cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
First complete genome sequence of a tomato spotted wilt virus isolate from the United States and its relationship to other TSWV isolates of different geographic origin

We report the first complete nucleotide sequence of a tomato spotted wilt virus (genus Tospovirus, family Bunyaviridae) isolate from the United States. The tripartite genome of PA01 consisted of L, M and S RNAs of 8914, 4765 and 2984 nt, respectively. Similarity percentages in nucleotide and amino acid sequence among PA01 and previously characterized TSWV isolates are provided here. Phylogenetic analysis on the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) gene placed PA01 in a different clade from an isolate from Hawaii that was partially characterized previously. Evidence of two putative reassortment events in the M segment, among PA01 and isolates from South Korea, Italy and Brazil, was found by phylogenetic and recombination analysis, further supporting a role for genetic exchange among isolates of different geographic origin in TSWV evolution.
MUSCLE: a multiple sequence alignment method with reduced time and space complexity

In a previous paper, we introduced MUSCLE, a new program for creating multiple alignments of protein sequences, giving a brief summary of the algorithm and showing MUSCLE to achieve the highest scores reported to date on four alignment accuracy benchmarks. Here we present a more complete discussion of the algorithm, describing several previously unpublished techniques that improve biological accuracy and / or computational complexity. We introduce a new option, MUSCLE-fast, designed for high-throughput applications. We also describe a new protocol for evaluating objective functions that align two profiles. We compare the speed and accuracy of MUSCLE with CLUSTALW, Progressive POA and the MAFFT script FFTNS1, the fastest previously published program known to the author. Accuracy is measured using four benchmarks: BAliBASE, PREFAB, SABmark and SMART. We test three variants that offer highest accuracy (MUSCLE with default settings), highest speed (MUSCLE-fast), and a carefully chosen compromise between the two (MUSCLE-prog). We find MUSCLE-fast to be the fastest algorithm on all test sets, achieving average alignment accuracy similar to CLUSTALW in times that are typically two to three orders of magnitude less. MUSCLE-fast is able to align 1,000 sequences of average length 282 in 21 seconds on a current desktop computer. MUSCLE offers a range of options that provide improved speed and / or alignment accuracy compared with currently available programs. MUSCLE is freely available at http://www.drive5.com/muscle .
Energy-budget-compliant cloud video delivery to mobile devices

Advances in computing hardware and novel multimedia applications have urged the development of handheld mobile devices such as smartphones and PDAs. Video content is increasingly consumed daily in mobile devices as well as in first response emergency services. With this significant increase of cloud-based video delivery, one of the challenges is how to efficiently transmit the bulky videos to resource-constrained mobile devices. Despite the attractive features of the widely-used approaches on the bitrate adaptation such as DASH standard, video delivery impose significant demands on the limited battery capacity of mobile devices. Thus the development of efficient approaches to decrease the amount of streamed data while maintaining maximum possible quality with the aim of increasing the battery lifetime has become a key research topic. In this pilot work, we run an offline study towards energy-aware delivery of cloud video segments to mobile devices with limited energy budget over wireless networks, with the aim of integrating into DASH standard. Our results show that our proposed adaptation significantly improves the quality of information per unit of energy consumed to deliver videos to mobile devices.
Association of Polymerase e–Mutated and Microsatellite-Instable Endometrial Cancers With Neoantigen Load, Number of Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes, and Expression of PD-1 and PD-L1

Importance Immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy has shown benefit in various cancers, but their potential in endometrial cancer (EC) is unknown. Observations Prediction of neoantigen load was performed using sequencing data from the Cancer Genome Atlas data set. Evaluation of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and PD-1 and PD-L1 expression was performed in 63 patients with EC referred to our institution. The predicted median (range) neoantigen load (predicted neoepitopes per sample) was proportional to the mutational load: highest in ultramutated polymerase e (POLE) tumors (8342 [628-20 440]), less in hypermutated MSI (541 [146-8063]; P P + (44.5 vs 21.8; P = .001) and CD8 + (32.8 vs 13.5; P P P P = .02). Conclusions and Relevance Polymerase e–mutated and MSI ECs are associated with high neoantigen loads and number of TILs, which is counterbalanced by overexpression of PD-1 and PD-L1. Polymerase e–mutated and MSI EC tumors may be excellent candidates for PD-1–targeted immunotherapies.
Membrane resealing in cultured rat septal neurons after neurite transection: evidence for enhancement by Ca(2+)-triggered protease activity and cytoskeletal disassembly.

