cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Uracil-DNA Glycosylase in the Extreme Thermophile Archaeoglobus fulgidus

Uracil-DNA glycosylase (UDG) is an essential enzyme for maintaining genomic integrity. Here we describe a UDG from the extreme thermophile Archaeoglobus fulgidus. The enzyme is a member of a new class of enzymes found in prokaryotes that is distinct from the UDG enzyme found in Escherichia coli, eukaryotes, and DNA-containing viruses. The A. fulgidus UDG is extremely thermostable, maintaining full activity after heating for 1.5 h at 95 degrees C. The protein is capable of removing uracil from double-stranded DNA containing either a U/A or U/G base pair as well as from single-stranded DNA. This enzyme is product-inhibited by both uracil and apurinic/apyrimidinic sites. The A. fulgidus UDG has a high degree of similarity at the primary amino acid sequence level to the enzyme found in Thermotoga maritima, a thermophilic eubacteria, and suggests a conserved mechanism of UDG-initiated base excision repair in archaea and thermophilic eubacteria.
Metabolic engineering of resveratrol and other longevity boosting compounds

Resveratrol, a compound commonly found in red wine, has attracted many attentions recently. It is a diphenolic natural product accumulated in grapes and a few other species under stress conditions. It possesses a special ability to increase the life span of eukaryotic organisms, ranging from yeast, to fruit fly, to obese mouse. The demand for resveratrol as a food and nutrition supplement has increased significantly in recent years. Extensive work has been carried out to increase the production of resveratrol in plants and microbes. In this review, we will discuss the biosynthetic pathway of resveratrol and engineering methods to heterologously express the pathway in various organisms. We will outline the shortcuts and limitations of common engineering efforts. We will also discuss briefly the features and engineering challenges of other longevity boosting compounds.
On perfectly homogeneous bases inF-spaces

It is proved that in anF-space with a basis (χ n ) n = 1/∞ , (χ n ) n = 1/∞ is equivalent to the unit-vectors basis ofc 0,l p (p>0), or (s) if and only if (χ n ) n = 1/∞ is equivalent to each of itsɛ-normalized block basic sequences for eachɛ>0. This result is an extension of a theorem of M. Zippin.
Troubling teacher identity: preparing mathematics teachers to teach for diversity

This paper reports on an action research project designed to explore the complexities of pre‐service mathematics teacher resistance to social justice issues. Research on equity and mathematics education has indicated that such resistance seems particularly strong for mathematics teachers. Twelve pre‐service mathematics teachers participated in a course‐based research project to explore this issue. Participants completed a classroom discourse analysis and a self‐study narrative as part of their secondary mathematics methods course. The findings suggest that attention to issues of identity construction within school mathematics can be successfully embedded in methods courses in order to better prepare mathematics teachers to teach for diversity.
Acute rhinosinusitis in children

Acute rhinosinusitis in children is a common disorder that is characterized by some or all of the following symptoms: fever, rhinorrhea, nasal congestion, cough, postnasal drainage, and facial pain/headache. It often starts as an upper respiratory tract infection that is complicated by a bacterial infection in which the symptoms worsen, persist, or are particularly severe. The accurate diagnosis of acute rhinosinusitis is challenging because of the overlap of symptoms with other common diseases, heavy reliance on subjective reporting of symptoms by the parents, and difficulties related to the physical examination of the child. Antibiotics are the mainstay of treatment. There is no strong evidence for the use of ancillary therapy. Orbital and intracranial complications may occur and are best treated early and aggressively. This article reviews the diagnosis, pathophysiology, bacteriology, treatment, and complications of acute rhinosinusitis in children.
Software parametric cost estimation: Wave of the future

Abstract The cost of computer software is comprising an increasingly significant portion of the life cycle costs of modern systems. Computers and software are being used in all types of systems from military weapon systems to automobile engines and televisions, so that software costs must almost always be addressed. Furthermore, the amount and complexity of software being used in all types of systems is steadily increasing: These costs cannot be ignored. The objective of this paper is to provide the reader with an overview of software parametric cost estimating in order that he or she can better understand how software costs can be estimated, and what can be expected from currently-available software parametric cost estimating techniques. First, the use of parametrics in software cost estimating are explained. Next, some of the current popular software parametric cost models are briefly described. Third, some of the issues related to cost estimation, such as software size estimation and software reliability, are briefly discussed. The paper concludes with the writer's assessment of the current status of parametric estimating, including a discussion of what quality and accuracy can be expected from currently-available techniques. Also, an evaluation of what should be accomplished in the future in the field of software parametric cost estimation is included.
Macular pigment: a test of the acuity hypothesis.

