cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Understanding the information needs of academic scholars in agricultural and biological sciences

This study investigates the information needs of faculty and graduate students in agricultural and biological sciences. Qualitative research methods, interviews and focus groups, were used to examine what types of information these scholars need for their research, teaching and learning, how they seek that information, and perceptions. The implications for library service are discussed.
GIPSON AND HINDIN RESPOND

We appreciate the opportunity to respond to the issues raised by Burnie et al. regarding our mixed-method analysis of pregnancy termination in Bangladesh. With respect to ascertainment of pregnancy status, all women within the Sample Registration System (SRS) households are asked to report on their menstrual status during the quarterly visits. If amenorrheic, women are queried as to the possible cause (e.g., use of injectable contraception, suspected pregnancy). If a woman is unsure of her pregnancy status, her record is flagged in the SRS database for follow-up. If her pregnancy is confirmed, she is asked for the date of her last menstrual period. Albeit imperfect, this method is less subject to recall bias as compared with retrospective reporting of pregnancies and pregnancy loss.1,2 A more detailed explanation of the SRS and pregnancy ascertainment are described elsewhere.3,4 Attrition over the study period was relatively low as compared with other longitudinal data sets. The sample was comprised of couples in which both spouses answered the 1998 fertility questions. Of these couples, over 82% remained active through the 5-year study period. Even when comparing the sample women to all women who participated in the 1998 survey (n = 5 273), there were no significant differences (P < .05) apart from a slightly higher mean number of children among our sample (2.45 vs 2.37 children; P value = 0.035). We agree with Burnie et al. that walking distance does not wholly define access. However, given the existing secondary data available for this analysis and literature linking higher mobility with lower fertility among Bangladeshi women,5 we felt walking distance to be the most appropriate available proxy measure to assess the potential physical and psychological barriers for women in accessing health services in this context. During qualitative data collection, there were nightly staff meetings in the field, in addition to further crystallization of study findings by the entire study team through peer review of transcripts and memo-writing on emerging and dominant themes. The themes identified during the fieldwork served as a basis for the results presented. Lastly, we would like to concur with Burnie et al. that this study is not meant to be representative of all of Bangladesh, or even all of rural Bangladesh. Despite limitations, these data shed light on the contextual circumstances of pregnancy termination. We hope that our study prompts further investigation and a more holistic understanding of pregnancy termination within and outside of Bangladesh.
Pressure-Overload Deinduction of Human α2 Na,K-ATPase Gene Expression in Transgenic Rats

The early and sustained deinduction of α 2 Na,K-ATPase gene expression in both cardiac left ventricle and aorta in various pressure-overload rat models and in hypertrophied human heart suggests a common transcriptional pressure response mechanism to pressure overload in both rats and humans. To test this hypothesis, we developed transgenic rat lines expressing the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene regulated by the human α 2 Na,K-ATPase (−798 to +67) regulatory region, Hα 2 -CAT. Analysis of two homozygous transgenic rat lines revealed (1) parallel tissue-specific regulation of the Hα 2 -CAT transgene and rat α 2 Na,K-ATPase gene and (2) parallel load-induced deinduction of both cardiac and vascular (aortic) Hα 2 -CAT transgene and rat α 2 Na,K-ATPase gene expression in a 3-day model of induced pressure overload. Cardiac Hα 2 -CAT deinduction was detected at a systolic pressure greater than or equal to 150 mm Hg and correlated with the degree of systolic pressure elevation ( r =.82, P 2 Na,K-ATPase gene in both humans and rats.
The Genetics of Sexual Incompatibility in the Indian Paint Fungus, Echinodontium Tinctorium

Basidiocarps of Echinodontium tinctorium were collected from three widely separated localities in Idaho and Arizona. Freezing basidiospore prints at -20 C for ten weeks stimulated germination. The role of low temperatures in breaking spore dormancy is discussed relative to environmental adaptation. Single-spore isolates of a single basidiocarp from each location were paired separately in all possible combinations. Four mating types were identified from each basidiocarp in Idaho. Four types of mac? roscopic interactions were observed in pairings between sympatric isolates. Basidiospores and cells of hyphae derived from basidiospores were monokaryotic (uninucleate), lacked clamp connections, and appeared haploid. Heterokaryotic hyphae derived from compatible matings were dikaryotic, exhibited clamp connections, and resembled generative contextual hyphae of basidiocarps. Complete intercompatibility between allopatric isolates demonstrated that the incompatibility factors were multiallelic. The fungus apparently does not fruit in culture, although mating results and cytological data indicate that it is heterothallic with a bifactorial (tetrapolar) mating system in which sexual incompatibility is controlled by multiple alleles at two loci on separate chromosomes.
Why TCP timers don't work well

Repeated observation of TCP retransmission timer problems stimulated investigation into the roles and limitations of timers. Timers are indispensable tools in building up reliable distributed systems. However, as the experience with the TCP retransmission timer has shown, timers have intrinsic limitations in offering optimal performance. Any timeout based action is a guess based on incomplete information, and as such is bound to be non-optimal. We conclude that, if we aim at high performance, we should use external events as a first line of defense against failures, and depend on timers only in cases where external notification has failed.
Experimental Characterization of Ice Hockey Pucks and Sticks

