Irradiation as a tool for studying solid-state amorphization phenomena

An overview of selected experimental results on amorphization induced by irradiation and by ion implantation is first presented. This overview and other general observations on the microstructural evolution that precedes the transition to the amorphous state of irradiated crystalline materials expose some of the important data that must be accounted for by theory. A perspective of our present understanding of irradiation-induced amorphization is then presented. As described in previous work, the theory assumes a localized buildup of complexes (coupled interstitial/ vacancy pairs) to a critical value as the mechanism of amorphization. The theory of complex formation implies that the production of a defective state characterized by localized anisotropic distortions of the crystalline lattice leads to amorphization. It is proposed that this concept can be generalized to encompass solid-state amorphization transitions other than those induced by irradiation. Examples available in the literature to support this idea are presented. It is therefore suggested that irradiation can be used as a valuable tool to study other solid-state amorphization transitions. This paper is based on a presentation made in the symposium “Irradiation-Enhanced Materials Science and Engineering” presented as part of the ASM INTERNATIONAL 75th Anniversary celebration at the 1988 World Materials Congress in Chicago, IL, September 25-29, 1988, under the auspices of the Nuclear Materials Committee of TMS-AIME and ASM-MSD.     

High-resolution Fourier spectroscopy as a tool for studying quality of rare-earth-doped crystals

Three examples were considered of the use of high resolution Fourier-transform optical spectroscopy for studying quality of rare-earth-doped crystals. The first example was connected with defects present in crystals grown by flux techniques. The second example dealt with detection of stresses and deformations in rare-earth-containing crystals, by registering splitting of spectral lines. The third example showed that a very small amount （at the level ofppm） of different RE ions present in a crystal could be determined using high-resolution spectroscopy. This work was carried out by the author＇s group in collaboration with several institutions in Rus- sia and abroad.     

In vivo EPR: an effective new tool for studying pathophysiology, physiology and pharmacology

The development of spectrometers working at lower frequencies with improved resonators now permits the routine use of non-invasive EPR spectroscopy in vivo. The capabilities of EPR spectra to reflect environmental conditions, combined with the use of paramagnetic materials as selective non-toxic labels, has led to increasingly widespread and productive applications of the technique to complex problems involving physiology, pharmacology and pathophysiology. Some of the especially promising applications in which EPR techniques uniquely appear to provide valuable information are illustrated, including the measurement of oxygen and oxygen gradients, monitoring of the metabolism of xenobiotics, monitoring pharmacokinetics of drugs, measurement of perfusion, measurement of pH, recognition and labeling of receptors, and characterization of drug releasing systems.     

Random-priming in vitro recombination: an effective tool for directed evolution

A simple and efficient method for in vitro mutagenesis and recombination of polynucleotide sequences is reported. The method involves priming template polynucleotide(s) with random-sequence primers and extending to generate a pool of short DNA fragments which contain a controllable level of point mutations. The fragments are reassembled during cycles of denaturation, annealing and further enzyme-catalyzed DNA polymerization to produce a library of full-length sequences. Screening or selecting the expressed gene products leads to new variants with improved functions, as demonstrated by the recombination of genes encoding different thermostable subtilisins in order to obtain enzymes more stable than either parent.     

Minisequencing: a specific tool for DNA analysis and diagnostics on oligonucleotide arrays

We describe a method for multiplex detection of mutations in which the solid-phase minisequencing principle is applied to an oligonucleotide array format. The mutations are detected by extending immobilized primers that anneal to their template sequences immediately adjacent to the mutant nucleotide positions with single labeled dideoxynucleoside triphosphates using a DNA polymerase. The arrays were prepared by coupling one primer per mutation to be detected on a small glass area. Genomic fragments spanning nine disease mutations, which were selected as targets for the assay, were amplified in multiplex PCR reactions and used as templates for the minisequencing reactions on the primer array. The genotypes of homozygous and heterozygous genomic DNA samples were unequivocally defined at each analyzed nucleotide position by the highly specific primer extension reaction. In a comparison to hybridization with immobilized allele-specific probes in the same assay format, the power of discrimination between homozygous and heterozygous genotypes was one order of magnitude higher using the minisequencing method. Therefore, single-nucleotide primer extension is a promising principle for future high-throughput mutation detection and genotyping using high density DNA-chip technology.     

