cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tailoring of Interfacial Mechanical Shear Strength by Surface Chemical Modification of Silicon Microwires Embedded in Nafion Membranes

The interfacial shear strength between Si microwires and a Nafion membrane has been tailored through surface functionalization of the Si. Acidic (−COOH-terminated) or basic (−NH_2-terminated) surface-bound functionality was introduced by hydrosilylation reactions to probe the interactions between the functionalized Si microwires and hydrophilic ionically charged sites in the Nafion polymeric side chains. Surfaces functionalized with SiO_x, Si–H, or Si–CH_3 were also synthesized and investigated. The interfacial shear strength between the functionalized Si microwire surfaces and the Nafion matrix was quantified by uniaxial wire pull-out experiments in an in situ nanomechanical instrument that allowed simultaneous collection of mechanical data and visualization of the deformation process. In this process, an axial load was applied to the custom-shaped top portions of individual wires until debonding occurred from the Nafion matrix. The shear strength obtained from the nanomechanical measurements correlated with the chemical bond strength and the functionalization density of the molecular layer, with values ranging from 7 MPa for Si–CH3 surfaces to ∼16–20 MPa for oxygen-containing surface functionalities. Hence surface chemical control can be used to influence the mechanical adhesion forces at a Si–Nafion interface.
A Coarse Grained Molecular Dynamics Study of Amyloid Beta Transmembrane Pores

Amyloid-beta protein has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease for many decades now. However, the exact molecular mechanism by which it effects neurodegeneration is not yet understood. One promising disease model is based on the discovery that amyloid-beta forms large pores across lipid bilayers. These pores cause an uncontrolled flux of ions as well as larger molecules and can potentially disrupt cell homeostasis. AFM images of amyloid-beta pores provide an estimate of the size and symmetry of the pores, but the secondary and tertiary structure of amyloid-beta within the membrane is unknown. This study tests the stability of a hypothetical pore structure and will predict the number of monomers within amyloid-beta pores using coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations. The change in stability of the pore structure with changes in membrane composition will also be investigated, since membrane composition is known to vary with age - the greatest risk factor for Alzheimer's disease.
Fever in a Returned Traveler: An “Off the Cuff” Diagnosis

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THE DYNAMICS OF AN EXPERIMENTAL POPULATION OF SALVIA LYRATA: THE POPULATION CAGE APPROACH APPLIED TO PLANTS.

Summary We report a four-year study of the dynamics of a population of Salvia lyrata L., growing in a greenhouse. The study exemplifies the population cage approach, which has been the basis of many long-term studies of dynamics of animal populations for over 50 years, but which has been overlooked by plant population biologists. The cohort of plants that founded the population had a very high probability of survival and, as adults, produced the greatest numbers of seeds and seedlings. Thereafter, the numbers of individuals in each stage class declined. This decline appeared to be a consequence of density-dependent processes. At the conclusion of the study, the population density was far lower than at the onset. The behaviour of the population differed from that of the population of S. lyrata studied in a nearby mown field in several respects, including timing of seedling emergence, average size of individuals and final density. Likely causes of these differences are discussed. We recommend the use of population cages in further studies of plant populations. Because it facilitates long-term observation, this approach can be of great use in elucidating the dynamic consequences of demography.
A Study of the Effect of pH on the Determination of Zinc by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry

Substantial errors in the determination of zinc by atomic absorption spectrophotometry can be caused by differences in pH among samples and standards. Zinc absorption is constant in the pH range of about 2 to 5. Between pH 5 and 10, a sharp decrease in absorption is observed. With an increase above pH 10, zinc absorption levels off to a constant value. Experimental data suggested that pH variation rather than chemical interferences is primarily responsible for the variation of absorption in zinc analysis. Several possibilities, such as sorption of zinc to container walls, zinc hydroxide formation, zinc complex formation, and zinc oxide formation in flame subsequently attacked by hydrogen atoms, have been considered in an attempt to understand the cause of pH-dependent zinc absorption.
Continuity properties of decomposable probability measures on euclidean spaces

It is shown that every full eA decomposable probability measure on Rk, where A is a linear operator all of whose eigenvalues have negative real part, is either absolutely continuous with respect to Lebesgue measure or continuous singular with respect to Lebesgue measure. This result is used to characterize the continuity properties of random variables that are limits of solutions of certain stochastic difference equations.
The influence of finite-deformations upon the creep behavior of circular plates

Abstract An experimental and approximate theoretical investigation has been conducted into the creep behavior of initially flat circular plates with particular emphasis on the influence of geometry changes induced during deformation. An energy technique which uses a simplified constitutive relation is described and solutions are obtained for the cases of clamped and simply supported circular plates under a uniform, time-independent, lateral load. This approximate method retains the effects of both bending moments and membrane forces. A series of experiments on circular lead plates is described and compared with the corresponding theoretical predictions. Both the theoretical and experimental results show that the effect of finite-deformations is important.
Propagation Of Uncertainty Using Neural Networks

