cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
TUBE SIZE COMPARISON AND AUTOMATED GROWTH MEASUREMENT IN A TUBULAR REACTOR USING SPIRULINA PLANTENSIS

A tubular photobioreactor for outdoor cultivation of Spirulina platensis was successfully operated for the last two years. The reactor was made of transparent 2.4-cm diameter tubes with a total length of approximately 101-m and a volume of 124-liter. Flow was induced using an airlift pumping system. To optimize the system further, a larger tube diameter was also tested. Preliminary results have suggested that a larger tube diameter might provide increased output with reduced surface area requirements. Results of experiments comparing the productivity of the same culture volume in tubes of 2.4 cm and 5.0 cm will be presented which show a small decrease in productivity by volume, but a large increase in areal productivity. This suggests that the larger tube diameter would be an appropriate choice for larger scale systems. Additionally, data will be presented demonstrating the effectiveness of an on-line surface scatter turbidimeter for accurate measurement of Spirulina density when correlated to manual dry weight measurements.
The effects of actinomycin D and cordycepin on neurite formation and acetylcholinesterase activity in mouse neuroblastoma cells.

Abstract Actinomycin D (actD) (0.003–0.10 μg/ml) and cordycepin (3–30 μg/ml) were used to examine the requirement of de novo RNA synthesis in the pH 6.6-induced expression of neurites and acetylcholinesterase activity in C-1300 mouse neuroblastoma cells. ActD at 0.03 and 0.10 μg/ml caused a pronounced stimulation in neurite formation following 20 h of treatment, although by 30 h exposure to actD (0.01–0.10 μg/ml), neurite formation had rapidly declined. Cordycepin (3–30 μg/ml) also inhibited neurite formation in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, although it did not produce an initial stimulation in neurite formation. The pH 6.6-induced increase in acetylcholinesterase activity was inhibited by both actD and cordycepin in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Cell viabilities in the presence of actD and cordycepin were 90% or greater throughout the course of these studies. The effects of actD on [3H]uridine and [3H]leucine transport into cells and on incorporation into acid-insoluble material showed that actD inhibited RNA synthesis to a greater extent than it inhibited protein synthesis. Cordycepin caused only minor effects on [3H]uridine and [3H]leucine transport into cells and incorporation into acid-insoluble material; these effects were variable and neither concentration- nor time-dependent. The results of this study show that actD can inhibit the pH 6.6-induced expression of neurites and acetylcholinesterase activity in mouse neuroblastoma cells at concentrations which were relatively non-toxic and which caused a greater inhibition of RNA synthesis than of protein synthesis. This suggests that de novo RNA synthesis is required for the expression and maintenance of neurites and acetylcholinesterase activity in mouse neuroblastoma cells. Experiments with cordycepin were consistent with this conclusion.
18FDG positron emission computed tomography in a study of aphasia

Positron emission computed tomography (PECT) using 18F-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) was used to investigate the correlations between clinical status, anatomy (as described by CT), and metabolism in five patients with stable aphasia resulting from ischemic cerebral infarction. Local cerebral metabolic activity was diminished in an area larger than the area of infarction demonstrated by CT. In one patient, FDG PECT revealed a metabolic lesion that probably caused the aphasic syndrome and was not apparent by CT. The data suggest that reliance on CT in delineating the extent of the brain lesion in aphasia or other neuropsychological defects can be misleading; FDG PECT may provide important additional information. Two patients with similar metabolic lesions had very different clinical syndromes, showing that even when currently available methods are combined, major gaps remain in clinicoanatomical correlations in aphasia.
V645 Cygni and the Duck Nebula

The region around the infrared source V645 Cygni has been studied with a variety of optical techniques. Several indications of mass outflow have been discovered in this young star. Imaging has revealed a long, linear feature which resembles morphologically the emission jets found near other young stars. In V645 Cygni, however, the feature is shown to be predominantly reflection. A high-velocity [S II] system has been found between the two brightest parts of the nebula, and a Herbig-Haro object has been found to the south of the nebula.
Dostoevsky's Comely Boy: Homoerotic Desire and Aesthetic Strategies in A Raw Youth

In his 1862 pseudo-autobiography Votesfrom the House of the Dead, based on his experiences in a Siberian prison, Dostoevsky explains how prisoners deal with their sexual needs. I One method is to bribe guards to take the prisoner not to his work site but to a secluded hut for a tryst with a prostitute. But such expeditions, since they are expensive and risky, are extremely rare; as the narrator tells us, "lovers of the fair sex resort to other means, which are completely safe."2 In what seems to be a digression but really is not, the narrator goes on to describe the prisoner Sirotkin, whom he calls "pretty boy" (khoroshen 'k/imal'chik) twice in the space of one paragraph (4:38, 39). Sirotkin does not ply any of the prisoners' moneymaking trades, but he always seems to have sums of ready cash and new clothes, gifts from other prisoners. One can only conclude that Sirotkin represents that "other means" of satisfying sexual desire-male prostitution. Our narrator is curious about Sirotkin and his "comrades," and promises to describe them more extensively: "If circumstances permit, I will say something in more detail about this whole gang."3
Role of heme-protein covalent bonds in mammalian peroxidases. Protection of the heme by a single engineered heme-protein link in horseradish peroxidase

