cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Estimation of triplet energies from electrogenerated chemiluminescence: Possibilities and restrictions

The advantages and disadvantages of electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) as a method for estimating triplet energies ET of organic compounds are demonstrated in several examples involving strong, weak or non-luminescent compounds. It is shown that in many cases ET can be determined within an error of ±0.1 eV from the thermodynamic relationships between electrochemical and spectroscopic data, from ECL quenching or from sensitized ECL. The method can also be successfully applied to substances in which phosphorescence and delayed fluorescence investigations have failed. It was found that formation of exciplexes and irreversible reactions of the ion radicals may lead to misinterpretation of the results. In such cases, additional measurements were carried out to confirm the interpretation of the triplet mechanism and to rule out chemical complications.
Control of hypersonic aerodynamic forces with surface blowing.

Pressure forces are derived for laminar flow past a thin wedge at high Mach number and high Reynolds number, with mass added at the surface according to a power-law velocity distribution strong enough that the boundary layer is blown away from the wall as a free shear layer. Self-similar solutions are obtained for the thin layer of blown gas adjacent to the surface, for the thin viscous shear layer, and for the outer inviscid-flow region between the shear layer and the shock wave. Pressures obtained in the strong- and weak-interaction regions are joined by a simple interpolation formula
The ultraviolet absorption spectra of desoxypentose nucleic acid

Abstract The intensity of the ultraviolet absorption of sodium desoxypentose nucleate (SDN) in aqueous solution is lowered by the addition of salts, such as alkali halides and phosphates. SDN absorbance in sodium chloride solutions has been carefully measured and appears to vary linearly with the log of the sodium chloride concentration over a 10 5 change in salt concentration. In the absence of salt, the ultraviolet absorption of SDN solutions show strong pH dependence between pH 3 and pH 11. Aqueous SDN at pH 6.7 in the absence of added salt has an absorptivity ( k ) of 25.5 and A 1cm 1% of 258 at 259 mμ (when measurements are made on concentration less than 0.01%). These values are considerably higher than previously reported. Aqueous SDN solutions in the pH range 2 to 10 have an isosbestic point at 233 m/gm. Addition of lysozyme and bovine plasma albumin to SDN solutions also result in a decrease in the ultraviolet absorption due to SDN. On the other hand, the addition of non-ionic substances such as polyvinyl alcohol, sucrose, or glycerol to aqueous SDN solutions, even in high concentrations, does not decrease its ultraviolet absorption. An explanation of these data in terms of the association of the component purine and pyrimidine groups is suggested. These results indicate that caution must be exercised in using measurements of absorption intensities in the ultraviolet for the determination of the purity of nucleic acid preparations and for the determination of the nucleic acid content of tissues and cells unless the ionic strength, pH, and Beer's Law deviation are known.
Variable bandwidth M-path filter with fixed coefficients formed by M-path polyphase filter engines

Software defined radios require selectable bandwidth digital filters to process the many different bandwidth signals pulled from or inserted into the ether. Implementation considerations favor fixed length digital filters with fixed coefficients that can be implemented with hardwired multipliers. This paper describes two filter architectures that use M-path polyphase partitions to implement variable bandwidth filters with fixed coefficients and with fixed computational resources.
Gluon exchange corections to the nucleon magnetic moment in the mit bag model

Abstract We have calculated gluon exchange corrections to the nucleon magnetic moment predictions of the MIT bag model. The sizeable coupling constant g 2 c / 4π=0.5 does not produce an enormous correction (≈10%), but it is in the wrong direction to ameliorate the present 30% disagreement with experiment.
In vivo mapping of a sequence required for interference with the yeast killer virus.

Abstract The Saccharomyces cerevisiae viruses are noninfectious double-stranded RNA viruses whose segments are separately encapsidated. A large viral double-stranded RNA (L1; 4580 base pairs) encodes all required viral functions. M1, a double-stranded RNA of 1.9 kilobases, encodes an extracellular toxin (killer toxin) and cellular immunity to that toxin. Some strains contain smaller, S, double-stranded RNAs, derived from M1 by internal deletion. Particles containing these defective interfering RNAs can displace M1 particles by faster replication and thus convert the host strain to a nonkiller phenotype. In this work, we report the development of an assay in which the expression of S plus-strand from an inducible plasmid causes the loss of M1 particles. This assay provides a convenient method for identifying in vivo cis-acting sequences important in viral replication and packaging. We have mapped the sequence involved in interference to a region of 132 base pairs that includes two sequences similar to the viral binding site sequence previously identified in L1 by in vitro experiments.
The Role of Family Orientation in Predicting Korean Boys' and Girls' Achievement Motivation to Learn Mathematics.

