cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adaptation to pH stress by Vibrio fischeri can affect its symbiosis with the Hawaiian bobtail squid (Euprymna scolopes).

Many microorganisms engaged in host-microbe interactions pendulate between a free-living phase and a host-affiliated stage. How adaptation to stress during the free-living phase affects host-microbe associations is unclear and understudied. To explore this topic, the symbiosis between Hawaiian bobtail squid (Euprymna scolopes) and the luminous bacterium Vibrio fischeri was leveraged for a microbial experimental evolution study. V. fischeri experienced adaptation to extreme pH while apart from the squid host. V. fischeri was serially passaged for 2000 generations to the lower and upper pH growth limits for this microorganism, which were pH 6.0 and 10.0, respectively. V. fischeri was also serially passaged for 2000 generations to vacillating pH 6.0 and 10.0. Evolution to pH stress both facilitated and impaired symbiosis. Microbial evolution to acid stress promoted squid colonization and increased bioluminescence for V. fischeri , while symbiont adaptation to alkaline stress diminished these two traits. Oscillatory selection to acid and alkaline stress also improved symbiosis for V. fischeri , but the facilitating effects were less than that provided by microbial adaptation to acid stress. In summary, microbial adaptation to harsh environments amid the free-living phase may impact the evolution of host-microbe interactions in ways that were not formerly considered.
Combination of X-ray Diffraction and Specific Rotation to Unequivocally Characterize Carvone Semicarbazone Derivatives

Single-crystal X-ray structures, melting points, and students’ specific rotation results on carvone semicarbazone derivatives are presented with experimental details. Critical parameters are identi...
Machine learning optical band gaps of doped-ZnO films

Abstract Tailoring the optical bandgap, E g , of ZnO nanostructured thin films is of great interest to meet increasing demands for diverse practical applications, such as optoelectronics, spintronics, and photonics. Processing parameters, dopant selection, and various combinations of the two have significant effects on the crystal structure and microstructure of fabricated films, and thus optical performance. Empirical results and previous models through the first principle show that changes in lattice parameters and the grain size correlate with those in E g . But correlations are complicated and the models rarely apply to complex situations such as co-doped films. In this work, the Gaussian process regression (GPR) model is developed to elucidate the statistical relationship among the lattice parameters, grain size, and energy bandgap for doped-ZnO films. A total of 65 ZnO films with E g ranging from 2.100 eV to 3.760 eV are explored. The modeling approach demonstrates a high degree of accuracy and stability, contributing to efficient and low-cost estimations of E g .
Adverse Childhood Experiences and Mental Health among Women Experiencing Intimate Partner Violence

This study described the frequency of different adverse childhood experience (ACE) types described by women with recent IPV and examined the effects of each ACE type on women's mental health. Over 70% of women reported parental separation or divorce, over 40% reported childhood sexual assault, and around 40% had a mother who was treated violently. Childhood physical abuse and sexual assault were associated with more severe posttraumatic stress disorder or depressive symptoms. Comprehensive interventions that address not only the effects of IPV but also the enduring effects of ACEs are needed to promote mental health for survivors of IPV.
The Evolution of the Scientific Virtues Toolbox Approach to Responsible Conduct of Research Training

The Scientific Virtues Toolbox is a novel scientific virtue-based workshop model for responsible conduct of research (RCR) training. This paper gives a brief overview of how Pennock’s vocational virtue theory, which had previously been delivered in courses, was transformed into discussion-based RCR workshops using the Toolbox structured dialogue method. The interdisciplinary BEACON Center, which combined biologists, computer scientists, and engineers, and which aimed to model a culture of excellence, ethics, and inclusion, proved to be an ideal environment to develop and test this approach to the cultivation of scientific character. The paper describes the guided-dialogue structure of the workshops, the nature of the discussion prompts, the pilot assessments carried out, and how the workshops are now evolving beyond their scientific origin.
The "space" of history: A response to Graiver (2020), Rossano (2020), and Smail (2020).

Replies to comments by I. Gravier (see record 2020-68859-002), R. A. Blackwell and M. J. Rossano (see record 2020-68859-003), and D. L. Smail (see record 2020-68859-004) on the article by Henley (see record 2020-68859-001). That each of the commentators acknowledged the significance of the Neolithic for psychology was welcome, as were their alternative views on how such prehistoric events potentially fit with our discipline's history. As new scholarship continues to emerge related to Gobekli Tepe demonstrating radical changes in how Neolithic humans understood themselves, each other, and the world around them, Henley contends that this is significant for our chronicle of the nature of not just "psychology in history" but also deserves "space" within the history of psychology. To reiterate the last line from Smail's reply-"Now all we have to do is persuade the historians". (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
Pitfalls and Pearls in Esophageal Carcinoma

The management of patients with esophageal carcinoma (EC) requires accurate clinical staging and post-therapeutic evaluation. Currently, esophagogastroduodenoscopy/endoscopic ultrasound (EGD/EUS), endoscopic ultrasound-fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA), computed tomography (CT), 18F- fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging are used for the initial clinical staging, evaluation of therapeutic response and follow-up in patients with EC. However, there are limitations and pitfalls that are commonly encountered when imaging these patients that can limit accurate assessment. Knowledge of the limitations and pitfalls associated with the use of these different imaging modalities is essential in avoiding misinterpretation and guaranteeing the appropriate management for patient with EC.
Lessons from COVID-19, challenges of remote learning for childhood cancer survivors

10054Background: More than half of childhood cancer survivors (survivors) will have neurocognitive deficits that impact schooling, most commonly reflecting attention and executive dysfunction. Scho...
Rapid eye movement density is reduced in the normal elderly.

