cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Implementation of Salibu Rice Cultivation Technology in Percut Sei Tuan Sub-District

Percut Sei Tuan Sub-district is an agricultural production center in Deli Serdang Regency. The area of irrigated paddy field in Percut Sei Tuan Sub-district comprises of 3,610 ha and 1,616 ha of non-irrigated paddy field. The farmer association groups (tani mitra) consisting of Farmer Group "Pasar II" and Farmer Group "Mulia" are located in Tanjung Selamat Village. Much land in Tanjung Selamat Village has been converted into an industrial area; previously the paddy field area reached 600 hectares, but only 200 hectares remains now. The Farmer Groups "Pasar II" and "Mulia" consist of 30 and 76 farmers with paddy rice field area of 25 ha and 23 ha respectively, and rice productivity amounts to 6.2 tons/ha and 7 tons/ha. The problems of the farmers were the high land use conversion resulting in reduced harvested area and only a few farmers change the local location-specific organic materials into organic fertilizers independently. The purposes of this community service activity were to increase the farmers' income through the implementation of salibu technology whereby farmers can harvest 2-3 times in one planting and to increase the farmers’ understanding and knowledge about the manufacturing process of organic fertilizer and pesticide. The solutions offered were including counseling, a training and plot demonstration on salibu technology, and the production of bokashi straw. The outcome of this IbM has resulted in several things: bokashi of compressed hay with Local Microorganism from cattle intestine and Trichoderma, organic pesticide products based on Corynebacterium and Trichoderma, and farming analysis with salibu technology.
Variation and trends in transmission dynamics of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in veterans affairs hospitals and nursing homes

Variation and differences of MRSA transmission within and between healthcare settings are not well understood. This variability is critical for understanding the potential impact of infection control interventions and could aid in the evaluation of future intervention strategies. We fit a Bayesian transmission model to detailed individual-level MRSA surveillance data from over 230 Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals and nursing homes. Our approach disentangles the effects of potential confounders, including length of stay, admission prevalence, and clearance, estimating dynamic transmission model parameters and temporal trends. The median baseline transmission rate in hospitals was approximately four-fold higher than in nursing homes, and declined in 46% of hospitals and 9% of nursing homes, resulting in a median transmission rate reduction of 43% across hospitals and an increase of 2% in nursing homes. For first admissions into an acute care facility, the median (range) importation probability was 10.5% (5.9%-18.4%), and was nearly twice as large, 18.7% (9.2%-37.4%), in nursing homes. This analysis found differences within and between hospitals and nursing homes. The transmission rate declined substantially in hospitals and remained stable in nursing homes, while admission prevalence was considerably higher in nursing homes than in hospitals.
A Snapshot of the Latinx Teaching Experience in the New Latino Diaspora

As the nation’s classrooms (and the nation itself) undergo a demographic change, we have to wonder what will happen to the teaching profession and attitudes as minority teachers start to fill the ranks of this profession. This paper seeks to contribute to this work with the interviews of four Latinx teachers who are working in the New Latino Diaspora. These teachers come from a variety of fields, math, English and social studies and work in different places. Their words and ideas help us understand the ideas and practices that they implement and how they will change the classroom. Exploring these changes provides one way that we can understand what minority teachers bring to the classroom and how they can help their students learn and grow.
Periphyton as an indicator of saltwater intrusion into freshwater wetlands: insights from experimental manipulations.

Saltwater intrusion has particularly large impacts on karstic wetlands of the Caribbean Basin due to their porous, carbonate bedrock and low elevation. Increases in salinity and phosphorus (P) accompanying saltwater intrusion into these freshwater, P-limited wetlands are expected to alter biogeochemical cycles along with the structure and function of plant and algal communities. Calcareous periphyton is a characteristic feature of karstic wetlands and plays a central role in trophic dynamics, carbon storage, and nutrient cycling. Periphyton is extremely sensitive to water quality and quantity, but the effects of saltwater intrusion on these microbial mats remain to be understood. We conducted an ex situ mesocosm experiment to test the independent and combined effects of elevated salinity and P on the productivity, nutrient content, and diatom composition of calcareous periphyton from the Florida Everglades. We measured periphyton total carbon, nitrogen, and P concentrations and used settlement plates to measure periphyton accumulation rates and diatom species composition. The light and dark bottle method was used to measure periphyton productivity and respiration. We found that exposure to ~1 g P·m-2 ·yr-1 significantly increased periphyton mat total P concentrations, but had no effect on any other response variable. Mats exposed to elevated salinity (~22 kg salt·m-2 ·yr-1 ) had significantly lower total carbon and tended to have lower biomass and reduced productivity and respiration rates; however, mats exposed to salinity and P simultaneously had greater gross and net productivity. We found strong diatom species dissimilarity between fresh- and saltwater-treated periphyton, while P additions only elicited compositional changes in periphyton also treated with saltwater. This study contributes to our understanding of how the ecologically important calcareous periphyton mats unique to karstic, freshwater wetlands respond to increased salinity and P caused saltwater intrusion and provides a guide to diatom indicator taxa for these two important environmental drivers.
Comparison of tandem ureteral stents, cryoplasty, and cutting balloon ureteroplasty in treatment of refractory transplant ureteral strictures

