cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Enteric Occult Reflex Underlies Accommodation and Slow Transit in the Distal Large Bowel

Background & Aims: Transit of fecal material through the human colon takes ≥30 hours, whereas transit through the small intestine takes 24 hours. The mechanisms underlying colonic storage and slow transit have yet to be elucidated. Our aim was to determine whether an intrinsic neural mechanism underlies these phenomena. Methods: Recordings were made from circular muscle (CM) cells and myenteric neurons in the isolated guinea pig distal colon using intracellular recordings and Ca2+ imaging techniques. Video imaging was used to determine the effects of colonic filling and pellet transit. Results: Circumferential stretch generated ongoing oral excitatory and anal inhibitory junction potentials in the CM. The application of longitudinal stretch inhibited all junction potentials. N-ω-nitro-L-arginine (100 μmol/L) completely reversed the inhibitory effects of longitudinal stretch suggesting that nitric oxide (NO) inhibited interneurons controlling peristaltic circuits. Ca2+ imaging in preparations that were stretched in both axes revealed ongoing firing in nNOS +ve descending neurons, even when synaptic transmission was blocked. Inhibitory postsynaptic potentials were evoked in mechanosensitive interneurons that were blocked by N-ω-nitro-L-arginine (100 μmol/L). Pellet transit was inhibited by longitudinal stretch. Filling the colon with fluid led to colonic elongation and an inhibition of motility. Conclusions: Our data support the novel hypothesis that slow transit and accommodation are generated by release of NO from descending (nNOS +ve) interneurons triggered by colonic elongation. We refer to this powerful inhibitory reflex as the intrinsic occult reflex (hidden from observation) because it withdraws motor activity from the muscle.
Restoring naturalness to national parks

National park resource management planning requires ecological information describing the objectives to be achieved. This information must be quantitative and unambiguous. Since most acts creating United States national parks, beginning with the Yellowstone National Park Act of 1872, specify that these parks should be maintained in a natural condition, resource management objectives for each national park must be defined in terms of quantitative standards of naturalness. Such quantitative standards of naturalness do not yet exist for any national park in the United States. Although this article focuses on US national parks, the same problem exists in national parks, reserves, and wilderness areas throughout the world. The physical evidence needed to develop quantitative standards of naturalness is rapidly disappearing because of the effects of management fires, wildfires, decomposition, successional changes, and other disturbances. Therefore, a nationwide “rescue ecology” program is recommended to recover as much remaining ecological information as possible before it is lost. This information is essential for developing quantitative standards to restore naturalness to national parks.
Structural characterization of two oligosaccharide fragments formed by the selective cleavage of rhamnogalacturonan II: evidence for the anomeric configuration and attachment sites of apiose and 3-deoxy-2-heptulosaric acid.

Evidence for the anomeric configurations and attachment sites of 3-deoxy-D-lyxo-2-heptulosaric acid (DHA) and apiosyl residues has been obtained through the characterization of two oligoglycosyl fragments isolated from rhamnogalacturonan II (RG-II). One of the oligoglycosyl fragments, a pentaglycosyl aldonic acid generated by Smith degradation of RG-II, was composed of four D-galactopyranosyluronic acid residues, a DHA residue, and a threonic acid residue (derived from a D-galactopyranosyluronic acid residue). The structural analysis of the pentaglycosyl aldonic acid established the beta-D-configuration for the DHA residue. Furthermore, it established that a previously identified diglycosyl side chain, 5-O-(beta-L-arabinofuranosyl)-DHA was directly attached to O-3 of a D-galactopyranosyluronic acid residue in the backbone of RG-II. The second oligoglycosyl fragment, a peralkylated diglycosyl hex-1-enitol, was generated by hex-5-enose degradation of permethylated and carboxyl-reduced RG-II. The structure of the peralkylated diglycosyl hex-1-enitol, beta-L-Rhap-(1----3')-beta-D-Apif-(1----5)-hex-1-enitol++ +, was determined by a combination of glycosyl-linkage composition analysis and n.m.r. spectroscopy. The n.m.r. data indicated the beta-configuration for the D-apiosyl residue. The isolation and characterization of the diglycosyl hex-1-enitol also established that a previously identified heptaglycosyl side chain was directly attached to O-2 of a D-galactopyranosyluronic acid in the backbone of RG-II.
DNA synthesis and mitosis in cultures of human peripheral leukocytes.

