cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Seasonal shifts in predator body size diversity and trophic interactions in size‐structured predator–prey systems

Summary 1. Theory suggests that the relationship between predator diversity and prey suppression should depend on variation in predator traits such as body size, which strongly influences the type and strength of species interactions. Prey species often face a range of different sized predators, and the composition of body sizes of predators can vary between communities and within communities across seasons. 2. Here, I test how variation in size structure of predator communities influences prey survival using seasonal changes in the size structure of a cannibalistic population as a model system. Laboratory and field experiments showed that although the per-capita consumption rates increased at higher predator–prey size ratios, mortality rates did not consistently increase with average size of cannibalistic predators. Instead, prey mortality peaked at the highest level of predator body size diversity. 3. Furthermore, observed prey mortality was significantly higher than predictions from the null model that assumed no indirect interactions between predator size classes, indicating that different sized predators were not substitutable but had more than additive effects. Higher predator body size diversity therefore increased prey mortality, despite the increased potential for behavioural interference and predation among predators demonstrated in additional laboratory experiments. 4. Thus, seasonal changes in the distribution of predator body sizes altered the strength of prey suppression not only through changes in mean predator size but also through changes in the size distribution of predators. In general, this indicates that variation (i.e. diversity) within a single trait, body size, can influence the strength of trophic interactions and emphasizes the importance of seasonal shifts in size structure of natural food webs for community dynamics.
Pater Rules Best: Political Kinship and Party Politics in Tanzania's Presidential Elections

In 2005 Tanzanians elected Jakaya Kikwete to the presidency with 80 percent of the popular vote. Like his predecessors, Kikwete emerged from the ranks of the Chama Cha Mapinduzi party (CCM). CCM also secured 96 percent of mainland parliamentary constituencies. Drawing on fieldwork conducted in Singida region between 2004 and 2006, I examine the production and performance of a political rhetoric in Tanzania that centers on notions of fatherhood and filial obedience. I explore how, in the realm of contemporary Tanzanian multiparty politics, paternal metaphors offer a discursive medium for weaving a seemingly unified narrative from the strands of competing and contradictory structures of authority – structures that turn on local conceptions of age, lineage, and kinship. This narrative serves to gloss over political and socioeconomic disparities, to confirm rural Tanzanians’ sense of themselves as citizens of a gerontocracy, and to produce a sense of historical continuity in a time of radical political and economic transformation – even in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
An outer-sphere ligand for uranyl carbonate.

A novel supramolecular host for the uranyl carbonate complex has been designed and synthesized. The modified cyclodextrin host binds uranyl carbonate in water with a stability of 253 M−1.
Genetically encoded reporters for hyperpolarized xenon magnetic resonance imaging

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) enables high-resolution non-invasive observation of the anatomy and function of intact organisms. However, previous MRI reporters of key biological processes tied to gene expression have been limited by the inherently low molecular sensitivity of conventional ^1H MRI. This limitation could be overcome through the use of hyperpolarized nuclei, such as in the noble gas xenon, but previous reporters acting on such nuclei have been synthetic. Here, we introduce the first genetically encoded reporters for hyperpolarized ^(129)Xe MRI. These expressible reporters are based on gas vesicles (GVs), gas-binding protein nanostructures expressed by certain buoyant microorganisms. We show that GVs are capable of chemical exchange saturation transfer interactions with xenon, which enables chemically amplified GV detection at picomolar concentrations (a 100- to 10,000-fold improvement over comparable constructs for ^1H MRI). We demonstrate the use of GVs as heterologously expressed indicators of gene expression and chemically targeted exogenous labels in MRI experiments performed on living cells.
DIEL PERIODICITY OF NITRATE REDUCTASE ACTIVITY AND PROTEIN LEVELS IN THE MARINE DIATOM THALASSIOSIRA WEISSFLOGII (BACILLARIOPHYCEAE)

The diel variation and regulation of the enzyme nitrate reductase (NR) were examined in the diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii (Gru.) Fryxell et Hasle. NR was purified, and polyclonal antibodies were raised to a 98-kD polypeptide. The antibodies cross-reacted only with proteins from closely related diatom species, suggesting significant epitopic variation of this enzyme within algal divisions. Neither NR enzymatic activity nor protein was detected in cells grown with ammonium as the sole nitrogen source; the addition of ammonium to cells growing on nitrate decreased both protein levels and enzyme activity by 40% within 2 h. In cells grown on a 12:12 h LD cycle, NR activity and NR protein levels were highly correlated, with a peak at midday, a decrease toward the end of the photoperiod, and an increase in activity beginning near the end of the dark period. The addition of actinomycin D (an inhibitor of RNA synthesis) and cycloheximide (an inhibitor of protein synthesis) affected NR activity and NR protein levels identically, strongly suggesting that this nuclearencoded protein is regulated primarily at a transcriptional level. The diel pattern of NR protein and activity ceased immediately following transfer to continuous light, indicating that the periodicity is not directly controlled by a circadian rhythm. Time-lagged cross-correlation analysis revealed a 6-h phased difference between the minimum enzyme activity or protein levels and the maximum cellular carbon pool. On the basis of the experimental results, we develop a model proposing that (1) NR activity is regulated primarily by transcriptional regulation of NR synthesis and that (2) the level of expression of the enzyme during a given day is correlated with the integrated pool of organic carbon accumulated during the preceding photoperiod.
The visual perception of surface orientation from optical motion.

Observers viewed monocular animations of rotating dihedral angles and were required to indicate their perceived structures by adjusting the magnitude and orientation of a stereoscopic dihedral angle. The motion displays were created by directly manipulating various aspects of the image velocity field, including the mean translation, the horizontal and vertical velocity gradients, and the manner in which these gradients changed over time. The adjusted orientation of each planar facet was decomposed into components of slant and tilt. Although the tilt component was estimated with a high degree of accuracy, the judgments of slant exhibited large systematic errors. The magnitude of perceived slant was determined primarily by the magnitude of the velocity gradient scaled by its direction. The results also indicate that higher order temporal derivatives of the moving elements had little effect on observers’ judgments.
A Techno-Economic Analysis of a Proposed 1.5 MW Wind Turbine with a Hydrostatic Drive Train:

This paper presents a techno-economic feasibility study for a proposed 1.5 MW wind turbine utilizing a continuously variable ratio hydrostatic drive train between the rotor and the generator. The estimated cost of energy is compared to that of a conventional wind turbine of equivalent rated power. The annual energy production is estimated for the hydrostatic turbine using an assumed wind speed distribution and a turbine power curve resulting from a steady state performance model of the turbine. The initial capital cost of the turbine is estimated using cost models developed for various components unique to the hydrostatic turbine as well as economic parameters and models developed by the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) in the WindPACT advanced wind turbine drive train study. The resulting cost of energy, along with various performance characteristics of interest, are presented and compared to those of the WindPACT baseline turbine intended to represent a conventional utility scale wind turbine.
A coupled ocean-atmosphere climate model: temperature versus salinity effects on the thermohaline circulation

A simple nonlinear three-box ocean model of the North Atlantic Ocean including the rudiments of eddy mixing, vertical stratification and thermohaline circulation is first presented. It is subject to uniform latitudinal differential heating, q, and net evaporation me, and includes a linear equation of state. Two quite different limiting steady-state solutions exist. The first has a warm saline surface water and a cold, low-salinity deep ocean; deep water is primarily formed in higher latitudes by the prevalence of differential heating. A second limiting solution consists of a warm saline deep ocean underlying a cool, low-salinity surface ocean; deep water is formed primarily in lower latitudes as a consequence of large differential evaporation. A coupled ocean-atmosphere model, in which the oceanic surface heat fluxes are determined internally but with differential evaporation at the ocean surface me remaining an external parameter, is next presented. The atmosphere component is a simple energy balance model that emphasizes the vertical fluxes of radiative, sensible and latent heat fluxes but does not include temperature-albedo feedback. Model response depends on the external parameters me and μ, controlling the magnitude of the thermohaline-driven circulation, and on the magnitudes of the eddy mixing coefficients and the solar constant. For small me, a steady-state solution corresponding to a cold fresh deep ocean is found, qualitatively similar to the modern ocean. For large me, a steady-state solution with a warm saline deep ocean occurs; this solution resembles conceptual models that have been proposed for the warm saline Cretaceous ocean. There exists an intermediate region of values of me for which the solutions are more complex. On the lower end of this region, both the cold fresh deep-ocean and warm saline deep-ocean circulations coexist as stable equilibria. On the upper end, the cold-deep ocean becomes unstable, manifesting oscillations with growing amplitude, and ultimately reaches the warm saline deep-ocean solution. In the neighborhood of a ‘cusp’ on the μ, me plane, that is, for relatively small μ, more complex behaviour occurs, which has not yet been fully analyzed. The model response in the region of complexity is not sensitive to changes in the solar constant but is sensitive to the eddy mixing coefficients.
A Customizable Reputation-based Privacy Assurance System using Active Feedback

People are often required to disclose personal identifying information (PII) in order to achieve their goals, e.g. when accessing services, obtaining information and goods, etc. Being able to say with absolute certainty that another party can be trusted to properly handle personal data with today's technology is probably unrealistic. Feedback solutions based on reputation mechanisms can address aspects of trust and assurance in relation to how personal data is managed by an enterprise. However they usually rely on subjective feedback which is based on empirical experiences, and typically they do not allow individuals to systematically track and manage their specific experience. In this paper we propose an approach that enables people to monitor the status of their personal data which they have previously shared with an enterprise, service provider or other organization - under specific conditions previously negotiated - and actively gather information on how adequately the management of these data meets their personal expectations. Ongoing monitoring and notification, and the ability of the client to form a simple record of past interaction, provides the client with greater confidence and assurance in situations where they need to share personal sensitive information with organizations they would otherwise not be able to claim they trust. This feedback process is based on conditions that are specific to the process of sharing PII and provides the client with assurance that an enterprise is a) capable and b) actually fulfilling PII processing preferences that are agreed at the time the data is disclosed, and which ultimately enables the client to form an opinion about the service provided. We present the principles of our approach and architectural components that support a practical implementation. This is work in progress and the research is on-going, carried out in the context of PRIME
Single-molecule sensing of environmental pH--an STM break junction and NEGF-DFT approach.

Sensors play a significant role in the detection of toxic species and explosives, and in the remote control of chemical processes. In this work, we report a single-molecule-based pH switch/sensor that exploits the sensitivity of dye molecules to environmental pH to build metal–molecule–metal (m-M-m) devices using the scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) break junction technique. Dyes undergo pH-induced electronic modulation due to reversible structural transformation between a conjugated and a nonconjugated form, resulting in a change in the HOMO–LUMO gap. The dye-mediated m-M-m devices react to environmental pH with a high on/off ratio (≈100:1) of device conductivity. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations, carried out under the non-equilibrium Green’s function (NEGF) framework, model charge transport through these molecules in the two possible forms and confirm that the HOMO–LUMO gap of dyes is nearly twice as large in the nonconjugated form as in the conjugated form.
NF-κB is required for TNF-α-directed smooth muscle cell migration

Migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) is a crucial event in the formation of vascular stenotic lesions. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is elaborated by VSMC in atherosclerosis and following angioplasty. We investigated the role of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in human VSMC migration induced by TNF-α. Adenoviral expression of a mutant form of the inhibitor of NF-κB, IκB-αM, suppressed TNF-α-triggered degradation of cellular IκB-α, inhibited activation of NF-κB, and attenuated TNF-α-induced migration. Further, IκB-αM suppressed TNF-α-stimulated release of interleukin-6 and -8 (IL-6 and IL-8). Neutralization of IL-6 and IL-8 with appropriate antibodies reduced TNF-α-induced VSMC migration. Addition of recombinant IL-6 and IL-8 stimulated migration. Collectively, our data provide initial evidence that TNF-α-mediated VSMC migration requires NF-κB activation and is associated with induction of IL-6 and IL-8 which act in an autocrine manner.
Notes on Commercial Travelers in Eighteenth-Century France

It has been widely held that the traveling salesman was a product of the railroad era. In the following paper, Professor Taylor shows that, at least in France, the commis voyageur played a role as early as the second half of the eighteenth century. These findings, important as they are for the history of marketing, pose new questions: Was France ahead of other countries in developing this form of sales organization? If France really led, did the other countries follow suit under French influence? Is it perhaps telling, for instance, that in Germany until late in the nineteenth century the Reisende was still called by its French name?
A radar land clutter model and its verification

Presents a site-specific method to characterize terrain visibility and clutter as seen by a shipboard radar in a coastal environment. The method takes into account the ship location, terrain topography, radar parameters, and radar propagation. The method incorporates an optical ray-trace program, an electromagnetic parabolic equation model, and a data base of terrain elevations; it accounts for refraction, multipath, and diffraction with arbitrary propagation. The statistical distribution and geographical pattern of reflectivity obtained with the authors' method compares favorably with experimental data obtained under conditions similar to those modeled. >
A fuzzy logic based controller for a three link manipulator

This paper addresses the task of producing a generic control algorithm for Cartesian motion of manipulators. The algorithm employs a self organizing fuzzy logic estimator to produce joint space changes given Cartesian error. The main focus of this work is to investigate the performance of the algorithm around the workspace and conclude the feasibility of such an algorithm in industrial applications. >
Drilling conditions making wells unsuitable for fluid inclusion studies on drill cuttings

A fluid inclusion study conducted on a well in the northern North Sea showed a remarkable correlation between fluid inclusion stratigraphy responses and depths of drilling bit changes. Further investigation of the well data suggested that extreme temperatures occasionally had been generated at the bit-sediment interface during drilling. Cracking of larger organic molecules to an abundance of smaller ones and trapping of these in inclusions formed by supercooling of partly melted sediment explain the correlation. Not all wells are consequently suitable for fluid inclusion screening analyses. Thus, before initiating fluid inclusion studies, wells that have experienced intense heat during drilling should be identified and avoided.
Improvement of Class E Amplifier with Inductive Clamp Circuit Topology and Its Applications

A Class E amplifier with inductive clamp circuit topology is improved to have stability for all load conditions at any DC supply voltage, Vdc. Based on the new improved topology, the RF Amplifier is designed, simulated and built to be used as a driver for any class of RF amplifier operating within five percent of frequency bandwidth. It is shown that Class E amplifiers with inductive clamp circuits using an improved topology give all the benefits of Class E amplifiers with inductive clamp circuits and in addition have minimum spurious oscillations and harmonic levels. The improved topology and results that we introduce here can be employed in RF applications where the signal purity over entire VSWR and dynamic range is one of the amplifier requirements such as plasma excitation.
Prescription medication use among normal weight, overweight, and obese adults, United States, 2005-2008.

Purpose We sought to describe differences between normal weight, overweight, and obese adults in use of specific prescription medication classes. Methods Cross-sectional analysis of prescription medication use among 9789 adults in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a nationally representative sample of the United States. Results In 2005–2008, 56.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 54.6–58.3) of adults used 1+ prescription medication. Approximately one-quarter of adults used a hypertension medication (26.1%; 95% CI, 24.5%–27.8%). The use of hypertension medications increased with increasing weight status (normal weight: 17.2%; 95% CI, 15.6%–18.8%; overweight: 24.5%, 95% CI, 22.6%–26.4%; and obese: 35.1%, 95% CI, 32.8%–37.4%). Similarly, lipid-lowering, analgesic, antidepressant, proton pump inhibitors, thyroid, diabetes, and bronchodilator medication use was greater among obese compared with normal weight adults (each p Conclusions Obese adults in the United States use several prescription medication classes more frequently, than normal weight adults, including hypertension, lipid-lowering, and diabetes medications.
The Relationship of Cloud Cover to Near-Surface Temperature and Humidity: Comparison of GCM Simulations with Empirical Data

One of the possible ways to check the adequacy of the physical description of meteorological elements in global climate models (GCMs) is to compare the statistical structure of these elements reproduced by models with empirical data from the world climate observational system. The success in GCM development warranted a further step in this assessment. The description of the meteorological element in the model can be considered adequate if, with a proper reproduction of the mean and variability of this element (as shown by the observational system), the model properly reproduces the internal relationships between this element and other climatic variables (as observed during the past several decades). Therefore, to distinguish more reliable models, the authors suggest first analyzing these relationships, ‘‘the behavior of the climatic system,’’ using observational data and then testing the GCMs’ output against this behavior. In this paper, the authors calculated a set of statistics from synoptic data of the past several decades and compared them with the outputs of seven GCMs participating in the Atmospheric Model Intercomparison Project (AMIP), focusing on cloud cover, one of the major trouble spots for which parameterizations are still not well established, and its interaction with other meteorological fields. Differences between long-term mean values of surface air temperature and atmospheric humidity for average and clear sky or for average and overcast conditions characterize the long-term noncausal associations between these two elements and total cloud cover. Not all the GCMs reproduce these associations properly. For example, there was a general agreement in reproducing mean daily cloud‐temperature associations in the cold season among all models tested, but large discrepancies between empirical data and some models are found for summer conditions. A correct reproduction of the diurnal cycle of cloud‐temperature associations in the warm season is still a major challenge for two of the GCMs that were tested.
Relationship of eukaryotic DNA replication to committed gene expression: general theory for gene control.

The historic arguments for the participation of eukaryotic DNA replication in the control of gene expression are reconsidered along with more recent evidence. An earlier view in which gene commitment was achieved with stable chromatin structures which required DNA replication to reset expression potential (D. D. Brown, Cell 37:359-365, 1984) is further considered. The participation of nonspecific stable repressor of gene activity (histones and other chromatin proteins), as previously proposed, is reexamined. The possible function of positive trans-acting factors is now further developed by considering evidence from DNA virus models. It is proposed that these positive factors act to control the initiation of replicon-specific DNA synthesis in the S phase (early or late replication timing). Stable chromatin assembles during replication into potentially active (early S) or inactive (late S) states with prevailing trans-acting factors (early) or repressing factors (late) and may asymmetrically commit daughter templates. This suggests logical schemes for programming differentiation based on replicons and trans-acting initiators. This proposal requires that DNA replication precede major changes in gene commitment. Prior evidence against a role for DNA replication during terminal differentiation is reexamined along with other results from terminal differentiation of lower eukaryotes. This leads to a proposal that DNA replication may yet underlie terminal gene commitment, but that for it to do so there must exist two distinct modes of replication control. In one mode (mitotic replication) replicon initiation is tightly linked to the cell cycle, whereas the other mode (terminal replication) initiation is not cell cycle restricted, is replicon specific, and can lead to a terminally differentiated state. Aberrant control of mitotic and terminal modes of DNA replication may underlie the transformed state. Implications of a replicon basis for chromatin structure-function and the evolution of metazoan organisms are considered. Images
Chapter 2 – Morphological Studies of Claudins in the Tight Junction

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the morphological studies of claudins in the tight junction (TJ). By combining the tools of molecular biology, electrophysiology, immunocytochemistry, and fracture labeling, new information has been generated regarding the structure/function relationships of selected claudins in the TJ. A variety of morphological techniques have been applied to the study of TJ structure and function. These include immunofluorescence microscopy for the localization of integral tight junction proteins in the plasma membrane and cytoplasmic proteins that bind specifically to the N- or C-termini of claudins, occludin, and tricellulin. The ion selectivity of the tight junction pores appears to be governed by the amino acid composition of the specific claudins that form these pores. With the application of novel biochemical reagents, the structure of these tight junction pores within the tight junction is beginning to be characterized. To date, relatively few of the 24 known claudins have been analyzed for their pore-forming function and detailed tissue distribution. However, recently discovered mutations in a number of claudin genes that are associated with human disease, have yielded valuable new insight regarding the function of several specific claudins.
Effect of a pusher propeller on a delta wing

Abstract A low speed wind tunnel investigation was conducted to examine the effect of a pusher propeller on a 65 deg sweep delta wing. Two different propeller diameters were evaluated. The data showed that the pusher geometry can cause a delay in vortex breakdown yielding an increase in lift at high angles of attack. Surface pressure measurement showed that the propeller increased suction levels on both the leeward and windward surfaces, limiting lift enhancement. Lift augmentation was observed to favor low advance ratios.
Ecology and Politics of Rehabilitation: Mogan Lake Wetland Ecosystem, Ankara, Turkey

The total area of wetlands in Turkey has been estimated to be between 800,000 and 1,000,000 ha (Ozesmi and Ozesmi 1996). Since 1960 at least 1,300,000 ha of wetlands have been lost because of reclamation, drainage, irrigation, and damming (Magnin and Yarar 1997). Of the total amount of wetlands, about 80% is threatened by large-scale agricultural projects, urban and industrial development, and pollution from agriculture, urban populations, and industry. These have threatened Mogan Lake wetland ecosystem (Figure 1), one of the four wetlands in Turkey where any kind of rehabilitation project has been considered (the other three are Avian Golu, Amik Golu, and Camalti Tuzlasi). In the first part of this chapter, the importance of Mogan Lake wetland ecosystem both as a recreational site and as wildlife habitat is presented. In the second part, the chapter analyzes how claims of degradation of the ecosystem have been constructed and supported by a community of scientists, consultants, municipalities, and government agencies. Finally, the chapter demonstrates how methods of rehabilitation are proposed based on socio-political considerations rather than an understanding of wetland ecology.
Control of Carbon Assimilation and Partitioning by Jasmonate: An Accounting of Growth-Defense Tradeoffs

Plant growth is often constrained by the limited availability of resources in the microenvironment. Despite the continuous threat of attack from insect herbivores and pathogens, investment in defense represents a lost opportunity to expand photosynthetic capacity in leaves and absorption of nutrients and water by roots. To mitigate the metabolic expenditure on defense, plants have evolved inducible defense strategies. The plant hormone jasmonate (JA) is a key regulator of many inducible defenses. Synthesis of JA in response to perceived danger leads to the deployment of a variety of defensive structures and compounds, along with a potent inhibition of growth. Genetic studies have established an important role for JA in mediating tradeoffs between growth and defense. However, several gaps remain in understanding of how JA signaling inhibits growth, either through direct transcriptional control of JA-response genes or crosstalk with other signaling pathways. Here, we highlight recent progress in uncovering the role of JA in controlling growth-defense balance and its relationship to resource acquisition and allocation. We also discuss tradeoffs in the context of the ability of JA to promote increased leaf mass per area (LMA), which is a key indicator of leaf construction costs and leaf life span.
Strong Coupling between a Single Quantum Dot and a Photonic Crystal Slab Nanocavity

Vacuum Rabi splitting and a temperature-scanned anti-crossing curve have been seen in the photoluminescence from a single InAs quantum dot transition strongly coupled to a single mode of a photonic-crystal-slab nanocavity.
Low-Temperature Pyrolysis of Woody Biomass in the Thermally Thick Regime

Pyrolysis of biomass is a thermal degradation process in the absence of oxygen, producing gas, tar, and char. The product distribution depends on pyrolysis conditions (heating rate, peak temperature, particle size). In this work, the decomposition of dried poplar wood cylinders of 1.9 cm diameter is investigated under conditions favoring production of “biochar” for soil amendment, that is, in the thermally thick regime with maximum temperature <450 °C. The intraparticle temperature history was measured using a thin sheathed thermocouple. Time-resolved mole fractions of light pyrolysis species, CO, CO2, CH4, HCHO, CH3OH, HCOOH, and CH3COOH, were measured by FTIR analyzer. Tar was collected and identified by GC/MS, and yields of gas, tar, and char are reported. The experiments were compared to the predictions of a one-dimensional model proposed by Park, W. C.; Atreya, A.; and Baum, H. R. (2010) and implemented in Comsol Multiphysics commercial software. Sensitivity to model parameters was determined. The ti...
Preliminary study of tumor DNA content in resectable primary colorectal carcinoma in Taiwan

Colorectal cancer accounts for over 90% of malignant neoplasms of the intestine and is one of the leading causes of cancer death in the Western world. The incidence in Southeast Asia has increased over the years. It is one of the leading causes of cancer death in Taiwan. Several published reports suggested that tumor DNA content is an important prognostic indicatorof colorectalcarcinoma. During the period from Aug "91 to Mar'92, operation of 166 cases of colorectal carcinoma was performed in our hospital. There are 85 males with mean age of 58.91 ± 12.55 and 81 femaleswith mean age of 54.41 ± 12.55. Analyslsof tumorDNA reveals that there are 50 diploid tumors and 116aneuploidtumors. Among the aneuploid tumors, 12 are hypodiploid, 97 hyperdiploid, 2 tetraploidand 5 multiploid. No. of Patients (%) Dukes' Stage Diploid (n=50) Hypodiplold (n=12) Hypendiploid (n=97) Telraploid (n=2) Multiploid (n=5) A 3 (6.0) 1 (8.3) 4(4.1) 0 0 B1 8 (16.0) 0 7 (7.2) 0 1 (20.0) B2 22 (44.0) 3 (25.0) 38 (39.2) 1 (50.0) 1 (20.0) C 10(20.0) 5(41.7) 37 (38.2) 1 (50.0) 3 (60.0) D 7 (14.0) 3 (25.0) 11 (11.3) 0 0 With correlation to Dukes' staging, it shows that 48% of aneuploid tumors are in Stage C. whereas only 20% diploid tumor in Stage C. The finding is in consistent with literature reports that aneuploid colorectal cancer tended to invade the serosa or extend beyond. Further clinical follow up is necessary in order to evaluate the overall survival with respect to DNA content.
Resources Needed to farm the ‘Champignon’

Agaricus brunnescens Peck [=A. bisporus (Lange) Imbach], has been the primary mushroom grown as a farm crop in North American since late in the 19th century. Practices needed to grow the crop originated in France, being passed from one generation to the next which positioned agricultural scientists outside the circle of privileged information. However, early mushroom farmers were confronted by a myriad of unknowns which resulted in crop failures, and slowly a very small segment of the scientific community gained credibility through the help they provided to farmers. Together, the farmers and professional agriculturalists combined to transfer production practices from the art-of-growing into the science-of-growing, although "art" is still an essential component of mushroom growing (Tschierpe and Hartman, 1977; Wuest et al., 1981). National production of 471 million pounds (1980-81) caused the U.S. to continue as the world's leader in total production. This crop was valued at $351 million to farmers who received an average price of $0.745/lb; the price received by Mid-Atlantic farmers ranged from $0.621 to $0.705/lb while farmers in California averaged $0.821/lb (Anon., 1981). The farm retail prices are distinct. Some of the difference is attributable to the laws of supply and demand, losses incurred by retailers due to the short shelf life of fresh mushrooms-3-7 da-and the remainder for packaging, transportation, and handling commissions for intermediaries in the supply chain (Owens et al., 1982; Estes, 1971). Pennsylvania leads the nation, producing 50% of the total crop, with California in second place at 18%. Mushroom farms are located in 26 states-California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin (Anon., 1981). Mushroom farming attracted a significant number of investors during the 1970's. These venture capitalists saw the potential for a meaningful return on investment (ROI). The days of a high ROI were history by 1981 as investors learned that: a) mushroom farming was time and capital intensive; b) the art of mushroom farming was not always available for purchase; c) market establishment occurred in competition with other growers and this affected the selling price. Mushroom farming proved profitable for some investors as it has for the 350 Pennsylvania mushroom farming families, now in their third and fourth generations. Familiar corporate names like Borden, Jones and Laughlin Steel, Clorox, and Green Giant have entered and exited mushroom farming in recent years. National corporate names in the business today include Campbell Soup Company,
A report from the 46th Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (September 20-24, 2010 - Stockholm, Sweden).

Old and modern architecture go hand in hand along the many waterfronts in Stockholm, just as old (established) and new (investigational) drugs for treating diabetes shared time and space at the oral and poster sessions during the 2010 European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) meeting in Alfsjo. Old and new drugs shared the spotlight at the meeting, the main declared objective of which was to promote excellence in diabetes care through research and education. Although it is important to attend the EASD meeting in order to obtain information on what's new firsthand-new drugs, new indications, new treatment modalities... as well as news on negative aspects and limitations of drug therapy-not all healthcare professionals can attend so many annual meetings, and those who can, cannot attend many of the parallel sessions, and thus alternative sources of information are needed. Indeed, education has a major role in the management and prevention of diabetes, obesity and related disorders, all of which carry a high cardiovascular risk, but if educating patients and the general population is essential, so is informing healthcare professionals about new therapies and new findings related with the management of diabetes. In line with the previously stated attendance limitations and alternative sources of information-or education-this is the scope of the following report, which complements other information on subjects discussed during the EASD meeting in Stockholm available online through other channels.
Superhydrophobic PAN nanofibers for gas diffusion layers of proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells are considered to be the promising alternatives of natural resources for generating electricity and power. An optimal water management in the gas diffusion layers (GDL) is critical to high fuel cell performance. Its basic functions include transportation of the reactant gas from flow channels to catalyst effectively, draining out the liquid water from catalyst layer to flow channels, and conducting electrons with low humidity. In this study, polyacrylonitrile (PAN) was dissolved in a solvent and electrospun at various conditions to produce PAN nanofibers prior to the stabilization at 280 °C for 1 hour in the atmospheric pressure and carbonization at 850 °C for 1 hour. The surface hydrophobicity values of the carbonized PAN nanofibers were adjusted using superhydrophobic and hydrophilic agents. The thermal, mechanical, and electrical properties of the new GDLs depicted much better results compared to the conventionally used ones. The water condensation tests on the surfaces (superhydrophobic and hydrophilic) of the GDL showed a crucial step towards improved water managements in the fuel cell. This study may open up new possibilities for developing high- performing GDL materials for future PEM fuel cell applications.
Problems and Countermeasures in University Chinese Teaching

