cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Functional microfabricated sample targets for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry analysis of ribonucleic acids.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) is a powerful analytical tool for the structural characterization of proteins and nucleic acids. However, many proteomics or...
Fitness Cost of Resistance to Bt Cotton Linked with Increased Gossypol Content in Pink Bollworm Larvae

Fitness costs of resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) crops occur in the absence of Bt toxins, when individuals with resistance alleles are less fit than individuals without resistance alleles. As costs of Bt resistance are common, refuges of non-Bt host plants can delay resistance not only by providing susceptible individuals to mate with resistant individuals, but also by selecting against resistance. Because costs typically vary across host plants, refuges with host plants that magnify costs or make them less recessive could enhance resistance management. Limited understanding of the physiological mechanisms causing fitness costs, however, hampers attempts to increase costs. In several major cotton pests including pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella), resistance to Cry1Ac cotton is associated with mutations altering cadherin proteins that bind this toxin in susceptible larvae. Here we report that the concentration of gossypol, a cotton defensive chemical, was higher in pink bollworm larvae with cadherin resistance alleles than in larvae lacking such alleles. Adding gossypol to the larval diet decreased larval weight and survival, and increased the fitness cost affecting larval growth, but not survival. Across cadherin genotypes, the cost affecting larval growth increased as the gossypol concentration of larvae increased. These results suggest that increased accumulation of plant defensive chemicals may contribute to fitness costs associated with resistance to Bt toxins.
Corporate governance: Big changes ahead

Is there life after Enron? The answer is obviously yes. But the business world—and corporate governance—will never be the same. And what will this brave new world look like? The authors explain what you need to know, and how to stay out of trouble. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Ikaros directly represses the notch target gene Hes1 in a leukemia T cell line: implications for CD4 regulation.

Ikaros and Notch1, two regulators of gene transcription, are critically important at many stages of T cell development. Deregulation of Ikaros and Notch activities cooperate to promote T cell leukemogenesis, providing evidence that they function in converging pathways in developing T cells. In this report, a mechanism for Ikaros:Notch cooperativity is described, revealing a non-redundant role for Ikaros in regulating expression of the Notch target gene Hes1 in a leukemia T cell line. We provide evidence that Ikaros directly represses Hes1 in concert with the transcriptional repressor, RBP-Jκ, allowing for cross-talk between Notch and Ikaros that impacts regulation of CD4 expression. Taken together, these data describe a potential mechanism for Ikaros' function during T cell development and define Ikaros as an obligate repressor of Hes1.
OCB: A block-cipher mode of operation for efficient authenticated encryption

We describe a parallelizable block-cipher mode of operation that simultaneously provides privacy and authenticity. OCB encrypts-and-authenticates a nonempty string M ∈ {0, 1}* using ⌈|M|/n⌉ + 2 block-cipher invocations, where n is the block length of the underlying block cipher. Additional overhead is small. OCB refines a scheme, IAPM, suggested by Charanjit Jutla. Desirable properties of OCB include the ability to encrypt a bit string of arbitrary length into a ciphertext of minimal length, cheap offset calculations, cheap key setup, a single underlying cryptographic key, no extended-precision addition, a nearly optimal number of block-cipher calls, and no requirement for a random IV. We prove OCB secure, quantifying the adversary's ability to violate the mode's privacy or authenticity in terms of the quality of its block cipher as a pseudorandom permutation (PRP) or as a strong PRP, respectively.
Allogeneic stem cell transplantation in a patient with relapsed Ewing sarcoma

Ewing sarcoma (ES) can express tumor antigens which can be recognized by T cells, making allogeneic stem cell transplant (SCT) a potential option for those patients with refractory disease. A 6-year old with multifocal ES developed a recurrence of pulmonary metastases and underwent an allogeneic bone marrow transplant from her human leukocyte antigen (HLA) 10/10 matched mother. During a taper of her immunosuppression, she developed grade 1 skin and oral graft versus host disease (GVHD). CT scans performed 9 months post-transplant revealed a marked decrease in the size of her pulmonary lesions compared to scans 2 months post-transplant. This case highlights the possibility of treating patients with refractory metastatic ES with allogeneic SCT.
Photomultiplier Detection System

The design and application of a wide field photomultiplier detection system will be presented. The instrument was designed to detect the luminous entry of rocket borne artificial meteors into the earth's atmosphere. The instrument has been used to provide a real-time correlation between photographic and radar signatures of artificial meteors, "quick-look" data for vehicle performance evaluation, and experimental data on some of the parameters involved in the photo-electric photometry of natural meteors.
Enhanced lymphoproliferation to influenza a virus following vaccination of older, chronically III adults with live-attenuated viruses