Abstract Informed by achievement goal orientation and self-determination theories, we explored the role of cultural/contextual factors on Korean students' achievement motivation. Specifically, we examined the role of the Korean middle school students' family orientation as a mediator between their perceptions of parent goals or motivating styles and their achievement motivations in learning math, when their perceptions of classroom goal structures were controlled. We also investigated gender differences in the role of the students' family orientation and of their perceptions of their parents and classroom variables in predicting their own achievement motivations. Multi-sample path analyses indicated that both Korean boys' and girls' family orientation mediated between their perceptions of parent variables and their own achievement motivations. Korean students' family orientation predicted mainly controlled forms of motivation and ego-focused goals. In addition, the relationships between students' perceptions of parent variables and their achievement motivations statistically varied across gender.
Engaging with Congress: An unexpected encounter

[1] AGU sent an e-mail to all of its U.S. members on 15 March 2011, encouraging us to meet with our members of Congress and ask them to be mindful of cuts to scientific research. I decided to take the advice that I often give to students: Never miss an opportunity. I thank AGU and the public affairs staff for encouraging us to speak with our elected officials concerning science funding but, more important, for crafting and distributing “talking points” to get us over the activation energy barrier and make conversations flow coherently.
The Effect of Temporary Employment on Asset Accumulation Processes

Temporary employment in the United States has increased considerably in recent decades, but the financial well-being of temporary employees is not well understood. This article examines the effect of both recent and past temporary employment on asset accumulation and portfolio behavior. The authors find that temporary work reduces workers' assets and that this negative effect remains even after a worker has left the temporary position. The authors also show that suppressed or delayed homeownership substantially contributes to the reduction of assets among temporary workers. These results provide insight into the role that work status plays in creating and maintaining wealth inequality.
Productivity and Convergence Across U.S. States and Industries

We examine the sources of aggregate labor productivity movements and convergence in the U.S. states from 1963 to 1989. Productivity levels vary widely across sectors and across states, as do sectoral output and employment shares. The main finding is the diverse performance of sectors regarding convergence. Using both cross-section and time series methods, we find convergence in labor productivity for both manufacturing and mining. However, we find that convergence does not hold for all sectors over the period. Decomposing aggregate convergence into industry productivity gains and changing sectoral shares of output, we find the manufacturing sector to be responsible for the bulk of cross-state convergence.
936-91 Is Exercise Thallium-201 Imaging Helpful in Risk Stratifying Patients with Cardiac Transplant Coronary Artery Disease?

Prior studies have shown that patients with normal exercise SPECT thallium (TI) scans have a favorable prognosis despite the angiographic presence of CAD. Patients with cardiac transplant (Tx) CAD have a high incidence of adverse events including silent MI and sudden death. However given the limited availability of donor hearts. and the lower survival after the second transplant, a technique to risk stratify patients with Tx CAD would be clinically useful and cost-effective. Thirteen patients (mean post-Tx time 40 mo) with angiographic CAD underwent exercise and 4 hr redistribution SPECTTI imaging. Ten patients had epicardial (≥50% diameter reduction) and small vessel disease, two had isolated small vessel disease, and one had isolated epicardial disease. SPECT imaging revealed fixed or reversible defects in 10/13 (77%) patients, 3 patients had normal scans. There was no significant difference in mets achieved during exercise, nor in the extent of CAD between the groups. During a mean follow-up of 20 mo, 8/10 (80%) patients with positive TI scans had graft failure or death vs 0/3(0%) patients with negative TI scans (p l 0.05, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis). This preliminary data suggest that SPECT TI imaging may be of value in risk stratifying patients with Tx CAD.
Multiparameter self-optimizing systems using correlation techniques

A class of self-optimizing systems which continually alter their parameters to reduce a mean-square performance criterion is described. The change in each parameter is determined from an error gradient in parameter space computed by cross-correlation methods which are independent of signal spectra and require no test signal or parameter perturbation. Applications of this technique to both open-loop and closed-loop systems are included and it is shown that a combination of such self-optimizing systems is a possible solution to the adaptive control problem. Computer simulation results are included to demonstrate the practicality of the proposed systems.
Analytical solutions for crack-tip sectors in perfectly plastic Mises materials under mixed in-plane and out-of-plane shear loading conditions

In this paper, analytical solutions for asymptotic crack-tip plastic sectors in perfectly plastic Mises materials are derived under mixed in-plane and out-of-plane shear loading conditions. Plastic strains in crack-tip plastic sectors are considered to be singular and non-singular. Sectors with singular plastic strains have the solution of centered fan type, and sectors with non-singular plastic strains have the solution of either centered fan or constant stress type. The requirement of stress continuity along the border between a constant stress and a centered fan sectors is then discussed. Discontinuities of the normal and out-of-plane shear stresses in the radial direction between two constant stress sectors are assumed in assembling the crack-tip fields under mixed mode II/III and I/III conditions. Crack-tip fields under mixed mode II/III and I/III conditions with small contributions of mode III are then presented to show the existence of asymptotic crack-tip fields for perfectly plastic materials under mixed in-plane and out-of-plane shear loading conditions. The trends of the angular variations of the mode III stresses under the mixed mode II/III and I/III conditions are generally in agreement with those of the available asymptotic and finite element analyses for low strain hardening materials.
A Feeding Solution for Cultures of Human Fibroblasts

