Mid-infrared diffused planar waveguides made of silver halide chloro-bromide

We have developed waveguides for the mid-IR spectrum using silver halide crystals. Diffused planar waveguides constructed from silver chlorobromide (AgClBr) with different diffusion thicknesses were designed and characterized. The waveguides were based on our changing the refractive index of the guiding layer by a diffusion of Br- ions into crystalline AgCl substrates. The waveguides were analyzed and investigated with a 10.6-microm CO2 laser, and the optically measured thicknesses of the waveguides were found to vary between 65 and 600 microm. The propagation losses were in the range of 4-16 dB/cm, and the maximal entrance angle was 62 degrees. The output beam distribution was measured and was in good correlation with a numerical analysis simulation based on a ray-tracing model, by use of the eikonal equation.     

A common conjugate prior structure for several randomized response models

In this paper we present a common Bayesian approach to four randomized response models, including Warner's (1965) and other modification for it that appeared thereafter in the literature. Suitable truncated beta distributions are used throughout in a common conjugate prior structure to obtain the Bayes estimates for the proportion of a “sensitive” attribute in the population of interest. The results of this common conjugate prior approach are contrasted with those of Winkler and Franklin's (1979), in which non-conjugate priors have been used in the context of Warner's model. The results are illustrated numerically in several cases and exemplified further with data reported in Liu and Chow (1976) concerning incidents of induced abortions.     

The sulfide electrode in bacterial studies

The applicability of a glass/Ag, Ag₂S (silver sulfide coated silver) electrode, which is capable of selectively detecting the H₂S fraction of total reduced inorganic sulfur (S_tot) concentration in biological systems is demonstrated. This electrode was used to monitor photosynthetic sulfide oxidation by Chlorobium phaeobacteroides. The electrode was resistant to Pfennig's medium and bacterial attack and after five months of use showed a potential drift within ±2 mV corresponding to ±13% maximum. The results obtained in a batch type experiment of growth of Chlorobium at different pH values suggest that Chlorobium cells preferentially take up the HS⁻ ion rather than H₂S.     

Premature cognitive commitment.

Examined the effect of conditions of initial exposure to information on the "mindless" processing of information and its subsequent use. In Exp I, 64 college students received information about perceptual deficits while the perceived relevance of that information was manipulated. On assessment tests, Ss "found" they had this deficit. On follow-up perceptual tasks, the group initially informed that the deficit was seemingly irrelevant showed severe performance decrements relative to other groups. Exp II (52 Ss) used a similar procedure for perceptual skill. Ss initially exposed to "irrelevant" information performed more productively than Ss initially exposed to "relevant" information. Results indicate that conditions surrounding initial exposure to information limit its subsequent use. Implications for social, psychological, and physical symptoms are discussed. (13 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Preparation of recombinant gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) growth hormone and its use for stimulation of larvae growth by oral administration

Optimal protective immunity against babesial infection is postulated to require both complement-fixing and opsonizing antibodies in addition to gamma interferon (IFN-gamma)-mediated macrophage activation. The rhoptry-associated protein 1 (RAP-1) of Babesia bigemina induces partial protective immunity and is a candidate vaccine antigen. Previous studies demonstrated that cattle immunized with native protein that were subsequently protected against challenge had a strong IFN-gamma and weaker interleukin-4 (IL-4) response in immune lymph node lymphocytes that reflected the cytokine profile of the majority of CD4(+) T-cell clones obtained from peripheral blood. RAP-1-specific T helper (Th) cell clones that coexpress IFN-gamma and IL-4 are typical of numerous parasite-specific clones examined. However, the function of such cells as helper cells to enhance immunoglobulin secretion by bovine B cells has not been reported. In cattle, both immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) and IgG2 can fix complement, but IgG2 is the superior opsonizing subclass. Therefore, studies were undertaken to ascertain the functional relevance of RAP-1-specific, CD4(+) Th0 cells as helper cells to enhance IgG1 and/or IgG2 production by autologous B lymphocytes. For comparison, Th0 clones specific for the metazoan parasite Fasciola hepatica that expressed relatively more IL-4 than the B. bigemina-specific Th cells were similarly assayed. B. bigemina RAP-1-specific clones could enhance production of both IgG1 and IgG2 by autologous B cells, whereas Th cell clones specific for F. hepatica enhanced predominantly IgG1 production. The capacity to enhance IgG2 production was associated with production of IFN-gamma by Th cells cocultured with B cells, antigen, and IL-2. The in vitro helper T-cell activity of these T-cell clones was representative of the in vivo serologic responses, which were composed of a mixed IgG1-IgG2 response in B. bigemina RAP-1 immune cattle and a biased IgG1 response in F. hepatica-immune cattle.     

An accelerated bias-corrected sequential estimation for the mean of NEF-PVF distributions

An accelerated sequential procedure for estimating the mean p in the class of the natural exponential family of distributions having power variance function (NEF-PVF), is proposed. The accelerated procedure is conducted under a combined loss of weighted squared estimation error and sarnpling cost. A class of bias-corrected estimators, which are natural for this suggested accelerated sampling scheme is proposed. The asymptotic properties of the suggested estimators are provided. In particular, one realizes the impact of acceleration on the regret and the tradeoff between bias reduction and regret reduction.     

The mindlessness of ostensibly thoughtful action: The role of "placebic" information in interpersonal interaction.

Conducted 3 field experiments to test the hypothesis that complex social behavior that appears to be enacted mindfully instead may be performed without conscious attention to relevant semantics. 200 Ss in compliance paradigms received communications that either were or were not semantically sensible, were or were not structurally consistent with their previous experience, and did or did not request an effortful response. It was hypothesized that unless the communication occasioned an effortful response or was structurally (rather than semantically) novel, responding that suggests ignorance of relevant information would occur. The predictions were confirmed for both oral (Exp I) and written communications (Exps II and III). Social psychological theories that rely on humans actively processing incoming information are questioned. (19 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Decreasing prejudice by increasing discrimination.

Assessed the effects of mindfulness (active distinction making) training on the perception of and reaction to handicapped children. In a 2?×?2 factorial design, 47 6th graders received either a high- or low-mindfulness treatment and viewed slides that were either all of nonhandicapped people or consisted primarily of handicapped individuals. Mindfulness was manipulated by asking questions of Ss concerning a handicapped or nonhandicapped target person and the target person's professional skills, situational skills, causation of events, and role of flexibility. The high-mindfulness treatment, especially when bolstered by explicit reference to the handicapped, revealed that teaching Ss to be more differentiated (i.e., more mindful) resulted in the view that handicaps are function-specific and not people-specific. Ss in this group were less likely to inappropriately discriminate for or against the handicapped target. Also noted was the finding that Ss in this group were less likely to avoid a handicapped other. (12 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Tetraheterodecalin Podands,Their Linkers,and Resulting Macrocycles: A Hoard of Constitutionally and Stereochemically Dynamic Systems

Discoveries involving the formation, structure, and behavior of an exciting class of compounds, 1,3,5,7-cis-tetraheterodecalins, are reviewed. These compounds are rich in free electrons and exhibit concave structures. The tetraoxa- and dioxadiaza- members of this class of compounds comprise the underframe of various podand structures, which, along with suitable polyhetero linkers, constitute the building blocks of an entire series of unique classes of macro- and gigantocyclic compounds, capable of cation inclusion and catalytic behavior. In the works presented here, a recurring theme is the pursuit of a fundamental understanding and judicious utilization of the dynamic chemical and stereochemical features of compounds derived from 1,3,5,7-cis-tetraheterodecalins, most of which are members of dynamic combinatorial libraries (DCLs).