cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ASSESSMENT AND DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS OF COMORBID CONDITIONS IN ADOLESCENTS AND ADULTS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS

Successful treatment of individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is entirely contingent on an accurate diagnosis. Although many resources exist to help the clinician with differential diagnosis of children, particularly in early childhood, the resources available for evaluating adolescents and adults is far less prevalent. Clinicians often rely on multiple forms of data from numerous sources to make accurate diagnoses, which for adults is a complex process. Lack of availability of instruments that have been normed with individuals with ASD creates limitations for the clinician. In addition, gathering background information from adolescents and adults on the spectrum can be challenging for a number of reasons, including poor self-reporting and poor memory for events from parents or caregivers. To further complicate the matter, comorbid conditions become more and more common as the individual with ASD goes through adolescence and adulthood. This article aims to identify the challenges related to the evaluation of adolescents and adults with ASD, noting particular attention to the differential diagnosis of common comorbid conditions. Recommendations for how to conduct a thorough psychological evaluation with an adolescent or adult with an ASD are made.
The synthesis of methionine by enzymic transmethylation. VIII. Enthalpy changes in the methyl-transfer from betaine and S-methylmethionine bromide.

Abstract The enthalpy changes accompanying the enzyme-catalyzed transfer of a methyl group from betaine and from l -methylmethionine sulfonium bromide to l -homocysteine at neutral pH and 25° have been determined calorimetrically. The heats and standard free energies of ionization of sarcosine and N,N-dimethylglycine have also been measured. The standard entropy values obtained from these data have been used to estimate the standard entropy changes, and hence the standard free energy changes, in the transmethylation reactions. The earlier data and calculations for the methyl transfer from dimethylacetothetin to l -homocysteine have been revised. It is concluded that all the reactions are strongly exergonic and essentially irreversible at pH 7.
Geographic Variation in Hospitalization for Lower Respiratory Tract Infections Across One County

Importance Bronchiolitis and pneumonia are leading causes of pediatric hospitalizations. Identifying geographic patterns in hospitalization rates across small geographic areas could be particularly relevant to targeted patient-level and population-level health care. Objective To determine whether lower respiratory tract infection hospitalization rates varied geographically across a single county and whether such variability was associated with socioeconomic conditions. Design, Setting, and Participants Cross-sectional, population-based study of children hospitalized at one institution for lower respiratory tract infections between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2013. The setting was Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, a large, academic, stand-alone pediatric facility located in Hamilton County, Ohio. During the study period, 99.6% of in-county children hospitalized for lower respiratory tract infections were admitted to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Participants were children younger than 2 years who were hospitalized with bronchiolitis and children younger than 18 years who were hospitalized with pneumonia. Patients were identified using discharge diagnosis codes and then geocoded to their home census tract. Exposures Primary exposures, linked to each geocoded patient, included census tract–level socioeconomic measures obtained from the 2008 to 2012 American Community Survey (eg, adult educational attainment, unemployment, and poverty). Patient-level variables examined included demographics, presence of a complex chronic condition, length of stay, and cost. Main Outcomes and Measures We calculated bronchiolitis and pneumonia hospitalization rates for Hamilton County and for each of 222 in-county census tracts. Associations between hospitalization rate quintiles and underlying socioeconomic conditions were assessed using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Geographic clustering was assessed using the Getis-Ord Gi* statistic. Results There were 1495 bronchiolitis hospitalizations and 1231 pneumonia hospitalizations during the study period. The county rates were 17.5 (range across census tracts, 0-71.4) hospitalizations per 1000 children per year for bronchiolitis and 1.6 (range across census tracts, 0-4.3) hospitalizations per 1000 children per year for pneumonia. There was significant variation in the median hospitalization rates by census tract quintile for bronchiolitis (32.8, 20.8, 14.0, 10.4, and 5.1 per 1000) and for pneumonia (3.3, 2.1, 1.4, 0.9, and 0.3 per 1000). There were also significant, graded differences in socioeconomic measures by hospitalization rate quintile. Hot spots were localized to inner-city, impoverished neighborhoods. Conclusions and Relevance Bronchiolitis and pneumonia hospitalization rates varied considerably in ways that were related to underlying socioeconomic conditions. Clinical and public health interventions, targeted accordingly, could improve patient-level and population-level management of acute conditions at a reduced cost.
What's a PCMPFC?