Comparative measurements between a new logging tool and a reference instrument

Measurements were performed on reference samples (D2O-H2O mixtures) and on highly heterogeneous rocks (Vosges sandstone) with a new logging tool designed to give access to a high spatial resolution, below 1.5 cm on the vertical scale, for a toroidal sensitive volume of 20 cm3. The results were compared to measurements obtained on a clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment working at the same frequency (4.3 MHz). T2 differences as high as 30% were observed for the reference samples; the shortest values were obtained with the logging tool. Porosity profiles of the rock samples were also compared to reference profiles obtained with a conventional computed tomography (CT) scanner. Both nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements underevaluate porosity by 2-4% for short T2 values (< 10 ms).     

Liver transplantation and bile analysis: a parallel evolution

We hypothesized that women employees working in a hospital environment would be particularly attuned to aspects of personal health, well-being, and disease prevention. We performed an observational study at a local hospital, offering free assessments in its outpatient women's wellness screening program to women employees aged 39-60 years. Data from the first 60 women to enroll in the program are presented as a test of our hypothesis. Undiagnosed hypertension, abnormal lipid profiles, glucose intolerance, alcohol abuse, abnormal cervical cytology, breast masses, depression, or combinations of these were found in 49 of the 60 women. Twenty-one women were obese. Most women with abnormal findings did not follow specific personalized recommendations for remedial follow-up, including referral to a specialist. An important percentage of midlife women employees at this hospital exhibited unhealthful personal behaviors, had unrecognized disease, and did not use recommended health screening practices. The data emphasize the benefit for employees who participate in medical facility worksite health promotion programs.     

Landscape ecology and epidemiology of vector-borne diseases: tools for spatial analysis

We studied twins to examine the genetics of epilepsy syndromes. We ascertained 358 twin pairs in whom one or both reported seizures. After evaluation, 253 of 358 (71%) had seizure disorders and 105 pairs were false positives. Among the monozygous (MZ) pairs, more were concordant for seizures (48 of 108; casewise concordance = 0.62 +/- 0.05) than among the dizygous (DZ) pairs (14 of 145; casewise concordance = 0.18 +/- 0.04). In 94% of concordant MZ pairs, and 71% of concordant DZ pairs, both twins had the same major epilepsy syndrome. When analyzed according to major epilepsy syndrome, the casewise concordances for generalized epilepsies (MZ = 0.82; DZ = 0.26), both idiopathic (MZ = 0.76; DZ = 0.33) and symptomatic (MZ = 0.83; DZ = 0), were greater than those for partial epilepsies (MZ = 0.36; DZ = 0.05), with intermediate values seen for febrile seizures (MZ = 0.58; DZ = 0.14) and unclassified epilepsies (MZ = 0.53; DZ = 0.18). We conclude that genetic factors are particularly important in the generalized epilepsies but also play a role in the partial epilepsies. The high frequency of concordant MZ pairs with the same major syndrome strongly suggests there are syndrome-specific genetic determinants rather than a broad genetic predisposition to seizures.     

Chimeras of human lysozyme and alpha-lactalbumin: an interesting tool for studying partially folded states during protein folding

Protein folding is an extremely active field of research where biology, chemistry, computer science and physics meet. Although the study of protein-folding intermediates in general and equilibrium intermediates in particular has grown considerably in recent years, many questions regarding the conformational state and the structural features of the various partially folded intermediate states remain unanswered. Performing kinetic measurements on proteins that have had their structures modified by site-directed mutagenesis, the so-called protein-engineering method, is an obvious way to gain fine structural information. In the present review, this method has been applied to a variety of proteins belonging to the lysozyme/alpha-lactalbumin family. Besides recombinants obtained by point mutations of individual critical residues, chimeric proteins in which whole structural elements (10-25 residues) from alpha-lactalbumin were inserted into a human lysozyme matrix are examined. The conformational properties of the equilibrium intermediate states are discussed together with the structural characterization of the partially unfolded states encountered in the kinetic folding pathway.     

Dynamic stochastic simulation as a tool for studying bovine virus diarrhoea virus infections at the herd level

Infectious diseases, such as bovine virus diarrhoea (BVD) virus infections in cattle, are often studied by Markov chain models. However, it is difficult to simulate dynamic interactions between production of a reproductive herd and the disease by this type of model. As an alternative, a dynamic stochastic model simulating the herd production was suggested. A dynamic stochastic model simulating the effect of BVD virus infection in a dairy cattle herd was used to exemplify how this type of model could be applied in research. The simulation example demonstrated that the effect of a BVD virus infection depended on the characteristics of the individual herd.     

