cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Insect-mediated seed-set evaluation of 21 soybean lines segregating for male sterility at 10 different loci

The first requirement to establish a successful hybrid soybean program is the avail- ability of a stable male-sterile, female-fertile sys- tem. Male sterility has been an important tool in soybean breeding programs to improve traits such as yield, seed-protein and seed-oil content, and seed size. However, improvement of seed-set per se on male-sterile plants has not been an important breeding objective. The evaluation of the out-crossing potential of the available male- sterile, female-fertile soybean lines is crucial to determine the future of hybrid soybean. The objective of this study was to evaluate seed-set among 21 soybean lines segregating for male sterility at 10 different loci using Megachile rotundata as insect pollinator. Seed-set was eval- uated in field conditions in 2001, 2002, and 2003 near Ames, Iowa. Our results indicated significant differences in seed-set among male-sterile lines. The effects of maturity group, pubescence color, the locus and/or the allele, and the genetic back- ground of the lines segregating for male sterility were significant. Differences for seed-set among lines with independent mutational events at the same locus, (i.e. different alleles), also were sig- nificant. These results imply that interaction ef- fects with the genetic background of the lines for traits related to fertility/sterility and insect-polli- nator attraction and reward are important. Flower color had little effect on seed-set in the evaluated lines. The effect of year was very important on the performance of the lines for seed-set. This suggested that environmental con- ditions that favor plant-pollinator relationships need to be determined in order to increase insect- mediated cross-pollination to develop an efficient hybrid soybean program.
Diagnostic issues in chronic schizophrenia: kraepelinian schizophrenia, undifferentiated schizophrenia, and state-independent negative symptoms

Data are presented concerning three recent clinical distinctions in schizophrenia: kraepelinian versus non-kraepelinian patients; mixed versus simple undifferentiated subtypes; and state-dependent versus state-independent negative symptoms. Schizophrenic patients who have been ill and dependent on others for the past 5 years ('kraepelinians') were compared to other chronic schizophrenics. The kraepelinian patients met the criteria for schizophrenia by more diagnostic systems than other patients, were less responsive to haloperidol, had more severe negative symptoms and formal thought disorder, and had similarly severe positive symptoms. They also had cerebral ventricles that demonstrated more left-to-right asymmetry and a greater family history of schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Mixed undifferentiated schizophrenic patients, who met criteria for more than one schizophrenic subtype, were compared to simple undifferentiated schizophrenic patients, who met criteria for no subtype. The mixed group was characterized by more severe positive and negative symptoms and formal thought disorder, worse social functioning, and a worse response to haloperidol. In a subgroup of patients who were studied once while in a state of exacerbation and once while in a state of relative remission, the negative symptoms of inattention and affective flattening were state-dependent, while anhedonia-asociality was state-independent.
Development of biocompatible synthetic extracellular matrices for tissue engineering

Tissue engineering may provide an alternative to organ and tissue transplantation, both of which suffer from a limitation of supply. Cell transplantation using biodegradable synthetic extracellular matrices offers the possibility of creating completely natural new tissues and so replacing lost or malfunctioning organs or tissues. Synthetic extracellular matrices fabricated from biocompatible, biodegradable polymers play an important role in the formation of functional new tissue from transplanted cells. They provide a temporary scaffolding to guide new tissue growth and organization, and may provide specific signals intended to retain tissue-specific gene expression.
Renewable dehydrogenase-based interfaces for bioelectronic applications

Bioelectronic interfaces that establish electrical communication between redox enzymes and electrodes have potential applications as biosensors, biocatalytic reactors, and biological fuel cells. However, these interfaces contain labile components, including enzymes and cofactors, which have limited lifetimes and must be replaced periodically to allow long-term operation. Current methods to fabricate bioelectronic interfaces do not allow facile replacement of these components, thus limiting the useful lifetime of the interfaces. In this paper we describe a versatile new fabrication approach that binds the enzymes and cofactors using reversible ionic interactions. This approach allows the interface to be removed via a simple pH change and then replaced to fully regenerate the biocatalytic activity. The positively charged polyelectrolyte poly(ethylenimine) was used to ionically bond a dehydrogenase enzyme and its cofactor to a gold electrode that was functionalized with 3-mercaptopropionic acid and the electron mediator toluidine blue O. By reducing the pH, the surface-bound 3-mercaptopropionic acid was protonated, disrupting the ionic bonds and releasing the enzyme-modified polyelectrolyte. After neutralization, fresh enzyme and cofactor were bound, regenerating the bioelectronic interface. Cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, constant potential amperometry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analyses were used to characterize the bioelectronic interfaces. For the two enzymes tested (secondary alcohol dehydrogenase and sorbitol dehydrogenase) and their respective cofactors (beta-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate and beta-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide), the reconstituted interface exhibited a surface coverage, an electron-transfer coefficient, and a turnover rate similar to those of the original interface.
Efficient algorithm for rational transformation on polynomials

