cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Oscillations and concentration patterns in electrochemical systems

Abstract Oscillations in certain electrochemical systems can be explained by the coupling between chemical reactions and transport processes in multicomponent systems. Dynamic patterns and rhythm can be developed due to the coupling between chemical and surface diffusion. A linear stability analysis is used in order to predict stationary and oscillatory instability zones in thin layer at the electrode—solution interface. The resulting chemical waves can leave traces of geometric patterns on the electrode surface, and can induce mechanical stresses and convection. The geometric patterns are expected to be observed in the form of hexagonal, square or triangular unit cells, arrays of pits, changes in colour, pulsations and simultaneous changes all over the electrode surface.
An electrochemical impedance study of thin polycarbazole films

Abstract A voltammetric and electrochemical impedance study of glassy carbon electrodes galvanostatically coated with approximately 23 nm of polycarbazole (GC/PCZ) was conducted in various concentrations of aqueous H 2 SO 4 and KNO 3 and their mixtures. Cyclic voltammetry showed strong dependencies on both the electrolyte type and concentration, while the impedance characteristics were influenced much less. This was shown to be due to strong ion transport effects in voltammetry which became insignificant in the small amplitude impedance experiments, which were dominated by electron transport though the polycarbazole layer. Thus combination of the two techniques provided a more complete description of the polycarbazole electrochemistry. Both techniques provided evidence of cation insertion which extended the range of electroactivity to lower potentials at high KNO 3 concentrations and when both KNO 3 and H 2 SO 4 were present.
Fluorinated Bis(phenoxyketimine)titanium Complexes for the Living, Isoselective Polymerization of Propylene: Multiblock Isotactic Polypropylene Copolymers via Sequential Monomer Addition

A series of bis(phenoxyketimine)titanium dichloride complexes were synthesized and evaluated as catalysts for living, isoselective propylene polymerization upon activation with methylaluminoxane (MAO). Catalysts bearing phenoxyketimine ligands with different substituents at the ortho and para positions of the phenolate ring and substituents at the ketimine carbon were investigated. The identity of the ketimine substituent had the largest effect on the activity and isoselectivity of propylene polymerization. Complex 12/MAO promoted the living, isoselective polymerization of propylene ([m4] = 0.73, α = 0.94). This catalyst system was used for the synthesis of a number of block copolymers featuring isotactic polypropylene semicrystalline blocks and poly(ethylene-co-propylene) amorphous blocks. Several triblock samples with varying block lengths, a pentablock, and a heptablock copolymer were synthesized. Mechanical testing has revealed that each is elastomeric with elongations at break between ∼790−1000%.
Miscibility of Perfluorododecanoic Acid with Organic Acids at the Air−Water Interface

Field measurements have established that a significant percentage of atmospheric aerosol composition consists of organics. Perfluorinated compounds have been used in industry over the past 50 years, and recently, they have been detected in the atmosphere, environmental waters, the Arctic food chain, tissues of animals, and human blood. In general, fluorinated compounds are better surfactants than their hydrocarbon analogs. In this work, isotherms of perfluorododecanoic acid, stearic acid, and lauric acid were studied using a Langmuir−Blodgett trough. Isotherms of the pure and mixed films at varying concentrations were collected and characterized to determine their stability and miscibility. Our results indicate that perfluorododecanoic acid forms miscible films in mixtures with stearic and lauric acid. The impetus for this research was to better understand the heterogeneous chemistry of mixed films containing perfluorinated compounds. Consequences of these results for the fate of perfluorinated acids in t...
Chronic Health Risks from Aggregate Exposures to Ionizing Radiation and Chemicals: Scientific Basis for an Assessment Framework

Very little quantitative analysis is currently available on the cumulative effects of exposure to multiple hazardous agents that have either similar or different mechanisms of action. Over the past several years, efforts have been made to develop the methodologies for risk assessment of chemical mixtures, but mixed exposures to two or more dissimilar agents such as radiation and one or more chemical agents have not yet been addressed in any substantive way. This article reviews the current understanding of the health risks arising from mixed exposures to ionizing radiation and specific chemicals. Specifically discussed is how mixed radiation/chemical exposures, when evaluated in aggregation, were linked to chronic health endpoints such as cancer and intermediate health outcomes such as chromosomal aberrations. Also considered is the extent to which the current practices are consistent with the scientific understanding of the health risks associated with mixed-agent exposures. From this the discussion moves to the research needs for assessing the cumulative health risks from aggregate exposures to ionizing radiation and chemicals. The evaluation indicates that essentially no guidance has been provided for conducting risk assessment for two agents with different mechanisms of action (i.e., energy deposition from ionizing radiation versus DNA interactions with chemicals) but similar biological endpoints (i.e., chromosomal aberrations, mutations, and cancer). The literature review also reveals the problems caused by the absence of both the basic science and an appropriate evaluation framework for the combined effects of mixed-agent exposures. This makes it difficult to determine whether there is truly no interaction or somehow the interaction is masked by the scale of effect observation or inappropriate dose-response assumptions.
Pulmonary Blood Flow Measurements Following Vena Cava-to-Pulmonary Artery Anastomosis