INTRODUCTION It is a more or less conspicuous fact that, although a very great number of experiments have been performed on tissues growing in vitro , relatively few of them deal with the significance of chemically well defined substances for the life, differentiation, and growth of cells and tissues. M. R. Lewis and W. H. Lewis (25, 26) were among the first to study the growth of tissues in media of known composition. As early as 1911 they published the results of their work on the cultivation of chick embryo tissues in solutions of various salts and salt combinations. In the same article they stated that an excellent growth could be obtained in combinations of amino-acids and polypeptids of known composition and also that media containing dextrose or maltose were better than pure salt solutions. The importance of glucose in the morphology of the cells was studied afterwards, especially by M. R. Lewis (23, 24). She found not only that the addition of dextrose improved the growth in those media which were not favorable ( e.g. amnion liquid) but, also, that in the absence of carbohydrate, the cells became vacuolated and died within a few days. When dextrose was added to the media, vacuolation was retarded for several days. The fact that growth could be obtained with concentrations of glucose as high as 2 to 5 per cent is interesting. The significance, from a biochemical point of view, of carbohydrates in the culture medium has been studied by several workers, notably Krontowski and his collaborators (16, 17, 18, 19, 20). It is certain that glucose in a culture medium is very important. For a general discussion of the function of carbohydrates, the reader is referred to the well known book of Fischer (12) on tissue cultures. Much less is known about the activity of insulin, a substance closely related to carbohydrate metabolism. Krontowski, Bronstein, and Jazimirska-Krontowska (19) used it on rabbit tissue cultures and found that its addition augmented the depletion of sugar by spleen cultures. The spleen tissue also grew better in plasma from animals which had been injected with this substance (cited after Fischer). Friedheim and Roukhelman (14) concluded from their experiments that addition of insulin is unfavorable for growth, whereas Kuczynski, Tenenbaum and Werthemann (21) found that addition of insulin neutralized the “unfavorable action of glucose” in their medium. Roffo (28) observed that the addition of insulin generally causes a decrease in the growth of fibroblasts from chick embryo heart and rat fibroblasts. He could obtain growth only in very low concentrations of insulin. The very contradictory statements of sundry workers on the influence of insulin on tissue growth can be explained partly by the different sources of insulin and the manifold tissues used. That various organs react differently towards this important substance was found by Krontowski and his co-workers (19).
Stress, coping, family conflict, and adolescent alcohol use

This study examined alcohol use among seventh graders in relation to life events, daily hassles, the supportive quality of the family environment, coping, and anxiety. Four hundred twenty-five students participated, 228 girls and 197 boys. Stepwise regression and discriminant function analyses indicated that the students reported more alcohol use if they also reported more life events, more daily hassles, and more conflict in the family. A stress-buffering effect of low family conflict on life events could not be substantiated for extent of alcohol use. The results are discussed in the context of the developmental transitions of adolescence.
Power analysis to determine sample size for monitoring vegetation change in salt marsh habitats

Numerous initiatives are underway throughout New England and elsewhere to quantify salt marsh vegetation change, mostly in response to habitat restoration, sea level rise, and nutrient enrichment. To detect temporal changes in vegetation at a marsh or to compare vegetation among different marshes with a degree of statistical certainty an adequate sample size is required. Based on sampling 1 m2 vegetation plots from 11 New England salt marsh data sets, we conducted a power analysis to determine the minimum number of samples that were necessary to detect change between vegetation communities. Statistical power was determined for sample sizes of 5, 10, 15, and 20 vegetation plots at an alpha level of 0.05. Detection of subtle differences between vegetation data sets (e.g., comparing vegetation in the same marsh over two consecutive years) can be accomplished using a sample size of 20 plots with a reasonable probability of detecting a difference when one truly exists. With a lower sample size, and thus lower power, there is an increased probability of not detecting a difference when one exists (e.g., Type II error). However, if investigators expect to detect major changes in vegetation (e.g., such as those between an un-impacted and a highly impacted marsh) then a sample size of 5, 10, or 15 plots may be appropriate while still maintaining adequate power. Due to the relative ease of collecting vegetation data, we suggest a minimum sample size of 20 randomly located 1 m2 plots when developing monitoring designs to detect vegetation community change of salt marshes. The sample size of 20 plots per New England salt marsh is appropriate regardless of marsh size or permanency (permanent or non-permanent) of the plots.
Rhetoric and the Reception Theory of Rationality in the Work of Two Buddhist Philosophers

Although rhetoric is not a category of ancient Indian philosophy, this paper argues that Śāntarakṣita and Kamalaśīla, 2 eighth-century Indian Buddhist philosophers, can nonetheless be seen to embrace a rhetorical conception of rationality. That is, while these thinkers are strong proponents of rational analysis and philosophical argumentation as tools for attaining certainty, they also uphold the contingent nature of all such processes. Drawing on the categories of the New Rhetoric, this paper argues that these Buddhist thinkers understand philosophical argumentation to be directed at a universal audience of rational beings, where this universal audience is not an actual audience but a rhetorical one constructed through the author’s particular and historically contingent conception of what counts as rational. A reception theory of rationality is one that holds that the rationality of an argument depends upon its acceptance by a rational audience. When philosophers recognize the historically contingent nature of what counts as rational, they can embrace a reception theory of rationality that neither reduces the rational to mere opinion nor restricts it to a single, absolute, and timeless standard.
Multiscale rectification of random errors without fundamental process models

