cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relationships Between the Item Difficulty and Discrimination Indexes

The dependence of the item discrimination index (D) on the item difficulty index (p), and the relationship of D and p to the phi coefficient (ϕ) are delineated. A table of critical values of D for significance at the .10 and .05 levels, with the number of examinees in the upper group (n, ) on total test score ranging from 10 to 25 and p ranging from .10 to .90, is presented. This table may be used to determine an acceptable magnitude of D for a given p and n1 or to find whether a particular combination of p and D will yield a significant ϕ.
Immunostimulatory DNA inhibits IL-4-dependent IgE synthesis by human B cells

Abstract Background: Immunostimulatory sequence oligodeoxynucleotide (ISS-ODN) is a potent antiallergic immunomodulating agent in mice. However, few studies have addressed its antiallergic potential in human subjects. Objective: We sought to determine whether a phosphoro-thioate ISS-ODN could inhibit IL-4–dependent IgE synthesis by human B cells. Methods: Initially, nonatopic- and atopic-donor PBMCs were incubated with ISS-ODN or mutated oligodeoxynucleotide, and cytokine production and B-cell expression of IFN-γ receptor and IL-4 receptor were measured by using ELISA and flow cytometry, respectively. In subsequent studies atopic-donor PBMCs were incubated with IL-4 alone or with ISS-ODN or mutated oligodeoxynucleotide. After 14 days, IgE production and IgM, IgG, and IgA production were determined by using ELISA. In select IgE studies cytokines were neutralized with mAbs. Results: ISS-ODN induced IL-12, IFN-α, IFN-γ, IL-10, and IL-6 production from both nonatopic- and atopic-donor PBMCs. ISS-ODN also increased IFN-γ receptor and inhibited IL-4 receptor expression on B cells from both donor populations. Furthermore, ISS-ODN inhibited IL-4–dependent IgE production by atopic-donor PBMCs. Neutralization of IL-12, IFN-α, IFN-γ, and IL-10, but not IL-6, attenuated the inhibitory activity of ISS-ODN on IgE production. In contrast to its inhibition of IgE synthesis, ISS-ODN stimulated the production of IgM, IgG, and IgA. Conclusion: These in vitro studies demonstrate that phos-phorothioate ISS-ODN elicits an innate immune response by PBMCs, which inhibits IL-4–dependent IgE synthesis. In addition, these results provide further support for consideration of ISS-ODN therapy for the treatment of allergic disease in clinical practice. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 2001;108:417-23.)
Mechanical Properties of Rigid Foam PVC-Clay Nanocomposites

The objective of this work is to investigate the effect of using different types of nanoclay fillers on the mechanical properties of rigid PVC foam. Four different types of commercially available nanoclays were used: Natural Calcium Montmorillonite (unmodified), Sodium Montmorillonite modified with a quaternary ammonium salt, Aluminum Magnesium Silicate clay, and Magnesium Lithium Silicate clay. The individual and combined effect of nanoclay concentration and blowing agent content in the polymer melt on the mechanical properties of the rigid foam is reported. Specific compressive strength, specific flexural modulus, and density were found to improve by introducing nanoclay in the polymer matrix. Whereas, tensile strength and modulus of elasticity showed some deterioration with the presence of nanoclay in the rigid PVC foam. On the other hand, impact strength and specific flexural strength did not show any significant changes.
Semiclassical electronic eigenvalues for charge asymmetric one-electron diatomic molecules: general method and sigma states

Abstract The primitive semiclassical method is applied to the motion of the electron in an asymmetrically charged one-electron diatomic molecule in the fixed nucleus approximation. Using the Einstein-Keller-Brillouin rules, semiclassical approximations to the eigenvalues are found for planar motion (σ states). The general method is applied to the one-electron diatom HeH2+. The agreement between the classical approximations and the quantum eigenvalues is qualitatively good and often quantitatively good, to within a fraction of a percent. For the two stable states considered, the semiclassical results fail at the onset of chemical bonding, emphasizing the importance of tunnelling. In contrast to the charge symmetric molecules, for some non-bonding states the primitive semiclassical results are good for all internuclear separations. An interesting scaling law is derived between states of a molecule with a common ratio of quantum numbers: (2n + 1)2 En(Rn) = (2m + 1)2 Em(Rm), where (2m + 1)2 Rn = (2n + 1)2 Rm.
Using GPS to learn significant locations and predict movement across multiple users

Wearable computers have the potential to act as intelligent agents in everyday life and to assist the user in a variety of tasks, using context to determine how to act. Location is the most common form of context used by these agents to determine the user's task. However, another potential use of location context is the creation of a predictive model of the user's future movements. We present a system that automatically clusters GPS data taken over an extended period of time into meaningful locations at multiple scales. These locations are then incorporated into a Markov model that can be consulted for use with a variety of applications in both single-user and collaborative scenarios.
Analysis of autoxidized fats by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry: V. Photosensitized oxidation

