The Farmer, the Fairies, and the Computers

Using a temporary substitution of format, the author offers a fairy tale to demonstrate that we can’t expect understanding when computers take the place of humans in our interactions with service providers.     

Role of newly synthesized cholesterol or its metabolites on the regulation of bile acid biosynthesis after short-term biliary diversion in the rat

Cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase, the rate-limiting enzyme in the bile acid biosynthetic pathway, is thought to be regulated by hydrophobic bile acids through negative feedback control. The role of cholesterol in the regulation of cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase is more controversial, in part because of incomplete understanding of the relationship between the pathways of cholesterol synthesis and degradation. The main objective of this study was to define the interaction between these two pathways in an experimental model in which the supply of newly synthesized cholesterol was interrupted by sustained infusion of mevinolin (lovastatin), an inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA reductase) or accelerated by a continuous infusion of mevalonate, a cholesterol precursor. The study was carried out in rats subjected to short-term bile fistula. In one set of experiments, rats were treated postoperatively with mevinolin (5 mg/kg loading dose followed by 2 mg/kg/hr infusion), mevalonate (180 mumol/hr infusion) or both for up to 96 hr. In a separate set of experiments, rats were infused intraduodenally with taurocholate (36 mumol/100 gm/hr for up to 96 hr). We determined cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase- and HMG-CoA reductase specific activities at those time intervals, whereas bile acid synthesis rates were determined throughout the study. Compared with rats not subjected to surgery, rats with short-term biliary diversion had increases in cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity of 259% and 827% at 48 and 96 hr, respectively. The increase in bile acid biosynthesis was less pronounced. Continuous infusion of mevinolin completely prevented increases in cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase specific activity and bile acid biosynthesis at both time intervals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Wideband HEMT MMIC low-noise amplifier with temperaturecompensation

A wideband low-noise pseudomorphic HEMT MMIC variable-gain amplifier has been designed and fabricated. The amplifier has a nominal gain of 13 dB across the band 2-20 GHz, with gain flatness better than ±0.4 dB. The noise figure is less than 3 dB across the band 6-16 GHz. An on-chip temperature-sensing diode is used to provide a linear temperature correction which has been used to reduce the gain variation of the amplifier by a factor of 2 across the temperature range -50°C to +95°C     

Ethics for psychology organizations.

Comments on K. S. Pope and V. A. Vetter's (see record 1992-25072-001) survey results on ethical dilemmas faced by members of psychology organizations. The author notes 2 specific concerns about psychology organizations accepting financial sponsorship from organizations that financially benefit from the sponsorship: the potential for a conflict of interest and the financial burden on the clients of psychology organizations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Magnetotransport of two-dimensional electron gas in Si/SiGe modulation doped structures grown by gas source molecular beam epitaxy

We have characterized two-dimensional electron gases (2DEGs) in Si/SiGe modulation doped structures grown by gas source molecular beam epitaxy. Hall bar structures were fabricated to characterize the structures and magnetotransport measurements were carried out at temperatures down to 0.4 K. Pronounced Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations were observed in the longitudinal magnetoresistance, indicative of high quality 2DEG in the channel. Electron mobilities up to 87,000 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ with sheet densities about 7 × 10¹¹ cm⁻² were obtained at low temperature. Dingle plots of the magnetoresistance vs reciprocal magnetic field were utilized to determine the single-particle relaxation times in order to investigate scattering mechanisms in these structure. The ratio of the transport scattering time derived from electron mobility to the single-particle relaxation time is of the order of 10, indicating that remote impurity scattering is a dominant factor limiting the mobility of our structures. The behaviour of the magnetotransport data is discussed using a model for parallel conduction.     

The growth and characterization of AlGaAs double heterostructures for the evaluation of reactor and source quality

AlGaAs double heterostructures are grown by low-pressure metalorganic chemical vapor deposition to evaluate the level of oxygen contamination in different trimethylaluminum sources. Effects of arsine purifiers, misoriented substrates, atmospheric exposure of the growth chamber, and possible phosphorus contamination are also studied. Extensive characterization is performed on these films by a variety of methods, including high-resolution x-ray diffraction, photoluminescence (PL), time-resolved photoluminescence, and secondary-ion mass spectrometry. The PL intensities for structures grown with the low-alkoxide grade are reproducibly much greater than those grown with the regular-grade TMA1. The use of AsH₃ purification improves the PL intensity.     

Multiplexed biochemical assays with biological chips

High density peptide and oligonucleotide chips are fabricated using semiconductor-based technologies. These chips have a variety of biological applications.