cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Altered Mitochondrial Function and Metabolic Inflexibility Associated with Loss of Caveolin-1

Caveolin-1 is a major structural component of raft structures within the plasma membrane and has been implicated as a regulator of cellular signal transduction with prominent expression in adipocytes. Here, we embarked on a comprehensive characterization of the metabolic pathways dysregulated in caveolin-1 null mice. We found that these mice display decreased circulating levels of total and high molecular weight adiponectin and a reduced ability to change substrate use in response to feeding/fasting conditions. Caveolin-1 null mice are extremely lean but retain muscle mass despite lipodystrophy and massive metabolic dysfunction. Hepatic gluconeogenesis is chronically elevated, while hepatic steatosis is reduced. Our data suggest that the complex phenotype of the caveolin-1 null mouse is caused by altered metabolic and mitochondrial function in adipose tissue with a subsequent compensatory response driven mostly by the liver. This mouse model highlights the central contributions of adipose tissue for system-wide preservation of metabolic flexibility.
Hybrid subtraction in digital fluorography

Digital fluorography using temporal subtraction techniques has achieved excellent visualization of the vascular anatomy with intravenous injections of contrast medium. However, clinical studies have demonstrated that a major limitation to this method is patient motion. Movements such as swallowing, breathing, peristalsis, cardiac motion, and arterial pulsations cause artifacts in difference images which can reduce the diagnostic accuracy of the procedure. Many of these artifacts can be eliminated by the use of hybrid subtraction, a second-order technique which combines temporal and dual-energy subtraction. This procedure is described and compared to both temporal and dual energy subtraction methods in terms of data acquisition, iodine signal-to-noise ratios, dose, and x-ray tube loading. Images are shown to demonstrate the viability of this new technique.© (1982) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Modeling the atomic transport kinetics in high-lead solders

The atomic mobilities of Au, In, Pb, and Sn in face-centered cubic Pb-Sn and Pb-In alloys are modeled using the available literature data. A set of parameters describing the composition and temperature dependence of diffusional mobility are provided. The calculated tracer diffusivities of Pb in ternary Pb-Sn-In and Pb-Sn-Au alloys are in very good agreement with the experimental data. Using the model parameters, both tracer and chemical diffusivities can be calculated in the composition and temperature ranges where experimental data is not available. On the assumption of local equilibrium, the simulation of dissolution kinetics of Pd in liquid Pb is demonstrated. The major source of discrepancy between the calculated and experimental diffusion profiles is the uncertainty of the atomic transport kinetics data in the liquid phase. The implications of current kinetic modeling are discussed briefly.
Diagnosis of dystrophinopathies: Review for the clinician

The dystrophinopathies are muscle disorders due to an abnormality of an Xp21-linked gene which produces the dystrophin protein. The most common of these disorders are the Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies. Modern molecular genetic techniques enable reliable diagnosis and prognosis in many patients, but there are occasional pitfalls. Furthermore, the clinical spectrum of the dystrophinopathies are now such that the clinician needs to be aware of a broader range of clinical disorders that require analysis of the dystrophin gene and its product, not just those that mirror a classic Duchenne or Becker muscular dystrophy picture. This spectrum ranges from a severe form presenting at birth to asymptomatic elevation of CK. Females may be manifesting carriers or present as a severe phenotype when the abnormal gene is expressed as an X-autosome translocation or monosomy X. Laboratory diagnosis and prognosis can be made most accurately by using both DNA analysis at the dystrophin gene and immuno-analysis of muscle with antibodies directed against different regions of the protein product. This review describes some exemplary patients, suggests a clinical classification for dystrophinopathies, and outlines a diagnostic approach.
On Hamilton's principle for surface waves

The boundary-value problem for irrotational surface waves is derived from a variational integral I with the Lagrangian density [Lscr ] = Ξ ηt - [Hscr ] where Ξ (X, t) is the value of the velocity potential at the free surface, y = η(x, t), and [Hscr ] is the energy density in x space. [Hscr ] then is expressed as a functional of Ξ and η, qua canonical variables, by solving a reduced boundary-value problem for the potential, after which the requirement that I be stationary with respect to independent variations of Ξ and η yields a pair of evolution equations for Ξ and η. The Fourier expansions Ξ = pn(t)ϕn*(x) and η = qn(t)ϕn(x), where {ϕn} is an orthogonal set of basis functions, reduce I to Hamilton's action integral, in which the complex amplitudes pn and qn appear as canonically conjugate co-ordinates, and yield canonical equations for pn and qn that are the spectral transforms of the evolution equations for Ξ and η. The evolution equations are reduced (asymptotically) to partial differential equations for pn and qn by expanding [Hscr ] in powers of α = a/d and β = (d/l)2, where a and l are scales of amplitude and wavelength. Explicit third approximations are developed for β = O(α).
Factors affecting flow cytometric detection of apoptotic nuclei by DNA analysis

