cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A simple quantitative assay for chloramphenicol acetyltransferase by direct extraction of the labeled product into scintillation cocktail

Abstract A simple, rapid, sensitive, quantitative, and inexpensive assay for chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) is described. The assay is based on the direct extraction of the products of the reaction into toluenebased liquid scintillation cocktail. The assay is carried out in 7-ml scintillation vials using 1 m m chloramphenicol and either 100 μ m acetyl-CoA and 0.1 μCi of [3H]acetyl-CoA or 1 m m acetyl-CoA and 0.5 μCi of [3H]-acetyl-CoA. After incubation, the reaction is terminated with 0.5 ml of 0.1 m sodium borate-5 m NaCl, pH 9. The acetylchloramphenicols are extracted with 5 ml of 0.4% 2,5-diphenyloxazole-0.005% 1,4-bis(5-phenyloxazol-2-yl)benzene in toluene by a 30-s shaking. After a short centrifugation to clarify the layers, the vials are counted in a liquid scintillation counter. Extracted products are stable in the organic layer. Under these conditions, nearly 100% extraction of acetylchloramphenicols is shown using nonlabeled compounds and spectrophotometric methods. Using pure enzyme in the assay, linearity of activity with enzyme concentration, time, and temperature of incubation is demonstrated. Assays may even be carried out at 60°C, where the enzyme activity is 3.4-fold higher than that at 23°C. The increase in enzyme activity with increasing temperature is due to the increased formation of predominantly 3-acetyl- and 1-acetylchloramphenicols and not to 1,3-diacetylchloramphenicol. The present assay compared very well with the standard assay using [14C]chloramphenicol and TLC. Using this assay, we measured quantitatively the CAT activity in extracts of pSV2-CAT-transfected CV-1 cells in 10 min and NIH 3T3 cell extracts in 60 min at 60°C. CAT-like activity and acetyl-CoA hydrolase activities are not detectable in control cell extracts under the present assay conditions.
Demonstration of the quantum dot avalanche photodiode (QDAP)

We report new results on the design, fabrication and characterization of a novel midinfrared sensor called quantum dot avalanche photodiode (QDAP). The QDAP consists of a quantum dots-in-a-well (DWELL) detector coupled with an avalanche photodiode (APD) through a tunnel barrier. In the QDAP, the photons are absorbed in the DWELL active region while the APD section provides photocurrent gain. Spectral response and photocurrent measurements at 77 K were taken to characterize the response of the device. The increase of the spectral response and the nonlinear increase in the photocurrent as the APD voltage increases support theoretical predictions about the QDAP capability to work in Geiger mode. The QDAP photocurrent is similar to the IV characteristic of the APD section, indicating gain in the device.
Die Chlorfluorkohlenwasserstoff/Ozon‐Theorie. Ein wissenschaftlicher Lagebericht

Die Professoren Rowland und Molina von der University of California at Irvine haben 1974 eine Theorie uber die mogliche Schadigung des Ozonschildes der Erde durch Chlorfluorkohlenwasserstoffe entwickelt. Diese Verbindungen sind als Arbeitsflussigkeiten fur die Sicherheit und Effizienz fast aller Klima- und Kuhlanlagen verantwortlich und werden als Treibmittel fur vielerlei Aerosole benutzt. – Der vorliegende Aufsatz besteht aus funf Abschnitten. Im ersten wird die wissenschaftliche Situation geschildert, die Ende 1974 bestand; im zweiten werden die Befunde und Beobachtungen analysiert, die der Theorie zugrundeliegen, und die seit Anfang 1975 gewonnenen neuen Erkenntnisse diskutiert. Der dritte Abschnitt ist dem moglichen Ausmas der Ozonabnahme gewidmet, wahrend der vierte und funfte sich mit dem Risiko beschaftigen, das der Aufschub der Entscheidung uber den Produktionsstop mit sich bringt.
Effects of simulated space proton environment on transmission of optical materials for the space telescope imaging spectrograph

Potential transmitting materials for the STIS mission are being considered for order sorters, in-flight calibration filters, detector windows and calibration lamps. In this paper we examine the changes in spectral transmission characteristics with radiation dosage during a mission lifetime. A radiation environment for a 593 km altitude, 28 degree inclination orbit, for solar minimum and solar maximum, assuming a spherical shielding of 2 gms/cm 2 has been assumed. The dosage for protons is 0.392 Krad (Al)/Yr. and 0.217 Krad (Al)/Yr. for solar minimum and solar maximum respectively. To simulate the mission radiation environment Harvard Cyclotron Laboratory (HCL) has been used. Spectral transmission was measured between 210 nm and 3200 nm using a Perkin Elmer Lambda 9 monochromator. Below 210 nm a one meter McPherson vacuum monochromator was used. Transmission curves for all samples were obtained before irradiation and compared for equality in transmission.
On the Prediction of Unsteady Forces on Gas-Turbine Blades: Part 2 — Viscous-Wake-Interaction and Axial-Gap Effects