PURPOSE Schultze, in 1866, originally proposed that macular pigment (MP) could improve acuity by reducing the deleterious effects associated with the aberration of short-wave (SW) light. Although proposed well more than a century ago, the hypothesis has never been empirically tested. The authors chose to begin evaluating the acuity hypothesis by measuring MP levels, gap, and hyperacuity in the same observers. METHODS Eighty healthy young subjects were assessed. Forty subjects were assigned to the gap acuity experiment and 40 to the hyperacuity experiment. Peak MP optical density (MPOD) was measured using heterochromatic flicker photometry (HFP). Resolution and hyperacuity were measured as the minimum perceivable gap between two solid black lines (1'' width) vertically separated and as a vernier offset, respectively. These targets were presented on a 0.5 degrees circular diffusing background that appeared either white (17 cd/m2) or yellow (16 cd/m2). The yellow background was produced by using light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with a peak lambda = 570 nm. The white background was produced by combining the yellow with a blue LED (peak lambda = 460 nm). The subject's head (5.33 m from the stimulus) was stabilized with a head-rest assembly, and the adaptive state was controlled with the use of a constant white surround (11 cd/m2). Thresholds were determined based on probit analysis of psychometric functions generated using a two-alternative forced-choice procedure. RESULTS MPOD ranged from 0.14 to 1.00 measured at 30' eccentricity. Gap and hyperacuity measures each varied by a factor of approximately 5 to 6. Average gap acuity (N = 38) for the white condition (filtered by MP) was 31.2'' (SD = 9.4) and did not differ from the average (N = 38) for the yellow condition (not filtered by MP), which was 32.1'' (SD = 10.9). Similarly, average hyperacuity for the white condition (7.0''; SD = 2.9) did not differ from that of the yellow condition (6.8''; SD = 3.5). CONCLUSIONS MPOD did not correlate significantly with gap or hyperacuity measured in the yellow or white conditions. These data, therefore, do not support the predictions of the acuity hypothesis.
Functionality investigation using a discrete event system approach

Abstract This paper presents a methodology for investigating the functionality of objects in manipulatory tasks. Functionality is defined as the applicability of an object for the fulfillment of a particular purpose. The description of an interaction for investigating the functionality of an object is described using a formalism based on Discrete Event System Theory and the Active Perception paradigm. The notion of an overseer for controlling, arbitrating and fusing assertions from multiple observers is presented. To describe the overall task observability we introduce the concept of piecewise observability. The functionality of a tool for piercing is presented and the feasibility of approach is demonstrated in a series of experiments using a roboti system and a compliant force sensor.
The potential of using thermoluminescence to date buried soils developed on colluvial and fluvial sediments from Utah and Colorado, U.S.A.: Preliminary results

The natural TL intensity for surface and buried Holocene and Pleistocene A horizons developed on flood-plain silts, near Denver, Colorado exponentially decreases with time. This signal is approaching saturation by ca. 130 ka. The A horizon of the modern flood-plain soil is not fully light bleached. The TL properties and age estimates are presented for radiocarbon dated, eolian-enriched buried-A horizons developed on fault-derived colluvium from the American Fork segment of the Wasatch fault zone, Utah. Dating of these buried soils provide a close age estimate on paleoearthquake events. Mean TL age estimates by regeneration and total bleach techniques for buried A horizons are 0.5 ± 0.1 ka and 2.7 ± 0.4 ka which are in agreement with corresponding radiocarbon dates of 980 ± 70 years BP and 2620 ± 70 years BP. A surface sag pond mud formed within an antithetic grabben is well light bleached and yielded a TL age estimate by the total bleach method of 240 ± 60 years BP, in agreement with its known age of <300 years BP. This study indicates that relatively brief periods of pedogenesis are not sufficient to light-bleach sediment and that eolian additions enhance the reduction of TL in soils.
Molecular targeting of malignant gliomas with novel multiply-mutated interleukin 13-based cytotoxins.

Abstract A vast majority of high-grade gliomas over-express a receptor for interleukin 13 (IL13). This glioma-associated receptor for IL13 is interleukin 4 (IL4)-independent. This is in contrast to the physiological and IL4-shared receptor for the IL13, IL13/4 receptor, which is found on many normal organs. IL13-based Pseudomonas exotoxin (PE)-containing cytotoxic fusion proteins have been shown to be very potent anti-glioma agents. However, native IL13-based cytotoxins interact with both forms of the IL13 receptor. Therefore, mutations in IL13 were made in order to diminish/eliminate IL13's interaction with the shared IL13/4 receptor of normal tissue. These mutations encompassed amino acids located on α-helix A and C of IL13. We have engineered double or triple mutants of IL13 linked to various forms of PE. We found that these mutations could be successfully incorporated into IL13 without the loss of the protein's ability to selectively deliver the toxin to glioma cells while reducing their toxicity.
Rfp-Y region polymorphism and Marek's disease resistance in multitrait immunocompetence-selected chicken lines