The role of singlet oxygen in oxidation was studied by analyzing hydroperoxide isomers in unsaturated fats and esters by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). On oxidation photosensitized with methylene blue at 0 C, methyl oleate produced a 50–50% mixture of 9- and 10-hydroperoxides, linoleate a mixture of 66% conjugated (9+13) and 34% unconjugated (10+12) hydroperoxides, and linolenate a mixture of 75% conjugated (9+12+13+16) and 25% unconjugated (10+15) hydroperoxides. Cottonseed, safflower, and corn oil esters showed, as in soybean esters, the presence of varying amounts of 12-hydroxy esters derived from the corresponding hydroperoxide at low peroxide values. Since these oils do not contain linolenic acid, a likely source of the 12-hydroperoxide is linoleic acid by photosensitized oxidation. Several lines of evidence support the conclusion that singlet oxygen may contribute to the unique hydroperoxide composition of vegetable oil esters at low levels of oxidation. In the presence of photosensitizers such as methylene blue and chlorophyll, the unique hydroperoxide composition (high levels of 10- and 12-hydroperoxides) obtained in soybean esters was similar to that produced by oxidation at low peroxide values. In contrast, a normal hydroperoxide composition was produced, as expected from the fatty acid composition of soybean oil esters, when singlet oxygen quenchers such as β-carotene and α-tocopherol were used and when the esters were treated with carbon black to remove natural photosensitizers. GC-MS analyses of the derived unsaturated alcohols provided indirect evidence for 12-hydroperoxy-9,13-diene in soybean esters as expected by photosensitized oxidation of linoleate.
Emergency medicine in space

Recent events, including the development of space tourism and commercial spaceflight, have increased the need for specialists in space medicine. With increased duration of missions and distance from Earth, medical and surgical events will become inevitable. Ground-based medical support will no longer be adequate when return to Earth is not an option. Pending the inclusion of sub-specialists, clinical skills and medical expertise will be required that go beyond those of current physician-astronauts, yet are well within the scope of Emergency Medicine. Emergency physicians have the necessary broad knowledge base as well as proficiency in basic surgical skills and management of the critically ill and injured. Space medicine shares many attributes with extreme conditions and environments that many emergency physicians already specialize in. This article is an introduction to space medicine, and a review of current issues in the emergent management of medical and surgical disease during spaceflight.
Deep brain stimulation for treatment-resistant depression: systematic review of clinical outcomes.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a widespread, severe, debilitating disorder that markedly diminishes quality of life. Medication is commonly effective, but 20–30 % of patients are refractory to medical therapy. The surgical treatment of psychiatric disorders has a negative stigma associated with it owing to historical abuses. Various ablative surgeries for MDD have been attempted with marginal success, but these studies lacked standardized outcome measures. The recent development of neuromodulation therapy, especially deep brain stimulation (DBS), has enabled controlled studies with sham stimulation and presents a potential therapeutic option that is both reversible and adjustable. We performed a systematic review of the literature pertaining to DBS for treatment-resistant depression to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this procedure. We included only studies using validated outcome measures. Our review identified 22 clinical research papers with 5 unique DBS approaches using different targets, including nucleus accumbens, ventral striatum/ventral capsule, subgenual cingulate cortex, lateral habenula, inferior thalamic nucleus, and medial forebrain bundle. Among the 22 published studies, only 3 were controlled trials, and 2, as yet unpublished, multicenter, randomized, controlled trials evaluating the efficacy of subgenual cingulate cortex and ventral striatum/ventral capsule DBS were recently discontinued owing to inefficacy based on futility analyses. Overall, the published response rate to DBS therapy, defined as the percentage of patients with > 50 % improvement on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, is reported to be 40–70 %, and outcomes were comparable across studies. We conclude that DBS for MDD shows promise, but remains experimental and further accumulation of data is warranted.
The Re-Enchantment of Political Science: Christian Scholars Engage Their Discipline. Edited by Thomas W. Heilke and Ashley Woodiwiss. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books, 2001. 266p. $70.00 cloth, $25.95 paper.

The postmodern challenge to the rationalist paradigm long regnant in American higher education has shaken the foundations of the secular academy, opening it up to a diversity of voices hitherto unheard. Under this new dispensation, Alan Wolfe observers, “Room can be made for any group, including conservative Christians” (“The Opening of the Evangelical Mind,” Atlantic Monthly [October 2000]: 76). Various Christian scholars have indeed received at least a hearing—if not a welcome—in this more open atmosphere. The work of historians, such as Mark Noll and George Marsden, and philosophers, such as Alvin Plantinga and Nicholas Wolterstorff, has commanded national attention in secular academic circles; they have brought a distinctively Christian voice to their discipline.
The Relationship Between Pathological Changes in Blood Vessels in Resected Lobes and Lungs as Correlated with Pulmonary Artery Pressure Changes Recorded During Cardiac Catheterization

SUMMARY During the past few years we have witnessed an ever growing knowledge of the cardio-pulmonary system. It has become possible to explain on a sound physiological basis many of the hitherto obscure phenomena concerned in the regulation of the pulmonary circulation. The exact significance of much of the data gathered in studying chronic pulmonary disease, however, still cannot be correlated satisfactorily. While it may be concluded that the disease alterations of the vascular bed must play a large role in the development of pulmonary hypertension, its exact position in the problem cannot be assessed adequately.
Guidelines for training in endocrinology and metabolism of the American Board of Internal Medicine.

