cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Determination of the glass transition of polymer by the autovibron

The automated Rheovibron (Autovibron) has been useful for determining the glass transition behavior of polymers. The standard (manual Rheovibron viscoelastometer has been used sufficiently small intervals, and so, some accuracy on transition location must be sacrificed when the temperature intervals are taken 5 to 10°C apart. However, the Autovibron can be observed over very small temperature intervals (<1.5°C)), which essentially provide a continous monitoring of the changes in storage modulus, loss modulus, and tan δ. An improved accuracy and sensitivity of the Autovibron are provided by a combination of multiprogrammer, programmable calculator, and lock-in analyzer. The Autovibron are provided by a combination of multiprogrammer, programmable calculator, and lock-in analyzer. The Autovibron shows a good capability for dynamic thermomechanometry. The glass transition bility for dynamic thermomechnometry. The glass transition of polymers can be determined by analyzing the loss tangent peak. The maximum value in loss tangent, peak temperature, and the newly introduced terms, ΔT1 and ΔT2 which indicate the widths of tan δ peak, are useful indicators of the glass transition. The ΔT1 and ΔT2 show the distribution of the glass transition and are related to order and crystallinity in the structure.
Carbon Storage by Carex stricta Tussocks: A Restorable Ecosystem Service?

Tussock-forming plants are globally widespread and enhance ecosystem services. We hypothesized that tussocks of Carex stricta store carbon (C) in addition to enhancing microtopography and biodiversity. We characterized tussock size, composition, and carbon pools associated with three undisturbed C. stricta-dominated tussock meadows in the Upper Midwest, USA. Remnant meadow tussocks were tall (17.2 cm), voluminous (4,113 cm3), and largely organic (95 %), indicating their ability to accumulate organic matter and store carbon. Tussocks were the second largest C pool (next to soil) in these ecosystems; they comprised 41–62 % of total biomass C. Using bomb 14C dating, we estimated that reference-site tussocks were over 50 years old. Their long-term persistence is consistent with lower leaf decomposition rates on tussocks (k = 0.26 years−1) than in tussock interspaces (k = 0.39 years−1). An urban tussock meadow had tussocks that were shorter than those of remnant sites, but less dense than a restored meadow. The restored meadow (≤15 years) had smaller, structurally distinct tussocks that stored less C. Among the five sites, C stocks were lowest in the urban and restored meadows, supporting the need to conserve existing C stores in remnant meadows and to restore tussock sedge for multiple ecosystem services.
POSITIONAL INFORMATION ALONG THE DORSAL-VENTRAL AXIS OF THE DROSOPHILA EYE: GRADED EXPRESSION OF THE FOUR-JOINTED GENE

Several observations suggest that developing ommatidia in theDrosophilaeye have distinct dorsal–ventral (d-v) positional identities, despite their morphological uniformity. To identify molecular differences along the d-v axis of the eye, we carried out a systematic screen for P-element insertions that show nonuniform reporter gene expression along this axis. We identified P-element insertions in whichlacZexpression is activated in dorsal, ventral, or equatorial regions of the disc. These patterns of transcriptional enhancer activity are established early in disc development and are maintained in a size invariant manner during disc growth. Several insertions with an equatorial-to-polar gradient oflacZexpression disrupt thefour-jointed(fj) gene which is required for proper leg, wing, and eye development. ThefjcDNA sequence includes a presumptive internal signal sequence, indicating thatfjencodes a cell surface or secreted protein. Analysis of thefjphenotype and expression pattern in the leg suggests thatfjis required for cell–cell signaling during disc development.
Solution structure of the complex of VEK-30 and plasminogen kringle 2.

The solution structure of the complex containing the isolated kringle 2 domain of human plasminogen (K2Pg) and VEK-30, a 30-amino acid residue internal peptide from a streptococcal M-like plasminogen (Pg) binding protein (PAM), has been determined by multinuclear high-resolution NMR. Complete backbone and side-chain assignments were obtained from triple-resonance experiments, after which structure calculations were performed and ultimately refined by restrained molecular simulation in water. We find that, in contrast with the dimer of complexes observed in the asymmetric unit of the crystal, global correlation times and buoyant molecular weight determinations of the complex and its individual components showed the monomeric nature of all species in solution. The NMR-derived structure of K2Pg in complex with VEK-30 presents a folding pattern typical of other kringle domains, while bound VEK-30 forms an end-to-end α-helix (residues 6–27) in the complex. Most of the VEK-30/K2Pg interactions in solution occur between a single face of the α-helix of VEK-30 and the lysine binding site (LBS) of K2Pg. The canonical LBS of K2Pg, consisting of Asp54, Asp56, Trp60, Arg69, and Trp70 (kringle numbering), interacts with an internal pseudo-lysine of VEK-30, comprising side-chains of Arg17, His18, and Glu20. Site-specific mutagenesis analysis confirmed that the electrostatic field formed by the N-terminal anionic residues of the VEK-30 α-helix, viz., Asp7, and the non-conserved cationic residues of K2Pg, viz., Lys43 and Arg55, play additional important roles in the docking of VEK-30 to K2Pg. Structural analysis and kringle sequence alignments revealed several important features related to exosite binding that provide a structural rationale for the high specificity and affinity of VEK-30 for K2Pg.
A comparison of the powers of two multivariate analysis of variance tests

