cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Brugia pahangi: effects of maternal filariasis on the responses of their progeny to homologous challenge infection.

Abstract Granulomatous lesion formation and immune responses to Brugia pahangi infections were compared in age-matched male progeny of homologously infected and uninfected female jirds. Infections initiated in 2-week-old offspring yielded X ± SD adult worm recoveries of 6.0 ± 5.7 and 4.2 ± 5.4 in offspring from infected or uninfected mothers, respectively. Infections initiated in 4-week-old offspring resulted in an X ± SD recovery of adult worms of 11.3 ± 11.3 and 10.2 ± 5.8 in offspring from infected and uninfected mothers, respectively. The ratio of intralymphatic thrombi per intralymphatic worm was similar between infected offspring from infected or uninfected mothers within experiments. Areas of granulomas around B. pahangi antigen-coated beads embolized in the lungs were not significantly affected by maternal origin in infected or uninfected progeny. Offspring infected at 2 or 4 weeks of age from infected mothers exhibited significantly reduced titers of serum IgG antibodies to Brugia antigens at 5–8 weeks postinfection compared to infected offspring of uninfected mothers. Infected offspring from infected mothers also had significantly fewer splenic IgG plaque-forming cells to B. pahangi antigens at 5 weeks postinfection than similarly infected offspring from uninfected mothers. Western immunoblot analysis indicated qualitative and quantitative reductions in serum antibody reactivity to adult B. pahangi antigens in infected progeny of infected females compared to age-matched infected controls. Reduced homologous serum antibody responses in progeny exposed to maternal B. pahangi infection suggest that maternal immunoregulation to filarial antigens may occur. Reduced antibody responsiveness to B. pahangi antigens observed in infected offspring from infected mothers, however, had no demonstrable effect on adult worm burdens, microfilaremias, lymphatic lesion formation, or antigen-specific granulomatous inflammatory responses compared to infected progeny of uninfected mothers.
Narrative Review: Evolving Concepts in Potassium Homeostasis and Hypokalemia

Humans are intermittently exposed to large variations in potassium intake, which range from periods of fasting to ingestion of potassium-rich meals. These fluctuations would abruptly alter plasma potassium concentration if not for rapid mechanisms, primarily in skeletal muscle and the liver, that buffer the changes in plasma potassium concentration by means of transcellular potassium redistribution and feedback control of renal potassium excretion. However, buffers have capacity limits, and even robust feedback control mechanisms require that the perturbation occur before feedback can initiate corrective action. In contrast, feedforward control mechanisms sense the effect of disturbances on the system's homeostasis. This review highlights recent experimental insights into the participation of feedback and feedforward control mechanisms in potassium homeostasis. New data make clear that feedforward homeostatic responses activate when decreased potassium intake is sensed, even when plasma potassium concentration is still within the normal range and before frank hypokalemia ensues, in addition to the classic feedback activation of renal potassium conservation when plasma potassium concentration decreases. Given the clinical importance of dyskalemias in patients, these novel experimental paradigms invite renewed clinical inquiry into this important area.
Platelets from pooled buffy coats: an update.

From the American Red Cross Blood Services, Penn-Jersey Region, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Address reprint requests to: Scott Murphy, MD, Chief Medical Officer, American Red Cross Blood Services, 700 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123; e-mail: smurphy@usa.redcross.org. Received for publication December 3, 2004; revision received December 16, 2004, and accepted December 17, 2004. TRANSFUSION 2005;45:634-639. R E V I E W
Parasystolic Accelerated Idioventricular Rhythms Producing Bidirectional Tachycardia Patterns

Two patients with digitalis toxicity had markedly irregular accelerated idioventricular rhythms that were parasystolic in nature. The relatively abrupt appearance of extrasystoles with different morphologies resulted in patterns of the so-called rapid and “slow” bidirectional ventricular tachycardias.The parasystolic rhythms seemed to have been classic rather than modulated since nonparasystolic beats occurring in different moments of the cycle failed to affect the latter in the expected, predictable manner. It is possible for the existence of marked, spontaneous variations of the degree of automatic activity to interfere with the diagnosis of parasystolic modulation.
Magnetic circular dichroism spectra of the halogen molecules, I2, Br2 and Cl2. Resolution of overlapping O+u (3II) and 1II bands

Abstract The magnetic circular dichroism spectra of the halogen molecules I2, Br2 and Cl2 were investigated in solutions. The spectral region studied was 800-250 nm. The MCD spectra were interpreted successfully in terms of the transitions to the states 1u(3II) and 1II. The major result is the resolution of the overlapping contributions from O+u(3II) and 1II.
Prestorage pooled whole-blood-derived leukoreduced platelets stored for seven days, preserve acceptable quality and do not show evidence of a mixed lymphocyte reaction.

