cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rhodamine 123 as a probe of transmembrane potential in isolated rat-liver mitochondria: spectral and metabolic properties

The spectral and metabolic properties of Rhodamine 123, a fluorescent cationic dye used to label mitochondria in living cells, were investigated in suspensions of isolated rat-liver mitochondria. A red shift of Rhodamine 123 absorbance and fluorescence occurred following mitochondrial energization. Fluorescence quenching of as much as 75% also occurred. The red shift and quenching varied linearly with the potassium diffusion potential, but did not respond to delta pH. These energy-linked changes were accompanied by dye uptake into the matrix space. Concentration ratios, in-to-out, approached 4000:1. A large fraction of internalized dye was bound. At concentrations higher than those needed to record these spectral changes, Rhodamine 123 inhibited ADP-stimulated (State 3) respiration of mitochondria (Ki = 12 microM) and ATPase activity of inverted inner membrane vesicles (Ki = 126 microM) and partially purified F1-ATPase (Ki = 177 microM). The smaller Ki for coupled mitochondria was accounted for by energy-dependent Rhodamine 123 uptake into the matrix. Above about 20 nmol/mg protein (10 microM), Rhodamine 123 caused rapid swelling of energized mitochondria. Effects on electron-transfer reactions and coupling were small or negligible even at the highest Rhodamine 123 concentrations employed. delta psi-dependent Rhodamine 123 uptake together with Rhodamine 123 binding account for the intense fluorescent staining of mitochondria in living cells. Inhibition of mitochondria ATPase likely accounts for the cytotoxicity of Rhodamine 123. At concentrations which do not inhibit mitochondrial function, Rhodamine 123 is a sensitive and specific probe of delta psi in isolated mitochondria.
Relative importance of pyruvate dehydrogenase interconversion and feed-back inhibition in the effect of fatty acids on pyruvate oxidation by rat heart mitochondria.

Abstract Rat heart mitochondria have been incubated with concentrations of pyruvate from 50 to 500 μ m as substrate in the presence or absence of an optimal concentration of palmitoylcarnitine and with respiration limited by phosphate acceptor. The rate of pyruvate utilization has been determined and compared with the amount of active (dephosphorylated) pyruvate dehydrogenase measured in samples of mitochondria taken throughout the experiments and assayed under Vmax conditions. At a given pyruvate concentration, differences in pyruvate utilization as a proportion of the content of active pyruvate dehydrogenase are attributed to differences in feed-back inhibition and interpreted in terms of the ratios of mitochondrial NAD + NADH and CoA/acetyl-CoA. Under most conditions, differences in inhibition can be attributed to differences in the CoA/acetyl-CoA ratio. Feed-back inhibition is very pronounced in the presence of palmitoylcarnitine. These parameters are also examined in the presence of dichloroacetate, used to raise the steady-state levels of active pyruvate dehydrogenase in the absence of changing the pyruvate concentration, and in the presence of various ratios of carnitine/acetylcarnitine, which predominantly change the mitochondrial CoA/acetyl-CoA ratio. The latter experiment provides evidence that a decrease in mitochondrial NAD + NADH ratio from 3.5 to 2.2 essentially balances an increase in CoA/acetyl-CoA ratio from 0.67 to 12 in modulating enzyme interconversion, whereas the change in CoA/acetyl-CoA ratio is preponderant in effecting feed-back inhibition. Increasing the free Ca2+ concentration of incubation media from 10−7 to 10−6 m using CaCl2-ethylene glycol bis(β-aminoethyl ether)-N,N′-tetraacetic acid buffers is shown to increase the steady-state level of active pyruvate dehydrogenase in intact mitochondria, in the absence of added ionophores. Moreover, this activation is reversible. Effects of Ca2+ ions are dependent upon the poise of the enzyme interconversion system and were only seen in these experiments in the presence of palmitoylcarnitine.
Evaluation of a computed radiography system for megavoltage photon beam dosimetry.

Computed radiography (CR) systems have been gaining adoption as digital replacements for film for diagnostic and therapy imaging. As a result, film processors are being removed from service, leaving a void for the medical physicists who use film and processors for two-dimensional megavoltage beam dosimetry. This is the first report to evaluate the ability of a commercial CR reader and storage phosphor plate system to accurately quantitate absolute dose and dose distributions from a 6 MV photon beam. There are potential advantages and disadvantages of current CR systems compared to film systems. CR systems inherently produce a linear dose-response over several logs of dose. However, the barium in the storage phosphor has a higher atomic number than the silver in film, resulting in significant energy sensitivity. The purpose of this work is to fully characterize the impact of these and other features of this CR system relevant to dosimetry. The tests performed and reported on in this study include uniformity of readout across a uniform field, geometrical accuracy, intra- and interday reproducibility, signal decay with time and with light exposure, dose-to-signal calibration, high dose effects, obliquity effects, perpendicular and parallel calibration results, field size and depth of measurement effects andmore » the use of lead filters to minimize them, and intensity modulated radiation therapy quality assurance test results compared to that for film. Practical techniques are provided to optimize the accuracy of the system as a dosimetric replacement for film.« less
Global artificial boundary conditions for computation of external flows with jets

