cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
National water security–Case study of an arid country, Tunisia

This is a short review of a book recently published by Springer entitled: National water security–Case study of an arid country, Tunisia; by Mustapha Besbes, Jamel Chahed, and Abdelkader Hamdane. It shows that around 40% of the water consumed in Tunisia is imported as virtual water, used in other countries to produce goods. Water security is thus strongly linked to food security, but includes protection of the resource from pollution, accidents, malicious acts, and anticipation of extreme hydrologic events. A detailed analysis is made of water consumed by agriculture for food production by both rain-fed and irrigated crops, from which a surprising conclusion can be drawn: the major part of Tunisian food production is provided by rain-fed agriculture. Therefore, optimizing the yield of rain-fed agriculture becomes a priority. Alternative water resources are also discussed, as well as water governance. Results can be integrated into the policy choices related to sustainable water management which should be made in the future in Tunisia, and other regions where water is scarce.
Contradictory Comments: Feedback in Professional Communication Service Courses

Background: Professional communication instructors give profuse feedback on student writing in service or introductory courses; however, professional communication has traditionally borrowed feedback practices from first-year writing. In addition, professional communication instructors have relied on lore instead of data when giving students feedback. Literature review: Three recent studies examine the content of feedback comments given by professional communication instructors; nevertheless, these studies open questions about how professional communication instructors enact their pedagogical values when giving feedback. Research questions: 1. What do instructors value when teaching professional communication service courses? 2. What do instructors emphasize in their feedback? 3. To what extent do instructors’ values align with the feedback that they give on students’ writing? Research methodology: To answer these questions, this pilot study does close qualitative work to test interview questions and a coding scheme formed by inductive content analysis. I triangulated four interviews about instructors’ pedagogical values with content analysis of their 599 feedback comments on students’ writing. Results and discussion: The results reveal three implications: Rhetorical terminology may contradict the goals of professional communication, overly conversational or directive feedback may not give students tools to improve their writing, and borrowing pedagogical training from first-year composition may not prepare instructors to teach professional communication. Conclusion: Tensions between instructors’ values and their feedback comments highlight a lack of consensus about professional communication's pedagogical values for the service course, particularly higher order values, such as audience analysis or purpose through giving feedback.
An all-printed 3D-Zn/Fe3O4 paper battery

Abstract A simple, low cost, and lightweight three-dimensional (3D) primary alkaline Zn/Fe3O4 origami-battery fabricated from Whatman 1 paper was developed. The battery was created using printed wax to define the hydrophobic and hydrophilic barriers and active electrocatalytic materials for fabricating the electrodes. The boat-shaped 3D-battery consisted of two screen-printed Zn/Fe3O4 batteries connected in series that were activated with a small volume of aqueous KOH solution. The metallic electrodes were first characterized outside the folded battery using electrochemical techniques. Subsequently, the electrodes and separator were assembled together in a triangle-shaped battery resembling the main structure of the boat-shaped 3D-device and this triangle-shaped battery was further optimized. The addition of water triggered the activation of the 3D battery delivering a maximum current and power of 7 mA and 3 mW, respectively. The 3D-Zn/Fe3O4-battery displayed an OCP of 2.2 V and a maximum current and power of 22 mA and 7.5 mW, respectively, in the presence of 6 M KOH electrolyte. These results demonstrate the potential of 3D origami-based structures and Zn/Fe3O4 batteries as an alternative low cost energy source to power portable devices.
Abstract P113: Anti-Hypertensive Properties of Brown Adipose Tissue

The regulator of G protein signaling 14 (RGS14) knockout (KO) mice live longer than their wild type (WT) littermates and are protected against myocardial infarction, diabetes and obesity, and reduc...
COMPETENCIES AND ROLES OF A SOCIAL CURATOR IN WORKING WITH RISKY YOUTH AND CRISIS INTERVENTION

The terms crisis and crisis intervention are a very wide-ranging issue, which is why we focused on social curators and field social workers working at the Department of Social and Legal Protection of Children and Social Guard in the Slovak Republic. Specifically, their perception and use of crisis intervention methods in practice. The aim was to find out the perception of social curators and field social workers of social protection, their use of crisis intervention methods in practice. In the framework of the researched issue, we present detailed results on the established relationships between the variables studied in relation to the theoretical knowledge and the findings of previous research in this area.
Assessment of unintended volume loss of six closed system transfer devices.

IntroductionClosed system transfer devices (CSTDs) are used to prepare and administer hazardous drugs. Previous studies have explored the vapor and fluid containment performance of CSTDs. A less ob...
SARS-Cov-2 Was Not Found in the Peritoneal Fluid of an Asymptomatic Patient Undergoing Laparoscopic Appendectomy.

