cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Numerical analysis of large axisymmetric deformations of thin spherical shells

Nonlinear difference equations for the numerical analysis of large axisymmetric deflections of thin linearly elastic and isotropic spherical shells a r e presented. Surface loading, temperature, and shell thickness may vary along a generator and, in addition, temperature may vary through the thickness. The difference equations, which govern a s t ress function and the rotation of a meridional tangent, are written in a convenient matrix form and solved by combining an iterative scheme with a direct elimination method. The general theory is programmed on an IBM 7090 digital computer, and important aspects of the input-output formats are explained. A nonclassical problem involving a "deep" spherical shell of variable thickness subjected to "thermal," pressure, and edge loading is solved by means of the computer program. For this problem it was found that linear theory generally gave very conservative results. In addition, the problem of a spherical shell subjected to a concentrated load at the apex is treated, and certain of the numerical results a r e verified experimentally. lem indicate that within the framework of large deflection theory it is often necessary to carefully dist iny ish between inward and outward bending. Overall results for this prob
Echelle Spectroscopy with Electronographic and Solid State Detectors

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the echelle spectroscopy with electronographic and solid state detectors. The performances of the Kron camera and the I-Ret detector for 2% precision spectrophotometry at high resolution are indistinguishable. Both fail to obey Poisson statistics by the same factor, but for different reasons. The Kron camera performance is limited by the quality of Ilford nuclear track emulsions; on a scale of tens of microns enough plate flaws occur to degrade the camera's performance. A possible, admittedly tedious, solution to this problem would be to add multiple exposures. Since the plate flaws are random, their effect would be minimized by such a process. The I-Ret performance is limited by an unstable asymmetry in the odd-even video lines which introduces a slightly unstable fixed pattern noise between alternate diodes. This pattern is not random and multiple exposures will not reduce its effect. The cause of this problem is believed to be understood and the circuitry responsible for it is being appropriately modified.
Stimulated Brillouin Gain Spectroscopy at High Pressures

The use of spontaneous Brillouin spectroscopy with a Fabry-Perot interferometer is a well established, powerful technique for studying thermally excited sound waves in liquids and solids1–4. There are well known problems associated with the Fabry-Perot interferometer, however. Its limited finesse (resolution), low contrast, nonlinearities of the scanning system, and the absence of an internal standard for frequency calibration all contribute to a shortfall in the precision and accuracy of the experimental data.
Developmental pharmacology and toxicology of anti-HIV therapeutic agents: dideoxynucleosides.

As the incidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has increased in women over the past decade, the need for safe, effective therapy during pregnancy has increased concomitantly. Although dideoxynucleosides such as 3'-deoxy-3'-azidothymidine (AZT), 2',3'-dideoxyinosine (ddI), 2',3'-dideoxycytidine (ddC), and 2',3'-didehydro-3'-deoxythymidine have been approved for use in the general population, the administration, efficacy, and toxicity of these compounds during pregnancy and development are now being investigated. Initial human studies suggest that maternal use of AZT during pregnancy is well tolerated by both mother and child and provides a promising degree of protection from vertical HIV transmission to the infant. In vitro and animal models have greatly increased our understanding of the distribution and toxicity resulting from fetal dideoxynucleoside exposure. AZT, ddI, and ddC rapidly cross the placenta by simple diffusion but with different rates of transfer. In vivo data confirm the ...
Managing the Urban Commons

All communities have common resources that are vulnerable to selfish motives. The current paper explores this challenge in the specific case of the urban commons, defined as the public spaces and scenery of city neighborhoods. A theoretical model differentiates between individual incentives and social incentives for caring for the commons. The quality of a commons is defined as the level of physical (e.g., loose garbage) and social (e.g., public disturbances) disorder. A first study compared levels of disorder across the census block groups of a single city; the second compared the disorder generated by individual addresses in two neighborhoods. Each study found that homeownership, an individual incentive, was the main predictor of disorder. Owner-occupied parcels generated less disorder than their renter-occupied neighbors, but both parcel types produced less disorder in a neighborhood with greater homeownership. The results emphasize the need for considering both individual and social incentives for group-beneficial behaviors.
Reducing coverage collection overhead with disposable instrumentation

Testers use coverage data for test suite quality assessment, stopping criteria definition, and effort allocation. However, as the complexity of products and testing processes increases, the cost of coverage data collection may grow significantly, jeopardizing its potential application. We present two techniques to mitigate this problem based on the concept of "disposable coverage instrumentation": coverage instrumentation that is removed after its usage. The idea is to reduce coverage collection overhead by removing instrumentation probes after they have been executed. We have extended a Java virtual machine to support these techniques, and show their potential through empirical studies with the Specjvm98 and Specjbb2000 benchmarks. The results indicate that the techniques can reduce coverage collection overhead between 18% and 97% over existing techniques.
Targeting female hormone receptors as cervical cancer therapy

While preventive methods for cervical cancer are effective, available therapies for advanced cervical cancers are ineffective. New experimental evidence points to weaknesses of prior studies and provides fresh molecular insights on the opposing roles of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and the progesterone receptor (PR) that may be translated into valuable treatments for a subset of cervical cancers.
Relationship between cell coiling and motility of spirochetes in viscous environments.

