cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Keyboarding as a social form

An analysis of keyboarding logic, pro cedures, products and uses in contemporary life sug gests the rise of an emergent social form which both reflects, as well as directs, formal, technical ration ality. Conceptualizing keyboards as a social form which communicates a sense of the ordinariness, orderliness and bureaucratic reality of our world, provides a way to theoretically surround a variety of equipment, e.g., typewriters, computers, tele phones, video games, etc., as well as bureaucratic communication formats, e.g., memos. Field mater ials illustrate the appropriateness of this conceptual ization for clarifying communication, social interac tion and social organizations as further elaborations of the keyboard form.
Spry1 and Spry2 are necessary for lens vesicle separation and corneal differentiation.

The vertebrate lens is composed of proliferating epithelial cells in the anterior portion and postmitotic, terminally differentiated fiber cells in the posterior part. This polarity is maintained throughout life by precise coordination of proliferation, cell cycle exit, and differentiation. An inductive signal from the retina is thought to induce lens epithelial cells at the equatorial region to withdraw from the cell cycle and initiate the fiber differentiation program.1 In vitro and in vivo studies show that FGF stimulation of lens epithelial cells is sufficient to induce premature fiber differentiation.2–5 Expression of secreted dominant negative FGF receptor 3 (FGFR3) or deletion of all six alleles of FGFR1, -2, and -3 in the lens in transgenic or knockout mice, respectively, is sufficient to inhibit initiation of lens fiber differentiation.6,7 These results suggest that FGFR-meditated signaling is necessary for normal fiber differentiation. Sproutys play an essential role in regulation of Ras-Raf-Erk signaling downstream of FGFR stimulation. Four vertebrate Sprys, Spry1-4, have been identified and have been shown to antagonize Ras-Raf-ERK signaling downstream of FGFR.8–11 During murine embryogenesis, the sites of Spry expression often coincide with centers of FGF signaling.11–15 Spry-knockout mice have revealed interesting roles for these proteins in regulation of organogenesis. Spry1-null mice show kidney and urinary tract defects with ectopic branching of the Wolffian duct and increased ERK activation.16,17 Spry2-null mice show alterations in inner ear development that are rescued by reduction in FGF8 dosage.18 Spry3 is not expressed in the mouse embryo but is expressed in the adult brain and testes.11 Effects of Spry3 deletion in the murine germline have not been reported. Spry4-null mice show growth retardation and polysyndactyly.19 In addition, Spry2 and -4 have been shown to be critical for repression of ERK activation and diastema tooth formation.20 In the brain, Spry1 and -2 regulate cortical patterning, proliferation, and differentiation by repression of FGF-ERK signaling.9 These results establish Sprys as critical modulators of FGF-ERK signaling during organogenesis. Expression of Spry1 and -2 at different stages of lens maturation has been described previously.21 Nonetheless, the question of whether Sprys are necessary for lens development has not been addressed. By conditional deletion of Spry1 and -2 in ocular tissues, we show that these genes play critical roles in not only lens but also corneal development.
Carbon membranes for gas separation: developmental studies

Abstract Carbon membranes with 0.2 and 1.0 μm pore sizes are commercially available for liquid microfiltration applications. These membranes may be modified for gas separation applications by providing a gas separation layer with pores in the 1 to 10 nm range. With such pores, gases are separated by Knudsen diffusion with an individual gas species permeation rate inversely proportional to the ratio of the square root of the molecular weight of the permeating species. This paper describes some of the techniques used for depositing a suitable layer starting with various organic polymeric precursors. The in situ polymerization technique was found to be the most promising, and pure component tests with membrane samples prepared with this technique indicated Knudsen diffusion behaviour. The gas separation factors obtained by mixed-gas permeation tests were found to depend strongly on gas temperature and pressure indicating significant viscous flow at high-pressure conditions.
Raising the Bar: Reassessing Standards for Procedural Competence

Background: How often passing standards for clinical skills examinations should be reexamined is unknown. Purpose: The goal is to determine if improved resident performance affects the passing standard imposed by expert judges. Method: In 2006, we set a passing standard for a central venous catheter insertion clinical skills examination using an expert panel. From 2007 to 2010, trainee scores improved steadily. In 2010, a new expert panel provided judgments for the examination using 4 consecutive years of resident performance data. Interrater reliabilities and test–retest reliability (stability) were calculated. Passing standards from 2006 and 2010 were compared. Results: Judgments provided were reliable and stable. The new passing standard was 88% for internal jugular and 87% for subclavian central venous catheter insertion compared to 79% for both sites in 2006. Conclusions: Cumulative performance data influenced experts to set a more stringent minimum passing standard. Standards should be regularly rev...
Vertical integration of submicron MOSFETs in two separate layers of SOI islands formed by silicon epitaxial lateral overgrowth

Reported here is the vertical integration of submicron P-MOSFETs in two separate layers of SOI device islands fabricated using the selective epitaxial growth and epitaxial lateral overgrowth of silicon (SEG/ELO). The fabrication technique has the potential for threedimensional device integration. Underlying P-MOSFETs in the first SOI device layer experienced all the process steps required to fabricate devices on the second layer SOI islands. The fullydepleted first layer SOI P-MOSFET device (Leff= 0.6 μm) characteristics showed normal MOSFET behavior, low off-state leakage currents below 0.2 pA/μm with a subthreshold slope as low as 65 mV/dec. The P-MOSFETs in the second SOI layer (Leff= 0.4 μm) showed normal device characteristics similar to those fabricated in the first SOI layer without second level devices.
Quorum sensing in dimorphic fungi: farnesol and beyond.

