cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Photoperiodic modulation of diapause induction and termination in Oobius agrili Zhang and Huang (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), an egg parasitoid of the invasive emerald ash borer

Abstract Oobius agrili Zhang and Huang (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) is a solitary and parthenogenetic egg parasitoid from China being introduced into North America (NA) as a biological control agent of the emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), an extremely invasive and destructive pest of ash trees (Fraxinus spp.). Oobius agrili is being released over a broad geographical range in NA where photoperiod varies considerably during the season of parasitoid-host activity. We conducted laboratory studies to determine 1) if photoperiod-induced diapause is modulated maternally, grand-maternally, and/or directly in immature parasitoids; 2) interactions of maternal adult age and photoperiod exposure on diapause induction; 3) the critical day length for diapause induction; 4) the critical age at which photoperiod-induced diapause is modulated in developing larvae; 5) the effects of photoperiod and length of chill on diapause termination; and, 6) the effects of photoperiod on O. agrili biology across a latitudinal gradient. We found that photoperiod exposure of O. agrili larvae developing inside host eggs directly induced diapause, and maternal or grand-maternal photoperiod treatments did not affect diapause induction in their progeny. However, older adults that experienced diapause as larvae produced more progeny that entered diapause when their progeny were exposed to short-day photoperiods. All progeny produced by adults that developed from nondiapaused larvae entered diapause when exposed to short-day photoperiods. Diapause response to photoperiod declined dramatically after larvae were 6–7 days old. The critical day length for diapause induction was between 14.25 and 14.5 h of daylight (at 25 °C). Photoperiod and duration of chill affected diapause termination of diapausing O. agrili larvae. The cumulative number of degree days (base 10 °C) required for adult emergence was highest for the combination of 12 h light:12 h dark (12L:12D) photoperiod combined with the shortest chill period, and lowest for 14.5L:9.5D and 16L:8D combined with the longest chill period. We discuss the effects of photoperiod on parasitoid-host synchrony, population dynamics, and fitness of O. agrili across the geographical area where it is being released.
Super-resolution writing.

The in situ, nanoscale positioning of a single molecule below the diffraction limit remains a challenge for chemists. Now, two approaches show how this can be accomplished through a combination of super-resolution microscopy and photo-inducible crosslinking chemistry.
Innate Immunity in the C. elegans Intestine Is Programmed by a Neuronal Regulator of AWC Olfactory Neuron Development.

Olfactory neurons allow animals to discriminate nutritious food sources from potential pathogens. From a forward genetic screen, we uncovered a surprising requirement for the olfactory neuron gene olrn-1 in the regulation of intestinal epithelial immunity in Caenorhabditis elegans. During nematode development, olrn-1 is required to program the expression of odorant receptors in the AWC olfactory neuron pair. Here, we show that olrn-1 also functions in AWC neurons in the cell non-autonomous suppression of the canonical p38 MAPK PMK-1 immune pathway in the intestine. Low activity of OLRN-1, which activates the p38 MAPK signaling cassette in AWC neurons during larval development, also de-represses the p38 MAPK PMK-1 pathway in the intestine to promote immune effector transcription, increased clearance of an intestinal pathogen, and resistance to bacterial infection. These data reveal an unexpected connection between olfactory receptor development and innate immunity and show that anti-pathogen defenses in the intestine are developmentally programmed.
Validating nuclear data uncertainties obtained from a statistical analysis of experimental data with the “Physical Uncertainty Bounds” method

Concerns within the nuclear data community led to substantial increases of Neutron Data Standards (NDS) uncertainties from its previous to the current version. For example, those associated with the NDS reference cross section 239 Pu(n,f) increased from 0.6–1.6% to 1.3–1.7% from 0.1–20 MeV. These cross sections, among others, were adopted, e.g., by ENDF/B-VII.1 (previous NDS) and ENDF/B-VIII.0 (current NDS). There has been a strong desire to be able to validate these increases based on objective criteria given their impact on our understanding of various application uncertainties. Here, the “Physical Uncertainty Bounds” method (PUBs) by Vaughan et al. is applied to validate evaluated uncertainties obtained by a statistical analysis of experimental data. We investigate with PUBs whether ENDF/B-VII.1 or ENDF/B-VIII.0 239 Pu(n,f) cross-section uncertainties are more realistic given the information content used for the actual evaluation. It is shown that the associated conservative (1.5–1.8%) and minimal realistic (1.1–1.3%) uncertainty bounds obtained by PUBs enclose ENDF/B-VIII.0 uncertainties and indicate that ENDF/B-VII.1 uncertainties are underestimated.
On the SEC’s 2010 Enforcement Cooperation Program∗

Abstract This study examines changes in SEC enforcement and firm cooperation after the SEC introduced its new cooperation program in 2010. While previous research shows that the SEC penalized cooperative firms prior to 2010, our results suggest that after that year, it rewarded cooperation, especially good faith actions. We also find that after 2010, the SEC increased mentions of cooperation in public speeches and publicized more details about firm cooperative activities in AAERs. Finally, we find some evidence that misconduct firms increased good faith cooperation after the SEC revised its cooperation program in 2010. Our findings suggest that having a more explicit leniency program improves its effectiveness.
Is Vagus Nerve Stimulation Brain Washing

