cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Is There a Role for Exercise in the Management of Bulbar Dysfunction in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Purpose The role of exercise in the management of people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (PALS) is controversial and currently unclear. The purpose of this review article is to review literature examining the impact of limb, respiratory, and oral motor exercise on function, disease progression, and survival in PALS and the transgenic ALS animal model. Method A literature review was conducted to examine relevant studies published in peer-reviewed journals between 1960 and 2014. All studies were appraised for quality of research and were assigned a level of evidence, and treatment outcomes were classified as either positive, negative, or neutral. Results A total of 18 exercise-based intervention studies on limb (13), respiratory (3), or speech (2) function were identified. Of the human clinical trials, 6 were experimental and 4 were exploratory. No experimental studies were identified examining the impact of targeted exercise on speech or swallowing function. Mild to moderate intensity limb or respirator...
Vessel density in endometrium of women with and without intrauterine contraceptive devices: A morphometric evaluation

Increased vascularity was found in the endometrial functionalis in uteri of women wearing intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUDs) as compared to uteri of women without IUDs (control subjects). Vessel concentration was highest in endometrial tissue adjacent to that tissue which was depressed by the IUD. In control tissues there was a significant variation in vascularity according to geographic location in the following order of magnitude: fundus > corpus > cornua > isthmus. No significant variation was found, however, among different phases of the ovarian cycle in either control or IUD cases. Increased endometrial vascularity could be a reaction to vessel damage caused by the IUD and for several reasons may contribute to IUD-induced endometrial bleeding.
Method for Simultaneous Direct Estimation of Glucose and Xylose in Serum

A direct procedure for measuring serum monosaccharides is presented. Borate intensifies the colors produced when these substances react with o -toluidine, which, in the case of glucose and xylose, have absorption maxima at 480 nm and 630 nm, respectively. Thus, these sugars may be determined singly or simultaneously in a single sample by differential spectrophotometry. An alternative technique in which glucose oxidase and o -toluidine are used is also presented for the estimation of xylose and other pentose sugars in the presence of glucose. These two techniques permit the measurement of a pentose and a hexose other than glucose in protein solutions containing glucose. The techniques have a high degree of correlation and reproducibility. The effects of such variables as reagent concentration, reaction time, and borate concentration on the o -toluidine reaction are presented, along with an evaluation of bilirubin and hemoglobin interference.
Genome Sequence of Actinobacillus suis Type Strain ATCC 33415T

ABSTRACT The assembled and annotated genome of Actinobacillus suis ATCC 33415T is reported here. The 2,501,598-bp genome encodes 2,246 open reading frames (ORFs) with strain variable incursion of an integrative conjugative element into a tRNA locus. Comparative analysis of the deduced gene set should inform our understanding of pathogenesis, genomic plasticity, and serotype variation.
Differential expression of the cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) receptor GFRα1 in heterozygous Gfrα1 null-mutant mice after stroke

Exogenous administration of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) reduces ischemia-induced cerebral infarction. Cerebral ischemia induces gene expression of GDNF, GDNF-receptor alpha-1 (GFRalpha-1) and c-Ret, suggesting that a GDNF signaling cascade mechanism may be involved in endogenous neuroprotection during ischemia. In the present study, we examined if this endogenous neuroprotective pathway was altered in Gfralpha-1 deficient mice. Since mice homozygous for the Gfralpha-1 deletion (-/-) die within 24 h of birth, stroke-induced changes in the levels of Gfralpha-1 mRNA were studied in Gfralpha-1 heterozygous (+/-) mice and their wild-type (+/+) littermates. The right middle cerebral artery was transiently ligated for 45 min in anesthetized mice. Animals were killed at 0, 6, 12 and 24 h after the onset of reperfusion and levels of Gfralpha-1 mRNA were measured by in situ hybridization histochemistry. Previously, we showed that Gfralpha-1 (+/-) mice are more vulnerable to focal cerebral ischemia. In the present study, we found that basal levels of GFRalpha-1 mRNA were at similar low levels in cortex and striatum in adult Gfralpha-1 (+/+) and Gfralpha-1 (+/-) mice and that ischemia/reperfusion induced up-regulation of Gfralpha-1 mRNA in the lesioned and contralateral sides of cortex and striatum in both Gfralpha-1 (+/+) and GFRalpha-1 (+/-) mice. However, the ischemia/reperfusion induction of Gfralpha-1 mRNA was significantly higher in the cortex of wild type mice, as compared to Gfralpha-1 (+/-) mice. Moreover, the increased expression of Gfralpha-1 in striatum after reperfusion occurred earlier in the GFRalpha-1 (+/+) than in the Gfralpha-1 (+/-) mice. These results indicate that after ischemia, there is a differential up-regulation of Gfralpha-1 expression in Gfralpha-1 (+/+) and Gfralpha-1 (+/-) mice. Since GDNF has neuroprotective effects, the reduced up-regulation of Gfralpha-1 in Gfralpha-1 (+/-) mice at early time points after ischemia suggests that the responsiveness to GDNF and GDNF receptor mediated neuroprotection is attenuated in these genetically modified animals and may underlie their greater vulnerability.
Agronomic effect of wheat-rye translocation carrying rye chromatin (1R) from different sources

