cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Detection of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis in naturally exposed dairy heifers and associated risk factors.

Abstract An observational prospective study was conducted to identify risk factors associated with fecal shedding of Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (MAP) in naturally exposed dairy heifers. The study population consisted of heifers from 8 dairy herds in Michigan participating in a MAP control demonstration project. Ten heifers from 4 age groups (0 to 3, 4 to 6, 7 to 14, and 15 to 24mo) were selected from each herd every 4mo for 28mo and tested for the presence of MAP by fecal culture (FC). Heifers from dams testing positive for MAP by serum ELISA or FC were preferentially selected, with the remainder of the age cohort filled with randomly selected heifers. Logistic regression using generalized estimating equations to account for clustering of data within herds and repeated measures across heifers was used to evaluate the relationship between MAP FC status of heifers and herd risk factors. In total, 1,842 fecal samples were collected from 1,202 heifers. Thirty-six (2%) fecal samples, representing 27 individual heifers, cultured positive for MAP. Heifers shedding MAP were more likely to occur in herds with adult-cow MAP ELISA prevalence >10% (odds ratio=4.7; 95% confidence interval: 2.0–11.1) and herds milking >300 cows (odds ratio=5.7; 95% confidence interval: 2.4–13.4). Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis can be cultured from the feces of naturally infected dairy heifers. The future performance of these MAP FC-positive heifers is unknown and needs to be explored.
Properties of a spermatozoan antifertility factor

Abstract Rabbit and bull seminal plasmas were fractionated by ultracentrifugation and molecular sieving to purify decapacitation factor (DF), a substance which prevents sperm from fertilizing ova. Sedimentation in the ultracentrifuge followed by suspension of the pellet in water was repeated five times starting with rabbit seminal plasma. DF activity remained entirely in the sedimented pellet. Application of the same sedimentation and washing procedures to bull seminal plasma yielded directly opposite results. Although both the initial pellet and supernatant solution showed DF activity, by the fourth water wash the sedimented pellet was inactive at the selected test level. DF activity was present in all the supernatant solutions tested. Gel filtration with Bio-gel P-2 indicated a molecular weight definitely below 2000 and estimated to be on the order of 500 for DF from the bull. Although DF preparations from both species decapacitate rabbit sperm, rabbit DF activity is associated with very much higher molecular weight material in rabbit seminal plasma.
Effects of free-stream turbulence on diffuser performance

An experimental evaluation of the effects of free stream turbulence on the performance of a subsonic two dimensional diffuser was made. The diffuser's static pressure recovery coefficient was increased 11.4 and 21.1 percent at total. Divergence angles of 12 and 20 degrees respectively were obtained when the value of the inlet integral free stream scale of turbulence in the flow direction was at least 7.5 times larger than the inlet boundary layer displacement thickness, and when the inlet total free stream turbulence intensity was at least 3.5 percent. It is hypothesized that a larger scale of turbulence transmits the free stream energy to the wall more effectively and when coupled with large turbulence intensities, acts to decrease the distortion and delay separation within the diffuser.
Seasonal oscillations in water exchange between aquifers and the coastal ocean

Ground water of both terrestrial and marine origin flows into coastal surface waters as submarine groundwater discharge, and constitutes an important source of nutrients, contaminants and trace elements to the coastal ocean1,2,3,4,5. Large saline discharges have been observed by direct measurements3,6,7,8,9,10 and inferred from geochemical tracers11,12,13, but sufficient seawater inflow has not been observed to balance this outflow. Geochemical tracers also suggest a time lag between changes in submarine groundwater discharge rates12,14 and the seasonal oscillations of inland recharge that drive groundwater flow towards the coast. Here we use measurements of hydraulic gradients and offshore fluxes taken at Waquoit Bay, Massachusetts, together with a modelling study of a generalized coastal groundwater system to show that a shift in the freshwater–saltwater interface—controlled by seasonal changes in water table elevation—can explain large saline discharges that lag inland recharge cycles. We find that sea water is drawn into aquifers as the freshwater–saltwater interface moves landward during winter, and discharges back into coastal waters as the interface moves seaward in summer. Our results demonstrate the connection between the seasonal hydrologic cycle inland and the saline groundwater system in coastal aquifers, and suggest a potentially important seasonality in the chemical loading of coastal waters.
Levels of microbial contamination on surgical instruments.