The lowest viscosity that stops translational motility of cells (minimum immobilizing viscosity [MIV] was determined for various spirochetes. The viscous agent used was polyvinylpyrrolidone, The MIV for either Spirochaeta halophila P1 or Spirochaeta aurantia J4T was approximately 1,000 centipoise (cp), and for Leptospira interrogans (biflexa) B16 the MIV was greater than 500 cp. In comparison, the MIV for the flagellated bacteria Escherichia coli and Spirillum serpens was 60 cp. MIV values for two S. halophila mutant strains lacking the characteristic cell coiling (Hel-mutants) were 70 and 120 cp, approximately one-tenth the MIV for the wild-type strain. MIV values for cells of S. aurantia strains with fewer coils than comparably long cells of S. aurantia J4T were 300 to 600 cp. The average velocity of strains of S. aurantia and S. halophila decreased at viscosities higher than 2 to 3 cp. At 2 cp the average velocity of S. halophila P1 was 16 micron/s, whereas the average velocities of Hel-mutant strains were 7 to 9 micron/s. This study indicates that the coiling of spirochetes plays a role in their ability to move through environments of realtively high viscosity. Among the spirochetes we investigated, this ability is greater in the more extensively coiled strains. Images
Endothelial progenitor cells modulate the angiogenic switch in lung metastasis progression.

5845 Angiogenesis-mediated progression of dormant micrometastasis to lethal macrometastasis is the leading cause of death in cancer patients. Despite this clinical significance, the regulators of the angiogenic switch have not been completely elucidated. Using both transplanted and spontaneous mouse models of pulmonary metastasis, we have mapped the temporal window of the angiogenic switch and have identified bone marrow (BM)-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) as critical regulators of this switch. We show that tumors induce Id1 expression in the EPCs, and notably, acute and conditional suppression of Id1 following metastatic colonization blocked EPC mobilization, caused severe angiogenesis inhibition, impaired formation of pulmonary macrometastases, and increased overall survival of tumor-bearing animals. These findings establish the critical role of EPCs in metastatic progression, directly implicate the role of Id1 in EPC mobilization and recruitment. This study has important clinical implications. Given that in many cancer patients, metastatic spread has already occurred by the time of primary diagnosis, these results suggest that selectively targeting the angiogenic switch via the EPCs may provide a clinically feasible approach toblock metastasis progression and prevent death in cancer patients. REF: Nolan, D.J., Ciarrocchi, A., Mellick, A.S., Jaggi, J.S., Bambino, K., Gupta, S., Heikamp, E., McDevitt, M.R., Scheinberg, D.A., Benezra, R. and Mittal, V. (2007) Bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells are a major determinant of nascent tumor neovascularization. Genes and Development, 21, 1546-1558 Gao, D., Nolan, D.J., Mellick. A.S., Bambino, K., McDonnell, K. and Mittal, V. (2007) Endothelial progenitor cells control the angiogenic switch during the development of lung metastasis. Science, in press
Cannabis reinforcement and dependence: role of the cannabinoid CB1 receptor.

Awareness of cannabis dependence as a clinically relevant issue has grown in recent years. Clinical and laboratory studies demonstrate that chronic marijuana smokers can experience withdrawal symptoms upon cessation of marijuana smoking and have difficulty abstaining from marijuana use. This paper will review data implicating the cannabinoid CB1 receptor in regulating the behavioral effects of Δ9-tetrahydrocannobinol (THC), the primary psychoactive component of cannabis, across a range of species. The behavioral effects that will be discussed include those that directly contribute to the maintenance of chronic marijuana smoking, such as reward, subjective effects, and the positive and negative reinforcing effects of marijuana, THC and synthetic cannabinoids. The role of the CB1 receptor in the development of marijuana dependence and expression of withdrawal will also be discussed. Lastly, treatment options that may alleviate withdrawal symptoms and promote marijuana abstinence will be considered.
Water Technology in the Ancient American Societies

Many ancient civilizations in the Americas developed water technologies during the same times that water technology was advancing in other parts of the world. This chapter will address water technologies of societies of the pre-Columbian empires in the southwestern United States, Mesoamerica, and the Inca in South America. These locations are shown in Fig. 9.1. In the southwestern U.S. we will discuss water technologies of the Hohokam and the Anasazi. In Mesoamerica we will discuss the water technologies of the Teotihuacan, the Chaco Anasazi, the Xochicalco, the Maya and the Aztec. Finally the Inca water systems of Machu Picchu, Tipon, Pisac, Tambo Machay and Puca Pucara are discussed. For further reading on the failure of some of these ancient civilizations, Mays (2007a, b) discusses the water sustainability of ancient civilizations in Mesoamerica and the American Southwest.
Influence of Pyridoxine Supplementation on Vitamin B-6 Levels in Milk of Rats Deficient in the Vitamin

