarkable unplanned confluence of several innovative technologies: broadband fiber optic communications, the personal computer and the Web browser. The story of its progress and present impact provides an excellent example of the importance of supporting infrastructure in society in promoting innovation, in other words, success breeds success.
Investments in employer-employee attachments by Japanese and U.S. workers in firms of varying size

Abstract This paper estimates the magnitudes of on-the-job investments in human capital in Japan and the United States for three firm size categories. Japanese workers are found to invest more than U.S. workers, and workers in large firms invest more in both countries. The magnitudes of investments also can be interpreted as reflecting the bonds workers post to increase effort. Our findings conform to the observed tenure differentials, both between the two countries and across firm size groups. The paper also discusses possible explanations for the observed findings.
Development of the school entrant health questionnaire for assessing primary school children aged 5–7

This article describes the development and pilot testing of the School Entrant Health Questionnaire (SEHQ) for the School Nursing Program in Victoria, Australia to provide a health profile of primary school children. Items likely to discriminate between healthy children and children having health concerns were generated. Domains included were: general health, medications, immunizations, dental health, speech/language, hearing, vision, disabilities, general development, behavior and emotional wellbeing, and family stress. Testing to determine reliability, validity and discriminability was conducted in four phases. The SEHQ was found to have sound reliability and good discriminability between students who had problems and those who did not. Analysis of the SEHQ data leads directly to clinical nursing actions for children identfied as having problems in any of the 11 domains. SEHQ is used to reach almost an Australian state population of 5-7year olds annually, generating a significant data base on this age group.
Children And Adolescents With Traumatic Brain Injury Reintegration Challenges In Educational Settings

Changes in federal law have paved the way for students with traumatic brain injury (TBI) to receive special educational services. Although not all students with TBI need special education, many will need careful planning for reintegration into the classroom. The present article presents information about the range of services that need to be considered for these students and the problems that can affect students' academic and social functioning. Characteristics that distinguish this group of students from peers with special learning needs are highlighted and specific suggestions are made to help educators work more effectively with these students when they return to school. A case study is used to highlight the issues discussed.
Simultaneous Estimation by Partial Totals for Compartmental Models

An estimation procedure is presented that may be used to simultaneously estimate the parameters in a multiple equation regression model. The regression models considered are shown to arise from radioactive tracer experiments using compartmental models. For such models the regression equations are shown to be linear combinations of the same exponential parameters, and the number of independent regression equations is also shown to be the same as the number of exponential parameters.The estimation procedure is developed under the assumption of equally spaced values of the independent variable. The first step of the procedure involves the simultaneous estimation of the exponential parameters by a generalized partial totals approach, and the second step involves the simultaneous estimation of the linear parameters using the estimates of the nonlinear parameters. Modifications are presented that make the estimation procedure more versatile, and asymptotic properties are also investigated. The procedure is illu...
Glassy Behavior in a Binary Atomic Mixture

We experimentally study one-dimensional, lattice-modulated Bose gases in the presence of an uncorrelated disorder potential formed by localized impurity atoms, and compare to the case of correlated quasidisorder formed by an incommensurate lattice. While the effects of the two disorder realizations are comparable deeply in the strongly interacting regime, both showing signatures of Bose-glass formation, we find a dramatic difference near the superfluid-to-insulator transition. In this transition region, we observe that random, uncorrelated disorder leads to a shift of the critical lattice depth for the breakdown of transport as opposed to the case of correlated quasidisorder, where no such shift is seen. Our findings, which are consistent with recent predictions for interacting bosons in one dimension, illustrate the important role of correlations in disordered atomic systems.
The prevalence of anxiety in children with communication disorders

Abstract This paper reports on the prevalence of both anxiety symptoms and DSM-III anxiety disorder diagnoses found in a sample of 600 children presenting to a community speech clinic. The age and sex distribution of the anxiety disordered children is presented, and these findings are compared to those reported in epidemiological studies.
On the diamond-cubic to hexagonal phase transformation in silicon

