cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Soil-forming rates and processes on Quaternary moraines near Lago Buenos Aires, Argentina

Thirty-four pedons on four moraine groups spanning the last 1 myr are used to investigate mechanisms and rates of soil development in Santa Cruz province, Argentina. All soils are coarse-loamy, mesic, Typic Haplocalcids or Calcic Haploxerolls occurring under short grass-shrub steppe, in a semi-arid climate. The dominant soil-forming processes are the accumulation of organic matter, carbonate, and clay-sized particles. Organic carbon accumulates rapidly in these soils, but significantly higher amounts in the oldest two moraine groups are likely the result of slight differences in soil-forming environment or grazing practices. Accumulation rates of carbonate and clay decrease with age, suggesting either decreased influx in the earliest part of the record or attainment of equilibrium between influx and loss. There are no changes in soil redness, and preservation of weatherable minerals in the oldest soils indicates there is little chemical weathering in this environment. Measured dust input explains the accumulation of both clay and carbonate. We present a carbonate cycling model that describes potential sources and calcium mobility in this environment. Calibration of rates of soil formation creates a powerful correlation tool for comparing other glacial deposits in Argentina to the well-dated moraines at Lago Buenos Aires.
Evaluation of fluorescent and colored phosphatidylcholine analogs as substrates for the assay of phospholipase A2

Abstract Two fluorescent phospholipid analogs, 1-O-{12-(2-naphthyl)-dodec-11-enyl}-2-O-decanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and dansyl-PC [rac 1-O-(N-dansyl-11-amino-1-undecyl)-2-O-decanoyl-glycero-3-phosphocholine], and a red-colored analog, dabsyl-PC [rac 1-O-(N-dabsyl-11-amino-1-undecyl)-2-O-decanoyl-glycero-3-phosphocholine], were evaluated as substrates for the assay of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) (Crotalus adamanteus). The assay reaction was monitored by separation of the fluorescent or colored substrate and product by TLC and quantitation by fluorescence or absorption scanning. All three substrates gave similar (within an order of magnitude) activities with PLA2. Dansyl-PC was best suited to this TLC assay. Dabsyl-PC was less sensitive to detection by absorbance, but had the advantage of being red colored and readily detected by the unaided eye.
Rapid colorimetric detection of epidermal growth factor receptor mRNA by in situ hybridization.

We describe a rapid, formamide-free, random oligomer-enhanced in situ hybridization method in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections using a biotinylated oligonucleotide probe for colorimetric detection of the mRNA transcript of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene, a putative protooncogene. Transitional cell carcinomas (TCC) of the urinary bladder and oral squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) were examined. A431, a human squamous carcinoma cell line that overexpresses EGFR mRNA, and mature skeletal muscle, Known not to express EGFR, served as control tissues. A biotinylated poly-T oligonucleotide probe was used to evaluate the preservation of mRNA in the formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues. The EGFR mRNA and poly-T oligonucleotide probes were constructed with a target-specific, 5′ region and a 3′, non-hybridizing, biotinylated tail. Random sequence oligomers nine bases long added to the probe cocktail eliminated the need for formamide and sheared carrier DNA in the method. The assay produced strong, specific staining for EGFR mRNA in all cases of TCC and SCC, and in the A431 tumors, but not in skeletal muscle. The assay was completed in approximately 90 minutes. This method may have widespread utility for rapid and specific detection of other mRNA sequences. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The Ethics of the Child Custody Process: Are the American Law Institute’s Guidelines the Answer?

Our principal ethical concern is that children have greatly differing opportunities to have their developmental needs addressed in the custody process. We illustrate this variation with example cases in five different adult contexts: custodial parent, relocates; natural father disputes an adoption; gay parents break up; “psychological parents” come forward to claim custody or visitation; and the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 is invoked and may disrupt a placement. We acknowledge and then evaluate in relation to our cases, the recent guidelines for custody issued by the American Law Institute (Principles of the Law of Family Dissolution: Analysis and Recommendations, 2002). Our recommendations for an ethical process include making the child a legal player.
Gender Specific Differences in the Immune Response to Infection

There are many instances where males and females differ in the susceptibility to infections. The reason for these differences in susceptibility is multifactorial. The primary cause is thought to be due to differences induced by sex hormones and their effects on gene expression as well as the immune system, but may also be due to innate physiological differences between males and females. This review summarizes gender specific differences seen in infections caused by bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses. Ultimately, gender specific differences appear to be dependent on the microbe causing the infection, as not every infection with a specific microbial type results in increased susceptibility of one gender over the other. This suggests that there is an interaction between gender specific immune differences and the specific immune response to individual microbes.
Thermal stress analysis of axisymmetric bodies via the boundary element method

