cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ligands representing important functional groups of natural organic matter facilitate Fe redox transformations and resulting binding environments

Abstract Functional groups in natural organic matter have the potential to interact with and stabilize iron (Fe) redox species (ferric, ferrous) through complexation reactions. In this study, iron complexes with cysteine, arginine and histidine are used to investigate the extent to which specific functional groups present in these amino acids might hinder the oxidation of Fe2+ or promote the reduction of Fe3+. Iron complexes are synthesized by addition of ferrous or ferric salts to cysteine, arginine and histidine solutions at pH 7. The Fe-amino acid complexes are analysed using X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS), theoretical CTM4XAS (Charge Transfer Multiplet for XAS) calculations, and vibrational spectroscopy (FTIR and Raman). In addition, oxidation of the amino acids is determined by linear sweep voltammetry and chemical equilibrium modeling is used to predict the speciation of Fe in complexes with the amino acids. It is observed the extent of Fe redox transformation is affected by the electron donating capability of the ligand with which Fe reacts. In particular, the extent of Fe3+ reduction is related to the oxidation of the ligand with 80, 14 and 0% Fe3+ reduction by cysteine, arginine and histidine, respectively. Conversely, Fe2+ is preserved by cysteine (80%) > arginine (77%) > histidine (62%). The chemical forms of Fe in these mixed Fe oxidation-state systems include Fe-organic complexes and Fe precipitates. XAS and vibrational spectroscopy indicate thiol-S and amino-N bind Fe in complexes with cysteine. While amino-N and guanidyl-N functional groups of arginine bind Fe, carboxylate-O binding and the formation of Fe precipitates are only observed when Fe3+ is the predominant redox species. Whereas Fe precipitates seem to prevail in Fe(III)-histidine, distinct organic (Fe O/N C) and mineral (Fe O Fe) or mixed organic-mineral (Fe(O/N C)x(O Fe)y) coordination environments occur in Fe(II)-histidine with ∼60% Fe2+; in either case, Fe N(imidazole) binding is not evident. The ligand atoms to which Fe binds and the inherent reduction capacity of the ligand appear to mediate Fe redox transformations. The proportion of ferric iron (Fe3+) seems to determine whether a precipitate forms. Consistent with spectroscopic data, chemical equilibrium modeling using experimental solution conditions and fractional Fe2+ and Fe3+ concentrations obtained from CTM4XAS predict the formation of Fe(II)- and Fe(III)-amino acid complexes and hydrolyzed Fe species; these calculations however also predict the formation of Fe oxide precipitates in all Fe complexes. The results presented in this study help to explain the co-occurrence of Fe2+ and Fe3+ in natural environments where organic matter is present. They also highlight the role specific organic functional groups play on the formation and stabilization of Fe(II, III)-organic complexes and precipitates, and thus on the Fe redox cycle which affects Fe bioavailability and mobility in terrestrial and subsurface environments.
Anticipatory control using substrate manipulation enables trajectory control of legged locomotion on heterogeneous granular media

Legged robots must traverse complex terrain consisting of particles of varying size, shape and texture. While much is known about how robots can effectively locomote on hard ground and increasingly on homogeneous granular media, principles of locomotion over heterogeneous granular substrates are relatively unexplored. To systematically discover how substrate heterogeneity affects ambulatory locomotion, we investigate how the presence of a single boulder (3D printed convex objects of different geometries) embedded in fine granular media affects the trajectory of a small (150 g) six legged robot. Using an automated system to collect thousands of locomotion trials, we observed that trajectories were straight before the interaction with the boulder, and scattered to different angles after the interaction depending on the leg-boulder contact positions. However, this dependence of scattering angle upon contact zone was relatively insensitive to boulder shape, orientation and roughness. 1 Inspired by this insensitivity, here we develop an anticipatory control scheme which uses the scattering information in coordination with a tail induced substrate jamming. Our scheme allows the robot to "envision" outcomes of the interaction such that the robot can prevent trajectory deviation before the scattering occurs. We hypothesize that (particularly during rapid running or in the presence of noisy sensors) appropriate substrate manipulation can allow a robot to remain in a favorable locomotor configuration and avoid catastrophic interactions.
Catatonia Associated with Neurological Disorders: a Case Series (P2.198)

