cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The C-terminal tail guides assembly and degradation of membrane proteins

A large number of newly synthesized membrane proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) are assembled into multi-protein complexes, but little is known about the mechanisms required for either assembly or degradation of unassembled membrane proteins. We find that C-terminal transmembrane domains (C-TMDs) with shorter tails are inefficiently inserted into the ER membrane since the translation is terminated before they emerge from ribosomes. These TMDs of insufficient hydrophobicity are post-translationally retained by the Sec61 translocon, thus providing a time window for efficient assembly with TMDs from partner membrane proteins. The unassembled C-TMDs are slowly flipped into the ER lumen. While the luminal chaperone BiP captures flipped C-TMDs with long tails and routes them to the ER-associated quality control, C-TMDs with shorter tails are diffused into the nuclear membrane. Thus, our studies suggest that C-terminal tails harbor important biochemical features for both biosynthesis and quality control of membrane protein complexes.
Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas: Malignancies Arising from Mature B Cells

Non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHLs) are a diverse group of entities, both clinically and molecularly. Here, we review the evolution of classification schemes in B-cell lymphoma, noting the now standard WHO classification system that is based on immune cell-of-origin and molecular phenotypes. We review how lymphomas arise throughout the B-cell development process as well as the molecular and clinical features of prominent B-cell lymphomas. We provide an overview of the major progress that has occurred over the past decade in terms of our molecular understanding of these diseases. We discuss treatment options available and focus on a number of the diverse research tools that have been employed to improve our understanding of these diseases. We discuss the problem of heterogeneity in lymphomas and anticipate that the near future will bring significant advances that provide a measurable impact on NHL outcomes.
Active shooter drills in the United States: a national study of youth experiences and perceptions

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to understand youth experience and opinion surrounding active shooter drills. Methods MyVoice is a national text message poll of the youth ages 14–24 years that collects youth opinion on salient policy issues. Participants are recruited to meet national benchmarks. Five open-ended probes were posed to participants on August 2, 2019. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis; quantitative data were summarized using descriptive statistics. Results Among respondents (815 of 1283; 63.5%), the average age was 18.7 years (SD = 2.9). Most were girls (52.9%), non-white (42.8%), and with Conclusions Many youth report that active shooter drills have a negative effect on their emotional health and are conflicted on their effectiveness.
Evaluation of current post-concussion protocols

The growing number of concussions and mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) with the lack of evidence-based treatment options is a continuous health concern. This creates problems when evaluating and providing efficacious symptom management to patients suffering from post-concussion syndrome (PCS). Numerous pharmacological and non-pharmacological agents have been utilized in an attempt to treat PCS. Some of these approaches include physical therapy, analgesics, antidepressants, and nutraceuticals. Although these treatments have had some success, there has been inconsistent outcomes, with some examples of patients' symptoms worsening. Among pharmaceutical agents, fluoxetine has been a popular choice for the symptom management of PCS. Although some patients have had symptom resolution with the use of fluoxetine, there is still a lack of conclusive data. Of the several biochemical changes that occur in a patient's brain following a concussion, an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) is of particular concern. In order to counteract the responses of the brain, antioxidants, such as ascorbic acid, have been utilized to reverse the damaging cellular effects. However, this may inadvertently cause an increase in ROS, rather than a reduction. Although there is a lack of consistency in exactly when each treatment was used in the post-injury interval, it is important that we analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the most commonly used agents due to the lack of a set protocol. The studies were chosen in a non-exhaustive manner and were not consistent in patients' post-injury intervals, in addition to other baseline characteristics. However, over-arching claims that some treatments may benefit more than others can be made. This review evaluates both the pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical protocols that are most commonly utilized in post-concussive patients for their efficacy in treatment of post-concussive syndrome (PCS).
Functional Limitations, Volunteering, and Diurnal Cortisol Patterns in Older Adults.

OBJECTIVES Older adults often experience functional limitations that affect their everyday lives, but many of them continue to make positive contributions to society and benefit from these contributions themselves. We examine (a) whether older adults' functional limitations are associated with diurnal cortisol patterns and (b) whether these associations vary on volunteering days versus nonvolunteering days. METHODS Participants were adults aged older than 60 years (N = 435) from the National Study of Daily Experiences, part of the Midlife in the United States Study. They completed an initial interview on functional limitations and background characteristics, indicated volunteering activities in daily interviews, and also provided salivary samples across 4 days. RESULTS Multilevel models showed that older adults with greater functional limitations exhibited dysregulated cortisol awakening responses and diurnal cortisol slopes throughout the rest of the day, compared to older adults with lower limitations. Yet, we also observed a significant moderating effect of volunteering on these associations. DISCUSSION This study advances our understanding of functional limitations and cortisol stress responses, revealing the benefits of volunteering to older adults who experience these limitations. Rather than treating these older adults solely as care recipients, interventions should offer them opportunities to help others.
Association of mid-life serum lipid levels with late-life brain volumes: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Neurocognitive Study (ARIC-NCS)

