cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In vitro interactions between Fusarium verticillioides and Ustilago maydis through real-time PCR and metabolic profiling.

The goal of this research was to determine mechanisms of interaction between endophytic strains of Fusarium verticillioides (Sacc.) Nirenberg and the pathogen, Ustilago maydis (DC) (Corda). Endophytic strains of the fungus F. verticillioides are commonly found in association with maize (Zea mays) and when co-inoculated with U. maydis, often lead to decreased disease severity caused by the pathogen. Here, we developed methods (liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry) to evaluate changes in relative concentration of metabolites produced during in vitro interactions between the endophyte and pathogen. Fungi were grown on two different media, in single and in confronted cultures. We used real-time PCR (qPCR) assays to measure relative changes in fungal biomass, that occurred in confronted cultures compared to single cultures. The results showed that most secondary metabolites are constitutively produced by each species. Metabolite profiles are complex for U. maydis (twenty chromatographic peaks detected) while relatively fewer compounds were detected for F. verticillioides (six chromatographic peaks). In confronted cultures, metabolite ratio (metabolite concentration/biomass) generally increases for U. maydis metabolites while no significant changes were observed for most F. verticillioides metabolites. The results show that F. verticillioides is a strong antagonist of U. maydis as its presence leads to large reductions in U. maydis biomass. We infer that few U. maydis metabolites likely serve antibiotic functions against F. verticillioides. The methods described here are sufficiently sensitive to detect small changes in biomass and metabolite concentration associated with differing genotypes of the interacting species.
Diffusivity of hydrogen in pure iron

The rate of permeation of hydrogen through a highly purified iron (Ferrovac E) was measured over a pressure range of 1/30 to 300 atm. and a temperature range of 126° to 693°C. The effect of cold working of the annealed metal and of hydrogen purity were also studied. Permeability, diffusivity, and solubility were obtained from the data. Permeation rate was linear with square root of fugacity rather than pressure. No difference in ϕ or D between the annealed and cold worked tube was observed. Log D vs. 1/T was linear over the whole range of temperature, in disagreement with recent work showing a break in the plot at about 400°C. The calculated activation energy was lower than values reported in the literature. Solubility agreed well with most previous work and did not show the break in the solubility vs. temperature curve found by some recent investigators. No ageing effect was observed nor any difference between the two grades of hydrogen. All the evidence shows that diffusion through the metal is the controlling rate process in this case.
Brunner-Type Glands in Regional Enteritis

Summary 1.A study of a series of cases of regional enteritis confirms observations that aberrant Brunner-type glands are sometimes encountered in the resected ileum in this disease. Such changes were found in 16 of 34 cases studied. 2.A microscopic description of these aberrant glands is presented with a discussion of possible etiologic factors. 3.A clinical application in prognosis is suggested, since the subsequent recurrence rate was 67 per cent in the group of 16 cases of regional ileitis showing Brunner-type gland development in the resected ileum; this is contrasted with the entire lack of recurrences in 18 cases of regional ileitis exhibiting no Brunner-type glands in the resected area.
'Spirituality' and 'cultural adaptation' in a Latino mutual aid group for substance misuse and mental health.

A previously unknown Spanish-language mutual aid resource for substance use and mental health concerns is available in Latino communities across the USA and much of Latin America. This kind of ‘4th and 5th step’ group is a ‘culturally adapted’ version of the 12-step programme and provides empirical grounds on which to re-theorise the importance of spirituality and culture in mutual aid recovery groups. This article presents ethnographic data on this organisation.
Essential role of urease in pathogenesis of gastritis induced by Helicobacter pylori in gnotobiotic piglets

A mutant strain of Helicobacter pylori with weak urease activity was created by using N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine. The urease activity of the mutant (0.036 +/- 0.009 nmol of urea per micrograms of bacterial protein per min) was 0.4% of that of the parental strain (8.20 +/- 2.30 nmol of urea per micrograms of bacterial protein per min). The mutant was otherwise indistinguishable from the parental strain. Both demonstrated prominent catalase and oxidase activities, and both produced vacuolating cytotoxin. Restriction endonuclease and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) patterns and ultrastructure were identical for the two strains. The mutant was fully motile, as evaluated by spreading in soft agar and by direct microscopic examination. Growth rate and colony size and morphology were identical for the mutant and parental strains. Seventeen gnotobiotic piglets were challenged with either the mutant or the parental strain and sacrificed 3 or 21 days after challenge. Gastric tissue was examined histologically and cultured for H. pylori. Of seven piglets challenged with the parental strain, all became infected. H. pylori was not recovered from any of 10 piglets challenged with the urease-negative strain. Lymphofollicular gastritis was present in all seven piglets challenged with the parental strain but in none of the piglets challenged with the urease-negative strain. These results suggest that prominent urease activity is essential for colonization by H. pylori.
Hypena opulenta (Erebidae): A European Species for the Biological Control of Invasive Swallow-Worts (Vincetoxicum spp.) in North America

