cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fine mapping of quantitative trait loci Hd-1, Hd-2 and Hd-3, controlling heading date of rice, as single Mendelian factors

Fine mapping was carried out on three putative QTLs (tentatively designated as Hd-1 to Hd-3) of five such QTLs controlling heading date in rice that had been earlier identified using an F2 population derived from a cross between a japonica variety, ‘Nipponbare’, and an indica variety, ‘Kasalath’, using progeny backcrossed with ‘Nipponbare’ as the recurrent parent. One BC3F2 and two BC3F1 plants, in which the target QTL regions were heterozygous and most other chromosomal regions were homozygous for the ‘Nipponbare’ allele, were selected as the experimental material. Self-pollinated progeny (BC3F2 and BC3F3) of the BC3F1 or BC3F2 showed continuous variation in days to heading. By means of progeny testing based on BC3F3 or BC3F4 lines, we determined the genotypes of each BC3F2 or BC3F3 individual at target QTLs. Their segregation patterns fitted Mendelian inheritance ratios. When the results obtained by RFLP analysis and progeny tests were combined, Hd-1, Hd-2 and Hd-3 were mapped precisely on chromosomes 6, 7 and 6, respectively, of a rice RFLP linkage map. The results demonstrated that QTLs can be treated as Mendelian factors. Moreover, these precise locations were in good agreement with the regions estimated by QTL analysis of the initial F2 population, demonstrating the high reliability of QTL mapping using a high-density linkage map.
Second-generation tissue Doppler with angle-corrected color-coded wall displacement for quantitative assessment of regional left ventricular function☆

To test the hypothesis that a new tissue Doppler (TD) approach using angle-correction and transformation of velocity data to color-coded displacement data may objectively quantify regional left ventricular function, in vitro experiments were first performed with an oscillating echo target precisely controlled by a microstepping motor. Displacement varied from 1 to 15 mm (60 to 130 cycles/min) at angles of 0 degrees and 45 degrees to the echo transducer. Custom software transformed TD data to displacement data. Sixty-five subjects were then studied: 35 with wall motion abnormalities and 30 normal controls. Results were compared with independent visual assessment and caliper measurements of endocardial excursion from gray-scale images. In vitro displacement imaging strongly correlated with true displacement (r = 0.99, p <0.0001). In humans, peak transmural displacement discriminated normal results (6.3 +/- 3.2 mm) from hypokinesia (2.7 +/- 1.8 mm, p <0.05), akinesia (0.4 +/- 1.2 mm, p <0.05) from hypokinesia, and dyskinesia (-1.9 +/- 1.2 mm, p <0.05) from akinesia. Normal subendocardial displacement was 5.9 +/- 2.9 versus 4.0 +/- 3.9 mm in the epicardial layer (p <0.01). This displacement gradient was absent in abnormal segments. Displacement data correlated with endocardial excursion by calipers (parasternal views: r = 0.86, all views: r = 0.79, both p <0.0001). Overall accuracy of displacement imaging was 82% (kappa = 0.71) versus 66% (kappa = 0.43) for visual assessment with caliper data as the standard of reference. Angle-corrected displacement imaging was superior to routine visual assessment and is a promising new method to quantify regional left ventricular function.
Phosphorus-31 relaxation times of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate in intact human erythrocytes.

Abstract The reciprocals of the spin-lattice relaxation times (T1s) of the 2-P and 3-P nuclei of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (DPG) increased linearly as percent DPG bound was raised in model hemoglobin solutions. The 2-P T1 was slightly greater in intact erythrocytes than in model solutions under similar experimental conditions. The change in the 3-P T1 with cellular deoxygenation was anomalous indicating that this nucleus should not be used to estimate DPG binding inside intact erythrocytes.
Coping and life satisfaction after stroke.

This study examined the coping strategies and life satisfaction of 73 elderly couples at 6-12 months after a cerebrovascular accident. Instruments included the Life Satisfaction Index A, the Ways of Coping Scale, and the Gulick Activity of Daily Living Scale. A series of mixed model analyses of variance were performed. A single significant main effect was obtained for the variable, Seeking Social Support. Stroke survivors were less likely to use Seeking Social Support coping strategies than were their spouses. Correlations indicated that survivors manifested more positive affect when (a) they did not use Accepting Responsibility coping strategies; (b) they did not use Escape-Avoidance coping strategies; (c) their spouse did not use Escape-Avoidance; and (d) their spouses used fewer Planful Problem Solving coping strategies. Survivors were more likely to express satisfaction with past actions to the extent that (a) the survivor's spouse did not use Confrontive Coping strategies and (b) the survivor's spouse did not indicate using Planful Problem Solving coping strategies. The spouse's affect was positive to the extent that he or she did not use Escape-Avoidance coping strategies. More positive affect in stroke survivors was noted when their functional skills allowed them to do more independent activities of daily living. These relationships remained constant regardless of the functional skill of the survivor. The study supports the idea that groups with a psychoeducational component would provide useful social support and coping alternatives. Continued rehabilitation efforts to improve daily living skills are recommended.
Polypeptide analysis of genotypic variants of occluded Heliothis spp. baculoviruses