Background The safety of laparoscopic surgery in SARS-CoV-2 positive patients remains unclear. The presence of the virus within peritoneal fluid and the peritoneal tissues is not known. We report an asymptomatic COVID-19 positive patient who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy with negative peritoneal sampling for SARS-CoV-2. Materials and methods During a standard 3 port laparoscopic surgery samples peritoneal fluid, peritoneal brushings, and surgical smoke plum were collected. Specific real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction targeting SARS-CoV-2 were used to detect the presence of the virus in the samples. Results SARS-CoV-2 was not detected on multiple samples of the peritoneum in an asymptomatic patient. Conclusions SARS-CoV-2 was not found in the peritoneum of a single patient with asymptomatic infection. Further studies comparing SARS-CoV-2 surgical candidates are needed to address safety concerns.
Initial Spark of Hope: A Case for Attachment Tune-Ups First

Using a clinical sample of couples, this study considers the association between couples attachment levels, stability of their relationship, and severity of their presenting problems at first sessi...
Consuming local: product, place, and experience in visitor reviews of urban Texas craft breweries

As the craft beer industry has experienced significant growth around the world and particularly in the U.S., research into various aspects of the topic has grown as well. Significant attention has ...
The effect of condenser temperature on the performance of the evaporator in a wickless heat pipe performance

Abstract The Constrained Vapor Bubble (CVB), a simple, wickless, heat pipe design that depends on interfacial forces to drive corner flow in a square cuvette, was studied in the microgravity environment aboard the International Space Station (ISS). In this paper, we consider the effects of different condenser temperatures on the heat transfer and fluid flow behavior using pentane as the working fluid. As the condenser temperature was decreased, the performance of the system decreased. This performance decrease using the pure working fluid was opposite to the behavior observed when using a mixture of 94 vol% pentane and 6 vol% isohexane. The mechanism for the decline in performance as the condenser temperature was lowered was a stronger than expected increase in the apparent strength of Marangoni flows at the heater end of the system. A simple mathematical model was fit to the experimental data and used to extract an evaporator heat transfer coefficient for experiments where we held the condenser temperature constant while increasing the heater power and where we held the heater power constant while decreasing the condenser temperature. All the results could be collapsed onto a single Nusselt number vs. Marangoni number curve. In this formulation, the Nusselt number was found to decrease with increasing Marangoni number to the 1/3 power.
Gender-dependent mechanisms of injury and repair

Abstract This chapter explores the role that sex hormones play in the development and progression of renal disease. Possible pathogenic mechanisms are described including the effects of sex hormones on cell biology and on the synthesis and release of vasoactive factors and inflammatory and profibrotic cytokines. Next, the role of sex hormones in influencing repair and regeneration following renal injury is discussed and possible pathogenic mechanisms explored. In light of the paucity of data that examine interactions between sex hormones and regeneration in the kidney, this chapter also draws on data which examine the role of sex hormones in the regeneration of nonrenal tissue to suggest avenues for future translational research involving the kidney.
Conversion into a Parameter Optimization Problem

A standard method for solving optimal control problems is to convert them into parameter optimization problems and solve them using one of several available nonlinear programming codes (Ref. H2). This process is called suboptimal control because the optimal control is restricted to a subclass of functions, for example, piecewise linear controls.
COMPARISON OF STUDENT SUCCESS IN DIFFERENT TECHNOLOGY-BASED CLASSROOMS

Department of Aerospace Technology faculty questioned whether students were benefiting from the new technology that came with the opening of a new state-of-the-art classroom facility. The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to compare scores of students using advanced technology course delivery methods with the scores of the students using the older course delivery methods as measured by overall class final scores. Two groups of students were presented identical lessons, one via traditional methods delivery. The other group received instruction using all classroom technology options available. The same instructor provided instruction to both groups. The results of the study support the alternative hypothesis in that there was a statistically significant difference at the .05 level between the students’ mean grades using the two different course delivery methods at the two facilities. Students who received the same teaching materials but using the newer technology showed a statistically significant higher score as compared to those students who competed the same course work using the traditional methods.
The compositional stability of the P-phase in Ni–Ti–Pd shape memory alloys

Abstract The precipitation of the P-phase in Ni–Ti–Pd and Ni–Ti–Pt shape memory alloys has been shown to dramatically increase the martensitic transformation temperature and strength in Ni-rich ternary alloys, yet little is known about the phase's compositional stability. Therefore, the compositional limits of the P-phase have been systematically studied by varying the Pd and Ni content while maintaining the general P-phase Ti 11 (Ni + Pd) 13 stoichiometry. Each alloy was solutionized at 1050 °C followed by water quenching, and aging at 400 °C for 100 h. Four distinct phases were identified by electron and x-ray diffraction: Ti 2 Pd 3 , B2 NiTi, P- and P1-phases. The latter precipitate phases became more stable with increasing Ni at the expense of the Pd content. Atom probe tomography revealed the P-phase composition to be 45.8Ti–29.2Ni–25Pd (at.%) or Ti 11 (Ni 7 Pd 6 ) as compared to the P1-phase 44.7Ti– 45.8Ni–9.4Pd (at.%) or Ti 5 Ni 5 Pd.
Soil Structure: A History from Tilth to Habitat

