cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Guide/antiguide optical intensity modulator

An electrorefractive index-controllable guide/antiguide optical intensity modulator has been created and characterized. The operating mechanism, beam propagation method simulation, device design and fabrication, and calculated and experimental results of this guide/antiguide modulator are given. The operational principle of the modulator is based on the field-induced waveguide (FIG) concept; that is, electric-field-induced refractive index changes cause the waveguide to be turned on and off electrically. The modulator is formed with a central narrow FIG electrode sandwiched between two antiguide electrodes. The electrooptic effects, along with carrier effects, have been exploited to adjust the refractive index under the guide and adjacent antiguide electrodes by changing reverse biases applied to them. The modulation is determined mainly by changing the lateral refractive index profiles. In the on state, a waveguide is formed under the central electrode, and the input light propagates along this waveguide. To realize the best off state, an antiguide situation is created that causes the light to diffract out of the central guide rapidly. An on/off ratio larger than 23 dB, a propagation loss ∼1 dB, and a record optical bandwidth from 1.0 to 1.55 μm have been obtained for this modulator.
Rational Design of QCM-D Virtual Sensor Arrays Based on Film Thickness, Viscoelasticity, and Harmonics for Vapor Discrimination.

Herein, we demonstrate an alternative strategy for creating QCM-based sensor arrays by use of a single sensor to provide multiple responses per analyte. The sensor, which simulates a virtual sensor array (VSA), was developed by depositing a thin film of ionic liquid, either 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([OMIm][Br]) or 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium thiocyanate ([OMIm][SCN]), onto the surface of a QCM-D transducer. The sensor was exposed to 18 different organic vapors (alcohols, hydrocarbons, chlorohydrocarbons, nitriles) belonging to the same or different homologous series. The resulting frequency shifts (Δf) were measured at multiple harmonics and evaluated using principal component analysis (PCA) and discriminant analysis (DA) which revealed that analytes can be classified with extremely high accuracy. In almost all cases, the accuracy for identification of a member of the same class, that is, intraclass discrimination, was 100% as determined by use of quadratic discriminant analysis (QDA). Impressi...
Error detection and correction for addition and subtraction, through use of higher radix extensions of hamming codes

The properties of Hamming codes for error detection and correction can be extended from the binary parity check to addition, modulo 2r. Malfunctions in hardware during addition, modulo 2r, can be detected and corrected. Since carry-save and signed-digit addition, radix r, are included in addition, modulo 2r, this extension of Hamming codes makes possible new techniques for detection and correction of hardware malfunctions during signed-digit and carry-save addition.
Cocaine-induced neuroadaptations in the dorsal striatum: Glutamate dynamics and behavioral sensitization

Recent evidence suggests that diminished ability to control cocaine seeking arises from perturbations in glutamate homeostasis in the nucleus accumbens. However, the neurochemical substrates underlying cocaine-induced neuroadaptations in the dorsal striatum and how these mechanisms link to behavioral plasticity is not clear. We employed glutamate-sensitive microelectrodes and amperometry to study the impact of repeated cocaine administration on glutamate dynamics in the dorsolateral striatum of awake freely-moving rats. Depolarization-evoked glutamate release was robustly increased in cocaine-pretreated rats challenged with cocaine. Moreover, the clearance of glutamate signals elicited either by terminal depolarization or blockade of non-neuronal glutamate transporters slowed down dramatically in cocaine-sensitized rats. Repeated cocaine exposure also reduced the neuronal tone of striatal glutamate. Ceftriaxone, a β-lactam antibiotic that activates the astrocytic glutamate transporter, attenuated the effects of repeated cocaine exposure on synaptic glutamate release and glutamate clearance kinetics. Finally, the antagonism of AMPA glutamate receptors in the dorsolateral striatum blocked the development of behavioral sensitization to repeated cocaine administration. Collectively, these data suggest that repeated cocaine exposure disrupts presynaptic glutamate transmission and transporter-mediated clearance mechanisms in the dorsal striatum. Moreover, such alterations produce an over activation of AMPA receptors in this brain region leading to the sensitized behavioral response to repeated cocaine.
Peak boiling heat flux on cylinders in a cross flow

Abstract Analyses of the peak boiling heat flux have traditionally treated either pool boiling or flow boiling situations. Little has been done toward showing how the two processes relate to one another, though observations of burnout on cylindrical heaters have bridged the two situations. This study analyses burnout of horizontal cylinders in a vertical crossflow of increasing velocity, and it reports additional observations in water, methanol and isopropanol. At very low flow rates the structure of escaping jets changes from three to two dimensional. A criterion for the Helmholtz instability of the two-dimensional jets (or vapor sheets) is obtained from a simple mechanical energy balance. The result is a burnout prediction which is accurate at low to moderate velocities. At high velocities the wake appears to narrow and the prediction must be used as a correlation involving a constant which characterizes the sheet width. In both regimes the equations are generally accurate within ±20°. Criteria are also given for the two transitions described above.
Early Murine Lyme Carditis Has a Macrophage Predominance and Is Independent of Major Histocompatibility Complex Class Ii-Cd4+ T Cell Interactions