Study objectives While there is general agreement on the age changes in non-rapid eye movement sleep, there is conflicting evidence on whether eye movement density (EMD) in rapid eye movement sleep is affected by aging. We therefore performed computer measurement of EMD in young and elderly normal subjects. Design Sleep electroencephalogram and electrooculogram were recorded in each subject on 4 nonconsecutive baseline nights. Eye movement density in the elderly subjects was compared to that in young adults. Setting A sleep research laboratory with 4 separate bedrooms. Interventions Not applicable. Participants Subjects were 19 young normal adults and 19 elderly normal adults. Measurements and results Digitized electrooculograms were analyzed with the extensively validated zero-cross period-amplitude module of PASS PLUS software. The EMD was measured as 0.3 to 2 Hz integrated amplitude per 20-second stage of rapid eye movement sleep. Eye-movement incidence was the number of half waves. Eye-movement amplitude was the sum of peak-trough excursions (curve length) in the average half wave. We also counted visually the number of 2-second epochs with eye movements for 1 baseline night in both groups. The EMD in the elderly subjects was substantially and significantly lower than in the young subjects. Visual scoring of EMD on 1 baseline night confirmed the statistically significant difference between age groups. Period-amplitude analysis revealed that a lower eye-movement incidence rather than reduced amplitude caused the lower EMD in the elderly. The EMD was significantly correlated within subjects across the nonconsecutive baseline nights in both groups; in both, subjects' EMD average across 2 nights provided a correlation greater than .90 with the 4-night mean. Conclusions The incidence of eye movements during rapid eye movement sleep is substantially reduced in the elderly. We hypothesize that this reduction is due to degenerative (aging) rather than developmental brain changes. The correlation analysis indicates that EMD is a reasonably stable individual trait in both young and elderly adults. These results encourage normative studies of EMD over a wider age span and continued exploration of the relation of EMD to cognitive function in the elderly.
Structure and function of renal macrophages and dendritic cells from lupus-prone mice.

Objective To characterize renal macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) in 2 murine models of lupus nephritis. Methods We used a bead-based enrichment step followed by cell sorting to isolate populations of interest from young mice and nephritic mice. Cell morphology was examined by microscopy. Arginase and nitrite production was examined using biochemical assays. The antigen-presenting functions of the cells were determined using mixed lymphocyte reactions. Selected cytokine, chemokine, and Toll-like receptor (TLR) profiles were examined using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results We identified 2 populations of macrophages and 3 populations of DCs in both of our murine models of lupus (NZB/NZW and [NZW × BXSB]F1 mice). F4/80high macrophages, which were resident in normal kidneys and found to be increased in number during nephritis, did not produce either arginase or nitrite upon cytokine stimulation and acquired a mixed proinflammatory and antiinflammatory functional phenotype during nephritis that resembles the constitutively activated phenotype of gut F4/80high macrophages. The various cell types differed in their expression of chemokine receptors and TLRs, consistent with variability in their renal location. Resident renal CD103+ DCs were the best antigen-presenting cells and could easily be distinguished from CD11chigh myeloid DCs that accumulated in large numbers during nephritis. Conclusion Our study highlights the heterogeneity of the macrophage/DC infiltrate in chronic lupus nephritis and provides an initial phenotypic and functional analysis of the different cellular components that can now be used to define the role of each cell subset in nephritis progression or amelioration. Of note, the dominant macrophage population that accumulates during nephritis has an acquired phenotype that is neither M1 nor M2 and may reflect failure of resolution of inflammation.
System-on-chip choices [RISC or DSP solution]

For many years the decision between a RISC or DSP solution was relatively simple as RISCs and DSPs were never integrated on the same device. The rule used was an 80/20 rule. That is, if the greater part of the processing (i.e., 80 percent) is for data, then attempt to do the signal processing on the RISC. If the greater portion of the processing (i.e., 80 percent) is for signals, attempt to do the data processing on the DSP. But with the ability to integrate both RISCs and DSPs onto the same piece of silicon, the choice becomes more complex. With the addition of programmable accelerators, ASIC and FPGAs also integrated on the same piece of silicon, the choices become almost impossible. The correct choice is not always based on a technical basis. The decisions truly become an optimization of flexibility, ease of use, cost, power and performance. Simply put, the winning strategy is to find a solution which has good enough performance, low enough power dissipation, and low enough price to be first to market. This strategy is referred as a P/sup 3/ strategy. This paper outlines a concept to help system designers selecting the right SOC architecture and optimizing the performance by allocating the right tasks to the right processor.
Crosstalk Between Transforming Growth Factor Beta-2 and Toll-Like Receptor 4 in the Trabecular Meshwork.