Objective: We report the most common neurologic disorders associated with catatonia due to a general medical condition (CD-GMC) at our institution from 2000–2015 including etiology, time to diagnosis, and treatment response. Background: Catatonia is a DSM-V-described motor and behavioral abnormality characterized as having three out of twelve features including stupor, catalepsy, waxy flexibility, mutism, and others. CD-GMC is often under-recognized. Prior publications have reported that encephalitis is the most common etiological diagnosis associated with CD-GMC. Effective treatment remains a challenge and includes benzodiazepines, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), NMDA antagonists, and other targeted therapy. Design/Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients admitted to our institution from 2000–2015 with a diagnosis of “catatonia” and inpatient evaluation by neurology and psychiatry. 30 patients were identified as CD-GMC with primary neurologic illness. Results: 14 patients were male and 16 were female with ages ranging from 22 to 81 years old with a median age of 62 years old. Neurologic diagnoses included encephalitis (n=6, 20%), neurodegenerative diseases (n=18, 60%), seizure/epilepsy (n=5, 17%), and migraine (n=1, 3%). 22 of the 30 patients were noted as having comorbid psychiatric diagnoses including depression, anxiety, bipolar, and/or schizoaffective disorder. Onset of symptoms to diagnosis ranged from 0 to 3227 days with a median of 8.5 days. Treatment strategies were varied and included 27 patients (90%) treated with benzodiazepines, 22 (73%) with antipsychotics, 6 (20%) with ECT, and 6 (20%) with NMDA antagonists. 19 patients (63%) had a considerable response to therapy within 30 days. Conclusions: Prior studies have identified encephalitis as the most common etiologic association with CD-GMC; however, our institutional experience revealed neurodegenerative disease as the most commonly associated neurologic illness. Additionally, most of these patients were treated with benzodiazepines and antipsychotics with good response to therapy within 30 days. Disclosure: Dr. Strohm has nothing to disclose. Dr. Lee has nothing to disclose. Dr. Li has nothing to disclose.
Multi-Mode Subsurface Sensing and Imaging for Land Mine Detection

The problem of detecting the many types of non-metallic land mines in the presence of widely varying soil background and irrelevant underground clutter is an example of one of the most difficult subsurface sensing problems. The application of a variety of different sensing techniques and modalities, and particularly the processing and fusing of the information from these sensors with signal-processing techniques that take account of the physical operating characteristics of each sensor, appears to be the way to make progress in such challenging applications. The progress of the Northeastern University multi-sensor demining effort funded through the Army Research Office's Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative is surveyed as an example of how this strategy can work.
A Primary Care Answer to a Pandemic: Keeping a Population of Patients Safe at Home through Chronic Care Management and Remote Patient Monitoring

The pandemic caused by the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) challenged primary care providers (PCPs) to continue to deliver care for their patients, while also remaining financially stable. Most practices have experienced declining revenue due to fewer in-person patient visits. To help offset this and to continue to provide safe patient care, practices have shifted toward using remote options. Chronic Care Management (CCM) and Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) are benefits available to Medicare fee-for-service patients, which allow a medical practice to deliver expanded care and generate much-needed revenue. These services can be delivered by clinical staff called care managers. A top health priority for most seniors is to effectively self-isolate to reduce risk of COVID-19, while maintaining mental and physical health. We developed a Safe at Home program, designed to be run by care managers through CCM and RPM, with the use of a remote monitoring technology. Safe at Home tracks signs and symptoms of COVID-19, mental and physical health, and lifestyle behaviors that can affect immune function. We project that this service can complement regular telehealth PCP visits and deliver population health monitoring services, while generating substantial revenue for the practice.
A meta-analysis of the correlations among broad intelligences: Understanding their relations

Abstract The broad intelligences include a group of mental abilities such as comprehension knowledge, quantitative reasoning, and visuospatial processing that are relatively specific in their focus and fall at the second stratum of the Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) model of intelligence. In recent years, the field has seen a proliferation of mental abilities being considered for inclusion among the broad intelligences, which poses challenges in terms of their effective and efficient assessment. We conducted a meta-analysis of 61 articles that reported correlations among the broad intelligences. Results indicated that the average correlation among broad intelligences fell between r = 0.58, 95% CI [0.53, 0.64], and r = 0.65, 95% CI [0.62, 0.68], depending upon the model employed to estimate the relations. Applying factor analysis to a composite correlation matrix drawn from the studies, we obtained dimensions of broad intelligence that may be useful to organizing the group. Finally, we discuss the implications of the correlations among broad intelligences as an evaluative tool for candidate intelligences.
Peptide Controlled Assembly of Palladium Nanoparticles on High-Aspect-Ratio Gold Nanorods

The use of gold nanorods as a template for bimetallic applications, including plasmonics, imaging, and phototherapy, is widely studied due to the unique optical properties of the gold materials. Ge...
A New Caremark Era: Causes and Consequences

What role does corporate law play in holding directors accountable for compliance failures? Until recently, the answer has been “very little.” The prevalent standard for director oversight duties (Caremark duties) was set high, effectively demanding that plaintiffs show scienter without having access to discovery. As a result, derivative actions over directors’ failure of oversight were routinely dismissed at the pleading stage, and many commentators considered Caremark duties largely irrelevant. Yet, starting in June 2019, a string of successful Caremark cases have signaled a new era of enhanced oversight duties. This Article contributes to our understanding of the new Caremark era along three dimensions. First, the Article delineates the contours of the shift in Delaware courts’ approach to oversight duties. The courts now increasingly apply the “mission critical compliance” exception to justify enhanced duties, and lower the threshold for receiving information in order to investigate potential failure-of-oversight claims. Second, the Article identifies the drivers of this “new Caremark era,” with special emphasis on the role of a seemingly disparate development in shareholders’ right to information from the company. Shareholders now enjoy much better pre-filing discovery powers, which they can utilize to plead with particularity facts about how the board never even discussed a critical compliance issue, or how they knew about critical problems but chose to ignore them. Armed with these newfound pre-filing investigatory tools, shareholders can overcome what once seemed insuperable pleading hurdles. Finally, the Article evaluates the desirability of the new Caremark era, spotlighting its likely positive effects on information flows inside companies and the ability of the market to discipline corporate misbehavior (better reputational discipline), as well as the ways in which it nicely compensates for the blind spots of other enforcement mechanisms.
Economics: Good Choice of Major for Future Ceos

