cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Determination of Diazinon, Chlorpyrifos, and Their Metabolites in Rat Plasma and Urine by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

This study reports a simple and rapid high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for the determination of the insecticide diazinon (O,O-diethyl-O[2-isopropyl-6-methylpyridimidinyl] phosphorothioate), its metabolites diazoxon (O,O-diethyl-O-2-isopropyl-6-methylpyridimidinyl phosphate) and 2-isopropyl-6-methyl-4-pyrimidinol, the insecticide chlorpyrifos (O,O-diethyl-O[3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinyl] phosphorothioate) and its metabolites chlorpyrifos-oxon (O,O-diethyl-O[3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinyl] phosphate), and TCP (3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol) in rat plasma and urine samples. The method is based on using C18 Sep-Pak cartridges for solid-phase extraction and HPLC with a reversed-phase C18 column and programmed UV detection ranging between 254 and 280 nm. The compounds are separated using a gradient of 1% to 80% acetonitrile in water (pH 3.0) at a flow rate ranging between 1 and 1.5 mL/min in a period of 16 min. The limits of detection ranged between 50 and 150 ng/mL, and the limits of quantitation were 100 to 200 ng/mL. The average percentage recovery of five spiked plasma samples were 86.3 +/- 8.6, 77.4 +/- 7.0, 82.1 +/- 8.2, 81.8 +/- 8.7, 73.1 +/- 7.4, and 80.3 +/- 8.0 and from urine were 81.8 +/- 7.6, 76.6 +/- 7.1, 81.5 +/- 7.9, 81.8 +/- 7.1, 73.7 +/- 8.6, and 80.7 +/- 7.7 for diazinon, diazoxon, 2-isopropyl-6-methyl-4-pyrimidinol, chlorpyrifos, chlorpyrifos-oxon, and TCP, respectively. The relationship between the peak area and concentration was linear over a range of 200 to 2,000 ng/mL. This method was applied in order to analyze these chemicals and metabolites following dermal administration in rats.
Unexpected Properties: Strathern on the Relation of Law and Culture:

This article takes up Marilyn Strathern’s formulation of a law/culture ‘duplex’ – her term for the complementarity of anthropology and law as means to each other’s ends. She draws attention to the limitations of the duplex, and urges us to consider ethnography as (in part) a project of unwinding its entwinement. As a step toward that end, the article returns to classic texts by Emile Durkheim and Bronislaw Malinowski – texts that were foundational to the emergence of anthropology, and to the establishment of law as an object of study for the social sciences. Re-read in light of Strathern’s insight, what has been widely taken as their relativism emerges instead as their defense of political community as a subject for ethnography, and (accordingly) the basis for a theoretical check on law conceived globally – within states or as colonial overrule. The article concludes with a discussion of the contemporary relevance of that position.
A unique nine-gene comY operon in Streptococcus mutans.

Many Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria possess natural competence mechanisms for DNA capture and internalization. In Bacillus subtilis, natural competence is absolutely dependent upon the presence of a seven-gene operon known as the comG operon (comGA–G). In species of Streptococcus, this function has been described for a four-gene operon (comYA–D in Streptococcus gordonii and cglA–D in Streptococcus pneumoniae). In this study, a nine-orf operon (named comYA–I) required for natural competence in Streptococcus mutans was identified and characterized. Orf analysis of this operon indicates that the first four Orfs (ComYA–D) share strong homology with ComYA–D of S. gordonii and CglA–D of S. pneumoniae, the fifth to seventh Orfs (ComYE–G) match conserved hypothetical proteins from various species of Streptococcus with ComYF possessing a predicted ComGF domain, the eighth Orf (ComYH) shows a strong homology to numerous DNA methyltransferases from restriction/modification systems, and the ninth Orf (ComYI) is homologous to acetate kinase (AckA). RT-PCR analysis of the orf junctions confirmed that all nine orfs were present in a single transcript, while real-time RT-PCR analysis demonstrated that these orfs were expressed at a level very similar to that of the first orf in the operon. Mutations were constructed in all nine putative orfs. The first seven genes (comYA–G) were found to be essential for natural competence, while comYH and comYI had reduced and normal natural competence ability, respectively. Analyses of S. mutans comY–luciferase reporter fusions indicated that comY expression is growth-phase dependent, with maximal expression at an OD600 of about 0·2, while mutations in ciaH, comC and luxS reduced the level of comY expression. In addition, comY operon expression appears to be correlated with natural competence ability.
Direct, sequence-specific binding of the human U1-70K ribonucleoprotein antigen protein to loop I of U1 small nuclear RNA.

