cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Time to Diagnosis for Endometriosis by Race

Study Objective To determine if there is a difference in time to surgical diagnosis of endometriosis amongst patients of different racial backgrounds. Design Retrospective cohort study of all surgical treatment of endometriosis between 2015 – 2020. Setting Two Boston-area teaching hospitals. Patients or Participants All female patients, 18 years and older, who underwent surgical treatment for endometriosis via excision and/or ablation of the disease were identified using CPT code 58662. Patients are excluded if they had a prior surgical diagnosis of endometriosis or no treatment for endometriosis was described at time of surgery based on review of operative report. Interventions N/A. Measurements and Main Results Our primary outcome of interest is time to diagnosis of endometriosis, which is defined as date of onset of symptoms per patient report ascertained through chart review to date of surgery for endometriosis. Our primary exposure of interest is patient race. During our preliminary review, a total of 198 patients were included, 184 white patients (92.9%) and 14 black patients (7.1%). The average time to diagnosis for our patient cohort was 40.6 ± 56.9 months. Average time to diagnosis was 40.3 ± 56.8 for white patients and 43.7 ± 60.9 for black patients. Most patients presented with complains of pelvic pain (87.3%) and dysmenorrhea (72.5%). Within our cohort, 41.7% of black patients were given a diagnosis of fibroids prior to their surgical diagnosis of endometriosis, compared to 18.5% of white patients. Conclusion In our small cohort of preliminary results, we do not observe a statistically significant difference in time to surgical diagnosis of endometriosis from onset of patient reported symptom between black and white patients. A larger sample size and prospective studies are needed to more accurately assess for the true difference in time to diagnosis of endometriosis among patients of different races and ethnicities.
Association Between Victim's Clothing and Fabric Impressions in Grease

A child was killed by a truck which left the scene. Recovered evidence included a chunk of grease which displayed cloth rib and fabric weave impressions that did not precisely match those of the victim's pants. Various methods of reproduction were attempted before a positive conclusion was drawn regarding the source of the impressions.
Another Kind of 'Weekend Effect' in Financial Markets

International mutual funds that make ad hoc fair value adjustments are less likely to do so on Fridays, despite the fect that there is actually more need to fair value on Friday and that fair valuation would prevent arbitrage that currently costs long-term shareholders about 1 percent of assets per year.
Employee experiences with family and medical leave: A case study

Abstract This article examines employee experiences with family and medical leave policies at an urban public transportation union work site in the United States. The case study focuses on the leave experiences among a sample population of 91 primarily African-American women transit workers, including reasons for taking or not taking leaves, decisions regarding how much leave time to take, and work impacts experienced after returning from leaves. The case study found that all respondents with new babies or ill children took leaves, as did 78% of those with illnesses and 39% of those with ill family members. Among those eligible to take leaves, the most frequent reason for not doing so was the lack of wage replacement. Knowledge of leave policies was minimal and not associated with the likelihood of leave-taking. These findings are discussed in terms of their workplace and community implications, including the need to expand the length and types of family leave coverage, the need for government-mandated pa...
An Evolutionary Framework for Process Improvement

Process improvement methods such as Six Sigma and Lean Management have become prominent and effective elements of operations management. However, few conceptual frameworks have been offered for explicating their organizing principles and operative mechanisms. In this paper, it is argued that process improvement can be represented with an evolutionary model in which improvement is viewed as the adaptation of an operational system to its environment. Using evolutionary concepts and theories which have been extensively applied in organizational research, a variation-selection-retention (VSR) framework for process improvement is proposed. Various features of process improvement methods are identified, described, and contrasted within the VSR framework. Implications for the development of testable hypotheses are explored and future research opportunities are described.
Tetrakis(trichlorophosphine)nickel(0)

[36421-86-0] Cl12NiP4 (MW 607.97) InChI = 1S/4Cl3P.Ni/c4*1-4(2)3; InChIKey = MCELDGNFCRWVLG-UHFFFAOYSA-N (source of nickel(0) useful for the cyclotetramerization of alkynes2) Physical Data: thermochromic crystalline solid that is pale yellow at rt and white at temperatures below −30 °C; mp 120 °C (dec). Solubility: readily sol benzene, cyclohexane, chloroform, CCl4, pentane Analysis of Reagent Purity: 31P NMR: 171.8 ppm (downfield from H3PO4).3 IR (Nujol): 325s, 500s, 570s, 805m, 870m cm−1.4 Preparative Methods: the original preparation involved addition of excess Phosphorus(III) Chloride to Tetracarbonylnickel (caution: extremely toxic, volatile), whereupon CO was immediately evolved. The reaction was completed by heating the pale-yellow solution to reflux. Distillation removed most of the remaining PCl3. The pot residue was dissolved in pentane at rt and the resulting solution cooled to −60 °C to crystallize the product as fine crystals, which were dried on a porous plate. Two recrystallizations were sufficient to remove all PCl3 and gave an 80% yield of Ni(PCl3)4. All manipulations were carried out under inert atmosphere.5 The complex may also be prepared by reaction of PCl3 with Ni(allyl)2.6 Handling, Storage, and Precautions: the flammable crystalline solid is stable in air but highly oxygen sensitive in solution. Special inert-atmosphere techniques must be used.7 Should be stored at 0 °C.
Strategy Development for Urban Dropout Prevention: Partnering with Formerly Incarcerated Adult Noncompleters.