Abstract The structural polypeptides of 12 baculovirus isolates which included nuclear polyhedrosis viruses (NPVs) and granulosis viruses (GVs) obtained from four different species of the insect genus Heliothis collected in different geographical regions of the world were characterized using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The matrix proteins were compared according to their molecular weights and peptide profiles produced after limited proteolysis. Examination of the matrix and virion polypeptide profiles revealed three major polypeptide phenotypes which corresponded to the three baculovirus morphological groups; singly embedded nuclear polyhedrosis viruses (SNPVs), multiply embedded nuclear polyhedrosis viruses (MNPVs), and granulosis viruses (GVs). Enveloped nucleocapsid polypeptide profiles of isolates within each NPV phenotype differed in only one polypeptide whereas the two GV isolates differed by as many as five polypeptides. Nucleocapsid polypeptide profiles of isolates within each of the NPV subgroups were identical while those profiles from the GV nucleocapsids differed slightly in molecular weight of one polypeptide.
Family caregivers’ decision process to institutionalize persons with Parkinson's disease: A grounded theory study

Abstract Background Parkinson's disease is a degenerative neurological disorder affecting millions. Treatment priorities focus on delaying its progression and resulting disability, and helping individuals continue to live at home as long as possible. This often requires long-term assistance by family caregivers. Aims The purpose of the study was to understand (1) family caregivers' experiences in caring for a relative with Parkinson's disease, and (2) factors that influenced the decision to place the relative in a long-term care facility. Participants Twenty semi-structured interviews were conducted with adult family members (17 female, 3 male) acting as full-time primary caregivers for a relative with Parkinson's disease. Method Grounded theory was used to explore the process of healthcare decision-making and to illustrate the experiences of caring for persons with Parkinson's disease. The interview questions centered on family caregiving experiences and on how these caregivers made long-term care decisions on behalf of their loved ones. Data were coded and analyzed using dimensional analysis. Findings The caregiving model developed from the data illustrated that heightened caregiver strain—a risk factor for institutionalization—results from increased caregiving load and increased illness severity over time. Safety concerns, falls with severe injury, managing changes in health, and depleted support also influenced the decision to institutionalize the relative with Parkinson's disease. Conclusions Implications from this research suggest the need for enhanced communication between providers and caregivers, formalized caregiver assessments, improved care coordination and family-centered interventions to avoid premature institutionalization.
Treatment of Mercury Contaminated Oil from the Mound Site

Over one thousand gallons of tritiated oil, at various contamination levels, are stored in the Main Hill Tritium Facility at the Miamisburg Environmental Management Project (MEMP), commonly referred to as Mound Site. This tritiated oil is to be characterized for hazardous materials and radioactive contamination. Most of the hazardous materials are expected to be in the form of heavy metals, i.e., mercury, silver, lead, chromium, etc, but transuranic materials and PCBs could also be in some oils. Waste oils, found to contain heavy metals as well as being radioactively contaminated, are considered as mixed wastes and are controlled by Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulations. The SAMMS (Self-Assembled Mercaptan on Mesoporous Silica) technology was developed by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) for removal and stabilization of RCRA metals (i.e., lead, mercury, cadmium, silver, etc.) and for removal of mercury from organic solvents. The SAMMS material is based on self-assembly of functionalized monolayers on mesoporous oxide surfaces. The unique mesoporous oxide supports provide a high surface area, thereby enhancing the metal-loading capacity. SAMMS material has high flexibility in that it binds with different forms of mercury, including metallic, inorganic, organic, charged, and neutral compounds. The material removes mercury frommore » both organic wastes, such as pump oils, and from aqueous wastes. Mercury-loaded SAMMS not only passes TCLP tests, but also has good long-term durability as a waste form because: (1) the covalent binding between mercury and SAMMS has good resistance in ion-exchange, oxidation, and hydrolysis over a wide pH range and (2) the uniform and small pore size of the mesoporous silica prevents bacteria from solubilizing the bound mercury.« less
Arithmetic on Elliptic Curves with Complex Multiplication

Acknowledgements.- Notation and conventions.- The theory of complex multiplication.- A classification.- Local arithmetic.- Global arithmetic.- The Q-curve A(p).
A DC-9.5GHz noise-canceling distributed LNA in 65nm CMOS

