cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Differential response of rice germplasm to straighthead induced by arsenic

Straighthead disease is a physiological disorder of rice (Oryza sativa L.) characterized by sterility of the florets leading to reduced grain yield. Knowledge of the straighthead response of new cultivars is important for producer control of this disease, and identification of resistant germplasm is essential for breeding improved cultivars. The objectives of this study were to characterize U.S. cultivar reactions to straighthead and search for resistant germplasm. Twelve lines, including 10 U.S. cultivars, a Chinese and Japanese cultivar, were tested for straighthead reaction induced by monosodium methanearsonate (MSMA) at 0, 6.7, and 9.0 kg ha -1 under nitrogen fertilizer of 0, 67, 134, and 269 kg N ha -1 in 1999 and 2000. Straighthead delayed heading date, shortened plant height, and dramatically reduced grain yield. Cocodrie, Mars, Kaybonnet, and Bengal were highly susceptible to straighthead with ratings from 7.2 to 8.0 and grain yield reductions from 80 to 96%. Wells, LaGrue, Drew, Cypress, and Japan 92.09.31 were susceptible with ratings from 5.9 to 6.7 and yield reductions from 49 to 73%. Priscilla and Jefferson were tolerant with ratings of 4.9 and 5.3, and yield reductions of 24 and 36%, respectively. The Chinese indica cultivar Zhe 733 was essentially immune to straighthead, showing neither symptoms nor detectable yield reduction. A total of 124 Chinese cultivars including 109 indica and 15 japonica were evaluated for straighthead resistance in 2001. Nineteen cultivars, 18 indica and 1 japonica, were identified as straighthead resistant. Grain yields of the resistant cultivars were not significantly reduced by their straighthead ratings of 1 to 3. Variation in yield, plant height, maturity, and endosperm type within the resistant germplasm was also observed.
Simulating the time series of a selected gene expression profile in an agent-based tumor model

Abstract To elucidate the role of environmental conditions in molecular-level dynamics and to study their impact on macroscopic brain tumor growth patterns, the expression of the genes Tenascin C and PCNA in a 2D agent-based model for the migratory trait is calibrated using experimental data from the literature, while the expression of these genes for the proliferative trait is obtained as the model output. Numerical results confirm that the gene expression of Tenascin C is indeed consistently higher in the migratory glioma cell phenotype and show that the expression of PCNA is consistently higher among proliferating tumor cells. Intriguingly, the time series of the tumor cells’ gene expression exhibit a sudden change in behavior during the invasion of the tumor into a nutrient-abundant region, showing a robust positive correlation between the expression of Tenascin C and the tumor’s diameter, yet a strong negative correlation between the expression of PCNA and the diameter. These molecular-level dynamics correspond to the emergence of a structural asymmetry in the form of a bulging tumor rim in the nutrient-abundant region. The simulated time series thus supports the critical role of the migratory cell phenotype during both the tumor system’s overall macroscopic expansion and the evolvement of regional growth patterns, particularly in the later stages. Furthermore, detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) suggests that for prediction purposes, the simulated gene expression profiles of Tenascin C and PCNA that were determined separately for the migrating and proliferating phenotypes exhibit lesser predictability than those of the phenotypic mixture combining all viable tumor cells typically found in clinical biopsies. Finally, partitioning the tumor into distinct geographic regions of interest (ROI) reveals that the gene expression profile of tumor cells in the quadrant close to the nutrient-abundant region is representative for the entire tumor whereas the expression profile of tumor cells in the geographically opposite ROI is not. Potential implications of these modeling results for experimental and clinical cancer research are discussed.
Preliminary results of mental workload and task engagement assessment using electroencephalogram in a space suit

In this paper, we present preliminary results of subject's mental workload and task engagement assessment in an experimental space suit. We have quantified the mental workload and task engagement based on changes in electroencephalogram (EEG). EEG signals were collected from subjects scalp using a commercial wireless EEG device in two experimental conditions - when subjects did not wear space suit (control condition) and when subjects wore space suit. Brain state changes were estimated and compared with the direct responses for different tasks and different conditions. We found that the spacesuit experiment introduced a greater mental workload where subject's stress levels were higher than control experiment.
Viruses causing common respiratory infections in man

Within the past two decades, many new viruses have been isolated and temporally associated with respiratory illness in humans. Initially, the taxonomic position of these viruses could not be assigned, and it was useful to assemble the known characteristics of each of them into a uniform format. With the acquisition of additional data, a more stable taxonomy of the viruses has been created. Nevertheless, the outline used in this manual was helpful for accumulating known and new data about these viruses and has served as a useful reference for
DNA polymerase beta-like nucleotidyltransferase superfamily: identification of three new families, classification and evolutionary history

