cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interferon-γ release assays: new diagnostic tests for Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, and their use in children

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The testing and treatment of children at risk for Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection represents an important public health priority in the United States. Until recently, diagnosis has relied upon the tuberculin skin test (TST). New interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) offer improvements over TST, but these tests have not been studied in children until recently. RECENT FINDINGS: Evidence regarding IGRA performance in children is accumulating rapidly. Overall, the findings demonstrate performance of IGRAs equivalent or superior to that of the TST. However, IGRAs have biological limitations similar to TST and some technical problems of their own, and critical gaps in our knowledge remain. SUMMARY: Current evidence supports usage of IGRAs in children aged 5 years or older. IGRAs are preferred over TST when specificity is paramount or wherein patients might fail to return for TST reading. Evidence for use in children aged less than 5 years is insufficient at this time: the sensitivity is poorly defined, and TST is preferred for testing these children. Future IGRA research should focus on children aged less than 5 years for informing expanded usage in this vulnerable population.
122 EFFECTS OF EMBRYO SEX AND GLUCOSE OR FRUCTOSE IN CULTURE MEDIA ON BOVINE EMBRYO DEVELOPMENT

The objective of the present study was to determine if glucose, fructose, or both, in culture medium affects female embryos differently from male embryos. Embryos of predetermined sex were produced by use of sexed semen. Blastocysts were produced in vitro in a factorial design from 1851 oocytes fertilized with 3 sperm types [non-sexed control, X-bearing, and Y-bearing (~95% accuracy)]. Semen from 3 bulls (A, B, and C) was used, with 2 replicates for each bull. Zygotes were cultured with 4 energy substrates (no-hexose control, glucose, fructose, and glucose + fructose). Chemically defined medium (CDM) plus 0.5% fatty acid-free BSA (De La Torre-Sanchez et al. 2006 Mol. Reprod. Dev. 18, 585–596) was the culture medium to which the energy substrates were added. For the first 2.5 d of culture, the medium contained 0.5 mm hexose, and for the last 4.5 d, it contained 2.0 mm hexose. Data were analyzed by ANOVA. There was no effect of hexose treatments on cleavage rates (P > 0.1; Table 1). However, blastocyst rates per oocyte were higher for the fructose treatment than for the control, glucose, or glucose + fructose (P 0.1). There was no bull effect on rates of cleavage or blastocysts per oocyte (P > 0.1). In conclusion, fructose improved embryonic development of embryos of both sexes; glucose retarded development of, and was toxic to, female embryos. Sexed sperm resulted in similar cleavage and blastocyst production as non-sexed sperm, and female embryos had retarded embryonic development relative to male embryos. Table 1. Main effect least-squares means for development of bovine embryos (±SE)
Dominating the maximum likelihood estimator in predicting reliability

Abstract The reliability of a series system with n independent components are estimated. The failure distributions of these components are assumed to be Weibull with parameters α i 's and β i 's. It is assumed that the shape parameters β i 's are known. This reduces the reliability of the system to be a function of α = ( α 1 , ..., α n ), ξ(α), say. The MLE of ξ(α) is derived and an estimator which dominates the MLE in terms of risk, under squared error loss, is also derived. The predicted reliability using these two estimators are computed and compared.
Proton NMR line shapes in ZrHx

The second moments (${M}_{2D}$) were obtained from magic-echo measurements of the proton line shapes for high-purity polycrystalline $\mathrm{Zr}{\mathrm{H}}_{x}$. Contrary to previous reports of anomalously large ${M}_{2D}$ values in $\mathrm{Zr}{\mathrm{H}}_{x}$, the present results are in excellent agreement with the calculated dipolar moments which assume random occupancy of protons on only tetrahedral interstitial sites.
Atomic Absorption and Atomic Emission Spectrometry for the Determination of the Trace Element Content of Selected Fruits Consumed in the United States

Abstract Flame atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) and flame atomic emission spectrometry (AES) were used to determine calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, sodium, and zinc in 32 fruits. Samples were wet ashed using nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide and calibration was accomplished using calibration against aqueous standards. Data obtained are reported in mg/100 g and are compared with literature values. Data for less commonly consumed fruits such as tangerines, nectarines, kiwi, star fruit (carambola), mangos, papayas, and plantains are also presented. Fruits are identified which may be considered good sources of the trace elements studied based on the FDA definition that a serving contains 10% of the Daily Value. When possible, differences in elemental content for multiple varieties is studied.
Extrudate Cell Structure‐Texture Relationships

Corn-based extrudates that ranged widely in mean cell size and density were produced by varying extrusion moisture and RPM and also by the addition of rice flour, citric acid, tricalcium phosphate, sodium bicarbonate, and gluten. Cell sizes were measured using an Olympus image analysis system and mechanical properties, including breaking stress and plateau stress values achieved during compression, were measured using an Instron. Breaking and plateau stresses were negatively dependent on mean cell size and positively dependent on density in pure corn samples but the form of the relationship was altered by the presence of additives in the extrudates.
Effects of vacuum deposition conditions on ellipsometric parameters, optical constants, and reflectance of ultrapure aluminum films

