A model for electroluminescence in SrS:Ce ACTFEL display devices

An analytical model for electroluminescence in SrS:Ce AC thin-film electroluminescent display devices is presented. The model incorporates an exact calculation of the electric field and the effect of activator ionization and bulk traps. Activator ionization is needed to explain several features of luminescence behavior in SrS:Ce devices. These features include the second luminescence peak at the trailing edge of the voltage pulse and the time lag between the luminescence and the applied voltage when the applied voltage consists of bipolar trapezoidal pulses and rectangular pulses of low voltage amplitudes. As a mechanism for the ionization of activators, field-assisted tunneling is shown to be more likely than impact ionization by hot electrons. Physical processes are described in terms of rate equations, and field, current, and luminescence waveforms are calculated for one set of device parameters. The calculated and experimental luminescence waveforms agree     

The gene encoding human glutathione synthetase (GSS) maps to the long arm of chromosome 20 at band 11.2

Two forms of glutathione synthetase deficiency have been described. While one form is mild, causing hemolytic anemia, the other more severe form causes 5-oxo-prolinuria with secondary neurological involvement. Despite the existence of two deficiency phenotypes, Southern blots hybridized with a glutathione synthetase cDNA suggest that there is a single glutathione synthetase gene in the human genome. Analysis of somatic cell hybrids showed the human glutathione synthetase gene (GSS) to be located on chromosome 20, and this assignment has been refined to subband 20q11.2 using in situ hybridization.     

Gain characteristics of 1.55-μm high-speed multiple-quantum-welllasers

We describe the important characteristics of high-speed p-doped compressively strained MQW lasers obtained from comprehensive below-threshold DC measurements. Results of gain and differential gain versus wavelength and carrier density are verified by above-threshold resonance measurements. Measurement-derived design curves of gain, differential gain, and linewidth enhancement factor allow device optimization for high speed and low chirp     

Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in primates infected with a simian immunodeficiency virus

Focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSG) with endothelial tubuloreticular inclusions (TRIs) is the typical lesion of human HIV-associated glomerulopathy. Autopsy studies showed the presence of FSG in 3 of 15 macaques dying 15-120 weeks after experimental infection with a simian immunodeficiency virus (SIVMne). Ultrastructural studies generally revealed numerous endothelial TRIs (also present in normals), mesangial expansion, and evidence of mesangial cell injury. One additional animal had a small-vessel polyarteritis with a proliferative and focally crescentic glomerulonephritis; seven animals had mild, multifocal interstitial nephritis. All animals had documented viremia after infection; 14 of 15 developed antibodies to SIV postinoculation. Additional postmortem findings included severe enterocolitis, encephalitis, and opportunistic infections. In contrast, autopsy studies of macaques infected with a type D simian retrovirus (SAIDS-D/Washington, SRV-2) for similar periods of time (n = 40) showed no evidence of FSG. One SRV-infected animal had a mild proliferative glomerulonephritis. These studies indicate SIV-infected primates may provide a relevant model for study of human HIV-associated nephropathy. They also indicate the variable pathology that can be seen in primate infections of distinct retrovirus types, each of which produces a simian immunodeficiency state that resembles human AIDS.     

Evidence for an essential non-Watson-Crick interaction between the first and last nucleotides of a nuclear pre-mRNA intron

Nuclear pre-messenger RNA splicing requires the action of five small nuclear (sn) RNAs, U1, U2, U4, U5 and U6, and more than 50 proteins. The mechanistic similarity of nuclear pre-mRNA splicing and group II self-splicing suggests that many of the central processes of nuclear pre-mRNA splicing are based on RNA-RNA interaction. To understand the mechanism of pre-mRNA splicing, the interactions, and their temporal relationships, that occur between the snRNAs and the pre-mRNA during splicing must be identified. Several snRNA-snRNA and snRNA-intron interactions have been demonstrated but the putative RNA-based interactions that recognize the AG dinucleotide at the 3' splice site during 3' cleavage and exon ligation are unknown. We report here the reciprocal suppression between 5' and 3' splice site mutations in the yeast actin intron, and propose that the 3' splice site is positioned for 3' cleavage and exon ligation, at least in part, through a non-Watson-Crick interaction between the guanosines at the 5' and 3' splice sites.     