Abstract DNA synthesis and mitosis in human peripheral blood leukocyte cultures have been studied using tritiated thymidine. In whole, unmanipulated blood the level of DNA synthesis was very low, and mitoses were undetectable. In culture, Phytohemagglutinin induced a very great increase in the level of DNA synthesis and mitosis. The first wave of mitosis started at about 42 hr, and every mitosis was preceded by an in vitro DNA duplication. In these experiments the initial G 1 phase occupied a minimum of 24 hr, the S period occupied a minimum of 12 hr, and the G 2 phase occupied a maximum of 6 hr. Although individual cells underwent at least four mitoses, the cultures had a life span limited to about two weeks.
Fabrication and Mechanical Properties of Lightweight Ceramics Produced by Sintering of Hollow Spheres

Lightweight ceramics with densities in the range 8 to 24% of theoretical were fabricated by sintering hollow glass spheres. The densification behavior, which was complex, involved uniform shrinkage of the spheres, local densification, deformation of the spheres, and coarsening of the cells. A major flaw population was found to be relatively large areas which were devoid of spheres. There was a distinct difference in the mechanical behavior and fracture path for the low- and high-density materials. The behavior of the high-density materials appeared to agree well with existing micromechanical models in terms of Young's modulus, fracture toughness, and density. The fracture toughness of these cellular materials per unit weight is similar to that of bulk glass but is not translated into strength because of the relatively large flaw sizes in the final microstructure.
Flavonoids of staminate and pistillate squash flowers

Abstract Two flavonoid glycosides, one found in anthers and the other in stigmas, have been obtained from the flowers of Acorn squash. They were present in the corresponding parts of very young flower buds as well as of fully opened flowers. By paper chromatography the glycoside contained in anthers was tentatively identified as a glucose rhamnoside of isorhamnetin; the stigma glycoside possessed an aglycone similar to but not identical with isorhamnetin and the unusual sugar combination, glucose and fructose.
Temperature and water-quality conditions of the Patuxent River estuary, Maryland, January 1966 through December 1967

The effect of power plant cooling water in raising natural water temperatures at a location near the power plant on the Patuxent River estuary is clearly evident from thermograph records. Surface temperature at a station 333 m (1,000 ft) downstream from the discharge canal was raised an average of about 4 C, and at times by as much as 8 C. Temperature rises were greatest during the winter. Infrared imagery showed that elevated surface temperatures could be detected about 5.5 km (3 nautical miles) upstream at flood tide. Temperature profiles obtained from airborne radiation equipment revealed a complicated surface temperature pattern and also showed the effects of density differences and wind action on the steam-electric station (S.E.S.) effluent plume. Mean annual salinity for a 5-year period (1963–1967) was highest in 1966, about 12.3 ‰, and lowest in 1967, about 9.9‰. Dissolved oxygen values for 1966–1967 ranged from 3.2 to 15.6 mg/l, and saturation ranged from 55 to 152%. Turbidity levels were inversely related to salinity, with the highest annual, mean of 28 JCU (Jackson Candle Units) occurring in 1967, the lowest salinity year. The extreme tide range was 2.1 m (6.7 ft); mean water levels at the Patuxent Bridge were highest in summer and lowest in winter. Water stages are more affected by wind speed and direction than by flow in the river.
Formation of Liquid and Intermetallics in Al-to-Mg Friction Stir Welding

In dissimilar-metal friction stir welding (FSW), intermetallic compounds can form in the stir zone and significantly reduce the joint strength. The formation of intermetallic compounds in Al-to-Mg FSW was investigated in lap and butt FSW of the widely used 6061 Al and AZ31B Mg and discussed using the binary Al-Mg phase diagram as an approximation. Temperature measurements during lap FSW indicated a 703 K (430 °C) peak temperature, slightly below the eutectic reaction (Mg) + Al12Mg17 → L at 710 K (437 °C), because the thermocouples were pushed downward during welding. The intermetallic compounds in the stir zone were revealed by color etching and identified by X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) as Al3Mg2 and Al12Mg17. Additional FSW was conducted near the edge of the upper sheet, and the liquid droplets squeezed out during welding solidified along the edge. Optical microscopy of the solidified droplets and EPMA revealed dendrites of Al3Mg2 and Al12Mg17 and interdendritic eutectics, thus indicating eutectic reactions (Mg) + Al12Mg17 → L (710 K (437 °C)) and (Al) + Al3Mg2 → L (723 K (450 °C)). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) confirmed that the solidified droplets melted at 709 K (436 °C) and 722 K (449 °C), nearly identical to the eutectic temperatures. Formation of intermetallic compounds on the order of 1 mm in size suggests they form upon solidification of the liquated material instead of solid-state diffusion.
Optimal decomposition of travel times measured by probe vehicles using a statistical traffic flow model

Sparse location measurements of probe vehicles are a promising data source for arterial traffic monitoring. One common challenge in processing this source of data is that vehicles are sampled infrequently (on the order of once per minute), which means that many vehicles will travel several links of the network between consecutive measurements. In this article, we propose an optimal decomposition of path travel times of probe vehicles to link travel times for each link traversed. From a model of arterial traffic dynamics, we derive probability distributions of travel times. We prove that these distributions are mixtures of log-concave distributions and derive convex formulations of the travel time allocation problem. We validate our approach using detailed video camera data from the Next Generation Simulation project (NGSIM).
Neural network that recognizes faces