It is often suggested that economics is a good major for individuals interested in being business leaders. Despite this widespread assertion, little research has been conducted on this topic. Using the Standard and Poor (S&P) 500 companies, this paper examines the validity of such a claim. We find evidence that economics is a good choice of major for those aspiring to become a CEO. Economics ranked third with 9% of the CEOs of the S&P 500 companies in 2004 being undergraduate economics majors, behind business administration and engineering majors, each of which accounted for 20% of the CEOs. When adjusting for size of the pool of graduates, those with undergraduate degrees in economics are shown to have had a greater likelihood of being an S&P 500 CEO than any other major. That is, the share of graduates who were economics majors who were CEOs in 2004 was greater than that for any other major, including business administration and engineering. The findings also show that a higher percentage of CEOs who we...
Propagation of Low Temperature-Adapted Hepatitis A Virus in BSC-1 Cell Culture

Hepatitis A virus, HM-175 strain, adapted to low temperature was cultivated in BSC-1 cell culture.Replication of the virus was detected by radioimmunoassay(RIA), radioimmunofocus assay (RIFA) and dot blot hybridization. The results showed that, of the 7 low temperature-adapted(LTA) strains studied, strain E, F and D gave the highest titer in BSC-1 cell culture. This culture system was proved to be suitable for the study of the characteristic of temperature mutants of HAV.
Neoliberal multiculturalism on college campuses: Fostering a critical understanding of diversity

This assignment introduces the concept of neoliberal multiculturalism through an examination of campus-wide practices to recruit and support students of color, international students, and other stu...
Use of Harmful Health Misconceptions as a Basis for the Selection of Subject-Matter Areas and Course Content in College Health Classes

Abstract The Borozne Health Information Opinionnaire was used to determine the amount and kind of harmful health misconceptions believed by students in basic health information classes in four-year colleges in the state of Indiana, and whether they were affected by the following factors: age, grade level, sex, race, course background, rural or urban background, marital status, major area of academic preparation, school attended, geographic location, and religion. Findings revealed (a) the most prevalent harmful health misconceptions; (b) subject-matter areas which contained the greatest percentage of harmful health misconceptions believed by the students; and (c) the existence of significant differences between the mean harmful health misconception scores of the sex, race, marital status, grade level, major area of acadmic preparation, and course background subgroups.
Prenatal choline and the development of schizophrenia.

Background The primary prevention of illness at the population level, the ultimate aim of medicine, seems out of reach for schizophrenia. Schizophrenia has a strong genetic component, and its pathogenesis begins long before the emergence of psychosis, as early as fetal brain development. Cholinergic neurotransmission at nicotinic receptors is a pathophysiological mechanism related to one aspect of this genetic risk. Choline activates these nicotinic receptors during fetal brain development. Dietary supplementation of maternal choline thus emerges as a possible intervention in pregnancy to alter the earliest developmental course of the illness. Aim Review available literature on the relationship of choline supplementation or choline levels during pregnancy and fetal brain development. Methods A Medline search was used to identify studies assessing effects of choline in human fetal development. Studies of other prenatal risk factors for schizophrenia and the role of cholinergic neurotransmission in its pathophysiology were also identified. Results Dietary requirements for choline are high during pregnancy because of its several uses, including membrane biosynthesis, one-carbon metabolism, and cholinergic neurotransmission. Its ability to act directly at high concentrations as a nicotinic agonist is critical for normal brain circuit development. Dietary supplementation in the second and third trimesters with phosphatidyl-choline supports these functions and is associated generally with better fetal outcome. Improvement in inhibitory neuronal functions whose deficit is associated with schizophrenia and attention deficit disorder has been observed. Conclusion Prenatal dietary supplementation with phosphatidyl-choline and promotion of diets rich in choline-containing foods (meats, soybeans, and eggs) are possible interventions to promote fetal brain development and thereby decrease the risk of subsequent mental illnesses. The low risk and short (sixmonth) duration of the intervention makes it especially conducive to population-wide adoption. Similar findings with folate for the prevention of cleft palate led to recommendations for prenatal pharmacological supplementation and dietary improvement. However, definitive proof of the efficacy of prenatal choline supplementation will not be available for decades (because of the 20-year lag until the onset of schizophrenia), so public health officials need to decide whether or not promoting choline supplementation is justified based on the limited information available.
Use of general anesthesia in dental care of the child with sickle cell anemia. A case report

