cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vaccine development in Staphylococcus aureus: taking the biofilm phenotype into consideration

Vaccine development against pathogenic bacteria is an imperative initiative as bacteria are gaining resistance to current antimicrobial therapies and few novel antibiotics are being developed. Candidate antigens for vaccine development can be identified by a multitude of high-throughput technologies that were accelerated by access to complete genomes. While considerable success has been achieved in vaccine development against bacterial pathogens, many species with multiple virulence factors and modes of infection have provided reasonable challenges in identifying protective antigens. In particular, vaccine candidates should be evaluated in the context of the complex disease properties, whether planktonic (e.g. sepsis and pneumonia) and/or biofilm associated (e.g. indwelling medical device infections). Because of the phenotypic differences between these modes of growth, those vaccine candidates chosen only for their efficacy in one disease state may fail against other infections. This review will summarize the history and types of bacterial vaccines and adjuvants as well as present an overview of modern antigen discovery and complications brought about by polymicrobial infections. Finally, we will also use one of the better studied microbial species that uses differential, multifactorial protein profiles to mediate an array of diseases, Staphylococcus aureus, to outline some of the more recently identified problematic issues in vaccine development in this biofilm-forming species.
Pristine Wilderness to Crippled Ecosystems: A Foray Through More Than Half a Century of Herpetology1

Abstract Biology, including herpetology, has made greater strides in recent decades than in any time in history. It has progressed from a largely inductive science performed on an expeditionary basis to a laboratory-based discipline in which preformed hypotheses are tested empirically. My research has spanned that change in paradigm and an example of expeditionary biology, the study of habitat selection by amphibians and reptiles in the Darien Gap, Panama, is described. The study of Sea Snakes is used to illustrate the transition. Analysis of the offerings to two herpetological journals, Herpetologica and the Journal of Herpetology, also demonstrates changes in different topical emphases. A prominent trend in herpetology has been a shift from basic biology to conservation in the face of environmental degradation and the need to preserve the biodiversity of amphibians and reptiles. The unified biology of antiquity had fragmented into separate, specialized disciplines that seldom related to each other in mo...
Object recognition based on projection

The authors propose a new connectionist model for invariant object recognition. The model has four stages. The first stage obtains projections from the input image plane. The projection features can separate translation and rotation into two independent translations in s and theta , where s and theta are the axes of the transformed domain directions. The first stage of the recognition network is a discrete implementation of the Radon transform. The second stage adopts the Mellin transform to provide scale invariance. The outputs of this stage are translation and scale invariant. To obtain rotation invariance, the Rapid transform is used. Finally, a pattern classification network is used for recognition. In experiments, five exemplars were used to recognize 240 transformed test objects, and very good results were obtained. >
Drug Synergy Drives Conserved Pathways to Increase Fission Yeast Lifespan

Aging occurs over time with gradual and progressive loss of physiological function. Strategies to reduce the rate of functional loss and mitigate the subsequent onset of deadly age-related diseases are being sought. We demonstrated previously that a combination of rapamycin and myriocin reduces age-related functional loss in the Baker’s yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and produces a synergistic increase in lifespan. Here we show that the same drug combination also produces a synergistic increase in the lifespan of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe and does so by controlling signal transduction pathways conserved across a wide evolutionary time span ranging from yeasts to mammals. Pathways include the target of rapamycin complex 1 (TORC1) protein kinase, the protein kinase A (PKA) and a stress response pathway, which in fission yeasts contains the Sty1 protein kinase, an ortholog of the mammalian p38 MAP kinase, a type of Stress Activated Protein Kinase (SAPK). These results along with previous studies in S. cerevisiae support the premise that the combination of rapamycin and myriocin enhances lifespan by regulating signaling pathways that couple nutrient and environmental conditions to cellular processes that fine-tune growth and stress protection in ways that foster long term survival. The molecular mechanisms for fine-tuning are probably species-specific, but since they are driven by conserved nutrient and stress sensing pathways, the drug combination may enhance survival in other organisms.
Uremic Serum and Solutes Increase Post–Vascular Interventional Thrombotic Risk Through Altered Stability of Smooth Muscle Cell Tissue Factor

Background—Stent thrombosis (ST), a postinterventional complication with a mortality rate of 50%, has an incidence that rises precipitously in patients at risk. Chronic renal failure and end-stage renal disease have emerged as particularly strong ST risk factors, yet the mechanism remains elusive. Tissue factor (TF) is a crucial mediator of injury-related thrombosis and has been implicated for ST. We posit that uremia modulates TF in the local vessel wall to induce postinterventional thrombosis in patients with end-stage renal disease. Methods and Results—As a model of the de-endothelialized, postinterventional state, we exposed primary human vascular smooth muscle cells (vSMCs) pretreated with uremic serum (obtained from ESRD patients on hemodialysis) to coronary-like blood flow. vSMC TF expression, activity, stability, and posttranslational modification were examined after vSMCs were treated with uremic serum or solutes. We found significantly greater clot formation after uremic serum exposure, which wa...
Boundary-layer depth and entrainment zone characterization with a boundary-layer profiler

A technique for determining the height of the convective atmospheric boundary layer (CBL) with a 915 MHz boundary-layer profiler is discussed. The results are compared with CBL heights determined from radiosonde measurements. The profiler provides continuous CBL height measurements with very good time resolution (30 minutes or less), allowing for detailed understanding of the growth and fluctuations of the CBL. In addition, the profiler provides information about the degree of definition of the CBL top and the thickness of the entrainment zone. The measurements discussed were taken during the Rural Oxidants in the Southern Environment II (ROSE II) experiment.
Formation of alkanethiolate self-assembled monolayers at halide-terminated Ge surfaces.

