cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Microbead immunoassay dipstick system (MIDS)

Summary form only given. We have developed a prototype system for reducing Luminex based immunoassay technology to a portable, customizable platform that can perform multiplexed assays on location - independent of clinical laboratory support. In principle, this device can be used to test for any biomolecular interaction in which strong binding occurs, including receptor-ligand coupling, enzyme-substrate binding, antibody-antigen interactions, and nucleic acid (DNA) hybridization reactions. Since an overwhelming majority of clinical laboratory tests are based on antibody-antigen interactions, however, we have focusing our initial efforts on multiplexed immunoassay detection.
How resilient is the United States’ food system to pandemics?

Rarely have studies focused on the second- and third-order effects of pandemics. Limiting the disruption of critical infrastructures during a pandemic is important for the survival and health of society (i.e., electricity, water, and food) as most medical and public health responses to a pandemic depend on these infrastructures. The studies that have looked at this issue have highlighted alarming gaps in preparedness. This study used a system dynamics model to demonstrate the likely effects of a pandemic on the USA’s food system. The model reveals that a severe pandemic with greater than a 25 % reduction in labor availability can create significant and widespread food shortages. The Ebola epidemic that began in 2014 has caused severe food shortages in West Africa, which are similar to the effects that this model predicts in the USA. The likely effects of the reduction in the amount of available food are difficult to specifically predict; however, it is likely to have severe negative consequences on society. The resilience of the food system must be improved against this hazard and others.
New results on stability boundaries of periodic linear systems

A method for evaluating Floquet characteristic exponents (FCE) of linear periodic (LP) systems has been developed in by Zhu and Vemula (1993), based on a so called harmonic balanced PD-characteristic equation. By iterating suitably modified such (nonlinear) equations using Newton's method, bifurcation diagrams are obtained which are shown to be the stability boundaries of the LP system. Illustrative examples are given for second-order Hill's equations. Owing to its computational efficiency and accuracy, the new method reveals nontrivial domains of stability for the classical Mathieu's equation which appear have been overlooked by previous researchers. >
Asymmetric synthesis of β-lactams by chiral ester enolate - imine condensation

Abstract Asymmetric cyclocondensation of N,N-bis(silyl)glycinates bearing chiral ester moieties with aldimines is found to proceed with extremely high enantioselectivity to give the corresponding chiral β-lactams in good to high yields. It is found that the E/Z-geometry of the chiral ester-enolate ts responsible for cis/trans stereochemistry of the β-lactam formed. Effects of various chiral auxiliaries in the ester-enolates on the enantioselectivity of the reactions are examined.
Femtosecond autocorrelation measurements based on two-photon photoconductivity in ZnSe.

Two-photon photoconductivity in ZnSe is used to record femtosecond autocorrelation functions. This technique requires <100 µW of average power of a typical mode-locked femtosecond Ti:sapphire laser and distinguishes itself by a dynamic range over several decades and great conversion bandwidth, permitting the sensitive correlation of pulses of a few femtoseconds.
Proteome analysis by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry: strengths and limitations

Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, mass spectrometry and bioinformatics are the key components of current proteomics technology. The purpose of this review is to give an overview of the basic concepts of 2DE-based proteomics methodology, to discuss the advantages and limitations of the approach, and to highlight some recent advancements in 2DE-based technology.
Successful test of a prototype hadron blind detector

We have constructed and tested a threshold Cherenkov detector inspired by the conceptual design of Giomataris and Charpak (Nucl. Instr. and Meth. A 310 (1991) 589). The basic design consists of a gas radiator followed by a photosensitive wire chamber using a solid Csl photocathode. The photon detector lies directly in the particle path and is required to have single photo-electron sensitivity and yet be insensitive to the passage of a charged particle. We have altered the design by adding a thin LiF window. This window allows one to separate the radiator and avalanche volumes, giving greater flexibility in the gas choices. Our detector was operated with C2F6 as the radiator gas at lengths of 120, 80, and 40 cm. The avalanche gas was 95%He + 5% CH4. At 95% electron efficiency, the pion efficiency was 1333, 1150, and 1100 for each of the lengths listed above.
Effect of Varroa jacobsoni (Mesostigmata: Varroidae) on Feral Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in California

We studied the spread of the newly introduced parasitic mite, Varma jacobsoni Oudemans, within California's population of the feral honey bee, Apis mellifera L. , by examining worker bees taken from 208 colonies in 1990, 124 of which were examined again in 1993. The samples taken in 1990 did not contain V. jacobsoni mites. In 1993, 75% of the colonies examined in an area located near Sacramento, CA, no longer existed, and all surviving colonies were infested with V. jacobsoni . In an area located near the Californian central coast, 84% of the nest sites examined were occupied and few colonies contained detectable levels of V. jacobsoni . The probability of survival for colonies that have not survived a winter yet (founder colonies) has been previously reported to be low in areas with a temperate climate. Data collected in an area with a low level of Varroa mite infestation suggest that the probability of founder colony survival is higher in California with a mostly Mediterranean climate. The data collected in areas with a high level of Varroa mite infestation suggest that the parasite reduces the mean life span of feral honey bee colonies in California to go between 6 mo and 1 yr. The parasite was widely spread in areas with a high density of commercial colonies. This suggests that the fast spread of the parasite is caused mostly by migration of commercial colonies. We discuss the consequences of the decline of the feral honey bee population on pollination and on the invasion of California by Africanized bees.
Heterogeneous Basal Expression of Nitric Oxide Synthase and Superoxide Dismutase Isoforms in Mammalian Heart Implications for Mechanisms Governing Indirect and Direct Nitric Oxide–Related Effects