Abstract We have studied the interaction of two of the U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP)-specific proteins, U1-70K and U1-A, with U1 small nuclear RNA (snRNA). The U1-70K protein is a U1-specific RNA-binding protein. Deletion and mutation analyses of a beta-galactosidase/U1-70K partial fusion protein indicated that the central portion of the protein, including the RNP sequence domain, is both necessary and sufficient for specific U1 snRNA binding in vitro. The highly conserved eight-amino-acid RNP consensus sequence was found to be essential for binding. Deletion and mutation analyses of U1 snRNA showed that both the U1-70K fusion protein and the native HeLa U1-70K protein bound directly to loop I of U1 snRNA. Binding was sequence specific, requiring 8 of the 10 bases in the loop. The U1-A snRNP protein also interacted specifically with U1 snRNA, principally with stem-loop II.
Synthesis of a new family of fluorinated boronate compounds as anion receptors and studies of their use as additives in lithium battery electrolytes

Numerous studies have been done on developing new electrolytes for lithium batteries with high ionic conductivity, and good chemical and electrochemical stability. In addition to the research on new salts and solvents, the use of cation receptors to reduce ion pairing in non-aqueous electrolytes has been considered as an approach to improve the properties of electrolytes. Although both cation and anion receptors enhance the dissociation of ion pairs and increase the conductivity of electrolytes, the use of anion receptors is more attractive for a lithium battery electrolyte because anion receptors increase the lithium transference number in the electrolyte. However, most available neutral anion receptors complex with anions through hydrogen binding and cannot be used in lithium batteries. Recently, we have reported on synthesis of a series of new neutral boron compounds as anion receptors based on the idea that electron-deficient boron would complex the anion of the ion pair. The anion complexation effect of these boron compounds was further enhanced by attaching electron-withdrawing groups. Here we report synthesis of another new family of boronate compounds. The effect of these new compounds on conductivity of lithium salts in non-aqueous solution was studied. The molecular weights of these new boronate compounds aremore » lower than our previously reported boron compounds. Therefore, their effects on conductivity enhancement are superior. They also display high electrochemical stability up to 5 V.« less
Carboxyl-Terminal Extensions beyond the Conserved Pentapeptide Reduce Rates of Chemoreceptor Adaptational Modification

Sensory adaptation in bacterial chemotaxis is mediated by covalent modification of chemoreceptors. Specific glutamyl residues are methylated and demethylated in reactions catalyzed by methyltransferase CheR and methylesterase CheB. In the well-characterized chemosensory systems of Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp., efficient modification by either enzyme is dependent on a conserved pentapeptide sequence, NWETF or NWESF, present at the extreme carboxyl terminus of high-abundance chemoreceptors. To what extent is position at the extreme carboxyl terminus important for pentapeptide-mediated enhancement of adaptational modification? Is this position equally important for enhancement of both enzyme activities? To address these questions, we created forms of high-abundance receptor Tsr or Tar carrying one, six, or eight additional amino acids extending beyond the pentapeptide at their carboxyl termini and assayed methylation, demethylation, deamidation, and ability to mediate chemotaxis. In vitro and in vivo, all three carboxyl-terminal extensions reduced pentapeptide-mediated enhancement of rates of adaptational modification. CheB-catalyzed reactions were more affected than CheR-catalyzed reactions. Effects were less severe for the complete sensory system in vivo than for the minimal system of receptor and modification enzymes in vitro. Notably, extended receptors mediated chemotaxis as efficiently as wild-type receptors, providing a striking example of robustness in chemotactic systems. This could reflect compensatory reductions of rates for both modification reactions, mitigation of effects of slower reactions by the intertwined circuitry of signaling and adaptation, or tolerance of a range of reactions rates for adaptational modification. No matter what the mechanism, the observations provide a challenging test for mathematical models of chemotaxis.
Global ruling class: Billionaires and how they “make it”

While the number of the world's billionaires grew from 793 in 2006 to 946 in 2007, major mass uprisings became commonplace occurrences in China and India. In India, which has the highest number of ...
The Preparation and Photooxidative Degradation of Polyesterurethanepoly(Methyl Methacrylate) Triblock Copolymers

Block copolymers of the ABA type made from hydrocarbon monomers by anionic polymerization have been extensively investigated (1, 2). Much less has been done with nonhydrocarbon block polymers. Such systems as have been repotted show even broader temperature ranges of technical utility than the more familiar styrene/diene/styrene systems (3, 4, 5). It is the purpose of this paper to describe a process for preparing polymethyl methacrylate containing triblock copolymers. The physical property balances that can be gotten and the photooxidative degradation processes that occur will also be covered.
Accurate annotation of non-coding rnas in practical time