The confounding effect of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genetic background has been addressed as the major factor in inconsistent agronomic performances of 1RS translocation. The objective of this study was to test the effects of centric translocations of chromosome 1 in various rye (Secale cereale L.) sources on agronomic performance of wheat grown in humid southeastern conditions in North America. Various 1R substitution, 1RS translocation, and 1RL translocation lines in 'Pavon 76' were evaluated for agronomic performance. The 1RS translocation line was most favorable for agronomic performance when compared with those of substitution, 1RL translocation, and controls. The 1RS significantly increased grain yield. However, the effect of source of rye chromatin was greater than its position effect in wheat genome. Among translocation lines, those with 1RS derived from 'E12165' (CIMMYT) and 'Amigo' induced higher mean grain yield and T1DL.1RS derived from 'BH1146/Blanco rye' had the lowest grain yield. The mean grain yield of 1RL translocation lines was lower than that of 1R substitution. Thus, selection of 1RS source is important in producing constantly higher grain yield in 1RS translocation lines. Genetic recombination among different 1RS may also be used to create more genetic variation.
WAVE PROPAGATION IN A LIQUID LAYER

In many areas offshore, the conventional seismic record has the appearance of a series of sine waves or simple odd harmonic combinations of sine waves, with a fundamental wave length four times the water depth. Burg, et al., in a ray theory treatment, ascribe this oscillatory phenomenon to guided energy traveling in the water layer. A solution of the pressure wave equation for a point source in the water layer has been obtained. It allows one to examine not only the frequency dependence with the depth, but also the transient amplitude response with depth and time. It is concluded that in most actual situations, the phenomenon cannot be wholly explained by the assumed mechanism, because the theory indicates too rapid a decay of the energy.
The measurement of photosynthetically active radiation

Abstract In crop ecology, the two most popular definitions of photosynthetically active radiation are the irradiance (radiant power flux density) in the waveband 400 to 700 nm, and the quantum flux density in the same waveband. Instruments calibrated in either of these two units are available. Calculations show that the quantum flux measurement is less subject to the systematic error caused by the spectral response not matching the action spectrum for photosynthesis in an “average crop plant” (11) than is the irradiance measurement. The range of errors is ±6 and ±16 per cent, respectively, for the 9 natural and artificial light sources examined. The imperfections of the instruments themselves are not included.
The impact of coherent synchrotron radiation on the beam transport of short bunches

Designs for next-generation accelerators, such as future linear colliders and short-wavelength FEL drivers, require beams of short (mm-length or smaller) bunches and high charge (nC-regime). As such a high charge microbunch traverses magnetic bends, the curvature effect on the bunch self-interaction, by way of coherent synchrotron radiation (CSR) and space charge force, may cause serious emittance degradation. This impact of CSR on the beam transport of short bunches has raised significant concern in the design of future machines and led to extensive investigations. This paper reviews some of the recent progress in the understanding of the CSR effect, presents analysis of and computational work on the CSR impact on short bunch transport, and addresses remaining issues.
Comparison of voluntary and foraging running wheel activity on food demand in mice

The effects of running wheel activity on food intake and meal patterns were measured under several cost conditions for food in CD1 mice. In a first experiment, voluntary wheel running activity increased daily food intake relative to a sedentary group, and runners consumed bigger but fewer meals. Although they ate more, runners had significantly lower body fat than sedentary mice. In a second experiment, running was used as an approach cost and food access was contingent on running wheel activity. Mice were able to emit more wheel revolution responses compared to a condition in which nose poking was the approach response. In both voluntary and foraging running protocols mice had inelastic demand functions compared to the non-running groups. When running was voluntary (experiment 1), the day-night cycle for activity was more pronounced compared to when running was a foraging or approach activity (experiment 2).
Ethylene-induced gene expression, enzyme activities, and water soaking in immature and ripe watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) fruit.

Summary Watermelon fruit exhibit acute softening and placental-tissue water soaking following short exposure to exogenous ethylene. Experiments were performed to address transcript abundance and activities of cell wall and membrane hydrolases in placental tissue in response to treatment of watermelon fruit with ethylene. Watermelon fruit were harvested at immature and full-ripe stages and exposed to 50 μL L−1 ethylene for 6 days at 20 °C. Ethylene affected the abundance of transcripts for PME (EC 3.2.1.11), and α-(EC 3.2.1.22) and β-GAL (EC 3.2.1.23) but these effects were dependent on fruit maturity and appeared not to be associated with the water-soaking syndrome. PG (EC 3.2.1.15) and EXP mRNAs accumulated significantly in response to ethylene exposure. Additionally, the levels of mRNA and activities of LOX (EC 1.13.11.12), PLC (EC 3.1.4.3) and PLD (EC 3.1.4.4) were elevated in fruit of both maturity classes exposed to ethylene and were temporally associated with the visible symptoms of water soaking. The activity trends and transcript abundance in ethylene- compared with air-treated fruit indicate that PG, EXP, LOX, PLC and PLD levels increase with the onset and development of the water-soaking disorder and support the view that catabolic reactions targeting the membranes and cell-walls contribute to the disorder.
Acetic acid oxidation and hydrolysis in supercritical water