To question whether cellular immunity was stimulated by live-attenuated viruses in older, chronically ill adults, we intranasally inoculated 2 groups of volunteers (n=37) with 2 different cold-recombinant, live-attenuated influenza A virus vaccines, and measured peripheral blood mononu-clear cell responsiveness to influenza antigens and mitogen before and after vaccination. Lymphocyte proliferation to vaccine virus and to heterosubtypic influenza A virus increased postvaccination even in the subpopulation of vaccinees who had a 4-fold nasal wash antibody titer rise to vaccine virus hemagglutinin, but no concomitant serum antibody titer rise to hemagglutinin. Vaccinees aged ⩽65 years exhibited a rise in proliferation to vaccine virus postvaccination, as well. Based on lymphocyte proliferation, vaccine virus infection induced an enhanced cell-mediated immune response. Higher prevaccination serum antibody titers, however, were associated with protection from vaccine virus infection, and higher lymphocyte pro...
Metabolic syndrome in women with chronic pain

Fibromyalgia is a prevalent syndrome characterized by chronic pain, fatigue, and insomnia. Patients with fibromyalgia commonly have an elevated body mass index and are physically inactive, 2 major risk factors for metabolic syndrome. Yet little is known about the relationship between chronic pain conditions and metabolic disturbances. Our study evaluated the risk for, and neuroendocrine correlates of, metabolic syndrome in this patient population. Women with fibromyalgia (n = 109) were compared with control healthy women (n = 46), all recruited from the community. Metabolic syndrome was identified by using criteria from the Adult Treatment Panel III with glycosylated hemoglobin concentrations substituted for serum glucose. Catecholamine and cortisol levels were determined from 12-hour overnight urine collections. Women with fibromyalgia were 5.56 times more likely than healthy controls to have metabolic syndrome (95% confidence interval, 1.25-24.74). Fibromyalgia was associated with larger waist circumference (P = .04), higher glycosylated hemoglobin (P = .01) and serum triglyceride (P < .001) levels, and higher systolic (P = .003) and diastolic (P = .002) blood pressure. Total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were also significantly higher in women with fibromyalgia (P = .001 and .02, respectively), although high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was in the reference range. These associations were not accounted for by age or body mass index. Meeting criteria for more metabolic syndrome components was related to higher urinary norepinephrine (NE)/epinephrine and NE/cortisol ratios (P < .001 and P = .009, respectively). Women with chronic pain from fibromyalgia are at an increased risk for metabolic syndrome, which may be associated with relatively elevated NE levels in conjunction with relatively reduced epinephrine and cortisol secretion.
Sildenafil Ameliorates Long Term Peripheral Neuropathy in Type II Diabetic Mice

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is a common complication of long-standing diabetes mellitus. To mimic clinical trials in which patients with diabetes enrolled have advanced peripheral neuropathy, we investigated the effect of sildenafil, a specific inhibitor of phosphodiesterase type 5 enzyme, on long term peripheral neuropathy in middle aged male mice with type II diabetes. Treatment of diabetic mice (BKS.Cg-m+/+Leprdb/J, db/db) at age 36 weeks with sildenafil significantly increased functional blood vessels and regional blood flow in the sciatic nerve, concurrently with augmentation of intra-epidermal nerve fiber density in the skin and myelinated axons in the sciatic nerve. Functional analysis showed that the sildenafil treatment considerably improved motor and sensory conduction velocities in the sciatic nerve and peripheral thermal stimulus sensitivity compared with the saline treatment. In vitro studies showed that mouse dermal endothelial cells (MDE) cultured under high glucose levels exhibited significant down regulation of angiopoietin 1 (Ang1) expression and reduction of capillary-like tube formation, which were completely reversed by sildenafil. In addition, incubation of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons with conditioned medium harvested from MDE under high glucose levels suppressed neurite outgrowth, where as conditional medium harvested from MDE treated with sildenafil under high glucose levels did not inhibit neurite outgrowth of DRG neurons. Moreover, blockage of the Ang1 receptor, Tie2, with a neutralized antibody against Tie2 abolished the beneficial effect of sildenafil on tube formation and neurite outgrowth. Collectively, our data indicate that sildenafil has a therapeutic effect on long term peripheral neuropathy of middle aged diabetic mice and that improvement of neurovascular dysfunction by sildenafil likely contributes to the amelioration of nerve function. The Ang1/Tie2 signaling pathway may play an important role in these restorative processes.
Ultrafast Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy and Application to Real-Time Control of Ultrafast Laser Micromachining Process

A significant obstacle in ultrafast laser micromachining of multi-layer or heterogeneous micro-structures is the lack of an online diagnostic method to determine which material is being ablated during the material removal process. This problem arises because ultrafast lasers are generally insensitive to the material being processed. One promising technique to address this problem is the use of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) by which the plasma generated during the laser-material interaction can be collected and analyzed to provide information regarding the elemental composition of the mate-rial being ablated. In this work, a real-time feedback control system for the ultrafast laser micromachining process based on the LIBS technique is built. The ultrafast LIBS signal is first characterized to prove the feasibility. Characteristics of spectral emission, temporal evolution, spatial heterogeneity of the ultrafast LIBS signal, effects from laser machining factors, etc., are discussed. Comparison methods for identifying the material emission patterns are then studied. Effective algorithms from the study are implemented into the control system software, SPECOMP, developed in the laboratory. Issues on the real-time control process are discussed. The real-time controlled machining process has then been applied to the machining of micro-structures on thermal sprayed material. Compared to the passive machining process without any such feedback control, SPECOMP system provides several important advantages including less damage to the substrate layer, shortened machining time, and more uniform feature sizes.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Passive beam pointing stabilization