Abstract Although the influence of the chicken classical MHC in resistance to many diseases is well established, the role of the recently identified, genetically independent, MHC-like region known as Rfp-Y is unclear. The objectives of this study were to analyze the frequencies of DNA polymorphisms of the Rfp-Y region in White Leghorn lines, which were divergently selected in replicate for multitrait immunocompetence, and to determine the association of these polymorphisms with Marek's disease (MD) resistance. Chicks, either with or without herpes virus of turkey (HVT) vaccination, were challenged with 500 ffu of a very virulent Marek's disease virus (Md5) at 2 d of age. The MD-related data were collected for 10 wk. PvuII-digested genomic DNA was hybridized with an Rfp-Y region-specific probe, 18.1. Three Rfp-Y polymorphisms were observed. The frequency of one Rfp-Y polymorphism was significantly different between divergently selected multitrait immunocompetence lines in one replicate only; therefore, the impact of multitrait immunocompetence selection on Rfp-Y polymorphisms is inconclusive. The PvuII defined Rfp-Y region polymorphisms had no association with either innate or vaccine-induced MD resistance to Md5 virus challenge.
Rapid Initiation of Thymidine Incorporation into Deoxyribonucleic Acid in Vegetative Tobacco Stem Segments Treated with Indole-3-acetic Acid.

The short term effect of 11.4 μm indoleacetic acid on the incorporation of (methyl-3H)thymidine into DNA in vegetative tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv. Wis. 38) stem segments has been investigated. In segments that are defoliated, inverted, and kept in the dark for 7 hours, indoleacetic acid very rapidly (about 60 minutes) and strikingly initiates thymidine incorporation into DNA. The time required before enough indoleacetic acid (2.8 μm) to enhance thymidine incorporation moves into a segment has been found to be about 35 minutes. The initiation response time for segment tissue that already contains 2.8 μm indoleacetic acid should be no more than about 25 minutes. The rate of labeled thymidine incorporation into DNA is affected by physiological treatments of segments. Moving segments from the light into the dark or defoliating segments or inverting defoliated segments decreases the rate of thymidine incorporation. For segments given all three treatments, indoleacetic acid restores the rate of thymidine incorporation as compared to controls. Darkness, or defoliation or inversion of segments, therefore, may decrease thymidine incorporation into DNA by effecting reduced auxin levels in stem segments.
Patterns of fish deformities and their association with trematode cysts in the Willamette River, Oregon

We described skeletal deformities in Willamette River fishes from larval and juvenile specimens collected in 2002 and 2003. Deformities were found in most taxa examined but were more frequent in native broadcast spawners, especially minnows and suckers, than in native or exotic nest builders. Caudal deformities were uniformly distributed throughout the river, but precaudal deformities were more localized near the towns of Newberg and Salem (Wheatland Ferry). In northern pikeminnow, Ptychocheilus oregonensis, deformities were dependent on relative hatch date, with early season fish having about three times the deformity load as late season fish. In a subsample of northern pikeminnow and chiselmouth, Acrocheilus alutaceus, number of deformities was directly related to number of trematode metacercariae and precaudal deformities were twice as likely as caudal deformities to be associated with metacercariae. Based on a logistic regression, the probability of a precaudal deformity was dependent on number of metacercariae and geographic area with the area effect disappearing as the number of cysts increased. A separate analysis showed that some types of deformities were unlikely to be associated with metacercariae. However, even in cases where metacercariae were unlikely to be associated with deformities, metacercariae were usually present elsewhere in the fish and an indirect effect could not be dismissed. The taxonomic, spatial and temporal patterns of skeletal deformities in Willamette River fishes may be due to differences in intermediate host (snail or fish) resistance or susceptibility to parasites, to differences in life history ecology, or to anthropogenic effects that are manifest in increased precaudal deformities near Newberg and Wheatland Ferry or decreased rates elsewhere.
Intramolecular proton transfer in the cyclization of geranylgeranyl diphosphate to the taxadiene precursor of taxol catalyzed by recombinant taxadiene synthase

Abstract Background: The committed step in the biosynthesis of the anticancer drug taxol in yew ( Taxus ) species is the cyclization of geranylgeranyl diphosphate to taxa-4(5),11(12)-diene. The enzyme taxadiene synthase catalyzes this complex olefin cation cyclization cascade involving the formation of three rings and three stereogenic centers. Results: Recombinant taxadiene synthase was incubated with specifically deuterated substrates, and the mechanism of cyclization was probed using MS and NMR analyses of the products to define the crucial hydrogen migration and terminating deprotonation steps. The electrophilic cyclization involves the ionization of the diphosphate with closure of the A-ring, followed by a unique intramolecular transfer of the C11 proton to the re -face of C7 to promote closure of the B/C-ring juncture, and cascade termination by proton elimination from the β-face of C5. Conclusions: These findings provide insight into the molecular architecture of the first dedicated step of taxol biosynthesis that creates the taxane carbon skeleton, and they have broad implications for the general mechanistic capability of the large family of terpenoid cyclization enzymes.
Systems simulation of design for end-of-life recovery under uncertainty

