cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of delayed liquid gastric emptying in children by the (13)C-acetate breath test.

The 13C-acetate breath test represents a potential alternative to conventional scintigraphy to measure liquid gastric emptying (GE). The purpose of this study was to compare the 13C-acetate breath test to gastric scintigraphy in children with functional dyspepsia. Simultaneous assessment of GE was performed in 28 children (9–17 years of age) using a liquid test meal that was double labeled with 13C-acetate and 99 mTechnetium. 13CO2 versus time profiles were fit using traditional pharmacokinetic analyses. For each subject, GE half-life determined by scintigraphy was plotted against parameters determined from the 13C-acetate breath test. Linear regression was used to explore the associations between the tests. Complete 13CO2 versus time profiles were available for 25 subjects. There was no association between the scintigraphy GE T½ and the13CO2 half-exhalation time. However, significant associations were observed between the gastric half-emptying time as determined by scintigraphy and two of the breath test parameters: the enrichment of 13CO2 present in breath samples at 60 min (DOB60) (r = −0.52, p = 0.01) and the area under the curve from 0 to 60 min (AUC0-60 min) (r = −0.54; p < 0.01). The 13C-acetate breath test has the potential to serve as a rapid, technically simple and inexpensive means to assess liquid GE in children with functional dyspepsia and possibly serve as a pharmacodynamic surrogate in studies of prokinetic drugs in children.
QM/MM MD and Free Energy Simulations of G9a-Like Protein (GLP) and Its Mutants: Understanding the Factors that Determine the Product Specificity

Certain lysine residues on histone tails could be methylated by protein lysine methyltransferases (PKMTs) using S-adenosyl-L-methionine (AdoMet) as the methyl donor. Since the methylation states of the target lysines play a fundamental role in the regulation of chromatin structure and gene expression, it is important to study the property of PKMTs that allows a specific number of methyl groups (one, two or three) to be added (termed as product specificity). It has been shown that the product specificity of PKMTs may be controlled in part by the existence of specific residues at the active site. One of the best examples is a Phe/Tyr switch found in many PKMTs. Here quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/MM) molecular dynamics (MD) and free energy simulations are performed on wild type G9a-like protein (GLP) and its F1209Y and Y1124F mutants for understanding the energetic origin of the product specificity and the reasons for the change of product specificity as a result of single-residue mutations at the Phe/Tyr switch as well as other positions. The free energy barriers of the methyl transfer processes calculated from our simulations are consistent with experimental data, supporting the suggestion that the relative free energy barriers may determine, at least in part, the product specificity of PKMTs. The changes of the free energy barriers as a result of the mutations are also discussed based on the structural information obtained from the simulations. The results suggest that the space and active-site interactions around the e-amino group of the target lysine available for methyl addition appear to among the key structural factors in controlling the product specificity and activity of PKMTs.
Effect of PCR extension temperature on high-throughput sequencing

The DNA amplification process can be a source of bias and artifacts, especially when amplifying genomic areas with extreme AT or GC content. The human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum has an AT-rich genome, and some of its highly AT-rich regions have been shown to be refractory to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. Biased amplification may lead to erroneous conclusions for studies investigating genome-wide gene expression, nucleosome position, and copy number variation. Here we compare genome-wide nucleosome coverage in libraries amplified at three different extension temperatures and show that reduction in PCR extension temperature from 70°C to 60°C can greatly increase the fraction of coverage at AT-rich regions of the P. falciparum genome. Our method will improve the efficiency and coverage in sequencing an AT-rich genome.
Laterally averaged interaction potentials and mean positions of inert gas atoms adsorbed on the (0001) graphite surface

Abstract Recent experimental atomic/molecular beam scattering results have revived interest in calculations of potential energy functions for the interaction between atoms/molecules and solid surfaces. Studies of the scattering of H 2 [1] and He [2] by graphite have yielded values of bound state energy levels, and earlier calculations [3] using lattice sums of pairwise potentials with parameters derived from like-atom interactions led to reasonable agreement with experimental results for H 2 when the anisotropy of C-atoms in graphite was explicitly included. The same model has been extended to He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe interacting with graphite. Values of the mean positions 〈 z 〉 of these atoms above a basal plane of graphite have also been found. The results are compared with empirical results where available and with the results of similar calculations by Cole and Klein [4].
The role of distraction in improving the space available for the cord in cervical spondylosis.