BACKGROUND: Prestorage pooling of whole-blood–derived PCs (WBD-PCs) would be advantageous to transfusion services in that it would make the product available in a more timely manner, reduce wastage of untransfused pools, and simplify bacterial screening by allowing testing of the pool rather than each single PLT concentrate (PC). STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Four to six individual leukoreduced PCs were pooled into a 1.5-L CLX-HP PLT storage bag using a sterile connecting device. Controls were individual prestorage leukoreduced PCs that were stored as single products. Products were sampled on Days 5 and 7 for measures of PLT quality; coagulation, fibrinolytic and complement activation; and for evidence of a mixed lymphocyte reaction. RESULTS: The pH level was well maintained to Day 7 with no prestorage pool having a pH below 6.7. Day 7 studies showed no evidence of coagulation or difference in complement activation. F1.2 levels did not differ between Days 5 and 7, but a 10- to 15-percent increase in C3a des-Arg was observed between these days in all product types. Day 7 activated lymphocyte surface markers (CD69, CD71, HLA-DR) were all at lower limits of detection in the prestorage pooled products, and levels of supernatant cytokines were either not different between product types on either study day or, if different, were lower in the prestorage pooled products. CONCLUSION: There is no evidence of a deterioration in quality, activation of coagulation or complement, or a mixed lymphocyte reaction attributable to the prestorage pooling process with up to 7 days of storage.
The effect of environmental factors on floating fresh marsh end-of-season biomass.

Abstract We used both stepwise and quantile regression to determine the sources of environmental variation that explained the observed inter-annual variation in end-of-season freshwater floating marsh aboveground biomass over an 18-year period. The vegetation at our study site had high species diversity with an average of 20 species recorded from 10 0.25 m−2 plots. However, Panicum hemitomon was clearly the dominant contributing 74% of the total biomass. Only three other species (Solidago sempervirens, Vigna luteola, and Thelypteris palustris) were so common that they were sampled in all years. We expected that the most important factors controlling interannual variation in aboveground biomass are temperature and nitrogen availability. We also expected that nitrogen availability to the plants is affected by water movement through and under the mat driven by precipitation (lower N), evaporation (transportation of higher N waters to roots), and local runoff (higher N). Stepwise regression analysis indicated that P. hemitomon average biomass was negatively related to average water level and positively related to maximum water level and had a curvilinear response with TKN. Using quantile regression the best fit for P. hemitomon maximum-biomass with two parameters was obtained using hot days (positive relationship) and maximum water level (negative relationship). Both analytical methods showed maximum water level (negative relationship) and cold front passage (positive relationship) to be the environmental parameters that best explained interannual variation in S. sempervirens biomass. V. luteola biomass was positively related to temperature. Stepwise regression added chloride concentration as an additional positive parameter explaining V. luteola biomass, while quantile regression identified nitrogen as an important positive parameter. Both analytical methods identified pH, TKN, and water level as environmental parameters that were negatively correlated with T. palustris biomass. The overall negative effect of water level on all species was unexpected in this floating mat system. We initially assumed that higher water levels were due to higher runoff which should have a positive effect on biomass. However, higher water levels may also be related to a higher retention time in this fresh-water tidal system, which decreases water exchange and nutrient replenishment.
The Working Alliance in Group Counseling: An Exploratory Study:

The working alliance is a well-defined component of the therapeutic relationship. The present exploratory study examined the development of the working alliance within a group counseling context. The participants (N = 50) were students in a graduate program in mental health counseling taking an experiential training course in group dynamics. Participants rated their perceptions of the working alliance at the end of each session in a time-limited training group. Group members' perceptions of their alliance with the group leader and the group as a whole were positively correlated. Outcomes of the group experience were strongly related to the perceived strength of the working alliance as early as the fourth session. Outcomes were also positively correlated with the bonding and agreement-on-goals aspects of the working alliance, but not with the group tasks aspect. The more that group members reported strong working alliances, the more they tended to report that they had self-disclosed in the group.
Development of a spin-glass model of prebiotic evolution: environmental effects on ensembles of genetic polymers.

We develop in two ways an existing spin-glass model of prebiotic polymer evolution. First, by choosing the environment J in a prescribed manner, similar to neural network presciptions, we may create an environment which favors a linearly independent set of evolutionary niches { E α }. That is, we may control which polymer “species” will evolve in our system. Computer simulations confirm this result. We obtain a quantitative value for the sharpness of a niche. Second, we extend the model by allowing a surviving polymer to act upon—to “remold”—its environment; the nature of the environmental action is governed by the “molding” matrix M . When the mold M is the identity matrix, the feedback algorithm reduces to a Hebb learning algorithm form, and a surviving polymer acts to enhance its own survival prospects. Molds having a structure analogous to (temporal) associative memories in neural networks can generate autocatalytic species or can exhibit symbiotic interspecies relationships.
Mechanical deformation of carbon-nanotube-based aerogels