We have studied Ge halide passivation and formation of 1-octadecanethiolate self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) at Cl- and Br-terminated Ge(100) and Ge(111) surfaces. The results of water contact angle measurements, ellipsometry, transmission infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Auger electron spectroscopy show that good quality 1-alkanethiolate SAMs can be achieved at both Cl- and Br-terminated surfaces via direct Ge−S bonds. The quality of the SAMs depends on the concentration and the solvent of the 1-alkanethiol solution. Moreover, SAMs formed at Ge(100) surfaces have higher water contact angles, thicknesses, and ambient stability than those formed at Ge(111) surfaces. Surface passivation and light are found to play an important role in the packing and stability of the SAMs. Furthermore, well-packed SAMs can be retrieved by repassivation after degradation due to ambient exposure. This work presents novel routes for Ge surface passivation.
Proteomic insight into reduced cell elongation resulting from overexpression of patatin-related phospholipase pPLAIIIδ in Arabidopsis thaliana

Patatin-containing phospholipase A (pPLA) hydrolyzes membrane glycerolipids, producing free fatty acids and lysoglycerolipids. Ten pPLAs in the Arabidopsis thaliana genome are grouped into 3 subfamilies, and pPLAIIIs differ from pPLAI and IIs in their catalytic motifs and overexpression (OE) of pPLAIIIs reduces cell elongation and cellulose content. To probe the question of how pPLAIII overexpression results in the changes, comparative proteomic analyses were conducted between pPLAIIIδ-OE and WT seedlings. The data indicate a change in the microtubule-associated protein, MAP18. MAP18 is involved in destabilizing cortical microtubules and modulating directional cell growth. The result suggests that pPLAIII and their derived products may regulate cytoskeletal dynamics leading to retardation in anisotropic growth.
Principle of Detailed Balance

This note answers a question raised by Lloyd and Pake as to whether or not the principle of detailed balance applies in nonequilibrium steady states. It is shown that detailed balance holds only at equilibrium, and that nonequilibrium steady states must be maintained by cyclic processes.
Observation of dynamic subdomains in red blood cells

We quantify the nanoscale structure and low- frequency dynamics associated with live red blood cells. The membrane displacements are measured using quanti- tative phase images provided by Fourier phase micros- copy, with an average path-length stability of 0.75 nm over 45 min. The results reveal the existence of dynamic, independent subdomains across the cells that fluctuate at
Critical role of host γδ T cells in experimental acute graft-versus-host disease

γδ T cells localize to target tissues of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and therefore we investigated the role of host γδ T cells in the pathogenesis of acute GVHD in several well-characterized allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) models. Depletion of host γδ T cells in wild-type (wt) B6 recipients by administration of anti-T-cell receptor (TCR) γδ monoclonal antibody reduced GVHD, and γδ T-cell-deficient (γδ-/-) BM transplant recipients experienced markedly improved survival compared with normal controls (63% vs 10%, P < .001). γδ T cells were responsible for this difference because reconstitution of γδ-/- recipients with γδ T cells restored GVHD mortality. γδ-/- recipients showed decreased serum levels of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), less GVHD histopathologic damage, and reduced donor T-cell expansion. Mechanistic analysis of this phenomenon demonstrated that dendritic cells (DCs) from γδ-/- recipients exhibited less allostimulatory capacity compared to wt DCs after irradiation. Normal DCs derived from BM caused greater allogeneic T-cell proliferation when cocultured with γδ T cells than DCs cocultured with medium alone. This enhancement did not depend on interferon γ (IFN-γ), TNF-α, or CD40 ligand but did depend on cell-to-cell contact. These data demonstrated that the host γδ T cells exacerbate GVHD by enhancing the allostimulatory capacity of host antigen-presenting cells. (Blood. 2005;106:749-755)
Incontinence: An Underappreciated Problem in Obesity and Bariatric Surgery

Driven by the obesity epidemic, the number of bariatric operations performed in the United States has increased markedly, by one estimate from ~20,000 in 1998 to 140,000 in 2004, and plateaued thereafter [1]. While diarrhea is a recognized consequence of intestinal bypass procedures, Roberson and colleagues in this issue of the journal highlight, for the first time, that fecal incontinence (FI) may begin or worsen after bariatric surgery [2]. Of note, 48% of women and 42% of men reported FI for liquid stools while 21% of women and 30% of men reported solid FI after surgery. Moreover, 55% of women and 31% of men reported their symptoms were worse after surgery. While these figures may be affected by response rates (48%) or, since surveys were only conducted after surgery, by recall bias, they draw attention for the first time to an underappreciated and significant problem since FI can be a devastating symptom which can substantially impair quality of life [3, 4].
Peripheral nerve disorders.

