cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Acute Effects of Resistance-Exercise Intensity in Depressed Black/African Americans Living With HIV: A Randomized Pilot Study

Depressive symptoms and fatigue are prevalent among people living with human immunodeficiency virus. Resistance exercise is known to stimulate a positive affective response. Objective To examine the acute psychological effects of resistance-exercise intensity among Black/African-American people living with human immunodeficiency virus and experiencing depressive symptoms. Methods A total of 42 participants were randomized into a moderate- (n = 21) or high-intensity (n = 21) group. Assessments were collected before exercise (PRE), at the midpoint (MID), immediately following (POST) exercise, and 15 (DELAY 15) and 30 (DELAY 30) min after. Results In the moderate-intensity group, affect improved PRE to POST, PRE to DELAY 15 and DELAY 30, and perceived distress decreased from PRE to all time points. In the high-intensity group, affect declined PRE to MID, and perceived distress decreased PRE to DELAY 15 and DELAY 30. Perceived activation increased PRE to MID, and POST in both groups (ps Conclusions The moderate-intensity group compared with the high-intensity group is more effective at improving affect and energy and at reducing distress.
Impact of Electron-Captures on N = 50 Nuclei on Core-Collapse Supernovae

Sensitivity studies of the late stages of stellar core collapse with respect to electron-capture rates indicate the importance of a region of nuclei near the N = 50 shell closure, just above doubly magic \(^{78}\)Ni. In the present work, it has been demonstrated that uncertainties in key characteristics of the evolution, such as the lepton fraction, electron fraction, entropy, stellar density, and in-fall velocity are about 50% due to uncertainties in the electron-capture rates on nuclei in this region, although thousands of nuclei are included in the simulations. The present electron-capture rate estimates used for the nuclei in this region of interest are primarily based on a simple approximation, and it is shown that the estimated rates are likely overestimated by an order of magnitude or more. More accurate microscopic theoretical models are required to obtain Gamow-Teller strength distributions, upon which electron-capture rates are based. The development of these models and the benchmarking of such calculations rely on data from charge-exchange experiments at intermediate energies. An experimental campaign to study Gamow-Teller strength distributions in nuclei at and near N = 50, including \(^{86}\)Kr and \(^{88}\)Sr, with the (t, \(^3\)He) reaction at NSCL is underway and preliminary results indicate the electron-capture rates in the weak rate library are indeed overestimated.
Solid-Organ Transplantation and the Affordable Care Act: Accessibility and Outcomes:

The objective of the study is to evaluate the impact of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on accessibility to solid organ transplant and outcomes. Data source registry: United Network of Organ Sharing database. Patients aged ≥18 years listed for kidney, liver, heart, and lung transplant between years 2010 and 2016 were classified by insurance and status of Medicaid adoption under ACA to evaluate insurance distribution. Between 2010 and 2016, states that adopted Medicaid had 2 to 4 per cent point increase in the proportion of patients listed with Medicaid across all organs. One-year waiting list survival of Medicaid patients was better in the ACA era. States that expanded Medicaid under the ACA had a significant increase in the proportion of patients listed with Medicaid and better one-year waiting list survival.
1,3-Butanediol attenuates hypertension and suppresses kidney injury in female rats

Thirty-seven million people in the United States are estimated to have chronic kidney disease (CKD). Hypertension (HTN) is the second leading risk factor for developing kidney disease. A recent study reported that increasing levels of β-hydroxybutyrate levels by administration of its precursor, 1,3-butanediol, decreased salt-induced HTN in male Dahl salt-sensitive (S) rats. The effect of 1,3-butanediol on hypertensive kidney disease in female rats or the absence of high salt has not been investigated. This study tested the hypothesis that 1,3-butanediol attenuates HTN and the progression of CKD in female S-SHR(11) rats. The S-SHR(11) strain is a congenic rat strain generated from genetic modification of the Dahl S rat, previously characterized as a model of accelerated renal disease. Rats received 1,3-butanediol (20% via drinking water) or control for 10 wk and were maintained on a 0.3% NaCl rodent diet (n = 12-14 rats/group). Blood pressure was measured after 6 and 9 wk of treatment by tail-cuff plethysmography; after 10 wk, urine and tissues were collected. Activity of the treatment was confirmed by measuring plasma β-hydroxybutyrate levels, which were greater in the treated group. The 1,3-butanediol-treated group had lower systolic blood pressure, proteinuria, plasma creatinine, and renal fibrosis after 9 wk of treatment compared with controls. The treated group had significantly smaller spleens and increased the renal anti-inflammatory molecules interleukin-10 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, suggesting reduced inflammation. The present data demonstrate that 1,3-butanediol lowers blood pressure and renal injury in female rats and could be a novel nutritional intervention for the treatment of CKD.
Clinical and Economic Outcomes of Patients Undergoing Guideline-Directed Management of Pancreatic Cysts.