Apoptotic thymocyte nuclei normally appear on a flow cytometric DNA histogram as a subdiploid peak. We observed that addition of a specific RNase A preparation to the detergent-based lysing buffer increased the fluorescence of toxicant-induced apoptotic nuclei to the level of untreated diploid nuclei. The chelating agent EDTA partially inhibited the RNase effect, suggesting contaminating divalent cations may have been involved. Moreover, spectrofluorometric analysis revealed that addition of RNase or divalent cations decreased the amount of DNA present in the lysate. This suggested that the upscale fluorescence shift was due to a decrease in the ability of the lysing buffer to extract DNA, possibly as a result of cation-induced chromatin condensation, rather than increased accessibility of fluorochrome binding sites due to apoptotic degeneration. Moreover, during a 16-h culture, we observed a similar, but time-dependent, upscale shift in the fluorescence of thymocytes undergoing apoptosis either spontaneously or as a result of exposure to 1 microM tributyltin methoxide (TBT), 2% ethanol, 2% methanol, or 1 microM dexamethasone phosphate (DEX). This commonality of effect suggests that a similar magnitude of chromatin reorganization occurs in apoptotic cells in prolonged culture regardless of the method of apoptotic induction. These findings should alert investigators to potential inaccuracies in the flow cytometric quantitation of apoptosis in in vitro systems employing prolonged toxicant exposures or complex lysing cocktails that may contain active contaminants.
Secondary organic aerosol formation and transport

A Lagrangian trajectory model simulating the formation, transport and deposition of secondary organic aerosol is developed and applied to the Los Angeles area, for the air pollution episode of 27–28 August 1987. The predicted secondary organic aerosol on 28 August 1987 represents 15–22% of the measured particulate organic carbon at inland locations in the base case simulations, and 5–8% of that at coastal locations. A maximum secondary organic aerosol concentration of 6.8 μg m^(−3) is predicted for Claremont, CA, during this episode. On a daily average basis at Claremont about 46% of this secondary organic aerosol is predicted to be a result of the oxidation of non-toluene aromatics (xylenes, alkylbenzenes, etc.), 19% from toluene, 16% from biogenic hydrocarbons (α-pinene, β-pinene, etc.), 15% from alkanes and 4% from alkenes. The major uncertainties in predicting secondary organic aerosol concentrations are the reactive organic gas emissions, the aerosol yields and the partitioning of the condensable gases between the two phases. Doubling the reactive organic gas (ROG) emissions results in an increase of the secondary organic aerosol predicted at Claremont by a factor of 2.3. Predicted secondary organic aerosol levels are less sensitive to changes in secondary organic aerosol deposition and NO_x emissions than to ROG emissions.
Electronic and crystal structure of NiTi martensite

All of the first-principles electronic-structure calculations for the martensitic structure of NiTi have used the experimental atomic parameters reported by Michal and Sinclair [Acta Crystallogr., Sect. B: Struct. Crystallogr. Cryst. Chem. B37, 1803 (1981)]. We have used first-principles, full-potential, linear muffin-tin orbital calculations to examine the total energy of all the experimental martensitic structures reported in the literature. We find that another crystal structure, that of Kudoh et al. [Acta Metall. Mater. 33, 2049 (1985)], has the lowest total energy at zero temperature. Ground-state and formation energies were calculated for all of the experimental structures. Total and local densities of states were calculated and compared with each other for the structures of both Kudoh et al. and Michal and Sinclair
Effects of extreme temperatures on drug delivery of albuterol sulfate hydrofluoroalkane inhalation aerosols.

Purpose The effects of extreme temperatures on drug delivery of two albuterol sulfate hydrofluoroalkane, metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) were evaluated. Methods Three Proventil HFA and three Ventolin HFA MDIs were stored at room temperature and served as controls while three of each product were placed in the trunk of a vehicle in Tucson, Arizona. The temperature in the vehicle was monitored for six months. Product performance for each of the MDIs was evaluated at room temperature. An additional study was performed to investigate the performance of the two products when actuated at 4, 22, 47, and 60 degrees C. Results The products subjected to extreme environmental temperatures had a modest increase in propellant-leak rate, but the emitted-particle size, dose per actuation, respirable mass, and non-respirable mass were unaffected. The inhalers tested at temperatures outside the recommended storage conditions exhibited a decrease in particle size, dose per actuation, shot weight, and non-respirable mass as temperature increased. Conversely, increased temperature caused an increase in respirable mass. Conclusion Despite exposure to extreme temperatures exceeding the manufacturers' recommended storage conditions, drug delivery from Proventil HFA and Ventolin HFA MDIs was not significantly altered. However, drug delivery did change appreciably when the inhalers were tested at different temperatures outside recommended storage conditions.
Taxanes from the bark of Taxus brevifolia

Abstract Large-scale processing of the chloroform extract of the bark of Taxus brevifolia by reversed phase column chromatography on C-18 bonded silica using acetonitrile/water mixtures, gave a taxane-rich fraction which emerged just after the elution of paclitaxel. Re-chromatography of this fraction yielded 15 taxane constituents, many of which were obtained in crystalline from, and variously belonging to the 11(15 → 1)-abeotaxane group, taxinine J group, brevifoliol group and those with an oxygenation pattern at the 14 position. Five of these were new and several others were isolated for the first time from this source.
IMMUNOLOGY OF THE PERUVIAN STRAINS OF LEPTOSPIRA ICTEROIDES

