cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Histomonas meleagridis and H. wenrichi: time of acquisition by Heterakis gallinarum

Abstract Concurrent infection of young chickens with Histomonas -free Heterakis gallinarum less than 10 days old and Histomonas meleagridis , with or without H. wenrichi , did not result in the acquisition, retention, and subsequent transmission of either protozoan by the next generation of cecal worms. Concurrent infections of chicks or poults with Histomonas -free Heterakis more than 10 days old and either species of Histomonas did result in the acquisition, retention, and subsequent transmission of the protozoa by some of the heterakids of the next generation. In all instances, evidence of such transmission was sought by feeding female cecal worms with embryonated eggs from each source to susceptible test poults. These were then watched carefully for evidences of Histomonas infection, by repeated examination of cecal discharges and by thorough examination at necropsy. Four of nine chickens that harbored both the cecal worm and histomonad simultaneously produced worms with eggs that initiated infections with H. meleagridis . One such infection was detected for each 473 embryonated eggs. Association of Heterakis of 10 days or older with Histomonas wenrichi resulted in the latter's acquisition, retention, and transmission with comparable frequency. Apparently, acquisition of Histomonas that results in its retention and transmission by Heterakis is largely, if not exclusively, by cecal worms more than 10 days old and hence, lumen dwellers. This has implications for drug control programs.
Fluorinated Conformationally-Restricted γ-Aminobutyric Acid Aminotransferase Inhibitors

On the basis of the structures of several potent inhibitor molecules for γ-aminobutryric acid aminotransferase (GABA-AT) that were previously reported, six modified fluorine-containing conformationally restricted analogues were designed, synthesized, and tested as GABA-AT inhibitors. The syntheses of all six molecules followed from a readily synthesized ketone intermediate. Three of the molecules were found to be irreversible inhibitors of GABA-AT with comparable or larger kinact/KI values than that of vigabatrin, a clinically used antiepilepsy drug, and the other three were reversible inhibitors. A possible mechanism for inactivation by one of the inactivators is proposed.
Observations of a Quantum Symmetry Restriction in the Rovibrationally Inelastic Scattering of Glyoxal

Rovibrationally inelastic scattering of S1 trans-glyoxal (CHOCHO, 12 modes) by H2, D2, and He is explored experimentally. Explicit attention is given to a state-to-state inelastic channel that is predicted to be forbidden on account of quantum symmetry restrictions in the symmetric top approximation for glyoxal (κ ) 0.99). This channel is 00, K′ ) 0 f 71, K′ ) 0, where 00 is the S1 zero-point level, 71 is the CHO-CHO torsional fundamental, and K′ is the quantum number for angular momentum about the top axis. After S1 r S0 pumping of the initial state, inelastic scattering to the set of final states 71, K′ ) n that includes the ∆K′ ) 0 channel is monitored by dispersed fluorescence. Relative cross sections for the rovibrational transitions are obtained for inelastic scattering by H2 (Ec.m. ) 650 and 1170 cm-1), D2 (750 cm-1), and He (750 and 1220 cm-1) to final states with K′ ranging from 0 to 15. The predicted prohibition of the ∆K′ ) 0 channel does not occur, but that channel is present with its scattering cross section reduced to only about half of the value expected if no symmetry effects were present. The partial relaxation of the quantum symmetry prohibition may plausibly be attributed to the small asymmetric top character of this near symmetric top molecule.
Antimicrobial activity of polysiloxane coatings containing quaternary ammonium-functionalized polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane

An array of quaternary ammonium functionalized-polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (Q-POSS) compounds with different alkyl chain lengths and counter ions were synthesized using a two-step process. First, octasilane POSS was functionalized with dimethylamino groups by hydrosilylation with allyldimethylamine. Next, partial quaternization of the tertiaryamino-functional POSS was achieved using an alkyl halide to produce the Q-POSS. Alkyl chain length of the Q-POSS compounds varied from –C12H25 to –C18H37 and the counter ions varied between chlorine, bromine, and iodine. Moisture-cured polysiloxane coatings were prepared by dispersing Q-POSS molecules into a solution blend of silanol-terminated polydimethylsiloxane, methylacetoxysilane, and a catalyst. To evaluate the utility of the Q-POSS molecules as a broad-spectrum antimicrobial additive, the antimicrobial activity of the coatings toward the Gram-negative bacterium, Escherichia coli, the Gram-positive bacterium, Staphylococcus aureus, and the opportunistic fungal pathogen, Candida albicans, was determined using an agar plating method. The results obtained showed that both the composition of the Q-POSS and the composition of the polysiloxane matrix affected antimicrobial properties. Compositions were identified that inhibited the growth of all three microorganisms on the coating surface. Surface Raman spectroscopic analysis was performed on selected set of coatings to understand the relative concentration of Q-POSS molecules at the coating surface.
Crisis precipitation as observed in pediatric--child psychiatric liaison.

