cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Systemic spread of an RNA insect virus in plants expressing plant viral movement protein genes

Flock house virus (FHV), a single-stranded RNA insect virus, has previously been reported to cross the kingdom barrier and replicate in barley protoplasts and in inoculated leaves of several plant species [Selling, B. H., Allison, R. F. & Kaesberg, P. (1990) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87, 434–438]. There was no systemic movement of FHV in plants. We tested the ability of movement proteins (MPs) of plant viruses to provide movement functions and cause systemic spread of FHV in plants. We compared the growth of FHV in leaves of nontransgenic and transgenic plants expressing the MP of tobacco mosaic virus or red clover necrotic mosaic virus (RCNMV). Both MPs mobilized cell-to-cell and systemic movement of FHV in Nicotiana benthamiana plants. The yield of FHV was more than 100-fold higher in the inoculated leaves of transgenic plants than in the inoculated leaves of nontransgenic plants. In addition, FHV accumulated in the noninoculated upper leaves of both MP-transgenic plants. RCNMV MP was more efficient in mobilizing FHV to noninoculated upper leaves. We also report here that FHV replicates in inoculated leaves of six additional plant species: alfalfa, Arabidopsis , Brassica , cucumber, maize, and rice. Our results demonstrate that plant viral MPs cause cell-to-cell and long-distance movement of an animal virus in plants and offer approaches to the study of the evolution of viruses and mechanisms governing mRNA trafficking in plants as well as to the development of promising vectors for transient expression of foreign genes in plants.
Treatment of former smokers with 9-cis-retinoic acid reverse loss of retinoic acid receptor-β expression in the bronchial epithelium: Results from a randomized placebo-controlled trial

Background Loss of retinoic acid receptor beta (RAR-beta) expression in the bronchial epithelium is considered a biomarker of preneoplasia. Retinoids can restore expression of this receptor and, presumably, halt the progression of carcinogenesis. This study was designed to investigate whether either of two retinoid-based regimens, 9-cis-retinoic acid (RA) or 13-cis-RA plus alpha-tocopherol (AT), could reverse RAR-beta expression loss in former smokers after 3 months of treatment. Methods Individuals (n = 226) who had smoked at least 20 pack-years and had ceased smoking for at least 12 months were randomly assigned to receive 3 months of daily oral 9-cis-RA (100 mg), 13-cis-RA (1 mg/kg) + AT (1200 IU), or placebo. Bronchoscopy and biopsy at six predetermined sites of the bronchial tree were performed before treatment and at 3 and 6 months thereafter. Specimens were evaluated for squamous metaplasia, dysplasia, and RAR-beta expression. McNemar's test was used to test changes in RAR-beta expression and squamous metaplasia within each treatment group, and a generalized estimating equations model was applied to model the treatment effect, adjusting for covariates. All statistical tests were two-sided. Results A total of 177 assessable subjects completed at least 3 months of therapy and underwent at least the baseline and 3-month bronchoscopic evaluations with biopsies. RAR-beta was detected in 69.7% of all baseline biopsy samples, and metaplasia was evident in 6.9% of all baseline samples from 240 subjects. Restoration of RAR-beta expression (P =.03) and reduction of metaplasia (P =.01) were found in the 9-cis-RA group. After adjustment for years of smoking, packs/day smoked, and metaplasia, treatment with 9-cis-RA, but not with 13-cis-RA + AT, led to a statistically significant increase in RAR-beta expression compared with placebo (P =.03). Conclusion 9-cis-RA treatment can restore RAR-beta expression in the bronchial epithelium of former smokers, raising the possibility that this retinoid has potential chemopreventive properties in former smokers.
Ternary Pt/Rh/SnO2 electrocatalysts for oxidizing ethanol to CO2.

The development of a direct ethanol fuel cell has been hampered by ethanol’s inefficient and slow oxidation. A ternary electrocatalyst consisting of platinum and rhodium deposited on carbon-supported tin dioxide nanoparticles is now shown to oxidize ethanol to carbon dioxide with high efficiency by splitting C–C bonds at room temperature. Ethanol, with its high energy density, likely production from renewable sources and ease of storage and transportation, is almost the ideal combustible for fuel cells wherein its chemical energy can be converted directly into electrical energy. However, commercialization of direct ethanol fuel cells has been impeded by ethanol’s slow, inefficient oxidation even at the best electrocatalysts1,2. We synthesized a ternary PtRhSnO2/C electrocatalyst by depositing platinum and rhodium atoms on carbon-supported tin dioxide nanoparticles that is capable of oxidizing ethanol with high efficiency and holds great promise for resolving the impediments to developing practical direct ethanol fuel cells. This electrocatalyst effectively splits the C–C bond in ethanol at room temperature in acid solutions, facilitating its oxidation at low potentials to CO2, which has not been achieved with existing catalysts. Our experiments and density functional theory calculations indicate that the electrocatalyst’s activity is due to the specific property of each of its constituents, induced by their interactions. These findings help explain the high activity of Pt–Ru for methanol oxidation and the lack of it for ethanol oxidation, and point to the way to accomplishing the C–C bond splitting in other catalytic processes.
Longitudinal Neuropsychological Profile in a Patient with Triple A Syndrome