Abstract We compare deformation behavior of conventional carbon and carbon-nanotube (CNT) based aerogels with monolith densities of 30–300 mg cm −3 . Results show that CNT-based aerogels have superior elastic moduli, comparable failure stresses, and, hence, lower failure strains. The density scaling law exponents are statistically indistinguishable for both types of aerogels, suggesting the same ligaments connectivity. The superior elastic properties and lower failure strains of CNT-based aerogels are attributed to a higher stiffness of CNT-based ligaments, while comparable failure stresses are attributed to the common junction geometry. Practical implications of these findings are discussed.
Jinxy Jenkins and lucky Lou

When the chaotically unfortunate Jenkins and the monotonously lucky Lou run into each other one morning, they find a thrilling and fulfilling change of pace as they hurtle down the hills of San Francisco in an ice cream cart.
Evaluating consumer preferences for aquacultural products: An application to the U.S. crawfish industry

Abstract Conjoint analysis is used to evaluate consumer preferences for three consumer‐ready products derived from crawfish. Utility functions are estimated for each respondent in the sample and then used to identify three distinct market segments. Demographic and socioeconomic profiles are also developed for each market segment. The results show that women prefer a baked nugget or popper type product, whereas, 35 to 44‐year‐old men prefer a microwavable nugget or patty type product. The preferred product for the total market is a crawfish nugget formulated for both baking and microwaving.
A Review of Evidence Supporting the American Academy of Pediatrics Recommendation for Prescribing Cephalosporin Antibiotics for Penicillin-Allergic Patients

The American Academy of Pediatrics, evidence-based guidelines endorse the use of cephalosporin antibiotics for patients with reported allergies to penicillin, for the treatment of acute bacterial sinusitis and acute otitis media. Many physicians, however, remain reluctant to prescribe such agents. Although such concern is understandable, lack of consistent data regarding exactly what constitutes an initial penicillin-allergic reaction and subsequent cross-sensitivity to cephalosporins may be preventing many patients from receiving optimal antibiotic therapy. This article reviews evidence in support of the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation. Included is an examination of the types and incidence of reactions to penicillins and cephalosporins; the frequency of cross-reactivity between these 2 groups of agents; experimental and clinical studies that suggest that side chain-specific antibodies predominate in the immune response to cephalosporins, thereby explaining the lack of cross-sensitivity between most cephalosporins and penicillins; the role of skin testing; and the risks of anaphylaxis. Specific recommendations for the treatment of patients on the basis of their responses to previously prescribed agents are summarized.
Determinants of Homelessness in Metropolitan Areas

Why do rates of homelessness differ across metropolitan contexts? Only tentative answers to this question are provided by previous investigations due to their reliance on a limited range of setting...
Inoculation Against Falls: Rapid Adaptation by Young and Older Adults to Slips During Daily Activities

Abstract Pai Y-C, Bhatt T, Wang E, Espy D, Pavol MJ. Inoculation against falls: rapid adaptation by young and older adults to slips during daily activities. Objective To determine whether aging diminishes one's ability to rapidly learn to resist falls on repeated-slip exposure across different activities of daily living. Design Quasi-experimental controlled trial. Setting Two university-based research laboratories. Participants Young (n=35) and older (n=38) adults underwent slips during walking. Young (n=60) and older (n=41) adults underwent slips during a sit-to-stand task. All (N=174) were healthy and community dwelling. Intervention Low-friction platforms induced unannounced blocks of 2 to 8 repeated slips interspersed with blocks of 3 to 5 nonslip trials during the designated task. Main Outcome Measures The incidence of falls and balance loss. Dynamic stability (based on center of mass position and velocity) and limb support (based on hip height) 300ms after slip onset. Results Under strictly controlled, identical low-friction conditions, all participants experienced balance loss, but older adults were over twice as likely as young to fall on the first, unannounced, novel slip in both tasks. Independent of age or task, participants adapted to avoid falls and balance loss, with most adaptation occurring in early trials. By the fifth slip, the incidence of falls and balance loss was less than 5% and 15%, respectively, regardless of age or task. Reductions in falls and balance loss for each task were accomplished through improved control of stability and limb support in both age groups. A rapidly reversible age- and task-dependent waning of motor learning occurred after a block of nonslip trials. Adaptation to walk slips reached a steady state in the second slip block regardless of age. Conclusions The ability to rapidly acquire fall-resisting skills on repeated-slip exposure remains largely intact at older ages and across functional activities. Thus, repeated-slip exposure might be broadly effective in inoculating older adults against falls.
Room-Temperature Fluorine-Induced Decrease in the Stability of Bromine and Iodine Intercalated Carbon Fibers