This paper describes the development of crisis situations in the parents of three pediatric inpatients. The cases illustrate that psychiatric techniques, when applied to the evaluation of family and social environments, might result in the uncovering of complicated psychopathology. Precipitating factors may include: a stressful initial interview; biases of the referring physician; exaggerated parental treatment expectations; the sudden release of repressed material; and the disadvantages of rooming-in. Resolution was influenced in several ways, including the further crisis presented by the improvement in the child's illness to the point of discharge and the necessary reconsideration of this because of the parent's urgent emotional needs. The child's discharge was governed by the management of the mother's illness. Close coordination between liaison psychiatrist and pediatrician was essential to the treatment plan.
Sequence and Expression Analysis of WT1 and Sox9 in the Red-Eared Slider Turtle, Trachemys scripta

Temperature-dependent sex-determination (TSD) is a phenomenon that has been characterized at the ecological, morphological, and endocrinological levels in some reptilian spe- cies. We have begun to investigate TSD at the level of molecular development by cloning, sequenc- ing, and analyzing the expression of two genes, WT1 and Sox9, in the red-eared slider turtle Trachemys scripta. We obtained almost full-length cDNA clones for WT1 and Sox9 that were greater than 73% identical to the human homologues at the nucleotide level. WT1 was expressed in uro- genital tissue at all developmental stages examined (Yntema stages 12-20) at incubation tem- peratures that produce males (26°C) or females (32°C). Sox9 was also expressed throughout these same stages, but some differences were observed. At both 26°C and 32°C Sox9 was expressed in the mesonephroi and the undifferentiated gonads until Yntema stage 20, when only the gonad from the 26°C embryos expressed a high level. In addition, there were two transcripts of Sox9 at all stages, but the relative proportion of the two transcripts differed at the two temperatures. Although the similarities in gene expression between a TSD species and other species with geno- typically determined sex probably reflect the common features of organogenesis, differences may illustrate unique mechanisms for TSD. J. Exp. Zool. 281:417n427, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Evaluation of phase-shifting techniques for a self-referencing interferometer wavefront sensor

The Air Force Research Laboratory is developing a Self-Referencing Interferometer (SRI) wavefront sensor (WFS) for applications requiring laser propagation in strong scintillation. This paper compares several phase-shifting techniques that can be used to capture interference patterns and examines their effects on SRI WFS performance. These techniques include temporal, spatial, and spatial-temporal phase shifting. Temporal phase shifting allows for straightforward setup, alignment, and calibration, though its performance is degraded by changes in the atmosphere between measurements. Spatial phase shifting effectively "freezes" the atmosphere, but requires more rigorous camera calibration and alignment. Spatial-temporal phase shifting balances the benefits and challenges of both methods. This paper includes a discussion of the tradeoffs involved in selecting an appropriate phase-shifting approach for a given application. Laboratory results demonstrate the advantages and disadvantages of each technique in evaluation of SRI WFS performance.
Corn fiber gum: New structure/function relationships for this potential beverage flavor stabilizer

Abstract Corn fiber arabinoxylan is a hemicellulose B isolated from the fibrous portions (pericarp, tip cap, and endosperm cell wall fractions) of corn kernels by alkaline solution, often in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and is commonly referred to as “Corn fiber gum” (CFG). The unique polysaccharide, CFG, with its low solution viscosity has been proposed as a good stabilizer for oil-in-water emulsions and we have verified that in some model systems, it can out-perform the “gold standard” emulsifier, gum arabic. But the precise mechanism for the stabilization of oil-in-water emulsion is not well understood due to its structural and molecular complexity. It is unclear and even puzzling how a water-soluble, hydrophilic arabinoxylan could function as an emulsifier, since most emulsifiers have hydrophobic as well as hydrophilic surfaces and regions on the molecule. To understand the structural properties of CFG that may be responsible for its emulsifying properties, we have prepared a number of purified and modified CFG samples from different sources of corn fiber. We then studied their detailed structures and measured their ability to stabilize oil-in-water emulsions. The results show that “pure” CFG fractions often contain minor, but perhaps functionally important amounts of associated lipids and proteins. Understanding the critical structural elements required for optimal emulsification properties will allow future commercial producers of CFG to provide consistent quality and functionality in their products.
Feasibility of an Explosive End-Projector for Conducting Shock Loading Experiments