Introduction Numerous guidelines exist for the management of pancreatic cysts. We sought to compare the guideline-directed management strategies for pancreatic cysts by comparing 2 approaches (2017 International Consensus Guidelines and 2015 American Gastroenterological Association Guidelines) that differ significantly in their thresholds for imaging, surveillance, and surgery. Methods We developed a Monte Carlo model to evaluate the outcomes for a cohort of 10,000 patients managed per each guideline. The primary outcome was mortality related to pancreatic cyst management. Secondary outcomes included all-cause mortality, missed cancers, number of surgeries, number of imaging studies, cumulative cost, and quality-adjusted life years. Results Deaths because of pancreatic cyst management and quality-adjusted life years were similar in both guidelines at a significantly higher cost of $3.6 million per additional cancer detected in the Consensus Guidelines. Deaths from "unrelated" causes (1,422) vastly outnumbered deaths related to pancreatic cysts (125). Secondary outcomes included more missed cancers in the American Gastroenterological Association guideline (71 vs 49), more surgeries and imaging studies in the Consensus guideline (711 vs 163; 116,997 vs 68,912), and higher cost in the Consensus guideline ($168.3 million vs $89.4 million). As the rate of malignant transformation increases, a more-intensive guideline resulted in fewer deaths related to pancreatic cyst management. Discussion Our study demonstrates trade-offs between more- and less-intensive management strategies for pancreatic cysts. Although deaths related to pancreatic cyst management were similar in each strategy, fewer missed cancers in the more-intensive surveillance strategy is offset by a greater number of surgical deaths and higher cost. In conclusion, our study identifies that if the rate malignant transformation of pancreatic cysts is low (0.12% annually), a less-intensive guideline will result in similar deaths to a more-intensive guideline at a much lower cost.
Patient, Nurse, Medical Assistant, and Surgeon Perspectives Inform the Development of a Decision Support Tool for Inguinal Hernia Surgery: A Qualitative Analysis.

Abstract Background Critical perspectives on the informed consent process for inguinal hernia surgery are lacking. Methods We conducted focus group interviews of patients who have undergone inguinal hernia surgery and nurses/medical assistants. Individual phone interviews were also conducted with surgeons sampled from the International Hernia Collaboration. Interviews were transcribed for coding and qualitative thematic analysis performed using NVivo 12 Plus. Themes were compiled to develop a decision aid. Results Sixteen patients, 6 support staff members, and 12 surgeons participated. Multiple themes were identified. Patients, nurses, and medical assistants identified barriers to asking questions in the current clinic setup, patient stress, and time constraints, while surgeons identified strategies to implement decision aids. All participants agreed that decision aids improve the informed consent process. Conclusion Key stakeholders identified barriers to the informed consent process and provided input on necessary components of a decision aid. Opportunities exist to address these barriers and improve the consent process.
Characteristics of Populations Excluded From Clinical Trials Supporting Intensive Blood Pressure Control Guidelines.

Background Only one third of patients recommended intensified treatment by the 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guideline for high blood pressure would have ...
Porewater Lead Concentrations Limited by Particulate Organic Matter Coupled With Ephemeral Iron(III) and Sulfide Phases during Redox Cycles Within Contaminated Floodplain Soils.

Lead contamination in soils and sediments is a major threat to water quality. In surface and near-surface environments, Pb is not redox active; however, common Pb hosts, including Fe(III)-(hydr)oxi...
Hypoxia acts as an environmental cue for the human tissue-resident memory T cell differentiation program

Tissue-resident memory T cells (TRM) provide frontline defense against infectious diseases and contribute to antitumor immunity; however, aside from the necessity of TGF-β, knowledge regarding TRM-inductive cues remains incomplete, particularly for human cells. Oxygen tension is an environmental cue that distinguishes peripheral tissues from the circulation, and here, we demonstrate that differentiation of human CD8+ T cells in the presence of hypoxia and TGF-β1 led to the development of a TRM phenotype, characterized by a greater than 5-fold increase in CD69+CD103+ cells expressing human TRM hallmarks and enrichment for endogenous human TRM gene signatures, including increased adhesion molecule expression and decreased expression of genes involved in recirculation. Hypoxia and TGF-β1 synergized to produce a significantly larger population of TRM phenotype cells than either condition alone, and comparison of these cells from the individual and combination conditions revealed distinct phenotypic and transcriptional profiles, indicating a programming response to milieu rather than a mere expansion. Our findings identify a likely previously unreported cue for the TRM differentiation program and can enable facile generation of human TRM phenotype cells in vitro for basic studies and translational applications such as adoptive cellular therapy.
Optimal tiling of the euclidean space using permutation-symmetric bodies

What is the least surface area of a permutation-symmetric body B whose Zn translations tile Rn? Since any such body must have volume 1, the isoperimetric inequality implies that its surface area must be at least [EQUATION]. Remarkably, Kindler et al. showed that for general bodies B this is tight, i.e. that there is a tiling body of Rn whose surface area is [EQUATION]. In theoretical computer science, the tiling problem is intimately related to the study of parallel repetition theorems (which are an important component in PCPs), and more specifically in the question of whether a "strong version" of the parallel repetition theorem holds. Raz showed, using the odd cycle game, that strong parallel repetition fails in general, and subsequently these ideas were used in order to construct non-trivial tilings of Rn. In this paper, motivated by the study of a symmetric parallel repetition, we consider the permutation-symmetric variant of the tiling problem in Rn. We show that any permutation-symmetric body that tiles Rn must have surface area at least [EQUATION], and that this bound is tight, i.e. that there is a permutation-symmetric tiling body of Rn with surface area [EQUATION]. We also give matching bounds for the value of the symmetric parallel repetition of Raz's odd cycle game. Our result suggests that while strong parallel repetition fails in general, there may be important special cases where it still applies.
Carrier-Envelope Phase Dependence of High-Harmonics Generated with a Frequency Comb

