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A new frontier of discrete-line gamma-ray spectroscopy at ultrahigh spin has been opened in the rare-earth nuclei (157,158) Er. Four rotational structures, displaying high moments of inertia, have been identified, which extend up to spin approximately 65 variant Planck's over 2pi and bypass the band-terminating states in these nuclei which occur at approximately 45 variant Planck's over 2pi. Cranked Nilsson-Strutinsky calculations suggest that these structures arise from well-deformed triaxial configurations that lie in a valley of favored shell energy which also includes the triaxial strongly deformed bands in (161-167) Lu.

The yrast states in the light platinum isotopes Pt169-173 have been investigated in a recoil-decay tagging experiment using the JUROGAM gamma-ray spectrometer in conjunction with the RITU gas-filled recoil separator and the GREAT tagging spectrometer. Gamma-ray transitions have been established for the first time in the odd-N isotopes, Pt-169 and Pt-173, and the yrast sequences in Pt-170 and Pt-172 have been extended. We discuss the possibility that the weakly deformed yrast structures of Pt-170, Pt-172, and Pt-173 are crossed by a deformed intruder configuration at spin similar to 8h.

The high-spin structure of Er-157 has been greatly expanded using the Gammasphere spectrometer to investigate the Cd-114(Ca-48,5n) reaction at 215 MeV. Many new transitions have been placed in a greatly augmented level scheme up to spin 40h with many collective rotational sequences established. With increasing angular momentum, this nucleus undergoes a Coriolis-induced shape transition from a deformed state of collective rotation to a noncollective configuration. This transition manifests itself as favored band termination near I=45h in three rotational structures. Many weakly populated states lying at high excitation energy that decay into the terminating states have been discovered. Cranked-Nilsson-Strutinsky calculations suggest that the levels that feed the terminating states arise from weakly collective configurations that break the Z=64 semimagic core. (Less)

The $^{14}\mathrm{C}$($^{14}\mathrm{C}$, d) reaction at 22 MeV was used to study ${T}_{z}=2$ $^{26}\mathrm{Na}$. Charged particles were detected with a Si detector telescope at ${0}^{\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}}$, and \ensuremath{\gamma} transitions in coincidence were detected with an array of three Compton-suppressed ``clover'' detectors and seven Compton-suppressed single Ge crystals. The Deuteron-\ensuremath{\gamma} and $d\text{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremath{\gamma}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ coincidence data were analyzed to study the structure of $^{26}\mathrm{Na}$. New levels were found, and precise energies and \ensuremath{\gamma}-decay patterns were determined for many states previously observed in charge-exchange reactions. Candidates were observed for the ${1}^{+}$ state missing in \ensuremath{\beta} decay. Mixing ratios were determined for some \ensuremath{\gamma} transitions from angular distribution information. There is reasonable agreement with the model based on the universal $s\text{\ensuremath{-}}d$ shell (USD) interaction.

The impact of the University of Illinois at Chicago-based Vietnam-Laos International Cooperative Biodiversity Group (ICBG) Program "Studies on Biodiversity of Vietnam and Laos", which has been in operation for the period of 1998-2005, touches on five major areas of endeavor: (a) biodiversity inventory and conservation; (b) studies on medicinal plants; (c) drug discovery and development; (d) economic development; and (e) issues on intellectual property rights and benefit sharing in natural products drug discovery and development. Highlights are presented and the significance is discussed.

High-spin states in $^{171}\mathrm{Ta}$ were populated in the $^{124}\mathrm{Sn}$($^{51}\mathrm{V}$,$4n$) reaction at 228 MeV to search for evidence of stable triaxial deformation. Identification of a wobbling sequence based on the previously known $\ensuremath{\pi}{i}_{13/2}$ structure would provide a unique signature for this rarely observed shape. No such sequence was identified in these data, which suggests that the island of triaxial strongly deformed bands may be smaller than once thought. However, over 200 new transitions and two new bands were placed in the level scheme and the sequence based on the $\ensuremath{\pi}{i}_{13/2}$ orbital could be observed up to spin and parity ${I}^{\ensuremath{\pi}}=(101/2{}^{+}$). The relative excitations of all the sequences were determined and the ground state of $^{171}\mathrm{Ta}$ was found to have $5/{2}^{+}$ quantum numbers, contrary to previous reports. All of the previously known structures were extended to much higher spin and their high-frequency band crossings are interpreted within the framework of the cranked shell model.