Oxidation of SCN–, Br–, and Cl– (X–) by horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and other plant and fungal peroxidases results in the addition of HOX to the heme vinyl group. This reaction is not observed with lactoperoxidase (LPO), in which the heme is covalently bound to the protein via two ester bonds between carboxylic side chains and heme methyl groups. To test the hypothesis that the heme of LPO and other mammalian peroxidases is protected from vinyl group modification by the hemeprotein covalent bonds, we prepared the F41E mutant of HRP in which the heme is attached to the protein via a covalent bond between Glu41 and the heme 3-methyl. We also examined the E375D mutant of LPO in which only one of the two normal covalent heme links is retained. The prosthetic heme groups of F41E HRP and E375D LPO are essentially not modified by the HOBr produced by these enzymes. The double E375D/D225E mutant of LPO that can form no covalent bonds is inactive and could not be examined. These results unambiguously demonstrate that a single heme-protein link is sufficient to protect the heme from vinyl group modification even in a protein (HRP) that is normally highly susceptible to this reaction. The results directly establish that one function of the covalent heme-protein bonds in mammalian peroxidases is to protect their prosthetic group from their highly reactive metabolic products.
Being too large for gestational age precedes childhood obesity in African Americans.

Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between large-for-gestational-age (LGA) infants and the development of childhood obesity in an inner-city primarily African American population. Study Design Maternal, neonatal, socioeconomic, and nutritional histories were collected for mothers with children who were 2-5 years old. Associations between Alexander and customized birthweight percentiles and body mass index for the age of the child were examined. Results One hundred ninety-five mother-child pairs were enrolled; the childhood obesity rate was 18%. Increasing Alexander and customized birthweight percentiles were related to increasing obesity. LGA newborn infants were 2.5 times more likely to be obese in childhood than average size newborn infants. Maternal smoking was also associated with childhood obesity. Conclusion LGA infants have the highest likelihood of childhood obesity in this inner-city predominantly African American population. Customized growth percentiles perform best in the identification of the highest risk population.
Letter to the Editor: Bone Graft Harvest Using a New Intramedullary System

To the Editor: We read with interest the December 2008 article by Belthur et al. [1] entitled “Bone Graft Harvest Using a New Intramedullary System.” The authors’ comparison of iliac crest bone graft harvesting to intramedullary collection with the Reamer/Irrigator/Aspirator (RIA) system (Synthes, Inc, West Chester, PA) is an important study comparing these two methods of bone graft harvesting. In discussing the potential risks associated with RIA, the authors caution, “Care should be taken not to over-thin the femoral cortices. The effect of cortical thinning on mechanical strength of the femoral diaphysis is negligible when overreamed by 2 mm.” Although we acknowledge the potential risk of iatrogenic fracture with over-thinning the cortices, we are curious about the 2 mm limit. Upon review of Pratt et al. [2], we found no mention of a 2 mm limit when reaming femurs. In their biomechanical evaluation of reaming on the torsional strength of femurs, Pratt et al. do not specify the size of the endosteal diameter in relationship to the size of the reamer. Rather they comment that a ratio of reamer diameter to bone diameter greater than 0.48 predicted a “significant change in the way in which the bone fails in torsion.” Would the authors please clarify the basis of their suggested 2 mm limit?
Self-consistent one-electron calculation of the zero-temperature cohesive properties of solid argon

We have calculated the T = 0 K static lattice energies and PV relation for fcc Ar with the self-consistent APW-Xα method and found Lennard-Jones potential parameters by fitting of static lattice sums, with most results in excellent agreement with experiment.
Heidi in English: A Bibliographic Study

Johanna Spyri's Heidi was originally written in German and published as two volumes in 1880 and 1881. Between 1882 and 1959, thirteen distinct English translations were done, five by British translators and eight by American translators. In three of these cases, the translator was never credited, and subsequent reprints of translations with known translators often omitted translation credit. Thus, it is difficult to identify or date a translation. In the almost 130 years since Heidi first appeared in English, countless editions have been printed and reprinted and now exist in libraries throughout the UK and the USA. This study traces the publication and afterlife of the thirteen translations, raises questions as to why some translations fell by the wayside, and appends a list of first paragraphs to aid readers in identifying translators and editions.
Free-form 3D object compression using surface signature

