cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chapter 24 – Current Research and Commercial Applications of Cloning Technology

Publisher Summary This chapter explores some of the immediate uses of cloning technology in medicine and agriculture, and focuses on the application that may not require an extensive regulatory approval process before being used. First, cloning valuable research animals may increase a limited availability of highly informative genotypes while reducing the number of animals used to obtain informative results. Second, cloning and transgenics are now available for producing phenotypes in large animals to study devastating disease, where rodent models have proved inadequate. An efficient means of producing nonhuman primates for research can expedite progress toward cure and prevention of many human diseases and production of vaccines against pathogens such as the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Finally, cloned parent stock in the cattle and hog industries can add value, reduce waste, and produce a more uniform product, thereby resulting in better profits for the producer and better products for the consumer. Cloning elite beef bulls or steers will perhaps be the most widespread use of cloning technology in the next few years. Initially, the cloning of high-value bulls can replace the artificial insemination processes for producing heifer replacements—the next generation of genetic providers. This approach has multiple steps that encourage broader market coverage as efficiencies increase and costs decrease. In the next phase, when economically feasible, cloned bulls or steers will service females to produce the next generation of feedlot steers.
Spectroscopic studies beyond the N=152 neutron gap: Decay of {sub 101}{sup 255}Md and {sub 101}{sup 256}Md

The isotopes ${}^{255}\mathrm{Md}$ and ${}^{256}\mathrm{Md}$ were produced by the irradiation of ${}^{253}\mathrm{Es}$ with 35--45 MeV $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ particles by $(\ensuremath{\alpha},n)$ and $(\ensuremath{\alpha},2n)$ reactions and were removed from the target by a helium jet system. $\ensuremath{\alpha},$ $\ensuremath{\gamma},$ and $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-$\ensuremath{\gamma}$ coincidence spectra were measured with Si and Ge(Li) detectors. From the EC decays of ${}^{255}\mathrm{Md}$ and ${}^{256}\mathrm{Md},$ levels in ${}^{255}\mathrm{Fm}$ and ${}^{256}\mathrm{Fm}$ were deduced. Favored $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ decay of ${}^{255}\mathrm{Md}$ was found to populate the ${7/2}^{\ensuremath{-}}[514]$ single-particle state in ${}^{251}\mathrm{Es},$ thus establishing the ${7/2}^{\ensuremath{-}}[514]$ as the ${}^{255}\mathrm{Md}$ ground state. Several $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays were observed in the ${}^{256}\mathrm{Md}$ $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-$\ensuremath{\gamma}$ coincidence spectrum. ${}^{256}\mathrm{Fm}$ is the heaviest nucleus in which excited intrinsic states have been identified.
Severe acute kidney injury in neonates with necrotizing enterocolitis: risk factors and outcomes

To study the risk factors and outcomes of severe acute kidney injury (AKI) in neonates with necrotizing enterocolitis. Retrospective chart review of 202 neonates with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) (Bell stage >IIa) from 2013 to 2018. AKI was defined as per-modified neonatal Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes criteria. Demographic, clinical, and outcome data were compared between neonates without severe AKI (stage 0 and 1 AKI) and those with severe AKI (stage 2 and 3 AKI). Severe AKI occurred in 66/202 (32.6%) of neonates after NEC diagnosis and after 61/104 (58.7%) of surgical NEC diagnoses. On adjusted model, surgical NEC [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 30.6; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 8.9, 130.6], outborn [aOR = 3.9; 95% CI = 1.54, 11.0], exposure to antenatal steroids [aOR = 3.0; 95% CI = 1.1, 8.9], and positive blood culture sepsis [aOR = 3.5; 95% CI = 1.3, 10.0] had increased odds for severe AKI. Those with severe AKI required longer hospitalization [124 days (interquartile range (IQR) 88–187) vs. 82 days (IQR 42–126), p < 0.001]. Severe AKI is common in neonates with NEC who require surgical intervention, are outborn, have positive blood culture sepsis, and receive antenatal steroids. Severe AKI is associated with a significantly longer length of hospitalization.
Why Some Countries Can Escape the Fiscal Pro-Cyclicality Trap and Others Cannot?

This paper analyzes the procyclicality of fiscal policy on the tax and spending sides in a sample of 116 developing countries between 2000 and 2016. About 20 percent of the countries in the sample switched from procyclical to countercyclical policy stance. In Sub-Saharan Africa, 30 of 39 countries remained caught in the procyclicality trap and the region has the highest degree of procyclicality. The Middle East and North Africa region switched from a countercyclical policy stance to a procyclical one over time. The Europe and Central Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean regions significantly reduced the degree of procyclicality. The main economic variables that affect procyclicality are financial depth, tax base variability, and natural resource dependence. In line with the political economy literature, the perception of corruption, social fragmentation, and inequality in resource distribution are positively associated with procyclicality. The findings also show that the quality of fiscal institutions is associated with procyclicality; countries with fiscal rules have smaller procyclical bias, but the effect is not homogeneous; and higher degrees of expenditure rigidity are associated with lower procyclical bias. The study finds asymmetric policy stances along the business cycle, with procyclicality being more pronounced during recessions. Similarly, the political cycle affects procyclicality, as procyclical bias increases in electoral years. From the tax management perspective, procyclical bias is still present, but there are significant changes: most of the political economy variables lose significance; the resource-dependence variable is not significant; external credit availability reduces procyclicality; tax base variability increases procyclical bias; and expenditure rigidity is no longer significant, but fiscal space becomes determinant of procyclical bias.
GaN/AlN p-channel HFETs with I max >420 mA/mm and ~20 GHz f T / f MAX

