cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Response of black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) to deficit irrigation in a semi-arid region: Growth, yield, quality, and water productivity

Abstract Given the growing and urgent need for more effective irrigation strategies in arid and semi-arid regions, a field study was conducted in 2014 and 2015 in eastern Anatolia, Turkey, to evaluate the effects of water deficit treatments on the growth, yield, yield components, quality, and water productivity of black cumin (Nigella sativa L.). Four irrigation treatments (I1, I2, I3, and I4), based on Class A pan measurements, corresponded to 100, 80, 60 and 40 % cumulative evaporation were studied. The treatments were tested under a randomized, complete block design with three replications. The results indicated that considerable variation in yield and yield components of black cumin occurred, and that yield significantly increased with decreasing water deficit. Maximum seed and oil yields were recorded for the plots grown under the I1 (full irrigation) treatment. The results showed that under full irrigation (I1), seed yield was 1413.5 kg ha−1 and decreased by 13.5 %, 18.9 %, and 30.1 % in I2, I3, and I4 treatments, respectively. Irrigation water use efficiency under the full irrigation treatment was determined to be 6.2 %, 23.0 %, 37.6 % lower than I2, I3, and I4 treatments, although full irrigation provided the highest yield. Water use efficiency increased significantly when the water deficit was more than or equal to 40 %. The study, therefore, suggests that for black cumin grown in areas with sufficient water resources, full irrigation may be the most productive practice while deficit irrigation practices can improve water productivity.
Understanding Residence Time, Residence Time Distribution, and Impact of Surge Vessels

Axial dispersion and residence time distribution (RTD) have significant process implications in the design of continuous processes. Low dispersion is better for minimizing time for complete reaction and minimizing deviation boundaries. High dispersion is better for dampening out process fluctuations or disturbances. In typical processes with surge vessels, axial dispersion may not have a significant impact in lot genealogy. Axial dispersion number (D/uL) and mean residence time (τ) can be calculated by fitting the analytical solution to axial dispersion model to experimental F-curve transition data. Numerical modeling tools can be used to quantify the dampening of disturbances (e.g., mass flow oscillations) by axial dispersion and reactor configuration. The analysis herein includes plug flow reactors (PFRs) with different values for axial dispersion number, and continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) followed by PFRs in series. For reactor design, RTD for actual product and reagents can be much different than RTD for bulk solvent flow, and therefore it must be measured experimentally for the actual substrate to quantify it precisely. Numerical predictions of RTD based on Peclet number can be highly inaccurate predictors of axial dispersion for larger PFRs, even for bulk flow solvents. τ in PFRs must be corrected for thermal expansion. For lot genealogy, surge vessels can be the major contributors to overall RTD spread. Surge vessels decouple operations, simplify automation, reduce the need for redundancy, allow for intermediate quality assessment, dampen out process disturbances, and help eliminate start-up and shutdown transition waste. Numerical modeling tools can be used to quantify overall RTD for a fully continuous process with multiple unit operations linked in series, predicting how disturbances are dampened out downstream and determining lot genealogy.
Importance of self-shielding in mass measurements using $$\gamma $$ γ -ray spectroscopy

Due to the exponential attenuation of photons in materials, thick samples will attenuate a large portion of photons. This is a source of error in methods such as neutron activation analysis, which use gamma spectroscopy to characterise a radioactive source. A method is developed to quantify the magnitude of self-shielding with the help of MCNP6. Then the mass of an unknown sample is determined by comparing the known sample mass and the photopeak counts of the unknown and the known samples following activation. The inclusion of self-shielding effects is shown to make this comparative mass analysis measurement technique more accurate. Accounting for the self-shielding effects allows the true source, instead of the shielded source, to be resolved by correcting for the photons that are attenuated as they try to escape the sample and reach the detector. The $$\gamma $$ -ray measurements were made using several samples of varying shapes.
Design and Early Implementation Successes and Challenges of a Pharmacogenetics Consult Clinic.

Pharmacogenetic testing (PGT) is increasingly being used as a tool to guide clinical decisions. This article describes the development of an outpatient, pharmacist-led, pharmacogenetics consult clinic within internal medicine, its workflow, and early results, along with successes and challenges. A pharmacogenetics-trained pharmacist encouraged primary care physicians (PCPs) to refer patients who were experiencing side effects/ineffectiveness from certain antidepressants, opioids, and/or proton pump inhibitors. In clinic, the pharmacist confirmed the need for and ordered CYP2C19 and/or CYP2D6 testing, provided evidence-based pharmacogenetic recommendations to PCPs, and educated PCPs and patients on the results. Operational and clinical metrics were analyzed. In two years, 91 referred patients were seen in clinic (mean age 57, 67% women, 91% European-American). Of patients who received PGT, 77% had at least one CYP2C19 and/or CYP2D6 phenotype that would make conventional prescribing unfavorable. Recommendations suggested that physicians change a medication/dose for 59% of patients; excluding two patients lost to follow-up, 87% of recommendations were accepted. Challenges included PGT reimbursement and referral maintenance. High frequency of actionable results suggests physician education on who to refer was successful and illustrates the potential to reduce trial-and-error prescribing. High recommendation acceptance rate demonstrates the pharmacist’s effectiveness in providing genotype-guided recommendations, emphasizing a successful pharmacist–physician collaboration.
Hunger Does Discriminate: Addressing Structural Racism and Economic Inequality in Food Insecurity Research