ABSTRACT. The moth Hypena opulenta (Christoph, 1877) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) was approved for release in eastern Canada and is pending approval in the United States of America as a biological control agent of the invasive European swallow-worts (Vincetoxicum spp.). Descriptions of the adult in Noctuidae Europeae do not accurately represent the color morph of the rearing colony so a new description is provided. Also for the first time the larva is described and illustrated and a simple key is provided that separates H. opulenta from most of the Hypena spp. in the Northeastern U.S.
Contributions of family violence research to criminal justice policy on wife assault: paradigms of science and social control.

Criminal justice policy on family violence has evolved over the past two decades, informed by political activism as well as theory and research from divergent and often competing perspectives. Experimental research on mandatory arrest of men who assault female partners, policy research on special prosecution programs, and the development of treatment programs for men who batter, typify the strategies for applying criminal sanctions to family violence. However, other critical research on family violence has not been integrated into criminal justice policy, limiting policy development and intervention strategies to practices which reflect contemporary models of sanctions and social control. The limited contributions of family violence research to criminal justice policy reflect competing paradigms of social science, the challenge of family violence cases to the normative processes and the social organization of the criminal courts, and divergent perspectives on social control of offenders in family and stranger violence cases. Strategies for an integrated policy development process are suggested. Language: en
Temple University Physics Professor Xiaoxing Xi and The Dismissal of Wire Fraud Charges

In the early morning of May 21 2015, FBI agents burst into the home of Prof. Xiaoxing Xi and his family and arrested Prof. Xi. The agents brandishing weapons, forcibly dragged Prof. Xi away in handcuffs. With a search warrant, the agents searched their home and seized belongings [http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2015/09/18/xiaoxing-xi-china-spyfbi-state-visit-column/32560009/].
Sample procurement for cultures of infected wounds: a systematic review.

Objective: Identifying the responsible pathogen is required in order to select optimum antimicrobial therapy for infected wounds, but the best techniques to use remain the subject of debate. Our aim was to assess the evidence on the value of wound swabs compared with biopsies. Method: We conducted a systematic literature review with the terms ‘wound infection’, ‘wound swab’, ‘wound swab technique’, ‘wound biopsy’, ‘wound culture’, ‘wound swab comparison’, ‘Levine swab technique’, ‘microbiological technique’, ‘specimen handling’, ‘bacterial load’, ‘perioperative care’, ‘swab’, and ‘culture’. We examined yields in identifying relevant pathogens, summarised salient features of qualifying studies, and defined knowledge gaps and endpoints that future studies should address. Results: Studies have been inconsistent, lacking specificity regarding wound types, clinical features, and sampling methods. We found moderate quality evidence that punch biopsies provide qualitative and quantitative information about the b...
Aging is associated with increased Weber ratios

To investigate whether age-associated changes in the human taste system are quality-specific, we compared young and elderly subjects’ suprathreshold discrimination abilities for caffeine and sucrose. The method of constant stimuli was used to obtain just noticeable differences and Weber ratios. The elderly generated larger Weber ratios than did the young for both the medium and high concentrations of caffeine, but not for the low concentration. For example, a 74% increase in .005 M caffeine was required to obtain a perceptible difference for the elderly, whereas a 34% increase produced a perceptible difference for the young. The Weber ratios for sucrose did not differ for the two age groups. The results of this study indicate that age-associated changes in the taste system are quality-specific.
New developments in the management of hypertension

The management of hypertension has evolved over the past decade. Isolated systolic blood pressure elevation, the most common form of uncontrolled hypertension, is recognized as a significant risk factor for vascular complications in patients with hypertension. Nutritional management of hypertension has moved beyond simply restricting sodium intake to ensuring that patients consume adequate amounts of the major food groups, particularly those containing calcium, potassium, and magnesium. Selective aldosterone receptor blockers are a new class of antihypertensive medication, and the angiotensin-receptor blocker class has several new additions. However, the main-stay of treatment remains a diuretic or a combination of a diuretic and either a beta blocker or an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor. Hypertension is a significant risk factor for vascular complications of diabetes, and the target blood pressure in patients with diabetes or chronic renal disease and hypertension should be lower than that in patients with hypertension alone. Controlling hypertension in elderly patients can reduce their complications at least as much as it does those of younger patients with hypertension.
New Onset Seizures During Pregnancy

A 24-year-old pregnant woman (G1P0) presents with new onset epilepsy. She found out about her pregnancy after her first witnessed generalized tonic-clonic seizure when she ended up in the emergency room and beta HCG was sent for by the emergency room physician. The week before her visit to your office, she experienced a second unprovoked generalized tonic-clonic seizure out of sleep which was accompanied with tongue laceration. Both seizures were witnessed by her husband who accompanies her to this consultation visit. She is at her 5th week of gestation and has no known risk factors for epilepsy. Her MRI of brain is within normal limits. Her EEG shows left temporal sharp waves potentiated during sleep. What is the treatment you suggest? How do you counsel the patient if she is hesitant or decides not to take seizure medications during her pregnancy?
Supplemental Protein during Heavy Cycling Training and Recovery Impacts Skeletal Muscle and Heart Rate Responses but Not Performance

The effects of protein supplementation on cycling performance, skeletal muscle function, and heart rate responses to exercise were examined following intensified (ICT) and reduced-volume training (RVT). Seven cyclists performed consecutive periods of normal training (NT), ICT (10 days; average training duration 220% of NT), and RVT (10 days; training duration 66% of NT). In a crossover design, subjects consumed supplemental carbohydrate (CHO) or an equal amount of carbohydrate with added protein (CP) during and following each exercise session (CP = +0.94 g/kg/day protein during ICT; +0.39 g/kg/day during RVT). A 30-kilometer time trial performance (following 120 min at 50% Wmax) was modestly impaired following ICT (+2.4 ± 6.4% versus NT) and returned to baseline levels following RVT (−0.7 ± 4.5% versus NT), with similar responses between CHO and CP. Skeletal muscle torque at 120 deg/s benefited from CP, compared to CHO, following ICT. However, this effect was no longer present at RVT. Following ICT, muscle fiber cross-sectional area was increased with CP, while there were no clear changes with CHO. Reductions in constant-load heart rates (at 50% Wmax) following RVT were likely greater with CP than CHO (−9 ± 9 bpm). Overall it appears that CP supplementation impacted skeletal muscle and heart rate responses during a period of heavy training and recovery, but this did not result in meaningful changes in time trial performance.
Switching direction affects switching costs: Behavioral, ERP and time-frequency analyses of intra-sentential codeswitching

Bilinguals have the unique ability to produce utterances that switch between languages. Most language switching research has focused on isolated, unrelated items, which emphasizes separation of the languages. Fewer studies examined the cognitive and neural mechanisms of switching languages in natural discourse. The present study examined the effect of codeswitching direction on the comprehension of intra-sentential codeswitching in Spanish-English bilinguals, using self-paced reading behavioral measurements (Experiment 1) and electroencephalography (EEG) measurements (Experiment 2), analyzed via both event-related potentials (ERPs) and time-frequency analysis (TFR). Reading times showed a significant switching cost for codeswitched sentences in both codeswitching directions, though switching costs were somewhat higher into the dominant language than into the weaker language. ERPs showed that codeswitched as compared to non-switched words elicited a late positivity, but only when switching from the dominant into the weaker language, not in the reverse direction. TFRs showed complementary and converging results: switches into the weaker language resulted in a power decrease in lower beta band while switches into the dominant language resulted in a power increase in theta band. These multi-method findings provide novel insights into neurocognitive resources engaged in the comprehension of intra-sentential codeswitches related to sentence-level restructuring processes to activate and access the weaker language.
Using Lasers to Create Metal-Polyimide Films with Alternating Layers

Metallized polyimide polymer films are of interest owing to their wide scope of applications including adaptive optical mirrors, solar dynamic power generation, radiation shielding, and thermal control coatings. Palladium-based polyimide films have proven to be unique in terms of thermal reduction, photochemistry and nanoparticulate distribution within the polymer matrix. When Pd polyamic acid is exposed to lamp radiation for 15 hours prior to curing, an additional nanoscale metallic interlayer is created within the surface-metallized polyimide matrix. This photo-process creates alternating nanoparticulate layers of palladium metal. Whilst previous efforts have produced metallic interlayer in 15 hours, we show that an excimer laser reduces this time to 4–8 minutes. Preliminary results using a femtosecond laser show that a metal interlayer can be formed with as little as 8 seconds of exposure time. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) are used to characterize the layers. In addition to Pd, surface metallization and interlayer formation using other metals is discussed.
Identification of a ubiquitin-binding interface using Rosetta and DEER

ExoU is a type III-secreted cytotoxin expressing A2 phospholipase activity when injected into eukaryotic target cells by the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The enzymatic activity of ExoU is undetectable in vitro unless ubiquitin, a required cofactor, is added to the reaction. The role of ubiquitin in facilitating ExoU enzymatic activity is poorly understood but of significance for designing inhibitors to prevent tissue injury during infections with strains of P. aeruginosa producing this toxin. Most ubiquitin-binding proteins, including ExoU, demonstrate a low (micromolar) affinity for monoubiquitin (monoUb). Additionally, ExoU is a large and dynamic protein, limiting the applicability of traditional structural techniques such as NMR and X-ray crystallography to define this protein–protein interaction. Recent advancements in computational methods, however, have allowed high-resolution protein modeling using sparse data. In this study, we combine double electron–electron resonance (DEER) spectroscopy and Rosetta modeling to identify potential binding interfaces of ExoU and monoUb. The lowest-energy scoring model was tested using biochemical, biophysical, and biological techniques. To verify the binding interface, Rosetta was used to design a panel of mutations to modulate binding, including one variant with enhanced binding affinity. Our analyses show the utility of computational modeling when combined with sensitive biological assays and biophysical approaches that are exquisitely suited for large dynamic proteins.
Belief maintenance in dynamic constraint networks

This paper presents a constraint network formulation of belief maintenance in dynamically changing environments. We focus on the task of computing the degree of support for each proposition, i.e., the number of solutions of the constraint network which are consistent with the proposition. The paper develops an efficient distributed scheme for calculating and revising beliefs in acyclic constraint networks. The suggested process consists of two phases. In the first, called support propagation, each variable updates the number of extensions consistent with each of its values. The second, called contradiction resolution, is invoked by a variable upon detecting a contradiction, and identifies a minimal set of assumptions that potentially account for the contradiction.
One-Year Outcomes of an Integrated Multiple Sclerosis Disease Management Program.

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is associated with high total health care cost, the majority of which is attributable to medications. Patients with MS are less likely to experience relapses, em...
Microbial Community Structure and Functional Potential Along a Hypersaline Gradient

Salinity is one of the strongest environmental drivers of microbial evolution and community composition. Here we aimed to determine the impact of salt concentrations (2.5, 7.5, and 33.2%) on the microbial community structure of reclaimed saltern ponds near San Francisco, California, and to discover prospective enzymes with potential biotechnological applications. Community compositions were determined by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing revealing both higher richness and evenness in the pond sediments compared to the water columns. Co-occurrence network analysis additionally uncovered the presence of microbial seed bank communities, potentially primed to respond to rapid changes in salinity. In addition, functional annotation of shotgun metagenomic DNA showed different capabilities if the microbial communities at different salinities for methanogenesis, amino acid metabolism, and carbohydrate-active enzymes. There was an overall shift with increasing salinity in the functional potential for starch degradation, and a decrease in degradation of cellulose and other oligosaccharides. Further, many carbohydrate-active enzymes identified have acidic isoelectric points that have potential biotechnological applications, including deconstruction of biofuel feedstocks under high ionic conditions. Metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) of individual halotolerant and halophilic microbes were binned revealing a variety of carbohydrate-degrading potential of individual pond inhabitants.
Secretions of Opilionids, Whip Scorpions and Pseudoscorpions

The opilionids (order Opiliones), whip scorpions (order Uropygi), and pseudoscorpions (order Pseudoscorpiones), all belong to the class Arachnida. Within the class, the three orders are not particularly closely related to one another, and they are treated together here merely as a matter of convenience. The opilionids, with some 3000 known species (LEVI et al., 1968), comprise the largest of these orders. The pseudoscorpions include about 1500 described species (WEYGOLDT, 1969), and the whip scorpions only about 70 (LEVI et al., 1968). The glands of opilionids and whip scorpions are purely defensive devices, whose dischargeable contents serve to repel enemies. Pseudoscorpions produce injectable poisons, employed supposedly only for immobilization of prey. Chemical studies have been done on the secretion of only one whip scorpion and relatively few opilionids. Nothing is known about the chemistry of pseudoscorpion venom. The summary that follows stresses the more recent work.
Maximizing Profit in Optical WDM Networks

This chapter considers wavelength routed optical networks, which are fast becoming the choice for the backbone of wide-area networks. Such networks employ wavelength routing to establish all-optical data paths called lightpaths. The chapter studies the routing and wavelength assignment of lightpaths with the objective being to maximize the profit. The problem of maximizing profits is formulated as an Integer Programming problem. Heuristic algorithms are also developed to solve the problem assuming both an off-line and an on-line traffic model. Numerical results are presented, which indicate the efficiency of the algorithms.
Creative Fixation is No Laughing Matter: The Effects of Funny and Unfunny Examples on Humor Production

How do people come up with humorous ideas? In creative cognition research, exposure to good examples sometimes causes fixation (people get “stuck” on the examples) but other times sparks inspiration (people's responses are more creative). The present research examined the effects of funny and unfunny examples on joke production. A sample of 175 adults read scenarios that they completed with funny responses. All participants were instructed to be funny, but before responding they read (a) funny responses as examples of good responses to emulate, (b) unfunny responses as examples of poor responses to avoid, or (c) no examples. The participants’ own responses were rated for funniness and for similarity to the example responses, and response times were recorded. Reading either funny or unfunny examples, compared to no examples, caused people to come up with funnier jokes. Similarity to the examples was low in all conditions, so fixation was relatively modest, but people who saw unfunny examples spent more time coming up with their responses. Taken together, the findings support the growing literature showing that examples are often inspiring rather than constraining, and they imply that good and bad examples spark creative thought via different paths.
Risk of Ischemic Placental Disease in Relation to Family History of Preeclampsia.

Objective To assess the risk of ischemic placental disease (IPD) including preeclampsia, small for gestational age (SGA), and abruption, in relation to preeclampsia in maternal grandmother, mother, and sister(s). Study Design We performed a secondary analysis of data from a randomized trial of vitamins C and E for preeclampsia prevention. Data on family history of preeclampsia were based on recall by the proband. The associations between family history of preeclampsia and the odds of IPD were evaluated from alternating logistic regressions. Results Of the 9,686 women who delivered nonmalformed, singleton live births, 17.1% had IPD. Probands provided data on preeclampsia in 55.5% (n = 5,374) on all three family members, 26.5% (n = 2,562) in mother and sister(s) only, and 11.6% (n = 1,125) in sister(s) only. The pairwise odds ratio (pOR) of IPD was 1.16 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00–1.36) if one or more of the female relatives had preeclampsia. The pORs of preeclampsia were 1.54 (95% CI: 1.12–2.13) and 1.35 (95% CI: 1.03–1.77) if the proband's mother or sister(s) had a preeclamptic pregnancy, respectively, but no associations were seen for SGA infant or abruption. Conclusion This study suggests that IPD may share a predisposition with preeclampsia, suggesting a familial inheritance.
Incongruous Bodies: Arguments for Personal Sufficiency and Public Insufficiency.

(1999). Incongruous Bodies: Arguments for Personal Sufficiency and Public Insufficiency. Argumentation and Advocacy: Vol. 36, No. 1, pp. 1-8.
RNA synthesis is a team effort.

Some RNAs have to be made at maximal achievable rates, yet RNA polymerase encounters many obstacles that slow it down. A new study shows that a group of co-transcribing RNA polymerases communicate over long distances to work more efficiently than a solo enzyme.
A Comparison of Bacteria Cultured from Unionid Mussel Hemolymph between Stable Populations in the Upper Mississippi River Basin and Populations Affected by a Mortality Event in the Clinch River

The diagnosis of bacterial disease in freshwater unionid mussels has been hindered by a lack of baseline information regarding the microbial communities associated with these animals. In this study, we cultured and identified bacteria from the hemolymph of stable mussel populations from Wisconsin portions of the upper Mississippi River basin and compared the results to those from mussel populations experiencing a mortality event in the Clinch River in Virginia and Tennessee. Several bacterial genera were consistently identified across mussel species and locations, appearing to be part of the natural bacterial flora. One noteworthy bacterial species identified from the Clinch River was Yokenella regensburgei, which occurred in relatively high prevalence during the mortality event but was absent from samples acquired afterward. Its role in the mortality event, if any, is unknown but deserves further investigation. We suggest that future studies of freshwater mussel health incorporate hemolymph as a sample type due to its relative separation from the aquatic environment, its role in the circulatory system, and the fact that it can be collected nonlethally.
Risk and Utility in the Duality Framework of Convex Analysis

Measures of risk have grown in importance in expressing preferences between different manifestations of uncertain cost or loss in finance and engineering, but utility functions and expected utility have had a more traditional role. This article surveys how risk and utility are in fact more closely related than may have been appreciated by practitioners. The tools of convex analysis, including conjugate duality, are able to bring this out.
Do companies in the pharmaceutical supply chain earn excess returns

Rising drug spending has led to increased calls to curtail drug costs. However, it is unclear where to target policy solutions. We estimated excess returns (the extent to which a firm's profits are higher than expected given the risk associated with their investments) for manufacturers and middlemen in the pharmaceutical supply chain to determine who is making excessive profits. Excess returns were calculated as the difference between return on invested capital and the expected returns given risk, which is known as the weighted average cost of capital. We compared excess returns for manufacturers and middlemen to the average for S&P 500 companies. We find that both manufacturers and middlemen have higher excess returns in 2013-2018 compared with the S&P 500. However, if we treat research and development (R&D) as an investment rather than an expense, we find that excess returns for pharmaceutical manufacturers are lower than the S&P 500 (1.7% vs. 3.6%), but biotech manufacturers (9.6%), wholesalers (8.1%), and insurers/PBM/retailers (5.9%) continue to have significantly higher excess returns compared to the S&P 500. Our findings suggest public policies that promote competition in all areas of the pharmaceutical supply chain are important avenues for curtailing drug spending.
Web-QuateXelero: Web-based efficient network motif detection tool

