cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Measuring the velocity of individual atoms in real time

It is proposed that the thermal velocity of a single atom could be measured in real time using a laser time-of-flight velocimeter (LTV) operating on the principle of laser resonance fluorescence. Theoretical data are presented for several atomic species that have resonances within the range of available dye-laser systems. It is shown that measurements in the subsonic region are certainly feasible. The atoms could be either in vacuum or in a buffer gas, e.g., at atmospheric pressure. Measurements in the transonic and supersonic region also appear possible. One potential application is the measurement of flow speeds in wind tunnels, perhaps as high as Mach 45.
An in vivo sister-chromatid exchange assay in the larvae of the mussel Mytilus edulis: response to 3 mutagens

An in vivo sister-chromatid exchange (SCE) assay using the larvae of the mussel Mytilus edulis was developed. Larvae were exposed to mutagens beginning 12 h after fertilization and harvested 12 h later in the late trochophore stage. Dose responses to the mutagens bromodeoxyuridine, mitomycin C and methyl methanesulfonate were linear. The sensitivity of the SCE response of mussel larvae to these mutagens compares favorably with that of other systems and indicates this assay to be valuable in marine genetic toxicological monitoring.
Gynaecomastia: considerations and challenges in treating male patients with varying body habitus

The body habitus, age and expectations of men presenting with gynaecomastia are changing. Formerly, gynaecomastia presented mainly as a problem of post-pubertal males with incomplete resolution of physiological gynaecomastia. Now adults in their second to fourth decades present with breast enlargement from iatrogenic drug use, obesity, or with skin and fat excess following massive weight loss (pseudo-gynaecomastia). Adolescents present with obesity. By considering each enlarged component and addressing each in turn, it should be possible to reduce the breast to normal dimensions and form—the end point of this surgery being a masculine appearance. This article presents four patients with gynaecomastia but with widely varying body habitus. Surgical treatment for gynaecomastia involves the application of liposuction and/or open reduction. Two features are added to this standard surgical management to try and optimize surgical outcome: staged serial excision to minimise scars and the use of a preoperative checklist to establish realistic goals.
Characterizing dynamic spatial and temporal residential density patterns from 1940-1990 across the North Central United States

The spatial deconcentration of population during the 20th century and the resulting expansion of human settlements has been a significant cause of anthropogenic landscape change in the United States and many other countries. In the seven-state North Central Region, as in other regions of the US, changing human settlement patterns are most prominent at the outlying fringe of metropolitan areas and in rural regions with attractive recreational and aesthetic amenities. This process of growth and change has profound implications for the ecology of the region that will require the reformulation of resource management policies. We use attribute clustering of both housing density and housing growth for each decade from 1940 to 1990 to illuminate the dynamic process of housing density change in the North Central Region. While cross-sectional housing density maps display the uniformity of residential density within urban, suburban, and rural areas, historic density clustering demonstrates the spatial variability of density trajectories in urban and suburban areas, and the relative stability and homogeneity of more rural density trajectories. Clusters based on housing growth, without regard to absolute density, reveal similarities between urban cores and rural areas, where in both cases, housing growth has been very slow in recent decades. We identify density/growth clusters with high potential for future growth, which are spatially clustered on the periphery of metropolitan areas, in smaller urban centers, and in recreational areas throughout the region.
Exploring urban commuting imbalance by jobs and gender

Abstract Previous findings support that distance matters for job access. Typically, long distances act negatively on job access either due to the lack of information about the opportunities or the cost (time, transportation, etc.). Disparities in job access are explained with the workers’ demographic and socioeconomic characteristics and their spatial condition. Nevertheless, job access was not fully explored in multi-dimensional ways because of data and computational limitations. Recently, the wealth of commuting data, combined with the growing capacity of computation and methodological development, enables us to examine more commuting pattern details than what existing data provide at an aggregate level. This study uses a disaggregate journey-to-work model on 2000 Census Transportation Planning Package (CTPP) commuting data to investigate access to job by gender and occupation, in a more localized context. To explore this varying degree of job access and associated explanation, we analyzed disaggregate commuting flows and ran a regression model on them. This study has three main objectives: (1) to disaggregate journey-to-work flows by gender and occupation to estimate the number of commute trips between census tracts, (2) to explore the variations in job access by gender and occupation, and (3) to draw relationships between job access and various worker’s situations. The results show the details of commuting patterns, suggesting that some occupations have more gender imbalance than others. Further, the findings indicate that the same demographic, socioeconomic and spatial conditions have different effects on workers, and the effect is related to the workers’ demographic-socioeconomic status in complex ways. Unlike conventional research in which a particular worker group is compared to a control group of opposite characteristics, our methodology makes it possible to examine an overview of all the job and gender groups, providing advantages in 2-way comparisons between gender and occupation groups beyond a conventional comparison between two groups. Therefore, our study adds an additional dimension to the conventional comparison.
Superior Defect on 45 Degree Left Anterior Oblique Radiothallium Image: Is it a normal variation?

