cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Isolation, characterization, and quantification of steroidal saponins in switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.).

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) has been identified for development into an efficient and environmentally friendly biomass energy crop. A recent 5 year study demonstrated that switchgrass grown for biofuel production produced 540% more energy than what is needed to grow, harvest, and process it into cellulosic ethanol. If switchgrass is grown on a scale useful for a bioenergy source, some of the material could be used by livestock as hay or pasture. Switchgrass has been reported to cause hepatogenous photosensitization in lambs (Ovis aries) and horses (Equus caballus). In this study, a simple extraction and rapid reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatographyelectrospray ionization-mass spectrometry method was developed for quantifying the major saponins in switchgrass samples. Differences in the relative concentrations of different saponins were observed between switchgrass cultivars and plant parts.
States of surface carbon during diamond growth on Pt

Filament assisted diamond film growth on a Pt foil scratched with diamond paste and on an unscratched Pt foil was examined with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) at selected intervals in the growth process. The samples were transferred between the growth chamber and the ultrahigh vacuum analytical chamber without exposure to air. Before growth, but after exposure to CH4/H2 without the filament on, XPS detected a mixed layer of “graphitic carbon”, adsorbed hydrocarbons, and carbon in direct contact with Pt. Once growth with the filament was begun, “graphitic carbon” was converted to or replaced by a stable hydrocarbon deposit. Later in the growth, the hydrocarbon species were replaced by diamond, which grew to form a continuous layer. The unscratched Pt foil showed a similar behavior; however, the diamond formation rate was substantially slower. Diamond growth on Pt differs from previously studied substrates such as Si and Ni in that Pt does not form thick (greater than 50 A) intermediate layers such as carbide or graphite prior to diamond growth.
Synthesis and Characterization of Sr2Ce2Ti5O16 in the System SrO‐CeO2‐TiO2

The ternary system SrO-CeO[sub 2]-TiO[sub 2] was investigated using X-ray diffractometry. The formation of a new compound, Sr[sub 2]Ce[sub 2]Ti[sub 5]O[sub 16], was established, and its compatibilities with SrO, SrCeO[sub 3], and SrTiO[sub 3] were studied. The results revealed the existence of a series of compounds Sr[sub 6[minus]12x]Ce[sub 6x]Ti[sub 5]O[sub 16] and solid solutions Sr[sub 2+n]Ce[sub 2]Ti[sub 5+n]O[sub 16+3n] (n [le] 6).
Control of a Dual-Stage Magnetostrictive Actuator-Based Micromachining System for Optimal High-Speed Microforming Process

In this paper, the process control of a magnetostrictive-actuator-based dual-stage microforming system is studied. Microforming has recently become an emerging advanced manufacturing technique for fabricating miniaturized products. Particularly, miniaturized desktop microforming system based on unconventional actuators possesses great potential in attaining both high productivity and low cost. Process control of such miniaturized microforming systems, however, is challenging and still at its early stage. The challenge arises from the complicated behaviors of the actuators used, the switching and transition of the actuation/motion, and the uncertainty of the system dynamics during the entire microforming process. During the microforming process, the dynamics and the hysteresis effects of magnetostrictive actuator can be excited, resulting in positioning errors of the workpieces in both trajectory tracking and output transition. Rapid transition between tracking and transition is also accompanied with substantial variation of the system dynamics. Additional challenges exist due to the use of multi-stage actuators and the augmentation of ultrasonic vibrations to the microforming process. In this paper, a control framework integrating iterative learning control and optimal transition trajectory design along with feedforward-feedback control is proposed to achieve high speed and high quality in microforming. The efficacy of the proposed control strategies is demonstrated through experimental implementation.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Structural and Biochemical Analysis of Nuclease Domain of Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat (CRISPR)-associated Protein 3 (Cas3)

RNA transcribed from clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPRs) protects many prokaryotes from invasion by foreign DNA such as viruses, conjugative plasmids, and transposable elements. Cas3 (CRISPR-associated protein 3) is essential for this CRISPR protection and is thought to mediate cleavage of the foreign DNA through its N-terminal histidine-aspartate (HD) domain. We report here the 1.8 A crystal structure of the HD domain of Cas3 from Thermus thermophilus HB8. Structural and biochemical studies predict that this enzyme binds two metal ions at its active site. We also demonstrate that the single-stranded DNA endonuclease activity of this T. thermophilus domain is activated not by magnesium but by transition metal ions such as manganese and nickel. Structure-guided mutagenesis confirms the importance of the metal-binding residues for the nuclease activity and identifies other active site residues. Overall, these results provide a framework for understanding the role of Cas3 in the CRISPR system.
Stability of Subharmonic Oscillations in Nonlinear Systems

Necessary conditions for stability of sustained subharmonic oscillation in nonlinear feedback system
Data-intensive Spatial Indexing on the Clouds

