cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Toward elucidation of genetic and functional genetic mechanisms in corn host resistance to Aspergillus flavus infection and aflatoxin contamination

Aflatoxins are carcinogenic mycotoxins produced by some species in the Aspergillus genus, such as A. flavus and A. parasiticus. Contamination of aflatoxins in corn profusely happens at pre-harvest stage when heat and drought field conditions favor A. flavus colonization. Commercial corn hybrids are generally susceptible to A. flavus infection. An ideal strategy for preventing aflatoxin contamination is through the enhancement of corn host resistance to Aspergillus infection and aflatoxin production. Constant efforts have been made by corn breeders to develop resistant corn genotypes. Significantly low levels of aflatoxin accumulation have been determined in certain resistant corn inbred lines. A number of reports of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) have provided compelling evidence supporting the quantitative trait genetic basis of corn host resistance to aflatoxin accumulation. Important findings have also been obtained from the investigation on candidate resistance genes through transcriptomics approach. Elucidation of molecular mechanisms will provide in-depth understanding of the host-pathogen interactions and hence facilitate the breeding of corn with resistance to A. falvus infection and aflatoxin accumulation.
Inhibition of Capsaicin-Induced Cough by the γ-Aminobutyric Acid Agonist Baclofen

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a central inhibitory neurotransmitter that also exists in the lungs. The GABA-agonist baclofen has been shown to have antitussive activity via a central mechanism in animals. Recently it was demonstrated that a 14-day course of baclofen given three times daily significantly inhibits the cough reflex in healthy volunteers. Because of the prolonged antitussive effect of baclofen that has been previously observed, the present study was conducted to evaluate the antitussive effect of low-dose, oral baclofen given once daily. Forty-one healthy volunteers were randomly assigned in a double-blind manner to receive a 28-day course of baclofen, either 10 mg or 20 mg once daily, or placebo. Subjects underwent cough challenge testing with inhaled capsaicin to establish baseline cough reflex sensitivity, and subsequently after 14 and 28 days of therapy. Subjects receiving baclofen 20 mg daily demonstrated significant inhibition of cough sensitivity after 14 days and after 28 days of therapy compared with baseline. Neither placebo nor baclofen 10 mg daily had a significant effect on cough sensitivity. No serious side effects were experienced by any study participant. These results confirm the recent observation that baclofen has significant antitussive activity in humans. Further, once-daily administration of a relatively low dose of baclofen is sufficient to achieve significant cough inhibition, although at least 14 to 28 days of therapy may be required to attain maximal antitussive effect. These results support further investigation of baclofen or other GABA-agonists as potential therapeutic agents for chronic, nonproductive cough.
Application of an Industrial Gas Turbine for Cogeneration and Process Services

The gas turbine is not limited to single service applications such as power generation or mechanical drive service. An application has been developed recently to use an industrial gas turbine to drive an electric generator for power while at the same time contributing to the heat balance of a refinery unit. Specifically, a G. E. Frame 5 gas turbine installed with a hydrogen reformer furnace can significantly reduce the overall heat input required by capturing the waste heat in the exhaust gas to preheat the feed to the furnace and to generate high pressure steam for the owner’s refinery steam system.The gas turbine selected for the projects described in this paper is the G.E. Frame 5, model “R” (5271 RA). The model “R” was originally described as a “single shaft mechanical drive” turbine but easily adapted to generator drive. The design is some 30 years old as it was developed in the 1960’s. The term “single shaft mechanical drive” is somewhat strange to us in the process industries as we’re more accustomed to mechanical drive gas turbines designed with two shafts for speed control purposes. Many of the design / construction features of this model make it ideally suited for this application.The higher cost of fuels, and electrical power contribute significantly to making the economics attractive. First of all the heat of the turbine exhaust gas will reduce the fuel required for firing to heat the feed to the furnace. The steam generated in the heat recovery section then contributes to generating power in the steam side in the steam turbine. The results are fuel savings and electric power purchase savings.The steam turbine portion of the cycle is designed to vary with the owner’s steam system and balance. For that reason the steam turbine includes a high pressure inlet, medium pressure steam chest for extraction, a low pressure steam chest designed for induction or extraction and a surface condenser to condense the steam passed through.Fuel flexibility is a major consideration of the unit design. Natural gas or methane rich gas is a base fuel that the gas turbine will fire most of the time. Alternate fuels however, such as propane or butane are commonly available in a refinery and could be fired in the gas turbine as currently configured.Copyright © 1995 by ASME
Allegory and Democratic Public Culture in the Postmodern Era