Serum from yellow fever convalescents from Payta, Piura, and Morropon gave a positive Pfeiffer reaction with the strains of Leptospira icteroides isolated in Guayaquil and Merida. The serum also protected the guinea pigs from these strains in the majority of instances. The Pfeiffer reaction was complete with all recent convalescents (7 to 36 days) but slight or partial in some instances with serum derived from individuals who had had the attack of yellow fever 10 months previously. The virulence of the Morropon strains was found to be approximately the same as that of the Guayaquil or Merida strains. With one strain the minimum lethal dose for the guinea pig was less than 0.00001 cc. of a kidney emulsion from an infected guinea pig. Suitable quantities of the anti-icteroides serum administered to guinea pigs inoculated with 2,000 to 20,000 minimum lethal doses of infective material prevented the development of the infection, or a fatal outcome, according as the serum was given during the incubation period or after fever had appeared. The earlier the administration of the serum the smaller was the quantity needed; during the incubation period 0.0001 to 0.001 cc. was sufficient, during the febrile period 0.01 to 0.1 cc. was required to check the progress of the disease, and even at the time when jaundice had already appeared, the injection of 0.1 to 1 cc. saved three out of four animals inoculated with Strain 3 and one out of three inoculated with Strain 1. The native guinea pigs secured in Payta proved to be unusually refractory to infection with Leptospira icteroides as compared with normal guinea pigs recently imported from New York. Fresh rabbit serum is recommended for culture work with Leptospira icteroides.
Water and Ritual: The Rise and Fall of Classic Maya Rulers

Introduction: The Rise and Fall of Classic Maya Rulers 1. Water and Ritual 2. Classic Maya Political Histories 3. Maya Rituals: Past and Present 4. Community and the Maya: The Ritual History of Saturday Creek 5. Local Rulers and the Maya: The Ritual History of Altar de Sacrificios 6. Regional Rulers and the Maya: The Ritual History of Tikal 7. The Rise and Fall of Classic Maya Rulers 8. Water, Ritual, and Politics in Ancient Complex Societies
Molecular modeling of the surface charging of hematite. I. The calculation of proton affinities and acidities on a surface

Calculation of the energy of a charged defect on a surface in supercell geometry is discussed. An important example of such a calculation is evaluation of surface proton affinities and acidities, as adding or removing a proton creates a charged unit cell. Systems with periodic boundary conditions in three spatial directions and a vacuum gap between slabs are demonstrated to be inadequate for unit cells having non-zero ionic charge and uniform neutralizing background. In such a system the calculated energy diverges linearly with the thickness of the vacuum gap. A system periodic in two directions and finite in the direction perpendicular to the surface (2-D PBC) with the neutralizing background distributed as the surface charge density is free from this problem. Furthermore, the correction for the interaction of the charged defect with its own translational images is needed to speed up the convergence to the infinite dilution limit. The expression for the asymptotic correction for the energy of interaction of a charged defect with its translational images in 2-D PBC geometry has been developed in this study. The asymptotic correction is evaluated as the interaction energy of a 2-D translationally periodic array of point charges located above and below the plate of non-uniform dielectric. This is a generalization of the method of M. Leslie and M.J. Gillan [J. Phys. C, 18 (1985) 973] for the calculation of the energy of a charged defect in bulk crystals. The usefulness of this correction was demonstrated on two test cases involving the calculation of proton affinity and acidity at the (012) surface of hematite. The proposed method is likely to be important in ab initio calculations of the energy effect of the surface protonation reactions, where computational limitations dictate a small size for the unit cell.
MILLAYA GEN. N., AN UPPER PALEOZOIC GENUS OF MARATTIALEAN SYNANGIA'

Anatomically preserved fertile marattialean pinnules from the Lower Permian (Wolfcampian) Bursum Formation in Tularosa, New Mexico, and isolated synangia from the Upper Pennsylvanian (Missourian) Stanton Formation near Tyro, Kansas, are described. The sessile synangia are partially sunken into the pinnule lamina and arranged abaxially in a single row on each side of the midrib. Comparisons are made with other fossil and modern marattialeans and the evolutionary significance WHILE the synangia of the Carboniferous marattialeans are usually radially symmetrical and pedicellate to some degree, the synangia of many extent marattialeans are bilaterally symmetrical and essentially sessile. The majority of the Mesozoic marattialeans are compression taxa which appear to be very similar to the modern genera. The transition in synangial morphology apparently occurred during the upper Pennsylvanian and the Lower Permian as indicated by the occurrence of Millaya gen. n., Eoangiopteris, Acaulangium, and various pecopterid compressions including Danaeites. Among extant marattialean genera, Danaea is
Integration of remote‐sensing data with WRF to improve lake‐effect precipitation simulations over the Great Lakes region