Uncertainty management (belief maintenance) is an important part of most knowledge-based computer vision systems. In this paper, we examine a methodology to aggregate and propagate uncertainties in a neural-network-like structure. Each node in the network represents a hypothesis. The inputs are the uncertainties associated with the knowledge sources that support the hypothesis, and the output is the aggregated uncertainty. The activation function is selected based on concepts from fuzzy set theory. The parameters of the activation function are chosen depending on the type of aggregation required. In addition to the traditional union and intersection aggregation connectives, we propose the use of a generalized mean connective to increase flexibility. Some attractive properties of the connectives are discussed and a training procedure for such networks is also proposed.
A genetic approach for investigating vagal sensory roles in regulation of gastrointestinal function and food intake

Sensory innervation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract by the vagus nerve plays important roles in regulation of GI function and feeding behavior. This innervation is composed of a large number of sensory pathways, each arising from a different population of sensory receptors. Progress in understanding the functions of these pathways has been impeded by their close association with vagal efferent, sympathetic, and enteric systems, which makes it difficult to selectively label or manipulate them. We suggest that a genetic approach may overcome these barriers. To illustrate the potential value of this strategy, as well as to gain insights into its application, investigations of CNS pathways and peripheral tissues involved in energy balance that benefited from the use of gene manipulations are reviewed. Next, our studies examining the feasibility of using mutations of developmental genes for manipulating individual vagal afferent pathways are reviewed. These experiments characterized mechanoreceptor morphology, density and distribution, and feeding patterns in four viable mutant mouse strains. In each strain a single population of vagal mechanoreceptors innervating the muscle wall of the GI tract was altered, and was associated with selective effects on feeding patterns, thus supporting the feasibility of this strategy. However, two limitations of this approach must be addressed for it to achieve its full potential. First, mutation effects in tissues outside the GI tract can contribute to changes in GI function or feeding. Additionally, knockouts of developmental genes are often lethal, preventing analysis of mature innervation and ingestive behavior. To address these issues, we propose to develop conditional gene knockouts restricted to specific GI tract tissues. Two genes of interest are brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), which are essential for vagal afferent development. Creating conditional knockouts of these genes requires knowledge of their GI tract expression during development, which little is known about. Preliminary investigation revealed that during development BDNF and NT-3 are each expressed in several GI tract regions, and that their expression patterns overlap in some tissues, but are distinct in others. Importantly, GI tissues that express BDNF or NT-3 are innervated by vagal afferents, and expression of these neurotrophins occurs during the periods of axon invasion and receptor formation, consistent with roles for BDNF or NT-3 in these processes and in receptor survival. These results provide a basis for targeting BDNF or NT-3 knockouts to specific GI tract tissues, and potentially altering vagal afferent innervation only in that tissue (e.g., smooth muscle vs. mucosa). Conditional BDNF or NT-3 knockouts that are successful in selectively altering a vagal GI afferent pathway will be valuable for developing an understanding of that pathway's roles in GI function and food intake.
Ethnicity and Risk of Psychiatric Disorder Among Adolescents

We examine the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and association with a range of risk and protective factors among Euro-Americans (EA), African-Americans (AA) and Mexican American (MA) adolescents. We sampled 4,175 youths aged 11–17 years whose households were enrolled in large health maintenance organizations using questionnaires and diagnostic interviews. Based on crude prevalences, EA youths were at lower risk of anxiety disorders. AA youths were at lower risk of substance-use disorders and comorbid disorders. Multivariate analyses incorporating indicators referencing social status, stressors, personal and social resources, and ethnicity resulted in only 2 significant differences for 18 pairwise ethnic contrasts-EA were at greater risk than AA for substance-use and comorbid disorders. Based on these results, there appeared to be few differences between majority and minority adolescents in risk of psychiatric disorders. Ethnic experience factors were protective for AA youths but not MA youths.
PIGMENTS OF THE RETINA : I. THE BULL FROG.

1. The interrelations of visual purple, retinene, and vitamin A in the bull frog retina are analyzed in simple experiments, the results of which are presented in a series of automatically recorded spectra. 2. Observations are reported upon the distributions, properties, and concentrations of xanthophyll, vitamin A, and flavine in the pigmented tissues of the eye.
Buried dopant and defect layers for device structures with high-energy ion implantation

Abstract Recent developments in the use of megavolt ion implantation for fabricating microelectronics structures are presented. Deep buried dopant implanted layers offer major advantages in: (1) processing simplicity, (2) low thermal budget, and (3) process flow flexibility for both CMOS and bipolar integrated circuits. Dopant profile design issues such as vertical and lateral straggles of high-energy implants are shown to be important for future scaling of device dimensions. The use of deep-buried defect layers created by high-energy implants (e.g. O and C) has many useful VLSI applications such as proximity gettering of impurities and localized minotiry-carrier lifetime control. Improved VLSI frabrication yield and monolithic integration of signal-processing and power-circuits are expected with these buried defects.
Multilaser print head