Face recognition has been a challenging task in academic research and in industrial applications. Defined by many distinct features (and the relative spatial position of those features), faces are very complex targets. Small inter-facial differences with high intra-facial variability makes face recognition a particularly complex task. Until now, face recognition systems have relied on input from the visual domain. The neural network system reported in this paper recognizes faces based on sonar input. Research on echolocating bats has demonstrated that bats can use sonar to accurately perceive detailed descriptions of objects. Previous research has shown that a sonar neural network system can recognize simple, 3D targets regardless of orientation (Dror, et al., 1995). In the present study we examine the effectiveness of using sonar input for more complex target recongition tasks. We use sonar echoes from faces (recorded in a variety of facial expressions) to train a neural network to recognize faces, regardless of facial expressions. After training, we examine the network's ability to generalize and correctly recognize the faces based on echoes from novel facial expressions, which were not included in the training set. The performance of the network on these novel echoes was 100% correct. To insure that our results were not due to the specific faces we used, we replicated our results two more times using different faces. Again, performance was almost perfect--99.6% and 100%. The results show that a neural network can learn to recognize faces based on sonar, and demonstrate that sonar can be a very effective input for neural networks that perform pattern recognition tasks.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Prediction of the Temperature in a Long Horizontal Fin Rod Cooled by Natural Convection and Radiation

The objective of this fundamental study is to numerically predict the temperature along a fin cooled by natural convection and radiation and to compare with measurements. The physical situation considered is a horizontal fin with a cylindrical cross-section. One end of the fin is maintained at a constant elevated temperature, and the fin is sufficiently long so that heat loss from the tip is negligible. Heat is transferred by conduction along the fin and dissipated from the surface via natural convection and radiation. The effect of natural convection is described with a published correlation for a horizontal cylinder, and a simple model is used for the radiative heat transfer. A finite difference formulation that allows for variable fluid property effects is used to determine the temperature distribution along the fin. A comparison is made to experimental results, and the agreement between the model and experiment is very good. Results show that the heat loss due to radiation is typically 15%–20% of the total.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Dipole-mediated regioselectivity in the [2+2]-photocycloaddition of double bonds to triplet benzenes

Abstract The regioselectivity of the intramolecular [2+2] photocycloaddition of 2-substituted 4-butenoxybenzaldehydes and 4-butenoxybenzonitriles and of two 4-butenoxybenzocycloalkanones has been investigated. para -(3-Buten-1-oxy)benzaldehydes with ortho methyl and trifluoromethyl substituents undergo regioselective syn cycloaddition, while 4-butenoxy tetralone, chromanone, and 2-methoxybenzaldehyde undergo mainly anti cycloaddition. ortho Substituted p -butenoxybenzonitriles and o -fluoro- p -butenoxybenzaldehyde produce both regioisomers. These results provide more evidence that the CO dipole largely determines selectivity, something the cyano group's alignment prevents. Computations augment the conclusion that the observed regioselectivity results primarily from interactions between the intrinsic molecular dipole of the triplet state and the charge transfer induced dipole in the exciplex state.
The Effect of Water Treatment of Feeds Upon the Nutritional Values of Feeds

Abstract INTRODUCTION TREATMENT of dried whey with water (Kratzer et al., 1955) yielded a product which improved the growth of chicks beyond that of untreated dried whey. Treatment of the basal diet with water had little effect with perhaps a questionable improvement in the nutritive value of the feed. Treatment of barley, rye and wheat with water (Fry et al., 1957Fry et al., 1958) improved the nutritional value of these grains, especially the barley. In this laboratory, we had occasion to feed dry feed as well as wet feed ad libitum and for 2 hours daily. It was repeatedly noticed that birds fed for 2 hours grew better on wet feed than on the untreated dry feed. Treatment of feed with water did something to the feed which enhanced its nutritional value. EXPERIMENTAL Three different diets were used in these studies and the composition of these diets are listed in Table 1. The …
Prospects for a national innovation policy in the USA

Abstract This article examines efforts in the USA to initiate and implement a national innovation policy, and from this future prospects are inferred. It is argued that unless a crisis atmosphere prevails for a considerable period the USA will develop and implement neither an innovation policy nor a ‘comprehensive-type’ industrial policy. The reasons for this are deeply rooted in US political values and institutions.
A community psychology of object meanings: Identity negotiation during disaster recovery

Abstract What do material goods intended for personal consumption mean to community? We use the extreme example of natural disaster recovery in a community to explore this question. Our work describes how members make sense of material objects that transition from private to public possessions (damaged goods) and public to private possessions (donated goods). By blending consumer and community psychology perspectives with our narratives, we employ a three-dimensional framework for analyzing object meanings: (1) material objects as agents of communitas (a shared sense of “we”), (2) material objects as agents of individualism (a focus on “me”), and (3) material objects as agents of opposition (the “we” that speaks for “me” and “us” versus “them”). This theoretical frame allows us to show how different conceptions of identity lead to conflicting meanings of objects within community, and to explain how and why object meanings shift as objects move across time and space from private to public and from scarcity to abundance. We also provide implications for coping with disasters that consider collective and individual identities as well as oppositional stances in between.
Thermal degradation of polystyrene: Effect of end groups derived from azobisisobutyronitrile

Polystyrenes containing end groups derived from azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) were subjected to thermal degradation at 280–350°C and the rates of volatilization compared with those of thermally and anionically prepared polystyrene. At 330–350°C the degradation of the AIBN polymer resembled that of the thermal polymer and differed from that of the anionic one. At 280–320°C its behavior was complex; infrared analysis of the degraded polymer and pyrolysis gas chromatography results suggest weak bond involvement in some cases.
Chest Radiological Findings of Patients With Severe H1N1 Pneumonia Requiring Intensive Care.

