cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chapter 4 Photoreflectance Spectroscopy of Microstructures

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the application and flexibility of modulation spectroscopy, particularly electroreflectance (ER) and photoreflectance (PR), to study artificially structured materials (ASMs). The chapter explains the way measurements on microstructures have helped understand the properties of ASM and of the modulation mechanisms involved in electromodulation spectroscopy. The types of physical systems to be studied are of a multilayer variety whose building block is usually composed of two materials having different band gaps. This difference in band gaps can lead to the confinement of carriers in one of the two materials (that is, the carriers can become confined to a quantum well). With modulation spectroscopy, the derivative of the absorptivity or reflectivity with respect to some parameter is evaluated. This spectroscopy is sensitive to critical-point transitions in the Brillouin zone, while the resulting spectrum has sharp derivative-like features and a little, if any, featureless background.
Maximum Likelihood Inference in Weakly Identified DSGE Models

This paper examines the problem of weak identification in maximum likelihood, motivated by problems with estimation and inference a multi-dimensional, non-linear DSGE model. We suggest a test for a simple hypothesis concerning the full parameter vector which is robust to weak identification. We also suggest a test for a composite hypothesis regarding a sub-vector of parameters. The suggested test is shown to be asymptotically exact when the nuisance parameter is strongly identified, and in some cases when the nuisance parameter is weakly identified. We pay particular attention to the question of how to estimate Fisher’s information, and make extensive use of martingale theory.
Scholarly Use of the Internet by Faculty Members

AbstractA quantitative survey of faculty members in a research university setting examined how they are using the Internet in their scholarly work: contacting colleagues, gathering support, conducting research, disseminating knowledge, and publishing results. Contacting colleagues was the aspect of scholarly work that was most supported by Internet use. There were moderate correlations for conducting research and disseminating knowledge with the presence of works online and published articles. Extent and scope of communications were found to increase with years of use, but use decreased with years of age. There was moderate support for organizational and environmental factors in contacting colleagues.
The effects of gender-specific diagnosis on men's and women's response to infertility.

Objective To determine if differences could be distinguished between men's and women's emotional response to infertility based on the assignment of a gender-specific diagnosis. Design Gender-specific diagnoses were examined in relation to stigma, perception of loss, role failure, and self-esteem, using structured interviews. Setting Tertiary clinical care in private practice settings. Participants Thirty-six self-selected volunteer couples undergoing infertility treatment. Main Outcome Measures Stigma, perception of loss, role failure, and lowered self-esteem emerged from content analysis of structured interview data. Results No differences were found among women in their emotional response to infertility regardless of whether a female or male infertility factor was present, whereas men with a male factor experienced more negative emotional response to infertility than men without a male factor. Conclusions Although both women and men are affected by infertility, their emotional response is significantly influenced by a gender-specific diagnosis. Men's response to infertility closely approximates that of women if the infertility has been attributed to a male factor but differs considerably if a male factor is not found.
Acute Stroke Intervention

Acute stroke is common, has high morbidity and mortality, and is grossly undertreated in the United States. The goals for ischemic stroke therapy should be rapid and safe reperfusion of the culprit artery, either through the use of thrombolytic drugs or mechanical therapies in appropriate patients. Many options currently exist for mechanical embolectomy of stroke and each has unique advantages and disadvantages. The field of stroke intervention is constantly evolving as new devices and new insights are employed. Nevertheless, the “optimal” therapy for acute stroke remains elusive, as the field searches for large-scale multicenter randomized trials which can help build consensus and shape guideline recommendations.
In vivo investigation of acidified pepsin exposure to porcine vocal fold epithelia.

Objectives/Hypothesis The study objective was to investigate epithelial changes in response to direct, repeated, acidified pepsin exposures in an in vivo porcine model. We hypothesized that 12 acidified pepsin applications to simulate reflux would elicit a vocal fold response characterized by inflammation, epithelial proliferation, and increased intercellular space, as well as changes in the gene expression of epithelial junctional proteins, ion transporter proteins, and proinflammatory cytokines. Study Design Prospective, in vivo study. Methods Pigs received acidified pepsin (pH = 4) or saline (sham) applied directly to vocal folds. Larynges were collected following three exposures per week for 4 weeks. Vocal fold tissue morphology, collagen, and elastin were evaluated histologically. Gene expression of E-cadherin, zona occludens-1, cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator, epithelial sodium channel, interleukin-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interferon-γ were measured. Ultrastructural alterations, epithelial intercellular space diameter, and microridge height were measured using transmission electron microscopy. Results There were no significant differences in histology, gene transcripts, epithelial ultrastructure, intercellular space, and microridge height after acidified pepsin exposure. Conclusions Twelve simulated reflux challenges were insufficient to elicit epithelial changes, demonstrating the resistance of healthy vocal folds to direct, repeated acidified pepsin exposures. These data increase our understanding of healthy vocal fold defenses and lay the groundwork for a prospective, uninjured, nonsurgical, laryngopharyngeal reflux model where pigs can be exposed directly to acidified pepsin. Level of Evidence NA Laryngoscope, 2015
Bile acid-dependent vesicular transport of lysosomal enzymes into bile in the rat