This article reviews the clinical manifestations of sickle cell anemia and describes the dental management, with the use of general anesthesia, of a child affected by the disease and exhibiting some of its complications. The discussion stresses the vital importance of awareness of the possible complications of sickle cell anemia and sickle cell trait in the safe and successful management of patients requiring dental care that includes the use of general anesthesia.
Monitoring the depth of anesthesia

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses that current clinical practice in anesthesiology is focused on balanced anesthetic technique, in which a number of drugs with distinct effects are delivered to achieve desired goals. In contrast to the past use of exclusively inhalational anesthesia, it is now a routine to administer neuromuscular blockers for the suppression of movement, opiates for pain control, benzodiazepines for amnesia, and beta-blockers for the attenuation of cardiovascular responses. The chapter reviews that electroencephalography (EEG) based technologies play an increasingly important role in the maintenance of general anesthesia within the therapeutic window. The bispectral index (BIS) monitor has been clinically validated as a measure of hypnosis in the adult and pediatric population, and has demonstrated efficacy in the prevention of intraoperative awareness. It discusses that the suggestion that BIS values
Constitutional Interpretation after Regimes of Horror

In this paper, I explore the ways in which new constitutions encode national collective memory at the point of political transformation and the strategies through which constitutional courts make use of this collective memory to expand their powers. There has been a world-wide turn to constitutionalism as a form of politics and a rapid emergence of an aggressive constitutional judiciary in many new democracies emerging from "regimes of horror." I argue in this paper that the aggressiveness of constitutional courts in new democracies stems from the ability of these courts to participate in shaping the collective memory about the previous regimes of horror. Courts can then position themselves as the border guard of the boundary between past and future. Constitutions can serve as the focal point for the creation of collective memory for three reasons. First, most of the new constitutions in post-horror regimes are long ones. Long constitutions, coupled with judicial review, simply give courts more leverage for getting involved in political matters. Long constitutions also represent more pre-commitment on the part of the political powers involved in setting up the new regime about what that regime will look like and how it will be different from the previous one, pre-commitment that gives constitutional court decisions a certain amount of legitimacy. Second, a new high court with the power of judicial review in a post-horror regime can be seen as preventing the current government from turning into the previous one. The new regime is then defined constitutionally in large part by being "not that" past one. The constitutional politics of "not that" give courts quite a lot of room for maneuver, especially where there is agreement over both what the specific wrongs of the previous regime were and how these wrongs should be righted now. Where there is perceived to be a particular danger of backsliding into the regime of horror again, constitutional courts are given particularly broad powers to act. Finally, activist courts ought to be considered in a broader historical and comparative perspective. The very acceptance and success of strong constitutional review in some countries (particularly in the post-horror regimes that quickly followed WWII) have provided a reason to adopt strong constitutional review in others. While judicial review may have been a daring experiment 200 years ago, it is by now an ordinary feature of modern democratic polities around the world. Constitutional drafters insert powerful forms of judicial review as a matter of course into most, if not all, new constitutions. There is, in other words, a sort of legitimacy in numbers, where the success of aggressive judicial review in one country makes its absence in another a sign of democratic weakness. Strong constitutional courts in some clearly successful democracies embolden other governments to signal their commitments to constitutional values by doing the same.
The Substance Abuse Treatment Experiences of a Small Sample of Transgender Clients

Although there have been a limited number of studies that have explored the experiences of gay and bisexual clients in substance abuse programs (Chaiken, 1995; Cochran, 2004; Cullen, 2004; MacEwan,...
Cachectin/TNF or IL-1 alpha induces cachexia with redistribution of body proteins

Macrophage secretory products are suspected to participate in the severe lean tissue wasting related to chronic illness. The protein metabolic effects of chronic, 7-day cachectin/tumor necrosis factor (cachectin) or interleukin 1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) administration in vivo were studied in male Wistar rats that were 1) freely fed, 2) pair fed, 3) total protein and calorie starved, 4) twice daily lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administered, 5) twice daily cachectin administered, and 6) twice daily IL-1 alpha administered. LPS, cachectin, or IL-1 alpha administration produced anorexia; weight loss in these groups was comparable to respective pair-fed animals. However, LPS, cachectin, or IL-1 alpha accelerated peripheral protein wasting while preserving liver protein content, unlike the pattern in the pair-fed or starved animals in which loss of liver proteins and relative preservation of skeletal muscle protein were observed. The decrease in skeletal muscle protein content in LPS- or cytokine-treated animals was associated with coordinate decreases in muscle mRNA levels for the myofibrillar proteins myosin heavy chain, myosin light chain, actin, and in the 18S and 28S subunits of ribosomal RNA. We conclude that chronic exposure to the cytokines, IL-1 alpha or cachectin, can simulate those body and muscle protein changes seen in experimental LPS administration or chronic disease and markedly differ from the pattern of protein redistribution due to caloric restriction.
Phase coherence in speech reconstruction for enhancement and coding applications

