cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The eligibility and reach of the national breast and cervical cancer early detection program after implementation of the affordable care act

The uninsured rate declined following passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010. It is unclear how this decrease affected the size of the population eligible for existing safety net programs. We evaluated trends in the number of women eligible for breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services under the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) and the reach of the program. Using the Census Bureau’s Small Area Health Insurance Estimates data, we calculated the number of women who met the NBCCEDP eligibility criteria based on age, income, and insurance status. We used these data in conjunction with program to estimate the proportion of eligible women served by the NBCCEDP. The number of women eligible for breast cancer screening and diagnostic services under the program declined from 5.4 (90% CI 5.2–5.6) to 2.8 (90% CI 2.6–3.0) million from 2011 to 2017. The number of women eligible for cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services declined from 10.3 (90% CI 10.0–10.6) to 5.3 (90% CI 5.1–5.6) million. The share of eligible women served by the program was 15.0% (90% CI 14.8–15.1%) for breast services in 2016–2017 and 6.8% (90% CI 6.7–6.8%) for cervical services in 2015–2017. Insurance coverage expansions may have contributed to a decrease in the number of program-eligible women. There are many more women eligible for the program than are served.
Salivary cytokines as a biomarker of social stress in a mock rescue mission.

Abstract Using salivary inflammatory markers as a noninvasive biomonitoring technique within natural social contexts has become increasingly important to link social and biological responses. Many studies have associated circulating cytokines to distinct aspects of physical activity and social/emotional behavior; however, they have not been linked to success and failure in a naturalistic setting for military personnel performing tasks. In this study, salivary cytokines were studied in a group of fifteen Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC; 14 males, 1 female) subjects performing three mock hostage rescue missions, designed to prompt responses associated with baseline, success, and failure. Each subject completed the tasks of the mission individually and again in randomly assigned teams. Participants were outfitted via direct skin contact with comfortable external Zephyr™ sensors to monitor heart rate, breathing rate, and activity while completing each task. Saliva samples were collected before and after the completion of each mission, and cytokine levels were quantified using enzyme-labelled immunoassay (ELISA) beads. These biomarkers were used to describe the body’s immune response to success and failure when performing a mock rescue mission individually and in a team. All measured cytokine levels increased following failed missions performed individually, compared to cytokine levels associated with successful missions. When completing the tasks as a team, there were no significant differences in cytokine response between success and failure; however, being in a team stimulated an increased pre-mission cytokine response, suggesting the concept of teamwork and performing with peers for the first time had a more significant impact than the notion of failing. Additionally, none of the cytokines tested for individual missions correlated to physical activity markers (heart rate, breathing rate, activity) measured during performance. These results indicate a potentially new noninvasive method of determining social stress levels under taxing conditions.
Reductive transformations of dichloroacetamide safeners: effects of agrochemical co-formulants and iron oxide + manganese oxide binary-mineral systems

The toxic effects of herbicides are often incompletely selective and can harm crops. Safeners are "inert" ingredients commonly added to herbicide formulations to protect crops from herbicide-induced injury. Dichloroacetamide safeners have been previously shown to undergo reductive dechlorination in anaerobic abiotic systems containing an iron (hydr)oxide mineral (goethite or hematite) amended with Fe(ii). Manganese oxides (e.g., birnessite) are important redox-active species that frequently co-occur with iron (hydr)oxides, yet studies examining the effects of more than one mineral on transformations of environmental contaminants are rare. Herein, we investigate the reactivity of dichloroacetamide safeners benoxacor, furilazole, and dichlormid in binary-mineral, anaerobic systems containing Fe(ii)-amended hematite and birnessite. As the molar ratio of Fe(ii)-to-Mn(iv) oxide increased, the transformation rate of benoxacor and furilazole increased. The safener dichlormid did not transform appreciably over the sampling period (6 hours). The concentration of pH buffer ([MOPS] = 10-50 mM), ionic strength ([NaCl] = 10-200 mM), and order of solute addition (e.g., safener followed by Fe(ii) or vice versa) do not appreciably affect transformation rates of the examined dichloroacetamide safeners in Fe(ii) + hematite slurries. The presence of agrochemical co-formulants, including the herbicide S-metolachlor and three surfactants, in solutions containing Cr(H2O)62+ (as a model homogeneous reductant) also did not substantially influence rates of safener transformation. This study is among the first to examine laboratory systems of intermediate complexity (e.g., systems containing mixtures of agrochemical co-formulants or mineral phases) when assessing the environmental fate of emerging contaminants such as dichloroacetamide safeners.
Update on ACR TI-RADS: Successes, challenges, and future directions, from the AJR special series on radiology reporting and data systems

