cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Metabolism of N-Nitroso-2,6-dimethylmorpholine by Isozymes of Rabbit Liver Microsomal Cytochrome P-450

The cis isomer of N -nitroso-2,6-dimethylmorpholine (NNDM), a pancreatic carcinogen for the Syrian golden hamster, is metabolized by hamster liver microsomes to yield N -nitroso(2-hydroxypropyl)(2-oxopropyl)amine (HPOP) as the major product. Rabbit liver microsomes catalyze the metabolism of cis -NNDM to HPOP at a rate slower than that observed with hamster microsomes, but significantly faster than that obtained with rat microsomes. Pretreatment of rabbits with phenobarbital results in a 6-fold increase in the cis -NNDM hydroxylase activity of the rabbit microsomes to levels equal to that observed with the hamster; pretreatment of rabbits with other xenobiotics had no effect on the hydroxylation of cis -NNDM. The role of rabbit liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 in the metabolism of the cis isomer of NNDM was studied in the reconstituted system consisting of NADPH:cytochrome P-450 reductase, phospholipid, and cytochrome P-450. Cytochrome P-450LM2, which is induced by pretreatment with phenobarbital, exhibited the highest activity for the metabolism of cis -NNDM. The Vmax for the formation of HPOP was 1.78 nmol/min/nmol cytochrome P-450LM2, and the apparent Km was 360 µm. Cytochrome P-450LM3a also catalyzed the metabolism of NNDM to HPOP at a significant rate (0.25 nmol/min/nmol cytochrome P-450). Of the four other isozymes of cytochrome P-450 (forms 3b, 3c, 4, and 6) tested in the reconstituted system, only forms 3b and 3c exhibited measurable activities (approximately 0.04 nmol of HPOP formed/min/nmol cytochrome P-450). The addition of antibodies to isozyme 2 to microsomes from phenobarbital-treated rabbits resulted in approximately 95% inhibition of the metabolism of NNDM, while the addition of antibodies to LM3a inhibited NNDM metabolism by only 7%. In microsomes from untreated rabbits, inhibition by anti-LM2 and anti-LM3a antibodies was 50 and 64%, respectively. The addition of antibodies to isozyme 3a to microsomes isolated from ethanol-treated rabbits caused approximately 90% inhibition of the metabolism of NNDM. These data conclusively demonstrate that several forms of cytochrome P-450 can catalyze the metabolism of cis -NNDM and that isozymes 2 and 3a play important roles in the rabbit hepatic metabolism of NNDM to HPOP, the proximate carcinogenic metabolite.
Posterior Approach to Robotic Simple Prostatectomy

Abstract Introduction: There are various therapeutic options for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), including both medical and surgical alternatives. However, the options for BPH ...
Staged Placement of Growing Rods for Metabolic Bone Disease and Insufficient Bone Quality: A Report of Two Cases.

Case: We present two cases of successful staged placement of standard growing-rod instrumentation for early-onset scoliosis in children with metabolic bone disease and poor bone quality. Conclusion: Because use of growing-rod surgery is increasing throughout the world, we propose that a staged approach to placement of growing rods is a practical and safe option for surgeons who encounter patients with early-onset scoliosis and concomitant poor bone quality.
Weighted Tardiness Scheduling with Sequence-Dependent Setups: A Benchmark Problem for Soft Computing

In this paper we present a set of benchmark instances and a benchmark instance generator for a single-machine scheduling problem known as the weighted tardiness scheduling problem with sequence-dependent setups. Furthermore, we argue that it is an ideal benchmark problem for soft computing in that it is computationally hard and does not lend itself well to exact solution procedures. Additionally, it has a number of important real world applications.
Transmission of tuberculosis by flexible fiberbronchoscopes.

The development of flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy was an important technologic advance in the diagnosis and management of patients with pulmonary disease. However, reliable decontamination and sterilization of these delicate instruments have been difficult. Many physicians routinely use a solution of povidone-iodine diluted in 70% ethyl alcohol and water to decontaminate fiberbronchoscopes, despite the fact that these iodophor compounds were developed as skin antiseptics and not as germicidal disinfectants for decontaminating instruments. We isolated a strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis on a surveillance culture from a bronchoscope after it had been cleaned and disinfected with an iodophor solution. In another hospital, we documented the transmission of M. tuberculosis from one patient to another by a bronchoscope that had been disinfected with a commonly recommended iodophor solution. We then studied the tuberculocidal efficacy of various iodophor preparations used with exposure times from 10 to 30 m...
The Effect of the Post-War Japanese Financial System on the Growth of its Economy

In this paper, the author investigated the very special financial system of Japan after World War II and its positive effect on the growth of Japanese economy.
Improved partial volume correction method for detecting brain activation in disease using Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL) fMRI