Acetic acid (CH{sub 3}COOH) hydrolysis and oxidation in supercritical water were examined from 425--600 C and 246 bar at reactor residence times of 4.4 to 9.8 s. Over the range of conditions studied, acetic acid oxidation was globally 0.72 {+-} 0.15 order in acetic acid and 0.27 {+-} 0.15 order in oxygen to a 95% confidence level, with an activation energy of 168 {+-} 21 kJ/mol, a preexponential factor of 10{sup 9.9{+-}1.7}, and an induction time of about 1.5 s at 525 C. Isothermal kinetic measurements at 550 C over the range 160 to 263 bar indicated that pressure or density did not affect the rate of acetic acid oxidation as much as was previously observed in the oxidation of hydrogen or carbon monoxide in supercritical water. Major products of acetic acid oxidation in supercritical water are carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, and hydrogen. Trace amounts of propenoic acid were occasionally detected. Hydrolysis or hydrothermolysis in the absence of oxygen resulted in approximately 35% conversion of acetic acid at 600 C, 246 bar, and 8-s reactor residence time. Regression of the limited hydrolysis runs assuming a reaction rate first-order in organic gave a global rate expression with a preexponential factormore » of 10{sup 4.4{+-}1.1} and an activation energy of 94 {+-} 17 kJ/mol.« less
Reaction of N-(2-chloroethyl)-N-nitrosoureas with DNA: effect of buffers on DNA adduction, cross-linking, and cytotoxicity.

N-(2-Chloroethyl)nitrosoureas (CNU) are clinically used anticancer drugs whose cytotoxicity is associated with the generation of DNA interstrand cross-links. While studying the sequence selectivity for a series of CNU, a dramatic increase in the formation of N7-alkyldeoxyguanosine was observed when Tris buffer was used rather than phosphate or cacodylate buffers. Moreover, the formation of N7-alkyldeoxyguanosine lesions continues in Tris long after all of the CNU has hydrolyzed. These effects are not seen with the monofunctional alkylating analogues, e.g., N-methyl- and N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-N-nitrosourea. In order to determine if the nature of the CNU-mediated DNA damage was altered by Tris, studies were initiated on the following: (1) alkylation of N7-G in end-labeled DNA restriction fragments; (2) covalent modification of DNA with [ethyl-3H]-N-(2-chloroethyl)-N-nitrosourea; and (3) cytotoxicity in L1210 cells. The data presented demonstrate that Tris increases the yield of the "normal" CNU monofunctional cross-linked adducts, i.e., N7-(2-hydroxyethyl)deoxyguanosine, N7-(2-chloroethyl)deoxyguanosine, O6-(2-chloroethyl)deoxyguanosine, and bifunctional adducts, i.e., 1-(deoxycytid-3-yl)-2-(deoxyguanosin-1-yl)ethane and 1,2-bis(deoxyguanosin-7-yl)ethane. In addition, CNU appears to react with Tris to give a long-lived alkylating intermediate that affords large amounts of DNA adducts not seen with CNU in the absence of Tris. However, in vivo toxicity of CNU in L1210 cells is not affected by the presence of Tris, indicating that the reaction pathway(s) responsible for cross-linking is not significantly sensitive to the nature of the buffer.
An investigation of supplementary naso-gastric feeding in malnourished children undergoing treatment for malignancy : results of a pilot study

Although parenteral nutrition is frequently administered to children undergoing treatment for malignancy, the use of naso-gastric feeding had been little studied. A randomized, controlled trial of supplementary naso-gastric feeding in children with newly diagnosed malignancy was therefore performed. Results showed that, contrary to popular belief, naso-gastric feeding is acceptable to and tolerated by children with malignancy even shortly after diagnosis and is welcomed by their parents. Naso-gastric feeding increased energy intake, promoted improvement in nutritional status as measured by mid-upper arm circumference and appeared to increase general well-being. Further studies are being undertaken to determine whether naso-gastric supplementary feeding is also of objective benefit.
The Genus Abgraliaspis in North America (Homoptera: Diaspididae)

Following a discussion of the systematics of Abgrallaspis Balachowsky in North America, a key is given for separation of the 13 species found here. Host-transfer experiments have clarified taxonomic relationships in the A. howardi complex. A. howardi (Cockerell) is redescribed ; this is primarily a western species occurring on plum, apple, pear, and peach. A. townsendi (Cockerell) is resurrected from synonymy; its distribution is mainly southern and eastern, its host perennial ornamentals, notably holly and rhododendron. A. perseus, a new member of the complex, has been intercepted on avocado from Mexico.
miRNAs as biomarkers in colorectal cancer diagnosis and prognosis

Since the discovery of noncoding small miRNAs and their function in controlling mRNA translational rate, the small non-coding miRNA world has become a research wonderland for cancer and other human diseases. Due to the critical regulatory function, miRNA can act as an oncogene or a tumor-suppressor gene. This review will cover some of the recent discoveries of the potential of miRNAs as cancer biomarkers in colorectal cancer, future challenges and solutions.
Ingrowth of lattice defects in alpha irradiated UO2 single crystals