An efficient and simple algorithm is developed for arbitrary polynomial transformation using a polynomial interpolation technique. The new algorithm is compared with the existing ones for a number of multiplications and additions. It is superior to the other algorithms in terms of both the number of calculations and the memory requirement. It is also shown how the algorithm can be extended for the multivariable case.
Competition and Selection in Municipal Bond Sales: Evidence from Missouri

This article describes the results of an interest cost analysis of local government debt issuance in the State of Missouri. In Missouri the vast majority of municipal bonds are sold on a “no bid” basis. We discuss the theoretical arguments for and against competition and selection. Then we determine the degree to which cost differences exist while correcting for any potential selection bias. We use data on local government general obligation bonds sold from May 2004 to May 2005 provided by the Missouri State Auditor's office. We find that this substantial lack of competition imposes significant costs on Missouri governments.
Combined thermal convective magneto-hydrodynamic flow

The role of combined natural and forced thermal convection in the flow of an electrically conducting fluid through a magnetic field is analyzed. The conditions under which the magnetic field renders the free convective contribution to the total thermal exchange negligible are discussed. Effects of wall electrical conductivity, magnetic field strength, internal energy generation, free convection, and thermal Prandtl number on the flow and heat transfer are presented and discussed.
Equations of Interdoublet Separation during Flagella Motion Reveal Mechanisms of Wave Propagation and Instability

The motion of flagella and cilia arises from the coordinated activity of dynein motor protein molecules arrayed along microtubule doublets that span the length of axoneme (the flagellar cytoskeleton). Dynein activity causes relative sliding between the doublets, which generates propulsive bending of the flagellum. The mechanism of dynein coordination remains incompletely understood, although it has been the focus of many studies, both theoretical and experimental. In one leading hypothesis, known as the geometric clutch (GC) model, local dynein activity is thought to be controlled by interdoublet separation. The GC model has been implemented as a numerical simulation in which the behavior of a discrete set of rigid links in viscous fluid, driven by active elements, was approximated using a simplified time-marching scheme. A continuum mechanical model and associated partial differential equations of the GC model have remained lacking. Such equations would provide insight into the underlying biophysics, enable mathematical analysis of the behavior, and facilitate rigorous comparison to other models. In this article, the equations of motion for the flagellum and its doublets are derived from mechanical equilibrium principles and simple constitutive models. These equations are analyzed to reveal mechanisms of wave propagation and instability in the GC model. With parameter values in the range expected for Chlamydomonas flagella, solutions to the fully nonlinear equations closely resemble observed waveforms. These results support the ability of the GC hypothesis to explain dynein coordination in flagella and provide a mathematical foundation for comparison to other leading models.
Laser-induced desorption of polyatomic molecules with a CO2 laser

Abstract Laser-induced thermal desorption (LITD) has been increasingly employed as a tool for investigating surface processes. In LITD, a pulsed laser beam that is focused onto a surface induces a rapid temperature rise that causes desorption. In spite of the success enjoyed by the CO 2 laser in studies of diatomic molecules, its use with polyatomic molecules is shown to be severely limited by laser-induced dissociation. In desorption experiments with CH 3 OH, HCOOH, CH 3 NH 2 and NH 3 dissociation occurs only when the laser frequency coincides with an infrared absorption band of the molecule. Fragmentation may take place either on the surface or in the dense gas phase present above the surface during the laser pulse.
Drift flux in gas—liquid—solid fluidized systems from the dynamics of bed collapse☆

Abstract In the present study, the bubble drift velocity in three-phase systems operated in the dispersed bubble flow regime is considered. A theory is developed to account for the dynamic behavior of the collapse of a three-phase fluidized bed after a sudden stop of the gas and liquid flows. Based on this theory, the bubble drift velocity and drift flux are defined and their physical implications are presented. It is shown that the bubble rise velocity in a three-phase fluidized bed consists of two components: one is the sum of solid-free-based superficial velocities of the original steady state operation and the other is the bubble drift velocity. In the case of a three-phase fluidized bed, the bubble drift velocity is physically represented by the rise velocity of bubble swarm in the dynamic system modified by the solids holdup change due to bed collapse. In the case of a three-phase packed bed, the rise velocity of bubble swarm in the dynamic system directly represents the bubble drift velocity. Experiments for the dynamic of bed collapse of a three-phase fluidized system using 3.04-mm glass beads are conducted. Predictions for the dynamic behavior of bed collapse by the proposed theory agree very well with experimental measurements. Experiments of a single bubble rising in a liquid—solid fluidized bed and bubble swarm rising in a gas—liquid bubble column are also conducted to study the bubble motion in a three-phase fluidized bed under two extreme conditions. A unified correlation is obtained to correlate all the results for the bubble drift velocity in a three-phase fluidized bed as well as those under the two extreme conditions.
Aging: modulation of GABAA binding sites by ethanol and diazepam.

Abstract Modulation of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) binding to the GABA A recognition site by ethanol and/or diazepam appears to change with the age of the animal. Brain tissue above the cerebellum of young, mature, and old rats was examined for an age-related change in the GABA A recognition sites 5 min after the rat was last habituated or received a single injection of the vehicle, ethanol and/or diazepam. The dose of ethanol injected was reduced in the senescent rats, so the brain levels of ethanol did not vary with age. An injection of ethanol and/or diazepam (180 μg/kg) did not significantly alter the GABA A recognition site in any age group relative to the habituated or vehicle-injected rats of that age group. However, the affinity of the GABA A recognition site was decreased by ethanol in mature and old rats relative to the affinity of the GABA A site after diazepam pretreatment in the presence and absence of ethanol, respectively. Finally, the combination of ethanol and diazepam elicited an increase in the number of GABA A binding sites relative to diazepam pretreatment in only the young rats. The present results indicate that the GABA A binding site is modulated by ethanol and diazepam in an age-dependent manner.
Interphase Composition in Aluminum/Epoxy Adhesive Joints

Abstract Model epoxy/aluminum adhesive joints were constructed with a geometry that allowed cracks to be propagated extremely close to the adhesive/adherend interface. The joints were fractured in air and the fracture surfaces analyzed using angle resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Fracture occurred in a manner that left a significant amount of aluminum oxide on the epoxy side of the fracture surface and very little epoxy on the aluminum side. Aliphatic amine curing agent found associated with the aluminum oxide on both the adhesive and the adherend sides of the fracture surface was protonated by the acidic hydroxyls present in the aluminum hydroxide. Moreover, catalysis of the curing reaction by these hydroxyls resulted in an increased degree of crosslinking in the regions of the adhesive very close to the oxide surface. Thus, the aluminum oxide surface modified the structure of the adhesive in the near surface regions and resulted in the formation of a distinct interphase region with a compositi...
mRNA decay factor AUF1 maintains normal aging, telomere maintenance, and suppression of senescence by activation of telomerase transcription.

Summary Inflammation is associated with DNA damage, cellular senescence, and aging. Cessation of the inflammatory cytokine response is mediated in part through cytokine mRNA degradation facilitated by RNA-binding proteins, including AUF1. We report a major function of AUF1—it activates telomerase expression, suppresses cellular senescence, and maintains normal aging. AUF1-deficient mice undergo striking telomere erosion, markedly increased DNA damage responses at telomere ends, pronounced cellular senescence, and rapid premature aging that increases with successive generations, which can be rescued in AUF1 knockout mice and their cultured cells by resupplying AUF1 expression. AUF1 binds and strongly activates the transcription promoter for telomerase catalytic subunit Tert . In addition to directing inflammatory cytokine mRNA decay, AUF1 destabilizes cell-cycle checkpoint mRNAs, preventing cellular senescence. Thus, a single gene, AUF1, links maintenance of telomere length and normal aging to attenuation of inflammatory cytokine expression and inhibition of cellular senescence.
Solow and Stiglitz on Employment and Distribution: A New Romance with an Old Model?

I. Introduction, 144. — II. Some parallel views on the Cambridge and the marginal productivity theories, 144. — III. Similarities in equations of the earlier and the present model, 146. — IV. Issues in disequilibrium price versus disequilibrium output adaptations, 150.
Redox-optimized ROS balance: A unifying hypothesis

While it is generally accepted that mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) balance depends on the both rate of single electron reduction of O2 to superoxide (O2.-) by the electron transport chain and the rate of scavenging by intracellular antioxidant pathways, considerable controversy exists regarding the conditions leading to oxidative stress in intact cells versus isolated mitochondria. Here, we postulate that mitochondria have been evolutionarily optimized to maximize energy output while keeping ROS overflow to a minimum by operating in an intermediate redox state. We show that at the extremes of reduction or oxidation of the redox couples involved in electron transport (NADH/NAD+) or ROS scavenging (NADPH/NADP+, GSH/GSSG), respectively, ROS balance is lost. This results in a net overflow of ROS that increases as one moves farther away from the optimal redox potential. At more reduced mitochondrial redox potentials, ROS production exceeds scavenging, while under more oxidizing conditions (e.g., at higher workloads) antioxidant defenses can be compromised and eventually overwhelmed. Experimental support for this hypothesis is provided in both cardiomyocytes and in isolated mitochondria from guinea pig hearts. The model reconciles, within a single framework, observations that isolated mitochondria tend to display increased oxidative stress at high reduction potentials (and high mitochondrial membrane potential, Psim), whereas intact cardiac cells can display oxidative stress either when mitochondria become more uncoupled (i.e., low Psim) or when mitochondria are maximally reduced (as in ischemia or hypoxia). The continuum described by the model has the potential to account for many disparate experimental observations and also provides a rationale for graded physiological ROS signaling at redox potentials near the minimum.
Characterization of resistance genes to rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae in a “Green Revolution” rice variety

The indica rice variety Dee Geo Woo Gen (DGWG) was the source of the semidwarf gene (SD1) which played an important role in the Green Revolution. In the present study, resistance (R) genes to the US race (isolate) IB54 of Magnaporthe oryzae, causal agent of rice blast disease, was investigated. Two recombinant inbred line mapping populations, consisting of 175 and 224 individuals derived from crosses of DGWG with the straw hull weedy rice type PI653435 (AR-2001-1135; S population) and the black hull type PI653419 (MS-1996-9; B population), respectively, were used for mapping blast R genes and quantitative trait loci (QTLs). Two high-resolution linkage maps with 6,513 (S population) and 14,382 (B population) single nucleotide polymorphic markers derived from genotyping-by-sequencing data were used to map R genes. Two partial resistance QTLs, qBR1.1 and qBR6.1, and one major resistance QTL, qBR11.1, were identified in the B population. One partial resistance QTL, qBR6.1, and one major resistance QTL, qBR11.1, were confirmed with the S population. The total phenotypic variation of three resistance QTLs was 51 %, ranging from 1.12 to 47.62 %, in the B population. All three resistance QTLs were localized to relatively small genomic regions. The major resistance QTL, qBR11.1, was mapped to a 129-kb region on chromosome 11 near nine known blast R genes. Within this 129-kb region, three genes encoding putative nucleotide-binding site and leucine-rich repeat (LRR) disease resistance proteins and three genes encoding WRKY transcription factors WRKY61, WRKY63, and WRKY41 were identified as candidate genes of qBR11.1 and tentatively designated as Pi66(t). Identification of blast R genes in DGWG should help continued deployment of useful genes for improving crop productivity and resistance to rice blast disease.
Protein kinase A activators inhibit agonist induced prostaglandin production in human amnion.

Abstract Prostaglandin (PG) production by human amnion has been postulated to have a role in the onset of labor. Previous work by ourselves and others has demonstrated that oxytocin, phorbol esters and epidermal growth factor (EGF) increase PGE 2 production in human amnion cells by activation of the Phospholipase C/Protein Kinase C (PKC) cascade system. The present study was undertaken to determine the effect of prior activation of the Adenylate Cyclase cascade system upon subsequent stimulation of PGE 2 production by oxytocin, phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) or EGF in amnion cells and membrane discs. Isoproterenol, forskolin and dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate (dbcAMP) were utilized to activate the Adenylate Cyclase system at the receptor, enzyme and second messenger level. In control amnion cells, oxytocin, PMA and EGF each provoked dose dependent increases in PGE 2 production. In cells preincubated with dbcAMP, forskolin or isoproterenol, agonist stimulated PGE 2 production was markedly (50–90%) inhibited (p 2 production. Activation of the Adenylate Cyclase system in human amnion cells or membrane discs inhibits the subsequent action of potent stimulators of PGE 2 production in human amnion.
Peripheral limitations of maximal aerobic capacity in patients with chronic heart failure.

Exercise intolerance in patients with CHF is related to chronic changes in structure and function of the heart and vessels, which lead to reduction of cardiac output reserve and hypoperfusion of skeletal muscle during exercise. Chronic neurohormonal activation, endothelial dysfunction, and deconditioning may contribute to the abnormalities of skeletal muscle blood flow, function, and metabolism in patients with CHF. A combination of pharmacologic (neurohormonal blockade) and nonpharmacologic therapy (physical training) may provide the optimal regimen to improve functional capacity in patients with CHF. Therapies that increase skeletal muscle perfusion are associated with concomitant increases in peak aerobic capacity. The Xe-133 clearance method for measurement of skeletal muscle blood flow is the only noninvasive technique that allows measurement of blood flow during maximal treadmill or bicycle exercise. If skeletal muscle blood flow measurements are performed in accordance with the fundamental principles of the technique, with recognition of the method limitations and appropriate controls for sources of experimental error, the Xe-133 technique appears to be a useful tool for measurement of skeletal muscle blood flow in clinical investigations. Measurement of skeletal muscle blood flow with PET and O-15—labeled water is a promising tool for investigation of heterogeneity of blood flow within the skeletal muscle circulation, although the need for arterial blood sampling limits its application for serial measurements in response to therapy.
On the iterated forms of Kalman filters using statistical linearization

Abstract The extended Kalman filter (EKF) is a suboptimal estimator of the conditional mean and covariance for nonlinear state estimation. It is based on first order Taylor series approximation of nonlinear state functions. The unscented Kalman filter (UKF) and the ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) are suboptimal estimators that are termed as Jacobian free because they do not require the existence of the Jacobian of the nonlinearity. The iterated form of EKF is an estimator of the conditional mode that employs an approximate Newton–Raphson iterative scheme to solve the maximization of the conditional probability density function. In this paper, the iterated forms of UKF and EnKF are presented that perform Newton–Raphson iteration without explicitly differentiating the nonlinear functions. The use of statistical linearization in iterated UKF and EnKF is a nondifferentiable optimization method when the measurement function is nonsmooth or discontinuous. All three iterated forms can be shown to be conditional mean estimators after the first iteration. A simple numerical example involving continuous and discontinuous measurment functions is included to evaluate the performance of the algorithms for the estimation of conditional mean, covariance and mode. A batch reactor simulation is shown for estimating both the states and unknown parameters.
Limited-stage small cell lung cancer: current chemoradiotherapy treatment paradigms.