Triple A syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by the triad of adrenocorticotropic hormone resistant adrenal insufficiency, achalasia, and alacrima. Our aim was to describe the neuropsychological characteristics and the cooccurring psychopathological and neurological disorders in an Italian male child suffering from Triple A syndrome at the time of admission (T0) and after one year of follow-up (T1). Many difficulties were observed in the motor domain, as well as in manual dexterity and static/dynamic balance domains of the motor task over time. In sharp contrast with previous literature reports on frequent mild cognitive dysfunction in patients with Triple A syndrome, our child did not show any mental retardation. By contrast, he showed an average IQ at T0 with a slight improvement at T1. To our knowledge, this report is the first describing neuropsychological profile and co-occurring psychopathological problems in a child with Triple A syndrome. Considering that the Triple A syndrome is a progressive disorder which can take years to develop the full-blown clinical picture, these patients require periodical medical controls. Moreover, assessment of neuropsychological and psychopathological features should be performed in patients with this disease, in order to underline the variability of this syndrome.
Israeli identity formation and the Arab—Israeli conflict in election platforms, 1969—2006:

This study focuses on the relationship between national identity and intractable conflict. Abdelal’s definition of collective identity that refers to the level of agreement regarding the purposes, practices, relational comparisons with other entities, and narratives that define collective identity was adapted to national identity during intractable conflict and was later applied to Israel’s national identity. A review of the Israeli 1969—2006 election platforms shows that in the 1980s and 1990s significant changes occurred in Israel’s national identity. The most significant changes included: changes regarding the territorial purpose of Israeli identity; changes in practices on who may become an Israeli citizen; changes of perception of the relationship between Israel and the Arabs; and a growing Israeli acceptance of Palestinian identity. Since 2000, following the failure of the Israeli—Palestinian peace process, some components of Israeli national identity have reverted to their original form. The study ...
Delay optimal policies offer very little privacy

Traditionally, scheduling policies have been optimized to perform well on metrics such as throughput, delay and fairness. In the context of shared event schedulers, where a common processor is shared among multiple users, one also has to consider the privacy offered by the scheduling policy. The privacy offered by a scheduling policy measures how much information about the usage pattern of one user of the system can be learnt by another as a consequence of sharing the scheduler. In [1], we introduced an estimation error based metric to quantify this privacy. We showed that the most commonly deployed scheduling policy, the first-come-first-served (FCFS) offers very little privacy to its users. We also proposed a parametric non-work-conserving policy which traded off delay for improved privacy. In this work, we ask the question, is a trade-off between delay and privacy fundamental to the design to scheduling policies? In particular, is there a work-conserving, possibly randomized, scheduling policy that scores high on the privacy metric? Answering the first question, we show that there does exist a fundamental limit on the privacy performance of a work-conserving scheduling policy. We quantify this limit. Furthermore, answering the second question, we demonstrate that the round-robin scheduling policy (a deterministic policy) is privacy optimal within the class of work-conserving policies.
Dysregulation of the Mammalian Target of Rapamycin and p27Kip1 Promotes Intimal Hyperplasia in Diabetes Mellitus

The proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in the intima of an artery, known as intimal hyperplasia, is an important component of cardiovascular diseases. This is seen most clearly in the case of in-stent restenosis, where drug eluting stents are used to deliver agents that prevent VSMC proliferation and migration. One class of agents that are highly effective in the prevention of in-stent restenosis is the mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors. Inhibition of mTOR blocks protein synthesis, cell cycle progression, and cell migration. Key to the effects on cell cycle progression and cell migration is the inhibition of mTOR-mediated degradation of p27Kip1 protein. p27Kip1 is a cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor that is elevated in quiescent VSMCs and inhibits the G1 to S phase transition and cell migration. Under normal conditions, vascular injury promotes degradation of p27Kip1 protein in an mTOR dependent manner. Recent reports from our lab suggest that in the presence of diabetes mellitus, elevation of extracellular signal response kinase activity may promote decreased p27Kip1 mRNA and produce a relative resistance to mTOR inhibition. Here we review these findings and their relevance to designing treatments for cardiovascular disease in the presence of diabetes mellitus.
On scheduling all-to-all personalized connections and cost-effective designs in WDM rings

We consider the problem of scheduling all-to-all personalized connections (AAPC) in WDM rings. Scheduling one connection for every source-destination pair in a network of limited connectivity provides a way to reduce routing control and guarantee throughput. For a given number of wavelengths K and a given number of transceivers per node T, we first determine the lower bound (LB) on the schedule length, which depends on both K and T. To achieve the LB, either the network bandwidth, the I/O capacity, or both should be fully utilized. This approach first constructs and then schedules circles, each of which is formed by up to four non-overlapping connections and can fully utilize the bandwidth of one wavelength. The proposed circle construction and scheduling algorithms can achieve the LB if K/spl les/T<N-1 or T=N-1, and closely approach or achieve the LB otherwise. In addition, we determine the appropriate values of T and K for the cost-effective designs in WDM rings through analysis of the schedule length and network throughput.
The Use of Video Modeling via a Video iPod and a System of Least Prompts to Improve Transitional Behaviors for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders in the General Education Classroom