Neuropathy may be classified clinically, electrodiagnostically, and histopathologically. The duration of symptoms may be acute (\3 weeks), subacute (3 weeks–3 months), or chronic (>3 months). The distribution of neuropathic involvement may be proximal, distal, or multifocal. The nerve fiber involved may subserve motor, sensory, or autonomic function. The caliber of affected nerve fibers may be large or small. The underlying pathologic insult may lead to primarily axonal or demyelinating neuropathy. The most common neuropathy is sensorimotor distal symmetric polyneuropathy, recognized by stocking sensory loss, variable distal weakness, loss of normal dexterity in the hands and feet, balance and gait difficulty, and impaired reflexes. Mononeuropathy multiplex refers to involvement of two or more nerves by the neuropathic disorder. Patchy and asymmetric involvement of the upper arm occurs in brachial plexopathy and symmetrically or asymmetrically in the legs in femoral neuropathy and lumbosacral plexopathy. Large fiber neuropathy refers to involvement of named myelinated mixed motor and sensory nerves. When the pathologic disorder involves mainly axons, it is termed axonopathy, whereas primary involvement of the myelin sheaths is termed demyelinating neuropathy. Small
Rural-Urban Migration in Africa: Theory, Policy and Research Implications.

It is the aim of this paper to examine from a theoretical standpoint the process of rural-urban migration in Africa and its role in economic development with a view toward proposing a research agenda to address key policy issues. We do this in three stages. First the large body of theoretical and empirical knowledge of the rural-urban migration process in Africa is briefly reviewed emphasising those characteristics which are most important in Africa and the deficiencies in our present understanding of rural-urban migration. Second this knowledge is synthesized into a theoretical framework for analyzing rural-urban migration with emphasis on economic variables. This framework is then used to explore some of the policy implications of present-day rural-urban migration for economic development in Africa. Finally priority areas for future migration research are discussed with particular reference to improve theory improved methodology and the integration of migration research and policy analysis. (excerpt)
Validation and applications of an urban diffusion model for vehicular pollutants

Abstract A practical, multipurpose urban diffusion model (APRAC-1A) has been developed and evaluated for predicting concentrations of inert, vehicle-generated pollutants. The model requires only routinely available meteorological and traffic data to give the following outputs: 1. (1) areal concentration isopleths, 2. (2) sequential hourly point values, 3. (3) frequency distributions. An extensive field experiment was conducted in San Jose to evaluate and refine all components of the model. A street effects submodel was developed to account for the high concentrations and large gradients observed in urban street canyons. Results are presented from a second experimental program conducted in St. Louis to further evaluate the performance of the model. Predicted and observed concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO) in St. Louis differ by root-mean-square values of the order of 3 ppm (parts per million), while frequency distributions of hourly concentrations are given within 2–3 ppm. Along-street observations of CO concentrations show variations generally less than 1 ppm.
Registration of LiDAR data through stable surface matching

The accuracy of final LiDAR points on ground depends on various factors including GPS/IMU position and orientation, laser range and scan angle measurements. As a result, the adjacent overlapping swaths or flight strips fail to match with each other. Surface matching is a common procedure used to relatively register the LiDAR data and reduce the mismatch between the overlapping strips. However, in case of smooth topography with fewer features, classical registration algorithms render poor results. This paper presents a modified registration technique for the optimal relative registration of LiDAR data over a flat terrain with fewer features. In this method, the feature samples used in the algorithm are selected depending on their geometric stability. The points from overlapping strips are matched through iteratively closest point (ICP) method based on minimizing point to plane normal distance.
Intracardiac tumor regression documented by two-dimensional echocardiography.

Abstract Two-dimensional echocardiography (2-D echo) has become the diagnostic technique of choice for identifying intracardiac masses. Further, the safely of the method has permitted serial examination of patients who have undergone surgical excision of such masses. 1,2 This report describes, for the first time, use of 2-D echo to monitor regression, during chemotherapy, of a left ventricular mass and shows striking concomitant resolution of tumor-induced electrocardiographic changes.
Keratinizing potential of sulcular epithelium

It has been shown that the connective tissue base determines the epithelial surface characteristics. Although there is no apparent difference between the connective tissues underlying the subcular and the surface gingival epithelium, the sulcular epithelium is not keratinized as is the gingival surface. The influence of the sulcular environment in determination of keratinization was explored in three adult Rhesus monkeys. Twenty-four intrasulcular mucoperiosteal flaps were elevated beyond the buccal mucogingival border, were turned inside out and sutured to leave the sulcular epithelium exposed on the surface. Short term speciments (1 hour to 7 days) were obtained from one monkey which received H3 thymidine 1 hour prior to sacrifice. Biopsies were obtained from the other two monkeys covering intervals of 1 week to 2 months. The findings indicate that the sulcular epithelium has potential for keratinization. The contact to the tooth appears to determine the lack of keratinization of the sulcular epithelium.
Array-Based Approximate Arithmetic Computing: A General Model and Applications to Multiplier and Squarer Design

We propose a general model for array-based approximate arithmetic computing (AAAC) to guide the minimization of processing error. As part of this model, the Error Compensation Unit (ECU) is identified as a key building block for a wide range of AAAC circuits. We develop theoretical analysis geared towards addressing two critical design problems of the ECU, namely, determination of optimal error compensation values and identification of the optimal error compensation scheme. We demonstrate how this general AAAC model can be leveraged to derive practical design insights that lead to optimal tradeoffs between accuracy, energy dissipation and area overhead. To further minimize energy consumption, delay and area of AAAC circuits, we perform ECU design simplification by introducing logic don't cares. By applying this model and using a commercial 90 nm CMOS standard cell library, we propose an approximate 16 $\times$ 16 fixed-width Booth multiplier that consumes 44.85% and 28.33% less energy and area compared with theoretically the most accurate fixed-width Booth multiplier. Furthermore, it reduces average error, max error and mean squared error by 11.11%, 28.11%, and 25.00%, respectively, when compared with the most accurate reported approximate Booth multiplier and outperforms the same design significantly by 19.10% for the energy-delay-mean squared error product. Using the same approach, significant energy consumption, area and error reduction is achieved for a squarer unit. To further reduce error and cost by utilizing extra signatures and don't cares, we demonstrate a 16-bit fixed-width squarer that improves the energy-delay-max error product by 15.81%.
Spectroscopic monitoring of environmentally benign anti-solvent crystallization

There are very few studies dealing with the fundamentals of anti-solvent crystallization, even though this crystallization method is widely used in the pharmaceutical industry. Anti-solvent crystallization is accomplished by adding a miscible anti-solvent into a mixture of solute and solvent, effectively reducing the solubility of the solute in the solvent, and thus, causing the crystallization of the solute. Unfortunately, many of the anti-solvents used today are chlorinated hydrocarbons suspected of environmental damage. The current research demonstrates the use of environmentally benign solvents for anti-solvent crystallization and new approaches for monitoring of the solvent behavior during an anti-solvent crystallization. Results are presented confirming the efficacy of various water and ester systems for anti-solvent crystallization. Furthermore, the application of fluorescence spectroscopy for monitoring these crystallizations is demonstrated.
Hypoxia induces chemoresistance in ovarian cancer cells by activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3.

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is activated in a variety of human cancers, including ovarian cancer. The molecular mechanism by which the STAT3 is activated in cancer cells is poorly understood. We observed that human ovarian xenograft tumors (A2780) in mice were severely hypoxic (pO2 ∼ 2 mmHg). We further observed that hypoxic exposure significantly increased the phosphorylation of STAT3 (pSTAT3) at the Tyr705 residue in A2780 cell line. The pSTAT3 (Tyr705) level was highly dependent on cellular oxygenation levels, with a significant increase at <2% O2, and without any change in the pSTAT3 (Ser727) or total STAT3 levels. The pSTAT3 (Tyr705) elevation following hypoxic exposure could be reversed within 12 hr after returning the cells to normoxia. The increased level of pSTAT3 was partly mediated by increased levels of reactive oxygen species generation in the hypoxic cancer cells. Conventional chemotherapeutic drugs cisplatin and taxol were far less effective in eliminating the hypoxic ovarian cancer cells suggesting a role for pSTAT3 in cellular resistance to chemotherapy. Inhibition of STAT3 by AG490 followed by treatment with cisplatin or taxol resulted in a significant increase in apoptosis suggesting that hypoxia-induced STAT3 activation is responsible for chemoresistance. The results have important clinical implications for the treatment of hypoxic ovarian tumors using STAT3-specific inhibitors.
Monoclonal antibodies against ovalbumin.

Abstract Fusion of cells of the NS-1 mouse myeloma line with spleen cells from BALB c mice immunized against ovalbumin produced hybrid cells which continuously secrete antibodies specific for ovalbumin. One of these cells was used to establish a cloned line. Studies of its antibody obtained either from ascites fluid or from medium from hybridoma cultures showed high titer and specificity against ovalbumin using the double antibody technique with rabbit anti-mouse immunobeads; the antibody proved to be of the IgG 1 (kappa) subclass and type.
Studies on the metabolism of amino acids and related compounds in vivo. V. Effects of combined administration of nonprotective compounds and subprotective levels of l-arginine.HCL on ammonia toxicity in rats

A level of l-arginine. HCl on the one hand, and of monosodium l-glutamate, l-glutamine, disodium α-ketoglutarate, monosodium l-aspartate, l-asparagine, disodium oxalacetate, l-alanine, sodium pyruvate, glucose, or sodium chloride on the other, neither of which on intraperitoneal injection will protect rats against an intraperitoneal injection of an LD99.9 dose of ammonium acetate, will however do so when employed together. Survival of all animals was observed when 1 mmole l-arginine. HCl/kg. body weight was mixed with 4 mmoles/kg. of one of the following: glutamate, ketoglutarate, and glucose. Aspartate and its derivatives were less effective in this connection, and replacement of the 1 mmole/kg. dose of l-arginine. HCl by an equivalent amount of l-ornithine. HCl led to no protection whatever against ammonia toxicity. Each of the effective components of the mixtures, such as 1 mmole/kg. of l-arginine. HCl and 4 mmoles/kg. of l-glutamate, reduces the blood NH3 N level of animals given a lethal dose of ammonium acetate to a significant extent, but only when employed together is the blood NH3 N reduced to the normal level with survival of the animals. It is suggested that the effective partners in such mixtures accomplish the ammonia detoxification by involving separate mechanisms.
An event-driven, alias-free ADC with signal-dependent resolution