We propose new global artificial boundary conditions (ABCs) for computation of flows with propulsive jets. The algorithm is based on application of the difference potentials method (DPM). Previously, similar boundary conditions have been implemented for calculation of external compressible viscous flows around finite bodies. The proposed modification substantially extends the applicability range of the DPM-based algorithm. We present the general formulation of the problem, describe our numerical methodology, and discuss the corresponding computational results. The particular configuration that we analyze is a slender three-dimensional body with boat-tail geometry and supersonic jet exhaust in a subsonic external flow under zero angle of attack. Similar to the results obtained earlier for the flows around airfoils and wings, current results for the jet flow case corroborate the superiority of the DPM-based ABCs over standard local methodologies from the standpoints of accuracy, overall numerical performance, and robustness
A cephalic influence on gastric motility upon seeing food in domestic turkeys (Melagris gallopavo), great-horned owls (Bubo virginianus) and red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis).

Abstract Strain gage transducers were permanently implanted on the muscular stomachs of 13 turkeys, 3 great-horned owls and 2 red-tailed hawks to monitor gastric motility before, during and after eating. Following fasting, the sight of food resulted in significant increases in gastric contractile activity in all three species. Gastric motility further increased when the birds were allowed to eat. In raptors, however, a brief interruption in gastric motility occurred immediately after eating. This is apparently analogous to receptive relaxation which occurs in the stomach of mammals.
Protein kinase-C activation during thyrotropin-stimulated proliferation of rat FRTL-5 thyroid cells.

We have reported previously that TSH and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) synergistically stimulate DNA synthesis and elevate the 1,2-diacylglycerol (1,2-DG) content of FRTL-5 thyroid cells and have suggested that protein kinase-C (PKC) may mediate the growth-promoting effects of these hormones. We now present evidence that the effects of TSH on 1,2-DG content are associated with commensurate changes in PKC activity. We measured 1,2-DG content and PKC activity in TSH-deprived growth-arrested cells when TSH was readded. Cells were maintained in medium containing a high dose of insulin (which interacts with IGF-I receptors) and no TSH. When cells incubated in the absence of TSH were reexposed to TSH for 24 h, the 1,2-DG content increased to 234 +/- 22% of the control value, and the ratio of PKC activity in membrane and cytosol fractions of cell homogenates, an index of the state of activation of PKC in situ, increased to 323 +/- 42% of the control value. In cells growing under the influence of TSH in me...
Does mammalian heart contain only the m2 muscarinic receptor subtype

Five muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) subtypes, m1-m5, have been cloned and sequenced to date. The question as to which mAChR subtypes exist in mammalian heart has been studied extensively and is still under considerable debate. We used the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction to amplify mRNA from adult rat ventricular myocytes, and found that these cells express mRNA for m1 and m2 mAChRs. Immunocytochemical analysis confirmed that m1 and m2, but not m3, mAChR proteins are present on the surface of these cells. Finally, the functional significance of these receptors was examined. Administration of the m1 mAChR antagonist pirenzepine inhibited the stimulatory effect of the muscarinic agonist carbachol on Ca transients. These findings are consistent with the presence of at least two mAChR subtypes in mammalian heart, m1 and m2, and suggest that activation of m1 mAChRs is involved in the stimulatory effects of muscarinic agonists in mammalian heart.
High school students’ decision making about sustainability

This study examined decision making in an urban US high school classroom in which tenth‐grade students analyzed scientific evidence about current issues of sustainability, technology and society. A full‐year course, called Science and Sustainability, was used in both groups, and a computer program, called Convince Me, provided scaffolding for making evidence‐based decisions for one group. During the course of instruction, both the groups completed open‐ended written assessments. Limited student progress, in using evidence to support claims and in weighing benefits and drawbacks, was demonstrated. The Convince Me group showed more significant gains than the Science and Sustainability group alone. Implications for instruction are discussed.
Emotions in Oneida

Oneida has terms for emotions, as well as other mental activities, that include one of three noun roots referring to the mind: ?mind, thought, spirit?, ?mind, thought?, and ?soul?. There are no constructions in Oneida that describe emotions by referring to body organs, other than the mind, or characteristic bodily ?symptoms?, although some emotive interjections include the terms for ?crack in the behind, anus? or ?feces, excrement?. Oneida speakers attribute their classification of diverse concepts as emotions to the idea that all feelings reside in the mind. However, the issue of whether Oneida has an exponent for a semantic primitive feel is controversial.
How effective are contraceptives? The determination and measurement of pregnancy rates

