cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Excitation transfer among, and quenching of, the barium 6s5d 3DJ metastable levels due to collisions with argon, nitrogen, and barium perturbers.

We describe a set of experiments that investigate excitation transfer among the barium 6s5d $^{3}$${\mathit{D}}_{\mathit{J}}$ metastable levels due to collisions with argon perturber atoms, and quenching of atoms in these levels by nitrogen perturber molecules. The metastable levels were populated through optical pumping of the 6${\mathit{s}}^{2}$ $^{1}$${\mathit{S}}_{0}$\ensuremath{\rightarrow}6s6p $^{3}$${\mathit{P}}_{1}^{\mathit{o}}$ intercombination transition with a pulsed laser, followed by stimulated emission or stimulated Raman scattering into the 6s5d $^{3}$${\mathit{D}}_{1,2}$ levels. Collisional mixing then distributed population throughout the $^{3}$${\mathit{D}}_{\mathit{J}}$ levels. Time-dependent absorption coefficients were obtained by measuring the transmission of a weak cw probe laser beam (after the pulsed laser fired) at several perturber number densities. Argon buffer gas was used to investigate fine-structure mixing, and nitrogen was used to study quenching. The time-dependent absorption coefficients were fitted to appropriate fitting functions, obtained by solving the set of coupled rate equations used to model the time evolution of the metastable level populations. The buildup rates of the initially unpopulated $^{3}$${\mathit{D}}_{3}$ and underpopulated $^{3}$${\mathit{D}}_{1}$ levels were used to determine the collisional mixing rates, while the measured decay rates of the $^{3}$${\mathit{D}}_{\mathit{J}}$ level populations yielded the quenching rates. From plots of buildup rates versus argon number density for the $^{3}$${\mathit{D}}_{1,3}$ states, we were able to determine four of the six fine-structure mixing rate coefficients ${\mathit{k}}_{\mathit{i}\mathit{j}}$.
Measurement of linear and cubic spin–orbit coupling parameters in AlGaN/AlN/GaN heterostructures with a polarization-induced two-dimensional electron gas

Spin-orbit coupling is investigated by magneto-conductivity measurements in Al x Ga 1-x N/AlN/GaN heterostructures with a polarization-induced two-dimensional electron gas having a carrier density range from 0.8 x 10 12 cm -2 to 10.6 x10 12 cm -2 . The zero-field electron spin-splitting energies extracted from the weak antilocalization measurements are found to scale with the Fermi wavevector k F as 2(αk F +γk 3 F ) with effective linear and cubic spin-orbit parameters of a = 5.0±0.3 x10 -13 eVm 3 and y = 1.6±0.6 x10 -31 eVm 3 , respectively. The cubic spin-orbit coupling parameter is purely due to the bulk inversion asymmetry of the wurtzite crystal and has not been previously measured for the GaN system.
Effects of planting date and irrigation on wax content of sunflower-seed oil

Seed from sunflower grown at Bushland, TX, in 1980 and 1981 and at Florence, SC, in 1982 were evaluated for the influence of date of planting and irrigation on wax production. Wax content of the hull and oil was found to be ca. 10% lower in samples from irrigated than from nonirrigated sunflowers; however, none of the sunflower planted on different dates were under severe moisture stress from bloom to harvest. Although the highest positive correlation was found between the linoleic acid content of the oil and the wax content of the hull, those factors that favored high oil percentage also favored low wax content.
Changes in T-Lymphocyte Subsets During Childhood Epstein-Barr Virus Infectious Mononucleosis

Lymphocyte subsets were measured using monoclonal antibodies in 11 children with Epstein-Barr virus-induced infectious mononucleosis and compared with those of 10 normal children. In acute infectious mononucleosis the percentage of T8+ lymphocytes was greater while the percentage of T4+ lymphocytes and the T4+ to T8+ ratio were less than those measured in normal children. The percentage and absolute number of T lymphocytes, as enumerated by E rosetting, did not differ from the values for normal children. The children with acute infectious mononucleosis had a somewhat lower T8+ response than that observed in four adult infectious mononucleosis patients. With clinical recovery, the T lymphocyte-subset values returned toward normal. T8+ lymphocytes, a phenotype subset with predominantly suppressor activity, presumably reduce normal cellular immune functions transiently and may limit the continued proliferation of Epstein-Barr virus-infected B lymphocytes.
Ecological consequences of ontogenetic shifts in predator diet: Seasonal constraint of a behaviorally mediated indirect interaction