The insight provided by fMRI, particularly BOLD fMRI, has been critical to the understanding of human brain function. Unfortunately, the application of fMRI techniques in clinical research has been held back by several factors. In order for the clinical field to successfully apply fMRI, two main challenges posed by aging and diseased brains need to be overcome: (1) difficulties in signal measurement and interpretation, and (2) partial voluming effects (PVE). Recent work has addressed the first challenge by developing fMRI methods that, in contrast to BOLD, provide a direct measurement of a physiological correlate of function. One such method is Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL) fMRI, which provides images of cerebral blood flow (CBF) in physiologically meaningful units. Although the problems caused by PVE can be mitigated to some degree through the acquisition of high spatial resolution fMRI data, both hardware and experimental design considerations limit this solution. Our team has developed a PVE correction (PVEc) algorithm that produces CBF images that are theoretically independent of tissue content and the associated PVE. The main drawback of the current PVEc method is that it introduces an inherent smoothing of the functional data. This smoothing effect can reduce the sensitivity of the method, complicating the detection of local changes in CBF, such as those due to stroke or activation. Here, we present results from an improved PVEc algorithm (ssPVEc), which uses high-resolution structural space information to correct for the tissue-driven heterogeneity in the ASL signal. We tested the ssPVEc method on ASL images obtained on patients with asymptomatic carotid occlusive disease during rest and motor activation. Our results showed that the sensitivity of the ssPVEc method (defined as the average T-value in the activated region) was at least 1.5 times greater than that of the original, functional space, fsPVEc, for all patients.
Conversion of Scrap Tires by Pyrolysis in Molten Salts

Abstract Thermal decomposition in molten salts shows some promise as a method for recovering useful materials from scrap tires. Obviously, much technical development and engineering work needs to b...
‘Out of the Mouths of Babes and Sucklings’: Prophecy, Puritanism, and Childhood in Elizabethan Suffolk

In January 1581 a short black-letter tract in the tiny octavo format favoured by many Elizabethan publishers of sensational news appeared from the press of a London printing house based just outside the City in the Strand. Like other ‘three-halfpenny’ pamphlets of its ilk, this particular piece of ephemera was a pious tale of the prodigious and strange, but true. It described the ‘wonderfull worke of God shewed upon a chylde’ by the name of William Withers in the small Suffolk town of Walsham-le-Willows. On the previous Christmas Eve, the eleven-year-old boy had fallen into a deep trance for the space often days, ‘to the great admiration of the beholders, and the greefe of his parentes’. At the end of this time he regained consciousness and proceeded to deliver a series of vehement prophetic denunciations of contemporary sin and immorality, calling the people to ‘spedie repentance’—without which, he announced, the day of destruction was surely at hand. If amendment of life was not quickly forthcoming, the Lord would presently shake their houses on their heads and cause the earth to open up and swallow them alive.
Empirical Likelihood Analysis for the Heteroscedastic Accelerated Failure Time Model

In this manuscript, we discuss the distinction of two types of data generating scheme for the accelerated failure time model. We identify two different empirical likelihood formulations under random right censoring, case-wise and residual-wise, each reflecting the relevant features of the stochastic model assumed to have generated the data. We specifically propose the case-wise empirical likelihood as a computationally simple inference method for the accelerated failure time model with heteroscedastic errors. A nonparametric version of Wilks’ theorem is shown to hold for the resulting likelihood ratio. The results are also applicable to censored quantile regression.
Cont2: Social-Aware Content and Contact Based File Search in Delay Tolerant Networks

In this paper, we focus on distributed file search over a delay tolerant network (DTN) formed by mobile devices that exhibit the characteristics of social networks. Current file search methods in MANETs/DTNs are either content-based or contact-based. The former builds routing tables for node contents but is not resilient to high node mobility, while the latter exploits node contact patterns in the social networks but may lead to high latency. Recent research also reveal the importance of interests in realizing efficient file dissemination in DTNs. In this paper, we first analyze node interest and mobility from real traces, which confirms the shortcomings of a contact based method and show the importance of considering both content/interest and contact in file search. We then propose Cont2, a social-aware file search method which leverages both node social interests (content) and contact patterns to enhance search efficiency. First, considering people with common interests tend to share files and gather together, Cont2 virtually groups common-interest nodes into a community to direct file search. Second, considering human mobility follows a certain pattern, Cont2 exploits nodes that have high contact frequency with the queried content. Third, Cont2 also exploits active nodes that have more connections to others as a complementary approach to expedite file search. Trace-driven experimental on the real-world GENI test bed and NS-2 simulator show that Cont2 can significantly improve the search efficiency compared to current methods.
Performance evaluation of multiple Si and SiC solid state devices for circuit breaker application in 380VDC delivery system

The DC power delivery system is becoming an appealing research topic and real world solution due to its higher energy efficiency compare with AC delivery system. It has already been applied in data centers, commercial buildings, electrical vehicle charge stations and micro grid systems, etc. Among many new issues that need to be addressed for the DC power delivery system, ultra-fast and accurate protection is one of them. The 1200V SiC devices has been developed by many manufacturers in recent years which makes them good candidates in DC circuit breaker application. In this paper, the 380V DC circuit breaker employing solid state devices for DC power delivery system has been proposed and introduced. The criteria of device characteristics particularly for DC solid state circuit breaker application is discussed and defined. Characteristics of 4 different Si and SiC solid state devices in similar power rating have been compared based on defined criteria. The pros and cons of different devices candidates is introduced with test results for DC circuit breaker application.
Smoking and IPMN malignant progression