Abstract Background Limited information exists regarding the association between midlife lipid levels and late-life total and regional brain volumes. Methods We studied 1,872 participants in the longitudinal community-based Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Neurocognitive Study. Serum lipid levels were measured in 1987-1989 (mean age, 53 ± 5 years). Participants underwent 3T brain MRI scans in 2011–2013. Brain volumes were measured using FreeSurfer image analysis software. Linear regression models were used to assess the associations between serum lipids and brain volumes modeled in standard deviation (SD) units, adjusting for potential confounders. Results In adjusted analyses, one SD higher low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) levels were associated with larger total brain volumes (β 0.033, 95% CI 0.006-0.060) as well as larger volumes of the temporal (β 0.038, 95% CI 0.003-0.074) and parietal lobes (β 0.044, 95% CI 0.009-0.07) and Alzheimer disease-related region (β 0.048, 95% CI 0.048-0.085). Higher triglyceride levels were associated with smaller total brain volumes (β -0.033, 95% CI -0.060, -0.007). The associations between LDL levels and brain volumes were modified by age (P for interaction 53 years at baseline, and were attenuated after application of weights to account for informative attrition, although associations with the parietal and Alzheimer's disease-related region remained significant. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol was not associated with brain volumes. Conclusion Higher LDL levels in late midlife were associated with larger brain volumes later in life, while higher triglyceride levels were associated with smaller brain volumes. These associations were driven by adults >53 years at baseline.
“Allergic to the Region”: A Population-Based Study of the Diversity of Health Experiences in the Industrial Zone of Marseille, France

This article analyzes the qualitative data collected as part of a 2015 community-based participatory cross-sectional health study conducted in two towns in a heavily polluted industrial zone on the...
Viral load and disease severity in COVID-19.

The relationship between COVID-19 severity and viral load is unknown. Our objective was to assess the association between viral load and disease severity in COVID-19. In this single center observational study of adults with laboratory confirmed SARS-CoV-2, the first positive in-hospital nasopharyngeal swab was used to calculate the log10 copies/ml [log10 copy number (CN)] of SARS-CoV-2. Four categories based on level of care and modified sequential organ failure assessment score (mSOFA) at time of swab were determined. Median log10CN was compared between different levels of care and mSOFA quartiles. Median log10CN was compared in patients who did and did not receive influenza vaccine, and the correlation between log10CN and D-dimer was examined. We found that of 396 patients, 54.3% were male, and 25% had no major comorbidity. Hospital mortality was 15.7%. Median mSOFA was 2 (IQR 0–3). Median log10CN was 5.5 (IQR 3.3–8.0). Median log10CN was highest in non-intubated ICU patients [6.4 (IQR 4.4–8.1)] and lowest in intubated ICU patients [3.6 (IQR 2.6–6.9)] (p value < 0.01). In adjusted analyses, this difference remained significant [mean difference 1.16 (95% CI 0.18–2.14)]. There was no significant difference in log10CN between other groups in the remaining pairwise comparisons. There was no association between median log10CN and mSOFA in either unadjusted or adjusted analyses or between median log10CN in patients with and without influenza immunization. There was no correlation between log10CN and D-dimer. We conclude, in our cohort, we did not find a clear association between viral load and disease severity in COVID-19 patients. Though viral load was higher in non-intubated ICU patients than in intubated ICU patients there were no other significant differences in viral load by disease severity.
Goodbye PAM: Phage λ's Red recombination system cripples PAMs and helps dodge CRISPR attacks.

Ever wondered how the phage λ Red recombination system resembles the Red Queen? Hossain et al. (2021) provide an answer in this issue of Cell Host & Microbe. They show that Red debilitates PAM sequences by mutagenic repair of CRISPR-targeted DNA breaks in infecting λ, thus shaping the phage-CRISPR arms race.
Spelling Correction for Russian: A Comparative Study of Datasets and Methods

We develop a minimally-supervised model for spelling correction and evaluate its performance on three datasets annotated for spelling errors in Russian. The first corpus is a dataset of Russian social media data that was recently used in a shared task on Russian spelling correction. The other two corpora contain texts produced by learners of Russian as a foreign language. Evaluating on three diverse datasets allows for a cross-corpus comparison. We compare the performance of the minimally-supervised model to two baseline models that do not use context for candidate re-ranking, as well as to a character-level statistical machine translation system with context-based re-ranking. We show that the minimally-supervised model outperforms all of the other models. We also present an analysis of the spelling errors and discuss the difficulty of the task compared to the spelling correction problem in English.
Design of Nonlinear Adaptive Tracking Controllers for Industrial Robots

This paper proposes a controller for a class of industrial robots which fully handles system nonlinearity and adaptively estimates plant parameters. Using a nonlinear input transformation, we obtain a system which is linear in the transformed inputs. The resulting system is then controlled with a continious-time PD tracking controller. The critical part of this scheme is estimating the parameters of the nonlinear input transformation. We estimate them using a least-squares with a forgeting factor based on aperiodic samples of inputs and outputs. Simulation results are presented for a nonlinear three-degree-of-freedom manipulator.
Use of Invariant Modeling

