cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of pre-calving diet energy content on immunologic and metabolic parameters in the transition cow

Over the last 30 years the trend on dairies has been to increase the energy content of the prepartum ration to enhance dry matter intake (DMI) during the final weeks of gestation and prepare the rumen for the higher energy diets of lactation. In the last few years a number of dairies have shifted to a completely different dietary strategy; feeding a lower, but adequate, energy diet, which utilizes straw as a major component of the diet. The objective of this study was to determine if the institution of a lower energy pre-partum diet had any negative effects on metabolic or immunologic status of cows when compared to cows fed a higher energy pre-partum diet. Primiparous heifers were assigned to either a HIGH E diet (1.56 Mcal NE(L) / kg) or a LOW E diet treatment (1.35 Mcal NE(L)/kg diet) about five wks before calving. DMI was 1.2 kg/d greater in the HIGH E cows in the three weeks prior to calving. The LOW E diet did reduce the magnitude of DMI depression just before calving, but apart from a small reduction in plasma non-esterified fatty acid concentraion (NEFA) the day of calving, few major benefits of this reduction were seen. DMI after calving was similar in the two groups of cows. Body condition scores of the cows just before calving and at 21 and 44 days in milk (DIM) were statistically similar across the dietary treatments. A glucose tolerance test was performed on a subset of animals in each dietary treatment about one week prior to calving. No statistically significant difference was observed in glucose clearance from the blood or insulin secretion pattern suggesting no difference in tissue sensitivity to insulin was induced by the dietary treatments. Milk production during the first 45 days of lactation was statistically similar in HIGH E (27.1 kg/d) and LOW E cows (28.2 kg/d). Dietary treatment had no significant effect on liver triglyceride content on day 1 after calving, days to first ovulation, or plasma NEFA profile after calving. In vitro immune
There's no place like home...for some.

To the Editor: With great interest, we read the article by Mayo et al,1 which compares the effectiveness of early poststroke discharge and multidisciplinary home rehabilitation with other practices of poststroke rehabilitation. The authors suggest that “prompt discharge combined with home rehabilitation appeared to translate motor and functional gains … into a greater degree of higher-level function and satisfaction with community reintegration … .” In reviewing the study data, we note that only 194 (12.6%) of the 1542 potential stroke subjects screened were included in the randomization. The vast majority of the stroke survivors seen in the emergency room were deemed ineligible or inappropriate for this level of care. Thus, it is difficult to generalize findings to the larger stroke population. Furthermore, the authors defined their “usual care” group as experiencing “a range of services, including … extended acute-care hospital stays; inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation; or home care via local community health clinics … .” Since only 52% in the control group received nursing visits and 50% received physical therapy visits, this implies that some patients received no rehabilitation care at all. By lumping subjects who received no or varying intensities of rehabilitation services together into one group, the potential of identifying superior outcomes for any individual level of care in this group is diluted. Therefore, it is difficult to conclude that the home care intervention is superior to any other venue of rehabilitation. A more appropriate conclusion would be that prompt discharge combined with home rehabilitation appeared to translate into a greater degree of high-level satisfaction and community integration for a select group of stroke survivors. Another issue raised by the data are the functional levels of the groups prior to randomization. The average Barthel Scale scores of 82.7 in the “usual group” and 84.6 in …
Complement-mediated lung injury and neutrophil retention after intestinal ischemia-reperfusion

Xiao, Feng, Michael J. Eppihimer, Bradley H. Willis, and Donna L. Carden. Complement-mediated lung injury and neutrophil retention after intestinal ischemia-reperfusion. J. Appl. Physiol. 82(5): 14...
Interactive features in Yucatec Mayan narratives

This paper examines how Yucatec Mayan people conceive of conversations. Special attention is given to the role of narrator, respondent, and audience in those speech arts which utilize conversational genres. The conversational genres of ordinary talk, storytelling, and myth-telling in Yucatec Mayan are all dialogues. One field-recorded narrative is analyzed in detail in order to illustrate the distribution and scope of narrator and respondent speech. (Ethnography of speaking, Middle American native language use, discourse analysis, mythology and folklore performance.)
Stratigraphy and sedimentology of an early Archean felsic volcanic sequence, eastern Pilbara Block, Western Australia, with special reference to the Duffer Formation and implications for crustal evolution