Introduction: A new strain of human influenza A (H1N1) virus originated from Mexico in 2009 and spread to more than 190 countries and territories. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared it a level 6 (highest level) pandemic. In August 2010, WHO announced that the H1N1 2009 influenza virus had moved into the postpandemic period. The WHO also declared that this flu strain is expected to continue to circulate as a seasonal virus ''for some years to come.'' The objective of this study is to describe the chest radiographic and computed tomography (CT) findings of patients with severe H1N1 pneumonia admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) during the 2009 pandemic.Hypothesis: Patients with severe H1N1 pneumonia requiring ICU admission have extensive radiographic and CT abnormalities. Methods: Eighteen patients, aged 23 to 62 (mean 41), admitted to the ICU at UCLA-Olive View Medical Center with a primary diagnosis of pandemic H1N1 infection, confirmed either via rapid influenza detection test or by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assay, formed the study population. All patients had chest x-ray (CXR) within 24 hours of admission and 5 patients had CT examinations. In this retrospective study, images were evaluated for the pattern (ground-glass opacities, consolidation, reticular opacities, and nodular opacities), distribution (unilateral/ bilateral, upper/middle/lower lung zone, and central/peripheral/peribronchovascular), and extent (focal/multifocal/diffuse; number of lung zones) of abnormalities. Results: All (100%) patients had abnormal CXR and CT studies. The predominant radiographic findings were ground-glass opacities (16 of 18; 89%), consolidation (16 of 18; 89%), and reticular opacities (6 of 18, 33%). The radiographic abnormalities were bilateral in 17 (94%) patients; involved lower lung distribution in 18 (100%) patients, and mid and lower lung distribution in 16 (89%) patients. Radiographic abnormalities were peribronchovascular in 11 (61%) patients and multifocal in 10 (56%). Sixteen (89%) patients had extensive abnormalities involving 3 or more lung zones. The patients requiring mechanical ventilation had a higher incidence of bilateral, diffuse consolidation in a peribronchovascular distribution on chest radiographs. The predominant CT abnormalities were consolidation (5 of 5; 100%), ground-glass opacities (5 of 5; 100%), and nodular opacities (3 of 5, 60%). The CT findings were peribronchovascular and multifocal in 4 (80%) patients and extensive and bilateral in all (100%) patients. Conclusions: Patients with H1N1 pneumonia admitted to the ICU had bilateral, extensive CXR, and CT abnormalities. Consolidations and ground-glass opacities were the most common imaging findings, predominantly affect- ing mid and lower lung zones. Imaging abnormalities were peribronchovascular and multifocal in a majority of patients.
Physical and structural properties of [Cu(BOT1)Cl]Cl, a fluorescent imaging probe for HNO

Abstract Nitroxyl, or HNO, is involved in a number of important physiological processes, such as vascular relaxation and neuroregulation. Effective imaging tools are required in order to gain a deeper understanding of the in vivo mechanisms of these processes and to identify the endogenous sources of HNO. Here, we further investigate the physical properties of our previously reported fluorescent nitroxyl sensor, [Cu(BOT1)Cl]Cl ( J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2010 , 132 , 5536; BOT1 = BODIPY·triazole, a tetradentate ligand). A new high-yielding synthetic procedure for BOT1 is reported. The X-ray crystal structures of two Cu(II) complexes of BOT1 are described. These structural studies show that the BOT1 ligand can form Cu(II) coordination complexes of both square-pyramidal and trigonal–bipyramidal geometries. Cyclic voltammograms of [Cu(BOT1)Cl]Cl were acquired, revealing the presence of a quasi-reversible feature at 130 mV (vs the ferrocene/ferrocenium couple) in MeCN and at − 40 mV (vs Ag/AgCl) in aqueous buffer, which is assigned to the Cu II /Cu I couple. The reactivity of [Cu(BOT1)Cl]Cl with Angeli's salt, a stable source of HNO, was further investigated. A 1000-fold excess of Angeli's salt elicits an immediate 10-fold emission turn-on response of the sensor, consistent with our previous report. A new observation, reported here, is that the intensity of this turn-on emission diminishes at longer incubation times. Fluorescent imaging of nitroxyl by [Cu(BOT1)Cl]Cl in HeLa cells was carried out. Upon treatment of the cells with Angeli's salt, there was a modest 2-fold intracellular turn-on in emission intensity.
Prompting Middle School Science Students for Productive Reflection: Generic and Directed Prompts