A network motif is a over-occurring subgraph pattern in a given network. Network motifs in bioinformatics play an important role in discovering significant biological functions. Although various algorithms and tools are available to detect network motifs, most of them lack accessibility and usability. Here we present, Web-QuateXelero, an online graphical user interface (GUI) program to detect network motifs efficiently. Experimental results show that the program runs faster than other online tools or other standalone programs.
Depth and strain rate-dependent mechanical response of chondrocytes in reserve zone cartilage subjected to compressive loading

The role of the growth plate reserve zone is not well understood. It has been proposed to serve as a source of stem cells and to produce morphogens that control the alignment of clones in preparation for the transition into the proliferative zone. We hypothesized that if such a role exists, there are likely to be mechanoregulatory stimuli in cellular response through the depth of the reserve zone. A poroelastic multiscale finite element model of bone/growth-plate/bone was developed for examining the reserve zone cell transient response when compressed to 5% of the cartilage thickness at strain rates of 0.18%/s, 5%/s, 50%/s, and 200%/s. Chondrocyte maximum principal strains, height-, width-, and membrane-strains were found to be highly dependent on reserve zone tissue depth and strain rate. Cell-level strains and fluid transmembrane outflow from the cell were influenced by the permeability of the calcified cartilage between subchondral bone plate and reserve zone and by the applied strain rate. Cell strain levels in the lower reserve zone were less sensitive to epiphyseal permeability than in the upper reserve zone. In contrast, the intracellular fluid pressures were relatively uniform with reserve zone tissue depth and less sensitive to epiphyseal permeability. Fluid shear stress, induced by fluid flow over the cell surface, provided mechanoregulatory signals potentially sufficient to stimulate reserve zone chondrocytes near the subchondral bone plate interface. These results suggest that the strain rate and tissue depth dependence of cell-level strains and cell surface fluid shear stress may provide mechanoregulatory cues in the reserve zone.
A Dietary Supplement Frequency Questionnaire Correctly Ranks Nutrient Intakes in US Older Adults When Compared to a Comprehensive Dietary Supplement Inventory.

BACKGROUND Dietary supplements are commonly taken by adults in the United States and can contribute substantially to daily nutrient intakes. Short supplement-use questionnaires are often used in dietary surveys, but their accuracy has not been well studied. OBJECTIVES The primary objective was to evaluate the accuracy of a short, self-administered supplement frequency questionnaire (SFQ) relative to a comprehensive 1-y inventory of supplement use. A secondary objective was to compare SFQ responses for participants in the intensive measurement study to those from a control group to investigate a possible research participation effect. METHODS The Supplement Reporting study enrolled 1029 older adults in 2005-2006, with a mean age of 67.8 y, who participated in the Multiethnic Cohort and reported regular use of dietary supplements. Of these, 375 were interviewed quarterly to collect detailed information on types and amounts of dietary supplements used, while 654 served as the control group. All participants completed 2 SFQs, 1 y apart. RESULTS Agreement between the 2 instruments in use at least weekly ranged from 88% to 97% for 15 of 16 supplement types, with a lower agreement of 74% for vitamin D. The correlations of nutrient intakes from supplements between the 2 instruments were high, ranging from 0.48 to 0.75, except for iron (r = 0.29). However, mean nutrient intakes as reported on the SFQ were higher than intakes from the inventory for most nutrients, sometimes twice as high. Nutrient intakes based on the SFQ were similar for the inventory and control groups, at both baseline and the end of the study. CONCLUSIONS A self-administered short SFQ can be used in large surveys to identify participants who use 16 categories of dietary supplements at least once a week and can correctly rank participant intakes of nutrients. However, the SFQ does not accurately estimate absolute levels of nutrient intakes from supplements.
Adultification, anger bias, and adults' different perceptions of Black and White children.

Adultification, perceiving a child as older and more mature, and anger bias, perceiving anger where it does not exist, are two phenomena disproportionally imposed on Black children compared to Whit...
Which came first, T cells or B cells?