The American College of Radiology (ACR) Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS) is an ultrasound-based risk stratification system (RSS) for thyroid nodules that was released in 2017. Since publication, research has shown that ACR TI-RADS has a higher specificity than other RSSs and reduces the number of unnecessary biopsies of benign nodules compared with other systems by 19.9-46.5%. The risk of missing significant cancers using ACR TI-RADS is mitigated by the follow-up recommendations for nodules that do not meet criteria for biopsy. In practice, after a nodule's ultrasound features have been enumerated, the ACR TI-RADS points-based approach leads to clear management recommendations. Practices seeking to implement ACR TI-RADS must engage their radiologists in understanding how the system addresses the problems of thyroid cancer overdiagnosis and unnecessary surgeries by reducing unnecessary biopsies. This review compares ACR TI-RADS to other RSSs and explores key clinical questions faced by practices considering its implementation. We also address the challenge of reducing interobserver variability in assigning ultrasound features. Finally, we highlight emerging imaging techniques and recognize the ongoing international effort to develop a system that harmonizes multiple RSSs, including ACR TI-RADS.
Evidence-Based Practice: Implementing Trauma-Informed Care of Children and Adolescents in the Inpatient Psychiatric Setting.

Background:At our inpatient psychiatric hospital, which cares for children and adolescents, internal data of use of seclusions and holds as crisis interventions for immediate behavioral health issu...
Bright NIR-II Photoluminescence in Rod-Shaped Icosahedral Gold Nanoclusters.

Fluorophores with high quantum yields, extended maximum emission wavelengths, and long photoluminescence (PL) lifetimes are still lacking for sensing and imaging applications in the second near-infrared window (NIR-II). In this work, a series of rod-shaped icosahedral nanoclusters with bright NIR-II PL, quantum yields up to ≈8%, and a peak emission wavelength of 1520 nm are reported. It is found that the bright NIR-II emission arises from a previously ignored state with near-zero oscillator strength in the ground-state geometry and the central Au atom in the nanoclusters suppresses the non-radiative transitions and enhances the overall PL efficiency. In addition, a framework is developed to analyze and relate the underlying transitions for the absorptions and the NIR-II emissions in the Au nanoclusters based on the experimentally defined absorption coefficient. Overall, this work not only shows good performance of the rod-shaped icosahedral series of Au nanoclusters as NIR-II fluorophores, but also unravels the fundamental electronic transitions and atomic-level structure-property relations for the enhancement of the NIR-II PL in gold nanoclusters. The framework developed here also provides a simple method to analyze the underlying electronic transitions in metal nanoclusters.
Time Theft in the Los Angeles Retail Sector: The Need for New Labor Standards and a Fair Workweek:

We argue that employers subject workers to time theft by controlling workers’ time—both on and off the clock. Time theft considers employer control of workers’ time without the promise of pay throu...
Prophylactic stage 1 elephant trunk for moderately dilated descending aorta in patients with predominantly proximal disease.

Objective Staged elephant trunk (ET) repair is a commonly performed procedure for extensive aortic disease. A significant proportion of patients with predominantly proximal aortic pathology often have in addition a moderately dilated descending aorta (<5 cm) that can progress over time. Objectives were to characterize patients, determine completion rate after prophylactic stage 1 ET, and assess outcomes.
Dissecting aortic aneurysm induced by N-(2-aminoethyl) ethanolamine in rat: Role of defective collagen during development

Background Dissecting aortic aneurysm (DAA) is a tear in the wall of the aorta that causes blood to flow, or “dissect,” between the medial layers of the media. Methods Pregnant rats (dams) were treated with the industrial chemical n-(2-aminoethyl) ethanolamine (AEEA) by intraperitoneal injection or gavage. The histology and pathology of aorta in the thorax from newborn pups were examined. Aortas of fetuses of gestational day 20 from dams exposed to AEEA were harvested for immunohistochemical staining and native Western blot to study the changes of collagen type 1 and type 3 in aorta. Results Dissecting aortic aneurysm of newborn rats was induced by treating with AEEA through intraperitoneal injection or gavage. The incidence of DAA reached 100% in live pups at the high dose by means of gavage of AEEA, but without lethality compared with intraperitoneal injection. A grading system for the dose-response of DAA lesions associated with AEEA by gavage was established. Gestational day 20 fetuses from treated dams showed a decreased content and altered distribution of medial and adventitial collagen type 1 and 3 in aorta by immunohistochemistry; this decrease was confirmed by native Western blot. Conclusion This in vivo model of spontaneous aortic dissection bears striking similarities histologically to human aortic dissection. As such, the model conceivably could contribute to elucidating the mechanisms of DAA formation and to exploring diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. The pathogenesis of AEEA-induced DAA may be related to defects in the normal developmental progression of collagen types 1 and 3 in the vascular wall. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 100:924–933, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Chapter 28 International taxation

