cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
β-alanine metabolism in the housefly, Musca domestica: Utilization in the early puparium

Abstract Aseptically reared houseflies in the early white puparium stage were injected with β-[1-14C]alanine, β-[2-14C]alanine, or β-[3-14C]alanine to study the utilization of β-alanine during pupal sclerotization. On analysis, less than 5 per cent of the radioactivity was expired as 14CO2 in 24 hours, and less than 1 per cent was incorporated into the total lipids from each of the radiolabelled compounds. β-Alanine labelled at carbons 1, 2, or 3 gave 1–2 per cent, 2–4 per cent, and 1–2 per cent respectively, in the aqueous fraction after amino-acid extraction. It was found that the radioactivity in the amino-acids decreased from about 60 per cent at 0.5 hour after injection to 10–20 per cent by 4 hours for each of the labelled compounds. The decline in amino-acid radioactivity had a corresponding elevation in activity incorporated into the residue; it increased from about 5 per cent to over 40 per cent in the same time period. From 4 to 24 hours after injection the amino-acid radioactivity remained relatively constant at about 10 per cent, while the radioactivity in the residue remained at 40–50 per cent.
Electrochemical characteristics of the Al2Cu, Al3Ta and Al3Zr intermetallic phases and their relevancy to the localized corrosion of Al alloys

Abstract The electrochemical behaviors of θ-Al 2 Cu phase, β-Al 3 Ta and, to a lesser extent, Al 3 Zr were compared to high purity Al in ambient temperature inert buffer solutions and, in certain cases, dilute halide solutions. The aim of this work is to develop a better understanding of electrochemical characteristics of these intermetallic phases. In particular, information was sought concerning (a) their galvanic couple relationship with respect to Al and (b) the relationship between the passive film formed on each phase and its ability to support both cathodic and anodic electron transfer reactions (ETR). The open circuit potentials (OCPs) of all three intermetallic phases were more positive than that of Al in inert solutions ranging from pH 2 to 12. The Al 2 Cu phase supports the reduction of water reaction at enhanced rates relative to pure Al due to the presence of metallic Cu o in an Al 2 O 3 rich oxide but supports oxygen evolution due to a combination of this effect as well as formation of more electrically conductive copper oxides. A similar effect is observed for Al 3 Ta and is attributed mainly to the formation of a more conductive mixed oxide containing Ta 2 O 5 .
Common genetic liability to major depression and posttraumatic stress disorder in men.

Background Major depression (MD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are highly comorbid. The degree to which a common genetic liability explains the etiology of the MD-PTSD association has not been quantified and has important implications for research and prevention.
Past adult lead exposure is linked to neurodegeneration measured by brain MRI

Objective: To determine whether cumulative lead dose in former organolead workers was associated with MRI measures of white matter lesions (WML) and global and structure-specific brain volumes. Methods: MRIs, tibia lead, and other measures were obtained from 532 former organolead workers with a mean age of 56 years and a mean of 18 years since last occupational exposure to lead. Cumulative lead dose was measured by tibia lead, obtained by X-ray fluorescence, and expressed as μg lead per gram of bone mineral (μg Pb/g). WML were evaluated using the Cardiovascular Health Study grading scale. A total of 21 global and specific brain regions were evaluated. Results: A total of 36% of individuals had WML grade of 1 to 7 (0 to 9 scale). Increasing peak tibia lead was associated with increasing WML grade ( p = 0.004). The adjusted OR for a 1 μg Pb/g increase in tibia lead was 1.042 (95% CI = 1.021, 1.063) for a CHS grade of 5+ (≥5 vs Conclusions: These data suggest that cumulative lead dose is associated with persistent brain lesions, and may explain previous findings of a progressive decline in cognitive function.
Mouse interferon messenger RNA: characterization of the Xenopus laevis oocyte translation product.

Abstract Mouse interferon messenger RNA was isolated from Newcastle disease virus-induced mouse Lpa cells and then translated in Xenopus laevis oocytes. The resulting oocyte homogenate containing translated interferon activity was unstable to treatment with 5 m urea and to repeated freeze/thaw cycles, and it was 1% cross-reactive on human cells, as was native mouse interferon. Both native mouse interferon and the mouse interferon produced by the translation of mouse interferon mRNA behaved almost similarly on CPG, poly(U)-Sepharose, and anti-mouse interferon antibody columns. When the oocyte-translated product was partially purified and analyzed on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels, it migrated as a major single band of activity at 21–22,000 daltons with a trailing edge at 22–30,000 daltons. Only minor activity was detected in the region of 35–40,000 daltons where the vast majority of the native mouse interferon migrated. Thus, the oocyte-translated mouse interferon product comigrated largely with the minor species of native mouse interferon with a little activity which corresponds with the larger molecular weight species of native mouse interferon.
Are the PR1 proteins of tobacco involved in genetically engineered resistance to TMV

