cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Is biology destiny? Birth weight and life chances

Two key questions are addressed regarding the intersection of socioeconomic status biology and low birth weight over the life course. First do the income and other socioeconomic conditions of a mother during her pregnancy affect her chances of having a low-birth-weight infant net of her own birth weight that of the father and other family-related unobserved factors? Second does an individuals birth weight status affect his or her adult life chances net of socioeconomic status? These questions have implications for the way the authors conceive of the relationship between socioeconomic status and health over the life course specifically in sorting out causal directionality. The authors use intergenerational data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics for the years 1968 through 1992. Results of sibling comparisons (family-fixed-effects models) demonstrate that maternal income does not appear to have a significant impact on birth weight. However low birth weight results in lower educational attainment net of other factors. These findings suggest that when considered across generations causality may not be as straightforward as implied by cross-sectional or unigenerational longitudinal studies. (authors)
The Kα/Kβ X-ray intensity ratios for 57 ⩽ Z ⩽ 70 from electron bombardment

Abstract K α K β X-ray intensity ratios have been measured using a Ge(Li) X-ray detector by bombarding thin oxide targets of nine rare earth elements with an electron beam of energy up to 140 keV.
Is phosphate reduced to phosphine in waterlogged soils

Abstract A sensitive gas Chromatographie method for detection and estimation of phosphine (PH 3 ) evolved from waterlogged soils is described. It involves use of a column of Porapak Q for isothermal (100°C) separation of phosphine from gases known to be evolved from waterlogged soils and detection of this gas with a helium-ionization detector. Studies using this method did not confirm previous evidence for evolution of phosphine through microbial reduction of phosphate in waterlogged soils. They also showed that phosphine is sorbed by soil constituents and may not escape to the atmosphere if produced in soils.
Si-based metal–semiconductor–metal photodetectors with various design modifications

Abstract We have designed and fabricated interdigitated metal–semiconductor–metal photodetectors (MSM-PD’s) on n-type amorphous Si/crystalline Si (a-Si:H/c-Si). Both thick and thin silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ) layers were grown to reduce dark current and passivate the surface. Au, Cr, Ni, and Pd metals were used for metallization. The dark current for the detector (0.75 × 0.5 cm 2 ) with the added a-Si film was reduced from 0.137 mA to 2.61 μA at 5 V when compared with that of the conventional Si-based film. Its magnitude was found to be at least two orders lower than that of the conventional sample. Simple metal/Si Schottky diodes were fabricated with substrates at RT and low temperature (LT). It was found that Schottky barrier height was improved with cryogenic metallization processing. Both dark current and speed were significantly improved as metallization temperature decreased. The full width at half maximum (FWHM), rise time, and fall time at 800 nm reduced from 0.47 μs to 6.2 ns, 49.7 ns to 23.9 ns, and 2.07 μs to 0.41 μs, respectively, as substrate temperature during metallization decreased from room temperature (RT) to 210 K. Schottky barrier height and ideality factor for the LT samples were increased from 0.399 eV to 0.481 eV, and 3.76 to 4.64, respectively, compared to that of the RT sample at 150 K. The current–voltage–temperature ( I – V – T ) analysis showed that thermionic field emission dominated the current transport in the forward current region.
Isozymes of tropical seagrasses from the Indo-Pacific and the gulf of Mexico-Caribbean

Abstract Seagrasses in the Gulf of Mexico-Caribbean have different isozymes from those of species in the same genera in the Indo-Pacific, but species populations of various origins within each ocean system show little isozyme variation. The populations of Thalassia, Syringodium and Halodule from the Gulf-Caribbean have a wide range of morphological and physiological variation under controlled conditions, but show no intraspecific isozyme differences. The same isozymes appear in populations of seven species within six genera ( Thalassia, Syringodium, Halodule, Cymodocea, Thalassodendron and Halophila ) from the Kenya coast of the Indian Ocean and from Micronesia in the western Pacific. The reported distribution of Halodule wrightii Aschers. in the Indian Ocean, based on vegetative characteristics, is not supported by isozyme data from plants. The lack of intraspecific isozyme variability within an ocean system may be related to electrophoretic bias, but the differentiation of isozymes in the plants from the two ocean systems suggests that these submerged marine angiosperms of the Potamogetonaceae and Hydrocharitaceae have diverged as a consequence of spatial isolation.
Statistical inference of particle populations from scattered light

The analysis of coherent light scattering patterns, under certain conditions, for inference of the number of scatterers in each of several possible types is examined in terms of statistical parameter estimation theory. From the spatial autocorrelation of the patterns a criterion is established for reducing to negligible values the variances in estimates caused by spatial irradiance fluctuations. On the basis of these considerations a rationale for the use of optical processing to effect minimum-variance linear unbiased estimates of particle numbers is given.
New insights into the function and regulation of vitamin D target proteins