REDEFINING THE PROBLEM Public health research on food insecurity typically aims to identify proximal causes, characterize high-risk populations, enumerate health consequences, and evaluate interventions that increase food access through charitable (e g , food pantries) and federal (e g , Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program;SNAP) assistance programs Racism, poverty, and food insecurity are increasingly recognized as sources of toxic stress, which can significantly damage health across the life course 1 The Center for Hunger-Free Communities and their participatory action project, Witnesses to Hunger, have been instrumental in documenting how food insecurity, poverty, and trauma are passed down through generations and highlighting the near impossibility of breaking these links through individual action alone 2 They have located food insecurity's root causes in numerous nonfood policies, including unaffordable housing, child care, and health care;lack of paid family and sick leave;and nonlivable wages 2 The finding of Larson et al -that 38 5% of emerging adults with children were food insecure, compared with 21 6% of those without children-underscores the need for solutions that disrupt intergenerational cycles Black K through 12 students are more than three times more likely to be suspended or expelled than are White students,5 which may significantly limit access to the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, the nation's key tools in the fight against child food insecurity
Effect of phosphorus (P) on the structure and reactivity of biochars produced from the pyrolysis of acid-washed biomass loaded with P of various forms

Abstract This paper investigates the effect of phosphorus (P) on char structure and reactivity of char prepared from the fast pyrolysis of purposely-prepared P-loaded biomass samples at 1000 °C in absence of other inorganic species. Biomass was first acid-washed then loaded with P of three different occurrence forms (one organic P i.e. phytic acid, and two inorganic P i.e. orthophosphoric acid and polyphosphoric acid) at the same P content of 0.8 wt%. Experimental results show that both organic and inorganic P substantially increase char yields during pyrolysis from 6.2% for the biomass sample without P to 23.0–26.0% for P-loaded samples due to the enhanced crosslinking by P-containing structures in char, leading to increases in the char C and H contents and decrease in O content. The presence of P in biochars from fast pyrolysis of various P-loaded biomass samples plays important role in the evolution of char structure and intrinsic reactivity measured during low-temperature oxidation at 500 °C in air under chemical-reaction-controlled regime. After pyrolysis and subsequent char oxidation, all P in biomass either as organic or inorganic P are found to be present in forms of acid-insoluble organic structures. For char prepared from acid-washed wood, char reactivity increases with char conversion due to the increasing pore surface area at higher conversion. Comparatively, for char prepared from acid-washed wood loaded with various P at char conversion below 60%, the presence of P increases char intrinsic reactivity due to the enhanced crosslinking of reactive carbon structures and reduced condensation of char structures. However, at conversions above 60%, P-containing species in char lead to a significant decrease in char reactivity, due to the formation of abundant C O-P bonds, that is highly resistant to the oxidation in air, in the reacting chars.
Congenital Cardiac Anomalies

The incidence of congenital heart defects is approximately 9 per 1000 live births. Some are isolated cardiac defects but many patients have multiple systems involved. It is not uncommon for a pediatric surgeon to care for a congenital heart patient and vice versa. A broad understanding of the unique physiology as well as the treatment algorithms, surgical palliations and repairs is essential for those providing care for the congenital heart patient.
Sexual Dimorphism in the 3xTg-AD Mouse Model and Its Impact on Pre-Clinical Research

Female sex is a leading risk factor for developing Alzheimer's disease (AD). Sexual dimorphism in AD is gaining attention as clinical data show that women are not only more likely to develop AD but also to experience worse pathology and faster cognitive decline. Pre-clinical AD research in animal models often neglects to address sexual dimorphism in evaluation of behavioral or molecular characteristics and outcomes. This can compromise its translation to a clinical setting. The triple-transgenic AD mouse model (3xTg-AD) is a commonly used but unique AD model because it exhibits both amyloid and tau pathology, essential features of the human AD phenotype. Mounting evidence has revealed important sexually dimorphic characteristics of this animal model that have yet to be reviewed and thus, are often overlooked in studies using the 3xTg-AD model. In this review we conduct a thorough analysis of reports of sexual dimorphism in the 3xTg-AD model including findings of molecular, behavioral, and longevity-related sex differences in original research articles through August 2020. Importantly, we find results to be inconsistent, and that strain source and differing methodologies are major contributors to lack of consensus regarding traits of each sex. We first touch on the nature of sexual dimorphism in clinical AD, followed by a brief summary of sexual dimorphism in other major AD murine models before discussing the 3xTg-AD model in depth. We conclude by offering four suggestions to help unify pre-clinical mouse model AD research inspired by the NIH expectations for considering sex as a biological variable.
The Association between Serum Sodium Levels and Febrile Seizures Recurrence: Is the Degree of Hyponatremia a Risk Factor?