Abstract Background: Bile acids may stimulate the movement of hepatocyte vesicles and enhance their fusion with the biliary canaliculus. The present study examined the effects of various bile acids on the exocytosis of the contents of hepatocyte lysosomes into the biliary canaliculus. Methods: The effects of various bile acids on hepatocyte lysosome movement and on exocytosis of the contents of hepatocyte lysosomes into the biliary canaliculus were determined from the distribution of fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran—labeled lysosomes in hepatocyte couplets and by quantitating biliary lysosomal enzyme output in rats. Results: Hydrophobic as well as hydrophilic and nonmicellar bile acids were found to stimulate to a similar degree the output of lysosomal enzymes into bile, indicating that bile acid-induced change of canalicular or lysosomal membrane fluidity is not responsible for enhanced exocytosis. The taurocholate-dependent increase in lysosomal enzyme excretion was completely blocked by either microtubule or microfilament inhibition, suggesting that these subcellular structures are involved in bile acid-dependent vesicular transport. Fluorescent microscopy studies showed that taurocholate causes a microtubule-dependent translocation of lysosomes towards the canaliculus in hepatocyte couplets, which occurred at the same time as increased output of lysosomal enzymes into bile. Conclusions: The results suggest that bile acids modulate vesicle traffic towards the canaliculus by a mechanism unrelated to bile acid interaction with the vesicle membrane.
Rechargeable Na/Na[sub x]CoO[sub 2] and Na[sub 15]Pb[sub 4]/Na[sub x]CoO[sub 2] polymer electrolyte cells

Cells using polyethylene oxide as a sodium ion conducting electrolyte, P2 phase as the positive electrode and either sodium or sodium/lead alloy as the negative electrode were assembled, discharged, and cycled. intercalates sodium over a range of , giving theoretical energy densities of 1600 Wh/liter (for sodium) or 1470 Wh/liter (for sodium/lead alloy). Cells could be discharged at rates up to 2.5 mA/cm2 corresponding to 25% depth of discharge and typically were discharged and charged at 0.5 mA/cm2 (100% depth of discharge) or approximately 1–2 C rate. Over one hundred cycles to 60% utilization or more, and two hundred shallower cycles at this rate have been obtained in this laboratory. Experimental evidence suggests that the cathode is the limiting factor in determining cycle life and not the Na/PEO interface as previously thought. Estimates of practical energy and power densities based on the cell performance and the following configuration are presented: 30–45 w/o electroactive material in the positive electrode, a twofold excess of sodium, 10 μm separators, and 5 μm current collectors composed of metal coated plastic. On the basis of these calculations, practical power densities of 335 W/liter for continuous discharge at 0.5 mA/cm2 and up to 2.7 kW/liter for short periods of time should be attainable. This level of performance approaches or exceeds that seen for some lithium/polymer systems under consideration for electric vehicle applications, but with a lower anticipated cost.
Read optimized file system designs: a performance evaluation

A performance comparison is presented of several file system allocation policies. The file systems are designed to provide high bandwidth between disks and main memory by taking advantage of parallelism in an underlying disk array catering to large units of transfer, and minimizing the bandwidth dedicated to the transfer of metadata. All of the file systems described use a multiblock allocation strategy which allows both large and small files to be allocated efficiently. Simulation results show that these multiblock policies result in systems that are able to utilize a large percentage of the underlying disk bandwidth (more than 90% in sequential cases). As general-purpose systems are called upon to support more data intensive applications such as databases and supercomputing, these policies offer an opportunity to provide superior performance to a larger class of users. >
Asymptotic analysis of a lubricated heavily loaded spinning and rolling ball in a parabolic raceway

In the paper, the previously developed asymptotic approach to solution of the steady isothermal problem of elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) for heavily loaded point contacts is applied to a lubricated point contact with rolling and spinning. It is shown that the whole contact region can be subdivided into three subregions. The central region can be subdivided into the Hertzian region and two adjacent boundary layers — the inlet and exit zones. The main results of the paper are threefold: (i) it is shown that in the central parts of the inlet and exit zones, the mechanisms and the equations controlling the behaviour of the lubrication contact parameters in heavily loaded point and line EHL contacts are identical, (ii) asymptotically precise formulas for the central and exit lubrication film thickness for pre-critical and over-critical starved and fully flooded lubrication regimes are analytically derived, and (iii) the inlet and exit zone asymptotically valid equations are uniform across all steady heavily loaded line and point EHL contacts for lubricants with the same rheology. These asymptotically valid equations were analysed and numerically solved in previously published work based on the stable methods utilising the specific regularisation approach developed for lubricated line contacts. Cases of pre-critical and over-critical lubrication regimes are considered. The formulas for the lubrication film thickness for pre-critical and over-critical starved and fully flooded lubrication regimes allow for simple analysis of the film thickness as a function of spinning angular speed, angle of the entrained lubricant and other pertinent contact characteristics. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A 164 ka record of environmental change in the American Southwest from a Carlsbad Cavern speleothem