Abstract Single crystals of stoichiometric UO 2 have been irradiated at room temperature with alpha particles emitted from an effectively semi-infinite 238 PuO 2 source to a dose of 3 × 10 16 alphas/cm 2 . The increase in lattice parameter has been found to follow exponential behavior over the dose range studied. A model consistent with the observed change in lattice parameter is presented, and the average number of Frenkel defect pairs produced per deposited alpha particle is calculated. The effects of different damage sources on the lattice defect concentration in UO 2 are compared and the results discussed.
Reaction time for /s/ and /z/ in stutterers and nonstutterers: a test of discoordination hypothesis.

Abstract In an attempt to test the hypothesis that stuttering is the result of discoordination between phonation and articulation, 10 adult stutterers and 10 adult nonstutterers were askedto produce prolonged versions of /z/ and /s/ sounds, as quickly as possible, in response to tone stimuli. It was hypothesized that stutterers would exhibit significantly longer reaction time (RT) for the /z/, a voiced sound, than would a similar group of nonstutterers, whereas the two groups would not differ in RT for the /s/ sound, the unvoiced counterpart of /z/. The results showed that stutterers as a group did not differ from nonstutterers in RT for either the /z/ or the /s/ sound. However, it was found that severe stutterers exhibited significantly longer RTs for the /z/ sound than did mild stutterers. There were no differences between severe and mild stutterers in RT for the /s/ sound.
A hierarchy of proliferative cells exists in mouse lens epithelium: implications for lens maintenance

PURPOSE. To determine the distribution of slow-cycling cells, which are detected as label-retaining cells (LRCs), in mouse lens epithelium during postnatal development. METHODS. Pregnant BALB/c mice were injected intraperitoneally (twice daily) with tritiated thymidine ( 3 H-TdR), beginning at 17 days of gestation until birth. At birth, the in utero-labeled neonatal mice were injected subcutaneously with 3 H-TdR (twice daily) for 3 days. Mice were killed weekly for the first month and then at 3-week intervals up to 18.5 weeks (chase periods). Eyes were removed and processed for autoradiography. In living mice, small scrape wounds were made on the anterior surface of the lens of mice that had been "chased" for 18.5 weeks. Twenty-four hours later, wounded mice received a single injection of BrdU. RESULTS. Immediately after the in utero/postnatal labeling period, 100% of the lens epithelial cells incorporated 3 H-TdR, and all were heavily labeled. With time, the number of LRCs declined so that only 13% of the lens epithelial cells were labeled at 18.5 weeks. At this time the heaviest labeled cells were exclusively found in the central zone and represented 2% to 3% of the total LRCs. In contrast, lightly labeled cells were found in both the central and germinative zones. After wounding, the heavily labeled LRCs incorporated BrdU, indicating that these cells were healthy and could be recruited to proliferate. CONCLUSIONS. The heavily labeled LRCs, located exclusively in the central region, represent cells that divide very infrequently during homeostasis (putative stem cells); on perturbation, these cells can proliferate. The lightly labeled LRCs, located in the central and germinative zones, cycle more frequently than the heavily labeled ones. These LRCs may be phenotypically indistinguishable from stem cells and maintain the normal proliferative needs of the lens. A third population of actively cycling cells exists primarily in the germinative zone and represents the transit amplifying cells, which have a limited proliferative potential.
Bistability-Mediated Carrier Recombination at Light-Induced Boron-Oxygen Complexes in Silicon

A first-principles study of the BO2 complex in B-doped Czochralski Si reveals a defect-bistability-mediated carrier recombination mechanism, which contrasts with the standard fixed-level Shockley-Read-Hall model of recombination. An O2 dimer distant from B causes only weak carrier recombination, which nevertheless drives O2 diffusion under light to form the BO2 complex. Although BO2 and O2 produce nearly identical defect levels in the band gap, the recombination at BO2 is substantially faster than at O2 because the charge state of the latter inhibits the hole capture step of recombination.
Memoryless pipelined trigonometric processor

The development and results of memoryless algorithms for the evaluation of sinusoidal functions are described. Differing from the MacLaurin power series method, the algorithms proposed here use the binary representation of an angle in a pipelined manner to calculate sinusoidal functions.
Lesions in the nucleus mesencephali exterolateralis: Effects on electrocommunication in the mormyrid fishGnathonemus petersii (Mormyriformes)

During social encounters, mormyrid fish exhibit characteristic, temporary EOD cessations: short stops of 0.5 to 1.5 s, and longer cessations, ranging in mean duration from 4.8 to 10.2 s. Under the present conductivity conditions (141 μS/cm), long cessations began to occur at interfish distances of 60 to 70 cm (Fig. 3a), by far exceeding the fish's electrolocation range of about 10 cm. Therefore, long EOD cessations are thought to be true electric social responses which are caused by conspecific EODs and mediated through the fish's electrocommunication channel, including the large electroreceptors (knollenorgans), the nucleus of the posterior lateral line lobe, and a mesencephalic relay, the nucleus mesencephali exterolateralis (NME). This hypothesis was tested by interrupting the communication channel through bilateral lesions in the NME and subsequent investigation of EOD cessation in interactions of intact, operated, and mixed pairs of fish. The lesion resulted in a total loss of the long EOD cessation response: operated fish were non-responsive (electrically ‘blind’) to conspecific EODs. Differences in the duration of the social cessation response in intact fish, interacting with another intact or an operated animal, further supported the role of the NME as a central relay for electrocommunication in the mormyridGnathonemus petersii.
End organ changes associated with the self-regulatory treatment of mild essential hypertension?

M-mode echocardiograms were obtained on unmedicated males with mild hypertension before and after treatment with thermal biofeedback, autogenic training, or self-relaxation. Although patients for whom diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was successfully reduced showed trends toward reduction in left ventricular parameters while unsuccessful patients showed no changes, the results were not significant. For the four patients with borderline left ventricular hypertrophy, there was a strong trend (p=.06) for successful treatment to lead to a reduction in left ventricular mass. Moreover, across the whole sample, reduction in left ventricular mass was related (r=.30) to decrease in DBP.
Influence of α- and β-Subunits on the Kinetics of Formation and Activity of Native and Hybrid Molecules of LH and Human Chorionic Gonadotropin1

A radioreceptor assay for LH (Endocrinology 91: 901, 1972) was utilized to study the kinetics of formation of native and hybrid molecules of bovine LH (bLH) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Conditions for combination of subunits were as described in (J Biol Chem 244: 5110, 1969). The formation of hCG and bLH from their subunits was best represented by a rate equation 1st order in each of the subunits (overall 2nd order). The formation of various hybrid molecules, as between hCG-α/bLH-β and bLH-α/hCG-β, also followed 2nd order kinetics. Rates of formation were always greater when the a-subunit of hCG was involved. For example, the rates of formation of the hCG-α/ bLH-β and hCG-α/hCG-β molecules were similar to each other but significantly greater than the rates of formation of bLH-α/bLH-β or bLH-α/ hCG-β molecules. The radioligand uptake inhibitory activity of various molecules studied seemed most strongly influenced by the nature of the β-subunit. The activities of hCG-β/hCG-α or hCG-β/bLH-α molecu...
Dewatering considerations for effluent from dairy manure anaerobic digesters

Abstract This research investigates practical methods for reducing the volume of effluent from animal manure anaerobic digesters. Such volume reduction may lessen storage problems and facilitate handling of the effluent. Laboratory scale vibrating screens, sedimentation tanks and sand drying beds were studied for their dewatering capabilities and their effectiveness in concentrating the fertiliser nutrients contained in the effluent from a pilot scale, mesophilic, dairy manure digester. Of the vibrating screen sizes tested (4, 10, 20, 30, 50 mesh) the 20 mesh screen (openings 0·84 mm), operating for a solids residence time of one minute, was found most effective. With this screen, the removed solids have a volume of about 33% of the original influent and contain close to 40% of the fertiliser nutrients. Separation by sedimentation was unsatisfactory. The 6·5% total solids (TS) effluent was only concentrated to about 7·3% TS after 48 hours settling. Sand-bed filtering for 24 hours produced sludge volumes about 30% of the original and containing 40–50% of the original fertiliser nutrients.
Aftershock triggering by complete Coulomb stress changes

[1] We examine the correlation between seismicity rate change following the 1992, M7.3, Landers, California, earthquake and characteristics of the complete Coulomb failure stress (CFS) changes (ΔCFS(t)) that this earthquake generated. At close distances the time-varying “dynamic” portion of the stress change depends on how the rupture develops temporally and spatially and arises from radiated seismic waves and from permanent coseismic fault displacement. The permanent “static” portion (ΔCFS) depends only on the final coseismic displacement. ΔCFS diminishes much more rapidly with distance than the transient, dynamic stress changes. A common interpretation of the strong correlation between ΔCFS and aftershocks is that load changes can advance or delay failure. Stress changes may also promote failure by physically altering properties of the fault or its environs. Because it is transient, ΔCFS(t) can alter the failure rate only by the latter means. We calculate both ΔCFS and the maximum positive value of ΔCFS(t) (peak ΔCFS(t)) using a reflectivity program. Input parameters are constrained by modeling Landers displacement seismograms. We quantify the correlation between maps of seismicity rate changes and maps of modeled ΔCFS and peak ΔCFS(t) and find agreement for both models. However, rupture directivity, which does not affect ΔCFS, creates larger peak ΔCFS(t) values northwest of the main shock. This asymmetry is also observed in seismicity rate changes but not in ΔCFS. This result implies that dynamic stress changes are as effective as static stress changes in triggering aftershocks and may trigger earthquakes long after the waves have passed.
Phenology of European Hornet, Vespa crabro L. and Saxon Wasps, Dolichovespula saxonica Fabr. (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) and the Influence of the Weather on the Reproductive Success of Wasps Societies in Urban Conditions