Several times each year, one thousand computers at the Sanger Institute in England spend two weeks updating the Rfam Database. This intensive effort is needed to support recent surprising discoveries showing that RNAs are much more powerful and biologically significant than previously realized, discoveries that upset decades of assumptions in molecular biology. The Rfam Database is a collection of functional RNAs not coding for proteins, the so-called non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). The Rfam Database groups ncRNAs into evolutionarily related families, and searches 8 billion nucleotides of genome sequences for new ncRNAs that are members of these families. This search is done with a Covariance Model (CM), a statistical model based on probabilistic context-free grammars. Although CMs have excellent accuracy, they are infeasibly slow: a pure CM-based implementation of the Rfam Database would require 10,000 CPU years. So, Rfam uses an ad hoc heuristic (based on BLAST, a popular program not specialized for RNAs) to reduce this time to 2,000 CPU weeks—at an unknown cost to sensitivity. This dissertation work significantly improves on CMs by designing CM-based algorithms that are roughly one hundred times faster, yet preserve all or most of the CM's sensitivity. All of these algorithms filter sequences, eliminating unpromising sub-sequences, and running the slow CM only on the most promising sub-sequences. One class of filter, the rigorous filter, guarantees that it will never eliminate sub-sequences that the CM would recognize as an ncRNA. In other words, the use of a rigorous filter cannot compromise sensitivity. Such a filter is unusual in computational biology, where filters typically make no guarantees at all. Our basic rigorous filters use probabilistic regular grammars, with linear inequalities on rule scores guaranteeing rigorousness. More powerful classes of filter exploit limited secondary structure to gain discriminative power without unduly compromising speed. We further develop a class of heuristic filters that scan faster, at a modest cost to sensitivity—a desirable trade-off in many contexts. This dissertation empirically measures speed and sensitivity of heuristic filters on real biological data, providing an objective analysis of various filters' actual performance. These techniques allow Rfam Database searches in roughly the same time as the current solution, but yield new ncRNAs missed by the ad hoc filters that were necessary for practical CM searches until now. These techniques were applied in collaboration with experimental biologists. Among other contributions, these searches (1) led to the first discovery of a naturally occurring RNA (a glycine-binding “riboswitch”) that uses cooperative binding, a sophisticated biochemical mechanism previously known only in proteins, and (2) assisted in finding 6S RNA in virtually all groups of bacteria, whereas 6S had been known only in the γ-proteobacteria group for roughly 30 years.
The response of fabric variations to simple shear and migration recrystallization

The observable microstructures in ice are the result of many dynamic and competing processes. These processes are influenced by climate variables in the firn. Layers deposited in different climate regimes may show variations in fabric which can persist deep into the ice sheet; fabric may `remember' these past climate regimes. We model the evolution of fabric variations below the firn-ice transition and show that the addition of shear to compressive-stress regimes preserves the modeled fabric variations longer than compression-only regimes because shear drives a positive feedback between crystal rotation and deformation. Even without shear, the modeled ice retains memory of the fabric variation for $\approx 200 \unit{ka}$ in typical polar ice-sheet conditions. Our model shows that temperature affects how long the fabric variation is preserved, but only affects the strain-integrated fabric evolution profile when comparing results straddling the thermal-activation-energy threshold ($\approx -10 \degr \unit{C}$). Even at high temperatures, migration recrystallization doesn't eliminate the modeled fabric's memory under most conditions. High levels of nearest-neighbor interactions will, however, eliminate the modeled fabric's memory more quickly than low levels of nearest-neighbor interactions. Ultimately, our model predicts that fabrics will retain memory of past climatic variations when subject to a wide variety of conditions more » found in polar ice sheets. « less
Assembly and Succession of Iron Oxide Microbial Mat Communities in Acidic Geothermal Springs.

Biomineralized ferric oxide microbial mats are ubiquitous features on Earth, are common in hot springs of Yellowstone National Park (YNP, WY, USA), and form due to direct interaction between microbial and physicochemical processes. The overall goal of this study was to determine the contribution of different community members to the assembly and succession of acidic high-temperature Fe(III)-oxide mat ecosystems. Spatial and temporal changes in Fe(III)-oxide accretion and the abundance of relevant community members were monitored over 70 days using sterile glass microscope slides incubated in the outflow channels of two acidic geothermal springs (pH = 3 - 3.5; temperature = 68 - 75 °C) in YNP. Hydrogenobaculum spp. were the most abundant taxon identified during early successional stages (4 - 40 d), and have been shown to oxidize arsenite, sulfide, and hydrogen coupled to oxygen reduction. Iron-oxidizing populations of Metallosphaera yellowstonensis were detected within 4 d, and reached steady-state levels within 14 - 30 d, corresponding to visible Fe(III)-oxide accretion. Heterotrophic archaea colonized near 30 d, and emerged as the dominant functional guild after 70 d and in mature Fe(III)-oxide mats (1 - 2 cm thick). First-order rate constants of Fe(III)-oxide accretion ranged from 0.046 - 0.05 d-1, and in situ microelectrode measurements showed that the oxidation of Fe(II) is limited by the diffusion of O2 into the Fe(III)-oxide mat. The formation of microterracettes also implicated O2 as a major variable controlling microbial growth and subsequent mat morphology. The assembly and succession of Fe(III)-oxide mat communities follows a repeatable pattern of colonization by lithoautotrophic organisms, and the subsequent growth of diverse organoheterotrophs. The unique geochemical signatures and micromorphology of extant biomineralized Fe(III)-oxide mats are useful for understanding other Fe(II)-oxidizing systems.
Why Does a Pediatrician Worry about Nuclear Weapons

When my wife, Aki, called me to the television that morning, I first thought it was a scenario of what could happen to the World Trade Center, but the caption read: "live"—the real thing. Suddenly a cascade of memories beginning before World War II began to tumble out and become entangled with the terrible scenes that now confronted us.Aki and I have warm memories of Lower Manhattan—we were married at Grace Church at Broadway and Tenth Street on April 1, 1944. The New York Times took note of the occasion with a photo captioned "Japanese American soldier and his bride, a student at Columbia's Teacher's College." The photo is the only picture we have of the wedding. Aki was able to go directly to New York from the Santa Anita Assembly Center, where she had been ordered to report along with other Japanese Americans after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. She thus avoided going to the Amache Concentration Camp, where her parents were interned. Terri, Aki's sister, was a graduate student at Julliard School ...
Comparison of Identification of Meat Species of Unheated Meats by Immunological Method, Thin Layer Isoelectric Focusing and High Performance Liquid Chromatography