The basal expression patterns of NO synthase (NOS; endothelial [eNOS], neuronal [nNOS], and cytokine-inducible [iNOS]) and superoxide dismutase (SOD; extracellular membrane bound [ECSOD], MnSOD, and CuZnSOD) isoforms in ferret heart (tissue sections and isolated myocytes) were determined by immunofluorescent localization. We demonstrate the following for the first time in the mammalian heart: (1) heterogeneous expression patterns of the 3 NOS and 3 SOD isoforms among different tissue and myocyte types; (2) colocalization of eNOS and ECSOD at both the tissue and myocyte levels; (3) a significant gradient of eNOS and ECSOD expression across the left ventricular (LV) wall, with both enzymes being highly expressed and colocalized in LV epicardial myocytes but markedly reduced in LV endocardial myocytes; and (4) specific subcellular localization patterns of eNOS and the 3 SOD isoforms. In particular, eNOS and ECSOD are demonstrated (electron and confocal microscopy) to be specifically localized to the sarcolemma of ventricular myocytes. Similar heterogeneous eNOS and ECSOD expression patterns were also obtained in human LV tissue sections, underscoring the general importance of these novel findings. Our data suggest a strong functional correlation between the activities of sarcolemmally localized myocyte eNOS and ECSOD in governing NO*/O(2-) interactions and suggest that NO-related modulatory effects on cardiac myocyte protein and/or ion channel function may be significantly more complex than is presently believed.
A 5-HT2 Receptor Mediates Serotonin-Induced Electrolyte Transport in Rat Left Colon

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) is a potent mediator of diarrhea in the carcinoid syndrome. However, the mechanisms of serotonin-induced intestinal secretion remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine whether 5-HT stimulates electrolyte transport by a direct action at a mucosal receptor. Serotonin-stimulated electrolyte transport was studied in flat sheet preparations of rat left colon using flux chambers. 5-HT stimulated a concentration-dependent rise in short-circuit current in sheets stripped of muscularis propria. The half-maximal concentration required to produce this effect was 50 microM. The preferential 5-HT2 antagonist ketanserin produced a rightward shift of the serotonin concentration-response curve with a pA2 value of 7.7. Serotonin stimulated electrolyte transport by inhibiting mucosa to serosa movement of both sodium and chloride. The 5-HT1 antagonist N-acetyl-5-hydroxytryptophyl 5-hydroxytryptophan amide and the 5-HT3 antagonist 3-tropanyl-indole-3-carboxylate methiodide had no effect on these actions of serotonin on electrolyte transport. In contrast, ketanserin inhibited the actions of serotonin on both sodium and chloride movement and inhibited the rise in short-circuit current induced by 100 microM 5-HT. This study demonstrates that a 5-HT2 receptor located in the vicinity of the mucosa is involved in the regulation of serotonin-stimulated intestinal electrolyte transport.
Thin-film integration for nanoscale and high-frequency electronics on Si

The continued emergence of wireless applications as perhaps the most financially significant market in recent years, wireless technology has become a global core competency. The demand for increasingly higher rates of data transmission, low-power operation and high frequency operation will eventually require integration of nanoscale electronics into available silicon technologies. A broad application base is expected for co-integrated resonant tunneling/CMOS technology (termed QMOS for quantum metal oxide semiconductor) because of the expected factor of 5 to 10 increase in functional density and speed when compared to conventional all-CMOS high speed circuit approaches. These circuits are realized by integrating compound semiconductor resonant tunneling diodes and three terminal high frequency components with conventional CMOS circuitry through the use of thin-film integration processes. The focus of this work is to develop reliable, densely packed nanoelectronic interfaces to bring higher functionality to Si systems. We combine: (1) high performance, resonant tunneling electronics; (2) high frequency, wireless electronics; and (3) conventional CMOS electronics into a single wafer level integrated system.
Bootstrapped Deattenuated Correlation Nonnormal Distributions

Correlation attenuation due to measurement error and a corresponding correction, the deattenuated correlation, have been known for over a century. Nevertheless, the deattenuated correlation remains underutilized. A few studies in recent years have investigated factors affecting the deattenuated correlation, and a couple of them provide alternative solutions based on the deattenuated correlation. One study proposed bootstrap confidence intervals (CIs) for the deattenuated correlation. However, CI research for the deattenuated correlation is in the beginning phases. Therefore, the bootstrapped deattenuated correlation CIs are investigated for 95% coverage through a Monte Carlo simulation that includes nonnormal distributions. Overall, both the bias-corrected and accelerated (BCa) and percentile bootstrap (PB) CIs had good performance, but the BCa CIs had slightly better coverage. In addition, with the exception of the Pareto distribution, both CIs had good coverage under all simulation conditions and across...
Crash Characteristics and Injury Patterns of Restrained Front Seat Occupants in Far-side Impacts