Previous chapters (7 and 8) have contained several different methods for calculating turbulent flow with varying degrees of complexity and probable computational success. Here I will describe the development and some applications of a method that has been pursued by Donaldson and his colleagues at A.R. A.P. (Aeronautical Research Associates of Princeton) for several years. The name of the model, an invariant model, can be interpreted in two ways. It refers to the constraints imposed on the choice of model terms required for closure. That is, any model term must exhibit the same tensor symmetry and dimensionality as the term it replaces. But the goal of the approach can also be described as an invariant model in the sense that our goal is a model that, although semiempirical, has no varying constants that must be determined for each new flow.
The pca-pob supraoperonic cluster of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus contains quiA, the structural gene for quinate-shikimate dehydrogenase.

Abstract An 18-kbp Acinetobacter calcoaceticus chromosomal segment contains the pcaIJFBDKCHG operon, which is required for catabolism of protocatechuate, and pobSRA, genes associated with conversion of p-hydroxybenzoate to protocatechuate. The genetic function of the 6.5 kbp of DNA between pcaG and pobS was unknown. Deletions in this DNA were designed by removal of fragments between restriction sites, and the deletion mutations were introduced into A. calcoaceticus by natural transformation. The mutations prevented growth with either quinate or shikimate, growth substrates that depend upon qui gene function for their catabolism to protocatechuate. The location of quiA, a gene encoding quinate-shikimate dehydrogenase, was indicated by its expression in one of the deletion mutants, and the position of the gene was confirmed by determination of its 2,427-bp nucleotide sequence. The deduced amino acid sequence of QuiA confirmed that it is a member of a family of membrane-associated, pyrrolo-quinoline quinone-dependent dehydrogenases, as had been suggested by earlier biochemical investigations. Catabolism of quinate and skikimate is initiated by NAD(+)-dependent dehydrogenases in other microorganisms, so it is evident that different gene pools were called upon to provide the ancestral enzyme for this metabolic step.
Molecular transformation, gene cloning, and gene expression systems for filamentous fungi

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the molecular transformation, gene cloning, and gene expression systems for filamentous fungi. Molecular transformation involves the movement of discrete amounts of DNA into cells, the expression of genes on the transported DNA, and the sustainable replication of the transforming DNA. The ability to transform fungi is dependent on the stable replication and expression of genes located on the transforming DNA. Three phenomena observed in bacteria, that is, competence, plasmids, and restriction enzymes to facilitate cloning, were responsible for the development of molecular transformation in fungi. Initial transformation success with filamentous fungi, involving the complementation of auxotrophic mutants by exposure to sheared genomic DNA or RNA from wt isolates, occurred with low transformation efficiencies. In addition, it was difficult to retrieve complementing DNA fragments and isolate genes of interest. This prompted the development of transformation vectors and methods to increase efficiencies. The physiological studies performed with fungi indicated that the cell wall could be removed to generate protoplasts. It was evident that protoplasts could be transformed with significantly greater efficiencies than walled cells.
Chapter 28 Mitochondrial diseases

Publisher Summary Mitochondrial diseases are a heterogeneous group of disorders with widely diverse clinical features, defined by deficits of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Mitochondrial disorders display a great variety of clinical symptoms, the age of onset, the severity of progression, and the mode of inheritance. Patients may display a heterogeneous spectrum of chronic symptoms resulting from a failure of cellular oxidative metabolism. They usually present with neurological symptoms and signs, but any body tissue or organ can be affected, thereby resulting in diffuse multisystemic involvement. Tissues that rely on oxidative phosphorylation for the production of ATP—such as muscle and nervous system—are usually affected more severely. Elevated serum lactate and pyruvate at rest or after aerobic exercise are important clues in the diagnosis of a mitochondrial disorder, although normal levels do not rule out such diagnosis. Biochemical analysis of respiratory chain enzymes is used to characterize the underlying molecular defect and help direct molecular genetic analysis. Nerve-conduction studies (NCS) and electromyography (EMG) are important parts in the evaluation of mitochondrial patients.
Improved image thresholding for object extraction in IR images

Object extraction from an IR image background is of great interest both to the military and the commercial sector. A convenient and popular approach to object extraction is image thresholding. In this paper, we describe a new and easy to implement approach for extracting object(s) in single frame IR images, which has many similarities to image thresholding. Both on the basis of theoretical considerations and experimental results, however, our approach appears to be noticeably more dependable than image thresholding for IR images.
Multiple Harmonic Series I: Generalizations of Wolstenholme's Theorem

In this note we will study the p-divisibility of multiple harmonic sums. In particular we provide some generalizations of the classical Wolstenholme's Theorem to both homogeneous and non-homogeneous sums. We make a few conjectures at the end of the paper and provide some very convincing evidence.
The Importance of Recycling to U.S. Festival Visitors: A Preliminary Study