This paper focuses on examining the feasibility of using an explosive end-projector device to conduct shock loading experiments. The concept employs an explosive end-projector to accelerate a bonded bimetallic impactor toward a stationary target material in order to conduct complex shock loading experiments. A high-impedance material, tantalum, was specifically selected to generate high stresses in targets. The driver plate materials were varied to create an impedance spectrum from 2 to 4 which would encompass materials from aluminum to zirconium. Techniques for launching single density metal plates exist. [1] The objective of this paper is to further refine an existing explosive technique to launch bimetallic plates which would generate complex shock/reshock or shock/release waves when used as a impactor. Although a bimetallic impactor will generate complex wave loading within a target material upon impact, it must first survive intact the explosive shock acceleration stress history imposed during launch in order to obtain the terminal velocity for use as an impactor. Initial computational studies using the Lagrangian finite element code EPIC were promising. [2] Based on the concern of the plate spallation during launch [2], an air gap between explosive and the backside of the bimetallic plate was modeled to reduce the magnitude of the initial shock resulting from direct explosive-metal interaction and to further gain insight into its effects on pressure, terminal velocity, and planarity of the plate. Initially, a single, homogenous plate of aluminum was modeled to examine the effects of the air gap without the complication of bimetallic wave reverberation. The air gap did reduce the intensity of pressure by 30% with only a 4% loss in terminal velocity. Planarity was exacerbated by the air gap leading to increased warping. With the introduction of bimetallic plates and the corresponding wave reverberation pressure reductions ranged between 20% to 30% with corresponding losses in terminal velocity of between 5% to 7%. Planarity was improved for the configurations in which the high density material, tantalum, was on the free surface or impacting side of the impactor but warping increased when the order was reversed. This results from the low-impedance material serving as a buffer to allow quasi-isentropic and monotonic increase in loading of the tantalum plate. However, when the high density material was placed on the back side of the impactor, the loading history was reversed and the low density material was subjected to high pressures. Overall, the technique appears to be a feasible alternative for conducting shock loading experiments. The air gap reduces pressure with only a minimal loss in terminal velocity, and the air gap in conjunction with plate geometry changes appears to mitigate spall. The air gap does not improve planarity with the explosive end-projector design used in this investigation but optimized designs would improve the flexibility of the technique.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Assessing the Political and Socio-Economic Impact of Corruption among Nations

This research combined three distinctly unique and separate measures of corruption into one corruption factor, so as to yield a robust measurement approach to further understand the political and socioeconomic variables of corruption. The findings show that a strong significant variable in measuring corruption is the personal marginal-tax rate, especially in hierarchical based nations. The higher the tax rate is, the less corrupt the nation is. The authors found that hierarchical nations' public-sector employees place more emphasis on sociological determinants and tax rate contributions as factors contributing toward corruption.
Dynamic multibody protein interactions suggest versatile pathways for copper trafficking.

As part of intracellular copper trafficking pathways, the human copper chaperone Hah1 delivers Cu+ to the Wilson’s Disease Protein (WDP) via weak and dynamic protein–protein interactions. WDP contains six homologous metal binding domains (MBDs) connected by flexible linkers, and these MBDs all can receive Cu+ from Hah1. The functional roles of the MBD multiplicity in Cu+ trafficking are not well understood. Building on our previous study of the dynamic interactions between Hah1 and the isolated fourth MBD of WDP, here we study how Hah1 interacts with MBD34, a double-domain WDP construct, using single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (smFRET) combined with vesicle trapping. By alternating the positions of the smFRET donor and acceptor, we systematically probed Hah1–MBD3, Hah1–MBD4, and MBD3–MBD4 interaction dynamics within the multidomain system. We found that the two interconverting interaction geometries were conserved in both intermolecular Hah1–MBD and intramolecular MBD–MBD interactions...
Structural characterization of two peptides corresponding to Helix 4 of Apolipoprotein E

Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) is a ligand for the low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor. The amino-terminal domain of ApoE is a 4-helix bundle and helix 4 is involved in LDL receptor binding. This region associates with lipids and undergoes structural changes which allow a key arginine residue, Arg172 to participate in receptor binding. To characterize this region and to study lipid-induced conformational changes we developed 2 synthetic peptides: one corresponding to residues 128-164 (ApoE-164) and the other corresponding to residues 128-183 (ApoE-183). Secondary structure prediction indicates amphipathic alpha-helical structure for both peptides. Circular dichroism spectroscopy (CD) studies show that ApoE-164 exhibits concentration-dependent self association whereas ApoE-183 does not. To study the effect of lipids on the two peptides we used three detergents: 1,2-diheptanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DHPC), dodecyl phosphocholine(DPC), and octyl-beta-d-glucopyranoside(BetaOG). CD shows that both peptides exhibit an increase in alpha-helix content at the critical micelle concentration (CMC) for all three detergents. The alpha-helix content for both peptides in the absence of detergent is about 30%. Upon the addition of DHPC, DPC or BetaOG there is a 30-40% increase in alpha-helicity at the CMC. This approach is directed towards understanding (i) how lipids induce a conformational change in the 165-183 region, and (ii) how the relative orientation of Arg172 is changed such that it contributes to LDL receptor binding.
Facile Strategy to Well-Defined Water-Soluble Boronic Acid (Co)polymers