Abstract Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) is an FDA approved treatment method for intractable epilepsy, treatment resistant depression, cluster headaches and migraine with over 100,000 patients having received vagal nerve implants to date. Moreover, evidence in the literature has led to a growing list of possible clinical indications, with several small clinical trials applying VNS to treat conditions ranging from neurodegenerative diseases to arthritis, anxiety disorders, and obesity. Despite the growing list of therapeutic applications, the fundamental mechanisms by which VNS achieves its beneficial effects are poorly understood and an area of active research. In parallel, the glymphatic and meningeal lymphatic systems have recently been proposed and experimentally validated to explain how the brain maintains a healthy homeostasis without a traditionally defined lymphatic system. In particular, the glymphatic system relates to the interchange of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and interstitial fluid (ISF) whose net effect is to wash through the brain parenchyma removing metabolic waste products and misfolded proteins from the interstitium. Of note, clearance is sensitive to adrenergic signaling, and a primary driver of CSF influx into the parenchyma appears to be cerebral arterial pulsations and respiration. As VNS has well-documented effects on cardiovascular and respiratory physiology as well as brain adrenergic signaling, we hypothesized that VNS delivered at clinically derived parameters would increase CSF influx in the brain. To test this hypothesis, we injected a low molecular weight (3 kD) lysine-fixable fluorescent tracer (TxRed) into the CSF system of mice with a cervical vagus nerve cuff implant and measured the amount of CSF penetrance following VNS. We found that the clinical VNS group showed a significant increase in CSF dye penetrance as compared to the naive control and sham groups. This study demonstrates that VNS therapeutic strategies already being applied in the clinic today may induce intended effects and/or unwanted side effects by altering CSF/ISF exchange in the brain. This may have broad ranging implications in the treatment of various CNS pathologies. One Sentence Summary Cervical vagus nerve stimulation using clinically derived parameters enhances movement of cerebrospinal fluid into the brain parenchyma presenting a previously unreported effect of vagus nerve stimulation with potential clinical utility.
Organizational Readiness for Lung Cancer Screening: A Cross-Sectional Evaluation at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Objectives Lung cancer has the highest cancer-related mortality in the United States and among Veterans. Screening of high-risk individuals with low-dose CT (LDCT) can improve survival through detection of early-stage lung cancer. Organizational factors that aid or impede implementation of this evidence-based practice in diverse populations are not well described. We evaluated organizational readiness for change and change valence (belief that change is beneficial and valuable) for implementation of LDCT screening. Methods We performed a cross-sectional survey of providers, staff, and administrators in radiology and primary care at a single Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Survey measures included Shea’s validated Organizational Readiness for Implementing Change (ORIC) scale and Shea’s 10 items to assess change valence. ORIC and change valence were scored on a scale from 1 to 7 (higher scores representing higher readiness for change or valence). Multivariable linear regressions were conducted to determine predictors of ORIC and change valence. Results Of 523 employees contacted, 282 completed survey items (53.9% overall response rate). Higher ORIC scores were associated with radiology versus primary care (mean 5.48, SD 1.42 versus 5.07, SD 1.22, β = 0.37, P = .039). Self-identified leaders in lung cancer screening had both higher ORIC (5.56, SD 1.39 versus 5.11, SD 1.26, β = 0.43, P = .050) and change valence scores (5.89, SD 1.21 versus 5.36, SD 1.19, β = 0.51, P = .012). Discussion Radiology health professionals have higher levels of readiness for change for implementation of LDCT screening than those in primary care. Understanding health professionals’ behavioral determinants for change can inform future lung cancer screening implementation strategies.
Structure of a bacterial OapB protein with its OLE RNA target gives insights into the architecture of the OLE ribonucleoprotein complex

The OLE (ornate, large, and extremophilic) RNA class is one of the most complex and well-conserved bacterial noncoding RNAs known to exist. This RNA is known to be important for bacterial responses to stress caused by short-chain alcohols, cold, and elevated Mg2+ concentrations. These biological functions have been shown to require the formation of a ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex including at least two protein partners: OLE-associated protein A (OapA) and OLE-associated protein B (OapB). OapB directly binds OLE RNA with high-affinity and specificity and is believed to assist in assembling the functional OLE RNP complex. To provide the atomic details of OapB-OLE RNA interaction and to potentially reveal previously uncharacterized protein-RNA interfaces, we determined the structure of OapB from Bacillus halodurans alone and in complex with an OLE RNA fragment at resolutions of 1.0 A and 2.0 A, respectively. The structure of OapB exhibits a K-shaped overall architecture wherein its conserved KOW motif and additional unique structural elements of OapB form a bipartite RNA-binding surface that docks to the P13 hairpin and P12.2 helix of OLE RNA. These high-resolution structures elucidate the molecular contacts used by OapB to form a stable RNP complex and explain the high conservation of sequences and structural features at the OapB-OLE RNA-binding interface. These findings provide insight into the role of OapB in the assembly and biological function of OLE RNP complex and can guide the exploration of additional possible OLE RNA-binding interactions present in OapB.
Conclusion: Towards an Ontological Politics of Disease

