cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Experimental and theoretical study of the extrusion of two‐phase molten polymer systems

An experimental and theoretical study of two-phase flow of molten polymers has been carried out. The theoretical analyses apply the theory of nonlinear viscoelastic fluids to consider stress and velocity profiles and interface shape in stratified flow between parallel plates and in a tube. The second normal stress difference is predicted to influence interface shape. Experimental studies have been made of stratified two-phase flow of a low viscosity but elastic low-density polyethylene and a high-viscosity polystyrene in a capillary rheometer. In the stratified flow experiment, velocity fields and interface shape in the reservoir approaching capillary die and the emerging extrudate were investigated, the former being observed through visual experiments. The emerging extrudates possessed convex polystyrene surfaces at the interface. A strong tendency toward the collection of bubbles near the capillary entry was found. We have made an experimental study of the extrusion of disperse mixtures of polystyrene and different polyolefins. The morphology of the disperse two-phase emerging extrudates has been investigated.
Distribution Power Line Carrier and its Sensitivity To Changes in Circuit Height

A lumped parameter model is used to represent a section of secondary distribution circuit. Subsequently an adjoint network is derived for the purpose of assessing the sensitivity of distribution power line carrier to variations in circuit height above ground, Multiconductor and unbalanced effects are taken into full consideration including the important influence of the non-perfect ground return path. In particular, for an example secondary distribution circuit, it is shown that over a range of frequencies relevant to the application of distribution power line carrier uncertainties related to circuit height above ground are, for practical purposes, inconsequential.
Equine limb anatomy: peroneus tertius muscle relationships.

The peroneus tertius muscle is described, and its relationships to other muscles and tendons of the reciprocal mechanism are illustrated: A Manica musculiperonei (fibularis) tertii is an elliptical opening or sleeve formed by the peroneus tertius tendon around the tendon of the tibialis cranialis muscle. The functional significance of these structure is that they efficiently flex the equine hock.
Geomagnetic polarity epochs: Nunivak Island, Alaska

Abstract New paleomagnetic and potassium-argon dating measurements have been made of basalt flows from Nunivak Island, Alaska, with the following results. (1) The best estimate of the age of the Brunhes/Matuyama polarity epoch boundary is found to be 0.694 m.y. (2) The best estimate of the age of the Gauss/Gilbert boundary is 3.32 m.y. (3) Three normally magnetized flows with ages from 0.93 to 0.88 m.y. are in accord with previous estimates of the age and duration of the Jaramillo normal event. (4) One normally magnetized flow with an age of 1.65 ± 0.09 m.y. supplies additional evidence for the Gilsa normal event. (5) Two new normal events are identified within the Gilbert reversed epoch, the “Cochiti normal event” with an age of 3.7 m.y. and the “Nunivak normal event” with an age of 4.1 m.y.
TMM diyl-induced vinylcyclopropane fragmentation and recombination

Abstract A new reaction pathway for trimethylenemethane diradicals has been discovered. Those of general structure 1 undergo opening of the cyclopropyl unit, followed by recombination of the resulting distonic diyl ( 3 ), to afford either the [6.3.0] or [4.3.0] ring systems ( 4, 5 ).
Image theory: Descriptive sufficiency of a simple rule for the compatibility test

Image theory has been proposed as a descriptive model of decision making. The present work examines the sufficiency of a simple counting rule as a theoretical description of the assessment of compatibility, a central construct in the theory. The research was done in the context of executives assessing the compatibility between plans for reaching a specified goal and the principles that guide the operation of their respective firms. First, for each firm an expert-system simulation was performed using Image Theory as the ‘expert’, the firm's guiding principles as the criteria, and the counting rule as the assessment procedure. This yielded a simulated compatibility assessment for each plan for each firm. Executives from each firm also assessed the compatibility of each plan with their own firm's operating principles. The assessments from the simulation were then compared with those made by the executives. The results support the descriptive sufficiency of the simple counting rule and recommend its tentative incorporation into image theory.
First-principles study of solute-vacancy binding in magnesium

Solute–vacancy binding is a key quantity in understanding diffusion kinetics, and may also have a considerable impact on the hardening response in Mg alloys. However, the binding energetics between solute impurities and vacancies in Mg are notoriously difficult to measure accurately and are largely unknown. Here, we present a large database of solute–vacancy binding energies in Mg from first-principles calculations based on density functional theory. Our vacancy formation energy and dilute mixing energy, which are byproducts of the solute–vacancy binding calculations, show good agreement with experiments, where available. We have investigated the simple physical effects controlling solute–vacancy binding in Mg and find that there is a modest correlation between binding energy and solute size, with larger solute atoms more favorably binding with neighboring vacancies to relax the strain induced by the solutes. Most early 3d transition metal solutes do not favorably bind with vacancies, indicating that a simple bond-counting argument is not sufficient to explain the trends in binding, in contrast to the case of binding in Al. We also predict positive vacancy binding energies for some commonly used microalloying elements in Mg which are known to improve age hardenability, i.e. Na, In, Zn, Ag and Ca. Even larger vacancy binding energies are found for some other solutes (e.g. Cu, Sn, Pb, Bi and Pt), which await experimental validation.
Economic downturns and population mental health: research findings, gaps, challenges and priorities