Transgenic tobacco plants constitutively expressing the coat protein (CP) of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) exhibit enhanced resistance ot TMV (P. Powell Abel, R. S. Nelson, B. De, N. Hoffman, S. G. Rogers, R. T. Fraley, and R. N. Beachy, Science, 232, 738-743, 1986; R. S. Nelson, P. Powell Abel, and R. N. Beachy, Virology 158, 128-132, 1987). To determine if this enhanced resistance might be mediated through the PR1 family of pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins, their synthesis was examined. In transgenic plants derived from NN genotypic tobacco, a high proportion (approximately 80%) of those producing CP also expressed the PR1 genes at low levels. However, this correlation between TMV CP and PR1 gene expression was not observed in similarly transformed nn genotypic tobacco plants. Therefore, it appears unlikely that PR1 proteins play a critical role in genetically engineered resistance in transgenic plants producing TMV CP.
Cardiac Potentials on Body Surface of Infants with Anomalous Left Coronary Artery (Myocardial Infarction)

The body surface potential distribution in two infants with myocardial infarction secondary to anomalous origin of the left coronary from the pulmonary artery demonstrated: (1) the persistence of a minimum in the area overlying the infarct during inscription of the prominent Q wave in V6, and, (2) the presence of a terminal maximum in an adjacent area overlying the infarct. The terminal maximum was considered to represent peri-infarction "block" resulting from persistence of wave fronts in the ischemic muscle surrounding the infarct as suggested by the studies of Durrer and associates. Postoperatively, there was persistence of the initial minima overlying the area of the infarct. Finally, there was disappearance or marked diminution in the terminal maximum overlying the area of the infarct following surgical enhancement of myocardial blood supply.
A differential modification of the thermal maximum method for evaluating the enthalpies and rate constants of homogeneous reactions

Abstract Both the change of enthalpy associated with a reaction and the rate constant of the reaction can be found from the dependence on time of the difference between the temperatures of a reaction mixture and a reference solution contained in identical non-insulated vessels submerged in a thermostat. Heats of dilution and fluctuations of the temperature of the thermostat are cancelled by the differential arrangement, and the heat-transfer constant for the reaction vessel need not be known or measured separately, which is an important advantage over the classical thermal maximum method. For half-times between about 9 and 30 s and overall changes of temperature between 25 and 90 mK, relative standard deviations of a few per cent in both Δ H and k are easily attainable.
Role of soluble adenylyl cyclase in mitochondria.

Abstract The soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC) catalyzes the conversion of ATP into cyclic AMP (cAMP). Recent studies have shed new light on the role of sAC localized in mitochondria and its product cAMP, which drives mitochondrial protein phosphorylation and regulation of the oxidative phosphorylation system and other metabolic enzymes, presumably through the activation of intra-mitochondrial PKA. In this review article, we summarize recent findings on mitochondrial sAC activation by bicarbonate (HCO3−) and calcium (Ca2+) and the effects on mitochondrial metabolism. We also discuss putative mechanisms whereby sAC-mediated mitochondrial protein phosphorylation regulates mitochondrial metabolism. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: The role of soluble adenylyl cyclase in health and disease.
DETERMINATION OF DAILY SPERM PRODUCTION IN STALLION TESTES BY ENUMERATION OF GERM CELLS IN HOMOGENATES

Thirty adult stallion testes were selected with high (n = 15) and low (n = 15) Daily Sperm Production (DSP)/testis. Parenchymal samples were prepared for morphometric analysis, and the numbers of germ cells and Sertoli cells were determined. Testicular samples were homogenized, and germ cells and Sertoli cells were enumerated using phase contrast microscopy. Numbers of germ cells and Sertoli cells and potential DSP during spermatogenesis were determined. Significant correlations existed between morphometric and homogenate determinations of number per testis of preleptotene, leptotene plus zygotene primary spermatocytes (r = 0.58; P < 0.001), pachytene plus diplotene primary spermatocytes (r = 0.67; P < 0.0001), all primary spermatocytes (r = 0.67; P < 0.0001), round spermatids (r = 0.72; P < 0.0001), and Sertoli cells (r = 0.70; P < 0.0001). Significant correlations (P < 0.0001) existed between morphometric and homogenate determination of DSP/testis based on preleptotene, leptotene plus zygotene primary spermatocytes (r = 0.78), pachytene plus diplotene primary spermatocytes (r = 0.88), and round spermatids (r = 0.85). Using morphometric determination as the standard, the sensitivity (i.e., ability to detect low DSP/testis) and specificity (i.e., ability to detect high DSP/testis) by homogenate enumeration of germ cells was 81 and 93% for round spermatids, 100 and 24% for pachytene plus diplotene primary spermatocytes, and 67 and 87% for preleptotene, leptotene plus zygotene primary spermatocytes, respectively. Enumeration of primary spermatocytes in homogenates was less accurate than enumeration of round or elongated spermatids. Enumeration of round and elongated spermatids in homogenates was a rapid and useful method for determining DSP in horses, and it may prove to be a useful technique for quantitating potential DSP from testicular biopsies.
Number of Directors and Financial Performance: A Meta-Analysis

Although a host of theory-driven rationales suggest a relationship between board of directors size and firm performance, the literature provides no consensus about the direction of that relationship. A meta-analysis of 131 samples (N = 20,620) provided systematic evidence of nonzero, positive, true population estimates of board size-performance relationships.
Cultured rat microglia express C1q and receptor for C1q: implications for amyloid effects on microglia.