A facile route to well-defined boronic acid (co)polymers from stable and easily manipulated boronic ester monomers is presented. The polymerization of 4-pinacolatoborylstyrene by reversible addition−fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) yielded polymeric boronic acid precursors. Selection of stoichiometry allowed tuning of polymerization kinetics and targeting specific molecular weights in the range of Mn = 17000−32000 g/mol. The resulting low polydispersity poly(4-pinacolatoborylstyrene) homopolymers were employed as macro-chain transfer agents for block copolymerization with N,N-dimethylacrylamide to yield amphiphilic block copolymers that formed micelles in aqueous media. The pinacol ester derivatized (co)polymers were easily deprotected by a mild and convenient strategy to yield free boronic acid polymers
Endogenous and costly institutional deterrence

Modern economies rely on central-authority institutions to regulate individual behaviour. Despite the importance of such institutions little is known about their formation within groups. In a public good experiment, groups selected the level of deterrence implemented by the institution, knowing that the administrative costs of the institution rose with the level of deterrence. Results suggest that groups readily self-impose costly deterrent formal institutions. The strictly deterrent institutions implemented here increased contributions sufficiently to completely offset the administrative cost and significantly increase earnings.
Hysteretic Hall resistance at the LaAlO3-SrTiO3 interface - interplay between superconducting and ferromagnetic properties

The conducting interface formed between the two insulators LaAlO3 (LAO) and SrTiO3 (STO) has been shown to have both magnetic and superconducting properties. As was reported in an earlier publication, the superconducting and the magnetic phases coexist simultaneously in this system [1], with superconductivity being tuned by an applied gate voltage. Here we report on the transverse (Hall) magnetoresistance of the interface as a function of the gate voltage, which tunes the density of carriers at the interface. Not only is the Hall resistance hysteretic, due to the magnetic order in the system, but also highly non-linear in the low field region. The interaction between the superconducting vortices and the combined external and intrinsic (hysteretic) fields gives rise to the complex structure in the Hall data.
Temporal subtraction in chest radiography: mutual information as a measure of image quality.

Purpose: Temporal subtraction is used to detect the interval change in chest radiographs and aid radiologists in patient diagnosis. This method registers two temporally different images by geometrically warping the lung region, or ''lung mask,'' of a previous radiographic image to align with the current image. The gray levels of every pixel in the current image are subtracted from the gray levels of the corresponding pixels in the warped previous image to form a temporal subtraction image. While temporal subtraction images effectively enhance areas of pathologic change, misregistration of the images can mislead radiologists by obscuring the interval change or by creating artifacts that mimic change. The purpose of this study was to investigate the utility of mutual information computed between two registered radiographic chest images as a metric for distinguishing between clinically acceptable and clinically unacceptable temporal subtraction images.Methods: A radiologist subjectively rated the image quality of 138 temporal subtraction images using a 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent) scale. To objectively assess the registration accuracy depicted in the temporal subtraction images, which is the main factor that affects the quality of these images, mutual information was computed on the two constituent registered images prior to their subtraction to generatemore » a temporal subtraction image. Mutual information measures the joint entropy of the current image and the warped previous image, yielding a higher value when the gray levels of spatially matched pixels in each image are consistent. Mutual information values were correlated with the radiologist's subjective ratings. To improve this correlation, mutual information was computed from a spatially limited lung mask, which was cropped from the bottom by 10%-60%. Additionally, the number of gray-level values used in the joint entropy histogram was varied. The ability of mutual information to predict the clinical acceptability of a temporal subtraction image was evaluated through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Results: The mean correlation coefficient obtained between mutual information computed on constituent images and the subjective rating of temporal subtraction image quality was 0.785. ROC analysis yielded an average A{sub z} value of 0.852 for the ability of mutual information to distinguish between temporal subtraction images of clinically acceptable and clinically unacceptable quality. Conclusions: The results of this study establish a relationship between mutual information and temporal subtraction registration accuracy and demonstrate the ability of mutual information to objectively indicate the presence of misregistration artifacts.« less
The mark II spacistor

Abstract A semiconductor device which makes use of a p-n structure located within a space-charge region is described. Modulation of the temperature-limited electron injection and the enhanced space-charge-limited hole injection which results from this structure has been obtained. Mutual conductances of the order of 500 μmhos for electrons and 2500 μmhos for holes have been observed. Input resistance ranges from several hundred ohms to about 10 kΩ depending upon bias conditions. Output resistance is of the order of 105 Ω. Power gain of 100 for electron flow and 500 for hole flow has been measured at low frequency.
APOBEC‐1‐mediated RNA editing

RNA editing defines a molecular process by which a nucleotide sequence is modified in the RNA transcript and results in an amino acid change in the recoded message from that specified in the gene. We will restrict our attention to the type of RNA editing peculiar to mammals, i.e., nuclear C to U RNA editing. This category of RNA editing contrasts with RNA modifications described in plants, i.e., organellar RNA editing (reviewed in Ref 1). Mammalian RNA editing is genetically and biochemically classified into two groups, namely insertion-deletional and substitutional. Substitutional RNA editing is exclusive to mammals, again with two types reported, namely adenosine to inosine and cytosine to uracil (C to U). This review will examine mammalian C to U RNA editing of apolipoproteinB (apoB) RNA and the role of the catalytic deaminase Apobec-1. We will speculate on the functions of Apobec-1 beyond C to U RNA editing as implied from its ability to bind AU-rich RNAs and discuss evidence that dysregulation of Apobec-1 expression might be associated with carcinogenesis through aberrant RNA editing or altered RNA stability.
Topics in invariant descriptive set theory