This article highlights a research project that involved formerly incarcerated adults who were school noncompleters. The project engaged the participants in a series of activities to explore their experiences and gain insights into approaches to dropout prevention they believed would help students at risk to complete high school. This article focuses on the research participants’ perspectives on strategies for addressing the problem that included a community mobilization approach, a family wraparound approach, a cultural and psychological awareness education approach, and an intensive recruitment approach to offering support to at-risk students.
Mechanical characterization of self‐assembling peptide hydrogels by microindentation

Hydrogels formed from self-assembling synthetic oligopeptides have been studied for almost 2 decades for use in tissue engineering and drug delivery. Although a great deal has been learned about the microstructure of these materials, there remain questions about how peptide filaments are ordered to form a gel. These unanswered questions leave a disconnect between our understanding of the observed nanoscale mechanical properties of peptide filaments and the macroscale properties of the gels they constitute. This study helps to bridge this gap by examining the role of filament length and interfilament crosslinks in determining bulk mechanical properties. Microindentation was used for mechanical characterization, and microstructure was observed using thin-section transmission electron microscopy images of gels embedded in resin. Results suggest a gel structure in which filaments are not densely bundled as previously suggested and confirm that crosslinking can be an effective strategy to increase the stiffness of self-assembling oligopeptide gels. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2013.
Perfect Fluidity in Atomic Physics

Department of Physics, North Carolina State University,Raleigh, NC 27695Abstract.Experimentalresults obtained atthe Relativistic HeavyIon Collider(RHIC) have been interpreted in terms of a strongly interacting quark gluonplasma. The strongly interacting plasma is characterized by “perfect ﬂuidity”,i.e. a ratio of shear viscosity to entropy density that saturates a proposedlower bound. In this contribution we explore the possibility that a similarphenomenon takes place in a strongly coupled non-relativistic Fermi liquid inwhich the scattering length between the Fermions is inﬁnitely large.Keywords: hydrodynamics, viscosity, collective ﬂowPACS: 25.75.Ld,66.20.+d
Adaptive modulation and coding for WiMAX systems with vague channel state information using cognitive radio

Adaptive modulation and coding (AMC) schemes are used in WiMAX. Higher system throughput using higher order modulation is traded for higher output. In WiMAX higher modulation tends to be used close to the base station whereas lower order modulations tends to be used at longer range. The dependency of distance might sometimes be deceiving, as channel conditions can vary considerably especially in a mobile environment. In this paper we present a cognitive approach to alter the modulation and code rate using a cognitive engine that is based on linguistic and uncertainty reasoning as well as estimating the channel type. The cognitive engine controls the type of modulation and code rate in order to maintain a good system throughput without wasting available bandwidth. Fuzzy logic reasoning in the cognitive engine was chosen because it is well suited for situations of uncertainty, incompleteness and heterogeneity information, in the case of fast changing radio environments. The results showed that new combinations of modulation type and code rate should be considered in WiMAX since it outperforms the standard in spectral efficiency, especially in a fast changing radio environment.
Recursive parameter estimation of thermostatically controlled loads via unscented Kalman filter

Abstract For thermostatically controlled loads (TCLs) to perform demand response services in real-time markets, online methods for parameter estimation are needed. As the physical characteristics of a TCL change (e.g. the contents of a refrigerator or the occupancy of a conditioned room), it is necessary to update the parameters of the TCL model. Otherwise, the TCL will be incapable of accurately predicting its potential energy demand, thereby decreasing the reliability of a TCL aggregation to perform demand response. In this paper, we investigate the potential of various unscented Kalman filter (UKF) algorithm variations to recursively identify a TCL model that is non-linear in the parameters. Experimental results demonstrate the parameter estimation of two residential refrigerators. Finally, simulation results demonstrate the incorporation of the recursive parameter estimation methods into a model predictive controller for demand response.
Isolation and Identification of the Coal-Solubilizing Agent Produced by Trametes versicolor.

Low-ranked coals were dissolved by using cell extracts derived from liquid cultures of Trametes versicolor. The coal-solubilizing agent (CSA) was separated from the broth components by a multistep isolation procedure including reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography, size exclusion chromatography, ethanol fractionation, and recrystallization. Staircase voltammetry was used to show that two CSA moieties can coordinate to aqueous copper(II) ion. A molecular weight determination (using amperometry) gave an apparent molecular weight of 1.34 × 102 g/mol ± 8%. Nuclear magnetic resonance indicated that all protons on CSA are exchangeable in D2O and that there is only one type of carbon in CSA. The infrared spectrum of recrystallized CSA is identical to that of ammonium oxalate, and X-ray studies confirmed the crystal structure and composition of CSA to be that of ammonium oxalate monohydrate. The equivalent weight of the coal in solution, when the coal was dissolved by ammonium oxalate, is 7,940 g of coal per mol of iron present in the coal.
Time for critically ill patients to regain mobility after early mobilization in the intensive care unit and transition to a general inpatient floor