生肉の肉種鑑別法として用いられている免疫血清反応,薄層等電点電気泳動及びHPLCの3法について比較検討し,以下の結果を得た. (1) 免疫血清反応法では,鴨肉や卵黄が抗鶏血清とも反応し,鶏肉使用と誤認する恐れはあるものの,反応が鋭敏で特異性が高く,異種肉の微量混入などの鑑別が可能であった, (2) 薄層等電点電気泳動法では,多少の熟練を要するものの一度に約20試料が処理できる利点がある.しかし,各種肉単品やひき肉,ハンバーガーパティーの主原材料肉の鑑別は可能であっても,微量混入肉の鑑別は困難であった. (3) HPLC法では熟練を必要とせず,合いびき肉などでは両者の混合割合の定量化が可能であった.しかし薄層等電点電気泳動法と同様に,微量混入肉の鑑別が困難であった. (4) 操作の手軽さ,装置の普及状況などから判断して今後はHPLC法を用いた肉種鑑別がもっと盛んに行われるようになると考えられるが,その場合にも必ず免疫血清反応法による確認が必要である.
A simplified branching assay for Rhizoctonia solani

Two different measures of branching, the Interode Length Unit (ILU) and the Hyphal Growth Unit (HGU), were applied to Rhizoctonia solani Kiihn, AG4. The ILU (the mean length in 4um of 10 internodes) was simple to perform and yielded consistent results. Results using this measure and the HGU (the mean length of mycelium per hyphal tip) as a measure of branching were compared. Growth of R. solani on media containing different carbon sources or on different concentrations of sucrose or glucose all yielded ILU of ca. 200-225 ,tm; thus branching was not affected by these treatments. Internode lengths were also constant over 29 hours for entire colonies of R. solani. The hyphae were more highly branched (mean ILU = 134 ,m) when the fungus was grown with cellophane interposed between the mycelium and the culture medium. Hyphae aligned in the grooves of scored Parafilm were more highly branched (ILU = ca. 165 ,m) than hyphae on smooth Parafilm (ILU = ca. 300 ,um); these branching frequencies were not affected by the presence of a nutrient medium. The Internode Length Unit is a simple, repeatable, and descriptive unit for measurement of lateral branch production in Rhizoctonia solani.
Acetylide Participation in Ligand Substitution and P−C Bond Cleavage in the Reaction between HRu3(CO)9(μ3,η2,η2,η1-C⋮CPh) and 4,5-Bis(diphenylphosphino)-4-cyclopenten-1,3-dione (bpcd). Syntheses and X-ray Structures of HRu3(CO)7[μ3,η2,η2,η1,η1,η1-Ph2PCCC(O)CH2C(O)PPh2CCPh] and Ru3(CO)7(μ,η2,η1-PhCCHPh)[μ2,η2,η1- PPhCCC(O)CH2C(O)PPh2]

The triruthenium cluster HRu3(CO)9(μ3,η2,η2,η1-C⋮CPh) (1) reacts with the diphosphine ligand bpcd in the presence of Me3NO to afford the new cluster compounds HRu3(CO)7(bpcd)(μ3,η2,η2,η1-C⋮CPh) (2)...
GENETIC VARIATION AND THE BREEDING SYSTEM OF GILIA ACHILLEIFOLIA.

A central group of questions in evolutionary genetics and reproductive biology concerns the influence of the breeding system on the amount and structuring of genetic variation in populations and in collections of populations. This topic has been approached from the standpoint of theory, and populations of inbreeders are expected to be less heterozygous, contain less genetic diversity, and be more highly differentiated from one another than populations of outbreeders (Wright, 1921, 1969; Mather, 1943; Stebbins, 1950, 1957; Baker, 1953; Grant, 1958; Allard et al., 1968). Allozyme surveys of plant species with contrasting breeding systems lend support to these expectations (e.g., Solbrig, 1972; Gottlieb, 1973, 1974, 1975; Babbel and Selander, 1974; Schaal, 1975; Levin, 1977, 1978; and Brown and Jain, 1979). But to examine the affect of the breeding system on levels of genetic variation, intraspecific studies are valuable since they allow comparisons to be made among closely related populations. There have been relatively few studies of genetic variation within species containing both self-pollinating and outcrossing populations (Rick et al., 1977; Rick et al., 1979). Furthermore, in most studies, measures of genetic variation are not accompanied by estimates of the outcrossing rate, and so do not provide information as to whether self-pollination leads to the expected degree of reduction in heterozygosity. This investigation was initiated to estimate the amount and structuring of genetic variation in a species containing both
Piety, Glamour, and Protest: Performing Social Status and Affiliation in the United Arab Emirates:

This article focuses on the fashion choices and performances that female Emirati students attending public university in the UAE create across different social and physical spaces, as well as the w...
Intelligent Control System Simulink Design of Structure with Semi-active Technology

Based on the test of indicating the dynamical characteristics of MR damper on MTS,a neural network model of the inverse dynamical characteristics of MR damper is established.By training off-line the neural-indictor network and neural-controller network with the idealistic-test,two schemes of neural-indictor network and neural-controlerl network are designed,and the neural semi-active control policy of MR damper is proposed.Computer simulation of a numerical example shows that applying the neural semi-active control strategy with these neural network models of the inverse character of MR damper,the identification of structure,and the neural controller to the control system can reduce the response of structure effectively and take maximum advantage of the properties of MR damper.
The Physiology and Biochemistry of Prokaryotes, 3rd ed.