The field of HIV/AIDS has changed dramatically since the development of anti-retroviral therapy (ART). Yet despite the important contribution of ART, HIV/AIDS remains a very challenging disease to treat, partly because its treatment is fraught with issues of adherence, debilitating side-effects and viral resistance. As I have argued, anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs themselves are productive in that they not only treat HIV (by slowing down viral replication), but can also produce viral mutations. In the process, ARVs too are transformed, rendered less effective or even ineffective in combating the new drug-resistant forms of the virus. As more drug-resistant forms of HIV emerge, the range of available treatment combinations is reduced, making HIV more difficult to treat, and in turn requiring new drugs. Importantly, from the perspective of this book, the phenomena of viral mutations and drug resistance reveal the contingent and emergent nature of the virus, even as it is understood by realist science. The process of viral mutation illuminates the ways in which the virus, HIV treatment and the HIV-positive subject are materialised in their dynamic relations to each other and in relation to other phenomena such as individual rates of adherence, drug side-effects and viral load counts.
What Do Adolescents and Young Adults Think a Cigarillo Is? Implications for Health Communication.

Cigarillo use has increased among adolescents and young adults and has remained high. Public education efforts are needed to communicate with these populations about cigarillo use risks, but little is known about the implications of using the term “cigarillo” in such efforts. The study goal was to assess adolescent and young adult perceptions of the term “cigarillo”. We conducted a nationally representative online survey of 3517 adolescents and young adults (ages 13–25). We asked participants “what is a cigarillo?” with several response options. Participants were 49.6% female, 69.8% white, 5.2% reported past 30-day cigarillo use, and 11.6% reported lifetime cigarillo use. The most common response to the question “what is a cigarillo” was “I don’t know” (51% of participants), followed by “a thinner and smaller version of a traditional cigar” (30.1% of participants), which was chosen by 19.4% of adolescents and 36.8% of young adults. Among past 30-day cigarillo users, the most common response was “I don’t know” (54.9%) followed by “a thinner and smaller version of a traditional cigar” (45.1%). Cigarillo users were more likely to select the “a thinner and smaller version of a traditional cigar” response than nonusers. Findings suggest that many adolescents and young adults have varied understandings of the term “cigarillo”. Researchers and practitioners need to ensure that terminology used in health communication campaigns is clearly understood by the target audience to maximize effectiveness.
Cryptosporidiosis - A Plausible Cause for Relapse of Guillain-Barré Syndrome.

A 25-year-old female presented on the acute medical take with rapidly evolving ascending weakness, sensory loss, and areflexia after a prodromal diarrhoeal illness, ultimately critical care admission, tracheostomy, and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy. The patient had been diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) six years previously, treated with intravenous Immunoglobulin, and discharged after a five-day in-patient stay without mechanical ventilation. On this occasion, a diagnosis of recurrent GBS was made, supported by cytoalbuminological dissociation in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Investigations for infective precipitants were negative aside from a stool culture, positive for Cryptosporidium spp. DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) two weeks earlier. There are no previously reported cases of GBS due to cryptosporidiosis on PubMed. The patient was treated with a course of IVIG and discharged from critical care after 66 days, requiring ongoing neurorehabilitation, which is likely to be prolonged.
Defects in flash-sintered ceramics and their effects on mechanical properties

The effects of electric field and current during flash sintering have resulted in nonequilibrium microstructures that are not typically observed in conventionally sintered ceramics. In this article, we review the recent findings on the unique microstructural characteristics observed in flash-sintered ceramics and their impacts on mechanical properties. Gradient microstructures across flash-sintered samples are frequently observed and have been investigated using a variety of in situ techniques to monitor the dynamic evolutions in real time. Other microstructural characteristics, such as high-density dislocations and stacking faults, and chemical segregations along grain boundaries, have been reported in flash-sintered ceramics. These defects have been observed in several ceramic systems and were shown to enhance the mechanical properties through defect-mediated inelastic deformation mechanisms. In situ studies on the temperature-dependent transition of deformation mechanisms are also highlighted.
Pre-statistical harmonization of behavrioal instruments across eight surveys and trials

