cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
N.m.r. study of US Eastern and Western shale oils produced by pyrolysis and hydropyrolysis

Abstract Shale oils produced from US Eastern and Western oil shales by pyrolysis and hydropyrolysis processes have been investigated by both 1H and 13C high-resolution n.m.r. techniques. Eastern shale oils produced by hydropyrolysis, and subsequently hydrotreated, were also included. From the n.m.r. data of the shale oils, the average molecular structure parameters were calculated. These parameters quantitatively represent the differences observed in the n.m.r. spectra of the various shale oils because of changes in the chemical composition. Mol percentages of aromatics, olefins, and alkanes were also determined for the shale oils, and show that the composition of the shale oil is dependent upon the geographic origin of the oil shale, the pyrolysis method, and the hydrogenation process. In addition to the study of shale oils, solid-state 13C n.m.r. spectra of Eastern and Western oil shales before and after pyrolysis and hydropyrolysis were obtained. The spectral data show that the carbon aromaticities for the Eastern oil shales and shale oils are higher than for the Western oil shale and shale oils. The data also show that hydropyrolysis relative to pyrolysis reduces the amount of residual organic carbon remaining on the spent shales. Carbon aromaticity data for both oil shale and shale oil suggest that the organic moieties present in kerogen may be retained in the shale oils to a greater extent after hydropyrolysis than after pyrolysis.
A Statistical Study of the Dynamics of Blocking

Abstract An objective method is used to isolate instances of blocking ridges from instances of transient ridges for 10 winters of Northern Hemisphere data. The vorticity budgets and heat budgets of the blocking ridge cases are compared statistically with those of transient ridges for both the Pacific and Atlantic oceanic regions. It is demonstrated that there are statistically significant differences in the vorticity and heat budgets of blocking compared to transient ridges, which may be related primarily to changes in zonal advection. While the dominant scale of the vorticity pattern associated with blocking is represented by a zonal scale of about 60° of longitude, the local zonal wind reductions associated with blocks are contributed primarily by wavenumber 1 (∼40%) with smaller contributions from the zonal mean (∼20%). The most important mechanisms for sustaining blocking ridges are found to be different in the Atlantic and Pacific regions. In the Pacific the major difference between blocking and tran...
Baastrup's disease correlating with diffuse lumbar paraspinal atrophy: a case report.

Abstract Haig AJ, Harris A, Quint DJ. Baastrup's disease correlating with diffuse lumbar paraspinal atrophy: a case report. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2001;82:250-2. Baastrup's disease ("kissing spine") is an x-ray finding that has been considered a possible cause of low back pain (LBP) since the 1930s. Its etiology is unknown, and there are no reports of muscle or soft tissue changes associated with it. This case report concerns a 57-year-old man with chronic LBP, stiffness, and indurated skin over the back. He had classic sclerotic changes between the spinous processes on x-ray, which is consistent with Baastrup's disease. Computed tomography (CT) and electromyography were performed. CT showed profound fatty replacement of the paraspinal musculature. An electromyography report showed severe isolated paraspinal denervation. This case suggests that diffuse fatty replacement of the paraspinal muscles, perhaps due to a compartment syndrome or other vascular event, may have a role in the pathogenesis of Baastrup's disease.
Millimeter wave-induced suppression of B16 F10 melanoma growth in mice: involvement of endogenous opioids.

Millimeter wave treatment (MMWT) is widely used in Eastern European countries, but is virtually unknown in Western medicine. Among reported MMWT effects is suppression of tumor growth. The main aim of the present “blind” and dosimetrically controlled experiments was to evaluate quantitatively the ability of MMWT to influence tumor growth and to assess whether endogenous opioids are involved. The murine experimental model of B16 F10 melanoma subcutaneous growth was used. MMWT characteristics were: frequency, 61.22 GHz; average incident power density, 13.3 × 10−3 W/cm2; single exposure duration, 15 min; and exposure area, nose. Naloxone (1 mg/kg, intraperitoneally, 30 min prior to MMWT) was used as a nonspecific blocker of opioid receptors. Five daily MMW exposures, if applied starting at the fifth day following B16 melanoma cell injection, suppressed subcutaneous tumor growth. Pretreatment with naloxone completely abolished the MMWT-induced suppression of melanoma growth. The same course of 5 MMW treatments, if started on day 1 or day 10 following tumor inoculations, was ineffective. We concluded that MMWT has an anticancer therapeutic potential and that endogenous opioids are involved in MMWT-induced suppression of melanoma growth in mice. However, appropriate indications and contraindications have to be developed experimentally before recommending MMWT for clinical usage. Bioelectromagnetics 25:466–473, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Habitat factors influencing fish assemblages at muskellunge nursery sites