In subsequent years, changes in the period of colonies activity for both species of wasps were observed as well as the longer period of development of wasp societies in the city than in the forest. There was not found a clear influence of weather conditions in winter on date of colonies initiation. However, low temperatures and rainfall in May caused delaying the initiation of nesting. The temperature in winter had a little impact on the number of queens that survived the winter and established their colonies in spring, but the humidity in winter had influence on the count of queens and thereby on the number of future nests especially in the forest area.
Role of reduction process in the transport properties of electron-doped oxide superconductors

Abstract Electron-doped oxides such as Nd 2− x Ce x CuO 4 become metallic and superconducting only after annealing in a reducing atmosphere. Here we propose an explanation for this fact and discuss its implications for the understanding of the nature of the charge carriers in these materials as well as in hole-doped oxide superconductors.
Albedo models for snow and ice on a freshwater lake

Abstract Snow and ice albedo measurements were taken over a freshwater lake in Minnesota for three months during the winter of 1996–1997 for use in a winter lake water quality model. The mean albedo of new snow was measured as 0.83±0.028, while the mean ice albedo was measured as 0.38±0.033. The period from December 17, 1996 to February 17, 1997, was marked as the nonmelt, or high albedo, season when albedo decayed at an average rate of 0.02 per day. The melting, or rapid albedo decay, season began on February 18 and continued until the end of the study on March 21. During the melt season the albedo decay rate varied from 0.10 to 0.20 per day. Two albedo models were developed for the entire winter season; they use separate equations for the nonmelt and melt periods. The input data for both models are climatic data. The first model requires daily incident solar radiation, air temperature, and snowfall data as input, while the second model requires daily air temperature and snowfall data only. The models predict albedo with modeling efficiencies of 0.94 and 0.89 for the entire three month period, respectively. The mean absolute error between values observed on the lake surface and values predicted by the model was 0.023 for the first model and 0.029 for the second model. Albedo predictions made by three albedo models given in the literature were also compared to the observed lake surface data. The two models developed herein predicted albedo better than the three existing surface albedo models because they were calibrated to the observed lake surface data. Albedo predictions from both new models and the three existing models were also compared to 11 years of observed surface albedo data collected over land. (No other lake surface observations were available.) The new models reasonably predicted albedo during those winters when the total snowfall depth was greater than 60 cm. The new model predictions for the land data were as good, if not better, than those by the three existing models.
Racial disparities in female breast cancer in South Carolina: clinical evidence for a biological basis

Objective. Racial disparities in breast cancer outcomes are well documented: African-American (AA) women have markedly poorer survival than do European-American (EA) women. A growing literature suggests that AA women have, on average, tumors of more aggressive histopathology, even if discovered early. We investigated this in our South Carolina population.
Vitamin A depletion in hospital and clinic patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome : A preliminary report

The objective of this study is to assess the serum concentration and the urinary depletion of vitamin A in patients with AIDS with acute illness (hospitalized) and without acute illness (clinic attenders); and to examine the relationship of serum and urinary retinol levels with weight loss, patient survival, CD4 count, fever, and liver function. Serum and urinary retinol of 26 patients from the AIDS clinic or hospital of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) were measured using HPLC. Mean serum retinol was lower in hospital patients than in clinic attenders, although the difference was not statistically significant. However, urinary retinol loss was significantly higher in hospital patients than clinic patients (0.09± 0.12 vs. 0.04 ± 0.12, p=0.0193). There were significant correlations between urinary retinol excretion and body weight loss in clinic patients and between urinary retinol loss and high serum bilirubin levels in hospital patients. A significantly higher proportion of hospital than clinic patients lost body weight during the last month before recruitment into the study (p=0.039). Further, a significantly higher proportion of those who lost weight subsequently died than survived (p=0.015). Urinary loss of retinol was significantly predicted by increased body temperature (p=0.0069) and decreased CD4 count (p=0.0454) in clinic patients. No single variable predicted significantly the urinary retinol loss in hospital patients. The presence of acute illness in hospital patients with AIDS appeared to be a risk factor for low serum retinol and increased urinary excretion of retinol. Greater urinary retinol loss and more severe illness are associated with body weight loss and death.
Factors affecting the frequency and amount of social networking site use: Motivations, perceptions, and privacy concerns

The purpose of this study is to explore the factors that affect the use of social networking Web sites. In doing so, this investigation focuses on two dimensions of social networking site use frequency ( i.e. , how often people use social networking sites) and amount ( i.e. , how much time people spend on social networks). Integrating the technology acceptance model with uses and gratification and other consumer characteristics, this study found that interpersonal utility, perceived ease of use, privacy concerns, and age predict the frequency of social networking site use. Interpersonal utility motive, escape motive, and Internet experience explain the time spent on social networking sites.
Revealing protein structures: a new method for mapping antibody epitopes