Objectives: To provide an overview of contraceptive effectiveness and its determinants as well as reasons for the gap between the actual and expected number of unplanned pregnancies for various categories of users; to provide some guidelines for more precise, consistent terminology and measurements for use in future research; and to provide specific counseling guidelines; using combined oral contraceptives (OCs) as the example. Data Sources: Fifty-three articles on contraceptive effectiveness were reviewed, with a particular focus on pregnancy rates among OC users and the quality of use contributing to those rates. Definitions and measurement of contraceptive effectiveness, its components, and its determinants were examined and discrepancies explored. Methods of Study Selection: Papers discussed were selected because they had special relevance. Only a few of the papers discussed in this article were quantitative studies of contraceptive behavior and effectiveness. Others were review articles, discussions of the appropriate measurement of various components of effectiveness. Others provided conceptual frameworks for studying method effectiveness. All published studies of OC compliance were reviewed. Tabulation, Integration, and Results: Comparing the definitions and measurement of both compliance and effectiveness revealed important inconsistencies. However, some trends did emerge, and these papers did provide a framework for the following discussion. The findings were used to develop a more coherent set of definitions, measurement approaches, and counseling strategies. Characteristics of the user, the method, and the service delivery system all play a role in contraceptive effectiveness. However, it is the quality of use, ie, the user's own behavior, that is the immediate determinant of the effectiveness of any short-term contraceptive method. The mean pregnancy rate for better-than-average users is 4%; for poorer-than-average users, it is 8%. Conclusions: The range of contraceptive effectiveness rates is closely associated with user characteristics. Oral contraceptive users need to know that their own chance of becoming pregnant will vary with their fecundability, when and how frequently they have sexual intercourse, and, especially, how consistently and correctly they take their pills. The likelihood that any one user will take OCs correctly and consistently also is associated with her life-style, socioeconomic status, age, and other factors. Further research is needed to determine how forgiving OCs are of various pill-taking errors, to determine the impact of dual method use (eg, OCs and condoms), and to assess the effects of user, method, and programmatic characteristics on correct and consistent use and, in turn, on effectiveness.
The Inflexibility of Relative Truth

The ideology of relative truth is inflexible in two ways. Firstly, what's true-for- J is closed under entailment. This is a problem for using truth-relativism to solve the preface puzzle about knowledge. Secondly, it is plausible that vagueness gives rise to some questions having multiple ‘acceptable’ answers, and other questions having no ‘acceptable’ answer. Even if truth-relativism can express the former idea, it can't express the latter. I propose an ideology that is not so rigid. It is preferable to relative truth.
How Corporate America Grieves: Responses to September 11 in Public Relations Advertising

Abstract This study examines newspaper ads published in response to the events of September 11th, 2001, to determine the nature of corporate message appeals and the extent to which these messages may be exploiting tragedy rather than serving as legitimate expressions of sympathy or support. The study finds that two-thirds of ads were rated positively; these ads most frequently expressed compassion for victims and made patriotic appeals. Ads perceived as exploiting tragedy were more likely to encourage readers to resume their shopping habits and to use fewer and less emotion-laden patriotic appeals.
Boundedness of solutions of duffing's equations

Abstract J. Littlewood, L. Markus, and J. Moser proposed independently the boundedness problem for solutions of Duffing's equation: x + g(x) = p(t) , where p(t) is continuous and periodic and g(x) is superlinear at infinity. The purpose of this paper is to prove that all solutions of the above-mentioned Duffing's equation are bounded for t ∈ R when p(t) is even (or when p(t) is odd and g(x) is odd).
Rates of DNA sequence evolution differ between taxonomic groups

The mutation rates of DNA sequences during evolution can be estimated from interspecies DNA sequence differences by assaying changes that have little or no effect on the phenotype (neutral mutations). Examination of available measurements shows that rates of DNA change of different phylogenetic groups differ by a factor of 5. The slowest rates are observed for higher primates and some bird lineages, while faster rates are seen in rodents, sea urchins, and drosophila. The rate of DNA sequence change has decreased markedly during primate evolution. The contrast in rates of DNA sequence change is probably due to evolutionary variation and selection of biochemical mechanisms such as DNA replication or repair.
Relationship lending under asymmetric information: A case of blocked entry

Abstract A national bank with a low cost of capital can choose to enter a two-period credit market and compete with incumbent banks to supply relationship loans to de novo entrepreneurs. Under short-term contracting, the terms on loan contracts are determined by market competition in the current period. In this setting, we find that the second period competitive pressure the national bank exerts on the incumbent banks turns out to give the incumbent banks a first period advantage when trying to attract new clients. As a result, the low cost bank may be blocked from entering the market.
Humor: A Therapeutic Intervention for Child Counseling.

Counselors utilize many strategies, techniques, and tools when building a therapeutic alliance or addressing children's issues. Due to the serious nature of discussing problems or perhaps because of the fear of seeming insensitive, counselors often overlook humor as a means to enhance therapy. Whether deliberate or spontaneous, humor can add creativity and insight to counseling sessions. Humor is a valuable therapeutic adjunct in making assessments, forming a therapeutic bond, helping children develop social skills, encouraging catharsis, addressing resistance, reframing maladaptive beliefs, and replacing rigid, self-absorbed perspectives. This article discusses several types and examples of humor and uses case studies to illustrate interventions.
Quantitation of N,N,N',N'-tetrakis (2-hydroxypropyl)-ethylenediamine in plasma by gas chromatography.