It has been shown that an analysis-synthesis system based on a sinusoidal representation leads to synthetic speech that is essentially perceptually indistinguishable from the original. A change in speech quality has been observed, however, when the phase relation of the sine waves is altered. This occurs in practice when sine waves are processed for speech enhancement and for speech coding. A description is given of a zero-phase sinusoidal analysis-synthesis system which generates natural-sounding speech without the requirement of vocal tract phase. The method provides a basis for improving sound quality by providing different levels of phase coherence in speech reconstruction for time-scale modification, for a baseline system for coding, and for reducing the peak-to-RMS ratio by dispersion. >
Cell renewal response to nitrogen dioxide gas effects in repeated intermittent exposures in hamsters

Abstract The effect of nitrogen dioxide gas on cell renewal in the respiratory tracts of hamsters was investigated after single and repeated exposures. Single exposure to 10 ppm NO2 for a period of five hours increased the number of cells labelled with tritiated thymidine in differing parts of the respiratory passage. The greatest increase was seen in animals killed 24h after exposure. The number of labelled cells had declined in animals killed at 42h and approached control level in animals killed at 72 h. Exposures for 5h once a week at two, six, eight and nine weeks particularly affected the bronchiolar-alveolar region, although the responses in the trachea and alveolar cells had returned to normal. The reparative response decreases as NO2 exposure continues. Twice a week exposure at one, nine and 15 weeks showed a further reduction, although peaks still occurred in animals killed 24h after exposure in the bronchiolar-alveolar region. Attempts were made to correlate these exposures with the total number of cells involved in a given hyperplastic area in different parts of the respiratory tract. Characteristic histophatological changes occurring in the various parts of the respiratory tract as a result of intermittent NO2 exposures are described. The effects of NO2 on ciliated mucus epithelium in the trachea and bronchial tree were investigated and more visible NO2 effects were found in ciliated epithelial cells in the bronchi and terminal bronchioles than in the alveolar lining cells.
Erosion of solid-solution-strengthened alloys☆

Abstract In order to determine the effect of solid solution strengthening of ductile metal alloys on their erosion resistance, both iron and copper base alloys were melted and room temperature erosion tested in the as-cast and rolled forms. It was determined that solid solution strengthening of eight different alloys did not improve their erosion resistance and, to some degree, had a small negative effect on their performance. There was relatively little difference in their erosion rates over a wide range of hardness. There was also essentially no difference in the erosion rates of as-cast and rolled versions of the same alloys.
Monitoring cyclodextrin-polyviologen pseudopolyrotaxanes with the Bradford assay.

Self-assembled multivalent pseudopolyrotaxanes, composed of lactoside-bearing cyclodextrin (CD) rings threaded on linear polyviologen polymers, have been introduced recently as flexible and dynamic neoglycoconjugates. In the course of this research, it was found that polyviologens are responsive to the Bradford assay, which is traditionally highly selective for proteins. The response of the pseudopolyrotaxanes to the Bradford assay was dependant on, and thus indicative of, the degree of threading of the CD rings onto the polyelectrolyte. The assay was then used to report on the threading and dethreading of native and lactoside-bearing α-CD rings onto and off of polyviologen chains, a phenomenon which demonstrates the utility of biochemical assays to address problems unique to supramolecular chemistry.
Behavior of the Papaya Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae): Host Finding and Oviposition

Mated female papaya fruit flies, Toxotrypana curvicauda Gerstaecker, oriented to and contacted single immature papaya fruit presented in an experimental arena and exhibited a rhythmic up-and-down movement of the head (bobbing) after initial contact with the fruit. Such bobbing, with the proboscis contacting the fruit surface at each bob, always preceded probing and puncturing of the fruit with the ovipositor. Forty-eight percent of 25 females tested probed within 5 min; 11 of these laid an average of 29 eggs per oviposition bout, which lasted an average 20.5 min. Withdrawal of the ovipositor was followed by ovipositor grooming and extensive continuous sponging of the fruit surface with the proboscis. During observations of female papaya fruit flies on fruit in a commercial papaya planting, all of these types of behavior were observed. Using the same laboratory experimental design, a combination of color (green), shape (wax disks and domes), and chemistry (solvent extract of papaya peelings) was required to obtain rates of contact similar to those obtained with immature fruit. However, oviposition was not obtained using such combinations of artificial stimuli. In a flight tunnel, mated females were attracted to immature papaya fruit and to the odor of papaya fruit piped into the tunnel indicating that host odor is used in long-range orientation to host plants and fruit.
Alterations in [3H]kainate and N-methyl-D-aspartate-sensitive L-[3H]-glutamate binding in the rat hippocampal formation following fimbria-fornix lesions.