Purpose The trabecular meshwork (TM) is involved in the outflow of aqueous humor and intraocular pressure (IOP) regulation. Regulation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) by TGFβ2 signaling pathways in the TM has been extensively studied. Recent evidence has implicated toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in the regulation of ECM and fibrogenesis in liver, kidney, lung, and skin. Here, we investigated the role of TGFβ2-TLR4 signaling crosstalk in the regulation of the ECM in the TM and ocular hypertension. Methods Cross sections of human donor eyes, primary human TM cells in culture, and dissected mouse TM rings were used to determine Tlr4 expression in the TM. Trabecular meshwork cells in culture were treated with TGFβ2 (5 ng/mL), TLR4 inhibitor (TAK-242, 15 μM), and a TLR4 ligand (cellular fibronectin isoform [cFN]-EDA). A/J (n = 13), AKR/J (n = 7), BALBc/J (n = 8), C3H/HeJ (n = 20), and C3H/HeOuJ (n = 10) mice were injected intravitreally with adenovirus 5 (Ad5).hTGFβ2c226s/c228s in one eye, with the uninjected contralateral eye serving as a control. Conscious IOP measurements were taken using a TonoLab rebound tonometer. Results Toll-like receptor 4 is expressed in the human and mouse TM. Inhibition of TLR4 signaling in the presence of TGFβ2 decreases fibronectin expression. Activation of TLR4 by cFN-EDA in the presence of TGFβ2 further increases fibronectin, laminin, and collagen-1 expression, and TLR4 signaling inhibition blocks this effect. Ad5.hTGFβ2c226s/c228s induces ocular hypertension in wild-type mice but has no effect in Tlr4 mutant (C3H/HeJ) mice. Conclusions These studies identify TGFβ2-TLR4 crosstalk as a novel pathway involved in ECM regulation in the TM and ocular hypertension. These data further explain the complex mechanisms involved in the development of glaucomatous TM damage.
Matrix fast match: a fast method for identifying a short list of candidate words for decoding

A rapid method is presented for identifying a short list of candidate words that match well with some acoustic input to serve as a fast matching stage in a large-vocabulary speech recognition system that uses hidden Markov models and maximum a posteriori decoding. Given hidden Markov models for all the words in the vocabulary the authors derive a class of algorithms that are faster than a detailed likelihood computation using these models by constructing an estimator of the likelihood. Using such an estimator they produce a list of candidate words that match well with the given acoustic input which has the property that it is guaranteed to contain the correct word in all the cases where a detailed likelihood computation would assign the maximum likelihood to that word. >
Future Directions in Pragmatics Assessment

While the discussion of the importance of pragmatic ability arguably begins with Lado (1961), the idea of sociolinguistic or pragmatic competence has been widely recognized as one of four vital communicative competencies since Canale and Swain (1980) and Canale (1983) first introduced their seminal paper on communicative competence over three decades ago. Since then, language testers such as Bachman (1990), Bachman and Palmer (1996), and Purpura (2004) have proposed subsequent models of communicative language ability (CLA) where pragmatic knowledge is featured prominently, but interestingly, the assessment of pragmatic knowledge and ability is still relatively nascent in terms of its research and development. One reason for this is because the measurement of pragmatic knowledge is inherently complex. As a result, most pragmatic research has tended to focus on a narrow but more quantifiable band of functional pragmatic topics and other pragmatic tasks. But actual “tests of pragmatic ability are few and far between” (Kasper & Rose, 2001, p. 9). Advances in technology, however, may possibly bridge some of the limitations that have been observed in the pragmatics testing literature thus far.
Effect of Hypocalcemia on Cardiac Function in Very-Low-Birth-Weight Preterm Neonates: Studies of Blood Ionized Calcium, Echocardiography, and Cardiac Effect of Intravenous Calcium Therapy

Traditionally, in infants, a serum calcium value less than 7.0 mg/dL is considered to impair cardiac function. In very-low-birth-weight infants, we studied the hypotheses that decline in serum calcium to 6.0 mg/dL (1) would not impair cardiac function and (2) ionized calcium would remain greater than 3.0 mg/dL. We also evaluated the effect of calcium infusion on cardiac function. We studied 15 normokalemic and normonatremic infants whose birth weights were 822 to 1,450 g and were less than 32 weeks' gestation. When serum calcium declined to less than 6.0 mg/dL, 18 mg/kg of calcium as 5% calcium gluconate was infused for 10 minutes. Serum total calcium concentration, blood ionized calcium concentration, ECG, and M-mode echocardiogram were obtained on entry into the study, when the infants were hypocalcemic, immediately after treatment with calcium, and eight hours after treatment. Ionized calcium values were calculated based on serum total calcium and serum protein, and corrected calcium values were calculated based on serum total calcium, serum albumin, and blood pH. In all infants, serum calcium value declined to less than 7.0 and in eight infants to less than 6.0 mg/dL. Assessment of heart rate, systolic blood pressure, ejection fraction, left ventricular systolic time interval, right ventricular systolic time interval, fiber shortening index, and left ventricular mean velocity of circumferential fiber shortening showed no significant alteration from baseline during hypocalcemia or in association with intravenous slow bolus infusion of 18 mg/kg of calcium.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Proof-of-concept for methodological framework to evaluate operational strategies with travel demand models