Objective: The study was conducted to determine the association between vehicle-, crash-, and demographic-related factors and injuries to front seat far-side occupants in modern environments.Methods: Field data were obtained from the NASS-CDS database for the years 2009–2012. Inclusion factors included the following: adult restrained front outboard-seated occupants, no ejection or rollovers, and vehicle model years less than 10 years old at the time of crash. Far-side crashes were determined by using collision deformation classification. Injuries were scored using the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS). Injuries (MAIS 2+, MAIS 3+, M denotes maximum score) were examined based on demographics, change in velocity, vehicle type, direction of force, extent zone, collision partner, and presence of another occupant in the front seat. Only weighted data were used in the analysis. Injuries to the head and face, thorax, abdomen, pelvis, and upper and lower extremity regions were studied. Odds ratios and upper and lower...
Mediating behavior of the pigeon during delayed responding

Five pigeons learned an indirect delayed response in which one of two keys was lighted to begin a trial. A peck on that key turned off the key light and started the delay interval. Both keys were dark during the delay interval, and the same stimulus appeared on both keys at the end of the delay interval. Subjects then were reinforced for pecking the key that had been lit to start the trial. The pigeons’ accuracy decreased as the length of delay interval increased. Four of the five pigeons also pecked at the darkened keys during the delay interval. Three of these four birds pecked at the correct key less frequently as delay intervals were lengthened. All four of the birds that responded during the delay interval pecked the incorrect key at increased rates as the delay interval was lengthened. The results are consistent with the view that mediating responses are maintained by delayed reinforcement of the simple discrimination between dark and light keys at the beginning of the trial. At longer delay intervals, the reinforcement is less effective and mediating behavior breaks down in the manner just described, to produce lower accuracy.
Dynamics of the guest-host orientational interaction in dye-doped liquid-crystalline materials

We present a comprehensive study on the dynamics of laser-induced molecular reorientation in a dye-doped liquid crystalline (LC) medium that exhibits significant enhancement of the optical Kerr nonlinearity due to guest-host interaction. Using various techniques, we separately characterized the dynamical responses of the relevant molecular species present in the medium following photoexcitation and, thus, were able to follow the transient process in which photoexcitation of the dye molecules exert through guest-host interaction a net torque on the host LC material, leading to the observed enhanced optical Kerr nonlinearity. Experimental results agree quantitatively with the time-dependent theory based on a mean-field model of the guest-host interaction.
Fashion retailing — what next?

When George Davies started his Next chain of fashion shops over two years ago he may not have realised what a revolution he was putting in train. Based on the realisation that purchasing power had moved from the young to the older 25–45 woman, — “women,” he says, “who care about fashion first and price second,” the Next group by the end of this year will have 162 outlets trading including a handful in Germany. Naturally, he has not been without his imitators. Names like Now, Visuals, Look, Surprise and Principles proliferate; variety chains like BHS and Marks & Spencer have been forced to take a long hard look at their fashion ranges; even the department stores have faced up to a changing scene. In this special feature Penelope Ody makes a close examination of the effervescent fashion sector. And the future? It could be, she hazards, that the over‐50 will be the new flavour of the month.
Formation of inclusions in terephthalic acid crystals

Etude de la recristallisation et du vieillissement de l'acide terephtalique pour sa purification
Does Visual Reference Depend on Sortal Classification? Reply to Clark

Clark's main thesis is, roughly, that the visual system proper is not smart enough to sustain demonstrative reference in the way I describe. Rather, visual information processing has to be helped out by the subject's intelligent use of sortal concepts. I think there are two ways in which his line of thought underestimates the resources available to vision without appeal to the intelligent use of sortal concepts. First, the internal management of information in vision is significantly more sophisticated than Clark allows: in effect he maintains, to make his point, that amodal completion, which does seem demanded by our ordinary use of visual demonstratives, requires the intelligent use of sortal concepts, and we will see that it does not. Secondly, some of the appearance of smartness on the part of the visual system may be owed, not to its internal organization, nor to the subject's intelligent use of sortal concepts, but to the way in which the visual system is embedded in the world of concrete objects. Suppose we think of visual attention to an object as a relation in which the subject stands to a particular concrete thing. The organizing work of the visual systems in the brain may be regulated over time by the particular token object seen, so that visual attention can keep locked on to that particular thing. What does the work is the
Recruitment and spreading of the C. elegans dosage compensation complex along X chromosomes

