cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Choroid plexus volumetrics and brain inflammation in multiple sclerosis.

The infiltration of autoreactive encephalitogenic adaptive immune cells into the central nervous system (CNS) and pursuant inflammation of the brain and spinal cord are thought to be critical events in initiating and perpetuating disease activity in the human autoimmune disorder multiple sclerosis (MS) (1). Immune cell trafficking into the CNS is regulated by numerous soluble molecules and adhesion molecules (2), and α4-integrin has been identified as being crucial in that regard (3, 4). While there is an ongoing debate on whether or not MS is initially triggered from within the CNS compartment (“inside → out” dogma), most scientific data suggest a breakdown of immune tolerance to CNS autoantigens that lead to the activation and differentiation of encephalitogenic autoimmune lymphocytes (“outside → in” dogma) (1). A pivotal immunological experiment that corroborates the “outside → in” pathogenic dogma of MS is the effectiveness of natalizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody (mAb) that prevents the interaction of α4-integrin on leukocytes with its ligands on the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and within the extracellular matrix (4), namely vascular adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 and fibronectin. Natalizumab substantially reduces the migration of leukocytes into the CNS (4, 5) and significantly reduces clinical and paraclinical disease activity in patients with relapsing forms of MS (6, 7). Recently, Fleischer et al. proposed that choroid plexus (ChP), highly vascularized organoids situated within the brain ventricles at the intersection of the systemic blood circulation and the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) compartment, may be one anatomical area to serve as a surrogate marker for MS disease activity (8). In their study, Fleischer et al. show that MRI volumetric assessments depict a significant enlargement of ChP among patients with relapsing remitting MS (RRMS) compared to healthy controls. Interestingly, there was a positive correlation between ChP volume and disease severity and neurological disability. … [↵][1]1To whom correspondence may be addressed. Email: olaf.stuve{at}utsouthwestern.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
“How We Learn May Not Always Be Good For Us” – Analytics of Students' Study Strategies, Educational Resource Choices, and Learning Success in a Medical Histology Course

Histology is a traditional component of many biomedical education programs. This project set out to find common characteristics among students, who did well or were challenged by histology and to exam the effectiveness of different teaching approaches. Three M1 classes at the University of Michigan were surveyed about their educational background, attitudes towards learning histology, and use of learning strategies. These characteristics were correlated with students' histology exam results. This analysis demonstrated a preference of students to use electronic over traditional learning tools. A positive indicator is in-person participation in teacher-guided learning experiences. Students watching lectures by video rather than going to lectures performed significantly worse. A preliminary analysis of what influences the efficiency of live lectures versus video recording indicates that frequent interruptions of the learning process correlate with decreased scores. These results indicate that the effectivene...
The Wealth Effects of Corporate Real Estate Leasing

This paper presents an event-time study of the wealth effects associated with the corporate decision to lease real estate assets. The analysis provides a measure of the valuation consequences of re...
Opposite filtrations, variations of Hodge structure, and Frobenius modules

Let X be a complex manifold. Then, an unpolarized complex variation of Hodge structure (E, ∇, F, Φ) over X consists of a flat, C ∞ complex vector bundle (E, ∇) over X equipped with a decreasing Hodge filtration F and an increasing filtration Φ such that (1.1) F is holomorphic with respect to ∇, and \( \nabla \left({{F^{p}}}\right) \subseteq {F^{{p - 1}}} \otimes \Omega _{X}^{1}\); (1.2) Φ is anti-holomorphic with respect to ∇, and \( \nabla \left({{{\bar{\Phi}}_{q}}}\right)\subseteq {\bar{\Phi}_{{q + 1}}} \otimes \overline {\Omega _{X}^{1}} \); (1.3) \( E = {F^{p}} \oplus {\bar{\Phi }_{{p - 1}}}\) for each index p (i.e. F is opposite to Φ).
Pseudouridylate Synthetase of Escherichia coli: Correlation of Its Activity with Utilization of Pseudouridine for Growth

A direct correlation exists between the pseudouridylate synthetase activity and the ability of pyrimidine auxotrophs of Escherichia coli to grow on pseudouridine.
Choice Of Gender Identity In International Human Rights Law

This chapter explores the concept of an international human right to determine one's own gender identity. It evaluates the success of human rights claims by transsexuals and the basis for recognizing such claims. It concludes by explaining the apparent paradox of the greater success of transsexuals in seeking human rights than similar claims by homosexuals.
Nomenclature In the Petroleum Industry

Activities in the petroleum industry range from exploration, to oil and gas recovery or production, refining, distribution, and marketing. The nomenclature used has been derived from the disciplines of geology, petroleum engineering, and chemistry. This, combined with the complex nature of oil and many refined products, makes for a terminology that is often not systematic and has many poorly defined terms. An outline of the more widely used terms from exploration, production, and refining is included. Keywords: Petroleum; Nomenclature; Natural gas; Prefix iso; Group names; Distillation range
Development of diagnostic microsatellite markers from whole‐genome sequences of Ammodramus sparrows for assessing admixture in a hybrid zone