Understanding visitors’ perceptions, motivations, and values in attending festivals is vital to creating an effective marketing strategy. Visitors often take part in festivals with special motivations and interests in the festivals’ purpose. Despite a level of disparity in their motivations, visitors’ involvement may be strongly linked to common values and events of the festival with the other visitors. Because of festivals’ unique and effective settings (e.g., education, experience, and participation, etc.), they represent distinctive opportunities to understand visitors’ pro-environmental behavior and attitudes. The objective of this study was to measure visitor recycling behavior, attitude and intentions as the basis for selective marketing classification and festival management. The results suggest that those with high recycling intention have strong attitudes toward festivals providing recycling stations and the use of renewable energy. These results would assist in improving festival attendance and ...
Changes in reissner's membrane of the rat after chemical sympathectomy with 6-hydroxydopamine

The inner ears of rats chemically sympathectomized at birth were studied electron microscopically and compared with those of litter mates left untreated for use as controls. Treated animals 11-72 days of age showed changes in Reissner's membrane with respect to (1) glycogen storage; (2) size of the intercellular clefts; and (3) numbers of coated vesicles. At 11 days, glycogen particles --~ 150-300 A in diameter were present in Reissner's membrane in both control and treated rats but were more numerous in the treated animals. The particles were especially common in epithelial cells in the region of attachment of the membrane to the spiral limbus. By 17 days, glycogen particles increased in the epithelial cells throughout the membrane in treated rats. Some narrowing of the intercellular clefts and a decrease in coated vesicles had also occurred. By 32 days, large patches of glycogen had accumulated, and the intercellular clefts of the epithelial cells were uniformly narrow. Coated vesicles were not numerous. Control rats 17-32 days old did not show similar ultrastructural findings; instead, the epithelial cells had numerous coated vesicles, variously dilated intercellular clefts, and no evident glycogen. By 72 days, the treated rats had a more normal-appearing Reissner's membrane; there was an apparent upturn in coated vesicles, and intercellular clefts were variously dilated. However, some patches of glycogen were still evident. The results are interpreted to indicate that Reissner's membrane has an energy dependent, coupled ion/water transport system that is ordinarily supported by glucose metabolism. Glucose metabolism, in turn, appears to be regulated by catecholamines, suggesting that/3 adrenergic receptor sites exist on the epithelial cells of Reissner's membrane. The possible relevance of these findings to endolymphatic hydrops of Meniere's disease will be discussed.
Isothermal Bainite Transformation in Low Silicon TRIP Steel with Phosphorus Addition

The low silicon transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) steel with phosphorus addition is consisted of the microstructure of retained austenite, ferrite and bainite which produced by intercritical annealing and isothermal bainite transformation followed by rapid cooling. In this study, isothermal bainite transformation of different experimental parameters in low silicon TRIP steel with phosphorus addition was investigated in laboratory. The addition of cheap element phosphorus, which has the same effect of silicon in retard the kinetics of carbide formation during isothermal bainite transformation, can reduce the silicon content, improve surface quality, solve galvanizing problem and reduce costs. The effect of bainite isothermal temperature, intercritical annealing temperature and heating rates were investigated by dilatometric experiment on a push-rod Formastor-FII high-speed dilatometer with radio frequency induction heating. The high resolution observations, composition analysis and elements distribution of microstructure were carried out using the electron scanning microscopy of a field emission electron probe microanalyzer (JEOL JXA-8530F) operating at 20KV accelerating voltage.
FREE AMINO ACIDS IN THE DEVELOPING ENDOSPERM OF MAIZE

UNDERSTANDING the metabolism of the developing maize endosperm is a problem of practical and theoretical importance. Carbohydrate metabolism in the maize endosperm has been investigated extensively by means of various biochemical and genetic techniques (Culpepper and Magoon, 1924, 1927; Bernstein, 1943; Sprague et aL, 1943; Andrew et al., 1944; Cameron, 1947; Kramer and Whistler, 1949), but nitrogen metabolism of the endosperm has remained relatively unexplored. Zeleny (1935) and Watson (1949) have shown that endosperm proteins (largely zein and glutelin) are synthesized during the entire kernel maturation period, but that most of the glutelin (alkali-soluble) proteins are synthesized during the first half, and most of the zein complex of proteins (alcohol-soluble) during the last half of the endosperm maturation period. Biochemical genetics studies (Showalter and Carr, 1922; Frey et al., 1949; Frey, 1951) and analyses of various varieties and genotypes of maize endosperm (Hansen et al., 1945) show that there is a direct correlation between the content of zein and of total protein in the endosperm; this mav indicate that alcohol-soluble proteins are the major storage proteins of the endosperm. Interrelations of tryptophan, niacin and indoleacetic acid in the developing maize endosperm have been investigated by Stehsel and Wildman (1950). Their studies are perhaps the first attempt to explore the nitrogen metabolism of the developing maize endosperm on the level of individual enzymesubstrate-product reactions. It is only on this level that one can investigate adequately the various metabolic processes of the developing endosperm. Thus, a working knowledge of the kinds and amounts of nitrogenous components in the endosperm throughout its development is fundamental to understanding endosperm protein synthesis. This study is a preliminary investigation of the free amino acids and amides of the developing endosperm of four varieties of corn. Partition paper chromatography, an analytical technique proven to be useful for rapid surveys of kinds and approximate amounts of amino acids in other plant tissues (Dent et al., 1947) has been adapted for use in this investigation. MATERIALS AND METHODS.-Four morphologically dissimilar varieties of maize: Longfellow Flint,
Effects of Hydrogen Peroxide Oxidation and Calcium Channel Blockers on the Equatorial Potassium Current of the Frog Lens

