cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Calculations of Configurations of Doubly Ionized Copper (Cu III).

The energy levels belonging to the configurations 3d/sup 7/4s/sup 2/ and 3d/sup 8/nl (nl = 4s, 5s, 4p, 5p, 4d, 5d, 4f, and 5g) have been calculated. The radial energy integrals were treated as parameters and adjusted to give a least-squares fit to the observed levels. Two- and three-body effective electrostatic interactions for equivalent electrons were included, as well as two-body effective interactions for inequivalent electrons. Strong configuration interaction between 3d/sup 7/4s/sup 2/ and 3d/sup 8/4d was taken into account. Values of the parameters are given for all the above configurations, and the calculated levels are given for all except 3d/sup 8/4s and 3d/sup 8/4p (for which essentially equivalent results have been published). Leading eigenvector percentages are given in appropriate coupling schemes.
Disruption of the Human Gut Microbiota following Norovirus Infection

The gut microbiota, the collection of all bacterial members in the intestinal tract, plays a key role in health. Disruption of the indigenous microbiota by a variety of stressors, including antibiotic therapy and intestinal infections, is associated with multiple health problems. We sought to determine if infection with Norovirus disrupts the gut microbiota. Barcoded pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA-encoding gene was used to characterize the stool microbiota in Norovirus-infected human patients (n = 38). While the microbiota in most infected patients (n = 31) resembled that seen in uninfected healthy controls, a minority of patients (n = 7) possessed a significantly altered microbiota characterized by reduced relative numbers of Bacteriodetes and a corresponding increase in Proteobacteria. In these patients, the increase in Proteobacteria was due to a single operational taxonomic unit (OTU) of Escherichia coli. We cultured E. coli from Norovirus-infected patients and characterized them using PCR-ribotyping and virulence factor analysis. Multiple ribotypes were encountered, but none possessed typical virulence factors commonly carried by enteropathogenic E. coli strains. Microbiota disruption and elevated Proteobacteria were not significantly correlated to patient age, gender, sampling time following illness onset, or overall gut inflammation. These results demonstrate that some patients have a disrupted microbiota following Norovirus infection, and therefore may be at elevated risk for long-term health complications.
Disruption of gene expression rhythms in mice lacking secretory vesicle proteins IA-2 and IA-2β

Insulinoma-associated protein (IA)-2 and IA-2β are transmembrane proteins involved in neurotransmitter secretion. Mice with targeted disruption of both IA-2 and IA-2β (double-knockout, or DKO mice) have numerous endocrine and physiological disruptions, including disruption of circadian and diurnal rhythms. In the present study, we have assessed the impact of disruption of IA-2 and IA-2β on molecular rhythms in the brain and peripheral oscillators. We used in situ hybridization to assess molecular rhythms in the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) of wild-type (WT) and DKO mice. The results indicate significant disruption of molecular rhythmicity in the SCN, which serves as the central pacemaker regulating circadian behavior. We also used quantitative PCR to assess gene expression rhythms in peripheral tissues of DKO, single-knockout, and WT mice. The results indicate significant attenuation of gene expression rhythms in several peripheral tissues of DKO mice but not in either single knockout. To distinguish whether this reduction in rhythmicity reflects defective oscillatory function in peripheral tissues or lack of entrainment of peripheral tissues, animals were injected with dexamethasone daily for 15 days, and then molecular rhythms were assessed throughout the day after discontinuation of injections. Dexamethasone injections improved gene expression rhythms in liver and heart of DKO mice. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that peripheral tissues of DKO mice have a functioning circadian clockwork, but rhythmicity is greatly reduced in the absence of robust, rhythmic physiological signals originating from the SCN. Thus, IA-2 and IA-2β play an important role in the regulation of circadian rhythms, likely through their participation in neurochemical communication among SCN neurons.
The changing landscape of international business : From the Baltic Sea to the Indian Ocean

The article reviews the book "Foreign Direct Investment in Europe: A Changing Landscape," edited by Klaus Liebscher, Josef Christl, Peter Mooslechner, and Doris Ritzberger-Grunwald, and "International Business Marketing in Emerging Country Markets: The Third Wave of Internationalization of Firms," by Hans Jansson.
Gas‐phase fragmentation reactions of protonated glycerol and its oligomers: Metastable and collision‐induced dissociation reactions, associated deuterium isotope effects and the structure of [C3H5O]+, [C2H5O]+, [C2H4O]+. and [C2H3O]+ ions

The chemistry of glycerol subjected to a high-energy particle beam was explored by studying the mass spectral fragmentation characteristics of gas-phase protonated glycerol and its oligomers by using tandem mass spectrometry. Both unimolecular metastable and collision-induced dissociation reactions were studied. Collision activation of protonated glycerol results in elimination of H 2 O and CH 3 OH molecules. The resulting ions undergo further fragmentations. The origin of several fragment ions was established by obtaining their product and precursor ion spectra. Corresponding data for the deuterated analogs support those results. The structures of the fragment ions of compositions [C 3 H 5 O] + , [C 2 H 5 O] + , [C 2 H 4 O] +. and [C 2 H 3 O] + derived from protonated glycerol we identified. Proton-bound glycerol oligomers fragment principally via loss of neutral glycerol molecules. Dissociation of mixed clusters of glycerol and deuterated glycerol displays normal secondary isotope effects
The autofluorescent products of lipid peroxidation may not be lipofuscin-like.