The objective of study was to compare clinical outcome of cryoplasty, tandem stents, and cutting balloon ureteroplasty as "bailout procedures" to prevent surgical intervention or stent dependency in renal transplant patients with refractory ureteral stricture. All patients who underwent a bailout procedure from June 11, 2003, to August 8, 2015, at a single institution were reviewed retrospectively. Refractory ureteral stricture was defined as ureteral stenosis not responding to at least two prior percutaneous plain balloon ureteroplasties. Primary patency was defined as stable allograft function following the procedure with unobstructed urine outflow, not requiring indwelling ureteral stent, repeat ureteroplasty, or surgical revision. Sixty-one procedures were performed on 51 patients. Patients were followed up for a median of 286 days. Overall primary patency rate was 26.1%. Primary patency rate by method was 38.1%, 23.1%, and 14.3% after cryoplasty, tandem stent placement, and cutting balloon dilatation, respectively (P = .260). Primary patency rate was higher in early (<3 months post-transplant) ureteral strictures (35.7% vs 13.3%; P = .047). More complications identified in patients who had tandem ureteral stents (P = .00754). As some renal transplant patients may not be good operative candidates for ureteral revision, it would be reasonable to attempt one of these "bailout" interventions as long as the clinical team and patient are aware of overall low potential for achieving primary patency.
Brain Metastases: Insights from Statistical Modeling of Size Distribution.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Brain metastases are a common finding on brain MRI. However, the factors that dictate their size and distribution are incompletely understood. Our aim was to discover a statistical model that can account for the size distribution of parenchymal metastases in the brain as measured on contrast-enhanced MR imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tumor volumes were calculated on the basis of measured tumor diameters from contrast-enhanced T1-weighted spoiled gradient-echo images in 68 patients with untreated parenchymal metastatic disease. Tumor volumes were then placed in rank-order distributions and compared with 11 different statistical curve types. The resultant R2 values to assess goodness of fit were calculated. The top 2 distributions were then compared using the likelihood ratio test, with resultant R values demonstrating the relative likelihood of these distributions accounting for the observed data. RESULTS: Thirty-nine of 68 cases best fit a power distribution (mean R2 = 0.938 ± 0.050), 20 cases best fit an exponential distribution (mean R2 = 0.957 ± 0.050), and the remaining cases were scattered among the remaining distributions. Likelihood ratio analysis revealed that 66 of 68 cases had a positive mean R value (1.596 ± 1.316), skewing toward a power law distribution. CONCLUSIONS: The size distributions of untreated brain metastases favor a power law distribution. This finding suggests that metastases do not exist in isolation, but rather as part of a complex system. Furthermore, these results suggest that there may be a relatively small number of underlying variables that substantially influence the behavior of these systems. The identification of these variables could have a profound effect on our understanding of these lesions and our ability to treat them.
Wood biodeterioration control potential of Acalypha hispida leaf phenolic extract in combination with Trichoderma viride culture filtrate

The phenolic extract of Acalypha leaves inhibited growth of Gloeophyllum sepiarium and Pleurotus sp. (test wood-rot fungi) in potato dextrose agar, starch agar, starch glucose agar, carboxyl methyl cellulose agar and carboxyl methyl cellulose glucose agar. Fungicidal or fungistatic concentration of the extract (10–14 mg/ml) depended on the medium. However a lower concentration of the extract (8–10 mg/ml) in combination with Trichoderma viride culture filtrate caused a similar inhibitory pattern. Degradation of obeche (Triplochiton scleroxylon), mahogany (Khaya ivorensis) and walnut (Lovoa trichilioides) by the test fungi was limited or prevented by extract treatment of 8–10 mg/g wood. A similar inhibitory effect again occurred when a combination of T. viride filtrate and lower extract concentration (6–8 mg extract per gram of wood) was used. On-going wood decay was limited or halted by a combined treatment involving 8–12 mg extract per gram of wood depending on the fungal residence period. Treated stakes exposed to 6 months of tropical wet season retained resistance to fungal attack including soft rot. The phenolic extract of A. hispida may prove useful in an integrated chemical and biological approach to wood treatment.
Centring race in contemporary educational privatization policies: the genealogy of U.S. ‘private school choice’ and its implications for research

Just ahead of the 2017 U.S. presidential inauguration the Hoover Institute convened a forum to explore policy avenues for privatizing public education. The option favoured by forum moderator and Fo...
Lupus-prone B6.Nba2 male and female mice display anti-DWEYS reactivity and a neuropsychiatric phenotype.