Abstract Predators play an important role in structuring assemblages through direct and cascading indirect effects. While there has been recent interest in how the strength and direction of trophic cascades vary spatially, seasonal variability in trophic links is seldom considered. In North Carolina, recruitment-failure of bay scallops typically occurs following the spring but not the fall spawning despite the presence in each of these seasons of predatory blue crabs. One explanation for this pattern is that in the fall, seasonally abundant predators of blue crabs reduce the foraging efficiency of crabs on scallops and thus the overall magnitude of top-down effects. Quantification of bay scallop consumption by blue crabs in closed mesocosms with or without pinfish supported the hypothesis that seasonally abundant adult pinfish indirectly increase survivorship of bay scallop recruits in fall by reducing predation by blue crabs. Despite voracious consumption of bay scallops during both the day and night in mesocosms to which only small blue crabs were added, blue crabs in mesocosms with visually-foraging adult pinfish consumed bay scallops only by night. Juvenile pinfish that dominate estuarine populations in spring did not impede consumption of bay scallops by blue crabs. In mesocosms from which animals could not emigrate, the addition of neither adult nor juvenile pinfish increased the mortality of blue crabs, indicating a behaviorally mediated interaction. Blue crabs restricted by adult pinfish to nocturnal feeding did not compensate for lost feeding time by increasing their night-time consumption of bay scallops. These results strongly suggest that greater survivorship of bay scallops in fall than spring is due to adult pinfish, potential predators of small blue crabs, restricting blue crab foraging to hours of dark. In spring, when pinfish are small and incapable of consuming blue crabs, blue crabs consume bay scallops by day and by night. Such seasonal variation in the number of trophic links in a system may have important evolutionary implications. By timing reproduction to occur in fall when the pinfish–crab–scallop cascade is in operation, bay scallops maximize recruitment.
Effect of continuous vs. discontinuous shock on shuttle box avoidance in the rat

Discontinuous shock (.2 sec. on and 2.0 sec. off) was compared with continuous shock in a shuttle box avoidance situation using rats as subjects. Ss were shown to give a significantly larger number of avoidance responses when discontinuous shock was used as the US.
Integrating biological knowledge with gene expression profiles for survival prediction of cancer.

Due to the large variability in survival times between cancer patients and the plethora of genes on microarrays unrelated to outcome, building accurate prediction models that are easy to interpret remains a challenge. In this paper, we propose a general strategy for improving performance and interpretability of prediction models by integrating gene expression data with prior biological knowledge. First, we link gene identifiers in expression dataset with gene annotation databases such as Gene Ontology (GO). Then we construct “supergenes” for each gene category by summarizing information from genes related to outcome using a modified principal component analysis (PCA) method. Finally, instead of using genes as predictors, we use these supergenes representing information from each gene category as predictors to predict survival outcome. In addition to identifying gene categories associated with outcome, the proposed approach also carries out additional within-category selection to select important genes within each gene set. We show, using two real breast cancer microarray datasets, that the prediction models constructed based on gene sets (or pathway) information outperform the prediction models based on expression values of single genes, with improved prediction accuracy and interpretability.
Branch-and-bound algorithms on a hypercube

The parallel implementation of branch-and-bound algorithms on multiprocessors has received an increasing amount of attention in recent years. This paper describes research currently being conducted at Clemson University. We study the job scheduling problem: given n jobs, each with processing time, pi, and due date, di, schedule these jobs on a single machine such that total tardiness is minimized. Total tardiness, T, is defined as: T = n ∑ i=1 wi * max { 0, Ci - di } where Ci is the completion time and wi is the weight of job i. The hypercube used is a Floating Point Systems T-20: sixteen INMOS Transputers, synchronous communication, programmed in OCCAM. We describe an implementation focusing specifically on efficient communication and load balancing algorithms.
Understanding the superior clear space in the adult ankle.

Background The width of the medial clear space often is used to determine the integrity of the deltoid ligament, the primary medial stabilizer of the ankle joint. The normal clinical relationship of the superior clear space to the medial clear space is not well described. This investigation sought to determine if the superior clear space constitutes an accurate point of comparison for the medial clear space and a means for assessing ligamentous stability in an adult ankle. Methods A retrospective review of consecutive ankle radiographs for a 4-month period of time was completed using a university-based radiology database. Using a digitally calibrated ruler, the widths of the medial and superior clear spaces were measured on the mortise view. These values were compared using a Student's t-test. Results Digital radiographs of 564 consecutive ankles were reviewed retrospectively and 94 cases were without evidence of trauma, surgery, or degenerative disease. The medial and superior clear spaces were measured on the mortise view and found to be 2.7 mm (standard deviation 0.5; range 1.3 mm to 4.3 mm; 95% confidence interval 1.7 mm to 3.8 mm) and 3.6 mm (standard deviation 0.6; 2.0 to 5.3; CI 2.4 mm to 4.7 mm), respectively. The average absolute difference was 0.9 mm (standard deviation 0.5; -0.7 to 1.5; CI -0.1 mm to 1.8 mm) and in 92 of 94 ankles (98%), the superior clear space was greater than or equal to the medial clear space. Conclusions Understanding the normal radiographic relationship of the superior and medial clear spaces may help in the diagnosis of ligamentous instability in the ankle and may obviate the need for additional diagnostic tests.
Size distribution and stability of the trans-membrane channels formed by complement complex C5b-9.