Studies of hybridization and introgression and, in particular, the identification of admixed individuals in natural populations benefit from the use of diagnostic genetic markers that reliably differentiate pure species from each other and their hybrid forms. Such diagnostic markers are often infrequent in the genomes of closely related species, and genomewide data facilitate their discovery. We used whole-genome data from Illumina HiSeqS2000 sequencing of two recently diverged (600,000 years) and hybridizing, avian, sister species, the Saltmarsh (Ammodramus caudacutus) and Nelson's (A. nelsoni) Sparrow, to develop a suite of diagnostic markers for high-resolution identification of pure and admixed individuals. We compared the microsatellite repeat regions identified in the genomes of the two species and selected a subset of 37 loci that differed between the species in repeat number. We screened these loci on 12 pure individuals of each species and report on the 34 that successfully amplified. From these, we developed a panel of the 12 most diagnostic loci, which we evaluated on 96 individuals, including individuals from both allopatric populations and sympatric individuals from the hybrid zone. Using simulations, we evaluated the power of the marker panel for accurate assignments of individuals to their appropriate pure species and hybrid genotypic classes (F1, F2, and backcrosses). The markers proved highly informative for species discrimination and had high accuracy for classifying admixed individuals into their genotypic classes. These markers will aid future investigations of introgressive hybridization in this system and aid conservation efforts aimed at monitoring and preserving pure species. Our approach is transferable to other study systems consisting of closely related and incipient species.
Generalized curved Earth radar propagation

An approach for calculating the propagation factor due to radar returns emanating from targets over a curved Earth is proposed. The multipath propagation factors due to interference and curved Earth diffraction are combined into a single response by recognizing the transition point for the infinite series applicable to each phenomenon.
Digital Computers in Circular Culvert Design

As circular culverts may have sections of different slopes, lengths, and pipe sizes, flow profile and hydraulic jump calculations are extremely tedious and time consuming. A digital computer is useful in culvert design by performing flow profile calculations, determining if a hydraulic jump occurs in the culvert, and predicting the jump location. This paper sets forth some recent developments on the use of digital computers in culvert design which should expedite computations and reduce overall costs. The Texas Highway Department broken-back culvert is used for illustrative purposes.
Role of adherence in the pathogenesis of neonatal group B streptococcal infection.

Abstract The ability of group B streptococci to attach to buccal epithelial cells from adult volunteers, healthy neonates, and infants with invasive group B streptococcal infection was assessed by using 3H-labeled bacteria incubated at a bacteria-to-cells ratio of 1,000:1. Type III group B streptococcal clinical isolates adhered significantly better to the epithelial cells of healthy neonates than to those of adults (mean bacteria per cell of 31 versus 7, respectively; P < 0.005). In contrast, no statistically significant differences in adherence of type Ia or type II strains to cells of neonates and adults were noted. The adherence of strains isolated from 15 infants with invasive group B streptococcal infection was significantly greater to the cells of infected infants than to those of age-matched controls (mean bacteria per cell of 39 versus 18, respectively; P < 0.005). In contrast, no significant difference was noted in the adherence of a usually adherent type Ia strain and a nonadherent type III strain to the cells of infected infants compared with control infants. These results indicate that the serotype of group B streptococci with the greatest virulence for neonates (type III) adheres better to neonatal than to adult epithelial cells. Infants who develop invasive infection may have an increased number of epithelial cell surface receptor sites for attachment of group B streptococci, the bacteria may elaborate products which unmask receptor sites, or both.
Modified quantum chromodynamics: Exact global color symmetry and asymptotic freedom

A theory of modified quantum chromodynamics is presented in which color is realized as a global rather than local SU(3) symmetry. Quarks and gluons are then free to exist, but below a certain energy threshold they are still effectively confined by the same dynamics as in quantum chromodynamics. In addition to the massive vector-gluon octet, the theory also contains an octet and two singlets of Higgs particles, or scalar gluons. Asymptotic freedom is maintained by the imposition of eigenvalue conditions on all coupling constants such that only one of them, say the gauge coupling $g$, is an independent parameter. This is shown to imply the existence of extraordinary quarks which are not triplets under color SU(3).
Cell proliferation, reactive oxygen and cellular glutathione

A variety of cellular activities, including metabolism, growth, and death, are regulated and modulated by the redox status of the environment. A biphasic effect has been demonstrated on cellular proliferation with reactive oxygen species (ROS)-especially hydrogen peroxide and superoxide-in which low levels (usually submicromolar concentrations) induce growth but higher concentrations (usually >10-30 micromolar) induce apoptosis or necrosis. This phenomenon has been demonstrated for primary, immortalized and transformed cell types. However, the mechanism of the proliferative response to low levels of ROS is not well understood. Much of the work examining the signal transduction by ROS, including H(2)O(2), has been performed using doses in the lethal range. Although use of higher ROS doses have allowed the identification of important signal transduction pathways, these pathways may be activated by cells only in association with ROS-induced apoptosis and necrosis, and may not utilize the same pathways activated by lower doses of ROS associated with increased cell growth. Recent data has shown that low levels of exogenous H(2)O(2) up-regulate intracellular glutathione and activate the DNA binding activity toward antioxidant response element. The modulation of the cellular redox environment, through the regulation of cellular glutathione levels, may be a part of the hormetic effect shown by ROS on cell growth.
MR imaging findings in 76 consecutive surgically proven cases of pericardial disease with CT and pathologic correlation

