cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stable transformation of Sorghum bicolor protoplasts with chimeric neomycin phosphotransferase II and β-glucuronidase genes.

Parameters influencing the stable transformation of Sorghum bicolor protoplasts with a chimeric neomycin phosphotransferase II (NPT II) gene by electroporation were investigated. The mean number of kanamycin-resistant calli produced increased in direct proportion to the concentration of DNA used for transformation. Linearization of the plasmid doubled the mean number of kanamycin-resistant calli produced, while the addition of carrier DNA had no effect. The copy number (1–4) of integrated genes was low compared with that frequently reported for PEG-mediated transformation. Two strategies for transforming protoplasts with a nonselectable, β-glucuronidase (GUS) gene were compared. One utilized a plasmid containing a CaMV 35S-NPT II gene covalently linked to a CaMV 35S-GUS gene, and the other strategy utilized the two genes on separate plasmids. DNA from all 77 kanamycin-resistant calli analyzed contained restriction fragments hybridizing to the NPT II probe; approximately 70% of the clones from all transformation treatments contained a 1.7-kb EcoRI/HindIII restriction fragment corresponding to the full-length gene. Of the kanamycin-resistant calli, 38–63% (depending on the transformation treatment) contained GUS-hybridizing fragments, and 8–19% contained the full-length gene. The addition of NPT II and GUS genes on a single plasmid or on separate plasmids did not appear to lead to an appreciable difference in the frequency of cointegration of these genes, although an increased proportion of the plasmid bearing the nonselectable (GUS) gene appeared to favor its cointegration.
Disturbance interactions: characterization, prediction, and the potential for cascading effects

Disturbances are fundamental components of ecosystems and, in many cases, a dominant driver of ecosystem structure and function at multiple spatial and temporal scales. While the effect of any one disturbance may be relatively well understood, multiple interacting disturbances can cause unexpected disturbance behavior (e.g., larger extents), altered return likelihoods, or reduced ecosystem resilience and regime shifts. Given the long-lasting implications of such events, and the potential for changes in disturbance rates driven by climate change and increasing anthropogenic pressures, developing a broad conceptual understanding and some predictive ability regarding the likelihood of interactions between disturbances is crucial. Through a broad synthesis of the literature, and across multiple biomes, disturbance interactions are placed into a unified framework around the concept of changing ecosystem resistance (“linked interactions,” alterations to likelihood, extent, or severity) or ecosystem resilience (...
Differential Developmental Pathways of High School Dropouts and Graduates.

The authors examined the developmental pathways between high school graduates and dropouts. The authors obtained official school data via a random sample of 119 students enrolled across 4 cohorts. The authors postulated 2 research questions: (a) Do differences exist in the developmental pathways of high school graduates in comparison with high school dropouts? (b) If differences do exist in the developmental pathways of high school graduates in comparison with high school dropouts, when and across which variables do these differences occur? Multiple t tests demonstrated differences between high school graduates and dropouts as early as kindergarten. Further, the developmental progression of graduates and dropouts diverged over time, regardless of which subject data was studied.
Coordinated Control of Multisatellite Systems

The problem of formation and recon guration of multiple microsatellite systems is addressed. A control scheme called the perceptive frame is adopted that integrates the decentralized feedback of each satellite with online sensor information to achieve the goal of formation keeping and intersatellite coordination. The proposed design algorithm has the advantage of relative position keeping and easy formation recon guration.
Z‐cyclic triplewhist tournaments when the number of players involves primes of the form 8u + 5

When the number of players, v, in a whist tournament, Wh(v), is ≡ 1 (mod 4) the only instances of a Z-cyclic triplewhist tournament, TWh(v), that appear in the literature are for v = 21,29,37. In this study we present Z-cyclic TWh(v) for all v ∈ T = {v = 8u + 5: v is prime, 3 ≤ u ≤ 249}. Additionally, we establish (1) for all v ∈ T there exists a Z-cyclic TWh(vn) for all n ≥ 1, and (2) if vi ∈ T, i = 1,…,n, there exists a Z-cyclic TWh(v… v) for all ϵi ≥ 1. It is believed that these are the first instances of infinite classes of Z-cyclic TWh(v), v ≡ 1 (mod 4). © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Distinct immunoreactivity to 110 kDa laminin-binding protein in adult and lesioned rat forebrain.

Abstract A phosphorylated, ∼ 110 kDa laminin-binding protein (110 kDa LBP) from mouse brain has been previously identified. This protein recognizes a neurite-outgrowth promoting 19-amino acid synthetic peptide (PA22-2) derived from the laminin A chain. In the present study, an antibody against the 110 kDa LBP was used to localize immunoreactivity in the normal adult rat brain and also following a stab wound and ischemic lesion. Immunoreactive cells were found in layers II/III and V of the cerebral cortex and within apical dendrites of pyramidal neurons. Specific immunoreactivity was also found in the stratum lucidum in the CA3 region of the hippocampus which exhibited densely stained mossy fibers and terminals. Mechanical and ischemic lesions induced intense immunolabeling of reactive glial cells around the lesion site. The distinct and anatomically restricted localization of the immunostain in adult and lesioned rat brain suggests that 110 kDa LBP-like molecules might have an important function in forebrain structures and may be involved in the response to CNS injury.
Enclosed Bark as a Pollen Trap

Counts were made of pollen in traps formed by enclosed bark in two remnants of bristlecone pine, Pinus aristata Engelm., from the White Mountains of east-central California. The traps, dated by tree-rings at A.D. 350 and 1300 B.C., contained a major complex of pine-sagebrush pollen and traces of other species, representing the equivalent of the present vegetation.
Mössbauer Effect in Metallic Iron

The M\"ossbauer effect in metallic iron has been studied from 4 to 1300\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K, with particular emphasis on the region near the Curie temperature at 1043\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K.Measurements of the internal field ${H}_{n}$ at the nucleus agree with nuclear magnetic resonance measurements and follow closely, but not exactly, the saturation magnetization curve of iron. No internal field is observed above the Curie temperature. At room temperature ${H}_{n}=330\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}3$ kOe. The ratio of magnetic moments of the two lowest levels of ${\mathrm{Fe}}^{57}$ is $\frac{{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{1}}{{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{0}}=\ensuremath{-}1.715\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.004$.The observed temperature shift in the energy of the resonant radiation may be attributed chiefly to relativistic time dilation. In the low-temperature region the variation is nonlinear and compatible with a Debye temperature $\ensuremath{\theta}=400\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}30\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ K, although the data indicate that $\ensuremath{\theta}$ is not strictly independent of temperature. At high temperatures, the classical limit $\frac{(\frac{1}{E})\ensuremath{\partial}E}{\ensuremath{\partial}T}=\ensuremath{-}\frac{3k}{2M{c}^{2}}$ for the relativistic shift is attained and perhaps exceeded. Disagreement with the classical limit would indicate a temperature variation in the isomer shift. At the Curie point and at the transition from $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ to $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ iron, the discontinuities observed in the temperature shift are too great to be attributed to the relativistic shift. If attributed to the isomer shift, these discontinuities indicate that the electron density at the nucleus increases at the transitions from the ferromagnetic to the paramagnetic state and from $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ to $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ iron.The strength of the resonant absorption was also determined as a function of temperature. These measurements are compatible with a Debye temperature that falls from about 400 to 300\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K in passing from low to high temperatures over the range studied.
Stability of morphine in aqueous solution IV: Isolation of morphine and sodium bisulfite interaction product

The interaction product of morphine and sodium bisulfite was isolated and characterized as 8-sulfonic acid-dihydromorphinone based on UV and IR spectra and elemental analysis.
Characteristic Elements of Unimodular -lattices

Characteristic elements have been useful in the classification of unimodular lattices over the integers. This article gives an explicit formula for characteristic elements of a lattice in terms of a basis for the lattice and the dual of that basis.
Backwall superstrate configuration for ultrathin Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells

A backwall superstrate device structure that outperforms conventional substrate Cu(In,Ga)Se2 devices for thin absorbers is demonstrated. The backwall structure (glass/In2O3-SnO2/MoO3-x/Cu(In,Ga)Se2/CdS/i-ZnO/Ag) utilizes a MoO3−x transparent back contact to allow illumination of the device from the back. In combination with a silver front reflector this cell structure is tailored to enhance performance of devices with submicron thick absorbers. It was found that devices with the backwall configuration outperform substrate devices in the absorber thickness range dCIGS = 0.1-0.5 μm. The advantage of the backwall configuration is mainly through superior JSC, achieved by application of a front reflector and elimination of parasitic absorption in CdS.
Presence of indicator plant species as a predictor of wetland vegetation integrity: a statistical approach

We fit regression and classification tree models to vegetation data collected from Ohio (USA) wetlands to determine (1) which species best predict Ohio vegetation index of biotic integrity (OVIBI) score and (2) which species best predict high-quality wetlands (OVIBI score >75). The simplest regression tree model predicted OVIBI score based on the occurrence of three plant species: skunk-cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus), cinnamon fern (Osmunda cinnamomea), and swamp rose (Rosa palustris). The lowest OVIBI scores were best predicted by the absence of the selected plant species rather than by the presence of other species. The simplest classification tree model predicted high-quality wetlands based on the occurrence of two plant species: skunk-cabbage and marsh-fern (Thelypteris palustris). The overall misclassification rate from this tree was 13 %. Again, low-quality wetlands were better predicted than high-quality wetlands by the absence of selected species rather than the presence of other species using the classification tree model. Our results suggest that a species’ wetland status classification and coefficient of conservatism are of little use in predicting wetland quality. A simple, statistically derived species checklist such as the one created in this study could be used by field biologists to quickly and efficiently identify wetland sites likely to be regulated as high-quality, and requiring more intensive field assessments. Alternatively, it can be used for advanced determinations of low-quality wetlands. Agencies can save considerable money by screening wetlands for the presence/absence of such “indicator” species before issuing permits.
Payment contracts in a preventive health care system: A perspective from Operations Management

We consider a health care system consisting of two noncooperative parties: a health purchaser (payer) and a health provider, where the interaction between the two parties is governed by a payment contract. We determine the contracts that coordinate the health purchaser-health provider relationship; i.e. the contracts that maximize the population's welfare while allowing each entity to optimize its own objective function. We show that under certain conditions (1) when the number of customers for a preventive medical intervention is verifiable, there exists a gate-keeping contract and a set of concave piecewise linear contracts that coordinate the system, and (2) when the number of customers is not verifiable, there exists a contract of bounded linear form and a set of incentive-feasible concave piecewise linear contracts that coordinate the system.
Visualization of the heterogeneity of column beds

Columns were packed with alternating layers of virgin Zorbax C18 and blue colored Zorbax, treated with the dye Cibacron Blue. After consolidation of the column packing, the beds were extruded off the column, examined and photographed as they were, then cut along an axial plane, and these sections were examined and photographed. Evidence of radial heterogeneity of the distribution of the layers of the two packing materials in the bed after consolidation was observed. Friction of the bed along the column wall during consolidation was demonstrated.
Bifurcating axons of retinal ganglion cells terminate in the hypothalamic suppachiasmatic nucleus and the intergeniculate leaflet of the thalamus

Abstract At least some retinal axons afferent to the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN; a circadian oscillator) bifurcate in the optic chiasm (O.E. Millhouse, Brain Res., 137 (1977) 351–355). The termination site(s) of the axonal branch that continues in the optic tract is unknown. Injection of the fluorescent tracer, True Blue, into the SCN and the fluorescent dye, Nuclear Yellow, into the lateral geniculate complex resulted in the labeling of individual retinal ganglion cells with both tracers. However, only Nuclear Yellow injections which included the intergeniculate leaflet (IGL) resulted in double-labeled ganglion cells in the retinate. These results indicate that individual retinal ganglion cells innervate both the hypothalamic SCN and the IGL of the thalamus by means of divergent axonal collaterals. Moreover, neurons of the IGL are afferent to the SCN, thereby forming a complex circuit within which photic information from the same retinal ganglion cell may influence the SCN both directly and after thalamic processing.
Impunity for war crimes, or mistaken identity?

E xtradition law and practice have been the subject of many recent publications. This book focuses on the case of a retired auto worker from Cleveland, Ohio, John Demjanjuk, who was born in 1920 in the Ukraine and emigrated to the United States in 1952, becoming a U.S. citizen in 1958. Demjanjuk was extradited to Israel in 1986 for trial on murder charges as the infamous Ivan the Terrible of Treblinka concentration camp. 1 The Demjanjuk Affair describes relevant procedural and legal issues relating to his denaturalization, extradition, trial before the Jerusalem District Cour t the first televised trial in Israel's history-convict ion, death sentence, appeal to the Israeli Supreme Court,
Impacts of Multiple Backups and Multi-Link Sharing among Primary and Backups for Dynamic Service Provisioning in Survivable Mesh Networks

We propose a reliability analysis for connections with 1 + N protection and primary-backup k-link sharing. We develop a cost-effective dynamic provisioning scheme to carry connections which have stringent SLA requirements with availability guarantee and resource efficiency.
Simple criterion for testing non-minimum-phase systems

Simple sufficient conditions for non-minimum-phase systems are derived using the fundamental theorem of algebra. It is shown that the unstable poles or zeros of a control system can be tested directly from the coefficients of the characteristic polynomials without any calculation. This criterion is useful for the computer-aided design of control systems.
Individualization for Education at Scale: MIIC Design and Preliminary Evaluation

We present the design, implementation, and preliminary evaluation of our Adaptive Educational System (AES): the Mobile Integrated and Individualized Course (MIIC). MIIC is a platform for personalized course delivery which integrates lecture videos, text, assessments, and social learning into a mobile native app, and collects clickstream-level behavioral measurements about each student as they interact with the material. These measurements can subsequently be used to update the student’s user model, which can in turn be used to determine the content adaptation. Recruiting students from one of our Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), we have conducted two preliminary trials with MIIC, in which we found (i) that the majority of students (70 percent) preferred MIIC overall to a one-size-fits-all (OSFA) presentation of the same material, (ii) that the mean level of engagement, when quantified as the number of pages viewed, was statistically higher (by 72 percent) among students using MIIC than among OSFA, and (iii) that the integrated multimedia learning features were generally favorable among the students (e.g., 87 percent found the videos helpful).
Productivity and nutrient relationships in psammophytic versus epilithic forms of Bryopsidales (Chlorophyta): comparisons based on a short-term physiological assay

Members of the green algal order Bryopsidales (= Caulerpales) are important calcifying agents of tropical reefs and comprise two fundamentally different life-form groups: (1) epilithic species with limited attachment structures and (2) psammophytic forms that have extensive subterranean rhizoidal systems. Because the shallow-water habitats of the former have relatively low nitrogen (N) to phosphorus (Pi) ratios compared to the pore waters of the sedimentary carbonate-rich substrata in which the latter are anchored, we hypothesized that epilithic forms should tend to be relatively more limited by N, while psammophytic species should tend to show Pi limitation. In partial support of the hypothesis, light-saturated net photosynthesis (Pmax) in the epilithic forms, Halimeda opuntia, H. lacrimosa and H. copiosa, tended to be enhanced by N, while Pi was inhibitory or had no effect. In contrast, the psammophytic forms, Udotea sp., U. conglutinata, H. monile, H. tuna and H. simulans, tended to be stimulated more by Pi, whereas N had little effect. The utility of a bioassay to assess macroalgal nutrient limitation, based on a physiological response (net Pmax) to short-term nutrient pulses, is demonstrated.
The Effects of Thermal Radiation on Selected Optical Components

The materials studied were (1) Schott glass absorptive filters, (2) General Electric's (GE) polycarbonate thermoplastic Lexan, (3) single and polycrystalline Ge, and (4) Eastman Kodak Irtran 1, sintered MgF2. The response to thermal radiation of the optical materials investigated ranged from no discernible damage for Irtran 1 to catastrophic breakage at fairly short irradiance times (tmax of 0.2 to 0.45 s) in the lower intensity (40-cal/cm2s) focus for the Schott glass absorptive filters. The observed damage levels and their variation with sample size was satisfactorily explained by our thermal stress model. The lack of damage in Irtran 1 was also explained by the same model. It was probably differential thermal expansion between the anti-reflection layers and the polycrystalline Ge substrate that caused the plastic flow that occurred on this sample at irradiation time of tmax = 1.00 s in the 300-cal/cm2s focus. The optical transmission was not affected, but the surface polish was destroyed. An uncoated sample of single crystal germanium irradiated under similiar conditions showed evidence of surface melting, but no plastic flow. Lexan showed a continuum of damage beginning with the generation of small bubbles beneath the surface and ending with charring and complete destruction of the surface.
Estrogen increases low voltage-activated calcium current density in GH3 anterior pituitary cells

The effects of estrogen (17 beta-estradiol) on calcium current density were examined in the GH3 anterior pituitary cell line. The addition of 1 nM estrogen to the growth medium induces a 4- to 5-fold increase in low voltage-activated (LVA) Ca2+ current density without affecting high voltage-activated Ca2+ current density. The increase is significant after 24 h, reaches a maximum level in 3 days, and reverses with a similar time course when the estrogen is withdrawn. The EC50 for estrogen stimulation of LVA Ca2+ current density is about 30 pM. The LVA current induced by estrogen has similar voltage dependence and time course of activation, inactivation, and deactivation as controls. The effect of estrogen requires protein synthesis, since it is blocked by cycloheximide. It is suggested that the estrogen-induced increase in LVA Ca2+ current density may be due to an increase in the number of functional channels in the membrane. This effect could be due to insertion of new channels or synthesis of a protein that converts preexisting silent channels into functional channels.
Clinical and cost‐saving effects of psychoeducational interventions with surgical patients: A meta‐analysis

Meta-analysis of 102 studies was conducted to examine how psychoeducational interventions influence recovery, pain, psychological well-being, and satisfaction with care among hospitalized adult surgery patients. Statistically reliable and positive effects were found on each of these four classes of outcome. Further analyses showed that the effects could not be attributed to biases associated with the decision to publish, low internal validity, measurement subjectively, or a Hawthorne effect. Analyses of the subset of outcomes with most direct cost implications showed that positive, cost-relevant effects were obtained across a wide range of patients, treatment providers, hospital settings, and historic periods.
Gravity Modeling of the Brimfield Township Buried Valley and Associated Aquifer, Portage County, Ohio

A detailed gravity survey of 295 points was conducted in Brimfield Township, Ohio to map buried bedrock topography with a higher degree of resolution than was possible by well data alone. The survey included a subset of 40 stations where both gravity and bedrock depth were determined. Partial correlation analysis allowed identification of a regional gravity trend, and multiple linear regression led to quantitative estimates of depth to bedrock throughout the surveyed area in a manner different from the standard method of gravity interpretation that employs models of different shapes, sizes, and density contrasts. Glacial sediments range in thickness from 10 to 150 feet, with the thickest portions generally over the axis of the buried valley. Some variations in predicted versus measured bedrock depth may be a function of variation in density of the glacial sediments or of topographic effects of the buried bedrock surface. The results of the analysis led to an improved estimate for the bedrock elevation and thickness of valley fill. The interpretation has implications with regard to the volume of glacial sediments in the area and their potential productivity as sources of ground water in the future.
Use of vapor pressure deficit to predict humidity and temperature effects on the mortality of mold mites, Tyrophagus putrescentiae

The mold mite, Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Shrank), frequently infests a variety of stored food products in ideal, but rather limited conditions. Major factors limiting survival of this mite are the temperature and humidity imposed on T. putrescentiae as it develops within and disperses among sites. However, since relative humidity is dependent upon air temperature, determining survivability in a habitat can be difficult in the presence of structural temperature variations. Vapor pressure deficit (VPD) provides a method of combining both relative humidity and temperature into a single number that can be used to determine conditions detrimental to mite survival. This study utilized a bioassay format to measure mortality of T. putrescentiae when exposed to a range of seven temperatures (5–35°C), 10 relative humidities (0–100% RH), 17 exposure times (0.5–240 h), with and without food. With these combinations of temperature and RH, mortality curves (mortality versus time) that displayed a sigmoidal relationship were used to calculate LT50 and LT90 estimates. These mortality estimates were then regressed on their associated VPD and the resulting regressions (LT50 and LT90) were significant at P 90%) mortality within 58 (33, 101) h; and further increasing VPD decreased the time of exposure to achieve mortality. This study demonstrates that making subtle changes in humidity or temperature to reach a target VPD may provide control of mite outbreaks and reduce areas inhabitable for T. putrescentiae.
Bootstrapping XPL to an XDS sigma 5 computer

This paper describes the techniques used in bootstrapping the self-compiling compiler for the language XPL from an IBM System/360 to an XDS Sigma 5. © 1973 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effect of repetitive daily ethanol intoxication on adult rat brain: Significant changes in phospholipase A2 enzyme levels in association with increased PARP-1 indicate neuroinflammatory pathway activation

Abstract Collaborating on studies of subchronic daily intoxication in juvenile and adult rats, we examined whether the repetitive ethanol treatments at these two life stages altered levels of key neuroinflammation-associated proteins—aquaporin-4 (AQP4), certain phospholipase A2 (PLA2) enzymes, PARP-1 and caspase-3—in hippocampus (HC) and entorhinal cortex (EC). Significant changes in the proteins could implicate activation of specific neuroinflammatory signaling pathways in these rats as well as in severely binge-intoxicated adult animals that are reported to incur degeneration of vulnerable neurons in HC and EC. Male Wistar rats, ethanol-intoxicated (3 g/kg i.p.) once daily for 6 days over an 8-day interval beginning at 37 days old and repeated at age 68–75 days, were sacrificed 1 h after the day 75 dose (blood ethanol, 200– 230 mg/dl). Analysis of HC with an immunoblot technique showed that AQP4, Ca +2 -dependent PLA2 (cPLA2 IVA), phosphorylated (activated) p-cPLA2, cleaved (89 kD) PARP (c-PARP), and caspase-3 levels were significantly elevated over controls, whereas Ca +2 -independent PLA2 (iPLA2 VIA) was reduced ∼70%; however, cleaved caspase-3 was undetectable. In the EC, AQP4 was unchanged, but cPLA2 and p-cPLA2 were significantly increased while iPLA2 levels were diminished (∼40%) similar to HC, although just outside statistical significance ( p = 0.06). In addition, EC levels of PARP-1 and c-PARP were significantly increased. The ethanol-induced activation of cPLA2 in association with reduced iPLA2 mirrors PLA2 changes in reports of neurotrauma and also of dietary omega-3 fatty acid depletion. Furthermore, the robust PARP-1 elevations accompanied by negligible caspase-3 activation indicate that repetitive ethanol intoxication may be potentiating non-apoptotic neurodegenerative processes such as parthanatos. Overall, the repetitive ethanol treatments appeared to instigate previously unappreciated neuroinflammatory pathways in vivo . The data provide insights into mechanisms of binge ethanol abuse that might suggest new therapeutic approaches to counter neurodegeneration and dementia.
Precimonious: tuning assistant for floating-point precision

Given the variety of numerical errors that can occur, floating-point programs are difficult to write, test and debug. One common practice employed by developers without an advanced background in numerical analysis is using the highest available precision. While more robust, this can degrade program performance significantly. In this paper we present Precimonious, a dynamic program analysis tool to assist developers in tuning the precision of floating-point programs. Precimonious performs a search on the types of the floating-point program variables trying to lower their precision subject to accuracy constraints and performance goals. Our tool recommends a type instantiation that uses lower precision while producing an accurate enough answer without causing exceptions. We evaluate Precimonious on several widely used functions from the GNU Scientific Library, two NAS Parallel Benchmarks, and three other numerical programs. For most of the programs analyzed, Precimonious reduces precision, which results in performance improvements as high as 41%.
Control of Ticks

Integrated approaches to controlling ticks on and off hosts are discussed. Application of acaricides to the animal for the control of attached ticks and the use of long-acting acaricide-impregnated flea and tick collars to prevent reinfestation of ticks should provide adequate tick control for up to 20 weeks. Other methods of managing populations of ticks, such as vegetative modification and host management to reduce the survival time of ticks, are described. Experimental methods of controlling ticks on small animal hosts also are discussed.
Understanding the Coronary Heart Disease Versus Total Cardiovascular Mortality Paradox A Method to Enhance the Comparability of Cardiovascular Death Statistics in the United States

Background— Coronary heart disease (CHD) represents the largest share of cardiovascular disease in the United States, but there are conspicuous discrepancies between CHD and total cardiovascular death rates across the states, possibly due in part to variations in physician assignment of causes of death. Our aim was to identify exogenous individual- and community-level predictors of cause-of-death assignment and variability and to use these predictors to improve the comparability of CHD mortality estimates across states. Methods and Results— We performed a multinomial logistic regression analysis to estimate the effect of individual- and community-level factors on the likelihood of a death being certified as 1 of 3 ill-defined clusters (general atherosclerosis and unspecified heart disease, heart failure, and cardiac arrest) relative to being certified as CHD. The individual-level variables were the decedent’s race, sex, age, education, and place of death; the community-level variable was the number of car...
The effect of autoclaving a yeast culture of Saccharomyces cerevisiae on turkey poult performance and the retention of gross energy, and selected minerals☆

A study was conducted to determine the effects on nutrient retention in turkey poults fed a diet containing an untreated or autoclaved yeast culture (YC). Isonitrogenous and isocalorific diets consisting of corn-soybean meal (CS, control), CS + YC (10 g kg−1 XP yeast culture®, Saccharomyces cerevisiae) or CS + 10 g kg−1 autoclaved YC (CS + AYC; autoclaved at 121 °C and 0.8 kg cm−2 for 35 min) were fed to Wrolstad Medium White poults from Days 1 to 28. Between Days 21 and 28, the diets were marked with 3 g kg−1 chromic oxide and feed and excreta samples were collected between Days 26 and 28. The samples were analyzed for gross energy (GE), Ca, P, B, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, and Zn. The addition of the untreated and autoclaved yeast culture to the poult diets had no effect (P > 0.05) on weight gains or feed conversion measured between Days 1 and 28. There were increased (P < 0.05) retentions of dietary GE, Ca, P, B, K, Mg, and Mn observed only in poults fed the CS + YC diet when compared with the CS and CS + AYC diets. These results indicate that autoclaving impairs the ability of the YC to increase the utilization of selected nutrients in starting poults.
Equilibrium and kinetic measurements of the redox potentials of cytochromes c2 in vitro and in vivo.

Abstract The equilibrium oxidation-reduction mipoint potential ( E m ) of isolated Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides cytochrome c 2 exhibits a pH-dependent behavior which can be ascribed to a p K on the oxidized form at pH 8.0 (Pettigrew et al. (1975) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 430, 197–208). However, as with mammalian cytochrome c (Brandt, K.G., Parks, P.C., Czerlinski, G.H. and Hess, G.P. (1966) J. Biol. Chem. 241, 4180–4185) this p K can more properly be attributed to the combination of a p K beyond pH 11, and a slow conformational change of the ferricytochrome. This has been demonstrated by resolving the E m of cytochrome c 2 before and after the conformational change. The E m of the unaltered form is essentially pH independent between pH 7 and 11.5, and the lower equilibrium E m is due solely to the conformational change. In vivo the conformational change is prevented by the binding of the cytochrome c 2 to the photochemical reaction center, and the cytochrome exhibits an essentially pH-independent E m from pH 5 to 11. The alkaline transition thus has little physiological significance, and it is unlikely that the redox reactions of cytochrome c 2 in vivo involve protons.
Minimax estimators of the multinormal mean: Autoregressive priors

Abstract Empirical Bayes estimators are given for the mean of a k-dimensional normal distribution, k ≥ 3. We assume that y ∼ Nk(θ, V1), V1 = diag(vi), vi known (i = 1, 2,…, k); also, θ ∼ Nk(0, V2) − V2 defined by one or more unknown parameters. Of particular interest is V2 generated by an autoregressive process. A recent result of Efron and Morris is used to obtain necessary and sufficient conditions for the minimaxity of our estimators. Practical sufficient conditions (for minimaxity) are obtained by exploiting the structure of V2. Another result shows that our estimators have good Bayesian properties. Estimates of the exact size of Pearson's chi-square test are given in an example; the autoregressive prior is very natural in this situation.
Ionic liquid salt-induced inactivation and unfolding of cellulase from Trichoderma reesei

The potential for performing cellulase-catalyzed reactions on cellulose dissolved in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([bmim]Cl) has been investigated. We have carried out a systematic study on the irreversible solvent and ionic strength-induced inactivation and unfolding of cellulase from Trichoderma reesei (E.C. #3.2.1.4). Experiments, varying both cellulase and IL solvent concentrations, have indicated that [bmim]Cl, and several other ILs, as well as dimethylacetamide–LiCl (a well-known solvent system for cellulose), inactivate cellulase under these conditions. Despite cellulase inactivity, results obtained from this study led to valuable insights into the requirements necessary for enzyme activity in IL systems. Enzyme stability was determined during urea, NaCl, and [bmim]Cl-induced denaturation observed through fluorescence spectroscopy. Protein stability of a PEG-supported cellulase in [bmim]Cl solution was investigated and increased stability/activity of the PEG-supported cellulase in both the [bmim]Cl and citrate buffer solutions were detected.
A 53° twisted‐nematic cell for a color reflective liquid‐crystal display

— A 53° twisted-nematic cell for a color reflective liquid-crystal display was developed. It has a mirror electrode inside the panel on the TFT substrate, a twisted-nematic alignment structure, an RGB color filter, a single polarizer, and a light-control film covering the panel. Its advantages include gray-scale capability, low driving voltage, and a wide viewing angle. We discuss the Δn⋅d, the twist angle, and the front-light control film.
Computational model and microfluidic platform for the investigation of paracrine and autocrine signaling in mouse embryonic stem cells

Autocrine and paracrine signaling mechanisms are traditionally difficult to study due to the recursive nature of the process and the sub-micromolar concentrations involved. This has proven to be especially limiting in the study of embryonic stem cells that might rely on such signaling for viability, self-renewal, and proliferation. To better characterize possible effects of autocrine and paracrine signaling in the setting of expanding stem cells, we developed a computational model assuming a critical need for cell-secreted survival factors. This model suggested that the precise way in which the removal of putative survival factors could affect stem cell survival in culture. We experimentally tested the predictions in mouse embryonic stem cells by taking advantage of a novel microfluidic device allowing removal of the cell-conditioned medium at defined time intervals. Experimental results in both serum-containing and defined N2B27 media confirmed computational model predictions, suggested existence of unknown survival factors with distinct rates of diffusion, and revealed an adaptive/selective phase in mouse embryonic stem cell response to a lack of paracrine signaling. We suggest that the described computational/experimental platform can be used to identify and study specific factors and pathways involved in a wide variety of paracrine signaling systems.
Observations on the fine structure of the nuclear ring of the mammalian spermatid.

The organization and arrangement of the nuclear ring in six mammalian species were investigated by thin section and whole mount electron microscopy. The nuclear ring appeared as an inverted electron dense trough encircling the nucleus. The walls of the trough were segmented along their length, each segment having a diameter of 200–230 A and separated by an electron translucent 50–70 A space. The plasma membrane was closely applied to the outer surface of the trough and extended unilaterally to form an invagination separating the nuclear ring from the nucleus. The membrane in this region appeared as a regular series of scallops 1700 A in diameter along the circumference of the nucleus. Each scallop was associated with a number of 50–70 A fibers and an electron dense 500 A aggregate. Similar aggregates were also present in the concavity of the nuclear ring and in each case were associated with several microtubular elements of the manchette.
Data integration and analysis to facilitate evidence-based decision making in the Albemarle-Charlottesville criminal justice system

The Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail currently houses about 160% of its rated capacity[1]. This overcrowding can contribute to recidivism and jeopardize public safety. The Charlottesville criminal justice system seeks to analyze factors that affect recidivism and jail overcrowding but existing criminal justice agency data systems were not designed to support the studies needed to identify and analyze these factors. This paper describes the development of a prototype data system that will support evidenced-based decision making by integrating existing legacy systems and creating a user interface through which users can perform empirical analyses. Stakeholders throughout the criminal justice system can use the prototype as the foundation for a fully integrated system.
Detection of modifiers in natural materials by catalyzed polymerization of styrene

It was determined by dilatometry that the addition of certain natural materials, i.e., gilsonite, the asphaltene and resin fractions derived therefrom, the Wilmington crude oil, to a bulk styrene polymerization at 86.6°C. catalyzed by benzoyl peroxide modified the rate of reaction. At higher concentrations a period of inhibition was observed followed by retarded rates of polymerization. At lower concentrations an initial acceleration occurred, followed by retarded rates of polymerization. The reaction media with smaller amounts of gilsonite or with the asphaltene fraction became appreciably more viscous with time and in extreme cases changed to a gel; under the same conditions the control system or runs with larger amounts of additives underwent much lesser changes in viscosity. The effect of addition of a metal porphyrin, nickel protoporphyrin IX, was also studied since this type of compound is present in these natural materials. No modification in the polymerization rate was observed. Plots of retarded polymerization rates, observed after initial inhibition or acceleration, versus initial concentration of the several natural additives provided straight lines similar to the relationship found previously for certain synthetic additives. It is proposed that inhibition and acceleration involve natural free radicals in the additives. Gel formation is assumed to result from crosslinking of the polystyrene chains occurring only when natural free radicals and those modifier molecules responsible for retardation are largely spent.
ALLOCATION OF IMPORTANCE: AN AXIOM SYSTEM,

Abstract The proposed axiom system yields utility functions for different orderings of multidimensional objects, functions that, for each ordering, are expressed as sums of realvalued functions, called constituent functions, weighted by their corresponding importance measures. Each constituent function is a function specific to each dimension, and importance measures are positive or negative real numbers. It is shown that if the axioms hold, the constituent functions remain the same for all different orderings, while only the importance measures dictate the change of ordering. The axioms are stated in terms of a person's choice behavior under various circumstances.
The importance of clinical parameters when differentiating cholestatic hepatitis C virus from allograft rejection.

Abstract Background The exact cause and appropriate treatment for cholestasis following liver transplantation in recipients with hepatitis C virus recurrence (RHCV) are difficult to determine. Our objective was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of clinical and histological parameters in liver transplant recipients with RHCV and concurrent cholestasis. Methods A retrospective analysis from June 1996 to May 2003 was performed on adult liver transplant (OLT) recipients with hepatitis C virus. Patients with cholestasis (bilirubin >5 mg/dL, 6 months after OLT) were selected. Demographics, etiology, immune suppression, clinical and histologic outcomes, and virologic features were evaluated. Patients were divided into two groups based on clinical and histological criteria: (1) patients with parameters suggestive of cholestatic HCV; and (2) patients with parameters consistent with acute cellular rejection. Results Thirty-seven patients met study criteria (20 males). The average age was 54 years (range = 14–72), and time from transplant to jaundice was 769 days (range = 48–2981). The groups were comparable regarding HCV viral load, age, gender, time from transplant, and United Network of Organ Sharing status at time of transplant. Retransplantation was performed in two patients in group 1, neither of whom survived, and in three patients in group 2, all of whom survived. Clinical parameters correlated well with diagnosis of cholestasis (r = 0.85, P Conclusion Clinical diagnosis parameters for RHCV with cholestasis appear more accurate than histology parameters and should be the primary consideration in directing therapy. Despite timely diagnosis, cholestatic RHCV LTx recipients have a poor prognosis.
Stochastic modelling of pavement roughness

Pavement roughness is usually characterized by a one figure statistic of pavement profile data. This approach discards a rich body of useful pavement information in the pavement profile data. In this study, informative parametric models for pavement roughness are developed where pavement roughness is treated as a stochastic signal. Based on this stochastic modeling of roughness, a new stochastic roughness index (SRI) is proposed. Case studies conducted on 18 FACE Dipstick profile data and 25 profile data collected using an Ames Profilograph shows that the new SRI, irrespective to the profiling devices, has a good correlation with the International Roughness Index.
Development of codominant markers for identifying species hybrids

Herein we describe a simple method fordeveloping species-diagnostic markers thatwould permit the rapid identification of hybridindividuals. Our method relies on amplifiedlength polymorphism (AFLP) and single strandconformation polymorphism (SSCP) technologies,both of which can be performed in any molecularbiology facility using standard laboratoryequipment. We demonstrate the utility of theAFLP-SSCP method by developing threetaxon-specific markers that will be suitablefor monitoring introgression in endangeredKlamath basin suckers.
The Relationship between Hemispheric Laterality and Perception of Musical and Verbal Stimuli in Normal and Learning Disabled Subjects

The purpose of this study was to examine hemispheric laterality in relation to the perception of musical and verbal stimuli in normal and learning disabled (LD) subjects. Dichotic listening tests included a Verbal Test, utilising con- sonant-vowel syllables, a Tonal Test, and a Rhythm Test. Each musical test was divided into three subtests, with tonal and rhythm patterns categorised according to difficulty level. The tests were administered to 38 normal and 38 LD subjects, between grades one and four. Data were analysed by means of multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) procedures. Major findings included: (1) significant differences among subject groups in the magnitude but not the direction of laterality; (2) significantly greater absolute cal- advantage (AEA) values for the LD subjects than for the normal subjects on the Verbal Test, composite Tonal Test, and Difficult Rhythm subtest; and (3) significantly greater AEA values for younger than for older subjects on the easy and moderately difficult T...
Accessibility of health clubs for people with mobility disabilities and visual impairments.

Objective. We sought to examine the accessibility of health clubs to persons with mobility disabilities and visual impairments. Methods. We assessed 35 health clubs and fitness facilities as part of a national field trial of a new instrument, Accessibility Instruments Measuring Fitness and Recreation Environments (AIMFREE), designed to assess accessibility of fitness facilities in the following domains: (1) built environment, (2) equipment, (3) swimming pools, (4) information, (5) facility policies, and (6) professional behavior. Results. All facilities had a low to moderate level of accessibility. Some of the deficiencies concerned specific Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines pertaining to the built environment, whereas other deficiency areas were related to aspects of the facilities’ equipment, information, policies, and professional staff. Conclusions. Persons with mobility disabilities and visual impairments have difficulty accessing various areas of fitness facilities and health clubs. AIMFREE...
Investigation of error control properties of orthogonal codes

In this paper we investigate the distance properties of orthogonal codes and evaluate its error control properties. We examine this by noting that an n-bit orthogonal code has n/2 1's and n/2 0's; i.e., there are n/2 positions where 1's and 0's differ. Therefore, the distance between two orthogonal codes is also n/2. By exploiting this distance property, we show that a code rate r=k/n, where n is the code length and k is the data length, is available out of orthogonal codes with error control capabilities. We then develop a method of coded modulation with bandwidth efficiency. The proposed technique offers a simpler solution to error control coding with bandwidth efficiency. Finally, the construction of an orthogonal coded modulation scheme is presented to illustrate the concept.
Technology for group dialogue and social choice

Usually the best way to discuss and resolve the choices that arise within groups of people is face-to-face and personally. For this reason, city planners and educators alike are calling for new kinds of communities for working, living, and learning, based more on familial relationships between people than on contractual relationships. When people get to know one another, conflicts have a way of being accommodated.
Applying Information-Gap Decision Theory to a Design Problem having Severe Uncertainty

This paper was presented at the Reliability and Robust Design in Automotive Engineering Forum of the SAE 2006 World Congress. Reprinted with permission from SAE paper 2006-01-0273 © 2006 SAE International.