cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Endodermal sinus tumor and embryonal carcinoma of the ovary in a 53-year-old woman

Abstract Background: Germ cell tumors, the most common ovarian malignancies in females under the age of 21, are rare in older women. We report an unusual case of a mixed embryonal carcinoma and endodermal sinus germ cell tumor in a perimenopausal patient and review the differential diagnosis and management of these malignancies with respect to age. Case: A 53-year-old woman complaining of irregular menses and pelvic pain was found to have a large pelvic mass and a positive pregnancy test. Subsequent investigation revealed a large left adnexal mass, and an elevated β-HCG and α-AFP. At laparotomy, a mixed germ cell tumor was found. The patient was treated with multiagent chemotherapy and currently is without evidence of disease. Conclusion: Although rare, the diagnosis of germ cell tumor should be considered in older women presenting with a large pelvic mass. The treatment and prognosis is similar regardless of age, except that reproductive-sparing surgery is not a priority in the older patient.
Sulfonation of nylon-6 by solid phase reaction

Abstract Sulfonation of nylon-6 has been widely studied via solution phase reaction processes, which involve dissolution of the base polymer in a strong solvent. In this paper, novel solid phase reaction technology was adopted to induce the addition of the sulfonate side chain onto the backbone of nylon-6 using 1,3-propane sultone. The reaction of the polymer with the reagent, which was catalysed by dimsyl anions, was carried out at 65°C in a specially designed, well-mixed reactor. The reaction materials remained as free-flowing powders through the process. A sulfonate level of 1.32 mol% was achieved. The conversion of the 1,3-propane sultone was 23.3%. The sulfonation was qualitatively identified with FTi.r. and d.s.c. Its sulfonate level was determined by quantitative measurement of sulfur and nitrogen content of the treated polymer.
Assessment of Food Intake, Obesity, and Health Risk among the Homeless in Rhode Island.

Objective The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between the nutritional status, incidence of food insecurity, and health risk among the homeless population in Rhode Island. Design and Sample This correlational study utilized a convenience sample of 319 homeless adults from Rhode Island's largest service agency for the homeless. Information on use of services such as access to emergency foods, shelters, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) was requested. Measures Food security was measured by the six-item subset of the USDA Food Security Core Module. Anthropometric measures included height, weight, and waist circumference. A 24-hr dietary recall was collected to determine the food intake for a subset of participants who agreed to supply this information (n = 197). Conclusion Average dietary recall data indicated insufficient intake of vegetables, fruit, dairy, and meats/beans. It also indicated excessive intake of fats. Of the 313 participants, 29.4% were overweight and 39% were obese. Over 94% of the participants were food insecure, with 64% of this subset experiencing hunger. Fifty-five percent of the participants were currently receiving SNAP benefits. The majority of the sample was found to be food insecure with hunger.
Microscopic theory of thermal desorption and dissociation processes catalyzed by a solid surface

A microscopic model of thermal desorption and dissociation from metallic surfaces which exhibits explicit dependences on characteristic parameters of the adsorption system is developed. The evaluation of the rates of these processes involves: (i) a derivation of the thermal adatom-solid coupling, (ii) a stochastic incoherent multiphonon mechanism for the evolution of an excitation for bond rupture, and (iii) coupling to final-state reaction channels. Transition probabilities and rates obtained by using both truncated-harmonic and Morse-potential descriptions of the chemisorptive bond are presented and compared with experimental data for xenon and potassium desorption from a tungsten substrate. The results show agreement with experiment and exhibit a linear relationship of the logarithm of the rate versus inverse temperature.
Self-Assembly of Lamellar Structures of Fatty Acids Complexed with Surfactant in Aqueous Solutions

A surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), is found to assist the self-assembly of fatty acids on flat solid surfaces in aqueous solutions. Structural studies using an atomic force microscope show that self-assembled structures are planar on a mica surface. Quantifying the self-assembled materials shows that the amount is enough to account for more than 10 molecular layers. Comparative studies of several area-pressure isotherms using a Langmuir trough under different conditions indicate that the self-assembly causes the formation of stable surfactant-fatty acid molecular complexes.
Direct visualisation of RNA editing within a Leishmania tarentolae mitochondrial extract

The coding sequence within several mitochondrial mRNAs of the trypanosomatid protozoa is created through editing by the precise insertion and deletion of U nucleotides. The biochemical characterisation of the editing reaction in the Leishmania genus of the trypanosomatids has been hindered by the lack of a direct in vitro assay. We describe here the first direct assay for the detection of guide RNA-directed editing mediated by a mitochondrial extract prepared from two independent isolates of Leishmania tarentolae. The assay enabled the editing activity within a L. tarentolae mitochondrial extract to be significantly enriched and will facilitate the characterisation of the editing reaction. The results suggest that the difficulty in establishing an assay for the L. tarentolae reaction was not simply a result of the catalytic machinery being limiting but rather reflected the presence of constraints on both the guide RNA and mRNA sequences.
Intestinal Manometry in Man: A Historical and Clinical Perspective