Summary form only given. A low noise amplifier is presented that uniquely achieves wide-band input matching and good low-frequency noise performance at the same time. Its topology is a hybrid of distributed amplifier and a common-source common-gate noise-canceling amplifier. The proof-of-principle prototype in 65nm CMOS operates from DC up to 9.5GHz with more than 12dB gain, achieves a minimum noise figure of 2.8dB, P1dB of -7dBm, IIP3 of +4dBm, consumes 18mW from a 1.4V power supply and occupies a total active area of 0.4mm2.
The safety and efficacy of terazosin in the treatment of essential hypertension in blacks

Terazosin, a new selective alpha 1-adrenergic receptor antagonist, has been found to be an effective antihypertensive agent. In a series of studies, the safety and efficacy of terazosin, alone and in combination with other antihypertensive agents, were evaluated in 1180 black patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension. Terazosin was effective in lowering blood pressure when administered alone (in dosages of 1 to 80 mg/day) and when prescribed (in dosages of 1 to 20 mg/day) in combination with other antihypertensive agents. In elderly black patients, terazosin, 1 to 10 mg daily, was as effective in lowering blood pressure as propranolol (40 to 120 mg twice daily). Changes (mean +/- SE) in sitting diastolic blood pressure from baseline were -8.1 +/- 1.4 mm Hg for terazosin and -5.0 +/- 1.5 mm Hg for propranolol. Terazosin (5 mg) combined with methyclothiazide (2.5 to 5 mg) produced a significantly greater (p less than 0.01) antihypertensive effect than that of terazosin alone. Changes (mean +/- SE) in standing diastolic blood pressure from baseline were -7.9 +/- 2.0 mm Hg for terazosin alone, -15.1 +/- 2.1 mm Hg for terazosin plus 2.5 mg of methyclothiazide, and -15.0 +/- 2.0 mm Hg for terazosin plus 5 mg of methyclothiazide. Terazosin had a favorable effect on serum lipid levels and appeared to compensate for the negative lipid effects associated with diuretics and beta-blockers when used in combination with these agents. Terazosin, alone and combined with other antihypertensive agents, was well tolerated with minimal side effects in black hypertensive patients.
(i) Classification, clinical features, preoperative assessment and staging of soft tissue tumors

Abstract Soft tissue tumors are a heterogeneous group of mesenchymal neoplasms. The histological classification of these tumors is often difficult, requiring special stains and studies. The clinical presentation is seldom diagnostic. Preoperative evaluation often requires sophisticated imaging studies followed by biopsy. The information gained in this fashion is then used to stage the tumor, and then the treating physician can offer an educated opinion regarding prognosis and treatment. Classification and staging will most likely change significantly in the next decade as the knowledge and tools of molecular biology are applied to the evaluation of soft tissue tumors.
Hemoglobin Extraction Using Cosurfactant-Free Nonionic Microemulsions

ABSTRACT Oil-continuous microemulsions provide an effective medium as a liquid membrane for extraction of proteins due to high solubilization and low miscibility in aqueous feed. Unlike the use of reverse micelles, this new method employs a preformulated cosurfactant-free nonionic microemulsion of high water content. The use of nonionic microemulsions for hemoglobin extraction demonstrates the potential for effective separation of proteins, amino acids, and other biochemicals. The extraction can be controlled by adjusting pH and microemulsion composition. It is enhanced by the addition of an appropriate liquid ion exchanger. The extraction results cannot be explained only in terms of ionic interactions.
Four helix bundle diversity in globular proteins

Abstract Four helix.bundles are a common structural motif that can be observed both independently and as components of larger folding units. We examined 221 globular proteins of known structure for possible four helix bundles. Previous computational studies of four helix bundles have placed arbitrary restrictions on interhelical packing angles. In this study we develop a geometric definition of four helix bundles based in part on solvent accessibility criteria that permits the removal of constraints on interhelical packing. Based on the observed pattern of interhelical angles, a bundle taxonomy is presented. This formalism should provide a useful categorization method for future structural studies of proteins rich in αa-helices. The helix-helix interactions within bundles were studied in detail. Central residues, contact normals, and skew angles all were observed to have non-random distributions. A simple geometric model was developed for the helix-helix interface to explain these findings. Analysis of the helix-helix interaction data collected in this work confirms the importance of including skew angles in models of helix packing, and should improve the accuracy of combinatorial strategies for the prediction of the tertiary structure of all-helical proteins. Additionally, the geometric properties observed in globular proteins provide insight into the structural organization of membrane spanning proteins.
Interactions with Diagrams and the Making of Reasoned Conjectures in Geometry

Four potential modes of interaction with diagrams in geometry are introduced. These are used to discuss how interaction with diagrams has supported the customary work of ‘doing proofs’ in American geometry classes and what interaction with diagrams might support the work of building reasoned conjectures. The extent to which the latter kind of interaction may induce tensions on the work of a teacher as she manages students’ mathematical work is illustrated.
DNA damage associated with mitosis and cytokinesis failure