In this paper, we investigate the potential of cloud computing for data-intensive spatial indexing. We assess the benefits in performance and cost. Specifically, we consider a data- and compute-intensive spatial application, namely, the construction of very large R-tree spatial indexes. We selected this application because of its high computing and memory requirements. We implemented this application and deployed it on various types of cloud configurations. We report our findings and provide insights useful when considering cloud computing for data- and compute-intensive spatial applications.
Homogeneous reaction rate model for hydrogen production from ion-irradiated polymers

A theoretical model has been constructed to calculate the time or fluence dependence of G-values for H2 production, G(H2), from the ion irradiation of the polymers polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polycarbonate (PC), and Kapton. Measurements of the G(H2) for 1 Mev Ar+ over a fluence range from about 1 × 1011 to about 5 × 1013/mm2 have been made in order to determine the parameters of the model. The model is based upon rate equations describing the electronic-generation of and the interaction of a uniform distribution of free radicals. Satisfactory fits to the data could be made by adjusting two key parameters — the effective C-H bond energy and the hydrogen-carbon recombination rate constant relative to the hydrogen-hydrogen recombination rate constant. It was found that the effective C-H bond energy varied from the lowest value of ~ 8 eV for PE to the highest value of ~ 100 eV for Kapton. From the effective bond energy, an average value for hydrogen radical production, G(H·), was deduced. The effects of the parameters on the G-value versus time/fluence curves are shown and the significance of the parameters are discussed. The data was also compared to percolation model predictions, but the deviations between data and this model were seen to be large at high fluence.
Programming optical states in VO 2 film for IR phototherapy

This work presents a new technology suitable for localized infrared (IR) phototherapy. Specified regions of a VO2 thin film were programmed to different transmissivity values in the near IR. Such programming was done through photothermal actuation of the thin film, achieved by controlling the scanning of a red laser over its surface. The thermally-induced phase transition of the VO2 thin film comes with an abrupt change in its transmittance, which (due to its hysteretic behavior) can be stored; allowing for the programming of optical memory states in the films. Several patterns were stored and read through a simple optical system. A single film can store one pattern at a time. The nature of this material allows for a relatively fast reconfiguration of the stored pattern. After a specific pattern was programmed on the film, an IR image was projected by illumination of the entire VO2 film with an IR beam. The image was detected by a laser beam profiler (LBP). This pattern storage and projection technology proves promising in the development of applications for treatments of IR phototherapy.
CHRISTIANITY AND EVOLUTIONARY ETHICS: SKETCH TOWARD A RECONCILIATION

L'ethique evolutionniste resitue l'evolution des dispositions a s'aimer soi-meme et a aimer ses amis. Le christianisme revendique le fait que les exigences divines en ethique consistent a aimer son prochain. L'A. pretend que la distance entre ces deux positions ethiques peut etre interpretee sur un plan theologique comme peche originel, disposition a desobeir a Dieu, a pratiquer le narcissisme et le nepotisme. Le peche originel requiert l'Incarnation et l'Expiation pour unir Dieu et humanite. L'ancienne doctrine de l'Expiation comme education n'invoque pas la Chute. Son renouveau peut aider a reconcilier ethique chretienne et ethique evolutionniste
High Priority Research Needs for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract Objective: Identification of unanswered research questions about the management of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is necessary to focus future research endeavors. We developed a process for elucidating the highest priority research questions on GDM. Methods: Using a systematic review on GDM as a starting point, we developed an eight-step process: (1) identification of research gaps, (2) feedback from the review's authors, (3) translation of gaps into researchable questions using population, intervention, comparators, outcomes, setting (PICOS) framework, (4) local institutions' stakeholders' refinement of research questions, (5) national stakeholders' use of Delphi method to develop consensus on the importance of research questions, (6) prioritization of outcomes, (7) conceptual framework, and (8) evaluation. Results: We identified 15 high priority research questions for GDM. The research questions focused on medication management of GDM (e.g., various oral agents vs. insulin), delivery manag...
Evaluating Dispute Resolution Experiments

W e need to do a better job of documenting and evaluating the dispute resolution experiments currently underway. All too often, documentation and evaluation are nothing more than an afterthought the focus of attention only when it is too late to record what actually happened. Typically, evaluation consists of less-than-critical reflections by the participants, intervenors, or funders with the most at stake. And, even when documentation and evaluation are handled by independent observers, such efforts tend to be framed according to the observers' interests, and not with reference to overarching questions at the frontier of theory-building in' the dispute resolution field. These are formidable obstacles to improving practice. While most, if not all, of my colleagues in the dispute resolution field would probably agree with these contentions, some of these same people have obstructed serious documentation and evaluation efforts. Indeed, I count myself among the gUilty. First, let me make a distinction between documentation and evaluation. Documentation means recording from beginning to end the expectations, impressions, and reflections of the participants. Evaluation means gauging the success of an effort once it is completed, according to explicit standards or criteria. Documentation should be handled on an ongoing basis, and can often be completed by the participants themselves (although it is desirable to supplement what the participants produce with independent observations by nonpartisan analysts or observers). Evaluation, on the other hand, shoud always be undertaken by trained social scientists who are not involved in the activities under review. I have encountered resistance to independent documentation and evaluation of dispute resolution efforts in at least three real-life instances, and been the source of resistance in one other. It is important to consider the merits of the resisters' arguments, In the first case, the mediator, claiming that communications among the parties were privileged, sought to block all efforts at documentation. He urged the parties to treat any outside request for information or personal views as a breach of
Structural changes of (K,Gd)2Ta2O7 pyrochlore at high pressure