Abstract Objective Neuropsychiatric lupus (NPSLE), a manifestation of the autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), is characterized by psychiatric symptoms including anxiety and depression and upregulated autoantibodies. The B6.Nba2 spontaneous mouse model develops SLE, but has not previously been tested for NPSLE. Methods We investigated the NPSLE phenotype in male and female B6.Nba2 mice (n = 12 each) and age- and sex-matched B6 controls (n = 10 each) via behavioral assessments for anxiety, depression, and memory deficits. Serum anti-dsDNA, anti-nRNP, anti-DWEYS peptide reactive IgG autoantibody levels and soluble TWEAK levels were determined by ELISA. Hippocampal regions were stained for activated microglia and neurons. Results Both male and female B6.Nba2 mice showed elevated anti-dsDNA IgG, anti-nRNP IgG and anti-DWEYS reactive antibodies, elevated serum soluble TWEAK levels, and a strong anxiety and depression phenotype (p Conclusion The B6.Nba2 mouse model recapitulates many known NPSLE phenotypes, making it a promising model to investigate the development of NPSLE in the context of SLE.
A case of "smoldering" immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura manifesting as recurrent cardioembolic stroke.

Prompt recognition and treatment for thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) are critical to prevent the irreversible manifestations of this rare and quickly fatal hematologic disorder. Untreated TTP is typically a rapid-onset disease with mortality exceeding 90% within days in the absence of appropriate treatment. In the current report, we describe a case of immune-mediated TTP (iTTP) in a 62-year-old man manifesting as longstanding thrombocytopenia, recurrent cardioembolic strokes, and valvular thrombogenesis over a period of 3 years. We provide correlative evidence to support the potential contribution of adalimumab, a TNFα inhibitor, to the development of iTTP. We offer several educational insights regarding the identification of atypical presentations of iTTP owing to the longstanding disease course and numerous clinical comorbidities seen in this patient.
Establishing a Women-in-Radiology Group: A Toolkit From the American Association for Women in Radiology.

Despite increasing representation in medical schools and surgical specialties, recruitment of women into radiology has failed to exhibit commensurate growth. Furthermore, women are less likely than...
Machine Learning to Predict Diels-Alder Reaction Barriers from the Reactant State Electron Density

Reaction barriers are key to our understanding of chemical reactivity and catalysis. Certain reactions are so seminal in chemistry that countless variants, with or without catalysts, have been studied, and their barriers have been computed or measured experimentally. This wealth of data represents a perfect opportunity to leverage machine learning models, which could quickly predict barriers without explicit calculations or measurement. Here, we show that the topological descriptors of the quantum mechanical charge density in the reactant state constitute a set that is both rigorous and continuous and can be used effectively for the prediction of reaction barrier energies to a high degree of accuracy. We demonstrate this on the Diels-Alder reaction, highly important in biology and medicinal chemistry, and as such, studied extensively. This reaction exhibits a range of barriers as large as 270 kJ/mol. While we trained our single-objective supervised (labeled) regression algorithms on simpler Diels-Alder reactions in solution, they predict reaction barriers also in significantly more complicated contexts, such a Diels-Alder reaction catalyzed by an artificial enzyme and its evolved variants, in agreement with experimental changes in kcat. We expect this tool to apply broadly to a variety of reactions in solution or in the presence of a catalyst, for screening and circumventing heavily involved computations or experiments.
Identifying Struggling Students by Comparing Online Tutor Clickstreams.

New ways to identify students in need of assistance are imperative to the evolution of online tutoring platforms. Currently implemented models to identify struggling students use costly and tedious classroom observation paired with student’s platform usage, and are often suitable for only a subset of students. With the recent influx of new students to online tutoring platforms due to COVID-19, a simple method to quickly identify struggling students could help facilitate effective remote learning. To this end, we created an anomaly detection algorithm that models the normal behavior of students during remote learning and recognizes when students deviate from this behavior. We demonstrated how anomalous behavior revealed which students needed additional assistance and predicted student learning outcomes.
DSDD: Domain-Specific Dataset Discovery on the Web

With the push for transparency and open data, many datasets and data repositories are becoming available on the Web. This opens new opportunities for data-driven exploration, from empowering analysts to answer new questions and obtain insights to improving predictive models through data augmentation. But as datasets are spread over a plethora of Web sites, finding data that are relevant for a given task is difficult. In this paper, we take a first step towards the construction of domain-specific data lakes. We propose an end-to-end dataset discovery system, targeted at domain experts, which given a small set of keywords, automatically finds potentially relevant datasets on the Web. The system makes use of search engines to hop across Web sites, uses online learning to incrementally build a model to recognize sites that contain datasets, utilizes a set of discovery actions to broaden the search, and applies a multi-armed bandit based algorithm to balance the trade-offs of different discovery actions. We report the results of an extensive experimental evaluation over multiple domains, and demonstrate that our strategy is effective and outperforms state-of-the-art content discovery methods.
Standardized nCPAP Care Bundle to Decrease Days to Wean Off nCPAP: A Quality Improvement Initiative.