Abstract Senile plaques, the pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD), are associated with complement components, including C1q. Reactive microglia appear to be involved in the later stages of plaque development. Since tissue macrophages are known to synthesize C1q, cultured rat microglia were examined for C1q immunoreactivity. Anti-C1q staining was detected, particularly in process-bearing microglia, indicating constitutive expression of C1q. Thus, microglia could provide a source of C1q for plaques even before becoming reactive. Since it has been previously shown that C1q binds β1-42, the major constituent of senile plaques, and since β1-42 is toxic to microglia in vitro , we asked if preincubation of β1-42 with C1q alters either metabolic indices of amyloid-induced degeneration in microglial cultures or the formation of amyloid deposits on these cells. While electron microscopic analysis of negatively stained amyloid fibrils confirmed that preincubation with C1q induced the association of C1q with the fibrils, no effect of the binding of C1q to β1-42 on β1-42 toxicity in microglia was observed. Interestingly, immunoreactivity for the C1q receptor that is known to modulate phagocytosis was found and was up-regulated in non-process-bearing microglia by interferon-γ. While these data exclude a role for the C1q receptor in β1-42 toxicity in microglia, the observed expression and up-regulation of C1q receptor on microglia by interferon-γ would be consistent with a role for C1q in complement-mediated inflammatory responses in AD and as a potential activator of microglial function in plaques.
Small noise methods for risk-sensitive/robust economies

Abstract We provide small noise expansions for the value function and decision rule for the recursive risk-sensitive preferences specified by Hansen and Sargent (1995) , Hansen et al. (1999) , and Tallarini (2000) . We use the expansions (1) to provide a fast method for approximating solutions of dynamic stochastic problems and (2) to quantify the effects on decisions of uncertainty and concerns about robustness to misspecification.
Lynne Baker on Material Constitution

In Persons and Bodies, Lynne Baker defends what she calls the "Constitution View" of human persons, according to which (a) human persons are constituted by their bodies, and (b) constitution is an asymmetric, nontransitive relation that is somehow "intermediate between identity and separate existence". (Baker 2000: 29) Thesis (a), or something like it, is precisely what we would expect from someone who believes that persons and bodies both are material objects. But thesis (b) is distinctive. Materialists who treat constitution as identity arrive at the view that human persons are identical with their bodies, their brains, or some other material object in the vicinity of their heads. At the other extreme, materialists who treat constitution as nothing more than complete overlap without identity arrive at a simple coincidence theory of the relation between persons and bodies (or brains, or whatever). Baker's view is supposed to stake out a position between these two extremes, and it does so by offering a novel account of the nature of constitution.
Computers as Ethical Artifacts

One of the advantages that historians of computing have over their colleagues in other historical disciplines is that our object of study has broad contemporary relevance. It is rare that I meet someone who doesn't know something about, think they know something about, or wish they knew something about the topics about which I regularly teach and write. This is not simply because the history of computing is intrinsically interesting, nor because it is so inextricably linked with so many other important social, technological, and economic developments, such as the rise of the modern nation state, the emergence of industrial and post-industrial capitalism, the great wars of the 20th century, and the emergence of a globally networked economy. As fascinating and important as this larger history can be, the proverbial man or woman on the street is primarily interested in a more local level of social and political development. They are concerned about what are often referred to as the "social impacts" of computing, the ways in which the computer has affected, and seemingly will continue to affect, the ways in which they work, live, consume, recreate, and engage in social and personal relationships.
Assessment of pedestrian head impact dynamics in small sedan and large SUV collisions

This study compares head impact dynamics between post-mortem human surrogates (PMHS) and the Polar-II pedestrian crash dummy in vehicle–pedestrian impacts with a small sedan and a large sports utility vehicle (SUV). A total of 15 (8 sedan and 7 SUV) full-scale vehicle pedestrian impact tests were performed at 40 km/h. For each vehicle, two (SUV) or three (sedan) PMHS tests and five dummy tests were performed, with three of the dummy tests in the same configuration to show repeatability, and the other two tests utilising slightly different configurations. Head linear and angular kinematics were captured from PMHS and dummy head instrumentation, and dummy upper neck load cell data were used to determine neck forces and calculate head impact forces. Differences in head impact locations, timing and kinematics between the dummy and PMHS were minimised when the dummy was positioned higher above the ground reference level to match the pelvis height of the PMHS. On average, the dummy recorded higher resultant impact forces (2930 N vs. 1862 N) in windshield impacts to the sedan than in hood impacts to the SUV, which resulted in higher 15-ms Head Injury Criteria (HIC15) values and higher peak and averaged angular accelerations. While there are differences in dummy injury risk metrics, both the dummy and PMHS data show that the difference in injury risk metrics predicted by the dummy can be explained by the variation in impact velocity between the sedan (14.1 ± 1.2 m/s) and the SUV (10.7 ± 2.3 m/s), the differences in injury risk predicted by the PMHS are not as clear due to confounding factors. The data and analyses presented in this study also show that neck forces during head impacts contribute a substantial and additive effect to the head impact accelerations (and thus HIC15 values) measured in the dummy, and that for the SUV, neck forces affect head accelerations more than impact forces. Despite analysing only lateral impacts with two vehicle geometries at 40 km/h, this study provides the only comparison of PMHS and dummy pedestrian head impact kinematics data available.
Relative reactivities of cyclic ketene acetals via cationic 1,2-vinyl addition copolymerization1