Production of farnesol by Candida albicans is the first quorum-sensing system discovered in a eukaryote ([29][1]). In C. albicans , accumulated farnesol affects both dimorphism ([29][1], [50][2]) and biofilm formation ([62][3]). Fungal dimorphism is defined ([64][4]) as an environmentally controlled
VQ-based model design algorithms for text compression

Summary form only given. We propose a new approach for text compression where fast decoding is more desirable than encoding. An example of such a requirement is an information retrieval system. For efficient compression, high-order conditional probability information of text data is analyzed and modeled by utilizing vector quantization concept. Generally, vector quantization (VQ) has been used for lossy compression where the input symbol is not exactly recovered at the decoder, hence it does not seem applicable to lossless text compression problems. However, VQ can be applied to high-order conditional probability information so that the complexity of the information can be reduced. We represent the conditional probability information of a source in a tree structure where each node in the first level of the tree is associated with respective 1-st order conditional probability and the second level nodes with the 2nd order conditional probability. For good text compression performances, it is necessary that fourth or higher order conditional probability information be used. It is essential that the model be simplified enough for training with a reasonable size of training set. We reduce the number of conditional probability tables and also discuss a semi-adaptive operating mode of the model where the tree is derived through training but actual probability information at each node is obtained adaptively from input data. The performance of the proposed algorithm is comparable to or exceeds other methods such as prediction by partial matching (PPM) but requires smaller memory size.
Transferrin-mediated targeting of bacteriophage HK97 nanoparticles into tumor cells.

Aims: Next-generation targeted nanodevices are currently under development for imaging and therapeutic applications. We engineered HK97 viral nanoparticles (VNPs) for tumor cell-specific targeting. Methods: A combination of genetic and chemical engineering methods were developed and applied to generate dual-labeled HK97 cysteine mutant particles displaying transferrin and fluorescent labels. The targeting properties of transferrin-conjugated VNPs were evaluated by in vitro experiments using different cancer cell lines. Results: We found that HK97–tranferrin formulations were indeed targeted to cancer cells in vitro via the transferrin receptor. These studies highlight the utility and facilitate the further development of HK97-based VNPs.
Direct digital synthesizer architecture in multichannel, dual-polarization weather radar transceiver modules

The Atmospheric Radar Research Laboratory (ARRC) of the University of Oklahoma is building a teamwork-oriented, cylindrical, dual-pol, phased array radar, and this paper addresses the hardware development of the waveform generation and digital receiver portions of the project (namely, a digital transceiver). Direct Digital Synthesizers (DDS) are being utilized to generate digital waveforms for the radar. DDSs will allow for smooth communication between array nodes and efficient beamsteering in this application so long as a synchronization technique ensures the operation of an accurate master clock. The paper describes a synchronous technique for generating waveforms over multiple channels of the radar and the architecture of each channel's transmitter is examined. The functions, utilization, and synchronization scheme of DDSs in this application are also discussed. Finally, a digital receiver solution is explored. Combining these two ideas introduces a low-cost, custom digital transceiver with a small form factor. This transceiver has been designed and built at the ARRC and utilizes waveform generators and digital receivers to be used in multi-channel radar platforms.
Intraoperative transesophageal ultrasonography can measure renal blood flow.

Abstract Objective: To determine the feasibility of acquiring Doppler-derived indices of renal blood flow by transesophageal ultrasonography in the perioperative period. Design: Prospective, sequential, institutional review board—approved study. Setting: University teaching hospital. Participants: Nine patients with normal renal function, scheduled for elective primary coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Interventions: Two-dimensional images of renal parenchyma and Doppler measurement of intrarenal arterial blood flow during internal mammary dissection were acquired. To effect renal blood flow changes, the renal vasodilator dopamine, 2 μg/kg/min, was infused for 20 minutes after baseline measurements were made. Renal Doppler measurements were repeated to determine whether transesophageal ultrasonography can follow these changes. Measurements and Main Results: Hemodynamic measurements (heart rate, mean arterial blood pressure, cardiac output, and cardiac index) and Doppler velocity measurements of intrarenal arterial blood flow (peak systolic, end-diastolic, and mean velocity) were made at time 1 (T1 = baseline) and at time 2 (T2 = after 20 minutes of dopamine infusion). The derived Doppler indices, pulsatility index and resistive index, were calculated according to standard formulae. Measurements were compared by paired Student's t-test (two-tailed, p
Kinetically controlled vapor-diffusion synthesis of novel nanostructured metal hydroxide and phosphate films using no organic reagents