Abstract The fluorescent molecules of cellular age pigment granules (lipofuscin) are commonly thought to be end products of membrane lipid autoxidation. Lipofuscin flourophores of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) appear to be derived from photoreceptor outer segment membranes. Experiments were therefore conducted to determine whether the in vitro oxidation of retinal homogenates would generate flourophores similar to the naturally occuring lipofuscin fluorophores of the RPE. Neural retina and RPE-choroid homogenates from young (2–3 month old) albino rats were subjected to an iron-ascorbate-air pro-oxidant reaction medium, and compard to unoxidized control samples from young age-matched animals as well as senescent (24 month old) rats. In addition, neural retina and RPE-choroid homogenates from 3 month old albino rats were subjected to a 100% oxygen atmosphere to test whether the fluorescent products of autoxidation differ substantially from those generated in the pro-oxidant medium. The chloroform-soluble fluorophores of chloroform-methanol sample extracts were analyzed by corrected fluorescence spectroscopy and thin-layer chromatography (TLC). In vitro pro-oxidation of both the neural retina and the RPE from young produced blue-emitting fluorophores which differed from the orange- and yellow-emitting fluorophores extracted from the RPE of sensescent rats. Corrected fluorescence spectroscopy of aged tissue extracts revealed vitamin A-related fluorescence (330 nm excitation maximum; 515 nm emission maximum) and a spectrally resolvable age-related fluorescence (420 nm excitation maximum; 600 nm emission maximum). Only the vitamin A-related fluorescence could be measured in the control of young samples. In contrast, incubation of the young retinass under pro-oxidizing conditions resulted in a loss of the vitamin A-related fluorescence and the generation of blue-emitting fluoresphores (360 nm excitation maximum; 440 nm emission maximum). Separation of the fluorophores in these extracts by thin-layer chromatography verified the existence of profound differences between the yellow- and orange-emitting age-related fluorophores and the blue-emitting autofluorescent products of in vitro pro-oxidation. Milder auxtoxidizing conditions similarly yielded only blue-emitting fluoresphores which had the same chromatographic properties as the blue-emitting iron-ascorbate pro-oxidazing products. These findings indicate that it is unlikely that RPE lipofuscinspecific fluorophores are direct autoxidation byproducts of retinal components.
The dentist as doctor: a rallying call for the future.

Background When the future status of dentistry is considered, scholarship in the profession plays a key role. It is by scholarship that dentistry distinguishes itself as a learned and esteemed profession, and this position paper aims to explore and promote this vital core value. Methods As Fellows of the American Dental Education Association's selective Leadership Institute, the authors spent over a year critically examining the role of scholarship in dentistry, which was identified as a critical issue for the profession. A review of the health care literature was conducted to inform this paper's position. Results Scholarship is clearly the trait that distinguishes a profession from a trade, as evidenced by trends in other health care professions, as well as dentistry. Although dentistry is a learned profession rightly meriting that distinction, there are a few notable areas that can be improved. Conclusions Because scholarship defines a profession, dentists as doctors and the leaders in oral health should demonstrate the highest scholarship; absence of scholarship risks perception of dentistry as a trade. All dentists can consistently manifest scholarship by integrating basic science, as well as by incorporating the dental evidence-base, into daily practice.
A predistortion linearizer using a tunable resonator

In this letter, a novel predistortion topology using a tunable resonator is presented. The core of the circuit is a series tunable resonator employing a reverse biased varactor diode. The junction capacitance of the varactor diode increases with RF input power, effectively shifting the resonant frequency of the circuit. This results in the amplitude and phase deviations at the frequency of operation. A 1.8-GHz power amplifier (PA), with a gain of 9 dB and 21-dBm output power, is linearized based on this technique. A maximum of 11 dB improvement in adjacent channel power ratio and an increase in 1.8 dB for the compression point is measured for the linearized PA.
Statistical properties of the impulse response function of double-carrier multiplication avalanche photodiodes including the effect of dead space

The statistical properties of the impulse response function of double-carrier multiplication avalanche photodiodes (APDs) are determined, including the effect of dead space, i.e., the minimum distance that a newly generated carrier must travel in order to acquire sufficient energy to become capable of causing an impact ionization. Recurrence equations are derived for the first and second moments and the probability distribution function of a set of random variables that are related, in a deterministic way, to the random impulse response function of the APD. The equations are solved numerically to produce the mean impulse response, the standard deviation, and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), all as functions of time. >
Detection of a variant SYT-SSX1 fusion in a case of predominantly epithelioid synovial sarcoma2