Utilizing a robust few-cycle Er:fiber comb source, we demonstrate solid state HHG in ZnO at 100 MHz. We measure the carrier-envelope phase dependence of the UV harmonic generation with >85 dB of dynamic range.
Treatment of Obstructing Anomalies: Cervical Aplasia

Aim: The chapter reviews the incidence, diagnosis, and surgical management of patients with cervical agenesis and dysgenesis, with or without vaginal aplasia. The various treatment options are reviewed, taking into account the specific anatomical characteristics of the defect. Brief description of the reviewed data: The different surgical techniques for cervical agenesis and dysgenesis, including hysterectomy, coring of the cervix, utero- vaginal anastomosis, along with the use of grafts, are evaluated, along with their risks and benefits. Clinical implications: New surgical techniques are being improved upon to optimize the outcome of patients with this rare congenital anomaly and preserve uterine integrity. Open Issues for further research: Despite case series of patients and their surgical outcomes, this remains a rare disorder with no randomized trials to support best case management. There is also limited research regarding pregnancy outcomes in patients with good surgical outcomes.
The activation by Ca2+ of platelet phospholipase A2: Effects of dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate and 8-(N,N-diethylamino)-octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate

Thrombin-induced release of arachidonic acid from human platelet phosphatidylcholine is found to be more than 90% impaired by incubation of platelets with 1 mM dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate (Bt2 cyclic AMP) or with 0.6 mM 8-(N,N-diethylamino)-octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate (TMB-8), an intracellular calcium antagonist. Incorporation of arachidonic acid into platelet phospholipids is not enhanced by Bt2 cyclic AMP. The addition of external Ca2+ to thrombin-treated platelets incubated with Bt2 cyclic AMP or TMB-8 does not counteract the observed inhibition. However, when divalent cation ionophore A23187 is employed as an activating agent, much less inhibition is produced by Bt2 cyclic AMP or TMB-8. The inhibition which does result can be overcome by added Ca2+. Inhibition of arachidonic acid liberation by Bt2 cyclic AMP, but not by TMB-8, can be overcome by high concentrations of A23187. When Mg2+ is substituted for Ca2+, ionophore-induced release of arachidonic acid from phosphatidylcholine of inhibitor-free controls is depressed and inhibition by Bt2 cyclic AMP is slightly enhanced. The phospholipase A2 activity of platelet lysates is increased by the presence of added Ca2+, however, the addition of either A23187 or Bt2 cyclic AMP is without effect on this activity. We suggest that Bt2 cyclic AMP may promote a compartmentalization of Ca2+, thereby inhibiting phospholipase A activity. The compartmentalization may be overcome by ionophore. By contrast, TMB-8 may immobilize platelet Ca2+ stores in situ or restrict access of Ca2+ to phospholipase A in a manner not susceptible to reversal by high concentrations of ionophore.
SpyProxy: execution-based detection of malicious web content

This paper explores the use of execution-based Web content analysis to protect users from Internet-borne malware. Many anti-malware tools use signatures to identify malware infections on a user's PC. In contrast, our approach is to render and observe active Web content in a disposable virtual machine before it reaches the user's browser, identifying and blocking pages whose behavior is suspicious. Execution-based analysis can defend against undiscovered threats and zero-day attacks. However, our approach faces challenges, such as achieving good interactive performance, and limitations, such as defending against malicious Web content that contains non-determinism. To evaluate the potential for our execution-based technique, we designed, implemented, and measured a new proxy-based anti-malware tool called SpyProxy. SpyProxy intercepts and evaluates Web content in transit from Web servers to the browser. We present the architecture and design of our SpyProxy prototype, focusing in particular on the optimizations we developed to make on-the-fly execution-based analysis practical. We demonstrate that with careful attention to design, an execution-based proxy such as ours can be effective at detecting and blocking many of today's attacks while adding only small amounts of latency to the browsing experience. Our evaluation shows that SpyProxy detected every malware threat to which it was exposed, while adding only 600 milliseconds of latency to the start of page rendering for typical content.
A Template-Based Approach for Recognition of Intermittent Sounds

Automatic speech and sound recognition typically involves some measure of distance between training and (possibly time-warped) test samples. Special problems arise when the spectral samples of interest are intermittent and contain temporal patterns of alternating periods of sounds and pauses that are significant for recognition. In such cases a recognizer must be capable of distinguishing between the end-points and the pauses of digitized samples and economically searching the segmented sounds for the occurrence of significant spectral patterns. The usual distance metrics based on conventional dynamic time warping algorithms may be inappropriate because time-warping often corrupts the temporal structure of the sound. The problem can be solved by first searching a test sample for distinctive temporal patterns and, if more than one match is obtained, using a spectral distance measure to classify the sample with its nearest neighbor among these. Computational advantages can be obtained if both the temporal and spectral templates are maintained in a binary format reflecting the important sound components.
Nitrocellulose filter blots for species identification of Mobiluncus curtisii and Mobiluncus mulieris.

