cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of expressed human meibum using hyperspectral stimulated Raman scattering microscopy.

Abstract Purpose This study examined whether hyperspectral stimulated Raman scattering (hsSRS) microscopy can detect differences in meibum lipid to protein composition of normal and evaporative dry eye subjects with meibomian gland dysfunction. Methods Subjects were evaluated for tear breakup time (TBUT), staining, meibum expression and gland dropout. Expressed meibum was analyzed using SRS vibrational signatures in the CH stretching region (2800–3050 cm−1). Vertex component analysis and K-means clustering were used to group the spectral signatures into four fractions containing high lipid (G1) to high protein (G4). Results Thirty-three subjects could be statistically analyzed using pooled meibum (13 with stable tear films (TBUTs > 10 s) and 20 with unstable tear films (TBUTs ≤ 10 s). Significant differences in meibum from subjects with unstable vs. stable TBUTs were found for the G1 fraction (medians 0.164 and 0.020, respectively; p = 0.012) and the G2 fraction (medians 0.244 and 0.272, respectively; p = 0.045). No differences were observed for the G3 and G4 fractions. Single orifice samples were not significantly different vs. pooled samples from the fellow eye, and eyelid sector samples (nasal, central and temporal) G2:G3 fractional components were not significantly different (p = 0.449). Spearman analysis suggested a significant inverse correlation between G1 fraction and TBUT (R = −0.351; p = 0.045). Conclusions hsSRS microscopy allows compositional analysis of expressed meibum from humans which correlated to changes in TBUT. These findings support the hypothesis that hsSRS may be useful in classifying meibum quality and evaluating the effects of therapy.
Setting an agenda for the future

Anniversaries are a time for reflection and planning for the future. The fiftieth year of the Journal of Economic Education motivated us to invite those who have been intimately involved with the J...
Towards understanding the effective parallelization of sequential algorithms

There are very few parallel programming paradigms that consistently produce fast parallel algorithms. Divide-and-conquer is the one notable exception. The most common approach to parallel algorithm development is to try and parallelize existing sequential algorithms. The goal of this paper is to further our understanding about why some sequential algorithms parallelize better than others. We study the maximum acyclic subgraph problem and several closely related sequential approximation algorithms for it. The standard parallelization approach is applied to the sequential algorithms and vastly different parallel complexities are obtained for the resultant algorithms. That is, some of our parallel algorithms run in NC, whereas decisions problems based on others turn but to be P-complete. We find the contrasting nature of these results interesting.
Abstract 3623: Mesenchymal stem cells engineered with TAT peptide functionalized nanoparticles improve therapeutic efficacy of paclitaxel in an orthotopic lung tumor model

Tumors are characterized by uneven vascular perfusion with near normal blood flow in the outer most regions, while the inner regions can be avascular. In addition, elevated interstitial fluid pressure and rigid extracellular matrix compromise intra-tumoral solute transport and hence limited drug efficacy. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the unique advantage of being able to migrate specifically to both primary tumors and metastases following systemic administration. However, poor payload capacity of MSCs limits their use as drug delivery carriers. To address this issue, we investigated polymeric nanoparticles that were functionalized with transactivator of transcription (TAT) peptide. Paclitaxel loaded PLGA nanoparticles (15-16 % w/w paclitaxel; diameter of 225 ± 7 nm; and zeta potential of −15 ± 4 mV) were prepared by emulsion-solvent evaporation method, followed by TAT-conjugation to the surface of nanoparticles via maleimide-thiol chemistry. Nanoengineered MSCs were generated by incubating MSCs in suspension with 100 µg/mL paclitaxel loaded nanoparticles for 4 hours at 37°C. Our studies demonstrated that TAT functionalization improved the paclitaxel loading in MSCs. In addition, engineering MSCs with TAT functionalized nanoparticles did not affect the differentiation and migration properties of MSCs. Further, MSCs engineered with TAT peptide functionalized nanoparticles resulted in significant inhibition of tumor growth and overall improved survival in a mouse orthotopic model of lung cancer compared to that with free drug treatment. In summary, our results demonstrated that MSCs nanoengineered using TAT functionalized nanoparticles can serve as an efficient carrier for tumor specific delivery of anticancer drugs, resulting in greatly improved therapeutic efficacy. Citation Format: Swayam Prabha, Gopikrishna Moku, Buddhadev Layek, Jayanth Panyam. Mesenchymal stem cells engineered with TAT peptide functionalized nanoparticles improve therapeutic efficacy of paclitaxel in an orthotopic lung tumor model [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3623.
Using NCI-Designated Cancer Center Catchment-Area Data to Understand an Ignored but High-Need Constituent: People Uncertain or Avoidant about Their Cancer Risk