Abstract We generalize two concepts from special cases of Polish group actions to the general case. The two concepts are elementary embeddability, from model theory, and analytic sets, from the usual descriptive set theory.
Simulation of delivery of indocynanine green injected intravenously into the human subject for breast cancer detection

The goal of our study is to develop a time-dependent three-compartment model of beacon delivery to simulate the distribution of Indocynanine Green (ICG) in cancer tissue by using JSIM development environment of model simulation and data analysis. We studied the major factors that contribute to distribution of ICG in our model. The simulation results show that our time-dependent three-compartment model can describe the delivery of ICG injected intravenously into the human subject and assist in breast cancer detection.
Testing BR photocycle kinetics

An improved K absorption spectrum in the visible is obtained from previous photocycle data for the D96N mutant of bacteriorhodopsin, and the previously obtained M absorption spectrum in the visible and the fraction cycling are confirmed at 25 degrees C. Data at lower temperatures are consistent with negligible temperature dependence in the spectra from 5 degrees C to 25 degrees C. Detailed analysis strongly indicates that there are two intermediates in addition to the first intermediate K and the last intermediate M. Assuming two of the intermediates have the same spectrum and using the L spectrum obtained previously, the best kinetic model with four intermediates that fits the time course of the intermediates is rather unusual, with two L's on a cul-de-sac. However, a previously proposed, more conventional model with five intermediates, including two L's with the same spectra and two M's with the same spectra, also fits the time course of the intermediates nearly as well. A new criterion that tests an individual proposed spectrum against data is also proposed.
SELLING PUBLIC HEALTH.

MODERN public health methods and principles are constantly changing. This has been especially true during the past 5 years when they have assumed a larger aspect of unlimited possibilities for individual and community health promotion. The public health official has been too prone to take for granted the fact that. the public would support the work regardless of what attitude he assumed and that the only requirement was to carry out the routine duties of the office irrespective of the contacts made by him or members of his staff. Many good pieces of public. health work have failed because the public has not been made intelligent about the duties, the functions and the accomplishments of the undertaking. It is no doubt true that this feature of the work can be overdone by the newness of the whole-time county health unit, but too much importance cannot be given to the selling side of public health work. Appropriating bodies are too apt to be guided in scaling their appropriations, not according to the actual amount of public health work done, but by their own personal attitude toward it, which in a large majority of cases reflects the opinion of others. It for only that reason the so-called salesmanship principles are necessary during the first few years of the newly organied health department. Perhaps a department that has been functioning for several years does not need to expend so much energy in this direction. How can an intangible thing like public health be sold? No better proposition was ever offered to the public than modern preventive medicine, from the standpoint of the so-called whole time county health unit. The time is not far distant when the sickness and death rates in a community will be determined almost in direct proportion to the amount expended for public health activities.
Changes in Stepparents' Coparenting and Parenting Following Participation in a Community‐Based Relationship Education Program

Studies of coparents typically center on the relationship between parents who share a biological child; limited attention in research on community-based programs is given to the coparenting relationship within a stepfamily, even though clinicians note the challenges inherent in this relationship. We examined changes in coparenting agreement, parenting efficacy, and parental involvement for 96 stepparents following participation in a coparenting-focused community education program. A significant main effect of time was found for improvement in coparenting agreement, yet a significant time × gender interaction effect suggests that this is driven by improvements for stepmothers only. Parenting efficacy improved, regardless of gender, race, residence, or curriculum. A significant time × race interaction effect on change in parental involvement indicates increases in parental involvement for European American participants only. Finally, increases in coparenting agreement were associated with increases in parenting efficacy, and increases in parenting efficacy were associated with increases in parental involvement. Language: en
Uniqueness of solutions of the Cauchy problem for linear partial differential equations with characteristics of variable multiplicity

The first general results in the study of the uniqueness of the Cauchy problem for partial differential equations with coefficients which are not necessarily analytic were given by Calderon [l] and Hijrmander [6]. Using the theory of singular integral operators Calderon proved uniqueness theorems for partial differential operators with simple characteristics. He [2] later extended the results to hold for operators whose real characteristics are simple, nonreal characteristics are at most double, characteristics never cross each other, and real characteristics never become complex. This last condition is modified by Kumano-go [9] and Nirenberg [12], both allowing the real characteristics to become complex under certain circumstances. In this paper, we shall give another proof of Nirenberg’s extension of Calderon’s theorem. Then we shall prove uniqueness if the multiplicity of the real characteristics (which may turn complex in a certain way) is greater than one, or the multiplicity of the nonreal characteristics is greater than two. We will do this by putting a condition on the lower-order terms. In both cases, we require the multiplicity to be constant.
Enhanced decomposition of oxyferrous cytochrome P450CIA1 (P450cam) by the chemopreventive agent 3-t-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole

Abstract The efficacy of 2(3)-t-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole (BHA) and other chemicals as chemopreventive agents against chemically induced cancer or toxicity may involve direct modulation of cytochrome P450 activity. Direct interaction of BHA with cytochrome P450 was investigated using substrate-bound, oxyferrous cytochrome P450CIA1 either in a reconstituted system containing cytochrome P450CIA1, putidaredoxin and putidaredoxin reductase with NADH as electron donor or in the absence of physiological electron donors. In the reconstituted system, BHA caused a concentration-dependent decrease in the production of 5- exo -hydroxycamphor and a substoichiometric increase in hydrogen peroxide production. However, BHA did not appreciably inhibit either NADH oxidation or oxygen utilization under conditions optimal for accumulation of oxyferrous cytochrome P450CIA1 during steady-state metabolism of camphor. In the absence of electron donor, BHA enhanced decomposition of the ternary oxyferrous substrate complex of cytochrome P450CIA1 without the formation of any apparent spectral intermediate(s). The rate of decomposition of the oxyferrous complex was pseudo-first order and was dependent upon the concentration of BHA present. Enhanced decomposition of the complex was not attributable to catalytic turnover of cytochrome P450CIA1 (i.e., acquisition of a second electron from an indeterminate source) since no appreciable metabolism of either camphor or BHA was observed. The enhanced decomposition was accompanied by a substoichiometric increase in hydrogen peroxide production, suggesting that BHA may facilitate four-electron reduction of molecular oxygen to water. These results indicate that BHA inhibits cytochrome P450 function, presumably by enhancing autoxidation of the substrate-bound oxyferrous complex.
Determining liver stage parasite burden by real time quantitative PCR as a method for evaluating pre-erythrocytic malaria vaccine efficacy.

The detection and quantitation of blood stage parasitaemia is typically used as a surrogate endpoint for estimating the efficacy of vaccines targeted against the hepatic stage, as well as the erythrocytic stage, of the parasite. However, this does not provide an adequate means of evaluating the efficacy of vaccines, which may be only partially effective at the liver-stage. This is a particular concern for effective evaluation of immune enhancement strategies for candidate pre-erythrocytic stage vaccines. Here, we have developed and validated a method for detecting and quantitating liver stage parasites, using the TaqMan® fluorescent real-time quantitative PCR system (PE Applied Biosystems). This method uses TaqMan® primers designed to the Plasmodiumyoelii 18S rRNA gene and rodent GAPDH to amplify products from infected mouse liver cDNA. The technique is highly reproducible as demonstrated with plasmid controls and capable of efficiently quantitating liver-stage parasite burden following a range of sporozoite challenge doses in strains of mice, which differ in their susceptibility to sporozoite infection. We have further demonstrated the capacity of this technique to evaluate the efficacy of a range of pre-erythrocytic stage vaccines. Our data establish this quantitative real-time PCR assay to be a fast and reproducible way of accurately assessing liver stage parasite burden and vaccine efficacy in rodent malaria models.
Depression and health-related quality of life in ethnic minorities seeking care in general medical settings.

Background: To examine ethnic groups differences in (a) prevalence of depressive disorders and (b) health related quality of life in fee-for-service and managed care patients (n=21 504) seeking care in general medical settings. Methods: Data are from the Medical Outcomes Study, a multi-site observational study of outpatient practices. The study screened patients of clinicians (family practice, internal medicine, cardiology, diabetology and endocrinology) for four chronic medical conditions; depression, coronary heart disease, hypertension and diabetes. A brief eight-item depression screener followed by the Diagnostic Interview Schedule-Depression Section (DIS) for screener positives identified depressed patients (n=2195). The Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) assessed health-related quality of life. Patient self-report determined ethnicity. Results: Before adjusting for demographic factors, African-Americans and Hispanics had highest rates of depressive symptoms. Asian-Americans had the lowest. adjusting for demographics (particularly gender and income), we found few statistically significant differences in prevalence or severity of depression. However, among the depressed, Whites were the most, and African-Americans the least likely to report suicidal ideation (p<0.01), and Hispanics and Whites were more likely to have melancholia (p<0.01). African-Americans reported the poorest quality of life. Limitations: DSM III criteria (though few changes in DSM IV), and relatively small sample size of Asian-Americans compared to other groups. Conclusions: Gender and socioeconomic status are more significant factors than ethnicity in determining risk for depressive disorder. However, ethnic differences in symptom presentation, and health-related quality of life could have clinical and social consequences, and merit further study.
Size and duration of empires growth-decline curves, 3000 to 600 b.c.☆