Objective: To ascertain the microbial load and type of organisms on used surgical instruments following standard cleaning, which consisted of the use of a washer sterilizer followed by sonic cleaning. Design: In this prospective experimental study, used surgical instruments were immersed in Peptamin Tween broth, the broth agitated, and then filtered through a 0.45 μm filter. Quantitative cultures were performed, and all microbes were identified by using standard techniques. Setting: This study was conducted at a 660-bed university hospital. Results: The microbial load remaining on used surgical instruments after cleaning was as follows: 36 (72%) instruments 0 to 10 colony-forming units (CFU), 7 (14%) instruments 11 to 100 CFU, and 7 (14%) instruments > 100 CFU. Organisms contaminating the instruments included coagulase-negative staphylococcus (56%) followed by Bacillus (22%) and diphtheroids (14%). No other microbes were isolated from more than 4% of the instruments. Conclusion: Most used nonlumen surgical instruments contain less than 100 CFU of relatively nonpathogenic microorganisms after cleaning. This suggests that new lowtemperature sterilization technologies are likely to be highly effective in preventing cross-transmission of infection via nonlumen medical instruments.
Surface wave elimination by interferometry with nonlinear local filter

We present a technique to eliminate the surface waves by an interferometry+nonlinear local filter (NLF). This technique consists of 3 steps: i) remove the surface waves by the NLF; ii) predict the residual surface waves and primaries by the interferometric method; iii) predict the surface waves by the NLF and remove the residual surface waves by a matched filter. Field data tests, for both 2D and 3D surveys, show that this technique effectively mitigates surface waves and preserves much of the reflection information.
Supramolecular Networks of Octahydroxy Porphyrins

Abstract Multifunctionalized octahydroxy porphyrins, 5,10,15,20-tetrakis-(2′,6′-dihydroxyphenyl)-porphyrin, H2T(2′,6′-DHP)P, and 5,10,15,20-tetrakis-(3′,5′-dihydroxyphenyl)porphyrin, H2T(3′,5′-DHP)P, have been developed as solid state building blocks for the self-assembly of hydrogen bonded supramolecular networks. A series of solid state X-ray structures of these porphyrins with various solvates show strong inter-porphyrin interactions through their peripheral hydroxyl substituents by means of directional hydrogen bonding. The position of the hydroxyl groups and the nature of the lattice guest (i.e., solvate) have dramatic influences on the molecular packing and the porosity of the structures. In particular, with ethyl acetate as solvate, the crystal structure of H2T(3′,5′-DHP)P exhibits a one dimensional columnar network, whereas H2T(2′,6′-DHP)P shows essentially a two dimensional, hydrogen-bonded, layered structure. With benzonitrile as solvate, the structure of H2T(3′,5′-DHP)P changes substantially to...
Constraints on establishing threshold levels for Warner–Bratzler shear-force values based on consumer sensory ratings for seven beef muscles

Steaks (n = 560) from US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Choice and Select, including M. gluteobiceps, M. gluteus medius, M. infraspinatus, M. longissimus lumborum, M. rectus femoris, M. triceps brachii and M. vastus lateralis, were evaluated for palatability characteristics and tenderness acceptability by a central-location consumer panel (n = 205 consumers) and Warner–Bratzler shear (WBS) analysis to determine whether threshold values could be identified for these muscles. There were significant interactions for muscle × USDA quality grade for sensory-panel overall like and WBS values. In general, USDA quality grade affected overall like and WBS values for the M. gluteobiceps and M. rectus femoris, but no real differences due to grade were found for the rest of the muscles studied, except for the WBS values for the M. gluteus medius. Regardless of USDA quality grade, the M. infraspinatus had the lowest (P 0.05) in overall like ratings to the M. longissimus lumborum. Percentage of muscles that would be expected to have a tenderness rating ‘slightly tender’ or higher on the basis of WBS values at the 95% confidence interval ranged from 40% for the M. vastus lateralis to 100% for the M. infraspinatus. There were no clear threshold levels for WBS values that would correspond to certain tenderness like ratings, possibly because of the narrow range of tenderness observed within each muscle. For the muscles studied, how consumers rated them appeared to be independent of the WBS values and may make it difficult to develop WBS thresholds for predicting consumer acceptability of these muscles.
The missing “fifth column”: the effects of North Caucasus resettlement and deportations in the late 1800s on North Caucasians’ participation in the First World War

At the outbreak of the First World War, Sultan Mehmet V of the Ottoman Empire issued two fatwas at Germany’s behest, calling for all Muslims to unite in global jihad against their Christian oppressors. Yet despite Russia’s designation as an “arch-enemy” after a series of wars spanning centuries, the Ottoman Sultan excused the Chechens, Dagestanis, and Circassians from conducting jihad against Russia. This was an extraordinary omission, especially given Ottoman concerns about a “Russian fifth column” (the Ottoman Armenians), and the general effectiveness of religion as a unifying and mobilizing mechanism in this era. Why did the Ottomans not attempt to foment the very same kind of unrest in Russia that they feared from Armenians in Anatolia? This article addresses the historical mystery of the “missing Ottoman fatwa” against the Russians, through exploration of the preceding 50 years of conflict in the Caucasus and the over-arching context of Russo-Ottoman military rivalry and war. The article argues that ...
Evaluation of Microwave Drying for Pharmaceutical Granulations