This study evaluated the efficacy of video modeling delivered via a handheld device (video iPod) and the use of the system of least prompts to assist elementary-age students with transitioning between locations and activities within the school. Four students with autism learned to manipulate a handheld device to watch video models. An ABAB withdrawal design was used to evaluate a functional relation between video modeling and the percentage of independent transitions by the student. The data indicate that all participants began transitioning more independently after the intervention was introduced and that their performance decreased with withdrawal of intervention. These results are presented in the context of how a portable video delivery system can aid students who spend considerable portions of their day in general education settings where traditional means of delivering video models (e.g., televisions and computers) may not be as accessible.
Device simulation study of silicon p-channel FinFETs

This paper examines the performance and scaling characteristics of p-channel silicon FinFETs (pFinFETs) using three dimensional device modeling based on a drift-diffusion model. A commercial numerical device simulator was employed to investigate the device's short channel effects down to a channel length of 20 nm. The results show that the pFinFET provides good scaling characteristics with the subthreshold slope increasing from 66 mV/dec to 76 mV/dec and the drain induced barrier lowering from 17 m V/V to 80 m V/V as the gate length decreases from 80 to 20 nm's. Subsequently, the performance of the pFinFET at high frequencies was examined for a gate length of 50 nm with promising results. Peak values of the cutoff frequency f/sub T/ and maximum frequency of oscillation f/sub max/ of 53 GHz and 211 GHz, respectively, were obtained as the gate bias was swept. These preliminary results indicate the potential for high peiformance pFINFETs.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Possible Role of Environmental Influences

This treatise briefly discusses the genetic features of ALS and reviews environmental exposures in sporadic ALS. At least 10 genetic foci are responsible for cases of familial motor neuron disease and more are yet to be discovered. Research into sporadic ALS suggests that abundant factors apparently participate in the disease process. A singular cause and unifying disease and nerve dysfunction in polyneuropathies, a multitude of genetic, toxic, autoimmune, infectious, and systematic processes seem to be at play. The ALS syndrome likely will not be dissimilar.
Arsenal of Democracy: The American Automobile Industry in World War II Charles K. Hyde. Detroit, MI: Wayne State University, 2013.

Arsenal of Democracy: The American Automobile Industry in World War II Charles K. Hyde. Detroit, MI: Wayne State University, 2013.Arsenal of Democracy reports on an era in American history with which many readers think they are familiar. Between 1939 and 1944, American industry -particularly the automobile industry-increased its output from twenty percent of the world's munitions production to forty-two percent. No other belligerent nation was able to approach those figures.Charles Hyde focuses specifically on the automobile industry's role in this massive change of purpose. He cites earlier, broader histories of this shift, especially the changes in other American industries and the resulting social and economic effects. Hyde is well situated for his specific focus, having written histories of Chrysler, Dodge, Nash, and Hudson. Moreover, he has accessed dozens of collections of primary sources on the automobile industry during the war years.This shift in manufacturing began in the 1930s to meet the demands of the Lend-Lease Program. What Hyde calls "production miracles" began to be possible with "several novel, cooperative relations" that had developed between the military, industry, suppliers, unions, and the federal government (xv). "Develop" is an important word here: the process was not simple or smooth. Despite bureaucratic and technical challenges, despite confusing contract terms (eventually cost-plus - fixed-fee), production increased geometrically. There was none of the profiteering seen in World War One; instead, for example, the cost of a B-24 Liberator dropped from $379,000 in 1941 to $215,000 in 1944. And pre-war competition was replaced with cooperation, as in the example of the ubiquitous Jeep: American Bantam produced 1500 units, Ford another 295,000, and Willys another 352,000.The auto industry manufactured other material, but Ford's Willow Run aircraft plant is Hyde's case study. Ford PR claimed Willow Run was building a B-24 roughly every hour, but Ford needed thirty-eight months to reach these numbers; Willow Run produced only fifty-six planes in 1942. Ford insisted on auto production methods rather than aircraft industry methods (Ford engineers would not understand Consolidated blueprints). The less-familiar General Motors-Grumman partnership used smaller, existing factories, adopting Grumman assembly methods. GM's quick rampup "stands in sharp contrast to the long gestation... at Willow Run" (109). Ford's management team, dysfunctional to the point of fistfights, caused Roosevelt -whom Henry Ford hated-to consider removing Ford as CEO of his own company. …
On regular solutions of a nonlinear equation of Choquard's type

We study the nonlinear equationin ℝ3, where Δ denotes the Laplacian operator, and R and K are real-valued functions satisfying suitable conditions. We use a variational formulation to show the existence of a non-trivial weak solution of the above equation for some real number λ. Because of our assumptions on R and K we shall look for solutions which are spherically symmetric, decrease with r = |x| and vanish at infinity.
Absorption, translocation, and metabolism of imazamox in jointed goatgrass and feral rye

Abstract Wheat cultivars resistant to imazamox will facilitate selective chemical control of many winter annual grass weeds, including jointed goatgrass, downy brome, and feral rye. These three weed species respond differently to imazamox postemergence treatments with feral rye, demonstrating more tolerance than jointed goatgrass or downy brome; therefore, growth chamber studies were conducted to evaluate imazamox absorption in all three weed species and translocation and metabolism in jointed goatgrass and feral rye. Adding nonionic surfactant (NIS) or methylated seed oil increased absorption in jointed goatgrass and feral rye but not in downy brome, compared to imazamox applied alone. Imazamox applied with NIS and urea ammonium nitrate resulted in the highest absorption in each species: 97, 91, and 92% of applied 14C for jointed goatgrass, downy brome, and feral rye, respectively, 48 h after treatment (HAT). Imazamox translocation from the treated leaf was similar for jointed goatgrass and feral rye acr...
Concepts of social capital

McKenzie et al ( [2002][1]) illustrate how emerging conceptions of social capital can help psychiatric researchers study links between social context and the prevalence, course and outcome of psychiatric conditions. Two further considerations deserve a place in this discussion. First, the premise
Influence of gender, age, and social norm on digital imaging use.

BACKGROUND: The adoption of digital imaging technology is a critical investment decision, and problems related to employee acceptance of the technology often are underestimated. Literature indicates that subjective normative factors, gender differences, and age may affect employee acceptance and use of new technology. Thus, understanding these influential factors is highly important to organizations. OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationships between gender, age, subjective normative factors, and the intention to use digital imaging technology in an environment where its use is mandatory. METHODS: A survey was used to investigate the applicability of a modified, theoretical technology acceptance model as a proposed model of radiographers' intention to use digital imaging technology. Structural equation modeling was used to test the theoretical model, and path analysis was used to examine dependence between variables. RESULTS: Although the data supports the modified versions of the theoretical technology acceptance model, the relationship between age and gender was very weak. When age and gender were removed from the model, voluntariness had a weak effect, suggesting other environmental factors play a larger role in explaining subjective normative factors within a radiologic environment. CONCLUSION: In contrast to other technology adoption studies, age and gender were not significantly associated with radiographers' acceptance and use of technology. Age and gender patterns do not apply to the adoption of digital imaging for this population. Therefore, one can conclude that in an environment in which digital imaging equipment use is mandated, additional sociocontextual variables play a role in the radiographers' intention to use the technology.
SNPs and SNVs in forensic science

The utility of short tandem repeat genetic (STR) markers for forensic science is beyond question and there are over 50 million STR profiles in current national databases. The magnitude and value of those data, however, are likely to be dwarfed by what is emerging from large-scale SNP and DNA sequence assays. Phenotypic characterization may well accompany future statements about identity. In this very brief review we focus on the use of rare variants to describe relatedness and population structure.
Baby Boom generation perceptions of casino gambling impacts within social exchange theory settings

ABSTRACT The Baby Boom generation has become a tempting target for tourism suppliers and tourism development stakeholders. While it presents itself as a lucrative group to be tapped by destination marketing organizations, its perspective regarding tourism development in their home states is equally important because they form a substantial portion of the US population. This study aimed to examine the benefit and cost perceptions of the Baby Boom generation to identify factors likely to influence them. It also investigates the influence of perceptions on support for casino gambling. The subjects under study were the local residents of Iowa, USA. The study results identify Important determinants of perceptions and confirm a close-to universal Influence of social exchange theory.
Global Asset Allocation: Whither the U.S. Dollar?

In April 2009, Rashonda Williams, responsible for global asset allocation at a large pension fund, had to decide whether the increase the allocation to foreign securities. A primary factor influencing her decision was her view on the likely path of the U.S. dollar over the next 5 to 10 years. Were we on the verge of a massive repatriation of U.S. investors’ foreign portfolios? Would foreign central banks begin to diversify away from dollars? Was the dollar (and other major currencies) so undervalued that the Group of Seven (G7) might contemplate coordinated currency intervention? Williams’s assessment of these issues would be a large factor in her overall assessment: Should she recommend to the board that it increase the allocation to foreign securities, or should it take this opportunity to repatriate profits and increase the weight on U.S. securities?
Optimal Price and Delay Dierentiation in Queueing Systems