Neurites of cultured septal neurons were transected with a laser under sterile conditions, and the subsequent membrane resealing was assayed using a dye exclusion method. In agreement with findings in other preparations, Ca2+ enhanced resealing: in normal culture medium the percentage of lesioned neurons that resealed within 20-30 min after transection increased with increasing bath [Ca2+] over the range 10(-7) to 2 x 10(-3) M; about 75% of cells resealed in 2 mM Ca2+. Mn2+ and Sr2+ also enhanced resealing, but Mg2+ inhibited it. The percentage of resealing neurons was sensitive to agents known to alter the stability of cytoskeletal components. Agents that tend to disassemble microtubules and/or neurofilaments (e.g., colchicine, low-ionic- strength media) strongly promoted resealing, whereas treatments that tend to stabilize microtubules (taxol, Mg2+) inhibited resealing. Addition of exogenous proteases (papain, trypsin, or dispase) enhanced resealing, whereas inhibitors of cysteine proteases (including a specific inhibitor of calpain, a Ca-activated neutral protease) strongly inhibited resealing. Calmodulin inhibitors inhibited resealing, consistent with reports that calmodulin facilitates calpain- mediated proteolysis of fodrin, a component of the cortical cytoskeleton. Based on these results, we hypothesize that one of the major mechanisms involved in resealing is activation of endogenous proteases by Ca2+ entry into the injured neurite. The resulting changes in the cellular cytoskeleton might promote fusion and resealing of the cut ends of the plasma membrane by enhancing membrane mobility and/or by removing structures that normally prevent membrane-membrane contact.
Context Matters: Studying Indigenous Religions in North America

Context is critically important to the study of indigenous religions in North America. This paper argues that the significance of context to indigenous (native, Indian, tribal, or aboriginal) religions is unique and particular. In studying indigenous religions, attending to context engages geographical, political, and methodological issues, which emphasize the diversity of indigenous ideas and experience. The Mi'kmaq relationship to their homeland, Mi'kma'ki, demonstrates the importance of land as fundamental context for indigenous religions; the figure of Kateri Tekakwitha illuminates the inextricably political nature of indigenous religions. Finally, methods, theories, and practices (such as self-reflexivity) that have arisen in indigenous contexts are important analytical tools in the study of indigenous ways of knowing/practices.
Biotinylated Glycopolymers Synthesized by Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization

Biotinylated glycopolymers that bind to the protein streptavidin were synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Poly(methacrylate)s with pendent N-acetyl-d-glucosamines were prepared by polymerizing the protected monomer, followed by deprotection. Alternatively, the unprotected monomer was directly polymerized. Both paths provided well-defined glycopolymers with narrow molecular weight distributions (PDI = 1.07−1.23). The number-average molecular weights determined by gel permeation chromatography increased with increasing initial monomer-to-initiator ratios. The polymers were synthesized using a biotin-functionalized initiator for ATRP. Confirmation of the end group and binding to the protein streptavidin was achieved by 1H NMR and surface plamon resonance.
Variations in the mitotic cycle in vitro

Abstract 1. 1. Under our conditions, wide variations are apparent in mitotic cycle times of cells within a single culture and even between the two daughter cells of a single division. 2. 2. Multipolar divisions often result from cells with more than one nucleus and the fate of the daughters of these divisions may range from immediate death to a repeated multipolar division—fusion—multipolar division cycle. 3. 3. The observed variabilities must be taken into account in the interpretation of data derived from in vitro studies at the cellular level.
Differential Use of Reproductive Strategies by Human Groups

J.P. Rushton has presented a series of articles proposing that different racial groups, having evolved under different environmental conditions, have been differentially selected, resulting in genetic differences in their reproductive behavior, intelligence, and “social rule-following.” Rushton's model is discussed with respect to two controversial points: criticisms of the nature of the data and analyses, and alternative explanations of the data. I concur with Rushton in the belief that different human groups utilize different strategies, but find the differential use of species-wide, environmentally contingent tactics a more parsimonious explanation than genetic differences.
DDT in the Biosphere: Where does It Go?

The worldwide pattern of movement of DDT residues appears to be from the land through the atmosphere into the oceans and into the oceanic abyss. Calculations based on the fragmentary data available on. rates of movement and sizes of various pools of DDT residues lead to the conclusion that concentrations in the atmosphere and in the mixed layer of the oceans lag by only a few years behind the amounts of DDT used annually throughout the world. A model suggests that maximum concentrations of DDT residues occurred in air in 1966 and will occur in the mixed layer of the oceans in 1971. The biota probably contains in total less than 1/30 of 1 year's production of DDT during the mid-1960's, a very small amount in proportion to the total potentially available. The reason for the biota's failure to absorb larger quantities and to be affected much more severely is unclear. The analysis suggests that mere good fortune has protected man and the rest of the biota from much higher concentrations, thus emphasizing the need to determine the details of the movement of DDT residues and other toxins through the biosphere and to move swiftly to bring world use of such toxins under rational control based on firm knowledge of local and worldwide cycles and hazards.
Rhizobial ecology of the woody legumePsorothamnus spinosus in a Sonoran Desert Arroyo