Levels of vitamin B-6 in milk from pyridoxine deficient dams were used as an indicator of the ability of pyridoxine to protect off spring against the effects of the deficiency. Sprague Dawley rats were fed a basal diet containing 30.0 (control) or 1.2 (deficient) mg pyridoxineâ€¢ HC1/ kg diet from weaning throughout growth, gestation and until 5 days post- partnm. At this time, deficient dams were supplemented by a single intra- peritoneal injection of 600 /Â?g pyridoxine-HC1, or by adding 30 or 60 mg pyridoxine-HCl/kg to the diet. The vitamin B-6 content in milk from the group supplemented by injection exceeded the control level of 38.8 mg/100 ml milk 30 minutes after the injection, and reached a peak level of 110.7 /Â?g/100 ml at 4 hours with a subsequent decline to 27 Â?tg/100 ml at 20 hours. In rats supplemented orally with 30 or 60 mg pyridoxine â€¢ HCl/kg diet, the vitamin B-6 level in the milk reached the control value in 24 and 6 hours, respectively. At 120 hours, orally supplemented dams had significantly higher levels of vitamin B-6 in the milk than control animals. Vitamin sup plementation of dams by a single injection of pyridoxine â€¢ HC1 was sufficient to overcome the pyridoxine deficiency syndrome in the pups, but was not adequate for optimum growth. J. Nutr. 106: 509-514, 1976.
Nanoparticles for Fidgety Cell Movement and Enhanced Wound Healing

Complex spatiotemporal interaction of Rho GTPases with microtubules (MTs) and MT-associated proteins drives directed cellular migration. In this issue, Charafeddine et al. describe a role for a novel MT-severing enzyme, fidgetin-like 2 (FL2), in directional migration of keratinocytes and fibroblasts. FL2 normally localizes to the leading edge of the cell cortex where it shears MTs, thus dictating the size and distribution of focal adhesions by regulating cytoskeletal remodeling. Small interfering RNA (siRNA)–directed knockdown of FL2 increases cell migration and focal adhesion area in vitro through possible interaction with Rho GTPases. Efficient FL2 knockdown in murine wounds was achieved using nanoparticles as a siRNA delivery vehicle, and this resulted in enhanced wound closure in vivo. Effective siRNA nanoparticle targeting of MT-severing enzymes offers promise of controlled and targeted delivery that may maximize therapeutic success for patients with burn wounds and chronic wound disorders.
Constrained ICA and its application to Raman spectroscopy

We present a novel detection method using constrained independent component analysis (c-ICA). We derive a constrained version of the Infomax algorithm and show that a decision can be made on the existence of a certain component in a given mixture by defining a suitable measure of closeness. Simulation results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the method in Raman spectroscopy for detection of surface-deposited chemical agents.
Optical melting of 128 octamer DNA duplexes. Effects of base pair location and nearest neighbors on thermal stability.

The use of short oligonucleotide probes is finding increased application in DNA sequencing and genome characterization techniques, but a lack of knowledge of the hybridization properties of short duplexes hinders their use. Melting data were acquired on 128 DNA duplexes based on the length proposed in sequencing by hybridization procedures and formed from the general sequences 5′- XYZTGGAC-3′, 5′-GTCCA XYZ-3′, 5′-GC XYZGAC-3′, and 5′-GTC XYZGC-3′ where X, Y, and Z are either A, T, G, or C. These molecules were designed to elucidate the effects of location and nearest-neighbor stacking on the stability of base pairing in short DNA duplexes. The type of base pairs present had a major effect on stability, but was insufficient to predict stability without the inclusion of nearest-neighbor terms. Furthermore, the addition of information on position, or distance from the end, of the nearest-neighbor doublets led to statistically better fitting of the melting data. However, the positionally dependent stabilization differences are small compared with the contributions of base pairing and stacking.
Potential Impact of Biological Nitrogen Fixation: The Case of Corn

With the discovery of gene-splicing technique and advances in biotechnology, biological nitrogen fixation in corn could occur. This study evaluates the impact of BNF on U.S. nitrogen fertilizer demand and corn-planted acreage. An econometric model was constructed. Three substitutive levels of 25, 33 and 50 percent reduction of current application rates were examined. The results showed a decrease of 18, 25 and 36 percent of nitrogen fertilizer demand and about 1 percent in acreage planted as a result of lower production costs.
Hydrofluoroether electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries: Reduced gas decomposition and nonflammable