To compare the role of macrophages and CD4+ T lymphocytes in early Lyme carditis, immunohistochemical techniques were used to analyze cardiac infiltrates in immunocompetent mice infected with Borrelia burgdorferi spirochetes. Macrophages predominated in the infiltrate during the first 4 weeks after infection. CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes each constituted < 5% of the infiltrate; B lymphocytes were rare. Infected mice deficient in class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigen and depleted of CD4+ lymphocytes developed similar infiltrates, suggesting that class II MHC-CD4+ lymphocyte interactions do not play a critical role in disease initiation. Expression of mRNA encoding JE within areas of cardiac inflammation implicates this chemokine in the recruitment and activation of macrophages in this disease. These data demonstrate that early murine Lyme carditis requires neither class II antigen expression nor presentation of antigen to CD4+ T lymphocytes and suggest a direct response of macrophages to cardiac tissue invasion by B. burgdorferi.
The Lived Experience of Self-Transcendence in Women with Advanced Breast Cancer

The purpose of this exploratory study was to describe the lived-experience of self-transcendence in women with Stage IV breast cancer. A phenomenological approach was chosen for the research design and analysis. Five women who had lived with metastatic disease from 2 to 7 years described experiences from which they derived an increased sense of self-worth, purpose in life, and interconnectedness with others. The self-transcendent experiences involved an effort on the part of the participants to reach out beyond themselves to help other women, to permit others to help them, or to "just accept" unchangeable situations. The results indicated that participants found meaning in their lives in the face of life-threatening illness. Although nurses can not be expected to create self-transcendent experiences for their patients, they may be able to establish and maintain conditions in which the phenomenon occurs.
Automated analyzer for on-line recognition of neural waveforms in extracellular recordings of multiple neurons

The progress of research in the neurophysiological foundations of brain functions such as sensory transformations, perception, learning, sensory-motor coordination and motor control depends on efforts for understanding the collective behavior of neurons. The physical constraints of the intracellular electrode dictate the use of extracellular electrodes for collecting simultaneous data from neuronal assemblies. However, the advantages of extracellular electrodes are accompanied by several challenges that have somewhat limited the efficient use of such electrodes: in extracellular recordings, the action potential waveforms of many neurons may be embedded in relatively high, colored noise and these waveforms need to be sorted in order to determine the activity of the individual neurons. Furthermore, when two neurons fire concurrently, their waveforms overlap; the severity of this problem increases with increased firing rates and contributes to the difficulty of neural waveform sorting. In most neuroscience experiments, the management of stimuli and recordings becomes more efficient and effective if the response of individual neurons is known to the scientist at the time of the recording rather than at a later time, off-line. Therefore on-line operation is highly desirable. Finally, in order to record the activity of a large number (e.g. 100) of neurons, multiple electrodes are needed. making full automation a prerequisite for on-line neural waveform sorting.
A transmission grating beamline monochromator for the VUV synchrotron light source at NSLS

Abstract A soft X-ray monochromator with a normal incidence transmission grating has been designed and installed on beamline U-10A at NSLS. The design uses the e-beam of the synchrotron light source as its input slit and provides high throughput and moderate resolution for photon energies from 20 to 1000 eV. Scanning is accomplished by the linear motion of a plane mirror. The monochromator is described and test results are presented.
THYROTROPHIC HORMONE CONTENT OF THE BLOOD SERA AND PITUITARY GLANDS OF THIOUREA-, SULFADIAZINE-TREATED AND THYROIDECTOMIZED RATS1

THE ADMINISTRATION of thiourea, its derivatives and certain of the sulfonamides to mammals results in the development of an enlarged hyperplastic thyroid associated with a state of functional hypothyroidism (the Mackenzies, 1943; Astwood, Sullivan, Bissell and Tyslowitz, 1943). Experiments with radioactive iodine (Franklin and Chaikoff, 1943, 1944; Keston, Goldsmith, Gordon and Charipper, 1944; Schachner, Franklin and Chaikoff, 1944; Franklin, Chaikoff and Lerner, 1944; Rawson, Tannheimer and Peacock, 1944; Franklin, Lerner and Chaikoff, 1944) have shown that these drugs act by interfering with the production of normal thyroid principle. It is then postulated (the Mackenzies, 1943; Astwood,et al., 1943) that the lowered thryoxine concentration of the blood, or the resulting lowered metabolic rate of the body, invokes an increased production of the thyrotrophic factor which, in turn, induces marked overgrowth and histological hyper activity of the thyroid gland.
Migrant Farmworker Stress: Mental Health Implications