Background : The translocation t(X;18)(p11.2;q11.2) characterizes synovial sarcoma, fusing the SYT gene at 18q11.2 to either SSX1 or SSX2 at Xp11.2. The usual chimeric product fuses SYT codon 379 to SSX1 or SSX2 codon 111. To date only three variant fusions have been identified. A predominantly epithelioid synovial sarcoma that expressed a novel variant of the SYT-SSX1 fusion is described. Methods and Results : The current case was tested for the SYT-SSX fusion by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by sequencing of the PCR product. Analysis revealed a 673 bp SYT-SSX1 chimeric product characterized by a novel junction of SYT codon 379 to SSX1 codon 83 with a 6 bp insertion at the fusion junction. Conclusion : As the number of reported variations of the SYT-SSX chimeric fusion increases in synovial sarcoma, the mechanics of the translocation machinery and the functional significance of these chimeric fusions will be better understood.
Isobar giant resonance formation in self-conjugate nuclei

Abstract The production of isobars with concomitant giant resonance excitations due to peripheral collisions of relativistic heavy ions is investigated. The interaction is described by a modified form of the central term in the one-pion-exchange potential (OPEP) where the projectile ordinary spin operator is replaced by a transition spin operator which describes the creation of an isobar from a nucleon. The scattering is analyzed using time-dependent harmonic perturbation theory to determine the reaction total cross sections. The results obtained, which are valid for reactions involving self-conjugate nuclei, are applied to the specific collison of 2.1 GeV nucleon 16O projectiles with 12C targets at rest. Cross sections are investigated using two different models for the nuclear spin states. In the first model, the many-body nuclear spin state is reduced, in the spirit of a particle-hole state, to an equivalent two-body state called a particle-core state. In the second model, the many-body spin states are described by unsymmetrized products of individual particle spins. Properties of the spin giant resonance and isobar giant resonance states are investigated. Finally, isobar decay and isobar/pion absorption effects are discussed.
The Digital Atlas Dilemma: Outlining the Challenges for Libraries

The transition of geographic atlases existing only in paper, or print, form to digital forms has given rise to necessary changes in the map librarianship world regarding collection development, bibliographic control, patron use, and archiving issues. In this article, we will be focusing on atlases in the geographic realm as initiated by Mercator, though atlases in general can have other inherent meanings. We describe the issues that arise from digital atlases and how they impact both the user and the librarian, and we provide a call to arms for anyone charged with collecting, describing, utilizing, storing, or preserving these evolving new types of atlases.
Forward scattering from cylinders of triangular cross section

The induced-field ratios (IFR) of conducting cylinders of a triangular cross section have been calculated. When the width of the cross-section is in the range of 1-2 wavelengths, the E -wave IFR's are substantially less than the corresponding values for square or circular cross sections. From the standpoint of RF aperture blocking of a reflector antenna, the triangular cross section thus offers an advantageous cross section for feed-support struts.
Foot and ankle system identification with black box models

System identification based on the black box models was utilized for understanding of the transfer function of the foot and ankle exposed to vertical excitation. Various linear polynomial structures and state-space model were tested by comparing the measured acceleration at the base, the Medial Malleolus, and the Tibial Tuberosity respectively for input and output. Identified models are well matched with the measured data when the high model order was selected. The Output Error model has generally shown the best fit to the data, while in several cases the state-space model presents better fit. These results can be used as a starting point for the nonlinear black box model and the grey box model.
CARBOHYDRATE CONCENTRATIONS OF APPLES AND PEARS AS INFLUENCED BY IRRADIATION AS A QUARANTINE TREATMENT

Commercially packed Fuji and Granny Smith apples and Anjou and Bosc pears were exposed to irradiation treatments using a gamma beam 650 source containing cobalt-60 at doses of 150, 300, 600 and 900 Gy. After irradiation, apples were stored for 30, 60 and 90 days, while pears were stored for 30 and 90 days in ambient atmosphere at 1C. Analysis of carbohydrate concentrations of the fruit flesh were conducted during and after each storage period. Irradiation treatment did not influence the total carbohydrate or individual sucrose, glucose, fructose, or sorbitol concentrations in either apples or pears, regardless of the cultivar. Carbohydrate concentrations changed in both apples and pears as storage time progressed and these changes were cultivar dependent. Total carbohydrates and glucose, fructose and sorbitol concentrations increased, and sucrose decreased in apples as storage progressed. Total carbohydrates and fructose increased; whereas, sucrose, glucose and sorbitol concentrations decreased in Anjou pears as storage progressed. Total and individual carbohydrate concentrations decreased in Bosc pears as storage progressed from 30 to 90 days.
Prior processing and picture naming in Korsakoff's syndrome

Abstract The experiment concerns the specificity of transfer between prior study and a later performance measure of remembering, picture naming of previously seen and new pictures. Korsakoff's syndrome and normal subjects viewed pictures under two sets of instructions: integral, where target pictures were to be integrated with context pictures; and separable, where target pictures appeared alone. At test, subjects' naming latencies for targets which were either (a) old and in the same orientation as at study; (b) old but in a reversed orientation; or (c) new, showed that picture naming is sensitive to the unit of processing of the prior episode. When no active processing was required (separable instructions) Korsakoff subjects were as sensitive as normals to the prior physical stimulus. However when active integral processing was required Korsakoffs and normals showed differential sensitivity to the prior episode, consistent with the Korsakoffs' preference for passive rather than active processing.
Aquatic characterization for resources at risk in Eastern Canada