Psorothamnus spinosus seedlings were selected at random and excavated from 10×30 m quadrats along a 270 m transect in a southern Californian desert arroyo. Forty-six of the fifty seedlings excavated (92%) were nodulated. The mean number of nodules/plant was 7.0±3.6. Maximum rooting depth was 40 cm, and most (58.8%) of the nodules were found between 15 and 30 cm depth. The mean root/shoot ratio was 1.4±0.4. The rhizobial population density between 10 to 40 cm depth across all quadrats was non-detectable using a plant infection, most probable number method. All 70 isolates from field nodules were fast-growingRhizobium spp. Two colony morphologies were observed: wet, translucent, and wet, opaque. All isolates tested were effective on bothP. spinosus and another desert woody legume, mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa). Many isolates had a high relative efficiency, and seven of eight efficient isolates had uptake-hydrogenase activity. Root stimulation of the low rhizobial population found in the arroyo and subsequent root nodulation may be an important factor in seedling establishment by woody legumes in N-limited desert arroyo systems.
Squaring the circles: issues in modeling English worldwide

The model originally promoted by Braj Kachru and representing English worldwide as Inner, Outer, and Expanding circles has helped valorize denigrated varieties by drawing attention to commonalities across old and new varieties and by altering perceptions of their communicative potential and relative prestige. However, the model suffers from being based in a political/historical view of English worldwide and thus fails to capture transplantations of the language in locations not formally recorded by colonial history. Because it promotes specific varieties, the model also ignores variation within locales, especially where the gap between those who know English and those who do not is vast. Overall, the model encourages broad-brush descriptions of manifestations of English across all three circles that do not stand up to sociolinguistic analysis. In response, it is suggested that the model can continue to serve as a shorthand for English worldwide but that it must adapt by (1) moving away from a focus on nation-states in favor of a sociolinguistic focus on English-speaking communities wherever they are found and (2) recognizing that fundamental differences across contexts for English worldwide cannot be glossed over in support of specific varieties if we are to arrive at descriptively adequate sociolinguistics and socially relevant language policies.
Feasibility and Safety of Infracolic Fluoroscopically Guided Percutaneous Radiologic Gastrostomy

We study the feasibility and safety of infracolic fluoroscopically guided percutaneous gastrostomy when patient anatomy prevents conventional supracolic puncture. From September 2004 to April 2007, 508 gastrostomy and gastrojejunostomy catheters were inserted in a single institution, and in six patients, the position of the transverse colon prevented conventional supracolic puncture. All were male, with a mean age of 57 years. Four patients had head and neck cancer and two had neurologic conditions. With fluoroscopic guidance, a 14-F gastrostomy tube was inserted with T-fastener gastropexy caudal to the colon. The medical records of patients treated with this technique were reviewed for demographics, indication, technique, complications, function of gastrostomy, timing of removal of the gastrostomy, and subsequent hospital admissions. All procedures were technically successful and there was no procedure-related morbidity or mortality. The mean follow-up was 16 months (range, 7–25 months) and the mean duration of therapy was 7 months. Five patients had their gastrostomy removed after clinical improvement and one of these patients had a gastrostomy reinserted cephalic to the colon after recurrence of head and neck cancer. Two patients died of disease progression and one still had the gastrostomy in position. No patient was subsequently admitted for a complication of the technique or catheter malfunction. In conclusion, infracolic percutaneous radiologic gastrostomy with gastropexy is feasible in patients without an access route cephalic to the transverse colon.
Thinking Dynamically About Biological Mechanisms: Networks of Coupled Oscillators

Explaining the complex dynamics exhibited in many biological mechanisms requires extending the recent philosophical treatment of mechanisms that emphasizes sequences of operations. To understand how nonsequentially organized mechanisms will behave, scientists often advance what we call dynamic mechanistic explanations. These begin with a decomposition of the mechanism into component parts and operations, using a variety of laboratory-based strategies. Crucially, the mechanism is then recomposed by means of computational models in which variables or terms in differential equations correspond to properties of its parts and operations. We provide two illustrations drawn from research on circadian rhythms. Once biologists identified some of the components of the molecular mechanism thought to be responsible for circadian rhythms, computational models were used to determine whether the proposed mechanisms could generate sustained oscillations. Modeling has become even more important as researchers have recognized that the oscillations generated in individual neurons are synchronized within networks; we describe models being employed to assess how different possible network architectures could produce the observed synchronized activity.
Confusions, Contexts, and Foundations for Understanding Advertising Regulation as Related to the Research of Jean J. Boddewyn

As advertising regulation entered a phase of effective and strong government focus four decades ago, many studies published in business journals responded with consumer research inspired by those regulations. After businesses organizations established or increased their own self-regulatory activities, business faculties around the globe for the most part overlooked it or simply presumed it would rank as a "strong" force in consumer protection. Into this void, Jean J. Boddewyn provided comprehensive studies of advertising regulation and self-regulation that conceptualized, described, and analyzed these activities in the legal and cultural contexts of many countries starting in 1979.
Robust estimation of speech in noisy backgrounds based on aspects of the auditory process