Abstract Hydrogen peroxide, in concentrations of 10-1000 μM, produces two major changes in the current-voltage relationships associated with the equatorial potassium current of the lens. First, the resting and reversal potentials become more negative than they were prior to treatment with hydrogen peroxide and second, the membrane resistance related to the equatorial current is decreased. The shift in the resting and reversal potentials is in the opposite direction from that produced by ouabain. Based on the Nernst equation, the shift in the reversal potential suggests that there is an increase in the concentration of potassium in the lens. The 88Rb uptake and efflux are increased. These observations suggest that hydrogen peroxide stimulates the Na,K-pump. The decrease in membrane resistance is inhibited by 100 μM of quinine, a calcium-dependent potassium channel blocker, and does not decrease in a calcium-free medium. This suggests that the decrease in resistance may be secondary to an increase in lenticular calcium. These effects of hydrogen peroxide are similar to those of p-chloromercuriphenylsulfonate (pCMPS), a nearly impermeant sulfhydryl binding agent, and suggest that permeant hydrogen peroxide may increase calcium influx by acting on sulthydryl groups on the outer surface of lens membranes. Verapamil, a calcium channel blocker, is reported to prevent cataract formation. D600, the methoxy analogue of verapamil, is a calcium channel blocker that increases the resistance associated with the equatorial current in the presence and absence of hydrogen peroxide. The gadolinium ion has a similar effect. Thus, D600 and Gd3+ partially counteract the reduction in membrane resistance produced by 50 μM hydrogen peroxide.
Tension test for alumina ceramic materials using open-loop and closed-loop in-situ loading device

The test system is suitable to perform both the open-loop and closed-loop tests for the ceramic material even when system noise exists. However, when there is very little displacement to be measured, the noise becomes a problem. Based on the previous measurement and analysis of system noise, further improvement of the testing system can be made by increasing the system’s stiffness and fixing the whole system on a more solid foundation. These changes will subsequently suppress most of the mechanical noise. Another way to minimize the effect of electrical noise is to amplify the sampling signals. Furthermore, a high-precision filter and a well-designed compensator will be very useful for a closed-loop control system.
Combustion-assisted hydrolysis of sodium borohydride for hydrogen generation

Abstract Hydrolysis of sodium borohydride, usually with a precious metal catalyst, is a promising method for hydrogen generation in fuel cell applications. We introduce sodium borohydride/metal/water mixtures where the parallel highly exothermic reaction of the metal (aluminum or magnesium) with water assists hydrolysis of sodium borohydride, eliminating the need of catalyst. Upon ignition, such mixtures exhibit self-sustained propagation of combustion wave with simultaneous release of hydrogen stored in sodium borohydride and water. We report mixture ingredients and sodium borohydride/metal mass ratios required for stable generation of hydrogen, with ∼ 7 wt % yield. Because of difficult Al ignition, only nanoscale Al powders can be used, but they contain less active metal. For Mg, coarse (10– 50 μ m ) powders provide high efficiency, and the same hydrogen yield as more expensive nanoscale aluminum.
The fine structure of aleurone cells in the soybean seed coat

The morphology and fine structure of aleurone cells of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] seed coats were analyzed with transmission electron microscopy for the period of rapid seed fill up to physiological maturity. Thin sections and freeze-fracture replicas were prepared for each stage. The aleurone is a tissue lining the embryo sac and consists of a single layer of cells attached to the aerenchyma of the seed coat proper. During seed fill, aleurone cells contained numerous Golgi-derived vesicles in the basal region of the cytoplasm that were either free or attached to the plasma membrane along the lateral and basal regions of the cell wall. Correspondingly, the Golgi apparatus were well developed with individual dictyosomes having 5 to 8, highly fenestrated stacked cisternae. The degree of fenestration along the periphery of each cisterna increased from the cis to trans region. Rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) was also abundant, often consisting of up to 30, stacked swollen cisternae which occupied large regions of cytoplasm. Plasmodesmata which connected adjacent aleurone cells was not observed along the dorsal walls of aleurone cells that faced aerenchyma. At physiological maturity, dictyosome cisternae were less fenestrated and had fewer associated secretory vesicles. Stacked lamellae of RER were absent, being replaced by short tubular cisternae and small vesicles. At physiological maturity, the aleurone cells had thick walls, and contained numerous lipid bodies in apposition to the plasma membrane. The cytoplasm appeared densely stained in thin-sections and contained protein bodies and amyloplasts with large starch grains. We conclude that during the period of rapid seed fill aleurone cells produce, package, transport and secrete vesicular contents toward the embryo, that is followed at physiological maturity by the storage of lipid, protein and starch in the same cells. The embryo is the most likely destination for secretory products during the period of rapid seed fill. The fate of the stored food reserves in aleurone cells at physiological maturity may be analogous to that of aleurone tissue of grasses, being utilized during imbibition for processes important to germination.
Public health learning - purposeful, progressive, global by design.