Context: The number of Latinos in rural regions of the United States is increasing. Little is known about factors that undermine the mental health of this segment of the rural population. Purpose: The goal of this study is to determine which stressors inherent in farmwork and the farmworker lifestyle contribute to poor mental health. Methods: An interview containing the Migrant Farmworker Stress Inventory (MFWSI) and 3 mental health scales (the PAI (anxiety), CES-D (depression), and CAGE/4M (alcohol abuse)) was administered to a sample of 125 male migrant farmworkers. Factor analysis differentiated discrete domains of stressors in the MFWSI. Regression models identified associations of the MFWSI stressor domains with mental health outcomes. Findings: Thirty-eight percent of participants had significant levels of stress as determined by the MFWSI. The MFWSI reduced to 5 stressor domains: legality and logistics, social isolation, work conditions, family, and substance abuse by others. Some 18.4% of participants had impairing levels of anxiety, 41.6% met caseness for depression, and 37.6% answered yes to 2 or more questions on the CAGE. Social isolation and working conditions were associated with both anxiety and depressive symptoms. However, social isolation was more strongly associated with anxiety, and working conditions were more strongly linked to depression. Conclusions: Specific categories of stressors (social isolation, working conditions) inherent in farmwork and the farmworker lifestyle are associated with mental health among immigrant farmworkers. Isolating specific categories of stressors helps in designing programs and practice for the prevention and management of mental health disorders in the immigrant, farmworker population.
Enumeration and Presumptive Identification of Bacteria from the Small Intestine of Sheep

Abstract Microflora of the small intestine of sheep was examined. Samples of tissue and digesta were taken from four sites along the small intestine (3, 8, 13, and 18m from the pylorus) and maintained under anaerobic conditions. The pH of the digesta taken at the 3rd, 8th, 13th, and 18th m sections were 5.44, 6.37, 7.24, and 6.79. Digesta and tissue samples were diluted serially and plated within the anaerobic glove box on complex medium containing rumen fluid. In addition, each sample was plated on the same medium and incubated aerobically. As determined by growth under anaerobic conditions, viable counts of the digesta ranged from 5×10 4 to 7×10 6 cells/g, whereas counts for the tissue ranged from 2×10 2 to 4×10 4 cells/g. Viable counts determined aerobically for the digesta ranged from 1×10 4 to 5×10 6 cells/g, whereas the counts for the tissue ranged from 5×10 to 6×10 4 cells/g. Tentative identification of 50 isolates from samples of tissue and digesta in the 13th m section revealed a predominance of streptococcal organisms and rod shaped organism morphologically similar to Propionibacterium. An indigenous population of acid-tolerant bacteria with the ability to ferment simple sugars and starch was in the small intestine.
Resveratrol: influences on gene expression in human skin

There are many phytochemicals such as polyphenols that can modulate inflammatory responses and provide protective roles against many diseases and cancers, especially with aging. Resveratrol is a polyphenolic molecule found in plant and food products with such properties. However, a comprehensive examination of resveratrol influencing human skin gene expression has not been performed. This study quantified differential gene expression/mRNA levels via gene array technology using human skin equivalent cultures with resveratrol exposure at 1.0% for 24 hours and via subsequent qPCR experiments. The results indicate that resveratrol can ameliorate the aging of human skin by significantly stimulating SIRT 1, extracellular matrix proteins, such as collagens and elastin, and antioxidants while significantly inhibiting inflammatory and dermal-aging biomarkers. Resveratrol's anti-aging protection altered specific dermal biomarkers through a variety of mechanisms to protect the skin. Thus, the results demonstrate the potential resveratrol has in human dermal applications to maintain and improve human skin health.
The Dynamic Response of Columns Under Short Duration Axial Loads

Coupled nonlinear equations of motion in the axial and transverse directions are derived for a column under dynamic end load. Material dissipation is included by employing a Kelvin model for the material behavior. The dynamic response of the column in the presence of small transverse perturbations is investigated for short duration of axial loads. For certain geometric configurations, the inclusion of axial inertia permits parametric resonance of transverse modes due to the transient axial motion after the load is removed. The parametric effects are studied in detail. It is found that the usual simplified theory which neglects axial inertia adequately describes the column response provided the material dissipation is sufficiently large and/or the duration of loading is sufficiently long. For given dissipation parametric excitation becomes important as the load duration decreases. It becomes the dominant effect for very short duration loads.
Political Constraints on Legal Doctrine: How Hierarchy Shapes the Law

When higher court judges attempt to assert control over lower-court decision making, do such hierarchical politics shape legal doctrine? Using a “case-space” model of choice between determinate doctrines (rules) and more flexible doctrines (standards), I argue that the structure of doctrine affects the application of and compliance with doctrine by lower courts, and this in turn affects choice among doctrinal structures. Doctrinal choice, legal complexity, lower court discretion, and the allocation of judicial resources are shown to depend on hierarchical conflict, the transparency of decisions, sensitivity to case facts, judicial expertise, salience of the issue area, and issue complexity. These incentives have counterintuitive effects on lower court discretion and on doctrinal specificity, and they create odd patterns of ideological and doctrinal alignment. Ignoring these incentives undercuts our understandings of lower court compliance, of judicial ideology, and of the effects of collegiality on law. 1
Potentiation of abnormalities in myocardial metabolism with the development of diabetes in women with obesity and insulin resistance.