A training program in Endocrinology and Metabolism should provide two years of full-time training in the subspecialty. The program in endocrinology and metabolism should be associated with a residency in internal medicine approved by the Liaison Committee for Graduate Medical Education. Training in a small number of other institutions with a recognized reputation for advanced education programs in endocrinology and metabolism and a good academic atmosphere may also be acceptable. The trainee should have a minimum of three years of training in general internal medicine preferably prior to beginning training in endocrinology and metabolism. The program must enable the trainee to maintain competence in general internal medicine, especially in those disease states in which endocrine complications may occur and in those endocrine and metabolic disorders which may produce or accentuate disease in other organ systems. Trainees should develop skills enabling assumption of a consultative role for a wide variety of...
THE EFFECT OF DIGITALIS UPON THE EXERCISE ELECTROCARDIOGRAM.

Abstract 1. 1. Electrocardiographic exercise tests (Master's 2-step test) were performed in 15 patients and 16 normal subjects before and after full digitalizing doses of digoxin (Lanoxin). 2. 2. While receiving digoxin, 14 of 15 patients and 8 of 16 normal subjects developed “positive” tests. Five of the 15 patients and all of the normal subjects had “negative” tests when not receiving digoxin. 3. 3. Although the mechanism of the effect of digoxin upon the ECG exercise test remains unknown, no evidence was found to suggest that myocardial ischemia was produced by the drug. An effect upon intramyocardial potassium seems to be most likely. 4. 4. ECG exercise tests should not be carried out in patients who are receiving digitalis preparations. Digitalis should be discontinued for at least 3 weeks before an exercise test is performed. 5. 5. Examination of the Q-T ratio may enable one to differentiate a false-positive test due to digitalis from a true-positive exercise test.
Characteristics of dentists providing dental care to publicly insured patients.

Objective: This study aims to identify the practice and patient care characteristics of dentists who provide care to publicly insured patients, beyond currently available existing information, which is typically limited to demographics of such dentists. Methods: A cross-section of dentists in private practices in California was surveyed, with a 46 percent average adjusted response rate. The sample included 3,180 generalists or specialists who provided general care in private practice. Characteristics of dentists who provided care to publicly insured patients were examined in descriptive analyses. The independent association of dentist characteristics with the provision of any care and the provision of care to a significant number of publicly insured patients were examined in logistic regression analyses. Results: Over 40 percent of dentists saw public patients. Regression analyses revealed that dentists who spent more time in periodontic and surgical care, saw more walk-in patients, had multilingual capacity, accepted reduced fees, had more minority patients, had fewer hygienists, or had multiple practice locations were more likely than those without such characteristics to provide care to publicly insured patients. Conclusions: Dentists who care for publicly insured patients appear to have practices that are different from those who do not, in terms of delivery of patient care and practice structure. Such differences have implications for the access to and quality of dental health care of publicly insured patients. The success of public programs and policies aimed at ensuring access to dental care depends on ability and willingness of dentists to accommodate public patients’ needs.
Comparative analysis of non-classically secreted proteins in Botrytis cinerea and symbiotic fungus Laccaria bicolor

s - A single P DF containing all abstracts in this Supplement is available her e . http://www. biomedcentral.co m/content/pdf/14 71-2105-9-S10-in fo.pdf
External cephalic version after previous cesarean section.

Approximately 100,000 cesarean sections are performed each year in the United States because of breech presentation. Numerous studies have shown that external cephalic version can eliminate the need for many of these operations. However, because of the fear of uterine rupture, these studies have generally excluded patients who have undergone previous cesarean section. To evaluate the validity of this exclusion policy, we studied patients with one or more previous cesarean sections and breech presentations near term. Version attempts were successful in 82% of 56 patients who had undergone a previous cesarean section. Sixty-five percent of the successful version patients went on to have vaginal birth after cesarean section. There were no serious maternal or fetal complications associated with the version attempts. We conclude that external cephalic version is a reasonable option in patients with prior low transverse cesarean section.
Medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency in children with non-ketotic hypoglycemia and low carnitine levels

Three children in two families presented in early childhood with episodes of illness associated with fasting which resembled Reye's syndrome: coma, hypoglycemia, hyperammonemia, and fatty liver. One child died with cerebral edema during an episode. Clinical studies revealed an absence of ketosis on fasting (plasma beta-hydroxybutyrate less than 0.4 mmole/liter) despite elevated levels of free fatty acids (2.6-4.2 mmole/liter) which suggested that hepatic fatty acid oxidation was impaired. Urinary dicarboxylic acids were elevated during illness or fasting. Total carnitine levels were low in plasma (18-25 mumole/liter), liver (200-500 nmole/g), and muscle (500-800 nmole/g); however, treatment with L-carnitine failed to correct the defect in ketogenesis. Studies on ketone production from fatty acid substrates by liver tissue in vitro showed normal rates from short-chain fatty acids, but very low rates from all medium and long-chain fatty acid substrates. These results suggested that the defect was in the mid-portion of the intramitochondrial beta-oxidation pathway at the medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase step. A new assay for the electron transfer flavoprotein-linked acyl-CoA dehydrogenases was used to test this hypothesis. This assay follows the decrease in electron transfer flavoprotein fluorescence as it is reduced by acyl-CoA-acyl-CoA dehydrogenase complex. Results with octanoyl-CoA as substrate indicated that patients had less than 2.5% normal activity of medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase. The activities of short-chain and isovaleryl acyl-CoA dehydrogenases were normal; the activity of long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase was one-third normal. These results define a previously unrecognized inherited metabolic disorder of fatty acid oxidation due to deficiency of medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase.
Enzymatic estimation of glycogen in the cleaving mouse embryo.