Seventy strains of Mobiluncus, motile curved anaerobic bacteria associated with bacterial vaginosis, were correctly identified to species level by using bacteria fixed to nitrocellulose and hybridized with 32P-labeled DNA. Images
Late stage modification of receptors identified from dynamic combinatorial libraries

Small molecule receptors are attractive potential sensors of post-translational modifications, including methylated lysine and methylated arginine. Using dynamic combinatorial chemistry (DCC), our lab previously identified a suite of receptors that bind to Kme3 with a range of affinities ranging from low micromolar to high nanomolar, each with a unique selectivity for Kme3 over the lower methylation states. To enable these receptors to have broad application as Kme3 sensors, we have developed a method for their late-stage modification, which we used to synthesize biotinylated derivatives of A2B, A2D, and A2G in a single step. For our most attractive receptor for applications, A2N, we needed to develop an alternative method for its selective functionalization, which we achieved by "activating" the carboxylic acids on the constituent monomer A or N by pre-functionalizing them with glycine (Gly). Using the resulting Gly-A and Gly-N monomers, we synthesized the novel A2N variants A2Gly-N, Gly-A2N, and Gly-A2Gly-N, which enabled the late stage biotinylation of A2N wherever Gly was incorporated. Finally, we performed ITC and NMR binding experiments to study the effect that carboxylate spacing has on the affinity and selectivity of A2Gly-N and Gly-A2N for KmeX guests compared to A2N. These studies revealed the proximity of the carboxylates to play a complex role in the molecular recognition event, despite their positioning on the outside of the receptor.
Social Responsibility and Corporate Profits: The Expense Preference Approach

Abstract This article provides a framework for analyzing and understanding conflicting normative views on the social responsibility of business executives. A model of executive preferences toward profit and socially responsible acts is used for distinguishing three schools of thought commonly explored in management education. We also use this framework to examine methods of promoting socially responsible actions. The methods evaluated include consumer action for social responsiblity, management education, and tax policy.
The priestly rhetoric of neoconservatism

The torrid conflicts of the 1960s produced a profound change in American politics. Nowhere was this change more evident than in the clash between radicals and liberals of the New Left, and the emerging “neoconservative” defenders of American culture and politics. Once members of the Old Left, neoconservatives adopted a “priestly voice” to attack contemporary liberalism and radicalism and to promote their political authority. However, this voice, with its tendency toward rational argument, mediational politics, and appeals to tradition, produced rhetorical and ideological difficulties which may plague much political discourse that aspires to social‐political transformation and intellectual justification at the same time.
China: alternative futures

Abstract What alternatives are available to China in the next one or two decades? `More of the same' is not a likely scenario, because one-party rule is not optimal for coping with the challenges of modernization and global interdependence. A second model, Singapore's authoritarian capitalism, appeals to many CCP leaders. But Singapore's scale and way of life are so different that its example cannot be very relevant to China. Nor does the Soviet imperial model fit, because China does not suffer from imperial overreach as did the USSR. The post-Soviet Russian model—a move from rigid hierarchy to free enterprise anarchy—could await China. Both countries have lacked institutions of civil society that could stabilize the country if central authority collapses. Another alterative would be a return to regionalism, spurred by economic and ethnic differences within China. Some PRC leaders hope to find a Chinese way that transcends other models, but this is not realistic. The most useful model for China and the world would be a gradual transition from authoritarianism to multi-party democracy, as has taken place in Taiwan. In one or two decades, China could edge in that direction. If so, animosities between the mainland and Taiwan would also diminish, removing a thorn from U.S.–Chinese relations. Opportunities for mutual gain may then overshadow present tensions.
Novel S-Gal® analogs as 1H MRI reporters for in vivo detection of β-galactosidase

The quantitative assessment of gene expression and related enzyme activity in vivo could be important for the characterization of gene altering diseases and therapy. The development of imaging techniques, based on specific reporter molecules may enable routine non-invasive assessment of enzyme activity and gene expression in vivo. We recently reported the use of commercially available S-Gal(®) as a β-galactosidase reporter for (1)H MRI, and the synthesis of several S-Gal(®) analogs with enhanced response to β-galactosidase activity. We have now compared these analogs in vitro and have identified the optimal analog, C3-GD, based on strong T1 and T2 response to enzyme presence (ΔR1 and ΔR2~1.8 times S-Gal(®)). Moreover, application is demonstrated in vivo in human breast tumor xenografts. MRI studies in MCF7-lacZ tumors implanted subcutaneously in athymic nude mice (n=6), showed significant reduction in T1 and T2 values (each~13%) 2h after intra-tumoral injection of C3-GD, whereas the MCF7 (wild type) tumors showed slight increase. Thus, C3-GD successfully detects β-galactosidase activity in vivo and shows promise as a lacZ gene (1)H MR reporter molecule.
Synthesis of homofarnesenes: trail pheromone components of the fire ant, Solenopsis invicta

Abstract The synthesis of tour isomeric homofarnesenes, 3,4,7,11-tetramethyl-1, 3,6,10-dodecatetraenes, is reported. The major synthetic step was the indirect formation of a tetra-substituted double bond through the acid catalyzed oxidative rearrangement of an appropriate vinyl carbinol. Two of these compounds, the Z,E- and E,E- isomers were identical to two naturally occuring homofarnesene components of the trail pheromone of the fire ant, Solenopsis invicta .
Asymmetrical recombination of alkali-dissociated haemoglobin mixtures.