Abstract Background Patients with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) are at risk for invasive pancreatic cancer. We aim to characterize the impact of smoking on IPMN malignant progression. Methods Patients undergoing pancreatic resection for IPMN (1991–2015) were retrospectively reviewed using a prospectively collected database. Results Of 422 patients identified, 324 had complete data for analysis; 55% were smokers. Smoking status did not impact IPMN malignant progression (smokers/non-smokers: 22%/18% invasive grade; p = 0.5). Smokers were younger than non-smokers at the time of IPMN diagnosis (63 versus 68 years; p = 0.001). This association also held in the invasive IPMN subgroup (65 versus 72 years, p = 0.01). Despite this observation, rate of symptoms at diagnosis, cancer stage, and median survival were the same between smokers and non-smokers. Conclusion Although smoking is not associated with IPMN malignant progression, invasive IPMN is diagnosed at a younger age in smokers. These data suggest tobacco exposure may accelerate IPMN malignant progression.
El plateado: una actividad electroquímica para integrar diversas ciencias con el arte

Resumen El plateado electroquimico es una interesante actividad de ensenanza para la integracion de la electroquimica, la quimica, la fisica y el arte. El artesano necesita producir una brillante capa de plata sobre sus obras y para ello opta por utilizar banos electroliticos de diversa naturaleza. El costo y el grado de toxicidad son dos importantes variables que inciden en la determinacion de la eleccion del electrolito que se utilizara. La plata se encuentra generalmente acomplejada y el estudio de los diversos complejos representa una interesante actividad en la quimica de los compuestos de coordinacion. Resulta importante establecer una relacion entre el brillo del recubrimiento y la estabilidad del compuesto complejo de plata y, por ende, de su estructura. El trabajo correlaciona las caracteristicas del electrolito con el brillo de la plata depositada electroquimicamente sobre cobre y sobre niquel. Para cuantificar el brillo observado se utilizaron medidas de reflectividad con luxometro.
Poly[diaqua(μ3-2,3-dioxoindoline-5-sulfonato)sodium]

The title compound, [Na(C8H4NO5S)(H2O)2]n, is a one-dimensional coordination polymer extending along the c axis. It consist of isatin sulfonate mol­ecules linking pairs of sodium cations with Na—O bonds to both carbonyl and sulfonate oxygen atoms whereby two oxygen atoms of symmetry-related carbonyl groups bridge two sodium cations. The sodium cation possesses an octa­hedral coordination environment, including one sulfonate and three carbonyl oxygen atoms bound in the equatorial plane, and two water mol­ecules bound axially. The isatin moiety of the organic ligand is nearly planar, with a mean deviation from planarity of 0.038 A. The chains of the coordination polymer are further linked into a three-dimensional network with eight distinct inter­actions, including one N—H⋯O and four O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, two C—H⋯O inter­actions and one π–π inter­action.
Endoscopic Brow Lift

Eyebrow and forehead lifting addresses eyebrow position and loose or wrinkled forehead skin and underlying tissue. The endoscopic brow and forehead lift is a procedure utilized to correct brow ptosis and forehead rhytids in a more cosmetically appealing manner than other brow lifting procedures. This is primarily accomplished by camouflaging the incisions sites in hair-bearing scalp. Additionally, eyebrow shape and asymmetry can be addressed with this type of lift. This type of brow lift is technically more demanding on the surgeon than other types of direct or open brow lifts and should only be performed by someone who has appropriate training and experience.
Abstract #1102: CXCR4 activation stimulates MDM2 in a mTOR-dependent manner to promote pancreas tumor growth

Pancreatic cancer remains an incurable disease. Recently, CXCR4 has been demonstrated to mediate metastasis in a gemcitabine resistant tumor-initiating pancreatic cancer cell population. The presence of the SNP -309T/G of MDM2 promotors conveys an increase risk of pancreatic cancer and decreased survival. Hypothesis: CXCR4 actively promotes MDM2 function to regulate pancreatic cancer tumorigenesis. Results: SDF-1 stimulation of CXCR4 results in S6RP phosphorylation and subsequent MDM2 phosphorylation. SDF-1 stimulation in the presence of CXCR4 inhibitor AMD3100, anti-CXCR4 neutralizing antibody and CXCR4 shRNA abrogate MDM2 phosphorylation. Co-incubation with either LY294002 or temsirolimus upon SDF-1 stimulation inhibited MDM2 phosphorylation. SDF-1 stimulation of CXCR4 results in transient phosphorylation of p53 within 30 minutes. Additionally, CXCR4 activation promote p53-MDM2 complex formation at 1 hour coinciding with the loss of p53 phosphorylation. Nutlin 3 inhibits MDM2-p53 complex formation. Co-incubation with temsirolimus and nutlin synergistically inhibits pancreas tumor cell growth. This combination also inhibited gemcitabine refractory pancreas tumor cell growth. Lastly, pharmacologic inhibition of CXCR4 augments the antitumor effects of mTOR in a pancreas explant xenograft model derived from primary human pancreatic cancer. CXCR4 inhibition in this setting nearly totally abrogated MDM2 expression. Conclusion: CXCR4 activation by SDF-1 promotes MDM2 phosphorylation in a mTOR dependent manner and may play an integral role in pancreatic cancer tumorigenesis. Citation Information: In: Proc Am Assoc Cancer Res; 2009 Apr 18-22; Denver, CO. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; 2009. Abstract nr 1102.
Medium Bandgap D-A Type Photovoltaic Polymers Based on an Asymmetric Dithienopyran Donor and a Benzotriazole Acceptor

Conjugated polymers based on the donor of an asymmetric 5H-dithieno[3,2-b:2′,3′-d]pyran (DTPa) and the acceptors of benzo[d][1,2,3]triazole (BTA) or di-fluorinated benzo[d][1,2,3]triazole (ffBTA) with thiophene as π-bridge were designed and synthesized. Two asymmetric-building-block-containing polymers (ABC-polymers) possess a strong and broad absorption in the range of 300–750 nm and medium optical bandgap of 1.73 and 1.77 eV for PDTPa-TBTA and PDTPa-TffBTA, respectively. Polymer solar cells using PDTPa-TBTA as donor and [6,6]-phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester (PC71BM) as an acceptor exhibited power conversion efficiencies (PCE) of 2.22% with a Voc of 0.58 V, a Jsc of 6.04 mA/cm2, and an FF of 63.41%. The introduction of fluorine substituents on the BTA unit evidently influenced the optical and photovoltaic properties. Interestingly, although the HOMO energy level indeed decreased, PDTPa-TffBTA showed a decreased Voc of 0.52 V in solar cells. Combined with an obviously enhanced Jsc of 10.23 mA/cm2, and an outstanding FF of 0.64, the PCE of solar cells based on PDTPa-TffBTA was improved by nearly 55%, reached 3.43%. Our results indicate that the BTA unit can be used to construct ABC polymers with a medium bandgap, and the introduction of fluorine on the BTA unit is also effective in improving the photovoltaic performance.
Differential Privacy and Minimum-Variance Unbiased Estimation in Multi-agent Control Systems

Abstract In a discrete-time linear multi-agent control system, where the agents are coupled via an environmental state, knowledge of the environmental state is desirable to control the agents locally. However, since the environmental state depends on the behavior of the agents, sharing it directly among these agents jeopardizes the privacy of the agents’ profiles, defined as the combination of the agents’ initial states and the sequence of local control inputs over time. A commonly used solution is to randomize the environmental state before sharing - this leads to a natural trade-off between the privacy of the agents’ profiles and the variance of estimating the environmental state. By treating the multi-agent system as a probabilistic model of the environmental state parametrized by the agents’ profiles, we show that when the agents’ profiles is e-differentially private, there is a lower bound on the l1 induced norm of the covariance matrix of the minimum-variance unbiased estimator of the environmental state. This lower bound is achieved by a randomized mechanism that uses Laplace noise.
The sense of style: the thinking person’s guide to writing in the 21st century

I should confess at the outset that what little I know about writing comes from what I was taught in the public schools where I grew up. This education has been augmented by a lifelong but haphazar...
Microgel core/shell architectures as targeted agents for fibrinolysis

We demonstrate the utility of microgel core/shell structures conjugated to fibrin-specific peptides as fibrinolytic agents. Poly(N-isopropylmethacrylamide) (pNIPMAm) based microgels conjugated to the peptide GPRPFPAC (GPRP) were observed to bring about fibrin clot erosion, merely through exploitation of the dynamic nature of the clots. These results suggest the potential utility of peptide-microgel hybrids in clot disruption and clotting modulation.
Electrochemical Ferrate(VI) Synthesis with Cast Iron Shavings and Its Potential Application for Household Graywater Recycling

AbstractThis paper deals with a laboratory-based investigation for the treatment of graywater generated from public housing in Turkey. In the first part of the study, ferrate(VI) has been synthesiz...
Hardy-Fanta, Carol, Pei-te Lien, Dianne Pinderhughes, and Christine Marie Sierra. 2016. Contested Transformations: Race, Gender, and Political Leadership in 21st Century America, Cambridge University Press, 512 pp., $39.99 (paperback). ISBN: 9780521144544

Contested Transformation is an impressively researched and densely packed book about the role of ethno-race and gender in American politics in the 21st century. The book draws on original data—the ...
Einkaufscontrolling des Produktionsfaktors Material

Zum Zuruckgewinnen der Wettbewerbsfahigkeit deutscher Unternehmen mus der Einkauf bei einem Anteil des Materials an den Kosten der Produkte von mehr als 50 % einen uberproportionalen Beitrag leisten. Die durch Outsourcingentscheidungen weiter steigende Bedeutung des Fertigungsmaterials fuhrt zu einem wachsenden Einflus auf das Unternehmensergebnis. Eine exakte Planung und Kontrolle der Einkaufspreise und Einkaufsleistungen ist damit zwingend notwendig. Der Anteil am Unternehmensergebnis kann durch den Einsatz integrativer EDV-Ablaufe detailliert dargestellt werden. Durch die erganzende Nutzung moderner Verfahren der Beschaffungsmarktanalyse konnen plausible Basisinformationen und Benchmarks zur Beurteilung der Leistung des Einkaufs gewonnen werden.
The Roots of Unity

Polynomials of the form xn- u, where 0 ≠ u ∈ F, are known as binomials. Even though binomials have a simple form, their study is quite involved, as is evidenced by the fact that the Galois group of a binomial is often nonabelian. As we will see, an understanding of the binomial xn - 1 is key to an understanding of all binomials.
A Brentanist Theory of Moral Judgments

Brentano’s theory about the meaning and nature of moral judgments merits serious consideration as an alternative to the standard theories in contemporary Anglo-American moral philosophy. According to Brentano, moral judgments are statements about the correctness of attitudes: We call a thing good when the love relating to it is correct. In the broadest sense of the term, the good is that which is worthy of love, that which can be loved with a love that is correct.1 And when we call certain objects good and bad we are merely saying that whoever loves the former and hates the latter has taken the right stand.2 Accordingly, everything that can be thought about belongs in one of two classes — either the class of things for which love is appropriate, or the class of things for which hate is appropriate. Whatever falls into the first class we call good, and whatever falls into the second we call bad.3 When we call one good “better” than another, we mean that the one is preferable to the other. In other words, it is correct to prefer the one good for its own sake, to the other.4
54-OR: PUBLISHED HLA-DQA1 ASSOCIATIONS ON DRB1-DQB1 HAPLOTYPES PREDICT THE FLOW CYTOMETRY CROSSMATCH (FCXM) IN A RETRANSPLANT KIDNEY RECIPIENT WITH DQA1 ANTIBODY: IMPLICATIONS FOR LISTING UNACCEPTABLE ANTIGENS

Aim HLA-DQ alpha (A) and beta (B) chains are polymorphic and DQA is not tested. Surrogate cells (SCs), assigned DQA from haplotype tables (see Ref 1) were used in a virtual crossmatch (VXM) to predict the actual FCXM. DRB1-DQA1-DQB1 haplotypes show linkage. Selected HLA-DR can be used as unacceptable antigen (UAg) to avoid FCXMs expected to be positive (POS) from DQA antibody (Ab). Methods KR was a 47,W,F considered for kidney retransplant. Her DR/DQ HLA type was DR4, DR15, DQ6, DQ7, DR51, DR53 with probable DQA1-01,-03. Luminex single antigen beads (LSAB) were tested as per One Lambda Inc. A normalized mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of 1000 was POS. DRB1-DQA1-DQB1 tables (Ref 1) were used to assign DQA1 to SCs (N = 14). The BD FACScan FCXM was three-color (PerCP-CD3, PE-CD19, FITC-gah IgG). The test serum - Negative Control median channel gave a T-FCXM shift (dT) or B-FCXM shift (dB). A dT of 60 and dB of 150 were POS FCXMs. Results DQB LSAB MFIs and anti-self DQ7 indicated DQA1 Ab (e.g. DQA1 ∗ 02:01,DQB1 ∗ 03:01 MFI = 0, DQA1 ∗ 03:01,DQB1 ∗ 03:01 MFI = 0, DQA1 ∗ 05:05,DQB1 ∗ 03:01 MFI = 5,755, DQA1 ∗ 06:01, DQB1 ∗ 03:01 MFI = 13,090). Ab was against DQA-04,-05, and -06. Ab to HLA-A1 (MFI 7,283), A36 (MFI 1,108) and DR17 (MFI 1,632) was also seen. The weak A36 and DR17 Ab does not cause a POS FCXM. Four SCs were HLA-A1+ and the actual dT for the expected POS T-VXMs were 109, 245, 196, and 158 (mean 177). Eight SCs were assigned DQA1-04, 05, and/or 06; 3/8 were also HLA-A1+. The dB for the expected POS B-VXMs were 196, 230, 207, 201, 256, 184, 191, 139 (mean 191). Expected Negative T-VXMs and B-VXMs had mean dT or dB of 33 and 50. Conclusions 1. A VXM based on DQA1 assigned by DRB1-DQA1-DQB1 linkage predicted the actual POS B-FCXM with 7/8 SCs. The missed B-FCXM had a dB of 139. 2. Many DQA1-04, -05, and -06 antibody target molecules can be avoided by listing DR8 and DR52 as UAgs (See Ref 1). Ref 1. http://www.ctht.info/Table%2013%20DRB1%20DQA1%20DQB1%20associations%20in%20variou s%20populations.pdf
Internationalization of Population Issues

Rather pragmatic considerations, i.e., to reduce high levels of mortality and particularly fertility, led to the first modern population programs. It could be argued that these interventions, which were implemented after World War II, were the result of a kind of de facto consensus in favor of such global endeavors. At the time, both mortality and fertility levels were deemed to be too high in developing countries. Curbing fertility levels was considered important and urgent, because it was assumed that such a reduction would improve socioeconomic outcomes.
The enzymatic synthesis of thymidylate. II. Transfer of tritium from tetrahydrofolate to the methyl group of thymidylate.

SUMMARY Tetrahydrofolate is the reductive source in synthesis of the methyl group of thymidylate de novo as shown by tritium trans- fer studies. 1. Tetrahydrofolate labeled with tritium was prepared by chemical reduction with sodium borohydride-H3 and by enzy- matic reduction with reduced triphosphopyridine nucleotide (TPNH) labeled stereospecifically with tritium on the A-side. The enzymatically prepared I, L-tetrahydrofolate-H3 was iso- lated in pure form. 2. TPNH was labeled on the ?-side by transfer of tritium from isocitrate-2-H3 and isocitric acid dehydrogenase and by reduction of oxidized triphosphopyridine nucleotide (TPN+)- tritium on the para position of the nicotinamide ring-with unlabeled glucose 6-phosphate and its specific dehydrogenase. 3. TPNH was labeled on the B-side by transfer of tritium from glucose 6-phosphate-l-H3 and its dehydrogenase. 4. TPNH was labeled on both sides A and B by use of glucose 6-phosphate-1-H3, its specific dehydrogenase, and a catalytic amount of oxidized triphosphopyridine nucleotide. 5. Dihydrofolate reductase from either chicken liver or mouse leukemic cells has stereospecificity for the A-side of the nicotin- amide ring of TPN. 6. Tritium was transferred from tetrahydrofolate-H3 during the synthesis of thymidylate. Degradation of the enzymatically formed thymidylate to 5-methylbarbiturate established un- equivocally that tritium was in the methyl group of the pyrimi- dine. 7. 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate was not a 1 carbon donor for thymidylate synthesis.
A study of the factors affecting the surface chloride maximum phenomenon in submerged concrete samples

Abstract The chloride content analysis of the concrete exposed to chlorides often shows an initial increase in the concentration of chlorides to a maximum point within the first layers from the concrete surface, followed by a gradual reduction in the concentration of chlorides at the lower depths. A review of literature shows that very little attention has been given to the depth (Δx) at which the maximum chloride concentration (Cmax) occurs and its potential impacts on the numerical estimation of the apparent chloride diffusion coefficient (Da) and surface chloride concentration (Cs). This paper studies the influence of water-to-cement ratio (w/c), the concentration of chlorides in the environment, the time-to-exposure, and exposure duration on Cmax and Δx. Results show that w/c does not have a significant influence on Cmax. However, a significant increase in Δx is observed with an increase in the w/c. Results also show that while Cmax has time-variant properties and it increases nonlinearly with the exposure duration, exposure duration has minimal impacts on Δx. In addition, the time-to-exposure and the concentration of chlorides in the exposure environment are found to be significant factors influencing both Cmax and Δx. The findings of this study show that Δx has a significant impact on the numerical estimation of Da and Cs. Because Δx is not limited to the first millimeter of the concrete surface, as specified in ASTM C1556 , care must be taken to exclude the layers that correspond to Δx.
Individual differences reveal limited mixed-category effects during a visual working memory task.

Abstract Using stimuli from different categories may expand the capacity limits of working memory (WM) by spreading item representations across distinct neural populations. We explored this mixed-category benefit by correlating individuals’ behavioral performance with fMRI measures of category information during uniform- and mixed-category trials. Behaviorally, we found weak evidence for a mixed-category benefit at the group-level, although there was a high degree of individual variability. To test whether distinct neural patterns elicited superior performance in some individuals, we correlated a multivariate measure of neural category information with multiple behavioral metrics. This revealed a widespread positive relationship, intuitive for hit rate and working memory capacity, but counterintuitive for false alarm rate. Overall, these data suggest that mixed-category effects may support working memory performance, but unexpectedly, not all participants show this benefit. Only some people may be able to take advantage of representing mixed-category information in a differentiable way.
The ecology of the atypicalmycobacteria.

In this paper an effort has been undertaken to view the family Mycobacteriaceae from the standpoint of general biology, evolution, and ecology at the microscopic level. By their range of tolerances for a variety of adverse environments, by their association with geographic and unknown soil and climatic factors, by their ability to survive and reproduce in sparse media, the atypical mycobacteria seem to possess characteristics of free-living organisms, whose contact with and importance to man results from overlapping niches, well-defined in the case of most mycobacteria, but less so in the case of Mycobacterium kansasii. In contrast, the human tubercle bacillus appears as a highly specialized organism with its niche restricted to mammalian tissue.
Synchronous Teledermoscopy in Military Treatment Facilities

Sustained demand for dermatologic care throughout military medicine, in conjunction with increasing dermatologic provider shortages, has led to increase use of teledermatology in military treatment facilities (MTFs). Initially used to aid in the differentiation of suspicious melanocytic lesions, dermoscopy has found increasing clinical utility in an expanding realm of general dermatologic conditions. We demonstrate the use of synchronous teledermoscopy within a remote MTF by repurposing webcam technology already available at most MTFs. Two patients were seen in clinic at a remote naval primary care clinic with limited subspecialties. Once written consent was retrieved, an on-site dermatologist evaluated each patient and performed a history and skin exam with dermoscopy. Synchronous consultations were conducted with the Global Med Cart (GlobalMed(R) Clinical Access Station with TotalExam(R) 3 HDUSB camera), and Cisco webcam video jabber (Cisco TelePresence PrecisionHD USB Camera part number TTC8-03). The patients then underwent individual synchronous teledermatology consultations with an off-site U.S. Navy dermatologist located in the continental United States. The methodology for the consultation involved the use of a standard dermatoscope and jabber webcam. Two synchronous teledermatology consultations were completed successfully on patients in MTFs with limited subspecialty capabilities. Both cases, with two lesions of concern per case, had 100% concordance between the on-site and teleconsulted dermatologist. Through observing inter-rater agreements between the on-site and remote dermatologists, this small study demonstrates a novel application of technology readily available at most MTFs.
Electronic Markets, Search Costs and Firm Boundaries

We study how electronic markets that facilitate broader inter-firm transactions affect the vertical scope of emerging IT-enabled extended enterprises. We do so by modeling firms in a three-tier value chain who are each connected to a common electronic market that facilitates direct business transactions across tiers, and that lowers the search costs associated with finding an appropriate trading partner for each of them. The extent to which search costs are reduced depends on the complexity of B2B search, and the nature of the supporting technologies that the electronic market facilitates. Variation in search costs affect firms across the value chain in three key ways: by a change in the transaction costs of interaction between firms; by a change in the contracting costs associated with outsourcing owing to changes in the costs of moral hazard for delegated search, and by a change in the price dispersion of upstream input commodities. We capture each ofthese effects in a new model that integrates search theory into the principal-agent framework, and establish that the optimal outsourcing contract has a simple "all or nothing" performance-based structure under fairly general assumptions. We then apply this model to contrast the effect that different information technologies have on the relative B2B search costs of different firms in the value chain, contrasting the predicted changes of proportionate, constant and convergent changes in search costs. When integrated with a detailed analysis of the nature of B2B search, these results predicts that when B2B search is information-intensive, electronic markets will facilitate an increase in outsourcing, market-based transactions and a reduction in the vertical scope of extended enterprises. In contrast, when B2B search is primarily communication-intensive, electronic markets will lead to tighter integration and an increase in the vertical scope of the extended enterprise. Our research suggest that the nature of the information technologies and of the business activities supported by an electronic market are crucial determinants of the organizational and industry changes they induce, and our results have important implications for a variety of industries in which both technological and agency issues will influence the eventual success of global IT-facilitated extended enterprise initiatives.
Utilizing a cognitive engineering approach to conduct a hierarchical task analysis to understand complex older adult decision-making during over-the-counter medication selection.

Abstract Background Adults aged 65+ (older adults) disproportionately consume 30% of over-the-counter (OTC) medications and are largely responsible for making OTC treatment decisions because providers lack awareness of their consumption. These treatment decisions are complex: older adults must navigate age-related body/cognitive changes, developed comorbidities, and complex medication regimens when selecting the right OTC. Yet little is known about how older adults make such decisions. Objectives This study characterizes older adults' cognitive decision-making process when seeking to self-medicate with OTCs from their community pharmacy, and demonstrates how hierarchical task analysis (HTA) can be used to evaluate a pharmacy intervention's impact on their decision-making. Methods A pre-/post-implementation approach, using a think-aloud interview process, was conducted with older adults within a community pharmacy setting as they completed a hypothetical scenario to treat either pain, sleep, or cough/cold/allergy symptoms. HTA developed a conceptualization of older adult decision-making regarding OTC selection and use before/after Senior Section implementation. Results An HTA constructed from 12 purposefully-selected interviews (pre-n = 9/post-n = 3), consisting of 8 goals/15 sub-goals. While selecting an OTC, older adults considered quantity, cost, form, regimen, safety, strength, appropriateness of OTC safety, generic/name-brand, past experiences, and ingredients. The intervention reduced by half the number of factors considered. Implications Older adult decision-making is more complex than just selecting OTC medication from a pharmacy shelf. HTA-informed decision profiles can provide pharmacists critical insights into safety issues that older adults may not be considering (e.g., factors related to safety, strength, or appropriateness of OTC for symptoms) so that pharmacists can support their decision-making.
Enzymatic Maceration Mechanism in Biochemical Pulping of Mitsumata (Edgeworthia papyrifera Sieb. et Zucc) Bast

In a comparison of the crude enzyme secreted by the bacterium Erwinia carotovora FERM P-7576 with the corresponding purified overall endo-pectate lyase (endo-PATE) pI (isoelectric point)-isozymes on a basis of equal activity and constitution, the former was found to have higher maceration activity for biochemical pulping of caustic soda-presoaked mitsumata (Edgeworthia papyrifera Sieb. et Zucc) bast than the latter. These results indicate that some additional enzyme (s) other than endo-PATE are required for the maceration. Focusing on the maceration activity, the intensive purification of the crude enzyme was conducted and another maceration factor was successfully isolated, which was identified as endo-pectin lyase (endo-PNTE). The isolated endo-PNTE was found to have a molecular weight of 39,000, pI of 8.2 and a specific activity of 7,911 units/mg. The enzymatic maceration of this bast fiber was concluded to be due only to a concerted action of these two enzymes.
Nonlinear dynamics of a system of particle-like wavepackets

This work continues our studies of nonlinear evolution of a system of wavepackets. We study a wave propagation governed by a nonlinear system of hyperbolic PDE’s with constant coefficients with the initial data being a multi-wavepacket. By definition a general wavepacket has a well defined principal wave vector, and, as we proved in previous works, the nonlinear dynamics preserves systems of wavepackets and their principal wave vectors. Here we study the nonlinear evolution of a special class of wavepackets, namely particle-like wavepackets. A particle-like wavepacket is of a dual nature: on one hand, it is a wave with a well defined principal wave vector, on the other hand, it is a particle in the sense that it can be assigned a well defined position in the space. We prove that under the nonlinear evolution a generic multi-particle wavepacket remains to be a multi-particle wavepacket with a high accuracy, and every constituting single particle-like wavepacket not only preserves its principal wave number but also it has a well-defined space position evolving with a constant velocity which is its group velocity. Remarkably the described properties hold though the involved single particle-like wavepackets undergo nonlinear interactions and multiple collisions in the space. We also prove that if principal wavevectors of multi-particle wavepacket are generic, the result of nonlinear interactions between different wavepackets is small and the approximate linear superposition principle holds uniformly with respect to the initial spatial positions of wavepackets.
Energy Efficiency in China: Glorious History, Uncertain Future

China’s rapid economic growth of 10% per year has been accompanied by an annual energy growth rate of greater than 10% from 2001–2005. This in turn has led to the construction of 1 to 2 GWe of electrical generating capacity per week over the period, with the vast majority of the power plants using coal. Because of the energy growth, China has equaled the carbon consumption rate of United States at 6 billion tonnes/year in 2006, far sooner than was expected. This paper discusses the periods of energy growth and efficiency policy in China. This includes “Soviet Style” Energy Policy (1949–1980); Deng’s Initial Reforms (1981–1992); Transition Period (1993 to 2001); Energy Crisis in China: 2001 to 2006, a repeat of much earlier “inglorious history; and the present efforts to return to an earlier period (Deng’s Initial Reforms) in which energy growth may be more sustainable. Recommendations are given for policies to promote energy efficiency.
Factors affecting habituation of PC12 cells to ATP