Recently, limited available resources for physical capacity expansion have generated supports for short-term operational improvements. Yet, only a few studies have dealt with evaluating these opera...
An examination of information-processing skills among inhalant-using adolescents

Background This study investigates the association between inhalant use and information processing (IP) in adjudicated polysubstance users.Polysubstance users who used inhalants (n = 158) were compared with polysubstance users who did not use inhalants (n = 303).Hispanic Americans comprised 72% of the participants; European Americans,African Americans and Asian Americans comprised 28% of the participants. Method Standardized intelligence and achievement tests were used to assess information-processing constructs of working memory and processing speed.Psychosocial and substance abuse standardized surveys were used to assess drug use severity and psychosocial problems associated with substance use. Results Polysubstance users who used inhalants (PSI users) were younger,used more drugs more frequently and had more psychiatric admissions than non-inhalant polysubstance users (PSO users). Statistical analysis also shows that PSI users performed worse on measures of IP selected tests in comparison with the PSO users. Conclusion Inhalant users begin abusing substances at a younger age and suffer from more verbal and non-verbal processing,behavioural,language and memory problems than non-inhalant users.
Differentiating Basal Cell Carcinoma from Normal and Benign Histologic Findings

The fundamental challenge for the Mohs surgeon is the histologic differentiation of benign entities from malignant as the goal of Mohs surgery is not only to extirpate the cancer but also to conserve healthy tissue. Often dense inflammation, scar tissue, transected follicles, and other normal or benign structures can be very difficult to differentiate from tumor aggregates. This chapter provides some guidance on features that help differentiate benign from malignant.
Studies on collar spines of echinostomatid trematodes

This review is mainly concerned with the methods used to study collar spines in echinostomatid trematodes. The salient studies concerned with light microscopy on live and fixed larval and adult echinostomes are reviewed. Similar information is also provided for echinostomatid collar spines examined by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron miscroscopy. The limited information on specific histochemical studies on these spines is also reviewed. Lastly, an examination of the few papers that have considered structure and function of collar spines is given.
Reutilization of previously hybridized slides for fluorescence in situ hybridization

Application of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to clinical material is sometimes limited by sample size. In addition, heterogeneity among slides prepared from a single sample may lead to variation in FISH analyses. Reutilization of material for repeated FISH analyses would help to alleviate these problems. We have developed a simple procedure for repeated FISH analyses with directly conjugated probes. Previously hybridized probes are removed by incubation in denaturing solution, and slides can then be rehybridized without residual signals remaining. Several cycles of this procedure allow a full complement of chromosomal loci to be analyzed on the same population of cells. Advantages of this protocol include gaining more cytogenetic information from small samples and eliminating the problem of intratumorvariability. 5 refs., 4 figs.
Long-term toxicity studies of erythrosine. II. Effects on haematology and thyroxine and protein-bound iodine in rats.

Abstract Erythrosine (FD & C Red No. 3) was administered to male and female Osborne-Mendel rats either by intubation twice weekly for 85 wk or continuously in the diet for 86 wk. No consistent differences in red blood cell counts, haematocrit, haemoglobin, reticulocyte counts or other indications of anaemia were observed. Increased values for protein-bound iodine were attributed to circulating erythrosine in the blood serum; these values had returned to normal 16 wk after erythrosine administration ceased. Thyroxine-iodine levels were not affected in treated rats. No gross nor microscopic pathology was attributed to administration of this dye.
Measurement and interpretation of electromagnetic transitions in 51V

Abstract Angular correlation measurements in the 180° geometry for the 48Ti(α, pγ)51V reaction were used to determine the γ-ray decay properties of states in 51V at 0.32, 0.93, 1.61, 1.81, 2.41, 2.55, 2.68 and 2.70 MeV. Coulomb excitation measurements with 32S ions, using a thick 51V target and a Ge(Li) detector, were used to deduce the B(M1) and B(E2) reduced transition probabilities for the decays of the 0.32, 0.93, 1.61 and 1.81 MeV states. For these states the M1 transitions are found to be retarded by factors ranging from about 400 to over 10000, while the E2 transitions are enhanced by about an order of magnitude relative to the Weisskopf estimate. Shell-model calculations were performed for 51V considering all basic three proton states in the f-p shell and assuming a 48Ca core. Kuo and Brown two-body matrix elements were used. Remarkably good agreement is obtained between the calculated and measured transition rates, supporting the shell-model predictions of a high-configuration purity for the six levels of the basic f 7 2 3 multiplet. By contrast, the B(M1) values predicted by the strong Coriolis coupling model of Scholz and Malik strongly disagree with the measured values, generally being two or three orders of magnitude too large. We conclude that the spherical shell model provides an excellent description of the low-lying states in 51V and, contrary to Scholz and Malik, we find no evidence for deformation in this nucleus.
The interactive effects of instructional set, field dependence, and extraversion on the holtzman inkblot technique