A clockless 8b ADC in 130nm CMOS uses a time-varying comparison window to dynamically vary resolution, and input-dependent dynamic bias, to maintain SNDR while saving power. Alias-free operation with SNDR in the range of 47–54dB, which partly exceeds the theoretical limit of 8b conventional converters, is achieved over a 20kHz bandwidth with 3–9µW power from a 0.8V supply.
Revisiting the SAFE Diagram for Analysis of Mistuned Bladed Disks

The SAFE diagram is a design tool that is often used for analyzing modes of concern in bladed disks. The diagram implements the concept of phase cancellation in order to show what bladed disk modes can and cannot be excited by upstream flow obstructions. In many cases, phase cancellation theory dictates that even if a modal frequency corresponds with an excitation order, the mode may not be excited if the total work calculated by integrating the excitation profile around the mode shape is equal to zero. This paper reviews the theory behind the SAFE diagram and explores the effects of blade mistuning on SAFE diagram analysis from both theoretical and experiential viewpoints. Modal test data, mistuned finite element analysis, and two case studies all indicate that mistuned modes may not exhibit the pure nodal diameter patterns that are predicted by a symmetric analysis and are required for phase cancellation. These mistuned asymmetric modes may result in high blade stresses and blade failure even if a SAFE diagram analysis indicates that the mode will not be excited.© 2012 ASME
Feeding high energy rations for various lengths of lactation

Abstract Thirty-five Holstein cows were fed grain and hay to appetite and 13.6 kg of corn silage per day for the first 45 days of a 270 day lactation. Six cows were changed to 1.0 kg grain for each 3.5 kg of milk at each of 45, 90, 135, 180, and 225 days. Five cows received grain ad libitum for 270 days. Adjusted milk production from day 45 to 270 averaged 18.6, 20.2, 19.6, 18.4, 19.4, and 16.6 kg per day for the six groups. Actual production during days 45 to 270 differed from that predicted by −.84, −1.55, 1.33, −.30, −.45, and −2.72 kg per day. None of these treatment differences was significant. Consumption of hay and silage decreased as grain in the ration increased. Average daily grain intake ranged from 6.5 to 12.7 kg. Milk fat or solids-not-fat concentration did not appear to be affected by these treatments. Returns above feed cost were less for cows fed ad libitum grain after 90 days than for those fed ad libitum grain for 45 or 90 days; thus, cows fed 2,705 to 3,424 kg grain per lactation were not as profitable as those fed less. Continued feeding of unlimited amounts of grain beyond days 45 or 90 of lactation provided no more milk than feeding unlimited grain for 45 or 90 days followed by conventional rate of 1:3.5.
Anion ordering and superconducting and spin-density-wave transition temperatures in Bechgaard salts.

We study theoretically the effect of anion ordering on the superconducting transition temperature ${T}_{c}$ and the spin-density-wave transition temperature ${T}_{\mathrm{SDW}}$ of a quasi-two-dimensional electron system. Assuming that the ordering of anions gives rise to a periodic potential of the form ${V}_{0}$cos(\ensuremath{\pi}y/b), where b is the lattice constant in the y direction, we calculate both ${T}_{c}$ and ${T}_{\mathrm{SDW}}$. We find that ${T}_{c}$ increases while ${T}_{\mathrm{SDW}}$ decreases with ${V}_{0}^{2}$ for small ${V}_{0}$.
Evidence for excitatory amino acid transmission between mesencephalic nucleus of V afferents and jaw-closer motoneurons in the guinea pig.

Abstract Previous studies have suggested that monosynaptic transmission between spinal primary afferent fibers and motoneurons is mediated by an excitatory amino acid, most likely glutamate or aspartate. No such comparable studies have been carried out in the trigeminal system. In an attempt to elucidate the neurotransmitter(s) mediating monosynaptic transmission between mesencephalic of V nucleus afferents (Mes V) and trigeminal jaw-closer motoneurons, the effect of iontophoretic application of excitatory amino acid antagonists on the Mes V-induced field potential, recorded in the trigeminal motor nucleus (Mot V), was examined. Application of dl -2-amino-4-phosphonobutyrate (APB) and the broad spectrum amino acid antagonists, kynurenic acid (KYN) and γ- d -glutamylglycine (DGG), for 3–4 min reversibly reduced the amplitude of the Mes V induced field potential. The effect of APB was much greater than any of the other compounds tested. On the other hand, the specific N- methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA) receptor blocker dl -2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (APV), was without effect on the field potential. Based on current-response curves for each antagonist tested, the order of potency was determined to be APB > KYN > DGG > APV. These antagonists were also compared with respect to their efficacy in blocking individual jaw-closer motoneuron activity induced by iontophoretic application of amino acid receptor excitants glutamate (Glut), aspartate (Asp), kainate (K), and quisqualate (Q). NMDA application was without effects on these motoneurons. The profile of activity of these antagonists on these amino acid excitants was similar to that found in other areas of the CNS by other investigators. KYN and DGG both significantly reduced responses induced by all excitants tested, whereas APB had more modest effects on K and Q excitation and was without effect on Glut and Asp excitations in most cells tested. The data suggest that an excitatory amino acid, activating non-NMDA receptors, mediates some component of synaptic transmission between Mes V afferents and jaw-closer motoneurons. The data is also consistent with the proposal made in other systems that APB blocks synaptic transmission by a mechanism other than postsynaptic receptor blockade.
Impact of latitude on synchrony of a scale (Fiorinia externa) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) and its parasitoid (Encarsia citrina) (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) in the Eastern United States

Elongate hemlock scale (EHS) (Fiorinia externa Ferris) is an invasive species from Japan that attacks eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis L. Carriere) and Carolina hemlock (Tsuga caroliniana Engelmann) in the United States. Scale density is much higher in the United States compared to Japan despite the presence in both regions of the parasitoid Encarsia citrina Crawford, the species assumed to be responsible for low scale densities in Japan. EHS and E. citrina have two distinct, synchronous generations in southern Japan (Kyoto), but only one and a half generations of EHS occur in the northeastern United States (Connecticut), and these are asynchronous with E. citrina flight. It has been hypothesized that good host-parasitoid synchrony explains low scale densities in Japan. If so, then it would follow that in the southern United States, where there are two full generations of the scale, there should be a seasonal pattern of host-parasitoid synchrony similar to that found in Kyoto. To test this hypothesis, sites in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina were sampled weekly in 2006 and 2007. We confirmed the presence of two full generations of EHS in North Carolina; however, phenology of the vulnerable scale stage (second instar) was still asynchronous with E. citrina flight and parasitism rates were lower than in either Pennsylvania or Connecticut. The primary reason for asynchrony appears to be the occurrence of overlapping life stages and generations of EHS, which is not seen in Japan. This overlap of scale generations appears to result from long life span of first generation adult females. Longer life span may be due to host quality. Our findings emphasize the importance of research to determine differences in the population dynamics of pest species in both the native and invaded range for biological control efforts. We identify regions in Japan with high climatic match to each of our study areas, which suggest locations for future natural enemy exploration.
What if the elephant speaks? Kant's Critique of Judgment and an Übergang problem in John Hick's philosophy of religious pluralism

In the Critique of Judgment, Kantattempts to unravel the problem of Ubergang that threatens his CopernicanRevolution. Having opened up a ``chasm'' betweensensible and supersensible, betweenepistemological and ontological, Kant facesboth the specter of empirical chaos in whichthe noumenal refuses to conform to theunderstanding's attempts to legislate over themanifold of intuition, and the problem offinding a place for freedom to have effectswithin the seamless phenomenal realm ofefficient causality. Central to Kant's attemptto overcome these problems is his notion of theheautonomy of reflective judging, in whichjudgment subjectively legislates its ownactivity. The net effect of this strategy isto preserve the integrity of the architectonicby permitting judgment use of ontologicalprinciples in regulating its own activity, butalways placing these ontological principlesunder an epistemological ``as if'' that cannot becarried over into the noumenal realm (e.g.,judgment can subjectively operate under theprinciple that the world appears ``as if'' it haspurpose, but this cannot be thought to apply tothe noumenal). Kant shields his architectonicby allowing it to encounter onlyepistemologically neutered noumena. This paperargues that Hick faces an analogousUbergang problem, explores his``heautonomous'' attempt to blunt the problem,and concludes that the attempt fails, leavingHick with an unresolved problem of``onto-ethical discontinuity.''
Wildly ramified Galois representations and a generalization of a conjecture of Serre.

Serre's conjecture relates two-dimensional odd irreducible characteristic p representations to modular forms. We discuss a generalization of this conjecture (due to Ash and Sinnott) to higherdimensional Galois representations. In particular, we give a refinement of the conjecture in the case of wildly ramified Galois representations and we provide computational evidence for this refinement.
FEYERABEND'S SOLUTION TO THE GOODMAN PARADOX

Feyerabend (1968) argues that negative instances suffice in science. No appeal needs to be made to the positive instances of a hypothesis. In particular, rejecting positive instances, Feyerabend believes that both the paradox of confirmation and Goodman's paradox can be seen to be 'no problems at all, but can be solved in a line or two'. The purpose of this present note is to show that the Goodman paradox cannot be solved in this manner. Since Feyerabend's 'solution' to the Goodman paradox is very brief, I quote it in full:
Role of cell wall autolysin in chain formation by a mutant strain of Streptococcus faecalis

Abstract 1. 1. A mutant strain of Streptococcus faecalis ATCC 9790 has been isolated that grows as long chains in medium of high salt content but as single cells or very short chains in low salt medium. 2. 2. Cell walls prepared from the chained form of this mutant autolyze more slowly than those from the unchained form. Both active and latent forms of the cell wall autolytic activity are less active in the chained cultures. 3. 3. Autolytic activities of cell walls prepared from chained and unchained cultures do not differ in their sensitivity to high salt concentrations. 4. 4. Chained, unchained and wild-type wall preparations treated to inactivate their endogenous autolytic activity serve equally well as substrates for soluble autolysin released from active chained or unchained cell walls. 5. 5. Autolysin from chained wall preparations dechains heat-killed cultures less rapidly than autolysin from unchained preparations. 6. 6. Taken together, the above observations suggest that chaining results from a lowered cell content of autolysin rather than a difference in the type of autolysin or in the cell wall structure itself.
A study of the 70, 72, 74, 76Ge(d, p)71, 73, 75, 77Ge reactions using polarized deuterons☆