Prior research suggests that the current global economic crisis may be negatively affecting population mental health. In that context, this paper has several goals: (1) to discuss theoretical and conceptual explanations for how and why economic downturns might negatively affect population mental health; (2) present an overview of the literature on the relationship between economic recessions and population mental health; (3) discuss the limitations of existing empirical work; and (4) highlight opportunities for improvements in both research and practice designed to mitigate any negative impact of economic declines on the mental health of populations. Research has consistently demonstrated that economic crises are negatively associated with population mental health. How economic downturns influence mental health should be considered in policies such as social protection programs that aim to promote recovery.
CARL System Revised Search Sheet

The following CARL system search sheet updates the 1991 search sheet published in the first edition of Search Sheets for OPACs on the Internet. CARL has grown since 1991, with libraries and library systems added throughout the country. All use basically the same CARL interface, and there are also bibliographic databases other than catalogs mounted on CARL systems and using the same interface. Most of these are available to subscribers only.
Syntegration: a "more complete" knowledge-based approach to the practice of medicine--North American Spine Society Presidential Address, Chicago, IL.

The following thoughts on the promise and problems of evidenced-based medicine evolved over the year I have had the honor and pleasure to represent the North American Spine Society as its President. One thing a NASS president does have time for is plenty of “plane” thinking, because you are going to travel on quite a few of them while carrying out the responsibilities of the office. In truth, the assumptions and methods of evidence-based medicine are topics capturing not just a few of my free moments at 35,0000 feet, plus many more “on the ground,” but those of the entire healthcare community. EBM is a heavily methods-based system with critical advantages to bring to clinical medicine. Clinical medicine traditionally has developed its own evaluative methods, and is strongly a knowledge-based approach to patient care. The commentary below is well short of an exhaustive discussion of a knowledge-based approach to embrace EBM, but I hope it represents some talking points for future discussions. I appreciate being able to share these thoughts with you at the end of this amazing year-long tenure of learning and opportunity.
Complement Regulatory Proteins on the Sperm Surface: Relevance to Sperm Motility

Complement regulatory proteins on the sperm surface: Relevance to sperm motility PROBLEM: To determine whether complement regulatory proteins are present on human spermatozoa and whether antibodies to these proteins adversely affect sperm motility. METHOD OF STUDY: Human sperm membrane proteins were solubilized and subjected to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by Western blot analysis against antibodies to complement component 1 inhibitor (Cl-INH), decay-activating factor (DAF; CD55), membrane cofactor protein (MCP; CD46), and homologous restriction factor (HRF; CD59). Spermatozoa, obtained by a swim-up technique, were incubated in medium (control I) and medium supplemented with antibodies to human albumin (control 2) and antibodies to these complement regulatory proteins. We used a computerized sperm motion analysis to determine the effect of these antibodies on sperm motion characteristics. RESULTS: Complement regulatory proteins such as C1-INH, CD55, CD46, and CD59 were found in the sperm extracts as shown by Western blot analysis. The heat-treated (56°C, 30 min) IgG fraction of antibodies to these proteins significantly reduced sperm motility in general and other motion parameters. Addition of complement did not affect these results except in the antibodies to CD46 in which the reducing action was further amplified. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that Cl-INH, CD55, CD46, and CD59 are present on the sperm surface. These proteins may have biological functions, such as affecting sperm motility, besides the complement regulatory functions. In infertile men and women with antibodies that recognize one or more of these complement regulatory proteins, there may be problems related to poor sperm motility and survival in the reproductive tracts.
Origin of late Archean granite: geochemical evidence from the Vermilion Granitic Complex of northern Minnesota

The 2,700-Ma Vermilion Granitic Complex of northern Minnesota is a granite-migmatite terrane composed of supracrustal metasedimentary rocks, mafic rocks, tonalitic and granodioritic plutonic rocks, and granite. The metasedimentary rocks are predominantly graywacke, which has been regionally metamorphosed to garnet-sillimanite-muscovite-bearing biotite schist, and has locally undergone anatexis. The mafic rocks form early phases within the complex and are of two types: (1) basaltic amphibolite, and (2) monzodiorite and essexite rich in large ion lithophile elements (LILE). The members of the early plutonic suite form small bodies that intrude the metasedimentary rocks and mafic rocks, producing an early migmatite. The granite is of two distinct varieties: (1) white garnet-muscovite-biotite leucogranite (S-type; Chappell and White 1974) and (2) grayish-pink biotite-magnetite Lac La Croix Granite (I-type). The leucogranite occurs in the early migmatite and in paragneissic portions of the complex, whereas the Lac La Croix Granite is a late-stage intrusive phase that invades the early migmatite and metasediment (producing a late migmatite) and forms a batholith. This study focuses specifically on the origin of granite in the Vermilion Granitic Complex. Chemical mass-balance calculations suggest that the S-type two-mica leucogranite had a metagraywacke source, and that the I-type Lac La Croix Granite formed via partial fusion of calc-alkaline tonalitic material, which may have been similar to rocks of the early plutonic suite. This model is satisfactory for petrogenesis of similar Late Archean post-kinematic granites throughout the Canadian Shield.
A pharmacological and endocrinological study of female insemination in Phormia regina (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