AbstractThe experiments were designed to compare the granule characteristics following the microwave drying and conventional tray drying. The formulations were designed to study the effect of microwave radiation under different conditions. This later criterion was studied by using granules prepared with different granulating fluids. The granules were prepared by using sulfathiazole as a model drug, lactose as a diluent, and starch as a disintegrating agent. The granulating fluids were 5% solution of PVP in 100% water, 50% water 50% ethanol, and 100% ethanol, respectively. The granules were dried in a microwave oven and in a conventional tray oven at 40±2° C. The loose and bulk densities were measured in a 100 ml glass cylinder. The granule morphology was examined using a scanning electron microscope. Dissolution rates of the granules were monitored using a rotating paddle dissolution apparatus. The loose and tapped bulk densities, the percentage compressibility, hardness, and the time required for 100% di...
System-level performance estimation of an optoelectronic Viterbi decoder

The Optoelectronic Viterbi Decoder (OVD) in [1] is proposed to alleviate the interconnect bottleneck prevalent in high speed, fully parallel, multi-chip Viterbi decoders used in digital communication systems to decode long constraint length convolutional codes. The OVD utilizes a reflective optical system comprised of a macro-lens array and a mirror to globally interconnect VCSEL/MSM PD based smart pixel arrays distributed across multiple OEIC’s on a PCB or MCM. Smart pixels that possess identical functionality are clustered on the chips and interconnected with VLSI interconnects. This hybrid approach of optical/electrical interconnects overcomes the interconnect density and speed limitations of traditional VLSI approaches to long constraint length decoding and provides high decoder throughput and trace-back speed by maintaining on-chip speeds between chips. This paper presents a model for the OEIC’s of the OVD, and estimates decoder speed by utilizing interconnect prediction [2] and stochastic cycle time models [3].
Heat capacity of pancake vortices in layered superconductors

The heat capacity of a lattice of pancake vortices in a layered superconductor with perpendicular magnetic field {ital B} is evaluated in the limit {ital H}{sub {ital c}1}{lt}{ital B}{lt}{ital H}{sub {ital c}2}. The coupled dynamical equations for small oscillations of the vortex lattice are solved for general values of the vortex mass {ital m}{sub {ital v}}, the Magnus force parameter {alpha}, and the viscosity {eta}{ital s}, where {ital s} is the interlayer separation, and the contribution of each normal mode is expressed as a Fourier integral involving the correlation functions of the fluctuating random forces. The total heat capacity per vortex is found numerically for various values of the dimensionless ratio {alpha}/{eta}{ital s} that characterizes the relative importance of the Magnus force and the viscous drag force. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}
A procedure to calculate torsion¶of elliptic curves over ℚ

We present an algorithm which uses the analytic parameterization of elliptic curves to rapidly calculate torsion subgroups, and calculate its running time. This algorithm is much faster than the “traditional” Lutz-Nagell algorithm used by most computer algebra systems to calculate torsion subgroups.
Vernalization in Arabidopsis thaliana is mediated by the PHD finger protein VIN3

In biennials and winter annuals, flowering is typically blocked in the first growing season. Exposure to the prolonged cold of winter, through a process called vernalization, is required to alleviate this block and permit flowering in the second growing season. In winter-annual types of Arabidopsis thaliana, a flowering repressor, FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC), is expressed at levels that inhibit flowering in the first growing season. Vernalization promotes flowering by causing a repression of FLC that is mitotically stable after return to warm growing conditions. Here we identify a gene with a function in the measurement of the duration of cold exposure and in the establishment of the vernalized state. We show that this silencing involves changes in the modification of histones in FLC chromatin.
Safe and rapid disposition of low-to-intermediate risk patients presenting to the emergency department with chest pain: A 1-year high-volume single-center experience

Abstract Background Coronary CT angiography (CTA) is a powerful tool for the evaluation of chest pain in the emergency department (ED). Some debate persists regarding its cost-effectiveness in a low-to-intermediate risk population. Objective This study sought to evaluate the safety and cost-effectiveness of coronary CTA for low-to-intermediate risk patients presenting to the ED with chest pain in a closed-loop referral system. Methods Chest pain patients were evaluated in the ED via a local rapid coronary CTA protocol and tracked prospectively for ED throughput, disposition, chest pain recidivism, and cost utilization as compared with an age-matched cohort evaluated for chest pain treated with usual care. Results One hundred eighty-three patients underwent the rapid coronary CTA protocol compared with an age-matched cohort of 184 patients treated with usual care. The median follow-up period for major adverse cardiovascular events in the coronary CTA group was 9.0 months (range, 1.8–14.5 months) and 11.1 months (range, 0–14.0 months) for the age-matched cohort. The median ED length of stay (LOS) was 5.8 hours (range, 2.6–12.3 hours) for the rapid coronary CTA cohort and 12.2 hours (range, 1.7–40.3 hours) for the age-matched cohort ( P P P P Conclusions Coronary CTA for ED risk stratification and disposition within a closed referral system resulted in the shortest ED LOS published to date while being safe and cost-effective.
The Relationship of Goal Setting to Organizational Profitability

A survey was conducted of organizations as to the extent of use of goal-setting theory and applications, and it was investigated whether organizations that used goal setting were more profitable than those that did not. A positive relationship was found between the use of goal setting and profitability. Thus the results provide some initial evidence for the possible impact of goal setting on organizational-level measures of performance. Industry type and organizational size appeared to have little influence on the use of goal setting; however, the relationship between the use of goal setting and profitability did vary somewhat by industry classification.
Long-term chronic recording from cortical neurons.