The man lies on the hotel bed, clad only in his underwear, as he watches the TV screen just beyond his feet. His right hand holds the remote control, which he uses to scan through the cable channels. To his left sits Abraham Lincoln, clothed in long-sleeved white shirt and black pants and reading a book. Lincoln's long, angular frame is just a bit stooped, and his brow is slightly furrowed, as if long accustomed to thinking on the edge of melancholy. Lincoln is mulling over a statement by Walter Benjamin: "Allegories are, in the realm of thoughts, what ruins are in the realm of things" (Benjamin 1977, 178).1 Seated to the man's right is a woman wearing the terry cloth bathrobe provided by the hotel. She leans slightly forward, legs crossed, as she reads the New York Times Magazine cover story about President Clinton. "Listen to this," she says with a bemused smile. "In the clutter around his desk in the Oval Office stands not a single bust of a favorite predecessor, but five: Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Truman and two of F.D.R., plus a statuette of Will Rogers for good measure. If governing is choosing, this collection is a metaphor for this President's trouble with choices, and he himself allows, That's the story of my Presidency, that desk'" (Purdum 1996, 36). The man says nothing as he continues to watch the succession of images on the screen: a lizard flicks its tongue in the desert heat; a child in a stroller laughs as she holds a strawberry ice cream cone; a congressman in blue suit, white shirt, and red tie jabs his finger into the air as he talks earnestly; cars plastered with automotive product logos curl around a race track; Fred and Ginger swirl around the dance floor; soldiers wade ashore at Omaha Beach; the Space Shuttle lifts off; Groucho lifts his eyebrows; Regis smiles; mushrooms and peppers simmer in a pan. The succession of images could go on indefinitely. The tableau remains static. The composition is an allegory: a figurai presentation that organizes multiple interpretations regarding collective experience. It also contains and comments on other forms of itself: Clinton's desk is an ex-
Metal-metal multiply-bonded complexes of technetium. 71. Oxidative decomposition of tetrachlorotetrakis(dimethylphenylphosphino) ditechnetium(II) by an aminium hexachloroantimonate(V) ☆

Abstract TeCl4(PMe2Ph)2·2SbCl3 was isolated in low yield from the reaction of Te2Cl4(PMe2Ph)2 with 2 equiv. of [(p-BrC6H4)3N][SbCl6] in acetonitrite. Single crystals were obtained by slow evaporation of a toloune solution. The structure, determined by X-ray crystallography, is composed of infinite one-dimensional chains of an alternating sequence of TeCl4(PMe2Ph)2 and (SbCl3)2 molecules. The individual molecular species are loosely associated through Lewis acid-base interactions between the equatorial chlorine atoms of TeCl4(PMe2Ph)2 and the individual SbCl3 units. The chains are contained by an additional weak Lewis acid-base interaction between neighboring SbCl4 molecules. The distorted pentagonal bipyramidal coordination geometry about the antimony atom is completed by a weak π-interaction with the phenyl ring of TeCl4(PMe2Ph)2. Crystal data for TeCl4(PMe2Ph)2·2SbCl4 (1) at 23°C: M=972.28, triclinic, Pl (No. 2), α=10.591(3), b=10.619(2), c=7.578(1) A , α=104.54(2), β=99.69(2), γ=69.92(2)°, V=771.7(3) A , Z=1 .
TRANSPORTATION, RACE AND EMPLOYMENT: IN PURSUIT OF THE ELUSIVE TRIAD

The purpose of this paper is to re-examine the question of whether minorities have greater difficulties in finding and holding jobs because of the poor public transportation serving their neighborhoods and the relatively low ownership of automobiles. Earlier studies generally concluded that transportation was not a major reason for the high unemployment and low incomes characteristic of inner city minority areas. We review this literature and conclude that previous findings may understate the relationship. From survey data of workers in three companies and unemployed workers seeking jobs in the same labor market, we examine whether there are statistically significant differences by race or ethnicity associated with transportation need, availability and use. Our findings indicate that transportation does play an important role in differences in labor market outcomes for minorities and nonminorities. We also find that these outcomes are different for blacks and Latinos.
Light scalars and the generation of density perturbations during preheating or inflaton decay

Abstract Reheating after inflation can occur through inflaton decay or efficient parametric resonant production of particles from the oscillation of the inflaton. If the particles produced interact with scalars that were light during inflation, then significant super-horizon density perturbations are generated during this era. These perturbations can be highly non-Gaussian.
Community, Neighborhood, and Peer Influence on Samoan-American Youths

ABSTRACT This article examines the Samoan community, neighborhood, and peer groups as possible sources of risk and/or protection for delinquency among Samoan youths. Study participants include Samoan-American youths and parents living in one U.S. state. Data were collected via individual interviews of 30 Samoan adolescents, 15 of whom have been involved in the juvenile justice system. Results indicate that community involvement, neighborhood structures and practices, and peer groups may serve as sources of risk and/or protection for juvenile delinquency among these Samoan youths. A theory is proposed based on community, neighborhood, and peer group factors related to delinquency among these youths. Implications for future research and policy and practice specifically focusing on the lived experiences of Samoan-American youths in the United States are discussed.
NUCLEAR SYNCHRONY IN VALONIA MACROPHYSA(CHLOROPHYTA): LIGHT MICROSCOPY AND FLOW CYTOMETRY1

The coenocytic alga Valonia macrophysa Kutzing was selected for an investigation of nuclear synchrony in the order Siphonocladales. Light microscopy reveals that nuclear synchrony is evident as patches of nuclei dividing simultaneously. Flow cytometry was utilized for the first time with a macroalga for cell-cycle analysis. Results indicate that nuclei in the entire cell exhibit a high degree of synchrony throughout the cell cycle. Also it appears that cells within a clonal culture are synchronous with each other, in their progression through the cell cycle. The advantages of using flow cytometry for cell-cycle analysis of coenocytic algae include the rapid collection of quantitative data on relative DNA content for a large number of nuclei.
Tense and Aspect in English Infinitives

This article investigates the temporal and aspectual composition of infinitival complementation structures in English. I show that previous classifications of tense in infinitives are insufficient in that they do not cover the entire spectrum of infinitival constructions in English. Using the distribution of nongeneric, nonstative, episodic interpretations as a main characteristic, I show that infinitival constructions fall into three classes: future irrealis infinitives, which allow episodic interpretations with bare VPs; simultaneous infinitives that do not allow episodic interpretations; and simultaneous infinitives that allow episodic interpretations depending on the matrix tense. I argue that the three classes of infinitives are derived from the following properties: future infinitives are tenseless but involve a syntactically present future modal woll ; simultaneous propositional attitude infinitives impose the now of the propositional attitude holder as the reference time of the infinitive; and certain simultaneous infinitives form a single temporal domain with the matrix clause. The analysis proposed has consequences for the composition of tense and aspect, the syntax of infinitives, and the way selection is determined.
SOME EFFECTS OF RADIO MOSCOW'S NORTH AMERICAN BROADCASTS

This experimental study of Radio Moscow's North American broadcasts finds that the broadcasts do result in opinion change among listeners. They seem to have an effect, not because of any particular skill in communication, but because conditions in our own society had led the audience to hold unrealistically negative expectations about the broadcasts which, upon actual exposure, were clearly refuted for many listeners. The consequence of this "unexpectedly better" evaluation was to dispose them toward opinion change favorable to the USSR. Don D. Smith is Associate Professor of Sociology at Florida State University.
Effects of pharmacological agents on subcortical resistance shifts.

Microliter quantities of tetrodotoxin, tetraethylammonium chloride, and picrotoxin injected into the inferior colliculus and superior olive of unanesthetized cats differentially affect the amplitude and waveform of click-evoked potentials and evoked resistance shifts. Tetrodotoxin simultaneously reduces the negative phase of the evoked potential and eliminates the evoked resistance shift. Tetraethylammonium enhances the negative evoked potential component, presumably of postsynaptic origin, without significantly altering evoked resistance shift amplitude. Picrotoxin also enhances the negative evoked potential wave but increases evoked resistance shift amplitude. These findings implicate events associated with postsynaptic membrane depolarization in the production of the evoked resistance shift.
Comparison of Cak1p-like Cyclin-dependent Kinase-activating Kinases

Cyclin-dependent kinases (cdks) coordinate progression through the eukaryotic cell cycle and require phosphorylation by a cdk-activating kinase (CAK) for full activity. In most eukaryotes Cdk7 is the catalytic subunit of a heterotrimeric CAK (Cdk7-cyclin H-Mat1) that is also involved in transcription as part of the transcription factor IIH complex. The Saccharomyces cerevisiae CAK, Cak1p, is a monomeric protein kinase with an atypical sequence and unusual biochemical properties compared with trimeric CAKs and other protein kinases. We sought to determine whether these properties were shared by a small group of monomeric CAKs that can function in place of CAK1 in S. cerevisiae. We found that Schizosaccharomyces pombe Csk1, Candida albicans Cak1, and Arabidopsis thaliana Cak1At, like Cak1p, all displayed a preference for cyclin-free cdk substrates, were insensitive to the protein kinase inhibitor 5′-fluorosulfonylbenzoyladenosine (FSBA), and were insensitive to mutation of a highly conserved lysine residue found in the nucleotide binding pocket of all protein kinases. The S. pombe andC. albicans kinases also resembled Cak1p in their kinetics of nucleotide and protein substrate utilization. Conservation of these unusual properties in fungi and plants points to shared evolutionary requirements not met by Cdk7 and raises the possibility of developing antifungal agents targeting CAKs.
Ti/Al/Si Ohmic Contacts for both n-Type and p-Type 4H-SiC

An ohmic contact process by using tri-layer materials for a source contact of a silicon carbide (SiC) metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) is proposed. The authors validate its extremely low contact resistance for both n-type and p-type SiC by a simple process. The characteristics of Ti/Al/Si ohmic contacts were measured by using the transfer length method (TLM). We examined the dependence of the contact resistance on the thickness of each layer of Ti/Al/Si. Then, it is found that Ti/Al/Si contacts with an appropriate thickness show excellent ohmic properties for both n-type and p-type SiC. N-type specific contact resistance (ρn) of 3.7 × 10-6 Ω cm2 and p-type specific contact resistance (ρp) of 1.7 × 10-4 Ω cm2 are obtained with Ti (20 nm) /Al (30 nm) /Si (30 nm).
Electrical, Optical, and Structural Properties of Tin-Doped In2O3–M2O3 Solid Solutions (M=Y, Sc)

Abstract In 2 O 3 crystallizes in the bixbyite, or C-type rare earth, structure (space group Ia 3), as do the smaller lanthanide oxides (Tb–Lu) and the oxides of Y and Sc. Solid solutions of In 2− x M x O 3− δ ( M =Y or Sc) with varying lattice parameters were prepared and doped with tin. Substitution of tin oxide into In 2− x Y x O 3− δ results in the formation of the pyrochlore phase, Y 2 Sn 2 O 7 . The pyrochlore dominates the Y–In–Sn oxide ternary phase diagram and prevents the tin from donating charge carriers. Solid solutions in which M =Sc could be reacted with a limited amount of tin oxide without the formation of a second phase. The presence of increasing scandium results in decreasing conductivity with a corresponding increase in the optical band gap and percent transmission.
Parameters for Software Piracy Research

Advances in Internet and other digital technologies have opened up new channels and methods for online business. They have also led to a situation where the same channels can be abused and misused. One of these forms of technology abuse, which is becoming increasingly prevalent these days, is the piracy of digital content. This article introduces a relatively comprehensive and unified theoretical framework for studying and understanding a major aspect of digital piracy: namely, software piracy. Based on Routine Activities Theory, Rational Choice Theory, and guardianship concepts, the framework identifies key parameters that can affect the incidence of software piracy. We apply the framework in conducting a systematic examination of 75 articles dealing with software piracy. The examination reveals that a considerable number of parameters have received little or no attention from software-piracy researchers. In addition to suggesting research opportunities, the framework furnishes a systematic approach for structuring the design of future research studies in the realm of software piracy. The insights furnished by this article contribute to future investigations of the software-piracy phenomenon that are needed to avert the economic and social damage caused by software piracy.
“I Know How You Feel”: Preschoolers’ emotion knowledge contributes to early school success

Differences in emotion knowledge by children’s age, gender, and socioeconomic risk status, as well as associations of emotion knowledge with executive control, social competence, and early classroom adjustment, were investigated. On emotion knowledge, 4- and 5-year-olds scored higher than 3-year-olds, with girls showing this effect more strongly. Socioeconomic risk status and emotion knowledge were negatively related. Furthermore, executive control was found to contribute to variance in emotion knowledge. Even with age, gender, socioeconomic risk status, and executive control covaried, emotion knowledge contributed to variance in social competence. Given these covariates, it contributed only indirectly to classroom adjustment, via its contribution to social competence. Implications are discussed for practice and policy attention to emotion knowledge within social–emotional curricula and assessment, targeting the period between ages 3 and 4 years, as well as children living in poverty.
THE ECOLOGY OF CHAOBORUS IN MYERS LAKE, INDIANA

Two species of Chaoborus live in Myers Lake, Indiana, C. punctipennis (Say) and C. flavicans (Meigen). Their distributions and life cycles were studied to see if their ecological niches were sufficiently different to explain their coexistence. C. flavicans emerged earlier than most of the C. punctipennis in Myers Lake, but in two Ontario lakes they emerged at the same time, so differences in emergence time are not thought to be significant. Bathymetric distribution, time of nocturnal vertical migration, and the length at which the larvae become benthic were similar in both species. Although mature larvae of C. flaroicans were larger than those of C. punctipennis, young larvae of the same size lived together during the summer. Presumably larvae of the same size use the same food. Therefore, it is concluded that the niches of C. punctipennis and C. flavicans are similar; any differences are probably too small to explain their coexistence.
Radial vibration of a thick-shell hollow piezoceramic sphere

A thick-shell hollow piezoceramic sphere electroded completely on both inside and outside surfaces and radially polarized can be used as a source and receiver of underwater sound. Restricting the analysis to moderately thick shells the electromechanical equations of displacement are solved to generate the frequency equation for the pure radial modes. The frequency equation is specialized to reflect the behavior of a barium-titanate shell and numerical values are tabulated for the first three frequencies for a broad range of shell thicknesses.
Location and structure of the nearest singularity of a perturbation series

The incompressible potential flow over a perturbed body is used as a model to shed light into the nature of the nearest singularity of a perturbation series. The solutions for various physical quantities are developed as a formal perturbation expansion in powers of a parameter up to 30 terms. The tedious computation is relegated to a computer. The calculations reveal that the location and structure of the nearest singularity of a pertubation series do change with the field point at the which the series is evaluated. Also the radius of convergence and behaviour of the perturbation series do depend significantly on the choice of the physical quantities. These results may provide salutary information for the analysis of computer extended pertubation series.
Permeability control in stimulus-responsive colloidosomes

Self-assembly of colloidal particles in the liquid interface of double emulsion droplets can be used to fabricate “colloidosome” microcapsules, which have great potential as vehicles for the controlled delivery of drugs or other cargoes. Here we present a novel class of aqueous core colloidosomes that combine the benefit of low capsule permeability (good cargo retention) with the option of a stimulus-triggered fast release in a target environment. Complete or partial dissolution of the capsule walls in response to a mild pH change is achieved in each case through the use of responsive particles made from polymers with pH-switchable solubility. We demonstrate three methods of controlling the capsule permeability prior to release while maintaining the intended response to the release trigger.
Fast template matching using correlation‐based adaptive predictive search

We have developed the Correlation-based Adaptive Predictive Search (CAPS) as a fast search strategy for multidimensional template matching. A 2D template is analyzed, and certain characteristics are computed from its autocorrelation. The extracted information is then used to speed up the search procedure. This method provides a significant improvement in computation time while retaining the accuracy of traditional full-search matching. We have extended CAPS to three and higher dimensions. An example of the third dimension is rotation where rotated targets can be located while again substantially reducing the computational requirements. CAPS can also be applied in multiple steps to further speed up the template matching process. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the performance of 2D, 3D, and multiple-step CAPS algorithms. Compared to the conventional full-search method, we achieved speedup ratios of up to 66.5 and 145 with 2D and 3D CAPS, respectively. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol 13, 169–178, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ima.10055
A theoretical treatment of the modulus of semi-crystalline polymers

Abstract Previous treatments of the modulus of semi-crystalline polymers were based on the assumption that the amorphous chains are disposed in a manner resembling an elastomeric network. While the crystallites may perform the same function as crosslinks, we believe that the formation of crystallites leaves the remaining amorphous chains under considerable tension. The large modulus increase observed on crystallization is thus due to the fact that the network chains are near full extension, even in the absence of an external force. Theoretical treatment along these lines yields an expression for the initial Young's modulus E0 in terms of the degree of crystallinity ω. This relation contains one adjustable parameter, and the same parameter appeared in our treatment of the variation of crystallinity with temperature. Comparison with data for polyethylene shows that the theoretical modulus values are of the correct order of magnitude. Furthermore, the temperature dependence of both E0 and ω for a given sample can be represented by the two theoretical relationships using the same value for the adjustable parameter. Thus, these equations can be combined to yield an expression for the modulus which has no adjustable parameter. At temperatures sufficiently below the melting point a linear dependence of E0 upon 1 (1−ω) is predicted, and the experimental data appear to obey this behaviour.
Effects of Low Frequency Electromagnetic Field on the Solidification Structure of 6063 Aluminum Alloy during Hot-Top Casting

Low frequency electromagnetic (LFE) field was applied during the conventional hot-top casting process. Thermocouples were used to measure the cooling curves from the border to the center of the ingot during steady-state of casting process, cooling curves were obtained, and effects of low frequency electromagnetic field on the solidification, macrostructure during the conventional hot-top casting for 6063 aluminum alloy process were analyzed. The experimental results show that the forced convection caused by the low frequency electromagnetic (LFE) filed can make the melt temperature uniform, promote the evacuation of superheat, make the temperature in the liquid pool lower than the liquidus temperature of 6063 aluminum alloy, increase the number of floating nuclei, make the ingot with fine and homogeneous macrostructure, though there is no addition of any grain refiners.
Experimental study of a multi-electrode cylindrical ER fluid damper for in-plane motions

Electro-rheological fluid (ERF) shock absorbers are semi- active vibration control devices that utilize ERF to control the damping capacity of the dampers. The focus of this work is on the experimental study of a multi-electrode, cylindrical ERF damper designed for in-plane motion. Several three- electrode ERF dampers are built and tested specifically for vibration damping of in-plane motions. The force-velocity loops were obtained and examined for different voltage levels and electrode lengths.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Probability proportional to size (πps) sampling using ranks

There can be gains in estimation efficiency over equal probability samplin methods when one makes use of auxiliary information for probability proporti onal to size with replacement (πpswr) sampling methods. The usual method is simple to execute, but might lead to more than one appearance in the sampl e for any particular unit. When a suitable variable x is not available, one may know how to rank units reasonably well relative to the unknown y values before sample selection. When such ranking is possible, we introduce a simple and efficient sampling plan using the ranks as the unknown x measures of size. The proposed sampling plan is similar to, has the simplicity of, and has no greater sampling variance than with replacement sampling, but is without replacement.
Effect of diet consistency, taste and calories on food intake of weanling rats with dorsomedial hypothalamic lesions

Male weanling Sprague-Dawley rats with dorsomedial hypothalamic lesions (DMNL rats) primarily destroying the dorosomedial hypothalamic nuclei (DMN) showed significant hypophagia on lab chow chunks compared to sham-operated controls. When given a choice between lab chow in the form of chunks or powder, both controls and DMNL rats ate similar amounts of lab chow powder while DMNL rats ate less lab chow chunks. Total caloric consumption was the same as on chunks alone. When returned to lab chow chunks as the only source of calories, the pattern and magnitude of intake was again depressed for the DMNL rats. When offered a choice between Ginger Snaps cookies in chunk form versus powder, DMNL rats remained hypophagic in terms of chunk consumption while the intake from powder was similar in both controls and DMNL rats. When offered a choice between chunks of lab chow and Ginger Snaps, DMNL rats were again hypophagic on lab chow chunks, ate the same as the controls of the cookies, and the total caloric intake was of the same magnitude and pattern as observed in previous tests. The data suggest, but do not conclusively show, that DMNL rats are not hypophagic because they have an aversion to chewing hard food and that, when offered a diet similar in hardness to lab chow chunks i.e., hard cookies, will prefer the less tasty but nutritionally complete lab chow. They are apparently capable of choosing a diet for complete nutrition and, as previously reported, can meter calories competently.
Novel second-site suppression of a cold-sensitive defect in phage P22 procapsid assembly

Abstract The DNA packaging portal of the phage P22 procapsid is formed of 12 molecules of the 90,000 dalton gene 1 protein. The assembly of this dodecameric complex at a unique capsid vertex requires scaffolding subunits. The mechanism that ensures the location of the 12-fold symmetrical portal at only one of the 12 5-fold vertices of an icosahedral virus capsid presents a unique assembly problem, which, in some viruses, is solved by the portal also acting as initiator of procapsid assembly. Phage P22 procapsids, however, are formed in the absence of the portal protein. The 1−csH137 mutation prevents the incorporation of the portal protein into procapsids. In a mixed infection with cs+ phage, the mutant subunits are able to form functional portals, suggesting that the cold-sensitivity does not affect portal-portal interactions, but affects the interaction of portal subunits with some other molecular species involved in the initiation of portal assembly. Interestingly, the cs defect is suppressed by temperature-sensitive folding mutations at four sites in the P22 tailspike gene 9. The suppression is allelespecific; other tailspike tsf mutations fail to suppress the cs defect. Translation through a suppressor site is required for suppression. This observation is unexpected, since analysis of nonsense mutations in this gene indicates that it is not required for procapsid assembly. Examination of the nucleic acid sequences in the neighborhood of each of the suppressor sites shows significant sequence similarity with the scaffolding gene translational initiation region on the late message. This supports a previously proposed model, in which procapsid assembly is normally initiated in a region on the late messenger RNA that includes the gene 8 start site. By this model, the suppressor mutations may be acting through protein-RNA interactions, changing sequences that identify alternative or competing sites at which the mutant portal subunits may be organized for assembly into the differentiated vertex of the phage capsid.
Idiopathic vocal fold paralysis: Clinical course and outcomes

This investigation details the results of a retrospective chart review of 35 patients with idiopathic vocal fold paralysis. Clinical findings at presentation, as well as patient outcomes in both the short and long-term duration are comprehensively reported. Spontaneous improvement of vocal fold function was observed in 25% of patients with long-term follow up. Of those with unilateral paralysis, 27% elected to undergo surgical intervention for improvement of symptoms. Four out of the five (80%) patients with bilateral paralysis required surgical intervention, including tracheotomy to relieve severe dyspnea and stridor. Discussions regarding possible underlying, occult etiologies of idiopathic vocal fold paralysis are presented, and suggested sequential behavioral and surgical treatment strategies are introduced.
Rose bengal-induced photofragmentation: Singlet oxygen revisited

Abstract The Rose Bengal-induced photofragmentation of β-amino alcohols has been previously reported to proceed through a mechanism involving singlet oxygen sensitization, followed by attack of singlet oxygen and superoxide on the β-amino alcohol. An alternative mechanism involving electron transfer from the amine to the excited state Rose Bengal is supported by new evidence.
Data processing issues in large-area GPR surveys: correcting trace misalignments, edge discontinuities and striping

Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) lags behind other archaeogeophysical methods in terms of speed, efficiency and ability to produce clean site-wide composites owing to complex and time-consuming data processing requirements. Two North American case studies illustrate problems that occur when survey is conducted over long and short periods of time. Some GPR defects have been blamed on differential solar heating of antennae and battery power levels but we show these effects to be negligible. Major problems include gradual changes over time in ground moisture and low-level background noise, which can create discontinuities between adjacent survey blocks when data are collected at different times. These problems are often remedied by globally aligning traces using a stable trace position. Variations in ground moisture through time also cause differences in reflection amplitudes, necessitating different range gain curves to match amplitudes between survey blocks. In some cases changes in ground moisture cause noticeable differences in velocity between survey blocks requiring time-scales to be converted to depths to correctly match the data. These problems must be remedied before horizontal slicing can be considered. Subsequent image processing may also be necessary to generate a seamless mosaic and eliminate striping artefacts commonly seen in slice maps. The latter are probably caused by antenna lift and tilt and can be removed by a de-striping algorithm that uses a one-dimensional low-pass filter to characterize stripes followed by their subtraction from the data. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Primary angiitis of the central nervous system: differential diagnosis and treatment

While primary angiitis of the central system (PACNS) remains a rare entity, the poor specificity of the available diagnostic tests and its multiple mimics create a major diagnostic challenge. Recently, there have been advances in understanding PACNS and differentiating it from its mimics. A recent breakthrough is the proposal of reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndromes (RCVS) as a unifying concept for a group of disorders that highly mimics PACNS. RCVS are characterised by acute-onset, recurrent headaches, with or without additional neurologic events, with reversible vasoconstriction of the central nervous system (CNS) vasculatures, mimicking CNS vasculitis. RCVS are considered the most common mimics of PACNS. Advances in our understanding of RCVS have allowed for identification of patients previously confused with PACNS. The scope of this article focusses on the work-up, differential diagnosis and evaluation of PACNS, as well as a discussion of the secondary CNS vasculitides with emphasis on their clinical findings, diagnoses and treatment.
Promise problems complete for complexity classes

Abstract A general framework is given to obtain hardness results for promise problems that derive from self-reducible decision problems. The principal theorem is that if a set A is ≤ d P -equivalent to a disjunctive-self-reducible set in NP, then the natural promise problem associated with A is as hard to solve as it is to recognize A . NP-hardness of the satisfiability promise problem follows, and graph isomorphism hardness of a promise problem that derives from the graph isomorphism problem is proved.
Concerning lifetimes of low energy E1 gamma transitions in odd mass spheroidal nuclei

Abstract A compilation of lifetime measurement data on low energy E1 transitions in odd-proton nuclei of the actinide region is given, and comparison is made with the single-particle lifetime formula. The comparison often shows a retardation of several orders of magnitude. Theoretical E1 matrix elements are calculated using Nilsson's spheroidal-well nucleon wave functions. The results show without exception a large retardation from the single-particle matrix elements. The selection rules in both the N, l, j, Ω representation and the N, n 2 , Λ, Ω representation are considered. Quite generally in either representation selection rules forbid the combination of the large components of the wave functions with one another, and the various contributions of the small components to the E1 matrix element tend to cancel one another.
Cross-Polity Linguistic Homogeneity/Heterogeneity and Per-Capita Gross National Product: An Empirical Exploration

Trans-polita lingva homogeno/heterogeno kaj laukapa malneta nacia produkto: Empiria esploroOni analizis pli ol 230 varieblojn, per akumula multobla regresa metodo, trans 130 politoj, por konstati ĉu lingva homegeno/heterogeno troviĝas ene de la plej trafa sub-kategorio de antaŭdiriloj por klarigi plej potence kaj ŝpare trans-politan varion rilate laŭkapan malnetan nacian produkton. Kvankam montriĝis eble atingi tre altan multoblan R (.90), kiu klarigis pli ol 80 procentojn de tia trans-polita vario surbaze de nur dek antaŭdiriloj, lingva homogeno/heterogeno ne estis inter tiu plej trafa subkategorio de antaŭdiriloj. Vario de laŭkapa malneta nacia produkto estas rekta flankprodukto de vario en modernigo de ŝtata administracio kaj industrio—variebloj, kiuj nur nedirekte kaj nesignife rilatas al lingva homogeno/heterogeno.
Heterogeneity of insulin responses: phases leading to Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus in the rhesus monkey

To determine the natural history of the development of Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus, basal plasma insulin and glucose levels and responses to intravenous glucose tolerance tests were determined over a period of 6 years in 42 adult male rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). Among the 28 obese monkeys (percent body fat > 22%) over the age of 10 years, 9 developed overt Type 2 diabetes (fasting plasma glucose, > 7.8 mmol/l; and reduced glucose disappearance rates, KG < 1.5), and 14 monkeys have shown progressive changes which suggest that they may also become diabetic. Application of a highly constant antecedent diet and a consistent 16-h fast minimized experimental variability, and permitted the identification of 8 phases in the progression from normal lean young adult to overt Type 2 diabetes. The earliest changes which could be detected were a slight increase followed by a progressive rise in fasting plasma insulin levels and an increased insulin secretion in response to a glucose stimulus. These events preceded by several years the onset of a gradual deterioration of glucose tolerance. We found that hyper-, normo-, or hypoinsulinaemia could be associated with normoglycaemia or varying degrees of hyperglycaemia; however, the prospective longitudinal study of individual monkeys clearly identified this apparent heterogeneity of plasma insulin and glucose levels as reflecting sequential changes in a continuum of events preceding or accompanying the development of impaired glucose tolerance and Type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Carbon nanotubes: Doped defects tracked down

Single doped defects in carbon nanotubes locally modify the energies of charge carriers and lattice vibrations. They can now be detected by inelastic light-scattering experiments.
Erg in stem cells: a function emerges.

The transcription factor Erg has presented a challenging problem for researchers for over two decades since its discovery. Strongly linked to the pathogenesis of many cancers and noteworthy in its expression pattern, in vitro transcriptional activity and genomic linkages, the Erg proto-oncogene has nevertheless resisted conventional reverse-genetic approaches for defining its normal functions in vivo. In this issue of Nature Immunology, Loughran et al. now report a considerable advance toward the clarification of this gene's importance. Using the classic forward-genetics approach of a phenotypic screen on a 'sensitized background' (discussed below), these investigators have obtained a missense mutation of Erg that is probably the first lesion to cause a distinct loss of function of this transcription factor. This mutation turns out to have profound effects on definitive hematopoiesis and especially on the hematopoietic stem cell compartment. Erg gene dosage is shown to be so critical that a strong effect on stem cell function is present even in the heterozygous state.
Phase-matched field-induced second-harmonic generation in cholesteric liquid crystals

Abstract In the cholesteric liquid crystal, it is demonstrated that the lattice momentum associated with the one dimensional periodicity of cholesteric structure can be used to achieve phase-matching.
The first 50 years of electron stimulated desorption (1918-1968)

Abstract Electron stimulated desorption (ESD) was first observed by Dempster in 1918 and, after investigation for technical reasons in the electron-tube industry and some sporadic research to understand the mechanism, it finally became a recognized subject for concerted research in the early 1960s when ultrahigh vacuum technology was becoming widely available and the production of well-characterized surfaces possible in several laboratories. In 1964 the Menzel-Gomer-Redhead (MGR) model of ESD was independently developed by Menzel and Gomer in Chicago and Redhead in Ottawa. A personal view is presented which surveys (i) the research (mainly for technical reasons) between 1918 and 1962, (ii) the origins of MGR in the period 1962–1964, and (iii) the early growth of the subject from 1964 to 1968. The further growth of research on ESD has been reviewed several times elsewhere. Emphasis is placed on the research on ESD by the group at the National Research Council, and on the role played by technological or applied science interests.
DEVELOPMENTAL STUDY OF THE RENAL RESPONSE TO AN ORAL SALT LOAD IN PRETERM INFANTS

. Aperia, A., Broherger, O., Thodenius, K. and Zetterstrom, R. (Department of Paediatrics, Karolinska Institutet, S:t Goran's Children's Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden). Developmental study of the renal response to an oral salt load in preterm infants. Acta Paediatr Scand 63: 517, 1974.—An evaluation of sodium homeostasis in 44 preterm infants with gestational ages between 29 and 37 weeks has been carried out during the first week after birth and until time of expected term. The natriuretic response to an oral sodium load has been studied in all infants and the GFR (single injection technique of inulin) in 17 infants. The results are compared with those previously found in full-term infants. The natriuretic response was highest and the GFR was lowest in the very preterm neonates. In the very preterm infants the values for sodium excretion and GFR was just about the same at the time of expected term as in full-term newborns. Various explanations for the difference between the very preterm neonates and full-term neonates are discussed. One factor of importance might he the anatomical development. The immature kidney has in comparison to the adult kidney relatively larger glomerular than tubular mass. Extra-uterine life seems to have little influence on the development of GFR as well as on the development of the response to the oral salt load. Thus in the very preterm infants, the postmenstrual rather than the postnatal age should be considered when prescribing fluid, electrolytes and drugs.
Children's understanding of death in relation to child suicidality and homicidality

This review examines children's understanding of death and how such understanding may be related to the increasing incidence of child suicidality and homicidality. Several factors have been reported to influence children's acquisition of the concepts of death. Those most often reported involved include children's age, cognitive development, and exposure to death; religion and culture appear to play a more minimal role. Most of what we know about how and when children begin to understand death is derived from research with healthy children. Although less robust, the data available from chronically physically ill children and suicidal children indicate some distortions in and less mature concepts of death. These distortions may indeed make death appear more attractive and less permanent to some suicidal children. Despite these provocative findings, no similar investigations have been conducted with homicidal children. Implications of these data for future research and potential intervention are discussed.
Optical detection of DNA damage

A rapid and sensitive fluorescence assay for oxidative damage to calf thymus DNA is reported. A decrease in the transition temperature for strand separation resulted from exposure of the DNA to the reactive decomposition products of 3- morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1) (i.e., nitric oxide, superoxide, peroxynitrite, hydrogen peroxide, and hydroxyl radicals). A decrease in melting temperature of 12 degrees Celsius was indicative of oxidative damage including single strand chain breaks. Double stranded (ds) and single stranded (ss) forms of DNA were determined using the indicator dyes ethidium bromide and PicoGreen. The change in DNA 'melting' curves was dependant on the concentration of SIN-1 and was most pronounced at 75 degrees Celsius. This chemically induced damage was significantly inhibited by sodium citrate, tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (Tris), and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), but was unaffected by superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, ethylenediamine tetraacietic acid (EDTA), or deferoxamine. Lowest observable effect level for SIN-1-induced damage was 200 (mu) M.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.