Abstract The optimum combination of high energy density at the desired power sets lithium-ion battery technology apart from the other well known secondary battery chemistries. However, this is besieged by thermal instability of the electrolyte. This “Achilles heel” still remains a significant safety issue and unless this propensity is improved the promise of widespread adoption of Li-ion batteries for Transportation application may not be realized. With this in mind we launched a systematic study to evaluate fluoro solvents that are known to be nonflammable, for thermal and electrochemical performances. We investigated hydro-fluoro-ethers (HFE) (1) 2-trifluoromethyl-3-methoxyperfluoropentane {TMMP} and (2) 2-trifluoro-2-fluoro-3-difluoropropoxy-3-difluoro-4-fluoro-5-trifluoropentane {TPTP} in Sandia-built cells. Thermal properties under near abuse conditions that exist in thermal runaway environment and the electrochemical characteristics for these electrolytes were measured. In the thermal ramp (TR) measurement, EC:DEC:TPTP-1 M LiBETI (or TFSI or LiPF 6 ) electrolytes exhibited no ignition/fire. Similar behavior was observed for the EC:DEC:TMMP-1 M LiBETI. Further, in ARC studies the HFE electrolytes generated less gas by 50% compared to the EC:EMC-1.2 M LiPF 6 {CAR-1} electrolyte. Although in all cases the HFEs generated less gas, the onset of gas generation appears to depend on the salt. For the LiBETI and TFSI containing HFEs the onset is pushed out by ∼80 °C and for the LiPF 6 the onset is comparable to that of the CAR-1. The solution ionic conductivity of these HFE electrolytes was lower (4–5 times) than that of the CAR-1 electrolyte however, the electrochemical performance was comparable. For example, full cells in 2032 type coin cells containing LiMN 0.33 Ni 0.33 Co 0.33 O 2 cathode and carbon anode showed around 5 mA h capacity and the computed specific capacity was ∼154 mA h for all the electrolytes. In half-cells against lithium the cathode and anode gave specific capacity on the order of 170 mA h and 340 mA h respectively. These electrolytes when tested in 18,650 cells containing the above cathode and anode also showed comparable capacity. Further, the voltage stability window was not compromised by the HFEs. ARC measurements on 18,650 full cells showed less gas generation for the HFE electrolytes compared to CAR-1 electrolyte.
Enzymes limiting butanol and acetone formation in continuous and batch cultures of Clostridium acetobutylicum

The formation of butanol in continuous cultures of Clostridium acetobutylicum is regulated at the genetic level via expression of butyraldehyde dehydrogenase since increased in vitro activities of this key enzyme are associated with increased in vivo butanol formation rates in both acidogenic and solventogenic fermentations. Addition of glucose, butyric acid and carbon monoxide results in induction of butyraldehyde dehydrogenase. The production of acetone in continuous fermentation is also controlled at the genetic level through expression of coenzyme A (CoA)-transferase; this enzyme is induced by glucose. Carbon monoxide inactivates acetoacetate decarboxylase. In controlled-pH batch fermentation solventogenesis does not correlate with in vitro activities of butyraldehyde dehydrogenase. Instead, initiation of alcohol formation is accompanied by increased activities of both reduced nicotine adenine dinucleotide (NADH)- and reduced nicotine adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-specific alcohol dehydrogenases. The production of acetone in batch fermentation is regulated at the genetic level through combined induction of both CoA-transferase and acetoacetate decarboxylase. These two enzymes are not detected in either batch or continuous culture at or above pH 6.0. This finding explains the inability of the cells to produce acetone at elevated culture pH.
Lysosomal and Free Acid Phosphatase in Salivary Glands of Chironomus tentans

In cells of salivary glands of last-instar larvae of Chironomus tentans, acid phosphatase activity is bound to (probable) lysosomes and a few other cell organelles. At the end of the pupal molt the salivary gland breaks down. While acid phosphatase in areas of nondegenerated cells is still restricted to the structures mentioned, in degenerated areas the enzyme is freely distributed in the cytoplasm.
Sex- and APOE Isoform-Dependent Effects of Radiation on Cognitive Function

Clinical irradiation of the brain induces hippocampus-dependent cognitive impairments in some but not all individuals, suggesting the involvement of genetic risk factors. Deficiency of apolipoprotein E (APOE), which is important for the metabolism and redistribution of lipoproteins and cholesterol, increases behavioral impairments after irradiation, supporting a protective role for APOE against radiation-induced cognitive injury. Compared to APOE3, APOE4 increases while APOE2 decreases the risk of developing age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease, particularly in women. To determine the potential effects of APOE isoform and sex on radiation-induced cognitive impairments, we irradiated 2-month-old male and female APOE2, APOE3 and APOE4 mice and assessed their cognitive performance 3 months later. When hippocampus-dependent spatial learning and memory were assessed in the water maze, sham-irradiated female APOE2, APOE3 and APOE4 and irradiated female APOE2 mice showed spatial memory retention, but irradiated female APOE3 and APOE4 mice did not. Compared to sham-irradiated female APOE4 mice, irradiated female APOE4 mice also required more trials to reach criterion in the hippocampus-dependent passive avoidance test. Radiation had no effects on water maze or passive avoidance learning and memory of male APOE2, APOE3 or APOE4 mice, indicating that the effects of radiation on cognitive performance are dependent on sex- and APOE isoform.
MO‐D‐WAB‐01: How OMICs Is Going to Impact Research Topics for Medical Physicists