To describe findings of patients with surgically confirmed pericardial disease on state of the art MR sequences. Retrospective review was performed for patients who underwent pericardiectomy and preoperative MR over a 5 year period ending in 2009. Patients’ records were reviewed to confirm the diagnosis of chronic recurrent pericarditis, constrictive pericarditis, or pericardial tumor. MR imaging findings of pericardial thickness, IVC diameter, presence or absence of pericardial or pleural effusion, pericardial edema, pericardial enhancement, and septal “bounce” were recorded. Patients with constriction had a larger IVC diameter (3.1 ± 0.4 cm) than patients with recurrent pain and no constriction (2.0 ± 0.4 cm). Mean pericardial thickness for the 16 patients with chronic recurrent pericarditis but no evidence of constriction was 4.8 ± 2.9 mm. Mean pericardial thickness for patients with constriction was 9.2 ± 7.0 cm with calcification, and 4.6 ± 2.1 cm without calcification. 94% of patients with chronic recurrent pericarditis had gadolinium enhancement of the pericardium, while 76% of patients with constriction had pericardial enhancement. Septal “bounce” was present in 19% of chronic recurrent pericarditis cases and 86% of constriction cases. 5 patients had a pericardial neoplasm, 1 of which was not identified preoperatively. State of the art MR techniques can identify significant and distinct findings in patients with chronic recurrent pericarditis, constrictive pericarditis, and pericardial tumors.
Formation of oxides and their role in the growth of Ag nanoplates on GaAs substrates.

Simple galvanic reactions between highly doped n-type GaAs wafers and a pure aqueous solution of AgNO3 at room temperature provide an easy and efficient protocol to directly deposit uniform Ag nanoplates with tunable dimensions on the GaAs substrates. The anisotropic growth of the Ag nanoplates in the absence of surfactant molecules might be partially ascribed to the codeposition of oxides of gallium and arsenic, which are revealed by extensive data from electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy, during the growth of the Ag nanoplates. The electron microscopic characterization shows that each Ag nanoplate has a “necked” geometry, that is, it pins on the GaAs lattices through only a tiny neck (with sizes of <10 nm). In addition, the as-grown Ag nanoplates exhibit strong enhancement toward Raman scattering of materials on (or around) their surfaces.
Metastasis of human tumors in athymic nude mice

The incidence of metastasis of xenogeneic tumors transplanted to nude mice is controversial. We studied 106 malignant human tumor lines in a total of 1,045 nude mice, and observed metastasis in only 14 instances (1.3%), involving 11 different tumor lines. Three of the lines showed repeated metastasis. Breast tumor lines metastasized with significantly greater frequency than other tumor types. None of the sarcoma lines metastasized. Tumors derived from human metastases were no more prone to metastasizing in nude mice than were tumors derived from primary sites. However, deep penetration of the body wall during growth of the tumor transplant was highly correlated with metastasis (p less than 0.001). Such factors as nude mouse health, tumor size and growth rate, and age and sex of the host mouse were not correlated with metastasis. Serial passage in nude mice did not select for a more malignant tumor line, since the incidence of metastasis did not differ at various passage levels. Thus, metastasis of human malignant tumors in nude mice would appear to depend primarily upon the site of tumor growth in the nude mouse, and upon the intrinsic metastasizing capability of the tumor line employed.
An fir cooled grating spectrometer for the kuiper airborne observatory

The design and performance of a liquid-He-cooled spectrometer being developed for the Kuiper Airborne Observatory (KAO) to study FIR lines originating in the interstellar medium are discussed. Currently, the spectrometer contains six Ge:Ga photoconductor detectors mounted in integrating cavities and cooled to about 3 K; the collimator focal plane has space for 39 such detectors. The instrument achieves a maximum resolving power of 6000 by means of a 45-cm long echelle grating and is optically capable of operating in the spectral range 25-300 microns. A laboratory spectrum of water vapor, an atmospheric water absorption feature measured from the KAO with Mars as a source, and the forbidden O(2+) emission from W51-IRS1 are shown.
Inflammatory and angiogenic mRNA levels are altered in a supraspinatus tendon overuse animal model

Shoulder overuse injuries, especially those to the supraspinatus tendon of the rotator cuff, are common musculoskeletal disorders. Unfortunately, little is known about the disease etiology and pathogenesis. The objective of this study was to determine the levels of specific inflammatory and angiogenic markers in a rat supraspinatus tendon overuse injury model. We hypothesized that inflammation would not be present early in the overuse protocol. Conversely, we hypothesized that the overuse protocol would result in increased angiogenesis early. Increases in five-lipoxygenase activating protein, cyclooxygenase-2, vascular endothelial growth factor, and von Willebrand factor were evaluated by use of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction from 1 day through 16 weeks of treadmill running (overuse protocol). These results provide important information on the role of angiogenesis and inflammation in the disease process. Future studies will further evaluate the mechanisms of the disease process as well as potential targeted treatment modalities.
A Small-Volume Continuous Oil/Water Separator for Laboratory Displacement Experiments