Abstract The structure of K-bearing tantalate pyrochlore (K2–xGdx)Ta2O6+x(x∼0.4) was studied at high pressures using in situ X-ray diffraction and Raman scattering methods. Experimental results indicated that (K2–xGdx)Ta2O6+x(x∼0.4) retains the pyrochlore structure up to 40 GPa, but partial amorphization occurred at pressures above 23 GPa. The amorphous phase was also confirmed in the quenched sample by means of transmission electron microscopy. The tantalate pyrochlore lattice is more stable than pyrochlore compounds in other systems, such as rare earth titanates, zirconates and stannates. The structural stability of pyrochlore tantalate may be mainly related to the size ratio of cations on the 16d and 16c sites in the lattice.
A missing-bending-magnet scheme for PEP☆

Abstract This article presents a missing-bending-magnet scheme for PEP as a modification that could be considered if PEP were available as a fully dedicated synchrotron radiation source. The scheme can be applied to one or more PEP sextants without changing the rest. By removing some bending magnets, rearranging the remaining magnets, and adding two quadrupoles, ten additional straight sections per sextant can be created, each 5 m or more in length, for insertion devices. Beam lines therefrom, plus possible beam lines from bending magnets would enter a continuous experimental hall instead of individual tunnels and halls for each beam line. This should result in construction cost savings and increased operations efficiency. The ideal beam orbit is unchanged at the two ends and the middle of the sextant. At the end of the curved part of the sextant the lattice functions match those of the long interaction region straight section in the low emittance configuration of PEP. The electron beam characteristics in the newly created straight sections are described, including the enlargement of the horizontal beam size due to the nonzero dispersion. Some disadvantages of the scheme are increased operations complexity due to the need for nine new quadrupole families, increased beam emittance (by 14.5% if one sextant is modified), and reduced dynamic aperture. However, the dynamic aperture is still about as large as the physical aperture and should be adequate for good beam lifetime and injection.
Electron-phonon coupling in bcc and 9R lithium

We test the hypothesis that the observed absence of superconductivity in Li results from weak electron-phonon coupling in the low-temperature 9R phase. A first-principles study of the phonon spectrum and electron-phonon coupling constant in bcc and 9R Li is presented. The electron-phonon coupling constant is found to be similar in bcc and 9R Li, and in both phases it is too strong to be consistent with the experimental upper bound on the superconducting transition temperature within the standard theory of phonon-mediated superconductivity.
Effects of active student response during error correction on the acquisition and maintenance of geography facts by elementary students with learning disabilities

An alternating treatments design was used to compare the effects of Active Student Response (ASR) error correction and No Response (NR) error correction during instruction of the capitals of states and countries. Three students with learning disabilities were provided one-to-one daily instruction on four sets of 14 unknown capitals (7 ASR capitals and 7 NR capitals). Student errors during instruction on ASR capitals were immediately followed by the teacher stating the capital and the student repeating it (an active student response). Errors on NR capitals were immediately followed by the teacher stating the capital while the student visually attended to a geography card with the correct capital handwritten on it (an on-task response). During instruction each of the three students correctly stated more capitals taught with ASR instruction than he or she stated with NR error correction. Results of same-day and next-day tests show that all three students learned more capitals with ASR error correction than with NR error correction The students also correctly stated more ASR error correction capitals on 1-week maintenance tests.
Sympathetic devices: designing technologies for older adults

This paper provides an outline of a framework used in a series of interactive product concepts designed for and with older adults. This framework was developed as part of a research focus, entitled "sympathetic devices," which focuses on the design of communication technologies for older adults. The core elements of the framework are outlined providing examples of product concepts where the framework has been applied in order to demonstrate its capabilities. The significance of utilizing the framework is to better design technologies to help older adults age healthy and independently, specially focusing on the utilization of tangible interactions as an extension of the use of touch interfaces.
The continued need to synthesize the results of genetic associations across multiple studies.

The continued need to synthesize the results of genetic associations across multiple studies
An integrated JIT inventory model

Derives an integrated inventory replenishment model for a buyer that buys a single product from a vendor that manufactures this item and delivers it to the former in fixed quantities. It is assumed that both parties co‐operate and exchange information, including cost data, which is not unheard of in a JIT based partnering relationship, in deriving a jointly optimal inventory replenishment policy, rather than individually deriving their own independent policies. Such an approach can result in significant savings in the joint total relevant cost incurred by both parties. These savings may be shared in some fair and equitable manner, so that, from an economic standpoint, both the buyer and the vendor derive substantive benefits from such an integrated, jointly optimal policy. Illustrates the model and the related concepts through a simple numerical example.
Percutaneous Retrogasserian Glycerol Rhizotomy for Tic Douloureux: Part 1 Technique and Results in 112 Patients

The technique and results of treatment of tic douloureux by percutaneous retrogasserian glycerol rhizotomy ( PRGR ) were assessed in a series of 112 patients. All patients were refractory to or intolerant of medical therapy. Many of these patients had recurrent pain despite such surgical treatment as microvascular decompression (21%) or one or more percutaneous radiofrequency thermal rhizotomies (19%). The follow-up duration after glycerol rhizotomy ranged from 4 to 28 months. At the final assessment, 67% had complete pain relief; 23% were improved, with pan relieved by minimal drug therapy; and 10% had poor results with unsatisfactory pain relief even with medications. Before the final assessment, 19 patients required a second PRGR because of an initially suboptimal injection (10%) or recurrent pain (16.9%). Seventy-three per cent had no demonstrable change in facial sensation after operation. H akanson 's original procedure based on anatomic verification by cisternography provided precise localization, required no intraoperative stimulation or lesion generators, and allowed varied anesthetic options during operation. In contrast to thermal rhizotomy, PRGR offers patients relief of painful tic douloureux without altering facial sensation in most cases.
Analysis of Runway Incursion Data

A statistical analysis of runway incursion (RI) events was conducted to ascertain relevance to the top ten challenges of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Aviation Safety Program (AvSP). The information contained in the RI database was found to contain data that may be relevant to several of the AvSP top ten challenges. When combined with other data from the FAA documenting air traffic volume from calendar year 2000 through 2011, the structure of a predictive model emerges that can be used to forecast the frequency of RI events at various airports for various classes of aircraft and under various environmental conditions.
Cascade mitigation in energy hub networks

The paper establishes a formulation for energy hub networks that is consistent with mixed-integer quadratic programming problems. Line outages and cascading failures can be considered within this framework. Power flows across transmission lines and pipelines are compared with flow bounds, and tripped when violations occur. The outaging of lines is achieved using a mixed-integer disjunctive model. A model predictive control (MPC) strategy is developed to mitigate cascading failures, and prevent propagation of outages from one energy-carrier network to another. The MPC strategy seeks to alleviate overloads by adjusting generation and storage schedules, subject to ramp-rate limits and governor action. If overloads cannot be eliminated by rescheduling alone, MPC determines the minimum amount of load that must be shed to restore system integrity. The MPC strategy is illustrated using a small 12 hub network and a much larger network that includes 132 energy hubs.
Thermal transport through a one-dimensional quantum spin-1/2 chain heterostructure: The role of three-site spin interaction

We study the thermal transport through a quantum spin-1/2 chain heterostructure, which consists of a finite-size chain with two-site isotropic XY interaction and three-site XZX+YZY interaction coupled at its ends to two semi-infinite isotropic XY chains. After performing Jordan-Wigner transformation, we map the original spin Hamiltonian into a fermion Hamiltonian and express the heat current with a nonequilibrium Green’s function formalism. Then, the heat current as functions of the structure parameters are studied in detail. As a result, we observe that a finite magnetic field applied at the finite-size chain can efficiently induce the heat current asymmetry with ΔΩ (ΔΩ is the magnetic field difference between the finite-size chain and the semi-infinite chains). Accordingly, such a magnetic field can be viewed as a switch in manipulating the heat current.
EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PURPOSE OF COMPUTER USAGE AND READING SKILLS OF TURKISH STUDENTS: EVIDENCE FROM PISA 2006

Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) has conducted a series of educational assessments in many OECD and non-OECD countries to support their sustainable economic growth since 2000. These assessments are named Program for International Student Achievement (PISA); they focus on the capabilities of 15-year olds in three main subjects: mathematics, science, and reading. PISA also measures students’ interests and tendencies toward information and communication Technologies. This study investigates the relationship between Turkish students’ reading scores and their use of computers for educational and entertainment purposes across males and females, by using the data from PISA 2006. In order to examine the relationship between these variables, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) is used in the study. Results of this study indicate that while the use of computers for entertainment purposes affects students’ reading scores positively, the use of computers for educational purposes affects their reading scores negatively. Also, according to our results, there is not a statistically significant difference between male and female students in this relationship.
Collaboration as a second thought