Abstract The integration of world capital markets carries important implications for the design and impact of tax policies. This paper evaluates research findings on international taxation, drawing attention to connections and inconsistencies between theoretical and empirical observations. Diamond and Mirrlees, 1971a , Diamond and Mirrlees, 1971b note that small open economies incur very high costs in attempting to tax the returns to local capital investment, since local factors bear the burden of such taxes in the form of productive inefficiencies. Richman (1963) argues that countries may simultaneously want to tax the worldwide capital income of domestic residents, implying that any taxes paid to foreign governments should be merely deductible from domestic taxable income. Governments do not adopt policies that are consistent with these forecasts. Corporate income is taxed at high rates by wealthy countries, and most countries either exempt foreign-source income of domestic multinationals from tax, or else provide credits rather than deductions for taxes paid abroad. Furthermore, individual investors can use various methods to avoid domestic taxes on their foreign-source incomes, in the process avoiding taxes on their domestic-source incomes. Individual and firm behavior also differs from that forecast by simple theories. Observed portfolios are not fully diversified worldwide. Foreign direct investment is common even when it faces tax penalties relative to other investment in host countries. While economic activity is highly responsive to tax rates and tax structure, there are many aspects of behavior that are difficult to reconcile with simple microeconomic incentives. There are promising recent efforts to reconcile observations with theory. To the extent that multinational firms possess intangible capital on which they earn returns with foreign direct investment, even small countries may have a degree of market power, leading to fiscal externalities. Tax avoidance is pervasive, generating further fiscal externalities. These concepts are useful in explaining behavior, and observed tax policies, and they also suggest that international agreements have the potential to improve the efficiency of tax systems worldwide.
Interferon in the Clinic

Two decades of research in the interferon system have demonstrated that interferons are cellular proteins whose production can be induced by a wide variety of agents and whose activities are as diverse as those events inducing their synthesis. Interferons can inhibit viruses and tumors in animals and can modulate several immune functions.
Tuberculosis of the cervix

Abstract 1. 1. Eighteen cases of tuberculous cervicitis are reported, one of which is the sole tuberculous focus of infection in the genital tract, and the only active one in the patient. 2. 2. Tuberculous cervicitis is of chief interest because it clinically resembles cervical carcinoma and announces the presence of genital tuberculosis. 3. 3. The cervix is involved in from 5 to 8 per cent of the cases of genital tract tuberculosis and thus appears to have a relative immunity to this infection. About 90 per cent of the cases of cervical tuberculosis are secondary to upper genital tract infection. A true primary cervical tuberculosis is extremely rare. 4. 4. The two chief symptoms are a persistent offensive watery leucorrhea, and bleeding following coitus or douching. 5. 5. Physically the cervix shows symmetrical hypertrophy and superficial friability and the portio may show abnormalities ranging from erosion and eversion to ulceration or papillary granulations. 6. 6. The treatment should be surgical when possible and as radical as necessary and as the condition of the patient will allow. 7. 7. The microscopic pathology is treated in detail and is chiefly characterized by large tubercles lying snugly up against lymphatic channels deep in the body of the cervix and Langhans' giant cells and tubercles scattered through hyperplastic canal mucosa. 8. 8. The term “primary tuberculous cervicitis” demands that it be the only tuberculous lesion in the patient.
Disparity: The Normative and Empirical Failure of the Federal Guidelines

When viewed from any coherent normative perspective, the Federal Sentencing Guidelines have failed to reduce disparity and probably have increased it. Even on paper, these Guidelines often fail to treat like offenders alike, and the Guidelines are worse in practice than on paper. The luck of the judicial draw appears to determine the sentences offenders serve as much as or more than it did before the Guidelines; the region of the country in which an offender is sentenced now makes a greater difference than it did before the Guidelines; and racial and gender disparities have increased. Part I of this Article emphasizes that sentencing disparity is a partly
Reversal of the surface charge asymmetry in purple membrane due to single amino acid substitutions

Twenty-seven mutant bacteriorhodopsin's were screened to determine the PKa for reversal of the permanent electric dipole moment. The photoelectric response of an aqueous purple-membrane suspension was used to determine the direction of the purple-membrane dipole moment as a function of pH. The pK(a) for the dipole reversal of wild-type bacteriorhodopsin is 4.5. Six of the 27 mutant bacteriorhodopsin's were found to have a pK(a) for dipole reversal larger than that of wild-type bacteriorhodopsin. Two of these mutants, L93T and L93W, involve a neutral amino acid substitution in the interior of the protein. The direction of the purple-membrane permanent electric dipole moment is determined by the purple-membrane surface charge asymmetry. We conclude that these two substitutions, which do not involve charge replacement, alter the pK(a) for the reversal of the purple-membrane surface charge asymmetry. We suggest that these changes to the pK(a) are due to altered protein folding at the surface of the purple-membrane induced by single-site substitutions in the protein interior.
FLUID PHASE DESTRUCTION OF C2hu BY C1hu II. UNMASKING BY C4ihu OF C1hu SPECIFICITY FOR C2hu

It has been demonstrated that C1 isolated in the unactivated form fails to inactivate C4 or C2 in the fluid phase, while the activated molecule, C1 rapidly converts C4 to hemolytically inactive C4i, but does not efficiently inactivate C2. The production and presence of C4i now confers on C1 the ability to rapidly inactivate C2. After heating at 56°C, so as to destroy the hemolytic activity, heat inactivated C1 is still capable of inactivating C4 but the presence of C4i no longer confers an ability to inactivate C2. Studies with the subunits of C1–C1q, C1r, C1s, indicate that the action of C1s on C2 can be inhibited by C1r and that this inhibition is reversed by the presence of homologous C4. These studies indicate that the interaction of C4i with a heat labile receptor conformation in C1 uncovers a masked specificity for C2.
Large sample volumes in preparative chromatography