In 2016, the NCI provided supplemental funding to 15 NCI-designated cancer centers to enhance cancer centers' capacity to collect critical catchment-area data across behavioral and psychosocial domains [March 2019 issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention (CEBP)-CEBP Focus]. In response, we highlight opportunities for cancer risk perception research when collecting and utilizing catchment-area data given the remarkably high proportions of individuals who report they are at average cancer risk, high levels of cancer risk information avoidance, and extremely negative ("death") associations with cancer. First, we advocate for enhanced measurement specificity regarding whether some participants may be uncertain regarding their cancer risk. Second, we advocate for examination of whether the large proportion of people who rate their risk as average have common (demographic and attitudinal) characteristics, which may dictate specific and targeted cancer prevention and control intervention. Finally, we advocate for further examination of cancer risk information avoidance and negative cancer associations to clarify subgroups that may fail to engage with risk information. Given the ubiquity of risk uncertainty, information avoidance, and negative cancer associations, further research into these prevalent beliefs will enhance our ability to bring the latest information regarding cancer prevention and control to the general population of the United States.
Fatigue life prediction of spot-welded joints with a notch stress approach

Abstract Spot-welded joints are widely used in the construction of vehicle structures and frequently become critical locations for fatigue failure. Hence, it is essential to have reliable fatigue life prediction method for the spot-welded joints during vehicle structure design. In this paper, a new notch stress approach is developed for fatigue life prediction of the spot-welded joints. Currently, structural stress methods are widely used in automotive industry for fatigue life prediction of spot-welded joints. However, these methods are not well considering local geometry information. This paper introduces a notch stress based method to overcome the limitation of the structural stress methods. In the notch stress method, stress concentration factors for spot-welded joints are calculated from stress intensity factor equations. Then, the notch stress method is validated with fatigue test results of lap-shear and coach peel specimens.
HS-SPME GC-MS characterization of volatiles in processed walnuts and their oxidative stability.

Processed walnuts including hot air-dried and roasted walnuts were prepared. Volatiles in raw and processed walnuts were analyzed using head-space solid phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Oxidative stability of hot air-dried walnuts in different antioxidants, with or without vacuum package was studied to find a proper package for oxidation stability of hot air-dried walnuts. The results showed that there were 14 volatiles in raw walnuts, 28 in hot air-dried walnuts and 38 in roasted walnuts. The changes of oil quality indices, total phenols, malondialdehyde and free radical scavenging activities during storage at 60 °C showed that the oil oxidation increased with storage time. The addition of antioxidants and vacuum package could slow down the oxidation. Vacuum aluminum foil package (14 × 20 cm) can delay the oil oxidation and extend the shelf life to ~ 230 days of hot air-dried walnuts at 20 °C. With added antioxidant this was extended to ~ 257 days.
PREDICTORS OF ADVERSE LIVER-RELATED OUTCOMES IN ADULTS AFTER THE FONTAN OPERATION

The natural history and clinical consequences of Fontan-associated liver disease (FALD) are not well-characterized. We aim to describe the frequency of adverse outcomes and identify clinical risk factors for such outcomes in FALD. This is a single-center, retrospective cohort study of adult Fontan
Transfer Learning Analysis of Image Processing Workflows for Electron Microscopy Datasets

Neuroscientists are collecting Electron Microscopy (EM) datasets at increasingly faster rates. This modality offers an unprecedented map of brain structure at the resolution of individual neurons and their synaptic connections. Despite sophisticated image processing algorithms such as Flood Filling Networks, these huge datasets often require large amounts of hand-labeled data for algorithm training, followed by significant human proofreading. Many of these challenges are common across neuroscience modalities (and in other domains), but we use EM as a use case because the scale of this data emphasizes the opportunity and impact of rapidly transferring methods to new datasets. We investigate transfer learning for these work-flows, exploring transfer to different regions within a dataset, between datasets from different species, and for datasets collected with different image acquisition techniques. For EM data, we investigate the impact of algorithm performance at different workflow stages. Finally, we assess the impact of candidate transfer learning strategies in environments with no training labels. This work provides a library of algorithms, pipelines, and baselines on established datasets. We enable rapid assessment and improvements to processing pipelines, and an opportunity to quickly and effectively analyze new datasets for the neuroscience community.
SportsXR -- Immersive Analytics in Sports

We wish to thank Coach Kathy Delaney-Smith, Mike Roux, Mark Kaliris, and Lindsay Werner at Harvard Women’s Basketball, and Mike Sotsky and Casey Brinn at Harvard Men’s Basketball for their time and expertise. This research is supported in part by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and the KAUST Office of Sponsored Research (OSR) award OSR-2015-CCF-2533-01.
Childhood wheeze trajectory-specific risk factors: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: There is growing interest in the use of latent trajectory methodology to identify wheeze patterns inheterogenous populations of children. This study systematically reviewed and meta-analyzed childhood wheeze trajectory studies to identify childhood wheeze trajectory group-specific risk factors among children from birth through to adolescence. METHODS: We included studies that used latent trajectory methodology to identify wheeze trajectories and associated risk factors. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Google Scholar from 2000 through September 30, 2019 for relevant studies. The study was conducted according to the PRISMA recommendations. RESULTS: Thirteen cohort studies conducted in eleven high-income countries were included in our meta-analysis with the length of follow-up ranging from 3 to 18 years. Five distinct latent wheeze trajectory groups were identified: Never/infrequent, Early-Transient, Early-Persistent, Intermediate-Onset, and Late-Onset. We found moderate to strong evidence that family history of asthma predicted persistent childhood wheezing among male children but with lower risk among first-born children. There was weak to moderate evidence for childhood atopy, male sex, short duration of breastfeeding, tobacco exposure, daycare attendance and having siblings as risk factors of early transient wheezing; except for breastfeeding, these factors were also associated with intermediate and late-onset wheezing with varying effect sizes in high risk versus general population cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings confirm the consistency of wheeze trajectory groups defined by onset, peak prevalence, and duration; we also suggest a common nomenclature for future trajectory studies. With the exception of the relationship between a family history of asthma and persistent childhood wheezing, commonly suspected wheeze risk factors (childhood atopy, male sex, short duration of breastfeeding, tobacco exposure, daycare attendance and having siblings)are not trajectory-specific and have varying effects in high risk versus general population cohorts. Delineation of time-varying risk factor effects may be critical to the specificity of wheeze trajectory group prediction to better inform prognosis and targeted early preventive intervention among at-risk children.
Virtual Annual Meetings: A Path Toward Shareholder Democracy and Stakeholder Engagement

From demanding greater executive accountability to lobbying for social and environmental policies, shareholders today influence how managers run American companies. In corporate doctrine, the principal venue reserved for shareholders to exert their influence and engage with management and each other is the annual shareholders meeting. At one time the annual meeting was a vibrant forum for shareholder democracy and occasionally even a platform for debating pressing social issues. For decades, however, the role of the annual meeting in corporate governance has been in decline. Today’s annual meetings are largely pro forma: only a handful of shareholders attend the meeting and voting results are largely determined in advance. This Article explores how the integration of technology can resurrect the annual meeting as the deliberative touchstone of shareholder democracy it once was as well as open new avenues for engagement. The widespread use of virtual annual meetings in response to COVID-19 provides an opportunity to critically rethink and re-envision the practice and purpose of the annual meeting. If structured properly, virtual meetings can re-engage historically absent shareholder demographics while maintaining the efficiencies of proxy voting. Additionally, virtual meetings can serve as vehicle through which companies can begin to address ESG issues and heightened public expectations that companies will work toward meaningful engagement with their varied stakeholders. This Article makes three key contributions to the existing literature. First, it provides a detailed account of state reactions to COVID-19 and of the impact that the move to virtual meetings had on shareholder voting. Second, it provides a detailed account of how annual meetings have drifted away from their democratic function. Finally, this Article argues that technology can revive shareholder democracy and bolster ESG efforts through facilitating retail shareholder and corporate stakeholder engagement, and underscores how virtual meetings can meet these important goals.
Americans' View of the Impact of COVID-19: Perspectives on Racial Impacts and Equity.

CONTEXT: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a disparate effect on African Americans and Latino groups. But it is unknown how aware the public is of these differences, and how the pandemic has changed perceptions of equity and access to health care. METHODS: We use panel data from nationally representative surveys fielded to the same respondents in 2018 and 2020 to assess views and changes in views over time. FINDINGS: We found that awareness of inequity is highest among Non-Hispanic Black respondents and higher income and higher educated groups, and that there have been only small changes in perceptions of inequity over time. However, there have been significant changes in views of the government's obligation ensure access to health care. CONCLUSIONS: Even in the face of a deadly pandemic, one that has killed disproportionately more African Americans and Latinos, many in the U.S. continue not to recognize that there are inequities in access to health care and the impact of COVID-19 on certain groups. But policies to address inequity may be shifting. We will continue to follow these respondents to see whether changes in attitudes endure over time or dissipate.
Power Grid Model Data Governance System Based on Dcloud

With the rapid progress of the power grid and the developing of the cloud computing, the Dcloud (Dispatching and Control Cloud) consists of model data cloud platform, history data cloud platform, real-time data cloud platform and big data platform emerges. In this paper, we design and implement a power gird model data governance system based on Dcloud. At first, we introduce the background of the Dcloud and the necessary of system construction. Secondly, we present the basic structure of the stock data and incremental data governance system. At last, we present in detail the procedure and implementation of the governance system. The practical application of the system has gained a good effect.
Evaluation of Social Media Utilization by Academic Plastic Surgery Programs during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: In response to the cancellation of away rotations and the shift to virtual interviews due to the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, residency programs have pursued other methods of sharing program details, most notably with the use of social media. This study aimed to evaluate the extent of social media utilization in the setting of the COVID-19 pandemic by plastic surgery residency programs. METHODS: Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook accounts of plastic surgery programs, program directors, and chiefs were identified. Number of followers, total posts, and posts since March 1, 2020, were extracted. Account content was categorized as informational, social, operative, research, self-promotional, guest lecture, education, or other. Spearman's coefficient was used to determine correlations among account data. Differences among regions and program pathways were evaluated using the Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS: Since March 1, 2020, 17 Instagram, five Twitter, and three Facebook accounts have been created. Instagram was most widely used and followed (1720 posts, 1235.7 ± 735.9 followers) compared with Twitter (722 tweets, 325.6 ± 451.0 followers) and Facebook (430 posts, 338.3 ± 363.3 followers). Although the majority of content was informational (45.1 percent), Instagram contained more social content (21 percent), Twitter contained more research (21 percent), and Facebook contained more self-promotional content (25 percent). Integrated-only programs on average posted more on Instagram (21.5 ± 15.1 posts) than did independent-only programs (9.4 ± 8.5 posts), and post volume moderately correlated with number of followers. There were no statistically significant differences among regional means. CONCLUSION: Plastic surgery residency programs have incorporated social media into their recruitment strategies and will likely continue to increase and diversify their posts to effectively engage with future applicants.
Wrongful Trading and Fraudulent Trading in Corporate Insolvency Law: The Case of Zambia

(2008). Wrongful Trading and Fraudulent Trading in Corporate Insolvency Law: The Case of Zambia. Oxford University Commonwealth Law Journal: Vol. 8, No. 1, pp. 93-116.
Novel Colitis Immunotherapy Targets Bin1 and Improves Colon Cell Barrier Function

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is associated with defects in colonic epithelial barriers as well as inflammation of the colon mucosa resulting from the recruitment of lymphocytes and neutrophils in the lamina propria. Patients afflicted with UC are at increased risk of colorectal cancer. Currently, UC management employs general anti-inflammatory strategies associated with a variety of side effects, including heightened risks of infection, in patients where the therapy is variably effective. Thus, second generation drugs that can more effectively and selectively limit UC are desired. Building on genetic evidence that attenuation of the Bin1 (Bridging integrator 1) gene can limit UC pathogenicity in the mouse, we pursued Bin1 targeting as a therapeutic option. Mice were injected with a single dose of Bin1 mAb followed by oral administration of 3 % DSS in water for 7 days. In this study, we offer preclinical proof of concept for a monoclonal antibody (mAb) targeting the Bin1 protein that blunts UC pathogenicity in a mouse model of experimental colitis. Administration of Bin1 mAb reduced colitis morbidity in mice; whereas unprotected mice is characterized by severe lesions throughout the mucosa, rupture of the lymphoid follicle, high-level neutrophil and lymphocyte infiltration into the mucosal and submucosal areas, and loss of surface crypts. In vitro studies in human Caco-2 cells showed that Bin1 antibody altered the expression of tight junction proteins and improved barrier function. Our results suggest that a therapy based on Bin1 monoclonal antibody supporting mucosal barrier function and protecting integrity of the lymphoid follicle could offer a novel strategy to treat UC and possibly limit risks of colorectal cancer.
Electron emission following the interaction of slow highly charged ions with solids

The interaction of highly-charged ions with surfaces involves many excitation processes of the surface atoms and the bulk material. One such process, the emission of electrons from surfaces due to the potential energy of the incident ions has been studied. The experimental results presented here confirm that the majority of electrons emitted as a result of highly-charged ions interacting with a solid surface have energies of about 20 eV. Auger processes contribute a smaller fraction of the total emitted electrons with increasing Z of the projectile. This contribution to the total electron emission yield is found to be less than 5% for Ne{sup 9+} and less than 1% for Ar{sup 18+}. For Z{>=} 54, no Auger electrons were detected. The early indications that the total number of emitted low energy electrons increases linearly with charge have been demonstrated not to hold for q {>=} 18.
Application of Image Recognition Technology to Vehicles

Image recognition technology used in driver assistance systems can be categorized into viewing cameras for displaying images from around the vehicle and sensing cameras that detect the driving environment using image recognition technology. This field is evolving rapidly due to the development of image recognition technologies, higher performance processors, and cost reductions. Recent advances in technology have enabled the statistical pattern recognition of difficult-to-define shapes such as vehicles, pedestrians, and the like and their practical application to driver warning and vehicle control functions. Keywords: image recognition; driver assistance; pattern recognition; camera; object recognition; visibility recognition
Distribution of protozoa in subsurface sediments of a pristine groundwater study site in Oklahoma

Sediment core samples were obtained at a groundwater study site in Oklahoma in January and June 1985. Most-probable-number estimates showed that protozoan numbers declined steeply with depth in subsoil. Flagellates and amoebae dominated the protozoan population, which declined to a most probable number of 28 · g (dry weight) −1 in a clay loam layer at the bottom of the unsaturated zone. Samples from a texturally variable interface zone between 3 and 4 m down also were variable in their content of protozoa. Four contiguous clay loam samples in a single core from this zone contained variable numbers of amoebae ranging from 0.2 to 44 · g (dry weight) −1 . However, a sandy clay loam layer at the bottom of the core contained a mixture of flagellates and amoebae with a combined population density of 67 · g (dry weight) −1 . A slow-growing filose amoeba was isolated from interface zone samples and was tentatively classified in a new family in the order Aconchulinida. Protozoa were not detected in the saturated zone except in a very permeable gravelly, loamy sand layer at a depth of approximately 7.5 m. Low numbers (4 to 6 · g [dry weight] −1 ) of surface-type flagellates and amoebae, as well as the filose amoeba seen in the interface zone, were observed in this layer. Acid-treated and untreated samples contained equivalent numbers of protozoa, showing that the majority of protozoa in the layer at 7.5 m and the interface zone samples were encysted. Increased numbers of bacteria also were found in the layer at 7.5 m, indicating that it was biologically more active than other saturated-zone layers. Cyanobacteria grew in illuminated samples from this layer, suggesting that it may be connected hydrologically to a nearby river. Images
Oliver Goldsmith, M.D.

Excerpt With no other medical poet is the dignified doctoral prefix more commonly employed. He was "Dr. Goldsmith" to Boswell and the Johnson circle, and his contemporaries almost without exception...
The Cell Wall of Rickettsia mooseri I. Morphology and Chemical Composition

Cell walls prepared by mechanically disrupting intact Rickettsia mooseri (R. typhi) were examined in an electron microscope and analyzed chemically. Electron micrographs of metal-shadowed and negatively stained rickettsial cell walls revealed no significant differences, except for smaller size, from bacterial cell walls prepared in a similar manner. The chemical composition was complex, and resembled that of gram-negative bacterial cell walls more closely than that of gram-positive bacterial cell walls. R. mooseri cell walls contained the sugars, glucose, galactose, and glucuronic acid, the amino sugars, glucosamine, and muramic acid, and at least 15 amino acids. Diaminopimelic acid, a compound hitherto found only in bacteria and blue-green algae, was demonstrated in rickettsiae for the first time. Teichoic acids were not detected. The compounds identified accounted for about 70% of the dry weight of the cell walls.
Venous circulation in lower extremities following femoral vein interruption.

D URINC: the past fifteen years the operation of femoral vein interruption, originally introduced by Homans, 1 has been used with varying frequency by different clinics for the prevention of pulmonary embolism. Since a broad program of femoral vein interruption a.~ a prophrlactic measure necessarily entails, in many instances, the interruption of veins which are normal, it has been of some interest to evaluate the effect, of this procedure on the venous return frorn limbs which, prior to the procedure, were ostensibly normal. Clinical evaluations of such patients have been rnade.‘MG These evaluations have shown little evidence of damage to t,he venous drainage of the limb provided the interruption had been performed distal to the larger collateral venous trunks in the femoral triangle. The activity of the paGent may, however, decrease greatly following the primary illness for which he was treated, and for this reason reports of such clinical evaluations may not be entirely tenable. Furthermore, bandaging of t,he extremity may be used to forestall edema and thus mask sequelae. The introduction of the walking venous pressure test as a method for the objective evaluation of the efficiency of the venous return is o has prompted us to study, by means of this test, the extremities of a group of patients in whom the operation of superficial femoral vein interruption was performed. The results of the walking venous pressure test in ext,remities in which diseased femoral veins had been interrupted have been reported before.’ The patients presented below had normal veins prior to superficial femoral vein interruption, and did not develop postinterruption thrombosis.
From distance and uncertainty to research and pedagogy in the Borderlands: implications for the future of intercultural communication

Thus, their new subjectivity emerges in the process of drawing borders around their old subject positions, a process that constitutes them as nascent specular border intellectuals. Their contemplation of the condition of their lives represents a freedom, or at least an attempt to have freedom, from the politics of imaginary identification and opposition, from conflation of identity and location, and so on - in short, from the varied and powerful forms of suturing that are represented by and instrumental in the construction of their sedimented culture. The process of decoding as well as the emerging command of literacy permits them a gradual shift from the confines of the imaginary to the outer edges of the symbolic realm.
Design of isoform-selective phospholipase D inhibitors that modulate cancer cell invasiveness

Phospholipase D (PLD) is an essential enzyme responsible for the production of the lipid second messenger phosphatidic acid. Phosphatidic acid participates in both G protein-coupled receptor and receptor tyrosine kinase signal transduction networks. The lack of potent and isoform-selective inhibitors has limited progress in defining the cellular roles of PLD. We used a diversity-oriented synthetic approach and developed a library of PLD inhibitors with considerable pharmacological characterization. Here we report the rigorous evaluation of that library, which contains highly potent inhibitors, including the first isoform-selective PLD inhibitors. Specific members of this series inhibit isoforms with >100-fold selectivity both in vitro and in cells. A subset of inhibitors was shown to block invasiveness in metastatic breast cancer models. These findings demonstrate the power of diversity-oriented synthesis combined with biochemical assays and mass spectrometric lipid profiling of cellular responses to develop the first isoform-selective PLD inhibitors--a new class of antimetastatic agents.
Determination of practically significant differences in the sensorily perceived consistency of semiliquid foods

The consistency of commercial salad dressing, chocolate pudding and mustard samples before and after controlled disruption was assessed by squeezing flow viscometry and evaluated sensorily by an untrained panel. The instrumental parameters were the apparent stress at 1.5 and 1.0 mm height and the apparent residual stress after 60 and 120 s relaxation (at 1.0 mm height). The panelists were asked to identiff the sample(s) with the stronger consistency in a triangular test. The percent correct identifications was plotted against the difference in the magnitude of the instrumental parameters and their ratios. The scatter of these plots suggests that the effective stimulus for consistency perception was primarily the overall resistance to deformation or flow and to a much lesser extent to more subtle rheological characteristics like the 'degree of solidity'. In the range of consistencies examined, the detection thresholds were on the order of 0.5-0.7 kPa and 0.4-0.6 kPa at 1.0 and 1.5 mm height, respectively. They corresponded to stress ratios on the order of 0.75-0.85. Results of this kind will enable setting objective standards for the consistency of commercial semi liquid foods and tolerance margins to deviations from them.
Paternity and Maternity in the Mediterranean: Foundations for Patriarchy:

This article explores anthropological insights about procreation to consider the meaning of Jesus' birth to a virgin. The reason the authors of the infancy narratives used virginal conception to in...
Priming with nano-aerosolized water and sequential dip-washing with hydrogen peroxide: An efficient sanitization method to inactivate Salmonella Typhimurium LT2 on spinach

Abstract This work investigates the efficacy of a combined sanitization approach involving pretreatment of nano-aerosolized water followed by H2O2 dip-washing against Salmonella Typhimurium LT2 on spinach. The addition of a pretreatment step utilizing nano-aerosolized water for 5 min significantly increased the sanitization efficacy: The number of surviving bacteria was 5.2 ± 0.8 CFU/g, 4.7 ± 0.2 CFU/g, and 1.1 ± 1.1 CFU/g for H2O2 dip-washing only, H2O2 spraying only, and for the combined treatment, respectively. The enhanced efficacy of the combined treatment was attributed to the ability of nano-aerosolized water to reach and fill crevices that tended to form micro airpockets with the liquid (bulk) sanitizer. Overall, these findings may suggest that a short priming step involving nano-aerosolized water may be incorporated in traditional liquid sanitization approaches to enhance their effectiveness.
Utilization of 1-oxa-2,2-(dimesityl)silacyclopentane acetals in the stereoselective synthesis of polyols.

We have developed a route for the stereoselective synthesis of 1-oxa-2,2-(dimesityl)silacyclopentane acetals, intermediates in the synthesis of highly functionalized 1,3-diols. This route involves a diastereoselective conjugate addition reaction of a hydrosilyl anion, a subsequent diastereoselective enolate alkylation, and a fluoride-catalyzed intramolecular hydrosilylation reaction to afford the oxasilacyclopentane acetal. A highly selective nucleophilic substitution reaction, followed by oxidation of the C−Si bond, leads to the desired polyol.
Kinetics and Initial Stages of Bismuth Telluride Electrodeposition

The kinetics and initial stages of Bi 2 Te 3 electrodeposition on gold from an aqueous electrolyte composed of bismuth and telluryl ions and nitric acid were investigated using voltammetry and chronopotentiometry. For tellurium alone, it is found that the reduction of tellurium ions to tellurium occurs with four exchanging electrons at -0.05 V vs Ag/AgCl (3 M KCl). At -0.6 V, tellurium reduces to H 2 Te under kinetic control and the following simultaneous diffusion-controlled reaction occurs with one exchange electron per tellurium atom: HTeO + 2 + H 2 Te + H + + 2e - → 2Te + 2H 2 O. Bismuth telluride deposition starts at more positive potential than bismuth and tellurium deposit individually. It is suggested that the electrodeposition of Bi 2 Te 3 proceeds via a Stransky-Krastanov mechanism. From the Bard correction to the Sand equation, the diffusion coefficients of bismuth and telluryl ions were determined to be 1.90 X 10 -5 and 1.39 X 10 -6 cm 2 /s, respectively, in the investigated solutions. Due to the low diffusivity and solubility of telluryl ions, the limiting current density for Bi 2 Te 3 deposition in the investigated solution is low; it is only 2 mA/cm 2 . Above the limiting current density, a smooth deposit cannot be obtained without agitation. A smooth deposit can be achieved when the depletion of anions is eliminated.
Value-based action selection for observation with robot teams using probabilistic techniques

Abstract We present an approach for directing next-step movements of robot teams engaged in mapping objects in their environment: Move Value Estimation for Robot Teams (MVERT). Resulting robot paths tend to optimize vantage points for all robots on the team by maximizing information gain. At each step, each robot selects a movement to maximize the utility (in this case, reduction in uncertainty) of its next observation. Trajectories are not guaranteed to be optimal, but team behavior serves to maximize the team's knowledge since each robot considers the observational contributions of team mates. MVERT is evaluated in simulation by measuring the resulting uncertainty about target locations compared to that obtained by robots acting without regard to team mate locations and to that of global optimization over all robots for each single step. Additionally, MVERT is demonstrated on physical teams of robots. The qualitative behavior of the team is appropriate and close to the single-step optimal set of trajectories.
A Proper Relaxation of Controls with Variable Shifts