To ascertain quantitative estimates of resources at risk for eastern Canada, linkage must be made between geological terrain sensitivity to acid deposition and water chemistry. An evaluation has been made of watershed areas principally in the Province of Quebec to identify and characterize factors related to LRTAP effects. The watershed areas are geographically located within the bounds of the high sulphate deposition zone of the continental plume. To identify specific test watersheds for detailed analysis, alkalinity frequency distributions were computed. A selection of watersheds has been made that spans the Pre-Cambrian shield region of the Laurentian highlands, the St. Lawrence lowlands and the Gaspe Peninsula. There is evidence that areas in the far eastern areas of Quebec, removed from strong anthropogenic sources may be considered as approaching critical levels of alkalinity. Ionic composition for selected watersheds display similar chemical characteristics for regions of diverse geology and soil characteristics. These differences have been assessed in light of the common effects of sulphate deposition.
Essential Role for Retinoic Acid in the Promotion of CD4+ T Cell Effector Responses via Retinoic Acid Receptor Alpha

Vitamin A and its metabolite, retinoic acid (RA) are implicated in the regulation of immune homeostasis via the peripheral induction of regulatory T cells. Here we showed RA was also required to elicit proinflammatory CD4(+) helper T cell responses to infection and mucosal vaccination. Retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARα) was the critical mediator of these effects. Antagonism of RAR signaling and deficiency in RARα (Rara(-/-)) resulted in a cell-autonomous CD4(+) T cell activation defect, which impaired intermediate signaling events, including calcium mobilization. Altogether, these findings reveal a fundamental role for the RA-RARα axis in the development of both regulatory and inflammatory arms of adaptive immunity and establish nutritional status as a broad regulator of adaptive T cell responses.
Wet Chemical Synthesis of Monodisperse Colloidal Silver Nanocrystals Using Digestive Ripening

Silver metal nanocrystals with passivating ligand shells of dodecanethiol were synthesized by a one-phase wet chemical method. Postsynthesis thermochemical processing, known as digestive ripening, was used to focus the size distribution from a very broad distribution to 5.6 ± 0.4 nm. Chemical analysis of the final Ag nanocrystals showed a metallic core with a densely packed ligand shell. No oxidation was observed despite the entirely aerobic conditions. The size distribution was found to change most dramatically after the two steps proceeding digestive ripening, namely, ligand exchange and precipitation. Imaging also showed that the digestive ripening mechanism of Ag nanocrystals could be significantly different than that for Au, and involved a competitive silver thiolate side product. This synthesis was optimized to produce Ag nanocrystals with little to no silver thiolate materials.
Production-ready silicon microvalve

Micromachining is envisioned as an enabling technology for the miniaturization of chemical analysis systems. It has been pursued for gas phase analysis (GPA) in HP's Chemical Analysis Group and at HP Labs. A thermally actuated, silicon micromachined gas control valve has been jointly developed at HPL and Little Falls Analytical Division (LFAD) for use in a gas chromatograph. This microvalve has 1/10 the weight and 1/5 the package volume of competing solenoid valves. This low cost, high reliability, proportional gas control valve reduces the cost, weight and size of a crucial component for a gas chromatograph system. This paper discusses valve structure and performance, and the resolution of issues over the course of the development.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The generation and characterization of elusive metal complexes in the gas phase: neutralization–reionization mass spectrometry and related experiments

Abstract The results of neutralization–reionization mass spectrometry (NR MS) studies of metal-containing ions are presented and discussed. A unique application of NR MS is the generation of neutrals (in the gas phase) that cannot be easily produced and/or detected by other methods. A variety of elusive complexes having coordinatively saturated and unsaturated metal atom have been produced by collisional neutralization of their positively or negatively charged counterparts. Combined with other mass spectral techniques, the NR MS method is able to provide information about structure, stability, electronic properties, and reactivity of these neutrals. Neutralization–reionization is a powerful tandem mass spectrometry method of elucidating structures of metal-containing ions in the gas phase.
On the infrared spectra of CrO2

Abstract This work describes the infrared spectrum of CrO2 and shows it to be consistent with its metallic electrical properties. This is contrary to a recent publication that reports an infrared spectrum suggesting a semiconducting character for CrO2. We believe that work to be in error and experimentally demonstrate our reason for that belief.
Coronary artery fistula related to dilatation of totally occluded vessel

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is widely used to treat patients with coronary artery disease. Experience and improvement in catheters has led to its wider utilization. A case of coronary recanalization, complicated by coronary fistula created by an angioplasty guidewire, is reported.
Transfer of human chronic lymphocytic leukemia to mice with severe combined immune deficiency