Abstract Equations are developed which relate output profiles resulting from large sample input volumes to the well-known expressions for elution chromatography. The sample volumes are such that output profiles are intermediate to the usual Gaussian curves resulting from very small sample volumes, and frontal output curves described by an integral Gaussian equation. Simple expressions which described the curve height at the maximum and curve width as a function of input volume are presented. This information is used to relate the apparent plate height to the plate height for small sample volumes and variation in observed resolution ( R ′ s ) as a function of sample volume. It is demonstrated that 1/ R ′ s = (1/ R s ) + ( v /Δ V R ). The equations are tested by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and preparative chromatography with silica as a stationary phase.
Use of Spirulina platensis micro and nanoparticles for the removal synthetic dyes from aqueous solutions by biosorption

Abstract In this research, micro and nanoparticles of Spirulina platensis dead biomass were obtained, characterized and employed to removal FD&C red no. 40 and acid blue 9 synthetic dyes from aqueous solutions. The effects of particle size (micro and nano) and biosorbent dosage (from 50 to 750 mg) were studied. Pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order and Elovich models were used to evaluate the biosorption kinetics. The biosorption nature was verified using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The best results for both dyes were found using 250 mg of nanoparticles, in these conditions, the biosorption capacities were 295 mg g−1 and 1450 mg g−1, and the percentages of dye removal were 15.0 and 72.5% for the FD&C red no. 40 and acid blue 9, respectively. Pseudo-first order model was the more adequate to represent the biosorption of both dyes onto microparticles, and Elovich model was more appropriate to the biosorption onto nanoparticles. The EDS results suggested that the dyes biosorption onto microparticles occurred mainly by physical interactions, and for the nanoparticles, chemisorption was dominant.
Unifying data and control transformations for distributed shared-memory machines

We present a unified approach to locality optimization that employs both data and control transformations. Data transformations include changing the array layout in memory. Control transformations involve changing the execution order of programs. We have developed new techniques for compiler optimizations for distributed shared-memory machines, although the same techniques can be used for sequential machines with a memory hierarchy.Our compiler optimizations are based on an algebraic representation of data mappings and a new data locality model. We present a pure data transformation algorithm and an algorithm unifying data and control transformations. While there has been much work on control transformations, the opportunities for data transformations have been largely neglected. In fact, data transformations have the advantage of being applicable to programs that cannot be optimized with control transformations. The unified algorithm, which performs data and control transformations simultaneously, offers improvement over optimizations obtained by applying data and control transformations separately.The experimental results using a set of applications on a parallel machine show that the new optimizations improve performance significantly. These results are further analyzed using locality metrics with instrumentation and simulation.
Minor elements in igneous and metamorphic apatite

Abstract Analyses of forty-six apatites from various igneous and metamorphic environments have shown enrichment relative to the lithosphere in Ce, Y, La and Sr; apatite from many granite pegmatites is also enriched in Mn. These elements appear to be substituting for Ca in the structure. The P position is far less amenable to impurity incorporation and As5+ and V5+ seldom substitute to any degree for P5+; this is partly due to environmental and partly to structural control. The ratio of Y to Ce + La is higher and total Ce + La + Y content lower, in pegmatite apatites than in apatite from regional metamorphic and plutonic environments, because of selective incorporation of the Ce-earths in K-felspars and monazite during crystallization of granites and pegmatites and enrichment of the Y-earths in residual solutions. The highest Sr content occurs in apatite from ultrabasic and alkalic rocks. Ba is also enriched in apatite from alkalic complexes and carbonatites.
The insertion and extrusion of heterosulfur bridges. V. Desulfurization of dibenzothiophene by means of methanol and molybdena catalysts

Desuliurization of dibenzothiophene is effected in 82% yield by means of methanol and a sulfidcd cohaltous oxide-molylxlic oxide-aluminum oxide catalyst at 450° and ca. one atmosphere pressure in a flow system. The methanol serves as a hydrogen donor and methylating agent to form biphenyl (main product), 3- and 4-methylbiphenyls, and fluorene.
Dynamical theory for modeling dipole-dipole interactions in a microcavity: The Green dyadic approach

A dynamical theory for modeling the dipole-dipole interaction in a microcavity is formulated using the Green dyadic approach. To our knowledge, this theory is one of the most general in many aspects of modeling the phenomenon. It accommodates an arbitrary number of layers adjacent to the cavity, constant but arbitrary dielectric properties within each layer, inclusion of retardation effects, arbitrary dipole orientations, and an unlimited number of interacting dipoles. Numerical results for the emission properties of interacting molecular dipoles in a microcavity are presented to illustrate the capability of the method.
Asymmetric Reductions Involving Borohydrides: A Practical Asymmetric Reduction of Ketones Mediated by (l)-TarB−NO2: A Chiral Lewis Acid

The asymmetric reduction of prochiral ketones has been achieved through a myriad of different methods. Early reductions gave low to moderate enantiomeric excesses (ee's), but more modern reagents have led to dramatic increases in enantioselectivity. The development of (l)-TarB-NO2 boronic ester is extensively reviewed in the context of other well-known asymmetric reducing reagents. In combination with NaBH4, the chiral intermediate is able to reduce prochiral ketones to optically active secondary alcohols in ee's as high as 99% and can be easily recovered under basic conditions.
Measurement of myocardial fatty acid esterification using [1-11C]palmitate and PET: comparison with direct measurements of myocardial triglyceride synthesis.