Background Effective bubble nasal continuous positive airway pressure (bnCPAP) implementation is a means to maintain functional residual capacity (FRC) and avoid pulmonary morbidities in neonates. Purpose A quality improvement project was introduced to establish a standardized bnCPAP care bundle. Methods A bnCPAP care bundle focusing on shoulder roll use, bnCPAP positioning, assessment for suctioning need, and nasopharynx suctioning was created. The outcome measures collected were percentage of time the infant's pulse saturation was less than 86%, corrected gestational age (CGA) when off bnCPAP, length of time a neonate is on bnCPAP, Downes' score, and compliance to bnCPAP care bundle. Results An independent-samples t test found a statistically significant higher mean prior to the initiative in the percentage of time the oxygen saturation was less than 86%, Downes' score, length of time, and CGA to wean off bnCPAP (M = 11.7% ± 10.1%, M = 1.6 ± 1.1, M = 27.7 days ± 29.0 days, and M = 35.0 weeks ± 3.38 weeks, respectively) than after the initiative (M = 4.0% ± 4.8%, M = 1.1 ± 0.8, M = 11.2 days ± 10.2 days, and M = 32.8 weeks ± 1.00 weeks, respectively). Implications for practice and research Implementing a standardized bnCPAP care bundle showed improvement in oxygen saturation and increased success of weaning off bnCPAP. Future studies to increase the collected data are needed to compare the outcomes on infants born at each gestational age.
The Electron-Electron Interaction

In recent years, as device sizes have become smaller and carrier densities have become larger, the role of electron-electron scattering and screening have become very important in transport within semiconductor devices. The main difficulty in dealing with the electron-electron interaction lies in the nonlinear behavior of the interaction potential and in the long range of the Coulomb potential. In the past, several approaches to the study of electron-electron scattering have been presented. Almost all of these were based on the assumption that the interaction potential is screened at some characteristic length, usually the Debye length L D = 1/λ = (e k B T/ne 2)1/2, and that the distribution function is a Maxwellian (inherent in the use of the Debye length). Yet, in the high densities inherent in modern devices, the Debye length is often smaller than the interelectronic distance. The effects are complicated by the fact that in polar materials, the rather high free-carrier plasma frequency that accompanies the high densities couples strongly to the polar optical phonon vibrations to produce coupled modes of electron-plasmon-phonon interactions. To properly treat all of these effects, we must divorce ourselves from the simple screening approach and treat the full frequency-and wavelength-dependent dielectric function.
SLC2A9 Genotype Is Associated with SLC2A9 Gene Expression and Urinary Uric Acid Concentration.

Objectives SLC2A9 gene variants have been associated with urinary uric acid (UA) concentration, but little is known about the functional mechanism linking these gene variants with UA. SLC2A9 encodes a UA transporter present in the proximal tubule of the kidney, and gene expression levels of SLC2A9 and other genes in the uricosuric pathway (ABCG2, SLC17A1, SLC17A3, and SLC22A12) could potentially mediate the relationship between SLC2A9 gene variants and urinary UA excretion.
Mining error variance and hitting pay-dirt: discovering systematic variation in social sentiments

According to traditional error theory, sentiment measurements vary unsystematically from individual to individual. However, we find some patterned deviation in sentiments that characterize subsets ...
Measurement of lactate in cerebrospinal fluid in investigation of inherited metabolic disease

Measurement of lactate concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has been suggested as part of the investigation of inborn errors of the electron transport chain, but little information exists regarding the reference range in children or the relationship between CSF and plasma concentrations. In 39 children without bacterial meningitis, diabetes, or recent seizures, we determined that the median (range) lactate concentrations in CSF and plasma collected concurrently were 1.4 (0.8–2.2) and 1.5 (0.6–2.3) mmol/L; the regression equation was CSF lactate = (0.38 ± 0.06) plasma lactate + 0.83 ( r 2 = 0.14). In 8 of 11 (73%) children with electron transport chain defects, CSF lactate was ≥3.0 mmol/L; however, 2 of these 8 had a normal plasma lactate concentration. CSF lactate was also increased in 2 children with nonketotic hyperglycinemia. The finding that CSF lactate concentrations may be increased despite a normal plasma lactate value in children with electron transport chain defects is an important clue to the diagnosis of these disorders.
Prevalence and correlates of indoor tanning and sunless tanning product use among female teens in the United States

Background Indoor tanning (IT) before the age of 35 increases melanoma risk by 75%. Nevertheless, IT and sunless tanning product (STP) use have gained popularity among youth. However, there are limited data on the prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of both IT and STP use in a representative sample of American teens.
Topological design of ring networks