Calbindin-D(28k) has been reported to be a facilitator of calcium diffusion and to protect against apoptotic cell death. Most recently, we found that the presence of calbindin-D(28k) results in reduced calcium influx through voltage-dependent L-type Ca(2+) channels and enhanced sensitivity of the channels to calcium dependent inactivation. Co-immunoprecipitation and GST pull down assays indicate that calbindin-D(28k) interacts with the C-terminus of the L-type calcium channel alpha(1c) subunit (Ca(v)1.2). This is the first report of the binding of calbindin to a calcium channel and provides new insight concerning mechanisms by which calbindin acts to modulate intracellular calcium. Besides calbindin, another major target of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) is 24(OH)ase, which is involved in the catabolism of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3). We reported that C/EBPbeta is a major transcriptional activator of 24(OH)ase that cooperates with CBP/p300 in regulating VDR mediated 24(OH)ase transcription. Recently, we found, in addition to p160 coactivators, that SWI/SNF complexes (that facilitate transcription by remodeling chromatin using the energy of ATP hydrolysis) are also involved in VDR mediated 24(OH)ase transcription and functionally cooperate with C/EBPbeta in regulating 24(OH)ase. These findings define novel mechanisms that may be of fundamental importance in understanding how 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) mediates its multiple biological effects.
Assessment of Developed General Intellectual Ability with Nonverbal Measures

Abstract A canonical correlation analysis was performed between two measures of general intellectual ability: The D. 48 Test and the Standard Progressive Matrices were taken as one set of variables, and general scholastic ability, verbal and quantitative ability, English and mathematics achievement, time spent in school, and ethnic/cultural group membership were used as the second set of variables. Subjects were 180 girls attending a large urban parochial high school. The D. 48 Test performances made a substantial contribution to the first canonical variate associated with the only significant canonical correlation; quantitative ability performances made a substantial contribution to the second variate. Matrices performances and performances in mathematics achievement and general scholastic ability made lesser contributions to their respective variates.
Factors influencing the rate of dissolution of gold in ammoniacal solutions

Gold can be effectively extracted from various sources such as refractory ores and jewelry scrap by dissolution in ammoniacal solutions with the aid of appropriate oxidants. Electrochemical and kinetic aspects of the dissolution of gold from the elemental state and various ores in ammoniacal solutions are presented and discussed in this paper. The role of a number of oxidants including oxygen, cupric ammine, cobaltic ammine, and iodine has been examined and discussed. Also included in the discussion is the effect of concentration of free ammonia, ammonium ion and other salts on the overall rate of dissolution of gold. Excellent dissolution yielding better than 95% gold and silver recovery from sulfidic and carbonaceous refractory ores after 1 to 2 h of leaching at about 160°C to 190°C is possible in a single stage operation. Gold dissolution is affected greatly by reaction temperature and concentration of ammonia and oxidants.
Phase I trial of bortezomib and concurrent external beam radiation in patients with advanced solid malignancies

Purpose To determine the maximal tolerated dose of bortezomib with concurrent external beam radiation therapy in patients with incurable solid malignant tumors requiring palliative therapy. Methods and Materials An open label, dose escalation, phase I clinical trial evaluated the safety of three dose levels of bortezomib administered intravenously (1.0 mg/m 2 , 1.3 mg/m 2 , and 1.6 mg/m 2 / dose) once weekly with concurrent radiation in patients with histologically confirmed solid tumors and a radiographically appreciable lesion suitable for palliative radiation therapy. All patients received 40 Gy in 16 fractions to the target lesion. Dose-limiting toxicity was the primary endpoint, defined as any grade 4 hematologic toxicity, any grade ≥3 nonhematologic toxicity, or any toxicity requiring treatment to be delayed for ≥2 weeks. Results A total of 12 patients were enrolled. Primary sites included prostate (3 patients), head and neck (3 patients), uterus (1 patient), abdomen (1 patient), breast (1 patient), kidney (1 patient), lung (1 patient), and colon (1 patient). The maximum tolerated dose was not realized with a maximum dose of 1.6 mg/m 2 . One case of dose-limiting toxicity was appreciated (grade 3 urosepsis) and felt to be unrelated to bortezomib. The most common grade 3 toxicity was lymphopenia (10 patients). Common grade 1 to 2 events included nausea (7 patients), infection without neutropenia (6 patients), diarrhea (5 patients), and fatigue (5 patients). Conclusions The combination of palliative external beam radiation with concurrent weekly bortezomib therapy at a dose of 1.6 mg/m 2 is well tolerated in patients with metastatic solid tumors. The maximum tolerated dose of once weekly bortezomib delivered concurrently with radiation therapy is greater than 1.6 mg/m 2 .
Does Aspartate 170 of the D1 polypeptide ligate the manganese cluster in photosystem II? An EPR and ESEEM study

Aspartate 170 of the D1 polypeptide provides part of the high-affinity binding site for the first Mn(II) ion that is photooxidized during the light-driven assembly of the (Mn)4 cluster in photosystem II [Campbell, K. A., Force, D. A., Nixon, P. J., Dole, F., Diner, B. A., and Britt, R. D. (2000) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 122, 3754−3761]. However, despite a wealth of data on D1-Asp170 mutants accumulated over the past decade, there is no consensus about whether this residue ligates the assembled (Mn)4 cluster. To address this issue, we have conducted an EPR and ESEEM (electron spin-echo envelope modulation) study of D1-D170H PSII particles purified from the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. The line shapes of the S1 and S2 state multiline EPR signals of D1-D170H PSII particles are unchanged from those of wild-type PSII particles, and the signal amplitudes correlate approximately with the lower O2 evolving activity of the mutant PSII particles (40−60% compared to that of the wild type). These data provide ...
MICROWAVE MAGNETOELECTRIC EFFECTS AND SIGNAL PROCESSING DEVICES