Max Cooper recalls the discovery of variable lymphocyte receptors in lampreys and hagfish and explains the significance of this for understanding how adaptive immunity evolved in vertebrates.
Dynamics in Several Complex Variables

Introduction Kobayashi hyperbolicity Some examples Applications of Kobayashi hyperbolicity Recurrent Fatou components Rational maps Holomorphic dynamics in $\mathbb C^n$ Exploding orbits Unbounded orbits Generic density of orbits Index Bibliography.
Attitudinal Differences Among the Cultural Revolution Cohort: Effects of the Sent-Down Experience

The paper addresses whether individuals who were sent down during the Cultural Revolution reveal different political attitudes from those who were socialized during the same period but were not themselves sent down. Using data from the urban sample of the 2006 General Social Survey of China, the authors find evidence that formerly sent-down youth – and particularly sent-down women – are, as compared to not-sent-down peers, today more willing to accept the class-struggle foundation of Mao’s communist ideology but are, at the same time, more willing to critically assess the performance and structure of the communist regime.
Fulfilling the Promise?: When Humanitarian Obligations and Foreign Policy Goals Conflict in the United States

In Seeking Refuge: Central American Migration to Mexico, the United States, and Canada, Maria Cristina Garcia evaluates the United States’ response to political and military upheavals in Central America in the 1980s. Garcia explains that both international and domestic law demanded that the United States provide refugee status to individuals with a “well-founded fear of persecution.” She suggests that, because it played a significant role in creating these refugees, the United States had an even greater responsibility to provide for their refuge. This Book Review evaluates the failure of U.S. law and policy to realize even the minimal standards established under international agreements with regard to the protection of refugees. In examining the situations in Central America in the 1980s and Iraq now, it concludes that the United States must fulfill its obligations under international law without regard to whether the United States contributed to the refugee-creating crisis.
The impact of export demand on domestic productivity improvement

A nation’s ability to export goods greatly influences its ability to exploit economies of scale or technology transfers, which can lead to improved domestic productivity. This paper uncovers the relationship between export demand and productivity among a sample of 46 diverse nations, while controlling for the sample nations’ level of development. The econometric model also accounts for other important variables impacting productivity, specifically technology, savings rates, and net foreign direct investment. Results indicate that export demand is a significantly important correlate with productivity, particularly within developing nations.
An exact realization of 2-D IIR filters using separable 1-D modules

A method for exact realization of 2-D digital IIR (infinite impulse response) filters using separable 1-D modules is presented. The proposed design utilizes a theorem on separability of multivariable polynomials for writing a 2-D polynomial as the sum of the products of 1-D polynomials of successively reducing orders. Compared to previous separable methods based on singular value decomposition and Jordan form decomposition, the approach has reduced hardware complexity for filter implementation. It is also shown that the method has the same complexity as the lower-upper matrix-decomposition-based method. However, unlike the decomposition-based methods, the filter coefficients are found directly from the impulse response matrices by simple numerically reliable mathematical operations. >
Effect of almond consumption on vascular function in patients with coronary artery disease: a randomized, controlled, cross-over trial

Almonds reduce cardiovascular disease risk via cholesterol reduction, anti-inflammation, glucoregulation, and antioxidation. The objective of this randomized, controlled, cross-over trial was to determine whether the addition of 85 g almonds daily to a National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Step 1 diet (ALM) for 6 weeks would improve vascular function and inflammation in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). A randomized, controlled, crossover trial was conducted in Boston, MA to test whether as compared to a control NCEP Step 1 diet absent nuts (CON), incorporation of almonds (85 g/day) into the CON diet (ALM) would improve vascular function and inflammation. The study duration was 22 weeks including a 6-weeks run-in period, two 6-weeks intervention phases, and a 4-weeks washout period between the intervention phases. A total of 45 CAD patients (27 F/18 M, 45–77 y, BMI = 20-41 kg/m2) completed the study. Drug therapies used by patients were stable throughout the duration of the trial. The addition of almonds to the CON diet increased plasma α-tocopherol status by a mean of 5.8 %, reflecting patient compliance (P ≤0.05). However, the ALM diet did not alter vascular function assessed by measures of flow-mediated dilation, peripheral arterial tonometry, and pulse wave velocity. Further, the ALM diet did not significantly modify the serum lipid profile, blood pressure, C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-α or E-selectin. The ALM diet tended to decrease vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 by 5.3 % (P = 0.064) and increase urinary nitric oxide by 17.5 % (P = 0.112). The ALM intervention improved the overall quality of the diet by increasing calcium, magnesium, choline, and fiber intakes above the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) or Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA). Thus, the addition of almonds to a NECP Step 1 diet did not significantly impact vascular function, lipid profile or systematic inflammation in CAD patients receiving good medical care and polypharmacy therapies but did improve diet quality without any untoward effect. The trial was registered with the ClinicalTrials.Gov with the identifier: NCT00782015 .
Sex-Related Differences in the Color Lexicon