Abstract In this paper the shortcomings of conventional ring networks are discussed and how these shortcominings are solved by the enhanced ring architecture is explained. Enhanced ring architecture is a two level ring network connecting the local rings by a backbone ring. Studied is the ring network design problem—the formation of local loops with a size restriction connected to a backbone ring. The Parallel Savings Algorithm which generates good feasible solutions is presented. The K Iterated Travelling Salesman Tours Partitioning is studied and analyzed for its worst case error. This algorithm is based on partitioning a multi-center travelling salesman tour in order to generate a feasible solution to the ring network design problem. It has a worst case error bound of 4 − 3 2 K where K is the size of the local rings when K⩾3. The heuristic solution cost is at most 4 − 3 2 K times the optimum value. It is based on the Christofides' extended heuristic for the multi-center travelling salesman problem which makes the procedure a polynomial one.
Studying aminoglycoside modification by the acetyltransferase class of resistance-causing enzymes via microarray

Aminoglycosides are broad-spectrum antibacterials to which some bacteria have acquired resistance. The most common mode of resistance to aminoglycosides is enzymatic modification of the drug by different classes of enzymes including acetyltransferases (AACs). Thus, the modification of aminoglycosides by AAC(2') from Mycobacterium tuberculosis and AAC(3) from Escherichia coli was studied using aminoglycoside microarrays. Results show that both enzymes modify their substrates displayed on an array surface in a manner that mimics their relative levels of modification in solution. Because aminoglycosides that are modified by resistance-causing enzymes have reduced affinities for binding their therapeutic target, the bacterial rRNA aminoacyl-tRNA site (A-site), arrays were probed for binding to a fluorescently labeled oligonucleotide mimic of the A-site after modification. A decrease in binding was observed when aminoglycosides were modified by AAC(3). In contrast, a decrease in binding of the A-site is not observed when aminoglycosides are modified by AAC(2'). Interestingly, these effects mirror the biological functions of the enzymes: the AAC(3) used in this study is known to confer aminoglycoside resistance, while the AAC(2') is chromosomally encoded and unlikely to play a role in resistance. These studies lay a direct foundation for studying resistance to aminoglycosides and can also have more broad applications in identifying and studying non-aminoglycoside carbohydrates or proteins as substrates for acetyltransferase enzymes.
The local-access mechanism of proton transport by bacteriorhodopsin

Abstract The recently proposed local-access model, based on spectroscopic data, explains the various modes of light-driven proton transport reported for wild-type bacteriorhodopsin and Asp-85 mutants, and reveals the nature of the causal interrelationships in the transport cycle of this retinal protein. In the metastable photoisomerized states, although not in the thermally stable isomers, the local access of the retinal Schiff base alternates rapidly between the extracellular and cytoplasmic directions. The direction of proton transfer, and therefore the ‘protonation switch’ of the pump, is decided by the proton acceptor and donor functions of Asp-85 and Asp-96, respectively. In the D85N/D96N mutant the acceptor and donor are absent, and the various observed transport modes are based on the same principles but a different combination of events. It is the result of the interplay between the differing proton conductivities between the Schiff base and the two membrane surfaces, and return to the obligate access to the extracellular side once the initial all-trans state is regained in the cycle. The causes and effects in this local-access model are explicit: the changes in the access of the Schiff base from one membrane surface to the other are direct consequences of the proton transfer reactions that precede them.
Excitatory and inhibitory amino acid binding sites in human dentate nucleus

Abstract Autoradiography of excitatory and inhibitory amino acid binding sites in human dentate nuclei indicated virtually no binding toN-methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA) or γ-aminobutyric acidB (GABAB) binding sites, and a low density of kainate binding sites. α-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid, metabotropic-quisqualate, benzodiazepine, and γ-aminobutyric acidA (GABAA) binding sites were present in moderate abundance. Our NMDA results differ from those found previously in rodents. GABAA receptors are probably the primary mediators of inhibitory neurotransmission and α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid and metabotropic-quisqualate receptors are probably the primary mediators of excitatory neurotransmission within the human deep cerebellar nuclei.
Noninvasive sensors for in-situ process monitoring and control in advanced microelectronics manufacturing

The combination of noninvasive in-situ monitoring sensors single-wafer processing modules vacuum-integrated cluster tools and computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM) can provide a suitable fabrication environment for flexible and high-yield advanced semiconductor device manufacturing. The use of in-situ sensors for monitoring of equipment process and wafer parameters results in increased equipment/process up-time reduced process and device parameter spread improved cluster tool reliability and functionality and reduced overall device manufacturing cycle time. This paper will present an overview of the main features and impact of noninvasive in-situ monitoring sensors for semiconductor device manufacturing applications. Specific examples will be presented for the use of critical sensors in conjunction with cluster tools for advanced CMOS device processing. A noninvasive temperature sensor will be presented which can monitor true wafer temperature via infrared (5. 35 jtm) pyrometery and laser-assisted real-time spectral wafer emissivity measurements. This sensor design eliminates any. temperature measurement errors caused by the heating lamp radiation and wafer emissivity variations. 1. SENSORS: MOTIVATIONS AND IMPACT Semiconductor chip manufacturing factories usually employ well-established statistical process control (SPC) techniques to minimize the process parameter deviations and to increase the device fabrication yield. The conventional fabrication environments rely on controlling a limited set of critical equipment and process parameters (e. g. process pressure gas flow rates substrate temperature RF power etc. ) however most of the significant wafer process and equipment parameters of interest are not monitored in real© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Use of Pepsin-Treated Hepatitis-Associated Antigen in the Production of Precipitating Antibody