[1] In this study, remotely sensed lake surface temperature (LST) and lake ice cover (LIC) were integrated into the Advanced Research Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model version 3.2 to evaluate the simulation of lake-effect precipitation over the Great Lakes region. The LST was derived from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), while the LIC was obtained from the National Ice Center (NIC). WRF simulations for the Great Lakes region were performed at 10 km grid spacing for the cold season from November 2003 through February 2008. Initial and lateral boundary conditions were provided by the North American Regional Reanalysis (NARR). Experiments were carried out to compare winter precipitation simulations with and without the integration of the satellite data. Results show that integration with MODIS LST and NIC LIC significantly improves simulation of lake-effect precipitation over the Great Lakes region by reduced latent heat and sensible heat fluxes. A composite analysis of lake-effect precipitation events further reveals that more accurately depicted low-level stability and vertical moisture transport forced by the observation-based LST and LIC contribute to the improved simulation of lake-effect precipitation.
Data assimilation of AVHRR and MODIS data for land base initialization and boundary conditions in the UTC-M atmospheric boundary layer sea-breeze model of Space Coast Florida

The purpose of this paper is to present results of simulations of the Florida Tech UTC-M sea-breeze model with the addition of a simplified atmospheric downwelling radiation subroutine combined and a thermal inertia subroutine into the atmospheric planetary boundary layer model, in order to calculate time dependant heat flux boundary conditions at the air-land boundary that are derived from satellite data from AVHRR and MODIS sensors. The improved UTC-M planetary boundary layer model with this thermal sub-model subroutine is used to demonstrate the use of thermal inertia to help estimate heat fluxes at the land-air interface which in turn influences convergence and vertical fluxes near the bottom boundary, and which may affect mesoscale meteorological wind and seabreeze over complex land-water margins. Additionally, message passage interface (MPI) parallelizing Fortran techniques were used to improve the computational time when the model grid was decreased down to 2 or 1 km cell when simulations where performed on the FIT supercomputer based on an IBM Beowulf Linux cluster. We present some results of the UTC-M simulations and associated results due to the influence of the parameterization of the net surface radiation and thermal inertia using the spectral or wavelength (channel) specific data from MODIS and AVHRR satellite sensors.
An Examination of Prescription Stimulant Misuse and Psychological Variables among Sorority and Fraternity College Populations.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine nonmedical stimulant use among fraternity/sorority members and nonmembers and whether psychological variables (e.g., internal restlessness, depression, anxiety, and stress) were related to nonmedical stimulant use. METHOD: The sample consisted of 1,033 undergraduate students from five universities located in the northeastern, southeastern, northwestern, southwestern, and midwestern regions of the United States. RESULTS: The findings revealed that fraternity and sorority members reported a higher rate of nonmedical stimulant use than nonmembers. In addition, regression analyses revealed that higher ratings of anxiety, stress, internal impulsivity, and internal restlessness significantly predicted nonmedical stimulant use. CONCLUSION: Current findings support further examination of nonmedical stimulant use among other college student subpopulations (i.e., athletic teams, honor societies, residence halls). In addition, there is a strong need to develop research-based intervention and preventive measures that target college populations identified as being at risk for nonmedical stimulant use. Language: en
Apoptosis Induced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Antigen Presenting Cells Is Diminished by Genetic Modification with CD40 Ligand

Persistent colonization with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) is a hallmark of the lung disease associated with cystic fibrosis (CF). Based on the concept that PA is not cleared from the lung by the host response in individuals with CF, we analyzed the capacity of PA to induce cell death in human alveolar macrophages (AM) and murine dendritic cells (DC), antigen presenting cells that play a central role in the initiation of pulmonary host defenses against pathogens, and evaluated if genetic modification can lead to protection against PA induced cell death. AM and DC were susceptible to cell death induced by the laboratory PA isolates PAO1, PAK and PA103, as well as a mucoid derivative of PAO1 and PA isolates derived from sputum of individuals with CF. Apoptosis, analyzed by TUNEL assay, was detectable in AM and DC as early as 3 h after infection with PA. In contrast, the same strains and doses of PA had little effect on the lung epithelial cell line A549 and primary cultures of human bronchial epithelial cells in vitro. Pretreatment of DC with the caspase inhibitors VAD-fmk and YVAD-cmk reduced PA induced cell death (p < 0.05). Finally, genetic modification of DC to express CD40L using an adenovirus vector decreased the susceptibility of DC to cell death induced by PAO1 compared with DC infected with a control Ad vector (p < 0.01). The data demonstrate that DC and AM are susceptible to apoptosis induced by PA and that this response can be partially reversed by genetic modification with CD40L, a CD4+ T cell molecule that plays a central role in activating antigen presenting cells. These observations suggest a potential mechanism contributing to the persistence of PA in CF and suggest that genetic manipulation of antigen presenting cells with anti-apoptotic genes may be able to strengthen host defenses in CF.
Assessment of Lifespan Functioning Attainment (ALFA) scale: A quantitative interview for self-reported current and functional decline in schizophrenia

