cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Adult Immunization and Cancer Screening

Background Racial/ethnic disparities in adult influenza and pneumococcal vaccination are marked and poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to contrast these disparities with disparities in other clinical preventive services—mammography and colorectal cancer screening—that are targeted to older populations. Methods Data from the 2000 National Health Interview Survey were analyzed in 2004 to determine to what degree race/ethnicity remains a predictor of the receipt of each service after adjusting for personal and health characteristics, socioeconomic status (SES), and access to and utilization of care variables. Results Blacks and Hispanics were significantly less likely to report receipt of nearly all preventive services examined. Among whites, 57%, 67%, 67%, and 40% reported pneumococcal vaccination, influenza vaccination, mammography, and colorectal cancer screening, respectively. Among blacks, those proportions were 31%, 48%, 60% and 33%, respectively; among English-speaking Hispanics, 35%, 60%, 60%, and 30%, respectively; and among Spanish-speaking Hispanics, 24%, 49%, 52%, and 19%, respectively. After adjusting for personal and health characteristics, socioeconomic factors, and measures of access to and utilization of care, blacks and English- and Spanish-speaking Hispanics remained significantly less likely than whites to report the receipt of pneumococcal vaccination; blacks remained significantly less likely to report influenza vaccination than whites; and Spanish-speaking Hispanics remained significantly less to report colorectal cancer screening than whites. Conclusions Most racial/ethnic disparities seen in breast and colorectal cancer screening are explained by differences in SES. In contrast, racial/ethnic disparities in adult immunization persist, and especially for pneumococcal vaccination, suggesting that different barriers may be involved.
Linearising pulsewidth modulator for three-phase boost inverter

An analogue linearising pulsewidth modulator (LPWM) for a three-phase boost inverter is presented. It employs integrators with hold and reset to compute the switching instants. The LPWM enables the output voltages of the boost inverter, which are nonlinear with respect to duty ratio control, to track the control voltages linearly. The theory is verified by experimental data.
Optical pumping and spectroscopy of Cs vapor at high magnetic field

We have measured changes in the ground-state populations of Cs vapor induced by optical pumping at high magnetic field. The $2.7$-T field of our experiments is strong enough to decouple the nuclear and electronic spins, allowing us to independently measure each population. The spatial dependence of the Cs populations in small amounts of buffer gas obeys a simple coupled diffusion model and the relative populations reveal the details of relaxation within the vapor cell. Optical pumping can produce high nuclear polarization in the Cs vapor due to perturbations of the hyperfine interaction during collisions with buffer-gas particles and depending on the pumping transition, radiation trapping can strongly influence the electronic and nuclear polarizations in the vapor.
Crystal Structure of the HP1-EMSY Complex Reveals an Unusual Mode of HP1 Binding

Heterochromatin protein-1 (HP1) plays an essential role in both the assembly of higher-order chromatin structure and epigenetic inheritance. The C-terminal chromo shadow domain (CSD) of HP1 is responsible for homodimerization and interaction with a number of chromatin-associated nonhistone proteins, including EMSY, which is a BRCA2-interacting protein that has been implicated in the development of breast and ovarian cancer. We have determined the crystal structure of the HP1beta CSD in complex with the N-terminal domain of EMSY at 1.8 A resolution. Surprisingly, the structure reveals that EMSY is bound by two HP1 CSD homodimers, and the binding sequences differ from the consensus HP1 binding motif PXVXL. This structural information expands our understanding of HP1 binding specificity and provides insights into interactions between HP1 homodimers that are likely to be important for heterochromatin formation.
Methane combustion over La2O3-based catalysts and γ-Al2O3

Abstract The kinetics of methane combustion were examined over La 2 O 3 , Sr-promoted La 2 O 3 , 40% La 2 O 3 /γ-Al 2 O 3 and γ-Al 2 O 3 between 773 and 973 K, 0.4–5 Torr CH 4 and 3–23 Torr O 2 . Rates (mol/(s g)) were highest for supported La 2 O 3 , but the rate on pure Al 2 O 3 was one-third of this value; however, the specific activity (mol/(s m 2 )) on La 2 O 3 was 130-fold greater than that on γ-Al 2 O 3 . The apparent activation energies were 25±2 kcal/mol for the La 2 O 3 catalysts and 20 kcal/mol for γ-Al 2 O 3 . Respective reaction orders on CH 4 and O 2 were 0.69–0.75 and 0.12–0.18 for the La 2 O 3 -based catalysts compared to respective orders near 0.6 and 0.3 for γ-Al 2 O 3 . A reaction mechanism invoking quasi-equilibrated adsorption of all reactants and products along with methyl radical formation as a slow step produced a derived rate expression, i.e. r CH 4 = kP CH 4 P O 2 1/2 (1+K CH 4 P CH 4 +K O 2 1/2 P O 2 1/2 ) 2 that fit the data well and indicated that CO, CO 2 and H 2 O have no significant effect on this reaction under the reaction conditions employed here. An analysis of the enthalpies and entropies of adsorption for CH 4 and O 2 showed that these parameters were thermodynamically consistent, with indicated heats of adsorption for methane of around 20 kcal/mol CH 4 on all four catalysts while for oxygen this value was around 30 kcal/mol O 2 on the La 2 O 3 -based catalysts and near 20 kcal/mol O 2 on γ-Al 2 O 3 . The activation energy calculated for the elementary step to form a methyl group on the surface was around 40 kcal/mol for all catalysts.
Promyelocytic Leukemia Activates Chk2 by Mediating Chk2 Autophosphorylation