In this paper an attempt will be made to compare the powers of Hotelling's To test and Wilks's likelihood ratio W test for moderately large samples. It is well known (e.g. see Hsu, 1940) that as samples tend to be of infinite size the powers of the two tests are equal against all possible alternative hypotheses, and it is shown here that even for moderately large samples there is still little need of distinction between the two tests if one is concernedwith a special class of alternatives, i.e. of unit rank. For small samples, however, it is conjectured (Ito, 1961) that each of the two tests will have its respective class of alternatives against which it is most sensitive. The problem of multivariate analysis of variance can be reduced to the following form (e.g. see S. N. Roy, 1957): the joint probability density function (P.D.F.) of the elements of the random matrices X1(p x m) and X0(p x n) (n > p) is given by
Induction of macrophage lysosomal hydrolase synthesis and secretion by β-1,3-glucan

Studies were undertaken to elucidate the active component in zymosan necessary to induce the delayed-onset synthesis and secretion of representative lysosomal hydrolases, hexosaminidase, and beta-glucuronidase in macrophages. Resident mouse peritoneal macrophages were challenged with zymosan particles and particulate beta-1,3-glucan, the major subcomponent of zymosan. Zymosan was found to induce a rapid secretion of preformed hexosaminidase with maximal release (75%) occurring 6 hr after the addition of zymosan. By contrast, beta-1,3-glucan was totally inactive in this respect. However, both zymosan and beta-1,3-glucan were found to induce the delayed-onset synthesis and secretion of hexosaminidase and beta-glucuronidase while maintaining constant cellular enzyme levels over a 5-day period following the addition of stimulus. These late responses were almost totally blocked by a noncytolytic concentration of cycloheximide, indicating their dependence on de novo protein synthesis. Mannan, the second major subcomponent of zymosan, had no effect on either immediate secretion or delayed-onset synthesis and secretion of hexosaminidase. These results suggest that the induction of the delayed-onset synthesis and secretion of the lysosomal hydrolases by zymosan may be dependent on the glucan subcomponent of zymosan. Moreover, it would also appear that the release of preformed lysosomal enzymes is not the trigger for the delayed-onset synthesis and secretion of hexosaminidase.
Raloxifene Inhibits Aortic Accumulation of Cholesterol in Ovariectomized, Cholesterol-Fed Rabbits

Background The beneficial effect of long-term hormone replacement therapy in terms of a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease is now generally accepted. Raloxifene, a selective estrogen receptor modulator, has demonstrated hypolipidemic properties while leaving the endometrium unstimulated. Methods and Results For our study of the effects of raloxifene on atherosclerosis, 75 rabbits were ovariectomized and treated with either raloxifene, 17β-estradiol, or placebo; 25 rabbits were sham operated and treated with placebo. After 45 weeks, the raloxifene group had two thirds of the aortic atherosclerosis, as evaluated by the cholesterol content of the proximal inner part of the aorta, found in the placebo group (placebo, 577±55.1 nmol/mg protein; raloxifene, 397±53.6 nmol/mg protein; P<.05); the estrogen group had one third of the aortic atherosclerosis in the placebo group (estrogen, 177±32.1 nmol/mg protein; P<.001). The sham-operated group (473±59.6 nmol/mg protein) was not significantly different from p...
Restoration of Pastureland Ecosystems: Case Study of Western Inner Mongolia

Western Inner Mongolia is located in the downstream area of the Hei River Basin, the second largest inland basin in China. Since the 1960s, water depletion in the basin has increased very rapidly due to intensive irrigation development in the middle stream area of the Basin. As a result, the downstream Erjina Oasis gradually receded and the destination inland lake disappeared. In the late 1990s, the Chinese government initialized activities for the ecological restoration of the region, including annual flow releases to downstream by administrative order. These releases have contained further degradation of the ecosystem. The challenge that needs to be addressed now is how the short-term administered flow releases can be converted into sustainable water management practices. In particular, research on the determination of environmental flow requirement and livestock carrying capacity will be important for decision making support in the sustainable development of the region.
Prevent large cash losses from small business fraud

Over the past few years, the spotlight has been on large corporate frauds. These resulted from cash management systems devoid of adequate controls and governance. But about half of all frauds occur in small businesses—and the effect is often devastating. The average loss for any small business fraud scheme was found to be greater than in any other business-size category. Since fraud generally starts small—even in large companies—everyone can benefit from sharpening their cash management fraud prevention. This article examines five cases of smaller frauds that could lead to large cash losses. And the authors give advice on how to better detect and prevent such frauds in the future. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Economics of hybrid maize production in some selected areas of Bangladesh