The relationship between the relative reactivities of ten cyclic ketene acetals and their structures was determined via cationic copolymerizations of eight different monomer pairs. Thus, 2-methylene-1,3-dioxolane (1) was copolymerized with 2-methylene-4-methyl-1,3-dioxolane (2), 2-methylene-4,5-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane (3), 2-methylene-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3-dioxolane (4), 2-methylene-4-phenyl-1,3-dioxolane (5), and 2-methylene-4-(t-butyl)-1,3-dioxolane (6). Also 2-methylene-1,3-dioxane (7) was copolymerized with 2-methylene-4-methyl-1,3-dioxane (8), 2-methylene-4,4,6-trimethyl-1,3-dioxane (9), and 2-methylene-4-isopropyl-5,5-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane (10). The relative reactivities of these monomers are: 3 > 5 > 4 > 2 > 1 > 6; and 10 > 9 > 8 > 7. In spite of steric demands, substituents at the 4- or 5-positions in 2-methylene-1,3-dioxolane and substituents at the 4- or 6-positions in 2-methylene-1,3-dioxane serve to increase the copolymerization reactivity. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 2841–2852, 1999
The Formation Conditions of Chondrules and Chondrites

Chondrules, which are roughly millimeter-sized silicate-rich spherules, dominate the most primitive meteorites, the chondrites. They formed as molten droplets and, judging from their abundances in chondrites, are the products of one of the most energetic processes that operated in the early inner solar system. The conditions and mechanism of chondrule formation remain poorly understood. Here we show that the abundance of the volatile element sodium remained relatively constant during chondrule formation. Prevention of the evaporation of sodium requires that chondrules formed in regions with much higher solid densities than predicted by known nebular concentration mechanisms. These regions would probably have been self-gravitating. Our model explains many other chemical characteristics of chondrules and also implies that chondrule and planetesimal formation were linked.
Serum Concentration: Effects on Cycle and X-ray Sensitivity of Mammalian Cells

If the content of serum in the culture medium of exponentially growing Chinese hamster cells is below optimum (15 percent), the doubling time and the resistance to x-irradiation of the cells are increased. In synchronously dividing populations the increase in doubling time is primarily caused by increase in duration of the postmitotic (G1) phase of the cells; this phase is relatively radiation resistant. The response of the cells growing synchronously is related quantitatively to the response of the cells dividing randomly.
Polypeptide cross-linking in chloroplast membranes.

Abstract Washed chloroplast membranes from romaine lettuce leaves were treated with the cross-linking reagent dimethyladipimidate (DMA) for various periods of time and subsequently analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Comparative examination of the electrophoretic profiles from control and treated membranes revealed that the light-harvesting chlorophyll-protein complex (LHCPC) was readily cross-linked to yield “dimers” and “oligomers” of higher molecular weight. Two polypeptides, of 25 and 23 kilodaltons, previously identified as two subunits of the LHCPC, were the major cross-linked species; other peptides were also cross-linked, but to a much lesser extent. These results suggest that cross-linking of chloroplast membranes with DMA, under our conditions, occurs primarily among the components of the LHCPC. We also measured the photosystem II activity in control and DMA-treated chloroplasts and found no impairment of this photochemical activity in the cross-linked chloroplasts as compared with controls.
The mental representation of movement when static stimuli are viewed.

If the representation of movement is a fundamental organizing principle of cognition, as hypothesized here, it should be possible to find cases in which static stimuli induce a dynamic mental representation. Subjects viewed frozen-action photographs, and their memory for these scenes was tested. They found it harder to reject distractors when the distractors were photographs of the same scene shot later in time than when the distractors were photographs shot earlier in time. In a second study, an asymmetry in goodness of apparent motion was found between forward and backward action sequences. Both results support the hypothesis that people represent the motion implicit in a photograph.
Variability in response criteria affects estimates of conscious identification and unconscious semantic priming.

Abstract Three experiments examined the role of response criteria in a masked semantic priming paradigm using an exclusion task. Experiment 1 used on-line prime-report (“report the prime if you saw it”) and exclusion instructions in which participants were told to avoid completing a word stem (e.g. mo—) with a word related to a prime (e.g. cash) flashed for 0, 38 or 212 ms. Semantic priming (i.e. exclusion failure) was significant in the items analysis, but was moderated by peoples’ ability to report the prime in the participant analysis. Prime-report thresholds in Experiment 2 were made more liberal by instructing participants to guess on every trial. Prime-report increased from Experiment 1 as exclusion failures were eliminated. Experiment 3 clarified the relationship between awareness and prime identification using an on-line measure of confidence and different liberal prime report instructions. The current findings suggest that the ability to act upon (via exclusion performance) and report information in a masked prime is determined by a variable response criterion, which can be manipulated as an independent variable.
Stephen Duncan Prudhomme August 15, 1952–October 20, 2014

Stephen Prudhomme, our friend, colleague, and mentor passed away after a long battle with pancreatic cancer on October 20, 2014. Stephen was everyone’s favorite Canadian. He graduated from Carleton University where he received his Master’s degree of Science in Biology. He joined the National Research Council, Canada’s premier science and technology research organization where he held many positions from 1980 through 1992. After departing the National Research Council, he joined the Canadian Medical Association in Ottawa, holding many senior positions including as Publishing Director. Stephen joined the American Heart Association (AHA) in 2001 to lead AHA’s Scientific Publishing Department. In his first AHA role, Stephen’s many accomplishments included setting the groundwork for expanding the AHA’s portfolio of science journals through the launch of the Circulation subspecialty journals. In 2007, he became …
Sustainable Agriculture Development in Korea in a Global Economy

ABSTRACT The Republic of Korea will be required to alter many of its agriculture policies to meet the requirements of new world trading rules. These adjustments will have a significant impact on the agriculture industry. One farm structure that is being encouraged is sustainable farms, farms that utilize less inorganic fertilizers and less pesticides. At present, the main goal of agricultural policy is to reduce pesticide and chemical fertilizer use on farms by 50%. A main reason for reducing pesticide and chemical fertilizers in vegetable and fruit farms is to improve the quality of drinking water for larger cities, including Seoul. This study estimated the household production impact of adopting sustainable farming techniques and the impact that changes in input use will have on production. A Cobb-Douglas production function was applied to derive elasticities of production of farm input materials. The data used were from a Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry farm household economy survey of 3,085 farms...
Pore-Scale Visualization of Colloid Transport and Retention in Partly Saturated Porous Media

In unsaturated porous media, sorption of colloids at the air–water (AW) interface is accepted as a mechanism for controlling colloid retention and mobilization. However, limited actual pore-scale observations of colloid attachment to the AW interface have been made. To further investigate these processes, a real-time pore-scale visualization method was developed. The method builds on the light transmission technique for fingered flow studies in packed-sand infiltration chambers and combines it with high-resolution, electro-optical hardware and public domain imaging software. Infiltration and drainage of suspensions of hydrophilic negatively charged carboxylated latex microspheres provides compelling visual evidence that colloid retention in sandy porous media occurs via trapping in the thin film of water where the AW interface and the solid interface meet, the air–water–solid (AWS) interface. With this modified theory of trapped colloids at the AWS interface, we are able to explain the apparent discrepancy between previous experimental evidence of hydrophilic colloids seemingly partitioning to the AW interface and more recent findings that suggest this type of colloid does not adsorb at the AW interface.
Relative resistance to methothexate by proliferating normal rabbit epidermal cells in vitro

Primary cell cultures of normal rabbit epidermal cells (keratinocytes) were established without the use of enzymatic techniques. Six experiments were carried out on cells from six different rabbits. When these cells were exposed to methotrexate (MTX) for 24 h at 1 μg/ml, proliferation, as measured by cells entering mitosis, was significantly inhibited (P 95%. We can conclude that under certain conditions, the rabbit keratinocyte may represent a normal cell type that is inherently resistant to the antiproliferative effects of methotrexate.
Energy dependence of the S-wave nucleon-nucleon separable potentials

We have constructed the energy dependence of the separable potentials for the1S0 and3S1 nucleon-nucleon channels which reproduce exactly the experimental phase shifts up to 460 MeV. We point out that by means of the Yamaguchi form factors, the potentials become energy independent at threshold and can therefore be analytically continued into the unphysical region E<0 where they are required in the three-body problem.
An examination of the physical properties of pure magnesium stearate

Abstract The effect of various preparation conditions on the form of magnesium stearate prepared by aqueous precipitation was examined. None of the preparation variables had any apparent effect on the crystal habit of magnesium stearate; however, the preparation conditions did affect the amount of moisture associated with the crystals. Heating the magnesium stearate at 105° C not only resulted in a loss of water of hydration from the crystals, but also a disruption of the crystals' 3-dimensional lattice structure. Both of these effects could be reversed by storing the dried crystals under appropriate relative humidity conditions.
Radiation dose and risk in screening mammography

Screening mammography has not yet become a standard procedure. There are great variations in image quality and radiation dose. Mean glandular dose has become the most frequently used description of radiation dose in screening mammography. Because of the low energy x-ray beam required for the procedure, the use of mean glandular dose as the radiation exposure indicator may cause a misunderstanding of the dose-risk relationship and result in confusion about radiation exposure and the risk of induced neoplasm. Data are presented to show that increases in both maximum glandular dose and imparted energy are greater than the increases in mean glandular dose with comparable increases in breast thickness. In the future, an indication of total imparted energy should replace the use of mean glandular dose as the standard for describing radiation dose in screening mammography.
Insensitivity of acetylcholinesterase in a field strain of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) ☆