Studied the interactive effects of examiner, instructional set, field dependence, and extraversion on the reactions of 81 males and 39 females to five Holtzman Inkblot Technique factor scores. Half of the Ss were told that the HIT was a measure of mental health and half that it was experimental in nature, which produced two instructional sets. Field dependence was measured with the Embedded Figures Test and extraversion by the Eysenck Personality Inventory. Subjective anxiety was tapped via the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Results revealed no differences among five examiners. However, three of the five HIT factors and the STAI were affected significantly by the instructional set. The effects, while significant, were not massive. Field dependence interacted with instructional set; field dependent Ss reacted with generally more changes in scores than did field independent S. Unlike field dependence, extraversion appeared unrelated to instructional set effects. The results are discussed in terms of how the factor scores interacted with the field dependence and instructional set in psychologically meaningful ways.
Synthesis and properties of chlorophyll-derived nitroxide spin labels

Abstract A general synthesis of chlorophyll-derived spin labels is reported. The starting point is chlorophyll a and a long chain spin-labeled alcohol. The four-step synthetic route yields new spin labels in quantities practical for membrane spin-labeling studies. Two examples prepared are 12′-proxyltridecyl pyropheophorbide a and 12′-proxylhexadecyl pyropheophorbide a. The spin labels were purified and characterized by thin-layer chromatography, high-pressure liquid chromatography, mass spectroscopy, nmr and visible spectroscopy, and the number of unpaired spins per molecule. ESR spectral parameters are reported. The chlorophyll-derived spin labels intercalate into fluid phospholipid bilayers and are observed in both the bilayer phase and bound to membrane proteins in chromatophores of the purple photosynthetic bacterium, Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides.
Lymphocyte adhesion to psoriatic dermal endothelium is mediated by a tissue-specific receptor/ligand interaction.

Dermal lymphocytic infiltrates are characteristic of psoriasis and may be involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. We have utilized an in vitro lymphocyte adherence assay to examine the mechanism(s) mediating lymphocyte migration into psoriatic skin. In this assay, we assessed the binding of lymphocytes overlaid onto frozen biopsy sections of normal and psoriatic skin. Lymphocytes isolated from human blood and rat thoracic duct hound specifically to dermal endothelia in psoriatic plaques but not to those of uninvolved skin from psoriatic patients or skin from normal individuals; analysis of the binding properties of B cells and T lymphocyte subsets revealed a preferential binding of CD4+ T cells compared with CD8+ T cells or B cells. This lymphocyte-endothelial interaction is an energy- and calcium-dependent process and involves surface protein and carbohydrate moieties, requirements similar to those found in lymphocyte interaction with post-capillary high endothelial venules (HEV) in lymphoid tissues. However, preincubation of lymphocytes with antibodies directed against surface molecules mediating adhesion to HEV of peripheral lymph node and gut-associated lymphoid tissue did not interfere with the capacity of lymphocytes to bind to the skin. The results of this study support the hypothesis that emigration of lymphocytes from vasculature into psoriatic skin is promoted by the presence of specialized endothelia in psoriatic dermis capable of mediating specific lymphocyte-endothelial interactions.
A review of the soil-moisture relationship in potatoes

From the above review it is evident that a high soil moisture content should be maintained at all stages of plant growth to obtain high yields of potatoes. The soil moisture should never be allowed to drop below 50% of the available range of moisture.
Cloacal Dysgenesis Sequence: Observations in Four Patients Including Three Fetuses of Second Trimester Gestation

Cloacal dysgenesis is a rare malformation sequence. We studied cloacal dysgenesis in four fetuses, including three at 18–22 weeks of gestation. All four fetuses showed a smooth perineum with absence of anal, urethral, and/or vaginal openings. The urinary bladder was dilated in 3 cases. The labia majora and minora were absent in the two female fetuses; the scrotum and penis were absent in one male fetus and hypoplastic in the second. The kidneys were either absent (1 case), dysplastic (1 case), or hydronephrotic (1 case). Normal kidneys were seen in a fetus of 20–22 weeks gestation in whom the urinary obstruction was alleviated by a vesicocolonic fistula. This fetus did not have pulmonary hypoplasia. Severe renal anomaly and pulmonary hypoplasia are the limiting factors for the survival of infants born with cloacal dysgenesis. The unique observation of normal kidneys and lungs in one of our fetuses, despite anhydramnios, suggests that the effect of oligohydramnios on lung development may be limited early in gestation, at least up to 20–22 weeks. It may also indirectly support the theory that there are factors other than oligohydramnios that interfere with early lung development, such as reduced production of a pulmonary growth factor by the kidney or reduced proline production by malformed kidneys, that may cause decreased collagen formation and result in hypoplastic lung mesenchyme.
Value-Added Production of Nisin from Soy Whey

