cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Progress in Basic Bacteriology of Milk

At the very beginning, one nmst realize that advances in dairy bacteriology have paralleled and, in many instances, have been dependent upon advances in general bacteriology and other areas of applied bacteriology. As everywhere in science, new discoveries in fundamental fields may be quickly utilized to solve problems existing in areas often only remotely related to the original research. Additions to our knowledge of the taxonomy, nutrition, and physiology of microorganisms in gen= eral have been applied to other areas of bacteriology as soon as this i n f o r m a t i o n became available. Therefore, it must be emphasized that J. J. Jezeski many contributions of a general nature fundamentally are responsible for the advances in the basic bacteriology of milk, and these contributions lie buried in the mass of literature on bacteriology and cannot be catalogued at this time. This, in turn, has led to emphasis in the area of bacterial physiology and nutri t ion with detailed experiments being designed to determine mechanisms by which flavor and odor and appearance defects were produced. I t would appear that the purely descriptive approach has given way to that of detailed studies of bacterial metabolism as related to the nutri t ion and cultivation of microorganisms and studies of the physiological reactions taking place during the growth of microorganisms that are important in the manufacture as well as deterioration of a variety of dairy products. Not only has the effect of microorganisms on their environment been studied in more detail, but the effect of the environment, both physical and chemical, on the microorganism has received more attention. To be sure, information has been, and is now being, collected which was impossible to obtain in earlier years because of the lack of tools of modern science, which presently are available. Micromethods including chromatographic procedures, other specialized analytical techniques, and the availability of isotopic tracer materials all permit studies on physiological reactions that were not possible in earlier years.
Diffractive effects in pulse propagation through a resonant medium

The propagation of a weak optical pulse through a resonant two-level atomic medium is discussed in the paraxial approximation. Transverse propagation effects within that approximation are treated exactly by development of the method of Fresnel transforms. In particular, for a temporally short pulse with an amplitude of arbitrary transverse spatial dependence it is shown that longitudinal propagation is not affected by diffractive spreading. Thus diffraction does not attenuate the characteristic ringing of one-dimensional pulse propagation in resonant media.
Unusual MHC-like molecules; CD1, Fc receptor, the hemochromatosis gene product, and viral homologs

The MHC fold, with its well-characterized peptide-binding groove, can perform other functions in addition to presentation of antigenic peptides to T cells. Homologs of MHC molecules have diverse roles that include presentation of lipid antigens (by CD1), transport of immunoglobulins (by the hemochromatosis gene product, HFE), and deception of the host immune system (by viral homologs). Recent crystal structures of two of these non-standard MHC-like molecules have allowed comparison of the recognition properties of classical MHC molecules with those of their unusual homologs.
DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE OF AN ELECTROSTRICTIVE-POLYMER-FILM ACOUSTIC ACTUATOR

Abstract This paper discusses a novel electroacoustic transducer that uses the electrostrictive response of a polymer film. The active element of the transducer is a thin silicone-rubber film, with graphite powder electrodes on each side, that forms an array of bubble-like radiating elements. In experiments, radiated acoustic pressure and harmonic distortion of the electrostrictive-film actuator were measured in the frequency band 50–2000 Hz. A simple acoustic model was also developed to study the effect of various design and operating parameters on the actuator performance. Preliminary results from the experiments and simulations show that the electrostrictive-polymer-film actuator has the potential to be an efficient, compact, and lightweight electroacoustic transducer.
Studies of early hepatocellular proliferation and peroxisomal proliferation in Sprague-Dawley rats treated with tumorigenic doses of clofibrate.

Abstract Clofibrate, a peroxisome proliferator, is hepatocarcinogenic in rats in a dose-dependent fashion. While there is a relationship between peroxisome proliferation and rodent liver carcinogenesis, recent evidence also suggests an association between the tumorigenicity of peroxisome proliferators and sustained cell proliferation. To investigate the role of early cell proliferation in clofibrate-induced carcinogenesis and the predictive potential of this end-point, in a 3-month study, rats were fed clofibrate doses equivalent to those used in the chronic bioassay, and cell proliferation was determined after 1 week and 3 months, using a 1-week continuous bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)-labeling technique. Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were fed clofibrate at 1500, 4500, or 9000 ppm. Six rats/sex/group were killed after 1 or 13 weeks of treatment. Osmotic minipumps containing BrdU were implanted into rats 7 days prior to necropsy to determine the cumulative 7-day hepatocyte labeling index immunohistochemically. A dose-related increase in hepatocyte labeling index was seen after 1 week of treatment. However, at 13 weeks, sustained increases in hepatocyte proliferation were not seen; but a dose-related decrease in the hepatocyte labeling index was observed. Liver stereology at 13 weeks demonstrated a dose-related increase in liver weight and volume, but a decrease in hepatocyte nuclei per unit volume, a minimal increase or no change in the total number of hepatocyte nuclei per liver, and an absolute decline in the total number of BrdU-labeled hepatocyte nuclei per liver. These data suggest that in rats, clofibrate may influence hepatocarcinogenicity by decreases in normal hepatocyte proliferation over time and this effect may influence the pathogenesis of tumors at time points beyond 13 weeks of treatment.
Pigmented Preretinal Membranes