BACKGROUND Data harmonization is a powerful method to equilibrate items in measures that evaluate the same underlying construct. There are multiple measures to evaluate dementia related behavioral symptoms. Pre-statistical harmonization of behavioral instruments in dementia research is the first step to develop a statistical crosswalk between measures. Studies that conduct pre-statistical harmonization of behavioral instruments rarely document their methods in a structured, reproducible manner. This is a crucial step which entails careful review, documentation and scrutiny of source data to ensure sufficient comparability between items prior to data pooling. Here, we document the pre-statistical harmonization of items measuring behavioral and psychological symptoms among people with dementia. We provide a box of recommended procedure for future studies. METHODS We identified behavioral instruments that are used in clinical practice, a national survey, and randomized trials of dementia care interventions. We rigorously reviewed question content and scoring procedures to establish sufficient comparability across items as well as item quality prior to data pooling. Additionally, we standardized coding to Stata-readable format, which allowed us to automate approaches to identify potential cross-study differences in items and low-quality items. To ensure reasonable model fit for statistical co-calibration, we estimated two-parameter logistic Item Response Theory models within each of the eight studies. RESULTS We identified 59 items from 11 behavioral instruments across the eight datasets. We found considerable cross-study heterogeneity in administration and coding procedures for items that measure the same attribute. Discrepancies existed in terms of directionality and quantification of behavioral symptoms for even seemingly comparable items. We resolved item response heterogeneity, missingness and skewness, conditional dependency prior to estimation of item response theory models for statistical co-calibration. We used several rigorous data transformation procedures to address these issues, including re-coding and truncation. CONCLUSIONS This study highlights the importance of each aspect involved in the pre-statistical harmonization process of behavioral instruments. We provide guidelines and recommendations for how future research may detect and account for similar issues in pooling behavioral and related instruments.
Optimum Facility Location and Plant Scheduling for Biofuel Production

Abstract This paper presents a mixed integer linear program (MILP) that maximizes the net present value (NPV) of a biomass-to-biofuels supply chain (BTBSC). The BTBSC includes the biomass growth and its planting-campaign schedule, the location and the capacities of the biorefineries, and the transportation cost from the planting regions to biorefinery locations, and from biorefinery locations to demand centres. The case study considers the design and operation of a BTBSC for 18 counties of the State of Oklahoma with four different types of biomass for producing bioethanol by hydrolysis followed by fermentation route. The model recommends building a biorefinery of 100 MG/yr capacity at Tulsa County, and planting big blue stem at the same location.
Biological principles behind accelerated tooth movement

Understanding the biology of tooth movement has great importance for developing techniques that increase the rate of tooth movement. Based on interpretations of data on the biology of tooth movement, the resulting accelerating techniques can be divided into two main groups: one group stimulates upstream events to indirectly activate downstream target cells, while the other group bypasses the upstream events and directly stimulates downstream target cells. In both approaches, there is a general consensus that the rate of tooth movement is controlled by the rate of bone resorption, which in turn is controlled by osteoclast activity. Therefore, to increase the rate of tooth movement, osteoclasts should be the target of treatment. In this article, both approaches will be reviewed and the biological limitations of each group will be discussed.
Tunable ultraviolet visible photoacoustic detection: Analysis of the sensitivity and selectivity provided by a xenon flash lamp

Abstract A fundamental understanding of the physical and chemical properties that dictate the absorption of pulsed light and subsequent release of heat to generate a transient pressure wave was used to test the concept of a multi-wavelength photoacoustic detector. Analysis of the wave equation predicts that with long-pulse excitation, i.e. microseconds FWHM, absorption by the solvent, and not electrostriction determines the limit of detection. Calculation of the mechanical to electrical conversion efficiencies of piezoelectric transducers shows that absorbed pulse energies of microjoules, typical of pulsed flash lamps, are sufficient to provide measurable photoacoustic signals. A pulsed xenon flash lamp (2 μs FWHM) which emits a broad spectrum over the UV and visible region is used as an excitation source to detect trace quantities of metals in aqueous solution using pulsed photoacoustic detection. In this work, dielectric mirrors were used to detect two analytes, CrO 4 2− (monitored at 355 nm) and Co 2+ (monitored at 532 nm), simultaneously. This approach increases both the flexibility and selectivity of pulsed photoacoustic methods. We obtained a detection limit of 2.6×10 −4 absorbance units per centimeter in aqueous samples. This work shows that pulsed lasers are not a necessity for ultra-sensitive photoacoustic spectroscopy.
Substrate-triggered activation of a synthetic [Fe2(μ-O)2] diamond core for C-H bond cleavage.

An [FeIV2(μ-O)2] diamond core structure has been postulated for intermediate Q of soluble methane monooxygenase (sMMO-Q), the oxidant responsible for cleaving the strong C–H bond of methane and its hydroxylation. By extension, analogous species may be involved in the mechanisms of related diiron hydroxylases and desaturases. Because of the paucity of well-defined synthetic examples, there are few, if any, mechanistic studies on the oxidation of hydrocarbon substrates by complexes with high-valent [Fe2(μ-O)2] cores. We report here that water or alcohol substrates can activate synthetic [FeIIIFeIV(μ-O)2] complexes supported by tetradentate tris(pyridyl-2-methyl)amine ligands (1 and 2) by several orders of magnitude for C–H bond oxidation. On the basis of detailed kinetic studies, it is postulated that the activation results from Lewis base attack on the [FeIIIFeIV(μ-O)2] core, resulting in the formation of a more reactive species with a [X–FeIII–O–FeIV═O] ring-opened structure (1–X, 2–X, X = OH– or OR–). Tr...
A Religion in Death Throes: How Secrecy Undermines the Survival of a Crypto Shin Buddhist Tradition in Japan Today