A detailed analysis of the polbeta superfamily of nucleotidyltransferases was performed using computer methods for iterative database search, multiple alignment, motif analysis and structural modeling. Three previously uncharacterized families of predicted nucleotidyltransferases are described. One of these new families includes small proteins found in all archaea and some bacteria that appear to consist of the minimal nucleotidyltransferase domain and may resemble the ancestral state of this superfamily. Another new family that is specifically related to eukaryotic polyA polymerases is typified by yeast Trf4p and Trf5p proteins that are involved in chromatin remodeling. The TRF family is represented by multiple members in all eukaryotes and may be involved in yet unknown nucleotide polymerization reactions required for maintenance of chromatin structure. Another new family of bacterial and archaeal nucleotidyltransferases is predicted to function in signal transduction since, in addition to the nucleotidyltransferase domain, these proteins contain ligand-binding domains. It is further shown that the catalytic domain of gamma proteobacterial adenylyl cyclases is homologous to the polbeta superfamily nucleotidyltransferases which emphasizes the general trend for the origin of signal-transducing enzymes from those involved in replication, repair and RNA processing. Classification of the polbeta superfamily into distinct families and examination of their phyletic distribution suggests that the evolution of this type of nucleotidyltransferases may have included bursts of rapid divergence linked to the emergence of new functions as well as a number of horizontal gene transfer events.
Energy-dependent cross sections for Na(3 2P32, 12) quenched by nitrogen†

Abstract Cross sections for the quenching of Na(3 2 P) by N 2 have been measured as a function of the initial relative kinetic energy of collision. The results indicate that the cross section smoothly changes by a factor of two over the energy range 0.08–0.35 eV.
Fast rendering of irregular grids

We propose a fast algorithm for rendering general irregular grids. Our method uses a sweep-plane approach to accelerate ray casting, and can handle disconnected and nonconvex (even with holes) unstructured irregular grids with a rendering cost that decreases as the "disconnectedness" decreases. The algorithm is carefully tailored to exploit spatial coherence even if the image resolution differs substantially from the object space resolution. In this paper, we establish the practicality of our method through experimental results based on our implementation, and we also provide theoretical results, both lower and upper bounds, on the complexity of ray casting of irregular grids.
Synthesis of sulfur-containing heterocycles through oxidative carbon-hydrogen bond functionalization.

Vinyl sulfides react rapidly and efficiently with 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ) to form α,β-unsaturated thiocarbenium ions through oxidative carbon–hydrogen bond cleavage. These electrophiles couple with appended π-nucleophiles to yield sulfur-containing heterocycles through carbon–carbon bond formation. Several nucleophiles are compatible with the procedure, and the reactions generally proceed through readily predictable transition states.
Human herpesvirus 6–related fulminant myocarditis and hepatitis in an immunocompetent adult with fatal outcome

A 59-year-old previously healthy man had flulike symptoms of fever and diarrhea for a week, which worsened despite treatment with antibiotics. After admission, his medical condition rapidly deteriorated with renal failure, heart failure, and a marked increase of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase. The patient died of a cardiac arrhythmia 3 days after the admission. The autopsy showed diffuse myocarditis with a granulocytic and monocytic infiltrate, necrotizing arteritis of the coronary arteries, and fulminant hepatitis, with microvesicular steatosis and necrosis. Cell-free serum showed high copies of human herpesvirus 6 B variant DNA by polymerase chain reaction. Human herpesvirus 6 B was identified in the heart, liver, lung, and spleen by immunohistochemistry. No parvovirus B19 was evident in the heart by immunohistochemistry. Human herpesvirus 6 is increasingly found in association with myocarditis in immunocompromised patients; however, histopathologic features and the clinical severity of this disease have not yet been clearly defined. Only 4 to 5 cases of human herpesvirus 6 fulminant myocarditis have been reported, all in young children or immunosuppressed patients. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case in the English literature of human herpesvirus 6 fulminant myocarditis and hepatitis in an immunocompetent adult with a fatal outcome. In addition, several pathologic features of our case have not been previously reported.
Review of Apple Flavor--State of the Art

The retention flavor is of utmost importance during the harvesting, handling and/or further processing of apples. The complexity of the natural flavor of the apple or essence derived therefrom is attributed in part to the variety, post-harvest treatment, storage, and process manipulation. Some 266 volatile components isolated from apples include alcohols, esters, aldehydes, ketones, ethers, acids, bases, acetals, and hydrocarbons. This review is a survey of the literature published during the last 10 to 15 years and includes the contribution of peel to flavor, postharvest quality indices related to flavor, storage and dehydration effects on flavor, juice extraction methods, sensory evaluation, and volatile separation and identification techniques.
Delayed Repair for Blunt Thoracic Aortic Injury: Is it Really Equivalent to Early Repair?