The historical background and current status of manometry of the small intestine are reviewed. The evolution of technology for the assessment of small intestinal motor activity in man is described and advances in physiology and pathophysiology highlighted. Technological advances over the past several decades have permitted the extensive study of intestinal motility in man and have led to both a greater understanding of intestinal motor physiology and an increased awareness of the breadth of intrinsic variability. Though motor patterns have been described in various disease states, the definition of the clinical utility of intestinal manometry must await further prospective studies, which should, in particular, compare manometry with other available and less invasive tests.
Life histories of infaunal amphipods from subtidal sands of Monterey Bay, California

ABSTRACT Members of the amphipod families Phoxocephalidae and Haustoriidae are small, mobile, efficient sand-burrowers. Three species are particularly dominant in the crustacean zone on subtidal sands of Monterey Bay. Life history traits of two phoxocephalids and one haustoriid characterize them as annual, univoltine, and producing a few, large eggs. However, the two families differ in several significant ways: time of year that they reproduce, sex ratios, swimming behavior, and diet. These contrasts reflect greater specialization, including method of reproduction, in the haustoriids. These differences suggest that the phoxocephalids retain typical gammaridean amphipod reproductive methods which compromise their burrowing life-style through disadvantageous morphological and behavioral characteristics.
Locating independent facilities with maximum weight: greedy heuristics

Abstract The problem is to locate a maximum-weight set of facilities such that no two are closer than a given distance from each other. The unweighted version is equivalent to the maximum independent set problem in graph theory. This paper presents four greedy heuristics and shows that they all have bad worst-case behavior. Empirically, however, these heuristics perform quite well in the relatively large test problems generated randomly.
The F p span of the incidence matrix of a finite projective plane

This paper investigates the F span of the rows of an incidence matrix of a finite projective plane. Results are obtained on the dimension and minimum weight (in the sense of algebraic coding theory) of both this span and its orthogonal.
Effect of hemodialysis on the plasma levels of clofarabine.

Clofarabine, a nucleoside analogue for treatment of relapsed leukemia, is 50–60% excreted in urine. Clofarabine has not been studied in patients on hemodialysis. We measured levels in one patient in acute renal failure. Prior to dialysis, 43 hr after a 40 mg/m2 infusion, plasma concentration was 139 ng/ml. One hour after begining hemodialysis, a 20 mg/m2 infusion began. Plasma concentrations were 84.2, 81.1, and 88.0 ng/ml while the dialysis and clofarabine infusion occurred simultaneously. Post-dialysis, while the clofarabine was still infusing, the level was 95.8 ng/ml. Hemodialysis does decrease clofarabine levels, but given its large volume distribution, hemodialysis may not be effective for clofarabine overdose. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2010;55:196–198. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Differential response of two taro cultivars to aluminum: I. Plant growth

Abstract Aluminum (Al) toxicity is one of the major factors limiting plant growth in acid soils. To determine the response of taro [Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott] to Al‐toxicity, cultivars (cv.) Lehua maoli and Bun long were grown in hydroponic solution at six initial levels of Al (0, 110, 220, 440, 890, and 1330 uM Al). Increasing Al levels significantly depressed fresh and dry weights of taro leaf blades, petioles, and roots, as well as leaf areas and root lengths. No significant cultivar differences were found for plant dry weights. However, significant cultivar differences were found for expansion growth parameters, with cv. Lehua maoli exhibiting greater leaf fresh weights and root lengths in the presence of Al, compared to cv. Bun long. Apparently, differential response of taro cultivars to Al is related to the ability of the Al‐tolerant cultivar to maintain water uptake and cell expansion in the presence of Al. The initial solution Al level that resulted in the greatest separation of growth diffe...
Juvenile periodontitis (periodontosis): current concepts

Review of the literature indicates that periodontosis may be an inflammatory disease, with virulent gram-negative microorganisms, selective immune deficiencies, dysfunction of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, genetic predisposition, or any combination of these as possible etiologic factors. Juvenile periodontitis (periodontosis) has classically been described as a degenerative lesion of the periodontium. Recent evidence, however, indicates that the disease may be inflammatory, with various systemic factors altering the resistance of the periodontium to virulent local agents.
Genetic algorithm optimization of feedback control systems

In this paper we are concerned with Smart Materials that contain many actuators and sensors along with digital signal processing electronics that allow for the implementation of a control algorithm. Smart Materials have been proposed for the active control of sound from a vibrating structure. Here we investigate the design of structural control systems for these Smart Structures for noise suppression. First we model the radiated acoustic waves in terms of the velocity of the surface of the structure. Then we formulate an optimal control problem as a linear system that has a transmission zero in the path between the disturbance force and the shape that radiates best. A geometric description of the problem relates control problem to the acoustics. This optimal control problem is solved using a genetic algorithm.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Human Relations Training for the Elderly