An experimental task commonly encountered in laboratory core displacement experiments is the separation of oil and water phases. While such physical separations are not inherently difficult, they can be time consuming and may lead to material-balance errors if numerous small samples are collected. In this paper, we describe an oil/water separator of low volume that relies on the wetting characteristics of commercially available filter membranes. Because a flowing stream containing oil and water can be separated continuously without a large-volume mixing cell, the separator allows on-line measurement of the compositions of oil and brine streams. It might also prove useful in relative permeability measurements.
Influence of pH on the rejection of salts and ionic dyes by microfilters

Microfiltration comprises the largest fraction of the total membranes production in the world and is assumed to pass both salts and ionic dyes in potable water and tertiary biological wastewater treatment applications. However, inorganic and organic membranes from stainless steel, ceramic and polypropylene microfilters having pores 0.2 microns in diameter have been shown to be capable of rejecting anionic dyes and sodium nitrate from water solutions. This work has been extended to newer stainless steel membranes having smaller pore diameters of 0.1 and 0.03 microns. These membranes are able to reject ionic dyes and salt from aqueous solutions containing salts below 3000 ppm. The conductivity of the filtering solution is correlated to the Debye length which is offered as an explanation of the mechanism of rejection. The effect of pH and salt concentration on the filtration rate and color rejection is also presented.
Relaxation and glassy dynamics in disordered type-II superconductors

We study the non-equilibrium relaxation kinetics of interacting magnetic flux lines in disordered type-II superconductors at low temperatures by means of a three-dimensional elastic line model and Monte Carlo simulations. Investigating the vortex density and height autocorrelation functions as well as the flux line mean-square displacement, we observe the emergence of glassy dynamics, caused by the competing effects of vortex pinning due to point defects and long-range repulsive interactions between the flux lines. Our systematic numerical study allows us to carefully disentangle the associated different relaxation mechanisms, and to assess their relative impact on the kinetics of vortex matter at low temperatures.
A dimeric state for PRC2

Polycomb repressive complex-2 (PRC2) is a histone methyltransferase required for epigenetic silencing during development and cancer. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) can recruit PRC2 to chromatin. Previous studies identified PRC2 subunits in a complex with the apparent molecular weight of a dimer, which might be accounted for by the incorporation of additional protein subunits or RNA rather than PRC2 dimerization. Here we show that reconstituted human PRC2 is in fact a dimer, using multiple independent approaches including analytical size exclusion chromatography (SEC), SEC combined with multi-angle light scattering and co-immunoprecipitation of differentially tagged subunits. Even though it contains at least two RNA-binding subunits, each PRC2 dimer binds only one RNA molecule. Yet, multiple PRC2 dimers bind a single RNA molecule cooperatively. These observations suggest a model in which the first RNA binding event promotes the recruitment of multiple PRC2 complexes to chromatin, thereby nucleating repression.
Short-term Hemodynamic Effects of Endothelin Receptor Blockade in Dogs With Chronic Heart Failure

Background Plasma endothelin levels are increased in heart failure and may contribute to the increased peripheral vasoconstriction that characterizes this disease state. In the present study, we examined the effects of intravenous bosentan, a nonpeptide, competitive endothelin-1 receptor antagonist, on hemodynamics in dogs with chronic heart failure. Methods and Results Chronic heart failure was produced in 11 dogs by multiple sequential intracoronary microembolization. At the time of study, left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction was 25±2%. Hemodynamic and echocardiographic measurements were made at baseline and at 15, 30, and 60 minutes after a bolus injection of bosentan (10 mg/kg). Bosentan had no significant effect on heart rate or mean aortic blood pressure. At 60 minutes, bosentan reduced LV end-diastolic pressure (17±2 versus 11±2 mm Hg; P<.05) and systemic vascular resistance (3891±379 versus 3071±346 dyne·s·cm−5; P<.05) compared with baseline and increased cardiac output (2.63±0.29 versus 3.33±0...
The rate-controlling substrate of nitrilotriacetate for biodegradation by chelatobacter heintzii

Codisoposal of anthropogenic chelating agents such as nitrilotriacetate (NTA) with radioactive and heavy metals can enhance environmental transport of the metals, extending subsurface contamination and threatening groundwater sources. The biodegradation of the chelating agent can lead to the immobilization of the chelated metal and radionuclide contaminants. The rate of biodegradation of the organic complexing agent may depend on the concentration of a specific, biologically available form of the chelate. In mixtures of metals and chelating agents, the relative distribution of different chemical forms of the chelate at equilibrium is controlled by the total concentrations of organic and inorganic constituents and thermodynamic stability constants for the aqueous complexes that form. In this paper, we evaluate experimental results for biodegradation of NTA by Chelatobacter heintzii in different metal/NTA systems in order to identify the chelate form controlling the rate of degradation. The CaNTA- is the on...
Benchmarks, performance evaluation and contests for 3D shape retrieval

Benchmarking of 3D Shape retrieval allows developers and researchers to compare the strengths of different algorithms on a standard dataset. Here we describe the procedures involved in developing a benchmark and issues involved. We then discuss some of the current 3D shape retrieval benchmarks efforts of our group and others. We also review the different performance evaluation measures that are developed and used by researchers in the community. After that we give an overview of the 3D shape retrieval contest (SHREC) tracks run under the EuroGraphics Workshop on 3D Object Retrieval and give details of tracks that we organized for SHREC 2010. Finally we demonstrate some of the results based on the different SHREC contest tracks and the NIST shape benchmark.
Asymptotic solution of oblique waves in inhomogeneous vertically magnetised plasma

A method for finding higher-order asymptotic solutions, as compared with the well known WKBJ approximation, is given for oblique electromagnetic waves in an inhomogeneous anisotropic plasma with a vertical magnetostatic field.
Reformulating children's gender schemata

Despite changes in society and in the ways that researchers conceptualize gender schemata, stereotypes about occupations persist. Have experimental interventions been successful? How should intervention and intervention goals be reformulated for the future?
Aggressiveness of Phomopsis longicolla and Other Phomopsis spp. on Soybean

Phomopsis seed decay of soybean is a major cause of poor-quality soybean seed. The disease is caused primarily by the fungal pathogen Phomopsis longicolla. Aggressiveness of isolates of P. longicolla from soybean and other Phomopsis spp. from other hosts were compared by inoculating 2-week-old soybean plants of cv. Williams 82. There were significant (P ≤ 0.0001) differences among isolates based on stem length and stem lesion length. The P. longicolla soybean isolate PL16, from Mississippi, caused the shortest stem length while the non-soybean isolate P9, from Illinois, caused the greatest stem lesion length. The type isolate of P. longicolla, PL31 (Fau 600), was one of the 3 most aggressive isolates among all 48 isolates tested. The velvetleaf isolate P9 was the most aggressive among 13 isolates from non-soybean hosts. This study provided the first evaluation of aggressiveness of P. longicolla isolates from different geographic origins and the first demonstration that Phomopsis spp. isolated from cantaloupe, eggplant, and watermelon infected soybean. Knowledge about the variability of the pathogen is important for selecting isolates for breeding soybean lines with broad-based resistance to Phomopsis seed decay.
The Role of Nonprofits in Educational Technology Innovation

For decades, nonprofit organizations have played a vital role in educational technology innovation. Sesame Street, online high schools, probeware for science and mathematics teaching and learning, and many other innovations now widely used both in and outside schools were developed by nonprofits, including not only universities but also independent R&D organizations, such as the Concord Consortium. Within the federal budget, there has been a decade-long trend to reduce both the size and number of awards made specifically for innovation in educational technology. Small grants, including those for basic research, are less likely to lead to transformative innovations in teaching and learning than larger, targeted awards for innovation. At a time when digital tools continue to grow more useful and powerful, and when larger numbers of schools are using them effectively, it is time for federal agencies to focus additional resources on educational technology innovation.
PERSPECTIVE AND OVERVIEW OF MANUFACTURING INITIATIVES IN THE UNITED STATES

The strategic application of the computer-integrated manufacturing technology can markedly improve manufacturers’ product quality, responsiveness to customers, process control and flexibility, and flexibility of capital investment — all determinants of global manufacturing competitiveness. Companies need to reach customers or suppliers anywhere in the world to develop the network of global alliances and partnerships among businesses. This paper discusses the enabling technologies that support manufacturing globalization. It also introduces the major initiatives in Computer-Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) in the United States. Finally, new challenges in moving the computer-integrated manufacturing to a global marketplace is addressed.
Lipase catalyzed modification of fish oil to incorporate capric acid

Immobilized lipase, IM60, from Rhizomucor miehei, was used as a biocatalyst for the incorporation of capric acid (C10:0) into menhaden fish oil concentrate containing 34.7 mol% eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3) and 34.4 mol% docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3). Transesterification (acidolysis) was performed in hexane and solvent-free media. Tocopherol content was analyzed before and after enzymatic modification. Products were analyzed by gas liquid chromatography. After 24 h incubation in hexane, there was an average of 31.1±4.6 mol% incorporation of C10:0 into fish oil, while 20:5 and 22:6 were reduced to 12.6±3.1 and 13.7±4.4, respectively. The solvent-free reaction produced an average of 28.8±4.7 mol% capric acid incorporation; 20:5 and 22:6 decreased to 16.1±5.7 and 13.5±3.0 mol%. The effect of incubation time, substrate mole ratio, enzyme load, and added water were also studied. Generally, as enzyme load, mole ratio, and incubation time increased, mol% capric acid incorporation also increased. Time course of reaction indicated that the highest C10:0 incorporation occurred at 72 h, for both the reaction in hexane (33.5 mol%) and the solvent-free reaction (36.0 mol%). The highest C10:0 incorporation for the substrate mole ratio reaction occurred at a mole ratio of 1:8 in hexane (50.7 mol%) and the solvent-free reaction (36.7 mol%). Although the highest C10:0 incorporation (31.8 and 48.6 mol%) occurred at an enzyme load of 15% in hexane and 20% for the solvent-free reaction respectively, the values were not significantly different (P<0.05) after 5% enzyme load. Mol% incorporation of C10:0 declined with increasing amounts of water. At 1% added water, high C10:0 incorporation was achieved for the reaction in hexane (39.3 mol%) and the solvent-free reaction (26.0 mol%). Pancreatic lipase catalyzed sn-2 positional analysis was performed on the fish oil before and after enzymatic modification. Fish oil containing capric acid was successfully produced and may be beneficial in certain food and nutritional applications.
Toxicology of AHS important chemicals.

© 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 19:180–181, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/jbt.20076
Opioid activity of 4-imidazolidinone positional analogues of Leu-Enkephalin.

Abstract Modulation of opioid activity was accomplished for analogues of Leu-enkephalin through incorporation of a 4-imidazolidinone moiety. The peptide backbone was constrained via a methylene bridge between two neighboring amides within its regular peptide sequence, which was expected to disrupt the secondary structure of the original molecule. Five positional analogues of Leu-enkephalin based on the same sequence and different location of the imidazolidinone-constrict were designed, synthesized, and examined for their affinity to μ-, δ- and κ-opioid receptors.
Contributions of heavy metals from municipal runoff to the sediments of Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana

Abstract A study was conducted to determine the distribution and sources of heavy metal pollutants in the sediments of Lake Pontchartrain. Sediment samples were collected from the northern and southern shorelines and analyzed for heavy metals by atomic absorption spectrometry. The heavy metals of interest were barium, copper, nickel, lead, and zinc. The concentrations of these metals indicate that the principal source of heavy metal pollution is associated with urban stormwater runoff and municipal discharges.
2-Deoxy-D-Glucose Antinociception and Serotonin Receptor Subtype Antagonists: Test-Specific Effects in Rats

Abstract The antinociceptive actions of 2-deoxy- d -glucose (2-DG) are mediated in part by endogenous opioid, dopaminergic, cholinergic, histaminergic, and neuro-hormonal influences. Although 2-DG antinociception was not affected by tryptophan hydroxylase inhibition, a possible serotonergic role in 2-DG antinociception was investigated because of the existence of serotonin [5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)] receptor subtypes. The present study examined the effects of general (methysergide: 5 and 10 mg/kg), 5-HT 2 (ritanserin: 2.5 mg/kg), and 5-HT 3 (ICS-205,930: 0.25–5 mg/kg) receptor subtype antagonists upon 2-DG antinociception on the tail-flick and jump tests in rats. On the tail-flick test, 2-DG (450 mg/kg) antinociception was significantly reduced by all ICS-205,930 doses (48–58%) but unaffected by either methysergide (22–29% reduction) or ritanserin (6% reduction). In contrast, 2-DG antinociception on the jump test was significantly potentiated across the 120-min time course and across the 2-DG dose-response curve (100–650 mg/kg) by methysergide, ritanserin, and ICS-205,930 pretreatment. Each of the three antagonists produced significant leftward shifts in the peak and total 2-DG dose-response curve for the jump test. These data suggest different sites of action for 2-DG antinociception as a function of the pain test employed and a differential modulation by serotonin receptor subtypes at those sites.
A microcomputer application in engineering anthropometry

Abstract A microcomputer program which predicts various anthropometric measurements from some basic measurements is presented in this paper. By the use of this program, engineers and designers can obtain necessary anthropometric data with a minimum amount of actual measurements.
Clinical studies in blood lipid metabolism. IX. Effect of lipotropic agents on serum lipid partitions in fifty patients with generalized atherosclerosis: A three year study

1. Fifty patients with clinical generalized atherosclerosis and chronic coronary artery disease were maintained on a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet for thirty-six months. Twenty-five of these patients were given therapeutic dosages of a lipotropic preparation during this period. 2. Serum lipid fractions such as cholesterol, phospholipids, total lipids and neutral fats were determined and averaged on all fifty patients at the onset of the study and at six month intervals for a period of three years. 3. Except for a slight decrease in blood serum cholesterol of all the fifty patients, attributable to the low-fat dietary restrictions, there were no significant differences in any of the other serum lipid fractions. 4. Changes in the ratio of phospholipid to cholesterol were practically the same in the control and lipotropic groups of patients. 5. Low-fat, low-cholesterol diet will attain the same end result as lipotropic agents upon reducing serum lipid partitions. 6. Loss of weight had no bearing on the diminution of the lipid partitions. 7. There is no clinical or laboratory confirmation for the value of the administration of the present known lipotropic preparations in the treatment or prophylaxis of human atherosclerosis. Thanks and appreciation are expressed to Miss Dorothy Schork for the preparation of the graphs.
APPLICATION OF A DOUBLE TUBE SYSTEM FOR ENUMERATION OF CLOSTRIDIUM TYROBUTYRICUM

Clostridium tyrobutyricum, a spore-forming, gram-positive, anaerobic bacterium, is considered to be the main organisms responsible for the late spoilage of cheese by gas formation. Most methods for detecting C. tyrobutyricum are based on spore germination and vegetative growth and take 4–7 days plus an identification step for confirmation. The purpose of this study was to develop a faster detection method using a Double Tube System. Because no selective medium is available for detection of C. tyrobutyricum, three media (Reinforced Clostridial, AC, and Tomato Juice) were compared using two strains of C. tyrobutyricum and one strain of C. sporogenes. Each 4 day-old test strain was inoculated on duplicated plates of each agar that were then placed in anaerobic jars or in the double-tube systems for 2–4 days at 30 or 37C. All three agars consistently supported growth of the test strains. Counts did not differ with incubation at 30 or 37C and were comparable using the conventional anaerobic jar or a Double Tube System. However, in the Double Tube System, colonies could be counted accurately at least 6 h earlier than on the plates in anaerobic jars.
Effect of L-dopa on plasma free fatty acids and plasma glucose.

Abstract The effect of L-dopa, the levoisomer of dihydroxyphenylalanine and a precursor of catecholamines, on plasma free fatty acids (FFA) and plasma glucose was studied in dogs and in patients with Parkinson's disease. L-dopa increased plasma FFA and plasma glucose in both dog and man. L-dopa administered intravenously to dogs caused prompt and significant rise in plasma FFA and sugar, while oral dosing produced only slight changes that were first seen 90 min after administration. Variation in the mode of administration of L-dopa, shown in a previous study to affect its absorption, caused differences in the rate and magnitude of increase in plasma FFA and glucose. Parkinsonian patients who had prompt and high serum peak levels of L-dopa showed a significant increase in the plasma FFA and glucose, persisting for 6 hr. Patients with the low serum levels of L-dopa did not show a significant increase in plasma FFA or glucose.
Optical Performance Of Holographic Kinoforms

The optical properties of holographic kinoforms are described. It is shown that paraxial designs are not adequate for f-numbers less than approximately F/10. A non-paraxial design is introduced which retains the high diffraction efficiency of the paraxial designs, yet also produces a non-aberrated diffracted wavefront for the design wavelength. Aberration calculations and computer calculations, based on the Huygens-Fresnel principle, of the point spread functions for these elements show the necessity of using the non-paraxial design.
Free and protein amino acids, and nutrient concentrations in wheat grain as affected by phosphorus nutrition at various salinity levels

The effects of P nutrition under various salinity levels on the protein, amino acids, and nutrients in mature wheat grain were studied. Mexican dwarf wheat (Triticum aestivum L. var Inia) was grown to maturity in solution cultures with variable concentrations of P (0.5-, 5-, 25- and 50 mg P/l) in combination with NaCl at concentrations producing osmotic potentials (πs) of −0.4-, −1.4-, −2.4- and −4.4-bars. All other essential nutrients were present in adequate concentrations for vigorous plant growth. Increasing levels of P in the nutrient solutions tended to decrease the grain yield, N, Cl, protein-glutamic acid,-proline,-leucine,-glycine, and-serine, while P, K, Mg, Zn, Mn and Cu in the grain were increased. The sum of all protein amino acids in the grain decreased as the concentration of P increased in the nutrient solution. The effect of P on the individual and sum of amino acids tended to show peak amounts at the 5.0 mg P/l treatment level. Increased levels of salinity significantly reduced grain yield, N, proteinglutamic acid,-proline,-leucine,-glycine,-serine,-aspartic acid,-alanine, and-phenylalanine in the grain. The sum of the protein amino acids (μmol/g dry wt.) was decreased in the grain from plants grown at −4.4 bars salinity level, but not in the grain from plants receiving less saline treatments. The concentrations of free amino acids: serine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, alanine, and arginine were lower in the grain produced at the −4.4 bars salinity than at −0.4 bars salinity level. The sum of free amino acids (μmol/g dry wt.) in the grain were decreased at the highest salinity level as compared with concentrations found for grain produced at lower salinity levels. There were some interactions found between P and salinity on the protein amino acids and nutrients in the grains. The amounts of essential amino acids expressed in mg/g of protein were not significantly affected by the increasing levels of P and salinity in the nutrient solution and they were found in adequate or greater amounts than those recommended by the World Health Organization and FAO.
Improving stream‐flow predictions by the use of past records

Since 1926 the management of the International Power and Paper Company, Ltd., has been forecasting stream-flow for the Grand Lake Basin in western Newfoundland. (Appreciation extended to ERIC HINTON of Bowater's, Newfoundland Pulp and Paper Mills, Ltd., for furnishing data upon which this paper is based.) As the company operates its paper-mill at Corner Brook exclusively by hydroelectric power, it is interested in the magnitude of the spring-flood which produces the major portion of the annual stream-flow. Accordingly, predictions of flood-magnitudes have been obtained in the early spring of each year since 1928 by means of snow-surveys and precipitation-records. The predicted runoff each year consisted simply of the water-content of snow calculated from a snow-survey made about the middle of March, plus precipitation measures until the end of March, plus a constant average figure—based on past records—expressing the most probable precipitation after the end of March. All figures were expressed in billions of cubic feet (BCF). The results of the first ten years from 1926 to 1935 have been summarized and discussed by HINTON [see 1 of ”References“ at end of paper].
Inelastic scattering of α-partlcles from 12c below 18.0 MeV

Abstract We have studied the inelastic scattering of α-particles leading to the 7.65 MeV and the 9.65 MeV states of 12C from lab energy of 18.0 MeV down to 2 MeV above the threshold for each reaction. Angular distributions were obtained at energies where significant structure appeared in the excitation functions. The measured total cross sections were used to evaluate the effect of inelastic scattering processes on the rate of the 3α → 12 C reaction in stellar interiors.
Parenteral nutrition, biochemistry and respiratory gas exchange.

Lipid-based total parenteral nutrition (TPN) may have an advantage over glucose-based TPN in certain patients because less carbon dioxide is produced. This conclusion, however, does not properly derive from respiratory quotient (RQ) data. Stoichiometric analysis of glucose and lipid metabolism leads to conclusions similar clinically but at variance conceptually with those based on RQ. Thus, changing from glucose to lipid oxidation is associated with an 11% increase in oxygen consumption, a 23% decrease in carbon dioxide production, and a fall in RQ. In contrast, the diversion of glucose metabolism to synthesis of palmitylstearyloleyl triglyceride results in an 8-fold increase in RQ, but contrary to widely published concepts, the rate of carbon dioxide production falls by 68%. However, even this reduced carbon dioxide production associated with lipogenesis is undesirable because it is not associated with significant ATP production. (Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 10:151-154, 1986)
Multivariate nearest‐neighbour forecasts of ems exchange rates

Exchange rate modelling has been a persistent puzzle for international economists. Forecasts from popular models for the exchange rate generally fail to improve upon the random walk out-of-sample. While a multivariate nonparametric approach provides useful information about exchange rates, the model produces forecasts superior to the random walk for only one of the three EMS currencies examined. Using a statistic developed in Mizrach (1991), I find that the forecast improvement, a 4.5 percent reduction in mean squared error for the Lira in daily returns, is not statistically significant. A cross-validation exercise suggests that the improvement is also not robust.
Visible Integral-field Replicable Unit Spectrograph (VIRUS) optical tolerance

ABSTRACT The Visible Integral-field Replicable Unit Spectrograph (VIRUS ) instrument is made up of 150+ individually compact and identical spectrographs, each fed by a fiber integral field unit. The instrument provides integral field spectroscopy from 350 nm to 550 nm of ov er 33,600 spatial elements per observation, each 1.8 arcsec 2 on the sky, at R ~ 700. The instrument will be fed by a new wide-field corrector (WFC) of the Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET  ) with increased science field of view as large as 22 arcmin diameter and telescope aperture of 10 m. The construction of the large number of VIRUS units requires the individual spectrographs be interchangeable at sub-system level and a production line assembly process be utilized, while meeting the optical performance specification. These requirements pose a strong emphasis on careful analysis of the manufacturing and alignment tolerances of the unit spectrograph design. In this paper, we detail the tolerance analysis, and discuss its implication to the optical performance and production of the VIRUS instrument. Keywords: VIRUS, Optical tolerance, Hobby-Eberly Telescope, HETDEX
Dynamic consequences of prey refuges in a simple model system: more prey, fewer predators and enhanced stability

Abstract In this work, we use an analytical approach to study the dynamic consequences of the simplest forms of refuge use by the prey. Although this problem is not new, there are surprisingly few intents to clarify the role of prey refuges in simple predator–prey models other than the original Lotka–Volterra equations. Here we incorporate prey refuges in a widely known continuous model that satisfies the principle of biomass conversion. We will evaluate the effects with regard to the local stability of equilibrium points in the first quadrant, equilibrium density values, and the long-term persistence of the populations. We show that there is a trend from limit cycles through non-zero stable points up to predator extinction and prey stabilizing at high densities. This transitions occur as hidden prey increase in number or proportion, and/or increases the ratio of mortality to conversion efficiency of predators. The domains of stability in terms of the parameter space differ between the two modes of refuge use analyzed.
The concept of effective method applied to computational problems of linear algebra

A classification of computational problems is proposed which may have applications in numerical analysis. The classification utilizes the concept of effective method, which has been employed in treating decidability questions within the field of computable numbers. A problem is effectively soluble or effectively insolubles according as there is or there is not an effective method of solution. Roughly speaking, effectively insoluble computational problems are those whose general solution is restricted by an intrinsic and unavoidable computational difficulty. Some standard problems of linear algebra are analyzed to determine their type.