cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Plant cell suspension cultures sustain long-term replication of potato spindle tuber viroid.

Abstract Cell suspension cultures were established from tomato plants (Lycopersicum esculentum cv. “Rutgers”) infected with either a severe (TPS cell line) or a mild (TPM cell line) strain of potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTV) and from uninfected plants (TH cell line). Based on measurements of packed cell volume, the TPS line exhibited a slower growth rate than the TH line, and reached lower levels of total cell volume during the stationary phase. The TPM line was intermediate between the other two. All the lines were highly polyploid (over 72 chromosomes). PSTV was detected consistently by electrophoretic analysis in both the TPS and TPM lines after more than 11/2 years of subculturing. Newly synthesized PSTV in actively dividing cells was detectable after 1 hr of [3H]uridine labeling (ca. 0.1% of the radioactivity incorporated into total soluble RNA) and its proportion increased in subsequent samplings up to a steady state level of 0.24–0.28 or 0.31–0.39% for TPM and TPS, respectively. Analysis on two-dimensional gels of proteins synthesized in the TH and TPS cell lines following incorporation of radiolabeled amino acids detected neither quantitative nor qualitative changes resulting from maintenance of viroid in the cell line.
Quantification of a neurotrophin receptor from submilligram quantities of brain tissue using western blotting.

Abstract The immunodensity of the trkB neurotrophin receptor was quantified from submilligram quantities of brain tissue, using approximately 500 μg samples dissected from the cochlear nucleus (CN) of adult guinea pigs. Tissue samples were hand-homogenized in a lysis buffer. After complete lysis, an aliquot of the lysate was taken to measure total protein, and the remainder was denatured. Proteins in the denatured aliquot were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and electrophoretically transferred onto an immoblin-P membrane. The membrane was exposed to rabbit anti-trkB and then to anti-rabbit IgG HRP conjugate. The immuno-complex on the membrane was detected by chemiluminescence, which was recorded on autoradiographic film. Autoradiographs were scanned into a computer and the trkB immunobands were quantified by densitometry. This procedure allowed the quantitative comparison of trkB neurotrophin receptor immunodensities between tissue samples. The procedure can be applied to the analysis of small samples of tissue collected from different brain regions or collected from the same region at different times, such as during development or aging, after administering a drug, or after placing a lesion. Themes: Development and regeneration Topics: Neurotrophic factors: receptors and cellular mechanisms
The impact of debt finance on aggregate demand

Abstract The crowding-out hypothesis has received extensive theoretical treatment but little supporting empirical examination. This paper presents the results of several empirical tests of the crowding-out hypothesis. These tests examine the impact of debt finance on aggregate demand, employment, inflation, and the unemployment rate. The results indicate that debt-financed fiscal initiatives crowd out a substantial amount of private spending, but do have a net expansionary effect on economic activity.
A drift chamber for high-energy heavy ions

Abstract We have constructed and tested a prototype drift chamber for tracking heavy projectile fragments produced in nucleus-nucleus collisions in the GeV/nucleon energy range. By adjusting the gas gain, a position resolution of less than 200 μm can be achieved for several overlapping ranges of particle charge with virtually 100% efficiency. The chamber was successfully operated for tracking various projectile fragments produced from an 40 Ar beam at 1.65 GeV/nucleon with a single high voltage setting.
Extent of sperm chromatin hydration determined by atomic force microscopy

Volume measurements were performed on intact bull and mouse sperm heads and amembranous sperm nuclei, both in the fully hydrated (fluid cell) and dehydrated (air-dried on glass coverslips) states by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Data were obtained by analyzing a small population of cells/nuclei, as well as by performing repeated measurements on single cells imaged following the addition of increasing concentrations of propanol. Results show that the volume of fully hydrated, intact sperm heads and amembranous sperm chromatin particles are at least twice the volume of their air-dried counterparts. Dehydration occurs rapidly in air, and the reduction in volume of chromatin induced by water loss appears to be completely reversible. These studies demonstrate that both mouse and bull sperm chromatin are extensively hydrated in the native state, and are not as compact as previous studies have suggested.
Promiscuous initiation on mammalian chromosomal DNA templates and its possible suppression by transcription.

Abstract The Chinese hamster dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) origin consists of many inefficient initiation sites scattered throughout a 55-kb intergenic spacer, with the ori-β, ori-β′, and ori-γ subregions being preferred. To test for the presence of genetic replicators within these subregions, fragments containing ori-β, ori-β′, or, as a negative control, a fragment from the DHFR gene that never initiates in loco were placed at ectopic chromosomal positions. Two-dimensional gel analysis demonstrates that initiation occurs in all three fragments, including the fragment from the gene, and appears to occur at different positions within each fragment in different cells in the population. However, initiation is not detectable in the adjacent, transcribed, neomycin-resistance marker. When a cosmid containing an active DHFR gene was inserted into an ectopic chromosomal site, initiation could no longer be observed in the body of the gene, but was clearly evident in the transcriptionally-silent bacterial vector sequences. In the thirteen independent chromosomal positions into which the four different constructs were inserted, initiation occurred in early S-phase. Since these loci necessarily had to be permissive for transcription of the neor marker or DHFR gene used to select transfectants, it is possible that early-firing origin activity and local transcription are somehow linked. In total, these data suggest that potential initiation sites are distributed at very frequent intervals in the mammalian genome, with usage being regulated both positively and negatively by local transcription.
Non‐uniformity effects in CdZnTe coplanar‐grid detectors

We discuss the findings from our studies of the performance of commercial coplanar-grid CdZnTe detectors. The devices were investigated using a highly collimated X-ray beam available at Brookhaven's National Synchrotron Light Source, and by applying pulse-shape analysis to measure correlations between the signals read out from the devices. Although the operational principle of coplanar-grid (CPG) detectors is well known, we found some important new details that help to better clarify the performance limitations of this type of device. The correlation plots we present can also be used as diagnostic tools to characterize the behavior of the CPG devices and to help to improve the designs of electrodes. This work illustrates the typical limitations related to the geometry of the contacts in CPG devices and how material nonuniformities can amplify these problems.
Preprocedure hyperglycemia is more strongly associated with restenosis in diabetic patients after percutaneous coronary intervention than is hemoglobin A1C

Background: Although more frequent in diabetic patients, restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is less common in those with good glycemic control. High circulating insulin levels may also be associated with more frequent restenosis. Methods: Fasting blood samples were obtained from 162 diabetic patients immediately prior to the PCI and analyzed for glucose, hemoglobin A1C, and insulin. Nine-month follow-up information was obtained in 145 (89.5%) patients. Target vessel revascularization (TVR) was the surrogate for restenosis. Results: Patients were divided into quartiles with regard to their blood levels. Insulin, calculated insulin resistance, and hemoglobin A1C were not associated with increased TVR rates. Glucose level was significantly associated (P=.02). Patients in the two lower quartiles (glucose V128 mg/dl) had a 9-month TVR rate of 12.7% while those in the two higher quartiles (N128 mg/dl) had a rate of 33.8% (P=.005). Level of glucose was independent of hemoglobin A1C. In patients whose A1C level was V7%, the TVR rate was greater in those with a glucose level N128 mg/dl (39.1% vs. 10.6%, P=.009). Similarly, in patients with a hemoglobin A1C level N7%, the TVR rate was lower in patients with a glucose level V128 mg/dl, but this difference did not reach statistical significance (16.6% vs. 31.3%, P=.3). Conclusions: Hemoglobin A1C, insulin, and insulin resistance at the time of the PCI are not associated with restenosis. Periprocedural hyperglycemia may promote restenosis in diabetics.
Monitoring corn and soybean crop development with hand-held radiometer spectral data

Abstract Red and photographic infrared data were collected with a hand-held radiometer under a variety of conditions at 4- to 12-day intervals throughout the growing season and were used to monitor corn and soybean growth and development. The normalized difference transformation was used to effectively compensate for the variation in irradiational conditions. With these data, plotted against time, green-leaf biomass dynamics were compared between the crops. By this approach, based entirely upon spectral inputs, the crop canopies were nondestructively monitored. Five spectral stages were defined and were related to crop development for corn and soybeans.
KINETICS OF THERMAL SOFTENING OF VEGETABLES

The rate of softening in several canned vegetables during the retort process was studied. The rate of softening is consistent with two simultaneous first order kinetic mechanisms; mechanism 1 acting on substrate “a” and mechanism 2 acting on substrate “b”. The rate constants for mechanism 1 are 20 times or more greater than the rate constantsfor mechanism 2. Approximately 85% to 97% of the firmness of the raw commodity is contributed by substrate “a” and the remaining firmness is contributed by substrate “b”. Mechanism 1 is probably due to pectic changes in the interlamellar layer. The biochemical nature of substrate 2 is a matter of speculation. The apparent Arrhenius activation energies range from 5.1 to 35.0 Kcal/mole. The data indicates that softening kinetics of vegetables is more complex than has been formerly assumed.
Thermoelectric properties of (Bi,Pb)–Sr–Co–O oxide

Electrical conductivity and thermopower of Bi2Sr3Co2Ox sintered bodies were first investigated in the temperature range 440–1060 K in air for high-temperature thermoelectric application. The samples fabricated by the sinter-forging method increased their bulk densities and electrical conductivity. The value of thermopower and the temperature dependence of electrical conductivity of the sinter-forged samples were close to that of the single crystal. Evaluating the thermal conductivity of the polycrystalline sample, we calculated a thermoelectric figure of merit Z to be 0.107 × 10−3 K−1 at 1060 K.
The interpretation of stretching lineations in multiply deformed terranes: an example from the Hualapai Mountains, Arizona, USA

Abstract Stretching lineations are commonly assumed to be genetically related to the foliation plane in which they occur and are generally interpreted to represent the finite elongation direction, or tectonic transport direction in highly strained rocks. In multiply deformed terranes, however, lineations may be reoriented rendering their interpretation less straightforward. This situation could lead to misinterpretation of the kinematics or strain signature of the second event. An example from the Hualapai Mountains, Arizona, shows that, where two discrete deformational events occurred under similar physical conditions, an early L1 lineation developed on S1 could be misinterpreted as an L2 lineation developed on S2. Here, a gently dipping S1 fabric was reoriented by folding into a steeply dipping composite S1/S2 fabric. In areas of little D2 overprint, the L1 lineation is essentially down dip. F2 folding of L1 resulted in reorientation of the lineations to very shallow rakes. D1 fabrics are exposed only in extremely limited areas due to nearly complete overprinting by D2 structures. Therefore, unless thorough field mapping reveals the local presence of D1 structures, it would be easy to infer mistakenly that the L1 lineation seen on the widespread S2 foliation formed during D2 thereby leading to an incorrect interpretation of the strain signature and kinematics of the second event.
Protozoan species accrual on artificial islands in differing lentic and wetland systems

In the recently broadened context of insular biogeographic theory, artificial substrates might well be considered as initially barren islands with the surrounding natural community acting as a source pool of potential colonists. In an attempt to relate protozoan communities forming on polyurethane foam (PF) substrates to their environments, a series of field experiments were performed in several aquatic and semi-aquatic (wetlands) systems in Michigan, Virginia, and Colorado. Results were considered in the context of island colonization theory. Given relatively stable environmental conditions and sufficient time to colonize, protozoa formed highly replicable communities on PF substrates; MacArthur & Wilson's equation for noninteractive island colonization, S = Seq ·(l-e−Gt ), accuratelt described the process of species accrual in most cases. Sites were compared using non-linear regression estimates of the parameter, G, which reflects the rate at which substrates attained equilibrium species numbers. In general, the rate of equilibrium acquisition reflected differences in productivity and structure between the protozoan communities from the various habitats and systems studied.
Alanine-scanning Mutagenesis along Membrane Segment 4 of the Yeast Plasma Membrane H+-ATPase EFFECTS ON STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION

Membrane segment 4 of P-type cation pumps has been suggested to play a critical role in the coupling of ATP hydrolysis to ion translocation. In this study, structure-function relationships in M4 of the yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) plasma membrane H+-ATPase have been explored by alanine-scanning mutagenesis. Mutant enzymes were expressed behind an inducible heat-shock promoter in yeast secretory vesicles, as described previously (Nakamoto, R. K., Rao, R. , and Slayman, C. W. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 7940-7949). One substitution (I329A) led to arrest of the enzyme at an early stage of biogenesis, and three others (G333A, L338A, G349A) reduced ATP hydrolysis to near-background levels. The remaining 26 mutants were expressed well enough in secretory vesicles (44-121% of wild type) and had sufficient ATPase activity (16-123% of wild type) to be characterized in detail. When acridine orange fluorescence quenching was used to measure rates of ATP-dependent proton pumping over a range of ATP concentrations, only minor changes were seen. In kinetic studies, however, seven of the mutant enzymes (I331A, I332A, V334A, V336A, V341A, V342A, and M346A) were resistant to vanadate inhibition, and three of them (I332A, V336A, and V341A) also had a decreased Km and increased pH optimum for ATP hydrolysis. Limited trypsinolysis was used to probe the structure of two different Val-336 substitutions, V336A, described above, and V336R, which displayed little or no ATPase activity. Both were cleaved at a relatively normal rate to give a pattern of fragments essentially identical to that seen with the wild-type enzyme. However, while vanadate, ADP, and ATP were able to protect the wild-type and V336A enzymes against trypsinolysis, the V336R ATPase was protected only by ADP and ATP. Taken together, the data suggest that key residues in the M4 segment may help to communicate the E1-E2 conformational change to ion-binding sites in the membrane.
Synoptic studies of the middle atmosphere using balloons.

Abstract During the Middle Atmosphere Program, 1982–1985, balloons will play a central role in gathering stratospheric, chemical, and dynamical data. This paper discusses some of the unique aspects of balloons as tools for probing the middle atmosphere, and suggests some directions for future projects and enhanced capabilities that would improve their utility in future investigations.
Evaluation of cost‐productivity of hospital‐based general practice residency programs

This study evaluated the 1985 cost-productivity of staff dentists and general practice residents at 11 dental clinics with general practice residency (GPR) programs and five nonteaching dental clinics in Veterans Administration hospitals. The results indicate that on the basis of dental service production, GPR facilities are or should be as cost-efficient as nonteaching facilities. It was also found that GP residents can repay a major part of their training costs.
History and new insights into host defense against vaginal candidiasis.

Abstract Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC), caused by Candida albicans , remains a significant problem in women of childbearing age. Although cell-mediated immunity is considered the predominant host defense mechanism against mucosal candidal infections, two decades of research using animal models and results from clinical studies have revealed that adaptive immunity does not play a protective role against VVC owing to putative immunoregulatory mechanisms. Moreover, natural protective mechanisms and factors associated with susceptibility to infection have remained elusive until recently; use of a live challenge model in humans revealed that protection against vaginitis coincides with a non-inflammatory innate presence, whereas symptomatic infection correlates with a neutrophil infiltrate in the vaginal lumen and elevated fungal burden. Therefore, instead of RVVC being caused by a putative deficient adaptive immune response, it is now being considered that symptomatic vaginitis is caused by an aggressive innate response.
Computer Simulation of the Dielectric Properties of Liquid Water

Abstract Monte Carlo simulations of water in the NVT ensemble using three models (SPC, TIP4P and TIPS2) are reported. The internal energy, dielectric constant, and the site-site radial distribution functions of liquid water (temperature 300 K and mass density 1 gm cc−1) were calculated and compared with experiment. It was found that of the three intermolecular potential models, SPC gives the best dielectric constant. Since SPC also yields acceptable results for the energy and structure, it is judged to be the best among the three models studied.
Stochastic Volatilities and Correlations, Extreme Values and Modeling the Macroeconomic Environment, Under Which Brazilian Banks Operate

Using monthly data for a set of variables, we examine the out-of-sample performance of various variance/covariance models and find that no model has consistently outperformed the others. We also show that it is possible to increase the probability mass toward the tails and to match reasonably well the historical evolution of volatilities by changing a decay factor appropriately. Finally, we implement a simple stochastic volatility model and simulate the credit transition matrix for two large Brazilian banks and show that this methodology has the potential to improve simulated transition probabilities as compared to the constant volatility case. In particular, it can shift CTM probabilities towards lower credit risk categories.
Age, body mass, and gender as predictors of masters olympic weightlifting performance.

THE, D. J., and L. PLOUTZ-SNYDER. Age, Body Mass, and Gender as Predictors of Masters Olympic Weightlifting Performance. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 35, No. 7, pp. 1216–1224, 2003. The purpose of this study was to examine previously collected performance scores from the 2000 World Masters Weightlifting Championships to 1) determine the extent to which age and body mass are related to and predictive of indirect estimates of absolute and relative muscular power, and 2) assess possible gender differences in these associations. Dependent variables were absolute load (ABS = heaviest snatch [kg] + heaviest clean and jerk [kg]) and relative load (REL = ABS [kg]/body mass [kg]), representing indirect estimates of absolute and relative muscular power, respectively. Predictor variables were age (yr) and body mass (kg). Linear regression and various diagnostic procedures were used to analyze the data. The linear model provided an adequate fit for the data because no departures from the usual assumptions of normally distributed variables and homoscedastic error variance were observed. All predictor variables were significantly (P < 0.05) predictive of the dependent variables, but the magnitude of associations (e.g., RABS|BM = 0.18 among females vs RABS|BM = 0.57 among males) and extent of predictive ability (e.g., Radj2 for regression of ABS on age and body mass was 0.18–0.58 among females vs 0.74–0.83 among males) were significantly (P < 0.05) higher among males versus females. The extent to which age and body mass explain differences in muscular power differs between female and male masters weightlifters, but the rate of decline (%·yr−1) in power with advancing age is similar and is in agreement with previous reports for world record holders, other masters athletes, and healthy, untrained individuals, suggesting the importance of the aging process itself over physical activity history.
Reversible, Room-Temperature Ionic Liquids. Amidinium Carbamates Derived from Amidines and Aliphatic Primary Amines with Carbon Dioxide

Reversible, room-temperature ionic liquids, amidinium carbamates, are made by addition of carbon dioxide to mixtures of an aliphatic amidine and an aliphatic primary amine. The systems can be cycled repeatedly by sequential exposure to CO2 and N2. An example of the utility of such systems is provided.
Minimal realisation algorithm for impulse response matrix using modified moments

A procedure for the minimal realisation of an impulse response matrix is proposed. The procedure is based on the expansion of moments of the impulse response matrix about an arbitrary point a. The procedure is illustrated with the help of an example.
Cytoreduction of small intestine metastases using the Cavitron Ultrasonic Surgical Aspirator.

ABSTRACT The Cavitron Ultrasonic Surgical Aspirator was used to reduce the volume of the small intestine metastases in 37 patients. Thirty-four patients had epithelial carcinoma of the ovary, and one each had tubal adenocarcinoma, papillary peritoneal tumor, and mesothelioma. Thirty-one patients had stage IIIC disease, and six had stage IV. Initially, 18 patients had small bowel disease greater than 15 mm in diameter (of any single nodule), and 10 had disease 6–15 mm in diameter. After cytoreduction using standard means, 18 patients had disease greater than 15 mm in diameter, and 9 patients had disease 6–15 mm in greatest diameter. After using the Cavitron, 13 patients had no gross residual disease, and 24 patients had disease 1–5 mm in diameter. The Cavitron Ultrasonic Surgical Aspirator is invaluable to obtain minimal residual disease of small bowel metastases while avoiding intestinal resection. (J GYNECOL SURG 11:197, 1995)
Health care and puerto ricans: A consultation and educational program

Abstract Delivery of health services to Puerto Ricans in the United States is seriously limited because health care personnel are unfamiliar with Puerto Rican attitudes towards health and illness. This article describes a consultation and educational program that has had an effect on the delivery of health services to the Puerto Rican community of Worcester, Massachusetts. In addition, recommendations are made for increasing the use of health services by a Puerto Rican community.
Classification of binary mass spectra of toxic compounds with an inductive expert system and comparison with SIMCA class modeling

Abstract The performance of an inexpensive, inductive rule-building expert shell system, based on the ID3 algorithm, was compared to that of SIMCA class modeling in classifying the binary mass spectra of 78 toxic and related compounds. The compressed mass spectra consisted of 17 masses chosen by using information theory. The expert rules verified the six main classes and two subclasses found with SIMCA class modeling. These classes were: all benzenes and all alkanes/ alkenes (alka(e)nes); nonhalobenzenes, chlorobenzenes, bromoalka(e)nes, and chloroalka(e)nes; and mono-, dichloroalka(e)nes and polychloroalka(e)nes. Training set classification accuracies obtained with the expert system were 93–100% as opposed to 62–98% for SIMCA. For 73 compounds, the expert rules gave a classification accuracy of 97–100% vs. 79–96% for SIMCA. Predictive accuracy for the four main classes was 78%. In general, fewer masses were involved with the rules than with the SIMCA models, and the rules are normally optimized with regard to minimum number of steps in the rule, not minimum number of variables. The expert rules work best with closed sets of objects where all possibilities can be included in the training sets. The expert rules represent planes partitioning the multidimensional measurement space (hypercube) into a subvolume nearest the SIMCA cylinders for an appropriate class. Overall, the performance of the expert system was very good.
Automated resource-driven mission phasing techniques for constrained agents

A constrained agent is limited in the actions that it can take at any given time, and a challenging problem is to design policies for such agents to do the best they can despite their limitations. One way of improving agent performance is to break larger tasks into phases, where the constrained agent is better able to handle each phase and can reconfigure its limited capabilities differently for each phase. In this paper, we present algorithms for automating the process of finding and using mission phases for constrained agents. We analyze several variations of this problem that correspond to different classes of important constrained-agent problems, and show through analysis and experiments that our techniques can increase an agent's rewards for varying levels of constraints on the agent and on the phases.
Oxaloacetate inhibition of succinate oxidation in tightly coupled liver mitochondria with ferricyanide as an electron acceptor.

Abstract When ferricyanide is used as an artificial electron acceptor, succinate oxidation by tightly coupled liver mitochondria becomes inhibited after 1–3 min. No inhibition occurs in the presence of rotenone or glutamate establishing that oxaloacetate causes the inhibtion. Oxygen consumption by mitochondria oxidizing succinate does not become inhibited in the absence of rotenone suggesting that oxaloacetate accumulates to a greater extent when ferricyanide is added than when oxygen is the terminal acceptor. Higher levels of oxaloacetate in the ferricyanide reaction are apparently due to an increased rate of synthesis rather than a decreased rate of removal. Thus it appears that when succinate is the substrate and oxygen the terminal acceptor a control mechanism exists which blocks oxidation of malate. When ferricyanide is added as an artificial electron acceptor this control is lost and oxaloacetate accumulates to inhibit succinate oxidation.
Adsorption of Acetaldehyde, Propionaldehyde, and Butyraldehyde on Silica Gel

Abstract Adsorption isotherms of acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde, and butyraldehyde on Davison silica gel were determined gravimetrically at three temperatures. The isoteric heat of adsorption initially increased at low loading and then decreased monotonically with an increase in loading. The equilibrium adsorption data were successfully correlated by Polanyi's potential theory. The equilibrium data were also correlated with the Langmuir, BET, Freundlich, and the Hines et al. models. The Freundlich and the Hines et al. models provided the best fit to the data, while the BET equation was found to be applicable only for a relative pressure range of 0.05 to 0.2. The monolayer surface coverages of silica gel by all of the aldehydes estimated by the Langmuir equation were found to be consistently higher than those calculated from the BET equation, except for acetaldehyde at 306.5 K.
High-efficiency induction of soybean hairy roots and propagation of the soybean cyst nematode.

Cotyledon explants of 10 soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] cultivars were inoculated with Agrobacterium rhizogenes strain K599 with and without binary vectors pBI121 or pBINm-gfp5-ER possessing both neomycin phosphotransferase II (nptII) and β-glucuronidase (gus) or nptII and green fluorescent protein (gfp) genes, respectively. Hairy roots were produced from the wounded surface of 54–95% of the cotyledon explants on MXB selective medium containing 200 μg ml−1 kanamycin and 500 μg ml−1 carbenicillin. Putative individual transformed hairy roots were identified by cucumopine analysis and were screened for transgene incorporation using polymerase chain reaction. All of the roots tested were found to be co-transformed with T-DNA from the Ri-plasmid and the transgene from the binary vectors. Southern blot analysis confirmed the presence of the 35S-gfp5 gene in the plant genomes. Transgene expression was also confirmed by histochemical GUS assay and Western blot analysis for the GFP. Attempts to induce shoot formation from the hairy roots failed. Infection of hairy roots of the soybean cyst nematode (Heterodera glycines Ichinohe)-susceptible cultivar, Williams 82, with eggs of H. glycines race 1, resulted in the development of mature cysts about 4–5 weeks after inoculation. Thus the soybean cyst nematode could complete its entire life cycle in transformed soybean hairy-root cultures expressing GFP. This system should be ideal for testing genes that might impart resistance to soybean cyst nematode.
The safety of incretin based drugs

Latest data on pancreatitis look reassuring, but informed patients will have the final word
Naltrexone effects on alcohol consumption in a clinical laboratory paradigm: temporal effects of drinking

This clinical laboratory study evaluated how the timing of drinking and subjective responses to alcohol are effected by the opioid antagonist naltrexone. Forty non-treatment seeking alcoholics were randomly assigned to treatment with 50 mg naltrexone or matching placebo for 7 days. On day 7, they were administered an “initial drink” of alcohol (blood alcohol levels of between 20 and 30 mg%) in a bar-like setting. In a random fashion, half of the subjects in each group (naltrexone and placebo) had either immediate or delayed (40 min) access to up to 8 additional mini-drinks over a 2-h period. In the delayed group subjective reactions to alcohol were measured prior to access to more drinks. In the immediate access condition, subjects had similar drinking patterns, irrespective of whether they were taking naltrexone or placebo. However, in the delayed condition, naltrexone-treated subjects consumed fewer drinks and had a slower progression of drinking. There was a positive relationship between alcohol-induced stimulation and the number of drinks consumed in the placebo subjects but a negative correlation in the naltrexone subjects. These data suggest that the effectiveness of naltrexone on alcohol consumption may be somewhat dependent on pattern of consumption. Since naltrexone seems to disrupt the connection between alcohol-induced stimulation and further alcohol consumption, there may be a time-critical period between drinks necessary for alcoholics to benefit from its effects. These findings are consistent with clinical trial data that suggest a potential synergistic effect between relapse prevention therapies and opiate antagonist pharmacotherapy.
Application of hyperbolic stress-strain models for sandstone and shale to fold wavelength in the Mexican Ridges foldbelt

Abstract The Mexican Ridges foldbelt on the continental slope east of Mexico has major folds with wavelengths averaging 7 km. Locally, there are also small amplitude, near-surface folds with wavelengths of 2 km. Initial dominant wavelength is modelled by the finite element method using the hyperbolic stress-strain relationship originally derived for soils. Hyperbolic stress-strain models for sandstone and shale are calibrated using field porosity-depth relationships for shale, and laboratory one-dimensional consolidation data for sand and clay. Effective tangent Young's modulus calculated from hyperbolic stress-strain models is generally higher for sandstones than for shales, and for both rock types modulus increases substantially with depth. The finite element models of dominant wavelength duplicate the two orders of folds observed in the Mexican Ridges and match their wavelengths. In the models, fold wavelength is nearly constant for large variations in both sandstone fraction in the folded section and pore pressure magnitude in the overpressured basal shale below the folded section, but fold amplification is increased by high pore pressure in the basal shale and by high sandstone fraction in the folded section. Fold wavelength is affected more by depth distribution of high pore pressure than by pressure magnitude, and on the lower continental slope where grain size may be smaller, a thicker zone of high pressure would partly explain the modest downslope increase in fold wavelength.
Pharmaceutical price differences in the EU: investigation from cardiovascular disease drugs

Despite the market integration through the Single Market Program and European Monetary Union, and coordination efforts by the European Commission, the pharmaceutical industry in the EU has remained as separate markets in each member nation rather than integrated owing to several distinguished characteristics of the industry and member countries. As a result, there are large price differences across EU member nations. Although there are increasing harmonization efforts by the European Commission, price differences among the five major markets remain high. However, evidence from cardiovascular disease drugs shows that the average price paid for these treatments has been decreasing in recent years for five major pharmaceutical countries.
Synthesis of Multiplexed Biofluidic Microchips

Lab-on-a-chip (LoC) devices are a class of microfluidic chip-based systems that show a great deal of promise for complex chemical and biological sensing and analysis applications. An approach for full-custom LoC design, which leverages optimal design techniques and system-on-a-chip (SoC) physical design methods, is being developed. Both physical design of the chip and microfluidic performance are simultaneously considered to obtain complete LoC layouts. The proposed approach is demonstrated by designing multiplexed capillary electrophoresis (CE) separation microchips. The authors believe that this approach provides a foundation for future extension to LoC devices in which many different complex chemical operations are performed entirely on-chip.
SYM1 Is the Stress-Induced Saccharomyces cerevisiae Ortholog of the Mammalian Kidney Disease Gene Mpv17 and Is Required for Ethanol Metabolism and Tolerance during Heat Shock

Organisms rapidly adapt to severe environmental stress by inducing the expression of a wide array of heat shock proteins as part of a larger cellular response program. We have used a genomics approach to identify novel heat shock-induced genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The uncharacterized open reading frame (ORF) YLR251W was found to be required for both metabolism and tolerance of ethanol during heat shock. YLR251W has significant homology to the mammalian peroxisomal membrane protein Mpv17, and Mpv17−/− mice exhibit age-onset glomerulosclerosis, deafness, hypertension, and, ultimately, death by renal failure. Expression of Mpv17 in ylr251wΔ cells complements the 37°C ethanol growth defect, suggesting that these proteins are functional orthologs. We have therefore renamed ORF YLR251W as SYM1 (for “stress-inducible yeast Mpv17”). In contrast to the peroxisomal localization of Mpv17, we find that Sym1 is an integral membrane protein of the inner mitochondrial membrane. In addition, transcriptional profiling of sym1Δ cells uncovered changes in gene expression, including dysregulation of a number of ethanol-repressed genes, exclusively at 37°C relative to wild-type results. Together, these data suggest an important metabolic role for Sym1 in mitochondrial function during heat shock. Furthermore, this study establishes Sym1 as a potential model for understanding the role of Mpv17 in kidney disease and cardiovascular biology.
Cytoplasmic Partitioning of P Granule Components Is Not Required to Specify the Germline in C. elegans

Asymmetric segregation of P granules during the first four divisions of the Caenorhabditis elegans embryo is a classic example of cytoplasmic partitioning of germline determinants. It is thought that asymmetric partitioning of P granule components during mitosis is essential to distinguish germline from soma. We have identified a mutant (pptr-1) in which P granules become unstable during mitosis and P granule proteins and RNAs are distributed equally to somatic and germline blastomeres. Despite symmetric partitioning of P granule components, pptr-1 mutants segregate a germline that uniquely expresses P granules during postembryonic development. pptr-1 mutants are fertile, except at high temperatures. Hence, asymmetric partitioning of maternal P granules is not essential to specify germ cell fate. Instead, it may serve to protect the nascent germline from stress.
Testing alternative explanations for mortality salience effects: Terror management, value accessibility, or worrisome thoughts?

Previous research has shown that reminding subjects of their mortality encourages negative reactions to others whose behaviour or attitudes deviate from the cultural worldview (e.g. Greenberg, Pyszczynski, Solomon, Rosenblatt, Veeder, Kirkland and Lyon 1990; Greenberg, Simon, Pyszczynski, Solomon and Chatel 1992; Rosenblatt, Greenberg, Solomon, Pyszczynski and Lyon 1989). According to terror management theory, these findings result from a heightened need for faith in the cultural worldview that is activated by reminders of one's mortality. Study I assessed the plausibility of an alternative explanation which posits that mortality salience simply primes individuals' values. Whereas mortality salience led to harsher bond recommendations for a prostitute, a procedure that directly focused subjects on their values did not. Studies 2 and 3 assessed the possibility that reminding subjects of any worrisome future concern would produce the same effect as a reminder of mortality. In both studies, mortality salience led to negative reactions to a deviant and had no effect on self-reported affect, whereas other worrisome thoughts had no effect on reactions to a deviant but did create negative affect. Thus, consistent with terror management theory, mortality salience effects seem to result exclusively from thoughts of death.
The evolution of the African National Congress in power: From revolutionaries to social democrats?

Abstract This research on the African National Congress (ANC) is done in the context of the question of what happens when a revolutionary, rebel movement succeeds in taking state power. It is now 12 years since 1994, when, as the result of national elections negotiated with the former National Party (NP) rulers, the ANC took the reins of governmental power. The analysis will place the challenges of the ANC in the context of rebel movements in Latin America that have taken power. Several theoretical questions will be addressed. First, when a revolutionary movement gains power what are the terms of its arrival at power? Is the old order thoroughly defeated or does it retain power in certain sectors? Second, what is the international context of the transition? Does the revolutionary movement have powerful friends or enemies? Third, what is the level of unity within the revolutionary movement? Are there factions with different approaches to the construction of a new society? Fourth, how well does the revoluti...
Career Counseling for Longevity: Self-Care and Burnout Prevention Strategies for Counselor Resilience

Balancing self-care and other-care is often a struggle for career counselors and others in the helping professions. The process of caring is made up of a constant series of empathic attachments, active involvements, and felt separations. The ability to continually engage in “the caring cycle” is important for success. However, the constant need to re-create the cycle of caring can lead to counselor depletion and burnout. This article provides a developmental framework for assisting career counselors to avoid depleted caring while prolonging their professional longevity. The model of self-care includes recognizing the hazards of “high touch” work, such as limited resources and constant one-way caring. Also addressed are specific means of professional and personal sustenance, such as maximizing experiences of professional success and balancing personal wellness throughout one's career.
Marginality and Innovation in Science

Sociologists and historians of science have frequently used the concept of the `marginal man' to describe those most likely to contribute major scientific innovations. An examination of X-ray astronomy during its formative years (1960-75) suggests that `marginal' scientists are no more likely than others to contribute innovations, a finding contrary to most other studies. Moreover, the concept of marginality is, in its present use, so ambiguous as to be almost worthless as a conceptual tool for systematic inquiry into the sources of scientific innovation.
The Automatic Construction Method of Ontology on Web Service

To solve the problems of inefficient developing, information missing and inadequate validation brought by traditional artificial constructing methods of ontology, this paper does in-depth study from the perspective of the data structure and interaction method of Web service on construction method of ontology, and analyzes the semantic information contained in Web service in detail, and proposes the basic method of construction relation model for Web service and describes mapping function between relation model and ontology. At last, we construct the ontology automatically for a series of Web services with methods above and make validation of the regression to the constructed results of the ontology. Through the analysis of verification results, we make a conclusion and outlook to the automatic construction method of ontology for Web service proposed in this paper.
Modeling internal commitment mechanisms and self-control: A neuroeconomics approach to consumption-saving decisions

We provide a new model of consumption-saving decisions which explicitly allows for internal commitment mechanisms and self-control. Agents have the ability to invoke either automatic processes that are susceptible to the temptation of ‘overconsuming,’ or alternative control processes which require internal commitment but are immune to such temptations. Standard models in behavioral economics ignore such internal commitment mechanisms. We justify our model by showing that much of its construction is consistent with dynamic choice and cognitive control as they are understood in cognitive neuroscience. The dynamic consumption-saving behavior of an agent in the model is characterized by a simple consumption-saving goal, a propensity to consume out of wealth which is independent of any realized temptation, and a cut-o rule for invoking control processes to inhibit automatic processes and implement the consumptionsaving goal. We compare the behavior induced by our model with that induced by standard behavioral models where agents have no internal commitment ability. We discuss empirical tests of our model with available individual consumption data and we suggest critical tests with brain-imaging and experimental data.
Determination of Equilibrium Constants for Weakly Bound Charge‐transfer Complexes

— The evaluation of the equilibrium constants for charge-transfer complex formation has been of interest for five decades. During this time, absorption spectroscopy using Benesi-Hildebrand, or related methods, has been used to obtain the equilibrium constants. These methods require relatively high concentrations of donor or acceptor to be present in solution when weakly bound complexes are studied, conditions that lead to the formation of higher order complexes and inconsistent determinations of these constants. A new method is presented that allows weakly bound charge-transfer complexes to be studied under low concentration conditions and the equilibrium constants to be determined accurately for the first time. Using this method, the equilibrium constant for the formation of 1, 2, 4, 5-tetracyanobenzene/pentamethylbenzene charge-transfer complex was found to be KCT= 6.8 ± 0.3 M−1 with an extinction coefficient at 400 nm of eCT= 150 ± 30cm−1M−1.
Biopolymer Gels: Nanostructure and Macroscopic Properties

Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) has been used to investigate the effect of salts (NaCl and CaCl2) on the structure of DNA and polyacrylic acid (PAA) gels. In the absence of salt a distinct correlation peak is observed in the SANS spectra of both systems indicating that electrostatic interactions play an important role in the organization of the polymer chains. When the salt concentration is increased, the peak position shifts to smaller values of the scattering vector q, and progressively vanishes. Osmotic swelling pressure measurements show that Ca ions reduce the swelling pressure and lead to the collapse of these gels. The Ca/Na ion exchange process does not affect the shear modulus of PAA gels. However, the shear modulus of DNA gels decreases with increasing Ca ion concentration at high swelling degrees, and increases at low swelling degrees. The results indicate that changing the ionic composition provides a simple way to control the nanoscale structures and properties in polyelectrolyte gels.
Design and implementation of a distributed virtual machine for networked computers

This paper describes the motivation, architecture and performance of a distributed virtual machine (DVM) for networked computers. DVMs rely on a distributed service architecture to meet the manageability, security and uniformity requirements of large, heterogeneous clusters of networked computers. In a DVM, system services, such as verification, security enforcement, compilation and optimization, are factored out of clients and located on powerful network servers. This partitioning of system functionality reduces resource requirements on network clients, improves site security through physical isolation and increases the manageability of a large and heterogeneous network without sacrificing performance. Our DVM implements the Java virtual machine, runs on x86 and DEC Alpha processors and supports existing Java-enabled clients.
Spatial distribution of energetic electrons in the geomagnetic tail

Spatial distribution of energetic electrons in geomagnetic tail by analyzing counting rates from solid state detector on IMP I satellite
Fault protection in a multilevel inverter implementation of a static condenser

Multilevel inverters are well suited for static condenser implementation in utility systems. With multilevel inverters, it is possible to realize low distortion voltage waveforms and keep losses low using suitable switching schemes. The complex topology of these inverters coupled with the large number of devices used increases the probability of device failure. In this paper, the fault modes of a multilevel inverter are investigated with special emphasis on the five level inverter. The main focus or the paper is on device failure and the corresponding impact on the operating conditions and resulting stresses. The presence of redundant states offers the possibility of continuing operation with inferior bus and device utilization following a fault. Failure of some devices is more critical than the failure of others, thereby emphasizing the need for adding redundant devices.