cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Density functional theory of nucleation: A semiempirical approach

We present a semiempirical approach to the density functional theory of gas–liquid nucleation, in which the same experimental properties used in classical nucleation theory (equilibrium vapor pressure, liquid density, and surface tension) are used to fit three adjustable parameters in the intermolecular potential. This approach allows direct comparison of nucleation rates with experimental data. Agreement with results on nonane from three different experimental groups is reasonable, although the comparison clearly reveals the scatter in those results and suggests that further experimental measurements by different groups on the same systems would be very valuable. For water and the n‐alcohols, this version of density functional theory gives results quite close to classical nucleation theory, implying that it is not a good approximation to describe polar fluids by effective spherically symmetric potentials.
Recrystallisation textures in copper-manganese alloys

Manganese is the only alloying element that does not lower the (normalised) stacking fault energy (SFE) of copper-alloys. Therefore, analysis of the recrystallisation behaviour of Cu-Mn alloys may yield information on the impact of solute atoms on the recrystallisation, independent of the influence of the SFE. For this purpose the progress of recrystallisation is tracked in various Cu-Mn alloys by hardness measurements and X-ray texture investigations. To support the results obtained by macrotexture analysis, and in particular to trace the origin of the recrystallisation texture orientations, local orientation measurements are performed by means of electron back scattering diffraction (EBSD). The recrystallisation textures as well as data on the recrystallisation kinetics of the present Cu-Mn alloys are compared to results obtained in other binary Cu-alloys.
Evidence for subclasses of SH groups in (Na+ + K+)-ATPase

Changes in the chemical reactivity of the sulfhydryl groups of (Na+ + K+)-dependent ATPase can be indicative of conformational changes induced by activating ions. Cyanylation of these groups by 5 mM 2-nitro-5-thiobenzoic acid caused a partial inhibition of enzymatic activity. Both this loss and the incorporation of radioactive cyanide from the 14C-labeled reagent were reduced by inclusion of 50 mM ATP and 150 mM Na+ in the incubation. When 10 mM Mg++ was added in addition, the inactivation was not different from that produced by cyanylation reagent alone, but the radioactive labeling of protein increased significantly. The data indicate that the sulfhydryl groups of this enzyme exist in two populations, one of which must be free if the enzyme is to function. The other, not essential for enzymatic activity, becomes accessible only when the Na+ and Mg++-dependent phosphorylation of the enzyme alters its conformation. Inactivation of the enzyme by freezing and thawing increases the incorporation of radioactivity but destroys the responsiveness of labeling to cations and ATP.
SEASONAL VARIATIONS IN THE PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF THE LEAVES OF THE PITCH PINE, WITH ESPECIAL REFERENCE TO COLD RESISTANCE

In order to reach an understanding of the growth responses of a species, or of its ability to survive under the set of environmental conditions representing a given habitat, consistent studies of the seasonal variations in the physiology of that species are necessary, as well as consistent and parallel studies of the seasonal variations in the habitat factors. It is particularly important that the critical periods in the water and temperature relations of the species be recognized. These critical periods are not necessarily those of extreme drought or extreme cold. They are the periods when the plant is not adequately adjusted to the demands or effects of the environment. Evergreen leaves which can endure severe cold spells during the winter may be damaged or killed by late spring or early autumn frosts. The difference in the behavior of the leaves is accounted for by the differences in their physiological reactions at the different seasons. Similar critical periods may occur in the water relations of a plant. A warm period, especially if accompanied by wind, may often desiccate plant organs in the winter or early spring, which would not suffer from such climatic conditions if they occurred in the summer. Knowledge of the critical periods in the water or temperature relations of a plant is necessary if our understanding of the climatic limits to its distribution is to be placed upon a sound physiological foundation. Throughout the greater part of the natural range of a plant it is physiologically so adjusted to the seasonal changes in its environment that only an unusual combination of conditions will have a destructive or detrimental effect upon
Na⁺-substrate coupling in the multidrug antiporter norm probed with a spin-labeled substrate.

NorM of the multidrug and toxic compound extrusion (MATE) family of transporters couples the efflux of a broad range of hydrophobic molecules to an inward Na+ gradient across the cell membrane. Several crystal structures of MATE transporters revealed distinct substrate binding sites leading to differing models of the mechanism of ion-coupled substrate extrusion. In the experiments reported here, we observed that a spin-labeled derivative of daunorubicin, Ruboxyl, is transported by NorM from Vibrio cholerae. It is therefore ideal for characterizing mechanistically relevant binding interactions with NorM and directly addressing the coupling of ion and drug binding. Fluorescence and electron paramagnetic resonance experiments revealed that Ruboxyl binds to NorM with micromolar affinity and becomes immobilized upon binding, even in the presence of Na+. Using double electron–electron resonance spectroscopy, we determined that Ruboxyl binds to a single site on the periplasmic side of the protein. The presence o...
Genotypes affecting the condensation and transmission of heterochromtic B chromosomes in the mealybug Pseudococcus affinis