Injections of octopamine, dopamine, and the octopaminergic agonists, clonidine and naphazoline, into the thoracic hemocoel enhanced female insemination in sugar-fed (sexually unreceptive)Phormia regina. Topical applications of the juvenile hormone (JH) analogue, methoprene, also enhanced female insemination in sugar-fed (sexually unreceptive)P. regina. Since JH plays a role in receptivity in protein-fed females, it was originally hypothesized that one agonist, clonidine, enhanced female insemination by acting on the corpus allatum (CA) to increase JH biosynthesis. Two or three doses of the antiallatal agent, precocene II, prior to administration of clonidine, did not inhibit clonidine-enhanced female insemination. Removal of the corpus allatum also did not have a significant effect on clonidine-enhanced female insemination. Measurement of juvenile hormone (JH) biosynthesis/release in corpora allata, which were removed at 1, 3, 5, and 7 h postinjection, revealed that clonidine does not affect JH biosynthesis/release. Our study reveals a possible role for the biogenic amines in female insemination in insects. We suggest that the octopaminergic agonist, clonidine, acts downstream from the corpus allatum on the regulatory mechanisms involved in female insemination.
Culture and Structure in The Truly Disadvantaged

THIS ARTICLE OFFERS a critical analysis of W. J, Wilson's landmark work on urban poverty, The Truly Disadvantaged. Wilson's book analyzes the relationship between macroeconomic change (primarily deindustrialization) and innercity "underclass" culture, utilizing survey-research data exclusively. Four major issues link the domains of structure and culture: household formation and childbearing behavior, social isolation, institutional disintegration, and aspirations of inner-city children. The article critiques Wilson's arguments in these four domains, utilizing both classic and recent ethnographies of daily life in the African- American community, and suggests a research agenda for urban anthropology that will put the field back in the center of current policy debates on poverty, [underclass, African Americans, poverty, inner cities]
Stressful Life Events: Moderators of the Relationships of Gender and Gender Roles to Self-Reported Depression and Suicidality among College Students.

The present study examined whether relationships of self-reported depression and suicidality to gender roles or gender are moderated by the type of stressful life events that individuals experience. The focus was on events in stereotypic male (achievement) versus female (interpersonal) domains. This study of 290 women and 247 men undergraduates employed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Personal Attributes Questionnaire and a measure of recent negative life events. In the presence of high achievement stress, high masculinity was related to low suicidality for men. In the presence of high interpersonal stress, high femininity was related to low self-reported depression for women. These findings were interpreted as consistent with the androgyny model of adjustment. However, independent of gender roles, high interpersonal stress was related to high self-reported depression more strongly among women than among men. Suicidality was related to interpersonal events for women and achievement events for men. These findings were interpreted as consistent with the self-schema model of depression.
ELABORATION OF THE TWO-SECTOR VARIANT: AN EXPANSION OF PROFESSOR ROTHSCHILD'S ARTICLE

SUMMARY The article presents a two-sector, fixed-proportions neoclassical model with endogenous demand. The object of the model is to demonstrate two important points: (a) neoclassical theory, distribution theory or capital theory, is not dependent upon smoothly continuous and well-defined marginal productivity functions; and (b) any theory of distribution that is not merely based upon accounting identities must contain a supply side as well as a demand side. The model does not contain an ‘unobtrusive postulate’, and it demonstrates that neoclassical theory does not depend upon aggregating capital and defining the rate of interest as the marginal productivity of ‘it’.
Adsorption studies of a phosphonic acid on ITO: film coverage, purity, and induced electronic structure changes

The deposition of a prototypical phosphonic acid from an ethanol solution onto indium-tin oxide is studied using XPS to assess the chemisorption kinetics and the purity of the film deposited, and UPS is employed to determine the electronic structure changes induced by the modifier. Room temperature (r.t.) vs. 75 °C depositions are compared, as well as the effect of using air plasma (AP) pretreatment vs. utilizing only detergent–solvent cleaning (DSC) prior to immersion. It is concluded that the order of adsorption kinetics and film purity follows the trend AP 75 °C > DSC 75 °C > AP r.t. > DSC r.t., while the work function obtained for each immersion time depends on whether the substrate is plasma pretreated or not and on the molecular dipole, which saturates at high coverages.
Input/output lot sizing in single stage batch production systems under constant demand

Abstract This paper develops an integrated input/output lot sizing model under deterministic conditions for a single product manufactured within a batch production environment. Our analysis incorporates the effects of work-in-process inventories resulting from multiple input items that are converted to output at finite rates in a single stage process and encompasses, simultaneously, the lot sizing decisions for the end product, as well as the externally procured input items. The resulting model represents a nonlinear mixed integer optimization problem, for which an efficient heuristic solution technique is suggested.
On the secondary structure in mRNA