Publisher Summary This chapter concentrates on the thread of the changing concepts and studies of soil structure. The chapter examines the approaches to soil structure, based on writings from five periods in the past two millennia. While the dates are somewhat flexible, periods of different thinking can be distinguished. The early concept of soil structure was soil tilth, stirring the soil to prepare a seedbed consisting of small aggregates. Soil aggregates, aggregation, and field description of soil structure were described during 1930 to 1950. Aggregation and tilth, soil structure and soil erosion, soil mechanics studies of soil structure, and soil compaction were described during 1950 to 1980. Structure as habitat for biota has revitalized the study of soil structure. These studies are led largely by soil biologists and landscape ecologists. Knowledge about soils was developed, in its early history, by practitioners who worked with soils. This knowledge was related to the social conditions of the times and to society's needs. With the advent of soil science laboratories, the dominant concern soon became measurement of static properties relating to tilth and stability of structure: aggregate-size distribution, porosity, grain-size distribution, stability of aggregates, shape, and size of aggregates. The importance for soil structure of organic matter and of clay content was generally recognized. All these properties were studied in relation to cultivation and to the effects of cultivation on tilth and yield. The concept of hierarchical arrangement of different aggregate sizes, and the bonds responsible for stability, drew attention to different void sizes and to the soil functions of each.
The impact of change in pregnancy body mass index on macrosomia.

Objective To examine the impact of change in body mass index (BMI) during pregnancy on the incidence of macrosomia. Methods This is a retrospective cohort study using 2007 linked birth certificate and discharge diagnosis data from the state of California. Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for the outcome of macrosomia, as a function of a categorical change in pregnancy BMI: BMI loss ( 10). The impact of pregnancy change in BMI was determined for the entire cohort and then stratified by prepregnancy BMI category. Minimal BMI change served as the reference group. Results The study population consisted of 436,414 women. Overall, women with moderate and excessive BMI changes had aORs of 1.66 and 3.21, respectively, for macrosomia, when compared with women with minimal BMI change. When stratified by prepregnancy BMI, normal (aOR 3.85) and overweight women (aOR 2.96) with antenatal BMI change greater than 10 had the highest odds of macrosomia. Conclusions Excessive change in pregnancy BMI results in an increased odds of macrosomia. This finding was most pronounced in the normal and overweight women.
Analysis of Circular Rings for Monocoque Fuselages

The distribution of reactions to loads transmitted by rings to skin in a monocoque fuselage is discussed. Formulas are derived for the moment, shear, and axial stress at all points in circular rings which are subjected to a moment, a radial force, or a tangential force applied at one point on the circumference. Curves are given for each case and their use in obtaining the stresses in the ring under any loading by superposition of separate effects is illustrated by an example. T H E SKIN REACTIONS F transverse to the longitudinal axis of a monocoque fuselage are transmitted to the skin through transverse rings. The forces thus transmitted act as shearing forces on a cross-section of the fuselage. While wrinkling of the skin may cause the distribution of this shearing stress to vary somewhat depending upon the manner of occurrence of the wrinkling, the problem becomes unduly complex if this is taken into account. It will be assumed that the skin behaves as a section not subjected to wrinkling or in which the wrinkling does not appreciably affect the distribution of skin reactions on the ring. If the skin is assumed to be very thin in comparison to its diameter, the skin reactions must be entirely tangential forces as shown in Fig. 1. Shearing in sA//7 Re&ulfant Tension These shearing forces in a transverse plane are held in equilibrium by conjugate shearing forces in longitudinal radial planes (Fig. lb). There can be no shearing forces at a free surface hence no shearing forces normal to the skin surface can occur in the transverse section. (This can be seen from Fig. lc which shows Received February 24, 1939. by means of dotted arrows how such shearing forces would be unable to exist.) Even if the skin should wrinkle, the resultant tension would still furnish a component tangential to the skin surface (Fig. lb) unless a very large longitudinal deflection of the fuselage occurs. Since such deflections should be very small in the usual fuselage, it may be assumed that no radial forces will be applied by the skin to the ring, or at least that such radial forces are negligible compared to the tangential forces. A couple or moment applied to the ring will then have skin reactions distributed uniformly around the circumference, as shown in Fig. 2. The intensity of F I G . 2. these skin reactions, per unit of length of circumference, will then be dp = M0/2irR 2 (1) A radial force will have skin reactions as shown in Fig. 3, assuming that the common theory of flexure is valid for this case. P is the radial force applied to the ring. F is the transverse force transmitted to right of ring {i.e., total shear). / is unit fiber stress in skin, at plane defined by angle <p. d and C2 are total compressive forces beyond plane defined by angle 0. SH is horizontal shear on two longitudinal radial planes through skin. 460 M O N O C O Q U E F U S E L A G E S
Divisor Classes and the Virtual Canonical Bundle for Genus 0 Maps

We prove divisor class relations for families of genus 0 curves and used them to compute the divisor class of the “virtual” canonical bundle of the Kontsevich space of genus 0 maps to a smooth target. This agrees with the canonical bundle in good cases. This work generalizes Pandharipande’s results in the special case that the target is projective space, [7] (Pandharipande, Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 351(4), 1481–1505, 1999), [8] (Pandharipande, Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 351(4), 1481–1505, 1999). Our method is completely different from Pandharipande’s.
T-Even Bacteriophage-Tolerant Mutants of Escherichia coli B III. Nature of the tet Defect