The stabilization of laser beam pointing is critical for many applications, such as interferometry and laser material processing. Active beam pointing stabilization techniques have been demonstrated, but they exhibit limitations when used in single-shot systems. A passive method for beam pointing stabilization based on image rotation and sum-frequency generation is presented and is capable of stabilizing the beam pointing on a single shot. An all-passive pointing stability improvement by 2 orders of magnitude is experimentally demonstrated in a compact setup with femtosecond laser pulses.
Size Matters: Why Managers Should Pursue Corporate Growth, Even at the Expense of Shareholder Value

The fact that managers pursue corporate growth and diversification as a primary objective, and that this objective might be contrary to other corporate goals, is well established. For example, Adams and Brock in The Bigness Complex note that “America’s corporate giants have not performed well over the last fifteen years...Bigness has not delivered the goods, and thus fact is no longer a secret” (1986, p. xi). Recent evidence to support this claim is provided in an extensive empirical study by Ramezani, Soenen, and Jung who analyze several thousand firms over a period of eleven years from 1990 through 2000. They define corporate growth in terms of the growth rate in sales, and shareholder value in terms of both economic value added (EVA) and abnormal stock-market returns. (These definitions of corporate growth and shareholder value are used throughout this paper.) They conclude that “although the corporate profitability measures generally rise with earnings and sales growth, an optimal point exists beyond which further growth and sales growth, an optimal point exists beyond which further growth destroys shareholder value...” (2002, p. 56). They note that many firms go beyond this optimal point and conclude that “corporate managers need to abandon the habit of blindly increasing company size” (p. 65).
Quantitative measurements of an intrastrain cross-reactive idiotype in IgE antibodies

This paper describes the development of methods for quantitation of an intrastrain cross-reactive idiotype (CRIA) in IgE antibodies directed to the p-azophenylarsonate (Ar) group and their application to normally immunized and idiotypically suppressed mice. The data were validated by the use of monoclonal and serum anti-Ar antibodies known to possess or lack CRIA. The idiotype was absent in the IgE as well as the total anti-Ar population of idiotypically suppressed mice. A good correlation was noted between the CRIA content of total and IgE anti-Ar with a trend toward a somewhat lower content in the IgE population. Irradiated mice that received immune cells prior to further immunization expressed relatively low concentrations of the idiotype (per weight unit of anti-Ar). The method will be useful in studies of the regulation of the switch to IgE synthesis.
A photoconvertible fluorescent reporter to track chaperone-mediated autophagy

Chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) is a selective mechanism for the degradation of soluble proteins in lysosomes. CMA contributes to cellular quality control and is activated as part of the cellular response to different stressors. Defective CMA has been identified in ageing and different age-related diseases. Until now, CMA activity could only be measured in vitro using isolated lysosomes. Here we report the development of a photoconvertible fluorescent reporter that allows monitoring of CMA activity in living cells. Activation of CMA increases the association of the reporter with lysosomes which can be visualized as a change in the intracellular fluorescence. The CMA reporter can be utilized in a broad variety of cells and is suitable for high-content microscopy. Using this reporter, we find that levels of basal and inducible CMA activity are cell-type dependent, and we have identified an upregulation of this pathway in response to the catalytic inhibition of the proteasome.
PROLONGING REMISSION IN MYELOBLASTIC LEUKÆMIA BY TICE-STRAIN BACILLUS CALMETTE-GUÉRIN

Abstract After remission induction and consolidation, forty-one patients with myeloblastic leukaemia were randomly allocated to groups receiving either Tice-strain bacillus Calmette Guerin (B.C.G.) given by the tine technique twice weekly for 4 weeks followed 2 weeks later by methotrexate 30 mg. per sq. m. twice weekly or methotrexate alone. The median duration of remission from onset of remission was 39·4 weeks in the B.C.G./ methotrexate group and 26 weeks in the methotrexate group. The median duration of remission after consolidation was 20·4 weeks for the B.C.G./methotrexate group and 9·7 weeks for the methotrexate group.
Russia's Juvenal or Russia's Horace? Nekrasov's Satirical Personae

q k-Zatire, in Russian as in other European literatures, can mean different things. In the broadest sense, "satire" can be applied to a work in any genre that attacks some target through invective or ridicule. When the Russian term satira is used in this way, it becomes synonymous with oblichenie, the "exposing" of social evils, in attacks, for example, on bribe-takers, tyrannical slaveholders, or Gallicized noblemen. Thus satira and oblichenie are used interchangeably in the writings of Maksim Antonovich, a radical critic of the 1860s.1 This conception of satire embraces prose, drama, and poetry, depending on a work's "motive and spirit" rather than its form.2 Another, far narrower, definition considers satire a particular genre within poetry that continues the tradition of the great Roman verse satirists, especially Horace and Juvenal, and to a lesser extent Persius and Lucilius. Many poets over the centuries have interpreted Quintilian's declaration "satire is entirely ours" (satura ... tota nostra est) to mean that satire is Roman in origin and essence, and have accepted his claim. Thus Aleksandr Sumarokov, for example, in his Epistles, alludes to more than forty earlier writers from different national literatures, but calls only Horace, Juvenal, Persius, and the French neoclassicist Boileau satirists.3 In the 1840s Vissarion Belinsky, as will be shown below,
The Golem: uncertainty and communicating science.