Study Design. This study analyzed the effects of distraction via strut graft insertion on the canal dimensions in spondylotic human cadaver cervical spines. Transverse and anteroposterior diameters and cross-sectional areas were measured by transverse computed tomography imaging before and after distraction without direct decompression. Objectives. This experiment was designed to address whether distraction accross the disc space without direct canal decompression can improve the space available for the cord. Summary of Background Data. Smith-Robinson anterior discectomy and fusion have been shown to improve clinical symptoms of radiculopathy and myelopathy even in the absence of direct decompression. This has been postulated to be the result of gradual resorption of intruding osteophytes. However, the immediate effects of indirect distraction alon have not been previously investigated. Methods. Four cadaver spines from elderly donors were harvested intact. The transverse diameter, anteroposterior diameter, and cross-sectional area of the spinal canal were measured before and after discectomy and distraction via insertion of fibular strut graft by digitization of contiguous computed tomography scan slices. Results. The spinal canal dimensions before distraction were found to vary in a sinusoidal pattern around the disc space, with the maximum measurements located at the pedicle and the minimum measurements at the spondylotic ridge above or below the disc space. Distraction via strut graft insertion significantly increased the anteroposterior diameter and cross-sectional area, but had a negligible effect on transverse diameter. Conclusions. Anterior discectomy and distraction with a strut graft can significantly improve the space available for the cord in cervical spondylosis. Osteophyte debridement, which risks iatrogenic injury to the cord, may not always be necessary for improving clinical radiculopathy and myelopathy
Unique effects of daily perceived control on anxiety symptomatology during conjugal bereavement

Abstract The role of daily perceived control was examined in a recently bereaved sample of 34 older adult widows. Trait measures of environmental mastery and stress were measured in questionnaires, and state measures of anxiety, depression, stress, and control were assessed daily over ninety-eight days. Results highlight the critical role of daily control in the months immediately following conjugal loss. After controlling for concurrent depressive symptomatology, intra-individual analyses revealed significant reductions in the magnitude of the stress–anxiety correlation on days in which greater perceived control was present. Results also suggest different vulnerability and protective factors are implicated in the experience of daily anxiety. For widows with greater environmental mastery, there was significant attenuation in the magnitude of the within-person correlation between control and anxiety. In contrast, among widows with chronically high levels of stress, there was greater overlap in ratings of daily stress and anxiety.
Transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) for age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose. To review the results of transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) on choroidal neovascular membranes associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Materials and Methods. 35 eyes of 35 patients with AMD and choroidal neovascularization and exudation were treated with TTT and had fundus photographs and fluorescein angiography (FA) before and at least six months after TTT. 28 eyes had predominantly occult lesions as seen on FA, while 7 demonstrated primarily classic lesions. All were treated with 650 mw power or less using the 810 nm diode laser (3000 micron spot, duration of 60 seconds). Visual acuity, lesion size, and amount of subretinal fluid were determined by results of examination and review of photographs and fluorescein angiograms. Results. A 50% reduction in subretinal fluid was achieved in 67% of treated eyes overall, with stabilization of vision (less than three lines of visual acuity lost) in 86%. Complications from treatment were infrequent (9%) and involved hemorrhage noted in the...
Companion Animal Medicine in the Age of Medical Genetics

We'd like to explain what pathology means, In terms of what's wrong with the structure of genes; Know if a control or a structural locus Constitutes the exact pathological focus. With the help of the enzymes that slice DNA, And cloning techniques, we now have a way To study the actual sequence of bases; To know when those purines are not in their places.1
Recurrent Clear Cell Hidradenoma of the Foot

Background. Clear cell hidradenoma is an uncommon neoplasm without established optimal treatment. Objective. Using Mohs micrographic surgery, a recurrent clear cell hidradenoma of the right foot was treated. Methods. Case report and literature review. Results. Two stages of Mohs micrographic surgery and subsequent repair successfully treated the recurrent clear cell hidradenoma. No recurrence of the neoplasm has been observed at 11 months follow-up. Conclusion Optimal treatment of clear cell hidradenoma is unestablished. Adequate primary local excision is essential. Mohs micrographic surgery should be considered for treatment, especially on recurrent tumors in critical locations.
Poxvirus-based vaccine platforms: getting at those hard-to-reach places

Rodolfo Nino-Fong & James B Johnston† †Author for correspondence Institute for Nutrisciences & Health, National Research Council Canada, 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, PE, C1A 4P3, Canada Tel.: +1 902 566 8007; Fax: +1 902 367 7539; james.johnston@nrc.ca ‘The prominence of poxviruses as candidate vaccine vectors completes a circle begun in the 18th century when Jenner first tested the theory of vaccination using Cowpox virus to inoculate against smallpox infection.’
Prejudice and Discrimination within the School Psychology Profession: Survey Results from the Committee on Prejudice and Discrimination, Division of School Psychology, American Psychological Association.