Mitosis is a highly dynamic process, aimed at separating identical copies of genomic material into two daughter cells. A failure of the mitotic process generates cells that carry abnormal chromosome numbers. Such cells are predisposed to become tumorigenic upon continuous cell division and thus need to be removed from the population to avoid cancer formation. Cells that fail in mitotic progression indeed activate cell death or cell cycle arrest pathways; however, these mechanisms are not well understood. Growing evidence suggests that the formation of de novo DNA damage during and after mitotic failure is one of the causal factors that initiate those pathways. Here, we analyze several distinct malfunctions during mitosis and cytokinesis that lead to de novo DNA damage generation.
The reduction of time-of-flight errors in pulsed neutron measurements

Abstract Calculations and a measurement show that time-of-flight errors in pulsed neutron experiments can be reduced by using a detector whose efficiency decreases at low neutron energies.
An arabinoglucuronomannan from suspension-cultured cells of Nicotiana tabacum

Abstract From the soluble polysaccharides of suspension-cultured, tobacco cells ( Nicotiana tabacum ), an arabinoglucuronomannan (AGM) was isolated from the extract with phosphate buffer. Application of partial hydrolysis with acid, carboxyl reduction, methylation analysis, and 1 H- and 13 C-n.m.r. spectroscopy indicated AGM to consist of the tetrasaccharide repeating-unit .
The electric dipole moment of methyl fluoride

Abstract The Stark effect of CH3F is extensively used as a calibration standard in laser Stark spectroscopy. The accepted value for the dipole moment of the ground vibrational state of CH3F is less accurate than the precision of laser Stark measurements, and questions have also been raised about the literature value. New molecular beam spectroscopy measurements have been made of the ratio of the Stark effect in the J = 1, K = 1 and J = 2, K = 2 CH3F states to that of the 0110 vibrational state of OCS. The results were μ 1.1 ( CH 3 F ) μ 010 ( OCS ) = 2.638905(23) and μ 2.2 ( CH 3 F ) μ 010 ( OCS ) = 2.63894(10) . This produces a dipole moment of 1.85840 D with precision relative to OCS of 10 ppm and absolute accuracy of 43 ppm.
A modular design for large multicast ATM switches

We present a new modular architecture for large multicast ATM switches. The proposed broadcast partition knockout switch (BPKS) provides a flexible network. Its interconnection network is a multistage structure constructed out of buffered crossbars (e.g., extension of knockout switches). Modularity alone with internal buffers reduces the need for stringent time synchronization. The proposed BPKS switch will provide a multicast capability, without the need for a large internal speedup, making it very suitable for VLSI implementation. We describe structure of the switch fabric and analyze the performance.
Implementation of single-qubit and CNOT gates by anyonic excitations of two-body topological color code

Abstract The anyonic excitations of topological two-body color code model are used to implement a set of gates. Because of two-body interactions, the model can be simulated in optical lattices. The excitations have nontrivial mutual statistics, and are coupled to nontrivial gauge fields. The underlying lattice structure provides various opportunities for encoding the states of a logical qubit in anyonic states. The interactions make the transition between different anyonic states, so being logical operation in the computational bases of the encoded qubit. Two-qubit gates can be performed in a topological way using the braiding of anyons around each other.
Corresponding aspects of strong-field multiquantum processes and ion-atom collisions

An approximate correspondence between collisional processes and the interaction of atoms with intense short pulses of radiation yields simple relations connecting the parameters governing these two classes of phenomena. This correspondence can be visualized by the consideration of suitable constructed trajectories representing the radiative (multiphoton) and collisional interactions. Comparisons of spectral data in the extreme ultraviolet region for Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe produced by collisional excitation and subpicosecond ultraviolet laser irradiation indicate approximate conformance with the expectations stemming from this analysis. These results suggest that, for ultraviolet radiation, this approach may be useful in understanding the gross features of the strong-field multiquantum interaction over the range of intensity spanning from approximately 10/sup 16/ W/cm/sup 2/ to approximately 10/sup 21/ W/cm/sup 2/. >
Comparative gas exchange of four California beach taxa.

Laboratory gas exchange measurements were conducted on four pioneering beach species from southern California. Atriplex leucophylla (Moq.) D. Dietr., a C4 species, had a photosynthetic temperature optimum substantially higher than leaf temperatures normally experienced on the beach during the primary growing season. The C3 species, Cakile maritima Scop., Ambrosia chamissonis Less. and Abronia maritima Nutt. ex Wats., had photosynthetic temperature optima close to their growth temperature and higher photosynthetic rates than the C4 species at normal field growth temperatures. Atriplex leucophylla had higher mesophyll conductances which resulted in higher water use efficiencies at all measurement temperatures. Leaf chlorophyll and protein contents were not correlated with photosynthetic rates. The possible significance of water use efficiency is discussed in relation to the characteristics of the beach habitat.
KNOTS, SLIPKNOTS, AND EPHEMERAL KNOTS IN RANDOM WALKS AND EQUILATERAL POLYGONS