This paper presents a method of controlling the ellipsometric parameters (Ψ,Δ), pseudo-optical constants (n,k), and reflectance (R) of freshly deposited aluminum films. By use of this method, values ofΔ,n, andR can be predicted from measurements of the terminal pressure/terminal deposition rate (terminal p/r ratio) prevailing during deposition of the surface region. The pseudo-optical constants and reflectances were calculated using the Ψ,Δ values. The highest-purity aluminum (99.9999%) was used and ellipsometric measurements were made immediately after removal of the films from the vacuum system. A review of existing literature on ellipsometric parameters, optical constants, and reflectance of aluminum films in the ultraviolet, visible, and infrared regions of the spectrum supports the theory that volume-oxide contamination is a primary factor affecting optical properties.
The role of Pleistocene forest refugia in the evolution and biogeography of tropical biotas.

Refuge theory postulates that repeated oscillation of dry and moist climatic periods during the Pleistocene caused an alternating fragmentation and coalescence of areas of lowland tropical rainforest vegetation, leading to genetic differentiation and speciation in isolated populations of rainforest organisms and hence accounting for much of the high diversity now apparent in these habitats. The theory, which became widely accepted during the 1970s, is still based largely on inferences from modern species distribution patterns and on selected palaeoclimatic and geomorphic data. However, much of this evidence has multiple interpretations; indeed, modern population genetic theory argues against many of the tenets of refuge theory. Moreover, there is no palynological evidence against which refuge theory might be tested. Although large-scale dynamic processes have undoubtedly played many parts in promoting diversity in tropical rainforest, refuge theory must be seriously questioned on many counts.
Analysis of flux-split algorithms for Euler's equations with real gases

An analysis of flux-splitting procedures for the solution of Euler's equations with real gas effects is presented. An alternative real-gas flux-splitting is derived which can easily be implemented into existing codes. This approach, which takes the form of an 'equivalent' gamma representation is not an ad hoc model, but is based on theoretical considerations. Details of this method with the Steger-Warming and Van Leer flux vector splittings and the Roe flux-difference splitting are given. Applications of the method to several high Mach number, high temperature flows are presented for one and two space dimensions.
Study Of Brake Squeal Problem By Pulsed Holographic Interferometry

Holographic pulsed interferometry was applied in this investigation to studies of an automotive brake squeal problem. Pulsed holograms made on a brake disc assembly which squealed in a simulated service test in a laboratory loading fixture gave a clear display of the vibrating characteristics of the brake assembly. A subsequent investigation on free vibrating brake rotors excited by piezo-electric actuators simulated the service vibration patterns and provided means to evaluate natural disc vibrational modes. This capability in turn would lead to the evaluation of the vibration amplitude damping characteristics of various brake disc designs and materials that could be used in reducing brake squeal. Due to the limited scope of the investigation the development of a low damped brake disc was not carried out.
The Development of Language Processing Strategies: A Cross-Linguistic Study Between Japanese and English

Ever since the notion of explanatory adequacy was promoted by Chomsky in his 1965 Aspects, linguists and psycholinguists have been in pursuit of a psychologically valid theory of grammar. To be explanatorily adequate, a theory of grammar can not only describe the general characteristics of a language but can also account for the underlying psychological processes of acquiring and processing that language. To be considered psychologically valid, a grammar must be learnable by ordinary children (the problem of acquisition) and must generate sentences that are parsable by ordinary people (the problem of processing). Ultimately, the fields of language acquisition and processing are concerned with the same goal: to build a theory that accounts for grammar as it is acquired by children; accessed in comprehension and production of speech; and represented within the human mind. Unfortunately, these two fields developed independently and have rarely been well-informed about each other's concerns. Both have experienced past difficulties as a result. Recently, new models have been developed with full consideration to cross-linguistic diversity. Gone are many of the basic assumptions of conventional models, and in their place a variety of innovative and more flexible assumptions have emerged. However, in their attempt to address cross-linguistic issues, these processing models have yet to fully address the developmental challenge: How can a child without a stable grammar process language and still manage to acquire new grammar? This book attempts to develop a model of language processing that addresses both cross-linguistic and developmental challenges. It proposes to link the setting of a basic configurational parameter during language acquisition to the different organization of processing strategies in left- and right-branching languages. Based primarily on Mazuka's doctoral dissertation, this volume incorporates various responses to the original proposal as well as the author's responses to the comments.
Policy Failure and Political Survival: The Contribution of Political Institutions

The authors advance a theory of the effects of political institutions on state policy. The theory explains how political institutions affect the ability of leaders to maintain themselves in office, why some political systems are more prone to policy failure than others, and why autocrats create mass political systems. The key characteristics of institutions in this theory are the sizes of a polity's selectorate and winning coalition. The authors derive hypotheses from the theory and test those hypotheses using a data set covering more than 2,700 leaders from all states in the period from 1816 to 1990. The statistical tests demonstrate that (1) large winning coalitions are associated with enhanced economic growth, (2) tenure is shortened by a large winning coalition but lengthened by a large selectorate, and (3) in the face of policy failure, leaders with a large selectorate are more likely to survive than those in systems with a large winning coalition. The authors conclude by discussing the implications ...
Pharmacogenetics of Heart Failure: Evidence, Opportunities, and Challenges for Cardiovascular Pharmacogenomics