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study is to determine if patient mobility achievements in an intensive care unit (ICU) setting are sustained during subsequent phases of hospitalization, specifically after transferring to inpatient floors and on the day of hospital discharge. Materials and Methods The study is an analysis of adult patients who stayed in the ICU for 48 hours or more during the second quarter of 2013. The study sample included 182 patients who transferred to a general inpatient floor after the ICU stay. Results Patients experienced an average delay of 16 hours to regain or exceed chair level of mobility and 7 hours to regain ambulation level after transferring to an inpatient floor. One third of patients ambulated in the ICU, and those patients had significantly shorter post-ICU and hospital stays compared with patients who did not ambulate in the ICU. Delays in regaining mobility on the floor were modestly associated with initial Morse Fall Score and being male. Conclusions Mobility progression through the hospital course is imperative to improving patient outcomes. Study findings show the need for improvement in maintaining early ICU mobilization achievement during the crucial phase between ICU stay and hospital discharge.
The proximal workspace architecture for wearable I/O-device cloud applications

We describe a new enhanced cloud computing architecture, called the Proximal Workspace, to allow access and interaction between lightweight wearable I/O devices, e.g., video glasses, earphones, wrist displays, body sensors, etc., and ubiquitous applications that represent a new generation of computation-and-data-intensive programs. While wearable devices offer an easy way for these applications to collect user data and offer feedback, the applications cannot be run natively and completely on these devices because of high resource demands. Making these applications available via a cloud, while promoting ubiquitous access and providing the necessary resources to execute the applications, induces large delays due to network latency. The Proximal Workspace provides nearby computing power to the user's devices and thus mediates between them and the cloud's computing resources. The workspace is designed to run any subset of activities that cannot be run on a user's device due to computation speed or storage size, and cannot be run on a cloud server due to network latency. We also describe a powerful abstraction for networked communication, called Networked Device Drivers, which provide the underlying communication support for Proximal Workspaces in a way that promotes simplicity and transparency.
Transcellular biosynthesis of cysteinyl leukotrienes in rat neuronal and glial cells.

Leukotrienes are mediators of inflammation that belong to a family of lipids derived from arachidonic acid by the action of 5-lipoxygenase. Leukotrienes have been detected in the central nervous system in association with different pathological events, but little is known about their biosynthesis or function in the brain. When rat neurons and glial cells in primary culture were stimulated with the calcium ionophore, no significant biosynthesis of leukotrienes was detected using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) techniques. However, when exogenous LTA4 was added to these cultured cells, both neurons and glia were able to synthesize LTC4. Activated neutrophils are known to supply LTA4 to other cells for transcellular biosynthesis of cysteinyl-leukotrienes. Since neutrophils can infiltrate brain tissue after stroke or traumatic brain injury, we examined whether neutrophils play a similar role in the central nervous system. When peripheral blood neutrophils were co-cultured with rat neurons, glia cells, and then stimulated with calcium ionophore, a robust production of LTC4, LTD4, and LTE4 was observed, revealing that neurons and glia can participate in the transcellular mechanism of leukotriene biosynthesis. The formation of LTC4 through this mechanism may be relevant in the genesis and progression of the inflammatory response as a result of brain injury.
Polysomnography in preterm infants and children with chronic lung disease.

Summary. Objective: To determine the utility of overnight polysomnography (PSG) in assessing pulmonary reserve in stable preterm children with chronic lung disease (CLD). Study design: A retrospective review and descriptive study of overnight PSGs and clinic visits of preterm infants/children less than 3 years of age who were diagnosed with bronchopulmonary dysplasia at discharge from the hospital and enrolled in the Johns Hopkins CLD patient registry between 2008 and 2010. Results: Sixty-two clinically stable patients underwent at least one overnight polysomnogram for clinical indications. The majority of patients were referred for oxygen titration (71%). PSGs from first studies revealed a mean respiratory disturbance index (RDI) of 8.2 � 10.1 events/hr and a mean O2 saturation (SaO2) nadir of 86.2 � 5.7%. In patients who underwent more than one PSG (n ¼ 23), a significant decrease in RDI (P < 0.001) was found between the first study (mean age: 8.0 � 3.3 months) and second study (mean age: 13.4 � 5.2 months). Outpatient clinical measures of mean room air SaO2 and respiratory rate were not predictive of PSG measures of RDI and SaO2 nadir. Conclusion: Mean RDI was higher in stable preterm infants/children with CLD compared to previously published controls. RDI decreased with age in stable preterm infants/children with CLD suggesting improved pulmonary reserve with age. Outpatient clinical measures (respiratory rate and room air SaO2) did not correlate with RDI and SaO2 nadir indicating that overnight PSG is more sensitive in assessing pulmonary reserve than outpatient clinical measures. Pediatr
Maps, rates, and fuzzy mountains: Generating meaningful risk maps

Creating meaningful maps that represent rates and risks in the population is a challenge. Risk rates are often computed for small area units such as census entities that may contain small population counts. Due to the unstable nature of such estimates, maps produced using such data are likely to misrepresent the risk of an event's occurrence over geographic space. This paper introduces two systems based on distinct approaches to generate risk maps that are not biased by the underlying population distribution of a given region: the adaptive kernel density estimation procedure implemented in WebDMAP and the population-uniform partitioning method included in UPAS. Comparison of both systems shows that qualitatively similar results can be obtained by both approaches.
Factors Associated with Children's Anticipated Responses to Ambiguous Teases.

