cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inbreeding alters resistance to insect herbivory and host plant quality in Mimulus guttatus (Scrophulariaceae)

Previous studies have demonstrated genetic variation for resistance to insect herbivores and host plant quality. The effect of plant mating system, an important determinant of the distribution of genetic variation, on host plant characteristics has received almost no attention. This study used a controlled greenhouse experiment to examine the effect of self- and cross-pollination in Mimulus guttatus (Scrophulariaceae) on resistance to and host plant quality for the xylem-feeding spittlebug Philaenus spumarius (Homoptera: Cercopidae). Spittlebugs were found to have a negative effect on two important fitness components in M. guttatus, flower production and above ground biomass. One of two M. guttatus populations examined showed a significant interaction between the pollination and herbivore treatments. In this case, the detrimental effects of herbivores on biomass and flower production were much more pronounced in inbred (self) plants. The presence of spittlebug nymphs increased inbreeding depression by as much as three times. Pollination treatments also had significant effects on important components of herbivore fitness, but these effects were in opposite directions in our two host plant populations. Spittlebug nymphs maturing on self plants emerged as significantly larger adults in one of our host plant populations, indicating that inbreeding increased host plant quality. In our second host plant population, spittlebug nymphs took significantly longer to develop to adulthood on self plants, indicating that inbreeding decreased host plant quality. Taken together these results suggest that the degree of inbreeding in host plant populations can have important and perhaps complex effects on the dynamics of plant-herbivore interactions and on mating-system evolution in the host.
Development of quantum well, quantum dot, and type II superlattice infrared photodetectors

We present an overview of III-V semiconductor-based infrared detector and focal plane array development at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in recent years. Topics discussed include: (1) the development of long-wavelength quantum well infrared photodetector for imaging spectrometer applications, (2) the concept and realization of the submonolayer quantum dot infrared photodetector (SML-QDIP) as an alternative to the standard QDIP-based on Stranski-Krastanov (SK) quantum dots, (3) the mid-wavelength infrared quantum dot barrier infrared detector with extended cutoff wavelength, and (4) high-performance type-II superlattice long-wavelength infrared detectors based on the complementary barrier infrared detector architecture.
Focal adhesion signaling in heart failure

In this brief review, recent evidence is presented to indicate a role for specific components of the cardiomyocyte costamere (and its related structure the focal adhesion complex of cultured cardiomyocytes) in initiating and sustaining the aberrant signal transduction that contributes to myocardial remodeling and the progression to heart failure (HF). Special attention is devoted to the focal adhesion kinase family of nonreceptor protein tyrosine kinases in bidirectional signal transduction during cardiac remodeling and HF progression. Finally, some speculations and directions for future study are provided for this rapidly developing field of research.
Environmental Barriers to and Availability of Healthy Foods for People With Mobility Disabilities Living in Urban and Suburban Neighborhoods

Abstract Mojtahedi MC, Boblick P, Rimmer JH, Rowland JL, Jones RA, Braunschweig CL. Environmental barriers to and availability of healthy foods for people with mobility disabilities living in urban and suburban neighborhoods. Objective To assess the impact of the built environment on access to healthy foods for people with mobility disabilities by measuring wheelchair accessibility of grocery stores and availability of healthy affordable foods. Design A survey consisting of 87 questions. Setting A low-income, multiracial urban Chicago neighborhood with a 3-mile radius was compared with a suburban neighborhood of the same size in which the population is similar in income level and racial distribution. Participants Not applicable. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Accessibility issues outside and within grocery stores and the availability of healthy affordable food items in these grocery stores. Results The urban area had more stores (n=48) than the suburban area (n=34); however, only 46% of urban stores had an entrance that would allow an individual requiring a ramp or level entrance to gain access compared with 88% of suburban stores ( P Conclusions People with mobility impairments are at a disadvantage in maintaining healthy food choices because of limited access to stores and healthy foods.
Multiple listing service participation in the real estate brokerage industry: Cooperation or competition?

Yinger [5] presented a model of real estate broker behavior which describes their ability to match home buyers and sellers. The model shows that since larger brokerage agencies assist greater numbers of buyers and sellers, they have a higher probability of finding matches. Moreover, when brokers share listing information, the model shows that the number of successful matches that the brokerage community can achieve is increased. Based on these results, Yinger advocates legislation to make multiple listing service (MLS) membership compulsory.’ He assumes that once such a law is passed, brokers will naturally share all listings with the MLS, “perhaps after a waiting period of a few days,” and hence barriers to entry to the industry would be reduced and more sales achieved. This paper demonstrates that sharing information is often inconsistent with income maximization. On the contrary, when a broker expects to match a listing with his own buyer, expected income would be maximized by withholding the listing from the MLS to avoid the possibility of splitting the commission with another broker, unless the expected penalty costs of this opportunistic behavior outweighed the gains. Given the problems of monitoring and enforcing an MLS-type contract that have been discussed in the literature,2 it is likely that such strategic behavior would often result in a positive payoff, particularly for large brokerage agencies who obtain many of the listings. Thus, although Yinger’s model enhances understanding of advantages of shared listing information, his assumption that the benefits implied by his model automatically hold in the world where income incentives create significant intervening variables commits the same error that has so often made regulation counterproductive. Here again, the enforcement costs
Expeditious Vlasov solver for computation of ion extraction from a plasma