Recently developed enzymatic techniques for the ultramicro determination of glycogen (Bueding and Hawkins, '64; Passonneau et al., '67) were used to estimate the glycogen content of preimplantation mouse embryos. From an initial value of 0.14 mμg glycogen/embryo in the 1-cell fertilized egg. the amount of glycogen increased to 2.24 mμg/embryo at the 8-cell stage. During the next 48 hours of development, the level fell to 1.81 mμg/embryo. A comparison with previous histochemical findings (Thomson and Brinster, '66) and the possible relationship of glycogen concentration and metabolic capabilities of the embryos is discussed.
Electron Paramagnetic Resonance in Anisotropic Magnets

Electron paramagnetic resonance in anisotropic magnets is analyzed. The resonance field at fixed frequency is shown to be a function of the principal values of the external susceptibility tensor and hence can be temperature dependent. The predictions of the theory are compared with data on the temperature dependence of the resonance field in CrBr3. Excellent agreement is obtained. Es wird die Elektronen-Spinresonanz in anisotropen Magnetika analysiert. Es wird gezeigt, das bei einer festen Frequenz das Resonanzfeld eine Funktion der Eigenwerte des auseren Suszeptibilitatstensors ist und deshalb temperaturabhangig sein kann. Die theoretischen Aussagen werden mit Angaben uber die Temperaturabhangigkeit des Resonanz-feldes in CrBr3 verglichen, und es wird gute ubereinstimmung festgestellt.
DESIGN AND MODELING OF A CAPILLARY FOOD EXTRUDER

A simple capillary ram food extruder was designed, constructed and mathematically modeled. The mathematical model was developed from a group of meaningful dimensionless parameters derived from a dimensional analysis of the extruder. This approach to modeling greatly reduced the number of experiments required to determine the model equation constants. Commercial defatted soy flour was used to conduct tests for validating the model. Flour moisture content, die length and die diameter were varied with all other variables remaining constant. Pressure loss through the extruder was the measured variable. The mathematical model fit the observed data accurately. It is proposed that once all experimental constants are determined, the general model may be used to determine rheological and thermodynamic data for doughs during extrusion processes. These data may then be used to develop certain rheological material functions.
Traumatic brain injury causes a decrease in M2 muscarinic cholinergic receptor binding in the rat brain.

Numerous studies indicate that an acute, excessive activation of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChR) contributes to the pathophysiological sequela of TBI. The present study examined the effect of moderate fluid percussion traumatic brain injury (TBI) on binding to M1 and M2 mAChR subtypes in the hippocampal formation and adjacent cortex using quantitative autoradiography. Injured animals along with concurrent controls were sacrificed by in situ freezing at 3 h or 24 h following TBI. Slide-mounted tissue sections were incubated in either [3H]pirenzipine (23 nM) for M1 or [3H]AFDX384 (9 nM) for M2 mAChR subtype labeling. Binding of [3H]pirenzipine to the M1 mAChR subtype was not significantly altered by TBI when compared to sham-injured animals. [3H]AFDX384 binding to the M2 mAChR subtype was significantly decreased at 24 h in hippocampal CA2-3 region and dorsal blade of the dentate gyrus (P < 0.05) The difference observed between M1 and M2 subtypes suggests that these muscarinic subtypes may differentially contribute to the pathophysiology of TBI.
The Stability of γ-N-Methylasparagine in Peptides

Abstract γ- N -Methylasparagine (NMA) is a post-translationally methylated amino acid found at the β-72 position of many phycobiliproteins. The biological function of this methylation is uncertain. We have examined the premise that amide methylation protects against deamidation in proteins. The stabilities of two natural peptides, β(67-74) Ile-Ala-Pro-Gly-NMA/ Asn-Ala-Tyr, were measured at pH 7.4; the NMA parent peptide was ∼2-fold more stable than the Asn peptide at 60°. However, the degradation products of the NMA peptide involve main chain cleavage rather than side chain deamidation/isomerization. This phenomenon was studied in greater detail using two synthetic peptides, Pro-Gly-Gly-NMA/Asn-Ala-Ala, which established that the major products of peptidyl Asn reaction are internal Asp and isoAsp formation. Contrasting this result, the products of peptidyl NMA reaction represent chain cleavage on the carboxyl side of the NMA residue to yield three peptide products including the released carboxyl terminal Ala-Ala fragment along with two tetrapeptides, Pro-Gly-Gly-NMA/isoNMA, differing at the original NMA position. Thus, while peptidyl NMA is successfully stabilized against deamidation a different chemistry has been accentuated by amide methylation resulting in peptide bond cleavage. This outcome is consistent with model chemistry reported earlier employing Asn and NMA as free amino acids.
The gamma function with varying difference interval.