Area changes of about 30 best known empires and states are compiled and tabulated. Superimposed and juxtaposed graphs (size versus time) help to visualize the relative size and location in time of these empires. Size-time integral, maximum stable size, adulthood date, and duration are defined operationally and are listed for 20 empires. A criterion is given for distinctness of successive empires. The size-time integral is a direct measure of an empire's impact on history insofar as that impact depends on sheer size and duration. The integral is largest for the Chinese Hsia-Shang, Egyptian New, Old, and Middle, Assyrian New, and Hittite empires. A world-wide territorial concentration index is tabulated. It increases during the period considered from 0.08 to 1.4% of the world dry land area.
Constraints on Active Region Coronal Heating

We derive constraints on the time variability of coronal heating from observations of the so-called active region moss by the Transition Region and Coronal Explorer (TRACE). The moss is believed to be due to million-degree emission from the transition regions at the footpoints of coronal loops whose maximum temperatures are several million degrees. The two key results from the TRACE observations discussed in this paper are that in the moss regions one generally sees only moss, not million-degree loops, and that the moss emission exhibits only weak intensity variations, � 10% over periods of hours. TRACE movies showing these results are presented. We demonstrate, using both analytic and numerical calculations, that the lack of observable million-degree loops in the moss regions places severe constraints on the possible time variability of coronal heating in the loops overlying the moss. In particular, the heating in the hot moss loops cannot be truly flarelike with a sharp cutoff, but instead must be quasi-steady to an excellent approximation. Furthermore, the lack of significant variations in the moss intensity implies that the heating magnitude is only weakly varying. The implications of these conclusions for coronal heating models will be discussed. Subject headings: Sun: corona — Sun: transition region — Sun: UV radiation On-line material: mpg animation
Consistency and accuracy of selected FWD backcalculation software for computing layer modulus of airport pavements

AbstractFalling weight deflectometer (FWD) data are generally processed through backcalculation software for computing layer modulus of airport pavements. Though a number of backcalculation software are currently available, it is not known that software produces the most consistent and accurate results. Inconsistent and inaccurate backcalculation software can take a significant toll on the overlay and rehabilitation design of airport pavements as modulus being the inputs for such design calculations. Most backcalculation software requires an initial value of modulus, known as seed modulus, to initiate simulations. Unfortunately, in many of the software, the outputs vary with the initial choice of seed modulus (consistency). In addition, depending on the software algorithm, the final output differs from the laboratory measured value of modulus (accuracy). In this study, three backcalculation software programs are evaluated for consistency and accuracy. They are BAKFAA, MODULUS and EVERCALC. The major goal ...
Discussion: The Use of Zinc to Control Aluminum Corrosion in Aqueous Glycol Solutions

Abstract The following is a discussion of the article entitled “The Use of Zinc to Control Aluminum Corrosion in Aqueous Glycol Solutions,” by David Wong and Franklin H. Cocks, published in Corrosion, Vol. 36, p. 587 (1980) November.
Computer‐assisted simulations of phosphofructokinase‐1 kinetics using simplified velocity equations

Abstract Equations useful for simulating the kinetic behavior of phosphofructokinase are presented. The equations, which are based on the concerted transition (symmetry) model for allosteric enzymes, account for substrate inhibition by MgATP, cooperative binding by F-6-P, activation by F-2,6-P 2 , and deinhibition by AMP. Velocity calculations can be performed using either a spreadsheet program (e.g., MS Excel) or a web-based program (e.g., Authorware). Both approaches are illustrated.
Successful intravenous thrombolysis in ischemic stroke caused by infective endocarditis

Introduction Infective endocarditis can lead to serious neurological complications including ischemic stroke and intracranial hemorrhage. Treatment with intravenous thrombolysis within 3 h of symptom onset has become the standard of care in acute ischemic stroke, but the safety and efficacy of this intervention in patients with infective endocarditis is unknown.
Convex potentials and their conjugates in analog mean-field optimization

This paper deals with the problem of mapping hybrid (i.e., both discrete and continuous) constrained optimization problems onto analog networks. The saddle-point paradigm of mean-field methods in statistical physics provides a systematic procedure for finding such a mapping via the notion of effective energy. Specifically, it is shown that within this paradigm, to each closed bounded constraint set is associated a smooth convex potential function. Using the conjugate (or the Legendre-Fenchel transform) of the convex potential, the effective energy can be transformed to yield a cost function that is a natural generalization of the analog Hopfield energy. Descent dynamics and deterministic annealing can then be used to find the global minimum of the original minimization problem. When the conjugate is hard to compute explicitly, it is shown that a minimax dynamics, similar to that of Arrow and Hurwicz in Lagrangian optimization, can be used to find the saddle points of the effective energy. As an illustration of its wide applicability, the effective energy framework is used to derive Hopfield-like energy functions and descent dynamics for two classes of networks previously considered in the literature, winner-take-all networks and rotor networks, even when the cost function of the original optimization problem is not quadratic.
Conformational changes in sensory rhodopsin I: Similarities and differences with bacteriorhodopsin, halorhodopsin, and rhodopsin

