cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effect of carbon dioxide, aeration rate and sodium chloride on the secretion of proteins from growing bakers' yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae)

Abstract Since yeast may be an important microorganism for industrial use when its genes are modified by recombinant DNA techniques to overproduce certain proteins, (particularly those which are glycosylated), it is desirable to study how environmental variables affect its protein secretion ability. It is also of interest to understand how proteins such as proteases, lipases and amylases are excreted in solid matrices to develop a basis for learning more about solid fermentations. With these two applications in mind, the total protein excreted by both aerated and non-aerated Saccharomyces cerevisiae growing in a liquid batch culture (with varying levels of CO2 and NaCl) was tracked. Using a modified Bradford method (Coomassie Blue dye-binding assay) for the concentration of total proteins in the extracellular fermentation broth, it has been determined that by 24 h of the run, excreted proteins rose to levels of about 10% of the total cell protein (500 μg ml−1 protein from about 10 g of yeast, containing about 5 g total protein). No cell lysis was observed during the 24 h run. The highest protein levels at the top of the fermentor seemed to be those achieved in response to CO2 alone. Additions of NaCl did not seem to enhance the secreted protein level. Large inconsistencies in replicating anaerobic runs for protein concentration appeared to be explained by noting that rising CO2 bubbles may cause ‘foam fractionation’ of the proteins in the broth.
Isotopologue Distributions of Peptide Product Ions by Tandem Mass Spectrometry: Quantitation of Low Levels of Deuterium Incorporation

Protonated molecular peptide ions and their product ions generated by tandem mass spectrometry appear as isotopologue clusters due to the natural isotopic variations of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur. Quantitation of the isotopic composition of peptides can be employed in experiments involving isotope effects, isotope exchange, and isotopic labeling by chemical reactions and in studies of metabolism by stable isotope incorporation. Both ion trap and quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry are shown to be capable of determining the isotopic composition of peptide product ions obtained by tandem mass spectrometry with both precision and accuracy. Tandem mass spectra of clusters of isotopologue ions obtained in profile mode are fit by nonlinear least squares to a series of Gaussian peaks which quantify the Mn/M0 values which define the isotopologue distribution (ID). To determine the isotopic composition of product ions from their ID, a new algorithm that predicts the Mn/M0 ratios and obviates the need to determine the intensity of all of the ions of an ID is developed. Consequently a precise and accurate determination of the isotopic composition of a product ion may be obtained from only the initial values of the ID, however, the entire isotopologue cluster must be isolated prior to fragmentation. Following optimization of the molecular ion isolation width, fragmentation energy, and detector sensitivity, the presence of isotopic excess (2H, 13C, 15N, 18O) is readily determined within 1%. The ability to determine the isotopic composition of sequential product ions permits the isotopic composition of individual amino acid residues in the precursor ion to be determined.
Stochastic processes and target zones revisited

Abstract We construct a model of exchange rate target zones that allows the stochastic process, with a closed-form general solution, to include the possibility of lagged response of fundamentals.
Improving the specificity of recombinant immunoassays for lyme disease.

A recent paper by Hefty et al. ([3][1]) identified recombinant lipoproteins OspE and ElpB1 from Borrelia burgdorferi as potential aids in the serodiagnosis of Lyme disease. However, the use of recombinant FlaB and OspC, in addition to the above antigens, may have been prematurely rejected by the
Amino Acid Supplementation of a Corn-Soybean Meal Chick Ration

Abstract IT HAS become accepted that feed protein(s) must be balanced in essential amino acids to insure a maximal growth rate in the chick. In most instances, diets formulated for the chick are deficient or limiting in one or more of the essential amino acids. Three basic approaches have been taken to formulate diets so that each essential amino acid is supplied at an adequate level: (1) Increasing total protein in the diet, (2) Providing several protein sources, including both vegetable and animal proteins, (3) Supplementing the diet with crystalline amino acids. The first approach has one serious drawback—protein wastage. The use of several protein sources results in an increased total cost of the feed. Supplementation with crystalline amino acids, with the exception of lysine and methionine, has not been feasible nor practical because of their cost and availability. A major problem in developing a diet that supports maximal growth…
Artists, Art Historians, and Visual Art Information

Discusses what is known of the information-seeking and information-using behavior of artists, particularly in the applied arts, and art historians. Points out the strong need for visual, as well as textual, information in art. Reviews the particular problems inherent in obtaining visual information, including the variety of information represented by an image, and the technological complexities of storng and retrieving visual information. Discusses the current solutions to these problems, both technological and intellectual, and how to make the best use of these solutions. Discusses the role of the reference librarian in matching artists and art historians with the visual information that they need.
The dawn of distant skies.