Febrile seizures are common disorders in childhood. We evaluated the serum electrolyte levels and the associated factors in children with single and recurrent febrile seizures in 24 hours period of hospitalization. The medical records of children who were clinically diagnosed with febrile seizures and hospitalized were retrospectively revealed and analyzed. Data were collected for children aged 1 to 6 years including demographic parameters and serum electrolyte levels. A total of 244 children were enrolled in the study in which 209 were diagnosed with single febrile seizures and 35 of them with recurrent febrile seizures. Serum sodium levels were significantly lower in children with recurrent febrile seizure (138.5 ± 2.38 and 134.2 ± 3.55, p
Development of UHPLC/Q-TOF Analysis Method to Screen Glycerin for Direct Detection of Process Contaminants 3-Monochloropropane-1,2-diol Esters (3-MCPDEs) and Glycidyl Esters (GEs).

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA′s) Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) has been investigating reports of pets becoming ill after consuming jerky pet treats since 2007. Renal failure accounted for 30% of reported cases. Jerky pet treats contain glycerin, which can be made from vegetable oil or as a byproduct of biodiesel production. Glycidyl esters (GEs) and 3-monochloropropanediol esters (3-MCPDEs) are food contaminants that can form in glycerin during the refining process. 3-MCPDEs and GEs pose food safety concerns, as they can release free 3-MCPD and glycidol in vivo. Evidence from studies in animals shows that 3-MCPDEs are potential toxins with kidneys as their main target. As renal failure accounted for 30% of reported pet illnesses after the consumption of jerky pet treats containing glycerin, there is a need to develop a screening method to detect 3-MCPDEs and GEs in glycerin. We describe the development of an ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight (UHPLC/Q-TOF) method for screening glycerin for MCPDEs and GEs. Glycerin was extracted and directly analyzed without a solid-phase extraction procedure. An exact mass database, developed in-house, of MCPDEs and GEs formed with common fatty acids was used in the screening.
Timing, provenance, and implications of two MIS 3 advances of the Laurentide Ice Sheet into the Upper Mississippi River Basin, USA

Abstract Evidence for a glacial advance into the Upper Mississippi River Basin between Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 2 and MIS 6 has been debated for over a century. New sedimentological and chronological data provide evidence for two advances of the Laurentide Ice Sheet (LIS) into Iowa during MIS 3 to the east and west of the local glacial maximum margin. The lithology of the MIS 3 till is similar to the MIS 2 Des Moines Lobe till, which suggests both tills were sourced from the Keewatin Dome. A synthesis of new and previously collected radiocarbon ages indicate the two advances reached their terminus near 42⁰ N around 42 ka and 30 ka. A comparison of this record with published loess chronology and provenance studies suggests that these advances were likely a glacial source for the Mississippi Valley Roxana Silt and the Pisgah Formation loess in the Missouri River Valley. The apparent discrepancy between the basal ages of the Roxana and Pisgah loesses may be due to the timing of Des Moines Lobe entering the Mississippi River watershed before the Missouri River watershed. The results of this study demonstrate that the LIS advanced much farther south during MIS 3 than previously recognized, which has significant implications for ice sheet and paleoclimate modeling.
Online solar energy prediction for energy-harvesting internet of things devices

Low-power internet of things devices have the potential to transform multiple fields including healthcare, environmental monitoring, and digital agriculture. However, the operating life of these devices is severely constrained by their small batteries that require frequent recharging. Harvesting energy from ambient sources has emerged as an effective approach to prolong the lifetime of these devices. The harvested energy must be carefully managed to ensure that sufficient energy is available when ambient energy is scarce. Prediction of the energy available in the future can aid energy management algorithms in making better decisions about the allocation of the available energy. This paper proposes a novel hierarchical machine learning model that considers recent history and daily variations to make accurate predictions of future energy availability. We also propose using online learning to adapt the model to seasonal and spatial variations in the harvested energy. Using real-world solar energy data from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory we show that the proposed approach has mean absolute errors of 1.5 J and 1.1 J in predictions under same and different locations, respectively. We also demonstrate that using the proposed approach in an energy management algorithm leads to 54% higher utility and 95% lower battery violations than the baseline.
Range-gated active short-wave infrared imaging for rain penetration