An algorithm has been developed and previously reported that is applicable for the design of accelerating structures for intense neutral beam injectors for fusion research. The computional speed of the algorithm has not been satisfactory, and an alternative Vlasov solver and Poisson-Vlasov iteration scheme which increases the expeditiousness of the computation are described. A case is considered in which the electric field is considered a constant from which it follows that the ion trajectory is a parabole, and a flow diagram is shown. Using a simultaneous iteration scheme where the Vlasov iteration is made prior to convergence of the Poisson equation, a decrease in computational time of the Poisson solver of a factor of 8 was obtained without any loss of accuracy; and for a particular case, an overall gain of 12 in increase in computational speed was actually achieved. (BLM)
Enhancing blog readability for non-native english readers in the enterprise

Blogs are an important platform for people to access and share information, particularly in corporate settings where users rely on these systems for their work. However, because a global enterprise is multilingual, not all employees can understand the shared information in these systems easily if the content is written in a user's non-native language. As a result, this research focuses on enhancing the readability of blogs in enterprise social software for this group of users. The pilot user study of Japanese and Chinese bloggers suggest there are two main challenges: finding an interesting blog post to read and encountering difficulties in reading blog posts as currently rendered. Based on these findings, we designed and implemented a Firefox extension, Clearly, which uses web customization techniques to improve these two levels of readability issues.
Heated lymphocytes express HLA-DR antigens despite their inability to stimulate in MLC

We have utilized serological techniques and mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) reactions to examine HLA-DR and HLA-D expression by heated (45 degrees C for 1 h) lymphocytes in order to study the functional relationship of these antigens. Heated lymphocytes do not stimulate proliferation of allogeneic lymphocytes in MLC, yet they express HLA-DR antigens. The fraction of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) expressing DR is not altered by heating, nor is the staining intensity altered as detected by fluorescence microscopy. Alloantisera to "B cell alloantigens" recognize HLA-DR determinants on heated cells without any detectable change in either specificity or quantitative cytotoxic effects. Flow cytometry with monoclonal antibody demonstrates only minimal decrease in HLA-DR expression after heating. Thus stimulation in MLC requires more of the stimulating cell than the mere expression of HLA-DR.
-tricyclo[6.2.1.02,7]undec-9-ene-3,6-dione: A versatile synthetic intermediate

Low-temperature ozonolyses of acetone, methylene chloride, or methylene chloride-methanol solutions of the title compound ( 1 ) were studied. Five different reaction workup procedures were employed, each of which afforded a different major product. The structures of five of the reaction products (or solid derivatives prepared therefrom). i.e., compounds 3 , 5 , 6 , 8 , and 10 , were established unequivocally via single crystal X-ray structural analysis.
Kinetic modeling of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and dibenzofuran formation based on carbon degradation reactions.

Combustion experiments in a laboratory-scale fixed bed reactor were performed to determine the role of temperature and time in polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (PCDD) and polychlorinated dibenzofuran (PCDF) formation, allowing a global kinetic expression to be written for PCDD/F formation due to soot oxidation in fly ash deposits. Rate constants were calculated for the reactions of carbon degradation, PCDD/F formation, desorption, and degradation. For the first time, values for activation and thermodynamic parameters for the overall reactions have been calculated for PCDD/F formation, desorption, and destruction reactions. Good agreement was found between the calculated rate constants for carbon degradation and for PCDD/F formation, indicating that the two processes have a common rate-determining step. Moreover, PCDD/F formation was found to be still active after long reaction times (24 h). These results points out the importance of carbon deposits in the postcombustion stages that can account for emissio...
The chemical composition of bananas market basket values, 1968-1980.

Forty-six elements have been detected in fresh banana pulp purchased weekly in Pittsburgh, PA for the past twelve years (1968–1980). Samples were prepared by lyophilization or low temperature ashing. Analyses were performed using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, optical emission spectrometry, atomic absorption spectrometry, and wet chemistry. Whenever possible, comparative data from the literature are included. No comparative data were found for Rb, Cs, Li, Ag, Be, Ga, La, Ce, Ge, Sn, Ti, Zr, Sb, Bi, and Te. Bananas accumulate K, Mg, and B in comparison to their Na, Ca, and Al content. The K content has been rising steadily since 1968. Lead and Hg quantities have not materially changed during the pat three decades. Arsenic concentrations in bananas declined in the late 1960s and early 1970s, but have been rising since 1978, possibly owing to the increased use of As-bearing pesticides. Other toxic elements such as Be and Te are present in very small quantities and are detected infrequently. An appendix is attached that presents the chemical composition of orchard leaves NBS 1571 obtained by the methods utilized in this study.
Two-loop corrections to the orthopositronium and parapositronium decay rates due to vacuum polarization.

We have calculated all O(${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\alpha}}}^{2}$) corrections to the orthopositronium and parapositronium decay rates due to vacuum polarization graphs. These contributions are independent of gauge and bound state formalism. Our results are +0.964 960(4) (\ensuremath{\alpha}/\ensuremath{\pi}${)}^{2}$ for orthopositronium and +0.447 343 0(6) (\ensuremath{\alpha}/\ensuremath{\pi}${)}^{2}$ for parapositronium relative to the lowest order rates. We also have an improved result for the one-loop one-photon-annihilation orthopositronium decay graph of -0.814 057 4(10) (\ensuremath{\alpha}/\ensuremath{\pi}) times the lowest order rate.
Anisotropy in mechanical properties of high-purity copper processed by equal channel angular extrusion

Abstract High-purity oxygen-free electronic copper has been processed by equal channel angular extrusion for up to four passes at room temperature, using 90° tooling, by either route B c or C. Small tensile specimens and compression cubes were sectioned by electro-discharge machining and tested in the as-processed condition. The equal channel angular extrusion (ECAE)-processed material was mechanically anisotropic, with the strength in compression in the direction perpendicular to the plane formed by the inlet and outlet channels being greater than that in the other directions, for both routes. Work softening occurred after a strain of about 1% in this direction, whereas slight but positive work hardening occurred in the other directions, for both routes. In the extrusion direction, the strength in compression was greater than the strength in tension, for both routes. Modeling which assumes that active slip planes harden more rapidly than inactive planes can predict the measured behavior reasonably well, apart from the work softening.
THE GOVERNANCE AND CONTROL OF VOLUNTARY CORPORATE SPIN‐OFFS

We investigate the role that a voluntary corporate restructuring can play in the design of efficient internal corporate control mechanisms. To this end, we examine the post-restructuring internal control practices in 78 voluntary corporate spin-offs that were completed between 1972 and 1987. We find that the selection of the new CEOs, the design of their compensation contracts, and the staffing of the boards of directors and their compensation committees in the spun-off firms can be seen as ex ante efficient. These governance and control practices, however, are not strongly related to the observed positive market reactions to the spin-off announcements. The results indicate that equity reorganizations facilitate the implementation of efficient internal governance and control practices, but that other factors must influence the share price reactions to the announcement of such voluntary corporate restructurings.
Simulation of the V k center in LiF using Hartree-Fock clusters

The role of accurate solid-state modeling to describe charged defects in ionic crystals is assessed in several well-defined models using a well-characterized point defect: the ${V}_{k}$ center. This defect is considered as a ${\mathrm{F}}_{2}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ molecular ion in LiF and is simulated using Hartree-Fock molecular clusters consisting of the defect and/or its nearest-neighbor ${\mathrm{Li}}^{+}$ ions. We find that the stabilization energy of the defect is almost entirely controlled by the presence of the distorted lattice whereas the internuclear separation in the defect appears to be affected by the crystalline environment. The hyperfine constants for the defect and the neighboring nuclei are calculated and compared with experiment.
Assessing craniofacial surgical simulation

Interactive computer graphics visualization allows simulation of craniofacial procedures before surgical intervention. Two simulation modes are currently available: physical replicas created with CT data applied to numerically controlled milling machines or stereolithography machines; and 3D graphical images created from tomographic data. The validity of graphically rendered CT or MR scanned images is carefully measured by simulating craniofacial surgical procedures and testing each step in the process.
Central nervous system relapse in adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

BACKGROUND Recurrence of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in the central nervous system (CNS) in adults is considered a poor prognostic feature. Few reports have analyzed this issue. The objective of this study was to analyze the experience with CNS recurrence in adult patients with ALL. METHODS Between December 1982 and April 2000, the records of 527 consecutive, newly diagnosed patients with ALL who were treated at the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center were reviewed. Patients were treated with one of two published regimens: vincristine, doxorubicin, and dexamethasone (VAD; n = 237 patients) or hyperfractionated cyclophosphamide plus VAD (hyper-CVAD) (n = 290 patients). Among 439 patients (83%) who achieved complete remission (CR), 32 patients (7%) had a CNS recurrence. All patients had received CNS prophylaxis tailored to the risk of CNS recurrence with systemic chemotherapy with or without intrathecal (IT) chemotherapy; none received cranial radiotherapy for prophylaxis. The records of these patients were reviewed. RESULTS The median age at the time of diagnosis was 33 years. The median CR duration prior to CNS recurrence was 36 weeks (range, 2–185 weeks). Three groups were identified: 1) patients with an isolated CNS recurrence (n = 17 patients), 2) patients with CNS recurrences after bone marrow (BM) recurrence (n = 8 patients), and 3) patients with simultaneous CNS and BM recurrences (n = 7 patients). IT chemotherapy was effective in achieving a CNS CR in 30 patients (94%), but 10 patients (31%) had a second CNS recurrence. The median survival from CNS recurrence was 6 months; 28% of patients were alive at 1 year, and 6% of patients were alive at 4 years. CONCLUSIONS Adults with ALL and CNS recurrences have a poor prognosis despite effective IT chemotherapy. Future studies should investigate better approaches in the treatment of these patients to improve their long-term survival. Effective CNS prophylaxis remains the single best approach for treating patients with CNS leukemia. Cancer 2002;94:773–9. © 2002 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.10265
The optimum thickness confirmation of asphalt mixture stress-absorbing material interlayer