THE human adult haemoglobins and canine haemoglobin recombine asymmetrically, that is: after both short and prolonged exposure to dilute acid1–5. At pH. 11, haemoglobin A dissociates into half-molecules6; furthermore, re-association of a mixture of labelled haemoglobin S and haemoglobin A after 24 hr. at pH. 11 results in the exchange of the β2 sub-units7. We now wish to report a series of experiments which indicate that haemoglobin also recombines asymmetrically after short exposure to alkali.
Partial Endocardial Cushion Defect with Aneurysm of the Anterior Mitral Leaflet in a 70-Year-Old

Mitral valve abnormalities are commonly associated with partial endocardial cushion defect. Aneurysm of the cleft leaflet has not been described in association with partial endocardial cushion defect. This case describes the aneurysmal deformity of the cleft leaflet in a 70-year-old woman diagnosed by transesophageal echocardiography imaging.
Ondansetron reduces the craving of biologically predisposed alcoholics

Rationale: Early onset alcoholics (EOA) differ from late onset alcoholics (LOA) by having greater serotonergic abnormality, familial history, and a range of antisocial behaviors. Previously, we showed that ondansetron, a selective 5-HT3 antagonist, effectively treated EOA. Proximate motivational drives such as craving could have determined drinking behavior. We therefore investigated whether ondansetron treatment would reduce alcohol craving significantly among EOA. Objectives: We tested the hypothesis that the craving outcomes of EOA, compared with LOA, would be differentially improved by ondansetron. We also tested the prediction that craving would be significantly correlated with drinking behavior. Methods: We studied a cohort of 253 out of 321 enrolled alcohol dependent subjects. These 253 subjects were entered into a 1-week lead-in single-blind placebo period followed by 11 weeks of double-blind outpatient treatment. Study design was a 2 (EOA versus LOA)×4 medication dose (placebo, or ondansetron 1, 4, or 16 µg/kg b.i.d)×13 (visits) factorial analysis of variance. Craving was measured at each visit using seven visual analogue scales. Subjects received 12 weekly sessions of standardized group cognitive behavioral therapy. Results: Data reduction by factor analysis of the visual analog scale items yielded one dimension, overall craving. Ondansetron 4 µg/kg b.i.d. reduced overall craving significantly among EOA. In contrast, ondansetron (1 µg/kg b.i.d.) increased craving significantly in LOA. Decreased overall craving was positively correlated with reduced drinking and negatively associated with increased abstinence. Conclusions: Compared with placebo, ondansetron (4 µg/kg b.i.d.) was associated with significant reductions in overall craving in EOA but not LOA, presumably by ameliorating serotonergic abnormality.
Uniform Potential Vorticity Flow: Part II. A Model of Wave Interacions.

Abstract Interactions between waves that satisfy uniform potential vorticity are considered. The formal analysis is restricted to a triad of eigenfunctions and the reduced system is constrained to satisfy conservation of total energy and conservation of available potential energy on plane rigid horizontal boundaries. A linear stability analysis is used to establish the properties of unstable waves in two cases: basic flows with anti-symmetry, and basic flows with symmetry in the vertical direction. A necessary condition for instability is that the vertical wavenumber of the basic flow must fall between the vertical wavenumbers associated with the perturbation waves. The properties of unstable waves in both cases are compared and analogies with the stability properties of the two-layer model are pointed out.
Stability in n-dimensional differential-delay equations

Abstract In this paper we give a sufficient condition for the zero solution of an n-dimensional differential-delay equation of the form x (t) = A(t) x(t − r(t, x t )) to be uniformly stable. A sufficient condition for all solutions to go to zero is also stated. Although various theorems are known for characterizing stability and asymptotic stability in terms of “Liapunov” functions, it is, in general, very difficult to determine whether or not stability is present for a given system. The techniques of this paper enable one to deal with some specific nonautonomous equations in higher dimensions.
Chemical and solvent effects on the interaction of tetraphenylborate with lipid bilayer membranes.