(1966). The Gamma Function with Varying Difference Interval. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 73, No. 9, pp. 951-959.
The cadherin cell-cell adhesion pathway in prostate cancer progression.

Summary Cadherins are a family of calcium-dependent cell—cell adhesion molecules involved in cell—cell aggregation and morphoregulatory cell function. Dysfunction of the cadherin pathway is involved in tumour invasiveness and disease progression for a variety of carcinomas. E-cadherin is a prognostic marker in prostatic cancer, based on the correlation of the grade of E-cadherin expression and tumour grade, stage, metastasis and survival, as well as recurrence after radical prostatectomy. P-cadherin was shown to be lost in all prostatic cancers, although this most likely reflects loss of the basal cell population rather than a transcriptional down-regulation, suggesting that loss of P-cadherin expression is an early event in the tumorigenesis of prostatic carcinomas. Catenins, particularly α-catenin, also play an important role in the dysfunction of the cell adhesion complex. Mechanisms of inactivation of the cadherin—catenin pathway include LOH, gene deletions and gene promoter hypermethylation. Therapeutic strategies have been investigated in tumour models, i.e. the use of demethylating agents for the hypermethylated promoter region of E-cadherin or gene transfer in PC-3 cells with homozygous deletion of the α-catenin gene. The complexity of neoplastic changes cannot be explained by alterations of cell adhesion molecules alone; but as demonstrated, cadherins and catenins play an important role in this process.
14-3-3ζ does not increase GSK3β-mediated tau phosphorylation in cell culture models

Abstract Tau is a neuronal microtubule-associated protein whose function is regulated by site-specific phosphorylation. One protein kinase that is likely to play an important role in regulating the phosphorylation state of tau in vivo is glycogen synthase kinase (GSK) 3β. The activity of GSK3β is regulated by specific protein–protein interactions and 14-3-3ζ, a member of a protein family that can act as scaffolds, was recently reported to co-purify with GSK3β in a large protein complex that was isolated from bovine brain [A. Agarwal-Mawal, H.Y. Qureshi, P.W. Cafferty, Z. Yuan, D. Han, R. Lin, H.K. Paudel, 14-3-3 connects glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta to tau within a brain microtubule-associated tau phosphorylation complex, J. Biol. Chem. 278 (2003) 12722–12728]. The purpose of this study was to determine if 14-3-3ζ could act as a scaffolding protein to promote the interaction of GSK3β with tau and subsequently, enhance GSK3β-mediated tau hyperphosphorylation. We used cell culture models, immunoprecipitation, and Western blotting to examine the interaction of GSK3β and 14-3-3ζ with both exogenously and endogenously expressed proteins. We found that GSK3β, 14-3-3ζ and tau do not interact in these cellular models under our experimental conditions and that GSK3β-mediated tau phosphorylation is not effected by the presence of 14-3-3ζ. These data indicate that 14-3-3ζ may not be directly interacting with GSK3β and tau in the brain, but may indirectly facilitate the interactions by binding to other proteins.
Analysis of amylin cleavage products provides new insights into the amyloidogenic region of human amylin.

Abstract Human amylin is the primary component of amyloid deposits found in the pancreatic β-cells of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Recently, two fragments of amylin have been identified in vivo . One fragment contains residues 17 to 37 of human amylin (AMYLIN 17-37 ) and the other contains residues 24 to 37 (AMYLIN 24-37 ). The secondary structure and amyloid forming ability of each peptide was determined at pH 5.5(±0.3) and pH 7.4(±0.3). Results at these two values of pH were very similar. Both peptides are predominantly unstructured in solution (CD) but adopt a significant amount of β-sheet secondary structure upon aggregation (FTIR). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed the presence of amyloid fibrils. AMYLIN 24-37 was further dissected by studying peptides corresponding to residues 24 to 29 and 30 to 37. The AMYLIN 30-37 peptide forms amyloid deposits. Samples of the 24 to 29 fragment which had TFA as the associated counterion formed ordered deposits but samples associated with HCl did not. Residues 20 to 29 are traditionally thought to be the amyloidogenic region of amylin, but this study demonstrates that peptides derived from other regions of amylin are capable of forming amyloid, and hence indicates that these regions of amylin can play a role in amyloid formation.
Formation of Hybrid Molecules Composed of Ga Metal Particle in Direct Contact with InGaAs Semiconductor Quantum Ring