A fixed wavelength optical parametric amplifier laser was constructed to create nanosecond pulsed light at 1527 nm for eye-safe range gated active short-wave infrared (SWIR) imaging. The laser pulse is generated using a Nd:YAG operating at 1064 nm to pump a potassium titanyle arsenate crystal in a single-pass geometry, resulting in ≈85 mJ at up to 28 Hz at 1527 nm with a pulse duration of ∼8 ns. The SWIR imager can be gated in as short as a 70-ns window (active time) with time steps as small as 5 ns (e.g., 0 to 70 ns and 5 to 75 ns). This allows for significant weather penetration by reducing the contribution from back-scattered photons reaching the receiver from scattering along the path prior to the imaging target. In addition, by converting to 1527 from 1064 nm, the maximum permissible exposure limit for eye-safety is ≈4 orders of magnitude larger, allowing for higher fluences without risk of injury. NEXRAD weather data along the line-of-sight were utilized to facilitate atmospheric propagation modeling via MODTRAN to retrieve an estimate of the path transmittance during testing. The integrated system herein is shown to extend imaging ranges with improvement factors of ≈2.5–3.1 × during periods of rain. An image of a water tower at a 10-km range was generated with visibilities between 3 and 4 km during testing.
Probabilistic population forecasting: Short to very long-term

Abstract Population forecasts are used by governments and the private sector for planning, with horizons up to about three generations (around 2100) for different purposes. The traditional methods are deterministic using scenarios, but probabilistic forecasts are desired to get an idea of accuracy, assess changes, and make decisions involving risks. In a significant breakthrough, since 2015, the United Nations has issued probabilistic population forecasts for all countries using a Bayesian methodology that we review here. Assessment of the social cost of carbon relies on long-term forecasts of carbon emissions, which in turn depend on even longer-range population and economic forecasts, to 2300. We extend the UN method to very-long range population forecasts by combining the statistical approach with expert review and elicitation. While the world population is projected to grow for the rest of this century, it will likely stabilize in the 22nd century and decline in the 23rd century.
Effects of Communication Modes and Data Linked Pilot Reply Time on Controller Workload and Communication Tasks in a Simulated Terminal Airspace

A test of a controller-pilot communications system that combines data messages with voice was intended to measure how the addition of data links, which are the precursor to greater digital messaging for air traffic control purposes, affected the time it took controllers to transmit messages and for pilots to process and reply to them. The study involved eight professional air traffic controllers in a simulation using ghost pilots. It found that controllers took more time to formulate and send data link messages, but that the messages were more accurate and contained fewer elements than voice messages. It is hypothesized that, similar to what happened in earlier studies, the longer time to compose messages may be due to the controllers taking extra time to strategize and design their messages, because the data link permits them to carry out communications on parallel tracks as opposed to analog voice communications that must be done sequentially. The test suggests that access to data link communications improved the efficiency of controller-pilot communications, and the longer times to compose and send messages were due to efforts by the controllers that optimized their performance and made the system more efficient. By being able to place messages in a pending mode, controllers were able to carry out communications with conventionally equipped aircraft in a more efficient manner.
Is black cohosh estrogenic

Many women seek safe and effective alternative therapies for the treatment of menopausal symptoms. Black cohosh, a botanical product, is one such treatment. Its mechanism of action may involve estrogenic effects, but new data dispute the estrogenic theory and indicate that extracts of black cohosh do not bind to the estrogen receptor, up-regulate estrogen-dependent genes, or stimulate the growth of estrogen-dependent tumors in animal models.
The positive health domain in person-centered integrative diagnosis

Person-centered integrative diagnosis is concerned with the assessment of the whole individual in a way that facilitates their recovery of mental and physical health. The recovery of mental and physical health involves more than just the reduction of symptoms and harm. Positive health involves the promotion of a satisfying quality of life, resilience despite stress, and recovery of positive emotionality. Positive health is a state of physical, material, emotional, social, ecological, and spiritual well-being.
Initiation and termination of DNA replication during S phase in relation to cyclins D1, E and A, p21WAF1, Cdt1 and the p12 subunit of DNA polymerase δ revealed in individual cells by cytometry.

// Zbigniew Darzynkiewicz 1 , Hong Zhao 1 , Sufang Zhang 2 , Marietta Y.W.T. Lee 2 , Ernest Y.C. Lee 2 and Zhongtao Zhang 2 1 Brander Cancer Research Institute, Department of Pathology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 2 Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY Correspondence to: Zbigniew Darzynkiewicz, email: // Marietta Y.W.T. Lee, email: // Keywords : cell cycle, S-phase, cell proliferation, laser scanning cytometry, DNA replication, EdU labeling, polymerase δ Received : May 03, 2015 Accepted : May 03, 2015 Published : May 15, 2015 Abstract During our recent studies on mechanism of the regulation of human DNA polymerase δ in preparation for DNA replication or repair, multiparameter imaging cytometry as exemplified by laser scanning cytometry (LSC) has been used to assess changes in expression of the following nuclear proteins associated with initiation of DNA replication: cyclin A, PCNA, Ki-67, p21 WAF1 , DNA replication factor Cdt1 and the smallest subunit of DNA polymerase δ, p12. In the present review, rather than focusing on Pol δ, we emphasize the application of LSC in these studies and outline possibilities offered by the concurrent differential analysis of DNA replication in conjunction with expression of the nuclear proteins. A more extensive analysis of the data on a correlation between rates of EdU incorporation, likely reporting DNA replication, and expression of these proteins, is presently provided. New data, specifically on the expression of cyclin D1 and cyclin E with respect to EdU incorporation as well as on a relationship between expression of cyclin A vs. p21 WAF1 and Ki-67 vs. Cdt1, are also reported. Of particular interest is the observation that this approach makes it possible to assess the temporal sequence of degradation of cyclin D1, p21 WAF1 , Cdt1 and p12, each with respect to initiation of DNA replication and with respect to each other. Also the sequence or reappearance of these proteins in G 2 after termination of DNA replication is assessed. The reviewed data provide a more comprehensive presentation of potential markers, whose presence or absence marks the DNA replicating cells. Discussed is also usefulness of these markers as indicators of proliferative activity in cancer tissues that may bear information on tumor progression and have a prognostic value.
Equivalence of functional communication assessment in speech pathology using videoconferencing