In spite of the broad popularity of ice hockey, little has been done to characterize the performance of pucks or sticks used in play. Data representative of play conditions is particularly lacking. A high speed impact test was developed to measure the puck impact force and coefficient of restitution. Puck brand, temperature, and speed were all shown to have a measurable effect on the relative puck response. The high speed puck test was modified to measure the performance of hockey sticks. The performance of six wood and 11 composite sticks (including different shaft tapers for each group) were compared to evaluate the effect of modern materials on the game. Stick performance was expressed in terms of the maximum puck speed from an idealized slap shot model. In spite of the popularity of the relatively expensive composite sticks, on average the performance of the wood sticks was 10 % higher than the composite sticks. Shaft loading was found to increase the puck speed but did not significantly change the relative performance of the sticks. In contrast to balls in golf and baseball, puck hardness was shown to have a negligible effect on stick performance.
Thin-walled tubes subjected to combined internal pressure and axial load

This paper is based on the kinematic hardening theory. Exact closed-form solutions are obtained for linear loading paths. Stress-strain relationships are obtained for both monotonic and variable loadings. The response of the tube under nonproportional loading is shown to be path-dependent. However, such path dependence will finally disappear and a hysteresis loop can always be reached under cyclic loading. The steady-state response can be elastic or can be a state of cyclic reversed plasticity depending on the amplitude of the cyclic load
Fruit quality and mineral nutrient from exposed verses internal canopy positions of four scitrus varieties

Abstaract >Quality and mineral content of fruit from internal tree canopies were compared with those from external canopy positions in 4 citrus varities: ‘Kinnow’ mandarin; ‘Redblush’ grapefruit; ‘Valencia’ orange; and ‘Lisbon’ lemon. Fruit weight, total juice per fruit, peel fresh and dry weight, and rind thickness of fruit from internal canopies of all 4 varieties were significantly higher compared with external fruit. Mandarin, grapefruit, and orange fruit from external canopies had higher soluble solids and specific gravity. Fruit from internal canopies of all varieties had generally higher peel concentrations (% dry weight) of N, P and K due to a dilution effect, while the opposite condition existed in mandarin when these elements were expressed on a percent fresh weight basis. Peel Mg and S from external fruit were higher in all varieties, expressed as percentages of either dry weight or fresh weight. Nitrogen content of mandarin and orange juice and Ca content of grapefruit and lemon juice from ext...
Effect of glucagon and p-chlorophenylalanine on hepatic enzymes that metabolize phenylalanine.

Abstract Injection of glucagon s.c. into rats caused about a fourfold increase in hepatic PPT. The maximum effect occurred 24 hr after a 0.3 mg/kg dose of glucagon, and increased enzyme activity persisted for 8 days after the single glucagon injection. The possibility that induction of PPT by glucagon might be clinically useful in human phenylketonuria, by providing an alternate pathway for removal of phenylalanine when it cannot be hydroxylated, was considered. Glucagon given to human phenylketonuric subjects did not cause detectable changes in the conversion of phenylalanine to phenylpyruvate, but the existence of increased hepatic PPT in these patients was not demonstrated. p -Chlorophenylalanine, an inhibitor of hepatic phenylalanine hydroxylase, caused in rats the following biochemical characteristics of human phenylketonuria: elevated plasma phenylalanine concentration, appearance of phenylpyruvate in plasma and in urine, and decreased rate of removal of a phenylalanine load. Glucagon given to rats treated with p -chlorophenylalanine induced PPT as in normal rats, but little or no change in phenylalanine metabolism in normal rats or in p -chlorophenylalanine-treated rats could be shown to result from PPT induction by glucagon. The functional significance of the increased PPT that occurs after glucagon treatment thus remains obscure.
Flight Test Implementation of a Second Generation Intelligent Flight Control System

The NASA F-15 Intelligent Flight Control System project team has developed a series of flight control concepts designed to demonstrate the benefits of a neural network-based adaptive controller. The objective of the team was to develop and flight-test control systems that use neural network technology, to optimize the performance of the aircraft under nominal conditions, and to stabilize the aircraft under failure conditions. Failure conditions include locked or failed control surfaces as well as unforeseen damage that might occur to the aircraft in flight. The Intelligent Flight Control System team is currently in the process of implementing a second generation control scheme, collectively known as Generation 2 or Gen 2, for flight testing on the NASA F-15 aircraft. This report describes the Gen 2 system as implemented by the team for flight test evaluation. Simulation results are shown which describe the experiment to be performed in flight and highlight the ways in which the Gen 2 system meets the defined objectives.
Formulation and validation of dynamical models for narrow plate motion

