cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Roll-in experience from the Cardiovascular Outcomes with Renal Atherosclerotic Lesions (CORAL) study.

Abstract Purpose To describe the experience and results from the roll-in phase of the Cardiovascular Outcomes with Renal Atherosclerotic Lesions (CORAL) study. Materials and Methods The CORAL roll-in database was used to describe the baseline characteristics of the patients in the roll-in cohort, all of whom underwent renal artery stent placement; to evaluate CORAL site performance; to compare estimates of lesion (stenosis) severity made by site interventionalists with the central CORAL angiographic core laboratory readings; and to report outcomes after renal artery stent placement. During the roll-in phase, 239 patients (mean age, 70.2 y ± 9.0; 49% male) underwent renal artery stent procedures. Angiographic core laboratory analysis of renal arteriograms was done, and participants were followed at 1 month and 9 months. Results Major angiographic complications were identified in 28 (13%) subjects. Kidney function remained unchanged at the short (2–4 weeks) follow-up interval. Improvement in systolic blood pressure with use of distal embolic protection devices (n = 161) did not show any clinical benefit over nonuse of such devices (n = 78) in this small series. At 9 months, there were significantly more endpoints reported by site in subjects with bilateral renal artery stenosis ( P = .01) and prior history of stroke ( P = .03). Conclusions In the roll-in phase of the CORAL study, a significant number of angiographic complications were identified. No effect was seen on estimated glomerular filtration rate after renal artery stent placement, but systolic blood pressure decreased significantly.
Response of Baiomys taylori to Changes in Density of Imported Fire Ants

We examined the response of the northern pygmy mouse ( Baiomys taylori ) to two densities of the red imported fire ant ( Solenopsis invictd ) in a 17-month field experiment conducted ca. 60 km north of Corpus Christi, Texas. Colonies of fire ants were removed from one-half of each of two sampling grids. In the postremoval period, there were significantly more new captures of Baiomys in areas of low density of ants than in areas of original density. Time required to recruit five worker S. invicta to bait cups placed around burrows used by Baiomys was significantly longer than the time required to recruit to bait around random points, indicating burrows were not located randomly with respect to foraging activity of fire ants.
Experimental verification of an accelerated test for predicting the lifetime of organic fiber composites

We have experimentally tested a model which is used to predict the stress-rupture lifetime of organic fiber composites. The experiment consisted of a series of accelerated stress-rupture tests in which an aramid fiber impregnated with an epoxy resin was subjected to high temperatures and stresses. The resulting data were used to generate the model's material constants. The model was then used to predict the median lifetime of the composite at stresses and temperatures lower than those of the accelerated tests. A comparison of the model-predicted lifetimes at 25/sup 0/C with 4 years of known stress-rupture data at room temperature showed that the experimental data were in good agreement with model-predicted values. In a statistical analysis of the results, a Weibull distribution function with temperature-dependent parameters was assumed to describe the variability of lifetimes about the median lifetime.
Fluorescence Fluctuation Spectroscopy in the Presence of Hydrodynamic Flow to Determine Protein Stoichiometry at Ultra Low Concentrations

Fluorescence fluctuation spectroscopy (FFS) provides information about transport parameters, concentration, and interactions of fluorescently labeled molecules. One important FFS parameter is brightness which provides information about the stoichiometry of protein complexes. Here we consider the application of FFS to large protein complexes, such as viruses. FFS measurements of such systems typically require very long data acquisition times due to the low concentration and slow diffusion of the large particles. In order to overcome this drawback we apply hydrodynamic flow, which results in an increased flux of particles passing through the optical observation volume. This technique significantly reduces the data acquisition time of brightness experiments, while extending brightness analysis to femtomolar concentrations. The technique was developed using a test system of fluorescently labeled microspheres flowing through microfluidic channels to investigate the effect flow speed, particle size and brightness on FFS parameters. Finally this technique was extended to determine the copy number of fluorescently labeled Gag protein in viral-like particles present in cell medium. This work is supported by NIH grant R01GM064589.
On the power function of the exact test for ther×c contingency table

LetN=[n ij ] (i=1, …,r;j=1, …,c) be the matrix of observed frequencies in anr×c contingency table fromr possibly different multinomial populations with respective probabilitiesp i =(p i1, …,p ic ).Freeman andHalton have proposed an exact conditional test for the hypothesisH 0 :p i =(p 1, …p c ) of the exact test is derived. Numerical values forβ(p) were previously computed for the special case:r=3,c=2 [Bennett andNakamura, 1964].
Leverage, local influence and curvature in nonlinear regression

SUMMARY The connections between measures of leverage, statistical curvature, and the local influence of a mean-shift perturbation are explored in nonlinear regression models. The circumstances under which the Jacobian leverage reduces to a commonly-used linear approximation are found to be connected to the effective residual curvature of the nonlinear model. The local influence of a mean-shift perturbation in the model function is seen to be closely related to the Jacobian leverage.
Sedimentation of newly produced particulate organic matter in a subtropical inlet, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii

Sinking material was collected every week with sediment traps for a 13-month period in a subtropical inlet, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. A ratio method was applied to distinguish sedimentation from resuspension. No seasonality was observed in the sedimentation rate. An annual average of 73±6% of the total material trapped had been resuspended. The resuspension rate appeared to be controlled by wind speed (P
Mediators for the oxidation of glutathione and other biological thiols

Abstract The oxidations of glutathione, cysteine, cysteine methyl ester, and penicillamine do not occur readily at electrode surfaces without the use of a mediator. We report here the use of one vanadium compound and two ruthenium compounds as solution mediators for the oxidation of such biological thiols. The vanadium compound, Amavadine, is an effective mediator for these substrates in aqueous solution at a glassy carbon electrode. The ruthenium compounds were used in DMSO. In each case, the substrate is oxidized at the potential of the mediator itself. These are far positive of the literature values for homogeneous solution oxidation, but this effect is common for such catalyzed reactions.
Electrophysiological and contractile function of cardiomyocytes derived from human embryonic stem cells

Human embryonic stem cells have emerged as the prototypical source from which cardiomyocytes can be derived for use in drug discovery and cell therapy. However, such applications require that these cardiomyocytes (hESC-CMs) faithfully recapitulate the physiology of adult cells, especially in relation to their electrophysiological and contractile function. We review what is known about the electrophysiology of hESC-CMs in terms of beating rate, action potential characteristics, ionic currents, and cellular coupling as well as their contractility in terms of calcium cycling and contraction. We also discuss the heterogeneity in cellular phenotypes that arises from variability in cardiac differentiation, maturation, and culture conditions, and summarize present strategies that have been implemented to reduce this heterogeneity. Finally, we present original electrophysiological data from optical maps of hESC-CM clusters.
A reconfigurable computing framework for multi-scale cellular image processing

Cellular computing architectures represent an important class of computation that are characterized by simple processing elements, local interconnect and massive parallelism. These architectures are a good match for many image and video processing applications and can be substantially accelerated with Reconfigurable Computers. We present a flexible software/hardware framework for design, implementation and automatic synthesis of cellular image processing algorithms. The system provides an extremely flexible set of parallel, pipelined and time-multiplexed components which can be tailored through reconfigurable hardware for particular applications. The most novel aspects of our framework include a highly pipelined architecture for multi-scale cellular image processing as well as support for several different pattern recognition applications. In this paper, we will describe the system in detail and present our performance assessments. The system achieved speed-up of at least 100x for computationally expensive sub-problems and 10x for end-to-end applications compared to software implementations.
Toward objective analysis for electroencephalic audiometry.

Middle-component AERs (8–90 msec) to tone-pips from 10 normal-hearing adults were subjected to three objective methods of response identification. Threshold was then determined for each subject acc...
Stereoselective Formation and Metabolism of 4-Hydroxy-Retinoic Acid Enantiomers by Cytochrome P450 Enzymes

All-trans-retinoic acid (atRA), the major active metabolite of vitamin A, plays a role in many biological processes, including maintenance of epithelia, immunity, and fertility and regulation of apoptosis and cell differentiation. atRA is metabolized mainly by CYP26A1, but other P450 enzymes such as CYP2C8 and CYP3As also contribute to atRA 4-hydroxylation. Although the primary metabolite of atRA, 4-OH-RA, possesses a chiral center, the stereochemical course of atRA 4-hydroxylation has not been studied previously. (4S)- and (4R)-OH-RA enantiomers were synthesized and separated by chiral column HPLC. CYP26A1 was found to form predominantly (4S)-OH-RA. This stereoselectivity was rationalized via docking of atRA in the active site of a CYP26A1 homology model. The docked structure showed a well defined niche for atRA within the active site and a specific orientation of the β-ionone ring above the plane of the heme consistent with stereoselective abstraction of the hydrogen atom from the pro-(S)-position. In contrast to CYP26A1, CYP3A4 formed the 4-OH-RA enantiomers in a 1:1 ratio and CYP3A5 preferentially formed (4R)-OH-RA. Interestingly, CYP3A7 and CYP2C8 preferentially formed (4S)-OH-RA from atRA. Both (4S)- and (4R)-OH-RA were substrates of CYP26A1 but (4S)-OH-RA was cleared 3-fold faster than (4R)-OH-RA. In addition, 4-oxo-RA was formed from (4R)-OH-RA but not from (4S)-OH-RA by CYP26A1. Overall, these findings show that (4S)-OH-RA is preferred over (4R)-OH-RA by the enzymes regulating atRA homeostasis. The stereoselectivity observed in CYP26A1 function will aid in better understanding of the active site features of the enzyme and the disposition of biologically active retinoids.
Regular expansion solutions for heat or mass transfer in concentrated two-phase particulate systems at small peclet and reynolds numbers