This paper introduces a new transform, called the signature transform, to concisely represent fee-from 3D objects. The signature transform is based on a free-form surface representation called the surface signature. The surface signature captures some information about a 3D surface, as viewed from a special point called the anchor, such as the curvature, distance from anchor point,....etc. The surface signature stores this information in the form of a 2D image called the surface signature image. The signature transform uses different variations of the surface signature as viewed from selected landmark points. The selection of anchor points is crucial to the success of the signature transform an approach for selecting landmark points based on curvature value will be presented. The signature transform can then be used as a form of a progressive compression of objects that will allow the view and manipulation of the 3D object even if all the compression data are not received. Unlike the previously existing progressive compression techniques, the signature transform does not require receiving the data in special order nor does it have key frames in the representation.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Time and information technology in teams: a review of empirical research and future research directions

Information technology (IT) is intricately bound up with time in teams. Yet a comprehensive review of what is known about time in IT-mediated teams is lacking. This paper addresses this gap. We classify time into three categories: conceptions of time, mapping activities to time, and actors relating to time. Drawing upon this framework, we review empirical information systems (IS) research on IT-mediated teams over the past three decades. Our review reveals that the research has approached time predominantly using the clock view and has examined exclusively how to map a single activity to the continuum of time. As a result, most studies operate within a simplified temporal context by conceiving time as an objective attribute that ticks away. Meanwhile, a void exists in research that recognizes time as interpretive and experienced. Our analyses also indicate that past research has been primarily interested in the differences between face-to-face and IT-mediated teams and the communication function of IT. Overall, IT remains roughly conceptualized, and research has produced fragmented insights that have small cumulative effects. To advance more substantive theory building, we propose several research directions that invite richer theorizing about how IT is related to time in teams.
Reexamination of the Contiguity Hypothesis in a Multiple-Concept-Attainment Task

Underwood's (1952) hypothesis that conceptual behavior is facilitated as instance contiguity of like concepts is increased was examined with concepts which varied in difficulty. The results did not...
Management of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension with Sitaxentan Sodium

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a chronic and progressive disease with a poor prognosis if left untreated. Pathophysiological alterations in this disease lead to vasoconstriction, endothelial and smooth muscle cell proliferation, and in situ thrombosis. Endothelin-1 (one of the most potent vasconstrictors known), has been shown to be increased in PAH, contributing, in part at least, to these abnormalities. Endothelin acts through the binding of two receptors, ETA and ETB. Sitaxentan is a selective ETA endothelin receptor antagonist that has been demonstrated, in several clinical trials, to improve exercise capacity, functional class and hemodynamics. Sitaxentan has a good safety profile, is well tolerated and has a low incidence of liver toxicity.
Dissimilatory arsenate and sulfate reduction in Desulfotomaculum auripigmentum sp. nov.

A newly discovered arsenate-reducing bacterium, strain OREX-4, differed significantly from strains MIT-13 and SES-3, the previously described arsenate-reducing isolates, which grew on nitrate but not on sulfate. In contrast, strain OREX-4 did not respire nitrate but grew on lactate, with either arsenate or sulfate serving as the electron acceptor, and even preferred arsenate. Both arsenate and sulfate reduction were inhibited by molybdate. Strain OREX-4, a gram-positive bacterium with a hexagonal S-layer on its cell wall, metabolized compounds commonly used by sulfate reducers. Scorodite (FeAsO42· H2O) an arsenate-containing mineral, provided micromolar concentrations of arsenate that supported cell growth. Physiologically and phylogenetically, strain OREX-4 was far-removed from strains MIT-13 and SES-3: strain OREX-4 grew on different electron donors and electron acceptors, and fell within the gram-positive group of the Bacteria, whereas MIT-13 and SES-3 fell together in the ɛ-subdivision of the Proteobacteria. Together, these results suggest that organisms spread among diverse bacterial phyla can use arsenate as a terminal electron acceptor, and that dissimilatory arsenate reduction might occur in the sulfidogenic zone at arsenate concentrations of environmental interest. 16S rRNA sequence analysis indicated that strain OREX-4 is a new species of the genus Desulfotomaculum, and accordingly, the name Desulfotomaculum auripigmentum is proposed.
Occupational exposure to organochlorine insecticides and cancer incidence in the Agricultural Health Study

