cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enzymatic discoloration and phenolic content of potato tubers from cultivars resistant and susceptible to the golden nematode

Phenolic content and discoloration were determined for 13 commercial potato cultivars and 6 potato clones grown at 2 locations over a period of 5 successive years. Tubers from 6 potato cultivars and 5 potato clones resistant to the golden nematode were compared with tubers from 7 potato cultivars and 1 clone known to be susceptible to the golden nematode. Tubers from resistant plants were lower in phenols and discolored less than tubers from susceptible plants.
Emic and Etic perspectives on the history of archaeology

Givens, Douglas R. Alfred Vincent Kidder and the Development of Americanist Archaeology. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 1992. xiii + 216 pp. including chapter references and index. Harris, David R. The Archaeology of V. Gordon Childe: Contemporary Perspectives. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1994. xii + 148 pp. including postscript and index. Jennings, Jesse D. Accidental Archaeologist: Memoirs of Jesse D. Jennings. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1994. xxi + 307 pp. including two appendices and index.
Homology modeling of Entamoeba histolytica cysteine proteinases reveals the basis for cathepsin L-like structure with cathepsin B-like specificity.

Cysteine proteinases are a key virulence factor of Entamoeba histolytica , which are encoded by at least seven genes. Five genes are actively transcribed in E. histolytica , acp 1 ( ehcp3 ) (1,2), acp2 ( ehcp2 ), acp3 ( ehcp1 ), ehcp5 , and ehcp112 (3). Homologues for two of the genes have been identified in Entamoeba dispar — edcp3 and edcp2 (2). All purified or recombinant cysteine proteinases have shown a specificity for positively charged amino acids, particularly arginine, in the P2 position, consistent with classic cathepsin B activity. Structurally, the cloned cysteine proteinase genes encode typical pre–proforms of papain family proteinases. All have closest structural identity to cathepsin L, including the characteristic ERFNIN motif in the prosequence. Homology modeling was performed to understand the substrate preferences of the cysteine proteinases.
Interplanetary Magnetic Field and the Auroral Zones

Abstract : It was found that a model with a southward interplanetary magnetic field leads to a natural explanation of the SD currents. Speculative aspects of the problem as they appear at this time are discussed. It should be remembered that this problem is amenable to revolutionary progress by observations from rockets or satellites which go out more than a few earth's radii.
In situ velocity and stress characterization of a projectile penetrating a sand target: Experimental measurements and continuum simulations

Abstract Understanding the impact, penetration and cavity formation of heterogeneous granular systems is of fundamental importance to a wide variety of research endeavors. In this work a series of experiments were conducted in order to investigate the penetration dynamics of loose dry sand. High-speed photography coupled with a particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique was used to capture both the grain and bulk response of the penetration event, while buried quartz gages simultaneously recorded transmitted stress wave profiles. Depth of penetration was measured via postmortem examination. Experiments were conducted over a velocity range of 30–200 m/s using both cylindrical and spherical projectiles in a unique semi-infinite experimental configuration in order to directly observe a cross-section of the impact and penetration event. The experimental results are compared to simple continuum Eulerian hydrocode simulations and an analytic penetration model. The simulations are not able to resolve both stress and velocity measurements. However, the simulations do reproduce the depth of penetration for a wide variety of penetration experiments.
DNA repair: Blocking ubiquitin transfer

The protein OTUB1 inhibits DNA repair without using its enzymatic activity. Instead, it sequesters a protein that is required for the assembly of certain forms of ubiquitin chain, which function as key signals during repair.
Socioeconomic status is associated with provision of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Objective. Although socioeconomic status (SES) has been linked to multiple health outcomes, there have been few studies of the effect of SES on the provision of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) during cardiac arrest events and no studies that we know of on the effect of SES on the provision of dispatcher-assisted bystander CPR. This study sought to define the relationship between SES and the provision of bystander CPR in an emergency medical system that includes dispatcher-provided CPR instructions. Methods. This study was a retrospective, cohort analysis of cardiac arrests due to cardiac causes occurring in private residences in King County, Washington, from January 1, 1999, to December 31, 2005. We used the tax-assessed value of the location of the cardiac arrest as an estimate of the SES of potential bystanders as well as multiple measures from 2000 Census data (education, employment, median household income, and race/ethnicity). We also examined the effect of patient and system characteri...
How motion verbs are special: The interaction of semantic and pragmatic information in aspectual verb meanings

This paper focuses on a distinction between two kinds of information in verb meanings: a highly structured, templatic part of the meaning, based on aspectual properties of the verb, and apart of the meaning which contributes to filling gaps in the templatic information. The two kinds of information differ in the nature and degree of connections to encyclopedic world knowledge. This demarcation between the two kinds of information is related to the semantics/ pragmatics distinction, and may be clearly articulated using Krifka's (1992) formalization of a homomorphism from objects to events. Motion verbs, for which the concept of distance plays a crucial role in the gap-filling information, are shown to be special in a number of ways, due to the special properties of distance as encoded in the world knowledge of the speaker. The possible universality of these findings is also discussed.
Autologous Arteriovenous Fistula Creation by Nephrologists