Abstract A wide-bore capillary gas chromatographic method with nitrogen-selective thermionic detection is described for the quantitative analysis of N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(2-hydroxypropyl)ethylenediamine (Quadrol) in plasma. N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(2-hydroxybutyl)ethylenediamine is used as an internal standard. Rat or human plasma samples (0.5 ml) are mixed with internal standard, adjusted to alkaline pH and subjected to a single extraction with dichloromethane. Quadrol recovery from plasma typically exceeds 90%. The method is linear over the range 1.0–50 μg/ml. The working detection limit is 0.5 μg/ml and the analysis time is under 7 min. The procedure has been used to obtain plasma concentration versus time data for the evaluation of Quadrol pharmacokinetics in rats.
Development and Assessment of Short and Very Short Forms of the Infant Behavior Questionnaire–Revised

Using data from parents of 761 infants from 6 independent samples, short (91 items, 14 scales) and very short (37 items, 3 broad scales) forms of the Infant Behavior Questionnaire-Revised (IBQ-R), a well-established caregiver report measure of temperament for infants aged 3 to 12 months, were developed. The forms were subsequently evaluated with data from 1,619 participants from 11 samples. Over 90% of Cronbach's alphas and part-whole correlations calculated for the short and very short form scales were greater than.70. Interparent agreement was nearly identical to that obtained with standard IBQ-R scales, averaging.41 and ranging from.06 to.76. Longitudinal stability over multiple time spans, and estimated retest reliability of the short form scales, were highly similar to those of standard forms, with estimated retest reliability averaging.72 and ranging from.54 to.93. Convergent and predictive validity of select short form scales were comparable to, but slightly lower, than those observed for standard IBQ-R scales. Recommendations for the use of the standard, short, and very short scales are discussed.
Buoyancy tectonic models of uplift and subsidence along high-angle faults in extensional and compressional tectonic regimes

Abstract This study models the potential uplift and subsidence of brittle, upper-crustal trapezoidal blocks which move along pre-existing high-angle faults in extensional tectonic regimes; similar models for uplift in compressional tectonic regimes are also presented. A force balance is assumed to exist between the weight of the trapezoidal block, the buoyancy force derived from the lower-ductile crust, the supporting forces from the neighboring blocks, and the frictional resistance to motion across the fault. Generally, the weight of the brittle crustal block is effectively opposed by the buoyancy force, making vertical movement quite dependent on tectonic forces redirected along the high-angle bounding faults. The analysis relates the state of stress in the brittle-upper crust (and other critical parameters such as structure width, thickness of the brittle-upper crust, frictional resistance along faults, mobility of the brittle-ductile transition which is related to slow and fast geologic movement, different lower crustal densities, and deposition and erosion) to possible uplift or subsidence. Greater vertical displacement is generally compatible with narrower crustal blocks, more deviatoric (tectonic) stress, lower fault friction, a thicker brittle crust, and similar upper and lower crustal densities. Without deposition or erosion, approximately equal amounts of vertical movement appear possible for trapezoidal blocks with similar conditions; however, deposition can typically induce far more subsidence than erosion can induce uplift. Although large amounts of uplift appear possible in both extensional and compressional regimes, the effects of erosion and the higher stresses possible with tectonic compression should produce larger amounts of uplift in compressional vs. extensional regimes. Slow or fast geologic movement can be defined as whether the brittle-ductile transition remains at a constant depth or is displaced; if the brittle-ductile transition remains at a constant depth (slow movement), uplift is enhanced in both extensional and compressional regimes. Low resistance to motion along faults is necessary for vertical movement and is consistent with several other recent studies. The models suggest that much of the observed relief on the earth's surface (up to several tens of kilometers width) can be caused by the dynamics in the earth's crust, however related to deeper earth processes; i.e. much topography can be analyzed in terms of stresses in the brittle crust and the buoyancy effect of the lower crust, however the stresses in the brittle crust may be generated by deeper and more global processes.
Cellulose hydrolysis using zinc chloride as a solvent and catalyst

Cellulose gel with < 10% of crystallinity was prepared by treatment of microcrystalline cellulose, Avicel, with zinc chloride solution at a ratio of zinc chloride to cellulose from 1.5 to 18 (w/w). The presence of zinc ions in the cellulose gels enhanced the rate of hydrolysis and glucose yield. The evidence obtained from X-ray diffraction, iodine absorption experiments; and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectra analysis suggested the presence of zinc-cellulose complex after Avicel was treated with zinc chloride. Zinc-cellulose complex was more susceptible to hydrolysis than amorphous cellulose. Under the experimental condition, cellulose gels with zinc ions were hyrolyzed to glucose with 95% theoretical yield and a concentration of 14% (w/v) by cellulases within 20 h. The same gel was hydrolyzed by acid to glucose with 91.5% yield and a concentration of 13.4% (w/v).
Hubble Space Telescope Observations of Oxygen-rich Supernova Remnants in the Magellanic Clouds. III. WFPC2 Imaging of the Young, Crab-like Supernova Remnant SNR 0540–69.3*