Heart failure is a significant medical problem affecting more than five million people in the USA alone. Although clinical trials of pharmacological agents have demonstrated significant reductions in the relative risk of mortality across populations, absolute mortality remains high. In addition, individual variation in response is great. Some of this variation may be explained by genetic polymorphism. In this paper, we review the key studies to date in heart failure pharmacogenetics, setting this against a background of recent progress in the genetics of warfarin metabolism. Several polymorphisms that have supporting molecular and clinical data in the heart failure literature are reviewed, among them the beta1-adrenergic receptor variant Arg389Gly and the angiotensin converting enzyme gene insertion/deletion polymorphism. These variants and others are responsible for a fraction of the total variation seen in the treatment response to heart failure. With the dawn of the genomic age, further pharmacogenetic and new pharmacogenomic studies will advance our ability to tailor the treatment of heart failure.
High-spectral-resolution stimulated Rayleigh–Brillouin scattering at 1 μm

We have demonstrated stimulated Rayleigh–Brillouin scattering at a wavelength of 1.064 μm, using an injection-seeded Nd:YAG laser as a pump laser and a tunable diode laser as a probe laser. Spectra with a good signal-to-noise ratio are obtained despite the low probe-beam power and small gain coefficient in the infrared. Stimulated Rayleigh scattering is readily observable in organic and many other liquids because of absorption by the OH and CH overtone or combination bands. The absorption also causes an asymmetry in the stimulated Brillouin peak. A Rayleigh linewidth of 8 MHz is measured with this approach.
Growth theory tries once again

Abstract The general point I am making is that professional economic research at the frontier of the craft must these days employ a diverse toolbox of economic methodology. And the papers at this symposium on ‘Recent Developments in Growth Theory,’ quite free of ostentation and attempts to snow any reader, do reflect this fact of life.
Pulsed laser deposition (PLD) of ferroelectric thin films in conjunction with superconducting oxides

The possibility of combining ferroelectrics and superconductors has been of interest for use in memory storage devices. Additionally, superconductors offer crystal structures compatible to the epitaxial growth of the ferroelectric, Ba/sub 0.6/Sr/sub 0.4/TiO/sub 3/ (BSTO), which is cubic at this stoichiometry. BSTO has a lattice constant of 3.94 /spl Aring/ as compared to the superconducting Pr/sub 2-x/Ce/sub x/CuO/sub 4/ tetragonal single crystal which also has a lattice constant of a=3.94 /spl Aring/. In this study, ferroelectric thin films of BSTO were deposited on single crystals of Pr/sub 2/CuO/sub 4/ and Pr/sub 2-x/Ce/sub x/CuO/sub 4/. The optical constants of the substrates, single crystals of Pr/sub 2/CuO/sub 4/ and Pr/sub 2-x/Ce/sub x/CuO/sub 4/, were determined using Variable Angle Spectroscopic Ellipsometry (VASE) and the composition and crystal structure were examined using Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry (RBS) with ion beam channeling. The substrate/film interfaces and the compositional variation in the films were also studied with RBS and with SEM/EDS. Glancing angle X-ray diffraction was used to verify the epitaxial nature of the films. The effect of the deposition parameters (laser repetition rate, oxygen backfill pressure, and deposition geometry) on the quality of the films was experimented with and the optimized parameters were used.
Witnessing domestic abuse in childhood as an independent risk factor for depressive symptoms in young adulthood

Objective This study addresses the relationship between retrospective reports of witnessing domestic abuse in childhood and levels of depressive symptoms in young adulthood. We examine whether the association between having witnessed violence in childhood and depression is independent of having been the direct target of sexual and/or physical abuse, as well as other characteristics and experiences linked with family violence.
Severe Measles Pneumonitis in Adults: Evaluation of Clinical Characteristics and Therapy with Intravenous Ribavirin

Between February and April 1991, six adults were admitted to the New York Hospital because of measles pneumonitis. The diagnosis was confirmed by serology and/or viral culture. Uncommon clinical features among patients with this diagnosis included thrombocytopenia, hepatitis, myositis, and hypocalcemia. All patients were markedly hypoxic (initial alveolar--arterial oxygen gradients while the patients were breathing room air, 40-61 mm Hg); four required support with mechanical ventilation. All patients received therapy with intravenous ribavirin (20-35 mg/[kg.d]) for 1 week. The respiratory status of five patients (one of whom was positive for human immunodeficiency virus [HIV]) who were treated early (days 2-5 of illness) promptly improved; all abnormal parameters eventually returned to baseline. Treatment of the sixth patient, who was presumed to be HIV-infected, was initiated on hospital day 22; this patient died of progressive oxygenation failure on day 38. We conclude that life-threatening measles pneumonitis in adults may be more common that previously appreciated, regardless of the patient's immune status. Therapy with intravenous ribavirin was well tolerated by our patients and was associated with reversal of respiratory compromise.
Isosteric heat of adsorption and the vacancy solution model