Molecular phylogenetic approach for studying life-history evolution: the ambiguous example of the genus Medicago L

We present a molecular phylogeny including most species of the genus Medicago L. (Fabaceae). Based on the consensus of the 48 most parsimonious trees, life-history and mating-system characters are mapped, and a putative history of the genus is suggested. The most parsimonious reconstruction suggests an ancestral annual and selfing state, and recurrent evolution towards perenniality and outcrossing. Based on theoretical predictions and classical hypotheses of the history of the genus, different assumptions about the ancestral state and different weighting schemes of evolution between the character states are made. Assuming an outcrossing, perennial ancestral state (partly supported by morphological features) does not fundamentally change the reconstruction. To meet theoretical expectations, various weighting schemes favouring evolution towards annuality and selfing are applied. Influence and validity of such weighting schemes are discussed with regard to other studies.     

Validation of the Abstraction Index as a tool for content-effects analysis and content analysis.

How does the degree of abstractness (Abstraction Index) of a magazine article affect reader interest and satisfaction? 340 readers of a magazine were interviewed about readership and satisfaction of items read. 10 hypotheses were tested. Abstractness discourages persistence but favors satisfaction. The Abstraction Index is useful. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparative primate energetics and hominid evolution

There is currently great interest in developing ecological models for investigating human evolution. Yet little attention has been given to energetics, one of the cornerstones of modern ecosystem ecology. This paper examines the ecological correlates of variation in metabolic requirements among extant primate species, and uses this information to draw inferences about the changes in energy demands over the course of human evolution. Data on body size, resting metabolism, and activity budgets for selected anthropoid species and human hunter-gatherers are used to estimate total energy expenditure (TEE). Analyses indicate that relative energy expenditure levels and day ranges are positively correlated with diet quality; that is, more active species tend to consume more energy-rich diets. Human foragers fall at the positive extremes for modern primates in having high expenditure levels, large ranges, and very high quality diets. During hominid evolution, it appears that TEE increased substantially with the emergence of Homo erectus. This increase is partly attributable to larger body size as well as likely increases in day range and activity level. Assuming similar activity budgets for all early hominid species, estimated TEE for H. erectus is 40-45% greater than for the australopithecines. If, however, it is assumed that the evolution of early Homo was also associated with a shift to a more "human-like" foraging strategy, estimated expenditure levels for H. erectus are 80-85% greater than in the australopithecines. Changing patterns of resource distribution associated with the expansion of African savannas between 2.5 and 1.5 mya may been the impetus for a shift in foraging behavior among early members of the genus Homo. Such ecological changes likely would have made animal foods a more attractive resource. Moreover, greater use of animal foods and the resulting higher quality diet would have been important for supporting the larger day ranges and greater energy requirements that appear to have been associated with the evolution of a human-like hunting and gathering strategy.     

Microcomputer-assisted qualitative analysis: A research tool for scientist-practitioners.

The potential role of microcomputers in qualitative research in psychology has yet to be explored. Such applications might be of particular value at this time, given recent discussions of the role that more case-intensive methodologies might play in improving the integration of clinical practice and scientific research. In this article I present a rationale for exploring the use of microcomputer-assisted qualitative analysis in psychology, and I describe an approach and a technology for such analysis that is widely accessible to individual scientist-practitioners, regardless of the settings in which they work. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The place preference task: A new tool for studying the relation between behavior and place cell activity in rats.

This study describes a task that combines random searching with goal directed navigation. The testing was conducted on a circular elevated open field (80 cm in diameter), with an unmarked target area (20 cm in diameter) in the center of 1 of the 4 quadrants. Whenever the rat entered the target area, the computerized tracking system released a pellet to a random point on the open field. Rats were able to learn the task under light and in total darkness, and on a stable or a rotating arena. Visual information was important in light, but idiothetic information became crucial in darkness. Learning of a new position was quicker under light than in total darkness on a rotating arena. The place preference task should make it possible to study place cells (PCs) when the rats use an allothetic (room frame) or idiothetic (arena frame) representation of space and to compare the behavioral response with the PCs' activity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)