Background: Blunt thoracic aortic injury (BTAI) is a severe injury that traditionally has mandated immediate surgical repair. Delaying operative intervention for BTAI can allow other life-threatening injuries to be managed first, but potentially increases the risk of aortic rupture and death. The objective of this study was to evaluate the outcome of delayed repair (DR) compared with early repair (ER) for BTAI and to assess the effectiveness of a protocol for medical control of systolic blood pressure and heart rate in those patients whose repairs were delayed. Methods: This study is a retrospective review of University of Michigan Health System (UMHS) data from January 1, 1992, through March 1, 2003. ER was defined as operative repair within 16 hours from the time of injury. A similar analysis was conducted for patients with BTAI selected from the National Trauma Data Bank. Results: For the UMHS data, there were 45 patients in the DR group and 33 patients in the ER group. Mortality in the ER group versus the DR group was 9% versus 20%. Multivariate analysis adjusting for age, Injury Severity Score, abdominal Abbreviated Injury Scale score, Glasgow Coma Scale score, and intubation status demonstrated an odds ratio for death from ER compared with DR of 1.72 (p = 0.57). Patients undergoing DR had an absolute increase in hospital length of stay (33.1 vs. 20.9 days) and complication rate (2.1 vs. 1.5 incidents per patient). A similar result was obtained for multivariate analysis of the National Trauma Data Bank data, with an odds ratio of 1.40 (p = 0.51) for death from ER versus DR. UMHS patients whose repairs were delayed achieved target systolic blood pressure and heart rate for 76% and 74% of the hourly measurements recorded, respectively. Conclusion: Patients with BTAI can safely undergo delayed aortic repair if other injuries warrant a higher treatment priority without increasing their overall risk of mortality. Delayed repair is, however, associated with a higher complication rate.
ASYMPTOTIC DISTRIBUTION OF THE ESTIMATED BDS STATISTIC AND RESIDUAL ANALYSIS OF AR MODELS ON THE CANADIAN LYNX DATA

The Brock–Dechert–Scheinkman (BDS) statistic is a nonparametric statistic based on correlation integral for testing independence. It has a special ability to identify dependence in a given time series generated by some simple dynamic systems when many conventional test statistics are not able to distinguish this type of time series from observations of independent, identically distributed (IID) random variables. Using the contiguity property derived from the local asymptotic normality for the log-likelihood ratio of nonlinear autoregressive processes, we prove the central limit theorem for the estimated BDS statistic on the residuals of fitting nonlinear autoregressive models. Comparative studies on the BDS statistic and some other nonparametric statistics on simulated time series and residuals from the AR models on the Canadian lynx are also provided in this paper.
Branched chitosans II: Effects of branching on degradation, protein adsorption and cell growth properties.

Abstract The demand for biodegradable implant materials has fueled interest in chitosan as a biomaterial. In previous work, branched chitosans were synthesized and structurally characterized. In this study the biological properties of branched chitosans were explored. Branched chitosans were synthesized by grafting low molecular weight chitosan chains (1.6, 16 and 80 kDa) to high molecular weight (600 kDa) linear chitosans via reductive amination. Films of the branched materials were evaluated with regard to: lysozyme-mediated degradation; protein adsorption; cell adhesion and proliferation. Branched chitosan with a 1.6 kDa branch length exhibited higher degradation rates than either linear or higher branch length materials. Branched chitosans also exhibited reduced adsorption of bovine serum albumin that was more pronounced with thicker films. Branched chitosans supported proliferation of rat endothelial cells, but growth rates were significantly lower than on linear chitosan. The results of this study demonstrate that control of many aspects of chitosan’s physical and biological properties can be achieved by changes in molecular architecture.
The Entrepreneurial Leader's Impact on the Organization's Performance in Dynamic Markets

The focus of this research is to examine similarities and differences between the fields of leadership and entrepreneurship and create a working definition of the “entrepreneurial leader.” As knowledge and information become the new sources of power in today9s dynamic markets, organizations must cultivate a new form of entrepreneurial leader that can maximize their companies9 capabilities. The entrepreneurial leader lends his or her vision, leadership style, and strategy to the very essence or core of the business. This individual is a major independent variable influencing the outcome and success of the business.
Vengeance, HIV Disclosure, and Perceived HIV Transmission to Others

Feelings of vengefulness result from being treated unfairly. However, some individuals are more sensitive to unfair treatment and more likely to demand restitution than others. Degrees of vengefulness may influence behavior in HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM), where highly vengeful men may seek limited retribution by placing others at risk, for example, by failing to disclose their HIV-status to sexual partners. This study examined the tendency towards vengefulness in HIV-positive MSM and its associations with disclosure and condom use behaviors. Results showed that greater certainty of from whom participants had contracted HIV was associated with lowered vengefulness over time. Though condom use did not vary by vengefulness, MSM reporting higher vengefulness concealed their HIV serostatus more than men reporting less vengefulness. Vengeance was not related to individuals’ perceptions that they had transmitted the disease to others. Overall, the data suggested identifying one’s HIV transmitter was reconciliatory. Men reporting higher vengefulness might also derive a sense of justice from not disclosing their serostatus.
Commentary: Doxasozin for Alcoholism

Recent preclinical and clinical evidence using prazosin indicates that α(1) -blockade may represent a new approach to treat alcohol dependence (AD). While most of the alcohol research on α(1) -blockade has been conducted testing prazosin, O'Neil and colleagues recently performed a set of preclinical experiments testing another α(1) -blocker, doxazosin, which has a longer half-life that may enhance clinical utility. Doxazosin and prazosin share the same chemical structure, in which the central element is a piperazine ring. O'Neil and colleagues' main results are that doxazosin significantly reduced alcohol intake without affecting locomotor activity. As such, O'Neil and colleagues provide the first preclinical evidence of the possible role of doxazosin in AD. Additional translational research is needed to further test this hypothesis.
Understanding users' performance evaluation of IT solutions