The purpose of the present study was to assess the accuracy of rates of myocardial fatty acid esterification (MFAE) obtained using positron emission tomography (PET). Sixteen dogs were studied after an overnight fast (FAST), during a euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp (CLAMP), or during infusion of intralipid (IL) or IL plus dobutamine (IL/DOB). MFAE was quantified using [1-11C]palmitate and PET and compared to the rate of triglyceride (TG) synthesis measured using [1-13C]palmitate and tissue sampling. Plasma free fatty acid (FFA) concentration varied ~20-fold across groups, with this variation in FFA availability accompanied by a ~20-fold range in TG synthesis. MFAE varied ~12-fold across groups, and was significantly correlated with TG synthesis (R = 0.80, P < .001). MFAE, however, was 3- to 4-fold higher than TG synthesis in FAST, CLAMP, and IL, but only ~50% higher when cardiac work was increased in IL/DOB, suggesting that MFAE reflects, in part, the incorporation of label into amino acids via TCA cycle exchange reactions. Changes in MFAE parallel changes in TG synthesis, at least in the basal state. Although the data need to be interpreted cautiously, such measurements should be useful for quantifying acute changes in FFA storage by the heart in various pathophysiological states.
Interaction between red cell membrane band 3 and cytosolic carbonic anhydrase.

We have previously proposed that a membrane transport complex, centered on the human red cell anion transport protein, band 3, links the transport of anions, cations and glucose. Since band 3 is specialized for HCO 3 − /Cl− exchange, we thought there might also be a linkage with carbonic anhydrase (CA) which hydrates CO2 to HCO 3 − . CA is a cytosolic enzyme which is not present in the red cell membrane. The rate of reaction of CA with the fluorescent inhibitor, dansylsulfonamide (DNSA) can be measured by stopped-flow spectrofluorimetry and used to characterize the normal CA configuration. If a perturbation applied to a membrane protein alters DNSA/CA binding kinetics, we conclude that the perturbation has changed the CA configuration by either direct or allosteric means. Our experiments show that covalent reaction of the specific stilbene anion exchange inhibitor, DIDS, with the red cell membrane, significantly alters DNSA/CA binding kinetics. Another specific anion exchange inhibitor, benzene sulfonate (BSate), which has been shown to bind to the DIDS site causes a larger change in DNSA/CA binding kinetics; DIDS reverses the BSate effect. These experiments show that there is a linkage between band 3 and CA, consistent with CA interaction with the cytosolic pole of band 3. This work was supported in part by a grant-in-aid from the American Heart Association, by the Squibb Institute for Medical Research and by The Council for Tobacco Research.
Specific cleavage of diphtheria toxin by human urokinase.

Summary Diphtheria toxin must undergo a specific cleavage reaction and subsequent reduction to express the enzymatic ADP-ribosyltransferase activity that is responsible for its toxicity. In an effort to identify potential cellular enzymes that might be involved in this process we have found that a human urinary plasminogen activator, urokinase, is capable of specifically cleaving diphtheria toxin to yield an enzymatically active A fragment (more homogeneous than that produced by trypsin cleavage) and a B fragment (with an identical amino-terminal sequence to that produced by trypsin cleavage). The results raise the possibility that urokinase or urokinase-like enzymes play a role in diphtheria toxin-mediated intoxication.
Frontotemporal dementia and parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17: A consensus conference

We held an international consensus conference on frontotemporal dementia, behavioral disturbances, and parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 to determine whether these are homogeneous or heterogeneous disorders, to agree on terminology, and to develop strategies for further research. The group identified 13 kindreds with sufficient evidence for linkage, finding in common to all a critical 2 cM between markers D17S791 and D17S800. There was agreement that (1) despite previous descriptions that have emphasized one or another clinical or neuropathological feature, the kindreds share clinical and neuropathological features; (2) until more specific information about the genetic defects becomes available, this disorder is best termed frontotemporal dementia and parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17; and (3) further research will be enhanced by identifying the gene or genes responsible for this disorder, detecting additional cases within known families and, in new families, correlating mutations with phenotypes and more fully delineating the clinical, neuropsychological, and neuropathological characteristics of this disorder.
Beyond mandated track safety inspections using a mission-focused, knowledge-based approach