The authors used two studies involving 5th- and 6th-grade children to examine factors potentially associated with individual differences in children's perceptions of and anticipated responses to ambiguous teases. Study 1 assessed the extent to which the children would expect recipients to feel hurt in response to a series of ambiguous teases and whether the children would perceive those teases as more like antisocial or prosocial teases. In Study 2 the children were asked to evaluate emotional and behavioral responses to ambiguous teases with various gender compositions of the teaser-target dyad. Despite some gender of participant differences, the studies demonstrated that children with relatively negative attitudes toward teases and relatively negative experiences as recipients of teases tended to interpret ambiguous teases as if they were meant to be hostile and antisocial.
The intercity motorbus in kentucky

This article discusses the regulation of motorbus transportation in Kentucky. The growing importance of the subject is stressed.
Conformal maps defined about polynomial curves

Abstract A conformal or near conformal deformation of the plane is defined which embeds a polynomial curve boundary. The method minimizes a polynomial mapping in the Bernstein basis with respect to the Cauchy-Riemann equations. The advantages gained include design control of the deformation, error minimization of the deformation over the entire region and simple extension to multiple regions with continuous constraints. Included are example plots of the method. Error measurements on the approximation examples are illustrated.
Studies on the size, location and turnover of calcium pools accessible to growing Tetrahymena cells

Abstract Tetrahymena pyriformis cells in the logarithmic phase of growth accumulate 2.5–3.75 times as much calcium per unit volume as is present in the growth medium. It appears that most of this calcium is stored in a non-ionic form, with approximately 30% existing in the cilia, near its site of action in effecting ciliary reversal. The exchange of extracellular 45Ca2+ with the major internal pools is extremely rapid, exhibiting a t 1 2 of less than 0.5 h. Sites located on the cilia are responsible for 35–50% of Ca2+ influx, with the remainder entering through other positions on the cell surface.
Premalbrancheamide: synthesis, isotopic labeling, biosynthetic incorporation, and detection in cultures of Malbranchea aurantiaca.

An advanced metabolite, named premalbrancheamide, involved in the biosynthesis of malbrancheamide (1) and malbrancheamide B (2) has been synthesized in double 13C-labeled form and was incorporated into the indole alkaloid 2 by Malbranchea aurantiaca. In addition, premalbrancheamide has been detected as a natural metabolite in cultures of M. aurantiaca. The biosynthetic implications of these experiments are discussed.
Distribution of REE in the Eastern Belt Supergroup (Montana, U.S.A.): Implications for stratigraphic correlations and basin evolution☆

Abstract Shales of the Mid-Proterozoic Newland Formation, Belt basin, contain a geochemical marker horizon that is characterized by the appearance of negative Eu anomalies in shale REE patterns. REE pattern changes appear to be related to changes in weathering intensity and tectonic activity in the hinterland. Stratigraphic and sedimentologic considerations suggest that this REE marker horizon defines an approximate time-line within the sequence. Comparison of REE patterns of the Newland Formation and the coarse clastic LaHood Formation that was deposited to the south, shows that the lower portions of the Newland Formation were deposited prior to LaHood sedimentation. Such a correlation implies that early Belt sediments may have covered a much larger area than delineated by the outline of the present-day Belt basin and that, contrary to earlier views of basin evolution, the half-graben configuration of the eastern Belt basin was established at some later point of basin history.
Assessment of Sinus Node Function in Patients with the Sick Sinus Syndrome

Thirty-one patients with symptomatic sinus node dysfunction were evaluated with electrocardiograms, Holter monitor recordings, exercise, isoproterenol infusions, atropine administration, Valsalva maneuvers, carotid sinus massage, and overdrive pacing. Four basic clinical subsets were recognized: (1) carotid sinus hypersensitivity (2) bradycardia-tachycardia syndrome, (3) episodic sinus arrest, and (4) persistent symptomatic sinus bradycardia. The study group demonstrated a normal heart rate response to exercise and isoproterenol infusion (%Δ = +95 exercise, +144 isoproterenol) in the face of diminished responsiveness to atropine administration (%Δ = +23). Marked carotid sinus hypersensitivity was demonstrated in eight patients, and four patients demonstrated slight abnormalities during performance of Valsalva maneuvers. Significant suppression of sinus node dysfunction was observed following atrial overdrive in the study group (postpacing pause = 3087 ± 464 msec) as compared to patients without significan...
Unavailability of components with inspection and repair

Abstract A general set of integral equations and solutions have been obtained for the unavailability of standby components. The model uses general failure time, test duration and repair time distributions. Random failures as well as contributions from human testing errors and true demands have been taken into account. Optimal testing/inspection intervals have been obtained for practical inspection policies.
Model dielectric function for semiconductors: Si