Design for End of Life (DfEOL) recovery is a complex process that requires consideration of various design aspects including design for product life extension, design for reliability, design for disassembly, design for components reuse, and design for recyclability. There is a need for an analytical tool that helps designers integrate all these design aspects together and moreover investigate the impact of design features on the recovery network. The designer needs to predict the variability that design features bring into the reverse logistics network, including the variability in the amount, quality and timing of return flows and uncertainty in the remanufacturing operations such as disassembly time. In addition to the product design, the EOL recovery system performance is also affected by human decision making. The willingness of customers to keep used products in storage, the qualitative criteria used by remanufacturing companies to sort and categorize the returned used products and the manual disassembly operations influenced by the operator’s cognitive biases are examples of human decision making processes that impact product recovery. The nonlinear character of reverse logistics system along with the dynamic complexity as a result of uncertainties and cognitive biases are particularly troublesome. This paper establishes a simulation-based System Dynamics (SD) model of product life cycle to check interrelationship among product design features and their impacts on the amount, quality and timing of the return flows to the waste stream. The complex product take back process and recovery operations are modeled. Designers could use the results of the model to compare different design scenarios and to receive information about what design features bring problems or create opportunities for EOL recovery.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
A-twisted heterotic Landau–Ginzburg models

Abstract In this paper, we apply the methods developed in recent work for constructing A-twisted (2, 2) Landau–Ginzburg models to analogous (0, 2) models. In particular, we study (0, 2) Landau–Ginzburg models on topologically non-trivial spaces away from large-radius limits, where one expects to find correlation function contributions akin to (2, 2) curve corrections. Such heterotic theories admit A- and B-model twists, and exhibit a duality that simultaneously exchanges the twists and dualizes the gauge bundle. We explore how this duality operates in heterotic Landau–Ginzburg models, as well as other properties of these theories, using examples which renormalization-group flow to heterotic nonlinear sigma models as checks on our methods.
Ordovician Albitites Generated by Magmatic Fluids within a Volcano-Sedimentary Sequence from NW Sardinia☆

Abstract Two albitite layers were discovered near Lula village within a volcano-sedimentary sequence of likely Ordovician age in the Internal Nappe Zone (NE Sardinia). The albitites consist of up to 95% albite, with small amounts of quartz, biotite, chlorite, Fe-oxides, apatite, and monazite. They are the first albitites to be found in NE Sardinia, and the first known case of Ordovician albitites. In central and southern Sardinia the albitites occur as late Variscan dykes and small intrusions. The albitization process is attributed to hydrothermal fluids produced during the late stages of middle Ordovician volcano-plutonic activity. A comparison of the albitite compositions with the non-albitized samples reveals that albitites are characterized by strong gains of Na, slight gains of Al, Si, and Sr, and remarkable losses of K, Rb, Ba, Ca, Mg, Fe, Ti, Ni, and V. These albitites are also enriched in LREE and depleted in HREE.
Effect of Taste Sensation on Cough Reflex Sensitivity

Cough is among the most common symptoms with which people present for medical attention, but evidence-based treatments remain limited. One issue compromising interpretation of clinical trials of cough preparations is that control formulations often are nearly as effective as those that contain active ingredients. This observation has caused some researchers to propose that one or more nominally inactive ingredients may have some physiological effects. For example, most liquid cough preparations are highly sweetened, and it has been suggested that sweet taste might modulate cough sensitivity. The fact that honey has been used for thousands of years as a cough remedy is consistent with this idea. However, empirical evidence for modulation of cough sensitivity by taste was lacking. Evidence is still sparse, but relevant experiments have now been published: rinsing the mouth with a sweet sucrose solution increased cough thresholds in a single-inhalation capsaicin challenge. Furthermore, rinsing the mouth with a bitter solution did not affect thresholds, an important demonstration of specificity. The underlying mechanisms of cough suppression by sweet taste are still unclear. However, extant data suggest that modulation of cough sensitivity by taste is a promising area for further investigation. Such work may lead to greater understanding of apparent placebo effects in clinical trials and provide empirical support for therapies based on stimulation of taste nerves.
Syntheses of 2H- and 13C-labeled 1,2-di-O-hexadecyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamines and 1,2-di-O-hexadecyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholines

Abstract Improved syntheses of 1,2-di-O-hexadecyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine and 1,2-di-O-hexadecyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine were performed in 71% and 57% overall yields, respectively. Reported reactions which have been greatly improved include the dialkylation of 3-O-benzyl-sn-glycerol, the hydrogenolysis of the 3-O-benzyl-sn-glycerol derivative, and the quaternization of the sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine to the corresponding sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine. Several 2H-, and 13C-labeled analogs of 1,2-di-O-hexadecyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine were then prepared by the appropriate modifications of our synthetic sequence.
AN ANALYSIS OF INTERCHANGE OPERATION IN AN URBAN AUTOMATED HIGHWAY NETWORK

IN ORDER TO SERVE THE DIVERSE TRAVEL DEMANDS IN LARGE URBAN AREAS, AUTOMATED HIGHWAY NETWORKS WILL HAVE TO CONTAIN AUTOMATED HIGHWAY INTERCHANGES. THIS PAPER DEVELOPS A METHODOLOGY FOR ANALYZING INTERCHANGE OPERATION UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE NETWORK IS OPERATED ACCORDING TO A "CYCLE PREPROGRAMMING" STRATEGY. THE EFFECTS OF PHYSICAL INTERCHANGE DIMENSIONS, VEHICLE PERFORMANCE LIMITATIONS, AND SYSTEM CONTROL LIMITATIONS ON THE VALUE OF A PARAMETER DIRECTLY RELATED TO EFFECTIVE NETWORK CAPACITY ARE EXAMINED FOR AN INTERCHANGE CONFIGURATION SIMILAR TO THAT USED IN PRESENT FREEWAY NETWORKS. A METHOD FOR INCREASING THE VALUE OF THIS PARAMETER AND THEREBY INCREASING EFFECTIVE NETWORK CAPACITY IS INVESTIGATED. /AUTHOR/
Current consensus and update on psoriasis therapy: a perspective from the U.S.

