cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Evil of Genocide

Setting aside the destruction of the biosphere, nothing in the ugly spectrum of human wrong- and evil-doing is worse than genocide. It is the most Satanic of evil acts, an “odious scourge” upon humanity, as the U.N. Convention on Genocide puts it. It appears early in the historical record, when the despots of antiquity built monuments and sang songs celebrating the slaughter of foreign populations. But it is in the modern period that genocide appears with a frequency, intensity, and magnitude far surpassing early tyrants and marauders. Throughout the twentieth century and continuing to the present day, genocide has been uninterrupted. Armenians, Jews, Gypsies, Homosexuals, Communists, Kulaks, Tutsis, Capitalists, Kurds, Sudanese, Syrians, and today the Rohingya Muslims of Myanmar form but a partial list of twentieth-century victims of genocide.
Changes Introduced in the Open Reading Frame of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus During Serial Infection of Pregnant Swine.

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is one of the most economically important viruses of cattle, but this pathogen is also able to infect pigs, camelids, and a wide range of domestic and wild ruminants. BVDV isolates circulating in animal populations are genetically and antigenically highly diverse. Acute BVDV infections in cattle cause the introduction of many substitutions in the viral genome. Serial infection of pregnant sheep with a BVDV-1b isolate of bovine origin was also associated with great numbers of substitutions. To our knowledge, genomic changes arising during BVDV infections in swine have not been investigated. The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes occurring in the open reading frame (ORF) of BVDV during serial infection of pregnant swine with a BVDV isolate of bovine origin. The BVDV-1b isolate AU526 was serially passaged in six pregnant gilts, two of which gave birth to live piglets congenitally infected with BVDV. The complete ORF sequences of 14 BVDV isolates obtained from pregnant gilts and their piglets were determined. Their analysis revealed that serial transmission of AU526 in pregnant swine resulted in many genomic changes. All isolates of porcine origin shared 32 nucleotide and 12 amino acid differences with the virus inoculum AU526. These changes were detected after a single passage in pregnant swine and were conserved during the subsequent five passages. Amino acid changes occurred primarily in genomic regions encoding the BVDV structural proteins E2 and E rns . These results suggest that BVDV infections in pregnant swine may contribute significantly to the genetic variability of BVDV and lead to the appearance of adaptive changes.
Changes in understory vegetation including invasive weeds following mountain pine beetle outbreaks

Abstract Bark beetle outbreaks alter forests in many ways including stand structure, fuels and fire behavior, wildlife habitat, and aesthetic value. Less understood are the effects outbreaks have on understory vegetation, despite the importance for overstory succession, nutrient cycling, water quality, soil erosion, and wildlife. Beetle outbreaks also change forests in ways that could promote invasion by nonnative weeds, but this is rarely studied. We assessed changes in cover of understory vegetation and presence/abundance of weeds in lodgepole pine forests in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Utah and Wyoming, USA following recent mountain pine beetle outbreaks. Incipient beetle populations began in 2004, peaked around 2008, and returned to endemic levels by 2012. Understory vegetation was sampled in 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2018. Total understory cover and cover of shrubs and graminoids remained unchanged, while cover of forbs generally increased. Forb cover was negatively correlated with shrub and canopy cover. Approximately 20% of plots contained weeds and weed abundance increased over time. Presence of weeds was negatively correlated with graminoid cover and positively correlated with tree mortality and snag fall. By 2018, weed abundance was only positively correlated with snag fall. Localized soil disturbance created when snags uproot and fall appears to act as sites of weed invasion and proliferation. Lastly, we provide a global review of the effects of bark beetle outbreaks on understory vegetation which reveals a prevailing short-term increase following outbreaks, but the magnitude of response and cover type affected varies with beetle species/forest type and time since outbreak.
A Holistic Solution for Reliability of 3D Parallel Systems

Monolithic 3D technology is emerging as a promising solution that can bring massive opportunities, but the gains can be hindered due to the reliability issues exaggerated by high temperature. Conve...
Therapeutic Targeting of TWEAK/Fn14 in Cancer: Exploiting the Intrinsic Tumor CellKilling Capacity of the Pathway

TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) and FGF-inducible molecule 14 (Fn14) are a TNF superfamily ligand–receptor pair. Initially identified as an inducer of tumor cell killing, TWEAK has pleiotropic effects, mediating pro-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic activity as well as stimulation of invasion, migration, and survival through its widely recognized receptor, Fn14. Fn14 is expressed at relatively low levels in normal tissues, but is dramatically elevated locally in injured and diseased tissues, where it plays a role in tissue remodeling. Herein we review the link between the TWEAK/Fn14 pathway and cancer as well as discuss potential therapeutic strategies targeting this pathway for cancer treatment. Many of the activities associated with the TWEAK/Fn14 pathway are linked with tumorigenesis and could thereby provide a growth advantage to tumors, suggesting that inhibition of the pathway may be beneficial in the treatment of cancer. At the same time, the elevated expression of Fn14 by tumor cells as well as the intrinsic tumor cell killing capacity of this receptor represents a promising alternative of harnessing the intrinsic tumor cell killing capacity of Fn14 to treat cancer.
Modeling of dynamic crack propagation: I. validation of one-dimensional analysis

The formulation of the problem of a rapidly propagating crack in a double cantilever beam specimen is re-examined using Reissner's variational principle. The governing equations are first solved to obtain the static compliance which is in good agreement with measured values. The equations of motion in conjunction with the energy balance criterion for a running crack are solved using a finite difference method. Predicted crack growth versus time, crack speed versus crack length and dynamic stress intensity factor versus crack length are all found to be in very good agreement with their measured counterparts for a polymer.
Healing the Modern in a Central Javanese City.

Healing the Modern in. Central Javanese City. Steve Ferzacca. Durham, NC: Carolina Academic Press, 2001. 280 pp.
Factors Related Management Skills of High School Library Directors in the Republic of China

This study attempted to determine the factors related to the management skills of high school library directors in Taiwan, R. O. C. There were five dimensions of the Level of Management Skills (LMS), namely, professionalism, communication, library knowledge and skills, administration, and instructional leadership. The sample size was 201 randomly selected high school library directors in Taiwan. Data were collected by mail questionnaire from July to September 1996. Correlation analyses were conducted to examine the relationships between the factors of the library directors' sum of the LMS scores and independent variables. The regression equation was drawn. In the full model of the regression analysis, derived independent variables, "support, circulation volumes, and the type of school," "Education and effort," and "Continuing professional education activities in library science" explained the greatest amount of unique variance in the dependent variable, the sum of the LMS scores. This study suggested establishing school library directors in the country, re-arranging the core courses of the library majors, and emphasizing the role of ""instructional consultant"" of school library directors.
A Method of Controlling Deterministic Nonlinear Systems

A method is given for finding a feedback controller which forces the response of a given nonlinear system to follow the response of a predetermined linear system. A test is provided that gives the sufficient conditions for the existence of such a control Possible solutions to some of the difficulties encountered in using this method are also investigated.
From approximate to optimal solutions: a case study of number partitioning

Given a set of numbers, the two-way partitioning problem is to divide them into two subsets, so that the sum of the numbers in each subset are as nearly equal as possible. The problem is NP-complete, and is contained in many scheduling applications. Based on a polynomial-time heuristic due to Karmarkar and Karp, we present a new algorithm, called Complete Karmarkar Karp (CKK), that optimally solves the general number-partitioning problem. CKK significantly outperforms the best previously-known algorithms for this problem. By restricting the numbers to twelve significant digits, we can optimally solve two-way partitioning problems of arbitrary size in practice. CKK first returns the Karmarkar-Karp solution, then continues to find better solutions as time allows. Almost five orders of magnitude improvement in solution quality is obtained within a minute of running time. Rather than building a single solution one element at a time, CKK constructs subsolutions, and combines them in all possible ways. CKK is directly applicable to the 0/1 knapsack problem, since it can be reduced to number partitioning. This general approach may also be applicable to other NP-hard problems as well.
Effects of ouabain and isoproterenol on potassium influx in the turkey erythrocyte. Quantitative relation to ligand binding and cyclic AMP generation.

Studies have been carried out in the turkey erythrocyte to examine: (1) the influence of external K+ concentration on both [3H]ouabain binding and the sensitivity of potassium influx to inhibition by ouabain and (2) the quantitative relation between β-adrenergic receptor site occupancy, agonist-directed cyclic AMP generation and potassium influx rate. Both [3H]ouabain binding and the ability of ouabain to inhibit potassium influx are markedly reduced at increasing external K+ concentrations, and at each K+ concentration the concentrations of ouabain required for half-maximal binding to the erythrocyte membrane and for half-maximal inhibition of potassium influx are identical. Both basal and isoproterenol-stimulated potassium influx rise with increasing external K+ concentrations. In contrast to basal potassium influx, which is 50–70% inhibitable by ouabain, the isoproterenol-stimulated component of potassium influx is entirely insensitive to ouabain. At all concentrations of K+, inhibition of basal potassium influx by ouabain is linear with ouabain binding, indicating that the rate of transport per unoccupied ouabain binding site is unaffected by simultaneous occupancy of other sites by ouabain. Similarly, the rate of isoproterenol-stimulated cyclic AMP synthesis is directly proportional to β-adrenergic receptor occupancy over the entire concentration-response relationship for isoproterenol, showing that at all levels of occupancy β-adrenergic receptor sites function independently of each other. Analysis of the relation of catecholamine-dependent potassium transport to the number of β-adrenergic receptor sites occupied indicates an extremely sensitive physiological system, in which 50%-maximal stimulation of potassium transport is achieved at less than 3% receptor occupancy, corresponding to fewer than ten occupied receptors per cell.
Phase I Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Analysis of Unconjugated Soy Isoflavones Administered to Individuals with Cancer

Preclinical studies suggest that the isoflavone genistein may have prostate cancer chemopreventive activity. Genistein has been shown to alter cellular levels of protein-tyrosine phosphorylation and is present at high levels in soy. This study was designed to measure the pharmacokinetic parameters of two different preparations of unconjugated soy isoflavones, PTI G-2535 and PTI G-4660 (which contain 43% and 90% genistein, respectively), in human subjects with cancer, to evaluate toxicity and obtain pilot data on in vivo effects on protein-tyrosine phosphorylation. Cohorts of four patients were given single doses of each preparation; each dose was separated by 1 week. Sequential cohorts received genistein at 2, 4, or 8 mg/kg orally. Pharmacokinetic sampling was performed after each dose, and tyrosine phosphorylation was measured in proteins extracted from peripheral blood mononuclear cells. One of 13 patients treated developed a treatment-related rash. No other toxicities were observed. Maximal plasma concentrations (C(max)) ranged between 4.3 and 16.3 micro M for total genistein and 0.066 and 0.17 micro M for free genistein. For PTI G-2535 and PTI G-4660, half-life was 15.03 and 22.41 h, respectively, and volume of distribution was 189.9 and 653.8 liters, respectively, and there was a trend toward higher area under the concentration curve for PTI G-2535 (P = 0.07 at the 8 mg/kg dose). Treatment-related increases in tyrosine phosphorylation were observed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Oral administration of soy isoflavones gives plasma concentrations of genistein that have been associated with antimetastatic activity in vitro.
Plant water relations and the effects of elevated CO2: a review and suggestions for future research

Increased ambient carbon dioxide (CO2) has been found to ameliorate water stress in the majority of species studied. The results of many studies indicate that lower evaporative flux density is associated with high CO2-induced stomatal closure. As a result of decreases in evaporative flux density and increases in net photosynthesis, also found to occur in high CO2 environments, plants have often been shown to maintain higher water use efficiencies when grown at high CO2 than when grown in normal, ambient air. Plants grown at high CO2 have also been found to maintain higher total water potentials, to increase biomass production, have larger root-to-shoot ratios, and to be generally more drought resistant (through avoidance mechanisms) than those grown at ambient CO2 levels. High CO2-induced changes in plant structure (i.e., vessel or tracheid anatomy, leaf specific conductivity) may be associated with changes in vulnerability to xylem cavitation or in environmental conditions in which runaway embolism is likely to occur. Further study is needed to resolve these important issues. Methodology and other CO2 effects on plant water relations are discussed.
Dependence on scattering angle of the internal energy distribution of products of charge-changing collisions

The internal energy distributions arising from charge-changing collisions were measured as a function of scattering angle, θ, for the ‘thermometer’ molecule W(CO)6. The experiments were performed by modifying a reverse-geometry mass-analyzed ion kinetic energy (MIKE) spectrometer by adding angle-resolving slits which allow measurement of the scattering angle in the non-focusing plane of the instrument. Charge exchange of W(CO) with benzene to give W(CO), and charge stripping of W(CO) on collision with O2 to give W(CO), were studied at 6 keV with the product ions being collected over laboratory scattering angles selected in the range 0–0.60°. The results show that charge-changing collisions accompanied by scattering have the potential for depositing extremely large internal energies. The observation of the W(CO)2+ ion formed in dissociative charge stripping of W(CO) shows that it is possible to deposit at least 27 eV into the colliding W(CO) ion; of this energy, 15 eV is used for the charge-stripping process, leaving 12 eV of internal energy in the nascent W(CO). Even greater internal energies (more than 15 eV) can be deposited into scattered W(CO) produced by charge exchange of the doubly charged ion. The availability of such high internal energies has potential use in causing dissociation of refractory ions such as those of biomolecules. The average internal energy, eAVE, deposited increases with the scattering angle at a rate of 10 eV degree−1 for charge exchange, and at approximately 5 eV degree−1 for charge stripping and for simple collision-induced dissociation (CID). This observation suggests that non-zero angle charge stripping and CID may occur via similar mechanisms in which direct vibrational activation occurs in small impact parameter collisions which also lead to angular scattering. The higher internal energies and larger eAVEvs. θ dependence observed for charge exchange are consistent with the formation of the products upon a highly repulsive surface associated with coulombic repulsion between the separating products.
A Role for Peroxidase in Biosynthesis of Auxin

THE metabolic formation of indolyl-3-acetic acid from tryptophan has been well established1,2. The intermediate compounds in this conversion have not been identified. A recent review2 has indicated that several pathways can be formulated that are consistent with the results obtained by use of tryptophan labelled with carbon-14. Recently we have demonstrated the oxidative formation of 3-methylthiopropionamide from methionine in the presence of purified horse-radish peroxidase, Mn++ and pyridoxal-5′-phosphate3. We have now extended this observation to tryptophan and have found that, under oxidative conditions with the foregoing cofactors, peroxidase will convert tryptophan to indole-3-acetamide.
Human autoantibodies reactive with synthetic autoantigens from T-cell receptor beta chain.

Abstract We used mapping with synthetic overlapping peptides in combination with molecular modeling to analyze the IgG antibodies that humans naturally produce against human T-cell receptor beta chains and to localize the recognized peptide autoantigens in the three-dimensional structure of the molecule. Healthy individuals produce low levels of antibodies against T-cell receptor peptides, and these can be increased in autoimmune diseases. We characterized the reactivities in detail because IgG molecules reactive with self peptides occur in preparations of intravenous immunoglobulin and can be isolated by immunoaffinity chromatography. Natural IgG antibodies were directed against three major peptides. One corresponds to the first complementarity-determining region of the variable region. A second corresponds to the third framework of the variable region. The third is located in the constant region and is predicted to be a loop that extends out of the beta-barrel structure. This peptide is one that would give a characteristic structural distinction between the beta-chain constant region and the constant regions of immunoglobulin light chains to which beta chains are homologous. The capacity to bind these peptides is found in small fractions of normal polyclonal IgG, which contains both kappa chains and lambda chains. The activity is antibody-like in being confined to the Fab fragment and in its capacity to discriminate among homologous synthetic peptides corresponding to distinct beta-chain variable-region genes. We propose that a recognition and regulatory process naturally occurs that parallels the immune network for the regulation of the production of antibodies.
The Development and Training of Hand Dominance: I. Characteristics of Handedness

(1949). The Development and Training of Hand Dominance: I. Characteristics of Handedness. The Pedagogical Seminary and Journal of Genetic Psychology: Vol. 75, No. 2, pp. 197-220.
A sexual life history in Rhodophysema (Rhodophyceae): a re-interpretation

Abstract Previous studies of field collected and cultured plants of Rhodophysema from different localities have demonstrated the existence of tetrasporangial and male plants, whereas female plants were apparently absent. Re-investigation of R. elegans from California in culture indicates that structures on tetrasporangial crusts previously interpreted as ‘hair cells’ are carpogonia. The fertilized carpogonium (zygote) divides into a stalk cell (tetrasporangial mother cell) and a tetrasporangium. The contents of the sporangium divides to produce four tetraspores, whereas the stalk cell produces successive tetrasporangia. A carposporophyte is lacking. The vegetative tissue of the crust is not sporophytic, as previously supposed, but is gametophytic, with spermatia and carpogonia produced on the same crust. This life history is the most reduced of all those known in sexually reproducing red algae. The position of the carpogonium—terminal on a vegetative filament rather than on a specialized branch—and the pr...
Calcium phosphate particulates increase friction in the rat knee joint.

Summary Objective Basic calcium phosphate (BCP) particulates are commonly found in cartilage and synovial fluid of osteoarthritis (OA) joints with the amount of BCP correlating with knee OA severity. How cartilage mineralization affects joint degeneration has yet to be determined. The objective of this study was to determine whether BCP in the synovial fluid affects the rat knee joint coefficient of friction (COF). Methods The COFs of knees from both hind limbs of four mature male rats were measured post mortem using a pendulum apparatus with an infrared tracking system. The three conditions evaluated were (1) the naive state, (2) after the injection of 100 μL of phosphate buffered saline (PBS) (sham) and (3) after the injection of 100 μL of a 1 mg/mL BCP suspension. The decrease in the pendulum amplitude (decay) was fit using two friction models: (1) a one parameter Stanton linear decay model and (2) a two parameters combination Stanton linear decay and viscous damping exponential decay model. Results The COF increased 17.6% after injection of BCP compared to the naive ( P = 0.0012) and 16.0% compared to the saline injected ( P = 0.0018) joints as derived from the one parameter model. The COF did not differ between naive and saline injected joints. Results from the two parameters model showed a similar increase in COF after injection of BCP while the viscous damping was not significantly different between conditions. Conclusions The increased joint friction with BCP particulates suggests BCPs may play a role in articular surface degradation and OA development.
Modeling of parachute opening - An experimental investigation

Scaling parameters for the peak opening force and opening time of solid cloth parachutes are investigated using the physical modeling technique. With Froude number and mass ratio as the two scaling parameters, correlation of the nondimensional peak opening force and opening time between the full-scale and the model parachutes made from the same 1.1 oz/yd ripstop nylon was not entirely satisfactory. Nylon fabrics with areal densities up to 14 oz/yd were then used to construct full-scale parachutes so that the 1.1 oz/yd model parachute would have a lighter fabric. This improved the correlation between the full-scale parachutes and the model parachute and established the importance of scaling canopy fabric as well as Froude number and mass ratio for modeling parachute opening.
Is there evidence of adaptation to tidal flooding in saplings of baldcypress subjected to different salinity regimes

Abstract Plant populations may adapt to environmental conditions over time by developing genetically based morphological or physiological characteristics. For tidal freshwater forested wetlands, we hypothesized that the conditions under which trees developed led to ecotypic difference in response of progeny to hydroperiod. Specifically, we looked for evidence of ecotypic adaptation for tidal flooding at different salinity regimes using growth and ecophysiological characteristics of two tidal and two non-tidal source collections of baldcypress ( Taxodium distichum (L.) L.C. Rich) from the southeastern United States. Saplings were subjected to treatments of hydrology (permanent versus tidal flooding) and salinity (0 versus ∼2 g l −1 ) for two and a half growing seasons in a greenhouse environment. Saplings from tidal sources maintained 21–41% lower overall growth and biomass accumulation than saplings from non-tidal sources, while saplings from non-tidal sources maintained 14–19% lower overall rates of net photosynthetic assimilation, leaf transpiration, and stomatal conductance than saplings from tidal sources. However, we found no evidence for growth or physiological enhancement of saplings from tidal sources to tide, or of saplings from non-tidal sources to no tide. All saplings growing under permanent flooding exhibited reduced growth and leaf gas exchange regardless of source, with little evidence for consistent salinity effects across hydroperiods. While we reject our original hypothesis, we suggest that adaptations of coastal baldcypress to broad (rather than narrow) environmental conditions may promote ecophysiological and growth enhancements under a range of global-change-induced stressors, perhaps reflecting a natural resilience to environmental change while precluding adaptations for specific flood regimes.
Accuracy of Reports of Lifetime Mental and Physical Disorders: Results From the Baltimore Epidemiological Catchment Area Study

Importance Our understanding of how mental and physical disorders are associated and contribute to health outcomes in populations depends on accurate ascertainment of the history of these disorders. Recent studies have identified substantial discrepancies in the prevalence of mental disorders among adolescents and young adults depending on whether the estimates are based on retrospective reports or multiple assessments over time. It is unknown whether such discrepancies are also seen in midlife to late life. Furthermore, no previous studies have compared lifetime prevalence estimates of common physical disorders such as diabetes mellitus and hypertension ascertained by prospective cumulative estimates vs retrospective estimates. Objective To examine the lifetime prevalence estimates of mental and physical disorders during midlife to late life using both retrospective and cumulative evaluations. Design, Setting, and Participants Prospective population-based survey (Baltimore Epidemiologic Catchment Area Survey) with 4 waves of interviews of 1071 community residents in Baltimore, Maryland, between 1981 and 2005. Main Outcomes and Measures Lifetime prevalence of selected mental and physical disorders at wave 4 (2004-2005), according to both retrospective data and cumulative evaluations based on 4 interviews from wave 1 to wave 4. Results Retrospective evaluations substantially underestimated the lifetime prevalence of mental disorders as compared with cumulative evaluations. The respective lifetime prevalence estimates ascertained by retrospective and cumulative evaluations were 4.5% vs 13.1% for major depressive disorder, 0.6% vs 7.1% for obsessive-compulsive disorder, 2.5% vs 6.7% for panic disorder, 12.6% vs 25.3% for social phobia, 9.1% vs 25.9% for alcohol abuse or dependence, and 6.7% vs 17.6% for drug abuse or dependence. In contrast, retrospective lifetime prevalence estimates of physical disorders ascertained at wave 4 were much closer to those based on cumulative data from all 4 waves. The respective prevalence estimates ascertained by the 2 methods were 18.2% vs 20.2% for diabetes, 48.4% vs 55.4% for hypertension, 45.8% vs 54.0% for arthritis, 5.5% vs 7.2% for stroke, and 8.4% vs 10.5% for cancer. Conclusions and Relevance One-time, cross-sectional population surveys may consistently underestimate the lifetime prevalence of mental disorders. The population burden of mental disorders may therefore be substantially higher than previously appreciated.
A novel application of a bivariate regression model for binary and continuous outcomes to studies of fetal toxicity

Summary. Public health concerns over the occurrence of birth defects and developmental abnormalities that may occur as a result of prenatal exposure to drugs, chemicals and other envi ronmental factors has led to an increasing number of developmental toxicity studies. Because fetal pups are commonly evaluated for multiple outcomes, data analysis frequently involves a joint modelling approach. We focus on modelling clustered binary and continuous outcomes in the setting where both outcomes are potentially observable in all offspring but, owing to practical limitations, the continuous outcome is only observed in a subset of offspring. The subset is not a simple random sample but is selected by the experimenter under a prespecified probability model. Although joint models for binary and continuous outcomes have been developed when both outcomes are available for every fetus, many existing approaches are not directly appli cable when the continuous outcome is not observed in a simple random sample. We adapt a likelihood-based approach for jointly modelling clustered binary and continuous outcomes when the continuous response is missing by design and missingness depends on the binary trait. The approach takes into account the probability that a fetus is selected in the subset. Through the use of a partial likelihood, valid estimates can be obtained by a simple modification to the partial likelihood score. Data involving the herbicide 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic-acid are analysed. Simulation results confirm the approach.
Assessing change after a computer course for at-risk students