Chk2 is a kinase critical for DNA damage-induced apoptosis and is considered a tumor suppressor. Chk2 is essential for p53 transcriptional and apoptotic activities. Although mutations of p53 are present in more than half of all tumors, mutations of Chk2 in cancers are rare, suggesting that Chk2 may be inactivated by unknown alternative mechanisms. Here we elucidate one such alternative mechanism regulated by PML (promyelocytic leukemia) that is involved in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Although p53-inactivating mutations are extremely rare in APL, t(15;17) chromosomal translocation which fuses retinoic acid receptor (RARα) to PML is almost always present in APL, while the other PML allele is intact. We demonstrate that PML interacts with Chk2 and activates Chk2 by mediating its autophosphorylation step, an essential step for Chk2 activity that occurs after phosphorylation by the upstream kinase ATM (ataxia telangiectasia-mutated). PML/RARα in APL suppresses Chk2 by dominantly inhibiting the auto-phosphorylation step, but inactivation of PML/RARα with alltrans retinoic acid (ATRA) restores Chk2 autophosphorylation and activity. Thus, by fusing PML with RARα, the APL cells appear to have achieved functional suppression of Chk2 compromising the Chk2-p53 apoptotic pathway.
Exercise reduces GABA synaptic input onto nucleus tractus solitarii baroreceptor second-order neurons via NK1 receptor internalization in spontaneously hypertensive rats

A single bout of mild to moderate exercise can lead to a postexercise decrease in blood pressure in hypertensive subjects, namely postexercise hypotension (PEH). The full expression of PEH requires a functioning baroreflex, hypertension, and activation of muscle afferents (exercise), suggesting that interactions in the neural networks regulating exercise and blood pressure result in this fall in blood pressure. The nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) is the first brain site that receives inputs from nerves carrying blood pressure and muscle activity information, making it an ideal site for integrating cardiovascular responses to exercise. During exercise, muscle afferents excite NTS GABA neurons via substance P and microinjection of a substance P–neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1-R) antagonist into the NTS attenuates PEH. The data suggest that an interaction between the substance P NK1-R and GABAergic transmission in the NTS may contribute to PEH. We performed voltage clamping on NTS baroreceptor second-order neurons in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). All animals were killed within 30 min and the patch-clamp recordings were performed 2–8 h after the sham/exercise protocol. The data showed that a single bout of exercise reduces (1) the frequency but not the amplitude of GABA spontaneous IPSCs (sIPSCs), (2) endogenous substance P influence on sIPSC frequency, and (3) sIPSC frequency response to exogenous application of substance P. Furthermore, immunofluorescence labeling in NTS show an increased substance P NK1-R internalization on GABA neurons. The data suggest that exercise-induced NK1-R internalization results in a reduced intrinsic inhibitory input to the neurons in the baroreflex pathway.
Remote consultation and diagnosis in a global PACS environment

A global PACS is a national network which interconnects several PACS networks at medical and hospital complexes using a national backbone network. A global PACS environment enables new and beneficial operations between radiologists and physicians, when they are located in different geographical locations. This paper presents three user scenarios which enable remote consultation and diagnosis between radiologists at a local PACS site and a remote PACS site. One scenario, called remote consultation, allows the radiologist to view the same image folder at both local and remote sites so that a diagnosis can be performed. We present performance date based on tests between these two sites and show the feasibility of the operation in a global PACS environment. Future improvements to the system will include real- time voice and interactive compressed video scenarios. This work is sponsored by the National Science Foundation and Toshiba Medical Systems Division.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
NewsViews: an automated pipeline for creating custom geovisualizations for news

Interactive visualizations add rich, data-based context to online news articles. Geographic maps are currently the most prevalent form of these visualizations. Unfortunately, designers capable of producing high-quality, customized geovisualizations are scarce. We present NewsViews, a novel automated news visualization system that generates interactive, annotated maps without requiring professional designers. NewsViews' maps support trend identification and data comparisons relevant to a given news article. The NewsViews system leverages text mining to identify key concepts and locations discussed in articles (as well as potential annotations), an extensive repository of 'found' databases, and techniques adapted from cartography to identify and create visually 'interesting' thematic maps. In this work, we develop and evaluate key criteria in automatic, annotated, map generation and experimentally validate the key features for successful representations (e.g., relevance to context, variable selection, 'interestingness' of representation and annotation quality).
Right-handed-neutrino Majorana mass at the SUSY GUT scale and the solution of the solar-neutrino problem.