In 1966, physicians from the Bronx Veterans Administration Hospital, New York City described the surgical creation of a distal radial artery to cephalic vein AV fistula. This novel configuration, for the first time, allowed effective and reproducible cannulation for hemodialysis access and has remained the gold standard for hemodialysis access since. More than 40 years later, vascular access remains the Achilles' heel of hemodialysis therapy. In this article, we will review the outcomes and techniques of the pre-eminent nephrologist-surgeons from around the world in an attempt to define those elements that are necessary for successful autologous fistula creation. The hope is that these elements may be employed by others in an effort to increase the numbers and durability of autologous fistulae in incident and prevalent hemodialysis patients, particularly in the United States.
Prevention of particulate contamination from fasteners on the Space-Based Visable Telescope

The Space Based Visible sensor is a high straylight rejection telescope whose performance is driven by the low scattering surfaces of its primary and secondary mirrors. The scattering performance of these mirrors is a function of the level of particulate contamination inside the telescope housing during ground processing, launch, and flight. This report describes a test program undertaken at Lincoln Laboratory to minimize the creation and spread of metallic particulates generated from the fasteners used in telescope packaging. Issues such as fastener material, insert material, lubrication, locking methodology, and insert type are described.
Fast Inference for the Latent Space Network Model Using a Case-Control Approximate Likelihood

Network models are widely used in social sciences and genome sciences. The latent space model proposed by Hoff et al. (2002), and extended by Handcock et al. (2007) to incorporate clustering, provides a visually interpretable model-based spatial representation of relational data and takes account of several intrinsic network properties. Due to the structure of the likelihood function of the latent space model, the computational cost is of order O(N 2), where N is the number of nodes. This makes it infeasible for large networks. In this article, we propose an approximation of the log-likelihood function. We adapt the case-control idea from epidemiology and construct a case-control log-likelihood, which is an unbiased estimator of the log-full likelihood. Replacing the full likelihood by the case-control likelihood in the Markov chain Monte Carlo estimation of the latent space model reduces the computational time from O(N 2) to O(N), making it feasible for large networks. We evaluate its performance using s...
Use of negatively reinforcing electrical brain stimulation to detect conventional and nonconventional anxiolytics as well as an anxiogenic drug

Abstract The present study determined whether anxiolytics such as diazepam (DZP), the benzodiazepine (BZD) receptor-selective agonist abecarnil (ABC), or the 5-HT1 A agent buspirone (BUS) would increase the response latency of rats to switch-off electrical brain stimulation (EBS) of the periaqueductal gray (PAG). We also investigated the effects of pentylenetetrazole (PTZ), a purported anxiogenic. Given acutely, DZP (2.5 and 5 mg/kg, ip) and ABC (0.5 and 1 mg/kg, ip) increased response latency. The BZD receptor antagonist flumazenil (10.0 mg/kg, ip) blocked these effects. Increasing the frequency of EBS reversed the effects of DZP and ABC, suggesting that motor disruption did not account for the increase in latency seen with these drugs. Given acutely, BUS (10.0 mg/kg, ip) also increased response latency, which was likely due to motor disruption because it was not reversed by increasing the frequency of EBS. When BUS (2.5 mg/kg, ip) was given every 8 h for 3 days, an increase in latency was also obtained, which was reversible by increasing the frequency of EBS. Finally, PTZ (10 and 20 mg/kg, ip) shortened the latency to respond. These results (1) suggest that DZP, ABC, and chronic BUS attenuate, whereas PTZ potentiates, the negative reinforcing stimulus (NRS) induced by PAG stimulation, and (2) support the hypothesis that the switch-off procedure accurately detects anxiolytic and anxiogenic drugs.
Size preferences for prey-catching in frogs: relationship to motivational state.

Frogs were tested for feeding preferences on large vs. small dummy prey objects. Subjects making fast responses failed to select smaller objects preferentially as did frogs that hesitated over 2 sec prior to a response. Furthermore, alcohol intoxication resulted in consistent preferences for the large stimulus, with no mean change in response latencies. Results are discussed in terms of a specific neural mechanism believed to mediate inhibition within the frog's visual system.
Rare-gas halide avalanche discharge lasers

This paper summarizes a series of studies aimed at understanding rare-gas halide lasers excited by UV preionized avalanche discharges. Discussions include steady-state rate equation calculations of the kinetics, parametric variations and optimizations of discharge characteristics, and gas mixture optimizations for high-energy lasing.
It Takes More Than Two for This Tango

A paper in this issue by Ogawa et al. (2013) shows that HSV-2-infected keratinocytes in human skin explants release a protein that enhances HIV-1 infection of Langerhans cells in vitro. This may explain the in vivo observation that HSV-2 infection facilitates HIV-1 acquisition.
Evidence for radio-ruthenium in milk.

DURING routine counting for the determination of caesium-137 levels, an unexpected gamma-ray peak at about 0.51 MeV was observed in a number of milk samples from many different locations throughout Utah (Figs. 1 and 2). It was detected in milk produced on all dairy farms which we sampled between March 1962 and March 1963.
Volar Plate Position and Flexor Tendon Rupture Following Distal Radius Fracture Fixation

Purpose To determine whether there were differences between plate position in patients who had postoperative flexor tendon ruptures following volar plate fixation of distal radius fractures and those who did not. Methods Three blinded reviewers measured the volar plate prominence and position on the lateral radiographs of 8 patients treated for flexor tendon ruptures and 17 matched control patients without ruptures following distal radius fracture fixation. We graded plate prominence using the Soong grading system, and we measured the distances between the plate and both the volar critical line and the volar rim of the distal radius. Results A higher Soong grade was associated with flexor tendon rupture. Patients with ruptures had plates that were more prominent volarly and more distal than matched controls without ruptures. Plate prominence projecting greater than 2.0 mm volar to the critical line had a sensitivity of 0.88, a specificity of 0.82, and positive and negative predictive values of 0.70 and 0.93, respectively, for tendon ruptures. Plate position distal to 3.0 mm from the volar rim had a sensitivity of 0.88, a specificity of 0.94, and positive and negative predictive values of 0.88 and 0.94, respectively, for tendon ruptures. Conclusions We identified plate positions associated with attritional flexor tendon rupture following distal radius fracture fixation with volar plates. To decrease rupture risk, we recommend considering elective hardware removal after union in symptomatic patients with plate prominence greater than 2.0 mm volar to the critical line or plate position within 3.0 mm of the volar rim. Type of study/level of evidence Therapeutic III.
Evaluation of butyltin compounds in Maryland waters of Chesapeake Bay

A monthly sampling programme for dibutyltin (DBT), tributyltin (TBT) and tetrabutyltin (TTBT) was initiated for a period of one year (July 1985–June 1986) in the Maryland waters of Chesapeake Bay. Concentrations of the above butyltin species were evaluated in the microlayer and water column of eight sampling stations representing two small and two large marinas, a large harbour, two major river systems and a heavily used shipping channel. DBT concentrations in the microlayer were generally higher in the four marinas when compared with the other stations. The highest DBT concentration reported in the microlayer was 1156 ng l−1. Mean microlayer TBT concentrations ranged from 54–310 ng l−1 in the four marinas. Three TBT concentrations ranging from 1049–1171 ng l−1 were reported in the microlayer of the marinas. TBT concentrations of 41 and 29 mg l−1 were detected in the microlayer of a heavily used shipping channel (C & D Canal) during May and June. TTBT concentrations were not detected in the microlayer at most stations during the 12 month sampling period. Mean DBT concentrations in the water column ranged from 23–145 ng l−1 in the four marinas. DBT concentrations in the water column of the other stations were < 35 ng l−1. Mean water column concentrations of TBT ranged from 51–408 ng l−1 in all four marinas. Peak concentrations of TBT were reported in May and June for the various marinas. The highest TBT concentration reported in the water column was 998 ng l−1. TBT concentrations of 20–24 ng l−1 were reported in one of the river systems (Potomac River). TTBT concentrations were not detected in the water column at most of the stations.
The influence of low pH, high K and microinjected CaCl2 on the ouabain-insensitive component of sodium efflux in barnacle muscle fibers

Abstract Attempts were made to characterize the ouabain-insensitive Na efflux in barnacle muscle fibers. Lowering the external pH to 5.8, raising the external K to 30 mM or microinjecting 1 M CaCl 2 led to a marked rise in the Na efflux from fibers previously poisoned with 5×10 −5 M ouabain. External application of ouabain following stimulation of the Na efflux by acidifying the bathing medium was without effect. Internal application of 2 M MgCl 2 following inactivation of the ouabain-sensitive component of the Na efflux was also without effect.
Chimeric proteins between UCP1 and UCP3: the middle third of UCP1 is necessary and sufficient for activation by fatty acids.

Uncoupling protein (UCP) 1 and UCP3 are mitochondrial inner membrane proteins which both mediate proton leak and thus decrease the mitochondrial transmembrane proton gradient. However, UCP1 and UCP3 differ in their biochemical regulation. UCP1 is activated by free fatty acids and inhibited by purine nucleotides. Using heterologous expression studies in yeast, UCP3 was found to lack both fatty acid activation and purine nucleotide inhibition. To assess which domains are responsible for the regulation of UCP1 by free fatty acids and by purine nucleotides and the absence of such regulation in UCP3, chimeric proteins were generated. Given that uncoupling proteins, like all members of the mitochondrial carrier family, possess a tripartite structure and consist of three repeated domains of approximately 100 residues, swaps in the three repeated domains were made between UCP1 and UCP3. Regulation of the resulting six different chimeric proteins by free fatty acids and purine nucleotides was studied after heterologous expression in yeast mitochondria. In this study, it is shown that activation of UCP1 by free fatty acids is mediated by the second repeated domain, since substitution of the second repeat of UCP1 by the equivalent repeat of UCP3 abolishes fatty acid activation. In contrast, replacing the second repeat of UCP3 by the corresponding repeated domain of UCP1 results in fatty acid activation similar to wild type UCP1. The lack of free fatty acid activation of UCP3 is not due to the absence of the histidine pair H145 and H147 found in the second repeated domain of UCP1. Furthermore, the findings with respect to purine nucleotide inhibition are consistent with a significant role of the C-terminal repeated domain of UCP1 in mediating purine nucleotide inhibition.
Practical 3D+2D displays

High-end televisions, monitors and gaming laptop screens are shifting from 2D to 3D. Most commercially available 3D displays show stereoscopic images to viewers wearing special glasses, while showing incomprehensible ghosted images to viewers without glasses. It is not always desirable to require that all viewers wear stereo glasses. They may cause flickering, interfere with other activities, or be prohibitively expensive.
On the determination of the vapor–liquid envelope for polarizable models by Monte Carlo simulation

We present Gibbs ensemble Monte Carlo (GEMC) simulations of SCPDP polarizable model for water. Our results seem to be more consistent and accurate than the literature data. Our simulations suggest that GEMC of polarizable models with exact treatment of the polarizable interactions is feasible, though its efficiency is rather low. The application of a newly proposed approximate method to treat the polarizable interactions in Monte Carlo is expected to remedy this deficiency.
Use of Adverse Reaction Data Bases and Making Risk Assessments of Proposed Switch Candidates

We are as never before at a point in our science that we are able to begin to evaluate the truth about drug risks. It is hoped that we will couple what we know about our evolving epidemiologic science with what we know about the medical arts. As this era of pharmaco-epidemiology continues to assess questions of drug safety in populations and apply public health principles to evaluate the switch of prescription drugs to OTC use, we will begin to see a more meaningful definition of terms like “Generally Recognized as Safe and Effective” and “acceptable risk.”
Synthesis of Miktoarm Star Polymers via ATRP Using the “In−Out” Method: Determination of Initiation Efficiency of Star Macroinitiators

Miktoarm star polymers were synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) using the “in−out” method. First, ATRP was applied to the synthesis of star polymers using the “arm-first” method with poly(tert-butyl acrylate) arms and a core formed with divinylbenzene as cross-linker. “Dormant” initiating sites were preserved in the core of the star copolymer, which was then used as a multifunctional macroinitiator (MI) for initiating an ATRP of another monomer to produce the miktoarm star polymer. Because of the congested environment in the star core, not all of the initiating sites participated in the formation of the second generation of arms, and the initiation efficiency (IE) of the star MI was less than 100%. A kinetic method was used for quantitative determination of the IE value of the star MIs. Three factors, including the arm length of star MI, the structural compactness of star MI, and the chemical compatibility of the two kinds of arms on one miktoarm star molecule, have an important ef...
An Electrophysiologic Correlate of Ouabain Inotropy in Canine Cardiac Muscle

Action potentials were recorded via intracellular microelectrodes, together with recordings of isometric-contractile tension, from isolated trabecular muscles of canine ventricle. The effects of administration of ouabain solution in concentrations varying from 1.7 x 10-7 to 5 x 10-4 M were recorded. The early inotropic effects of ouabain (increase in contractile force) were accompanied by changes in configuration of the action potential identical to those associated with interval-dependent potentiation in the control state, that is, abbreviation of phase 2 and lengthening of phase 3, without significant change in duration of the action potential. The progressive administration of ouabain, while associated with contractile enhancement of the regularly stimulated contraction was also accompanied by a loss of the contractile increment associated with poststimulation potentiation; this loss of interval-dependent potentiation corresponds to a loss of interval-dependent alteration of the action potential. Thus, both interval-dependent contractile potentiation and ouabain inotropy correlate consistently with phase 2 abbreviation of the accompanying action potentials.
Air Quality Indicators, Pollutant Specific

Pollutant-specific air quality indicators can be extremely useful in communicating environmental information to the public, air pollution control officials, the private sector, the Congress, and academia. This article examines the use of National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS)-related pollutant-specific air quality indicators. Standard-related statistics are used to understand (i) pollutant-specific air quality trends, (ii) the impact of pollutant control strategies, (iii) tracking emission reductions, (iv) air quality status and the severity of the air pollution problem, and (v) the calculation of design values as required by the 1990 Clean Air Act. The traditional EPA trend methodology is compared with both meteorologically adjusted trends and population- and land area-weighted trends. Keywords: air pollution; air quality data; National Ambient Air Quality Standards; trend statistics; traditional trend methods; meteorological adjusted trends; population- and land area-weighted trends
Continuous cardiac output monitoring in humans by non-invasive arterial blood pressure waveform analysis

We have recently introduced a novel technique for continuously monitoring changes in cardiac output (CO) by long time interval analysis of a peripheral arterial blood pressure (ABP) waveform. We have tested the technique with respect to invasive peripheral ABP waveforms obtained from animals and critically ill patients, and our CO estimates showed strong agreement with highly invasive CO measurements. Here, we present a comparison of the application of the technique to non-invasive finger ABP waveforms with reference Doppler ultrasound CO measurements in ten healthy humans during pharmacological and postural interventions. We report an overall CO error of 15.1%
The microstructure and microchemistry of high critical current Nb/sub 3/Sn strands manufactured by the bronze, internal-Sn and PIT techniques

Recent advances in Nb/sub 3/Sn conductor development have advanced the non-Cu critical current density, J/sub c/, from 2000 A/mm/sup 2/ to almost 3000 A/mm/sup 2/ (12 T, 4.2 K). We have quantified a variety of state of the art composites for their microstructures using the fracture/field emission scanning electron microscope, FESEM, technique and their microchemistry using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS)/FESEM. The results of the measurements increasingly point to the importance of A15 composition in determining the critical current density as well as grain size. The highest critical current densities, however, are being attained by the internal Sn process which has yet to achieve as high a level of Sn (23-24.5 at.% Sn) in the A15 as for powder-in-tube (PIT) in which we measure as high as 25-26 at.% Sn. When Sn diffuses into the Cu stabilizer, it is found to have a great affinity for Nb/sub 3/Sn formation than dissolution into the Cu. A15 forms at the Nb-stabilizer surface with local Cu concentrations within the grains of the stabilizer of less than 0.1 at.% Cu. Elevated levels of Sn, however, were observed at the Cu grain boundaries. Both the quantified variations in composition and the peak levels of Sn indicate that further increases in performance should be expected.
CAN INSECTICIDES BE INTEGRATED WITH BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENTS OF TRICHOPLUSIA NI IN CELERY

Several registered and experimental insecticides were tested on a celery pest and one of its important predators for selectivity in favor of predator survival. The 1st, 3rd and last instars of the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni (Hubner) and the 2nd-instar and adult of the coccinellid predator Hippodamia convergens (Guerin-Meneville) were tested with residues of methomyl, demeton, fenvalerate, diflubenzuron and penfluron. These insect stages were also tested against diflubenzuron and penfluron in residue-ingestion experiments. The latter two insecticides, which are benzoylphenyl urea insect growth regulators, offered the greatest selectivity. Adult predators suffered no acute toxic effects, while 2nd-instars approached equal tolerance with the most susceptible T. ni instars. Trends in populations of the pest and predator in celery fields indicated that predators were most abundant prior to the first marketable petiole, and that use of IGRs during this time would provide the greatest potential for integration of chemical and biological control. RESUME Est-ce que l'emploi d'insecticides peut etre integre a la lutte biologique contre Trichoplusia ni sur celeri? Plusieurs insecticides commerciaux ou experimentaux ont ete essayes contre un ennemi du celeri et ses principaux predateurs pour un effet selectif favorisant la survie du predateur. Les le, 3e et dernier stades de Trichoplusia ni et le 2e stade et l'adulte d'Hippodamia convergens (coccinelle predatrice) ont ete traites avec des residus de methomyle, de demeton, de fenvalerate, de diflubenzuron et de penfluron. Le diflubenzuron et le penfluron ont ete testes contre ces memes stades au cours d'experiences d'ingestion de residus. Ces deux derniers insecticides, qui sont des benzoylphenyl uree, regulateurs de croissance de l'insecte (RCI), montraient la plus grande selectivite. Les predateurs adultes ne souffraient pas d'effets toxiques aigus. tandis que les 2e stades avaient une tolerance qui approchait celle des stades les plus sensibles de T. ni. L'evolution des populations du phytophage et du predateur dans les champs de celeri montrait que les predateurs etaient plus abondants avant l'apparition du premier petiole commercialisable, et que l'utilisation de RCI a ce moment fournirait les plus grandes possibilites d'integration des protections chimique et biologique.
THE SYNOVIAL CHANGES IN POST-TRAUMATIC SONOVITIS AND OSTEOARTHRITIS

The histopathologic appearances of post-traumatic synovitis and synovitis of osteoarthritis cover a limited range of changes and have features in common. Electron microscopy yields information complementary to that given by light microscopy. With these techniques, based on sufficient material, histological analysis linked with clinical observation will permit some degree of differentiation between the two conditions.
Changes in Host-Seeking Behavior of Puerto Rican Aedes aegypti After Colonization

ABSTRACT The effects of colonization on host-seeking behavior of mosquitoes was examined by comparing attraction responses of newly colonized Aedes aegypti (L.) from field-collected eggs in Puerto Rico to that of the Gainesville (Florida) strain, originally from Orlando (Florida) and in colony since 1952. Females from the Orlando and the F0 through F10 generations of the Puerto Rico strain were evaluated using attractant odors in a triple-cage dual-port olfactometer. Two attractant sources were used: odors from the hand of a volunteer and a standard blend of L-lactic acid, acetone, and dimethyl disulfide. Convergence of the percentage of attraction responses occurred around the F4–F6 generations of the Puerto Rico strain. Both the Orlando and Puerto Rico strains exhibited similar responses for tests with the remaining F7–F10 generations. A temporal effect on mosquito responses was observed for both strains regardless of the attractant blend used in tests. This study indicates that Ae. aegypti host-seeking...
Annexin V-CLIO: a nanoparticle for detecting apoptosis by MRI.

Annexin V, which recognizes the phosphatidylserine of apoptotic cells, was conjugated to crosslinked iron oxide (CLIO) nanoparticles, a functionalized superparamagnetic preparation developed for ta...
Survival of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Korean-style salted oysters.

The survival of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in salted oysters as prepared in Korea was studied with three levels of salt concentration: 3.0%, 6.8%, and 10.6% of the weight of the raw oysters. The products were held at 18 f 0.5°C. Small increases in numbers of V. parahaemolyricus (Japanese strain T-3765-l) occurred in 24 hr in products in which the culture had been injected into the oysters. Viable cells were below detectable limits at 7 days of storage for the samples with the lowest salt concentration and at 11 days for those with highest salt concentration. The lowest pH reached was 4.4 at 9 days. Fermentation was delayed with increasing salt concentration.
Cardiac MRI intervention and diagnosis via deformable collaborative tracking

The high contrast and lack of ionizing radiation, renders Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) a suitable modality for continuous intra-operative imaging. Tracking the motion of key locations in cardiac MRI is of paramount importance in control and guidance in emerging robot-assisted interventions. Tracking can also be used to assess myocardial wall motion for diagnostic purposes. This article presents an expanded collaborative tracking algorithm to facilitate both interventions and diagnosis in MRI. Specifically, the network of trackers not only follows anatomical landmarks on the beating heart but also computes its evolving deformable surface on a specific plane. Experimental investigations with both CINE and real-time MRI demonstrate that the collaborative tracker network achieves robust real-time performance over long periods, outperforming the MIL tracker. Pilot experimental results also demonstrate that the evolution of the network's deformation mesh can be used for blood volume estimation and computation of the ejection fraction - both of great diagnostic value.
Can Home Care Services Achieve Cost Savings in Long-Term Care for Older People?

Objective. To determine whether efficient allocation of home care services can produce net long-term care cost savings. Methods. Hazard function analysis and nonlinear mathematical programming. Results. Optimal allocation of home care services resulted in a 10% net reduction in overall long-term care costs for the frail older population served by the National Long-Term Care (Channeling) Demonstration, in contrast to the 12% net cost increase produced by the demonstration intervention itself. Discussion. Our findings suggest that the long-sought goal of overall cost-neutrality or even cost-savings through reducing nursing home use sufficiently to more than offset home care costs is technically feasible, but requires tighter targeting of services and a more medically oriented service mix than major home care demonstrations have implemented to date.
Methylmercury bioaccumulation in stream food webs declines with increasing primary production.

Opposing hypotheses posit that increasing primary productivity should result in either greater or lesser contaminant accumulation in stream food webs. We conducted an experiment to evaluate primary productivity effects on MeHg accumulation in stream consumers. We varied light for 16 artificial streams creating a productivity gradient (oxygen production =0.048-0.71 mg O2 L(-1) d(-1)) among streams. Two-level food webs were established consisting of phytoplankton/filter feeding clam, periphyton/grazing snail, and leaves/shredding amphipod (Hyalella azteca). Phytoplankton and periphyton biomass, along with MeHg removal from the water column, increased significantly with productivity, but MeHg concentrations in these primary producers declined. Methylmercury concentrations in clams and snails also declined with productivity, and consumer concentrations were strongly correlated with MeHg concentrations in primary producers. Heterotroph biomass on leaves, MeHg in leaves, and MeHg in Hyalella were unrelated to stream productivity. Our results support the hypothesis that contaminant bioaccumulation declines with stream primary production via the mechanism of bloom dilution (MeHg burden per cell decreases in algal blooms), extending patterns of contaminant accumulation documented in lakes to lotic systems.
Manual Sign Training as an Aid To Language Learning By Autistic Children

A review of eight programs which used manual sign training with autistic children is presented. The experiences in these programs suggest that a) autistic children can learn a form of communication that uses manual signs, and b) they can learn it more readily than speech. A summary of teaching methods used in such programs is included. Brief mention is also made of research findings concerning modality of preference by autistic children, and of several theories of the nature of autistic impairment.
CHANGE IN SELF-REPORTED FUNCTIONING IN OLDER PERSONS ENTERING A RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITY

Abstract We evaluated the responsiveness of measures of function in admissions to a long-term care facility. Between baseline and follow-up assessment, one-fifth or more of the subjects either worsened or improved in most aspects of reported function. We compared two measures of self-reported function (COOP charts and a short-form survey). Convergent validity was observed for changes in pain, social health, and mental health ( r = 0.39−0.74), but not for physical functioning. Although the short-form physical function measure discriminated worsening on several performance-based external criteria of physical functioning (area under ROC curves up to 0.82), the COOP and other measures of physical functioning were less likely to do so. All physical function measures were less responsive for detecting improvement. Clinicians and investigators intending to monitor change in function must consider the responsiveness of their measures.
PREDISPOSED TO ADAPT? CLADE‐LEVEL DIFFERENCES IN CHARACTERS AFFECTING SWIMMING PERFORMANCE IN DAMSELFLIES

Previous studies have shown that two or three lineages of Enallagma damselflies, which historically co- existed with fish, recently invaded and adapted to living with large dragonfly predators in fishless waters. In adapting to live with these new predators, lineages shifted behaviorally to using swimming as an evasive tactic against attacking predators, evolved morphological features that made them faster swimmers, and evolved biochemical features to increase refueling strenuous activities like swimming. However, these habitat shifts have occurred in only one of the two primary clades within the genus in North America. Here, I show that clade-level differences exist among species in the ancestral, fish-lake habitat that should make habitat shifts easier to accomplish in the clade in which they have occurred. Specifically, fish-lake species in the clade in which habitat shifts occurred have much higher propensities to swim in the laboratory, swim faster when they do swim, and have higher mass-specific activities for arginine kinase than do species in the other primary clade, in which no extant species are found in fishless waters. These results are discussed in the context of the dynamics of founder events and the potential implications for community structure.
Collaboration portal for petascale simulations

The emergence of petascale computing is creating a tsunami of data from peta-scale simulations. Typically, results are analyzed by dozens of scientists who often work as teams. Obviously, it is very important to help these teams by facilitating management, analysis, sharing, and visualization of the data produced by their simulations, and by the auxiliary programs and activities used in the scientific process. One aspect of this is leveraging of their collective knowledge and experiences through a scientific social network. This can be achieved through a combination of back-end IT services, provenance capturing, and easy to use front-end tools. “eSimMon”, is one such tool. In this paper we describe this analysis support system, discuss its ease of use, its efficiency, and its ability to accelerate scientific discovery.
Characterization of the Antigenic Lipopolysaccharide O Chain and the Capsular Polysaccharide Produced by Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae Serotype 13

Serotyping of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, the etiologic agent of porcine pleuropneumonia, is important for epidemiological studies and for the development of homologous vaccine cell preparations. The serology is based on the specific chemical structures of capsular polysaccharides (CPSs) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) antigenic O-polysaccharide moieties (O-PSs), and knowledge of these structures is required for a molecular-level understanding of their serological specificities. The structures of A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 1 to 12 CPSs and O-PSs have been elucidated; however, the structures associated with three newly proposed serotypes (serotypes 13, 14, and 15) have not been reported. Herein we described the structures of the antigenic O-PS and CPS of A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 13. The O-PS of the A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 13 LPS is a polymer of branched tetrasaccharide repeating units composed of l-rhamnose, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-d-galactose, and d-galactose residues (1:1:2). By use of hydrolysis, methylation, and periodate oxidation chemical methods together with the application of one- and two-dimensional 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectrometry, the structures of the O chain and CPS were determined. The CPS of A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 13 was characterized as a teichoic-acid type polymer. The LPS O antigen was identical to the O-PS produced by A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 7. The CPS has the unique structure of a 1,3-poly(glycerol phosphate) teichoic acid type I polymer and constitutes the macromolecule defining the A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 13 antigenic specificity.
Should persons with autosomal dominant AD be included in clinical trials? Authors' response

We would like to thank Grill and Ringman [1] for their thoughtful response to our article [2] in which we made the case that both early-onset sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD) cases and known or suspected mutation carriers should generally be enrolled in clinical trials. There is consensus between our groups that excluding patients on the basis of age criteria alone is not valid. In regard to enrollment of patients with known or suspected autosomal dominant AD, the authors caution that these subjects may have a different response or different side-effect profile to a given intervention. We considered this possibility in our review; however, there are no human data and only scant preclinical data to support this hypothesis. Available preclinical studies so far are insufficient to support excluding all mutation carriers from all trials. Furthermore, it is likely that sporadic AD populations also contain between-subject differences that could produce differences in the magnitude or likelihood of response to a treatment as well as differences in side effects. Random assignment of subjects in clinical trials is designed to counter such unknown differences. Although it is possible that preclinical development programs may uncover a rationale for excluding a particular mutation from a particular trial, our conclusion was that, until there are sufficient clinical trials that include mutation carriers alone or as a separate arm, these individuals should have the right to participate and should not be excluded categorically.
Ischemic Emergency?: Endothelial Cells Have Their Own “Adrenaline Shot” at Hand

See related article, pp 129–136 Endothelial cells (ECs) constitute the cell layer covering the luminal surface of all of the blood vessels throughout the entire cardiovascular system and, although initially thought of as inert, purely structural components of vessel walls, are now known to play prominent roles in many facets of vascular physiology.1 Among these are angiogenesis and neoangiogenesis, phenomena that rely on EC migration and proliferation, inflammation, immune responses to injury and tissue healing, blood coagulation, regulation of vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, atherosclerosis, and atherotic plaque rupture, and, last but not least, ECs are critical regulators of vascular tone via release of a vast plethora of vasoactive agents that promote either constriction or relaxation of the arterial wall smooth muscle, thus exerting important control on systemic blood pressure.1,2 EC function is, in turn, fine tuned by several hormones, whose receptors ECs express on their membranes. Among these hormones are the catecholamines (CAs), which have been known to cause vasoconstriction via α1- (and α2-) adrenergic receptors (ARs) and vasodilation via β2ARs present in vascular smooth muscle.3 However, ARs are also present in EC membranes, per se, and presumably respond to circulating norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (Epi), because ECs, unlike vascular smooth muscle, are devoid of sympathetic innervation.1 The circulating CAs, dopamine, NE, and Epi, are synthesized from the amino acid precursor l-tyrosine. Tyrosine hydroxylase catalyzes the first and rate-limiting step in CA biosynthesis, converting l-tyrosine to l-dihydroxyphenylalanine, which, in turn, produces dopamine via decarboxylation by aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase. In (nor)adrenergic neurons and in the adrenal medulla, …
Dissatisfaction With Body Size Among Low‐Income, Postpartum Black Women

Objective To explore the body size perceptions of low‐income, postpartum Black women. Design Prospective, exploratory survey using a culturally sensitive figure rating scale, to assess body size perceptions. Setting Four inner city clinics in Washington, DC. Participants Low‐income, postpartum Black women ( N = 105). Method A validated, culturally sensitive figure rating scale was used to assess perception of current, typical, healthy, and preferred body sizes of participants. Derived scores were used to assess other body image measures. Main Outcome Measures Measures were mean scores of perceived sizes and derived scores representing body size satisfaction, adherence to typical size, and health ideal size. Results Over 75% of subjects exhibited dissatisfaction with current body size. The perceived size for the typical (reference) woman was larger and not representative of the perceived healthy or preferred sizes of the sample. No difference between preferred and healthy sizes was observed. Conclusions Two thirds of the participants were dissatisfied with their current body size and over half desired weight loss. The lack of difference between preferred and healthy body sizes suggests desire for a body size that meets both cultural standards of attractiveness and personal standards of health. Nursing opportunity for engaging in anticipatory interventions is highlighted.
Cortical-striatal-cortical neural circuits, reiteration, and the “narrow faculty of language”

Neural circuits linking local operations in the cortex and the basal ganglia confer reiterative capacities, expressed in seemingly unrelated human traits such as speech, syntax, adaptive actions to changing circumstances, dancing, and music. Reiteration allows the formation of a potentially unbounded number of sentences from a finite set of syntactic processes, obviating the need for the hypothetical “Narrow Faculty of Language.”
Climate, carbon, civil war and flexible boundaries: Sudan's contested landscape

The confluence of climate change, oil development, farmer–nomad interaction, and civil war has given rise to serious contestation over land and water resources in the heart of Sudan. Here we report on direct involvement in the very difficult and protracted efforts to resolve these land-use conflicts. Repeated efforts to define and implement “hard demarcation” of boundaries in agroecological regions characterized by great temporal variability across space have been unsuccessful for many reasons. In semi-arid and savanna environments, where nomads share the use of land with sedentary communities, boundary disputes are minimized by the existence of flexible demarcations. Flexible boundaries are identifiable but subject to change in response to negotiation and agreement among resource users. It seems that the struggle is always over “rights” to particular areas of land. But it is necessary to understand the distinction between interests and rights. Each individual – and each group – has interests that they will seek to protect and, very often, enhance. But the conversion of interests into rights is a more difficult matter. As long as the need to deal with risk and uncertainty dominate livelihood strategies, flexible adaptation rather than rigid boundaries remains the optimal strategy in agro-pastoral economies.
On the optimal blocking factor for blocked, non-overlapped multiprocessor schedules

This paper addresses the issue of determining the blocked non-overlapped multiprocessor schedule of optimal blocking factor for signal processing programs expressed as synchronous dataflow (SDF) graphs. The main result of this paper is a graph-theoretic characterization of the behavior of the critical path in the precedence graph of blocking factor J as J is increased. We show that the asymptotic behavior is cyclic in the following sense: there exist constants T and /spl rho/ such that the critical path in the precedence graph of blocking factor J+/spl rho/ has weight given by CP(J+/spl rho/)=CP(J)+p/spl lambda/ /spl forall/J>T (Eq 1) Where /spl lambda/ is the maximum cycle mean in the original graph, and /spl rho/ is an integer computable from the graph. >