cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interface-State Modeling of $\hbox{Al}_{2}\hbox{O}_{3}$ –InGaAs MOS From Depletion to Inversion

This paper presents a detailed analysis of the multifrequency capacitance–voltage and conductance–voltage data of $\hbox{Al}_{2}\hbox{O}_{3}/\hbox{n-InGaAs}$ MOS capacitors. It is shown that the widely varied frequency dependence of the data from depletion to inversion can be fitted to various regional equivalent circuits derived from the full interface-state model. In certain regions, incorporating bulk-oxide traps in the interface-state model enables better fitting of data. By calibrating the model with experimental data, the interface-state density and the trap time constants are extracted as functions of energy in the bandgap, from which the stretch-out of gate voltage is determined. It is concluded that the commonly observed decrease of the 1-kHz capacitance toward stronger inversion is due to the increasing time constant for traps to capture majority carriers at the inverted surface.
A functional rhodopsin-green fluorescent protein fusion protein localizes correctly in transgenic Xenopus laevis retinal rods and is expressed in a time-dependent pattern.

To study rhodopsin biosynthesis and transportin vivo, we engineered a fusion protein (rho-GFP) of bovine rhodopsin (rho) and green fluorescent protein (GFP). rho-GFP expressed in COS-1 cells bound 11-cis retinal, generating a pigment with spectral properties of rhodopsin (A max at 500 nm) and GFP (A max at 488 nm). rho-GFP activated transducin at 50% of the wild-type activity, whereas phosphorylation of rho-GFP by rhodopsin kinase was 10% of wild-type levels. We expressed rho-GFP in the rod photoreceptors of Xenopus laevis using theX. laevis principal opsin promoter. Like rhodopsin, rho-GFP localized to rod outer segments, indicating that rho-GFP was recognized by membrane transport mechanisms. In contrast, a rho-GFP variant lacking the C-terminal outer segment localization signal distributed to both outer and inner segment membranes. Confocal microscopy of transgenic retinas revealed that transgene expression levels varied between cells, an effect that is probably analogous to position-effect variegation. Furthermore, rho-GFP concentrations varied along the length of individual rods, indicating that expression levels varied within single cells on a daily or hourly basis. These results have implications for transgenic models of retinal degeneration and mechanisms of position-effect variegation and demonstrate the utility of rho-GFP as a probe for rhodopsin transport and temporal regulation of promoter function.
Role of staphylococcal superantigens in atopic dermatitis: from colonization to inflammation

Objective This review article has been prepared in order to enable the readers to understand the role of staphylococcal superantigens (SsAgs) in atopic dermatitis (AD). Data sources MEDLINE literature search was performed for obtaining references. Recent reviews, research articles, poster presentations, and letters (to the editor) were meticulously reviewed. Results (1) SsAgs contribute to the pathogenesis of cutaneous inflammation in AD with five potential mechanisms: (2) Effectiveness of antibiotic therapy in AD patients without signs of bacterial infection is still under discussion. If signs of skin infection are present, antibiotic therapy (topical/oral) may help exacerbations of AD. Prolonged topical/oral antibiotic therapy, however, may cause development of antibiotic-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus (SA). Conclusions Atopic dermatitis is a genetically determined, chronically relapsing, inflammatory skin disease which has many aspects and a complex immunopathogenesis involving both immediate and cellular immune responses. While the pathogenic role of SsAgs may not be of primary importance, SsAgs appear to be one of the important triggering factors that contribute to the cutaneous inflammation in AD. We suggest that staphylococcal colonization does not always mean SsAg-mediated inflammation, and anti-staphylococcal treatment should be considered in cases with signs of bacterial infection.
Mechanism of CO2 and H+ Reduction by Ni(cyclam)+ in Aqueous Solution. A Pulse and Continuous Radiolysis Study

The reduction of CO2 and H+ by Ni(cyclam)+ in aqueous solution was found to proceed by the reduction of Ni(cyclam)(CO2)+ or Ni(cyclam)(H)2+ by Ni(cyclam)+. At ambient temperature the rate constants for the bimolecular reactions are 1.6 × 108 and 7.2 × 107 M-1 s-1, respectively. Continuous γ-radiolysis studies have demonstrated nearly quantitative formation of CO from two Ni(cyclam)+ at pH 5.2 under 1 atm of CO2 and in the presence of formate. Under the same conditions, but at low CO2 concentration, the reduction of protons was found to compete with CO2 reduction.
Percutaneous closure devices do not reduce the risk of major access site complications in patients undergoing elective carotid stent placement.

Abstract Purpose To examine the risk of femoral access site complications in patients undergoing carotid stent placement who were treated with a closure device compared with patients who were not treated with a closure device. Materials and Methods A national, multihospital patient database, the Premier Perspective database, was used to identify patients hospitalized for carotid stent placement from 2006–2011. To reduce potential selection bias, a propensity score was generated for each patient using relevant clinical variables. Propensity score adjustment via 1:1 matching was performed on patients who did and did not receive a closure device. Primary outcomes were minor femoral access site complications and major complications requiring procedural intervention. Secondary outcomes included in-hospital mortality, stroke, and blood transfusion. Results Among 12,287 patients who underwent carotid stent placement at 217 hospitals, 6,398 (52%) received a closure device on the day of the procedure. After propensity score matching, patients who received a closure device had a lower likelihood of minor access site complications (4.2% vs 5.4%; odds ratio=0.77; 95% confidence interval, 0.55–0.93; P = .0071) compared with patients who did not receive a closure device; however, this difference was small and likely not clinically relevant. Both groups had a similar risk of major access site complications ( P = .32), in-hospital mortality ( P = .0520), and stroke ( P = .31). Conclusions Use of a closure device was not associated with a substantially reduced risk of major adverse events after carotid stent placement and was associated with only a small improvement in minor access site complications.
Numerical Prediction of Socket Solder Joint Reliability during Shock

This paper proposes a simulation methodology to assess the risk in solder joint reliability (SJR) of Pin Grid Array (PGA)/ Land Grid Array (LGA) Socket during Mechanical shock. One of the main challenges in simulation is the complex socket/contact geometry convoluted with its massive number of degrees of freedom. This paper proposes a technique, Contact Isolation Method (CIM), to simplify the geometry so that it can be modeled with highly reduced degrees of freedom (DOFs) while still maintaining 90% of the in-plane and out-of-plane stiffness compared with the original structure. The Pin Grid Array 700 socket (PGA700) and Pin Grid Array 604 socket (PGA604) were used as case studies to demonstrate this methodology. A system model was completed for the PGA604 socket with a focus on its capability to assess SJR. A reasonable correlation between the modeling and experiment on the dynamic board strain demonstrates that this technique is viable. In addition, this paper verifies that the board strain is a proper metric for the risk assessment in SJR, and defines the optimal strain gauge location. The impact of the boundary conditions is also investigated.
Evolution of the silver and gold stains in neurohistology

Scientific investigations depend on the reliability of the observations that can be made. This reliability is determined in part by the understanding of the techniques and technology used to make the observations. The limitations and the strengths of the methodology and the equipment used must be evaluated thoroughly. The extent to which this is and has been the case for the use of the metal based stains in neuroscience is the subject of this paper. I evaluate the metallic stains used for neuroscience from several perspectives. I review briefly the state of neurohistology prior to its "golden years," 1870-1910. Then I trace the development of the silver based stains used for neurohistology. I wanted to discuss the reasoning used by the originators of the silver based techniques in developing their specific procedures, but discovered that while procedures may be published, the methods and ideas used to arrive at the final procedures are not usually described in published work.
Population Variation in β-phenethylamines from Mammillaria microcarpa

Cortex tissue from individuals of Mammillaria microcarpa was sampled for β-phenethylamines in 15 populations in Arizona. Qualitative and quantitative variation of these compounds were determined by HPLC analysis. Tyramine and N-methyltyramine were found in all plants, whereas hordenine and dimethyldopamine occurred in 95% and 64% of the samples, respectively. Statistical analyses yielded no clear and significant association, qualitatively or quantitatively, with the geographical distribution of the populations. We conclude that the three major β-phenethylamines are stable and reliable taxonomic characters in M. microcarpa.
Inside the iPod, outside the classroom

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe how librarians at UC Merced developed an iPod Touch Video Library Tour to replace in‐person instruction for freshman library orientations.Design/methodology/approach – Librarians developed and marketed the iPod Touch Video Library Tour, collaborated with Writing faculty to promote and measure the effectiveness of instruction, then collected and analyzed student assignment scores and survey assessment data to evaluate the project.Findings – Post‐tour assessment data from student assignments suggest that the iPod Touch Video Library Tour is successfully introducing new students to the space, services and resources of the library. Post‐tour comments from students and faculty also indicate that they consider the tour an effective means of being introduced to the library.Practical implications – Faced with increasing teaching workloads, instruction librarians can benefit from developing asynchronous instruction objects such as podcasts/vodcasts. Asynchronous t...
1985 Kreshover lecture. Molecular Factors Influencing Neutrophil Defects in Periodontal Disease

Major advances in our understanding of the role of the neutrophil in host defense against periodontal organisms have been made through studies of localized juvenile periodontitis (LJP). Several.lines of evidence suggest that LJP is an infectious process closely associated with Actinobacillus (Haemophilus) actinomycetemcomitans as a causative agent, although other organisms may also participate. The immunologic profile of LJP patients suggests that a cell-associated neutrophil locomotory dysfunction is a key underlying immunodeficiency resulting in increased susceptibility to periodontal infection. In addition, LJP patients often exhibit cervical lymphadenopathy and IgG-hypergammaglobulinemia, and a markedly elevated antibody response to the infecting organism, A. actinomycetemcomitans, is found in the serum and crevicular fluid of most patients.Evaluation of the locomotory properties of LJP neutrophils shows that random migration and chemokinesis are normal; however, about 70% of the LJP patients suffer f...
Happiness Inducing Behaviors in Everyday Life: An Empirical Assessment of “The How of Happiness”

The frequency of Happiness Inducing Behaviors (HIB) was assessed in a survey of 903 university students; measures of Big Five personality traits and happiness were also obtained. Students reported engaging in many HIBs about 1–3 times per week. Analysis of HIB yielded three factors: Positive/Proactive Behaviors; Spiritual Behaviors; and Physical Health Behaviors. Positive/Proactive behaviors predicted significant additional variance in happiness beyond the variance predictable from Big Five personality traits. Mediation analysis suggested that effects of Big Five traits on happiness may be mediated to varying degrees by engagement in Positive/Proactive Behaviors and Physical Health Behaviors. Additional analyses examined possible moderation of the association between HIB and happiness by gender and Big Five traits; the strength of association between behavior and happiness did not differ between women and men, or across people with different scores on Big Five traits. This study provides additional evidence that naturally occurring behaviors are predictive of happiness in everyday life and confirms earlier findings about the degree to which behaviors mediate effects of Big Five traits on happiness.
Film Boiling Heat Transfer From a Sphere and a Horizontal Cylinder Embedded in a Liquid-Saturated Porous Medium

This paper analyses both theoretically and experimentally the problem of film boiling from a body embedded in a liquid-saturated porous medium. Two body geometries are investigated thoroughly: a horizontal cylinder and a sphere. The theoretical model relies on the Brinkman-extended flow model to describe the flow field inside the thin vapor layer occupying the neighborhood near the heated surface. The theoretical model also includes an improved formulation of the effective conductivity in the vicinity of the heater as a function of the vapor layer thickness and the geometry of the porous medium material. Solutions are obtained for the vapor layer thickness and the local Nusselt number as a function of angular position. Numerical solutions are also obtained for the overall heat transfer rates from the surface to the fluid for a given vapor superheat. Experimental data for a 12.70 mm stainless steel cylindrical heater embedded in a 3-mm glass particle porous medium were obtained under steady-state operation. The experimental data obtained are compared with the theoretical analysis. The comparison shows that there is a good agreement between theory and experiments. The theoretical model is also compared with the experimental data obtained by other investigators for a spherical geometry. Excellent resultsmore » are obtained in such comparison.« less
Development of a Potent Bcl-xL Antagonist Based on α-Helix Mimicry

The rational design of low-molecular weight ligands that disrupt protein-protein interactions is still a challenging goal in medicinal chemistry. Our approach to this problem involves the design of molecular scaffolds that mimic the surface functionality projected along one face of an alpha-helix. Using a terphenyl scaffold, which in a staggered conformation closely reproduces the projection of functionality on the surface of an alpha-helix, we designed mimics of the pro-apoptotic alpha-helical Bak-peptide as inhibitors of the Bak/Bcl-xL interaction. This led to the development of a potent Bcl-xL antagonist (KD = 114 nM), whose binding affinity for Bcl-xL was assessed by a fluorescence polarization assay. To determine the binding site of the developed inhibitor we used docking studies and an HSQC-NMR experiment with 15N-labeled Bcl-xL protein. These studies suggest that the inhibitor is binding in the same hydrophobic cleft as the Bak- and Bad-peptides.
Ghrelin increases vagally mediated gastric activity by central sites of action

Background Vagally dependent gastric reflexes are mediated through vagal afferent fibers synapsing upon neurons of the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) which, in turn modulate the preganglionic parasympathetic dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMV) neurons within the medullary dorsal vagal complex (DVC). The expression and transport of ghrelin receptors has been documented for the afferent vagus nerve, and functional studies have confirmed that vagal pathways are integral to ghrelin-induced stimulation of gastric motility. However, the central actions of ghrelin within the DVC have not been explored fully. Methods We assessed the responses to ghrelin in fasted rats using: (i) in vivo measurements of gastric tone and motility following IVth ventricle application or unilateral microinjection of ghrelin into the DVC and (ii) whole cell recordings from gastric-projecting neurons of the DMV. Key Results (i) IVth ventricle application or unilateral microinjection of ghrelin into the DVC-elicited contractions of the gastric corpus via excitation of a vagal cholinergic efferent pathway and (ii) ghrelin facilitates excitatory, but not inhibitory, presynaptic transmission to DMV neurons. Conclusions & Inferences Our data indicate that ghrelin acts centrally by activating excitatory synaptic inputs onto DMV neurons, resulting in increased cholinergic drive by way of vagal motor innervation to the stomach.
Effect of cobalt on Escherichia coli metabolism and metalloporphyrin formation

Toxicity in Escherichia coli resulting from high concentrations of cobalt has been explained by competition of cobalt with iron in various metabolic processes including Fe–S cluster assembly, sulfur assimilation, production of free radicals and reduction of free thiol pool. Here we present another aspect of increased cobalt concentrations in the culture medium resulting in the production of cobalt protoporphyrin IX (CoPPIX), which was incorporated into heme proteins including membrane-bound cytochromes and an expressed human cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS). The presence of CoPPIX in cytochromes inhibited their electron transport capacity and resulted in a substantially decreased respiration. Bacterial cells adapted to the increased cobalt concentration by inducing a modified mixed acid fermentative pathway under aerobiosis. We capitalized on the ability of E. coli to insert cobalt into PPIX to carry out an expression of CoPPIX-substituted heme proteins. The level of CoPPIX-substitution increased with the number of passages of cells in a cobalt-containing medium. This approach is an inexpensive method to prepare cobalt-substituted heme proteins compared to in vitro enzyme reconstitution or in vivo replacement using metalloporphyrin heme analogs and seems to be especially suitable for complex heme proteins with an additional coenzyme, such as human CBS.
The short-run comparative statics of a rental housing market

Abstract This paper examines the short-run effects of changes in exogenous variables (including several government policies) on the schedule relating market equilibrium rent to quality level. The basic model differs from Sweeney ( Econometrica , 42 , 147–167 (1974)) by use of a bid rent closed city approach rather than a supply and demand (partially) open city approach. The mathematics changes completely, the analytics simplify, and the results change somewhat. Housing is treated as a durable quality differentiated good, but frictional forces and the multidimensionality of the housing package are ignored. The exception is an extension to a monocentric city context, so that housing units vary in both quality and location.
Computational Kinetic Studies of Pyruvate Metabolism in Carboxydothermus hydrogenoformans Z-2901 for Improved Hydrogen Production

Hydrogen is considered as a renewable energy source and it is also regarded as future fuel. Currently, hydrogen production through a biotechnological approach is a research priority. Hydrogenogens, a microbial species, are of significant interest to researchers because of their ability to produce biological hydrogen. Carboxydothermus hydrogenoformans Z-2901 is one among the hydrogenogens that can grow anaerobically by utilizing pyruvate as a carbon source, and can produce molecular hydrogen. In the present study, we performed an in silico kinetic simulation using the available Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) model and reconstructed pyruvate metabolism in C. hydrogenoformans Z-2901. During this metabolism, dissimilation of pyruvate leads to the formation of energy co-factors, such as ATP and NAD+/ NADH, and the level of these co-factors influences the specific growth rate of organism and hydrogen production. Our strategy for improving hydrogen production involves maximizing the ATP and NAD+ yield by modification of kinetic properties and adding new reactions in pyruvate metabolism through metabolic pathway reconstruction. Moreover, the influence of phosphoenol pyruvate carboxylase and pyruvate dehydrogenase enzyme concentration on cofactor productions was also simulated. The theoretical molar yield of ATP and NAD+ were obtained as 2.32 and 1.83 mM, respectively, from 1 mM/mg of phosphoenol pyruvate (PEP) utilization. A higher yield of ATP is achieved when the PEP level reaches 5 mM/mg. This work also suggests that PEP can be considered as an alternative substrate. In conclusion, the simulation results reported in this paper can be applied to design and evaluate strategies of strain construction for optimal hydrogen yield in C. hydrogenoformans.
Carotid endarterectomy was performed with lower stroke and death rates than carotid artery stenting in the United States in 2003 and 2004.

Objective Although carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is the gold standard for the treatment of carotid artery stenosis, the recent United States Food and Drug Administration approval of carotid artery stenting (CAS) may have led to its widespread use outside of clinical trials and registries. This study compared in-hospital postoperative stroke and mortality rates after CAS and CEA at the national level. Methods The Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) was queried to identify all patient-discharges that occurred for revascularization of carotid artery stenosis. The International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification procedure codes for CEA (38.12), CAS (00.63), and insertion of noncoronary stents (39.50, 39.90) were used in conjunction with the diagnostic codes for carotid artery stenosis, with (433.11) and without (433.10) stroke. Primary outcome measures included in-hospital postoperative stroke and death rates. Multivariate logistic regressions were performed to evaluate independent predictors of postoperative stroke and mortality. Adjustment was made for age, sex, medical comorbidities, admission diagnosis, procedure type, year, and hospital type. Results During the calendar years 2003 and 2004, an estimated 259,080 carotid revascularization procedures were performed in the United States. CAS had a higher rate of in-hospital postoperative stroke (2.1% vs 0.88%, P P P = .36). For symptomatic patients (8%), the rates for postoperative stroke (4.2% vs 1.1%, P P Conclusions As determined from a large representative national sample including the years 2003 and 2004, the in-hospital stroke rate after CAS for asymptomatic patients was twofold higher than after CEA. For symptomatic patients, the respective in-hospital stroke and mortality rates were fourfold and sevenfold higher. These unexpected results indicate that further randomized controlled trials with homogenous symptomatic and asymptomatic patient groups should be performed.
Stories and photographs of William A. Arnold (1904–2001), a pioneer of photosynthesis and a wonderful friend

William A. Arnold discovered many phenomena in photosynthesis. In 1932, together with Robert Emerson, he provided the first experimental data that led to the concept of a large antenna and a few reaction centers (photosynthetic unit); in 1935, he obtained the minimum quantum requirement of 8-10 for the evolution of one O2 molecule; in 1951, together with Bernard L. Strehler, he discovered delayed fluorescence (also known as delayed light emission) in photosynthetic systems; and in 1956, together with Helen Sherwood, he discovered thermoluminescence in plants. He is also known for providing a solid-state picture of photosynthesis. Much has been written about him and his research, including many articles in a special issue of Photosynthesis Research (Govindjee et al. (eds.) 1996); and a biography of Arnold, by Govindjee and Srivastava (William Archibald Arnold (1904-2001), 2014), in the Biographical Memoirs of the US National Academy of Sciences, (Washington, DC). Our article here offers a glimpse into the everyday life, through stories and photographs, of this remarkable scientist.
Anthropology: Power of the past

Monique Borgerhoff Mulder assesses an exploration of how modern industrial and traditional societies differ.
Metabolism of diclofop-methyl in susceptible and resistant biotypes of Lolium rigidum

Abstract Differential metabolism and detoxication of the postemergence graminicide diclofop-methyl (DM) [methyl 2-(4-(2′,4′-dichlorophenoxy)phenoxy)propanoate] is not the basis for selectivity between the DM resistant (R) and susceptible (S) biotypes of Lolium rigidum. Metabolism of DM did not differ significantly between the two biotypes. DM metabolism in Lolium sp. resembled that of susceptible oat and wild oat (Avena sp.) and not resistant wheat (Triticum aestivum). Metabolism of DM was assayed in excised shoots, roots and leaves (leaf surface-applied DM) of R and S Lolium biotypes. Higher concentrations of phytotoxic diclofop (acid) remained in shoots and roots of R and S Lolium biotypes (42 to 47% of absorbed DM after 72 hr in roots), than was found in susceptible oat. Conjugates of both diclofop (ester conjugate) and aryl hydroxylated diclofop (phenolic conjugate) were formed in Lolium sp. Aryl hydroxylation may be slightly higher in roots than in shoots of both biotypes but hydroxylation was less than in resistan wheat. The mode of action of DM in the S biotype of Lolium is probably similar to that in susceptible Avena sp. since the phytotoxicity of DM in both species is reversed by 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid.
Degradation of Nylon-6/Clay Nanocomposites in NO(x)

Nylon-6 is an important engineering polymer that, in its fully spherulitic (bulk) form, has many applications in gears, rollers, and other long life cycle components. In 1993, Toyota commercialized a nylon-6/clay nanocomposite out of which it produced the timing belt cover for the Camry. Although these hybrid nanocomposites show significant improvements in their mechanical response characteristics, including yield strength and heat distortion temperature, little is known about the degradation of these properties due to environmental pollutants like NO x . Nylon-6 fibers are severely degraded by interaction with NO x and other pollutants, showing a strong synergy between applied load and environmental degradation. While the nanocomposites show a significant reduction in permeability of gases and water due to the incorporation of lamellar clay, their susceptibility to nondiffusional mechano-chemical degradation is unknown. The fracture toughness of these nylon-6/clay nanocomposites increases, not as a function of clay content, but as a function of the volume of nylon-6 polymer chains influenced by the clay lamellae surfaces. Both the clay and the constrained volume offer the nanocomposites some protection from the deleterious effects of NO x . The time-to-failure at a given stress intensity factor as a function of clay content and constrained volume is discussed along with fracture toughness of the materials.
High-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation as treatment for high-risk breast cancer

High-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation has emerged as a common treatment for patients with breast cancer who have a poor prognosis. The success of this approach appears to depend on the tumor burden and the sensitivity of the disease to chemotherapy because treatment techniques have been refined and treatment-related mortality has declined. Phase II studies in patients with stage II and III disease are encouraging and suggest that treatment with high-dose chemotherapy before the development of metastatic disease may provide an advantage in terms of relapse-free and overall survival. However, tumor cells may contaminate stem cell collections and contribute to relapse after transplantation. Therefore it may be important to separate and select purified CD34+ cells which are not contaminated. It has been suggested that selection bias contributes to the favorable preliminary results observed in phase II studies of high-risk patients. Such issues, together with patient and physician bias regarding the benefits of this strategy, emphasize the need to complete the prospective randomized trials now underway.
Diagnostics Of Fields Excited On Finite Dielectric Structures By Incident Microwaves

Microwaves incident on finite dielectric structures, such as slabs and hollow wedges, excite a variety of fields that produce complicated interference patterns. This paper describes calculations with the moment method and measurements with a small, probe antenna. The interpretation identifies guided waves, plane waves, and cylindrical waves, and it gives relative amplitudes of these waves. The intensity distribution is a hologram because the guided waves and internal refracted waves are coherent but with distinct propagation constants. Images are formed by reconstruction. In addition, describe a new, angle scanning interferometer that determines angular distributions of fields about dielectric gratings. Mechanismus, which include grating lobes, and specular reflections, are identified.© (1983) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Non-linear dynamic response of a rotating machine

Abstract The dynamic response of a two-degree-of-freedom seismically mounted rotor system with cubic non-linearities is investigated. The rotating machine is subjected to internal forces caused by the eccentricity of the center of mass of the rotor. The equations of motion of the system are determined using Lagrange's equation. The method of multiple scales is then used to determined the response of the system; this is determined when the excitation frequency is near the first and second modal frequency under internal resonance conditions.
Hybrid methodology for the detection, tracking, and classification of humans in difficult infrared video

The detection, tracking, and classification of humans in video imagery is of obvious military and civilian importance. The problem is difficult under the best of circumstances. In infrared (IR) imagery, or any grayscale imagery, the problem is compounded by the lack of color cues. Sometimes, human detection in IR imagery can take advantage of the thermal difference between humans and background-but this difference is not robust. Varying environmental conditions regularly degrade the thermal contrast between humans and background. In difficult data, humans can be effectively camouflaged by their environment and standard feature detectors are unreliable. The research described here uses a hybrid approach toward human detection, tracking, and classification. The first is a feature-based correlated body parts detector. The second is a pseudo-Hough transform applied to the edge images of the video sequence. The third relies on an optical flow-based vector field transformation of the video sequence. This vector field permits a multidimensional application of the feature detectors initiated in the previous two methods. Then a multi-dimensional oriented Haar transform is applied to the vector field to further characterize potential detections. This transform also shows potential for distinguishing human behavior.
The effects of caffeine on ambulatory blood pressure, heart rate, and mood in coffee drinkers

The present study examined the effects of caffeine, as typically ingested through coffee, on ambulatory systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP), heart rate, and mood. Normotensive coffee drinkers wore a BP monitor for two 24-hr periods, consuming decaffeinated coffee. Each cup was supplemented with 125 mg caffeine or cornstarch. Systolic and diastolic BPs were elevated on the day caffeine was consumed (maximum, 3.6 and 5.6 mm Hg, respectively), most notably shortly after ingestion. Heart rate was higher overnight following caffeine consumption. Negative Affectivity was also increased by caffeine, but Positive Affectivity and tiredness were unaffected.
The influence of tube bundle geometry on cross-flow boiling heat transfer and pressure drop

Abstract An experimental investigation was performed to compare the boiling heat transfer coefficients and two-phase pressure drops from a square inline and a staggered tube bundle having the same tube pitch-to-diameter ratio ( P/D = 1.30 ) and from two square inline tube bundles having different pitch-to-diameter ratios ( P/D = 1.30 and 1.70 ). Except at the highest heat fluxes the heat transfer coefficients generally were higher in the staggered tube bundle than in the inline tube bundle and higher in the larger P/D tube bundle than in the smaller. As the heat flux increased, the differences decreased. The differences were attributed to the tradeoff between nucleation and convection. The staggered tube bundle had higher pressure drops than the inline bundle except at low mass velocities; the larger pressure drop in the staggered bundle was attributed to the combination of a larger void fraction and a larger friction multiplier, with the frictional component dominating at higher mass velocities. Comparing the inline tube bundle pressure drops, it was concluded that the larger P/D bundle had a larger void fraction than the smaller P/D tube bundle; no conclusions could be drawn regarding the relative magnitude of the two-phase fraction multiplier.
Andrographolide: an X-ray crystallographic analysis

The structure of andrographolide, isolated fromAndrographis paniculata Nees, has been established by means of a single crystal X-ray analysis. The crystals have the space groupP21, witha=6.550(1),b=8.005(2),c=17.991(7) A,β=97.36(2)°, andZ=2. The structure was refined toR=7.3%. The molecular stereochemistry, bond distances, bond angles, and hydrogen bonding scheme have all been determined. The systematic name is 3-[2-[decahydro-6-hydroxy-5-(hydroxymethyl)-5,8a-dimethyl-2-methylene-1-naphthalenyl]ethylidine]dihydro-4-hydroxy-2(3H)-furanone.
Spectral Imaging of the Orion Bar at 3.3, 8.4, and 11.3 Microns: Comparison with a Fluorescent Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Model

Spectral images were obtained of the Orion Bar which sample polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) emission at 3.3, 8.4, and 11.3 micrometers. The images are strikingly different even though they all sample PAH emission. In particular, the 3.3 and 11.3 micrometers images sample PAH emission from C-H bonds, yet the 3.3 micrometers image contains many small bright knots while the 11.3 micrometers image is much more uniform. For comparison with a fluorescent PAH model, a data set was created from the measured intensities of 250 locations in each image. From the comparison, we conclude that: (1) the size distribution of PAHs varies within the Bar, with the bright 3.3 micrometers knots containing the largest proportion of small PAHs; (2) the points along the front of the Bar have emission cross sections characteristic of neutral PAHs while within the Bar, the emission cross sections are different, consistent with the PAHs being charged; (3) the PAHs along the front of the Bar are larger than average for the Bar; (4) emission along the back of the Bar is consistent with PAH emission in an attenuated UV radiation field; (5) there is no evidence for PAH dehydrogenation.
Relaxation Spectra of Ribonuclease

Relaxationsmethoden sind wichtige Hilfsmittel, die Mechanismen enzymatischer Reaktionen zu klaren. Unter Benutzung dieser Methoden konnen Reaktionszwischenprodukte direkt beobachtet, und somit der gesamte Zeitablauf einer Reaktion untersucht werden. Das Enzym Ribonuklease vom Bovin Pankreas ist dabei von besonderem Interesse, da sein Molekulargewicht nur 14000 betragt, und die gesamte Aminosauresequenz bekannt ist. Daher sollte eine Korrelation zwischen Struktur und Mechanismus moglich sein. Die Hydrolyse von Cytidyl-2′,3′-Cyclophosphat ist typisch fur die letzte Stufe der Reaktion, die von Ribonuklease katalysiert wird. Als ein erster Schritt zum Verstandnis dieser Reaktion wurde eine Untersuchung des Relaxationsspektrums des Enzyms und des Cytidin 3′-Phosphats mit Hilfe der Temperatursprungmethode durchgefuhrt. Die Geschwindigkeitskonstanten, die die Bindung des Cytidin-3′-Phosphats an die Ribonuklease charakterisieren, wurden in dem pH-Bereich von 5,0–7,5 bestimmt. Die Resultate zeigen, das in diesem pH-Bereich eine Enzymgruppe mit dem pK 6,7 sehr stark an dem Bindungsprozes beteiligt ist. Diese Gruppe kann eine Imidazolseitenkette sein. Es ergaben sich Anzeichen einer Isomerisierung des Cytidin-3′-Phosphatribonukleasekomplexes. Die pH-Abhangigkeit der Relaxationszeit fur diesen Prozes deutet auf einen kooperativen Prozes hin; moglicherweise tritt eine Konformationsanderung ein. Diese Reaktion ist betrachtlich schneller in H2O als in D2O, was auf Protonenubergangsreaktionen zuruckgefuhrt werden kann. Eine Untersuchung der gesamten katalytischen Reaktion wird zur Zeit unter Benutzung von Temperatursprung und kombinierten Stop-Flow-Temperatursprungmethoden durchgefuhrt. Das Ergebnis sollte zu einem detaillierten Mechanismus der Wirkungsweise der Ribonuklease auf der Ebene elementarer Molekularprozesse fuhren.
High-Spatioresolved Microarchitectural Surface Prepared by Photograft Copolymerization Using Dithiocarbamate: Surface Preparation and Cellular Responses

Self-perpetuating photograft copolymerization based on the photochemistry of an iniferter benzyl N,N-diethyldithiocarbamate was utilized to design two types of microprocessed surfaces using a custom-designed apparatus operated by an X−Y step motor. Cellular adhesion and growth responses were studied on (1) a surface upon which five different water soluble polymer regions were photografted with micron order precision and (2) three different gradient surfaces with unidirectionally varying thicknesses of a water soluble graft polymer layer. A striped micropatterned surface (width of each region 500 μm) was prepared by sequential photoirradiation through a photomask with a stripe window on a selected region of a poly(styrene-co-vinylbenzyl N,N-diethyldithiocarbamate)-coated PET film immersed in an aqueous solution of vinyl monomer. The sample stage was moved in a stepwise manner for each change of monomer solution. The monomers studied were N,N-dimethylacrylamide (DMAAm), 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), N...
Screening method for Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi and serovar Paratyphi A with reduced susceptibility to fluoroquinolones by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi and serovar Paratyphi A with reduced susceptibility to fluoroquinolones (MICs of ciprofloxacin, 0.25 to 2 microg/ml) have a mutation at codon either Ser-83 or Asp-87 of gyrA gene. A screening method by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was designed to screen the mutations at codon Ser-83 and Asp-87 of the gyrA gene of S. enterica serovar Typhi and serovar Paratyphi A clinical isolates. This method successfully screened the gyrA mutations of S. enterica serovar Typhi and serovar Paratyphi A with reduced susceptibility to fluoroquinolones.
Demographic and psychosocial factors associated with appointment attendance among HIV-positive outpatients

Abstract Non-adherence to medical regimens is a critical threat to HIV-infected individuals. Persons living with HIV/AIDS must adhere to their outpatient medical appointments to benefit from continually improving HIV care regimens. The primary purpose of the present study was to identify individual and psychosocial characteristics associated with HIV-related medical appointment non-attendance. One hundred seventy eight adult participants attending the Outpatient Adult HIV/AIDS Immunology Clinic at Jackson Memorial Hospital (JMH) in Miami, Florida participated in the study. Scheduled and missed appointments obtained retrospectively over a 12-month period indicated that medical appointment non-attendance was a significant problem. Overall, 27.9% of scheduled appointments were missed during the study period. Young age and limited family support were predictors of non-attendance. These findings support those of others and highlight targeted intervention efforts to reduce appointment non-attendance among perso...
Applications of high-speed computers to the history of astronomy

Abstract Historically, the development of rapid and accurate computing devices has been closely linked with astronomy. More recently, the construction of high-speed electronic computers has provided a tool for the study of the history of astronomy itself. Among the most obvious aids has been the preparation of extensive planetary, solar and lunar tables, including lunar visibility tables for ancient Babylon. A different kind of table is illustrated by the recent calculation of the regular sexagesimals and their reciprocals to the tenth order. Whenever extensive similar calculations are involved, the computer promises to be a powerful aid. For example, one can attempt to match tables in a historic manuscript or zij; because of the computer's high speed, one can experiment to find the original computational scheme, or to discover the basic parameters of an unknown table. In an interesting recomputation of Kepler's Mars calculations, I have demonstrated that his work is apparently filled with numerical errors. In another investigation, I have shown how the Copernican planetary trajectories are less accurate than the Ptolemaic system.
Increasing the yield of ventricular tachycardia induction: a prospective, randomized comparative study of the standard ventricular stimulation protocol to a short-to-long protocol and a new two-site protocol.

Abstract Programmed ventricular stimulation with a standard protocol that used up to three extrastimuli was compared prospectively with a short-to-long protocol and a two-site protocol in 77 consecutive patients undergoing electrophysiologic study in an attempt to increase the yield of ventricular tachycardia (VT) induction. The short-to-long protocol uses a train of eight stimuli at a short cycle length and up to two extrastimuli. The two-site protocol is similar to the standard protocol but delivers the last extrastimulus via a second spatially separated right ventricular catheter. Patients were divided into two groups based on indications for study: group 1 included 45 patients with syncope, nonsustained VT, or both, and group 2 included 32 patients with a history of sustained VT, sudden cardiac death, or both. The yield of VT induction with the short-to-long protocol was less than that with the standard protocol. In none of the patients in group 1 in whom the standard protocol results were negative did the short-to-long protocol produce sustained VT. Only two patients, both in group 2, had sustained arrhythmias induced by the short-to-long protocol when the standard protocol results were negative: one had sustained VT induced and one with long QT syndrome had ventricular fibrillation (VF) induced with the short-to-long protocol. However, the short-to-long protocol failed to induce sustained VT in seven patients in whom the standard protocol produced sustained VT. All seven of these patients required three extrastimuli with the standard protocol for induction of VT. The two-site protocol induced sustained VT in three patients in group 1 in whom the standard protocol induced nonsustained VT or yielded negative results. Sustained VT was induced with the standard protocol, whereas the two-site protocol yielded negative results or induced nonsustained VT in two patients in group 2. Thus the two-site protocol was complementary to the standard protocol in improving the yield of VT induction. Additionally one patient in group 2 had VF Induced with the standard protocol but had sustained VT induced with the two-site protocol, and standard protocol produced VF in two patients in group 1 in whom results with the two-site protocol were negative, suggesting that the induction of nonspecific rhythms by the two-site protocol is less than that with the standard protocol. In conclusion, the yield of the short-to-long protocol was substantially less than that of the standard protocol, but the two-site protocol resulted in a modest complementary increased yield when used in conjunction with the standard protocol.
A yeast strain for visual screening for the two reciprocal products of mitotic crossing over.

Abstract A strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, D5, is described which allows for rapid, visual screening for mitotic crossing cover in colonies on solid media. D5 carries two phenotypically distinguishable and recessive alleles of the gene ade2. One allele, ade2–119, causes a leaky requirement for adenine, and a pink coloration of colonies. The other allele, ade2–40, causes a complete requirement for adenine and the formation of deeply red colonies. The two alleles complement each other to the effect that D5 forms white colonies and does not require adenine for growth. Mitotic crossing over generates two reciprocal products which show up together in colonies as pink and red sectors, twin-spotted colonies. Such twin-spotted colonies have been obtained after treatment with ultraviolet light, γ-rays and ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS). Tetrad analysis was performed with cells isolated from the red and the pink half of twin-spotted colonies. The results showed that the pink sectors had become homozygous for allele ade2–119, the red sectors were homozygous for the other allele, ade2–40. With one exception, other markers present in D5 in a heterozygous condition were still heterozygous. In addition to twin-spotted colonies, colonies with white and red or white and pink and even with red, white and pink sectors as well as completely pink or completely red colonies were found. These can be interpreted to result from a variety of mechanisms other than mitotic crossing over which are mentioned in the discussion.
Acute-Phase Reactants in Experimental Inhalation Lung Disease

An investigation on the occurrence and role of acute-phase reactants in experimental inhalation lung disease (ILD) was undertaken. Using an experimental model of ILD in which rabbits are exposed to aerosols of appropriate fungal spores, haptoglobin analysis was compared with depressions in arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) with time following challenge. Haptoglobin values of rabbits exposed to single 30-min aerosol challenges of Aspergillus terreus, demonstrated a significant (two- to three fold) increase 24-48 hr after challenge. Haptoglobin elevation was found to be a more reliable and consistent indicator of pulmonary inflammation than depression of PaO2. In an effort to determine the role of haptoglobin in this response, acute phase reactant levels were elevated either actively or passively. When rabbits with augmented haptoglobin levels were exposed to aerosol challenges with A. terreus, the typical depressions in PaO2 at 1-4 hr postchallenge were not observed. This indicated the plasma containing elevated acute-phase reactants may be involved in limiting the pulmonary response that normally occurs following challenge. Haptoglobin was not found to bind to A. terreus spores in vitro.