Abstract A horizontal core 2.8 m in length drilled from the Georgia Giant column in Carlsbad Cavern provides climate information for the last 164 ka. Forty-six alpha spectrometric U-series ages determined at intervals of ∼ 7.6 cm along the core indicate five periods of deposition and five hiatuses, the longest from 136 to 110 ka. Variations in growth rate (0 to 70 mm/ka), in the abundance of aragonite, chalcedony, and Fe-bearing phases, and in 13C indicate that glacial intervals of the last 164 ka, OIS 6, 4, and 2, were much wetter than today, as were the colder substages 5d and 5b of OIS 5. By contrast, during the two warmest periods of the past 164 ka, namely OIS 5e and 1, there was no deposition on either side of the speleothem, suggesting conditions as dry or drier than today. The record from Carlsbad parallels data from many other sites in the southwestern USA and northern Mexico, and data from marine sediments and ice cores, demonstrating the extent to which ice sheet fluctuations influenced conditions in southern New Mexico. Detailed correlation of δ13C values in the Georgia Giant, which range from − 6.6 to + 0.9‰ relative to PDB, with distant speleothem records and with data from ice cores, further documents the linkage of southwestern climate with global-scale extent of glaciation. Values of δ18O in the Georgia Giant core range from − 9.7 to − 4.7‰ relative to PDB and average − 6.6‰. 18O-depleted carbonate in the Georgia Giant during OIS 6, at a time when the world's oceans were enriched in 18O, suggests that precipitation during cold intervals was brought largely by Pacific air masses in fall, winter and spring as a result of the southward displacement of the polar jet stream by the growth of the Laurentide Ice Sheet. Termination II, marking the end of the penultimate glaciation, is well defined in the core's δ18O data. Analytical uncertainties in the radiometric ages do not preclude a start of Termination II as late as 128 ka, as suggested by SPECMAP data. However, data from the Georgia Giant core are more compatible with an earlier start like that obtained from Devils Hole and Vostok data, raising the possibility that early warming was widespread in the U.S. southwest region by 145 ka.
Does Psychotherapy Help Some Students? an Overview of Psychotherapy Outcome Research

This article provides a brief overview of the outcome research on psychotherapy with children and adolescents. Outcome research indicates that psychotherapy can be effective with both children and adolescents, with meta-analyses indicating that youth who participated in this type of intervention tended to score on the outcome measures half of a standard deviation or more above those who did not receive any intervention. Little is known about the process of psychotherapy with children, but there are some indications that the therapeutic relationship is important. Moreover, there is some research that supports the assumption that certain types of treatment are most helpful with specific clinical issues.
QUANTIFYING SPATIAL CHARACTERISTICS FOR TRAVEL BEHAVIOR MODELS

Land use initiatives represent a potentially effective tool for coping with the kinds of mobility patterns that North American cities face in the 1990s and in the coming century. As fine-grained data about land use and travel activity become available, they provide the opportunity to improve the understanding of the linkage between land use and transportation. The neighborhood characteristics that could affect travel behavior on the nonwork tour are examined in detail. Neighborhood characteristics include land use, network, and accessibility-related characteristics quantified through the use of a geographic information system. Ultimately, such measures could be used in conjunction with detailed surveys of travel behavior to specify, calibrate, and use models of modal choice and trip type that are more sensitive to the fine-grained spatial structure of neighborhoods and transportation corridors in metropolitan areas. Microlevel data for the Boston metropolitan area, together with a 1991 activity survey of approximately 10,000 residents, provide a rich empirical basis for experimenting with relevant neighborhood measures and for simulating their effects on travel behavior. Spatial characteristics affect travel behavior even on the relatively (spatially) restricted nonwork tour and could be potentially useful for transportation planning.
Mutations to A/Puerto Rico/8/34 PB1 gene improves seasonal reassortant influenza A virus growth kinetics

It is desirable for influenza vaccine virus strains to have phenotypes that include good growth and hemagglutinin (HA) protein yield. The quality of these characteristics varies among the vaccine viruses and is usually due to multigenic effects. Many influenza A virus vaccine viruses are made as reassortants of the high yield virus A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (PR/8) and a circulating seasonal virus. Co-infection of eggs with the two viruses, and selection of reassortants with the HA and neuraminidase (NA) segments from the seasonal virus, can result in viruses that contain a mixture of internal genes derived from both the high yield virus and the circulating virus. Segment 2 (PB1), which encodes the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, frequently cosegregates with the seasonal HA and NA segments. We asked whether mutations based on the seasonal PB1 genes could improve vaccine virus strains. Here we report that mutations to the PR/8 PB1 gene, based on differences observed between seasonal and PR/8 PB1 genes, accelerate egg and cell culture based replication for a reassortant virus containing HA and NA segments from the low yield A/Wyoming/03/2003 (H3N2) vaccine virus.
Biochemical and Immunological Properties of the Reverse Transcriptase Associated with a Hamster Retrovirus