Abstract Traditionally, buying center research in business marketing has long focused on the role of various buying center members, including users, in influencing purchasing decisions. Recent studies have also established the important role users play in successfully implementing information technology (IT) initiatives of buying organizations and its influence on future relationships with sellers. Consequently, in order to ensure future business, marketers need users to evaluate their solutions favorably. This study attempts to understand the factors influencing user evaluation of performance of sellers' IT solutions. Based on an inter-disciplinary approach, a model of antecedent factors to explain user evaluation of suppliers IT solutions is proposed and tested. Results gleaned from a survey of 361 users of Internet-based technology in an automotive supply chain indicate that user attitudes toward technology, satisfaction with the new technology, users' overall understanding of supply chain management principles, and job-related consequences influence user evaluation of IT solutions.
Boundary conditions for gas rate and bubble size at the pulp-froth interface in flotation equipment

Abstract This paper describes the effective boundary conditions for the gas dispersion parameters of bubble size, superficial gas velocity and bubble surface area flux, in mechanical and column flotation cells. Using a number of previously derived correlations, with appropriate simplifying assumptions, and experimental data reported from plant practices, the boundary conditions were identified. Thus, it was shown that these constraints typically allow for a mean bubble diameter range of db = 1–1.5 mm and superficial gas rate of Jg = 1–2 cm/s, in order to maximize the bubble surface area flux, Sb = 50–100 s−1. Under these conditions there is no carrying capacity limitation, while keeping a distinctive pulp–froth interface.
Opioid Peptides, Adrenocorticotropic Hormone, and Idiopathic (Orthostatic) Edema

ABSTRACT The effect of dextroamphetamine sulfate (Dexedrine) on plasma opioid peptides, hormones, and other metabolites was studied in eight female subjects with idiopathic (orthostatic) edema and five healthy females. All subjects were given 20 mg of dextroamphetamine sulfate, a drug widely used in the treatment of this disorder, and blood samples were collected before and 30, 60, and 90 minutes after treatment. Patients with idiopathic (orthostatic) edema had significantly lower plasma sodium levels but higher blood urea nitrogen, aldosterone, and renin levels. D-amphetamine decreased aldosterone and renin levels in both groups. Plasma adrenocorticotropin levels were lower whereas met-enkephalin levels were higher in idiopathic (orthostatic) edema subjects compared to control subjects. D-amphetamine had no significant effect on plasma β -endorphin, adrenocorticotrophic hormone, or enkephalins. Our data indicate that opioid peptides, especially enkephalins, and adrenocorticotrophic hormone may be involved in the pathogenesis of idiopathic (orthostatic) edema syndrome, but they seem on involved in the aldosterone-and renin-lowering action of amphetamine. It is possible that amphetamine is acting further down the chain, either directly on the adrenal and kidney or the microvasculature, rather than at hypothalamuspituitary axis.
Heteroepitaxial Growth Kinetics in a CVD Process Using Nickel Oxide on MgO as a Model System

Three-dimensional crystallites of NiO were grown on MgO substrates using a CVD process by reacting NiBr{sub 2} with oxygen in the presence of water vapor at 600 C. The vapor pressures of oxygen and water vapor were kept at 0.88 and 2.61 kPa, respectively. The growth rate of periodically spaced NiO nuclei was measured. The results, which show a peak in the average deposition rate when plotted against the nuclei spacing, are modeled in terms of an effective diffusion distance for the NiO molecules on the MgO surface, and assuming a negligibly small reaction rate of the precursors on the surface of NiO crystallites. The latter assumption results from the observation that the average growth rate on cleaved MgO surface dropped to a very low value once a continuous film of NiO was formed. An effective diffusion distance was manifested by the observation of characteristic denuded zones surrounding the NiO crystallites when the nucleation rate was increased by increasing the water vapor supersaturation on the surface. The comparison with model is used to estimate the effective diffusion distance.
Ulama and the State in Uzbekistan

The fundamental fact about the religious landscape in post-Soviet Uzbekistan (and in post-Soviet Muslim societies in general) is the lasting impact of the Soviet legacy. The anti-religious campaigns of 1927–1941 in the USSR caused massive destruction to the infrastructure of Islamic learning and marginalized the authority of the ulama, subordinating them to those of both the state and the nation to an extent arguably not seen anywhere else in the Muslim world. For the ulama after 1991, with the collapse of the Soviet Union, the task has been to re-establish their authority within a political field still dominated by Soviet-era institutional structures of state control of religious activity and Soviet-era discursive modes that lead to a deep suspicion towards religion. This article focuses on the “de-Islamization” of the 1930s and then considers its implications for the ulama of today.
Gamma-Ray and Neutron-Induced Conductivity in Insulating Materials

Excess conductivities induced by steady-state sources of gamma rays and by pulsed sources of neutrons and gamma rays in polyethylene, polystyrene, polypropylene, Nylon, polyisobutylene (impregnated paper), mylar, Teflon, diallylphthalate, H-film, cellulose acetate, reconstituded mica, tantalum oxide, and an epoxy formulation have been measured. The measurements were made at steady-state gamma-ray dose rates within the interval from 1.0 × 10-3 rads(H2O)/sec to 1.0 × 104 rads(H2O)/sec, and at combined pulsedneutron and gamma-ray dose rates less than 2.0 × 108 rads(H2O)/sec. All measurements were made at controlled temperatures between 25°C and 71°C. With steady-state gamma-ray irradiation, an excess conductivity is induced which has distinct features in three time intervals denoted as A, B, and C. In interval A, induced conductivity (? - ?o) is responding to a step increase in gamma-ray dose rate. The conductivity response is exponential (? - ?o) = A(1 - e-t/?o), with the time constant (?o) decreasing with increased gamma-ray dose rare (?). The change in time constant as a function of gamma-ray dose rate at a fixed temperature is approximated by ?o = ko?-? where ko and ? are empirical constants. In interval B the induced conductivity has arrived at an equilibrium value whose magnitude as a function of gamma-ray dose rate at a fixed temperature is characterized to a good approximation by (? - ?o) = A???, where A? and ? are empirical constants. In interval C the conductivity is recovering upon removal of the sample from the radiation environment.
Consumer Demand for Rice Grain Quality and Returns to Research for Quality Improvement in Southeast Asia

Abundant world rice supply has led to renewed interest in improving grain quality of modem rice varieties. Implicit prices of grain characteristics are estimated for Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines. These prices are used to evaluate rice-breeding goals and to estimate returns to research for quality improvement. Results indicate that the past focus on physical quality improvement was appropriate, and future welfare gains are possible from chemical quality improvement. Returns to quality improvement are substantial and indicate underinvestment in this type of research. As Asian rice production grew faster than population from 1965 to 1980, the real price of rice declined in world markets and several Asian countries (Flinn and Unnevehr). Greater supply and falling prices have increased concern for rice grain quality improvement in national and international research programs in tropical Asia (Khush). In this article, the consumer goods characteristics model develo~ed bv Ladd and Suvannunt is used to estimaie thedimplicit prices of rice grain quality characteristics in Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines. These estimated implicit prices answer three questions: (a) Do observed consumer preferences correspond to measures of quality used to screen material in breeding programs? (b) Are consumer preferences similar across countries so that quality improvement can be undertaken at the international level? (c) What are the returns to re
Species richness, equitability, and abundance of ants in disturbed landscapes

Abstract Ants are used as indicators of environmental change in disturbed landscapes, often without adequate understanding of their response to disturbance. Ant communities in the southeastern United States displayed a hump-backed species richness curve against an index of landscape disturbance. Forty sites at Fort Benning, in west-central Georgia, covered a spectrum of habitat disturbance (military training and fire) in upland forest. Sites disturbed by military training had fewer trees, less canopy cover, more bare ground, and warmer, more compact soils with shallower A-horizons. We sampled ground-dwelling ants with pitfall traps, and measured 15 habitat variables related to vegetation and soil. Ant species richness was greatest with a relative disturbance of 43%, but equitability was greatest with no disturbance. Ant abundance was greatest with a relative disturbance of 85%. High species richness at intermediate disturbance was associated with greater within-site spatial heterogeneity. Species richness was also associated with intermediate values of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), a correlate of net primary productivity (NPP). Available NPP (the product of NDVI and the fraction of days that soil temperature exceeded 25 °C), however, was positively correlated with species richness, though not with ant abundance. Species richness was unrelated to soil texture, total ground cover, and fire frequency. Ant species richness and equitability are potential state indicators of the soil arthropod community. Moreover, equitability can be used to monitor ecosystem change.
Hope and the prospects of healing at the end of life

Is healing possible at the end of life? Answering "yes," this paper argues that the achievement of holistically conceived health-related goals that patients value is an important dimension of the phenomena of healing and that such achievements are possible at the end of life, especially if hope is adroitly managed. Conceiving of hope: (1) as a set of goal-directed cognitive processes that influence and are influenced by emotion, (2) as a potent cognitive/affective heuristic that influences how individuals consider and select goals, and (3) as an individual experience that occurs in a hierarchical social and cultural ecology of hope, this paper considers possible interventions and how they might be evaluated, seeking to improve the prospects of healing at the end of life.
Shell color and pattern variation in Mytilus edulis and its adaptive significance

The blue mussel,Mytilus edulis, may be found with some degree of pale striping on the shell. This variation was postulated to have an adaptive significance, with the morphs differing in the proportion of incident sunlight transformed into heat. The hypothesis was tested by studies of geographic variation of the frequencies of the morphs along latitudinal and tidal zone transects, comparison of sunlit and shaded environments, and byin vivo temperature measurements. The data generally support the hypothesis that striped individuals attain lower temperatures when exposed to sunlight, are favored where mortality from heat stress is common, and are at a disadvantage where mortality from freezing predominates.
A marginalist approach to pricing US natural gas

Abstract The current method of retail pricing for natural gas in the USA introduces serious distortions in the allocation of this scarce commodity. The cost to the consumer is, in some instances, less than half of the marginal cost of producing the gas. In this paper the author presents an alternative to the antiquated gas pricing system in use in nearly every utility in the USA. Basing rates on marginal costs would be difficult, and these difficulties are explored. The analysis results in a recommendation that there should be a gradual move from average embedded cost pricing to marginal cost pricing.
The burden of chronic diseases in a rural North Florida sample.

Background The degree of health disparities present in rural communities is of growing concern and is considered "urgent" since rural residents lag behind their urban counterparts in health status. Understanding the prevalence and type of chronic diseases in rural communities is often difficult since Americans living in rural areas are reportedly less likely to have access to quality health care, although there are some exceptions. Data suggest that rural residents are more likely to engage in higher levels of behavioral and health risk-taking than urban residents, and newer evidence suggests that there are differences in health risk behavior within rural subgroups. The objective of this report is to characterize the prevalence of four major and costly chronic diseases (diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and arthritis) and putative risk factors including depressive symptoms within an understudied rural region of the United States. These four chronic conditions remain among the most common and preventable of health problems across the United States.
MRI in recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma

In this study, we retrospectively reviewed the MRI features of recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in 72 patients who underwent MRI before and after gadolinium injection. Recurrent NPC exhibited a high degree of regional spread and a variety of signal intensities and contours. MRI showed a nasopharyngeal mass in 50 patients (69.4 %); other sites of involvement included the parapharyngeal space (44.4 %), nasal cavity (12.5 %), paranasal sinuses (27.8 %), oropharynx (4.2 %), orbit (8.3 %), infratemporal fossa (18.1 %), skull base (59.8 %), intracranial area (51.4 %) and regional lymph nodes (15.3 %). On T2-weighted images, the nasopharyngeal mass gave high signal in 9 of 50 cases (18 %), intermediate in 27 (54 %), mixed in 8 (16 %) and low signal in 6 (12 %). Contrast enhancement was strong in 12 cases (24 %), moderate in 29 (58 %) and heterogeneous in 9 (18 %). The lesion was convex in 31 cases (62 %) and concave or straight in 19 (38 %). Recognition of the distribution and the appearance of recurrent NPC on MRI is essential for timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Consequences of incontinence for women during the menopausal transition and early postmenopause: observations from the Seattle Midlife Women's Health Study.

AbstractObjectiveAlthough urinary incontinence becomes more prevalent as women age, little is known about the outcomes of urinary incontinence in midlife women. Our aim was to determine the effects of urinary incontinence (stress and urge) on mood (depressed mood, anxiety), perceptions of self (self
Substitution of a Highly Basic Helix/Loop Sequence Into the RNase H Domain of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Reverse Transcriptase Restores its Mn 2+ -Dependent RNase H Activity

Abstract Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) reverse transcriptase (RT) is a multifunctional protein, containing both DNA polymerase and RNase H activity. The RNase H activity of HIV RT catalyzes the hydrolysis of the RNA strand of RNA.DNA hybrids. While the domain that carries out the RNase H activity in HIV RT can be expressed as an independent, folded polypeptide, it is inactive as an RNase H. Here, we report the overexpression and purification of an active, recombinant HIV RNase H domain in which the sequence corresponding to the Escherichia coli RNase H1 basic helix/loop has been substituted for the corresponding sequence of HIV RNase H. The resulting polypeptide (RNH102) has Mn(2+)-dependent RNase H activity and is more stable than the independently expressed wild-type HIV RNase H domain.
Effect of Growth Factors on Cell Proliferation and Epithelialization in Human Skin

The failure of chronic wounds to heal remains a major medical problem. Recent studies have suggested an important role for growth factors in promoting wound healing. We investigated the mitogenic effect of basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and epidermal growth factor (EGF), comparing their effects with those of media alone (MEM) in a human skin explant model. A stable organ culture system for maintaining the histologic structure of human epidermis for 10 days in vitro was developed. DNA synthesis was measured on Days 1, 3, and 7 of organ culture using [3H]thymidine ([3H]thy) uptake and expressed as cpm/mg dry weight (mean +/- SEM). FGF, IGF-1, and EGF were each capable of stimulating [3H]thy uptake on Day 1 of culture (2372 +/- 335 FGF, 2226 +/- 193 IGF-1, 4037 +/- 679 EGF vs 1108 +/- 70 MEM, P < 0.05). IGF-1 and EGF also stimulated [3H]thy uptake on Days 3 and 7 of culture. The organ culture system was further employed to observe epidermal outgrowth. Longest keratinocyte outgrowth from the explant periphery (simulating epithelial regeneration from the wound edge) was observed on Day 7. EGF resulted in maximum stimulation of epithelial outgrowth (440 +/- 80 microns), followed by FGF (330 +/- 56 microns), IGF-1 (294 +/- 48 microns), and MEM (189 +/- 50 microns). We postulate, therefore, that FGF, IGF-1, and EGF are important mitogens for wound healing and that EGF in particular is capable of stimulating epithelialization.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Theory of acoustic resonance and dispersion in bulk ferromagnets