In the U.S., the prevalence of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is declining, probably reflecting the decreasing prevalence of tobacco use. However, a significant number of patients will receive a diagnosis of SCLC, and approximately 40% of patients with SCLC will have limited-stage (LS) disease, which is potentially curable with the combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The standard therapy for LS-SCLC is concurrent chemoradiotherapy, and the 5-year survival rate observed in clinical trials is approximately 25%. The standard chemotherapy remains cisplatin and etoposide, but carboplatin is frequently used in patients who cannot tolerate or have a contraindication to cisplatin. Substantial improvements in survival have been made through improvements in radiation therapy. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy is the preferred therapy for patients who are appropriate candidates. The optimal timing of concurrent chemoradiotherapy is during the first or second cycle, based on data from meta-analyses. The optimal radiation schedule and dose remain topics of debate, but 1.5 Gy twice daily to a total of 45 Gy and 1.8–2.0 Gy daily to a total dose of 60–70 Gy are commonly used treatments. For patients who obtain a near complete or complete response, prophylactic cranial radiation reduces the incidence of brain metastases and improves overall survival. The ongoing Radiation Therapy Oncology Group and Cancer and Leukemia Group B and the European and Canadian phase III trials will investigate different radiation treatment paradigms for patients with LS-SCLC, and completion of these trials is critical.
Solubility and diffusion of propane in blends of polystrene and poly(vinyl methyl ether) at T > Tg

The solubility and diffusion of propane in rubbery blends of polystyrene and poly(vinyl methyl ether) were investigated at low diffusant pressure. Solubibity is characterized by Henry's law and diffusion by Fick's law with concentration-independent diffusion coefficients. The composition dependence of the solubility and diffusion parameters is presented. The diffusion coefficients for propane in the blends are related to those for the component polymers by using the glass transitions as reference temperatures.
Elements of Terrorism Preparedness in Local Police Agencies, 2003-2007: Impact of Vulnerability, Organizational Characteristics, and Contagion in the Post-9/11 Era

Different elements of local police agencies’ terrorism preparedness may be associated with different organizational/environmental variables. We use 2003-2007 data (showing considerable adoption and desistance of practices) on medium-to-large-sized local agencies to examine relationships between contingency (vulnerability, organizational characteristics) and contagion (network/isomorphic influence) measures and preparedness elements, including terrorism special units, dedicated assignment of personnel, terrorism-related community outreach, computerized intelligence files, and interagency-shared radio frequencies. Modeling 2007 preparedness revealed consistencies and some differences in the associations between these measures and the different preparedness elements. The finding of no association between objective vulnerability score and any terrorism preparedness action particularly warrants further research attention. It will also be important to extend preparedness research into the recent period of econo...
Reducing I.T. Project Management Failures: A Research Proposal

Failures rates of Information Technology (I.T.) projects remain high, even after decades of efforts to reduce them. However, most efforts to improve project success have focused on variations within the traditional project management paradigm. We argue that a root cause of high I.T. project failure rates is the traditional paradigm itself, as promulgated by, e.g., PMBOK. Discussions with an expert panel resulted in the formulation of a new paradigm described in this paper: Value-Driven Change Leadership (VDCL). This paper proposes empirical research to ascertain the role of the new paradigm in reducing I.T. project failure rates. The initial phase of our research, reported in this paper, resulted in a survey questionnaire and pilot data from several I.T. projects. The paper describes the research methodology for an empirical study to investigate the role of VDCL in reducing I.T. project failure rates.
Failure of Male Pronucleus Formation Is the Major Cause of Lack of Fertilization and Embryo Development in Pig Oocytes Subjected to Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection

The objectives of this study were 1) to compare the efficiency of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with and without additional artificial stimulation using frozen-thawed sperm and in vitro-matured porcine oocytes and 2) to determine the nuclear anomalies of ICSI oocytes that failed to fertilize or develop. In experiments 1 and 2, we evaluated the effects of additional activation treatments, e.g., electrical stimulus, Ca ionophore (A23187), and/or cycloheximide, on fertilization and development of ICSI porcine oocytes. Significantly higher fertilization, cleavage, and blastocyst rates were obtained for oocytes treated with a combination of ICSI and electrical activation (EA) (P < 0.05) than for those treated with ICSI alone. However, different combinations of electrical and chemical activation treatments did not further improve the rates of fertilization, cleavage, and blastocyst development for ICSI embryos. To elucidate the association between sperm head decondensation and oocyte activation and to investigate the cause of embryonic development failure, in experiment 3 we evaluated the nuclear morphology of oocytes 16-20 h after ICSI. Nearly 100% of oocytes showed female pronucleus formation after ICSI regardless of activation treatment. However, failure of male pronucleus formation with intact or swelling sperm heads was observed in some ICSI embryos, suggesting that these embryos underwent cell division with the female pronucleus only. Artificial activation (EA and A23187) had a beneficial effect on embryonic development, sperm decondensation was independent of the resumption of meiosis, and the failure of formation of a male pronucleus was the major cause for fertilization failure in porcine ICSI embryos.
Evaluation of pigment extraction methods and a recommended protocol for periphyton chlorophyll a determination and chemotaxonomic assessment

Many methods have been proposed to extract and quantify algal pigments. Comparative studies have found that pigment extraction efficiency varies among solvent and mechanical disruption protocols due to differential cellular resistance, thereby, leading to potential misinterpretation of pigment data. When the type or resistance of algae are unknown, a method is required that efficiently extract pigments from all taxonomic groups. The objective of this study was to develop a simple and efficient one stage periphyton pigment extraction protocol by comparing the extractability of four solvents (acetone, methanol, methanol/acetone, and methanol/ acetone/N,N-dimethylformamide), the effects of grinding, and the effects of freeze-drying. The best overall extraction was obtained using freeze-dried samples extracted with methanol/acetone/DMF/water (MAD). Eighty-six percent more chlorophyll was extracted when the sample was freeze-dried relative to fresh/frozen samples extracted with 90% acetone. Freeze-drying greatly improved the extraction of both polar and non-polar (lipophilic/hydrophobic) pigments while MAD increased the extractability of polar pigments and improved peak resolution of all pigments. Chemotaxonomic assessment differed between samples that were fresh/frozen or freeze-dried before extraction. The relative abundance of cyanobacteria was greater for freeze-dried material compared with fresh/frozen due to the improved extractability of cyanobacterial pigments. Based on the results of this study, the traditional approach of 90% acetone as a solvent is not recommended for periphyton samples containing cyanobacteria or when the composition of the mat is unknown. The combination of freeze-drying and MAD was sufficient for the extraction of pigments from a periphyton mat containing filamentous cyanobacteria, green algae, and diatoms.
Theodicy and Life Satisfaction among Black and White Americans

A growing body of literature has tested the linkages between various facets of religion and individual well-being. By examining the impact of religious theodicy on life satisfaction, this paper addresses one of the more understudied issues in religion and health research. Extant theory would suggest that certain theodicies (i.e., those that pit their adherents against non-believers and secular institutions) are associated with worse well-being. The results indicate that among Black respondents, a theodicy emphasizing evil and sin is not associated with life satisfaction. In contrast, for White respondents, this theodicy is associated with worse life satisfaction. Several moderating effects are also tested. The results indicate that among White respondents, stressful circumstances and church attendance moderate the relationship between theodicy and life satisfaction
Electrical characterization of wafer level fan-out (WLFO) using film substrate for low cost millimeter wave application

In this paper, development of wafer level fan-out (WLFO) technology using ajinomoto build-up film (ABF) substrate with laser ablation process is introduced for low cost and high electrical performance for millimeter wave application. Wafer level fan-out (WLFO) technology using ABF substrate can enhance routing density and provide smaller form factor with lower parasitic elements than flip-chip chip scale packages (FCCSP). Moreover, short electrical paths from die out to package out can be realized with WLFO, and the low-k ABF material provides good electrical properties for high frequency areas. In this paper, the process of WLFO using ABF substrate with laser drilling is explained and electrical parasitic elements are compared between FCCSP and WLFO using 3D simulation tools. In addition, electrical characterization of coplanar waveguide (CPW) structure and interconnection models from die I/O pad to balls using 3D EM simulation are conducted to estimate effectiveness on millimeter wave range. Actual measurements of CPW structures are also presented.
Resource Partitioning in Species of the Water Mite Genus Eylais

Resource partitioning was studied in 20 species of the water mite genus Eylais, the larvae of which parasitize adult Coleoptera and Hemiptera living in shallow ponds. Co—existence of sympatric species is possible because the mites exploit host resources in different ways. Most commonly they parasitize different species, but when hosts are identical, the mites remain segregated by differences in the precise site of attachment, biotope, or season of parasitism. Mite biology, host dispersal, and competition for attachment sites from other water mite species may restrict further subdivision of host resources. See full-text article at JSTOR
Genetic Divergence of Rotavirus Nonstructural Protein 4 Results in Distinct Serogroup-Specific Viroporin Activity and Intracellular Punctate Structure Morphologies