Over the past decade, we have witnessed expansive growth in numbers and diversity of undergraduate public health programs. Majors, minors, and certificates are proliferating across all institutional types. While no complete census of programs exists, a number of studies have noted the growth (1, 2) [see also the special issue of Am J Prev Med (2008) 35(3), on undergraduate public health education]. The popular press has picked up the story (3). Community colleges are now developing programs (4). A key indicator: CEPH is now accrediting “standalone” baccalaureate programs. This growth phase builds on foundations laid earlier by a handful of schools, colleges, and programs, and the work of thought leaders such as Lilienfeld and Fraser (5). It was accelerated by the Institute of Medicine’s publication Who Will Keep the Public Healthy (2003), with its call for an educated citizenry: “all undergraduates should have access to education in public health” (144). Heeding that call, the Educated Citizen, and Public Health1 initiative has contributed in many ways to growth, in partnership with lead organizations – the Association for Prevention Teaching and Research (APTR), the Council of College of Arts and Sciences (CCAS), the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH), and the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U). The recent merger of schools of public health and programs of public health, now joined in ASPPH, and growth in numbers of graduate programs overall may support further development of undergraduate public health programs.
Turning k on its head: Comments on use of an ED50 in delay discounting research

Delay discounting (DD) describes how the value of a reinforcer decreases as delay to its delivery increases. Relationships between DD and various aspects of drug abuse have been demonstrated reliably. A potential barrier to wider adoption of DD techniques is that results are often expressed in terms that may be too abstract or unfamiliar to a broader audience, particularly when describing or comparing hyperbolic DD functions or values of k. In an effort to potentially make DD results more accessible, the current report explores use of an ED50 value in characterizing DD functions, similar to that used in pharmacology research for characterizing dose-effect functions. The ED50 proposed with regard to DD is the delay that is effective in discounting the subjective value of the delayed reinforcer by 50%. Additionally, a convenient method for calculating ED50 values for DD is discussed.
Soil solution phosphate, root uptake kinetics and nutrient acquisition: implications for a patchy soil environment.

The importance of increased root phosphate (P) uptake kinetics, root proliferation and local increases of soil solution P (P1) for P acquisition from fertile soil microsites was explored with a simulation model and calculated uptake was compared with experimental data. Based on the partitioning of added P in microsites to P1 and P adsorbed on soil particles and the results of a dual-isotope-labeling experiment (Caldwell et al. 1991a), acquisition of P from the fertile microsites was some 20 X that of uptake from an equal volume of soil which received only water. Simulations were in general agreement and also showed that elevation of root P uptake kinetics could contribute more to the increased acquisition than did root proliferation under these circumstances. Although increased physiological uptake capacity for P has generally been considered to be of little benefit because of diffusion limitation, in patchy soil environments selective elevation of P uptake kinetics in fertile microsites may be of considerable benefit. These tests were conducted in calcareous soil which releases much less P into the soil solution than do many other soils. In many noncalcareous soils the benefits of selective elevation of root uptake kinetics would likely be greater.
Prudent management of the mid-cheek mass: revisiting the accessory parotid gland tumor.

Objectives/Hypothesis: The head and neck surgeon's fascination with parotid surgery arises from the gland's spectrum of histopathological presentations, as well as the diversity of its morphological features. A mass arising in the mid-cheek region may often be overlooked as a rare accessory lobe parotid neoplasm. This report serves to revisit the topic of accessory parotid gland neoplasms to emphasize proper management, particularly the surgical aspects, so that consequences of salivary fistula, facial nerve paralysis, and recurrence are avoided. Study Design: This is a retrospective review of our experience with four accessory parotid gland neoplasms and five other masses mimicking this lesion. Methods: A literature review and retrospective chart review. Results: Over a 6-year period, we have encountered four true accessory lobe tumors, all pleomorphic adenomas. These presented very similarly to four other more commonly encountered masses not of salivary origin and one normal but hyperplastic accessory parotid gland. All were removed through a wide parotidectomy-style approach modified by extending incisions anterosuperiorly and inferoanteriorly. The only complication was a minor salivary fistula in one patient. There were no permanent facial paralyses. Conclusions: Accessory parotid gland neoplasms are rare and may present as innocuous extraparotid mid-cheek masses. A high index of suspicion, prudent diagnostic skills (including fine-needle aspiration [FNA] biopsy followed by computed tomography [CT] imaging), and meticulous surgical approach (extended parotidectomy-style incision and limited peripheral nerve dissection when possible) are the keys to successful management of these lesions.
Variation in Tolerance of Turkeys to Dietary Copper

Abstract The tolerance of animals for copper has been reviewed by Mehring et al. (1960). Generally it was found that a level of near 500 p.p.m. was the minimum required for expression of toxicity with chicks and rats. In our laboratory in an experiment studying the influence of copper on molybdenum toxicity, unexpected differences in copper toxicity of poults receiving either a natural or a purified diet were observed. The study reported herein was established to confirm and enlarge upon these observations. Broad White turkeys maintained in conventional batteries were fed the natural diet (Table 1) during 0–7 days of life. At the end of this period they were distributed equitably by weight into lots of 7 each with triplicate lots being used for each treatment. The purified diet employed is listed in Table 2. Hemoglobin was determined using an Autoanalyzer; the values were standardized using the method of Denington…
Follicular lymphoid hyperplasia of the hard palate: A benign lymphoproliferative process

Follicular lymphoid hyperplasia of the hard palate is a reactive lymphoid proliferation which closely simulates the palatal lymphomas, both clinically and histologically. It is therefore imperative that the pathologist be familiar with the features that separate these two conditions. In equivocal cases like the present one, immunologic analysis would seem to be indicated to determine whether the lesion is monoclonal (neoplastic) or polyclonal (reactive).
Suppression of lordosis in the hormone-primed female hamster by electrical stimulation of the septal area

Abstract The behavior of the female hamster toward the male is altered radically by estrogen and progesterone. Her aggression gives way to sexual receptivity, and the lordosis posture will commonly be maintained in the presence of a sexually active male for greater than 10 min at a time. The septal area is one of the limbic and hypothalamic areas which preferentially accumulate radioactive estradiol in the female hamster. In order to determine whether this region is involved in lordosis control, we examined the effects of electrical stimulation (ES) there on the copulatory behavior of ovariectomized, hormone-primed, sexually receptive females in the presence of sexually active males. Sixty second trains of 100 Hz, 0.2 msec, biphasic, square-wave pulses at either 80 or 90 μA were effective in suppressing the lordosis response in 8 of 13 animals with electrodes in the septal area. In the most effective cases ES would prevent lordosis even during persistent contacts and mount attempts by the male. Some neurons in the septal area may be part of a network acting to inhibit the display of lordosis. One of the ways ovarian hormones could facilitate lordosis is through reduction of the suppressive activity in such a network.
An Experimental Investigation of Alkali Removal from Biomass Producer Gas Using a Fixed Bed of Solid Sorbent

A bench-scale gasifier system composed of a fluidized-bed gasifier, high-temperature ceramic filter, and fixed-bed solid sorbent reactor was used to study the removal of alkali from a hot product gas stream. During a test conducted with an empty solid sorbent reactor, dry gas-phase concentrations of 28 ppmw K, 11 ppmw Na, and 1309 ppmw Cl were measured. Four subsequent tests utilized 2.4−3.4-mm-diameter particles of activated bauxite or emathlite in the solid sorbent reactor. Over these four tests, K concentrations ranged from 0.03 to 0.07 ppmw, and Na concentrations ranged from 0.2 and 0.9 ppmw at the exit of the solid sorbent reactor. Chlorine concentrations at the exit of the reactor were essentially unaffected. Hot-water leaching tests indicated that alkali capture by activated bauxite and emathlite was through physical adsorption and chemisorption, respectively.
Computational Methods in Water Resources: Proceedings of the XIVth International Conference on Computational Methods in Water Resources, 23–28 June 2002, Delft, The Netherlands.

S.M. HASSANIZADEH, R.J. SCHOTTING, W.G. GRAY, and G.F. PINDER (ed.) Elsevier Science, Amsterdam. 2002. Volumes 1 and 2. Hardback, 1808 pp. $355.00. ISBN 0-444-50975-5. Following rapid advances during the last two decades, computer simulation has now become an irreplaceable part of our efforts to
pH Dependence of transmission at electronic synapses of the crayfish septate axon

Abstract Gap junctions between segments of the crayfish septate axon mediate electronic transmission of impulses propagating along the length of the nerve cord. We simultaneously measured intracellular pH (pH i ) and gap junctional conductance (g j ) while axons were exposed to saline equilibrated with CO 2 , weak acids, and the weak base ammonium chloride. Normal pH i is about 7.1. When pH i is elevated, g j is unaffected. When pH i is reduced, g j declines with an apparent pK of about 6.7 and a Hill coefficient of about 2.7. We also measured effects of pH i on non-junctional conductance (g nj ) and on the coupling coefficient, k. Over the pH i range 6.2–8, g nj increases approximately linearly with pH i . Since k is a function of g j and g nj , it reached a maximum at about pH i 7.1, decreasing at higher and lower pH i . The pH i dependence of g j in crayfish septate axon is less steep and has a lower apparent pK than the g j -pH i relation in two vertebrate embryos previously examined. This finding illustrates a difference in gating among analoguos and possibly homologous membrane channels.
De España al Carajá: el hispanismo en "La Novela del Indio Tupinamba" de Eugenio F. Granell