This paper is a contribution to the study of the generation of unsteady forces on turbine blades due to viscous wake interaction and potential-flow interaction from upstream blade rows. A computer program is used to compute the unsteady forces on a rotor. Typical results for isolated viscous-wake interaction (no potential-flow interaction) are shown. These results indicate that the first spatial harmonic of the unsteady force may decrease for higher stator-to-rotor-pitch ratios. This trend is explained by considering the mechanisms by which the unsteady forces are generated. The mechanism by which the viscous wakes affect the flow field to generate these unsteady forces is shown to vary with the stator-to-rotor-pitch ratio and with the outlet flow angle of the stator. It is also shown that by varying the axial gap between rotor and stator one can attempt to minimize the magnitude of the unsteady part of the forces generated by the combined effects of viscous-wake interaction and potential-flow interaction.Copyright © 1988 by ASME
Assessing the Level of Elder Abuse Knowledge Preprofessionals Possess: Implications for the Further Development of University Curriculum

Elder abuse is a multifaceted problemthat requires interdisciplinary prevention and intervention strategies. An important question that arises is whether professionals are adequately prepared to address elder abuse in this collaborative network. Unfortunately, no studies have been conducted to assess the varying levels of knowledge that preprofessionals enrolled in university courses possess with regard to elder abuse. To fill this void, this study assesses the levels of elder abuse awareness among social work, nursing, health professions, and criminal justice students. Specific attention is given to determining whether there are differences in the amount of exposure to elder abuse literature across the disciplines. The study involves the analysis of survey data collected from 202 students enrolled in health and human sciences classes at a large university. Results show that none of the preprofessional groups, on average, reported knowing enough about elder abuse. Implications for future practice and research are provided.
Scanning tunneling microscopy of a disordered Alq3–metal interface

Abstract Scanning tunneling microscopy is used to observe the structure of the first monolayer of Alq3 on Cu(1 1 0). Individual molecules can be resolved at very low coverage where there is also evidence of significant surface mobility. As Alq3 surface coverage increases, molecules aggregate by forming pairs and chain-like structures without ever establishing long range order. Interfacial disorder is maintained even after annealing to 590 K. The tendency to form chain-like aggregates is attributed to anisotropic intermolecular interactions. Anisotropies in these interactions are implicated in chain formation by illustrative density functional theory calculations and the role of direct dipolar interactions, anisotropic van der Waals interactions, and substrate-mediated interactions is discussed.
1410 TREATMENT OF EXPERIMENTAL NEONATAL E. COLI Kl SEPSIS AND MENINGITIS WITH INTRAVENOUS IMMUNE GLOBULIN

E. coli is a leading cause of infection in neonates and in many cases antibiotics alone are ineffective. Therefore, we tested the effect of intravenous immune globulin(IVIG) on neutrophil(neut) kinetics and survival. When 104 E.coli Kl/gm body wt was given transthoracically(TT) to 37 newborn rats, all died. Five of 6 blood cultures were positive(+) after 30 min; all were + in 2h. Spinal fluid was + in 1/6 by 30 min, in 2/6 by 2h, and in 7/7 by 6h. When 2.5 cc/kg of intraperitoneal IVIG was given simultaneously with TT E.coli, 8/18(44%) lived, with 5 cc/kg 14/17(82%) lived, with 20 cc/kg 17/18(94%) lived, and with ≥-30cc/kg 34/34 (100%) survived. IVIG recipients(30 cc/kg) released neut from their reserves more rapidly than did controls (after 2h neut reserve=4.9±0.7×106 vs 8.1±0.8×106 in controls, x±SEM, p<0.01). IVIG recipients did not become neutropenic (2.7±0.4×103 neut/mn3 vs 0.2±0.1 ×103/mm3 22h after inoculation, p<0.001), nor did they completely exhaust their marrow neut reserve (3.3±0.5×106 vs 1.4±0.3×106 after 22h, p<0.005). When IVIG was delayed for 12h after TT E.coli, 3/17(18%) lived but when ampicillin (200 mg/kg/day) and gentamicin (5 mg/kg/day) were given at 12h instead of IVIG 11/17(65%) lived. When both IVIG and antibiotics were given, 12/14(86%) survived. When treatment was delayed for 16h, 5/17 (29%) antibiotic vs 1/17(6%) IVIG recipients lived, but 13/22 (59%) which received both survived. Thus, IVIG facilitated marrow neut release, prevented neutropenia and marrow neut exhaustion, diminished mortality, and enhanced the effect of antibiotics.
Synthetic Methods Based on Sulfonimides I. SN2 Displacement of Ditosylamine

Abstract In organic synthesis oxygen-functionalized carbon compounds (in various oxidation states) are by far the most common intermediates due to their versatility in carbon-carbon bond formation. However in the synthesis of complicated polyfunctional compounds the use of exclusively oxygen-containing functional groups necessitates elaborate schemes of protection and differentiation among these functional groups. Recent syntheses of prostaglandin E1 1 and jasmone2 illustrate the use of nitrogen functions (nitrile, amide, amine, nitro groups) as oxygen equivalents. These successes suggest that additional methods for replacing C-N bonds with C-O should be sought
Greatly extended viability of rat brain storage vesicles in an intracellular medium based upon a non-permeant polyanion.