Abstract We have performed double marker sieving experiments with molecules ranging from ca. 0.5–3 nm dia. in order to evaluate the size distribution of the channels formed by complement in resealed sheep erythrocyte ghosts. Evidence is presented that marker release through the channels reaches equilibrium between the ghosts and the extracellular fluid in a period of 3 hr and that the channels are stable at 37 C for this period of time. Under these experimental conditions we have observed a differential in the endpoint release of inositol and sucrose, which indicates that some of the ghosts carried channels measuring between 0.7 and 0.9 nm dia. No differential was observed between release of sucrose and raffinose (0.9 and 1.1 nm mol. dia., respectively). Comparisons between sucrose and inulin (0.9 and 3 nm mol. dia, respectively) showed a difference in marker release. Also, there was substantial release of inulin, indicating the presence of channels above 3 nm in dia. Hence, the present data indicate formation of channels in three size ranges, namely, 0.7–0.9 nm. 0.9–3 nm and greater than 3 nm.
Optimal control of accelerator concentration for resin transfer molding process

Resin cure following mold filling is an essential element in resin transfer molding. To fabricate a composite part with high dimensional stability and minimize residual stress, uniform resin cure should be achieved. This study considers a three-part resin system composed of epoxy, hardener and accelerator. The cure kinetics can be controlled by the accelerator concentration at the injection gate. A numerical method that can predict degree of cure distribution based on accelerator concentration at the gate was proposed. The degree of cure distribution is obtained by solving the resin flow, heat transfer, accelerator concentration and cure problems sequentially. Utilizing this numerical method, an optimal variation of accelerator concentration during mold filling was sought by solving a constrained optimization problem. The effect of accelerator control on degree of cure distribution was investigated and its validity was examined for two different geometries.
The minisum location problem on an undirected network with continuous link demands

Abstract In the one-median problem, a facility is to be located on a network minimizing total travel distances from the facility to customer demands restricted to nodal locations. In reality, however, demands do occur on links of a network. Thus, aggregation of or restriction to nodal demands may not be a satisfactory approximation. In this paper, we generalize the one-median problem to a network with discrete nodal as well as general continuous link demands. Properties of the total travel distance, as a function of the facility's location, are examined. We introduce an exact and a heuristic procedure to find an optimal location for the facility. An efficient algorithm is developed when the network is a tree.
Multi-channel active noise control for periodic sources-indirect approach

This paper presents a multi-channel active noise control algorithm that is designed to reject periodic signals of unknown frequency. It is based on a so-called indirect approach, where the frequency of the disturbance is estimated in real time, and the estimate is used in a disturbance rejection scheme designed for a known frequency. Improvements over an earlier algorithm include an extension to multi-channel systems, a better frequency estimation algorithm, and a thorough experimental evaluation. For disturbance rejection, a so-called inverse G algorithm is proposed and its properties are compared through analysis and experiments to those of a gradient algorithm. A new frequency estimator is also considered that is simple and flexible in design, and is able to use multiple harmonics or multiple signals in order to estimate the fundamental frequency of the noise source. In this manner, the algorithm maintains tracking of the fundamental frequency despite significant changes in signal characteristics. The ability of the indirect approach to reject periodic noise with fixed or time-varying frequency and amplitudes is demonstrated in active noise control experiments. The algorithm may also be useful in other control applications where periodic disturbances of unknown frequency must be rejected.
Evidence for the involvement of ActA in maturation of the Listeria monocytogenes phagosome

Evidence for the involvement of ActA in maturation of the Listeria monocytogenes phagosome
Causes, location, and timing of relapse following rigid fixation after mandibular advancement.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate two different groups of patients who underwent bilateral sagittal split osteotomy for mandibular advancement. One group demonstrated no relapse, whereas a second group had documented relapse. The following questions were asked: 1) What factors contribute to relapse? 2) At what site in the mandible is movement seen? and 3) During what period does movement occur? A retrospective lateral cephalometric serial analysis was performed on 50 patients at multiple time intervals. Criteria for a candidate include 1) mandibular advancement surgery with rigid fixation, with or without genioplasty, 2) no maxillary surgery, and 3) relapse of 25% or more of the advancement. Of the 50 patients analyzed, 13 (26%) showed relapse of 25% or more and served as the relapse group. Twelve patients showed no relapse and served as the comparison group. Multiple-regression analysis for the relapse group showed that magnitude of advancement, increasing gonial arc and changing mandibular plane significantly accounted for 84.9% of the variance observed in relapse (P less than .001). Repeated-measures ANOVA showed that the majority of relapse occurred in the first 6 weeks after surgery (68%, P less than .05). Results of a paired t test showed that a significant change occurred in all the linear and angular measures except SN-AR-GO (P less than .05).
Mechanical Transmission of Leishmania Major by Glossina Morsitans Morsitans (Diptera: Glossinidae)

Laboratory-reared Glossino morsitans morsitans mechanically transmitted 2 strains of Leishmania major following interrupted feedings on infected hamsters and mice. Since L. major foci in Africa occur within the ranges of 1 or more species of tsetse, Glossina spp. could transmit Leishmania mechanically in nature.
PHYLOGENY OF GRACILARIA LEMANEIFORMIS (RHODOPHYTA) BASED ON SEQUENCE ANALYSIS OF ITS SMALL SUBUNIT RIBOSOMAL RNA CODING REGION1