Donnees theoriques et cas de l'adsorption d'hydrocarbures et de CO 2 sur de la Nuxit-Al, ainsi que de l'adsorption d'O 2 , N 2 et CO sur une zeolite 10X
Observations on the effect of temperature rise at fracture in two titanium alloys

Abstract Two titanium alloys, the α-β alloy Ti-8Mn and the metastable β alloy Ti-10V-2Fe3Al (where the compositions are given in approximate weight percent), were strained to fracture at strain rates of up to 28 s−1 at room temperature. Investigation of their fracture surfaces by scanning electron microscopy revealed droplet-like features at the rim of dimples and raised features in the regions between and inside dimples. These were interpreted as molten remnants of microligaments. A calculation of the affected volume, taken from stereo-photogrammetry data, confirmed this view. It was clear from experimental evidence that the melting point was exceeded in micro-ligaments only at the moment of the final separation, and a model is proposed to explain the temperature rise from contributions of three mechanisms which can be distinguished phenomenologically. Numerical calculations have shown that the melting point can be exceeded under adiabatic conditions on account of the alloys' high yield stress, low heat conductivity and high stress concentration factor.
Character formulas and Frobenius subgroups of algebraic groups

Let G be a connected semisimple algebraic group over a field of non-zero characteristic p, with a maximal torus T. On G we have the Frobenius endomorphism F induced by the pth power map on the underlying field. The (scheme-theoretic) kernel of F is the first Frobenius kernel G,, and the inverse image of T under F is the “Frobenius subgroup” G, T. The purpose of this paper is to study certain questions in the (rational) representation theory of G, T. Let B be a Bore1 subgroup of G which contains T. In [6], Cline, Parshall, and Scott obtained a result which describes the functor “induction from B to G” as the composite of functors of the form “induction from B to a minimal parabolic subgroup P” over a sequence of minimal parabolics coming from a given reduced expression of the long word in the Weyl group. In Section 5, we obtain the analogous result for G, T. In Section 6, we develop a theory of intertwines for a certain class of G, T-modules. This gives a direct proof of an extended strong linkage principle for G, T, independent of the strong linkage principle for G. (Originally, Jantzen [17] proved that strong linkage for G, T, and more generally for G, T, n > 1, follows from the strong linkage principle for G. 1 Recently we have applied this method to give a new proof of an extended strong linkage principle for G; see [ 121. From the results of Section 5 we can write down a formula for the image of one of the intertwines in our class of modules. (This also follows from results of Jantzen [16, 171.) Composing the intertwines in question, relative to the class of modules corresponding to a given character of T, gives a map whose image is the irreducible G, T-module of that highest weight. In case the character is a restricted dominant character, the image coincides with the irreducible G-module of that highest weight, by a result
Fetal lung liquid regulation by neuropeptides

The fetal lung, filled with fluid during intrauterine life, is recognized as a site of fluid production, significantly contributing to amniotic fluid volume. To assess possible hormonal control of lung liquid production, we studied the effect of intravenous vasopressin or vasotocin on lung liquid production in chronically catheterized fetal sheep. Both vasopressin and vasotocin infusion resulted in a significant decrease in lung fluid production (38% and 40%, respectively) when compared to that in control animals receiving saline infusion. There was no significant change in lung fluid osmolality, sodium, or potassium. These findings suggest that lung liquid production in utero may be regulated by the fetus and that vasopressin or vasotocin may be of physiologic importance in lung fluid dynamics during the third trimester of ovine pregnancy and perhaps during parturition.
Ultrastructural visualization of intracellular porphyrin in the rat Harderian gland.

The Harderian glands of male Albino rats 1–24 months of age were studied by electron microscopy. In most glands, a few acinar cells contained straight and curved trilaminar profiles identical in form to the material in the luminal masses of porphyrin pigment. They resembled the structures which several investigators have identified as crystals of protoporphyrin IX in porphyric human and mouse hepatocytes. Protoporphyrin IX is the predominant form synthesized by rat Harderian cells in vitro. The trilaminar profiles were within the cytoplasm but not within the lipid secretory vacuoles. A large number of the acinar cells had finely tubular endoplasmic reticulum (ER). However, cells containing the trilaminar forms consistently had dilated ER vesicles. This change may have been a prelude to cell death, for some pigment-containing cells attached to the acinar basal lamina also displayed fragmented organelles and a loss of density of the cytoplasmic matrix. In some acinar lumina there was abundant cell debris along with the trilaminar profiles. It is concluded that in the rat, some of the Harderian free porphyrins can be released through cell death.
Relationship between apparent (single-pool) and true (double-pool) urea distribution volume