Abstract Alkali metal salts of tetraphenylboron dissociate in aqueous solution to yield the hydrophobic anion, BPh 4 − , which is strongly adsorbed at the surfaces of lipid bilayer membranes. Upon application of a transmembrane voltage pulse these anions cross the membrane without appreciable desorption, thereby exhibiting a transient electrical conductance. The relaxation time of this transient is governed by the height of the central potential barrier which the anions must surmount in crossing the membrane. Because of discrete charge effects, the barrier height and hence the observed relaxation time increase markedly with increasing surface density of adsorbed BPh 4 − . Since adsorbed BPh 4 − are in partition equilibrium with the same species dissolved in the aqueous phase, measurement of the relaxation time for BPh 4 − membrane conductance can be used to assay the aqueous-phase concentration of the hydrophobic anion. In this way we have observed the precipitation of KBPh 4 in water, obtaining a solubility concentration product of 1.0·10 −7 mol 2 ·dm −6 for the precipitation reaction at 25°C. This result is larger by a factor of two than the most directly comparable published values from other sources. In additional experiments we have reduced the polarity of the aqueous phases bathing the membrane by adding varying amount of ethylene glycol to the water. Using the same conductance relaxation assay, we have determined that partitioning of BPh 4 − into the membrane/solution interfaces is lessened as the polarity of the bathing solutions is reduced. This result is attributed to a lowering of the chemical potential of the BPh 4 − in the less polar medium.
Horizontality and Impossibility in Kafka's Parabolic Quests

In his article "Horizontality and Impossibility in Kafka's Parabolic Quests" Frank W. Stevenson explores a horizontal-parabolic interpretation of several Kafka narratives. The key idea is that the meaning/truth of a parable is being thrown-beside-itself "on the horizontal": thus it is impossible not only to vertically reach any higher meaning/truth but even to "cross-over" to a truth which has now been horizontally "displaced." Noting that Derrida's and Agamben's reading of "Before the Law" — the narrator cannot "enter into the Law" because the latter "prescribes nothing," is nothing but an "opening" — not only excludes any vertical-hierarchical dimension but even any horizontal "entrance," Stevenson suggests that this impossibility of "entering into the open" is represented indirectly by the figure of a geometric parabola whose two curving sides continually "open out" without ever "reaching." Frank W. Stevenson, "Horizontality and Impossibility in Kafka's Parabolic Quests" page 2 of 9 CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture 14.5 (2012): Special issue New Work about the Journey and Its Portrayals. Ed. I-Chun Wang
The molecular basis of coupling of translocation and N-glycosylation

Protein translocation and N-glycosylation are essential coordinated cellular processes that are mediated by the translocon and the oligosaccharyl transferase (OT), respectively. The recent identification of several specific interactions between the OT subunits and the translocon provides a molecular basis for the coupling of these two processes. Data suggest that multiple OT isoforms with different affinities for the translocon and ribosome and with heterogeneous subunit composition might exist in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane, thereby providing a means of regulating protein N-glycosylation.
Using the Theory of Planned Behavior to Understand Cervical Cancer Screening Among Latinas

To reduce the high incidence of cervical cancer among Latinas in the United States it is important to understand factors that predict screening behavior. The aim of this study was to test the utility of theory of planned behavior in predicting cervical cancer screening among a group of Latinas. A sample of Latinas (N = 614) completed a baseline survey about Pap test attitudes subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and intention to be screened for cervical cancer. At 6 months postbaseline, cervical cancer screening behavior was assessed. Structural equation modeling was used to test the theory. Model fit statistics indicated good model fit: χ(2)(48) = 54.32, p = .246; comparative fit index = .992; root mean square error of approximation = .015; weighted root mean square residual = .687. Subjective norms (p = .005) and perceived behavioral control (p < .0001) were positively associated with intention to be screened for cervical cancer, and the intention to be screened predicted actual cervical cancer screening (p < .0001). The proportion of variance (R2) in intention accounted for by the predictors was .276 and the R2 in cervical cancer screening accounted for was .130. This study provides support for the use of the theory of planned behavior in predicting cervical cancer screening among Latinas. This knowledge can be used to inform the development of a theory of planned behavior-based intervention to increase cervical cancer screening among Latinas and reduce the high incidence of cervical cancer in this group of women.
Theory of Scalloping Amplitude Errors in Standard VOR Bearing Indications

A rigorous theory is developed for the course scalloping amplitudes observed in the bearing indications of an airborne standard VOR receiver in the presence of multipath signals. The VOR transmitting antenna pattern characteristics, the scattering properties of the multipath source, and the effects of ground reflection are all built into the theory so that their combined effects on the scalloping may be quantitatively investigated. The analysis assumes that the VOR receiver characteristics are ideal.
Thermal regimes of the Southern Rocky Mountains and Wyoming Basin in Colorado and Wyoming in the United States