Background Because studies in animal models of type-2 diabetes mellitus (DM) show that excessive myocardial fatty acid (FA) metabolism (at the expense of glucose metabolism) cause cardiac dysfunction, we hypothesized that women with DM would have more FA and less glucose myocardial metabolism than normal or even obese (OB) women.
Comparison of observer performance for real and simulated nodules in chest radiography

Observer performance studies are frequently performed to evaluate and compare various radiographic techniques with regard to detection of subtle lung nodules using simulated nodules. The fidelity of the simulated nodules and their equivalency to the real lesions have not been investigated in prior studies. We have developed simulated Teflon nodules with contrast characteristics emulating real nodules found in a database of graded chest radiographs. This paper presents a summary of the method used to make the phantoms, describes our technique for positioning the phantoms in human subject studies, and reports the preliminary results of an observer performance study for detection of the simulated nodules compared to real lesions.
XPS/ISS Investigation of Carbon Fibers Sequentially Exposed to Nitric Acid and Sodium Hydroxide

Type II carbon fibers have been oxidized to various extents in nitric acid, both with and without subsequent exposure to aqueous sodium hydroxide, and the resulting surface composition has been determined using angle-resolved x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (ARXPS) and ion scattering spectroscopy (ISS). As-received fibers (unsized and commercially treated) contain substantial amounts of oxidized carbon, most of which is confined within the outermost 10-15 A of the surface. Fiber treatment in 70% nitric acid at 115°C for 20-90 min alters the O/C atomic ratio as well as the depth distribution of oxidized carbon species. Evidence is presented suggesting that the fibers are oxidized primarily within the outermost surface region when the nitric acid exposure time is <40 min. As nitric acid treatment time is increased to 60 and 90 min, the fiber subsurface region near the maximum XPS sampling depth (60-100 A) appears to be increasingly oxidized relative to further oxidation at the outermost surface region. This subsurface region is mostly the outer few graphitic layers which are exposed by pitting and roughening of the surface as oxidation continues. Exposing the nitric acid-oxidized carbon fibers to aqueous sodium hydroxide removes oxidized fragments from the outer fiber layers and consequently alters the depth profile of carbon/oxygen chemical groups. In most cases, after fiber exposure to sodium hydroxide, the relative O/C atomic ratio decreases by ∼10%, consistent with the removal of oxidized fiber fragments. Furthermore, ISS reveals that sodium hydroxide exposure enriches the outermost fiber layers with sodium, the concentration of which increases with increasing extent of prior nitric acid oxidation.
Multidimensional Proteomics Analysis of Amniotic Fluid to Provide Insight into the Mechanisms of Idiopathic Preterm Birth

Background Though recent advancement in proteomics has provided a novel perspective on several distinct pathogenetic mechanisms leading to preterm birth (inflammation, bleeding), the etiology of most preterm births still remains elusive. We conducted a multidimensional proteomic analysis of the amniotic fluid to identify pathways related to preterm birth in the absence of inflammation or bleeding.
An approach to mathematical literacy for medical students

Mathematical literacy is defined as the ability to read and interpret information of a mathematical nature. Based on the empirically determined needs of medical students in this area, a set of instructional materials (tests, text, and technical manual) were produced and successfully used. These results are described here as are considerations bearing on the generalizability of the described approach.
Functional Principal Component Analysis of Spatiotemporal Point Processes With Applications in Disease Surveillance

In disease surveillance applications, the disease events are modeled by spatio-temporal point processes. We propose a new class of semiparametric generalized linear mixed model for such data, where the event rate is related to some known risk factors and some unknown latent random effects. We model the latent spatio-temporal process as spatially correlated functional data, and propose Poisson maximum likelihood and composite likelihood methods based on spline approximations to estimate the mean and covariance functions of the latent process. By performing functional principal component analysis to the latent process, we can better understand the correlation structure in the point process. We also propose an empirical Bayes method to predict the latent spatial random effects, which can help highlight hot areas with unusually high event rates. Under an increasing domain and increasing knots asymptotic framework, we establish the asymptotic distribution for the parametric components in the model and the asymptotic convergence rates for the functional principal component estimators. We illustrate the methodology through a simulation study and an application to the Connecticut Tumor Registry data.
Complications Associated with the Use of the Neodymium:YAG Laser