The present study is an attempt to assess the existing agronomic practices of hybrid maize cultivation, its profitability, constraints, and factors affecting hybrid maize production. The majority of the total farmers sowed seeds during the first week of December. The average seed rate was found to be 20.94 kg per hectare. About 16 varieties were found to cultivate by farmers, of which majority farmers used NK-40 followed by Pacific-II. All kinds of fertilizer used by the farmers were below the optimum level of recommendation. About 33 and 28 percent of the total variable cost was for human labour and chemical fertilizer, respectively. The average yield of hybrid maize was found higher than the national average. The average gross margin was observed to be Tk. 28456 on total variable cost basis. The cost per kilogram of maize cultivation was Tk. 4.12 and return from one kilogram of maize production was Tk. 7.80. It is found that the coefficient of human labour, land preparation, irrigation, urea and borax have significantly impact on gross return. Timely non-availability of seeds, high price of fertilizer, and low price of yield were the major problems for hybrid maize production. Farmers cultivated hybrid maize because of higher yield, higher income, and easy growing. Keywords: Gross return; gross margin; profitability. DOI: 10.3329/bjar.v35i1.5869 Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 35(1) : 83-93, March 2010
The divergent recovery of ST-segment depression and radionuclide angiographic indicators of myocardial ischemia.

Abstract This study evaluated the recovery after exercise of both ST-segment depression on the exercise electrocardiogram (electrical evidence of ischemia) and exercise-induced abnormalities in wall motion or ejection fraction as detected by radionuclide angiography. The study group of 31 patients was selected to undergo prolonged etectrocardiographic and radionuclide imaging after exercise because they had persistent ST-segment depression >3 minutes after exercise and radionuclide angiographic evidence of ischemia at peak exercise. In 27 (87%) of the 31 patients, radionuclide evidence of ischemia recovered more quickly than the electrocardiogram. Only 15 of the 31 patients had exercise-induced radionuclide abnormalities after exercise. Compared with the 16 patients without such findings of ischemia after exercise, these 15 patients had a worse wall motion score at peak exercise (5.3 vs 3.9; p
Intrinsic nanocrystalline grain-boundary and oxygen atom vacancy defects in ZrO2 and HfO2

Abstract Defects ∼0.5–0.8 eV below the conduction band edge, contributing to trap-assisted tunneling and Frenkel–Poole transport have been reported for injection from n-type Si into SiO 2 –HfO 2 dielectrics. Band edge spectroscopic measurements, combined with X-ray absorption spectroscopy, have identified localized defect states at this energy below the conduction band edges of HfO 2 , and ZrO 2 . Capacitance–voltage and cathodoluminescence studies, combined with band edge spectroscopy have identified an interfacial trap associated with oxygen atom vacancies as well.
Numerical Analysis of Two-Phase Electrophoresis

Numerical modeling results for electrophoresis in aqueous two-phase systems are shown to agree with experimental results in both batch and flow devices. A previously discovered polarization effect due to the phase partitioning is further investigated. Numerical and experimental results indicate that this polarization effect is not always significant since it is small for systems with equilibrium partition coefficients near 1 and since its influence diminishes with increasing electric field strength and electrophoresis time. The numerical models should prove useful for optimizing two-phase electrophoretic separations aimed at either concentrating solutes near the interface or directing them across it.
The Conversion of Photoinactive Protochlorophyllide633 to Phototransformable Protochlorophyllide650 in Etiolated Bean Leaves Treated with δ-Aminolevulinic Acid

The relationship of phototransformable protochlorophyllide to photoinactive protochlorophyllide has been studied in primary leaves of 7- to 9-day-old dark-grown bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. var. Red Kidney) seedlings. Various levels of photoinactive protochlorophyllide, absorbing at 633 nm in vivo, were induced by administering delta-aminolevulinic acid to the leaves in darkness. Phototransformable protochlorophyllide, absorbing at 650 nm in vivo, was subsequently transformed to chlorophyllide by a light flash, and the regeneration of the photoactive pigment was followed by monitoring the absorbance increase at 650 nm in vivo. A small increase in the level of protochlorophyllide(633) causes a marked increase in the extent of regeneration of protochlorphyllide(650) following a flash. High levels of the inactive pigment species, however, retard the capacity to reform photoactive protochlorophyllide. A nonstoichiometric and kinetically complex decrease in absorbance at 633 nm in vivo accompanied the absorbance increase at 650 nm. The half-time for protochlorophyllide(650) regeneration in control leaves was found to be three times longer than the half-time for conversion of chlorophyllide(678) to chlorophyllide(683) at 22 C. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that protochlorophyllide(633) is a direct precursor of protochlorophyllide(650) and that the protein moiety of the protochlorophyllide holochrome acts as a "photoenzyme" in the conversion of protochlorophylide to chlorophyllide.
Relationship between breast cancer and colorectal adenomatous polyps a case-control study