Organochlorine (OC) insecticides have been regulated as possible human carcinogens primarily on the basis of animal studies. However, the epidemiologic evidence is inconsistent. We investigated the relationship between cancer incidence and OC insecticide use among pesticide applicators enrolled in the Agricultural Health Study, a prospective cohort study of 57,311 licensed applicators in Iowa and North Carolina enrolled between 1993 and 1997. Information on ever use of 7 OC insecticides (aldrin, chlordane, DDT, dieldrin, heptachlor, lindane, toxaphene) was collected from a self-administered questionnaire at enrollment. Lifetime exposure-days to OC insecticides were calculated using additional data from a take-home questionnaire completed by 25,291 participants (44% of total). We found no clear evidence of an association between use of OC insecticides and incident cancers (N = 1,150) ascertained through December, 2002. When we focused on individual insecticides and structurally similar groups (aldrin and dieldrin; chlordane and heptachlor), significantly increased relative risks of some cancers were observed for use of some chemicals (rectal cancer and chlordane, lung cancer and dieldrin, non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and lindane, melanoma and toxaphene, leukemia and chlordane/heptachlor). Some significant decreased relative risks were also observed (colon cancer and aldrin; overall cancer and heptachlor). In conclusion, we did not observe any clear relationship between cancer risk and the use of OC insecticides. Our chemical-specific findings are based on small numbers and multiple comparisons, and should be interpreted with caution; however, some observed associations (lindane and NHL, chlordane/heptachlor and leukemia) are supported by previous evidence.
Linking pore-scale interfacial curvature to column-scale capillary pressure

Synchrotron-based tomographic datasets of oil–water drainage and imbibition cycles have been analyzed to quantify phase saturations and interfacial curvature as well as connected and disconnected fluid configurations. This allows for close observation of the drainage and imbibition processes, assessment of equilibrium states, and studying the effects of fluid phase disconnection and reconnection on the resulting capillary pressures and interfacial curvatures. Based on this analysis estimates of capillary pressure calculated from interfacial curvature can be compared to capillary pressure measured externally with a transducer. Results show good agreement between curvature-based and transducer-based measurements when connected phase interfaces are considered. Curvature measurements show a strong dependence on whether an interface is formed by connected or disconnected fluid and the time allowed for equilibration. The favorable agreement between curvature-based and transducer-based capillary pressure measurements shows promise for the use of image-based estimates of capillary pressure for interfaces that cannot be probed with external transducers as well as opportunities for a detailed assessment of interfacial curvature during drainage and imbibition.
A representation theorem for Riesz spaces and its applications to economics

We show that a Dedekind complete Riesz space which contains a weak unite and admits a strictly positive order continuous linear functional can be represented as a subspace of the spaceL 1 of integrable functions on a probability measure space in such a way that the order ideal generated bye is carried ontoL t8. As a consequence, we obtain a characterization of abstractM-spaces that are isomorphic to concreteL ∞-spaces. Although these results are implicit in the literature on representation of Riesz spaces, they are not available in this form. This research is motivated by, and has applications in, general equilibrium theory in infinite dimensional spaces.
Characteristics of a highly scalable bridge phase change memory

Recent advances of a highly scalable bridge phase change memory cell are presented. To fabricate and characterize highly scaled devices, designs in both the process procedure and the testing algorism are considered extensively. We also compare the characteristics of the devices made from different types of materials. The experimental data reveal the superior scaling properties of the bridge phase change memory in different materials.
Transferrin receptor regulation is coupled to intracellular ferritin in proliferating and differentiating HL60 leukemia cells.

Cultured myeloid leukemia cells display transferrin receptors but decrease receptor display after differentiation induction or accumulation of intracellular iron. To determine whether regulation of transferrin receptors and ferritin were linked under these disparate conditions, serum-free and fetal bovine serum (FBS) cultures of HL60 promyelocytic leukemia cells were used to investigate relationships between transferrin receptor display and intracellular ferritin. Using 125I- transferrin binding and immunofluorescence staining for transferrin receptors, HL60 cells cultured in serum-free, transferrin-free medium expressed fewer transferrin receptors and contained increased ferritin when compared to cells cultured with FBS or transferrin supplemented, serum-free medium. When placed in medium containing transferrin, cells previously grown in transferrin-free medium rapidly re-expressed transferrin receptors and decreased their ferritin content. HL60 cells induced to differentiate into granuiocytes or macrophages also decreased transferrin receptor display and increased their ferritin content. Transferrin receptor display and ferritin content in both proliferating and differentiating myeloid leukemia cells are inversely related and their regulation is closely linked. Regulation of transferrin receptor display and ferritin synthesis may be important events regulating myeloid cell growth and differentiation.
A biocultural analysis of revolution

Abstract When analyzed from the vantage point of modern evolutionary theory, sociopolitical revolutions may be viewed as complex behavioral expressions of the competition inherent in natural selection. They involve behavior by challengers that aims toward displacing those who enjoy first access to available power and resources. Revolutions also reveal rulers defending their advantages. The analysis unfolds in three stages: (a) sociopolitical revolutions explained, at least partially, in terms of the logic of natural selection; (b) identification of some “strategies” utilized by both challengers and incumbents in competition for the political apex—these strategies may be thought of as ultimately resulting from evolved behavioral predispositions whose strength, and therefore degree of phenotypical expression, is dependent upon sociocultural influences (changes in the intensity of such predispositions result in challengers and incumbents respectively pursuing strategies that end in the replacement of one ruling group by another); (c) reexamination of some contributions that social scientists have made to our understanding of revolutions. The objective is explication of the relationship between behavioral predispositions and sociocultural variables that have been identified as co-determinants of these political upheavals.
Conflicts of interest with the health industry.