The ongoing revolution in genomics provides many new research opportunities for physicists. Two crucial research areas to advance clinical oncology include the intersections between imaging and genomics, as well as the use of genomic analyses to improve patient management in radiation oncology. Confusingly, the term ‘radiogenomics’ is used for both applications. In the field of radiology, ‘radiogenomics’ refers to the underlying genomic correlates of image features, for example the correlation of tumor biopsies mRNA microarray signatures with image features. In radiation oncology and radiobiology, the term ‘radiogenomics’ refers to the impact of a patient's genotype on the relative radiosensitivity or radioresistance of normal tissues. Tumor biopsy mRNA signatures, for radiosensitivity, hypoxia, or proliferation, have been studied to predict response and to potentially individualize treatments. Blood proteomics has been applied to normal tissue responses such as radiation pneumonitis. Imaging radiogenomics can further be thought of as ‘radiomics’ + genomics, where radiomics is the extraction of quantitative image features that can be incorporated into disease classification schemes or predictive models. We will also touch on the general application of systems modeling that is so important to advancement in modern biology and response modeling. This session will emphasis new opportunities, as well as challenges and obstacles to progress. ‘Omic’ sciences will greatly impact the study and clinical use of tumor control probability and normal tissue complication probability models; the biological interpretation of image features; and the clinical implications of imaging and cancer screening.
TRANSFORMING THE ENDOCRINE CONSULT: ASYNCHRONOUS PROVIDER CONSULTATIONS

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the impact of virtual consultations on the spectrum and volume of endocrine consults, access to endocrine care, and downstream healthcare utilization. Methods: A prog...
A search for a radiative transition in an atom—molecule system

Abstract We report a search for a single photon radiative transition in an atom—molecule system in which the atom changes its electronic state while the molecule changes only its vibration and/or rotation state. It has been proposed that this process would be a useful spectroscopic tool. We have developed guidelines for choosing a system in which best to observe such transitions. We report negative results on two relatively optimal systems.
Part three: Assessing pressure sore risk

Linda Nazarko highlights the importance of assessment scales and good observation in reducing the risk of the development of wounds.
Highly parallel associative search and its application to cellular database machine design

This paper describes a fast associative search algorithm based on parallel searching by pattern-splitting. The text is read as a sequence of substrings and searching is parallel within each substring. Substring length can be arbitrarily chosen and this division is independent of the logical partitioning of the data, such as tuple and domain. This provides a flexible storage structure across tracks of the secondary storage. The algorithm developed is used in the design of a hardware associative search. It works directly on the secondary storage and is a basis for database machine design. The design is cellular in structure and can be implemented by using LSI technology.
Individualizing the exercise prescription for persons with fibromyalgia.

‘‘Exercise is good for you; you must exercise, and just do it’’ are common admonitions to fibromyalgia (FM) patients by health professionals. ‘‘I can’t exercise; I hurt too much to exercise; and, I don’t have enough energy to exercise’’ are equally common responses from patients with FM. Such exchanges can lead to frustration for both patient and provider. The factor that neither participant in the dialogue is addressing is that exercise carries both risks and benefits for persons with FM. Although for decades exercise has been acknowledged to be a key component of the treatment of FM, the majority of FM patients remain aerobically unfit, with poor muscle strength and limited flexibility [1–3]. Patients become deconditioned because they fear the pain induced by inappropriate exercise. Unfit muscle is theoretically more prone to muscle microtrauma, which causes localized pain and may trigger widespread pain through disordered central processing. The purpose of this chapter is to provide practicing health care providers with guidelines for prescribing exercise to FM patients that take into account the risk/benefit ratio. A sample exercise prescription is included.
Cytokine and chemokine profiles in autologous graft-versus-host disease (GVHD): interleukin 10 and interferon γ may be critical mediators for the development of autologous GVHD

Administration of the immunosuppressive drug cyclosporine A (CsA) following autologous stem cell transplantation paradoxically elicits a systemic autoimmune syndrome resembling graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). This syndrome, termed autologous GVHD, is associated with autoreactive CD8(+) T cells that recognize major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II determinants in association with a peptide from the invariant chain. To investigate the potential role of cytokines and chemokines in autologous GVHD, interleukin 2 (IL-2), IL-4, IL-10, interferon gamma (IFN-gamma), and macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha (MIP-1alpha) gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was determined in 36 patients treated with CsA following transplantation and correlated with the induction of cytolytic activity against autologous phytohemagglutinin-stimulated lymphocytes (PHA-blasts) and the breast cancer cell line (T47D). The determination of gene expression by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) revealed that IL-10 mRNA levels by PBMCs in patients with autologous GVHD were 29-fold higher than in healthy individuals. IFN-gamma (4-fold), IL-2 (3-fold), and MIP-1alpha (44-fold) mRNA levels were also increased in GVHD-induced patients compared with healthy individuals. The ability of PBMCs to lyse autologous PHA-blasts and T47D tumor cells exhibited an identical temporal relationship with expression of IL-10 and IFN-gamma during autologous GVHD. Moreover, the susceptibility to autologous GVHD as assessed in 75 patients was significantly associated with the IL-10(-1082) G/G polymorphic alleles, allelic variants in the promoter region that govern IL-10 production. These findings indicate that IL-10 may play an unexpected but critical role in autologous GVHD and could be utilized to enhance a graft-versus-tumor effect after transplantation. Interestingly, polymorphisms in the IL-10 promoter region may also explain differences in the susceptibility of patients to autologous GVHD induction.
Palladium (II/IV) catalyzed cyclopropanation reactions : scope and mechanism

