cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Photosynthesis, Epicuticular Wax and Lipid Changes In Cowpea Cultivars Grown Under Hyperthermic Conditions

The cellular mechanisms of long-term thermoadaptation and acquisition of thermotolerance in plants have not yet been explored. Characteristic changes in membrane lipid are associated with exposure to elevated temperatures, such as reduced C18:3, and increased C18:2 and C16:0, i.e. an overall reduction in unsaturation (Pearcy, 1979; Raison et al., 1982). Using mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana (a “C16:3” plant) deficient in various aspects of lipid metabolism, Somerville and his associates have associated specific shifts in lipid composition with thermotolerance (Somerville and Browse, 1991). With a mutant deficient in n-6 desaturase activity, which accumulated C18:1 and C16:1 in acyl lipids, Hughly et al. (1989) showed that lipid unsaturation directly affects the thermal stability of photosynthetic membranes. Enhanced thermotolerance was also exhibited in a mutant deficient in C16:0 unsaturation (Kunst et al., 1989b). Results of studies where the membrane lipids were catalytically hydrogenated led Thomas et al. (1986) to suggest that decreased unsaturation raises the temperature at which nonbilayer forming lipids (MGDG) phase separate to non-bilayer structures which disrupt the thylakoid structure. Mutants deficient in plastid glycerol-3-phosphate acyl-transferase activity show a 15–20% reduction in phosphatidyl glycerol (PG) and minor alterations in other complex lipids (Kunst et al., 1988), and exhibit “C18:3” lipid metabolism, grew slightly more rapidly at elevated temperatures (Kunst et al., 1989c).
MicroRNAs as biomarkers for liver injury: Current knowledge, challenges and future prospects

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short regulatory RNAs that are involved in various biological processes that regulate gene expression posttranscriptionally. Changes in miRNA expression can be detected in many physiological and pathological events, such as liver injury. Drug induced liver injury is a life threatening condition that frequently requires organ transplantation. Hepatotoxicity is also one of the major causes of drug failure in clinical trials and of drug withdrawal from the market. The profiling of miRNA expression shows great promise in monitoring liver injury, in the prediction of outcome in patients, and in the identification of liver-reactive compounds in toxicological assessment. Recent studies have demonstrated organ-specificity of some miRNAs (i.e., miR-122), which are released into biological fluids as a result of hepatocyte damage. This attests to the potential of miRNAs as noninvasive biomarkers to detect liver toxicity. This review presents information on miRNA signatures of hepatotoxicity and on the application of promising miRNA biomarkers in preclinical safety assessment. We further discuss the technical challenges associated with these emerging biomarkers for early diagnosis and detection of hepatotoxicity.
Iron triggers colony formation in Phaeocystis antarctica : connecting molecular mechanisms with iron biogeochemistry

Abstract. Phaeocystis antarctica is an important phytoplankter of the Ross Sea where it dominates the early season bloom after sea ice retreat and is a major contributor to carbon export. The factors that influence Phaeocystis colony formation and the resultant Ross Sea bloom initiation have been of great scientific interest, yet there is little known about the underlying mechanisms responsible for these phenomena. Here, we present laboratory and field studies on Phaeocystis antarctica grown under multiple iron conditions using a coupled proteomic and transcriptomic approach. P. antarctica had a lower iron limitation threshold than a Ross Sea diatom Chaetoceros sp., and at increased iron nutrition (> 120 pM Fe') a shift from flagellate cells to a majority of colonial cells in P. antarctica was observed, implying a role for iron as a trigger for colony formation. Proteome analysis revealed an extensive and coordinated shift in proteome structure linked to iron availability and life cycle transitions with 327 and 436 proteins significantly different between low and high iron in strains 1871 and 1374, respectively. The enzymes flavodoxin and plastocyanin that can functionally replace iron metalloenzymes were observed at low iron treatments consistent with cellular iron sparing strategies, with plastocyanin being more dynamic in range. The numerous isoforms of the putative iron-starvation induced protein ISIP group (ISIP2A and ISIP3) had abundance patterns coincided with that of either low or high iron (and coincident flagellate or the colonial cell types in strain 1871), implying that there may be specific iron acquisition systems for each life cycle type. The proteome analysis also revealed numerous structural proteins associated with each cell type: within flagellate cells actin and tubulin from flagella and haptonema structures as well as a suite of calcium-binding proteins with EF domains were observed. In the colony-dominated samples a variety of structural proteins were observed that are also often found in multicellular organisms including spondins, lectins, fibrillins, and glycoproteins with von Willebrand domains. A large number of proteins of unknown function were identified that became abundant at either high and low iron availability. These results were compared to the first metaproteomic analysis of a Ross Sea Phaeocystis bloom to connect the mechanistic information to the in situ ecology and biogeochemistry. Proteins associated with both flagellate and colonial cells were observed in the bloom sample consistent with the need for both cell types within a growing bloom. Bacterial iron storage and B 12 biosynthesis proteins were also observed consistent with chemical synergies within the colony microbiome to cope with the biogeochemical conditions. Together these responses reveal a complex, highly coordinated effort by P. antarctica to regulate its phenotype at the molecular level in response to iron and provide a window into the biology, ecology, and biogeochemistry of this group.
Where are we going with genomics in plant pathogenic bacteria