In the SUSY GUT scenario, it is natural to assume the right-handed-neutrino Majorana-mass scale to be ${10}^{16}$ GeV. This will in principle lead, by the seesaw mechanism, to a ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\tau}}}$ mass of order ${\mathit{m}}_{\mathit{t}}^{2}$/(${10}^{16}$ GeV)\ensuremath{\sim}3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}3}$ eV. This suggests that the solution of the solar-neutrino puzzle should be either the MSW effect in ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{\mathit{e}\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\tau}}}$ oscillations, with ${\mathit{m}}_{\ensuremath{\nu}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\tau}}}^{2}$\ensuremath{\sim}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}5}$ ${\mathrm{eV}}^{2}$, or long-wavelength ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{\mathit{e}\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\mu}}}$ oscillations, with ${\mathit{m}}_{\ensuremath{\nu}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\mu}}}^{2}$\ensuremath{\sim}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}10}$ ${\mathrm{eV}}^{2}$. These solutions require unexpectedly large mixings of ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{\mathit{e}}$ with ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\tau}}}$ and ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\mu}}}$, respectively. I suggest a model for the fermion mass matrices which makes almost the same predictions in the charged-fermion sector as the Dimpoulos-Hall-Raby model, but which can accommodate such large lepton mixings.
A remark on a theorem of Chatterjee and last passage percolation

In this paper we prove universality of random matrix fluctuations of the last passage time of last passage percolation (LPP) in thin rectangles. The proof is a simple corollary of a theorem of Chatterjee. This gives an alternative (and more elementary) proof of the same result in Baik and Suidan (2005 Int. Math. Res. Not. 325–37) and Bodineau and Martin (2005 Electron. Commun. Probab. 10 105–12 (electronic)) in the special case of finite third moment.
Speciation of trivalent f elements in natural waters

Abstract Using reported stability constants and reasonable concentrations, the speciation of neodymium(III) and americium(III) in marine and fresh waters has been calculated. In seawater, bicarbonate and/or carbonate complexing was dominant with significant organic ligand complexing only at relatively high dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations. The solubility of the carbonate seems to be the limiting factor in the solution concentrations. In fresh waters the complexing by the humic and fulvic material is more important and is dominant at low calcium concentrations.
Sister chromatid exchanges in chines hamster cells treated with seventeen organophosphorus compounds in the presence of a metabolic activation system

The mutagenicity of several organophosphorus pesticides (OPP) has been demonstrated by Wild [1975] in microorganisms. However, the results as reported in the literature of cytogenic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic tests using mammalian cells or experimental animals were scanty and inconclusive [Huang, 1973; Wild, 1975]. This may be partly due to the high toxicity and rapid degradation of these compounds by mammalian cells both in vitro and in vivo [Wild, 1975]. Since sister chromatid exchange (SCE) has proved to be a highly sensitive indicator of genetic damage [Latt, 1975] and for certain chemicals there was a good correlation between the induction of SCE and point mutations in mammalian cells [Carrano et al, 1978; Sirianni and Huang, 1980], we have studied and reported the effect of a total of 17 OPP on induction of sister chromatid exchange and cell cycle delay in an in vitro system using V79 cells without metabolic activation [Chen et al, 1981, 1982]. Among the 17 OPP tested, 8 were able to induce increased SCE frequencies and the other 9 caused no increase in SCE as compared to the control values. The OPP that proved to be positive SCE inducers were methyl-parathion, demeton, trichlorfon, dimethoate, malathion, methidathion, oxydemeton methyl, and fenthion. The other nine that caused no SCE increase were diazinion, disyston, amaze, azinphosmethyl, bolstar, DEF, fensulfothion, monitor, and nemacur. In addition, cell cycle delay in various degrees was observed after treatment of V79 cells with all the OPP except for fensulfothion and oxydemeton methyl. However, for all experiments there was no clear correlation between the degree of cell cycle delay and induction of SCE.
Temperature sensitive alteration of 30S subunits demonstrated by in vitro reassociation of functional ribosomes.

Temperature Sensitive Alteration of 30S Subunits demonstrated by in vitro Reassociation of Functional Ribosomes
Etiology and Diagnosis of Bacterial Postoperative Endophthalmitis

It is necessary to determine if postoperative endophthalmitis is of infectious or sterile etiology. Intraocular contents should be cultured and were positive in 50% of 58 eyes tested at our institute with suspected postoperative endophthalmitis. The vitreous aspirate is more sensitive than the anterior chamber aspirate in making a diagnosis. The use of a membrane filter to concentrate vitreous samples obtained at vitrectomy increases diagnostic yield. Fifty percent of culture-positive eyes yielded gram-positive organisms. Stained smears were consistent with the cultured organism in half of the cases.
Transport of microsporidium Encephalitozoon intestinales spores in sandy porous media.