Abstract The MgATP-stimulated accumulation of (-)- 3 H-nor- epinephrine (NE) by rat brain neuronal storage vesicles has been characterized in a new medium based upon polyacrylic acid (avg. MW 5,000). The medium allows careful regulation of K + concentration (140 mM), has a large buffer capacity, and is non-permeant to membranes. Light scattering measurements have confirmed the osmotic stability of vesicles suspended in this medium. Vesicular accumulation of (-)- 3 H-NE (Km 1 × 10 −6 M) in this system (37°) was examined under saturating (10 −5 M) and non-saturating (2 × 10 −7 M) concentrations of NE. At 10 −5 M NE, uptake saturated at 5 min and remained stable for periods up to one hour, with maximal uptake levels (pmol/mg protein) of 15.7±0.30 (37°), 3.0±0.49 (0°), 4.4±0.22 (reserpine pretreated in vivo ) and 6.0±0.79 (without MgATP). At 2×10 −7 M NE uptake was biphasic with maximal uptake levels (pmol/mg protein) of 4.04±0.14 (37°), 0.19±0.01 (0°), 0.95±0.01 (reserpine) and 0.83±0.08 (without MgATP). Vesicle preparations refrigerated in this medium for 24 hrs displayed properties quite similar to those measured acutely (NE = 2.2 x 10 −7 M).
Overcoming cultural barriers to deliver comprehensive rural community mental health care in Southern India.

Abstract Aim To describe obstacles overcome in establishing and implementing a comprehensive community psychiatry program in rural India. Background Studies in low income countries point to a significant association of common mental disorders with female gender, low education, poverty, lack of access to running water in the home, and experiencing hunger. Gynecological complaints are associated with an increased risk of mental disorders. Suicide is a major public health problem with women outnumbering men in completed suicides in India. Among barriers to care are low value given to mental health by individuals in society, high prevalence of mental and neurological problems, apathy toward psychosocial aspects of health and development, and chronic lack of resources. Design/methods We developed and implemented a program of care delivery thus (a) targeting the indigent women in the region; (b) integrating mental health care with primary care; (c) making care affordable and accessible; and (d) sustaining the program long term. I also review pertinent articles to demonstrate our success. Results We provided mental healthcare for the indigent using a successful and vibrant model that overcame hurdles to treat patients from 187 villages in Southern India. Of note are low resource use, and the lack of accessibility, comprehensive care, the use of indigenous case workers and primary care professionals. Conclusions Rural mental health care must be culturally congruent, integrate primary care and local community workers for success.
Case study: ergonomic and hazard evaluation of a new consumer product

The introduction of a new, powerful, mechanical home-use tool carries with it a high risk of product liability. This liability stems from both planned and unanticipated use of the product. In view of this, it is imperative that designers and manufacturers carefully analyze their proposed product to insure that possible failures and hazards have been evaluated and corrected, that current ergonomic principles have been used in the design, that instructions and warning signs clearly document the hazards associated with use of the product, and that the advertising describe only safe methods of handling and using the product. This paper describes the analyses that were performed on a tool prior to its production. The purpose of the analyses was to identify and solve as many of the hazardous operating problems of the tool as possible. To this end, a series of system safety analyses was performed to define the user, user-machine interface, and mechanical problems associated with the ditcher-saw.
The organization of structured files

A data file is an integral part of a data processing system. In many systems, the selection of an organization for the data within the file can be critical to the system's operating efficiency.This paper provides the systems designer with an information source which describes ten techniques that may be employed for organizing structured data.The characteristics of the organizations described are application independent, thus providing the designer with a reference which allows him to limit the number of file organizations he must consider for his system.
Dynamics of Bengal Rose Encapsulated in the Meijer Dendrimer Box

We used molecular dynamics (MD) techniques to examine the encapsulation of Bengal Rose (BR) molecules in the Meijer dendrimer box (DBox) formed by the addition of tert-butyloxycarbonyl-l-Phe (tBOC-l-Phe) cap molecules to the 64 terminal primary amines of a fifth generation poly(propyleneimine) (PPI-5) dendrimer. Using a large periodic box (including DBox, four to six BR, and CH2Cl2 solvent, totaling ∼25 000 atoms), we examined the MD of these systems for ∼0.5 ns. Without the cap we find that BR molecules establish a concentration dependent equilibrium between the interior and surface regions of PPI-5 and the solvent region outside the dendrimer. The number of BR molecules calculated to associate with the interior of the PPI-5 dendrimer agrees exactly with experiment (at the same BR/PPI concentration). MD simulations on the DBox in CH2Cl2 show that the tBOC-l-Phe surface is completely impermeable to encapsulated BR molecules, even when an excess is forced inside the box. The close correspondence of the the...
Dynamic light-scattering study of gelatin and aggregation of gastric mucin

Dynamic light scattering studies show that concentration and pH play important roles in determining pig gastric mucin's (PGM) ability to aggregate and gel. At low concentrations, PGM macromolecules exist in solution predominantly in the form of monomers. At high concentrations, PGM macromolecules aggregate to form supra-macromolecular clusters. When the pH of the high concentration PGM solution is changed from 7.0 to 2.0, the system undergoes a sol-gel transition: from a solution of polydisperse aggregates to a gel. This pH and concentration dependent sol-gel transition of PGM solution may provide a mechanism for the mammalian stomach to protect itself against being digested by the gastric juice.
INSURANCE STATUS AND CLINICIAN RECOGNITION OF CHILD PSYCHOSOCIAL PROBLEMS. • 91

Because previous studies have suggested differences in treatment choices and referral by insurance status, we examined the effect of insurance status on clinician recognition of psychosocial problems for pediatric primary care visits.
Cell-free synthesis of functional type IV adenylyl cyclase.