Hubble Space Telescope images with the Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 of the young, oxygen-rich, Crab-like supernova remnant SNR0540-69.3 in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) reveal details of the emission distribution and the relationship between the expanding ejecta and synchrotron nebula. The emission distributions appear very similar to those seen in the Crab nebula, with the ejecta located in a thin envelope surrounding the synchrotron nebula. The [O III] emission is more extended than other tracers, forming a faint "skin" around the denser filaments and synchrotron nebula, as also observed in the Crab. The [O III] exhibits somewhat different kinematic structure in long-slit spectra, including a more extended high-velocity emission halo not seen in images. Yet even the fastest expansion speeds in SNR 0540 s halo are slow when compared to most other young supernova remnants, though the Crab nebula has similar slow expansion speeds. We show a striking correspondence between the morphology of the synchrotron nebula observed in an optical continuum filter with that recently resolved in Chandra X-ray images. We argue that the multi-component kinematics and filamentary morphology of the optical emission-line features likely result from magnetic Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities that form as the synchrotron nebula expands and sweeps up ejecta, as seen in the Crab nebula. Our images and spectra help to refine our understanding of SNR 0540 in several more detailed respects: they confirm the identification of H(alpha)+[N II] in the red spectrum, they show that the systemic velocity of SNR 0540 is not significantly different from that of the LMC, and they hint at a lower Ne abundance than the Crab (potentially indicating a more massive progenitor star).
Genetic Expression of Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase in Human Atrial Myocardium

Objective To investigate the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in human cardiac tissues. Design We attempted to determine the genetic expression and localization of eNOS in normal human atrial tissue. Material and Methods In normal human right atrial tissues from five donors during cardiac transplantation, eNOS expression and localization were assessed by using Northern blot analysis, in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemical staining. Results Northern blot analysis and in situ hybridization demonstrated that eNOS messenger RNA is present in cardiomyocytes. Positive immunohistochemical staining was observed in the cytoplasm of cardiomyocytes. Conclusion These studies show for the first time the genetic expression and distribution of eNOS in human atrial myocardium and suggest that the eNOSmediated paracrine and autocrine pathway may participate in the control of myocardial function in humans.
Modeling industry structure and economic performance

This paper presents a simultaneous equations model of profitability, concentration, advertising expenditures and research and development outlays. The data are subjected to regression diagnostics in an effort to ascertain the importance to the estimation results of a subset of the data that can have a disproportionate influence. The estimation results, especially for the advertising expenditures relationship and the research and development outlays equation, do change when a truncated data sample (based on the omission of the outliers) is used. This serves partially to explain why there is some disagreement in the literature on market structure and economic performance.
Implementation of Neumann boundary condition with influence matrix method for viscous annular flow using pseudospectral collocation

The flowfield of an annular Couette flow is predicted numerically from an unsteady initial condition using the Chebyshev-Fourier collocation method. The numerical solution is obtained from the vorticity-velocity formulation of the unsteady Navier-Stokes equations. In this formulation the velocity boundary conditions are overspecified while vorticity boundary conditions are unspecified. This difficulty is resolved by a matrix influence method to convert the overspecified velocity boundary conditions to sufficiently specified Dirichlet boundary conditions for both velocity and vorticity. These boundary conditions are implemented by considering three methods: the traditional row replacement method, Fornberg's fictitious points method, and Driscoll and Hale's rectangular collocation method. The solution is advanced in time using the third-order Adams-Bashforth semi-implicit backward differentiation scheme. The accuracy of the numerical solutions are assessed in two ways. In one case, the accuracy of the converged steady state solution is compared to the analytical solution. In the second case, the residual of the continuity equation for the vorticity-velocity method is assessed in comparison to the vorticity streamfunction formulation that inherently satisfies the continuity equation. All methods demonstrate high accuracy for the continuity equation residual at the domain interior; however, the row replacement and fictitious points methods exhibit poor accuracy at the boundaries during the transient. The rectangular projection method exhibits excellent accuracy throughout the domain and boundaries at all times using the resampling points. On the other hand, for evaluating secondary quantities such as the wall shear stress, the rectangular projection method demonstrates several orders of magnitude less accuracy when evaluated using the resampling points, but high accuracy when evaluated directly at the original collocation points.
Linear Discriminant Analysis Versus Logistic Regression: A Comparison of Classification Errors in the Two-Group Case

Classification studies are important for practitioners who need to identify individuals for specialized treatment or intervention. When interventions are irreversible or misclassifications are costly, information about the proficiency of different classification procedures becomes invaluable. This study furnishes information about the relative accuracy of two widely used classification procedures, linear discriminant analysis and logistic regression, under various commonly encountered and interacting conditions. Monte Carlo simulation was used to manipulate four factors under multivariate normality: equality of covariance matrices, degree of group separation, sample size, and prior probabilities. Three criterion measures were employed: total, small-group, and large-group classification error. Interactions of these between factors with two within factors, cut-score and method of classification, were of primary interest.
Ordered arrays of dual-diameter nanopillars for maximized optical absorption.