A model dielectric function for semiconductors based on the two-band tight-binding model of Chadi and White is presented. The complex dielectric function includes transitions in the entire frequency range and satisfies the Kramers-Kronig relations and the $f$-sum rule. A method of analyzing optical experiments is discussed and applied to Si.
A correlation of microparticle concentrations with oxygen isotope ratios in 700 year old Greenland ice

Abstract A 1.29 m continuous vertical ice core from 300 m depth at Site 2, Greenland, was split lengthwise, and horizontally adjacent specimens were analyzed for 18 O/ 16 O ratios and microparticle concentration between 0.6 and 3 microns diameter. Both sets of data showed cyclic variation in vertical profile. Almost four complete cycles were present. Average wave lengths of the cycles were ⩾ 35.3 and 36.0 cm ice for 18 O/ 16 O and particle concentration respectively, probably close to the annual accumulation 700 years ago. Average volume concentration of microparticles in mid-winter precipitations, about 6 × 10 −8 , was six times greater than the average found over the rest of the year. Peak dust concentrations occurred 4 cm higher (later) than the isotope ratio minima. This phase lag amounts to about 6 weeks, if water accumulation rate is assumed constant over the year. Dust concentration data were also used to calculate an upper limit for atmospheric fallout for this time and place. Assuming a dust density of 3 g cm −3 , a value of 2 × 10 −6 g cm −2 yr −1 is obtained.
Yield Enhancement in Cotton by Frequent Irrigations during Fruiting

Daily drip irrigation often increases yield and water-use efficiency of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) compared to conventional irrigations applied at long intervals. A 2 yr experiment was designed to test whether these benefits could be achieved without using an expensive drip system. Cotton was irrigated every 10 d in the first year and every 14 d in the second year (control treatment). A supplemental irrigation was applied during either one or two long irrigation cycles coinciding with peak fruiting. The total amount of water applied was minimally changed from the control because other irrigations were reduced to compensate for the supplementation (...)
EFFECT OF TESTOSTERONE PROPIONATE UPON THE MITOTIC ACTIVITY OF THE ADRENALS IN THE INTACT IMMATURE FEMALE RAT

PREVIOUS STUDIES in this laboratory (1, 2) have indicated that testosterone propionate acts directly upon the vagina and uterus of the immature female rat, and stimulates the ovary indirectly by way of the hypophysis (1) even in the absence of the adrenals (2). Moreover.it was shown that testosterone was capable of stinvulating the thyroid and parathyroid glands of the same type of animal (3). This stimulation was manifested by increased mitotic activity and by histological evidence of functional activity. The mechanism by which this occurs is probably an indirect one via the pituitary gland. It is the purpose of this communication to record the effect of testosterone upon the mitotic activity of the adrenals in the intact immature female rat. Colchicine was used in addition to testosterone because of its ability to ternporarily inhibit or prolong the mitotic cycle in early metaphase.
Derivation of the Hamiltonian form of the Klein-Gordon equation from Schrödinger-Fürth quantum diffusion theory

Abstract The hamiltonian form of the Klein-Gordon equation was derived from the principles of the Schrodinger-Furth quantum diffusion theory by applying the Furth transformation to the Kelvin equation for the diffusion of two species in configuration space and factoring the resulting matrix of differential operators into the product of two matrices.
Modulation of the redox properties of the flavin cofactor through hydrogen-bonding interactions with the N(5) atom: role of alphaSer254 in the electron-transfer flavoprotein from the methylotrophic bacterium W3A1.

The functional effects of hydrogen-bonding interactions at the N(5) atom of the flavin cofactors in the oxidized state have not been well established in flavoproteins. The unique properties of the electron-transfer flavoprotein from the methylotrophic bacteria W3A1 (wETF) were used to advantage in this study to evaluate this interaction. In wETF, the side-chain hydroxyl group of αSer254 serves as a hydrogen bond donor to the N(5) atom in the oxidized state of the flavin. The strength of this hydrogen bond was systematically altered by the substitution of αSer254 with threonine, cysteine, or alanine by site-directed mutagenesis. The anionic semiquinone form of the flavin, which is highly stabilized both thermodynamically and kinetically in the wild-type protein, was observed to accumulate in all three mutants. However, the midpoint potential for the first couple (Eox/sq) was significantly decreased for all of the mutants, and the kinetic barrier toward the reduction of the anionic semiquinone that is obser...
Fasting Induces Nuclear Factor E2-Related Factor 2 and ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters via Protein Kinase A and Sirtuin-1 in Mouse and Human