Abstract Nearshore sites of the Great Lakes and their connecting channels provide critical nursery habitat for muskellunge ( Esox masquinongy ) and the fishes they prey upon. However, limited understanding of habitat–fish assemblage relations hinders informed management and restoration of these communities. To help fill this information gap, we (1) described fish assemblages at 25 sites in Buffalo Harbor (Lake Erie), the upper Niagara River, and the St. Lawrence River, (2) compared assemblages among sites and waters, and (3) determined if assemblage structure was related to habitat variation. The structure of fish assemblages at muskellunge nursery sites was influenced by suitability of habitats for particular reproductive strategies and providing refugia from predation. Sites that had flowing water, coarse substrates, high macrophyte column density, and little or no macroalgae supported greater fish densities and more species-rich assemblages that were dominated by small-bodied, fusiform cyprinids. These complex habitats provided refugia from predation and were suitable for open substratum spawners. Shallow sites with negligible stream flow, fine substrates, low macrophyte column density, and greater macroalgae coverage contained small-bodied, fusiform fishes; deeper sites with similar habitat were dominated by larger-bodied, laterally-compressed centrarchids and yellow perch ( Perca flavescens ), whose reproductive strategies and anti-predator adaptations allow them to persist in such habitats. Small-bodied, fusiform fishes such as banded killifish ( Fundulus diaphanus ), cyprinids, and darters are important prey for young-of-the-year muskellunge, whereas laterally-compressed centrarchids and yellow perch are typically avoided. Managing for habitats that support abundant fusiform fishes should provide better nursery conditions and promote stronger year-class formation for muskellunge.
A power delivery network (PDN) engineering change order (ECO) approach for repairing IR-drop failures after the routing stage

PDN evaluation/synthesis techniques have been used to facilitate the planning/construction of PDNs in integrated circuits at early physical implementation stages. They are rarely relevant after the routing stage when few routing resources are left and hence call for a repair strategy. The reason is that the traditional methods often apply wire widening or wire density increment directly without taking signal routing into account. Moreover, intuitively adding connections to the PDNs using the entire space available is quite time-consuming and eventually leads to lack of routing resources for later design ECO. Therefore, in this paper, we propose an approach to efficiently repairing the PDNs at the signoff stage. The greedy-Pareto-optimal (GPO) method is used to select the most effective regions to enhance the power rail connectivity. Maximizing the IR-drop improvement and minimizing the use of routing resources are considered at the same time. The method has been incorporated in our backend design flow and verified by leveraging a commercial P&R tool. On a test case of image signal processor, the experimental results show that the proposed PDN ECO approach can improve the worst IR-drop from 9.34% to 3.84% (i.e., 58.9% improvement) in the post-routing stage, where the ECO wire pitch is 3.5 times the minimal routing pitch.
An examination of web disclosure and organizational transparency

Web disclosure is a significant technological innovation aimed at improving organizational transparency. Organizations that voluntarily disclose high quality financial and performance information on their public websites are viewed as being more open, trustworthy, and accountable by the general public. Despite the positive benefit of enhanced public trust, many organizations have not implemented the recommended web disclosure principles and best practices. Informed by the theoretical underpinnings of organizational ecology theory, this study develops a theoretical model in order to examine the problem of differential implementation of web disclosure in nonprofit settings. Empirical evidence reveals that the majority of nonprofit websites lack high quality financial and performance information which reflects an opaque digital informative strategy. Our results further suggest that organizational inertia - particularly resistance to change in organizational form - may play an important role in the decision to voluntarily adopt and implement innovative web disclosure practices. The findings have implications for research and information systems design.
The effect of extremity vascular complications on the outcomes of cardiac support device recipients.

Objective To assess the effect of extremity vascular complications (EVCs, including ischemia or vessel trauma) on the outcomes of patients receiving cardiac support devices (CSDs, including ventricular assist device [VAD] and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation [ECMO]). Methods Institutional Review Board-approved, retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database of all temporary and permanent CSD recipients from 7/1/10 to 6/30/12. Patient demographics, procedural data, and outcomes were analyzed. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality at 30-days post-CSD initiation. Results Of 208 patients who received CSDs, 31 (14.9%) experienced EVC: 13 (8.9%) of the 146 permanent VADs, 10 (26.3%) of the 38 temporary VADs, and 8 (33.3%) of the 24 ECMO patients. The 30-day mortality for CSD-EVC patients was not significantly higher than that of the CSD patients who did not experience EVC for permanent VAD (15.4% vs 4.5%; P = .15) and ECMO patients (50.0% vs 68.75%; P = 1.00), but was significantly higher for temporary VAD patients (80.0% vs 35.7%; P = .03). Within the CSD-EVC cohort, patients who received a temporary VAD had a significantly higher 30-day mortality and decision to withdraw care after EVC compared with those who received a permanent VAD ( P = .01 and P P = .025) but not the temporary VAD or ECMO groups. Conclusions In temporary VAD recipients, EVCs result in higher 30-day mortality, more frequent withdrawal of care, and shortened survival time relative to the global temporary VAD group. EVC in permanent VAD recipients did not affect early (30-day) mortality rates, but strongly predicted a higher cumulative mortality risk for the 2-year study period. Overall ECMO mortality rates were high, and not significantly impacted by the occurrence of EVC. The nature of the EVC (cannulation site complication vs embolic injury) did not impact mortality. This data provides quality improvement targets for VAD programs.
Oral health of Rhodesia African first year student teachers