From the start one knows this book means business. Before coming to the first chapter one faces a bevy of equations …the Nernst equation for membrane potential, an equation for the Gibbs energy for solute uptake and concentration gradient, another describing the relation of redox potential difference to proton potential difference at equilibrium, equations for the amount of energy in a quantum and in an einstein, and so on. The tone of this prefatory section, called “Conversion Factors, Equations and Units of Energy,” proclaims a warning and a promise. Beware: this text will not deal with prokaryotic biological processes in an easy fashion. Rejoice: it will satisfy and excite anyone willing and able to delve deeply into their biophysical and biochemical bases.
Thallium-201 SPECT and positron emission tomography equal predictors of glioma grade and recurrence.

Quantitative indexes based on regions of interest ratios from preoperative thallium-201 SPECT and F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) scans were compared for their ability...
Enhancement of Chemical Activation via Radical-Dependent Mechanisms: An Emerging Concept in Chemical-Chemical Interactions

The biological effects of exogenous chemicals including drugs, are initiated through physiochemical interactions between the chemical and specific tissue macromolecules, such as enzymes, structural and receptor proteins, and nucleic acids. In most cases, such interactions provide the molecular basis for both the pharmacologic and toxic effects of xenobiotics. One of the possible results of the interaction of a chemical with cellular enzymes is its metabolism to a bioreactive intermediate.1 The reaction of either this initial reactive metabolite or a secondary reactive product with critical target molecules can then bring about changes in cellular function. Reactions which result in the enhanced activation of a chemical can then result in an increased pharmacologic or toxicologic effect. Chemical-mediated induction of enzymes involved in the metabolism of xenobiotics is a well-established mechanism whereby a chemical can indirectly enhance the activation and hence the potential toxic actions of another chemical2.
The interaction between chlorpromazine free radical and microsomal sodium- and potassium-activated adenosine triphosphatase from rat brain.

The inhibitory effect of chlorpromazine free radical on (Na+ + K+)-ATPase [Mg2+-dependent, (Na+ + K+)-activated ATP phosphohydrolase] activity was studied by means of ultraviolet irradiation to generate the free radical, with a deoxycholate- and NaI-treated microsomal fraction obtained from rat brain as the enzyme source. Treatment with NaCl, cysteine, or dithiothreitol restored the activity of the enzyme preparation inhibited by chlorpromazine free radical. Washing of the inhibited enzyme preparation with Tris-HCl buffer or addition of sodium metabisulfite or of ascorbic acid to the incubation mixture did not restore the activity of the inhibited enzyme preparation. It appeared that the inhibition by chlorpromazine free radical was of either the "pseudo-irreversible" or the irreversible type. Inhibition of the enzyme activity by chlorpromazine free radical and p -hydroxymercuribenzoate was reduced, while inhibition by ouabain was enhanced, at low KCl concentrations. These data indicate that the mechanism by which chlorpromazine free radical and p -hydroxymercuribenzoate inhibit the (Na+ + K+-ATPase system is different from that of ouabain. K+-dependent p -nitrophenyl phosphatase activity was as sensitive to the inhibitory effect of chlorpromazine free radical as (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity, while Mg2+-dependent ATPase activity in the same preparation was significantly less sensitive. ACKNOWLEDGMENT We thank Mrs. Lillian Edney for expert technical assistance.
Estimating the magnitude of scatter in small animal cone-beam CT

Small animal anatomical imaging with x-ray computed tomography (CT) in cone-beam geometry suffers from inaccuracies in the measured attenuation coefficient due to the acceptance of scattered radiation. This work seeks to estimate the magnitude and effect of scatter in a commercial cone-beam microCT scanner in both projections and reconstructed images. The scatter-to-primary ratio (SPR) is estimated from projections using the beam stop method and from simulation. We also make initial attempts to quantitate the amount of inaccuracy in the measured image values under different scatter environments by reducing our 3D cone-beam geometry into a 2D fan-beam system. The extrapolated and simulated SPR (~0.3 for a mouse-sized object) for this microCT scanner indicates that the magnitude of scatter is not as high as in a prototype clinical cone-beam system. From the imaging studies, the resulting attenuation coefficients for the high scatter environment are about 10% lower than those for a low scatter environment. Further investigation is needed to determine the magnitude of errors caused by scatter and beam hardening separately because physical measurements suffer from compounding beam hardening effects. Simulations of the tomographic process are planned to individually evaluate the contribution of each of these effects
Assessing the statewide impact of the Specter Vocational Program on reentry outcomes: A propensity score matching analysis

ABSTRACTThe Specter program was a vocational work program offered by the Florida Department of Corrections from 1997–2012. Using propensity score matching, inmates who earned a Specter vocational certificate had statistically significantly lower rates of recidivism within three years of release from prison compared to inmates who had not earned a certificate. However, those who earned a Specter certificate did not have statistically significant improvements in postrelease employment within three months of release. As a result, we will discuss the possibilities for conflicting findings regarding employment and recidivism as well as potential avenues for future research.
Impact of a Dedicated Sickle Cell Acute Care Observation Unit on Rate of Hospital Admission for Acute Pain Crisis