The neodymium:YAG laser was used in a consecutive series of 93 eyes. Diagnosis was opacified posterior capsule in 81 eyes of which 52 were pseudophakic, with cystoid macular edema and vitreous strands in eight eyes, pigmented anterior hyaloid in two eyes, opacified anterior capsular flap in one eye and vitreous strand blocking an anterior chamber tube shunt to an encircling band tube in one eye. Despite significant visual improvement and reduction of cystoid macular edema, a variety of complications were seen. These included pitting of the implant in 26 eyes and cracks in four, two of which developed a vitreitis. These occurred more frequently in our earlier cases. Also seen was elevated IOP in six eyes, pupillary block in two, vitreous face rupture in five, cystoid macular edema in four, hyphemas in four, corneal injury in two and acute peripheral retinal hemorrhage in one eye.
Acute renal failure due to tumor lysis syndrome in a HIV seropositive patient with Castleman's disease

Sir, Castleman’s disease (CD), a rare lymphoproliferative disorder, is characterized by histological features of lymph node hyperplasia and capillary proliferation. Conditions such as minimal-change, membranous, mesangioproliferative, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, thrombotic microangiopathy and renal amyloid have been reported with CD [1]. Acute renal failure (ARF) due to tumour-lysis syndrome (TLS) has not been reported in these patients. Case. A 34-year-old Caucasian male was admitted to the Houston VA medical center with nausea, right upper quadrant and epigastric pain. His past medical history was significant for the diagnosis of HIV infection 11 years previously. He had refused therapy until 6 months prior to this admission when he developed constitutional symptoms and cervical lymphadenopathy. Lamivudine, Didanosine and Nevirapine were started since he had a low CD4 count (105
Detection of fast neutrons in a plastic scintillator using digital pulse processing to reject gammas

Abstract We report on neutron–gamma discrimination in a plastic scintillator based on the time delay inherent in second and third chance neutron scattering. Because of the time delay (≈3 ns) between the first and second scattering of a neutron, calculations of gammas and neutrons in a plastic scintillator predict that a neutron signal should be significantly broader than a pulse from a gamma event. Experimentally, we have used a fast digital oscilloscope coupled to a computer to examine individual pulses from neutron or gamma induced signals in fast scintillators coupled to a fast PMT. Individual neutron-induced signals were consistent with the predictions of our model, but gamma pulses were broader than expected. We present various tests to understand this phenomenon and discuss a way to overcome this problem.
Morita equivalence of quasi-primal algebras and sheaves

In this paper, we show that two quasi-primal algebras are Morita equivalent if and only if their inverse semigroups of inner automorphisms are isomorphic, and if they have the “same” one-element subalgebras. The proof of this statement uses the representation theory of algebras by sections in sheaves.
Hiring Diverse Faculty Members in Community Colleges: A Case study in Ethical Decision Making

This case study examines why 2-year colleges struggle to increase the racial diversity of their faculty. Through interrogating hiring procedures and identifying reasonable expectations for diversit...
Ineffective diastolic filling in tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy with total pulsus alternans

We report a case of total pulse alternans in a patient with paroxysmal ectopic atrial tachycardia and echocardiographic findings obtained before and after radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) that terminated the arrhythmia. The patient was a 27-year-old man with history of paroxysmal palpitations with worsening episodic dizziness, chest tightness, and dyspnea. Electrocardiography (ECG) showed atrial tachycardia at 160 to 170 beats/min while the simultaneous pulse was in the 80s beats/min. Echocardiogram showed that aortic and mitral valves opened with alternating excursions and outflow velocities. Furthermore, despite similar ventricular wall thickening during systole of consecutive cardiac cycles, there was alternating mitral valve opening during diastole of the same cycles, providing direct evidence that ineffective diastolic filling and mitral valve opening may play a role in the pathogenesis of pulse alternans. Repeat ECG and echocardiography after the successful RFCA showed normal sinus rhythm and normal opening excursion and the velocity across the aortic and mitral valves.
The Relationship of Culture and Empathy in Cross-Cultural Counseling.

Empathy has been identified as a core condition for providing counseling. There are numerous articles discussing the components of empathy. However, as the U.S. becomes increasingly ethnically diverse and the world becomes more globalized, there is little discussion on how empathy will be effective with diverse populations. This article discusses the interaction of culture and empathy and suggests guidelines for establishing cultural empathy.
Management of blunt splenic trauma: significant differences between adults and children

Background. Although highly successful in children, nonoperative management of blunt splenic injury in adults is less defined. The purpose of this study was to determine whether mechanism of injury, grade of splenic injury, associated injuries, and pattern of injury differ between adults and children (younger than 15 years of age). Methods. Four hundred eleven patients (293 adults and 118 pediatric patients) with blunt splenic injury were admitted to an affiliated adult/pediatric trauma program from 1989 to 1994. Computed tomography (CT) scans were interpreted in a blinded fashion. Mechanism of injury was significantly different for adults versus children (p < 0.05): motor vehicle crash (66.9% versus 23.7%), motorcycle (8.8% versus 0.8%), sports (2.4% versus 16.9%), falls (8.8% versus 25.4%), pedestrian/automobile (4.4% versus 11.0%), bicycle (1.4% versus 9.3%), and other (7.3% versus 12.7%). Results. Higher injury severity scores, lower Glasgow Coma Scales, and higher mortality indicated that the adults were more severely injured than the children. Fifty-nine percent of the adults and 7% of the children required immediate laparotomy for splenic injury. Both CT grade and quantity of blood on CT predicted the need for exploration in adults but not in children. An injury severity score above 15 and high-energy mechanisms correlated with the need for operative intervention. Conclusions. Rather than children simply being physically different, they are injured differently than adults, hence the high rate of nonoperative management.
C18-modified metal-colloid substrates for surface-enhanced Raman detection of trace-level polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in aqueous solution