The article discusses astrophysics research investigating the atmospheres of planets outside of Earth's solar system in an attempt to find signs of extraterrestrial life. The discovery of an exoplanet orbiting a sunlike star by San Francisco State University observer Geoffrey W. Marcy and his partner at the University of California, Berkeley, R. Paul Butler, is presented. Topics include the clues into what an exoplanet's atmosphere is made of by studying the change in stellar brightness that occurs when an exoplanet passes behind its star, methods for detecting an exoplanet's biosignature, and the use of advanced techniques, such as radial-velocity, to study atoms and molecules of exoplanetary atmospheres, such as HD 209458b's.
Three-dimensional object recognition using gradient descent and the universal 3-D array grammar

A new algorithm is presented for applying Marill's minimum standard deviation of angles (MSDA) principle for interpreting line drawings without models. Even though no explicit models or additional heuristics are included, the algorithm tends to reach the same 3-D interpretations of 2-D line drawings that humans do. Marill's original algorithm repeatedly generated a set of interpretations and chose the one with the lowest standard deviation of angles (SDA). The algorithm presented here explicitly calculates the partial derivatives of SDA with respect to all adjustable parameters, and follows this gradient to minimize SDA. For a picture with lines meeting at m points forming n angles, the gradient descent algorithm requires O(n) time to adjust all the points, while the original algorithm required O(mn) time to do so. For the pictures described by Marill, this gradient descent algorithm running on a Macintosh II was found to be one to two orders of magnitude faster than the original algorithm running on a Symbolics, while still giving comparable results. Once the 3-D interpretation of the line drawing has been found, the 3-D object can be reduced to a description string using the Universal 3-D Array Grammar. This is a general grammar which allows any connected object represented as a 3-D array of pixels to be reduced to a description string. The algorithm based on this grammar is well suited to parallel computation, and could run efficiently on parallel hardware. This paper describes both the MSDA gradient descent algorithm and the Universal 3-D Array Grammar algorithm. Together, they transform a 2-D line drawing represented as a list of line segments into a string describing the 3-D object pictured. The strings could then be used for object recognition, learning, or storage for later manipulation.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A Twentieth Century Morality Play

Goffman's attempt to convince social scientists that human gestures are important is “more theatre than science.”
The diaspora and the cemetery: emigration and social transformation in a Moroccan oasis community

This essay explores the history and social consequences of emigration from the southeastern oases of Morocco, which since the 1940s have functioned as a veritable demographic pump, sending streams of labour migrants to northern cities and across the Mediterranean. It examines the close symbolic and material relations between physical and social mobility, as migrant remittances transform embedded hierarchies based on property ownership, irrigation rights, and economic independence. The essay situates these micro-level dynamics in the larger political tensions around ‘harrag’ (overseas undocumented migration), Berber (Amazigh) ethnic activism, tribal land rights, and racialised violence that have recently struck rural Morocco – tensions that have made Amazigh militants, often based in the diaspora, particularly concerned about the cultural fate of their homeland oases communities. In underlining these political frictions and ambivalences, the essay critically intervenes in a larger literature that has too o...
Design aspects and detailed study of medium tonnage mechanical press brakes

The fabricated stands, bed and ram of a medium tonnage mechanical press brake under load are studied. The machine analyzed is capable of handling a variety of bending operations on sheets of up to 6.5 mm thickness. FEM is used to study the static response of the stands when the machine is in operation, three-noded triangular plate elements being used for this purpose. The response is computed for the worst case of loading. Cholesky's method in conjunction with the constant bandwidth approach is used to study the behavior of the stand, the solution of which results in the computing of a large number of unknowns. The objective of the study is to evaluate the performance of the machine stands, the bed and the ram, when the machine is subjected to various loading conditions. Isostress lines are plotted to enable the stress pattern to be studied, based on which study various design and structural modifications to arrive at a satisfactory design have been suggested.
Photoinduced electron transfer reactions oftrans-stilbene surfactants in Langmuir-Blodgett assemblies and phospholipid bilayers

The photochemistry and photophysics of a series of stilbene-functionalized fatty acids (SFA) have been examined in homogeneous solutions, supported Langmuir-Blodgett assemblies, and as guests in phospholipid bilayers and micellar dispersions. The spectroscopic characteristics of stilbene-functionalized derivatives of phosphatidyl choline (SFA-PC) have also been examined in organic solvents, aqueous dispersions and aqueous solution containing an excess of dipalmitoyl choline (DPPC), as well as in aqueous-methanol solutions containing γ-cyclodextrin. Langmuir-Blodgett assemblies of individual SFAs, as well as mixtures of various SFAs, exhibit spectroscopic properties (blue-shifted absorbance and red-shifted fluorescence relative to those observed in organic solvents) consistent with the formation of an “H” aggregate. The same effect is observed for SFA-PCs in aqueous dispersions and in aqueous-methanol solutions containing γ-cyclodextrin. The “H” aggregate is found to be the preferred geometric orientation of the stilbene chromophores which may correspond to an energy minimum for the systems investigated. Preliminary studies with SFA-PC in methanol-water solutions containing γ-cyclodextrin suggest that an association of only two stilbene chromophores is required to form the “H” aggregate.
Kinetic study of the chemical polymerization of aniline in aqueous solutions