Relationship between apparent (single-pool) and true (double-pool) urea distribution volume Background The volume of urea distribution (V) is usually derived from single-pool variable volume urea kinetics. A theoretical analysis has shown that modeled single-pool V (Vsp) is overestimated when the urea reduction ratio (URR) is greater than 65 to 70% and is underestimated when the URR is less than 65%. The "true" volume derived from double-pool kinetics (Vdp) does not exhibit this effect. An equation has been derived to adjust Vsp to the expected Vdp. Methods To validate these theoretical predictions, we examined data from the Hemodialysis (HEMO) Study to assess the performance of Vdp as estimated from Vsp using the previously published prediction equation. For increased precision, both Vsp and Vdp were factored by anthropometric volume (Va). Patients were first dialyzed with a target equilibrated dialysis dose (eKt/V) of 1.45 during a baseline period and were then randomly assigned to eKt/V targets of either 1.05 (a URR of approximately 67%) or 1.45 (a URR of approximately 75%). A blood sample was obtained one hour after starting dialysis during one dialysis in each patient. Results Vsp/Va was (mean ± SD) 1.014 ± 0.127 in 795 patients during the baseline period when the URR was approximately 1.45. During the first modeled dialysis after randomization, the Vsp/Va fell to 0.961 ± 0.138 in the group with an eKt/V target of 1.05, but did not change significantly under the high eKt/V goal. The correction of Vsp to Vdp using the prediction equation resulted in a Vdp/Va ratio of 0.96 to 0.98 in all three circumstances without significant differences. When a blood sample was drawn one hour after starting dialysis, the apparent Vsp/Va ratio at one hour was much lower at 0.708 ± 0.139. However, the mean Vdp/Va ratio, computed using the correction equation, was 0.968 ± 0.322, which was similar to the Vdp/Va ratio calculated from the postdialysis blood urea nitrogen. Conclusions These data suggest that the previously derived formula for adjusted Vsp is valid experimentally. The Vsp/Vdp correction should be useful for prescribing hemodialysis with either a very low Kt/V (for example, daily and early incremental dialysis) or a very high Kt/V.
A molecular beam electric deflection study of clusters: acid and salt molecules in microscopic aqueous and ammonia clusters

Abstract Results of a molecular beam electric deflection study of the polarity of gas phase clusters comprised of HNO3H2O, HNO3H2ONH3, and NH4HSNH3 are reported. No refocusing was observed for any species containing more than two molecular subunits. These results are contrasted with previous studies made in our laboratory which showed focusing for higher polymers of acetic acid; possible reasons are given for observed defocusing in the present systems where ion-pair formation is expected to occur.
F8 neurocontroller based on dynamic inversion

We present the use of a neural-network-based controller for the F8 aircraft, with special emphasis on piloted flight. Linearized longitudinal dynamics of the F8 aircraft has been used for this study, and the primary objective is to obtain a decoupled response to pilot pitch rate and velocity commands. An exact inverse neurocontroller with full state feedback was synthesized and was found to satisfy all control design objectives. Its ability to learn the inverse dynamics during the course of flight, greatly increases its survivability. The controller is found to provide stable and near desired response in the presence of modeling uncertainty less or equal to 30%, actuators sluggishness, and battle damaged or partially missing flight control surfaces.
Functional androgen receptor confers sensitization of androgen-independent prostate cancer cells to anticancer therapy via caspase activation.

Abstract Therapeutic resistance remains an unresolved problem in the clinical management of human prostate cancer (PC). Despite initial positive response to androgen ablation therapy (AAT), virtually all PC patients will relapse due to acquisition of hormone refractory disease and selective outgrowth of tumor cells with multidrug resistance phenotype. We here provide the first experimental evidence that restoring a functional androgen receptor (AR) in the androgen-independent prostate cancer PC3 cells enhances their sensitivity to growth arrest and suppresses their colony-forming ability in response to paclitaxel and γ-irradiation. Furthermore, functional AR increases the susceptibility of these cells to the apoptotic potentials of therapeutic agents, as evidenced by an increase in caspase activity, annexin V binding, and internucleosomal DNA fragmentation, by inducing caspase activation. The abrogation of the cytotoxic effects by 4-hydroxyflutamide suggests a crucial role for AR activation in enhancing the therapeutic sensitivity of these cells in a ligand-independent fashion. Our data thus demonstrate that a functional AR is a prerequisite for effective therapeutic response and that aberrant expression or blockade by AAT may trigger pathways leading to emergence of PC cells with therapeutic resistance phenotype. Since the mainstay of primary therapy for PC has been AAT by pharmaco-therapeutic or surgical means, this study thus provides a new frontier for revising the AAT therapeutic strategy in conjunction with radiation and/or chemotherapeutic agents.
New PFOS Free Photoresist Systems for EUV Lithography

New photoresist compositions containing tert-butyloxycarbonyl group protected C-4-hydroxyphenyl calix [4] resorcinarene molecular glasses and perfluorooctylsulfonate (PFOS) free photoacid generators (PAG) composed of a triphenylsulfonium aryloxyperfluoroalkylsulfonate was developed. The patterning performance of PFOS free photoresist compositions was examined using extreme ultraviolet (EUV or 13.4 nm) lithography and compared with photoresist compositions containing conventional perfluorobutanesulfonate (PFBS) PAGs. Features as small as 30 nm with low line edge roughness (LER) were readily obtained for both formulations. The non-PFOS photoacid generator forms acid that contains fewer fluorine atom than found in PFOS or in PFBS. The newly developed non-PFOS PAGs may find application in chemically amplified resists that address the environmental concerns raised by the widely used PFOS containing PAGs.
Determination of tricyclic antidepressant drugs by gas chromatography with the use of a capillary column