Upon exposure to room-temperature fluorine, intercalated carbon fibers (containing either bromine alone or iodine and bromine together) become heavier and less stable. For Amoco P-100 graphitized carbon fibers, which were intercalated with 18 wt percent bromine, 1 hour of fluorine exposure resulted in a large weight increase but caused only a small decrease in thermal stability. An additional 89 hours of fluorine exposure time resulted in small additional increases in fiber weight, but significant further decreases in fiber thermal stability. Such phenomena of weight increase and stability decrease do not occur if the intercalated fibers are exposed to 250 C fluorine. These observations suggest that, at room temperature, fluorine is absorbed quickly by the intercalated fibers and is intercalated slowly into the fibers. Most of the original intercalates are replaced by fluorine in the process of fluorine intercalation. In an inert environment, the bromine intercalated fibers are much more thermally stable. After 800 C vacuum heating for 2 weeks, the brominated fibers lost about 45% of their bromine, and their resistivity increased from 64 mu(Omega)-cm to a range of 95-170 mu(Omega)-cm. This is still much lower than the value of 300 mu(Omega)-cm for pristine P-100. For practical purposes, to preserve their thermal stability, brominated fibers need to be protected from exposure to fluorine at room temperature or to any intercalate at a temperature where, upon direct contact with graphite, an intercalation compound can easily be formed.
Amphiphilic styrene-acrylic acid copolymers from the free-radical retrograde-precipitation polymerization (FRRPP) process

The free-radical retrograde-precipitation polymerization (or FRRPP) process, a free-radical polymerization that occurs above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST), was extended to copolymer formation. Control over the rate of polymerization and entrapment of polymer radicals in the FRRPP process was used to generate tapered styrene–acrylic acid block copolymers. To show the effectiveness of the FRRPP process, the same procedure was used with solvents that are not LCST-based precipitants for the polymer. Kinetic data show substantial chain termination in non-FRRPP copolymerization systems. Molecular weight information also shows propagation control in the FRRPP system. Solubilization and emulsification studies also indicate the capability of the FRRPP system in generating a much higher proportion of amphiphilic tapered block copolymers in the solid product. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 426–431, 2003
Variational Methods and Degenerate Perturbation Theory

Variational methods related to degenerate perturbation theory are discussed in a general way through second order in the energy and first order in the wavefunction.
Quasi-continuum analysis of phase transformations in shape memory alloys

There are three inherent length scales associated with the shape memory phenomena. At the continuum length scale, we can describe the global response of a shape memory material in a phenomenological sense. At the other end, in the atomic length scale, the motion of atoms (diffusionless, in this case) causing the phase change can be studied by experiments (both physical and numerical). In between the two length scales lies the mesoscopic length scale wherein the microstructure is the dominating material feature. In order to study the phase transformation and the associated microstructure at this scale, we adopt a recently proposed technique called the quasicontinuum method. This technique marries the continuum and atomic length scales.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Structural Mapping of the Ryanodine Receptor Type 1 Using A Fret-Based Method

The type 1 ryanodine receptor (RyR1) mediates excitation contraction coupling in skeletal muscle by releasing stored intracellular calcium in response to cellular depolarization. This 2.2 MDa homotetrameric protein is associated with numerous regulatory proteins that modulate its activity in vivo. Understanding the structure and conformational dynamics of this immense macromolecular complex is an enormous challenge in skeletal muscle biology. In this report, structural determinations of RyR1 were performed using Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) measurements. In this system, the FRET donor was green fluorescent protein (GFP) fused to RyR1, which could then transfer energy to Cy3NTA, a site-specific FRET acceptor targeted to poly-histidine segments inserted into RyR1. Energy transfer was monitored as a decrease in GFP fluorescence occurring when Cy3NTA was bound to a His tag in close proximity to the GFP donor fused either to position 1 or position 618 of RyR1. Cy3NTA was targeted to each of three “divergent regions” (DR) poorly conserved among the three RyR isoforms (DR1; position 4430, DR2; position 1323, DR3; position 1861). While minimal FRET was detected between N-terminally fused GFP and Cy3NTA targeted to these divergent regions, significant energy transfer was detected from GFP at position 618 to Cy3NTA targeted to DR2 or DR3. These experiments indicate that these donor and acceptor sites are in close proximity to each other and also demonstrate the utility of this FRET-based technique for further structural mapping of RyR1. (Supported by NIH grant R21ARO56406).
Photolithographic micromolding of ceramics using plasma etched polyimide patterns

Features as fine as 4 μm with high aspect ratio were produced from ceria‐zirconia ceramic using a thick plasma‐etched polyimide layer as a micromold.
Remote Raman sensor system for testing of rocks and minerals