Type IV adenylyl cyclase was synthesized in a cell-free coupled transcription and translation system. Radiolabeled type IV adenylyl cyclase was specifically immune precipitated with anti-ACIV antibodies. The molecular weight of in vitro translated type IV adenylyl cyclase was 110,000, similar to that for type IV adenylyl cyclase produced in the baculovirus system [B. Gao and A. G. Gilman, (1991) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88, 10178-10182]. Dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine was required for efficient stimulation of activity by both forskolin and GS, with a maximum specific activity of 700 +/- 100 nmol cAMP.min-1.mg-1 attained with both effectors combined. Both bovine brain GS and in vitro translated GS alpha activated in vitro translated type IV adenylyl cyclase; however, G beta gamma only enhanced stimulation in the presence of in vitro translated GS alpha. Forskolin maximally activated at concentrations from 200 to 400 microM in the absence or presence of GS. The in vitro translated product was very stable as production of cAMP by forskolin/GS activated type IV adenylyl cyclase was linear for up to 90 min at 30 degrees C.
Predicting the Biological Impact of Competitive Fishing

Abstract We used literature data to derive general Leslie matrix models for the population dynamics of largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides and walleye Stizostedion vitreum. With these models, we predicted the impact competitive fishing has on the joint management objectives of maintaining population abundance and population size structure. Our results showed that the amount of fishing that was sustainable without causing population decline increased with intrinsic population growth rate, but was only slightly affected by individual growth rate. Constraints on fishing mortality imposed by population size structure objectives, however, were determined primarily by individual growth rate. Comparison between species indicated that largemouth bass could support greater fishing mortality than walleye for the same level of population growth rate. This occurred because of differences in the maturation schedules of the two species relative to the age and size at which fish become legal to keep for entry into tou...
Discrete-control correction A technique for the synchronization of digital communication networks

Discrete-control correction is a method of synchronizing the clocks of a digital communication network by means of periodic corrections to their frequencies, the correction to each clock being derived from the change in the buffer level at that node. This paper presents a comprehensive treatment of this method and extends the results of earlier papers to more general situations. It is shown that there is a set of conditions, one for each node, which is sufficient to establish network synchronism. Explicit formulae are derived for the frequency of synchronism and the steady-state buffer levels. It is shown also that the master—slave scheme of synchronization, in which the clocks of the network are synchronized to a designated master clock, is obtained as the special case of discrete-control correction in which corrections are made to all the clocks except the master clock. It is pointed out that in the event of disruption of a part of the network, the surviving part or parts of the network are assured of r...
Sono-contrast spectroscopy for breast cancer detection

In a preclinical study, we demonstrated that blood flow and tissue oxygenation could be manipulated by focused ultrasound; the effects of such manipulation were interrogated via optical spectroscopy at wavelengths where oxy- and deoxy-hemoglobin display different extinction properties. We have designed a clinical breast scanner based on these noninvasive techniques. In addition to the focused ultrasound field intersecting with the volume of optical illumination and points of spectral collection, a diagnostic quality breast imaging probe is incorporated into the scanhead to achieve image guidance. Experimental confirmation of the system performance of the focused ultrasound field properties, diagnostic imaging capabilities and NIR spectroscopy subsystem has been carried out to demonstrate readiness for a clinical study involving 200 patients who are scheduled to undergo ultrasound-guided biopsy to rule out breast cancers.
Genetic variant of IL28B rs12979860, as predictive marker of interferon-based therapy in Pakistani population.

Imran M, Manzoor S, Azam S, Resham S. Genetic variant of IL28B rs12979860, as predictive marker of interferon-based therapy in Pakistani population. APMIS 2015. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes and genetic variants of interleukin 28B (IL28B) are significantly associated with interferon plus ribavirin treatment of HCV infection. We investigated the distribution of HCV genotypes and singlenucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of IL28B (rs12979860 and rs8099917) in Pakistani population. IL28B genotyping was performed by allele-specific PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism PCR in 140 chronic hepatitis C patients (CHC) and 120 healthy controls. HCV genotype 3 (HCVG3) was the most prevalent genotype, 71.4% (n = 100/140) and with the highest treatment response of 90% (n = 90/100). The overall treatment response of all the HCV genotypes was 82% (n = 115/140). The distribution of IL28B rs12979860CC genotype in treatment responder and non-responder groups was 40.8% (n = 47/115) and 16% (n = 4/25) respectively. IL28B rs12979860CC genotype demonstrated a significant correlation (p = 0.019) with interferon-based therapy of HCV infection. However, there was no observed association of IL28B rs8099917 polymorphism with treatment response in CHC patients (p = 0.264). In conclusion, HCV genotypes and IL28B rs12979860 are predictive markers for the efficiency of interferon plus ribavirin combinational therapy of HCV infection. We recommend the inclusion of testing for these markers in the clinical criteria for decision making for HCV therapy in Pakistani population.
The deleterious effect of red blood cell storage on microvascular response to transfusion.