A universal gas chromatographic procedure for the determination of the commonly prescribed tricyclic antidepressant drugs in 1 mL of plasma is described. After the addition of internal standards the samples are washed with pentane at acidic pH and extracted with pentane at alkaline pH. The pentane extract is evaporated after the addition of acetic anhydride. Aliquots of a methanolic solution of the residue of evaporated extract are analyzed isothermally on a Durabond R 30 m fused silica column. This column is well suited for use with a nitrogen selective detector. The liquid phase is not extracted by repeated injections of methanolic solutions of plasma extracts. When compared to a packed column, this column allows shorter analysis time.
Preventive effects of glycaemic control on ocular complications of Spontaneously Diabetic Torii rat.

Aim: Spontaneously Diabetic Torii (SDT) rat is a new model of non-obese type 2 diabetes. SDT rats show severe ocular complications such as cataracts, tractional retinal detachment with fibrous proliferation and massive haemorrhaging in the anterior chamber. In the present study, blood glucose levels of SDT rats were controlled in order to examine whether these ocular complications are caused by hyperglycaemia. Methods: SDT rats were treated with an insulin implant to control blood glucose. To evaluate retinal function, we used electroretinograms (ERG) and measured vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concentrations within the aqueous humour. Finally, we studied retinal flat-mounts and trypsin digestion to evaluate vascular abnormalities in SDT rats. Results: Forty-four-week-old SDT rats displayed an increase in VEGF concentrations within the aqueous humour and significant prolongation of the peak latencies in ERG (Σ(OP1–OP4); Sprague–Dawley (SD): 146.2 ± 1.06 ms; SDT: 166.3 ± 2.38 ms; SDT + insulin: 149.2 ± 1.83 ms). Retinal flat-mounts of SDT rats showed venous dilation and meandering vascular networks. Furthermore, acellular capillaries were observed in the retinal trypsin digestion. Insulin treatment prevented these ocular abnormalities in SDT rats. Conclusions: These findings indicate that ocular complications of SDT rats are caused by hyperglycaemia. The features of SDT rats indicate their usefulness for the future study of diabetic retinopathy.
Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: Part II: Autonomic Neuropathies

Diabetic autonomic neuropathies (DAN) are clinical syndromes resulting from impairments of the autonomic nervous system in patients with diabetes mellitus. Since the autonomic nervous system innervates most body organs, any or all of those organs may be affected by DAN. A high index of suspicion is the best diagnostic tool. Proper management, with patient and family education in its center, improves the quality of life of persons with DAN. Undiagnosed and ignored, DAN could cause severe disability and even death.
Time of day alters long-term sensitization to cocaine in rats

To test the hypothesis that time of day influences the locomotor effects of cocaine in rats, we measured short- and long-term sensitization to cocaine at five different Zeitgeber times (ZT). Short-term sensitization was expressed equally at all ZTs tested. Long-term sensitization was expressed only at dark onset, suggesting a possible influence of melatonin. Exogenous melatonin given immediately before cocaine challenge slightly enhanced long-term sensitization. Taken together, the present results support a time-of-day influence on locomotor sensitization to cocaine.
Analysis of the optimum two-impulse orbital transfer under arbitraryterminal conditions.

Optimum two impulse orbital transfer for arbitrary terminal conditions, discussing analytic characteristics
Direct measurement of Henry's constant for S-ethyl N,N-di-n-propylthiocarbamate

Many pesticides are susceptible to volatilization, which may result in decreased pest control and off-site deposition that may cause adverse environmental impacts. Prediction of such losses requires knowledge of pesticide partition coefficients, including Henry's constant (Hc); however accurate data are lacking. In this experiment, the batch air stripping technique was used to determine Hc for EPTC (S-ethyl N,N-di-n-propylthiocarbamate). At 25 °C, measured Hc in pure water was 0.0107, 11 times greater than indirectly estimated values reported in the literature. The measured heat of volatilization for EPTC, used to describe the temperature dependence of Hc, was 37.12 kJ mol-1. Hc measured with soil extract was 7 times greater than that measured in pure water, presumably due to effects of dissolved salts and organic acids. Keywords: EPTC; Henry's law constant; volatilization; soil solution
Ectoderm-Mesenchyme and Mesenchyme-Mesenchyme Interactions Regulate Msx-1 Expression and Cellular Differentiation in the Murine Limb Bud