Following lesions of the fimbria-fornix, there is a time-dependent increase in interictal spikes and seizure susceptibility. This may result from sprouting of local excitatory and inhibitory circuits in response to the loss of subcortical and commissural innervation of the hippocampal formation. We used receptor autoradiography to examine the density of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA)-sensitive l-[3H]glutamate and [3H]kainate (KA) binding sites in the hippocampal formation at 5 days, 3 months, and 1 year following bilateral aspiration lesions of the fimbria-fornix. At 5 days postlesion, the CA3 and CA1 strata radiatum and oriens displayed a decrease (20–42%, P < 0.01) in NMDA-sensitive l-[3H]glutamate binding. The initial decrease was followed by a moderate recovery at later time points but was still evident at 1 year postlesion. This may reflect a lesion-induced turnover of synaptic complexes, down-regulation of postsynaptic receptors, or loss of presynaptic receptors. Five days following fimbria-fornix lesion there was also a decrease (13–15%, P < 0.05) in [3H]KA binding in CA3 strata radiatum and pyramidale. However, at 3 months postlesion KA receptor density was elevated by 29–33% (P < 0.01) in the outer molecular layer of the dentate gyrus with no significant change in binding to the inner molecular layer. By 1 year postlesion, the density of [3H]KA binding sites was not significantly different from that observed in control animals of the same age. The increase in KA receptor density in the outer molecular layer 3 months after fimbria-fornix lesion may reflect sprouting of the perforant path input or mossy fibers to this region and contribute to the increase in interictal spikes and seizure susceptibility.
Coexisting CDW and BOW in organic conductors with non-half-filled bands

Abstract Commensurate 1 4 and 1 3 -filled bands in which the electrons are coupled to both intersite phonons and intramolecular vibrations are investigated. Unlike in the 1 2 -filled band, the bond order wave and the charge density wave coexist and interact cooperatively for all values of the two electron-phonon coupling constants. Despite the coexistence of the two kinds of density waves, solitons have charges that are rational fractions. The relevance of the cooperative interaction in non-half-filled bands to the metal-insulator transitions in segregated stack charge-transfer solids is discussed.
PSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS OF PRIVACY

Abstract Various types of privacy behaviors are engaged in to achieve a desired level of access to one's self or group. Six types of privacy have been identified empirically—Solitude, Isolation, Anonymity, Reserve, Intimacy with Friends, and Intimacy with Family. The psychological needs met by each privacy was investigated in this study. Each type of privacy was rated by 74 subjects according to the degree to which each of 20 privacy needs was achieved. A factor analysis of the ratings within each privacy type was completed to find types of privacy functions. Several privacy function factors were found. There was both commonality and uniqueness of the factors across the six kinds of privacy. The factors found were contemplation, autonomy, rejuvenation, confiding, creativity, disapproved consumptions, recovery, catharsis, and concealment. Mean factor scale scores were calculated to describe the relative amount of utilization of the various privacy functions for each type of privacy.
Composite infrared bolometers with Si_3N_4 micromesh absorbers

We report the design and performance of 300-mK composite bolometers that use micromesh absorbers and support structures patterned from thin films of low-stress silicon nitride. The small geometrical filling factor of the micromesh absorber provides 20× reduction in heat capacity and cosmic ray cross section relative to a solid absorber with no loss in IR-absorption efficiency. The support structure is mechanically robust and has a thermal conductance, G < 2 × 10^(−11) W/K, which is four times smaller than previously achieved at 300 mK. The temperature rise of the bolometer is measured with a neutron transmutation doped germanium thermistor attached to the absorbing mesh. The dispersion in electrical and thermal parameters of a sample of 12 bolometers optimized for the Sunyaev–Zel’dovich Infrared Experiment is ±7% in R (T), ±5% in optical efficiency, and ±4% in G.
Use of cyclotrons in medical research: Past, present, future

Abstract The use of cyclotrons in medical research started in the late 1930s with the most prominent use being neutron irradiation in cancer therapy. Due to a lack of understanding of the biological effect of neutrons, the results were less than encouraging. In the 1940s and 1950s, small cyclotrons were used for isotope production and in the mid 60s, the biological effect of neutrons was more thoroughly studied, with the result that a second trial of neutron therapy was initiated at Hammersmith Hospital, England. Concurrent with this, work on the use of high energy charged particles, initially protons and alphas, was initiated in Sweden and Russia and at Harvard and Berkeley. The English success in neutron therapy led to some pilot studies in the USA using physics cyclotrons of various energies and targets. These results in turn lead to the present series of machines presently being installed at M.D. Anderson Hospital (42 MeV), Seattle (50 MeV) and UCLA (46 MeV). The future probably bodes well for cyclotrons at the two extremes of the energy range. For nuclear medicine the shift is away from the use of multiple isotopes, which requires a large range of particles and energies to 11 C, 13 N, 15 O, and 18 F, which can be incorporated in metabolic specific compounds and be made with small 8–10 MeV p+ “table top” cyclotrons. For tumor therapy machines of 60 MeV or so will probably be the choice for the future, as they allow the treatment of deep seated tumors with neutrons and the charged particles have sufficient range to allow the treatment of ocular tumors.
Trimethoxymethane as an alternative fuel for a direct oxidation PBI polymer electrolyte fuel cell