Significant extensions to the high-spin excitation spectrum of the N = 91, 92, 93 isotopes Dy-157,Dy-158,Dy-159 have been achieved using the high-efficiency gamma-ray spectrometers Euroball and Gammasphere. These nuclei were populated via weak 3n or alpha xn exit channels in fusion evaporation reactions. In Dy-157, the yrast band has been extended to I-pi = (2)/(101+) (tentatively to (2)/(105+)) with four sideband structures (two of which are new) observed in the 35-50h spin range. In Dy-158, three bands have been extended to 42(+)(44(+)),40(-), and 41(-)(43(-)), whereas in Dy-159 the yrast band is observed to (2)/(81+) ((2)/(85+)). The high-spin behavior and band crossing systematics of the Dy isotopes and of the neighboring N = 91, 92, and 93 isotones are discussed in terms of rotational alignments and shape transitions. Cranked Nilsson-Strutinsky calculations without pairing have been performed for detailed comparisons with the very high-spin states observed in Dy-157.

Objective: To determine the sensitivity of seven over-the-counter pregnancy tests (OTC-PTs) using urine containing a mixture of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)-related molecules as found on the first day of missed menstrual period. Design: Blinded in vitro sensitivity analysis. Setting: Medical school laboratory. Participants: None. Interventions: Urine was tested with OTC-PT devices at titers of 100, 50, 25, 12.5, 6.3, and 0 mIU/mL hCG immunoreactivity, and laboratory workers rated their confidence in the test result based on whether the test result was a clear, sharp, and unquestionable band in the test window. Main Outcome Measures: Analytical sensitivity, defined as the urine concentration at which all OTC-PTs tested gave a positive result regardless of operator confidence score; clinical sensitivity of OTC-PTs, defined as the proportion of pregnancies likely to be detected on the first day of a missed period and calculated from the analytical sensitivity and a recently published regression curve for total urine hCG immunoreactivity in 25 urine samples from this period of gestation; percentage of tested devices showing a band in the test window at a specific hCG concentration measured devices positive; percentage faulty devices, defined as the proportion of tested devices failing to yield a band in the control window; and confidence score, determined from operator ratings for each device at each concentration of hCG. Results: First Response Early Result had an analytical sensitivity of 6.3 mIU/mL, which was estimated to detect greater than 95% of pregnancies on the day of missed period. The sensitivity of Clearblue Easy Earliest Results was 25 mIU/mL, which indicated detection of 80% of pregnancies. The sensitivity of the five other products was 100 mIU/mL or greater, indicating detection of 16% or less of pregnancies. Three of these last products included faulty devices. Conclusion: Universal claims for OTC-PTs of more than 99% laboratory accuracy and use as early as the first day of missed period, while cleared for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, are ambiguous and inappropriate for many products, according to these data. The majority of products tested were found to detect only a small percentage of pregnancies on the first day of a missed menstrual period. Until more data become available on the actual clinical sensitivity of these products, pharmacists should advise consumers to be cautious in interpreting test results.

Objectives: Current testing to determine a failing pregnancy requires two separate clinic visits to measure the hCG doubling rate. Diagnosing a failing pregnancy is often done in emergency departments where simplified and accelerated testing methods are needed. Here, we investigated hyperglycosylated hCG (hCG-H) for predicting pregnancy failure. Design and methods: We studied two independent sets of patient samples collected in the early weeks of gestation. One set was urine samples, and the other was serum samples. In all cases, hCG and hCG-H were measured using automated chemiluminescence immunoassays. Concentrations of hCG and hCG-H were plotted on a scattergram, and levels in failing pregnancies were compared to those in continuing pregnancies. Results: Data indicated that a threshold level of hCG-H (13 μg/L) in both serum and urine samples defined the concentration below where pregnancies were likely to fail. This cut-off corresponded to 73% detection of failures at a 2.9% false positive rate using serum and 75% detection at a 15% false positive rate using urine. Using an hCG cut-off that corresponded to the same false positive rates, hCG detected only 42% of failures using serum and 43% of failures using urine. Conclusions: Our data indicate that hCG-H provides a much more accurate single test than hCG for assessing pregnancy outcome. Compatible with the use of serum or urine samples, a single hCG-H test might provide simpler, faster, and more accurate results for predicting the progress of a pregnancy than standard hCG testing.