Abstract The distribution of pulmonary blood flow was investigated in 2 patients 13 and 9 years following vena cava-to-pulmonary artery anastomosis. Angiographic and radioactive flow studies revealed a wide-open vena cava-to-pulmonary artery anastomosis which became larger proportional to the patient's growth. The passage of contrast material through the lung was swift and unimpeded; however, perfusion of the apical portion of the right lung appeared less than satisfactory. There was a complete separation between the systems of the superior and inferior caval veins, and contrast material and radioactive albumin injected into the system of the superior caval vein entered the right lung exclusively. On the basis of these observations, it is our opinion that if vena cava-to-pulmonary artery anastomosis is done with a proper operative indication and a satisfactory surgical technique, one should not expect late development of intercaval collaterals and decrease in the efficiency of the vena cava-to-pulmonary artery shunt.
Measurement and Assessment of Networked Resources and Services in Academic Libraries

The author looks at what has been done at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, to evaluate networked resources and services, and also highlights some of the major publications and projects dealing with assessing these resources and services that are of use to Cal Poly Pomona and should prove to be so to other libraries as well.
Effects of repetition on memory for pragmatic inferences.

Social interaction requires active inferential processing on the part of the listener. Such inferences can affect memory. For example, after hearingthe karate champion hit the cinder block, one might erroneously recollect having heard the verbbroke (Brewer, 1977)—a reasonable inference, but one not logically necessitated. The mechanisms behind this type of erroneous recollection have not been much explored. Experiments in the present article assessed the influence of repetition, response deadline, and age (cf. Jacoby, 1999), in an effort to demonstrate the dual contributions of familiarity and recollection underlying this phenomenon. For older adults, repetition at encoding increased the later likelihood of erroneously recognizing pragmatic inferences. For younger adults, repetition exerted the opposite effect. Both age groups, however, benefited from a second study-test trial. Experiment 2 demonstrated a similar interaction on a cued recall test for younger adults, whereby repetition exerted different influences as a function of time permitted during retrieval. Implications for theories of memory and discourse processing are considered.
Development of a dust mitigation technology for thermal radiators for lunar exploration

Dust buildup on thermal radiating surfaces can reduce the efficiencies at which thermal energy can be radiated away during lunar exploration missions.1−2 To mitigate this problem, prototype Electrodynamic Dust Shields (EDS) capable of removing accumulated dust and of preventing dust accumulation have been constructed and tested. The EDS, an active dust mitigation technology for lunar exploration systems, has been under development in our laboratory at the Kennedy Space Center for the last several years. The EDS uses electrostatic and dielectrophoretic forces to remove dust from opaque, transparent, rigid, and flexible surfaces. The EDS consists of an array of electrodes on a substrate that are coated with a material possessing a high dielectric constant. The EDS has been tested with JSC-1A lunar dust simulant and with Apollo 16 samples at high vacuum pressures of the order of 10−6 kPa. In this paper, we report on the development of two types of prototype dust shields for thermal radiators. For the first prototype, the EDS electrode grid was vapor-deposited on a polyimide-coated aluminum coupon. AZ-93, a space-rated thermal paint was applied as the top coating for the thermal radiator. For the second prototype, silver electrode grids were sputtered onto fluorethylene polypropylene (FEP) films that were back coated with an aluminum layer. These prototypes were tested with JSC-1A lunar dust stimulant at 10−6 kPa.
Dendritic islands in metal-on-metal epitaxy I. Shape transitions and diffusion at island edges

Abstract The development of dendritic island shape instabilities observed during metal-on-metal epitaxy is investigated via a lattice-gas model for the low coverage regime. The key assumption is that island structure is controlled by the competition between shape equilibration due to adatom edge diffusion, and Mullins-Sekerka-type shape instability due to diffusion-limited aggregation of adatoms with islands. From comparison with scanning tunneling microscopy data (for the island density and average width of dendritic arms), we advance estimates of the energy barrier for edge diffusion in several systems.
“Values Added” Teambuilding: A Process to Ensure Understanding, Acceptance, and Commitment to Team Values

Teambuilding frequently includes setting team goals and identifying a team mission, but often neglects the important role of shared team values. Shared values positively impact a team in a number of ways, including increased identification with the team, increased trust in team members, and guidance to coaches and athletes in how to respond to situations on and off the playing field/court. This article describes a process that may be used by coaches to purposefully identify team values and to ensure athletes understand, accept, and are committed to those values. Teams that utilize this technique on an annual basis ensure that the values they embrace are relevant, salient, and will guide them toward goal accomplishment. Likewise, as new athletes join the team, this process helps to ensure that they understand and are committed to team values.
Effects of question format and collection mode on the accuracy of retrospective surveys of health risk behavior: a comparison with daily sexual activity diaries.

