cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Food Spoilage, Preservation and Quality Control

Microorganisms (bacteria, yeasts, molds, viruses, etc.) are living entities too small to be seen by the naked eyes. They are ubiquitous and affect ecosystems on Earth and the atmosphere. This article describes their activities directly and indirectly related to our food supplies. Food Microbiology involves studies on techniques of isolation, enumeration, identification, and characterization of microbes in solid, liquid, surface, and air samples. The intrinsic and extrinsic parameters of foods related to microbial spoilage and control of vegetables, fruits, meats, poultry, eggs, seafood, fish and shellfish, sugar, spices, beer, wine, and other food commodities are discussed. Food preservation methods such as drying, dehydration, lyophilization, low temperatures (cooling, chilling, refrigeration, freezing, and thawing), and high temperatures (heating, pasteurization, sterilization, and canning) are discussed. The importance and use of alpha, beta, gamma rays, electronic beams irradiation, UV, and microwave treatments as well as food-grade chemicals against microorganisms in foods and fermentation are explored. The article ends with a presentation of microbial quality control and assurances of foods using internationally established statistical sampling plans and models to ensure safety of all 15 food categories and cases for human consumption. Which living group shall eventually inherit the Earth–Insects, Microorganisms, or Human Beings? Readers decide.
A tale of two cohorts: Patients presenting for endoscopy in Kigali, Rwanda compared to an academic medical center in New Hampshire, U.S.

e18057Background: Gastric cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide. In Rwanda and East Africs in general, gastric cancer is common in young men and women to the point where the r...
Facile access to functionalized chiral secondary benzylic boronic esters via catalytic asymmetric hydroboration.

Allylic and homoallylic phosphonates bearing an aryl or heteroaryl substituent at the γ- or δ-position undergo rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydroboration by pinacolborane to give functionalized chiral secondary benzylic boronic esters in yields up to 86% and enantiomer ratios up to 99 : 1. Compared to minimally-functionalized terminal and 1,1-disubstituted vinyl arenes, there are relatively few reports of efficient catalytic asymmetric hydroboration (CAHB) of more highly functionalized internal alkenes. Phosphonate substrates bearing a variety of common heterocyclic ring systems, including furan, indole, pyrrole and thiophene derivatives, as well as those bearing basic nitrogen substituents (e.g., morpholine and pyrazine) are tolerated, although donor substituents positioned in close proximity of the alkene can influence the course of the reaction. Stereoisomeric (E)- and (Z)-substrates afford the same major enantiomer of the borated product. Deuterium-labelling studies reveal that rapid (Z)- to (E)-alkene isomerization accounts for the observed (E/Z)-stereoconvergence during CAHB. The synthetic utility of the chiral boronic ester products is illustrated by stereospecific C–B bond transformations including stereoretentive electrophile promoted 1,2-B-to-C migrations, stereoinvertive SE2 reactions of boron-ate complexes with electrophiles, and stereoretentive palladium- and rhodium-catalyzed cross-coupling protocols.
Patterns of Breast Imaging Use Among Women with a Personal History of Breast Cancer.

National patterns of breast imaging in women with a personal history of breast cancer (PHBC) are unknown making evaluation of annual surveillance recommendations a challenge. To describe variation in use of mammography and breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations beginning 6 months after diagnosis among women with PHBC in US community practice. We report on the breast imaging indication, imaging intervals, and time since breast cancer diagnosis by examination type. Longitudinal study using cross-sectional data. Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium breast imaging facilities. 19,955 women diagnosed between 2005 and 2012 with AJCC stage 0-III incident breast cancer who had 69,386 mammograms and 3,553 breast MRI examinations from January 2005 to September 2013; median follow-up of 37.6 months (interquartile range, 22.1–60.7). Breast imaging indication, imaging intervals, and time since breast cancer diagnosis by examination type. Among women with a PHBC who received breast imaging, 89.4% underwent mammography alone, 0.8% MRI alone, and 10.3% had both mammography and MRI. About half of mammograms and MRIs were indicated for surveillance vs. diagnostic, with an increase in the proportion of surveillance exams as time from diagnosis increased (mammograms, 45.7% at 1 year to 72.2% after 5 years; MRIs, 54.8% at 1 year to 78.6% after 5 years). In the first post-diagnosis period, 32.8% of women had > 2 breast imaging examinations and of these, 65.8% were less than 6 months apart. During the first 5-year post-diagnosis, the frequency of examinations per year decreased and the interval between examinations shifted towards annual examinations. In women with a PHBC who received post-diagnosis imaging, a third underwent multiple breast imaging examinations per year during the first 2-year post-diagnosis despite recommendations for annual exams. As time since diagnosis increases, imaging indication shifts from diagnostic to surveillance.
A more stable lithium anode by mechanical constriction for solid state batteries