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5915/20-2-13267 Superior defects involving approximately a proximal third of the septum and a proximal third of the posterolateral wall (basilar region) of the left ventricular myocardium on the 45 degree left anterior oblique (LAO) images are frequently encountered. Clinicians may presume the presence of coronary artery disease or normalcy but the exact statistical significance of such defects has never been established. In 45 patients who underwent radiothallium imaging and coronary arteriography, the presence or absence of superior defect was correlated with the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in the left anterior descending (LAD) and/or circumflex arteries (CA). Presence of superior defect on the 45 degree LAO image was not associated with increased frequency of CAD. Superior defects are observed in approximately one-third of patients undergoing radiothallium myocardial perfusion studies. In most cases the defects are fixed; reveal no redistribution on delayed imaging and represent normal variations. In a rare patient the defect may be reversible and presence of redistribution may be indicative of ischemia.
Employment among married female college graduates

Abstract This paper investigates the effect of attitudinal factors on the employment of white married female college graduates with and without children. A model of the employment status of these women 3 and 7 years after graduation is estimated using data from the NORC longitudinal study of 1961 college graduates. Taste for housework was found to affect the employment of nonmothers only, whereas “child care ideology” affected the employment of mothers. Husband's income had a negative effect on the wife's working both in 1964 and in 1968. Age of youngest child in 1964 had a positive, and number of children a negative, impact on a mother's working in 1964. The negative effect on employment status in 1968 of the birth of a child between 1964 and 1968 was much greater for those women for whom it was a first birth than for those who already had children.
ON THE NEED FOR CONTROL IN PERSUASIVE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNICATIONS

How does an author reply to a non-discussion (Levonian, 1970) of his work? The Gollob and Dittes study (1965) is indicted along with all the others of the Self-esteem and Persuasibility Nine. But it is mentioned only twice, once in the second paragraph, where our findings are inaccurately reported, and once near the end, with an allusion to some secondary findings for which data were not even cited in our original report. What would Levonian make, for example, of the fact that we presented different types of communications, predicting and getting effects in different direcaons according to rype of communication? It might be thought that this provides some degree of control, one communication for another, for any general persuasibility, and perhaps even for any "non-persuasibility opinion change." At any rate, this might have been an appropriate matter for Levonian to discuss. But then he doesn't discuss any of the five mosr recent, and relatively more sophisticated, of the indicted Nine, only the four earliest studies. Bur as for what Levonian does say: If he thinks that chere is an effect that should be controlled for and studied-a correlation between self-esteem and "non-persuasibility opinion changen-then the straightforward move is to do an experiment to demonstrate its existence rather than to engage in speculation ro show that it exists in the data of other studies. Levonian did one such study (1968) and found a non-significant 7 of -.12. Those data were collected some time before 1963; surely there has been sufficient time to try for a replication that would make his point more impressively. Such a demonstration would be the mote compelling the more closely ic is performed under conditions resembling those of the nine studies he discusses. In his one study, Levonian used measures, especially of self-esteem, quite different from those of the Nine. More importantly, he used as the opinion issue a reasonably lively political question, about which stray communications were not unlikely during the week between pre- and posrmeasures. This is a circumstance maximizing [he need for control and-for better or worse --one not characteristic of the Nine.
Optimizing Models of Social Systems

The utility of optimizing models of social systems is examined, using Forrester's world model as an example. One ``optimal'' policy set was tested for its sensitivity to uncertainties in the formulation of both the model assumptions and an assumed long-term objective function. It is shown that the normal uncertainties associated with social system modeling make the search for an optimal policy unwarranted. The inaccuracies inherent in the assumptions of long-term social system models allow the modeler to explore with confidence only the general dynamic characteristics of the modeled system.
Two-dimensional electron gas at finite temperature

The internal energy of a two-dimensional electron fluid was evaluated explicitly for low but finite temperature as a function of ${r}_{s}$, taking into consideration the first- and second-order exchange and ring diagrams. It is found that the energy varies almost quadratically with temperature but involves logarithmic terms, one of them being exactly the square of another. From the temperature-dependent energy, the specific-heat effective mass ${m}^{*}$ was determined. In an approximation $\frac{{m}^{*}}{m}=1+0.168{n}^{\ensuremath{-}\frac{1}{2}}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{6}$, where $n$ is the density.
Backward conditioning as an extinction procedure

Abstract In two conditioned suppression experiments, rats received Pavlovian forward defense conditioning in which tonal conditioned stimuli (CSs) terminated with the onset of scrambled grid shock unconditioned stimuli (USs). After this experience, the rats then received a Pavlovian backward conditioning procedure in which the same USs now terminated with the onset of the same CSs. Although the two experiments differed greatly in terms of CS and US parameters, number of forward and backward pairings, and in terms of the general techniques used to establish and measure the Pavlovian conditioned response (CR), the results of both experiments agreed in showing that backward conditioning can indeed weaken a CR based on forward pairings. The results also show that, under some conditions, the backward procedure can be at least as effective in weakening an established CR as the traditional CS-alone extinction procedure; but, under other conditions, the backward procedure is less effective and leads to more spontaneous recovery than the CS-alone procedure.
Biomechanics and Painful Injuries: Tissue and CNS Responses for Nerve Root Mechanical Injuries

Pain affects as many as 50 million Americans, with annual costs estimated as high as $90 billion. Unfortunately, the mechanism of injuries leading to persistent pain syndromes remain largely uncharacterized. A common painful injury results due from mechanical loading of nerve roots, which can occur for spinal injuries in both the low back and neck. Relationships have been demonstrated between tissue compression and behavioral hypersensitivity responses in animal models, with differential patterns of sensitivity depending on the nature of the mechanical insult (Colburn et al., 1999). Mechanical allodynia (MA) is an increased behavioral sensitivity to a non-noxious stimulus and is observed in the dermatome of the injured tissue. It can be measured by the frequency of paw withdrawals elicited by stimulation with normally non-noxious von Frey filaments. Allodynia is a clinical measure of sensitivity and, therefore, provides a useful gauge of nociceptive responses. Animal studies have shown that compression of neural structures initiates a variety of physiologic responses, including decreased electrical activity, increased edema formation, and increased endoneurial pressure in the region of compression (Lundborg et al., 1983; Olmarker et al., 1989, 1990; Pedowitz et al., 1992). While these studies document physiologic changes immediately following injury, they do not describe the temporal nature of these changes following tissue loading as they relate to pain behaviors. Moreover, despite this evidence of edema formation and increased endoneurial pressure locally in the nerve roots, no study has simultaneously documented local changes in nerve root geometry following compressive injury and how these changes may be linked to the onset and/or maintenance of pain-associated behaviors. Therefore, this study examines injury biomechanics for pain-behaviors in a radiculopathy (nerve root injury) model and temporally characterizes the local geometric changes in the nerve root for a series of postsurgical time points following compressive injury. While these results indicate that compression magnitude clearly modulates pain responses, the local nerve root swelling does not appear to directly drive behavioral changes. This suggests a complicated physiology for injury which likely contributes to the manifestation of pain. Findings are also presented for preliminary investigations into tissue rebound/recovery responses for varied mechanical insult magnitudes to begin to understand potential injury mechanisms leading to pain.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
The Evolution of Titanium-Silicon Interfaces as Monitored by X-Ray Diffraction

Reactions in solids occur at interfaces. Following interfacial reactions has been difficult due to the small fraction of material making up the interfaces. In this paper, variable-temperature grazing x-ray diffraction is used to probe interfacial reactions in modulated ultra-thin film layered composites. This technique permits the monitoring of solid-state reactions in their earliest stages. The initial evolution of titanium-silicon interfaces within a superlattice is discussed. Our data suggest that the classical approach of modeling diffusion via Fick’s laws is insufficient to describe the initial interdiffusion or mixing reaction at an interface.
Variation of rate during potassium-catalysed CO2 gasification of coal char

Abstract The instantaneous rate of catalysed CO 2 gasification of char at 800 °C was measured at various levels of conversion. One important reason for the change in rate during the gasification is the change in the solid surface area, measured in the present study by CO 2 adsorption at 25 °C. The models which have been successful in representing the char porous structure under noncatalytic conditions were found inadequate for catalytic gasification at low conversions. Other important factors contributing to the variation in rate during conversion are the catalyst loss and the change in the catalyst/carbon ratio. A model is presented which combines the effects of these contributing factors and gives a satisfactory representation of the experimental data.
Multi-robot mixing using braids

This paper presents a method for automatically achieving multi-robot mixing in the sense that the robots follow predefined paths in a somewhat loose sense while ensuring that their actual movements are rich enough. In particular, we focus on the mixing problem, where the robots have to interweave their movements, for example to ensure sufficiently rich pairwise interactions or to cover an area along the path. By formally specifying mixing levels through strings over the Braid Group, the resulting hybrid system can execute a geometric interpretation of these strings, where the level of mixing is dictated by the string length. The feasibility of the proposed approach is illustrated on a particular class of multi-robot systems that cooperatively have to achieve the desired mixing levels.
A multicenter qualitative study on preventing hospital-acquired urinary tract infection in US hospitals

objective. Although urinary tract infection (UTI) is the most common hospital-acquired infection, there is little information about why hospitals use or do not use a range of available preventive practices. We thus conducted a multicenter study to understand better how US hospitals approach the prevention of hospital-acquired UTI. methods. This research is part of a larger study employing both quantitative and qualitative methods. The qualitative phase consisted of 38 semistructured phone interviews with key personnel at 14 purposefully sampled US hospitals and 39 in-person interviews at 5 of those 14 hospitals, to identify recurrent and unifying themes that characterize how hospitals have addressed hospital-acquired UTI. results. Four recurrent themes emerged from our study data. First, although preventing hospital-acquired UTI was a low priority for most hospitals, there was substantial recognition of the value of early removal of a urinary catheter for patients. Second, those hospitals that made UTI prevention a high priority also focused on noninfectious complications and had committed advocates, or “champions,” who facilitated prevention activities. Third, hospital-specific pilot studies were important in deciding whether or not to use devices such as antimicrobial-impregnated catheters. Finally, external forces, such as public reporting, influenced UTI surveillance and infection prevention activities. conclusions. Clinicians and policy makers can use our findings to develop initiatives that, for example, use a champion to promote the removal of unnecessary urinary catheters or exploit external forces, such public reporting, to enhance patient safety. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2008; 29:333-341
Effect of human leukocyte antigen homozygosity on rubella vaccine-induced humoral and cell-mediated immune responses.

Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) genes play a critical role in host immunity including vaccine responses. HLA molecules present antigenic peptides to T cells and provide inhibitory signals to NK cells, and polymorphisms within HLA genes allows for binding and presentation of a diverse array of self and foreign peptides. Heterozygosity across HLA alleles has been found to play a positive role in host defense for a variety of infections. Homozygosity within one or more HLA loci may restrict this epitope repertoire and limit T cell responses to infection or vaccination. Here we report that homozygosity within the HLA DPB1 locus is associated with increased levels of rubella-specific IgG, an effect driven by a common allele DPB1*0401. We also show that homozygosity within different HLA class I and class II loci is correlated with variations (but not necessarily decreases) in IL-2, IL-5, and IL-10 secretion following rubella virus stimulation.
Health Literacy Assessment of Labeling of Pediatric Nonprescription Medications: Examination of Characteristics that May Impair Parent Understanding

Abstract Objective Poor quality and variability of medication labeling have been cited as key contributors to medication misuse. We assessed the format and content of labels and materials packaged with common pediatric liquid nonprescription medications. Methods Descriptive study. A total of 200 top-selling pediatric oral liquid nonprescription medications (during the 52 weeks ending October 30, 2009) categorized as analgesic, cough/cold, allergy, and gastrointestinal products, with dosing information for children Results Although almost all products listed active ingredients on the Drug Facts panel (side panel), nearly 1 in 5 (37 [18.5%]) did not list active ingredients on the PDP. When present, mean (SD) font size for PDP active ingredients was 10.7 (5.0), smaller than product brand name (32.1 [15.0]) and flavor (13.1 [4.8]); P P P Conclusions The format and content of labels for nonprescription pediatric liquid medications could be improved to facilitate parent understanding of key medication information, including active ingredient information and dosing instructions.
Dapper Antagonist of Catenin-1 (Dact1) contributes to dendrite arborization in forebrain cortical interneurons

In mice, genetically engineered knockout of the Dapper Antagonist of Catenin-1 (Dact1) locus, which encodes a scaffold protein involved in Wnt signaling, leads to decreased excitatory input formation on dendrites of developing forebrain neurons. We have previously demonstrated this in both (excitatory, glutamatergic) pyramidal neurons of the hippocampus and in (inhibitory GABAergic) interneurons of the cortex. We have also demonstrated that knockout of the Dact1 locus leads to decreased dendrite complexity in cultured hippocampal pyramidal neurons, and to decreased spine formation on dendrites of forebrain pyramidal neurons in vitro and in vivo. Synapse phenotypes resulting from Dact1 loss in cultured cortical interneurons can be rescued by recombinant overexpression of the Dact1 binding partner, Dishevelled-1 (Dvl1), but not by recombinant expression of a constitutively active form of the small GTPase Rac1. This contrasts with dendrite spine phenotypes resulting from Dact1 loss in cultured hippocampal pyramidal neurons, which can be fully rescued by recombinant expression of activated Rac1. Taken together, these data suggest that in maturing forebrain neurons there are molecularly separate requirements for Dact1 in dendrite arborization/spine formation vs. synaptogenesis. Here, we show that the developmental requirement for Dact1 during dendrite arborization, which we previously demonstrated only in hippocampal pyramidal neurons, is also present in cortical interneurons, and we discuss mechanistic implications of this finding.
Milk Production Response to Shifting Cows Between Intraherd Groups

Abstract Seven dairy herds, each divided into two or more groups of lactating cows, were studied for effects of shifting between groups on production. Herds averaged 140 cows and from 4858 to 7037 kg milk. Treatments were shifting 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, or 14% of milking cows between production groups within 1 wk after regular Dairy Herd Improvement test. Milk production, butterfat percent, days in milk, cow age, and body weight were obtained from test. Second test-day milk weights were normally recorded third and fourth milkings following cow shift. Multivariate analysis of 6731 cow observations showed differences in actual and percent changes in milk after shifting for herds, months, treatments, groups, group by treatment interaction, days in milk, and butterfat percent Milk decreased .53 ± 3.11 kg or 2.28% between test days. Cows shifted declined .99 kg while those remaining in the high group declined .33 kg. Initially production decreased most in those herds that began shifting at the start of this study. Decreased losses in subsequent months indicated possible adaptation.
Noctilucent clouds and wave dynamics: Observations at Sondrestrom, Greenland

Rayleigh Lidar measurements of the arctic summer stratosphere and mesosphere have been conducted routinely since 1994 at the Sondrestrom atmospheric research facility near Kangerlussuaq, Greenland (67.0N, 50.9W). Between 1994 and 1996, seventeen separate events of noctilucent clouds (NLCs), as well as corresponding stratospheric wave structure, have been observed. We present in this study two main results: 1) the occurrence of persistent quasi-monochromatic wave structure in the stratosphere having observed vertical wavelengths of 8 to 12 km and observed temporal periods of approximately 2–3 hours, and 2) evidence that the strength of such lower altitude waves may be associated with the overall strength of the observed NLC volume backscatter coefficient.
Investigating the chemical composition of mixed organic–inorganic particles by “soft” vacuum ultraviolet photoionization: The reaction of ozone with anthracene on sodium chloride particles

The ozone reaction with anthracene coated sodium chloride particles is measured by single photon ionization of the resulting volatilized gas phase molecules. To investigate in detail the organic fraction of particles, a vacuum ultraviolet aerosol mass spectrometer (VUV-AMS) has been developed at the Chemical Dynamics Beamline at the Advanced Light Source. This instrument combines a thermal vaporization particle source with tunable synchrotron radiation. Since VUV is a “soft” ionization method, the roles of both the vaporization and ionization steps on the fragmentation patterns of C30H62 hydrocarbons are observed. Conditions can be found to obtain mass spectra without significant fragmentation of the molecules. This technique is used to characterize the products of the heterogeneous reaction of gas phase ozone with particle phase anthracene on size-selected sodium chloride particles, conducted in a flow tube experiment. The recorded fragment-free mass spectra show several new products from mono- to penta-oxygenated anthracene. The kinetics of the product formation and particle size measurements are simultaneously recorded, revealing that an increase of the particle size accompanies the formation of the products.
Principal predictors and efficiency in small second-order designs

Linear parametric functions affected by deleting or augmenting sets of design points are identified explicitly using principal components of the predictive dispersion at those points, offering fresh insight and significant computational savings. Leverages from regression diagnostics are seen to determine efficiencies due to augmenting or deleting single points. Eight small second-order designs are studied in detail with supporting numerical displays. Comparisons are drawn to other approaches from the literature.
Chemoreception in Nassarius obsoletus: the role of specific stimulatory proteins.

Proteins in human plasma and oyster fluid induce a strong feeding response in the marine snail Nassarius obsoletus. Purified human serum albumin induces a 50 percent positive response at concentrations of 1 to 2 x 10-9 molar. Adsorbed fatty acids markedly decrease the effectiveness of albumin. From oyster fluid a major glycoprotein has been isolated which accounts for essentially the entire stimulatory activity of the fluid and is effective at concentrations of approximately 1 to 2 x 10-10 molar. These findings provide evidence that specific proteins in extremely low concentrations may play a major role in chemoreception in aquatic animals.
GENETIC ANALYSIS OF INDEFINITE DIVISION IN HUMAN CELLS : EVIDENCE FOR A COMMON IMMORTALIZING MECHANISM IN T AND B LYMPHOID CELL LINES

Abstract Somatic cell hybrids are useful for gaining insight into the process(es) by which normal human cells undergo senescence. In previous studies, we found that hybrids generated by fusing normal human diploid fibroblasts, T lymphocytes, and endothelial cells with various immortal human cell lines exhibited limited division potential. This leads to the conclusion that the phenotype of cellular senescence is dominant and that immortal cells arise due to recessive changes in normal growth control mechanisms. Fusion of over 30 immortal cell lines led to the identification of four complementation groups for indefinite division. These data suggest that unlimited division potential can result from changes in at least four different genes or pathways. Complementation group assignment did not correlate with cell type, tumor type, embryonal layer of origin, or expression of an activated oncogene. The focus of this study was to determine the complementation group(s) to which various human lymphoblastoid cells assign so us to better understand the mechanism(s) by which these cell types undergo cellular senescence and immortalization. Seven lymphoid cell lines were studied and assigned to a single complementation group. This result supports the hypothesis that T and B cells undergo senescence by mechanisms similar to those occurring in fibroblasts and endothelial cells and provides evidence for a common mechanism(s) involving a senescence-related gene(s) for immortalization of these immune system derived cell lines.
Reduction of aggressive behavior in a retarded boy using a water squirt

Abstract In an ABAB design, a 4-year-old retarded boy's aggressive responses were punished with a water squirt to the face. The procedure resulted in a 97% decrease in aggressive behavior. It was also reported that his teachers preferred this procedure over other more harmful punishment procedures with which they had experience. The possible advantages of using this teghnique with young children are discussed.
Chirped coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering as a high-spectral- and spatial-resolution microscopy

Coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy is a promising tool for chemically selective imaging based on molecular vibrations. While CARS is currently used as a biological imaging tool, many variations are still being developed, perhaps the most important being multiplex CARS microscopy. Multiplex CARS has the advantage of comparing images based on different molecular vibrations without changing the excitation wavelengths. Here we demonstrate both high-spectral- and spatial-resolution multiplex CARS imaging of polymer films, using a simple scheme for chirped CARS with a spectral bandwidth of 300 cm(-1).
A model for dwarf novae as progenitors of Type I supernovae

It is suggested that a Type I supernova event can be produced as a result of accretion at low rates (less than 10 to the -10th solar mass/year) onto the white dwarf component of a dwarf-nova close binary. At these low rates, diffusion of the CNO nuclei out of the accreted hydrogen envelope can occur on the accretion time scale, and nuclear burning will occur mainly by the proton-proton chain. Studies of this process show that, when the CNO abundance in the envelope is less than 0.0025 of solar, no thermonuclear flash occurs and no mass is lost. The result of the evolution is a gradually increasing layer of helium beneath the hydrogen-burning shell.
Quantum phase transition in the Plaquette lattice with anisotropic spin exchange

Abstract I study the influence of anisotropic spin exchange on a quantum phase transition in the Plaquette lattice driven by the purely quantum effect of singlet formation. I study the influence of (i) a Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya exchange and (ii) four-spin exchange on the transition point by evaluating spin–spin correlations and the spin gap with exact diagonalization. The results point to a stabilization of the Neel-like long range order when the Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya exchange is added, whereas the four-spin exchange might stabilize the singlet order as well as the Neel-like order depending on its strength.
Ab inito and FTIR Studies of HfSiCNO Processed from the Polymer Route

The reactions between polysilazane and hafnium-butoxide precursors are followed from the liquid, to the cross-linked, and finally to the ceramic state by infrared spectroscopy. We find evidence of formation of Hf–N bonds in the liquid state, and Hf–O–Si bonds in the cross-linked polymer state. Results from ab inito calculations for the ceramic state are presented. They show that Hf behaves like Si, forming bonds with C, N, and O in proportion of the Hf/Si ratio in the compounds. The average values of such bonds formed by Hf, relative to silicon, are 11.2, 17.8, and 24.4%, which is in reasonable agreement with the overall Hf/Si ratio in the samples (8%, 15% and 22%). It is concluded that it is appropriate to express the composition of these compounds in terms of the Hf/Si ratio. The X-ray data that show the emergence of weak diffraction peaks for monoclinic HfO2 when the Hf/Si ratio is 0.22, but not at lower concentrations of Hf [K. Terauds and R. Raj, J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 96, 2117–2123 (2013)].
Rat liver mitochondrial carnitine palmitoyltransferase-I, hepatic carnitine, and malonyl-CoA: Effect of starvation

AbstractHepatic mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation and ketogenesis increase during starvation. Carnitine palmitoyltransferase I (CPT-I) catalyses the rate-controlling step in the overall pathway and retains its control over β-oxidation under fed, starved and diabetic conditions. To determine the factors contributing to the reported several-fold increase in fatty acid oxidation in perfused livers, we measured the Vmax and Km values for palmitoyl-CoA and carnitine, the Ki (and IC50) values for malonyl-CoA in isolated liver mitochondria as well as the hepatic malonyl-CoA and carnitine contents in control and 48 h starved rats. Since CPT-I is localized in the mitochondrial outer membrane and in contact sites, the kinetic properties of CPT-I also was determined in these submitochondrial structures. After 48 h starvation, there is: (a) a significant increase in Ki and decrease in hepatic malonyl-CoA content; (b) a decreased Km for palmitoyl-CoA; and (c) increased catalytic activity (Vmax) and CPT-I protein abun...
Iron K Features in the Quasar E1821+643: Evidence for Gravitationally Redshifted Absorption?

We report a Chandra high-energy grating detection of a narrow, redshifted absorption line superimposed on the red wing of a broad Fe K line in the z = 0.297 quasar E 1821+643. The absorption line is detected at a confidence level, estimated by two different methods, in the range approx. 2 - 3 sigma. Although the detection significance is not high enough to exclude a non-astrophysical origin, accounting for the absorption feature when modeling the X-ray spectrum implies that the Fe-K emission line is broad, and consistent with an origin in a relativistic accretion disk. Ignoring the apparent absorption feature leads to the conclusion that the Fe-K emission line is narrower, and also affects the inferred peak energy of the line (and hence the inferred ionization state of Fe). If the absorption line (at approx. 6.2 keV in the quasar frame) is real, we argue that it could be due to gravitationally redshifted Fe XXV or Fe XXVI resonance absorption within approx. 10 - 20 gravitational radii of the putative central black hole. The absorption line is not detected in earlier ASCA and Chandra low-energy grating observations, but the absorption line is not unequivocally ruled out by these data. The Chandra high-energy grating Fe-K emission line is consistent with an origin predominantly in Fe I-XVII or so. In an ASCA observation eight years earlier, the Fe-K line peaked at approx. 6.6 keV, closer to the energies of He-like Fe triplet lines. Further, in a Chandra low-energy grating observation the Fe-K line profile was double-peaked, one peak corresponding to Fe I-XVII or so, the other peak to Fe XXVI Ly alpha. Such a wide range in ionization state of Fe is not ruled out by the HEG and ASCA data either, and is suggestive of a complex structure for the line-emitter.
Improved isoxazolium salt reagents in peptide synthesis—I

Abstract Model studies directed toward the design and development of a better and more practical isoxazolium salt reagent for the synthesis of peptides are described.
Taste for Blood: Hemoglobin as a Nutrient Source for Pathogens

Hemoglobin, which gives blood its red color, is perhaps the most recognized and well studied protein in nature. It is also a critical molecule during infection, as many microbes rely on hemoglobin to grow within their hosts. Here, we review the importance of hemoglobin to vertebrate physiology and how humans attempt to conceal hemoglobin from invading pathogens. We also provide examples of the elaborate mechanisms employed by microbes to acquire hemoglobin during infection. Finally, we discuss how genetic variations within hemoglobin affect susceptibility to infectious diseases.
Some determinants of student corporate social responsibility orientation

This study examines the effect of gender, Machiavellian orientation, and socially desirable reporting on the respondent’s orientation toward corporate social responsibility. A sample of 219 undergraduate students from a Midwestern university exhibited differences in orientation across gender and degree of Machiavellian orientation. Social desirability had a minimal effect on the responses.
Risk of cardiac surgery in patients with prior stroke

We retrospectively examined the clinical outcome in 126 patients with a history of ischemic stroke undergoing open heart surgery (OHS). We classified prior strokes as recent or remote and by degree of neurologic deficit. Seventeen patients (13.4%) had new strokes or worsening of prior deficits, but only 4 were moderate-severe in degree (3.2%). There was no significant difference in new stroke rates between recent and remote stroke groups. New strokes more frequently involved worsening of prior deficits in the recent stroke group, while strokes in different areas of the brain occurred more often in the remote stroke group. Extracranial occlusive disease was not a factor. Intraoperative hypotension was more frequent in the recent stroke group, suggesting persistent hemodynamic vulnerability.
The role of the Standard Days Method in modern family planning services in developing countries

AbstractBackground The mere availability of family planning (FP) services is not sufficient to improve reproductive health; services must also be of adequate quality. The introduction of new contraceptive methods is a means of improving quality of care. The Standard Days Method (SDM) is a new fertility-awareness-based contraceptive method that has been successfully added to reproductive health care services around the world.Content Framed by the Bruce-Jain quality-of-care paradigm, this paper describes how the introduction of SDM in developing country settings can improve the six elements of quality while contributing to the intrinsic variety of available methods. SDM meets the needs of women and couples who opt not to use other modern methods. SDM providers are sensitised to the potential of fertility-awareness-based contraception as an appropriate choice for these clients. SDM requires the involvement of both partners and thus offers a natural entry point for providers to further explore partner communi...
Assembly of the postsynaptic membrane at the neuromuscular junction: paradigm lost

Studies of the vertebrate skeletal neuromuscular junction led to an influential model of how neurotransmitter receptors accumulate in the postsynaptic membrane. In this model, motor axons organize postsynaptic development by secreting neuregulin to induce acetylcholine receptor gene transcription in specialized subsynaptic nuclei, agrin to cluster diffuse receptors in the postsynaptic membrane, and acetylcholine to evoke electrical activity that promotes synaptic maturation. However, new studies in this area have first, demonstrated that axons sometimes innervate pre-existing receptor clusters; second, recast the roles of agrin and neuregulin; third, revealed early effects of neurotransmission; fourth, questioned the role of subsynaptic myonuclei; fifth, shown that elaborately-branched postsynaptic structures can form aneurally; and sixth, raised the possibility that neurotransmitter affects receptor type as well as distribution. These recent studies challenge the widely-held paradigms, although not the results that led to them, and suggest a new model for neuromuscular synaptogenesis.
Fermi-surface anisotropy in potassium and the effect of hydrostatic pressure

The anisotropy of the Fermi surface (FS) of potassium has been determined with improved precision. The anisotropy and absolute value of the pressure coefficient for the potassium FS in the 25-bar pressure range have also been measured. The pressure coefficient anisotropy is some eight times greater than, and of similar form to, the FS anisotropy. The mean value of the (area) pressure coefficient is 1.720±0.008×10-2/kbar, which is some 5% lower than that predicted from the bulk modulus. No obvious reason has been found for the discrepancy between our result and that obtained from high-pressure measurements.
Limitations of Green Fluorescent Protein as a Cell Lineage Marker

The enhanced green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter has been widely adopted for tracking cell lineage. Here, we compare three transgenic mouse strains in which GFP is considered "ubiquitously expressed," with the GFP transgene under control of the chicken beta-actin (CBA) or human ubiquitin C (UBC) promoter. We compared the expression of GFP using flow cytometry, direct tissue fluorescence, and immunostaining with multiple commercially available anti-GFP antibodies. Mice of CBA-GFP strain 1Osb have strong but variegated expression of GFP in adult liver, kidney, small intestine, and blood. Mice of CBA-GFP strain Y01 have the highest proportion of GFP-positive peripheral blood cells yet limited GFP expression in liver, intestine, and kidney. UBC-GFP mice express GFP only weakly in solid organs and variably in blood. Direct fluorescent detection of GFP in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections was the simplest approach, but it was useful only in high-expressing strains and potentially subject to artifact because of tissue autofluorescence. Immunofluorescence using either primary goat or primary rabbit antibodies was much more sensitive and allowed better discrimination of authentic signal from autofluorescence. Immunohistochemical staining was less sensitive than direct fluorescence or immunofluorescence and was subject to false-positive signal in the small intestine. In conclusion, there is considerable variability of expression within and between GFP transgenic strains. None of the tested strains gave truly ubiquitous GFP expression. A detailed analysis of GFP expression in one's tissues of interest must guide the choice of reporter mouse strain when GFP is used as a marker of cell lineage or donor origin. Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.
Associative and Non‐Associative Ion Pair Formation by Fast Atoms

This review discusses recent results on collision processes of accelerated atoms which lead to ion production. Five general classes of reactions are described - collision-induced dissociative ion pair formation (polar dissociation), electron transfer, associative ionization, reactive (rearrangement) ionization, and simple collisional ionization. The review is restricted to ion product reactions that have been studied in molecular beam experiments in which two neutral species collide with relative energies up to 20 eV, and the endoergicity of the reaction is provided by the kinetic energy of one of the partners. The accelerating techniques capable of producing beams of fast atoms and molecules in this important energy region are described. Characteristics of such reactions are the cross sections for the various reaction channels and their dependences on the relative energy (i.e., the excitation functions), the behavior of the cross section near threshold, the relative importance of translational and internal energy in promoting the reaction, and the dynamics of the collisions as revealed by the angular distributions of the products. Illustrative results on these properties are presented. The polar dissociation of the thallium halides by accelerated Xe and Kr atoms, and the dynamics of a number of reactions of fast metal and non-metal atoms with several molecules are described in detail. Dieser Uberblick behandelt neuere Ergebnisse von Stosprozessen mit beschleunigten Atomen, die zur Ionenbildung fuhren. Es werden funf allgemeine Reaktionsklassen beschrieben: stosinduzierte dissoziative Ionenpaarbildung (polare Dissoziation), Elektronenubertragung. assoziative Ionisation. reaktive (Umordnungs-) Ionisation und einfache Stosionisation. Der Uberblick beschrankt sich auf in Molekularstrahlexperimenten untersuchte Ionenbildungsreaktionen, bei denen zwei neutrale Teilchen mit relativen Energien bis zu 20 eV zusammenstosen, wobei die kinetische Energie eines Stospartners die erforderliche Reaktionsenergie liefert. Beschleunigungsverfahren zur Erzeugung schneller Atom- und Molekularstrahlen fur diesen wichtigen Energiebereich werden beschrieben. Charakteristische Groβen fur solche Reaktionen sind die Reaktionsquerschnitte fur die einzelnen Kanale und ihre Abhangigkeit von der relativen Energie (d. h. die Anregungsfunktionen), das Verhalten des Querschnitts nahe dem Schwellenwert, die relative Bedeutung von Translations- und interner Energie fur den Reaktionsablauf und die Stosdynamik, die sich in der Winkelverteilung der Produkte zu erkennen gibt. Zur Erlauterung werden Untersuchungsergebnisse dieser Eigenschaften mitgeteilt. Die polare Dissoziation von Thalliumhalogeniden durch beschleunigte Xe- und Kr-Atome sowie die Dynamik einer Reihe von Reaktionen schneller Metall- und Nichtmetallatome mit einigen Molekulen werden eingehend beschrieben.
Aberrant expression of MUC5AC and MUC6 gastric mucin genes in colorectal polyps

Altered mucin glycosylation and the de novo appearance of gastric mucin antigens have been described in colonic adenomas. The purpose of our study was to determine if expression of the gastric mucin genes MUC5AC and MUC6 occurs in colorectal adenomas and whether this correlates with histopathologic criteria of malignant potential. Immunohistochemical staining using antibodies against MUC5AC and MUC6 tandem repeat synthetic peptides was performed on specimens of normal colon mucosa (n = 26), hyperplastic polyps (n = 9) and adenomatous polyps (n = 111). Mucin mRNA levels were determined using RNase protection assays using riboprobes corresponding to unique non-repetitive sequences. MUC5AC and MUC6 staining were rarely detected and of low intensity in normal colon and hyperplastic polyps. The number of immunoreactive polyps and intensity of MUC5AC and MUC6 staining were greatest in larger adenomas of moderate villous histology and dysplasia. MUC5AC and MUC6 staining tended to decrease in highly villous polyps with severe dysplasia. Increased MUC5AC mRNA levels were found in 26/45 of adenomas tested compared with 0/9 normal colon specimens. MUC6 mRNA levels were found in 20/45 of adenomas compared with 1/9 normal colon specimens. MUC5AC and MUC6 mRNA were present more frequently and at higher levels in polyps with intermediate stages of size, villous histology and dysplasia. We conclude that aberrant expression of MUC5AC and MUC6 mucin genes is likely responsible for an expanded repertoire of mucin antigen expression in colorectal neoplasia.