This report describes detailed studies of the scope and mechanism of a new Pd-catalyzed oxidation reaction for the stereospecific conversion of enynes into cyclopropyl ketones. Unlike related Pd(II/0), Au, and Pt-catalyzed cyclopropane-forming reactions, these transformations proceed with net inversion of geometry with respect to the starting alkene. This result, along with other mechanistic data, is consistent with a Pd(II/IV) mechanism in which the key cyclopropane-forming step involves nucleophilic attack of a tethered olefin onto the Pd(IV)-C bond.
Environmental Testing Using a Compliant Load-Frame

A simple technique is presented for characterizing crack growth in composite materials subjected to a hostile environment. The method, based on linear-elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM), retains the simplicity of constant-strain testing while greatly increasing the observed crack growth. Load is applied using a rigid frame in series with an extension spring. The enhancement of crack propagation leads to a more accurate assessment of long-term environmental cracking susceptibility. Crack growth rates were measured in fiberglass/epoxy double-cantilever beam (DCB) specimens to verify the theory for stress-corrosion-cracking (SCC). No SCC threshold was observed for the fiberglass/epoxy in distilled water. Applicability to corrosion-fatigue (CF) testing is discussed. 13 refs.
Finding biconnected components in O( n ) time for a class of graphs

Abstract A rooted tree is called a single-branch tree if there is exactly one nonleaf vertex on each level except the bottom level of the tree. We present an O(n) time algorithm for finding biconnected components in a graph G, assuming that a single-branch breadth-first search (SBS) tree of any connected induced subgraph of G can be found in O(n) time. We show that such SBS trees can be found for the interval graphs and the permutation graphs in O(n) time. Hence, the biconnected components in these graphs can be obtained in O(n) time, while finding biconnected components in a general graph of n vertices and m edges takes O(n + n) time.
Group IVB refractory metal crystals as lattice-matched substrates for growth of the group III nitrides by plasma-source molecular beam epitaxy

Abstract Several possible methods for the synthesis of usefully large and perfect Hf crystals have been identified. Two of these methods, the iodide process and strain annealing, have been carried to the demonstration stage and yielded centimeter-sized substrates suitable for a GaN molecular beam epitaxial growth process. X-ray rocking curve full-widths of the Hf [0 0 0 2] peak are as low as 98 arcsec. Methods for preparing the substrate material and cleaning it in situ were developed, including sputtering of the native oxide using an electron-cyclotron-resonance Ar ion beam and an electrostatically biased substrate stage. The nucleation of GaN on Hf appears to require a low-temperature (
Is high harmonic generation a single-active-electron process?

We argue that the bound electrons, set to motion by the recolliding electron, emit much of the radiation during high harmonic generation. This may explain the significantly higher conversion efficiencies found with heavier noble gases.
Shape memory effect and related phenomena in a microalloyed FeMnSi alloy

An Fe-32Mn-6Si-0.05Nb-0.04C alloy aged at different temperatures was employed to study the [var epsilon] (hcp) martensite transformation, the mechanism of the shape memory effect (SME) associated with the [var epsilon] martensite transformation, the effect of precipitation strengthening, and the effect of thermomechanical treatment and deformation temperature on the SME. The results of transformation temperature studies show that the M[sub s] temperature for various heat-treated specimens is in the range of 75--100 C, the A[sub s] temperature is 112--125 C, and the Neel temperature of this material, T[sub N], is 8 C. The SME decreases with increasing plastic deformation and increases with decreasing deformation temperature and increasing thermomechanical training. The critical strength of aged specimens is higher than that of quenched ones due to the precipitation strengthening of NbC, which improves the SME for plastic deformation amounts less than 2% at room temperature. The microstructure observation by transmission electron microscopy shows that stacking faults play an important role in the formation of the [var epsilon] martensite. Surface relief examination at different temperatures and the electrical resistance versus temperature relationship reveal that the [epsilon] martensite transformation takes place continuously at temperatures below the T[sub N] temperature. An SME mechanism for Fe-Mn-Si basedmore » alloys is proposed.« less
Y chromosome, urinary chemosignals, and an agonistic behavior (offense) of mice

MONAHAN, E. J. AND S. C. MAXSON. Y chromosome, urinary chemosignals, and an agonistic behavior (offense) of mice. Physiol Behav 64(2) 123–132, 1998. In mice, offense is one type of agonistic behavior associated with attacks. Offense of male mice was measured in a panel of testers design. The mice were DBA1 (D1) and DBA1.C57BL10-Y (D1.B10-Y). These are congenic for the male-specific, nonrecombining part of the Y chromosome. For the behavioral experiments, urine from D1 or D1.B10-Y mice was daubed on gonadectomized opponents. The opponents were of two genotypes, D1 or D1.B10-Y. The experimental subjects were of the same two genotypes. There were main effects for strain of experimental subject and strain of urine donor as well as interactions for strain of experimental subject × strain of gonadectomized opponent, strain of gonadectomized opponent × strain of urine donor, and strain of experimental subject × strain of gonadectomized opponent × strain of urine donor. These findings are consistent with a model in which this part of the Y chromosome affects testosterone-dependent pheromones and non-testosterone-dependent odortypes acting as motivating stimuli, the olfactory perception of motivating stimuli for offense, and the motivational mechanism for offense.
The "prismless" outer layer of deciduous and permanent enamel.