In solid state batteries, lithium dendrites form when the applied current density is higher than a critical value. The critical current density is often reported as 1–2 mA cm−2 at an external pressure of around 10 MPa. In this work, a more advanced mechanical constriction technique is applied on a solid-state battery constructed with Li10GeP2S12 (LGPS) as the electrolyte and a lithium metal/graphite composite as the anode, where the graphite layer was applied to prevent (electro-)chemical reactions between Li metal and LGPS, as well as a short-circuit upon the application of pressure. The decomposition pathway of LGPS at the anode interface is modified by this mechanical constriction design, and the growth of lithium dendrites is inhibited, leading to excellent rate and cycling performances. No short-circuit or lithium dendrite formation is observed for batteries cycled at a current density up to 10 mA cm−2.
Glioblastoma-mediated Immune Dysfunction Limits CMV-specific T Cells and Therapeutic Responses: Results from a Phase I/II Trial

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigens occur in glioblastoma but not in normal brain, making them desirable immunological targets. Patients & Methods: Highly-functional autologous polyclonal CMV pp65-specific T cells from glioblastoma patients were numerically expanded under GMP-compliant conditions and administered after 3 weeks of lymphodepleting dose-dense temozolomide (100 mg/m2) treatment. The phase I component used a 3+3 design, ascending through four dose levels (5 x 106 cells-1 x 108 cells). In vivo persistence and effector function of CMV-specific T cells was determined by dextramer staining and multiparameter flow cytometry in serially-sampled peripheral blood and in the tumor microenvironment. Results: We screened 65 patients; 41 were seropositive for CMV; 25 underwent leukapheresis; and 20 completed ≥1 cycle. No dose-limiting toxicities were observed. Radiographic response was complete in one patient, partial in two. Median PFS time was 1.3 months (95% CI: 0-8.3 months); six-month PFS was 19% (95% CI: 7-52%); median overall survival was 12 months (95% CI: 6 months to not reached). Repeated infusions of CMV-T cells paralleled significant increases in circulating CMV+ CD8+ T cells, but cytokine production showing effector activity was suppressed, especially from T cells obtained directly from glioblastomas. Conclusions: Adoptive infusion of CMV-specific T cells after lymphodepletion with dose-dense TMZ was well tolerated. But apparently CMV seropositivity doesn9t guarantee tumor susceptibility to CMV-specific T cells, suggesting heterogeneity in CMV antigen expression. Moreover, effector function of these T cells was attenuated, indicating a requirement for further T-cell modulation to prevent their dysfunction, before conducting large-scale clinical studies.
Social Networks Stimuli: A Double DekkerSemi-Partialling Multiple Regression QuadraticAssigment Procedure (Mrqap) Approach: Case ofSmall-Scale Farmers in Kenya

Markets in Kenya are characterized by existence of information asymmetry among the parties involved. Like any other developing country, Kenyan markets involves high transaction cost especially in search of quality inputs and market information...
Reduced Toxicity Conditioning for Nonmalignant Hematopoietic Cell Transplants.

ABSTRACT Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) for children with nonmalignant disorders is challenged by potential drug-related toxicities and poor engraftment. This retrospective analysis expands on our single pediatric medical center experience with targeted busulfan, fludarabine, and intravenous (IV) alemtuzumab as a low-toxicity regimen to achieve sustained donor engraftment. Sixty-two patients received this regimen for their first HCT for a nonmalignant disorder between 2004 and 2018. Donors were matched sibling in 27%, 8/8 HLA allele-matched unrelated in 50%, and 7/8 HLA allele-mismatched in 23% (some of whom received additional immunoablation with thiotepa or clofarabine). Five patients experienced graft failure for a cumulative incidence of 8.4% (95% CI, 1 to 16%). In engrafted patients, the median donor chimerism in whole blood and CD3, CD14/15, and CD19 subsets at 1-year were 96%, 90%, 99%, and 99%, respectively. Only one patient received donor lymphocyte infusions (DLIs) for poor chimerism. Two patients died following disease progression despite 100% donor chimerism. The 3-year cumulative incidence of treatment-related mortality was 10% (95% CI, 2 to 17%). Overall survival and event-free-survival at 3-years were 87% (95% CI, 78 to 95%) and 80% (95% CI, 70 to 90%), respectively. The 6-month cumulative incidence of grade II to IV acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was 7% (95% CI, 3 to 13%), while the 3-year cumulative incidence of chronic GVHD was 5% (95% CI, 0 to 11%). These results suggest that use of targeted busulfan, fludarabine and IV alemtuzumab offers a well-tolerated option for children with nonmalignant disorders to achieve sustained engraftment with a low incidence of GVHD.
Study of Performance of Balanced Inverter under Influence of Power Loop Stray Inductance

The wide bandgap devices have brought new opportunities for motor drives. With higher switching frequency, the common-mode voltage (CMV) issue wm be worse due to high dv/dt. The balanced inverter is a cost-effective solution to the CMV issue. The balanced inverter is proposed recently, but the impact of power-loop stray inductance for the printed circuit board has not been explored. In order to provide crucial information for layout optimization, this paper investigates the effects of stray inductance in the power loop on the balanced inverter for high voltage high power applications. Simulation has been conducted under four scenarios, and results have been presented.
Adolescents’ perceptions of sexual health education programs: An integrative review