An effective and relatively simple method for production of monospecific heterologous antisera to hepatitis-associated antigen (HAA) is described. The inoculum was prepared by concentration of pepsin-treated HAA from pooled HAA-positive sera and used to hyperimmunize rabbits and guinea pigs by a multiple-route technique. Although guinea pigs had a stronger immune response to the inoculated HAA, antisera from rabbits were more satisfactory for use in electrophoresis and immunodiffusion. This paper presents a relatively simple and efficient method for producing monospecific heterologous antiserum to hepatitis-associated antigen (HAA). The method is simpler than methods previously described, in that an effective inoculum is prepared by concentration of HAA from HAA-positive sera treated with pepsin [1-3]. The reactivities of the antisera obtained compare favorably with those produced with purified concentrates of HAA or with human antisera to HAA. Heterologous antisera to HAA were produced by various schemes of inoculation in rabbits and guinea pigs for comparison of their reactivities and specificities.
ALCOHOL AND GENE EXPRESSION IN THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

Aims: To describe recent research focusing on the analysis of gene and protein expression relevant to understanding ethanol consumption, dependence and effects, in order to identify common themes. Methods: A selective literature search was used to collate the relevant data. Results: Over 160 genes have been individually assessed before or after ethanol administration, as well as in genetically selected lines. Techniques for studying gene expression include northern blots, differential display, real time reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR) and in situ hybridization. More recently, high throughput functional genomic technology, such as DNA microarrays, has been used to examine gene expression. Recent gene expression analyses have dramatically increased the number of candidate genes (nine array papers have illuminated 600 novel gene transcripts that may contribute to alcohol abuse and alcoholism). Conclusions: Although functional genomic experiments (transcriptome analysis) have failed to identify a single alcoholism gene, they have illuminated important pathways and gene products that may contribute to the risk of alcohol abuse and alcoholism. ( Received 4 August 2004; first review notified 17 August 2004; in revised form 2 September 2004; accepted 24 October 2004 )
Selling Health Promotion to Corporate America: Uses and Abuses of the Economic Argument

Economic considerations constitute a significant factor in businesses' interest in adopting health promotion (HP) programs and in the wellness community's attempts to sell such programming to business. Substantial elements of both the business and wellness communities believe that HP programs are financially profitable, in addition to, and as a result of, improving employees' health. Examination of the foundation of this belief, however, leads to the conclusion that underlying analyses have been techni cally flawed and have ignored important costs of HP programs. This article discusses the limitations of these analyses and outlines the framework of a model that could provide a sound assessment of the economics of workplace HP programs. In general, it is expected that resultant analyses would find less direct profit potential in work place HP programs but would emphasize the cost-effectiveness of many such efforts. The latter would force recognition that health, and not profit, is the principal benefit of ...
The Future of Agricultural Cooperatives in Canada and the United States: Discussion

Murray Fulton's paper is very thoughtful, analytical, and of interest to those of us who spend time thinking about where cooperatives "fit." I disagree with some of his basic assumptions and conclusions, but the exercise of arriving at this position was worthwhile. Mike Cook draws upon a broad geographic and historic perspective relative to cooperative development. Although one final step is missing in his analysis, Cook's paper is very useful in predicting the future of cooperatives. My summary, interpretations, and reactions follow.
Gradational epochs on Mars: Evidence from West-Northwest of Isidis Basin and Electris

An account is given of the characteristics of Martian regions which may be adduced as evidence for enhanced gradation. The crater statistics for these regional surfaces are sufficiently different from those of proximate units with little evidence of modification to suggest, through comprehensive correlation, that a common pattern of modification to crater statistics may be a reflection of common epochs of enhanced gradation. If that be the case, then these areas' gradation occurred during a series of epochs of local-to-global extent whose duration and intensity decreased through time, following the last major impacts.
Tumor antigens induced by nontransforming mutants of polyoma virus.