Abstract A study of the outer layer of enamel was made on longitudinal, undecalcified sections prepared from twenty-eight erupted deciduous teeth, eighty-eight erupted and forty unerupted permanent teeth which were examined by means of polarized light and phase contrast microscopy and microradiography. A layer of apparently “prismless” enamel was found on all the deciduous teeth and on 70 per cent of the permanent teeth. This layer, which averaged approximately 30μ in thickness, frequently showed surface parallel laminations and the crystallites within the layer were oriented with their “c” or optic axis almost perpendicular to the enamel surface. For the twenty-eight deciduous teeth, the crystallite orientation of the “prismless” layer differed from that of the underlying enamel by 26.9 ° ± 7.6 °.
Closed Loop Impingement Cooling System for High Power Density Electronic Devices

Liquid jet and droplet impingement cooling of the 1cm2 base plate area of a 1mm2 Silicon carbide diode is reported. DI water flowing from a single or two-orifice injection port of diameter 118–130μm at a rate of 4.5–15ml/min, impinges on the diode base plate and undergoes phase change. For practical implementation of liquid impingement cooled electronic devices, a closed loop system with a recovery scheme for the vapor and the excess liquid is developed. Boiling of the thin liquid film on the base plate surface is observed at a superheat of 10°C, measured at a location 3.2mm away from the diode footprint area on the base plate, and a maximum phase change heat transfer effectiveness of 39%. The effects of liquid flow rate, and injection pattern (single or two-orifice) on the heat transfer and the diode current-voltage characteristics are investigated.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Role of Prefrontal Cortex Glucocorticoid Receptors in Stress and Emotion

Background Stress-related disorders (e.g., depression) are associated with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis dysregulation and prefrontal cortex (PFC) dysfunction, suggesting a functional link between aberrant prefrontal corticosteroid signaling and mood regulation. Methods We used a virally mediated knockdown strategy (short hairpin RNA targeting the glucocorticoid receptor [GR]) to attenuate PFC GR signaling in the rat PFC. Adult male rats received bilateral microinjections of vector control or short hairpin RNA targeting the GR into the prelimbic ( n = 44) or infralimbic ( n = 52) cortices. Half of the animals from each injection group underwent chronic variable stress, and all were subjected to novel restraint. The first 2 days of chronic variable stress were used to assess depression- and anxiety-like behavior in the forced swim test and open field. Results The GR knockdown confined to the infralimbic PFC caused acute stress hyper-responsiveness, sensitization of stress responses after chronic variable stress, and induced depression-like behavior (increased immobility in the forced swim test). Knockdown of GR in the neighboring prelimbic PFC increased hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis responses to acute stress and caused hyperlocomotion in the open field, but did not affect stress sensitization or helplessness behavior. Conclusions The data indicate a marked functional heterogeneity of glucocorticoid action in the PFC and highlight a prominent role for the infralimbic GR in appropriate stress adaptation, emotional control, and mood regulation.
Severe Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn Associated with Anti-Jsb

The red blood cells of the group A infant of a group O central African Negro woman of the Zezuru tribe with anti-Lea and anti-Jsb in her serum were found to be strongly agglutinated by a commercial antiglobulin reagent six days after birth. The high concentration of bilirubin in the infant's serum gradually decreased but he became profoundly anemic and, in the absence of a suitable donor, was successfully transfused with blood from his mother. Subsequent tests using the maternal anti-Jsb diluted one in ten to avoid agglutination by the anti-Lea showed that the frequency of the Js (b–) pheno-type in group O Zezuru is approximately one per cent.
DIRECT MEASUREMENT OF HEME OXYGENASE ACTIVITY BY GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY

Traditionally, heme oxygenase (HO) activity in tissue preparations is determined spectrophoto-metrically by measuring the rate of bilirubin production, a two-enzyme reaction sequence. The adequacy of this method depends upon the presence of excess biliverdin reductase and the transparency of samples. In order to study the effects of inhibitors (e.g. Sn-heme, 25 uM), and inducers (e.g. CoCl2, 250 umoles/kg) of HO, the first enzyme in the sequence, independent of possible, effects on other parts of this catabolic pathway or its end product (bilirubin), measurement of HO activity directly by gas chromatography (GC) through quantitation of carbon monoxide (CO) generated during catabolism of heme to biliverdin is desirable. HO activity [pmoles CO/mg protein/min, x±SD(n)] was determined in 13,000xg supernatant of adult rat tissues. This method is sensitive, rapid and simple, and permits HO activity measurements in tissue preparations as well as intact cells. Tissue is homogenized with KPO4, buffer, and typically 10 ul of the 13,000xg supernatant is used. The reaction (15 min) is performed in septum-sealed, CO-free reactors at 37°C in the presence of methemalbumin (0.8 mM) with and without NADPH (experimental, 1.6 mM and blank). The reaction is terminated by freezing to −80°C, and the head space gas is analyzed by GC.
Quinidine: An update on therapeutics, pharmacokinetics and serum concentration monitoring