Abstract B chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells were transferred into mice with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). Leukemia cells injected into the peritoneal cavity of these animals may survive for at least 10 weeks in vivo . In contrast, leukemia cells do not survive for Jong periods when injected intravenously. Despite the longevity of CLL cells injected i.p., these cells apparently do not migrate to other lymphoid tissues. Eight to sixteen weeks after receiving CLL cells, SCID mice develop human IgG autoantibodies to human red blood cells and/or high serum levels of human Ig. Soon thereafter, these animals develop lethal human B-cell tumors. In contrast to the original CLL cells, these human B-cell tumors are CD5-negative, have genomic DNA of Epstein—Barr virus (EBV), express antigens associated with latent EBV infection and have distinctive Ig gene rearrangements by Southern. We conclude that bystander B cells may generate tumors in CLLreconstituted SCID mice that emulate the EBV-associated lymphoproliferations noted in SCID mice reconstituted with normal human PBL.
Ultrasonic Characterization of Residual Stress and Texture in Cast Steel Railroad Wheels

An ultrasonic technique has been used to characterize the state of residual stress and texture in the rims of cast steel railroad wheels. Orthogonally polarized shear-horizontal (SH) waves are propagated through the thickness of the rim in pulse-echo mode. The (normalized) difference of arrival times of these waves (acoustic birefringence) depends upon both texture and stress. The birefringence, B, was measured with two transducers: an electromagnetic-acoustic transducer (EMAT) and a piezoelectric transducer made of PZT.
SU-FF-I-70: A Skeletal Model for Marrow Dosimetry in the ICRP Reference Adult Female

Purpose: The skeleton is of critical interest in internal radiation dosimetry. Accurate absorbed dose estimates to the hematopoietic tissues in the active (red) bone marrow and osteogenic tissues in the shallow active bone marrow are of primary importance in predicting the short‐term deterministic (myelotoxicity) and long‐term stochastic (leukemia and/or osteosarcomas induction) effects of radiation exposure. Presently, there are no international standards for skeletal reference models that are based upon a female subject. The purpose of this project is to complete the skeletal model for the ICRP reference adult female. Method and Materials: The development of this female skeletal reference model involves harvesting of major skeletal sites, as well as ex‐vivo CTimaging of the skeletal sites. The ex‐vivo CT scans provide image data for quantifying both trabecular spongiosa and cortical bone ratios within the bone site through manual image segmentation and constructing 3D anatomic models of the bone site for subsequent paired‐image radiation transport simulations. After review of each bone site's ex‐vivo CT scan, samples of spongiosa are strategically excised for imaging via microCT. Next, the microCT scans of each bone site's microstructure and ex‐vivo CT scans of each bone site's macrostructure are coupled and imported into the PIRT (Paired‐Image Radiation Transport) code. PIRT is able to track particle energy deposition both at the macroscopic scale and the microscopic scale simultaneously. Results: The end result of running these simulations will be absorbed dose estimates to the active bone marrow from the following sources: cortical bone surface and volume sources, trabecular bone surface and volume sources, and the trabecular active marrow itself. These will be compiled and available for use in estimating dose for the reference adult female. Conclusion: This reference skeletal model will be used to determine skeletal masses and accurate bone marrow dose estimates from radiation exposures.
Form and orientation tolerance analysis for cylindrical surfaces in computer-aided inspection

Abstract This paper presents the development of computational algorithms for tolerance analysis from measured geometric data in computer-aided inspection. Computational geometry based techniques and numerical analysis methods are applied to tolerance analysis for cylindrical surfaces in a computer-aided automatic inspection environment. When a set of measured coordinates is given, 2-D convex hulls and voronoi diagrams are used to generate pairs of concentric circles. These circles are used to simulate the inspected surface and to find a pair of concentric cylinders to create the minimum zone required for form tolerance (i.e. the cylindricity) analysis. The analysis of orientation tolerances for cylindrical surfaces with respect to datum surfaces is also discussed.
Histidine influx across brush border of rabbit ileum

Abstract Histidine influx across the brush border of rabbit ileum is a saturable process that is inhibited by alanine or lysine in the mucosal solution. Replacement of Na + in the mucosal solution with choline does not affect the maximal influx but markedly increases the histidine concentration required to elicit a half-maximal influx. Lowering the pH of the mucosal solution from 7.4 to 5 does not significantly affect the kinetics of histidine influx in the presence or absence of Na + nro does it affect the degree of inhibition by alanine or lysine. Further, the ability of histidine to inhibit lysine influx does not differ significantly at pH 7.4 and pH 5. Two alternative explanations for these findings are suggested.
On the robustness of LDD nMOS transistors subjected to measurement of drain breakdown voltage

Abstract An increase in the subthreshold current of Lightly-Doped-Drain (LDD) nMOSFETs was observed after drain breakdown voltage measurement with grounded source, gate and substrate (BVdss). A new snapback phenomenon with very low threshold current was found to correlate with the susceptibility of the nMOS to damage during BVdss measurement stress. The threshold current to snapback was found to be as low as 1 nA. This phenomenon cannot be explained by the usual bipolar action model. This paper will discuss the related reliability issue and process modifications to improve the device robustness.
Electrochemical corrosion analyses and characterization of surface-modified titanium