Abstract Heat flow in the eastern ranges of the Southern Rocky Mountains in Colorado substantially exceeds that in the Wyoming Basin-Southern Rocky Mountains area in southeastern Wyoming. The transitions between these areas are narrow (≤ 60 km wide), estimated near-surface crustal radiogenic heat productions are different, and there is no evidence for young magmatism in the easternmost mountains in northern Colorado and southern Wyoming. Therefore, radioactive heat contrasts in the upper crust are used to explain significant amounts of the heat-flow differences in these regions. In southern Wyoming, normal heat flow in Archean and Proterozoic terranes probably reflects a deeply eroded, thin (7–15 km) granitic layer that overlies low-radioactivity units in a 37–40 km thick crust. In the Colorado mountains to the south, silicic metamorphic and igneous rocks with relatively enriched radiogenic heat could comprise a 20–30 km thick granitic layer in the upper parts of the 50–52 km thick crust, and explain much of the high reduced heat flow and isostatic equilibrium. Areas of unusually high heat flow occur in the Rio Grande rift zone in the environs of the Colorado Mineral Belt in the Leadville-northern Sawatch Range region, eastern parts of the San Juan Mountains in southern Colorado, and in Park Range-Middle Mountain Park areas near the Colorado-Wyoming border. The flux in these areas implies unrealistically high equilibrium temperatures near the crust-mantle boundary, and the narrow borders (50–60 km wide) of the Leadville-northern Sawatch Range heat-flow anomaly must be caused by sources in the upper crust. Hence, young (10-1 Ma) intrusions in a late Tertiary rhyolitic complex in the upper crust are preferred to explain gravity lows, late Cenozoic uplift and igneous activity, and the excess heat flux in the Leadville-northern Sawatch Range area. If this interpretation is correct, magmatic thickening of the crust, not extensional-subsidence mechanisms, probably explains late Cenozoic uplift and extension of the northern Rio Grande rift-Southern Rocky Mountains system in Colorado.
Event Characterization and Prediction Based on Temporal Patterns in Dynamic Data System

The new method proposed in this paper applies a multivariate reconstructed phase space (MRPS) for identifying multivariate temporal patterns that are characteristic and predictive of anomalies or events in a dynamic data system. The new method extends the original univariate reconstructed phase space framework, which is based on fuzzy unsupervised clustering method, by incorporating a new mechanism of data categorization based on the definition of events. In addition to modeling temporal dynamics in a multivariate phase space, a Bayesian approach is applied to model the first-order Markov behavior in the multidimensional data sequences. The method utilizes an exponential loss objective function to optimize a hybrid classifier which consists of a radial basis kernel function and a log-odds ratio component. We performed experimental evaluation on three data sets to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Synchronization of haploid yeast cell cycles, a prelude to conjugation

Abstract Asynchronous haploid cultures of Saccharomyces cerevisiae require an interval of courtship with cells of opposite mating type before cell fusion can occur to produce a single diploid zygote. One of the events occurring during this courtship period is the synchronization of the two haploid cell cycles, since, at the time of fusion, both cells are unbudded and mononucleate. These results are consistent with a role for α-factor in the yeast mating process as postulated by Bucking-Throm et al. [4].
Selective inhibition of rat epididymal steroid Δ4-5α-reductase> by conjugated allenic 3-oxo-5,10-secosteroids

Abstract The effects of (4R)-5,10-secoestra-4,5-diene-3,10,17-trione (I) and of (4R)-5,10-seco-19-norpregna-4.5-diene-3, 10,20-trione (II) on epididymal Δ4-5α-reductase and 3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase were investigated. Assessment by I50 values showed that Δ4-5α-reductase was inhibited approximately 50 and 250 times more effectively than 3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase by compound I and II respectively. The onset of the inhibition of Δ4-5α-reductase by these compounds occurs in less than five minutes. Both compounds were shown to be non-competitive inhibitors of Δ4-5α-reductase. For Δ4-5α-reductase the KI's for compounds I and II were 5.47 × 10−6 and 0.98 × 10−6 respectively. The results of equilibrium dialysis experiments suggested that the observed Δ4-5α-reductase inhibition was irreversible. The relative specificity of these compounds with respect to inhibitor structure and enzyme inhibition is discussed.
Modeling the toxicity of amide herbicides using the electrotopological state

The toxicity (rat, acute, oral LD50) of a set of 50 amides that serve as herbicides is modeled using the electrotopological state indices (E-state) with multiple linear regression. A five-variable model produces sound statistics: r2 = 0.75, s = 0.23. The cross-validation statistics indicate a model useful for prediction: r2press = 0.65, spress = 0.27. Further, a set of nine compounds was set aside for testing the model. The mean absolute error for the test set is MAE = 0.27, supporting the claim that the model may be used for prediction. Structure interpretation is given for each variable so that the model may be used to assist in design of molecules with lower toxicity.
Controlled drug release from a novel liposomal delivery system. II. Transdermal delivery characteristics

Abstract Recently, we reported the evaluation of a prototypal liposomal delivery system, which consisted of a thin agarose gel throughout which a model drug progesterone (PG), associated with multilamellar liposomes, was dispersed. The device was able to: (1) release PG into aqueous buffer solution with essentially zero-order kinetics for at least 24 hours, and (2) modulate PG delivery across hairless mouse skin in vitro. In this paper, we describe further research which examines the influence of lipid formulation on the transdermal delivery of PG from this system. Significant effects on the transdermal delivery of PG by the lipids employed were observed, despite similarities in the release behavior of different formulations into aqueous buffer. For example, transdermal delivery of PG from systems formulated with saturated acyi chain phospholipids (i.e. DMPC and DPPC) was an order of magnitude slower than that from cis-unsaturated phospholipid formulations (i.e. EPC and DOPC). The addition of a cis-unsaturated fatty acid to saturated acyl chain liposome devices increased the delivery rate of PG an order of magnitude. The results suggest the effective co-delivery of drug plus penetration enhancer under both serendipitous and deliberate circumstances.
Ab initio NMR chemical shieldings in the neutral and charged 7-phosphabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane, -heptene, and -heptadiene systems; the largest predicted downfield shift for a conventional organophosphorus molecule