A strong need exists for a wide-bandgap p-type transistor counterpart of the n-channel GaN HEMTs for power electronics and novel RF circuits. In this work, the first p-channel nitride transistors that break the GHz speed barrier are demonstrated. By leveraging the unique single-channel high-density polarization-induced 2D hole gas of the GaN/AlN heterostructure, best-in-class contact resistances, and scaled T-gate design, p-channel transistor on-currents of 428 mA/mm are observed, with cutoff frequencies in the 20 GHz regime. These observations demonstrate the unique enabling role of the polarization discontinuity at the GaN/AlN semiconductor heterojunction and offer significant hope for a new high-speed and high-voltage wide-bandgap CMOS device platform for applications in RF and power electronics domains.
Revolutions 1916/1917: Lynd, War Issues, the ITGWU

This chapter moves through the 1916 Rising and its aftermath, including James Connolly’s execution. The efforts by Connolly’s former labour comrades, William O’Brien and Tom Foran, to rebuild the Irish Transport and General Workers’ Union are considered as such impacted Sean O’Casey’s continued movement. By drawing on his former friendship with Connolly, O’Brien arranged for the republication of Connolly’s major theoretical works into Labour in Ireland in 1917—the year of Russia’s October Revolution. It included an Introduction by Bernard Shaw’s friend Robert Lynd, who argues that Connolly was Ireland’s first socialist martyr. In the next year, Shaw authors War Issues for Irishmen in which he utilizes Connolly’s socialist internationalism to convince the Irish working class that their plight is the same as the English working class. In the next year O’Casey, then focused on being a writer, published The Story of the Irish Citizen Army where he directly disputes Lynd’s claim, and perhaps Shaw’s, that Connolly was an Irish socialist martyr. Shaw and O’Casey, with varying views on Connolly, approached the 1920s by endeavouring to make sense of the decade of war, revolution, and suffering.
Equivalent learning, but unequal participation: male bumble bees learn comparably to females, but participate in cognitive assessments at lower rates

Abstract Sex-specific cognitive abilities are well documented. These can occur when sexes engage in different ecological contexts. Less known is whether different ecological contexts can also drive sex-specific participation rates in behavioral tests. Here, we explore this question in bumble bees, a group of eusocial insects where worker females and males exhibit stark socioecological differences. Among myriad colony maintenance tasks, workers forage for themselves and developing brood, while males forage only for themselves while mate-searching. Following upon previous studies suggesting no sex differences in bumble bee learning, we test the hypothesis that despite having equivalent associative learning abilities, males participate in cognitive assessments offering nutritional rewards at lower rates. Testing > 500 bees from nine colonies in a differential conditioning protocol, we find support for our hypothesis. An equivalent proportion of workers and males successfully completed our cognitive assessment, while a significantly lower proportion of males participated in the entire protocol. Unequal participation is a perennial issue in the behavioral sciences, limiting sample size and potentially biasing results. Our results suggest that to understand the true range of variation in cognition, sex-differences in participation must be accounted for.
Genotoxicity study of silver nanoparticles in bone marrow cells of Sprague-Dawley rats.

Abstract The antimicrobial properties of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) have resulted in their extensive application in consumer and health care products. Although Ag-NPs have great potential benefits, their side effects are unknown and seem inevitable due to their ability to reach the nucleus and damage genetic material. This study aimed to determine genotoxic potential of Ag-NPs using mitotic index (MI), DNA damage (comet assay), structural chromosome aberrations (SCA), micronuclei (MN) formation as genetic endpoints and induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as oxidative stress endpoint in bone marrow of Sprague–Dawley rats. Four groups of five male rats were orally administered Ag-NPs, once a day for five days with doses of 5, 25, 50, 100, mg/Kg. A control group was also made of five rats. Bone marrow samples were collected 24 h after the last treatment following standard protocols. Ag-NPs exposure significantly increased (p
Novel Computational Approaches to Information Retrieval and Data Mining