In male mealybugs (Pseudococcide: Homoptera) the set of chromosomes of paternal origin becomes heterochromatic (H) and genetically inactive in early embryogenesis. During spermatogenesis the two sets segregate and only the meiotic products with the euchromatic (E) set form sperm. Individuals of Pseudococcus affinis (Maskell) may carry a B chromosome (B) which is usually heterochromatic. During prophase I of spermatogenesis, however, the B becomes even less condensed than the E set and usually segregates with the E set. We have previously shown that natural populations of P. affinis contain genotypes that can reduce the rate of transmission (k) of Bs from more than 0.9 to less than 0.1. We now demonstrate that these genotypes suppress k either by enhancing or by preventing the decondensation of the B, which in turn affects the position of the B on the metaphase plate and its segregation. We also demonstrate that radiation-induced fragment of the B, and a piece of a B which has been translocated onto a piece of an H chromosome, retain their characteristic pattern of condensation and thus that the condensation of the B is not controlled by one or a few cis-acting centers or loci.
Regulation of renal Na+/HCO3- cotransporter stimulation by CO2: role of phosphorylation, exocytosis and protein synthesis.

The sodium bicarbonate cotransporter (NBC1) mediates bicarbonate reabsorption in the renal proximal tubule. NBC1 activity is stimulated by 10% CO2, however, the mechanism is poorly understood. Here, we examined the mechanism of NBC1 regulation by 10% CO2 using an immortalized human proximal tubule cell line (HK2). In cells exposed to 10% CO2, the cotransporter activity (measured as ΔpH/min) increased within minutes and this increase was maintained for 6 to 24 h. Early NBC1 stimulation was accompanied by increased NBC1 phosphorylation. Basolateral membrane NBC1 protein increased by 30 min and reached a maximum at 6 h. Increased NBC activity at 6 h was accounted for by increased NBC exocytosis to the basolateral membrane and not by decreased endocytosis. Latruncullin B (an actin cytoskeleton inhibitor) did not prevent CO2-induced stimulation, while nocodazole (a microtubule-disrupting agent) abrogated the stimulatory effect of 10% CO2. A significant increase in NBC1 mRNA expression level was observed at 6 h and maintained for 24 h. Total NBC1 protein increased at 12 to 24 h with 10% CO2 incubation and this effect was blocked by cycloheximide. In summary, the present study demonstrates that early activation of NBC1 activity by 10% CO2 was mediated by NBC1 phosphorylation. The stimulation of cotransporter activity observed at 6 h was due to exocytosis, while the late effect starting from 12 h was accounted for by increased protein synthesis.
Acid glycosidases in mucopolysaccharidoses fibroblasts.

Abstract β-Galactosidase, β- N -acetyl glucosaminidase, β-glucuronidase, and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities have been determined in extracts of cultured fibroblasts from individuals with the Type I, II, and III mucopolysaccharidoses, their parents, and normal controls. A wide range of specific activity was encountered for each of the enzymes with extensive overlap between all experimental groups. The only significant difference detected was an approximately 50% depression in the mean β-galactosidase activity in cells from mucopolysaccharidoses patients. The electrophoretic pattern of the β-galactosidase activity in fibroblasts from patients showed the presence of all of the forms seen in normal cells. These results along with other lines of reasoning, lead to the conclusion that the β-galactosidase defect seen in tissues from mucopolysaccharidoses patients, Type I, II, and III is probably not the primary genetic lesion.
Evidence for translational regulation of chloroplast and mitochondrial biogenesis in Euglena

Abstract Changes in the rate of synthesis in vivo of 289 of the most abundant cellular polypeptides and 250 of the most abundant translatable RNAs were followed upon transferring dark grown resting Euglena to light. Pulse labelling with [ 35 S] sulfate followed by 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis indicated that the relative rate of synthesis of 61 polypeptides increased and 29 decreased during the first half hour of light exposure. Changes in the rate of synthesis of other polypeptides were initially seen at 1, 4, 14, 24, 48 but not 72 h after exposure to continuous illumination. Of 18 chloroplast polypeptides found on 2-dimensional gels, the relative rate of synthesis of 5 increased during the first half hour of light exposure. The major period of elevated synthesis for 12 other chloroplast polypeptides including the large subunit of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase occurred between 24–72 h after exposure to continuous illumination. The synthesis rate of one chloroplast polypeptide decreased immediately upon light exposure. Of 32 mitochondrial polypeptides found on 2-dimensional gels, the relative rate of synthesis of 9 polypeptides decreased during the first half hour of light exposure and the synthesis of 12 additional polypeptides decreased by 14 h of light exposure. A transient increase in the synthesis of 4 mitochondrial polypeptides occurred during the first 14 h of light exposure, the synthesis of one was transiently increased between 24–72 h of light exposure while one mitochondrial polypeptide was synthesized at an increased rate for 72 h. Light had no effect on the rate of synthesis of 5 mitochondrial polypeptides. For most polypeptides, a sustained increase or decrease in the relative rate of synthesis was correlated with an increase or decrease in the amount of that polypeptide found in cells exposed to continuous illumination for 72 h. Changes in organelle polypeptide levels are due to stage specific changes in their rate of synthesis rather than changes in their rate of degradation. An analysis of abundant poly(A) + RNA levels by cell free translation followed by 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis failed to detect quantitative or qualitative changes in RNA abundance after 4, 12, 24 or 48 h of light exposure. Since light exposure produced major stage specific changes in the translation rate of a large number of the most abundant in vivo translation products in the absence of changes in the levels of the 250 most abundant translatable poly(A) + RNAs, translational control must play a major role in the photoregulation of the synthesis of chloroplast and mitochondrial proteins in Euglena .
Lynchings and the Democratization of Terror in Postwar Guatemala: Implications for Human Rights