A recent idea for determining the three-dimensional structure of a protein uses antibody recognition of surface structure and random peptide libraries to map antibody epitope combining sites. Antibodies that bind to the surface of the protein of interest can be used as "witnesses" to report the structure of the protein as follows: Proteins are composed of linear polypeptide chains that come together in complex spatial folding patterns to create the native protein structures and these folded structures form the binding sites for the antibodies. Short amino acid probe sequences, which bind to the active region of each antibody, can be selected from random sequence peptide libraries. These probe sequences can often be aligned to discontinuous regions of the one-dimensional target sequence of a protein. Such alignments indicate how pieces of the protein sequence must be folded together in space and thus provide valuable long-range constraints for solving the overall 3-D structure. This new approach is applicable to the very large number of proteins that are refractory to current approaches to structure determination and has the advantage of requiring very small amounts of the target protein. The binding site of an antibody is a surface, not just a linear sequence, so the epitope mapping alignment problem is outside the scope of classical string alignment algorithms, such as Smith-Waterman. We formalize the alignment problem that is at the heart of this new approach, prove that the epitope mapping alignment problem is NP-complete, and give some initial results using a branch-and-bound algorithm to map two real-life cases.
Examination of a Collision-Limiter Direct Simulation Monte Carlo Method for Micropropulsion Applications

A wide range of flow regimes occur in micronozzles, from the transitional to the continuum regime, which prevents the use of a single computational method such as direct simulation Monte Carlo or computational fluid dynamics and Navier-Stokes. A collision-limiter approach is proposed that extends the applicability of direct simulation Monte Carlo to the continuum regime and can be used to solve a wide range of microelectromechanical system flows when it is coupled with the baseline direct simulation Monte Carlo. A comparison of the results obtained with this computational technique with new experimental data and Navier-Stokes results suggests consistency between experimental and computational methods for three-dimensional microelectromechanical system micronozzles with stagnation pressures on the order of 5 atm. However, the level of agreement was found to vary with the nozzle geometry, suggesting that additional research is needed for both computations and experiments in this flow regime.
Crisis moral communities: An essay in moral philosophy

L'A. cherche a definir le processus de la reflexion morale. A travers l'exemple d'Antigone et les analyses de Victor Turner, il etudie le fonctionnement, dans une communaute en crise, de la reflexion ethique individuelle
Riot and Reason: Crafting an Urban Policy Response

This article examines the federal policy response to urban problems in the aftermath of the 1992 Los Angeles riot. Although thefederal government failed to enact a long-term urban aid initiative in 1992, a number of locally based comprehensive urban initiatives were under way in several cities across the country. The future of national urban policy, however, will require a reconceptualization of the problems of inner cities, and ultimately will depend on significant restructuring offiscalfederalism relationships among and between the federal, state, and local governments.
Effects of medication history on midlatency auditory evoked responses in schizophrenia

Abstract The recovery cycle of the P1 component of the auditory evoked potential (50–70 ms latency) has been reported as abnormal in both unmedicated and medicated patients with schizophrenia when a paired stimuli protocol is used to examine recovery. However, findings have been mixed when a stimulus train protocol is used. This study examined the effects of medication history on P1 abnormalities in schizophrenia assessed by a stimulus train protocol. Auditory evoked potentials were recorded from 14 normal controls, 14 neuroleptic naive patients with schizophrenia and 14 previously medicated patients in response to binaural clicks presented at three stimulus rates: 1/s, 5/s and 10/s. Neuroleptic naive patients showed a smaller P1 at the baseline rate (1/s) and greater recovery (less amplitude suppression) at faster rates than did normal controls or previously medicated patients. Additional analyses suggested that this latter effect was not due to smaller baseline P1 amplitudes. Greater recovery in neuroleptic naive patients was not associated with clinical symptomatology contrary to previous findings of the authors for a mixed sample of neuroleptic naive and previously medicated patients. Medication status appears to account for some of the variability in P1 abnormalities in schizophrenia although identification of the underlying mechanism responsible requires further study.
Left Heart Volume and Mass Quantification in Children with Left Ventricular Pressure Overload

This investigation was designed to quantify left ventricular and left atrial volume, volume change, systolic output, and ventricular mass in 31 patients with isolated left ventricular pressure overload secondary to aortic stenosis (AS, n = 14) or coarctation of the aorta (n = 17). These parameters were compared with normal standards and with data from a group of nine patients with a combined pressure and volume overload due to aortic stenosis plus aortic or mitral insufficiency (AS + AI or MI). Volumes were calculated from biplane cineangiocardiograms exposed at 60 frames/sec. Left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) was significantly lower than normal in patients with AS (57 ± 11 cc/m 2 ), but was normal (73 ± 12 cc/m 2 ) in patients with coarctation. An increase in the ejection fraction (LVEF) was found in both groups averaging 0.73 ± 0.12 in AS patients and 0.69 ± 0.09 in coarctation patients. Patients with AS + aortic or mitral insufficiency (AI or MI) showed elevated LVEDV (103 ± 29 cc/m 2 ), but had a normal ejection fraction. The LV mass was significantly increased in all groups: normal, 82 ± 10 g/m 2 ; AS, 126 ± 41 g/m 2 ; coarctation, 130 ± 44 g/m 2 ; and AS + AI or MI, 168 ± 42 g/m 2 . The left ventricular systolic index and left atrial maximal volume were both normal in patients with pure pressure overload but were significantly increased in patients with combined pressure and volume overload. The low LVEDV in patients with AS as well as the normal volume in patients with coarctation occurred in the presence of elevated LV end-diastolic pressure and indicates a decrease in LV diastolic distensibility in patients responding to an isolated LV pressure overload by significant muscular hypertrophy without dilatation.
Biological degradation and composition of sweet potato biomass — errata☆