Schizophrenia has been characterized as a disorder with poor outcomes across various functional domains, especially social and occupational functioning. Although these outcomes have been investigated based on patients' current functioning, few studies have considered the assessment of functional outcomes across the lifespan in schizophrenia. We developed a novel and brief scale of adulthood lifespan functioning, the Assessment of Lifespan Functioning Attainment (ALFA). We assessed current functioning and percentage of pre- and post-psychosis onset engagement for five functional domains including paid employment, living independently, romantic partnerships, close friendships, and recreational engagement with others. Pre-to post-psychosis functional decline was observed for all domains, with paid employment having the greatest decline (d = 2.68) and living independently having the least decline (d = .59). Our exploratory factor analysis suggests that a single factor accounted for the most variance in Pre-Psychosis Functioning in ALFA domains. Two factors explain the majority of variance in Post-Psychosis Functioning and Pre-to-Post Psychosis Decline: a sociability factor (close friendships and recreational engagement with others) and an independence factor (paid employment, living independently, romantic relationships). To our knowledge, this is the first study to report on a self-reported quantitative assessment of adult lifespan functioning in schizophrenia. The ALFA scale may be a useful tool for future research on functional outcomes in schizophrenia.
Vertical and Horizontal Vibration of Granular Materials: Coulomb Friction and a Novel Switching State

Experiments for simultaneous horizontal $(h)$ and vertical $(v)$ vibration of granular materials show novel flow dynamics. We focus on moderate dimensionless accelerations $0l{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{h,v}l1.6$. Phenomena include the spontaneous formation of a static heap at ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{\mathrm{hs}}({\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{v})$ when ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{v}l1$, convective flow for ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{\mathrm{hc}}g{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{\mathrm{hs}}$, and a novel switching state for frequencies ${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{v}\ensuremath{\ne}{\ensuremath{\omega}}_{h}$. A simple friction model provides an approximate, but not exact, description of the steady states and the transition to convection.
Electron spin echoes with a loop-gap resonator☆

On compare les decouvertes sur le resonateur boucle-espacement a une cavite TE 102 surcouplee en spectroscopie d'echo de spin electronique
Effect of lysozyme on crossbands in stalks of Caulobacter crescentus

Stalk fragments obtained from a long-stalked mutant of Caulobacter crescentus were treated with lysozyme to determine if the crossbands or Querbalken which occur in the stalks were affected by this murein-digesting enzyme. The frequency of crossbands, as observed with an electron microscope in thin sections, was significantly reduced in lysozyme-treated samples as compared to controls. Structural alterations in the remaining crossbands and in the organization of the core of the stalk were also observed in the lysozyme-treated preparations.
Receptor-Mediated Nitric Oxide (NO) Release is Dependent on pH in Bovine Newborn Pulmonary Vascular Smooth Muscle (PVSM) † 1734

Although PVSM tone increases with acidosis, the mechanisms mediating this pH response are poorly understood. Endothelium derived nitric oxide (EDNO) is synthesized from L-arginine (L-ARG), and its release and/or resultant decrease in PVSM tone may be sensitive to changes in pH. We hypothesized that under conditions of alkalosis (pH = 7.70 ± 0.02), the decrease in pulmonary arterial isometric force (PAIF) induced by 1) acetylcholine (ACH), a receptor-mediated stimulant of EDNO release 2) calcium ionophore (A23187), a receptor-independent stimulant of EDNO release 3) sodium nitroprusside (SNP), an endothelium-independent NO donor, will be greater than during conditions of acidosis (pH = 6.73 ± 0.03). We measured changes in PAIF with 0.1μM ACH, 0.1μM A23187, and 0.01μM SNP, in the presence of 100μM L-ARG, in 3rd- branch pulmonary artery rings obtained from newborn (<3 weeks old) cows bathed in physiologic salt solution bubbled with 95% O2-5% CO2 gas, and while maintaining constant osmolarity, adjusted the pH by adding sodium bicarbonate. The decrease in PAIF (Fig) induced by ACH, but not A23187 or SNP, is significantly affected by pH. We conclude: In newborn PVSM, in the presence of L-ARG, receptor-mediated release of EDNO is dependent on pH, such that decreased pH results in decreased EDNO release. However, receptor-independent NO release and PVSM relaxation to NO are not affected by pH.
Comparative study of large molecules. Highly accurate calculation of a limit for infinite systems from data on finite systems

We have initiated a comparative study of several families of structurally closely related large benzenoid hydrocarbons of increasing number of fused benzene rings. Local and global properties of such molecules have been studied with a particular interest in investigating the closeness of finite-size molecules for modelling infinite polymeric structures having the same structural patterns. We focus in this report on two questions: (1) how large is a finite molecule which well approximates an infinite system? and (2) how do terminal groups influence local properties in the central part of the molecule as we approach the infinite system. Emphasis in this report is on extraction of high-accuracy limiting values for selected molecular properties from limited data on a few smaller members of structurally related molecules.
Polycrystalline semiconductor heterojunction modeling (CdS/CuInSe2)