Abstract We have studied the tumor (T) antigens induced by wild-type polyoma virus and several nontransforming mutants using immunoprecipitation with antisera from animals bearing polyoma-induced tumors followed by sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In a variety of mouse cells, wild-type virus induces a major T antigen species with apparent molecular weight of 100,000 daltons, and four minor T antigen species with apparent molecular weights of 63,000, 56,000, 36,000 and 22,000 daltons. Hr-t mutants, which have an absolute defect in transformation, induce a normal 100,000 dalton T antigen but are altered in the minor T antigen species. Hr-t deletion mutants induce none of the minor T antigen species seen in wild-type virus. In their place, these mutants induce T antigen species with molecular weights in the range of 6,000–9,000 daltons. The size of the very small T antigen products does not correlate in any simple way with the size or location of the deletions in the viral DNA. Point hr-t mutants induce two of the four minor T antigen species; they make apparently normal amounts of the 56, 000 dalton product and reduced amounts of the 22, 000 dalton product, but none of the 63, 000 or 36, 000 dalton species. Ts-a mutants, which have a temperature-sensitive defect in the ability to induce stable transformation, and which complement hr-t mutants, induce T antigens with the same mobility as wild-type; however, the 100, 000 dalton T antigen of ts-a mutants is thermolabile compared to wild-type. A double mutant virus carrying both a ts-a mutation and a deletion hr-t mutation induces a thermolabile 100, 00 dalton product and none of the minor T antigen species. Cell fractionation studies with productively infected cells have been carried out to localize the T antigen species.
Acoustic Based Rapid Blowout Mitigation in a Swirl Stabilized Combustor

This paper describes a method for efficiently detecting and preventing lean blow out (LBO) in a premixed, swirl stabilized combustor. The acoustic signal is processed to determine the real time LBO probability. This requires detection of localized extinction ‘events’ and rapid calculation of event frequency. As LBO probability increases, a proportional derivative controller actuates valves to redirect a fraction of the total fuel into a central, premixed pilot. The actuation increases the equivalence ratio in the stabilization region at a constant power setting and counters the flame lift associated with LBO. It is shown that the developed controller can prevent LBO even during rapid transients in equivalence ratio, φ.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Splanchnic ischaemia-reperfusion injury: mechanistic insights provided by mutant mice.

Reperfusion of ischaemic tissues often leads to microvascular dysfunction that is manifested as impaired endothelium-dependent dilation of arterioles, enhanced fluid filtration and leucocyte plugging in capillaries, and the trafficking of leucocytes and plasma protein extravasation in postcapillary venules. Efforts to define the mechanisms that underlie these microvascular responses to ischaemia and reperfusion have largely relied on pharmacological agents and monoclonal antibodies. Gene-targeting technology has been applied to the production of transgenic and knockout mice that are rapidly gaining acceptance as tools for mechanistic studies of ischaemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury that obviate some of the concerns (e.g. specificity) raised about previously employed experimental strategies. This review summarizes some of our efforts to apply gene-targeted mice to the study of I/R injury in the splanchnic vascular bed. A role for endothelial cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) and reactive oxygen metabolites is supported by results from mutant mice. Low density lipoprotein receptor mice also reveal that the microvascular and inflammatory responses to I/R are greatly exaggerated during chronic hypercholesterolaemia. The wide variety of mutant mice that have been produced for inflammation-related research makes this experimental strategy particularly promising for mechanistic investigations of the tissue responses to I/R.
Biodegradation rates of separated diesel components

Three hydrocarbon classes (n-alkanes, branched and cyclic alkanes, and aromatics) were separated from diesel fuel and used as hydrocarbon treatments during a 35-d batch culture experiment in which biodegradation rates of the individual classes were quantified and compared with the biodegradation rate of a treatment consisting of a composite of the three fractions. Triplicate batch cultures of each hydrocarbon treatment were sampled on experimental days 0, 3, 7, 15, and 35. The microbial inoculum used in this study was a crude oil-degrading culture isolated from a contaminated soil. As the experiment proceeded, microbial populations were estimated by total heterotrophic plate counts. Hydrocarbon concentrations were quantified by GC with flame ionization detection, and specific compound identification was confirmed by GC-MS. The composite treatment was separated into aliphatic and aromatic fractions before hydrocarbon analysis. After 35 d, the relative biodegradation for each hydrocarbon class was as follows: n-alkanes > aliphatic fraction of composite solution > aromatics > branched and cyclic alkanes > aromatic fraction of composite solution. In the composite treatment, biodegradation of both aromatic and aliphatic fractions was observed during the 35-d study period and thus did not follow a clear pattern of sequential degradation. However, the biodegradation rate for the aromatic fraction was significantly slower than the aliphatic fraction.
Optimum filter for detecting a target in multiplicative noise and additive noise

We derive an optimum filter function to detect a target degraded by multiplicative noise and additive overlapping noise and placed in background noise. The filter is designed to maximize the metric peak-to-output energy, which is the ratio of the expected value squared of the output peak at the target position to the expected value of the average output energy. The optimum filter provides improved discrimination as well as robustness to input noise. One advantage of the filter described here over the homomorphic filters is that the additional preprocess on the input image, that is, the input logarithmic operation, is not required for reducing the effects of multiplicative noise. The performance of the filter is examined in terms of discrimination against background noise and robustness to multiplicative and additive input noise. Both multiplicative amplitude noise and multiplicative complex noise are considered.
Tradable emissions credits for personal travel: a market-based approach to achieve air quality standards