The inspection of railroad track is typically mandated by applicable track standards which generally address intent (safety and/or maintenance) and calendar frequency. Likewise, the maintenance and repair (M&R) of track is often compliance-driven with the intent of sustaining the condition requirements associated with a track standards-based track class. This approach falls short of optimising inspections because it is not based on strategic asset management needs. This approach also does not lead to an optimal mix of M&R work activities under varying budget constraints. This paper expands on a “knowledge-based” concept developed for building asset management whereby maintenance inspections are optimally scheduled based on knowledge of the asset and not the calendar. Included is the introduction of a “mission-focused” scoring metric that measures track segment importance. This track priority score along with other readily attainable track condition metrics form the basis for developing a knowledge...
Wild-type levels of the mouse Forkhead Box f1 gene are essential for lung repair

The Forkhead Box (Fox) family of transcription factors plays important roles in regulating expression of genes involved in cellular proliferation and differentiation. In a previous study, we showed...
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy as a probe of intermolecular interactions in porphyrin polymer thin films.

High-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) has been applied to a series of free-base and Zn−porphyrin polymers in which the macrocycles are separated by oligo(phenylene vinylene) units ...
Labor Location, Conservation, and Land Quality: The Case of West Jilin, China

This paper applies von Thunen's land-use theory with approach to labor location to examine spatial patterns of conservation and land quality. It is based on long-term fieldwork in West Jilin, China, an area that suffers severe land degradation. Statistical data were collected in a four-year project from 1993 to 1997, involving 1,801 fields farmed by 307 families from twenty villages, and analyzed using correlation, regression, and analysis of variance. The distance of labor from agricultural fields is found to be the main contributor to the prediction of conservation and land quality, while effects of market distance are also significant to three of the eleven variables. Nearby fields have more organic inputs, better tree coverage, and better water supply. They are also less affected by soil-exhausting crops and tend to be farmed with traditional environment-friendly techniques. Distant fields are disadvantaged in all these aspects, though they benefit more from crop rotation. As a result, land quality—as...
Substrate mediation of the interaction between adatoms on graphite: Discrete lattice model

Abstract A study is presented of the substrate-mediated dispersion interaction ΔV between two adatoms on graphite. Correspondence is made between one contribution to the McLachlan expression (ΔVM) (appropriate to a continuum substrate) and a discrete lattice result ΔV(3) for the three-body, triple dipole, dispersion energy involving the adatoms and the C atoms. The numerical results for these two functions agree closely for distances relevant to adsorption if the adatom position L is referred to an effective image plane at z 0 = 1 A above the outermost C plane. With this choice, the complete McLachlan energy leads to a ∼10% reduction in the well depth of the interatomic potential.
Long noncoding RNA lincRNA-p21 is the major mediator of UVB-induced and p53-dependent apoptosis in keratinocytes.

LincRNA-p21 is a long noncoding RNA and a transcriptional target of p53 and HIF-1α. LincRNA-p21 regulates gene expression in cis and trans, mRNA translation, protein stability, the Warburg effect, and p53-dependent apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in doxorubicin-treated mouse embryo fibroblasts. p53 plays a key role in the response of skin keratinocytes to UVB-induced DNA damage by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. In skin cancer development, UVB-induced mutation of p53 allows keratinocytes upon successive UVB exposures to evade apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. We hypothesized that lincRNA-p21 has a key functional role in UVB-induced apoptosis and/or cell cycle arrest in keratinocytes and loss of lincRNA-p21 function results in the evasion of apoptosis and/or cell cycle arrest. We observed that lincRNA-p21 transcripts are highly inducible by UVB in mouse and human keratinocytes in culture and in mouse skin in vivo. LincRNA-p21 is regulated at the transcriptional level in response to UVB, and the UVB induction of lincRNA-p21 in keratinocytes and in vivo in mouse epidermis is primarily through a p53-dependent pathway. Knockdown of lincRNA-p21 blocked UVB-induced apoptosis in mouse and human keratinocytes, and lincRNA-p21 was responsible for the majority of UVB-induced and p53-mediated apoptosis in keratinocytes. Knockdown of lincRNA-p21 had no effect on cell proliferation in untreated or UVB-treated keratinocytes. An early event in skin cancer is the mutation of a single p53 allele. We observed that a mutant p53+/R172H allele expressed in mouse epidermis (K5Cre+/tg;LSLp53+/R172H) showed a significant dominant-negative inhibitory effect on UVB-induced lincRNA-p21 transcription and apoptosis in epidermis. We conclude lincRNA-p21 is highly inducible by UVB and has a key role in triggering UVB-induced apoptotic death. We propose that the mutation of a single p53 allele provides a pro-oncogenic function early in skin cancer development through a dominant inhibitory effect on UVB-induced lincRNA-p21 expression and the subsequent evasion of UVB-induced apoptosis.
The Transition from Early Child Care to Preschool: Emerging Toddler Skills and Readiness for Group-Based Learning