Abstract The committee on prejudice and discrimination, Division of School Psychology, American Psychological Association, conducted a survey in order to determine whether school psychologists have (a) experienced any prejudice and/or discrimination with respect to ethnicity, gender, age, and sexual orientation in salary schedule (in primary employment and in consultative employment), in tenure status, and in publication and grant productivity rate (number of articles published in professional journals, whether they have reviewed articles for journals, amount of typical research grant received); and (b) engaged in legal and/or legislative activity around any existing prejudice or discrimination. A total of 850 surveys were sent to a random sample of approximately 2,500 members of Division 16, American Psychological Association, and the total return was 52%, with 41.2% usuable responses. The results do not in themselves indicate bias with respect to ethnicity, gender, age, or sexual orientation. The findings do, however, indicate the need for further study regarding possible prejudice and discrimination.
Unmanned surface vehicles, 15 years of development

To celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Oceanic Engineering Society (OES) at the MTS/IEEE OCEANS 2008 Conference in Quebec City a series of review papers were requested from OES technical committee chairs. In response to that request this paper provides a review of the field of unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) and autonomous surface craft (ASCs). The paper discusses the enabling technologies that have allowed USVs to emerge as a viable platform for marine operations as well as the application areas where they offer value. The paper tracks developments in technology from early systems developed by the author in 1993 through the latest developments and demonstration programs. The future outlook for USV technology is also described.
Organization of motor pools supplying axial muscles in the chicken

Intramuscular injections of the retrograde tracers 1,1'-dioctadecyl-3,3,3',3'-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate (DiI) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) were used to map the motor pools innervating axial muscles in the cervical and thoracic regions of the chicken. We found that motor pool position is well correlated with the muscle's embryonic origin, and not necessarily with its position. Muscles of myotomal (exclusively somitic) origin were innervated by medially positioned motoneurons in the median motor column, and the motor pools supplying these muscles were somatotopically organized. Muscles having a dual embryonic origin, from the somites and lateral plate, were innervated by motoneurons positioned further laterally within the median motor column. The relationship between motor pool position and embryonic origin of the muscle may be a general principle of ventral horn organization.
Pollination Ecology and Endemic Adaptation of Pedicularis howellii Gray (Scrophulariaceae)

Pedicularis howellii, endemic to the Siskiyou Mountains of California-Oregon, is a root hemiparasite obligately dependent upon bumblebee pollinators that remove pollen by vibration from its short-tubed, nectarless, rostrate flowers, which reflect visible and ultraviolet (360nm) light attractive to Bombus foragers. All sixBombus species in the study area pollinated the plant, but only on P. howellii andP. racemosa were B. mixtus workers the most abundant pollinators among the seven bumblebee-pollinated plants studied, including Delphinium decorum, Dodecatheon jeffreyi, Penstemon newberryi, P. shastensis, and Phacelia heterophylla. Analysis of corbicular pollen loads of Bombus pollinators indicated that pollen foragers on Pedicularis species were less pollen-constant than all other bumblebee pollinators. Although P. howellii and P. racemosa blooming periods overlapped slightly, phenological isolation of blooming periods of plants sharing the same pollinators was not evident. Chemical soil analysis of its habitat and quadrat analysis of the population structure of Pedicularis howellii indicated that the plant grows in a moderately fertile forest soil and is restricted to the edge of forest canopy openings where sunlight favors development of plants to the flowering stage. The endemism of P. howellii is related to a similar “edge effect” survival of P. furbishiae in a boreal forest riparian habitat previously studied.
Alcohol‐Induced Inhibition of Alveolar Macrophage Oxidant Release in Vivo and in Vitro

Alcohol consumption is known to predispose the host to more frequent and severe bacterial infections, suggesting that alcohol compromises the normal immune function of the lung. The pulmonary alveolar macrophage is the resident host defense cell in the lung and forms the first line of defense against invading microorganisms. One of the mechanisms whereby alveolar macrophages kill bacteria is by releasing toxic oxygen radical species, such as superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide. We hypothesized that chronic alcohol consumption caused alveolar macrophage dysfunction leading to inhibition of oxidant production when stimulated. Our data demonstrate that alveolar macrophages harvested from alcohol-treated rats release significantly lower quantity (p < 0.05) of both superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide when stimulated with several different types of stimuli including heat-killed Staphylococcus aureus, soluble immune complexes or phorbol myristate acetate. Pair-fed control rats who received isocaloric quantities of maltose dextrin in their diet to compensate for the alcohol were able to produce oxidants in equal quantities when stimulated, to rats who were fed a normal diet. Similar results were noted in vitro experiments when alveolar macrophages harvested from normal rats were incubated in vitro in alcohol-containing media and then stimulated with the aforementioned stimuli. Alveolar macrophages, which had been incubated in alcohol for 4 hr, showed significant decreases in their ability to produce superoxide anion. This defect was noticeable for a period up to 8 hr following removal of alveolar macrophages from the alcohol-containing media.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
A high-definition view of endogenous fungal endophthalmitis