The physician's commitment to altruism, which puts the patients' interests first and is associated with scientific integrity and the absence of bias when making medical decisions, has traditionally constituted the cornerstone of medical ethics. In recent years, however, a flurry of federal prosecutions, class action lawsuits, and congressional investigations have underlined an increasing collusion between physicians and pharmaceutical and device manufacturers. When profit-seeking behavior overshadows concern for the patients' welfare, major conflicts ensue. In such cases, a conflict of interest may be defined as a set of conditions in which professional medical judgment concerning patients' welfare or the validity of research is unduly influenced by secondary interests. These can be financial, such as competition for research funding, or professional, such as professional retribution. Public anxiety about the interaction between physicians and the health industry has grown as a result of observing the increasing influence of money on the quality of patient care and the research process. The health industry has contributed to the discovery, development, and distribution of new drugs and devices that benefited patients. One offshoot of these activities has been the industry's commitment to medical education. However, the health industry's responsibility is ultimately to shareholders, who expect good financial returns on their investment. There is, obviously, a possibility for conflict between the positive and necessary help that the health industry provides to physicians in their educational and research activities and the requirement for that same industry to produce profits and create profit incentives. The very mechanism for profit incentives may be detrimental to patient welfare and may hamper the physician's ability to keep patients' interests as the primary priority. Americans spend about 200 billion dollars each year on prescription drugs. The industry spends 19 billion dollars per year on physician promotion of industrial products. Additionally, direct marketing to …
Diatom diversity as a function of insecticidal treatment with a controlled-release formulation of chlorpyrifos

Following treatment with a controlled-release formulation of chlorpyrifos, no substantial differences between diversity estimates were evident for 6 post-treatment weeks for both treated and control plots. By post-treatment week 12, significant decreases in diversity estimates occurred in treated plots, suggesting that a directly proportional relationship exists between chlorpyrifos concentrations and reduced diatom colonization through time. Comparatively, diatom colonization progressed “normallyrd and populations proceeded toward “maturity” in the control plots as indicated by the increase in the diversity estimates between post-treatment weeks 6 and 12. Any adverse effects due to the insecticidal treatment, however, were not considered to be environmentally deleterious in light of the restricted type of habitat (rice culture) in which the chlorpyrifos was used.
Random problem generation and the computation of efficient extreme points in multiple objective linear programming

This paper looks at the task of computing efficient extreme points in multiple objective linear programming. Vector maximization software is reviewed and the ADBASE solver for computing all efficient extreme points of a multiple objective linear program is described. To create MOLP test problems, models for random problem generation are discussed. In the computational part of the paper, the numbers of efficient extreme points possessed by MOLPs (including multiple objective transportation problems) of different sizes are reported. In addition, the way the utility values of the efficient extreme points might be distributed over the efficient set for different types of utility functions is investigated. Not surprisingly, results show that it should be easier to find good near-optimal solutions with linear utility functions than with, for instance, Tchebycheff types of utility functions.
Confocal Endomicroscopy: Instrumentation and Medical Applications

Advances in fiber optic technology and miniaturized optics and mechanics have propelled confocal endomicroscopy into the clinical realm. This high resolution, non-invasive imaging technology provides the ability to microscopically evaluate cellular and sub-cellular features in tissue in vivo by optical sectioning. Because many cancers originate in epithelial tissues accessible by endoscopes, confocal endomicroscopy has been explored to detect regions of possible neoplasia at an earlier stage by imaging morphological features in vivo that are significant in histopathologic evaluation. This technique allows real-time assessment of tissue which may improve diagnostic yield by guiding biopsy. Research and development continues to reduce the overall size of the imaging probe, increase the image acquisition speed, and improve resolution and field of view of confocal endomicroscopes. Technical advances will continue to enable application to less accessible organs and more complex systems in the body. Lateral and axial resolutions down to 0.5 and 3 μm, respectively, field of view as large as 800 × 450 μm, and objective lens and total probe outer diameters down to 0.35 and 1.25 mm, respectively, have been achieved. We provide a review of the historical developments of confocal imaging in vivo, the evolution of endomicroscope instrumentation, and the medical applications of confocal endomicroscopy.
Stock price volatility, transactions costs and securities transactions taxes

Securities Transactions Taxes (STTs) are intended to reduce or eliminate excessive volatility in stock prices caused by short-term speculative trading. To examine the implicit assumption that stock price volatility is caused by short-term trading, we investigate the relationship between volatility and bid-ask spreads, since short-term speculative traders and other investors with short time horizons will prefer stocks with low transactions costs. Our finding, that volatility is actually associated with high transactions costs, is inconsistent with the 'speculator' story. Our study suggests that the effect of an STT may be to impede the adjustment of stock prices to new information, rather than to curb 'excessive short-term speculation'. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
β-(ET)2X organic superconductors: Linear-anion control of structure and ambient-pressure superconductivity, and the first point-contact tunneling studies of β-(ET)2AuI2 implying extremely strong coupling