A new class of electric field tunable ferrite-piezoelectric microwave devices has been designed and characterized. The devices are based on ferromagnetic resonance or magnetostatic waves excitation...
An elastoplastic analysis of flange wrinkling in deep drawing process

The onset of flange wrinkling of a deep drawing cup is analyzed as an elastoplastic bifurcation problem. The flange is modeled as an elastoplastic annular plate subject to axisymmetric radial tension along its inner edge. As observed in the laboratory as well as practical industrial applications, aluminum alloy sheets usually wrinkle in the plastic range. Therefore, the critical condition governing the onset of elastoplastic wrinkling is formulated within the context of the general bifurcation theory. A closed-form solution for the critical drawing stress is developed based on an assumed nonlinear plastic stress field and the deformation theory of plasticity. The theory properly accounts for the plastic anisotropy of the aluminum sheets and the critical drawing stress at the onset of wrinkling is also compared against the one employing the flow theory of plasticity. The predicted critical bifurcation stress and the wave numbers are compared to those obtained by Senior's one-dimensional theory. It is demonstrated that there is a strong dependency of the critical bifurcated stress at the onset of wrinkling on the shear stress induced on the flange. The effects of flange width, drawing ratios, material properties, strain hardening on the onset of wrinkling are investigated. The differences between the present theoretical approach and Senior's theory are emphasized.
Technology roadmapping through intelligence analysis: case of nanotechnology

Nanotechnology is predicted to create the Sixth Kondratieff period following the 'age of information'. It represents a new revolutionary approach in fundamental research moving from a macrocentric to nanocentric system. Nanotechnology is expected to stimulate one trillion dollars of production involving about two million workers in the next ten to 15 years. More than 40 countries now have specific nanotechnology research funding programs with the common goal of finding greater uses for the emerging technologies and enacting measures to encourage commercialisation. This study uses text mining to uncover trends in nanotechnology and changes in nanotechnology programs and applications since the first distribution of the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) funds in 2001. Top keywords in current nanotechnology research will be analysed to provide insight into the translation of government funding invested in applied research programs to resulting publications and patents. Future work will extend this text...
“W.H.A.P. VAP!”: A Multidisciplinary Team Approach for Reducing the Incidence of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in a Community Hospital

Abstract ISSUE: Missouri Baptist Medical Center is a 499-bed community hospital with two 10-bed, medical-surgical intensive care units (ICUs). The 2001 ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) mean rate for both ICUs was 9.54/1,000 ventilator days. A VAP prevention team was formed with Infection Control, critical care (CC) medical director, nurse managers and educators, respiratory therapy (RT) managers, and a pharmacist, dietician, and pulmonologist. PROJECT: Analysis of actual versus recommended care of ventilated patients identified areas for improvement. Assessment of 2001 VAP data, 70% of patients developed VAP 2–7 days after intubation. Our ventilator discontinuation protocol (VDP) was revised. RT and the CC nurse assessed patient tolerance for spontaneous breathing using set criteria. If a wean was tolerated, an extubation order was obtained. WHAP VAP (Wean Patient, Hand Hygiene, Aspiration Precautions, Prevent Contamination) education was used in posters and a self-study module. CC physicians, staff, and RT completed the module. Staff received education on elevating the head of bed (HOB), VAP risk factors, and prevention strategies. VAP rates were shared and posters were placed in ICUs, RT, and physical therapy. An intubated doll with HOB elevated 30 degrees was placed in a chair next to the educational poster. RESULTS: In 2001, pre-intervention HOB data was collected (n=154): patients HOB elevated >30 degrees = 72 (46%); patients able to tolerate HOB elevation >30 degrees but not elevated = 62 (40%). One-month post-intervention HOB data (n=197): patients HOB elevated >30 degrees, 113(57%)—a 27% increase after education; patients able to tolerate the HOB >30 degrees but not elevated = 69 (35%)—a 14% decrease. Our VAP mean rate decreased from 9.54 to 4.15/1,000 ventilator days. LESSONS LEARNED: The VDP improved communication between CC and RT. Staff compliance with hand hygiene continues to be a challenge. Staff were taught to correctly read the HOB level, which had often been misread. When a multidisciplinary team dedicates resources and education for VAP prevention, infection rates can be reduced.
Investigation of Biogeophysical Feedback on the African Climate Using a Two-Dimensional Model