Abstract Many challenges are presented by biological degradation in a bioregenerative Controlled Ecological Life Support System as envisioned by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. In studies conducted with biodegradative microorganisms indigenous to sweetpotato fields, it was determined that a particle size of 75 microns and incubation temperature of 30°C were optimal for degradation. The composition of the biomass and characterization of plant nutrient solution indicated the presence of potential energy sources to drive microbial transformations of plant waste. Selected indigenous soil isolates with ligno-cellulolytic or sulfate-reducing ability were utilized in biological studies and demonstrated diversity in their ability to reduce sulfate in solution and to utilize alternative carbon sources: a lignin analog 4-hydroxy, 3-methoxy cinnamic acid, cellulose, arabinose, glucose, sucrose, mannitol, galactose, ascorbic acid.
Vitamin E Toxicity in Neonatal Piglets

Intravenous vitamin E was associated with the deaths of 38 infants in the US in 1984. Because the vitamin E preparation used contained both vitamin E and a high level of polysorbate detergent, the etiology of the syndrome remains unknown. In this study, we determined the tissue disposition of an intravenous preparation of vitamin E solubilized with polysorbate (E-Ferol) in neonatal piglets. One to two-day-old piglets were injected daily with 50 IU/kg/d of vitamin E for a period of 13 days. Other groups were injected intramuscularly, or with a slow, 7 h intravenous infusion with 50 IU/kg/d vitamin E for six days. Massive splenic accumulation of vitamin E (16,004 micrograms/g vs 73 micrograms/g in controls) occurred following rapid injection, with far lesser concentrations in the liver and lung. Levels of vitamin E in the kidney and heart were only slightly above control. Tissue changes correlated with dosage and duration of vitamin E administration and suggested massive accumulation of vitamin E in cells of the mononuclear phagocyte system. Following slow intravenous infusion the highest levels of vitamin E occurred in the liver rather than spleen. Intramuscular injections at similar doses produced slight, but insignificant changes in tissue levels of vitamin E. We speculate that rapid intravenous injection of vitamin E emulsions produces massive accumulation in phagocytic cells of the spleen and to a lesser extent liver and lung, possibly leading to increased susceptibility to sepsis and/or abnormal pulmonary function. Slow infusions of vitamin E produce major accumulations in the liver rather than spleen.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Protein Flexibility and Energy Flow During Enzyme Catalysis

Enzymes are dynamic molecules. Although in the past enzymes were viewed as static entities, recent evidence from experimental, theoretical and computational work indicates that protein dynamics play a significant role in enhancing catalytic activity. Investigations of the free energy profile for several proteins such as cyclophilin A and dihydrofolate reductase have revealed a network of protein motions that promote catalytic activity. Results indicate that these reaction-promoting motions are conserved as part of the enzyme fold across several species, even though they have low sequence similarity. Extending our study to a superfamily of enzymes, namely the dinucleotide binding Rossmann Fold proteins (DBRP), shows that in spite of having very low sequence homology and different structural features, the overall intrinsic dynamical flexibility of the superfamily is remarkably well preserved with respect to the catalytic step. The conformational coupling observed between exterior surface regions with the active site entails energetic coupling between them. To characterize this energetic coupling, we use an integrated information theoretic and biophysical approach to analyze residues that may constitute pathways through which energy may propagate from the flexible exterior surface regions to the active site of the protein. Our results reveal significant similarities in the energy flow pathways within the DBRP super-family. This study provides specific insights into how the DBRP super-family of proteins has evolved to catalyze hydride transfer reactions.
Composition of atherosclerotic plaques in coronary arteries in women <40 years of age with fatal coronary artery disease and implications for plaque reversibility

This study analyzes the composition of atherosclerotic plaques in the 4 major epicardial coronary arteries in 8 women less than 40 years of age (mean 34) with fatal coronary artery disease (CAD) and compares these data to previous studies of 37 adults greater than 45 years of age (mean 59) with fatal CAD. Histologic sections were taken at 5-mm intervals from the entire lengths of the right, left main, left anterior descending and left circumflex coronary arteries. With the use of a computerized morphometry system, analysis of the 4 major epicardial coronary arteries showed the major component of plaque to be a combination of cellular (mean percent total plaque area = 65%, standard error = 6%) and dense (19%, standard error = 6%) fibrous tissue. Arterial segments narrowed greater than 75% in cross-sectional area from these young women were compared with similarly narrowed arteries from 37 older patients (32 men [86%]) with fatal CAD previously reported by this laboratory, and showed significantly more cellular fibrous tissue and lipid-rich foam cells, and lesser amounts of dense fibrous and heavily calcified tissue. The large amount of lipid-containing foam cells and relative lack of acellular scar tissue in coronary plaques in these young women suggests a greater potential for reversibility of these plaques in this subset of patients with CAD.