The realities and opportunities of the global information environment enable and necessitate new techniques and approaches, they expand the scope and the methodology of database theory. This talk surveys recent results of this nature, by the author and/or several collaborators, in two areas. In information retrieval, spectral methods have been introduced which extract the hidden semantics of a corpus by analysing the eigenvalues of related matrices. In fact, the performance of such methods can be theoretically predicted to be favorable in a certain statistical sense. A different spectral method has also been introduced successfully in the analysis of hypertext so as to identify authoritative sources of information. In data mining —the search for interesting patterns in data— we argue that a meaningful definition of “interesting” requires consideration of the optimization problem the enterprise is facing. This “microeconomic” view leads quickly to certain novel and interesting computational problems.
Spectroscopic Studies of Carbon Disulfide at High Pressure

Recent work on the transient absorption spectra induced by the dynamic shock-loading of carbon disulfide has shown1 a shock-induced shift of the UV absorption edge up to a pressure of 8.0–9.0 GPa followed by irreversible chemistry in which the CS2 becomes opaque. The authors suggested that this reaction was analagous to the Bridgeman’s Black polymer which has been observed to occur when CS2 was heated to 185°C at 5.5 GPa2, 250°C at 3.3 GPa3, or over a range of pressures and temperatures.4 The latter work on this reaction at static high pressure has shown4 infrared and visible/near-IR absorption spectra for the recovered CS2 polymer and deduced that it was a mixture of carbon, sulfur, and an ill-defined polymer with the probable structure. Open image in new window
Local Evolution of Microstructure and Microchemistry Near Grain Boundaries in Irradiated Austenitic Stainless Steels

Radiation effects on grain boundary microchemistry and near grain boundary microstructure is of critical importance for understanding irradiation-assisted stress corrosion cracking (IASCC) of light-water reactor (LWR) core internals. Radiation-induced segregation (RIS) measurements clearly establish that grain boundaries are effective sinks for point defects in austenitic stainless steels. The depletion of point defects near grain boundaries affects the expected development of microstructure that in turn affects the development of RIS profiles. In this paper, interactions between microstructural evolution and RIS are evaluated using a rate theory model for the production, and migration of point defects with solutes, grain boundaries and matrix radiation damage. Model predictions compared with measurements define critical grain boundary conditions during LWR irradiation. The saturation loop sink density significantly affects RIS at all doses. Transient densities and loop denuding have limited effects at low dose.
A paradigm for processing network protocols in parallel

Network packet processing applications increasingly execute at speeds of 1-40 Gigabits per second, often running on multi-core chips that contain multithreaded network processing units (NPUs) and a general-purpose processor core. Such applications are typically programmed in a language that exposes NPU specifics needed to optimize low-level thread control and resource management. This facilitates optimization at the cost of increased software complexity and reduced portability. In contrast, our approach provides portability by combining coarse-grained, SPMD parallelism with programming in the packetC language's high-level constructs. This paper focuses on searching packet contents for packet protocol headers. We require the host system to locate protocol headers for layers 2, 3 and 4, and to encode their offsets data in a packet information block (PIB). packetC provides descriptors, C-style structures superimposed on the packet array at runtime-calculable, user or PIB-supplied offsets. We deliver state-of-the-practice performance via an FPGA for locating layer offsets and via micro-coded interpretation that treats PIB layer offsets as a special addressing mode.
Evidence for the Existence of Two Arginyl-Transfer Ribonucleic Acid Synthetase Activities in Escherichia coli

Two arginyl-transfer ribonucleic acid (tRNA) synthetase (EC 6.1.1.13, arginine: ribonucleic acid ligase adenosine monophosphate) activities were found in extracts of Escherichia coli strains AB1132 and NP2. The two arginyl-tRNA synthetase activities in extracts of strain AB1132 were found to be separable by diethylaminoethyl-cellulose column chromatography, Sephadex column fractionation, and by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. In addition, in the standard assay using extracts of strain AB1132 there were two pH optima for arginyl-tRNA synthetase activity. Furthermore, when arginyl-tRNA synthetase of strain NP2 was fractionated by hydroxylapatite column chromatography, two activities were observed which were similar to those of strain AB1132.
Who Among Us May Be Literate? Closing the Gap Between Literacy and Diversity

Who may be literate? The disparities in literacy rates for a number of children are untenable. For years, many students from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds have been systematically denied access to education, resulting in unacceptable illiteracy rates. Additionally, students with disabilities have been assumed incompetent and not worthy of receiving literacy instruction. If social justice includes respect for human rights and dignity, then it must be the case that denying anyone access to adequate education or assuming incompetence is unacceptable. In this chapter, social justice leadership is considered in the context of an expanded agenda that includes literacy as a basic human right and necessary component to school programming. School leaders have always shouldered a great deal of the responsibility to articulate the mission and vision for school-wide programming, and as such, this chapter includes a discussion about considerations for school leaders when creating an informed social justice agenda that specifically includes literacy. The discussion concludes with a description of several recommendations for school leaders who wish to move toward an informed practice, including school-wide efforts that promote literacy.
Quiet (nearly collisionless) robotic walking

We present a simple walking prototype that is capable of demonstrating an efficient, near-collisionless gait down a ramp. This inertia-coupled rimless wheel is able to “walk” down a 3° incline, which corresponds to a cost of transport of approximately 0.05. This is the first device designed to demonstrate the concept of collisionless walking, where energy-loss due to foot/ground collisions is minimized by matching the velocity of the foot and the ground at the moment of impact. We also present and analyze a novel torsional spring design which was used to couple the inertia device to the frame. We conjecture that walking robots based on this design will be able to exploit the concept of collisionless gaits and may be able to achieve significantly more energy-efficient walking than existing robot designs.
Studies of multiple morphine and enkephalin receptors: evidence for mu1 receptors.