A new approach to speech enhancement is proposed where constraints based on aspects of the auditory process augment an iterative enhancement framework. The basic enhancement framework is based on a previously developed dual‐channel scenario using a two‐step iterative Wiener filtering algorithm. Constraints across broad speech sections and over iterations are then experimentally developed on a novel auditory representation derived by transforming the speech magnitude spectrum. The spectral transformations are based on modeling aspects of the human auditory process which include critical band filtering, intensity‐to‐loudness conversion, and lateral inhibition. The auditory transformations and perceptual based constraints are shown to result in a new set of auditory constrained and enhanced linear prediction (ACE‐LP) parameters. The ACE‐LP based speech spectrum is then incorporated into the iterative Wiener filtering framework. The improvements due to auditory constraints are demonstrated in several areas. The proposed auditory representation is shown to result in improved spectral characterization in background noise. The auditory constrained iterative enhancement (ACE‐II) algorithm is shown to result in improved quality over all sections of enhanced speech. Adaptation of auditory based constraints to changing spectral characteristics over broad classes of speech is another novel aspect of the proposed algorithm. The consistency of speech quality improvement for the ACE‐II algorithm is illustrated over time and across all phonemes classified over a large set of phonetically balanced sentences from the TIMIT database. This study demonstrates the application of auditory based perceptual properties of a human listener to speech enhancement in noise, resulting in improved and consistent speech quality over all regions of speech.
Exemplar Driven Character Recognition in the Wild

Character recognition in natural scenes continues to represent a formidable challenge in computer vision. Traditional optical character recognition (OCR) methods fail to perform well on characters from scene text owing to a variety of difficulties in background clutter, binarisation, and arbitrary skew. Further, English characters group into only 62 classes whereas many of the world’s languages have several hundred classes. In particular, most Indic script languages such as Kannada exhibit large intra class diversity, while the only difference between two classes may be in a minor contour above or below the character. These considerations motivate an exemplar approach to classification; one which does not seek intra class commonality among extreme examples which are essentially sub classes of their own. Exemplar SVM’s have been recently introduced in the object recognition context. The essence of the exemplar approach is that rather than seeking to establish commonality within classes, a separate classifier is learnt for each exemplar in the dataset. To make individual classification simple, linear SVM’s are used and each classifier is hence an exemplar specific weight vector. Each exemplar in the dataset is resized to standard dimensions, and thence HOG features are densely extracted to create a rigid template xE . A set of negative samples NE are created by the same process from classes not corresponding to the exemplar. Each classifier (wE ,bE ) maximizes the separation between xE and every window in NE . This is equivalent to optimizing the convex objective[4]:
From the Peierls bracket to the Feynman functional integral

The two authors have worked on related problems from different points of view. B.D. uses the Peierls bracket and Schwinger’s variational principle to define functional integration. C.D. considers functional integrals as mathematical objects in their own right, useful, in particular, in Quantum Physics. The article constitutes a first point of contact between the contributions of both authors to functional integration.
Service Providers' Perceptions of Interagency Collaboration in Their Communities

In 1990, the Illinois State Board of Education established an initiative to develop community-based services for students with emotional and behavioral disorders and to reduce out-of-community plac...
Interjurisdictional management in chesapeake bay fisheries

Abstract Despite severe problems with fisheries stocks in the Chesapeake Bay, no coherent fisheries management policy has developed in the Bay. The high‐water mark probably came in 1984–85, when a bi‐state fisheries advisory group had a brief revi‐talization. This lack of coherent policy raises three questions: (1) Is there a need for unified fisheries management policy in the Bay? (2) How might such a policy be achieved? (3) Can this discussion be generalized to other multijurisdictional management problems? This paper addresses these questions in three parts. First, the political and biological environment of the Bay is described, followed by a history of intergovernmental relations in the Bay fisheries. The development and subsequent demise of the Fisheries Advisory Group is analyzed, and arguments for and against a unified policy are elaborated. Next, to discuss mechanisms by which a policy might emerge, the relationship between organizational structure and organizational function is discussed. Finall...
Solvation of the 2,5-Lutidyl Radical in Small van der Waals Clusters

The one-to-one clusters of the 2,5-lutidyl radical [2-CH3,5-(ĊH2)C5H3N] with Ar, N2, CH4, CF4, C2H6, C3H8, C4H10, and C2H4 are studied by fluorescence excitation spectroscopy, mass resolved excitation spectroscopy, and ab initio and semiempirical calculational techniques. Cluster binding energies for the ground (D0) and excited (D1) states, cluster spectroscopic shifts, and van der Waals cluster vibrational modes are reported for these systems. The agreement between the observed and calculated cluster properties is quite good. Unlike the benzyl radical, the 2,5-lutidyl radical does not react with ethylene in its D1 excited electronic state.
Molecular Wheel B82- as a New Inorganic Ligand. Photoelectron Spectroscopy and ab Initio Characterization of LiB8-