Nanostructured Co5(OH)8Cl2·3H2O, Co5(OH)8(NO3)2·2H2O, Co5(OH)8SO4·2H2O, Zn5(OH)8(NO3)2·2H2O, Cu2(OH)3(NO3) and Mn3(PO4)2·7H2O thin films have been prepared using a kinetically controlled vapor-diffusion method. Vectorial control by diffusion of ammonia as a base catalyst into an aqueous metal salt solution yields large area (2 cm2) metal hydroxide and metal phosphate films with unique structures. No supporting substrate for growth of the films is necessary in this approach. The films were characterized using X-ray powder diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The cobalt containing films were studied in more detail using transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray absorption near edge structure and various chemical analysis techniques. For the first time the electronic properties and crystal structure of these materials could be studied in thin films not influenced by the presence of an underlying substrate. For Co5(OH)8(NO3)2·2H2O films, which crystallize in a layered hydrotalcite-like structure that is homogeneous from the nanoscale to the macroscale, unprecedented photoconductivity properties were observed. Resistivity measurements show that this material is a p-type semiconductor with an unusually long minority carrier lifetime and high carrier density.
The Impact of Life Events on Networks of Personal Relationships: A Comparison of Widowhood and Caring for a Spouse with Alzheimer's Disease

This article investigates the effects of different life events on networks of personal relationships through a comparison of recent widows and caregivers of a spouse with Alzheimer's disease. In both cases, we collected qualitative data from focus groups and coded each mention of another person according to their relationship to the widow or caregiver and whether the person was mentioned positively, neutrally or negatively. The results show that there were notable differences between widows' networks of relationships and those of caregivers. Widows not only mentioned more people in their networks, but also mentioned these relationships in a more positive or a negative fashion, while caregivers made fewer mentions of other people and in a more neutral fashion. Comparing the effects of the two life events shows that widowhood generates changes that have impacts throughout the social network, while caregiving leads to a life that is centered on the intense demands of caring for the spouse. This difference su...
The development of baryon asymmetry in the early universe

Abstract The development of an excess of baryons over antibaryons due to CP and baryon number violating reactions during the very early stages of the big bang is calculated in simple models using the Boltzmann equation. We show that it is necessary to solve the coupled Boltzmann equations in order to determine the final baryon number in any specific model.
Purification, secretion and immunocytochemical localization of the uterine milk proteins, major progesterone-induced proteins in uterine secretions of the sheep.

Restriction of the conceptus to one uterine horn of the pregnant ewe results in the accumulation of fluid called uterine milk (UTM) in the contralateral horn. Two basic polypeptides, called the uterine milk proteins (UTM-proteins; Mr = 55,000 and 57,000 as determined by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis using sodium dodecyl sulfate), accounted for the majority of the protein in uterine milk. The two UTM-proteins were glycoproteins and were readily purified from uterine fluids by cation-exchange chromatography on carboxymethyl (CM)-cellulose followed by Sephacryl S-200 gel-filtration. The purified UIM-proteins had a weight-average molecular weight of 50,700± 4,200, as determined by equilibrium sedimentation analysis. Endometrial explants from pregnant ewes were cultured in the presence of radioactive amino acids and released UTM -proteins into the medium as their major secretory products. The UTM-proteins were secreted into the uterine lumen of nonpregnant, ovariectomized ewes given daily injections of progesterone. Estrone alone was ineffective in inducing UTM -protein production. Immunocytochemicalstudies indicated that synthesis of the UTM -proteins was confined to the surface and glandular epithelium of the uterus.
Gradient-descent adaptation of cascade-form adaptive filters

The behavior of gradient descent algorithms for cascade-form adaptive filters is examined via the geometry of the filter error surface. Relationships are formulated between direct-form filter error surfaces and cascade-form error surfaces by considering properties of the nonlinear transformation between these two parametrizations. Different choices of model set for the cascade-form are discussed together with their implications for gradient-descent behavior. It is demonstrated that in the most practical case, unbounded filter coefficients can result in the adaptive cascade-form filter, even in situations in which the direct-form filter is well-behaved. >
Identification of Genes Uniquely Involved in Frequent Microsatellite Instability Colon Carcinogenesis by Expression Profiling Combined with Epigenetic Scanning

Gene silencing through CpG island hypermethylation has been associated with genesis or progression of frequent microsatellite instability (MSI-H) cancers. To identify novel methylation sites unique to MSI-H colon cancers in an unbiased fashion, we conducted a global expression profiling-based methylation target search. We identified 81 genes selectively down-regulated in MSI-H cancers using cDNA microarray analysis of 41 primary colon cancers. Forty six of these 81 genes contained CpG islands overlapping their 5'untranslated regions. Initial screening of six genes in 57 primary colon cancers detected the following gene with MSI-H cancer-specific hypermethylation: RAB32, a ras family member and A-kinase-anchoring protein, was methylated in 14 of 25 (56%) MSI-H cancers but in none of 32 non-MSI-H cancers or 23 normal colonic specimens. RAB32 hypermethylation correlated with RAB32 mRNA down-regulation and with hMLH1 hypermethylation. In addition, the protein-tyrosine phosphatase receptor type O gene, PTPRO, was frequently methylated in right-sided tumors. This methylation screening strategy should identify additional genes inactivated by epigenetic silencing in colorectal and other cancers.
Exploring the effect of retail sector and firm characteristics on retail price promotion strategy