This research mathematically investigates revenue neutral tradable credit schemes that can redistribute the link flow patterns to obtain least emissions for the network. The trade-off between travel time and emissions is accommodated through Pareto optimal solutions from a bi-objective problem. Further, tradable credit schemes with minimum transaction are also proposed. Numerical examples show how to obtain tradable credit schemes defining the amount of credits to be charged for each link to attain minimum emissions flow patterns.
An anterogradely-labeled prefrontal cortico-oculomotor pathway in the monkey demonstrated with HRP gel and TMB neurohistochemistry

Implants of horseradish peroxidase gel6 in the sulcus principalis and/or area 8 "frontal eye field" cortex of macaque and cebus monkeys, processed with tetramethyl benzidine (TMD) neurohistochemistry9, resulted in anterograde labeling of a prominent "prefrontal oculomotor bundle" which traversed the medial subthalamic region at the diencephalic-mesencephalic junction to terminate directly in accessory and principal oculomotor nuclear groups. This report provides clear evidence suggesting direct cortical involvement in ocular motility, and the location of the pathway contributes to our understanding of ophthalmoplegias resulting from lesions in the rostralmost mesencephalon.
Associating map features and related prose in memory

Abstract The purpose of this research was to investigate the conjoint retention of spatial and linguistic information in an instructional context. We presented learners with a prose passage that included 20 general nouns as target concepts (from the Battig & Montague, 1969 , category norms). Reference maps supporting this passage contained 10 high-frequency specific nouns as exemplars of 10 of the 20 general concepts, and 10 exemplars that learners generated for depiction on the map. Results from measures of map and prose memory indicated that subjects producing idiosyncratic exemplars of the general prose concepts and placing them logically within the map space retained the most perceptual map information and conceptual passage information. Data on order of recall suggested that subjects who viewed intact maps as they processed the prose were able to rely on both the map structure and the serial order of the original passage for free recall. However, subjects viewing lists of identical map features showed a deficiency in image-based processing, relying almost exclusively on passage structure for organization of free recall. Finally, when subjects generated map features and their spatial locations they exhibited superior locational accuracy at map reconstruction. This study supports the conjoint retention hypothesis which states that the probability of recalling information from maps and related prose is predictable directly from the trace strength of jointly encoded imaginal and verbal memory representations.
Asymmetrical sexual isolation but no postmating isolation between the closely related species Drosophila suboccidentalis and Drosophila occidentalis

Background During the speciation process several types of isolating barriers can arise that limit gene flow between diverging populations. Studying recently isolated species can inform our understanding of how and when these barriers arise, and which barriers may be most important to limiting gene flow. Here we focus on Drosophila suboccidentalis and D. occidentalis, which are closely related mushroom-feeding species that inhabit western North America and are not known to overlap in geographic range. We investigate patterns of reproductive isolation between these species, including premating, postmating prezygotic, and postzygotic barriers to gene flow.
Modeling surface effects on hydrogen permeation in metals

A new mathematical model for analyzing hydrogen permeation in solids, in which surface effects and traps influence hydrogen transport, is presented and solved. The new model combines the McNabb and Foster equations for diffusion with concomitant trapping[1] and a surface-limited mass-transfer boundary condition. An important result of the new model is the introduction of a new variable,hm, which is defined as the surface-limited mass-transfer coefficient. Thehm coefficient can account for all possible surface effects and may be experimentally evaluated.
Sexual risk behaviour, viral load, and perceptions of HIV transmission among homosexually active Latino men: an exploratory study.

The objective of the paper was to describe awareness of HIV medications and HIV viral load, and to assess the impact of HIV medications (including highly active antiretroviral therapy) and notions of viral load on sexual risk practices. This was an exploratory cross-sectional study of a non-random sample of 395 homosexually active Latino men in New York City. An anonymous self-administered questionnaire was used focusing on perceptions about HIV/AIDS, HIV treatment medications and viral load, risk perceptions, HIV status, and sexual partners and practices in the past 6 months. HIV-positive participants taking HIV medications, those who knew their viral loads, and those who had undetectable viral loads did not report significantly different frequencies of high-risk (receptive or insertive) unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) in comparison to other HIV-positive individuals in the sample. Perceptions about HIV status (assuming same status) and viral load (penetrating partner or letting partner penetrate one) ...
Stripe fluctuations, carriers, spectroscopies, transport, and BCS–BEC crossover in the high-Tc cuprates

Abstract The quasiparticles of the high- T c cuprates are found to consist of: polaron-like ‘stripons’ carrying charge, and associated primarily with large- U orbitals in stripe-like inhomogeneities; ‘quasi-electrons’ (QE) carrying charge and spin, and associated with hybridized small- U and large- U orbitals; and ‘svivons’ carrying spin and lattice distortion. It is shown that this electronic structure leads to the systematic behavior of spectroscopic and transport properties of the cuprates. High- T c pairing results from transitions between pair states of stripons and QEs through the exchange of svivons. The cuprates fall in the regime of crossover between BCS and preformed-pairs Bose–Einstein condensation behaviors.