Genome sequencing is commonly used in research laboratories right now thanks to the rise of high-throughput sequencing with higher speed and output-to-cost ratios. Here, we summarized the application of genomics in different aspects of plant bacterial pathosystems. Genomics has been used in studying the mechanisms of plant-bacteria interactions, and host specificity. It also helps with taxonomy, study of non-cultured bacteria, identification of causal agent, single cell sequencing, population genetics, and meta-transcriptomic. Overall, genomics has significantly improved our understanding of plant-microbe interaction.
Acid Gas Stability of Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks: Generalized Kinetic and Thermodynamic Characteristics

Acid gases such as SO2 and CO2 are present in many environments in which the use of nanoporous metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) is envisaged. Among metal–organic frameworks, zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) have been extensively explored as membranes or adsorbents. However, there is little systematic knowledge of the effects of acid gas exposure on the structure of ZIFs, in particular the mechanistic aspects of ZIF degradation by acid gases as well as the effects of ZIF crystal topology and linker composition on their stability. Here we present a generalized and quantitative investigation of the kinetic and thermodynamic acid gas stability of a diverse range of ZIF materials. The stability of 16 ZIFs (of SOD, RHO, ANA, and GME topologies) under different environments—humid air, liquid water, and acid gases CO2 and SO2 (dry, humid, and aqueous)—is investigated by a suite of experimental and computational methods. The kinetics of ZIF degradation under exposure to humid SO2 is studied in detail, and eff...
Graft-v-host disease is associated with autoimmune-like thrombocytopenia

Persistent thrombocytopenia after allogeneic marrow transplantation is associated with poor patient survival. To identify the mechanisms of the thrombocytopenia, we studied platelet and fibrinogen kinetics and antiplatelet antibodies in 20 patients between 60 and 649 days (median 90) after transplantation. Seventeen patients had isolated thrombocytopenia (less than 100 X 10(9) platelets/L): the marrow cellularity was normal in five patients and slightly reduced in 12, and there was no discrepancy between thrombopoiesis and myeloerythropoiesis. Three patients had pancytopenia following marrow graft rejection (two) and relapse of leukemia (one). Only three patients had evidence of increased platelet production, indicating that in most cases there is a poor marrow response to thrombocytopenia early after marrow grafting. There was no correlation between platelet count and splenic pooling, suggesting that hypersplenism was an unlikely mechanism of the thrombocytopenia. Although there was a direct relationship between platelet count and platelet survival, the reduction in platelet survival was greater than what could be explained by the fixed platelet removal found in thrombocytopenic patients; this suggests increased platelet destruction. Seven patients had intercurrent infections that reduced both platelet and fibrinogen survivals. In addition, platelet antibodies bound to autologous or marrow donor platelets were present in five of the 12 patients studied. Patients with antiplatelet antibodies had lower platelet counts (30 +/- 10 X 10(9)/L v. 49.1 +/- 28.7 X 10(9)/L, P less than 0.05) and platelet survivals (1.32 +/- 0.92 days v. 3.58 +/- 2.02 days, P less than 0.05) than patients without antiplatelet antibodies. Furthermore, platelet-bound autoantibodies were present in five of six patients with grade II-IV acute or chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), but were not present in six patients free of GVHD (P less than 0.01). We conclude that persistent thrombocytopenia after marrow transplantation is most often secondary to increased platelet destruction mediated by multiple mechanisms and that platelet autoantibodies are found in patients with acute or chronic GVHD.
Households in Anthropology

Anthropologists use the term household loosely to refer to a residential unit, whose members cooperate in some activities of production, consumption, or child rearing. They differentiate the household from the family by defining the former as a residential unit and the latter as a kinship unit. Close scrutiny of this distinction reveals key assumptions that have shaped the way anthropologists and other social scientists have conceptualized and studied not only households, but also families, domestic groups, and kinship.
Three-year-old child out-of-position side airbag studies

A series of twenty-nine tests was completed by conducting static deployment of side airbag systems to an out-of-position Hybrid III three-year-old dummy. Mock-ups (bucks) of vehicle occupant compartments were constructed. The dummy was placed in one of four possible positions for both door- and seat-mounted side airbag systems. When data from each type of position test were combined for the various injury parameters it was noted that the head injury criteria (HIC) were maximized for head and neck tests, and the chest injury parameters were maximized for the chest tests. For the neck injury parameters, however, all of the test positions produced high values for at least one of the parameters. The study concluded the following. Static out-of-position child dummy side airbag testing is one possible method to evaluate the potential for injury for worst-case scenarios. The outcome of these tests are sensitive to preposition and various measurements should be made to reproduce the tests. For the same make and model of airbag, different deployment characteristics were observed and, therefore, duplicate tests should be run for repeatability in future research programs. For the airbags tested, these data suggest that the kind of tests necessary to evaluate head, neck, and chest injury potential may be limited to two different positions: a head-neck position, and a chest position. Other airbag designs may require evaluation of additional positions. The side airbags evaluated in this series appear to have the potential for injuring the out-of-position child under worst-case scenarios; the less aggressive airbags reduced this potential.
Three-dimensional modeling of sediment transport in a partially stratified micro-tidal estuary