Nonstructural protein 4 (NSP4) viroporin activity is critical for the replication and assembly of serogroup A rotavirus (RVA); however, the dramatic primary sequence divergence of NSP4s across serogroups raises the possibility that viroporin activity is not a common feature among RVs. We tested for NSP4 viroporin activity from divergent strains, including RVA (EC and Ty-1), RVB (IDIR), and RVC (Cowden). Canonical viroporin motifs were identified in RVA, RVB, and RVC NSP4s, but the arrangement of basic residues and the amphipathic α-helices was substantially different between serogroups. Using Escherichia coli and mammalian cell expression, we showed that each NSP4 tested had viroporin activity, but serogroup-specific viroporin phenotypes were identified. Only mammalian RVA and RVC NSP4s induced BL21-pLysS E. coli cell lysis, a classical viroporin activity assay. In contrast, RVA, RVB, and RVC NSP4 expression was universally cytotoxic to E. coli and disrupted reduction-oxidation activities, as measured by a new redox dye assay. In mammalian cells, RVB and RVC NSP4s were initially localized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and trafficked into punctate structures that were mutually exclusive with RVA NSP4. The punctate structures partially localized to the ER-Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC) but primarily colocalized with punctate LC3, a marker for autophagosomes. Similar to RVA NSP4, expression of RVB and RVC NSP4s significantly elevated cytosolic calcium levels, demonstrating that despite strong primary sequence divergence, RV NSP4 has maintained viroporin activity across serogroups A to C. These data suggest that elevated cytosolic calcium is a common critical process for all rotavirus strains.
Effect of CYP3A-inducing anti-epileptics on sorafenib exposure: results of a phase II study of sorafenib plus daily temozolomide in adults with recurrent glioblastoma

Sorafenib, an oral VEGFR-2, Raf, PDGFR, c-KIT and Flt-3 inhibitor, is active against renal cell and hepatocellular carcinomas, and has recently demonstrated promising activity for lung and breast cancers. In addition, various protracted temozolomide dosing schedules have been evaluated as a strategy to further enhance its anti-tumor activity. We reasoned that sorafenib and protracted, daily temozolomide may provide complementary therapeutic benefit, and therefore performed a phase 2 trial among recurrent glioblastoma patients. Adult glioblastoma patients at any recurrence after standard temozolomide chemoradiotherapy received sorafenib (400 mg twice daily) and continuous daily temozolomide (50 mg/m2/day). Assessments were performed every eight weeks. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival at 6 months (PFS-6) and secondary end points were radiographic response, overall survival (OS), safety and sorafenib pharmacokinetics. Of 32 enrolled patients, 12 (38%) were on CYP3-A inducing anti-epileptics (EIAEDs), 17 (53%) had 2 or more prior progressions, 15 had progressed while receiving 5-day temozolomide, and 12 (38%) had failed either prior bevacizumab or VEGFR inhibitor therapy. The most common grade ≥ 3 toxicities were palmer-planter erythrodysesthesia (19%) and elevated amylase/lipase (13%). Sorafenib pharmacokinetic exposures were comparable on day 1 regardless of EIAED status, but significantly lower on day 28 for patients on EIAEDs (P = 0.0431). With a median follow-up of 93 weeks, PFS-6 was 9.4%. Only one patient (3%) achieved a partial response. In conclusion, sorafenib can be safely administered with daily temozolomide, but this regimen has limited activity for recurrent GBM. Co-administration of EIAEDs can lower sorafenib exposures in this population.
The power of “Green” Energy: plant trait influences on microbial competition and greenhouse gas production

Species vary in the eco-physiological traits they possess which means species may differentially influence ecosystem functions such as microbial activity. In wetland ecosystems it is important to understand how different plant species influence microbial competition for resources because competition affects microbial respiration and one of the products of anaerobic microbial respiration is methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Plants influence the availability of substrates for microbial respiration, both available carbon and terminal electron acceptors (such as Fe(III)). Because methanogenic microbes must compete with other microbes for respiration substrates and can be out-competed if conditions are more favorable for other microbes, plants can influence the outcome of microbial competition as well as overall rates of microbial activity by changing substrate availability. In this study, we examined how plant traits related to plant productivity and carbon inputs (belowground and total biomass, and photosynthesis) and plant traits related to oxygen inputs and terminal electron acceptor availability (root porosity and Fe(III) on roots) influence microbial competition and methane production from wetland soils. Overall microbial respiration rates were positively correlated with plant productivity, but methane production was negatively correlated with plant productivity, suggesting that carbon inputs were not stimulating methanogenesis. Evidence that alternative microbial respiratory pathways were stimulated with higher plant productivity included: (1) higher CO2:CH4 ratios from the microbial communities of plants with higher productivity and (2) greater oxidized iron (Fe(III)) on roots of plants with higher productivity. Both of these results indicate that as plant productivity and belowground biomass increased, microbes used alternative respiration pathways and produced less methane. These results indicate that plant community composition plays an important role in methane production in wetlands. Therefore, human disturbances, such as climate change, invasive species, and eutrophication, which result in shifts in plant community composition are likely to have profound effects on methane production in wetlands.
Delineating the Boundaries of Infants’ Spatial Categories: The Case of Containment