Abstract Introduction: Pain is the top concern of individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD). Acute painful vaso-occlusive episodes are the leading cause of emergency department (ED) encounters and frequent hospital admissions. There are well-documented disparities for patients with SCD, including significant delays in starting therapy and under treatment of pain in the ED. An acute care observation unit (ACOU) staffed with SCD specialists can help to address these disparities. Here we study the service impact of increasing the hours of operation of a dedicated sickle cell ACOU on utilization and hospital admissions at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), a regional sickle cell resource. We hypothesized that increased hours of operations will lead to decreased ED utilization and inpatient hospitalizations. Methods: The outcomes of individuals >16 years of age presenting with an acute painful episode to the sickle cell ACOU at UIC were assessed for the 12 months before and the 12 months after increasing the hours of operation from 9 hours/day to 15 hours/day Monday through Friday in February 2014. The outcomes of SCD patients presenting to the ED during the 12-month period following expanding hours in the ACOU were also assessed. The main outcome measures were ACOU and ED utilization and hospital admission rates. Results: There were 344 encounters in the sickle cell ACOU in the 12 months before expansion of service hours compared to 796 in the 12 months after expanding the hours, an increase of 131%. This represents 0.15 patients treated per hour before increasing the hours versus 0.2 per hour after increasing the hours. Seventy-two percent of the patients treated at the sickle cell ACOU were discharged home in the 12 months prior to expanding hours versus 75% after. During the comparative 12-month period following expansion of hours in the ACOU, there were 1074 encounters for SCD acute painful episodes in our ED, representing 0.12 patients treated per hour of operation. Only 35% of SCD patients treated in the ED for an acute painful episode were discharged home. Conclusion: The sickle cell ACOU at UIC more than doubled its patient volume following the expansion of operation from 9 to 15 hours/day during weekdays. Based on the hours of operation, during a comparative 12-month period the sickle cell ACOU treated twice as many SCD patients with an acute painful compared to the ED while discharging rather than hospitalizing twice as often. These observations suggest that allocating resources to a dedicated sickle cell ACOU can decrease ED utilization and subsequent inpatient hospitalizations. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Analysis of protein kinase specificity by peptide libraries and prediction of in vivo substrates.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the analysis of protein kinase specificity by peptide libraries and prediction of in vivo substrates. Protein kinases are generally divided into three categories based on their abilities to phosphorylate serine/threonine, tyrosine, or both residues. Protein kinases are most commonly obtained through overexpression as recombinant proteins in either bacteria or eukaryotic cells. The specificity of a protein kinase is governed by several factors including its intracellular localization and interaction with its substrates. The most important factor is the specificity of the kinase domain. The chapter outlines peptide library design strategies, detail the experimental techniques for peptide library synthesis and selection, and discuss how the data obtained are analyzed and used to predict in vivo substrates for protein kinases. The chapter presents a three-step peptide library screening process. Proper orientation of the library is easily achieved for protein kinases because the phosphoryl table amino acids can be used to orient the library. The chapter concludes with a discussion on predicting kinase substrates and developing inhibitors of protein kinases.
Subcellular localization of Na/K-ATPase isoforms in ventricular myocytes

The sodium/potassium ATPase (NKA) is essential for establishing the normal intracellular [Na+] and [K+] and transmembrane gradients that are essential for many cellular functions, including cardiac electrophysiology and contractility. Different NKA isoforms exhibit differential expression levels, cellular localization, and function in different tissues and species. Prior work has indicated that the NKA-α1 isoform is quantitatively predominant in cardiac myocytes, but that the α2 isoform is preferentially concentrated in the transverse tubules (TT), possibly at junctions with the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) where α2 may preferentially modulate cardiac contractility. Here we measured subcellular localization of NKA-α1 and α2 using super-resolution microscopy (STED and STORM) and isoform-selective antibodies in mouse ventricular myocytes. We confirm the preferential localization of NKA-α2 in TT vs. surface sarcolemma, but also show that α2 is relatively excluded from longitudinal TT elements. In contrast NKA-α1 is relatively uniformly expressed in all three sarcolemmal regions. We also tested the hypothesis that NKA-α2 (vs. α1) is preferentially concentrated at SR junctional sites near ryanodine receptors (RyR2). The results refute this hypothesis, in that NKA-α1 and α2 were equally close to RyR2 at the TT, with no preferential NKA isoform localization near RyR2. We conclude that in contrast to relatively uniform NKA-α1 distribution, NKA-α2 is preferentially concentrated in the truly transverse (and not longitudinal) TT elements. However, NKA-α2 does not preferentially cluster at RyR2 junctions, so the TT NKA-α2 concentration may suffice for preferential effects of NKA-α2 inhibition on cardiac contractility.
An overview of thriving through transformation