The retention and transport of microsporidium Encephalitozoon intestinales spores in two water-saturated sandy porous media was investigated in this study. The initial breakthrough of the spores in the column effluent occurred essentially simultaneously with that of a non-reactive tracer, indicating no significant velocity enhancement. A large fraction (45–73%) of the spores injected into the columns was not recovered in the effluent, indicating removal from solution through colloid retention processes of attachment and/or straining. The relative significance of attachment and straining to total retention was evaluated in additional experiments. An experiment was conducted with a sieved coarse fraction of porous media for which straining is unlikely to be of significance based on the relative diameters of the spores and porous-medium pores. The spore recovery for this experiment was similar to the recoveries obtained for microsporidia transport in the un-sieved parent porous medium. An additional experiment was conducted with a subsample of the coarse fraction that was acid-washed to reduce potential surface attachment sites. Spore recovery was complete for this experiment. These results suggest surface deposition was the primary removal mechanism in our system. This conclusion is supported by the results of an experiment wherein deionized water was flushed through a column that was previously flushed with electrolyte solution. The effluent spore concentrations were observed to increase upon injection of deionized water, indicating re-mobilization of spores upon a change in water chemistry. The measured data were successfully simulated using a mathematical model incorporating colloid filtration. The results of this study suggest that the transport of microspordia in sandy porous media is governed by established colloid-transport processes.
Fast evaluation of Gaunt coefficients: recursive approach

Solution of electromagnetic multisphere-scattering problems involves the determination of a large number of Gaunt coefficients that are connected with definite integrals of products of three associated Legendre functions. This paper presents general recursion formulae cycling a single index for the Gaunt coefficient. With the use of the recursive scheme, Gaunt coefficients of either low or high degree and order can be evaluated accurately and expeditiously.
Automated de novo prediction of native-like RNA tertiary structures

RNA tertiary structure prediction has been based almost entirely on base-pairing constraints derived from phylogenetic covariation analysis. We describe here a complementary approach, inspired by the Rosetta low-resolution protein structure prediction method, that seeks the lowest energy tertiary structure for a given RNA sequence without using evolutionary information. In a benchmark test of 20 RNA sequences with known structure and lengths of ≈30 nt, the new method reproduces better than 90% of Watson–Crick base pairs, comparable with the accuracy of secondary structure prediction methods. In more than half the cases, at least one of the top five models agrees with the native structure to better than 4 Å rmsd over the backbone. Most importantly, the method recapitulates more than one-third of non-Watson–Crick base pairs seen in the native structures. Tandem stacks of “sheared” base pairs, base triplets, and pseudoknots are among the noncanonical features reproduced in the models. In the cases in which none of the top five models were native-like, higher energy conformations similar to the native structures are still sampled frequently but not assigned low energies. These results suggest that modest improvements in the energy function, together with the incorporation of information from phylogenetic covariance, may allow confident and accurate structure prediction for larger and more complex RNA chains.
Nitrate assimilation contributes to Ralstonia solanacearum root attachment, stem colonization, and virulence

Ralstonia solanacearum, an economically important plant pathogen, must attach, grow, and produce virulence factors to colonize plant xylem vessels and cause disease. Little is known about the bacterial metabolism that drives these processes. Nitrate is present in both tomato xylem fluid and agricultural soils, and the bacterium's gene expression profile suggests that it assimilates nitrate during pathogenesis. A nasA mutant, which lacks the gene encoding the catalytic subunit of R. solanacearum's sole assimilatory nitrate reductase, did not grow on nitrate as a sole nitrogen source. This nasA mutant exhibited reduced virulence and delayed stem colonization after soil soak inoculation of tomato plants. The nasA virulence defect was more severe following a period of soil survival between hosts. Unexpectedly, once bacteria reached xylem tissue, nitrate assimilation was dispensable for growth, virulence, and competitive fitness. However, nasA-dependent nitrate assimilation was required for normal production of extracellular polysaccharide (EPS), a major virulence factor. Quantitative analyses revealed that EPS production was significantly influenced by nitrate assimilation when nitrate was not required for growth. The plant colonization delay of the nasA mutant was externally complemented by coinoculation with wild-type bacteria but not by coinoculation with an EPS-deficient epsB mutant. The nasA mutant and epsB mutant did not attach to tomato roots as well as wild-type strain UW551. However, adding either wild-type cells or cell-free EPS improved the root attachment of these mutants. These data collectively suggest that nitrate assimilation promotes R. solanacearum virulence by enhancing root attachment, the initial stage of infection, possibly by modulating EPS production.
Structure and Function of the Catalytic Domain of the Dihydrolipoyl Acetyltransferase Component in Escherichia coli Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex

The Escherichia coli pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDHc) catalyzing conversion of pyruvate to acetyl-CoA comprises three components: E1p, E2p, and E3. The E2p is the five-domain core component, consisting of three tandem lipoyl domains (LDs), a peripheral subunit binding domain (PSBD), and a catalytic domain (E2pCD). Herein are reported the following. 1) The x-ray structure of E2pCD revealed both intra- and intertrimer interactions, similar to those reported for other E2pCDs. 2) Reconstitution of recombinant LD and E2pCD with E1p and E3p into PDHc could maintain at least 6.4% activity (NADH production), confirming the functional competence of the E2pCD and active center coupling among E1p, LD, E2pCD, and E3 even in the absence of PSBD and of a covalent link between domains within E2p. 3) Direct acetyl transfer between LD and coenzyme A catalyzed by E2pCD was observed with a rate constant of 199 s−1, comparable with the rate of NADH production in the PDHc reaction. Hence, neither reductive acetylation of E2p nor acetyl transfer within E2p is rate-limiting. 4) An unprecedented finding is that although no interaction could be detected between E1p and E2pCD by itself, a domain-induced interaction was identified on E1p active centers upon assembly with E2p and C-terminally truncated E2p proteins by hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry. The inclusion of each additional domain of E2p strengthened the interaction with E1p, and the interaction was strongest with intact E2p. E2p domain-induced changes at the E1p active site were also manifested by the appearance of a circular dichroism band characteristic of the canonical 4′-aminopyrimidine tautomer of bound thiamin diphosphate (AP).
Quasi-optical internal mode converters for 110 GHz gyrotrons