Several properties of an RNA-directed DNA polymerase associated with a hamster retrovirus (HaRV) were examined and found to be similar to other polymerases from mammalian type-C viruses in that the enzyme (i) is more active with Mn2+ than Mg2+, (ii) uses the reverse transcriptase-specific poly(rCm).oligo(dG) template, (iii) possesses substantial endogenous polymerase activity and (iv) is strongly inhibited by homologous antisera and moderately inhibited by antisera directed against other type-C viruses. In contrast to previous reports of polymerases from other hamster viruses, HaRV polymerase is active in endogenous assays and the activity is associated with a 70,000 mol. wt. polypeptide in highly purified virions and with 70,000 and 85,000 mol. wt. polypeptides in fresh, unpurified virus. Only one major peak of polymerase activity eluted from DEAE-cellulose while subsequent elution of this peak from phosphocellulose produced two major peaks of polymerase activity. The mol. wt. of these two peaks were 70,000 and 85,000 by glycerol density-gradient sedimentation. The HaRV reverse transcriptase and p30 were found to be most closely related antigenically to other rodent retrovirus proteins.
Motions of a Rimless Spoked Wheel: a Simple 3D System with Impacts

This paper discusses the mechanics of a rigid rimless spoked wheel, or regular polygon, ‘rolling’ downhill. By ‘rolling’, we mean motions in which the wheel pivots on one ‘support’ spoke until another spoke collides with the ground, followed by transfer of support to that spoke, and so on. We carry out three-dimensional (3D) numerical and analytical stability studies of steady motions of this system. At any fixed, large enough slope, the system has a one-parameter family of stable steady rolling motions. We find analytic approximations for the minimum required slope at a given heading for stable rolling in three dimensions, for the case of many spokes and small slope. The rimless wheel shares some qualitative features with passive–dynamic walking machines; it is a passive 3D system with intermittent impacts and periodic motions. In terms of complexity, it lies between one-dimensional impact oscillators and 3D walking machines. In contrast to a rolling disk on a flat surface which has steady rolling motion...
A meshless grain element for micromechanical analysis with crystal plasticity

This study concerns the development of a 2-D meshless grain element for elasto-plastic deformation and intergranular damage initiation and propagation in polycrystalline fcc metals under static loading. The crystallographic material behaviour of the grains is represented by a rate-independent single-crystal plasticity model while including material orthotropy. The two slip planes are arbitrarily located with respect to the crystallographic axis of the grain. A non-linear constitutive model known as the cohesive zone model is employed to represent the inelastic interaction between the grain boundaries, thus permitting grain boundary opening and sliding. The cohesive model describes the deformation characteristics of the grain boundaries through a non-linear relation between the effective grain boundary tractions and displacements. Because of the presence of non-linear material behaviour both inside the grain and along the cohesive grain boundaries, the method utilizes the principle of virtual work in conjunction with the meshless formulation in the derivation of the system of non-linear incremental equilibrium equations. The solution is obtained via an incremental procedure based on the Taylor series expansion about the current equilibrium configuration. The fidelity of the present approach is verified by considering simple polycrystalline metals of only a few grains. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Drought resistance of mycorrhizal pepper plants independent of leaf P concentration - response in gas exchange and water relations

Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) plants with and without the VA-mycorrhizal fungus Ghmus deserticola Trappe. Bloss and Menge (VAM and NVAM. respectively), were drought acclimated by four drought cycles (DA) or kept well watered (NDA). All plants were then subjected to an additional drought followed by a 3-day irrigation recovery period. Measurements of water relations, gas exchange and carbohydrates were made at selected intervals throughout the drought cycles and recovery. To equalize growth and avoid higher P in VAM plants. NVAM plants received higher P fertilization. Consequently, similar transpirational surface and shoot mass were achieved in all treatments, but NVAM had a higher tissue P concentration than VAM plants. Plants that were either VAM or DA, but especially the VAM-DA plants, tended to be high in net photosynthetic flux (A), A per unit of tissue P concentration (A/P), stomatal conductance (g) or leaf turgor (Ψp) during high environmental stress or recovery from stress. During this time, NVAM-NDA plants had low A. A/P and leaf chlorophyll, but high soluble carbohydrate concentrations in their leaves. All VAM and DA plants had some osmotic adjustment compared to the NVAM-NDA plants, but VAM-DA plants had the most. Osmotic adjustment was not due to accumulation of soluble carbohydrate. The high turgor, A and g in the VAM-DA plants during and following environmental stress indicated superior drought resistance of these plants; however, osmotic adjustment was only apparent during recovery and cannot account for the observed drought resistance during environmental stress. Drought resistance of VAM-DA plants was not attributable to high leaf P concentration or confounded by differences in plant transpirational surface.
Evidence for a poleward meridional flow on the sun