A 47-year-old man on systemic immunosuppression with ciclosporin 150 mg twice daily and prednisolone 30 mg daily after bone marrow transplantation for aplastic anaemia secondary to previous non-Hodgkin lymphoma, presented with 2 weeks of painless visual loss to 6/60. He was already admitted for neutropenic sepsis with a central venous line in situ, and was receiving voriconazole and caspofungin for lung aspergillosis. Dilated ophthalmoscopy of the right fundus showed two discrete retinal infi ltrates, suggesting endogenous fungal endophthalmitis (fi gure, A). The appearance of the left fundus was normal. A horizontally oriented spectral domain optical coherence tomography scan of the macula showed a high-intensity opacity distorting the right fovea, with shadowing of underlying retinal layers (fi gure, B). Intravitreal voriconazole (100 μg) was given, and systemic antifungal treatment with voriconazole (200 mg twice daily) and caspofungin (50 mg daily) was continued. Blood, cerebrospinal fl uid, and intraocular cultures did not grow aspergillus, and a brain/orbit MRI was normal. A good response was noted after 3 weeks (fi gure, C), and by 7 weeks, the man achieved 6/6 vision (fi gure, D). Our patient presented early because of foveal involvement at the outset, but the disorder often presents at a later stage if the macula area is initially unaff ected. Fungal endophthalmitis is potentially blinding and represents end-organ deposit from systemic infection. Risk factors include immuno compromise, intravenous drug use, haemodialysis, and indwelling catheters. Our patient has continuing thrombocytopenia treated with intermittent platelet transfusions, and he still takes 200 mg oral voriconazole twice a day. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography is an imaging modality now commonly used by ophthalmologists and optom etrists to detect and monitor retinal disease. The method off ers unprecedented detail of structures, which allows the level of pathology among the retinal layers to be established. Haematogenous spread of endogenous fungal endophthalimits to the eye happens via the larger choroidal vessels that perfuse the outer retina. Once within the retina, the infection progresses inwards until it breaks through into the vitreous cavity, causing an acceleration of vitreous infl ammation and associated symptoms of fl oaters, pain, photophobia, and reduced vision. These images show that vitreous extension can be prevented and good vision preserved with early detection and treatment. Lancet Infect Dis 2014; 14: 358
Probing erectile function: S-(2-boronoethyl)-L-cysteine binds to arginase as a transition state analogue and enhances smooth muscle relaxation in human penile corpus cavernosum.

The boronic acid-based arginine analogue S-(2-boronoethyl)-l-cysteine (BEC) has been synthesized and assayed as a slow-binding competitive inhibitor of the binuclear manganese metalloenzyme arginase. Kinetic measurements indicate a KI value of 0.4−0.6 μM, which is in reasonable agreement with the dissociation constant of 2.22 μM measured by isothermal titration calorimetry. The X-ray crystal structure of the arginase−BEC complex has been determined at 2.3 A resolution from crystals perfectly twinned by hemihedry. The structure of the complex reveals that the boronic acid moiety undergoes nucleophilic attack by metal-bridging hydroxide ion to yield a tetrahedral boronate anion that bridges the binuclear manganese cluster, thereby mimicking the tetrahedral intermediate (and its flanking transition states) in the arginine hydrolysis reaction. Accordingly, the binding mode of BEC is consistent with the structure-based mechanism proposed for arginase as outlined in Cox et al. [Cox, J. D., Cama, E., Colleluori ...
Effects of supplemental progesterone on the development, metabolism and blastocyst cell number of bovine embryos produced in vitro.

The objectivesof the present experiment were todetermine whether supplementation with progesterone (LO, 1ngmL � 1 or HI, 100ngmL � 1 ) during either the first (Culture-1, Day 1 to 3) or second (Culture-2, Day 4 to 7) phase of culture of in vitro-produced embryos alters embryo development, embryo metabolism or blastocyst cell number. The percentage of oocytes that cleaved, the percentage of cleaved embryos that developed to the morula stage or greater, the blastocyst stage or greater or the hatched blastocyst stage were similar among treatments. Quantities of glucose metabolised per blastocyst per hour were similar, but when metabolic data was normalised for numbers of cells in each blastocyst, the LO treatment during Culture-2 metabolised more glucose (P ¼0.03) compared with all other treatments. Embryos receiving LO progesterone tended to have greater (P ¼0.085) metabolism of glucose compared with embryos receiving HI progesterone. Quantities of pyruvate oxidised per blastocyst per hour, and per cell, were similar among treatments. The number of cells per blastocyst in the control group was increased (P ¼0.039) compared with cells in progesterone-treated groups. In conclusion, supplementation with progesterone during the culture of in vitro-produced embryos does not appear to improve embryo characteristics.
Is the ‘Hard Bargaining’ Image of the Council Misleading? The Committee of Permanent Representatives and the Local Elections Directive

The quiet evolution of the Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper) into a de facto decision-making body has received surprisingly little attention from integration researchers. Even less attention has been paid to the novel institutional form and underlying rationality of this forum at the interface between the national and Community levels. This article argues that Coreper maintains the performance of the Council through the production of a distinct culture of compromise and community-method. The result, empirically demonstrated in a case study of the 1994 local elections directive, is a shared commitment to finding solutions, where membership in the collective decision-making process has become part of the rational calculus of defining and defending self-interests. These findings suggest the need to modify the ‘hard bargaining’ image of EU decision-making.
A convergent synthesis of new β-turn mimics by click chemistry

Alkyne–azide cycloaddition (“click” chemistry) between two peptide strands derivatized with terminal azide and alkyne, respectively, provides an efficient convergent synthesis of triazole ring-based new β-turn mimics.
Constraints on group size in primates and carnivores: population density and day-range as assays of exploitation competition

We hypothesise that foraging group size (FGS) and population group size (PGS) in primates and carnivores are related to quantifiable variables indexing the intensity of exploitative competition. Group size is predicted to increase with both food density and travel capabilities, as estimated by the “constraint-free day-range” (DRs), i.e. the day-range of a solitary individual uninfluenced by competition from conspecifics. We test this “exploitation competition” hypothesis among primates and carnivores, using data on populations, species and genera. Food density was indexed by population density. Where DRs could be estimated by regression it was found to be correlated with observed day-range (DRm). DRs was therefore indexed by DRm in all species. Population density and DRm were associated with each other, but in a multiple regression each variable contributed independently to explaining variation in group size. PGS was predicted better than FGS, but regressions involving either measure of group size were significant in all analyses. The multiple regression analyses were validated by the method of linear contrasts, which accounts for possible lack of independence among taxa. We conclude that species differences in group size are influenced by both food density and DRs. This suggests that variation in the intensity of exploitation competition is partly responsible for differences in group size.
The ethics of accounting research

Abstract Doctoral students and many accounting professors and practicing accountants conduct theoretical or empirical accounting research. Human subjects have been recruited in increasing numbers to participate in behavioral and attitudinal accounting studies. However, the ethical obligations of accounting researchers to other researchers and readers, to subjects, and to participating organizations have received little attention. In this paper, the history of research ethics codes in other disciplines and the ethical obligations of accounting researchers are discussed. A tentative code of ethics is presented for the purpose of stimulating discussion about ethical issues in accounting research.
Stress heats up the adipocyte

Cells and tissues are often subjected to stressful environments that challenge homeostasis and can include oxidative, nutrient or metabolic stress. Cell survival requires the recruitment of stress pathways that 'defend' the internal homeostatic environment of the cell. Recent studies indicate that activation of some of these existing pathways is beneficial to whole-body metabolism. Now, mice with a muscle-specific autophagy deficiency are shown to adapt to stress through a newly discovered endocrine pathway involving fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) (pages 83–92).
Deposition of AlN on WS2 (0001) Substrate by Atomic Layer Growth Process

Close proximity of the lattice constant for tungsten disulfide and aluminum nitride has lead to an investigation to use WS2 as a potential substrate for the growth of AIN. Metal organic chemical vapor deposition(MOCVD) has been develop to fabricated WS2 thin films on Si(001) with their basal planes parallel to the substrate. AIN thin film was subsequently grown by atomic layer growth (ALG) process using dimethylamine-alane (DMEAA) and ammonia (NH3). Deposition conditions for WS2 thin films by MOCVD, and AIN growth on WS2 by ALG are described.
Aerodigestive cancers in HIV infection.

Purpose of review Aerodigestive (lung, head and neck) cancers are among the most prevalent and deadly neoplasms worldwide, and the incidence rates are rising. Given the improvements in life expectancy of persons with HIV/AIDS when treated with highly active antiretroviral agents, persons with HIV infection are therefore increasingly likely to develop these malignancies. This chapter focuses on the epidemiology of these malignancies and reviews the most recent literature and current understanding of the causes and treatment of these malignancies in HIV-positive populations. Recent findings Aerodigestive neoplasms in patients with HIV infection are associated with younger age at diagnosis, cigarette smoking, advanced stage at presentation, and a more aggressive clinical course. The causes of these cancers, aside from the traditional risk factors of tobacco and alcohol exposure, are not clear. Although these neoplasms are non-AIDS defining, factors that might contribute to risk include HIV-related immunosuppression and co-infection with high-risk human papillomavirus subtypes. Summary With continued improvements in therapies for HIV, the expected increase in incidence and mortality of persons with HIV infection from aerodigestive malignancies will likely become a major public health concern. Given the younger age of HIV-infected patients with these malignancies and the apparently higher rates of smoking among HIV-positive individuals, aggressive smoking cessation efforts should be directed to this high-risk population.
POSSIBLE GROWTH IMPAIRMENT IN PUPS ON CHRONIC CONVERTING-ENZYME INHIBITOR