Abstract The sequence present in DNA phase transcripts have been investigated by Niyogi (1973) using a technique in which mRNA is enzymatically digested to yield different size classes that are resolved chromatographically into populations of equal chain lengths. These chains exhibit specific hybridization to their complementary DNA molecules for lengths N ⩾ 10 bases. The stability of the hybrids as a function of temperature has been measured experimentally (Niyogi 1973) and is analyzed theoretically here by a model which treats the hybrids as ensembles of oligomeric DNA-RNA helices of different chain length and random base sequence. Base pairs with G and C residues (rC · dG, rG · dC) are assigned a mean enthalpy and entropy of formation distinct from pairs with A and U or T. The theoretical results predict less sensitivity of the stability of the hybrids to G + C mole fraction than is measured. This behavior is consistent with the presence in longer mRNA fragments of exceptionally stable sequences due to clustering of G · C pairs of purine vs pyrimidine configurations on each strand, or both. The existence of stable hairpin secondary structural configurations in the mRNA's of bacteriophages T2, T5 and T7 explains this in a natural way, suggesting that these mRNA's unconstrained by “packing” structural requirements such as may hold in RNA phase molecules, also possess a significant non-random secondary structure.
Gendered political opportunities? Elite alliances, electoral cleavages, and activity choice among women's groups in the UK, France, and Germany

This article examines the impact of political opportunity structures (POS) on the activity choices of women's groups in the UK, France, and Germany in order to determine whether political opportunities, specifically elite alliances and changes in electoral cleavages, are gendered. We ask how/whether various institutional structures impact the activity choices of women's groups, gauging whether women react to opportunities in a similar manner as other social groups, namely environmental groups. We find that social democratic elite allies and electoral cleavages prompted by de-alignment influence activity choice among women's groups in a similar manner as among environmental groups, yet the data show that women's groups are disenfranchised from direct contact with policymaking elites through consultation, thus suggesting the presence of gendered POS.
Delayed Emesis Following Anticancer Chemotherapy

Delayed emesis is a distinct syndrome where vomiting begins or persists 24 or more hours after chemotherapy. It is more likely to occur when the stimulus for emesis is strong and/or acute vomiting is poorly controlled. The pathophysiology appears different than that which causes acute emesis. The literature reporting clinical trials to prevent delayed nausea and vomiting are presented. The best ways of preventing delayed emesis following anticancer chemotherapy are discussed.
Natural event summarization

Event mining is a useful way to understand computer system behaviors. The focus of recent works on event mining has been shifted to event summarization from discovering frequent patterns. Event summarization seeks to provide a comprehensible explanation of the event sequence on certain aspects. Previous methods have several limitations such as ignoring temporal information, generating the same set of boundaries for all event patterns, and providing a summary which is difficult for human to understand. In this paper, we propose a novel framework called natural event summarization that summarizes an event sequence using inter-arrival histograms to capture the temporal relationship among events. Our framework uses the minimum description length principle to guide the process in order to balance between accuracy and brevity. Also, we use multi-resolution analysis for pruning the problem space. We demonstrate how the principles can be applied to generate summaries with periodic patterns and correlation patterns in the framework. Experimental results on synthetic and real data show our method is capable of producing usable event summary, robust to noises, and scalable.
On californium metal

Abstract It is shown that the two phases described by Haire and Baybarz as two forms of californium metal are compounds of californium. The hexagonal phase is found to be Cf2O2S from a detailed analysis of the published diffraction data, and the f.c.c. phase is identified as CfS. In both compounds the metallic valence of californium is three with a metallic radius of 1·83-1·85 A.
D230N Mutation in Tropomyosin and R92L Mutation in Cardiac Troponin T have Strikingly Different Impact on Calcium-Regulated Activation of Cardiac Myofilaments

Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) and Familial Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (FHC) are pathological heart conditions mainly associated with sarcomeric mutations that lead to contractile dysfunction. Despite the identification of several mutations associated with FHC and DCM, the role of these mutations in pathological cardiac-remodeling is still elusive. Therefore, we studied length-dependent contractile parameters of murine hearts expressing DCM-associated mutation (D230N in alpha-tropomyosin) and FHC-associated mutation (R92L in cTnT). Mechanical studies were carried out on detergent-skinned cardiac muscle fibers at sarcomere length (SL) 1.9 and 2.3 μm. Our preliminary results show that myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity and cooperativity are affected differently in both mutants, irrespective of SL. Ca2+ sensitivity was decreased in the D230N fibers, but increased in R92L fibers. Ca2+-activated maximal tension was unaltered in both examples. Cooperativity of myofilament activation was significantly decreased in R92L fibers and significantly increased in D230N fibers. Our results suggest that single amino acid substitution mutations in Tm (D230N) and TnT (R92L) cause diverse functional effects, which may correlate with varied pathological remodeling. Further mechano-dynamic studies are planned to determine if other aspects of myofilament activation may be involved in the evolution of complications associated with DCM and FHC.
Diets enriched in unsaturated fatty acids enhance apolipoprotein A-I catabolism but do not affect either its production or hepatic mRNA abundance in cynomolgus monkeys.

