cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The preparation of non-radioactive glassy surrogate nuclear explosion debris (SNED) loaded with isotopically altered Xe

The measurement of Kr and Xe isotope ratios in nuclear explosion debris can be performed requiring little sample preparation. Fragments of debris are simply crushed or heated to release trapped gases Kr and Xe arising from fission product decay. As a suitable test material for this measurement, we have been investigating a method to incorporate isotopically enriched 129Xe in glassy materials that mimic nuclear explosion debris. The approach used to prepare these materials will be described along with some of the example results obtained.
Endonuclease G is an apoptotic DNase when released from mitochondria

Nucleosomal fragmentation of DNA is a hallmark of apoptosis (programmed cell death), and results from the activation of nucleases in cells undergoing apoptosis. One such nuclease, DNA fragmentation factor (DFF, a caspase-activated deoxyribonuclease (CAD) and its inhibitor (ICAD)), is capable of inducing DNA fragmentation and chromatin condensation after cleavage by caspase-3 (refs 2,3,4). However, although transgenic mice lacking DFF45 or its caspase cleavage site have significantly reduced DNA fragmentation, these mice still show residual DNA fragmentation and are phenotypically normal. Here we report the identification and characterization of another nuclease that is specifically activated by apoptotic stimuli and is able to induce nucleosomal fragmentation of DNA in fibroblast cells from embryonic mice lacking DFF. This nuclease is endonuclease G (endoG), a mitochondrion-specific nuclease that translocates to the nucleus during apoptosis. Once released from mitochondria, endoG cleaves chromatin DNA into nucleosomal fragments independently of caspases. Therefore, endoG represents a caspase-independent apoptotic pathway initiated from the mitochondria.
Fabrication of 2-2 connectivity PZT/thermoplastic composites for high frequency linear arrays

An alternate approach for fabricating PZT/polymer composites with 2-2 connectivity with fine scales is described. Thin (/spl les/20 /spl mu/m) sintered PZT plates and sheets of a thermoplastic polymer film (/spl les/1O /spl mu/m) were bonded together via thermal processing. Stack sintering of tape cast PZT generated the necessary PZT plates, while tape cast polymers were used to control the thermoplastic thickness. Composite blocks were cut to required dimensions for linear arrays, electroded, and poled. Electromechanical properties were measured to evaluate the composites. The significance of this fabrication technique is that it is able to generate 2-2 structures at a scale level unachievable by conventional dice-and-fill fabrication methods.
Working with local elected officials

Abstract Most local elected officials are busy, part‐time amateurs. Their authority is highly decentralized. Many of them are motivated to satisfy their constituents in order to get reelected, but such drives are more important for some than for others. And they usually are reluctant to take action unless the likelihood of opposition is negligible. This article summarizes some of the social science literature supporting these generalizations and discusses implications for community development workers.
Racial and ethnic disparities in childhood asthma diagnosis: the role of clinical findings.

OBJECTIVES: To establish rates of childhood asthma symptoms, diagnosis, and hospitalization by race, ethnicity, and income, and to ascertain if elevated reported prevalence of asthma diagnosis among African-American children could be explained by differences in clinical findings. METHODS: Estimates of each indicator were calculated based on data from the third National Health and Nutrition and Examination Survey (NHANES III). Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were estimated to predict parent or guardian report of current asthma diagnosis. RESULTS: African-American children aged 1 to 5 have a 2-fold higher probability of both asthma diagnosis and hospitalization during the previous year but no significant difference in wheeze prevalence compared to Mexican-American and European-American children. These differences are not explained by household income or clinical information. Children aged 6 to 16 had similar rates of diagnosis and hospitalization for all racial/ethnic groups, although African-American children reported wheeze symptoms one-third less often. CONCLUSIONS: Although younger African-American children have higher morbidity from asthma than their Mexican-American and European-American peers, clinical findings were similar and did not explain increased rates of diagnosis. Interpersonal dynamics within families and communication between families and clinicians are believed to influence both symptom reporting and diagnosis generation.
Modeling of electromechanical and electromagnetic disturbances in DC motors

Electromechanical and electromagnetic disturbances produced by DC motors were modeled using a dynamic electrical network representation that includes a representation of the changing circuit configuration due to the commutation. With this technique the instantaneous current and voltage of each of the armature coils of the motor are computed as is the instantaneous electromagnetic torque developed by the motor. This tensor-based network model generates inputs to a set of state equations describing the electromagnetic and electromechanical behavior of the motor. The output can be used to study sources of noise and vibration in addition to performance characteristics for DC motors. Using this model, the effects of manufacturing tolerances in the assembly of motors can be evaluated. The tensor-based method is used to simulate time-varying circuit topology of the armature winding of a DC motor. Some numerical results comparing the predicted with the measured waveforms of a sample three-brush DC motor are discussed. >
Microstructural Development During Low-Dose Irradiation

Interstitial-impurity trapping has been included in a time-dependent nucleation and growth model that is used to calculate both vacancy and interstitial cluster densities and size distributions during irradiation. Calculations were performed for nickel alloys with interstitial-solute binding energies between 0 and 1 eV. Number densities of both types of cluster increased with increasing binding energy, with the interstitial cluster density more strongly affected. As binding energy increased, the time required for saturation of the interstitial cluster density increased. The model results were compared with interstitial-loop size distributions and number densities obtained by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of Ni-4Si irradiated with 3.0-MeV Ni + ions to doses ranging from 0.053 to 0.66 displacements per atom (dpa). The number densities were consistent with nickel-silicon binding energies of ∼0.25 eV, while the average sizes were compatible with higher binding energies.
SYNAPTIC PHYSIOLOGY AND ULTRASTRUCTURE IN COMATOSE MUTANTS DEFINE AN IN VIVO ROLE FOR NSF IN NEUROTRANSMITTER RELEASE

N -Ethylmaleimide–sensitive fusion protein (NSF) is a cytosolic protein thought to play a key role in vesicular transport in all eukaryotic cells. Although NSF was proposed to function in the trafficking of synaptic vesicles responsible for neurotransmitter release, only recently have in vivo experiments begun to reveal a specific function for NSF in this process. Our previous work showed that mutations in a Drosophila NSF gene, dNSF1, are responsible for the temperature-sensitive paralytic phenotype in comatose ( comt ) mutants. In this study, we perform electrophysiological and ultrastructural analyses in three different comt alleles to investigate the function of dNSF1 at native synapses in vivo . Electrophysiological analysis of postsynaptic potentials and currents at adult neuromuscular synapses revealed that in the absence of repetitive stimulation, comt synapses exhibit wild-type neurotransmitter release at restrictive (paralytic) temperatures. In contrast, repetitive stimulation at restrictive temperatures revealed a progressive, activity-dependent reduction in neurotransmitter release in comt but not in wild type. These results indicate that dNSF1 does not participate directly in the fusion of vesicles with the target membrane but rather functions in maintaining the pool of readily releasable vesicles competent for fast calcium-triggered fusion. To define dNSF1 function further, we used transmission electron microscopy to examine the distribution of vesicles within synaptic terminals, and observed a marked accumulation of docked vesicles at restrictive temperatures in comt . Together, the results reported here define a role for dNSF1 in the priming of docked synaptic vesicles for calcium-triggered fusion.
Role of tissue digestion and extensive sperm search after microdissection testicular sperm extraction.

Objective To report the chance of sperm discovery in the laboratory when sperm were not identified in the operating room (OR). Design Clinical retrospective study. Setting Department of urology at a tertiary university hospital. Patient(s) A total of 1,054 men with nonobstructive azoospermia who underwent microdissection testicular sperm extraction. Intervention(s) Preoperative and intraoperative parameters were analyzed relative to the chance of sperm identification using a tissue digestion protocol in the laboratory if no sperm were observed in the OR. Main Outcome Measure(s) Sperm retrieval, clinical pregnancy, and live birth rates. Result(s) Sperm were found in the OR in 52.5% of the 1,054 men. Of the 501 men for whom sperm were not identified by andrologists in the OR, sperm were found in the laboratory for an additional 35 (7%). On multivariable logistic regression analysis, the presence of germ cells intraoperatively was the only predictor of identifying sperm in the laboratory after tissue digestion. Conclusion(s) In men undergoing microdissection testicular sperm extraction, when sperm were not observed in the OR despite extensive mechanical processing, sperm were observed in the laboratory for 7% of the men. This information is valuable in counseling couples in the immediate postoperative period when no sperm were identified intraoperatively.
Evaporation of a Kerr black hole by emission of scalar and higher spin particles

We study the evolution of an evaporating rotating black hole, described by the Kerr metric, which is emitting either solely massless scalar particles or a mixture of massless scalar and nonzero spin particles. Allowing the hole to radiate scalar particles increases the mass loss rate and decreases the angular momentum loss rate relative to a black hole which is radiating nonzero spin particles. The presence of scalar radiation can cause the evaporating hole to asymptotically approach a state which is described by a nonzero value of ${a}_{*}\ensuremath{\equiv}a/M.$ This is contrary to the conventional view of black hole evaporation, wherein all black holes spin down more rapidly than they lose mass. A hole emitting solely scalar radiation will approach a final asymptotic state described by ${a}_{*}\ensuremath{\simeq}0.555.$ A black hole that is emitting scalar particles and a canonical set of nonzero spin particles (3 species of neutrinos, a single photon species, and a single graviton species) will asymptotically approach a nonzero value of ${a}_{*}$ only if there are at least 32 massless scalar fields. We also calculate the lifetime of a primordial black hole that formed with a value of the rotation parameter ${a}_{*},$ the minimum initial mass of a primordial black hole that is seen today with a rotation parameter ${a}_{*},$ and the entropy of a black hole that is emitting scalar or higher spin particles.
Evaluation of cyclic plasticity models in ratcheting simulation of straight pipes under cyclic bending and steady internal pressure

Abstract This paper evaluates seven cyclic plasticity models for structural ratcheting response simulations. The models evaluated are bilinear (Prager), multilinear (Besseling), Chaboche, Ohno–Wang, Abdel Karim–Ohno, modified Chaboche (Bari and Hassan) and modified Ohno–Wang (Chen and Jiao). The first three models are already available in the ANSYS finite element package, whereas the last four were implemented into ANSYS for this study. Experimental responses of straight steel pipes under cyclic bending with symmetric end rotation history and steady internal pressure were recorded for the model evaluation study. It is demonstrated that when the model parameters are determined from the material response data, none of the models evaluated perform satisfactorily in simulating the straight pipe diameter change and circumferential strain ratcheting responses. A detailed parameter sensitivity study with the modified Chaboche model was conducted to identify the parameters that influence the ratcheting simulations and to determine the ranges of the parameter values over which a genetic algorithm can search for refinement of these values. The refined parameter values improved the simulations of straight pipe ratcheting responses, but the simulations still are not acceptable. Further, improvement in cyclic plasticity modeling and incorporation of structural features, like residual stresses and anisotropy of materials in the analysis will be essential for advancement of low-cycle fatigue response simulations of structures.
Chaotic Behavior of Natural Convection in a Tall Rectangular Cavity with Non‐Isothermal Walls

A computational model is presented that extends prior work on unsteady natural convection in a tall rectangular cavity with aspect ratio 10. The solution to the weakly compressible Navier‐Stokes equation is computed for a range of Rayleigh numbers between 2⋅107 and 2.2⋅108 with Prandtl number 0.71. A detailed spectral analysis has been performed, which shows dynamic system behavior beyond the Hopf bifurcation that was not previously observed. The wider Rayleigh range reveals new dynamic system behavior for the rectangular geometry, specifically a return to a stable oscillatory behavior that was not predicted in prior work.
Atypical Variable Decelerations and Intrauterine Growth Restriction

Variable decelerations of the fetal heart rate are the most common changes noted during continuous fetal monitoring. In general, they are presumed to represent a normal response to fetal baroceptor stimulation. When atypical features are present, other considerations are warranted.
Overexpression and biochemical characterization of β-1,3-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase LgtD from Haemophilus influenzae strain Rd

The lipopolysaccharide of capsule deficient Haemophilus influenzae strain Rd contains an N-acetylgalactosamine residue attached to the terminal globotriose moiety in the Hex5 glycoform. Genome analysis identified an open reading frame HI1578, referred to as lgtD, whose amino acid sequence shows significant level of similarity to a number of bacterial glycosyltransferases involved in lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis. To investigate its function, overexpression and biochemical characterization were performed. Most of the protein was obtained in a highly soluble and active form. By using standard glycosyltransferase assay and HPLC, we show that LgtD is an N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase with high donor substrate specificity and globotriose is a highly preferred acceptor substrate for the enzyme. The K(m) for UDP-GalNAc and globotriose are 58 microM and 8.6 mM, respectively. The amino acid sequence of the enzyme shows the conserved features of family II glycosyltransferases. This is the first N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase identified from H. influenzae, which shows potential application in large-scale synthesis of globo-series oligosaccharides.
Integration of antimicrobial host defenses: role of the bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein

Our understanding of the complex and integrated host-defense systems against microbial infection has progressed rapidly with the characterization of individual components. However, the various factors must be studied not only in isolation, but also in a closer approximation to the in vivo situation, where these factors interact. This is well illustrated in recent studies of the role of the bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein.
Fiber optic sensor for birefringence

The paper covers an autocollimating fiber optic sensor for measuring the birefringence of bulk material based on the use of a pulsed laser and multimode optical fiber with a fiber delay line. The specimen birefringence is defined by measurement of the pulse intensities. The basic expressions that describe the operation of the sensor are presented. The suggested scheme can be used for studying ht inner stress in transparent solid bodies, birefringence of crystals, or for measuring temperature, pressure, electrical and magnetic field strength, etc.
Biometrics education with hands-on labs

Biometrics is an emerging field via the automated use of unique and measurable physiological or behavioral characteristics to determine or verify identity. Biometrics has a variety of applications in governments, military and commercial areas. The Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga offers a biometrics course for senior undergraduate students through integration of engineering, statistics, mathematics, policy and ethics. In order to expose students to the area of biometrics with minimum costs, we employ open-source based software to design a series of hands-on labs including fingerprint, face, handwriting, and voice biometrics. Our lab design can serve as a model of biometrics education for programs that have limited budget which may prohibit the use of expensive commercial biometrics devices and software.
Synthesis of fluorescent phosphatidylinositols using a novel inositol H-phosphonate

Abstract Coupling of 1,2-diradyl-sn-glycerol 5 with the novel inositol H-phosphonate derivative, 6-O-benzyl-2,3:4,5-di-O-isopropylidene-myo-inositol H-phosphonate (3), gave fluorescent analogs of phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns, 1) and PtdIns(4,5)-bisphosphate (PtdIns(4,5)P2, 2). Unlike the corresponding phosphoramidate, 3 was stable at −20 °C for several months, making it a useful intermediate for the synthesis of myo-inositol phospholipids.
Risk of HIV infection in recipients of untested blood from donors now anti-HIV-positive.

Recipients of untested blood from donors who at a subsequent donation were positive for HIV antibody by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) were evaluated, whether the result on Western blot (WB) assay was negative (EIA+/WB-) or positive (EIA+/WB+). For 109 EIA+/WB- donors, 78 recipients were tested for HIV antibody, and 3 (4%) were positive. Two of the three anti-HIV-positive recipients had clotting disorders, and the other had been massively transfused; in each of these three cases, subsequent test data exonerated the EIA+/WB− donor. For 101 current EIA+/WB+ donors, 35 recipients were tested for HIV antibody, and 13 (37%) were positive. For donors subsequently found to be EIA+/WB+, the rate of isolation of HIV was the same whether the recipients were anti- HIV-positive or anti-HIV-negative (each, 5/6). While recipients of blood from donors subsequently found to be EIA+/WB+ were at substantial risk for HIV infection, regardless of the donor's subsequent HIV culture result, risk of HIV infection was not demonstrated for recipients of blood from donors later found to be EIA+/WB-.
Structural mechanics modeling of the impact of a double cantilever beam

A Global/Local model is developed for the calculation of dynamic stress intensity history resulting from the impact of a double cantilever beam. The model separates the Global structural dynamics from the Local crack tip zone dominated by singular stresses. The Global model, consisting of connected waveguides, describes the structural dynamics using spectral elements. The Local model, describing the crack tip behavior, is based on an application of the J-integral that converts the dynamic structural resultants directly into strain energy release rate. Previous work used this approach successfully for pure mode II deformation; the present paper extends the modeling to mode I and mixed mode deformation. Of special concern is the local modeling of the elasticity and mass in the vicinity of the crack tip; structural mechanics modeling is combined with Hamilton's principle to properly address this question. The accuracy of this approach is assessed by comparing it to a two dimensional finite element analysis.
Proper forcing axiom and selective separability

Abstract We continue the study of Selectively Separable (SS) and, a game-theoretic strengthening, strategically selectively separable spaces (SS + ) (see Barman, Dow (2011) [1] ). The motivation for studying SS + is that it is a property possessed by all separable subsets of C p ( X ) for each σ -compact space X . We prove that the winning strategy for countable SS + spaces can be chosen to be Markov. We introduce the notion of being compactlike for a collection of open sets in a topological space and with the help of this notion we prove that there are two countable SS + spaces such that the union fails to be SS + , which contrasts the known result about SS spaces. We also prove that the product of two countable SS + spaces is again countable SS + . One of the main results in this paper is that the proper forcing axiom, PFA, implies that the product of two countable Frechet spaces is SS, a statement that was shown in Barman, Dow (2011) [1] to consistently fail. An auxiliary result is that it is consistent with the negation of CH that all separable Frechet spaces have π -weight at most ω 1 .
Determination of shear- and compressional-wave velocity variations and hypocenter locations in a rapidly inflating caldera: the Campi Flegrei

During 1982–1985, the Campi Flegrei caldera underwent a large (Δh ≈ 1.7 m), rapid (hmax ≈ 2 mm day−1) and localized (radius ≈ 6 km) uplift. P and S arrival times from three-component digital seismograms recorded during this period have been used to invert for hypocenter locations and for three-dimensional shear and compressional velocity to ≈ 3 km. First-order residual-based tomography shows a significant and well-resolved high υPυS ratio anomaly for the volume encompassing the central caldera and the active Solfatara crater. Three-dimensional tomographic inversion resolves this central anomaly as a zone of depressed υP and υS with a high (≈ 2.1) υPυS ratio. The three-dimensional velocity model and hypocenter distribution are consistent with modeling the central caldera as a zone of nearly-water-saturated cracks, presumably a result of recurrent inflation and deflation in a zone with a shallow water table, although the presence of small, shallow, magma bodies is not precluded.
Neoclassical economics and principles of sustainable development

Abstract This paper reviews the principal policy-related issues for which the professions of ecology and economics provide conflicting prescriptions. Emphasis is placed on the work of the World Bank, although the issues raised are relevant to a broad range of organizations. Rather than providing definitive solutions, the paper suggests an agenda for research in the ecology-economics interface. Present-day neoclassical economic theory and its applications to development policy seriously overlook or undervalue major ecological concerns. The economic values of environmental services, while very real, are systematically underestimated in cost-benefit analysis because of measurement and valuation difficulties. ‘Intangible’ environmental benefits, such as those derived from the preservation of biological diversity, are recognized even less in economic analysis. The irreversible environmental effects of projects or policies are usually treated no differently from more reversible effects. The practice of discounting economic costs and benefits strongly favors projects with short-term benefits and long-term costs, often (though not always) with highly negative environmental effects. Using Gross National Product as a measure of development progress encourages rapid overexploitation of a country's natural resource base. Extravagant natural resource consumption by industrialized countries may undermine long-term development prospects of developing countries. The emphasis of many developing countries on export crops rather than domestic food production often entails major environmental costs. The paper outlines some of the principles of ecologically sustainable development. At the project level, safe minimum standards are an important environmental supplement to cost-benefit analysis. At the national policy level, steady-state economics can be used to reconcile economic planning with the limits to growth in natural resource consumption.
Distinct facets of impulsivity exhibit differential associations with substance use disorder treatment processes: a cross-sectional and prospective investigation among military veterans.

Abstract Impulsivity, a multi-faceted construct characterized by rash, unplanned actions and a disregard for long-term consequences, is associated with poor substance use disorder (SUD) treatment outcomes. Little is known though about the influence of impulsivity on treatment process variables critical for initiating and maintaining behavioral change. This knowledge gap is important as different aspects of impulsivity may be susceptible to diverse cognitive, behavioral and pharmacological influences. The present study examined two distinct facets of impulsivity (lack of planning and immoderation — a proxy of urgency) as predictors of processes that impact SUD treatment success (active coping, avoidant coping, self-efficacy, and interpersonal problems). Participants were 200 Veterans who completed impulsivity and treatment process assessments upon entering an SUD treatment program and treatment process assessments at treatment discharge. Results from multivariate models revealed that lack of planning was associated with lower active coping and higher avoidant coping and interpersonal problems at intake, though not with lower self-efficacy to abstain from substances. Immoderation was associated with higher avoidant coping and lower self-efficacy to abstain from substances at intake, but not with lower active coping or higher interpersonal problems. Higher immoderation, but not lack of planning, predicted lower self-efficacy to abstain from substances at treatment discharge. These findings suggest that different facets of impulsivity confer risk for different SUD treatment process indicators and that clinicians should consider the behavioral expression of patients' impulse control problems in treatment planning and delivery.
An Odorant Receptor from the Southern House Mosquito Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus Sensitive to Oviposition Attractants

Background Insect odorant receptors (ORs) are heteromers comprised of highly variable odorant-binding subunits associated with one conserved co-receptor. They are potential molecular targets for the development of novel mosquito attractants and repellents. ORs have been identified in the malaria mosquito, Anopheles gambiae, and in the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti. However, they are still unknown in the Southern house mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus, which transmits pathogens that cause human diseases throughout the world, including West Nile Virus in the United States. Methodology We have employed a combination of bioinformatics, molecular cloning and electrophysiology approaches to identify and characterize the response profile of an OR in Cx. quinquefasciatus. First, we have unveiled a large multigenic family of one-hundred-fifty-eight putative ORs in this species, including a subgroup of conserved ORs in three mosquito species. Using the Xenopus oocytes expression system, we have determined the response profile of CquiOR2, an antennae-specific OR, which shares high identity with putative orthologs in Anopheles gambiae (AgamOR2) and Aedes aegypti (AaegOR2). Conclusion We show that CquiOR2 is highly sensitive to indole, an oviposition attractant for Cx. quinquefasciatus. The response profile of CquiOR2 expressed in Xenopus oocytes resembles that of an olfactory receptor neuron housed in the antennal short blunt-tipped sensilla (A2) of Cx. quinquefasciatus, which are natural detectors for oviposition attractants. This first Culex OR de-orphanized is, therefore, a potential molecular target for screening oviposition attractants.
Synthesis and structural characterisation of an unusual tetranuclear oxomolybdenum(VI) complex of dihydroxybenzoquinone, [Mo4O10(O4C6H2)2]2–, and a comparison with the mononuclear chloranilate complex [MoO2(HO4C6Cl2)(O4C6Cl2)]1–

While reaction of the sterically encumbered chloranil group with (Mo2O7)2– yields the mononuclear species [MoO2(L)(LH)]1–(L = C6O4Cl2), dihydroxylbenzoquinone under similar conditions yields the tetranuclear cluster [(Mo2O5)2(C6H2O4)]2–, a species with magnetically coupled semiquinone ligands.
Aberrant glutamate signaling in the prefrontal cortex and striatum of the spontaneously hypertensive rat model of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Rationale Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is thought to involve hypofunctional catecholamine systems in the striatum, nucleus accumbens, and prefrontal cortex (PFC); however, recent clinical evidence has implicated glutamate dysfunction in the pathophysiology of ADHD. Recent studies show that increased stimulation of dopamine D2 and D4 receptors causes inhibition of N-methyl-D-aspartate and αamino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptors, respectively. The spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) model of ADHD combined type (C) has been found to have a hypofunctional dopamine system in the ventral striatum, nucleus accumbens, and PFC compared to the control Wistar Kyoto (WKY) strain. Objectives Based on the current understanding of typical dopamine–glutamate interactions, we hypothesized that the SHR model of ADHD would have a hyperfunctional glutamate system terminating in the striatum, nucleus accumbens, and PFC. Results High-speed amperometric recordings combined with four-channel microelectrode arrays to directly measure glutamate dynamics showed increased evoked glutamate release in the PFC (cingulate and infralimbic cortices, p<0.05) and also in the striatum (p<0.05) of the SHR (ADHD-C) as compared to the WKY. Finally, glutamate uptake was discovered to be aberrant in the PFC, but not the striatum, of the SHR when compared to the control WKY strain. Conclusions These results suggest that the glutamatergic system in the PFC of the SHR model of ADHD is hyperfunctional and that targeting glutamate in the PFC could lead to the development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of ADHD.
Characterization of the Expression and Regulation of Genes Necessary for myo-Inositol Biosynthesis and Transport in the Seminiferous Epithelium

In many mammals, the concentration of myo-inositol in the fluid of the seminiferous tubules is dramatically higher than levels found in serum. Two enzymes involved in myo-inositol synthesis: myo-inositol-1-phosphate synthase (ISYNA1) and myoinositol monophosphatase-1 (IMPA1), are known to have high activity in the testes. ISYNA1 is an isomerase that catalyzes the conversion of glucose-6-phoshate to myo-inositol-1-phosphate. IMPA1 then hydrolyzes the phosphate group to produce myoinositol. Although no physiological role for the high concentration of myo-inositol has yet to be elucidated, it has been suggested that it could be involved in osmoregulation. Previous research on these enzymes in the testis has focused on enzyme activity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the expression of these genes and the myo-inositol transporter, Slc5a3, within the testis. Using Northern blot analyses, we found that all three genes, Impa1, Isyna1, and Slc5a3 are expressed in Sertoli cells. Isyna1 is highly expressed in two types of germ cells, pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids. IMPA1 was expressed in round spermatids. Slc5a3 expression is upregulated when Sertoli cells are treated with 0.1 mM dibutyryl cAMP. When Sertoli cells were cultured in a hypertonic medium, there was an increase in the expression of Isyna1 and Slc5a3. We postulate that this upregulation is a result of the capability of the Sertoli cell to sense and then react to a change in osmolarity by increasing the transport and production of the osmolyte myo-inositol. cyclic adenosine monophosphate, follicle-stimulating hormone, Sertoli cells, testis
(E)-1,2-Difluoro-1-iodo-2-trialkylsilanes—A useful synthon for the addition of the [IFCCF] unit to activated electrophiles

Abstract Fluoride ion catalyzed reaction of ( E )-IFC CFSiR 3 with activated aromatic aldehydes and ketones and activated perfluoroaromatics, such as pentafluoropyridine and perfluorotoluenes, transfers the [IFC CF] unit to the activated electrophiles to stereospecifically provide ( E )-1,2-difluoro-1-iodosubstituted derivatives. Aluminum chloride catalyzed reaction of ( E )-1,2-difluoro-1-iodo-2-trialkylsilanes with alkyl or aryl acyl halides gives the corresponding ( E )-1,2-difluoro-1-iodoketones stereospecifically in excellent yield. The vinyl iodide product formed via this methodology could be coupled (with Pd(0)) catalysis to provide an entry to a polyfunctionalized derivative.
Sub-50 nm feature sizes using positive tone molecular glass resists for EUV lithography

Extreme ultra violet (EUV) lithography is one of the most promising next generation lithographic techniques for the production of sub-50 nm feature sizes with applications in the semiconductor industry. Coupling this technique with molecular glass resists is an effective strategy for high resolution lithographic patterning. In this study, a series of tert-butyloxycarbonyl (t-Boc) protected C-4-hydroxyphenyl-calix[4]resorcinarenes derivatives were synthesized and evaluated as positive tone molecular glass resists for EUV lithography. The amorphous nature of these molecules was confirmed using thermal analysis, FTIR and powder X-ray diffraction. Feature sizes as small as 30 nm with low line edge roughness (4.5 nm, 3σ) were obtained after patterning and development.
Flight behaviour of sharp-shinned hawks during migration. II. Over water

Abstract The behaviour of sharp-shinned hawks ( Accipiter striatus ) confronted by water barriers was examined during fall migration at Cape May Point, new Jersey (Delaware Bay) and during spring migration at Whitefish Point, Michigan (Lake Suerior). Both study sites were at the end of long peninsulas where hawks must either cross approximately 18–24 km of water or fly hundreds of kilometres around the water barriers. Sharp-shinned hawks readily crossed at both sites when winds lateral (perpendicular) to crossing directions were light, but rarely when winds were strong, suggesting that the preferred to cross when the potential for being blown off course was minimal. A greater proportion of hawks also crossed when flight at the shoreline was at high as opposed to low altitudes, and when land on the opposite side of the water barrier was visible. At Cape May, hawks compensated for lateral winds of up to 6 m/s during flights over water, although very few birds attempted to cross when lateral winds exceeded 5 m/s. At Whitefish, hawks compensated only partially for lateral winds. The difference in realized flight direction between sites was attributable to differing topographies, not to a difference in the hawks' ability to compensate for lateral wind. It was hypothesized that there is a threshold for drift at lateral winds between 5 and 8 m/s for sharp-shinned hawks using powered flight over water.
Identification and functional characterization of conserved promoter elements from glass: a retinal development gene of Drosophila.

Abstract The Drosophila melanogaster glass transcription factor acts in photoreceptor cell development. glass transcription in the developing eye begins in the morphogenetic furrow. We report a deletion analysis which shows that a 5147 bp fragment can confer near wild-type expression in the developing eye. We completed the sequence of a similar Drosophila virilis fragment and comparison of these two genomic sequences reveals seven perfectly conserved sequence elements of 15 bp (or longer). We placed oligomers of each element 5′ to an hsp70 promoter- lacZ fusion construct, and examined the patterns of β-galactosidase expression produced in transgenic flies. Three of these elements drive β-galactosidase expression in the developing eye, and one is inhibitory.
Comparing rapid and culture indicator bacteria methods at inland lake beaches

Abstract A rapid method, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), for quantifying indicator bacteria in recreational waters is desirable for public health protection. We report that replacing current Escherichia coli standards with new US Environmental Protection Agency beach action values (BAVs) for enterococci by culture or qPCR may result in more advisories being posted at inland recreational lakes. In this study, concentrations of E. coli and enterococci by culture methods were compared to concentrations of Enterococcus spp. by qPCR at 3 inland lake beaches in Ohio. The E. coli and enterococci culture results were significantly related at all beaches; however, the relations between culture results and Enterococcus spp. qPCR results were not always significant and differed among beaches. All the qPCR results exceeded the new BAV for Enterococcus spp. by qPCR, whereas only 23.7% of culture results for E. coli and 79% of culture results for enterococci exceeded the current standard for E. coli or B...
Financial Effect of a Hospital Outpatient Senior Clinic on an Academic Medical Center

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the billed charges generated for the university hospital (UH) by patients seen in a UH outpatient senior clinic over a 6-month period. To estimate the average billed charges per geriatric patient generated for the UH over the same 6-month period. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis. SETTING: Hospital-based outpatient senior clinic at a university medical center. PARTICIPANTS: Outpatients aged 65 and older. MEASUREMENTS: The total inpatient, outpatient, and professional fee charges generated for the UH by the senior health center (SHC) patients were estimated for a 6-month period, with the use of billing data from the professional and hospital billing systems. To estimate the multiplier effect and average charges per SHC patient per year, our analysis focused on professional charges generated directly in the SHC and professional fees and hospital charges generated by secondary referral (inpatient and outpatient). RESULTS: One thousand nine hundred ninety-eight patients were seen in the SHC during the 6-month period. For every $1 billed in professional charges in the SHC, $17 was billed elsewhere in the hospital system. Geriatric medicine professional charges generated by the 1,998 SHC patients over the 6-month period totaled $546,691. The 6-month charges by the rest of the hospital system for the same 1,998 patients included hospital inpatient charges of $4,684,195 for all departments; hospital outpatient charges (ancillary plus technical, including facility fees for the SHC) of $3,027,212; and professional fees of $1,606,287 for other departments, thereby producing a multiplier factor of 17. The average overall charges per geriatric patient per 6 months totaled $4,937, which included hospital inpatient, hospital outpatient, and professional fees. The UH generated an average of $3,860 in hospital charges per SHC patient per 6 months. The average hospital charges generated per established SHC patient per 6 months were $2,936. The average hospital charges for a new SHC patient were $7,187 per 6 months. The average professional charges were $1,078 per patient per 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a reasonable estimate of the substantial multiplier, or “flow-through,” effect of a senior clinic on its parent medical center. Although senior clinics may be a cost center when viewed in isolation, these clinics are actually revenue generators when viewed from the perspective of the entire health system.
Identification of serum biomarkers in brain-injured adults: potential for predicting elevated intracranial pressure.

ABSTRACT Brain injury biomarkers may have clinical utility in stratifying injury severity level, predicting adverse secondary events or outcomes, and monitoring the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions. As a biomarker source, serum offers several advantages over cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), including ease of accessibility and reduced risk to the patient. We screened pooled serum samples obtained from 11 severely injured traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients (Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] ≤ 8) and 11 age-, sex- and race-matched volunteers. Two time points—41.5 ± 4.9 h and 66.3 ± 6.6 h post-injury—were chosen for the initial screening analysis. Samples were immunodepleted for 12 highly abundant serum proteins, and then labeled with mass-balanced isobaric tags (iTRAQ), and analyzed by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Identification and quantification of 2455 iTRAQ-labeled peptides that mapped to 160 proteins revealed 31 candidate biomarkers whose serum abundance was altered after inj...
Psychoeducation to Address Stigma in Black Adults Referred for Mental Health Treatment: A Randomized Pilot Study

Forty-two Black clients referred for outpatient treatment were randomly assigned to receive existing brochures about services or a psychoeducational booklet about stigma based on experiences of Black mental health consumers. At 3-month follow-up, clients reported that both types of information were helpful; there were no significant differences between the types of information on treatment attendance. However, individuals who reported higher perceived treatment need or greater uncertainty about treatment showed greater stigma reduction from the psychoeducation. Findings indicate the need to move beyond “customer satisfaction” to evaluate educational interventions, as well as for greater understanding of differential impact of stigma reduction interventions.
Threshold Energy and Unimolecular Rate Constant for Elimination of HF from Chemically Activated CF3CF2CH3: Effect of the CF3 Substituent on the α-Carbon

Methyl and CF3CF2 radicals were combined to form chemically activated CF3CF2CH3 with 104 kcal/mol of internal energy, and the experimental rate constant for unimolecular 1,2-dehydrofluorination was 4.5 × 105 s-1. Fitting the calculated rate constant for HF elimination from RRKM theory to the experimental value provided a threshold energy, Eo, of 68.5 kcal/mol. Comparing this threshold energy to those for CF2HCH3, CH3CF2CH3, CF2ClCH3, and CF3CH3 shows that replacing the α-H of CF2HCH3 with CH3 lowered the Eo by 7 kcal/mol and replacing with CF3, Cl, or F raises the Eo about 8 kcal/mol. The CF3 substituent, an electron acceptor, increased the Eo by an amount nearly equal to that with F and Cl substituents, suggesting that halogen substituents exert a similar inductive effect at the α-carbon that loses electron density as the transition state forms. These proposals will be compared to recent calculations of the carbon's atomic charges in the reactant and transition state.
Low-Temperature Recombination Luminescence in Alkali Halide Crystals

Luminescence observed upon low-temperature x-ray excitation of alkali-halide crystals has been identified as due to radiative electron-hole recombination in the perfect lattice. In KCl the emission spectrum is a single band, while in KBr, KI, and NaCl there are two bands. In crystals containing self-trapped holes, optical excitation of electron-excess defects such as $F$ centers causes transfer of electrons to holes with emission of recombination luminescence identical to that excited directly by x-ray irradiation. If the holes have been preferentially oriented, the optically excited luminescence from KCl and KBr exhibits partial polarization characteristic of the transitions involved. The origin of the recombination luminescence is revealed through these polarization properties, together with results on optical excitation and bleaching spectra, temperature dependence, excitation efficiency, and impurity independence. The relevance of this work to the process of electron tunneling from excited $F$ centers is discussed from an elementary point of view. The bleaching of $F$ and ${F}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ centers through the absorption of recombination luminescence is shown to be a potentially important factor in determining the growth rates of the various centers during high-energy irradiation.
Physical effects of mechanical design parameters on photon sensitivity and spatial resolution performance of a breast-dedicated PET system

Purpose: This study aims to address design considerations of a high resolution, high sensitivity positron emission tomography scanner dedicated to breast imaging. Methods: The methodology uses a detailed Monte Carlo model of the system structures to obtain a quantitative evaluation of several performance parameters. Special focus was given to the effect of dense mechanical structures designed to provide mechanical robustness and thermal regulation to the minuscule and temperature sensitive detectors. Results: For the energies of interest around the photopeak (450–700 keV energy window), the simulation results predict a 6.5% reduction in the single photon detection efficiency and a 12.5% reduction in the coincidence photon detection efficiency in the case that the mechanical structures are interspersed between the detectors. However for lower energies, a substantial increase in the number of detected events (approximately 14% and 7% for singles at a 100–200 keV energy window and coincidences at a lower energy threshold of 100 keV, respectively) was observed with the presence of these structures due to backscatter. The number of photon events that involve multiple interactions in various crystal elements is also affected by the presence of the structures. For photon events involving multiple interactions among various crystal elements, the coincidence photon sensitivity is reduced by as much as 20% for a point source at the center of the field of view. There is no observable effect on the intrinsic and the reconstructed spatial resolution and spatial resolution uniformity. Conclusions: Mechanical structures can have a considerable effect on system sensitivity, especially for systems processing multi-interaction photon events. This effect, however, does not impact the spatial resolution. Various mechanical structure designs are currently under evaluation in order to achieve optimum trade-off between temperature stability, accurate detector positioning, and minimum influence on system performance.
Isotopic Composition of Boron and its Atomic Weight

AFTER an extensive investigation, we conclude that a boron-11/boron-10 ratio of 4.00 (that is, 80/20) approaches the true natural abundance ratio much more closely than the presently ‘accepted’ value of 4.31 (81.17/18.83). The latter figure is based on a mass spectrometric investigation of boron trifluoride1, a notoriously troublesome compound, in view of its adsorption characteristics resulting in instrumental ‘memory’. Since publication of that work a number of attempts to verify the abundance ratio from boron trifluoride have resulted in a wide range of values.
Study of Growth in New Hampshire Chickens With Varying Thyroid Status

Abstract IT WAS reported by Premachandra et al. (1958) that marked differences in thyroxine secretion rate existed between two lines of New Hampshire chickens whose thyroids exhibited a differential response in undergoing compensatory hypertrophy to a constant oral level of thiouracil. Since several studies have revealed an apparent relationship between thyroxine secretion rate and growth (Schultze and Turner, 1945; Glazener and Shaffner, 1948; Glazener et al., 1949; Hoffman, 1950) it was deemed interesting to make a systematic study of growth in these high and low lines where such a great disparity in average thyroxine secretion rate was noted. After determining thyroxine secretion rate in individual birds of the two lines, matings were made between males of varying thyroxine secretion rate with similar females to determine the effect of these matings on the growth of the progeny. The “high” and the “low” lines mentioned above were also perpetuated to study their growth.