Background The transfusion of relatively older red blood cells (RBCs) has been associated with both morbidity and mortality in trauma patients in observational studies. Although the mechanisms responsible for this phenomenon remain unclear, alterations in the microcirculation as a result of the transfusion of relatively older blood may be a causative factor. To assess this hypothesis, we evaluated microvascular perfusion in trauma patients during RBC transfusion.
Mouse neuropathogenic poliovirus strains cause damage in the central nervous system distinct from poliomyelitis

Abstract Poliomyelitis as a consequence of poliovirus infection is observed only in primates. Despitea host range restricted to primates, experimental infection of rodents with certain genetically well defined poliovirus strains produces neurological disease. The outcome of infection of mice with mouse-adapted poliovirus strains has been described previously mainly in terms of paralysis and death, and it was generally assumed that these strains produce the same disease syndromes in normal mice and in mice transgenic for the human poliovirus receptor ( h PVR- tg mice). We report a comparison of the clinical course and the histopathological features of neurological disease resulting from intracerebral virus inoculation in normal micewith those of murine poliomyelitis in h PVR- tg mice. The consistent pattern of clinical deficits in poliomyelitic transgenic mice contrasted with highly variable neurologic disease that developed in mice infected with different mouse-adapted polioviruses. Histopathological analysis showed a diffuse encephalomyelitis induced by specific poliovirus serotype 2 isolates in normal mice, that affected neuronal cell populations without discrimination, whereas in h PVR- tg animals, damage was restricted to spinal motor neurons. Mouse neurovirulent strains of poliovirus type 2 differed from mouse neurovirulent poliovirus type 1 derivatives in their ability to induce CNS lesions. Our findings indicate that the characteristic clinical appearance and highly specific histopathological features of poliomyelitis are mediated by the h PVR. Our data lead us to conclude that the tissue tropism of mouse-adapted poliovirus strains in normal mice is fundamentally different from that of poliovirus in h PVR- tg mice and primates, and that this is indicative of an as yet unknown mechanism of adsorption and uptake of the virus into cells of the murine CNS.
Two Acts, One Goal: Meeting the Shared Vision of No Child Left Behind and Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004.

(2006). Two Acts, One Goal: Meeting the Shared Vision of No Child Left Behind and Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004. The Clearing House: A Journal of Educational Strategies, Issues and Ideas: Vol. 80, No. 1, pp. 5-8.
Communication between CAM and mainstream medicine: Delphi panel perspectives.

Summary Healthcare practitioners’ models of health affect their patient interactions and services. We surveyed mainstream (MM), integrative (IM) and CAM providers to investigate their models of health. This study generated ideas for actions to improve MM/CAM communication based on survey findings. Through the Delphi technique, a panel of 14 MM, IM and CAM experts participated in two rounds of questioning regarding survey findings. MM panel members were less supportive of almost all suggestions for actions than IM and CAM members. Suggestions most likely to be implemented were enabling the patient to take an active role in care, establishing understanding between patient and practitioner of treatment and its goals, fostering patients’ taking responsibility for their health and communicating about patient assessment in ways understandable to others. Actions to foster better MM/CAM communication promote focus by a team of providers on the patient's goals, functioning and involvement in their care.
Laboratory diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.

t o t c A t o l R i t p DEFINITIVE DIAGNOSIS OF patients who present with persistent wrist or hand pain without evidence of trauma, degeneration, or anatomic derangement tests the surgeon’s diagnostic acumen. In patients with persistent ( 6 wk) symptoms, the clinician should consider inflammatory arthritis in the differential diagnosis, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or other autoimmune-associated arthropathies. Early in the disease course, these patients often have nonspecific joint pain that does not meet criteria for a defined disease entity. These patients may be characterized as aving an undifferentiated inflammatory arthritis that ay later evolve into a specific arthritic condition, ncluding RA, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), soriatic arthritis, or a seronegative spondyloarthropahy. Because symptoms can evolve over an extended eriod of time, a delay often occurs between onset and iagnosis. For most immune-mediated disorders, no ingle test is diagnostic; therefore, a combination of linical, serologic, and radiographic tests are underaken to arrive at a diagnosis, to institute treatment. ere, we address the chief laboratory considerations in iagnosing RA and other autoimmune arthropathies. Testing for antibodies directed against nuclear contituents (antinuclear antibodies [ANA]) is most comonly performed as an immunofluorescent microscopy ssay on human epithelial-2 cells, although efforts are eing made to standardize on automatable enzyme imunoassay testing. Whereas testing for ANA is most commonly used in diagnosing SLE (sensitivity, 93%), ANA can be present in a variety of other conditions, including systemic sclerosis (85%), polymyositis/dermatomyositis (61%), and RA (41%). By definition, ANA is present in patients with drug-induced lupus (100%) or mixed connective tissue disease (100%).
Speed Reading for Genes: Bookmarks Set the Pace

During mitosis, most transcription ceases. Mitotic gene bookmarking marks genes for reactivation to ensure reestablishment of transcription states and cell-cycle progression. In a recent issue of Nature Cell Biology, Zhao et al. (2011) investigate how gene bookmarking leads to accelerated kinetics of transcriptional reactivation after mitosis.
Atypical functional lateralization of language in autism spectrum disorders