The probability that a random walk or polygon in the 3-space or in the simple cubic lattice contains a knot goes to one at the length goes to infinity. Here, we prove that this is also true for slipknots consisting of unknotted portions, called the slipknot, that contain a smaller knotted portion, called the ephemeral knot. As is the case with knots, we prove that any topological knot type occurs as the ephemeral knotted portion of a slipknot.
Nonlinear sensitivity coefficients and corrections in system identification

The evaluation of sensitivity coefficients which are the changes in the eigencharacteristics with respect to changes in the structural parameters is important in the identification of structural systems. In such studies the commonly used linearized sensitivity coefficients for system identification have occasionally resulted in poor convergence or even divergence during the iteration process to update analytical models for better correlation with the test data. Nonlinear sensitivity coefficients and nonlinear correction terms, usually eliminated during the linearization process, have been developed to evaluate sensitivity coefficients of linear systems. Application to computer simulated example problems indicates a more rapid and stable convergence of the iteration processes to update the analytical model for the improvement of the correlation with test data. The successful application of combining the nonlinear sensitivity coefficients and nonlinear correction terms with the Multiple Boundary Condition Tests enhances the ability to validate large space structures by ground tests.
High-throughput ultrasensitive characterization of chemical, structural and plasmonic properties of EBL-fabricated single silver nanoparticles

Electron beam lithography (EBL) has become a popular means to prepare a wide variety of nano-arrays for numerous studies and applications, including photonics and sensors. Their fabrications and characterizations are costly and time consuming, underscoring the importance of developing effective tools to rapidly study their physicochemical stabilities and properties over time. In this study, we characterized EBL-fabricated single silver nanoparticle (Ag NP) arrays over their 12-week exposure to ambient conditions using SEM/EDS, AFM and dark-field optical microscopy and spectroscopy (DFOMS). We found that chemical compositions, structural morphologies and plasmonic optical properties of single NPs altered drastically over the exposure. Single cuboid and triangular-prism Ag NPs degraded at rates of (0.74 ± 0.02) and (0.66 ± 0.02) per week, and their localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) spectra showed striking blue-shifts (171 ± 25 and 203 ± 35 nm) over the 12-week exposure, respectively. Plasmonic colors of single NPs changed distinctively from red to green over the 12-week exposure. The LSPR spectra of individual NPs in each array were acquired simultaneously and correlated specifically with their SEM and AFM images, demonstrating that DFOMS can serve as high-throughput, ultrasensitive and non-invasive means to characterize chemical, structural and optical properties of nano-arrays in situ in real time at single-NP resolution.
Measuring Skill Acquisition and Retention with an ATM Simulator: The Need for Age-Specific Training:

The present study focused on the type of information presented during training and its effects on initial and retention performance of older and younger adults interacting with computerized, new technology. The effects of emphasizing concepts versus actions during training on performance immediately after training and after a 1-month retention interval were examined. Younger and older adults completed either action or concept training for operating a virtual automatic teller machine (ATM). Overall, action training was associated with faster and more accurate performance immediately after training and better retention performance for older adults. For older adults, value of type of training interacted with type of task component. These findings are applicable to the development of age-specific training materials for computerized tasks.
Reliability and validity of the Vanderbilt Head and Neck Symptom Survey: a tool to assess symptom burden in patients treated with chemoradiation.

Background. We describe the development and validation of the Vanderbilt Head and Neck Symptom Survey (VHNSS), which was designed to screen for tumor- and treatment-specific symptoms in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing concurrent chemoradiation (CCR). Methods. Using a 2-step card sort method, we identified high-impact and high-frequency toxicities in patients with head and neck cancer treated with CCR. This resulted in a 28-item questionnaire which scores symptoms on a 0 to 10 scale (none to severe). The tool was validated using data collected from 5 supportive care studies comprising a total sample of 332 patients with head and neck cancer. Results. Responses to the VHNSS items demonstrated a very consistent pattern (Cronbach's alpha = 0.943) with each item contributing substantially to the global index. Five symptom subscales were identified including “Nutrition,” “Pain,” “Voice,” “Swallow,” and “Mucous/Dry Mouth.” Each of the cluster scores demonstrated good internal consistency. The pattern of associations between the VHNSS and established tools indicated appropriate convergence and divergence. Comparison of global and subscale scores and objective measure were also in the expected direction providing further evidence of validity. Conclusions. The findings provide support that the VHNSS is a valid and reliable tool to assess head and neck–specific symptom burden and function loss. Further research to evaluate this screening tool as a part of a systems approach to supportive care is warranted. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2010
Heterogeneity and Seroprevalence of a Newly Identified Avian Hepatitis E Virus from Chickens in the United States