Collaboration is often an afterthought to a project or development. In this paper we describe and analyze our experiences in developing collaborative technologies, most often involving the sharing of visual information. We have often developed these in a context that required us to retrofit existing analysis applications with collaboration capabilities. This approach, though fruitful, is time-consuming, expensive, and often difficult to re-apply elsewhere - it is just hard to change an existing application. One way to make such an effort easier is to package the collaborative components as a kit that can be leveraged on a case-by-case basis. The fixed interface provided by a well-designed toolkit eases the integration process by providing an unchanging and familiar set of components to deploy. Better still, we find, are approaches that require no modification of applications while providing rich and powerful means for sharing information with collaborators. We discuss three separate and illuminating examples that meet this criterion in different ways: (1) building the collaborative potential into the underlying abstractions on which operating systems are built, (2) building tools that live side-by-side with any application in the context provided by the operating system, or by (3) building information tools that use collaborative modalities to better integrate with our workflow. These are probably not the only options, but they all derive from an approach where collaboration is considered early in the design process and therefore manifests itself deep in the computing infrastructure giving it a wider cast.
Nonreceptor tyrosine kinases in prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Carcinoma of the prostate (CaP) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men in the United States. Signal transduction molecules such as tyrosine kinases play important roles in CaP. Src, a nonreceptor tyrosine kinase (NRTK) and the first proto-oncogene discovered is shown to participate in processes such as cellproliferation and migrationinCaP. Underscoring NRTK’s and, specifically, Src’s importance in cancer is the recent approval by the US Food and Drug Administration of dasatinib, the first commercial Src inhibitor for clinical use in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). In this review we will focus on NRTKs and their roles in the biology of CaP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Publicly available literature from PubMed regarding the topic of members of NRTKs in CaP was searched and reviewed. RESULTS: Src, FAK, JaK1/2, and ETK are involved in processes indispensable to the biology of CaP: cell growth, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, and apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: Src emerges as a common signaling and regulatory molecule in multiple biological processes in CaP. Src’s relative importance in particular stages of CaP, however, required further definition. Continued investigation of NRTKs will increase our understanding of their biological function and potential role as new therapeutic targets. Neoplasia (2007) 9, 90–100
Virulence of Low Pathogenicity H7N2 Avian Influenza Viruses from the Delmarva Peninsula for Broiler and Leghorn Chickens and Turkeys

Abstract The virulence of low pathogenicity (LP) type A H7N2 avian influenza virus (AIV) isolates recovered from chickens in Delaware and the eastern shore of Maryland in 2004 was evaluated. Three-week-old leghorn- and broiler-type chickens and turkeys were inoculated via the conjunctival sac with 103.5–104.0 50% embryo infectious dose (EID50) of virus per bird with A/chicken/Delaware/Viva/04, A/chicken/Delaware/Hobo/04, and A/chicken/Maryland/Minh Ma/04. In broilers, the viruses produced respiratory signs, airsacculitis, and microscopic lesions in the trachea and lung. In contrast, signs and lesions were less severe in turkeys, and they were rarely observed in specific-pathogen-free (SPF) leghorns. In broilers and SPF leghorns, AIV peaked on day 3 postinoculation (PI), based on virus isolation and real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and antigen capture testing. Infection in turkeys peaked on day 7 PI. Serum antibodies generally were detected earlier in broilers (day 7 PI) than in t...
DELINQUENCY, IDENTITY, AND WOMEN'S INVOLVEMENT IN RELATIONSHIP VIOLENCE*

This study focuses on factors associated with women's self-reports of relationship violence “perpetration.” We analyzed data derived from personal interviews with 942 respondents who were originally contacted when they were adolescents and then 10 years later as young adults (N=721). Level of delinquency in adolescence was a signicant predictor of adult reports of involvement in relationship violence, for both male and female respondents. In addition, women's scores on the Conflict Tactics scale were related to adolescent and adult identities-higher scores were found among women who reported that they had been viewed as troublemakers as adolescents and who endorsed statements indexing an angry self-concept in adulthood. Although male perpetration represents a much more serious social and public health problem, these data do suggest that there may be a social learning basis for female as well as male expressions of violence.
Bilinear time-frequency representations: new insights and properties

An analysis of the interference terms of Cohen-class bilinear time-frequency representations (TFR) of multicomponent signals is presented. Constraints for achieving new interference properties are derived. Imposing these interference time and interference frequency concentration constraints on a TFR guarantees that the TFR will be zero everywhere the signal s(t) is zero, and the TFR will contain only those frequencies that occur in the signal. Thus, these new constraints guarantee strong finite support in a TFR. When these interference concentration properties are combined with interference attenuation, tradeoffs between finite support, the marginals, and the interference properties are shown to be unavoidable. The useful class of product kernels are considered and generalized further to allow TFR with potentially superior interference properties. The interference frequency concentration and attenuation properties allow TFR with spectrogram-like interference suppression, but without the spectrogram's inherent time/frequency resolution tradeoff. Other useful combinations of properties are discussed and analyzed, and properties and tradeoffs are illustrated by examples. >
The high variability in sizing knee cartilage defects.