Abstract The oxidation of trimethoxymethane (TMM) (trimethyl orthoformate) in a direct oxidation PBI fuel cell was examined by on-line mass spectroscopy and on-line FTIR spectroscopy. The results show that TMM was almost completely hydrolyzed in a direct oxidation fuel cell which employs an acid doped polymer electrolyte to form a mixture of methylformate, methanol and formic acid. It also found that TMM was hydrolyzed in the presence of water at 120°C even without acidic catalyst. The anode performance improves in the sequence of methanol, TMM, formic acid/methanol, and methylformate solutions. Since formic acid is electrochemically more active than methanol, these results suggest that formic acid is probably a key factor for the improvement of the anode performance by using TMM instead of methanol under these conditions.
B-spline R-matrix with pseudostates approach for electron impact excitation of atomic nitrogen

The B-spline R-matrix with pseudostates approach has been used to calculate excitation cross sections for the forbidden 2s22p34So–2Do, 2Po, 2s22p32Do–2Po and resonance 2s22p34So–2s22p23s4P, 2s2p44P, 2s22p24s4P and 2s22p23d4P transitions in atomic nitrogen for incident electron energies from threshold to 120 eV. The excitation of these transitions gives rise to prominent lines in the spectra of solar and planetary atmospheres. The 24 spectroscopic bound and autoionizing states together with 15 pseudostates are included in the close-coupling expansion. The pseudostates are chosen to approximate the loss of flux into the infinite number of bound and continuum states that are dipole coupled with ground configuration terms. The contribution of the ionization continuum is significant for resonance transitions. An accurate description of target wavefunctions has been obtained on the basis of non-orthogonal spectroscopic and pseudo-orbitals to adequately account for the correlation corrections and interactions. A comparison of calculated cross sections with the measured absolute direct excitation cross sections is presented. A good agreement with measured integral cross sections is noted except at 5 eV for the forbidden transition and 30 eV for the resonance transitions.
A Comparison of AneuRx Aortic Cuff and Zenith Distal Flare Exclusion of Common Iliac Artery Ectasia for Endovascular Aneurysm Repair

Stent-grafts are ideally terminated within the common iliac artery (CIA). However, CIA ectasia may require hypogastric artery occlusion, with stent-graft extension to the external iliac artery. Alternatively, the diameter of the distal stent-graft may be increased, or flared, to allow exclusion of the abdominal aortic aneurysm. This report details the authors’ experience with this technique. Forty-one patients received bifurcated stent-grafts (BSG): 20 received an AneuRx device, and 21 received a Zenith device. CIA ectasia (diameter 15–25 mm) was treated with a distal flare of 2–4 mm greater than the CIA diameter. Patients were followed up with computed tomography scan at 1, 6, and 12 months. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA within groups and unpaired two-tailed t test between groups. A p value of <0.05 was considered significant. Eight of 20 patients (40%) (11 CIA) received an AneuRx device and 13/21 (62%) (17 CIA) received a Zenith device, with a distal flare. Values are (n) mean (mm) ± SE...
The effect of surface stress on the reconstruction of the Si(111) surface

Abstract Stress tensors and their influence on the reconstruction of Si(111) surfaces were calculated using a “statics” computer simulation technique based on a semi-empirical potential energy function. Analyses were aimed at investigating long-range stress interactions on ideal and defective Si(111) surfaces. Calculations indicate that the perfect Si(111) surface is under a large compressive stress. Formation of ledges and surface vacancies, in particular, were found to reduce this compressive stress.
Dealing with international hostage‐taking: Alternatives to reactive counterterrorist assaults

Abstract This study examines trends in the incidence of international hostage‐barricade terrorism (HBT) since the late 1960s, the concurrent development of elite hostage rescue units (HRUs), and the relative effectiveness of American, Soviet, West European, Israeli, and other Third World responses—using dialogue or force—to HBT actions. Although HRUs have scored some dramatic rescues, three major hostage massacres in Third World countries in 1985–1986 and other bloody HBT incidents in 1988 demonstrated the high cost of using force prematurely and ineptly to resolve HBT crises. Focusing on these and other HRU failures, this study questions the American and Israeli “no‐ransom, no‐negotiation” policies in HBT situations and concludes that a more flexible approach of patiently “talking down” and “wearing down” the hostage‐takers through basic hostage‐negotiation techniques—even if only as a delaying tactic—is vital for maximizing the chances for rescuing hostages safely, whether through dialogue or force. Con...
Fear of failure in families without fathers.

165 students in introductory psychology were administered a modified TAT task scored for Fear of Failure using procedures developed by Birney, et al., in 1969. Significant differences in scores on Fear of Failure were reported between students in two-parent homes and those from father-absent homes. Differences in Fear of Failure scores were largest between intact families and those families where the father had died and next largest between intact families and father-absence due to divorce or separation, with greater effect of father's absence on the lives of boys than of girls.
A method for selecting dimensions, tolerances and precisions for alignment

A method is developed for selecting the dimensions and tolerances of mating parts and the precision of the process equipment with regard to the performance of the alignment phase of many processes, for example assembly. A formula is presented which expresses the performance as a function of the size ratio and tolerances of the objects being mated and the precision of the equipment. Non-dimensional tolerances and precisions provide a means to present graphically the underlying relationships in a useful yet general form. In situations where the equipment precision is given a priori, maximum allowable size ratio tables provide a method for determining the part dimensions and tolerances that will enable the equipment to mate the parts successfully. Assembly process application examples are given.
The Macaque Sperm Actin Cytoskeleton Reorganizes in Response to Osmotic Stress and Contributes to Morphological Defects and Decreased Motility

Abstract Sperm undergo extreme variations in temperature and osmolality during cryopreservation, resulting in cell damage that includes plasma membrane defects, changes in cell volume, decreased motility, and flagellar defects. However, the fundamental biologic mechanisms underlying these events are poorly understood. We investigated the effects of osmotic stress and cytochalasins b (CB) and d (CD), naturally occurring toxins that disrupt actin organization, on the actin cytoskeleton and motility of Rhesus macaque sperm (Macaca mulatta). Sperm were diluted in media of low, medium, or high osmolality, or medium-osmolality media containing CB or CD, were stained with phalloidin-fluorescein isothiocyanate, and were processed for microscopy. The majority of sperm incubated in medium-osmolality media exhibited postacrosomal stain, whereas the minority displayed banding patterns of F-actin stain in the head. High-osmolality media, as well as CB and CD incubation, resulted in reorganization of F-actin into bands...
Single-processor PC-based molecular dynamics simulations of the orientational motion of liquids: Chloroform at 298 and 220 K

Abstract Molecular Dynamics Simulations of liquid chloroform have been performed using commercially available single-processor personal computers to calculate the Raman orientational correlation function of the CH bond vector at 298 and 220 K. Comparison with previously published correlation data from the Fourier transforms of two totally symmetric Raman vibration-rotation bands indicate generally good agreement. Simulations of small-molecule liquids, including molecules bearing fractional atomic charges, are therefore possible without recourse to institutional supercomputers. Even runs out to 1.2 ns at 5 fs step intervals, required to realistically simulate the correlation function of the total dipole of the liquid for 256 molecules per box, are entirely feasible under tolerable run times of about eight 24-hr days, giving results in reasonable agreement with the dielectric relaxation experiment.
Liposome Transport of Hydrophobic Drugs: Gel Phase Lipid Bilayer Permeability and Partitioning of the Lactone Form of a Hydrophobic Camptothecin, DB‐67

The design of liposomal delivery systems for hydrophobic drug molecules having improved encapsulation efficiency and enhanced drug retention would be highly desirable. Unfortunately, the poor aqueous solubility and high membrane binding affinity of hydrophobic drugs necessitates extensive validation of experimental methods to determine both liposome loading and permeability and thus the development of a quantitative understanding of the factors governing the encapsulation and retention/release of such compounds has been slow. This report describes an efflux transport method using dynamic dialysis to study the liposomal membrane permeability of hydrophobic compounds. A mathematical model has been developed to calculate liposomal membrane permeability coefficients of hydrophobic compounds from dynamic dialysis experiments and partitioning experiments using equilibrium dialysis. Also reported is a simple method to study the release kinetics of liposome encapsulated camptothecin lactone in plasma by comparing the hydrolysis kinetics of liposome entrapped versus free drug. DB-67, a novel hydrophobic camptothecin analogue has been used as a model permeant to validate these methods. Theoretical estimates of DB-67 permeability obtained from the bulk solubility diffusion model and the "barrier-domain" solubility diffusion model are compared to the experimentally observed value. The use of dynamic dialysis in drug release studies of liposome and other nanoparticle formulations is further discussed and experimental artifacts that can arise without adequate validation are illustrated through simulations.
Bernoulli numbers, Wolstenholme's theorem, and p5 variations of Lucas' theorem

Abstract In this note we shall improve some congruences of G.S. Kazandzidis and D.F. Bailey to higher prime power moduli, by studying the relation between irregular pairs of the form ( p , p − 3 ) and a refined version of Wolstenholme's theorem.
Surface-mediated delivery of DNA: Cationic polymers take charge

The last several years have seen a significant increase in the number of reports describing the use of cationic polymers to design new materials and nanoscale assemblies that promote the surface-mediated delivery of DNA to cells and tissues. In general, these approaches fall into one of two broad categories: (i) methods based upon the physical adsorption of pre-formed, colloidal aggregates of cationic polymer and DNA (polyplexes) to surfaces, and (ii) methods for the layer-by-layer adsorption of DNA and cationic polymers on surfaces to fabricate multilayered thin films that provide control over the release of DNA into solution or to cells. In this Opinion, we discuss several recent examples of each of these approaches and provide commentary on ways in which the physical and chemical behaviours of cationic polymers have played key roles and present future opportunities to develop new methods for localized and surface-mediated cell transfection in vitro and in vivo.