The concept of receptors plays in integral role in pharmacology. Many drugs act through interactions with specific binding sites and dissociate unchanged, unlike enzymes which modify subtrates. The realization that subtypes of receptors for a ligand may exist has opened a number of possibilities in drug development and remains important. In the past, the classification of receptor subtypes rested heavily upon either classical bioassays or in vivo studies. More recently, the availability of binding assays has permitted a more molecular approach to this question. Both approaches have their advantages and disadvantages. These are important issues since the development of highly selective drugs is often based upon the identification of subtypes of receptors with highly selective functions.
Incorporation of Tritiated Thymidine by Leprosy Bacilli in Cultures of Human Lepromatous Macrophages

Mycobacterium leprae, which circulates in mononuclear phagocytes in the blood of patients with untreated lepromatous leprosy, has never been successfully cultivated in an artificial medium and can presently be studied only in animal models. A method for the evaluation of the in-vitro, DNA-synthetic activity of M. leprae was devised. Monocytes from the blood of bacteremic patients with lepromatous leprosy were cultivated in vitro and exposed to tritiated thymidine of high specific activity. Leprosy bacilli within the developing macrophages were shown by radioautography to incorporate tritiated thymidine. Consistent with the known 14-day generation time of M. leprae in animal models, relatively few leprosy bacilli were engaged in DNA synthesis at any given time. This technique provides an in-vitro approach to the evaluation of M. leprae within its natural host cell, the human macrophage.
Microscopic identification of carbonaceous particles in stack ash from pulverized-coal combustion

Abstract Carbonaceous particles were separated from the 21–150 μm mass median aerodynamic diameter particle size fraction of two stack ashes collected from two electric power generation plants fuelled with pulverized coal. Scanning electron and light microscopy were used to examine loose particles and polished particle sections mounted in epoxy resin for morphology and internal structure. Several distinct types of carbonaceous particles were identified, ranging from uncombusted macerals of optically isotopic fusinite, to optically anisotropic coked products derived from vitrinite and exinite. The latter displayed complex porous internal structures containing mineral inclusions. X-ray diffraction spectra demonstrated a graphite carbon composition contaminated with quartz and mullite, which is consistent with the results of energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectra.
Characterization of protein behavior in high-performance capillary electrophoresis using a novel capillary system.

Abstract Original calculations of over a million theoretical plate efficiency for macromolecular solutes in the open tubular high-performance capillary electrophoresis experiment considered axial diffusion to be the efficiency limiting factor. In practice, interactions of biopolymers, such as proteins, with the capillary wall has had a significant impact on readily achieving high efficiencies for a wide variety of proteins. This paper reports a capillary system in which protein-surface interactions have been minimized, resulting in high efficiencies (≥300,000 theoretical plates). This system allows the analysis of a set of protein standards over a wide pI range at neutral pH and moderate ionic strength. The characterization of the behavior of those protein standards in this capillary system is described.
Detection and classification of time-critical targets using seismic sensors

In the late 1990s, ARL:UT developed a real-time system capable of detecting and classifying a variety of vehicles using a single 3-axis seismic sensor. At that time, the detection and classification software was designed to classify vehicles for a variety of features, including the number of cylinders in the engine, number of axles, engine type, traction mechanism, and relative weight. Using a single 3-axis seismic sensor, buried approximately 3 feet deep, the demonstration system showed that it was possible to detect and classify a single time-critical target, moving with constant bearing and speed. Since then, modifications have been made to the detection and classification software in support of a transition of the algorithms into unattended MASINT sensors (UMS). This paper describes the next evolution of the detection and classification system, which focuses on generating highly accurate traction mechanism and relative weight classifications. The current build of the software has proven capable of detecting vehicles and generating high confidence classifications for a wide range of vehicles and test scenarios, and performs well for both buried and hand-emplaced sensors. Included in the paper is a description of the upgrades made to the classification algorithms, event switching, and graphical user interface (GUI), an outline of the processing and analysis of seismic data, and a summary of the software performance for a wider range of vehicles, test scenarios, and sensor configurations.
Correlation of long- and physically short-cracks growth in aluminum alloys

Abstract In this paper, a new approach for correlation of load ratio effects on long- and physically short-crack growth rate in aluminum alloys is proposed. The approach is based on a postulate that an apparent effectiveness of the crack closure phenomenon for long cracks can be different from that for physically short cracks. For long-cracks growth behavior, the enhanced partial crack closure model [Int J Fatigue, 2001] is adopted while the conventional Elber’s closure model for physically short cracks is used. The present approach is shown to provide a fairly good correlation to experimental data taken from literature for three aluminum alloys under various load ratios ranging from −1 to 0.7.
Did the rifting of the Atlantic Ocean cause the Cretaceous thermal maximum