Optical properties of highly ordered Ge nanopillar arrays are tuned through shape and geometry control to achieve the optimal absorption efficiency. Increasing the Ge materials filling ratio is shown to increase the reflectance while simultaneously decreasing the transmittance, with the absorbance showing a strong diameter dependency. To enhance the broad band optical absorption efficiency, a novel dual-diameter nanopillar structure is presented, with a small diameter tip for minimal reflectance and a large diameter base for maximal effective absorption coefficient. The enabled single-crystalline absorber material with a thickness of only 2 μm exhibits an impressive absorbance of ∼99% over wavelengths, λ = 300−900 nm. These results enable a viable and convenient route toward shape-controlled nanopillar-based high-performance photonic devices.
Initial experiments on Mercury, a 100 J / 10 ns / 10 Hz diode-pumped solid-state laser

We report the activation of four 80 kW diode arrays, fabrication of four full aperture (4 × 6 × 0.75 cm) S-FAP slabs, an average power Pockels cell, transmitted wavefront, and gain measurements on the Mercury laser system.
DNA DIVERGENCE AMONG HOMINOIDS.

We have determined the degree of single-copy DNA divergence among the extant members of the Hominoidea employing the technique of DNA-DNA hybridization. The species studied include humans, two species of chimpanzees, gorillas, two subspecies of orangutans, and two species of gibbons; as an outgroup we have used a member of the Old World monkeys (Cercopithecidae), the baboon. Our methods are different from those previously used and allow us to control for two factors other than base-pair mismatch that can affect the thermal stability of DNA duplexes: the base composition and duplex length. In addition, we have studied more than one individual for most species and thus are able to assess the effect of intraspecific variation on phylogenetic conclusions. The results indicate that the closest extant relatives of humans are the chimpanzees. Gorillas are the next closest, followed by orangutans and gibbons. This result is strongly supported statistically, as there is virtually no overlap in measurements between different taxa. Our conclusions are in agreement with a growing amount of molecular evidence supporting this pattern of relatedness. The data behave as a reasonably good molecular clock, and we do not see an indication of slowdown in molecular evolution in the clade containing humans and African apes, contrary to what has been documented for protein-coding regions. Because of the clocklike nature of the results, we have estimated that the divergence of humans and chimpanzees occurred about 6-8 million years ago. Results from orangutans indicate that the Borneo and Sumatra populations are genetically distinct, about as different as the named species of chimpanzees.
Water proton MR properties of human blood at 1.5 Tesla: Magnetic susceptibility, T1, T2, T *2, and non‐Lorentzian signal behavior

Accurate knowledge of the magnetic properties of human blood is required for the precise modeling of functional and vascular flow-related MRI. Herein are reported determinations of the relaxation parameters of blood, employing in vitro samples that are well representative of human blood in situ. The envelope of the blood (1)H(2)O free-induction decay signal magnitude during the first 100 msec following a spin echo at time TE is well- described empirically by an expression of the form, S(t) = S(o). exp[-R(*)(2). (t - TE) - AR*. (t - TE)(2)]. The relaxation parameters AR* and R(*)(2) increase as a function of the square of the susceptibility difference between red blood cell and plasma and depend on the spin-echo time. The Gaussian component, AR*, should be recognized in accurate modeling of MRI phenomena that depend upon the magnetic state of blood. The magnetic susceptibility difference between fully deoxygenated and fully oxygenated red blood cells at 37 degrees C is 0.27 ppm, as determined independently by MR and superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) measurements. This value agrees well with the 1936 report of Pauling and Coryell (Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1936;22:210-216), but is substantially larger than that frequently used in MRI literature. Magn Reson Med 45:533-542, 2001.
Group Belongingness Among Negroes

Considerable theoretical and empirical evidence suggests that belonging to an underprivileged minority group has differential consequences on individual members than does membership in more desirable social units. The member of a minority group more likely experiences forces to leave his group that encounter overpowering barriers. Cognitions, role expectations, and self-perceptions show evidence of uncertainty and unflattering images of oneself as a person and group member are common. A review of the growing literature in this area will be followed by a report on Negro characterizations of their group membership, a tentative typology of Negro belongingness, and an attempted theoretical integration of the gener;d problem of minority group membership.
Recent advances in wide bandgap semiconductor biological and gas sensors