Abstract Three ambient-pressure organic superconductors have been reported for linear-anion-containing 2D metallic β-(ET)2X systems: X = I3− (Tc's ⋍ 1.5 K and 8 K under > 0.6 kbar pressure), IBr2− (Tc ⋍ 2.8 K), and AuI2− (Tc ⋍ 5 K). These systems from the basis for structure-property correlations because the Tc's scale with unit cell volume, which increases with increasing anion length. When the linear anion length becomes approximately 14–20% shorter than that of the longest member, I3−, as is the case for IC12− and AuCl2−, the electrical properties become those of a 1D metallic system in which spin-density-wave insulating ground states dominate at low temperature. In the case of the highest ambient-pressure Tc material, X = AuI2−, we report the first unambiguous point-contact tunneling measurements of the superconducting energy gap, Δ, which reveals a BCS temperature dependence but with a gap 5 times larger than weak-coupling value, implying extremely strong coupling.
Self-administered alcoholism screening test (SAAST): comparison of classificatory accuracy in two cultures.

Results of stepwise discriminant analyses of the Self-Administered Alcoholism Screening Test (SAAST) administered to 181 alcoholics and 123 nonalcoholics in Mexico City were compared with results of a similar analysis of a sample in the United States (Rochester, Minnesota). with sensitivites of 90% and 95%, specificities were 91.1% to 99.2% in the Mexican sample for total score and a nine-item version developed on the Rochester sample. A new 9-item version derived from the Mexican sample gave specificities between 95.1% at 90% and 95% sensitivities, as with the Rochester sample. The two items with greatest predictive power were the same in both cultures.
Natural killer cells and natural killer cell activity in chronic fatigue syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is associated with insidious and persistent immunologic abnormalities that have proved difficult to reproduce. The heterogeneity of CFS, the variable quality of immunologic assays and their performance, along with an almost complete absence of longitudinal studies of cellular immune abnormalities in CFS may explain this difficulty. However, in a significant proportion of cases, low levels of natural killer (NK) cell activity have been reported. This article will explore the mechanisms responsible for low NK cell activity, discuss the relation between levels of NK cell activity and health/disease, describe new findings on NK cell-brain interactions, and put forth a specific hypothesis for the role of NK cells in the pathogenesis of CFS.
Near-Field Scanning Optical Microscopy (NSOM) Studies of the Relationship between Interchain Interactions, Morphology, Photodamage, and Energy Transport in Conjugated Polymer Films

It is becoming increasingly clear that the way in which a conjugated polymer film is cast affects the interactions between polymer chains and thus the optical and electrical properties of the film. Given that conjugated polymer films cast in different ways also show different nanometer-scale surface topographies, the question that arises is: What is the correlation between surface topography, local chain packing, and the local electronic properties of a conjugated polymer film? In this paper, we address this question using fluorescence near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) to examine films of poly(2-methoxy-5-(2‘-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylene vinylene) (MEH-PPV) that were prepared in different ways. The spatially resolved photoluminescence (SRPL) spectra collected on top of the nanometer-scale topographic features (“bumps”) exhibited by spin-cast MEH-PPV films show an enhancement of the red portion of the emission relative to spectra collected from flat regions of the film. Moreover, photooxidativ...
Enhanced semiconductor nanocrystal conductance via solution grown contacts.

We report a 100,000-fold increase in the conductance of individual CdSe nanorods when they are electrically contacted via direct solution phase growth of Au tips on the nanorod ends. Ensemble UV-Vis and X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicate this enhancement does not result from alloying of the nanorod. Rather, low temperature tunneling and high temperature (250-400 K) thermionic emission across the junction at the Au contact reveal a 75percent lower interface barrier to conduction compared to a control sample. We correlate this barrier lowering with the electronic structure at the Au-CdSe interface. Our results emphasize the importance of nanocrystal surface structure for robust device performance and the advantage of this contact method.
Synthesis of orthogonal end functionalized oligoethylene glycols of defined lengths

The synthesis of oligoethylene glycols of defined lengths possessing different end functionalities is described. The utility of these molecules towards the development of a generic membrane anchor is demonstrated.
Analysis of Dichloroacetic Acid in Drinking Water by Ion Exchange HILIC‐LC/MS/MS

Abstract Dichloroacetic acid (DCA) is a small, polar compound that individuals are exposed to as a result of drinking water consumption. The occurrence of DCA in drinking water is of concern because DCA has been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals. To date, no validated LC/MS/MS methods are available for quantitative analysis of DCA. In addition, most methods use a derivatizing reagent that can artificially inflate the levels of DCA. Presented in this paper, is a validated LC/MS/MS method for the analysis of DCA in drinking water. An amino column was used with ion‐exchange hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC).
Inflammation in Pregnancy: Its Roles in Reproductive Physiology, Obstetrical Complications, and Fetal Injury