This paper discusses the optical and opto-mechanical design of a new laser head developed at Polaroid for printing Helios binary film for printing high quality medical hard copy images. The head is part of an external drum printer for 14' X 17' film. The pixel size is 84 X 84 μm, produced by four lasers, with the smallest printable spot 3 X 6 micrometer, to produce 4096 gray levels. Two pixels side-by-side are simultaneously printed. The head has eight independent 840 nm diode lasers manufactured by Polaroid. Each laser emits up to 1.1 W over an emission length of about 100 μm, with a particularly uniform nearfield irradiance. The lasers are microlensed to equalize the divergences in the two principal meridians. Each packaged laser is aligned in a field-replaceable illuminator whose output beam, focused at infinity, is bore-sighted in a mechanical cylinder. The illuminators are arranged roughly radially. Eight lenses image the laser nearfields on a multi-facet mirror produced by diamond machining. The mirror facets truncate the beams to give the desired pixel shapes and separations. A reducing afocal relay images the mirror onto the film. The final element is a molded aspheric lens, mounted in an actuator to maintain focus on the film. The focusing unit also comprises a triangulation-based focus sensor. The alignment procedures and fixtures were devised concurrently with the head for manufacturing simplicity. The main physical structure is a casting, into which reference surfaces are machined. All optical subassemblies are attached to this casting, with a mixture of optical alignment and self-location. Semi-kinematic cylinder-in-V methodology is utilized. The active alignment steps are done in a sequence that tends to reduce errors from previous steps.
Chronic bacterial prostatitis: Theoretical and experimental considerations

The results of the treatment of chronic bacterial prostatitis are disappointing. The current status of antimicrobial and immunological research is described. While both a local and systemic antibody response is demonstrated in acute bacterial prostatis, only a local antibody production is found in chronic bacterial prostatitis. This response as reflected in the expressed prostatic secretion is specific for the infecting organism and immunoglobulin A is the major antibody class involved. Drug penetration into the prostate has mainly been studied in dogs and the ideal drug appears to be a lipid-soluble base which will concentrate in the slightly acidic prostatic secretion because of ion-trapping. However, these results are not directly applicable to humans because of the slight alkalinity of human prostatic secretion, the localization of the chronic inflammatory process in the interstitium, and the evidence of an active secretory mechanism for trimethoprim. The clinical consequences of these findings are discussed in relation to several recent studies and the treatment with lipid-soluble bases with a low plasma protein binding over extended periods is recommended.
Vitamin D Enhances ALA-Induced Protoporphyrin IX Production and Photodynamic Cell Death in 3-D Organotypic Cultures of Keratinocytes

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) with 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is based upon the intracellular synthesis of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX), which absorbs light and targets metabolically active cells. We tested the hypothesis that levels of PpIX within keratinocytes might be increased by vitamin D (Vit D), a differentiation-promoting hormone. Vit D promoted terminal differentiation in monolayer cultures of rat epidermal keratinocytes (REKs), but high PpIX signals were found only in stratifying islands. To simulate a normal epidermis, REKs were grown in organotypic cultures. The presence of Vit D (10(-10) M for 4 days) led to heightened expression of terminal differentiation markers (stratum corneum, K10, and loricrin). PpIX levels, at 4 hours after addition of ALA (1 mM), were significantly increased in the Vit D-preconditioned cultures by confocal fluorescence microscopy and semiquantitative image analysis. Maximal PpIX induction was seen at (Vit D) 10(-12)-10(-10) M. Phototoxic cell killing after exposure to 635 nm light was significantly higher in Vit D-preconditioned cultures. No differences in apoptotic markers between Vit D and control cultures were seen, suggesting that Vit D augments photodynamic cell death via alternative pathways (e.g., necrosis). In summary, Vit D may be useful as a biological enhancer of ALA-based PDT.
The nature of the initial coping response and the learned helplessness effect

The availability of an effective coping response has been shown to attenuate the deleterious behavioral and physiological consequences of inescapable electric shock. In the current study, two groups of rats could escape tailshock by turning a wheel. When short-latency responses that appeared to be elicited by shock onset were permitted to terminate shock, rats subsequently failed to learn to escape in a shuttlebox and did not differ from rats which received an equivalent amount of inescapable shock. However, when a relatively long-latency response was required and short-latency responses were not allowed to affect shock, rats subsequently readily learned to escape in the shuttlebox. The implications of these results for explanations of the manner in which prior exposure to shock influences subsequent escape learning were discussed.
Vortex cross-flux effects and directional flux scaling in YBCO crystals