Abstract A time dependent boundary element method (BEM) for evaluating thermal stresses in an axisymmetric thermoelastic body has been developed. Previous BEM work on axisymmetric thermoelasticity is extended to permit the calculation of stresses at both boundary and interior points. However, the new formulation still requires only surface discretization and is capable of very accurate evaluation of stress. The boundary displacement integral equation is successively differentiated to obtain the corresponding stress and strain integral equations. Explicit expressions for the steady-state axisymmetric fundamental solutions are derived in this process. The non-steady components of the integrands are obtained directly from the corresponding three-dimensional counterparts. The numerical implementation of this formulation is carried out within a general purpose BEM computer code and several numerical examples are presented to illustrate the accuracy and applicability of the method.
Validation of the Infrared Emittance Characterization of Materials Through Intercomparison of Direct and Indirect Methods

A comparison of the spectral directional emittance of samples as a function of wavelength was performed at the Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometry (FTIS) and the Advanced Infrared Radiometry and Imaging (AIRI) facilities at NIST. At the FTIS, the emittance is obtained indirectly through the measurement of near-normal directional-hemispherical reflectance (DHR) using an infrared integrating sphere. At the AIRI, the normal directional emittance is obtained directly through the measurement of the sample spectral radiance referenced to that from blackbody sources, while the sample is located behind a black plate of known temperature and emittance. On the same setup at the AIRI, the normal emittance at near ambient temperatures is also measured indirectly by a “two-temperature” method in which the sample spectral radiance is measured while the background temperature is controlled and varied. The sample emittance measurements on the comparison samples are presented over a wavelength range of 3.4 μm to 13.5 μm at several near-ambient temperatures and for near-normal incidence. The results obtained validate the two independent capabilities and demonstrate the potential of the controlled background methods for measurements of the radiative properties of IR materials.
Spectroscopic and electrical calculation of band alignment between atomic layer deposited SiO2 and β-Ga2O3 ( 2¯01)

The energy band alignment between atomic layer deposited (ALD) SiO2 and β-Ga2O3 ( 2¯01) is calculated using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electrical measurement of metal-oxide semiconductor capacitor structures. The valence band offset between SiO2 and Ga2O3 is found to be 0.43 eV. The bandgap of ALD SiO2 was determined to be 8.6 eV, which gives a large conduction band offset of 3.63 eV between SiO2 and Ga2O3. The large conduction band offset makes SiO2 an attractive gate dielectric for power devices.
Altered physiology of purkinje neurons in cerebellar slices from transgenic mice with chronic central nervous system expression of interleukin-6

The cytokine interleukin-6 is produced at elevated levels within the central nervous system in a number of neurological diseases and has been proposed to contribute to the histopathologic, pathophysiologic, and cognitive deficits associated with such disorders. In order to determine the effects of chronic exposure of interleukin-6 on the physiology of central neurons, we compared the firing properties of cerebellar Purkinje neurons from control mice and transgenic mice that chronically express interleukin-6 within the central nervous system. Extracellular recordings from cerebellar slices revealed that the mean firing rate of spontaneously active Purkinje neurons was significantly reduced in slices from transgenic mice compared to control mice. In addition, a significantly greater proportion of Purkinje neurons from transgenic slices exhibited an oscillatory pattern of spontaneous firing than neurons in control slices. Orthodromic stimulation of climbing fiber afferents evoked similar excitatory synaptic responses (complex spikes) in Purkinje neurons of both transgenic and control mice. However, the inhibitory period following the complex spike (climbing fiber pause) was significantly longer in slices from transgenic mice. Using immunohistochemistry, we also showed that Purkinje neurons express high levels of both the interleukin-6 receptor and its intracellular signaling subunit, gp130, indicating that interleukin-6 could act directly on Purkinje neurons to alter their physiological properties. The interleukin-6 expressing transgenic mice have been shown previously to exhibit a number of histopathological changes in the central nervous system including injury and loss of cerebellar Purkinje neurons. The present data show that these transgenic mice also have altered physiology of cerebellar Purkinje neurons, potentially through a direct activation of interleukin-6 receptors expressed by this neuronal type. Interleukin-6 induced alterations of Purkinje neuron physiology would ultimately affect the flow of information out of the cerebellum, and could thus contribute to the motor deficits observed in the transgenic mice.
Alice Walker's Politics or the Politics of "The Color Purple.".

I know very well that after this diagnosis the reader now expects remedies. I did not conceive of this book as a work of protest or even as a search for solutions. It was born out of reflections on an accepted failure [Memmi, 1965: 145]. Away with racism! Away with colonialism! They smack too much of barbarism. M. Mannoni has something better: psychoanalysis.... Follow him step by step through the ins and outs of his little conjuring tricks, and he will prove to you as clear as day that colonialism is based on psychology, that there are in this world groups of men who, for unknown reasons, suffer from what must be called a dependency complex, that these groups are psychologically made for dependence ... [Cessaire, 1972: 39-40].
Teachers make a difference

This paper describes a University based programme which identifies ‘quality’ teaching through the eyes of pupils and students. When educators received positive feedback they are prompted to continue to give the best they can.
Moderating Effects of Social Assistance on Verbal Interventions to Promote Safety Belt Use: An Analysis of Weak Plys

Research was conducted to examine the effectiveness of posting a written sign (e.g., "Please Buckle Up, I Care") to prompt the safety belt use of drivers exiting a university parking lot. In addition, the moderating effects of an intervention agent holding the written sign was evaluated (i.e., a socially assisted intervention). The results showed the effectiveness of a socially assisted written sign was greater than presenting a written sign alone. The results and interventions, in general, are discussed within a rule-governed and verbal-intervention framework.
Laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy after acute diverticulitis: when to operate?

Background Laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy has become an acceptable method of surgical treatment for diverticulitis. However, an optimal waiting period before attempting elective laparoscopic colectomy has not been established. We sought to evaluate the relationship between the time interval from an acute episode of diverticulitis to laparoscopic colectomy and surgical outcomes. Methods All patients undergoing laparoscopic colectomy during a period of 10 years in a single institution were studied. Retrospectively collected data included patient demographics, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, prior episodes of diverticulitis, interval between last attack and operation, operative time, complications, conversion, and recovery period. Results A total of 120 patients were included; 89 had a primary diagnosis of diverticulitis. Mean interval from acute diverticulitis to operation was 64 days (range, 1 to 240). Median number of episodes of diverticulitis before colectomy was 3 (range, 1 to 10). Ten patients (11%) required conversion from laparoscopic to open colectomy. Neither interval from acute attack to operation nor number of prior episodes of diverticulitis was associated with any significantly increased rate of conversion to open colectomy, complication rate, operative time, or recovery period (P = not significant). Conclusions Our study showed no direct relationship between surgical timing after acute diverticulitis and complication or conversion rates after elective laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy.
Online Viewing and Aesthetic Preferences of Generation Y and the Baby Boom Generation: Testing User Web Site Experience Through Eye Tracking

The baby boom generation, born from 1946 to 1964, and Generation Y, born from 1977 to 1990, form two important groups of online users in terms of numbers and economic impact. Understanding their Web preferences is of great importance to companies, particularly because the literature suggests that these generations may differ in how they view Web pages and in what they find visually pleasing. To this end, a laboratory experiment examined users' reactions to a set of home pages. Users' reactions were captured using self-report measures and eye tracking, which recorded fixations. Overall, both generations reported similar aesthetic preferences, and both generations preferred pages that had images and little text. However, the two generations also displayed different online viewing behavior and preferences. For instance, eye-tracking data revealed that baby boomers had significantly more fixations and that their fixations covered more of the pages (e.g., headers, main body, sidebars) than those of Generation Yers. In addition, baby boomers reported a significantly higher tolerance for having more Web components on a page. These results suggest that Generation Yers will be more likely than baby boomers to miss key information if a Web page fails to present that information using a limited number of clear focal points that are located above the fold of the page. The relationship observed between viewing behavior and visual appeal supports the importance of aesthetics in usability research. Moreover, this research suggests that companies targeting either generation could benefit from being mindful of the visual appeal of their Web site.
Expression in the Service of Humanity: Trauma and Temporality:

This article presents the spontaneously co-led workshop by a counseling psychologist and expressive therapist on their professional work with traumatized populations for the Imagine Conference in April 2006 in Tel Aviv, Israel. Integrating theories of healing from traumatic grief with clinical and personal experiences, participants were invited to connect to each other through the use of bubble wrap to contain and represent what brought them to the topic. This article describes the process of presenting theory and modeling the group safety, meaning-making, and reconnecting tasks of trauma work within a time-limited workshop for clinicians and trainers. Verbal and nonverbal techniques are used to demonstrate action-oriented approaches to traumatic grief.
Incorporating Choice into Models of Technology Adoption

Research investigating technology adoption has assumed that the individual accepting the technology has only one technology in mind when making their adoption decision. Models such as the UTAUT, TAM, PCI assume that the decision whether or not to adopt the technology occurs within a bubble – there is no explicit understanding in these models that no other technologies exist outside of the one technology under study and that a user has no other acceptance perceptions towards any other comparable technologies. Drawing upon prior work from the marketing literature on choice, we suggest three theoretical approaches to conceptualizing choice and three mathematical approaches to measuring the choice comparison. We report upon a study of technology choice among 60 MBA students, who were given an open source and online spreadsheet application to use for one-month. We conclude by discussing the implications of our findings and suggest new avenues of research on technology choice.
Hypoplastic left heart

Abstract Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome comprises a spectrum of congenital heart abnormalities where there is underdevelopment of the left ventricle, in association with aortic and mitral stenosis or atresia together with a small ascending aorta. The babies' systemic circulation is dependant on the right ventricle perfusing the body through a patent arterial duct. When the duct closes after birth acidosis and death occur through lack of systemic circulation. The introduction of Prostaglandin and intensive resuscitation techniques enabled these babies to survive. The development by Norwood of a three-stage complex palliative repair programme over the first few years of life has improved the survival rate at 1 year up to 75%. The Fontan procedure with a right ventricular dependant systemic circulation is the third and final operation in the Norwood pathway. Patients can have a good quality of life in the medium term, but the long-term outlook for the Fontan circulation is guarded by virtue of early development of myocardial failure, protein loosing enteropathy and arrhythmias. Cardiac transplantation options are limited because of the few donors.
Thiazolidinedione Activation of Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor γ Can Enhance Mitochondrial Potential and Promote Cell Survival

Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) are widely used for treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) is the molecular target of TZDs and is believed to mediate the apoptotic effects of this class of drugs in a variety of cell types, including B and T lymphocytes. The finding that TZDs induce lymphocyte death has raised concerns regarding whether TZDs might further impair immune functions in diabetics. To address this issue, we investigated the roles of PPARγ and TZDs in lymphocyte survival. PPARγ was up-regulated upon T cell activation. As previously reported, PPARγ agonists induced T cell death in a dose-dependent manner. However, the concentrations of TZD needed to cause T cell death were above those needed to induce PPARγ-dependent transcription. Surprisingly, at concentrations that induce optimal transcriptional activation, TZD activation of PPARγ protected cells from apoptosis following growth factor withdrawal. The survival-enhancing effects depended on both the presence and activation of PPARγ. Measurements of mitochondrial potential revealed that PPARγ activation enhanced the ability of cells to maintain their mitochondrial potential. These data indicate that activation of PPARγ with TZDs can promote cell survival and suggest that PPARγ activation may potentially augment the immune responses of diabetic patients.
Analyzing the Transient Thermophysical Properties of Heat-Resistant Fabrics in TPP Exposures:

The effect of high intensity heat on the transient thermophysical properties has been investigated for eight protective fabrics made with polybenzimidazole (PBI), Kevlar®, Nomex®, and blends of PBI with Kevlar® or rayon fibers. Exposure conditions used for this study were 2.0 cal/cm2 .s, 50/50 radiant/convective, and a 2.0 cal/cm2 .s, 100% radiant heat. An interrupted exposure approach was used to obtain a series of test fabrics exposed for incrementally increasing durations. These samples were ana lyzed offline to determine the effect of timed exposures on properties affecting heat transfer. An analysis of momentary fluctuation reveals that two factors critically de termine the response of heat stable materials in TPP tests: one is the moisture in the fabric and its effect on fabric heating and transmission, and the other is the retention of effective thermal thickness.
A remote center of motion robotic arm for computer assisted surgery

We have designed a robotic arm based on a double parallel four bar linkage to act as an assistant in minimally invasive surgical procedures. The remote center of motion (RCM) geometry of the robot arm kinematically constraints the robot motion such that minimal translation of an instrument held by the robot takes place at the entry portal into the patientApos;s body. In addition to the two rotational degrees of freedom comprising the RCM arm, distal translation and rotation are provided to manoeuver the instrument within the patient's body about an axis coincident with the RCM. An XYZ translation stage located proximal to the RCM arm provides positioning capability to establish the RCM location relative to the patients anatomy. An electronics set capable of controlling the system, as well as performing a series of safety checks to verify correct system operation, has also been designed and constructed. The robot is capable of precise positional motion. Repeatability in the ±10 micron range is demonstrated. The complete robotic system consists of the robot hardware and an IBM PC-AT based servo controller connected via a custom shared memory link to a host IBM PS/2. For laparoscopic applications, the PS/2 includes an image capture board to capture and process video camera images. A camera rotation stage has also been designed for this application. We have successfully demonstrated this system as an assistant in a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Further applications for this system involving active tissue manipulation are under development.
Breaking down protein degradation mechanisms in cardiac muscle

Regulated protein degradation through the ubiquitin–proteasome and lysosomal/autophagy systems is critical for homeostatic protein turnover in cardiac muscle and for proper cardiac function. The discovery of muscle-specific components in these systems has illuminated how aberrations in their levels are pivotal to the development of cardiac stress and disease. New evidence suggests that equal importance in disease development should be given to ubiquitously expressed degradation components. These are compartmentalized within cardiac muscles and, when mislocalized, can be critical in the development of specific cardiac diseases. Here, we discuss how alterations in the compartmentalization of degradation components affect disease states, the tools available to investigate these mechanisms, as well as recent discoveries that highlight the therapeutic value of targeting these pathways in disease.
Symmetric and asymmetric passives

Double object constructions manifest three different passive patterns. In Kinyarwanda, Norwegian, and Swedish, either object can passivize (symmetric passive) while in English, Fula, and Chicheŵa, only one object can passivize (asymmetric passive). However, there are two types of asymmetric passives. In the English type, the accusative object with the highest thematic role must passivize and transitive impersonal passives are impossible, regardless of whether the language allows intransitive impersonal passives. In the Chicheŵa type, only the object associated with the Case-assigning morpheme adjacent to the passive morpheme can passivize.
Nonlinear digital carrier synchronization for Rician fading channels