Abstract To determine the mechanisms whereby dietary fatty acids influence high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and apolipoprotein (apo) A-I concentrations, ten cynomolgus monkeys were fed each of three experimental diets enriched in saturated (SAT), monounsaturated (MONO), or polyunsaturated (POLY) fatty acids in a crossover design consisting of three 13-week periods, with each animal serving as its own control. Each diet contained 30% of energy as fat with 0.22 mg cholesterol/kcal and differed solely by the isocaloric substitution of fatty acids as 18% of total energy calories. The replacement of dietary saturated fatty acids with either monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fatty acids, respectively, resulted in significant reductions of plasma total cholesterol ( − 17%; − 30%), HDL cholesterol ( − 32%; − 41%), and apo A-I (− 37%; − 44%) concentrations, while no significant differences were noted in. plasma lipid or apo A-I concentrations when the MONO and POLY phases were compared. Although the MONO and POLY diets were similar in their effects on plasma lipids and apolipoproteins, the HDL of monkeys fed the POLY diet, as compared with either the SAT or the MONO diets, contained more cholesteryl ester and phospholipid but less total protein, resulting in a significantly lower total lipid to protein constituent ratio. Metabolic experiments revealed that the significantly lower plasma apo A-I concentrations observed during both the MONO and POLY phases relative to SAT were directly attributable to enhanced HDL apo A-I catabolism. Conversely, neither HDL apo A-I production rates nor hepatic apo A-I mRNA concentrations were significantly affected by dietary fatty acid perturbation in this study. Taken together, these data indicate that fractional catabolic rate is the predominant mechanism by which dietary fatty acids differentially modulate circulating concentrations of HDL apo A-1 in this species when all other dietary variables are held constant.
The comparative effects of 5′-methylthioadenosine and some of its analogs on cells containing, and deficient in, 5′-methylthioadenosine phosphorylase

The antiproliferative effects of 5'-methylthioadenosine and the 5'-methylthioadenosine analogs, 5'-isobutylthioadenosine, 5'-deoxyadenosine and 5'-methylthiotubercidin were examined using two mouse cell lines, one 5'-methylthioadenosine phosphorylase-deficient the other containing 5'-methylthioadenosine phosphorylase. All of the compounds were found to be growth inhibitory to both cell lines, demonstrating that these compounds need not be degraded to exert their inhibitory effects. A correlation was observed between the potency of the growth inhibitory effect and the ability of the cells to degrade these compounds. 5'-Methylthioadenosine, 5'-deoxyadenosine and 5'-isobutylthioadenosine, all of which are substrates for the 5'-methylthioadenosine phosphorylase in vitro, were more growth inhibitory to the 5'-methylthioadenosine phosphorylase-deficient cells than to the 5'-methylthioadenosine phosphorylase-containing cells, whereas, the 7-deaza analog, 5'-methylthiotubercidin, a nondegradable inhibitor of the 5'-methylthioadenosine phosphorylase, was a more potent inhibitor of the 5'-methylthioadenosine phosphorylase-containing cell line. Due to the inhibition by 5'-methylthiotubercidin on 5'-methylthioadenosine phosphorylase in vitro the disposition of cellularly-synthesized 5'-methylthioadenosine was explored using both cell types. 5'-Methylthiotubercidin inhibited the accumulation of exogenous 5'-methylthioadenosine from 5'-methylthioadenosine phosphorylase-deficient cells with no effect on intracellular 5'-methylthioadenosine. In contrast, 5'-methylthiotubercidin caused a large accumulation of extracellular 5'-methylthioadenosine with a concomitant smaller increase intracellularly in 5'-methylthioadenosine phosphorylase-containing cells. That cellularly-synthesized 5'-methylthioadenosine as well as the cellular excretion of this nucleoside are altered in response to treatment with 5'-methylthiotubercidin suggests two possible sites at which 5'-methylthiotubercidin may exert its effect.
Incentives to teach badly: After-school tutoring in developing countries

Abstract Schools in developing countries frequently offer for-profit tutoring to their own students. This potentially gives teachers a perverse incentive to teach less during school to increase demand for their tutoring. Through this mechanism, the market for tutoring can adversely affect student learning, especially for students who do not participate in tutoring. I model and present empirical evidence on these effects, using survey and test score data from Nepal. The evidence suggests that when schools offer for-profit tutoring, teachers teach less during the regular school day. As a consequence, performance on the national secondary-school exam appears to suffer among students with a low propensity to enroll in tutoring. An implication is that discouraging teachers from tutoring their own students or reducing entry barriers for third-party tutors could increase student achievement.
Emergency department approach to acute thoracolumbar spine injury

This review provides a literature-based approach to the management of acute thoracolumbar spine (TLS) injury. The epidemiology of spinal cord injury and pertinent spinal cord anatomy are reviewed. A review of current TLS fracture/dislocation classification schemes is provided. The principal focus of this review is the immediate diagnostic and therapeutic interventions needed to maximize the recovery of patients with acute TLS injury.
Programme and performance budgeting in Malaysia