The small subunit ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequence of Gracilaria lemaneiformis Bory Weber-van Bosse was inferred from analysis of rRNA coding regions that were amplified by the polymerase chain reaction method. Comparison of the G. lemaneiformis small subunit rRNA to homologous genes of diverse eukaryotes demonstrated that the red algal divergence was nearly simultaneous with the separation of plants, fungi, animals and many other protist lineages. This result conflicts with those of 5S rRNA sequence and plastid based phytogenies which suggest that red algae represent an early divergence in the eukaryotic line of descent. Further, algae appear to be of polyphyletic origin and red algae are unrelated to higher fungi.
Chronic strongyloidiasis in Vietnam veterans

Chronic Strongyloides stercoralis infections can produce intermittent urticarial skin eruptions and gastrointestinal discomfort for years. Three cases of symptomatic infection acquired by United States military personnel in Vietnam are presented as examples of chronic parasitic disease unrecognized by physicians despite clear histories of geographic exposure, classic creeping skin eruptions, and eosinophilia. More attention needs to be paid to the possible long-term sequela from military service in tropical climates by both military and civilian physicians.
Trends in Hospitalizations for AIDS-Associated Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia in the United States (1986 to 2005)

Background Although hospitalizations for AIDS-associated Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) in the United States have decreased since the introduction of chemoprophylaxis and potent combination antiretroviral therapy (ART), PCP remains an important cause of illness and death among AIDS patients. Methods We analyzed trends in AIDS-associated PCP hospital discharges using the National Hospital Discharge Surveys between 1986 and 2005. Results An estimated 539 million patients were discharged from hospitals between 1986 and 2005, of whom an estimated 312,411 had AIDS-associated PCP. The proportion of patients discharged from the hospital with AIDS-associated PCP decreased from 31% before the introduction of chemoprophylaxis (1986 to 1989) to 17% with chemoprophylaxis (1990 to 1995) and subsequently to 9% after the introduction of ART in 1996 (p Conclusions While there have been significant reductions in hospitalizations and hospital mortality for AIDS-associated PCP over the last 20 years, these reductions have not been homogenous across demographic subpopulations and geographic regions and point to new at-risk populations. Furthermore, mortality in severe cases of PCP that require mechanical ventilation has improved substantially.
ISOLATION OF MUTANTS OF THE FUNGUS Cercospora nicotianae ALTERED IN THEIR RESPONSE TO SINGLET‐OXYGEN‐GENERATING PHOTOSENSITIZERS

Fungi in the genus Cercospora produce a singlet-oxygen-generating photosensitizing toxin cercosporin, which plays an important role in the ability of these fungi to parasitize plants. Previous studies demonstrated that resistance to cercosporin was associated with the ability of the fungus to reduce and detoxify cercosporin transiently. In order to characterize the mechanism of cercosporin resistance further, two types of mutants were isolated. One set of mutants was selected directly for sensitivity to cercosporin. Six cercosporin-sensitive mutants were isolated. Five of the mutants were totally inhibited by cercosporin as well as by five other photosensitizers, methylene blue, toluidine blue, eosin Y, rose bengal and hematoporphyrin. These five mutants were also deficient in cercosporin-reducing ability. The sixth cercosporin-sensitive mutant was only partially inhibited by cercosporin. This mutant was unaltered in cercosporin-reducing ability and in its response to the other photosensitizers. In order to test hypotheses concerning the mechanism of cercosporin reduction, a second set of mutants was selected for general deficiency in cell surface-reducing capability by screening for the inability to reduce two tetrazolium dyes (p-tolyltetrazolium red and 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride) of similar redox potential to cercosporin. Dye-reduction-deficient mutants were unaltered in their resistance to cercosporin and in cercosporin-reducing ability. We conclude that cercosporin resistance of these fungi is strongly correlated with the ability to reduce cercosporin. However, cercosporin-reducing ability is separable from the general ability to reduce external electron acceptors.
Analytic Born completion in the calculation of differential cross sections for electron scattering from a linear molecule

We present a closed-form expression for the infinity of high-order partial waves and symmetry classes required to converge differential cross sections for vibrationally elastic or inelastic electron scattering from a linear molecule. This expression combines correction terms based on the first Born approximation with terms that contain T-matrix elements from accurate, non-Born scattering calculations such as those of body-frame fixed-nuclear-orientation theory. The equations for analytic Born completion reduce the convergence requirements for a differential cross section from several potentially infinite sums over angular-momentum quantum numbers to a single parameter that determines the partial-wave order at which the switch to the Born approximation occurs. We demonstrate the efficacy and accuracy of these equations for low-energy collisions of electrons with H2 and N2.
Control of plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar, with entomopathogenic nematodes: Effects of application timing, alternate host plant, and nematode strain