The nonlinear digital carrier synchronizer is proposed for phase estimation on the fading channel. This architecture's noncausal structure, efficient digital implementation, hangup-free operation, and near-optimum performance at low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) are postulated to produce near-ideal bit error probability (BEP) performance in fading channels. A method of evaluating the BEP of a digital quadrature PSK. (QPSK) demodulator in the presence of a noisy phase reference and Rician fading is presented. This result is used to obtain accurate performance approximations for the nonlinear digital carrier synchronization architecture. >
Multielement analysis of Northwestern Nigerian rocks by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Rock samples from seven different locations in northwestern Nigeria were analyzed by reactor instrumental neutron activation analysis and Ge(Li) gamma-ray spectrometry. Concentration values were obtained for 18 elements (As, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Eu, Fe, Hf, La, Lu, Sc, Sm, Sr, Ta, Tb, Th, U, Yb). The geochemical implications of the results are discussed.
The electric dipole moments of OCHF and OCDF

Abstract The electric dipole moments of the weakly bound complexes OCHF and OCDF have been measured using pulsed Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy carried out in a Fabry-Perot cavity. The results, 2.352(8) D for OCHF and 2.396(7) D for OCDF exceed the estimated vector sums of the two subunit electric dipoles by ≈0.55 D in each case.
Characterization of atherosclerotic plaques by magnetic resonance imaging.

: The study of atherosclerotic disease during its natural history and after therapeutic intervention will enhance our understanding of the progression and regression of this disease and will aid in selecting the appropriate medical treatments or surgical interventions. Several invasive and non-invasive imaging techniques are available to assess atherosclerotic vessels. Most of these techniques are strong in identifying the morphological features of the disease, such as lumenal diameter and stenosis or wall thickness, and in some cases provide an assessment of the relative risk associated with the atherosclerosis. However, none of these techniques can fully characterize the composition of the atherosclerotic plaque in the vessel wall and, therefore, are incapable of identifying the vulnerable plaques. High-resolution, multi-contrast, magnetic resonance (MR) can non-invasively image vulnerable plaques, characterize plaques in terms of lipid and fibrous content, and identify the presence of thrombus or calcium. Application of MR imaging opens up whole new areas for diagnosis, prevention, and treatment (e.g., lipid-lowering drug regimens) of atherosclerosis.
Fast access control technology solutions (FACTS)

Positive identification (ID) verification of a large number of people (possibly thousands) in a short time, such as when people enter the gates of a manufacturing plant in the morning, can be a daunting task for the security guards. Current methods that use a password, card swipe system, proximity card reader system, or combination are slow and vulnerable. For example a card can be stolen or a password forgotten, copied or given to an unauthorized person. Hence the need for biometric-based access control systems (ACS). Many biometric systems address the ID verification problem; however, none provide quick and convenient positive (reliable) ID. Fingerprinting is unreliable and requires too much cooperation, face recognition systems (FRS) are unacceptable in a one-to-many application, and iris scan is slow and cumbersome. In this paper, we describe a fast access control technology solution (FACTS) system we developed and demonstrated at Honeywell Labs that enables many motorists to enter a secured parking lot without coming to a complete stop. The FACTS solution combines radio frequency identification (RFID) tags with FRS, reducing the one-to-many FRS problem by using a one-to-one match for facial verification (FV). This solution is dynamic, secure, positive, and hands-free for fast gate access control. At the heart of the Honeywell FV system is a unique tri-band imaging (TBI) camera that reliably locates and records the face of an individual or driver in motion while entering a gate.
Protein imperfections: separating intrinsic from extrinsic variation of torsion angles

In this paper, the variation of the values of dihedral angles in proteins is divided into two categories by analyzing distributions in a database of structures determined at a resolution of 1.8 A or better [Lovell et al. (2003), Proteins Struct. Funct. Genet. 50, 437-450]. The first analysis uses the torsion angle for the Calpha-Cbeta bond (chi1) of all Gln, Glu, Arg and Lys residues ('unbranched set'). Plateaued values at low B values imply a root-mean-square deviation (RMSD) of just 9 degrees for chi1 related to intrinsic structural differences between proteins. Extrapolation to high resolution gives a value of 11 degrees , while over the entire database the RMSD is 13.4 degrees . The assumption that the deviations arise from independent intrinsic and extrinsic sources gives approximately 10 degrees as the RMSD for chi1 of these unbranched side chains arising from all disorder and error over the entire set. It is also found that the decrease in chi1 deviation that is correlated with higher resolution structures is almost entirely a consequence of the higher percentage of low-B-value side chains in those structures and furthermore that the crystal temperature at which diffraction data are collected has a negligible effect on intrinsic deviation. Those intrinsic aspects of the distributions not related to statistical or other errors, data incompleteness or disorder correlate with energies of model compounds computed with high-level quantum mechanics. Mean side-chain torsion angles for specific rotamers correlate well with local energy minima of Ace-Leu-Nme, Ace-Ile-Nme and Ace-Met-Nme. Intrinsic RMSD values in examples with B < or = 20 A2 correlate inversely with calculated values for the relevant rotational energy barriers: from a low of 6.5 degrees for chi1 of some rotamers of Ile to a high of 14 degrees for some Met chi3 for fully tetrahedral angles and much higher for chi angles around bonds that are tetrahedral at one end and planar at the other (e.g. 30 degrees for chi2 of the gauche- rotamer of Phe). For the lower barrier Met chi3 rotations there are relatively more well validated cases near eclipsed values and calculated torques from the rest of the protein structure either confine or force the Cepsilon atom into the strained position. These results can be used to evaluate the variability and accuracy of chi angles in crystal structures and also to decide whether to restrain side-chain angles in refinement as a function of the resolution and atomic B values, depending on whether one aims for a realistic distribution of values or a spread that is statistically suitable to the probable data-set errors.
Effects of Calcium Salts on Apple Bitter Rot Caused by Two Colletotrichum spp.