We examined the equivalence of videoconferencing assessment of communication by speech-language pathologists (SLPs). Using a randomized, double-crossover agreement study, 24 post-stroke patients were randomized to a remote or face-to-face administration of a subset of the Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination and to remote or face-to-face assessment of speech comprehension, speech expression and motor speech. The videoconferencing equipment was operated at a transmission speed of 384 kbit/s. Each patient was simultaneously scored by both the face-to-face and the remote SLPs. SLPs were blind to each other's results. Percentage agreement within the 95% limits of agreement ranged from 92% to 100% for each functional communication measure, regardless of assessment site and administration of the aphasia examination. The results suggest that assessment of a patient's functional communication using videoconferencing is equivalent to a face-to-face encounter.
Cytochemical localization of acid phosphatases in the dimorphic fungusSporothrix schenckii

A modified Gomori procedure at the electron microscopic level revealed a multiplicity of acid phosphatase activity sites in both yeast-like and mycelial phase cells. Vacuoles and the periplasmic space contained electron opaque deposits (lead phosphate) that were absent in control incubations either lacking the substrate (β-glycerophosphate) or fortified with an inhibitor (sodium fluoride). The outermost region of the cell envelope was also active and, in contradistinction to previous examples with other yeasts, deposition of lead phosphate in this locale occurred even when the rate of orthophosphate generation was drastically reduced by lowering the substrate concentration. When mechanically disrupted yeast-like cells were washed and then subjected to the cytochemical procedure, pieces of broken cell envelope gave a positive reaction. The reaction product was invariably restricted to one side of cell wall cross sections. A specific and novel association of acid phosphatase with a microfibrillar zone was indicated.
Comparison of the Maxwell and Boltzmann theories

Based on the transfer matrix theory for electromagnetic fields, we develop a corresponding theory for intensity transport in a one dimensional random medium. We show the conditions for which the Maxwell equations, the intensity transport theory and the Boltzmann equation can lead to similar predictions. We generalize the transfer matrix theory to study intensity modulated waves and compare its predictions with those obtained from the Maxwell and Boltzmann equations.
Beyond These Mythical Shores: Asian American History and the Study of Race

The field of Asian American history has witnessed a sharp increase in monograph publications since the 1990s, reflective of the field's growing recognition and sophistication. Anti-Asian racism, particularly in the form of immigration restrictions and prohibitions, continues to dominate the historical literature on Asian Americans, but historians are building on earlier calls to move the field beyond liberal narratives of immigration and assimilation. Recent publications on the nineteenth century extend the temporal and geographical scope of Asian American history and offer radical critiques of race, nation, and empire in U.S. history.
Bound Water and its Relation to Some Dairy Products III. The Relation of Bound Water to Some Dairy Phenomena

The gravity formation of a maximum cream layer on bottled milk is of considerable importance in the market milk industry, largely because of the layman's method of judging richness. The processor of milk knows in a general way the factors affecting creamline but does not understand exactly why heat treatment is destructive to creamline. I t was to supplement the existing knowledge of the creaming of milk that this work was undertaken in the hope that further explanation would be obtained. The inhibited creaming of heated milk has attracted attention ever since pasteurization was first accepted as a general practice in the milk industry and much has been written in attempting to explain this phenomenon. Rahn (3) showed that the creaming p rope r ty can be restored after heating by the addition of gelatin or other accelerating colloids. Van Dam and Sirks (4) added to milk such colloids as gelatin, starch, Irish Moss and gum tragacanth and obtained a 15-25 per cent increase in volume of cream, and postulated that fat clumping took place. Babcock and Russell (5) and others found that the presence of fat clumps was essential to creaming. Palmer and Anderson (6) believed that the plasma colloids were of con-
Inhibition of hepatitis C virus replication using adeno‐associated virus vector delivery of an exogenous anti–hepatitis C virus microrna cluster