Fetal development and growth occur in a sterile amniotic cavity while first exposure to microorganisms happens at birth. However, at least 25% of all preterm births, the leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide, occur in mothers with microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity. Microbial attack of the fetus takes place in approximately 10% of pregnancies with intra-amniotic infection, and the human fetus is capable of deploying an inflammatory response (cellular and humoral) in the mid-trimester of pregnancy. The onset of premature labor in the context of infection is mediated by pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), as these cytokines are produced by intrauterine tissues in response to microbial products, can stimulate prostaglandin production, and induce labor in animals. Moreover, knockout experiments suggest that infection is less likely to lead to premature labor when the IL-1 and TNF signaling pathways are disrupted. A fetal inflammatory systemic response occurs in a fraction of fetuses exposed to microorganisms in utero, and is associated with the impending onset of labor as well as multisystem organ involvement. Neonates born with funisi-tis, the histologic marker of such inflammation, are at increased risk for neurologic handicap and cerebral palsy. Evidence has begun to accumulate that gene-environment interactions determine the likelihood of preterm labor and delivery and, probably, the risk of fetal injury. Fetal inflammation has emerged as a major mechanism of disease responsible for complications in the perinatal period (in utero and in the first 28 days of life), as well as in infancy. Moreover, reprogramming of the fetal immune response may predispose to diseases in adulthood.
H2 optimization of electricity-generating tuned mass dampers for simultaneous vibration control and energy harvesting

The classic tuned mass damper (TMD) is a passive vibration control device composed of an auxiliary mass connected to a vibrating object with a spring and an energy-dissipative element. When its parameters are optimized, it can reduce the vibration effectively. Recently, the authors proposed simultaneous vibration control and energy harvesting from tall buildings by replacing the energy-dissipative element of the TMD with electromagnetic transducers, which is called electricity-generating TMD. However, the electromagnetic transducers and the energy harvesting circuit, the modeling of which is an essentially a RL circuit, will introduce extra dynamics into the system, which has significant influence on the vibration mitigation performance. This paper investigates the influence, by optimizing the parameters. We found that the electricity-generating TMD can provide better vibration mitigation performance than the classic TMD and similar performance as the three-element TMD while harvesting the vibration energy at the same time. This paper utilizes the H2 criterions, which is to minimize the root-mean-square vibration under random excitation. The optimization method is presented in this paper, as well as the concise closed-form solution of the optimal parameters. A case study is also given to illustrate the effectiveness, robustness of the electricity-generating TMD and the sensitivity to the parameter changes.
Ab initio curved-wave x-ray-absorption fine structure.

The most important elements of {ital ab} {ital initio} calculations of x-ray-absorption fine structure (XAFS) are studied. To obtain accurate results without {ital ad} {ital hoc} adjustable parameters, we find it essential to include (i) curved-wave effects, (ii) a complex, energy-dependent self-energy, (iii) an approximate molecular potential, and (iv) a fixed energy reference for the photoelectron wave number. Based on these findings, an automated code has been developed for {ital ab} {ital initio} calculations of single-scattering XAFS, in which curved-wave effects are treated exactly in terms of effective backscattering amplitudes, inelastic losses and self-energy shifts are incorporated with use of a Hedin-Lundqvist self-energy, an automated relativistic overlapping-atom muffin-tin potential is used, and the energy threshold is estimated from electron-gas theory. The efficiency of the code is made possible by analytic expressions for the Hedin-Lundqvist self-energy. This code replaces existing tables of XAFS phases and scattering amplitudes and yields reliable theoretical XAFS standards for arbitrary pairs of atoms throughout the Periodic Table ({ital Z}{le}94). These results are comparable to those from self-consistent calculations and are valid to within about 20 eV of the absorption edge. Comparisons with experiment are presented for Cu, Ge, Pt, Br{sub 2}, and GeCl{sub 4}. The calculatedmore » XAFS amplitudes are found to be accurate to within 15%; XAFS phases are accurate to within 0.2 rad; and nearest-neighbor distances are typically accurate to within 0.02 A.« less
Nuclear Explosions: Some Geologic Effects of the Gnome Shot.