The Cretaceous thermal maximum was a major turning point in the history of Earth’s climate. This interval of peak warmth in the Turonian has been attributed to very high atmospheric pCO2 resulting from rapid outgassing rates, although crustal cycling rates peaked in the Aptian‐Albian interval. On the basis of coupled ocean-atmosphere model simulations of the middle Cretaceous, we hypothesize that the formation of an Atlantic gateway could have contributed to the Cretaceous thermal maximum. Differences between prerifting and postrifting climate experiments demonstrate substantial regional oceanographic changes in the North and South Atlantic Basins that are consistent with oxygen isotopic evidence used to infer a Cretaceous thermal maximum. The model results help reconcile the paleoclimate record inferred from foraminiferal d 18 O with our understanding of climate dynamics and Cretaceous tectonism.
Possible exotic mesons in the charmonium region

We consider the possibility that a number of $PC=+ +$ mesons might appear in the charmonium region below ${\ensuremath{\psi}}^{\ensuremath{'}}(3.69 \mathrm{GeV})$. They are states made up of admixtures of $c\overline{c}g$ ($g=\mathrm{gluon}$), $c\overline{c}q\overline{q}$ ($q=u,d$), and the charmonium $^{3}P_{J}$ states. Masses, decay widths, and mixing matrix elements are studied with the help of the model of Horn and Mandula for $c\overline{c}g$ states and the results of Jaffe, and De R\'ujula and Jaffe, for $c\overline{c}q\overline{q}$ states. The presence of a $c\overline{c}$ pair suggests narrow hadronic widths if the mass is below the breakup thresholds of the $c\overline{c}q\overline{q}$ states. Their branching ratios for $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ transitions and $2\ensuremath{\gamma}$ anmihilations appear to be fairly small. They may have rather large spin-spin splittings. It is plausible that the lowest-mass states contain mostly $c\overline{c}g$ configurations. Although they share part of the charmonium $^{3}P_{J}$ $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-cascade strengths, it is likely that they are more readily produced in the hadronic decays of vector mesons in ${e}^{+}{e}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ annihilations. We also discuss the possible appearance of similar states in the $\ensuremath{\Upsilon}$ region and among light mesons. We suggest in particular that strange mesons in suitable decay modes might well provide the most ready experimental access to such gluon and four-quark states.
Are Feminist Women Protected from Body Image Problems? A Meta-analytic Review of Relevant Research

It was hypothesized that feminist women would experience positive body image due to a heightened ability to critique cultural pressures related to thinness. Samples from 26 studies (almost all North American) were compiled for a meta-analysis to examine the association between feminist identity and measures related to body image and eating problems. The largest number of effect sizes found addressed the association between feminist identity and body attitudes (k = 28), and it was found that there was a positive, significant association that was strongest when older women participants were tested and when a more purposeful sample (e.g., women studies students) was questioned. There were also significant negative associations between feminist identity and other measures related to eating problems.
A Design for Testing Interventions to Improve Adherence Within a Hypertension Clinical Trial

Abstract The Potassium Adherence Clinical Trial (PACT) incorporates one randomized clinical trial within another. A randomized trial of interventions to increase adherence to medication is nested within a second randomized clinical trial testing hypotensive effect of supplemental oral potassium. The trial aims principally to compare the effects of three intervention strategies: two sessions of individual patient counseling, two telephone contacts, or standard care. The trial aims secondarily to evaluate the effect of 60 mEq supplemental oral potassium daily on sitting systolic and diastolic blood pressure in hypertensive patients on established drug therapy. Therefore, it organizes the patients given potassium into three study groups for adherence interventions, and the patients assigned to placebo into a further three. We evaluate adherence primarily by means of the Medication Event Monitoring System (MEMS), an electronic system that records the date and time that the container of study medication is opened. Additional measurements, such as assessments of change in levels of urinary potassium, pill counts, appointment records, self-reporting by patients, and estimates by physician of adherence, are used and correlated with MEMS data. At a single center, the trial enrolled 107 participants between the ages of 26 and 80. This paper describes the background to this trial within a trial, details its design, documents the baseline characteristics of participants enrolled, and describes issues experienced during implementation of the trial. Control Clin Trials 2000;21:62–72
What do buyers really want when shopping for travel online? The relationship between travel product attributes and online buyer behaviour

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relative importance of online travel product selection attributes and examine the variations in their importance due to travel buying behaviour and demographic characteristics. The reliability and validity of the instrument were assessed prior to the study. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, MANOVA and t-tests. The results showed interesting variations due to both online travel buying behaviour and consumer characteristics. The relative importance of travel product selection attributes differed with regard to consumers' frequency of purchase, channel of purchase, amount spent on travel and gender. Theoretical and practical implications as well as future research ideas are discussed.
Variable temperature CP/MAS13C NMR study of cyclodextrin complexes of benzaldehyde