To achieve X-chromosome dosage compensation, organisms must distinguish X chromosomes from autosomes. We identified multiple, cis-acting regions that recruit the Caenorhabditis elegans dosage compensation complex (DCC) through a search for regions of X that bind the complex when detached from X. The DCC normally assembles along the entire X chromosome, but not all detached regions recruit the complex, despite having genes known to be dosage compensated on the native X. Thus, the DCC binds first to recruitment sites, then spreads to neighboring X regions to accomplish chromosome-wide gene repression. From a large chromosomal domain, we defined a 793-base pair fragment that functions in vivo as an X-recognition element to recruit the DCC.
Statins and Cognitive Function: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND: Despite the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warning regarding cognitive impairment, the relationship between statins and cognition remains unknown. PURPOSE: To examine the effect of statins on cognition. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library from inception through October 2012; FDA databases from January 1986 through March 2012. STUDY SELECTION: Randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional studies evaluating cognition in patients receiving statins. DATA EXTRACTION: Two reviewers extracted data, 1 reviewer assessed study risk of bias, and 1 reviewer checked all assessments. DATA SYNTHESIS: Among statin users, low-quality evidence suggested no increased incidence of Alzheimer disease and no difference in cognitive performance related to procedural memory, attention, or motor speed. Moderate-quality evidence suggested no increased incidence of dementia or mild cognitive impairment or any change in cognitive performance related to global cognitive performance scores, executive function, declarative memory, processing speed, or visuoperception. Examination of the FDA postmarketing surveillance databases revealed a low reporting rate for cognitive-related adverse events with statins that was similar to the rates seen with other commonly prescribed cardiovascular medications. LIMITATIONS: The absence of many well-powered RCTs for most outcomes resulted in final strengths of evidence that were low or moderate. Imprecision, inconsistency, and risk of bias also limited the strength of findings. CONCLUSION: Larger and better-designed studies are needed to draw unequivocal conclusions about the effect of statins on cognition. Published data do not suggest an adverse effect of statins on cognition; however, the strength of available evidence is limited, particularly with regard to high-dose statins. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: None. Language: en
Role of associated bacteria in Heterosigma carterae toxicity to salmonids

This paper addresses the role of heterotrophic bacteria in Heterosigma carterae toxicity to salmonids. The experiments performed in this study showed that under the tested conditions, H. carterae is toxic to salmonids only when bacteria were present in the culture. The culture conditions used consisted of: an enriched seawater medium; and either 16L:8D photoperiod or 24 of continuous illumination. When the experiments were performed under these conditions, but in the absence of bacteria, H. carterae was not toxic to salmonids. In the absence of the algae, neither the associated bacteria nor the supernatant of a centrifuged H. carterae culture was toxic to salmonids. The experiments presented here demonstrate that toxicity can be induced in an initially axenic non-toxic H. carterae culture. This toxicity can be achieved through the introduction of the associated bacteria from a toxic H. carterae culture, or by the addition of Vibrio natriegens or Alteromanas haloplanktis (non-toxic marine bacteria). The histological analyses of fish gills suggested that the toxic mechanism might work through the disruption of fish gill lamellae (capillary epithelium separation). Further work is recommended.
EFFECT OF ENVIRONMENTAL NOISE ON THE FLORIDA MANATEE TRICHECHUS MANATUS LATIROSTRIS

(2008). EFFECT OF ENVIRONMENTAL NOISE ON THE FLORIDA MANATEE TRICHECHUS MANATUS LATIROSTRIS. Bioacoustics: Vol. 17, No. 1-3, pp. 176-178.
Does the capacity of working memory change with age

Abstract Young and elderly adults were compared for recall performance on simple digit and word spans (traditional tests of primary memory), versus a “loaded” auditory word span test designed to emphasize working memory capacity. Although digit spans were identical for the two age groups, there were small but significant age differences in word span, and even larger differences in working memory performance. An analysis of correlations between span measures and verbal ability scores supported the position that working memory loading represents a special problem for the elderly.
Experience with glovebox inert atmosphere control system

Abstract The handling and preparation of sodium for fuel elements at the Fuel Cycle Facility for the Second Experimental Breeder Reactor requires the use of a glovebox equipped with a recirculating inert atmosphere of high purity. The argon gas purification system consists of a palladium catalyst for removing oxygen, molecular sieve dryer for removing water, and a canned blower for circulating the gas. The purification system serves a 250 ft3 glovebox complex and with continuous operation can maintain an atmosphere with oxygen impurities of 2 ppm and water impurities of 6 ppm at an inleakage rate of 0.002 ft3/hr of air while operating the glovebox complex at a negative pressure of 1 in. of water.
Acute renal failure due to scleroderma kidney disease; a report of one case with autopsy findings.

The appearance of characteristic renal lesions with marked impairment of renal function is not uncommon in periarteritis nodosa and systemic lupus erythematosus. 1-6 However, in another collagen disorder, scleroderma, the occurrence of a characteristic kidney lesion together with fatal renal insufficiency is not generally recognized and has been reported only recently. 7 The following case illustrates that renal dysfunction may be the only clinical manifestation of visceral scleroderma and that death may result therefrom. Report of Case First Admission (April 6 to April 28, 1954). — A 39-year-old white male mechanic supervisor was referred to the hospital for treatment of scleroderma. About two years prior to admission he developed generalized myalgia associated with painful, swollen, and numb joints of the hands and feet. Tightness of the skin over the hands, feet, and face appeared and was accompanied by inability to close the hands completely or to open the mouth normally.
A Maximum Correlation Feature Descriptor for Heterogeneous Face Recognition

Heterogeneous Face Recognition (HFR) refers to matching probe face images to a gallery of face images taken from alternate imaging modality, for example matching near infrared (NIR) face images to photographs. Matching heterogeneous face images has important practical applications such as surveillance and forensics, which is yet a challenging problem in face recognition community due to the large within-class discrepancy incurred from modality differences. In this paper, a novel feature descriptor is proposed in which the features of both gallery and probe face images are extracted with an adaptive feature descriptor which can maximize the correlation of the encoded face images between the modalities, so as to reduce the within-class variations at the feature extraction stage. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is demonstrated on the scenario of matching NIR face images to photographs based on a very large dataset consists of 2800 different persons.
Describing light mixtures through linear algebra

Light mixtures can be viewed as vectors in an infinite-dimensional vector space, and RGB color coordinates as vectors in a three-dimensional vector space. This Letter shows that there exists a linear transformation from light mixtures to color coordinates. Colorimetric phenomena such as metamerism and the object color solid can be elegantly described in terms of linear algebra.
Ca2+ channel alpha 1-subunit transcripts are differentially expressed in rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells following nerve growth factor treatment.

In this report, we describe the effect of nerve growth factor (NGF) on the transcriptional expression of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel alpha 1 subunits, i.e., alpha 1A, alpha 1B, alpha 1C, alpha 1D, and alpha 1E in rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells. Using reverse transcriptase-coupled polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and class-specific Ca2+ channel oligonucleotide probes, messenger RNA levels were measured and compared to Histone H3.3 transcript which remained relatively constant over the duration of NGF treatment. Although no statistically significant differences in P-type (alpha 1A) Ca2+ channel transcript levels were observed, N-type (alpha 1B) Ca2+ channel transcript levels increased 50% over control values (P values < 0.05) at days 7 and 14. In contrast, NGF treatment resulted in decreased levels of L-type (alpha 1C and alpha 1D) transcripts with alpha 1C decreasing steadily to approximately 50% of control (P value < 0.01) by 2 weeks, while alpha 1D decreased to approximately 20% of control (P value < 0.01) after 2 days treatment. No alpha 1E Ca2+ channel transcripts were detected in PC12 cells. For comparison, PC12 cells were also treated with another differentiative growth factor, i.e., basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and a nondifferentiative growth factor epidermal growth factor (EGF). In contrast to NGF, bFGF and EGF treatment had no inhibitory effect on L-type (alpha 1C and alpha 1D) channel transcript levels after 3 days. Like NGF, EGF treatment had no statistically significant effect upon P-type (alpha 1A) transcript levels but increased in a biphasic manner following bFGF treatment. Presynaptic-associated alpha 1B (N-type) Ca2+ channel transcripts were observed decreased following EGF treatment (2 days) while L-type alpha 1C transcripts decreased after 7 days (P value < 0.01). Although a varied response to differentiative growth factors NGF and bFGF was observed, data presented here indicate that NGF treatment of PC12 cells results in 'late' increased expression of N-type Ca2+ channel transcripts, while L-type (alpha 1C and alpha 1D) Ca2+ channel transcripts appear to be down regulated.
A simple azo-dye method for histochemical demonstration of acid phosphatase.

A NEW diazonium salt, ‘hexazonium pararosanilin’, introduced for simultaneous azocoupling methods by Davis and Ornstein1, was successfully employed in the demonstration of esterases at microscopic and electron-microscopic levels2,3. It was found that a method using α-naphthyl phosphate and hexazonium pararosanilin as coupler gives far better localization of acid phosphatase than any other method4 using the same substrate, and the results seem to be not inferior to techniques using ‘Naphthol AS’5 or indoxyl phosphates6. The advantages of this method, besides the very good localization, are that α-naphthyl phosphate is water-soluble; it is more readily hydrolysed than the phosphate esters of ‘Naphthol AS’, or indoxyl derivatives, the reagents are commercially available, and the method works easily.
A microspore embryogenesis protocol for Camelina sativa, a multi-use crop

Camelina [Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz], a member of the Brassicaceae family, has a unique oil profile that has potential both for biofuels and as a food crop. It is essential to have a doubled haploidy protocol in order to enhance breeding of this crop for prairie conditions as well as improve the yield and quality characteristics. Microspore-derived embryos have been produced from Camelina sativa. Buds 1–3 mm in length were selected for culture. The microspores were isolated and purified in full-strength B5 extraction medium and cultured in NLN medium with 12.5% sucrose and 12.5% polyethylene glycol 4000 (PEG) without glutamine, at a density of 10,000 microspores per mL. Glutamine was added to the cultures 72 h after extraction to give a final concentration of 0.8 g/L. The microspore cultures were maintained at 24°C in the dark. After 28 days embryos were observed and these were regenerated to plants and selfed seed was produced. The highest embryogenic frequency achieved was 38 microspore-derived embryos from 100,000 microspores.
Flame Spread Along Free Edges of Thermally Thin Samples in Microgravity

The effects of imposed flow velocity on flame spread along open edges of a thermally thin cellulosic sample in microgravity were studied experimentally and theoretically. In this study, the sample was ignited locally at the middle of the 4 cm wide sample, and subsequent flame spread reached both open edges of the sample along the direction of the flow. The following flame behaviors were observed in the experiments and predicted by the numerical calculation, in order of increased imposed flow velocity: (1) ignition but subsequent flame spread was not attained, (2) flame spread upstream (opposed mode) without any downstream flame, and (3) the upstream flame and two separate downstream flames traveled along the two open edges (concurrent mode). Generally, the upstream and downstream edge flame spread rates were faster than the central flame spread rate for an imposed flow velocity of up to 5 cm/s. This was due to greater oxygen supply from the outer free stream to the edge flames and more efficient heat transfer from the edge flames to the sample surface than the central flames. For the upstream edge flame, flame spread rate was nearly independent of, or decreased gradually with, the imposed flow velocity. The spread rate of the downstream edge, however, increased significantly with the imposed flow velocity.
Phenothiazine inhibition of calmodulin stimulates calcium dependent potassium efflux in human red blood cells

Elevation of red blood cell calcium increases the efflux of potassium. The active extrusion of calcium from the red cell is regulated by calmodulin. Phenothiazines bind to calmodulin in a calcium-dependent manner preventing the calmodulin from activating a wide variety of cellular processes. The present study shows that phenothiazines increase the efflux of potassium from red cells incubated with the calcium ionophore A23187. The dose dependent effect of trifluoperazine on potassium efflux correlates with its inhibition of Ca-ATPase activity. The phenothiazine effects are dependent upon ATP in that increases in potassium efflux are not observed in energy depleted cells. In calcium buffered ghosts no direct effect of calmodulin or an antibody to calmodulin can be shown. These data suggest that phenothiazines stimulate calcium-dependent potassium loss indirectly by a drug-induced blockage of the calmodulin-activated Ca-ATPase.
Characterization of the mouse Muc3 membrane bound intestinal mucin 5′ coding and promoter regions: regulation by inflammatory cytokines

Abstract The mouse Muc3 mucin is a membrane-bound glycoprotein highly expressed in the intestinal tract. We have characterized the mouse Muc3 5′ structure and regulation of its promoter by cytokines and growth factors. The first two exons of Muc3 are separated by an intron of over 8 kb. Exon 3 contains the tandem repeat domain. Ten exons reside 3′ to the tandem repeat domain. The 5′ nonrepetitive sequence contains 104 amino acids characterized by a putative signal sequence, a single cysteine and 28% serine/threonine. No TATA box is found near the transcription start site. The promoter has consensus binding sites for AP1, CREB, SP1, NFκB, GATA binding protein and Cdx. Muc3 promoter constructs demonstrate that IL4, IL6, EGF or PMA increased promoter activity to 35–58% of control. TNFα and IFNγ showed lesser stimulation. These data indicate that cytokines and growth factors are capable of regulating Muc3 gene expression, suggesting that this protein may play an active role in intestinal mucosal defense.
On the Maillard reaction of meteoritic amino acids

We have performed the Maillard reaction of a series of meteoritic amino acids with sugar ribose under simulated prebiotic conditions, in the solid state at 65°C and at the room temperature. Many meteoritic amino acids are highly reactive with ribose, even at the room temperature. We have isolated high molecular weight products that are insoluble in water, and have studied their structure by the IR (infrared) and solid-state C-13 NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) spectroscopic methods. The functional groups and their distribution were similar among these products, and were comparable to the previously isolated insoluble organic materials from the Maillard reaction of the common amino acids with ribose. In addition, there were some similarities with the insoluble organic material that is found on Murchison. Our results suggest that the Maillard products may contribute to the composition of the part of the insoluble organic material that is found on Murchison. We have also studied the reaction of sodium silicate solution with the Maillard mixtures, to elucidate the process by which the organic compounds are preserved under prebiotic conditions.
Some aspects of the pollination biology of middle eocene angiosperms

Abstract Angiosperms are characterized by their sophisticated adaptations for wind and insect pollination. Modern relations between the angiosperms and anthophilous insects and the fossil records of both groups suggest that co-evolution was important in the radiation and perhaps even the origin of the angiosperms. An integral part of understanding the evolution of the angiosperms is understanding the evolution of their pollination mechanisms. Enough well-preserved flowers and inflorescences have now been assembled from the Claiborne Formation to allow a consideration of the types of floral morphology and of probable pollination systems that had evolved by the Middle Eocene. Flowers and inflorescences with floral and pollen morphology well adapted for wind pollination are common in the Clairborne Formation. Among these are representatives of two important extant families of the “Amentiferae”. These had diversified by the Middle Eocene and were as well adapted for wind dispersal of pollen as modern representatives of the families. Furthermore, it appears that significant evolution has taken place within the two families since the Middle Eocene. Flowers and inflorescences with morphology suggestive of pollination by all four orders of anthophilous insects are present in sediments of the Claiborne Formation. Several of the trends commonly postulated to have taken place with increasing specialization for insect pollination have progressed to a significant degree by the Middle Eocene, but evidence for certain features thought to be characteristic of more sophisticated insect pollination mechanisms is missing from the fossil flower record of that time. In addition, the fossil flower record of the Middle Eocene suggests that there has been significant evolution within certain extant families since the Middle Eocene and that certain families of angiosperms have originated since the Middle Eocene.
Redundancy-Aware Topology Management in Wireless Sensor Networks

Extending the lifetime of wireless sensor networks remains the most challenging and demanding requirement that impedes large-scale deployments. Studies show that considerable energy saving can be achieved only by putting a node's radio into full sleep mode. In this paper we present RAT, which is a redundancy-aware topology management protocol. RAT selects a minimum set of active nodes that are good enough to maintain connectivity, and allows others to sleep and save energy. RAT is designed and implemented with underlying wireless channel irregularity in mind. Scalability and low overhead are the other primary design goals of RAT as well. We implement RAT in the context of Score, which is a cross-layer framework that provides RAT with the neighbor set and allows RAT to coordinate its SLEEP and ACTIVE state changes with the routing layer smoothly. Using TinyOS and PowerTOSSIM, we implement RAT on top of Score. Comparing with the all-active scenario, RAT simulation results show a total energy consumption decrease of 67% in a one-to-many routing scenario and up to 87% in a many-to-one routing scenario.
Infection-Related Asthma

The role of infection in asthma is varied in that it may exacerbate established asthma or contribute to the initial development of the clinical onset of asthma. Mounting evidence implicates both roles with particular viral pathogens, namely human rhinovirus and respiratory syncytial virus, among the most likely culprits in asthma inception. Once asthma is present, infection, particularly viral infection, is a common precipitant of asthma exacerbations. Bacterial infections and colonization also have been associated with exacerbation and recurrent wheeze, an effect that may be independent or a cofactor with viruses. Atypical bacterial infections such as Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae and fungi in the case of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, also play a potential role in inducing and exacerbating this disease. In addition, certain individuals may have a genetic predisposition toward viral-induced wheezing and the development of asthma. This article will discuss host and environmental factors, common pathogens, clinical characteristic, and genetic influences associated with infection-related asthma.
Vibrissae tactile stimulation: (14C) 2-deoxyglucose uptake in rat brainstem, thalamus, and cortex.

The right mystacial vibrissae of awake, adult rats were stroked at 4–6 times/second and brain regions which increased (14C) 2-deoxyglucose (2DG) uptake were mapped autoradiographically. The ventral parts of the ipsilateral spinal trigeminal nuclei pars caudalis (Sp5c), pars interpolaris (Sp5i), pars oralis (Sp5o), and the principal trigeminal sensory (Pr5) nuclei were activated. The lateral part of the ipsilateral facial (VII) nucleus (the region which innervates the vibrissae muscles) was also activated possibly via excitatory, trigeminal (Sp5c, Sp5i, Sp5o, Pr5) sensory afferents. A number of regions were activated contralateral to the sensory stimulus. Discrete patches of (14C) 2DG uptake occurred in deep layers of the superior colliculus (SCsgp). Dorsolateral and dorsomedial parts of the ventrobasal nucleus (VB), and posterior, dorsolateral parts of the reticular nucleus (R) of thalamus were activated, along with broad portions of the primary somatosensory cortex (SI) and second somatosensory cortex (SII). Though all layers of SI and SII cortex increased 2DG uptake, VB thalamic afferents to layers IV and Vc-Vla presumably accounted for the greater activation of these cortical layers during repetitive sensory stimulation of the vibrissae (RSSV). Activation of the above structures fits well with known anatomical data. However, the pattern of activation during RSSV was very different from that previously described during vibrissae motor cortex stimulation (VMIS). RSSV and VMIS both produced similar repetitive movements of all the mystacial vibrissae. However, only a few overlapping brain regions were activated during both RSSV and VMIS. These RSSV-VMIS overlap zones included Sp5o; rostral Sp5i; lateral VII; SCsgp; ventrobasal-posteromedial and ventrobasal-ventrolateral zones in thalamus; and a rostral region of SI probably anterior to the Woolsey vibrissae barrelfield in the dysgranular somatosensory (SI) cortex. Since RSSV and VMIS would both be expected to activate vibrissae proprioceptors, we have hypothesized that vibrissae proprioceptive input was processed in part in the RSSV-VMIS overlap zones. Convergence of motor-sensory inputs and other types of processing could have also occurred in these overlap zones.
Impact of the Nutritional Regimen on Protein Catabolism and Nitrogen Balance in Patients With Acute Renal Failure