On 24 January 1999, an estimated three thousand people gathered in the remote rural community of El Af?n, Quiche, in the highlands of Guatemala, to witness the execution of four men. Outraged by the robbery of a local merchant, a group of area residents had apprehended the suspects and conducted an impromptu investigation, discovering weapons and cash. They then summoned the population to participate in a hastily convened "Popular Tribunal" to decide the accused men's fate. Holding police and human rights authorities at bay, the crowd voted to execute the men by stoning. The sentence was carried out at once, and the victims' corpses were cast into the nearby Chixoy River?after being sliced open and stuffed with rocks, to prevent them from floating to the surface for easy recovery by the authorities. Grisly incidents such as this one are not uncommon in contemporary Guatemala, where from 1996 to 2001, the United Nations Mission to Guatemala (MINUGUA) documented 421 linchamientos, or lynchings,1 for
Coupling a quadrupole mass spectrometer and a Fourier transform mass spectrometer

Abstract Experiments performed by the authors during the last year have demonstrated the feasibility of a new analytical instrument called a tandem quadrupole-Fourier transform mass spectrometer (QFT-MS). Ions made in the source of a quadrupole mass spectrometer are extracted and focused into a beam. The ion beam is then injected axially into a superconducting electromagnet where the ions are stored in an analyzer cell and detected by Fourier transform mass spectrometry (FT-MS). The goal of this project is to combine the highly developed chromatographic and sample ionization features of a quadrupole mass spectrometer with the versatility and high mass resolution that is available with Fourier transform detection. High mass resolution is possible because differential pumping separates the ion source of the quadrupole mass spectrometer from the analyzer cell of the FT-MS instrument. A novel method is described for efficiently injecting ions axially into the solenoidal magnetic field. The QFT-MS instrument has many features in common with triple quadrupole mass spectrometers but with QFT-MS, much higher mass resolution is possible. For example, a mass resolution of 140 000 is demonstrated for m/z 78 ions produced by collision-induced dissociation of bromobenzene molecular ions.
Numerical predictions versus experimental findings on the power-harvesting output of a NiMnGa alloy

Magnetic shape memory alloys (MSMAs) can display up to 10% recoverable strain in response to the application of a magnetic field or compressive mechanical stress. The amount of recoverable strain depends on the amount and direction of the applied stress and magnetic field as well as manufacturing, chemical composition, and training of the material. Due to their relatively large strains and fast response, MSMAs are suitable for a wide range of applications, including power harvesting, sensing, and actuation. The response of MSMAs is primarily driven by the reorientation of martensite variants. Power harvesting is possible due to this reorientation process and the accompanying change in material’s magnetization, which can be changed into an electric potential/voltage using a pick-up coil placed around (or on the side of) the specimen. The magnitude of the output voltage depends on the number of turns of the pick-up coil, the amplitude of the reorientation strain, the magnitude and direction of the biased magnetic field, and the frequency at which the reorientation occurs. This paper focuses on the ability of a two dimensional constitutive model, developed by the group to capture the magnetomechanical response of MSMAs under general two dimensional loading conditions, to predict the power harvesting output of a Ni2MnGa specimen. Comparison between model predictions of voltage output and experimental measurements of the same indicate that, while the model is able to replicate the stress-strain response of the material during power harvesting, it is unable to accurately predict the magnitude of the experimentally measured voltage output. This indicates that additional features still need to be included in the model to better capture the change in magnetization that occurs during variant reorientation.
Cloning and sequence analysis of the rat norepinephrine transporter promoter

Abstract We isolated a 2.5-kb fragment of the promoter for the rat norepinephrine transporter (NET) gene. The transcription start site was identified ∼200 base pairs upstream from the translation start site. Several potential regulatory elements were identified by sequence analysis. The structure of the rat NET promoter was compared to mouse and human. Expression studies in placental and neuroblastoma cells suggested the presence of a ‘repressor’ element more than 500 base pairs upstream from the transcription start site. These studies provide the basis for examination of transcriptional regulation of this gene and for understanding its temporal and tissue-specific modes of regulation.
Altered Compliance and Residual Strain Precede Angiographically Detectable Early Atherosclerosis in Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor Deficiency