After 70 years of regular use, quinidine remains one of the most useful drugs in the management of both supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias. Quinidine sulfate, from conventional dosage forms, is absorbed rapidly and reaches peak levels in 1 hour. Sustained-release quinidine sulfate and gluconate are absorbed more slowly and, thus, may provide a more satisfactory response with less fluctuation in the peak and trough at quinidine concentrations. The half-life and absorption characteristics of sustained-release quinidine suggest that an 8- to 12-hour dosage regimen will produce smooth, sustained quinidine levels. Whereas quinidine and digitalis have been used concomitantly for years, dramatic elevations in blood digoxin levels have been observed. When quinidine is added to the regimen of a patient taking digitalis, these increased digoxin levels may be responsible for some of the adverse effects previously attributed to quinidine administration and can be reduced by adjustment of the digoxin dosage. Drug monitoring of serum quinidine concentrations as well as peak levels is essential to assess patient compliance and to determine that therapeutic levels are maintained. This is especially important because of the drug's relatively narrow therapeutic index and the changes in clearance that can result from drug interactions and renal and hepatic disturbances. A personal computer program is available to carry out pharmacokinetic calculations and assist in determining appropriate doses for individual patients.
Satellite-derived green vegetation fraction for the use in numerical weather prediction models

A simple procedure to derive areal fraction of green vegetation, fg, from normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data was used to produce global monthly fg (0.15°)2-resolution maps, which are now being incorporated in the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) regional and global models. Assuming that the vegetated part of the pixel is covered by dense vegetation (i.e., its leaf area index is high), we calculate ƒg = (NDVI-NVDI0)(NDVI∞-NDVI0), where NDVI0 and NDVI∞ are specified as the lower and upper 5% of the global NDVI distribution for the whole year and in this study are assumed independent of vegetation/soil type. Preliminary tests indicate that the incorporation of the NDVI-derived green vegetation fraction, instead of the previously prescribed values, leads to improvement in modeling surface fluxes.
Nonelastic strains in solids—an inverse characterization from measured boundary data

Abstract Nonelastic strains include the strains caused by thermal expansion, phase transformation, plastic deformation and misfit interface, etc. The nonelastic strains, if given, can be replaced by fictitious body forces and surface tractions. The problem is then treated as an elasticity problem. Such a problem is called a forward problem. There is a body of well-developed knowledge dealing with the forward problems. In this paper, we consider the so-called inverse problems. Overspecified boundary values (both tractions and displacements) are used to calculate the nonelastic strains. Although these surface data are not sufficient to determine the exact distribution of the nonelastic strains, some important characteristic quantities associated with the nonelastic strains are obtained. These quantities include lower bounds of the magnitude of the nonelastic strains (in terms of L 2 norm) and elastic energy, etc. The method is applied to a dislocation problem where we compute the Burger's vector from measured residual surface displacements. Another application is found in determining the material properties of a solid with microscopic defects.
Freezing of EPR relaxation rates in spin glasses

Abstract The relaxation rate governing exchange narrowing in EPR spectra is shown to vanish as (T f - T) for a variety of spin glasses. This contrasts sharply with interpretations of these results which require a wide range of freezing temperatures.
Autofocusing Techniques for GPR Data from RC Bridge Decks

According to the Federal Highway Administration, more than a quarter of the bridge decks in the United States are obsolete or deficient and most of them are made of reinforced concrete (RC). Precise decisions for bridge maintenance are in high demand due to the limited budget. Among various nondestructive evaluation techniques, ground penetrating radar (GPR) has gained its popularity for reasons such as high speed and fine resolution. Migration is an important intermediate process for GPR data analysis and its accuracy depends on the velocity or dielectric permittivity estimation of the subsurface. Velocity analysis for commonly adopted bistatic GPR systems is based on an iterative trial-and-error process, which involves a human decision process to obtain the properly migrated data. Besides, for heavily polluted data, it can be hardly possible to perform the visual inspection. Autofocusing techniques are rarely discussed in the field of GPR. In this paper, potential autofocusing metrics are nominated and evaluated by both simulation and experimental data. The effects of noise, aperture width, and crossing rebar signals on the metric performance are investigated and the results demonstrate that the higher-order metrics are the most robust and sensitive autofocusing metrics for the migration of GPR data from RC bridge decks.
Vortex jump behavior in coupled nanomagnetic heterostructures

The spin configuration and magnetic behavior in patterned nanostructures can be controlled by manipulating the interplay between the competing energy terms. This in turn requires fundamental knowledge of the magnetic interactions at the local nanometer scale. Here, we report on the spin structure and magnetization behavior of patterned discs containing exchange coupled ferromagnetic layers with additional exchange bias to an antiferromagnetic layer. The magnetization reversal was explored by direct local visualization of the domain behavior using in-situ Lorentz transmission electron microscopy, from which quantitative magnetic induction maps were reconstructed. The roles of the main competing energy terms were elucidated and the reversal mechanism was identified as a coupled phenomenon of incoherent rotation in the exchange-biased layer and localized vortex nucleation and discontinuous propagation in the free layer, including an anomalous jump in the trajectory. The observations were supported by micromagnetic simulations and modeled phase shift simulations. The work presented here provides fundamental insights into opportunities for macroscopic control of the energy landscape of magnetic heterostructures for functional applications.