Abstract An analysis of electron diffraction data from silicon wafers implanted with 80 keV As+ at high dose rates has shown the presence of a hexagonal phase of Si (a one-element wurtzite structure). The hexagonal silicon consists of small rod-like particles with an orientation relationship to the diamond-cubic (d.c.) silicon lattice given approximately by 〈0001〉hex | 〈110〉d.c. and 〈0110〉hex | 〈001〉d.c.. This hexagonal silicon may also be produced by indenting the wafer surfaces at about 500 to 600°C (Eremenko and Nikitenko 1972) which produces large platelets with {115}d.c. habit planes. A phase transformation scheme is proposed for the silicon dc to hexagonal transformation. It is argued that the transformation may be induced by a uniaxial compressive stress and therefore represents a stress-relief mechanism. A structure model of the dc-hexagonal interface is proposed which consists of five- to seven-membered atomic rings without dangling bonds.
The heat flux and the temperature gradient in the lower atmosphere

] MostparameterizationsusedinLargeEddySimulationsof the atmospheric boundary layer are based on theassumption that subgrid-scale fluxes are aligned againstspatial gradients of transported quantities (down-gradientclosures). Based on field experiments, we determine thedistribution and most probable relative orientations of thesubgrid-scale (SGS) heat flux relative to parameterizationsbased on the temperature gradient. We show that, underneutral and unstable atmospheric stability, the SGS heatflux most likely lies within the geometric span of the socalledmixedtensoreddydiffusivitymodel.
Radiation hardening in neutron irradiated polycrystalline copper: Barrier strength of defect clusters

Defect cluster formation in 14-MeV neutron irradiated polycrystalline copper has been observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and correlated with the increase in yield stress. The measurements indicate that the radiation hardening component of the yield strength in polycrystals is not directly additive to the unirradiated yield strength. A transitional behavior was observed for radiation hardening at low fluences, which produces an anomalous variation of the defect cluster barrier strength with fluence. The behavior is attributed to the effect of grain boundaries on slip band transmission. An upper limit for the room temperature barrier strength of defect clusters in neutron-irradiated copper was determined to be α = 0.23.
Personal Growth in Social Context: A High School Senior's Search for Meaning in and Through Writing

The different emphases that theorists and teachers place on the product and process of writing in their accounts of how writers construct meaning have been influenced by different traditions of Wes...
Electronic Absorption Fluorescence and Phosphorescence of Naphthaldehydes and Acetonaphthones

Abstract The electronic spectra of the isomeric naphthaldehydes and acetonaphthones (naphthyl methyl ketones) have been studied in aqueous and hexane media. In the 2-isomers fluorescence originates from the 1Lb state. In the 1-isomers, solvent interactions in the excited state invert the order of states observed in the absorption spectrum so that the 1La state is lowest. The 2-isomers show normal excited state ionization behavior indicating that these compounds are about 7-8 orders of magnitude more basic in the 1Lb state than in the ground state. The 1-isomers appear to form stoi-chiometric complexes with the protonating species (H3O+) and are truly protonated in the excited state at higher acidities than would be expected. The reasons for this are not understood but the phenomenon appears to have a kinetic rather than a thermodynamic origin. The naphthaldehydes and acetonaphthones are of analytical interest because of the fluorogenic properties of the naphthyl group and the high reactivity of the carbon...
Reassessing the impact of North Atlantic Oscillation on the sub‐Saharan vegetation productivity