Although there is a known reciprocal association between breast and colorectal cancer in women, few studies have investigated whether a similar association exists between breast cancer and colorectal adenomatous polyps, known to be precursor lesions for colon cancer. A case-control study was conducted on patients in three colonoscopy practices in New York to determine possible risk factors for adenomatous polyps. Among women studied, there were 128 patients with incident adenomatous polyps and 284 control subjects who underwent colonoscopy and had no colorectal neoplasia. No significant association between the incidence of an adenomatous polyp in the colon or rectum and a history of breast cancer was found (odds ratio, 0.71; 95% confidence interval, 0.34 to 1.64). If shared risk factors for breast and colorectal cancer are the reasons for the concurrence of these two malignant lesions, these results suggest that these factors act at the level of promoting adenomatous polyps of the colon and rectum into colorectal cancer.
Isolation of the major chondroitin sulfate/dermatan sulfate and heparan sulfate proteoglycans from embryonic chicken retina

Abstract A technique is presented for the preparation of three major proteoglycans from 14-day embryonic chicken retinas following their culture overnight with [35S]sulfate and either [3H]glucosamine or [3H]serine. Homogenization of the tissue in saline permitted extraction of heterogeneous soluble proteoglycans separately from most of the heparan sulfate proteoglycans. The latter were extracted from the 140,000g pellet with 0.5% Triton X-100 in 8 m urea. The medium plus the saline and urea-detergent extracts were separated from low-molecular-weight contaminants, and fractionated into two peaks of radioactivity on Sephacryl S-300 in saline with 3 m urea and 0.5% Triton X-100. The proteoglycans were isolated directly from these fractions on DEAE-Sephacel, and subjected to ultrafiltration concentration and then further purification on cesium chloride density gradient centrifugation in 4 m guanidine hydrochloride. A further step involving cetylpyridinium chloride precipitation was examined, but it resulted in essentially no further purification. The fractionations separated (a) a large chondroitin sulfate/dermatan sulfate proteoglycan from the culture medium that was excluded from S-300 and of low buoyant density; (b) a large heparan sulfate proteoglycan from the urea-detergent extract that was also excluded from S-300 and of low buoyant density; and (c) two smaller and possibly related heparan sulfate proteoglycans. One was found in the medium and showed low to intermediate buoyant density; the other was isolated from the urea-detergent extract and showed a significantly higher buoyant density, associated with a lower protein content. The saline extract contained both of the two larger proteoglycans and only minor amounts of the smaller molecules.
The Phosphaturic Mesenchymal Tumor: Why is Definitive Diagnosis and Curative Surgery Often Delayed?

Background Tumor-induced osteomalacia is a paraneoplastic syndrome resulting in renal phosphate wasting and decreased bone mineralization. Phosphaturic mesenchymal tumors represent a rare etiology of tumor-induced osteomalacia. Nonspecific symptoms of fatigue, bone pain, and musculoskeletal weakness make the diagnosis elusive and lead to a delay in surgical treatment.
Beam vacancies as timing markers for high-current accelerators

Abstract A method for continuous time-of-flight energy calibrations of high current accelerator beams is proposed. Pulses induced by momentary beam vacancies have been detected succesfully.
Introduction to Proceedings of a Workshop on Science Considerations in Functional Restoration

There has been a great deal of discussion in the scientific literature and in traditional forest management literature about forest restoration, ecological restoration, adaptive and active management for restoring forest ecosystems, and a variety of linked topics. The USDA Forest Service manages 193 million acres of forest and grasslands for a variety of uses, and conducts restoration work on many of these lands. In addition, the Research and Development branch of the Forest Service works to develop knowledge to help in managing the Nation's forests and grass lands. In the context of changing environmental conditions, it is critical to develop science and technology to improve systems' capability and functionality to provide needed goods and services such as water, habitat, wood products, and recreation opportunities in a dynamic future. Such an approach is called functional restoration. As Associate Deputy Chief for Forest Service Research and Development, I requested a synthesis of science considerations in functional restoration with an analysis of the current science underpinning the concept of functional restoration and what should be considered when proposing or evaluating a potential restoration effort. As a complement to this effort, a workshop was convened to bring selected experts in the area of functional restoration together to discuss these issues and provide input to the authors of a science synthesis paper currently being prepared by the Forest Service as a General Technical Report.
A generalizable framework for information systems for physician recruitment/referral

Hospital information systems have evolved from data processing systems for patient billing and payroll to decision-support systems which support decision making at the middle and upper management levels. With the advancements in the areas of database management, expert systems and networks, important hospital functions such as physician recruitment and referral which historically were performed using traditional procedures, are now performed using these computer-based technologies. Develops a generalizable framework for information systems for physician recruitment and referral using technologies of database management, expert systems and networks. This GIS-PRR system may be used by hospitals and other health-care providers to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the physician recruitment/referral process.
Peer-to-Peer Refueling Strategy Using Low-Thrust Propulsion

