cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Approaches for Assessing the Impact of Zea mays (Poaceae) on the Behavior of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and Its Parasitoid Cotesia marginiventris (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Plant derived volatiles are cues used widely that guide the behavior of plant associated insects, influencing both the ability of insects to locate host plants, as well as tritrophic interactions with predators or parasitoids. Therefore, an understanding of how volatiles impact a specific ecological system may aid the development of plants that are less attractive to pests or more amenable to biocontrol. Because each plant-insect interaction is different, it is important to develop bioassays to compare plants with different volatile profiles and assess their comparative attractiveness to specific insects. To this end, we developed a laboratory-based pair-wise choice assay to determine the oviposition preference of fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), a global crop pest, to maize, Zea mays L. (Poaceae) plants with different volatile profiles. An alternative greenhouse-based assay also was developed to assess the effect of different Z. mays plants on the oviposition behavior of Cotesia marginiventris (Cresson) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a parasitoid wasp that can be used as a biocontrol agent for S. frugiperda. These bioassays are easily adaptable for use on a range of plant-insect interactions. Resumen Los volatiles derivados de plantas son senales que se utilizan ampliamente para guiar el comportamiento de los insectos asociados a las plantas, lo que influye tanto en la capacidad de los insectos para localizar plantas hospederas como en las interacciones tritroficas con depredadores o parasitoides. Por lo tanto, la comprension de como los volatiles impactan en un sistema ecologico especifico puede ayudar al desarrollo de plantas que son menos atractivas para las plagas o mas abierto para control biologico. Debido a que cada interaccion planta-insecto es diferente, es importante desarrollar bioensayos para comparar plantas con diferentes perfiles volatiles y evaluar su atractivo comparativo para insectos especificos. Con este fin, desarrollamos un ensayo de eleccion por pares basado en laboratorio para determinar la preferencia de oviposicion del gusano cogollero, Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), una plaga mundial de cultivos, para el maiz, Zea mays L. (Poaceae), con plantas de diferentes perfiles volatiles. Tambien, se desarrollo un ensayo alternativo en invernadero para evaluar el efecto de diferentes plantas de Z. mays sobre el comportamiento de oviposicion de Cotesia marginiventris (Cresson) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), una avispa parasitoide que puede usarse como agente de control biologico de S. frugiperda. Estos bioensayos se adaptan facilmente para su uso en un rango de interacciones planta-insecto. Key Words: bioassay; maize; oviposition; method; volatiles View this article in BioOne Supplementary material for this article in Florida Entomologist 103(4) (December 2020) is online at http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/entomologist/browse
A Closed-Loop Current Source Gate Driver With Active Gate Current Control for Dynamic Voltage Balancing in Series-Connected GaN HEMTs

The voltage rating of commercial Gallium Nitride (GaN) power semiconductors is limited to 600/650 V because of the lateral structure. Stacking low-voltage switches is an effective way to block higher dc-link voltage. However, unbalanced voltage sharing can occur even with well-matched gate drivers and semiconductors due to the device-to-ground displacement currents. As a result, the low-voltage switches may suffer from over-voltage breakdown. This study presents a novel closed-loop current source gate driver to address the unbalanced dynamic voltage sharing issue. Additional compensation current is actively injected into the switch gate to counteract the voltage imbalance brought by the device-to-ground displacement currents. Compared with the conventional voltage source gate driver-based active gate control method, the proposed current source gate driver tunes the switch turn-off timing and dv/dt more accurately because the switch gate current is directly regulated. Meanwhile, since both the pulse width and amplitude of the compensation gate current can be adjusted, the proposed active gate control is more flexible for adapting to different operating conditions. Moreover, without employing snubber circuits or extra Miller capacitors, the switching speed and switching energy of the GaN devices are not compromised. By implementing the proposed gate driver and voltage balancing schemes, well-balanced voltage sharing can be obtained for both soft-switching and hard-switching scenarios. A series-connected GaN-based multiple pulse tester (MPT) is built to prove the effectiveness of the proposed approach under different load and different switching speed (dv/dt) conditions.
Gene dosage effects of polyA track engineered hypomorphs

The manipulation of gene activity through the creation of hypomorphic mutants has been a long-standing tool in examining gene function. Our previous studies have indicated that hypomorphic mutants could be created by inserting cis-regulatory sequences composed of consecutive adenosine nucleotides called polyA tracks. Here we use polyA tracks to create hypomorphic mutants and functional characterization of membrane, secretory and endogenous proteins. Insertion of polyA tracks into the sequences of interleukin-2 and membrane protein CD20 results in a programmable reduction of mRNA stability and attenuation of protein expression regardless of the presence of signaling sequence. Likewise, CRISPR/Cas9 targeted insertion of polyA tracks in the coding sequence of endogenous human genes AUF1 and TP53 results in a programmable reduction of targeted protein and mRNA levels. Functional analyses of AUF1 engineered hypomorphs indicate a direct correlation between AUF1 gene levels and the stability of AUF1-regulated mRNAs. Hypomorphs of TP53 affect the expression of the target genes differentially depending upon the severity of the hypomorphic mutation. Finally, decreases in TP53 protein affect the same cellular pathways in polyA track engineered cells as in cancer cells, indicating these variants biological relevance. These results highlight this technology9s power to create predictable, stable hypomorphs in recombinant or endogenous genes in combination with CRISPR/Cas9 engineering tools.
Why Don’t We Sing about That?

One of the most common pieces of advice given to fledgling hymnwriters by their more experienced colleagues is to write about topics that are underrepresented in congregational song. Yes, a general...
The Effect of Molecular Subtype and Residual Disease on Locoregional Recurrence in Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Postmastectomy Radiation.

The relative contribution of biologic subtype to locoregional recurrence (LRR) in patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), mastectomy, and postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) is not clearly defined. 233 patients with stages 2 and 3 breast cancer who received NAC, mastectomy, and PMRT between 2000 and 2009 were included: 53 % (n = 123) had HR+ (ER or PR+/HER2−), 23 % (n = 53) had HER2+ (HER2+/HR+ or HR−), and 24 % (n = 57) had triple-negative (TN) disease (HR−/HER2−). The 5-year LRR rates were estimated by Kaplan–Meier methods. Cox regression analysis was performed to evaluate covariates associated with LRR. The median follow-up period was 62 months. A pathologic complete response (pCR) was seen in 14 % of the patients. The 5-year LRR rate was 8 % for the entire cohort. The LRR rate was 0 % for the patients with a pCR versus 9 % for the patients without a pCR (p = 0.05). TN disease [Hazard ratio (HR) 4.4; p = 0.003] and pathologic node positivity (HR 9.8; p = 0.03) were associated with LRR. Patients with TN disease had a higher LRR rate than patients with HER2+ or HR+ disease (20 vs. 6 and 4 %; p = 0.005). Among patients without a pCR, TN subtype was associated with increased LRR risk (26 versus 7 % HER+ and 4 % HR+; p < 0.001). Patients with TN breast cancer had the highest LRR rate after NAC, mastectomy and PMRT. Whereas no LRR was observed among TN patients with a pCR, TN patients with residual disease had a significantly higher LRR risk. Patients with HR+ and HER2+ breast cancer had favorable LRR rates regardless of NAC response, likely due to receipt of adjuvant systemic targeted therapies.
Helium Emission Lines in the Type Ic Supernova 1999cq

We present the first unambiguous detection of helium emission lines in spectra of Type Ic supernovae (SNe Ic). The presence of He I lines with FWHM ≈ 2000 km s-1 and the distinct absence of any other intermediate-width emission (e.g., Hα) implies that the ejecta of SN Ic 1999cq are interacting with dense circumstellar material composed of almost pure helium. This strengthens the argument that the progenitors of SNe Ic are core-collapse events in stars that have lost both their hydrogen and helium envelopes, either through a dense wind or mass transfer to a companion. In this way, SN 1999cq is similar to supernovae such as SN 1987K and SN 1993J that helped firmly establish a physical connection between Type Ib and Type II supernovae. The light curve of SN 1999cq is very fast, with an extremely rapid rise followed by a quick decline. SN 1999cq is also found to exhibit a high level of emission at blue wavelengths (5500 A), likely resulting from either an unusually large amount of iron and iron-group element emission or uncharacteristically low reddening compared with other SNe Ic.
Multimedia Information Networks in Social Media

The popularity of personal digital cameras and online photo/video sharing community has lead to an explosion of multimedia information. Unlike traditional multimedia data, many new multimedia datasets are organized in a structural way, incorporating rich information such as semantic ontology, social interaction, community media, geographical maps, in addition to the multimedia contents by themselves. Studies of such structured multimedia data have resulted in a new research area, which is referred to as Multimedia Information Networks. Multimedia information networks are closely related to social networks, but especially focus on understanding the topics and semantics of the multimedia files in the context of network structure. This chapter reviews different categories of recent systems related to multimedia information networks, summarizes the popular inference methods used in recent works, and discusses the applications related to multimedia information networks. We also discuss a wide range of topics including public datasets, related industrial systems, and potential future research directions in this field.
Estimation of Nonparametric Models With Simultaneity

We introduce methods for estimating nonparametric, nonadditive models with simultaneity. The methods are developed by directly connecting the elements of the structural system to be estimated with features of the density of the observable variables, such as ratios of derivatives or averages of products of derivatives of this density. The estimators are therefore easily computed functionals of a nonparametric estimator of the density of the observable variables. We consider in detail a model where to each structural equation there corresponds an exclusive regressor and a model with one equation of interest and one instrument that is included in a second equation. For both models, we provide new characterizations of observational equivalence on a set, in terms of the density of the observable variables and derivatives of the structural functions. Based on those characterizations, we develop two estimation methods. In the first method, the estimators of the structural derivatives are calculated by a simple matrix inversion and matrix multiplication, analogous to a standard least squares estimator, but with the elements of the matrices being averages of products of derivatives of nonparametric density estimators. In the second method, the estimators of the structural derivatives are calculated in two steps. In a first step, values of the instrument are found at which the density of the observable variables satisfies some properties. In the second step, the estimators are calculated directly from the values of derivatives of the density of the observable variables evaluated at the found values of the instrument. We show that both pointwise estimators are consistent and asymptotically normal.
On the evaluation of the group refractive index in case of no collisions

Abstract An alternative method is shown for the evaluation of the group refractive index μ' in case of no collisions. An asymptotic form near the reflection point X = 1 is derived. Both of the expressions are simpler and more suitable for calculations than the ones given by Shinn and Whale .
The effect of prolactin on the metabolism of lactating guinea pig mammary tissue

Abstract The effects of intramammary injections of prolactin upon the accumulation of coenzyme A (CoA) in lactating guinea pig mammary tissue have been studied employing a surgical technique. Although the concentration of both citric acid and CoA rose during the first 36 hr. post partum, prolactin action appeared to be correlated with the increase in CoA content. The CoA metabolism of lactating guinea pig mammary tissue has also been studied. The conditions under which in vitro CoA synthesis or degradation occurs have been reported. Prolactin has been found to inhibit CoA degradation by fresh mammary homogenates. The implications of the data have been discussed.
Prosthetic mitral valve motion during cardiac dysrhythmias as determined by echocardiography.

To assess the changes and physiologic mechanisms of prosthetic valve motion during cardiac dysrhythmias as well as the role of atrial systole in the closure of the mitral valve, M-mode echocardiography was performed in 36 patients with normally functioning prosthetic mitral valves (Bjork-Shiley, Starr-Edwards, and Beall valve). Premature closure of the prosthetic mitral valve in diastole with a "sharp" closing motion was seen during first-degree atrioventricular block, atrial fibrillation with ventricular rates less than 60 beats/min, and atrial flutter. A "rounded" premature valve closure due to atrial systole was seen during atrial tachycardia and complete heart block. Atrial systole initiates a closing motion of the prosthetic mitral valve at end-diastole, and ventricular systole completes this closure during normal sinus rhythm. When first-degree atrioventricular block is present, atrial systole alone completes this closure before ventricular contraction. Atrial contraction alone also can effectively close the prosthetic mitral valve during atrial flutter and atrial tachycardia. Other factors (such as left ventricular diastolic volume) may play a role in the effective closure of the prosthetic mitral valve during atrial fibrillation with slow ventricular rates and complete heart block. These findings must be considered in the echocardiographic evaluation of suspected malfunctioning prosthetic mitral valves. A baseline postoperative echocardiogram after prosthesis insertion is important for future evaluation when clinically indicated.
Stoichiometric and molecular evidence for the enrichment of anaerobic ammonium oxidizing bacteria from wastewater treatment plant sludge samples.

Abstract Anammox enrichments were readily developed from seven municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) sludge, but not with methanogenic granular sludge from two agro-industrial WWTPs. Only 50 d was required for the first evidence of anammox activity from a return activated sludge obtained from a WWTP operated for nutrient removal. The molar ratios of nitrite and ammonium consumption of approximately 1.32 as well as nitrate and dinitrogen gas product ratios of approximately 0.095 provided evidence of the anammox reaction. The presence of anammox was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primer sets (PLA46F and AMX820R) specific for anammox bacteria. The 16S rRNA gene fragment of anammox bacteria was detected in seven enrichment cultures (ECs) with demonstrated anammox activity but not in the original inocula from which the ECs were derived and also not in the two methanogenic sludge samples, which indicates the PCR predicted the anammox activity. Two genera, Brocadia and Kuenenia, were successfully identified as the Planctomycetes occurring in the clone libraries of successful anammox enrichments. Brocadia dominated in cultures that were respiked extensively; whereas Kuenenia predominated in cultures that were less aggressively respiked. These findings indicate that respiking management may play an important role on selecting the genus of anammox bacteria. The batch enrichment results clearly illustrate that anammox can be readily enriched from municipal sludge from a wide variety of process operations at WWTPs.
Evaluating the effect of temperature on microbial growth rate--the Ratkowsky and a Bělehrádek-type models.

The objective of this paper to conduct a parallel comparison of a new Bělehradek-type growth rate (with an exponent of 1.5, or the Huang model), Ratkowsky square-root, and Ratkowsky square equations as secondary models for evaluating the effect of temperature on the growth of microorganisms. Growth rates of psychrotrophs and mesophiles were selected from the literature, and independently analyzed with the 3 models using nonlinear regression. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the means of growth rate (μ), estimated minimum temperature (T(min) ), approximate standard errors (SE) of T(min) , model mean square errors (MSE), accuracy factor (A(f) ), bias factor (B(f) ), relative residual errors (δ), Akaike information criterion (AICc), and Bayesian information criterion (BIC). Based on the estimated T(min) values, the Huang model distinctively classified the bacteria into 2 groups (psychrotrophs and mesophiles). No significant difference (P > 0.05) was observed among the means of the μ values reported in the literature or estimated by the 3 models, suggesting that all 3 models were suitable for curve fitting. Nor was there any significant difference in MSE, SE, δ, A(f) , B(f) , AICc, and BIC. The T(min) values estimated by the Huang model were significantly higher than those estimated by the Ratkowsky models, but were in closer agreement with the biological minimum temperatures for both psychrotrophs and mesophiles. The T(min) values estimated by the Ratkowsky models systematically underestimated the minimum growth temperatures. In addition, statistical estimation showed that the mean exponent for the new Bělehradek-type growth rate model may indeed be 1.5, further supporting the validity of the Huang model.
An atlas of X-ray-selected quasi-stellar objects.

Coordinates, finding charts, photometry, and spectroscopy are presented for 55 X-ray selected QSOs. The selection technique, optical identification of X-ray sources observed serendipitously by the Einstein Observatory was used to find QSOs projected near bright galaxies, pairs of QSOs with similar redshifts; and low-redshift QSOs (z less than 0.5) which are well suited for imaging. Very luminous QSOs of more than 10 to the 46th ergs/s, and a very-high redshift X-ray-selected object were also found. It is suggested that most efforts to identify optically faint QSO counterparts to X-ray sources may yield intrinsically less luminous objects at redshifts less than 1 due to the weak influence of the limiting magnitude on the mean redshift of the sample. A complete list of the QSOs is given.
Analysis of continuous formulations underlying the computation of time-harmonic acoustics in exterior domains

Abstract Potential non-uniqueness of boundary representations of the Helmholtz equation underscores the importance of investigating continuous boundary-based and domain-based formulations, which is the main purpose of this work. Uniqueness properties of the solutions of boundary integral equations are reviewed. We analyze formulations for domain-based computation that are derived by the DtN method, which imposes a relation between the function and its normal derivative on an artificial boundary. The DtN formulation is shown to possess non-reflective boundary conditions and to give rise to exact (and thereby unique) solutions. In practical implementation the DtN map is often truncated. The truncated DtN operator fails to completely inhibit reflection of higher modes, resulting in loss of uniqueness at characteristic wave numbers of higher harmonics. However, simple expressions that determine a sufficient number of terms in the operator for unique solutions at any given wave number are derived. We prove that a local approximation of the boundary conditions restores uniqueness for all wave numbers, and derive its three-dimensional version.
Evaluation and Treatment of Persistent Stress Urinary Incontinence after Male Anti-Incontinence Procedure – AUS or Sling

The two most common anti-incontinence procedures performed for postprostatectomy incontinence (PPI) are placements of the artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) and male sling. While both procedures offer high success rates, 10-30 % of patients after AUS and 20-45 % of patients after male sling require evaluation for persistent PPI. The goals of evaluation for persistent PPI should be to verify the diagnosis of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and to assess for concurrent bladder dysfunction. If the initial procedure was an AUS, and recurrent intrinsic sphincter deficiency is diagnosed, it is vital to distinguish among mechanical failure, urethral atrophy and erosion. If a repeat sling is considered, it is necessary to verify the degree of intrinsic sphincter deficiency (ISD) and assess for persistent or recurrent proximal urethral mobility. Because of diminished urethral compliance that results from prior AUS or male sling surgery, implantation of an AUS remains the treatment of choice for persistent SUI, as it is the most reliable method of providing the circumferential urethral compression necessary for adequate coaptation even in the setting of urethral fibrosis.
On What We Say

While the concept of `information' in Gibson's perceptual theory may risk becoming a form of how objects are `represented' in an animal's perceptual experience, the real work of the concept is in explanation of how animals maintain effective engagement with their surroundings. The way Gibson uses the term `information' makes it non-reliant on conceptual knowledge. Where his theorizing is more definitely in need of reconstruction is at the level of the (uniquely) human perceptual/conceptual interface.
Fast and Accurate Calculation of Small Molecule Solvation Free Energies using Replica Exchange Accelerated Molecular Dynamics

Free energies are important thermodynamic quantities often needed to describe chemical processes and protein-ligand binding. Accurate calculation of free energies has been done using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, but these values are often limited due to the conformational “trapping” of a given system in a free energy minimum. Accelerated molecular dynamics (aMD) is a hamiltonian-modifying method in which the sampling problem is mitigated by adding a bias to the potential energy term, making it easier to traverse the conformational landscape. By coupling this method with replica exchange (REXAMD), it is further enhanced, evading the statistical re-weighting problem. We show that REXAMD is ideal for computing accurate solvation free energies of small molecules.
A further note on the molecular structure of the acetylcholine receptor protein.

Abstract A modification is presented of a previous all beta structure for the AChR channel to a mixed alpha/beta structure based on more recent evidence — the alpha-structure being predominant in the trans-membrane portion and the beta-portion in the portion exterior to the outside of the membrane.
New Algorithm And Architecture For Fan-Beam Tomography

Because of the potential for more rapid data collection, newer scanners for reconstructive tomography are implemented in a "fan-beam" geometry. In these implementations there is a source that emits a fan-shaped pattern of radiation. A detector located on the opposite side of the scanned object provides data that depend on the attenuation density of the object integrated along a ray in the fan joining the source and detector. Increased speed is realized by the use of not just a single detector but, rather, a circular array of detectors that collect data simultaneously along several rays in the fan. Original procedures for constructing tomographic sections from fan-beam data rely on the use of existing algorithms for parallel-beam data, which can be used by rearranging the fan-beam data into a parallel-beam format. (1,2) However, in this format the data suffer from a nonuniformity in sampling due to the nonlinear relationship between the fan-beam and parallel-beam coordinate systems. Partly for this reason, as well as for the conservation of data storage and potential speed benefits, algorithms that make direct use of fan-beam data have been derived by a number of investigators. (3,4,5) Published fan-beam algorithms assume that the output of all detectors in the fan are sampled simultaneously at discrete source angles as the source rotates about the object. The samples so derived at each source angle are processed together in a filtering operation which is followed by an "inverse square-law" back projection to yield the tomographic section after all source angles have been completed. We have investigated the implications of processing each detector output independently as the source rotates and then combining these processed detector outputs at the completion of all data collection to form the section. For a geometry in which the detector array rotates with the source, we have found that this can be accomplished without the back projection operation by using the emerging technology of adaptive transversal filters.
Building Capacity To Teach Infection Control and Prevention in Venezuela through Internet-Based Conferencing

ISSUE: Infections are an important problem in hospitalized children in developing countries. Although awareness of infection control can be achieved by providing healthcare providers with education, this may be limited by staff shortages and a lack of trained educators. PROJECT: We used online communication via www.Cure4Kids.org to train infection control educators at 2 hospitals in Venezuela (Hospital JM de los Rios in Caracas and Especialidades in Maracaibo), to deliver infection control course for nurses. Hospital staff and international partners identified topics: infection control precautions, hand hygiene, patient hygiene, vascular access, disinfection, and sterilization. Content was developed as five 45-minute lectures to be delivered during a 5-hour session. We identified educators (4 nurses and 1 physician), obtained permission from the hospital's ethics committee to evaluate participants, and obtained support from the hospital administrators, the nursing department, and the local infectious disease society. Then, we developed the lectures comparing the hospital's current infection control practices with published guidelines. We used online conferencing to coach the educators in Venezuela in the delivery of their assigned lectures. Finally, the trained educators delivered the 5 lectures to the Venezuelan nurses on 2 occasions, and pre- and post-course tests were administered to participants to evaluate the educators' performance. RESULTS: From May 18 to July 8, 2006, www.Cure4Kids.org was used to host weekly meetings of the 5 educators and their 3 supervisors in 2 cities in Venezuela and the authors in Memphis. At the end of this series of meetings, the educators were proficient in their assigned topics. 113 nurses attended the lectures and the post-course test results indicated a 32.5 % increase in knowledge. The program cost US $1,900. LESSONS LEARNED: The organizers and educators valued the online planning and development of the course. Infection-control team members noted that the timing of the course was pertinent to their objectives and gave them visibility and respect from the nursing staff. Additionally, the team in Venezuela owns the course and has the materials needed to repeat it or plan a similar course. This was the first time for collaboration between the infection control teams in the 2 Venezuelan cities. Online conferencing (1) gave international educators with an opportunity to build capacity for further sustainable training at international sites where the human resources and technology are available; and (2) decreased the cost and time spent traveling and facilitated frequent interaction among St. Jude and its partners at the 2 sites in Venezuela.
Functional group I metabotropic glutamate receptors in submucous plexus of guinea-pig ileum.

Intracellular recording methods and immunostaining revealed the existence of functional group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) in submucous plexus neurons of guinea-pig ileum. Selective group I, but not groups II or III metabotropic glutamate receptor agonists induced concentration-dependent, slowly-activating depolarizing responses. Group I metabotropic glutamate receptor antagonism observed with (S)-4-carboxyphenylglycine (S-4-CPG) (100–600 μM) was competitive as determined by Schild analysis (pA2=3.81±0.02). Neither the group II and III metabotropic nor ionotropic glutamate receptor antagonists altered responses evoked by group I receptor agonists. Immunoreactivities for metabotropic glutamate 1α and 5 receptors were found to locate exclusively in neurons in the submucous plexus of guinea-pig ileum with the highest density around the cell bodies. The results suggest that group I metabotropic glutamate receptors are functionally expressed in the submucous plexus of guinea-pig small intestine. British Journal of Pharmacology (1999) 128, 1631–1635; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0702980
Cysteine adds to lipid hydroperoxide

Cysteine reacts with linoleic acid hydroperoxide to yield several products, some of which were identified as fatty acid-cysteine adducts. The addition was catalyzed by ferric chloride (10−5 M) by initiating free radical reactions. When isomerically pure 13-hydroperoxy-cis-9,trans-11-octadecadienoic acid and cysteine were reacted in 80% ethanol under N2, the major adducts were 9-S-cysteine-13-hydroxy-10-ethoxy-trans-11-octadecenoic acid (I) and 9-S-cysteine-10,13-dihydroxy-trans-11-octadecenoic acid (II). When the reaction included both isomers of the hydroperoxide (13-and 9-hydroperoxide) and air, an adduct of 9-oxononanoic acid and cysteine also was isolated. Additional experiments gave information about possible mechanisms of I and II formation.
Intraoperative neurological monitoring with transcranial doppler ultrasonography

Summary Recent advances in Doppler ultrasound technology have provided anesthesiologists and surgeons with a powerful tool that can aid intraoperative management of patients at risk of neurological injury. TCD is a useful noninvasive intraoperative monitor of cerebral hemodynamics; its benefits can be demonstrated in many specific instances. However, currently there are still logistic as well as practical limitations. Further refinement of these tools will undoubtedly enhance intraoperative safety of the patient.
Sound production in the pygmy sculpin Cottus paulus (Cottidae) during courtship and agonistic behaviours

A field study examined sound production in the pygmy sculpin Cottus paulus, a threatened species found only in Coldwater Spring (Coosa River drainage), Alabama where the study was conducted. Two distinct call types are made during both courtship and agonistic encounters: a single knock and a knock train. The duration of the knock train significantly differs between contexts, while the signal structure stays the same. Knock trains are longer when the intended audience is a female, while short and abrupt when intended for a male intruder.
A first-principles study of methyl lactate adsorption on the chiral Cu (643) surface

Abstract We used dispersion-corrected density function theory (DFT) to investigate the enantiospecific adsorption of R- and S-methyl lactate on the chiral Cu (643) R surface. Initial study of methyl lactate adsorbed on the Cu (111) surface revealed that the most strongly bound states are associated with interaction of the hydroxyl and alkoxide group with the surface. Using dispersion-corrected DFT-derived pre-factors and desorption energies within the Redhead analysis predicts peak temperatures that are in relatively good agreement with experimental values for molecular methyl lactate desorption from both the Cu (111) and Cu (643) R surface. The global minimum of S-methyl lactate is more firmly bound by 9.5 kJ/mol over its enantiomer on the Cu (643) R surface, with a peak temperature difference of 25 K versus an experimental value of 12 K.
Exhaust-catalyst development for methanol-fueled vehicles: 2. Synergism between palladium and silver in methanol and carbon monoxide oxidation over an alumina-supported palladium-silver catalyst

Methanol and carbon monoxide oxidation were examined over 0.01 Pd, 5% Ag, and 0.01% Pd/5% Ag catalysts—all supported on γ-alumina. The bimetallic catalyst showed greater CO and CH3OH oxidation activity than either of the single-component catalysts; moreover, the Pd and Ag interacted synergistically in the bimetallic catalyst to produce greater CO and CH3OH oxidation rates and lower yields of methanol partial oxidation products than expected from a mixture of the single-component catalysts. Temperature-programmed oxidation experiments and reactivity experiments involving changes in O2 partial pressure both provided evidence that the PdAg synergism results from Pd promoting the rate of O2 adsorption and reaction with CO and CH3OH on Ag. The data also indicate that virtually all of the Pd in the bimetallic catalyst is present in Pd-Ag crystallites.
CfunBASE: A Cosmological Functions Library for Astronomical Databases

CfunBASE is a customizable C# cosmological functions library in the .NET framework. Its primary use is in CasJobs/SkyServer, where the functions are ported into a MS-SQL Server database hosting the SDSS science archive, and can be executed through simple T-SQL commands. This gives cloud-computing users the possibility of calculating cosmological distances, volumes and times as a function of redshift, as well as their respective inverse functions. Also included are basic data exploratory analysis tools, such as binning, N-dimensional weighted histograms, and quantile and cumulative distribution aggregate functions. Advanced astronomical examples are presented and discussed, such as the T-SQL implementation and fast computation of luminosity functions, color-magnitude diagrams, and the friends-of-friends galaxy cluster identification algorithm.
Uptake of colorectal cancer screening in an uninsured population.

Abstract Background . Montgomery County established a colorectal cancer education, screening, and treatment program as part of the Maryland state cancer program. The program removed barriers to screening by providing free endoscopy (predominantly colonoscopy) to uninsured county residents. Methods . The education component was available to the general public and included distribution of free fecal occult blood cards (FOBTs). The clinical component was available only to the low-income uninsured. Clinical program participants met with a registered nurse who provided education, made endoscopy (colonoscopy) referrals, and provided case management. County residents entered the program in three ways: by direct referral from a physician, after contact with a health educator, or via telephone. Results . Over 2 years, 1672 uninsured individuals registered with the program, of whom 13% had prior screening. In this group, 52% completed screening with at least one modality, the majority by colonoscopy. Conclusion . This program is one of the first in the nation to offer uninsured individuals free access to colonoscopy mediated by nurse referral and case management. It provides an experience that can inform interventions of experimental design in which the uptake of the options for colorectal cancer screening are compared; or it can serve as a “benchmark” against which other efforts to screen uninsured minority populations may be compared.
Detrimental Effects of Sodium during Mouse Oocyte Cryopreservation

Cryopreservation is an established way of storing embryos, but effective methods are not available for freezing eggs. Most freezing damage is caused by high solute concentration (solution effects) and intracellular ice. Sodium salts are the major components of cryopreservation media, and the main contributor to the solution effects. The present experiments examine the effect of substituting choline for sodium as the major extracellular cation in the cryopreservation of mouse eggs. The effects of serum and various cryoprotectants were also examined. Survival, fertilization, and development were inversely related to the concentration of sodium in the freezing medium. Oocytes frozen in a choline-based medium had the highest (p < 0.001) survival and development rates. The absence of serum during thawing inhibited fertilization, whereas exposure to serum or opening the zona allowed fertilization to reach the control level. Dimethyl sulfoxide was as effective as 1,2 propanediol for obtaining high survival and fertilization rates. These results support the hypothesis that the high concentration of sodium in conventional freezing media is detrimental to cells and show that choline is a promising replacement for sodium. Reducing or eliminating sodium may allow oocytes and other cells to be frozen more efficiently.
Overcoming rule-based rigidity and connectionist limitations through massively-parallel case-based reasoning

Symbol manipulation as used in traditional Artificial Intelligence has been criticized by neural net researchers for being excessively inflexible and sequential. On the other hand, the application of neural net techniques to the types of high-level cognitive processing studied in traditional artificial intelligence presents major problems as well. A promising way out of this impasse is to build neural net models that accomplish massively parallel case-based reasoning. Case-based reasoning, which has received much attention recently, is essentially the same as analogy-based reasoning, and avoids many of the problems leveled at traditional artificial intelligence. Further problems are avoided by doing many strands of case-based reasoning in parallel, and by implementing the whole system as a neural net. In addition, such a system provides an approach to some aspects of the problems of noise, uncertainty and novelty in reasoning systems. The current neural net system (Conposit), which performs standard rule-based reasoning, is being modified into a massively parallel case-based reasoning version.
4 x 2.5 Gb/s WDM-TDM laser source based on mode-locked semiconductor lasers

Multiwavelength high speed optical signal sources will play an important role in novel wavelength-division-multiplexed and time-division-multiplexed (WDM-TDM) optical networks. These lasers will serve as sources of ultrashort optical pulses, with low absolute timing jitter and high correlated jitter between each wavelength channel. In this paper, a single- stripe GaAs/AlGaAs semiconductor traveling wave amplifier has been used to generate four modelocked WDM channels simultaneously, each transmitting 18 ps pulses at 2.5 GHz for an aggregate data transmission rate of 10 Gbit/s. The spectral separation of four wavelengths can be continuously tuned from 0.8 nm to 2.1 nm. Also, the four wavelengths can be varied over 18 nm while keeping the wavelength separation constant. We observed that by actively modelocking the laser diode, we can take advantage of the transient unsaturated gain to achieve stable multiwavelength lasing, in contrast to gain competition in cw lasers, which tends to prevent simultaneous laser operation at multiple wavelengths. In addition, enhanced phase correlation between pulse trains at each wavelength is observed owing to the use of single-stripe devices. This technology is critical in novel photonic networks utilizing combined WDM-TDM data formats.
The influence of altered gravity on carbohydrate metabolism in excised wheat leaves

We developed a system to study the influence of altered gravity on carbohydrate metabolism in excised wheat leaves by means of clinorotation. The use of excised leaves in our clinostat studies offered a number of advantages over the use of whole plants, most important of which were minimization of exogenous mechanical stress and a greater amount of carbohydrate accumulation during the time of treatment. We found that horizontal clinorotation of excised wheat leaves resulted in significant reductions in the accumulation of fructose, sucrose, starch and fructan relative to control, vertically clinorotated leaves. Photosynthesis, dark respiration and the extractable activities of ADP glucose pyrophosphorylase (EC 2.7.7.27), sucrose phosphate synthase (EC 2.4.4.14), sucrose sucrose fructosyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.99), and fructan hydrolase (EC 3.2.1.80) were unchanged due to altered gravity treatment.
Characterization of the myosin adenosine triphosphate (M.ATP) crossbridge in rabbit and frog skeletal muscle fibers.

In the presence of ATP and absence of Ca2+, muscle crossbridges have either MgATP or MgADP.Pi bound at the active site (S. B. Marston and R. T. Tregear, Nature [Lond.], 235:22:1972). The behavior of these myosin adenosine triphosphate (M.ATP) crossbridges, both in relaxed skinned rabbit psoas and frog semitendinosus fibers, was analyzed. At very low ionic strength, T=5 degrees C, mu=20 mM, these crossbridges spend a large fraction of the time attached to actin. In rabbit, the attachment rate constants at low salt are 10(4) - 10(5) s-1, and the detachment rate constants are approximately 10(4) s-1. When ionic strength is increased up to physiological values by addition of 140 mM potassium propionate, the major effect is a weakening of the crossbridge binding constant approximately 30–40-fold. This effect occurs because of a large decrease, approximately 100-fold, in the crossbridge attachment rate constants. The detachment rate constants decrease only 2–3-fold. The effect of ionic strength on crossbridge binding in the fiber is very similar to the effect of ionic strength on the binding of myosin subfragment-1 to unregulated actin in solution. Thus, the effect of increasing ionic strength in fibers appears to be a direct effect on crossbridge binding rather than an effect on troponin-tropomyosin. The finding that crossbridges with ATP bound at the active site can and do attach to actin over a wide range of ionic strengths strongly suggests that troponin-tropomyosin keeps a muscle relaxed by blocking a step subsequent to crossbridge attachment. Thus, rather than troponin-tropomyosin serving to keep a muscle relaxed by inhibiting attachment, it seems quite possible that the main way in which troponin-tropomyosin regulates muscle activity is by preventing the weakly-binding relaxed crossbridges from going on through the crossbridge cycle into more strongly-binding states.
Influence of seed nitrogen content on seedling growth and recovery from nitrogen stress

In low fertility conditions, germinating seedlings are heavily dependent upon N from seed reserves for growth and development. Experiments were conducted to examine the influence of seed N content and mobilization on leaf development and the ability to take up nitrate and up-regulate leaf growth processes during recovery from the period of N deprivation. Genetically homozygous soybean lines with a range of seed N contents were grown in hydroponics culture without an external N source. Microscopic analyses of the apical meristem and plant exposure to labeled 15N-nitrate allowed precise descriptions of changes in leaf initiation and nitrate uptake during recovery. In seedlings grown without N, inhibitions of leaf expansion and leaf initiation were detectible in the 2nd week after germination, and both were inversely related to the amount of N released from the seed. The S/R ratio decreased, indicating early N stress, but the S/R adjustments were not proportional to the degree of N stress as occurs with older plants, suggesting limitations in C availability. When external N was supplied to plants after 15 or 23 days of N deprivation, the induction period for nitrate uptake was longer than that normally observed with N-replete seedlings, and rates of growth during recovery from the N stress were correlated with initial seed N contents. The inhibition of individual leaf expansion was released only if leaves were at an early developmental stage. Leaf initiation at the apical meristem immediately responded to the presence of external nitrate, with initiation rates approaching those for +N controls. The results indicate that seedling vigor in infertile conditions and the ability to respond to available N are strongly influenced by seed resources.
Variability in leptin and adrenal response in juvenile Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in different seasons

Abstract Eight free-ranging juvenile Steller sea lions (SSL; 6 males, 2 females; 14–20 months) temporarily held under ambient conditions at the Alaska SeaLife Center were physiologically challenged through exogenous administration of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). Four individuals (3 males, 1 female) underwent ACTH challenge in each of two seasons, summer and winter. Following ACTH injection serial blood and fecal samples were collected for up to 3 and 96 h, respectively. A radioimmunoassay (RIA) was validated for leptin, and using a previously validated RIA for cortisol, collected sera were analyzed for both cortisol and leptin. ACTH injection resulted in a 2.9-fold increase ( P = 0.164) in leptin which preceded a 3.2-fold increase ( P = 0.0290) in cortisol by 105 min in summer. In winter, a 1.7-fold increase in leptin ( P = 0.020) preceded a 2.1-fold increase ( P = 0.001) in serum cortisol by 45 min. Mean fecal corticosteroid maxima were 10.4 and 16.7-fold above baseline 28 and 12 h post-injection and returned to baseline 52 and 32 h post-injection, in summer and winter, respectively. Data indicate acute activity in juvenile adrenal glands is detectable in feces approximately 12–24 h post-stimulus in either season, with a duration of approximately 40 h in summer and 20 h in winter. Changes in serum cortisol proved statistically significant both seasons and elevated concentrations were detected by 30 min post-stimulus (baseline 64.8 ± 4.2; peak 209.5 ± 18.3 ng/ml: summer; baseline 87.0 ± 15.7; peak 237.6 ± 10.0 ng/ml: winter), whereas the changes that occurred in serum leptin proved to be significant only in winter (baseline 6.4 ± 0.6; peak 18.7 ± 7.0 ng/ml: summer; baseline 4.2 ± 0.5; peak 7.5 ± 0.6 ng/ml: winter). Changes in fecal corticosteroids proved significant only in summer (baseline 117.8 ± 36.7; peak 1219.3 ± 298.4 ng/g, P = 0.038: summer; baseline 71.8 ± 13.7; peak 1198.6 ± 369.9 ng/g, P = 0.053: winter) due to a high degree of individual variability in winter months. The data indicate that ACTH stimulates leptin production earlier than cortisol in both summer and winter, and that while the leptin response appears most variable in summer, fecal corticosteroids are most variable in winter.