Abstract Differential cross sections and vector analyzing powers were measured at an incident deuteron energy of 12.0 MeV for the 70, 72, 74, 76 Ge(d, p) 71, 73, 75, 77 Ge reactions. The data were analyzed with the distorted-wave Bom approximation. Spin and parity assignments were made to 13 states in 71 Ge, 19 states in 73 Ge, 13 states in 75 Ge and 11 states in 77 Ge. Spectroscopic factors were extracted and a simple sum rule analysis was applied to the data.
The usefulness of the Obsessive Compulsive Scale of the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised

The reliability and validity of the SCL-90-R Obsessive Compulsive Scale were examined using a multi-trait multi-method approach in a sample of 54 outpatients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The OC scale proved to be internally consistent. Evidence for convergent validity was mixed, and the results suggest poor divergent and criterion-related validities. The scale demonstrated sensitivity to changes with behavioral treatment. Overall, the SCL-90-R proved to be a poor measure of OCD symptoms.
Isolation of two glycosylated forms of membrane-bound alkaline phosphatase from avian growth plate cartilage matrix vesicle-enriched microsomes

Abstract Isolation of two membrane-bound alkaline phosphatase (AP) species from avian growth plate cartilage matrix vesicle (MV) fractions is described. AP was first released from the membranes by phosphatidyl-inositol-specific phospholipase C (PIasc C), followed by chromatography on DEAE-Bio-Gel A and Reactive-Red agarose. Two AP species having apparent M r of 81.5 and 77 kDa by SDS-PAGE were purified in high yield and specific activity by this simple method. Treatment with neuraminidase to remove sialic acid residues reduced their size slightly, but did not diminish the difference in M r between the two species. Digestion with N -glycanase, however, decreased both AP species to a common size of 59 kDa. This reveals that both enzymes are highly glycosylated and suggests that the two forms may result from differences in degree of glycation. The amino acid compositions of the two avian enzyme forms are very similar, but are markedly enriched in serine, glycine and glutamate when compared to those reported for mammalian liver-kidney-bone AP. Possible differences in amino acid sequence between the two avian forms have not been excluded. The cross-reactivity of polyclonal antibodies to these enzymes with bovine kidney, but not intestinal AP, indicate that the avian cartilage APs are of the liver-kidney-bone isozyme type.
Segmental variation in the arborization of identified neurons in the leech central nervous system

Mechanosensory and motor neurons in the central nervous system of the leech have been examined by intracellular injection of horseradish peroxidase and electrophysiological mapping of their peripheral fields to determine how the arborizations of homologous cells are influenced by their segmental position. The branching patterns of annulus erector (AE) motoneurons in ganglia near the head and tail were found to be more extensive than those of cells in midbody ganglia. As in midbody ganglia, the peripheral fields of AE motoneurons in adjacent ganglia near the head and tail overlapped extensively, but the subfields innervated by individual branches of a single AE motoneuron showed little or no overlap. No AE motoneurons were found in the head ganglion or in the 20th and 21st free segmental ganglia. The branching pattern of touch-sensitive mechanosensory cells showed a similar segmental variation; touch cells in ganglia near the head and tail had more extensive arborizations than those in midbody ganglia. The rostrocaudal position along the cord at which the branching pattern changed from that characteristic of midbody ganglia to one with a more extensive arborization differed for different types of neurons. These findings demonstrate that a cell's pattern of arborization is not determined by a simple segmental difference between ganglia and suggest that during development neurons respond individually to cues that vary along the length of the cord.
AN ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC STUDY OF THE SPOROPHYTIC AND GAMETOPHYTIC PLANTS OF PADINA VICKERSIAE HOYT1

SUMMARY An electron microscopic comparison was made of the “isomorphic” sporophytic and gametophytic plants of Padina vickersiae. Light microscopic studies of the 2 generations showed few differences. This observation was also supported by studies at the ultrastructural level. However, minor differences in the gametophytic plant have been noted: (1) a well-defined nucleolus in the nucleus of the non-meristematic cell; (2) a general lack of osmiophilic globules in the chloroplasts; and (3) a clumping of chloroplasts in the maturing oogonium. The first and second differences are considered in terms of growth activity.
Crystalline Ultrasmooth Self-Assembled Monolayers of Alkylsilanes for Organic Field-Effect Transistors

Crystalline self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of organosilane compounds such as octadecyltrimethoxysilane (OTMS) and octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTCS) were deposited by a simple, spin-casting technique onto Si/SiO(2) substrates. Fabrication of the OTMS SAMs and characterization using ellipsometry, contact angle, atomic force microscopy (AFM), grazing angle attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (GATR-FTIR) spectroscopy and grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXD) are described. The characterization confirms that these monolayers exhibit a well-packed crystalline phase and a remarkably high degree of smoothness. Semiconductors deposited by vapor deposition onto the crystalline OTS SAM grow in a favorable two-dimensional layered growth manner which is generally preferred morphologically for high charge carrier transport. On the OTMS SAM treated dielectric, pentacene OFETs showed hole mobilities as high as 3.0 cm(2)/V x s, while electron mobilities as high as 5.3 cm(2)/V x s were demonstrated for C(60).
Eine empirische Studie zur Anwendung mathematischer Methoden in der Versicherungspraxis