In this paper, I plan to describe a computer literacy course that I teach as part of a Prefreshman summer session for at-risk students. The aims of the course are to teach students how to use computers for all their coursework and to encourage students to be comfortable using technology. I surveyed students on their attitude towards computers both before and after the course to see whether the course succeeded in achieving its goals.
Influence of Selected Pasture Herbicides and Application Timings on Sericea Lespedeza Control

Abstract Field trials were conducted in 2004 and 2005 to determine the effect of various herbicides alone or in pre-mix formulations applied in the summer and autumn on sericea lespedeza [ Lespedeza cuneata (Dumont) G. Don] control and density one year after treatment (YAT). In both years, triclopyr plus fluroxypyr, picloram plus fluroxypyr, and metsulfuron were applied at five application timings. In 2005, triclopyr was also applied at each of these timings. In both years, all treatments provided greater than 90% late-season sericea lespedeza control when applied at the early- or mid-vegetative stage of growth. All treatments except metsulfuron also provided greater than 80% late-season sericea control when applied at the late-vegetative or pre-bloom stage. There was no effect of application timing on sericea lespedeza stem density 1 YAT. Herbicide treatments reduced sericea lespedeza stem density from 53 to 86% when compared to non-treated control plots 1 YAT. Triclopyr, triclopyr plus fluroxypyr and metsulfuron provided similar reductions in sericea lespedeza stem density 1 YAT. These results indicate that, regardless of the application timing, similar sericea lespedeza control will be achieved 1 YAT with triclopyr, triclopyr plus fluroxypyr, and metsulfuron, which is contrary to current recommendations for this species.
Solvation Force in Confined Molecular Fluids Using Molecular Dynamics Simulation

The solvation force in water, treated as a molecular fluid, confined between two mica surfaces is calculated using molecular dynamics simulations. In order to maintain a constant chemical potential...
Obese diabetic mouse environment differentially affects primitive and monocytic endothelial cell progenitors.

Two classes of adult bone marrow–derived endothelial cell (EC) progenitors have been described, primitive hematopoietic stem cell–related cells and monocytic cells. Both differentiate into ECs and promote vascular growth in vivo but have distinct characteristics. Despite the association of obesity and type 2 diabetes with cardiovascular disease, their effects on primitive EC progenitors (prECPs) have not been examined, and the limited data on monocytic EC progenitors are conflicting. We investigated functional parameters of primitive and monocytic EC progenitors from obese diabetic (Leprdb) mice. The viability, proliferation, and differentiation of EC progenitors were unaffected in Leprdb cell cultures under basal condition. However, Leprdb-derived prECPs, but not monocytic EC progenitors, were less able to cope with hypoxia and oxidative stress, conditions likely present when EC progenitors are most needed. Intrinsic prECP dysfunction was also apparent in vivo. Whereas injection of nondiabetic prECPs promoted vascularization of skin wounds, Leprdb-derived progenitors inhibited it in nondiabetic mice. Additionally, although treatment with Leprdb-derived prECPs did not significantly reduce blood flow restoration to ischemic limbs, it resulted in increased tissue necrosis and autoamputation. Thus, type 2 diabetes coupled with obesity seems to induce intrinsic EC progenitor dysfunction that is exacerbated by stress. prECPs are more affected than monocytic progenitors, exhibiting a reduced ability to survive or proliferate. The proangiogenic phenotype of prECPs also seems to convert to an antiangiogenic phenotype in obese diabetic mice. These data suggest that therapies involving prECPs or stem-like cells in diabetic patients may be inadvisable at this time.
An introductory course on the use of operating systems

One very frustrating problem that students often have while working on computers is the lack of ability to do productive work. They often find themselves either not being able to do something or doing it in a very complex way when there is a simpler or shorter way to accomplish the task. This is a common experience because most students do not have a structured time of learning the operating system(s) on which they work. This often occurs because the use of an operating system is not considered an academic pursuit so that a course teaching the computer science majors how to use the operating system(s) is not offered. However, the benefits of such a course can be great. The students can find the rest of their work on computers much more productive than if they had to pick up almost everything on their own.
On Selection Mechanisms during Initial Evolution and on the Possible Role of Ionic Balance

Initial evolution at the molecular level can proceed through mechanisms that enhance either the generation or the survival of certain molecules. Phenomena related to ionic balance can be the basis for both generative and survival selection mechanisms that may have driven the initial evolution of macromolecules. An important advantage of mechanisms based on ionic balance phenomena is that they can conceivably generate spatial and temporal inhomogeneities in semi-enclosed spaces within cavities of porous materials and/or membranes. Under certain circumstances, such inhomogeneities are required for initial evolution to proceed.
A new method for the improvement of measured modes through orthogonalization

A procedure for the optimal orthogonalization of incomplete measured modes has been described. The approach achieves the smallest changes in the measured modes comparaed with other methods. A closed form solution as well as an iterative algorithm are derived
The VAV Family of Signal Transduction Molecules

This review summarizes the current knowledge on the structure, expression, and physiological roles of the Vav family, a novel group of signaling transducers with known representatives in mammalian (Vav and Vav-2) and nematodes (Cel Vav). Vav was the first member of this family identified during the course of gene transfer experiments aimed at characterizing loci involved in human neoplasia. This transforming protein displays a complex array of structural motifs, including calponin-homology, acidic, dbl-homology, pleckstrin-homology, cysteine-rich, SH3, and SH2 domains. After activation of cells with extracellular stimuli, Vav becomes phosphorylated on tyrosine residues and catalyzes the exchange of guanosine nucleotides on the GTP-binding protein Rac-1, thereby allowing the transition of this GTPase from the inactive (GDP-loaded) to the active (GTP-loaded) state. In addition, Vav associates with phosphorylated receptors, protein tyrosine kinases, and intracellular phosphoproteins whose identities are now being determined. Gene targeting experiments indicate that vav gene disruption results in severe signaling defects in lymphoid cells, further reinforcing its role as a key regulator of mitogenic pathways. Vav-2 and C. elegans Vav bear significant structural similarity with Vav, suggesting that they will be important players as well in evolutionarily conserved signal transduction pathways involved in mitogenesis and cellular transformation.
Viscoelastic properties of hollow glass particle filled vinyl ester matrix syntactic foams: effect of temperature and loading frequency

Viscoelastic properties of hollow particle-reinforced composites called syntactic foams are studied using a dynamic mechanical analyzer. Glass hollow particles of three different wall thicknesses are incorporated in the volume fraction range of 0.3–0.6 in vinyl ester resin matrix to fabricate twelve compositions of syntactic foams. Storage modulus, loss modulus, and glass transition temperature are measured and related to the microstructural parameters of syntactic foams. In the first step, a temperature sweep from −75 to 195 °C is applied at a fixed loading frequency of 1 Hz to obtain temperature dependent properties of syntactic foams. In the next step, selected four compositions of syntactic foams are studied for combined effect of temperature and loading frequency. A frequency sweep is applied in the range 1–100 Hz and the temperature is varied in the range 30–140 °C. Time–temperature superposition (TTS) principle is used to generate master curves for storage modulus over a wide frequency range. The room temperature loss modulus and maximum damping parameter, Tanδ, are found to have a linear relationship with the syntactic foam density. Increasing volume fraction of particles helps in improving the retention of storage modulus at high temperature in syntactic foams. Cole–Cole plot and William–Landel–Ferry equation are used to interpret the trends obtained from TTS. The correlations developed between the viscoelastic properties and material parameters help in tailoring the properties of syntactic foams as per requirements of an application.
Rapid and automated processing of MALDI–FTICR/MS data for 15N-metabolic labeling in a shotgun proteomics analysis

Abstract Offline high performance liquid chromatography combined with matrix assisted laser desorption and Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (HPLC–MALDI–FTICR/MS) provides the means to rapidly analyze complex mixtures of peptides, such as those produced by proteolytic digestion of a proteome. This method is particularly useful for making quantitative measurements of changes in protein expression by using 15 N-metabolic labeling. Proteolytic digestion of combined labeled and unlabeled proteomes produces complex mixtures with many mass overlaps when analyzed by HPLC–MALDI–FTICR/MS. A significant challenge to data analysis is the matching of pairs of peaks which represent an unlabeled peptide and its labeled counterpart. We have developed an algorithm and incorporated it into a computer program which significantly accelerates the interpretation of 15 N-metabolic labeling data by automating the process of identifying unlabeled/labeled peak pairs. The algorithm takes advantage of the high resolution and mass accuracy of FTICR mass spectrometry. The algorithm is shown to be able to successfully identify the 15 N/ 14 N peptide pairs and calculate peptide relative abundance ratios in highly complex mixtures from the proteolytic digest of a whole organism protein extract.
Single stage repair of the median cleft lip deformity in holoprosencephaly.

Summary A single stage repair of the median cleft lip in holoprosencephaly is presented. The use of a superiorly-based pedicle from the nasal lobule/columellar remnant for columellar creation and a free skin graft from excess horizontal lip tissue for philtral reconstruction, in addition to medial rotation of the lateral lip segments, permits complete repair in one procedure. Such an approach offers the advantage of a reduction in number of procedures and anaesthetic exposure in the severely medically compromised holoprosencephalic patient.
Prenatal Detection of Aneuploidy by Directly Labeled Multicolored Probes and Interphase Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization

• Objective To detect aneuploidy of chromosomes 13, 18,21, X, and Y with use of new, directly labeled, multicolored, commercially available DNA probes from interphase cells of amniotic fluid (AF). • Material and Methods The hybridization sites of the five probes were validated by metaphase analysis. The fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) normal range was determined from a series of normal AF specimens and tested on a series of normal and abnormal specimens. • Results The hybridization efficiencies of the five probes were 100%. The mean AF interphase disomic signal patterns for chromosomes 13, 18, 21, XX, and XY were 95.9%, 89.1%, 94.3%, 94.7%, and 98.7%, respectively. Of a total of 508 cases analyzed, 211 were aneuploid. All cases were correctly identified and no false results occurred (in comparison with karyotypic analysis), although maternal cell contamination was relatively common. • Conclusion Clinical screening for aneuploidy of chromosomes 13,18,21, X, and Y from interphase AF cells is possible with use of these probes and FISH. Cases of maternal cell contamination and mosaicism necessitate cautious interpretation. The FISH procedure is recommended for screening of common aneuploidies, followed by a complete chromosome analysis to detect anomalies.
Generalized oscillator strengths for two transitions in CO2 at incident electron energies of 300, 400 and 500 eV

Abstract Generalized oscillator strengths have been obtained for two transitions in CO 2 from inelastic electron scattering determinations as a function of angle. Excitation energies for the two transitions are 11.04 and 11.38 eV, respectively. This spectral region was studied previously by Lassettre and Shiloff 1 but at a resolution too low to resolve the two transitions. In the present experiments the two are clearly resolved. Results are compared with the previous experiments of Foo et al. 2 . Since substantial discrepancies are found both with the previous results of Lassettre and Shiloff and that of Foo et al., the accuracy of angular trends has been checked by comparing elastic scattering with the accurate determinations of Bromberg. 6 Agreement is good. Multiple scattering is shown to be absent by varying the pressure. Generalized oscillator strengths are compared with the theoretical calculations of McKoy and collaborators. The change in the shape of the CO 2 spectrum in the region of 7–10 eV excitation energy is also studied.
The structure of helix III in Xenopus oocyte 5 S rRNA: an RNA stem containing a two-nucleotide bulge.

Abstract The solution structure of an oligonucleotide containing the helix III sequence from Xenopus oocyte 5 S rRNA has been determined by NMR spectroscopy. Helix III includes two unpaired adenosine residues, flanked on either side by G:C base-pairs, that are required for binding of ribosomal protein L5. The consensus conformation of helix III in the context provided by this oligonucleotide has the two adenosine residues located in the minor groove and stacked upon the 3′ flanking guanosine residue, consistent with biochemical studies of free 5 S rRNA in solution. A distinct break in stacking that occurs between the first adenosine residue of the bulge and the flanking 5′ guanosine residue exposes the base of the adenosine residue in the minor groove and the base of the guanosine residue in the major groove. The major groove of the helix is widened at the site of the unpaired nucleotides and the helix is substantially bent; nonetheless, the G:C base-pairs flanking the bulge are intact. The data indicate that there may be conformational heterogeneity centered in the bulge region. The corresponding adenosine residues in the Haloarcula marismortui 50 S ribosomal subunit form a dinucleotide platform, which is quite different from the motif seen in solution. Thus, the conformation of helix III probably changes when 5 S rRNA is incorporated into the ribosome.
Effects of halothane, α-chloralose, and pCO2 on injury volume and CSF β-endorphin levels in focal cerebral ischemia

Anesthetic agent, arterial pCO2 level, and opioid peptides have all been implicated in the pathophysiology of experimental stroke models. The effects of halothane, α-chloralose, and differing concentrations of arterial pCO2 on injury volume and CSF β-endorphin levels were studied in a feline model of experimental focal cerebral ischemia. The type of anesthetic agent used had no effect on injury volume following 6 h of focal cerebral ischemia. Over a 6-h period, β-endorphin levels significantly increased from 10.1±5.0 fmol/mL at zero time to 14.4±7.2 fmol/mL at 6 h under halothane anesthesia (p<0.05), whereas they did not significantly change (10.1±6.7 to 7.8 ±4.7 fmol/mL) under α-chloralose anesthesia. In contrast, hypercapnia had no effect on β-endorphin levels, but significantly increased injury volume from 30.6±5.7% of the ipsilateral hemisphere under normocapnic conditions to 37.1±5.9% under hypercapnic conditions (p<0.05). These results suggest that hypercapnia increases injury volume in a feline model of focal cerebral ischemia, and pCO2 should be controlled in experimental focal cerebral ischemia models.
On the consistency of mechanistic multidimensional modeling of gas/liquid two-phase flows

The purpose of this paper is to present an overview of selected aspects of the mathematical modeling of multiphase flows, including the formulation of governing equations, gas/liquid interfacial forces and bubble/bubble interactions. Links between the combined physical, mathematical and computational models are discussed, including the recent progress in, and the limitations of, computational multiphase fluid dynamics (CMFD). Major differences and similarities are analyzed between the interpenetrating-fluids multifield modeling concept and the model of dispersed two-phase flows. Conditions are formulated under which the multifield modeling framework is applicable to gas/liquid dispersed bubbly flows. Also, the interactions between the continuous and dispersed fields are discussed, including a new mechanistic modeling concept for the turbulence-induced interfacial forces between the continuous liquid and dispersed bubbles. Finally, a multigroup approach to the modeling of bubble coalescence and breakup is presented.