Abstract This study examines why retail price promotion strategies vary across retail sectors and across firms within sectors. Using hierarchical linear modeling and a sample of 38 firms from 11 retail sectors, the authors investigate how two sector-level characteristics, related to product assortment perishability and heterogeneity, and three firm-level characteristics, related to retailer differentiation, number of stores, and average store size, influence price promotion decisions. The results indicate that assortment heterogeneity moderates the positive influence of perishability on price promotion activity; scale and scope also have significant effects. These results offer fresh insight into the ongoing debate surrounding stable versus promotional pricing, suggesting that the benefits of a particular strategy are driven largely by a complex interaction between sector-level characteristics as well as firm-level cost advantages.
A comparison of platelet production in mice made thrombocytopenic by hypoxia and by platelet specific antisera.

Summary. Previous experiments have shown that hypoxia causes thrombocytopenia in mice. In an attempt to define the recovery phase, mice were enclosed in hypoxia chambers for 14 d and platelet counts, total circulating platelet counts (TCPC) and masses (TCPM), platelet sizes, and %35S incorporation into platelets were determined over the next 8 d while the mice were kept at ambient O2 levels. For comparison, untreated mice and mice made thrombocytopenic by injection of rabbit anti-mouse-platelet serum (RAMPS) were used. Both 14 d of hypoxia and RAMPS treatment resulted in severe thrombocytopenia. TCPC and TCPM were similar in both exhypoxic and RAMPS-injected mice. However, the platelet count recovery pattern of exhypoxic-thrombocytopenic mice did not show the rebound-thrombocytosis which was characteristic of RAMPS-induced thrombocytopenia, apparently because of dilution of platelets by increased blood volumes. Average platelet sizes were larger than normal 2 d posthypoxia or after RAMPS-treatment, followed by a decline toward normal; platelets from exhypoxic mice, however, remained larger. Per cent 35S incorporation into platelets was lower in exhypoxic mice than in RAMPS-treated mice; lower numbers of megakaryocytes were observed immediately after removal from hypoxia followed by an increase in number and size by 2 d later. Also, thrombopoietin was detected in plasma of RAMPS-treated mice, but not in plasma of exhypoxic-thrombocytopenic mice. Therefore, it seems possible that hypoxia reduced the numbers of megakaryocytes, resulting in depressed thrombocytopoiesis of mice at the time of removal from hypoxic atmospheres.
Testability metrics for synthesis of self-testable designs and effective test plans

We propose a set of unified metrics for self-testability which are portable across different phases of synthesis. Furthermore, applicability of the proposed test metrics is verified through extensive experiments on benchmark designs.
Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α contributes to the profibrotic action of angiotensin II in renal medullary interstitial cells

To examine whether hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α mediates the profibrotic effects of angiotensin II, we treated cultured renal medullary interstitial cells with angiotensin II and found that it increased HIF-1α levels. This was accompanied by a significant upregulation of collagen I/III, the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1, elevation of the proliferation marker proliferating cell nuclear antigen, and a transdifferentiation marker vimentin. All these effects of angiotensin II were completely blocked by siRNA for HIF-1α but not HIF-2α. Overexpression of a prolyl-hydroxylase domain-containing protein 2 (PHD2) transgene, the predominant renal HIF prolyl-hydroxylase, attenuated the effects of angiotensin II and its gene silencing enhanced the effects of angiotensin II. Removal of hydrogen peroxide eliminated angiotensin II-induced profibrotic effects. A 2-week infusion of rats with angiotensin II increased the expression of HIF-1α and α-smooth muscle actin, another marker of transdifferentiation, in renal medullary interstitial cells in vivo. Thus, our study suggests that HIF-1α mediates angiotensin II-induced profibrotic effects through activation of cell transdifferentiation. We propose that redox regulation of prolyl-PHD2 plays a critical role in angiotensin II-induced activation of HIF-1α in renal cells.
Honesty, deceit, and timing in the display of intentions.

The study contrasts the performance of pairs of players under four experimental variations of a nonzero-sum game which simulates an arms race. In the noninspection condition only the terminal or payoff move is made known to the players. Each of the remaining conditions offers a single opportunity for the players to communicate intentions by means of an inspection procedure. The timing of this inspection, early, midway, or late in the game, distinguished the conditions. The late inspection condition is unique in permitting an opportunity for binding promises of intention. Results indicate that the presence of the communication opportunity serves to retard the development of stable groups which tend to polarize as either mutually cooperative or mutually competitive pairs. Gross rates of cooperative behavior were not automatically augmented by the communication opportunity which was frequently used for deceptive purposes. However, one condition, the late inspection, tended finally to arrive at a state of near total cooperation in most pairs. The theoretical explanation which is offered points to the significance of binding commitments in the reversal of deadlocks of distrust.
Will salt repositories be dry