Excited states in $^{20}\mathrm{O}$ were populated in the reaction $^{10}\mathrm{Be}(^{14}\mathrm{C},\ensuremath{\alpha})$ at Florida State University (FSU). Charged particles were detected with a particle telescope consisting of 4 annularly segmented Si surface barrier detectors and $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ radiation was detected with the FSU $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ detector array. Five new states were observed below 6 MeV from the $\ensuremath{\alpha}\mathrm{\text{\ensuremath{-}}}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ and $\ensuremath{\alpha}\mathrm{\text{\ensuremath{-}}}\ensuremath{\gamma}\mathrm{\text{\ensuremath{-}}}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ coincidence data. Shell model calculations suggest that most of the newly observed states are core-excited $1p\mathrm{\text{\ensuremath{-}}}1h$ excitations across the $N=Z=8$ shell gap. Comparisons between experimental data and calculations for the neutron-rich O and F isotopes imply a steady reduction of the $p\mathrm{\text{\ensuremath{-}}}sd$ shell gap as neutrons are added.

Prenatal exposure to opiates can have devastating effects on the development of human fetuses and may induce long-term physical and neurobehavioral changes during postnatal maturation. The present study was aimed at identifying cross-generational effects of prenatal morphine exposure in Sprague-Dawley rats. Pregnant rats were injected subcutaneously with either saline or morphine (10 mg/kg) twice daily during gestational days 11-18. Litter size, percentage of males and females, anogenital distances (AGDs), righting reflex, and body weight were assessed in prenatally morphine-exposed pups (first generation) and their offspring (second generation). Both prenatally morphine-exposed pups and offspring of prenatally morphine-exposed dams exhibited an increased latency to right. Additionally, second generation pups were slower in righting than first generation pups. During the early postnatal period the second generation pups weighed less than the first generation regardless of drug exposure. The AGDs of second generation male pups were decreased relative to the first generation. Our data provide important novel information about the trans-generational effects of maternal opiate abuse that may be useful for understanding/evaluating the teratogenic effects of prenatal opiate exposure.

High-spin states in the doubly odd nucleus {sup 160}Tm have been investigated using the {sup 130}Te({sup 35}Cl,5n) reaction and the Euroball {gamma}-ray detector array. The previously established rotational structures in {sup 160}Tm were extended, leading to the first observation of the second (h{sub 11/2}){sup 2} proton band crossing in this nucleus. This crossing is found to occur at a higher rotational frequency in {sup 160}Tm than in lighter Tm isotopes. This trend resembles that of the first (h{sub 11/2}){sup 2} proton band crossing found in neighboring Er nuclei and is associated with a predicted increase in deformation as a function of neutron number in these isotopes.

Two Gammasphere experiments have been performed in order to establish the possible triaxial nature of strongly deformed (SD) bands in 174Hf. A lifetime measurement confirmed the large deformation of the four previously observed bands in this nucleus. In addition, a thin‐target, high‐statistics experiment was carried out to search for linking transitions between the SD bands. No such transitions, which represent an experimental signature for wobbling modes, were observed. Four new SD bands were found in 174Hf together with a single SD band in 173Hf. These results indicate that the strongly deformed sequences of N ≈ 102 Hf isotopes behave differently than the TSD bands found in Lu nuclei near N = 92. The interpretation of these bands in terms of possible stable triaxial deformation is confronted with the experimental findings and UC predictions.

Successful parturition requires the co-ordination of numerous myometrial signalling events to allow for timely and efficient uterine contractions. Late pregnancy and labour onset in humans may be associated with changes in the expression of myometrial proteins implicated in such uterine contractile signal integration. Accordingly, in myometria from non-pregnant women and pregnant women, not in labour or in labour, we examined the content of putative plasmalemmal scaffolding proteins (caveolin-1 and -2) and compared these to the proportions of signal transducing rho-associated kinases (ROKalpha and beta) and contractile filament-associated proteins alpha-actin, myosin regulatory light chain (MLC(20)) and h-caldesmon. There was no effect of pregnancy or labour on the proportion of caveolin, ROK betaor alpha-actin. However, pregnancy was associated with a decrease in ROKalpha and MLC(20) such that ROK alpha: alpha-actin and MLC(20): alpha-actin ratios were reduced compared to myometria of non-pregnant women. In contrast, h-caldesmon was up-regulated in pregnancy resulting in an elevated h-caldesmon: alpha-actin ratio. There were, however, no further significant changes in ROK alpha, MLC(20) or h-caldesmon expression with spontaneous or oxytocin-induced labour. These data suggest that the mechanism(s) integrating myometrial signalling events with the onset of human labour does not involve differential alterations of the cellular expressions of caveolins, ROK, alpha-actin, MLC(20) or h-caldesmon.

The magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE) has been observed and characterized in 1-80 nm thick Fe/sub 21/Ni/sub 79/ films deposited onto Si(100). Quantum behavior is observed for films less than 6 nm thick.

A rare case of idiopathic bilateral ossification of the auricular cartilage and cartilage of the external ear canal is reported. The hardening and thickening of the external ear canals with subsequent narrowing and impaired exposure resulted in symptomatic hearing loss because of the recurrent impediment of inspissated cerumen, the removal of which finally became impossible. Surgical resection of the cartilage external ear canal and tragus was indicated to provide a more permanent treatment of conductive hearing loss. Histological examination revealed complete replacement of the fibroelastic cartilage by normal bone structures showing Haversian canals and bone marrow. The present case report is unique because of the involvement of both the auricles and external ear canals, the symptomatic hearing loss and the surgical treatment to relieve symptoms.

Excited states in 20O were populated in the reaction 10Be(14C,alpha) at Florida State University (FSU). Charged particles were detected with a particle telescope consisting of 4 annularly segmented Si surface barrier detectors and gamma radiation was detected with the FSU gamma detector array. Five new states were observed below 6 MeV from the alpha-gamma and alpha-gamma-gamma coincidence data. Shell model calculations suggest that most of the newly observed states are core-excited 1p-1h excitations across the N=Z=8 shell gap. Comparisons between experimental data and calculations for the neutron-rich O and F isotopes imply a steady reduction of the p-sd shell gap as neutrons are added.

This article discusses biochemical screening for congenital defects. Biochemical screening remains the standard for estimating the risk of aneuploidy in pregnancy. The combination of first and second trimester markers promises to further improve diagnostic accuracy for anomaly detection.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of infestations of lice in sheep flocks and to survey control practices for lice in South Australia. Design: A total of 201 managers of sheep flocks, 75 chosen randomly from the high rainfall zone (HR), 76 from the cereal sheep zone (CS) and 50 from the pastoral zone (PA), were surveyed by telephone interview. Procedure:Interviews were conducted between May 19 and May 25, 1999, according to a set questionnaire. Information was collected on presence of lice at last shearing, control practices for lice, factors important for gaining good effect from chemical treatments, sources of information on control practices and property details. Survey results were analysed by agricultural region. Results: The apparent state prevalence of flocks infested with lice was 21%, with 13% infested in the HR, 21% in the CS and 25% in the PA. Ninety one percent of managers claimed to take precautions to prevent the introduction of lice and 91% routinely checked their flocks for lice. Seventy eight percent treated their sheep for lice annually and 85% had treated within the last 12 months. Of those treating in the last year, 69% had used a backline application, 16% had used a shower dip and 17% had used plunge dipping. Only 4% of producers used a long wool treatment. Synthetic pyrethroid (SP) based products were used by 50% of producers who used backline treatments in the preceding 12 months, compared to 42% and 8% for insect growth regulator and organophosphorous (OP) based products, respectively. Only 34% of managers identified SP-based products as having potential resistance problems. Of those producers who used shower or plunge dips in the last 12 months, 75% used an OP based product. Rural newspapers and magazines were by far the most commonly noted source of information for the control of lice on sheep.

To determine the substrate range capability of Sphingomonas paucimobilis strain EPA505, a number of aromatic compounds were tested as potential growth substrates. Strain EPA505 grew on phenanthrene, naphthalene, fluoranthene, toluene, benzoic acid, 2,3- and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acids, 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, anthracene, 2-hydroxy-3-naphthoic acid and 1-hydroxy- 2-naphthoic acid, salicylic acid, and catechol. Strain EPA505 was unable to grow on coumarine 3-carboxylic acid, naphthalene dicarboxylic acid, acenaphthene, chrysene, pyrene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, and fluorene. Catabolic products were not detected or identified when the bacterium was incubated with coumarine 3-carboxylic acid, naphthalene dicarboxylic acid, acenaphthene, chrysene, or benzo[b]fluoranthene. Dihydroxypyrene, the ortho ring fission product of pyrene, and 10-hydroxy-1- phenanthroic acid were detected when the bacterium was incubated with pyrene. The open rings of benzo[b]fluoranthene, hydroxyacephenanthroic acid, hydroxyacephenanthrene, and phenanthrene anhydride, catabolites of benzo[b]fluoranthene degradation, were detected with Tn5 mutants of EPA505. With strain EPA505, both 9-fluorenone and an open ring fission product accumulated during incubation with fluorene. Other catabolites beyond the open ring of fluorene were detected, specifically dihydroxyfluorene, hydroxy-9-fluorenone, dihydroxy-9-fluorenone, hydroxyindane, and a putative glutathione-conjugated benzylanhydride. Benzylanhydride appeared to be a final end product of fluorene degradation by strain EPA505.