Abstract Introduction Adolescents are key stakeholders in sexual health education, yet they are rarely consulted when developing sexual health programs. Their voices are integral to improving the delivery of relevant and appropriate school-based sexual health education to promote safer adolescent sexual behaviors. Methods An integrative review was conducted utilizing three databases: Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) Complete, PubMed, and Education Resources Information Center (ERIC). The PRISMA and matrix method were used to search the literature and synthesize the findings from 16 articles regarding adolescent perceptions of school-based sexual health education. Results The main themes that emerged from this review included: (a) factors influencing adolescent perceptions of sexual health education programs, (b) characteristics of good sexual health education programs, and (c) areas of improvement in sexual health education programs. Conclusion Adolescents overwhelmingly requested honest, comprehensive content delivered by nonjudgmental, well-educated health professionals in a comfortable environment.
Concomitant Bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy at Hysterectomy: Differences by Race and Menopausal Status in the Veterans Affairs Health Care System, 2007-2014.

Background: Hysterectomy can be performed with concomitant bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) to treat symptomatic pathology of the ovary (e.g., endometriosis) or to prevent ovarian cancer. Our objective was to examine the relationship between race and concomitant BSO by menopausal status in the Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system. Methods: This is a longitudinal study utilizing VA administrative data to identify hysterectomies provided or paid for by VA (i.e., source of care) between 2007 and 2014. We defined BSO as removal of both ovaries and fallopian tubes at the time of hysterectomy, identified by International Classification of Diseases-Ninth Revision codes. Covariates included demographic (e.g., ethnicity) and gynecological diagnoses (e.g., endometriosis). We used generalized linear models with a log-link and binomial distribution to estimate associations of race with BSO by menopausal status and source of care. Results: We identified 6,785 Veterans with hysterectomies, including 2,320 with concomitant BSO. Overall, Black Veterans were more likely to be single, obese, and undergo abdominal hysterectomy. After adjustment, premenopausal Black Veterans had a 41% lower odds of BSO than their White counterparts (odds ratio [OR]: 0.59, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.51-0.68). Stratifying on source of care, these results remained unchanged (provided: OR: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.52-0.72; paid: OR: 0.58, 95% CI: 0.48-0.71). There was insufficient evidence of an association among postmenopausal Veterans. Conclusions: Premenopausal Black Veterans are less likely to undergo BSO even after adjustment for salient characteristics. Our findings may have implications for equitable gynecological care for Veterans. Additional research is needed to better understand the role of differential preferences or cancer risk in these racial differences.
Palladium(II)-assisted activation of thioglycosides

Described herein is the first example of glycosidation of thioglycosides in the presence of palladium(II) bromide. While the activation with PdBr2 alone was proven feasible, higher yields and cleaner reactions were achieved when these glycosylations were performed in the presence of propargyl bromide as an additive. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggest that propargyl bromide assists the reaction by creating an ionizing complex, which accelerates the leaving group departure. A variety of thioglycoside donors in reactions with different glycosyl acceptors were investigated to determine the initial scope of this new reaction. Selective and chemoselective activation of thioglycosides over other leaving groups has also been explored.
Trends in Nontraumatic Lower-Extremity Amputation Among Privately Insured Adults With Diabetes in the U.S., 2004-2018.

Estimates based on the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) showed that diabetes-related nontraumatic lower- extremity amputation (NLEA) rates declined among hospitalized patients between 2000 and 2009, followed by an increasing NLEA rate between 2009 and 2015 (1). The increase was largely observed in young and middle-aged adults (1). However, the NIS dataset includes only inpatient admissions; minor amputation surgeries that were performed in ambulatory settings were not included in these estimates. In addition, NIS data are event-based, and multiple amputations in the same person are considered as a new event each time. In the current study, we used the IBM MarketScan Commercial Database to examine NLEA occurring in inpatient and outpatient settings among privately insured adults 18–64 years of age with diabetes. The study period is from 2004 to 2018. People with diabetes and NLEA were identified using the International Classification of Diseases and the Current Procedural Terminology codes. NLEAs were categorized as major (amputations above the foot) or minor (foot and toe amputations) (1). For people who had multiple amputations in a year, we assigned the level of amputation based on the highest level …
Public Utilities, Eminent Domain, and Local Land Use Regulations: Has Texas Found the Proper Balance?

For more than half a century, the state courts have disagreed about whether public utilities possessing the power of eminent domain must comply with local land use regulations. Recent events, such as gas drilling operations in Texas's Barnett Shale, indicate that the issue remains important. These operations have set the stage for high-stakes battles between several Texas cities and public utility companies over the placement of natural gas facilities within municipal limits.In addressing this issue, the Texas appellate courts have provided seemingly mixed answers. Two decisions from the 1940s and 1950s can be read as suggesting that a utility's power of eminent domain trumps a city's zoning authority, whereas a decision from the 1970s held that a utility's power of eminent domain is not superior to local land use regulations. The Texas Supreme Court has not addressed the issue, although it has limited the force of zoning regulations in the somewhat analogous context of a governmental entity exercising its own condemnation power. Conventional wisdom has viewed Texas law on this matter as unclear, but a recent federal decision arising from the aforementioned gas drilling puts these authorities in perspective and suggests that there may be a middle ground.Using Texas as a case study, this article reviews the aforementioned decisions and (expanding on the reasoning employed by the federal court) argues that Texas law in fact provides a constructive balance between a utility's interests and those of the local government. Moreover, this balanced approach provides a model for other jurisdictions due to the incentives it creates for bargaining between the utility company, the local government, and community leaders.
Basolateral amygdala to posterior piriform cortex connectivity ensures precision in learned odor threat