T-even phage-tolerant (tet) mutants of Escherichia coli B are shown to lack the enzyme uridine diphosphoglucose pyrophosphorylase and thus produce nonglucosylated progeny phage deoxyribonucleic acid.
Energy efficient protocols for low duty cycle wireless microsensor networks

Emerging distributed wireless microsensor networks will enable the reliable and fault tolerant monitoring of the environment. Such microsensors are required to operate for years from a small energy source, while maintaining a reliable communication link to the base station. The design of energy-aware communication protocols can have a dramatic impact on the network lifetime for such applications. A detailed communication energy model, obtained from measurements, is introduced that incorporates the non-ideal behavior of the physical layer electronics. This includes the start-up energy cost of the RF transceiver, which dominates energy dissipation for short packet sizes. Using this model, various communication layer protocols are explored for asymmetrical sensor networks such as machine monitoring. The paper also proposes the use of a variable bandwidth allocation scheme that exploits spatial distribution of sensors.
Employment Discrimination in State and Local Government: The Lesbian and Gay Male Experience:

In recent years, a number of state, county, and municipal governments have been confronted with demands to add the category "sexual orientation" to their employment discrimination ordinances and po...
Core Design for Energy Absorption in Sandwich Composites

To achieve high energy absorption under edgewise compression loading, sandwich composites must experience a progressive failure that includes compression failure of the facesheets. This investigation focused on sandwich core design for energy absorption through the use of failure mode maps. Predictive models for global buckling, facesheet wrinkling, and facesheet compression failure were used to construct failure mode maps as a function of sandwich core thickness and density. Predicted failure loads and initial failure modes were found to be in good agreement with results from edgewise compression testing. Sandwich configurations experiencing facesheet compression failure as the initial failure mode were found to produce the highest energy absorption. These results suggest that sandwich composites may be designed for enhanced energy absorption through the proper selection of core materials and geometries.
Step width alters iliotibial band strain during running

This study assessed the effect of step width during running on factors related to iliotibial band (ITB) syndrome. Three-dimensional (3D) kinematics and kinetics were recorded from 15 healthy recreational runners during overground running under various step width conditions (preferred and at least +/- 5% of their leg length). Strain and strain rate were estimated from a musculoskeletal model of the lower extremity. Greater ITB strain and strain rate were found in the narrower step width condition (p < 0.001, p = 0.040). ITB strain was significantly (p < 0.001) greater in the narrow condition than the preferred and wide conditions and it was greater in the preferred condition than the wide condition. ITB strain rate was significantly greater in the narrow condition than the wide condition (p = 0.020). Polynomial contrasts revealed a linear increase in both ITB strain and strain rate with decreasing step width. We conclude that relatively small decreases in step width can substantially increase ITB strain as well as strain rates. Increasing step width during running, especially in persons whose running style is characterized by a narrow step width, may be beneficial in the treatment and prevention of running-related ITB syndrome.
An acyclicity theorem for cell complexes in d dimension

LetC be a cell complex ind-dimensional Euclidean space whose faces are obtained by orthogonal projection of the faces of a convex polytope ind+ 1 dimensions. For example, the Delaunay triangulation of a finite point set is such a cell complex. This paper shows that the in_front/behind relation defined for the faces ofC with respect to any fixed viewpointx is acyclic. This result has applications to hidden line/surface removal and other problems in computational geometry.
Analysis of trichloroethylene-induced global DNA hypomethylation in hepatic L-02 cells by liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Trichloroethylene (TCE), a major occupational and environmental pollutant, has been recently associated with aberrant epigenetic changes in experimental animals and cultured cells. TCE is known to cause severe hepatotoxicity; however, the association between epigenetic alterations and TCE-induced hepatotoxicity are not yet well explored. DNA methylation, catalyzed by enzymes known as DNA methyltransferases (DNMT), is a major epigenetic modification that plays a critical role in regulating many cellular processes. In this study, we analyzed the TCE-induced effect on global DNA methylation and DNMT enzymatic activity in human hepatic L-02 cells. A sensitive and quantitative method combined with liquid chromatography and electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) was validated and utilized for assessing the altered DNA methylation in TCE-induced L-02 cells. Quantification was accomplished in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode by monitoring a transition pair of m/z 242.1 (molecular ion)/126.3 (fragment ion) for 5-mdC and m/z 268.1/152.3 for dG. The correlation coefficient of calibration curves between 5-mdC and dG was higher than 0.9990. The intra-day and inter-day relative standard derivation values (RSD) were on the range of 0.53-7.09% and 0.40-2.83%, respectively. We found that TCE exposure was able to significantly decrease the DNA methylation and inhibit DNMT activity in L-02 cells. Our results not only reveal the association between TCE exposure and epigenetic alterations, but also provide an alternative mass spectrometry-based method for rapid and accurate assessment of chemical-induced altered DNA methylation in mammal cells.
Norman page. Speech in the English novel. New York: Longman, 1973