The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of low/negative value soy whey (SW) as an alternative, inexpensive fermentation substrate to culture Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis for nisin production. Initially, a microtiter plate assay using a Bioscreen C Microbiology Plate Reader was used for rapid optimization of culture conditions. Various treatments were examined in efforts to optimize nisin production from SW, including different methods for SW sterilization, ultrasonication of soy flake slurries for possible nutrient release, comparison of diluted and undiluted SW, and supplementation of SW with nutrients. In subsequent flask-based experiments, dry bacterial mass and nisin yields obtained from SW were 2.18 g/L and 619 mg/L, respectively, as compared to 2.17 g/L and 672 mg/L from a complex medium, de Man-Rogosa-Sharpe broth. Ultrasonication of soybean flake slurries (10% solid content) in water prior to production of SW resulted in ∼2% increase in biomass yields and ∼1% decrease in nisin yields. Nutrient supplementation to SW resulted in ∼3% and ∼7% increase in cell and nisin yields, respectively. This proof-of-concept study demonstrates the potential for use of a low/negative value liquid waste stream from soybean processing for production of a high-value fermentation end product.
A spoken dialogue interface to a geologist's field assistant

We will demonstrate a spoken dialogue interface to a Geologist's Field Assistant that is being developed as part of NASA's Mobile Agents project. The assistant consists of a robot and an agent system which helps an astronaut wearing a planetary space suit while conducting a geological exploration. The primary technical challanges relating to spoken dialogue systems that arise in this project are speech recognition in noise, open-microphone, and recording voice annotations. This system is capable of discriminating between speech intended for the system and for other purposes.
Rate of unwinding small DNA

The kinetics of the helix-coil transition of low molecular weight DNA was investigated using temperature-jump techniques. The material was sonicated or sheared, then fractionated according to molecular weight using differential solubility in an isopropanol-buffer mixture. To prevent irreversible strand separation the samples were cross-linked with mitomycin C. Kinetic observations (266 nm) were made as a function of molecular weight, fraction coil, perturbation size and salt concentration. The Eigen-DeMaeyer apparatus was used for times between 5 μsec and 2 sec; slower effects required a special instrument. Decay times varying with M1.9 down to 6.0 × 105 daltons are attributed to fractionally limited unwinding. Some faster effects are from overtones (melting from ends). The rate of unwinding of DNA with a molecular Weight of 1.0 × 105 daltons appears to be limited by the breakage of hydrogen bonds. From the data we estimate a rate constant of 4 × 106 sec−1 for base pair formation. A very fast decay (~30 μsec) is possibly the nucleation of coil at an A + T rich region. Ascribed to protolytic equilibria and to non-specific base-base interaction is an irresolvable (<5 μsec) optical density change. Also of interest is the appreciable contribution of very slow effects (some slower than 102 sec). These are nearly independent of molecular weight. We believe this originates from the difference in modes of melting for G + C rich and A + T rich regions of amolecule; the former approaches an “all-or-none” transition. The A + T rich regions, because they are less stable, melt first, leaving G + C rich regions between loops. The merging of two of these loopsis statistically favorable but this requires the breakage of a large number of base pairs. Thus, this melting is entropically driven against a large activation energy barrier giving rise to exceedingly slow kinetics.
Beyond Confronting the Myth of Racial Democracy: The Role of Afro-Brazilian Women Scholars and Activists

Examination of current scholarship mapping the social and economic exclusion of women of African descent in Brazil reveals the important role played by Afro-Brazilian women scholars and activists in redressing the paucity, until recently, of basic data and research on this topic. It also gives rise to some initial thoughts on the national and transnational dynamics of knowledge production underlying this state of affairs. The production of knowledge on the gendered dimensions of racial exclusion has been impacted by state policy, institutional practices within academia, and the fit between the myth of racial democracy and the early second wave feminist movement's ideal of sisterhood and its Marxist-influenced focus on class. The visibility brought to racism in the region by the world conference on racism held in Durban in 2001 helped facilitate large-scale projects on the life experiences of Brazilians of African descent.
The adrenal gland in AIDS

The adrenal gland has been known to be a common site of opportunistic infections and tumors that define the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) ever since the first autopsy data were published. We have examined the adrenal glands of 66 AIDS patients autopsied in New York City and tabulated and graded the findings in an attempt to estimate the likelihood of adrenal insufficiency developing on the basis of these lesions. AIDSdefining conditions were found in the adrenal glands of 56% of patients, primarily opportunistic infections (53%) and much less frequently neoplasms (3%). Cytomegaloviral (CMV) infection was by far the most common type (42%), followed by mycobacterial (8%) and fungal infections (3%). There was one case eachof Kaposi’s sarcoma and lymphoma. Total necrosis of adrenal cortex was restricted to 2 cases of tuberculosis. CMV adrenalitis, although the most common infection and often associated with necrosis, never resulted in more than 30% destruction of the cortex. We conclude that although histopathological evidence of adrenal disease is common in AIDS, most such lesions are not sufficiently extensive to result in adrenal insufficiency. In contrast to previous reports stressing the importance of CMV adrenalitis as a possible cause of adrenocortical insufficiency, we now find tuberculosis the more likely cause of total cortical destruction.
Evaluation of methods for chemically coupling foot-and-mouth disease virus to sheep red blood cells for immunological assays.