In their article discussing implications of the declining birth rate on the future need for pediatricians in the United States, Gorwitz and Smith (56:592, October 1975) conclude that three basic choices need to be considered in planning for the training of pediatricians: 1. Leave the number and content of pediatric residencies as previously constituted even though this has the potential of producing a surplus of physicians whose training bears an increasingly limited relationship to their practice.
Fracture imaging with converted elastic waves

This paper examines the seismic signatures of discrete, finite-length fractures, and outlines an approach for elastic, prestack reverse-time imaging of discrete fractures. The results of this study highlight the importance of incorporating fracture-generated P-S converted waves into the imaging method, and presents an alternate imaging condition that can be used in elastic reverse-time imaging when a direct wave is recorded (e.g., for crosswell and VSP acquisition geometries).
Left Ventricular Rupture Due to HIV-Associated T-Cell Lymphoma

Patients with lymphoma can develop cardiac involvement that includes malignant pericardial effusions and myocardial infiltration, but extensive myocardial invasion by tumor with resultant rupture has been reported only rarely. We report a case of a patient with human immunodeficiency virus and T-cell lymphoma who presented with signs and symptoms that were suggestive of a non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Plans were made for cardiac catheterization, but the patient developed thrombocytopenia after the initiation of heparin and eptifibatide. Cardiac catheterization was deferred, and shortly afterwards he had a witnessed cardiac arrest in the hospital and could not be resuscitated. Autopsy revealed transmural infiltration of the myocardium with lymphoma and resultant rupture of the left ventricular free wall. To our knowledge, this is the 1st reported case of left ventricular free-wall rupture due to transmural infiltration by human-immunodeficiency-virus-associated peripheral T-cell lymphoma.We conclude that noncoronary causes of chest pain, including direct myocardial infiltration, should be considered in immunocompromised patients with lymphoma.
Passivity-based Stability of Interconnection Structures

In the 1970s, Vidyasagar developed an approach to the study of stability of interconnected systems. This paper revisits this approach and shows how it allows one to interpret, and considerably extend, a classical condition used in mathematical biology.
The ttbar threshold at a muon collider

The beam energy spread is a major issue in future attempts to study the $t\overline{t}$ threshold at $e^+e^-$ colliders. Muon colliders are expected to naturally have narrow band beams making them an ideal place to study the excitation curve. We present the parameter determinations that are possible from measuring the total cross section near threshold at a $\mu ^+\mu ^-$ collider.
The Potential of dynamic segmentation for aquatic ecosystem management : Pacific Lamprey decline in the native lands of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians

The Lamprey Eel Decline project conducted by the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians (CTSI) combined traditional ecological knowledge, scientific research and geographic information science. CTSI wanted to learn why the Pacific lamprey (Lampetra tridentata), a culturally and ecologically important species, was declining in the streams within their native land area. The project included interviewing native elders, characterizing stream habitat, monitoring water quality, creating a geographic information system (GIS) and educating tribal members on the cultural and ecological importance of the Pacific lamprey. Dynamic segmentation, a GIS data structure, was used to link standard stream survey data on the river unit scale to a base stream coverage (1:24,000). Dynamic segmentation efficiently associates georeferenced data to a linear feature, thus allowing the data to be readily assessable on desktop computer systems. To be more useful to the tribal and local resource managers, it is recommended that these GIS coverages of aquatic habitat should be used in conjunction with additional data coverages and basic regional models for watershed analysis and better management of aquatic ecosystems.
Tuning the luminescence emission in III-V self-forming quantum dots: influence of structure, material system and dot/barrier interface

Tuning the emission in semiconductor quantum dots [QDs] has be attained using different strategies: by changing the material composition in the dot/barriers; interdiffusion or intermixing; using a graded growth rate; and changing the quantum box average dimensions and concentrations for fixed ternary compositions. The effects of these structural and compositional variations on the luminescence properties of these structures is presented and discussed.
The use of wavelet transform as a preprocessor for the neural network detection of EEG spikes

In this study, the wavelet transform is used to process EEG data as input to a feed forward neural network for the detection of epileptogenic transient waveforms. The compression capability of wavelet transform provided the inclusion of data before and after the spike for contextual information without increasing input size of the neural network. The network is trained for the detection of spikes and non-spikes. The results show that wavelet transform can be used to provide more relevant information for improving the detection of epileptogenic spikes for automated EEG monitoring of seizure patients. >
Two-Stage Reimplantation for the Salvage of Infected Total Knee Arthroplasty

The results of eleven two-stage reimplantations to salvage eleven infected total knee arthroplasties in ten women (seven with osteoarthritis and three with rheumatoid arthritis) were evaluated after an average follow-up of thirty-four months. The staged procedures included removal of all of the components of the prosthesis and all cement, then six weeks of parenteral antibiotic therapy (monitored by maintaining serum bactericidal levels at a peak dilution of 1:8), and finally reimplantation with a total condylar-type prosthesis. All antibiotics were discontinued after reimplantation. At follow-up, no patient had had a recurrence of the original infection, but one had a hematogenous infection with a different organism secondary to an infected bunion. The results after reimplantation were rated excellent in five knees, good in four, and fair in two. Weakness of the extensor mechanism with an extension lag was the most frequent complication. We do not believe that antibiotic therapy alone is adequate for the management of an infection around a prosthesis. The method described appears to be effective but it is costly and time-consuming. The surgical procedures and medical management are technically difficult, often special equipment and a custom-made prosthesis are required, and there are no shortcuts.
Integrin signaling in leukocytes: lessons from the alpha6beta1 integrin.