Background: Articular cartilage defects of the knee are commonly encountered during arthroscopic examination and are believed to be a precursor to osteoarthritis. While a variety of surgical treatments exist, the defect size, specifically the cross-sectional area, has historically been used as a critical element in choosing one procedure over another. The purpose of this study was to characterize the variability associated with arthroscopic techniques that are used to determine the cross-sectional area of distal femoral articular cartilage defects. Methods: Six orthopaedic surgeons used four measurement techniques to estimate the area of cartilage defects in ten cadaveric knees. The areas of the defects determined by the surgeons were compared against the known areas of the defects that were determined from plastic molds. Results: Averaged across all approaches, the four measurement techniques yielded highly variable results that underestimated the size of the defects (mean and standard deviation, −0.31 ± 1.22 cm2). There was no difference in the estimated sizes of the defects on the medial or lateral femoral condyles (p = 0.96), but defects on the trochlea (mean, −0.53 ± 1.00 cm2) were less accurately sized than defects on either of the condyles (p 4 cm2 were underestimated (mean, −0.87 ± 1.83 cm2) compared with other defects (p < 0.001). Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Our current treatment algorithms rely heavily on the size of a cartilage defect, but only 57% of the measurements in this study would have accurately led to the appropriate surgical procedure. There is a need to evaluate and quantify the size of a lesion more appropriately than current standards allow and potentially revise existing treatment algorithms.
Functional analysis of the Theobroma cacao NPR1 gene in arabidopsis

Background: The Arabidopsis thaliana NPR1 gene encodes a transcription coactivator (NPR1) that plays a major role in the mechanisms regulating plant defense response. After pathogen infection and in response to salicylic acid (SA) accumulation, NPR1 translocates from the cytoplasm into the nucleus where it interacts with other transcription factors resulting in increased expression of over 2000 plant defense genes contributing to a pathogen resistance response. Results: A putative Theobroma cacao NPR1 cDNA was isolated by RT-PCR using degenerate primers based on homologous sequences from Brassica, Arabidopsis and Carica papaya. The cDNA was used to isolate a genomic clone from Theobroma cacao containing a putative TcNPR1 gene. DNA sequencing revealed the presence of a 4.5 kb coding region containing three introns and encoding a polypeptide of 591 amino acids. The predicted TcNPR1 protein shares 55% identity and 78% similarity to Arabidopsis NPR1, and contains each of the highly conserved functional domains indicative of this class of transcription factors (BTB/POZ and ankyrin repeat protein-protein interaction domains and a nuclear localization sequence (NLS)). To functionally define the TcNPR1 gene, we transferred TcNPR1 into an Arabidopsis npr1 mutant that is highly susceptible to infection by the plant pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000. Driven by the constitutive CaMV35S promoter, the cacao TcNPR1 gene partially complemented the npr1 mutation in transgenic Arabidopsis plants, resulting in 100 fold less bacterial growth in a leaf infection assay. Upon induction with SA, TcNPR1 was shown to translocate into the nucleus of leaf and root cells in a manner identical to Arabidopsis NPR1. Cacao NPR1 was also capable of participating in SA-JA signaling crosstalk, as evidenced by the suppression of JA responsive gene expression in TcNPR1 overexpressing transgenic plants. Conclusion: Our data indicate that the TcNPR1 is a functional ortholog of Arabidopsis NPR1, and is likely to play a major role in defense response in cacao. This fundamental knowledge can contribute to breeding of disease resistant cacao varieties through the application of molecular markers or the use of transgenic strategies.
Effect of Iron Substitution on the High-Temperature Properties of Sm(Co,Cu,Ti)z Permanent Magnets

Abstract : Recently, Ti-substituted Sm-Co permanent magnets have attracted renewed attention due to their interesting high-temperature coercivity. Our presentation deals with the effect of iron substitutions on the magnetic properties of the materials. X-ray diffraction shows that the investigated Sm(Co,Fe,Cu,Ti)(sub z) materials (z = 7.0 - 7.6) are two-phase magnets, consisting of 1:5 and 2:17 regions. The iron content affects both the coercivity and the magnetization. Depending on composition and heat treatment, some samples show a positive temperature coefficient of the coercivity in the temperature range from 22 deg C to 550 deg C. Moderate amounts of iron enhance the room-temperature coercivity. For example, the room-temperature coercivity of Sm(Co(6.0)Fe(0.4)Cu(0.6))Ti(0.3) is 9.6 kOe, as compared to 7.6 kOe for Sm(Co(6.4)Cu(0.6)Ti(0.3)). At high temperatures, the addition of Fe has a deteriorating effect on the coercivity, which is as high as 10.0 kOe at 500 deg C for Sm(Co(6.4)Cu(0.6)Ti(0.3)). The room-temperature magnetization increases on iron substitution, from 73 emu/g for Sm(Co(6.4)Cu(0.6)Ti(0.3)) to 78 emu/g for Sm(Co(6.0)Fe(0.4)Cu(0.6)Ti(0.3)). The observed temperature dependence is ascribed to the preferential dumbbell-site occupancy of the Fe atoms.
One Plant Actin Isovariant, ACT7, Is Induced by Auxin and Required for Normal Callus Formation