The National Academy of Science committee that considered geologic disposal of nuclear waste in the mid-1950s recommended salt as a repository medium, partly because of its high thermal conductivity and because it was believed to be “dry” (perhaps the appropriate thought is “impermeable”). Certainly, the fact that Paleozoic salt deposits exist in many parts of t h e world is evidence for very low rates of dissolution by moving groundwater. The fact that the dissolution rates were so small led many scientists to the conclusion that the salt beds were nearly impermeable. The major source of brine within the salt beds was thought to be fluid inclusions within salt crystals, which could migrate through differential solution toward a source of high heat. The idea that salt was uniformly “dry” was revised when exploratory drilling in the vicinity of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in New Mexico encountered brines within the Castile Formation, an evaporite deposit below the Salado Formation. The brine reservoirs were thought to be isolated pockets of brine in an otherwise “impermeable” salt section.
The porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus nsp2 cysteine protease domain possesses both trans- and cis-cleavage activities

The N terminus of the replicase nonstructural protein 2 (nsp2) of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) contains a putative cysteine protease domain (PL2). Previously, we demonstrated that deletion of either the PL2 core domain (amino acids [aa] 47 to 180) or the immediate downstream region (aa 181 to 323) is lethal to the virus. In this study, the PL2 domain was found to encode an active enzyme that mediates efficient processing of nsp2-3 in CHO cells. The PL2 protease possessed both trans- and cis-cleavage activities, which were distinguished by individual point mutations in the protease domain. The minimal size required to maintain these two enzymatic activities included nsp2 aa 47 to 240 (Tyr(47) to Cys(240)) and aa 47 to 323 (Tyr(47) to Leu(323)), respectively. Introduction of targeted amino acid mutations in the protease domain confirmed the importance of the putative Cys(55)- His(124) catalytic motif for nsp2/3 proteolysis in vitro, as were three additional conserved cysteine residues (Cys(111), Cys(142), and Cys(147)). The conserved aspartic acids (e.g., Asp(89)) were essential for the PL2 protease trans-cleavage activity. Reverse genetics revealed that the PL2 trans-cleavage activity played an important role in the PRRSV replication cycle in that mutations that impaired the PL2 protease trans function, but not the cis activity, were detrimental to viral viability. Lastly, the potential nsp2/3 cleavage site was probed. Mutations with the largest impact on in vitro cleavage were at or near the G(1196)|G(1197) dipeptide.
Religious Ethics, Gift Exchange and Capitalism

This study intends to reread Max Weber's Protestant Ethic with the following question in mind: where is the Catholic ethic with respect to “the spirit of capitalism”? The few short comments that Weber makes on this topic nevertheless suggest an interesting notion which he had developed in earlier texts, i.e., the “religious ethic of brotherhood”. I intend to show here that this notion could be further illuminated by the findings of the anthropology of gift giving since Marcel Mauss. This would enable us to understand how the problem of grace, so central to the debate between Protestants and Catholics, is linked to the history of the transformations in the gift giving practices; we will also discover that this problem was at the origin of the schism. While such a hypothesis leads to a different reading of Weber, it is confirmed by a work of the historian B. Clavero which brings out the complex links that existed in 16th century Catholic Spain between the order of business and that of charity. Besides the antagonism that has marked the two Christian traditions in the West, what seems to be at issue is the way in which economic practices weight on the social bond. These questions invite us to rethink the connections between them.
The plateau pika ( Ochotona curzoniae ) is a keystone species for biodiversity on the Tibetan plateau

It is necessary to look at the big picture when managing biological resources on the Qinghai‐Xizang (Tibetan) plateau. Plateau pikas (Ochotona curzoniae) are poisoned widely across the plateau. Putative reasons for these control measures are that pika populations may reach high densities and correspondingly reduce forage for domestic livestock (yak, sheep, horses), and because they may be responsible for habitat degradation. In contrast, we highlight the important role the plateau pika plays as a keystone species in the Tibetan plateau ecosystem. The plateau pika is a keystone species because it: (i) makes burrows that are the primary homes to a wide variety of small birds and lizards; (ii) creates microhabitat disturbance that results in an increase in plant species richness; (iii) serves as the principal prey for nearly all of the plateau’s predator species; (iv) contributes positively to ecosystem-level dynamics. The plateau pika should be managed in concert with other uses of the land to ensure preservation of China’s native biodiversity, as well as long-term sustainable use of the pastureland by domestic livestock.
Pore-forming ability of major outer membrane proteins from Wolinella recta ATCC 33238.

Abstract Three major outer membrane proteins with apparent molecular masses of 43, 45, and 51 kDa were purified from Wolinella recta ATCC 33238, and their pore-forming abilities were determined by the black lipid bilayer method. The non-heat-modifiable 45-kDa protein (Omp 45) showed no pore-forming activity even at high KCl concentrations. The single-channel conductances in 1 M KCl of the heat-modifiable proteins with apparent molecular masses of 43 kDa (Omp 43) and 51 kDa (Omp 51) were 0.49 and 0.60 nS, respectively. The proteins formed nonselective channels and, as determined by experiments of ion selectivity and zero-current potential, were weakly anion selective.
Health Disparities and Delayed Health care among Older Adults in California: A Perspective from Race, Ethnicity, and Immigration

Objectives To examine racial/ethnic/immigration disparities in health and to investigate the relationships among race/ethnic/immigration status, delayed health care, and health of the elderly. Design and Sample Responses from 13,508 people aged 65 and above were analyzed based on the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) 2011–2012. Measures Key variables include race/ethnicity/immigration status, health outcome, and delayed health care. Age, gender, education, work status, and annual family income are used as covariates. Results The findings indicate that Whites (regardless of country of birth) and U.S.-born Asians enjoy better health than Latinos, African-Americans, and Foreign-born Asians. Foreign-born Asians and foreign-born Latinos have the poorest self-reported health and mental health, respectively. Delayed use of health care is negatively associated with both self-reported health and mental health status. Conclusions Health disparities exist among older adult populations; the combined effects of minority and immigrant status can be approximated from the results in this study. Health care accessibility and the quality of care should be promoted in minority/immigrant populations. Public health nurses have a strong potential to aide in reducing health disparities among an aging American population that continues to exhibit increasing racial/ethnic diversity.
Control of Bollworm Adults on Cotton with Insecticides

The literature is voluminous on the effectiveness of DDT and other insecticides as residual larvicides against the bollworm, Heliothis zea (Boddie), but little or no information is available on their effect on the adults. Robertson (1948) reported that control of pink bollworms, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) with DDT dust was obtained principally by the insecticidal action of this material against the adults, since it caused a reduction in the number of eggs produced. In a recent laboratory study, Adkisson and Wellso (1962) found that not only was DDT an efficient killer of adult pink bollworms, but the longevity and fecundity of moths surviving exposure to low dosages of this insecticide were significantly reduced as compared with the same factors in moths from the untreated controls. These workers attributed the reduction in oviposition of the treated adults to a lowered incidence of mating, shortened lifespan, and other undetermined physiological effects resulting from exposure to DDT. In view of the importance of insecticidal action against the adult stage in reducing pink bollworm populations, an experiment was conducted between September 1 and 4, 1964, to evaluate the effectiveness of certain insecticides against bollworm moths on cotton. The insecticides tested, carbaryl, DDT, and methyl parathion, are usually recommended for control of bollworm larvae on cotton.
Glycogen in the Boll Weevil with Respect to Diapause, Age, and Diet

On a dry-weight basis, the glycogen content of the boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis Boheman, is maximum (11%) in the eggs. It stands at about 1.5% through most of the larval period, but rises to 6% late in the last larval instar. It declines rapidly in the first half of the pupal period, less rapidly in the second half, and the minimum titer (99% less than in the late last-instar larva) is found in the 1-day-old adult. Adults, whether fed on bolls or squares, have their highest glycogen content at 6–15 days of age, but the titer is several times higher in boll-fed than in square-fed weevils. This phenomenon, and the higher triglyceride content of boll-fed individuals, probably result from the 5–8 times greater sugar content (principally glucose and fructose) in bolls as compared with squares. In boll-fed adults the glycogen titer differs little or not at all between diapausing and reproducing individuals, while in square-fed individuals it is higher in those that are diapausing, though still below the level found in boll-fed, reproducing weevils. The glycogen titer of whole weevils decreases during storage at −20°C, but this loss was prevented by storing the weevils in ethanol at −20°C.
Recombinational repair of alkylation lesions in phage T4. II. Ethyl methanesulfonate.

Treatment of bacteriophage T4 by ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS)1 caused more than a doubling in recombination between two rII markers. The functions of genes 47, 46, 32, 30, uvsX and y are known to be required for genetic recombination, and mutants defective in these genes were found to be more sensitive to inactivation by EMS than wild-type phage. This suggests that a recombinational pathway involving the products of these genes may be employed in repairing EMS induced lethal lesions. Genes 45 and denV are apparently not involved in recombination, and mutants defective in these genes were not EMS-sensitive. Gene 47, 46 and y mutants which were defective in the repair of EMS induced lethal lesions had no detectable deficiency in their ability to undergo EMS-induced mutation. This implies that recombinational repair of EMS lesions does not contribute substantially to EMS mutatenesis. The results obtained here with EMS are in general similar to the results reported in the preceding paper with MNNG, suggesting that the lesions caused by both of these monofunctional alkylating agents may be eliminated by similar recombinational repair processes.
Finfish Utilization of Man-Initiated and Adjacent Natural Creeks of South Creek Estuary, North Carolina Using Multiple Gear Types

Three gear types were used to collect finfish species from several tributaries of the South Creek estuary near Aurora, North Carolina, to ascertain whether a man-initiated marsh and creek system resembled adjacent natural areas in finfish species composition and abundance. Project Area II was the man-initiated area constructed in 1983 as up-front mitigation by North Carolina Phosphate Corporation prior to its anticipated mining in the headwaters of nearby natural wetlands. Two creeks served as controls throughout the study: Drinkwater Creek and Jacks Creek. Otter trawls were used monthly from July 1984 through December 1988. Wegener rings were used in April, July, and October from 1984 through 1987. An experimental gill net was used monthly from June 1984 through 1985. A total of 48 finfish species was captured during the study; only 14 species (29.2%) were common among gear types. The species collected were mud sunfish, blueback herring, alewife American shad, striped anchovy, bay anchovy, inland silverside, American eel, silver perch, Atlantic menhaden, crevalle jack, common carp, spotted seatrout, weakfish, sheepshead minnow, gizzard shad, ladyfish, chain pickerel, banded killifish, mummichog, striped killifish, rainwater killifish, mosquitofish, naked goby, green goby, white catfish, brown bull-head, pinfish, longnose gar, green sunfish, pumpkinseed, bluegill, redear sunfish, spot, Atlantic croaker, largemouth bass, white perch, striped bass, striped mullet, white mullet, golden shiner, summer flounder, southern flounder, yellow perch, bluefish, Atlantic needlefish, hogchoker, andTilapia species. Abundance of finfish species was a function of gear type. Bay anchovy and spot represented about 85% of all fish in trawl samples. The remainder was comprised of 27 other species. In Wegener rings, five species—bay anchovy, menhaden, rainwater killifish, spot, and inland silverside—each represented over 10% of all fish collected. Croaker and striped mullet each comprised more than 5% of all fish collected in Wegener rings, but were present in substantial numbers only in 1985. Based on trawl samples, the total number of finfish collected from Project Area II during the period 1984–1988 was statistically similar to those collected from the control creeks; Wegener ring data analysis indicated significantly greater catches in Project Area II compared to the control creeks. Bay anchovy catches were not significantly different among the three creeks by either trawl or Wegener ring. The same result was true for Atlantic menhaden and southern flounder. The abundance of spot in trawl samples from Project Area II was significantly greater than for the control creeks; abundance in ring samples from Project Area II was statistically similar to Jacks Creek, but significantly higher than Drinkwater Creek. The number of Atlantic croaker in Project Area II trawl samples was significantly lower than for the cotnrol creeks. Wegener rings did not sample croaker effectively.
Isoform-Specific Regulation of the Na+-K+ Pump in Heart

Guinea pig ventricular myocytes coexpress two isoforms of the Na+-K+ pump. These two isoforms respond differently to the physical environment and are coupled to autonomic input through different signal transduction cascades. The expression of different isoforms provides each cell type with a mechanism of programming specific responses to environmental changes.
A testbed for adaptive beamforming with software defined radio arrays

Digital beamforming is the heart of adaptive beamforming. Its implementation has been slow due to hardware complexity and expense. This paper proposes a relatively inexpensive approach to digital beamforming using software defined radios. An experimental setup is described and results presented.
Anatomic features of the distal aortic arch that influence endovascular aneurysm repair

Objective Successful thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair (TEVAR) is contingent on seal and fixation of the proximal graft. The aortic arch has a wide range of anatomic variability, and understanding that anatomy may optimize device deployment. The purpose of this study was to assess aortic arch anatomic features that influence zones 2 and 3 TEVAR and specifically to quantitate the impact of gantry angle correction on proximal seal zone for patients with proximal descending thoracic aortic disease. Methods Sixty patients with descending thoracic aortic pathology that would require TEVAR with a zone 2 or 3 deployment were evaluated. Demographic and imaging data were retrospectively reviewed. Computed tomography scans were evaluated using a 3-dimensional workstation for centerline and angle analyses. The optimal gantry angle was determined to be the orthogonal view of the leading (proximal) edge of the seal zone based on a manual adjusted centerline. Measurements were then taken of the seal zone at −10° and −20° from optimal view to assess the impact of imperfect gantry angle correction. Results The study included 38 men (63%) with a mean age of 66 years (range, 24-90 years). Thirty-eight (63%) required zone 2 deployment. Zone 2 seal zones were shorter and required less gantry angulation for an optimal view than were zone 3 seal zones. Incomplete gantry angle correction affected expected use of both zone 2 and 3 seal zones similarly. At 10° and 20° from optimal gantry angel, the loss in use of available seal zone length is estimated to be 2.4 ± 1.1 and 6.2 ± 2.3 mm, or 10% and 25%, respectively. These results were not different for men or women, nor were they influenced by age, sex, body mass index, height, or etiology of aortic pathology. Inner and outer curvature measurements differed by 80%. Only four patients (7%) had a zone 1 segment ≥ 5 mm in length. Conclusions Optimal gantry angle correction should be the goal of any TEVAR procedure. Zone 2 seal zones require less gantry angulation than zone 3 seal zones by nearly 20°. This study shows that correction within 10° of optimal is unlikely to significantly impact successful seal and fixation for most patients. At 20°, however, substantial loss of seal zone can be expected. Measurements of the inner and outer curvature reveal different information about the distal arch and should be assessed individually. Zone 1 deployment rarely provides meaningful additional seal zone length.
Ocular manifestations of hematologic disorders.

Ophthalmoscopy offers a unique means of observing the vascular sequelae of such hematologic disorders as leukemia, lymphoma, polycythemia, plasma cell dyscrasias, and the hemoglobinopathies. Its role in diagnosis is discussed.
Rheological properties of excised rabbit lung stiffened by repeated hyperinflation

Two rheological properties, stress adpatation (S) and hysteresis loop area (H), were studied in normal fresh rabbit lungs and in lungs stiffened by 3 hr repeated inflation at zero end-expiratory pressure. S was measured on the deflation limb at various volume levels ranging from 100 to 25% total lung capacity (TLC). H was obtained in another group of lungs before and after stiffening, for tidal volumes ranging from 5 to 30% TLC, at end-expiratory levels from 25 to 70% TLC. In stiff lung, S after deflation from TLC was biphasic (initial pressure rise, then a fall) whenever the starting pressure exceeded approximately 10 cmH2O. At low lung volumes (25% TLC) stress rose monotonically toward 10 cmH2O. Only monontonic adaptation has previously been reported for normal lung. Tidal H in stiff lungs was increased at all volume levels, occupying roughly 20% of a bounding pressure-volume rectangle, resembling that of normal lungs near TLC but twice that of normal loops at lower volumes. The results suggest that above an equilibrium or transition pressure around 10 cmH2O the alveolar lining in stiff lung may have film properties more resembling those of a viscous liquid, becoming solidlike below this pressure. Similar viscous liquid properties appear to exist on the inflation limb of normal lungs, and near TLC on their deflation limb.
Maladaptive interpersonal schemas as sensitive and specific markers of borderline personality disorder among psychiatric inpatients

Diagnostic criteria for borderline personality disorder (BPD) and mood and psychotic disorders characterized by major mood episodes (i.e., major depressive, bipolar and schizoaffective disorder) share marked overlap in symptom presentation, complicating differential diagnosis. The current study tests the hypothesis that maladaptive interpersonal schemas (MIS) are characteristic of BPD, but not of the major mood disorders. One hundred psychiatric inpatients were assessed by SCID I, SCID II and the Young Schema Questionnaire (YSQ-S2). Logistic regression analyses tested the association between MIS (measured by the YSQ-S2) and BPD, bipolar, major depressive and schizoaffective disorder. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analyses assessed the sensitivity and specificity of MIS as a marker of BPD. After covariation for comorbidity with each of the 3 mood disorders, BPD was robustly associated with 4 out of 5 schema domains. In contrast, only one of fifteen regression analyses demonstrated a significant association between any mood disorder and schema domain after covariation for comorbid BPD. ROC analyses of the 5 schema domains suggested Disconnection/Rejection had the greatest power for identification of BPD cases. These data support the specific role of maladaptive interpersonal schemas in BPD and potentially contribute to greater conceptual clarity about the distinction between BPD and the major mood disorders.
Intracellular calcium-release channels: regulators of cell life and death.

Intracellular Ca2+-release channels on the sarcoplasmic reticulum of striated muscle [ryanodine receptors (RyRs)] and on the endoplasmic reticulum of almost all types of cells [inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors (IP3Rs)] comprise a unique family of molecules that are structurally and functionally distinct from all other known ion channels. These channels play crucial roles in Ca2+-mediated signaling that triggers excitation-contraction coupling, T-lymphocyte activation, fertilization, and many other cellular functions. Three forms of RyR have been identified: RyR1, expressed predominantly in skeletal muscle; RyR2, expressed predominantly in cardiac muscle; and RyR3, expressed in specialized muscles and nonmuscle tissues including the brain. RyR channels are tetramers composed of four subunits each with a molecular mass of approximately 560,000 Da. The tetrameric structures of RyR1 and RyR2 are stabilized by a channel-associated protein known as the FK506 binding protein (FKBP). FKBP is the cytosolic receptor for the immunosuppressant drugs FK506 and rapamycin that inhibit the prolyl isomerase activity of FKBP and can dissociate FKBP from RyRs. Rapamycin and FK506 increase the sensitivity of RyRs to agonists such as caffeine and could be a cause of cardiac dysfunction associated with high-dose immunosuppressant therapy by promoting leakage of Ca2+ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. The role of prolyl isomerase activity of FKBP in regulating RyR function remains uncertain, and several models have been proposed that could explain how the channel is modulated by its association with FKBP. Three forms of IP3Rs (types 1, 2 and 3) have been characterized by cDNA cloning. Most cells have at least one form of IP3R, and many express all three types. Like RyRs, the IP3R channels are tetramers composed of four subunits (approximately 300,000 Da each). IP3R1 function is regulated by at least two major cellular signaling pathways: the second messenger IP3 activates the channel, and phosphorylation by nonreceptor protein tyrosine kinases (e.g., Fyn) increase its open probability. During end-stage human heart failure, RyR2 mRNA and protein are downregulated, whereas IP3R1 is upregulated, suggesting that altered Ca2+-release channel levels may contribute to defects in Ca2+ homeostasis. Cells that are deficient in IP3R1 exhibit defective T cell-receptor signaling and thus cannot be activated by T cell-receptor stimulation. IP3R1-deficient cells are also resistant to induced apoptosis. Thus RyRs and IP3Rs play critical roles in fundamental and diverse signaling phenomena that include excitation-contraction coupling, T-cell activation, and programmed cell death.