Abstract We propose a narrow plate model of elastic structures of intermediate nature between beams and plates. From geometric assumptions that are consistent with the Mindlin-Timoshenko model of the motion of a plate, equations of motion are derived from the energy expression of the Mindlin-Timoshenko model. It is also noted that the model under consideration generalizes better known beam models. We present a validation of the narrow plate model by matching observed natural frequencies from experiment with those predicted with the associated eigenvalue problems. In addition, for the purpose of validation, we consider a simple inverse problem to recover parameters from observed natural frequencies.
Analytic torsion and closed geodesics on hyperbolic manifolds

Pour une variete hyperbolique orientee fermee X et ρ une representation orthogonale de Π 1 X, on definit une fonction zeta de type Ruelle Rρ(s) pour Re(s) grand comme le produit sur les geodesiques closes premieres γ des facteurs det [I−ρ(γ) exp(−sl(γ))], ou l(γ) est la longueur de γ. On continue analytiquement Rρ(s) et on calcule son terme principal en s=0
Transplantation for renal failure secondary to enteric hyperoxaluria: a case report

Enteric hyperoxaluria can lead to renal failure. There have only been a few reports of renal transplantation as treatment of endstage renal disease secondary to enteric hyperoxaluria and results have been mixed. This report describes a patient with Crohn's disease who developed chronic renal failure from enteric hyperoxaluria. He subsequently had a successful renal transplant without any post-operative oxalate related complications and has satisfactory renal function almost three years later. Aggressive pre-transplant hemodialysis was not done. The literature associated with renal transplantation for enteric hyperoxaluria is reviewed.
Pseudo-capsule assemblies characterized by 19F NMR techniques.

The formation of capsule-like dynamic assemblies which do not rely on attractions between host subunits was achieved via specific interactions with fluorinated guests. Characterization of these three component assemblies was accomplished by applications of 19F NMR spectroscopy.
Photonic bandgap composites

Since the original proposal that three dimensional periodic dielectric structures could exhibit a photonic bandgap, considerable attention has been focused on developing these materials into a form which is suitable for use in photonic applications. Unfortunately, the general exploitation of visible photonic crystals as devices has been hindered by the difficulties in creating 3-D periodic dielectric structures with a feature size comparable to the wavelength of visible light. Though a number of groups have made progress applying conventional microlithographic techniques to this end, this objective remains a challenge employing these techniques. Focus has now turned to systems which undergo self organization at a nanometer length scale, such as colloidal crystals. Systems exhibiting self-assembly characteristics hold promise as a practical route to generating photonic crystals. A self-assembly approach to generating photonic crystals has emerged which involves the longe range electrostatic repulsive interactions of suspended colloidal spheres bearing a high surface charge and arranged in ordered arrays. These crystalline colloidal arrays (CCA) are three dimensionally ordered lattices of self-assemble monodisperse polymer colloidal particles, dispersed in a liquid media. At high particle concentrations, long-range electrostatic interactions between particles result in a significant inter-particle repulsion which yields the adoption of a minimum energy colloidal crystal structure with either bcc or fcc symmetry and spatial periodicities that range from ca. 100-1000 nm
Biological Sciences: Humerus of Dryopithecus from Saint Gaudens, France

IN 1856 Eduard Lartet described a hominoid humerus which had been found at the same time and place as the type mandibular fragments of Dryopithecus fontani1. This was the first recording of a fossil great ape. The site of this classic find was a brickworks in Miocene marly clays at the base of a wooded hill or plateau on which the village of Saint Gaudens (Haute Garonne), France, is situated.
Codons and nearest-neighbor nucleotide pairs in mammalian messenger RNA

The codons in four mammalian messenger RNAs (rabbitβ hemoglobin, rat pre-proinsulin, rat pre-growth hormone and human chorionic somatomammotropin) show a predominance of C and G in third nucleotide positions. The C:U ratio is about 2 to 1, and the G:A ratio is about 4 to 1. The possibility is discussed that this disproportionality resulted from DNA replicative errors that favor C·G pairs over A·T pairs, as found in theE.coli mut T strain. “Nearest neighbor” base pairs (“doublets”) in the protien-coding regions ofφX174 and in four mammalian mRNAs have been compared. Mammalian mRNA has a low content of CpG in comparison with expectations from its C and G content.
Constructing Clean Dreams: Accounts, Future Selves, and Social and Structural Support as Desistance Work

This article investigates the discourse individuals use when talking about desisting from criminal offending. I analyze the links between offenders’ accounts of past negative behavior, their construction of their possible “clean” future selves, and the social and structural conditions in which they were raised and continue to be embedded. Applying Scott and Lyman's (1968) framework on accounts and Markus and Nurius's (1986) framework of possible selves to interview data with twenty-eight criminal offenders, I illustrate how excuses for past behavior provide a way for people to distance themselves from their past selves in attempts to preserve or re-create a possible self that is still worthy to be redeemed in the future. This discourse becomes one mechanism that motivates individuals to change their lives—but it can be short-lived. The analysis highlights how limited structural opportunities influence individuals’ lifestyles and behaviors, how individuals approach the desistance process even in the face of structural deprivation, and how they attempt to sustain this desistance process.
KIR channel activation contributes to onset and steady-state exercise hyperemia in humans.

We tested the hypothesis that activation of inwardly rectifying potassium (KIR) channels and Na+-K+-ATPase, two pathways that lead to hyperpolarization of vascular cells, contributes to both the on...
Predicting violence in romantic relationships during adolescence and emerging adulthood: A critical review of the mechanisms by which familial and peer influences operate

For three decades, researchers have sought to gain a greater understanding of the developmental antecedents to later perpetration or victimization of violence in romantic relationships. Whereas the majority of early studies focused on family-of-origin factors, attention in recent years has turned to additional ecologies such as peer relationships. This review highlights accomplishments of both family and peer studies that focus on violent romantic relationships in an effort to summarize the current state of knowledge. Attention is given to epidemiology and developmental family and peer factors, with special attention given to mechanisms that mediate and/or moderate the relation between family and peer factors and later participation in violent relationships. A critical approach is taken throughout the review in order to identify limitations of previous studies, and to highlight key findings. A case is made for viewing these developmental antecedents as a result of multiple developmental ecologies that is perhaps best summarized as a culture of violence.
Psychology of the photographic, cinematic, televisual, and digital image

Drawing on Andre Bazin's notion of the ‘psychology of the image’, this paper attempts to distinguish among a horizon of various ‘photographic’ images and imaging processes in terms of the different illusions of presence those images embody as well as the senses of temporality they convey. It explores the relative indexicality of these images while also questioning the criterion of indexicality as a measure for the comparison of images in the digital era. Rather than thinking about indexicality, the paper argues that contemporary scholarship on the nature of the image should focus on the spectator's experience of the image.
Neurofeedback Treatment of Restless Legs Syndrome and Periodic Leg Movements in Sleep

Restless leg syndrome (RLS) and periodic limb movements in sleep (PLMS) are prevalent and chronic movement disorders that result in sleep deprivation and impaired quality of life. Although there is no single pathophysiological explanation, EEG studies commonly implicate alpha activity as being involved. This article presents the first case reports of the treatment of RLS and PLMS with neurofeedback (EEG biofeedback). The encouraging results warrant further controlled research.
Orientational ordering in solid D2 from NMR studies. II: the cubic ordered phase

An NMR study in the cubic phase of D2 which exhibits long-range orientational order is reported. The spin systems in both para D2 (with angular momentum J=1 and spinI=1) and in ortho D2 (with J=0 andI=2) were investigated. The integrated intensity ratio of theI=1 andI=2 components in the solid echo, the NMR line shapes obtained by Fourier transforming the solid echoes, and the longitudinal relaxation times for theI=1 andI=2 systems are presented. Samples with D2 concentrationX between 0.69 and 0.62 were studied over the temperature range 0.12<T<4 K. Measurements were carried out before and after repeated thermal cycling through the ordering transition to study the effect of this cycling on the temperature dependence of the relaxation times. The complex behavior of these relaxation times was found to be similar to that in cubic H2 at a comparable concentration, and the interpretation of this behavior is discussed. Over most of the temperature range, the relaxation time of theI=2 spins is larger than that of theI=1 spins and is believed to be determined by cross-relaxation with the latter, whose intrinsic spin-lattice relaxation is observed. However, at low enough temperatures, the relaxation time for theI=2 spins is found to be shorter than that for theI=1 spins, and this observation cannot be understood on the basis of predictions. Furthermore, theI=2 relaxation time in this temperature region is found to depend on the position within the NMR line. Another observation not yet understood is that the ratio of the integrated intensitiesS(I=1)/S(I=2) in the solid echo is smaller than the theoretically predicted one by about 20%. The NMR line shapes for theI=1 spins in the ordered phase obtained from pulse measurements are compared with those from continuous-wave methods and to those from H2.
Molecular cloning of the whole biosynthetic pathway of a Streptomyces antibiotic and its expression in a heterologous host

The application of molecular cloning to antibiotic-producing microorganisms should lead to enhanced antibiotic productivity and to the biosynthesis of novel antibiotics by in vitro interspecific recombination. To allow such approaches, the genes for antibiotic synthesis must be isolated, analysed and perhaps modified. Certain Streptomyces species produce nearly two-thirds of the known natural antibiotics; the recent development of cloning systems in the genus makes it possible to isolate and analyse Streptomyces genes. However, antibiotics are metabolites which require sets of several enzymes for their synthesis and attempts to isolate the corresponding genes have so far yielded clones carrying either individual genes of the set, or only incomplete gene sets. We describe here the isolation of a large continuous segment of Streptomyces coelicolor DNA which apparently carries the complete genetic information required for synthesis of an antibiotic, actinorhodin , from simple primary metabolites. Not only can the cloned DNA 'complement' all available classes of actinorhodin non-producing mutants of S. coelicolor but, on introduction into a different host, Streptomyces parvulus , it directs the synthesis of the antibiotic. The tendency for the genes for antibiotic synthesis to be clustered together on the chromosomes of Streptomyces species and the availability of plasmid vectors which can carry stable inserts of DNA larger than 30 kilobase pairs (kb) and which can be introduced efficiently into Streptomyces protoplasts, suggest that the experiments described have general significance for this area of biotechnology.
N-nitrosamines--contaminants in blood-collection tubes.

Abstract Volatile nitrosamines were found in commercially produced rubber-stoppered blood-collection tubes. Some rubber stoppers contained up to 147 ppb nitrosodimethylamine, 92 ppb nitrosodiethylamine and 1302 ppb nitrosomorpholine. These nitrosamines readily leached out of the stoppers to contaminate the tubes and their contents.
Distal transport of dissolved hydrothermal iron in the deep South Pacific Ocean.

utes a significant flux of dFe to the global ocean. We show here the first, to our knowledge, dFe (<0.4 μm) measurements from the abyssal southeast and southwest Pacific Ocean, where dFe of 1.0–1.5 nmol/kg near 2,000 m depth (0.4–0.9 nmol/kg above typical deep-sea dFe concentrations) was determined to be hydrothermally derived based on its correlation with primordial 3 He and dissolved Mn (dFe: 3 He of 0.9–2.7 × 10 6 ). Given the known sites of hydrothermal venting in these regions, this dFe must have been transported thousands of kilometers away from its vent site to reach our sampling stations. Additionally, changes in the size partitioning of the hydrothermal dFe between soluble (<0.02 μm) and colloidal (0.02–0.4 μm) phases with increasing distance from the vents indicate that dFe transformations continue to occur far from the vent source. This study confirms that although the southern East Pacific Rise only leaks 0.02– 1% of total Fe vented into the abyssal Pacific, this dFe persists thousands of kilometers away from the vent source with sufficient magnitude that hydrothermal vents can have far-field effects on global dFe distributions and inventories (≥3% of global aerosol dFe input).
Analyses of baseline survey data on rinderpest in Bahr el Ghazal Province, with proposal of an improved vaccination strategy against rinderpest for southern Sudan.

Results from analyses of baseline surveilance data on rinderpest are used for proposing an improved vaccination strategy against rinderpest in southern Sudan. Sera from 4,074 (47%) of the total sample of 8,565 cattle collected in a series of cross-sectional surveys in 400 cattle camps in the Bahr el Ghazal Province of southern Sudan were tested for rinderpest antibodies using the standard virus neutralisation test (VNT) technique: 77·4% were positive while 22·6% gave negative results. The data were cross-classified according to five variables: herd management, breed, age, sex and geographic region (grazing location). The percentage antibody-positivity level (taken as an approximation of past experience with rinderpest antigen and the corresponding prevalence ratio estimates of relative risk) for each variable are discussed within the context of the known characteristics of immunity to rinderpest in endemic areas and the husbandry practices of the cattle owners in the study area. Results suggest that rinderpest “hot-spots” of transmission and/or low level of herd immunity should be mapped out for concentrated efforts to vaccinate calves and young adults so that the high level of antibody-positivity observed in this study can be maintained and transmission permanently interrupted.
When Fathers' Supportiveness Matters Most: Maternal and Paternal Parenting and Children's School Readiness

Data from the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (N = 723) were used to test whether the effects of fathers' supportive parenting on children's school readiness are greater when mothers are least supportive. We distinguished between academic and social dimensions of school readiness. Mothers' and fathers' parenting was assessed in dyadic parent-child videotaped sessions during the preschool period. Results for both academic and social outcomes indicated that fathers' supportiveness had larger benefits for children at lower levels of mothers' supportiveness. In fact, fathers' supportiveness was associated with children's school readiness only when mothers scored average or below on supportiveness. Mothers' supportiveness was similarly associated with children's social school readiness when fathers scored average or below on supportiveness. However, mothers' supportiveness was associated with children's academic school readiness even when fathers scored above average on supportiveness. The results suggest that fathers may influence child development most as potential buffers against unsupportive mother parenting. Further research is needed to replicate these analyses in a less socioeconomically advantaged sample.
Dissociation Condition Measurements of Methane Hydrate in Confined Small Pores of Porous Glass

The dissociation conditions of methane hydrates in confined small pores were measured by the gradual temperature increase method. Significant downward shifts of the dissociation temperature were observed in porous glasses, which had small pores ranging from 100 to 500 A in diameter, compared with that of the bulk hydrate at a given pressure. Systematic measurements revealed that the temperature offset was in inverse proportion to the pore diameter. The Arrhenius plot of the dissociation conditions suggests that the heat of methane-hydrate dissociation tended to be small compared to that of bulk hydrates in pores smaller than 300 A in diameter. Applying the Gibbs−Thomson effect to the quantitative analysis of the phenomenon indicated that the dissociation condition of methane hydrates in small pores shifted because of changes in the water activity. The apparent interfacial free energy between methane hydrates and water in the confined condition was estimated to be approximately 3.9 × 10-2 J m-2, which is c...
Studies on the amino and carboxyl terminal amino acid sequences of reovirus capsid polypeptides.

Abstract Techniques are described for isolating several reovirus capsid polypeptides in amounts sufficient for determination of amino and carboxyl terminal amino acid sequences and fingerprinting. Among them are chromatography on CM- and DEAE-Sephadex in the presence of urea, and gel filtration on agarose A-15 m in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. Using a combination of these procedures, and starting with either virions or cores, polypeptides σ3, σ2, and μ2 have been obtained essentially pure. Polypeptides λ1 and λ2 have been obtained as a mixture which has so far not been resolved. All reovirus capsid polypeptides except μ2 possess blocked amino terminal amino acid residues. The amino terminal amino acid sequence of polypeptide μ2 is H2N-Pro-Gly-Gly-Val-Pro-. This suggests that polypeptide μ2 is derived from its precursor, polypeptide μ1, by cleavage of the amino terminal portion of the polypeptide chain. The carboxyl terminal regions of at least three of the five major reovirus capsid polypeptides are different. Polypeptide σ3 ends in -(val, val, leu)-COOH; polypeptide μ2 in -leu-(arg, tyr, tyr)-Arg-COOH; and either one or both of the two polypeptides λ1 and λ2 terminate(s) in -Arg-COOH, the adjacent amino acid sequence being different from that of μ2.
Preferential reduction in adipose tissue α-linolenic acid (18∶3ω3) during very low calorie dieting despite supplementation with 18∶3ω3

We have previously reported that the relative content of 18∶3ω3 in adipose triglyceride (TG) of women was reduced following major weight loss while on a very low calorie diet (VLCD). In an attempt to prevent this loss of 18∶3ω3 reserves, we have tested two VLCD supplemented with varying amounts of 18∶3ω3. The formula (FORM) and food VLCD (2.1–3.0 MJ or 500–700 kcal/d) contained 20 g/d of fat and provided the recommended dietary allowance for minerals and vitamins. FORM subjects (Group 1) were 5 women [initial body mass index (BMI) of 36.8, 168% ideal body weight (IBW) who received 20 g/d of canola oil (1.6 g 18∶3ω3). Their mean weight loss was 23.9 kg in a 4–5 mon period. Food VLCD subjects (Group 2) were 6 women (BMI 33.9, 155% IBW) supplemented with 2 g/d of linseed oil (1.1 g 18∶3ω3). Their mean weight loss was 17.4 kg in a 2–3 mon period. Needle biopsies of adipose tissue were obtained from Group 1 before, at midpoint and after weight loss; and from Group 2 before and after weight loss. The adipose TG and serum (Group 1) were separated and their fatty acid composition determined by thin-layer and gas chromatography. In Group 1, adipose 18∶3ω3 fell from 0.65 to 0.59 wt%, then to 0.52 wt% during weight loss. In Group 2, it fell from 0.77 to 0.64 wt%. The fall in adipose 18∶3ω3 with weight loss was significant atP=0.01 (Group 1) andP<0.01 (Group 2). There were no differences between responses to the 1.1 g/d or 1.6 g/d 18∶3ω3 supplements. The relative content of 18∶3ω3 in serum free fatty acids from Group 1 was reduced after major weight loss. Thus, in both groups the ω3 supplementation did not help to maintain adipose tissue 18∶3ω3 during rapid weight loss, and its decrement may affect circulating lipid pools. As adipose 18∶2ω6 did not change with weight loss, this reduction in the ratio of ω6 precursor to ω3 precursor could eventually alter the balance of their products as well.
Phase compensation technique for ultra wideband channels

Phase compensation prefiltering is experimentally investigated for multipath channels over the frequency band spanning 2-12 GHz, a topic which to the best of our knowledge has not been studied in the literature on ultrawideband (UWB) systems. We assess the capabilities of PC over realistic Line-Of-Sight (LOS) and Non-Line-Of-Sight (NLOS) UWB channels regarding multipath suppression. The “RMS delay spread” and “peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR)” are calculated as two basic parameters to evaluate the effectiveness of this prefilter. Our study suggests PC can be considered as a powerful technique to mitigate the UWB multipath dispersions in realistic environments for high-speed data transmissions.
Visual neuroprosthetics-functional vision for the blind

Recent progress in materials and microfabrication technologies have allowed researchers to reconsider the prospect of providing a useful visual sense to the profoundly blind. This will be accomplished by electrically stimulating their visual systems via an array of implanted microelectrodes. The techniques of the semiconductor industry have been employed to create electrode arrays with three dimensional architectures. These arrays are proving to be safely implantable into the visual parts of the brain of animals with little significant long term consequences. Thus, the tools of neuroprosthetics have been developed to the point that they will soon be used to validate some of the physiological foundations upon which artificial vision have been based. Validation of these foundations will accelerate the rapid pace of this research. If these physiological underpinnings can be shown to be solid, a demonstration of functionally useful vision in blind human volunteers may be possible within a five year time frame. >
Using multi-criteria analysis to explore non-market monetary values of water quality changes in the context of the Water Framework Directive

The EU Water Framework Directive represents a major change in the management of water resources and sets ambitious ecological objectives for all European waters. In the Directive, the economic assessment of the non-market environmental benefits of water quality improvements plays a crucial role. Studies valuing these benefits are now appearing in the literature, applying stated preference valuation techniques. However, these techniques are often criticized for providing only narrow mono-criterion information to the decision-making process. The research presented here builds on a recent line of investigation that combines monetary stated preference tools, in this case a choice experiment, with multi-criteria analysis, in this case the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). We argue that the AHP can contribute to a better understanding and interpretation of the choice experiment results by exploring the criteria involved in respondents' trade-off between the attributes. The AHP provides relevant insights for the application of use-based water quality ladders in the valuation of environmental benefits in the context of the WFD. Results also show the importance of the spatial dimension of preferences for water quality.
Antigenic hybrids of influenza a viruses with surface antigens to order

Abstract Stable antigenic hybrids between mammalian and avian strains of influenza A viruses with the hemagglutinin from one parent and the neuraminidase antigen from the other parent can be made to order in the allantois-on-shell system. Their isolation was made possible by the use of specific antisera to the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase antigens of the parental viruses. The implications of antigenic hybrids in the origin of pandemic strains and the uses of laboratory hybrids in the study of antigenic variation in influenza are discussed.
Aristole's Legacy in Meteorology

Abstract Aristotle's Meteorologica dominated the development of the science of meteorology during the nearly 2000-year period from antiquity up to the seventeenth century. This paper presents a survey of the history of meteorology during this often called “Era of Speculation”.
Commentary on Zhou et al. (2015): Research on methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) as prevention for HCV infection - MMT is not a single variable

Keywords: Hepatitis C; incidence; methadone maintenance; opiates; people who inject drugs
India as a Global Supplier of Products and Services: Expectations and Emerging Challenges

ABSTRACT Recently, Goldman Sachs released a report titled “Dreaming with BRICs: The Path to 2050” in which the authors proposed that India will become the third largest economy by 2035 (Wilson and Purushothanam 2003). Based on extant literature on economic development, country advantages, and resource-based theory of firms, we suggest that a country typically has two types of resources–institutions (including infrastructure) and human capital, and the criticality of these resources varies based on the industry under consideration. For example, transportation and logistics institutions may be very critical for the automobile industry but less relevant for the BPO (business process outsourcing) industry that relies on telecommunications infrastructure. Based on our examination of extant research and our extensive conversations with senior executives and policy makers in India, we delineate existing expectations and our prescriptions for India to emerge as a global supplier of products and services. We ident...
Advanced matrix-based algorithm for ion beam milling of optical components

Control of an ion beam for milling optical surfaces is a nontrivial problem in two-dimensional deconvolution. The ion milling operation is performed by moving an ion beam gun through a grid of points over the surface of an optical workpiece. The control problem is to determine the amount of time to dwell at each point in the grid to obtain a desired surface profile. This research treats the problem in linear algebra terms. The required dwell times are the solutions to a large, sparse system of linear equations. Traditional factorization methods such as Gaussian elimination cannot be used because the linear equations are severely ill conditioned. Theoretically, a least-squares solution to this problem exists. Practical approaches to finding a minimal least-squares solution are discussed.
Provider barriers and facilitators to screening for intimate partner violence in Bogotá, Colombia.

We conducted interviews with 27 health care personnel in Bogota, Colombia, to examine provider barriers and facilitators to screening for intimate partner violence (IPV). We used systematic qualitative analysis to identify the range and consistency of beliefs. We found that respondents did not routinely screen for IPV. Providers listed numerous barriers to screening. Ways to improve screening included increased clinician training, installing systematic IPV screening, providing patient education, and implementing health care setting interventions. Improving the care for IPV survivors will involve translating health care personnel preferred solutions into more systematic IPV screening interventions.
Coir : an object-oriented system for control and dynamic data parallelism

Abstract Parallelism in modern machines ranges from desk-tops to teraflops. It starts at the level of workstations, which are being increasingly designed as symmetric multiprocessors (SMPs), and scales up to large-scale distributed memory machines whose individual nodes are SMPs. On the software side, object-oriented and multithreading paradigms are both becoming important in software development for high-performance computing. Multithreading techniques have been used at the hardware and the operating system level to interleave computation and to overlap computation with other operations such as communication, I/O, and resource management. Lately, providing multithreading at the level of libraries and application programs has generated much interest. In this paper, we describe a system namedCoirthat combines the important aspects of multithreading with object-oriented paradigms in C++ to model the two important aspects of parallel programming—control and data-parallelism. The system provides parallelism as a C++ library and models a wide range of machines from small-scale symmetric multiprocessors to large-scale distributed address space message-passing machines.
New over-range protection scheme in pipelined data converters

Existing approaches for the design of inter-stage switched-capacitor amplifiers used in pipelined data converters have evolved following the notion that there are firm limits on input range and output range of the amplifier. In this work, it is recognized that the limits on signal swing are not dictated by binary and somewhat arbitrary boundaries but rather by increasing levels of distortion with signal swing. The concept of defining a series of signal swing windows based on the degree of distortion present in the gain stage amplifier is formalized. A set of "critical points" on the transfer characteristics are identified that are useful for determining robustness of any given over-range protection circuit. In contrast to existing approaches where the amplifier may be under-designed or over-designed in an attempt to meet a fixed signal swing window requirement, the designer can select signal swing windows to provide acceptable levels of distortion. Following this approach, a new over-range protection scheme is developed which ensures that all residues of a given stage are mapped back into an acceptable distortion window of the following stage
Optimization of Thermal Shock Protocols for Induction of Triploidy in Brook Trout

Abstract Techniques for production of triploids are well described for commercially reared salmonids (e.g., rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss and Atlantic salmon Salmo salar). Among less commonly used species, including brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis, these protocols have not been optimized. As a prelude to investigating the regional potential for commercial culture of brook trout with all-female and all-female triploid stocks, we conducted experiments to test the effects of the primary variables of thermal shock used to induce retention of second polar bodies. The objective was to identify a protocol that maximizes yield of both triploid and gynogenetic diploid progeny. The first experiment measured survival of gynogenetic embryos produced by heat shocks involving combinations of different temperatures (26, 27, 28, or 29°C) and durations (7, 10, 13, 16, 19, or 22 min). In three subsequent experiments, production of triploids was assessed for thermal shocks involving variable times of initiation (7, 10...
Production of transgenic rabbits, sheep and pigs by microinjection

Direct microinjection has been used to introduce foreign DNA into a number of terminally differentiated cell types as well as embryos of several species including sea urchin, Candida elegans, Xenopus, Drosophila and mice. Various genes have been successfully introduced into mice including constructs consisting of the mouse metallothionein-I (MT) promoter/regulator region fused to either the rat or human growth hormone (hGH) structural genes. Transgenic mice harbouring such genes commonly exhibit high, metal-inducible levels of the fusion messenger RNA in several organs, substantial quantities of the foreign growth hormone in serum and enhanced growth. In addition, the gene is stably incorporated into the germ line, making the phenotype heritable. Because of the scientific importance and potential economic value of transgenic livestock containing foreign genes, we initiated studies on large animals by microinjecting the fusion gene, MT-hGH, into the pronuclei or nuclei of eggs from superovulated rabbits, sheep and pigs. We report here integration of the gene in all three species and expression of the gene in transgenic rabbits and pigs.
Piroxicam accelerates development of colitis in T-cell receptor α chain-deficient mice

T-cell receptor alpha chain (TCR.alpha)-deficient mice spontaneously develop colitis that resembles human ulcerative colitis; however, the incidence varies among individuals and takes place lately in the life. We have demonstrated that piroxicam induces colitis in non-colitic TCR.alpha-deficient mice, but not wild-type mice, within 14 days. The histological features and cytokine profiles were similar to those seen in spontaneous colitis in TCR.alpha-deficient mice. Dexamethasone prevented piroxicam-induced colitis concurrent with the suppression of interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-17, tumor necrosis factor alpha and interferon gamma. This modified model of colitis could be useful for the evaluation of potential therapeutics for ulcerative colitis.
Comparison of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness In Vivo and Axonal Transport after Chronic Intraocular Pressure Elevation in Young versus Older Rats

Purpose To compare in young and old rats longitudinal measurements of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) and axonal transport 3-weeks after chronic IOP elevation.
REPLACEMENT NAME FOR TETRADIUM DANA, 1846

It was shown recently that Tetradium Dana, 1846 (type species: Tetradium fibratum Safford, 1856), a common Middle and Upper Ordovician fossil, is a calcareous filamentous florideophyte alga (Phylum Rhodophyta) (Steele-Petrovich, 2009a, 2009b), and not a tabulate coral or a chaetetid sponge, as traditionally classified. Reassigning Tetradium Dana from an animal to an alga subjects it to the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN) (McNeill et al., 2006), which makes it a later homonym of Tetradium Loureiro, 1790 (see Farr et al., 1979), a Recent tree of the citrus family (Rutaceae). According to the ICBN (Articles 14, 53.1, 54.1), the name Tetradium Dana cannot be conserved and must be replaced, since Tetradium Loureiro is currently in use. Prismostylus Okulitch, 1935 (type species: Prismostylus columnaris [Hall], 1847) is generally accepted as a synonym of Tetradium Dana (e.g., Bassler, 1950; Hill, 1981) and is the earliest possible replacement name for Tetradium . Prismostylus , as originally defined, differs from Tetradium only in its septa, which according to Okulitch (1935) “are usually absent” or …
A measurement of the Z boson resonance parameters at the SLC

Abstract We have measured the resonance parameters of the Z boson using 480 Hadronic and Leptonic Z decays collected by the Mark II Detector at the Stanford Linear Collider. We find the Mass to be 91.14±0.12 GeV/c 2 , and width to be 2.42 −0.35 +0.45 GeV. If we constrain the visible width to its Standard Model value, we find a partial width to invisible decay modes corresponding to 2.8±0.6 neutrino species with a 95% confidence level limit of 3.9.