Extracellular ATP triggers catecholamine secretion from PC12 cells by activating ionotropic purine receptors. Repeated stimulation by ATP leads to habituation of the secretory response. In this paper, we use amperometric detection to monitor the habituation of PC12 cells to multiple stimulations of ATP or its agonist. Cells habituate to 30 µm ATP slower than they do to 300 or 600 µm ATP. Modifying external Mg2+ affects the response of cells to 30 µm ATP, but does not affect habituation, suggesting that habituation does not necessarily correspond to either stimulus intensity or cellular response. Mg2+ affects the initial response of PC12 cells to 2MeSATP in a manner similar to ATP. Increasing external [Mg2+] to 3.0 mm, however, eliminates habituation to 2MeSATP. This habituation can be partially restored by costimulation with 100 µm UTP. Background application of UTP increases habituation to both ATP and 2MeSATP. This suggests that ATP-sensitive metabotropic (P2Y) receptors play a role in the habituation process. Finally, although Ca2+ influx through voltage-operated calcium channels does not appear to contribute to secretion during ATP stimulation, blocking these channels with nicardipine increases habituation. This suggests a role for voltage-operated calcium channels in the habituation process.
Glycosphingolipids in cultured human skin fibroblasts. I. Characterization and metabolism in normal fibroblasts.

Abstract Fibroblasts cultured from human skin or bone marrow biopsies contain the glycosphingolipids associated with human visceral organs, namely, glucosylceramide (GL-1a), lactosylceramide (GL-2a), trihexosylceramide (GL-3), globoside (GL-4), Gm3 and Gd3. The presence of large amounts of GL-3 and GL-4 distinguishes normal human fibroblasts from most other normal mammalian cell lines so far investigated. Neither gangliosides (glycosphingolipids containing both sialic acid and hexosamine) nor sulfatides appeared to be present in these cells (concentration less than 0.01 µmole per g dry weight of cells). The glycosphingolipids constitute about 3% of the total lipid of fibroblasts, an amount comparable to that of normal human tissue. Further, the glycosphingolipid composition and concentration are largely independent of the amount of serum supplement. Confluent fibroblast cultures showed maximum incorporation of isotope from uniformly labeled d-[U-14C]glucose into the hexose, sphingosine, and fatty acid moieties of all six glycosphingolipids after 24 to 48 hours, indicating de novo synthesis of all three moieties. The half-life of 2 to 3 days was consistent with values generally accepted for membrane-bound phospholipids.
Greenland ice-sheet surface properties observed by the Seasat-A scatterometer at enhanced resolution

For 3 months in 1978, the 14.6 GHz Seasat-A scatterometer (SASS) measured the normalized microwave-radar back-scatter coefficient of the Earth’s surface for the purpose of estimating near-surface vector winds over the ocean. SASS also made back-scatter measurements over land and ice regions; however, the application of this data has been limited due to the low (50 km) resolution of the measurements. Using a new technique for generating 6 km enhanced-resolution SASS images of the radar back-scatter characteristics, we present a study of the 1978 condition of the Greenland ice sheet. We derive a time-series of back-scatter images spanning the period July–September 1978. These images show the extent of summer ablation along the ice-sheet periphery. Using the data and models relating firn structure and condition to radar back-scatter characteristics, we delineate and map the seasonal extent of zones which appear to correspond to dry-snow, percolation, wet-snow, and ablation facies, over virtually the entire ice sheet. The results provide a base line with which to compare current (ERS-1) and future Greenland radar maps of snow-and ice-surface conditions.
Adiabatic Spin Pumping with Quantum Dots

Electronic transport in mesoscopic systems has been intensively studied for more the last three decades. While there is a substantial understanding of the stationary regime, much less is know about phase-coherent nonequilibrium transport when pulses or ac perturbations are used to drive electrons at low temperatures and at small length scales. However, about 20 years ago Thouless proposed to drive nondissipative currents in quantum systems by applying simultaneously two phase-locked external perturbations. The so-called adiabatic pumping mechanism has been revived in the last few years, both theoretically and experimentally, in part because of the development of lateral semiconductor quantum dots. Here we will explain how open dots can be used to create spin-polarized currents with little or no net charge transfer. The pure spin pump we propose is the analog of a charge battery in conventional electronics and may provide a needed circuit element for spin-based electronics. We will also discuss other relevant issues such as rectification and decoherence and point out possible extensions of the mechanism to closed dots.
The Fundamental Analytic Theorems of the Inverse Problem

We consider now the conventional analytic equations1 in configuration space, i.e., Lagrange’s equations: $$ \eqalign{ & {L_k}(q) = \frac{d}{{dt}}\frac{{\partial L(t,q,\dot q)}}{{\partial {{\dot q}^k}}} - \frac{{\partial L(t,q,\dot q)}}{{\partial {q^k}}} = 0, \cr & {\text{ k = 1,2,}} \ldots {\text{,n}}{\text{.}} \cr} $$ (3.1.1) Our problem is to identify the necessary and sufficient conditions for regular holonomic Newtonian systems in their fundamental form (2.2.1) to admit a representation in terms of Equations (3.1.1).