The bare B8 cluster was previously reported to be a D7h molecular wheel with a triplet group state. The B82- dianion was predicted to be a closed-shell singlet and double aromatic D7h molecular wheel. Here we report the experimental observation of B82- stabilized by a Li+ cation in LiB8- and its experimental characterization using photoelectron spectroscopy. Theoretical searches lead to a C7v LiB8- global minimum structure, and its calculated photodetachment transitions are in good agreement with the experimental values. Except for a small out-of-plane distortion due to the asymmetric Li+ capping, the B82- unit in LiB8- is nearly identical to the bare B82-, suggesting it is a robust and stable structural unit and may be used as a new ligand and building block in chemistry.
Exact distribution-free tests of mean-variance efficiency

Abstract This paper develops exact distribution-free tests of unconditional mean-variance efficiency. These new tests allow for unknown forms of non-normalities, conditional heteroskedasticity, and other non-linear temporal dependencies among the absolute values of the error terms in the asset pricing model. Exactness here rests on the assumption that the joint temporal error density is symmetric around zero. This still leaves open the possibility of return distribution asymmetry via coskewness with the benchmark portfolio. A simulation study shows that the new tests have very good power relative to that of many commonly used tests. The inference procedures developed are further illustrated by tests of the mean-variance efficiency of a market index using a 42-year sample of monthly returns on ten U.S. equity portfolios.
Understanding and facilitating group problem structuring and formulation: mental representations, interaction, and representation aids

Abstract Many issues facing the organizations of today are complex and ill-structured. The complexity of these issues do not lend themselves to structuring and formulation by quantitative models, nor simple intuitive problem solving. Rather, making sense of these situations necessitates considering and oftentimes negotiating alternative models of the ill-structured situation. The use of groups is one way to gain access to alternative perspectives. In this paper, we argue that individual mental representations are the underlying basis of group interaction and communication. And, that these internal representations can be formalized in external representations that may be useful to facilitate interaction and communication as a group strives to create a shared problem perspective. Based on this theoretical foundation, we explored these ideas by examining small groups using representational aids during the process of structuring and formulating a problem. While descriptive in nature, this study provides insights on the successful use of representational aids and suggests that these aids can positively impact problem structuring and formulation by facilitating the sharing of alternative perspectives.
Photodegradation of a laser dye in a silica gel matrix

This paper describes the results of preliminary measurements of the fluorescence properties of a laser dye in a silica gel matrix, produced through solgel processing techniques. These measurements enable observation of the effects of photodegradation of the dye by intense pulsed laser radiation with intensities characteristics of dye laser pumping. Time decay and spectral properties of the fluorescence from dye-doped gels were measured before and after photodegradation, yielding information about the effects of the gel matrix on the dye, its photodegradation, and recovery of the dye fluorescence with time.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Resolving and applying constraint queries on context-sensitive analyses

A context-sensitive analysis is an analysis in which program elements are assigned sets of properties that depend upon the context in which they occur. For analyses on imperative languages, this often refers to considering the behavior of statements in a called procedure with respect to the call-stack that generated the procedure invocation. Algorithms for performing or approximating these types of analyses make up the core of interprocedural program analysis and are pervasive; having applications in program comprehension, optimization, and verification. However, for many of these applications what is of interest is the solution to the dual problem: given a vertex and a desirable set of properties, what is the set of potential stack-contexts leading to that vertex that results in the desirable property set? Many techniques, such as procedure cloning, have been developed to approximately partition the set of stack-contexts leading to a vertex according to such a condition. This paper introduces a broad generalization of this problem referred to as a constraint query on the analysis. This generalization allows sophisticated constraints to be placed on both the desirable property set as well as the set of interesting stack-contexts. From these constraints, a novel technique based on manipulating regular languages is introduced that efficiently produces a concise representation of the exact set of stack-contexts solving this dual problem subject to the constraints. This technique is applied to a pair of emerging software engineering challenges - resolving program comprehension queries over aggregate collections of properties and statically modifying code to enforce a safety policy decidable by the analysis. Practical examples of both applications are presented along with empirical results.
Myelin transcription factor 1 (Myt1) expression in demyelinated lesions of rodent and human CNS.

Myelin transcription factor 1 (Myt1) is a zinc-finger DNA binding protein that influences developing oligodendrocyte progenitor (OP) cell proliferation, differentiation, and myelin gene transcription in vitro. The potential of Myt1 to play a role in OP responses leading to remyelination was examined using murine hepatitis virus strain A59 (MHV) to induce spinal cord demyelination and potential relevance to human pathology was evaluated in multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions. In MHV-infected mice, the density of Myt1 expressing cells markedly increased in lesioned areas of spinal cord white matter. Myt1 expressing cells proliferated most extensively during active demyelination and subsequently accumulated to maximal levels during early remyelination. Cells with nuclear Myt1 immunoreactivity were mainly OP cells, identified by co-localization with platelet-derived growth factor alpha receptor, with additional phenotypes being either oligodendrocytes or neural stem cells, identified by CC1 antigen and Musashi1, respectively. The density of OP cells expressing Myt1 was significantly increased in white matter of MHV-infected mice during demyelination and early remyelination then as remyelination advanced the values returned to levels comparable to PBS-injected control mice. In MHV lesions, Myt1 was not expressed in astrocytes, lymphocytes, or macrophage/microglial cells. MS lesions demonstrated increased Myt1 expression in both the periplaque white matter adjacent to lesions and within early remyelinating lesions. These results suggesta potential role for Myt1 in the regeneration of oligodendrocyte lineage cells in response to demyelination. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Relationship of climate and genotype to seasonal variation in the glucosinolate-myrosinase system. II. Myrosinase activity in ten cultivars of Brassica oleracea grown in fall and spring seasons

Two cultivars each of broccoli (Brassica oleracea L var italica), Brussels sprouts (B oleracea var gemmifera), cabbage (B oleracea var capitata), cauliflower (B oleracea var botrytis) and kale (B oleracea var acephala) were grown during two fall seasons and two spring seasons to determine whether significant seasonal effects on glucosinolate (GS) concentrations could be explained by mean temperature, photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) and daylength during the growing seasons. Concentrations of total GSs, indole GSs and glucoraphanin differed by genotype and season. Total GS concentrations at harvest had a negative linear but positive quadratic relationship with temperature and daylength over the 2 weeks preceding harvest and a positive linear but negative quadratic relationship with PPF over the same 2 weeks. The regression model for indole GS concentrations similarly varied with mean temperature, daylength and PPF over the 4 weeks prior to harvest. Glucoraphanin concentrations at harvest decreased linearly with mean PPF from transplanting to harvest and had a negative linear but positive quadratic relationship with daylength from transplanting to harvest. Because glucoraphanin and other GSs in cruciferous crops are important for cancer chemoprotection, climatic conditions should be considered when planning planting dates or when making breeding selections for GS concentration. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry
ARGET ATRP of methyl methacrylate in the presence of nitrogen‐based ligands as reducing agents

BACKGROUND: Activators regenerated by electron transfer for atom transfer radical polymerization (ARGET ATRP) employs reducing agents (e.g. ascorbic acid, tin(II) 2-ethylhexanoate) to continuously reduce a deactivator Cu(II) to an activator Cu(I) species. In this work, copper-mediated ARGET ATRP of methyl methacrylate (MMA) was studied in the presence of excess aliphatic nitrogen-based ligands that served not only as ligands but also as reducing agents. RESULTS: Reduction of Cu(II) to Cu(I) by an excess amount of nitrogen-based ligand was followed by UV-visible spectroscopy. Well-controlled poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) with low polydispersity index (PDI) was prepared in the presence of Cu(II)Br2/excess ligand via ARGET ATRP. Chain extension of PMMA with MMA was successful, resulting in low-PDI PMMA and demonstrating well-maintained end-group functionality. CONCLUSION: Well-controlled PMMA with low PDI was prepared via ARGET ATRP in the presence of Cu(II) and nitrogen-based ligands without any additional reducing agent. Aliphatic nitrogen-based ligands for ATRP can serve as reducing agents as well as ligands. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry
Self-gravitation in spherically symmetric accretion

On reconsidere le probleme de l'accretion spherique. On traite qualitativement les aspects de l'auto-gravitation et l'accroissement de la masse de l'objet en accretion. On conclut que lorsque l'auto-gravitation n'est pas importante initialement, elle ne peut pas devenir tres importante. Dans ce cas, le taux d'accretion logarithmique a une limite superieure qui ne depend que de la densite du milieu accrete. Application aux quasars consideres, comme etant des trous noirs massifs accretant du gaz interstellaire dans les noyaux galactiques
Screening procedure for organochlorine and organophosphorus pesticide residues in milk using matrix solid phase dispersion (MSPD) extraction and gas chromatographic determination.

A rapid technique for the extraction and gas chromatographic determination of five organochlorine and five organophosphorus pesticide residues in milk is described. Milk (5.0 ml) is blended with 2.0 g of C18 [octadecylsilyl‐derivatized silica] and 1.5 ml acetonitrile in a syringe barrel. After the aqueous phase is removed from the column by vacuum aspiration, the pesticide residues are eluted from the C18/milk matrix with acetonitrile which is then eluted through a Florisil solid phase extraction (SPE) column. The acetonitrile is evaporated under nitrogen and the residue is dissolved in petroleum ether. This extract is directly analysed for organophosphorus pesticides by gas chromatography with flame photometric detection. After further clean‐up of the extract on a mini‐Florisil column, the organochlorine pesticide residues are determined by gas chromatography with electron capture detection. Grade A homogenized and raw milk samples were fortified with five organochlorine and five organophosphorus pestici...
Reconfiguring nature and culture: intersections of medical anthropology and technoscience studies.