Psoriasis is one of the more common forms of chronic dermatitis in the world. The latest U.S.-wide epidemiological study conducted by the author revealed a prevalence rate of 2.6% of the population, which translates to over 6 million Americans (1). Psoriasis comes in many different degrees of severity and responsiveness to treatment modalities. Some cases are very mild and quite responsive to treatment, while others are so severe, chronic and recalcitrant that they test the skill and ingenuity of the best clinicians. Fortunately, there are also many different treatment options. Topical therapies include crude coal tar, anthralin, corticosteroids, calcipotriol, and tazarotene. Phototherapy may be a better choice in patients with more extensive psoriasis; UVB or psoralen plus subsequest UVA (PUVA) can be used. There are also a host of systemic therapies (cyclosporine, methotrexate, acitretin), which can be chosen in recalcitrant cases, or when topical or phototherapy is impractical. Importantly, significant increases in efficacy can be obtained by combining multiple therapies (Re-PUVA, topical calcipotriol plus topical halobetasol) and significant decreases in side effects can be obtained by transitioning through or rotating between therapies (cyclosporine transitioning into acitretin).
Programs and Strategies to Increase Latino Students’ Educational Attainment

This article presents strategies that Latino parents and Latino students need to know regarding preparing for and selecting the best undergraduate college or university for the career desired, especially if the choice involves engineering, mathematics, or the sciences. Access to pertinent information on preparation for admission to a college or a university of choice, and then how to negotiate the system to graduate in a timely manner with high grades, is discussed. Sources for advice on going to college can be located at community centers, public libraries, schools, and especially outreach programs and the internet. Moreover, the role of faculty and of academic-guidance personnel on most good campuses that are able to assist students to make informed decisions about career plans is provided. Whether a Latina or Latino student succeeds in going to graduate school involves having correct information, interacting and mentoring with supportive faculty, learning to use a computer with Internet capabilities, a...
New approach for solving the density-functional self-consistent-field problem

A new approach for obtaining the minimum of the density-functional total energy is developed by the application of the variational method to the effective potential rather than to wave functions. The resulting conditions on the effective potential are shown to reduce to a system of simultaneous nonlinear equations. This system can then be solved easily with the use of modern ideas from optimization theory. This also gives a unified description of most self-consistency convergence accelerators and enables us to design a superior procedure. The new approach has been implemented in a completely general band-structure method. A special construction of the potential and mixed basis set enables us to calculate efficiently the band structure of materials with both complex unit cells and interacting $d$ states. The method is demonstrated on crystalline Si and ZnS and is used to obtain the first ab initio band structure for CuIn${\mathrm{Se}}_{2}$ (8 atoms per unit and 292 electrons per unit cell).
Relationship between calcium and agar on vitrification and shoot-tip necrosis of quince ( Cydonia oblonga Mill.) shoots in vitro

Shoot-tip cultures of Quince C (Cydonia oblonga Mill.) initiated on Murashige & Skoog (MS) medium containing 5 μM BA and 0.6% Phytagar showed both shoot-tip necrosis and severe vitrification. Culturing explants on medium containing 1.2% Phytagar and Ca levels of 3 mM (MS medium), 18 mM and 30 mM showed a decrease in growth with increasing medium Ca levels, being especially severe at 30 mM. The Ca content of the explants increased linearly with increasing medium Ca. Culturing explants on medium containing 3 mM, 9 mM, and 18 mM Ca at 0.6, 0.9, and 1.2% agar resulted in reduction in growth, shoot-tip necrosis, and vitrification when either factor was increased. The reduction in shoot-tip necrosis could be accounted for primarily by an increase in medium Ca levels but may also be affected by a change in explant growth. Increasing Ca concentration in the medium resulted in a linear increase in explant K, Ca, Mg, and B levels and a decrease in Mn and Na. Although increasing medium Ca or agar levels reduced vitrification, it is unclear whether they were the direct cause of the reduction in vitrification or whether this response was an effect of the reduction in culture fresh weight.
Intake and digestion by Holstein steer calves consuming grass hay supplemented with broiler litter