Abstract Aims: The purpose of this study was to determine whether 3′-5′-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-protein kinase A (PKA) and Sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) dependent mechanisms modulate ATP-binding Cassette (ABC) transport protein expression. ABC transport proteins (ABCC2–4) are essential for chemical elimination from hepatocytes and biliary excretion. Nuclear factor-E2 related-factor 2 (NRF2) is a transcription factor that mediates ABCC induction in response to chemical inducers and liver injury. However, a role for NRF2 in the regulation of transporter expression in nonchemical models of liver perturbation is largely undescribed. Results: Here we show that fasting increased NRF2 target gene expression through NRF2- and SIRT1–dependent mechanisms. In intact mouse liver, fasting induces NRF2 target gene expression by at least 1.5 to 5-fold. In mouse and human hepatocytes, treatment with 8-Bromoadenosine-cAMP, a cAMP analogue, increased NRF2 target gene expression and antioxidant response element activity, ...
Wild-type Flp recombinase cleaves DNA in trans

Site-specific recombinases of the Integrase family utilize a common chemical mechanism to break DNA strands during recombination. A conserved Arg-His-Arg triad activates the scissile phosphodiester bond, and an active-site tyrosine provides the nucleophile to effect DNA cleavage. Is the tyrosine residue for the cleavage event derived from the same recombinase monomer which provides the RHR triad (DNA cleavage in cis), or are the triad and tyrosine derived from two separate monomers (cleavage in trans)? Do all members of the family follow the same cleavage rule, cis or trans? Solution studies and available structural data have provided conflicting answers. Experimental results with the Flp recombinase which strongly support trans cleavage have been derived either by pairing two catalytic mutants of Flp or by pairing wild-type Flp and a catalytic mutant. The inclusion of the mutant has raised new concerns, especially because of the apparent contradictions in their cleavage modes posed by other Int family members. Here we test the cleavage mode of Flp using an experimental design which excludes the use of the mutant protein, and show that the outcome is still only trans DNA cleavage.
Phosphorylation and activation of Bub1 on unattached chromosomes facilitate the spindle checkpoint.

The spindle checkpoint inhibits anaphase until all kinetochores have attached properly to spindle microtubules. The protein kinase Bub1 is an essential checkpoint component that resides at kinetochores during mitosis. It is shown herein that Xenopus Bub1 becomes hyperphosphorylated and the kinase is activated on unattached chromosomes. MAP kinase (MAPK) contributes to this phosphorylation, as inhibiting MAPK or altering MAPK consensus sites in Bub1 to alanine or valine (Bub15AV) abolishes the phosphorylation and activation on chromosomes. Both Bub1 and Bub15AV support the checkpoint under an optimal condition for spindle checkpoint activation. However, Bub1, but not Bub15AV, supports the checkpoint at a relatively low concentration of nuclei or the microtubule inhibitor nocodazole. Similar to Bub15AV, Bub1 without the kinase domain (Bub1ΔKD) is also partially compromised in its checkpoint function and in its ability to recruit other checkpoint proteins to kinetochores. This study suggests that activation of Bub1 at kinetochores enhances the efficiency of the spindle checkpoint and is probably important in maintaining the checkpoint toward late prometaphase when the cell contains only a few or a single unattached kinetochore.
Non-Abelian gauge theories of Fermi systems: Quantum-chromodynamic theory of highly condensed matter

A systematic perturbation theory for high-density quark gas is developed. The ground-state thermodynamic potential is evaluated up to the second order in the Gell-Mann-Low coupling ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{s}(M)$. Phenomenological analysis of the resulting equation of state suggests that the neutron-quark matter phase transition occurs at neutron matter densities ${n}_{B}l2$ baryon/${\mathrm{fm}}^{3}$ provided $0.2l{\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{s}(3 \mathrm{GeV})l0.3$. The result supports the conjecture that superheavy stellar objects may exist in the quark rather than in the neutron phase. The production of quark matter in heavy-ion collisions is also discussed briefly.
Daily fluctuations of DNA synthesis in the corneas of Rana pipiens.

Abstract 1. 1. A diurnal rhythm in DNA synthesis, as indicated by fluctuations in total 3 H thymidine uptake, was demonstrated in the corneas of frogs ( Rana pipiens ). exposed to a 12 : 12 light-dark lighting regime for 2 weeks and then sacrificed in groups of twelve at 2-hr intervals over a 24-hr period. 2. 2. This rhythm was reproducible, appeared to have a periodicity of nearly 24 hr and was correlated with a similar rhythm in mitotic activity in corneas. 3. 3. Evidence is presented which suggests that the lighting regime may be involved in the regulation of this rhythm in DNA synthesis.
The fate and functional capacity of neonatal neurons in allografts of ganglia in normal and immunologically tolerant rats

Abstract Previous studies have demonstrated that neurons in Ag-B histoincompatible allografts of adult ganglia are rejected unless the recipients have been rendered immunologically tolerant. Because neonatal grafts sometimes survive in situations where adult grafts of the same genotype are rejected, the fate and functional capacity of neurons in Ag-B histoincompatible allografts of neonatal ganglia was investigated. Sensory or sympathetic ganglia from neonatal Lewis rats were transplanted to the anterior chamber of the eye or into sternomastoid muscle of normal adult Brown Norway (BN) rats or to adult BN rats previously made immunologically tolerant to Lewis antigens. Normal BN rats rejected neonatal Lewis sensory ganglia (i.e., no neurons were present) at 70 days, whereas tolerant animals accepted these grafts for the 120 days they were followed. Furthermore, surviving Lewis neurons in tolerant BN rats were functional in that they regenerated nerve fibers into BN isografts of tongue and induced the development of taste buds. On the other hand, no neurons survived in neonatal sympathetic allografts to normal or tolerant BN rats and none or very few survived for even 2 weeks in sympathetic isografts. These results demonstrate that immunological factors (Ag-B antigens) are responsible for the ultimate loss of sensory neurons in neonatal allografts of ganglia whereas nonimmunological factors (i.e., transection of nerve fibers, separation from end-organ, nerve growth factor dependency) cause the loss of neurons in neonatal sympathetic ganglia. We conclude that both immunological and nonimmunological factors are important in determining the survival of neonatal neurons after transplantation.
Test protocol for simulating truck and rail vibration and rail impacts in shipments of automotive engine racks