Research Findings: National policy today is on the brink of defining preschool experiences as essential for children’s academic success. Indeed, many children’s classroom experience begins as they transition from infant/toddler care to a preschool classroom. This study examined developmentally relevant skill domains among 36-month-olds (effortful control, social engagement, and language abilities) and tested their organization in a latent factor model of skills hypothesized to promote classroom adaptation. Assessments of low-income children interacting with a parent and examiner from the Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project were utilized (n = 1,814). The data included observations of mother–child interactions during semistructured activities at home and child behavior assessments. Results indicated that the interrelated structure of children’s skills was best defined in a 2-factor, latent variable model: effortful control and social communication. These learning skills were related to but sepa...
Hydrophobic Surface Burial is the Major Stability Determinant of a Flat, Single-Layer β-Sheet

Formation of a flat β-sheet is a fundamental event in β-sheet-mediated protein self-assembly. To investigate the contributions of various factors to the stability of flat β-sheets, we performed extensive alanine-scanning mutagenesis experiments on the single-layer β-sheet segment of Borrelia outer surface protein A (OspA). This β-sheet segment consists of β-strands with highly regular geometries that can serve as a building block for self-assembly. Our Ala-scanning approach is distinct from the conventional host-guest method, in that it introduces only conservative, truncation mutations that should minimize structural perturbation. Our results showed very weak correlation with experimental β-sheet propensity scales, statistical β-sheet propensity scales, or cross-strand pairwise correlations. In contrast, our data showed strong positive correlation with the change in buried non-polar surface area. Polar interactions including prominent Glu-Lys cross-strand pairs contribute marginally to the β-sheet stability. These results were corroborated by results from additional non-Ala mutations. Taken together, these results demonstrate the dominant contribution of non-polar surface burial to flat β-sheet stability even at solvent-exposed positions. The OspA single-layer β-sheet achieves efficient hydrophobic surface burial without forming a hydrophobic core by a strategic placement of a variety of side-chains. These findings further suggest the importance of hydrophobic interactions within a β-sheet layer in peptide self-assembly.
Bleeding after excision of breast lumps

Bleeding complications after excision of lumps in the breast are common and may be related to the prescription of heparin for prophylaxis of thrombo-embolism. Between I June 1997 and I January 2000, 206 lumps of the breast were removed in 186 patients. All patients received a low molecular weight heparin as a prophylaxis for deep venous thrombosis. The number of bleeding complications was 23 (11%). Patients operated on the day of admission had more bleeding complications than those who were operated on the day after admission (19/145 (13%) compared with 4/61 (7%)). The difference was not significant (p = 0.26). Smoking and use of antihypertensive medication were registered more often in patients without bleeding complications. Lumpectomy of the breast is an operation with a lot of bleeding complications. This might be related to the timing of deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis.
A non-muscle myosin required for embryonic polarity in Caenorhabditis elegans

DAUGHTER cells with distinct fates can arise through intrinsically asymmetrical divisions1. Before such divisions, factors crucial for determining cell fates become asymmetrically localized in the mother cell2,3. In Caenorhabditis elegans, PAR proteins are required for the early asymmetrical divisions that establish embryonic polarity4–8, and are asymmetrically localized in early blastomeres9,10, although the mechanism of their distribution is not known. Here we report the identification in C. elegans of a non-muscle myosin II heavy chain (designated NMY-2) by means of its interaction with the PAR-1 protein, a putative Ser/Thr protein kinase. Furthermore, injections of nmy-2 antisense RNA into ovaries of adult worms cause embryonic partitioning defects and lead to mislocalization of PAR proteins. We therefore conclude that NMY-2 is required for establishing cellular polarity in C. elegans embryos.
Treatment of common skin diseases in infants and children.

Summary Certain dermatoses which affect children exclusively or predominantly arereviewed, including infantile eczemas, papular urticaria, tinea capitis, and angiomas. Since the skin of the child is more sensitive than that of the adult, greater care is required in prescribing remedies in order to avoid injury. A brief summary is presented of the latest methods of treatment of the more common dermatoses. On the whole, the dermatoses of children respond satisfactorily to treatment,a very essential prerequisite for successful therapy being an initially correct diagnosis. Progress in any branch of medicine affecting dermatology, as in allergy, skin tests, the study of bacterial, parasitic, and fungous diseases, of nutritional, metabolic, or hormone disturbances, in processes of immunization, as well as in the application of new drugs including the sulfonamides and antibiotics, will, of course have repercussions in pediatric dermatology. It is imperative that the significance and effect of new discoveries in relation to the skin of infants and children be determined. This will permit a fuller utilization of the discoveries and reduction of undesirable reactions to a minimum. In attempting to evaluate the probable end result of any given therapy, it is necessary to take into consideration the changes that are to be expected due to growth and maturation of the tissues.
Equal-area blocks

A choice in the subdivision of the earth into approximately equal area blocks is considered. Criteria are discussed for judging the value of various types of block divisions. The three divisions considered in this paper are: 1) a generalized division valid for any size block; 2) and 3) a division of a 30° block and the Zhonogolovich 10° blocks so that the sub-blocks may be conveniently meaned to form blocks in sizes up to 30° and 10° respectively.
Amino- and Urea-Substituted Thiazoles Inhibit Photosynthetic Electron Transfer