We recently identified and characterized a novel virus, designated avian hepatitis E virus (avian HEV), from chickens with hepatitis-splenomegaly syndrome (HS syndrome) in the United States. Avian HEV is genetically related to but distinct from human and swine HEVs. To determine the extent of genetic variation and the seroprevalence of avian HEV infection in chicken flocks, we genetically identified and characterized 11 additional avian HEV isolates from chickens with HS syndrome and assessed the prevalence of avian HEV antibodies from a total of 1,276 chickens of different ages and breeds from 76 different flocks in five states (California, Colorado, Connecticut, Virginia, and Wisconsin). An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using a truncated recombinant avian HEV ORF2 antigen was developed and used to determine avian HEV seroprevalence. About 71% of chicken flocks and 30% of chickens tested in the study were positive for antibodies to avian HEV. About 17% of chickens younger than 18 weeks were seropositive, whereas about 36% of adult chickens were seropositive. By using a reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) assay, we tested 21 bile samples from chickens with HS syndrome in California, Connecticut, New York, and Wisconsin for the presence of avian HEV RNA. Of the 21 bile samples, 12 were positive for 30- to 35-nm HEV-like virus particles by electron microscopy (EM). A total of 11 of the 12 EM-positive bile samples and 6 of the 9 EM-negative bile samples were positive for avian HEV RNA by RT-PCR. The sequences of a 372-bp region within the helicase gene of 11 avian HEV isolates were determined. Sequence analyses revealed that the 11 field isolates of avian HEV had 78 to 100% nucleotide sequence identities to each other, 79 to 88% identities to the prototype avian HEV, 76 to 80% identities to chicken big liver and spleen disease virus, and 56 to 61% identities to other known strains of human and swine HEV. The data from this study indicated that, like swine and human HEVs, avian HEV isolates are genetically heterogenic and that avian HEV infection is enzoonotic in chicken flocks in the United States.
‘Because of the Woman's Testimony …’: Reexamining the Issue of Authorship in the Fourth Gospel

This article combines historical, literary, theological, and feminist criticism to inquire into the identity of the Beloved Disciple (BD) in the Fourth Gospel attempting to mediate between the theory of the BD as pure literary construct and the BD as a single historical individual. It proposes that the BD is a textual paradigm of ideal discipleship which is realized diversely in several characters in the text. This has ramifications for the textual identity of the evangelist and of the foundational Easter witness of the Johannine community. It suggests that women were more significant in leadership of the Johannine community than has been recognised in the past.
Photophysical Changes in Silver-Silver Chloride Systems

In the field of photographic research there appear many puzzling phenomena which in themselves are of interest only as curiosities except insofar as the information which they may yield upon careful investigation leads to a more complete and precise understanding of the fundamental photographic reactions involved in the formation of a latent photographic image and its subsequent development. The action of red polarized light upon certain non-optically sensitized photographic emulsions produces an image which is characterized by polarization and is, in certain cases, photo-adapted so that it appears to be the color of the light by which it was produced. An investigation of this phenomenon in its simplest form was undertaken by the authors in an effort to relate it if possible to accepted photographic theory and to arrive at an explanation which would be more satisfactory than those previously proposed.
Calculation of Self-Heating Current for a Resistance Wire Temperature Sensor

In many control or instrumentation circuits, a resistance wire temperature sensor is often used to measure the environmental temperature. Because the sensor current itself can change the resistance of the sensor, it is essential that the current required in the sensing circuitry does not cause excessive heating of the sensing element. The power loss caused by any current in the resistance sensor will always produce some change in resistance; a specific value for self-heating current is meaningful only when related to a specified percent deviation from the zero current resistance.
Infectious alphavirus production from a simple plasmid transfection

We have developed a new method for producing infectious double subgenomic alphaviruses from plasmids transfected into mammalian cells. A double subgenomic Sindbis virus (TE3'2J) was transcribed from a cytomegalovirus PolII promoter, which results in the production of infectious virus. Transfection of as little as 125 ng of plasmid is able to produce 1 × 108 plaque forming units/ml (PFU/ml) of infectious virus 48 hours post-transfection. This system represents a more efficient method for producing recombinant Sindbis viruses.
SECTION 2.3 – Elasticity of Porous Materials

The methods used to determine the elasticity of porous materials and/or particulate materials as geomaterials or powderlike materials are distinct from those used with metals. The reason is that such materials possess pores and/or microcracks. For various stress states these may either open or close, thus influencing the values of the elastic parameters. Also, the stress-strain curves for such materials are strongly loading-rate-dependent, starting from the smallest applied stresses, and creep is exhibited from the smallest applied stresses. Thus information concerning the magnitude of the elastic parameters cannot be obtained from the initial slope of the stress-strain curves, since these are loading-rate-dependent. The elastic parameters can be determined experimentally by two procedures: dynamic and static procedures. With the dynamic procedure, one can determine the travel time of the two elastic (seismic) extended body/longitudinal and transverse waves, which are traveling in the body. The static procedure takes into account that the constitutive equations for geomaterials are strongly time-dependent.
The ethics of decision making for the critically ill elderly.