We define for observational study two subsets of all polar zone filaments, which we call polemost filaments and polar filament bands. The behavior of the mean latitude of both the polemost filaments and the polar filament bands is examined and compared with the evolution of the polar magnetic field over an activity cycle as recently distilled by Howard and LaBonte (1981) from the past 13 years of Mt. Wilson full-disk magnetograms. The magnetic data reveal that the polar magnetic fields are built up and maintained by the episodic arrival of discrete f-polarity regions that originate in active region latitudes and subsequently drift to the poles. After leaving the active-region latitudes, these unipolar f-polarity regions do not spread equatorward even though there is less net flux equatorward; this indicates that the f-polarity regions are carried poleward by a meridional flow, rather than by diffusion. The polar zone filaments are an independent tracer which confirms both the episodic polar field formation and the meridional flow. We find: (1) The mean latitude of the polemost filaments tracks the boundary of the polar field cap and undergoes an equatorward dip during each arrival of additional polar field. (2) Polar filament bands track the boundary latitudes of the unipolar regions, drifting poleward with the regions at about 10 m s-1. (3) The Mt. Wilson magnetic data, combined with a simple model calculation, show that the filament drift expected from diffusion alone would be slower than observed, and in some cases would be equatorward rather than poleward. (4) The observation that filaments drift poleward along with the magnetic regions shows that fields of both polarities are carried by the meridional flow, as would be expected, rather than only the f-polarity flux which dominates the strength. This leads to the prediction that in the mid-latitudes during intervals between the passage of f-polarity regions, both polarities are present in nearly equal amounts. This prediction is confirmed by the magnetic data.
Productivity–quality–costs–safety: A sustained approach to competitive advantage—a systematic review of the national safety council's case studies in safety and productivity

The marked improvement in workplace safety levels in the past few decades has resulted in companies experiencing fewer safety accidents than before, thus making it less effective to argue that money spent on workplace safety and on injury prevention will yield much bottom-line benefit. To make a compelling business case for workplace safety investment, one must link safety objectives to other business objectives. The objective of this study is to determine whether workplace safety as a business objective adds value to the business bottom line. This research reviews published case studies to determine if there is a relationship between safety initiatives and increased productivity, quality, and cost efficiencies. Eighteen case studies (17 published by the National Safety Council) were analyzed using the Workplace Safety Intervention Appraisal Instrument. The appraisal scores ranged from 0.55 to 1.27, with an average of 0.91. The case studies were relatively strong in the Evidence Reporting and Data Analysis categories, as compared to the Subject Selection, Observation Quality, and Generalization to Other Populations categories. Following workplace safety initiatives, the studies revealed an average increase of 66% (2%104%) in productivity, 44% (4%73%) in quality, 82% (52%100%) in safety records, and 71% (38%100%) in cost benefits. In a few reported cases, it took only 8 months to obtain a payback in terms of monetary investment in the safety initiative. Although the studies did display a correlation between safety, productivity, and quality, there is insufficient evidence to categorically state that the improvements in productivity, quality, and cost efficiency were brought about by the introduction of an organization-wide safety culture. Notwithstanding, there is demonstrable evidence to indicate that safety as a business objective can assist an organization in achieving the long-term benefit of operational sustainability, that is, achieve a long-term competitive advantage by balancing business costs against social costs. Further research is required to conclusively prove the exact (possibly quantifiable) impact of safety investment on increased productivity, quality, and cost efficiency. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
PLANNING AND SCHEDULING IN FLIGHT WORKLOAD MANAGEMENT

A closed loop adaptive model for workload has been proposed by Hart and Wickens (1990) in which planning and scheduling activities contribute to the increase or diminution of workload the operator may experience. Of relevance to this model is people's ability to estimate how much time they need to complete a task, their ability to prioritize the tasks to be performed, and their ability to schedule those tasks on time. Thirty pilots flew three ILS approaches under different levels of workload. The data indicates that the increase in workload affected flight performance as well as the planning and scheduling of tasks with different levels of prioritization. This level of prioritization closely approximated the flight instructor's and the subjects' subjective ratings of the degree of importance of each task. It is also suggested that overconfidence in time estimation may depend on the task involved. Finally, the data is discussed in terms of its implication to a closed loop adaptive model of workload.
A narrative analysis of action research on teaching composition

The purposes of this content analysis of action research studies on teaching composition are two-fold: to examine action research studies on teaching classroom compositions to learn more about classroom composition pedagogy, including the values and beliefs that shaped the instruction and findings; and secondly, to demonstrate how narrative analysis techniques may help to amalgamate the research and findings of action research projects and thereby draw useful pedagogical and theoretical information. Narrative analysis techniques were applied to the narratives of these reports to gather information about the salient values and issues that determined what was to be studied, and how instructional practice and outcomes were evaluated. The narrative analysis revealed the organisational structure of the reports and how the teacher-researchers validated themselves and their experiences. Patterns emerged in the literary organisation of the narrative, beliefs about agency and the value of music instruction, learni...
Gender equality and the sex differential in suicide rates.