Abstract A sequence of early Archean felsic volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks and chert is present in the upper half of the Warrawoona Group throughout greenstone belts in the eastern Pilbara Block, Western Australia. It includes three formations. The Duffer Formation, which makes up the bulk of the sequence, consists of up to 5 km of metamorphosed dacitic to rhyolitic volcaniclastic breccia and lava and lesser amounts of tuffaceous rocks and mafic lava. It is overlain in several sections by the sandy Panorama Formation, and both are capped by silicified orthochemical and biogenic deposits of the Towers Formation, including both the Strelley Pool and Marble Bar Cherts. These units are identifiable in at least six greenstone belts in the eastern Pilbara Block. The Duffer Formation is divided into four facies: (A) structureless and graded breccia, (B) complexly organized conglomerate, (C) turbiditic tuff-breccia and tuff, and (D) lava. These facies represent deposition on predominantly subaqueous volcaniclastic aprons flanking felsic volcanic centers. A three-stage model of the evolution of these aprons includes (1) an early stage of felsic and mafic eruptions and subaqueous deposition, (2) a middle stage, during which the bulk of the sequence was deposited, involving shallow-water to subaerial felsic volcanism and subaqueous deposition, and (3) a terminal stage of subaerial felsic eruptions and subaerial deposition. Post-Duffer felsic volcanism was marked by explosive pyroclastic activity, which resulted in widespread deposition of ash in surrounding shallow-water and subaerial systems. This phase of activity is represented by the Panorama Formation. After the cessation of volcanism, erosion of the emergent vents and regional subsidence led to an interval of orthochemical and biogenic sedimentation, represented by the Towers Formation. Paleocurrent and facies patterns in the Duffer and Panorama Formations support earlier proposals that the intrusion of granitoid rocks in the eastern Pilbara Block was coeval with felsic volcanism. It seems likely that this volcanism was the surficial expression of plutonism that represented early stages of cratonization in the eastern Pilbara. The calc-alkaline volcanism and depositional styles represented by this sequence are similar to those associated with many Phanerozoic arcs. The abundance of shallow-water facies, closely spaced and possibly non-linear distribution of felsic centers, close association of felsic units with thick sequences of basalt erupted at or near sea level, sparse syn-volcanic deformation, and lack of granitic detritus suggest, however, that the setting of this Archean felsic volcanism was in many details, unlike that of most modern arcs.
Valuation of loan guarantees

Abstract In this paper, the authors develop contingent claims models of loan guarantees in various circumstances: (1) a fully guaranteed issue of non-callable coupon debt; (2) a partially guaranteed issue of non-callable coupon debt; (3) junior and senior non-callable debt with guarantees; (4) callable coupon debt with guarantees. Numerical solutions of the resulting valuation models are performed using the method of Markov chains. Tables and graphs of the resulting values of loan guarantees are provided. The paper concludes with suggestions for extensions of this approach to the valuation of loan guarantees.
Isolation of membrane-bound rat mast cell granules.

Abstract A technique for obtaining membrane-bound rat peritoneal mast cell granules in high yield is described. Mast cells purified by centrifugation into 38% BSA gradients were sonicated in Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ -free Tyrode's-gelatin buffer, incubated in EDTA for 15 min at 37 °C, and differentially centrifuged through a 0.34 M sucrose cushion to yield a granular preparation with >80% of the granules bound by perigranular membranes. The perigranular membranes were demonstrated morphologically by light and electron microscopy and functionally by histamine distribution.
Evaluation of Pedestrian Walking Speeds in Airport Terminals

Despite the fact that significant investment has been made to install automated pedestrian movement systems within airport terminals, little is known about their effects on airport pedestrian flows. Specifically, while walking speeds of pedestrians have been studied in general, such analysis specific to airport passengers has been lacking. New insight into the walking speeds of airport pedestrians is provided. Corridors with and without moving walkways, the most common of airport automated pedestrian movement systems, are considered. Pedestrian movements in various airport terminal corridors are empirically observed, and observed walking speeds are compared with those of research performed in other transportation terminals. Furthermore, the effects on walking speeds of observable characteristics of pedestrians and the surrounding environment are investigated. The effect of moving walkways on pedestrian walking speeds is examined. A methodology for estimating the travel time of pedestrians on moving walkwa...
Composite Anodes for Secondary Magnesium Ion Batteries Prepared via Electrodeposition of Nanostructured Bismuth on Carbon Nanotube Substrates

Magnesium-ion batteries are attractive in part due to the high environmental abundance and low cost of magnesium metal. Anode materialsotherthanMgmetalcanprovideaccesstonewelectrochemistriesinnon-corrosiveMg2+ electrolytes.Acyclicvoltammetric method for the preparation of bismuth (Bi) based anodes was developed by systematically exploring electrodeposition using a quartz crystal microbalance. Controlled deposition of Bi on carbon nanotubes substrates could be achieved, enabling the first electrochemical investigation of bismuth-carbon nanotube (Bi-CNT) composite electrodes. Quasi-reversible Mg electrochemistry of Bi-CNT composite electrodes in non-corrosive magnesium-based electrolyte was demonstrated, with an initial delivered capacity exceeding 180 mAh/g. While the initial capacities were high, significant capacity decreases were observed with repeated cycling,
Oscillatory Zones and Their Role in Normal and Abnormal Sheep Purkinje Fiber Automaticity

The mechanisms by which low [K+]o induces spontaneous activity was studied in sheep Purkinje fibers. Purkinje strands were superfused in vitro and membrane potentials were record
Terrestrial Origin of the Igast Objects

THIS communication presents evidence for the terrestrial origin of the objects which allegedly fell from the sky at Igast, Estonia, in 1855 (ref. 1).
In-home consumer and shear force evaluation of steaks from the M. serratus ventralis thoracis.