Odor perception can both evoke emotional states and be shaped by emotional or hedonic states. The amygdala complex plays an important role in recognition of, and response to, hedonically valenced stimuli, and has strong, reciprocal connectivity with the primary olfactory (piriform) cortex. Here, we used differential odor-threat conditioning in rats to test the role of basolateral amygdala (BLA) input to the piriform cortex in acquisition and expression of learned olfactory threat responses. Using local field potential recordings, we demonstrated that functional connectivity (high gamma band coherence) between the BLA and posterior piriform cortex (pPCX) is enhanced after differential threat conditioning. Optogenetic suppression of activity within the BLA prevents learned threat acquisition, as do lesions of the pPCX prior to threat conditioning (without inducing anosmia), suggesting that both regions are critical for acquisition of learned odor threat responses. However, optogenetic BLA suppression during testing did not impair threat response to the CS+ , but did induce generalization to the CS−. A similar loss of stimulus control and threat generalization was induced by selective optogenetic suppression of BLA input to pPCX. These results suggest an important role for amygdala-sensory cortical connectivity in shaping responses to threatening stimuli.
Context-independent mapping and free choice are equivalent

Free choice (or statistical independence) assumption in a hidden variable model (HVM) means that the settings chosen by experimenters do not depend on the values of the hidden variable. The assumption of context-independent (CI) mapping in an HVM means that the results of a measurement do not depend on settings for other measurements. If the measurements are spacelike separated, this assumption is known as local causality. Both free choice and CI mapping assumptions are considered necessary for derivation of the Bell-type criteria of contextuality/nonlocality. It is known, however, for a variety of special cases, that the two assumptions are not logically independent. We show here, in complete generality, for any system of random variables with or without disturbance/signaling, that an HVM that postulates CI mapping is equivalent to an HVM that postulates free choice. If one denies the possibility that a given empirical scenario can be described by an HVM in which measurements depend on other measurements' settings, free choice violations should be denied too.
Up in the refrigerator: Geomorphic response to periglacial environments in the Upper Mississippi River Basin, USA

Abstract James C. Knox was best-known for his work on Holocene and historical changes in fluvial systems, but he also had a long-standing interest in the effects of late Pleistocene periglacial environments on landscape evolution in parts of the Upper Mississippi River basin that were just outside the Laurentide Ice Sheet margin, or as Knox put it, ‘up in the refrigerator.’ Knox and others in the Quaternary community of the Midwestern U.S. often suggested that hillslope erosion was accelerated under periglacial conditions, so that glacial periods have had a dominant effect on the landscape we see today. This paper reviews the evidence and reasoning supporting that view in a study area of the Upper Mississippi basin bordered on three sides by ice margins of the last glaciation, including the Wisconsin Driftless Area and adjacent landscapes. Sparse but compelling paleoecological data and relict ice- or sand-wedge polygons provide clear evidence for a cold climate and widespread permafrost around the peak of the last glaciation. In highly dissected, relatively high-relief parts of the study area, the loess and soil stratigraphy on ridgetops and the colluvial mantles on steeper slopes are best explained by highly effective hillslope erosion, including solifluction, during and just after the Last Glacial Maximum. Knox used the post-depositional truncation of a loess unit to quantify contrasting late Pleistocene and Holocene sediment yields from a small Driftless Area watershed. While the late Pleistocene yield indicates accelerated erosion, it is still lower than modern sediment yields in many tectonically active or semiarid landscapes, and it may reflect deposition of highly erodible loess as well as effects of periglacial conditions. The views of Knox and other Midwestern geomorphologists on landscape evolution through glacial–interglacial cycles were highly influenced by the work of Robert V. Ruhe. Ruhe proposed that an episode of widespread erosion during and just after the Last Glacial Maximum can explain enigmatic aspects of Quaternary stratigraphy and the soil landscape on the Iowan Erosion Surface, a very low relief landscape of the study area. Ruhe's key evidence is still valid, though it needs to be separated from an implausible model of landscape evolution. Interpretation of the Iowan Erosion Surface and other low-relief landscapes just outside the ice margin also requires recognition of the profound effect of eolian processes on those landscapes under periglacial conditions. Many new insights on landscape evolution in the study area could result from wider application of cosmogenic nuclide-based methods to assess glacial–interglacial changes in basinwide rates of erosion and residence time of soils. Just as important, a need exists for much more field-based characterization of hillslope, fluvial, and eolian sediments for comparison with those of modern permafrost regions and past periglacial environments in Europe.
Antigenic variation by protozoan parasites: insights from Babesia bovis