We demonstrate the formation of hybrid molecules composed of a pair of a metal particle and a semiconductor quantum ring (QR) by using molecular beam epitaxy on a GaAs (100) surface. To form three-dimensional semiconductor InGaAs QRs with a hole in the center of the structure, a thin layer (10 monolayer) of GaAs was applied on InAs quantum dots, which transformed the distribution of surface free energy. These InGaAs QRs were then used as a template for the localization of Ga metal particles; there was one metal particle on a QR. By choosing the optimal surface temperature (most favorable thermal energy), the surface diffusion of Ga adatoms was effectively enhanced. This, in turn, allowed the localization of Ga metal particles on InGaAs QRs, consequently forming hybrid molecules. This study helps understand the formation of various types of hybrid molecules that will be used in applications in optoelectronics.
Self-assembling quantum dot lattices through nucleation site engineering

The long range ordering of epitaxial semiconductor quantum dots is investigated using several crystal growth techniques on prepatterned substrates. We have developed two nucleation site control techniques: one which uses localized surface chemical potential engineering and one which uses localized surface strain engineering. We present experimental results that demonstrate the ability to create ordered quantum dot lattices and discuss the different mechanisms involved in the long range ordering of quantum dots.
Berkeley on Action

At the risk of proving myself such a caviller, I want to ask a question which I have seldom heard raised, and which I have never seen discussed in anything that I have read about Berkeley. If I am right, it poses a problem for his immaterialism, not only different, but coming from a different direction, from those objections that are commonly levelled against him. If I am wrong, it will show how right Berkeley was to stress the difficulty of using for one purpose our language which has become fashioned for another. At least, I hope that I shall not fail to be the ‘fair and ingenuous reader’for whom he asked.
Dealing with death and dying

Summary: We instituted two thanatology seminars for medical students and residents which emphasized feelings more than objective data. The seminars began with students filling out a death certificate on themselves. Eighty-four per cent predicted that their own probable cause of death would be from an acute illness. Discussion and reflection on this experience helped them realize how difficult it would be to deal with a chronic illness. By answering a question about what they were most grateful for, they became aware that they valued family and friends most highly. We believe that this experience legitimized feelings which form the basis of empathy.
Half-century nitrogen deposition increase across China: A gridded time-series data set for regional environmental assessments

A wide variety of studies have revealed a substantial increase in nitrogen (N) deposition in China, but the lack of spatially-explicit time-series N deposition data set has long hindered us from assessing the impacts of atmospheric N input on ecosystem services. In this study, we combined site-level monitoring, gridded precipitation data and atmospheric transport modeling results to generate annual N bulk deposition data in China with a spatial resolution of 10 km × 10 km and a time span from 1961 to 2008. It shows that national average N deposition rate had large interannual variation, and it increased by 59%, from 12.64 kg N ha−1 yr−1 in the 1960s to 20.07 kg N ha−1 yr−1 in the recent decade, with the most rapid increase centered in the southeastern China that is already N-enriched. Large spatial variation as well as dry deposition input has to be taken into account when estimating the amount of N deposited onto land surface of China. The spatial and temporal information on N deposition derived from this study could be used by ecosystem, hydrological, and climate modeling as well as by policy makers for assessing the impacts of nitrogen enrichment on regional climate, water resources, and biogeochemical cycles.
The enduring enigma of nuclear translation

Although the physical separation of transcription in the nucleus and translation in the cytoplasm has presided as a fundamental tenet of cell biology for decades, it has not done so without recurring challenges and contentious debate. In this issue, David et al. (2012. J. Cell Biol. http://dx.doi.org/10.1083/jcb.201112145) rekindle the controversy by providing convincing experimental evidence for nuclear translation.
A theoretical framework and model towards media-rich social presence design practices

Educators are seeing rapid developments in online instruction with regard to not only available technologies, but also in design and teaching practices. Developing and maintaining social presence in an online environment is paramount to the success of a learning environment. This article touches upon some historical perspectives of social presence and proposes a theoretical framework and design guide towards media-rich social presence practices for future research. The design guide in this article adds to the historically text-based social presence applications by posing media-rich, higher-level thinking questions based upon a grounded theoretical framework.
Generalized effective stiffness theory for the modeling of fiber-reinforced composites

Abstract Effective stiffness theory of the Nth order is derived for the modeling of the three-dimensional time-dependent motion of a fiber-reinforced composite. The fibers are assumed to be of a rectangular cross section and are imbedded in the matrix in the form of a doubly periodic array. The resulting theory represents the composite as a higher order homogeneous continuum with microstructure whose motion is governed by higher order displacements. The derivation is systematic and can be applied to elastic as well as anelastic composites to the desired degree of accuracy.
Adenylate nucleotide levels and energy charge in Arthrobacter crystallopoietes during growth and starvation

The adenylate nucleotide concentrations, based on internal water space, were determined in cells of Arthrobacter crystallopoietes during growth and starvation and the energy charge of the cells was calculated. The energy charge of spherical cells rose during the first 10 h of growth, then remained nearly constant for as long as 20 h into the stationary phase. The energy charge of rod-shaped cells rose during the first 4 h of growth, then remained constant during subsequent growth and decreased in the stationary growth phase. Both spherical and rod-shaped cells excreted adenosine monophosphate but not adenosine triphosphate or adenosine diphosphate during starvation. The intracellular energy charge of spherical cells declined during the initial 10 h and then remained constant for 1 week of starvation at a value of 0.78. The intracellular energy charge of rod-shaped cells declined during the first 24 h of starvation, remained constant for the next 80 h, then decreased to a value of 0.73 after a total of 168 h starvation. Both cell forms remained more than 90% viable during this time. Addition of a carbon and energy source to starving cells resulted in an increase in the ATP concentration and as a result the energy charge increased to the same levels as found during growth.
Traumatic Symptomatology Characteristics of Adult Children of Alcoholics.