Abstract The oxidative chemical polymerization kinetics of aniline (AN) with ammonium peroxydisulfate (APS) in aqueous acid solutions with and without the presence of initial substrates is reported. A semi-empirical kinetic equation, − d [ AN ] dt = k 1 [ AN ][ APS ] + k 2 ′[ AN ][ P ] , where [P] = equivalent concentration of polymer, is proposed for this autoaccelerated reaction. The value obtained for k2′ depends primarily on acid concentration and the presence of substrate surfaces; k1 is affected by the presence of catalyst and the initial reactant concentrations. In general, k2′ has a value about two to three orders of magnitude higher than k1. A mechanism similar to the electrochemical polymerization is proposed for the autoacceleration reaction which involves the oxidation of aniline by highly oxidized polyaniline with the incorporation of acid.
Insecticidal Management of Eoreuma loftini (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) on Texas Sugarcane: A Critical Review

Large-plot field experiments using aerially applied insecticide treatments composed of different insecticides, seasonal and diurnal timing, and carriers were used to determine the effectiveness of chemical control against Eoreuma loftini (Dyar) on southern Texas sugarcane. In 1983, plots with at least 17 monocrotophos applications initiated after above-ground internode formation contained lower numbers of dead hearts and dead tops and higher levels of sugarcane yield and quality than did late-season applied or untreated plots. These results documented the reduction of bored internodes, increased yield and sugarcane quality, and provided evidence for the financial incentive to control E. loftini only under conditions of high borer pressure and weekly insecticide applications. Using regression equations derived from data collected in this experiment (dependent variable = metric ton sugar/ha, independent variable = percent bored internodes), monetary loss to growers was estimated to be $287, $431, and $575/ha, for 10, 15, and 20% bored internodes, respectively. Results from recent studies with different insecticides showed statistically significant reductions in percent bored internodes but rarely an increase in sugarcane yield or commercially recoverable sugar, because insecticide efficacy was not improved to the level apparently needed to be associated with increases in sugar quality and yield or to provide an economic return on the insecticide investment. Cottonseed oil as a carrier and the use of different diurnal application times did not influence the effect of insecticides.
Test-Retest Reliability of the Profile of Hearing Aid Performance

This study was designed to replicate the test-retest reliability and critical difference components of the Profile of Hearing Aid Performance (PHAP) as established by Cox and Gilmore (1990). Subjects were 18 experienced hearing aid users ranging in age from 62 to 74 years old. The initial and retest administrations of the PHAP were conducted with no rehabilitative treatment pertaining to hearing loss or amplification provided during the intervening period. The interval between the first and second administrations of the profile was 4–5 months. The mean test-retest difference scores obtained in this investigation were small, not unlike those reported by Cox and Gilmore (1990). Critical difference (CD) values closely approximated those of the previous study except for the Background Noise subscale and the Environment C scale. A pooled estimate of each standard deviation of test-retest differences was computed using data from both investigations. This resulted in critical differences considered to be more pr...
Public Policy and Young Adolescents A 1990s Context for Researchers

Two unfortunate trends have diminished the relevance for policymakers of developmental research on early adolescence: the absence of context-specific developmental studies, and the remoteness of developmental research from public-private policy analysis. Ironically, problem-oriented areas such as pregnancy and substance abuse prevention serve as exemplars of de-stigmatizing cooperation among developmentalists, demographers, and policy analysts that promotes healthy youth development. Because of the influence of developmentalists, middle schools are structurally poised to respond to the challenge of diverse groups of students. Nonetheless, the powerful interrelationship of poverty, race, and demographics has changed the ecology of early adolescence for substantial and identifiable subsets of the population, especially African-American and Hispanic youth. At stake is the preservation of early adolescence in the life cycle for all children regardless of their economic circumstances.
The linear chromatic number of a Sperner family

Abstract Let S be a finite set and S a complete Sperner family on S , i.e. a Sperner family such that every x ∈ S is contained in some member of S . The linear chromatic number of S , defined by Civan, is the smallest integer n with the property that there exists a function f : S → { 1 , … , n } such that if f ( x ) = f ( y ) , then every set in S which contains x also contains y or every set in S which contains y also contains x . We give an explicit formula for the number of complete Sperner families on S of linear chromatic number 2 . We also prove tight bounds on the number of elements in a Sperner family of given chromatic number, and prove that complete Sperner families of maximum linear chromatic number are far more numerous those of lesser linear chromatic number.
Shopping in the genome market with EnsMart

Life scientists who work with the supermarket of genome data will find the EnsMart database and software package offers a valuable door to a wealth of genes and genome features. Not only available to lab biologists on the web, this popular multi-organism genome database can be installed and used on your own Unix computer with relative ease. It offers a flexible, fast and practical data-mining framework for computer-savvy biologists and bioinformaticians.
The proper use and benefits of veterinary antimicrobial agents in swine practice.

Abstract There are three main reasons for using antimicrobial agents in pig production: animal welfare, carcase quality and economics. The need to treat sick animals and to mitigate the effects of infection is of paramount humanitarian importance. The reduction of the pathological effects of infection is an essential aspect of carcase quality and of possible value in the control of potential zoonoses. It is beyond dispute that the judicious use of antimicrobial agents improves growth efficiency. In addition there are economic benefits to be gained from the control of infection in terms of improved carcase quality and reduced mortality. When antimicrobial agents are used, careful consideration must be given to their choice. An understanding of the disease complexes of pig herds, of pharmacokinetics and of methods of administration is necessary to achieve safe and cost-effective medication. Bacterial resistance to antimicrobial agents in pig production is of importance only in special circumstances where eradication of a disease is being attempted. Veterinarians specialising in pig production are concerned that there is a climate of restriction of use and availability of suitable agents which could jeopardise animal health and welfare.
Artwork and music: Innovative approaches to physical assessment

Background: Observation and auditory skills are essential competencies for nursing practice. Research studies reveal that observational abilities are improved with visual training in an art museum and that the standing competence of auscultative skills is inadequate. This study details an innovative strategy to improve nursing students' observational and auscultative abilities. Methods: A pretest–posttest experimental design was used in which 77 students in an accelerated master's entry nursing program were randomized to either receive music auditory training and observation training in a museum and music hall or view a DVD of the music intervention and observation training in a classroom using handheld images and artwork display. Results: Students correctly identified approximately 68% of bowel sounds, 38% of lung sounds and 26% of heart sounds after this 2-h intervention, and significantly improved their observational abilities over time (p < 0.0001) on all measures with few exceptions. In addition, the...
Coupled Oscillator Models with no Scale Separation

We consider a class of spatially discrete wave equations that describe the motion of a system of linearly coupled oscillators perturbed by a nonlinear potential. We show that the dynamical behavior of this system cannot be understood by considering the slowest modes only: there is an “inverse cascade” in which the effects of changes in small scales are felt by the largest scales and the mean-field closure does not work. Despite this, a one and a half degree of freedom model is derived that includes the influence of the small-scale dynamics and predicts global conformational changes accurately. Thus, we provide a reduced model for a system in which there is no separation of scales. We analyze a specific coupled-oscillator system that models global conformation change in biomolecules, introduced in [I. Mezic, On the dynamics of molecular conformation, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 103 (20) (2006) 7542–7547]. In this model, the conformational states are stable to random perturbations, yet global conformation change can be quickly and robustly induced by the action of a targeted control. We study the efficiency of small-scale perturbations on conformational change and show that “zipper” traveling wave perturbations provide an efficient means for inducing such change. A visualization method for the transport barriers in the reduced model yields insight into the mechanism by which the conformation change occurs.
The disjunction property implies the numerical existence property.

Abstract Any recursively enumerable extension of intuitionistic arithmetic which obeys the disjunction property obeys the numerical existence property. Any recursively enumerable extension of intuitionistic arithmetic proves its own disjunction property if and only if it proves its own inconsistency.
Design and characterization of nanoporous polymeric materials via reactive encapsulation of a chemically inert solvent

Nanoporous polymeric materials are used as polyelectrolytes in fuel cells, separation membranes, sensors and actuators, templates for nanoparticle synthesis, and electroactive material in biomedical applications. Design of nanoporous polymeric materials for such applications entails controlling permeability by tailoring the pore size and pore chemistry. A novel method of synthesizing nanoporous polymeric materials is employed in this work. This technique involves the synthesis of nanoporous polymeric materials by reactive encapsulation of an inert solvent using a step-growth cross-linking polymerization reaction carried out until completion without micro/macroscopic phase separation. Key structural features of the porous materials synthesized in this way were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) after extraction and supercritical drying using carbon dioxide. Micrographs of the materials synthesized using the reactive encapsulation technique showed that materials with pore sizes less than 100 nm are obtained. Micrographs also showed that the reactive encapsulation technique can be employed to synthesize nanoporous polymeric materials of desired porosity and pore size by changing the solvent content.
Observation of temperature dependent thicknesses in ultrathin polystyrene films on silicon.