The articles published in this special issue come from the blind peer review and refinement of papers presented to the biennial conference of the Australia New Zealand Society for Ecological Economics (ANZSEE) held at the University of New England (UNE) in Armidale, New South Wales (NSW), Australia on 19-23 October 2015. All papers jointly contribute to helping transform the human existence toward one that is socially, culturally, environmentally, ecologically, economically and politically sustainable. Transforming our human existence to meet these multiple dimensions of ‘true’ sustainability is a difficult task, balancing potentially competing interests and, inevitably, involving trade-offs between these dimensions.
Monitoring ecosystem-atmosphere co 2 exchange respose to recent (2015–2016) climate variability using the smap l4 carbon product

The recent two years have been characterized by contrasting climatic variability across the globe driven by the onset of a strong El Nino event and relaxation back to ENSO neutral conditions. We investigated the global pattern and seasonal cycle of net ecosystem-atmosphere CO 2 exchange (NEE) for 2015 and 2016 using satellite observation based estimates from the NASA Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission. The SMAP Level 4 Carbon product (L4C) was previously validated using globally-distributed eddy covariance flux tower observations and other independent observations. For this study, we investigated L4C seasonal and annual anomalies for vegetation productivity and NEE relative to baseline carbon flux estimates determined from the L4C model-based historical (2001–2012) climatology. Our results reveal large global carbon flux anomalies associated with ENSO related events. Australia transitioned from slightly anomalous CO 2 release under dry conditions in 2015 to a strong CO 2 sink in response to record precipitation in 2016. We also find contrasting seasonally-dependent CO 2 source/sink anomalies between the borealand temperate-northern latitudes which began in 2015 and persisted through 2016, associated with early spring onset, hot and dry summers, and an El Nino-enhanced temperate monsoon. These results highlight the capability of the SMAP L4C product for continued global monitoring of terrestrial ecosystems, including environmental and drought related impacts on vegetation growth, carbon sink strength and associated ecosystem goods and services.
UNUSUAL CAUSE OF ANGINA: DYNAMIC LEFT MAIN CORONARY ARTERY COMPRESSION BY LEFT VENTRICULAR OUTFLOW PSEUDO-ANEURYSM

Left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) pseudoaneurysm (PsA) with coronary compression is an uncommon etiology for angina. This is a rare complication in patients with a history of infective endocarditis A 40-year-old male presented with intermittent fever and worsening exertional chest pain over
Some Comments On Accelerator Mass Spectrometry

This paper discusses some aspects of the development of accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS), the interna- tional conferences that have been held, and the books that have been written on the subject. It also mentions some details of the technique and its strengths. Some of the interesting measurements that have been made recently are covered, and finally, it presents some thoughts on future developments. THE DEVELOPMENT OF ACCELERATOR MASS SPECTROMETRY Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) was originally developed to detect radiocarbon in samples many times smaller than required by the Libby decay counting technique and, it was hoped, in organic samples that "died" much longer ago than the 60,000-year or so age limitation of the Libby method. Almost from its inception AMS involved the use of tandem electrostatic accelerators nor- mally employed for research in nuclear physics and, later, small tandems specifically designed to detect long-lived radioisotopes. Some early work used cyclotrons, but at present and probably well into the future, tandem electrostatic accelerators are the ones of choice. The use of tandem electrostatic accelerators for the direct detection of 14 C in natural organic samples is particularly advantageous because it allows the discrimination against the two mass-14 interfer- ences. These are 14 N and the mass 14 molecules 12 CH2 and 13 CH. In the case of 14 N, for many years people using tandem accelerators for nuclear research, when they wanted beams of 14 N, tuned the negative ion source to 14 NH − rather than 14 N − . It was assumed that the latter negative ions were suf- ficiently unstable as to not allow them to be accelerated. Who, among tandem users, actually first discovered they were unstable is open to debate. It was, however, later definitively demonstrated to be the case (Purser et al. 1977). Remarkably enough, in searching the literature for another purpose, I came upon a paper by Sir John J Thompson published in Philosophical Magazine (1912:209). In this paper Thompson, who won the Nobel Prize for physics in 1906 for his discovery of the electron, reported the results of experiments in which he deflected positively and negatively charged atoms in electric and magnetic fields. He noted:
Salesmen, Saleswomen, or Sales Workers? Determinants of the Sex Composition of Sales Occupations'

This study examines determinants of occupational sex composition in an expanding area of the economy—sales occupations. We used census data to determine which worker and occupational characteristics predicted the percentage of women in sales occupations in 1980 and in 1990, and which variables contributed to changes in the percentage of women in sales occupations over time. Although sales occupations experienced a disproportionate decline in occupational sex segregation during the 1980s, we found that the same variables predicted the percentage of women in sales occupations in both 1980 and 1990. Average years of schooling, average hourly pay, the percentage of unemployed workers, and the percentage of self-employed workers influenced the percentage of female workers in sales occupations in 1980 and in 1990, both for cross-sectional and dynamic models. In addition, a worker characteristic index that combines percentage White, percentage married, and average age of workers shows surprising effects on the percentage of women in sales occupations. We discuss the implications of these findings for occupational sex segregation, and suggest that a multidimensional queuing perspective offers the most useful interpretation of our results.
Critical Issues in Oxide-Semiconductor Heteroepitaxy