Spatial categorization has a long history in the research of infant cognition and perception. Many conclusions are drawn from the approach wherein infants are habituated to examples of a spatial category X and then display an attention recovery (i.e., dishabituation) to a contrasting category Y. However, the distinction infants make between X and Y does not warrant a distinction between X and another category Z. Here we examine the boundaries of infants’ spatial categorization by contrasting the spatial category containment with support and occlusion. Eight-month-olds were habituated to 3 exemplars of containment and were tested with novel containment versus support events, or with novel containment versus occlusion events. The infants looked significantly longer at the support than at the containment events, but they looked about equally at the occlusion and containment events. The results suggest that 8-month-olds treated exemplars of containment as belonging to the same category, generalized this categ...
The Sports Business as a Labor Market Laboratory

With superior data on compensation and productivity, as well as the occurrence of abrupt, dramatic market structure and player allocation rules changes, sports labor markets offer an excellent setting in which to test economic hypotheses. This paper reviews evidence from sports in four areas: employer monopsony, discrimination, the Coase Theorem, and incentive contracts, supervision and performance. There is considerable evidence of monopsony as well as for the existence of some forms of discrimination against minority athletes. Incentive contracts have strong effects on player performance and behavior, and there is mixed evidence on the predictions of the Coase Theorem.
Morphology and Dynamics of Polymer Nanocomposites for Varying Polymer Filler Interactions

In this paper, we explore the thermodynamic and dynamic properties of polymer nanocomposites using stochastic molecular dynamics simulation in the canonical ensemble. One of the major parameters that determines the properties of nanocomposites is the filler-monomer interfacial interaction strengths. By varying the interaction strengths as well as temperature of the system we could capture the dynamical response of the system from a fluid-fluid to bridging induced 'network' states The structural properties when analyzed show a strongly networked 'solid-like' transition which has been augmented using dynamical analysis. Calculations show the slowing down of nanoparticle diffusion in the network phase due to 'jamming' of the nanoparticles. At certain parameter range, the equilibrium stress-stress autocorrelation function does not decay confirming the existence of 'solid-like' behavior. The change in mechanical properties is supported by the morphological observations.
Speaker-specific pitch contour modeling and modification

This paper describes new techniques for modeling and generating speaker-dependent pitch contours for sentences. Speech synthesis applications could generally benefit from such speaker-specific pitch contours. The proposed algorithms begin with an existing pitch contour for an utterance and use data from training utterances to modify the contour to be appropriate for a second speaker. One approach modifies the original pitch values to statistically match the desired speaker at each point in time. A second novel approach uses dynamic time warping (DTW) to select a new pitch contour from a pre-determined code book and time-align the chosen contour to the original sentence. Such contour mapping can transfer one speaker's natural pitch characteristics to another person's speech. Informal listener evaluations suggest that while shifting the frequency range of the original pitch contour yields some improvement, better results are obtained by applying DTW techniques to time-warp the contour from an existing sentence produced by the desired speaker.
Entanglement in quantum computers described by the XXZ model with defects

We investigate on how to generate maximally entangled states in systems characterized by the Hamiltonian of the XXZ model with defects. Some proposed quantum computers are described by such a model. Defects embedded in this otherwise homogeneous spin chain are used to obtain Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen and W states. It is well known that a large defect localizes an excitation on the defect site. We can then consider a few identical and large defects to create a subsystem whose eigenstates are entangled. Here, we examine the cases of one and two excitations.
Using Limes and Synthetic Psoralens to Enhance Solar Disinfection of Water (SODIS): A Laboratory Evaluation with Norovirus, Escherichia coli, and MS2

We investigated the use of psoralens and limes to enhance solar disinfection of water (SODIS) using an UV lamp and natural sunlight experiments. SODIS conditions were replicated using sunlight, 2 L polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, and tap water with Escherichia coli, MS2 bacteriophage, and murine norovirus (MNV). Psoralens and lime acidity both interact synergistically with UV radiation to accelerate inactivation of microbes. Escherichia coli was ablated > 6.1 logs by SODIS + Lime Slurry and 5.6 logs by SODIS + Lime Juice in 30-minute solar exposures, compared with a 1.5 log reduction with SODIS alone (N = 3; P 3.9 logs by SODIS + Lime Slurry, 1.9 logs by SODIS + Lime Juice, and 1.4 logs by SODIS in 2.5-hour solar exposures (N = 3; P < 0.05). MNV was resistant to SODIS, with < 2 log reductions after 6 hours. Efficacy of SODIS against human norovirus should be investigated further.