OBJECTIVE To use prospective diaries to assess the effects of alternative survey question formats and data collection modes on the accuracy of retrospective self-reports of sexual behavior for the same time period. DESIGN Over a 3-month period, 493 adults completed and returned by mail daily diaries of their sexual activities. Participants then returned to complete a retrospective survey of their sexual activities during the same 3-month time period. Participants were randomized to 1 of 6 retrospective experimental survey conditions that represented the combinations of 2 question formats (in aggregate and by partner) and 3 collection modes (paper questionnaire, computer-assisted self-interview [CASI], and audio-enhanced CASI). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Frequencies of sexual activities and condom use reported in surveys were compared with what participants had recorded in their prospective daily diaries. RESULTS Relative to activity recorded in daily diaries, participants more often underreported than overreported (61% vs. 28%, p < .05) sexual behavior in retrospective surveys. Greater survey-to-diary consistency in reported behavior was achieved with by-partner question format (p < .032) and CASI collection modes (p < .05) used in surveys. However, median rates of error in survey-to-diary comparisons of reported behavior were as high as 40%. CONCLUSION Even after refinements in survey question format and use of CASI techniques, there remained substantial error in participants' retrospective reports of sexual practices. These error rates may be comparable to, or even larger than, the expected effect size of some intervention studies. Further research is needed to improve the accuracy of sexual behavior reports.
Nonchelated ZrIV−Alkoxide−Alkyne Complexes

Addition of alkynes to [Cp‘2Zr(OtBu)][B(C6F5)4] (Cp‘ = C5H4Me, 2) at low temperature in CD2Cl2 solution yields equilibrium mixtures of Cp‘2Zr(OtBu)(RC⋮CR‘)+ (3a−g), 2, and free alkyne. The 13C NMR ...
Electrification of Snowstorms

IT has often been observed that snowstorms are accompanied by pronounced electrical effects; blown snowflakes and the air in their vicinity become highly charged. No explanation has been offered for the mechanism involved in snowstorm electrification, but analysis1 shows that, despite the erratic and often contradictory results, it is possible to discern a pattern in the electrification which is explicable qualitatively in terms of the theory of charge transfer associated with temperature gradients in ice2. According to the theory, which was verified experimentally, charge is separated when temperature gradients are applied along ice specimens, or when two pieces of ice of different temperature are momentarily brought into contact; the colder ice acquires positive charge and the warmer ice negative charge.
On the saturation of radiation hardening

Abstract A model of saturation of radiation hardening is given. This model suggests that saturation of the thermal hardening component should occur at different fluence levels than would the athermal component.
Comparing neural-network scoring functions and the state of the art: applications to common library screening.

We compare established docking programs, AutoDock Vina and Schrodinger’s Glide, to the recently published NNScore scoring functions. As expected, the best protocol to use in a virtual-screening project is highly dependent on the target receptor being studied. However, the mean screening performance obtained when candidate ligands are docked with Vina and rescored with NNScore 1.0 is not statistically different than the mean performance obtained when docking and scoring with Glide. We further demonstrate that the Vina and NNScore docking scores both correlate with chemical properties like small-molecule size and polarizability. Compensating for these potential biases leads to improvements in virtual screen performance. Composite NNScore-based scoring functions suited to a specific receptor further improve performance. We are hopeful that the current study will prove useful for those interested in computer-aided drug design.
Fetal umbilical artery Doppler response to graded maternal aerobic exercise and subsequent maternal mean arterial blood pressure: Predictive value for pregnancy-induced hypertension

Abstract Predictive tests for the identification of women at high risk of the development of preeclampsia are critical to allow the most appropriate preventive measures. Preeclampsia is a vasospastic condition of pregnancy characterized by early and enhanced vascular reactivity to endogenous pressor agents. Exercise tolerance testing with cycle ergometry to induce hemodynamic response measured with duplex Doppler A/B ratio of the umbilical artery could unmask latent vascular pressor hypersensitivity. Our prospective cohort study was designed to test the efficacy of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists exercise in pregnancy guidelines for the low-risk atheletic, physically active, or sedentary patient. The pattern of fetal response to material exercise testing at 28 weeks' gestation was compared with subsequent maternal mean arterial blood pressure and the development of pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia. Doppler A/B ratio during the recovery period was assessed as below baseline (18) or elevated above resting baseline values (12). Third-trimester blood pressure pattern was assessed to be elevated in 11 patients, 10 of whom had elevated recovery A/B ratios. The Fisher exact test results were ( p = 0.00002) positive predictive value, 83%; negative predictive value, 94%; sensitivity, 91%; and specificity, 89%. Preeclampsia developed in four patients; all had elevated recovery A/B ratios. Fisher exact test results were ( p = 0.01806) positive predictive value, 33%; negative predictive value, 100%; sensitivity, 100%; and specificity, 69%.
Reduction of heater cathode leakage in reliable tubes

From experiments with different purity alundums as heater coating in both commercial tubes and in specially designed laboratory tubes it was found that one of the major causes of heater-cathode leakage is due to the presence of impurities in the alundum.
Cholecystitis as the presenting manifestation of acute myeloid leukemia: Report of a case