Two high-spin regularly spaced rotational bands with large dynamical moments of inertia have been identified in Hf-175 with the Gammasphere spectrometer. These new bands are very similar to the previously identified triaxial superdeformed bands in the hafnium nuclei. However, the new bands in Hf-175 have been linked into the known level scheme and thereby provide the first firm spin assignments for these structures in this region. In order to understand the new bands, theoretical calculations have been performed based on the ULTIMATE CRANKER code. The new bands in Hf-175 are deduced to be built upon highly deformed structures. No experimental evidence for triaxiality was established and this work suggests that the structure of the so-called "triaxial" superdeformed bands in the Hf nuclei may be quite different from those identified in the lighter mass Lu nuclei. Since the two highly deformed bands in Hf-175 are associated with different deformations, this work also identifies the role of the intruder orbits in polarizing the nuclear shape.

We studied the pre-germination loss of seeds to invertebrate and vertebrate seed predators of 5 species of Amazonian trees (Astrocaryum macrocalyx — Palmae; Bertholletia excelsa — Lecithydaceae; Calatola venezuelana — Icacinaceae; Dipteryx micrantha — Leguminosae (Papilionoidae); Hymenaea courbaril — Leguminosae (Caesalpinoidae)). These five species were selected from a large tree flora on several criteria. All possess large (3–10 cm) well-protected seeds that might plausibly be attractive to mammalian seed predators. The reproductive biology of three of the species, or close congeners, had been studied elsewhere in the Neotropics (Astrocaryum, Dipteryx, Hymenaea); one is important to the economy of southeastern Peru (Bertholletia); and one, despite large and apparently edible seeds, appeared to suffer no pre-germination loss to predators (Calatola). We conducted the research in mature forests in the Manu National Park of southeastern Peru where mammal densities are unperturbed by human activities. Densities of adult trees of the five species in our area range from very high (> 30 per ha: Astrocaryum) to very low («1 per ha: Hymenaea).

The angular-momentum induced transition from a deformed state of collective rotation to a noncollective configuration has been studied. In Er-157 this transition manifests itself as favored band termination near I=45 (h) over bar. The feeding of these band terminating states has been investigated for the first time using the Gammasphere spectrometer. Many weakly populated states lying at high excitation energy that decay into these special states have been discovered. Cranked Nilsson-Strutinsky calculations suggest that these states arise from weakly collective "core-breaking" configurations.

The ${}^{14}\mathrm{C}{(}^{14}\mathrm{C},\ensuremath{\alpha})$ reaction at 22 MeV was used to study $T=2$ ${}^{24}\mathrm{Ne}.$ Charged particles were detected with a Si detector telescope at $0\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{},$ and $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ transitions in coincidence were detected with an array of three Compton-suppressed ``clover'' detectors and seven Compton-suppressed single Ge crystals. The $\ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ and $\ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ coincidence data were analyzed to study the structure of ${}^{24}\mathrm{Ne}.$ Twenty-two new $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ lines were assigned to 14 new levels. Angular distribution measurements provided spin assignments and restrictions to a number of levels. Likely candidates were found for the lowest ${5}^{+}$ and ${6}^{+}$ levels. All but one of the 12 states predicted to lie below 6 MeV by shell model calculations using the universal $s\ensuremath{-}d$ interaction were observed. The rms deviation in excitation energies among these is 190 keV, and there is a tendency for the observed levels to lie somewhat higher than the predicted ones. A comparison of the structure of ${}^{24}\mathrm{Ne}$ with its neighbors suggests a significant shell gap above the $\ensuremath{\nu}{d}_{5/2}$ orbital in agreement with the large ${d}_{5/2}\ensuremath{-}{s}_{1/2}$ gap implied by the effective single-particle energies in the universal $s\ensuremath{-}d$ shell model interaction.