The problem of minimum-fuel, time-fixed, low-thrust rendezvous is addressed with the particular aim of developing a solver to determine optimal low-thrust peer-to-peer (P2P) maneuvers, which will be an integral part of distributed low-thrust servicing missions for multiple satellites. We derive the necessary conditions of optimality for P2Prefueling maneuversinacircularplanarconstellationsubjecttoatwo-bodygravity field. Wedevelopthe solver based on an indirect optimization technique and use the well-known shooting method to solve the two-point boundary value problems associated with the forward andreturn trips of a P2P maneuver. The solver is formulated to consider implicitly the n thrust-arc case without requiring a predetermined thrust structure. The complete P2P refueling decision simulation requires the solution to many nonlinear programming subproblems and, therefore, benefitsfromthefastindirectformulation.TheapplicationofthetoolinthedeterminationofoptimalP2Pmaneuvers required for a low-thrust P2P mission for multiple satellites moving in a circular orbit is demonstrated. Finally, the paper demonstrates, via numerical examples, the benefits of a low-thrust P2P mission compared with the impulsive case.
Infarct-related coronary artery patency and medication use prior to ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

In patients who have ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), a patent infarct-related artery on the initial angiogram is associated with improved clinical outcomes, including decreased mortality. The present study assessed the influence of administering aspirin, β blockers, statins, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors before STEMI on infarct-related artery patency. Our data demonstrate that patients who have STEMI and receive these medications on an outpatient basis before the event have a higher likelihood of having a patent infarct-related artery compared with patients who do not receive these medications. Further, our data demonstrate a graded association according to the number of such medications being administered: the likelihood of a patent infarct-related artery increased to >50% as the number of these medications increased.
Dielectric strength and reliability of ferroelectric PLZT films deposited on nickel substrates.

We have deposited ferroelectric (FE) Pb{sub 0.92}La{sub 0.08}Zr{sub 0.52}Ti{sub 0.48}O{sub 3} (PLZT) films on nickel substrates by chemical solution deposition. Energy density of {approx} 46 J/cm{sup 3} has been measured with 1.15-{micro}m-thick PLZT/LNO/Ni film-on-foil capacitors. A series of highly accelerated lifetime tests were performed to determine the reliability of these FE film-on-foil capacitors under high temperature and high field stress. Samples were exposed to temperatures ranging from 100 to 150 C and electric fields ranging from 8.7 x 10{sup 5} V/cm to 1.3 x 10{sup 6} V/cm. The breakdown behavior of the FE PLZT film-on-foil capacitors was evaluated by Weibull analysis. The activation energy was determined to be {approx} 0.35 eV when an electric field of 1.05 x 10{sup 6} V/cm was applied. The voltage acceleration factor was {approx} -6.3 at 100 C. The mean time to failure was projected to be > 3000 h at 100 C with a dc electric field of {approx} 2.6 x 10{sup 5} V/cm.
An Analogue of the Kerzman-Stein Formula for the Bergman and Szegö Projections

We show that the difference between the Bergman and Szego projections on a smooth, bounded planar domain gains a derivative in the Lp-Sobolev and Lipschitz spaces.
Paradoxical Effects of PDGF-BB Overexpression in Endothelial Cells on Engineered Blood Vessels In Vivo

Therapeutic revascularization with either exogenous angiogenic growth factors or vascular cells has yet to demonstrate efficacy in the clinic. Injection of angiogenic growth factors often produces unstable and abnormal blood vessels. Blood vascular networks derived from implanted endothelial cells persist only transiently due to the insufficient recruitment of perivascular cells. We hypothesize that a combination of the two approaches may act synergistically to yield a better result. To enhance the recruitment of perivascular cells, human umbilical vein endothelial cells were genetically modified to overexpress platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB. PDGF-BB overexpression promoted both proliferation and migration of perivascular precursor cells (10T1/2 cells) in vitro. When mock-infected endothelial cells were implanted alone in vivo, they formed transient blood vascular networks that regressed by day 30. PDGF-BB overexpression enhanced the survival of endothelial cells in vivo. However, the PDGF-BB-expressing vessel network failed to establish patent blood flow. Co-implantation of PDGF-BB-overexpressing endothelial cells with 10T1/2 cells paradoxically resulted in the rapid regression of the vascular networks in vivo. PDGF-BB stimulated the expression of both chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) and CCL7 in 10T1/2 cells and led to the increased accumulation of macrophages in vivo. These results suggest a potential negative interaction between angiogenic growth factors and vascular cells; their use in combination should be carefully tested in vivo for such opposing effects.
Indications and Utility of Intraoperative Mohs Surgery

Our findings indicate that patients at this institution who undergo intraoperative Mohs extirpation and reconstruction tend to live at home, have insurance, and have a history of prior skin cancers. Their tumors are characterized by complex anatomic location and large size, as well as aggressive behavior. Although most lesions were less than 5 cm2 on preoperative assessment, once extirpation was completed most defects were greater than 5 cm2. The majority of tumors (86.5%) were cleared in 1or 2 stages, thus this does not represent a significant increase in operating room time, with better reliability than frozen section confirmation. Surprisingly, patient intolerance of procedures under local analgesia comprised only 7% of the rationale for Mohs resection in the operating theater.
Scope of amino acid recognition by cucurbit[8]uril

This paper describes the molecular recognition of amino acids by cucurbit[8]uril (Q8) and by the 1:1 complex between Q8 and methyl viologen (MV) in purely aqueous solution. These hosts are known to bind aromatic peptides with high affinity and sequence specificity, but prior work has focused on only a small subset of amino acids. In an effort to elucidate the scope and limitations of amino acid recognition by Q8 and Q8•MV, a comprehensive examination of the 20 genetically encoded amino acids was carried out by 1H NMR spectroscopy and isothermal titration calorimetry. We find that both Q8 and Q8•MV bind measurably to only tryptophan, phenylalanine, and tyrosine. These results demonstrate that Q8 and Q8•MV are highly selective in the context of all genetically encoded amino acids and are therefore promising for the development of recognition-intensive applications involving peptides, proteins, and proteomes.
US lessons for energy industry restructuring: based on natural gas and California electricity incidences

Abstract During the regulation and deregulation processes, the US experienced, besides temporary price spikes, several unhappy incidences; natural gas shortage in mid-1970s, gas bubble in 1980s, California power crisis, and high natural gas price in 2000–2001. This paper focuses on the US natural gas and California electricity industries, especially on the above-mentioned four incidences. Through analyzing their causes and effects, this paper tries to deduce some lessons, which would be helpful to prevent and/or overcome other probable incidences in the US as well as in other countries in a process of deregulation or planning to introduce competition in their energy industries. Main lessons deduced are encouragement of investment, minimization of political consideration, transmission of price signal to all the market players, outlet for any market interference, diversification of trading options, and minimum ambiguity on responsibility between regulators as well as watching on general market situation and correcting its flaws in timely manner.
The protection of the poppy plant ( Papaver somniferum L.) against poppy weevil ( Stenocarus ruficornis Stephens) by foliar application

V letech 2001 a 2002 byly metodou znahodněných bloků založeny pokusy na zjistěni biologicke ucinnosti insekticidů proti krytonosci kořenovemu (Stenocarus ruficornis S.) na maku setem (Papaver somniferum L.). Bylo testovano pět připravků: GF-317 (DE-225, 60 g . l-1) v davce 0,08 l . ha-1, Karate 2,5 WG (lambda-cyhalothrin, 25 g . kg-1) v davce 0,25 kg . ha-1, Nurelle D (chlorpyrifos +cypermethrin, 500+15 g . l-1) v davce 0,6 l . ha-1, Talstar 10 EC (bifenthrin, 100 g . l-1) v davce 0,1 l . ha-1 a Vaztak 10 SC (alpha-cypermethrin, 100 g . l-1) v davce 0,1 l . ha-1. Jako referencni připravek byl použit Furadan 350 F (carbofuran, 360 g . l-1) v registrovane davce 1,0 l . ha-1. Byla provedena jedna aplikace, a to dle signalizace výskytu krytonosce kořenoveho v porostu. Testovane připravky byly aplikovany v davkach, ktere byly odvozeny od segmentu řepky olejky dle skůdce krytonosce ctyřzubeho a řepkoveho. V obou pokusech byla hodnocena ucinnost testovaných připravků na krytonosce kořenoveho dle miry poskozeni listove plochy a dle poctu larev na kořenech maku. Vsechny testovane připravky vykazaly ucinnost proti krytonosci kořenovemu, ktera byla srovnatelna s použitým referencnim připravkem. Soucasně byla take hodnocena selektivita připravků vůci maku a nebyla zjistěna žadna fytotoxicita.
Commitment and Motivation at Work: the Relevance of Employee Identity and Regulatory Focus

We present a model that distinguishes among different types of commitments by crossing self-identity levels (collective, relational, and individual) with regulatory foci (promotion and prevention). This model is important because it specifies the ways in which convergent and discriminant validity exist among different types of commitment and because it accounts for commitment to multiple constituents (e.g., commitment to one's organization and supervisor). We conclude by discussing implications of our model and proposing directions for future research.
Characterization of the Escherichia coli araFGH and araJ promoters.

The identities of two cloned, arabinose-inducible promoters were tested by hybridizing promoter DNA fragments with restriction digests of chromosomal DNA containing Mud lac phage inserted in either ara FGH or in ara E transport operons. One promoter, thought to be ara E, is within 10 3 base-pairs of a Mud lac insertion in the ara E gene. The second promoter was not found within several thousand base-pairs of either of the known transport genes. This promoter is now named ara P J ( ara J). The DNA sequence of the fragment containing the ara FGH promoter was determined. The start site of transcription in vivo was located to within ±1 base-pair (bp) by S 1 nuclease mapping. DNase I footprinting revealed that, in comparison with the ara BAD and ara E promoters, the locations of the AraC and cyclic AMP receptor protein (CRP) binding sites are reversed with CRP lying between AraC and RNA polymerase. The central location of the CRP binding site may explain why the ara FGH promoter is more catabolite sensitive than the other ara promoters. AraC and CRP were both required for maximal transcription in vitro , although a low level of transcription was detected with CRP alone. S 1 nuclease mapping of mRNA-DNA hybrids from the ara J promoter located the transcription start point to within ±3 bp, and demonstrates that the promoter is dependent upon AraC protein and CRP in vivo . DNase footprinting showed that the location of the AraC protein binding site on ara J is adjacent to the RNA polymerase site, as seen at the ara BAD and ara E promoters. Two CRP sites were observed; one is upstream from the AraC site and one is downstream from the transcription start site.
Thermal stresses in the modern aircraft

It is proposed for practical purposes to measure the severity of the bioclimate in extreme conditions, as encountered in aircraft, by the tolerance time. The author also suggests a more simple classification of the extreme bioclimates, as shown in Table 1. The probable kind of final fate of a human being in this bioclimate is used for its definition.
(Sub)family feud: crosstalk between TRPC channels in vascular smooth muscle cells during vasoconstrictor agonist stimulation.

Agonist-dependent activation of non-selective cation channels belonging to the canonical (C) transient receptor potential (TRP) subfamily has a profound influence on vascular tone (Inoue et al. 2001) and proliferation (Abramowitz & Birnbaumer, 2009) of arterial myocytes, responses that can contribute to cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and atherosclerosis. TRPC channels are indirectly sensitive to extracellular substances. Vasoactive molecules binding to specific G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) on the plasma membrane of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) activate intracellular signalling pathways leading to increased influx of Na+ and Ca2+. Cation entry depolarizes the sarcolemma and increases Ca2+ influx via voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels, thereby elevating myocyte contractility and activating other Ca2+-dependent pathways. TRPC-mediated Ca2+ entry may also directly influence SMC function.
Attentional Modulation of SSVEP Power Depends on the Network Tagged by the Flicker Frequency

Modulation of the steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) by attention was studied in detail using 15 ‘tag’ frequencies in the range of 2.5--20 Hz. The stimuli were two series of random disc search arrays superimposed on two concentric color-marked annuli respectively. Two series of arrays were updated independently; one updated at one fixed frequency (flicker) and the other updated randomly according to a white noise distribution (random broadband flicker, rbbf). On each trial, the observer was instructed to attend one annulus and to detect a target (a triangle) that occasionally appeared in a random disc array in the attended annulus. The SSVEP results show that the choice of flicker frequency selects which cortical network synchronizes to the flicker two distinct cortical networks showed different effects of attention. SSVEP power and the effects of attention on SSVEP power strongly depend on both flicker frequency and radial position of rbbf annulus. At flicker frequencies in the delta band (2--4 Hz), and in the upper alpha band (10--11 Hz), an occipital-frontal network appears to phase-lock to the flicker when attending to the flicker, increasing the magnitude of the SSVEP. At flicker frequencies in the lower alpha band (8--10 Hz), a global response to a peripheral flickering stimulus, that includes parietal cortex and posterior frontal cortex, has higher amplitude when attention is directed away from the flickering peripheral stimulus and towards a competing rbbf stimulus in the fovea. Increases in SSVEP power when attention is directed to peripheral flicker are always associated with increases in phase locking. By contrast, at frequencies in the lower alpha band, increases in SSVEP power when attention is directed away from the flicker and towards foveal stimuli are not associated with changes in phase-locking. Thus, whether attention to a flicker stimulus increases or decreases SSVEP amplitude and phase locking depends on which of two cortical networks, which have distinct spatial and dynamic properties, is selected by the flicker frequency.
Glycogen content of preimplantation mouse embryos

Preimplantation mouse embryos of various stages of development, from single-cell zygotes to late blastocysts, were fixed on microscope slides and were stained using the periodic acid-Schiff method. Half of the slides were treated with diastase before staining to determine whether the positive material was glycogen. Glycogen was found in all of the stages studied, regardless of whether development had occurred in vivo or in vitro. Single-cell zygotes were not as heavily stained as the two-cell embryos, but this could be due to the decrease in volume which occurs between these two stages. Large amounts of positive material were found in the cleavage stages, from two-cell to morula, but a decrease occurred during the growth of the blastocyst. By the late blastocyst stage, glycogen is no longer found in the trophoblast cells and is present only in small amounts in the inner cell mass. The decrease in PAS-positive diastase-removable material during the blastocyst stages suggests that glycogen may serve as an energy source during the fifth day of development, when the blastocyst is undergoing expansion and hatching. Culture experiments and enzyme analyses have provided evidence that the cleaving embryo undergoes some basic changes in the pattern of energy metabolism, and it is possible that additional changes might occur in the blastocyst stage.
Introduction to Advances in Teaching and Learning Technologies Minitrack

The Advances in Teaching and Learning Technologies Mini-track has a history at HICSS that spans more than seventeen years. Various incarnations of this mini-track have served as an outlet for researchers who investigate the collaborative aspects of teaching, learning, and technologies that help to facilitate the teaching or learning process. The mini-track originally focused on collaborative software and technologies that operated in LAN-based environments. In more recent years, there has been a shift toward exploring social computing applications as well as various mobile computing devices across a variety of contexts. Consistent with past years, we received a large number of submissions to the Advances in Teaching and Learning Technologies Mini-track. Researchers from around the globe submitted 28 papers exploring a wide variety of themes and applications of collaborative learning-based technologies. It is encouraging to see the sustained efforts of so many scholars actively exploring this topic. This year, we are pleased to feature 14 papers that are organized into three major themes and distributed across four discussion sessions.
Short‐Term Temporal Effects on Community Structure of Lepidoptera in Restored and Remnant Tallgrass Prairies

Understanding the degree to which species assemblages naturally vary over time will be critically important when assessing whether direct management effects or contingency is responsible for species gain or loss. In this study, we tested three predictions related to short-term variation in prairie moth communities: (1) communities would only exhibit significant temporal variation in newly restored sites (1–3 years old); (2) prairie size and age would positively influence community reassembly, with larger, older restorations sampling a greater proportion of the regional species pool; and (3) older restorations (7–10 years old) would have yet to converge on the community composition of prairie remnants. Moths were sampled from 13 Tallgrass prairie restorations and remnants in central Iowa in 2004–2005. Repeated measures analysis of variance revealed significant effects of sampling year on moth species richness and abundance as well as on the richness of two functional groups, but difference among prairie types was only observed in 2005. Rarefaction analysis revealed that older restorations and prairie remnants supported higher species richness compared to recently planted sites, and nonmetric, multidimensional scaling ordination indicated that restorations older than 7 years were clearly converging on the species composition of remnants. These results suggest that moth communities in restorations and remnants are highly variable in time but that as restorations age, they appear to reaccumulate moth species found in prairie remnants. The long-term persistence of a particular species assemblage within a given site, however, might be a difficult endpoint to attain in central Iowa prairies because of significant annual variation in species occurrence.
Economic injury level for the banks grass mite (Acari: Tetranychidae) on corn

Banks grass mite, Oligonychus pratensis (Banks), feeding on corn, Zea mays L., between the late-vegetative and dent growth stages caused significant yield loss but did not affect test weights. Regression analysis was used to compare several independent variables (mite abundance, damage ratings, and percentage of the leaves infested) with yield loss and plant lodging. Data were analyzed the week of maximum yield loss from mite feeding at predetermined damage levels and the week before this event. The best relationship was between yield reduction and percentage of the leaves infested the week before maximum yield loss from mite feeding occurred. There was a 0.2% yield loss per 1% infested leaves per plant. A flexible economic threshold for Banks grass mite on corn can now be calculated based on crop value and cost of control. Mite feeding on corn in the dent growth stage did not affect yield. Banks grass mite feeding did not have a definitive effect on incidence of plant lodging, although there were indications that increased lodging may have been associated with mite feeding in some situations. Grain moisture declined as densities and feeding damage by Banks grass mite increased.
CHARACTERIZATION OF A MAJOR MAIZE DOMESTICATION QTL ON THE SHORT ARM OF CHROMOSOME 1

Inheritance of the basic morphological differ- ences between primitive maize and teosinte is mainly con- trolled by genes falling within five or six regions of the maize genome. Herein, we focus on one of these regions, the short arm of chromosome 1, for which we created a nearly-isogenic line (NIL) consisting of a teosinte chromo- some segment (T1S) introgressed into maize inbred line (W22). By crossing this NIL with W22 and then selfing for 6 generations, 135 nearly isogenic recombinant inbred lines (NIRILs) were recovered for the T1S chromosomal region. We mapped the cross-overs within the T1S seg- ment for each NIRIL and collected phenotypic data for do- mestication and other traits on each NIRIL. Using these da- ta, we mapped 15 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) controlling several domestication, developmental, and seed-related traits. The proportion of the phenotypic variance ex- plained by the QTLs for a trait ranged from 7% to 65% and the direction of the effects of most QTLs agreed with the expectation that teosinte alleles should be associated with teosinte-like phenotypes. Most QTL for domestication-re- lated traits co-localized to the same 15 cM region near the center of the introgressed segment. These QTL could rep- resent either a single major gene with pleiotropic effects or several tightly linked genes. Positional cloning studies are now underway to distinguish these two hypotheses.
Distributed computing systems and checkpointing

This paper examines the performance of synchronous checkpointing in a distributed computing environment with and without load redistribution. Performance models are developed, and optimum checkpoint intervals are determined. The analysis extends earlier work by allowing for multiple nodes, state dependent checkpoint intervals, and a performance metric which is coupled with failure-free performance and the speedup functions associated with implementation of parallel algorithms. Expressions for the optimum checkpoint intervals for synchronous checkpointing with and without load redistribution are derived and the results are then used to determine when load redistribution is advantageous. >
Re-examination of Herzberg's Two-Factor Theor y of Motivation in the Korean Army Foodservice Operation

The validity of Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory of Motivation was tested empirically by using the data obtained from foodservice soldiers and logistics officers serving in the Korean Army foodservice operation. This study compares general job satisfaction between soldier and officer groups and assesses the effect of Herzberg's motivators and hygiene factors on general job satisfaction so as to understand their relative importance in the military foodservice situation. The results show a statistically significant difference in job satisfaction between the foodservice soldiers and logistics officers. Additionally, the results regarding Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory were quite opposite between the two sample groups. For the foodservice soldier group, hygiene factors were more powerful predictors of general job satisfaction than motivators. On the other hand, motivators had a more significant association with logistics officers' general job satisfaction than hygiene factors. For foodservice soldiers, “human super...