Summary form only given. We have designed both internal and external versions of quasi-optical converters. We discuss an internal converter which was designed for use inside a Varian 110 GHz gyrotron producing the TE/sub 22,6/ cavity mode. This design consists of four reflectors which are fed by a Denisov-type launcher. The output is a microwave beam perpendicular to the axis of the tube and having a profile which is nearly flat over the center portion of the vacuum window of the tube. The window is a 4" diameter double-disk type window consisting of two parallel sapphire disks separated by a gap through which a coolant is pumped. It is desirable to have an output profile at the window which is nearly flat over the center part of the aperture to spread the heat deposition over a broader area and allow for higher transmitted power. A series of two additional reflectors are placed outside the tube to convert the flat-top beam to a Gaussian profile to be injected into a 1.25" diameter corrugated waveguide. Design techniques for the reflector system are discussed and experimental results are presented.
Use of intraluminal stents in multiple intestinal atresia

Abstract Multiple intestinal atresia presents a difficult technical problem because of extreme loss of intestinal length, disparity of residual bowel wall size, and discontinuity of multiple short intestinal segments. The authors report on a 3,000-g infant with gastroschisis complicated by intrauterine volvulus and multiple intestinal atresias who was treated successfully with intraluminal stenting and sutureless anastomoses. A total of 25 cm of small bowel was salvaged including 13 segments each measuring 1 to 8 cm in length. Subsequent radiographic studies showed spontaneous anastomosis with a compartmental configuration of the residual bowel and decreased transit time. Five months postoperatively, the patient was weaned off total parenteral nutrition completely and one year later is growing and gaining weight with 4 to 6 bowel movements per day. J Pediatr Surg 37:34. Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
Indentation debonding test for polymer coatings adhered to a substrate

Abstract Indentation debonding tests have been carried out on seven laminated glass/epoxy circuit boards coated with an epoxy film in an apparatus which allowed quantitative evaluation of competing substrate/film configurations by measurement of the indentation radius and debonding radius. The resulting adhesion performance was the debond strain. The effect of indenter shape is discussed in terms of a mechanical model; the experimental results are shown to demonstrate equivalence between conical and spherical indenters.
Natural products as insecticides: the biology, biochemistry and quantitative structure-activity relationships of spinosyns and spinosoids.

The spinosyns, a novel family of insecticidal macrocyclic lactones, are active on a wide variety of insect pests, especially lepidopterans and dipterans. The biological activity of a mixture (spinosad; Tracer®, Spin-Tor® , Success®) of the two most abundant spinosyns (spinosyns A and D) against pest insects is on a par with that of many pyrethroid insecticides. The spinosyns also exhibit a very favorable environmental and toxicological profile, and possess a mode of action that appears unique, with studies to date suggesting that both nicotinic and gamma-aminobutryic acid receptor functions are altered in a novel manner. Compared to pyrethroids such as cypermethrin, spinosyn A is slow to penetrate into insect larvae such as tobacco budworm larvae (Heliothis virescens); however, once inside the insect, spinosyn A is not readily metabolized. To date, more than 20 spinosyns and more than 800 spinosoids (semi-synthetic analogs) have been isolated or synthesized, respectively. Artificial neural network-based quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) studies for the spinosyns suggested that modification of the 2',3',4'-tri-O-methylrhamnosyl moiety could improve activity and several spinosoids incorporating these modifications exhibited markedly improved lepidopteran activity compared to spinosad. Multiple linear regression-based QSAR studies also suggest that whole molecule properties such as CLogP and MOPAC dipole moment can explain much of the biological activity observed for the spinosyns and closely related spinosoids.
The imaging properties of parametric infrared up-converters

Self-radiant or illuminated infrared objects can be made visible by an image unconverter--a device in which the infrared interacts parametrically with an optically nonlinear material with a strong laser pump beam (1--3). We will discuss the three-dimensional nature, resolution, location, magnification and aberrations of images produced by such a device. These properties have been demonstrated in the laboratory. A 16 mm film transparency was illuminated by the output of continuously-pumped, repetitively Q-switched Nd:YAG laser. The light scattered by this object was mixed within a 1.2 cm cube of KDP with a 1.064 micron pump beam derived from the same laser. The 5320 A upconverted object is clearly visible to the eye. Photographs of it have a resolution of 300 × 200 lines and 850 object line-pairs per inch, which is comparable with the infrared image.
Prophecy Channels and Prophetic Modalities: A Comparison of Revelation in The Family International and the LDS Church