A basic oral health survey was carried out on a random sample of first year African student teachers attending four teachers' colleges in Rhodesia. The number examined and interviewed was 309. Methods and criteria used are those described in the second (1977) edition of the World Health Organization manual Oral health surveys - Basic methods. Prevalences of dental caries were 31.0% for the 142 male students and 59.5% for the 167 female students. The difference is statistically significant (P less than 0.001). Mean DMFTs were 0.74 for men and 2.02 for women. The prevalences of "intense gingivitis" were 52.8% for male students and 34.7% for female students. This difference also is significant (P less than 0.005). The major treatment requirements are for one-surface fillings and prophylaxis with oral hygiene instruction. Dental service utilization is low. Less than 10% of the sample had obtained dental care in the previous 12 months. The main reason for seeking care was pain. Self-assessments of oral health needs were not valid. The stated desire for fillings is greater than for extractions. A need has been demonstrated for dental health education aimed at the prevention of disease and the encouragement, use and demand for quality care services.
Natal male baboon rank rises and successful challenges to resident alpha males

After an interval (X = 6 months), high ranking male chacma baboons (Papio cynocephalus ursinus) lose their status to immigrants. Attainment of alpha rank by immigrants is a qualitatively different process from thestepwise increase in status noted in linear dominance hierarchies. The departing rank of natal emigrants was 5.4, while the first measured rank, shortly after transfer into a new troop, was 1.5. Abrupt rises to alpha rank involve direct challenges to the current alpha male. Fourteen of 19 prime immigrants attained alpha rank at first transfer. Rank rises may result if individuals forego contests, retaining lower hierarchical positions in their natal troop to avoid the costs of conflict prior to natal emigration. In this population some males do breed in their natal troops without differing from immigrants in their reprodocutive success. Five males that rose to high rank within their natal troops also made rapid rank rises to the top of the hierarchy. Withholding of aggressive efforts in natal troops to avoid inbreeding thus is not an adequate explanation of the rank rises we observe in this population. The high probability of successful challenges can be explained by assuming an asymmetry in costs of losing (resource value) to tenured alpha males or a greater fighting ability of challengers.
Absorbing and radiating cylinders as boundary-value problems

The exact Maxwell forms of the hybrid E and H fields and radiant-flux distributions in and outside of an absorbing cylinder of fixed length, when the cylinder is irradiated from below by E and H fields characteristic of particular modes, have been determined as a boundary-value problem in electromagnetic theory. The continuity of the tangential components of these E and H fields and the normal components of the radiant flux across the curved surface lead to the well-known Hondros equation, whose roots determine the propagation constants of the cylindrically guided waves. The simpler TE radiant fluxes above and inside the cylinder exhibit non-Fresnel-type periodic dependences on the length of the cylinder and the position of the observation plane inside the cylinder, which are functions of the material constants of both media, the frequency, the radius of the cylinder, and the TE mode being used. Approximate solutions, with cylinders of large radii, indicate the TE radiant fluxes at the curved surface of the cylinder and at the interface between the illuminated and unilluminated regions above the cylinder have continous normal components, discontinuous axial components, and reversed angular components. The reversals of the angular components are due to reversals of the directions of the radial electric fields associated with the Sommerfeld and Hondros nebenwellen, due to the charges and currents on these interfaces. Approximate as well as rigorous solutions are helpful in considering these problems; the primary difficulty in obtaining exact solutions is to find roots of the Hondros equation.
Bis(η5‐Pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) Complexes of Titanium, Zirconium, and Hafnium

The chemistry of organometallic derivatives of titanium and zirconium bearing two pentamethylcyclopentadienyl groups as ancillary ligands has proven to be rich and varied, whereas that for hafnium is still in its formative stages. Derivatives of permethyltitanocene, permethylzirconocene, and permethylhafnocene offer a number of advantages over their (η5-C5H5) analogs. Generally, they exhibit higher thermal stability, solubility, and crystallinity. Furthermore, the steric bulk of the pentamethylcyclopentadienyl group discourages oligomerization through singleatom bridges (H, O, N), thus rendering permethylmetallocene derivatives monomeric. Such properties have facilitated the development of a rich and diverse reaction chemistry for compounds of the group 4 transition metals with pentamethylcyclopentadienyl ancillary ligands.
Evaluation of delivery conditions for cutaneous plasmid electrotransfer using a multielectrode array