The ethics of decision making for the critically ill elderly is an area of concern for all those involved in the decision-making process. The number of participants involved in decision making around end-of-life issues may be many: treatment and care decisions often bring together not only the patient and the physician, but the family, an extended medical care team, and impartial members of a hospital or institutional ethics committee. In addition, treatment and care decisions made at the end of life occur in a variety of settings, not just the acute care hospital. Elderly patients who are critically ill, or in the final days or weeks of life, are found in intensive care or medical units of hospitals, in hospital and nursing home based hospice programs, in long-term care settings such as skilled nursing facilities, or at home, where they are tended by family caregivers. Differences in patterns of decision making regarding the care and treatment of critically ill older adults can be found across these settings, and decisions often vary according to the roles of the participants.
Accurate estimation of total leakage in nanometer-scale bulk CMOS circuits based on device geometry and doping profile

Dramatic increase of subthreshold, gate and reverse biased junction band-to-band-tunneling (BTBT) leakage in scaled devices results in the drastic increase of total leakage power in a logic circuit. In this paper, a methodology for accurate estimation of the total leakage in a logic circuit based on the compact modeling of the different leakage current in nanoscaled bulk CMOS devices has been developed. Current models have been developed based on the device geometry, two-dimensional doping profile, and operating temperature. A circuit-level model of junction BTBT leakage has been developed. Simple models of the subthreshold current and the gate current have been presented. Also, the impact of quantum mechanical behavior of substrate electrons, on the circuit leakage has been analyzed. Using the compact current model, a transistor has been modeled as a sum of current sources (SCS). The SCS transistor model has been used to estimate the total leakage in simple logic gates and complex logic circuits (designed with transistors of 25-nm effective length) at room and elevated temperatures.
Prepubertal estradiol and genistein exposures up-regulate BRCA1 mRNA and reduce mammary tumorigenesis

Prepubertal exposure to soy or its biologically active component genistein reduces later breast cancer risk in both animal models and human populations. We investigated whether that might be due to reported estrogenic properties of genistein. Our study indicated that daily prepubertal exposures between postnatal days 7 and 20 to 10 microg 17beta-estradiol (E2) reduced later risk of developing 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary tumors. Assessment of mammary gland morphology revealed that both prepubertal E2 and genistein (50 microg daily) exposures reduced the size of mammary epithelial area and number of terminal end buds (TEBs) and increased the density of lobulo-alveolar structures, suggesting that these exposures induced elimination of targets for malignant transformation by differentiation. Next, the mechanisms mediating the protective effects of E2 and genistein were investigated. E2 is shown to up-regulate BRCA1, a tumor suppressor gene that participates in DNA damage repair processes and cell differentiation and that down-regulates the activity of estrogen receptor (ER)-alpha. The expression of BRCA1 mRNA was up-regulated in the mammary glands of rats exposed to E2 or genistein during prepuberty, when determined at the ages of 3, 8 and 16 weeks. Prepubertal E2 exposure reduced ER-alpha levels in the mammary gland, while prepubertal genistein exposure had an opposite effect. Our results suggest that prepubertal estrogenic exposures may reduce later breast cancer risk by inducing a persistent up-regulation of BRCA1 in the mammary gland.
Variations in soil aggregate stability and enzyme activities in a temperate agroforestry practice

Agroforestry and grass buffers have been shown to improve soil properties and overall environmental quality. The objective of this study was to examine management and landscape effects on water stable soil aggregates (WSA), soil carbon, soil nitrogen, enzyme activity, and microbial community DNA content. Treatments were row crop (RC), grass buffer (GB), agroforestry buffer (AG), and grass waterways (GWW). A corn (Zea mays L.)– soybean (Glycine max L.) rotation under no-till management was established in a watershed in northeast Missouri in 1991; grass buffers were implemented in 1997. Grass buffers, 4.5 m wide and 36.5 m apart, consisted of a mixture of redtop (Agrostis gigantea Roth), brome grass (Bromus spp.), and birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) on contour within the watershed. Agroforestry buffers have pin oak (Quercus palustris Muenchh.) trees distributed down the center of the grass buffers on one half of the watershed. Soils were collected from two transects extending from the summit to lower landscape positions within the grass and agroforestry portions of the watershed in June 2006. Soil enzymes studied include: fluorescein diacetate hydrolase, b-glucosidase, glucosaminidase, and dehydrogenase. Soil DNA content was determined as an alternative for microbial biomass. WSA was significantly different among treatments and landscape positions. WSA decreased from GWW > AG > GB > RC management treatments and also decreased from lower > middle > summit landscape positions. Soil carbon and nitrogen were highest for the GWW treatment and lowest for RC. The landscape position effect was significant for RC and AG treatments. Fluorescein diacetate, b-glucosidase and glucosaminidase enzyme activities were significantly higher in buffers and GWW areas than RC areas. Dehydrogenase activity was different between grass (GB and GWW) and crop areas. The landscape effect was insignificant for enzyme activity. Although soil DNA may be a good indicator of microbial biomass, it did not appear to differentiate among management systems as selectively as other microbial parameters. Results of the study show that establishment of AG, GB, and GWW increased WSA, soil carbon, soil nitrogen, and enzyme activity.
The Strong Potential Approximation with Non-Orthogonality Terms