Abstract Chronic microelectrodes were implanted in the hand-arm area of the precentral motor cortex of monkeys to obtain long-term recordings from individual neurons. Eleven of the 12 implanted electrodes provided single unit activity during some period of the 223 days of recording in one animal. In another monkey all 12 electrodes provided single unit data during some period of the 141 days of implantation. The same single unit could be recorded for periods of 1 to 29 days.
Effects of paraventricular lesions on sex behavior and seminal emission in male rats

Oxytocinergic neurons of the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus have been implicated in modulating male sexual responses in rats. Previous investigators have shown that cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of oxytocin (OT) increased after ejaculation and that intraventricular administration of OT and electrolytic lesions of the PVN increased temporal measures of male sexual behavior. Recently, we have demonstrated that OT-immunoreactive neurons in the parvocellular subnuclei of the PVN project to lower levels of spinal cord. In the present study, N-methyl-D-aspartic acid lesions, which have been shown to destroy parvocellular PVN neurons while leaving magnocellular neurons intact, were used to evaluate the role of parvocellular neurons on male copulatory behavior and seminal emissions. OT-immunoreactive fibers were reduced in the lower lumbar spinal cord (L5-L6) following N-methyl-D-aspartic acid lesions in the PVN. This reduction was associated with a significant decrease in seminal emission at the time of ejaculation, but mount, intromission and ejaculatory latencies were unaffected.
Policy Substance and Performance in American Lawmaking, 1877–1994

This article reconsiders the importance of including policy issue content and legislative significance in our study of lawmaking. Specifically, it demonstrates theoretically why lawmaking might vary by policy substance and empirically shows how incorrect conclusions would be drawn if lawmaking is studied by pooling enactments instead of disaggregating laws by policy issue content. It accomplishes this by bringing new tools, including a policy classification system and a way to measure the significance of public laws, to help overcome an array of measurement-related problems that have stymied our ability to better understand lawmaking. The policy coding schema introduced is applied, by careful individual human coding, to every public law enacted between 1877 and 1994 (n = 37,767). The policy issue and significance data are used to construct a number of new measures of legislative performance and are useful to test hypotheses within studies of Congress and American Political Development.
GALACTOSE ALIMENTATION IN THE PUP OF A DIABETIC MOTHER

Galactose(GAL) may regulate neonatal carbohydrate assimilation and may not stimulate insulin(INS) secretion. GAL may therefore stabilize glucose(GLU) metabolism in the IDM. Pups born to INS dependent diabetic dogs or controls were fed 0.6g/kg of GAL or GLU (N=5). During fasting IDM pups had equivalent blood GLU levels and systemic GLU appearance rates(Ra), but had elevated INS (7.4±0.3 vs 2.5±0.3 uU/ml, p=0.01) compared to control pups. After GAL feeding to IDM pups, blood GAL increased and peaked to 1 mM at 30 min. The glycemic response in IDM pups was similar after GLU or GAL feeding. Plasma INS increased minimally in the IDM pup after GAL feedings. In contrast, INS increased 2.5 fold after GLU. Ra of GLU in IDM pups after GAL feeding peaked at 30 min. and was lower than after enteric GLU at 30 min. (81.9±6.2 vs 106.2±8.6 μmol/kg/min, p=0.01). Ra after enteric GLU peaked at 60 min. and again was higher (118.2±10.5 vs 67.7±6.7, p=0.01). Hepatic glycogen content increased in the IDM fed GAL compared to fasted controls (634±27 vs 485±27 μmol/g, p=0.01) while GLU feeding had little effect. GAL and GLU feeding had no effect on glycogen synthase activity but the active component of phosphorylase decreased in both IDM groups compared to fasted controls. In summary, enteric GAL alimentation in IDM dogs results in lower INS levels with comparable glycemic responses compared to GLU feeding, attenuates Ra and enhances net glycogen content. In the presence of fasting hyperinsulinemia, GAL alimentation may stabilize GLU metabolism without excessive INS secretion.
Dark matter, infinite statistics, and quantum gravity

We elaborate on our proposal regarding a connection between global physics and local galactic dynamics via quantum gravity. This proposal calls for the concept of MONDian dark matter which behaves like cold dark matter at cluster and cosmological scales but emulates modified Newtonian dynamics (MOND) at the galactic scale. In the present paper, we first point out a surprising connection between the MONDian dark matter and an effective gravitational Born-Infeld theory. We then argue that these unconventional quanta of MONDian dark matter must obey infinite statistics, and the theory must be fundamentally non-local. Finally, we provide a possible top-down approach to our proposal from the Matrix theory point of view.
Bacteria isolated from late prosthetic joint infections: Dental treatment and chemoprophylaxis☆☆☆