The studying team prepared stress-absorbing material interlayer (SAMI) modified asphalt mixture by the best use of local conditions to test its actual modulus of elasticity, Combining with actual local conditions, Studying team ultimately determine the SAMI practical elastic modulus, which was applied to ANSYS finite element method (FEM) software to calculate the different stress effect of the SAMI thickness, Through analyzing the stress-strain laws with the change of asphalt mixture SAMI thickness under traffic loads, we learned that SAMI eases its own stress a little by increasing its thickness, SAMI thickness change has little effect to the maximum bending deflection values in overlay surface and the bending deflection and the bending deflection difference on both sides of seams. Finally we determine a optimum value of asphalt mixture SAMI thickness for the locally available materials to meet the requirements of anti-cracking for both design and construction at the maximum limit.
DELAYED LUMINESCENCE OF ORGANIC MIXED CRYSTALS. VIII. THE LUMINESCENCE OF IMPURE CRYSTALS

— This paper represents an attempt to understand the delayed luminescence behavior of a real (i.e. impure) mixed crystal. The growth and decay of delayed luminescence is analyzed and shown to be complex. The studies embrace guest and guest concentration dependencies, temperature dependence and excitation intensity and wavelength variation. It is shown that a simple model enables proper interpretation of certain limiting characteristics of the delayed luminescence growth and decay behavior. It is also shown that the temperature dependence of phosphorescence spectra of mixed crystals is readily rationalized and that the complex growth and decay behavior of real crystals are interpretable in terms of guest-guest, guest-trap and trap-trap annihilation phenomena. Differences in the growth and decay lifetimes of a given luminescence are analyzed fully and the reasons for the differences substantiated experimentally. The systems studied consist of aromatics and simple amino acids.
Cable temperature monitoring

The National Grid Company (NGC) has been installing fibre optic temperature monitoring on selected cable circuits since 1993, in an effort to gain more knowledge of the thermal behaviour of buried power cables. Three DTS-80 machines have been purchased from York Sensors, which are rotated between particular sites. Data retrieval is by modem link. On all installations so far, the fibre optic cable has been attached to the outside of the power cable. Keeping the fibre optic external to the power cable has many advantages but also a few disadvantages which are briefly outlined. The fibre optic cable is described and the benefits of the system are discussed. (2 pages)
648 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SERUM CONCENTRATION AND URINARY EXCRETION OF ZN AND CU IN PREMATURE INFANTS

Serum zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and 24 hour urine collections for Zn, Cu, and amino acid excretion were measured in 12 primarily intravenously nourished premature infants (mean GA=30.6 wks., mean birth wt=1067gms.). Five infants had two or more serial measurements. All infants were clinically stable, non post-op, and not infected at times of study. Mean age at time of first study = 3.3 wks. Serum Zn and 24 hr. urinary Zn excretion were positively correlated (r=.74 p<.0006). Infants with hypozincemia (serum Zn less than 70μg/dl) generally had urine Zn losses of <130μg/24 hr. Urine Zn concentrations of <100μg/24hr., with a serum Zn of greater than 70μg/dl was an indication of impending hypozincemia. The premature infant is capable of renal conservation of Zn under conditions of actual and impending hypozincemia. Serum Cu and 24hr. urinary Cu excretion were not related (p=.17). Urinary copper excretion, previously shown to be related to increased urinary excretion of glycine and methionine during therapy with Freamine II was markedly reduced with the use of Freamine III and the concommitant reduction in glycine and methionine excretion. Urine Cu excretion averaged <lμg/24hr. and did not contribute significantly to Cu losses.
Latent Patterns of Risk Behavior in Urban African-American Middle School Students in Baltimore City

Students who engage in high-risk behaviors, including early initiation of sexual intercourse, alcohol use, marijuana use, tobacco use, and externalizing behavior are vulnerable to a broad range of adverse outcomes as adults. Latent class analysis was used to determine whether varying patterns of risk behavior existed for 212 urban African-American students from Baltimore public schools who were recruited as part of a study for the prevention of drug use. A two-class model was estimated. The proportion of the sample bearing a high probability of each of the five risk behaviors was 10.7%; in comparison, the proportion of students with a low probability of the risk behaviors was 89.3%. Controlling for other variables, older age and parental drug or alcohol use was associated with being in the high-risk class, whereas neighborhood was not predictive of latent class. Results from this study may be used to target early adolescents with co-occurring risk behaviors for prevention and treatment.
Non-Gaussian effects, space-time decoupling, and mobility bifurcation in glassy hard-sphere fluids and suspensions.