Metal colloids immobilized on a glass support substrate are modified with a self-assembled alkylsilane (C18) layer to promote adsorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from aqueous solutions. Detection of these compounds from low concentration solutions is accomplished by using surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). SERS spectra of pyrene adsorbed to C18-modified immobilized silver colloids are dominated by Raman bands that are not consistent with pyrene and indicate that pyrene undergoes a chemical reaction at the surface. The origins of this surface product are investigated, and it is determined that silver and oxygen are required to form the product, whose Raman spectrum is consistent with oxidation to a quinone. When a C18-modified gold-colloid substrate is used, Raman scattering consistent with unreacted pyrene is observed. The adsorption and detection of pyrene adsorbed from low (2 ppb) concentration aqueous solutions onto C18-modified gold-colloid substrates is reported; naphthalene and phenanthrene are detected at approximately 5 ppb. Adsorption kinetics are rapid (<5 min), and the concentration-dependent SERS response is consistent with a Langmuir isotherm.
Multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome: genetic basis for clinical management.

Purpose of review Multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) types 1 and 2 are rare hereditary cancer syndromes expressing a variety of mainly endocrine neoplasias. Improved understanding of the molecular and clinical genetics associated with these lesions will likely enhance the diagnosis and treatment of patients with these diseases. Recent findings The MEN1 gene causing MEN1 is a tumor suppressor gene and seems to act as a regulator of the transcriptional machinery. Novel genetic and diagnostic modalities tend to identify neoplastic lesions at an earlier stage, potentially improving outcome and quality of life. Improved understanding of genotype-phenotype correlations in MEN2, caused by a mutation in the RET oncogene, may enable a more individualized treatment for these patients. Summary Recent advances in molecular pathology, diagnosis, and management of patients with MEN1 and MEN2 are reviewed.
Replacement of culvert styles has minimal impact on benthic macroinvertebrates in forested, mountainous streams of Northern California

Abstract Culvert styles are being replaced on many road-stream crossings to provide long-term (>2 years) benefits, but these projects may result in short-term (0–2 years) biological impacts. We quantified the short-term effects of replacing steel-pipe culverts with open-arch structures on the benthic-macroinvertebrate communities of 6 streams in the Klamath National Forest of Northern California USA. Physical habitat showed notable site-specific effects in channel form and sedimentation, but no significant change among sites. In contrast, we observed small though significant impacts of the culvert style replacement on benthic macroinvertebrates among sites, including a statistically significant reduction in both taxa richness ( p = 0.012) and abundance of intolerant taxa ( p = 0.004). Moreover, there was also modest evidence of slightly elevated variability in the benthic-macroinvertebrate communities downstream following the replacement of culvert style. The long-term benefits of culvert style replacement that have been observed in other studies may outweigh the minor, short-term biological impacts observed in these streams.
Current understanding of food allergy.

: IgE-mediated hypersensitivity reactions account for the majority of well-documented food allergy reactions, but non-IgE-mediated immune mechanisms do cause some hypersensitivity disorders. A variety of gastrointestinal, cutaneous, respiratory, and generalized symptoms and syndromes have been associated with IgE-mediated food allergy. The diagnostic approach to adverse food reactions begins with a careful medical history and physical examination. Laboratory studies may then be used appropriately in the evaluation. Once the diagnosis of food allergy is established, the only proven therapy is the strict elimination of the food from the patient's diet. Studies in both children and adults indicate that symptomatic reactivity to food allergens is often lost over time, except possibly reactions to peanuts, tree nuts, and seafood.
A large scale machine loading problem in flexible assembly

Flexible manufacturing is characterized by versatile work stations with minimum change over times and a versatile material handling system. The loading problem in flexible manufacturing is to assign tools, material, operations and jobs to work stations in order to minimize the total number of job-to-work station assignments. In this paper, we describe a special case of the general loading problem applied to flexible assembly and develop a discrete optimization model. We then discuss approaches for obtaining good heuristic solutions and present results for a large scale study.
A Review: Inflammatory Process in Alzheimer's Disease, Role of Cytokines