In 4 neonatally-coarcted dogs and 4 normal littermates, all males from an inbred colony, angiotensin converting-enzyme inhibitor (CEI: MK421) was given chronically (3 mg/kg po q 12h) from age 16±2 days (48h post-aortic banding) through 4-6 months of age. Clinically apparent substandard weight (wt) gain in all dogs prompted comparison of growth rates (linear regression of wt in kg on age in days) in the 8 CEI-treated dogs with those of 13 male historic controls (Cont-H) from the same inbred colony: 6 coarcted and 7 littermates studied over the same age range in prior years. Also, body wt in CEI-treated dogs at 6 months of age was compared with 6-month wt in a second group of concurrent controls (Cont-C): 8 normal male inbred-colony dogs born in the same year as CEI-treated dogs. Growth rates (slope of growth curve) and 6-month wt were compared by T-test. Results (mean ± SD) are:
Metabolic maintenance costs of the suspension feeder Styela plicata

The bioenergetic basis of the biannual reproductive cycle of the solitary tunicate Styela plicata was investigated in order to evaluate hypotheses concerning the lack of larval settlement in summer. The rate of ingestion and absorption efficiency were measured in order to provide an estimate of the rate at which material was made available for maintenance, growth, and reproduction. At a given temperature the rate of ingestion was proportional to the 0.7 power of wet mass. the ingestion rate increased rapidly with increasing temperature between 12° and 18°C (Q10≃3), but was independent of temperature between 18° and 28°C. Absorption efficiency was independent of temperature and body size and averaged approximately one-third for both carbon and nitrogen. Metabolic maintenance costs were estimated from measurements of oxygen consumption and excretion of ammonia and urea reported for s. plicata. These require only 18±11% of the carbon and 37±22% of the nitrogen absorbed from the gut of S. plicata over the temperature range 12° to 28°C. Metabolic maintenance makes no excessive demands on the material absorbed in the gut at a particular time of year, and a surplus of carbon and nitrogen substrate is available throughout the year for growth and reproduction. Predation on larvae and young adults may be responsible for the low rate of settlement observed in summer months.
A Logit Model for Evaluating Farmer Participation in Soil Conservation Programs: Sloping Agricultural Land Technology on Upland Farms in the Philippines

ABSTRACT Without conservation measures, denudation of fragile uplands will continue to create sediment-related problems downstream. Furthermore, these marginal lands must be protected from erosion and the subsequent soil depletion if they are to retain their potential to feed rapidly-growing populations. This study examines the incidence of adoption of a soil conservation technology, Sloping Agricultural Land Technology (SALT), in the Philippines. SALT is not only a soil conservation technique but also a means of enhancing farm incomes through alternative enterprises. Because incidence of adoption, the dependent variable for the estimated model, is defined as a binary variable, a Logit model is used in the analysis. Factors such as availability of government assistance, tenurial status, farm size, education levels and age of head of household, and income are the explanatory variables included in the model. Results suggest that government assistance, land size, age, land intensity, and tenure have a signif...
A classical model of a small fixed exchange rate economy

Abstract This paper develops a monetary model of a small, fixed exchange rate economy. Prices are flexible and aggregate supply plays a key role. The model combines the Barro-Ricardo theorem that government bonds are not wealth to the residents of the country of issue with the ultra-rational view that the domestic component of the money supply is also not wealth. The short-run and long-run effects of monetary policy, fiscal policy and devaluations are examined. Monetary policy is neutral in both the short and long-runs. Devaluations and fiscal policy, however, are not necessarily neutral in either the short or long run.
Executive control function, brain activation and white matter hyperintensities in older adults.

Context Older adults responding to executive control function (ECF) tasks show greater brain activation on functional MRI (fMRI). It is not clear whether greater fMRI activation indicates a strategy to compensate for underlying brain structural abnormalities while maintaining higher performance.
Insect sex pheromones: intraspecific pheromonal variability of Ostrinia nubilalis in North America and Europe.

The sex attraction responses of male populations of European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner), to 5 ratios of the Z:E isomers (1:0,97:3,1:1,3:97, and 0:1) of the sex pheromone, 11-tetradecenyl acetate, were monitored at 31 geographic locations in North America and Europe. The pattern of male response to the isomeric blends varied from one location to another. Most male populations on the 2 continents responded preferentially to the 97:3 Z:E blend, but populations at several locations were either attracted preferentially to 3:97 Z:E or showed heterogenity in response. Heterogeneity of male response was greatest in regions where the 2 pheromonal types of European corn borers occurred sympatrically.
Mediating inequalities: exploring English-medium instruction in a suburban Indian village school

India is home to 1652 languages, but only 22 are officially recognized. And while the Constitution requires local authorities to provide mother tongue instruction in schools (Article 350A, Constitution of India), a mere 43 languages are used nationally as instructional medium. An exploding demand for English-medium schooling across socio-economic divides further complicates the language-in-education context. This case study, a sub-part of a broader project drawing on four years of ethnographic work, focuses on five young multilingual children living at an anathashram (orphanage) in suburban New Delhi and studying in an English-medium village school. I explore the different literacy practices influencing the negotiation of the instructional medium, their impact on language learning, and their wider language policy and planning implications. Careful analyses of the teaching context, pedagogical and textbook approaches, and learning practices reveal how ‘English-medium’ instruction in a typical small, privat...
The organization of mature Rous sarcoma virus as studied by cryoelectron microscopy.