Traumatic experience symptomatology, resiliency factors, and stress among young adults who had experienced alcoholism within their family of origin were assessed in comparison to adults who as children experienced traumatic life events other than alcoholism and those who indicated neither problem (parental alcoholism or traumatic life event) during their childhood. These three groups were compared on self-report measures of stress, resiliency, depressive symptomatology, and trauma symptoms. Results indicated adult children of alcoholics (ACOA) had more self-reported stress, more difficulty initiating the use of mediating factors in response to life events, and more symptoms of personal dysfunction than the control group. Results suggest ACOAs may develop less effective stress management strategies and present more clinically at-risk patterns of responses than their counterparts.
Definitions, Classifications, and Antibiotics

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common of all bacterial infections. They are an important cause of morbidity and mortality with a spectrum of severity that ranges from mild self-limiting infection to life-threatening systemic disease. Although they are commonly curable with antibiotics, widespread use of antimicrobials has inevitably led to a massive increase in UTIs caused by drug-resistant organisms. This has made antibiotic choice for empirical and rational treatment increasingly difficult. Here, we discuss the microbiology of UTIs, including the organisms that cause them, the interplay between bacteria and host that causes disease, mechanisms of antibiotic resistance, and factors influencing the choice of antibiotic for treatment. Through further understanding of the biology of the bacterial pathogens that cause UTIs, we aim to promote more responsible antibiotic prescribing in order to slow the pandemic spread of multiresistant organisms.
The greenhouse gas value of ecosystems

As society faces the urgent need to mitigate climate change, it is critical to understand how various ecosystems contribute to the climate, and to express these contributions in terms that are meaningful to policymakers, economists, land managers, and other nonscience interest holders. Efforts to mitigate climate change call for quantification of the full greenhouse gas (GHG) effects of land use decisions, yet we lack an appropriate metric of the full GHG implications of maintaining a given ecosystem over a multiple year time frame. Here, we propose the concept of greenhouse gas value (GHGV) of ecosystems, which accounts for potential GHG release upon clearing of stored organic matter, annual GHG flux, and probable GHG exchanges resulting from disturbance. It treats these ecosystem‐ atmosphere exchanges in a time-sensitive manner, thereby providing an appropriate framework for computing of the GHG consequences of any land use decision. To illustrate this concept, we provide estimates of the GHGVof various biome types (based on data compiled from the literature), disturbance regimes, and decisions on the treatment of time. We show that natural ecosystems generally have high GHGV’s, whereas managed ecosystems generally have lower or negative GHGV’s; that GHGV decreases with increasing probability of disturbance, and that decisions on the treatment of time can be important, affecting some ecosystem types more strongly than others. In addition, we show how GHGV may be used to quantify the full GHG effects of land-use or land-cover change in a thorough and rigorous manner. Finally, we provide comparisons of GHGV to other major paradigms for valuing the GHG contributions of ecosystems, showing that ‐ for many purposes ‐ GHGV is the most appropriate method of quantifying the GHG services of ecosystems.
Gat1p, a GATA Family Protein Whose Production Is Sensitive to Nitrogen Catabolite Repression, Participates in Transcriptional Activation of Nitrogen-Catabolic Genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells selectively use nitrogen sources in their environment. Nitrogen catabolite repression (NCR) is the basis of this selectivity. Until recently NCR was thought to be accomplished exclusively through the negative regulation of Gln3p function by Ure2p. The demonstration that NCR-sensitive expression of multiple nitrogen-catabolic genes occurs in a gln3 delta ure2 delta dal80::hisG triple mutant indicated that the prevailing view of the nitrogen regulatory circuit was in need of revision; additional components clearly existed. Here we demonstrate that another positive regulator, designated Gat1p, participates in the transcription of NCR-sensitive genes and is able to weakly activate transcription when tethered upstream of a reporter gene devoid of upstream activation sequence elements. Expression of GAT1 is shown to be NCR sensitive, partially Gln3p dependent, and Dal80p regulated. In agreement with this pattern of regulation, we also demonstrate the existence of Gln3p and Dal80p binding sites upstream of GAT1.
The influence of major structural features of cellulose on rate of enzymatic hydrolysis

An attempt was made to determine the effect of two structural features of cellulose on its enzymatic hydrolysis: its crystallinity and its specific surface area. Solka Floc SW40 was pretreated in various ways prior to hydrolysis: ball milling, gamma radiation, pyrolysis, treatment by sodium hydroxide, treatment by CMCS, and treatment by sulfuric acid. Microcrystalline cellulose (Sigmacell 50) was also employed in the test. The culture filtrate of Trichoderma reesei QM9414 was the source of the enzyme. It was observed that, independent of the methods of treatment, the rate of hydrolysis would tend to increase with an increase in specific surface area and with a decrease in crystallinity index.
Meet the (burying) beetles.