The adhesive interactions ofleukocytes with basement membrane components and other extracel- lular matrix (ECM) proteins are mediated largely by the integrin family of receptors. These interactions can be regulated by various effector molecules includ- ing chemokines, growth factors, and other cell surface proteins by a mechanism termed inside-out signaling of integrin function. On engagement by their ligands, integrins activate a wide range of signaling pathways that regulate a broad array ofleukocyte functions such as chemotaxis, cytokine responsiveness, phagocytosis, and gene expression. This review highlights recent ad- vances in the understanding of integrin signaling in leukocytes with an emphasis on our own work on the a6�i integrin, the major lammin receptor expressed by these cells. J. Leukoc. Riot. 61: 397-407; 1997.
Role of gangliosides in adhesion and conductance changes in large spherical model membranes.

Abstract The formation of two spherical model membranes at the tips of two syringes has allowed us to study the role of gangliosides in membrane adhesion and look for changes in conductance between two such membranes during the process of adhesion. Membranes were formed in aqueous 100 mM NaCl, 10 mM KCl, 1 mM CaCl 2 from 1% (w/v) egg phosphatidylcholine in n -decane, with or without mixed bovine brain gangliosides. After thinning to the ‘black’ bilayer state, two membranes were moved into contact. With gangliosides, the contact area and conductance increased colinearly with time over a 5 to 20 min period of adhesion. The role of electrostatic bridging by calcium was investigated. In the absence of calcium or in the presence of 2 mM EDTA, adhesion proceeded after a longer lag time at about one-half the normal rate. As the ganglioside concentration was increased from 0 to 15 mol%, the electrical conductance of individual membranes decreased 3-fold from 48 ± 30 nS/cm 2 to 17 ± 13 nS/cm 2 . The conductance was pH dependent with a minimum at neutral values. At neutral pH, when two membranes containing 4.1 mol% gangliosides adhered, the region of adhesion had a specific conductance three times that of the nonadhering regions of membranes. Without gangliosides, the specific conductance of the contact region was the same as that of non-adhering regions of the membrane. These data suggest that mixed gangliosides can mediate an adhesion-dependent increase in conductance.
Unexpected and efficient photochemical rearrangement of 6-hydroxyethylpyran-2-ones to 4-AIkylidene-5,6-dihydropyrans

Abstract Pyran-2-ones 2a–e bearing pendant alcohols underwent conversion to dihydropyrans 7 via irradiation in MeOH followed by stirring in the presence of catalytic HCl. This process requires the intervention of a prior skeletal rearrangement of the starting pyran-2-ones to place the hydroxyalkyl substituent at C-4, along with temporary incorporation of MeOH. Homologous substrates 2f–g underwent intramolecular 1,6-addition exclusively to furnish spirolactones 9 in good yield.
Simulation education: taking HLA education to the web

Now that the High Level Architecture (HLA) (DMSO 1998) is a technical reality and DoD M&S programs are moving toward compliance, there's a growing market for computer scientists and software engineers with HLA experience. There's also a long term need for continuing research in HLA-related areas. In addition, the simulation community as a whole is growing while the number of universities offering simulation courses and study programs is not. One of the key reasons is that developing new course material is a time-consuming and expensive process for professors whose time is already divided among existing teaching and research responsibilities. The Defense Modeling and Simulation Offices (DMSO) HLA University Outreach program seeks to bridge this gap with freely available course materials on the HLA. The program is currently moving to make these materials even more accessible by making them web-based.
Anger and Children’s Socioemotional Development: Can Parenting Elicit a Positive Side to a Negative Emotion?

This study examined the role of anger in infancy and its interaction with maternal warmth in predicting children’s socioemotional development. Participants included a demographically diverse sample of 316 mothers and children from the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods (PHDCN) study. Infants were followed across 3 waves of data collection from birth through 5 years of age. Mothers reported on infant anger when children were approximately 4 months of age. Maternal warmth was assessed via observation at both 4 months and 2 years. Children’s socioemotional outcomes were assessed at age 5, and included a direct assessment of delay of gratification and maternal reports of internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Anger in infancy significantly predicted higher levels of internalizing and externalizing behaviors at age 5. A main effect of anger on delay of gratification was not supported. However, anger in infancy moderated the association between maternal warmth and delay of gratification, such that only high-anger infants benefited from high maternal warmth. Similar interactive effects were not supported for problem behaviors. These results provide modest support for the differential susceptibility hypothesis, which proposes that highly reactive children are more susceptible to environmental risks and assets than other children. Specifically, findings suggest that although anger can increase children’s vulnerability to problem behaviors, it can also be a motivating factor for self-regulation in the presence of supportive parenting.
Adolescents sexual media diets.