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder to date. Neuropathological hallmarks are β-amyloid (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, but the inflammatory process has a fundamental role in the pathogenesis of AD. Inflammatory components related to AD neuroinflammation include brain cells such as microglia and astrocytes, the complement system, as well as cytokines and chemokines. Cytokines play a key role in inflammatory and anti-inflammatory processes in AD. An important factor in the onset of inflammatory process is the overexpression of interleukin (IL)-1, which produces many reactions in a vicious circle that cause dysfunction and neuronal death. Other important cytokines in neuroinflammation are IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. By contrast, other cytokines such as IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), IL-4, IL-10, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β can suppress both proinflammatory cytokine production and their action, subsequently protecting the brain. It has been observed in epidemiological studies that treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) decreases the risk for developing AD. Unfortunately, clinical trials of NSAIDs in AD patients have not been very fruitful. Proinflammatory responses may be countered through polyphenols. Supplementation of these natural compounds may provide a new therapeutic line of approach to this brain disorder.
Protein-flexibility mediated coupling between photoswitching kinetics and surrounding viscosity of a photochromic fluorescent protein

Recent advances in fluorescent proteins (FPs) have generated a remarkable family of optical highlighters with special light responses. Among them, Dronpa exhibits a unique capability of reversible light-regulated on-off switching. However, the environmental dependence of this photochromism is largely unexplored. Herein we report that the photoswitching kinetics of the chromophore inside Dronpa is actually slowed down by increasing medium viscosity outside Dronpa. This finding is a special example of an FP where the environment can exert a hydrodynamic effect on the internal chromophore. We attribute this effect to protein-flexibility mediated coupling where the chromophore’s cis-trans isomerization during photoswitching is accompanied by conformational motion of a part of the protein β-barrel whose dynamics should be hindered by medium friction. Consistent with this mechanism, the photoswitching kinetics of Dronpa-3, a structurally more flexible mutant, is found to exhibit a more pronounced viscosity dependence. Furthermore, we mapped out spatial distributions of microviscosity in live cells experienced by a histone protein using the photoswitching kinetics of Dronpa-3 fusion as a contrast mechanism. This unique reporter should provide protein-specific information about the crowded intracellular environments by offering a genetically encoded microviscosity probe, which did not exist with normal FPs before.
The Formation and Continuous Turnover of a Fraction of Phosphatidic Acid on Stimulation of NaCl Secretion by Acetylcholine in the Salt Gland

Acetylcholine, which stimulates NaCl secretion in the avian salt gland, causes the rapid formation of a fraction of phosphatidic acid, as measured by 32P incorporation, which amounts maximally to about 0.18 µmoles per g of fresh tissue. This does not appear to involve synthesis of the diglyceride moiety of phosphatidic acid, as measured by glycerol-1-14C incorporation. It presumably involves formation of phosphatidic acid by the diglyceride kinase pathway from preformed diglyceride and ATP. The specific activity of the AT32P of the tissue is not increased in the presence of acetylcholine. At time intervals after addition of acetylcholine during which a full response, measured as increased O2 uptake, may be observed, phosphatidic acid appears to be the only phosphatide which shows any increase either in total 32P radioactivity or in net specific acitvity. This responsive fraction of phosphatidic acid undergoes continuous turnover of its phosphate moiety. There is no evidence that this turnover is due to the phosphatidic acid acting as a pool of intermediate for the synthesis of other phospholipids or glycerides. The responsive fraction amounts to not more than 20% of the total phosphatidic acid of the tissue; it does not mix with the other (non-responsive) phosphatidic acid of the tissue. The observations suggest that this phosphatidic acid plays some role in the over-all secretory process.
The MHC influences NK and NKT cell functions associated with immune abnormalities and lifespan.

The lifespans of H-2 congenic mice differ significantly. The B10.AKM (H-2m) strain has a median survival time (MST) of 15 months, whereas the B10.BR (H-2k) strain has an MST of 24 months. It was previously shown that B10.AKM mice at 13-15 months of age have immunological function comparable to those of B10.BR mice at 22-26 months of age. These functions include: a low proliferative response, reduced levels of intracellular calcium release [Ca2+]i, and an increase in the frequency of memory helper T-cells (CD4+ CD44hiCD45RBlo). In this report similar deficiencies were demonstrated in B10.AKM mice at 2-4 months of age and show that activated spleen NK1.1+CD4+ T (NKT) cells from young B10.AKM mice produce a significantly higher level of IL-4 but a lower level of IFN-gamma as compared to NKT cells from B10.BR mice of the same age. Also, the cytotoxic activity of natural killer (NK) cells from spleens of young (2-4 months) as well as adult (12-16 months) B10.AKM mice is significantly lower (P < 0.01) than that of NK cells from B10.BR mice. These findings suggest that the NKT activity in young B10.AKM mice is a factor for the early onset of immune dysfunction leading to a shorter lifespan.
Bringing Information Technology to Life

Information technology planning is quite possibly the most challenging task in business today; certainly it is one of the least understood.
The Effects of Starvation on Crayfish Responses to Alarm Odor