This classroom study, involving 178 middle school science students, investigates ways of prompting students for reflection. Reflection refers to both metacognition and sense-making. The primary research question is "Do students merely need to be prompted to reflect, or do they need guidance in reflecting productively?" Two types of reflection prompts are contrasted. The first type, called generic prompts, represents a view that asking students to "stop and think" will encourage reflection. The second type, called directed prompts, assumes that a generic request for reflection is insufficient, and that students should instead be provided with hints indicating potentially productive directions for their reflection. (Students in both conditions received identical activity prompts that helped them complete the project.) The results show that students in the generic prompt condition develop more coherent understandings as they work on a complex science project. Students reflect unproductively more often in res...
II. Localization of Pi class glutathione-S-transferase in the forebrains of neonatal and young rats : evidence for separation of astrocytic and oligodendrocytic lineages

The Yp isoform (Pi class) of glutathione-S-transferase has recently been localized in oligodendrocytes in the brains of mature rats. To examine at what postnatal age Pi first appears in oligodendrocytes or precursor cells, antibodies against Pi were used to immunostain tissue sections from the forebrains of neonatal rats and young rats up to 17 days of age. In the brains of neonates Pi immunofluorescence was observed in ovoid cells in the subependymal layer, and in ovoid cells and cells bearing short, thick processes in the corpus callosum and cingulum. These cells did not immunostain for vimentin. During the first postnatal week Pi-positive cells showed positive immunostaining for ganglioside GD3, which is characteristic of oligodendrocyte precursors, and process-bearing Pi-positive cells appeared in the cingulum and at the lateral borders of the corpus callosum in increasing numbers. During the second postnatal week the cytoplasm of Pi-positive cells became more compact, and the processes thinner, and the Pi-positive cells and their processes began to immunostain for 2′,3′-cyclic nucleotide-3′-phosphohydrolase, which is characteristic of immature and mature oligodendrocytes and myelin sheaths. By age 17 days Pi was observed in relatively mature oligodendrocytes. The observations suggest that Pi occurs in oligodendrocyte precursors, immature oligodendrocytes, and mature oligodendrocytes in the postnatal through 17 day old rat forebrain. In the accompanying paper (Cammer and Zhang, '92)—if references are permitted in the Abstract a different glutathione-S-transferase isoform, Yb (Mu class), was localized in cells of the astrocyte lineage, beginning in the forebrains of neonatal rats. At each postnatal age Mu-and Pi-positive cells differed in size and shape as well as in their contents of “marker” antigens. These findings support the conclusion that the oligodendrocyte and astrocyte lines have separate precursors in the neonatal rat forebrain. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The adsorption of large proteins in electrofocusing on immobilized pH gradients: II. Dependence on the oligomeric state of Immobiline

Five proteins with molecular mass in excess of 200 kDa were found to adsorb onto gels during isoelectric focusing on immobilized pH gradients (IPGEF). To probe for the mechanism of that adsorption, the homogeneity of the six Immobiline preparations used to make IPGEF gels was tested. Five of these Immobiline preparations appear homogeneous in gel filtration of Sephadex G-10. The sixth Immobiline (pK 9.3) exhibits a minor component eluting ahead of the major peak and comprising less than 4 % of the total Immobiline absorbing at 226 nm. The proportion of the minor component increases with column load. Major and minor components when isolated appear to equilibrate with one another. Judging by the results of mass spectrometry, all 6 preparations are free of small aggregates of less than 500-600 Da molecular mass. Ultrafiltration of the Immobiline preparations through a membrane with 500 Da nominal cutoff leads to partial desorption of only 3 of the 5 adsorbed proteins. CHAPS is ineffectual in desorbing the 5 proteins from the IPG gel made with ultrafiltered Immobilines. None of the 6 Immobiline preparations used precipitates ferritin. All large proteins that adsorb onto IPGEF gels in the pH range 4–9.5 also adsorb onto commercial IPGEF gels in the pH range 4–7.
Making updates disk-I/O friendly using SSDs

Multiversion databases store both current and historical data. Rows are typically annotated with timestamps representing the period when the row is/was valid. We develop novel techniques for reducing index maintenance in multiversion databases, so that indexes can be used effectively for analytical queries over current data without being a heavy burden on transaction throughput. To achieve this end, we re-design persistent index data structures in the storage hierarchy to employ an extra level of indirection. The indirection level is stored on solid state disks that can support very fast random I/Os, so that traversing the extra level of indirection incurs a relatively small overhead.The extra level of indirection dramatically reduces the number of magnetic disk I/Os that are needed for index updates, and localizes maintenance to indexes on updated attributes. Further, we batch insertions within the indirection layer in order to reduce physical disk I/Os for indexing new records. By reducing the index maintenance overhead on transactions, we enable operational data stores to create more indexes to support queries. We have developed a prototype of our indirection proposal by extending the widely used Generalized Search Tree (GiST) open-source project, which is also employed in PostgreSQL. Our working implementation demonstrates that we can significantly reduce index maintenance and/or query processing cost, by a factor of 3. For insertions of new records, our novel batching technique can save up to 90% of the insertion time.
Stabilization of lithium-drifted silicon surface-barrier detectors