Continuous growth and an increase in pigmentation of a preretinal membrane occurred in a 46-year-old woman after a scleral buckling procedure for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. Ten additional patients had pigmented preretinal membranes in eyes treated for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. Although we made no attempts to determine the incidence of pigmented preretinal membrane formation in eyes with retinal detachments, these 11 cases, in a consecutive series of 500 eyes treated for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, indicated that the development of pigmented preretinal membranes is not uncommon. Our clinical observations supported recent experimental findings implicating retinal pigment epithelial cells as a cause of preretinal membrane formation.
Regulation of S100P expression by androgen.

Background The growth and function the normal prostate is dependent on the presence of androgen. As prostate tumors progress there is a loss of androgen-dependent cell growth. The identification of the genes that are regulated by androgens may be of pathological and clinical significance. Methods In this study the differential display method was used to identify genes regulated by androgen in an androgen-responsive prostate cancer cell line, LNCaP-FGC. Results A gene whose expression is down-regulated in LNCaP-FGC cells after 30 hr of androgen deprivation has been identified. This gene is a previously identified member of the S100 gene family of calcium-binding proteins, namely S100P. Here we show that S100P expression is regulated by the synthetic androgen R1881, but not by serum growth factors. It is dysregulated in the androgen-independent prostate cancer cell lines LNCaP-R, DU145, and PC3. Conclusions The data indicate that S100P may play a role in the etiology of prostate cancer.
Recent advances in design and R&D for the Quasi-Poloidal Stellarator experiment

Abstract Engineering innovation is required to reduce cost and risk in fabrication for the Quasi-Poloidal Stellarator being developed to test key physics issues at very low plasma aspect ratio. Complex, highly accurate, stainless steel modular coil winding forms are cast and machined; conductor is wound directly onto the winding forms; a vacuum-tight cover is welded over each coil pack; the coils are vacuum pressure impregnated; the completed coils are installed in an external vacuum vessel. An internally cooled, compacted cable conductor that can be wound into complex 3-D shapes was developed. The largest and most complex of the winding forms has been cast using a patternless process (machined sand molds) and a high-temperature pour. The resulting casting required
Designing of fullers‐earth‐containing poly(vinyl alcohol)‐g‐poly(2‐acrylamido‐2‐methyl‐1‐propanesulfonic acid) nanocomposites: Swelling and deswelling behaviors

In this study, polymer–clay nanocomposites (PCNs) composed of poly(vinyl alcohol)s (PVAs), poly(2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propane sulfonic acid), and fullers earth were prepared by the effective dispersal of inorganic nanoclays in the organic PVA matrix via in situ free-radical polymerization with potassium persulfate as an initiator and N,N-methylene bisacrylamide as a crosslinker. The monomer, 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propane sulfonic acid, was grafted onto the PVA backbone, and at the same time, fullers earth layers were intercalated and exfoliated into the grafted copolymer, especially at a low or moderate loading of the fullers earth. The synthesized PCN materials were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and wide-angle X-ray diffraction techniques. The morphological features of the synthesized materials were studied by scanning electron microscopy; this revealed that the swelling ratio of this nanocomposite increased with increasing fullers earth content. The X-ray diffraction results indicated that the fullers earth was exfoliated in the nanocomposite matrix, and its introduction into the polymer matrix enhanced the percentage crystallinity of the polymer. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010
Quantitative evaluation of testicular biopsies from men with unilateral torsion of spermatic cord

Torsion of the spermatic cord is not uncommon among young men. Various abnormalities in the histology of the contralateral testis have been reported due to unilateral torsion of the spermatic cord. We quantitatively estimated the germ cells from three groups of men: normal individual (Group I), men with unilateral torsion of short duration (Group II), and men with unilateral torsion of long duration or some other condition such as varicocele or intermittent torsion to the contralateral testis (Group III). No significant difference in the number of spermatogonia, spermatocytes, and spermatids of Groups I and II patients was observed. This observation indicates that there was no pre-existing morphophysiologic defect in the testis of Group II patients. Severe damage in the contralateral testis was noted in Group III patients. This indicates that if a damaged testis is retained in the body for a long time, the contralateral testis may be affected. Contralateral testis may also be affected by intermittent torsion or varicocele.
The sine-Gordon and sinh-Gordon gaussian effective potential in D + 1 dimensions