The authors desribe a structured group experience designed to improve communication and to encourage support among a population of elderly persons residing in a retirement community. Group activities and suggestions for counselors are provided.
Antimicrobial activity of the new carbapenem biapenem compared to imipenem, meropenem and other broad-spectrum beta-lactam drugs

The in vitro activity of biapenem was compared to that of imipenem, meropenem and other broad-spectrum beta-lactams. A total of 716 isolates from recent cases of clinical septicemia and an additional 137 stock strains possessing known beta-lactamases or other well-characterized resistance mechanisms were tested. The minimal concentrations inhibiting 90% of strains (MIC90) of Enterobacteriaceae species were for biapenem 0.03 to 1 mg/l and for imipenem 0.25 to 2 mg/l. No member of the Enterobacteriaceae was found to be resistant to biapenem. Biapenem and meropenem were the most active drugs against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with an MIC90 of 1 mg/l. Biapenem was more active than ceftazidime against most gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria tested. Biapenem was as potent as imipenem against anaerobic bacteria (including Bacteroides fragilis), with an MIC90 of 0.25 mg/l. High MICs of biapenem were demonstrated for Xanthomonas maltophilia, oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus spp. and Enterococcus spp. These species have demonstrated resistance to other carbapenems and to most of the newer cephalosporins. The results of this study, coupled with previously documented favorable qualities of biapenem, endorse further investigation of this broad-spectrum antibacterial agent for clinical use.
A fission-neutron source for the study of defect production in metals

Abstract A fission-neutron source for the study of defect production in metals at 4.7 K has been constructed for use in the ORNL Low-Temperature Irradiation Facility (LTIF). The source is in the form of a highly enriched 235 U ribbon which generates 8 W of heat power and is operated in liquid helium in the sample chamber of the LTIF. It provides a fission-neutron flux of 5.7 × 10 15 n/m 2 · s to adjacent 0.025-mm-thick ribbon-shaped specimens. A surrounding thin-walled superconducting solenoid provides magnetic fields up to 1.3 T to suppress superconductivity in specimens when needed for resistivity measurements.
Stimulation of NMDA receptors induces proteolysis of spectrin in hippocampus.

Abstract Stimulation of N -methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA) receptors was found to induce proteolysis of brain spectrin in hippocampal slices. The effect was dependent upon extracellular calcium, blocked by the antagonist 2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate (AP5), and was not reproduced by potassium-induced depolarization. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the involvement of NMDA receptors in plasticity and excitotoxicity is at least partially mediated by calcium-activated proteolysis of cytoskeletal proteins.
Effect of lead on calcium homeostasis in the isolated rat hepatocyte

Abstract The effect of lead intoxication on the cellular metabolism of calcium was studied in the isolated rat hepatocyte in primary cell culture. Hepatocytes were incubated for 20 hr in medium containing 0, 10, 50, or 100 μ m Pb 2+ and 45 Ca. The cellular metabolism of calcium was evaluated by kinetic analysis of desaturation curves fit to a three-term polyexponential equation. Lead caused a dose-dependent increase in the size (nmol/mg cell protein) of all three kinetic compartments; however, the most remarkable increase was in the deep (desaturation half-time ∼ 100 min) intracellular compartment which includes mitochondria. The efflux rate constants, desaturation half-times, and fluxes associated with these compartments were also altered in lead-intoxicated hepatocytes. The present study indicates that pertubations in the homeostasis of cellular calcium were not dependent upon alterations in serum calcium or upon the physiological regulators of systemic calcium metabolism, e.g., vitamins and hormones.
Photocopying and the awareness of copyright in tertiary institutions in Nigeria

Purpose – To investigate photocopying practices in tertiary institutions in Nigeria as they relate to the existing copyright law and suggestions to regulate photocopying practices so that the infringement of copyright laws will be minimized.Design/methodology approach – An empirical approach in which questionnaires, in addition to observation and interview methods, were used to obtain data on the photocopying practices and the awareness of copyright laws by the respondents in five tertiary institutions in Nigeria.Findings – That the major reasons for photocopying are the cheapness of photocopies compared with the cost of purchasing books and journals as well as the scarcity of books. More than 50 per cent of the respondents photocopied whole books and journals, while over 65 per cent of them are aware of the copyright law.Research limitations/implications – The study was limited to five tertiary institutions in three zones of Nigeria. It could not cover all the tertiary institutions in Nigeria as that wou...
Case-Control Study of Colon Cancer and Drinking Water Trihalomethanes in Wisconsin