RNA interference (RNAi) is being evaluated as an alternative therapeutic strategy for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The use of viral vectors encoding short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) has been the most common strategy employed to provide sustained expression of RNAi effectors. However, overexpression and incomplete processing of shRNAs has led to saturation of the endogenous miRNA pathway, resulting in toxicity. The use of endogenous microRNAs (miRNAs) as scaffolds for short interfering (siRNAs) may avoid these problems, and miRNA clusters can be engineered to express multiple RNAi effectors, a feature that may prevent RNAi-resistant HCV mutant generation. We exploited the endogenous miRNA-17-92 cluster to generate a polycistronic primary miRNA that is processed into five mature miRNAs that target different regions of the HCV genome. All five anti-HCV miRNAs were active, achieving up to 97% inhibition of Renilla luciferase (RLuc) HCV reporter plasmids. Self-complementary recombinant adeno-associated virus (scAAV) vectors were chosen for therapeutic delivery of the miRNA cluster. Expression of the miRNAs from scAAV inhibited the replication of cell culture–propagated HCV (HCVcc) by 98%, and resulted in up to 93% gene silencing of RLuc-HCV reporter plasmids in mouse liver. No hepatocellular toxicity was observed at scAAV doses as high as 5 × 1011 vector genomes per mouse, a dose that is approximately five-fold higher than doses of scAAV-shRNA vectors that others have shown previously to be toxic in mouse liver. Conclusion: We have demonstrated that exogenous anti-HCV miRNAs induce gene silencing, and when expressed from scAAV vectors inhibit the replication of HCVcc without inducing toxicity. The combination of an AAV vector delivery system and exploitation of the endogenous RNAi pathway is a potentially viable alternative to current HCV treatment regimens. (HEPATOLOGY 2010.)
Cell Detachment Mechanisms under Closer Investigation - the Role of Fate, Elasticity and Intra-Lineage Adhesion Heterogeneity

Cell attachment strength has been used as a metric to assess cell behaviors ranging from cell-ECM binding forces to matrix fiber strength. Radially-dependent shear force detachment assays have shown that somatic cell attachment is binary, i.e. either attached with relatively normal morphology or absent at physiological or higher forces. By refining the image analysis software with this assay to gather information on of cell shape, size and orientation, we have observed quite different behavior for undifferentiated vs. somatic cells. Tremendous cytoskeletal remodeling occurs in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) and bone marrow-derived stem cells (BMSCs) without detachment, i.e. aspect ratios of mESCs and BMSCs increase up to 4:1 to 6:1 compared to control samples; on the other hand, data from fibroblasts confirms the binary adhesion model with relatively little cytoskeletal remodeling if any before detachment. After prolonged culture, BMSCs lose their ability to remodel under shear and detached in a binary fashion, perhaps indicating that a certain degree of pluripotency is required for the cytoskeleton to remain elastic and remodel. Since differentiation scales with cell stiffness, the ability of cells to rearrange under shear depends mostly on their elasticity. Softer cells such as undifferentiated BMSCs have an advantage to quickly adopt to the direction of shear and align themselves parallel to the force, reducing their total drag and consequently are able to withstand a higher shear force than their integrin density would let expect. Stiffness changes are also apparent in cancer, and using nonmalignant and transformed cell lines, parallels with stem cell adhesion will be investigated. Overall these data imply that adhesion strength may be a novel and useful physical metric to monitor cell fate.
Working with a Vietnamese Adolescent.

Every day nurses make practice decisions that are based on knowledge drawn from personal, cultural, and scientific sources. Nurses therefore practice from a particular perspective that involves culturally based personal, professional, and societal beliefs and values. Their practice, however, may involve clients whose beliefs and values are culturally different from their own and that of mainstream society. To deal effectively with competing demands in a multicultural society, nurses need to be aware of transcultural nursing concepts and how they influence ethical decision making. Using a problem-solving approach, this article analyzes the practice decisions made by a school nurse when working with a Vietnamese adolescent girl and her family. A case study is presented with background information about the Vietnamese culture, the refugee-immigrant experience, and nursing ethics. Suggestions are offered for future ethical problem solving.
Accretion rates and sediment accumulation in Rhode Island salt marshes