Two experiments investigated sex-related differences in the color vocabulary of college students. In the first experiment, students were required first to provide color names for a series of color stimuli and then to match color names with the same stimuli. Sex-related differences were found only in the matching task. Men used more basic color terms than women, while women were better able to match correctly elaborate color terms with the appropriate stimuli. In the second experiment, students described the colors represented by a series of elaborate color terms. Women not only described more terms than men, they also used more elaborate descriptions. The results indicate that college-age women have a more extensive color vocabulary than men. It is proposed that this difference in the color lexicon indicates that women possess more distinct internal representations for color than men.
Chloride exclusion patterns in six grapevine populations

Background and Aims Evidence exists for both quantitative and qualitative inheritance of chloride exclusion in Vitis species used as rootstocks. To increase the scope of these data, the patterns of chloride exclusion in six populations of Vitis progeny derived from parents with variable capacity for chloride exclusion were examined. Methods and Results Screens were conducted using a recently developed greenhouse assay that measured chloride concentration in the leaves. Chloride uptake was distributed continuously in all of the populations. Two strong excluders showed a clear difference in exclusion capacity with the hybrid progeny equivalent to, or evenly distributed between, the parental values. Populations with the lowest mean chloride concentration in the leaves had either a V. berlandieri or V. rupestris parent. Conclusions Chloride exclusion appeared to be inherited quantitatively in the crosses examined; however, variability in chloride accumulation among replicates of the same genotype was high enough that simple dominant inheritance could not be ruled out. Differences in chloride exclusion were found between genotypes classified as strong excluders. Significance of the Study Differences observed between strong excluders and the even distribution of hybrid progeny at or between the parental values provides a theoretical basis for the genetic improvement of this trait.
Anorexia and Bulimia: Information from the Internet

Eating disorders are complicated mental illnesses that can have tremendous physical and psychological consequences. This article provides general information on the two most common eating disorders: anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. It discusses the symptoms of these diseases, their effects, some of the factors in their development, and common forms of treatment. The article concludes with a bibliography of selected Internet resources that provide additional information on anorexia, bulimia, and other eating disorders.
Sulfur adsorption on Ni(100) and its effect on CO chemisorption. I: TDS, AES and work function results

The adsorption of H2S on Ni(100) at 300 K was investigated. Adsorption is dissociative and proceeds via a mobile precursor, with sulfur strongly chemisorbed and hydrogen desorbing both during the dose and upon subsequent heating. Chemisorbed sulfur causes an increase in surface work function due to charge transfer of about 0.04e from nickel to sulfur. The adsorption of CO at 95 K was studied on the sulfur-predosed surface using AES, TDS and work function change measurements. Evidence is presented for steric and relatively short-range (≈ 4 A) electronic effects of S on CO. One sulfur blocks two high-temperature (β2) CO sites by steric (site-blocking) effects. In the presence of sulfur, CO redistributes into several lower-temperature desorption states, some of which exist on regions of bare Ni, and some within sulfur domains. At a sulfur coverage of 0.40 ML, a new CO states at 140 K was observed which, unlike the other CO states, caused a slight decrease in the surface work function. The behavior of this state is explained in terms of reduced back-donation from the metal due to close association of the CO with sulfur. Several proposed modes for sulfur's action are evaluated on the basis of the data. These include steric effects, a through-space electrostatic potential, and a through-metal electronic effect involving density of state changes.
Methanation and Fischer-Tropsch studies on potassium-promoted silica-supported Ru catalysts

Abstract The role of potassium as a promoter in the methanation and Fischer-Tropsch reaction has been studied. When the potassium content of a series of silica-supported Ru catalysts was increased, turnover numbers for both methane and hydrocarbon formation decreased. Significant increases in the selectivity for higher hydrocarbon and olefin formation occurred as the potassium concentration was increased. The results of a temperature-programmed desorption study showed that the binding sites of CO on Ru were significantly changed due to the presence of the potassium. When the potassium concentration was increased, the high-temperature desorption maxima centered at 370 °C increased relative to the low-temperature desorption maxima at 200 °C. This result is interpreted in terms of the stronger CRu bond resulting from the presence of the potassium. The results of the temperature-programmed desorption study were verified using in situ infrared spectroscopy. As the potassium content of the RuSiO 2 catalysts was increased, additional CO infrared bands assigned to more strongly bound CO were observed. An in situ infrared temperature-programmed reaction study for the potassium-promoted catalyst showed that the more weakly bound CO desorbed without undergoing reaction to form methane.
Thyroglobulin production by thyroid cancers.

Abstract We have demonstrated that 95% of the differentiated forms of thyroid carcinoma produce thyroglobulin; most of this thyroglobulin appears to be of the 19S variety. The significance of this finding in terms of detection and treatment of recurrent thyroid cancer is discussed.