,,Versicherung ist die Deckung eines im einzelnen ungewissen, insgesamt aber geschatzten Mittelbedarfs auf der Grundlage eines Risikoausgleichs im Kollektiv and in der Zeit" (Koch, 1995, S. 36). Diese Definition charakterisiert die Versicherung als ein Instrument der Bedarfsdeckung im Versicherungsfall and beschreibt die zur Erreichung dieses Zieles eingesetzten Mittel. Der Eintritt des Versicherungsfalles ist dabei stets zufallsbestimmt, wahrend die in Geld zu beziffernde Hohe des Bedarfes zufallsbestimmt sein kann. Mit der CTbernahme einer Vielzahl unabhangiger Risiken schafft das Versicherungsunternehmen die Voraussetzung fur einen Risikoausgleich im Kollektiv and in der Zeit. Der auf diese Weise produzierte Versicherungsschutz kann als Risikotransfer vom Versicherungsnehmer auf den Versicherer bezeichnet werden, da dem Versicherer bestimmte, genau abgegrenzte Risiken gegen Zahlung einer Pramie ubertragen werden. Die moglichst risikogerechte Pramienkalkulation ist dabei nicht nur ein Gebot der Beitragsgerechtigkeit, sondern auch aufgrund des wachsenden PreisbewuBtseins der Bevolkerung wettbewerbsbestimmend. Diese and andere Prognoseand Entscheidungsprobleme der Versicherungswirtschaft werden mit Hilfe mathematischer Modelle and Methoden der Versicherungsmathematik gelost. Mit Hilfe dieser Arbeit soli nun die Frage untersucht werden, inwieweit die aus der Literatur bekannten mathematischen Modelle and Methoden der Versicherungswirtschaft praktische Anwendung finden.
Apparent solubility of hydroxyapatite in aqueous medium and its influence on the morphology of nanocrystallites with precipitation temperature.

Two differing wet-chemical synthesis routes, Ca(OH)2 + H3PO4 and CaCl2 + Na3PO4/NaOH, were used to prepare hydroxyapatite (HA) at various temperatures ranging from 30 to 95 °C. The electrical conductivity of the solution was measured at regular intervals of time during H3PO4 and Na3PO4 addition to the suspension/solution containing Ca2+ ions. The rate of change of conductivity is used to note the end point of the reaction. X-ray diffraction of the dried, precipitated particles revealed HA as the predominant phase, and the FTIR spectroscopy studies indicated the presence of CO32- groups which substituted PO43- groups in the HA lattice (B-type). FESEM observations revealed that the aspect ratio of the particles decreased with increasing precipitation reaction temperature in one system [Ca(OH)2 + H3PO4] and in the other system it increased with increasing temperature. The changes in the morphology with temperature were analyzed through conductivity measurements and the thermochemical properties of the reacti...
Optimisation of miRNA-mRNA relationship prediction using biological features

MicroRNAs are small (approx. 22nt) non-coding RNAs that regulate the expression of genes by either degrading messenger-RNA (mRNA) that has already been transcribed or by repressing the translation of mRNA, thus inhibiting protein production. This mechanism of gene regulation by binding of the miRNA to 3-prime-untranslated region of target mRNAs has been recently discovered. This sequence-specific post-transcriptional gene regulation process affects large set of genes involved in number of biological pathways. Mapping of 7nt long miRNA seed sequence to the target gene has been a standard way of predicting miRNA targets. In this study, we develop a framework to enrich the human miRNA-mRNA relationship based on genomic and structural information.
The impact of ionic strength and background electrolyte on pH measurements in metal ion adsorption experiments.

Abstract Our understanding of metal ion adsorption to clay minerals has progressed significantly over the past several decades, and theories have been promulgated to describe and predict the impacts of pH, ionic strength, and background solution composition on the extent of adsorption. Studies evaluating the effects of ionic strength on adsorption typically employ a broad range of background electrolyte concentrations. Measurement of pH in these systems can be inaccurate when pH values are measured with liquid junction pH probes calibrated with standard buffers due to changes in the liquid junction potential between standard, low ionic strength (0.05 M) buffers and high ionic strength solutions (>0.1 M). The objective of this research is to determine the extent of the error in pH values measured at high ionic strength, and to develop an approach for accurately measuring pH over a range of ionic strengths using a combined pH electrode. To achieve this objective, the adsorption of cobalt (10 −5 M) onto gibbsite (10 g/L) from various electrolyte solutions (0.01–1 M) was studied. The pH measurements were determined from calibrations with standard buffers and ionic strength corrected buffer calibrations. The results show a significant effect of the aqueous solution background electrolyte anion and ionic strength on pH measurement. The 0.5 and 1 M ionic strength metal ion adsorption edges shifted to lower pH with increasing ionic strength when pH was calibrated with standard buffers whereas no shift in the adsorption edges was observed when calibrated with ionic strength corrected buffers. Therefore, to obtain an accurate pH measurement, pH calibration should contain the same electrolyte and ionic strength as the samples.