(1975). Norman page. Speech in the English novel. New York: Longman, 1973. World Literature Written in English: Vol. 14, No. 1, pp. 253-254.
Perchlorate Reduction by Nanoscale Iron Particles

We report herein the near complete reduction of perchlorate (ClO $$_{4}^{-}$$ ) to chloride by nanoscale iron particles. The nanoparticles also reduce chlorate (ClO $$_{3}^-$$ ), chlorite (ClO $$_{2}^-$$ ) and hypochlorite (ClO $$^{-}$$ ) to chloride. No reaction was observed with microscale iron powder under identical conditions. The temperature sensitivity of the perchlorate-nanoparticle reaction is evidenced by progressively increasing rate constant values of 0.013, 0.10, 0.64 and 1.52 mg perchlorate per g nanoparticles per hour (mg-g-1-hr-1), respectively, at temperatures of 25, 40, 60 and 75°C. The activation energy of perchlorate-iron reaction was calculated to be 79.02 ± 7.75 kJ/mole. Despite favorable thermodynamics, the relatively large activation energy for this reaction suggests that perchlorate reduction is limited by the slow kinetics. The nanoscale iron particles may represent a potential treatment method for perchlorate-contaminated water.
Navigating in Uncertain Waters: 2006 Update on the Regulation of Ballast Water Discharge in the United States

Every day more than 10,000 marine species are swept up in the ballast water of ships and make their way across the globe. 1 When discharged into non-native waters, these species are able to damage infrastructure, disrupt commerce, out compete native species, reduce biodiversity, and threaten human health. 2 The ecological losses are difficult to quantify; however, the direct and indirect economic costs have been measured at billions of dollars per year in the United States alone. 3 Recognizing the severity of the problem, Congress directed the Coast Guard in 1996 to administer a ballast water program and issue guidelines. 4 According to various interest groups, the aquatic invasive species problem persists today despite Coast Guard involvement because of inherent and technological limitations surrounding ballast water management (BWM). 5 However, other groups believe that the crux of the problem is that the Coast Guard has simply not acted aggressively enough to address the problem. In March 2005, an environmental advocacy group, joined by six states, convinced a federal district court for the Northern District of California that the EPA had exceeded its statutory authority by exempting the discharge of ballast water from the control of the Clean Water Act (CWA) 6 in the case of Northwest Environmental Advocates v. EPA .
Differential geometry of the Fermat quartic and theta functions

Abstract The universal curve over a finite cover of the moduli space of elliptic curves with level four structure is embedded in C P 3 as the Fermat quartic and is parametrized via the four Jacobi theta functions. Constructions from completely integrable systems have shown the importance of looking at the curvature of certain spaces and here we compute sectional curvatures. For our computations, we choose the ambient Fubini–Study metric of C P 3 . We also derive several theta identities which arise from the quartic’s holomorphic two-form.
The recursive reduced-order numerical solution of the singularly perturbed matrix differential Riccati equation

Under stability-observability conditions imposed on a singularly perturbed system, an efficient numerical method for solving the corresponding matrix differential Riccati equation is obtained in terms of the reduced-order problems. The order reduction is achieved via the use of the Chang transformation applied to the Hamiltonian matrix of a singularly perturbed linear-quadratic control problem. An efficient numerical recursive algorithm with a quadratic rate of convergence is developed for solving the algebraic equations comprising the Chang transformation. >
Alterations in mesenteric lymph node T cell phenotype and cytokine secretion are associated with changes in thymocyte phenotype after LP-BM5 retrovirus infection.

In this study, mouse MLN cells and thymocytes from advanced stages of LP-BM5 retrovirus infection were studied. A decrease in the percentage of IL-7+ cells and an increase in the percentage of IL-16+ cells in the MLN indicated that secretion of these cytokines was also altered after LP-BM5 infection. The percentage of MLN T cells expressing IL-7 receptors was significantly reduced, while the percentage of MLN T cells expressing TNFR-p75 and of B cells expressing TNFR-p55 increased. Simultaneous analysis of surface markers and cytokine secretion was done in an attempt to understand whether the deregulation of IFN-Υ secretion could be ascribed to a defined cell phenotype, concluding that all T cell subsets studied increased IFN-Υ secretion after retrovirus infection. Finally, thymocyte phenotype was further analyzed trying to correlate changes in thymocyte phenotype with MLN cell phenotype. The results indicated that the increase in single positive either CD4+CD8- or CD4- CD8+ cells was due to accumulation of both immature (CD3- ) and mature (CD3+) single positive thymocytes. Moreover, single positive mature thymocytes presented a phenotype similar to the phenotype previously seen on MLN T cells. In summary, we can conclude that LP-BM5 uses the immune system to reach the thymus where it interferes with the generation of functionally mature T cells, favoring the development of T cells with an abnormal phenotype. These new T cells are activated to secrete several cytokines that in turn will favor retrovirus replication and inhibit any attempt of the immune system to control infection.
Bacterial glycoproteins: identification and properties of glycoprotein glycosyltransferases in Escherichia coli.

