cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Two-stage 3-methylcholanthrene and butylated hydroxytoluene-induced lung carcinogenesis in mice

Lung cancer is one of the deadliest types of cancer and as such requires disease models that are useful for identification of novel pathways for biomarkers as well as to test therapeutic agents. Adenocarcinoma (ADC), the most prevalent type of lung cancer, is a subtype of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) and a disease driven mainly by smoking. However, it is also the most common subtype of lung cancer found in non-smokers with environmental exposures. Chemically driven models of lung cancer, also called primary models of lung cancer, are important because they do not overexpress or delete oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes, respectively, to increase oncogenesis. Instead these models test tumor development without forcing a specific pathway (i.e., Kras). The primary focus of this chapter is to discuss a well-established 2-stage mouse model of lung adenocarcinomas. The initiator (3-methylcholanthrene, MCA) does not elicit many, if any, tumors if not followed by exposure to the tumor promoter (butylated hydroxytoluene, BHT). In sensitive strains, such as A/J, FVB, and BALB, significantly greater numbers of tumors develop following the MCA/BHT protocol compared to MCA alone. BHT does not elicit tumors on its own; it is a non-genotoxic carcinogen and promoter. In these sensitive strains, promotion is also associated with inflammation characterized by infiltrating macrophages, lymphocytes, and neutrophils, and other inflammatory cell types in addition to increases in total protein content reflective of lung hyperpermeability. This 2-stage model is a useful tool to identify unique promotion specific events to then test in future intervention studies.
“Will Work for Maps”: A History of the Library of Congress Geography and Map Division Special Map Processing Project

After World War II, the Geography and Map Division at the Library of Congress acquired large quantities of military-related maps through the U.S. Army Map Service and similar military agencies, as ...
Case 37: This Could Be Serious

You are working in southern Mauritania as an anesthesiologist in a small hospital. Everything in the operating room is old. Today you are anesthetizing an 8-year-old girl for tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. A new anesthesia nurse has been assigned to you. You are to train him to give simple anesthetics and this is his first day.
Original ContributionsManometry of the upper esophageal sphincter and pharynx is not useful in unselected patients referred for esophageal testing

OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine whether routinely performing upper esophageal sphincter/pharyngeal (UES/P) manometry in patients referred for esophageal testing alters clinical practice. METHODS: Clinical history along with radiography and manometry studies were reviewed in 470 patients referred for manometry. A total of 435 (92.6%) were found to have adequate evaluation of the UES/P and were included in the study. RESULTS: Of 435 studies, 80 (17.7%) had one or more UES/P abnormalities. Indications for these 80 studies were dysphagia in 30 cases (37.5%), chest pain in 26 (32.5%), both in four (5.0%), and other in 20 (25%). There were 85 manometric abnormalities in the 80 studies: hypertensive UES in 16 cases (18.8%), incomplete UES relaxation in 38 (44.7%), hypertensive pharynx in seven (8.2%), hypotensive pharynx in 15 (17.6%), and abnormal coordination in nine (10.6%). A total of 41 patients had a barium study, which was normal in 11 cases (26%), confirmed the problem in 16 (40%), and suggested another problem in 14 (34%). In 17 patients (21%), there was clinical suspicion for an oropharyngeal disorder before manometry, whereas in 58 cases it was an unexpected finding. Of the 58 patients with an unexpected finding, therapy based on this finding was offered in six (three esophageal dilations, two dietary changes, and one swallowing therapy). If patients with concomitant esophageal body disorders are excluded, in only three patients an unexpected UES finding led to change in management. CONCLUSIONS: An unexpected UES/P finding resulted in a change in therapy in only six of the manometries. Barium esophagogram was diagnostic of the oropharyngeal abnormality in nearly two-thirds of the patients in whom it was clinically suspected. These data, along with limited therapeutic options, suggest limited usefulness for routine UES/P manometry.
A Critical Assessment of Resolution for Red-Blood-Cell Simulation☆

Simulations of deformable capsules in flow can require representation of a challengingly broad range of length scales. This is especially true for red blood cells, because they deform so significantly under physiological flow conditions. We discuss requisite simulation fidelity from the perspective of resolution, which we distinguish from the often-cited convergence order of a method. Resolution measures error at the finite discretization (e.g. mesh density) of actual simulations, and can therefore be a valuable metric in assessing methods for practical simulations. This is especially the case in chaotic multi-body cellular flow, for which the pertinent measures of convergence are statistical. Two model configurations are presented and analyzed using a particular high-resolution boundary integral solver: relaxation of a perturbed spherical capsule and the finite-deformation of a flowing red blood cell in a narrow round tube. Resolution needs depend strongly on the observable of interest.
Vitreous Incarceration Complicating Cataract Surgery: A Light and Electron Microscopic Study

Vitreous incarceration in the cataract wound may contribute to development of aphakic cystoid macular edema, vitreoretinal traction and retinal detachment, and corneal decompensation. Thirty-one eyes in which vitreous was incarcerated in the cataract wound were examined postmortem and the corneal, anterior segment, and vitreoretinal changes were reported. Light and electron microscopy specimens demonstrated migration of corneal endothelium onto the adherent vitreous with production of basement membrane (descemetization). Fibrous ingrowth was present in 84% of the eyes. Iridovitreal synechiae were seen in 87% of the eyes. Cystoid macular edema, present in six eyes (19%), was usually accompanied by retinal phlebitis and often by distortion of the pars plicata. Vitreoretinal traction was seen in four eyes (13%), retinal tears were seen in two eyes (6%), and one eye had a total retinal detachment. Preretinal membranes were present in five eyes (16%) without other macular pathology. Persistent cystoid macular edema appears to occur in a minority of eyes with vitreous incarcerated in the cataract wound. If a vitrectomy is to be performed, the surgeon should excise vitreous adherent to the iris and in the anterior vitreous cavity in addition to the vitreous in the region of the wound.
Authoring narrative visualizations with Ellipsis

Data visualization is now a popular medium for journalistic storytelling. However, current visualization tools either lack support for storytelling or require significant technical expertise. Informed by interviews with journalists, we introduce a model of storytelling abstractions that includes state-based scene structure, dynamic annotations and decoupled coordination of multiple visualization components. We instantiate our model in Ellipsis: a system that combines a domain-specific language DSL for storytelling with a graphical interface for story authoring. User interactions are automatically translated into statements in the Ellipsis DSL. By enabling storytelling without programming, the Ellipsis interface lowers the threshold for authoring narrative visualizations. We evaluate Ellipsis through example applications and user studies with award-winning journalists. Study participants find Ellipsis to be a valuable prototyping tool that can empower journalists in the creation of interactive narratives.
The Bottom Line on Board Diversity: A Cost-Benefit Analysis of the Business Rationales for Diversity on Corporate Boards

The Bottom Line on Board Diversity: A Cost Benefit Analysis of the Business Rationales for Diversity on Corporate Boards critically examines the business rationales for diversity in order to determine whether they can or should be used to encourage greater diversity on the boards of major corporations. The Article acknowledges the validity of some of the business rationales for diversity within corporations more generally, but questions whether those rationales apply with as much force in the context of corporate boards and the obligations board members undertake. On this point, the Article concludes that such rationales promise more, and in some cases significantly more, than directors of color can realistically deliver. The Article also concludes that while there may be practical reasons for relying on business rationales to encourage corporations to diversify, many diversity advocates have failed to analyze and appreciate the costs associated with adopting business rationales. In fact, these individual and societal costs, including the costs of marginalization and commodification, may outweigh the benefits of using market and economic rationales to justify board diversity.
The ABCs of Xml: The Librarian's Guide to the Extensible Markup Language

From the Publisher: This book provides an overview of XML and some of its possible applications in libraries. It discusses XML and its relationship to SGML and HTML and examines the various components of the markup language. It explains the structure of an XML document and explores the different types of style sheets that offer various options for formatting and presenting XML documents for reading and processing. It covers XML's linking and pointing components which expand those capabilities even further than HTML allows. One of the important advantages of XML is that it can be read by both humans and machines, allowing sharing of data for computer processing. The book will discuss the processing of XML data and its import, particularly for electronic commerce (e-commerce) which is expected to be the "killer application" that will accelerate XML's adoption and catapult it into widespread use.
Archiving and Distributing Mouse Lines by Sperm Cryopreservation, IVF, and Embryo Transfer

The number of genetically modified mouse lines has been increasing exponentially in the past few decades. In order to safeguard them from accidental loss and genetic drifting, to reduce animal housing cost, and to efficiently distribute them around the world, it is important to cryopreserve these valuable genetic resources. Preimplantation-stage embryos from thousands of mouse lines have been cryopreserved during the past two to three decades. Although reliable, this method requires several hundreds of embryos, which demands a sizable breeding colony, to safely preserve each line. This requirement imposes significant delay and financial burden for the archiving effort. Sperm cryopreservation is now emerging as the leading method for storing and distributing mouse lines, largely due to the recent finding that addition of a reducing agent, monothioglycerol, into the cryoprotectant can significantly increase the in vitro fertilization (IVF) rate in many mouse strains, including the most widely used C57BL/6 strain. This method is quick, inexpensive, and requires only two breeding age male mice, but it still remains tricky and strain-dependent. A small change in experimental conditions can lead to significant variations in the outcome. In this chapter, we describe in detail our sperm cryopreservation, IVF, and oviduct transfer procedures for storing and reviving genetically modified mouse lines.
Wide-band heterodyne submillimetre wave spectrometer for planetary atmospheres

We present calculations and measurements on a passive submillimetre wave spectroscopic sounder to gather data on the thermal structure, dynamics and composition of the upper atmosphere of a planet, e.g. the stratosphere of Jupiter, or the entire thickness of the atmosphere of Mars. The instrument will be capable of measuring wind speeds, temperature, pressure, and key constituent concentrations in the stratosphere of the target planet. This instrument consists of a Schottky diode based front end and a digital back-end spectrometer. It differs from previous space-based spectrometers in its combination of wide tunability (520-590 GHz), and rapid frequency switching between widely spaced lines within that range. This will enable near simultaneous observation of multiple lines, which is critical to the reconstruction of atmospheric pressure and density versus altitude profiles. At the same time frequency accuracy must be high to enable wind speeds to be determined directly by measurement of the line's Doppler shift.
Analytical and clinical validation of parathyroid hormone (PTH) measurement in fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) washings

Abstract Background Parathyroid hormone (PTH) quantitation in fine needle aspirate biopsy (FNAB) saline washings complements current modalities for parathyroid tissue localization. Objectives To establish the performance characteristics of the Roche Elecsys intact PTH immunoassay in FNAB needle washings and its diagnostic performance for the identification of parathyroid tissue. Design and methods Accuracy, precision, reportable range, and analytical specificity and sensitivity for the intact PTH immunoassay in FNAB needle washings were established. For clinical validation, 93 specimens from 79 patients were evaluated. Diagnostic cut-offs were established via receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Performance of PTH in FNAB needle washings was compared to cytology. Results Measurement of the PTH in FNAB needle washings demonstrated a matrix interference that was overcome by supplementation of the samples with a protein based matrix prior to analysis. ROC area under the curve (AUC) was 0.96 for PTH in FNAB needle washings. A PTH concentration ≥ 100 pg/mL showed 100% specificity and 82% sensitivity for identifying parathyroid tissue. On histology-confirmed parathyroid specimens, 21/38 (55%) were correctly identified by cytology; whereas 31/38 (82%) were identified by PTH. Conclusions Measurement of PTH in FNAB washings complements cytology for identification of parathyroid tissue. Analytical validation to exclude interference in the PTH immunoassay and proper localization of the parathyroid tissue by ultrasound is necessary to ensure the robustness of the method.
The Molecular Basis of Congenital Cardiac Disease

Today, congenital cardiovascular disease is virtually always amenable to corrective or palliative surgical interventions. However, the mechanisms causing developmental anomalies of the heart and vessels have remained obscure until recently. This review presents genetic defects causing the pediatric vasculopathies; Marfan's syndrome, inherited supravalvar aortic stenosis, and Williams' syndrome. A synopsis of known mutations causing human cardiomyopathies in nuclear genes encoding contractile proteins, cardiomyocyte structural proteins, and mitochondrial proteins essential for cardiac energy production is provided. The molecular genetic evidence implicating single gene mutations in the pathogenesis of conotruncal anomalies (the 22q11 monosomy or "cardiac defects, abnormal facies, thymic hypoplasia, cleft palate, and hypocalcemia with deletions on chromosome 22" [CATCH-22) syndrome), heterotaxy syndromes, trisomies and atrioventricular canal defects, and secundum atrial septal defects is presented. The consequences of these genetic causes for diagnostic evaluation and perioperative care are emphasized. Single gene defects are a common cause of congenital cardiac disease.
Docetaxel: an active drug for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Purpose We conducted a phase II study designed to evaluate the activity, safety, and tolerability of docetaxel (Taxotere: Rhone-Poulenc Rorer Pharmaceuticals Inc, Collegeville, PA) in patients with advanced, incurable, or recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) who had not received prior palliative chemotherapy. Patients and methods Thirty-one patients with measurable, locoregional, or metastatic SCCHN were treated with docetaxel, administered at a dose of 100 mg/m2 as a 1-hour intravenous (i.v.) infusion once every 21 days on an outpatient basis. All patients were premedicated with dexamethasone, diphenhydramine, and cimetidine. Prophylactic administration of growth factors or antiemetics was not permitted. Results Thirty-one patients were treated. Twenty-nine patients were assessable for response and 30 for toxicity. Four of 31 patients (13%) achieved complete response (CR), nine (29%) achieved partial response had stable disease (SD) and seven (23%) experienced progression of disease (PD). The major response rate was 42% (95% confidence interval [CI], 24% to 60%). The median duration of responses was 5 months (range, 2 to 14). The principal toxicity was leukopenia, which occurred with rapid onset and brief duration. Sixteen patients (53%) experienced nadir fever, and 13 required dose reduction. Hypersensitivity reactions occurred in four patients. Grade 3 peripheral neuropathy occurred in two patients; grade 2 or 3 fatigue occurred in six (20%) and 10 (33%), respectively. Minimal edema (grade 1) occurred in five patients (17%). Clinically significant mucositis, diarrhea, or dermatitis were not observed. Conclusion Docetaxel has major activity against SCCHN. It appears to be well tolerated in this group of patients and can be safely administered on an outpatient basis. Premedication with dexamethasone, cimetidine, and diphenhydramine is associated with a reduced incidence of significant edema, hypersensitivity reactions, and dermatologic toxicities.
Brownian Motion on the Martin Space

Let D be a connected Greenian subset of ℝ N , let K be a Martin function for D, let h be a strictly positive superharmonic function on D, and let \( \left\{ {w_{\xi }^{h}( \bullet )} \right. \), ℱ\( F_{\xi }^{h}(\bullet )\} \) be an h-Brownian motion in D from ξ with lifetime \( S_{\xi }^{h} \). For A a subset of D let \( S_{\xi }^{{hA}} \) and \( L_{\xi }^{{hA}} \), respectively, be the hitting and last hitting times of A by \( w_{\xi }^{h}( \bullet ) \). According to Theorem 1.XII.10, if h is harmonic, the Martin boundary is h-resolutive and \( \mu _{D}^{h}(\xi ,d\zeta ) = K(\zeta ,\xi ){{M}_{h}}(d\zeta )/h(\xi ) \), where Mh is the Martin representing measure of h corresponding to K. According to Theorem II.2, the left limit \( w_{\xi }^{h}(S_{\xi }^{h} - ) \) exists almost surely and has distribution \( \mu _{D}^{h}(\xi , \bullet ) \) supported (Section 1.XII.7) by the minimal Martin boundary \( \partial _{1}^{M}D \). In particular, if ζ is a minimal Martin boundary point and if h = K(ζ, •), then \( \mu _{D}^{h}( \bullet ,\left\{ \zeta \right\} \) = 1; so \( w_{\xi }^{h}(S_{\xi }^{h} - ) = \zeta \) almost surely. With this choice of h we shall sometimes write \( w_{\xi }^{\zeta }( \bullet ),S_{\xi }^{{\zeta A}},L_{\xi }^{{\zeta A}} \), respectively, for \( w_{\xi }^{\zeta }( \bullet ),S_{\xi }^{{\zeta A}},L_{\xi }^{{\zeta A}} \).
Black bears in Southeast Alaska: the fate of two ancient lineages in the face of contemporary movement

Biodiversity across a landscape is a product of both historical events and ongoing contemporary forces. The past and present factors that influence black bear Ursus americanus diversity on the Alexander Archipelago and mainland of Southeast Alaska were investigated by assessing nuclear genetic variation. The natural fragmentation of the region, the high vagility of black bears and their possible recent post-Pleistocene colonization to Southeast Alaska allowed us to discern between past and present forces characterizing diversity. Two known black bear lineages, estimated previously with mitochondrial DNA to have diverged 1.8 million years ago, remained evident in data from more rapidly evolving nuclear genetic markers. Two nuclear genetic clusters geographically correspond to the lineages, suggesting that contemporary movement since colonization (likely beginning 18 000 cybp) has not been sufficient to eliminate genetic differences between the highly divergent lineages. Concomitantly, the clearest pattern of genetic diversity is related to contemporary geographic patterns; contemporary geography differs from geography immediately after deglaciation due to sea-level change. Narrow saltwater straits, expansive ice fields, narrow beach fringes and saltwater inland bays separate genetically distinct groupings of black bears.
Relative bioavailability of phosphorus and true amino acid digestibility by poultry as affected by soybean extraction time and use of low-phytate soybeans

The objectives of this study were to determine if lengthening the time that soybeans (SB) spend in the extractor during preparation of soybean meal (SBM) results in increased relative bioavailability of phosphorus without negatively impacting true amino acid digestibilities, and to compare those modified SBM with that produced from a low-phytate SB. Three SBM were prepared under uniform conditions with the exception of the length of time SB spent in the extractor [45 min (300 rpm), 60 min (225 rpm), or 90 min (150 rpm)]. A SBM prepared from low-phytate SB was obtained for comparison. Relative phosphorus bioavailability in chicks and true amino acid digestibilities by cecectomized roosters were determined. Increasing the length of time that SB spent in the extractor from 45 to 90 min resulted in lower phytate phosphorus and increased phosphorus bioavailability from 34 to 56%. However, this increase came at the expense of available lysine status, with the SBM extracted for 90 min containing less total lysine and less digestible lysine than the SBM extracted for 45 min (traditional extraction time). Phosphorus bioavailability from SBM prepared from low-phytate SB was 1.5 times higher than for SBM extracted for 45 min. Increasing the length of time that SB spend in the extractor led to an increase in bioavailable phosphorus but a decrease in bioavailable lysine, potentially negating the positive effect on phosphorus.
Mentoring partnerships in a community technology centre: A constructionist approach for fostering equitable service learning

Mentoring programmes have gained increasing popularity in institutions of higher education to support undergraduates in community service or outreach efforts. Many of these programmes partner mentors with inner‐city youth, providing assistance in underserved communities while mentors gain experiences that connect theory and practice. Here we report on two years of fieldwork in a Community Technology Centre that created mentoring partnerships in which 36 liberal arts undergraduates engaged with local youth to design, create, and build technology projects involving graphics, video, music, and animation. We analysed over 200 field notes, which described their mentoring interactions over eight weeks and conducted exit interviews about their mentoring experiences. Our results indicate that mentors participated not just as more knowledgeable peers but also as facilitators, advisors, observers and, most importantly, as learners in this process. In the interviews, nearly all mentors reviewed assumptions about the...
Notes on some South American Mosquitoes.

Larvae of Anopheles (Stethomyia) thomasi Shannon, from which both males and females were reared, were taken in August, 1932, at the type locality, Rio Cururipe, near Sao Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. Breeding occurred along the marshy edges of a rivulet in the woods. Plate I shows a few features of the larva, which is very similar to that of A. (Stethomyia) kompi Edw., described as Stethomyia nimba by Shannon and Davis (3). The palmate hairs are rudimentary, delicate, and difficult to see in both species. In our specimens the pecten of kompi has more numerous teeth, and these are more heavily fringed than in thomasi . However, the identification can be made more easily by examining the anterior submedian thoracic groups of hairs. In kompi the inner hair of this group is relatively short and has usually six or more branches or filaments rising as a terminal tuft from a thicker basal stem. In thomasi the corresponding hair is longer and usually forked at the extremity; it may also be simple, without branches; or, rarely it may have three short branches at the tip. This difference between kompi and thomasi is shown in Plate I, figures e and f .
Remembering mnemonics: A three-year follow-up on the effects of mnemonics training in elderly adults

The purpose of this study was to assess the long-term impact of providing training in mnemonics to a small group of elderly adults. We wished to determine if such training could be utilized effectively some three years (34 months) after initial training. Nine of ten original subjects consented to take part in the retesting exercise. Ages ranged from 66 to 85 yrs (M = 73.5). Our results demonstrate that though loci generally were available for use in remembering a new word list, they usually were not effectively utilized to enhance recall. Our participants also agreed that the training they had received was useful. In spite of this, a majority of the respondents did not use the method of loci after training. However, adults of all ages often do not utilize mnemonics training once its effectiveness has been demonstrated. Therefore, creating effective cognitive interventions may require that we adopt techniques that have been shown to improve compliance in other areas of healthy living.
Real-time distributed tracking with non-overlapping cameras

We present a real-time distributed system for tracking with non-overlapping camera views. Each camera performs multi-object tracking, and cameras communicate with each other in a peer-to-peer manner for consistent labeling. To match objects across non-overlapping views, we employ multiple features, namely color histogram, height, travel time and speed. First, camera configuration and reference values of different features are learned in the training phase. Then, we combine multiple evidences by computing an overall similarity score, which is a weighted sum of the similarity scores of different features. Communication and frame processing run in parallel and share memory. Experimental results show the success of the presented system in real-time tracking with non-overlapping cameras and in handling merge cases.
A kinetic study of the pH optimum of canine cardiac cathepsin D

An acid protease, most likely cathepsin D, was purified approximately 1000 fold to homogeneity from canine cardiac tissue using acetate precipitation, affinity chromatography and gel filtration. Molecular weight determinations of the isolated acid protease using gel filtration suggested the presence of a single polypeptide chain of molecular weight 42000. Similar studies using SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated the presence of two subunits of molecular weight 32000 and 14000. The purified acid protease exhibited a pH optimum of 3.4 (with haemoglobin as substrate), an amino acid composition similar to that known for cathepsin D and was markedly inhibited by pepstatin A. Apparent Km and Vmax (determined at 40°C and pH 3.4 using haemoglobin) were found to be 1.43 × 10−5 ± 0.18 × 10−5 mol·litre−1 (mean ± SD, n = 6) and 1.38 × 10−5 ± 0.16 × 10−5 mol tyrosine·litre−1·min−1 (mean ± SD, n = 6) respectively. Measurement of apparent Km and Vmax at higher pH values (4.2 and 4.5) yielded values of 0.68 × 10−5 ± 0.19 × 10−5 and 0.83 × 10−5 ± 0.08 × 10−5 (n = 4, pH 4.2) and 1.33 × 10−5 ± 0.23 × 10−5 and 0.49 × 10−5 ± 0.04 × 10−5 (n = 5, pH 4.5) respectively. Our results show that while the cathepsin D mediated hydrolysis of haemoglobin proceeds less efficiently at higher pH, the ability of the acid protease to bind haemoglobin at higher pH is not decreased. It is suggested that cathepsin D may be functional under similar conditions in vivo, that is at pH values less acidic than that indicated by the pH optimum of the enzyme.
Recent advances in targeted genome engineering in mammalian systems

Targeted genome engineering enables researchers to disrupt, insert, or replace a genomic sequence precisely at a predetermined locus. One well-established technology to edit a mammalian genome is known as gene targeting, which is based on the homologous recombination (HR) mechanism. However, the low HR frequency in mammalian cells (except for mice) prevents its wide application. To address this limitation, a custom-designed nuclease is used to introduce a site-specific DNA double-strand break (DSB) on the chromosome and the subsequent repair of the DSB by the HR mechanism or the non-homologous end joining mechanism results in efficient targeted genome modifications. Engineered homing endonucleases (also called meganucleases), zinc finger nucleases, and transcription activator-like effector nucleases represent the three major classes of custom-designed nucleases that have been successfully applied in many different organisms for targeted genome engineering. This article reviews the recent developments of these genome engineering tools and highlights a few representative applications in mammalian systems. Recent advances in gene delivery strategies of these custom-designed nucleases are also briefly discussed.
Effects of soil microorganisms on mycorrhizal contribution to growth of big bluestem grass in non-sterile soil

Abstract Plant dry weight and mycorrhizal root colonization of big bluestem ( Andropogon gerardii Vitman) inoculated with Glomus etunicatum Becker and Gerd. were suppressed if non-sterile prairie soil sievings or filtrate were added to pasteurized soil. Addition of prairie soil microorganisms, isolated onto peptone yeast extract, King's B, or starch casein agar media, to pasteurized soil also reduced dry weight and mycorrhizal root colonization of big bluestem inoculated with G. etunicatum . In contrast, addition of non-sterile soil sievings or filtrate or organisms isolated onto potato dextrose or pseudomonas isolation agar to pasteurized soil improved growth of non-mycorrhizal big bluestem. These effects of soil micro-organisms on plant growth were further quantified by comparing 32 P uptake by fungicide treated and untreated mycorrhizal plants and by non-mycorrhizal plants in pasteurized and non-sterile soil. Mycorrhizal plants grown in pasteurized soil absorbed ≅10 times more 32 P than mycorrhizal plants grown in non-sterile soil. Application of propiconazole (Tilt) or fenarimol (Rubigan), fungicides which inhibit 32 P uptake by mycorrhizas, resulted in approx. 40- and 5-fold reductions in 32 P uptake in pasteurized and non-sterile soil, respectively. Thus, more 32 P is absorbed in pasteurized than in non-sterile soil, probably because soil microorganisms limit mycorrhizal activity in non-sterile soil. Assessments of mycorrhizal contribution to plant growth conducted in sterilized soils may significantly overestimate the effects of VAM fungi because other soil microorganisms are not considered.
Novel Color Changing pH Sensors Based on Cholesteric Polymers

Color changing cholesteric hydrogen bonded polymer films responding to pH changes induced by basic amino acids or inorganic bases were synthesized and studied. The films with a higher concentration...
The effect of natural and unnatural pyrimidines and pyrimidine nucleosides on the phosphorolysis of 5-iododeoxyuridine by mouse liver extract☆

Abstract The degradation of 5-iododeoxyuridine (lUdR) to 5-iodouracil (IU) by a supernatant fraction of mouse liver extract in the presence of added threefold-excess amounts of a variety of pyrimidines and pyrimidine nucleosides has been investigated. Phosphorolysis of IUdR was significantly reduced by the addition as substrates of the nucleosides, 5-bromodeoxyuridine, thymidine, deoxyuridine, and 5-trifluoromethyl-deoxyuridine, and by the 5-halogenated pyrimidines, bromouracil and iodouracil. Slight effect was observed with addition of arabinosylthymine. Minimal or absent effects were observed with 21 other related compounds.
Lack of Correlation Between Opioid Dose Adjustment and Pain Score Change in a Group of Chronic Pain Patients

Despite the increasing use of opioid analgesics for chronic pain management, it is unclear whether opioid dose escalation leads to better pain relief during chronic opioid therapy. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed clinical data collected from the Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Pain Medicine over a 7-year period. We examined 1) the impact of opioid dose adjustment (increase or decrease) on clinical pain score; 2) gender and age differences in response to opioid ther- apy; and 3) the influence of clinical pain conditions on the opioid analgesic efficacy. A total of 109 subjects met the criteria for data collection. We found that neither opioid dose increase, nor decrease, correlated with point changes in clinical pain score in a subset of chronic pain patients over a prolonged course of opioid therapy (an average of 704 days). This lack of correlation was consistent regardless of the type of chronic pain including neuropathic, nociceptive, or mixed pain conditions. Neither gender nor age differences showed a significant influence on the clinical response to opioid therapy in these subjects. These results suggest that dose adjustment during opioid therapy may not necessarily alter long-term clinical pain score in a group of chronic pain patients and that individualized opioid therapy based on the clinical effectiveness should be considered to optimize the treatment outcome. Perspective: The study reports a relationship, or lack thereof, between opioid dose change and clinical pain score in a group of chronic pain patients. The study also calls for further investigation into the effectiveness of opioid therapy in the management of chronic nonmalignant pain conditions. a 2013 by the American Pain Society
Error Correcting Codes For Adiabatic Quantum Computation

Recently, there has been growing interest in using adiabatic quantum computation as an architecture for experimentally realizable quantum computers. One of the reasons for this is the idea that the energy gap should provide some inherent resistance to noise. It is now known that universal quantum computation can be achieved adiabatically using two-local Hamiltonians. The energy gap in these Hamiltonians scales as an inverse polynomial in the number of quantum gates being simulated. Here we present stabilizer codes which can be used to produce a constant energy gap against one-local and two-local noise. The corresponding fault-tolerant universal Hamiltonians are four-local and six-local, respectively, which are the optimal result achievable within this framework.
Effects of TGF-β1 and IGF-I on the compressibility, biomechanics, and strain-dependent recovery behavior of single chondrocytes

Abstract The responses of articular chondrocytes to physicochemical stimuli are intimately linked to processes that can lead to both degenerative and regenerative processes. Toward understanding this link, we examined the biomechanical behavior of single chondrocytes in response to growth factors (IGF-I and TGF- β 1) and a range of compressive strains. The results indicate that the growth factors alter the biomechanics of the cells in terms of their stiffness coefficient (∼two-fold increase over control) and compressibility, as measured by an apparent Poisson's ratio (∼two-fold increase over control also). Interestingly, the compressibility decreased significantly with respect to the applied strain. Moreover, we have again detected a critical strain threshold in chondrocytes at ∼30% strain in all treatments. Overall, these findings demonstrate that cellular biomechanics change in response to both biochemical and biomechanical perturbations. Understanding the underlying biomechanics of chondrocytes in response to such stimuli may be useful in understanding various aspects of cartilage, including the study of osteoarthritis and the development of tissue-engineering strategies.
Organochlorines in Pleuronectidae: comparison between three tissues of three species inhabiting the Northwest Atlantic.

Muscle, liver, and gonad from three species of flatfish, turbot, American plaice, and yellowtail flounder collected in the Northwest Atlantic were analyzed for a variety of organochlorine contaminants. Female flounder and plaice had lower concentrations of organochlorines than males, in all tissues. Comparing values to those previously obtained for Atlantic cod showed that concentrations in liver, the organ most often used in biomarker studies, followed the order: cod > turbot > plaice > flounder and correlated with lipid content. Muscle concentrations, which are important from a consumers perspective, followed the order: tubot > plaice > flounder > cod and were also correlated with lipids. The concentration of contaminants in gonads, the organ that informs on the future of a species were nearly undetectable. Cluster analyses demonstrated that the environmental behaviour of these contaminants can be subdivided into groups, consistent with their known chemical origin. Of the series of total and specific polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans studied, only tetrachlorodibenzofuran was present in most tissues.
Autooxidation and stabilization of undoped and doped polyacetylenes

Autooxidations of polyacetylene have been measured by volumetric, infrared, and isothermal TGA weight uptake techniques. The rate of oxygen uptake is 9 × 10−7 mol (g s)−1 at 70°C and the overall activation energy is about 10 kcal mol−1. The maximum oxygen uptake corresponds to [CHO0.25]x. Above 100°C there is oxidative degradation of the polymer completely to volatile products. The rate constant for the oxidative degradations at 160°C is ca. 1.5 × 10−5s. Autooxidation does not result in formation of significant amounts of crosslinking because there are not carbonaceous residues. TGA under a stream of oxygen showed the degradation to be complete at ca. 420°C leaving no residues. Autooxidation is much slower if the polymer is compressed to higher bulk density. Radical scavengers such as BHT and 4010 are effective stabilizers. Hydroperoxide decomposers, such as DSTDP, does not help in the stabilization; spin trap BPN accelerates the oxidation of polyacetylene. Iodine and AsF5 doped polyacetylenes are oxidatively much more stable than undoped polymers. Perchlorate doped polyacetylenes begin to lose weight as soon as heated above room temperature. Even in an inert atmosphere the polymers often undergo explosive decomposition.
Biochemical adaptation of mitochondria, muscle, and whole-animal respiration to endurance training.

The experimental intervention of exercise training has been used to study mitochondrial biosynthesis, and the physiologic integration of subcellular, cellular, and whole-animal energetics. Gross mitochondrial composition was unchanged in rat muscle by a 10-week program of endurance treadmill running. The mitochondrial concentration of iron-sulfur clusters, cytochromes, flavoprotein, dehydrogenases, oxidases, and membrane protein and lipid, as well as the ratios of each component to the others, maintained constant proportions. The mitochondrial content of muscle, however, increased by approximately 100% as did absolute tissue oxidative capacity. The soluble portions of mitochondria maintained a constant total protein content and mass, relative to the membrane fraction, despite adaptive changes in the specific activities of some citric acid-cycle enzymes. Mitochondria from endurance-trained muscles generated normal transmembrane potentials, ADP/O ratios, and respiratory control ratios. Muscle oxidase activity was highly correlated (r = 0.92) with endurance capacity, which increased 403%. Whole-animal maximal O2 consumption (VO2max), however, increased only 14% and was a relatively poor predictor of endurance. Thus, mitochondrial factors, rather than VO2max, must play an important role in dictating the limits of endurance activity. Conversely, VO2max was strongly related to the maximal intensity of work which could be attained aerobically (r = 0.82). Comparison of O2 consumption at the mitochondrial, muscle, and whole-animal levels revealed that maximal muscle oxidase activity was not an absolute limitation to VO2max: It is concluded that other factors intervene to control the percentage of muscle O2 consumption capacity which may be utilized during exercise.
Validating the S-O-R paradigm for consumer involvement with a convenience good

The Houston and Rothschild S-O-R consumer involvement paradigm is tested for validity with measures of involvement for a shampoo purchase decision. A multitrait-multimethod matrix approach confirms the convergent and discriminant validity of the measure employed. A causal modeling analysis suggests that enduring involvement may work through situational involvement to influence consumer responses. Marketing implications are discussed.
Birth weight and gestational age characteristics of children with autism, including a comparison with other developmental disabilities.

OBJECTIVES. The objectives of this study were to compare the birth weight and gestational age distributions and prevalence rates of autism with those of other developmental disabilities and to estimate the birth weight–and gestational age–specific risks for autism. METHODS. For the first objective, a retrospective cohort of children born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1981–1993 who survived to 3 years of age was identified through vital records. Children in the cohort who had developmental disabilities (autism, mental retardation, cerebral palsy, hearing loss, or vision impairment) and were still residing in metropolitan Atlanta at 3 to 10 years of age were identified through the Metropolitan Atlanta Developmental Disabilities Surveillance Program. A nested case-control sample from the cohort was used for the second objective; all cohort children identified with autism were case participants, and control participants were cohort children who were not identified as having developmental disabilities or receiving special education services. RESULTS. The prevalence of autism in low birth weight or preterm children was markedly lower than those of other developmental disabilities. In multivariate analyses, birth weight of CONCLUSIONS. Gender and autism subgroup differences in birth weight and gestational age, resulting in lower gender ratios with declining birth weight or gestational age across all autism subgroups, might be markers for etiologic heterogeneity in autism.
International Organizations and the Pursuit of Justice in the World Economy

Evaluating the role of international organizations (IOs) in promoting social justice in a globalizing international political economy, this essay presents and defends four propositions: IOs are in a different, and more vulnerable, political space vis-a-vis globalization than are nation-states, firms, nongovernmental organizations, or labor unions; Central perceptions about problems of social justice in the context of globalization common to many IOs are a product of the history and intellectual trajectory in which these organizations have evolved; As a result, there is a common theme and a core set of objectives at play, having to do with promoting and sustaining liberalization. That is obviously not the same thing as social justice, although in some intellectual frameworks there is a tight relationship; and The ability of IOs to promote these goals has been challenged and will continue to be challenged by globalization. The essay concludes by arguing that IOs are suffering a loss of legitimacy, and that both social and technological changes associated with globalization will make it harder for IOs to recapture the power to affect the behavior of other actors in world politics.
Effects of morphology on properties of graphite composites

Abstract The relationship between the morphology of graphite fiber composites and their effective mechanical properties, thermal properties, and failure characteristics is demonstrated. Typical results are presented for studies at the fiber/matrix, lamina, and laminate levels of analysis. It is shown that the range of property variations in nonhomogeneous, laminated graphite materials can be very large, in particular in comparison to monolithic materials. Further, this dependence of material response on morphology generally can be predicted using fundamental principles of mechanics.
Missing Cone Of Frequencies And Low-Pass Distortion In Three-Dimensional Microscopic Images

Optical serial sectioning is a technique by which the 3-D structure of a microscopic specimen is observed by incrementing the plane of focus of a light microscope through the specimen. Ideally, if the depth of field of the microscope is sufficiently shallow, the image at each focusing plane is an in-focus rendition of the specimen containing structural information from that plane only. Unfortunately, the limited aperture of any practical light microscope makes this unfeasible; at each focusing plane, the 2-D image obtained contains unfocused information from planes above and below the focusing plane. In this paper, the nature of the distortion of the light microscope is analyzed using principles of geometric optics, where it is assumed that the absorption of the specimen is linear and nondiffractive. It is found that the limited aperture of the microscope results in the loss of a biconic region of frequencies in the Fourier spectrum of the specimen along the optical axis, resulting in a severe loss of resolution along the axis; outside the missing cone of frequencies, the spectrum is distorted by a strong low-pass effect, further reducing the resolution of the image observed at each plane of focus.
Effect of fiber content and particle size of alfalfa silage on performance and chewing behavior

A low NDF drought-stressed 1988 alfalfa silage (32.6% NDF) and a higher fiber 1988 alfalfa silage (46.4% NDF) were fed to lactating cows to evaluate effects on feed intake, fat test, and chewing behavior. Two groups of Holstein cows, 16 primiparous housed in tie stalls and 16 multiparous in free stalls, were assigned to diets based on parity and milk yield. The low NDF silage was fed for 6 wk in a TMR with 21.5% NDF and was compared with a TMR with 31.9% NDF. During an additional 4-wk period, one-half of each dietary group was fed a ration in which one-half of each silage was rechopped to reduce particle size. All rations contained a 1:1 ratio of forages to concentrates (DM basis) and were fed for ad libitum intake. Diets with 21.5% NDF and reduced particle size had no influence on milk fat percentage, 4% FCM yield, or plasma glucose. Cows fed these diets had reduced chewing time, due largely to decreased rumination time. Rumination and total chewing times per unit DMI and FCM also were lowest on these diets. Intake of DM on a BW basis was lowest for cows fed the low NDF rechopped silage diet. Cows fed in tie stalls had more eating bouts than those in free stalls, but total eating times were similar. Sufficient amounts of effective fiber appeared to be present in low NDF and rechopped silage diets to prevent the systemic events leading to milk fat depression but not to prevent a reduction in chewing time.