A theory of magnetoelastic effects in ferromagnetic materials is presented. In particular, the effects of electron and nuclear spins on the velocity and attenuation of certain acoustic modes in ferromagnetic materials are obtained. Continuum (Bloch and magnetoelastic) equations which include a variety of forms for spin relaxation are used in the derivation. Detailed results are presented for disk-shaped cubic and uniaxial substances. Numerical estimates for Ni, Fe, and Co suggest that acoustic magnetic resonance should be an especially important technique in studying ferromagnetic metals where the skin effect makes electromagnetic experiments difficult to interpret.
Credit market access and profitability in Tunisian agriculture

This work develops an econometric model that links credit access with agricultural profitability and investment. Using data collected from rural Tunisia, this work provides direct estimates of credit access and its effects. Econometric estimates are run for agricultural investment and profitability as a function of credit access. The investigation of credit access and its effect suggests that the presence of credit market constraints does impinge significantly on farm profitability, but not on investments.
Formation of 150-kDa binary complexes on insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 and the acid-labile subunit in vitro and in vivo

Adult rat serum contains two types of 150-kDa IGFBP complexes: ternary complexes containing bound IGF-I, intact IGFBP-3 and the acid-labile subunit (ALS), and binary complexes that contain ALS and proteolytically-nicked IGFBP-3 but which lack bound IGF. We present evidence that the binary complexes containing proteolytically-nicked IGFBP-3 can be formed in two ways: by direct association of IGFBP-3 with ALS in the absence of IGF, and by proteolysis of IGFBP-3 within 150-kDa ternary complexes, resulting in increased dissociation of IGF-I. The relative contributions of the two mechanisms is unknown. Preliminary results indicate that binary complexes also can form in vivo. Proteolysis of IGFBP-3 in the 150-kDa ternary complex provides a regulatable mechanism by which IGF-I may be mobilized from the circulating reservoir of 150-kDa complexes to the tissues.
A Set of Descriptive Case Studies of Four Dance Faculty Members' Pedagogical Practices.

ABSTRACT Dance faculty members come from a variety of backgrounds, which lead to varied knowledge bases and varied teaching practices. More information is needed about the current pedagogical practices of higher education dance faculty. This study sought to provide a description of four faculty members' pedagogical approaches to a dance technique class in a higher education dance department. Participants were studied through qualitative methods including interviews, observations, and document analysis. Five major themes emerged from the data: desire to teach, teaching focus, challenging students, instructional methods, and assessment strategies. The results provide information about current practices of these four faculty members, and although not necessarily universal, these findings could prove useful for future research concerning dance pedagogy.
Chemistry and DNA Alkylation Reactions of Aziridinyl Quinones: Development of an Efficient Alkylating Agent of the Phosphate Backbone†

Described herein are detailed hydrolytic studies of a series of aziridinyl quinones, which trap nucleophiles when protonated. This study provided a compilation of the rate constants for nucleophile...
Cross-linking of neurofilament proteins of rat spinal cord in vivo after administration of 2,5-hexanedione

Abstract The aliphatic hexacarbons n-hexane, methyl-n-butyl ketone, and 2,5-hexanedione are known to produce a peripheral neuropathy that involves an accumulation of 10-nm neurofilaments above the nodes of Ranvier in the spinal cord and peripheral nerve. In this study, rats were treated with 0.5% 2,5-hexanedione in drinking water for 180 days, and their spinal cord neurofilaments were isolated after development of the neuropathy. Visualization by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed a significant reduction in content of the neurofilament triplet proteins in treated animals and the presence of bands migrating at 138K and 260K that were not present in control animals. Analysis of the lanes using immunoblotting procedures and anti-70K, anti-160K, and anti-210K neurofilament antibodies revealed many cross-linked peptides. The 138K band cross-reacted with the anti-160K neurofilament antibody. This suggests that the 138K band is an intramolecular cross-link of the 160K neurofilament subunit. In addition to this peptide, there were numerous high-molecular-weight peptides immunoreactive with all three neurofilament protein antibodies. In addition to cross-linking, there was also a diminished amount of immunoreactive breakdown product of all three neurofilament proteins. This report demonstrates direct evidence of 2,5-hexanedione-induced cross-linking of neurofilament proteins in vivo, which maybe responsible for the accumulation of neurofilament proteins pathognomic of this neuropathy.
A Semi-Analytic Liner Implosion Model for Flux Compression on Atlas