A model of how adolescents choose, interpret, and interact with the mass media is discussed in the context of sexual development. The Media Practice Model suggests that adolescents select and react to sexual media diets that speak to an emerging sense of themselves as sexual human beings. Relatively little is known about how the sexual content adolescents attend to in the media is interpreted or incorporated into their lives. Entertainment-education and media literacy are two strategies for increasing the possibility of healthy outcomes from adolescents' use of sexual media.
Fibronectin induces cell proliferation and inhibits apoptosis in human bronchial epithelial cells: pro-oncogenic effects mediated by PI3-kinase and NF-|[kappa]|B

The extracellular matrix glycoprotein, fibronectin, influences a variety of cellular functions including adhesion, migration, survival, differentiation, and growth. Fibronectin has also been shown to increase the migration and proliferation of human lung carcinoma cells. However, the role of fibronectin in controlling lung airway epithelial cell phenotype remains unknown. Here, we demonstrate that fibronectin stimulates the proliferation of human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B and 16-HBE). Of note, fibronectin induced the mRNA and protein expression of c-Myc and cyclin D1, while it decreased the expressions of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 (WAF-1/CIP1/MDA-6) (p21) and the tumor suppressor gene phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN). Fibronectin also stimulated the phosphorylation of the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3-K) downstream signal Akt. The inhibitor of PI3-K, Wortmannin, and anti-alpha5beta1 integrin antibodies abrogated the effect of fibronectin on c-Myc, cyclin D1, p21, and PTEN expression. The stimulatory effect of fibronectin was mediated by nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) since fibronectin induced the expression of the p65 component of NF-kappaB and enhanced NF-kappaB DNA binding. Furthermore, we found that p65 small interfering RNA inhibited the effect of fibronectin on c-Myc, cyclin D1, p21, PTEN expression, and on fibronectin-induced cell proliferation. Finally, we found that fibronectin inhibits apoptosis by reducing DNA fragmentation and inhibiting the activities of caspases 3/7. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that fibronectin stimulates human bronchial epithelial cell growth and inhibits apoptosis through activation of NF-kappaB, which, in turn, increases the expression of c-Myc and cyclin D1 and decreases p21 and PTEN via alpha5beta1 integrin-dependent signals that include PI3-K/Akt. Therefore, alternations in the extracellular matrix composition of the lung, with increased fibronectin, might promote epithelial cell growth and thereby contribute to oncogenesis in certain settings.
Recombination centers in TlBr

Abstract Luminescence from TIBr single crystals at low temperature has been investigated using continuous X-ray and UV excitation as well as pulsed-electron-beam excitation. Four emission bands were observed consistently at 495, 504, 560 and 650 nm, with relative intensities dependent on sample preparation, mode of excitation and measurement temperature. The 560 nm band is shown to be associated with excess thallium at the sample surface. Deformation of the crystal at low temperature (e.g. 9°K) produces recombination centers giving rise to the 504 nm and 650 nm luminescence. Subsequent annealing at temperatures of the order of 120°K causes a decrease in the 504 nm luminescence and the simultaneous appearance of the 495 nm band. These observations are interpreted in terms of the thermal release of recombination centers from the vicinities of the dislocations where they are generated.
Treatment with Thyroxine Restores Myelination and Clinical Recovery after Intraventricular Hemorrhage

Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) remains a major cause of white matter injury in preterm infants with no viable therapeutic strategy to restore myelination. Maturation of oligodendrocytes and myelination is influenced by thyroid hormone (TH) signaling, which is mediated by TH receptor α (TRα) and TRβ. In the brain, cellular levels of TH are regulated by deiodinases, with deiodinase-2 mediating TH activation and deiodinase-3 TH inactivation. Therefore, we hypothesized that IVH would decrease TH signaling via changes in the expression of deiodinases and/or TRs, and normalization of TH signaling would enhance maturation of oligodendrocytes and myelination in preterm infants with IVH. These hypotheses were tested using both autopsy materials from human preterm infants and a rabbit model of IVH. We found that deiodinase-2 levels were reduced, whereas deiodinase-3 levels were increased in brain samples of both humans and rabbits with IVH compared with controls without IVH. TRα expression was also increased in human infants with IVH. Importantly, treatment with TH accelerated the proliferation and maturation of oligodendrocytes, increased transcription of Olig2 and Sox10 genes, augmented myelination, and restored neurological function in pups with IVH. Consistent with these findings, the density of myelinating oligodendrocytes was almost doubled in TH-treated human preterm infants compared with controls. Thus, in infants with IVH the combined elevation in deiodinase-3 and reduction in deiodinase-2 decreases TH signaling that can be worsened by an increase in unliganded TRα. Given that TH promotes neurological recovery in IVH, TH treatment might improve the neurodevelopmental outcome of preterm infants with IVH.
Chronic Medical Conditions and Risk of Fall Injury Events at Home in Older Adults

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between selected chronic medical conditions (CMCs) and fall injury events at home among community-dwelling older persons. DESIGN: Population-based case-control study. SETTING: The general community. PARTICIPANTS: Persons aged 65 and older living at home, excluding those using a wheelchair; 467 cases and 691 control subjects were studied. MEASUREMENTS: The main independent variables were self-reported histories of 10 CMCs: diabetes, high blood pressure, anemia, heart attack, Parkinson's disease, stroke, emphysema, cancer (other than skin), cataracts, and glaucoma. RESULTS: The final multivariate model included variables for age, sex, body mass, dependency in activities of daily living, current exercise (three or more times per week), mental status scores, and three CMCs. Persons with a history of stroke or anemia had an increased risk of a fall injury event: for stroke the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) equalled 1.7 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.0-3.0); for anemia the aOR equalled 1.5 (95% CI, 1.0-2.2). Those with a history of high blood pressure had decreased risk (aOR = .7, 95% CI 0.5-0.9). CONCLUSIONS: Persons 65 and older with a self-reported history of anemia or stroke are at increased risk of a fall injury event in the home, whereas those with a self-reported history of high blood pressure are at decreased risk.
A post-translational regulatory switch on UPF1 controls targeted mRNA degradation.

Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) controls the quality of eukaryotic gene expression and also degrades physiologic mRNAs. How NMD targets are identified is incompletely understood. A central NMD factor is the ATP-dependent RNA helicase upframeshift 1 (UPF1). Neither the distance in space between the termination codon and the poly(A) tail nor the binding of steady-state, largely hypophosphorylated UPF1 is a discriminating marker of cellular NMD targets, unlike for premature termination codon (PTC)-containing reporter mRNAs when compared with their PTC-free counterparts. Here, we map phosphorylated UPF1 (p-UPF1)-binding sites using transcriptome-wide footprinting or DNA oligonucleotide-directed mRNA cleavage to report that p-UPF1 provides the first reliable cellular NMD target marker. p-UPF1 is enriched on NMD target 3′ untranslated regions (UTRs) along with suppressor with morphogenic effect on genitalia 5 (SMG5) and SMG7 but not SMG1 or SMG6. Immunoprecipitations of UPF1 variants deficient in various aspects of the NMD process in parallel with Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) experiments reveal that ATPase/helicase-deficient UPF1 manifests high levels of RNA binding and disregulated hyperphosphorylation, whereas wild-type UPF1 releases from nonspecific RNA interactions in an ATP hydrolysis-dependent mechanism until an NMD target is identified. 3′ UTR-associated UPF1 undergoes regulated phosphorylation on NMD targets, providing a binding platform for mRNA degradative activities. p-UPF1 binding to NMD target 3′ UTRs is stabilized by SMG5 and SMG7. Our results help to explain why steady-state UPF1 binding is not a marker for cellular NMD substrates and how this binding is transformed to induce mRNA decay.
Studies on Acute Marek’s Disease 9. Resistance to MD by inoculation with the GA isolate

Abstract Cole (1968) recently reported that hereditary differences among existing strains of White Leghorns, among sire and dam families within strain and between lines selected for resistance to Marek's disease (MD) are so great that the use of genetic resistance appears to offer an excellent method for its control. He concluded that by using the JM strain of Marek's disease, resistant sire families can be identified with a fair degree of accuracy without the postmortem examination. The purpose of this report is to provide information on the relative differences in resistance to MD as measured by mortality and lesions of the Athens-Canadian randombred (ACRB) stock inoculated with the GA isolate of MD. METHODS A parental population was obtained using 1,400 one-day-old pedigree chicks, representing 30 single sire families of the ACRB population (Hess, 1962). These chicks were injected intra-abdominally with 0.1 ml. of GA-infective plasma (Eidson and Schmittle, 1968). Birds dying . . .
Comparison of Thyroid Stimulators and Thyroid Hormone Concentrations in the Sera of Pregnant Women

To clarify the role of various thyroid stimulators in normal human pregnancy, we measured serum TSH, chorionic TSH (hCT), hCG, bioassayable thyroid-stimulating activity, T4, T3, T3 uptake, free T4 and free T3 indexes, free T4, and free T3 by dialysis in 339 serum samples from pregnant women at various intervals of pregnancy and in 40 normal female controls. Serum T4 and T3 and free T4 and free T3 indexes were significantly elevated throughout pregnancy in comparison with controls. Free T4 concentration was elevated after 10 weeks of pregnancy and free T3 concentration was elevated at 13--20 weeks. Bioassayable thyroid-stimulating activity was elevated from 9--16 weeks when serum hCG concentrations were highest. Serum TSH levels were significantly lower at 9--12 weeks compared with the rest of pregnancy. hCT was detected in only 35% of sera tested; the mean detectable value was 0.60 +/- 0.04 (SE) microU/ml; only 15% of the detectable values exceeded 1 microU/ml. The level of hCG correlated with bioassayable thyroid-stimulating activity (P less than 0.01). The data indicate that hCT is not a significant thyroid stimulator. We propose that hCG, as a weak thyroid stimulator, causes a modest rise in free thyroid hormone levels early in pregnancy which in turn causes a modest reduction in pituitary TSH secretion.
A study of nitric oxide adsorbed on nickel oxide, cobalt oxide, and graphite by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

Abstract The nitrogen 1s binding energy of nitric oxide adsorbed on nickel oxide, cobalt oxide and graphite was measured at several temperatures by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. For the oxides, a temperature dependent range of binding energies was observed, but for graphite the nitrogen 1s binding energy was independent of temperature. The values obtained suggest that significant back donation of electrons occurs from the oxides to the adsorbed nitric oxides, but no back donation occurs from graphite to adsorbed nitric oxide. However, adsorption did not cause changes in the binding energy of substrate core electrons. It is believed that unless the mean free path of electrons is short, the total photoelectron signal will not reveal changes in binding energy of electrons from substrate atoms at the surface.
Studies on the biosynthesis of chetomin: enantiospecific synthesis of a putative, late-stage biosynthetic intermediate