Background This study was performed to detect changes in vascular biomechanical properties early in atherogenesis. Methods and Results Age- and weight-matched LDL-receptor deficient Watanabe hypercholesterolemic male rabbits (Group I: n=11) and normal rabbits (Group II: n=11) were studied. Fasting plasma lipoprotein concentrations, aortic angiography and intravascular ultrasound, in vivo aortic compliance evaluation, ex vivo aortic residual strain measurements, aortic lipid content and histopathology were determined. Plasma cholesterol was increased 9.8 fold and aortic cholesterol content was increased from 20 to 43 fold in Group I compared to Group II, respectively ( P P P P r =−.72; P =−.001), descending thoracic aorta ( r =−.95; P r =−.51; P =.019). Conclusions Early atherosclerosis in LDL-receptor deficient rabbits, undetectable by angiography yet observed by intravascular ultrasound imaging and histology, is associated with marked changes in ex vivo residual strain. Alterations in vascular biomechanical properties, associated with changes in cholesterol content, may have physiologic consequences and may be useful in detecting and quantitating early atherosclerosis.
Sequential Monte Carlo methods for dynamic systems

Abstract We provide a general framework for using Monte Carlo methods in dynamic systems and discuss its wide applications. Under this framework, several currently available techniques are studied and generalized to accommodate more complex features. All of these methods are partial combinations of three ingredients: importance sampling and resampling, rejection sampling, and Markov chain iterations. We provide guidelines on how they should be used and under what circumstance each method is most suitable. Through the analysis of differences and connections, we consolidate these methods into a generic algorithm by combining desirable features. In addition, we propose a general use of Rao-Blackwellization to improve performance. Examples from econometrics and engineering are presented to demonstrate the importance of Rao–Blackwellization and to compare different Monte Carlo procedures.
An Observational Study of Intraseasonal Variations over Southeast Asia during the 1998 Rainy Season

Abstract In the present study, intraseasonal variations of precipitation over Thailand [Thailand daily rainfall (TDR)] during 1998 and the accompanying variations of the tropospheric circulation are analyzed, mainly with the use of rain gauge data and the Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX) Asian Monsoon Experiment (GAME) reanalysis version 1.5. Wavelet analysis reveals that the amplitudes of the intraseasonal variations of the 1998 TDR exhibit two peaks. One peak is categorized as a 30–60-day variation that appeared in the early half of the rainy season, while the other peak is categorized as a 10–20-day variation that appears in the later half of the rainy season. The variation of atmospheric circulation associated with the latter peak of the TDR is analyzed. When the 10–20-day variation of the TDR is in the most active phase, a negative streamfunction anomaly at the 850-hPa level exists over the Bay of Bengal, and a positive anomaly is found in the Southern Hemisphere to the south of the n...
Social Projection Can Solve Social Dilemmas

Evidence for cooperation in social dilemmas is empirically robust, socially desirable, and theoretically controversial. We review theoretical positions offering normative or descriptive accounts for cooperation and note the scarcity of critical tests among them. We then introduce a modified prisoner's dilemma to perform a critical test of the social projection hypothesis. According to this hypothesis, people cooperate inasmuch as they believe others respond to the situation as they themselves do. The data from three illustrative studies uniquely support the projection hypothesis. We make the analytical case for the social projection hypothesis in the context of the theory of evidential decision making. We review and rebut critical arguments that have been leveled against this theory. We note that a meta-theoretical benefit of evidential decision making is that the rationality of cooperators in social dilemmas is restored without appeals to murky notions of “collective rationality.”
Theoretical determination of the alkali-metal superoxide bond energies

The bond dissociation energies for the alkali-metal superoxides have been computed using extensive Gaussian basis sets and treating electron correlation at the modified coupled-pair functional level. Our computed D0 values are 61.4, 37.2, 40.6, and 38.4 kcal/mol for LiO2, NaO2, KO2, and RbO2, respectively. These values, which are expected to be lower bounds and accurate to 2 kcal/mol, agree well with some of the older flame data, but rule out several recent experimental measurements.
DISTINGUISHING PHYSIOLOGIC VARIATION FROM ANALYTIC VARIATION.