Antigenic variation of surface membrane proteins by protozoan parasites enables these pathogenic organisms to avoid host immune responses and thus perpetuate long-term infections. Babesia bovis, the causative agent of severe babesiosis in cattle, was previously shown to undergo antigenic variation through modifications to its primary surface antigen, a protein called VESA1. In this issue, Al-Khedery and Allred provide a detailed description of the genes that encode VESA1 and present convincing evidence for progressive, segmental gene conversion in the generation of variant forms of this surface antigen.
Influence of neighbourhood collective efficacy on adolescent sexual behaviour: variation by gender and activity participation

Background Adolescent sexual engagement is a good proxy measure of health risks in the USA owing to a higher prevalence of risky sexual behaviours among sexually active adolescents and to associated undesirable health outcomes. Neighbourhood collective efficacy is considered a potential social process that may prevent or delay early sexual engagement among adolescents. This study examined whether neighbourhood collective efficacy is associated with adolescent lifetime sexual intercourse and whether the association differs by gender, out-of-school activity participation and race/ethnicity. Methods This study is a two-level multilevel analysis of the 2000-01 Wave 1 Los Angeles Family and Neighborhood Survey (L.A.FANS-1) data. Responses of 2671 adults who answered collective efficacy-related questions were used to create a tract-level measure of collective efficacy (65 tracts). The tract-level collective efficacy measure was linked to adolescents 12-17 years old who answered a question on lifetime sexual intercourse (n= 859). Individual and family factors including age, gender, race/ethnicity, parental monitoring, activity participation, family composition and family income were controlled for to estimate neighbourhood effects net of individual and family differences. Interactions of collective efficacy with individual-level covariates were also tested. Results The protection of collective efficacy against lifetime sexual intercourse was significant only among boys [odds ratio (OR) = 0.67, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.47, 0.95]. The effect differed by participation status in out-of-school activities. The influence of collective efficacy was significant only in boys who did not participate in out-of-school activities (OR = 0.46, 95% CI = 0.29, 0.73). The association of collective efficacy with the outcome was similar across racial/ethnic groups including Latino adolescents. Conclusions This study indicates the role of neighbourhood collective efficacy in protecting against adolescent sexual engagement with variation by gender and activity participation status. Findings point to the importance of considering specific neighbourhood characteristics and cross-level interactions in developing effective policies and programmes. Language: en
Development of a prognostic breast cancer diagnostic: Quantitative analysis of HER2 status using a multiplex bead assay on homogenized formalin fixed paraffin embedded breast tumor tissue (LB484)

Immunohistochemistry is typically used to classify breast cancer into molecular subtypes based on the presence or absence of three protein biomarkers: estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor ...
Calentamiento local: Cambridge, MA, Estados Unidos / Venecia, Italia, MIT Senseable City Lab, 2014

Si gran parte de la energia utilizada en calefaccionar losrecintos se pierde, ?que pasa si en vez de calentar el airede los espacios nos enfocamos en dirigir el calor hacia las personas que se mueven en ellos? En medio de la discusion sobre el �calentamiento global�, Calentamiento Local nos invita a cambiar el eje de la discusion, proponiendo una alternativa basada en la focalizacion de la energia calorica.
Total dose radiation testing of the Intel 80386DX microprocessor and 80387DX math coprocessor using a personal computer motherboard for the test fixture

Total dose small sample evaluation (SSE) testing of the Intel 80386DX 32 bit microprocessor and 80387DX 32 bit math coprocessor has been performed using an AT IBM based personal computer. A quantity of three 80386DX devices and five 80387DX devices were used for the test. All testing was performed with the AT motherboard as the test fixture. The dose rates achieved for the tests were 0.3 krads (Si)/min for the 80368DX and 0.4 krads (Si)/min for the 80387DX. The test temperature was 25 degrees Celsius and the clock frequency was 40 MHz for the 80386DX and 30 MHz for the 80387DX. The critical parameter monitored for these devices was functionality. The mean failure level for the 80386DX devices was found to be 11.4 krads (Si). The mean failure level for the 80387DX devices was found to be 13.7 krads (Si).
Adhesion of Golgi cisternae by proteinaceous interactions: intercisternal bridges as putative adhesive structures.