A case-control study was conducted to test the hypothesis that chronic ingestion of trihalomethanes (THMs), occurring as chlorination byproducts in drinking water, carries a risk of colon cancer. Lifetime residential and water source histories and information on water-drinking habits, diet, sociodemographics, medical and occupation histories, lifestyle and other factors were obtained by questionnaire from a statewide sample of newly-diagnosed colon cancer cases (N = 347), controls with cancer of other sites (N = 639) and general population controls (N = 611). Since no data on past THM levels exists, it was necessary to devise a scheme to generate THM estimates for all Wisconsin water sources. For this, a statistical model based on quantitative THM measures and routinely-recorded data taken at 81 municipal water facilities was used in conjunction with individual residential histories to estimate lifetime and period-specific THM exposure for each case and control. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios adjusted for age, sex and urban living, for colon cancer and THM exposure. The study results indicate that THM in Wisconsin drinking water does not pose a significant colon cancer risk. Odds ratios for exposure to the middle and highest category of lifetime cumulative THM were 1.05 (95% Cl = 0.66-1.68) and 0.93(95%Cl = 0.55-1.57) respectively, relative to the cancer control group, and 1.10 (95%Cl = 0.68-1.78) and 0.73 (95% Cl = 0.44-1.21) respectively, relative to the general population controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Magnetostatic excitations in quasiperiodic antiferromagnetic superlattices

The magnetostatic excitation in antiferromagnetic superlattices (antiferromagnetic/nonmagnetic layered structure) grown following the Fibonacci sequence has been studied. The dispersion relations of the magnetostatic spin wave spectra and the precession amplitudes of the total magnetization in each layer are numerically obtained. The eigenfrequency spectra are divided into two branches, ${\ensuremath{\omega}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ and ${\ensuremath{\omega}}^{+}.$ For each branch, the distribution of eigenfrequency spectra exhibits triadic Cantor-set subband structures with self-similar features. The eigenfrequency spectra distribution strongly depends on the in-plane wave vector and the thickness of antiferromagnetic and nonmagnetic layers. For most of the eigenfrequencies, especially in the triadic regions, the profiles of precession amplitudes of total magnetization in the quasiperiodic system are critical and self-similar. For the eigenfrequencies near the edges of bands, the profiles of precession amplitudes of total magnetization are extended with a sine modulation. Besides the critical and extended states, a few states at the edges of the subbands are still quasilocalized. The corresponding profiles of precession amplitudes of total magnetization either decay or oscillate with exponential attenuation from the surface into the film.
UBVβ Database for Case-Hamburg Northern and Southern Luminous Stars

A database of photoelectric UBVβ photometry for stars listed in the Case-Hamburg northern and southern Milky Way luminous stars surveys has been compiled from the original research literature. Consisting of over 16,000 observations of some 7300 stars from over 500 sources, this database constitutes the most complete compilation of such photometry available for intrinsically luminous stars around the Galactic plane. Over 5000 stars listed in the Case-Hamburg surveys still lack fundamental photometric data.
Maintenance of hematopoietic stem cells through regulation of Wnt and mTOR pathways

Hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) self-renewal and lineage commitment depend on complex interactions with the microenvironment, and the ability to maintain or expand HSCs for clinical applications or for basic research has been significantly limited because these interactions are not well defined. Recent evidence suggests that HSCs reside in a low perfusion, reduced nutrient niche and that nutrient sensing pathways contribute to HSC homeostasis. Here we report that suppression of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, an established nutrient sensor, combined with activation of canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling, allows the ex vivo maintenance of human and mouse long-term HSCs under cytokine-free conditions. We also show that combining two clinically approved medications that activate Wnt/β-catenin signaling and inhibit mTOR increases the number (but not the proportion) of long-term HSCs in vivo.
Words, Names, Nature, Earth: On the Poetry of Pierre-Albert Jourdan

An ambivalence toward language is present throughout the work of Pierre-Albert Jourdan. Words are associated with the closure of a grey world; they are always arriving late, after the fact; they are veils, masks, dreams detached from truth, knowledge, and immediacy. Yet, words and names hold out the possibility of hope; they can designate the presence of beauty in the world; they can mediate the encounter of self and other. The human word signifies itself through the substance of the world and the communion of beings. At the intersection of natural reality—the center of the real for Jourdan—and of language are found the garden, the earth, places of an ephemeral, haiku like presence where the natural opens itself to the human. This article is available in Studies in 20th Century Literature: http://newprairiepress.org/sttcl/vol13/iss1/7 WORDS, NAMES, NATURE, EARTH: ON THE POETRY OF PIERRE-ALBERT JOURDAN* Yves Bonnefoy College de France
FLAVOR AND TEXTURAL CHANGES IN RADAPPERTIZED CHICKEN AS AFFECTED BY IRRADIATION TEMPERATURE, NaCl AND PHOSPHATE ADDITIONS

The effects of food-grade phosphates; sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP), tetrasodium pyrophosphate (PP), a mixture of tripoiyphosphate and hexametaphosphate (HMP), and sodium chloride additions (0.05, 1.0 and 1.5%) in irradiated boneless chicken rolls were studied. Temperatures during irradiation processing were 0°C, −30°C and −80°C, and all samples received a 45–56 kJ/kg dose. Samples were evaluated for sensory characteristics and preference by technological or consumer type panels. Textural differences were determined using a Kramer Shear Press. Reflectance values at 640 nm were obtained using a reflectometer. The sensory characteristics and preference of the chicken rolls were significantly affected by temperature during irradiation. Samples irradiated at 0°C were rated lower in preference and had higher intensities for off-odor and irradiation flavor. No significant differences were found between samples irradiated in a range of −30°C to −80°C. Shear press values increased and reflectance values decreased with the lowering of the irradiation temperatures. The addition of a small amount of salt with 0.5% tripolyphosphate significantly improved the preference ratings of irradiated chicken rolls. No differences in the sensory characteristics were found between roll samples with 0.5% additions of TPP, PP, or a TPP and HMP combination. Shear press values were significantly affected by the addition of NaCl and TPP in both irradiated and nonirradiated samples.
Frequency of KCNC3 DNA Variants as Causes of Spinocerebellar Ataxia 13 (SCA13)

Background Gain-of function or dominant-negative mutations in the voltage-gated potassium channel KCNC3 (Kv3.3) were recently identified as a cause of autosomal dominant spinocerebellar ataxia. Our objective was to describe the frequency of mutations associated with KCNC3 in a large cohort of index patients with sporadic or familial ataxia presenting to three US ataxia clinics at academic medical centers. Methodology DNA sequence analysis of the coding region of the KCNC3 gene was performed in 327 index cases with ataxia. Analysis of channel function was performed by expression of DNA variants in Xenopus oocytes. Principal Findings Sequence analysis revealed two non-synonymous substitutions in exon 2 and five intronic changes, which were not predicted to alter splicing. We identified another pedigree with the p.Arg423His mutation in the highly conserved S4 domain of this channel. This family had an early-onset of disease and associated seizures in one individual. The second coding change, p.Gly263Asp, subtly altered biophysical properties of the channel, but was unlikely to be disease-associated as it occurred in an individual with an expansion of the CAG repeat in the CACNA1A calcium channel. Conclusions Mutations in KCNC3 are a rare cause of spinocerebellar ataxia with a frequency of less than 1%. The p.Arg423His mutation is recurrent in different populations and associated with early onset. In contrast to previous p.Arg423His mutation carriers, we now observed seizures and mild mental retardation in one individual. This study confirms the wide phenotypic spectrum in SCA13.
Carbon fibers from poly (p-phenylene benzobisthiazole) (pbzt) fibers: conversion and morphological aspects

Abstract Conversion of highly oriented stiff-chain Poly ( p -phenylene benzobisthiazole) (PBZT) fibers to carbon fibers was investigated in both batch and continuous processes. The PBZT-based carbon fiber shows a structure somewhat different from those of conventional carbon fibers, with well-defined fibrils and micro-fibrils oriented along the fiber direction. There exists also a sheath-core structure. The fiber surface shows a large amount of microvoids. These morphological features appear to be directly related to features in the precursor fibers. The prospects for producing useful new carbon fiber morphologies from these precursors are discussed.
Optimization of Keyboard Design for Specialized Text Entry

As computers are introduced into ever more devices with new methods of inputting information, there has been interest in how to optimally design the information input system. We build on previous w...
Methodological considerations of measuring disability in bipolar disorder: validity of the Multidimensional Scale of Independent Functioning.

Objective: Recent studies have highlighted the prevalence, severity and persistence of the disability associated with bipolar disorder (BPD). Reliable instruments are needed to support research into the factors associated with disability and treatment response. Contextual factors (e.g., availability of supported employment programs) can affect functionality, posing a challenge to such investigations. We present preliminary findings regarding the validity of the Multidimensional Scale of Independent Functioning (MSIF) in BPD. The MSIF provides discrete ratings of support separate from both role responsibility and performance quality in work, residential and educational environments. These distinctions allow the ‘correction’ for variability explained by contextual factors that allows the comparison of studies conducted in different environments and time. Methods: Participants with BPD were administered the MSIF, the Social Adjustment Scale II (SAS-II) and an interview recording objective data regarding work, school and residential activities as part of an ongoing longitudinal study of BPD disability. Results: Construct validity estimated using standardized Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.76 (n = 58). MSIF global ratings were significantly lower (reflecting higher functionality) for subjects engaged in productive activity compared with participants who were not active (t = −3.6, p = 0.001) demonstrating external validity. Inter-rater reliability estimates ranged from 0.86 to 0.99 (n = 49). Significant, high correlations were demonstrated between comparable MSIF and SAS-II global ratings (criterion validity = 0.70–0.79) and low correlations were found between non-comparable ratings (discriminant validity = −0.07 to −0.35) (n = 14). Conclusion: We conclude that the MSIF is a valid and reliable instrument optimally designed for studying determinants of disability and treatment response in BPD.
NEUTRON DIFFRACTION STUDY OF THE CRYSTAL STRUCTURE OF AMMONIUM CHLORIDE

The crystal structure of the room-temperature phase of ammonium chloride has been determined by powder and single crystal neutron diffraction methods. The N---H links are directed essentially toward four of the eight surrounding chloride ions, and, contrary to a recent report, the two orientations fulfilling this condition are occupied at random in the crystal. Thermal motion of the hydrogen atoms is nonspherical and suggests a rotatory oscillation of the ammonium ion as a whole with a half-angle of about 10\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}. The length of the N---H link is 1.03\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.02 $A$. The second-order transition at -30\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C is thus shown to be of the order-disorder type.
The Effect of Age of Bird and Degree of Exposure in the Development of Immunity to Cecal Coccidiosis in Chicks

Abstract THE apparent beneficial effects of built-up litter in keeping down losses from cecal coccidiosis are not well understood. It can be theorized that early exposure to coccidial oocysts induces an immunity which is perpetuated by occasional ingestion of a few sporulated oocysts from the droppings in the litter. This paper deals with an investigation of the development of immunity in chicks to cecal coccidiosis when specific numbers of sporulated oocysts were administered to chicks at various ages brooded in chick batteries with wire floors. Different workers have explored the field of the development of immunity to cecal coccidiosis in chicks. Herrick et al. (1936) showed that chickens infected when three months old or older were considerably more resistant to the effects of Eimeria tenella than are birds infected when not over two months old. Mayhew (1934) and Rosenberg (1941) presented evidence suggesting that resistance and susceptibility to E. tenella is . . .
Factors Determining the Deriving Force of DNA Formation: Geometrical Differences of Base Pairs, Dehydration of Bases, and the Arginine Assisting

The mechanism of the fidelity synthesis of DNA associated with the process of dGTP combination to the DNA template was explored. The exclusion of water molecules from the hydrated DNA bases can amplify the energy difference between the correct and incorrect base pairs, but the effect of the water molecules on the Gibbs free energy of formation is dependent on the binding sites for the water molecules. The water detachment from the incoming dNTP is not the only factor but the first step for the successful replication of DNA. The second step is the selection of the DNA polymerase on the DNA base pair through the comparison between the correct DNA base and the incorrect DNA base. The bonding of the Arg668 with the incoming dNTP can enlarge the Gibbs free energies of formation of the base pairs, especially the correct base pairs, thus increasing the driving force of DNA formation. When the DNA base of the primer terminus is correct, the extension of the guanine and the adenine is quicker than that of the cyto...
Milk production and economic measures in confinement or pasture systems using seasonally calved Holstein and Jersey cows.

This 4-yr study examined total lactation performance of dairy cows in two feeding systems: pasture-based and confinement. Spring and fall calving herds were used and each seasonal herd had 36 cows on pasture and 36 cows in confinement with 282 Holstein and 222 Jersey cows included over seven seasonal replicates. Pasture-fed cows received variable amounts of grain and baled haylage depending upon pasture availability. Confinement cows received a total mixed ration with corn silage as the primary forage. Data were collected on milk production, feed costs, and other costs. Pasture-fed cows produced 11.1% less milk than confinement cows. Across treatments, Jerseys produced 23.3% less milk than Holsteins, but calving season and various interactions were not significant. Feed costs averaged $0.95/cow per day lower for pastured cows than confinement cows. Feed costs were lower for Jerseys than Holsteins and for cows calving in spring. Income over feed costs averaged $7.05 ± 0.34 for confinement Holsteins, $6.89 ± 0.34 for pastured Holsteins, $5.68 ± 0.34 for confinement Jerseys, and $5.36 ± 0.34 for pastured Jerseys; effects of breed were significant but treatment, season, and interactions were not. Economic factors such as labor for animal care, manure handling, forage management, and cow culling rates favored pastured cows. Higher fertility and lower mastitis among Jerseys partially offsets lower income over feed cost compared with Holsteins. Milk production was lower in this study for pasture-based systems but lower feed costs, lower culling costs, and other economic factors indicate that pasture-based systems can be competitive with confinement systems.
The path to adaptive microsystems

Scaling trends in microsystems are discussed frequently in the technical community, providing a short-term perspective on the future of integrated microsystems. This paper looks beyond the leading edge of technological development, focusing on new microsystem design paradigms that move far beyond today's systems based on static components. We introduce the concept of Adaptive Microsystems and outline a path to realizing these systems-on-a-chip. The role of DARPA in advancing future components and systems research is discussed, and specific DARPA efforts enabling and producing adaptive microsystems are presented. In particular, we discuss efforts underway in the DARPA Microsystems Technology Office (MTO) including programs in novel circuit architectures (3DIC), adaptive imaging and sensing (AFPA, VISA, MONTAGE, A-to-I) and reconfigurable RF/Microwave devices (SMART, TFAST, IRFFE).
Promotion of osteogenesis by a piezoelectric biological ceramic

Hydroxyapatite (HA) ceramic and piezoelectric biological ceramic, hydroxyapatite and barium titanate (HABT), were implanted in the jawbones of dogs. Histological observation showed that, compared with HA ceramics, HABT promoted the growth and repair of the bone significantly, the tissue growth around the HABT ceramic was direction-dependent, the collagen arranged orderly and the bone grew orderly. The order growth of the bone increased the efficiency of osteogenesis on the surface of the implanted HABT ceramics.
Kin aggression and resource availability influence phenotype-dependent dispersal in a passerine bird