WHEN REPEATED measurements of an individual’s blood chemistry or other physiologic variable are made over an extended period of time, the problem arises of separating long-term analytic or ‘laboratory’ deviation from the truly physiologic component of the total observed variation. In a normal person, the latter component represents deviations from homeostasis which may arise from short-term trends, cyclic changes, or simply transient events. This paper discusses the pros and cons of several experimental strategies for quantitatively estimating the physiologic component of variation in a series of results from a single individual. In addition, mathematical methods are proposed for inferring the statistical characteristics of this component over a population of individuals. This requires, of course, that repeated samples be taken from each of a set of N individuals, preferably a random sample from some pre-defined population. Both physiologic and analytic variation depend largely on the time-scale over which they are measured. In healthy persons, observations over a 5-yr period at 6-month intervals are likely to contain a higher proportion of physiologic variance than weekly measurements over 2-3 month. On the other hand, a body chemical with a strong circadian rhythm will exhibit less variation in weekly samples taken at a fixed time of day than in samples taken every few hours throughout one day. Analytic deviation. too, will have both short and long-term components. In terms of routine clinical chemistry operations, it is probably sufficient to divide analytic deviation into two general sub-components : (a) that associated with replicate determinations from the same sample and (b) longer term variation during the study period, due to variable laboratory conditions, even if the general method of analysis remains unchanged. The first sub-component can be estimated easily as long as the separate determinations are performed independently. It is the second sub-component that provides the greatest problem in interpreting repeated measurements of an individual’s physiologic state.
Collective M1 states in the classical limit of the neutron-proton interacting boson model

Using the classical picture of the collective M1 mode in nuclei as an oscillation of the angle between the deformed valence protons and valence neutrons, we obtain an expression for the classical limit of the neutron-proton interacting boson model Hamiltonian. We use this result to contrast the excitation energy in the classical limit to the experimentally observed value for the 1sup+ state in sup156Gd.
ZAP: a knowledge-based FEA modeling method for highly coupled variable topology multi-body problems

Some of the most significant challenges in automated CAD–FEA integration are information and model transformations between CAD and FEA tools. These are especially labor-intensive and time-consuming in a newly characterized class of problems termed highly coupled variable topology multi-body (HCVTMB) problems. This paper addresses these challenges with a knowledge-based FEA modeling method called ZAP that consists of three stepping-stone information models and the mapping processes between these models. The information and knowledge of a typical FEA modeling process are explicitly captured in semantically rich information models to achieve benefits including knowledge sharing, system extension, and model modification. ZAP mapping processes automatically transform abstract analytical concepts into tool-specific commands and functions that accomplish HCVTMB model generation and solution management. This method enhances flexibility and reusability in FEA modeling and enables CAD–FEA integration at the knowledge level. To demonstrate the efficacy of ZAP, we overview a sample HCVTMB problem—an electronic chip package plastic ball grid array (PBGA) thermal analysis case study. Experience indicates that ZAP increases knowledge capture and decreases modeling time from days/hours to hours/minutes compared to conventional methods, thus providing a key enabler toward design optimization.
Heat flow on the southern Colorado Plateau

Abstract Heat-flow data from the study area in the southern Colorado Plateau indicate a pattern of local anomalies having relatively high heat flow superimposed on a regional, intermediate heat-flow setting. While many of the conventional heat-flow data are relatively shallow and may be perturbed by groundwater circulation, bottom-hole temperature data from two relatively deep petroleum exploration drill holes near the southern plateau periphery yield intermediate heat-flow estimates. The mean heat flow within the volcanically active Jemez zone does not appear to be significantly greater than the mean heat flow for the remainder of the study area. This is due to the presence of high heat-flow values outside the Jemez zone. Sites with relatively high heat flow located towards the plateau interior and away from recent volcanic activity of the Jemez zone may reflect magma intrusion and/or groundwater movement along crustal zones of weakness associated with Laramide deformation (monoclines). The heat-flow data are consistent with coal maturation data, which suggest that any regional post-Cretaceous thermal events that may be associated with the southern Plateau boundary have been initiated relatively recently, or are occurring at relatively great depths, or are occurring south of the Jemez lineament.
Unit canonical correlations and high-dimensional discriminant analysis

The problem of characterization of canonical vectors corresponding to unit sample canonical correlations in the non-full-rank case is considered. Classical work in this area is revisited and a new geometric characterization is developed. Applications are considered for classification problems that arise in the high-dimension low-sample-size setting. In that context, we show that Fisher's linear discriminant analysis and canonical correlation do not, in general, coincide and conduct empirical comparisons between the two methods.
Pilot‐plant production of a concentrated ammonium polyphosphate suspension fertilizer

Abstract TVA is developing a process for the production of a high‐grade ammonium polyphosphate (APP) suspension fertilizer from merchant‐grade wet‐process phosphoric acid and anhydrous ammonia. The acid is ammoniated in an “enlarged” pipe reactor; the molten APP is dissolved in water and the fluid is cooled to room temperature by evaporative cooling. Attapulgite clay is in the APP fluid to prevent solids from settling during shipment, storage, and use. The process is energy efficient in that hot APP fluid provides all the heat required to preheat the phosphoric acid and vaporize the ammonia. Suspension grade of up to 12–36–0 can be made with 20 to 25% of the P2O5 present as polyphosphate. Lower shipping costs due to the high nutrient content of the suspensions makes it a desirable product. The APP fluid fertilizer can be either applied directly to the soil or used in preparation of mixed suspension products of various ratios.
Why Do We Teach? Adult Learning Theory in Professional Standards as a Basis for Curriculum Development.