Abstract Grain-oriented and single-crystal samples of YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 were studied at 4.2 K by magnetization-vector measurements in cycled magnetic fields applied at various fixed angles ( θ e ) relative to the crystal c axis. For each θ e , the data we converted to component variations along c and along the basal a–b plane of the vortex flux density ( B ) versus the demagnetization-corrected field ( H ). For both samples, the hysteretic curves of B c vs. H c for different θ e are found agree very closely and thus obey a simple scaling. The corresponding curves of B ab vs. H ab , however, show marked departures from scaling, especially for the single crystal. These departures are clearly caused by cross-flux effects, in which a coexistent vortex flux along c (when θ e ≠ 90°) acts as a pinning agent for the vortex flux along a–b , inhibiting it f entering or exiting the sample.
After the Genome

In his Policy Forum “The new genomics: Global views of biology” ([25 Oct., p. 536][1]), Eric S. Lander offers a marvelous analogy, likening the conceptual contribution of the Human Genome Project to “the discovery and consolidation of the periodic table.” I was relieved that he selected this
Differential negative coupling of type 3 metabotropic glutamate receptor to cyclic GMP levels in neurons and astrocytes.

Metabotropic receptors may couple to different G proteins in different cells or perhaps even in different regions of the same cell. To date, direct studies of group II and group III metabotropic glutamate receptors' (mGluRs) relationships to second messenger cascades have reported negative coupling of these receptors to cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels in neurons, astrocytes and transfected cells. In the present study, we found that the peptide neurotransmitter N-acetylaspartylglutamate (NAAG), an mGluR3-selective agonist, decreased sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-stimulated cyclic GMP (cGMP) levels in cerebellar granule cells and cerebellar astrocytes. The mGluR3 and group II agonists FN6 and LY354740 had similar effects on cGMP levels. The mGluR3 and group II antagonists β-NAAG and LY341495 blocked these actions. Treatment with pertussis toxin inhibited the effects of NAAG on SNP-stimulated cGMP levels in rat cerebellar astrocytes but not in cerebellar neurons. These data support the conclusion that mGluR3 is also coupled to cGMP levels and that this mGluR3-induced reduction of cGMP levels is mediated by different G proteins in cerebellar astrocytes and neurons. We previously reported that this receptor is coupled to a cAMP cascade via a pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein in cerebellar neurons, astrocytes and transfected cells. Taken together with the present data, we propose that mGluR3 is coupled to two different G proteins in granule cell neurons. These data greatly expand knowledge of the range of second messenger cascades induced by mGluR3, and have implications for clinical conditions affected by NAAG and other group II mGluR agonists.
Proposed criteria for interpreting stability of lakeshore bluffs

Abstract The stability of the bluffs along the Lake Michigan shoreline in eastern Wisconsin has been assessed. The geotechnical properties of the bluff materials which can be broadly grouped as glacial tills, lacustrine silts and clays, and sandy outwash, have been determined and related to the failure phenomena seen in the bluffs. Two separate criteria have been proposed to help interpret the state of stability of these extremely active bluffs. The ‘critical circle’ criterion defines the failure in terms of the circle having the smallest safety factor and describes the process of lakeshore bluffs as being a succession of small rotational slides which retrogress from the toe to the top of the bluff. The ‘unstable circle’ criterion, on the other hand, assumes the failure to occur throughout the zone enveloped by the largest circle indicating a safety factor less than unity and may be thought of as a culmination of critical circles that fail approximately the same time. These criteria allow the recognition of slope evolutionary phenomena likely to take place in the bluffs. The effect of various parameters on these two criteria has also been investigated, by examining specific profiles encountered along the Lake Michigan shoreline. Finally, some examples of general coastal bluff conditions in the eastern Wisconsin counties are presented.
Inflammation, oxidative stress, and cardiovascular disease risk factors in adults with cystic fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF) represents one of a number of localized lung and non-lung diseases with an intense chronic inflammatory component associated with evidence of systemic oxidative stress. Many of these chronic inflammatory diseases are accompanied by an array of atherosclerotic processes and cardiovascular disease (CVD), another condition strongly related to inflammation and oxidative stress. As a consequence of a dramatic increase in long-lived patients with CF in recent decades, the specter of CVD must be considered in these patients who are now reaching middle age and beyond. Buttressed by recent data documenting that CF patients exhibit evidence of endothelial dysfunction, a recognized precursor of atherosclerosis and CVD, the spectrum of risk factors for CVD in CF is reviewed here. Epidemiological data further characterizing the presence and extent of atherogenic processes in CF patients would seem important to obtain. Such studies should further inform and offer mechanistic insights into how other chronic inflammatory diseases potentiate the processes leading to CVDs.
The Role of Environmental Knowledge in Early Mathematical Performance