The recommended administration of prophylactic antibiotics, before and during dental procedures, to persons with total joint prostheses is not without controversy. Hospital and dental charts of 2,693 patients in whom total prosthetic joints were placed at the Veterans Administration Hospitals of Ann Arbor and Allen Park, Michigan, as well as the University of Michigan Hospital, were analyzed. The identity of the micro-organism associated with the late (6 months after placement) infected prosthetic joint and the sensitivity of the organisms to specific antibiotics were recorded. Of the 30 (1.1%) late prosthetic joint infections, only one (0.04%) could be temporally associated with dental treatment. Fifty-three percent of the isolates were gram-positive staphylococci, the most common isolate being Staphylococcus epidermidis (36%). Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most frequent gram-negative isolate cultured. Twenty-five of 34 isolates tested were resistant to penicillin, while only 3 of 36 isolates tested were resistant to a cephalosporin and 5 of 21 isolates tested were resistant to methicillin.
Bias-corrected Q-learning to control max-operator bias in Q-learning

We identify a class of stochastic control problems with highly random rewards and high discount factor which induce high levels of statistical error in the estimated action-value function. This produces significant levels of max-operator bias in Q-learning, which can induce the algorithm to diverge for millions of iterations. We present a bias-corrected Q-learning algorithm with asymptotically unbiased resistance against the max-operator bias, and show that the algorithm asymptotically converges to the optimal policy, as Q-learning does. We show experimentally that bias-corrected Q-learning performs well in a domain with highly random rewards where Q-learning and other related algorithms suffer from the max-operator bias.
Self-interaction correction to the local density Hartree-Fock atomic calculations of excited and ground states

The application of the self-interaction correction to the local density Hartree-Fock calculations of atomic levels is discussed. For fixed-basis-set calculations a unified Hamiltonian is derived so that diagonalisation of the matrix of this operator gives both the occupied and excited levels. The formulation has advantages over the earlier ones where an orbital-dependent Hamiltonian must be solved separately for each state. Excited-state energies for eight light elements have been calculated by using this unified Hamiltonian approach and the results are in excellent agreement with experiment.
End-of-life and regulatory issues for flame retardant plastics used in electrical and electronic equipment applications

Various brominated and phosphorus flame retardants are used in many electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) applications. The use of flame retardants in these applications delays the spread of fires or delays the time of flashover, hence saving lives and property. An estimated 190 lives are saved annually through the use of flame retardants in television cabinets in the US. With the use of flame retardants come questions related to risk in use and end-of-life options for plastics containing these materials. European Risk Assessment for several flame retardants is now in progress. Research has been ongoing to study various end-of-life options, such as recycle, feedstock recovery, and waste-to-energy recovery (incineration). This paper is a continuation of previous papers that address issues related to end-of-life, risk in use, and benefits of plastics containing flame retardants. An update of the current results of the European Risk Assessments is included Results of recent research aimed at determining the recyclability of plastics containing flame retardants under a variety of conditions are included The conclusions of these evaluations show the benefits in terms of fire safety and end-of-life options for EEE containing flame retardant resins.
Systematic profiling of cellular phenotypes with spotted cell microarrays reveals mating-pheromone response genes

We have developed spotted cell microarrays for measuring cellular phenotypes on a large scale. Collections of cells are printed, stained for subcellular features, then imaged via automated, high-throughput microscopy, allowing systematic phenotypic characterization. We used this technology to identify genes involved in the response of yeast to mating pheromone. Besides morphology assays, cell microarrays should be valuable for high-throughput in situ hybridization and immunoassays, enabling new classes of genetic assays based on cell imaging.
Coronary flow in sinus grafts.

I read with interest the article of De Paulis et al. “Coronary flow characteristics after a Bentall procedure with or without sinuses of Valsalva” in the July 2004 issue of the European Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery [1], which examines the effects of the pseudosinuses of a ‘new conduit’ with pseudosinuses (Gelweave Valsalvae, Terumo Vascutek, Renfrewshire, Scotland, UK) upon coronary blood flow. While our observations on the subject of how the bulb geometry may modify coronary flow are comparable with those of the authors, i.e. the effect is minimal, if
A constructive method for data path area estimation during high-level VLSI synthesis

In this paper we present a fast and computationally efficient deterministic method for estimating the area of a register transfer level datapath obtained during high level VLSI synthesis. The estimation makes use of a RT level netlist along with a pre-synthesized library of RT level components. The layout area is estimated using a quadratic programming based framework to get a quick module allocation and generating a topological floorplan which is then followed by heuristic algorithms for mapping RTL modules and their interconnections on a standard cell based layout design style. Experiments on a suite of benchmark examples show promising results with reliable accuracy.
Unique electrochemically synthesized polypyrrole:poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) blends for biomedical applications