Brownian trajectory simulation methods are employed to fully establish the non-Gaussian fluctuation effects predicted by our nonlinear Langevin equation theory of single particle activated dynamics in glassy hard-sphere fluids. The consequences of stochastic mobility fluctuations associated with the space-time complexities of the transient localization and barrier hopping processes have been determined. The incoherent dynamic structure factor was computed for a range of wave vectors and becomes of an increasingly non-Gaussian form for volume fractions beyond the (naive) ideal mode coupling theory (MCT) transition. The non-Gaussian parameter (NGP) amplitude increases markedly with volume fraction and is well described by a power law in the maximum restoring force of the nonequilibrium free energy profile. The time scale associated with the NGP peak becomes much smaller than the $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ relaxation time for systems characterized by significant entropic barriers. An alternate non-Gaussian parameter that probes the long time $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ relaxation process displays a different shape, peak intensity, and time scale of its maximum. However, a strong correspondence between the classic and alternate NGP amplitudes is predicted which suggests a deep connection between the early and final stages of cage escape. Strong space-time decoupling emerges at high volume fractions as indicated by a nondiffusive wave vector dependence of the relaxation time and growth of the translation-relaxation decoupling parameter. Displacement distributions exhibit non-Gaussian behavior at intermediate times, evolving into a strongly bimodal form with slow and fast subpopulations at high volume fractions. Qualitative and semiquantitative comparisons of the theoretical results with colloid experiments, ideal MCT, and multiple simulation studies are presented.
Hand Hygiene and the Surgical Team

Health care–associated infections (HAIs) are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in health care institutions in the United States and throughout the world. These infections are associated with all aspects of health care delivery, from ambulatory care procedures to hospital admission and from general wards to intensive care units and long-term care facilities. HAIs are also associated with procedures performed in the perioperative setting from insertion of invasive devices and minimally invasive diagnostic and treatment modalities to surgical intervention and follow-up care and treatment. Such infections include urinary tract infections (UTIs), surgical site infections (SSIs), pneumonia (lung infections), and bloodstream infections. A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated the annual medical costs of treating HAIs in US hospitals to be between $28 billion and $45 billion, adjusted to 2007 dollars. 1 The potential for the transmission of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; vancomycin-resistant strains of Enterococci; certain gram-negative bacteria, including those producing extended-spectrum b-lactamases; and Clostridium difficile, that are associated with higher morbidity and mortality, higher cost of treatment, and longer lengths of hospital stay than infections caused by other drug-sensitive organisms is increasing because these MDROs are becoming more and more prevalent in health care institutions and the society. 2 HAIs account for an estimated 1.7 million infections and 99,000 associated deaths each year, with 32% UTIs, 22% SSIs, 15% pneumonia, and 14% bloodstream infections. 3 Hand hygiene, simply washing the hands with soap and water or using an alcohol-based waterless product if the hands are not visibly soiled, is universally thought to be the single most important procedure health care personnel can perform to prevent the transmission of HAIs. 4 However, the observed compliance rate in health care facilities has been regarded as unacceptably poor by public health authorities. 5 A recent review of compliance with hand hygiene in health care facilities concluded that noncompliance with hand hygiene guidelines is a universal problem; the overall
The classification of order-disorder transitions on surfaces

Abstract Order-disorder transitions occur in adsorbed systems of great diversity.However, the transitions themselves can be shown to fall into just a few classes which are characterized by differing critical properties. The particular class to which a given transition belongs is determined directly from the nature of the ordered state and substrate. The critical behavior of some of these classes is of great interest currently, and the observations of such transitions provide a test of the modern theory of critical phenomena. The simple but powerful ideas of Landau and Lifshitz which underlie the above classification are elucidated in the context of order-disorder transitions on surfaces. The “Landau rules” are derived, applied, and yield the several universality classes which can be observed in surface transitions. Specific applications are made to recent experiments, and some areas which call for experimental investigations are noted.
A typology of perceived HIV/AIDS risk‐reduction strategies used by men who “cruise” other men for anonymous sex

A minority of men who have sex with other men continue to engage in unsafe sex practices. Evidence suggests that some may do so because they falsely believe themselves capable of selecting HIV‐negative (i.e., “safe”) sex partners while “cruising,” or while searching for anonymous sex. I explored this idea further by looking at reported strategies, or “partner‐screening procedures,” perceived as effective for identifying “safe” partners. Thirty‐five men who sought other men sexually by cruising were interviewed in depth, and a typology of seven partner‐screening procedures was constructed from their accounts of how they identified high‐risk or low‐risk partners. Operational definitions of each procedure were formulated, examples of how each procedure was used are given, and frequencies of those who used or advocated using them are reported. Virtually all participants strongly preferred HIV‐negative sex partners, and 77% believed that casual sex partners can be screened to some extent by gathering informati...
Dietary restriction suppresses age-related changes in dendritic spines

The effects of dietary restriction by every-other-day (EOD) feeding on dendritic spines in the aging rat neocortex were evaluated in Golgi preparations. After weaning, male Wistar rats were offered a 24% protein diet either ad lib (AL) or EOD. AL-fed groups were sacrificed at 6 and 24-25 months of age. EOD-fed groups were sacrificed at 6, 24, and 30 months. To assess the effects of EOD feeding late in life, another group was fed AL for 19 months, then EOD for 5 months and sacrificed when 24 months old. Spine density and configuration were quantified along 20 microns terminal tip segments from the basilar tree of layer V pyramidal cells of the parietal cortex. Evaluation of spine densities from the 6 and 24 months AL-fed groups showed that there was a significant loss of spines with normal aging (-38%). In EOD-fed rats, spine density did not differ significantly from AL age-matched controls at either 6 or 24 months of age. However, spine densities in 24-month-old rats diet restricted late in life and EOD-fed 30-month-old rats were the same as 6-month-old AL-fed controls and EOD 6-month-old rats, an observation suggesting protection of dendritic spines from age-related loss. Spines were categorized as either L-type (lollipop-shaped), which are more prevalent in young adults, or N-type (nubbin). With normal aging (comparing 6- and 24-month-old AL-fed groups) there was a significant decrease in L-type spines. However, all dietarily restricted groups showed retention of L-type spines.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Numerical Implications of Solidity and Blade Number on Rotor Performance of Horizontal-Axis Wind Turbines

A numerical study was conducted to examine the impact of rotor solidity and blade number on the aerodynamic performance of small wind turbines. Blade element momentum theory and lifting line based wake theory were utilized to parametrically assess the effects of blade number and solidity on rotor performance. Increasing the solidity beyond what is traditionally used for electric generating wind turbines led to increased power coefficients at lower tip speed ratios, with an optimum between 3 and 4. An increase in the blade number at a given solidity also increased the maximum C p for all cases examined. The possibility of a higher aerodynamic power extraction from solidity or blade number increases could lead to a higher overall system power production. Additional advantages over current 5% to 7% solidity, high speed designs would include lower noise, lower cut-in wind speed, and less blade erosion.
Ligand-based luminescence in lead-containing complexes: The effect of conjugated organic ligands on fluorescence

Abstract The asymmetrically substituted heterocyclic alkyne 5-(pyridin-3-ylethynyl) picolinate (P3PA) was synthesized via a one-pot Sonogashira coupling. After purification, P3PA was reacted with Pb(NO3)2 into the two-dimensional coordination polymer Pb(P3PA)2(H2O)2 (1) under hydrothermal conditions. Coordination polymer 1 crystallizes into the monoclinic space group I2/a, with a = 15.5775(10) A, b = 5.9949(4) A, c = 24.8380(16) A, and β = 90.7500(10)°. In addition, the luminescent fluorene-based ligands, fluorene-9-carboxylate (FCA) and fluorenone-2,7-dicarboxylate (FDCA), were incorporated into hybrid materials via coordination to the lead (II) cation. Coordination polymer Pb(FCA)2 (2) crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/c (a = 8.0518(9) A, b = 25.338(3) A, c = 10.5842(12) A, β = 94.913(2)°), and forms a 1-D polymeric chain. Coordination polymer Pb3(FDCA)3(H2O)3 (3) crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1 (a = 6.6990(5) A, b = 10.1529(7) A, c = 13.6935(9) A, α = 81.884(2)°, β = 87.260(2)°, γ = 84.399(2)°), and forms pillared 3-D layers. These three compounds have been identified via single crystal X-ray diffraction and characterized via powder X-ray diffraction, UV–Vis spectroscopy, and fluorescence spectroscopy.
Capture probability of released males of two Bactrocera species (Diptera: Tephritidae) in detection traps in California.

ABSTRACT The genus Bactrocera (Diptera: Tephritidae) includes ≈70 polyphagous species that are major pests of fruit and vegetable crops. Most Bactrocera species have limited geographic distributions, but several species are invasive, and many countries operate continuous trapping programs to detect infestations. In the United States, California maintains ≈25,000 traps (baited with male lures) specifically for Bactrocera detection distributed over an area of ≈6,400 km2 (2,500 miles2) in the Los Angeles area. Although prior studies have used male lures to describe movement of Bactrocera males, they do not explicitly relate capture probability with fly distance from lure-baited traps; consequently, they do not address the relative effectiveness of male lures in detecting incipient populations of Bactrocera species. The objective of this study was to measure the distance-dependent capture probability of marked, released males of Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) and Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett) (methyl eugen...
Characteristics of a small low cost inertial measurement unit