Abstract The solution curves of the complete set of transport, continuity and Poisson equations for the CdS/CuInSe 2 solar cell are analyzed. They show high saturation currents, however, combined with low open-circuit voltage and fill factors. The losses responsible for the low open-circuit voltage are caused by high junction recombination near V oc due to the strong optical absorption close to the junction interface in the direct band gap CuInSe 2 with little light penetrating towards the back electrode. A consequent stepwise parameter variation identifies the importance of an increase in minority carrier life and acceptor density in the CuInSe 2 which, when combined, improves V oc from 350 to more than 500 mV. A shift of the junction away from the CdS/CuInSe 2 interface into the CuInSe 2 shows a reduction in the field at the hetero-interface which results in marked losses in short-circuit currents when the interface recombination velocity exceeds about 10 5 cm s −1 . The results of the computation demonstrate the sensitivity of the cell design to several factors including doping, recombination center distribution and boundary conditions to interlayers between the active device part and the electrodes.
Transcriptional responses in Honey Bee larvae infected with chalkbrood fungus

Diseases and other stress factors working synergistically weaken honey bee health and may play a major role in the losses of bee populations in recent years. Among a large number of bee diseases, chalkbrood has been on the rise. We present here the experimental identification of honey bee genes that are differentially expressed in response to infection of honey bee larvae with the chalkbrood fungus, Ascosphaera apis. We used cDNA-AFLP ®Technology to profile transcripts in infected and uninfected bee larvae. From 64 primer combinations, over 7,400 transcriptionally-derived fragments were obtained A total of 98 reproducible polymorphic cDNA-AFLP fragments were excised and sequenced, followed by quantitative real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis of these and additional samples. We have identified a number of differentially-regulated transcripts that are implicated in general mechanisms of stress adaptation, including energy metabolism and protein transport. One of the most interesting differentially-regulated transcripts is for a chitinase-like enzyme that may be linked to anti-fungal activities in the honey bee larvae, similarly to gut and fat-body specific chitinases found in mosquitoes and the red flour beetle. Surprisingly, we did not find many components of the well-characterized NF-κB intracellular signaling pathways to be differentially-regulated using the cDNA-AFLP approach. Therefore, utilizing qRT-PCR, we probed some of the immune related genes to determine whether the lack of up-regulation of their transcripts in our analysis can be attributed to lack of immune activation or to limitations of the cDNA-AFLP approach. Using a combination of cDNA-AFLP and qRT-PCR analyses, we were able to determine several key transcriptional events that constitute the overall effort in the honey bee larvae to fight natural fungal infection. Honey bee transcripts identified in this study are involved in critical functions related to transcriptional regulation, apoptotic degradation of ubiquitinated proteins, nutritional regulation, and RNA processing. We found that immune regulation of the anti-fungal responses in honey bee involves highly coordinated activation of both NF-κB signaling pathways, leading to production of anti-microbial peptides. Significantly, activation of immune responses in the infected bee larvae was associated with down-regulation of major storage proteins, leading to depletion of nutritional resources.
Continued studies of high algal productivities in a shallow flume

Abstract Tetraselmis suecica was grown in outdoor shallow flume systems over a period from June to August, 1985, in an effort to test the reproducibility of results achieved in 1984, and to gain some understanding about the responses of the alga to changing conditions in the culture. Production results during 1985 were not significantly different from those achieved in 1984 when the cells were grown in a three-day dilution interval mode, and averaged 35±5 g ash-free dry weight m−2 day−1 over a total of 78 days during both years. Production on the third day of the growth cycle was significantly higher than on days one and two during both years. Statiscally significant changes were found in compositional characteristics and photosynthesis-irradiance curve parameters as a function of biomass and/or time during two, three and four-day growth cycles. These changes could not, however, explain why production was consistently higher when the cells were grown in a three-day dilution interval mode.
Verification of a three-dimensional transport model using tetroon data from project state

Abstract During August 1978, The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducted a major field study at the Cumberland Steam Plant of the Tennessee Valley Authority. This study, known as the Tennessee Plume Study, was conducted as part of the EPA Sulfur Transport and Transformation in the Environment (STATE) Project. The field experiments included the release and tracking of tetroons from Cumberland during numerous intervals within the period of the study. On 15 August, 10 tetroons were released, traveling distances ranging from less than 25 km to in excess of 200 km. The tetroon position data were compared with three-dimensional (3-D) kinematic trajectory predictions from a 3-D regional-scale dynamic model. The average directional error was 7° where the maximum error was 14° and an error of less than 2° prevailed for 2 trajectories. The average displacement error was 9 % of the observed path of the tetroon, with the maximum being 30% and an error of 3% or less prevailing for 4 trajectories.
Reversed phase liquid chromatographic retention behavior of polystyrene homopolymers