It is often said that the best way to teach mathematics is to expand upon the knowledge and skills children bring to school. The question which needs to be answered then is what are these skills and knowledge? The specific approach adopted here is a cross-cultural survey of the early environmental mathematical experience of children and the effects this experience has on their school performance. The focus will be on the non-industrialized world. This approach was adopted because the environmental experience of children in non-industrial countries is perhaps richer and more varied than the early environmental experience of children from industrialized nations. Customs, economic systems, habitats, and culture differ considerably in non-industrial nations and children are often exposed to adult functions at an early age. The paper is organized in the following manner. The first section examines mathematical knowledge which is explicitly acquired outside school. The second section will deal with mathematical...
Sheep Without a Shepherd (but With an Archbishop): Foucault's Pastoral Power and the Denying of Communion

In 2003 and 2004, Raymond Burke went from being a little known bishop in Wisconsin to one of the most controversial figures in the Catholic Church. Burke created controversy by saying he would deny communion to Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry and other pro-choice Catholic politicians, and for denying communion to Polish Catholic parishioners who refused to cede control of church assets. This study explores Burke's rhetoric in these two unique and important conflicts in light of Michel Foucault's work on pastoral power to analyze the usage of the shepherd concept, its limits, and implications for power within church organizations.
Charge transfer dynamics of low energy collisions of Li+ with alkali-covered Cu(001)

Abstract We present measurements of branching ratios to different final states of the scattered particles for 400 eV Li + ions incident on alkali-covered Cu(001). In particular, we have measured the charge state fractions and the relative yield of excited states in the scattered flux as a function of the adsorbate-induced work function shift. The results of a resonant charge transfer theory which includes excited states, negative ions, and level crossings are compared to the measurements. Qualitative agreement is achieved with the observed work function dependence of both the charge state fractions and the relative yield of Li(2p). In particular, the theory predicts that the peak observed in the Li(2p) yield is due to a competition between the Li(2p) state and the Li − (2s 2 ) state.
Computer literacy: what students know and from whom they learned it

Do new college students already know much of what has previously been taught in our computer literacy courses (assuming a functional definition of knowledge according to which students are proficient with personal computer and Internet applications)? We conducted a survey of incoming first-year students at Quinnipiac University to learn not only their skill level with a representative range of technology tasks, but also from whom they learned these tasks. Results provide a profile of students who report learning many technology tasks primarily on their own. We propose a taxonomy according to which native technology tasks are learned with family support, social and educational technology task categories are supported by friends and teachers, respectively, and optional technology tasks are learned with little support. Our results will help in the design of appropriate computer literacy courses.
A WDM CMOS Photonic Platform for Chip-to-Chip Optical Interconnects

Optical interconnects play a continually-increasing role in the interconnect hierarchy of high-speed digital systems. We present our vision for photonically-interconnected many-chip modules and progress toward an ultra-dense, low-power silicon photonic technology that supports this vision.
Reference configurations for homogeneous and inhomogeneous nonlinearly elastic materials

A body is composed of a homogeneous elastic material if there is a configuration of the body relative to which the Cauchy stress-response function does not depend upon position in that configuration. In this paper, necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of such a configuration are deduced. These are expressed as restrictions on the stress-response function associated with a single reference configuration. In particular, it is shown that a body that possesses a stress-free reference configuration and has an associatedinvertible (but position-dependent) elasticity four tensor that governs the response of this material at infinitesimal deformations is comprised of anin homogeneous material.
Interleukin-15 administration increases graft-versus-tumor activity in recipients of haploidentical hematopoietic SCT

Interleukin-15 administration increases graft-versus-tumor activity in recipients of haploidentical hematopoietic SCT
Vein graft arterialization causes differential activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases ☆

Abstract Objective Vascular injury results in activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases—extracellular-signal regulated kinases, c-jun N-terminal kinase, and p38 MAPK —which have been implicated in cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis. The goal of this study was to characterize mitogen-activated protein kinase activation in arterialized vein grafts. Methods Carotid artery bypass using reversed external jugular vein was performed in 29 dogs. Vein grafts were harvested after 30 minutes and 3, 8, and 24 hours, and 4, 7, 14, and 28 days. Contralateral external jugular vein and external jugular vein interposition vein-to-vein grafts were used as controls. Vein graft extracts were analyzed for extracellular-signal regulated kinases, c-jun N-terminal kinase, and p38 MAPK activation. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression was investigated as a parameter of cell proliferation. Apoptosis was assessed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase–mediated 2′-deoxyuridine 5′-triphosphate nick end labeling staining and intimal hyperplasia by morphometric examination of tissue sections. Results Significant intimal hyperplasia was observed at 28 days. Over the time points studied, vein graft arterialization resulted in bimodal activation of both extracellular-signal regulated kinase and p38 MAPK (30 minutes through 3 hours; 4 days) but did not induce activation of c-jun N-terminal kinase. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression increased from days 1 through 28, and apoptosis increased between 8 and 24 hours. Conclusion Vein graft arterialization induces bimodal activation of extracellular-signal regulated kinase and p38 MAPK ; however, in contrast with what is described in arterial injury, it does not induce c-jun N-terminal kinase activation. These results provide the first comprehensive characterization of the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways activated in vein graft arterialization and identify mitogen-activated protein kinases as potential mediators of vein graft remodeling and subsequent intimal hyperplasia.
Cosmic rays in the outer solar system