We have investigated the nature of the component(s) responsible for holding the cisternal membranes of the Golgi complex into a stacked unit. Isolated Golgi com plexes were treated with a variety of agents to induce the separation of intact Golgi stacks into single cister nal elements, i.e. “unstacking”, and the effects were ana lyzed and quantitated by electron microscopy. In con trol experiments, isolated, intact Golgi stacks were stable at 4°C and 20°C for 1 h; however, some unstacking occurred at 32°C. Treatment of intact Golgi stacks with a variety of proteolytic enzymes resulted in a timeand dose-dependent unstacking of the cisternae, although stacks were resistant to various other pro teases. Following liberation from the stack, single cis ternae remained flattened with dilated rims. The integrity of intact Golgi stacks was unaffected by treat ment with various concentrations and combinations of monovalent and divalent cations, or chelators of diva lent cations. Electron microscopic observations of tannic acid- or negatively stained Golgi complexes, revealed the presence of highly structured, intercisternal “bridges”. When seen within intact Golgi complexes, these bridges were only consistently found between closely apposed cisternae and were not observed on dilated rims or secretory vesicles. These bridges, on both intact stacks and physically disrupted cisternae, were rectangular, being ~8.5 nm in width, ~11 nm in height. Treatment with proteases under conditions that resulted in the unstacking of intact complexes also removed these bridge structures. These data show that proteinaceous components are responsible for holding Golgi cisternae together into a cohesive, stacked unit, and identify a can didate bridge structure that could serve this purpose. Summary
Finding Sustainable Solutions to the Digital Divide in Semi-Urban Honduras

Throughout the developing world, unequal levels of access to technology have created a social gap called the digital divide; a considerable disparity in technological opportunities that reinforces social and economic division. Concerned with this development, a five person student research team from the University of Virginia was assembled in order to investigate the technological gaps in poor, semi-urban areas of Honduras and to implement a cost-effective, sustainable way to address them. The team used a flexible engineering-based approach to gather and analyze information about community, government, and economic factors relevant to the project, documenting its methodology along the way. The results of the investigation were then tested through the installation of a computer lab for a local school in the community of Las Brisas de la Libertad, in the district of Yoro, Honduras. This paper documents this installation process and describes in detail the considerations needed for its successful and sustainable implementation including community interests, political instability, hardware options, and weather. By analyzing these aspects from their respective advantages and disadvantages, it hopes to serve as a guide for future engineering-oriented service-learning endeavors in international settings.
Metabolic suppression in thecosomatous pteropods as an effect of low temperature and hypoxia in the eastern tropical North Pacific

Many pteropod species in the eastern tropical North Pacific Ocean migrate vertically each day, transporting organic matter and respiratory carbon below the thermocline. These migrations take species into cold (15–10° C) hypoxic water (<20 μmol O2 kg−1) at depth. We measured the vertical distribution, oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion for seven species of pteropod, some of which migrate and some which remain in oxygenated surface waters throughout the day. Within the upper 200 m of the water column, changes in water temperature result in a ~60–75 % reduction in respiration for most species. All three species tested under hypoxic conditions responded to low O2 with an additional ~35–50 % reduction in respiratory rate. Combined, low temperature and hypoxia suppress the metabolic rate of pteropods by ~80–90 %. These results shed light on the ways in which expanding regions of hypoxia and surface ocean warming may impact pelagic ecology.
Improvement in direction discrimination: no role for eye movements.

Practice improves observers’ ability to discriminate between highly similar directions of motion. In an effort to clarify the basis for this improvement, we recorded an observer’s eye movements while he made direction discriminations. We found that the observer did not need to track the moving target in order to learn the discrimination. Both at the beginning and at the end of training the observer’s eye movements more closely resembled movements made while fixating a stationary target, and did not at all resemble movements made while intentionally tracking the stimulus. These results suggest that the learned discrimination of the direction of moving targets is perceptual in nature and does not depend on the learning of a sensorimotor response.
Zero point energy of the Pullen–Edmonds Hamiltonian

Here we wish to apply the newly developed Generalized Moments Expansion (GMX) to the well-known potential $$U(x, y) = \frac{1}{2}\left( x^{2}+y^{2}\right) + \alpha x^{2}y^{2},$$ which is used to model such molecular systems as formamide (HCONH2) and carbon suboxide (C3O2). Our motivation is to investigate the numerical accuracy as well as the viability of the GMX for evaluating ground-state energies of quantum Hamiltonian systems. The zero-point energy of this potential is calculated and results are compared to those of a related Canonical Sequence Method approach (CSM).
Assessment of the post-implant final left ventricular lead position: a comparative study between radiographic and angiographic modalities

Post-implant lateral and postero-anterior chest X-rays (CXR) are often utilized to determine the final LV lead tip position after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). This study sought to compare post-implant standard CXRs with intra-procedural rotational coronary venous angiography (RCVA) to localize the final LV lead position. Sixty-four patients undergoing CRT (69.2 ± 11.4 years; males 68.7%; ischemic cardiomyopathy 59.4%; NYHA class 2.9 ± 0.5 and LV ejection fraction 24% ± 9%) were included in the study. RCVA was done by recording a rapid 4-second isocentric cine-loop from RAO 55° to LAO 55° (120 frames). Conventional CXR method (CC) and a composite CXR strategy (CM) based on two-view CXR were separately compared with RCVA. The most common pacing site was lateral (64.1%), followed by postero-lateral (23.4%) and antero-lateral (10.9%). In 73.4% (47) cases, the LV lead position was misclassified by CC as compared to RCVA. Among the 47 (73.4%) cases misclassified by CC approach, 35 had lateral LV lead position misclassified by CC as postero-lateral (77%), posterior (20%) and antero-lateral (3%). On the other hand, CM strategy classified the LV lead position correctly in 46 (71.9%) of the patients (p < 0.0001). The composite CXR strategy is a useful method for post-procedure LV lead localization. Due to its simplicity, it can be widely applied in post-implant evaluation of LV lead position in CRT patients.
North American terrestrial CO2 uptake largely offset by CH4 and N2O emissions: toward a full accounting of the greenhouse gas budget.