Abstract In prior research, we established that soil applications of Steinernema riobrave in peach orchards that target plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar , larvae can result in high levels of control (78–100%). In this study, we investigated the potential of using entomopathogenic nematodes to control C. nenuphar further by evaluating (1) field efficacy of late-term nematode applications, i.e., that target C. nenupha r after the onset of adult emergence, (2) control C. nenuphar larvae in an alternate host, i.e., wild plum, Prunus angustifolia , and (3) laboratory virulence of different Steinernema carpocapsae and S. riobrave strains. In 2004 and 2005, late-term applications of S. carpocapsae (All strain) and S. riobrave (355 strain) in a peach orchard in Quincy, Florida failed to cause any measurable control. In field tests targeting C. nenuphar larvae in a wild plum thicket (Byron, Georgia), S. riobrave (355 strain) caused 100% control (both years), and S. riobrave (3-8b strain) caused 98.6% and 87.9% control in 2005 and 2006, respectively. Applications in alternate hosts could reduce C. nenuphar immigration into the orchard. Laboratory experiments detected differential virulence to C. nenuphar larvae in S. carpocapsae (All strain) and six strains of S. riobrave ; among the most virulent were the 3-2, 3-3, and 355 strains of S. riobrave . Pathogenicity to adult C. nenuphar in the laboratory was not detected in five S. riobrave strains, but was detected in four S. carpocapsae strains (All, Agriotos, Italian and Sal) but not in two others (Kapow and Mexican). We conclude that soil applications with entomopathogenic nematodes can cause high levels of C. nenuphar control in peach or alternate hosts, but timing of application and the choice of nematode species or strain can be important.
Strontium Content of Some Standard Samples

This paper presents strontium values determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry on six NBS Portland cements, six NBS standards, and the wellknown G-1 and W-1. These samples represent a wide variety of rock or rocklike types with strontium ranging in concentration from about 0.0025% to 0.21%. Values on samples certified by the National Bureau of Standards are limited to six portland cements and one argillaceous limestone.
Nicotine self‐administration: cigarette versus nicotine gum diurnal topography

The few extant reports examining the relationship between diurnal patterns of pre-cessation smoking and cessation nicotine replacement use suggest that this relationship may be important in preventing smoking relapse. The current study evaluated three interventions to increase nicotine gum use: standard treatment (ST, N = 31), ST plus brief feedback about nicotine attitudes and knowledge (BF, N = 32), or BF plus contingent monetary reinforcement for nicotine gum use (CM, N = 34). Subsets of the 97 randomized subjects were selected based on availability of adequate data for analyses: baseline phase (i.e., 6–7 days of ad libitum smoking, N = 63) or the treatment phase (i.e., 13–15 days of treatment, N = 47). For both cigarettes and nicotine gum, participants showed a characteristic pattern of increasing use during the morning hours, followed by stable use in the afternoon and evening, with a steep decrease prior to sleep onset. Patterns of diurnal gum use did not differ by compliance intervention. Greater morning use of cigarettes or gum was associated with smoking relapse while greater evening and night use of cigarettes or gum was associated with abstinence. Understanding of diurnal patterns of smoking and NRT use may ultimately inform tailored scheduling of NRT. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Increased severity of herpes simplex virus type 1-induced keratitis in Hox A5 transgenic mice.

Purpose. Herpes simplex virus type 1 is a major cause of stromal keratitis and blindness in humans. Understanding of the role of host genes in the pathogenesis of herpes stromal keratitis is limited. We used a transgenic mouse model to examine the effect of a host gene, Hox A5 (which binds to the TAATGARAT sequence in the promoter regions of HSV-1 immediate early genes and increases HSV-1 replication), on the pathogenesis of HSV-1 induced stromal keratitis. Methods. Corneas of wildtype and Hox A5 transgenic mice were infected with HSV-1 strain F following corneal scarification. Clinical severity of keratitis was evaluated using slit-lamp biomicroscopy. Histologic severity of keratitis was determined by light microscopic evaluation and by computerized morphometry. Ocular viral replication was measured via plaque assay. Results. Clinical lesions of stromal keratitis were more severe at 17 and 23 days post infection in Hox A5 transgenic mice than in wildtype mice. Histological evaluation and morphometric ana...
Low-cost unattended ground sensors for continuous surveillance

The concept of sensor networks that can detect intrusions by hostile personnel and provide live, real time video of the intrusions to a central location has been circulated for over three decades. While there have been permanent installations of continuous surveillance monitors along small sections of the US border and such systems are routinely installed around high value facilities, these systems are not practical over large regions. The ideal sensor network would be covert, have self-contained power, be resistant to false alarms, be low cost, enable wireless data transfer, rapidly deployed and easily maintained, and require minimal personnel to operate/monitor. Unfortunately, the technical capability to produce such a sensor network has heretofore not existed. The advent of Ultra-Wideband (UWB) radiofrequency technology, digital cameras and night/day imaging technology developed during the telecom boom has changed this. By combining General Atomics' UWB communications and radar technology with commercially available micro-CCD or CMOS cameras, night illuminators, and lithium-ion batteries, an unattended sensor network capable of monitoring large (10 - 2000 km) class perimeters has been developed.
Modulating insulin-release profile from pH/thermosensitive polymeric beads through polymer molecular weight.