Biggs, A. R. 1999. Effects of calcium salts on apple b itter rot caused by two Colletotrichum spp. Plant Dis. 83:1001-1005. The effects of three calcium salts on conidial germination, germ tube elongation, growth in vitro, and infectivity in the laboratory and field were studied for the apple bitter rot pat hogens, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and C. acutatum. Calcium chloride, calcium propionate, and calcium silicate at 1,000 µg of calcium per ml had no effect on conidial germination; however, calcium chloride and calcium propionate inhibited germ tube growth by 41 and 50% relative to the control, respectively. All three calcium salts reduced fungal dry weight in liquid culture media. When calcium salt solutions were applied to wounded apples prior to inoculation, fruit treated with calcium chloride and calcium propionate exhibited 30% smaller lesions than those treated with calcium silicate or the control, which were similar. Fruit treated with calcium chloride and calcium propionate exhibited delayed formation of acervuli relative to the control and calcium silicate, which were similar. When fruit were inoculated with varying concentrations of conidia, from 1 ◊ 103 to 1 ◊ 105 conidia per ml, fruit treated with calcium chloride exhibited reduced incidence of infection after inoculations with 1 ◊ 10 3 conidia per ml. In all tests at 1 ◊ 104 and 1 ◊ 105 conidia per ml, the control and calcium salt treatments resulted in similar incidences of infection after inoculations. In six field trials, where fruit received three weekly dilute applications of calcium solutions, fruit treated with calcium salts and then inoculated with conidia of either C. gloeosporioides or C. acutatum exhibited lower incidences of infection when compared with control fruit. These experiments demonstrate that calcium salts have s uppressive activity against the bitter rot pat hogens and could be used as part of a disease management program. Additional keywords: anthracnose, Glomerella cingulata
HIV-1 Gag protein can sense the cholesterol and acyl chain environment in model membranes

Membrane binding of the HIV-1 group-specific antigen (Gag) structural protein, a critical step in viral assembly at the plasma membrane, is mediated by the myristoylated, highly basic matrix (MA) domain, which interacts with negatively charged lipids in the inner leaflet. According to a popular model, virus particles bud from membrane rafts, microdomains enriched in cholesterol and high-melting phospholipids with higher order than found outside rafts. How Gag might recognize membrane rafts, if they exist in the inner leaflet, is unknown. Using a liposome flotation assay with proteins translated in vitro, we investigated whether Gag can sense the composition of the hydrophobic part of the bilayer, by fixing lipid head group composition and varying hydrophobic properties. In liposomes composed solely of phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylcholine, and with the same overall membrane negative charge, Gag strongly preferred lipids with both acyl chains unsaturated over those with only one chain unsaturated. Adding cholesterol increased Gag binding and led to closer packing of phospholipids. However, higher membrane order, as measured by electron spin resonance, was not correlated with increased Gag binding. Gag proteins from two other retroviruses gave similar results. These liposome binding preferences were qualitatively recapitulated by purified myristoylated HIV-1 MA. Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate and cholesterol enhanced binding in an additive manner. Taken together, these results show that Gag is sensitive both to the acyl chains of phosphatidylserine and to cholesterol concentration and other details of the membrane environment. These observations may help explain how retroviruses acquire a raft-like lipid composition.
Generation and Testing of Mutants of Enterococcus faecalis in a Mouse Peritonitis Model