technologies that reconfigure "nature" and "culture" in distinctive ways. As little as a decade ago topics such as neonatal intensive care, the classification systems used for Pap smears, organ procurement and transplantation, biomedical computing systems, heterodox approaches to cancer research, and genetic testing-the subjects of this theme issue-were not standard fare for anthropologists. Although ethnomedicine has been a common focus of research, anthropological study of Western biomedicine and technology was not undertaken in a systematic way until the early 1980s. Collectively, anthropologists were latecomers to the investigation of "biomedicine as ethnomedicine" (Gaines and Hahn 1982) for a variety of complicated historical reasons. Yet Western biomedicine and technologies are powerful focal points through which to examine key anthropological issues such as meanings, ideology, knowledge, power, and culture. As these articles signify, the time is ripe for anthropologists to (re)consider the role of technology in Western biomedicine.
Effect of preinoculation growth media and fat levels on thermal inactivation of a serotype 4b strain of Listeria monocytogenes in frankfurter slurries

Preinoculation growth conditions and fat levels were evaluated for effects on the heat resistance of Listeria monocytogenes strain MFS 102 in formulated frankfurter slurries and on frankfurter surfaces. Comparison of linear inactivation rates (D-values) for cells heated in frankfurter slurry showed that growth conditions were significant (P<0.05) factors affecting subsequent thermal resistance. The average D60C-values for the five preinoculation growth media tested from most resistant to least heat resistant were: tryptic soy broth with 0.6% yeast extract (TSBYE) (2.2 min) and 8.5% fat slurry (2.2 min), followed by 23% fat slurry (1.7 min) and 11% fat slurry (1.7 min), and then TSYBE with quaternary ammonium compounds added (TSBYE+Q) (1 min). The fat level in the frankfurter heating media also had a significant (P<0.05) effect on the thermal death rate of L. monocytogenes. Cells heated in 8.5% fat slurry had a significantly higher (P 0.05) affecting thermal inactivation rates on frankfurter surfaces. Heat inactivation rates were consistently higher on frankfurter surfaces compared to similar treatments done in frankfurter slurry. On frankfurter surfaces, a 2.3- to 5.1-log10 reduction was achieved after 15 min depending on frankfurter surface type. The time necessary to achieve a 3-log10 reduction using post-processing pasteurization of frankfurters in a hot water-bath at 60C almost doubled for cells grown in TSBYE and heated in 23% fat frankfurter slurry (19.6 min) versus cells grown and heated in 8.5% fat frankfurter slurry (10.8 min).
An Experimental Comparison of Pricing in Two Auction Systems

Trading and pricing procedures are being increasingly viewed as variables in the marketing system, particularly as the pricing role of central markets declines. Quantification of the effect of pricing systems on price outcome is needed for decisions in this area. English (ascending bid) and Dutch (descending price) auctions are compared in a series of experiments. Specific hypotheses regarding price variation, pattern of price during an auction period, and departure from equilibrium price are tested. The experimental evidence indicates the existence of a significant area of indeterminacy in pricing processes.
Simulation of the refractive index properties of a tunable-electron-density quantum well and reservoir structure

A numerical simulation of the optical properties of a novel In/sub x/Ga/sub 1-x/As/In/sub 1-y/Al/sub y/As multiple quantum well heterostructure with tunable charge density is presented. The influence of carriers and dopant ion charges on the electronic properties is simulated by a self-consistent Poisson-Schrodinger solver. The calculated optical constants of the quantum well reproduce well the experimental data. It appears that this model can easily be implemented to include current injection and used as a design tool to optimize the performance of optical modulator quantum well devices. >
Acoustic sensor for determining combustion properties of natural gas

Since natural gas is not refined its composition depends on when and where it is recovered. This variation in composition results in problems in the optimal performance of combustion systems using natural gas as a fuel. The speed of sound in natural gas can be used to measure the fuel quality, since the speed of sound in a gas changes with the molecular weight of the gas. The primary constituent of natural gas, methane, has a relatively low molecular weight resulting in a high speed of sound, whereas contaminants such as ethane, propane, nitrogen and carbon dioxide have a lower speed of sound. A bench-top prototype speed of sound sensor for natural gas was built, and the speed of sound was measured at temperatures from -30 degrees C to 65 degrees C for twelve representative gas compositions. The sound speeds using the prototype sensor match theoretical predictions. That speed of sound in the natural gas was correlated to several composition and combustion properties including the percentage methane composition, the molecular weight, the density, the volume stoichiometric air-fuel ratio, the volumetric higher heating value, the Wobbe index and the lower flammability limit.
Immunohistochemistry in diagnostic dermatopathology

Immunopathology continues to be important in diagnostic dermatopathology. Immunopathologyis an invaluable tool for assessing the tissue of origin or direction of differentiation of cells. In some cases this can result in a more precise diagnosis. This article reviews the role of immunopathology in determining the biologic behavior of hematolymphoid infiltrates. It explores the methodology of immunoperoxidase, discusses the most commonly used antibody reagents, and presents a series of diagnostic dilemmas in which immunopathology can be useful. In each case a strategy is established that maximizes the likelihood of making a definitive diagnosis.
Electrocardiogram in Hamsters after Large Fat Meals.