We report a case of acute leukemia, which presented as cholecystitis in a previously healthy middle-aged adult. Leukemic involvement of the gastrointestinal tract is a well-known clinicopathological entity. However, leukemic infiltration of the gall bladder wall is a rare occurrence. It has only been previously described in the setting of relapsed disease and, to our knowledge, has never been reported as the primary manifestation of de novo acute leukemia. The patient in question was treated with standard induction and consolidation chemotherapy and remains in complete remission 19 months after his presentation with symptoms consistent with cholecystitis.
Effects of global or targeted deletion of the EP4 receptor on the response of osteoblasts to prostaglandin in vitro and on bone histomorphometry in aged mice

Because global deletion of the prostaglandin EP4 receptor results in neonatal lethality, we generated a mouse with targeted EP4 receptor deletion using Cre-LoxP methodology and a 2.3 kb collagen I a1 promoter driving Cre recombinase that is selective for osteoblastic cells. We compared wild type (WT), global heterozygote (G-HET), targeted heterozygote (T-HET) and knockout (KO) mice. KO mice had one targeted and one global deletion of the EP4 receptor. All mice were in a mixed background of C57BL/6 and CD-1. Although there were one third fewer G-HET or KO mice at weaning compared to WT and T-HET mice, G-HET and KO mice appeared healthy. In cultures of calvarial osteoblasts, prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in cells from WT mice, and this effect was significantly decreased in cells from either G-HET or T-HET mice and further decreased in cells from KO mice. A selective agonist for EP4 receptor increased ALP activity and osteocalcin mRNA levels in cells from WT but not KO mice. A selective COX-2 inhibitor, NS-398, decreased osteoblast differentiation in WT but not KO cells. At 15 to 18 months of age there were no differences in serum creatinine, calcium, PTH, body weight or bone mineral density among the different genotypes. Static and dynamic histomorphometry showed no consistent changes in bone volume or bone formation. We conclude that expression of the EP4 receptor in osteoblasts is critical for anabolic responses to PGE(2) in cell culture but may not be essential for maintenance of bone remodeling in vivo.
MnO+: a challenge for density functional theory methods

The 5Σ+ and 5Π states of MnO+ are studied using density functional theory (DFT) and the complete-active-space self-consistent-field (CASSCF)/multireference configuration interaction (MRCI) and CASSCF/average coupled pair functional (ACPF) levels of theory. All the DFT methods give a reasonable description of the 5Σ+ state, but only the hybrid functionals give 5Π spectroscopic constants that agree with those obtained using the MRCI and ACPF approaches. The origin of the difference between the pure and hybrid functionals is discussed.
High frequency shoot regeneration and Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflora)

Abstract An efficient, high-frequency transformation protocol was developed for the commercial chrysanthemum cultivar ‘Iridon’. Regeneration protocols were also developed for two other commercial cultivars, ‘Hekla’ and ‘Polaris’. All protocols utilized embryogenesis media composed of the basal medium of Murashige and Skoog (MS) supplemented with 11.5 μM indoleacetic acid and 0.5 or 1.0 μM benzyladenine. Regenerationof shoots from cultivar ‘Iridon’ was obtained with continuous culture on these media until shoots were transferred to rooting medium at approximately 6 weeks. By contrast, shoot regeneration from ‘Hekla’ explants required transfer to hormone-free medium 2 weeks after initial culturing. ‘Polaris’ regeneration required transfer of explants to hormone-free medium when shoot primordia first developed as well as continuous culture of explants in the absence of blue wavelengths of light. Shoots from all cultivars were rooted on 25% MS medium with 0.5 μM naphthaleneacetic acid. Three wild type strains of Agrobacterium tumefaciens (Ach5, A281, Chry5) were evaluated for tumor production on the three cultivars. Chry5 and A281 were significantly more virulent on all three cultivars than was Ach5. Transformed plants of ‘Iridon’ were obtained using Agrobacterium strain EHA105, a disarmed version of A281. Explants were transformed with two plasmids, pBI121, which encodes kanamycin resistance and β-glucuronidase (GUS) activity, and pBI121 containing the nucleocapsid gene of a highly virulent isolate of tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV). Transformed shoots regenerated and rooted on medium containing 50 μg/ml kanamycin. Vegetatively propagated progeny of transformed plants were identified which expressed GUS activity and which contained multiple copies of the TSWV nucleocapsid gene.
Achieving 60 GFLOP/s on the production CFD code OverFLow-MLP

Abstract NASA Ames has developed a new methodology for achieving very high levels of parallel efficiency on the new NUMA based shared memory symmetric Multi-Processing (SMP) computing systems available today. This methodology is simple, general, and widely applicable to production CFD codes in use at NASA and elsewhere. The new methodology is formally called shared memory Multi-Level Parallelism (MLP), and is based on shared memory access to global data while invoking two levels of parallelism for scaling efficiency. During the past year, this technique has been refined and improved and inserted into the OVERFLOW production CFD code. Executions of the new code on an SGI Origin R12K system with 512 CPUs have demonstrated over 60 GFLOP/s of sustained performance for customer driven real problems. A detailed discussion of the MLP technique, OVERFLOW-MLP code optimizations, and performance results are presented.
Computational Prediction of One-Electron Reduction Potentials and Acid Dissociation Constants for Guanine Oxidation Intermediates and Products