Understanding the causes of dispersal is important as it strongly influences population dynamics and evolution. However, context dependency of dispersal decisions, such as effects of social interactions and resource availability, is rarely disentangled from intrinsic factors, such as animal personality. Western bluebirds provide a unique opportunity to investigate the relative importance of intrinsic versus extrinsic factors in dispersal decisions because they display distinct aggressive personality types, have high recruitment of sons to the natal population, and depend on nest cavities, a resource that is easy to quantify. Here, we measured territorial interactions among kin and non-kin, resource availability, and aggressive behavior over an 11-year period to determine how they influenced dispersal decisions of male offspring. We found that distance dispersed from kin was driven by a male’s own aggression, the aggression of his nearest kin, and the resources available on the natal territory. Both aggressive males and males with aggressive kin dispersed longer distances, as did males who had fewer resources on their natal territories. Thus, dispersal in this species is influenced jointly by intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Because resource acquisition and personality type are interdependent in this species, changes in the social environment are likely to have important consequences for population dynamics.
Relationship of Incubation Humidity and Flock Age to Hatchability of Broiler Hatching Eggs

Abstract The present study was conducted to determine the effect of incubation humidity (different wet bulb temperature at same dry bulb temperature) on hatchability and embryonic development with respect to flock age. All eggs in Experiment 1 were collected from a flock of broiler breeders over a 4-day period every 4 wk from 28 to 64 wk of age. On the day following the 4th day of collection, half the eggs were placed in an incubator at a wet bulb temperature of 28.3±.5 C, and the remaining half were placed in an incubator at a wet bulb temperature of 30.0±.5 C. The dry bulb temperature was 37.5 C in all cases. A second experiment was conducted with eggs collected from 34- and 66-wk-old flocks. Incubation conditions were the same as in Experiment 1 with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments in a completely randomized design. When pooled across breeder age in Experiment 1, hatchability of fertile eggs was increased and early embryonic mortality was decreased by the 28.3 C wet bulb temperature. The improvement was most evident when the flock was young. Data from Experiment 2 suggest that the reduced early embryonic mortality was due to increased water loss in the 34-wk-old flock in the lower wet bulb temperature treatment during the first 3 days of incubation, which presumably increased oxygen influx. When the flock was older, there was evidence of lower hatchability in some larger eggs due to lower wet bulb temperature. The data suggest that lower incubation wet bulb temperature overcomes barriers to water loss and vital gas diffusion, which are evident in small eggs from young flocks but not present in larger eggs from older flocks.
Uptake and depuration of petroleum hydrocarbons in the manila clam,Tapes semidecussata reeve

Being sessile filter-feeders, clams are readily exposed to pollutants adsorbed on suspended particulate matter. Little is known of the extent to which petroleum hydrocarbons taken up by marine bivalves are retained and concentrated in their tissues. Such assimilation and concentration could pose a health threat to human consumers of edible marine shellfish as some of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons have been reported to be carcinogenic. Aromatic hydrocarbons are more water soluble than paraffinic and naphthenic hydrocarbons with the paraffins reported to be preferentially attached by micro-organisms resulting in an increase in the aromaticity of the residue. Evidence presented indicated that the more highly refined oils are more toxic to the biota than heavier oils, perhaps due to their greater percentage of aromatic hydrocarbons which are known to be toxic to a wide variety of marine organisms. In this study we selected to look at six specific monocyclic aromatics of the water-soluble fraction (WSF) of Cook Inlet crude oil and the extent to which they are accumulated and retained by the Manila clam.
Fluorescent Reactive Core–Shell Composite Nanoparticles with A High Surface Concentration of Epoxy Functionalities

A method for the synthesis of fluorescent core–shell nanoparticles with reactive epoxide functional groups on the surface has been developed as a platform for the generation of functional and labeled nanoparticles for diverse applications. Namely, poly(glycidyl methacrylate), PGMA, was used to form a reactive and fluorescent shell on the nanoparticle surface. Prior to deposition on the silica nanoparticle, the PGMA was fluorescently labeled with Rhodamine B via a reaction between the epoxy groups of the polymer and carboxyl groups of the dye. A strong fluorescence emission was observed for the colloidal suspension of the modified nanoparticles. Atomic force microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and thermogravimetric and elemental analysis were used to characterize the nanoparticles. The reactive nanoparticles are a convenient and straightforward platform to generate fluorescent particles with various molecules attached to their exterior, because epoxy groups (located on the particle exterior) are highly a...
Cholesterol Reduction: Safety, Other Concerns

Excerpt The editor: Taylor and colleagues (1) calculated the increase in life expectancy of men and women who modify their habits to lower serum cholesterol levels. Their estimates probably are cor...
Climatic variability of soil water in the American Midwest: Part 2. Spatio-temporal analysis

A study of the model-estimated soil water, aggregated over three large drainage basins of the Midwestern USA, is reported. The basin areas are in the range from 2000 km2 to 3500 km2, and allow the study of mesoscale (1000–10000 km2) soil water features. In each case, a conceptual hydrologic model was used to produce upper and lower soil water estimates that are consistent with the atmospheric forcing of daily precipitation, potential evapotranspiration and air temperature, and with the observed daily streamflow divergence over a 40 year period. It is shown that the water contents of the upper and lower soil reach peaks in different months, with the soil column being most saturated in June, when the area is prone to serious flooding. Temporal and spatial features of the variability of model-estimated soil water content are identified. The autocorrelation function of monthly averaged soil water shows that the upper soil water remains persistent for about a season, whereas the persistence of the lower soil water extends to several seasons. The soil water estimates of the three study basins exhibit strong similarities in annual cycles and interannual variability. It is shown that the frequency of significant positive (wet) soil water anomalies that extend over a 2° × 2° region is lower than that of significant negative (dry) ones of the same extent in this region of the USA.
Lessons from Farming for IT

Your average "person on the street" would probably put IT and farming at opposite ends of most spectrums. People tend to associate "IT" with bright screens in dark rooms with a lot of glass and steel, while "farming" generates images of sunshine, green fields with an obligatory cow, and country folk in overalls and gingham. In reality, those differences are what make life interesting for those of us who choose to live in both worlds. As IT solutions "go green", and farm equipment becomes guided by satellites, there are lessons to be learned and applied from each field (no pun intended) that can help the other. This paper and presentation will include discussion by farmers in higher education IT from New York to North Carolina to Iowa (whose hardware needs go from motherboards and mice to hay bailers and hotwire) and will focus on how lessons from farming really can improve IT at your institution.
Comparison of Procedural and In-Hospital Outcomes of Percutaneous Balloon Aortic Valvuloplasty in Patients >80 Years Versus Patients <80 Years

Percutaneous balloon aortic valvuloplasty (PBAV) is a procedure used for palliation, bridging to surgery, and as an integral step in the procedure for percutaneous aortic valve replacement. Older patients with severe aortic stenosis are thought to have greater risk for adverse perioperative events than younger patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of patients aged >80 years and those aged ≤80 years who underwent PBAV to identify factors associated with adverse clinical outcomes. This was a retrospective study of 111 consecutive patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis who underwent retrograde PBAV at Massachusetts General Hospital from December 2004 to December 2008. Forty-nine patients (44%) were men, and the mean age for the whole group was 82 ± 8 years. Patients were divided into 2 age groups: those aged >80 years (n = 73) and those aged ≤80 years (n = 38). Procedural outcomes, complications, and in-hospital adverse events were compared. Multivariate logistic regression was used for the adjusted analysis. Nearly 90% of patients were in New York Heart Association class III or IV. Patients aged >80 years had lower baseline ejection fractions (43.5% vs 56.1%, p 2 , p 80 years had smaller post-PBAV aortic valve areas (0.89 vs 1.02 cm 2 , p 80 years had a significantly higher incidence of intraprocedural emergent intubation and cardiopulmonary resuscitation compared to the younger group. New York Heart Association class was the only independent predictor of worse in-hospital outcomes. In conclusion, compared to younger patients, those aged >80 years had less favorable preprocedural characteristics for PBAV but similar overall in-hospital clinical outcomes. Patients aged >80 years had significantly higher incidence of emergent intubation and cardiopulmonary resuscitation during PBAV.
Sequence and structure based models of HIV-1 protease and reverse transcriptase drug resistance

Successful management of chronic human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection with a cocktail of antiretroviral medications can be negatively affected by the presence of drug resistant mutations in the viral targets. These targets include the HIV-1 protease (PR) and reverse transcriptase (RT) proteins, for which a number of inhibitors are available on the market and routinely prescribed. Protein mutational patterns are associated with varying degrees of resistance to their respective inhibitors, with extremes that can range from continued susceptibility to cross-resistance across all drugs. Here we implement statistical learning algorithms to develop structure- and sequence-based models for systematically predicting the effects of mutations in the PR and RT proteins on resistance to each of eight and eleven inhibitors, respectively. Employing a four-body statistical potential, mutant proteins are represented as feature vectors whose components quantify relative environmental perturbations at amino acid residue positions in the respective target structures upon mutation. Two approaches are implemented in developing sequence-based models, based on use of either relative frequencies or counts of n-grams, to generate vectors for representing mutant proteins. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported study on structure- and sequence-based predictive models of HIV-1 PR and RT drug resistance developed by implementing a four-body statistical potential and n-grams, respectively, to generate mutant attribute vectors. Performance of the learning methods is evaluated on the basis of tenfold cross-validation, using previously assayed and publicly available in vitro data relating mutational patterns in the targets to quantified inhibitor susceptibility changes. Overall performance results are competitive with those of a previously published study utilizing a sequence-based strategy, while our structure- and sequence-based models provide orthogonal and complementary prediction methodologies, respectively. In a novel application, we describe a technique for identifying every possible pair of RT inhibitors as either potentially effective together as part of a cocktail, or a combination that is to be avoided.