The apical ectodermal ridge (AER) is a specialized thickening of the distal limb mesenchyme that has been demonstrated to support limb outgrowth and proper limb development. The homeobox gene, Max-1, is associated with the distal limb mesenchyme (progress zone) and its expression depends upon the presence of the AER in chick limbs. We demonstrate here that the expression of Max-1 is dependent upon the limb ectoderm in the mouse, but that the inductive capacity of murine limb ectoderm is not restricted to the AER. Msx-1 can also he maintained in limb mesenchyme by the substitution of FGF 4 for the ectoderm; however, we see that local cell-cell interactions are required for high levels of expression. Disruption of cell-call interactions in the limb mesenchyme results in a dramatic decrease in Msx-1 levels and a precocious expression of MyoD1, suggesting that the limb environment represses differentiation and promotes cell proliferation during early development. BMP 4 and FGF 2 can also maintain Msx-1 expression in limb mesenchyme as well as retinoic acid which is usually associated with polarizing activity in the early limb. Max-2 expression does not appear to be dependent upon cell-cell interactions as measured in these experiments. Taken together, our data suggest that the expression of Max-1, but not Max-2, not only requires factors from the limb ectoderm, but also relies upon cues from local cell interactions and that the spatial distribution of inductive capacities in limb ectoderm differs between the avian and murine systems.
SU‐E‐T‐09: Evaluation of Depth Dose Distribution with Limit Scatter Condition and Comparing with Treatment Planning System

Purpose: Beam commissioning data are acquired in full scatter condition but some body parts such as fingers, hands and legs are treated with limited scatter. An evaluation of depth dose distribution in carried out to study limited scatter situation and compared with treatment planning system.Material and Methods: Radiation scatter is considered as an important contribution of dose in patients. This experiment evaluated the depth dose distribution under different size of water phantoms and compared the dose calculated by Eclipse treatment planning software (AAA Algorithm). Measurements were made specially designed limited scatter phantom that were stackable with 6 and 16MV photon beams. The phantom was 3.5cmX12cmX5cm (deep) paper container filled with water was used as a water phantom unit cell that were added to achieve variability in scatter. For different scatter condition purpose, measurement was made by adding different number of phantom unit. An ion chamber reading is used to compare the dose. Results: The measurements show that the depth dose distribution at central axis has weakly dependent on lateral scatter condition. The dose from 6 and 16 MV beams at 1.0 cm depth has 1.02% and 2.70% difference from single unit (considered as 3.5cmX5cmX12cm water phantom) to 9 units (considered as 10.5cmX15cmX12cm water phantom). The difference at dmax for both 6x and 16x are less than 0.5%. Conclusion: The lateral scatter contributes relatively small on central axis doses when the phantom size is comparable to the field size. Advance algorithm used in TPS provides reasonable (<1%) good dose information evaluation in limited scatter condition.
Morphological and morphometric measurements in colorectal mucosa of subjects at increased risk for colonic neoplasia

Measurements of intermediate biomarkers have recently increased, attempting to provide useful information about cancer risk. We report morphological findings in rectal mucosal biopsies from patients at low risk and at high risk for colorectal cancer. Rectal biopsies were analyzed from fourteen Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) subjects at low risk and from twenty-seven members of families with hereditary nonpolyposis colonic cancer (HNPCC) at higher risk. The following measurements were made on rectal crypts: length of crypts, numbers of cells, diameter of the surface, middle and base of the crypts and infiltration of inflammatory cells into the lamina propria. Findings indicated morphological differences in normal-appearing rectal mucosa of individuals in the HNPCC group compared with SDA subjects (P < 0.05). They included shorter crypts with fewer epithelial cells and increased cellular infiltration in the mucosa of HNPCC subjects compared with SDA subjects, suggesting minimal inflammation, and an early stage of crypt atrophy in the rectal mucosa of subjects at higher risk for colonic neoplasia.
Purification and measurement of calpromotin, the cytoplasmic protein which activates calcium-dependent potassium transport.

Abstract A simple procedure is described for the purification of calpromotin, a protein from the cytoplasm of red blood cells which is capable of activating calcium-dependent potassium transport. The purification steps involve a salt gradient elution from an anion exchange column (Whatman DE-52) followed by a potassium phosphate gradient elution from a column of hydroxyapatite (HA Ultrogel). These steps result in a 54% yield with a 161 fold purification. The calpromotin is estimated to be 99% pure as determined by densitometry of the protein profile on an SDS polyacrylamide gel. A competitive enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using rabbit anti-human calpromotin antibodies, is described for measuring levels of calpromotin in the 5 to 100 ng range.
Cingulate Fasciculus Integrity Disruption in Schizophrenia: A Magnetic Resonance Diffusion Tensor Imaging Study

Evidence suggests that a disruption in limbic system network integrity and, in particular, the cingulate gyrus (CG), may play a role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia; however, the cingulum bundle (CB), the white matter tract furnishing both input and output to CG, and the most prominent white matter fiber tract in the limbic system, has not been evaluated in schizophrenia using the new technology of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). We used line scan DTI to evaluate diffusion in the CB in 16 male schizophrenia patients and 18 male control subjects, group-matched for age, parental socioeconomic status, and handedness. We acquired 4-mm-thick coronal slices through the entire brain. Maps of fractional anisotropy (FA) were generated to quantify diffusion within the left and right CB on eight slices that included the central portion of the CB. Results showed group differences, bilaterally, in area and mean FA for CB, where patients showed smaller area and less anisotropy than controls. For patients, decreased left CB correlated significantly with attention and working memory measures as assessed by the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. These data provide strong evidence for CB disruptions in schizophrenia, which may be related to disease-related attention and working memory abnormalities.
Media Coverage of Congress in the 1990s: Scandals, Personalities, and the Prevalence of Policy and Process