We compute the gaussian approximation to the effective potential for the sine-Gordon and the sinh-Gordon model in D + 1 dimensions. Issues such as vacuum energy, renormalization and stability of the vacuum are discussed in detail. Within the gaussian approximation, we show that (i) for D ⩾ 3, the model exists only as a free-field theory, and (ii) for D < 3, the vacuum is unstable over a certain range of the coupling constant. We find a particularly elegant expression for the gaussian effective potential for the special case D = 1.
Limits of distribution feeder voltage regulation

THE DELIVERY of required voltage to the feeding point of distribution feeders, as limited by the circuit and load parameters, is the subject of this study. For this it is necessary to relate the simultaneous interactions of the following variables: station bus voltage, feeder load, feeder voltage drop, and voltage regulator range. The physical sequence of the essential components of a single-phase feeder is shown in Fig. 1.
Packet and circuit switching: Cost/performance boundaries

Abstract In this paper we make a comparison of circuit- and packet-switching techniques (in the context of data networks) from two points of view: delay performance and usage cost. In these analyses we differentiate between two traffic patterns: continuous and intermittent messages (where message blocks are interspersed with no-data intervals). The study shows that for the delay performance, message length, traffic pattern and line utilization are the most telling parameters. The dynamic costs for using the network are additionally governed by parameters such as distance, intermessage interval, length of dialogue and kind of switching processor. The results presented here show how these parameters interact and determined the boundary between the areas of operation more attractive for circuit or packet switching.
Performance scalability in ATM networks

In this work, the performance scalability of ATM functions in the B-ISDN framework is explored. The aim is to identify the potential bottlenecks in designing circuits for ATM systems and to evaluate the effect of these limitations on system performance. Dependency relationships are used to illustrate and analyse the designs,given varying degrees of parallelism. The data flow in the receiver and transmitter sections are analysed to identify the critical delay paths. The design considerations imposed by SONET framing are also discussed. Limitations imposed by AAL-5, which is the preferred ATM adaptation layer for data networks, are identified. Finally, the results are combined to establish an overall limit on performance. >
The origin of electric organs of Electrophorus electricus

The electric organs (main, Sachs' and Hunter's) of a 23 cm and a 38 cm long Electrophorus electricus were studied by histological methods. The results were compared with 12 cm (Keynes, '61) and 140 cm (Couceiro and Ackermann, '48) specimens. All three electric organs originate from striated muscle fiber as indicated by the presence of a striated structure in the undeveloped electroplates. The three organs do not develop simultaneously but in succession: first Sachs' organ, then the main organ and finally Hunter's organ, with considerable overlap in time. In all three cases, the anterior extremity of the organ develops last. The classical notion that the main organ originates from the lateralis imus muscle is not supported by the present findings.
Efficient Calculations of 3-D FFTs on Spiral Contours

This paper proposes a fast algorithm, called the SpiralFFT, that computes samples of the 3-D discrete Fourier transform of an object of interest along spiral contours in frequency space. This type of sampling geometry is prevalent in 3-D magnetic resonance imaging, as spiral sampling patterns allow for rapid, uninterrupted scanning over a large range of frequencies. We show that parameterizing the spiral contours in a certain way allows us to decompose the computation into a series of 1-D transforms, meaning that the 3-D transform is effectively separable, while still yielding spiral sampling patterns that are geometrically faithful and provide dense coverage of 3-D frequency space. We present a number of simulations which demonstrate that the SpiralFFT compares favorably to a state-of-the-art algorithm for computing general non-uniform discrete Fourier transforms.
Nonuniform noise propagation by using the ramp filter in fan-beam computed tomography

It is observed that when the homogeneity property of the ramp filter is used to derive a filtered backprojection algorithm in fan-beam tomography, the reconstructed images have nonstationary frequency components and nonstationary noise. When a short focal-length is used, higher frequency components are amplified more at the edge of the image than at the center of the image, resulting in higher noise at the edge of the image.
Negative Valve Overlap Reforming Chemistry in Low-Oxygen Environments

Fuel injection into the negative valve overlap (NVO) period is a common method for controlling combustion phasing in homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) and other forms of advanced combustion. When fuel is injected into O2-deficient NVO conditions, a portion of the fuel can be converted to products containing significant levels of H2 and CO. Additionally, other short chain hydrocarbons are produced by means of thermal cracking, water-gas shift, and partial oxidation reactions. The present study experimentally investigates the fuel reforming chemistry that occurs during NVO. To this end, two very different experimental facilities are utilized and their results are compared. One facility is located at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, which uses a custom research engine cycle developed to isolate the NVO event from main combustion, allowing a steady stream of NVO reformate to be exhausted from the engine and chemically analyzed. The other experimental facility, located at Sandia National Laboratories, uses a dump valve to capture the exhaust from a single NVO event for analysis. Results from the two experiments are in excellent trend-wise agreement and indicate that the reforming process under low-O2 conditions produces substantial concentrations of H2, CO, methane, and other short-chain hydrocarbon species. The concentration of thesemore » species is found to be strongly dependent on fuel injection timing and injected fuel type, with weaker dependencies on NVO duration and initial temperature, indicating that NVO reforming is kinetically slow. Further, NVO reforming does not require a large energy input from the engine, meaning that it is not thermodynamically expensive. The implications of these results on HCCI and other forms of combustion are discussed in detail.« less
A refined estimate of the bond length of methane