Abstract Data rectification is the task of removing errors from measured process data, and is of paramount importance for the efficient execution of other process operation tasks. Existing methods for rectification represent the measured variables at a single scale in the time or frequency domain. This representation is inefficient for rectification of data containing multiscale features such as, contributions from events of different duration in time and frequency, and non-white stochastic errors. In this paper, a new class of methods is developed for the rectification of random errors based on representing the measured variables at multiple scales by decomposition on time-frequency localized basis functions derived from orthonormal wavelets. A new technique is developed for the on-line rectification of stationary random errors in the absence of fundamental or empirical process models. This rectification method eliminates basis function coefficients smaller than a threshold, and provides better rectification than that by the widely used method of exponential smoothing. The threshold for rectification is derived from a multiscale model of the errors, which may be estimated from the multiscale decomposition of the measured data. If multiple redundant measured variables are available, then the data may be rectified by extracting an empirical model relating the variables, by methods such as principal components analysis. A new multiscale PCA method is developed that provides better rectification than PCA, by simultaneously extracting the relationship among the variables and among the measurements. The performance of the multiscale univariate filtering and multiscale PCA are illustrated by several examples, and areas for future research are identified.
Effects of crystal bonding on brittle fracture

A series of unistructural materials was used to investigate dependence of fracture energy upon crystal bond ionicity. Fracture energy values obtained from indentation measurements were found to agree with those obtained from a simplistic sine function force law calculation. In addition, an indentation procedure to determine whether environments enhance fracture is discussed.
Surface appearance of tooth cavity walls when shaped with various instruments.

SINCE the introduction of faster operating speeds for rotating instruments, there has been an increased concern regarding the effects of various instruments on the cut tooth surface. Very little information on this subject exists in the literature. The work of Street' describing the effects of instruments on enamel walls represents the most complete report in the current literature. It is the purpose of this report to describe an alternate procedure for examining the tooth surface as it exists after being cut with various instruments. Particular emphasis will be placed upon the technic and procedure of observing the cut tooth surface.
Method Education in Building Systems Courses

Focus Of prime interest to the educator and student is the cost/benefit relationship inherent to a course of study. The benefit derived from an educational activity will be maximized when the method of learning is emphasized over content memorization. Course structure and text material in architectural education other than design studio work have traditionally been based on content rather than method learning.
Increased aromatization in the reforming of mixtures of n-hexane, methylcyclopentane and methylcyclohexane over composites of Pt/BaKL zeolite with Pt/β or Pt/USY zeolites

Abstract The performance of the individual L, β and USY zeolites supported platinum and of composites of Pt/BaKL with either Pt/β or Pt/USY zeolite is examined for the reforming reactions of n-hexane, methylcyclopentane, or methylcyclohexane and their mixtures. The reactions of different mixtures of the above three hydrocarbons over the composites result in increased selectivities for C≥7 aromatics compared to those calculated as molar averages by multiplying the selectivities corresponding to the individually reacting feed hydrocarbons with their molar fractions in the feed mixture. This behavior is attributed to the synergism caused by the components of the composites in combination with the components of the feed mixture. The balancing of the L zeolite with an acidic zeolite via composites can provide a selective route to C8, C9 aromatics for industrial feeds with large contents of C≥6 paraffins.
Reversed Dickson polynomials over finite fields

Reversed Dickson polynomials over finite fields are obtained from Dickson polynomials D"n(x,a) over finite fields by reversing the roles of the indeterminate x and the parameter a. We study reversed Dickson polynomials with emphasis on their permutational properties over finite fields. We show that reversed Dickson permutation polynomials (RDPPs) are closely related to almost perfect nonlinear (APN) functions. We find several families of nontrivial RDPPs over finite fields; some of them arise from known APN functions and others are new. Among RDPPs on F"q with q<200, with only one exception, all belong to the RDPP families established in this paper.
Evidence for an "active serine" in each fatty acid synthetase peptide.

Abstract Ultracentrifugally homogeneous fatty acid synthetase was isolated from the uropygial gland of goose by a one-step purification procedure. Formation of fatty acids from malonyl-CoA and hydrolysis of palmitoyl-CoA catalyzed by the synthetase were inhibited to an equal extent by diisopropylfluorophosphate. With labeled inhibitor, it was shown that one mole of the inhibitor was covalently attached per mole of the subunit of the enzyme. Sodium dodecyl sulphate electrophoresis showed that all of the label was contained in a 270,000 M.Wt peptide. That the active serine was not at the loading site was suggested by the observations that neither acetylation nor malonylation of the enzyme affected the reaction of the enzyme with the inhibitor and acetylation or malonylation of the enzyme was not affected by this inhibitor. Thus, each fatty acid synthetase peptide is shown to have one active serine which most probably is at the chain terminating active site of the peptide.
Passive electrical properties of motoneurons in aged cats following axotomy.