Electroporation (EP) is a simple in vivo method to deliver normally impermeable molecules, such as plasmid DNA, to a variety of tissues. Delivery of plasmid DNA by EP to a large surface area is not practical because the distance between the electrode pairs, and therefore the applied voltage, must be increased to effectively permeabilize the cell membrane. The design of the multielectrode array (MEA) incorporates multiple electrode pairs at a fixed distance to allow for delivery of plasmid DNA to the skin, potentially reducing the sensation associated with in vivo EP. In this report, we evaluate the effects of field strength and pulse width on transgene expression and duration using a plasmid encoding the luciferase reporter gene delivered by intradermal injection in a guinea pig model followed by EP with the MEA. As expected, the level of luciferase expression increased with the magnitude and duration of the voltage applied. In addition to adjusting transgene expression levels by altering fielding strength, levels could also be controlled by adjusting the plasmid dose. Our results indicate that the design of the MEA is a viable option for cutaneous plasmid DNA delivery by in vivo EP to a large surface area.
The role of the Internet in medical decision making

The Internet has dramatically changed the means by which information is obtained. Accurate, up-to-date information is vital to maintain the quality of healthcare, especially as US healthcare delivery changes to a primary care-based system. The availability of this new and potentially vast source of information also affects strategies for medical decision making. In this article, use of online information in our medical center is discussed, together with the impact of a locally-developed decision support system. This system first contained components for differential diagnosis as well as computer-assisted instruction. Initially, online searching was limited to Medline literature searches. This component has now been expanded to include important new tools for accessing medical information on the Internet.
Response of nematode-trapping fungi to organic substrates in a coastal grassland soil.

Abstract To understand why Arthrobotrys oligospora and other nematode-trapping fungi are common and sometimes abundant in the coastal grassland soils of the Bodega Marine Reserve (BMR, Sonoma County, CA), we examined how resident trapping fungi responded to the addition of eight organic substrates (lupine leaves, grass leaves, dead isopods, dead moth larvae, isopod faeces, deer faeces, shrimp shells, and powdered chitin). We were especially interested in the effects of dead isopods because isopods are abundant at BMR and because previous studies had documented strong responses of A. oligospora to other arthropods (dead moth larvae). Soil from BMR was packed into vials (40 g dry mass equivalent per vial with water potential at −230 kPa and bulk density at 0.9 g cm −3 ), and one substrate or no substrate was added to the soil surface. After 30 d at 20 °C, trapping fungi were quantified by dilution plating and most probable number procedures. The response of A. oligospora was inversely related to substrate carbon:nitrogen (C:N) ratio: substrates with low C:N ratios (dead isopods, lupine leaves, dead moth larvae) usually caused large increases in A. oligospora whereas those with higher C:N ratios (isopod faeces, deer faeces, grass leaves) did not. An exception was chitin powder, which had a low C:N ratio, but which did not cause A. oligospora to proliferate. Responses of A. oligospora were directly related to the quantity of nitrogen added with each substrate, and those substrates that caused large increases in resident nematodes usually caused large increases in A. oligospora . Other trapping fungi did not respond as strongly as A. oligospora .
Roles of Hydrophobic Interactions and Hydrogen Bonds in Beta-Sheet Formation

In this presentation, we will discuss interactions of extended conformations of homodimeric peptides made of small (glycine or alanine) and large hydrophobic (valine or leucine) sidechains using all-atom computer simulations to decipher driving forces behind beta-sheet formation. Dimers adopt beta-sheet conformations at short inter-peptide distances (x ∼ 0.5 nm) while at intermediate distances (∼ 0.8 nm), dimers made of valine or leucine assume “cross-beta like” conformations with sidechains interpenetrating each other. These two states are identified as minima in the Potential of Mean Force (PMF). While the number of inter-peptide hydrogen bonds increases with decreasing inter-peptide distance, the total hydrogen bond number in the system does not change significantly, suggesting that formation of beta-sheet structures from extended conformations is not driven by hydrogen bonds. This is confirmed by an increase in electrostatic energy at short inter-peptide distances. A remarkable correlation between the volume of the system and the total electrostatic energy is observed, supporting the view that excluded water regions in proteins have an enthalpic penalty. We will also discuss microscopic mechanisms accounting for beta-sheet formation based on computed enthalpy and entropy and we will show that they are different for peptides with small and large sidechains.
Government Policy Biases and Ecuadorian Agricultural Change

Abstract This paper examines links between national policy, agricultural production regimes, and regional economic change in Ecuador. Social and spatial policy biases relate to the presence of qualitatively different production structures in Ecuadorian agriculture—distinguished by their social relations of production and articulation into the capitalist economy. I investigate links between policy, agricultural production regime, and regional economic change through a nationwide empirical analysis of price and credit policy impacts on Ecuadorian agriculture. These analyses employ data drawn from the 1974 and 1982 Population Censuses and the 1974 Agricultural Census. Radically different agricultural production regimes in Ecuador enable/constrain farmers'access to political and economic resources and so influence agrarian change. Specifically Sierran minifundistas, without land title and engaged in subsistence production, are excluded from price and credit programs whereas Costeno export crop producers, empl...
Preferential orientation of Te particles in melt-grown CZT