Recent and future explorations of Mars and lunar surfaces through rovers and landers have spawned great interest in developing an instrument that can perform in-situ analysis of minerals on planetary surfaces. Several research groups have anticipated that for such analysis, Raman spectroscopy is the best suited technique because it can unambiguously provide the composition and structure of a material. A remote pulsed Raman spectroscopy system for analyzing minerals was demonstrated at NASA Langley Research Center in collaboration with the University of Hawaii. This system utilizes a 532 nm pulsed laser as an excitation wavelength, and a telescope with a 4-inch aperture for collecting backscattered radiation. A spectrograph equipped with a super notch filter for attenuating Rayleigh scattering is used to analyze the scattered signal. To form the Raman spectrum, the spectrograph utilizes a holographic transmission grating that simultaneously disperses two spectral tracks on the detector for increased spectral range. The spectrum is recorded on an intensified charge-coupled device (ICCD) camera system, which provides high gain to allow detection of inherently weak Stokes lines. To evaluate the performance of the system, Raman standards such as calcite and naphthalene are analyzed. Several sets of rock and gemstone samples obtained from Ward s Natural Science are tested using the Raman spectroscopy system. In addition, Raman spectra of combustible substances such acetone and isopropanol are also obtained. Results obtained from those samples and combustible substances are presented.
Developmental Considerations in the Treatment of School-Age Boys with ADHD: An Example of a Group Treatment Approach

Child psychiatrists receive many referrals for school-age boys with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Many are treated successfully with psychopharmacological agents (Taylor et al., 1987). Many others have only limited response to medications or to traditional cognitive-behavioral approaches (Hinshaw et al., 1989; Pelham et al., 1993). Some of these patients may have concurrent learning disabilities or behavioral (Biederman et al., 1991) and family problems (Marshall et al., 1990). But because ofour success in treating ADHD in these usual ways, we sometimes do not employ all we know as child psychiatrists to help us when things do not go so well. Bringing to bear a psychodynamically informed developmental approach may be an additional consideration in helping some patients. T o illustrate how this might be done, I will describe the conceptual basis and overall processes of a year-long therapy group with boys with ADHD who had not done well with usual approaches. The hope is to provide the clinician with a clinical vignette to illustrate principles that might be useful in working with such patients. This is not a treatment or outcome study, but instead it is an illustration of an approach to ADHD which places its treatment in the context of emotional and psychological development. As such, it does not attempt to present data or make firm conclusions, but rather, to outline principles and methods. Although a review of the literature on cognitive-behavioral and psychosocial treatment is beyond the scope of this clinical perspective, there is a large and significant body of literature on this subject that provides a greater theoretical context for this approach (for reviews see Whalen and Henker, 1991a,b).
Fast millimeter-wave beam training with receive beamforming

This paper proposes fast millimeter-wave (mm-wave) beam training protocols with receive beamforming. Both IEEE standards and the academic literature have generally considered beam training protocols involving exhaustive search over all possible beam directions for both the beamforming initiator and responded However, this operation requires a long time (and thus overhead) when the beamwidth is quite narrow such as for mm-wave beams (1° in the worst case). To alleviate this problem, we propose two types of adaptive beam training protocols for fixed and adaptive modulation, respectively, which take into account the unique propagation characteristics of millimeter waves. For fixed modulation, the proposed protocol allows for interactive beam training, stopping the search when a local maximum of the power angular spectrum is found that is sufficient to support the chosen modulation/coding scheme. We furthermore suggest approaches to prioritize certain directions determined from the propagation geometry, long-term statistics, etc. For adaptive modulation, the proposed protocol uses iterative multi-level beam training concepts for fast link configuration that provide an exhaustive search with significantly lower complexity. Our simulation results verify that the proposed protocol performs better than traditional exhaustive search in terms of the link configuration speed for mobile wireless service applications.
Pituitary lactotrophs endocrine, paracrine, juxtacrine, and autocrine interactions

The synthesis and release of PRL by the lactotrophs is subjected to multiple regulators that are classified into four categories: endocrine, paracrine, juxtacrine, and autocrine. Endocrine agents originate from the hypothalamus, gonads, and the posterior pituitary. Paracrine factors are produced by cells of the intermediate and anterior lobes. Juxtacrine transmitters arise from extracellular matrix and cells adjacent to the lactotrophs. Autocrine agents are synthesized by the lactotrophs themselves. Consequently, the overall secretory activity of the lactotrophs reflects a balance between local and distant releasing and inhibiting factors.
Neuritic Dystrophy and Neuronopathy in Akita (Ins2Akita) Diabetic Mouse Sympathetic Ganglia

Diabetic autonomic neuropathy is a debilitating, poorly studied complication of diabetes. Our previous studies of non-obese diabetic (NOD) and related mouse models identified rapidly developing, dramatic pathology in prevertebral sympathetic ganglia; however, once diabetic, the mice did not survive for extended periods needed to examine the ability of therapeutic agents to correct established neuropathy. In the current manuscript we show that the Akita (Ins2Akita) mouse is a robust model of diabetic sympathetic autonomic neuropathy with unambiguous, spontaneous, rapidly-developing neuropathology which corresponds closely to the characteristic pathology of other rodent models and man. Akita mice diabetic for 2, 4 or 8 months of diabetes progressively developed markedly swollen axons and dendrites (“neuritic dystrophy”) in the prevertebral superior mesenteric (SMG) and celiac ganglia (CG). Comparable changes failed to develop in the superior cervical ganglia (SCG) of the Akita mouse or in any ganglia of non-diabetic mice. Morphometric studies demonstrate an overall increase in presynaptic axon terminal cross sectional area, including those without any ultrastructural features of dystrophy. Neurons in Akita mouse prevertebral sympathetic ganglia show an unusual perikaryal alteration characterized by the accumulation of membranous aggregates and minute mitochondria and loss of rough endoplasmic reticulum. These changes result in the loss of a third of neurons in the CG over the course of 8 months of diabetes. The extended survival of diabetic mice and robust pathologic findings provide a clinically relevant paradigm that will facilitate the analysis of novel therapeutic agents on the reversal of autonomic neuropathy.
Orthogonal arrays of microtubules in flattening cells of the epidermis.