Titanium (ASTM F76) samples received three different surface treatments after which the resulting oxides were characterized and the corrosion behavior was evaluated. No differences in the corrosion potential (Ecorr) were observed for the non-passivated and passivated Ti samples. However, the anodized Ti samples exhibited a significantly more noble Ecorr. At potentials higher than Ecorr, significant differences in current densities were observed for all three different Ti surfaces, with lower current densities observed for anodized Ti samples as compared to the non-passivated and passivated Ti samples. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicated predominantly TiO2 on all Ti surfaces, with a higher concentration of carboxyl species for the anodized Ti surfaces as compared to the non-passivated Ti surfaces. Auger electron spectroscopy revealed a 10-fold thicker oxide layer for anodized Ti surfaces as compared to non-passivated and passivated Ti surfaces.
[3H]Spiperone binding sites in brain: autoradiographic localization of multiple receptors

[3H]Spiperone ([3H]SP) binding sites were localized by light microscopic autoradiography, after in vitro labeling. The kinetic and pharmacological characteristics of these binding sites were studied in slide-mounted sections of rat forebrain, and optimal labeling conditions were defined. Autoradiograms were obtained by apposing emulsion-coated coverslips to labeled sections. Differential drug sensitivity allowed the selective displacement of [3H]SP from dopamine receptors by ADTN, from serotonin receptors by cinanserin, from both by haloperidol and from unique spiperone sites by unlabeled spiperone. The various sites presented a differential anatomical localization. For example, only dopaminergic sites were found in the glomerular layer of the olfactory bulb; only serotonergic sites were found in lamina IV of the neocortex, and a high concentration of unique spiperone sites was found in parts of the hippocampus.
Studies on amine hydrothiocyanates. II. Solubilities and heats of solution in some organic solvents

Abstract The solubilities of piperidine hydrothiocyanate, piperazine monohydrothiocyanate, ethylenediamine dihydrothiocyanate, and propylenediamine dihydrothiocyanate in some or all of the solvents methanol, ethanol, and acetone have been determined. Linear regression analysis of the solubility data indicates a good fit in each case to the equation in S = (A/T) + B. Heats of solution have been calculated from the linear relationships.
Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Ground and Transition States for the SN2 Displacement of Cl- from 1,2-Dichloroethane at the Active Site of Xanthobacter autotrophicus Haloalkane Dehalogenase†

Molecular dynamics simulations of ground and transition states have been carried out to 540 ps for the SN2 displacement of Cl- from 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE) by the Asp124-CO2- at the active site of the haloalkane dehalogenase from Xanthobacter autotrophicus GJ10. The nucleophilic carboxylate of Asp124-CO2- is electrostatically stabilized in the enzyme−substrate (ES) complex by hydrogen bonding. OD1 of Asp124-CO2- is hydrogen bonded to water396 and the backbone amide hydrogens of Glu56 and Trp125. The nucleophilic oxygen (OD2) of Asp124-CO2- is hydrogen bonded to water323. This is a stable but nonreactive conformation. The kinetically essential near attack conformations (NACs) are formed when water323 dissociates to allow the C(1) of the gauche conformation of DCE to be within ∼3 A from the nucleophilic OD2 of Asp124-CO2- while Cl(1) is hydrogen bonded to the indole NH of Trp125. By comparing the molecular dynamics simulations for the ES complex and the enzyme transition-state (TS) structure, one can obser...
A condensed schedule for energy-resource development

Abstract A priority list is developed for large-scale implementation, prototype or pilot plant development, and supporting research, which has the following twin objectives: (i) minimization of the impact of embargoes on foreign fossil-fuel shipments to the United States and (ii) the speediest possible conversion to an abundant energy technology without the use of fossil fuels.
Inhibition of inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH) by 2-[2-(Z)-Fluorovinyl]inosine 5′-Monophosphate

Abstract Inosine 5′-monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH; EC 1.1.1.205) isolated from Escherichia coli B3 cells was strongly inhibited by 2-[2-( Z )-fluorovinyl]inosine 5′-monophosphate (2-FVIMP). Inhibition of IMPDH appears to be irreversible with k inact and K i values of 0.0269 s −1 and 1.11 μM, respectively.
Gifted and Learning Disabled Students: Practical Considerations for Teachers

Teachers must remain open to the possibility that gifted and learning disabled students—regardless of identification—may be served in a variety of settings.
Postmenopausal virilization after spousal use of topical androgens