This article analyzes La Novela del Indio Tupinamba (1959) by the Galician writer Eugenio Granell, who was affiliated with the POUM party and exiled after the Spanish Civil War. The article takes into consideration his intervention into the field of cultural production (Bourdieu), starting with his critique of the “discursive imperialism” (Diaz Quinones), called “hispanism”, which has traditionally characterized the relationship between Spain and its former colonies.
Photo-Fenton Reaction at Near Neutral pH

The photo-Fenton reaction, oxidation of photoproduced ferrous iron by hydrogen peroxide, produces reactive oxidants that may be important to degradation of biologically and chemically recalcitrant organic compounds in surface waters at circum-neutral pH. Sufficient Fe(II) for the photo-Fenton reaction was produced in situ at two field sites (pH 6.1−7.1) and during irradiations of model systems at pH 7.0 with Suwannee River fulvic acid (SRFA). Amorphous iron oxyhydroxide preparations were much more easily photoreduced than ferrihydrite (Ferr-90). The rate of the photo-Fenton reaction was measured as the difference in the H2O2 accumulation rate in irradiations without and with iron in model systems. Use of benzene as a probe for hydroxyl radical (OH) and nitrate photolysis as the OH source indicated that the yield of phenol from the reaction of benzene with OH is reduced in the presence of iron and SRFA. Even when this reduction in yield was accounted for, the rate of OH production from the Fenton reaction ...
A global stability result in network flow control

Abstract This paper concerns recently proposed algorithms for network flow control, where source transmission rates are chosen based on an individual utility function and a network price signal propagated from the links. Link prices are, in turn, dynamically updated based on overall link congestion. In particular, we consider here the second-order update law of Athuraliya et al. [IEEE Network 15 (3) (2001) 48–53], which has attractive features in equilibrium: full link utilization and no backlog. Using a non-linear, continuous-time model which enforces non-negativity constraints in prices and backlogs, we prove the global asymptotic stability of the equilibrium, by means of a Lyapunov argument.
Discussion of “the meaning of the vector Laplacian”

Abstract A proposal has been made recently that a special notation be adopted for the Laplacian of a vector. It is shown that such a notation is unjustified since the usual scalar Laplacian gives the correct result when operating on a vector.
Clonal characteristics of T cell infiltrates in skin and synovium of patients with psoriatic arthritis

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that is often complicated by an inflammatory arthritis. Considerable evidence implicates cellular immune responses in psoriatic skin lesions, but the pathogenesis of the associated arthritis has not been elucidated. We analyzed T cell antigen receptor beta chain variable (TCRbetaV) gene repertoires among peripheral blood lymphocytes, skin and synovium of nine patients with psoriatic arthritis. RNase protection assays were used to quantitate the expression levels of 25 TCRbetaV genes, and CDR3 region sequencing was used to further characterize selected expansions. All patients exhibited significant TCRbetaV biases in the peripheral blood and moreover, all had expansions common to both skin and synovium. CDR3 sequencing demonstrated these expansions frequently consisted of oligo- or monoclonal populations. Although no ubiquitous CDR3 nucleotide sequences were identified, two patients shared identical sequences and several highly homologous amino acid motifs were present in skin and synovium among and between individual patients. Findings of common TCRbetaV expansions in diverse inflammatory sites, among multiple afflicted individuals, suggest that these T cell proliferations are driven by engagements with a limited set of conventional antigens. These findings demonstrate an important role for cognate T cell responses in the pathogenesis of psoriatic arthritis, and further suggest the inciting antigen(s) is identical or homologous between afflicted skin and synovium.
An Online Learning Approach: A Methodology for Time Varying Applications

In this paper, a new procedure to continuously adjust weights in a multi-layered neural network is proposed. The network is initially trained by using a traditional backpropagation algorithm. After this first step, a non-linear programming technique is used to properly calculate the new weights sets online. This methodology is tailored to be used in time varying (non-stationary) models, eliminating the necessity for retraining. Numerical results for a controlled experiment and for real data are presented.
Diversity and function of the avian gut microbiota

The intestinal microbiota have now been shown to largely affect host health through various functional roles in terms of nutrition, immunity, and other physiological systems. However, the majority of these studies have been carried out in mammalian hosts, which differ in their physiological traits from other taxa. For example, birds possess several unique life history traits, such as hatching from eggs, which may alter the interactions with and transmission of intestinal microbes compared to most mammals. This review covers the diversity of microbial taxa hosted by birds. It also discusses how avian microbial communities strongly influence nutrition, immune function, and processing of toxins in avian hosts, in manners similar to and different from mammalian systems. Finally, areas demanding further research are identified, along with descriptions of existing techniques that could be employed to answer these questions.