Abstract Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was purified from adult heads of the fall armyworm ( Spodoptera frugiperda ) by using a two-step procedure involving gel filtration on a Sephadex G-200 column and affinity chromatography on a procainamide–ECH Sephadex 4B column. Both susceptible and field strains possessed two AChE isozymes, namely, AChE-1 and AChE-2, with subunit molecular weights of 63.7 and 66.1 kDa. The purified AChE had an apparent K m value of 33.5 μM and a V max of 7.07 μmol/min/mg protein in the susceptible strain. The apparent K m and the V max were 2.2- and 2.0-fold higher, respectively, in the field strain than in the susceptible strain. The purified AChE from the field strain was 17- to 345-fold less sensitive than that from the susceptible strain to inhibition by carbamates (carbaryl, eserine, methomyl, and bendiocarb) and organophosphates (methyl paraoxon and paraoxon), insensitivity being highest toward carbaryl. The results further support the notion that insensitive AChE played an important role in the insecticide resistance observed in the field strain.
Proceedings: Moving Toward Cell-Based Therapies for Liver Disease

Despite available medical therapy and organ transplantation, a significant unmet medical need remains for the treatment of liver failure, end-stage liver disease, and liver-based inborn errors of metabolism. Liver cell transplantation has the potential to address this need; however, the field is in search of a suitable cell therapeutic. The ability to reproducibly generate a well-characterized source of engraftable and functional liver cells has continued to be a challenge. Recent progress with tissue-derived stem/progenitor cells and pluripotent stem cell-derived cells now offers the field the opportunity to address this challenge.
Catalytic hydrotreatment of Illinois No. 6 coal-derived naphtha : the removal of individual nitrogen and sulfur compounds over MoS2 and Mo2N

Abstract The conversion of individual nitrogen and sulfur compounds present in Illinois No. 6 coal-derived naphtha was determined as a function of reactor residence time. The major nitrogen compounds in the naphtha are anilines, quinolines and pyridines. The major sulfur compounds are thiols, sulfides and thiophenes. The conversion of the heteroatom (nitrogen and sulfur) compounds are different and depend on the heteroatom compound class. Substituted anilines are the most difficult to convert amongst the nitrogen compounds while substituted thiophenes and benzothiophenes are the most difficult to convert for the sulfur compounds; this applies for both MoS 2 and Mo 2 N catalysts. Mo 2 N is more active than MoS 2 for the conversion of pyridine and quinoline compound classes. However, MoS 2 is more active for the conversion of the aniline compound class. Hydrogenation, at least partly, precedes C S bond breaking for the hydrodesulfurization of thiophene over both MoS 2 and Mo 2 N. The effect of additional methyl groups in decreasing the conversion of thiophenes is large for MoS 2 but relatively small for Mo 2 N. Deviations from first-order kinetics are seen for the conversion of thiophenes, probably due to product inhibition of the reaction rate.
Single session treatment of a borderline personality disorder

Summary Debbie, a patient in ongoing therapy, volunteered to assist in a workshop by participating in an interview. The goals of the session were to identify some small, discrete problem that could be worked on in the limited time available, and to demonstrate how a short-term treatment can be used. The issues considered revolved around Debbie's schema. Her early abuse set several schemas that have directed Debbie's life. The goals of the therapy would be to help modify those rules. The single session was a microcosm of a longer-term therapy. Overall, from the reports of the patient and her therapist, on follow-up, she was able to do the homework with the the therapist's assistance and found that it was helpful in countering the negative thoughts. This led to a lifting of the concomitant depression and a diminution in the self-injurious behavior. Many sessions would be needed to reinforce and strengthen the exercise strated in this session. Overall, I would see this session as both a successful treatment session and a demonstration of how identifying discrete, proximal goals can benefit patients with long-standing Axis II problems. The hypotheses and questions led to data gathering and hypothesis testing. Throughout the session, it was essential to be aware of the likely schemas so that some could be used in the session, while others were clearly avoided. By developing a conceptualization or model of the problem(s), a set of interventions could be mobilized within the session and as homework between sessions. By working toward a coping model of treatment rather than attempting to cure long-standing problems, brief cognitive behavioral interventions can be successful.
Color changes in dry-pigmented maxillofacial elastomer resulting from ultraviolet light exposure

Five dry pigments and one maxillofacial elastomer were, evaluated for color changes (ΔE) resulting from prolonged exposure to two types of ultraviolet light. The elastomer, pigments, and pigmented elastomers were subjected to each ultraviolet light source for 400, 600, and 1800 hours, and ΔE color shifts were determined. The unpigmented elastomer underwent minimally perceptible color change after 600 hours of exposure to both types of ultraviolet light. Two pigments underwent substantial color change after 400 hours, whereas the remaining three pigments remained color stable after 1800 hours. It was concluded that for the materials tested, early color changes in a prosthesis may be the result of degradation of certain ultraviolet light-susceptible pigments, whereas longer term color shifts may be caused by color changes within the elastomer.
The detection of the heterozygous carrier for congenital virilizing adrenal hyperplasia

The response of plasma progesterone, 17α-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), and cortisol to intravenous ACTH was determined in 16 control subjects and seven sets of parents of children with congenital virilizing adrenal hyperplasia. The baseline and poststimulation concentrations of hormones (of each group) were similar except for those of 17-OHP in the parents which were significantly greater following administration of ACTH. When rates of increase were determined, those of progesterone and 17-OHP but not cortisol were significantly greater in the parents. The combined rate of increase of progesterone and 17-OHP was calculated; 10 of the 14 parents had a combined rate of increase greater than the mean plus two standard deviations of the control group. This test provides a simple method for the detection of some heterozygous carriers for CVAH.
Effect of geometric deformation of tetrahedral bonding on the vibrational properties of Group-IV semiconductors: Si in the BC-8 structure

The phonon dispersion curves and phonon density of states for silicon in the BC-8 structure have been calculated with the use of Weber's adiabatic-bond-charge model. All parameters were scaled in an unambiguous physical manner from Weber's values for silicon in the diamond structure. The frequency values at $\ensuremath{\Gamma}$ agree to within 10% of those values available from Raman spectroscopy. The ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{1}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ mode is compatible with a transformation from the BC-8 structure to the wurtzite structure, a transformation that takes place upon heating the BC-8 polymorph.
Evidence for complete symmetrical transcription in vivo of mitochondrial DNA in HeLa cells.

The extent of in vivo transcription of the L † stand of mtDNA in HeLa cells was investigated by hybridization of purified L strands with saturating amounts of mitochondrial RNA enriched in L-strand transcripts, and examination of the RNA−DNA hybrids by Cs 2 SO 4 density gradient centrifugation and electron microscopy. The results show that mitochondrial RNA contains sequences which are complementary to the entire or almost entire length of the L strand. This conclusion, when coupled with the previous evidence of complete transcription of the H strand, strongly suggests that the symmetrical transcription of mtDNA in HeLa cells extends to its entire length.
Use of molecular diagnostics in sexually transmitted diseases critical assessment

Abstract This review describes and assesses the use of molecular assays for the diagnosis of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Specifically, data from literature on currently available commercial systems as well as that of imminently to be released assay formats are presented. The focus is on evaluations of two molecular diagnostic techniques—hybridization and amplification for the direct detection of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (gonococci, GC)—the use of urine as a specimen for the diagnosis of these pathogens in humans, a confirmatory probe assay for GC, and finally the description of a hybridization assay for pathogens significant in vaginitis and bacterial vaginosis. Although viral pathogens are a significant part of the STD problem, and molecular techniques have been described for their identification, they are not being discussed here. With the exception of the Virapap DNA hybridization assay for human papillomavirus (Digene Diagnostic, Silver Spring, MD), suitable molecular clinical laboratory assays for viral detection have not been developed for genital samples.
New exact nonlinear filters: theory and applications

A new exact recursive filter is derived for nonlinear estimation problems. The new nonlinear theory includes the Kalman filter as a special case. This filter is practical to implement in real- time applications, and it has a computational complexity that is comparable to the Kalman filter. The measurements are made in discrete time, but the random process to be estimated evolves in continuous time.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Resolve to Become a Buddha (Chengfo)—Changing Aspirations and Imagery in Sixth-Century Chinese Buddhism

(2008). Resolve to Become a Buddha (Chengfo)—Changing Aspirations and Imagery in Sixth-Century Chinese Buddhism. Early Medieval China: Vol. 2008, No. 2, pp. 115-169.
Doping Effects in Co-deposited Mixed Phase Films of Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon Containing Nanocrystalline Inclusions

Hydrogenated amorphous silicon films containing silicon nanocrystalline inclusions (a/nc-Si:H) that have been n-type doped have been synthesized using a dual-plasma co-deposition system. We report the structural and electronic properties of n-type doped a/nc-Si:H as a function of phosphine doping level and nanocrystalline concentration. The volume fraction of nanocrystals in the doped a/nc-Si:H thin films is measured using Raman spectroscopy, and the hydrogen binding configurations are characterized using infra-red absorption spectroscopy. In undoped a/nc-Si:H, the inclusion of low and moderate nanocrystalline concentrations results in an increase in the dark conductivity, compared to a-Si:H films grown without nanocrystalline inclusions. In contrast, the addition of even a low concentration of silicon nanoparticles in doped a/nc-Si:H thin films leads to a decrease in the dark conductivity and photoconductivity, compared to pure a-Si:H films.
Effect of ligand variation on the rate of cyclododecane oxidation under modified Go AggII conditions

Abstract The effect of various ligands on the GoAgg II oxidation of cyclododecane to cyclododecanone has been investigated. The addition of picolinic acid and a number of its congeners increases the rate of oxidation up to fiftyfold. On the other hand, the addition of pyridine-2-phosphonic acid stops oxidation completely.
A nicotinic-like receptor mediates suppression of distortion product otoacoustic emissions by contralateral sound