A novel semiconducting biomaterial composed of salt leached poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and chloride-doped polypyrrole (PPy–Cl) was created using a simple, yet flexible, synthesis technique. The three-step method consists of (1) spin casting a solution of PLGA-salt, (2) salt leaching combined with pyrrole infusion, and (3) electrochemical synthesis of PPy–Cl. This technique resulted in unique micron- and nano-scale surface morphology that can be modulated by altering the synthesis conditions and endows the films with electrical properties beneficial for microelectrode applications. Specifically, for all conditions that created a subsequent PPy:PLGA film, advantageous electrical properties were quantified by a decrease in impedance and good conductance, as compared to negative controls. This decrease in impedance measured up to 87 percent versus plain PPy films. Since the biocompatibility of both PPy and PLGA is well known, the PPy:PLGA blends may have several biomedical engineering applications, where good conductance and low impedance are desired. Also, the films generated can be easily removed from their conducting substrate for tissue engineering applications or can remain on their conducting substrates for neural probe applications that would benefit from the unique surface morphology of these hybrid films.
Interleukin-la Reduces the Severity of the Vascular Leak Syndrome Produced by Interleukin-2 and Interleukin-2 Plus Interferon-a:

Histological and ultrastructural changes were investigated in lung, liver, and heart of mice given interleukin-2 (IL-2), either alone or in combination with other cytokines. IL-2 induced a vascular leak syndrome (VLS) of a moderate degree with infiltration of lymphoid cells, moderate endothelial damage, mild hepatic parenchymal damage, and minimal myocardial alterations. Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) produced infiltration mainly of monocytes/macrophages in liver and heart; endothelial cell damage was absent in lung and heart and minimal in liver. Interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) caused an increased number of neutrophils in liver and lung; VLS and parenchymal cell and endothelial damage were not found. The VLS and the cellular damage caused by the combination of IL-2 and IFN were much more severe than those produced by IL-2 alone. In animals treated with IL-2, IFN-alpha, and IL-1 alpha, VLS was minimal and parenchymal and endothelial cell damage were less severe than after IL-2 alone or IL-2 plus IFN-alpha. Taken together, these observations show that IL-1 alpha reduces ultrastructural changes produced by IL-2 and IFN-alpha. This reduction may be clinically useful in the treatment of neoplasms.
Fiber-optic delay lines for microwave signal processing

Glass fibers can be made with attenuation coefficients as low as 0.4 dB/µs for electromagnetic energy in the 1-µm wavelength region. It is shown that this property, together with the potentially very large bandwidths attainable, could provide for delay lines with time-bandwidth products as high as 105. The status and limitations of optical fibers are assessed from the delay line viewpoint, and their application to matched filters indicated.
Temperature-Dependent Development of the Specialist Predator Laricobius nigrinus (Coleoptera: Derodontidae)

The effect of temperature on the duration of egg, larval, prepupal, and pupal development of the predator Laricobius nigrinus Fender was studied at six constant temperatures (6, 9, 12, 15, 18, and 21°C) where Adelges tsugae Annand was used as prey. Developmental time was inversely proportional to temperature between 6 and 18°C. Laricobius nigrinus did not complete development at 21°C. Significant positive linear relationships were observed between developmental rate and temperature for all life stages. Minimum developmental threshold temperatures were estimated at 5.4°C for eggs, 3.2°C for larvae, 2.9°C for prepupae, and 3.1°C for pupae. Median development times for eggs, larvae, prepupae, and pupae were 59.5, 208.3, 217.4, and 212.8 degree-days (DD) above minimum developmental temperatures, respectively. Development from oviposition to adult eclosion required a minimum temperature of 3.7°C and 666.7 DD. A degree-day model, developed in the laboratory for predicting egg hatch, predicted a degree-day value that was within 4 d of the median egg hatch observed at two field sites in 2000. This regression model is a useful predictor of egg hatch in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. In addition, the lower development threshold from egg to adult for L. nigrinus (3.7°C) is similar to that for the A. tsugae progrediens (spring) generation from second instar to adult (3.9°C), indicating that L. nigrinus and A. tsugae are adapted to similar climatic regimes.
Photocurrent spectroscopy for quantum-well intermixed photonic integrated circuit design

Photocurrent spectroscopy is used to characterize band edges in quantum-well intermixed InGaAsP material lattice matched to InP. The band edge absorption data is used as a design tool to predict the dc performance of electroabsorption modulators, and is shown to agree well with data obtained from actual devices. In addition, we demonstrate the presence of an exciton peak in InGaAsP quantum wells, and present its evolution as a function of quantum-well intermixing and reverse bias voltage.
Solution-phase structural characterization of supramolecular assemblies by molecular diffraction