The teaching of University Chinese is facing more and more difficulties.This is inseparable with its self-location.University Chinese should be treated as the foundation of training humanistic spirit rather than only a tool of language.
The trends of cardiovascular risk factors in urban and rural areas of Beijing during 1984—1999

Objective:To describe the distribution of major cardiovascular diseases (CVD) risk factors and to analyze their trends in urban and rural populations of Beijing from 1984 to 1999.Method:Five independent CVD risk factors surveys were conducted using the same methodology in urban and rural populations of Beijing aged 25-64 years in 1984—1985, 1988—1989, 1993, 1996 and 1999, respectively. Analysis and comparison on trends of CVD risk factors were performed by sex and area.Result:There were differences in the trends of CVD risk factors between urban and rural populations: 1.Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and prevalence of hypertension showed a decrease trend in urban population, especially in urban males, but it increased in rural. 2. The mean level of serum total cholesterol and prevalence of hypercholesterolemia were increased across the groups. In a period of 15 years (1984—1999) an annual increase of total cholesterol level of 0.06 mmol/L (2.3 mg/dl) in urban and of 0.08 mmol/L (3.1 mg/dl) in rural males were observed. 3. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, prevalence rate of overweight, obesity and central obesity increased in all groups except for urban females. 4. Smoking rate increased steadily in rural males, while it decreased in females and urban males.Conclusion:Marked differences in the change of major CVD risk factors were observed between urban and rural population. In view of the higher level and faster increase of risk factors in rural areas, it is suggested that more attention should be paid to rural population in CVD prevention in Beijing.
Dynamic Analysis on Trends in the Incidence of Hepatitis A in Shandong Province from 1990 to 2006

Objective To reveal the trend of change incidence of hepatitis A(HAV)in Shandong province and explore dynamic analysis methods.Method Dynamic analysis was made on data of hepatitis A in Shandong province from 1990 to 2006.Results The reported incidence of hepatitis A patients dropped from 53.97/100,000 to 1.14/100,000 in Shandong province from 1990 to 2006,which showed a marked downward trend;the groups under the age of 10 dropped from 55.60% to 5.12%,the average age of incidence moved from 14.40 years old to 40.19 years old.Conclusion The incidence of hepatitis A has been changed from prevalent to sporadic in Shandong province,and there was a further downward trend;the age of the high-risk population has been shifted to older age group;the sex ratio of incidence between males and females in the population above 10 years of age had an expansion trend,the age distribution curve differences between males and females was also expanded.
Melamine as a Dietary Nitrogen Source for Ruminants

SUMMARY Three trials were conducted to determine the usefulness of melamine as a dietary non- protein nitrogen (NPN) source for cattle. Ruminally fistulated steers were fed diets in which the supplemental protein was provided by either cottonseed meal, urea or melamine. Rumen fluid was sampled for ammonia concen- tration periodically for 7 hr after feeding on six occasions during the first 49 days. After 88 days the steers fed cottonseed meal and mela- mine were fasted for 48 hr then refed and ruminal ammonia concentrations monitored. In vitro rumen ammonia concentrations produced by inoculation of either a cottonseed meal, urea, melamine or control (no supplemental nitrogen) substrate with rumen fluid from the steers fed either cottonseed meal or melamine were monitored. Results of these ammonia concentration trials indicated that melamine was slowly hydrolized in a ruminal environment. A 3 “ 3 replicated Latin square digestion and nitrogen balance trial was conducted using the three diets previously fed to the fistulated steers. Results indicated that melamine had little effect on the digestibility of dietary components. Melamine nitrogen was apparently digested to an extent equal to cottonseed meal nitrogen but not (P<.01) as completely as urea nitrogen. Larger (P<.05) amounts of nitrogen fractions other than ammonia and urea appeared in the urine when melamine was fed than when cottonseed meal or urea was fed. Nitrogen balance was lower (P<.05) for melamine than cottonseed meal and tended to be lower than for urea. Under the conditions of these trials, mela- mine may not be hydrolized in the rumen at a rate sufficient to promote maximum ruminal protein synthesis and incompletely hydrolized fractions may be absorbed and voided in the urine. These observations would tend to indicate that melamine may not be an acceptable NPN source for ruminants. (Key Words: Melamine, Urea, Non-Protein Nitrogen, Nitrogen Balance, Ruminal Ammonia, Protein Supplements, Beef Cattle.) INTRODUCTION There has been considerable interest in improving the utilization on non-protein nitrogen in ruminant diets. Basically, two approaches have been taken; optimizing urea utilization (Satter and Roffler, 1975; Burroughs
Pancreatic cancer targeted C-VISA-BikDD: DNA-liposome complex results in minimal toxicity in vivo.