The underlying assumption of this article is that prophetic statements composed for publication in religious organizations as the word of God are, in some form and to some degree, socially constructed. We expand on this assumption by comparing and contrasting The Family International and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—both of which are organized around belief in ongoing prophecy and revelation. Derived from our comparative analysis of these two religious groups, we formulate a prophecy typology that specifies (1) the channels through which revelations are proclaimed (a designated individual or group of collaborators) and (2) the modality of prophetic statements attributed to a divine source (inspirational or oracular). Based on this typology we conclude by proposing a set of hypotheses for guiding further studies in the social construction of prophecy.
Cooper-pair transport through a Hubbard chain sandwiched between two superconductors : Density matrix renormalization group calculations

We present a numerical approach to study the coherent transport of Cooper pairs through a Hubbard chain, and study the role of the contacts in achieving perfect Andreev reflection. We calculate the pair transport using the density matrix renormalization group by measuring the response of the system to quantum pair fields with complex phases on the two ends of an open system. This approach gives an effective superfluid weight which is in close agreement with the Bethe ansatz results for the superfluid weight for closed Hubbard rings.
Heterogeneous NO 3 - Ion Dynamics near the Glass Transition in the Fragile Ionic Glass Former Ca 0.4 K 0.6 \(NO 3 \) 1.4 : A 15 N NMR Study

The tumbling dynamics of the ${\mathrm{NO}}_{3}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ anions in C${\mathrm{a}}_{0.4}$${\mathrm{K}}_{0.6}$(N${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$${)}_{1.4}$ liquid have been studied close to its glass transition $({T}_{g}\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}333\mathrm{K})$ by ${}^{15}$N wide line NMR spectroscopy. The time scale of this tumbling dynamics closely corresponds to that associated with the shear or \ensuremath{\alpha} relaxation in this material over 5 orders of magnitude. Clear evidence of bimodal spatial heterogeneity in this dynamics was observed close to ${T}_{g}$ within a small temperature range (340 to 365 K) with the coexistence of a slow- and a fast-tumbling population of ${\mathrm{NO}}_{3}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ anions. The relevance of the existing models of cooperative dynamics near glass transition in explaining these observations are discussed.
HREELS study of electron irradiation effects on ammonia adsorbed on the Ge (1 0 0) surface

Abstract The effect of electron irradiation of adsorbed layers of ammonia on the Ge (1 0 0) surface has been studied using high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS). We have confirmed a previous observation that ammonia adsorbs molecularly on the Ge (1 0 0) surface. Electron irradiation results in dissociation of ammonia and desorption of hydrogen directly into the vacuum without deposition of hydrogen onto the surface. Formation of germanium nitride at 110 K was observed as a result of electron irradiation of adsorbed ammonia as evidenced by presence of a GeN stretch mode near 800 cm−1.
A Security Oriented Design (SOD) Framework for eHealth Systems

With the advancement in technology and availability of internet access and smart mobile systems, there has been an increasing interest in eHealth related research activities due to the attractive and important benefits that eHealth systems can offer to many. However, the security of the eHealth systems has been a great concern. In this paper, we discuss the pilot design experience and results of a security oriented design framework (SOD). The SOD framework is intended for providing a system development environment template to strengthen development tasks of eHealth related systems. We have selected two major eHealth commonly required features for the pilot experiments. The first feature is to provide capabilities for storing and accessing digitized patient health records. The second feature is to provide scheduling and management in terms of appointments, doctor prescriptions, tests, etc. The paper also discusses the current major concerns in security and privacy and provides some effective security solutions.
Aerosol direct fluorination: direct synthesis of perfluorinated glyme ethers

Abstract Aerosol direct fluorination of 1,2-dimethoxyethane, bis(2-methoxyethyl)ether, triethyleneglycol dimethyl ether, and tetraethyleneglycol dimethyl ether produced the perfluorinated analogs in 36%, 22%, 30% and 15% isolated yields based on total input of hydrocarbon into the reactor. High effluent concentrations in excess of 80% were obtained in all cases indicating that low yields are primarily due to mechanical losses, not fragmentation or incomplete reaction. The clean reaction and the ability to produce high molecular weight fluorocarbons by direct fluorination suggests the applicability of aerosol fluorination to the production of fluorinated fluids and oils.
Study of continuous flow automation for serum iron on comparing several sensitive reagents

Abstract Three reagents, for the determination of serum iron concentrations, are compared for their use on an AutoAnalyzer. Under identical conditions, all three reagents ferrozine, 2,4-bis (5,6-diphenyl-1,2,4-triazin-3-yl)pyridinetetrasulfonate, and ferene S, behave in a similar manner. The interference of copper is studied as well as the possibility of using various masking reagents to reduce this interference. It is demonstrated that, contrary to a previously reported manual procedure, thioglycolic acid, thiourea, and neocuproine, the masking reagents, do not all result in exactly the same statistics. As well, it is shown that the time of addition of the masking reagent (i.e., pre- or postdialysis) is not particularly important. Comparison of a manual procedure, involving the preparation of a protein-free filtrate with one of the reagents on the AutoAnalyzer, shows very good correlation. Comparison of the various iron reagents with the AutoAnalyzer suggests that the prime advantage of one over the others is sensitivity.
SOCIALIZATION TACTICS AND PERSON‐ORGANIZATION FIT

We examined how firms' socialization tactics help establish person-organization fit between newcomers and organizations. We used a 3-wave longitudinal design that followed individuals over 2 years: we distributed the first survey before their job search began and the last survey 18 months after their college graduation. Results indicated that newcomers' subjective fit perceptions, as well as changes in their values, were associated with two types of socialization tactics: content (i.e., tactics that are sequential and fixed vs. variable and random) and social aspects (i.e., tactics that emphasize serial and investiture processes rather than disjunctive and divestiture processes). The context dimension of socialization tactics, where socialization is collective and formal (vs. individualized and informal), was not related to P-O fit in this study.
Clinical utility of endoscopic ultrasound and endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration in retroperitoneal neoplasms

Clinical utility of endoscopic ultrasound and endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration in retroperitoneal neoplasms
Peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans-isomerase from Escherichia coli: a periplasmic homolog of cyclophilin that is not inhibited by cyclosporin A.

Abstract The prokaryotic peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans-isomerase called "rotamase", a homolog of the human cyclophilin, has been identified in Escherichia coli. The E. coli rotamase, a product of the gene we suggest be called "rot," has been purified to homogeneity after cloning of the gene by the polymerase chain reaction and its overexpression in E. coli. Based on the chymotrypsin-coupled assay using the tetrapeptide substrate succinyl-Ala-Ala-Pro-Phe-p-nitroanilide, the purified protein has rotamase activity identical to human cyclophilin with a catalytic efficiency close to the upper diffusional limit (kcat/Km approximately 1.0 x 10(7) M-1 x S-1 at 10 degrees C). Unlike the human cyclophilins, however, the E. coli rotamase is not significantly inhibited by the immunosuppressant drug cyclosporin A. By spheroplast fractionation of cells harboring the expression vector for the complete rot gene, the rotamase is located in the periplasm, where it could function in refolding of secreted proteins.
Selective modulation of amyloid‐β peptide degradation by flurbiprofen, fenofibrate, and related compounds regulates Aβ levels

Gamma-secretase modulators (GSMs) include selected non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as flurbiprofen that selectively lowers the neurotoxic amyloid-beta peptide Abeta(1-42). GSMs are attractive targets for Alzheimer's disease, in contrast to 'inverse GSMs,' such as fenofibrate, which selectively increase the level of Abeta(1-42). A methodology for screening of Abeta modulating drugs was developed utilizing an Abeta-producing neuroblastoma cell line stably transfected with mutant human amyloid precursor protein, immunoprecipitation of Abeta peptides, and mass spectroscopic quantitation of Abeta(1-37)/Abeta(1-38)/Abeta(1-40)/Abeta(1-42) using an Abeta internal standard. The unexpected conclusion of this work was that in this system, drug effects are independent of gamma-secretase. The methodology recapitulated reported results for modulation of Abeta by GSMs. However, control experiments in which exogenous Abeta(1-40)/Abeta(1-42) was added (i) to drug-treated wild-type cells or (ii) to conditioned media from these wild-type cells, gave comparable patterns of Abeta modulation. These results, suggesting that drugs modulate the ability of cell-derived factors to degrade Abeta, was interrogated by adding protease inhibitors and performing molecular weight cut-off fractionation. The results confirmed that modulation of Abeta(1-40)/Abeta(1-42) was mediated by selective proteolysis. Treatment of N2a cells with flurbiprofen or fenofibric acid selectively enhanced Abeta(1-42) clearance by extracellular proteolysis; treatment with HCT-1026 or fenofibrate (esters of flurbiprofen and fenobric acid) inhibited clearance of Abeta(1-40) and Abeta(1-42).
Effects of Parathyroid Extract, Dihydrotachysterol (Hytakerol) and Calciferol on Milk Secretion in Rats1

A 8tudy was made of the effects of parathyroid extract (PTE), dihydrotachysterol (Hytakerol) and calciferol on milk secretion in rats. Thirty USP units PTE/100 g body wt and 0.2 mg calciferol/100 g body wt administered daily to lactating rats increased milk yield significantly from day 14 to 20 of lactating period, in comparison with controls. PTE increased deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) content of mammary glands at the end of the experiment. No difference in DNA content of the mammary glands of rats treated with calciferol and Hytakerol was observed. Hytakerol at a dosage of 125 μg/100 g body wt administered daily increased milk secretion significantly only on day 14 of the lactation period, when calcium and phosphorus levels of the blood were about 12 mg/100 ml. It is believed that the effects of PTE, Hytakerol and calciferol in elevation of milk secretion are mediated by increases in the mobilization of serum calcium available to the mammary glands for milk synthesis. (Endocrinology 74: 554, 1964)
A critical reexamination of alienation

Abstract This article will examine the concept of alienation and reconsider its usefulness in sociology and in the social sciences. This concept once occupied center stage in sociological theory, but in recent times it has declined in significance. However, a review of the sociofile database reveals that alienation has and will continue to play a major role in sociological theory. The questions discussed in this article include the following: How has the concept of alienation fared during the last twenty years? What uses have been made of it in the literature of the social sciences? What role will alienation play in future investigations of the sociology of labor and other human endeavors? This article explores the various meanings associated with alienation and is based on secondary data gathered from journal articles and books published between 1974 and 1994.
Methodology for using intelligent agents to apply simulation technologies to the mission operational environment

This paper proposes a methodology for applying simulation technology to the monitoring and control of operations, focusing on the roles of intelligent agents. These agents monitor the course of the real operation and compare it with a near-real-time simulation of that operation. When these agents detect significant differences between the planned operation and the real operation they explore the discrepancies to determine if they impact on the desired outcome of the operation. When necessary, these agents launch additional simulations or other tools to make this determination. In cases in which the success of the plan is threatened, the agents advise the decision-maker. This paper focuses on the interactions between the agents and how they collaborate with each other in a hierarchy.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Effect of surface modification of rat erythrocytes of different ages on their partitioning behavior in charge-sensitive two-polymer aqueous phases.

Abstract Partitioning differences between cells in two-polymer aqueous phase systems originate from subtle differences between the surface properties of cells. Because of the exponential relation between the parameters affecting the partition ratio ( P ) and the P itself, differences in membrane components suspected of affecting the differential partitioning of closely related cell populations cannot be directly established by conventional chemical assay techniques. In order to study the chemical nature of the components responsible for the age-related changes in surface properties of rat red cells we have devised an approach which uses a combination of isotopic labeling of erythrocyte subpopulations of distinct cell age with different enzyme and/or chemical treatments followed by countercurrent distribution in charge-sensitive two-polymer aqueous phase systems. These studies show that: (a) neuraminidase-susceptible sialic acid is not responsible for the cell age-related surface differences detected by partitioning; (b) the component(s) responsible for the cell age-related surface differences can be extracted (from aldehyde-fixed red cells) with ethanol or cleaved with dilute sulfuric acid. Our data are consistent with the hypothesis that ganglioside-linked sialic acid is the chemical moiety responsible for the cell charge-associated surface differences among rat blood cells of different ages.
Marine brevetoxin induces IgE-independent mast cell activation

Brevetoxins (PbTx) are sodium channel neurotoxins produced by the marine dinoflagellate Karenia brevis during red tide blooms. Inhalation of PbTx in normal individuals and individuals with pre-existing airways disease results in adverse airway symptoms including bronchoconstriction. In animal models of allergic inflammation, inhalation of PbTx results in a histamine H1-mediated bronchoconstriction suggestive of mast cell activation. How mast cells would respond directly to PbTx is unknown. We thus explored the activation of mouse bone marrow–derived mast cells (BMMCs) following exposure to purified PbTx-2. Following in vitro exposure to PbTx-2, we examined cellular viability, mast cell degranulation (β-hexosaminidase release), intracellular Ca2+ and Na+ flux, and the production of inflammatory mediators (IL-6). PbTx-2 induced significant cellular toxicity within 24 h as measured by LDH release and Annexin-V staining. However, within 1 h of exposure, PbTx-2 induced BMMC degranulation and an increase in IL-6 mRNA expression independent of the high-affinity IgE receptor (FceRI) stimulation. Activation of BMMCs by PbTx-2 was associated with altered intracellular Ca2+ and Na+ levels. Brevenal, a naturally produced compound that antagonizes the activity of PbTx, prevented changes in intracellular Na+ levels but did not alter activation of BMMCs by PbTx-2. These findings demonstrate that PbTx-2 activates mast cells independent of FceRI providing insight into critical events in the pathogenesis and a potential therapeutic target in brevetoxin-induced airway symptoms.
Prenatal programming of hepatic monoamine oxidase by 5,5-diphenylhydantoin

Abstract During ontogeny, rat liver monoamine oxidase gradually increased in activity in both sexes until the pubertal period when female activity rose 1.5- to 2.0-fold higher than male activity. Oral administration of 5,5-diphenylhydantoin (10 mg/kg body wt) to pregnant rats on days 7,9, 12, 14and 16 of gestation had no effect on the monoamine oxidase activity of immature male or female offspring. The enzyme activity in adult male offspring, from females prenatally treated with diphenylhydantoin, was elevated to a level similar to that of adult females. Subcutaneous injection of diphenylhydantoin (10 mg/kg body wt) for 5 days prior to death failed to induce changes in monoamine oxidase activity in either pre- or postpubertal males or females. Thus, prenatal administration of diphenylhydantoin can program changes in adult male monoamine oxidase activity. The serum levels of testosterone in the male offspring of prenatally treated females, on days 5 and 63 postpartum, were the same as those of their respective controls, demonstrating that the changes caused by diphenylhydantoin are not due to diminished levels of testosterone.