Abstract Six methods of chemically coupling proteins to red blood cells were evaluated for their effectiveness in coupling foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) to sheep red blood cells. The coupling agents tested were potassium periodate, l-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride (ECDI), chromium chloride, glutaraldehyde, bis-diazotized benzidine (BDB) and N-succinimidyl 3-(2-pyridyldithio) propionate (SPDP). Of these, only the coupling methods using BDB and SPDP resulted in virus-red cell complexes that reacted with FMDV antiserum in passive hemagglutination and passive immune hemolysis assays. The BDB and SPDP methods were studied further to determine optimal coupling conditions, the kinetics of coupling and the effects of chemical couplers on viral integrity. Only the FMDV-red cell complexes formed with SPDP were suitable targets for detecting FMDV antibody producing lymphocytes in a hemolytic plaque assay.
Splitting, covariation, and their role in the development of exponential functions

Exponential and logarithmic functions are typically presented as formulas with which students learn to associate the rules for exponents/logarithms, a particular algebraic form, and routine algorithms. We present a theoretical argument for an approach to exponentials more closely related to students' constructions. This approach is based on a primitive multiplicative operation labeled "splitting" that is not repeated addition. Whereas educators traditionally rely on counting structures to build a number system, we suggest that students need the opportunity to build a number system from splitting structures and their geometric forms. We advocate a "covariation" approach to functions that supports a construction of the exponential function based on an isomorphism between splitting and counting structures.
Theory of local thermal instability in spherical systems

The gasdynamical properties of local thermal instability in optically thin astrophysical plasmas as it occurs in spherical accretion and winds is investigated. In a medium characterized by both thermal and hydrostatic equilibrium, if the cooling function is not an explicit function of position and does not display isentropic thermal instability, then isobaric thermal instability by the Field criterion is present if and only if convective instability is present by the Schwarzschild criterion. In this case, thermal overstability cannot occur. Convective instability by the Schwarzschild criterion will also occur in accretion flows locally dominated by external heating or in marginally unbound, radiatively cooling outflows. A very general Lagrangian equation for the development of nonradial thermal instability in flows with spherical symmetry is derived and is solved analytically in certain regimes. The results are applied to cluster X-ray cooling flows.
A sporadic case of male-limited precocious puberty has the same constitutively activating point mutation in luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor gene as familial cases

Familial male-limited precocious puberty (FMPP) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by marked elevation of serum testosterone despite low levels of gonadotropin. Recently, a single point mutation in the LH/hCG receptor (LH/CGR) gene was found in FMPP families that constitutively activates the LH/CGR, causing Leydig cell activation and precocious puberty. Among the Japanese population, only four sporadic cases of male-limited precocious puberty have been reported. In the current study, we examined one of the four reported Japanese patients with sporadic male-limited precocious puberty and found the same mutation as that in the FMPP families. Genomic DNA was isolated, and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to amplify a fragment of LH/CGR DNA encoding amino acid residues that include transmembrane helixes 5 and 6. Sequencing of the PCR products revealed a heterozygous adenosine-guanine transition at nucleotide 1733 in codon 578. The mutation encodes an aspartic acid578-glycine subs...
Effect of ethylenediamine di (o-hydroxyphenylacetic acid) application to soil columns on the distribution of certain nutrient elements in the water-soluble, acid-soluble and exchangeable forms

The chemical behaviour of the sodium form of ethylenediamine di(o-hydroxyphenylacetic acid), Na2EDDHA, in a calcareous soil column was studied. The results show loss about 2/3 of the synthetic chelate in the soil, possibly due to microbial decomposition and/or fixation of EDDHA.
How to divide and conquer the world, one step at a time

Many human everyday decisions are parts of plans to reach a higher-level goal; unfortunately, the computational cost of planning increases steeply with the length of the sequence to be planned. So how do we manage to plan, often near optimally, given the limited capacity of our brains? In PNAS, Huys et al. (1) suggest that we might achieve our goals by cleverly fragmenting the decision tree into subpaths and retrieving frequently used subpaths from memory. However, they also warn that prematurely discarding paths that traverse unpleasant states might lead to strategies that are suboptimal overall.
The inverse of nonsymmetric two-level Toeplitz operator matrices

Abstract The Gohberg–Semencul formula allows one to express the entries of the inverse of a Toeplitz matrix using only a few entries (the first row and the first column) of the inverse matrix, under some nonsingularity condition. In this paper we will provide a two variable generalization of the Gohberg–Semencul formula in the case of a nonsymmetric two-level Toeplitz matrix with a symbol of the form f ( z 1 , z 2 ) = 1 P ( z 1 , z 2 ) ¯ Q ( z 1 , z 2 ) where P ( z 1 , z 2 ) and Q ( z 1 , z 2 ) are stable polynomials of two variables. We also consider the case of operator valued two-level Toeplitz matrices. In addition, we propose an equation solver involving two-level Toeplitz matrices. Numerical results are included.
British Myopia and the Collapse of Indian Textile Demand