There has been significant recent interest in the use of surface-functionalized thin film and nanowire wide bandgap semiconductors, principally GaN, InN, ZnO and SiC, for sensing of gases, heavy metals, UV photons and biological molecules. For the detection of gases such as hydrogen, the semiconductors are typically coated with a catalyst metal such as Pd or Pt to increase the detection sensitivity at room temperature. Functionalizing the surface with oxides, polymers and nitrides is also useful in enhancing the detection sensitivity for gases and ionic solutions. The wide energy bandgap of these materials make them ideal for solar-blind UV detection, which can be of use for detecting fluorescence from biotoxins. The use of enzymes or adsorbed antibody layers on the semiconductor surface leads to highly specific detection of a broad range of antigens of interest in the medical and homeland security fields. We give examples of recent work showing sensitive detection of glucose, lactic acid, prostate cancer and breast cancer markers and the integration of the sensors with wireless data transmission systems to achieve robust, portable sensors.
A cobalt machine for semi-acute irradiation of growing plants

Abstract A Co 60 machine for irradiating growing plants with gamma rays is described. The 200 c machine is shielded behind earthen bunkers with concrete retaining walls, also a sky-shine shield intercepts vertical radiation. The radiation at the control house, 100 ft away, receives 2 mr/hr. The source is held in place by an electromagnet which is raised and lowered by a windlass in the control house by means of a stainless-steel cable. In case of power failure the Co 60 source drops into the lead container in the center of the field. Either seeds, plants or other biological specimens may be treated. Doses ranging from 7000 r/hr at 20 cm to 1 r/hr at 20 m may be used. At 1 m the dose is 310 r/hr or approximately 7300 r for a 23 1 2 hr day. A dose of 1000 r is sufficient for inducing many mutations in plant material. This can be obtained in 23 1 2 hr at about 3 m from the source.
Accumulation of pancreas-specific products during organogenesis of Acomys cahirinus.

Abstract Gross morphological features during the pancreatic development of Acomys cahirinus are described. This species of rodent is characterized by its gestation period of 40 days. Insulin and glucagon are detectable at the early stage of pancreatic organogenesis. At this stage, glucagon levels are 50 times higher than those of insulin, but they do not increase more than threefold during the further course of development. Insulin accumulates in a biphasic fashion, as in the rat. After a prolonged protodifferentiated state, there is a dramatic increase in insulin accumulation leading to differentiated levels about 1000 times higher than those of the early stage and 5 times higher than the insulin content of the pancreas of the newborn rat. At the end of the differentiation period, the specific activity of both insulin and glucagon is similar to that found in the adult Acomys cahirinus . This observation is particularly noteworthy, since it is already during intrauterine life that the hyperplasia of the islets and the increased insulin content appear. This fact observed in mice bred under laboratory conditions is not characteristic of Acomys in the wild state. The development of the pancreas is slower in Acomys than in the rat, and the longer gestation period is not accompanied by accelerated differentiation. On the contrary, the differentiation process follows the same basic pattern as in the rat but extends over a longer period of time.
PCV1: A COST-EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS OF CLOPIDOGREL VERSUS ASPIRIN AS PREVENTION OF ISCHEMIC EVENTS IN PATIENTS WITH ESTABLISHED PERIPHERAL ARTERY DISEASE

OBJECTIVES: Since becoming widely recognized for its antithrombotic effects in the 1970s, aspirin has become first-line antiplatelet therapy across most patient populations. However, newer data suggests that clopidogrel is more effective than aspirin for prevention of ischemic events in peripheral artery disease (PAD) patients. In this analysis, a decision analytic model was constructed in order to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of clopidogrel versus aspirin as prevention of ischemic events in patients with established PAD. METHODS: Data on the probability of ischemic events was extracted from the PAD subgroup of the CAPRIE trial, in which event rates for clopidogrel and aspirin were 3.71% and 4.86%, respectively. Costs included in this analysis were obtained from the medical literature. RESULTS: In the base case analysis, the expected cost of treatment over a one-year time frame with clopidogrel and aspirin was $2075 and $1088, respectively. Furthermore, to effectively treat one patient, it would cost $2155 with clopidogrel and $1144 with aspirin. An incremental cost-effectiveness analysis concluded that one additional event of vascular death, MI, or ischemic stroke will be prevented with clopidogrel at an additional one-year cost of $85,826. A univariate sensitivity analysis demonstrated that aspirin must have ischemic event rates greater than 13% for clopidogrel to be the preferred option based solely on cost. Furthermore, in order for clopidogrel to be considered cost-effective with an event rate of 3.71%, aspirin must have an event rate of 11.48%, a rate 2.4 times greater than was observed in the CAPRIE trial. CONCLUSIONS: The result of this analysis concluded that it would cost a third-party payer an extra $85,826 to effectively treat one additional patient over a one-year period when using clopidogrel instead of aspirin. This cost can play a major role in the decision of appropriate antiplatelet therapy used to treat PAD patients in the prevention of ischemic events.
General Foundations versus Rational Insight

BonJourl offers two main reasons for supposing that there is such a thing as rational insight into necessity. First, he says there are many examples in which it clearly seems that one has such insight. Second, he argues that any epistemology denying the existence of rational insight into necessity is committed to a narrow skepticism. After commenting about possible frameworks for epistemological justification, I argue against these two claims in reverse order.
Corium tissue expression of genes associated with inflammation, oxidative stress, and keratin formation in relation to lameness in dairy cows.