Reduction potentials and pKa values were calculated for intermediates and products along three major pathways for guanine oxidation using the B3LYP and CBS-QB3 levels of theory with the SMD implicit solvation model. N-methylated nucleobases were used as models for nucleoside species. Ensemble averaged reduction potentials at pH 7 (E7) were obtained by combining calculated standard reduction potentials with calculated pKa values in addition to accounting for tautomerization energies. Calculated pKa values are reasonable based on experimental estimates and chemical intuition. Pathway A leads to guanidinohydantoin (Gh) and spiroiminodihydantoin (Sp). The first step is the oxidation of 8-oxoguanine which proceeds by the loss of an electron followed by the loss of two protons and loss of another electron, yielding 8-oxopurine. The calculated E7 values for the remaining intermediates and products are at least 0.3 V higher than that of guanine, indicating that further oxidation of these species is unlikely. Path...
Pressure Transient Analysis of Fractal Reservoirs

The authors present a formulation for a fractal fracture network embedded into a Euclidean matrix. Single-phase flow in the fractal object is described by an appropriate modification of the diffusivity equation. The system's pressure-transient response is then analyzed in the absence of matrix participation and when both the fracture network and the matrix participate. The results obtained extend previous pressure-transient and well-testing methods to reservoirs of arbitrary (fractal) dimensions and provide a unified description for both single- and dual-porosity systems. Results may be used to identify and model naturally fractured reservoirs with multiple scales and fractal properties.
Experimental evaluation of the Wyoming-modified two-rail shear test method for composite materials

In-plane unidirectional shear properties of carbon/epoxy and glass/epoxy materials were measured using unidirectional and cross-ply specimens utilizing the Wyomingmodified two-rail shear test fixture. Simple test specimens of trapezoidal and rectangular geometries, and specimens with tabs were tested. Various specimen sspect ratios were also considered. Untabbed unidirectional specimens exhibited premature shear failures but cross-ply specimens produced reasonably reliable results with acceptable failure modes. Both bonded tab and integral tab 0° specimens were found to give comparable results. Unidirectional and cross-ply PEEK specimens, and angle-ply and quasi-isotropic AS4/3501-6 specimens, were also tested.
A Possible Cure for Cancer

WHILST reading Prof. Johnstone's remarks (Lancs. Sea-Fish. Lab. Report for 1922 (1923), p. 19) on malignant (cancerous) growths in fishes, I was struck by and seized upon the statement that “wen” is an example of a controlled growth.
Definition of neural response and incremental sensitivity of retinal ganglion cells in a tree shrew (Tupaia chinensis).

Abstract The response to short duration light stimuli of single optic tract fibres from on-center retinal ganglion cells was measured. Seven kinds of response measures were compared. Some of these, i.e. the detectability indices, involve the mean response level and the variability of the response as well. The involvement of the variability, although noticeable on the threshold level, did not appreciably change the shape of the increment threshold curves. The different statistical properties of the response of sustained cells as compared to transient cells were not revealed in the increment threshold curves either. It is concluded that the choice of the response measure is not critical and may be made on considering the compatibility of electrophysiological data to psychophysical data.
Volume of ethanol consumption: effects of different approaches to measurement.

Objective: Eight different approaches to measuring alcohol consumption were compared in terms of average daily volume of ethanol intake, selected percentiles of the volume distribution, the proportion of drinkers exceeding a volume-based cutpoint for moderate drinking and the estimated association between volume of intake and alcohol use disorders. Method: Data were drawn from the 1988 National Health Interview Survey and the 1992 National Longitudinal Alcohol Epidemiologic Survey. The eight approaches compared overall and beverage-specific questions, reference periods of varying lengths, and measures based solely on usual intake with those that incorporated different aspects of atypical heavy drinking. Results: Average daily ethanol intake ranged from 0.43 oz based on two questions on current usual frequency and quantity of drinking (assuming 0.5 oz of ethanol per drink) to 0.72 oz based on 21 questions that included usual and heaviest consumption of beer, wine and distilled spirits in the year preceding...
Hanle lifetime measurements of SrI 1P1 and CaI 1P1 levels excited by a neutral beam of 1 1S0 helium atoms

Abstract A 0.8 keV He(1 1 S 0 ) beam was used to coherently excite the 1 P 1 levels of Sr and Ca targets. The coherence appears as an alignment of the excited state with respect to the beam axis. We report here the results of a Hanle measurement, or a zero-field level-crossing experiment, performed on these coherently excited levels. The radiative lifetimes of the SrI 1 P 1 and CaI 1 P 1 levels were measured to be 4.7 ns and 5.3 ns, respectively. These values are in good agreement with conventional Hanle measurements.
The Infrared Spectra of Some 1-(2-Thienyl)-3- and -4-Thiaalkanes

The infrared spectra of six 1-(2-thienyl)-3-thiaalkanes and seven 1-(2-thienyl)-4-thiaalkanes (molecular weights from 186 to 270) were obtained for the 4000 to 400 cm−1 range. These spectra are compared with spectra of other thiophene ring compounds substituted in the 2-position for their characteristic absorption bands. The spectra agree with other spectra as to the major absorption band around 680 cm−1 and the 2-substitution overtone pattern. A method of distinguishing between the two groups of compounds from moderate peaks in the 600 to 500 cm−1 (KBr) region is shown. Interference from the 2-alkylthiophenes and the 1-(2-thienyl)-1-thiaalkanes does not occur.
Photo- and biophysical studies of lectin-conjugated fluorescent nanoparticles: reduced sensitivity in high density assays.