In this article, we provide a comprehensive, systematic examination of media coverage of Congress in the 1990s. Specifically, we content analyze over 2,600 congressional news stories from the New York Times and CBS Evening News from 1990 through 1998. We find that the news media covered substantive policy concerns and the legislative process quite regularly and that stories focusing on individual personalities and political scandals were comparatively infrequent. We also find that legislative maneuvering is a mainstay of congressional media coverage, and the democratic process is most often framed as conflict between parties and Congress and the president.
Noise pressure: systematic overestimation of population fitness in genetic algorithms with noisy fitness functions

In applications of genetic algorithms (GA) to real world problems, we often encounter significant amounts of noise in our fitness functions. We show that the interaction of normally-distributed noise and selection pressure inherently cause overestimation of GA population fitness. We call this inherent fitness overestimation noise pressure. Furthermore, we show that oversampling is not a sufficient technique for eliminating noise pressure.
Regulation of enzyme activity at low temperature: Ionic influences on fructose-1,6-diphosphatase from muscle of the arctic tanner crab Chionocetes Bairdi

Abstract 1. 1. The possible roles of pH and potassium ion in the regulation of tanner crab muscle fructose-1,6-diphosphatase (FDPase) were examined over the physiological temperature range of the animal. 2. 2. A rise in temperature causes a shifting of the normally observed alkaline pH optimum towards the neutral range. The addition of K+ ion appears to counter this by inhibiting enzyme activity more at the neutral pH range than at alkaline pH. 3. 3. Tanner crab muscle FDPase is inhibited powerfully by 5′AMP. A decrease in temperature from 15 to 0°C results in an overall increase in affinity for the inhibitor. However, at the acclimatization temperature, sensitivity for AMP is markedly reduced. 4. 4. A rise in pH diminishes the effectiveness of AMP as an inhibitor of activity of tanner crab muscle FDPase. On the other hand, K+ causes a large increase in FDPase-AMP interaction. 5. 5. At high (approaching physiological) concentrations of AMP, activity of FDPase is markedly insensitive to the thermal range. 6. 6. These findings suggest mechanisms for the maintenance and regulation of muscle FDPase from the tanner crab over the temperature range of the animal.
Plastic Flow and Fracture of B2 NiAl-based Intermetallic Alloys Containing a Ductile Second Phase

The use of NiAl as a structural material has been hindered by its lack of tensile ductility or toughness at room temperature. The operative flow and fracture mechanisms in monolithic NiAl leading to these poor low temperature properties are analyzed, demonstrating the need for ductile phase toughening. Progress in ductile phase reinforced intermetallics and NiAl-based materials are reviewed and the primary mechanisms involved in the flow and fracture of ductile phase reinforced alloys are clarified by recent investigations of directionally solidified NiAl-based materials. The mechanical behavior of these model alloys (Ni-39Al and Ni-30Fe-20Al (at%)) are discussed. The prospects for developing a ductile phase toughened NiAl-based alloy and the shortcoming presently inherent in these systems are analyzed.
Error probabilities for DS spread-spectrum systems using an ALE for narrow-band interference rejection

The effects of the least-mean-squares adaptive line enhancer (ALE) weight misadjustment errors on the bit error rate are investigated for a direct-sequence spread-spectrum binary communication system in the presence of strong narrowband interference. The converged ALE weights are modeled as the parallel connection of a deterministic FIR (finite impulse response) filter and a random FIR filter. The statistics of the random filter are derived, assuming the output of the random filter to be primarily due to the jammer convolved with random filter weights. This output is shown to be nonGaussian and to cause significant error rate degradation in comparison to a Gaussian model. Error probability expressions are derived for the bit error rate, evaluated numerically, and compared to the corresponding error probabilities for a Gaussian model for the random filter output. For some typical system parameter values and error probabilities it is shown that the Gaussian model yields performance results that are too optimistic by several decibels. >
Light‐scattering studies on polystyrenes in isorefractive poly(methyl methacrylate)–toluene “solvents”

The rms radii of gyration 〈S2〉1/2 and second virial coefficients Γ2 of five monodisperse polystyrenes (M × 10−5 = 1.6, 2.8, 4.2, 6.6) were measured in isorefractive toluene–poly(methyl methacrylate) (Mv = 4.0 × 104, 1.6 × 105, and 6.3 × 105) “solvents.” For a given PMMA, the concentration at which the θ condition (defined by Γ2 = 0) was reached was independent of PS molecular weight, but varied inversely with PMMA molecular weight (0.10, 0.056, and 0.023 g/mL, respectively). When this θ condition is reached by adding PMMA to toluene, the radii of gyration are decreased by only about 15%, much less than when it is reached by going to a poor, low-molecular-weight solvent. This reflects the exclusion of PMMA from the PS coils, the internal environment of which is essentially pure toluene.