Although we know that religions decline and die, we know little about what causes them to do so. This article introduces a form of underground or crypto Pure Land Buddhism that has been practiced in secret for hundreds of years in Japan but in the past 50 years has declined rapidly and may be nearing extinction. It is argued that one of the factors that is undermining its survival is its secrecy. The article is intended to contribute to our knowledge on what can cause the decline of a religion and to our understanding of secrecy in religion, which scholars have generally regarded as providing religions benefits such as attracting new members, valorizing doctrine, and enhancing authority.
A two-dimensional analysis of student ratings of instruction

Student ratings of instruction were analyzed in terms of two global factors. One factor, which includes items on advanced planning, presentation clarity, and increased student knowledge, was named “pedagogical skill.” The other factor taps information about class discussion, grading, and the availability of help and was named “rapport.” Ratings on the “skill” factor did not covary with class size or the leniency of the instructor's grading but did correlate with a reasonable external criterion of student learning. Ratings of “rapport” correlated inversely with class size and directly with average class grade and showed only a weak relationship to the external criterion of student learning. The “skill” factor showed more interclass stability than the “rapport” factor. Previous research studies which have examined the reliability and validity of instructional ratings and their relationship to student grades and class size have reported inconsistent findings. These inconsistencies appear to result from an inappropriate unidimensional analysis of ratings which should be examined in terms of two of more separate attitude dimensions.
Incarceration rates and demographic changes: A test of the demographic change hypothesis

The increase in the incarceration rate in Louisiana was examined as a function of changes in the demographic distribution in the state. Increases in crime-prone groups in the population were not found to be associated with increased prison admission rates. Admission rates for the demographically disaggregated groups changed over time, and the pattern of changes varied depending upon the group examined. There was a relatively small growth in the prison population from 1975 to 1980, and over eighty-five percent of the growth could be explained by demographic changes. In contrast, from 1980 to 1983 there was substantial growth in the prison population, yet only 6.7 percent of the growth could be attributed to demographic shifts. Possible reasons for the pattern of changes found for the different age, race, and sex groups and for the large admission rate increases in the early 1980s are discussed.
Breaking the Vacuum Degeneracy of the Superstring

On presente une methode generale pour calculer la decomposition en energie des vides du champ de jauge au niveau a 1 boucle sur des varietes compactes multiplement connexes
Utilization of U.S. Navy Deep Submergence Assets for Oceanographic Resarch

U.S. Navy deep submergence assets have been utilized to support Navy research programs for many years. However, in 1984 Navy Secretary John Lehman directed that a new program be initiated to utilize these Navy assets for oceanographic research with broader access to the U.S. research programs which are of interest to the Navy. A program plan was subsequently approved which proposed new management arrangements for the DSVs SEA CLIFF and TURTLE, but left the management of the research submarines DOLPHIN and nuclear powered NR-1 unchanged. In addition, the DSRVs 1 and 2 and other unmanned, towed or tethered ROV assets were also made available for research use. The plan committed Navy DSVs for up to 60 operational days per year for research activities beginning in FY-86. A technical support arrangement with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution for assistance during scientific operations, to be funded by a user charge, was also proposed by the plan, but has yet to be implemented. Lastly, ONR was designated as the Navy's agent to validate and prioritize the research user time requests. Access to the DSV SEA CLIFF has been the primary interest of the U.S. oceanographic research community because it offers the only 20,000 foot depth capability in the U.S., and allows access to areas not reachable with DSV ALVIN (13,000 foot depth capability). The Navy is procuring a large support ship for it's DSVs and other deep submergence assets which should come into service by spring of 1988. The general capability of the support ship will be described. Also recent scientific survey operations of the SEA CLIFF on the Juan De Fuca Ridge during summer of 1986 will be discussed. The nuclear powered NR-1, although larger than the DSVs, has a unique research capability due to its long sustained operating time. The submarine is particularly well suited to survey of large bottom areas and can do up to 84 miles of track per day for periods of 20 days. The paper will discuss the recent investigations of the Green Canyon oil and gas seep areas in the Gulf of Mexico conducted by James Brooks utilizing the NR-1 for a series of seven dives totaling 24 days of operations. The Green Canyon seep area is known to support a very large chemosynthetic faunal community which is similar to those found in the hot water vent area of the mid-ocean ridges. The submarine mapped the area with video cameras, sonar systems and a flourometer system to measure dissolved hydrocarbon. Special retrieval systems were used to transport samples to the surface without surfacing the submarine.
Tumorigenesis at a predetermined oral site after one intraperitoneal injection of N-nitroso-N-methylurea

Tumors in the soft tissues of the oral cavity of rats developed at predetermined sites as a result of a combination of an intraperitoneal injection of a direct-acting carcinogen. N-nitro-N-methylurea, and a continuous irritation of the buccal mucosa by a stainless steel wire. The incidence of histologically malignant tumors was significantly higher in the irritated area than in any other area of the body. These results constitute evidence for a carcinogenic mechanism whereby the cells that develop into tumors may require the promotional effect of a nonspecific, nonmutagenic stimulus.
Saxon Emmer Wheat from the Upper and Middle Thames Valley, England