Two measures of gender equality were not associated with the sex differential in suicide rates in 23 industrialized nations in 1985.
Selective Absorption of Circularly Polarized Light in Broad Bands by the Zeeman Components of Divalent Thulium in Calcium Fluoride

The paramagnetic circular dichroism of the $4f\ensuremath{-}5d$ absorption bands of Ca${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$:${\mathrm{Tm}}^{2+}$ was investigated at 2.0\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K and 9.0kG. Using group theory it is shown that the bands can be separated into ${E}_{\frac{5}{2}}$ and ${G}_{\frac{3}{2}}$ character. Experimentally it was found that in this case the bands are primarily ${G}_{\frac{3}{2}}$ in character. Optical pumping experiments were performed where changes as large as \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}20% were easily observed in the electron-paramagnetic-resonance absorption signal at $X$-band frequencies and 1.5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K by changing the polarization of the pump light from right to left circular. A method for optically monitoring the difference in the population of the two Zeeman components of the ground state is also reported on.
Riemann¿Roch like theorem for triangulated categories

Abstract We will prove a Riemann–Roch like theorem for triangulated categories satisfying Serre duality. As an application, we will prove Riemann–Roch Theorem and Adjunction Formula for noncommutative Cohen–Macaulay surfaces in terms of sheaf cohomology. We will also show that the formulas hold for stable categories over Koszul connected graded algebras in terms of Tate–Vogel cohomology by extending the BGG correspondence.
Regulation of cellular membrane transport by the exocytotic insertion and endocytic retrieval of transporters

Abstract A mechanism for the rapid, reversible modulation of cellular transport rates by hormones and other agents is the exocytotic insertion of transporter-containing vesicles into the plasma membrane and their endocytic removal. Considerable evidence indicates that this mechanism accounts for insulin stimulation of glucose transport in fat and muscle cells, for histamine stimulation of acid secretion in the stomach mucosa, and for vasopressin enhancement of water permeability across bladder and kidney epithelia. The characteristic features of this type of regulation are presented.
Surprising contribution to aminoacylation and translation of non-Watson–Crick pairs in tRNA

Abstract Molecules of transfer RNA (tRNA) typically contain four stems composed of Watson–Crick (W-C) base pairs and infrequent mispairs such as G-U and A-C. The latter mispairs are fundamental units of RNA secondary structure found in nearly every class of RNA and are nearly isomorphic to W-C pairs. Therefore, they often substitute for G-C or A-U base pairs. The mispairs also have unique chemical, structural, and dynamic conformational properties, which can only be partially mimicked by W-C base pairs. Here, I characterize the identities and tasks of six mutant G-U and A-C mispairs in Escherichia coli tRNAGly using genetic and bioinformatic tools and show that mispairs are significantly more important for aminoacylation and translation than previously realized. Mispairs boost aminoacylation and translation primarily because they activate tRNA by means of their conformational flexibility. The statistical preservation of the six mutant mispair sites across tRNAGly in many organisms points to a fundamental structure–function signature within tRNAGly with possible analogous missions in other RNAs. evolutionary conservation ribosomal function Wobble pairs
Morphological, developmental and immunohistochemical observations on the opossum pituitary with emphasis on the pars intermedia

Abstract Development of the pituitary in Didelphis follows the general pattern of that described for most mammalianspecies. The dorsal region of a multichambered pituitary vesicle, which forms from Rathke 's pouch, comes to lie adjacent to the presumptive ipfundibulum by the 10 d of gestation. The epithelial wall of this vesicle consists of spindle-shaped cells. The dorsal wall of the upper chamber of the pituitary vesicle forms the pars intermedia; the ventral wall of this chamber gives rise to cells of the pars distalis. Corticotropes, somatotropes, and lactotropes are seen in the presumptive adenohypophysis of the 11 d embryo. Gonadotropes and thyrotropes appear about 1 d later, shortly after birth. By the 2 postnatal week, the adult distribution of all 5 cell types within the pars distalis appears to have been established. The wall bounding the pituitary cleft in the adult represents an epithelial continuum limited by a basal laminaand corresponds to the upper chamber of the original pituitary vesicle. Ultrastructurally, the limiting walls of the pituitary cleft consists of stellate (marginal) cells, large, bulbous cells, and granulated cells. The latter correspond to the various endocrine cell types normally associated with the pars distalis. Non-granular folliculostellate cells also are observed within the epithelial cords of the pars distalis.
In vivo near-IR imaging of occlusal lesions at 1310 nm

Several in vitro studies have demonstrated the potential for transillumination imaging and optical coherence tomography operating at 1310-nm for imaging caries lesions on tooth proximal and occlusal surfaces. Recently, we demonstrated that lesions on proximal surfaces could be imaged in vivo using NIR transillumination and that PS-OCT can be used in vivo to measure early demineralization on tooth buccal and occlusal surfaces. In this paper we report the first in vivo measurements using OCT and NIR imaging of occlusal lesions that have been scheduled for restoration. Occlusal lesions were chosen that were scheduled for restoration based on conventional diagnosis that consists of visual and tactile examination. Occlusal lesions were visible in the NIR. OCT looks promising for confirming the lateral spread of occlusal caries under the dentinal-enamel junction adjacent to fissures. These studies suggest that both near infrared transillumination imaging at 1310-nm and OCT provide valuable information about the severity of caries lesions.
Cosmic ray flux impact on clouds? An analysis of radiosonde, cloud cover, and surface temperature records from the United States

¶Many scientists have suggested that variations in cosmic ray flux may impact cloudiness at regional, hemispheric, or global scales. However, considerable debate surrounds (a) whether high or low clouds are most strongly impacted by cosmic rays, (b) the degree of seasonality in cloud responses to cosmic rays, and (c) the determination of physical processes involved in cosmic ray/cloud interactions. Some scientists find strong correlation coefficients between cloud measurements and cosmic ray flux, while others find no relationship whatsoever; virtually all scientists working on this issue are hampered by the relatively short time period with accurate cloud and cosmic ray flux records. In an attempt to extend the period of record, we assembled surface and radiosonde data for the United States over the period 1957–1996 along with sunspot records which are known to be strongly, but inversely, related to cosmic ray flux. We also assembled cloud cover data and cosmic ray measurements over a reduced time period. We found that periods with low sunspot number (times with high cosmic ray flux) are associated with significantly higher dew point depressions, a higher diurnal temperature range, and less cloud cover. Our results do not support suggestions of increased cloud cover during periods of high cosmic ray flux.
Motor cortical functional geometry in cerebral palsy and its relationship to disability

Objective To investigate motor cortical map patterns in children with diplegic and hemiplegic cerebral palsy (CP), and the relationships between motor cortical geometry and motor function in CP.
Initial stages of hydration and Zn substitution/occupation on hydroxyapatite (0001) surfaces.

Abstract The initial stages of the hydration process have been simulated on a single-Ca(I) terminated hydroxyapatite (0 0 0 1) surface in step-by-step fashion using periodic slab density functional theory (DFT). Adsorption configurations and energetic properties have been described at different H 2 O coverage. At low H 2 O coverage, oxygen prefers to form Ca O bonds with surface Ca cations, but as coverage increases, H 2 O tends to loosely float on the already-formed water layer. The height of the first layer H 2 O relative to the surface is found to be 1.6 A. The hydration process does not cause the decomposition of surface phosphate groups and hydroxyl channel, but does affect the energetics of subsequent Zn substitution and occupation on Ca(I) and Ca(II) sites. The Ca(II) vacancy site is found to be energetically more favorable for occupation due to less spatial constraint. This suggested mechanism of preferential occupation is different from previous attempts to explain the cation substitution site preference in bulk by ionic radius and electronegativity differences.
Modulation of rabbit keratocyte production of collagen, sulfated glycosaminoglycans and fibronectin by retinol and retinoic acid

This study elucidates the biochemical response of rabbit corneal keratocytes (fibroblasts) to retinol and retinoic acid in their production of collagen, fibronectin, sulfated glycosaminoglycans, collagenase, and [3H]thymidine incorporation. The morphologic appearance of cultured keratocytes was not altered by retinoid treatment. Collagen production and [3H]thymidine incorporation demonstrated a parallel decline in response to retinoids. Collagen type was unaffected as was collagenase activity. Retinoids had minimal effect on cell layer-associated 35S-labeled glycosaminoglycans, however medium-soluble 35S-glycosaminoglycans were increased. The most dramatic effect was in fibronectin synthesis which was increased 2-3-fold. These data demonstrate that rabbit keratocytes alter their biosynthesis of extracellular matrices in response to retinoids. This may be significant in corneal pathology, since the delicate balance of these extracellular macromolecules is responsible for corneal integrity and stability.
Assessing Fat-related Dietary Behaviors among Black Women: Reliability and Validity of a New Food Habits Questionnaire

Abstract Objective To describe the development of the SisterTalk Food Habits Questionnaire (STFHQ). Design Formative research was conducted to adapt previous tools for the study’s target population. A pilot tool (168 questions) was tested. The new 94-question tool was then used for evaluation of the SisterTalk project. Lastly, a 4-week reliability calibration study of the revised STFHQ was conducted in comparison with a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Analysis Reliability was assessed using test-retest correlations. Validity was assessed by correlations between STFHQ scores with FFQ calculated calories, total fat (g) and percentage of calories from fat. Three scoring methods (ie, introductory, product, and detail) were calculated along with inclusion or exclusion of dining out questions and alternate methods of scoring for food items not consumed. Results Reliability (correlation) was 0.87. Inclusion of dining out questions and imputation of zero for food items never consumed were more highly associated with fat intake than other scoring methods. The introductory score was most highly correlated with fat (g), whereas the product and detail scoring methods correlated highest with percentage of calories from fat. Responsiveness to the SisterTalk intervention was highest with the detail score. Conclusions and Implications The STFHQ is a reliable and valid tool that may be useful for evaluating dietary change for black women.
Standard stars for cometary photometry