Cadmium zinc telluride (Cd1-xZnxTe or CZT) has proved to be a useful material for semiconductor gamma-ray spectrometers and other electro-optic devices. It is often grown Te-rich to optimize its electrical characteristics, but this off-stoichiometric growth leads to the formation of semimetallic Te precipitates in the semiconducting host crystal. These precipitates can impair device performance and their formation needs to be inhibited, if possible, during growth. Characterization of melt-grown CZT has shown that Te precipitates are often faceted. In this study, characterization of several particles of different shapes revealed that most of the Te precipitates were preferentially oriented with the {101}CZT||{-12-10}Te . A secondary orientation relationship was also observed as {11-1}CZT||{01-11}Te for one of the {111}CZT family of planes. One of the particles exhibited {110}CZT||{01-10}Te and {001}CZT||{0001}Te . Precipitates were often found on {111}CZT twin boundaries and, in these cases, it was possible to assign specific orientations with respect to the twin plane. The expected orientation of the {0001}-plane of Te aligned with the {111}-plane of CZT was not observed even though a good lattice match is predicted in ab initio models. Observations of strained and polycrystalline Te precipitates are also discussed with relevance to the ab initio model and tomore » impacts on electronic properties.« less
Modeling mesoscale eddies

Abstract Mesoscale eddies are not resolved in coarse resolution ocean models and must be modeled. They affect both mean momentum and scalars. At present, no generally accepted model exists for the former; in the latter case, mesoscales are modeled with a bolus velocity u ∗ to represent a sink of mean potential energy. However, comparison of u ∗ (model) vs. u ∗ (eddy resolving code, [J. Phys. Ocean. 29 (1999) 2442]) has shown that u ∗ (model) is incomplete and that additional terms, “unrelated to thickness source or sinks”, are required. Thus far, no form of the additional terms has been suggested. To describe mesoscale eddies, we employ the Navier–Stokes and scalar equations and a turbulence model to treat the non-linear interactions. We then show that the problem reduces to an eigenvalue problem for the mesoscale Bernoulli potential. The solution, which we derive in analytic form, is used to construct the momentum and thickness fluxes. In the latter case, the bolus velocity u ∗ is found to contain two types of terms: the first type entails the gradient of the mean potential vorticity and represents a positive contribution to the production of mesoscale potential energy; the second type of terms, which is new, entails the velocity of the mean flow and represents a negative contribution to the production of mesoscale potential energy, or equivalently, a backscatter process whereby a fraction of the mesoscale potential energy is returned to the original reservoir of mean potential energy. This type of terms satisfies the physical description of the additional terms given by [J. Phys. Ocean. 29 (1999) 2442]. The mesoscale flux that enters the momentum equations is also contributed by two types of terms of the same physical nature as those entering the thickness flux. The potential vorticity flux is also shown to contain two types of terms: the first is of the gradient-type while the other terms entail the velocity of the mean flow. An expression is derived for the mesoscale diffusivity κM and for the mesoscale kinetic energy K in terms of the large-scale fields. The predicted κM(z) agrees with that of heuristic models. The complete mesoscale model in isopycnal coordinates is presented in Appendix D and can be used in coarse resolution ocean global circulation models.
Do optimists distort their predictions for future positive and negative events

Abstract Trait optimism as measured by the Life Orientation Test was explored as a predictor of judgemental distortions for positive and negative events within varying time-frames. Subjects were asked to predict their absolute or relative chances of experiencing positive and negative events within 3 months, 3 months to 1 year, or 1–5 years. It was predicted that optimists would report the likelihood of experiencing more positive and less negative events relative to other people. While optimists did expect to experience more positive and less negative events, they did not give themselves more favorable predictions compared to other individuals. Being an optimist influenced judgements made within varying time-frames, especially within 3 months and 3 months to 1 year, for negative events only. Discussion highlights the need to differentiate trait measures of optimism with judgemental biases that serve to categorize individuals as optimists.
Teacher Outreach Efforts and Reading Achievement in Kindergarten

To estimate the overall relationship between teachers' outreach efforts and the reading achievement of diverse kindergartners over the school year, multilevel modeling techniques were applied using a large sample of kindergarten students. The results showed that in schools with greater outreach efforts by teachers, there were sharper gains in the reading scores of students with low initial reading ability and students who frequently read outside of school. Minority students with low initial reading ability did not show much gain in schools where teachers engaged more in outreach. These findings demonstrate that teacher outreach efforts, student minority status, and reading outside of school were related to kindergartners' gains in reading skills, and distinguished the reading skills students carry with them to elementary school. Implications and methodological issues for future study are also addressed.
Linearization of manipulator dynamics using spatial operators

Techniques from the spatial operator algebra are used to obtain closed-form operator expressions for two types of linearized dynamics models: the linearized inverse and forward dynamics models. Spatially recursive algorithms of O(n) and O(n/sup 2/) complexity for the computation of the perturbation vector and coefficient matrices for the linearized inverse dynamics model (LIDM) are developed. Operator factorization and inversion identities are used to develop corresponding closed-form expressions for the linearized forward dynamics model (LFDM). Once again, these are used to develop algorithms of O(n) and O(n/sup 2/) complexity for the computation of the perturbation vector and the coefficient matrices. The algorithms for the LFDM do not require the explicit computation of the mass matrix nor its numerical inversion and are also of lower complexity than the conventional O(n/sup 3/) algorithms. >
Biological basis of the behavior of sick animals