The objective of this study was to determine whether the aging process influences the changes in the electrophysiological properties of motoneurons that occur as a consequence of axotomy. Accordingly, using intracellular recording and stimulating techniques, the basic electrical properties of control (unaxotomized) and axotomized spinal cord motoneurons of aged cats were determined. Compared with control motoneurons, axotomized motoneurons exhibited increases in input resistance (Rin), membrane time constant (τb) and the equalizing time constant (τc). While the electrotonic length (L) remained unchanged, axotomy induced a decrease in the total cell capacitance (Ccell. The post-axotomy reduction of Ccell indicates that the motoneuron surface area was reduced and the increased membrane time constant indicates that there was an increase in membrane resistivity (Rm). The post-axotomy conservation of L accompanied by an increase in Rm suggests that aged axotomized motoneurons undergo geometrical changes. Furthermore, calculations based on cable theory suggest that the diameter of the equivalent cylinder (d) decreased following axotomy, whereas the equivalent cylinder length (l) remained unaffected. It is concluded that axotomy produces significant alterations in the soma-dendritic portion of aged spinal motoneurons, as indicated by the changes found in their passive electrophysiological properties, and that the pattern of the response that occurs in axotomized motoneurons of adult cats is also present in axotomized motoneurons of aged animals.
The Role of Gβγ and Domain Interfaces in the Activation of G Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 2†

In response to extracellular signals, G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) catalyze guanine nucleotide exchange on Galpha subunits, enabling both activated Galpha and Gbetagamma subunits to target downstream effector enzymes. One target of Gbetagamma is G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2), an enzyme that initiates homologous desensitization by phosphorylating activated GPCRs. GRK2 consists of three distinct domains: an RGS homology (RH) domain, a protein kinase domain, and a pleckstrin homology (PH) domain, through which it binds Gbetagamma. The crystal structure of the GRK2-Gbetagamma complex revealed that the domains of GRK2 are intimately associated and left open the possibility for allosteric regulation by Gbetagamma. In this paper, we report the 4.5 A structure of GRK2, which shows that the binding of Gbetagamma does not induce large domain rearrangements in GRK2, although small rotations of the RH and PH domains relative to the kinase domain are evident. Mutation of residues within the larger domain interfaces of GRK2 generally leads to diminished expression and activity, suggesting that these interfaces are important for stability and remain intact upon activation of GRK2. Geranylgeranylated Gbetagamma, but not a soluble mutant of Gbetagamma, protects GRK2 from clostripain digestion at a site within its kinase domain that is 80 A away from the Gbetagamma binding site. Equilibrium ultracentrifugation experiments indicate that neither abnormally large detergent micelles nor protein oligomerization can account for the observed protection. The Gbetagamma-mediated binding of GRK2 to CHAPS micelles or lipid bilayers therefore appears to rigidify the kinase domain, perhaps by encouraging stable contacts between the RH and kinase domains.
Does a factor Phillips curve help? An evaluation of the predictive power for U.S. inflation

This article evaluates various models’ predictive power for U.S. inflation rate using a simulated out-of-sample forecasting framework. The starting point is the traditional unemployment Phillips curve. We show that a factor Phillips curve model is superior to the traditional Phillips curve, and its performance is comparable to other factor models. We find that a factor AR model is superior to the factor Phillips curve model, and is the best bivariate or factor model at longer horizons. Finally, we investigate a New Keynesian Phillips curve model, and find that its forecasting performance dominates all other models at the longer horizons.
Different effects of CCK antagonists on gastric-acid response to CCK and pentagastrin

The role of CCK receptor subtypes in peptide-stimulated acid secretion was assessed in six unanesthetized rats. The CCK-stimulated acid secretion was not blocked by L-365,260, a CCKB/gastrin receptor antagonist, and was significantly increased by devazepide, a CCKA receptor antagonist, given alone or together with L-365,260. L-365,260, but not devazepide, blocked pentagastrin-stimulated acid secretion, and, when given together, devazepide abolished the effect of L-365,260. We conclude: 1) pentagastrin stimulates acid secretion through a gastrin-type receptor, but CCK may not, and 2) pentagastrin and CCK can stimulate acid secretion despite simultaneous blockade of CCKB/gastrin and CCKA receptors.
The cellular reaction to wallerian degeneration in the central nervous system of the cat

Abstract The fine structural features of Wallerian degeneration have been examined by electron microscopy of the cat central nervous system from 1 to 104 days following lesions. In the early stages of Wallerian degeneration, increased electron density is evident in the axoplasm of many axons. Myelin sheaths are occasionally seen to surround cells resembling oligodendroglia. Mitotic figures are present, occasionally in cells with glial filaments. Phagocytosis is carried out by cells resembling those found in the region of blood vessels. The phagocytes take up degenerating myelin and later the ingested myelin loses its characteristic structure and density and appers to be broken downto form lipid droplets. After 6–8 weeks, the phagocytes containing myelin remnants and lipid droplets are seen to abut capillaries. Later, the nervous parenchyma becomes filled with fibrillary glial processes, and phagocytes within the glial scar assume the morphological characteristics of microlia seen by light microscopy. Neither astroglial nor oligodendroglial cells appear to participate in the phagocytosis of degenerating myelin.
Diffraction-limited atomic iodine photodissociation laser