Lectin-conjugated, fluorescent silica nanoparticles (fNP) have been developed for carbohydrate-based histopathology evaluations of epithelial tissue biopsies. The fNP platform was selected for its enhanced emissive brightness compared to direct dye labeling. Carbohydrate microarray studies were performed to compare the carbohydrate selectivity of the mannose-recognizing lectin Concanavalin A (ConA) before and after conjugation to fluorescent silica nanoparticles (ConA−fNP). These studies revealed surprisingly low emission intensities upon staining with ConA−fNP compared to those with biotin−ConA/Cy3−streptavidin staining. A series of photophysical and biophysical characterizations of the fNP and ConA−fNP conjugates were performed to probe the low sensitivity from fNP in the microarray assays. Up to 1200 fluorescein (FL) and 80 tetramethylrhodamine (TR) dye molecules were incorporated into 46 nm diameter fNP, yielding emissive brightness values 400 and 35 times larger than the individual dye molecules, res...
Thermal Stabilization of Dihydrofolate Reductase Using Monte Carlo Unfolding Simulations and Its Functional Consequences

Design of proteins with desired thermal properties is important for scientific and biotechnological applications. Here we developed a theoretical approach to predict the effect of mutations on protein stability from non-equilibrium unfolding simulations. We establish a relative measure based on apparent simulated melting temperatures that is independent of simulation length and, under certain assumptions, proportional to equilibrium stability, and we justify this theoretical development with extensive simulations and experimental data. Using our new method based on all-atom Monte-Carlo unfolding simulations, we carried out a saturating mutagenesis of Dihydrofolate Reductase (DHFR), a key target of antibiotics and chemotherapeutic drugs. The method predicted more than 500 stabilizing mutations, several of which were selected for detailed computational and experimental analysis. We find a highly significant correlation of r = 0.65–0.68 between predicted and experimentally determined melting temperatures and unfolding denaturant concentrations for WT DHFR and 42 mutants. The correlation between energy of the native state and experimental denaturation temperature was much weaker, indicating the important role of entropy in protein stability. The most stabilizing point mutation was D27F, which is located in the active site of the protein, rendering it inactive. However for the rest of mutations outside of the active site we observed a weak yet statistically significant positive correlation between thermal stability and catalytic activity indicating the lack of a stability-activity tradeoff for DHFR. By combining stabilizing mutations predicted by our method, we created a highly stable catalytically active E. coli DHFR mutant with measured denaturation temperature 7.2°C higher than WT. Prediction results for DHFR and several other proteins indicate that computational approaches based on unfolding simulations are useful as a general technique to discover stabilizing mutations.
Vanishing bulk viscosities and conformal invariance of the unitary fermi gas.

By requiring general-coordinate and conformal invariance of the hydrodynamic equations, we show that the unitary Fermi gas has zero bulk viscosity, $\ensuremath{\zeta}=0$, in the normal phase. In the superfluid phase, two of the bulk viscosities have to vanish, ${\ensuremath{\zeta}}_{1}={\ensuremath{\zeta}}_{2}=0$, while the third one ${\ensuremath{\zeta}}_{3}$ is allowed to be nonzero.
Spectroscopic studies of pulsed-laser-induced damage sites in heated CaF2 crystals

Based upon previous studies of temperature dependent defect state formation in high energy alpha particle irradiated CaF2 analogous temperature dependent effects were expected to occur when heated crystals were exposed to Q- switching emission from a pulsed Nd:YAG laser. It was shown in the (alpha) -irradiation work that optimum clustering of calcium atoms to form colloids would occur at a critical temperature. In recent work irradiation of isothermally heated crystals at fluences on the order of 1 J/cm2 produced both catastrophic mechanical damage to the crystal as well as localized defect states within the lattice. Below 200 degrees C the mechanical damage was severe, as evidenced by extensive fractures radiating from the damage center along the crystal cleavage planes. However, above 200 degrees C, these fracture lines revealed the presence of CaF2 lattice forbidden bands associated with calcium colloids in addition to a blue shift of the principal T2g CaF2 mode frequency. The T2g line shift signifies the presence of compressive stress in the CaF2 lattice induced by the presence of the calcium colloids. Forbidden phonon line intensities varied with Raman probe wavelength, and the associated Raman excitation profile followed the wavelength response of the optical absorption band at 580 nm, which is ascribed to colloid resonance absorption. The presence of colloid was detected at all temperatures, and the extent of colloid formation was found to be only weakly dependent upon the crystal temperature. This lack of sensitivity may be ascribed to highly located heating of the crystal surface during the laser pulse, which could supersede the effect of ambient temperature. Pulsed Raman studies of thin CaF2 section sat laser fluences just below the damage thresholds did indeed indicate temperature excursions within the laser footprint. For samples held at temperatures above 200 degrees C, the color centers were found to absorb more strongly in the 400-500 nm and NIR regions, Probably indicating greater aggregation of F centers in the crystal.
Short-term interest rates as subordinated diffusions