A space mission to Jupiter and Saturn, and beyond, provides an opportunity to explore the low energy galactic cosmic rays, which are largely excluded from the inner solar system by the outward sweep of the magnetic fields in the solar wind. The low energy cosmic rays are believed to be responsible for much of the heating of the gaseous disk of the galaxy, so a measurement of their intensity will have far reaching effects on theories of the interstellar gas and the evolution of the galaxy. The nuclear abundances, and in particular the presence or absence of high Z nuclei, will give critical information on the proximity of cosmic ray sources.
A construct validity study of the Missouri children's behavior checklist with developmentally disabled children†

Evaluated the construct validity of the MCBC scales and behavior profiles by determining the relationship between the MCBC and the clinical findings and recommendations that resulted from an interdisciplinary evaluation of children (N = 217) referred to a clinic for developmental disabilities. There were few differences in MCBC scale means and percentage occurrences of behavior profiles as a function of demographic factors and broad diagnostic categories. Substantial association was found between the MCBC and clinical findings of behavior problems. The association of the MCBC and clinical findings suggestive of affective problems was not as substantial, which suggests a need to augment the sensitivity of the MCBC in this area. The findings also suggested both the potential and the need for evolving additional MCBC behavior profiles that would reflect additional clinically meaningful subgroups among developmentally disabled children.
Optimization of gain switched diode lasers for high speed fiber optics

We study the output of a gain switched diode laser as a function of the pumping parameters. Experimentally we look at the output pulse shape height and width timing conditions and stability. Theoretically we calculate the conditions under which a gain switched diode laser is optimized with respect to the width of the injection current pump pulse. We find for both biased and unbiased operations that a current pulse of approximately 20 psec corresponds to a Dirac delta function a situation which yields the shortest most intense output pulses. A sensitivity analysis performed on an analytic distillation of the model gives us design considerations for diode lasers with improved stability.
Deletion of the gene encoding the islet-specific glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic subunit-related protein autoantigen results in a mild metabolic phenotype

Aims/hypothesis Islet-specific glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic subunit-related protein (IGRP, now known as glucose-6-phosphatase, catalytic, 2 [G6PC2]) has recently been identified as a major autoantigen in mouse and human type 1 diabetes. Strategies designed to suppress expression of the gene encoding G6PC2 might therefore be useful in delaying or preventing the onset of this disease. However, since the function of G6PC2 is unclear, the concern with such an approach is that a change in G6PC2 expression might itself have deleterious consequences.
Methods to evaluate nutritional and economic implications of ascaris infection

Abstract Ascaris infection has important economic implications for human populations, due to its negative effects on growth of undernourished children and its less common role in causing intestinal obstruction. The deleterious effects of Ascaris infection on growth of undernourished children have been demonstrated in studies conducted in India, Kenya and Tanzania; deworming has resulted in improved weight gains of 20–35% compared with uninfected children. However other studies in Ethiopia, Bangladesh and Guatemala have not found statistically significant improvements in growth of children after treatment for Ascaris infection, most likely due to inadequacies in choice of population, sample size, experimental design, data analysis and/or relative failure of drug treatment. Field studies which attempt to measure the magnitude of growth deficits due to Ascaris must take the following into account: (1) rapidly growing preschool age children from communities with a high prevalence of protein-energy malnutrition are the most important group to study. (2) A longitudinal design, preferably using randomly allocated treatment and placebo groups, is highly desirable. (3) A sufficient period of time for growth improvement must be allowed between the beginning of the intervention and final measurements. (4) The sample sizes necessary to test hypotheses adequately should be calculated in advance. (5) The drug chosen for treatment of Ascaris should produce high cure rates and reinfection rates should be determined. Possible effects of the drug on other diseases prevalent in the population should be considered in the data analysis. (6) Evaluation of worm loads are very important in interpretation of results. (7) The data analysis must be appropriate for the individual study and must be designed to consider confounding factors. The economic implications of an infection like Ascaris are important aids to decision-making by government and health planners. The expenditures caused by Ascaris infection include: (A) health care system costs (patient care and drugs) and (B) family costs (retail purchase of drugs, lost wages and transport costs and food unabsorbed due to Ascaris infection). The costs and benefits of various types of Ascaris control programs and the difficulties of determining these are also discussed.
An Analysis of Regional Haze Using Tracers of Opportunity