Abstract Effects of substituting broiler litter for supplemental corn on feed intake and digestion by Holstein steer calves consuming low-quality grass hay were determined. In Experiment 1, eight steer calves (176 ± 3.4 kg average trial body weight (BW)) in two simultaneous 4 × 4 Latin squares consumed vegetative bermudagrass (BER) or mature bromegrass (BRO) hay ad libitum without an energy supplement (control) or with (dry matter basis) 0.75% BW of ground corn (C), 0.56% BW of corn plus 0.26% BW of deep-stacked broiler litter (LL), or 0.38% BW of corn plus 0.52% BW of litter (HL). Litter was 24% ash, 5.0% nitrogen, 40% neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and 6.3% acid detergent lignin (ADL). Total organic matter (OM) intake was 4.32, 5.10, 5.16, 5.12, 4.89, 5.66, 5.90 and 5.58 kg day −1 (SE 0.084), and digestible OM intake was 2.57, 3.35, 3.21, 3.01, 2.72, 3.39, 3.42 and 3.06 kg day −1 (SE 0.055) for BER, BER-C, BER-LL, BER-HL, BRO, BRO-C, BRO-LL and BRO-HL, respectively. In Experiment 2, six Holstein steer calves (189 ± 15.6 kg average trial BW) in a 6 × 6 Latin square consumed BRO ad libitum without an energy supplement (control) or with 0.75% BW of corn (C), 0.75% BW of corn plus 0.13% BW of peanut skins (CS), 0.5% BW of corn plus 0.35% BW of broiler litter (CL), or 0.5% BW of corn plus 0.13% BW of peanut skins mixed with 0.35% BW of litter at feeding (CLS-F) or before deep-stacking (CLS-ST). Litter contained 22% ash, 4.0% N, 49% NDF and 5.5% acid detergent lignin. Total tract NDF digestibility was similar among treatments. Total and digestible OM intake (2.28, 3.01, 2.93, 3.21, 3.14 and 3.04 kg day −1 for control, C, CL, CS, CLS-F and CLS-ST, respectively) were increased ( P
Sweet sorghum syrup as a renewable material for microbial lipid production

Abstract Cryptococcus curvatus , an oleaginous yeast strain was observed to grow on sweet sorghum syrup derived from sorghum juice. In a batch cultivation mode, within the tested range of total sugar concentrations from 11.7 to 34.0 g/L, no substrate inhibition to cell growth was detected. C . curvatus utilized glucose, fructose, and sucrose sequentially. In a fed-batch process, however, this yeast consumed the three sugars more rapidly and simultaneously. Within three days, a biomass density of 23.6 g/L was obtained. The overall lipid productivity was 4.0 g/L-day. Through use of microwave-assisted lipid extraction, 78.1% of available lipid was extracted out of C. curvatus cells in 4 min using methanol as the only solvent. This study demonstrated that fermentation of C . curvatus using sorghum syrup will result in high lipid yield.
Diesel Emissions and the Ames Test: A Commentary

Participates emitted from diesel engines contain substances which produce mutations in the bacterial assay known as the Ames Salmonella/microsome test. The limitations and value of the Ames test data are discussed here.
Isoenzyme composition of hepatic phenylalanine hydroxylase in developing rats after treatment with cortisol, α-methylphenylalanine and p-chlorophenylalanine in vivo

Abstract The three isozymes (ν, κ, and π) of phenylalanine hydroxylase, resolved by hydroxyapatite chromatography from the adult rat liver, are already present in the fetus, although isozymes κ and π account for less than 15% of the total. Between the age of 4 and 6 days there is a differential increase, and the ratio of ν:κ:π becomes akin to that in adult rats, 51:47:2. The normal rise during the third postnatal week in the concentration of hepatic phenylalanine hydroxylase can be brought about precociously with cortisol, which, in 24 hr after its injection to 6-day-old rats, raises all three isozymes to their adult level. The administration of either α-methylphenylalanine or p-chlorophenylalanine to adult rats results in total suppression of isozymes κ and π, and almost complete suppression of isozyme ν (87–92%). α-Methylphenylalanine exerts a less striking effect on the three isozymes in suckling rats, especially at the age of 22 days.
The Politics of Corporate Control and the Future of Shareholder Activism in the United States

Over the past eleven years, activists – particularly public pension funds such as the California Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) – are credited with prompting boards to roust underperforming management at some of the largest US corporations, and they have pushed for reforms in areas ranging from compensation to corporate strategy. Evidence for shareholders’ increased interest in corporate governance is clear. In the 1984–5 proxy season, shareholder resolutions totaled 275, and the average vote was 5.74%; by 1991–2, resolutions and the average vote on them had climbed to 487 and 24.06%, respectively. In 1992, shareholders were also successful in pushing through regulatory changes that gave them the right to communicate with each other outside the management–dominated proxy system. After 11 years of shareholder activism, where does the movement stand today? Understanding the development of the shareholder–rights movement, the prospects for governance reform, and the future evolution of the movement requires a sophisticated understanding of how the politics of corporate control is accomplished and, in particular, the important role that social structure plays. In this article, we suggest that social movement theory, which sociologists have used to explain collective action by groups ranging from the Civil Rights movement to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, provides a useful tool for analysing owner–management conflicts, and in particular, the recent rise of the shareholder–rights movement in the United States. After briefly discussing the traditional economic view of corporate governance and its shortcomings, we argue that more–or–less organized politics is an essential ingredient of the American system of corporate governance. We then present a social movement framework to explain the rise in investor activism. We conclude by continuing our application of this framework to examine the maturation of this movement and to assess its future, in part by comparing it to other contemporary, confrontational movements.
Fire History and Climate Influences from Forests in the Northern Sierra Nevada, USA