This paper elaborates on the Golem metaphor as a way of understanding uncertainty in science. Its implications for the ethics of communicating science are explored.
A self-contained enzyme activating prodrug cytotherapy for preclinical melanoma

Gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (GDEPT) has been investigated as a means of cancer treatment without affecting normal tissues. This system is based on the delivery of a suicide gene, a gene encoding an enzyme which is able to convert its substrate from non-toxic prodrug to cytotoxin. In this experiment, we have developed a targeted suicide gene therapeutic system that is completely contained within tumor-tropic cells and have tested this system for melanoma therapy in a preclinical model. First, we established double stable RAW264.7 monocyte/macrophage-like cells (Mo/Ma) containing a Tet-On® Advanced system for intracellular carboxylesterase (InCE) expression. Second, we loaded a prodrug into the delivery cells, double stable Mo/Ma. Third, we activated the enzyme system to convert the prodrug, irinotecan, to the cytotoxin, SN-38. Our double stable Mo/Ma homed to the lung melanomas after 1 day and successfully delivered the prodrug-activating enzyme/prodrug package to the tumors. We observed that our system significantly reduced tumor weights and numbers as targeted tumor therapy after activation of the InCE. Therefore, we propose that this system may be a useful targeted melanoma therapy system for pulmonary metastatic tumors with minimal side effects, particularly if it is combined with other treatments.
A Note on Gold Production and Additions to International Gold Reserves

HE PURPOSE OF THIS NOTE is to survey trends in the production of gold and the flow of gold to monetary reserves, with the intention of estimating the probable additions to international reserves during the next decade.' The discussion is based on the assumption that the U.S. price of gold will remain at $35 per ounce. Additions to the total gold reserves of the countries outside the Soviet bloc will depend upon the amount of gold initially made available by new production, the sales of gold by the Soviet bloc to the rest of the world, the net amount of gold used for industrial and artistic purposes, and the amount of gold bought privately for saving or hoarding. Gold acquired for this last purpose may be in the form of gold coins, semiprocessed gold, or jewelry and other fabricated objects.
An inquiry on the nature of CISK. Part I

It is shown that a puzzling conspicuous feature in Charney and Eliassen's (1964) result represents essentially an unstable internal gravity wave distorted by the use of the balance condition. This mode arises from the part of the heating representation associated with the vertical velocity per se at the interior level. This mode is fundamentally identical with the most unstable mode in a conventional Wave-CISK model. Such modes would not arise if the heating is parameterized in general solely in terms of the rotational component of the flow. The connection between this proposed treatment and the one using an additional frequency dependent heating parameter will be discussed. DOI: 10.1111/j.2153-3490.1981.tb01779.x
Synthesis of a 2,2'-Bipyridyl Functionalized Oligovinylene- Phenylene Using Heck and Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons Reactions and X-ray Crystal Structure of E-(4-(4-Bromostyryl)phenyl)(methyl)sulfane

The synthesis of a new 2,2'-bipyridyl functionalized oligovinylenephenylene (OVP-5) containing a methyl protected thiol using Heck coupling and the Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction and is described. A key step involving a diisopropylcarbodiimide promoted dehydration of a stable b-hydroxyphosphonate intermediate was identified. The structure of precursor E-(4-(4-bromostyryl)phenyl)(methyl)sulfane (1) was determined using X-ray crystallography.
High‐resolution bathymetry of the East Pacific Rise axial summit trough 9° 49′ ‐ 51′N: A compilation of Alvin scanning sonar and altimetry data from 1991–1995

Bathymetric data acquired during six cruises to the East Pacific Rise crest 9° 49′-51′N are compiled into a single bathymetric database and used to create high-resolution bathymetry maps of two geologically and biologically active areas. Scanning sonar and Alvin altimetry were collected during 23 Alvin dives to the P-vent/Bio9 and Biomarker-141 areas during 1991–95. Bathymetry data were filtered, edited, and processed as individual dives then combined into a single database for each cruise and statistically evaluated. Cruise data sets were numerically and visually compared and cross-correlated to known bottom features and fixed seafloor reference markers, then horizontally shifted to establish a consistent database with 3 m vertical and 5 m horizontal resolutions. The compiled and corrected bathymetry was used to produce bathymetric maps of two areas within the axial summit collapse trough; a 2 × 104 m² area around P and Bio9 vents, and a 1.1 × 10³ m² area around Biomarker 141. The resulting detailed bathymetry maps reveal topography dominated by low-relief volcanic constructional features and post-eruptive collapse of lobate and sheet lava surfaces.
Selective Regulation of Phosphoinositide Levels in Nociceptive Neurons Underlie Differential Regulation of TRPV1 Channels

Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) ion channels are regulated in a complex manner. Activation of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR) by inflammatory mediators sensitizes the channels to moderate stimuli, whereas prolonged pharmacological activation of TRPV1 leads to diminished activity over time (desensitization). Paradoxically, both conditions entail activation of phospholipase C (PLC) enzymes. We found that in sensory neurons activation of GPCRs by bradykinin leads to a moderate decrease in phosphatidylinositol 4,5 bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P2], but no sustained change in the levels of its precursor PI(4)P. Preventing the decrease of PI(4,5)P2 inhibited bradykinin-induced sensitization, while selectively decreasing PI(4,5)P2 potentiated sensitization induced by submaximal activation of protein kinase C (PKC). Disruption of the tubulin cytoskeleton with colchicine mimicked the effect of decreasing PI(4,5)P2 levels. On the other hand maximal stimulation with capsaicin lead to a robust decrease of both PI(4,5)P2 and its precursor PI(4)P in sensory neurons. Capsaicin-induced desensitization of TRPV1 currents was significantly reduced by intracellular dialysis of either PI(4,5)P2 or PI(4)P. Combined reduction of PI(4,5)P2 and PI(4)P without the activation of PLC reduced TRPV1 activity. We propose a comprehensive model in which selective changes in phosphoinositide levels by distinct PLC isoforms mediate the differential regulation of TRPV1 by GPCR activation and by Ca2+ influx.
Re-viewing Romantic Drama

We are in the midst of a revival of interest in the drama and theater of the Romantic period that has brought about new editions, exciting scholarship, and a surprisingly large number of stage productions of Romantic plays. The Romantic period offers us a wide range of interesting dramatic texts including poetic tragedies by canonical authors, innovative plays by women writers, and successful theatrical pieces by long-forgotten playwrights such as the Dibdins. We will best understand these works when we move beyond the notion that the period saw an irrevocable divorce between the stage and the page to see how different kinds of texts offer different kinds of performances. We need to read poetic tragedies alongside harlequinades, patent house comedy of manners alongside the plays offered at the Royal Circus.
Peronosclerospora species and other downy mildews of the Gramineae.

SUMMARYThe subgenus Peronosclerospora of Sclerospora is raised to generic rank and described, The following species are transferred from Sclerospora into Peronosclerospora: S. dichanthiicola, S. ma...
A Drosophila model for alcohol reward

The rewarding properties of drugs contribute to the development of abuse and addiction. We developed a new assay for investigating the motivational properties of ethanol in the genetically tractable model Drosophila melanogaster. Flies learned to associate cues with ethanol intoxication and, although transiently aversive, the experience led to a long-lasting attraction for the ethanol-paired cue, implying that intoxication is rewarding. Temporally blocking transmission in dopaminergic neurons revealed that flies require activation of these neurons to express, but not develop, conditioned preference for ethanol-associated cues. Moreover, flies acquired, consolidated and retrieved these rewarding memories using distinct sets of neurons in the mushroom body. Finally, mutations in scabrous, encoding a fibrinogen-related peptide that regulates Notch signaling, disrupted the formation of memories for ethanol reward. Our results thus establish that Drosophila can be useful for understanding the molecular, genetic and neural mechanisms underling the rewarding properties of ethanol.
Binding of rubratoxin B to mouse hepatic microsomes and in vitro effects of the mycotoxin on polysome binding to microsomal membranes as measured by the activity of an enzyme catalyzing disulphide interchange

Abstract The mycotoxin rubratoxin B binds to some component(s) of the microsomal fraction of mouse liver. The α-β unsaturated lactone ring was a structural requirement for binding. The rubratoxin B-microsomal adduct was not separated by Sephadex G-25 filtration. The binding occurred rapidly and persisted for at least 2 hr. Sulfhydryl reagents, dithiothreitol and cysteine partially protected from and/or reversed binding. Rubratoxin B inhibited the in vitro activity of an enzyme located in the endoplasmic reticulum associated with binding of the ribosomes to the membrane.
Improved symbolic simulation by functional-space decomposition

This paper presents a functional-space decomposition approach to enhance the capability of symbolic simulation. In our symbolic simulator, the control part and data path of a circuit is separated, and their simulated results are recorded in different domains. A 2-tuple list structure is used to separate the results in the control and datapath domains. Then, the functional sub-space in the control domain can further be decomposed in order to achieve the optimal OBDD size and run time. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our decomposition approach based on symbolic simulation of arithmetic circuit units.
The metabolism of galactose and the raffinose oligosaccharides by germinating bambarra groundnut seeds

Abstract Stachyose is present in the highest amount in the soluble sugar fraction of dry bambarra groundnut cotyledons, followed in descending order by raffinose, sucrose and verbascose. During germination in the dark, the stachyose and raffinose content decrease rapidly, but there is little change in the relatively small amount of verbascose present. The sucrose content increases rapidly during the first two weeks and decreases thereafter. Free glucose and fructose were present in the cotyledons after the 7th day and gradually increased in amount with time of germination. Free galactose and other galactose-containing oligosaccharides were not detected in either the dry or germinated bambarra seeds. During germination, galactose was the only identifiable sugar, aside from traces of sucrose, glucose and fructose, in the extracted soluble sugar fraction in the embryonic axes of all ages when the tissue was incubated with D-[114C] galactose. With the cotyledons, however, most of the radioactivity was in glucose and fructose during the early period of germination and in sucrose later. A small fraction of the radioactivity was lost as CO2.
Coping with disability: The individual or a family member's