Summary form only given. A flux compression experiment is being designed for the Atlas pulsed power facility. The purpose is to investigate generation of megagauss fields with liner technology in the geometry needed for compression of a stabilized diffuse z pinch.1 To survey possible parameters quickly and conveniently, a semi-analytic model has been developed that computes liner motion under the assumption that the liner remains cylindrically symmetric during the implosion and the metal of the liner is incompressible.2 Thus the liner thickness increases during implosion in a predictable way to conserve liner mass. Equations are derived for the time variation of liner position and circuit current including the effect of back pressure from the compressed flux. The model allows using realistic Atlas circuit parameters. The equations are integrated using the Matlab program and a standard Runge Kutta method. Recently the model has been extended to account for a shunt resistor and the resulting time-dependent current that would be generated inside the liner.3 The important advantage of a shunt resistor is that an auxiliary power supply is not needed to generate the seed flux which liner motion will compress. By tapping the power of Atlas to generate the seed flux, the incremental cost of a flux compression experiment is minimized. The selection of shunt material and dimensions must consider both the heating of the shunt and the amount of trapped flux, which along with the liner kinetic energy determines the final level of compressed magnetic field. Initial results suggest that readily available materials (a steel shunt and an aluminum liner) and properly chosen dimensions give a workable combination that generates magnetic field of several megagauss.
Factors associated with price reactions and analysts’ forecast revisions around SEC filings

Abstract We investigate the extent to which rapid accessibility of financial reports filed electronically through the Securities and Exchange Commission’s EDGAR system has affected the ability of investors and security analysts to use accounting data in pricing decisions and forecasting. Consistent with prior research, we find evidence confirming that stock price reactions to SEC filings are significant in the EDGAR period but not the pre-EDGAR period. We also find significant revisions in analysts’ one-quarter-ahead earnings forecasts around SEC filings dates in both the pre-EDGAR and EDGAR periods. The price and forecast revision evidence indicates that financial analysts have used SEC filings all along. However, it is the advent of EDGAR that has allowed individual investors to also use 10-K and 10-Q filings. Cross-sectional analyses indicate that in the EDGAR period, trading volume around the preceding earnings announcements may influence individual investors to react to SEC filings. In contrast, variables such as the earnings surprise and the level of total accruals attract the attention of financial analysts. Interestingly, analysts appear to have been less likely in the pre-EDGAR period to bear the cost of searching out each SEC filing to identify those with large total accruals, which are known only after examining the SEC filing itself.
A Short‐Run Employment Function for Australia: 1911–12 to 1938–39

This paper develops a short-run employment function model in which the speed of adjustment is positively related to the level of unemployment. The model is fitted to aggregate Australian data for the period 1911–12 to 1938–39, a period which includes the high unemployment years of the 1930s. Full information maximum-likelihood estimation procedures are used and a log-likelihood ratio test indicates that the variable speed of adjustment model is to be preferred to a fixed adjustment speed model. The speed of adjustment was quite sensitive to the unemployment rate. The policy conclusion of the paper is that if Australian unemployment rates rise to levels that are unprecedented in the post-war period, firms may shake out surplus labour at a surprisingly fast rate.
Effect of electro-ejaculation frequency on semen characteristics in the ferret (Mustela putorius) (a)

Abstract Ten sexually mature male ferrets were electro-ejaculated at 1, 3 and 5-day intervals to ascertain the effects of ejaculation frequency on semen quality. Semen volume, spermatozoa concentration, spermatozoal motility, as well as the number of stimuli required to obtain an ejaculation were recorded. No significant differences in these parameters were noted between the test intervals for 1 to 3-year-old males. The data indicated that male ferrets from 1 to 4 years of age may be ejaculated as frequently as once per day for short periods of time without any apparent adverse effects on semen quality.
TNFα-induced apoptosis enabled by CCN1/CYR61: pathways of reactive oxygen species generation and cytochrome c release.

Although TNFα is a strong inducer of apoptosis, its cytotoxicity in most normal cells in vitro requires blockade of NFκB signaling or inhibition of de novo protein synthesis, typically by the addition of cycloheximide. However, several members of CCN (CYR61/CTGF/NOV) family of extracellular matrix proteins enable TNFα-dependent apoptosis in vitro without inhibiting NFκB or de novo protein synthesis, and CCN1 (CYR61) is essential for optimal TNFα cytotoxicity in vivo. Previous studies showed that CCN1 unmasks the cytotoxicity of TNFα by binding integrins αvβ5, α6β1, and the cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycan syndecan 4 to induce the accumulation of a high level of reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to a biphasic activation of JNK necessary for apoptosis. Here we show for the first time that CCN1 interacts with the low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1) in a protein complex, and that binding to LRP1 is critical for CCN1-induced ROS generation and apoptotic synergism with TNFα. We also found that neutral sphingomyelinase 1 (nSMase1), which contributes to CCN1-induced ROS generation, is required for CCN1/TNFα-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, CCN1 promotes the activation of p53 and p38 MAPK, which mediate enhanced cytochrome c release to amplify the cytotoxicity of TNFα. By contrast, LRP1, nSMase1, p53, and p38 MAPK are not required when TNFα-dependent apoptosis is facilitated by the presence of cycloheximide, indicating that they function in the CCN1 signaling pathway that converges with TNFα-induced signaling events. Since CCN1/CYR61 is a physiological regulator of TNFα cytotoxicity at least in some contexts, these findings may reveal important mediators of TNFα-induced apoptosis in vivo and identify potential therapeutic targets for thwarting TNFα-dependent tissue damage.