Fully hydrated as well as dried benzaldehyde complexes of α- and β-cyclodextrins were studied by using CP/MAS13C NMR techniques. Variable temperature studies have shown that below ∼ 200 K the guest is rigidly held in the complex, whereas at 328 K, only the aromatic ring performs rapid two-fold flips about the C1−C4 axis. In the β-Cd complex the benzaldehyde performs more general reorientation. Removal of water causes marked changes in both guest and host spectra, generally consistent with a loss of short-range order and increase in guest motional rate.
Bone mineralization and bone mineral metabolism in children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective. To identify mechanisms of the osteopenia associated with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) by determining parameters of bone mineralization, and bone mineral content and density (BMC and BMD), in children with JRA. Methods. BMC and BMD were measured by dual x-ray absorptiometry in 41 children with JRA and 62 healthy children. Serum samples were analyzed for concentrations of minerals, vitamin D, parathyroid hormone, osteocalcin, bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP), procollagen I carboxy-terminal propeptide, and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), and urinary excretion of deoxypyridinoline crosslinks and calcium. Results. BMD was decreased at all sites in JRA patients. BMD, corrected for age, height, weight, and bone area, was decreased at cortical bone sites (1/3 radius, upper and lower extremities, and whole body). Low concentrations of osteocalcin and BAP suggested reduced bone formation, and low TRAP levels suggested decreased resorption. Clinical scales of disease severity were negatively correlated with measures of bone mass. Laboratory markers of disease severity were highly correlated with decreases in markers of bone formation, but not with those of resorption. Although laboratory findings were similar for children with oligoarticular and polyarticular disease, differences in bone mass were greater in children with polyarticular disease. Conclusion. These data suggest an association between decreased bone mineralization in JRA and low bone formation that is related to disease severity. Efforts to stimulate bone formation, therefore, need to be considered clinically in prepubertal children with active JRA.
Ultrasound-guided musculocutaneous nerve block: a description of a novel technique.

Background and objective Localizing the musculocutaneous nerve for neural blockade is crucial to providing surgical anesthesia for the distal forearm. We present a novel approach for localizing and anesthetizing the musculocutaneous nerve. Case reports Ten patients underwent successful ultrasound-guided musculocutaneous nerve blocks. In this technique, either a 10-MHz or a 12-MHz linear probe was placed at the junction of the pectoralis major muscle and the biceps muscle such that the axillary artery was visualized in cross section. The probe was moved towards the biceps muscle until the musculocutaneous nerve was visualized lying between the coracobrachialis and biceps muscles. A 22-gauge, 50-mm b-bevel needle was inserted under direct vision until the needle was adjacent to the nerve. Local anesthetic was then injected, which generated surgical anesthetic conditions in all patients. Conclusion Ultrasound can facilitate the localization and local anesthetic block of the musculocutaneous nerve.
Range-azimuth tracking of humans using a microstrip leaky wave antenna

We investigate the concept of using a simple microstrip leaky wave antenna as a radar front-end to achieve range-azimuth tracking of humans. The frequency-scanned beam of the antenna and its frequency bandwidth are exploited to achieve simultaneous direction-finding and ranging within a single frequency sweep. As a result, a two-dimensional range-azimuth image can be readily generated. The radar processing algorithm is described. Human tracking measurements are carried out to demonstrate the performance.
Physicochemical Properties of Sized Yams : Part I: Initial Studies

Several methods were explored for characterizing sized yams and size films in order to establish relationships that might be useful in predicting weaving performance. A variety of natural and synth...
Reply by Authors to M. J. Cohen

W. L. Chow* University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, III. and S. K. Liuf Battelle Laboratory, Columbus, Ohio Cohen, M. J., 'Two-Dimensional Gas Jets," Journal of Applied Mechanics, Vol. 27, Dec. 1960, pp. 603-608. Cohen, M. J., "A Hodograph Design Method for Compressible Flow Problems," Journal of Applied Mechanics, Vol. 29, Sept. 1962, pp.533-548. Chow, W. L., Ban, T., and Wu, C., "Hydrodynamics Solution for Incompressible Flow as Influenced by Gravitation," paper to be published by AIAA Journal. Chow, W. L. and Han, T., "Inviscid Solution for the Problem of Free Overfall,'' Journal of Applied Mechanics, to be published.
Can Public Policy Keep Pace with Stem Cell Science

The author serves as the cochair of the Standards Working Group of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM).
Familiarity effects on memory search and visual search

A group of 10 subjects participated in a memory search task and a visual search task in different sessions. The subjects searched for a given target letter in three-, four-, and five-letter words and pronounceable nonwords. There were no significant differences in either the reaction time (RT) data or the error rates between the two tasks. Mean RT increased linearly with the number of letters in the display or in the memory set. Word trials produced faster responses than nonwords by about 40 msec in all conditions. Errors also increased with set size and occurred more often as misses on positive trials than as false alarms. The overall similarity of the results from memory search and visual search tasks suggests that the component processes involved are the same.
Cerebrovascular adaptation in chronic hydrocephalus