We have studied the organization of mature infectious Rous sarcoma virus (RSV), suspended in vitreous ice, using transmission electron microscopy. The enveloped virions are spherical in shape, have a mean diameter of 127 nm, and vary significantly in size. Image processing reveals the presence of the viral matrix protein underlying the lipid bilayer and the viral envelope proteins external to the lipid bilayer. In the interior of the virus, the characteristic mature retroviral core is clearly imaged. In contrast to lentiviruses, such as human immunodeficiency virus, the core of RSV is essentially isometric. The capsid, or external shell of the core, has a faceted, almost polygonal appearance in electron micrographs, but many capsids also exhibit continuous surface curvature. Cores are not uniform in size or shape. Serrations observed along the projected faces of the core suggest a repetitive molecular structure. Some isolated cores were observed in the sample, confirming that cores are at least transiently stable in the absence of the viral envelope. Using an approach grounded in geometric probability, we estimate the size of the viral core from the projection data. We show that the size of the core is not tightly controlled and that core size and virion size are positively correlated. From estimates of RNA packing density we conclude that either the RNA within the core is loosely packed or, more probably, that it does not fill the core.
Some observations of various 1,8 naphthoquino-dimethane biradicals by electron spin resonance spectroscopy

Abstract Photolysis of 8-methyl-1-naphthyldiazomethane at 4 K gives the triplet ESR spectrum of 1,8-naphthoquinodimethane but not that of 8-methyl-1-naphthylcarbene. Photolysis of either 8-methyl-1-azido-naphthalene or 8-amino-1-azidonaththalene does produce the triplet biradical spectra of 8-imino-1-naphthoquinomethane and 1,8-diiminonaphthoquinodimethane, in addition to the triplet nitrene spectra of 8-methyl-1-nitreno-naphthalene and 8-amino-1-nitreno-naphthalene. Curie Law analyses demonstrate that these biradicals are all ground state triplets. Huckel and INDO calculations pertaining to the biradicals are reported. Large charge transfer interactions were observed in the ESR spectra of 8 substituted-1-naphthyl nitrenes.
Posterior fossa mass with multiple cranial neuropathies.

An 18-year-old male patient initially noted left mild hearing loss with constant tonal type tinnitus localized to the same ear. One week later, he developed left facial twitch, disequilibriumwith a floating sensation with nausea, and left hemipharyngeal dysesthesia. Facial twitch progressed to complete paralysis, followed by gradual improvement over a week on prednisone therapy. Examination showed normal tympanic membranes bilaterally. An audiogram revealed left mild sensorineural hearing loss and right normal hearing with 100% speech discrimination scores bilaterally. The left facial nerve function was 2/6 on the House–Brackmann scale. Left glossopharyngeal function was impaired, evidenced by decreased sensation of the hemipharynx. There was slight weakness of the left hemipalate on elevation. The true vocal
The Effect of Suddenly Changing the Calorie-Protein Ratio in Feed upon Egg Production

Abstract The usual recommendation with regard to changing from one feed to another with laying hens, especially when in a high rate of production, is to make a gradual change over a period of 7–10 days, thus avoiding the possibility of a setback in production. Reports on the effect of sudden changes in the feed of laying hens have been limited and have not been in agreement. Sipe and Polk (1939) changed the feed of White Leghorn pullets four times during a twelve month period and concluded that the changing of the feed did not reduce egg production during the first month after the change or cause the birds to molt. Berg and Bearse (1951) found that suddenly changing the texture of the mash or changing from mash to pellets did not affect the rate of egg production. O’Neil (1946) reported that sudden feed changes had a deleterious effect on …
A 500 W push-pull dc-dc power converter with a 30 MHz switching frequency

DESIGNERS of power conversion circuits are under relentless pressure to increase power density while maintaining high efficiency. Increased switching frequency is a primary path to higher power density. Prior work has shown that the use of switching frequencies in the VHF band (30 MHz-300 MHz) are a viable path to the achievement of gains in power density. A promising topology for VHF operation is the voltage-fed Class EF 2 (Class Φ 2 ) inverter based topology, where the use of controlled impedance at the switching frequency and its 2nd and 3rd harmonics provides both full soft switching and substantially reduced voltage stress compared to topologies such as Class E. However, such converters contain multiple resonant elements, and the tuning of the converter can be complicated due in part to the interaction of said elements. It is proposed that a push-pull version of the Class EF 2 inverter can alleviate some of these difficulties. In particular, it is shown that odd and even frequency components can be independently tuned without interaction, and furthermore that center-tapped inductors may be used to reduce the total volume occupied by said inductors. The benefits include simplified design and increased power density. Evidence is presented in the form of a push-pull Class EF 2 (Class Φ 2 ) unregulated 500 W prototype dc-dc converter with a 30 MHz switching frequency, an input voltage 150 VDC, and an output voltage of 65 VDC. This converter has an efficiency of > 81% under nominal conditions, including gate drive power.
Controlled Suppression or Amplification of Turbulent Jet Noise