This article provides an overview of adult learning theory in relation to teaching philosophies among librarians belonging to ACRL, using Hadley’s Educational Orientation Questionnaire. Although not significant as a predictor, there was a nonlinear and negative correlation between librarians’ familiarity with the ACRL Standards and their adult learning orientation scores (p = .047, t
Demography, ideology, and politics in the USSR

(1976). Demography, ideology, and politics in the USSR. Soviet Studies: Vol. 28, No. 2, pp. 244-256.
Minimax eigenvector decomposition for data hiding

Steganography is the study of hiding information within a covert channel in order to transmit a secret message. Any public media such as image data, audio data, or even file packets, can be used as a covert channel. This paper presents an embedding algorithm that hides a message in an image using a technique based on a nonlinear matrix transform called the minimax eigenvector decomposition (MED). The MED is a minimax algebra version of the well-known singular value decomposition (SVD). Minimax algebra is a matrix algebra based on the algebraic operations of maximum and addition, developed initially for use in operations research and extended later to represent a class of nonlinear image processing operations. The discrete mathematical morphology operations of dilation and erosion, for example, are contained within minimax algebra. The MED is much quicker to compute than the SVD and avoids the numerical computational issues of the SVD because the operations involved only integer addition, subtraction, and compare. We present the algorithm to embed data using the MED, show examples applied to image data, and discuss limitations and advantages as compared with another similar algorithm.© (2005) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Comparison of structural behavior of nanocrystals in randomly packed films and long-range ordered superlattices by time-resolved small angle X-ray scattering.

We evaluated the difference between randomly packed NCs (disordered films), periodic films, and three-dimensional crystals in terms of their lattice structure and interparticle spacing using time-resolved small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) technique. The work was performed on nanocrystal solids formed by 7 nm PbS nanocrystals capped with oleic acid. We have found that interparticle spacing in faceted three-dimensional crystals is ∼25% smaller as compared with three-dimensional films formed by solvent evaporation. We showed that interparticle spacing in faceted three-dimensional crystals is significantly smaller than the length of a fully extended molecule of oleic acid, and hence, full interdigitation of molecules from neighboring particle is doubtful. Also we demonstrated that postpreparative mild thermal treatment allows further manipulation of interparticle spacing.
HEALTH IN THE YEAR FOLLOWING DELIVERY AMONG LOW–INCOME WOMEN

In the past, childbearing was associated with substantial morbidity. Much of this disability has been markedly reduced through modern obstetric management. Little current empirical evidence addresses this question, however, especially for low-income women who may be more vulnerable to poor health. Among a cohort of 365 Central Harlem women who were interviewed when their children were an average of 12 months of age, 10% had been hospitalized since delivery, and 12% rated their health as only fair or poor. Women with these indicators of poor health also scored higher on a standardized mental health inventory, indicating increased psychological distress, although they were not more likely to have experienced a recent stressful event or less likely to have social support than healthier women. Compared to the infants of women who had not been hospitalized or who rated their own health as good to excellent, the infants of women with poor health were twice as likely to have been rehospitalized since birth, twice as likely to have been low birthweight, and twice as likely to be reported as behind in their immunizations, although their mothers did not consider these infants to be in poorer health than other infants. We conclude that a substantial proportion of low-income women continue to experience poor health in the year after delivery, and that this may impair their ability to dealt with the disproportionately higher health needs of their infants.
Plant Growth and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Colonization Affected by Exogenously Applied Phenolic Compounds

The effects of the application of 0.25 or 1.0 mM p-coumaric acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, or quercetin on growth and colonization of clover (Trifolium repens L. cv. Ladino) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) roots by the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus Glomus intraradices Schenck and Smith were studied. In general, soil application of these compounds at 0.25 mM stimulated plant growth and AM colonization, whereas at 1.0 mM these phenolics were inhibitory to both growth and colonization. Such effects were noted for both clover and sorghum. The results suggest that phenolic compounds, commonly found in many soils, influence the establishment of AM symbioses, and these compounds may have immediate effects on host growth. Studies involving these chemicals and their effects on mycorrhizal associations may provide new insights concerning the importance of the AM symbiosis in agricultural systems. These phenolic compounds may be used as potential soil amendments to enhance AM fungal colonization, and thus, exploit indigenous populations of AM fungi.
Molecular cloning, expression and characterization of cDNA encoding a mouse α1a‐adrenoceptor