The enantiospecific synthesis of desthiochetomin, a putative biosynthetic intermediate of the epidithiodioxopiperazine natural product chetomin, is described. A diastereoselective N-alkylation was employed to form the key C3-N1' bond of the heterodimeric indoline core, followed by peptide coupling and dioxopiperazine cyclization with the requisite N-methyl amino acids. A related sarcosine-derived dioxopiperazine was prepared in the same manner. The first proposed biosynthesis of chetomin is also detailed in the text.
Design, synthesis, and characterization of linear fluorinated poly(benzyl ether)s: A comparison study with isomeric hyperbranched fluoropolymers

A well-defined compositionally-equivalent linear analog to a previously reported hyperbranched fluoropolymer (HBFP) was synthesized and each was subjected to characterization studies as a fundamental investigation of the role of architecture on solution and solid-state properties. Condensation polymerization of 3-{[(tert-butyl)dimethylsilyl]oxy}-5-[(2′,3′,4′,5′,6′-pentafluoro)oxy]benzyl alcohol in the presence of an excess of elemental sodium dispersion, followed by removal of the TBDMS protecting group, and finally alkylation with 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzyl bromide afforded linear fluorinated poly(benzyl ether)s (LFP)s. Molecular weights were typically 7000 to 15000 Da (Mn) with molecular weight distributions of ca. 2, as determined by size exclusion chromatography. Confirmation of the isomeric structures of LFP and HBFP was made by 1H, 19F, and 13C NMR, and IR spectroscopies. Evaluation of the effects of molecular architecture on solution behavior were examined by solubility and 19F NMR diffusion measurements. There was no significant difference in solubility in a wide range of organic solvents. 19F NMR diffusion experiments measured diffusion coefficients of ca. 3 × 10−6 cm2 s−1 and estimated Stokes radii of 15–26 A, depending upon the solvent, regardless of polymer architecture. Differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis studies revealed similar thermolytic profiles with a glass transition temperature of 53 °C for both systems and thermal stability up to 290 °C. Our studies show that the difference in polymer architecture (linear versus hyperbranched) does not necessarily mandate obvious discrepancies in spectroscopic or solution behavior, although the molecular weights for these polymers were maintained at relatively low values.
Occurrence of HBsAg, anti-HBs, the anti-CMV following the transfusion of blood products.

A retrospective study of the serum of 104 patients treated at Chelsea Naval Hospital between 1969 and 1972 was done. The donor blood products were not tested for the hepatitis B antigen before transfusion. The incidence of hepatitis B antigen following transfusion was about 2.8 per cent. The incidence of antibody to HBsAg prior to transfusion was 16 per cent, and about 27 per cent of the patients developed antibody to HBsAg following transfusion. The incidence of antibody to cytomegalovirus was about 22 per cent before transfusion, and 22 per cent of the patients developed complement fixing antibody against cytomegalovirus after transfusion. Since the patients received a variety of blood products it was not possible to determine retrospectively which product, if any, produced the lowest incidence of hepatitis B antigen and transmission of cytomegalovirus.
Diffusion currents to (ultra)microelectrodes of various geometries: ellipsoids, spheroids and elliptical 'disks'

The literature contains many static field formulas for capacitors of various geometries. The mathematical theory for these problems is analogous to diffusion theory for these geometries. We show how to obtain expressions for steady-state diffusion currents and local current densities of various microelectrode geometries via this analogy. Starting with the result for an ellipsoidal electrode, equations are obtained for the diffusion currents at oblate and prolate spheroidal, spherical electrodes, elliptical disk electrodes and circular disk electrodes. The results for micro elliptical disk electrodes are given in tabular form in terms of their major and minor axes. The significance of the elliptical disk's eccentricity is discussed for potentiodynamic and potentiostatic conditions.
Follicular development is impaired by inhibitors of serine proteases in the rat.