As a result of acoustic excitation under very specific tuned conditions, both amplification and suppression of the broadband component of jet noise can be achieved in the same test rig. Associated with the amplification are discrete tones corresponding to the subharmonics of the excitation at the shear layer instability frequency. When jet noise is suppressed, flow visualization indicates that the turbulent mixing is less intense resulting in a general elongation of the jet flow in the axial direction. The observation of reduced jet spreading is confirmed by sound source distribution measurements using a polar correlation technique. Under these conditions, the axial source distribution is shifted downstream by approximately two diameters.
Optimal Blocklengths for ARQ Error Control Schemes

Optimal blocklengths are investigated for various ARQ schemes used for error control in data transmission systems in independent-bit-error and Poisson-distributed block-error channels. A number of results relating to optimum block length for various ARQ schemes are collected for easy reference. New results are obtained for some of these schemes. The product of this investigation is suggested procedures for computing optimal blocklengths. Examples are given.
Sharing knowledge with conversational technologies: web logs versus discussion boards

Knowledge has become an important resource for organisations in their quest to achieve competitive advantage. In order to efficiently manage such a resource, organisations are using information technology to acquire, store and communicate data, information, and knowledge. Both traditional and modern conversational technologies were originally developed for other purposes, and later were adopted for knowledge management. This paper compares web logs (blogs) to discussion boards, as two alternative conversational technologies in the process of knowledge sharing and retention. The results of an experimental study show that blogs are more successful technologies when used to communicate tacit knowledge and when they are intended for a general audience. On the other hand, discussion boards can be used more efficiently to communicate specific, explicit knowledge to a specialised audience. Our findings suggest that knowledge communication and retention rates can increase when the above two conversational technologies are combined with traditional face-to-face communication methods.
Influences on Teacher Referral of Children to Mental Health Services Gender, Severity, and Internalizing Versus Externalizing Problems

Sixty-four third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade teachers read vignettes describing boys and girls with (1) externalizing and internalizing disorders and (2) externalizing and internalizing problems of less severity. Teachers rated whether the child described in each vignette needed to be referred for mental health treatment and indicated whether they had referred a similar child for treatment. Teachers' ratings of need for referral did not differ for boys and girls, and there was no gender effect on rhe teachers' reported referral experience. However, teachers reported having referred more children with externalizing problems than with internalizing problems for treatment, even though they did not rate externalizing problems as needing referral more than internalizing problems. Such discrepancies are discussed in terms of the different effect of internalizing and externalizing problems on the classroom environment.
Slow Eigenvalues of Self-similar Solutions of the Dafermos Regularization of a System of Conservation Laws: An Analytic Approach

Received March 29, 2005 The Dafermos regularization of a system of n hyperbolic conservation laws in one space dimension has, near a Riemann solution consisting of n Lax shock waves, a self-similar solution u = u∈(X/T ). In Lin and Schecter (2003, SIAM J. Math. Anal. 35, 884–921) it is shown that the linearized Dafermos operator at such a solution may have two kinds of eigenvalues: fast eigenvalues of order 1/ ∈ and slow eigenvalues of order one. The fast eigenvalues represent motion in an initial time layer, where near the shock waves solutions quickly converge to traveling-wave-like motion. The slow eigenvalues represent motion after the initial time layer, where motion between the shock waves is dominant. In this paper we use tools from dynamical systems and singular perturbation theory to study the slow eigenvalues. We show how to construct asymptotic expansions of eigenvalue-eigenfunction pairs to any order in ∈. We also prove the existence of true eigenvalue-eigenfunction pairs near the asymptotic expansions .
Multicomponent drug efflux complexes: architecture and mechanism of assembly

Multidrug efflux pumps are major contributors to intrinsic antibiotic resistance in Gram-negative pathogens. The basic structure of these pumps comprises an inner membrane transporter, a periplasmic membrane fusion protein and an outer membrane channel. However, the architecture and composition of multidrug efflux complexes vary significantly because of the topological and functional diversity of the inner membrane transporters. This article presents the current views on architecture and assembly of multicomponent drug efflux transporters from Gram-negative bacteria.
Rate-Compatible Short-Length Protograph LDPC Codes

This paper produces a rate-compatible protograph LDPC code at 1k information blocklength with superior performance in both waterfall and error floor regions. The design of such codes has proved difficult in the past because the constraints imposed by structured design (protographs), rate-compatibility, as well as small block length, are not easily satisfied together. For example, as the block length decreases, the predominance of decoding threshold as the main parameter in coding design is reduced, thus complicating the search for good codes. Our rate-compatible protograph codes have rates ranging from 1/3 to 4/5 and show no error floor down to 10-6 FER.