Fire chronologies were developed for four regions representing two general forest types in the Plumas National Forest, Northern Sierra Nevada, California. Chronologies were developed using dendrochronological techniques largely from remnant woody materials, since past logging has left few live trees with long fire scar records. Over the period from 1454 to 2001, 113 fire years were identified in the four regions. Individual sample sites were 0.3–2.0 ha in size. Mean composite fire return intervals (CFI) for the sites ranged from 8 to 22 years when examining fires scarring more than 10% of samples. These values are consistent with fire return intervals derived from similar forests in the Southern Cascades and Northern Sierra Nevada. Differences in CFI were not significantly different between most sites or forest types, or between two management eras. Fire scar formation was predominantly recorded in the latewood and at the ring boundary, suggesting that most fires for this region occurred in the late summer or fall. Fire years in each of four regions were found to correspond significantly to drought conditions when compared to the Palmer Drought Severity Index and to salinity levels in the San Francisco Bay. Fire years also corresponded significantly to transitions from warm to cool phases of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation and the El Nino-Southern Oscillation, which are climate forcing atmospheric processes operating on decadal time scales.
Beam statistics and diffraction from materials in the critical state.

It is shown that room-temperature diffraction pattern spots and diffuse scatter can appear to change their size and appearance relative to reciprocal-space sublattice reflections when the scattering material corresponds in structure to a critical phase. Under such a condition, the material is considered to be continually on the verge of a phase transition and the diffraction spot will have no definite width, its apparent size in reciprocal space dependent on the strength of the scattering into the diffracted beam. It is thought that the materials described in the experiments—niobia-zirconia ceramic alloys—are capable of entering such a critical phase because of their recently suggested planar XY spin character. After first describing how the seemingly crystalline ceramic alloy can display XY -like behavior, we analyze the intensity dependence of the critical scattering from the alloy's oxygen superlattice using information-theoretic methods.
Bacterial Culturing of Ventral Median Celiotomies for Prediction of Postoperative Incisional Complications in Horses

Objective- The purpose of this study was to determine whether detection of bacterial contamination of ventral midline incisions was predictive of postoperative incisional complications in horses undergoing exploratory celiotomy for colic. Study Design- Prospective study. Animal or Sample Population- Horses that had ventral median celiotomies for colic at Colorado State University between May 1, 1991 and April 30, 1993 were studied prospectively. Complete information was obtained on 66 horses. Methods- Bacterial cultures were obtained from ventral midline incisions at surgery. Information regarding the type of surgery performed (celiotomy vs celiotomy plus enterotomy or enterectomy), preoperative total nucleated cells and presence of a left shift, postoperative fever (>38.5°C), incisional drainage, incisional herniation, and outcome were obtained from medical records. Additional information concerning incisional drainage, herniation, and survival was obtained at a minimum of 18 months after surgery. Results- Examination of odds ratio (ORs) and confidence intervals (CIs) revealed that a celiotomy plus enterotomy or enterectomy was positively, but not significantly, associated (OR > 1) with positive culture results, presence of incisional drainage and incisional herniation. A significant association between incisional drainage and hernia formation was found; odds of incisional herniation were 62.5 times greater in horses that had incisional drainage. Incisional drainage and herniation were negatively associated with patient survival. The later association was significant (OR = 0.18, P=.04). Conclusions- This study indicated that detection of bacterial contamination at incisional closure by the swab culture technique was not beneficial in the prediction of postoperative incisional problems in horses undergoing colic surgery. Incisional drainage or infection appeared to be associated with hernia formation. Clinical Relevance- Immediate treatment of incisional drainage or methods to prevent incisional infections may decrease hernia formation.
Analytical solutions for pressure perturbation and fluid leakage through aquitards and wells in multilayered aquifer systems