Interference filters centered at 0.365, 0.387, 0.406, 0.484, and 0.514 microns have been selected to represent UV continuum, CN emission, C3 emission, blue continuum, and C2 emission in cometary spectra, respectively. Adopted magnitudes and colors of this filter system are presented for 50 standard stars, ranging in bue magnitude from 4 to 12, in spectral type from O to K, and distributed primarily around equatorial regins of the sky. The tabulated uncertainties are generally of the order of 0.02 mag or smaller; the zero points of the photometric system are chosen so that blue continuum magnitudes are approximately equivalent to Johnson B, and so that color indices average zero for solar analog stars.
Comparison of bovine coronavirus (BCV) antigens: Monoclonal antibodies to the spike glycoprotein distinguish between vaccine and wild-type strains

Abstract Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against two major structural proteins of the cell-adapted Mebus strain of bovine coronavirus (BCV-L9) were produced and characterized. Seven MAbs reacted with the peplomeric glycoprotein, gp100/S, while three MAbs reacted with the nucleoprotein p53/N in Western blot analysis of BCV polypeptides. MAbs to gp100/S reacted with discontinuous epitopes of gp100/S in Westerns under mild but not under standard denaturing conditions. In contrast, MAbs to p53/N reacted in both types of Westerns, and those epitopes were thus continuous. MAbs to p53/N failed to neutralize BCV infectivity, while 4 MAbs to gp100/S neutralized BCV effectively. Cross reactivity of MAbs to gp100/S specified by five virulent wild-type strains and two high passage, cell-culture-adapted strains in mildly denaturing Westerns and neutralization assays indicated that two epitopes were conserved in all seven strains, while two epitopes of the avirulent strains were not detected in the wild-type strains. Non-neutralizing MAbs of gp100/S reacted with all seven strains in Westerns with the exception of one MAb that was specific for the highly cell-adapted strain BCV-L9.
Neuropharmacological effects of 1,4-butanediol and related congeners compared with those of gamma-hydroxybutyrate and gamma-butyrolactone

Abstract The neuropharmacological effects of 1,4-butanediol (1,4 BD), 1,3-butanediol (1,3 BD), and related congeners were compared with those of γ-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) and γ-butyrolactone (GBL). This was accomplished by studies in the rat of gross behavioral changes, anesthetic effects, lethal effects, and electroencephalogram (EEG) tracings. With some minor variations, 1,4 BD, but not 1,3 BD, exhibited neuropharmacological effects similar to those of GHB and GBL. Neuropharmacological screening tests of structure-activity relationships with 1,4 BD congeners showed the following: (a) an increase in toxicity with increasing unsaturation at the 2,3-position of 1,4 BD, (b) a decrease in activity and toxicity with change in position of hydroxyl groups, and (c) a decrease in activity with variation in length of the aliphatic chain. Preliminary studies indicate that pyruvate can prevent or reverse the anesthetic effects induced by GHB, GBL, and 1,4 BD.
Reduced capacity to inhibit elastase in abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Background.Loss of elastin in the aortic wall is an early event in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). An imbalance in the protease-antiprotease system is proposed to be one of the factors that promote connective tissue destruction. We hypothesize that plasma from AAA patients will have a reduced inhibitory capacity in comparison to normal controls. Materials and methods.Using an assay we developed, plasma (10 μl), collected from AAA patients (n= 14) and normal controls (n= 13), was added to the elastase inhibition assay containing succinylated elastin substrate. The reaction was initiated with 13.9 units porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE). Elastase activity in the presence and absence of plasma was compared. Plasma elastase was also determined using the Merck PMN-elastase kit. Results.The relative activity of exogenous elastase (%) in the presence of AAA plasma (n= 14, mean age 73.4 years ± 1.7 SEM) was 42.59% ± 4.3 SEM, while that in the presence of control plasma (n= 13, mean age 73.9 years ± 2.1 SEM) was 10.23% ± 2.1 SEM (P< 0.0001). Analysis of plasma elastase (μg/L) indicated that there was no significant difference between normal (n= 9, 207.33 μg/L ± 58.67 SEM) and AAA (n= 9, 145.34 μg/L ± 29.54 SEM) (P= 0.359). Conclusion.There is a significant reduction in the plasma inhibitory capacity of elastase in AAA patients in comparison to normal controls, though plasma elastase level was not significantly different. The data presented here give experimental evidence to the protease-antiprotease imbalance in AAA patient plasma and may lead to the development of a measurable parameter to monitor AAA.
CORE CAPABILITIES AND CORE RIGIDITIES: A PARADOX IN MANAGING NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

This paper examines the nature of the core capabilities of a firm, focusing in particular on their interaction with new product and process development projects. Two new concepts about core capabilities are explored here. First, while core capabilities are traditionally treated as clusters of distinct technical systems, skills, and managerial systems, these dimensions of capabilities are deeply rooted in values, which constitute an often overlooked but critical fourth dimension. Second, traditional core capabilities have a down side that inhibits innovation, here called core rigidities. Managers of new product and process development projects thus face a paradox: how to take advantage of core capabilities without being hampered by their dysfunctional flip side. Such projects play an important role in emerging strategies by highlighting the need for change and leading the way. Twenty case studies of new product and process development projects in five firms provide illustrative data.