Stimuli-sensitive statistical terpolymers of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) (temperature-sensitive), butyl methacrylate (BMA) and acrylic acid (AA) (pH-sensitive) of various molecular weight (MW) with NIPAAm/BMA/AA feed mol ratio of 85/5/10 were used to modulate release of insulin, a model protein drug, from pH/thermosensitive polymeric beads. Protein drug loading from an aqueous medium into the beads was achieved by preparing a 7 or 10% (w/v) polymer solution with 0.2% (w/v) insulin at low pH and below the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the polymer (pH 2.0 and 4°C), and then dropping the solution into an oil bath above the LCST of the solution (35°C). This loading procedure maintained protein stability while achieving high loading efficiency, between 90 and 95% in the beads. Insulin-release studies from beads prepared from terpolymers of the same composition but increasing MW were performed at pH 2.0 and 7.4, at 37°C. It was observed that there was negligible loss of insulin at pH 2.0 from the beads, indicating no burst effect. At pH 7.4, insulin release was seen from all the beads and the release rate was a function of the MW of the polymer. The low MW polymeric beads eroded, dissolved and released most of the insulin within 2 h at pH 7.4 and 37°C, the intermediate MW polymeric beads swelled slightly, dissolved and released most of the insulin within 4 h, whereas the high MW polymeric beads swelled slowly and gradually released the loaded insulin over a period of 8 h. Thus, the release of protein from the low MW polymeric beads is controlled by the rate of dissolution of the polymer, whereas the release from the high MW polymeric beads is controlled by swelling of the beads and drug diffusion. Studies using fluorescein-labeled insulin revealed that insulin was uniformly distributed in the beads regardless of polymer MW. The loaded and released insulin were fully bioactive. Based on the described results, the low MW polymeric beads may be used for immediate delivery of protein drugs in the duodenum, the intermediate MW polymeric beads may be used for lower small intestine targeting, while the high MW polymeric beads may be used to target protein drugs predominantly to the colon.
Fractional radial diffusion in a cylinder

The standard integral equation describing the inward radial diffusion from the surface of a cylinder of radius R and unit length has been generalized to a fractional integral equation describing fractional radial diffusion. The solution for the case when the concentration at the boundary is held constant, can be expressed as the inverse finite Hankel transform of Mittag–Leffler functions, resulting in an infinite series in terms of Bessel functions. The solution giving the variation of concentration in reduced variables has been evaluated numerically. In addition, numerical results for the total amount that has diffused and second moment of the concentration distribution as functions of time are presented. All the quantities exhibit a universal behavior in terms of the dimensionless parameter β=Dtα/R2. As a result, the usual distinction between sub- (α 1) normally discussed in the context of one-dimensional diffusion does not exist in this two-dimensional system.
Movement model, hits distribution and learning in virtual keyboarding

In a ten-session experiment, six participants practiced typing with an expanding rehearsal method on an optimized virtual keyboard. Based on a large amount of in-situ performance data, this paper reports the following findings. First, the Fitts-digraph movement efficiency model of virtual keyboards is revised. The format and parameters of Fitts' law used previously in virtual keyboards research were incorrect. Second, performance limit predictions of various layouts are calculated with the new model. Third, learning with expanding rehearsal intervals for maximum memory benefits is effective, but many improvements of the training algorithm used can be made in the future. Finally, increased visual load when typing previously practiced text did not significantly change users' performance at this stage of learning, but typing unpracticed text did have a performance effect, suggesting a certain degree of text specific learning when typing on virtual keyboards
Stress relaxation in rubbers containing reinforced fillers

Stress relaxation in rubber stocks containing various fillers was measured at room temperature, and an empirical equation found for relating decrease in tension, ft, over a period of time from 0.1 sec. to 6 months, namely: where f1.0 is force after 1 min. of relaxation, n is the relaxation rate of material (by definition) and t is time in minutes. Raw rubbers were examined under compression, and cured rubbers were tested under tension. In both cured and raw butadiene rubbers, stress relaxation was found to be a viscous-controlled process. In raw rubbers, reinforcing carbon blacks decrease the rate of relaxation, while in cured rubbers the effect of carbon black is very small. However, in swollen (to VR = 0.25), cured rubbers, the rate of relaxation increases with increasing carbon black loading, indicating a slippage and/or breakage of some carbon black-polymer attachments.
Characterization of carbon-supported AuPt nanoparticles for electrocatalytic methanol oxidation reaction.

In view of the recent finding that the bimetallic AuPt nanoparticles prepared by molecular-capping-based colloidal synthesis and subsequent assembly on carbon black support and thermal activation treatment exhibit alloy properties, which is in sharp contrast to the bimetallic miscibility gap known for the bulk counterparts in a wide composition range, there is a clear need to assess the electrocatalytic properties of the catalysts prepared with different bimetallic composition and different thermal treatment temperatures. This paper reports recent results of such an investigation of the electrocatalytic methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) activities of the carbon-supported AuPt nanoparticle catalysts with different bimetallic composition and thermal treatment temperatures. AumPt100-m nanoparticles of 2−3 nm core sizes with different atomic compositions ranging from 10% to 90% Au (m = 10∼90) have been synthesized by controlling the feeding of the metal precursors used in the synthesis. The electrocatalytic M...
Cleaning up Polyketide Synthases

Complex biosynthetic enzymes such as polyketide synthases make mistakes. In this issue of Chemistry & Biology, Jensen et al. report that a discrete family of acyltransferases is responsible for error correction, hydrolyzing key biosynthetic intermediates from a multi-enzyme complex. This activity might find use in understanding polyketide biosynthesis, particularly in uncultivated organisms and in tailoring the synthesis of small molecules.
Information Technology, Culture, and Learning at Federal Express

AbstractIn a little over two decades, the Federal Express Corporation has grown from a startup in the overnight package delivery business to a $9 billion global leader in the industry. How has FedEx achieved such success? The following case study finds that while leadership in information technology innovation has been central to FedEx's success, attention to the diversity of both organizational and global cultures as well as organizational learning have helped to provide a foundation for long-term viability in the global marketplace.
Effect of amino acids and α‐amanitin on the development of rabbit embryos in modified protein‐free KSOM with HEPES

Four experiments were conducted to test the effects of Eagle's non-essential amino acids (NEAA) and essential amino acids (EAA), glycine, and the RNA polymerase inhibitor α-amanitin, on the development of preimplantation rabbit embryos in modified protein-free KSOM medium. Embryos were distributed randomly into different treatments and cultured in 5% O2:5% CO2:90% N2. In experiment 1, 100% of the embryos became blastocysts in the medium with Eagle's IX NEAA and 0.5X EAA, but 100% stopped development at the morula stage in KSOM without amino acids. These morulae failed to develop further when transferred to amino acid supplemented medium after 72 hr of culture. Glycine alone in modified KSOM (experiment 2) was ineffective in supporting development of 8–16-cell stage embryos past the morula stage. In experiment 3, the addition of IX NEAA and 0.5X EAA at 0, 12, 24, 36, and 48 hr of culture resulted, respectively, in 57, 65, 65, 44, and 14% blastocysts on Day 3 (P<0.05) and 86, 77, 77, 78, and 69% on Day 5 (P<0.05). Omission of Eagle's amino acids until 48 hr clearly delayed embryo development. In experiment 4, when α-amanitin (20 μM) was added to the medium containing Eagle's amino acids after 0, 12, 24, 36, and 48 hr of culture most embryos cleaved only once or twice after adding the α-amanitin. Without the inhibitor, 94% of the zygotes developed into blastocysts. These results indicate that modified KSOM or KSOM plus glycine could not support rabbit embryo development past the morula stage, but this block was overcome by adding Eagle's amino acids. An exogenous source of amino acids was not critical for embryo development during the first 24 hr of culture, but was required after that for development to equal controls. Addition of α-amanitin at multiple pre-blastocyst stages limited further embryo development to one or two cleavage divisions, with no blastocyst development. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The Adolescent Father's Impact on the Mother and Child

The adolescent father's impact on the mother and child is the focus of this review. Research on the father-infant relationship is reviewed and the role of the father as caregiver and playmate is emphasized. The consequences of the adolescent father's participation for the development of the infant's cognitive and social-emotional development is examined. A model that distinguishes direct and indirect paths of influence for adolescent fathers is proposed. The nature of support systems that may help adolescent fathers more adequately perform their parental role is discussed and an empirical investigation that provides one type of supportive intervention is outlined.
Efficient Implicit Finite-Element Hydrodynamic Model for Dam and Levee Breach

This technical paper presents the development and application of a pseudo-transient continuation (PTC)– inspired flow model for the simulation of dam and levee failure. The unstructured, implicit, Petrov-Galerkin finite-element model relies on computed residuals to automatically adjust the time-step size. The implicit time integration, together with the automatic time-step size selection through PTC, makes the model computationally efficient. The model is verified and applied to several analytic and real-world test cases that exercise model behavior and accuracy for several critical, transcritical, and subcritical flows. The result is an efficient and accurate prediction of both the speed and depth of shock waves as the dam-break flow passes over initially dry and wet land.
Structural ordering in F8T2 polyfluorene thin film transistors

We have used thermal treatment and rubbed polyimide alignment layers to produce large domains of poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene-co-bithiophene) alternating copolymer (F8T2). The direction of rubbing on the polyimide surface determines the orientation of these domains, allowing us to create thin-film transistors with channel lengths parallel and perpendicular to the liquid crystal polymer director. We showed that thermal annealing at temperatures ranging from 150 to 350°C modifies the polymer structure from an amorphous to ordered phase as observed by X-ray diffraction. Polarized light optical microscopy showed that this ordered phase is associated with very large ordered domains and corresponds to a thermotropic, nematic liquid-crystal phase. We investigated thermal annealing effects on both F8T2 structural ordering and the associated electrical properties of the thin film transistors (TFTs). Enhanced mobility of holes is observed with ordering. Field-effect mobility parallel to the polymer backbone is as much as 6.5 times greater than the perpendicular configuration.
Identification of cis and trans-acting transcriptional regulators in chondroinduced fibroblasts from the pre-phenotypic gene expression profile.

Abstract Cell differentiation is regulated via expression of successive sets of genes. In an in vitro model of chondrocyte differentiation, human dermal fibroblasts (hDFs) cultured in collagen sponges are induced to express cartilage matrix genes after 7 days' culture with demineralized bone powder (DBP). A shift in expression of many other genes occurs within 3 days, before chondroblast phenotypic genes are detectable. In this study, the pre-chondrogenic gene expression profile was used as a starting point to derive information on transcriptional regulation of chondrocyte differentiation induced by DBP. Putative cis regulatory elements were identified by comparing promoter regions from three genes that are highly upregulated in chondroinduced hDFs (BIGH3, COL1A2, and FN1) [Zhou, S., Glowacki, J., Yates, K.E, 2004. Comparison of TGF-β/BMP pathways signaled by demineralized bone powder and BMP-2 in human dermal fibroblasts. J. Bone Min. Res. 19, 1732–1741] and whose products are known to interact in the matrix [Kim, J.E., et al., 2002. Molecular properties of wild-type and mutant betaIG-H3 proteins. Investig. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 43, 656–661]. The effect of DBP on nuclear protein binding to cis elements was measured with an array-based assay. Nuclear extracts from hDFs cultured in DBP/collagen sponges for 3 days showed increased binding to several cis elements belonging to the families that were identified by promoter analysis. Of note, those elements represented targets of both signal-activated and developmentally regulated transcription factors. Direct measurement of mRNAs showed increased gene expression of both types of transcription factors in chondroinduced hDFs, including NFKB2 (290% of control), RELA (160%), and GATA2 (190%). Moreover, DBP increased gene expression of chondrogenic transcription factors SOX9 (160% of control) and RUNX2 (180%). Immunoblot analysis showed that DBP increased both expression (200% of control) and phosphorylation (300%) of the Creb protein, a transcription factor that is downstream of several signal transduction pathways. Inhibition of protein kinase A, protein kinase C, or MAP kinase in hDFs cultured in DBP/collagen sponges reduced induction of BIGH3 to ∼50% of control. These results suggest that both signal-activated and developmentally controlled transcriptional mechanisms contribute to chondroinduction of hDFs by DBP.
Experiments on rank preservation and reversal in relative measurement

We show through simulation that three methods of scaling, distributive (uniqueness is important), ideal (uniqueness is not important), and utility (use of interval scales for the ideal) modes, yield the same ranking of alternatives with surprisingly high frequency, except for the case of copies or near copies of an alternative in which the distributive mode always reverses rank, which is legitimate when the uniqueness of the most preferred alternative is important.
2-Chlorophenol oxidation in supercritical water: Global kinetics and reaction products

2-Chlorophenol (2CP) was oxidized in near-critical and supercritical water in a high-pressure plug-flow reactor. The global kinetics for 2CP disappearance were described by a rate law that was 0.88±0.06 order in 2CP, 0.41±0.12 order in O2, and 0.34±0.17 order in water. The activation energy was 11.0±3.8 kcal/mol, and the Arrhenius pre-exponential factor was 102.0±1.2 M−0.63 S−1. The uncertainties represent 95% confidence intervals. The products of 2CP oxidation included CO, CO2, HCl, other chlorophenols, chlorohydroxybenzaldehydes, dichlorophenoxyphenols, dichlorobiphenols, and chlorinated dibenzodioxins and dibenzofuran. The molar yields of the organic products were determined for a set of experiments at 380°C and 278 atm. The most abundant products were 2CP dimers such as dichlorophenoxyphenols and dichlorobiphenols, and the highest yield observed for any individual product was 0.6%. Although the yields of these products were low, their selectivities were high. For example, at 3.6 s, the shortest residence time studied under these conditions, about 50% of the carbon in the 2CP that reacted appeared in 2CP dimers, 18% appeared as CO2, and the balance (32%) was presumably in single-ring and ring-opening products. A reaction pathway analysis using the Delplot methodology revealed that the evolution of products from 2CP oxidation in supercritical water was consistent with a reaction network comprising two parallel primary reactions. One primary reaction path led to dichlorophenoxyphenols and dichlorobiphenols whereas the second primary reaction led to single-ring and ring-opening products. The 2CP dimers were convereted to single-ring and ring-opening products, which were, in turn, ultimately oxidized to CO2.
Perceptions of Crime in Capitalist America: The Question of Consciousness Manipulation

Abstract This paper reports research designed to assess a conflict interpretation of public consensus on the seriousness of different types of crimes. Earlier studies report that the degree of such agreement is extensive. It is suggested that, while this supports a consensus model of criminal law, it challenges the conflict model. However, that proponents of the latter suggest this consensus in a capitalist society is not surprising. It exists because the powerful, by dominating criminal justice, are able to manipulate the powerless to believe definitions of crime which support the interests of the powerful. This consciousness manipulation hypothesis is examined in a class-stratified sample which was asked to rate the seriousness of and suggest appropriate penalties for a number of person, property, political, white collar, victimless, and public order offenses. Little evidence of manipulation is found. The implications of these findings for false consciousness and public policy issues are discussed.