Objective To increase awareness of the potential to cause virilization in postmenopausal woman secondary to a spouse's use of topical androgen. Design Case report. Setting University-affiliated teaching hospital. Patient(s) A 63-year-old postmenopausal woman with virilization. Intervention(s) Removal of the source of androgen exposure. Main Outcome Measure(s) Regression of the biochemical and physical signs of androgen excess in a woman after cessation of T gel use by her partner, and reinitiation of use with precautions against potential methods of transfer. Result(s) This case highlights the unintentional transdermal absorption of testosterone sufficient to induce virilization in a couple who were aware of this potential problem. The apparent source of androgen absorption was a washcloth that the couple shared. The diagnosis can be established with a detailed history and a few blood tests (total and free T, and DHEAS) to exclude other sources of androgens. Conclusion(s) This report reinforces the need to consider exogenous androgen exposure in the differential diagnosis of virilization in adults when the more common causes have been excluded.
Determination of Mercury in Urine

A simple quantitative method for determination of mercury in urine has been described. The method is based on the reduction of mercury in urine to metallic mercury by a copper-hydrazine system. The metallic mercury is oxidized to mercuric ion by acid permanganate at room temperature. No special equipment or heat digestion is required. The mercury is estimated by a titrimetric dithizone technic. Industrial screening experience for mercurialism has been described.
OR/MS decision support models for the specialty crops industry: a literature review

Specialty crops (fruits, vegetables, grapes and wine, ornamentals—nursery and floriculture—tree nuts, berries, and dried fruits) comprise a substantial—and growing—portion of agribusiness. Still, the industry is facing a number of severe problems that must be resolved to sustain it and promote its continued growth. This paper is intended to provide growers and distribution managers insights into the variety of decision support possible and benchmarks for improvements they can help to achieve and to provide academic researchers with insights into industry operations and a vision of research needs.
Immuno-polymerase chain reaction as a unique molecular tool for detection of infectious agents

Theoretically, the immuno-polymerase chain reaction (IPCR) method is the most sensitive technique for the detection of proteins and gains its uniqueness through the exponential amplification of a signal-generating nucleic acid intermediate attached to a protein target. This method is similar to PCR for the detection of nucleic acid targets, and has now been shown to offer the ability to detect infectious agents where nucleic acids are not present. Although the technical development of IPCR has taken a torturous path down a winding avenue of encouraging advances, the method remains rarely utilized by the scientific community and completely unused as a clinical diagnostic test approved by a national accrediting agency. Although the use of real-time instrumentation has enhanced the performance of IPCR to higher levels of statistical accuracy and reproducibility, as compared with the conventional method, its application remains limited by the high standards required for clinical diagnoses of infectious diseases. This review summarizes experimental data published to date describing the utilization of the IPCR method as it relates to the detection and diagnosis of human infectious disease, and examines the progressive development of this method, as well as the factors impeding its universal application as a clinical diagnostic tool. With further standardization and validation, the IPCR method has the potential to become the most analytically sensitive method available for the detection of target proteins of infectious diseases.
Relay Scheduling for Cooperative Communications in Sensor Networks with Energy Harvesting

This paper considers wireless sensor networks (WSNs) with energy harvesting and cooperative communications and develops energy efficient scheduling strategies for such networks. In order to maximize the long-term utility of the network, the scheduling problem considered in this paper addresses the following question: given an estimate of the current network state, should a source transmit its data directly to the destination or use a relay to help with the transmission? We first develop an upper bound on the performance of any arbitrary scheduler. Next, the optimal scheduling problem is formulated and solved as a Markov Decision Process (MDP), assuming that complete state information about the relays is available at the source nodes. We then relax the assumption of the availability of full state information, and formulate the scheduling problem as a Partially Observable Markov Decision Process (POMDP) and show that it can be decomposed into an equivalent MDP problem. Simulation results are used to show the performance of the schedulers.
Saprophytic Fungal Infections and Complications Involving the Bronchial Anastomosis Following Human Lung Transplantation

Study objective To demonstrate an association between saprophytic fungal infections occurring at the bronchial anastomosis (BA) and the development of additional complications arising at this site. Design Retrospective review. Setting University lung transplant center. Materials and methods Review of all single-lung and double-lung transplant (LTX) recipients who underwent transplantation between June 1993 and December 2000. All recipients were subjected to surveillance bronchoscopy with biopsy at predetermined intervals and when clinically indicated. Bronchial wash fluid and biopsy material were examined using appropriate fungal stains and culture techniques. An infection was defined when fungal organisms were identified in tissue specimens. Results Fifteen saprophytic fungal infections involving the BA were identified in 61 LTX recipients (24.6%) who survived a minimum of 75 days post-transplantation. Infections were attributed to Aspergillus sp (n = 9), Candida sp (n = 2), Torulopsis sp (n = 1), and mixed flora ( ie , Penicillium + Candida, two patients; and Aspergillus + Candida, one patient). Saprophytic fungal infections occurred by a median of postoperative day 35 (range, 13 to 159 days). Airway complications involving the BA ultimately developed in 11 of 61 recipients (18%). These complications included symptomatic bronchial stenosis (nine patients), bronchomalacia (one patient), and fatal hemorrhage (one patient). Bronchial complications arose in 7 of 15 recipients (46.7%) with saprophytic fungal infections of the BA in contrast to 4 of 46 (8.7%) without infections (p = 0.003, Fisher exact test). Also demonstrated was a positive correlation between anastomotic infections and bronchial complications (Φ coefficient = 0.43; p = 0.001), while logistic regression analysis revealed that the absence of anastomotic infections predicted the absence of such complications (p = 0.002). The risk of developing an additional complication following an anastomotic infection in patients with infections was five times that of those recipients without an infection (relative risk, 5.36; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.82 to 15.79). The odds in favor of a bronchial complication following an infection were eight times greater than in those recipients without infection (odds ratio, 8.31; 95% CI, 1.96 to 35.16). Conclusions Following LTX, saprophytic fungal infections of the BA are associated with serious airway complications.
Orderings and types in databases