A high-reliability diffraction-limited atomic iodine photodissociation laser is described. It is shown that a diffraction-limited output beam is obtained when the laser pulse is extracted before the onset of gain-medium inhomogeneities caused by non-uniform deposition of the pump radiation. No degradation of the beam focusability is observed for intensities at which the final amplifier is heavily saturated.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF THE ALLANTOIC AND AMNIOTIC FLUIDS OF THE CHICK : II. HYDROGEN ION CONCENTRATION.

1. The hydrogen ion concentration of the allantoic and amniotic fluids of the developing chick has been determined over the period of incubation between the 7th and 19th days using the glass electrode technique. 2. Changes in this property have been related to changes in the chemical composition of these two fluids. 3. The results of this investigation have been compared with those obtained by other workers. Excellent confirmation has been afforded the work of Yamada, whereas the work of Aggazzotti, which has long been accepted, is shown to be in error.
Japanese Language Students' Perceptions on Kanji Learning and Their Relationship to Novel Kanji Word Learning Ability

This study examines the relationship between how learners of Japanese as a second language perceive the learning of kanji (i.e., the logographic characters shared with Chinese) and their ability to learn novel kanji words using morphological and contextual information. Eighty college students learning Japanese as a foreign language completed a 60-item kanji questionnaire, a 75-item kanji test, and a 30-item reading comprehension test. Results indicated modest but statistically significant correlations between the belief variables and the kanji ability measures, with reading proficiency factored out. Regression analyses revealed that although reading proficiency accounted for a large portion of variance of the participants' performance on the kanji test, belief in the effectiveness of metacognitive strategies accounted for 14-16% of the variance of success in morphological analysis. The results suggest that (a) students' task-specific beliefs have a significant impact on their achievement on a given task and that (b) metacognitive awareness significantly affects how a learner handles a challenging learning task.
The MAPP research network: design, patient characterization and operations

The “Multidisciplinary Approach to the Study of Chronic Pelvic Pain” (MAPP) Research Network was established by the NIDDK to better understand the pathophysiology of urologic chronic pelvic pain syndromes (UCPPS), to inform future clinical trials and improve clinical care. The evolution, organization, and scientific scope of the MAPP Research Network, and the unique approach of the network’s central study and common data elements are described.
Palladium-Catalyzed Nonalternating Copolymerization of Ethene and Carbon Monoxide: Scope and Mechanism

A series of nonalternating ethene/carbon monoxide copolymers with very low carbon monoxide content were synthesized using a neutral palladium catalyst bearing a phosphine-sulfonate ligand. The ratio of the binding affinities of carbon monoxide and ethene to the palladium chelate complex (P∩SO3)PdCH2CH2C(O)CH3 has been determined by NMR spectroscopy to be ∼50:1 at 25 °C. The migratory insertions of ethene and carbon monoxide into the palladium methyl complex (P∩SO3)PdCH3(py) have also been examined by NMR spectroscopy, giving the following activation parameters: ΔG⧧(25 °C) = 21.7 kcal mol−1 (ΔH⧧ = 17.7(1) kcal mol−1 and ΔS⧧ = −13.6(4) eu) for ethene insertion; ΔG⧧(25 °C) = 13.0 kcal mol−1 (ΔH⧧ = 16.6(8) kcal mol−1 and ΔS⧧ = 20(434) eu) for carbon monoxide insertion. Our study suggests that the unusually small difference in ethene and carbon monoxide binding affinities plays an important role in determining the copolymer composition.
Use of analogs and inhibitors to study the functional significance of protein palmitoylation

Covalent attachment of palmitate to proteins is a post-translational modification that exerts diverse effects on protein localization and function. The three key technical approaches required for an investigator to determine the role of palmitoylation of your favorite palmitoylated protein (YFPP) are methods to: (1) detect YFPP palmitoylation; (2) alter or inhibit palmitoylation of YFPP; (3) determine the functional significance of altered YFPP palmitoylation. Here, I describe experimental methods to address these three issues. Both radioactive (radiolabeling with [(3)H]palmitate or (125)I-IC16 palmitate) and non-radioactive (chemical labeling and mass spectrometry) methods to detect palmitoylated proteins are presented. Next, techniques to inhibit protein palmitoylation are described. These include site specific mutagenesis, and treatment of cells with inhibitors of protein palmitoylation, including 2-bromopalmitate, cerulenin, and tunicamycin. Alternative methods to replace palmitate with other fatty acids are also presented. Finally, general approaches to determining the effect of altered palmitoylation status on YFPP association with membranes and lipid rafts, as well as signal transduction, are described.
StoryMat: a play space for collaborative storytelling

