cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin-a on the synthesis and secretion of proteins in isolated rat pancreatic acini

Exposure of isolated rat dispersed pancreatic acini to increasing concentrations (10 to 1000 ng/ml) of purified exotoxin-A from Pseudomonas aeruginosa resulted in a progressive inhibition of 3H-leucine incorporation into “cellular” (those remaining in the cells) and “secretory” (those released into the medium) proteins. With each concentration of exotoxin-A, magnitude of reduction was found to be greater for the “secretory” proteins than that observed for the “cellular” proteins. Thus, in the presence of 250 ng/ml of exotoxin-A, a dose that produced maximal inhibition in protein synthesis, 3H-leucine incorporation into “cellular” and “secretory” proteins was found to be decreased by about 19 and 50%, respectively, when compared with the corresponding basal controls. Release of trypsinogen, chymotrypsinogen and amylase from the isolated pancreatic acini was also inhibited by high doses of exotoxin-A. However, whereas the exotoxin concentration of 1000 ng/ml, caused a near complete inhibition of chymotrypsinogen release, trypsinogen and amylase secretion were decreased by 40 and 50%, respectively. It is concluded that in isolated pancreatic acini, exotoxin-A inhibits the synthesis and secretion of proteins.
Mucosal decisions: tolerance and responsiveness at mucosal surfaces.

The primary focus of the entire immune system on protecting the mucosal surfaces – consisting mainly of the oro-gastrointestinal, respiratory, and genital tracts – is now beyond dispute and widely recognized. The evidence is clearly seen in the distribution of lymphoid cells throughout the body, the majority of these cells being found in the intestinal tract and other mucosal surfaces which are exposed to the external environment and subject to colonization by a huge variety of microorganisms (Pabst et al., 2008). In addition, IgA is by far the most abundantly produced immunoglobulin (Ig) isotype in the human body, accounting for approximately two-thirds of all Ig production. Altogether, synthesis of IgA amounts to some 5-10 g/day, of which the majority is secretory IgA (S-IgA; Russell, 2007). Thus the immune system deploys its resources according to where the threats to health mainly arise, and most infections directly afflict or invade through the oral cavity, and the gastrointestinal, respiratory, and genital tracts. However, the mucosal immune system faces a dilemma, because most of the foreign antigenic material present especially in the gastrointestinal tract consists of food as well as a huge number of microorganisms comprising the commensal microbiota amounting to an estimated 1014 cells of probably thousands of different species. Thus, it must distinguish not only between self and non-self, but also between the mass of harmless food antigens, commensals many of which are beneficial, and potentially dangerous pathogens. Considerable strides have been made in recent years in comprehending the mechanisms responsible for responsiveness or conversely non-responsiveness
The function of dog models in developing gene therapy strategies for human health

The domestic dog is of great benefit to humankind, not only through companionship and working activities cultivated through domestication and selective breeding, but also as a model for biomedical research. Many single-gene traits have been well-characterized at the genomic level, and recent advances in whole-genome association studies will allow for better understanding of complex, multigenic hereditary diseases. Additionally, the dog serves as an invaluable large animal model for assessment of novel therapeutic agents. Thus, the dog has filled a crucial step in the translation of basic research to new treatment regimens for various human diseases. Four well-characterized diseases in canine models are discussed as they relate to other animal model availability, novel therapeutic approach, and extrapolation to human gene therapy trials.
Nonword Repetition by Children With Cochlear Implants: Accuracy Ratings From Normal-Hearing Listeners

Seventy-six children with cochlear implants completed a nonword repetition task. The children were presented with 20 nonword auditory patterns over a loud-speaker and were asked to repeat them alou...
Stability and extremality in j⊘rgensen's inequality

(1989). Stability and extremality in j⊘rgensen's inequality. Complex Variables, Theory and Application: An International Journal: Vol. 12, No. 1-4, pp. 277-282.
Efficacy of low-voltage AC for inactivating surface adherent Escherichia coli O157:H7 on beef

Experiments were conducted using low-voltage alternating current (AC) to inactivate surface adherent Escherichia coli O157:H7 on beef samples. Beef samples (25 × 25 × 25 mm) were inoculated with E. coli and placed in sodium chloride solution which served as an electrolyte. Electrical current (AC) was applied to the beef samples. Frequencies of 1, 10, and 100 kHz and current intensities of 300 mA (15 mA/cm 2 ), 600 mA (30 mA/cm 2 ), and 900 mA (45 mA/cm 2 ) at treatment durations of 2, 8, and 16 min were investigated. A 2.15 log 10 reduction was achieved using a 16 min treatment time with 900 mA (45 mA/cm 2 ) current intensity and 1 kHz frequency.
The power of four tests of autocorrelation in the linear regression model

Abstract The power of each of four tests of first-order autocorrelation in the linear regression model is determined for a simple and multiple regression model whose parameters are presumed to be known. The tests are: Durbin-Watson bounds test, a test based on Theil's best linear unbiased scalar estimator, a test devised by Abrahamse, Koerts and Louter, and an exact test devised by Durbin. For positive values of the coefficient of autocorrelation the Durbin-Watson bounds test is generally better than the tests based on the estimator proposed by Abrahamse, Koerts and Louter, the best linear unbiased scalar estimator, and the Durbin exact test. For negative values of the coefficient of autocorrelation, the pattern of results is mixed for all four test procedures. A byproduct of these experiments is the demonstrated feasibility of enumerating the distribution of the Durbin-Watson test statistic for any regression matrix and thus eliminating the region of indeterminacy from the Durbin-Watson test procedure.
Male-specific expression of the paralog of malaria transmission-blocking target antigen Pfs230, PfB0400w

Malaria transmission requires that Plasmodium parasites circulating in the vertebrate host develop into male and female gametocytes, which are then taken up by a mosquito to undergo fertilization and further development into infectious sporozoites. To understand the malaria specific events involved in this process, the gene products involved require identification and characterization. This work demonstrates that antibodies generated against the paralog of malaria transmission-blocking antigen Pfs230, PfB0400w, react only with stage V male gametocytes, not gametes or asexual parasites. In contrast, Pfs230 is expressed on the surface of all gametocytes and remains associated with emerged gametes as one of the primary surface antigens for several hours. Consistent with the localization findings, a high molecular weight band is recognized by anti-PfB0400w antibodies on western blots of extracts of late stage gametocytes, not asexual parasites, early (stage II/III) gametocytes, or gametes. PfB0400w mRNA is also not observed in asexual parasites. The transcript levels peak in stage III/IV gametocytes, then sharply decline in gametes. This work identifies a novel male-specific protein with an expression pattern that is distinctly different than its paralog.
Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography. Concepts, Instrumentation, and Applications – Part 2: Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography

The writer of this review published in 1978 a three-part article on two-dimensional gas chromatography in the first three issues of this journal [1]. The review was written at a time when capillary column GC was still in its infancy. Commercial columns were (essentially) unavailable and sample introduction into capillary columns was done exclusively in the split mode. Two-dimensional separations were explored in only a few laboratories. The limitations of capillary column technology made this exercise rather difficult. The introduction of fused silica capillary columns in the early eighties drastically changed the landscape in which gas chromatography was practiced. It took the chromatographic community just a few years to convert from packed columns to capillary columns. Instrumentation and accessories specifically designed for capillary column use came onto the market. This writer had great hopes that the revolution in capillary column GC would be mirrored in the development of instrumentation for Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography. This never materialized. On the contrary, tentative steps taken by a few manufacturers and suppliers of chromatographic equipment fizzled out. It was perhaps the introduction of relatively inexpensive and user friendly GC/MS instrumentation, in combination with nearly indestructible fused silica capillary columns that took away the incentive to develop commercially viable Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography. Much of the thinking went like this: why insist on good chromatography if mass spectrometry can do the job without the need of complete separation. Some progress in the further development of conventional Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography has certainly been made over the last 20 years but there has not been a great deal of excitement. Applications have also been relatively sparse and they are limited to just a few areas. Science does not remain static and chromatography is no exception. Progress in gas chromatography is driven by new technology and ideas. Substantial improvements in two-dimensional GC were not forthcoming until Phillips and his research group introduced and implemented an entirely new form of Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography, called comprehensive GC x GC. This breakthrough occurred only in 1991 [2]. It does take some time before scientists change attitudes and habits. There is always a time lag between the introduction of new technology and its general acceptance. The public's attitude toward comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography is probably no exception. The number of scientists who are actively pursuing this new branch of gas chromatography is still very small. It is often a single individual who carries the torch. J.B. Phillips' name is synonymous with comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography. He is not only its inventor and proponent but his fertile mind has initiated research in other related areas. Sadly, he passed aware shortly before this review was written. This contribution is dedicated to his memory.
Suppression of summer patch by rhizosphere competent bacteria and their establishment on Kentucky bluegrass

Abstract Several hundred bacteria isolated from the turfgrass rhizosphere were evaluated for the suppression of summer patch, caused by the fungus, Magnaporthe poae , and for rhizosphere competence on Kentucky bluegrass cv. Baron. Three isolates, identified as Pseudomonas sp. 105-2, Comamonas acidovorans HF42 and Enterobacter sp. BF14, significantly suppressed summer patch symptoms compared to untreated control plants in a greenhouse-growth chamber assay. All three were present in populations greater than log5 cfu g −1 f.w. turfgrass rhizosphere 2 wk after application. The three isolates established and maintained detectable populations in turfgrass when repeatedly applied to field plots during the summer months of 1992, 1993 and 1994. Strains were detected in field turfgrass samples that consisted of thatch, root and soil at up to 10 3 –10 4 cfu g −1 f.w. sample. Populations of the three isolates were higher in the rhizosphere than in the turf thatch layer when compared on a g −1 sample basis. In 1994, pathogen-inoculated field plots treated with the C. acidovorans HF42 or Pseudomonas sp. 105-2 significantly reduced summer patch symptoms compared to untreated controls.
A regression model approach to enable cell morphology correction in high‐throughput flow cytometry

Cells exposed to stimuli exhibit a wide range of responses ensuring phenotypic variability across the population. Such single cell behavior is often examined by flow cytometry; however, gating procedures typically employed to select a small subpopulation of cells with similar morphological characteristics make it difficult, even impossible, to quantitatively compare cells across a large variety of experimental conditions because these conditions can lead to profound morphological variations. To overcome these limitations, we developed a regression approach to correct for variability in fluorescence intensity due to differences in cell size and granularity without discarding any of the cells, which gating ipso facto does. This approach enables quantitative studies of cellular heterogeneity and transcriptional noise in high-throughput experiments involving thousands of samples. We used this approach to analyze a library of yeast knockout strains and reveal genes required for the population to establish a bimodal response to oleic acid induction. We identify a group of epigenetic regulators and nucleoporins that, by maintaining an ‘unresponsive population,' may provide the population with the advantage of diversified bet hedging.
The “People” Factor in Cooperatives: An Analysis of Members' Attitudes and Behavior

Members' attitudes and perceptions play a significant role in their behavior toward their organization and the performance of such organizations. This study examines the role of these “people” factors in a sample of fruit and vegetable growers' cooperatives in the Mid-Atlantic United States. Although the Theory of Planned Behavior is used as the framework of analysis, the objective of this study was not to test the theory. Study findings provide additional insights into how cooperative members' beliefs and knowledge may shape their attitudes and the consequent behavior. Given the gradual decline of both cooperative memberships and the number of cooperatives in the United States and other countries, a good understanding of members' attitudes and behaviors is necessary because a cooperative's success may depend on it. Les attitudes et les perceptions des membres d'une cooperative jouent un role important dans le comportement envers l'organisme et la performance de ce dernier. La presente etude a examine le role de ces facteurs ≪humains≫ dans un echantillon de cooperatives de producteurs de fruits et legumes dans les Etats du centre du littoral atlantique. Bien que la theorie du comportement axe sur un objectif ait ete utilisee comme cadre d'analyse, l'objectif de l'etude ne consistait pas a tester la theorie. Les resultats de l'etude ont fourni des eclaircissements supplementaires sur la facon dont les croyances et les connaissances des membres d'une cooperative peuvent faconner leurs attitudes et leur comportement subsequent. Compte tenu du declin progressif du nombre de membres de cooperative et du nombre de cooperatives aux Etats-Unis et dans d'autres pays, il est important de bien comprendre les attitudes et les comportements des membres puisque le succes d'une cooperative peut en dependre.
The Fundamental Basis for Cyclopolymerization. III. A Spectroscopic Study of Dimethacrylamides

Abstract The purpose of this investigation was to prepare suitable solid 1,6-dienes and the corresponding monoenes and to compare their UV and NMR spectra. A comparison of their polymerization characteristics will be reported in the succeeding paper of this series. The compounds chosen for this study were dimethacrylamide, N-isobutyrylmethacrylamide, and their N-methyl and N-phenyl derivatives. Since the dimethacryl derivatives are solids at room temperature, they are suitable monomers for solid-state polymerization studies, the results of which could lead to significant conclusions regarding the fundamental basis for cyclopolymerization. A previously postulated electronic interaction between the neighboring double bonds of the dienes should be detectable when their UV spectra are compared with their monoene counterparts. The UV spectra of the N-isobutyrylmethacrylamides and dimethacrylamides were compared with the spectra of the related di-isobutyramides, methacrylamides, and isobutyramides. The spectra ...
Phenobarbital Metabolism in the Lactating Dairy Cow

Abstract Two Holstein cows were used to study the metabolism and excretion of phenobarbital in the lactating cow. Each cow received 6 g of sodium phenobarbital, intrarumenally, daily for 10 days. On the 10th day carbon 14 phenobarbital was mixed with the unlabeled material prior to dosing. Total milk, urine, and feces were collected for 6 days, and about 93% of the recovered radioactivity was in urine, 5% in milk, and 2% in feces. The biological half-lives of phenobarbital for milk, urine, and feces were 40.5, 29.5, and 46.5 h. From these values we calculated that 7 days after the last 6-g dose of phenobarbital the milk produced would contain less than .5 ppm of this compound. A second study determined how long after withdrawal from phenobarbital feeding the drug could be detected in milk. Three Holstein cows received 6 g of sodium phenobarbital, intrarumenally, daily for 10 days. Starting on the 11th day milk samples were collected at each milking and analyzed for phenobarbital by gas liquid chromatography and spectrophotometrically. After 7 days withdrawal, phenobarbital could not be detected in milk by either method.
The experimental versus the pragmatic paradigm: Summary and conclusions

Abstract In this article I review and draw conclusions from the use of the experimental and pragmatic paradigms in the six case studies presented in this Special Feature section. First, the studies are summarized in terms of the paradigms. They are then analyzed using the conceptual matrix presented in Table 3 of my introductory article to this section. This matrix looks at a study paradigmatically in terms of two cross-cutting dimensions: (a) type of study result with regard to paradigm mix and (b) areas of impact of the paradigm mix, such as the study's theory, data collection methodology, and the relationship the study has to those who funded it. This analysis illustrates two points: (a) The experimental and pragmatic paradigms have different goals that are frequently in competition for the same study resources, (b) The paradigms can function in a fully complementary manner only when there are (as in the Elias study) an explicit and systematic conceptual model for interrelating the two types of goals and a strategy for attaining resources to accomplish both. It is concluded that in planning an evaluation study, researchers should pay attention not only to a program's substantive goals, but also to its epistemological goals—those of both the researchers themselves and the study 's funders and other stakeholders.
A Dislocation Mechanism for Cryogenic Relaxations in Crystalline Polymers

The experimental properties of the δc-relaxation observed in polyethylene, poly(oxymethylene), and poly(ethylene terephthalate) at about 50°K are reviewed. A mechanism is proposed involving the thermally activated redistribution of kinks along a discontinuous dislocation under an applied stress. The activation energy and relaxation intensity are discussed with reference to specific chain conformations in the dislocation. It is suggested that the kinked dislocations arise from external stresses transferred to the crystalline or ordered regions of the polymer possibly via tie molecules. These stresses are greatest in deformed material or material annealed under constraint and accounts for the increase in peak height observed in these specimens.
Transit of Venus: Last chance to see

The June 2012 transit of Venus across the Sun offers an opportunity to check our methods for spotting distant planets crossing far-away stars, says Jay M. Pasachoff.
Metaphor, analogy, and system: A reply to burbidge

There are a number of legitimate reasons for replying to one's critics, some of which might appear to be merely polemical or self protective. For example, a reviewer might have misunderstood important d o c trines that require restatement if their truth is to be adequately appraised and if the philosophical position in which they are embedded is to be related with sufficient subtlety to the philosophical tradition. A commentator might also have proposed misleading alternatives to one's position that require philosophical appraisal from the very standpoint they misunderstand and are intended to displace. Or perhaps a critic might have introduced distortions of one's views that require correction, not only in the interest of truth, but in the interest of justice as well. However, the most important reason for responding to philosophical objections is to advance the discussion of the fundamental questions to which philosophy must always be directed. It is only if a response is written for this reason that it can transcend the personal or historical contexts in which reflection always occurs and can refocus the attention of the philosophical community upon the basic task to which we ought to be committed. In his recent review of my book, The Quest for Wholeness, John Burbidge summarizes the basic intention of my project in three stages, all of which he formulates with precision and clarity. In the first place, he acknowledges the fact that the human quest for wholeness begins with fragmentation; that it attempts to move beyond its limitations; and that though reflection is required in making this transition, the quest itself can never be satisfied by merely theoretical abstractions. As he formulates the point, a philosophical account of the quest for wholeness "must be both offered and justified"; on the other hand, "it should not fall prey to universal assertions, ignoring our limitations and our diversity." For this reason, I develop the view that the
Streptococcus pyogenes outbreak in a long-term care facility

Background: Although outbreaks involving Streptococcus pyogenes have been uncommon among the elderly population, recent reports suggest that this organism is an important nosocomial pathogen among institutionalized older patients and carries significant morbidity and mortality. An outbreak of S. pyogenes , type M12, T12, occurred in a large long-term care institution serving the ill and chronically disabled. The outbreak involved 14 residents of the intermediate care facility and lasted for 4 months. Methods: A prospective epidemiologic investigation was initiated at the onset of the outbreak. Pertinent clinical and demographic information regarding both residents and personnel was obtained by interview, review of medical and surveillance records, and examination of patients for lesions. Cultures were obtained within 24 hours of symptom onset from those with characteristic clinical symptoms. Unpaired convalescent sera were tested for group A streptococcal extracellular antigens by a rapid hemagluttination slide test. Control measures included active surveillance of residents and staff for suspicious clinical syndromes, transfer of high-risk patients, elimination of a common seating area, and improved handwashing and hygiene measures. Results: The attack rate was 7.5%, with 64.3% of these patients residing on one unit. S. pyogenes was isolated from eight residents, 5 residents had a characteristic syndrome and an elevated streptozyme hemagglutination titer of 400, and 1 resident died within hours of having cellulitis of the groin. Clinical syndromes included cellulitis, pharyngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and septicemia. Seven residents required acute care; two residents died within 3 weeks of the onset, yielding a case fatality rate of 14.3%. Conclusions: The major means of transmission appeared to be direct contact between residents, although transmission from an infected staff member may have accounted for some cases. The hypothesis of long-term colonization was supported by the extended times between infections. The severity of illness and the apparent transmission through direct contact between residents warrants (1) early detection of infected lesions, (2) recognition of invasive illness, (3) prompt effective treatment, and (4) surveillance for S. pyogenes infections among residents and personnel.
Linear time series models for term weighting in information retrieval

Common measures of term importance in information retrieval (IR) rely on counts of term frequency; rare terms receive higher weight in document ranking than common terms receive. However, realistic scenarios yield additional information about terms in a collection. Of interest in this article is the temporal behavior of terms as a collection changes over time. We propose capturing each term's collection frequency at discrete time intervals over the lifespan of a corpus and analyzing the resulting time series. We hypothesize the collection frequency of a weakly discriminative term x at time t is predictable by a linear model of the term's prior observations. On the other hand, a linear time series model for a strong discriminators' collection frequency will yield a poor fit to the data. Operationalizing this hypothesis, we induce three time-based measures of term importance and test these against state-of-the-art term weighting models. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Cellular response to phase-separated blends of tyrosine-derived polycarbonates.

Two-dimensional thin films consisting of homopolymer and discrete compositional blends of tyrosine-derived polycarbonates were prepared and characterized in an effort to elucidate the nature of different cell responses that were measured in vitro. The structurally similar blends were found to phase separate after annealing with domain sizes dependent on the overall composition. The thin polymer films were characterized with the use of atomic force microscopy (AFM), water contact angles, and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) and significant changes in roughness were measured following the annealing process. Genetic expression profiles of interleukin-1β and fibronectin in MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts and RAW 264.7 murine macrophages were measured at several time points, demonstrating the time and composition-dependent nature of the cell responses. Real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) depicted upregulation of the fibronectin gene copy numbers in each of the blends relative to the homopolymers. Moreover, the interleukin-1β expression profile was found to be compositionally dependent. The data suggest strongly that optimal composition and processing conditions can significantly affect the acute inflammatory and extracellular matrix production responses. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2006
Hortatory Discourse and Psalm 96

Discourse analysis has been applied to numerous narrative texts in the Hebrew Bible, yet its use with poetic texts remains infrequent. This study tests the thesis that hortatory discourse in poetic texts resembles and reflects the structures of hortatory discourse present within narrative material. Frequently the word order and construction of lines within Hebrew poetry have been attributed to poetic style, free variation, or rhetorical structure, among other suggestions, yet this analysis of Psalm 96 suggests that word order may be explained based on the discourse employed in the psalm.
A Fully Monolithic 6H-SiC JFET-Based Transimpedance Amplifier for High-Temperature Capacitive Sensing

This paper introduces a high-temperature fully monolithic high gain-bandwidth 6H-SiC transimpedance amplifier for capacitive sensor interfacing. The amplifier achieves a gain of 235 kΩ and a bandwidth of 0.61 MHz at room temperature. Results from the proof-of-concept measurements performed with variable capacitors demonstrate the functionality of differential capacitive sensing across a wide temperature range, up to 450 °C. The amplifier also exhibits a stable gain with respect to power supply variations. At elevated temperatures, the amplifier exhibits increasing gain with decreasing bandwidth, as expected. At 450 °C, the gain and bandwidth are 774 kΩ and 0.17 MHz, respectively. This is the first report that demonstrates the capacitive sensing capability of a SiC transimpedance amplifier, and represents a critical step toward the goal of integrating a sensing element with its interface circuit in a single monolithic device for operation at extreme temperatures.
Stochastic models of cascading failures

What is a ‘cascading failure’? Whilst most people have an intuitive idea of what is meant by cascading, no definition exists within the framework of reliability theory. The aim of this paper is to explore the field of component dependence within a network structure, and to construct a definition of cascading failure.
Probabilistic Indoor Tracking of Mobile Wireless Nodes Relative to Landmarks

The profile-based approach is known to be advantageous when it comes to inferring positions of mobile wireless devices in complex indoor environments. The past decade has seen a significant body of work that explores different implementations of this approach, with varying degrees of success. Here, we cast the profile-based approach in a probabilistic framework. Launching from the theoretical basis that this framework provides, we provide a suite of carefully designed methods that make use of sophisticated computations in pursuit of high localization accuracy with low hardware investment and moderate set-up cost. More specifically, we use full distributional information on signal measurements at a set of discrete locations, termed landmarks. Positioning of a mobile node is done relative to the resulting landmark graph and the node can be found near a landmark or in the area between two landmarks. Key elements of our approach include profiling the signal measurement distributions over the coverage area using a special interpolation technique; a two-tier statistical positioning scheme that improves efficiency by adding movement detection; and joint clusterhead placement optimization for both localization and movement detection. The proposed system is practical and has been implemented using standard wireless sensor network hardware. Experimentally, our system achieved an accuracy equivalent to less than \(5\) m with a \(95\,\%\) success probability and less than \(3\) m with an \(87\,\%\) success probability. This performance is superior to well-known contemporary systems that use similar low-cost hardware.
Theoretical and practical advances in genome halving

Motivation: Duplication of an organism's entire genome is a rare but spectacular event, enabling the rapid emergence of multiple new gene functions. Over time, the parallel linkage of duplicated genes across chromosomes may be disrupted by reciprocal translocations, while the intra-chromosomal order of genes may be shuffled by inversions and transpositions. Some duplicate genes may evolve unrecognizably or be deleted. As a consequence, the only detectable signature of an ancient duplication event in a modern genome may be the presence of various chromosomal segments containing parallel paralogous genes, with each segment appearing exactly twice in the genome. The problem of reconstructing the linkage structure of an ancestral genome before duplication is known as genome halving with unordered chromosomes. Results: In this paper, we derive a new upper bound on the genome halving distance that is tighter than the best known, and a new lower bound that is almost always tighter than the best known. We also define the notion of genome halving diameter, and obtain both upper and lower bounds for it. Our tighter bounds on genome halving distance yield a new algorithm for reconstructing an ancestral duplicated genome. We create a software package GenomeHalving based on this new algorithm and test it on the yeast genome, identifying a sequence of translocations for halving the yeast genome that is shorter than previously conjectured possible. Availability:GenomeHalving is available upon email request. Contact:py@cs.duke.edu; amink@cs.duke.edu
Hormonal control of deoxyribonucleic Acid and protein syntheses in pea root cortical explants.

The hormonal control of DNA and protein syntheses in cortical explants taken at 10 to 11 mm from the tip of 3-day-old seedling roots (Pisum sativum cv. Little Marvel) was examined. On the auxin medium, S2M, the cortical cells began to enlarge at day 4 in culture, with no DNA synthesis or cell division throughout the 7-day culture period. With the addition of kinetin to this medium, S2M + K, the DNA content of the explants increased about three times by day 3, with further increases thereafter. This DNA increase was followed by cell division activity and subsequent tracheary element differentiation initiated at day 5. At least two divisions per parent cortical cell were required prior to this cytodifferentiation. The absolute hormonal requirements for the DNA synthesis and cell division responses were substantiated by the lack of either response in explants cultured on basal (S2M medium minus auxins) or basal + K medium for 7 days. On the auxin medium, there was no protein accumulation in the cortical explants over the 7-day period. On S2M + K medium, protein accumulation began after day 2 with a steady rate of increase until day 4, and some fluctuation thereafter. The pattern of increasing uptake of (14)C-leucine was similar for days 0 to 4 in explants on either medium. After day 4 on S2M, the uptake continued to increase coincident with cell enlargement initiation, whereas on S2M + K there was a decline. Incorporation of (14)C-leucine into trichloroacetic acid-precipitates of the total buffered homogenate from explants on both media exhibited a similar pattern, i.e. an increase during days 0 to 3 and then a decline to a level about three times higher than day 0. Incorporation into the homogenate soluble fraction also showed a similar pattern in explants cultured with or without kinetin. From the differences in net protein accumulation and the incorporation data, speculation on a cytokinin effect on protein synthesis and degradation rates is presented.
Oral lesions in niacin, riboflavin, pyridoxine, folic acid, and pantothenic acid deficiencies in adult dogs

Abstract Pantothenic acid deficiency in dogs is accompanied by glossitis characterized by a decrease in the size of filiforms and slight hypertrophy of the fungiforms. The lesions may not be pronounced enough to allow their detection by the unaided eye. Small atrophic areas may be present. The degenerative changes are restricted to epithelium which shows poor differentiation, lack of keratinization, and increased parakeratosis. The nerves may undergo degeneration.
Automated measurement and segmentation of abdominal adipose tissue in MRI

Obesity has become widespread in America and has been identified as a risk factor for many illnesses. Measuring adipose tissue (AT) with traditional means is often unreliable and inaccurate. MRI provides a safe and minimally invasive means to measure AT accurately and segment visceral AT from subcutaneous AT. However, MRI is often corrupted by image artifacts which make manual measurements difficult and time consuming. We present a fully automated method to measure and segment abdominal AT in MRI. Our method uses non-parametric non-uniform intensity normalization (N3) to correct for image artifacts and inhomogeneities, fuzzy c-means to cluster AT regions and active contour models to separate subcutaneous and visceral AT. Our method was able to measure images with severe intensity inhomogeneities and demonstrated agreement with two manual users that was close to the agreement between the manual users.
A 5-Year Follow-Up of Reading-Comprehension Achievement of Hearing-Impaired Students in Special Education Programs:

Reading comprehension was assessed in 1974 and again in 1979 for 1,664 hearing-impaired students enrolled in special education programs across the United States. The Special Edition for Hearing Impaired Students of the 1973 Stanford Achievement Test, an adaptation of the regular edition of the Stanford but with identical items and subtest structure, was used to assess students' achievement both years. The major research question concerned the relative importance for achievement growth of the most salient handicapping characteristics of the population (specifically, the degree of hearing loss and the presence of any additional, educationally significant handicaps) compared with basic student demographic characteristics, such as race, age, and sex. A repeated-measures statistical analysis' of the data indicated that the growth in reading achievement of the typical hearing-impaired student over a 5-year period was approximately one-third that of the average hearing student. In addition, degree of hearing los...
Management of natural Kentucky bluegrass-white clover pasture

Management recommendations are needed f or low-input (no N fertilizer) Kentucky bluegrass-dominant/white clover swards, particularly to increase or maintain white clover content. We applied treatments involving different amounts of forage present pre- and postgrazing, with and without harrowing and soil aeration, to a well-established, naturally seeded pasture grazed by dairy cows. Pregrazing dry matter was 2350 or 2700 kg/ha (about 10 or 15 cm tall). Postgrazing dry matter was 1100 or 1575 kg/ha (about 2.5 or 5 cm tall). The sward was composed mainly of Kentucky bluegrass, orchardgrass, quackgrass, timothy, white clover, dandelion, and chicory. Soil aeration and harrowing did not affect botanical composition, plant components, or forage yield. Pre- and postgrazing mass (total forage dry matter per unit area) did not affect botanical composition or plant components, but did influence total forage yield. White clover tended to increase under all pasture-mass treatments. During the second year the lowest postgraz- ing mass produced the most forage (mean: 6685 kg DM/ha). Forage quality of all treatments was excellent (seasonal means: 26% crude protein; 1.6 Meal net energy lactation/kg DM).
Roles of BMP signaling and Nkx2.5 in patterning at the chick midgut-foregut boundary

Patterning of the gut into morphologically distinct regions results from the appropriate factors being expressed in strict spatial and temporal patterns to assign cells their fates in development. Often, the boundaries of gene expression early in development correspond to delineations between different regions of the adult gut. For example, Bmp4 is expressed throughout the hindgut and midgut, but is not expressed in the early gizzard. Ectopic BMP4 in the gizzard caused a thinning of the muscularis. To understand this phenotype we examined the expression of the receptors transducing BMP signaling during gut development. We find that the BMP receptors are differentially expressed in distinct regions of the chicken embryonic gut. By using constitutively activated versions of the BMP type I receptors, we find that the BMP receptors act similarly to BMP4 in the gizzard when ectopically expressed. We show that the mesodermal thinning seen upon ectopic BMP signaling is due to an increase in apoptosis and a decrease in proliferation within the gizzard mesoderm. The mesodermal thinning is characterized by a disorganization and lack of differentiation of smooth muscle in the gizzard mesoderm. Further, ectopic BMP receptors cause an upregulation of Nkx2.5, the pyloric sphincter marker, similar to that seen with ectopic BMP4. This upregulation of Nkx2.5 is a cell-autonomous event within the mesoderm of the gizzard. We also find that Nkx2.5 is necessary and sufficient for establishing aspects of pyloric sphincter differentiation.
Impacting Community Sustainability through Behavior Change: A Research Framework

The need for “sustainability” has encouraged a variety of disciplines to weigh in on ways to reduce the impact of a given community on the environment around it. Approaches can range from changing the behavior of a few people to completely restructuring the communities in which people live. Interventions in the larger system of a community provide potential for larger levels of change. How to do this has yet to be fully evaluated, especially from the perspective of people’s behavior interacting within a community environment. Individual level interventions in the behavior analysis literature provide many interventions, such as contingency management programs and empirically evaluated “kernels” (Embry & Biglan, 2008) across various populations and behaviors. The current paper argues that these provide a starting point for working with other sciences to change the environment, impact the cultural practices of people in the community, and promote sustainability. A snapshot of the current literature is provided along with various models for application of these interventions to larger communities.
A three‐dimensional transmission line with coplanar waveguide features

A new type of coplanar-like transmission line is presented based on using the available third dimension to extend the surface area of the center conductor and ground planes. A prototype 3D coplanar line was fabricated using polydimethylsiloxane as the substrate material. Experimental and full-wave electromagnetic simulation results confirm the structure's viability as a low loss, reduced phase velocity microwave waveguide that also has good dispersion characteristics. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 48: 2189 -2192, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.21881
Chlorine Dioxide Inactivation of Bacillus and Clostridium Spores

Bacillus cereus T and F4810/72, B. stearothermophilus ATCC 1518, and Clostridium perfringens NCTC 8798 spore inactivation by 20, 50, and 80 mg chlorine dioxide (ClO2)/L at three pH values (4.5, 6.5, 8.5) were evaluated. ClO2 concentration, species and sporulation medium significantly (p < 0.001) affect spore sensitivity. B. cereus T sporulated in Modified G medium and B. stearothermophilus ATCC 1518 are similarly ClO2 sensitive, and each is significantly more sensitive than Fortified Nutrient Agar-sporulated B. cereus T and F4810/72. The Bacillus spore populations are more ClO2 sensitive than C. perfringens spore populations. Treatment pH affects C. perfringens but not Bacillus inactivation. Spores lacking intact coats are significantly more ClO2 sensitive than the strains with coats intact.
Designing ex-post assessment of corporate RDI policies: conceptualisation, indicators and modelling

This paper discusses different aspects related to the ex-post assessment of the effect of R&D and innovation (RDI) policies. To this end, the paper puts forward a comprehensive 'conceptual framework' where agents' behaviours, factors affecting their decisions, and quantitative (econometric) methods for impact evaluation are linked together and analysed. In particular, this work puts forward the following issues: 1 a generalised RDI investment model for explaining the potential occurrence of subsidy success (i.e., additionality) 2 a logical framework for the functioning of a project-funding RDI policy, rooted in the policy-cycle approach 3 the identification of the main factors driving the actors' behaviour, expressed through interconnected behavioural relations 4 a list of critical aspects regarding the design of public support to RDI, which need to be better addressed in future work to reach more reliable conclusions on the actual impact of an RDI policy.
Surface Methacrylation and Graft Copolymerization of Ultrafine Cellulose Fibers

Ultrafine fibrous ( from 100 to 450 nm) cellulose membranes were gener- ated by electrospinning of cellulose acetate (degree of substitution (DS): 2.45, weight- average molecular weight: 30,000 Da), followed by alkaline deacetylation. Reaction of these ultrahigh surface-area cellulose fibers with methacrylate chloride (MACl) pro- duced activated surfaces without altering the fiber morphology. Surface methacrylation of these fibers was confirmed by the acquired hydrophobicity ( water 84°) as compared to the originally hydrophilic (water 56°) cellulose. Changing the MACl:OH molar ratios could vary the overall DS of methacrylation. The very low overall DS values indicate the surface nature of the methacrylation reaction. At a DS of 0.17, the thermal properties of the surface methacrylated cellulose resemble those of cellulose derivatives at much higher DS values, an unusual behavior of the ultrafine fibers. The methacry- lated cellulose could be further copolymerized with vinyl monomers (methyl methac- rylate, acrylamide, and N-isopropylacrylamide) as linear grafts or three-dimensional (3D) networks. The morphology of cellulose fibers and the interfiber pore structure were not altered at 15-33% graft levels. This study demonstrates that either linear or 3D networks of vinyl polymers could be efficiently supported on ultrafine cellulose fibrous membranes via surface methacrylation. Through these surface reactions the chemical, thermal, and liquid wetting and absorbent properties of these ultrafine fibrous mem- branes were significantly altered with no change to the fiber dimensions or interfiber pore morphology. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 953-964,
Buildings and their Applications in Geometry and Topology

Buildings were first introduced by J. Tits in 1950s to give systematic geometric inter- pretations of exceptional Lie groups and have been generalized in various ways: Euclidean buildings (Bruhat-Tits buildings), topological buildings, R-buildings, in particular R-trees. They are useful for many different applications in various subjects: algebraic groups, finite groups, finite geometry, representation theory over local fields, algebraic geometry, Arakelov intersection for arithmetic va- rieties, algebraic K-theories, combinatorial group theory, global geometry and algebraic topology, in particular cohomology groups, of arithmetic groups and S-arithmetic groups, rigidity of cofinite subgroups of semisimple Lie groups and nonpositively curved manifolds, classification of isoparamet- ric submanifolds in R n of high codimension, existence of hyperbolic structures on three dimensional manifolds in Thurston's geometrization program. In this paper, we survey several applications of buildings in differential geometry and geometric topology. There are four underlying themes in these applications: 1. Buildings often describe the geometry at infinity of symmetric spaces and locally symmetric spaces and also appear as limiting objects under degeneration or scaling of metrics. 2. Euclidean buildings are analogues of symmetric spaces for semisimple groups defined over local fields and their discrete subgroups. 3. Buildings of higher rank are rigid and hence objects which contain or induce higher rank buildings tend to be rigid. 4. Additional structures on buildings, for example, topological buildings, are important in applications for infinite groups.