Abstract In a previous paper written jointly with Q. J. Zhu (1992, J. Math. Anal. Appl. 169 , 546-561) we studied optimal control problems defined by functional-integral equations (and, in particular, ordinary differential equations) with shifts in the controls and with the shifted controls not necessarily separated (i.e., either additively or nonadditively coupled). In that paper it was assumed that the domain of the state and control functions is a cartesian product of an interval with a compact metric space and that each shift h j , j = 1, ..., k , has a one-dimensional component of the form t 1 − d j , where d 1 , ..., d k are constant, possibly noncommensurate, delays and advances. In the present note we extend those results to the case where each d j is replaced by a function d j (·) that may vary and take on, at different times, both positive and nonpositive values.
Frenchville French: A case study in phonological attrition

This paper investigates the phonetic and phonological properties of a contracting variety of French spoken in Frenchville, PA, a linguistic enclave community. Specifically, we analyze a pattern of convergence versus preservation that cannot be convincingly explained or understood given current proposals of the process of phonological convergence and attrition in a bilingual contact situation. We demonstrate that our speakers preserve some low level information while sacrificing other phonetic details. In the case under investigation, there is a gradient replacement of the French mid front rounded vowels with an English-like rhoticized schwa but our speakers maintain language specific, phonetically distinct rhotic consonants. We argue that the patterns of loss versus maintenance that emerge are not necessarily driven by the need to preserve contrastive features with a high functional load. Equally plausible accounts for these patterns may lie in acoustic salience, the sociolinguistic marking of identity, and competition between articulatory demands.
Ectopic spleen mimicking an intrinsic fundal lesion of the stomach

This report describes the case of an elderly man with severe pulmonary disease, who had radiographic evidence of a mass involving the fundus of the stomach, which was thought to be a neoplasm that was growing slowly. Abdominal exploratory operation was obviated when a combination of newer technics for study of the upper gastrointestinal tract revealed that the defect was was produced by the impingement of the patient's spleen, which was normal except for its ectopic position. Selective abdominal angiography revealed that the blood supply to the mass was provided by the splenic artery and vein. Scintillation scanning demonstrated that injured red blood cells were sequestered in the mass, a normal function of the spleen. A flexible fiberoptic gastroscope permitted visualization of the mucosa in the fundic and cardioesophageal regions of the stomach and demonstrated that there was no neoplasm of the gastric mucosa in the region of the defect demonstrated in the fundus of the stomach.
The Dialectics of Piracy in Somalia: the rich versus the poor

Abstract Somali piracy has been poorly understood and consequently the international strategy designed to curtail it has not worked. Because of this mismatch some of the pirates have extended their exploits deep into the Indian Ocean. This article provides an analysis which shows that several pirate types driven by different logics have operated along the Somali coast and all but one of these pirates emerged as a result of the Somali state's disintegration. In contrast, pirates in other Third World regions operate under established states. Therefore, we argue that piracy is not only a matter of robbery on the high seas, but that political economy and conflict over resources have been fundamental to the rise of piracy in the region. The article offers a more refined assessment of the piracy in the region, as well as a critical appraisal of the moral economy of Somali pirates which yields an alternative method of understanding and curbing the problem.
Assessing the Core and Dimensional Approaches: Human Resource Management in Public, Private, and Charter Schools

There is a long-standing debate in public administration as to the differences and similarities in management practices across sectors. A number of scholars have argued for market-based reforms as a means to transform and improve public sector services, including the educational system. Charter schools have emerged as a reform that proposes to improve the educational system through choice, competition, and autonomy from the bureaucracy of traditional public school districts, but their implications are not fully understood. This mixed-method study analyzes differences in human resource management practices across traditional public, charter, and private schools, with a focus on formalization and autonomy. In support of other research on public-private management differences, this analysis suggests that traditional public schools are more formalized and have less autonomy than private and charter schools. Findings provide support for the utility of a core approach that distinguishes between public and priva...
Inhibition of de novo choline biosynthesis by 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol

Abstract Evidence has been obtained which supports the conclusion that the chronic administration of 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol to young rats produces an inhibition of the incorporation of the methyl group of methionine into lipid-bound choline of liver, kidney, and other tissues. The incorporation of formate-C14, glycine-2-C14, and serine-3-C14, but not of betaine-CH3-C14, is also inhibited. The incorporation of choline-CH3-C14 or choline-1,2-C14 is not affected under the same conditions. In vivo, the extent of inhibition increases with the duration of administration of aminomethylpropanol and reaches a maximal value after 5–6 days. No acute effect of the compound is seen in vivo, but an acute effect can be demonstrated in vitro. The inhibitory effect of chronically administered aminomethylpropanol in vivo is not affected by the acute administration of relatively large amounts of choline along with the l -methionine-CH3-C14. However, the chronic administration of sufficient quantities of choline together with the aminomethylpropanol prevents the inhibitory effect of the latter. These results, together with the lack of a demonstratable acute effect of aminomethylpropanol in vivo, have been interpreted as possibly indicating that 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol only becomes an inhibitor of de novo choline synthesis after it has become transformed, perhaps to a lipid-bound state.
The Effect of Choline and Vitamin B12 Concentrates on Growth in the Turkey Poult