You probably know that hard-working dung beetles keep the Serengeti Plain and cow pastures clean, but even most biologists are unaware of the efforts of another diligent group of beetles: the burying beetles of the genus Nicrophorus. Burying beetles play an important role in many ecosystems through their processing of small vertebrate carcasses. The reproductive cycle of such beetles is tied to the discovery of a recently deceased small animal (Scott, 1998; Trumbo, 1997). When beetles discover a carcass, they dig a hole beneath the body and cover it with dirt. They next remove the fur or feathers. The process is complete when the denuded corpse is covered with a layer of anal gland secretions. If more than two beetles find the carcass, males fight against males and females against females until a single pair is in control. Oviposition occurs within a day of the discovery of a carcass. The female lays her eggs in the soil; the larvae hatch about 4 days later and crawl to the carcass, which serves as nest and food source. For the first 2 days on the carcass, both parents feed the larvae regurgitated carrion and defend the carcass against other burying beetles. After this time, the larvae are able to feed themselves directly from the carcass, and the parents’ role is primarily defensive (Fetherston et al., 1990). The bout of parental behavior ends with the departure of the adult beetles from the nest: the female will remain until the larvae leave the carcass in preparation for pupation (6–8 days), while the male typically leaves a little sooner. A set of larvae can be raised successfully by a single parent as well as by a pair, with males able to compensate fully for the disappearance of the female after oviposition (Fetherston et al., 1994). Burying beetles therefore provide an uncommon example of extended, facultative biparental care in insects, of interest to entomologists, ecologists, and evolutionary biologists.
Using geometric distance fits for 3-D object modeling and recognition

Addresses the problems of automatically constructing algebraic surface models from sets of 2D and 3D images and using these models in pose computation, motion and deformation estimation, and object recognition. We propose using a combination of constrained optimization and nonlinear least-squares estimation techniques to minimize the mean-squared geometric distance between a set of points or rays and a parameterized surface. In modeling tasks, the unknown parameters are the surface coefficients, while in pose and deformation estimation tasks they represent the transformation which maps the observer's coordinate system onto the modeled surface's own coordinate system. We have applied this approach to a variety of real range, computerized tomography and video images. >
Current capacity evaluation of a cantilever probe

The tungsten-rhenium (WRe) 3mil cantilever probe is widely used in wafer probe at ON Semiconductors. The maximum current that can be supplied to a DUT is restricted by the current capacity of the probe needles. A typical 3 mil tip probe can carry 2 - 3 Amps at a short burst current (I short) for a <;10 ms pulse time. Probing at a higher current level with minimal number of probes can cause current over crowding at probe tip which produces excessive heat due to electric charge and contact resistance. This heat can melt surface material and contaminant which can attach to the probe tip causing it to be deformed thus increasing resistance and temperature at the contact point. Accordingly more heat is generated by this causing the contaminant at probe tip to be further oxidized producing an insulating layer between DUT and probe. This results in spark occurrence during high current testing which may cause damage to the device. This paper describes the experiments carried out to guarantee the appropriate pulsed current level that can be carried through a single 3 mil tip probe without causing the probe tip to melt, get oxidized and generate sparks which could lead to devices damage due to EOS. Two MOSFET devices with current ratings of 2.0 Amps and 2.6 Amps respectively were used for this evaluation to determine the allowable operating pulsed current a probe can withstand. A Total of 85 K dies were probed, assembled and final tested. The test fallouts that were analyzed did not show any indication of an EOS signature on die cause by probe needles.
Responsive culture platform to examine the influence of microenvironmental geometry on cell function in 3D

We describe the development of a well-based cell culture platform that enables experimenters to control the geometry and connectivity of cellular microenvironments spatiotemporally. The base material is a hydrogel comprised of photolabile and enzyme-labile crosslinks and pendant cell adhesion sequences, enabling spatially-specific, in situ patterning with light and cell-dictated microenvironment remodeling through enzyme secretion. Arrays of culture wells of varying shape and size were patterned into the hydrogel surface using photolithography, where well depth was correlated with irradiation dose. The geometry of these devices can be subsequently modified through sequential patterning, while simultaneously monitoring changes in cell geometry and connectivity. Towards establishing the utility of these devices for dynamic evaluation of the influence of physical cues on tissue morphogenesis, the effect of well shape on lung epithelial cell differentiation (i.e., primary mouse alveolar type II cells, ATII cells) was assessed. Shapes inspired by alveoli were degraded into hydrogel surfaces. ATII cells were seeded within the well-based arrays and encapsulated by the addition of a top hydrogel layer. Cell differentiation in response to these geometries was characterized over 7 days of culture with immunocytochemistry (surfactant protein C, ATII; T1α protein, alveolar type I (ATI) differentiated epithelial cells) and confocal image analysis. Individual cell clusters were further connected by eroding channels between wells during culture via controlled two-photon irradiation. Collectively, these studies demonstrate the development and utility of responsive hydrogel culture devices to study how a range of microenvironment geometries of evolving shape and connectivity might influence or direct cell function.