The HG1700 Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) was developed to provide low cost inertial measurement products for air-to-air missiles and air-to-surface weapons. The HG1700 IMU uses low cost miniature tactical grade ring laser gyros and linear accelerometer inertial sensors. Since the IMU was initially introduced as a production item in 1994, it has been selected by each Department of Defense service for a variety of applications, including; missiles, munitions, unmanned aerial vehicles, air targets, and unmanned underwater vehicles. Many of the applications are in Engineering and Manufacturing Development program phases so available test results are current and impressive. The HG1700 IMU is designed to use a common hardware configuration with software that can be modified to meet application specific requirements. Software modifications generally include interface protocol, data rate output and frequency response characteristics. This paper provides a history of the need for the HG1700 IMU, a summary of current applications using the HG1700 IMU and a review of recent test results. A technical overview and interface description are also included.
Ubiquitination and Degradation of ATF2 Are Dimerization Dependent

Ubiquitination and proteasome-dependent degradation are key determinants of the half-lives of many transcription factors. Homo- or heterodimerization of basic region-leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors is required for their transcriptional activities. Here we show that activating transcription factor 2 (ATF2) heterodimerization with specific bZIP proteins is an important determinant of the ubiquitination and proteasome-dependent degradation of ATF2. Depletion of c-Jun as one of the ATF2 heterodimer partners from the targeting proteins decreased the efficiency of ATF2 ubiquitination in vitro, whereas the addition of exogenously purified c-Jun restored it. Similarly, overexpression of c-Jun in 293T human embryo kidney cells increased ATF2 ubiquitination in vivo and reduced its half-life in a dose-dependent manner. Mutations of ATF2 that disrupt its dimerization inhibited ATF2 ubiquitination in vitro and in vivo. Conversely, removal of residues 150 to 248, as in a constitutively active ATF2 spliced form, enhanced ATF2 dimerization and transactivation, which coincided with increased ubiquitination and decreased stability. Our findings indicate the increased sensitivity of transcriptionally active dimers of ATF2 to ubiquitination and proteasome-dependent degradation. Based on these observations, we conclude that increased targeting of a transcriptionally active ATF2 form indicates the mechanism by which the magnitude and the duration of the cellular stress response are regulated.
Efficacy of Intravenous Infusion of Doripenem

Initial treatment of nosocomial pneumonia (NP), including ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), is usually empirical. The use of a broad-spectrum antibiotic regimen to treat NP-VAP that is active against suspected multidrug-resistant pathogens maximizes the likelihood of a favorable outcome. In a post hoc analysis of pooled data from 2 prospective, randomized, open-label, phase 3 NP-VAP trials, doripenem, a new broad-spectrum carbapenem with antipseudomonal activity, demonstrated noninferiority to standard comparator regimens (imipenem and piperacillin-tazobactam) with regard to clinical and microbiological outcomes. In subgroup analyses, doripenem continued to show noninferiority to the comparator drugs in achieving clinical and microbiological cures in populations at high risk of multidrug-resistant infection, such as patients with late-onset VAP (defined as patients who develop VAP >5 days after intubation) or those with NP-VAP caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa or complicated by bacteremia. Overall, the clinical data indicate that doripenem has the potential to be an important option in the treatment of NP, including VAP.
Social Competence as a Developmental Construct

Abstract The concept of social competence presents problems for conceptualization and assessment. At times researchers have tried to circumvent these problems by defining competence in terms of specific capacities or skills, with the consequence that the integrative potential of the concept is lost. On the other hand, more molar definitions (e.g., “effectiveness”), while being true to the integrative nature of the construct, provide little guidance for assessment. In this paper a developmental perspective on competence is presented which is congruent with a molar definition of competence while still guiding assessment efforts. In addition to this developmental viewpoint, certain practical guidelines are presented for assessment of competence across ages. These include the use of broadband assessments, which are tied to real-life adaptational problems, call for the coordination of affect, cognition, and behavior, and tax the integrative capacities of the child. Initial validation of the developmental competence construct and this approach to assessment is presented.
Effects of home telemonitoring and community-based monitoring on blood pressure control in urban African Americans: A pilot study

Background: African Americans have a higher prevalence and greater severity of hypertension than do other minorities and whites. This fact is particularly problematic when one realizes that the rate of control and treatment of hypertension in the US population is getting worse rather than better. Alternative strategies to promote blood pressure control need to be tested. Objectives: The purpose of this pilot study was to test the following hypothesis: Persons who participate in nurse-managed home telemonitoring (HT) plus usual care or who participate in nurse-managed community-based monitoring (CBM) plus usual care will have greater improvement in blood pressure from baseline to 3 months’ follow-up than will persons who receive usual care only. Methods: This study used a randomized controlled design; participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups that were stratified by use or nonuse of antihypertension medication. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) controlling for age and body weight were used to determine changes in blood pressure from baseline to 3 months. The sample contained 26 African Americans with a mean age of 59 years. Results: Both the HT group and the CBM group had clinically and statistically significant (P <.05) drops in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) at 3 months’ follow-up, with participants in the HT group demonstrating the greatest improvement (HT: baseline SBP 148.8 ± 13.8, DBP 90.2 ± 5.79; 3 months’ follow-up SBP 124.1 ± 13.82, DBP 75.58 ± 11.4; CBM: baseline SBP 155.25 ± 17.014, DBP 89.42 ± 10.95; 3 months’ follow-up SBP 142.3 ± 12.1, DBP 78.25 ± 6.86). There was little change in SBP or DBP at 3 months’ follow-up in the usual care only group. Conclusion: These are important pilot results, which if replicated in a larger sample will significantly improve care for urban African Americans with hypertension. (Heart Lung® 2001;30:191-9.)
THE INHERITANCE OF GOSSYPOL LEVEL IN GOSSYPIUM II: INHERITANCE OF SEED GOSSYPOL IN TWO STRAINS OF CULTIVATED GOSSYPIUM BARBADENSE L