Abstract Gillis and Norris (1949a, b) and Schafer, Salmon and Strength (1949) have reported a sparing effect of vitamin B12 on the chick’s requirement for methylating compounds. McGinnis et al. (1949) observed that turkey poults responded differently to vitamin B12 supplements produced by fermentation with different organisms. In the experiment reported here, two commercial products, (1) a vitamin B12 concentrate absorbed on charcoal and (2) an animal protein factor concentrate, were fed to turkey poults with various levels of dietary choline. The entire experiment was replicated three times, with ten poults per lot in the first and second replicates, and five per lot in the third replicate. Day old Broad Breasted Bronze poults from the poultry department’s breeding flock were used. The diet fed the breeding flock contained five percent fish meal and five percent meat scraps. The basal diet fed had the following percentage composition: yellow corn meal, 50.9; crude . . .
Ivor Lewis esophagogastrectomy for carcinoma of the esophagus: early and late functional results

One hundred adult patients underwent Ivor Lewis esophagogastrectomy for documented carcinoma of the esophagus from 1980 through 1982. After operation, 7 patients were classified in Stage I, 11 in Stage II, and 82 in Stage III. Major postoperative complications occurred in 27 patients and included pulmonary problems in 11, suture line leak in 9, wound infection in 5, empyema in 4, renal failure in 4, abdominal abscess in 4, bleeding in 2, myocardial infarction in 2, and chylothorax in 1. There were 3 deaths within 30 days of operation. Five-year survival was 85.7% for patients with Stage I disease, 34.1% for patients with Stage II disease (p = .052), and 15.2% for patients with Stage III disease (p = .001). Late morbidity included weight loss in 60 patients, dysphagia in 40, gastroesophageal reflux in 14, and gastroduodenal dumping in 5. Thirty-one patients required postoperative esophageal dilations (mean, 3.4). Most patients, however, were eating without dysphagia at the time of last follow-up or death. We conclude that the Ivor Lewis esophagogastrectomy can be performed with low mortality, can provide adequate palliation, and does result in satisfactory long-term survival for those patients with more favorable postsurgical stages of cancer. These results support the continued use of the Ivor Lewis esophagogastrectomy for treatment of carcinoma of the esophagus.
THE t-SNARE SYNTAXIN IS SUFFICIENT FOR SPONTANEOUS FUSION OF SYNAPTIC VESICLES TO PLANAR MEMBRANES

Abstract Vesicular trafficking and exocytosis are directed by the complementary interaction of membrane proteins that together form the SNARE complex. This complex is composed of proteins in the vesicle membrane (v-SNAREs) that intertwine with proteins of the target membrane (t-SNAREs). Here we show that modified synaptic vesicles (mSV), containing v-SNAREs, spontaneously fuse to planar membranes containing the t-SNARE, syntaxin 1A. Fusion was Ca 2+ -independent and did not occur with vesicles lacking v-SNAREs. Therefore, syntaxin alone forms a functional fusion complex with v-SNAREs. Our functional fusion assay uses synaptic vesicles that are modified, so each fusion event results in an observable transient current. The mSV do not fuse with protein-free membranes. Additionally, artificial vesicles lacking v-SNAREs do not fuse with membranes containing syntaxin. This technique can be adapted to measure fusion in other SNARE systems and should enable the identification of proteins critical to vesicle–membrane fusion. This will further our understanding of exocytosis and may improve targeting and delivery of therapeutic agents packaged in vesicles.
Identification of cytochromes P450 1A2, 2A1, 2C7, 2E1 in rat glioma C6 cell line by RT-PCR and specific restriction enzyme digestion

Reverse transcription (RT)/polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect the expression of six isoforms of cytochrome P450 which belong to five P450 subfamilies in rat glioma C6 cell line. P450 1A2, 2A1, 2C7, 2E1 were identified by RT-PCR in all samples, including untreated cells as well as cells treated with phenobarbital (PB) or benzo(a)anthracene (BA). P450 3A and 2C11 were not detected in our glioma samples although they were detected in liver tissues in our previous study. To confirm proper PCR products, various restriction enzymes were used to digest the PCR fragments and the expected digestion patterns were obtained. These results demonstrate for the first time that glioma C6 cells, representing a single cell type of rat central nervous system (CNS), contain a P450-dependent metabolism system which seems important for understanding drug metabolism, neurotransmission as well as tumor etiology and chemotherapy in brain.