Abstract General solutions for small Peclet number heat or mass transfer in concentrated two-phase particulate systems submerged in arbitrary Stokesian flows with arbitrary temperature or concentration boundary conditions were obtained using regular perturbation expansions of the dependent variable in powers of the Peclet number. Uniformly valid solutions for all orders of approximation were obtained within the domain of interest, subject to a restriction imposed on the value of the Peclet number by the dimensions of that domain. The solutions were specialized to cases of practical interest. For a particulate system submerged in a uniform flow with a linear temperature gradient in the direction of flow, the results reduced to those of Maxwell for effective electrical conductivity of a composite medium. Specific relations were also obtained for local and overall interfacial fluxes and Nusselt numbers. The results reflect the effects of particle volume fraction and retardation of internal circulation by surfactant impurities.
Ceramic membrane characterization via the bubble point technique

Abstract Porous membranes having nanometer and smaller pores challenge existing characterization methods. An easy, fast and inexpensive method to determine the maximum pore size and the pore size distribution is offered by the bubble point technique. Several methods based on similar principles have been presented in the literature. Here the original bubble point test and a liquid-liquid variation are considered. Two types of ceramic membranes with very different morphologies have been characterized with these methods in our labs. Results obtained for Anodisc® flat disc membranes with straight, non-intersecting pores using binary and ternary probing liquid systems are in very good agreement with each other and the manufacturers characteristics. On the other hand, analysis of tubular γ-alumina membranes, i.e., Membralox®, resulted in two phase flow within the pores, and hence information about the pore size distribution could not be extracted from these tests.
Electrical Conductance of Directly Compressible Materials under Pressure

An electrometer that allowed direct recording of resistance changes during compression was used to measure the conductances of sodium chloride, potassium chloride, ammonium chloride, and sodium citrate. The effects of initial particle size, lubricant level, moisture content, and compaction pressure were determined. Direct compression tableting diluents also studied were dextrose, sucrose, lactose, microcrystalline cellulose, and dibasic calcium phosphate. Distinctive conductance patterns were observed and are rationalized in terms of previously proposed bonding mechanisms.
Congenital nephrotic syndrome detected by hypothyroid screening.

. Finnegan, J., Slosberg, E., Postellon, D. and Primack, W. (Borgess Medical Center, Kalamazoo, Michigan and Children's Hospital of Michigan, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA). Congenital nephrotic syndrome detected by hypothyroid screening. Acta Pediatr Scand, 69: 705, 1980.—An infant was evaluated for a low thyroxine value, detected on routine neonatal screening for congenital hypothyroidism. She was found to have the congenital nephrotic syndrome, and to be euthyroid with low thyroid binding globulin. Congenital nephrosis can be detected by neonatal screening programs which use thyroxine as the primary screening test, but not by those which use TSH. This may be important in those countries in which the incidence of congenital nephrosis approaches that of congenital hypothyroidism.
Titanium eta1-pyrrolyl complexes: electronic and structural characteristics imposed by the N,N-di(pyrrolyl-alpha-methyl)-N-methylamine (dpma) ligand.

A new tridentate pyrrolyl-based ligand (dpma) has been utilized in the syntheses of two unusual titanium complexes. The trigonal bipyramidal species allow direct structural comparison between dialkylamido, pyrrolyl, and amine ligands within the same coordination sphere. Pyrrolyl ligands have greatly reduced π-donating ability relative to dialkylamides, which leads to Ti−N(pyrrolyl) distances that are ∼0.14 A longer than the dimethylamido substituents. Reduced π-donation relative to dialkylamido by the pyrrolyl substituents seems to result in enhanced Lewis acidity for dpma derivatives.
Measurement of distributor commitment in industrial channels of distribution

Abstract From previous research reported in the organizational behavior and marketing channels literatures, three components of distributor commitment are identified, defined, and measured (continuance, behavioral, and affective commitment). The reliability and construct validity of the proposed measures with data collected in a national survey of industrial distributors are evaluated. Empirical results indicate that three different types of measurement scales—facet, composite, and global—have acceptable levels of reliability, convergent validity, and discriminant validity. Each facet scale of distributor commitment has a distinctive nomological link with other channel constructs.
Net Zero Energy Homes: An Evaluation of Two Homes in the Northeastern United States

Abstract This paper will discuss two Net Zero Energy homes in the United States. The aim is to discuss the differences and similarities in the construction type, energy use, active and renewable systems of the two homes. While each of the homes is designed to achieve net zero site energy use, the design and systems are very different. Furthermore, the measure that is used to qualify a home as net zero energy does not account for the full scope of work on each home. It is suggested that a new set of metrics be developed to allow for a more robust understanding of net zero energy buildings, one that integrates passive design strategies, occupant health and comfort, and durability. The objective is to facilitate a broader understanding of efficient and sustainable residential design. This understanding is critical to bringing Net Zero Energy Buildings to the public.
Localization of enkephalin immunoreactivity in diverse tissues and cells of the developing and adult rat

The distribution of enkephalin, an endogenous opioid, in tissues and cells of the developing and adult rat was determined by immunocytochemistry with antibodies to met- and leu-enkephalin. Met- and leu-enkephalin were found in all developing cells investigated, with staining generally located throughout the cytoplasm; cell nuclei were not immunoreactive. In comparison to developing cells, immunoreactive analogues to met-enkephalin were usually difficult to detect in the adult. Some notable exceptions were reaction products in leukocytes in blood, lung, and cortex of thymus, fibroblasts in the skin, and seminiferous tubules. These results, in concert with earlier reports that opioid receptors are found largely in developing, but not adult, tissues, indicate that endogenous opioids are specifically involved in biological development, particularly cell proliferation and differentiation. Immunoreactivity in adult nonneural cells may be related to their development in some cases, but also could indicate other functions.
Comment: Debt and Migration: The Ixil in the Global Circuit of Capital

Stoll has provided us with a tragic portrait of people desperately seeking to improve their economic fortunes by incurring debt in the slim hope of finding employment in the United States. The story is a familiar one and has parallels to the practice of indentured servitude in the seventeenth and eighteenth cen turies; indeed, I would not be surprised to find evidence of debt-financed migration going back to the origins of debt itself (mentioned numerous times in the Old Testament). The tragedy Stoll brings to our attention is that the debt incurred by the Ixil, rather than providing them with the leverage to increase their earnings through employment in the United States, has had the effect of creating a greater financial burden, reducing their assets (already close to zero), and destroying familial and social bonds. As tragic as this story is, it is not new or unique to the Ixil; it is simply another instance of the ongoing evo lution of capitalist relations, sacrificing social bonds on the altar of the cash nexus.
The Likelihood Ratio Test with the Box–Cox Transformation for the Normal Mixture Problem: Power and Sample Size Study

Abstract Through simulation and regression, we study the alternative distribution of the likelihood ratio test in which the null hypothesis postulates that the data are from a normal distribution after a restricted Box–Cox transformation and the alternative hypothesis postulates that they are from a mixture of two normals after a restricted (possibly different) Box–Cox transformation. The number of observations in the sample is called N. The standardized distance between components (after transformation) is D = (μ2 − μ1)/σ, where μ1 and μ2 are the component means and σ2 is their common variance. One component contains the fraction π of observed, and the other 1 − π. The simulation results demonstrate a dependence of power on the mixing proportion, with power decreasing as the mixing proportion differs from 0.5. The alternative distribution appears to be a non-central chi-squared with approximately 2.48 + 10N −0.75 degrees of freedom and non-centrality parameter 0.174N(D − 1.4)2 × [π(1 − π)]. At least 900 ...
Ursodiol and Colorectal Cancer or Dysplasia Risk in Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis and Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Meta-Analysis

Patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and colonic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) demonstrate increased risk of colorectal cancer. Prior studies have yielded conflicting information on the relationship between ursodiol (UDCA) and the risk of colorectal cancer or dysplasia in this group. To examine the impact of UDCA on risk of colorectal cancer or dysplasia in adult PSC and IBD patients. A systematic review and meta-analysis of case–control and cohort studies was performed. Subgroup analysis compared the effects of “low-to-medium” (<25 mg/kg/day) versus “high” dose (≥25 mg/kg/day) UDCA exposures. Inclusion and exclusion criteria, as well as all variables, were determined a priori. Seven papers, with 707 participants and greater than 5,751 person-years of follow-up time, met the criteria for final analysis. The overall pooled relative risk using a random effects model was not statistically significant (RR = 0.87, 95 % CI 0.51–1.49, p = 0.62). Subgroup analysis by UDCA dose category in a random effects model was not statistically significant (RR = 0.64, 95 % CI 0.38–1.07, p = 0.09), but suggested a possible trend in risk reduction at low-to-medium-dose exposures that may warrant further investigation. UDCA use was not associated with risk of colorectal cancer or dysplasia in adult PSC and IBD patients, but UDCA dose was a source of heterogeneity across studies. Subgroup analysis suggests a possible trend toward decreased colorectal cancer risk in low-to-medium-dose exposures. Additional study of UDCA treatments at low doses in PSC and IBD patients may be warranted.
Bacteremia Following Dental Extractions in Patients with and without Penicillin Prophylaxis

This study describes the type, rate and magnitude of bacteremia in 128 patients undergoing dental extractions with and without penicillin prophylaxis. The most prolonged and highest rates of bacteremia occurred in patients undergoing extractions and alveoplasty while under general anesthesia following nasotracheal intubation. The most common aerobes in patients receiving no penicillin were streptococci. Bacteroides sp. were detected most often in patients receiving penicillin prophylaxis. The overall bacteremia, streptococcal and polymicrobial bacteremia rates were lowest for the patients receiving penicillin. Only two of 66 patients given penicillin prophylaxis had recoverable streptococci in blood cultures. Our study indicates that both intravenous and oral penicillin G prophylaxis for dental extractions decreased bacteremia rates significantly, including the recovery of streptococci.
Isotopic evidence for lithospheric thinning during extension: Southeastern Great Basin

Mafic rocks erupted during late Cenozoic extension near Las Vegas, Nevada, show temporal patterns of variation in Nd and Sr isotope ratios and in bulk chemistry. The patterns indicate that depths of magma generation were varying through time and that lithospheric mantle was partially replaced with asthenospheric mantle as extension proceeded. In alkalic rocks, {epsilon}{sub Nd} changed through time from {minus}9.1 (typical of lithospheric mantle in this area) before the onset of major (16 Ma) extension to +6.4 (typical of asthenospheric mantle) after extension (4.6 Ma). Near the end of the period of major extension (10-6 Ma), tholeiitic rocks erupted, the {epsilon}{sub Nd} of which ranged from {minus}10.1 to {minus}7.9; this indicates that the lithosphere had not thinned sufficiently by that time to bring asthenospheric mantle into the depth range of tholeiitic magma generation (33-50 km). The lithosphere in the Las Vegas area appears to have thinned by about 50%, less than would be predicted by the magnitude of upper crustal extension (a factor of 3 or 4), and indicative of a nonuniform lithospheric response to extension.
The Mechanism by Which Ionic Liquids Enable Shilov-Type CH Activation in an Oxidizing Medium

Quantum mechanical studies on methane CH activation catalyzed by PtCl_2 in concentrated H_2SO_4 and ionic liquid solution show that the effect of the ionic liquid is to enable Shilov-like chemistry in an oxidizing medium, by solvating the otherwise insoluble PtCl_2(s) in H_2SO_4. Other possible mechanisms have been investigated and discarded.
Dynamic progress in Turkish‐Israeli relations

(1995). Dynamic progress in Turkish‐Israeli relations. Israel Affairs: Vol. 1, No. 4, pp. 40-70.
An Inverse Finite Element Method for Estimating Elastic Coefficients of Anisotropic and Inhomogeneous Materials

Elastography, the imaging of soft tissues on the basis of elastic modulus has been actively studied in the recent years. Since cancerous tissue is often stiffer than normal tissue [1] its response to mechanical stimuli is considerably different. Hence information about the mechanical properties of cancers and tumors can be potentially extracted from imaging. This inverse problem of estimating mechanical properties from imaging and displacement data holds promise for applications in medical diagnostics.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Improved T-matrix computations for large, nonabsorbing and weakly absorbing nonspherical particles and comparison with geometrical-optics approximation

We show that the use of a matrix inversion scheme based on a special lower triangular–upper triangular factorization rather than on the standard Gaussian elimination significantly improves the numerical stability of T-matrix computations for nonabsorbing and weakly absorbing nonspherical particles. As a result, the maximum convergent size parameter for particles with small or zero absorption can increase by a factor of several and can exceed 100. We describe an improved scheme for evaluating Clebsch–Gordon coefficients with large quantum numbers, which allowed us to extend the analytical orientational averaging method developed by Mishchenko [J. Opt. Soc. Am. A8, 871 (1991)] to larger size parameters. Comparisons of T-matrix and geometrical optics computations for large, randomly oriented spheroids and finite circular cylinders show that the applicability range of the ray-tracing approximation depends on the imaginary part of the refractive index and is different for different elements of the scattering matrix.
The application of Ground Penetrating Radar as a mapping technique at vertebrate fossil excavations in the Cretaceous of Texas

Abstract In order to develop a new field method for the science of paleontology, Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) surveys were conducted at two sauropod (Dinosauria) quarries in the Cretaceous rocks of Texas. These sites were chosen due to the presence of vertebrate fossils and the varying lithologic settings. The surveys were conducted using a Pulse EKKO transmitter and receiver antennae pair at varying frequencies. Higher survey frequencies allow for greater resolution at the cost of decreased survey penetration depth. Anomalies detected in the subsurface were plotted on quarry maps. The GPR-enhanced maps were then given to paleontological field teams to guide their excavation efforts. Fossils were accurately located and excavated using this technique.
Flow visualization study of synthetic flow control in the indoor environment

Abstract An experimental flow visualization study was conducted to assess the ability of synthetic jets to control airflows and particulates in an indoor environment. Flow visualization was used to determine whether paired synthetic jet modules installed adjacent to a supply diffuser could significantly impact room air distribution by changing the angle at which the supply air left the diffuser and mixed into the room. Controlling the supply jet angle can affect how the supply air mixes with the room air and potentially impact the air quality of the room. A laboratory room with 7 air changes per hour (ACH) was selected to perform the present study. This lab space is representative of occupational indoor environments requiring ventilation strategies beyond typical systems to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the space. In this study, four synthetic-jet modules were tested, including two pairs of small 0.5 mm by 27.5 mm rectangular jets driven by one-inch diameter actuators used in a previous small-scale ventilation study and two larger 0.5 mm by 55 mm rectangular jets driven by two-inch diameter actuators constructed specifically for this study. Statistical methods were used to compare the visualized supply flow controlled with active synthetic jets versus a baseline case (with no flow control). A significant increase in the angle of mixing of the supply air of up to 4° or 50% of the original supply jet angle was achieved.
Genes Expressed in Grapevine Leaves Reveal Latent Wood Infection by the Fungal Pathogen Neofusicoccum parvum

Some pathogenic species of the Botryosphaeriaceae have a latent phase, colonizing woody tissues while perennial hosts show no apparent symptoms until conditions for disease development become favorable. Detection of these pathogens is often limited to the later pathogenic phase. The latent phase is poorly characterized, despite the need for non-destructive detection tools and effective quarantine strategies, which would benefit from identification of host-based markers in leaves. Neofusicoccum parvum infects the wood of grapevines and other horticultural crops, killing the fruit-bearing shoots. We used light microscopy and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) to examine the spatio-temporal relationship between pathogen colonization and anatomical changes in stem sections. To identify differentially-expressed grape genes, leaves from inoculated and non-inoculated plants were examined using RNA-Seq. The latent phase occurred between 0 and 1.5 months post-inoculation (MPI), during which time the pathogen did not spread significantly beyond the inoculation site nor were there differences in lesion lengths between inoculated and non-inoculated plants. The pathogenic phase occurred between 1.5 and 2 MPI, when recovery beyond the inoculation site increased and lesion lengths of inoculated plants tripled. By 2 MPI, inoculated plants also had decreased starch content in xylem fibers and rays, and increased levels of gel-occluded xylem vessels, the latter of which HRCT revealed at a higher frequency than microscopy. RNA-Seq and screening of 21 grape expression datasets identified 20 candidate genes that were transcriptionally-activated by infection during the latent phase, and confirmed that the four best candidates (galactinol synthase, abscisic acid-induced wheat plasma membrane polypeptide-19 ortholog, embryonic cell protein 63, BURP domain-containing protein) were not affected by a range of common foliar and wood pathogens or abiotic stresses. Assuming such host responses are consistent among cultivars, and do not cross react with other trunk/foliar pathogens, these grape genes may serve as host-based markers of the latent phase of N. parvum infection.
Exercise endpoints in patients with chronic heart failure.

Abstract Background: Peak oxygen consumption ( V O 2 ) is a powerful predictor of outcome in patients with chronic heart failure. This is not a test that is readily clinically available. We therefore sought to establish a method of assessing peak V O 2 from non-invasively acquired data. Methods: We analysed the results from incremental treadmill exercise tests in 60 patients [aged 59.0 (S.D. 12.4) years] with chronic heart failure or left ventricular dysfunction [left ventricular ejection fraction (29.6 (15.2)%)] and 52 control subjects [aged 36.7 (12.3)]. Metabolic gas exchange during exercise was measured with a respiratory mass spectrometer. Heart rate and blood pressure were measured. Results: Peak V O 2 was lower in patients than controls [19.9 (7.7) ml/kg/min vs. 38.3 (9.0), P r =0.84, P r =0.63, P r =0.72, P r =0.64, P r =0.31, P =0.002) all correlated with peak V O 2 . In a stepwise regression model, exercise time was the most powerful predictor of peak V O 2 ( r 2 =0.79). The only additional independent variable was change in heart rate from rest to peak exercise, which increased r 2 to 0.80. In a survival analysis, measured peak V O 2 and the peak V O 2 estimated from exercise time and change in heart rate had similar predictive power. Conclusions : In this preliminary study, peak V O 2 can be estimated from non-invasively acquired parameters. Estimated peak V O 2 and measured peak V O 2 have similar predictive power for outcome. Further work is necessary to see if estimated peak V O 2 is widely applicable in a clinical setting.
Contacts, Contracts, and Green Bean Schemes: Liberalisation and Agro-Entrepreneurship in Burkina Faso

Soon after midnight in early January 1994, an Air Afrique cargo jet took off from the airport of Bobo-Dioulasso in Burkina Faso. It roared north over the sleeping city carrying 15 tons of premiere-qualite , extra-fine green beans bound for Paris. Within several hours, the beans would be unloaded and trucked to the sprawling wholesale docks of Rungis, on the outskirts of the French capital, and put up for sale to restaurant and supermarket buyers from throughout Europe. The jet's blast marked the first time in over a decade that a cargo flight had carried the region's garden produce overseas. It represented, perhaps, the opening of an isolated and stagnant economy, the linking of local producers to the global market. It was exactly the kind of ‘take-off’ the World Bank hoped for from this poor but deadly earnest country when it began a structural adjustment loan programme in Burkina Faso in 1991. The months of negotiations and labour preceding this landmark flight, however, had hardly gone as smoothly as the lift-off from the darkened savannah runway. Indeed, the whole enterprise was so fraught with mishap that simply the arrival of that first shipment in Europe mattered more, especially to those who initiated the ‘green bean scheme’, than the fact that it made no money.
Big Genes Cause Big Problems

Gene length is evolutionarily constrained for several reasons. A longer gene and protein product increases the energy cost of biosynthesis and the risk for deleterious mutations and also reduces transcriptional and translational efficiency. As a consequence, gene length is very highly conserved in
Study of ionic transport through metalized nanoporous membranes functionalized with self-assembled monolayers

Abstract Ionic transport through synthetic nanoporous membranes has received great attention in applications related to biosensing, fuel cell, and desalination. Past work has demonstrated that charge selectivity can be achieved by applying a potential across a metallized conductive membrane. However, challenges arise for improving charge selectivity as a result of irreversibility of the system from the anion adsorption at the membrane surface. This study demonstrates how charge selectivity can be improved with the presence of a well grown self-assembled monolayer (SAM), which can aid in applications that use chemical separation processes based on the surface charge of the nanopore. In this work, the transport and selectivity properties of gold-coated conductive nano-capillary-array-membranes (NCAMs) are studied using charged species methyl viologen paraquat, (MV2+) and napathalenedisulfonate disodium salt (NDS2−). The selectivity coefficients for MV2+ and NDS2− increased with the functionalization of undecanethiol on the gold-coated NCAM surface. With the presence of a SAM, the selectivity coefficients increased by 44% for MV2+ and 200% for NDS2−. The influence of ionic transport from the diffuse layer potential at the walls and surface of the nanopore is also discussed.
A theoretical analysis of the mechanics of the Thompson dowel semiprecision intracoronal retainer

An analysis has been made of the mechanics of the Thompson dowel retainer. The analysis locates the center of rotation during function and identifies the factors that affect its position. The degree to which the dowel should be relieved to permit unrestricted rotation has been established. The rationale of an occlusal bevel and the limits of its positioning have been analyzed. The importance of aligning the shelves of the dowel wells in two planes is emphasized and ways of handling the problem of disparity of shelf heights are given.
Summarizing Single-Subject Research Issues and Applications

In this article, literature concerning the quantitative synthesis (meta-analysis) of single subject research literature is reviewed. First, the general rationale for such an approach is discussed. Next, procedures for synthesizing single-subject literature are described, followed by comments and critiques of those procedures. Finally, a review is presented of the results of applications of those procedures. The authors suggest that procedures based on percentage of nonoverlapping data (PND) between baseline and treatment are justifiable, meaningful, and--across nine applications--have produced results that are highly meaningful and faithful to the original research reports.
Simple Cystectomy: Outcomes of a New Operative Technique

Objective To present an efficient technique for simple cystectomy. Urinary diversion for benign indications is a relatively rare procedure. However, diversion alone without accompanying cystectomy results in a significant risk of complications, such as pyocystis, hematuria, pain, and secondary carcinoma. Methods We retrospectively reviewed our institutional experience with this simple cystectomy technique, which included 23 patients from 2007–2010 performed by 3 surgeons. There were 14 females and 9 males. All patients had exhausted all other possible conservative therapies. Indication for the procedure included neurogenic bladder and resulting complications in 9 patients, complications from prostate radiation therapy in 5 patients, refractory interstitial cystitis in 5 patients, and refractory incontinence in 4 patients. Results The average patient was 63.3 years old and had undergone 2.7 prior abdominal or pelvic surgeries and 3.6 prior urinary operations. The average operative time was 27.5 minutes for the simple cystectomy portion of the case (recorded in 19 cases) and average blood loss was 46.7 mL (recorded in 12 cases). For the entire procedure, including diversion with bowel segment, the average blood loss was 231.5 mL. The mean entire operative time was 318.5 minutes. There were no complications noted intraoperatively or postoperatively specifically attributed to the cystectomy portion. All pathology specimens revealed no evidence of malignancy. Mean follow-up was 8 months (range 1–33). Conclusion This simple cystectomy technique, in most cases of urinary diversion for benign indications, can be performed quickly with minimal blood loss and complications.
SERVICE-LEARNING IN CHRISTIAN HIGHER EDUCATION: BRINGING OUR MISSION TO LIFE

The purpose of the study reported in this paper was to develop a working definition of service-learning, identify the best practices of service-learning in the context of Christian colleges and universities and, based upon that information, develop a model for replication. The study undertaken included: (a) examination of the findings of unpublished data from a survey on service-learning at 90 Christian colleges and universities and notes from a conference on service-learning at faith-based institutions; (b) a thorough review of the literature on service-learning and the mission and purpose of Christian higher education; and (c) interviews with practitioners from seven Christian colleges or universities that met prescribed criteria for best practices in service-learning, A content analysis resulted in a comprehensive definition of service-learning, key elements of best practices in service-learning, and a model which incorporates guidelines for Christian colleges and universities to use when developing se...
Solubility of three veterinary sulfonamides in supercritical carbon dioxide by a recirculating equilibrium method

The equilibrium solubility of three pure sulfonamides in supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) was determined by use of a recirculating flow method. Overall, solubilities were in the part per million range. Solubilities were measured at two temperatures (40 and 60 °C) and at pressures from 131 to 488 bar. Sulfamerazine (SME) was slightly more soluble than either sulfamethazine (SMZ) or sulfadimethoxine (SDM). The maximum solubility determined for the three sulfonamides was at 60 °C (472 to 488 bar), and their solubility range was 6.50 × 10-5 to 10.14 × 10-5 mol·L-1. The data for SMZ and SDM at 40 °C were compared with published data that showed slight differences in the mole fraction versus pressure curve. Our results provide experimental validation that mole fraction solubility increases with pressure above the critical pressure.
Life Sciences Career Exploration