Background: Patients with acute renal failure are in substantial negative nitrogen balance as a result of their extremely high protein catabolic rates. We prospectively evaluated a series of patients with acute renal failure managed with continuous venovenous hemofiltration to determine which nutritional and nonnutritional variables might influence protein catabolism and nitrogen balance. Methods: Forty consecutive patients (aged 52 ± 20 years; mean ± SD) were monitored for 357 treatment days (average treatment duration 8.9 ± 8.6 days). All data (including nutritional regimen, laboratory values, APACHE II score, administered blood products, hemofiltration parameters, and medications) were collected daily. Results: For all patients, the mean normalized protein catabolic rate was 1.4 ± 0.5 g/kg per day. The rate did not differ between those who received nutrition support and those who did not. The net nitrogen deficit was less in those patients receiving nutrition support (-6.0 ± 5.2 vs -14.0 ± 5.6 g N/d; p...
More and more about less and less

Comment on Zaza et al, page [1778][1] Accumulation of TGN by ALL cells may be affected by other drugs (methotrexate) and by gene expression profiles. Rational pharmacology is becoming more complex. Cure of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) depends upon complex interactions between
Neighborly cubical spheres and a cubical lower bound conjecture

Using mirrors and cyclic polytopes, we construct cubicald-spheres which are the analogs of cyclic polytopes in the sense that they have the ⌉d−1/2⌈-skeleta of cubes. The existence of these neighborly cubical spheres leads to a special case of an upper bound conjecture for cubical spheres, suggested by Kalai. We extend the same construction to show that the closed convex hull off-vectors of cubical spheres contains a cone described by Adin, as an analog to the generalized lower bound theorem for simplicial polytopes.
Enzymatic synthesis of methylbutenol from dimethylallyl diphosphate in needles of Pinus sabiniana.

Methylbutenol (2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol) is an abundant volatile organic compound released from Western U.S. pines. To understand the mechanism of methylbutenol formation, we developed a sensitive gas chromatographic assay for its detection and determined that needles of gray pine (Pinus sabiniana) contain an enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of methylbutenol from dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP). The methylbutenol synthase activity was partially purified; its pH optimum was 7-8, and, like other prenyl diphosphate utilizing enzymes, it was dependent on the presence of a divalent cation, preferably Mn2+. The enzyme also required K+ or NH4+ for activity. The Km values for DMAPP and Mn2+ were about 4.8 and 6 mM, respectively. Geranyl diphosphate was not a substrate for the enzyme, so it is distinct from linalool synthase, a plant enzyme that catalyzes an analogous reaction. The methylbutenol synthase reaction may be responsible for the majority of light-dependent methylbutenol production by many pine species in the Western United States.
Resistance of Plasmodium chabaudi-Infected White Mice to a Fulminating and Fatal Strain of Plasmodium vinckei

Resistance of Plasmodium chabaudi-Infected White Mice to a Fulminating and Fatal Strain of Plasmodium vinckei
Health-within-illness: concept development through research and practice

This paper presents the concept of health-within-illness as an opportunity that increases meaningfulness of life through connectedness or relatedness with the environment and/or awareness of self during a state of compromised well-being. The conceptual development evolved through a research programme on women diagnosed with breast cancer and examples from the research are used to illustrate various components of the definition. Evidence from nursing literature and practicing nurses further enhances development of the health-within-illness concept. Although the health-within-illness idea was originally proposed by Moch (1989) and has been referred to in nursing literature, a conceptual definition is not available. Suggestions for further research and practice are included.
Developmental Aspects of Sugar Transport by Isolated Dog Renal Cortical Tubules

Summary: α-Methyl-D-glucoside (AMG) uptake was examined in isolated renal cortical tubules from newborn, 3-month-old, and adult dogs. All three age groups demonstrated active sugar transport. The initial rate of AMG uptake was similar in the 3-month-old and adult tubules which was twice that of the newborn. At steadystate, the adult and newborn tubules had achieved a similar intracellular AMG concentration which was 45% greater than that of the 3-month-old. Determination of the flux constants of these uptake patterns revealed that there was an age-dependent increase in both the net flux and the fractional influx rate constant. However, the 3-month-old had the highest fractional efflux rate constant and the newborn the lowest value with the adult in between. Kinetic analysis of AMG uptake showed a single saturable transport system for each age group. The newborn and adult had similar Km values but the 3-month-old had a value that was 60% higher. The 3-month-old tubules had the highest Vmax and the newborn tubules the lowest with the adult value in between. AMG uptake by tubules from each age group demonstrated a similar pattern of inhibition in a low sodium buffer and by glucose and phlorizin. This indicated that, aside from kinetic changes with maturation, the saturable transport system for AMG is similar in each age group.
Assessing the reliability of skilled performance

Abstract In some high-hazard military tasks, precision of motor skills is crucial to avoid a risk-sensitive drop or other mishap. Sparse data supports a basic level of reliability for this activity seemingly much lower than typical, individual action, slip-mode errors would yield. A typical occurrence failure rate seems to be of the order of 1 × 10 −5 per opportunity. A speculation is tendered that this represents a difference in kind; that the reliability of skills is a different taxon than previously called out in the typical scheme of human reliability.