High-resolution γ-ray spectroscopy is one of the most powerful tools to study the structure of atomic nuclei. Significant advances in the development of increasingly sensitive instrumentation have taken place in recent decades. The latest 4π γ-ray arrays, or “γ-spheres,” continue to reveal fascinating new scientific phenomena at the limits of isospin, excitation energy, angular momentum, temperature, and charge. Another huge leap forward in the resolving power of Ge-based detection systems is now taking place via the development of γ-ray tracking arrays, which, when combined with new accelerator developments, assures a most exciting future to this field. These technical advances also have a wide range of application spin-offs. Keywords: γ-ray spectroscopy; γ-ray detector arrays; full-energy peak; γ-ray tracking; digital electronics ; signal decomposition

*Corresponding author Recently, crystallization of the prion protein in a dimeric form was reported. Here we show that native soluble homogenous FLAG-tagged prion proteins from hamster, man and cattle expressed in the bac- ulovirus system are predominantly dimeric. The PrP/PrP interaction was confirmed in Semliki Forest virus-RNA transfected BHK cells co-expressing FLAG- and oligohistidine-tagged human PrP. The yeast two-hybrid system identified the octarepeat re- gion and the C-terminal structured domain (aa90- aa230) of PrP as PrP/PrP interaction domains. Addi- tional octarepeats identified in patients suffering from fCJD reduced (wtPrP versus PrP+9OR) and completely abolished (PrP+9OR versus PrP+9OR) the PrP/PrP interaction in the yeast two-hybrid sys- tem. In contrast, the Met/Val polymorphism (aa129), the GSS mutation Pro102Leu and the FFI mutation Asp178Asn did not affect PrP/PrP interactions. Proof of interactions between human or sheep and bovine PrP, and sheep and human PrP, as well as lack of in- teractions between human or bovine PrP and ham- ster PrP suggest that interspecies PrP interaction studies in the yeast two-hybrid system may serve as a rapid pre-assay to investigate species barriers in prion diseases.

High spin states of [sup 84]Sr nucleus excited through the [sup 52]Cr([sup 36]S,2[ital p]2[ital n]) reaction at 130 MeV energy were studied utilizing the Oak Ridge Compton-Suppression Spectrometer System. The level scheme has been extended up to probably [ital I][sup [pi]]=(24[sup +]) at 15 084 keV excitation energy for the positive parity band. The moment of inertia, for angular frequency higher than 0.58 MeV, presented an almost constant value.

A classic region of band termination at high spin occurs in rare-earth nuclei with around ten valence nucleons above the Gd-146 closed core. Results are presented here for such non-collective oblate (gamma = 60 degrees) terminating states in odd-Z Ho-155, odd-odd Ho-156, and even-even Er-156, where they are compared with neighbouring nuclei. In addition to these particularly favoured states, the occurrence of collective triaxial strongly deformed (TSD) bands, bypassing the terminating states and extending to over 65 (h) over bar, is reviewed.

The reactions ${}^{152}\mathrm{Sm}(\ensuremath{\alpha},3n)$ at 37 MeV and ${}^{124}\mathrm{Sn}{(}^{36}\mathrm{S},\ensuremath{\alpha}3n)$ at 165 MeV were used to produce high-spin states in the transitional rare-earth nucleus ${}^{153}\mathrm{Gd}.$ Significant extensions in angular momentum and excitation energy with respect to earlier work were achieved and several new rotational sequences were observed. The rotational behavior of ${}^{153}\mathrm{Gd}$ is described in terms of quasiparticle assignments and the observed alignment properties are analyzed within the framework of the cranked shell model. Detailed comparisons with other $N=89$ nuclei are presented. These have led to corrections to the ${}^{157}\mathrm{Er}$ level scheme.

Pharmaceutical companies can direct scientific agendas and scientific opinion, and their role in sustaining medical research in Canada is considerable. Apart from this, however, the methods of science may come into conflict with patient-care.Using a model of the randomized controlled trial, we describe the types of conflicts that occur between science and patient-care. Such conflicts exist at the level of recruitment, adherence, drop-outs, outcome measures, and toxicity when science clashes with patient-care. These conflicts are illustrated by references to the literature and descriptions of personal experiences. Many of these conflicts are built into study protocols, are potentially avoidable, and are independent of trial sponsorship.Those involved in clinical trials must be aware of the conflicts between patient-care and science. When such conflicts occur, patients' needs must take precedence.

The latest generation gamma-ray detection system, GAMMASPHERE, coupled with the Microball charged-particle detector, has made possible a new class of nuclear lifetime measurement. For the first time differential lifetime measurements free from common systematic errors for over 15 different nuclei ( >30 rotational bands in various isotopes of Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, and Sm) have been extracted at high spin within a single experiment. This comprehensive study establishes the effective single-particle transition quadrupole moments in the A approximately 135 light rare-earth region. Detailed comparisons are made with theoretical calculations using the self-consistent cranked mean-field theory which convincingly demonstrates the validity of the additivity of single-particle quadrupole moments in this mass region.

The lifetimes of excited states in the yrast band in ${}^{158}\mathrm{Er}$ up to ${I}^{\ensuremath{\pi}}{=20}^{+}$ have been measured to high precision by means of the Gammasphere spectrometer using the coincidence recoil distance technique. The reaction ${}^{122}\mathrm{Sn}{(}^{40}\mathrm{Ar},4n)$ at a beam energy of 185 MeV was used. The data were analyzed using the differential decay-curve method and transition quadrupole moments were extracted. The quadrupole moment was found to gradually increase by 15% of its ${2}^{+}$ value before the first $\ensuremath{\nu}{i}_{13/2}$ alignment, after which it drops to a constant level 90% of the ${2}^{+}$ value. Detailed comparisons are made with previous measurements and Ultimate Cranker calculations.

High-spin states in 154Dy were studied with the Gammasphere spectrometer using the 36S(122Sn,4n) reaction. Band terminating states were identified in the spin range I=(36–48)ħ, and were found to compete with collective rotational cascades up to the highest observed spins. Several “sidebands” feeding the terminating structures were identified as well. A band dominated by M1 transitions was observed to terminate at Iπ=42-. The data are interpreted within the framework of configuration-dependent cranked Nilsson-Strutinsky calculations without pairing.

A highly deformed rotational band has been observed in the odd-odd nucleus [sup 136]Pm. This band sheds important new light on the anomalous behavior of the dynamical moments of inertia of rotational bands previously observed in the Ce-Nd-Sm [ital A][similar to]135 superdeformed region which has been a theoretical puzzle for several years.

The latest generation gamma-ray detection system, GAMMASPHERE, coupled with the Microball charged-particle detector, has made possible a new class of nuclear lifetime measurement. For the first time differential lifetime measurements free from common systematic errors for over 15 different nuclei (30 rotational bands in various isotopes of Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, and Sm) have been extracted at high spin within a single experiment. This comprehensive study establishes the effective single-particle transition quadrupole moments in the A approximately 135 light rare-earth region. Detailed comparisons are made with theoretical calculations using the self-consistent cranked mean-field theory which convincingly demonstrates the validity of the additivity of single-particle quadrupole moments in this mass region.

The chiral-twin candidate bands recently observed in {sup 136}Pm have been extended to high spins [I=(21)] using the Gammasphere {gamma}-ray spectrometer and the Microball charged-particle detector array. A more-detailed spectroscopy of the bands was possible, where the rotational alignments and B(M1)/B(E2) ratios confirm that both sequences have the {pi}h{sub 11/2}{nu}h{sub 11/2} configuration. Particle-rotor calculations of intraband and interband transition strength ratios of the chiral-twin bands are compared with experimental values for the first time. Good agreement was found between the predicted transition strength ratios and the experimental values, thus supporting the possible chiral nature of the {pi}h{sub 11/2}{nu}h{sub 11/2} configuration in {sup 136}Pm.

When the coincidence of a limb's spatial axes and inertial eigenvectors is broken, haptic proprioception of the limb's position conforms to the eigenvectors. Additionally, when prisms break the coincidence between an arm's visual and actual positions, haptic proprioception is shifted toward the visual-spatial direction. In 3 experiments, variation of the arm's mass distribution was combined with prism adaptation to investigate the hypothesis that the proprioceptive effects of inertial and visual manipulations are additive. This hypothesis was supported across manipulations of plane of motion, body posture, proprioceptive target, and proprioceptive experience during prism adaptation. Haptic proprioception seems to depend on local, physical reference frames that are relative to the physical reference frames for the body's environmental position and orientation.