Abstract A simple fabrication technique has been found which yields lithium-drifted silicon surface-barrier detectors which have a low leakage current and which exhibit stable electrical and α-particle characteristics under conditions of prolonged aging and repeated exposure to thermal-vacuum environments. The detectors will operate at a temperature of 65°C and high vacuum for several days with no evidence of noise instability. The operating characteristics of such detectors have been studied over a period of several months. These studies included measurements of their electrical and α-particle characteristics taken before, during, and after thermal-vacuum testing at 65°C and additional testing at 50°C. Degradation in electrical and α-particle characteristics resulting from such testing and aging was found to be negligible over a period of approximately four months. The measurements at 50°C and 65°C indicate that the fractional change in the mean energy per ion pair is approximately −1.3 × 10 −4 /°C over the temperature range from room temperature to 65°C. The results of these studies are reported.
POU-domain factor expression in the trigeminal ganglion and implications for herpes virus regulation

The restriction of herpes virus latency to mammalian sensory ganglia has led to a search for tissue-specific regulatory molecules in these neurons which alter viral gene expression. Based primarily on work in sensory-related cell lines, several prior reports have suggested that the POU-domain transcription factor Oct-2 functions in the establishment of viral latency. Here we show that among the POU-domain transcriptional regulators, Brn-3.0 is abundantly expressed in the postnatal trigeminal ganglion. In contrast, Oct-2 message and protein are not detectable by sensitive and specific assays, effectively excluding a direct role for Oct-2 in the viral life cycle in vivo.
Pain with no gain: allodynia following neural stem cell transplantation in spinal cord injury.

Abstract Transplantation of neural stem cells (NSCs) in the injured spinal cord has been shown to improve functional outcome; however, recent evidence has demonstrated forelimb allodynia following transplantation of embryonic NSCs. The aim of this study was to investigate whether transplantation of murine C17.2 NSCs alone or transfected with glial-derived neurotrophic factor (C17.2/GDNF) would induce allodynia in transplanted spinal cord-injured animals. One week after a T8-level spinal cord injury (SCI), C17.2, C17.2/GDNF or normal saline was injected at the injury site. Locomotor function and sensory recovery to thermal and mechanical stimuli were then measured. Spinal cords were processed immunohistochemically at the injury/transplantation site for characterization of NSC survival and differentiation; and at the cervicothoracic level for calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), a neuropeptide expressed in dorsal horn nocioceptive neurons, and growth-associated protein-43 (GAP43), a marker of neuronal sprouting. Locomotor function was not significantly improved following NSC transplantation at any time (P > 0.05). Significant forelimb thermal and mechanical allodynia were observed following transplantation with both NSC populations (P
Molecular self-assembly: another brick in the wall.

Nature builds sophisticated materials and machines one molecule at a time with minimal energy. Scientists are now emulating these assembly processes to make artificial structures that are not found in the natural world.
Indirectly predicting the maintenance effort of open-source software

An accurate maintenance effort model is essential for a successful software maintenance process. Maintenance effort is usually measured in person-hours used to perform a maintenance task. However, maintenance effort data are usually only available for strictly managed software, such as closed-source software. In other software projects that do not have complete maintenance records, especially some open-source software, there are no direct data for maintenance effort, which precludes the establishment of a maintenance effort model. In this paper, we report a series of studies aimed at presenting a method for indirectly predicting the maintenance effort of open-source software. This report covers two parts of our research. First, we examine the maintenance data from NASA SEL closed-source software projects and identify some software measures that can be used to indirectly represent maintenance effort. Second, based on the findings in the first part, we analyze 121 recent versions of Linux, and use linear regression to construct two indirect maintenance effort models for the Linux project. Our study demonstrates the applicability of this approach to indirectly predicting the maintenance effort and improving the software maintenance process. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
More Than a Feeling: Emotional Contagion Effects in Persuasive Communication

AbstractThe authors develop an affect-as-information model to explain how targeted emotions used in persuasion can influence unrelated products and brands that are presented nearby. In Study 1, the presence of an emotion-eliciting image affected consumer spending on unrelated products in a simulated retail environment. In Study 2, emotional processing ability and whether consumers monitored their feelings moderated emotional transfers between unrelated advertisements, providing support for an affect-as-information model. In Studies 3 and 4, the authors use the context of evaluative conditioning to generalize the incidence of emotional contagion in persuasive communication. They manipulate salience of affect and whether brand attitudes were measured or primed to provide additional evidence for and extend affect-as-information theory.
The GRIP1:IRF3 interaction as a target for glucocorticoid receptor-mediated immunosuppression

Glucocorticoids dramatically inhibit cytokine and chemokine production. They act through the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), a ligand-dependent transcription factor that binds to and represses activities of other DNA-bound regulators, activator protein 1 and nuclear factor κB, utilizing a p160 GRIP1 as a corepressor. A yeast two-hybrid screen with the GRIP1 corepression domain (RD) yielded interferon (IFN) regulatory factor (IRF)3—a downstream effector of Toll-like receptors (TLR) 3/4 and an essential activator of several IFN and chemokine genes. We defined the GRIP1:IRF3 interface and showed that endogenous GRIP1 and IRF3 interact in mammalian cells. Interestingly, GR and IRF3 competed for GRIP1 binding; GR activation or GRIP1 knockdown in macrophages blocked whereas GRIP1 overexpression rescued IRF3-dependent gene expression. GR interference persisted in MyD88- and IFNA receptor-deficient mice, suggesting a specific disruption of TLR3–IRF3 pathway, not of autocrine IFN signaling. Finally, IRF3-stimulated response elements were necessary and sufficient for TLR3-dependent induction and glucocorticoid inhibition. Thus, GRIP1 plays a cofactor role in innate immunity. Competition with GR for GRIP1 antagonizes IRF3-mediated transcription, identifying the GRIP1:IRF3 interaction as a novel target for glucocorticoid immunosuppression.
SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND TEMPERAMENT IN KINDERGARTEN CHILDREN: A CROSS-CULTURAL STUDY

This study examined the relationships between temperament characteristics and skill deficits in two groups of kindergarten children, one in Ohio and one in Taipei, Taiwan. The purposes of the study...
Shadowing orbits of ordinary differential equations

Abstract A new notion of shadowing of a pseudo orbit, an approximate solution, of an autonomous system of ordinary differential equations by an associated nearby true orbit is introduced. Then a general shadowing theorem for finite time, which guarantees the existence of shadowing in ordinary differential equations and provides error bounds for the distance between the true and the pseudo orbit in terms of computable quantities, is proved. The use of this theorem in numerical computations of orbits is outlined.
Rising Mental Health Costs: What Are We Getting For Our Money?

This synthesis of recent epidemiological and service use data concludes that, in aggregate, rising mental health spending since the early 1990s appear to be purchasing improvements in access to care and to represent a good value for society. However, there is also evidence of continuing waste and quality deficits. Although mental health faces some unique challenges, these patterns are more similar to than different from those seen in all of health care. These parallels suggest the importance of learning from and working with the broader health care system in improving the returns on U.S. mental health spending.
Decay of 13-Hour Re 182

An electron- and gamma-spectroscopic study of the levels of ${\mathrm{W}}^{182}$ populated by the 13-hour electron-capturing isomer ${\mathrm{Re}}^{182}$ has been made. The levels observed support previous studies on the ${\mathrm{W}}^{182}$ levels as observed in ${\mathrm{Ta}}^{182}$ decay. Evidence for weakly populated levels around 2 Mev is reported, which indicates that the decay energy of the isomer is greater than 2 Mev. On the basis of the spins and parities of the levels populated, the isomer is assigned spin 3, negative parity.
Water at the surfaces of aligned phospholipid multibilayer model membranes probed with ultrafast vibrational spectroscopy.

The dynamics of water at the surface of artificial membranes composed of aligned multibilayers of the phospholipid dilauroyl phosphatidylcholine (DLPC) are probed with ultrafast polarization selective vibrational pump−probe spectroscopy. The experiments are performed at various hydration levels, x = 2 − 16 water molecules per lipid at 37 °C. The water molecules are ∼1 nm above or below the membrane surface. The experiments are conducted on the OD stretching mode of dilute HOD in H2O to eliminate vibrational excitation transfer. The FT-IR absorption spectra of the OD stretch in the DLPC bilayer system at low hydration levels shows a red-shift in frequency relative to bulk water, which is in contrast to the blue-shift often observed in systems such as water nanopools in reverse micelles. The spectra for x = 4 − 16 can be reproduced by a superposition of the spectra for x = 2 and bulk water. IR Pump−probe measurements reveal that the vibrational population decays (lifetimes) become longer as the hydration le...
Computer studies of the reflection of 30 keV N+2 ions from a (010)Cu surface

Abstract The reflection of 30 keV N + 2 molecular ions from a Cu(010) surface has been studied using molecular dynamics multiple interaction simulations. The model is used to investigate the trajectories leading to the reflection of undissociated N + 2 ions. A theoretical analysis of the reflection of diatomic molecules is also given, which provides proper insight into the process as well as a useful guide to the simulations. In contrast to previous theories, correlations in the motion of molecule's nuclei were found to play an important role on the. reflection of bound clusters.
Mapping the processes and patterns of family organ donation discussions: conversational styles and strategies in live discourse.

People in the United States report positive attitudes toward organ donation (OD); however there is a disjoint between pro-donation attitudes and declared-donor status. OD campaigns promote family discussions to increase donor status and compliance with OD wishes. Unfortunately, the discourse processes involved in family OD discussions have not been systematically studied. This investigation explores how families enact the recommendation to have a family OD discussion by mapping patterns, processes, and implications of 21 undirected family discussions. Analyses revealed 3 discussion styles: cooperative, collaborative, and challenging. Discussions were marked by a general pro–OD norm, a focus on individual rights and family loyalty, and 2 specific communication strategies used to explore individual boundaries, hypothetical ethical scenarios and hypothetical family scenarios. Finally, this investigation offers insight into the processes of OD discussions such as topic initiation, topic shifting, and establis...
Effect of graded exercise on nitric oxide in expired air in humans

Abstract This study was performed to determine the influence of graded dynamic exercise and of voluntary hyperventilation on both the concentration ([NO]) and the amount of nitric oxide per unit time (V NO ) in exhaled air. Young human subjects ( n = 8) of varying fitness levels having peak O 2 consumption (V O 2 ) values ranging between 25.7 and 50.9 ml/min/kg were studied during graded levels of treadmill exercise. Expired [NO] determined by chemiluminescence was 26.3 ± 6.7 SE parts per billion (ppb) at rest ranging between 11 and 66 ppb. Although variable, [NO] was maintained as work rate increased. V NO rose significantly in most subjects from a mean resting value of 12.3 ± 3.5 nmol/min. V NO correlated linearly and significantly with ventilation (VE) and CO 2 output in 6 of 8 subjects, with V O 2 in 4 of 8 subjects, and with heart rate in 5 of 8 subjects. Increases of V NO per unit increase of VE were significantly higher in subjects having higher peak V O 2 levels. Voluntary hyperventilation (two-fold of the control VE) for 1 min in 6 subjects decreased expired [NO] from 9.5 (±2.5) to 4.8 (±2.8) ppb and V NO was unchanged, while hyperventilation at 3 × control VE increased V NO by 50% and [NO] decreased to 4.7 ± 1.8 ppb. V NO appeared to be related to V O 2 during hyperventilation. The results suggest that V NO can be correlated with ventilation and heart rate during exercise and with V O 2 during both exercise and hyperventilation. [NO] is influenced by the flow rate of the expired air whereas V NO is influenced by NO clearance at the alveolus.
Elastic Properties of Superlattices

A calculation of the effective elastic moduli of a super-lattice, in terms of the elastic moduli of its constituents, is presented. Contrary to what has been found in many real systems, these calculations show that in the long wavelength limit the effective elastic moduli are independent of the modulation wavelength. A discussion of the experimental results on Nb/Cu, Mo/Ni and Au/Cr shows that the elastic anomalies can be understood on the basis of concomitant changes in lattice spacings.
Molecular basis for insulin fibril assembly.

Abstract In the rare medical condition termed injection amyloidosis, extracellular fibrils of insulin are observed. We found that the segment of the insulin B-chain with sequence LVEALYL is the smallest segment that both nucleates and inhibits the fibrillation of full-length insulin in a molar ratio–dependent manner, suggesting that this segment is central to the cross-β spine of the insulin fibril. In isolation from the rest of the protein, LVEALYL forms microcrystalline aggregates with fibrillar morphology, the structure of which we determined to 1 A resolution. The LVEALYL segments are stacked into pairs of tightly interdigitated β-sheets, each pair displaying the dry steric zipper interface typical of amyloid-like fibrils. This structure leads to a model for fibrils of human insulin consistent with electron microscopic, x-ray fiber diffraction, and biochemical studies.
EDTA and urea peroxide for root canal preparation

Early combinations of EDTA and urea peroxide led to discoloration and crystallization. A new formula, using a stable carbowax base can have clinical value in permitting medication to permeate the root structure more completely and destroy remaining microorganisms.
Analysis of identity, charge variants, and disulfide isomers of monoclonal antibodies with capillary zone electrophoresis in an uncoated capillary column.

A set of related capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) methods have been developed for the analysis of identity, charge variants, and disulfide isoforms of IgG monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). These methods utilize an uncoated capillary column. The combined use of concentrated zwitterionic (e-amino-caproic acid) buffer and acid flushing was effective in minimizing the adsorption of protein to the inner wall of a bare capillary. Under these conditions, a selective and reproducible separation of multiple IgG1 and IgG2 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) was obtained with a long capillary column (40 cm effective length), allowing the reliable identification of different mAbs by migration time. A rapid (∼10 min) and selective separation of charged variants of IgG mAbs was attained using a short capillary column (10 cm effective length). Finally, the addition of urea in the separation buffer resulted in the separation of disulfide isoforms of IgG2 mAbs by CZE. CZE methods using an uncoated capillary column offer a versat...
The unusual nature of the quantum Baker's transformation

Abstract We investigate the quantum Baker's transformation which has been introduced as a paradigm for studies of the quantum mechanics of classically chaotic systems. A semiclassical theory of the dynamics, good to times logarithmic in ħ, is given in the form of a linear wave packet dynamics. The consequences for the implied heavy eigenfunction scarring and for the trace of the propagator are compared to the quantum results. Unexpectedly, the semiclassical trace remains accurate beyond this logarithmic time. Some exotic quantum properties are found that cannot be explained by the short time semiclassics. Further study reveals level clustering, large recurrences in the trace of the propagator, and excesses of small eigenvector components. Many of the unusual behaviors have a very strong and peculiar ħ dependence.
Noncoding RNA landmarks of pluripotency and reprogramming.

Noncoding RNAs have emerged as important determinants of pluripotency and reprogramming. In this issue of Cell Stem Cell, Kosik and colleagues now provide a detailed map of microRNA expression patterns to infer the biological states of embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells.