cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tillage Systems for Production of Small-Grain Pasture

The objective of this study was to compare conventional tillage (CT), reduced tillage (RT), and no-till (NT) establishment of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and rye (Secale cereale L.) forage for stocker calves (Bos taurus). Animal performance was analyzed as a completely randomized design using the mixed procedure of SAS. In the 2002-2003 study, grazing-d ha -1 was greater (P < 0.01) for CT than RT, but NT did not differ (P = 0.08) from CT and RT, while gain ha -1 was not affected (P ≥ 0.42) by tillage treatment. During 2003-2004, grazing-d ha -1 was identical for all pastures, but gain ha -1 of NT was greater (P = 0.05) than CT and RT. Grazing-d ha -1 was greater (P = 0.05) for NT than CT and RT in 2004-2005 and gain ha -1 tended to be greater (P = 0.10) for NT than CT and RT. During 2005-2006, grazing-d ha -1 of CT was greater (P = 0.03) than RT, but gain ha -1 did not differ (P ≥ 0.81) among treatments. Establishment of small-grain pasture using NT and RT was as successful as CT when timely fall rains promoted small grain emergence and growth, while NT was superior to CT and RT when fall rains are delayed and soil water profile can be maintained by summer chemical fallow.
The effect of collagenase preparations contaminated with phospholipase C activity on adipose tissue lecithin.

Abstract Crude commercial collagenase (clostridiopeptidase, EC 3.4.4.19) used for preparing suspensions of isolated adipose tissue cells hydrolyse large portions of cellular [ Me- 14 C ]choline lecithin. By use of lecithin labeled biosynthetically with [ Me- 14 C ]choline, 32P or [ i -14C]-labeled fatty acid, the phospholipase activity that contaminates the crude collagenase preparation was identified as phospholipase C (phosphatidylcholine cholinephosphohydrolase, EC 3.1.4.3), in line with the bacterial source (Clostridium histolyticum) of the enzyme preparation. Purified commercial collagenase contains little phospholipase C activity.
Classical solution of the nonlinear Boltzmann equation in allR 3: Asymptotic behavior of solutions

Proof is given of the existence of a classical solution to the nonlinear Boltzmann equation in allR3. The solution, which is global in time, exists if the initial data go to zero fast enough at infinity and the mean free path is sufficiently large. The solution is smooth in the space variable if the initial value is smooth. The asymptotic behavior of solutions is also given. It is shown that ast→∞ the solution to the Boltzmann equation can be approximated by the solution to the free motion problem.
A characterization of incomplete sequences in vector spaces

A sequence A of elements an additive group G is incomplete if there exists a group element that cannot be expressed as a sum of elements from A. The study of incomplete sequences is a popular topic in combinatorial number theory. However, the structure of incomplete sequences is still far from being understood, even in basic groups. The main goal of this paper is to give a characterization of incomplete sequences in the vector space F"p^d, where d is a fixed integer and p is a large prime. As an application, we give a new proof for a recent result by Gao, Ruzsa and Thangadurai on [email protected]?s constant of F"p^2 and partially answer their conjecture concerning F"p^3.
Interleukin-8 haplotype structure from nucleotide sequence variation in commercial populations of U.S. beef cattle.

The aim of the present study was twofold: first, to design a panel of 96 sires that reflects the breadth of genetic diversity in U.S. beef cattle, and second, to use this panel to discover nucleotide sequence diversity and haplotype structures of interleukin (IL)-8 in commercial populations. The latter is a requisite for epidemiological studies designed to test whether IL8 alleles are risk factors for acquiring or maintaining bacterial infections in production environments. IL-8 encodes a proinflammatory cytokine that plays a central role in cell-mediated immunity by attracting and activating neutrophils in the early stages of host defense against bacterial invasion. Seven single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers were identified by sequencing two IL8 DNA segments amplified from the panel of 17 popular cattle breeds (MARC beef cattle diversity panel, version 2.1). Assays for automated genotype scoring by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) were developed to independently verify the seven SNP alleles in the 96 bulls and 313 cattle from the MARC reference population. Five haplotype structures, spanning the two IL8 DNA segments, were unambiguously defined for the set of seven IL8 SNPs. Based on the breadth of germplasm in bovine diversity panel, the five haplotype structures for IL8 are estimated to represent >98% of those present in these DNA segments in commercial populations of U.S. beef cattle. The frequencies of the five respective haplotypes in the eight Angus sires of the diversity panel (0.75, 0.25, 0.00, 0.00, 0.00) were similar to those scored in 150 purebred Angus cattle from six herds in four Midwestern states (0.82, 0.18, 0.01, 0.00, 0.00), suggesting that the diversity panel may also be useful for estimating allele frequencies in commercial populations.
Carbon-13-enriched carbohydrates. Preparation of erythrose, threose, glyceraldehyde, and glycolaldehyde with 13C-enrichment in various carbon atoms

Abstract Two-, three-, and four-carbon aldononitriles were prepared, and catalytically reduced with palladium-barium sulfate (5%) to the coresponding aldoses in high yields at pH 1.7 ± 0.1 and atmospheric pressure. Carbon-13-enriched glycolaldehyde, glyceraldehyde, erythrose, and threose were prepared with enrichment in various carbon atoms, permitting unequivocal assignment of chemical shifts for all carbons and determination of the proportions of cyclic hemiacetals and linear gem -diol forms in solution. Carbon-carbon and carbon-hydrogen coupling-constants for the furanose ring and linear hydrates of these short-chain aldoses are reported and discussed.
The effect of catastrophic collisional fragmentation and diffuse medium accretion on a computational interstellar dust system

The effects of catastrophic collisional fragmentation and diffuse medium accretion on a the interstellar dust system are computed using a Monte Carlo computer model. The Monte Carlo code has as its basis an analytic solution of the bulk chemical evolution of a two-phase interstellar medium, described by Liffman and Clayton (1989). The model is subjected to numerous different interstellar processes as it transfers from one interstellar phase to another. Collisional fragmentation was found to be the dominant physical process that shapes the size spectrum of interstellar dust. It was found that, in the diffuse cloud phase, 90 percent of the refractory material is locked up in the dust grains, primarily due to accretion in the molecular medium. This result is consistent with the observed depletions of silicon. Depletions were found to be affected only slightly by diffuse cloud accretion.
Coloring register pairs

Many architectures require that a program use pairs of adjacent registers to hold double-precision floating-point values. Register allocators based on Chaitin's graph-coloring technique have trouble with programs that contain both single-register values and values that require adjacent pairs of registers. In particular, Chaitin's algorithm often produces excessive spilling on such programs. This results in underuse of the register set; the extra loads and stores inserted into the program for spilling also slow execution.An allocator based on an optimistic coloring scheme naturally avoids this problem. Such allocators delay the decision to spill a value until late in the allocation process. This eliminates the over-spilling provoked by adjacent register pairs in Chaitin's scheme.This paper discusses the representation of register pairs in a graph coloring allocator. It explains the problems that arise with Chaitin's allocator and shows how the optimistic allocator avoids them. It provides a rationale for determining how to add larger aggregates to the interference graph.
Interdiffusion in the Ni-Cr-Co-Mo system at 1300 °C

Interdiffusion was investigated with solid-solid diffusion couples in theα (fcc) region of the quaternary Ni-Cr-Co-Mo system at 1300 °C for the determination of diffusion paths and diffusional interactions among the components. The concentration profiles for a given couple exhibited a common cross-over composition, Yc, which reflected the relative depths of diffusion in the terminal alloys. Interdiffusion fluxes were calculated directly from the concentration profiles, and the quaternary interdiffusion coefficients were calculated at selected compositions. Ni and Co exhibited uphill diffusion against their individual concentration gradients in a direction opposite to the interdiffusion of Cr. Quaternary diffusion paths were presented as a set of partial diffusion paths on the basis of relative concentration variables.
Quantitative and qualitative analysis of LH-RH test in normal and endocrinologically sick pre-adult subjects

The pattern of LH-RH evoked (50 μg/M2 i.v.) release of LH and FSH was analyzed quantitatively as well as qualitatively in 123 normal and in 286 endocrinologically sick pre-adult subjects to characterize the functional state of their gonadotostat. The common methods applied to assess this functional state are not adequate enough to differentiate the quantitative and qualitative patterns of response, and therefore a comparative examination was carried out for the peak increment,net increment, area under the time-response curve till the peak value and the cumulative response, ie, the total area under the time-response curve in each subject. As almost all the parameters were just-normally or log-normally distributed, statistical assessment was based on non-parametric Mann and Whitney test. The cumulative response and median comparison gave more meaningful data, based on the magnitude and shape of the release pattern, for an accurate differential diagnosis.
A Study of the Relationship Between the Iris Color of the Dam and the Mortality of Her Progeny

Abstract THE relationship between the iris color of the dam and mortality of her progeny is of considerable interest to the poultry breeder. This interest is prompted by the fact that an association of abnormal iris color of the dam and a high rate of mortality of the progeny would offer an immediate, practical means of reducing mortality. One of the most comprehensive studies of the subject has been that of Lee and Wilcke (1941). They demonstrated that females with pearl-gray irises which were irregular at the pupillary border gave progeny which developed symptoms of fowl paralysis more frequently than did the dams with normal eyes. This suggested that such females were transmitting the causative agent of lymphomatosis through the egg to the chick. Earlier, McClary and Upp (1939) had found that dams which were affected with iritis had a greater proportion of daughters with iritis than did dams with unaffected . . .
Massive Hemorrhage From Renal Vein Injury During Percutaneous Renal Surgery: Endourological Management

ABSTRACTPurpose: Although minor venous injuries respond to simple maneuvers, major venous injuries pose a significant therapeutic problem and may be under diagnosed. We present our experience with major injury to the renal vein during percutaneous renal surgery.Materials and Methods: Four patients had massive hemorrhage during percutaneous renal surgery associated with major injury to the renal vein, and 3 also had renal insufficiency. All 4 patients and 1 additional patient with renal insufficiency and massive hemorrhage from an arteriovenous fistula following percutaneous renal surgery were treated nonoperatively with a selectively positioned and inflated Council balloon catheter.Results: Hemorrhage was controlled and renal function was unaffected in all 5 patients.Conclusions: Renal vein injuries can be associated with massive hemorrhage. Patients with major vascular injuries from percutaneous renal surgery and concomitant renal insufficiency can be treated without open exploration or angiographic embo...
Acetylaminofluorene and aminofluorene adducts inhibit in vitro transcription of a Xenopus 5S RNA gene only when located on the coding strand

Abstract Unique N-acetyl-2-aminofluorene (AAF) or 2-aminofluorene (AF) adducts were introduced into the Xenopus borealis somatic 5S RNA gene between the intragenic control region and the transcription termination site. The effects of these bulky adducts on transcription were studied in a cell-free extract derived from Xenopus laevis oocytes. AAF and AF adducts inhibit transcription only when they are on the template strand, whereas transcription passes through these adducts when they are placed on the nontemplate strand. In the presence of the AAF or AF adduct on the template strand, transcription usually terminates one nucleotide before the altered guanine residue. Premature termination at these bulky adducts does not block reinitiation of transcription, since several transcripts are produced per gene per hour on these damaged templates.
External circular crack under concentrated antisymmetric loading

Abstract A complete solution is given for the first time to the title problem. Explicit expressions are derived for the field of stresses and displacement in a transversely isotropic space weakened by an external circular crack and subjected to two antisymmetrically applied concentrated forces. The method is based on the new results in potential theory obtained by the author earlier. The presented results may be used as Green's functions for a general case of antisymmetric loading so that the complete solution can be presented in quadratures.
Comparing the historic olive trees (Olea europaea L.) of Santa Cruz Island with contemporaneous trees in the Santa Barbara, CA area: a case study of diversity and structure in an introduced agricultural species conserved in situ

Historic populations of crop species outside their centers of origin and diversity, like the domestic olive (Olea europaea L.) in North America, are genetic resources for contemporary agriculture, including genotypes that could be readily evaluated for, and may be adapted to, local conditions. The primary goal of this study was to describe the diversity and structure of several significant, adjacent, contemporaneous historic olive plantings in central coastal California, USA with reference to the USDA ex situ Olea europaea germplasm, and test the hypothesis that physical and chronological proximity are predictive of genetic similarity in those trees. The groups studied using 14 SSR markers were dominated by a limited number of genotypes represented in the USDA collection, but also four unique cultivar genotypes not in that collection. Historical socioeconomic networks appear to have had an important influence on the source and kind of material planted. This is the first study of historic olive trees conserved in situ in North America and provides the basis for a larger regional study integrating genetic, historical and geographic data to describe the structure and diversity of remaining historic olive plantings in California.
Effect of heat shock on RNA metabolism in HeLa cells

Incubation of HeLa cells at 42 degrees C results in pronounced inhibition of the accumulation of 18S and 28S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and non-heat shock polyadenylated messenger RNA (mRNA) in the cytoplasm. Accumulation of transfer RNA and 5S ribosomal RNA is not affected. Transcription of rRNA precursor is reduced to approximately 50% of the 37 degrees C rate after 10 min of hyperthermia and declines to 30% of the control rate after 1 hr. In contrast, the accumulation of mature rRNA in the cytoplasm is inhibited more than 95%. Quantitative hybridization experiments and Northern blot analysis detect little accumulation of rRNA precursor sequences in nuclei, suggesting that the majority of the rRNA that is synthesized is degraded. Heat stress at 42 degrees C was found to have little effect on transcription of most non-heat shock mRNAs. However, accumulation of individual non-heat shock mRNAs in the cytoplasm proceeds at reduced rates. These results indicate that the primary effect of elevated temperature on RNA metabolism in mammalian cells is inhibition of processing and/or transport. Despite this, steady-state levels of abundant and rapidly turning over mRNA species remain unchanged during prolonged heat stress. We find that the half-life of c-myc mRNA increases greater than twofold at 42 degrees C. Thus, 42 degrees C heat stress appears to inhibit both accumulation and turnover of non-heat shock mRNA.
Spatially Developing Supersonic Turbulent Boundary Layer with a Body-Force-Based Method

A method to obtain a spatially developing equilibrium supersonic turbulent flat-plate boundary layer suitable for direct numerical simulations or large-eddy simulations of viscous/inviscid interactions is described. A steady counterflow actuator with properties based on a dielectric barrier discharge is employed to trip an incoming laminar boundary layer. The resulting unstable shear layer transitions rapidly and breaks down to generate the desired turbulent boundary layer. A fifth-order bandwidth and order optimized weighted essentially nonoscillatory scheme using Roe fluxes is used along with sixth-order viscous terms to simulate this process. The properties of the boundary layer are exhaustively analyzed on meshes of 65, 37, and 20 million grid points. The fine-grid solution agrees with the mean flow and statistical properties observed in the literature, and is used as a truth model to investigate results on smaller meshes. The medium-grid solution reproduces the fine-grid behavior with modest differen...
Magnetic Moments and Eddy Currents in Spheres of Superconducting Tin

Experiments have been carried out to measure the "frozen in" magnetic moments produced in superconducting spheres of tin, through demagnetization from fields sufficient to completely or partially destroy their superconductivity. Moments were determined by measuring periods of a torsion pendulum made from the spheres. Both solid tin spheres and spheres filled with non-superconducting material were examined.
Improving the Accuracy of Knowledge-Based Scoring Functions for Protein-Ligand Interactions by Accounting for Sparse Data in the Training Set

In the derivation of any knowledge-based scoring function, one must decide how to manage sparse features in the training data. Here we present STScore, a distance-dependent set of atomic pair potentials that uses a novel approach to minimize the sparse data problem. The overall approach is to represent the actual potential of mean force, which is unknown, as a random variable whose probability density is determined by the evidence in the training set. This provides a natural way of representing the uncertainty in the potential of mean force (PMF), for each bin and atom pair type. STScore is an average of the PMF and an alternative force-field-based potential, with the weights chosen to minimize the error in the sum. This weighting scheme implies that STScore will give more weight to the force-field potential whenever training data is scarce. We show that STScore effectively combines the two alternatives, exceeding the performance of either potential alone, and leads to improved binding mode and binding affinity predictions.
Sediment dynamics in the lowermost Mississippi River

Abstract There is much to be gained from investigating sediment dynamics in the lower Mississippi system, the largest river in terms of discharge and sediment load in North America. Such work can improve conceptual knowledge concerning downstream changes at the lower end of large river systems and can be applied to manage sediment diversions for wetland restoration in south Louisiana. Suspended sediment dynamics in the lowermost Mississippi River system in Louisiana are characterized using three approaches: (1) temporal changes in discharge-suspended sediment relationships showing interannual variations and the effects of floods over short timescales; (2) empirical relationships between discharge and suspended sediment variables at various locations; and (3) downstream changes in discharge-suspended sediment relationships. Interpretation of this data set is enhanced with other secondary data regarding processes, morphology, and bed materials. Upstream, near Old River, LA, empirical relationships show nonlinearity, particularly in fine sediments, with decreased concentrations at highest discharges. During high discharge years, suspended sediment concentration peaks precede discharge crests by 40–85 days. The lead generally decreases with decreasing discharge maxima so that in low discharge years sediment peaks and discharge crests closely coincide in time. Downstream, near Belle Chasse, LA, fine bottom materials are resuspended and the timing of sediment peaks and discharge crests is coincident, regardless of flow magnitude. Conceptually, results suggest caution when generalizing about the relative timing of the sediment wave and flood wave and their downstream progression. These phenomena are influenced by local bed material and hydraulic conditions, and depend on the causative factors of sediment peaks. From an applied perspective, diversions should be managed differently depending upon where they are constructed along the river and upon the magnitude of the annual maximum flow. During high discharge years, when concerns for navigation and water supply are minimal, flow should be diverted on the rising limb upstream, near Old River, and during the discharge crest downstream near New Orleans.
The Good Enough Home? Home Environment and Outcomes of Young Maltreated Children

Mixed results in the literature related to type of permanent placement and developmental outcomes of maltreated children suggest differences in postmaltreatment placement environments may be an important mechanism to consider. The goal of this study was to identify how home environment variables mediate risk in maltreated children in different types of placements. Participants included 71 maltreated and 70 non-maltreated (mean age = 7.14). Child outcomes were caregiver report of behavior problems (Child Behavior Checklist, CBCL) and cognitive assessment (Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, PPVT, and Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test, KBIT). The home environment was examined using the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME). The maltreated and non-maltreated groups differed significantly on cognitive scores, F(6, 268) = 3.05, p < .01, behavior problems, F(18, 258) = 2.64, p < .001, and their home environments, F(14, 264) = 6.01, p < .001. Partial F tests predicting cognitive scores by group after controlling for HOME academic resources revealed mediation of cognitive scores for the bio-kin group only and mediation of CBCL Withdrawal, Social Problems, and Attention Problems by HOME emotional resources within the bio-kin group only. After controlling for SES in meditational analyses, within group differences were only found for the bio-kin group and Attention problems. Results suggest that maltreated children returned to biological parents or placed with relatives may have greater need for continued parenting support and academic resources; enhancing home environments so that they are both stimulating and cohesive is necessary.
Archaeosome Vaccine Adjuvants Induce Strong Humoral, Cell-Mediated, and Memory Responses: Comparison to Conventional Liposomes and Alum

Ether glycerolipids extracted from various archaeobacteria were formulated into liposomes (archaeosomes) possessing strong adjuvant properties. Mice of varying genetic backgrounds, immunized by different parenteral routes with bovine serum albumin (BSA) entrapped in archaeosomes (;200-nm vesicles), demonstrated markedly enhanced serum anti-BSA antibody titers. These titers were often comparable to those achieved with Freund’s adjuvant and considerably more than those with alum or conventional liposomes (phosphatidylcholine-phosphatidylglycerol-cholesterol, 1.8:0.2:1.5 molar ratio). Furthermore, antigen-specific immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1), IgG2a, and IgG2b isotype antibodies were all induced. Association of BSA with the lipid vesicles was required for induction of a strong response, and >80% of the protein was internalized within most archaeosome types, suggesting efficient release of antigen in vivo. Encapsulation of ovalbumin and hen egg lysozyme within archaeosomes showed similar immune responses. Antigen-archaeosome immunizations also induced a strong cell-mediated immune response: antigen-dependent proliferation and substantial production of cytokines gamma interferon (Th1) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) (Th2) by spleen cells in vitro. In contrast, conventional liposomes induced little cell-mediated immunity, whereas alum stimulated only an IL-4 response. In contrast to alum and Freund’s adjuvant, archaeosomes composed of Thermoplasma acidophilum lipids evoked a dramatic memory antibody response to the encapsulated protein (at ;300 days) after only two initial immunizations (days 0 and 14). This correlated with increased antigen-specific cell cycling of CD4 1 T cells: increase in synthetic (S) and mitotic (G2/M) and decrease in resting (G1) phases. Thus, archaeosomes may be potent vaccine carriers capable of facilitating strong primary and memory humoral, and cell-mediated immune responses to the entrapped antigen.
Role of NH3 and NH4+ transporters in renal acid-base transport

Renal ammonia excretion is the predominant component of renal net acid excretion. The majority of ammonia excretion is produced in the kidney and then undergoes regulated transport in a number of renal epithelial segments. Recent findings have substantially altered our understanding of renal ammonia transport. In particular, the classic model of passive, diffusive NH3 movement coupled with NH4+ “trapping” is being replaced by a model in which specific proteins mediate regulated transport of NH3 and NH4+ across plasma membranes. In the proximal tubule, the apical Na+/H+ exchanger, NHE-3, is a major mechanism of preferential NH4+ secretion. In the thick ascending limb of Henle's loop, the apical Na+-K+-2Cl− cotransporter, NKCC2, is a major contributor to ammonia reabsorption and the basolateral Na+/H+ exchanger, NHE-4, appears to be important for basolateral NH4+ exit. The collecting duct is a major site for renal ammonia secretion, involving parallel H+ secretion and NH3 secretion. The Rhesus glycoproteins, Rh B Glycoprotein (Rhbg) and Rh C Glycoprotein (Rhcg), are recently recognized ammonia transporters in the distal tubule and collecting duct. Rhcg is present in both the apical and basolateral plasma membrane, is expressed in parallel with renal ammonia excretion, and mediates a critical role in renal ammonia excretion and collecting duct ammonia transport. Rhbg is expressed specifically in the basolateral plasma membrane, and its role in renal acid-base homeostasis is controversial. In the inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD), basolateral Na+-K+-ATPase enables active basolateral NH4+ uptake. In addition to these proteins, several other proteins also contribute to renal NH3/NH4+ transport. The role and mechanisms of these proteins are discussed in depth in this review.
Relative effects of exophytic predation, endophytic predation, and intraspecific competition on a subcortical herbivore: consequences to the reproduction of Ips pini and Thanasimus dubius

We used a laboratory assay to partition the effects of predation and intraspecific competition on the establishment, mating success, and brood development of an endophytic herbivore. We selected a system in which the same predator feeds both exophytically and endo- phytically on the same prey, to evaluate the role of herbivore feeding guild on predator numerical and functional responses. The bark beetle, Ips pini (Coleop- tera: Scolytidae) reproduces within the stems of conifers. Males establish mating chambers under the bark, produce aggregation pheromones, and are subsequently joined by females that construct ovipositional galleries. Thanasimus dubius (Coleoptera: Cleridae) adults prey on adults alighting on the bark surface. T. dubius females then oviposit at the bark beetles' entrance sites, and their larvae prey on developing bark beetle larvae within the tree. We imposed a controlled 3�3 factorial design of prey and predator adult densities on red pine logs. Both predation and competition decreased I. pini reproduction. However, the per capita effect of predation was greater than competition, with one adult T. dubius reducing herbivore reproduction by an equivalent amount as four to five competing males and their harems. Increased densi- ties of adult T. dubius on the plant surface reduced the number of prey captured per predator. Total predation on adults and larvae was similar. However, adult T. dubius on the plant surface ate approximately 18-35 times more I. pini per day than did their endophytic larvae. Within the plant, cannibalism among T. dubius, low herbivore densities, limited feeding times, and presumably the complex gallery architecture of I. pini reduced the number of predator progeny. The progeny of I. pini showed even sex ratios in the absence of predators, but were female biased when predators were present. We quantified a relatively narrow set of predator and prey densities that can generate replacement rates greater than one for this predator that specializes on endophytic herbivores. We attribute some of the benefits of an endophytic lifestyle not only to escape from generalist predators, but also to relatively low functional and numerical responses of adapted predators.
Use of restriction fragment length polymorphisms to identify sea turtle eggs and cooked meats to species

One of the many threats to sea turtlepopulations is the take of turtles and theireggs for consumption and sale. Improved speciesidentification methods for sea turtle eggs andcooked meats would facilitate prosecution ofthose involved. Fatty acid-based methods toidentify eggs cannot resolve loggerheads andthe two ridley species. Protein-based methodsare not applicable to eggs or cooked meat. Wepresent methods to extract DNA from turtle eggand cooked meat and to produce diagnosticrestriction fragment length polymorphismpatterns in the cytochrome b region of themitochondrial DNA. This method works on DNAfrom any tissue, and provides wildlife lawenforcement another tool to combat illegal takeof endangered species.
Apolipoprotein A-I and cholesterol efflux: the good, the bad, and the modified.

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is strongly and inversely associated with coronary heart disease. However, recent developments have raised major questions about the causal nature of this relationship. Several randomized controlled clinical trials of HDL-raising interventions have failed to demonstrate reduction in risk of major adverse cardiac events.1–4 Furthermore, in 1 Mendelian randomization study, genetic variants associated with increased HDL cholesterol were not associated with protection from coronary heart disease.5 It has been proposed that HDL can be dysfunctional and that this might cloud the relationship between HDL cholesterol and coronary heart disease. In this issue of Circulation Research , Shao et al6 further our understanding of the concept of HDL dysfunction by showing that oxidative modifications of apoA-I, the main protein constituent of HDL, impair its ability to accept cholesterol from macrophages. Article, see p 1733 HDL may protect against atherogenesis via several potential mechanisms. HDL has been shown to inhibit inflammation,7 regulate nitric oxide production,8 function in innate immunity,9 and, in its most extensively studied property, remove excess cholesterol from macrophages in the process of reverse cholesterol transport. During cholesterol efflux, lipid-poor apoA-I and mature HDL interact with integral membrane proteins ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 and ATP-binding cassette transporter G1, respectively, to accept cholesterol from cells.10 Our group and others have shown that the cholesterol efflux capacity of HDL inversely correlates with atherosclerotic vascular disease.6,11,12 The addition of niacin to statin therapy failed to improve cardiovascular outcomes but also did not improve HDL cholesterol efflux capacity,13 providing a …
Polyethylene Glycol Precipitates of Serum Contain a Large Proportion of Uncomplexed Immunoglobulins and C3

High pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to fractionate redissolved polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitates isolated from the sera of normal volunteers and from patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 2 diseases characterized by elevated levels of circulating immune complexes. The individual fractions were analyzed by solid phase ELISA for IgA, IgM, C3, IgG, and complexes of IgG-IgA and IgG-C3. Although PEG precipitates were enriched for high molecular weight IgA and IgG (presumably bound within CIC), significant amounts of IgM, unbound IgG and C3 were also present. The quantities of the PEG-precipitable proteins did not correlate with their serum concentrations. IgG-IgA and IgG-C3 complexes were found in all precipitates examined, but the levels of complexes were higher in both patient groups. These results indicate that PEG precipitates a considerable quantity of proteins not bound in immune complexes. There appeared to be greater protein precipitation from sera of the patient groups compared to the amount precipitated from the normal sera. These results suggest that an understanding of the mechanism of PEG precipitation may be important in defining abnormalities in IgAN, SLE and perhaps other diseases characterized by elevated levels of CIC. In addition, the possibility of undetected CIC in PEG precipitable material must be considered.
Commentary on "Spirituality and Self-Management of Diabetes in African Americans"

and long-standing belief in thehealing powers of prayer, religion, and spirituality (Spector, 2004). Intheirarticle“SpiritualityandSelf-ManagementofDiabetesinAfricanAmericans,” Polzer and Miles provide a concise yet comprehensiveview of the role that spirituality plays in the health care of AfricanAmericans. They indicate that spirituality and health are intricatelyinterlinked, just as it is with every aspect of life, as exemplified by thequotes of African American women that preface this commentary.The intent of the Polzer and Miles article is to link African Ameri-can spiritual and religious practices and beliefs with diabetes self-
Reaction Paths in the Hydrogenolysis of Acetic Acid to Ethanol over Pd(111), Re(0001), and PdRe Alloys

Abstract Nonlocal density functional theory (DFT) calculations are used to examine alternative mechanisms for the hydrogenolysis of acetic acid to ethanol over Pd. The overall surface reaction energies, at low surface coverage, are computed for a number of different possible paths by which acetic acid may be converted to ethanol over Pd(111). Binding energies of the various oxygenated C 2 intermediates formed along these paths are also reported. The overall reaction energies were used to propose a plausible mechanism for acetic acid hydrogenolysis. In the postulated mechanism, acetic acid dissociates to form an acetyl surface intermediate. The acetyl intermediate is then subsequently hydrogenated to ethanol via the formation of an acetaldehyde surface intermediate. Detailed reaction coordinate calculations were used to isolate the transition states and calculate activation barriers for acetic acid dissociation to acetyl (Δ E act =+142 kJ/mol) and acetyl hydrogenation to acetaldehyde (Δ E act =+66 kJ/mol) over Pd(111). Experimental observations and DFT calculations suggest that these two steps are likely to be rate determining in acetic acid hydrogenolysis. The barriers and overall reaction energies for these same steps are also computed on Re(0001) and pseudomorphic overlayers of Pd on Re (Pd ML /Re(0001)) as well. The results suggest that the C–OH bond-dissociation reaction is more favored over Re(0001) since it has a more open d band. However, bond-association reactions such as acetyl hydrogenation are more favored over Pd ML /Re(0001), which has an electronic d-band structure similar to that of a noble metal. The optimal balance may require a Pd/Re alloy. Calculations performed over a Pd 0.66 Re 0.33 alloy demonstrate a nominal barrier for both C–OH bond breaking and C–H bond formation. This may be ideal for acetic acid hydrogenolysis to ethanol. Rhenium ensembles, however, should be avoided as they lead to acetic acid decarboxylation.
3D SAR focusing for subsurface point targets

In this work we develop a methodology for imaging subsurface point targets using a single-pass strip-map synthetic aperture radar (SAR). The point targets are embedded in an arbitrary homogeneous half space, and are located at arbitrary depths. It is assumed that the radar frequency is low enough and system sensitivity high enough to allow the required two-way penetration depth to target. The succession of steps required to form the image of the subsurface point targets are described, including the estimation of the subsurface wave velocity, estimation of the depth of the point target, and the modified range and azimuth filters to achieve optimum resolution. The theoretical approach is described and results are presented for a range of point target depths, subsurface velocities, and radar system parameters. It is found that with the assumptions made it is possible to image the point targets in 3D with good range, azimuth, and depth accuracy.
Video games in context: An ethnographic study of situated meaning-making practices of Asian immigrant adolescents in New York City

Many studies of players have described how situated learning occurs in video games. However, the “situated” nature of video games is complicated because players exist not only as player-avatars in a virtual world, but also as a player-human in a physical setting. This paper is based on an ethnographic study of a group of Asian adolescents in New York City, who play video games in various settings, such as Internet cafes and at home. Being recent immigrants from China and English language learners, playing video games requires that they understand the action occurring in the game without necessarily having access to the language. The study looks at how the real-world conditions shape their meaning-making practices as situated within particular physical spaces and suggests that researchers need to look beyond the actions of the player-avatar and consider the actions of the player-human as well, because how they make sense of video games may be contingent upon the real-world conditions unfolding around them.
Sr87/Sr86 Ratios of Quaternary Lavas of the Cascade Range, Northern California

Quaternary lavas from Mount Lassen, Mount Shasta, and Medicine Lake, which range in composition from olivine basalt to rhyolite, have Sr 87 /Sr 86 values that fall between 0.7030 and 0.7043, corrected to 0.7080 for the Eimcr and Amend (MIT) SrCO 3 standard. These values are very close to average (corrected) strontium isotopic values of some other circum-Pacific volcanic suites and of lavas of oceanic islands. The low ratios suggest a mantle origin. The notably high strontium content (1400 ppm) in the andesites from Mount Shasta also indicates a mantle origin at depths where plagioclase is absent as a stable phase in the residual material.
Neighborhood Disadvantage and Ischemic Stroke The Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS)

Background and Purpose—Neighborhood characteristics may influence the risk of stroke and contribute to socioeconomic disparities in stroke incidence. The objectives of this study were to examine the relationship between neighborhood socioeconomic status and incident ischemic stroke and examine potential mediators of these associations. Methods—We analyzed data from 3834 whites and 785 blacks enrolled in the Cardiovascular Health Study, a multicenter, population-based, longitudinal study of adults ages ≥65 years from 4 US counties. The primary outcome was adjudicated incident ischemic stroke. Neighborhood socioeconomic status was measured using a composite of 6 census tract variables. Race-stratified multilevel Cox proportional hazard models were constructed adjusted for sociodemographic, behavioral, and biological risk factors. Results—Among whites, in models adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics, stroke hazard was significantly higher among residents of neighborhoods in the lowest compared with t...
Strong evaporation into a half space

Evaporation of a liquid into a vacuum occupying a half space is investigated on the basis of the one-dimensional BGK model linearized about a drifting Maxwellian distribution. A unique solution is shown to exist if the downstream speed remains subsonic. Exact analysis is used, and numerical results are given.
Osirak Redux? Assessing Israeli Capabilities to Destroy Iranian Nuclear Facilities