Animal cell cultures generate maximal amounts of desired products when maintained in a controlled environment with low and constant concentrations of nutrients and wastes. Traditionally this has involved slow addition of glucose and glutamine; however, recent studies have indicated that a number of low concentration amino acids are required to prevent initiation of apoptosis. Therefore, optimal control of animal cell cultures will likely require measurement of a large number of chemical components. We present here the evaluation of a near-infrared spectroscopic (NIRS) monitoring scheme to quantify 19 cellular nutrients and wastes in culture medium with and without serum. The components include glucose, lactate, ammonia, pyruvate, glutamine, and 14 other amino acids. Spectroscopic calibrations were generated for a synthetic version of a standard culture medium (DMEM) in which the concentrations of 17 DMEM components and ammonia and lactate were varied in a random fashion. This randomization provides a stringent evaluation of the measurement scheme. Reasonably accurate measurements of these 19 components could be accomplished in the absence or presence of 10% horse serum by volume with percent errors ranging from 3% to 37%. Analytes with concentrations as low as 0.3 mM could be reliably quantified. The presence of serum, when properly included in the calibration, has little effect on measurement error. These results provide an important step toward application of NIRS for monitoring the large number of varying components of animal cell cultivations.

We have examined factors governing the differentiation of autoreactive CD4+ T cells that have evaded deletion by a self peptide. Two lineages of transgenic mice (HA12 and HA104) expressing the influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) were mated with TS1 mice that express a clonotypic T cell receptor (TCR) specific for the I-Ed-restricted determinant site 1 (S1) of HA. Thymocytes expressing high levels of the clonotypic TCR were deleted in both TS1xHA transgenic lineages. However, through allelic inclusion, thymocytes expressing low levels of the clonotypic TCR and high levels of endogenous TCR alpha-chains evaded deletion in TS1xHA12 and TS1xHA104 mice to graded degrees. When stimulated with S1 peptide in vitro, the non-autoreactive TS1 T cells were biased toward differentiation into Th2 effectors. By contrast, CD4+ T cells that evaded deletion in TS1xHA12 and TS1xHA104 mice were progressively biased toward Th1-like differentiation. Moreover, the effector cells from TS1xHA12 and TS1xHA104 mice secreted higher levels of IFN-gamma , on a per cell basis, than were secreted by their non-autoreactive counterparts. Thus, CD4+ T cells that evade deletion by a self peptide can exhibit an intrinsic bias toward differentiation into Th1 effector cells.

This study was performed to compare a novel three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) system to clinical two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for determination of left ventricular mass (LVM) in humans. LVM is an independent predictor of cardiac morbidity and mortality. Echocardiography is the most widely used clinical method for assessment of LVM, as it is non-invasive, portable and relatively inexpensive. However, when measuring LVM, 2DE is limited by assumptions about ventricular shape which do not affect 3D echo.A total of 25 unselected patients underwent 3DE, 2DE and MRI. Three-dimensional echo used a magnetic scanhead tracker allowing unrestricted selection and combination of images from multiple acoustic windows. Mass by quantitative 2DE was assessed using seven different geometric formulas.LVM by MRI ranged from 91 to 316 g. There was excellent agreement between 3DE and MRI (r = 0.99, SEE = 6.9 g). Quantitative 2D methods correlated well with but underestimated MRI (r = 0.84-0.92) with SEEs over threefold greater (22.5-30.8 g). Interobserver variation was 7.6% for 3DE vs. 17.7% for 2DE.LVM in humans can be measured accurately, relative to MRI, by transthoracic 3D echo using magnetic tracking. Compared to 2D echo, 3D echocardiography significantly improves accuracy and reproducibility.

Encapsulated cell systems provide some advantages over typical suspension cell cultivations as higher cell densities may be obtained; however, the supply of nutrients to the cells often is a limiting factor in productivity. In this study, we describe the development of a new approach to characterize the effective diffusivity of nutrients in immobilized cell materials. Near-infrared spectroscopy is employed to measure nutrient concentrations within a specially designed diffusion chamber that permits noninvasive sampling at ten spatial positions and multiple timepoints. To demonstrate this technique, we measured the effective diffusivity of glutamine in a cell-free 3% (w/w) agarose gel and determined the effective diffusivity (D(eff)) = 6.46 x 10(-10) m(2)/s, which is in good agreement with theoretical values.

The first example of insertion of the d8 RhI fragment [RhCl(PPh3)2] into a phosphirene ring system results in a five-coordinate RhIII complex, which undergoes insertion of carbon monoxide to give either monomeric [[graphic omitted]O)(PPh3)2] or dimeric [{[graphic omitted]O)(PPH3)}2], the structures of which have been elucidated by NMR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies.