cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
We Have the Best Gods! The Encounter Between Hinduism and Christianity in La Réunion

Christian religion, imposed on South Indian immigrants from advent in La Reunion (Indian Ocean) by the French administration, did not succeed in eradicating belief in the Hindu gods: rather, Christianity became for the Tamils a matter of mere public display, acted out to satisfy the island's "others" and to demonstrate integration into the mainstream society. Meanwhile, Tamils in La Reunion today face an important dilemma emerging from within: to reform or not to reform their Hindu folk rites, as a brahmanic Hinduism is recently imported from India and propagated among Tamils of the younger generation.
Congenital Heart Defects in Conjoined Twins: Outcome After Surgical Separation of Thoracopagus

In this study, we correlated cardiac malformations in the various types of conjoined twins with the proposed site of embryologic union and evaluated the possibility of survival after surgical separation. We conclude that surgical separation is only very rarely successful in twins with united hearts, whereas survival in twins with separate hearts is more dependent on the malformations of other viscera. This report deals primarily with conjoined twins in whom anomalies of the heart are the major factor in deciding whether surgical separation is feasible.
The reaction of 4-(p-nitrobenzyl)pyridine with some electrophiles

The nucleophile 4-(p-nitrobenzyl)pyridine was allowed to react with four carcinogenic alkylating agents, chloromethyl methyl ether, bis(chloromethyl) ether, glycol sulfate and propane sultone, one carcinogenic acylating agent, N,N-dimethylcarbamyl chloride, and one noncarcinogenic electrophile, perchlorocyclobutenone. The structures of the major products formed, which are substituted pyridinium salts or 1,4-dihydropyridines, were determined.
Hierarchical organization in complex networks

Many real networks in nature and society share two generic properties: they are scale-free and they display a high degree of clustering. We show that these two features are the consequence of a hierarchical organization, implying that small groups of nodes organize in a hierarchical manner into increasingly large groups, while maintaining a scale-free topology. In hierarchical networks, the degree of clustering characterizing the different groups follows a strict scaling law, which can be used to identify the presence of a hierarchical organization in real networks. We find that several real networks, such as the Worldwideweb, actor network, the Internet at the domain level, and the semantic web obey this scaling law, indicating that hierarchy is a fundamental characteristic of many complex systems.
Equity in exchange economies

Abstract Let ψ be a “fair” choice correspondence, i.e., ψ associates to every economy in some initial position a set of final allocations at which the gains from trade have been fairly distributed. We propose to declare equitable any final allocation which is invariant under arbitrary permutations among the agents of the components of the initial allocation, followed by the operation of ψ. We also formulate a series of other criteria patterned on this model, and we investigate the existence of allocations satisfying these criteria for several natural choices of ψ.
The pathophysiology of patellofemoral pain: a tissue homeostasis perspective.

Fundamental to rational, safe, and effective treatment for any orthopaedic condition is an accurate understanding of the etiology of the symptoms. The decades-old paradigm of a pure structural and biomechanical explanation for the genesis of patellofemoral pain is giving way to one in which biologic
Linac Coherent Light Source Experiments Commence

The Linac Coherent Light Source [1] (LCLS) at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory is preparing for the arrival of its first scientific users in the fall of 2009. LCLS is the world's first free-electron in the spectral range 800−8,000 eV, producing intense, sub-picosecond pulses of Xrays with very high spatial coherence. The accelerator facility has been commissioned in stages, beginning in April 2007 [2] with the injector linac and culminating in December 2008 [3] with the first transport of electrons through the complete beam path. On April 10, 2009, the LCLS Project team was rewarded for years of planning, design, construction, and checkout with a dream-come-true: as undulators were placed on the beam path one-by-one, the laser simply turned on without drama in the course of one hour [4]. First visible evidence of light amplification at 8,000 eV was observed on a fluorescent screen with ten undulators in place, at which point a highly collimated spot of X-rays could be discerned in the center of the sp...
Chemoarchitecture of the rat lateral septal nucleus.

The distribution of neurons and terminal fields that contain a variety of neurotransmitters and steroid hormone receptors has been examined with in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry in closely spaced series of sections throughout the rostrocaudal extent of the rat lateral septal nucleus, as well as the adjacent septohippocampal and septofimbrial nuclei. The results indicate that the lateral septal nucleus is divided into major rostral, caudal, and ventral parts that differ from the widely used cytoarchitectonic parcellation into dorsal, intermediate, and ventral parts. Furthermore, the rostral, caudal, and ventral parts are in turn divided into about 20 zones, regions, and domains on the basis of differential terminal fields and neurons that express particular neuropeptides and steroid hormone receptors. In general, the small zones and regions form dorsoventrally oriented sheets or bands that are arranged in a complex way. Differential connections of these lateral septal components are analyzed in the accompanying paper (Risold, P.Y. and Swanson, L.W., Connections of the rat lateral septal complex, Brain Res. Rev., 24 (1997) 115–195).
Possible Existence of an I = 0 , D -Wave π π Resonance in the Vicinity of the ρ Meson

A second peak in the vicinity of the ${\ensuremath{\rho}}^{0}$ peak has been seen in several recent experiments involving ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}+p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}+{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}+n$ and ${K}^{\ensuremath{-}}+p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}+{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}+\ensuremath{\Lambda}$. We suggest that this peak may be due to an $I=0$, $D$-wave $\ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{\pi}$ resonance. On the basis of the experimental mass and angular distribution of the $2\ensuremath{\pi}$ system, the resonance is predicted to be at an energy of about 780 MeV with a width of 5 MeV. A strong $S$ wave at lower energies is also needed. Our $D$ resonance is the most logical candidate for the ${2}^{+}$ SU(3) singlet which is, as pointed out recently by Desai and Freund, needed to explain the high-energy behavior of the meson-baryon and baryon-baryon total cross sections. It is suggested that, it is this particle, not $f$, which should lie on the Pomeranchuk trajectory. It is argued that the strong attraction which the Pomeranchuk particle is known to receive and a strong centrifugal barrier typical of an $l=2$ state may well conspire to produce a narrow resonance at a low mass of the kind proposed here. A narrow-resolution ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}+p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}+{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}+n$ and ${K}^{\ensuremath{-}}+p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}+{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}+\ensuremath{\Lambda}$ are perhaps the best experiments to isolate the $D$ wave and to determine whether it is this resonance or some other mechanism, such as $\ensuremath{\omega}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}2\ensuremath{\pi}$, which is responsible for the second peak.
Mechanism of nitroglycerin-induced coronary dilatation: Lack of relation to intracoronary thromboxane concentrations

Intracoronary nitroglycerin (NTG) increases coronary blood flow and NTG inhibits thromboxane (Tx) A 2 production and release. However, whether an alteration in TxA 2 is the mechanism by which NTG increases coronary blood flow is not known. Coronary sinus (CS) blood flow (BF) (by thermodilution) and the concentration of TxB 2 (the stable metabolite of TxA 2 ) in CS blood were measured in 23 patients (16 men and 7 women, aged 26 to 65 years) with coronary artery disease before, during and after injection of normal saline solution (n = 5, control subjects) or NTG, 100 μg (n = 18), into the left coronary artery. In the 5 control subjects, saline solution caused no change in CSBF or the concentration of TxB 2 in CS blood. Ten of the 18 patients to whom NTG was given had received no cyclooxygenase inhibitors for 10 days. In these patients, NTG caused a marked increase in CSBF (from 112 ± 64 to 152 ± 70 ml/min, p 2 in CS blood (141 ± 132 to 160 ± 155 pg/ml, difference not significant [NS]). The remaining 8 patients to whom NTG was given received aspirin before the study. In these patients, NTG caused a marked increase in CSBF (from 111 ± 39 to 180 ± 63 ml/min, p 2 in CS blood (8 ± 10 to 6 ± 6 pg/ml, NS) was lower (p 2 in CS blood, and its influence on CSBF is not affected by inhibition of TxA 2 production and release. Therefore, the coronary vasodilatory action of NTG is not mediated by alterations in intracoronary TxA 2 .
Methylene blue chromoendoscopy for detection of short-segment Barrett's esophagus

Abstract Background: The yield of intestinal metaplasia (IM) with randomly obtained biopsy specimens in patients with short lengths of columnar-appearing mucosa in the distal esophagus is low (30%-50%). Vital staining would be beneficial if it identified more patients with short-segment Barrett's esophagus (SSBE). Our aim was to compare the confirmation of IM in patients with suspected SSBE (columnar-appearing mucosa Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing EGD in whom columnar-appearing mucosa less than 3 cm in length was visualized underwent MB staining. Stained areas within suspected SSBE segments were targeted for biopsies. All biopsy specimens were stained with H & E with alcian blue at pH 2.5 and evaluated by a single pathologist. A historical control group (different from patients undergoing MB staining) consisted of patients with less than 3 cm of columnar-appearing mucosa in whom biopsy specimens were obtained randomly without MB staining. Results: The MB group included 75 patients (mean age 63.8 ± 10.9 years) with a mean length of columnar-appearing mucosa of 1.2 cm (range 0.5-2.5 cm). The control group included 83 patients (mean age 60.5 ± 12.9 years) with a mean length of columnar-appearing mucosa of 1.16 cm (range 0.5-2.5 cm). IM (i.e., confirmed SSBE) was detected in 61% of the MB group versus 42% of the control group ( p = 0.0237). Patients in the MB group required significantly fewer biopsies (4.3 ± 1.5 vs. 5.1 ± 12.3, p = 0.0162). Confirmation of IM by length was as follows: less than 1 cm (irregular Z line), MB 17.4% versus control 25% ( p = 0.73); 1 to less than 2 cm, MB 77% versus control 45% ( p = 0.03); 2 to less than 3 cm, MB 90% versus control 58% ( p = 0.02). Conclusions: MB chromoendoscopy significantly increases the detection of IM and requires fewer biopsies in patients with suspected SSBE with greater than 1 cm of columnar-appearing mucosa. It does not appear to be beneficial in patients with irregular Z lines (
Comprehensive numerical model for cw vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

The authors present a comprehensive numerical model for vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers that includes all major processes effecting cw operation of axisymmetric devices. In particular, the model includes a description of the 2D transport of electrons and holes through the cladding layers to the quantum well(s), diffusion and recombination processes of these carriers within the wells, the 2D transport of heat throughout the device, and a multi-lateral-mode effective index optical model. The optical gain acquired by photons traversing the quantum wells is computed including the effects of strained band structure and quantum confinement. They employ the model to predict the behavior of higher-order lateral modes in proton-implanted devices, and to provide an understanding of index-guiding in devices fabricated using selective oxidation.
Trapping and escape of dislocations in micro-crystals with external and internal barriers

Abstract We perform three-dimensional dislocation dynamics simulations of solid and annular pillars, having both free-surface boundary conditions, or strong barriers at the outer and/or inner surfaces. Both pillar geometries are observed to exhibit a size effect where smaller pillars are stronger. The scaling observed is consistent with the weakest-link activation mechanism and depends on the solid pillar diameter, or the annular pillar effective diameter, Deff = D − Di, where D and Di are the external and internal diameters of the pillar, respectively. An external strong barrier is observed to dramatically increase the dislocation density by an order of magnitude due to trapping dislocations at the surface. In addition, a considerable increase in the flow strength, by up to 60%, is observed compared to simulations having free-surface boundary conditions. As the applied load increases, weak spots form on the surface of the pillar by dislocations breaking through the surface when the RSS is greater than the barrier strength. The hardening rate is also observed to increase with increasing barrier strength. With cross-slip, we observe dislocations moving to other glide planes, and sometimes double-cross-slipping, producing a thickening of the slip traces at the surface. Finally the results are in qualitative agreement with recent compression experimental results of coated and centrally-filled micropillars.
Controlling experiments with a general-purpose time-sharing system

For many experiments in the behavioral and biomedical sciences, there is no substitute for an experimental-control computer with true real-time capabilities. However, if an experimenter can tolerate timing errors of several seconds, then he can reap the benefits of computer control by buying time on a general-purpose time-sharing system. There can be little doubt that a self-contained computer-controlled laboratory will be more economical if a fair number of experiments are contemplated. But when only a few experiments are planned, the researcher may find that he can run them with a general-purpose time-sharing system at only a fraction of the cost of establishing a
Multiple Forensic Interviews During Investigations of Child Sexual Abuse: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

In cases of suspected child sexual abuse (CSA) some professionals routinely recommend multiple interviews by the same interviewer because any additional details provided might improve decision-making and increase perpetrator convictions. We analyzed alternative policies about child interviewing to estimate the probability that a policy of all children receiving multiple interviews will increase criminal convictions and better protect children. Using decision analysis, we prepared a decision tree reflecting the structure through which a case of possible CSA passes through the health care, welfare, and legal systems with an estimated probability of conviction of the offender. We reviewed the CSA disclosure, criminal justice, and child welfare literature to obtain estimates for the median and range of rates for the steps of disclosure, substantiation, criminal charges, and conviction. Using the R statistical package, our decision analysis model was populated using literature-based estimates. Once the model was populated, we simulated the experiences of 1,000 cases at 250 sets of plausible parameter values representing different hypothetical communities. Multiple interviews increase the likelihood that an offender will be convicted by 6.1% in the average community. Simulations indicate that a policy in which all children seen for a CSA medical evaluation receive multiple interviews would cost an additional $100,000 for each additional conviction. We estimate that approximately 17 additional children would need to be interviewed on more than one occasion to yield one additional conviction. A policy of multiple interviews has implications for the children, for the costs of care, for protecting other children, and for the risk of false prosecution.
Selective labelling of the hydrophobic segments of intrinsic membrane proteins with a lipophilic photogenerated carbene

Selective labelling of the hydrophobic segments of intrinsic membrane proteins with a lipophilic photogenerated carbene
THE CONVERSION OF SODIUM CHLORIDE TO HYDROGEN CHLORIDE IN THE ATMOSPHE

Abstract A reaction route is suggested, based on experimental results, for the conversion of sodium chloride particles to gaseous hydrogen chloride in the atmosphere. The first step is the hydrolysis of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) to form nitric acid (HNO3) vapor. The second step is either adsorption on the relatively dry sodium chloride particles at relative humidities less than about 75 per cent or, at high relative humidities, solution in aqueous droplets containing sodium chloride. The third step is interaction of the nitric acid and sodium chloride and the fourth is desorption of the hydrogen chloride, either immediately following the reaction or during subsequent evaporation of the droplets. The results also indicate that the reaction between nitrogen dioxide and sodium chloride to form nitrosyl chloride (NOCl) and sodium nitrate (NaNO3), often suggested as a possible primary step in the formation of chlorine or hydrogen chloride in the atmosphere, occurs at a negligible rate compared with the reaction d...
Compulsiveness and Impulsiveness: Unidimensional or Bidimensional Constructs?

The correlation of scores on the Obsessive-Compulsive Scale and the Barrett Impulsiveness Scale for 148 men and 255 women (18-84 years) was -.07, and both scores decreased across age groups, but age accounted for only 3% and 1.8% of the variance.
Neurophysiologic basis for cochlear and auditory brainstem implants.

The physiologic basis for cochlear and brainstem implants is discussed. It is concluded that the success of cochlear implants may be explained by assuming that the auditory system can adequately di...
Do Actions Speak Louder Than Words? Adolescent Interpretations of Parental Substance Use

Parents are powerful socialization agents for children and as children reach adolescence parental role models, among other sources of influence, become particularly salient in adolescents’ decision-making regarding initiation of substance use. Open parent-adolescent communication about substances is associated with less substance use by adolescents; however, it is unclear how youth interpret antidrug use messages from their parents, especially if the parents engage in legal and/or illicit substance use themselves. Framed by social learning theory and social constructionism, this study analyzed in-depth interviews with 108 adolescents about personal experiences with substance use, family communication about substance use, and adolescent interpretations of parental use. Emergent themes in the data include: positive parental influence, parental contradictions, and negative outcomes of use. Prevalence of parental use—regardless of legality, rarity of explicit communication about parental use, and various inte...
A divisia version of the country-product-dummy method

Abstract A Divisia version of the country-product-dummy method of Kravis et al. is obtained and extended to include income as an explanatory variable. Income elasticities of relative prices for eight goods across 15 countries are obtained and compared with the income elasticities of the demand for these goods.
How basic scientists help the pharmaceutical industry market drugs.

In the 1970s, a Baltimore city senator who also owned a tavern backed legislation that helped his business. Accused of having a conflict of interest, Joseph J. Staszak, responded, “What conflict of interest? How does this conflict with my interest?” [1]. According to the Institute of Medicine, a conflict of interest is “a set of circumstances that creates a risk that professional judgment or actions regarding a primary interest will be unduly influenced by a secondary influence” [2]. More simply, conflicts of interest may be seen as circumstances in which “individuals' professional responsibilities diverge from their personal interests (or when different professional responsibilities clash)” [3]. In biomedicine, discourse on conflicts of interest (also called competing interests) has focused on relationships between industry and physicians or clinical researchers. However, basic scientists are not immune to industry influence on research and publications, and may be important to industry in the production and dissemination of marketing messages.
Nonoperative diagnosis of pyelocalyceal deformity due to venous impressions.

Abstract Two patients with filling defects on films of the upper urinary tract caused by venous impressions are reported. To date, the literature includes 22 other cases. These cases are frequently associated with hematuria, flank or abdominal pain; the filling defect might be found incidentally during the evaluation of another problem. The two most frequent causes are varices — of renal vein, renal pelvic vein, ureteral veins, and normal renal vessels. Generally, the lesions were not diagnosed without surgical intervention. The filling defects of our cases were caused by other types of lesions. Their diagnosis was made nonoperatively through the use of intravenous pyelography, renal arteriography, and retrograde phlebography. Filling defects caused by venous impressions on the upper urinary tract should be diagnosed by the use of these three studies rather than surgically.
A Novel Technique With a Magnetostrictive Transducer for In Situ Length Monitoring of a Distant Specimen

A Magnetostrictive sensor was used to generate sound waves in a specimen through thirty feet of wire. Many hardware aspects are discussed such as boundaries, materials, acoustic horn design, and sound propagation characteristics which facilitated the generation of sound energy in the specimen. Temperature effects on velocity and length were calculated and a model was developed to determine length from a time of flight measurement. The specimen was heated in an oven to various temperatures and times of flight were measured and compared to the model. Results show agreement between the measured values and the model as well as the ability for a high precision length measurement.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Electrophoretic characterization and comparison of non-dehydrogenases from ten permanent insect cell lines☆

Abstract 1. 1. A comparative study of dehydrogenases from eight cell lines from the following species was carried out using slab acrylamide gel electrophoresis: Aedes aegypti (two lines), Aedes albopictus, Anopheles gambiae, Anopheles stephensi, Culex quinquefasciatus, Trichoplusia ni and Drosophila melanogaster . 2. 2. Greater resolution of bands, more visible bands and the potential for densiphotometric quantitation make slab acrylamide electrophoresis superior to previously reported electrophoretic techniques for some of the above cell lines. 3. 3. Although some cell lines failed to exhibit activity for certain enzymes, most cell lines showed unique multiple banding patterns. 4. 4. The possible use of these isozymes as genetic markers in somatic cell hybridization, detection of cellular contamination and biochemical studies are discussed.
Constitutional mosaicism for a chromosome 9 inversion resulting in recombinant aneusomy in an offspring

We report on a case of constitutional mosaicism for a large pericentric inversion of chromosome 9 in a man whose daughter had recombinant aneusomy resulting in partial 9q duplication and partial 9p deletion. At age 6 months, the girl was evaluated because of congenital anomalies [corrected] and developmental delay. Chromosomal analysis on this infant showed a derivative chromosome 9 which was later determined to be a recombinant chromosome with trisomy of 9q34.1-->qter and monosomy of pter-->9p24. Chromosomal analysis in her father showed the presence of two cell lines; 75% of lymphocytes had a 46,XY pattern, and 25% had a 46,XY,inv(9)(p24q34.1) karyotype. The infant's physical findings represent a composite of the reported cases of both trisomy 9q34.1-->qter and monosomy pter-->9p24. The infant's father was phenotypically and cognitively normal. This case broadens the spectrum of reported cases of mosaicism for an autosomal structural rearrangement generating unbalanced gametes, and further supports the tenet that constitutional mosaicism has clinical relevance for genetic counseling.
Chemically Defined Media for the Cultivation of Naegleria: Pathogenic and High Temperature Tolerant Species

Chemically defined minimal media for the cultivation of high temperature tolerant and pathogenic Naegleria spp. have been developed. A defined minimal medium, identical for N. fowleri and N. lovaniensis, consists of eleven amino acids (arginine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline, threonine, tryptophan, and valine), six vitamins (biotin, folic acid, hemin, pyridoxal, riboflavin, and thiamine), guanosine, glucose, salts, and metals. Three of the four strains of Naegleria fowleri tested (ATCCr30100, ATCCr30863, and ATCCr30896) and two strains of N. lovaniensis (ATCCr30467 and ATCCr30569) could be cultured beyond ten subcultures on this medium. For N. fowleri ATCCr30894 diaminopimelic acid, or lysine, or glutamic acid was also required. Mean generation time was reduced and population density increased for all strains with the introduction of glutamic acid. Glucose could be eliminated from the minimal medium only if glutamic acid was present. Without glucose, mean generation time increased and population density decreased. Diaminopimelic acid could substitute for lysine for ATCCr30894, indicating that Naegleria species may synthesize their lysine via the DAP pathway. Naegleria fowleri ATCCr30100 could be adapted to grow without serine or glycine in the minimal medium with glutamic acid added, but with mean generation time increased and population density decreased. The strain could be grown in the minimal medium in the absence of metals. For growth of N. australiensis ATCCr30958, modification of the medium by increasing metals ten-fold, substituting guanine for guanosine and adding lysine, glutamic acid, and six vitamins (p-aminobenzoic acid, choline chloride, inositol, vitamin B12, nicotinamide, and Ca pantothenate) was required.
Implications of comorbid alcohol dependence among individuals with social anxiety disorder.

Background: Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is highly comorbid with alcohol use disorders (AUD) yet the nature of this comorbidity remains unclear. To better understand these associations, we first examined whether SAD was related to AUD above and beyond relevant covariates. Second, we examined the psychosocial impairment associated with the comorbidity of SAD and AUD versus SAD without AUD. Third, the temporal sequencing of SAD and AUD among comorbid individuals was examined. Methods: Participants included 5,877 (50% females) adults from the National Comorbidity Survey. Results: As predicted, SAD was related to alcohol dependence (not abuse) after controlling for relevant conditions, indicating that SAD is linked to more severe alcohol impairment and that this link is not better accounted for by other pathology. Results also supported the hypothesis that the addition of alcohol dependence to SAD resulted in greater impairment across a variety of domains relative to SAD without alcohol dependence (e.g., greater rates of health care utilization, other psychiatric diagnoses, health problems, and greater interpersonal stress). Additionally, for the majority of comorbid individuals, SAD onset predated alcohol dependence onset, suggesting SAD increases vulnerability for misusing alcohol. Conclusions: Together, these data lend support for the contention that SAD may serve as a risk for alcohol dependence and indicate that the co-occurrence of these two conditions may result in greater personal and public health care costs. Depression and Anxiety, 2008. Published 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Competitive RT-PCR ELISA: a rapid, sensitive and non-radioactive method to quantitate cytokine mRNA

Abstract We have developed a non-radioactive method to quantitate precisely levels of gene expression. This method is based on RT-PCR (reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction) with an RNA competitor, followed by the covalent capture of the amplified DNA onto the wells of microtiter plates, and the quantitation of the PCR product by oligonucleotide hybridization and ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). The assay can reproducibly detect 1 zeptomole mRNA. The assay was successfully used to quantitate mRNA levels of the T cell derived cytokines interleukin-2, interleukin-4 and interferon-γ in resting and stimulated human lymphocytes. Because it is performed in a microtiter ELISA format, this rapid, sensitive and non-radioactive method should facilitate measurements of gene expression, particularly in large clinical studies.
One-Step Competitive Immunoassay for Cadmium Ions: Development and Validation for Environmental Water Samples

A rapid, simple, and reliable competitive immunoassay was developed and validated for measurement of Cd(II) in environmental water samples. This assay employed a monoclonal antibody that recognizes Cd(II)-EDTA complexes as capture reagent and a Cd(II)-EDTA conjugate of horseradish peroxidase as an enzyme label. The assay depended on a competitive binding reaction between the enzyme conjugate and Cd(II)-EDTA complexes, derived from the environmental water sample, for the binding sites of the immobilized antibody. The concentration of Cd(II) in the sample was quantified by the ability of its EDTA complexes to inhibit the binding of the enzyme conjugate to the antibody and, subsequently, color formation in the assay. The assay was specific to Cd(II), with a limit of detection of 0.3 ppb. Ca(II), Mg(II), and Fe(III), the metal ions commonly found in ambient water at relatively high concentrations, did not interfere with the assay. Mean analytical recovery of added Cd(II) was 100.29 +/- 3.60. The precision of the assay was satisfactory; coefficients of variation were 3.6-10.9 and 4.81-10.21% for intra- and interassay precision, respectively. The assay compared favorably with graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy in its ability to accurately measure Cd(II) spiked into water samples from a Louisiana bayou.
Assessment of sequence diversity in the 5′-terminal region of Citrus tristeza virus from India

Twenty-one Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) isolates from India were characterized, using genotype-specific multiple molecular markers (MMM) from the 54'-terminal region and two other overlapping primer pairs (CN487/489 and CN488/491) from ORF1a (697-1484 nucleotides (nt)). The 5'-terminal genotype-specific primer pairs amplified about 500 bases from the 5'-end of the CTV genomic RNA (gRNA). With the three different MMM, the VT genotype-specific primers amplified 19 Indian CTV isolates. The T30-specific primers amplified five isolates, and the T36 primer amplified only one isolate T36. All isolates were amplified with CN488/491 primers; however, only 20 isolates were amplified with CN487/489 pair. A phylogenetic tree, derived from the sequences of the different MMM primer-amplified products, placed all the isolates into four distinct genogroups. Three of these four groups were typified by the reference isolates T30, T36, and VT. The fourth group, represented by the isolate BAN-2, was considered as a new genogroup. A phylogenetic tree based on sequences of the CN487/491 amplified products and other published sequences placed all of the isolates in eight genogroups. Phylogenetic correlation over the three different regions sequences of these CTV isolates showed more sequence variability between 1082 and 1484nt than between 1 and 500 or 697-1105 nt of the CTV gRNA. Based on three different 5' regions sequences and phylogenetic analysis, it is hypothesized that isolates BAN-1, BAN-2, and B165 are three naturally occurring variants that add to the complexity of the CTV populations in India.
EFFECT OF PRESSURE AND STORAGE TIME ON TEXTURE PROFILE PARAMETERS OF SOYBEAN CURD (TOFU)

The pressure applied to soybean curd during processing into tofu has a profound effect on the moisture content, yield and some textural parameters of tofu. As the pressure increased from 0.186P to 0.744 P the moisture content decreased from 82% to 60% and yield decreased from 2.0 kg to 1.2 kg per kg whole dry soybeans. Hardness-1, hardness-2, chewiness andgumminess increased linearly with increasing pressure. Springiness, cohesiveness, adhesiveness and stringiness were hardly affected by increasing pressure. During storage in water at 2–3°C for 3 weeks, hardness, gumminess, and adhesiveness increased moderately; springiness decreased moderately and the other texture parameters were almost unchanged.
Reconnaissance estimates of natural recharge to desert basins in Nevada, U.S.A. by using chloride-balance calculations

Abstract A chloride-balance method for estimating average natural recharge to groundwater basins in the Basin and Range Province of the western United States may be a useful alternative or complement to current techniques. The chloride-balance method, as presented in this paper, equates chloride in recharge water and runoff to chloride deposited in mountainous recharge-source areas by precipitation and dry fallout. Given estimates of annual precipitation on these source areas and chloride concentrations of bulk precipitation and recharge water, the rate of recharge can be estimated providing that: (1) no other major sources of chloride exist; (2) direct runoff to discharge areas in the basin is small or can otherwise be taken in account in the balance; and (3) the recharge sources for the basin are correctly delineated. The estimates are sensitive to the estimated rate of input of chloride from the atmosphere; this is the greatest data need for future applications of the method. Preliminary applications of the method to sixteen basins in Nevada, including Las Vegas Valley, indicate that the method can be a useful tool for hydrologists and resource managers. Correlation coefficients between recharge efficiencies for the basins — estimated on the basis of recharge estimates that use the chloride-balance method and two other currently used techniques — range from 0.54 to 0.95, depending on assumptions about where the method may be applied.
Identification and characterization of major ionic currents in isolated smooth muscle cells using the voltage-clamp technique.

Voltage-clamp experiments were carried out on freshly dissociated single vertebrate smooth muscle cells from the stomach muscularis ofBufo marinus. Conventional two-microelectrode methodology was used, thus avoiding rapid dialysis of the cytosol. Four major phases of current were identified upon voltage jumps from negative holding levels to more positive levels. The first phase of current was an initial, inward current. This current was blocked by external Mn2+ and was of the correct magnitude to account for the rising phase of the Ca2+-dependent, TTX-independent action potentials found in these cells. Following this initial, inward Ca2+ current, a large outward current was observed which reached its peak over a period of hundreds of milliseconds and then decayed over a period of seconds to a steady-state level. The peak outward current and the steady-state outward current constitute the second and third major currents. The peak outward current was the largest current observed, with a magnitude as large as tens of nanoamps whereas the inward current was at most about one nanoamp. The peak outward current was reduced more than tenfold in the presence of external TEA. It was also decreased or abolished when the preceding inward current was diminished or eliminated by using external Mn2+ or less negative holding potentials. In this way the peak outward current was identified as a Ca2+-activated K+ current whose slow decay was hypothesized to result from removal of internal Ca ions by cellular mechanisms following the initial rise in [Ca2+]i resulting from the inward current. A fourth major current was an early transient outward current observed most clearly upon voltage jumps to more positive potentials when the inward current was eliminated by using less negative holding potentials or external Mn2+. A classical steady-state inactivation relationship as a function of membrane potential was constructed for the inward current. A substantial portion of this inactivation curve lies at potentials negative to the apparent threshold for activation of inward current, suggesting a true voltage-dependent inactivation. Although additional Ca2+-dependent inactivation could not be ruled out, neither could evidence for it be found.
High-performance computing for materials design to advance energy science

The development of new materials typically requires an iterative sequence of synthesis and characterization, but high-performance computing (HPC) adds another dimension to the process: materials can be synthesized and/or characterized virtually as well, and it is often an overlapping quilt of data from these four aspects of design that is used to develop a new material. This is made possible, in large measure, by the algorithms and hardware collectively referred to as HPC. Prominent within this developing approach to materials design is the increasingly important role that quantum mechanical analysis techniques have come to play. These techniques are reviewed with an emphasis on their application to materials design. This issue of MRS Bulletin highlights specific examples of how such HPC tools are used to advance energy science research in the areas of nuclear fission, electrochemical batteries, photovoltaic energy conversion, hydrocarbon catalysis, hydrogen storage, clathrate hydrates, and nuclear fusion.
Evaluation of Antioxidant, Lipid, and Protein Fractions of Accessions of Oryza Species

ABSTRACT The genus Oryza has given rise to rice (Oryza sativa L.), a major source of food for much of the human population. The Oryza genus is small, including only 23 species, but it is remarkably diverse in terms of its ecological adaptation. This diversity may not be only restricted to ecological characteristics but also to kernel end-use quality characteristics. This study was undertaken to evaluate Oryza species as a gene pool for improving the properties of rice bran for human consumption. Several accessions of 13 Oryza species were grown in a greenhouse, along with eight rice (Oryza sativa L.) accessions displaying low and high bran oil content, as well as low and high palmitic acid content. The total lipid content of the Oryza species was within the range found for Oryza sativa accessions. However, the level of palmitic acid in the O. species was as high as that reported for soybean high-palmitic acid mutants. Oryza species also contained higher levels of the γ-oryzanol and phenolic fractions comp...
An ultrahigh vacuum angular encoder with microradian resolution

Abstract A relative angular encoder to determine the orientations of optical elements in a grating/crystal monochromator to high accuracy is discussed. The design is based on a commercial laser interferometer and corner cube retroreflectors. Design features include: an accuracy of at least 5 to 20 μrad, an angular coverage of almost 90° and ultrahigh vacuum compatibility.
A Critical Analysis of School Enrollment and Literacy Rates of Girls and Women in Pakistan

Since Pakistan's inception in 1947, the government has made continuous efforts to provide free, universal, basic education to its citizens. This is evidenced by educational plans, policies, and five-year education sector reforms, including partnerships with international agencies and developed countries. However, these efforts have not yielded any gains for the citizens. Pakistan has a literacy rate of 49.9 percent, one of the lowest in South Asia and the rest of the world. Pakistan's male and female literacy rates are 61.7 percent and 35.2 percent. The female literacy rate drops to 25 percent in rural areas, and girls' school enrollment of fifty-five percent drops to twenty percent from Grade 1 to 6. For the purposes of these statistics, a literate person is defined by Pakistan's Ministry of Education as one who can read a newspaper and write a simple letter in any language. Pakistan's population of 167 million is sixty-five percent rural and thirty-five percent urban, with citizens facing multiple inter...
Correction: Exploiting the promiscuity of imatinib

An error in the PDB code occurred in the article published in the Journal of Biology [1]. In the legend to Figure One, instead of 1FW3, the correct PDB code is 3FW1.
Denoising MRI Using Spectral Subtraction

Improving the signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using denoising techniques could enhance their value, provided that signal statistics and image resolution are not compromised. Here, a new denoising method based on spectral subtraction of the measured noise power from each signal acquisition is presented. Spectral subtraction denoising (SSD) assumes no prior knowledge of the acquired signal and does not increase acquisition time. Whereas conventional denoising/filtering methods are compromised in parallel imaging by spatially dependent noise statistics, SSD is performed on signals acquired from each coil separately, prior to reconstruction. Using numerical simulations, we show that SSD can improve SNR by up to ~45% in MRI reconstructed from both single and array coils, without compromising image resolution. Application of SSD to phantom, human heart, and brain MRI achieved SNR improvements of ~40% compared to conventional reconstruction. Comparison of SSD with anisotropic diffusion filtering showed comparable SNR enhancement at low-SNR levels (SNR = 5-15) but improved accuracy and retention of structural detail at a reduced computational load.
Mining Multilevel Image Semantics via Hierarchical Classification

In this paper, we have proposed a novel framework for mining multilevel image semantics via hierarchical classification. To bridge the semantic gap more successfully, salient objects are used to characterize the intermediate image semantics effectively. The salient objects are defined as the connected image regions that capture the dominant visual properties linked to the corresponding physical objects in an image. To achieve a more reliable and tractable concept learning in high-dimensional feature space, a novel algorithm called product of mixture-experts (PoM) is proposed to reduce the size of training images and speed up concept learning. A novel hierarchical concept learning algorithm is proposed by incorporating concept ontology and multitask learning to enhance the discrimination power of the concept models and reduce the computational complexity for learning the concept models for large amount of image concepts, which may have huge intra-concept variations and inter-concept similarities on their visual properties. A hyperbolic image visualization algorithm has been developed for allowing users to specify their queries easily and assess the query results interactively. Our experiments on large-scale image collections have also obtained very positive results.
Effects of mainstream and environmental tobacco smoke on the immune system in animals and humans: a review.

This review evaluates the available information on the effects of mainstream and environmental tobacco smoke on the immune system in animals and humans. The primary emphasis is on mainstream smoke ...
Development and characterization of positively selected brain-adapted SIV

HIV is found in the brains of most infected individuals but only 30% develop neurological disease. Both viral and host factors are thought to contribute to the motor and cognitive disorders resulting from HIV infection. Here, using the SIV/rhesus monkey system, we characterize the salient characteristics of the virus from the brain of animals with neuropathological disorders. Nine unique molecular clones of SIV were derived from virus released by microglia cultured from the brains of two macaques with SIV encephalitis. Sequence analysis revealed a remarkably high level of similarity between their env and nef genes as well as their 3' LTR. As this genotype was found in the brains of two separate animals, and it encoded a set of distinct amino acid changes from the infecting virus, it demonstrates the convergent evolution of the virus to a unique brain-adapted genotype. This genotype was distinct from other macrophage-tropic and neurovirulent strains of SIV. Functional characterization of virus derived from representative clones showed a robust in vitro infection of 174xCEM cells, primary macrophages and primary microglia. The infectious phenotype of this virus is distinct from that shown by other strains of SIV, potentially reflecting the method by which the virus successfully infiltrates and infects the CNS. Positive in vivo selection of a brain-adapted strain of SIV resulted in a near-homogeneous strain of virus with distinct properties that may give clues to the viral basis of neuroAIDS.
Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. II. Continuous monitoring.

Monitoring of solutes eluted from a liquid chromatograph is possible by continuous introduction of the effluent solution into the ion source of a chemical ionization mass spectrometer. Detection sensitivities in the nanogram range are possible for a wide variety of solutes and solvents. Auxiliary techniques which have proved valuable for g.c.-m.s. also appear to be applicable to l.c.m.s.
Validation of rice genome sequence by optical mapping

Rice feeds much of the world, and possesses the simplest genome analyzed to date within the grass family, making it an economically relevant model system for other cereal crops. Although the rice genome is sequenced, validation and gap closing efforts require purely independent means for accurate finishing of sequence build data. To facilitate ongoing sequencing finishing and validation efforts, we have constructed a whole-genome SwaI optical restriction map of the rice genome. The physical map consists of 14 contigs, covering 12 chromosomes, with a total genome size of 382.17 Mb; this value is about 11% smaller than original estimates. 9 of the 14 optical map contigs are without gaps, covering chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 10, and 12 in their entirety – including centromeres and telomeres. Alignments between optical and in silico restriction maps constructed from IRGSP (International Rice Genome Sequencing Project) and TIGR (The Institute for Genomic Research) genome sequence sources are comprehensive and informative, evidenced by map coverage across virtually all published gaps, discovery of new ones, and characterization of sequence misassemblies; all totalling ~14 Mb. Furthermore, since optical maps are ordered restriction maps, identified discordances are pinpointed on a reliable physical scaffold providing an independent resource for closure of gaps and rectification of misassemblies. Analysis of sequence and optical mapping data effectively validates genome sequence assemblies constructed from large, repeat-rich genomes. Given this conclusion we envision new applications of such single molecule analysis that will merge advantages offered by high-resolution optical maps with inexpensive, but short sequence reads generated by emerging sequencing platforms. Lastly, map construction techniques presented here points the way to new types of comparative genome analysis that would focus on discernment of structural differences revealed by optical maps constructed from a broad range of rice subspecies and varieties.