The explosion of the Project Gnome device, which had a yield of 3 kt and was exploded at a depth of 1200 ft in a thick salt deposit, is described. The geologic formations above and below the explosion site were described, as they appeared before and after the shot. The shot chamber consisted of a 7 x 7 x 8 ft room with a self-sealing entrance. Drilling studies indicated upward and downward shifting of the overlying and underlying formations respectively. Analysis of formations near the walls of the post-shot cavity (volume 25,000 cubic yards) showed the presence of intrusive breccia veins composed of black salt containing minerals created by the blast. These veins were associated with complex thrust faulting in the rocks adjacent to the shot chamber. The presence of low-burning fragments (wood, rubber, etc.) in the intrusions was noted, which fragments indicated that excessive temperatures were not reached all through the chamber. (T.F.H.)
Nature of biological electron transfer

Powerful first-order analysis of intraprotein electron transfer is developed from electron-transfer measurements both in biological and in chemical systems. A variation of 20 A in the distance between donors and acceptors in protein changes the electron-transfer rate by 10(12)-fold. Protein presents a uniform electronic barrier to electron tunnelling and a uniform nuclear characteristic frequency, properties similar to an organic glass. Selection of distance, free energy and reorganization energy are sufficient to define rate and directional specificity of biological electron transfer, meeting physiological requirements in diverse systems.
Inelastic and Fragmented Farm Supply Response for Second-generation Bioenergy Feedstocks: Ex Ante Survey Evidence from Wisconsin

Second-generation bioenergy feedstocks stand poised to become a key component of the nation's agricultural and energy sectors, yet few studies have examined farm supply response using survey information. We use contingent valuation data from farmers in southwestern Wisconsin to develop ex ante supply estimates for two prospective feedstocks—corn stover and switchgrass—in terms of farmers' extensive and intensive acreage decisions. Supply response is found to be price inelastic and spatially fragmented, making widespread production unlikely in the near-term. However, heterogeneity in farmer reservation prices suggests that agglomerations or "hot spots" of feedstock supply could arise at local or regional levels.
A functional approach to simulation programming

The author explores simulation programming in Haskell, a purely functional language. It is shown how a simple simulation problem can be modeled in Haskell, and the result is compared to those obtained with four traditional approaches. It is demonstrated that infinite lists, or streams, provide a natural way of modeling queues, and that the properties of a simple queuing problem can be expressed declaratively by specifying the interrelationships between queues. Lazy evaluation allows the functional solution to avoid the time-flow mechanism used in most simulation frameworks, and it is argued that the resulting solution is simpler and more intuitive. As a result, it is believed that functional languages are preferable to traditional high-level languages for modeling some classes of simulation problems. The problem used to illustrate simulation programming in Haskell is taken from Balci's (1988) paper. It describes the behavior of a multiple virtual storage batch computer system with two CPUs and a printer, and with jobs entering from four different sources. >
L-FABP directly interacts with PPARα in cultured primary hepatocytes

Although studies with liver type fatty acid binding protein (L-FABP) gene ablated mice demonstrate a physiological role for L-FABP in hepatic fatty acid metabolism, little is known about the mechanisms whereby L-FABP elicits these effects. Studies indicate that L-FABP may function to shuttle lipids to the nucleus, thereby increasing the availability of ligands of nuclear receptors, such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPARα). The data herein suggest that such mechanisms involve direct interaction of L-FABP with PPARα. L-FABP was shown to directly interact with PPARα in vitro through co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) of pure proteins, altered circular dichroic (CD) spectra, and altered fluorescence spectra. In vitro fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between Cy3-labeled PPARα and Cy5-labeled L-FABP proteins showed that these proteins bound with high affinity (Kd approximately 156 nM) and in close proximity (intermolecular distance of 52A). This interaction was further substantiated by co-IP of both proteins from liver homogenates of wild-type mice. Moreover, double immunogold electron microscopy and FRET confocal microscopy of cultured primary hepatocytes showed that L-FABP was in close proximity to PPARα (intermolecular distance 40–49A) in vivo. Taken together, these studies were consistent with L-FABP regulating PPARα transcriptional activity in hepatocytes through direct interaction with PPARα. Our in vitro and imaging experiments demonstrate high affinity, structural molecular interaction of L-FABP with PPARα and suggest a functional role for L-FABP interaction with PPARα in long chain fatty acid (LCFA) metabolism.
Embedded software-based self-testing for SoC design

At-speed testing of high-speed circuits is becoming increasingly difficult with external testers due to the growing gap between design and tester performance, growing cost of high-performance testers and increasing yield loss caused by inherent tester inaccuracy. Therefore, empowering the chip to test itself seems like a natural solution. Hardware-based self-testing techniques have limitations due to performance and area overhead and problems caused by the application of non-functional patterns. Embedded software-based self-testing has recently become focus of intense research. In this methodology, the programmable cores are used for on-chip test generation, measurement, response analysis and even diagnosis. After the programmable core on a System-on-Chip (SoC) has been self-tested, it can be reused for testing on-chip buses, interfaces and other non-programmable cores. The advantages of this methodology include at-speed testing, low design-for-testability overhead and application of functional patterns in the functional environment. In this paper, we give a survey and outline the roadmap and challenges of this emerging embedded software-based self-testing paradigm.