Isocratic and gradient elution high performance liquid chromatographic measurements of the retention behavior of polystyrene homopolymers with molecular weights ranging from 2 kD to 390 kD were performed using mixed methylene chloride-methanol mobile phases of varying composition and a C-18 chemically bonded stationary phase supported on either 100 A or 300 A mean pore diameter silica. Isocratic measurements of the capacity factor, k′, for different molecular weight homopolymers as a function of the volume fraction of methylene chloride, ϕ, permit determination of the critical composition, ϕc, which renders k′=1 and the local slope, S=−∂lnk′/∂ϕc of the lnk′-ϕ isotherm at ϕ=ϕc, and also the dependence of ϕc and S on the degree of polymerization, M. Linear gradient elution measurements of ϕc and S were also performed and compared to the corresponding isocratic measurements. The general retention behavior and the dependence of ϕc and S on M compare favorably to the predictions of the theory of homopolymer retention and fractionation developed by Boehm, Martire, Armstrong, and Bui (BMAB). Comparison is also made between the present work and the experimental observations of other workers on related chromatographic systems involving hompolymer retention.
The determination of certain properties of β-lactoglobulin and its lactose derivatives

Abstract In an attempt to elucidate further the browning reaction in milk, two purified components, crystalline β -lactoglobulin and lactose, have been reacted in solution. This reaction set in immediately at 53°C., as shown by the rapid formation of fluorescent products. The increase in optical density, depicting further steps in the browning reaction, showed a short lag period and then rapid development. With these changes in physical properties were associated a decrease in free amino and basic groups and a resistance to enzymic digestion, particularly in regard to the release of lysine. In order to ascertain the possible role of cysteine in this reaction, the thiol groups were determined. Native β -lactoglobulin was found to contain 0.50 sulfhydryl groups/10 4 g. or 2 groups/mole. A reduction of these groups was observed in the control experiment and no further destruction was noted upon browning.
Firm Size and the Effect of R&D on Tobin's Q

Significant market value effects of research and development (R&D) are generally apparent, but aggregate evidence has the potential to obscure meaningful differences according to firm size. Consistent with findings reported by Chauvin and Hirschey (1993) for the late 1980s, valuation effects of R&D remain somewhat greater for larger as opposed to smaller firms.
A knowledge-based approach to design for manufacturability

In the light of growing global competition, organizations are increasingly under pressure to produce products of high quality and reliability at reasonable cost. The integration of design and manufacturing activities into one common engineering effort has been recognized as a key strategy for survival and growth. Design for Manufacturability (DFM) aims at integrating product design and process design to achieve cost and quality objectives. The implementation of the DFM approach requires the collaboration of both the design and manufacturing functions within an organization. However, due to the divergent orientations of these functions, implementation of the DFM approach has been found to be neither straightforward nor easy. Of the several methodologies available, process-driven design is recognized as one of the more effective DFM approaches. The primary objective of this research is to address the major criteria for manufacturability in the DFM approach using expert systems methodology. An expert system has been developed in two modules--one for process selection and manufacturing cost estimation and the other for evaluation of design features for manufacturability on a CAD system. The expertise for primary process selection is developed for casting and forging processes. The specialized processes considered are die casting, investment casting, sand casting, precision forging, conventional die forging, and open die forging. The processes considered for secondary process selection are end milling and drilling. The cost estimation expertise is developed for the die casting process, milling and drilling operations, and manual assembly operations. A design for a hanger used in the furniture industry is used to demonstrate the process selection and cost estimation capability of the expert system. Three different solid models created in CATIA are used to demonstrate evaluation of design features for manufacturability with respect to milling and drilling operations on a CNC milling machine. The set of manufacturability criteria considered are: (1) perpendicularity of holes to drill entry and exit surfaces, (2) conformance of hole diameters to available standard tool sizes, (3) compatibility of hole depths with respect to hole diameters, (4) adjacency of holes lying on the same surface, (5) rounded inside corners instead of sharp corners in square holes, and (6) chamfered corners instead of rounded external corners. The results obtained from the application of the expert system suggest that the use of a knowledge-based approach to generate accurate cost estimates and analyze design features for manufacturability during the design phase is certainly feasible. Such systems would enhance the quality of design decisions in organizations, resulting in improved competitiveness in the market.
Axial conduction in a thick-wall matrix heat exchanger

Solutions are developed for temperature distributions and ineffectiveness for a high Ntu matrix heat exchanger having simultaneous axial conduction in the single phase (matrix/fluid) flow channels and separating wall. A scale analysis of the governing equations shows a large disparity in length scales for the conduction and convection effects, thus indicating a singular perturbation problem. Solutions for both balanced and imbalanced flow are obtained by analytical methods with appropriate scaling so that all terms of the solution are well behaved in the limit of large Ntu. The limiting cases of only wall conduction and only matrix conduction are treated, the results from which are favourably compared with past works. Ineffectiveness resulting from simultaneous matrix and wall conduction from the present work is compared with a traditional heat exchanger model for axial conduction. Good agreement is found for only small ratios of axial and wall conductance to Ntu. Finally, the results are compared with earlier laboratory data. These data are found to be bracketed from below by the results of this work and, from above, by an earlier model for high Ntu performance which neglected axial conduction.
Correlations Among Bone Mineral Density, Broadband Ultrasound Attenuation, Mechanical Indentation Testing, and Bone Orientation in Bovine Femoral Neck Samples

Broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) of the calcaneus has been found to correlate with bone mineral density (BMD) of the femoral neck. The purpose of this study was to determine if a correlation exists among femoral neck BUA, femoral neck BMD, and incremental indent depth, a qualitative indicator of local mechanical bone strength, in bovine samples, and if this correlation is dependent upon orientation. For 12 of the bovine samples obtained, BUA was measured at the femoral neck and was followed by a BMD determination of the same area. A 19 mm diameter bicortical core containing the center of the area of interest was removed, transversely cut into 7 mm, thick disks, and tested for hardness by indent depth. For these tests, BMD was well correlated with BUA (R2 = 0.85, P < 0.001). An inversely proportional relationship with a modest correlation was found between indent depth and BMD (R2 = 0.59, P = 0.026), and indent depth and BUA (R2 = 0.57, P = 0.031). In a second set of tests involving 15 different bovine samples, a bicortical core was removed from the femoral neck. A trabecular bone cube measuring 1.5 cm on a side was removed from the center of the core. BUA and BMD measurements were made along the anterior-posterior (AP), medial-lateral (ML), and cephalic-caudal (CC) aspects of the cube. The cubes were randomly separated into three groups, cut in half perpendicular to the axis of interest, and tested for hardness by indent depth. In these tests, no significant difference was found in BMD among the three orientations of the cubes scanned (P = 0.77). In contrast, the BUA along the ML orientation of the cube was significantly greater than that along the AP orientation (P < 0.05). No significant difference was found in the incremental indent depth measurements among cube orientations (P = 0.41). In the test involving only trabecular bone, a much higher correlation between BMD and incremental indent depth was found regardless of cube orientation (R2 = 0.64, P < 0.001). The data indicate that BUA, but not BMD, is affected by trabecular orientation, and that BMD is negatively correlated with incremental indent depth.
Diffusion of Western Medical Technology in China Since the Economic Reform

This article reviews the diffusion of western medical technology in China since 1978. The author demonstrates how medical organization and financing at both the national and hospital levels have contributed to a relatively rapid diffusion. The example of the CT scanner is used to evaluate the financing, distribution, and utilization of medical technology in China. The author concludes with an examination of the policy implications and practical impact of current trends.
Strong Attraction among the Fully Hydrophilic {Mo72Fe30} Macroanions

We report the study on the unique driving forces of the self-assembly of fully hydrophilic, soluble {Mo72Fe30} macroanions into single-layer, vesicle-like “blackberry” structures in water and mixed solvents. The hydrophobic interaction that is responsible for the vesicle formation of amphiphilic surfactants does not contribute to the current blackberry formation because of the absence of hydrophobic moiety. The hydrogen bond, van der Waals force, and chemical interaction only play minor roles. Laser light scattering and conductance measurements on a series of {Mo72Fe30}/ethanol/H2O solutions show that a certain amount of negative charges are necessary for the self-assembly, clearly indicating the existence of long-range attraction between macroanions, presumably due to the small counterions in between. The experimental results suggest that the charges on macroanions play a dual effect: short-range electrostatic repulsion and long-range “like-charge attraction”, which is the major source of attractive for...
Local languages for local literacies? debating a central dilemma

Abstract This paper addresses the difficulties of using minority languages for literacy. Three strands are identified in the debate: educational, economic/political and developmental. Each perspective on its own advances reasons and objections for promoting minority languages, but there is a need for dialogue between these sectors. The economic argument against the use of minority languages must not end the debate. Grounds for greater dialogue are suggested in a set of common questions. The global visibility of minority rights means that language choice for literacy is seen as one indicator of relations between governments and minorities. The paper cites those most closely affected by questions of language planning: educational, linguistic and development professionals from the highly multilingual context of Cameroon, and concludes by asking how truly viable linguistic choices can be made available for literacy acquisition.
The median procedure for n-trees as a maximum likelihood method

A few axioms are presented which allow the median procedure for n-trees to be given a maximum likelihood interpretation.
Diffusion and Clustering in Heavily Arsenic-Doped Silicon: Discrepancies and Explanation

Very different concentration dependences of As diffusivity in heavily doped silicon have been observed, but a consistent explanation of the underlying atomic-scale process is lacking. We present an extensive first-principles study on the As-vacancy interactions in heavily doped silicon in terms of which we have explained quantitatively the driving mechanism of the observed enhanced diffusion and revealed the [ital time dependence] of the redistribution of dopant atoms. By checking the details of As-vacancy interaction potential and the [ital time dependence ] of diffusion and clustering, we find that the discrepancies between different experiments and between different atomistic simulations eventually disappear. [copyright] [ital 1999] [ital The American Physical Society ]