This paper reviews the evolution of programme and performance budgeting (PPB) in Malaysia from its beginning in 1969, through the in-depth implementation phase which began in 1972, to the present day. It outlines the system in the Ministry of Health, where PPB has been extensively developed and comments on the systems established in other in-depth ministries, in several of which little appears to have been achieved. In 1981 all other agencies were asked to adopt PPB in their budget submissions. Compliance has been superficial. The paper explores the constraints to the further development of PPB. These range from difficulties of securing appropriate staff, lack of top-level commitment and information problems, to the inherent difficulties of programming and performance measurement. In seeking to evaluate the success of PPB the paper adopts two approaches. The first, involving a small questionnaire survey amongst those involved in PPB, reveals rather guarded opinions concerning its usefulness and progress. The second, which explores the use made of PPB, reveals little use by legislators, budget officers or line managers, and no link between PPB and the planning process. However the audit department expresses considerable interest in relation to performance auditing. In summary the achievements of PPB have been modest.
Fatty Acid Profiles for Differentiating Growth Medium Formulations Used to Culture Bacillus cereus T‐strain Spores

Microbial biomarkers that indicate aspects of an organism's growth conditions are important targets of forensic research. In this study, we examined fatty acid composition as a signature for the types of complex nutrients in the culturing medium. Bacillus cereus T-strain spores were grown in medium formulations supplemented with one of the following: peptone (meat protein), tryptone (casein protein), soy protein, and brain-heart infusion. Cellular biomass was profiled with fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) analysis. Results showed peptone cultures produced spores enriched in straight-chained lipids. Tryptone cultures produced spores enriched in branched-odd lipids when compared with peptone, soy, and brain-heart formulations. The observed FAME variation was used to construct a set of discriminant functions that could help identify the nutrients in a culturing recipe for an unknown spore sample. Blinded classification tests were most successful for spores grown on media containing peptone and tryptone, showing 88% and 100% correct identification, respectively.
Kinetics of triiodothyronine dissociation from bovine serum albumin: modification of the resin capture method with subsequent computer modeling.

There has been much debate about the mechanism by which thyroid hormone leaves the circulation and enters cells. Critical to the development of theoretical models of thyroid hormone uptake are precise estimates of the kinetic constants describing the reversible binding of the hormone to its binding proteins. A resin capture method was modified to permit the collection of dissociation data at intervals of 0.12 sec. Columns (30 × 0.6 cm) of Amberlite IRA 400 anion exchange resin were perfused at 30 ml/min with 3.5% dextran in modified Krebs Henseleit bicarbonate buffer at pH 7.4 and 37 C. Injection of [125I]triiodothyronine (T3) tracer in BSA-free medium established the rate constant for resin capture of free T3 in this system: kRea = 0.89 ± 0.04 sec-1 (mean ± SD, n = 4). [125I]T3 preequilibrated with BSA was infused to achieve final BSA concentrations of 2.3, 48, 120, 290, 507, and 725 μM, yielding apparent uptake rate constants (kapp) of 0.77 ± 0.12 (n = 6), 0.23 ± 0.01 (n = 4), 0.17 ± 0.04 (n = 4), 0.057...
Interactions between fungi and bacteria influence microbial community structure in the Megachile rotundata larval gut

Recent declines in bee populations coupled with advances in DNA-sequencing technology have sparked a renaissance in studies of bee-associated microbes. Megachile rotundata is an important field crop pollinator, but is stricken by chalkbrood, a disease caused by the fungus Ascosphaera aggregata. To test the hypothesis that some gut microbes directly or indirectly affect the growth of others, we applied four treatments to the pollen provisions of M. rotundata eggs and young larvae: antibacterials, antifungals, A. aggregata spores and a no-treatment control. We allowed the larvae to develop, and then used 454 pyrosequencing and quantitative PCR (for A. aggregata) to investigate fungal and bacterial communities in the larval gut. Antifungals lowered A. aggregata abundance but increased the diversity of surviving fungi. This suggests that A. aggregata inhibits the growth of other fungi in the gut through chemical or competitive interaction. Bacterial richness decreased under the antifungal treatment, suggesting that changes in the fungal community caused changes in the bacterial community. We found no evidence that bacteria affect fungal communities. Lactobacillus kunkeei clade bacteria were common members of the larval gut microbiota and exhibited antibiotic resistance. Further research is needed to determine the effect of gut microbes on M. rotundata health.
Comparison of the discriminative and antinociceptive effects of morphine and its glucuronide metabolites after central or systemic administration in the rat.