Does Israel have the ability to conduct a military attack against Iran's nuclear facilities similar to its 1981 strike on Iraq's Osirak reactor? The Israeli Air Force has significantly upgraded its equipment since the early 1980s, but the Iranian nuclear complex is a much harder target than was the Osirak reactor. Iran has three facilities that are critical for nuclear weapons production: a uranium conversion facility, an enrichment facility, and a heavy-water production plant and associated plutonium production reactor. This article analyzes possible interactions of Israel's improved air force, including the addition of F-15I aircraft and U.S.-supplied conventional “bunker-buster” precision-guided munitions, with the Iranian target set and air defense systems. It concludes that Israel has the capability to attack Iran's nuclear infrastructure with at least as much confidence as it had in the 1981 Osirak strike. Beyond the case of Iran, this finding has implications for the use of precision-guided weapons...
INSIGHTS, EPIPHANIES, AND WORKING THROUGH: ON HEALING, SELF-HEALING, AND CREATIVITY IN THE WRITER AND THE ANALYST

The author discusses similarities and differences between the way that writers and psychoanalysts go about their respective tasks. He raises questions about the role of creativity and its sources in both these vocations. He illustrates his points by relating a brief clinical vignette from his work with a patient who was a writer, and by sharing the description of a creative story he wrote many years before becoming an analyst. After presenting a story by James Joyce as also illustrative of these themes, the author concludes by comparing and contrasting the inner experiences of the writer and the analyst.
How Models Are Used to Represent Reality

Most recent philosophical thought about the scientific representation of the world has focused on dyadic relationships between language‐like entities and the world, particularly the semantic relationships of reference and truth. Drawing inspiration from diverse sources, I argue that we should focus on the pragmatic activity of representing, so that the basic representational relationship has the form: Scientists use models to represent aspects of the world for specific purposes. Leaving aside the terms “law” and “theory,” I distinguish principles, specific conditions, models, hypotheses, and generalizations. I argue that scientists use designated similarities between models and aspects of the world to form both hypotheses and generalizations.
Career prospects and professional landscape after advanced endoscopy fellowship training: a survey assessing graduates from 2009 to 2013

Background and Aims The advanced endoscopy (AE) fellowship is a popular career track for graduating gastroenterology fellows. The number of fellows completing AE fellowships and the number of programs offering this training have increased in the past 5 years. Despite this, we suspect that the number of AE attending (staff physician) positions have decreased (relative to the number of fellows graduating), raising concerns regarding AE job market saturation. Our aim was to survey practicing gastroenterology physicians who completed an AE fellowship within the past 5 years regarding their current professional status. Methods A 16-question survey was distributed using Research Electronic Data Capture by e-mail to practicing gastroenterologists who completed an AE fellowship between 2009 and 2013. The survey questions elicited information regarding demographics, professional status, and additional information. Results A total of 96 invitations were distributed via e-mail. Forty-one of 96 respondents (43%) replied to the survey. Approximately half of the respondents were employed in an academic practice, with the remainder in private practice (56% and 44%, respectively). Nearly half (46%) of the respondents found it "difficult" to find an AE position after training. Thirty-nine percent of private-practice endoscopists were performing > 200 ERCPs/year, whereas 65% were doing so in academic settings ( P = .09). Fifty-six percent of respondents were in small practices (0 to 1 partner), with a significantly smaller group size in private versus academic practice (72% versus 43%, P = .021). Seventy-eight percent of respondents believed the AE job market was saturated; most responded that the AE job market was saturated in both academic and private practice (44%), whereas 34% believed the job market was saturated in academics only. Most respondents (73%) who were training AE fellows found it difficult to place them in AE attending positions. Respondents from academic practice found it significantly more difficult to balance work and personal life compared with those in private practice (87% versus 33%, respectively; P = .0004). Conclusion This index survey highlights the trends related to the current state of the post-AE fellowship professional landscape. Further evaluation and discussion are needed to address these evolving issues in professional practice in the field of gastroenterology.
Performance Measures for the High Cost Universal Service Fund

The Federal Communications Commission has spent $30 billion over the past decade on subsidies for phone service in high cost areas, but it has never developed outcome goals or measures to assess whether the subsidies have accomplished the intended results. Congress should require the FCC to measure the outcomes articulated in the Telecommunications Act: access in rural areas to services reasonably comparable to those in urban areas at reasonably comparable rates. Legislators should also require the FCC or independent analysts to:1. Analyze how much of a change in these two outcomes the high cost fund has caused, 2. Assess how this change in access and price has affected subscribership, and3. Estimate how this change in subscribership has affected the economic, social, and cultural opportunities available to rural households, or other broad social benefits the high cost fund is supposed to promote.This paper was originally submitted as written testimony to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet
Laser Excited Luminescence of Tb 3+ , Eu 3+ -Activated Ferroelectric Gadolinium Molybdate (GMO)

Gadolinium molybdate, Gd2(Mo04)3 (GMO), a ferroelectric-ferroelastic material exhibits interesting electrical and optical properties. Stimulated emission (1) has been obtained in this material with Nd3+ ions. However the spectroscopic properties of this material activated with Tb3+ and Eu3+, are not well known. In this paper some anomalous luminescence properties of a single domain GMO crystal activated with Tb3+ and Eu3+ are discussed. The excitation was accomplished directly by the 4f-4f absorption lines of the rare earth ions using a linearly polarized argon laser.