This paper investigates a method to represent database objects as typed expressions in programming languages. A simple typed language supporting non-flat records, higher-order relations, and natural join expressions is defined. A denotational semantics of this language is then presented. Expressions are interpreted into a domain containing Smyth’s powerdomain. In order to give semantics to types, a new model of types, a filter model is proposed. Types are then interpreted as filters in a domain. The type inference system of the language is shown to be sound in this model.
Comparison of doxorubicin concentration profiles in radiofrequency-ablated rat livers from sustained- and dual-release PLGA millirods.

Purpose. To evaluate and compare the local pharmacokinetics of doxorubicin in radiofrequency (rf)-ablated rat livers after interstitial delivery from sustained- and dual-release poly(D,L-lactide-co-glyco- lide) (PLGA) millirods.
Amplified Transduction of Biomolecular Interactions Based on the Use of Nanomaterials

The achievement of very high sensitivity is a major goal in biological assays such as the monitoring of DNA hybridization or protein interactions. This chapter reviews progress in the development of nanomaterials for amplified biosensing and discusses different nanomaterial-based bioamplification strategies. The emergence of nanotechnology is opening new horizons for highly sensitive bioassays and for novel biosensor protocols that employ electronic, optical, or microgravimetric signal transduction. Antibodies or nucleic acids functionalized with metal or semiconductor nanoparticles have been employed as amplifying tags for the biodetection of proteins and DNA. The coupling of different nanomaterial-based amplification platforms and amplification processes dramatically enhances the intensity of the analytical readout and leads to ultrasensitive bioassays. The remarkable sensitivity of the new nanomaterial-based sensing protocols opens up the possibility of detecting disease markers, biothreat agents, or infectious agents that cannot be measured by conventional methods.
Measuring rural hospital quality.

: Context: Increased interest in the measurement of hospital quality has been stimulated by accrediting bodies, purchaser coalitions, government agencies, and other entities. Purpose: This paper examines quality measurement for hospitals in rural settings. We seek to identify rural hospital quality measures that reflect quality in all hospitals and that are sensitive to the rural hospital context. Methods: We develop a conceptual model for measuring rural hospital quality, with a focus on the special issues posed by the rural hospital context for quality measurement. With the assistance of a panel of rural hospital and hospital quality measurement experts, we review hospital quality measures from national and rural organizations for their fit to rural hospitals. Findings: Based on this analysis, we recommend an initial core set of quality measures relevant for rural hospitals with less than 50 beds. This core set of 20 measures includes 11 core measures from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) related to community acquired pneumonia, heart failure, and acute myocardial infarction; 1 measure related to infection control; 3 measures related to medication dispensing and teaching; 2 procedure-related measures; 1 financial measure; and 2 other measures related to the use of advance directives and emergency department monitoring of trauma vital signs. Conclusion: Based on the special measurement needs posed by the rural hospital context, we suggest avenues for future quality measure development for core rural hospital functions (eg, triage, stabilization, and transfer, and emergency care) not considered in existing quality measurement sets.
Analysis of Ultrasonic Waves in Arbitrarily Oriented or Rotating Anisotropic Thin Materials

Much work has been performed modeling thin anisotropic materials for use in nondestructive testing with plane wave excitation and detection [1–5]. There has been interest in the development of dispersion curve inversion and group velocity inversion procedures [6–8]. The general approach in many of these techniques is to align the excitation and detection along a known crystal axis, and analyze the detected signal to determine elastic constants, bond quality, thickness, or any number of other parameters [9–12]. Unfortunately, most of these approaches will fail to perform adequately when the target’s crystal axis is rotating with respect to the excitation axis, or when the coordinate frame of the crystal axis is unknown.
Variability of Shear Wave Speed and Attenuation In Surficial Marine Sediments

Values of shear wave speed and attenuation in surficial marine sediments (upper 30 cm) are summarized and then correlated with easily measured sediment physical properties (porosity, bulk density, and mean grain size). Shear wave speed ranges from a low of 5 m/s in soft silty-clays to a high of 150 m/s in hard pack fine sands. Shear wave speed increases with decreasing porosity, increasing bulk density, and increasing mean grain size. Strong gradients in shear wave speed in the upper meter of sediment, related to increased effective stress (overburden pressure) and vertical gradients in sediment properties complicate theses predictive relationships. Shear wave attenuation follows the opposite trends as shear wave speed, increasing with increasing porosity, decreasing mean grain size and decreasing bulk density.