This article proposes that there are stages of coping with disability that are common to all disabilities. The process unfolds in the same sequence for the disabled individual or their family members who must also adjust and cope. The stages of coping with disability are presented and elaborated as well as a rational for their inclusion in the process.
DEVELOPING SOCIAL IDENTITY AND SOCIAL CAPITAL FOR SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT

In the face of ever increasing competition and globalization, supply chain management (SCM) represents a new business paradigm. In it, firms, with the ultimate goal of cross-partner supply chain activity synchronization for more created customer value than competing supply chains, take a systems approach to supply chain management as a single entity instead of a fragmented set. The authors discuss theoretical background, including social identity salience and social capital in a supply chain, as well as a conceptual framework and propositions and other implications.
An instrumental variable approach to non-linear model-based adaptive control of engine speed

An instrumental variable approach to non-linear model-based adaptive control of engine speed regulation was investigated and implemented on a spark ignition internal combustion engine. A four-step version of instrumental variable parameter estimation is used to identify a bias-free and noise tolerant model of the engine dynamics from the by-pass air valve voltage input to the output engine speed. The parametric model representing the engine dynamics is a truncated Volterra series structure. Model-based adaptive control is accomplished through a partitioned non-linear model inversion of the engine model. The desired throttle response and disturbance rejection dynamics are introduced via a two-degree-of-freedom control structure. Performance of the non-linear model-based adaptive control algorithm has been verified experimentally.
Differential effects of methamphetamine on expression of neuropeptide Y mRNA in hypothalamus and on serum leptin and ghrelin concentrations in ad libitum-fed and schedule-fed rats

Relatively little is known concerning the interaction of psychostimulants with hypothalamic neuropeptide systems or metabolic hormones implicated in regulation of energy balance. The present studies tested whether methamphetamine alters the expression of neuropeptide Y (NPY) and agouti-related peptide (AgRP), two important orexigenic neuropeptides, or proopiomelanocortin (POMC), the precursor for the anorexigenic peptide alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, or the secretion of leptin, insulin and ghrelin, concomitant with inhibition of food intake. Female rats were either fed ad libitum (AL) or placed on a scheduled feeding (SF) regimen, with access to food limited to 4 h/day. Administration of (+/-)-methamphetamine (7.5 mg/kg, i.p.) 2 h prior to food presentation significantly inhibited food intake in SF animals, but did not affect intake in AL animals. In a separate study, AL and SF animals were killed just prior to expected food presentation, and expression of NPY, AgRP and POMC mRNAs in hypothalamus was determined using in situ hybridisation; concentrations of leptin, insulin and ghrelin in serum were determined with radioimmunoassays. In saline-treated, SF controls, NPY and AgRP mRNA expression in arcuate nucleus and serum ghrelin were significantly elevated, and serum leptin and insulin were significantly reduced. Methamphetamine reversed the up-regulation of NPY mRNA expression observed in the SF condition, without affecting AgRP mRNA or the serum concentrations of metabolic hormones. However, in AL animals, NPY mRNA expression in arcuate and dorsomedial nuclei was significantly increased by methamphetamine, which also reduced serum leptin and insulin and increased serum ghrelin concentrations. These findings suggest that the inhibition of NPY expression in SF animals may be a mechanism underlying the anorexigenic effect of methamphetamine seen in this condition. The increase in NPY expression produced by methamphetamine in AL animals may be mediated by the ability of this drug to decrease secretion of leptin and insulin and increase secretion of ghrelin.
Decomposable maps in general tessellation structures

Abstract For an arbitrary template T in an m -state d -dimensional tessellation structure, it is shown that there exists local maps on T which cannot be composed from a minmum number of applications of local maps on a simpler template. Further, it is shown that structures with local maps which have this property are in the minority. In particular, for a fixed template T , the fraction of local maps with minimal decompositions approaches O as m , the number of states, increases arbitrarily.
Photosynthetic Eukaryotes of Freshwater Wetland Biofilms: Adaptations and Structural Characteristics of the Extracellular Matrix in the Green Alga, Cosmarium reniforme (Zygnematophyceae, Streptophyta)

Cosmarium reniforme (Zygnematophyceae, Streptophyta) is a green alga that is commonly found in biofilms of wetlands of the Adirondack region, NY (USA). Two distinctive characteristics that are critical to this alga's survival in a benthic biofilm are its elaborate cell morphology and extracellular matrix (ECM). In this study, ultrastructural, immunocytochemical, and experimental methodologies were employed in order to elucidate the cellular characteristics that are critical for survival in a biofilm. The ECM consists of a thick, outwardly lobed cell wall (CW), which contains a patterned network of structurally complex pores. Each pore consists of a narrow channel, terminating internally at a bulb that invaginates localized regions of the plasma membrane. The outer region of the pore contains arabinogalactan protein-like and extensin epitopes that are likely involved in adhesion mechanisms of the cell. External to the CW is the extracellular polymeric substance that is employed in ensheathment of the cell to the substrate and in gliding motility. The architectural design/biochemical make-up of the CW and a secretory system that encompasses the coordinated activities of the endomembrane and cytomotile/cytoskeletal systems provide the organism with effective mechanisms to support life within the biofilm complex.
Keeping Left Ventricular Assist Device Acceleration on Track

Almost 50 years ago, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute launched the journey of mechanical circulatory support. These pioneers have included innovative engineers, cardiac surgeons, and stalwart patients accompanied by devoted families, who together have led us to a horizon where widespread clinical utilization is finally within sight. The pace of progress is always slower than projected. Despite our impatience, we should not rush too far beyond the light of the wagons onto terrain that is less hospitable to medical technological advances than it was 50 years ago. Since the approval of a continuous-flow destination device in January 2010, there has already been a 10-fold increase in the implantation of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) for lifetime support, the major avenue for expansion of circulatory support. We would join advocates for more systematic evaluation of lifetime ventricular assist device (VAD) therapy in the patients listed with high priority for transplantation (a small population) and ambulatory patients with class IV symptoms (a population of unknown size and comorbidities). It is our position, however, that the current basis of evidence for selection and management of patients with LVAD does not support more aggressive acceleration of LVAD utilization than is already underway. After decades of painstaking incremental development, recent clinical progress has been rapid, with each device hailed as the breakthrough until overtaken by the next. The pulsatile Novacor (WorldHeart, Inc., Salt Lake City, UT) and Heartmate (Thoratec, Inc., Pleasanton, CA) devices were approved to keep people alive as a bridge to transplant without randomized comparison to medical therapy. The first and only randomized, controlled trial of an implantable circulatory support device compared with medical therapy was instead for lifetime support without transplantation; the Randomized Evaluation of Mechanical Assistance for the Treatment of Congestive Heart Failure (REMATCH) trial with the pulsatile Heartmate …
Investor Reaction to Positive and Negative Corporate Social Events

Abstract The goal of this research is to provide a basis for understanding under what circumstances there is a match (congruence) between stakeholder and investor reactions to a stakeholder-positive corporate social event (pCSE) and a stakeholder-negative corporate social event (nCSE). Analysis of a unique dataset of more than 1000 pCSEs (e.g., addition of strong retirement benefits for employees) and nCSEs (e.g., employee health and safety concerns) reveals that nearly half of the time, congruence is violated (e.g., pCSE results in a negative return, or nCSE leads to a positive return). The results reflect whether investors believe a CSE is revenue enhancing or an opportunity cost. In other words, there are situations when a stakeholder group views a firm pCSE in a positive light, but investors may not reward the firm, and may even mete out punishment At the same time, there are situations when a firm that faces an nCSE that is viewed negatively by a stakeholder group, may not only receive a non-negative reaction from investors, but also in some cases may be rewarded by investors.
Diets enriched in sucrose or fat increase gluconeogenesis and G-6-Pase but not basal glucose production in rats.

High-fat (HFD) and high-sucrose diets (HSD) reduce insulin suppression of glucose production in vivo, increase the capacity for gluconeogenesis in vitro, and increase glucose-6-phosphatase (G-6-Pas...
Cystic dysplasia of testis.

Abstract A rare developmental disorder, cystic dysplasia of the testis, encountered in a new-born infant, is described. The relationship to renal dysplasia and the recent literature are reviewed.
Decision Analysis on CDM Project Investments

Abstract The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) is a mechanism defined in the Kyoto protocol that incentivizes parties to the protocol to fund sustainable development projects in countries that are not party to the protocol. We analyze a target contract financing structure for different CDM projects in order to see under what conditions the financing structure is efficient and to explore the contract's allocation of profit among the firms. In the two broad categories of CDM projects we consider, we find the optimal investment decision for the investor and for the overall system. We also analyze how the residual value of technology would affect the financing, target contract's efficiency and allocation of profit.
Pathologic Changes in Pseudophakia

Two hundred three eyes obtained postmortem from 186 persons who had undergone lens implant surgery were examined. The major histopathologic changes in these eyes were erosion, atrophy, proliferation, and inflammation of anterior segment structures. These features are categorized and illustrated for each lens type.
Hurricane Katrina-induced forest damage in relation to ecological factors at landscape scale.