B152 Introduction: Gene therapy for pancreatic cancer is complicated by the need for a pancreatic cancer-specific promoter and the desmoplastic reaction within the tumor, thus making local delivery unreliable. We developed a versatile expression vector ‘‘VISA’’ (VP16-GAL4-WPRE integrated systemic amplifier) and a CCKAR (cholecystokinin type A receptor) gene-based, pancreatic-cancer-specific promoter VISA (CCKAR-VISA): liposome composite to target transgene expression systemically in pancreatic adenocarcinoma [Cancer Cell. 2007;12(1):52-65]. The acute toxic effects induced by systemic administration of this DNA:liposomal complex in C57BL/6 mice were studied. Methods: C57BL/6 mice randomly received 0.9 % normal saline (control:ctrl) i.p. or cerulein i.p. 50 µg/kg injections (to induce acute pancreatitis: positive ctrl) or 100 µl (2.5 mg/kg or 5 mg/kg) of the DNA:liposome complex. Pancreas was removed, frozen in liquid nitrogen, and stored at -800C. Tissue sections were also fixed in formaldehyde for histological and TUNEL analysis. Levels of serum AST, ALT, BUN and serum amylase activity [Phadebas Amylase Test Kit (Magle Life Sciences, Lund, Sweden)] were measured. To examine active trypsin, 25-ul aliquot of the pancreatic homogenate was incubated at 370C for 5 minutes in assay buffer and 50 ul of 400 uM trypsin substrate (Sigma, St Lois, MO). The plate was read using the CytoFluor Multi-Well Plate Reader (PE Biosystems, Foster City, CA) with an excitation at 380 nm and an emission at 440 nm. Trypsin activity was calculated according to a standard curve from purified trypsin (Sigma). Results: No differences were observed of the levels of serum amylase (p = 0.6) and pancreatic active trypsin activity (p = 0.1) between the C-VISA-BikDD-treated mice and the ctrl mice. In the positive ctrl group, cerulein resulted in elevated levels of serum amylase and pancreatic active trypsin activity. Histology of the pancreas from mice treated with C-VISA-BikDD showed no evidence of parenchymal edema, pancreatic epithelial vacuolization, necrosis, apoptosis or inflammatory cell infiltration. However, there was clear evidence of acute pancreatitis induced by cerulein. No TUNEL-positive cells appeared in the acinar and ductal cells of the pancreas of mice treated with C-VISA-BikDD in contrast to apoptotic positive cells of the pancreas of mice treated with cerulein (4.5% TUNEL-positive cells). Treatment with C-VISA-BikDD produces virtually no systemically acute toxicity or acute pancreatitis. Conclusion: Systemic administration of C-VISA-BikDD:DNA-liposome complex appears to be safe. Clinical study in pancreatic cancer is planned.
Insomnia as a path to alcoholism: tolerance development and dose escalation.

Study Objectives To assess the risks associated with the use of alcohol as a "sleep aid," we evaluated tolerance development to pre-sleep ethanol's sedative-hypnotic effects, and subsequent ethanol dose escalation. Methods Volunteers, 21-55 years old, with insomnia in otherwise good medical and psychiatric health and no history of alcoholism or drug abuse participated. In experiment 1 (n = 24) 0.0, 0.3, or 0.6 g/kg (n = 8 per dose) ethanol was administered before sleep and 8-hour nocturnal polysomnograms (NPSGs) were collected. In experiment 2, after six nights pretreatment with ethanol 0.45 g/kg (n = 6) versus placebo (n = 6), choice of pre-sleep ethanol or placebo was assessed over seven choice nights. Results The 0.6 g/kg ethanol dose increased total sleep time and stage 3-4 sleep on night 2, but these effects were lost by night 6 (p < .05). Six nights of ethanol pretreatment produced on the choice nights more self-administered ethanol refills than the placebo pretreatment (p < .03). Conclusions These are the first data to explicitly show the risks associated with the use of alcohol as a "sleep aid" among people with insomnia. Initially, a moderate dose of ethanol improved NPSG sleep, which was lost by night 6. Tolerance was associated with enhanced self-administration of pre-sleep ethanol.
Abnormalities Involving the Pleura

Abnormalities involving the pleura include pathologic processes (masses, calcifications, infections, thickening) of the pleura, in addition to fluid and air collections within the pleural space. This chapter will start off with more common conditions such as pleural effusions and pneumothorax, followed by less common/more complex processes.