The purpose of this investigation was to provide in vivo pharmacologic characterization of a cholinergic receptor mediating the suppressive effects of medial olivocochlear (MOC) efferent activation. MOC neurons were activated by contralateral sound and the resulting suppression of ipsilateral distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) was monitored before and after intracochlear perfusions of cholinergic antagonists. Results revealed a dose-dependent blockade of contralateral suppression of DPOAEs by a wide variety of nicotinic and muscarinic cholinergic receptor antagonists, as well as by non-traditional antagonists of cholinergic activity. The nicotinic antagonists, alpha-bungarotoxin, curare and kappa-bungarotoxin, and the glycine antagonist, strychnine, blocked contralateral suppression at nanomolar concentrations and demonstrated similar potencies. IC50 values were 2.38 x 10(-7), 2.79 x 10(-7), 3.81 x 10(-7) and 2.96 x 10(-7) M, respectively. These agents were followed in potency by the nicotinic antagonist, trimethaphan (1.75 x 10(-6) M), the M3 muscarinic antagonist, 4-DAMP (1.88 x 10(-6) M) and the GABAA antagonist, bicuculline (2.39 x 10(-6) M). Increasingly greater concentrations of the muscarinic antagonists, atropine (9.52 x 10(-6) M), AF-DX 116 (2.72 x 10(-5) M) and pirenzepine (8.24 x 10(-4) M) were necessary to block contralateral suppression of DPOAEs. The in vivo pharmacology of this putative outer hair cell cholinergic receptor suggests that it may be a member of the nicotinic family of receptors.
Nonfilling Carbon Coating of Porous Silicon Micrometer-Sized Particles for High-Performance Lithium Battery Anodes

Silicon is widely recognized as one of the most promising anode materials for lithium-ion batteries due to its 10 times higher specific capacity than graphite. Unfortunately, the large volume change of Si materials during their lithiation/delithiation process results in severe pulverization, loss of electrical contact, unstable solid–electrolyte interphase (SEI), and eventual capacity fading. Although there has been tremendous progress to overcome these issues through nanoscale materials design, improved volumetric capacity and reduced cost are still needed for practical application. To address these issues, we design a nonfilling carbon-coated porous silicon microparticle (nC-pSiMP). In this structure, porous silicon microparticles (pSiMPs) consist of many interconnected primary silicon nanoparticles; only the outer surface of the pSiMPs was coated with carbon, leaving the interior pore structures unfilled. Nonfilling carbon coating hinders electrolyte penetration into the nC-pSiMPs, minimizes the electr...
Allelic variations in CYP2B6 and CYP2C19 and survival of patients receiving cyclophosphamide prior to myeloablative hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

In hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), patients receive cyclophosphamide (CPA) conditioning based on body weight, under the assumption that each individual will metabolize the drug with the same efficiency [1-3]. However, up to 20% of patients experience adverse outcomes related to CPA [4-7]. We hypothesized that due to their effects on CPA metabolism certain allelic variations of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2B6 and 2C19 enzymes would be associated with higher regimen-related toxicity and worse outcomes in patients. We genotyped 359 patients who received allogeneic HSCT with high dose CPA conditioning. We investigated the effect of allelic variants of CYP2B6 and CYP2C19 on toxicity outcomes, nonrelapse mortality (NRM), relapse, progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Overall, 65 (18%) patients experienced toxicity. There was no significant difference in toxicity events in patients with allelic variants of CYP2B6 or CYP2C19. However, compared to poor metabolizers, ultrarapid CYP2B6 metabolizers had worse PFS (P = 0.04). In addition, patients homozygous for CYP2C19 *2 allele had significantly worse PFS (P = 0.008) and OS (P = 0.004). Our results suggest that genotyping may help to predict survival in patients receiving high dose CPA, guide patient management and improve outcomes.
Hand-held probe based optical imaging system towards breast cancer diagnosis

Near-infrared (NIR) optical imaging is an emerging noninvasive modality for breast cancer diagnosis. However, the currently available optical imaging systems towards tomography studies are limited either by instrument portability, patient comfort, or flexibility to image any given tissue volume. Herein, a hand-held based optical imaging system is developed such that it can possibly overcome some of the above limitations. The unique features of the hand-held optical probe are: (i) to perform simultaneous multiple point illumination and detection, thus decreasing the total imaging time and improving the overall signal strength; (ii) to adapt to the contour of tissue surface, thus decreasing the leakage of excitation and emission signal at contact surface; and (iii) to obtain trans-illumination measurements apart from reflectance measurements, thus improving the depth information. The increased detected signal strength as well as total interrogated tissue volume is demonstrated by simulation studies (i.e. forward model) over a 5×10×10 cc slab phantom. The appropriate number and layout of the source and detection points on the probe head is determined and the hand-held optical probe is developed. A frequency-domain ICCD (intensified charge coupled device) detection system, which allows simultaneous multiple points detection, is developed and coupled to the hand-held probe in order to perform fluorescence-enhanced optical imaging of tissue phantoms. In the future, imaging of homogenous liquid phantoms will be used for the assessment of this hand-held system, followed by extensive imaging studies on different phantoms types under various experimental conditions.
Parameter extraction for the PSP MOSFET model by the combination of genetic and Levenberg-Marquardt algorithms

Based on the combination of the genetic and Levenberg-Marquardt algorithms, a new method is developed to perform both local and global parameter extraction for the PSP MOSFET model. It has been successfully used to extract parameter sets for a 65-nm technology node. Numerical examples demonstrate its ability to obtain highly accurate model parameter values without excessive computational cost.