Forest stand stability to strong winds such as hurricanes has been found to be associated with a number of forest, soil and topography factors. In this study, through applying geographic information system (GIS) and logit regression, we assessed effects of forest characteristics and site conditions on pattern, severity and probability of Hurricane Katrina disturbance to forests in the Lower Pearl River Valley, USA. The factors included forest type, forest coverage, stand density, soil great group, elevation, slope, aspect, and stream buffer zone. Results showed that Hurricane Katrina damaged 60% of the total forested land in the region. The distribution and intensity of the hurricane disturbance varied across the landscape, with the bottomland hardwood forests on river floodplains most severely affected. All these factors had a variety of effects on vulnerability of the forests to the hurricane disturbance and thereby spatial patterns of the disturbance. Soil groups and stand factors including forest types, forest coverage and stand density contributed to 85% of accuracy in modeling the probability of the hurricane disturbance to forests in this region. Besides assessment of Katrina’s damage, this study elucidates the great usefulness of remote sensing and GIS techniques combined with statistics modeling in assessment of large-scale risks of hurricane damage to coastal forests.
Limits on Silicon Nanoelectronics for Terascale Integration

Throughout the past four decades, silicon semiconductor technology has advanced at exponential rates in both performance and productivity. Concerns have been raised, however, that the limits of silicon technology may soon be reached. Analysis of fundamental, material, device, circuit, and system limits reveals that silicon technology has an enormous remaining potential to achieve terascale integration (TSI) of more than 1 trillion transistors per chip. Such massive-scale integration is feasible assuming the development and economical mass production of double-gate metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors with gate oxide thickness of about 1 nanometer, silicon channel thickness of about 3 nanometers, and channel length of about 10 nanometers. The development of interconnecting wires for these transistors presents a major challenge to the achievement of nanoelectronics for TSI.
Coherent anti-stokes raman scattering (cars) of large C2H4Ar clusters

Abstract CARS spectra from a supersonic molecular beam of ethylene/argon mixtures show a strong signal close to the Q branch of the ν 2 vibration of ethylene. The pressure dependence and scaling laws for a condensing molecular beam indicate that it is due to large C 2 H 4 Ar clusters. The experiment did not permit the identification of the clusters.
A Mathematical Formulation for Interfacial Diffusion, Incorporating Deviation from the Classical Random Walk Theory

Fisher’s model for grain boundary diffusion considers the lattice and the grain boundary on the same basis by presuming the validity of Fick’s second law for both cases, despite the significant structural differences between them. Recent studies [1-3] have, however, shown that grain boundary diffusion is profoundly different from lattice diffusion. We propose an alternative mathematical formulation that incorporates these structural differences and consequently models grain boundary diffusion phenomena more accurately than Fisher’s model. This is achieved by considering possible deviations from the classical random walk for solute atoms diffusing through grain boundaries. This formalism can also be applied to surface diffusion and triple junction diffusion.
Performance and scalability of MPI on PC clusters

SUMMARY The purpose of this paper is to compare the communication performance and scalability of MPI communication routines on a Windows Cluster, a Linux Cluster, a Cray T3E-600, and an SGI Origin 2000. All tests in this paper were run using various numbers of processors and two message sizes. In spite of the fact that the Cray T3E-600 is about 7 years old, it performed best of all machines for most of the tests. The Linux Cluster with the Myrinet interconnect and Myricom’s MPI performed and scaled quite well and, in most cases, performed better than the Origin 2000, and in some cases better than the T3E. The Windows Cluster using the Giganet Full Interconnect and MPI/Pro’s MPI performed and scaled poorly for small messages compared with all of the other machines. Copyright c � 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cross-Domain Identity Transition during Liminal Periods: Constructing Multiple Selves as Professional and Mother during Pregnancy

Through our grounded theory qualitative research, we explore how women begin to construct and react to images of possible multiple selves as professionals and mothers during the liminal period of p...
Estimating lake‐atmosphere CO2 exchange

Lake‐atmosphere CO2 flux was directly measured above a small, woodland lake using the eddy covariance technique and compared with fluxes deduced from changes in measured lake-water CO 2 storage and with flux predictions from boundary-layer and surface-renewal models. Over a 3-yr period, lake‐atmosphere exchanges of CO2 were measured over 5 weeks in spring, summer, and fall. Observed springtime CO2 efflux was large (2.3‐2.7 mmol m 22 s 21 ) immediately after lake-thaw. That efflux decreased exponentially with time to less than 0.2 mmol m 22 s 21 within 2 weeks. Substantial interannual variability was found in the magnitudes of springtime efflux, surface water CO2 concentrations, lake CO2 storage, and meteorological conditions. Summertime measurements show a weak diurnal trend with a small average downward flux ( 20.17 mmol m 22 s 21 ) to the lake’s surface, while late fall flux was trendless and smaller ( 20.0021 mmol m 22 s 21 ). Large springtime efflux afforded an opportunity to make direct measurement of lake‐atmosphere fluxes well above the detection limits of eddy covariance instruments, facilitating the testing of different gas flux methodologies and air‐water gas-transfer models. Although there was an overall agreement in fluxes determined by eddy covariance and those calculated from lake-water storage change in CO2, agreement was inconsistent between eddy covariance flux measurements and fluxes predicted by boundarylayer and surface-renewal models. Comparison of measured and modeled transfer velocities for CO2, along with measured and modeled cumulative CO2 flux, indicates that in most instances the surface-renewal model underpredicts actual flux. Greater underestimates were found with comparisons involving homogeneous boundary-layer models. No physical mechanism responsible for the inconsistencies was identified by analyzing coincidentally measured environmental variables.