Amino- and urea-substituted thiazoles exhibited in vivo herbicidal activity on duckweed (Lemna paucicostata Hegelm. strain 6746) cultures and appeared to act via inhibition of photosynthetic electron transport system. A small number of the thiazole derivatives tested were active but only at relatively high concentrations. The most active structures were the amino-substituted thiazoles with isopropyl and n-butyl side chains and the urea-substituted thiazole with p-chlorophenyl side chain. Decreasing the length of the side chain had a negative effect on the PSII inhibitory activity. The urea-substituted series was as a group less active than the amino series, and the free acid series had no biological activity. The most active compounds competed for the same binding site as atrazine on PSII. Computer modeling highlighted the structural similarities between some of the thiazoles and the commercial herbicides diuron and atrazine.
Protein traffic between distinct plasma membrane domains: Isolation and characterization of vesicular carriers involved in transcytosis

Abstract We have Isolated a population of vesicular carriers involved in the transport (transcytosis) of proteins from the basolateral to the apical plasma membrane of hepatocytes. The obtained fraction was enriched in compartments containing known transcytosed proteins and depleted in elements of the secretory pathway, Golgi elements, basolateral plasma membrane, as well as early endosomal components. The fraction was analyzed by biochemical and Immunological procedures. Antibodies raised against the proteins in the fraction recognized a single 108K antigen. Based on its subcellular distribution, the 108K antigen may represent a novel marker for transcytotic vesicular carriers.
Motion of near‐neutrally buoyant tracers in vortical flows

An analysis of the motion of particles of arbitrary density and size in solid body and potential vortex flows is presented. The study provides a basis for precise, quantitative reduction of tracer‐particle visualization of such flows in water tunnels.
Hobby-Eberly telescope medium-resolution spectrograph

We present a concept design for a versatile, high throughput fiber couple spectrograph for the 9-meter Hobby-Eberly telescope. This instrument, designated the medium resolution spectrograph (MRS) will cover the visible spectrum from 350 nm to 1100 nm and have a resolution range 300 < (lambda) /(Delta) (lambda) < 20000. It will reside in an environmentally controlled spectrograph room. Operating modes of the spectrograph will include single object, synthetic long slit, and multiple object spectroscopy. The dual requirements of spectral coverage and high resolution mandate that the MRS be a dual beam instrument.
Kinetics of EPTC biodegradation and the effects of the inhibitor dietholate in solids

Abstract The mineralization kinetics and incorporation into microbial biomass of [N-α propyl-14C] and [carbonyl-14C]EPTC (S-ethyl dipropylcarbamothioate) were determined in a soil with no previous use of carbamothioate herbicides, and two soils with previous exposure to the herbicide EPTC. Previous exposure to EPTC resulted in microbial adaptation to EPTC, as evidenced by increased degradation and mineralization of EPTC. Amounts of 14CO2 evolved from [N-α propyl-14C]EPTC in adapted soils were nearly twice that from nonadapted soil. The maximum recovery of EPTC in microbial biomass was 2.6% of added 14C. Dietholate (O,O-diethyl O-phenyl phosphorothioate), which extends persistence and weed control of EPTC, appears to act by inhibiting metabolism of the carbonyl linkage of EPTC, based on [carbonyl-14C]EPTC mineralization. Dietholate lost effectiveness after repeated applications with EPTC.
Isolation and structure of isoculmorin from the marine fungus Kallichroma tethys.

A new tricyclic sesquiterpeneisoculmorinwas isolated from the marine fungus Kallichroma tethys and its structure determined by X-ray crystallography.
Deep level studies in MBE GaAs grown at low temperature

The photo-induced current transient spectroscopy (PICTS), thermoelectric effect spectroscopy (TEES) and thermally stimulated current (TSC) spectroscopy have been used to characterize the deep levels in the GaAs materials grown at low temperature by molecular beam epitaxy. At least five hole traps and five electron traps have been identified by the TEES measurement employing a simplified sample arrangement. We have studied the behavior of various traps as a function of the growth temperature and the post-growth annealing temperature. Some of the shallower hole traps were annealed out above 650‡ C. Electron traps atE c- 0.29 eV andE c- 0.49 eV were present in the material, and have been identified as M3 and M4, respectively. The dominant electron trap, atE c- 0.57 eV, is believed to be associated with the stoichiometric defect caused by the excess As in the material, and our data show evidence of forming a defect band by this trap. A possible model involving As precipitates is proposed for this trap atE c-0.57 eV.
A Model for Production-Distribution Networks with Transit Billing

The model presented in this paper uses the method of linear programming to solve multi-plant, multi-product distribution networks constrained by plant production schedules and manufacturing combinations when the shipment of final goods is a function of the raw material input. This function connecting inbound material with outbound finished goods at a given production facility is described by the privilege of mill-in-transit granted by the material haulers. The model is developed under very general assumptions, and is able to solve the networks in terms of optimally applying transit billing, determining production schedules and combinations, and final distribution of product to customer while allowing for outside purchases of the same end products.