1. In this study, we have cloned, expressed, and characterized an alpha1a-adrenoceptor gene from the mouse. We designed oligonucleotide PCR primers complementary to regions of the rat alpha1a-adrenoceptor sequence and amplified cDNA fragments from total RNA of mouse cerebral cortex, liver and kidney by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR). 2. Both the nucleotide and deduced peptide sequences of the cDNA showed high sequence identity with those of cloned alpha1a-adrenoceptors from other species. The cDNA clone had an open reading frame of 1398 nucleotides encoding a 466 amino acid peptide which had 97%, 92% and 90% identity with the deduced amino acid sequences of the rat, human and bovine alpha1a-adrenoceptor, respectively. 3. The amplified mouse cDNA was inserted into a mammalian expression vector pcDNA3.1(+) and expressed in COS-1 cells. The pharmacological properties of the mouse cDNA clone were examined in radioligand binding studies and functional assays. The expressed mouse protein had a high affinity for [3H]-prazosin (Kd = 0.48 nM) and pattern of affinity for antagonists in competition studies that is similar to that of the rat alpha1a-adrenoceptor. Chloroethylclonidine (CEC) could slowly alkylate the expressed protein, with a rate similar to that of the rat alpha1a-adrenoceptor. 4. The expressed receptors were able to mediate noradrenaline (NA) stimulation of the production of inositol phosphates in COS-1 cells, consistent with coupling to phospholipase C. This response to NA could be reversed by pretreatment of the transfected cells with prazosin. 5. Based on the above evidence, we concluded that the cloned cDNA is that of the mouse alpha1a-adrenoceptor.
African green monkey TRIM5α restriction in simian immunodeficiency virus-specific rhesus macaque effector CD4 T cells enhances their survival and antiviral function.

UNLABELLED The expression of xenogeneic TRIM5α proteins can restrict infection in various retrovirus/host cell pairings. Previously, we have shown that African green monkey TRIM5α (AgmTRIM5α) potently restricts both human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and simian immunodeficiency virus mac239 (SIV(mac239)) replication in a transformed human T-cell line (L. V. Coren, et al., Retrovirology 12:11, 2015, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12977-015-0137-9). To assess AgmTRIM5α restriction in primary cells, we transduced AgmTRIM5α into primary rhesus macaque CD4 T cells and infected them with SIV(mac239). Experiments with T-cell clones revealed that AgmTRIM5α could reproducibly restrict SIV(mac239) replication, and that this restriction synergizes with an intrinsic resistance to infection present in some CD4 T-cell clones. AgmTRIM5α transduction of virus-specific CD4 T-cell clones increased and prolonged their ability to suppress SIV spread in CD4 target cells. This increased antiviral function was strongly linked to decreased viral replication in the AgmTRIM5α-expressing effectors, consistent with restriction preventing the virus-induced cytopathogenicity that disables effector function. Taken together, our data show that AgmTRIM5α restriction, although not absolute, reduces SIV replication in primary rhesus CD4 T cells which, in turn, increases their antiviral function. These results support prior in vivo data indicating that the contribution of virus-specific CD4 T-cell effectors to viral control is limited due to infection. IMPORTANCE The potential of effector CD4 T cells to immunologically modulate SIV/HIV infection likely is limited by their susceptibility to infection and subsequent inactivation or elimination. Here, we show that AgmTRIM5α expression inhibits SIV spread in primary effector CD4 T cells in vitro. Importantly, protection of effector CD4 T cells by AgmTRIM5α markedly enhanced their antiviral function by delaying SIV infection, thereby extending their viability despite the presence of virus. Our in vitro data support prior in vivo HIV-1 studies suggesting that the antiviral CD4 effector response is impaired due to infection and subsequent cytopathogenicity. The ability of AgmTRIM5α expression to restrict SIV infection in primary rhesus effector CD4 T cells now opens an opportunity to use the SIV/rhesus macaque model to further elucidate the potential and scope of anti-AIDS virus effector CD4 T-cell function.
Do Working Men Rebel? Insurgency and Unemployment in Iraq and the Philippines

Most aid spending by governments seeking to rebuild social and political order is based on an opportunity-cost theory of distracting potential recruits. The logic is that gainfully employed young men are less likely to participate in political violence, implying a positive correlation between unemployment and violence in locations with active insurgencies. We test that prediction in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Philippines, using survey data on unemployment and two newly-available measures of insurgency: (1) attacks against government and allied forces; and (2) violence that kills civilians. Contrary to the opportunity-cost theory, the data emphatically reject a positive correlation between unemployment and attacks against government and allied forces (p
An electrothermally actuated bi-axis scanning micromirror for medical imaging applications

We present the design, fabrication and initial characterization results of a novel electrothermal micromirror. Deflection angle of up to 20° at input power of 14mW with temperature of less than 100°C was observed.
Potential for Areawide Integrated Management of Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) with a Braconid Parasitoid and a Novel Bait Spray