Two strains of cultivated Gossypium barbadense L., Sea Island AS-2 and Pima S-4, were used to study the effects of alleles at two loci on the production and/or storage of gossypol in mature embryos. The normal alleles, Gl2 and Gl3, are "native" to G. barbadense, whereas the mutant alleles, gl2 and gl3, were introduced from Gossypium hirsutum L. through backcrossing. Each strain was grown in three replications per trial, and one, Sea Island AS-2, was grown in three environments. Each experiment consisted of all possible crosses, including reciprocals, of the four true-breeding genotypes, plus parents. Additive effects accounted for more than 90% of the total genetic variance for seed gossypol level in all trials. Epistatic effects, though small, were frequently significant. In G. barbadense Gl2 and Gl3 were associated with the production of similar amounts of gossypol, whereas previous trials with cultivated varieties of G. hirsutum showed that Gl2 was more than twice as expressive as Gl3. The greater average productivity of seed gossypol in cultivated G. barbadense, as compared with G. hirsutum, was attributed to greater activity at the Gl3 locus in the former species.
Selective Review of Key Perioperative Renal-Electrolyte Disturbances in Chronic Renal Failure Patients

The medical care of chronic renal failure patients is often complicated by the comorbid conditions of hypertension and coronary artery disease in the perioperative period. The limitations on solute and water excretion imposed by renal dysfunction increase the susceptibility of this population to both salt deficit and surfeit, as well as hyponatremia and hypernatremia perioperatively. Accurate assessment and successful treatment of these complications in renal failure patients require understanding of the concept of electrolyte-free water, proper utilization of diuretics, and calculated prescription of fluid therapy. The presence of hyperkalemia in the adapted renal failure patient generally indicates a severe reduction in glomerular filtration, such that nonrenal hypokalemic treatments are imperative. IV calcium-based therapy and infusion of insulin with glucose represent the mainstays of immediate therapy, and sodium bicarbonate therapy should be given only when severe acidemia is present. Perioperative aggravation of preexistent hypertension is common. Rebound hypertension attributable to injudicious adjustment of the medical regimen should be diligently searched for first, before any new therapies are recommended. Relief of pain or anxiety may be all that is necessary. Briefly acting calcium channel blocker therapy should not be employed in these cases, and smooth IV control by a variety of agents is preferable, the choice of the agent contingent on the clinical scenario.
Peripheral blood eosinophilia and hypersensitivity reactions among patients receiving outpatient parenteral antibiotics

Background Although drug-induced peripheral eosinophilia complicates antimicrobial therapy, little is known about its frequency and implications. Objective We aimed to determine the frequency and predictors of antibiotic-induced eosinophilia and subsequent hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs). Methods We evaluated a prospective cohort of former inpatients receiving intravenous antibiotic therapy as outpatients with at least 1 differential blood count. We used multivariate Cox proportional hazards models with time-varying antibiotic treatment indicators to assess the effect of demographic data and antibiotic exposures on eosinophilia and subsequent HSRs, including documented rash, renal injury, and liver injury. Possible drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome cases were identified and manually validated. Results Of 824 patients (60% male; median age, 60 years; median therapy duration, 41 days), 210 (25%) had eosinophilia, with median peak absolute eosinophil counts of 726/mL (interquartile range, 594-990/mL). Use of vancomycin, penicillin, rifampin, and linezolid was associated with a higher hazard of having eosinophilia. There was a subsequent HSR in 64 (30%) of 210 patients with eosinophilia, including rash (n = 32), renal injury (n = 31), and liver injury (n = 13). Patients with eosinophilia were significantly more likely to have rash (hazard ratio [HR], 4.16; 95% CI, 2.54-6.83; P P = .0009) but not liver injury (HR, 1.75; 95% CI, 0.92-3.33; P = .09). Possible DRESS syndrome occurred in 7 (0.8%) of 824 patients; 4 (57%) were receiving vancomycin. Conclusions Drug-induced eosinophilia is common with parenteral antibiotics. Although most patients with eosinophilia do not have an HSR, eosinophilia increases the hazard rate of having rash and renal injury. DRESS syndrome was more common than previously described.