The Northern Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) has been shown to have a significant impact on the terrestrial ecosystem in the Sahelian region of Africa during the 1980s, and it has been strongly suggested that NAO may be a reliable predictor for the response of the Sahelian ecosystem to global climate variability. Using data from an extended period, we provide a reassessment for the impact of NAO on the Sahelian climate and ecosystem, and show that there is no consistent relationship between NAO and the ecosystem over Sahel. Statistical analysis on the NAO, vegetation, and precipitation data indicates that NAO influences the Sahelian vegetation productivity exclusively through its impact on precipitation. However, the relationship between the NAO index and Sahelian precipitation varies substantially with time. The correlation coefficient fluctuates between positive and negative values, and does not pass the 5% significance test during most of the twentieth century. The NAO system, although documented to govern the ecosystem dynamics over many other regions, does not have a consistent impact on the ecosystem over the Sahel. Therefore, the NAO index cannot produce a useful prediction on the ecosystem variability and changes in this region. This study provides an example that correlations based on short climate and ecological records (less than 20 years in this case) can be spurious and potentially misleading.
Percolation Effects on the Thermal Conductivity of 3D Nanotube Composites

We analyze thermal transport in three-dimensional (3D) nano-composites composed of carbon nanotube (CNT) dispersions to investigate percolation effects on the effective thermal conductivity of these composites. Thermal transport simulations for the randomly distributed nanotubes inside the host substrate are based on the diffusive Fourier conduction theory. The numerical model incorporates the effect of substrate-CNT conductivity ratio and the interfacial resistance due to tube-tube and tube-substrate contact, which are the most critical parameters governing thermal transport properties. Numerical predictions of effective thermal conductivity are in excellent agreement with the linear response theory and effective medium approximation (EMA) when assumptions of theory are incorporated in the model. The trends for the variation of effective thermal conductivity with increasing nanotube density are in broad agreement with previous experimental observations. Our numerical results also show that the onset of thermal percolation is gradual and largely dependent on the tube-to-substrate conductivity ratio and interfacial resistance at tube-tube and tube-substrate contact.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
ADOPTING CHANGE Birth Mothers in Maternity Homes Today

This article explores the reasons some pregnant women enter maternity homes with the plan to place their babies for adoption. The authors discuss changes in maternity homes over the twentieth century and report on findings from a survey of currently licensed homes in Texas. Next, the authors discuss the findings from fieldwork and in-depth interviews with residents of two maternity homes. They identify three major reasons why birth mothers enter maternity homes: (1) the desire to escape abusive or stressful family lives, (2) the desire to avoid the stigma of placing a child for adoption, and (3) the desire to provide their children, and in some cases themselves, with a stable and loving family life. The authors contend that entering a maternity home with the intention of placing their babies for adoption represents an effort on the part of birth mothers to reconfigure their own, often impoverished family lives.
The Kinetic Properties of Oleoyl‐CoA:1‐Acyl‐sn‐glycero‐3‐phosphocholine O‐Acyltransferase from Mouse‐Brain Microsomes

The kinetic properties of acylation of 1-acyl-sn-glycero(-3)phosphocholine by oleoyl-CoA were examined using mouse brain microsomes. The enzyme-catalyzed reactions were studied by measuring the rate of reaction while systematically varying the concentrations of oleoyl-CoA and 1-acylglycerophosphocholine. Double reciprocal plots of velocity versus l-acylglycerophosphocholine produced a family of parallel lines and similar plots for oleoyl-CoA produced a family of parallel curves. Inhibition was observed at high concentrations of either substrate. By extrapolation from low substrate concentrations, the V for olcoyl-CoA: 1-acylglycerophosphocholine acyltransferase in brain microsomes was found to be 6.1 nmol min−1 mg−1 and Km, values were determined to be 11 μM and 107 μM for oleoyl-CoA and 1-acylglycerophosphocholine, respectively. Similar results were obtained for the enzyme-catalyzed transfer of oleoyl groups to 1-acyl-sn-glycerophosphoinositol. In this case, V was found to be 2.1 nmol min−1 mg−1 and the Km values were 4 μM and 14 μM for oleoyl-CoA and 1-acylglycerophosphoinositol, respectively. The mechanistic implications of the kinetic properties of the acyltransferases with respect to acyl group specificity for the phosphoglycerides in brain microsomes are discussed.