Abstract Serine proteases such as plasminogen activators are produced by granulosa cells both in vivo and in vitro and have been implicated in the process of ovulation. For a study of potential roles of serine proteases in early follicular development, immature rats were injected with pregnant mare serum gonadotropin, followed 2 hours later by laparotomy and injection of the serine protease inhibitors benzamidine and ϵ-aminocaproic acid into the bursa of one ovary. As a control, saline solution was injected into the contralateral bursa. Animals were put to death 48 hours after injection of serine protease inhibitors, and three to five randomly selected longitudinal sections were evaluated by computerized morphometry. The area occupied by antral follicles relative to the total cross-sectional area of each section was computed. Resultant ratios from serine protease inhibitor-treated ovaries were compared with those from contralateral control ovaries. Ninety-three percent of serine protease inhibitor-treated ovaries showed a reduction in antral follicular size when compared with corresponding control ovaries, which is indicative of inhibitory effects of serine protease inhibitor treatment on folliculogenesis. To further investigate this effect, ovulation was induced by human chorionic gonadotropin administration 48 hours after pregnant mare serum gonadotropin and 46 hours after serine protease inhibitor or saline solution treatment. Animals were put to death 20 hours later and the number of oocytes ovulated into oviducts was determined. Oviducts from serine protease inhibitior-treated ovaries contained 51% fewer oocytes than their control counterparts. Artifacts of surgical stress or vascular diffusion of serine protease inhibitor from treated to control sides were ruled out by appropriate control experiments. We conclude that early serine protease inhibitor treatment of pregnant mare serum gonadotropin-stimulated rat ovaries impairs folliculogenesis. Thus, in addition to involvement in ovulation, serine proteases appear to play important roles throughout follicular development.
HEAT TRANSFER TO SPHERES FROM A POLYMER MELT

A Galerkin mixed finite-element method was used to predict the effect of fluid elasticity, temperature-dependent fluid properties, shear-dependent fluid properties, and viscous dissipation on the overall rate of heat transfer between a polymer melt and a sphere. A correlation is developed for the Nusselt number that accounts for changes in Peclet number, viscous dissipation, and a temperature-dependent viscosity function
Intravenous administration of cocaine stimulates gravid baboon myometrium in the last third of gestation

OBJECTIVE: The hypothesis for this investigation was that intravenous cocaine results in a dose-dependent increase in myometrial activity of the unanesthetized, chronically instrumented gravid nonhuman primate. STUDY DESIGN: Seven chronically instrumented gravid baboons were individually caged in an environment of 14 hours of light and 10 hours of darkness. Maternal femoral artery and vein catheters and three pairs of myometrial electromyographic wires were surgically placed at 90 to 121 days' gestation (term 180 days). At lesat 5 days after surgery, bolus intravenous cocaine hydrochloride doses of 0.05, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, and 1.0 mg/kg maternal body weight were administered according to various schedules. Myometrial activity was analyzed by quantifying the myometrial electromyographic envelope data as the power spectral density window of contraction activity and as the total area under the rectified electromyographic voltage signal (Le., total electromyographic activity) before and during the experimental period. RESULTS: Myometrial contraction activity increased after the 0.3 mg/kg dose ( p p p = 0.07) compared with baseline. The total myometrial electromyographic activity also increased as the cocaine dose increased. CONCLUSION: Intravenous cocaine results in increased myometrial contractions in the gravid baboon during the latter third of pregnancy.
A three-dimensional measurement of microchannel flow using micro-PIV

A three-dimensional inlet flow structure inside a microfluidic element has been investigated using a micro-PIV (particle image velocimetry). The present study employs a state-of-art micro-PIV system which consists of epi-fluorescence microscope, 620nm diameter fluorescent seed particles and an 8-bit megapixel CCD camera. Velocity vector fields with a resolution of 6.8×6.8 μm has been obtained. In this study, the microfluidic elements were fabricated on plastic chips by means of MEMS processes and a subsequent molding process. A three-dimensional velocity distribution was investigated by means of traversing the measurement plane with respect to the spanwise direction.
An improved boundary element formulation for the motion of spherical bubbles

We suggest a modified boundary element method for modeling the potential flow caused by the motion of many spherical bubbles. The problem for the fluid velocity potential is reduced to a Fredholm integral equation of the second kind. The kernel of that integral equation has no singularity; as a result, its numerical solution does not encounter any difficulties. The matrix representation of the integral equation is diagonally dominant and is well suited to handle multiple bubble system.
Religion and Happiness Among Israeli Jews: Findings from the ISSP Religion III Survey

This study investigates religious predictors of happiness in a population-based sample of Israeli Jewish adults (N = 991). Using data collected in 2009–2010 as a part of the International Social Survey Programme’s Religion III Survey, analyses were conducted on a fully recursive structural model of the effects of synagogue attendance and several religious mediators on a single-item measure of happiness. Bivariately, every religious measure (synagogue attendance, prayer frequency, certainty of God beliefs, a four-item Supernatural Beliefs Scale, and subjective religiosity) is positively and significantly associated with happiness. In the structural model, 11 of 15 hypothesized paths are significant. Of these, only subjective religiosity exhibits a significant direct effect on happiness (β = 0.15, p < .01). The other four religious indicators, however, all exert indirect effects on happiness through subjective religiosity and combinations of each other. Total effects on happiness of both synagogue attendance (β = 0.10, p < .01) and the Supernatural Beliefs Scale (β = 0.12, p < .05) are statistically significant. Analyses adjust for effects of age and other sociodemographic covariates. Results build on a growing body of population-based findings supporting a salutary impact of Jewish religious observance on subjective well-being in Israel and the diaspora.
The growth of AuGa2 thin films on GaAs(001) to form chemically unreactive interfaces