The temperature dependent thicknesses of ultrathin polystyrene films under vacuum on Si (111) substrates were investigated via x-ray reflectivity in situ. The contraction of ultrathin polymer films was directly observed for the first time to the author's knowledge. The degree of contraction depends on the initial thickness of the ultrathin polystyrene film, with the magnitude of contraction increasing with decreasing initial film thickness. This contraction ranged from 0--17 % and occurred at temperatures well below the reported bulk polystyrene glass transition temperature.
After 40 years, new medicine for combating TB

On December 31, 2012, the FDA approved the first new tuberculosis drug in four decades. SIRTURO™ (bedaquiline) was approved on the basis of phase two efficacy and safety data to treat multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Bedaquiline is manufactured by Johnson and Johnson and is the first medication exclusively manufactured for MDR-TB [1].
The Lord Cornbury Scandal: The Politics of Reputation in British America

For more than two centuries, Edward Hyde, Viscount Cornbury - royal governer of New York and New Jersey from 1702 to 1708 - has been a despised figure whose alleged transgressions ranged from looting the colonial treasury to public cross-dressing in New York City. Seeking to strip away the many layers of "the Cornbury myth", Patricia Bonomi offers a challenging reassessment of this intriguing figure, royal government, and of the rough and tumble political culture of the first British Empire.
Device quality n-type layers produced by ion implantation of Te and S into GaAs

The production of high quality n-type ion implanted layers suitable for GaAs MESFET device fabrication has been accomplished. The layers produced by implantation into low doped LPE layers are superior to those produced by implantation into semi-insulating substrates. The doping efficiency of the implanted and annealed layers increases with sample temperature during the implants reaching 85% for moderate dose implants of S at 500°C for layers annealed at 900°C. Annealing the implanted layers at 900°C for 15 minutes with a CVD Si 3 N 4 protective layer produces n-type layers with Hall mobilities of 4500 cm2V-1s-1for Te and 5000 cm2V-1s-1for S implants at peak concentrations of 1017cm-3.
The Effects on Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor Properties of Nitrogen Implantation into p+ Polysilicon Gate

We have studied in detail the effects of nitrogen implantation into a p+ polysilicon gate on gate oxide properties for the surface p-channel metal oxide semiconductor (PMOS) below 0.25 µm. The nitrided oxide film can be easily formed by the pile-up of nitrogen into the gate oxide film from the polysilicon gate. It was found that boron penetration through the gate oxide film can be effectively suppressed by nitrogen implantation into a p+ polysilicon gate because nitrogen in the polysilicon film can suppress boron diffusion, and the nitrided oxide film can also act as a barrier to boron diffusion. Moreover the hot-carrier hardness can be remarkably improved by the nitrided oxide film since interface state generation can be suppressed by the nitrided oxide film. Furthermore the number of electron traps in the gate oxide film can also be reduced by nitrogen implantation.
Soft x-ray circular dichroism and scattering using a modulated elliptically polarizing wiggler and double synchronous detection

We have constructed an experimental station (beamline) at the National Synchrotron Light Source to measure circular dichroism (CD) using soft x-rays (250 {le} hv {le} 900 eV) from a time modulated elliptically polarizing wiggler. The polarization of the soft x-ray beam switches periodically between two opposite polarizations, hence permitting the use of phase-sensitive (lock-in) detection. While the wiggler can be modulated at frequencies up to 100 Hz, switching transients limit the actual practical frequency to {approx}25 Hz. With analog detection, switching transients are blocked by a chopper synchronized to the frequency and phase of the wiggler. The CD is obtained from the ratio of the signal recovered at the frequency of polarization modulation, f, to the average beam intensity, which is recovered by synchronous detection at frequency 2f.
The impact of large-scale energy storage requirements on the choice between electricity and hydrogen as the major energy carrier in a non-fossil renewables-only scenario ☆

Abstract The need for large-scale storage, when the energy source is subject to periods of low-energy generation, as it would be in a direct solar or wind energy system, could be the factor which justifies the choice of hydrogen, rather than electricity, as the principal energy carrier. It could also be the ‘Achilles heel’ of a solar-based sustainable energy system, tipping the choice to a nuclear breeder system.
Synthesis and Ex situ doping of ZnTe and ZnSe nanostructures with extreme aspect ratios

We report synthesis windows for growth of millimeter-long ZnTe nanoribbons and ZnSe nanowires using vapor transport. By tuning the local conditions at the growth substrate, high aspect ratio nanostructures can be synthesized. A Cu-ion immersion doping method was applied, producing strongly p-type conduction in ZnTe and ionic conduction in ZnSe. These extreme aspect ratio wide-bandgap semiconductors have great potential for high density nanostructured optoelectronic circuits.
Functional ablation of afferent nerves aggravates dextran sulphate sodium-induced colonic damage in rats

Dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) is an oral agent capable of inducing chronic diarrhoea and colonic inflammation and necrosis in rats. The role of the afferent nerves in this model of colonic mucosal damage is not known. The hypothesis that functional ablation of the capsaicin-sensitive afferent nerves will aggravate DSS-induced colonic damage in rats was tested. Capsaicin pretreatment was used to ablate afferent nerve function and DSS was administered in the drinking water. Control rats received vehicle pretreatment and water without DSS. There were significant correlations between diarrhoea score, mucosal neutrophil infiltration, mucosal necrosis, and anaemia. Capsaicin pretreatment increased diarrhoea score and colonic mucosal neutrophil infiltration in the rats with colonic damage after 2 or 14 days of DSS. In addition, it induced anaemia and mortality in rats after 14 days of DSS. The data supports the hypothesis that functional ablation of the capsaicin-sensitive afferent nerves aggravates the colonic damage induced by DSS.
Ecto-5'-nucleotidase and intestinal ion secretion by enteropathogenic Escherichia coli.

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) triggers a large release of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) from host intestinal cells and the extracellular ATP is broken down to adenosine diphosphate (ADP), AMP, and adenosine. Adenosine is a potent secretagogue in the small and large intestine. We suspected that ecto-5′-nucleotidase (CD73, an intestinal enzyme) was a critical enzyme involved in the conversion of AMP to adenosine and in the pathogenesis of EPEC diarrhea. We developed a nonradioactive method for measuring ecto-5′-nucleotidase in cultured T84 cell monolayers based on the detection of phosphate release from 5′-AMP. EPEC infection triggered a release of ecto-5′-nucleotidase from the cell surface into the supernatant medium. EPEC-induced 5′-nucleotidase release was not correlated with host cell death but instead with activation of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC). Ecto-5′-nucleotidase was susceptible to inhibition by zinc acetate and by α,β-methylene-adenosine diphosphate (α,β-methylene-ADP). In the Ussing chamber, these inhibitors could reverse the chloride secretory responses triggered by 5′-AMP. In addition, α,β-methylene-ADP and zinc blocked the ability of 5′-AMP to stimulate EPEC growth under nutrient-limited conditions in vitro. Ecto-5′-nucleotidase appears to be the major enzyme responsible for generation of adenosine from adenine nucleotides in the T84 cell line, and inhibitors of ecto-5′-nucleotidase, such as α,β-methylene-ADP and zinc, might be useful for treatment of the watery diarrhea produced by EPEC infection.
2.6 K refrigeration system for CBA magnet testing

The superconducting magnets for the accelerator's rings will be cooled by a forced flow supercritical helium system from a central refrigeration plant. The design temperature for these magnets varies from 2.6 K to 3.8 K depending on a magnets location in the ring. This paper describes the forced flow cooling system for testing a prototype magnet near 2.6 K; this lowest temperature being of special interest to evaluate magnet quench protection. The test forced flow cooling system uses a three-stage approach, including an ejector pumped bath, similar to a cycle described previously. The coolant exists at 3.8 K from these first stages and is then cooled further in a 64 cm diameter by 3 m high shielded liquid helium dewar. The supercritical helium gas passes through a submerged copper coil in this bath which is pumped to a pressure of 65 mm absolute by a screw compressor system. Temperatures are measured by thermistors located in the gas stream, and also embedded in the magnet coil.
Problems in data management when studying chronic illness.

Chronic illness is characterized by a long response time during which many external influences can modify the system. Accurate characterization of such a system may require a large number of attributes. Such “data” complexity, in both the time and the feature domain, introduces a number of operational difficulties into the methodology for the scientific investigation of such systems. One such problem is the investigator's changing viewpoint and understanding of the system during the course of a study. Research data bases with a static attribute content are in conflict with this learning process and are of limited use when incorporated in investigation of chronic illness. Data element refinement is a tool for dealing with this problem, by providing a means for modifying an attribute's definition during the temporal life of a data base. We have been investigating means for supporting refinement of data elements in a large data base for coronary artery disease. For certain data types, we have developed a means of introducing “refined” views of particular data elements into a data base such that programs written prior to the refinement execute properly without modification during the lifetime of the data base. We will describe a data structure we have found suitable for capturing the information base from a broad range of clinical investigations, and our approach to the problem of data element refinement. Examples from ongoing clinical studies will be used to illustrate these ideas.
Dissociation and diurnal variation of prostaglandin E2 6-keto-prostaglandin-F1-alpha, and thromboxane B2 excretion in healthy females.

Abstract The existence of diurnal variation in renal function is well described. Prostaglandins are intimately involved with renal physiology, yet a diurnal variation in their excretion is not well documented. We collected 12 consecutive 2 hour urine specimens from 10 young healthy females and measured prostaglandin E2 [PGE2], thromboxane B2 [TXB2], and 6-keto-prostaglandin-F1-alpha by radioimmunoassay for each specimen. We also measured urine volume, urine sodium, and urine creatinine levels. Regression analysis was used to determine the best sine curve for time versus each set of mean values. Only the urinary excretion of PGE2 and TXBZ, as well as water were found to significantly fit the generated sine curves. The curves for PGE2 and TXB2 showed a temporal dissociation in their peak and trough values. The excretion of PGE2 between 0800 hours and 2000 hours was significantly higher than during the hours of 2000 and 0800. The opposite was true for the TXB2 excretion. This data suggests that these two prostaglandins and water are excreted in a sine wave pattern. It also suggests that the excretion of PGE2 and TXB2 may respond to different time associated stimuli. We also showed a significant correlation between PGE2 excretion and both the excretion of water and sodium.
What has happened to productivity growth

The collapse of U.S. productivity growth is the most severe and persistent of recent economic problems. Unless there is an increase in growth, American living standards will remain stagnant and problems such as the budget deficit will plaque policy-makers. Why has this happened? Among the important reasons are a failure to innovate, changing demographics, and disruptions to the economy, including oil price increases and inflation.
Monte Carlo simulations of ion-enhanced island coarsening

Monte Carlo simulations of growth and ion bombardment have been performed to explore the atomistic processes that occur during ion-assisted growth. The primary elements of the simulation are (1) creation of surface defects (vacancies and adatoms) by ion bombardment and deposition, (2) thermally activated motion of surface defects and (3) recombination of surface vacancies and adatoms. The authors find that a balance of ion bombardment and deposition (where the creation rate of adatom defects is equal to that of surface vacancies) leads to larger islands and more rapid island coarsening than thermal coarsening with no flux of defects. The presence of the defect flux enhances the breakup of clusters, leading to a broad distribution of island sizes. In comparison, the thermal coarsening leads to a more uniform distribution of islands sizes that increases in size much more slowly. Histograms of the evolution of the island size distribution provide a quantitative measure of the ion-induced increase in the rate of coarsening.
Bioaccumulation and metabolism of phthalate esters by oysters, brown shrimp, and sheepshead minnows.

Abstract The bioaccumulation and metabolic fate of three phthalate esters, dimethylphthalate (DMP), dibutylphthalate (DBP) and di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), were studied in three species. The species used, the oyster Crassostrea virginica , the brown shrimp Penaeus aztecus , and the sheepshead minnow Cyprinodon variegatus , were chosen for this study as previous studies indicated that these organisms possessed different capacities for detoxifying xenobiotics. The effects of concentration as well as ester chain length and species were studied. Bioaccumulation did not vary significantly among the three species, possibly due to high levels of individual variation. A trend to higher accumulation in oysters was noted. Bioaccumulation was significantly affected by chain length, with DBP accumulating to a greater extent than DMP or DEHP, and by the concentration of phthalate. Biodegradative indices, on the other hand, were not significantly affected by the ester used or by concentration, but did vary significantly with species. Oysters were less efficient in the biodegradation of the esters than fish or shrimp. The major metabolites found were the monoesters, phthalic acid, and a group of unidentified polar metabolites, probably conjugates. These latter metabolites did not appear in oysters, but were present in significant amounts in fish and shrimp.
Semantic analysis of mood adjectives in relation to positive and negative affect: evidence for combining similarly valenced mood subscales in quantitative reviews

Meta-analysis has been criticized for combining studies with different independent and dependent variables--the alleged "apples and oranges" problem. This study provides evidence for the inclusion of similarly valenced subscales from self-report mood scales in meta-analysis. Undergraduates (N=214) were randomly assigned to a "positive" or "negative" group to complete a checklist containing words from 12 different scales. Cluster analyses indicated that mood subscales formed a two-cluster positive and negative solution. All participants were assigned to the correct cluster. Discriminant analyses correctly classified more than 95% of participants for each mood scale. Results indicate that subscales from commonly used mood inventories can be combined in meta-analyses having positive or negative affect as the dependent variable.
Parameter studies on impact in a lap joint

To represent a loose lap joint, a beam impacting four springs with gaps is modeled. Modal analysis with base excitation is solved, and time histories of contact points are closely monitored. Using the impulse during steady state response, six influential parameters are studied: damping ratio, contact stiffness, intermediate contact position, gap, excitation amplitude and beam height. For all parameters, the system response is highly controlled by modes with two contacting springs. Each parameter’s effect on system response is presented including unstable regions, unique trend behaviours result. Recommendations for structural designers are also noted.
Parent role characteristics: Parent views and their implications for school psychologists.

This research examined the parent role as perceived by a large number of parents of school-age children in New Hampshire. The results reveal that these parents readily describe a parent role using the same characteristics that emerge from the research literature. More importantly, the subjects consider each of the six parent role characteristics as differentially important at different stages in children's development. The implications of this research for school psychologists are many, including, for instance, assessment, consultation, and intervention.
Detection and Statistics of Wind Power Ramps

Ramps events are a significant source of uncertainty in wind power generation. Developing statistical models from historical data for wind power ramps is important for designing intelligent distribution and market mechanisms for a future electric grid. This requires robust detection schemes for identifying wind ramps in data. In this paper, we propose an optimal detection technique for identifying wind ramps for large time series. The technique relies on defining a family of scoring functions associated with any rule for defining ramps on an interval of the time series. A dynamic programming recursion is then used to find all such ramp events. Identified wind ramps are used to propose a new stochastic framework to characterize wind ramps. Extensive statistical analysis is performed based on this framework, characterizing ramping duration and rates as well as other key features needed for evaluating the impact of wind ramps in the operation of the power system. In particular, evaluation of new ancillary services and wind ramp forecasting can benefit from the proposed approach.
Surveillance of patients with bladder carcinoma using fluorescent in-situ hybridization on bladder washings.

OBJECTIVES To compare the sensitivity and specificity of the UroVysionTM (Abbott Laboratories Inc., Downers Grove, IL, USA) fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH) assay to that of urinary cytology obtained from bladder irrigation during cystoscopic surveillance in patients with bladder carcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS The medical records were retrospectively reviewed for 41 consecutive patients screened at the authors’ institution between August 2000 and December 2006 for recurrence of pathologically confirmed bladder cancer. All 162 cytology examinations and 141 FISH assay results obtained from bladder washing were included. Recurrence was determined by cystoscopy, bladder biopsy and upper-tract imaging. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive and negative predictive values were assessed using a chi-square distribution with one degree of freedom. RESULTS There were 24 men and 17 women (male to female ratio 0.59), the mean (range) age was 56 (33–73) years and the mean follow-up 30 (2–57) months. At the initial diagnosis, 35 of the 41 patients (85%) had superficial tumours (stage ≤ T1), while six (15%) had muscle-invasive tumours (stage ≥T2). Twenty-six (63%) had low-grade and 15 (37%) had high-grade tumours. In 16 of 141 (11%) of the FISH assays and 16 of 162 (10%) of the cytological samples that were collected from bladder irrigations, there were too few cells for an adequate analysis. The FISH assay correctly correlated with subsequent cystoscopy, bladder biopsy or upper-tract imaging in 110/125 (88%) cases but not in 15/125 (12%). Cytology correctly correlated with the subsequent evaluation in 112/146 (77%) cases but did not in 34/146 (23%). When the FISH was compared with cytology in this setting, the sensitivity was 77% (30/39) vs 74% (37/50; P > 0.1), the specificity was 93% (80/86) vs 78% (75/96; P 0.1), respectively. CONCLUSION The UroVysion FISH assay obtained from bladder washings during cystoscopic surveillance of patients with a history of bladder cancer provides a similar specificity but greater sensitivity than that of cytology for detecting bladder cancer recurrences. Given the better specificity and similar sensitivity of UroVysion compared with urine cytology obtained from bladder washings, a reasonable approach might be to use the UroVysion assay as the primary marker for recurrence, with urine cytology used as a complementary examination.
Variable ingestion rate and its role in optimal foraging behavior of marine deposit feeders

Tests of optimal foraging theory have focused generally on food item selection by mobile, high-trophic-level predators. Deposit-feeding invertebrates are aquatic organisms with limited mobility and hence limited ability to forage actively for food-rich patches. In addition, there is little evidence for a major role of behaviorally mediated food item choice in these animals, and growing evidence of mechanical limitations in food particle choice. Given such limited food-selection ability, varying ingestion rate in response to changes in food value is likely to be an important animal response affecting feeding energetics. A previously developed optimal foraging model predicted that ingestion rate and food value should covary positively in order to maximize net time rate of energy gain. To test this general prediction, we fed three species of deposit-feeding polychaetes artificial sediments which varied only in protein content (food value); other physical and chemical properties which might affect ingestion rate were kept constant. In support of the model, ingestion rates increased as protein levels increased.
Distribution of edaphic algae as related to land usage

Abstract Species representing fifty-two algal genera were identified from surface soils collected from twenty-five disturbed and twenty-six undisturbed sites in a 17 760-acre study area. Undisturbed soils had more diverse algal populations, but smaller standing crops, than disturbed soils, even though concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus were higher than in most disturbed soils. Disturbance of soil and changes in soil pH were primary factors which influenced algal distribution. Soil disturbance favoured development of more diverse blue-green algal flora, due to accompanying increases in soil pH. Decreased soil pH favoured dominance by green algae. Standing crops of algae decreased with soil depth at three undisturbed collection sites and algae were not present below a depth of 30 cm. Bioassays showed that phosphorus was the nutrient most limiting for algal growth in water leachates of soils.
Improving business performance using big data

Explore the concept of big data and how it is being used in organizations to maximize the value they get out of data. In special context of HR organizations “to attract and retain talent” and in “predictive analytic”. With the focus on the business aspects of dealing with data, session will cover what is already on people's mind, “how do they maximize the value they get out of their data?” and “How data-driven decision-making can help them in driving business change”?. And finally a general discussion on ability and readiness of tools to replace humans in years to come.