Abstract Ab initio quantum mechanical calculations of phosphorus NMR chemical shieldings have been performed at the MP2 level of theory on the neutral and singly charged 7-phosphabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane, -heptene, and -heptadiene neutral, cationic, and anionic molecules using a P:tz2p/C:tzp/H:dz locally dense basis set. Inclusion of correlation at the MP2 level is quantitatively important for the dienes and all the anionic species. The presence of two lone pairs in the anions leads to drastically reduced HOMO-LUMO energy gaps and corresponding large deshielding effects. The absolute isotropic shielding of −756.6 ppm (δ + 1085.0) calculated for the anionic diene is by far the largest downfield shielding predicted for phosphorus in a conventional organophosphorus compound.
Preparation of polymer-bound 2,2′-dipyridylamine and some of its transition metal complexes

Abstract The modification of polystyrene-2% divinylbenzene with 2,2′-dipyridylamine afforded an immobilized chelating system. A number of transition metal complexes of the polymer were prepared and competitive binding studies conducted to demonstrate the versatility of this system. A unique selectivity for Fe 3+ in organic media was observed in metal ion mixtures.
Does interhospital transfer improve outcome of acute myocardial infarction? A propensity score analysis from the Cardiovascular Cooperative Project.

Background Many patients suffering acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are transferred from one hospital to another during their hospitalization. There is little information about the outcomes related to interhospital transfer. The purpose of this study was to compare processes and outcomes of AMI care among patients undergoing interhospital transfer with special attention to the impact on mortality in rural hospitals.
Reformatting PET images by direct fitting of the proportional grid system: implementation and validation

An important application of positron emission tomography (PET) is the correlation of patterns of regional brain metabolism with functional and behavioral abnormalities in various deceases. This requires examination of a large number of scans from many subjects, an activity which is facilitated by using a standard coordinate system for image representation. Talairach's proportional grid system is a popular and suitable system for this purpose. It relies on correct localization of the mid-sagittal plane and the line passing through the anterior commissure (AC) and posterior commissure (PC) in the image volume. These structures, however, have not been readily identifiable in PET images. With the increasing resolution of PET scanners, though, it may now be possible to establish the position of the AC-PC line by directly fitting it from anatomical landmarks which are recognizable in PET images and have definite relationships to the AC and PC. This approach is appealing for both practical and technical reasons. In this paper we present an improved method for direct fitting of the AC-PC line and mid-sagittal plane. We evaluate the quality of the approximation in terms of its precision and accuracy, and also assess accuracy by direct comparison with independently registered magnetic resonance (MR) images.
Biosynthesis and in vitro translation of type IV procollagens

The present paper describes how epitheilial cells, cultured from bovine anterior lens capsule explants, synthesize and secrete procollagen type IV polypeptide chains α1(IV). and α2(IV). Metabolic labeling of these cells with [14C]proline for different time intervals and subsequent analysis by SDS/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed the presence of two polypeptide chains with apparent molecular masses of 180 kDa and 170 kDa. The procollagens were bacterial-collagenase-sensitive and were specifically immunoprecipitated by antibodies raised against the 7S domain of type IV collagen. Type IV procollagen poly(A)-rich RNA was was isolated from cultured lens capsule cells and translated in a reticulocyte lysate cell-free system. Two polypetptides with apparent molecular lens capsule cells and translated in a reticulocyte lysate cell-free system. Two polypeptides with apparent molecular masses of 152 kDa and 145 kDa were identified as procollagen type IV unmodified chains by gel electrophoresis, collagenase digestion and specific immunoprecipitation. During experiments in which cells were labeled in the presence of α,α′-bipyridyl, type IV procollagen appeared as one major band comigrating with a 145 kDa polypeptide on SDS-gel electrophoresis.
Emulsion polymerization of vinyl acetate using a polymerizable surfactant. III. Mathematical model

A mathematical model was developed to aid in the further understanding of the growth of latex particles in the emulsion polymerization of vinyl acctate using a polymerizable surfactant, sodium dodecyl allyl sulfosuccinate (TREM LF-40). The model incorporates the main features of the system observed experimentally: copolymerization in the aqueous phase, at the particle surface, and chain transfer to TREM LF-40. The reactions at the particle/water interface and, more specifically, the chain transfer to TREM LF-40 leading to a decrease in the average number of radicals per particle, was found to be the most significant mechanism for explaining the difference in kinetic results found for TREM LF-40 and its nonpolymerizable counterpart. The copolymerization of vinyl acetate with TREM LF-40 was also shown to slow the overall polymerization rate. However, the copolymerization alone was not sufficient to account for the decreased polymerization rates observed experimentally. A combination of copolymerization and chain transfer to TREM LF-40 was found to provide a good fit of the experimental results. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.