The terrestrial ecosystems of North America have been identified as a sink of atmospheric CO2 though there is no consensus on the magnitude. However, the emissions of non-CO2 greenhouse gases (CH4 and N2O) may offset or even overturn the climate cooling effect induced by the CO2 sink. Using a coupled biogeochemical model, in this study, we have estimated the combined global warming potentials (GWP) of CO2, CH4 and N2O fluxes in North American terrestrial ecosystems and quantified the relative contributions of environmental factors to the GWP changes during 1979–2010. The uncertainty range for contemporary global warming potential has been quantified by synthesizing the existing estimates from inventory, forward modeling, and inverse modeling approaches. Our “best estimate” of net GWP for CO2, CH4 and N2O fluxes was −0.50 ± 0.27 Pg CO2 eq/year (1 Pg = 1015 g) in North American terrestrial ecosystems during 2001–2010. The emissions of CH4 and N2O from terrestrial ecosystems had offset about two thirds (73 %±14 %) of the land CO2 sink in the North American continent, showing large differences across the three countries, with offset ratios of 57 % ± 8 % in US, 83 % ± 17 % in Canada and 329 % ± 119 % in Mexico. Climate change and elevated tropospheric ozone concentration have contributed the most to GWP increase, while elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration have contributed the most to GWP reduction. Extreme drought events over certain periods could result in a positive GWP. By integrating the existing estimates, we have found a wide range of uncertainty for the combined GWP. From both climate change science and policy perspectives, it is necessary to integrate ground and satellite observations with models for a more accurate accounting of these three greenhouse gases in North America.
High-throughput, high-resolution electron-beam lithography

The introduction of the shaped-beam imaging technique has greatly enhanced the exposure efficiency of electron-beam lithography systems. IBM's EL systems provide the throughput needed for lithography applications in semiconductor fabrication lines. The resolution of these systems has been steadily improved over the past 15 years in support of the semiconductor lithography trend toward submicron dimensions. This paper describes the latest version (EL-3 system) capable of fabricating 0.25-µm features. The technical challenges of submicron e-beam lithography are discussed, and practical solutions together with experimental results are presented.
Solving the shortest-paths problem on bipartite permutation graphs efficiently

Abstract In this paper we present optimal sequential and parallel algorithms for the shortest-paths problems on strongly ordered bipartite (permutation) graphs. The parallel algorithm runs in O(logn) time on a CREW PRAM and is both time-optimal and work-optimal. With a published procedure as a subroutine, this work immediately leads to an optimal O(n2) time algorithm for the all-pairs shortest-paths problem on arbitrary bipartite permutation graphs.
Basal cell carcinoma with matrical differentiation: a case study with analysis of β-catenin

Matrical differentiation in basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is rare. Only nine cases have been described that showed typical diagnostic features of BCC, in addition to shadow cells indicating hair-matrix differentiation. These cases often present a diagnostic challenge due to confusion with pilomatrixoma or pilomatrix carcinoma. We present a case of BCC with matrical differentiation in a 78-year-old man. Immunohistochemical and molecular methods are used to differentiate this lesion from benign or malignant forms of pilomatrixoma. differentiation: a case study with analysis of beta-catenin.
Observation of topography inversion in atomic force microscopy of self-assembled monolayers

In this paper, we report on atomic force microscopy (AFM) investigation of a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) system - octadecylphosphonic acid (OPA) deposited on mica. With the deposition methods employed in this work, the SAM presents a partial coverage, i.e., the OPA covers only a fraction of the mica surface and, therefore, some bare mica regions are observed. Using standard intermittent contact AFM (IC-AFM) techniques (with medium to high oscillation damping), the topographic profile of this system clearly shows the flat SAM on top of the mica surface. However, when a small oscillation damping mode is employed, the topographic profile is inverted, i.e., the mica regions appear higher than the surrounding OPA layer. AFM experiments, carried out to assess the origin of this effect, yield strong evidences that it is related to the presence of a water contamination layer on the bare mica regions only. A semi-quantitative model is utilized to understand the experimental results.
Diet, Exercise, and Physical Discomfort in College Students:

778 students in a 4-yr. urban commuter college were tested to determine the effects of exercise and diet on self-reported discomfort. High exercisers reported significantly less physical discomfort than moderate or low exercisers. Greater consumption of sweets and fast food were significantly related to reported physical discomfort regardless of levels of exercise. High levels of fruit and vegetable consumption were associated with less discomfort in high exercisers. High dairy consumption was significantly related to fewer symptoms for high exercisers. Men who reported high ingestion of caffeine had significantly more discomfort than those who reported moderate to lower ingestion of caffeine.
Simulation Design and Device Characteristics of AlAs/GaAs/AlAs Resonant Tunneling Structures with a GalnAs Emitter Spacer Layer