During plant growth and development, the phytohormone auxin induces a wide array of changes that include cell division, cell expansion, cell differentiation, and organ initiation. It has been suggested that the actin cytoskeleton plays an active role in the elaboration of these responses by directing specific changes in cell morphology and cytoarchitecture. Here we demonstrate that the promoter and the protein product of one of the Arabidopsis vegetative actin genes, ACT7, are rapidly and strongly induced in response to exogenous auxin in the cultured tissues of Arabidopsis. Homozygous act7-1 mutant plants were slow to produce callus tissue in response to hormones, and the mutant callus contained at least two to three times lower levels of ACT7 protein than did the wild-type callus. On the other hand, a null mutation in ACT2, another vegetative actin gene, did not significantly affect callus formation from leaf or root tissue. Complementation of the act7-1 mutants with the ACT7 genomic sequence restored their ability to produce callus at rates similar to those of wild-type plants, confirming that the ACT7 gene is required for callus formation. Immunolabeling of callus tissue with actin subclass-specific antibodies revealed that the predominant ACT7 is coexpressed with the other actin proteins. We suggest that the coexpression, and probably the copolymerization, of the abundant ACT7 with the other actin isovariants in cultured cells may facilitate isovariant dynamics well suited for cellular responses to external stimuli such as hormones.
Anxiety and Alcohol Abuse in Patients in Treatment for Depression

Anxiety may be an important factor in explaining the prevalence of alcohol abuse among depressive patients. However, it is unclear whether anxiety has effects that are independent of other core symptoms in depression, and whether it is linked to alcoholic problems in both sexes. The present study of hospitalized depressive patients found a strong association between anxiety and alcohol abuse for women, and a weaker association for men. These effects were independent of severity of depression and global pathology. Whereas the correlation appeared to be linear for men, with each higher level of anxiety being associated with more alcohol problems, for women depressives those in a moderate-anxiety subgroup had the most difficulty with alcohol.
Effect of Soil Moisture Management on the Development of Potato mop-top virus-Induced Tuber Necrosis

Potato mop-top virus (PMTV), transmitted by Spongospora subterranea f. sp. subterranea, the causal agent of powdery scab in potato, has become one of the most important tuber necrosis viruses in th...
Multi-phase flow simulation of CO2 leakage through a fractured caprock in response to mitigation strategies

Abstract To evaluate the effectiveness of several mitigation strategies, we developed two-dimensional flow and transport simulations of carbon dioxide (CO2) leakage through the fractured caprock of a storage reservoir, over timescales of 2–10 years. The fractured system was modeled as a low-permeability fault core surrounded by a fractured damage zone, as would be expected for a low-porosity caprock that underwent brittle deformation. To represent the damage zone, we introduced heterogeneities in the initial permeability field by using a grid-based continuum model where the upscaling relationship for permeability as a function of fracture aperture and density is given by an analytical expression. The first mitigation strategy, injection of a drying agent (dry CO2 here) below the damage zone, leads to precipitation of solids and local decreases in permeability that cause lateral migration of the leak and self-sealing of the fractured system. The higher the maximum value of the permeability in the damage zone, the less time required to reduce the leak rate. The second mitigation strategy evaluated controlled permeability reduction in the fractured zone by simulating an idealized emplaced sealant. Collectively, modeling results suggest that knowledge of the hydrodynamics of the leak is required to optimize the location of sealant applications within the fracture zone.
Reduced-temperature solution-processed transparent oxide low-voltage-operable field-effect transistors

Metal oxide-based transistors can be fabricated by low-cost, large-area solution processing methods, but involve a trade-off between low processing temperature, facile charge transport and high-capacitance/low-voltage transistor gates. We achieve these simultaneously by fabricating zinc oxide and sodium-incorporated alumina (SA) thin films with temperature not exceeding 200 to 250 °C using aqueous and combustion precursors, respectively. X-ray reflectivity shows a compositionally distinct SA boundary layer forming near the substrate and that a portion of the SA is chemically removed during the subsequent semiconductor deposition. Improved etch resistance and reduced dielectric leakage was obtained when (3-glycidoxypropyl) trimethoxysilane was included in the SA precursor.
A chemically relevant artificial fingerprint material for the cross-comparison of mass spectrometry techniques

AbstractThe development of a chemically relevant artificial fingerprint material as well as a preliminary method for artificial fingerprint deposition for mass spectrometric analysis and chemical imaging is presented. The material is an emulsified combination of artificial eccrine and sebaceous components designed to mimic the chemical profile of a latent fingerprint. In order to deposit this material in a manner that resembles a latent fingerprint, an artificial fingerprint stamp, created using 3-D printing, was used. Development of this material was spurred by the inability to cross-compare mass spectrometric techniques using real fingerprint deposits because of their inherent heterogeneity. To determine how well this material mimicked the chemical composition of actual fingerprint deposits, ambient ionization mass spectrometry and secondary ion mass spectrometry techniques were used to compare the signatures of the artificial and real fingerprint deposits. Chemical imaging comparisons of the artificial...
Loss of Peristaltic Reserve, Determined by Multiple Rapid Swallows, Is the Most Frequent Esophageal Motility Abnormality in Patients With Systemic Sclerosis

We assessed peristaltic reserve using multiple rapid swallows (MRS) during esophageal high-resolution manometry (HRM) of 111 patients with systemic sclerosis (89 women; ages, 42-64 y). We performed a retrospective analysis of HRM studies that included MRS in patients with systemic sclerosis, performed at 2 tertiary referral centers, and compared data with those from 18 healthy volunteers (controls). HRM findings were analyzed according to the Chicago Classification to provide an esophageal motility diagnosis. Response to MRS was evaluated for the presence of contraction and for augmentation, defined as the distal contractile integral after MRS greater than the median distal contractile integral of 10 supine swallows. Esophageal motility diagnoses included 41% with absent contractility, 31% with normal motility, 23% with ineffective esophageal motility, and 5% that met the criteria for other esophageal motility disorders. Contraction (37%) and peristaltic augmentation (18%) after MRS were observed less frequently in patients with systemic sclerosis than in controls (83% and 100%, respectively). Impaired peristaltic reserve, as assessed with MRS during HRM, is therefore the most common esophageal motility finding among patients with systemic sclerosis.
Effects of Splenectomy on Pituitary Gonadotropic Substances

SummaryTests with pituitary grafts of minimal strength failed to show that splenectomy was concerned with: (1) summation effects of ovarian weights produced by repeated grafts over a period of 25 days, (2) the amount of ovarian response obtained at the end of 5 days, (3) the potency of the pituitary gland of the donor, or (4) the inhibition of estrus following sexual maturity induced by pituitary grafts.
The analysis of cancer chemoprevention experiments.

SUMMARY This paper is concerned with the analysis of certain cancer chemoprevention experiments that involve Type I censoring. In experiments of this nature, two common response variables are the number of induced cancers and the rate at which they develop. In this study, we assume that the number of induced tumors and their times to detection are described by the Poisson and gamma distributions, respectively. Using the method of maximum likelihood, we discuss a procedure for estimating the parameters characterizing these two distributions. We apply standard techniques in order to construct a confidence region and conduct a hypothesis test concerning the parameters of interest. We discuss a method for comparing the effects of two different treatments using the likelihood ratio principle. A technique for isolating group differences in terms of the mean number of promoted tumors and the mean time to detection is described. Using the techniques developed in this paper, we reanalyze an existing data set in the cancer chemoprevention literature and obtain contrasting results. The experimental systems studied in this paper are primarily designed to investigate the effect of diet on incidence rates of cancer. These investigations involve the chemical induction of tumors in experimental animals in order to test the chemopreventative effects of various substances. Among the response variables used to compare treatments are the number of induced cancers and the rate at which they develop. It is important to consider simultaneously tumor number and the rate of development in analyzing experiments of this nature. An effective chemopreventative agent should decrease the number of tumors and/or slow the tumor growth rate. Analysis of experimental systems in which multiple tumors occur is made difficult by the confounding of the number of induced tumors and their times of detection. This confounding occurs because experiments are terminated before all induced tumors have been detected. Fewer tumors in one treatment group as compared to another may be the result of a decreased number of induced tumors, a slowing of tumor growth rate, or both. It is important for the experimenter to be able to discriminate reliably between these two biologically different possibilities.
Toxicological and biochemical characterization of insecticide resistance in a field-collected strain of Blattella germanica (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae)

A combination of insecticidal, biochemical, and electrophoretic assays were conducted on adult male and 1st instars of a field-collected strain of German cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.) (Muncie‘86), to characterize its insecticide resistance. In topical applications to adult males, 11 technical grade insecticides were tested over 3 yr. These included representatives of 4 chemical classes: (1) pyrethroids (5 compounds), (2) oregano phosphates (3 compounds), (3) carbamates (2 compounds), and (4) cyclodienes (1 compound). The highest levels of resistance were to chlordane and bendiocarb with a resistance ratio at 95% response of 21.9 and 15.7, respectively. To examine the stability of resistance, the responses of adult males to chlorpyrifos and cypermethrin were tested repeatedly over 3 yr and results were compared by chi-square analysis. Resistance levels showed significant yearly variation in each of the 50 and 95% resistance ratios, but only significant insecticidal variation at the 50% level. Treatment with piperonyl butoxide before insecticides restored susceptibility to only 1 of 4 insecticides tested on adult males, suggesting that a monooxygenase resistance mechanism coexists with other mechanisms in this strain. Biochemical assays confirmed that this strain possessed both elevated levels of cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (in the adult male stage) and est erase activity (in 1st instars), compared with a standard susceptible strain of German cockroach. Native est erases from 1st instars in the field-collected strain differed electrophoretically from those in the susceptible strain.