Publisher Summary A 3D numerical model was used to investigate sediment trap effectiveness in a partially stratified micro-tidal estuary. The modeling domain was a 16 km reach of the St. Johns River, Florida, and two tributaries: the Ortega and the Cedar Rivers. The Cedar flows into the Ortega a few kilometers from the confluence of the Ortega and St. Johns Rivers. Sediment traps have been proposed as a remedial measure to minimize the transport of contaminated sediments from the Cedar River into the Ortega-St. Johns River system. The model simulations investigated the effect of traps at three different locations along the Cedar River. For each trap, three different sediment removal efficiencies (40%, 60%, and 80%) were simulated. Sediment removal efficiency is defined as the percentage of incoming sediment that deposits in the trap. The simulations showed that the upstream-most trap had minimal impact on reducing the flux of sediment out of the Cedar River, whereas the downstream-most trap had a significant impact.
Multiple-Choice Mathematics Questions-- How Students Attempt to Solve Them.

AT THE request of the College Board Committee of Examiners for the Mathe matics Achievement Tests (Level I and Level II), members of the Mathematics Department at Educational Testing Serv ice, including the authors, carried out a small-scale study in an attempt to de termine whether certain kinds of informa tion that could not be obtained from reg ular statistical analysis could be obtained by interviewing students. The usual procedure for determining whether newly written questions are ap propriate for inclusion on one of these tests is to prepare a set of such questions, called a pretest, and administer this pre test to a population that is similar to the group of candidates who will ultimately take an achievement test in mathematics for admission to college. After the admin istration of the pretest, each question is statistically analyzed. Of particular in terest in selecting one of these questions for use on a final test are the number of
Fostering a technology cultural change: the changing paradigms at the University of Minnesota Crookston

INTRODUCTION Many people in higher education wonder where the rapid changes in information technology are going to take them. Many more fear that the ongoing information technology explosion may eventually leave them behind. Due to entrenched mindsets and bureaucracy in higher education, fostering a technology cultural change requires paradigm shifts in all areas of administration, teaching, and research. A fundamental paradigm shift must happen in four areas before a technology cultural change can be set on a forward path. This chapter focuses on four essential components of a paradigm shift in technology and higher education at the University of Minnesota Crookston (UMC). This case describes how a paradigm shift model can help to promote a long-term technology cultural change in a higher education institution. The model consists of technology commitment, technology philosophy, investment priority, and development focus. It has been used at UMC to bring about a reengineering of the entire institution to support a ubiquitous laptop environment throughout the curriculum and campus. The model has helped UMC achieve an overwhelming success in utilizing laptop computing and other technology to enhance learning.
Closing the Loop in IoT-enabled Manufacturing Systems: Challenges and Opportunities

Revolutionary computing technologies are driving significant advances in the manufacturing domain. High-fidelity simulations and virtual design environments allow unprecedented opportunities to test and validate systems before they are built, reducing overall design time, and cost. These simulations can be run in real-time, in parallel to the physical system, to enable better visibility into plant floor operations. Torrents of data streaming from both simulations and the factory floor can be collected over high-speed networks, and stored in the cloud, enabling improved analytics, predictions, and performance. This paper will describe how the integration of simulation and plant-floor data can enable new control approaches that are able to optimize overall performance of manufacturing system operations. New opportunities for control engineers within the manufacturing sector will be highlighted.
Architectures of Transversality: Paul Klee, Louis Kahn and the Persian Imagination

Architectures of Transversality investigates the relationship between modernity, space, power, and culture in Iran. Focusing on Paul Klee’s Persian-inspired miniature series and Louis Kahn’s unbuilt blueprint for a democratic public space in Tehran, it traces the architectonics of the present as a way of moving beyond universalist and nationalist accounts of modernism. Transversality is a form of spatial production and practice that addresses the three important questions of the self, objects, and power. Using Deleuzian and Heideggerian theory, the book introduces the practices of Klee and Kahn as transversal spatial responses to the dialectical tension between existential and political territories and, in doing so, situates the history of the silent, unrepresented and the unbuilt – constructed from the works of Klee and Kahn – as a possible solution to the crisis of modernity and identity-based politics in Iran.
Stair Climbing and High Knee Flexion Activities in Bi-Cruciate Retaining Total Knee Arthroplasty: In Vivo Kinematics and Articular Contact Analysis.

Abstract Background Bi-cruciate retaining (BCR) total knee arthroplasty (TKA) preserves both anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments with the potential to restore normal posterior femoral rollback and joint kinematics. However, there is limited information regarding articular contact behavior in the contemporary BCR TKA design during high knee flexion activities. This study aimed to investigate the articular knee contact performance in unilateral BCR TKA patients during strenuous flexion activities. Methods Twenty-nine unilateral BCR TKA patients were evaluated for both knees during single deep lunges, step-ups, and sit-to-stand (STS) using a validated combined computer tomography and dual fluoroscopic imaging system. Medial and lateral condylar contact positions were quantified during weight-bearing flexion. Results Contact excursions of the lateral condyle in BCR TKAs were significantly more anteriorly located than the contralateral non-operated knees during STS (−4.9 ± 3.1 vs −9.7 ± 4.6 mm, P Conclusion The contemporary BCR TKA design demonstrated asymmetric femoral rollback, medial translation, as well as lateral pivoting in about half of the patient cohort, suggesting that in vivo tibiofemoral kinematic parameters were not fully restored in BCR patients during strenuous flexion activities.
Medical Management of Acute Fulminant Myocarditis

Myocarditis is a disease characterized by inflammation in the myocardium that results in cardiac-histologic and anatomical alterations as well as functional derangements secondary to myocardial destruction. While viruses frequently cause myocarditis, toxins or immunologic disease can also be the cause of myocarditis. Parvovirus B19 and human herpesvirus 6 are frequently the causative agent.
Burial and ritual

Inhumation—more commonly referred to as burial—is one of the most common mortuary ritual treatments, viewed across the diversity of human cultures and throughout recent prehistoric and historical p ...
Venous thromboembolism in plastic surgery: the current state of evidence in risk assessment and chemoprophylactic options

The application of venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis has been the topic of intense debate in plastic surgery. The overall incidence of VTE is low in plastic surgery patients as compared to other surgical subspecialties but may be higher in the inpatient rather than outpatient plastic surgery populations. The Caprini Risk Assessment Model is the most highly studied and validated tool to assess VTE risk in plastic surgery patients. However, the Caprini model lacks procedure-specific risk assessment and patient-specific risk factor calculations. Due to these limitations, such as the low incidence and the heterogeneous nature of the specialty, trials lacked the power to capture proof of benefit, except in the highest-risk inpatient population. The emerging use of aspirin and novel oral anticoagulants may provide an alternative, as noninferiority in terms of efficacy and safety has been demonstrated in other fields. In this review, the authors intend to summarize the current state of evidence for prevention and explore the modalities available for prophylaxis, including novel oral anticoagulants.
Immunological Lessons from Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine Development

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has eluded active vaccination efforts for more than five decades and continues to cause substantial morbidity and mortality in infants, the immunocompromised, and older adults. Although newer approaches of passive antibody-mediated protection show promise, vaccines aimed at eliciting fusion protein (F)-targeting antibodies have repeatedly failed to meet pre-established, modest-efficacy goals. Newer candidates, including protein-based vaccines, live-attenuated viruses, and gene-based delivery platforms, incorporate structurally defined and stabilized versions of the prefusion form of the F glycoprotein and are advancing rapidly into critical efficacy studies in susceptible target populations. This review discusses the storied history of RSV vaccine development, immunological lessons learned along the way, and critical findings about protein structure that remodeled our understanding of protective immunity to this important pathogen.
Learning Beyond the Science Classroom: A Roadmap to Success

Today’s college graduates compete in a global market fueled by rapid innovation and constant technological advances. In order to be able to contribute to and advance in these highly demanding careers, workers not only require advanced scientific and technological knowledge but they also need to possess versatility, collaborative problem-solving ability, professional self-confidence, and intercultural communication skills. Many of these latter competencies have been found to be better developed through co-curricular or experiential activities, like undergraduate research, internships, and community-based learning, than in the classroom. Yet, despite these findings most large research universities tend to regard experiential learning as an add-on. The College of Science at Purdue University, in contrast, has placed learning-beyond-the-classroom front and center. Students are encouraged to make co-curricular activities part of their overall academic plan and they are rewarded for doing so. Students benefit from a roadmap of activities in which to participate as well as coaching through the reflection process. They are prompted to discover a link between their experiences and what they have learned in the classroom, and encouraged to reflect on how their experiences may impact their futures. Completion of the Learning Beyond the Classroom Certificate appears on a student’s academic transcript and is noted at graduation.
Optimization Modeling in Water Resources: A Sample of Applications

Optimization modeling has been extensively described in the literature and less frequently applied in practice. The range of applications is enormous, spanning optimal pipe network design to optimal long term planning and operations of multiple reservoir systems. The purpose of this lecture is to describe a select set of optimization models that illustrate the range of development and use of this type of tool in water resources. The modeling developments described include: (1) the optimal design of gravity sewer networks using dynamic programming; (2) the optimal design of dual purpose detention systems or ponds to control water quantity and water quality in an urban drainage network using nonlinear programming; and (3) the long-term planning and operation of multipurpose reservoir systems using a variety of optimization techniques.
The effect of annealing on the selective laser melting of 2205 duplex stainless steel: Microstructure, grain orientation, and manufacturing challenges