In order to test the assumption that accretion rates of intertidal salt marshes are approximately equal to rates of sea-level rise along the Rhode Island coast,210Pb analyses were carried out and accretion rates calculated using constant flux and constant activity models applied to sediment cores collected from lowSpartina alterniflora marshes at four sites from the head to the mouth of Narragansett Bay. A core was also collected from a highSpartina patens marsh at one site. Additional low marsh cores from a tidal river entering the bay and a coastal lagoon on Block Island Sound were also analyzed. Accretion rates for all cores were also calculated from copper concentration data assuming that anthropogenic copper increases began at all sites between 1865 and 1885. Bulk density and weight-loss-on-ignition of the sediments were measured in order to assess the relative importance of inorganic and organic accumulation. During the past 60 yr, accretion rates at the eight low marsh sites averaged 0.43±0.13 cm yr−1 (0.25 to 0.60 cm yr−1) based on the constant flux model, 0.40±0.15 cm yr−1 (0.15 to 0.58 cm yr−1) based on the constant activity model, and 0.44±0.11 cm yr−1 (0.30 to 0.59 cm yr−1) based on copper concentration data, with no apparent trend down-bay. High marsh rates were 0.24±0.02 (constant flux), 0.25±0.01 (constant activity), and 0.47±0.04 (copper concentration data). The cores showing closest agreement between the three methods are those for which the excess210Pb inventories are consistent with atmospheric inputs. These rates compare to a tide gauge record from the mouth of the bay that shows an average sea-level rise of 0.26±0.02 cm yr−1 from 1931 to 1986. Low marshes in this area appear to accrete at rates 1.5–1.7 times greater than local relative sea-level rise, while the high marsh accretion rate is equal to the rise in sea level. The variability among the low marsh sites suggests that marshes may not be poised at mean water level to within better than ±several cm on time scales of decades. Inorganic and organic dry solids each contributed about 9% by volume to low marsh accretion, while organic dry solids contributed 11% and inorganic 4% to high marsh accretion. Water/pore space accounted for the majority of accretion in both low and high marshes. If water associated with the organic component is considered, organic matter accounts for an average of 91% of low marsh and 96% of high marsh accretion. A dramatic increase in the organic content at a depth of 60 to 90 cm in the cores from Narragansett Bay appears to mark the start of marsh development on prograding sand flats.
Mapping and Assessing of Urban Impervious Areas Using Multiple Endmember Spectral Mixture Analysis: A Case Study in the City of Tampa, Florida

The advance in remote sensing technology makes people easily assess urban growth. In this study, a multiple endmember spectral mixture analysis (MESMA) was examined in a sub-pixel analysis of Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) imagery to map three physical components of urban land cover (LC): impervious surface, vegetation and soil, and compared with a traditional spectral mixture analysis (SMA) in mapping the physical components. A comparative analysis of the impervious surface areas (ISA) mapped with MESMA and SMA indicates that MESMA produced more accurately results of mapping urban physical components than those by SMA. With the multiyear Landsat TM data, we quantified sub-pixel percentage of ISA and the percentage of ISA changes to assess urban growth in Tampa, FL during the past 20 years. The experimental results demonstrate that MESMA approach is effective in mapping and monitoring urban land use/LC changes using moderate-resolution multispectral imagery at a sub-pixel level.
Compliant Assembly Variation Analysis Using Components Geometric Covariance

Dimensional variation is one of the most critical issues in the design of assembled products. This is especially important for the assembly of compliant, non-rigid parts since clamping and joining during assembly may introduce additional variation due to part deformation and springback. This paper presents a new methodology to predict sheet metal assembly variation using the components geometric covariance. The approach combines the use of principal component analysis and finite element methods to estimate the effect of components variation on assembly variation. Principal component analysis is applied to extract deformation patterns from production data, decomposing the component covariance in the individual contribution of these deformation “modes”. Finite element methods are used to determine the effect of each deformation “mode” over the assembly variation. The proposed methodology allows significant reduction in the computation effort required for variation analysis in sheet metal assembly. A case study is presented to illustrate the methodology.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Development of a computer application for headache diagnosis: The headache diagnostic system

A computer-assisted decision support system for headache classification and diagnosis is presented. The system provides: structured headache data collection, automated data quality control and management, and automated headache classification. The system is based upon headache classification and diagnostic criteria recently developed by the International Headache Society. Development, logical structure and validation of the system are discussed. The system is shown to provide a general improvement in headache classification reliability and has utility for validation and improvement of present headache classification criteria.
The crystal structure of μ4-oxo-hexa-μ-bromotetrakis[pyridine copper(II)], Cu4Br6O(C5H5N)4

Abstract The crystal structure of the tetranuclear copper cluster complex, Cu 4 Br 6 O(C 5 H 5 N) 4 has been determined from single crystal X-ray diffraction data. The cluster consists of trigonal bipyramidally coordinated Cu 2+ ions, each of which share a common oxygen atom, are bridged to the other three copper ions by bromide ions, and the fifth coordination site is occupied by a pyridine molecule. The compound crystallizes in the space group C2/c, with lattice constants a = 30.64(1), b = 12.43(2), and c = 20.17(1)A, with β = 129.56(20)°. A tota! of 4070 unique reflections were collected on a Picker fullcircle diffractometer. The structure was refined to an R value of 0.086.
THE IMPACT OF RURAL OUTMIGRATION ON REGION OF ORIGIN IN KOREA

To assess the impact of rural outmigration on regions of origin, this paper borrows from international trade theory to develop a model of rural-to-urban migration. Borrowing from theories of nontraded goods and Dutch Disease, a model is developed for application to Korea. The model finds that rural outmigration can be detrimental to the rural sector when outmigration reduces farm profitability and triggers deterioration in the rural service sector. Farm profitability falls because of rising labor costs that cannot be passed on to consumers. The rural service sector falters when outmigration reduces market demand while raising input costs. County (kun) level Korean census data are used to test the model.
Retail service innovations Inputs for success

Abstract This study examines internal and external inputs to retail service innovations and the use of customer information at key points in the development process. The significant differences between the most and least successful innovations by individual retail firms are found in the degree of (1) input by customer contact and non-contact personnel, (2) input from senior management, (3) direct input from customers themselves, and (4) information used about that customer at two major stages of the development process. The findings suggest a clear pattern between deliberate behaviors that might affect the success of new retail services.
Immunocytochemical localization of actin and tubulin in the integument of land crab (Gecarcinus lateralis) and lobster (Homarus americanus).

The crustacean integument consists of the exoskeleton and underlying epithelium and associated tissues. The epithelium, which is composed of a single layer of cells, is responsible for the cyclical breakdown and synthesis of the exoskeleton associated with molting (ecdysis). During premolt (proecdysis) the epithelial cells lengthen and secrete the two outermost layers (epicuticle and exocuticle) of the new exoskeleton while partially degrading the two innermost layers (endocuticle and membranous layer) of the overlying old exoskeleton. This increased cellular activity is associated with increased protein synthesis and a change in cell shape from cuboidal to columnar. The cytoskeleton, composed of microfilaments (actin) and microtubules (tubulin), plays important roles in the intracellular organization and motility of eukaryotic cells. Immunoblot analysis shows that the land crab exoskeleton contains actin, tubulin, and actin-related proteins (Varadaraj et al. 1996. Gene 171:177-184). In the present study, immunocytochemistry of land crab and lobster integument showed that both proteins were localized in various cell types, including epithelia, connective tissue, tendinal cells, and blood vessels. Muscle immunostained for actin and myosin, but not for tubulin. The membranous layer of land crab (the other layers of the exoskeleton were not examined) and membranous layer and endocuticle of lobster also reacted specifically with anti-beta-actin and anti-alpha-tubulin monoclonal antibodies, but not with an anti-myosin heavy chain antibody. During proecdysis immunolabeling of the membranous layer decreased probably due to protein degradation. The staining intensity for actin and tubulin in the proecdysial epithelium was similar to that in the intermolt (anecdysial) epithelium, suggesting that there was a net accumulation of both proteins proportional to the increase in cellular volume. These results support the previous biochemical analyses and, more specifically, localize actin and tubulin in exoskeletal structures, suggesting that they may serve both intracellular and extracellular functions in crustaceans. J. Exp. Zool. 286:329-342, 2000.
Local chemometrics for samples and variables: optimizing calibration and standardization processes

The ability of five sample selection methods for local chemometrics and three variable selection algorithms were compared for the development and the transfer of whole soybeans protein and oil near infrared prediction models. Two new methods based on a similarity index considering Euclidian distance among Fourier coefficients were introduced and tested against more common approaches (locally weighted regression, LOCAL). Genetic algorithms were also challenged with the development of models based on particle swarm optimization (PSO). A modification to the original PSO model was introduced. Sample and variable selection methods, as well as their combinations, were tested in the transfer of models in intra- and inter-brand situations using two Foss Infratecs and two Bruins OmegAnalyzerGs. For each brand, a master was designated and its models transferred onto the second unit of its network and the two units of the second brand. Calibration models were proven transferable from brand to brand with similar or better precisions than when all instruments were calibrated on their own calibration sets (relative predictive determinant (RPD) improving from 10.42 to 12.76 and 12.39 in intra-brand standardization for Infratec network with local and variable selection methods respectively). These methods provided contrasted results depending on the instrument, the parameter, and the variability of interest. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Molecular genetics and cellular features of TFE3 and TFEB fusion kidney cancers

Despite nearly two decades passing since the discovery of gene fusions involving TFE3 or TFEB in sporadic renal cell carcinoma (RCC), the molecular mechanisms underlying the renal-specific tumorigenesis of these genes remain largely unclear. The recently published findings of The Cancer Genome Atlas Network reported that five of the 416 surveyed clear cell RCC tumours (1.2%) harboured SFPQ-TFE3 fusions, providing further evidence for the importance of gene fusions. A total of five TFE3 gene fusions (PRCC-TFE3, ASPSCR1-TFE3, SFPQ-TFE3, NONO-TFE3, and CLTC-TFE3) and one TFEB gene fusion (MALAT1-TFEB) have been identified in RCC tumours and characterized at the mRNA transcript level. A multitude of molecular pathways well-described in carcinogenesis are regulated in part by TFE3 or TFEB proteins, including activation of TGFβ and ETS transcription factors, E-cadherin expression, CD40L-dependent lymphocyte activation, mTORC1 signalling, insulin-dependent metabolism regulation, folliculin signalling, and retinoblastoma-dependent cell cycle arrest. Determining which pathways are most important to RCC oncogenesis will be critical in discovering the most promising therapeutic targets for this disease.