We study a multi-server queueing model of a revenue-maximizing firm providing a service to a market of heterogeneous price- and delay-sensitive customers with private individual preferences. The firm may offer a selection of service classes that are differentiated in prices and delays. Using a deterministic relaxation, which highlights the first-order economic structure of the problem, we construct a solution that is incentive compatible and near-optimal in systems with large capacity and market potential. Our approach provides several new insights for large-scale systems: i) the tractable first-order analysis characterizes essentially all salient features of the optimal solution; ii) service differentiation is optimal when the less delay-sensitive market segment is sufficiently elastic; iii) depending on system capacity and market heterogeneity, "intentional delay" (whereby delay is artificially added) in cheaper service classes may be used to justify price premiums in the more expensive service classes, akin to the role of "damaged goods" in the economics literature; and iv) connecting economic optimization to queueing theory, the revenue-optimized system has the premium class operating in a "quality-driven" regime and the lower-tier service classes operating in an "efficiency-driven" regime (i.e., with noticeable delays that arise either endogenously or due to the injection of intentional delay by the service provider).
Characterisation of the structure and thermophysical properties of solid electroslag remelting slags

The solid structure and thermophysical properties of three electroslag remelting (ESR) slags were characterised. Samples from ESR trials performed by Special Metals Corporation in Burnaugh, KY, were compared to samples solidified in a vacuum induction melter. The microstructures were characterised using a combination of optical and electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive spectroscopy and a serial sectioning technique to quantify porosity. The thermophysical properties were measured using differential scanning calorimetry and laser flash diffusivity testing at Thermophysical Property Measurement Laboratory, Inc. in West Lafayette, IN. The two processing routes were found to produce similar phase fractions, but resulted in different properties as a function of phase morphology and porosity content. These results suggest that future modelling and property measurement efforts must account for both the structure and composition of the slags.
Isozyme patterns in cultured Harpellales

Trichomycetes (Zygomycota) are arthro- pod-associated fungi consisting of three orders, only one of which, the Harpellales, contains cultured spe? cies. Isozyme patterns were studied using starch gel electrophoresis of 108 isolates representing 18 de? scribed species from six genera of Harpellales (Cap- niomyces, Furculomyces, Genistelloides, Simuliomyces, Smittium, and Trichozygospora), and some unde? scribed species of Smittium, as well as three isolates of Amoebidium parasiticum (Amoebidiales) and three species of nontrichomycetous fungi. A total of 176 different band positions for 13 loci in 11 enzyme sys? tems were produced. The banding patterns were con? sistent with haploidy. Numerical taxonomic and prin- cipal coordinate analyses of Trichomycetes compared isozyme variation within and among described and undescribed species, including three named isolates of uncertain identity. There was no discernible pat? tern among the cultures attributable to geographic origin or type of insect host family. Isolates of de? scribed species produced similarity clusters that gen? erally correlated well with morphologically defined genera and species. Based on isozyme patterns, one isolate tentatively identified as G. hibernus was re-ex- amined and reclassified as C. stellatus. Thirty-six un? described isolates of Smittium produced seven clus? ters that probably represent new species. Other un? described Smittium isolates grouped with described species and may be conspecific. Cophenetic correla? tion coefficients for 13 clusters of Harpellales species were >0.90, but for A. parasiticum it was only 0.87; the latter may represent a species complex. Thirty- two isolates of Sm. culisetae originating from France, Australia, Japan, and six USA states (including Ha? waii) were isozymically very similar or identical to each other, despite differences in their geographic origins and dipteran host families. A phenogram based on isozyme patterns generally corresponded with one from a previous immunological study.
Stereodynamic Chemosensor with Selective Circular Dichroism and Fluorescence Readout for in Situ Determination of Absolute Configuration, Enantiomeric Excess, and Concentration of Chiral Compounds

A stereodynamic chemosensor having a parallel arrangement of a substrate-binding salicylaldehyde unit and an adjacent pyridyl N-oxide fluorophore undergoes rapid condensation with chiral amino alcohols and subsequent asymmetric transformation of the first kind toward a single rotamer. Crystallographic analysis shows that the concomitant central-to-axial chirality imprinting is controlled by minimization of steric repulsion and by intramolecular hydrogen bonding between the bound amino alcohol and the proximate N-oxide group. The substrate binding event results in strong CD effects and characteristic fluorescence changes which can be used for instantaneous in situ determination of the absolute configuration, enantiomeric composition and total concentration of a variety of chiral amino alcohols. This chemosensing approach avoids time-consuming workup and purification steps, and it is applicable to minute sample amounts which reduces the use of solvents and limits waste production.
Role of Membrane Sterols in Mycoplasma capricolum

A low level of cholesterol in lanosterol-rich membranes of Mycoplasma capricolum exerts a synergistic effect on growth while leaving the bulk physical state of the membrane unchanged. This observation has led to the proposal that cholesterol may serve a dual role in membranes: one as a bulk component and another of a more specialized nature involving cholesterol-specific interactions. Lanosterol, while competent as a bulk membrane sterol, cannot effectively perform the second function. The fact that a low level of cholesterol in lanosterol-rich cells specifically alters the ability of these cells to incorporate unsaturated fatty acids suggests that this more specialized role for cholesterol may be concerned with fatty acid transport or phospholipid biosynthesis.
Bacillus thuringiensis Against Pink Bollworms on Cotton in Field Cages