A study of the truck and rail transport environments using racks containing Ford engines was conducted to quantify shock and vibration levels during shipment. Tri-axial acceleration data was collected at several locations on the floor of the vehicles and on the racks themselves to determine the severity of shock and vibration input from truck trailers and rail boxcars. Power Spectral Density plots were developed from the data collected and used to simulate truck and rail shipments on an electro-hydraulic vibration table. The results showed that the highest vibration levels in the steel racks occurred at 4 Hz in the vertical direction for truck shipments, and between 12-16 Hz for rail shipments. The vibration levels in the longitudinal and lateral directions were much lower than in the vertical direction for truck shipments. The most severe shock to a rack in rail shipments was 5.7 G peak in the longitudinal direction as a result of coupling.
Electron and Photon Stimulated Desorption from Organic Molecular Solids: Final State Leading to Desorption

The electron and photon stimulated desorption (ESD, PSD) of ions and excited neutrals from molecular solids has recently received considerable attention. Much work has been performed on small molecules of well-known electronic structure, with the objective of elucidating desorption mechanisms in considerable detail. The work of Stulen, et al [1] and STOCKBAUER, et al [2] on hydrogen-bonded films, and that of SAMBE, et al [3] and ROSENBERG, et al [4,5] on a variety of systems should be mentioned in this regard. Another approach has involved the examination of desorption from larger systems such as neopentane and similar alkanes [6]; the objectives here have been the discernment of the general features of the ion desorption mechanisms, the extent to which desorption-inducing excitations are localized within the molecule and the influence of chemical structure on the desorption process. Previous studies in this area on alkanes [6] and partially fluorinated hydrocarbons [7] have revealed that H+, CH3+, F+, and CF+ desorption results from multi valence hole states localized within functional groups (e.g., CH3), and that these multi-hole states result from the decay of C2s(H+, CH3+) or F2s (F+, CF+) holes. These conclusions are generally similar to those drawn from the studies of simple systems [1–5]. The reasons for localization of a multi-hole excitation within a covalent system have been discussed elsewhere [8,9].
Comparison of cloud-top height retrievals from ground-based 35 GHz MMCR and GMS-5 satellite observations at ARM TWP Manus site

Abstract Retrievals of cloud-top heights from the ARM 35 GHz Millimeter Wave Cloud Radar (MMCR) located on Manus Island are compared to those from the GMS-5 satellite as a means to evaluate the accuracy of both MMCR and GMS-5 retrievals, as well as to ascertain their limitations. Comparisons are carried out for retrievals of both single-layer and multilayer clouds as seen by radar, but only for satellite-detected clouds with 100% amount within a 0.3×0.3° domain centered at the ARM site of one cloud type (i.e., low, middle, or high). Mean differences, with 95% confidence limits, between radar- and satellite-retrieved cloud-top heights (i.e., radar-retrieved cloud-top heights−satellite-retrieved cloud-top heights) are 0.3±0.3 km for single-layer clouds and −0.7±0.3 km for multilayer clouds. The study reveals that for thick clouds (i.e., cloud base ≤1 km and cloud thickness ≥10 km), which are representative of convective towers with no/light precipitation as well as thick anvil clouds, retrievals from the MMCR agree well with those from satellite with mean differences of 0.0±0.4 and −0.2±0.3 km for single-layer and multilayer clouds, respectively. For clouds of lesser thickness, mean cloud-top heights derived from satellite are lower than those derived from radar by as much as 2.0 km. It is also shown that for convective clouds with heavy precipitation, MMCR retrievals underestimate the cloud-top heights significantly.
Contribution of vasopressin to vasoconstriction in patients with congestive heart failure: comparison with the renin-angiotensin system and the sympathetic nervous system.