FTIR difference spectra have been obtained for the sR587----S373 phototransition of sensory rhodopsin I (sR-I), a signal-transducing protein of Halobacterium halobium. The vibrational modes of the sR587 chromophore have frequencies close to those of the bacteriorhodopsin bR568 chromophore, confirming that the two chromophores have very similar structures and environments. However, the sR-I Schiff base C = N stretch frequency is downshifted relative to bR, consistent with weaker hydrogen bonding with its counterion(s). The carboxyl (COOH) stretch modes of sR-I and halorhodopsin (hR) are at the same frequencies. On the basis of sequence homologies, these bands can be assigned to Asp-106 in helix D and/or Asp-201 in helix G. In contrast, no band was found that could be assigned to the protonation of Asp-76. In bR, the homologous residue Asp-85 serves as the acceptor group for the Schiff base proton. Bands appear in the amide I and II regions at similar frequencies in sR-I, hR, and bR, indicating that despite their different functions they all undergo closely related structural changes. Bands are also detected in the C-H stretch region, possibly due to alterations in the membrane lipids. Similar spectral features are also observed in the lipids of rhodopsin-containing photoreceptor membrane upon light activation.
Reductive Dechlorination of Trichloroethene and Carbon Tetrachloride Using Iron and Palladized-Iron Cathodes

This research investigated the effectiveness of electrochemical reduction for removing trichloroethylene (TCE) and carbon tetrachloride (CT) from dilute aqueous solutions. The kinetics, reaction mechanisms, and current efficiencies for TCE and CT reduction were investigated using flow-through, iron electrode reactors and with amperometric measurements of reduction rates. The electrode reactors were operated over a range of flow rates, pH, ionic strength, dissolved oxygen concentration, and working electrode potentials. Typical reduction half-lives for TCE and CT in the iron reactor were 9.4 and 3.7 min, respectively. The addition of palladium as an electrocatalyst at a level of 1 mg of Pd per m2 of electrode surface area increased the reaction rates by a factor of 3. When operated continuously, reaction rates in the palladized-iron reactor were stable over a 9-month period of operation, indicating that there was no loss of palladium from the electrode. In both the iron and Pd−iron reactors, TCE was reduce...
What infants know and what they do: perceiving possibilities for walking through openings.

What infants decide to do does not necessarily reflect the extent of what they know. In the current study, 17-month-olds were encouraged to walk through openings of varying width under risk of entrapment. Infants erred by squeezing into openings that were too small and became stuck, suggesting that they did not accurately perceive whether they could fit. However, a second penalty condition revealed accurate action selection when errors resulted in falling, indicating that infants are indeed perceptually sensitive to fitting through openings. Furthermore, independent measures of perception were equivalent between the two penalty conditions, suggesting that differences in action selection resulted from different penalties, not lack of perceptual sensitivity. Developmental researchers assess what infants know on the basis of measures of what infants do. Typically, infants' percep- tion, cognition, or affect is indexed by a single behavioral measure per experiment, such as how long infants look at possible versus impossible events (Baillargeon, Spelke, & Wasserman, 1985; Spelke, Breinlinger, Macomber, & Jacobson, 1992). However, distilling what infants know from what they do requires an infer- ential leap, especially when behavioral evidence is limited to a single measure. In this article, we explore a central problem associated with making that inferential leap. What is the appropriate interpretation of infants' failures? We use an example from perceptual-motor development: infants' perception of possible versus impossible actions. Here, infants made repeated errors as they decided whether to walk through openings of varying width; they repeat- edly squeezed themselves into impossibly small openings. At first glance, infants' errors indicated that they did not know whether they could fit. Had infants' errors been the only measure, the results would suggest that infants failed to distinguish possible from impossible openings. However, independent measures of perception—gait modifications and approach behaviors—revealed accurate perceptual sensitivity to opening size relative to body size, and a second penalty condition that involved falling from a narrow ledge showed that low weighting of entrapment as a penalty for errors was responsible for maladaptive decisions.
Poly-3-hydroxybutyrate Synthase from the Periplasm of Escherichia coli

Abstract This is the first report of a poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) synthase in Escherichiacoli. The enzyme was isolated from the periplasm using ammonium sulfate fractionation, hydrophobic, and size-exclusion chromatography and identified by LC/MS/MS as YdcS, a component of a putative ABC transporter. Green Fluorescent Protein-tagged ydcS, purified by 2D native gel electrophoresis, also exhibited PHB synthase activity. Optimal conditions for enzyme activity were 37 °C, pH 6.8–7.5, 100 mM KCl. Km was 0.14 mM and Vmax was 18.7 nmol/mg protein/min. The periplasms of deletion mutants displayed