Abstract Nucleoside diphosphate [14C] monosaccharides were efficient precursors for the transfer of [14C]monosaccharides onto endogenous glycoproteins by 0.1% Triton X-100 homogenates of Escherichia coli. The order of incorporation was UDP-[14C]-glucose > GDP-[14C]mannose > UDP -N-[ 14 C ] acetylglucosamine > UDP-[14C]galactose > GDP-[14C]fucose > UDP -N-[ 14 C ] acetylgalactosamine . E. coli glycosyltransferases were found to transfer radioactivity from nucleoside diphosphate [14C]monosaccharides onto a variety of mammalian glycoprotein acceptors. Five E. coli glycosyltransferases were characterized using exogenous acceptors. The acceptors for the respective nucleoside diphosphate monosaccharides were as follows: Fetuin minusN-acetylneuraminic acid:UDP-N-acetylgalactosamine; fetuin minusN-acetylneuraminic acid, galactose, N-acetylglucosamine:UDP-N-acetylglucosamine; bovine submaxillary mucin minusN-acetylneuraminic acid:UDP-galactose; guinea pig skin collagen minus glucose:UDP-glucose; fetuin minusN-acetylneuraminic acid, galactose:GDP-mannose. The E. coli glycosyltransferases utilizing exogenous acceptors were purified 49–226-fold with recoveries of 9–49% by centrifugation and successive column chromatography on Sephadex G-100 and G-200. This purification scheme separated the transferases entirely from their endogenous acceptors. These purified E. coli glycosyltransferases had optimum temperatures between 35° and 40° and pH between 7 and 8. Hydrolysis of the radioactivity transfered and chromatography of the product revealed that the monosaccharides were transferred without isomerization or epimerization. The enzymes were absolutely dependent on divalent cations for activity, Mn2+, Mg2+, and Co2+ being the most effective activators. Hg2+, Fe2+, Ba2+, and Cd2+ inhibited the E. coli glycoprotein glycosyltransferases. The transferases had an absolute dependence on the macromolecular glycoprotein acceptor, being specific for terminal monosaccharide and carbohydrate and amino acid sequence of the acceptor. Mono- and disaccharides were ineffective as acceptors.
The integration of dissimilar control architectures for mobile robot applications

This article discusses a dual architecture for autonomous mobile robots. The implementation application is an autonomous visual inspection system for waste stored in drums. We discuss the three main architectures commonly implemented on mobile robots. The various modules needed for the successful operation of a mobile robot are analyzed, and software and hardware requirements for each modules are noted. We make arguments as to which architecture is best suited for each component. From the results of this analysis, we propose a new dual architecture for autonomous mobile robots. Rather than developing a single hybrid architecture that has qualities of both behavioral and functional architectures, we have taken an approach that involves the integration of two distinct architectures. Next, we detail the implementation of the architecture of the robot, and the advantages of our architecture as it pertains to the integration of system components. System performance in the testing environment is discussed. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
An improved method for the synthesis of anomerically allylated C-glycopyranosides and C-glycofuranosides.

The reaction of glycosyl acetates with allyltrimethylsilane in the presence of zinc bromide has been investigated as a new method for C-glycoside construction.
Nurses' attitudes towards aggressive behaviour, following attendance at ‘The Prevention and Management of Aggressive Behaviour Programme’

The issue of aggression and violence is current in society. Recent reports indicate that this is not just an issue for society at large, but also for its organizations and institutions. The health care industry is not exception in this regard. Nursing, among other disciplines, has focused an increasing amount of attention on this problem for its members. This is evidenced by the increasing amount of literature on the topic. One feature of this writing is the study of programmes designed to train professionals in techniques to prevent and manage aggression and violence. To date, little attention has been paid to the evaluation of such programmes. In these times of economic difficulty, this position cannot be supported. This paper describes the study of one such educational programme. In this case the evaluation focused on the study of attitude change in participants following attendance at 'The Prevention and Management of Aggressive Behaviour Programme'. Although the indications are that the programme had a positive effect on attitudes, the author concludes that further study is required to illuminate the statistical significance of this positivity.
Expansion and hepatic differentiation of rat multipotent adult progenitor cells in microcarrier suspension culture

Many potential applications of stem cells require large quantities of cells, especially those involving large organs such as the liver. For such applications, a scalable reactor system is desirable to ensure a reliable supply of sufficient quantities of differentiation competent or differentiated cells. We employed a microcarrier culture system for the expansion of undifferentiated rat multipotent adult progenitor cells (rMAPC) as well as for directed differentiation of these cells to hepatocyte-like cells. During the 4-day expansion culture, cell concentration increased by 85-fold while expression level of pluripotency markers were maintained, as well as the MAPC differentiation potential. Directed differentiation into hepatocyte-like cells on the microcarriers themselves gave comparable results as observed with cells cultured in static cultures. The cells expressed several mature hepatocyte-lineage genes and asialoglycoprotein receptor-1 (ASGPR-1) surface protein, and secreted albumin and urea. Microcarrier culture thus offers the potential of large-scale expansion and differentiation of stem cells in a more controlled bioreactor environment.
Uses of biotechnology in modifying plant lipids

This review discusses fatty acid modification of oilseeds with additional emphasis on production of oxygenated derivatives. In a relatively short period, less than a decade, our understanding of the enzymes involved in plant fatty acid synthesis has increased to the point where we understand how they might be used in oilseed modification. Further, through modern molecular biological techniques, the actual genes for many of these important enzymes have been cloned. Use of genetic transformation systems has allowed us to fundamentally alter the normal biosynthetic pathways in highly specific ways, in manners that would be either difficult or impossible using traditional breeding techniques. Alteration of plant lipid biosynthesis is not restricted to using genes from the plants themselves, but interspecies transfer is possible, either from completely unrelated plant species (often of no commercial value but possessing unusual biochemical properties) or from animals, fungi, and prokaryotic organisms. In this way “designer” plants possessing altered metabolism, tailored to the interests or needs of certain industries, nutritionists, and the consumer can be created.
Laboratory tests for dentists.

Abstract Twenty-nine tests in laboratory hematology, blood chemistry, and urinalysis are presented; some, such as the red and white counts, hemoglobin, urinalysis, etc., are used routinely, but others are less frequently employed. No new concepts are offered, but an attempt has been made to present, in a condensed, practical form, laboratory tests that are specifically useful for dentists in office and hospital practice.
Heterogeneous conversion of nitric acid to nitrous acid on the surface of primary organic aerosol in an urban atmosphere

Abstract Nitrous acid (HONO), nitric acid (HNO3), and organic aerosol were measured simultaneously atop an 18-story tower in Houston, TX during August and September of 2006. HONO and HNO3 were measured using a mist chamber/ion chromatographic technique, and aerosol size and chemical composition were determined using an Aerodyne quadrupole aerosol mass spectrometer. Observations indicate the potential for a new HONO formation pathway: heterogeneous conversion of HNO3 on the surface of primary organic aerosol (POA). Significant HONO production was observed, with an average of 0.97 ppbv event−1 and a maximum increase of 2.2 ppb in 4 h. Nine identified events showed clear HNO3 depletion and well-correlated increases in both HONO concentration and POA-dominated aerosol surface area (SA). Linear regression analysis results in correlation coefficients (r2) of 0.82 for HONO/SA and 0.92 for HONO/HNO3. After correction for established HONO formation pathways, molar increases in excess HONO (HONOexcess) and decreases in HNO3 were nearly balanced, with an average HONOexcess/HNO3 value of 0.97. Deviations from this mole balance indicate that the residual HNO3 formed aerosol-phase nitrate. Aerosol mass spectral analysis suggests that the composition of POA could influence HONO production. Several previously identified aerosol-phase PAH compounds were enriched during events, suggesting their potential importance for heterogeneous HONO formation.
Nonlinear rheological behavior of diphenylmethylvinyl silicone gum: an example of homogeneous shear

The present work shows, based on an effective particle-tracking velocimetric (PTV) method, that a commercial diphenylmethylvinyl silicone gum displays nonlinear rheological responses to startup shear and large amplitude oscillatory shear (LAOS) in a homogeneous manner, in contrast to monodisperse melts. Using an effective cone-partitioned plate (CPP) setup along with PTV, rheological characterizations of shear thinning in continuous shear and strain softening in LAOS are carried out reliably without the inherent experimental complication associated with edge fracture. Conversely, based on the CPP, the rheological effects of edge fracture are also illustrated for both startup shear and LAOS.
Transcriptional control of human cytochrome P1-450 gene expression by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in human tissue culture cell lines

Abstract 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo- p -dioxin (TCDD) induces aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) activity and human cytochrome P 1 -450 mRNA in the human breast carcinoma MCF-7 and hepatoblastoma HepG 2 tissue culture cell lines. Although AHH activities induced by 100 n m TCDD are comparable in these cell lines, the EC 50 values for TCDD differ: EC 50 ≅ 1 n m for HepG 2 ; EC 50 > 20 n m for MCF-7. In order to determine the mechanism responsible for this difference in EC 50 , we have examined putative regulatory factors such as the intracellular TCDD receptor as well as the kinetics of mRNA transcription and accumulation in these cells. TCDD increases transcription of hP 1 450 mRNA in both MCF-7 and HepG 2 cells; however, MCF-7 cells require higher concentrations of TCDD to produce transcriptional activation comparable to that observed for HepG 2 cells. These data indicate that the difference in EC 50 is determined at an early step in the induction of hP 1 450 mRNA. With the use of a sensitive assay based on high-performance anion-exchange liquid chromatography, an intracellular protein which binds TCDD with high affinity was detected in HepG 2 cytosolic fractions but not in MCF-7 cells. Thus, the difference in EC 50 for TCDD can be correlated to the differences in TCDD binding. We postulate that MCF-7 cells contain a “defective” receptor with decreased affinity for TCDD.
Lamb and mutton flavour: Contributing factors and chemical aspects

Abstract A review of the occurrence and chemistry of lamb/mutton flavour is presented. The low consumption of both lamb and mutton has been attributed to the flavour of these meats. There is general agreement that the flavour of meat from younger animals is more desirable than that from older ones. Further, the flavour intensity of meat from wethers is less than that of ewes, less than rams. Breed appears to have an effect; mutton flavour is more predominant in the fine-wool breeds and is apparently directly related to the fineness of the wool. However, no significant sire effects within or between breeds have been reported. Nutritional factors appear to play a major role in the flavour intensity of sheep meat. Certain foodstuffs (legumes and grains) can intensify the flavour, whereas withdrawal of sheep from grazing before slaughter can reduce it. There is no reliable evidence to implicate slaughtering and processing factors (except heating) in flavour development. although the exact chemical compounds responsible for lamb/mutton flavour are not yet known, they are undoubtedly lipid soluble, with the carbonyl and/or sulphur-containing compounds as the most promising candidates. Further, there appears to be no consistent expression of a ‘characteristic’ lamb/mutton flavour.
Linking fatty acids in the diet and tissues to quality of larval southern flounder (Paralichthys lethostigma)

Abstract Essential fatty acids are necessary for growth, survival, and development of larval fishes, but there is limited information on the essential fatty acid requirements of larval southern flounder ( Paralichthys lethostigma ). The objectives of this study were to elucidate connections between dietary supply of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) and deposited fatty acids in the head and body, and then link diet and stored fatty acids in the head and body with larval quality traits. From 4–15 days posthatching (dph), southern flounder larvae were fed rotifers enriched with four different combinations of DHA-rich Algamac 3050 and ARA-rich Algamac ARA. Fatty acid concentrations in the head and body were measured at 15 dph, and relationships between fatty acids in head or body and in the diet were determined. Larval quality traits, including specific growth rate (SGR), survival, and eight behavioral performance variables were measured. Results showed that concentrations of DHA and ARA in the head and in the body were correlated with concentrations of DHA and ARA in the diet. Growth rate did not vary among the four diets, but survival was positively correlated with the amount of lipid in the diet. Responsiveness to a visual stimulus was positively correlated with the concentration of DHA in the diet, the ratio DHA:EPA in the head, and total energy content of the diet. Turning rate during routine swimming was correlated with body DHA. This study demonstrates the influence of DHA content, total lipid content, and energy levels in the diet of southern flounder and provides a foundation for future studies examining causal factors of recruitment variability or larviculture production success.
Core Rearrangement and Hartree-Fock Ionization Energies

The energy to strip all the valence electrons from an atom consists not only of the one-electron valence energies minus \textonehalf{} the valence-electron-valence-electron interaction energy but also contains a contribution from the rearrangement of the core electrons upon ionization. Although this is a second-order contribution, it is second order in the core energy and therefore not necessarily negligible compared with valence energies. We have therefore made self-consistent Hartree-Fock calculations for Li, ${\mathrm{Li}}^{+}$, Be, ${\mathrm{Be}}^{++}$, Mg, and ${\mathrm{Mg}}^{++}$, computing separately for each electron its kinetic energy, nuclear Coulomb energy, core-electron Coulomb energy, valence-electron Coulomb energy, core-electron exchange energy, and valence-electron exchange energy. In Li and Be, core rearrangement decreased the ionization energy by less than 0.0001 Ry. In Mg, the $s$-core electron rearrangement increased the ionization energy by 0.1134 Ry while the $p$-core electron rearrangement decreased it by 0.1156 Ry for a total decrease of 0.0022 Ry.
Energy-Saving in Optical Data Center Networks

In recent years, with the rapid expansion of network scale and types of applications, cloud computing and virtualization technology have been widely used in the data centers, providing a fast, flexible and convenient service. However, energy efficiency has increased dramatically. The problem of energy consumption has been widespread concern around the world. In this paper, we study the energy-saving in optical data center networks. First, we summarize the traditional methods of energy-saving and meanwhile reveal that the predominant energy consuming resources are the servers installed in the data centers. Then we present the server virtualization technologies based on Virtual Machines (VMs) that have been used widely to reduce energy consumption of servers. Results show server consolidation based on VM migration can efficiently reduce the overall energy consumption compared with traditional energy-saving approaches by reducing energy consumption of the entire network infrastructure in data center networks. For future work, we will study server consolidation based on VM migration in actual environment and address QoS requirements and access latency.
Two-Dimensional Crystallization of Streptavidin Mutants

Many applications motivate investigations of the physical factors governing protein assembly in two dimensions, including two-dimensional (2D) protein crystallization for complex structural analyse...
Infinitesimal extensions of ℙ1 and their Hilbert schemes

In order to calculate the multiplicity of an isolated rational curve C on a local complete intersection variety X, i.e. the length of the local ring of the Hilbert Scheme of X at [C], it is important to study infinitesimal neighborhoods of the curve in X. This is equivalent to infinitesimal extensions of ℙ1 by locally free sheaves. In this paper we study infinitesimal extensions of ℙ1, determine their structure and obtain upper and lower bounds for the length of the local rings of their Hilbert schemes at [ℙ1].