Abstract 2205 Duplex stainless steel components were built using gas atomized powder ((D90
Hybrid fiber metal composite laminate interlaminar reinforcement through metal interlocks

Aircraft and automobile industries are continually seeking high-performance and lightweight solutions. Fiber-reinforced composites in conjunction with metals are being considered in the form of hybrid materials. There is a continuous need for improvement of interfacial bonding between composite layers and metal constituents. In this study, an innovative hybrid fiber interlocking metal hooks laminate (FIMHL) system was developed in which fiber-reinforced thermoset composite, and metal sheets are mechanically bonded together using out of plane hooks stamped in the metal. Process optimization was performed to gain the full benefit of the through-thickness reinforcement. Microstructural analysis showed improved interaction between the metal hooks and the fiber layers which reduced porosity and resin richness. This was reflected in mechanical properties, as tensile and flexural strength of FIMHL was enhanced by 38.5 and 18.8%, respectively, after process optimization. Normalized weight fraction (76.4%) properties of FIMHL also confirmed that the increase in mechanical properties of optimized panel were not only due to increased reinforcement (glass fiber + aluminum) volume fraction but also because of improved metal hooks and fibers interaction. There was no significant effect on lap shear and fracture toughness, as they depend on bend back behavior of the hooks. A bilinear traction-separation model was used to characterize mode-I interlaminar fracture toughness properties, and 4.5% variation was recorded when modeling and experimental values were compared.
Production of microbial polysaccharides.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the production of microbial polysaccharides. Polysaccharides is described as something that can be extracted from nonmucoid cell-wall membrane complexes by either chemical or enzymic treatment, or something that can occur as discrete capsules that surround cells. Often, depending on the conditions of growth, small amounts of these capsular materials are found free in the medium. Such capsular polysaccharides or slimes are usually detached from cells by either physical, for example, mechanical agitation, or enzymic treatment. In all instances when it has been attempted, extracellular polysaccharide formation can be demonstrated with resting cells. This synthetase activity is responsible for the continued production of biopolymer after cessation of growth in the presence of an excess of carbon source. Such experiments with resting cells can rapidly provide information regarding optimum conditions for fermentative production of polysaccharides. In conjunction with chemostat cultures, this technique appears to be an efficient way to elucidate the factors involved in such processes.
The novel chaperone protein SRCP1 reduces insoluble SOD1 protein in vivo without extending ALS mouse lifespan

Abstract Protein misfolding and aggregation are shared features of neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and protein quality control disruption contributes to neuronal toxicity. Therefore, reducing protein aggregation could hold therapeutic potential. We previously identified a novel chaperone protein, serine-rich chaperone protein 1 (SRCP1), that effectively prevents protein aggregation in cell culture and zebrafish models of Huntington’s disease. Here we tested whether this benefit extends to aggregated proteins found in ALS. We used viral-mediated expression of SRCP1 in in vitro and in vivo models of ALS. We found that SRCP1 reduced insoluble SOD1 protein levels in HEK293T cells overexpressing either the A4V or G93R mutant SOD1. However, the reduction of insoluble protein was not observed in either mutant C9orf72 or SOD1 ALS iPSC-derived motor neurons infected with a lentivirus expressing SRCP1. SOD1 G93A ALS mice injected with AAV-SRCP1 showed a small but significant reduction in insoluble and soluble SOD1 in both the brain and spinal cord, but SRCP1 expression did not improve mouse survival. These data indicate that SRCP1 likely reduces insoluble protein burden in a protein and/or context-dependent manner indicating a need for additional insight into SRCP1 function and therapeutic potential.
Association of Blood Donor Sex and Age With Outcomes in Very Low-Birth-Weight Infants Receiving Blood Transfusion.

Importance There are conflicting data on the association between blood donor characteristics and outcomes among patients receiving transfusions. Objective To evaluate the association of blood donor sex and age with mortality or serious morbidity in very low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants receiving blood transfusions. Design, Setting, and Participants This is a cohort study using data collected from 3 hospitals in Atlanta, Georgia. VLBW infants (≤1500 g) who received red blood cell (RBC) transfusion from exclusively male or female donors were enrolled from January 2010 to February 2014. Infants received follow-up until 90 days, hospital discharge, transfer to a non-study-affiliated hospital, or death. Data analysis was performed from July 2019 to December 2020. Exposures Donor sex and mean donor age. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was a composite outcome of death, necrotizing enterocolitis (Bell stage II or higher), retinopathy of prematurity (stage III or higher), or moderate-to-severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Modified Poisson regression, with consideration of covariate interactions, was used to estimate the association between donor sex and age with the primary outcome, with adjustment for the total number of transfusions and birth weight. Results In total, 181 infants were evaluated, with a mean (SD) birth weight of 919 (253) g and mean (SD) gestational age of 27.0 (2.2) weeks; 56 infants (31%) received RBC transfusion from exclusively female donors. The mean (SD) donor age was 46.6 (13.7) years. The primary outcome incidence was 21% (12 of 56 infants) among infants receiving RBCs from exclusively female donors, compared with 45% (56 of 125 infants) among those receiving RBCs from exclusively male donors. Significant interactions were detected between female donor and donor age (P for interaction = .005) and between female donor and number of transfusions (P for interaction < .001). For the typical infant, who received a median (interquartile range) of 2 (1-3) transfusions, RBC transfusion from exclusively female donors, compared with male donors, was associated with a lower risk of the primary outcome (relative risk, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.16-0.54). The protective association between RBC transfusions from female donors, compared with male donors, and the primary outcome increased as the donor age increased, but decreased as the number of transfusions increased. Conclusions and Relevance These findings suggest that RBC transfusion from female donors, particularly older female donors, is associated with a lower risk of death or serious morbidity in VLBW infants receiving transfusion. Larger studies confirming these findings and examining potential mechanisms are warranted.
Loosely bound states near the charm threshold. Charm molecules

We discuss the possibility of loosely bound states near the charm threshold in the charmed-particle and antiparticle system such as\(D\bar D, D*\bar D*\), etc. An explicit calculation shows that theS- andP-wave states exist in the\(D\bar D\) system with reasonable values for the parameters of the interaction. These bound states may be very close to threshold with large sizes (r.m.s.≳1 fm). Characteristics of these molecularlike states and their relationship with the quark model\(c\bar c\) bound states are also discussed.
The Physical Properties of V(Fe,Co,Ni)3 Alloys from 300 to 1000 K

The temperature dependence of the transport properties [thermal conductivity (λ), electrical resistivity (ρ), and thermopower (S)] and the thermal expansion coefficients [differential (αo) and mean αm)] were determined in the range 300 to 1000 K for three alloys: water quenched V(Fe0. 22Co0.78)3, ordered V(Fe0.22Co0.78)3 and ordered V(Fe0.6Ni0.4)3, modified with Ti. These long-range-ordered alloys have superior structural performance at elevated temperatures1–4 and one goal of this study was to determine the ratio, α0/λ, which is needed to assess the resistance of these experimental alloys to thermal stresses in advanced power system applications.
Rao-Blackwellized Particle Filters for Recognizing Activities and Spatial Context from Wearable Sensors

Recent advances in wearable sensing and computing devices and in fast probabilistic inference techniques make possible the fine-grained estimation of a person’s activities over extended periods of time [6]. Such technologies enable applications ranging from context aware computing to support for cognitively impaired people to monitoring of activities of daily living.
JPEG2000 Image Coding Standard

JPEG2000 is a new international image compression standard developed to address some of the shortcomings of the original JPEG standard. JPEG2000 delivers lossy and lossless image compression using the same wavelet based algorithms. A key feature of JPEG2000 is that it produces a very flexible bit stream by only coding the image data once. This bit stream can be rearranged such that sequential decoding gives images of progressively larger size, higher quality, or more colors. All the resultant bit streams maintain a strict embedded property such that truncation of the bit streams gives optimal compressed representations for the given truncated length. Keywords: wavelet compression; image progression; embedded quantization
Acculturative type is associated with breastfeeding duration among low-income Latinas.

We sought to assess the relationship between acculturative type and breastfeeding outcomes among low-income Latinas, utilising a multidimensional assessment of acculturation. We analysed data derived from a breastfeeding peer counselling randomised trial. Acculturation was assessed during pregnancy using a modified Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans scale. Analyses were restricted to Latinas who completed the acculturation scale and had post-partum breastfeeding data (n = 114). Cox survival analyses were conducted to evaluate differences in breastfeeding continuation and exclusivity by acculturative type. Participants were classified as integrated-high (23.7%, n = 27), traditional Hispanic (36.8%, n = 42), integrated-low (12.3%, n = 14) and assimilated (27.2%, n = 31). The integrated-low group was significantly more likely to continue breastfeeding than the traditional Hispanic, assimilated, and integrated-high groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.05, and P < 0.01, respectively). The traditional Hispanic group was marginally more likely to continue breastfeeding than the integrated-high group (P = 0.06). Breastfeeding continuation rates vary significantly between acculturative types in this multinational, low-income Latina sample. Multidimensional assessments of acculturation may prove useful in better tailoring future breastfeeding promotion interventions.
Circadian parameters are altered in two strains of mice with transgenic modifications of estrogen receptor subtype 1.

There are sex differences in free-running rhythms, activity level and activity distribution that are attributed, in part, to the action of gonadal hormones. We tested the hypothesis that non-classical estrogenic signaling pathways at estrogen receptor subtype 1 (ESR1) modify the amplitude and phase of activity. We used ESR1 knock-out mice (ERKO) and non-classical estrogen receptor knock-in mice (NERKI). ERKO animals are unable to respond to estrogen at the ESR1 and NERKI animals lack the ability to respond to estrogens via the estrogen response element-mediated pathway, but can still respond via non-classical mechanisms. We compared intact male and female ERKO, NERKI and wildtype (WT) mice with respect to total wheel-running activity, activity distribution across the 24-h day, phase angle of activity onset and free-running period (τ) and the duration of activity in constant conditions. WT females had significantly greater activity than WT males, and this activity was more consolidated to the dark phase of the light:dark cycle. These sex differences were absent in the NERKI and ERKO animals. Among females, NERKI and ERKO animals had greater activity during the light phase than WT counterparts. Additionally, we have identified a novel contribution of non-classical estrogen signaling pathways on the distribution of activity. Our data suggest that total activity is ESR1-dependent and daily activity patterns depend on both classical and non-classical actions of estrogens. These data will aid in identifying the mechanisms underlying sex differences in sleep–wake cycles and the influence of steroid hormones on circadian patterns.
17β-Estradiol Dehydrogenase of Ovine Ovaries

Abstract An estradiol dehydrogenase (17β-hydroxysteroid:NAD(P)+ oxidoreductase) which catalyzed the reversible oxidation of 17β-estradiol to estrone was purified more than 800-fold from ovine ovary homogenates with a 9.9% yield. The specific activity in the best preparation was 136 nmoles of NADH produced per min per mg of protein at 30°. The preparations approached homogeneity by sedimentation analysis and by discontinuous polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis at pH 9.5 and 4.3. The molecular weight was 104,000 from sucrose density gradient centrifugation, and the Stokes radius was 50.5 A from gel filtration on Sephadex G-150. The preferred steroid substrate was 17β-estradiol; the preferred cofactor was NAD+. The enzyme also accepted 3-O-methyl-17β-estradiol as a substrate but did not dehydrogenate ethanol or 1,2-propanediol. Under the conditions of assay used (20% organic solvent), the Michaelis constant for NAD+ was 5.2 x 10-4 m, and for 17β-estradiol it was 3.0 x 10-5 m. Kinetic studies of the forward reaction showed that the mechanism was sequential. The purified enzyme was unstable in simple buffers and was stabilized by the presence of certain inorganic ions, 20% glycerol, and 0.05 m 2-mercaptoethanol.
Implementation of ECEPP-Based Programs on the IBM SP2 and the SGI Power Challenge Computers

In this paper, we describe the design and implementation of a message-passing algorithm which enables the Empirical Conformational Energy Program for Peptides (ECEPP/3) and related programs to run efficiently on the IBM RISC System/6000 POWERparallel System (SP2). Either the Message Passing Library (MPL) or the Message Passing Interface (MPI) can be used on the SP2; the MPI version also runs on the SGI Power Challenge computer. Some performance data are presented.
The Role of Field Measurements in Environmental Radiation Monitoring

The assessment of radioactivity releases from nuclear facilities is performed with instruments located in the effluent streams or by measuring samples collected from these streams. Direct field monitoring is relegated to a lesser role in dose assessment. This practice recognizes that effluent measurements are more easily and rapidly performed than environmental measurements. At the same time detailed environmental measurements are required around nuclear power plants. This arrangement of priorities produces a unclear understanding of the objectives of field measurements thus reducing their importance and hence the quality of the data. The elements of direct field measurements should include the routine deployment of thermoluminescent dosimeters and a few continuous real time monitors. The availability of field monitors provides for the rapid evaluation of special problems in or near the plantthat arise from time to time. Moreover, such sensitive measurement methods in conjunction with meteorological data and direct effluent measurements can be employed to verify the models used for setting release limits, to calculate doses to the population around the site, and to maintain a check on effluent measurements. Improved monitoring efforts should instill greater public confidence in the facility's normal operations by detailing actual exposure data in a timely fashion.
Predictability of River Flow and Suspended Sediment Transport in the Mississippi River Basin: A Non-linear Deterministic Approach

As the Mississippi River plays a major role in fulfilling various water demands in North America, accurate prediction of river flow and sediment transport in the basin is crucial for undertaking both short-term emergency measures and long-term management efforts. To this effect, the present study investigates the predictability of river flow and suspended sediment transport in the basin. As most of the existing approaches that link water discharge, suspended sediment concentration and suspended sediment load possess certain limitations (absence of consensus on linkages), this study employs an approach that presents predictions of a variable based on history of the variable alone. The approach, based on non-linear determinism, involves: (1) reconstruction of single-dimensional series in multi-dimensional phase-space for representing the underlying dynamics; and (2) use of the local approximation technique for prediction. For implementation, river flow and suspended sediment transport variables observed at the St. Louis (Missouri) station are studied. Specifically, daily water discharge, suspended sediment concentration and suspended sediment load data are analysed for their predictability and range, by making predictions from one day to ten days ahead. The results lead to the following conclusions: (1) extremely good one-day ahead predictions are possible for all the series; (2) prediction accuracy decreases with increasing lead time for all the series, but the decrease is much more significant for suspended sediment concentration and suspended sediment load; and (3) the number of mechanisms dominantly governing the dynamics is three for each of the series. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bacillus subtilis chemotaxis: a deviation from the Escherichia coli paradigm

In Escherichia coli, chemotactic sensory transduction is believed to involve phosphoryl transfer for excitation, and changes in receptor methylation for adaptation. In Bacillus subtilis, changes in degree of receptor methylation do not bring about adaptation. Novel methylation reactions are believed to be involved in excitation in B. subtilis. The main chemotaxis proteins of E. coli--CheA, CheB, CheR, CheW and CheY--are present in B. subtilis but play somewhat different roles in the two organisms. Several unique chemotaxis proteins are also present in B. subtilis. Some of the properties of B. subtilis chemotaxis are also seen in Halobacterium halobium, suggesting that there may be a similar underlying mechanism that predates the evolutionary separation of the bacteria from the archaea and eucarya.
Ion-exchange separation and automated assay of complex mixtures of amino acids and hexosamines.

Abstract A number of amino acids and amino sugars have been simultaneously separated on Dowex 50 (chromobeads, type B) resins using pyridineacetic acid buffer gradients as eluents. The effluents were automatically assayed for amino groups as well as for reducing properties.
Colloidal silica--aluminum modified--PVP density gradient centrifugation: centrifuge tube wall cell adherence, aggregation, separation properties and comparison to BSA and Ficoll.

Abstract A method is described for the inexpensive and easy preparation of colloidal silica-aluminum modified-polyvinylpyrrolidone (CS-AM-PVP) density gradient centrifugation medium. Using density gradient centrifugation, several cell separation and biochemical characteristics were studied: centrifuge tube wall cell adherence, mouse spleen cell density distribution, rebanding properties, mitogen response and cell aggregation. Cell adherence to the centrifuge tube wall using density gradients of CS-AM-PVP was compared with density gradients of bovine serum albumin and Ficoll. Few cells adhered to the centrifuge tube wall when CS-AM-PVP was used as a gradient medium; whereas, significant cell adherence to the centrifuge tube wall occurred when bovine serum albumin of Ficoll was used as a gradient medium. The CS-AM-PVP gradient medium did not inhibit the response to mitogens of mouse spleen cells which had been separated into density subpopulations in a discontinuous CS-AM-PVP density gradient, caused a minimum amount of cell aggregation, and was found to be non-toxic.
Backward errors for eigenvalue and singular value decompositions

We present bounds on the backward errors for the symmetric eigenvalue decomposition and the singular value decomposition in the two-norm and in the Frobenius norm. Through different orthogonal decompositions of the computed eigenvectors we can define different symmetric backward errors for the eigenvalue decomposition. When the computed eigenvectors have a small residual and are close to orthonormal then all backward errors tend to be small. Consequently it does not matter how exactly a backward error is defined and how exactly residual and deviation from orthogonality are measured. Analogous results hold for the singular vectors. We indicate the effect of our error bounds on implementations for eigenvector and singular vector computation. In a more general context we prove that the distance of an appropriately scaled matrix to its orthogonal QR factor is not much larger than its distance to the closest orthogonal matrix.
Stress response of Aeromonas hydrophila following environmental challenges

Two strains of Aeromonas hydrophila were studied to determine the effects of four stresses: acid adaptation, acid shock, starvation, and cold adaptation on subsequent heat tolerance (50°C) or freeze/thaw (−20°C/21°C) resistance. D -values (min or days) were calculated and interactions between stress and strain were evaluated. Survivor curves for heat tolerance and freeze/thaw resistance were nonlinear. Acid shock or acid adaptation effects on heat tolerance and freeze/thaw resistance were variable between the two strains (P 0·05). Cold adaptation decreased heat tolerance for both strains and had no effect on freeze/thaw resistance. Both strains were more acid tolerant following prior exposure to acid stress (pH 5·0) in log phase (P<0·05). Log phase cells of strain ATCC 7965 were more acid tolerant than MSV1. No differences in acid tolerance were observed between strains of stationary phase cells. A. hydrophila does not appear to have a measurable phenotypic cross protective response to starvation or cold stress that enhances heat or freeze/thaw tolerance and has limited response to other stresses.
A Brief Introduction to the Strong CP Problem

The present status of the strong CP problem is briefly reviewed in a heuristic way. A crisis in EDMN calculation is explained. The equation of vacuum alignment obtained by the author and collaborators last year put a constraint on strong CP parameters. Thus the strong CP will be forced to vanish in one of the three scenarios characterized respectively by axion, zero quark mass and vanishing quark condensate.
Crosslinking of diene polymers via ‘ENE’ reaction with bistriazolinediones

Bistriazolinediones (BTDs) have been used to synthesize a large number of highly crosslinked polydienes by the ‘ene’ reaction. BTDs have been found to be effective crosslinking agents at room temperature. The crossliked polymers were swollen in benzene, and the crosslink density and the molecular weight between crosslinks were determined by the Flory-Rehner equation.