The braconid wasp, Fopius arisanus (Sonan), a biological control agent for Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), was studied in coffee, Coffea arabica L. Fopius arisanus, comprised 79.3% of the total parasitoids (7,014) recovered from fruits collected at three small coffee farms. Data from seasonal host/parasitoid studies at a large coffee plantation also suggested that the most effective natural enemy of C. capitata in coffee may now reside in Hawaii. The original parasitoids introduced into Hawaii for C. capitata control (Diachasmimorpha tryoni (Cameron), Tetrastichus giffardianus Silvestri, and Dirhinus giffardii Silvestri) are now rare. Abundance of F. arisanus with respect to other parasitoids collected was influenced by elevation (274, 457, 610 m). Fopius arisanus was the dominant parasitoid at all three elevations, Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) occurred consistently, and T. giffardianus was abundant only at low elevation. The impacts on C. capitata and F. arisanus populations of bait sprays containing malathion, spinosad, or phloxine B applied to coffee were also evaluated. All three bait sprays suppressed C. capitata populations. Spinosad and phloxine B bait sprays appeared less harmful to the wasp than malathion. Fopius arisanus offers the potential for areawide management of C. capitata that includes biological control and integration with more environmentally safe chemical controls such as spinosad and phloxine B bait sprays.
A Reusable In-Plane Polymer Integrated Microfluidic Interconnect

A novel reusable, in-plane polymer interconnect directly integrated into a microfluidic system is demonstrated. This approach features plug-and-play style connections to microfluidic networks in which commercially available non-coring syringe needles are simply inserted through pre-defined polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) septums to form rapid, on-demand connections to microchannels. These septums are mechanically anchored by one layer of SU-8 that also forms the microchannels. Interconnect design, fabrication, theoretical analysis, and experimental results (pull-out force and leakage) are presented.
“Not all Differences are Created Equal”: Multiple Jeopardy in a Gendered Organization

The dictate in feminist intersectional theory to not “count oppressions” is difficult to reconcile with the experience of many lesbians of color that “not all differences are created equal” inside social movement organizations. Meso-level factors, such as organizational structure and sociopolitical environment, may result in the perception of individuals or groups that one form of structural inequality is more oppressive than others. The author focuses on the experiences of lesbian staff and clients at Bienestar, a large Latino health organization in Los Angeles focusing primarily on HIV/AIDS prevention and education. This study demonstrates that oppression can be experienced as additive and that counting and ranking oppressions may remain a common practice and important political strategy in the context of some social movement organizations. This article also responds to the need for more research that builds on the gendered organizations approach by examining some of the factors that contribute to chang...
The Columbia Registry of Information and Utilization Management Trials.

Objective : To systematically locate, register, and abstract information used in comparing effects of various information services (computerized and noncomputerized) and utilization management interventions on the process and outcome of patient care. Design : Manual and electronic database searches located reports that met three main criteria: 1) randomized controlled trial; 2) information or utilization management intervention in the study group with no similar intervention in the control group; and 3) effect of the intervention on the process and/or outcome of patient care had been measured. Published reports were registered in the Columbia Registry. Results : Nearly 600 reports were collected from 24 countries and 189 different publications. Frequently tested interventions included patients or physician education, telephone follow-up, patient or physician reminders, and home care services. Frequently reported effect variables included hospitalization rate, length of stay, immunization rate, and mortality rate. Standardized formal tools were developed for the separation and abstraction of practical information and methodologic details from the collected trial reports. Conclusions : The registry provides a new source of information for meta-analyses, traditional reviews, and executive summaries of quality improvement of health services. The streamlined knowledge engineering process of quality evaluation and abstraction of critical information can generate helpful information for practitioners and researchers simultaneously.
Mechanism of Substrate Recognition by Drug-Resistant Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Protease Variants Revealed by a Novel Structural Intermediate

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) protease processes and cleaves the Gag and Gag-Pol polyproteins, allowing viral maturation, and therefore is an important target for antiviral therapy. Ligand binding occurs when the flaps open, allowing access to the active site. This flexibility in flap geometry makes trapping and crystallizing structural intermediates in substrate binding challenging. In this study, we report two crystal structures of two HIV-1 protease variants bound with their corresponding nucleocapsid-p1 variant. One of the flaps in each of these structures exhibits an unusual “intermediate” conformation. Analysis of the flap-intermediate and flap-closed crystal structures reveals that the intermonomer flap movements may be asynchronous and that the flap which wraps over the P3 to P1 (P3-P1) residues of the substrate might close first. This is consistent with our hypothesis that the P3-P1 region is crucial for substrate recognition. The intermediate conformation is conserved in both the wild-type and drug-resistant variants. The structural differences between the variants are evident only when the flaps are closed. Thus, a plausible structural model for the adaptability of HIV-1 protease to recognize substrates in the presence of drug-resistant mutations has been proposed.
In Situ Simulation for Systems Testing in Newly Constructed Perinatal Facilities

Macro-systems simulation is a methodology to assess existing services and support major culture shift to a new healthcare environment. Given credible local precedent, simulation can be effective for orienting staff, identifying process gaps and enabling their refinement prior to the transition. Select strategies enable staged process translation in an intensive care unit without exposing patients to potential risk. Orchestrating immersive, realistic in-situ simulations minimizes surprises at transition and enhances patient satisfaction. Such endeavors substantially elevate the perception of the value of simulation within an institution.