A two-year record of hourly concentrations of halocarbon tracers (methylchloroform and perchloroethylene) and hourly averages of particle light scattering (Bsp) has been analyzed In an effort to understand the sources of haze In the U.S. southwestern deserts and mountains. Measurements were taken on top of Spirit Mountain in southern Nevada. In conjunction with photographs used to interpret visual quality, haze episodes at Spirit Mountain were usually coincident with elevated concentrations of tracers originating from urban sources. Haze obscured an 88-km-distant mountain 17 percent of the total observation time. Of those Incidents, 69 percent were associated with long-range transport of haze from the Los Angeles Basin.
Search costs, sticky prices and markups

This article investigates how search costs, price stickiness and product durability influence the impact of inflation on firm markups. We provide evidence that each of these three factors plays an independent role in influencing the responsiveness of markups to inflation. Although we find that the direct effect of inflation on markups is negative, offsetting positive influences of inflation on markups arise in industries that produce durable experience goods with flexible prices. Thus, our results indicate that markups of industries producing nondurable search goods with sticky prices tend to experience unambiguously negative impacts from inflation.
Synthesis and preliminary biological evaluation of MMP inhibitor radiotracers [11C]methyl-halo-CGS 27023A analogs, new potential PET breast cancer imaging agents

Abstract A series of [ 11 C]methyl-halo-CGS 27023A analogs (2-F, 1a ; 4-F, 1b ; 2-Cl, 1c ; 3-Cl, 1d ; 4-Cl, 1e ; 2-Br, 1f ; 3-Br, 1g ; 4-Br, 1h ; 4-I, 1i ), novel radiolabeled matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitors, have been synthesized for evaluation as new potential positron emission tomography (PET) breast cancer imaging agents. The precursors halo-CGS 27023A analogs (2-F, 6a ; 4-F, 6b ; 2-Cl, 6c ; 3-Cl, 6d ; 4-Cl, 6e ; 2-Br, 6f ; 3-Br, 6g ; 4-Br, 6h ; 4-I, 6i ) for radiolabeling were obtained in four steps from starting material amino acid D-valine with moderate to excellent chemical yields. Precursors were labeled by [ 11 C]methyl triflate through 11 C-O-methylation method at the aminohydroxyl position under basic conditions and isolated by solid-phase extraction (SPE) purification to produce pure target compounds in 40–60% radiochemical yields (decay corrected to end of bombardment), in 20–25 min synthesis time.
Imidazoles Suppress Rat Testosterone Secretion and Testicular Interstitial Fluid Formation In Vivo

The aim of these studies was to examine the effects of imidazoles on testosterone secretion and testicular interstitial fluid (TIF) formation through measurement of serum LH, serum testosterone, TIF testosterone, and TIF volumes. Imidazole, 1-methylimidazole, 4-methylimidazole (4-MI), and ketoconazole, an oral imidazole antifungal agent, caused dose-dependent decreases in testosterone secretion and TIF formation. Imidazole, 2-methylimidazole, and 4-MI decreased LH secretion. 4-MI decreased testosterone secretion 1-6 h after injection, increased testosterone at 8-16 h, decreased LH secretion at 4 h, decreased TIF volumes at 1-8 h, and slightly increased TIF volumes at 24 h. 4-MI blocked the stimulatory effects of hCG on testosterone secretion and prevented an expected increase in LH secretion after the 4-MI-induced decrease in testosterone secretion. 4-MI also reversed the effects of three other stimulants of testosterone secretion that presumably act through three different testicular regulatory systems: N-methyl-D,L-aspartate, an excitatory amino acid; N G -nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor; and naltrexone, an opioid antagonist. These results support the hypothesis that imidazoles inhibit testicular function and male reproductive function through inhibition of testosterone secretion, TIF formation, and LH secretion regulatory systems.
Decreased survival of black Americans with testicular cancer

AbstractPurpose: A 14-year review of 215 consecutive patients with testicular cancer at the University of Illinois hospitals revealed that 25% were black. This large experience with this relatively rare cancer in black men provides a unique opportunity to compare the disease stage at presentation, histological tumor type and 5-year survival rates of black, white and Hispanic men.Materials and Methods: We reviewed the records of patients with a diagnosis of testicular cancer treated at University of Illinois hospitals. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate actuarial 5-year survival rates.Results: The overall percentages of white, black and Hispanic men were 55 (119 men), 25 (53) and 18% (38), respectively. We found no significant differences in tumor types among the 3 racial groups. Overall 42 and 58% of the patients had seminoma and nonseminoma, respectively. Black men with some types of cancer have been shown to present with higher stages of disease but we noted no differences in clinical stage a...
Comparison of Long‐Term Renal Hemodynamic Effects of Methyldopa and Propranolol in Patients with Hypertension and Renal Insufficiency