The equilibrium structure of methane is determined by two different procedures. The first is based on high level ab initio calculations using the CCSD(T) treatment of electron and basis sets containing up to 365 contracted Gaussian functions. Using an extrapolation procedure to account for residual inadequacies of the basis set and an estimate of higher order correlation effects, an equilibrium internuclear separation of 1.08595 ± 0.0003 A is obtained. This value is in almost perfect agreement with that obtained by correcting measuring ground-state rotational constants of methane isotopomers for vibrational effects and using the resulting empirical equilibrium rotational constants to infer the equilibrium structure.
Math1 Is Expressed in Temporally Discrete Pools of Cerebellar Rhombic-Lip Neural Progenitors

We have utilized an in vivo-inducible genetic-fate-mapping strategy to permanently label cohorts of Math1-positive cells and their progeny that arise in the rhombic lip of the cerebellar primordium during embryogenesis. At stages prior to E12.5, with the exception of the deep cerebellar nuclei, we find that Math1 cells migrate out of the cerebellar primordium into the rostral hindbrain to populate specific nuclei that include cholinergic neurons of the mesopontine tegmental system. Moreover, analysis of Math1-null embryos shows that this gene is required for the formation of some of these nuclei. Around E12.5, granule cell precursors begin to be labeled: first, ones that give rise to granule cells that predominantly populate the anterior lobes of the adult cerebellum and later, those that populate progressing more caudally lobes until labeling of all granule cell precursors is complete by E17. Thus, we demonstrate that the cerebellar rhombic lip gives rise to multiple cell types within rhombomere 1.
Development of top-down analysis of distributed assembly tasks

Distributed assembly tasks, in which large numbers of agents collaborate to produce composite objects out of component parts, require careful algorithm design to ensure behavior that scales well with the numbers of agents and parts. Yet algorithm evaluation, through which design is guided, is complicated by the combinatorial nature of system states over the course of execution. This leads to a situation in which the algorithm design space is often severely cramped by the inefficiency of available analysis techniques. We review several available analysis strategies, and present two techniques for designing distributed algorithms that lend themselves to continuous differential analysis while avoiding catastrophic deviation between discrete and continuous system models. This methodology aims to allow optimization at the macro continuous level to inform parameter choice for discrete, real world systems.
A Gift of Books from the Emperor's Poet Laureate to Queen Mary I

Two years after being named poet laureate in a ceremony at Brussels, Nikolaus Mameranus joined Philip's entourage at the court of the prince's wife, Queen Mary of England, from March until May, 1557. Before his departure from London, Mameranus addressed two letters to Mary that are now in the National Archives, the latter of which itemizes books that Mameranus had presented to the queen. This note provides a descriptive list of these items.
Whose Agenda Is This Anyway? A Response to McKenna, Robinson, and Miller:

One of McKenna, Robinson, and Miller’s major problems in proposing a research agenda for whole language is that they do not understand what whole language is. It is not an alternate methodology for language arts instruction. It is an educational paradigm complete with theoretical, philosophical, and political assumptions. As such, it has its own congruent research agenda. What prevents McKenna et al. from understanding whole language and from seeing the legitimacy of whole language-generated research is paradigm blindness. What encourages them to pretend to a role of neutral statesmen are particulars of their own paradigm (which they are also blind to) and the dominant position of that paradigm. What makes their proposal so outrageous is their presumption to speak for whole language educators and their attempt to impose their whole language-violating agenda on them while expecting those educators to cooperate in the violation.
Intraoperative reverse pupillary block during femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery in a patient with phacomorphic angle closure

We report a patient with phacomorphic angle closure having femtosecond laser–assisted cataract surgery. A staged procedure was followed to achieve mydriasis and deepen the anterior chamber with bisulfate-free epinephrine (epi-Shugarcaine) and an ophthalmic viscosurgical device (OVD) prior to the femtosecond procedure. After the femtosecond laser was docked, the patient complained of discomfort in her eye and intraoperative optical coherence tomography imaging revealed a reverse pupillary block configuration. Software modifications were required to complete the procedure, following which partial OVD removal and anterior tenting of the pupil margin relieved the reverse pupillary block. In the fellow eye, intracameral bisulfate-free epinephrine alone was injected above and below the iris plane for intraoperative mydriasis and to deepen the anterior chamber, which prevented a reverse pupillary block. Financial Disclosure Neither author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.
Thyroid Cartilage Fracture Repair in Rabbits: Comparing Healing With Wire and Miniplate Fixation

Objectives: Evaluate cartilaginous healing in rabbits in response to surgically created thyroid cartilage fractures. Compare healing between laryngeal fracture repair techniques. Study Design: Animal model. Materials and Methods: Laryngectomy specimens were analyzed at 10 weeks, following paired wire fixation (n = 7) and miniplate fixation (n = 7) of thyroid cartilage fractures. Results: Cartilaginous unions were present in all seven of the miniplated repairs, while fibrous unions were present in six of the wired repairs. The measure of distraction at the fracture site was significantly greater in the wired repairs compared with the plated repairs (P = .005). Furthermore, in five of seven miniplated repairs no distraction at the healed fracture site was present. Conclusions: The results demonstrate the ease, tolerability, and superiority of the miniplate fixation technique for the thyroid cartilage fractures, based on a rabbit model.
Abdominal muscle activation increases lumbar spinal stability: Analysis of contributions of different muscle groups

article Background: Antagonistic activation of abdominal muscles and increased intra-abdominal pressure are associated with both spinal unloading and spinal stabilization. Rehabilitation regimens have been proposed to improve spinal stability via selective recruitment of certain trunk muscle groups. This biomechanical analytical study addressed whether lumbar spinal stability is increased by such selective activation. Methods: The biomechanical model included anatomically realistic three-layers of curved abdominal musculature, rectus abdominis and 77 symmetrical pairs of dorsal muscles. The muscle activations were calculated with the model loaded with either flexion, extension, lateral bending or axial rotation moments up to 60 Nm, along with intra-abdominal pressure up to 5 or 10 kPa (37.5 or 75 mm Hg) and partial bodyweight. After solving for muscle forces, a buckling analysis quantified spinal stability. Subsequently, different patterns of muscle activation were studied by forcing activation of selected abdominal muscles to at least 10% or 20% of maximum.
Cholesterol embolization syndrome. Occurrence after intravenous streptokinase therapy for myocardial infarction.

Two patients developed the cholesterol embolization syndrome after coronary angiography and intravenous streptokinase therapy for acute myocardial infarction. Clinical manifestations included cyanosis, ulcers, gangrene of the hands and feet, myalgias, intestinal infarction, eosinophilia, and renal failure. One patient died; one has survived with chronic renal failure. Streptokinase therapy may expose atheromatous plaques to the circulation by lysing platelet-fibrin thrombi. ( JAMA 1987;258:1934-1935)
AGC simulator for price-based operation. I. A model

This paper deals with automatic generation control (AGC) in a deregulated electric industry. Through the passage of new public utility regulatory policies, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) encourages an open market system for price based operation. The FERC has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking seeking comments on various ancillary services. One of these ancillary services is load following. This paper suggests the modifications required in the conventional AGC software to prepare students to study load following in price-based market operation. The details of implementing an academic power system are used to highlight the differences between the AGC operation in a vertically integrated industry (conventional paradigm) and a horizontally integrated industry (new paradigm). The future business environment for electric utilities is incompletely defined as of this writing. Therefore, a framework for price-based operation is developed to assist students in understanding AGC implementation in the new market structure. The proposed market structure is kept generic enough to capture all possibilities in marketing load following capability.
CONDITIONING AND CONCENTRATION OF PRINCIPAL COMPONENTS

summary This paper uses various gauges to construct principal variables that satisfy criteria of maximal scatter. The solutions coincide with Hotelling's (1933) principal components in structured ensembles and mixtures, including heavy-tailed distributions not having moments. Thus, normal-theory tests are exact in level and power under nonstandard models allowing for correlated vector observations and for certain mixtures having neither moments nor unimodal marginals.
The weight of obesity in patients with lower extremity vascular injuries

Abstract Objective Clinical obesity is an epidemic problem in the United States. The impact of this disease upon traumatic lower extremity vascular injuries (LEVI) is as yet undefined. We hypothesized that clinical obesity adversely affects outcome in patients with traumatic LEVI. Methods All adult patients admitted over a 5-year period with a traumatic LEVI were identified. Clinical obesity was defined as body mass index (BMI) > 30. Obese and non-obese patient groups were compared for surgical management and outcome. Results A total of 145 patients were identified. BMI data were available for 115 (79.3%) of these patients (obese n = 47; non-obese n = 68). Obese and non-obese groups were similar. Obese patients underwent more vascular repairs but the amputation rate and mortality were not significantly different. Conclusions While obese body habitus can increase the complexity of evaluation and management of patients with LEVI, we have demonstrated that equivalent outcomes to the non-obese population can be achieved for the clinically obese patient with a BMI > 30. However, patients with a BMI > 40 did reveal a significantly higher chance of amputation and death after LEVI. Due to the small number of patients in this subset, one should use caution when interpreting this data.
Functional Characterization of a Methionine γ-Lyase in Arabidopsis and its Implication in an Alternative to the Reverse Trans-sulfuration Pathway

Methionine gamma-lyase (MGL) catalyzes the degradation of L-methionine to alpha-ketobutyrate, methanethiol and ammonia. The Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) genome includes a single gene (At1g64660) encoding a protein (AtMGL) with approximately 35% identity to bacterial and protozoan MGLs. When overexpressed in Escherichia coli, AtMGL allowed growth on L-methionine as sole nitrogen source and conferred a high rate of methanethiol emission. The purified recombinant protein exhibited a spectrum typical of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate enzymes, and had high activity toward l-methionine, L-ethionine, L-homocysteine and seleno-L-methionine, but not L-cysteine. Quantitation of mRNA showed that the AtMGL gene is expressed in aerial organs and roots, and that its expression in leaves was increased 2.5-fold by growth on low sulfate medium. Emission of methanethiol from Arabidopsis plants supplied with 10 mM L-methionine was undetectable ( homocysteine-->cystathionine-->cysteine) in which methanethiol is an intermediate.
The Milky Way: November – December

As autumn turns to winter for northern observers, there are still many areas of the sky that are rich in Milky Way objects. However, some of the constellations are getting very low during the southern summer months and may prove difficult for southern telescopes (see Fig. 4.1).
Comparison of National Research Council standards and industry dietary trace mineral supplementation strategies for yearling feedlot steers12

A total of 360 steers (initial BW = 350 kg, SD = 28.1 kg) were used in a randomized complete-block-design experiment to determine the effects of trace mineral concentration and source on feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, liver trace mineral status, and diet in vitro solubility of Cu and Zn. Target treatments consisted of (1) basal diet; (2) basal diet supplemented with 10 mg of Cu from CuSO4, 30 mg of Zn from ZnSO4, 20 mg of Mn from MnSO4, 0.50 mg of I from ethylenediamine dihydriodide, 0.10 mg of Se from Na2O3Se, and 0.10 mg of Co from CoCO3 per kilogram of DM (NRC); (3) basal diet supplemented with the same sources of Cu, Zn, Mn, I, Se, and Co as treatment 2 but provided at 20, 100, 50, 0.50, 0.20, and 0.20 mg of mineral/kg of DM, respectively (CNI); and (4) basal diet supplemented with 66.6% inorganic and 33.4% organic Cu, Zn, and Mn and inorganic forms of Co, I, and Se at iso-concentrations to treatment 3 (CNO). No differences (P > 0.10) between treatments for feedlot performance; final liver Zn, Mn, Se, and Co concentrations; and carcass merit were observed. In vitro procedures were used to examine the solubility of Cu and Zn from the diets used for the feeding experiment. Dry matter disappearance was similar across treatments (P > 0.10). Percentage of Cu and Zn solubilized after simulated rumen and abomasal digestion was less (P < 0.05) for the basal diet compared with NRC, CNI, and CNO diets and NRC compared with CNI and CNO diets. Under the conditions of this experiment, it appears that basal dietary concentrations of trace mineral were adequate for growth and performance of finishing yearling feedlot steers.
Single-shot high-resolution characterization of optical pulses by spectral phase diversity

The concept of spectral phase diversity is proposed and applied to the temporal characterization of optical pulses. The experimental trace is composed of the measured power of a plurality of ancillary optical pulses derived from the pulse under test by adding known amounts of chromatic dispersion. The spectral phase of the pulse under test is retrieved by minimizing the error between the experimental trace and a trace calculated using the known optical spectrum and diagnostic parameters. An assembly composed of splitters and dispersive delay fibers has been used to generate 64 ancillary pulses whose instantaneous power can be detected in a single shot with a high-bandwidth photodiode and oscilloscope. The diagnostic is experimentally shown to accurately characterize pulses from a chirped-pulse-amplification system when its stretcher is detuned from the position for optimal recompression. Pulse-shape reconstruction for pulses shorter than the photodetection impulse response has been demonstrated. Various investigations of the performance with respect to the number of ancillary pulses and the range of chromatic dispersion generated in the diagnostic are presented.
Orbitofrontal lesions eliminate signalling of biological significance in cue-responsive ventral striatal neurons

The ventral striatum has long been proposed as an integrator of biologically significant associative information to drive actions. Although inputs from the amygdala and hippocampus have been much studied, the role of prominent inputs from orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) are less well understood. Here, we recorded single-unit activity from ventral striatum core in rats with sham or ipsilateral neurotoxic lesions of lateral OFC, as they performed an odour-guided spatial choice task. Consistent with prior reports, we found that spiking activity recorded in sham rats during cue sampling was related to both reward magnitude and reward identity, with higher firing rates observed for cues that predicted more reward. Lesioned rats also showed differential activity to the cues, but this activity was unbiased towards larger rewards. These data support a role for OFC in shaping activity in the ventral striatum to represent the biological significance of associative information in the environment.
Agricultural Development in Mexico

ECONOMISTS have focused considerable attention in the post world war II period on factors that induce or accelerate the development of backward economies. Many of these so-called under-developed countries are characterized by a major dependence on primary industries (generally agriculture) and by low productivity of the human agent. These phenomena are so strongly evident that the economist sometimes concentrates too much attention on the backward agriculture and too little on the whole economy when considering proposals for development. Smaller and smaller proportions of a nation's working population employed in the production of food and fiber are implicitly or explicitly emphasized in much of the literature as requisite to, and indicative of, an expanding economy.' It is apparent from historical studies of developing economies that such expansion occurs with least socio-economic disruption if alternative industries are growing in a manner that their demand for the human agent in production is consistently in advance of the supply being released from agriculture. This phenomenon provides the incentive to develop and apply "labor-saving" techniques in farming. Much of the recent interest in economic development has been directed toward neighbor Republics to the south. One may well question whether improvements have occurred in those countries, and if so, how such improvements were brought about. The present study is an effort to determine the direction and the rate of development in the agricultural segment of the Mexican economy over the twenty-five year period 1925-1950. In selecting the period it seemed necessary to go back of the depression of the thirties in order to avoid distortions brought by it and the recovery from the depths of that depression.2
Gonadectomy in the spring reinstates hibernation in male golden-mantled ground squirrels

We tested the hypothesis that continued secretion of gonadal steroids is necessary to suppress hibernation in male golden-mantled ground squirrels in the weeks after the terminal arousal in spring. Juvenile and adult males were gonadectomized or sham gonadectomized 1 wk after the terminal arousal; 64% of castrated and none of the shamcastrated animals resumed hibernation. Latency to resumption of torpor was 9 +/- 2 days from the time of castration, and squirrels underwent 4.3 +/- 0.9 bouts before permanently regaining euthermia. Among squirrels that resumed hibernation, bout duration was significantly shorter and torpor was shallower after castration. Castration as late as 3 wk after the terminal arousal reinstated hibernation. We suggest that the terminal arousal of male squirrels in the spring is provoked by a steroid-independent mechanism similar to that operating earlier in the hibernation season; abandonment of hibernation is contingent on concomitant sustained increases in androgen secretion during the first few weeks of euthermia.
Book Review: Restoring Free Speech and Liberty on Campus by Donald Alexander Downs

John Stuart Mill said that silencing opinion is inimical to truth's production. Mill understood that untested opinions become dogma, believed out of habit rather than reason. One would assume that this principle would be best understood at our colleges and universities. But as Donald Downs reports in his "Restoring Free Speech and Liberty on Campus," through speech codes, anti-harassment policies, political correctness, college students are as exposed as often to untested opinions as to the production of truth. College students are learning, wrongly, that society will protect their right not to be offended.
Constructing Indignation: Anger Dynamics in Protest Movements

In recent years sociological research on social movements has identified emotional dynamics in all the basic processes and phases of protest, and we are only beginning to understand their causal im...
Differences in galectin-3, a biomarker of fibrosis, between participants with peripheral artery disease and participants with normal ankle-brachial index.

The aim of this study was to determine if galectin-3 levels were different between participants with peripheral artery disease (PAD) and controls, and to describe its relationship with markers of e...
Isolation of Adhering Leukocytes

Macrophages will adhere to glass or to some synthetic polymer surfaces. The adhesion is even increased if the macrophages are activated. The simplest method to remove adhering cells from leukocytes or from spleen cell suspension is to incubate a thinly spread cell suspension in a tissue culture bottle or Petri dish and rinse the nonadhering cells off gently. Part B of this Exercise describes such a procedure. The recovery of adhering cells requires some careful treatment which will dislodge them from the surface without affecting their viability. A more precise and elaborate method for the isolation of adhering cells as well as 99% pure lymphocytes uses column chromatography, where glass beads are used to remove adhering cells. Part A of this Exercise describes such a procedure, based on the method of Garvin (1961) as modified by Rabinowitz (1964).
Application of a rapid serum -dissociation board in analysis of children alkaline phosphatase

Objective To evaluate the application value of successfully developed rapid serum-dissociation board in analysis of children alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Methods A total of 200 children including of physical examination subjects in out-patient clinic and rickets patients in hospital were selected in Tianjin Children’s Hospital, male 138, female 62, aged 1 month to 7 years. From children’s fingers 30 μl peripheral blood were analyzed with rapid serum-dissociation board and market available bone alkaline phosphatase(BALP) kit separately at the same time, then the results were compared. Results The results had good accuracy, reproducibility and stable coloration. There was no significant difference between the results with 2 methods(P 0.05). Conclusion It is easy to manipulate by using the self-made rapid serum-dissociation board. The reagent is stable with low cost and the result is well determined. So it will be advantageous for diagnosis and treatment in rickets and calcipenia.
Contract Extensions: The Case of Major League Baseball

This article is concerned with how contract extensions create incentives that affect the characteristics of compensation of Major League Baseball players. We begin with a description of a number of attributes of the negotiation process. Using a sample of contract extensions, we summarize a number of characteristics of this phenomenon. For example, we show how both sides are made better off as a result of these negotiations and that most extensions take place during the last year of the existing contract. Furthermore, for those players with less than 6 years of service, the new contract typically extends beyond the player’s arbitration-eligible years.
Interstitial rules and the contested application of human rights law and the laws of war in counterterrorism

The laws of war and international human rights law (IHRL) overlap, often with competing obligations. When two or more areas of the law overlap, political agents attempt to address these areas of ambiguity with interstitial rules. However, a lack of consensus on interstitial rules can destabilise the law, leading to increased contestation of legal norms and principles. Such is the case for international law in counterterrorism. Prior to the 11 September 2001 attacks (9/11), international agreements and US domestic practices placed counterterrorism within the framework of law enforcement. After 9/11, the Bush Administration replaced law enforcement with armed conflict and the laws of war as the dominant paradigm for counterterrorism, but this decision, among other legal justifications in the War on Terror, has been contested by the international legal community. As IHRL still applies in law enforcement operations, international law in counterterrorism now sits within a contested overlap of IHRL and the laws of war. The contestation of US policies in the War on Terror, including the use of drone strikes in particular, is a product of this unresolved overlap and the lack of clear interstitial rules. Lacking these rules, US counterterrorism policies risk undermining the rule of law.
Nanoparticle- and Microparticle-based Delivery Systems: Encapsulation, Protection and Release of Active Compounds

Recent developments in nanoparticle and microparticle delivery systems are revolutionizing delivery systems in the food industry. These developments have the potential to solve many of the technical challenges involved in creating encapsulation, protection, and delivery of active ingredients, such as colors, flavors, preservatives, vitamins, minera
Characteristics associated with inter-individual differences in the trajectories of self-reported attentional function in oncology outpatients receiving chemotherapy.

Between 14 and 85 % of patients report noticeable changes in cognitive function during chemotherapy (CTX). The purposes of this study were to determine which demographic, clinical, and symptom characteristics were associated with inter-individual variability in initial levels of attentional function as well as with changes in the trajectories of attentional function in a sample of oncology patients who received two cycles of CTX. Oncology outpatients (n = 1329) were recruited from two comprehensive cancer centers, one veteran’s affairs hospital, and four community-based oncology programs. The Attentional Function Index (AFI) was used to assess perceived effectiveness in completing daily tasks that required working memory and attention. Hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) was used to evaluate for inter-individual variability in initial levels and in the trajectories of attentional function. Demographic, clinical, and symptom characteristics associated with inter-individual differences of attentional function at enrollment (i.e., intercept) were as follows: employment status, functional status, trait anxiety, depressive symptoms, sleep disturbance, evening fatigue, and morning energy. Gender was the only characteristic associated with inter-individual differences in the trajectories of attentional function. Morning fatigue was the only characteristic associated with both initial levels and the trajectories of attentional function. Prior to their next dose of CTX, patients reported moderate levels of attentional function that persisted over two cycles of CTX. Many of the clinical and symptom characteristics associated with decrements in attentional function are amenable to interventions. Clinicians need to assess patients for changes in attentional function and associated characteristics and recommend evidence-based interventions.
An Enzyme‐Directed Imidazoquinoline for Cancer Immunotherapy

Herein we report the synthesis and activity of an enzyme-directed immunostimulant with immune cell activation mediated by β-galactosidase, either exogenously added, or on B16 melanoma cells. Covalent attachment of a β-galactopyranoside to an imidazoquinoline immunostimulant at a position critical for activity resulted in a pro-immunostimulant that could be selectively converted by β-galactosidase into an active immunostimulant. The pro-immunostimulant exhibited β-galactosidase-directed immune cell activation as measured by NF-κB transcription in RAW-Blue macrophages or cytokine production (TNF, IL-6, IL-12) in JAWSII monocytes. Conversion of the pro-immunostimulant into an active immunostimulant was also found to occur using β-galactosidase-enriched B16 melanoma cells. In co-culture experiments with either immune cell line, β-galactosidase-enriched B16 cells effected activation of bystander immune cells.