Electrical and structural investigation of AlAs/GaAs/AlAs resonant tunneling structures with pseudomorphic strained Ga1−xInxAs (x=0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, and 0.2) emitter spacer layer are presented. As indium composition increased, the peak current density, peak voltage, and peak to valley ratio increased. For a theoretical understanding of these increases, a self-consistent simulation was employed. In the simulation, we treated the 2-dimensional electrons confined in the low energy bandgap GalnAs emitter spacer well as pseudo-3-dimensional electrons, distributed continuously down to the emitter launching energy. In the simulation, we used the bottom energy of the pseudo-3-dimensional electrons to be ⅔δEc below the emitter conduction band edge. Using the above values, an excellent agreement of peak current density and peak voltage between the experiment and the simulation was achieved. Also, for structural identification, standard double crystal x-ray rocking curve technique has been used. From the interference analysis of the x-ray results, we could obtain the indium composition times thickness product.
A prevalence study of pervasive developmental disorders in North Dakota.

To determine prevalence rates for the pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) in North Dakota, all relevant health and service providers were asked to provide names and records of all patients who had autistic symptoms. All identified patients were seen by the authors for a comprehensive evaluation. Of North Dakota's 180,986 children, ages 2 through 18, 21 met DSM-III criteria for infantile autism (IA), two met criteria for childhood onset pervasive developmental disorder (COPDD), and 36 were diagnosed as having atypical pervasive developmental disorder (APDD) because they met behavioral criteria for COPDD before age 30 months but never met criteria for IA. The prevalence rates were estimated at 1.16 per 10,000 for IA, 0.11 per 10,000 for COPDD, and 1.99 per 10,000 for APDD. The combined rate for all PDD was 3.26 per 10,000 with a male to female ratio of 2.7 to 1. Results are discussed in relation to previous prevalence studies using other diagnostic criteria.
Photoreactivation of ultraviolet-b damage in Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Acari: Acaridae) and Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae)

Abstract Research was performed to determine whether Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetrany-chidae) and Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) (Acari: Acaridae) were capable of photoreactivation. After exposure to UV-B radiation (312 nm), the photoreactivation ability of both species depended on the intensity of radiation. However, adults of T. urticae were able to photoreactivate and survive the radiation exposure better than T. putrescentiae.
Contingent management in temporary, dynamic organizations: The comparative analysis of projects

Abstract One of the most common ways in which organizations create change is through the project organization. Projects can be seen as temporary, dynamic organizations created and disseminated within existing organizations, and while their extent of use is growing, their theoretical and conceptual understanding are still in their early days. Using a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods and the findings of a field study of 26 case projects, the purpose of this research is to suggest a conceptual framework for the study of project contingencies. As found, projects have a wide range of variations demonstrated by an implicit two-dimensional contingency model. According to this model, projects were classified into four levels of technological uncertainty at the moment of project initiation and three levels of system scope based to their location on a hierarchy of systems and subsystems. While this framework can be used explicitly as a basis for building a typological theory of projects, it offers some theoretical insights into additional areas of investigation in temporary organizations. They include strategic choices, portfolio planning, risk management, innovation management, and entrepreneurship management.
A methodology for the estimation of transverse failure strength of an oxidized lamina from isothermal aging studies

Abstract Surface oxidation and ensuing damage substantially decrease the service life of High Temperature Polymer Matrix Composite (HTPMC) structures. Oxidative degradation behavior of composites is strongly dependent on the coupling between chemical and mechanical responses of the material. In a composite lamina, the onset of damage and subsequent coupled acceleration of both damage and oxidation are controlled by the transverse failure strength of the oxidized regions. The direct measurement of this strength from experimentation is challenging and cumbersome. A model-based methodology for estimating the mean transverse failure strength of the oxidized regions of a unidirectional composite is described in this paper. As the strength of the oxidized region is expected to show a high-degree of spatial variability, the estimated mean is shown to be relatively insensitive to the effect of strength variance. The developed methodology is illustrated with isothermal aging data available for a typical high-temperature composite system.
Effect of pharmacological concentrations of dietary copper on lipid and cholesterol metabolism in pigs

Abstract An experiment was conducted to determine if pharmacological concentrations of copper (Cu) affect lipid and cholesterol metabolism in Cu-adequate pigs. Treatments consisted of: control (10 ppm Cu as cupric sulfate, CuSO 4 ); control + 66 or 225 ppm Cu as CuSO 4; control + 33, 66, or 100 ppm Cu as cupric citrate (CuCit). Pigs were fed their respective diets throughout the nursery (35 d) and growing-finishing (GF; 103 d) phases. Copper increased (P 4 relative to the control on d 42 of the GF phase. Percent lipid and cholesterol concentrations of the semitendinosus muscle were not affected by Cu. Lipid percentage of the longissimus muscle was decreased (P 4 compared to the control, but Cu did not affect cholesterol concentration or fatty acid profile. These results indicate that pharmacological concentrations of Cu have little effect on cholesterol and lipid metabolism in the Cu-adequate pig.