This study characterizes the regional changes in vascularity, which accompanies chronic progressive hydrocephalus. Fifteen dogs underwent surgical induction of hydrocephalus and were used for histologic studies. Animals were divided into 4 groups: surgical control, short term (< or = 5 weeks), intermediate term (8 weeks), and long term (10 to 12 weeks). Vessel diameter, density, and luminal area were calculated by imaging quantification after manual vessel identification in the cortical gray, white matter, and caudate nucleus. Capillary vessel diameter decreased 23.5% to 30.2% (P < 0.01) in the caudate, but then returned to normal at 12 weeks. Capillary vessel density decreased 53.5% (P < 0.05) in the cortical gray, but then increased to 234.8% (P < 0.01) over surgical controls at 12 weeks. There was no initial decrease in capillary density in the caudate; however, the long-term group capillary density was significantly greater (172.8% to 210.5%, P < 0.01) than surgical controls. Overall, there was a short-term decrease in lumen area, with recovery in the longer term. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunohistochemistry demonstrated the pattern of GFAP staining and reactive astrocytes differed in the caudate compared with the occipital cortex. This data suggest that an increase in capillary density and diameter may be an adaptive process allowing maintenance of adequate cerebral perfusion and metabolic support in the hypoxic environment of chronic hydrocephalus.
Micro-indentation of metallic photonic crystals: experimental and numerical investigations

Photonic crystals (PCs) are synthetic materials that are used to control light propagation. PCs have a frequency bandgap where light is forbidden to propagate. This bandgap is strongly tied to the microstructure of the photonic crystal. Three-dimensional tungsten photonic crystal in a Lincoln-log microstructure has been suggested as a strong alternative filter in photovoltaic cells with significantly high power efficiency. PCs have also been suggested as sensors for submicron damage. Therefore, mechanical characterization of three-dimensional photonic crystals becomes of interest. Here we report on mechanical characterization of tungsten PC using means of micro-indentation. We also present a three-dimensional finite element simulation of the structural response of a Tungsten photonic crystal under micro-indentation load. Stresses developed in the PC can be used to quantify the level of damage in the crystal. We compare our simulation results with the experimental observations of a Vickers and Knoop micro-indentation experiments of tungsten PC. The FE models were proven able to simulate the mechanical response of the PC with a good accuracy. The calibrated FE models can be further used to realize the mechanical behavior of PC under different thermal and mechanical stresses when used as filters in photovoltaic cells or to simulate the effect of damage in PC sensors.
DNA DOUBLE-HELIX-MEDIATED LONG-RANGE ELECTRON TRANSFER

A theoretical analysis based upon large-scale self-consistent Hartree-Fock calculations at a semiempirical quantum theory level (CNDO/S) is performed to investigate long-range electron transfer in a donor-DNA-acceptor molecule, where the donor and acceptor moieties are tethered to the DNA. The π-stacked base pairs are found to dominate the long-range electronic coupling. Despite the π-electron mediated coupling, the exponential distance decay constant of the electron transfer rate is ∼ 1.2–1.6 A−1, values typical of electron transfer proteins. The calculated long-range electron transfer rate of the order of 106 s−1 for a metal-to-metal distance of 21 A is found to be in agreement with kinetic measurements by Meade and Kayyem. Based on the current analysis, the π-electrons dominate the long-range electronic coupling interactions in DNA, but they do not lead to one-dimensional molecular wire-like properties. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Coherent communication with linear optics

We show how to implement several continuous-variable coherent protocols with linear optics. Noise can accumulate when implementing each coherent protocol with realistic optical devices. Our analysis bounds the level of noise accumulation. We highlight the connection between a coherent channel and a nonlocal quantum nondemolition interaction and give two new protocols that implement a coherent channel. One protocol is superior to a previous method for a nonlocal quantum nondemolition interaction because it requires fewer communication resources. We then show how continuous-variable coherent superdense coding implements two nonlocal quantum nondemolition interactions with a quantum channel and bipartite entanglement. We finally show how to implement continuous-variable coherent teleportation experimentally and provide a way to verify the correctness of its operation.
The Paternity of the H-Bombs: Soviet-American Perspectives

There are major problems in the history of the American and Soviet hydrogen bombs. They are associated with the Teller-Ulam and Teller-Oppenheimer controversies, and the question of whether the design of the Soviet H-bomb was an independent conception. Because of the scarcity of documentary evidence, these problems have little chance of being settled if the histories of the two are considered separately within their national frameworks. Considered comparatively, however, they can help clarify these problems separately and convert them into different facets of this most important segment in the history of the thermonuclear age.The recently disclosed evidence on the history of the Soviet H-bomb, in particular, on Klaus Fuchs’s key idea of radiation implosion, validates Edward Teller’s view on the invention of the H-bomb, including his understatement of his own accomplishment and his concern about the benefits and head start that the Soviet H-bomb program could have gotten from Fuchs’s espionage. In addition, the Russian perspective on the realities of illusory worlds during the Cold War helps us see these illusory worldviews as largely responsible for the intensity of the H-bomb debate in the United States.
Alteration of five organic compounds by glow discharge plasma and UV light under simulated Mars conditions