: Studies were carried out in 15 patients with renal insufficiency and hypertension to compare the long-term effects of methyldopa and propranolol on renal hemodynamics. Inulin and PAH clearance measurements were made under baseline conditions and four to six months of antihypertensive therapy with each of the two drugs. Eight of the 15 patients (group I) were started on methyldopa and then switched to propranolol; and in the other seven (group II), the sequence was reversed. There were no statistical differences in blood pressure or inulin or PAH clearances under baseline conditions between the two groups of patients. Blood pressure was controlled equally with the two drugs in combination with furosemide. In group I, there was no significant effect of either antihypertensive drug on inulin clearance, but PAH clearance was significantly higher during methyldopa than propranolol therapy. In group II, the same higher PAH clearance was found with methyldopa, even though the sequence of drug administration was opposite to that of group I. Challenge with iv furosemide resulted in a greater 3-hour natriuresis during methyldopa than propranolol treatment. The observations indicate that glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is not significantly affected by long-term treatment with methyldopa or propranolol but that renal plasma flow (RPF) is higher during treatment with methyldopa in patients with renal insufficiency and hypertension. The higher RPF apparently enhances the acute natriuretic effect of iv furosemide.
Stable uranium(VI) methyl and acetylide complexes and the elucidation of an inverse trans influence ligand series.

Thermally stable uranium(VI)–methyl and −acetylide complexes: UVIOR[N(SiMe3)2]3 R = −CH3, −C≡CPh were prepared in which coordination of the hydrocarbyl group is directed trans to the uranium–oxo multiple bond. The stability of the uranium–carbon bond is attributed to an inverse trans influence. The hydrocarbyl complexes show greater ITI stabilization than that of structurally related UVIOX[N(SiMe3)2]3 (X = F–, Cl–, Br–) complexes, demonstrated both experimentally and computationally. An inverse trans influence ligand series is presented, developed from a union of theoretical and experimental results and based on correlations between the extent of cis-destabilization, the complexes stabilities toward electrochemical reduction, the thermodynamic driving forces for U═O bond formation, and the calculated destabilization of axial σ* and π* antibonding interactions.
A facile method to determine the CO2/O2 specificity factor for ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase

A rapid method to determine the CO2/O2 specificity factor of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase is presented. The assay measures the amount of CO2 and O2 fixation at varying CO2/O2 ratios to determine the relative rates of each reaction. CO2 fixation is measured by the incorporation of the moles of14CO2 into 3-phosphoglycerate, while O2 fixation is determined by subtraction of the moles of CO2 fixed from the moles of RuBP consumed in each reaction. By analyzing the inorganic phosphate specifically hydrolyzed from RuBP under alkaline conditions, the amount of RuBP present before and after catalysis by rubisco can be determined.
Nuclear degeneration in epidermal cells of drying onion bulb leaf bases

Abstract We tested the null hypothesis ‘that activated nuclei and nucleoli in outer-epidermal cells of newly exposed equatorial tissue of the turgid leaf bases of white onions (exposed to the ambient atmosphere by removal of two dry and two turgid leaf bases) remained in that state as the tissue dried’ by following nuclear macromolecules (total nucleic acid, DNA, RNA, total protein, histone, and non-histone protein: compared with T0 = 100%) and nucleolar morphologies over a 5-day period. The nuclei became activated within 6 h and remained in that state for 2–3 days [increases in RNA, non-histone protein, and volume of major nucleoli occurred by T12 (about 191, 177, and 289%, respectively) and appearance of the minor nucleoli between T12 and T24 (activation of silent rRNA cistrons)]. Combined nucleolar (major and minor) volumes decreased to 228% by T24 and to 150% by T48. Minor nucleoli were visible at T24 and T48. DNA (DAPI) remained unchanged over that period of time. At the T96 sampling, all nuclear indices had decreased to levels below those obtained at the time of exposure to the ambient atmosphere; minor rRNA cistrons had became silent genes; nuclear volume was about 89% of the original volume; and, nucleolar volume (major nucleoli) was about 93%. The percentages for nuclear indices at T120 were DNA, 85% of T0; RNA, 35%; histone, 87%; non-histone protein, 47%; nuclear volume, 81%; and nucleolar volume, 67%. Of interest is the lack of change in major nucleolar morphologies between T96 and T120 although they decreased in volume during that period. We infer that the karyoskeleton (nuclear matrix) had undergone irreversible degeneration after T48 and that the cells had passed the point-of-no-return in the senescence pathway by T120. We propose that this model for cell senescence and death (drying of turgid leaf bases to form the dry, dead outer covering of the bulbs) simulates post-harvest storage conditions and will prove helpful to those studying cellular senescence mechanisms and associated host-pathogen interactions in plants.