AbstractDiscoveries of Triticum dicoccum (emmer wheat) on two middle Saxon settlements in the Thames Valley point to the re-introduction of this crop to Britain after the end of the Roman period. Radiocarbon determinations on charred glumes confirm the dating of the remains.
Synthesis of iridium(III) compounds by photoaquation of dibromo- and dichlorobis-(1,10-phenanthroline) iridium(III) complexes

Abstract Following irradiation at 3500 A of aqueous solutions containing [Ir(phen) 2 Br 2 ] + , the two compounds [Ir(phen) 2 (H 2 O) 2 ](NO 3 ) 3 · 3H 2 O and [Ir(phen) 2 (H 2 O) 2 ]Br 3 · 3H 2 O have been isolated. Similarly, [Ir(phen) 2 Cl 2 ] + has yielded [Ir(phen) 2 (H 2 O)Cl](ClO 4 ) 2 · H 2 O and [Ir(phen) 2 (H 2 O)Cl] 2 · 3·5H 2 O.
Tacrolimus rescue in liver transplant patients with refractory rejection or intolerance or malabsorption of cyclosporine

Tacrolimus is an effective immunosuppressant in the rescue of liver allograft patients in whom conventional immunosuppression failed. Efficacy and safety were examined in a multicenter trial of liver transplant recipients converted to tacrolimus because of rejection despite cyclosporine (CyA) therapy or intolerance to CyA. Six hundred seventy-seven patients were enrolled onto the study; 475 patients for rejection, 197 patients for intolerance, and 5 patients treated compassionately. The mean daily dose of tacrolimus was less in the intolerance (Int) patients throughout the study: 0.22 versus 0.17 mg/kg at 1 week and 0.14 versus 0.11 mg/kg at 24 months in rejection (Rej) and Int patients, respectively. Mean blood levels paralleled dosing in both groups, but were greater in the Rej patients (10.7 v 8.3 ng/mL at 18 months). Kaplan-Meier estimates of patient and graft survival were similar in the two groups. Patient survival rates were 80.1% and 81.5%, and graft survival rates were 72.7% and 73.9% at 24 months in the Rej and Int patients, respectively. Most adverse events occurred with a similar incidence in the two groups. Those with a 4% or greater incidence were fever, viral hepatitis, and pneumonia. The incidence of sepsis, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, kidney failure, and convulsion was greater in the Int group. The incidence of abnormal liver function test results, hyperglycemia, headache, and abnormal kidney function was greater in the Rej group. Mean liver function test results decreased with time postrescue in both groups. Mean serum creatinine level increased from baseline to 18 months postrescue in both groups (1.44 to 1.51 mg/dL for Int patients, 1.14 to 1.48 mg/dL for Rej patients). We conclude tacrolimus is safe and effective rescue in liver transplant recipients with rejection or CyA intolerance.
Drug-Eluting Stents in the Elderly

The introduction of drug-eluting stents (DES) in 2003 has had a great impact on the management of coronary artery disease in the United States. The application of DES to older adults, the population with the highest prevalence of and worst prognosis for coronary artery disease, remains relatively more controversial. Dual-antiplatelet therapy, which is recommended for at least 12 months after DES placement, is particularly problematic for older patients because of greater age-related bleeding risks. Unfortunately, few current data are available to gauge the balance of risk and benefit in elderly community-dwelling DES patients. Although trial data show a benefit for DES among elderly patients, many older adults typically are excluded from randomized trials because of comorbidities, making generalizability of DES safety based on trial data less certain. New, more potent thienopyridines may place the elderly at a particularly elevated bleeding risk. There is a fine balance between efficacy and safety for older DES patients that still needs to be clarified. As the population ages, these issues become more pervasive and of widespread concern. This review summarizes the current literature on DES therapy in the elderly, with a focus on effectiveness and safety profiles of DES versus bare metal stents.
The infinite unitary and related groups are algebraically determined Polish groups

Abstract Let G be a Polish group. G is said to be an algebraically determined Polish group if for any Polish group H and algebraic isomorphism φ : H → G we have that φ is a topological isomorphism. Let H be a separable infinite dimensional complex Hilbert space. The purpose of this paper is to prove that the unitary group and the complex isometry group of H are algebraically determined Polish groups. Similar results hold for most (but not all) of the finite dimensional complex isometry groups but are false for the finite dimensional unitary groups.
Optimizing the use of public transit system during no-notice evacuation of urban areas

This paper proposes a methodology that can be used to design plans for evacuating transit-dependent citizens during no-notice disasters. A mixed-integer linear program is proposed to model the problem of finding optimal evacuation routes. The objective of the problem is to minimize the total evacuation time and the number of casualties, simultaneously. A traffic simulation package is used to explicitly incorporate the traffic flow dynamics into our model in order to generate solutions which are consistent with the dynamics of traffic network. Due to the long running time of CPLEX, a Tabu search algorithm is designed that finds evacuation routes for transit vehicles. Computational experiments demonstrate that the solutions found are of high-quality. Numerical experiments are conducted using the transportation network of the city of Forth Worth, TX to illustrate the modeling procedure and solution approach.
Chemical composition of Venus atmosphere and clouds: Some unsolved problems

Abstract In spite of many spacecrafts that visited Venus, chemical composition of the Venus atmosphere and clouds present many challenging problems in observation and theory. The following problems are briefly discussed below: (1) molecular oxygen above the clouds, (2) lightning, (3) the blue absorption in the clouds, (4) mode 3 particle controversy and the Vega X-ray fluorescent observations, (5) search for new chlorine and sulfur species, and (6) vertical and spatial variations of water vapor and CO.
Restoring health to health reform.