In vitro studies on the use of clay, clay minerals and charcoal to adsorb bovine rotavirus and bovine coronavirus

Rotaviruses are the leading cause and coronaviruses are the major contributors of acute gastroenteritis in the young of various mammalian and avian species. Despite numerous trials and decades of research, vaccines have limited efficacy particularly for calves. As an alternative method of controlling infection, we have investigated broad spectrum antiviral agents that are not discriminatory among various viruses. This report involves testing a variety of adsorbent agents including charcoal, clay, and clay minerals to adsorb rotavirus and coronavirus in vitro. Results revealed that all the adsorbent agents had good to excellent capability of adsorbing rotavirus and excellent capability of adsorbing coronavirus. Percent adsorptions ranged from 78.74% to 99.89% for rotavirus and 99.99% for coronavirus; while sand (negative control) was < 0.01%. A high affinity binding was present as determined by a low percent desorption (0.06-3.09%). However, the adsorbent bound virus complex retained, and may have actually enhanced, infectivity.     

Electron energy distribution at the insulator-semiconductorinterface in AC thin film electroluminescent display devices

Electron emission from insulator-semiconductor interface in ZnS:Mn ac thin film electroluminescent (ACTFEL) display devices was investigated by studying the current and field waveforms. A new technique for measuring the interface electron energy distribution at insulator-semiconductor interfaces was developed. The technique involves the measurement of tunnel current transients and can be used to study the interface electron energy distribution between any insulator-semiconductor pair with which an ac thin film test structure can be fabricated. It was applied to a ZnS:Mn display device at two temperatures of 10 K and 300 K and to a metal interface device structure     

Assessment of baroreceptor-cardiac reflex sensitivity using time domain analysis in patients with IDDM and the relation to left ventricular mass index

Autonomic dysfunction in insulin-dependent diabetic (IDDM) patients has been associated with abnormalities of left ventricular function and an increased risk of sudden death. A group of 30 patients with IDDM and 30 age, sex and blood pressure matched control subjects underwent traditional tests of autonomic function. In addition, baroreceptor-cardiac reflex sensitivity (BRS) was assessed using time domain (sequence) analysis of systolic blood pressure and pulse interval data recorded non-invasively using the Finapres beat-to-beat blood pressure recording system. 'Up BRS' sequences-increases in systolic blood pressure associated with lengthening of R-R interval, and 'down BRS' sequences-decreases in systolic blood pressure associated with shortening of R-R interval were identified and BRS calculated from the regression of systolic blood pressure on R-R interval for all sequences. We also assessed heart rate variability using power spectral analysis and, after expressing components of the spectrum in normalised units, assessed sympathovagal balance from the ratio of low to high frequency powers. IDDM subjects underwent 2-D echocardiography to assess left ventricular mass index. Standard tests of autonomic function revealed no differences between IDDM patients and control subjects, but dramatic reductions in baroreceptor-cardiac reflex sensitivity were detected in IDDM patients. 'Up BRS' when supine was 11.2 +/- 1.5 ms/mmHg (mean +/- SEM) compared with 20.4 +/- 1.95 in control subjects (p < 0.003) and when standing was 4.1 +/- 1.9 vs 7.6 +/- 2.7 ms/mmHg (p < 0.001). Down BRS when supine was 11.5 +/- 1.2 vs 22 +/- 2.6 (p < 0.001) and standing was 4.4 +/- 1.9 vs 7.3 +/- 2.5 ms/mmHg (p < 0.003). There were significant relations between impairment of the baroreflex and duration of diabetes (p < 0.001) and poor glycaemic control (p < 0.001). From a fast Fourier transformation of supine heart rate data and using a band width of 0.05-0.15 Hz as low-frequency and 0.2-0.35 Hz as high frequency total spectral power of R-R interval variability was significantly reduced in the IDDM group for both low-frequency (473 +/- 62.8 vs 746.6 +/- 77.6 ms2 p = 0.002) and high frequency bands 125.2 +/- 12.9 vs 459.3 +/- 89.8 ms2 p < 0.0001. When the absolute powers were expressed in normalised units the ratio of low frequency to high frequency power (a measure of sympathovagal balance) was significantly increased in the IDDM group (2.9 +/- 0.53 vs 4.6 +/- 0.55, p < 0.002 supine: 3.8 +/- 0.49 vs 6.6 +/- 0.55, p < 0.001 standing). Thus, time domain analysis of baroreceptor-cardiac reflex sensitivity detects autonomic dysfunction more frequently in IDDM patients than conventional tests. Impaired BRS is associated with an increased left ventricular mass index and this abnormality may have a role in the increased incidence of sudden death seen in young IDDM patients.