The most commonly recognized behavioral patterns of animals and people at the onset of febrile infectious diseases are lethargy, depression, anorexia, and reduction in grooming. Findings from recent lines of research are reviewed to formulate the perspective that the behavior of sick animals and people is not a maladaptive response or the effect of debilitation, but rather an organized, evolved behavioral strategy to facilitate the role of fever in combating viral and bacterial infections. The sick individual is viewed as being at a life or death juncture and its behavior is an all-out effort to overcome the disease.
Characterization of MOSFETs on very thin SOI at temperatures from 77 K to 350 K

Summary form only given. Measurements show significant improvement in subthreshold characteristics, drain induced barrier lowering (DIBL), and effective channel mobility at liquid nitrogen temperature. The devices measured have a channel doping of 3*10/sup 16/ cm/sup -2/, and the gate is n/sup +/-polysilicon on a 120-AA gate oxide. The 1300-AA silicon film is thin enough to be fully depleted under operating conditions with no substrate bias, thus avoiding the kink effect. The subthreshold characteristics of these devices also show improvement at low temperatures. The subthreshold slope S improves by a factor of about four at liquid nitrogen temperature compared to room temperature. This is expected for a longer-channel device. The low-temperature DIBL shows improvement over that at room temperature. This can be understood by recognizing that in the subthreshold regime electron-drift current depends only on the potential barrier to electrons at the virtual cathode. At low temperatures this barrier will be lower for a given current level, since injection current over a potential barrier is proportional to e/sup q phi /kT/. Therefore, the horizontal electric field from the junction will be smaller along the channel, and a smaller DIBL effect is expected from increased drain bias at lower temperature as observed. >
Reaction of 5-Ethynyluracil with Rat Liver Xanthine Oxidase*

5-Ethynyluracil is a time-dependent and tight binding inhibitor of xanthine oxidase. The maximal value of the first-order rate constant for onset of inhibition is 0.01 s-1, and the concentration of 5-ethynyluracil which gives one-half of this value is 190 microM. Because the t1/2 for formation of active enzyme from inhibited enzyme is greater than 30 h in the absence of NADH, inhibition of xanthine oxidase by 5-ethynyluracil is functionally irreversible. One equivalent of 5-[2-14C]ethynyluracil/equivalent of active enzyme is required for complete inhibition. Allopurinol (100 microM), a potent inhibitor of xanthine oxidase, and cyanide (5 mM), an inactivator of the enzyme, do not abolish the binding of 5-[2-14C]ethynyluracil to the enzyme. Because radiolabel is released from 5-[2-14C]ethynyluracil-treated enzyme by treatment with 6 M guanidine HCl, a stable covalent bond is not formed between the inhibitor and the enzyme. However, the radiolabel released from inhibited enzyme is not 5-ethynyluracil. Moreover, NADH restores catalytic activity to the inhibited enzyme and displaces the radiolabel as 5-acetyluracil. Thermal denaturation of 5-ethynyluracil-inhibited xanthine oxidase results in the release of approximately equal amounts of 5-acetyluracil and a more hydrophilic product. Consequently, the 5-ethynyluracil-xanthine oxidase complex yields different degradation products of 5-ethynyluracil under different denaturation conditions. Seven uracil analogues with 5-substituents were tested as time-dependent inhibitors of xanthine oxidase. 5-Ethynyluracil is the only uracil analogue that potently inhibited xanthine oxidase. The reactivity of these uracil derivatives with sulfite was also determined. 5-Ethynyluracil is many fold more susceptible to nonenzymatic nucleophilic addition of sulfite than are the other analogues. Thus, the potency of these uracil analogues as inhibitors of xanthine oxidase is related to the nonenzymatic reactivity of the analogues with sulfite.
Viable Human Cytomegalovirus Recombinant Virus with an Internal Deletion of the IE2 86 Gene Affects Late Stages of Viral Replication

Using bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) technology, we have constructed and characterized a human cytomegalovirus recombinant virus with a mutation in the exon specific for the major immediate-early region 2 (IE2) gene product. The resulting IE2 86-kDa protein (IE2 86) has an internal deletion of amino acids 136 to 290 and is fused at the carboxy terminus to enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). The deletion also removes the promoter and initiator methionine for the p40 form of IE2 and initiator methionine for the p60 form of the protein, and therefore, these late gene products are not produced. The mutant virus IE2 86ΔSX-EGFP is viable but exhibits altered growth characteristics in tissue culture compared with a full-length wild-type (wt) IE2 86-EGFP virus or a revertant virus. When cells are infected with the mutant virus at a low multiplicity of infection (MOI), there is a marked delay in the production of infectious virus. This is associated with slower cell-to-cell spread of the virus. By immunofluorescence and Western blot analyses, we show that the early steps in the replication of the mutant virus are comparable to those for the wt. Although there is significantly less IE2 protein in the cells infected with the mutant, there is only a modest lag in the initial accumulation of IE1 72 and viral early proteins, and viral DNA replication proceeds normally. The mutation also has only a small effect on the synthesis of the viral major capsid protein. The most notable molecular defect in the mutant virus infection is that the steady-state levels of the pp65 (UL83) and pp28 (UL99) matrix proteins are greatly reduced. In the case of UL83, but not UL99, there is also a corresponding decrease in the amount of mRNA present in cells infected with the mutant virus.
High temperature characteristics of monolithically integrated LED and MOS‐channel HEMT in GaN using selective epi removal