In this chapter, we focus on the specific features and challenges that set oxide-semiconductor heteroepitaxial systems apart from the more commonly discussed cases of semiconductor-semiconductor and oxide-oxide epitaxy. Here we focus on the fundamental issues of the oxide/semiconductor epitaxy, using SrTiO3 on Si and GaAs as examples. The fundamental difficulty of perovskite/semiconductor epitaxy lies in thermodynamics. To achieve layer-by-layer growth, the film should wet the substrate. Wetting is controlled at the microscopic level by the interatomic forces. Even if the issues concerning lattice matching and wetting have somehow been resolved, the success of an epitaxial growth process is still dependent on an even more basic issue: thermodynamic stability of the film when in contact with the substrate at the growth conditions. A good atomic-scale understanding of the materials system is shown to be necessary, which highlights the importance of the use of microscopic theory in this field.
Regulatory Aspects of Quality of Life

We discuss some issues in using quality of life endpoints in studies that will lead to an application to license a product or add an indication to an already licensed product. Studies of this sort should be double blinded, randomized and use validated questionnaires. The duration of the study should be appropriate for the indication. Missing values can be a serious problem and plans for handling them should be included. Sensitivity analyses are important in this context. An example of a sensitivity analysis shows how substitutions for missing values can offer insight into the effect of these missing values. An alternative model is given to analyze data of this sort. Other analytic methods are discussed in the second part of the paper. The views and opinions expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the Food and Drug Administration.
Learning from accelerometer data on a legged robot

Abstract Robot calibration for an environment is a tedious task that usually involves extensive, if not total, human intervention. However, robots have sensing mechanisms, in particular accelerometers, which could in principle be used to detect specific environmental states. In this paper, we contribute several approaches for robots to detect their state using accelerometer data. In particular, we use accelerometer data from a four-legged AIBO robot. We present a surface detector that identifies the surface under the robot as it walks and the features used for this classification. Additionally, since AIBO robots can easily become entangled on obstacles or other robots in multi-robot environments, such as robot soccer, we contribute results that show effective detection of robot state, again based on accelerometer data. Finally, we examine a third, more challenging problem: predicting gait velocity from accelerometer data. We use a k-nearest neighbor approach with a library of labeled accelerometer data for velocity prediction. Our work, as reported in this paper, demonstrates the general use of robot accelerometer data for automatically detecting robot or environment state without tedious manual calibration.
Technology and Variation in Arrow Design among the Agta of Northeastern Luzon

Agta hunting technology ranks with those of the renowned Arctic Inuit and European Upper Palaeolithic traditions. The projectile points of animal killing systems combine the engineering sophistication of the Inuit gear and the elan of style found in the points of the Solutrean and Magdalenian. This, coming from a humid tropics foraging society and a region long considered technologically simple, heightens our interest in understanding the technology, most elaborated in its arrowheads, and the human behavior inherent in the technology.
Opposing effects of impulsivity and mindset on sources of science self-efficacy and STEM interest in adolescents

Abstract Impulsivity has been linked to academic performance in the context of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, though its influence on a wider spectrum of students remains largely unexplored, particularly in the context of STEM learning (i.e. science, technology, engineering, and math). STEM learning was hypothesized to be more challenging for impulsive students, since it requires the practice and repetition of tasks as well as concerted attention to task performance. Impulsivity was assessed in a cross-sectional sample of 2,476 students in grades 6-12. Results show impulsivity affects a larger population of students, not limited to students with learning disabilities. Impulsivity was associated with lower sources of science self-efficacy (SSSE) scores, interest in all STEM domains (particularly math), and self-reported STEM skills. The large negative effect observed for impulsivity was opposed by “growth” mindset, which describes a student’s belief in the importance of effort when learning is difficult. Mindset had a large positive effect, which was associated with greater SSSE, STEM interest, and STEM skills. When modeled together, results suggest that mindset interventions may benefit impulsive students who struggle with STEM. Together, these data suggest important interconnected roles for impulsivity and mindset that can influence secondary students’ STEM trajectories.
Ultrasound of the hip in rheumatology

Recent advances in musculoskeletal (MSK) ultrasound and transducer technology have enabled increased utilization of high-quality ultrasound in rheumatology clinics and by the bedside as an adjuvant to the clinical examination of the hip. Ultrasound is also an integral part of image-guided joint aspirations, injections, biopsies, and bursa injections. In this article, we will focus on basic ultrasound scanning technique and findings related to common rheumatologic pathologies of the adult symptomatic hip. Transducer positioning and essential sonographic bony landmarks will be reviewed and scanning in two orthogonal planes (both long and short axes of the structure) will be emphasized. Common hip pathologies such as synovitis, joint effusion, bursitis, greater trochanter pain syndrome, and hamstring pathology will be discussed. The reader will also be made aware of limitations of ultrasound in the evaluation of hip and emphasize the complementary role of ultrasound with other imaging modalities (radiographs, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging). The diagnostic ability of MSK ultrasound is based on an operator's training and experience, the patient's habitus, and aptly chosen clinical indications. A good grasp of anatomy, sound ultrasound technique, and knowledge of limitations of ultrasound modality are essential for a safe ultrasound practice. A long-standing commitment of time and resources is needed to become competent and comfortable in scanning. Where possible, the training should be inbuilt into the postgraduate training. It is best that a rheumatologist adopts a career plan of learning, inclusive of MSK ultrasound, relevant to rheumatology.