Thin AuGa2 films were grown by codeposition from separate Au and Ga evaporation sources on clean GaAs(001) substrates in ultrahigh vacuum, and were studied by Auger electron spectroscopy, electron energy-loss spectroscopy, low-energy electron diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and x-ray diffractometry. The morphology and crystallinity of the AuGa2 were highly dependent upon the film deposition and annealing history. Films grown on room-temperature substrates were continuous, specular, and polycrystalline, but the dominant orientation was with the (001) planes of the crystallites parallel to the substrate surface. Annealing to temperatures between 300°and 480°C caused the film to break up and coalesce into rectangular crystallites, which were all oriented with (001) parallel to the surface. An anneal to 500°C, which is above the AuGa2 melting point, resulted in the formation of irregular polycrystalline islands of AuGa2 on the GaAs(001) substrate. No interface roughening or chemical reactions between the film and substrate or interface were observed for even the highest-temperature anneals.
Ab-initio local density approximation description of the electronic properties of zinc blende cadmium sulfide (zb-CdS)

Abstract Ab-initio, self-consistent electronic energy bands of zinc blende CdS are reported within the local density functional approximation (LDA). Our first principle, non-relativistic and ground state calculations employed a local density potential and the linear combination of atomic orbitals (LCAO). Within the framework of the Bagayoko, Zhao, and Williams (BZW) method, we solved self-consistently both the Kohn–Sham equation and the equation giving the ground state density in terms of the wavefunctions of the occupied states. Our calculated, direct band gap of 2.39 eV, at the Γ point, is in accord with the experiment. Our calculation reproduced the peaks in the conduction and valence bands density of states, within experimental uncertainties. The calculated electron effective mass agrees with experimental findings.
It's funny because we think it's true: laughter is augmented by implicit preferences

This study tests the folk psychological belief that we find things funny because we think they are true. Specifically, it addresses the relationship between implicit preferences and laughter. Fifty-nine undergraduate Rutgers University students (33 females and 26 males) from ethnically diverse backgrounds were videotaped while watching a white stand-up comedian for 30 min. Positive emotional expression associated with laughter was later scored using the facial action coding system (FACS). Computer-timed Implicit Association Tests (IATs) were used to measure a subject's implicit preferences for traditional gender roles and racial preferences (blacks vs. whites). Results show that participants laughed more in response to jokes that matched their implicit preferences (e.g., those with stronger implicit preferences for whites laughed more at racially charged material). Implications for the evolution of humor, and laughter as a hard-to-fake signal of preferences, are discussed.
Pshenichnyi's theorem for vector minimization

Analogues of Pshenichnyi's necessary and sufficient condition for minima in convex programming problems are given for the case where the objective function is vector-valued.
Reference software implementation for GIFTS ground data processing

Future satellite weather instruments such as high spectral resolution imaging interferometers pose a challenge to the atmospheric science and software development communities due to the immense data volumes they will generate. An open-source, scalable reference software implementation demonstrating the calibration of radiance products from an imaging interferometer, the Geosynchronous Imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer1 (GIFTS), is presented. This paper covers essential design principles laid out in summary system diagrams, lessons learned during implementation and preliminary test results from the GIFTS Information Processing System (GIPS) prototype.
Timing inter-reward intervals

Abstract Rats judged inter-reward intervals (IRIs) in a two-alternative, forced-choice task. The IRI was either short (S) or long (L). At the end of each IRI, two response levers were inserted into the box. A press to the lever designated as correct or incorrect produced a large (3–5 food pellets) or small (1 pellet) reward, respectively. Psychophysical functions were obtained by testing intermediate IRIs, which were followed by the small reward, independent of the response location. S and L intervals were manipulated across groups, as specified (in seconds) by the group name, S–L: 3–12 ( n =12), 25–100 ( n =12), and 50–200 ( n =7). The psychophysical functions ( p [L] vs. IRI) were ogival in shape and had bisection points ( p [S]= p [L]=0.5) near the geometric mean of S and L intervals. The psychophysical functions did not superimpose in relative time (IRI/L). Instead, 3–12 was timed with greater relative sensitivity than were 25–100 and 50–200.
Intramyocellular Fatty-Acid Metabolism Plays a Critical Role in Mediating Responses to Dietary Restriction in Drosophila melanogaster

Changes in fat content have been associated with dietary restriction (DR), but whether they play a causal role in mediating various responses to DR remains unknown. We demonstrate that upon DR, Drosophila melanogaster shift their metabolism toward increasing fatty-acid synthesis and breakdown, which is required for various responses to DR. Inhibition of fatty-acid synthesis or oxidation genes specifically in the muscle tissue inhibited life-span extension upon DR. Furthermore, DR enhances spontaneous activity of flies, which was found to be dependent on the enhanced fatty-acid metabolism. This increase in activity was found to be at least partially required for the life-span extension upon DR. Overexpression of adipokinetic hormone (dAKH), the functional ortholog of glucagon, enhances fat metabolism, spontaneous activity, and life span. Together, these results suggest that enhanced fat metabolism in the muscle and physical activity play a key role in the protective effects of DR.
Comment on Foley

(2014). Comment on Foley. International Journal of Political Economy: Vol. 43, No. 1, pp. 34-37.