THE PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM IS IN SERIOUS TROUBLE. With declining public investments and an aging workforce, the system is under severe stress. Public health services previously taken for granted, such as immunizations, surveillance, and environmental health, can no longer be guaranteed. Reforming the public health system is therefore imperative. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) (Pub L No. 111-148) will improve state and local capacity, but not nearly enough to safeguard the public’s health. The public health system is badly frayed and needs to be rebuilt structurally and redesigned conceptually. Public health departments lack modern information technology, surveillance capacity, a well-trained workforce, and a clear vision of their essential role. Their organizational structure has barely changed, with some states having literally hundreds of dysfunctional local departments. Leadership is needed to define the optimal mission, size, scale, and geographic area of local departments; the skills required of public health professionals; the services that must remain a governmental responsibility; and the relative roles of local, state, and federal agencies. Although the health care system is embracing performance measurement, public health departments have not adopted similar reforms. Services are not routinely evaluated, health outcomes are not adequately defined or measured, and the evidence base for public health practices is just now emerging. Improved performance will require rigorous research for evidence-based practices that can be measured, with a feedback loop to continuously improve quality. The field is divided over whether to focus on the immediate causes of population morbidity and premature mortality or the deeper, underlying determinants, including race and socioeconomicstatus.Publichealthdepartmentsmustdoboth. They have direct responsibility for discrete public health interventions but also must assess the health impacts of public policies such as agriculture, energy, urban design, and transportation. That is why a “health-in-all policies” approach is vital to the public’s health. Public health departments also have a responsibility to engage with the private sector and civil society, which have powerful effects on the population’s health. These key objectives—infrastructure, workforce, performance measurement, social justice, and health-in-all policies—simply are unachievable without innovative leadership, planning, and sustained investment. Yet the system is chronically underfunded, with less than 5% of total health spending allocated to population-based services. Making the transition from a sick care system to one that produces health should be a major political goal.
Respiratory burst activity associated with phagocytosis of Ehrlichia risticii by mouse peritoneal macrophages

Peritoneal macrophages from two strains of mice, BALB/c and C3H/HeN, were analysed by flow cytometry for a respiratory burst associated with the phagocytosis of Ehrlichia risticii. Resident murine peritoneal macrophages failed to respond with a respiratory burst after phagocytosing E risticii. In contrast, mice previously infected with E risticii yielded peritoneal macrophages that did generate a respiratory burst on phagocytosing ehrlichiae.
Unequal use of new technologies by race: the use of new prostate surgeries (transurethral needle ablation, transurethral microwave therapy and laser) among elderly Medicare beneficiaries.

Purpose: We compared the availability and use of transurethral microwave therapy, transurethral needle ablation, contact or noncontact laser therapy and transurethral resection of the prostate among elderly black and white Medicare beneficiaries.Materials and Methods: We examined 100% Medicare Inpatient, Outpatient, Carrier and Denominator files of men 65 years old or older who underwent these procedures in 1999 through 2001. White-to-black race rate ratios for each procedure were computed for the entire United States, as well as for a restricted set of counties in which procedures were available to black beneficiaries.Results: A total of 170,067 TURP, 16,953 TUMT, 5,353 TUNA and 12,134 Laser procedures were performed during 3 years. Nationally there was only a 3% difference in the age adjusted TURP rates between white and black men (6.13 and 5.94 per 1,000 person-years, respectively). However, the age adjusted rates for TUMT and TUNA among white men were about twice those among black men (0.63 vs 0.31 an...
The dissolution and fractionation of bovine sclera.

1. 1. A method for dissolving and fractionating bovine sclera has been described. High speed homogenization, utilizing double water extraction, separates out the protein-polysaccharide from the sclera. The residue is disolved with pepsin (EC 3.4.4.1) and trypsin (EC 3.4.4.4) and fractionated by dialysis and cold alcohol precipitation. 2. 2. Chondroitin sulfates A, B and C are found as protein-polysaccharide complexes in bovine sclera. No keratosulfate was found in the tissue. 3. 3. No N-acetyl neuraminic acid is present in bovine sclera. 4. 4. Comparison of the fractions of the bovine sclera and bovine nasal cartilage reveals that the tissues are different in composition and structure.
PLANTLETS FROM PETAL SEGMENTS, PETAL EPIDERMIS, AND SHOOT TIPS OF THE PERICLINAL CHIMERA, CHRYSANTHEMUM MORIFOLIUM ‘INDIANAPOLIS'