Impaired language is a prominent behavioral marker of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), but its neurobiological underpinnings are incompletely understood. We studied letter and category fluency in 14 high functioning ASD individuals and 14 age-matched controls. Each fluency condition was compared to self-paced repetition of the word "nothing." Responses were recorded to monitor performance. In letter fluency, the ASD group had significantly greater activation than controls in the right frontal and right superior temporal lobes. Between-group differences were not observed in left prefrontal cortex. By examining functional asymmetry in frontal cortex, we found that the ASD group had significantly reduced lateralization of activation patterns in letter fluency compared to the controls. In category fluency, no between-group differences in lateralization were found, in light of greater bilateral activation in controls. These findings indicate reduced hemispheric differentiation for certain verbal fluency tasks in ASD, consistent with some previous evidence of atypical functional and structural asymmetries in autism. Abnormal functional organization may contribute to the language impairment seen in ASD.
Is Fair Trade-Organic Coffee Sustainable in the Face of Migration? Evidence from a Oaxacan Community

Abstract Mexican coffee growers have been negatively affected by low world coffee prices coupled with reduced government support. One response by coffee farmers has been increasing migration to the US. Another response by some cooperatives has been to differentiate their coffee by certifying it as environmentally sustainable, organic, and/or Fair Trade. This paper examines the links among low coffee prices, migration, and certified coffee production and trade, drawing on a 2004 case study conducted in Oaxaca, Mexico. Although remittances from migrants help finance coffee production, increased migration drains human capital out of the region, which raises the opportunity cost of labor and hence local wages. In this sense, coffee growers who migrate to the US, partly to provide operating capital for coffee, undermine coffee production by raising its costs. The findings raise doubts about the sustainability of the Fair Trade-organic coffee model in the face of migration opportunities. A Chinese version of th...
The Asian Empire: Siberia and Alaska through Russian Eyes

Books reviewed in this article: Alix O'Grady, From the Baltic to Russian America 1829–1836: The Journey of Elizabeth von Wrangell Natal′ia Okhotina-Lind and Peter Ulf Moller (eds.), Vtoraia Kamchatskaia ekspeditsiia: Dokumenty 1730–1733, part 1, Morskie otriady: Istochniki po istorii Sibiri i Aliaski iz Rossiiskikh arkhivov Georg Wilhelm Steller, Steller's History of Kamchatka: Collected Information Concerning the History of Kamchatka, Its Peoples, Their Manners, Names, Lifestyle, and Various Customary Practices Andrei A. Znamenski (trans.), Through Orthodox Eyes: Russian Missionary Narratives of Travels to the Dena'ina and Ahtna, 1850s–1930s
K2CO3-catalysed steam gasification of supercritical extracted chars

The K2C03-catalysed steam gasification of coal chars, obtained by the Supercritical Gas Extraction (SGE) process, is studied. Kinetics experiments used a gravimetric technique at atmospheric pressure and at temperatures ranging from 700 to 800 °C. It was found that K2C03 is an effective catalyst for steam gasification of solvent extracted residue. The catalytic effect was similar to that observed for gasification of the unextracted parent coal. The gasification-time curves exhibited a sigmoid shape, which reduced to a single master curve for the various reaction temperatures studied and fitted well the predictions of the random capillary model. Activation energies, calculated using this model, varied from 155 to 173 kJ mol−1 for the various chars studied.
Protest Is Not Enough: A Theory of Political Incorporation

Protest Is Not Enough is partly a report on the politics of black and Hispanic mobilization in ten northern California cities and partly an effort to formulate a theory useful for the study of minority mobilization and its significance in cities generally. The cities are San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland, Sacramento, Stockton, Berkeley, Richmond, Hayward, Vallejo, and Daly City. We did not expect to generalize the particulars of our ten cities to others, but we did try to cast our concepts and fundamental relationships at a sufficiently general level to encompass a wide variety of cities, and we hoped that the application of our framework to other cities would suggest ways in which it should be extended or altered.
Microstructure and ion beam characterization of heteroepitaxial Si1−x−yGexCy

Abstract Si1−x−yGexCy is a novel group IV semiconductor alloy with interesting possibilities for strain modification and bandgap engineering. To investigate the growth kinetics of this new semiconductor, heteroepitaxial Si1−x−yGexCy films were grown on 4 in. Si(100) wafers by combined ion and molecular beam deposition at temperatures between 450 and 560°C. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) combined with diffraction show that the films, 1000 ± 220 A thick, are single phase heteroepitaxial cubic diamond solid solutions. For films with a Si:Ge ratio of 7:3 the defect density is low for carbon concentrations less than 1%. The 〈110〉 minimum yield increases from 0.13 to 0.89 as the carbon concentration increases from 0.5 to 3%. For low C concentrations, the channeling yield increases with depth indicating that the defect density increases near the film substrate interface, which is characteristic of partial film relaxation. For C concentrations of 2% and higher the defect density is uniformly high throughout the films indicating that defects are uniformly nucleated throughout the film during growth. Infrared spectroscopy measurements show that the SiC bond length distribution broadens as the carbon concentration increases and also shows that carbon exhibits a higher substitutionality for a growth temperature of 450°C than for 560°C. A possible interpretation of these results is that the high local strain associated with the SiC bonds deteriorates the elastic properties of Si1−x−yGexCy, making it more susceptible to relaxation and defect nucleation than Si1−xGex under similar strain and growth temperatures.
Distinct Tyrosine Kinase Activation and Triton X-100 Insolubility upon FcγRII or FcγRIIIB Ligation in Human Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes.: IMPLICATIONS FOR IMMUNE COMPLEX ACTIVATION OF THE RESPIRATORY BURST ∗