The effect of starvation on responses to alarm odor was tested with individuals of an invasive and a native species of crayfish. I predicted that chemical predator cues would inhibit feeding less in starving than well-fed animals,and that this decrease would be stronger in a native compared with an invasive species. Individuals were exposed to food odor and then alarm odor after 3 and 10 d of starvation. The inhibition of food-related behavior patterns was similar on the 2 d of testing for individuals of the invasive species, Orconectes rusticus. Individuals of O. virilis showed a significant reduction in the effects of alarm odor detection on day 10 compared with day 3 of starvation. The lack of a change in responses to alarm odors between days of testing by individuals of O. rusticus may be because they are more responsive to alarm odors than individuals of O. virilis. This behavioral difference could contribute to the successful range extension of O. rusticus.
Genome-based reclassification of Bacillus cibi as a later heterotypic synonym of Bacillus indicus and emended description of Bacillus indicus

While characterizing a related strain, it was noted that there was little difference between the 16S rRNA gene sequences of Bacillus indicus LMG 22858(T) and Bacillus cibi DSM 16189(T). Phenotypic characterization revealed differences only in the utilization of mannose and galactose and slight variation in pigmentation. Whole genome shotgun sequencing and comparative genomics were used to calculate established phylogenomic metrics and explain phenotypic differences. The full, genome-derived 16S rRNA gene sequences were 99.74% similar. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) of the two strains was 98.0%, the average amino acid identity (AAI) was 98.3%, and the estimated DNA-DNA hybridization determined by the genome-genome distance calculator was 80.3%. These values are higher than the species thresholds for these metrics, which are 95%, 95% and 70%, respectively, suggesting that these two strains should be classified as members of the same species. We propose reclassification of Bacillus cibi as a later heterotypic synonym of Bacillus indicus and an emended description of Bacillus indicus.
True Random Number Generator circuits based on single- and multi-phase beat frequency detection

A fully-digital True Random Number Generator (TRNG) measures the frequency difference between two free-running ring oscillators, or in other words the beat frequency, to extract random frequency jitter. For generating a continuous stream of random bits with a high entropy level, the lower significant bits meeting the NIST randomness criteria are concatenated. The generation efficiency is further improved by utilizing a multi-phase structure. The proposed circuit fabricated in 65nm achieves an energy efficiency of 15.1Mb/mW at 0.8V. Experimental data collected from eight TRNG test chips passed all 15 NIST tests without the use of any feedback or tracking scheme.
A semiautomated 96-well plate assay for protein kinase C.

Abstract We have devised a rapid procedure for the assay of protein kinase C. Reactions (100 μl) were set up in the wells of a 96-well assay plate and initiated one column at a time by the addition of [γ-32P]ATP with an eightchannel pipettor. After incubation for 5 min at 30°C, the reactions were terminated by the addition of 100 μl of 25% trichloroacetic acid. The reaction mixtures were then filtered using a semiautomatic cell harvester, and transferred to scintillation vials using a filter punch apparatus. Direct comparison of this method to traditional techniques revealed a three- to fivefold increase in efficiency with equal sensitivity. This method is suitable for screening large numbers of inhibitors and activators of protein kinase C and appears to be applicable to other enzymes such as calmodulin kinases.
Spatiotemporal transformation of single-cycle pulses by quadratic phase media

Summary form only given. Ultrawideband single-cycle pulses of subpicosecond duration are now readily available through optical rectification or photoconductive switching techniques. At optical frequencies femtosecond pulses as short as two and one-half cycles have also been generated through passive mode locking. For these ultrashort pulses, coupling between spatial and temporal variables results in significant temporal reshaping even when these pulses propagate through lossless non-dispersive media. In the paper we show that the spatiotemporal transformation of a class of single-cycle pulses by non-dispersive quadratic phase media can be analyzed in closed form by means of the well-known ABCD matrices of Gaussian beam optics. The class of pulses discussed are exact non-separable wavepacket solutions of the time-dependent paraxial wave equation. These wavepackets are isodiffracting in the sense that their Fourier spectrum is composed of a distribution of Gaussian beams all of which have the same Rayleigh range z/sub R/. Such an isodiffracting pulse can be produced, for example in a confocal resonator that forces all the modes to have the same frequency-independent confocal parameter 2z/sub R/. The spatiotemporal behavior of such a pulse can then be characterized in the time domain by a single q-parameter which contains the radius of curvature R, the radius a, and the pulse width /spl tau//sub 0/ of the pulsed beam.
New methods for estimating/forecasting link bandwidths in 802.11b WLANs

Accurate assessment of the available link bandwidths in wireless networks is crucial for applications to negotiate, adapt and control quality-of-service parameters. We focus on new methods for estimating/predicting saturated throughputs (link bandwidths) in 801.11b wireless local area networks (WLANs). We propose a principle component analysis (PCA) and clustering approach for the estimation problem and a pattern modeling and recognition system (PMRS) and method of moments matching (MM) for the prediction problem. A trade off between the complexity and the accuracy of the estimation/prediction algorithms is discussed and compared with a neural networks (NN) approach.