Is there a career that combines the environment, genetics, and engineering? What is a theriogenologist, and what education and skills does one need for this career? What careers can one enter with an associate's or a bachelor's degree? What careers have the best outlook in terms of projected new positions, and what salary ranges can one expect? This article provides an overview of free, online resources for career exploration, with a focus on life sciences careers. This review is intended to be of use to secondary and postsecondary students seeking information about careers in this field of science. Hopefully, teachers and faculty members advising students who are planning their career goals and majors will find this a helpful resource to share with students. All of the online resources in this review include the following information for each career in their database: a description of the types of work involved, the level of education needed, the median income, the outlook for employment, and links to related careers and more information, such as professional society websites. Additional types of information and resources are noted in the reviews.
Reciprocal influences of temperature and copper on survival of fathead minnows, Pimephales promelas

Contemporary ecological concerns of accelerated global warming, increase in toxic chemicals and loss of biodiversity make relevant studies of tolerance of various organisms to abiotic variables. In this study, the reciprocal effects of temperature and copper on survival of fathead minnows, Pimephales promelas, were determined. Temperature tolerance of fishes is limited by a cornucopia of biotic and abiotic factors, including various toxicants. Not only do chemicals affect temperature tolerance of fishes, temperature influences the sensitivity of fish to toxic chemicals; however, the relationship between temperature and lethality is complex, difficult to predict, and has not been the focus of many studies. Copper, a necessary trace element in animal metabolism and ubiquitous in aquatic environments, was selected as our test toxicant. Hodson et al. (1979) reported copper concentrations of one to 29 {mu}g/L in unpolluted surface waters in the United States. Copper sulfate (CuSO{sub 4}), is an algicide, bactericide and herbicide for ponds, lakes and fish hatcheries. Also, copper is recommended as a fungicide for a variety of ornamental plants and crops, and in various chemical forms enters the environment through mining, smelting, and refining activities. Copper is toxic in parts per billion concentrations ({mu}g/L) and is an EPA priority pollutant.more » In this research two null hypotheses were tested: (1) temperature has no effect on the lethality of copper sulfate, and (2) sublethal concentrations of copper do not affect the upper temperature tolerance of fathead minnows. It was found that acclimation temperature significantly affects the 96-hr median lethal concentration. Exposure to copper adversely affects the ability of minnows to withstand high temperatures. 14 refs., 3 figs.« less
Cytoplasmic structures in the ganglion cells of certain Orthoptera, with special reference to the Golgi bodies, mitochondria, ‘vacuome,’ intracellular trabeculae (trophospongium), and neurofibrillae

The Golgi bodies of the nerve cells of the grasshopper are discrete elements composed of an osmiophilic cortex and an osmiophobic medulla. When seen in face, they appear ring-like, semicircular, or crescentic. The osmiophilic portion is interpreted as the homologue of the classical Golgi apparatus and may under certain conditions be dissolved away, leaving clear spaces homologous to the canalicular apparatus (negative image of Golgi apparatus). When the osmiophilic portion is dissolved, the osmiophobic portion remains as a definite structure which apparently has no homologue in the classical Golgi apparatus. The mitochondria are granular, rod-like, or filamentous and show no transformation into Golgi bodies. Neutral-red bodies (‘vacuome’) of two kinds have been observed, neither of which is a constant preformed structure or has any relationship to the Golgi bodies. Prolongations of the capsule (trophospongium?) of the nerve cell penetrate into the cell approximately one-third the distance to the nucleus. These are interpreted as supportive rather than nutritive in function. A basket-like net of neurofibrillae surrounds the nucleus. It is suggested that the networks described as Golgi apparatus in certain invertebrate nerve cells may really consist of these neurofibrillae. The conclusion of Parat that Golgi material consists either of mitochondria or ‘vacuome’ is rejected. The idea that all structures in the living cell which stain with neutral red (‘vacuome’) are homologous is also rejected.
Looking at lipid rafts

The notion that microdomains enriched in certain specialized lipids exist in membranes has been both attractive and controversial since it was first proposed that such domains, termed rafts, might act as apical sorting devices in epithelial cells. The observation that certain lipids are not extractable in cold nonionic detergent supports the raft concept, but the nature of the in vivo correlate of such detergent-resistant membranes remains enigmatic. In principle, microscopy should be able to determine whether the postulated rafts exist. This article focuses on recent microscopy experiments addressing this question. Several, but not all, results support the raft concept, but further definition of the structure, dynamics and function of lipid domains in various biological contexts is urgently required.
Genetics and the management of women at high risk for breast cancer.

It is estimated that 5%-10% of all breast cancers in women are associated with hereditary susceptibility due to mutations in autosomal dominant genes, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, p53, pTEN, and STK11/LKB1. Another 15%-20% of female breast cancers occur in women with a family history but without an apparent autosomal dominant inheritance pattern, and are probably due to other genetic factors with environmental influence. Approximately 7%-10% of ovarian cancers occur in women with hereditary susceptibility, primarily secondary to mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2, with smaller contributions from mutations in mismatch repair genes associated with the hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer and other, as yet undiscovered, genes. The Oncologist 2003;8:466-473