Abstract The M. serratus ventralis thoracis was obtained from US Select arm chucks ( n = 87) to investigate if this underutilized muscle can be used as a steak alternative. Muscles were assigned randomly into three treatment groups: (1) control; (2) blade tenderization; and (3) injection, containing salt, phosphate, and papain. Steaks were cut from each muscle for in-home consumer evaluation ( n = 136) and Warner–Bratzler shear (WBS) force determination. The WBS values for injected steaks (13.1 N) were lower ( P P M. serratus ventralis thoracis indicate that merchandising steaks from this muscle may be a viable option in the marketplace, especially if blade tenderization or injection processes are used for further enhancement.
Stress and Asthma: Novel Insights on Genetic, Epigenetic and Immunologic Mechanisms

In the United States the economically disadvantaged and some ethnic minorities are often exposed to chronic psychosocial stressors and disproportionately affected by asthma. Current evidence suggests a causal association between chronic psychosocial stress and asthma or asthma morbidity. Recent findings suggest potential mechanisms underlying this association, including changes in the methylation and expression of genes that regulate behavioral, autonomic, neuroendocrine, and immunologic responses to stress. There is also evidence suggesting the existence of susceptibility genes that predispose chronically stressed youth to both post-traumatic stress disorder and asthma. In this review we critically examine published evidence and suggest future directions for research in this field.
Potential approaches for more successful dendritic cell-based immunotherapy.

Introduction: Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most important antigen-presenting cell population for activating antitumor T-cell responses; therefore, they offer a unique opportunity for specific targeting of tumors.Areas covered: We will discuss the critical factors for the enhancement of DC vaccine efficacy: different DC subsets, types of in vitro DC manufacturing protocol, types of tumor antigen to be loaded and finally different adjuvants for activating them. We will cover potential combinatorial strategies with immunomodulatory therapies: depleting T-regulatory (Treg) cells, blocking VEGF and blocking inhibitory signals. Furthermore, recommendations to incorporate these criteria into DC-based tumor immunotherapy will be suggested.Expert opinion: Monocyte-derived DCs are the most widely used DC subset in the clinic, whereas Langerhans cells and plasmacytoid DCs are two emerging DC subsets that are highly effective in eliciting cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses. Depending on the type of tumor antigens sele...
The effect of multiple laparotomies, biopsies and feeding on the oocytes of Rana catesbeiana

Abstract The ovaries of adult female bullfrogs with immature (stages I to III) and mature (stages IV and V) oocytes were not affected by repeated removal of ovarian samples over a period of 25 days. The surgical procedure proved to be an effective way to ascertain and follow ovarian development.
Ethanol ingestion impairs neutrophil bactericidal mechanisms against Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Ethanol ingestion impairs both killing of selected pneumococcal strains by rat polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) in vitro and clearance of these same strains from experimentally infected rat lungs. To determine the mechanism(s) of this impairment, we isolated neutrophils (PMNL) by a magnetic cell sorting technique from the peripheral blood of chow-fed rats (C-PMNL) or rats pair fed for 7 days with a liquid diet providing 36% of its calories as either ethanol (E-PMNL) or dextrin-maltose (P-PMNL). Phagocytosis of fluorochrome-labeled bacteria and oxygen radical production, as determined by oxidation of dihydrorhodamine 123, were measured by flow cytometry. Degranulation, as determined by lysozyrne release, was measured as lysis of a suspension of Micrococcus lysodeikticus. E-PMNL, P-PMNL, and C-PMNL were equivalent in their ability to phagocytose pneumococci and to produce an oxidative burst in response to stimulation by opsonized zymosan. However, E-PMNL produced fewer oxygen radicals and released less lysozyme than either P-PMNL or C-PMNL when stimulated by exposure to S. pneumoniae. There was no difference in oxygen radical production by E-PMNL and P-PMNL when stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate, but both cell types mounted a significantly reduced response in comparison to C-PMNL. These data suggest that ingestion of ethanol for 7 days significantly reduces both the oxidative burst and degranulation of rat PMNL in response to S. pneumoniae, thereby compromising anti-pneumococcal activity.
Endosonographic Findings in Colitis Cystica Profunda.

A 27-year-old male was referred to our institution for further evaluation of persistent rectal bleeding. A prior colonoscopy showed a sigmoid soft tissue lesion, and pathology revealed chronic active colitis and granulation tissue with ulcers and focal adenomatous changes. We performed a flexible sigmoidoscopy that showed a 4.5-cm multilobulated polypoid lesion approximately 45 cm from the anal verge (Figure 1). A 20 MHz Olympus endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) miniprobe showed hypoechoic lesion with cystic/spongy features involving the mucosa and submucosa (Figure 2). These features were thought to suggest colitis cystica profunda (CCP). Histologic examination of snare biopsies identified dilated glands with mucinous content, surrounded by variable degrees of fibrosis on a background of interspersed chronic inflammatory cells, with few colonic mucosal crypts and mild inflammatory cell infiltrate (Figure 3). The patient was instructed to follow up with gastroenterology if bleeding recurred.
Polynomial representation of transmittance models.

A quadratic formula that accurately represents general absorptance is both developed for 5 cm−1 data on the 4ν2 + ν3 band of CO2 centered at 4853.58cm−1 and generalized to a polynomial function of the weak- and strong-line limits of known models.
Rejoinder to "Reinventing Social Work Education"

The main assumption of the article under discussion seems flawed and misconstrued. The “professional decline of social work” neither is because of the “lack of scholarship of the Board of Directors” nor is an outcome of an imperfect accreditation process. The presumption that independently achieved accreditation will improve the quality of scholarship and educational programs and raise the deans' and directors' caliber is also misconceived. The author, though in general agreement with many of the observations of Stoesz and Karger, finds the crisis of social work deeply rooted in the field's cultural contradictions, academic malaise, and professional mendacity. The triangularity of this problem obscures basic issues that are crucial to unraveling social work education, its variegated crisis, and its possible transformation.
Self-defocusing and optical limiting of nano-Watt cw laser and image processing at μ-Watt/cm 2 intensity with nematic liquid crystals

'photorefractive-like' nonlinear electro-optical effects in some dye-or fullerene C60- doped nematic liquidcrystals films under a dc bias voltage[3-7]. Recently, we reported the observation of similar nonlinearoptical effect in aligned methyl-red doped nematic liquid crystal film [8]. The optically induced liquidcrystal director axis reorientation is characterized by a refractive index change coefficient of over 6cm2iWatt, which is perhaps the largest value known to date. The effect does not require a dc biasvoltage, and could be enhanced by an applied ac field.
The Politics of Emotion: A Feminist Reading of Bounded Rationality

A poststructuralist feminist reading of Herbert Simon's construct, bounded rationality, is prevented in this article. Following from this notion. It is maintained that even though bounded rationality provides a modified critique of “pure” rationality, this concept is grounded in male-centered assumptions that exclude alternative modes of organizing. Through a feminist deconstructive process, bounded emotionality is Introduced as an alternative organizing construct. The premises, conditions of organizing, and implications of this alternative are discussed and illustrated. Finally, theorists are urged to move beyond the traditional dichotomy between rationality and emotionality. In order to question the assumptions that underlie traditional constructs and to create new grounds for future theoretical activities.
Observation of an Organic-Inorganic Lattice Match during Biomimetic Growth of (001)-Oriented Calcite Crystals under Floating Sulfate Monolayers

Macromolecular layers rich in amino acids and with some sulfated polysaccharides appear to control oriented calcite growth in living organisms. Calcite crystals nucleating under floating acid monolayers have been found to be unoriented on average. We have now observed directly, using in situ grazing incidence X-ray diffraction, that there is a 1:1 match between the monolayer unit cell and the unit cell of the (001) plane of calcite. Thus, sulfate head groups appear to act as templates for the growth of (001)-oriented calcite crystals, which is the orientation commonly found in biominerals.
The Occurrence of “Irregular” Ice Particles in Stratiform Clouds

Abstract Recent studies that have classified ice particles from airborne imaging probe data have concluded that the vast majority of ice particles in stratiform precipitation systems are of an “irregular shape.” This conclusion stands in contrast to the findings from microscope observations of snow particles at the ground during the Improvement of Microphysical Parameterization through Observational Verification Experiment from November to December 2001 in the Oregon Cascade Mountains (IMPROVE-2), which show that most snow crystals (either single crystals or the component crystals of snow aggregates) are readily identified as regular types within established crystal classification systems. This apparent contradiction is rectified by examining the definition of the term irregular as applied to ice particles and by considering limitations of different methods for observing ice particles. It is concluded that the finding of the airborne probe-based studies is a consequence of both limitations of the observin...
Silver-sheathed Bi(2223) wire and application

Among many high- T c oxide superconductive materials and processing technologies, a combination of the bismuth high-T c phase and the powder-in-tube technique is revealed to be useful for long-wire fabrication and many applications in various fields, such as large current conductors, cryogenic current leads and magnets. Maximum J c at 77.3 K reached 53 700 A/cm 2 in a zero magnetic field, 42 300 A/cm 2 at 0.1 T and 12 000 A/cm 2 at 1 T. Maximum J c of multifilamentary wire at 77.3 K reached 15 400 A/cm 2 . A 30 m long wire with a multifilamentary structure was fabricated. J c over the whole length of this wire was 5190 A/cm 2 at 77.3 K. Results of prototypes were summarized and revealed that many applications in a wide temperature range from 4.2 to 77.3 K will be feasible in the near future.
Small-Sample Properties of Several Two-Stage Regression Methods in the Context of Auto-Correlated Errors

Abstract In a linear regression model, when errors are autocorrelated, several asymptotically efficient estimators of parameters have been suggested in the literature. In this paper we study their small sample efficiency using Monte Carlo methods. While none of these estimators turns out to be distinctly superior to the others over the entire range of parameters, there is a definite gain in efficiency to be had from using some two-stage procedure in the presence of moderate high levels of serial correlation in the residuals and very little loss from using such methods when the true ρ is small. Where computational costs are a consideration a mixed strategy of switching to a second stage only if the estimated is higher than some critical value is suggested and is shown to perform quite well over the whole parameter range.
Motivational Approaches to Expectancy Confirmation

For some time now, social, per sonality, and cognitive psychologists have been interested in how our in terpersonal expectations affect our thoughts, feelings, and behavior. A provocative finding in this research suggests that people often act in ways that preferentially confirm their expectations of others. Specifically, an individual who holds some ex pectation (who is generally referred to as a perceiver) about some other person (who is generally referred to as a target), through the course of their interaction, will often form ex pectancy-confirming impressions of the target (a phenomenon referred to as perceptual confirmation) and elicit expectancy-confirming behav ior from the target (a phenomenon referred to as behavioral confirma tion). Thus, expecting Jody to be a warm and friendly person, I may elicit warm and friendly behavior from her and form similar impres sions of her. This expectancy confir mation is the essence of Merton's
Strategy for repetitive pinched injections on a microfluidic device

A microfluidic valve was fabricated with a cross intersection and two tee intersections in close proximity and evaluated for repetitive pinched injections. Electrokinetic forces were used to mobilize the sample and control diffusive transport at a cross intersection to produce sample plugs of short axial extent in an analysis channel similar to the standard pinched valve. The addition of a tee intersection in the sample channel maintained the sample close to the injection valve under “pullback” conditions allowing more rapid loading into the cross intersection. A second tee intersection allowed unidirectional transport in the analysis channel enabling loading of subsequent injections during an analysis. The two tee intersections were each located 80 μm from the cross intersection. Injection frequencies of 1, 2.5, 5, and 10 Hz were tested with a duty cycle of 0.5 for sample loading and dispensing. With 1 kV applied to the microchip during dispensing, the relative standard deviation of the peak areas for 15...
On estimating emissions through horizontal fluxes

This paper examines a popular method of estimating emissions from fugitive sources, which consists of computing horizontal fluxes using measured vertical profiles of velocities and concentrations at several locations downwind of a source. The horizontal flux is the height integral of the product of the velocity normal to the source and the concentration. If the losses between the source and the measurement location are small, the emission rate per unit length of the source is the horizontal flux. The calculation of horizontal flux is not straightforward because we need to make assumptions about the behavior of the concentration profile; the concentration measurements only suggest a plausible profile. We show that this uncertainty in the calculation can be reduced by using a dispersion model to interpret the data. We then provide a quantitative basis for the discussion by comparing horizontal flux calculations presented by Veranth et al. (Atmospheric Environment 37 (2003) 2295) with emissions inferred from a dispersion model applied to the same data set.
Pitfalls to be avoided in cholecystectomy

Abstract The problems of cholecystectomy are discussed. The important variations and anomalies of the bile ducts and blood vessels are demonstrated and their surgical significance in cholecystectomy emphasized. With the increased number of cholecystectomies there has been an increased incidence of bile duct injuries. Since prevention of injury is of paramount importance, a thorough familiarity with every possible variation in the biliary tract is mandatory. Any surgeon performing cholecystectomy must be qualified to recognize and deal with safely any pathological conditions involving the extrahepatic ducts as well. The extrahepatic ducts and their related blood vessels are, therefore, demonstrated by diagrams and photographs of the author's dissections. The right hepatic artery instead of the cystic not infrequently forms the base of Calot's triangle; it can, therefore, be mistaken for the cystic artery and ligated accidentally with death of the patient. The author prefers cholecystectomy from the fundus down and believes this method safer than cholecystectomy from the cystic duct up . The reasons for this are given. Cholecystectomy should always be accompanied by drainage.
Performance scaling in flat imagers

A performance scaling formulation for flat form-factor cameras is introduced. The analysis follows from basic geometric and sensitivity constraints found in low-profile imaging sensors. A capacity metric is proposed and used to estimate performance cost scaling as a function of the width-to-height aspect ratio in the optics of thin imagers. Two basic flat imaging sensor classes are considered—one folds the optical path of an annular telescope within the volume of a central obscuration, and the other uses spatial multiplexing and filtering across an array of low-resolution small cameras to generate an estimate of the high-resolution image. Scaling trends are highlighted that enable general performance comparisons at the optical signal collection level, thereby providing conclusions that are independent of the computational aspects of any particular approach. The results indicate that thin imagers face significant costs in physical size and sampling requirements if they are to match the performance of conventional cameras in the basic parameters of field of view, resolution, dynamic range, and sensitivity.
Microstructure of Alumina Brazed with a Silver-Copper-Titanium Alloy

Joints of high-purity Al2O3 were made with a 56Ag-36Cu-6Sn-2Ti (wt%) experimental alloy by vacuum brazing at 900°C for 20 min. The microstructure at the ceramic-metal interfaces was examined in cross-sectional specimens of the joints, and phases formed by reaction between the braze filler metal and the Al2O3 were analyzed for composition and crystal structure in a transmission electron microscope. A 0.1- to 0.2-μm-thick layer formed directly on the Al2O3 surface. This layer was Ti-rich, had the face-centered-cubic crystal structure with a lattice parameter of 0.423 nm, and was identified as oxygen-deficient γ-TiO. The second reaction layer was ∼3 μm thick, and it separated the TiO layer from the metallic phases of the braze filler metal. The structure of this layer, as determined by electron diffraction, was diamond cubic of the space group Fd3m, with a lattice parameter of 1.137 nm. The combination of microanalysis and diffraction data confirmed that this phase was Ti3(Cu0.76Al0.18Sn0.06)3O and indicated that it can be classified as an n phase.
Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors And Resistance Of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1

Drug-resistant isolates of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) emerge during longterm treatment with nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, such as zidovudine. The clinical significance of in vitro drug resistance to zidovudine has been difficult to determine. However, in a virologic analysis of baseline specimens from the AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) 116B/117 study, high-level zidovudine resistance, defined as an IC 50 of ≥1 μM at study entry, was significantly associated with clinical disease progression. High-level zidovudine resistance also was an independent predictor of death as an end point, although this finding does not imply a direct causal effect. Duration and cumulative dose of prior zidovudine therapy did not predict clinical disease progression. More potent antiretroviral agents are needed that can be used in combination to achieve more complete virus suppression and to reduce the selection of drug-resistant HIV-I mutants
Layer 0 in D0 silicon tracker for Run2b

Abstract We report on the status of R&D of the innermost layer of the D0 Silicon Tracker for Run2b. Because of space constraints, the cooling issues, and the amount of material, the analog signal from the sensor must be transmitted to the readout chip. This scheme is a potential noise source due to the extra capacitive load and possible RF pickup. We focus on the noise studies to address these issues.
Dynamic response of the occipito-atlanto-axial (C0-C1-C2) complex in right axial rotation.

The torque-angular deformation in right axial rotation until failure of the ligamentous occipito-atlanto-axial complex subjected to variable loading rate (dynamic) axial torque was characterized using a biaxial MTS system. A special fixture and gear box that permitted right axial rotation of the specimen until failure without imposing any additional constraints were used to obtain the data. The specimens were divided into three groups and tested until failure at three different dynamic loading rates: 50, 100, and 400°/s. A previous study by the authors provided data for quasi-static (4°/s) loading conditions. The torque versus rotation curves can be divided into two straight regions and two transition zones. The plots clearly indicated that at loading rates higher than 4°/s, the specimens became stiffer in the region of steadily increasing resistance prior to failure. The increase in stiffness was maximum at 100°/s. The stiffness decreased somewhat at 400°/s in comparison with 100°/s, but this decrease was not significant. The resulting torque-right axial rotation curves were also exmined to estimate the magnitude of maximum resistance (torque) and the corresponding angular rotation value. The average maximum resistance torque increased from 13.6 Nm at 4°/s to 27.8 Nm at 100°/s. The corresponding right angular rotation data (65–78°), however, did not show any significant variation with loading rate. Posttest dissection of the specimens indicated that the type of injury observed was related to the rate of axial loading imposed on a specimen during testing. In the previous study, fracture of the dens (due to avulsion of the alar ligament) was observed in half of the specimens tested at the 4°/s loading rate. Furthermore, the alar ligament did not exhibit midsubstance rupture in any of the specimens in these quasi-static tests. In the dynamic tests (50, 100, and 400°/s rates of loading) of the current study, partial or complete midsubstance rupture of the alar ligament was observed, and “dens fracture” did not occur in any of the specimens. The results revealed that at the higher rates of loading, (a) the specimens became stiffer and the torque required to produce “failure” in right axial rotation increased significantly; (b) the corresponding right angular rotations did not significantly change; and (c) the incidence of the alar ligament midsubstance rupture increased and that of “dens fracture” decreased.
Modeling of the Zn2+ binding in the 1–16 region of the amyloid β peptide involved in Alzheimer’s disease

Zinc ions are found at mM concentration in amyloid plaques of Alzheimer's disease and the role of zinc in protein oligomerization is the object of intense investigations. As an in vitro model for studying interactions between Zn(2+) and the Abeta peptide, that is the main component of plaques, the N- and C-termini protected Abeta(1-16) fragment has been chosen because reliable spectroscopic studies in water solution are possible due to the low propensity for oligomerization at pH approximately 6.5, and because all the Zn binding sites of Abeta have been identified in the 1-16 region. In this work we present the results of first principle simulations of several initial models of Zn-Abeta(1-16) complexes. The NMR results about the same system, where His 6, 13, 14 and Glu 11 side-chains coordinate the Zn ion, are strongly supported by these models. Coordination of Asp 1 to Zn drives the complex towards the expulsion of one of initially bonded His side-chains. Coordination of Tyr 10 to Zn is possible only when Tyr 10 is deprotonated. The interplay between physico-chemical properties of the Abeta ligand and the Zn coordination is discussed.
Steady-state analysis of the multi-tethered aerostat platform for the Large Adaptive Reflector telescope

The Large Adaptive Reflector (LAR), currently being developed at the National Research Council Canada, is a low-cost, large- aperture, wide-band, cm-wave radio telescope designed for implementation in the Square Kilometer Array (SKA). The LAR consists of a 200 m diameter, actuated-surface, parabolic reflector with a feed located at a 500 m focal length. Since the feed must be positioned on a 500 m hemisphere centered about the reflector and between a zenith angle of 0 degree(s) to 60 degree(s), an innovative method for feed positioning is required. This feed positioning will be achieved using a high- tension structure consisting of a 4100 m3 helium aerostat supporting an array of tethers. The length of each tether can be controlled through the use of winches, resulting in accurate control of the feed position. The feasibility of the tethered aerostat feed-positioning system is of critical importance to the success of the LAR. Extensive steady-state analyses of the multi-tethered aerostat have been completed and provide strong evidence that this feed-positioning system will operate reliably in moderate weather conditions (10 m/s constant wind velocity with 2.5 m/s wind gusts). The framework of these analyses and the corresponding results will be presented.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A Systematic Procedure for Estimating Bull Fertility from Non-Return Data

Summary Wald's Sequential Analysis has been used as a method of evaluating levels of bull fertility from non-return data. The test is relatively simple, utilizes grouped data as they are collected in the field, and is probably the most efficient test available. The results of this study indicate that non-return information from bulls is subject to considerable variation. This variation leads to a larger number of errors in decisions than would normally be expected from such specific Sequential plans as were used here. Non-return data from 512 individual bulls were submitted to one of three different Sequential plans. Acceptance or rejection decisions were made on each of these bulls. Non-return data collected for a calendar year after the completion of the test indicated that over 89 per cent of these decisions were correct.
The transition from an emitting to a cleaving crack

This note proposes two mechanisms by which a crack, able to produce dislocations either from its own tip or from external sources, with increasing external stress intensity undergo a transition to cleavage after a critical dislocation shielding charge has built up.
RESTITUTION OF RADIATION-INDUCED CHROMOSOMAL DAMAGE IN CHINESE HAMSTER CELLS RELATED TO THE CELL'S LIFE CYCLE.

Abstract Chinese hamster cells growing in vitro were pulse-labeled for 10 min with 3 H-thymidine, irradiated immediately thereafter, and fixed either 4 or 11 hr later. Autoradiographic stripping film was applied to the slides to distinguish cells which were synthesizing DNA at the time of irradiation (S cells) from those cells which were in the phases preceding and following DNA synthesis (G 1 and G 2 cells, respectively). By analyzing the frequency of the G 1 cells which contained both chromosome and chromatid exchanges in the same cell, it was shown that there was not a significant number of G 2 cells mixed with the G 1 cells at the time of sampling. The percentages of exchanges which were of the chromosome type were 0 for the G 2 cells, 7–9 for the early S cells, and 54–71 for the G 1 cells. The restitution of chromosomal breaks was observed in the 11-hr samples by the frequency of chromosome and chromatid exchanges following two equal doses (300 rads) of radiation, as a function of the time interval between the two doses. If the breaks remained open during the time interval between the two doses, the frequency of exchanges was proportional to the square of the total dose; however, if restitution was completed before the second dose was administered, the effects of the two doses were only additive. When 600 rads were delivered over a period of 1 min, the S and the G 1 cells had the same number of exchanges per cell (1.05); this number was four times that observed for 300 rads. However, when 600 rads were delivered over an interval of 5–60 min, the number of exchanges observed in the S cells remained the same while the number in the G 1 cells was reduced by one half (to 0.56). Therefore, in cells irradiated in the S phase, the breaks remained open, and no restitution occurred for at least 1 hr following irradiation; whereas in cells irradiated in the G 1 phase, restitution was completed within 5 min postirradiation.
Slicing It All Ways: Mathematical Models for Tonal Induction, Approximation, and Segmentation Using the Spiral Array

This paper presents the spiral array model and its associated algorithms for tonal induction, approximation, and segmentation. The spiral array is a geometric model for tonality that clusters perceptually similar tonal entities. The model summarizes music information as interior points inside an array of spirals. Distances in the spiral array space are used to quantify tonal similarity. The paper traces the evolution, and presents general forms, of the existing algorithms for key finding, pitch spelling, and segmentation, and proposes a new O(n) algorithm, Argus, for tonal segmentation. The proposed algorithm computes a value that quantifies the discrepancy between the local contexts in the future and past at each point in time. Discrepancy values exceeding control thresholds are shown to mark the segmentation boundaries of the test set that concur with expert analyses. A number of window sizes and threshold settings are investigated. The algorithm is demonstrated using Edward MacDowell's To A Wild Rose and tested on Franz Schubert's Allegretto from Moment Musical D780 No. 6 and Thema from Impromptu D935 No. 4. The algorithm accurately locates tonal boundaries in all three case studies.
A preliminary comparison of stimulus presentation methods with the Bassin Anticipation Timing Task.

The Bassin Anticipation Timing Task was used to compare response performance when the stimulus terminated at the target location to when the stimulus continued past the target location. Two conditi...
Fieller's theorem and linkage disequilibrium mapping.

Linkage disequilibrium mapping exploits the fact that at genetic markers close enough to a disease locus on a particular chromosome, we expect to find an association between the disease and marker alleles. Furthermore, the magnitude of the association is expected to follow a unimodal curve when plotted against location, with the peak at the disease location. In practice, for real data, we usually see deviations from such a curve due to other influences such as evolutionary variability, mutation, and selection. Here we propose fitting a quadratic curve to data of this nature, estimating the location of the disease locus by the point at which the curve is maximum. A key feature of our method is the use of transformations of both location and disequilibrium, so that departures from a unimodal curve are incorporated by fitting the curve not to the original location and disequilibrium values but to the transformed values. In addition, we estimate the covariances between the disequilibrium values at linked loci using either a multinomial approximation or a bootstrap procedure. The location estimate from our method is the ratio of two quantities that, in large samples, are normally distributed, and so we use Fieller's theorem to obtain a confidence interval for the disease gene location. We successfully apply our method to data from several published studies in which the true disease gene location is known.
Differential identification of mouse granulocyte (CFU‐g) and macrophage (CFU‐m) precursors in plasma clots

Because benzidine and its derivatives have possible carcinogenic activity, a safe method is needed to demonstrate endogenous peroxidase activity. Colonies derived from mouse bone marrow cells in plasma clot culture were classified as granulocyte (CFU-g) or macrophage (CFU-m) precursors by peroxidase and naphthol AS acetate (NASA) esterase staining, respectively. Endogenous peroxidase activity was measured using benzidine or p-phenylenediazine-pyrocatechol (PPD-PC). The effectiveness of peroxidase staining with both reagents was evaluated under several conditions, and the enzyme property was confirmed by inactivation with a variety of inhibitors. The level of peroxidase activity did not differ significantly between PPD-PC and benzidine. Colony number and number of cultured cells were strongly correlated (P greater than 0.983). We conclude that PPD-PC safely demonstrates peroxidase activity in cultured cells and is as accurate, reliable, and efficient as benzidine.
Spectropolarimetric Assay of R(-)-Epinephrine

Abstract A rapid, simple and specific procedure for the simultaneous assay and determination of enantiomeric purity of pharmaceutical grade 1-epinephrine solution is described. The procedure is faster, more precise and more specific for the levoisomer than the U.S.P. XXI method. It can also be used for 1-epine-phrine inhalation solution and 1-epinephrine injection solution.
In vitro production of IGF-binding proteins (IGFBP) by various organs of the striped bass, Morone saxatilis

Abstract Production in vitro of insulin-like growth factor-binding proteins (IGFBP) by various organs of the striped bass, Morone saxatilis, was examined by organ culture. Fifteen organs were removed, dissected into small pieces and incubated in Minimum Essential Medium (MEM) containing antibiotics. After 6 h of preincubation to remove blood contaminants, the medium was changed and incubation was continued for an additional 36 h. Media containing approximately 10 μg proteins from each organ were electrophoresed using a discontinuous polyacrylamide gel followed by Western ligand blotting with 125I-labelled human IGF-I as a probe. Striped bass (sb) IGFBP-1 was detected only in medium from liver. sbIGFBP-2 was always present in media from liver, pituitary, trunk kidney and bulbus arteriosus and was detected occasionally in media from optic lobe of the brain, ceratobranchial cartilage, ceratobranchial bone, heart, spleen, gonad and gut. Trace amounts of sbIGFBP-3 were detected in medium from liver. Other sbIGFBPs were not detected in striped bass using this system. Although striped bass IGFBPs may not directly correspond to mammalian IGFBPs of similar molecular weight, multi-organ IGFBP production appears to be an evolutionarily-conserved mechanism in vertebrates, evident in both teleosts and mammals.
Mitotic and meiotic behavior of the chromosomes of the octet strain of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

The normal vegetative culture chromosome number of the octet strain of C. reinhardtii was found to be 8. The difficulty of reconciliation of this number with the current genetic map of 16 linkage groups and the conceivability of revision of the map are discussed. Under some cultural conditions unstable vegetative apparent diploids are produced which tend to revert to haploids. It is suggested that in these cases cryptic connections of unknown nature may be retained between endoreduplicated sister elements and that these function for pairing in preparation for reversion to haploidy. Apparently intimate homologous chromosome pairing was found in normal zygotes no older than two or three hours, with light microscope examination. Electron microscope examination revealed paired chromatin elements separated by about 1000 A at this stage. These may contain rudimentary synaptonemal complexes; none of the usual central region components or lateral elements were evident. Homologous chromosome pairing at this stage is of special interest because the major chromosomal meiotic DNA replication has been reported to occur at a much later stage of development; it has been previously postulated that crossing over precedes this replication, with the four elements necessary for crossing over at the 4-strand stage already present, due to the existence of some form of regular chromatid binemy (or its conceptual equivalent). Observations reported here are consistent with these interpretations. Conceivable relationships of these findings to problems of chromosome behavior in other eukaryotes are discussed.