Britain's textile industry contracted sharply in the interwar period due to the growth of domestic industries in many of its export markets. Lazonick and Mass argue that, because this growth was inevitable, British entrepreneurs should not have focused on the less developed countries. This article questions whether the interwar growth of the Indian textile industry was inevitable. A quantitative study of Indian import demand and production techniques suggests that the rapid growth of the industry was due to exogenous events—postwar British inflation and change in the Indian political regime—rather than to the natural evolution of Indian productivity.
A note on uniform definability and minimal fields of definition

Let k ⊂ K be a field extension, where K is an algebraically closed field of any characteristic and k is the prime field. Recall the following property of Hilbert Schemes (see, for example, [1], Proposition 1.16): Suppose ⊂ × S is a flat family of closed subschemes of parametrised by a scheme S/k . Then for every closed subscheme Z ⊂ in , if [ Z ] denotes the Hilbert point of Z in Hilb( ) then the residue field of Hilb( ) at [ Z ] is the minimal field of definition for Z . Intuitively, this says that as a family parametrised by Hilb( ), each fibre of lies above a point whose “co-ordinates” generate its minimal field of definition. In the following note we are concerned with a more naive form of the above situation, for which we wish to give an elementary account. Suppose ϕ (x,y) is a system of polynomial equations over k (in variables x = (x 1 ,…, x m ) and parameters y = ( y 1 , …, y n )), such that is a family of (possibly reducible) affine varieties in K m . Each nonempty member of this family has a unique minimal field of definition. The question arises as to whether it is possible to express this family of varieties using parameters that come, pointwise, from these minimal fields of definition. That is, is there a system of polynomial equations ψ(x, z) over k , such that each ψ(x, b) with b ∈ K N is of the form V a for some a ∈ K n ; and such that each V a ∈ is defined by ψ(x, b) for some b ∈ K N whose coordinates generate the minimal field of definition for V a ? Moreover, we would like b to be obtained definably from a .
Testing the Ability of Implicit Membrane Models to Discriminate the Native State of Membrane Proteins

Four implicit membrane models (IMM1[1], GBIM[2], GBSW[3], HDGB[4]) were tested for their ability to discriminate the native from non-native conformations of membrane proteins. The first two are based on the extended-atom CHARMM19 force field and the last two on the all-atom CHARMM22 force field with CMAP backbone torsion correction. 450 decoys generated by the Rosetta-Membrane program for five transmembrane proteins of different size were considered: V-ATPase, transmembrane domain of fumarate reductase, lactose permease N-terminal domain, bacteriorhodopsin, and rhodopsin. In terms of CPU time, IMM1 and GBIM are the fastest; GBSW is about three times slower and HDGB about eight times slower. Two performance criteria were used: the energy ranking of the native state and the correlation coefficient between RMSD and decoy energy. The GBIM energy function was the least successful, usually placing the native conformation among the highest energy decoys and giving very low correlation coefficients. The performance of the other three models was comparable, each of them doing best for specific systems. All models failed to predict the lactose permease native conformation, with GBSW performing best. The results are analyzed to identify the features of the four models that are responsible for their successes and failures.Reference:1. Lazaridis, T. Proteins, 2003, 52, 176.2. Spassov, V. Z.; Yan, L.; Szalma, S. J. Phys. Chem. B, 2002, 106, 8726.3. Im, W.; Feig, M.; Brooks III, C. L. Biophys. J. 2003, 85, 2900.4. Tanizaki, S.; Feig, M. J. Chem. Phys. 2005, 122, 124706.
Treat Now or Later: The Dilemma of Postoperative Radiotherapy

The management of adverse pathology following radical prostatectomy (RP) is a difficult treatment dilemma. The debate centers on three treatment paradigms: additional systemic therapy, additional local therapy, or close observation. For the individual patient, the decision focuses on risk of systemic disease and risk of local recurrence. The excellent review article by Stephenson et al. [1] concisely and completely outlines the literature surrounding adjuvant versus salvage radiation therapy (RT) for patients with adverse pathology. It is unfortunate that although we are blessed with three randomized trials addressing the utilization of adjuvant RT, a lack of consensus remains as to the optimal management of these patients. The three randomized trials all demonstrated that adjuvant RT improves outcomes in patients with pathologic extracapsular disease or positive margins. Wiegel et al. (ARO 96–02, n = 385) demonstrated that adjuvant RT almost halved the risk of biochemical recurrence in patients with undetectable prostate-specific antigen (PSA) following surgery (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.53; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.37–0.79) [2]. Bolla et al. (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer [EORTC] 22911, n = 1005) demonstrated a similar decrease in biochemical recurrence [3]. In both studies, the group that appeared to benefit the most was those with positive margins [2,4]. Unfortunately, neither study demonstrated improvement in overall survival, prostate cancer (PCa)-specific survival, or metastasis-free survival. However, both trials had a median follow-up of only 5 yr; it is possible that with longer followup and more events, differences in survival will be identified. The third study, by Thompson et al. (Southwest Oncology Group [SWOG] 8794, n = 425), clearly demonstrated that adjuvant RT improved not only biochemical recurrence but also the harder end points of metastasis-free