A commercial preparation of Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner (Thuricidc®, 58–141, Lot D01801) was applied early in the season and evaluated for control of Pectinophora (Saunders) on cotton in 6×6×36-foot Held cages. The reduction in the population was judged by reduction in the number of rosettes and number of mines and the increased number of bolls. In the control, 80% of the bolls were infested compared with 40 and 10% in cages treated with 1 and 2 quarts of microbial insecticide per acre, respectively.
SCREENING WOOD- AND BARK-INHABITING BASIDIOMYCETES FOR ESTERASE ACTIVITY IN LIQUID STATIONARY CULTURE

Extracellular esterase activities in station- ary liquid culture filtrates for fifteen species of wood- and bark-inhabiting homobasidiomycetes were deter- mined spectrophotometrically using p-nitrophenol- acyl esters of four to eighteen carbon atoms. In a basal medium supplemented with glucose, Dendroth- ele acerina, D. griseo-cana and Mycena meliigena showed esterase activities with preferences for shorter acyl substrates, whereas Aleurodiscus oakesii, Cystoster- eum pini-canadense, Dichostereum effuscatum and Den- drophora albo-badia exhibited esterase activities with preferences for longer acyl substrates. Aleurodiscus oakesii, D. effuscatum and M. meliigena were also grown in media supplemented with suber- in-rich commercial cork or processed maple rhyti-
Confucian Ecological Ethics Thought and its Modern Value

Confucius' very deep thought of Ecological Ethics is interlinked with modern Ecological Ethics.Today,the ecological ethics of Confucius demonstrate the great significance of the practice of Human Ecology.It is important to implement the scientific development concept and achieve sustainable development for us in current.
Temporal variations in acetaminophen and phenacetin half-life in man.

Acetaminophen (AP AP) and phenacetin mean plasma half-lives were approximately 15% longer in normal male volunteers at 6 A.M. than at 2 P.M. as determined after oral administration of each drug at 6 A.M. and 2 P.M. Concentrations of plasma 11-hydroxycorticoids (11-0 HCS) in these volunteers were approximately 42% higher at 6 A.M. than at 2 P.M. The mean apparent volume of distribution (aVd) of APAP decreased by approximately 13% from 6 A.M. to 2 P.M., whereas the mean metabolic clearance rate (MCR) of APAP did not change significantly. Neither the mean aVd nor the mean MC R of phenacetin changed significantly from 6 A.M. to 2 P.M. Measurement of urinary metabolites showed no alteration in APAP glucuronidation in the 8-hr period following AP AP administration at 6 A.M. or 2 P.M., but indicated that after phenacetin administration 10% more of the dose was oxidatively metabolized to APAP during a 24-hr period beginning at 2 P.M. than at 6 A.M. Within each subject, plasma acetaminophen or phenacetin half-life at 2 P.M. or 6 A.M. was highly reproducible, but large interindividual variations occurred in the extent of temporal variation during this period.
Creation of a murine orthotopic hepatoma model with intra-abdominal metastasis.

Aim : To create an orthotopic hepatoma model with local metastasis monitored with ultrasound could be created as a platform for testing new treatments. Background : Hepatoma accounts for 25% of liver tumors in children with poor overall survival. Intraabdominal metastasis are present in 35% of patients at time of diagnosis. We hypothesized that an orthotopic tumor model with local metastasis could be created as a platform for testing treatment modalities and could be monitored with ultrasound. Patients and methods : One million human hepatoma cells (Hep3B) were injected into the left lobe of the liver of immunocompromised mice. Tumor volume was monitored with high frequency-ultrasound until it reached 1,000mm 3 . At that time animals were sacrificed and examined for gross metastatic disease. Tumor sections were analyzed with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Results : Tumor formed in 8/15 mice. The tumor was detected as small as 19.59mm 3 on ultrasound. Of the forming tumors, tumor size was 145±177.93mm 3 at 60 days post-injection, 665±650.39mm 3 at 67 days, and reached >1000mm 3 by 76.6±9.9 days. At necropsy, four mice (50%) had tumor only within the liver, four (50%) had additional tumors in omentum, pelvis and peritoneum. H&E showed tumor within the normal liver parenchyma, with multiple mitotic figures, small areas of necrosis, and hemorrhage within the tumor. Conclusion : We have successfully established an orthotopic hepatoma murine model, with a local metastatic rate of 50%. Non-invasive tumor monitoring is feasible via ultrasound.
Reflections on the Crisis in the Sudan’s Nuba Mountains of South Kordofan

This is a piece about the unfolding humanitarian crisis in the Nuba Mountains of Sudan's South Kordofan. It is contended that while getting humanitarian aid into the Nuba immediately is a must, the quest for a lasting resolution has to begin by realizing the limitations inherent in the CPA and in the post-independence issues. Start with negative peace, i.e. cease-fire, and then proceed to building positive peace. The road to peace in the two Sudans has to be paved by a series of negotiations.
Development of a prognostic model based on demographic, environmental and lifestyle information for predicting incidences of symptomatic respiratory or gastrointestinal infection in adult office workers

Occurrence of respiratory tract infection (RTI) or gastrointestinal tract infection (GTI) is known to vary between individuals and may be a confounding factor in the analysis of the results of intervention trials. We aimed at developing a prognostic model for predicting individual incidences of RTI and GTI on the basis of data collected in a hand-hygiene intervention trial among adult office workers, and comprising a prior-to-onset questionnaire on potential infection-risk factors and weekly electronic follow-up reports on occurrence of symptoms of, and on exposures to RTI or GTI. A mixed-effect negative binomial regression model was used to calculate a predictor-specific incidence rate ratio for each questionnaire variable and for each of the four endpoints, and predicted individual incidences for symptoms of and exposures to RTI and GTI. In the fitting test these were then compared with the observed incidences. Out of 1270 eligible employees of six enterprises, 683 volunteered to participate in the trial. Ninety-two additional participants were recruited during the follow-up. Out of the 775 registered participants, 717 returned the questionnaire with data on potential predictor variables and follow-up reports for determination of outcomes. Age and gender were the strongest predictors of both exposure to, and symptoms of RTI or GTI, although no gender difference was seen in the RTI incidence. In addition, regular use of public transport, and history of seasonal influenza vaccination increased the risk of RTI. The individual incidence values predicted by the model showed moderate correlation with those observed in each of the four categories. According to the Cox-Snell multivariate formula the model explained 11.2% of RTI and 3.3% of GTI incidences. Resampling revealed mean and 90% confidence interval values of 10.9 (CI 6.9–14.5)% for RTI and 2.4 (0.6–4.4)% for GTI. The model created explained a relatively small proportion of the occurrence of RTI or GTI. Unpredictable exposure to disease agents, and individual susceptibility factors are likely to be key determinants of disease emergence. Yet, the model might be useful in prerandomization stratification of study population in RTI intervention trials where the expected difference between trial arms is relatively small. Registered at ClinicalTrials.gov with Identifier NCT00821509 on 12 March 2009.
Dark matter and super symmetry: exploring and explaining the universe with simulations at the LHC

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland, is one of the largest machines on this planet. It is built to smash protons into each other at unprecedented energies to reveal the fundamental constituents of our universe. The 4 detectors at the LHC record multi-petabyte datasets every year. The scientific analysis of this data requires equally large simulation datasets of the collisions based on the theory of particle physics, the Standard Model. The goal is to verify the validity of the Standard Model or of theories that extend the Model like the concepts of Super Symmetry and an explanation of Dark Matter. I will give an overview of the nature of simulations needed to discover new particles like the Higgs boson in 2012, and review the different areas where simulations are indispensable: from the actual recording of the collisions to the extraction of scientific results to the conceptual design of improvements to the LHC.
Efficiency of subaquatic light traps

ABSTRACTSubaquatic light traps are often used for sampling of the aquatic insects; however, their efficiency has not been tested yet. Here, we describe the use of such traps, illustrate the design of a simple trap allowing standardised sampling, and present results of assessment of the light trap efficiency according to the different turbidity levels, as well as model insects’ escape rates. The effect of turbidity on the capture efficiency was not significant for Sigara lateralis (Leach, 1817), Notonecta glauca Linnaeus, 1758 and Corixa punctata (Illiger, 1807) and was marginally significant for Chaoborus sp. Escape rates were affected by the entrance size and daylight exposure time. Although subaquatic light traps are helpful for standardised sampling, their entrance should be adequate for the target species, and the traps should be removed soon after the dawn or the resulting specimen counts should be corrected for the daylight exposure time before the trap removal.
ORCID: Author Identifiers for Librarians

Generating accurate publication lists by researchers can be challenging when faced with scholars who have common names or who have published under name variations. This article describes ORCID and the goal of generating author identifiers for scholars to connect their research outputs. Included are the reasons for having author identifiers as well as the types of information within individual profiles. This article includes information on how academic libraries are playing a role with ORCID initiatives as well as describing how publishers, institutions, and funders are employing ORCID in their workflows. Highlighted is material on academic institutions in Pennsylvania using ORCID. The purpose of the article is to provide an overview of ORCID and its uses to inform librarians about this important initiative.
Targeting of redox-controlling proteins of the thioredoxin family by oxaliplatin

2345 The antiproliferative effects of platinum drugs are usually ascribed to Pt-DNA adducts. However, protein-Pt adducts, which are an order of magnitude more numerous than DNA-Pt adducts, might be an additional factor that contributes to apoptosis by distorting protein redox homeostasis. The redox status of cellular proteins is mainly controlled by the antiapoptotic thioredoxin (Trx) and its regenerating enzyme thioredoxin reductase (TrxR). The Trx system was implicated in the sensitivity/resistance to cisplatin. Our previous studies with the third generation platinum drug oxaliplatin suggested that this drug in particular may exert effects on targets other than DNA. For example, oxaliplatin needs to form only half of DNA-Pt adducts formed by cisplatin for equitoxic effects. The objective of this study was to examine the potential of oxaliplatin to target the Trx system. The results demonstrate that oxaliplatin inhibits the activity of purified human Trx with the IC 50 of ∼20 μM after a 60 min preincubation of the enzyme with the drug. Purified mammalian TrxR is significantly inhibited even without preincubation with 50 μM oxaliplatin producing ∼40% inhibition. Even a brief (10 min) preincubation, however, enhances the inhibition (from 6 to 26% for 10 μM drug). The need for preincubation in these determinations is consistent with the putative covalent binding of oxaliplatin to target proteins. Atomic absorption determinations are under way to corroborate whether the inhibition of the enzymatic activities of Trx and TrxR is indeed accompanied by the formation of protein-Pt adducts. The effects of oxaliplatin on the proteins of the Trx system are specific as the drug did not inhibit the activity of glutathione S-transferase (GST), either when added directly to the reaction or after a 60 min preincubation. To assess the effects of oxaliplatin on the cellular activities of Trx and TrxR, prostate cancer LNCaP-Pro5 cells were exposed to oxaliplatin for 24 h. Cellular extracts from these cells were next used in the respective enzymatic assays. The effects of oxaliplatin on the intracellular activity of Trx were modest with 25 μM drug producing ∼30% inhibition and 10 μM drug showing no significant effect. However, markedly more potent inhibition was observed in case of TrxR with the IC 50 of ∼10 μM and a near complete inhibition ( ∼85%) at 25 μM oxaliplatin. These concentrations are comparable to those inducing apoptosis in LNCaP-Pro5 cells. Overall, the results demonstrate that oxaliplatin affects the key members of the system controlling protein redox status. The drug is clearly more inhibitory against TrxR, although even a modest effect on Trx is likely to contribute in a cumulative fashion to the overall impairment of the Trx system. These findings strongly support the notion that the distortion of protein redox regulation can be a factor in the antiproliferative and proapoptotic activities of oxaliplatin. (Supported by CA112175 and CA80936).
What Good is Human Wisdom

In Plato’s Apology Socrates describes his practice of philosophy as a response to the Delphic oracle’s famous pronouncement that “No one is wiser” than he (Ap.21a–23b).1 Socrates at first regards the oracle’s utterance as a riddle, since its prima facie meaning contradicts his image of himself: “What is his riddle? I am very conscious that I am not wise at all; what then does he mean by saying that I am the wisest?” (Ap.21b). After investigating the meaning of the oracle by examining those in Athens with a reputation for wisdom, Socrates comes to interpret the riddle as an affirmation of his “human” wisdom, the knowledge that he knows little or nothing and that his wisdom is worthless. It is because Socrates understands that he knows little or nothing that he is wiser than the politicians, poets and craftspersons; these latter groups, in one fashion or another, all believe themselves to have wisdom which they lack and hence are self-deceived. Socrates is the wisest of the Athenians, not by virtue of any substantive knowledge of virtue (which he calls “more than human wisdom”—20d-e), but due to his humble self-understanding. Having come to understand the oracle in this fashion, Socrates undertakes a mission on behalf of the god to show those who think themselves wise, but are not, the error of their ways (Ap. 23b, d). This, he insists, is the true origin of the slander against him (Ap.20d, 21c-23e).
Water Pollution from Industrial Sources

This article examines water pollution from industrial sources. It begins by describing the extent of the problems stemming from industrial wastewater discharges. It next discusses the issues important for controlling externalities stemming from polluted water discharged by industrial sources, for example, distinction between ongoing discharges and episodic releases. The article then discusses the types of policy approaches for controlling industrial wastewater discharges, such as emission charges and transferable permits. The next section explores businesses' efforts to control their wastewater discharges as part of their corporate responsibility programs, with a focus on the use of environmental management systems, especially those certified by third parties. The final section discusses the economic literature that empirically examines wastewater discharges from industrial sources. The article reports that industrial wastewater discharges have been reduced dramatically in developed economies since the early 1970s but not cost-effectively, since the most prominent policy approach has been the imposition of effluent limits in combination with monitoring and enforcement. More broadly, the control of water pollution, in general, would benefit from greater emphasis on reduction from nonpoint pollution sources (e.g., agricultural runoff) through water quality trading programs, for example. Unfortunately, existing efforts to establish such trading programs have met with limited success.
Determination of DNA Quantity by Fluorescence Spectroscopy

This lab will employ fluorescence spectroscopy to simultaneously assay the quantity of the extracted DNA in which a DNA sample of at least two nanograms is visible in a traditional one milliliter sample using a conventional instrument using SYBR Green I. Alternatively, Hoechst 33258, ethidium bromide, and PicoGreen, have detection limits of 10 ng/mL, 100 ng/mL and 25 pg/mL, respectively. In this experiment, water or buffer is used to blank the instrument and the emitted fluorescence intensity is recorded for serially diluted known concentration samples. The fluorescence intensity is recorded for the extracted DNA samples of unknown concentration and a plot of fluorescence intensity versus concentration of the known quantity standards is used to determine the concentration of each of the unknowns using the line equation. The method is non-destructive and the DNA may be recovered from the cuvette by pipetting. The quantity of the recovered DNA will be reported.