Abstract Objectives were to (1) determine the feasibility of performing hoof biopsies without impairing locomotion; (2) evaluate the feasibility of using biopsied tissue for quantitative PCR; and (3) compare relative gene expression among claws for several target genes. Biopsies were performed on 6 Holstein cows, yielding 4 tissue specimens per cow from front leg, right limb, and medial claw (claw position 3); rear leg, left limb, and lateral claw (claw position 5); and rear leg, right limb, medial claw (claw position 7). Cows were monitored for lameness daily for 7 d post-biopsy and then weekly for 8 wk. Histopathological analysis confirmed that tissue collected was from between the stratum corneum and dermis. Biopsied tissue was used for RNA extraction, including evaluation of yield and purity. The profile by claw position of 19 genes with key functions in cell differentiation, proliferation, inflammation, and keratin formation was assessed via quantitative reverse transcription-PCR. Other than transient disturbances in locomotion score in some cows during 2 to 4 d post-biopsy, no signs of pain, locomotion impairment, or clinical lameness were observed post-biopsy. Total RNA yields averaged 259.7±100, 447.8±288, and 496.4±118μg/mg of tissue for claw positions 3, 5, and 7, respectively. The biopsy procedure was successful for obtaining corium for gene expression. Among 5 keratin proteins analyzed, only keratin 5 was expressed. Transcripts related to inflammation and oxidative stress ( STAT3 , MYD88 , SOD2 , and TLR4 ) were among the more abundant in corium tissue, but expression did not differ between claws. Biotinidase ( BTD ) expression was greater in claw 3 versus claw 5, whereas the ligand-activated nuclear receptor retinoic acid receptor-α ( RXRA ) was greater in claws 3 + 5 compared with claw 7. Overall, results from this pilot study revealed modest differences at the transcriptome level, suggesting that biotin availability and lipid metabolism differ between claw positions, whereas inflammation and oxidative stress seem to play an important role across claws. More comprehensive studies of the hoof transcriptome are required to improve our understanding of the mechanisms that link environmental and dietary factors to development of lameness.
Polyarteritis nodosa presenting as acute myocardial infarction with coronary dissection

Coronary manifestations of polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) are rarely identified pre-mortem. We report a 51-year-old female with PAN causing a coronary dissection and new lesions developing over the next 5 days. PAN should be added to the list of differential diagnoses for spontaneous coronary dissections.
A behaviorist perspective on corporate harassment online: Validation of a theoretical model of psychological motives

Cyber harassment has been seen in the literature as a problem among school-aged children, or at the adult-level, as a legal problem involving attacks that have typically been associated with retaliation for some psychosocial or monetary gain. However, with the rise of the social networking phenomenon, cyber harassment has spread from school-aged children to a wider developmental and behavioral phenomenon. Companies and professionals are increasingly the targets of personal attacks on social network sites and in blog postings by ''trolls'' and ''cyber bullies''. Thus rather than gaining information, these kinds of attacks often disseminate misleading or false information to damage their targets, to interfere with them, or for the purposes of extortion. We conducted a randomized field study of a bounded population into motivations that may lead people to conduct these kinds of attacks, we validated the model empirically, and we drew some potential behavioral responses along with implications for further research.
WE‐D‐AUD B‐05: The Use of EPID‐Measured Leaf Sequence Files and On‐Treatment Cone‐Beam CT for Dose Reconstruction of IMRT Delivery

Purpose: To develop a methodology for retrospectively reconstructing the IMRT dose delivered to a prostate patient on the basis of on‐treatment cone‐beam CT(CBCT) and fluence maps derived from the MLC segments captured by an amorphous siliconelectronic portal imaging device (aSi‐EPID) during the treatment. Method and Materials: The geometric status of the EPDI, including the sag, tilt, and offsets for various gantry angles were established, and the necessary corrections were incorporated in the later calculation of the leaf end positions. CBCT was performed on a pelvic phantom and a typical IMRT prostate plan was delivered to the phantom; EPIDimages at 6.7 frames per second were acquired for each field. In‐house software was developed to (1) identify the different segmental images captured for each field, (2) calculate from the segmental image the leaf end positions using a maximum gradient algorithm, (3) couple the fractional monitor unit data intercepted from the MLC workstation with each corresponding segment and (4) re‐constitute the LS file. The EPID‐measured LS files were loaded back to the treatment planning system to derive the delivered fluence maps for CBCT dose reconstruction. The dose distributions from the two dose reconstructions on the CBCT using the delivered and planned fluence maps, respectively, were compared. Results: A dose reconstruction procedure based on CBCT and EPID‐measured LS files has been established. The dose distributions based on the delivered and planned fluence maps were slightly different in the high dose region; the maximum dose from the former distribution was 2.5% lower than that from the latter. Conclusion: The developed methodology allows us to reconstructIMRT delivered dose based on (1) the CBCT that depicts the most updated internal anatomy and (2) delivered fluence maps that include the delivery errors. This affords a valuable platform to implement adaptive therapy in the future.