Two tyrosine kinase-dependent pathways exist for activation of the respiratory burst by polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) immunoglobulin G Fc receptors. Direct ligation of Fc gamma RII activates the respiratory burst, but ligation of the glycan phosphoinositol-linked Fc gamma RIIIB does not. Instead, this receptor and the integrin complement receptor CR3 synergize in activation of the respiratory burst (Zhou, M.-J., and Brown, E. J. (1994) J. Cell Biol. 125, 1407-1416). Here we show that direct ligation of Fc gamma RII leads to activation and Triton X-100 insolubility of the Src family kinase Fgr, without effect on the related myeloid Src family member Hck. In contrast, adhesion of PMN via Fc gamma RIIIB leads to activation and Triton X-100 insolubility of Hck but not Fgr. The exclusive association of Fc gamma RIIIB with Hck activation and Triton insolubility is not solely a result of its glycan phosphoinositol anchor, since decay accelerating factor (CD55), another prominent glycan phosphoinositol-anchored PMN protein, is associated with Fgr insolubility to a greater extent than Hck. Ligation of decay accelerating factor, with or without coligation of CR3, does not activate the PMN respiratory burst. Coligation of Fc gamma RIIIB with Fc gamma RII overcomes the pertussis toxin inhibition of H2O2 production in response to direct ligation of Fc gamma RII. These data support the hypothesis that activation of Hck upon Fc gamma RIIIB ligation has a role in generation of the synergistic respiratory burst.
An electron microscopic study of pinocytosis in ameba. II. The cytoplasmic uptake phase.

This report is devoted principally to a consideration of the fate of the pinocytotic vacuole and its content in the ameba Pelomyxa carolinensis (Chaos chaos). High resolution micrographs of the plasmalemma have shown it to consist of three layers, i.e., an outermost filamentiferous zone, a middle homogeneous zone, and an inner zone which appears to be a unit membrane. The three zones can be identified in the membranes lining the pinoyctotic tunnels and vacuoles of amebas fixed shortly after pinocytosis occurred. The first apparent change in the pinocytotic vacuole is an increase in the surface-to-volume ratio which occurs during the 1st hour of its existence. Within 24 hours the marker substance commonly collects in defecation vacuoles which can be identified by the profiles of bacteria usually found in the lumen. Occasionally, however, thorotrast can be seen in the lumen of the contractile vacuole. The thorotrast appears to enter the two excretory organelles by the coalescence of vesicular fragments of the pinocytotic vacuoles with the limiting membranes of the excretory organelles.
The natural course of nicotine dependence symptoms among adolescent smokers.

INTRODUCTION Few studies have investigated the natural course of nicotine dependence prospectively from the earliest experiences with smoking. METHODS Drawing on a cohort of 9th- and 10th-grade adolescents followed over 48 months, survival analyses were conducted to evaluate the cumulative probability, following smoking initiation, for the development of nicotine dependence symptoms. RESULTS Although each nicotine dependence symptom was significantly more prevalent among adolescents who had smoked more than 100 cigarettes by the end of the follow-up assessment, 20% of adolescents smoking fewer than 100 cigarettes reported experiencing "smoking to relieve restlessness and irritability" and "smoking a lot more now to be satisfied compared to when first smoked." Nicotine dependence symptoms were also reported before reaching 100 cigarettes for a substantial number of adolescents (between 9.4% and 58.8% for individual symptoms). Endorsement of nicotine dependence symptoms prospectively predicted past-week smoking (odds ratios [ORs] between 3.18 and 14.62 for significant symptoms) and past-month daily smoking (significant symptoms' ORs between 3.52 and 10.68) at the 48-month assessment even when controlling for amount of previous smoking. CONCLUSIONS The present study adds to the growing body of literature on the natural course of nicotine dependence from earliest experiences with smoking by showing that symptoms of nicotine dependence may develop soon after initiation and/or at low levels of smoking. Our findings suggest that novice adolescent smokers should not be neglected in smoking cessation intervention and that screening and effective intervention for early emerging symptoms among adolescent smokers may be an important target in preventing chronic smoking.
]Mixed ligand association in molten salts—I. The association constant of silver ion with chloride and bromide in molten sodium nitrate

Abstract Equations are derived for the evaluation of thermodynamic association constants of mixed ligand species. Measurements of the emf of concentration cells in the solvent molten NaNO3 at 438°C containing the solutes AgNO3, NACl and NaBr are presented. The association constant for the mixed ligand species is found to be 53,000 ± 2,000 (moles solvent/mole)2. The equilibrium constant for the exchange 1 2 AgCl2− + 1 2 AgBr2− ⇌ AgClBr− is estimated to be 2·26, compared to the statistical value 2.
Isolation and identification of alkanes from three taxa of Monarda

Abstract Nine n-alkanes were isolated and identified from the herb of Monarda punctata var. maritima, seven from Monarda punctata var. fruticulosa, and five from Monarda fistulosa var. mollis. These alkanes ranged from C27H56 to C35H72. In all three taxa, the odd numbered alkanes were generally present in larger amount than the even numbered ones.
Activation of glucose diffusion from egg lecithin liquid crystals by serum albumin