[1] Large-scale groundwater pumping or deep fluid injection in a multilayered subsurface system may generate pressure perturbation not only in the target formation(s), but also in over- and underlying units. Hydraulic communication in the vertical direction may occur via diffuse leakage through aquitards and/or via focused leakage through leaky wells. Existing analytical solutions for pressure perturbation and fluid flow in such systems consider either diffuse leakage or focused leakage, but never in combination with each other. In this study, we developed generalized analytical solutions that account for the combined effect of diffuse and focused leakage. The new solutions solve for pressure changes in a system of N aquifers with alternating leaky aquitards in response to fluid injection/extraction with any number, NI, of injection/pumping (active) wells, and passive leakage/recharge in any number, NL, of leaky wells. The equations of horizontal groundwater flow in the aquifers are coupled by the vertical flow equations in the aquitards and by the flow continuity equations in the leaky wells. The solution methodology, described in detail in this paper, involves transforming the transient flow equations into the Laplace domain; decoupling the resulting ordinary differential equations (ODEs) coupled by diffuse leakage via eigenvalue analysis; solving a system of NL × N linear algebraic equations for the unknown rates of flow through leakage wells; and superposing the solution of pressure buildup/drawdown in aquifers and aquitards resulting from flow in the NI active and NL leaky wells. Verification of the new methodology was achieved by comparison with existing analytical solutions for diffuse leakage and for focused leakage, and against a numerical solution for combined diffuse and focused leakage. Application to an eight-aquifer system with leaky aquitards and one leaky well demonstrates the usefulness and efficiency of the approach, and illustrates the pressure behavior over a spectrum of leakage scenarios and parameters.
Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Genes Associated with Isoniazid Resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Isoniazid (INH) is a central component of drug regimens used worldwide to treat tuberculosis. Previous studies have identified resistance-associated mutations in katG, inhA, kasA, ndh, and the oxyR-ahpC intergenic region. DNA microarray-based experiments have shown that INH induces several genes in Mycobacterium tuberculosis that encode proteins physiologically relevant to the drug's mode of action. To gain further insight into the molecular genetic basis of INH resistance, 20 genes implicated in INH resistance were sequenced for INH resistance-associated mutations. Thirty-eight INH-monoresistant clinical isolates and 86 INH-susceptible isolates of M. tuberculosis were obtained from the Texas Department of Health and the Houston Tuberculosis Initiative. Epidemiologic independence was established for all isolates by IS6110 restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Susceptible isolates were matched with resistant isolates by molecular genetic group and IS6110 profiles. Spoligotyping was done with isolates with five or fewer IS6110 copies. A major genetic group was established on the basis of the polymorphisms in katG codon 463 and gyrA codon 95. MICs were determined by the E-test. Semiquantitative catalase assays were performed with isolates with mutations in the katG gene. When the 20 genes were sequenced, it was found that 17 (44.7%) INH-resistant isolates had a single-locus, resistance-associated mutation in the katG, mabA, or Rv1772 gene. Seventeen (44.7%) INH-resistant isolates had resistance-associated mutations in two or more genes, and 76% of all INH-resistant isolates had a mutation in the katG gene. Mutations were also identified in the fadE24, Rv1592c, Rv1772, Rv0340, and iniBAC genes, recently shown by DNA-based microarray experiments to be upregulated in response to INH. In general, the MICs were higher for isolates with mutations in katG and the isolates had reduced catalase activities. The results show that a variety of single nucleotide polymorphisms in multiple genes are found exclusively in INH-resistant clinical isolates. These genes either are involved in mycolic acid biosynthesis or are overexpressed as a response to the buildup or cellular toxicity of INH.
Comparative Biology of Cystic Fibrosis Animal Models

Animal models of human diseases are critical for dissecting mechanisms of pathophysiology and developing therapies. In the context of cystic fibrosis (CF), mouse models have been the dominant species by which to study CF disease processes in vivo for the past two decades. Although much has been learned through these CF mouse models, limitations in the ability of this species to recapitulate spontaneous lung disease and several other organ abnormalities seen in CF humans have created a need for additional species on which to study CF. To this end, pig and ferret CF models have been generated by somatic cell nuclear transfer and are currently being characterized. These new larger animal models have phenotypes that appear to closely resemble human CF disease seen in newborns, and efforts to characterize their adult phenotypes are ongoing. This chapter will review current knowledge about comparative lung cell biology and cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) biology among mice, pigs, and ferrets that has implications for CF disease modeling in these species. We will focus on methods used to compare the biology and function of CFTR between these species and their relevance to phenotypes seen in the animal models. These cross-species comparisons and the development of both the pig and the ferret CF models may help elucidate pathophysiologic mechanisms of CF lung disease and lead to new therapeutic approaches.
A Typology of Police Corruption

This paper postulates an empirical typology of police corruption derived from a content analysis of the literature (1960-1972) and the police work experience of one of the authors. Police corruption is analyzed as a form of organizational deviance hinging primarily on informal police peer group norms. Contradictions among formal norms, informal norms, and situational rules are indicated. Eight types of police corruption are delineated: (l) Corruption of Authority, (2) Kickbacks, (3) Opportunistic Theft, (4) Shakedowns, (5) Protection of Illegal Activities, (6) The Fix, (7) Direct Criminal Activities, and (8) Internal Payoffs. The types are analyzed along several dimensions: (1) acts and actors, (2) norm violations, (3) support from peer group, (4) organizational degree of deviant practices, and (5) police department's reactions.
A generalized-Jordan-form-approach one-step irreducible realization of matrices

This note presents a one-step irreducible realization ( A,B,C,D ) from a rational matrix G(s) with multiple poles. The introduction of a generalized-Jordan-form A makes it possible to consider additional network synthesis constraints in determining C column by column and B row by row. Only Gauss-Jordan reduction is needed. One example is given for illustration.