In this article we cbaracterize and estimate the process for short-term interest rates using federal funds interest rate data. We presume that we are observing a discrete-time sample of a stationary scalar diffusion. We concentrate on a class of models in whicb the local volatility elasticity is constant and the drift has aflexible specUfication. To accommodate missing observations and to break the link between "economic time" and calendar time, we model the sampling scheme as an increasing process that is not directly observed. We propose and implement two new methods for estimation. We find evidence for a volatility elasticity between one and onehalf and two. When interest rates are high, local mean reversion is smaUl and the mechanism for inducing stationarity is the increased volatility of the diffusion process.
The USEPA/DRI chemical mass balance receptor model, CMB 7.0

Abstract This paper presents the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Chemical Mass Balance Model developed in cooperation with the Desert Research Institute, Reno, NV. CMB 7.0 apportions source contributions to pollutants measured at a receptor site, using measured profiles of the source chemical and elemental compositions. The model incorporates uncertainties in both the pollutant measurements and the source profile measurements in producing contribution estimates and their standard errors.
The mother–child union: The case of missing-self and protection of the fetus

The body’s immune system is well known for its capacity to distinguish between self, i.e., the body’s normal tissues, and foreign invaders, such as microorganisms (1). This self versus non-self discrimination is best illustrated by the clinical outcomes of solid tissue transplantation. Donor grafts that are matched to the recipient’s “tissue types” result in successful transplantation, whereas mismatched transplants are rejected. Over the years, immunologists have carefully dissected the intricacies of rejection that is regulated by highly polymorphic (many genes, multiple alleles) molecules encoded in a genetic region termed the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) or HLA complex in humans. Transplant rejection is primarily mediated by T lymphocytes that are also responsible for cell-mediated immunity. T cells can recognize molecules encoded within the MHC, such as MHC class I or class II molecules, and can recognize and be stimulated by foreign MHC molecules, such as on the transplanted tissue, resulting in rejection. In inbred animals, classic transplantation laws were defined by studies of skin grafting. Generally, transplants between two different, MHC-mismatched inbred strains are rejected, whereas MHC-matched transplants are accepted. An F1 hybrid offspring produced by mating of the two inbred strains codominantly expresses MHC alleles from both parents. The F1 hybrid is capable of accepting a transplant from either parent, but each parent rejects F1 hybrid tissue (because it has “foreign” MHC molecules from the other parent). These clear-cut laws even guide clinical transplantation of solid organs in human patients.
An adipofascial turnover flap for soft tissue cover around the clavicle

Abstract Skin defects overlying a clavicular fracture are uncommon. Soft tissue cover is essential to avoid osteomyelitis and non-union. We present two cases of exposed fractures of the middle third of clavicle following osteosynthesis. Soft tissue cover was provided by an adipofascial turnover flap based on the inferior edge of the defect. The flap was raised with considerable ease and its vascular supply was reliable. There was minimal donor site morbidity and the aesthetic outcome of the reconstructions was excellent.
Decarboxylase inhibitors in the treatment of hypertension.

Abstract Clinical observations with a new antihypertensive agent, alpha methyldopa, are reported. The drug possesses a rather unique pharmaco-dynamic mechanism, i.e., inhibition of decarboxylase activity with secondary depression of norepinephrine biosynthesis. It is as yet uncertain, however, whether this inhibitory effect accounts for the antihypertensive response obtained. Although further investigations are necessary, it is hoped that these new agents will ultimately enhance the antihypertensive armamentarium.
Clinical Placement and Performance of Composite Resin Restorations

The most frequent complaints registered against composite restorations are stained margins and a rough surface. The stained margins have many causes such as (1) fracturing or crazing of enamel during preparation of the cavity, (2) using a composite having an excessive curing shrinkage, (3) manipulating too slowly, which permits a loss of plasticity during placement, (4) maintaining inadequate pressure during setting or curing of the composite, and (5) using finishing instruments which cause defects in the margin area of the tooth and/or composite. All of these the operator can control, and if not, the defect will be built into the restoration. The roughness of composites can be reduced by polishing with the finest grit available in disks and by coating with a glaze. Today's composite restorations placed with care will provide long lasting esthetic restorations providing they are not placed in areas subjected to load bearing abrasion.
Simultaneous measurement of glucose and glutamine in aqueous solutions by near infrared spectroscopy

A method is described for measuring the concentrations of both glucose and glutamine in binary mixtures from near infrared (NIR) absorption spectra. Spectra are collected over the range from 5000–4000/cm (2.0–2.5μm) with a 1-mm optical path length. Glucose absorbance features at 4710, 4400, and 4300/cm and glutamine features at 4700, 4580, and 4390/cm provide the analytical information required for the measurement. Multivariate calibration models are generated by using partial least squares (PLS) regression alone and PLS regression combined with a preprocessing digital Fourier filtering step. The ideal number of PLS factors and spectral range are identified separately for each analyte. In addition, the optimum Fourier filter parameters are established for both compounds. The best overall analytical performance is obtained by combining Fourier filtering and PLS regression. Glucose measurements are established over the concentration range from 1.66–59.91 mM, with a standard error of prediction (SEP) of 0.32 mM and a mean percent error of 1.84%. Glutamine can be measured over the concentration range from 1.10–30.65 mM with a SEP of 0.75 mM and a mean percent error of 6.67%. These results demonstrate the analytical utility of NIR spectroscopy for monitoring glucose and glutamine levels in mammalian and insect cell cultures.
Signore e signori d'Italia: Una storia delle buone maniere

It is not too uncommon these days to hear Italians bemoan the poor state of their country in matters of social conduct. Loud mobile phone conversations, ferocious public debates on television – pep...
Structure-Preserved Power System Transient Stability Using Stochastic Energy Functions

With the increasing penetration of renewable energy systems such as plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, wind and solar power into the power grid, the stochastic disturbances resulting from changes in operational scenarios, uncertainties in schedules, new demands and other mitigating factors become crucial in power system stability studies. This paper presents a new method for analyzing stochastic transient stability using the structure-preserving transient energy function. A method to integrate the transient energy function and recloser probability distribution functions is presented to provide a quantitative measure of probability of stability. The impact of geographical distribution and signal-to-noise ratio on stability is also presented.
Moisture Susceptibility of Subgrade Soils Stabilized by Lignin-Based Renewable Energy Coproduct

AbstractSustainable use of biomass as a renewable source of energy can be an alternative solution to the cost of fossil-based energy and global warming. Production of biofuel from plant biomass results not only in bio-based energy, but also in coproducts containing lignin, modified lignin, and lignin derivatives. This paper discusses the moisture susceptibility of subgrade soil stabilized by bio-based energy coproducts containing lignin, with the aim of establishing a new application for bio-based energy coproducts in soil stabilization. An experimental test program was conducted to compare the moisture susceptibility of lignin coproduct-treated soils and traditional fly ash stabilizer-treated soil samples. Additive combinations were also evaluated. There were two types of laboratory tests for moisture susceptibility evaluation: (1) unconfined compression strength (UCS) tests after “dry” and “wet” conditioning, and (2) visual observation of soaked specimens. Results indicate that the biofuel coproducts ha...
ALTERATIONS IN MUSCLE AND LIVER GLYCOGEN SECONDARY TO FRACTURE.

Abstract The glycogen content of selected tissues was measured in a series of rats 5 days after fracture of 1 tibia. Significant decreases in liver and hind limb muscle glycogen were observed. These changes were attributed to the muscular inactivity and increased carbohydrate utilization of the postfracture period.
Animal ethics and interest conflicts

Animal ethics has presented convincing arguments for the individual value of animals. Animals are not only valuable instrumentally or indirectly, but in themselves. Less has been written about interest conflicts between humans and other animals, and the use of animals in practice. The motive of this paper is to analyze different approaches to interest conflicts. It concentrates on six models, which are the rights model, the interest model, the mental complexity model, the special relations model, the multi-criteria model, and the contextual model. Of these, the contextual model is the strongest, and carries clear consequences for the practical use of animals.
Does the Phenomenality of Perceptual Experience Present an Obstacle to Phenomenal Externalism

Although Externalism is widely accepted as a thesis about belief, as a thesis about experience it is both controversial and unpopular. One potential explanation of this difference involves the phenomenality of perceptual experience—perhaps there is something about how perceptual experiences seem that straightforwardly speaks against Externalist accounts of their individuation conditions. In this paper, I investigate this idea by exploring the role that the phenomenality of color experience plays in a prominent argument against Phenomenal Externalism: Ned Block's Inverted Earth Argument. In the course of carrying out this investigation, I will show that challenging Phenomenal Externalism on phenomenological grounds is not as straightforward a task as it is commonly assumed to be.
Hand movements and nondominant fluency in bilinguals.

16 subordinate bilingual subjects produced 5-min. monologues in their nondominant languages, i.e., English or Spanish. Hand-movement activity manifested during the videotape monologues was scored a...
SULFOBETAINE ZWITTERIONIC INHIBITORS OF SQUALENE SYNTHASE

Abstract Zwitterions such as farnesyl sulfobetaine 8 are a new type of inhibitor of squalene synthase that, while maintaining overall neutrality, mimic both the carbocationic and anionic moieties of presumed reaction intermediates. The most effective zwitterionic sulfobetaines discovered to date are aromatic derivatives 17 (IC 50 = 2 μM) and 20 (IC 50 = 5 μM).