Ten patients with advanced congestive heart failure were treated with an arginine vasopressin VIantagonist during hemodynamic monitoring to determine the contribution of vasopressin to vasoconstriction in this disorder. The vasopressin antagonist caused a decrease in systemic vascular resistance in the three patients whose plasma vasopressin was greater than 4.0 pg/ml (average for the group was 2.4 ± 0.6). Plasma vasopressin concentration correlated with the percent decrease of systemic vascular resistance (r = 0.70, p It is concluded that vasopressin and the renin-angiotensin system each contribute to systemic vasoconstriction in some patients with heart failure, whereas the sympathetic nervous system consistently contributes to vasoconstriction in these patients.
A novel marker of murine bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells that is expressed on peripheral T cells and is associated with a functionally important molecule on activated cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

ABSTRACT A MAb (R2/60) has been isolated that defines a novel lymphocyte marker of murine T cells. The determinant recognized by MAb R2/60 is present on a subset of bone marrow (BM) hematopoietic stem cells, on adult thymocytes, on peripheral T cells (both resting and activated), and on murine T cell tumor lines, although it is not expressed on mature B cells. In immunoprecipitation studies using radiolabeled membrane lysates from adult thymocytes, MAb R2/60 precipitated a 44-kDa membrane-bound dimer. Functionally, MAb R2/60 mediated antigen-independent cell lysis by activated CTLs, and by CTL clones, when bridged to Fc receptor-bearing target cells; however, binding of MAb R2/60 to effector cells prior to cytotoxic assays did not inhibit target cell lysis by CTLs, suggesting that the R2/60 determinant is involved in transmembrane signaling to already activated CTLs, but that it is not involved in target cell adhesion or antigen recognition. Moreover, direct stimulation of T cells by MAb R2/60 in the abse...
Simulation evaluation of an advanced control concept for a V/STOL aircraft

Two candidate control systems for a vertical/short takeoff and landing aircraft are described, both of which are limited-authority, digital, fly-by-wire variants of a YAV-8B Harrier control system. The performance of these systems was compared with that of an ideal, full-authority system in simulated, adverse-weather shipboard operations using the Ames Research Center's Vertical Motion Simulator. Both systems showed some performance degradation relative to the ideal system, but both were adequate to meet research objectives. The favored system, selected because of safety considerations, was further simulated using a precision visual hovering task that verified its acceptability.
Simple continued fractions for some irrational numbers, II

Abstract In this paper we prove a theorem allowing us to determine the continued fraction expansion for Σ k =0 ∞ u − c ( k ) , where c ( k ) is any sequence of positive integers that grows sufficiently quickly. As an application, we determine the continued fraction expansion for Liouville's famous transcendental number Σ k =0 ∞ m −( k + 1)! .
Ambient moisture characterization of thin small outline packages (TSOPs)

Two types of TSOPs were characterized with ambient preconditioning stresses to determine their true moisture sensitivity to solder reflow induced damage. The results reveal that traditional accelerated preconditioning stresses do not properly predict this package's moisture sensitivity. Furthermore, the current model for predicting reflow damage may be ineffective for thinner packages since it only considers the amount of moisture absorbed and not the distribution of moisture. >
Observations on a small outbreak of infantile diarrhea associated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Summary 1. A small, relatively mild outbreak of diarrhea associated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Bacillus pyocyaneus) occurring on an infants' ward is described. 2. The clinical course of five patients is given together with an account of the therapy employed. On the basis of encouraging results in one patient and reports of in vitro sensitivity of the organism, it is suggested that when other forms of chemotherapy fail, Polymyxin B be tried by the oral route. 3. It is shown that washing a contaminated object in soap and water does not reduce the Ps. aeruginosa count, while soaking in 70 per cent ethyl alcohol for 2 minutes is effective. It is recommended that this procedure be included in the hospital technic for prevention of cross infections. 4. Among twelve strains of Ps. aeruginosa studied for flagella antigens there were at least four serologic groups. The strains recovered from four of the five patients with diarrhea were serologically homologous and identical with the strain recovered from the hands of one of the nurses. The sole exception was the first patient whose organism was in a serologic group of its own. 5. The sera of convalescing infants did not contain agglutinins for their homologous organism. Nevertheless some adult sera taken at random had agglutinins in moderately high titer for one of the strains associated with the diarrhea.
Influence of Tillage, Cover Crop, and Preemergence Herbicides on Weed Control and Pumpkin Yield

ABSTRACT Many Midwestern and Eastern U.S. jack-o-lantern pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) growers are interested in using no-tillage production practices. However, improved weed management practices must be developed before no-tillage will be readily adopted for pumpkin production. A field study was conducted to determine effects of tillage, winter rye (Secale cereale L.), and preemergence herbicides on weed control and pumpkin yield. Grass and broadleaf weed control was greater in no-tillage compared to conventional tillage, and cover crop use in a no-tillage system further improved the level of weed control. Early- and late-season control of giant foxtail (Setaria faberi Herrm.), common cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium L.), redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.), and common waterhemp (A. rudis Sauer) were highly correlated (0.48 ≥ r ≤ 0.86, P ≤ 0.01) with pumpkin yield and fruit size. Although applying clomazone+ethalfluralin to winter rye residues improved broadleaf weed control compared with no herbicid...
You always hurt the one you love: Strategies and tactics in interpersonal conflict

The present study delineates the five most frequently utilized strategies of relational conflict resolution. Three propositions were tested. In examining the first proposition, same and opposite sex friends indicated that they utilized significantly different conflict strategies. In testing proposition two, males and females reported that they employ different strategies with their same but not opposite sex friends. In probing the third proposition, frequently used conflict strategies discriminated between levels of relational satisfaction.