Structures of four molecular squares based on rhenium coordination chemistry have been characterized in the solution phase using pair distribution function (PDF) analyses of wide-angle X-ray scattering measured to better than 1 A spatial resolution. In this report we have focused, in particular, on a comparison of structures for pyrazine- and bipyridine-edged squares measured in solution with structures determined for these molecules in the solid state using X-ray crystallography and models derived from geometry optimization and molecular dynamics simulations using a classical force field. The wide-angle scattering for these assemblies is dominated by pair correlations involving one or more rhenium atoms, with both edge and diagonal Re−Re interactions appearing prominently in PDF plots. The pyrazine square is characterized by a relatively rigid structure in solution, with PDF peak positions and linewidths corresponding closely to those calculated from crystal structure data. For the bipyridine-edged squar...
A hybrid life cycle assessment of the vehicle-to-grid application in light duty commercial fleet

The vehicle-to-grid system is an approach utilizing the idle battery capacity of electric vehicles while they are parked to provide supplementary energy to the power grid. As electrification continues in light duty vehicle fleets, the application of vehicle-to-grid systems for commercial delivery truck fleets can provide extra revenue for fleet owners, and also has significant potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the electricity generation sector. In this study, an economic input–output based hybrid life cycle assessment is conducted to analyze the potential greenhouse gas emissions emission savings from the use of the vehicle-to-grid system, as well as the possible emission impacts caused by battery degradation. A Monte Carlo simulation was performed to address the uncertainties that lie in the electricity exchange amount of the vehicle-to-grid service as well as the battery life of the electric vehicles. The results of this study showed that extended range electric vehicles and battery electric vehicles are both viable regulation service providers for saving greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation if the battery wear-out from regulation services is assumed to be minimal, but the vehicle-to-grid system becomes less attractive at higher battery degradation levels.
Impaired Th2 Development and Increased Mortality During Schistosoma mansoni Infection in the Absence of CD40/CD154 Interaction

The role of CD40/CD154 interaction during infection has primarily focused on pathogens that drive inflammatory Th1 responses. In this study, we show that CD40/CD154 interaction is a fundamental requirement for Th2 response development to the parasitic helminth Schistosoma mansoni. Compared with infected wild-type mice, greatly reduced levels of Th2-associated cytokines were measured both in vitro and in vivo, and no IgE or IgG1 was detected in infected CD154(-/-) mice. In the absence of an overt Th2 response, no exaggerated Th1 response was mounted by CD154(-/-) mice. Infected CD154(-/-) mice suffered severe morbidity and mortality, even though parasitemias in wild-type and CD154(-/-) mice did not differ significantly. These data indicate that CD40/CD154 interaction is required to allow development of a Th2-dominated immune response to S. mansoni and support the view that failure to develop such a response can have fatal consequences.
Characterization of solid solutions composed of oxides of Cu, Zn, and Cr for methanol synthesis

Solid solutions of Cu2O alone and Cu2O with ZnO or Cr2O3 in ZnO · Cr2O3 as well as solid solutions of ZnO in Cu2O · Cr2O3 have activities and selectivities for methanol synthesis comparable to solid solutions of Cu2O in ZnO. Addition of a secondary phase to these solid solutions limits the grain growth and produces higher surface areas.
Doxycycline Prophylaxis for Human Scrub Typhus

The use of doxycycline, as a prophylactic antibiotic against scrub typhus was investigated in a prospective, randomized, double-blind study. Twenty volunteers were divided into two similar groups. Beginning three days before exposure to Leptotrombidium fletcheri chiggers infected with Rickettsia tsutsugamushi, and continuing for six weeks after exposure, one group received weekly 200-mg oral doses of doxycycline and the other group received a placebo. Nine of 10 doxycycline-treated subjects remained well during prophylaxis but developed antibody to scrub typhus, whereas nine of 10 subjects given the placebo required treatment for scrub typhus. Therefore, the efficacy of the regimen in preventing scrub typhus was 89% (eight cases prevented of nine expected). Ten days after successfully completing prophylaxis, eight of nine subjects reported minor self-limiting symptoms. A single dose of doxycycline was given on day 3 of illness to volunteers who developed scrub typhus. Such therapy was initially effective but was frequently followed by relapse and cannot be recommended.
Studies on the Chemistry of Anaphylaxis (III). Experiments with Isolated Proteins, Especially those of the Hen's Egg

In the early history of immunology the few preliminary attempts to secure precipitins differentiating different proteins coming from the same animal were so generally unsuccessful that, in spite of some more or less positive results, the opinion became general that the specificity of proteins depends upon certain groups or radicals which are characteristic of the origin of the protein, and perhaps not associated with demonstrable chemical differences. With
An assessment of venues providing public access to ICT: a tale of 25 countries.