SummaryLarge cream and oil meals were fed to hamsters. At intervals after feeding electrocardiograms were made. After the fat meals prolongation of the QT interval, especially its ST segment occurred. These changes were absent after oil meals.
Development of a random response scale for the multiple affect adjective check list-revised.

A scale was constructed to identify random responses on the Multiple Affect Adjective Check List-Revised. Items chosen were the 14 least frequently checked items and 14 most frequently checked items, plus the seven most frequently checked negative items and the seven least frequently checked positive items (total=42). The Random Response Scale successfully differentiated random protocols from those produced by 420 college students, and scores on the scale were significantly higher for the college students than for the random sample. In addition, correlations between scores on the Random Response Scale and the Communality Scale (Adjective Check List) and the NEO-FFI Conscientiousness Scale suggest its usefulness as a measure of "conscientiousness" or "dependableness."
A calibration method for group V fluxes and impact of V/III flux ratio on the growth of InAs/InAsSb type-II superlattices by molecular beam epitaxy

Abstract A calibration method for group V fluxes is demonstrated for the growth of InAs x Sb 1− x alloys and strain-balanced InAs/InAs x Sb 1− x superlattices on GaSb substrates by molecular beam epitaxy for IR optoelectronic device applications. The structural and optical properties of these structures grown with varying V/III flux ratios are investigated using several characterization methods, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), photoluminescence (PL), and reflection high energy electron diffraction. Samples grown at 450 °C with Sb/In flux ratios from 1.0 to 2.0 and As/In flux ratios from 1.2 to 2.5 lead to Sb mole fractions ranging from 0.078 to 0.34. High structural and optical quality superlattices for Sb mole fractions up to 0.34 are verified by XRD and low-temperature PL measurements. When varying both Sb mole fraction and period, superlattice structures are demonstrated with low-temperature emission wavelengths ranging from 3.6 to 7.1 μm.
Platoon management with cooperative adaptive cruise control enabled by VANET

Previous studies have shown the ability of vehicle platooning to improve highway safety and throughput. With Vehicular Ad-hoc Network (VANET) and Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control (CACC) system, vehicle platooning with small headway becomes feasible. In this paper, we developed a platoon management protocol for CACC vehicles based on wireless communication through VANET. This protocol includes three basic platooning maneuvers and a set of micro-commands to accomplish these maneuvers. Various platooning operations such as vehicle entry and vehicle (including platoon leader) leaving can be captured by these basic platoon maneuvers. The protocol operation is described in detail using various Finite State Machines (FSM), and can be applied in collaborative driving and intelligent highway systems. This protocol is implemented in an integrated simulation platform, VENTOS, which is developed based on SUMO and OMNET++. The validity and effectiveness of our approach is shown by means of simulations, and different platooning setting are calibrated.
Crystal clots in calc-alkaline andesites as breakdown products of high-Al amphiboles

Andesites of the calc-alkaline volcanic series associated with the circum-Pacific orogenic zone commonly contain crystal clots consisting essentially of plagioclase, clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene, and magnetite. It is proposed that these crystal clots represent the breakdown products of an amphibole as it enters the low-pressure environment of the upper crust. The bulk chemical composition of the clots compares favorably to that of the high-Al amphibole, pargasitic hornblende. The crystal clots support the hypothesis of the formation of andesitic magma by fractionation of early formed amphibole from a basaltic magma at total pressures less than 18 kbars and temperatures less than 1000° C.
Three-dimensional lithographically defined organotypic tissue arrays for quantitative analysis of morphogenesis and neoplastic progression

Here, we describe a simple micromolding method to construct three-dimensional arrays of organotypic epithelial tissue structures that approximate in vivo histology. An elastomeric stamp containing an array of posts of defined geometry and spacing is used to mold microscale cavities into the surface of type I collagen gels. Epithelial cells are seeded into the cavities and covered with a second layer of collagen. The cells reorganize into hollow tissues corresponding to the geometry of the cavities. Patterned tissue arrays can be produced in 3–4 h and will undergo morphogenesis over the following 1–3 d. The protocol can easily be adapted to study a variety of tissues and aspects of normal and neoplastic development.
Respiratory distress syndrome: differential effects of prenatal steroid therapy and prolonged rupture of the membranes.

Abstract We studied the incidences of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and of severe RDS and the survival rate in premature newborns who received a complete prenatal course of betamethasone (N = 49) and in those who did not receive the steroid (N = 546). We also studied the same parameters in steroid-untreated prematures who had prolonged rupture of the membranes (⩾24 h, N = 91), and in those who did not (N = 448). We found that the incidences of RDS and severe RDS were significantly lower and the survival rate significantly higher in steroid-treated babies than in untreated babies at 28–32 weeks of gestation (29% vs. 58%, P 0.2; 21% vs. 30%, P > 0.3, respectively). The data indicate that between 28 and 32 weeks gestation, the protection against RDS that is provided by prenatal treatment with betamethasone is not superior to that provided by prolonged rupture of the membranes alone.