In this paper, we present the design and prototype of StoryMat: a soft interactive play mat that records and recalls children's storytelling activities.
Cell Penetrating Peptide Inhibitors of Nuclear Factor-Kappa B

The nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) transcription factors are activated by a range of stimuli including pro-inflammatory cytokines. Active NF-κB regulates the expression of genes involved in inflammation and cell survival and aberrant NF-κB activity plays pathological roles in certain types of cancer and diseases characterized by chronic inflammation. NF-κB signaling is an attractive target for the development of novel anti-inflammatory or anti-cancer drugs and we discuss here how the method of peptide transduction has been used to specifically target NF-κB. Peptide transduction relies on the ability of certain small cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) to enter cells, and a panel of CPP-linked inhibitors (CPP-Is) has been developed to directly inhibit NF-κB signaling. Remarkably, several of these NF-κB-targeting CPP-Is are effective in vivo and therefore offer exciting potential in the clinical setting.
Vaginal birth after cesarean section versus elective repeat cesarean delivery: Weight-based outcomes.

Abstract Objective: The study was undertaken to compare infectious morbidity and trial of labor (TOL) success stratified by weight in women. Study Design: Vaginal birth after cesarean section (VBAC) candidates were divided into groups based on prepregnancy weight: group I, 70 ( 300 pounds). Results: The TOL success rate was 81.8% in group I compared with 57.1% in group II and 13.3% in group III ( P =.001). The overall infectious morbidity was significantly greater in the obese women 39% ( P =.001) compared with the average women at 11.4% and the lean women at 5.7%. Conclusion: Infectious morbidity is increased and VBAC success is reduced in patients who weigh more than 300 pounds. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2003;188:1516-22.)
Effect of physiologic and pharmacologic adrenergic stimulation on heart rate variability

Objectives. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the effects of physiologic and pharmacologic sympathetic stimulation on time and frequency domain indexes of heart rate variability. Background. Measurements of heart rate variability have been used as indexes of sympathetic tone. To date, the effects of circulating catecholamines on heart rate variability have not been evaluated. Methods. Fourteen normal subjects (eight men, six women, mean (± SD) age 28.5 ± 48 years) were evaluated. Five-minute electrocardiographic recordings were obtained in triplicate after physiologic and pharmacologic sympathetic stimulation: during upright tilt, after maximal exercise, during epinephrine and isoproterenol infusions at 50 ng/kg body weight per min, during beta-adrenergic blockade and during combined beta-adrenergic and parasympathetic blockade. Results. Beta-adrenergic stimulation resulted in a significant decrease in time domain measures of heart rate variability. The frequency domain indexes showed variable responses, depending on the individual stimulus. Tilt caused an increase in low frequency power and in the ratio of low to high frequency power. These changes were not necessarily observed with other conditions of beta-adrenergic stimulation. Double blockade suppressed baseline heart rate variability, but beta-adrenergic blockade had no significant effect. Time domain measures of heart rate variability demonstrated excellent reproducibility over the three recordings, but the frequency domain variables demonstrated fair to excellent reproducibility. Conclusions. These findings suggest that different modes of beta-adrenergic stimulation may result in divergent heart rate variability responses. Thus, current heart rate variability techniques cannot be used as general indexes of “sympthetic” tone. Studies utilizing heart rate variability to quantify sympathetic tone need to consider this.
Odor, irritation and perception of health risk

Objectives: Understanding the potential for volatile chemicals to elicit chemosensory irritation in the upper respiratory tract is critical to setting occupational exposure limits that are protective of comfort and well-being for the majority of workers. However, the determination of irritant potency for any volatile chemical has been limited by the lack of reliable and non-invasive assays for studying sensory irritation in humans and a failure to appreciate the many non-sensory factors that can influence the reactions to an odor or an irritant in the workplace. Methods: This paper reviews the issues involved in distinguishing and measuring sensations of odor and irritation from volatile chemicals, and describes recent developments in psychophysical methods for evaluating chemical irritancy in humans, and discusses some of the many non-sensory factors such as exposure history, attitudes and expectations and personality variables that can significantly alter the perception of odor, irritation and health risk following exposure to a volatile chemical. Results: The availability of safe, non-invasive assays to measure directly odor and irritant responses in the species of interest, humans, can both simplify and improve accuracy in the process of developing appropriate occupational exposure guidelines. Conclusions: Objective measures of irritation onset obtained in conjunction with subjective responses can lend valuable input to the decision process for determining occupational exposure limits but should always account for other factors (e.g., cognitive or emotional) that may be modulating the subjective response.
The line continuum luminosity ratio in active galactic nuclei - or, on the 'Baldwin effect'

The luminosity dependence of the equivalent width of CIV in active galaxies, the 'Baldwin' effect, is shown to be a consequence of a luminosity dependent ionization parameter. This law also agrees with the lack of a 'Baldwin' effect in Ly alpha or other hydrogen lines. A fit to the available data gives a weak indication that the mean covering factor decreases with increasing luminosity, consistent with the inference from X-ray observations. The effects of continuum shape and density on various line ratios of interest are discussed. Previously announced in STAR as N83-35975
Defect induced surface chemistry: A comparison of the adsorption and thermal decomposition of C2H4 on Rh{111} and Rh{331}