This paper is based on a comparative study of venues that provide public access to information and communication technologies in 25 countries. We study how diverse people can and do access and use ICT and what factors influence availability at these venues. Our aim, through such an analysis is first to map what is available through the public access venues in these countries and second to arrive at policy recommendations to increase public access in these countries.
A Child with Hypohidrotic Ectodermal Dysplasia with Features of a Collodion Membrane

Abstract: Collodion membrane is a presenting phenotype common to several disorders, predominantly congenital ichthyoses. Seventy percent of infants born with hypohidrotic (anhidrotic) ectodermal dysplasia are noted by their parents to have significant scaling and peeling. Although dry skin is a frequently reported sign in children with hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia, only one French study has reported a true collodion membrane at birth. We suspect that scaling with features of collodion membrane is more common in infants than is reflected in the literature, and we describe another such infant, later diagnosed with hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia.
Sex, health, and years of sexually active life gained due to good health: evidence from two US population based cross sectional surveys of ageing

Objectives To examine the relation between health and several dimensions of sexuality and to estimate years of sexually active life across sex and health groups in middle aged and older adults. Design Cross sectional study. Setting Two samples representative of the US population: MIDUS (the national survey of midlife development in the United States, 1995-6) and NSHAP (the national social life, health and ageing project, 2005-6). Participants 3032 adults aged 25 to 74 (1561 women, 1471 men) from the midlife cohort (MIDUS) and 3005 adults aged 57 to 85 (1550 women, 1455 men) from the later life cohort (NSHAP). Main outcome measures Sexual activity, quality of sexual life, interest in sex, and average remaining years of sexually active life, referred to as sexually active life expectancy. Results Overall, men were more likely than women to be sexually active, report a good quality sex life, and be interested in sex. These gender differences increased with age and were greatest among the 75 to 85 year old group: 38.9% of men compared with 16.8% of women were sexually active, 70.8% versus 50.9% of those who were sexually active had a good quality sex life, and 41.2% versus 11.4% were interested in sex. Men and women reporting very good or excellent health were more likely to be sexually active compared with their peers in poor or fair health: age adjusted odds ratio 2.2 (P Conclusion Sexual activity, good quality sexual life, and interest in sex were higher for men than for women and this gender gap widened with age. Sexual activity, quality of sexual life, and interest in sex were positively associated with health in middle age and later life. Sexually active life expectancy was longer for men, but men lost more years of sexually active life as a result of poor health than women.
Central CGRP inhibits pancreatic enzyme secretion by modulation of vagal parasympathetic outflow.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a potent inhibitor of pancreatic enzyme secretion in vivo. Recent studies have shown that CGRP exerts its inhibitory action at a central vagal site. The pr...
The underlying mechanisms of semantic memory loss in Alzheimer's disease and semantic dementia

Patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and patients with semantic dementia (SD) both exhibit deficits on explicit tasks of semantic memory such as picture naming and category fluency. These deficits have been attributed to a degradation of the stored semantic network. An alternative explanation attributes the semantic deficit in AD to an impaired ability to consciously retrieve items from the semantic network. The present study used an implicit lexical-decision priming task to examine the integrity of the underlying semantic network in AD and SD patients matched for degree of impairment on explicit semantic memory tasks. The AD (n=11) and SD (n=11) patient groups were matched for age, education, level of dementia and impairment on four explicit semantic memory tasks. Healthy elderly participants (n=22) were matched for age and education. Semantic priming effects were evaluated for three types of semantic relationships (attributes, category coordinates, and category superordinates) and compared to lexical associative priming. Healthy controls showed significant priming across all conditions. In contrast, AD patients showed normal superordinate priming, and significant (although somewhat reduced) coordinate priming, but no attribute priming. SD patients showed no priming effect for any semantic relationship. All groups showed significant associative priming. The results indicate that SD patients do indeed have substantial degradation of semantic memory, while AD patients have a partially intact network, accounting for priming in superordinate and coordinate conditions. These findings suggest that AD patients' impairment on explicit semantic tasks is the product of deficient explicit retrieval in combination with a partially degraded semantic network.
Interindustry Wage Differentials and the Gender Wage Gap

Using data from the March 1988 Current Population Survey, the authors find that the wages of female workers differ significantly by industry, even when the analysis controls for workers' productivity-related characteristics. Although these interindustry wage differentials are at least as large as men's and are highly correlated with them as well, there are statistically significant differences between the two. Of the overall gender wage gap (the average female worker earns about 65% as much as the average male worker), 12–22% can be explained by differences between the patterns of interindustry wage differentials of men and women and 15–19% by differences in the distribution of male and female workers across industries. Thus, the combined industry effects explain about one-third of the overall gender wage gap.
The construction and comparison of psychiatric diagnostic stereotypes

How well do psychiatrists agree on the stereotypes of mental disorders? This question has importance for the general problem of agreement on diagnoses—if experts do not agree on the characteristics of a category, then there is little likelihood of agreeing upon which patients are to be placed in that category. By the same token, a diagnostic label cannot be useful unless a generally uniform set of characteristics can be inferred to be present. Classification itself accomplishes little, but there is strong feeling that it is fundamental for further work in epidemiology, treatment, and prognosis.
The Academic Influence of Mentoring Upon African American Undergraduate Aspirants to the Professoriate

In this study, I examine academic influences of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation Summer Research Opportunity Program’s mentoring component. Interviews with African American undergraduate student participants of the faculty–student mentoring initiative suggest mentorship’s influence upon the academic experiences of participants and illustrate the importance of faculty-directed research in preparing racial minorities for graduate education.