A previously described mouse peritonitis model was used to study derivatives of Enterococcus faecalis strain OG1RF. The addition of sterile rat fecal extracts (SRFE) lowered the LD50 of OG1RF >10-fold. Hemolysin production caused a 35-fold lower LD50 and a much shorter survival, similar to previous results using a peritonitis model without SRFE. A purine (but not a pyrimidine) auxotroph was considerably less lethal than wild type; gelatinase mutants were also attenuated. A suicide vector was generated with an enterococcal selectable marker in order to disrupt a gene encoding an E. faecalis antigen; the resulting mutant was not attenuated despite a slower growth rate. In conclusion, this model allows attenuated mutants to be detected, corroborates prior reports that hemolysin is a virulence factor, and suggests a role for gelatinase in virulence of E. faecalis in mice; the attenuated purine auxotroph may provide a system for developing vectors for in vivo expression systems.
Passive wireless SAW sensors for IVHM

NASA aeronautical programs require integrated vehicle health monitoring (IVHM) to ensure the safety of the crew and the vehicles. Future IVHM sensors need to be small, light weight, inexpensive, and wireless. Surface acoustic wave (SAW) technology meets all of these constraints. In addition it operates in harsh environments and over wide temperature ranges, and it is inherently radiation hardened. This paper presents a survey of research opportunities for universities and industry to develop new sensors that address anticipated IVHM needs for aerospace vehicles. Potential applications of passive wireless SAW sensors from ground testing to high altitude aircraft operations are presented, along with some of the challenges and issues of the technology.
A Rational Account of Memory Predicts Left Prefrontal Activation during Controlled Retrieval

What is the role of the left prefrontal cortex in the controlled retrieval of learned information? We present a theory of declarative retrieval that posits that the amount of control exerted by this region during retrieval is inversely proportional to 1) the frequency and recency of previous experiences with the retrieved memory and 2) the associative strength between the current context and the retrieved memory. This theory is rational in the sense that it claims that declarative retrieval is highly sensitive to the statistical regularities in the environment. We demonstrate how our theory produces precise predictions of response time and neural activity during recall and test these predictions in an experiment that manipulates the frequency of previous experiences and the associative strength to the retrieval cues. Our findings suggest that the control process performed by the left prefrontal cortex directly reflects the demands of the environment on memory.
Optimal stepwise experimental design for pairwise functional interaction studies

Motivation: Pairwise experimental perturbation is increasingly used to probe gene and protein function because these studies offer powerful insight into the activity and regulation of biological systems. Symmetric two-dimensional datasets, such as pairwise genetic interactions are amenable to an optimally designed measurement procedure because of the equivalence of cases and conditions where fewer experimental measurements may be required to extract the underlying structure. Results: We show that optimal experimental design can provide improvements in efficiency when collecting data in an iterative manner. We develop a method built on a statistical clustering model for symmetric data and the Fisher information uncertainty estimates, and we also provide simple heuristic approaches that have comparable performance. Using yeast epistatic miniarrays as an example, we show that correct assignment of the major subnetworks could be achieved with <50% of the measurements in the complete dataset. Optimization is likely to become critical as pairwise functional studies extend to more complex mammalian systems where all by all experiments are currently intractable. Contact: fergal.p.casey@gmail.com Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Induction of markers of normal differentiation in human colon carcinoma cells by the v-rasH oncogene.

The molecular events that regulate differentiation of human colon mucosal cells are not known. Although a number of in vitro models to study this question exist, none have identified a gene product which could function as a mediator of cell differentiation. Although the Ki-ras gene is frequently mutated in human colon cancer, the Ha-ras protooncogene is maximally expressed in the most differentiated cells of intestinal mucosa. In order to study the effects of Ha-ras gene overexpression on the differentiation phenotype in human colon cancer cells, we have expressed the vrasH oncogene in CaCO2 cells. This maneuver resulted in a marked induction of gene expression of multiple markers characteristic of intestinal brush border differentiation. These include a �30-fold induction of sucrase, a 10-fold increase in intestinal alkaline phosphatase, a 20-fold induction of transforming growth factor a, and a 5-fold increase in transforming
Impact of corrosive environment on contact resistance of infrequently mated connectors

Separable connectors are commonly plated with gold for optimum electrical properties. In aggressive environments, gold provides adequate resistance for corrosion of underneath copper. Corrosion resistance has been historically studied by exposing the connectors to a mixture of corrosive gases through a mixed flowing gas (MFG) test. A few studies in the past claimed that contact electrical resistance can stay stable even in unplated samples if micromotion between the interfaces can be eliminated. However, contact force relaxation and micromotion can disturb the mating interface resulting in resistance increases. To understand the interactions between surface finish plating, end usage and micromotion under an aggressive environment, a DOE was planned with linear edge connectors in a MFG chamber. The effect of end usage was addressed through mated and unmated connector samples followed by electrical testing. The impact of mechanical force was studied by controlling the micromotion through a custom vibration fixture that was designed to operate within the MFG chamber. Results from our studies are expected to initiate efforts towards improving existing industry test standards with recommendation to consider the effects of mechanical retention and end usage in addition to plating material and thickness.
The Interplay of Factitious Disorder and Palliative Care Encounters: A Case Series