The Viking missions to Mars failed to detect any organic material in regolith samples. Since then, several removal mechanisms of organic material have been proposed. Two of these proposed methods are removal due to exposure to plasmas created in dust devils and exposure to UV irradiation. The experiments presented here were performed to identify similarities between the two potential removal mechanisms and to identify any compounds produced from these mechanisms that would have been difficult for the Viking instruments to detect. Five organic compounds, phenanthrene, octadecane, octadecanoic acid, decanophenone and benzoic acid, were exposed to a glow discharge plasma created in simulated martian atmospheres as might be present in dust devils, and to UV irradiation similar to that found at the surface of Mars. Glow discharge exposure was carried out in a chamber with 6.9 mbar pressure of a Mars like gas composed mostly of carbon dioxide. The plasma was characterized using emission spectroscopy and found to contain cations and excited neutral species including carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen. UV irradiation experiments were performed in a Mars chamber which simulates the temperature, pressure, atmospheric composition, and UV fluence rates of equatorial Mars. The non-volatile residues left after each exposure were characterized by mass loss, infrared spectroscopy and high resolution mass spectrometry. Oxidized, higher molecular weight versions of the parent compounds containing carbonyl, hydroxyl and alkenyl functional groups were identified. The presence of these oxidized compounds suggests that searches for organic material in soils on Mars use instrumentation suitable for detection of compounds which contain the above functional groups. Discussions of possible reaction mechanisms are given.
Gastric Leiomyosarcoma: Roentgenologic and Clinical Findings

The roentgenologic and clinical findings are reviewed in 11 patients with gastric leiomyosarcoma. The tumors were predominantly exogastric lesions in the proximal one-half of the stomach, producing extrinsic pressure on the stomach and smooth stretching of overlying gastric mucosa. Ulceration or cavitation in the tumor was present in 5 instances, with fistula leading into an exogastric cavity in 3. In 2 cases retained barium was noted in an exogastric cavity 24 hr after upper gastrointestinal study. Gastric leiomyosarcoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of any exogastric soft tissue mass. Extraluminal gas lucencies within the mass lend further support to the diagnosis, and an exogastric tumor with ulceration or cavitation in the tumor will most often be leiomyosarcoma of the stomach. Evidence of gastrointestinal hemorrhage, upper abdominal pain, fever, or a palpable abdominal mass are helpful clinical points for correlation in diagnosis.
Objective distance measurements from videofluorographic swallow studies using computer interactive analysis: technical note.

Application of new technologies to study swallowing and its disorders will facilitate better understanding of both normal and disordered swallowing. Recent application of computer-assisted analysis of videofluorographic swallow tapes has enhanced objective measurement of distance as well as timing characteristics of swallowing. Application of these systems requires consideration of system capability, calibration for distance measures, nature of measurements, and potential clinical/research benefits. This report describes a commercially available computer-interactive system for analyzing video images, discusses calibration procedures, and demonstrates practical applications using defined measures.
Women in Family Literacy Programs: A Gendered Perspective.

What do women participants in family literacy programs want and need? Little attention has been given to these women's dream of an education for themselves as well as their children.
Control of gene expression by novel metabolic intermediates.

Abstract In view of the recent discoveries of novel nuclear receptors (NRs) whose ligands remain to be determined, metabolic intermediates may be considered as ligands for these receptors and undiscovered or overlooked intermediates may play important roles in regulating gene expression by activating or repressing the action of these nuclear receptors. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled ‘Steroid Perspectives’.
ESR spectrometer at 250 GHz

We describe the design principles of an electron spin resonance spectrometer operating at 250GHz, which uses quasioptics to propagate the far-infrared radiation instead of conventional waveguide techniques. We include examples that illustrate the sensitivity and flexibility of the spectrometer. We also include a quasi-optical analysis of the expected performance of a novel reflection mode spectrometer.
Multiband and Wide Dynamic Range Digital Polar Transmitter Using Current-Mode Class-D CMOS Power Amplifier

Techniques are demonstrated to extend the power control dynamic range of a digitally-driven 0.15 um CMOS polar power amplifier to the degree needed for WCDMA handset applications. The output frequency can be tuned over the 0.75-2GHz range, using an on-chip band-switching resonator, and output power of 27-29 dBm is attained. By partitioning the switching PA into multiple 3-state unit cells, power dynamic ranges of 91 / 85 dB are achieved at 0.85 / 1.75 GHz while maintaining high efficiency. By introducing a buck converter that can act not only with pulse width modulation but also in charge sampling mode, the overall DC power consumption in the power back- off regime can be reduced by a factor of approximately 0.7.