The potential of centrally (ICV) or systemically (SC) administered M6G to substitute for morphine in a drug discrimination task was characterized in the present study. Rats with a cannula in the lateral cerebral ventricle were trained to discriminate between injections of morphine (3 mg/kg, SC) and saline using a discrete-trial avoidance/escape procedure. Substitution tests were conducted with SC or ICV morphine, morphine-3-β-d-glucuronide (M3G), or morphine-6-β-d-glucuronide (M6G) and response latency in a tail-flick test was measured before each session began. The stimulus effects of morphine (ED50=1.02 mg/kg SC or 2.1 μg/kg ICV) were fully shared by M6G, with potency dependent on route of administration (ED50=3.12 mg/kg SC or 0.34 μg/kg ICV). The stimulus effects of M6G were highly correlated with its antinociceptive activity (r=0.84 SC or 0.46 ICV) and, at equipotent systemic doses, they lasted longer (t1/2=391 min) than those of morphine (t1/2=185 min). M3G was inactive in both procedures by both routes of administration. Naltrexone SC, given 30 min prior to testing, completely attenuated the stimulus effects of ICV M6G (AD50=0.011 mg/kg), indicating that they are mediated by opioid receptors. The results of this study suggest that M6G might contribute to the interoceptive effects of morphine that underlie its potential for abuse.
Neurofilament proteins are distributed in a diminishing proximodistal gradient along rat sciatic nerve.

Neurofilament (NF) proteins are distributed in a diminishing proximodistal gradient along rat sciatic nerve when compared with total noncollagen or other proteins in nerve. About a twofold decline of NF proteins can be detected by quantitating nerve proteins that have been separated by gel electrophoresis. A similar decrease of immunoreactivity to each NF subunit is seen in distal nerve segments when noncollagen nerve proteins are immunoblotted. Parallel decreases occur in all three NF proteins, thereby maintaining neurofilament subunit stoichiometry along the neuraxis. The same NF gradient can be detected when the NF contents in nerve branches to the gluteus and gastrocnemius muscles are compared with each other and with those in nerve segments taken from the same proximodistal levels of the parent sciatic nerve. The gradient of NF proteins increases during postnatal development and is readily detected by postnatal day 16. During the same period of development, the heavy NF subunit appears for the first time and is rapidly incorporated throughout the sciatic nerve. Hence, the NF gradient becomes manifest during the development and maturation of the adult form of the axonal cytoskeleton. The basis for the proximodistal gradient of NF proteins in peripheral nerve is presently unknown. The extent of the gradient cannot be accounted for on the basis of diminishing numbers of nerve fibers or increasing amounts of other nerve proteins, e.g., collagen, in distal nerve. An alternative interpretation is that the gradient reflects a low level of NF protein turnover during axonal transport.
Kinetic and mass spectrometric analysis of p300 histone acetyltransferase domain autoacetylation.

Abstract Acetylation of proteins by p300 histone acetyltransferase plays a critical role in the regulation of gene expression. The prior discovery of an autoacetylated regulatory loop in the p300 histone acetyltransferase (HAT) domain prompted us to further explore the mechanisms of p300 autoacetylation. Here we have described a kinetic and mass spectrometric analysis of p300 HAT autoacetylation. The rate of p300 HAT autoacetylation was approximately fourth order with respect to p300 HAT domain concentration and thus appeared to be a highly cooperative process. By showing that a catalytically defective p300 HAT domain could be efficiently acetylated by active p300 HAT, we deduced that autoacetylation occurs primarily by an intermolecular mechanism. This was further confirmed using a semisynthetic biotinylated p300 HAT domain that could be physically separated from the catalytically defective p300 HAT by avidin affinity chromatography. Autoacetylation catalyzed by p300 HAT was ∼1000-fold more efficient than PCAF (p300/CREB-binding protein-associated factor)-mediated acetylation of catalytically defective p300 HAT. Using a novel tandem mass spectrometric approach, it was found to be possible to observe up to 17 autoacetylation events within the intact p300 regulatory loop. Kinetic analysis of the site specificity of p300 autoacetylation reveals a class of rapid events followed by a slower set of modifications. Several of these rapid autoacetylation sites correlate with an acetyltransferase-activating function based on prior mutagenesis analysis.
A Comparison of Aphasic and Normal Adults in a Sentence-Verification Task

This study showed that in certain sentence-processing tasks, aphasics fail to perform correctly because they fail to execute particular mental operations. A straightforward information-processing model describes the mental processes that are used in deciding whether a sentence is true or false of an accompanying picture. The aphasics' performance, interpreted in light of the model, indicates what step in their processing is not operating properly in this task.
Behavioral risk factor and preventive health care practice survey of immigrants in the emergency department.