Microtubules, 210–230 A in diameter and many microns in length, with an associated “clear zone” around them, 450–550 A in diameter, are demonstrated in large numbers in cells of the Stratum Granulosum of newborn rat epidermis. Few microtubules are found in the uppermost portion of the Stratum Granulosum nor are they found above this layer in the Stratum Corneum. Few microtubules are found in the germinal cells of the epidermis. Upon entering the Stratum Granulosum, cells undergo shape changes involving elongation and flattening. Microtubules have elsewhere been implicated in whole cell movement and in the movement of portions of cytoplasm, including specifically cell elongation and the related functions of maintenance of asymmetric cell shapes and projections. Evidence is presented here in support of the hypothesis that microtubules are the basic cytoplasmic structure responsible for this motility. Two cortical arrays of microtubules, parallel and orthogonal in orientation, are demonstrated at different stages of cell flattening in epidermis. If the mode of action of microtubules is undulation and resulting “intracytoplasmic peristalis,” these orthogonal arrays represent a mechanism for the formation of the shape of squamous cells. The similar orientations of microtubule populations in many cells would seem to indicate that microtubule undulation and the resulting interaction between neighboring cells accounts for the transmission of axes of orientation between cells.
Group Size Effects on Conformity

Summary A field experiment is reported which tests the hypothesis that conformity is an increasing concave downward function of the numerosity of a unanimous influence source. Thirty-three student Es presented petitions containing zero, four, eight, or 12 previous signatures to 300 male and female college students. The probability of signing increased from zero to four signatures, then leveled off. These results, as well as those of two pilot studies, generally support the hypothesis. A two factor theory of the effects of group size on conformity is proposed.
The complex nature of juvenile court judges’ transfer decisions: A study of judicial attitudes

Abstract A fundamental premise behind the judicial transfer (used in 46 of 50 states) decision is that serious and repeat juvenile offenders have little or no chance of rehabilitation in the Juvenile Justice System. Those juveniles who are considered “untreatable” are believed to be best dealt with by criminal justice sentencing practices that emphasize retribution and deterrence. A survey was administered to juvenile court judges (1,040) across the United States to explore the possible role of attitudes on judicial transfer decisions. The findings indicate that judges’ attitudes as well as other factors such as type and severity of abuse, the type of weapon used in an offense, the number of participants involved, and the use of a drug affect their transfer decisions. Importantly, the results also suggest that in addition to legal factors judicial transfer decisions may be affected by a complex array of socio-cultural and psychological factors.
Some Computational Experiences Using Embedding Technique for Ground‐Water Management

A distributed parameter ground-water management model was developed using finite-difference approximations of the governing partial differential equation for ground-water flow in a confined aquifer. The resulting system of simultaneous equations was embedded in an optimization model, which used hydraulic heads and pumpages as unknown state variables and decision variables, respectively. The model was applied to several hypothetical examples of varying size and complexity and to one real-world example, the Las Vegas Valley aquifer. The grid spacing, time increment, bounds placed on pumpage, and the number of constraints were found to affect not only the execution time, but also whether the model would execute at all. In order to accommodate long-term management goals, a lumped transient model should be used which incorporates all time periods the model encompasses. Some objective functions, such as the maximization of the head, can be executed in a stepwise manner in which the final heads from the current period are used as the initial heads for the next period. The embedding technique proved useful for small management problems, but had numerical difficulties with the large real-world problems of considerable heterogeneity. Unless the embedding technique can become computationally efficient and stable, it should be bypassed in favor of the response matrix approach.
Flow serration in a Zr-based bulk metallic glass in compression at low strain rates

It is demonstrated that at slow strain rates ({approx} 10{sup -4} s{sup -1}) in compression, the dominant room temperature macroscopic deformation mode in a ductile Zr-based bulk metallic glass is single shear along the principal shear plane. The stress-strain curve exhibited serrated flow in the plastic region. Scanning electron micrographs of the deformed samples revealed regularly spaced striations on the shear surface. A detailed analysis of the observed serrations disclosed that they were intimately related to the striations on the shear surface, suggesting that the serrations were mainly caused by intermittent sample sliding. Further investigations were conducted using in situ compression experiments; video images showed that there was indeed a one-to-one correspondence between the intermittent sliding and flow serration. The current study therefore suggests that flow serration is a result of intermittent sample sliding. This result also implies that the principal shear plane, once formed, is the preferential site for additional shear band formation
Properties of vapor detector arrays formed through plasticization of carbon black-organic polymer composites.

Arrays of vapor detectors have been formed through addition of varying mass fractions of the plasticizer diethylene glycol dibenzoate to carbon black−polymer composites of poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) or of poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone). Addition of plasticizer in 5% mass fraction increments produced 20 compositionally different detectors from each polymer composite. Differences in vapor sorption and permeability that effected changes in the dc electrical resistance response of these compositionally different detectors allowed identification and classification of various test analytes using standard chemometric methods. Glass transition temperatures, Tg, were measured using differential scanning calorimetry for plasticized polymers having a mass fraction of 0, 0.10, 0.20, 0.30, 0.40, or 0.50 of plasticizer in the composite. The plasticized PVAc composites with Tg 25 °C showed re...
Topological subtleties for molecular movies

Abstract Synchronous movies permit visual analysis of shape perturbation during molecular simulations. The molecule is conceptualized as a knot and modeled as a spline curve. As the molecule writhes, the graphics approximation in each frame should display an ambient isotopic image of the perturbing spline. These graphics approximations raise subtleties for correctly rendering the embedding. A cautionary example was discovered through visualization experiments and the relevant characteristics are formally proved.
Modified Aharonov-Bohm scattering from electroweak strings

Abstract When electrons scatter from an electroweak string, helicity is not conserved, contrary to the usual Aharanov-Bohm scattering. The scattering problem for the Dirac equation is solved in the background of an eletroweak string and the helicity changing amplitude is determined. The results apply also for GUT cosmic strings.
Assessing SEM contour based OPC models quality using rigorous simulation

OPC model of high quality relies on the accumulation of thousands of CD-SEM measurements with the drawback of long cycle time for data collection. Moreover regular CD measurements are not robust when dealing with critical bi-dimensional structures. In this paper, we propose to use SEM image contours for OPC model calibration and demonstrate the advantage in term of metrology work load. Two set of contours based on resist top and resist bottom measurements are extracted after lithography to generate simultaneously two OPC models. The performances of both models are evaluated with respect to rigorous S-Litho simulations. The model based on the resist bottom is very well matched with the rigorous simulation whereas the model based on resist top is not always following the rigorous simulation. It appears that resist thickness variations on specific hotspots is not compatible with the assumption of a simulated contour located in a single plane in resist.
Diode laser spectroscopy of Ar·SO2

Abstract The vibration-rotation spectrum of the Ar·SO 2 complex associated with the ν 3 vibrational mode of the SO 2 monomer has been observed. Several b -type subbands were observed and assigned. Rotational constants and structural data for the ground and excited vibrational states of the complex were determined. The observed b -type transitions do not directly exhibit the tunneling splitting observed in c -type pure rotational spectra for this complex. A small alternation in subband origin with K a quantum number is attributed to the change in the tunneling doubling upon vibrational excitation. Model potentials for this complex were utilized in interpreting these results.
Representations of quasi-Newton matrices and their use in limited memory methods

We derive compact representations of BFGS and symmetric rank-one matrices for optimization. These representations allow us to efficiently implement limited memory methods for large constrained optimization problems. In particular, we discuss how to compute projections of limited memory matrices onto subspaces. We also present a compact representation of the matrices generated by Broyden's update for solving systems of nonlinear equations.
Impact of early ventricular unloading on exercise performance in preadolescents with single ventricle Fontan physiology.

Abstract OBJECTIVES We sought to determine if early ventricular volume unloading improves aerobic capacity in patients with single ventricle Fontan physiology. BACKGROUND Surgical strategies for patients with single ventricle include intermediate staging or early Fontan completion to reduce the adverse affects of prolonged ventricular volume load. The impact of this strategy on exercise performance has not been evaluated. METHODS Retrospectively, we reviewed the exercise stress test results of all preadolescents with single ventricle Fontan physiology. “Volume unloading” was considered to have occurred at the time of bidirectional cavopulmonary anastomosis or at the time of Fontan surgery in those patients who did not undergo intermediate staging. Potential predictors of aerobic capacity were analyzed using multivariate regression. RESULTS The patients (n = 46) achieved a mean percentage predicted of maximal oxygen consumption (VO 2 max) of 76.1% ± 21.1%. The mean age at the time of volume unloading was 2.7 ± 2.4 years, and the mean age at testing was 8.7 ± 2 years. Intermediate staging was performed in 16 of 46 patients (35%). In multivariate analysis, younger age at volume unloading was associated with increased aerobic capacity (p = 0.003). Other variables were not predictive. The subgroup of patients who underwent volume unloading before two years of age achieved a mean percentage predicted VO 2 max of 88.6% ± 24.1%. CONCLUSIONS Preadolescents with single ventricle who undergo volume unloading surgery at an early age demonstrate superior aerobic capacity compared with those whose surgery is delayed until a later age.
Racial Profiling and the Political Demand for Data: A Pilot Study Designed to Improve Methodologies in Texas

We are currently witnessing a large-scale, national movement toward the mandated collection of traffic stop data by police. The intended goal of mandated data collection is the identification and e...
InGaAs superconducting JFETs with Nb electrodes

Summary form only given. The authors have fabricated InGaAs junction FETs with Nb source and drain electrodes with submicrometer spacings. The devices exhibit gate-controlled supercurrents as large as 8 mA/mm at 4.2 K. This value of controlled supercurrent is larger than any previously reported for superconducting field-effect devices. The channel material was n-type In/sub 0.53/Ga/sub 0.47/As, epitaxially grown by molecular beam epitaxy on InP substrates. Gate control was achieved using a p-n junction which was buried below the channel. This structure allowed the Nb superconductor to be deposited directly onto the freshly grown channel layer to insure a clean superconductor-semiconductor contact, which is essential for obtaining optimum superconducting properties. The superconducting electrodes were patterned by reactive ion etching. >
Interface for the TUNL VAX Data Acquisition Facility

A general description of the data acquisition interface in use with the Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory VAX 11/780 computer system is given. The system employs a special purpose computer, a Microprogrammed Branch Driver (MBD), to connect the VAX to a CAMAC Branch Highway. Data rates and initial operating experience with the system will be discussed.
A posteriori initial imperfection identification in shell buckling problems

The current research seeks to demonstrate that an inverse solution approach, leveraging nonlinear finite element analysis with a divide and conquer type stochastic search algorithm, can identify the presence of localized denting imperfections in cylindrical shell structures. This imperfection field identification is achieved using rather sparse displacement measurements taken at safe, service loading conditions. Both the existence and nature of the imperfection field present in a given shell structure instance are determined. These inferred imperfections are subsequently used to make reasonably accurate predictions regarding the actual shell structure strength at ultimate loading.
Grain structure analysis and implications on electromigration reliability for Cu interconnects

A recently developed precession electron diffraction (PED) technique in transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was employed to characterize the grain orientation and grain boundaries for Cu interconnects of the 45 nm node. The results showed a strong &#60;111gt; and &#60;110gt; textures along the width and the thickness of the line, respectively and a low fraction of coherent twin boundaries. The microstructure characteristics were applied to evaluate the grain structure effect on electromigration (EM) reliability. We first extracted the interfacial diffusivity components for (111), (110), and (100) surfaces and the averaged grain boundary diffusivity by analyzing the resistance traces observed in EM tests. Then the flux divergence at the triple points of grain boundary intersecting the interface was calculated to identify potential voiding sites. Similar analysis was extended to via/line regions to evaluate the flux divergence for slit void formation and to assess the probability of EM early failure.
Screening Procedure for Sodium Fluoroacetate (Compound 1080) at Sub-microgram/gram Concentrations in Soils

Abstract Sodium fluoroacetate (Compound 1080) is readily quantitated at sub-microgram per gram concentrations in small (ca. 1 g) soil samples. Samples are ultrasonically extracted with water, which is then partitioned with hexane, and acidified prior to re-extraction with ethyl acetate. The latter is taken to dryness in the presence of triethanolamine “keeper”, and the resulting acid is derivatized with pentafluorobenzyl bromide. Quantitation is performed using a gas chromatograph equipped with an electron-capture detector. A standardized statistical protocol is used to validate a screening level of 0.2 μg Compound 1080/g soil. Difluoroacetic, trifluoroacetic, and naturally-occurring formic acids do not interfere with the determination. The recovery for Compound 1080 was 40% from soil fortified to 0.2 μg/g soil.
Mutagenic activity of runoff and leachate water from hazardous waste land treatment

Abstract The mutagenic potential of runoff and leachate water from petroleum sludge-amended soils was determined using the Salmonella microsome assay and the Bacillus subtilis DNA repair assay. The runoff and leachate samples were collected from four different soils amended with an API-separator sludge from either a petroleum refinery or a petrochemical plant. While mutagenic activity was detected in a limited number of runoff and leachate samples, greater amounts of mutagenic activity were detected in the runoff water. The majority of samples which were toxic to Salmonella at low dose levels induced increased lethal damage to DNA repair-deficient strains of B. subtilis. Generally, the mutagenic activity of leachate water and the runoff water from two of the three soils decreased with time following waste application. The activity in the third soil did not decrease over the 3 years of observation. The amounts of activity released from the soil in the leachate and runoff water were small compared with other environmental exposures, indicating that while land treatment may allow some release to the environment, the impact is likely to be small. The results also indicate that microbial bioassays may prove to be a useful tool for environmental monitoring of land treatment facilities.