In this paper, we have investigated the high temperature characteristics of monolithically integrated LED and MOS-channel HEMT in GaN. The monolithically integrated LED/MOSC-HEMT was implemented by using a selective epi removal approach. The temperature dependence of optical and electrical characteristics of the integrated LED is found to be comparable to that of discrete GaN based LEDs. On-resistance of the MOSC-HEMT shows gradual increase with temperature (~1.6× increase from 25 °C to 225 °C) whereas LED LOP shows rapid decrease with temperature (~6× decrease from 25 °C to 225 °C). Light output of the integrated LED is modulated by the MOSC-HEMT gate bias up to 225 °C.
Characterization of the Elastin Binding Domain in the Cell-surface 25-kDa Elastin-binding Protein of Staphylococcus aureus (EbpS)

Our previous studies have established that a cell-surface 25-kDa elastin-binding protein of Staphylococcus aureus (EbpS) mediates binding of this pathogen to the extracellular matrix protein elastin. Results from binding assays examining the activity of various EbpS fragments suggested that the elastin recognition domain is contained within the first 59 amino acids. In this report, we have used functional analyses with synthetic peptides and recombinant truncated forms of EbpS to localize the elastin binding domain to a 21-amino acid region contained within residues 14–34 of EbpS. Further evidence for the importance of this domain was obtained by demonstrating that the inhibitory activity of anti-EbpS antibodies on staphylococcal elastin binding was neutralized when these antibodies were pre-absorbed with a truncated recombinant EbpS construct containing residues 1–34. Overlapping synthetic peptides corresponding to EbpS residues 14–36 were then generated and tested for elastin binding activity to define further the elastin binding domain, and results from these studies showed that sequences spanning amino acids Gln14-Asp23, Asp17-Asp23, and Thr18-Glu34 inhibit binding ofStaphylococcus aureus to elastin. Our analyses indicate that the hexameric sequence Thr18-Asn-Ser-His-Gln-Asp23 is the minimal sequence common to all active synthetic peptides, proteolytic fragments, and recombinant constructs of EbpS. Furthermore, substitution of Asp23 with Asn abrogated the blocking activity of the synthetic peptides, demonstrating the requirement for a charged amino acid at this location. The composite data indicate that staphylococcal elastin binding is mediated by a discrete domain defined by short peptide sequences in the amino-terminal extracellular region of EbpS.
Experimental study of gas‐induced liquid‐flow structures in bubble columns

The computer-automated radioactive-particle tracking (CARPT) technique is used to investigate liquid recirculation and turbulence in bubble columns. Experiments are conducted in air-water bubble columns of different sizes, with various gas distributors, and operated over a range of superficial gas velocities. This study covers gas-liquid flows from the bubbly regime to the churn turbulent regime. The time-averaged spatial flow structure, axial liquid velocity profiles, Reynolds shear stress, and turbulence intensities profiles are analyzed for different columns and flow conditions. Supplementary experiments, using the hot-probe anemometry technique, are performed at selected flow conditions, and the results are compared with the corresponding ones from CARPT measurements. The Reynolds stress determined by CARPT was compared with that obtained by hot-film anemometry in an independent investigation by Menzel et al. (1990).
The logic of deflective action: US energy shocks and the US policy process

Exogenous shocks may lead to policies that seem extreme and even “irrational”. This paper argues that, in the event of a major energy shock in the US that persists, such legislation is an inevitable response to the demand from constituents that political actors “do something”. Since shocks by their nature are unanticipated and are often highly technical and complex, boundedly rational legislators cannot generally understand all of the ramifications of the shock, much less hope to craft well-considered and precise legislation to deal with it. But the demand to “do something” means that a range of actions is politically necessary. The “shock” policy process is modelled as a stepwise legislative decision problem. If the crisis persists, legislation that promises a solution is likely to be the result, even if this “solution” is infeasible. The model is applied to five US energy shocks.
Neuropsychiatric Correlates of Vascular Injury

Vascular dementia (VaD) is the second most common type of dementia following Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and accounts for 10 to 20% of dementia cases (1,2). VaD is commonly associated with behavioral disturbances that impair overall functioning and often require active intervention (3). However, unlike AD, where there is an extensive literature describing the phenomenology and management of behavioral and psychological symptoms, the neuropsychiatric features of VaD have received less clinical and scientific attention.
The Autodriven interview: A photographic viewfinder into children's experience

As children have been increasingly conceptualized as active participants in their own social worlds, researchers have sought methods able to reveal children's perspectives as arbiters of their own experience. In an autodriven interview, photographs of the child's experiences serve as the basis for a child‐directed interview. Studies using this method illustrate its benefit for revealing child‐relevant content. In a study of childhood chronic illness, autodriving encouraged the child's free recall, sense of personal control, and ability to reflect upon photographed events.
Negative reinforcement reveals non-evoked ongoing pain in mice with tissue or nerve injury

Patients with chronic pain experience spontaneous or ongoing pain as well as enhanced sensitivity to evoked stimuli. Spontaneous or ongoing pain is rarely evaluated in preclinical studies. In fact, it remains controversial whether ongoing or spontaneous pain even develops in mice after tissue or nerve injury. This study tested a hypothesis that negative reinforcement can be used to un- mask the presence of pain in mice with tissue or nerve injury. We found that spinal administration of clonidine or lidocaine did not elicit conditioned place preference (CPP) in uninjured or sham-operated mice. However, these agents produced CPP in mice with chronic inflammation induced by complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) or following L5/L6 spinal nerve ligation (SNL). These data indicate the pres- ence of non-evoked (ie, stimulus-independent) ongoing pain in mice with chronic inflammation (CFA) or following nerve injury (SNL). In addition, this study validates the use of negative reinforcement to unmask non-evoked ongoing pain in mice. Given the existence of a large collection of transgenic and knockout mice, our data show the application of this approach to elucidate molecular mechanisms underlying non-evoked pain and to contribute to drug discovery for pain. Perspective: We demonstrated the presence of non-evoked ongoing pain in mice with chronic in- flammation or following nerve injury. The study also validates the use of negative reinforcement to unmask non-evoked pain in mice. We propose to apply this approach to identify molecular mecha- nisms and effective drugs for chronic pain.
Deposition and Characterization of Metalorganic Chemical Vapor Deposition ZrO 2 Thin Films Using Zr(thd) 4

Excellent quality ZrO2 thin films were successfully deposited on single crystal silicon wafers by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) at reduced pressures using tetrakis(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedionato) zirconium, [Zr(thd)4]. For substrate temperatures below 530°C, the film deposition rates were very small (≤1 nm/min). The film deposition rates were significantly affected by: (1) source temperature, (2) substrate temperature, and (3) total pressure. As-deposited films are stoichiometric (Zr/O = 1/2) and carbon free. Furthermore, only the tetragonal ZrO2 phase was identified in as-deposited films. The tetragonal phase transformed progressively into the monoclinic phase as the films were subjected to high temperature post-deposition annealing. The optical properties of the ZrO2 thin films as a function of wavelength, in the range of 200 nm to 2000 nm, are reported. The measured value of the dielectric constant of the as-deposited ZrO2 films is around 19 in the frequency range of 5 kHz to 1000 kHz.
Variable Costs of Mating, Longevity, and Starvation Resistance in Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae)

Studies on conflict and cooperation in insect mating behavior usually assay the relative costs and benefits of mating in unreplicated experimental designs. We assayed multiple populations for such potential costs and benefits in Musca domestica L. under different nutritional environments. We used four populations, each derived from the same field site, ranging from six to 46 generations in the laboratory. Under benign environmental conditions (i.e., ad libitum food and water), mated females lived up to 13% longer than virgins, but this difference was not significant. Under extreme nutritional stress (i.e., no food or water), mated females lived significantly longer, but in only one of the populations tested. Under more moderate stress (i.e., water alone), mated females of one population died significantly earlier. Thus, aspects of both cooperation and conflict were found, but the effects were not repeatable across populations or nutritional environments. Overall, older females were more susceptible to stress. Moreover, the populations were significantly different in longevity (1.5-fold difference) and starvation resistance (2.2-fold difference). The youngest population lived longer, was more resistant to nutritional stress, and was the only line to exhibit significant costs of mating. Thus, the reduced selection pressures of the laboratory could have allowed the erosion of ejaculate toxicity, longevity, and starvation resistance. However, the simplest explanation is that replicate samples from a single geographic source population show appreciable among-line variation in fitness parameters and the consequences of mating. In conclusion, sexual selection studies on the costs and benefits of mating should consider environmental conditions, evolutionary history, and, perhaps most importantly repeatability.
Energy band gap study of semiconducting single walled carbon nanotube bundle

The electronic properties of multiple semiconducting single walled carbon nanotubes (s-SWCNTs) considering various distribution inside a bundle are studied. The model derived from the proposed analytical potential function of the electron density for an individual s-SWCNT is general and can be easily applied to multiple nanotubes. This work demonstrates that regardless the number of carbon nanotubes, the strong coupling occurring between the closest neighbours reduces the energy band gap of the bundle by 10%. As expected, the coupling is strongly dependent on the distance separating the s-SWCNTs. In addition, based on the developed model, it is proposed to enhance this coupling effect by applying an electric field across the bundle to significantly reduce the energy band gap of the bundle by 20%.