Abstract The diffusion of [14C]glucose from phospholipid model membrane systems has been measured in the presence and absence of bovine serum albumin under various conditions. At acid pH, bovine serum albumin enhances the rate at which glucose diffuses from lecithin-cholesterol-dicetyl phosphate micelles. The enhancement effect has a p K of 4.3. This is close to the pH at which the well-known acid conformation change occurs in this protein. The activation of diffusion only takes place with negatively charged micelles, and is not disrupted by high salt concentrations. The effects of temperature and protein concentration on the diffusion rate were also studied. It is suggested that the protein binds through electrostatic interactions initially, but that the subsequent formation of apolar bonds brings about the activation of glucose diffusion.
Heparan sulfate is required for interaction and activation of the epithelial cell fibroblast growth factor receptor-2IIIb with stromal-derived fibroblast growth factor-7

Fibroblast growth factor-7 (FGF-7) and a specific splice variant of the FGF tyrosine kinase receptor family (FGFR2IIIb) constitute a paracrine signaling system from stroma to epithelium. Different effects of the manipulation of cellular heparan sulfates and heparin on activities of FGF-7 relative to FGF-1 in epithelial cells suggest that pericellular heparan sulfates may regulate the activity of FGF-7 by a different mechanism than other FGFs. In this report, we employ the heparan sulfate-binding protein, protamine sulfate, to reversibly block cellular heparan sulfates. Protamine sulfate, which does not bind significantly to FGF-7 or FGFR2IIIb, inhibited FGF-7 activities, but not those of epidermal growth factor. The inhibition was overcome by increasing the concentrations of FGF-7 or heparin. Heparin was essential for binding of FGF-7 to recombinant FGFR2IIIb expressed in insect cells or FGFR2IIIb purified away from cell products. These results suggest that, similar to other FGF polypeptides, heparan sulfate within the pericellular matrix is required for activity of FGF-7. Differences in response to heparin and alterations in the BULK heparan sulfate content of cells likely reflect FGF-specific differences in the cellular repertoire of multivalent heparan sulfate chains required for assembly and activation of the FGF signal transduction complex.
Whey Protein Concentrate as a Milk Extender

Abstract Whey protein concentrates, having a gross composition equivalent to that of skim milk, were prepared from cheese whey by ultrafiltration and were evaluated as a milk extender. Nutritional and organoleptic data indicate acceptability for such use. Ash values generally were lowered by ultrafiltration averaging 10.5% for cottage cheese whey and 7.5% for its corresponding concentrate. Vitamins and amino acids in protein concentrates were equal or superior to those of skim milk. All essential amino acids were in excess in the protein concentrate as compared with reference protein of the World Health Organization. Feeding trials of rats indicated bioavailability of the dried concentrates was higher than that of both casein and skim-milk powder. Addition of dried concentrate to nonfat dry milk as a 40% blend raised the protein efficiency ratio of the nonfat dry milk from 2.51 to 2.83. Sensory evaluation indicated that up to 40% concentrate from sweet whey or 20% from acid whey can be blended with skim milk without adversely affecting organoleptic quality.
Toward region of interest computer tomography

Computed Tomography (CT) is widely used in the modern clinical settings. In certain procedures, the region of interest (ROI) is often considerably smaller than the imaged field of view (FOV), thereby subjecting the patient to extra dose. For these procedures, we propose a method of filtered region-of-interest (FROI) CT. In this procedure, a predetermined ROI is imaged with standard x-ray intensity, while surrounding areas are imaged using a substantial lower x-ray intensity by interposing an x-ray attenuator in the beam. For the FROI-CT acquisitions in this study, a gadolinium filter with a circular central opening is placed in the x-ray beam of a standard clinical rotational angiography system. The resulting image contains a high intensity ROI, a low intensity region surrounding the ROI, and a transition region between these two. Three-dimensional reconstruction using these images would result in artifacts. Therefore, the intensities in the images are equalized prior to reconstruction. To equalize the intensities, first two images are obtained, one unfiltered and one with a filter in place. The corresponding data in the two images are used in a linear least-squares fit to determine the equalization function. The transition region is equalized using a radial filter technique, based on a comparison of the data on either side of the transition region after intensity equalization. The technique was evaluated using rotational angiographic sequences of a head phantom obtained with and without the filter in place. Differences between conventional (unfiltered) and FROI-equalized images of the head phantom were approximately 5%. Differences in reconstructed images (conventional and FROI) were 7% on average inside the reconstructed ROI. These results are comparable to those obtained for two separate standard acquisitions. A 50% dose reduction was obtained for a 50% FOV radius for the filter. These results indicate that FROI-CT can provide the physician with the image detail comparable to conventional image acquisition while reducing dose to the patient.
Convergence rates for the approximations of the solutions to algebraic Riccati Equations with unbounded coefficients: case of analytic semigroups

Approximations schemes for the solutions of the Algebraic Riccati Equations will be considered. We shall concentrate on the case when the input operator is unbounded and the dynamics of the system is described by an analytic semigroup. The main goal of the paper is to establish the optimal rates of convergence of the underlying approximations. By optimal, we mean such approximations which would reconstruct the optimal regularity of the original solutions as well as the `best' approximation properties of the finite-dimensional subspaces. It turns out that, if one aims to obtain the optimal rates in the case of unbounded input operators, the choice of the approximations to the generator, as well as to the control operator, is very critical. While the convergence results hold with any `consistent' approximations, the optimal rates require a careful selection of the approximating schemes. Our theoretical results will be illustrated by several examples of boundary/point control problems where the optimal rates of convergence are achieved with the appropriate numerical algorithms.