A numerical scheme is specifically designed to develop a time-dependent climate model to ensure the conservation of mass, momentum, energy, and water vapor, in order to study the biogeophysical feedback for the climate of Africa. A vegetation layer is incorporated in the present two-dimensional climate model. Using the coupled climate-vegetation model, two tests were performed involving the removal and expansion of the Sahara Desert. Results show that variations in the surface conditions produce a significant feedback to the climate system. It is noted that the simulation responses to the temperature and zonal wind in the case of an expanded desert agree with the climatological data for African dry years. Perturbed simulations have also been performed by changing the albedo only, without allowing the variation in the vegetation layer. It is shown that the variation in latent heat release is significant and is related to changes in the vegetation cover. As a result, precipitation and cloud cover are reduced.
An Analytical Model for Boundary Layer Control via Steady Blowing and its Application to NACA-65-410 Cascade

In this paper, boundary-layer flow-control technique via steady blowing for low-speed compressor cascade applications is investigated using an analytical model based on the integral method and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). The integral method is developed and used to investigate the effect of the momentum, the velocity magnitude and the angle of the blowing flow on the behavior of the boundary layer. It is found that the change in the boundary layer momentum thickness across the blowing location is a linear function of the blown-flow momentum coefficient and a decaying function of the blown-flow velocity ratio. For the case when the size of the blowing slot and the velocity magnitude of the blown flow are kept constant, and the blowing mass flow rate is increased by increasing the blowing angle, there is an “optimum” blowing angle that maximizes the benefit of the boundary layer blowing. This angle increases with increasing velocity ratio and reaches an asymptotic value of 45°. According to the model, the change in the momentum thickness across the blowing location is conveyed exponentially downstream, thus a small change in the momentum thickness due to flow blowing can have significant effect downstream. The developed model is applied to the NACA-65-410 low speed cascade using CFD, and good agreement between theory and CFD is obtained.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Changes in skeletal muscle oxygenation during incremental exercise measured with near infrared spectroscopy

To determine the change in muscle oxygenation in response to progressively increasing work rate exercise, muscle oxyhemoglobin + oxymyoglobin saturation was measured transcutaneously with near infrared spectroscopy in the vastus lateralis muscle during cycle ergometry. Studies were done in 11 subjects while gas exchange was measured breath-by-breath. As work rate was increased, tissue oxygenation initially either remained constant near resting levels or, more usually, decreased. Near the work rate and metabolic rate where significant lactic acidosis was detected by excess CO2 production (lactic acidosis threshold, LAT), muscle oxygenation decreased more steeply. As maximum oxygen uptake ( $$\dot V{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} $$ ) was approached, the rate of desaturation slowed. In 8 of the 11 subjects, tissue O2 saturation reached a minimum which was sustained for 1–3 min before $$\dot V{\text{O}}_{{\text{2max}}} $$ was reached. The LAT correlated with both the $$\dot V{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} $$ (r = 0.95,P < 0.0001) and the work rate (r = 0.94,P < 0.0001) at which the rate of tissue O2 desaturation accelerated. These results describe a consistent pattern in the rate of decrease in muscle oxygenation, slowly decreasing over the lower work rate range, decreasing more rapidly in the work rate range of the LAT and then slowing at about 80% of $$\dot V{\text{O}}_{{\text{2max}}} $$ , approaching or reaching a minimum saturation at $$\dot V{\text{O}}_{{\text{2max}}} $$ .
Effect of Dolomitic Lime on Production of Asci and Pseudothecia of Venturia inaequalis and V. pirina.

ABSTRACT An autumn application of dolomitic lime to infected leaves on the orchard floor resulted in a decrease in the percentage of apple and pear leaves with pseudothecia, the number of pseudothecia per leaf, and the number of asci per pseudothecium of Venturia inaequalis and V. pirina. A dolomitic lime application of 5.08 metric tons per hectare reduced the ascospore dose the following spring up to 88% for pear and 92% for apple.
Determination of Thermodynamic and Stochastic Potentials in Nonequilibrium Systems from Macroscopic Measurements

For systems far from equilibrium, a potential determines the fluctuations from stable attractors, such as stationary states, and the thermodynamic approach to such states (Lyapunov function). For a reaction system with ionic reactions in a stationary state far from equilibrium, the imposition of a current displaces the system from that state. For such systems, we show that an electrochemical potential due to the imposed current, consisting of both a Nernstian term and a non-Nernstian term, directly yields the stochastic potential around its maximum to a good approximation, without knowledge of the reaction mechanism of the system. The approximation is good to the order of the percent difference between the Nernstian and non-Nernstian terms and can be used for evaluating the stochastic potential. For general systems, the imposition of a flow of intermediates also displaces the system from its stationary state to a new stationary state, which is a nonstationary state of the system without flow. The concentrations of the chemical species can be measured without time restraints, and by repeating various such displacements, sufficient data can be obtained to determine rate coefficients for a solution of a stationary master equation and its stochastic potential for a known or assumed reaction mechanism. Several experiments are suggested to test the consistency of the results with predictions of the master equation and, thus, to test that equation itself.
X-Ray fibre diffraction studies on konjac mannan-kappa carrageenan mixed gels