Non-orthogonality contributions are included in the Strong Potential Approximation (SPA) for electron capture. These non-orthoganality contributions occur because the off-energy-shell Coulomb wave functions, representing the intermediate states of the collision, are not orthogonal to the intial bound state wave functions. As a result of this non-orthogonality an extra term arises in the matrix element between initial and intermediate states. This term may be written as an addition to the interaction potential which is treated in first order perturbation theory in the SPA method. It is shown here that this nonorthogonality contribution is zero in the SPA when peaking approximations are applied.
Postinflammatory Elastolysis and Cutis Laxa: Report of a Case with Aortitis

A 17-month-old black female manifested an acute febrile dermatosis followed by the development of cutis laxa and aortitis. The neutrophilic, acute inflammatory nature of the disease is emphasized. Pathologically, both the skin and the aorta were affected by a lesional process that shared common morphologic attributes and resulted in extensive elastolysis. However, the disease appears to differ from other entities characterized by generalized degradation of elastic fibers.
Paleoindian Responses to Environmental Change on the Southern High Plains

The theory presented in Chapter 2 relating human land use and organization to ungulate herding and migration patterns is clearly relevant to the basic adaptation outlined in the preceeding chapter. However, the nature of the data available on the Paleoindian occupants of the study area puts very different constraints on this section of the discussion than did the data available on recent Plains societies. The relationship proposed here between a region’s environment and the organization of the people living in that environment has two distinct components: first, it predicts the distribution of the human population across the landscape and, second, it predicts the effects of this distribution on human organization. In an archaeological context, the first of these predictions is much more easily examined than the second. Reconstructions of prehistoric land use and patterns of aggregation and dispersion are relatively common in archaeological research, but the material correlates of organizational differences among relatively simple societies are rarely studied.
Focus on . . . Employee Leasing

Whether withdrawn IRS proposed regulations reflect the IRS' current attitude toward leased employees is uncertain. Until further guidance is forthcoming, however, practitioners should be familiar with the old provisions and take them into account when advising clients.
Endothelial cells decode VEGF-mediated Ca2+ signaling patterns to produce distinct functional responses

A single extracellular stimulus can promote diverse behaviors among isogenic cells by differentially regulated signaling networks. We examined Ca(2+) signaling in response to VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), a growth factor that can stimulate different behaviors in endothelial cells. We found that altering the amount of VEGF signaling in endothelial cells by stimulating them with different VEGF concentrations triggered distinct and mutually exclusive dynamic Ca(2+) signaling responses that correlated with different cellular behaviors. These behaviors were cell proliferation involving the transcription factor NFAT (nuclear factor of activated T cells) and cell migration involving MLCK (myosin light chain kinase). Further analysis suggested that this signal decoding was robust to the noisy nature of the signal input. Using probabilistic modeling, we captured both the stochastic and deterministic aspects of Ca(2+) signal decoding and accurately predicted cell responses in VEGF gradients, which we used to simulate different amounts of VEGF signaling. Ca(2+) signaling patterns associated with proliferation and migration were detected during angiogenesis in developing zebrafish.
Remembering the teutoburg forest: 'Monvmenta in annals' 1.61

And so a desire seized Germanicus to offer the final blessings to the soldiers and the general, since the entire army who was there was deeply moved to pity for their relatives, their friends, and finally for the misfortunes of war and the lot of men.... They approached those places, sad and ugly in sight and memory. The first camp of Varus with its broad outline and measured tents revealed the hands of the three legions; then by the half-ruined battlements and the shallow ditch, the now weakened remnants [of the force] were seen to have settled: in the middle of the field, whitening bones were scattered where the men had fled, piled up where they had made a stand. Bits of weapons and the limbs of horses lay about; heads of men were fastened to the trunks of trees. In the nearby groves, there were barbarian altars, upon which the enemy had sacrificed tribunes and centurions of the first rank. Indeed, the survivors of this disaster, who had escaped the battle or the shackles, recalled that the legates had fallen here, the standards were seized there; this was where Varus took his first hit, this was where he found death by the blow of his own unfortunate right hand; the survivors recalled on which platform Arminius had made his speech, how many yokes, what graves there were for the prisoners, and how he had mocked their standards and their eagles in his arrogance. 62. And so the Roman army which was there six years after the disaster...buried the bones of the three legions.