A B S T R A C T Cultivated chrysanthemums, especially the greenhouse series of 'Indianapolis' cultivars, are probably periclinal chimeras for flower color. Therefore, in vitro propagation of chrysanthemum, which has recently been described, might produce plants not true to type. To test this, plantlets were generated from cultures of petal segments, petal epidermis, and shoot tips; these plantlets were grown to flowering to determine whether chrysanthemums with two genetically different chimeral layers in the petals are stable in tissue culture. Layer I displaced layer II in the formation of new meristematic areas in shoot tip and petal culture, showing that such chimeras are unstable in culture. Many more abnormal morphological types were exhibited by the plants which were regenerated from petal cultures rather than those from shoot tip cultures. Abnormalities included quilled and incised petal forms, as well as lack of anthocyanin pigmentation, characteristics which may not be attributable to the rearrangement of chimeral layers. Paramutation, true mutation, and environmenal effects are offered as possible explanations for this phenomenon. CULTIVARS of Chrysanthemum morifolium are among the most important flowers in commercial floriculture. Many of them are thought to be periclinal chimeras involving flower color since whole series or "families" of cultivars have arisen
Cold collisions of highly rotationally excited CO 2 with He: The prospects for cold chemistry with super-rotors

Building on recent advances in ultrafast lasers and methods to slow molecules, an experiment is proposed to produce translationally cold CO${}_{2}$ super-rotors ($j\ensuremath{\sim}200$) by combining an optical centrifuge with helium-buffer-gas cooling. Quantum mechanical calculations of the complex scattering length for He-CO${}_{2}$ collisions demonstrate that the efficiency of rotational quenching decreases rapidly with increasing rotational excitation $j$ in the ultracold regime. Extrapolating to helium cryogenic temperatures, rotational quenching is predicted to remain inefficient up to $\ensuremath{\sim}$1 K, allowing for the possible creation of a beam of translationally cold, rotationally hot molecules.
Theoretical Spectroscopy of Carbocyanine Dyes Made Accurate by Frozen Density Correction to Excitation Energies Obtained by TD-DFT

We present long-awaited answer to the puzzling question of why the TD-DFT fails to predict the excitation energies in polymethine dyes accurately. The density functional theory methods were suspected to be inaccurate due to self interaction error inherent in exchange-correlation potentials. Here we decisively show that it is the linear response approximation that is responsible for these inaccuracies. Next, we use frozen density to evaluate the excitation energy beyond the linear response and increase the accuracy of the predictions. This recipe uniformly improves the accuracy of the first absorption maxima prediction in cyanine homologous series to within 25 nm. V C 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem 110: 3095-3100, 2010
The electrochemical reduction of fluorenone hydrazone, fluorenone fluorenylhydrazone, fluorenone azine and their benzophenone analogs in DMF

Abstract The electrochemical reductions of fluorenone hydrazone (Fl=NNH2), fluorenone fluorenylhydrazone (FIHNHN=Fl), fluorenone azine (Fl=N−N=Fl) and benzophenone analogs have been studied at platinum cathodes in DMF−0.1 M(n-Bu)4NClO4 in the absence and presence of an added proton donor. Fl=NNH2 undergoes reduction to give an unstable anion radical which decomposes by an unidentified pathway to afford Fl=NH. The latter species is electroactive at the applied potential and is reduced to the corresponding amine, FlHNH2. Four electrons per molecule of Fl=NNH2 are required for this process when electroreduction is effected in the presence of diethyl malonate (DEM), an electroinactive proton donor. Unreacted Fl=NNH2 serves as the source of protons when electroreduction is conducted in the absence of DEM. Dual reaction channels are observed for the reduction of FlHNHN=Fl. If the corresponding anion radical is not protonated by either an added proton donor or unreacted starting material, decomposition occurs by carbon-nitrogen bond cleavage to give FlH2 and Fl=NNH2 as products. Reduction of the latter species occurs at the same potential as FlHNHN=Fl, ultimately affording FlHNH2. The reaction channel involving carbon-nitrogen bond cleavage is replaced by a pathway involving nitrogen-nitrogen bond cleavage in the presence of an added proton donor. The final reduction product by this route is FlHNH2. Fl=N−N=Fl is reduced stepwise and reversibly to its dianion in an aprotic medium. In the presence of a relatively strong proton donor such as hexafluoro-2-propanol, reduction gives FlHNHN=Fl. The redox behavior of the benzophenone analogs, Ph2C=N−N=CPh2, Ph2CHNHN=CPh2 and Ph2C=NNH2, parallels that of their counterparts in the fluorene series.
Ambiguities in Alzheimer's disease diagnosis: Implications for genetic research

Abstract Genetic studies of Alzheimer's disease are currently limited by clinical and neuropathologic diagnostic uncertainties. Alzheimer's disease maybe less amenable to modern techniques of genetic analysis than other disorders in which diagnosis is more straightforward and hereditability more clearly established.