Abstract Background: Individuals with factitious disorders often suffer emotional pain, which motivates them to assume a “sick role” rather than experience the intensity of emotional distress. Such individuals may experience iatrogenic harm as a consequence of their psychological disorder. Their clinicians may develop strong negative emotions such as disgust and the health care system can accrue increased medical costs from diagnostic dilemmas. If the disorder remains unrecognized, the resulting tension can cause interdisciplinary team (IDT) conflicts and impact the effectiveness of care. Methods: In this article, we describe three cases of factitious behaviors, as either a comorbid illness or an underlying condition, that potentiate untoward health effects among patients seen by a palliative care team. We use these examples to illustrate common features of factious disorders, identify clinical pitfalls when caring for such patients, and offer care strategies for palliative care providers who may encounte...
Mass analysis of biological macromolecules at atmospheric pressure using nonresonant femtosecond laser vaporization and electrospray ionization.

A nonresonant femtosecond laser pulse, with an intensity of 1013 Wcm−2, vaporizes proteins and biomolecules intact, regardless of molecular structure, size or electronic structure for subsequent electrospray ionization and transfer into a mass spectrometer. Rapid, direct analysis from dried sample, aqueous solution and cellular material is demonstrated at atmospheric pressure using laser electrospray mass spectrometry (LEMS). Measurements are presented for lysozyme (14.3 kDa), hemoglobin from human blood, ovalbumin (45 kDa) from hen egg white and phospholipids from hen egg yolk. Mass analysis of biological material is performed without dilution, extraction or sample preparation, other than placing the biological material onto the sample plate.
Circulating tumor gangliosides enhance platelet activation.

Gangliosides enhance tumor formation in experimental animals, and high circulating concentrations of gangliosides shed by tumor cells are associated with rapid progression of human neuroblastoma. We studied these shed molecules for effects on platelet function, because platelet activation may play a role in the metastatic process. Preincubation of normal platelets in patient (tumor ganglioside-containing) serum resulted in their aggregation upon exposure to a subthreshold concentration (1 microgram/mL) of collagen (up to 34% v 1.210) enhanced ATP release (up to 3.1 nmol ATP), whereas the same fraction of normal serum, and both patient and control lipoprotein-depleted serum fractions (d > 1.210), were inactive (< 0.2 nmol ATP released). Finally, as little as 0.5 mumol/L patient serum gangliosides (purified from the lipoprotein fraction) caused significantly greater ATP release than did normal serum gangliosides (P < .01) and caused maximal release at 50 mumol/L (up to 3.0 nmol ATP released v < or = 0.3 nmol released by platelets exposed to normal serum gangliosides). Purified total human neuroblastoma tumor gangliosides, detected in the patient serum and isolated from LA-N5 cells, were highly active; preincubation of platelets with only 5 mumol/L of these gangliosides resulted in release of 2.5 +/- 0.1 nmol ATP. Thus, neuroblastoma patient serum, the lipoprotein fraction, and, specifically, the serum gangliosides enhance platelet activation. This activity appears to reside particularly in the tumor cell gangliosides, which are shed in vivo.
Analysis on pesticide residues on vegetables and fruits in Tangshan

Objective:To investigate the conditions of pesticide residues in vegetables and fruits in Tangshan in order to provide inspection basis for assuring the safety of vegetables intake.Methods:In 2009 year,210 samples of vegetables and fruits were randomly collected,and measured according to NY/T 761-2004 and evaluated according to GB 2763-2005.Results:The detection rate of phosphate was 11.9%;The detection rate of carbamate was 2.9 %;The detection rate of pyrethroid was 14.8%;The dicofol in all vegetables and fruits were not detected.Conclusion:In order to assuring the safety of vegetable intake,the effective measures should be taken.The monitoring on invetables between sale links should be enlarged.
Just-In-Time (Jit) Retailing

Just-in-time (JIT) retailing is an American innovation. Using JIT concepts in purchasing merchandise, certain large retailers in particular are able to maximize profits and productivity. This paper presents a glimpse of how JIT methods are used at Wal-Mart, and discusses implications for other retailers.
Randomness and \(\Pi_1^0\)-Classes

In this chapter, we explore some of the relationships between \(\Pi_1^0\) classes, algorithmic randomness, and computably dominated degrees.
Segmentation of dynamic scenes from image intensities

We present an algebraic geometric approach for segmenting both static and dynamic scenes from image intensities. We introduce the multibody affine constraint as a geometric relationship between the motion of multiple objects and the image intensities generated by them. This constraint is satisfied by all the pixels, regardless of the body to which they belong and regardless of depth discontinuities or perspective effects. We propose a polynomial factorization technique that estimates the number of affine motion models as well as their motion parameters in polynomial time. The factorization technique is used to initialize a nonlinear algorithm that minimizes the algebraic error defined by the multibody affine constraint. Our approach is based solely on image intensities, hence it does not require feature tracking or correspondences. It is therefore a natural generalization of the so-called direct methods in single-body structure from motion to multiple moving objects. We present simulation and experimental results that validate our approach.