Objective: To compare the demographic profiles, behavioral risk factors, and preventive health care practices of adult immigrant and non-immigrant patients while considering the effects of various socioeconomic variables. Methods: This was a prospective survey administered at a large urban emergency department in New York City. Study subjects were adult immigrant patients presenting in an eight-week period in 1998. One non-immigrant control patient was recruited concurrently with every two immigrant patients. Differences between immigrants and non-immigrants were evaluated using the chi-square test. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to adjust for confounding variables. Results: Eight hundred sixty-nine immigrant patients from 80 countries and 354 non-immigrant patients completed surveys. Immigrants were more likely not to have reached high school (28.9% vs 8.5%; p < 0.001), to have annual family incomes less than $20,000 (73.8% vs 64.5%; p < 0.01), and to have no health coverage (51.7% vs 30.8%; p < 0.001). Immigrant women were more likely never to have had a Papanicolaou test (16.1% vs 1.4%; OR 11.24, 95% CI = 2.70 to 46.8) and never to have performed a self-breast examination (20.8% vs 7.5%; OR 2.03, 95% CI = 1.29 to 3.20). Immigrants were more likely not to use condoms (63.4% vs 42.8%; OR 1.61, 95% CI = 1.20 to 2.15) and never to have visited a dentist (21.2% vs 7.8; OR 2.54, 95% CI = 1.60 to 4.04). Immigrants were more likely never to have received a purified protein derivative (PPD) skin test (30.3% vs 9.1%; OR 3.85, 95% CI = 2.56 to 5.80) and never to have received a tetanus immunization (48.1% vs 13.5%; OR 3.09, 95% CI = 2.17 to 4.42). These differences were independent of age, gender, marital status, employment, education, income, and health insurance status. When analyzing the immigrant group alone, region of origin, length of time in the United States, and English ability were significant independent predictors of higher-risk behavioral profiles and poor preventive health care practices. Conclusions: Differences exist between the socioeconomic profiles, behavioral risk profiles, and preventive health care practices of immigrant and non-immigrant patients presenting to a large inner-city municipal emergency department. Different populations within a heterogeneous group of immigrants have distinct health risks and public health needs.
Activity changes with illumination in slow loris Nycticebus coucang

Abstract The relationship between illumination and levels of activity of three adolescent slow lorises ( N. coucang ) was studied in a habitat — simulated, captive environment. The frequency of low, medium and high activity behaviors were recorded under four intensities of illumination (0.061, 0.120, 0.380 and 4.000 footcandles (ft-c)). The data suggest that N. coucang 's nocturnal activity level is an inverse function of illumination, with low activity behaviors occurring during moonlight-like intensities and high activity behaviors during twilight-like intensities. The relationship was nonlinear, indicating a threshold mechanism (between 0.120 and 0.380 ft-c) analogous to a crepuscular niche in the wild.
Tuberculosis in children with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

With AIDS related tuberculosis in the pediatric population on the rise, we review our experience with 14 such children. A brief review of the pertinent literature is also presented.
Fluid filtration and rheological properties of nanoparticle additive and intercalated clay hybrid bentonite drilling fluids

Abstract The fluid filtration and rheological properties of low solid content (LSC) bentonite fluids containing iron-oxide (Fe 2 O 3 ) nanoparticle (NP) additives and two different NP intercalated clay hybrids, iron-oxide clay hybrid (ICH) and aluminosilicate clay hybrid (ASCH), under both low-temperature low-pressure (LTLP: 25 °C, 6.9 bar) and high-temperature high-pressure (HTHP: 200 °C, 70 bar) conditions are investigated. The viscosity of each fluid was measured under LTLP and HTHP conditions using a pressurized and heated rotational viscometer. The LTLP and HTHP fluid filtrate volumes were measured in accordance to American Petroleum Institute standards. The addition of ICH and ASCH into bentonite solutions reduced both LTLP and HTHP fluid loss as much as 37% and 47% as compared to the control, under the respective conditions. The pure addition of 0.5 wt% 3 and 30 nm Fe 2 O 3 NP increased the LTLP fluid filtration as much as 14% as compared to the control. However, this addition of Fe 2 O 3 NP decreased the HTHP fluid filtrate volumes as much as 28% as compared to the control. It was found that the addition of clay hybrids reduced LTLP and HTHP fluid loss due to a restructured mode of clay platelet interaction attributed to a modification in surface charge as demonstrated by zeta potential measurements and scanning electron microscope images.
Oscillating Per-Cision

The field of behavioral genetics began nearly four decades ago, when Seymour Benzer's laboratory set out to identify circadian rhythm mutants in Drosophila melanogaster. The first of these was called period, and both short and long period alleles were found [1]. It was not until some years later that the mutant gene was identified and exploration of the molecular basis of the circadian clock began in earnest [2,3]. Over the years, forward screens in Drosophila have led to identification of a number of loci that contribute to circadian rhythm function with different phenotypes, including short and long periods and total arrhythmia [4]. Detailed investigations at a genetic and molecular level began to define the cellular and molecular basis of circadian rhythmicity. In its most basic form, the circadian clock of the fruit fly consists of transcriptional activators that turn on expression of two circadian and oscillating genes (period and timeless), which are translated into proteins (PER and TIM) targeted for degradation by phosphorylation. Physical interactions between PER and TIM regulate their movement to the nucleus, where they directly interact with the transcriptional activators and suppress the expression of their own genes [5]. These findings also established the repressor role for PER and TIM in the transcriptional feedback loop. The temporal lag from the transcription of these autorepressors—their translation, nuclear accumulation, and negative feedback until their degradation—requires around 24 hours (circadian), and therefore sets the speed of the clock. An interlocked positive feedback loop has also been characterized. It is remarkable that such a simple, yet elegant model could be the basis of regulation for something as critical as synchronization of behavioral and physiological rhythms to the dramatic changes in light/dark and temperature on planet Earth.