Abstract X-Ray fibre diffraction has been used to probe the molecular structure of kappa carrageenan-konjac mannan mixed gels. The diffraction pattern obtained for the mixed gel is characteristic of those obtained for kappa carrageenan. The results obtained show no evidence for a discrete molecular interaction between the two polymers.
Protoheme formation in barley in response to light, dark and delta‐amino levulinic acid

abstract The influence of Delta‐amino levulinic acid (ALA), synthesized in etiolated barley leaves on the formation of the porphyrins protoheme and protochlorophyll, was examined. A significant amount of protoheme was found under light‐flash conditions which produced high concentrations of ALA but kept low the production of chlorophyllide. Increases In protoheme were also observed after 24 hours of continuous light. It was considered significant that protoheme did not increase in dark‐held controls in which trace amounts of ALA were detected. The content of protoheme seemed to be a reflection of ALA availability. The chlorophyll content after 24 hours of continuous Illumination was about 100 times greater than that of photoconvertable protochlorophyl11de accumulated in etiolated leaves. Results suggest that light‐induced ALA in etiolated barley was utilized for the production of protoheme and chlorophyll.
Identification and characterization of a mucosal antimicrobial peptide expressed by the chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera) airway.

Cationic antimicrobial peptides (APs) are produced at mucosal surfaces and play a key role as a first line of defense against infection. To understand how APs might impact disease progression in otitis media (OM), our goal was to identify and characterize APs expressed by the epithelium lining the uppermost airway of the chinchilla, the established rodent host for the study of the bacterial-viral pathogenesis in OM. Using a molecular approach, we cloned a cDNA encoding a homolog of human β-defensin 3, designated chinchilla β-defensin-1 (cBD-1), and found by Northern analysis expression of the corresponding mRNA in nasopharyngeal and tongue mucosae as well as skin. By reverse transcription-PCR, cBD-1 mRNA was also detected in RNA isolated from trachea, lung, and Eustachian tube tissues. The predicted mature form of cBD-1, expressed as a recombinant peptide in Escherichia coli, demonstrated bactericidal activity against the three primary opportunistic pathogens of OM as well as Candida albicans. Continued study of this and other APs will allow us to determine their role in bacterial colonization of the upper airway as well as how viruses might contribute to the pathogenesis of OM by modulating AP expression.
Dynamics of microscale shock/vortex interaction

Molecular simulations in a dilute monatomic gas were carried out to characterize the mutual interactions of impinging planar shocks of up to Mach 3 with transverse microvortices having core sizes comparable to the thickness of the shock. Time dependent simulations were performed using the direct simulation Monte Carlo method and then analyzed by applying transport theory to the sampled molecular results. Several flow cases were computed for initially stationary, composite vortices. The results reveal the generic features of the interaction, the effect of vortex size, and the effects of shock strength. In all cases, the applied straining compression in the shock was of the same order as the time scale of the vortex rotation. Most of the features found in shock interaction with a macroscale vortex of the same type were also found at microscale. These include acoustic wave formation, shock diffraction and refraction, vortex deformation and displacement, and dilatational vorticity generation greater than baroclinic vorticity generation. However, the major characteristic that dominated at microscale was the viscous attenuation of the vortex. In contrast to the net vorticity production due to interaction that has been demonstrated at macroscale, the attenuation overwhelmed the vorticity generation mechanisms at microscale, within the parameter ranges studied. The data allowed for the direct computation of the dissipation rate of kinetic energy, which was found to be high inside the shock wave throughout the interaction and significantly higher than a local thermodynamic equilibrium rate computed using the Newtonian continuum constitutive law with Stokes’ hypothesis. The differences between the two rates were substantial for a Mach 3 shock; but at Mach 2 they were close enough to decompose the continuum rate expression to infer the contributions of the various forms of dissipation to the actual rate.
Effects of cigarette smoking and its cessation on body weight and plasma leptin levels

Abstract Smokers weigh less than age-matched nonsmokers, and most smokers gain weight after smoking cessation due to an increase in food intake and a decrease in energy expenditure. Leptin is an endocrine signal thought to regulate body fat stores through hypothalamic control of energy intake and expenditure. To determine whether the “weight-reducing” effects of smoking may be mediated by leptin, we measured plasma leptin concentrations in 22 middle-aged and older male smokers (body mass index [BMI], 28 ± 1 kg/m2, mean ± SEM) and 22 nonsmokers matched to the smokers for age (64 ± 1 years) and BMI (28 ± 1 kg/m2). The body weight and leptin concentration were remeasured at 3 and 6 months in 13 of the smokers who successfully stopped smoking. The leptin concentration correlated positively with the BMI in both smokers (r = .74, P
Recovery of Epstein-Barr virus from nonproducer neonatal human lymphoid cell transformants.

Abstract Lymphoid cell lines (LCL) were established by infection of two batches of human umbilical cord lymphocytes with low multiplicities of the B95-8 strain of Epstein-Barr virus. Three of the 17 lines released minute amounts of transforming virus. The rest did not, nor did they make capsid antigen. However virus could be regularly recovered by lethal X-irradiation of transformed cells followed by cocultivation with primary human umbilical cord leukocytes. By this technique transforming activity could be identified in 15 of the 17 lines. These data indicate that these nonproducer human neonatal cell transformants established by EBV infection in vitro possess sufficient genetic information to code for production of biologically active mature virions. X rays alone failed to cause a detectable increase in the number of cells with capsid antigen or to enhance extracellular virus production. EBV-positive human serum blocked rescue if it was added during the first 2–4 hr after cocultivation, but not thereafter. Transforming virus could be recovered from X-rayed cells which were immediately thereafter lysed by freezing and thawing. These results suggest that recovery of virus following X-ray and cocultivation is not due to activation of the intracellular virus genome. Rather, it is likely that the method detects small numbers of virions which are cell associated. While transforming virus could regularly be rescued from lymphoblastoid cell lines resulting from in vitro transformation, attempts to rescue virus from Raji or EBV-converted BJAB cells were unsuccessful. This discrepancy suggests differences in genome complexity or in genome-cell interactions in different types of EBV-transformed cells.
Study of the noise mechanisms of transonic blade-vortex interactions

Transonic blade-vortex interactions (BVI) are simulated numerically and the noise mechanisms are investigated. The two-dimensional high frequency transonic small disturbance equation is solved numerically (VTRAN2 code). An ADI scheme with monotone switches is used; viscous effects are included on the boundary, and the vortex is simulated by the cloud in cell method. The Kirchhoff method is used for the extension of the numerical two-dimensional near-field aerodynamic results to the linear acoustic three dimensional far field. The viscous effects (shock/boundary layer interactions) on BVI is investigated. The different types of shock motion are identified and compared. Two important disturbances with different directivity exist in the pressure signal and are believed to be related to the fluctuating lift and drag forces. Noise directivity for different cases is shown. The maximum radiation occurs at an angle between 60 and 90 degrees below the horizontal for an airfoil-fixed coordinate system and depends on the details of the airfoil shape. Different airfoil shapes are studied and classified according to the BVI noise produced.
Hot-electron superconductive mixers for THz frequencies

Superconductive hot-electron bolometer (HEB) mixers have been built and tested in the frequency range from 1.1 THz to 2.5 THz. The mixer device employs diffusion as a cooling mechanism for hot electrons. The double sideband receiver noise temperature was measured to be approximately equals 2750 K at 2.5 K at 2.5 THz; and mixer IF bandwidths as high as 9 GHz are achieved for 0.1 micrometers long devices. The local oscillator power dissipated in the HEB microbridge was in the range 20- 100 nW. Further reductions in LO power and mixer noise can be potentially achieved by using Al microbridges. The advantages and parameters of such devices are evaluated. A distributed-temperature model has been developed to properly describe the operation of the diffusion-cooled HEB mixer. The HEB mixer is a primary candidate for ground based, airborne and spaceborne heterodyne instruments at THz frequencies.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Effects of Visual-Spatial Added Cues on Fourth-Graders' Melodic Discrimination.

A videotaped music-listening test was developed in which 30 brief melodies were paired with visual-spatial representations through vertical and horizontal hand motions across a chalkboard. Subjects were asked whether the second playing of each melody was the same as or different from the first. The 30-minute test was administered to all fourth-grade pupils in three elementary schools representing urban, suburban, and rural settings. Within each school, subjects were randomly assigned to one of three testing conditions: (1) aural + visual presentations of both first and second playings (AV - AV); (2) aural + visual first playing to aural-only second playing (AV - AO); or (3) aural only for both playings (AO - AO). A two-way analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the three conditions and among the three school settings. Interaction between testing condition and school was not significant. Post hoc tests of significance revealed that all comparisons were significantly different among bot...
Direction Finding Based on Spatial Time-Frequency Distribution Matrices

Amin, Moeness G., and Zhang, Yimin, Direction Finding Based on Spatial Time-Frequency Distribution Matrices, Digital Signal Processing10 (2000), 325?339.Spatial time-frequency distributions (STFDs) have been recently introduced as the natural means to deal with source signals that are localizable in the time-frequency domain. It has been shown that improved estimates of the signal and noise subspaces are achieved by constructing the subspaces from the time-frequency signatures of the signal arrivals rather than from the data covariance matrices, which are commonly used in conventional subspace estimation methods. This paper discusses the application of STFD to high-resolution direction finding. We focus on both the role and the effect of crossterms in angle estimation when multiple time-frequency points are incorporated. Simulation examples are presented to compare the performance of joint block-diagonalization and time-frequency averaging techniques for incorporating multiple autoterm and crossterm points in subspace estimation.
A comparison of insoluble mitochondrial membrane proteins from glucose repressed and derepressed Saccharomyces carlsbergensis

Abstract Yeast cells Saccharomyces carlsbergensis were grown under conditions of glucose repression in a medium containing 14 C-labeled amino acids and also under derepressing conditions in a medium containing 3 H-labeled amino acids. The mitochondria were isolated, mixed and the mitochondrial membrane proteins fractionated. The distribution of 3 H- and 14 C-labeled amino acids indicated that there were no qualitative differences in membrane proteins. However, the amount of one component was greatly increased relative to all others upon derepression. The distribution of label during protein fractionation suggests that membrane solubilization with cholate and deoxycholate proceeds by solubilization of discrete membrane units containing all of the membrane proteins.
Regioselective additions of grignard and lithium reagents to 2-[(benzylidene)aminoi]benzonitrile and 2-[(diphenylmethylene)amino]benzonitrile

Abstract Phenylmagnesium bromide and methylmagnesium bromide in tetrahydrofuran undergo a regioselective addition to the cyano group of the two title compounds. Phenyllithium and methyllithium add selectively to the azomethine portion of 2-[(benzylidene)amino]benzonitrile, but to the cyano group of 2-[(diphenylmethylene)amino]benzonitrile. These addition reactions are utilized in the synthesis of quinazoline derivatives.
Randomized comparison of three surgical methods used at the time of vaginal hysterectomy to prevent posterior enterocele.

Abstract Objective: This study compared 3 surgical methods of prophylaxis against enterocele formation employed at the time of vaginal hysterectomy. Study Design: One hundred consecutive women undergoing total vaginal hysterectomy for various reasons were randomly assigned to have 1 of 3 surgical methods applied to the posterior superior aspect of the vagina for prophylaxis against enterocele formation. The first procedure involved closing the cul-de-sac and bringing the uterosacral-cardinal complex together in the midline in a vaginal Moschcowitz-type operation. The second procedure was a McCall-type culdeplasty to obliterate the cul-de-sac, plicate the uterosacral-cardinal complex, and elevate any redundant posterior vaginal apex. The third technique used only the peritoneum to close the cul-de-sac, allowing passive movement of the uterosacral-cardinal complex to the midline, no obliteration per se, and no elevation of the posterior vagina. Postoperative findings on pelvic examination were evaluated at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 1, 2, and 3 years. Statistical analysis was performed with the χ 2 test of independence. Results: At 6 weeks' follow-up and at 3 months' follow-up there were no prolapses involving the posterior superior segment of the vagina. At 1 year of follow-up 11 patients had stage 1 or 2 posterior superior segment prolapse. At 2 years' follow-up this number was 16. At 3 years' follow-up the McCall-type method was statistically better (χ 2 = 11.27 with 2 degrees of freedom, P = .004) than the other 2 in preventing postoperative enterocele (n = 2 of 32 with McCall-type procedure, n=10 of 33 with vaginal Moschcowitz-type procedure, and n=13 of 33 with peritoneal closure only). Conclusion: When applied at the time of vaginal hysterectomy the McCall-type culdeplasty is superior to a vaginal Moschcowitz-type procedure and to simple peritoneal closure in preventing subsequent enterocele. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1999;180:859-65.)
The membrane interface dictates different anchor roles for "inner pair" and "outer pair" tryptophan indole rings in gramicidin A channels.

We investigated the effects of substituting two of the four tryptophans (the “inner pair” Trp9 and Trp11 or the “outer pair” Trp13 and Trp15) in gramicidin A (gA) channels. The conformational preferences of the doubly substituted gA analogues were assessed using circular dichroism spectroscopy and size-exclusion chromatography, which show that the inner tryptophans 9 and 11 are critical for the gA’s conformational preference in lipid bilayer membranes. [Phe13,15]gA largely retains the single-stranded helical channel structure, whereas [Phe9,11]gA exists primarily as double-stranded conformers. Within this context, the 2H NMR spectra from labeled tryptophans were used to examine the changes in average indole ring orientations, induced by the Phe substitutions and by the shift in conformational preference. Using a method for deuterium labeling of already synthesized gAs, we introduced deuterium selectively onto positions C2 and C5 of the remaining tryptophan indole rings in the substituted gA analogues for ...
Progressive pituitary hyperplasia over the course of 2 years demonstrated on magnetic resonance imaging in a patient with long standing, profound primary hypothyroidism

Pituitary hyperplasia secondary to primary hypothyroidism and subsequent regression following thyroid replacement has been well described. We report a 12 year-old male who was retrospectively found to have progressive pituitary hyperplasia over the course of 2 years prior to his diagnosis of primary hypothyroidism, as documented on annual brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for Arnold Chiari Type 1 malformation. He presented to Endocrinology with a 2-year history of fatigue, worsening daily headaches and linear growth deceleration. The diagnosis of primary hypothyroidism as the cause for his pituitary hyperplasia was made. He was started on levothyroxine with subsequent regression of pituitary hyperplasia demonstrated on repeat brain MRI six months later. This case is the first that demonstrates progressive pituitary hyperplasia from early in the course to diagnosis of hypothyroidism. It also illustrates that pituitary hyperplasia noted on routine brain MRI can be a presenting sign of primary hypothyroidism that should prompt endocrinologic evaluation.
The metallic glass Cu56Zr44: Devitrification and the effects of devitrification on mechanical properties

Abstract The metallic glass Cu56Zr44 was examined for its devitrification characteristics at temperatures both above and below Tg Tensile tests and Knoop microhardness experiments were conducted to determine the effect of devitrification resulting from isothermal aging 14°C below the glass transition temperature on these mechanical properties. Devitrification above Tg, as determined in constant heating rate experiments, occurs as the sequential formation of the equilibrium crystalline phases. Devitrification below Tg, resulting from isothermal aging, is observed to occur in a manner resembling a continuous precipitation process. The mechanical properties of Cu56Zr44 glass are altered dramatically by isothermal aging. The glass is found to embrittle and tensile fracture stress decreases as the volume fraction of crystalline phase increases. Prior to the formation of ~0.02 volume fraction of crystalline phase, hardness follows a trend with time at temperature similar to tensile fracture stress. With further increases in the volume fraction of crystalline phase, hardness is observed to increase.
Collaborating with a Medical School to Assess Occupational Health and Safety Content in an Engineering Curriculum

A research center in the College of Medicine assisted the Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department in the assessment of occupational health and safety instruction in the undergraduate agricultural engineering curriculum. An interdisciplinary team developed a questionnaire to explore three facets of health and safety instruction: 1) content and placement in the curriculum, 2) reasons for teaching occupational health and safety, and 3) adequacy of teaching resources. The questionnaire was pilot tested using agricultural engineering faculty and technicians from a large land grant university. Responses to the questionnaire revealed strengths and weaknesses in the curriculum regarding occupational health and safety instruction. The questionnaire will be expanded and further tested with a broader subject base. This cooperative effort demonstrates that medical schools can be a valuable resource to engineering schools who are looking for ways to improve occupational health and safety instruction in their curricula.
MINOR CRIME IN A QUAINT SETTING: PRACTICES, OUTCOMES, AND LIMITS OF VERMONT REPARATIVE PROBATION BOARDS

Research Summary: We performed the first outcome evaluation of Vermont's Reparative Probation Program by studying a sample of reparative cases terminated in the 2000 calendar year through a content analysis of case files and surveys of victims and community service sites. The evaluation was performed along four goals of the program: that communities are involved, victims’ needs are addressed, communities are restored, and offenders behave responsibly. Policy Implications: The program has been largely successful in meeting its program goals. Community involvement in probation programs with a focus on repairing harm and offender reintegration is growing. The evaluation shows that Vermont Reparative Probation was able to recruit and maintain a large volunteer pool, and involve these volunteers in sanctioning decisions. Whether this can be achieved in other settings, and whether volunteers can effectively work with more serious offenders are important questions for policy. While most cases processed in this program dealt with victimless crimes (such as drunk driving and underage drinking), victims did not participate as much as predicted, replicating results from other board evaluations. Because victim involvement is low, this practice may be less “restorative” for victims than other restorative justice models. Community service was a common sanction, offenders tended to comply with service obligations, and service sites were satisfied by their work. Despite a focus on offender reintegration, regular inclusion of reintegrative tasks, and reasonably high completion rates, this program made little use of effective correctional treatments or tasks that would develop strong attachments to the community.
Effect of knowledge of community health workers on essential newborn health care: a study from rural India

BACKGROUND: This study explored the relationship between the knowledge of community health workers (CHWs)-anganwadi workers (AWWs) and auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs)-and their antenatal home visit coverage and effectiveness of the visits in terms of essential newborn health care practices at the household level in rural India. METHODS: We used data from 302 AWWs and 86 ANMs and data from recently delivered women (RDW) (n=13023) who were residents of the CHW catchment areas and gave birth to a singleton live baby during 2004-05. Using principal component analysis knowledge scores for preventive care and danger signs were computed separately for AWWs and ANMs and merged with RDW data. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to estimate the adjusted effect of knowledge level. A generalized estimating equation (GEE) was used to account for clustering. RESULTS: Coverage of antenatal home visits and newborn care practices were positively correlated with the knowledge level of AWWs and ANMs. Initiation of breastfeeding in the first hour of life (odds ratio 1.97; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.55-2.49 for AWW and odds ratio 1.62; 95% CI: 1.25-2.09 for ANM) clean cord care (odds ratio 2.03; 95% CI: 1.64-2.52 for AWW and odds ratio 1.43; 95% CI: 1.17-1.75 for ANM) and thermal care (odds ratio 2.16; 95% CI: 1.64-2.85 for AWW and odds ratio 1.88; 95% CI: 1.43-2.48 for ANM) were significantly higher among women visited by AWWs or ANMs who had better knowledge compared with those with poor knowledge. CONCLUSION: CHWs knowledge is one of the crucial aspects of health systems to improve the coverage of community-based newborn health care programmes as well as adherence to essential newborn care practices at the household level.
Shape analysis with structural invariant checkers

Developer-supplied data structure specifications are important to shape analyses, as they tell the analysis what information should be tracked in order to obtain the desired shape invariants. We observe that data structure checking code (e.g., used in testing or dynamic analysis) provides shape information that can also be used in static analysis. In this paper, we propose a lightweight, automatic shape analysis based on these developer-supplied structural invariant checkers. In particular, we set up a parametric abstract domain, which is instantiated with such checker specifications to summarize memory regions using both notions of complete and partial checker evaluations. The analysis then automatically derives a strategy for canonicalizing or weakening shape invariants