Abstract The adsorption and thermal decomposition of C 2 H 2 on Rh{111} is compared to the atomically stepped Rh{331} surface over a temperature range of 300 to 800 K. Using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) we find that the C 1s spectra as a function of C 2 H 4 exposure exhibit a shift in binding energy ( E b ) from 283.5 eV at 1 L C 2 H 4 exposure on both surfaces to 283.8 eV on Rh{33 and to 284.1 eV on Rh{111} at saturation coverage (4 L). Careful analysis of the C 1s E b value and full width at half maximum as a function of surface temperature after a 10 L exposure of C 2 H 4 at 300 K reveals that a species consistent with a C 2 H adsorbate composition is formed between 400 and 450 K on Rh{111}. This species is also observed on Rh{331} although at the lower temperature of 375 K. Computer peak deconvolution of the C 1s spectra between 500 and 700 K suggests that a CH ads or C ads surface fragment is formed and increases in concentration at the expense of the C 2 H species as the surface temperature increases. Above 750 K a graphite overlayer is formed on both surfaces. This overlayer, however, exhibits a low degree of carbon π-character bonding on Rh{331}. The adsorption and decomposition mechanisms suggest that the 300 K C 2 H 4 adsorbate on Rh{331} is ethylidyne and that the stepped surface is more thermally reactive than the flat Rh{111} surface.
Broccoli Growth, Yield and Level of Aphid Infestation in Leguminous Living Mulches

ABSTRACT A living mulch is an intercropping system which combines an annual crop with a cover crop in order to achieve better weed and insect control, enhance soil fertility and reduce soil erosion and compaction. In this study broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis L.) was grown under clean cultivation (no cover crop) and in living mulches using three leguminous cover crops: white clover (Trifolium repens L.), strawberry clover (Trifolium fragiferum L.) and a mixture of birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) and red clover (Trifolium praetense L.). Aphid infestation of harvested broccoli heads, leaf area, leaf water content, leaf nitrate-nitrogen and yields were assessed. Fertiliser was applied at commercial rates as synthetic fertiliser or compost crossed with cover crop regime. In plots fertilised with compost aphid infestation on harvested broccoli heads was consistently less in living mulches than under clean cultivation. Nitrogen availability was lower in all compost subplots, as indicated by ...
A note on rendering chaotic “repeller distance towers”

A simple technique is described for demonstrating graphically interesting behavior in chaotic systems defined by complex dynamics.
Particulate matter initiates inflammatory cytokine release by activation of capsaicin and acid receptors in a human bronchial epithelial cell line

Recent experiments have shown that human bronchial epithelial cells (i.e., BEAS-2B) release pro-inflammatory cytokines (i.e., IL-6 and TNFalpha) in a receptor-mediated fashion in response to the neuropeptides, substance P (SP), calcitonin gene-related protein (CGRP), and the prototype botanical irritant capsaicin. In the present experiments, we examined the relevance of these receptors to particulate matter (PM)-associated cellular inflammation. BEAS-2B cells, exposed to residual oil fly ash particles (ROFA), responded with an immediate (<30 s) increase in intracellular calcium levels ([Ca2+]i), increases of key inflammatory cytokine transcripts (i.e., IL-6, IL-8, TNFalpha) within 2 h exposure, and subsequent release of IL-6 and IL-8 cytokine protein after 4 h exposure. Pretreatment of BEAS-2B cells with pharmacological antagonists selective for the SP or CGRP receptors reduced the ROFA-stimulated IL-6 cytokine production by approximately 25 and 50%, respectively. However, pretreatment of these cells with capsazepine (CPZ), an antagonist for capsaicin (i.e., vanilloid) receptors, inhibited the immediate increases in [Ca2+]i, diminished transcript (i.e., IL-6, IL-8, TNFalpha) levels and reduced IL-6 cytokine release to control levels. BEAS-2B cells exposed to ROFA in calcium-free media failed to demonstrate increases of [Ca2+]i and showed reduced levels of cytokine transcript (i.e., IL-6, IL-8, TNFalpha) and IL-6 release, suggesting that ROFA-stimulated cytokine formation was partially dependent on extracellular calcium sources. A final set of experiments compared the inflammatory properties of the soluble and acidic insoluble components of ROFA. BEAS-2B cells, exposed to ROFA or ROFA that had been filtered through a 0.2-micrometer pore filter, produced equivocal IL-6. BEAS-2B cells exposed to pH 5.0 media for 15 min released moderate amounts of IL-6, 4 h later. This cytokine release could be blocked by amiloride, a pH receptor antagonist, but not by CPZ. BEAS-2B cells, pretreated with amiloride before ROFA exposure, showed a partial (approximately 25%) reduction of IL-6. Together, these data indicate that the acidic, soluble components of ROFA initiate cytokine release in BEAS-2B cells through activation of both capsaicin- and pH-sensitive irritant receptors.