cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lettuce Diseases and their Management

Lettuce is the world’s most popular leafy salad vegetable. Various types of lettuce are cultivated across the globe, primarily for human consumption of their fresh, succulent leaves. Over 75 lettuce disorders of diverse causes and etiologies have been described. While some diseases are limited in their importance and distribution, a significant number are present wherever Lactuca sativa L. is grown. Many are capable of causing devastating losses in yield and quality under favorable conditions. In this chapter, we have divided lettuce diseases broadly into infectious and non-infectious disorders. Of the important infectious diseases covered, fungi and viruses account for the bulk. Nine fungal diseases are discussed, including anthracnose, bottom rot, Cercospora leaf spot, damping-off, downy mildew, drop, gray mold, Septoria leaf spot, and southern blight. Five viral diseases are covered, and these are: beet western yellows, lettuce big-vein, lettuce infectious yellows, lettuce mosaic, and tomato spotted wilt. The sole phytoplasmic lettuce disease, aster yellows, is also discussed. Of five important bacterial diseases detailed, four are foliar disorders: bacterial leaf spot, marginal leaf blight, soft rot, and varnish spot. Corky root is the one bacterial root disease included. In contrast, all nematode pathogens discussed, lesion, needle, and root-knot nematodes, infect lettuce roots. Three important non-infectious disorders are included in this chapter, namely brown stain, pink rib, and tipburn. These are mainly disorders of mature or postharvest lettuce.
Auf Wolke 7 – Microsoft Windows Azure

Wer die Vorteile von Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) -Losungen nutzen will, ist meist gezwungen, die Plattform zu wechseln. Das erhohte Projektrisiko schreckt jedoch viele Unternehmen ab. Microsoft beschreitet mit Windows Azure deshalb neue Wege: ITVerantwortliche konnen vorhandenen Losungen punktuell um Services aus der „Cloud“ bereichern oder vollstandig wechseln. Die Wahlfreiheit hilft ITVerantwortlichen, den richtigen Softwaremix fur die aktuellen betrieblichen Anforderungen zu finden. Zusatzlich profitieren Unternehmen von der schnellen Verfugbarkeit, der sinkenden Fixkostenbelastung und einer Entlastung der IT-Abteilung.
Puerto Rico: Hurricane Maria and the Promise of Disposability

Puerto Rico,My heart's devotionLet it sink back in the oceanAlways the hurricanes blowingAlways the population growingAnd the money owing … “America,” West Side Story (1961)It was almost the end of...
CALCIUM-CREATININE CLEARANCE RATIO IS NOT HELPFUL IN DIFFERENTIATING PRIMARY HYPERPARATHYROIDISM FROM FAMILIAL HYPERCALCEMIC HYPOCALCIURIA: A STUDY OF 1,000 PATIENTS

ABSTRACT Objective: With increasing recognition of more subtle presentations of primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT), laboratory values are frequently seen in a range that would be expected for patie...
An inquiry into the experiences of adolescents in multiple residential treatment settings: do perceptions change over time and at follow-up?

The following is a qualitative study that examined the perceptions of adolescents who have been placed in residential treatment. Analyzed were respondents who were in treatment at the time of the interview, respondents who had been out of treatment for less than one year, and respondents out of treatment more than one year. The researcher was interested in whether adolescents' perceptions of placement changed following treatment, as well as over time. Further, respondents were asked whether the tenets of Labeling or Deterrence Theories applied to their experiences. Respondents in treatment at the time of the interview initially responded with complaints or dislikes of the program. As the interview went on, responses eventually becoming more positive as respondents were able to vent negative feelings. Respondents who had been out of treatment less than twelve months were more positive, sharing aspects of treatment they felt applied to their lives outside of treatment. Most respondents stated they learned new skills and discipline to cope, as well as increased feelings of self esteem. Respondents who had been out of treatment for more than one year presented positive aspects of their programs, but became more negative. These respondents felt they had learned
Small bowel stricture is associated with abnormal motility on the cine MRI sequence in patients with Crohn's disease.

Abstract Purpose A multiphasic cine sequence performed during magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) has been shown to increase diagnostic accuracy of MRE demonstrating limited movement in inflamed intestine in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD). Our aim was to confirm in our study population that intestinal inflammation was associated with decreased motility and determine if factors suggestive of complicated disease such as the presence of a stricture or fistula were associated with decreased motility on the MRE cine sequence. Methods This was a retrospective study of 59 patients (mean age 40.8 ± 16.1) with Crohn’s disease who had a small bowel lesion on MRE. Two gastrointestinal radiologists independently scored MRE findings using a qualitative, subjective scoring system. Univariate and multivariable ordered logistic regression models were used to evaluate the associations between cine sequence score, radiologic image findings, and clinical data. Results On univariate analysis, radiologic findings reflecting active inflammation, the presence of a stricture, and penetrating disease were associated with decreased motility. On multivariable analysis, hyper-enhancement, the presence of a comb sign, and global evidence of active inflammation remained associated with decreased motility. Of the factors suggesting complicated disease, the presence of stricture (Odds Ratio 0.40, 95% Confidence Interval 0.17-0.95, p-value 0.038) was associated with decreased motility. Conclusions As previously shown, well-established radiologic findings of bowel inflammation were associated with decreased small bowel motility. In this study, we have added that the radiologic finding of a fixed stricture is also associated with decreased motility.
Maternal Dyslipidemia, Plasma Branched-Chain Amino Acids, and the Risk of Child Autism Spectrum Disorder: Evidence of Sex Difference.

In contrast to the well-observed associations between obesity, diabetes, and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the roles of maternal dyslipidemia and sex disparity in ASD have not been well-studied. We examined the joint associations of maternal plasma cholesterols, branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) and child sex on child ASD risk. We analyzed data from 756 mother-infant pairs (86 ASD) from the Boston Birth Cohort. Maternal plasma cholesterols and BCAAs were measured in samples collected 24–72 h postpartum. We found that in this urban, low-income prospective birth cohort, low maternal high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), above-median maternal plasma BCAA concentrations, and male sex additively or synergistically increased risk of ASD. Additional studies are necessary to confirm our findings.
CARDIAC MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING TIMING AND IDENTIFICATION OF THE ETIOLOGY OF MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION WITH NON-OBSTRUCTIVE CORONARY ARTERIES: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META ANALYSIS

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) has recently gained an important role in identifying possible etiologies of myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA). Diagnostic rate of this modality as well as its appropriate timing have not been well-established. Therefore, we
Overriding Exclusion: Compliance With Subsidized Housing Incentives in the Massachusetts 40B Program

Exclusionary land-use policies implemented by local governments over decades have contributed to the spatial concentration of publicly subsidized housing in central cities and the development and p...
The ethics of genetic testing for kidney diseases.

Growing genomic knowledge has provided immense insight into the aetiology and mechanisms of kidney diseases but raises ethical issues that risk the successful implementation of genomic medicine. We highlight such issues in two contexts: the return of individual genetic results from nephrology research and preimplantation genetic diagnosis for heritable kidney diseases.
Performance of IRS on malaria prevalence and incidence using pirimiphos-methyl in the context of pyrethroid resistance in Koulikoro region, Mali

Koulikoro Health District is one of three districts of Mali where the indoor residual spray (IRS) has been implemented from 2008 to 2016. With widespread of resistance to pyrethroid, IRS was shifted from pyrethroid to pirimiphos-methyl from 2014 to 2016. The objective of this study was to assess the added value of IRS to LLINs on the prevalence of parasitaemia and malaria incidence among children under 10 years old. A comparative study was carried out to assess the effects of pirimiphos-methyl based IRS on malaria prevalence and incidence among children from 6 months to 10 years old in selected pyrethroid resistance villages of two health districts in Mali: one where IRS was implemented in combination with LLINs (intervention area) and one with LLINs-only (control area). Two cross-sectional surveys were carried out at the beginning (June) and end of the rainy season (October) to assess seasonal changes in malaria parasitaemia by microscopy. A passive detection case (PCD) was set-up in each study village for 9 months to estimate the incidence of malaria using RDT. There was an increase of 220% in malaria prevalence from June to October in the control area (14% to 42%) versus only 53% in the IRS area (9.2% to 13.2%). Thus, the proportional rise in malaria prevalence from the dry to the rainy season in 2016 was 4-times greater in the control area compared to the IRS area. The overall malaria incidence rate was 2.7 per 100 person-months in the IRS area compared with 6.8 per 100 person-month in the control areas. The Log-rank test of Kaplan–Meier survival analysis showed that children living in IRS area remain much longer free from malaria (Hazard ratio (HR) = 0.45, CI 95% 0.37–0.54) than children of the control area (P < 0.0001). IRS using pirimiphos-methyl has been successful in reducing substantially both the prevalence and the incidence of malaria in children under 10 years old in the area of pyrethroid resistance of Koulikoro, Mali. Pirimiphos-methyl is a better alternative than pyrethroids for IRS in areas with widespread of pyrethroid resistance.
Sex- and Gender-Related Factors in Blood Product Transfusions:

Blood products are indicated for a plethora of conditions in several settings, with a variety of products available for transfusion, from highly processed specific components to whole blood. Matchi...
Electrocardiogram machine learning for detection of cardiovascular disease in African Americans: the Jackson Heart Study.

Aims Almost half of African American (AA) men and women have cardiovascular disease (CVD). Detection of prevalent CVD in community settings would facilitate secondary prevention of CVD. We sought to develop a tool for automated CVD detection. Methods and results Participants from the Jackson Heart Study (JHS) with analysable electrocardiograms (ECGs) (n=3679; age, 6212 years; 36% men) were included. Vectorcardiographic (VCG) metrics QRS, T, and spatial ventricular gradient vectors magnitude and direction, and traditional ECG metrics were measured on 12-lead ECG. Random forests, convolutional neural network (CNN), lasso, adaptive lasso, plugin lasso, elastic net, ridge, and logistic regression models were developed in 80% and validated in 20% samples. We compared models with demographic, clinical, and VCG input (43 predictors) and those after the addition of ECG metrics (695 predictors). Prevalent CVD was diagnosed in 411 out of 3679 participants (11.2%). Machine learning models detected CVD with the area under the receiver operator curve (ROC AUC) 0.690.74. There was no difference in CVD detection accuracy between models with VCG and VCG + ECG input. Models with VCG input were better calibrated than models with ECG input. Plugin-based lasso model consisting of only two predictors (age and peak QRS-T angle) detected CVD with AUC 0.687 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.6250.749], which was similar (P=0.394) to the CNN (0.660; 95% CI 0.5970.722) and better (P<0.0001) than random forests (0.512; 95% CI 0.4930.530). Conclusions Simple model (age and QRS-T angle) can be used for prevalent CVD detection in limited-resources community settings, which opens an avenue for secondary prevention of CVD in underserved communities.
Effect of Taping Face Masks on Quantitative Particle Counts Near the Eye: Implications for Intravitreal Injections in the COVID-19 Era.

Purpose To determine the effect of taping the top of face masks on air particle counts directed toward the eye during simulated intravitreal injections. Design Prospective observational crossover study. Methods Thirteen healthy subjects were recruited. Each wore a cloth, surgical, or N95 mask in randomized order. The number of air particles were quantified by using a particle counter suspended over the right eye while each subject breathed normally, deeply, or spoke using a standardized script. Particle counts were obtained with the top of each mask taped and not taped. The main outcome measurements were particle counts of 0.3, 0.5, 1, 3, 5, and 10 μm and total particle counts. Results Taping cloth masks while subjects were speaking significantly reduced particle counts for the 0.3- (P = .03), 0.5- (P = .01), and 1-μm (P = .03) particles and total particle counts (P = .008) compared to no taping. Taping the top of cloth masks during normal or deep breathing did not significantly affect particle counts compared to no taping. Taping the top of surgical or N95 masks did not significantly alter particle counts for any breathing condition tested. Conclusions Taping the top of cloth masks prior to simulated intravitreal injections significantly reduced air particle counts directed toward the eye when subjects were speaking compared to no taping. This may have implications for decreasing air particles reaching the eye during intravitreal injections, including aerosolized droplets from a patient's mouth that may carry oral pathogens.
Baseline sleep as a predictor of delirium after surgical aortic valve replacement: A feasibility study

Abstract Objective The goal is to assess the feasibility of conducting unattended (type II) sleep studies before surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) to examine the relationship between baseline sleep measures and postoperative delirium. Methods This single-site study recruited 18 of 20 study referrals with aortic stenosis undergoing first lifetime SAVR. Subjects completed a home-based type II sleep study. Delirium was assessed postoperative days 1–5. Exact logistic regression was used to determine whether sleep efficiency or apnea/hypopnea index predicts delirium. Results Of 18 study participants, 15 successfully completed a home sleep study (mean age: 71.7 +/− 8.1 years old; 10 male subjects). Five subjects (33.3%) developed delirium. Preliminary analyses found that greater sleep efficiency was associated with a large reduction in delirium odds but was not statistically significant (OR = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.06, 1.03, p = 0.057). The point estimate of the relationship between apnea/hypopnea index and delirium was not similarly sizeable (OR 1.10, 95% CI: 0.35, 3.37, p = 0.85). Conclusions Our findings suggest that home type II sleep studies before SAVR are feasible, and they support adequately powered studies investigating type II home sleep studies as a predictor of postoperative delirium and other important postsurgical outcomes.
SNAREs and Synaptotagmin cooperatively determine the Ca2+ sensitivity of neurotransmitter release in fixed stoichiometry modules

Neurotransmitter release is accomplished by a multi-component machinery including the membrane-fusing SNARE proteins and Ca2+-sensing Synaptotagmin molecules. However, the Ca2+ sensitivity of release was found to increase or decrease with more or fewer SNARE complexes at the release site, respectively, while the cooperativity is unaffected (Acuna et al., 2014; Arancillo et al., 2013), suggesting that there is no simple division of labor between these two components. To examine the mechanisms underlying these findings, we developed molecular dynamics simulations of the neurotransmitter release machinery, with variable numbers of Synaptotagmin molecules and assembled SNARE complexes at the release site. Ca2+ uncaging simulations showed that increasing the number of SNARE complexes at fixed stoichiometric ratio of Synaptotagmin to SNAREs increased the Ca2+ sensitivity without affecting the cooperativity. The physiological cooperativity of ~4-5 was reproduced with 2-3 Synaptotagmin molecules per SNARE complex, suggesting that Synaptotagmin and SNAREs cooperate in fixed stoichiometry modules. In simulations of action potential-evoked release, increased numbers of Synaptotagmin-SNARE modules increased release probability, consistent with experiment. Our simulations suggest that the final membrane fusion step is driven by SNARE complex-mediated entropic forces, and by vesicle-tethering forces mediated by the long Synaptotagmin linker domains. In consequence, release rates are increased when more SNARE complexes and Synaptotagmin monomers are present at the fusion site.
Mit Recht gegen das Rechtsschutzdefizit im Klimaschutz: Die rechtliche Strategie der österreichischen Klimaklage

Osterreichs Rechtssystem bietet derzeit keine Moglichkeit, effektiven Klimaschutz im Einklang mit dem wissenschaftlich notwendigen 1,5 °C Ziel und den verfassungsrechtlichen Grundrechten einzufordern. Individualantrage konnen selbst im Erfolgsfall nur einen kleinen Beitrag dazu leisten. Der Gang zum VfGH im Rahmen der „osterreichischen Klimaklage“ war dennoch erforderlich und Teil einer wohluberlegten Strategie. Denn nur mit Aufzeigen dieses Rechtsschutzdefizits besteht eine realistische Chance, den – mit den Grundrechten nicht in Einklang zu bringenden und die Klimaziele klar konterkarierenden – status quo zu verandern.
Three-body abrasive wear in the presence of inorganic fullerene-like tungsten disulfide and ionic liquid containing alkanolamines and phosphates

Abstract In coiled tubing applications, common constraints e.g., high friction, lateral drag and restricted flow rate increase the demand for friction modifiers. These modifiers also face the inevitable intrusion of abrasive particles in the wellbore that impair the drilling efficiency and accelerate wear of the sliding components. This study shows the tribological effect of sand particles in plain deionized (DI) water, resulting in a high friction environment with the risk of particles embedding in a two-body sliding behavior. To mitigate the drilling system’s performance degradation, two additives, inorganic fullerene-like tungsten disulfide (IF-WS2) and an ionic liquid with alkanolamines named “Base,” were added and their synergic tribological effects with sand were investigated. The presence of sand particles offered a reduction in coefficient of friction (COF) by 22% in the presence of DI water + IF-WS2, and a slight increase in wear. The Base additive was not as efficient as IF-WS2 at the same sand content, resulting in an increase in the COF and wear. In addition to the rolling friction, the gradual exfoliation of the IF-WS2 played an important role in alleviating friction and wear, leading to formation of tungsten-based tribolayer on sand particles.
Salicylate-induced changes in organ of Corti vibrations.

Abstract Intra organ of Corti (OC) vibrations differ from those measured at the basilar membrane (BM), with higher amplitudes and a wide-band nonlinearity extending well below a region’s best frequency. The vibrations are boosted by the cochlear amplifier, the active processes within the mammalian hearing organ, and are thus sensitive to metabolic or pharmacological manipulation. We introduced salicylate, a known blocker of outer hair cell (OHC) based electromotility, into the perilymphatic space by applying sodium salicylate onto the round window membrane. Vibration patterns of an area of the OC were mapped with phase sensitive optical coherence tomography before and after treatment; distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) were measured at similar times to assess the cochlear condition. Following treatment, all regions showed a loss of vibration amplitude and tuning while OHC-region vibrations retained their wide-band nonlinearity. OC vibrations, which had been relatively confined in a region including OHCs and extending to the BM at the outer pillar foot, became less confined with structures lateral to the OHCs sometimes exhibiting the highest amplitudes. Vibrations and DPOAEs could recover to baseline levels over approximately three hours post treatment. This article is part of the Special Issue Outer hair cell Edited by Joseph Santos-Sacchi and Kumar Navaratnam
Highly mobile laser ranging facilities of the Crustal Dynamics Project

Technical specifications, performance, and applications of the NASA transportable laser ranging systems (TLRS-1 and -2) for use in the Crustal Dynamics Program are described. TLRS-1 is truck-mounted, with the laser deployed through the roof. Interacting with the LAGEOS satellite, TLRS has a photoelectric receiver for gathering data on the roundtrip time of the laser beam for calculations of the range gate. The laser has a 0.1 nsec pulse at 3.5 mJ/pulse. Range is measured to within an error of 9 cm. The TLRS-2 version is configured for ease of air transport and modular breakdown and assembly. It has been activated on Easter Island. TLRS-3 and -4 are in development to serve as mobile units in South America and the Mediterranean area.
On Law Enforcement with Boundedly Rational Actors

This essay, prepared for The Law and Economics of Irrational Behavior (Francesco Parisi and Vernon Smith, eds., 2004), examines implications of bounded rationality for traditional economic analysis of public law enforcement. A brief application to the enforcement of employment discrimination laws by public agents is offered.
Clearance of lysosomal hydrolases following intravenous infusion. Kinetic and competition experiments with beta-glucuronidase and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase.

Abstract Clearance experiments with highly purified lysosomal glycosidases, β-glucuronidase and N-acetyl-β- d -glucosaminidase, following intravenous infusion revealed widely varying clearance profiles which depended on the tissue source of the enzyme. Normal rat serum β-glucuronidase and epididymal N-acetyl-β- d -glucosaminidase were cleared slowly from the circulation when compared with rat preputial gland β-glucuronidase, liver lysosomal β-glucuronidase, and liver lysosomal N-acetyl-β- d -glucosaminidase, respectively, which were cleared rapidly. Experiments comparing the catalytic properties and molecular dimensions of the enzymes revealed no differences between rapid and slow clearance forms. Kinetic analysis using the rapid clearance forms of β-glucuronidase has allowed the resolution of at least two components, rapid and slow. Clearance of the rapid component is saturable and appears to reflect binding or uptake by a limited number of sites. By contrast, the clearance rate of the slow component increased linearly with respect to dose and may be due to nonspecific or low-affinity binding. Competition experiments with β-glucuronidase-free lysosomal extract and highly purified lysosomal enzymes, but not serum glycoproteins or colloidal silver, suggest that one lysosomal enzyme inhibits clearance of others and that a common mechanism may be involved in their binding.
Library homepage design at medium‐sized universities: A comparison to commercial homepages via Nielsen and Tahir

Purpose – Website design guidelines which have proven effective throughout the commercial sector could be adapted for library homepage design. Acceptance of industry standards for homepage usability, specifically Nielsen and Tahir's criteria, would give library users recognizable features and increase their confidence and comfort levels when using library websites. The paper aims to present a comparison of library homepages with these criteria to provide an assessment of how libraries fare in comparison with the commercial sector.Design/methodology/approach – Little research has been undertaken to evaluate the appeal and efficacy of homepages of libraries associated with medium‐sized universities, which have different audiences than do larger universities. The dataset of 80 academic libraries associated with medium‐sized universities (8,000‐13,000 students) was compiled with data from the National Center for Education Statistics and Peterson's College Bound. Data on 14 variables derived from Nielsen and T...
Spatially adaptive image restoration for autoradiography

In this paper, we present a model that is used to improve the resolution of autoradiographic images. The model involves a point spread function (PSF) due to the radiated pattern of emitted photons combined with a signal-dependent noise source due to the granularity of x-ray recording film. A theoretical expression for the PSF is presented, and experimental measurements are performed using 51Cr microspheres. An iterative regularized image restoration algorithm is developed using a weighting matrix to incorporate the signal- dependent nature of the noise. Since information about the original undegraded image is not completely available, we make use of a regualtization functional that is updated at each iteration to optimize the solution process. Our experimental results indicate that the resolution of autoradiographic images is improved by 43% using this algorithm.
Phosphorylation of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase by rabbit skeletal muscle protein kinase.

Abstract Rabbit skeletal muscle protein kinase catalyzes the phosphorylation of DNA-dependent RNA polymerase of Escherichia coli in the presence of adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate and ATP. The phosphorylation occurs on one (or more) serine residue(s) in the σ-factor under reaction conditions similar to those employed for RNA synthesis. The phosphorylation of RNA polymerase and its stimulation by protein kinase are inhibited by a specific heat-stable inhibitor from rabbit skeletal muscle. With conditions more favorable for the protein kinase reaction, phosphorylation of RNA polymerase also occurs on the β subunit of the core enzyme, but this reaction occurs at a much slower rate than the phosphorylation of the σ-factor.
Use of the inferior epigastric artery as a free graft for myocardial revascularization

Abstract From March 1990 through January 1991, 47 patients undergoing myocardial revascularization had one (37) or both (10) inferior epigastric arteries (IEA) used as a conduit for bypass with 62 distal anastomoses. The internal thoracic artery (ITA) was used bilaterally in 41 patients and unilaterally in 6 with 100 distal anastomoses. Five patients had a single saphenous vein graft. In total, 167 anastomoses (3.55 per patient) were performed. Single IEA grafts were harvested through a paramedian incision and bilateral grafts, a midline incision. Harvest time was 36.5 minutes for IEA grafts and 29.6 minutes for ITA grafts ( p p p
How temporal frequency affects global form coherence in Glass patterns

Abstract Glass patterns are textural moires from random dots. Sequential presentation of Glass patterns induces a sense of illusory motion. We evaluated how changes in temporal frequency affected the detection of global form in Glass patterns. We found linear improvement in coherence thresholds with increasing temporal frequency (Experiment 1), particularly in stimuli with large dot-pair separations (Experiment 2). These results support the notion that temporal and orientation information sum to boost sensitivity to visually obscure objects, and are discussed within the framework of “motion streak” detectors.
DNA-induced dimerization of the Escherichia coli Rep helicase

Abstract The Escherichia coli Rep protein is a DNA helicase that is involved in DNA replication. We have examined the effects of DNA binding on the assembly state of the Rep protein using small-zone gel permeation chromatography and chemical crosslinking of the protein. Complexes of Rep protein were formed with short single-stranded and duplex hairpin oligodeoxynucleotides with lengths such that only a single Rep monomer could bind per oligodeoxynucleotide (i.e. 2 Rep monomers could not bind contiguously on the oligodeoxynucleotides). In the absence of DNA, Rep protein is monomeric ( M r 72,800) up to concentrations of at least 8 μ m (monomer), even in the presence of its nucleotide cofactors (ATP, ADP, ATP-γ-S). However, the binding of Rep monomers to single-stranded (ss) oligodeoxynucleotides, d(pN) n (12 ≤ n ≤ 20), induces the Rep monomers to oligomerize. Upon treatment of the Rep-ss oligodeoxynucleotide complexes with the protein crosslinking reagent dimethyl-suberimidate (DMS) and subsequent removal of the DNA, crosslinked Rep dimers are observed, independent of oligodeoxynucleotide length ( n ≤ 20). Furthermore, short duplex oligodeoxynucleotides also induce the Rep monomers to dimerize. Formation of the Rep dimers results from an actual DNA-induced dimerization, rather than the adventitious crosslinking of Rep monomers bound contiguously to a single oligodeoxynucleotide. The purified DMS-crosslinked Rep dimer shows increased affinity for DNA and retains DNA-dependent ATPase and DNA helicase activities, as shown by its ability to unwind M13 RF DNA in the presence of the bacteriophage f1 gene II protein. On the basis of these observations and since the dimer is the major species when Rep is bound to DNA, we suggest that a DNA-induced Rep dimer is the functionally active form of the Rep helicase.
Nested Kirkpatrick–Baez (Montel) optics for hard X-rays

A comprehensive description and ray-tracing simulations are presented for symmetric nested Kirkpatrick–Baez (KB) mirrors, commonly used at synchrotrons and in commercial X-ray sources. This paper introduces an analytical procedure for determining the proper orientation between the two surfaces composing the nested KB optics. This procedure has been used to design and simulate collimating optics for a hard-X-ray inverse Compton scattering source. The resulting optical device is composed of two 12 cm-long parabolic surfaces coated with a laterally graded multilayer and is capable of collimating a 12 keV beam with a divergence of 5 mrad (FWHM) by a factor of ∼250. A description of the ray-tracing software that was developed to simulate the graded multilayer mirrors is included.
The belly rules the nose: feeding state-dependent modulation of peripheral chemosensory responses

Feeding history and the presence of food dramatically alter chemosensory behaviors. Recent results indicate that internal nutritional state can gate peripheral gustatory and olfactory sensory responses to affect behavior. Focusing primarily on recent work in C. elegans and Drosophila, I describe the neuromodulatory mechanisms that translate feeding state information into changes in chemosensory neuron response properties and behavioral output.
Creating 3D animations to reconstruct transportation accidents: illustrating aviation accidents using Air Midwest flight 5481 takeoff accident

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) uses 3D animation to reconstruct and illustrate accident sequences so that the public can visualize and better understand the events leading up to an accident, the determination of probable cause, and the identification of safety issues. These animations factually and faithfully present the accident sequence based on measured, recorded, and calculated data. The purpose of this paper is to explain how the NTSB currently produces 3D animations by describing the process used for a specific accident.
Transient behavior of moving‐bed coal gasification reactors

The transient response of dry ash and slagging moving-bed coal gasification reactors is analyzed for small step changes in feed conditions. The approach to the new steady state for perturbations about the optimum in the Lurgi gasifier has a time scale of about 10 hr. Transients in the slagging gasifier can result in a decrease in the coal bed height, which occurs on a time scale of several hours. There is a rapid initial response in both types of reactors in product gas temperature and heating value.
Plasma-assisted stabilization of laminar premixed methane/air flames around the lean flammability limit

Abstract Studies of nanosecond repetitively pulsed discharge plasma-assisted combustion were carried out on a laminar premixed methane/air flow in the vicinity of the lean flammability limit. Experimental results indicated that complete combustion is achieved when the equivalence ratio is above the known lean flammability limit (ϕ = 0.53) at high discharge repetition rates of 50 kHz. When the ratio is below the limit, the plasma does serve as a flame holder; however, only partial combustion is seen in the downstream flow. Two-dimensional kinetic simulation results were found to be consistent with the experimental results. The simulations revealed that the methane is fully consumed within the discharge region, since the time between discharge pulses is less than that for species diffusion and advection. This creates a source of radicals and high temperature, which diffuse outwards to stabilize the combustion of the surrounding flow.
A recursive branch and bound algorithm for the multidimensional knapsack problem

This paper presents an efficient branch and bound algorithm for the solution of certain multiconstrained knapsack problems. The key to this algorithm is a rigidly defined tree structure in which branching and bounding may be performed through recursive relationships. The algorithm is particularly useful when only limited amounts of core storage are available as only the current and one previous solution is saved at any one time. Execution speeds compare favorably with other algorithms. A numerical example and computational experience is given.
Improvement of medical images using Bayesian processing

We have developed a Bayesian method for image processing that uses the Gibbs random field model to incorporate a priori information for the purpose of improving the image quality. The types of prior information incorporated include the property of local continuity (i.e., neighboring pixels within a homogeneous region are similar), the limited spatial resolution of the imaging system, and possibly, some prior knowledge derived from corresponding images acquired by other modalities. We use the concept of `line sites' to separate regions that exhibit distinctly different tissue characteristics. A smoothing scheme is applied to each homogeneous region using a Gibbs distribution function. An efficient computational technique called iterative conditional average (ICA) method, which calculates the conditional mean values for each pixel and line site iteratively until convergence, is employed to compute the point estimates of the images. We have used this Bayesian approach to process images in nuclear medicine, digital radiography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In the processed images, we observed improvements in the spatial resolution, image contrast, and reduction in noise level.
The pediatric patient and upper respiratory infections.

Children frequently present for elective surgery in the setting of an active or recent upper respiratory infection. Respiratory adverse events are increased in this setting, but the threshold for cancelling a case varies widely between clinicians. A decision to cancel surgery should take into consideration the amount of respiratory secretions during the acute illness, coexisting pulmonary disease, the requirement for intubation, and the surgical site (airway, thorax, upper abdomen—each with their potential for complications). More data are needed on the risks of proceeding with surgery in the presence of these factors and on the impact of potential therapies to decrease the incidence of adverse events. Lidocaine and other therapies that reduce laryngospasm in well patients need to be evaluated in children with upper respiratory infection.
Optical evidence for an effect of culture filtrates of Xanthomonas campestris pv. pruni on peach mesophyll cell membranes

Summary A bioassay system using peach mesophyll cells stained with fluorochrome merocyanine 540 (MC-540) (a probe of membrane potential and other structural and functional changes in biological membranes) was developed to detect toxin activity in culture filtrates of Xanthomonas campestris pv. pruni and to compare the response of cells from bacterial leaf spot resistant and susceptible cultivars to culture filtrates of X. c. pv. pruni . Maximum changes in fluorescence intensity occurred when peach cells from susceptible cultivar Sunhigh were exposed to culture filtrates of virulent strains of X. c. pv. pruni . Smaller changes occurred when Sunhigh cells were exposed to culture filtrates of slightly virulent strains of X. c. pv. pruni and to nutrient broth. Transient changes occurred when Sunhigh cells were exposed to culture filtrates from non-pathogenic X. c. pv. pelargonii . Significantly greater changes occurred when leaf mesophyll cells from bacterial leaf spot-susceptible cultivars were exposed to culture filtrates of X. c. pv. pruni compared with cells from resistant cultivars. These results suggest that a toxic metabolite(s) present in culture filtrates of X. c. pv. pruni may play a role in bacterial spot of peach and may be an effective screening agent in a cell selection program. In addition, the peach mesophyll-merocyanine 540 bioassay system may be useful in screening peach germplasm for resistance to X. c. pv. pruni .
The Disulfide Bonding System Suppresses CsgD-Independent Cellulose Production in Escherichia coli

The bacterial extracellular matrix encases cells and protects them from host-related and environmental insults. The Escherichia coli master biofilm regulator CsgD is required for the production of the matrix components curli and cellulose. CsgD activates the diguanylate cyclase AdrA, which in turn stimulates cellulose production through cyclic di-GMP (c-di-GMP). Here, we identified and characterized a CsgD- and AdrA-independent cellulose production pathway that was maximally active when cultures were grown under reducing conditions or when the disulfide bonding system (DSB) was compromised. The CsgD-independent cellulose activation pathway was dependent on a second diguanylate cyclase, called YfiN. c-di-GMP production by YfiN was repressed by the periplasmic protein YfiR, and deletion of yfiR promoted CsgD-independent cellulose production. Conversely, when YfiR was overexpressed, cellulose production was decreased. Finally, we found that YfiR was oxidized by DsbA and that intraprotein YfiR disulfide bonds stabilized YfiR in the periplasm. Altogether, we showed that reducing conditions and mutations in the DSB system caused hyperactivation of YfiN and subsequent CsgD-independent cellulose production.
A Recording Photometer and its Use in Studies of Cathode-Ray Screen Displays

In studies involving the performance of operators of radar indicators it became necessary to provide data concerning the transient light patterns generated on the screens of cathode-ray tubes. This paper describes a photometer which permits the determination of brightness at any instant at a selected point on the radar screen.A 931-A photo-multiplier tube combined with suitable optical and electronic auxiliaries provides a photometer that will respond faithfully to rapid light transients for peak brightness determinations, and will also provide data for slow brightness changes associated with phosphor decay characteristics.The photometer described is useful down to 0.005 footlamberts when examining a circular area 0.025 inch in diameter. It will measure much greater brightness levels by incorporated sensitivity controls. Its usefulness is not limited to radar screen measurements but it is applicable to many photometric problems.
The Current Status of Surgical Therapy for Renal Artery Disease

The first reports of surgically curable hypertension in the late 1930s led to enthusiasm among clinicians for removing kidneys with arterial stenosis in hypertensive patients. The development of vascular surgical techniques in the 1950s made it possible to achieve successful renal revascularization in many of these cases. However, the cause and effect relationship between a stenotic renal artery lesion and hypertension was poorly understood and many patients treated surgically had no improvement of blood pressure postoperatively. Continued experience in this field during the past two decades has significantly improved our understanding of the natural history and functional significance of renovascular disorders. Patients with renovascular hypertension can now be identified with a high degree of accuracy and successful renal revascularization is possible in most cases. Nevertheless, multiple factors must be weighed in determining whether medical or surgical therapy is more appropriate for a given patient. These include the causal relationship of renovascular disease to hypertension, the adequacy of blood pressure control with medical therapy, the natural history of untreated renovascular disease with particular regard for the risk of sustaining impaired renal function, the medical condition of the patient, the morbidity and results of surgical therapy, and the availability of other therapeutic options such as percutaneous transluminal dilatation.
Modes of resistance to anti-angiogenic therapy.

In both preclinical and clinical settings, the benefits of angiogenesis inhibitors targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor signalling pathways are at best transitory and followed by restoration of tumour growth and progression. Emerging data support a proposition that two modes of unconventional resistance underlie such results.
Lumbar plexus neuropathy resulting from retroperitoneal hemorrhage.

A case of lumbar plexus neuropathy occurring in the setting of heparin therapy is reported. Documentation of the site of a retroperitoneal hematoma by CT scan was made prior to the full clinical evolution of a lumbar plexus neuropathy resulting from a psoas-muscle hematoma. Two patterns of retroperitoneal bleeding and their respective clinical manifestations are discussed. Early diagnosis of these syndromes may allow for intervention before neurologic compromise is established.
A left-right symmetric model with a useful global symmetry☆

Abstract A simple left-right symmetric model is presented in which a global symmetry prevents neutrinos from acquiring a mass, avoids flavor changing neutral current effects and predicts the existence, in one case, of an absolutely stable quark or lepton.
cC1qR/CR and gC1qR/p33: observations in cancer.

Abstract The survival and growth of a primary tumor depends, by and large, on three major events: immune evasion, angiogenesis and metastasis. Tumor cells are “modified self”, and as such express a plethora of modified surface antigens capable of inducing antibody production. Anti-tumor cell antibodies should, in theory, activate complement resulting in cell destruction. But this is not the case. Akin to many pathogenic microorganisms whose survival depends on evading the immune system, cancer cells have also evolved diverse mechanisms to prevent host mediated cell destruction by either retaining critical regulatory molecules or by hijacking host proteins to ensure their survival. Although immune evasion, angiogenesis and metastasis are complex biological processes involving a myriad of tumor associated proteins, enzymes, and cytokines, C1qRs can, nonetheless play an important role in all or part of these processes. Although both cC1qR/CR and gC1qR are expressed by all somatic cells, with the exception of red blood cells, both are highly upregulated on almost all types of tumors. It is not surprising therefore that blockade of C1qR on tumor cells inhibits their proliferation suggesting the significance of C1qRs in tumor growth and progression. Interestingly, the two C1q receptors: cC1qR/CR and gC1qR play a differential role in carcinogenesis. While gC1qR promotes tumor cell survival by enhancing angiogenesis and metastasis and also by contributing to the hypercoagulable and prothrombotic microenvironment, cC1qR/CR expression represents a pro-phagocytic “eat-me” signal through which cC1qR/CR expressing tumor cells are tagged for destruction by macrophages. The data accumulated to date therefore identify gC1qR and cC1qR/CR as potential targets for the design of either protein-based, antibody-based or chemical based therapeutic intervention that could be used to enhance conventional anti-cancer therapy. The inhibition of tumor cell proliferation by monoclonal antibody recognizing the C1q site on gC1qR, as well as the identification of agents such as anthracyclin that enhance cC1qR/CR expression on tumor cells, are indeed steps in the right direction.
LIA5 Is Required for Nuclear Reorganization and Programmed DNA Rearrangements Occurring during Tetrahymena Macronuclear Differentiation

During macronuclear differentiation of the ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila, genome-wide DNA rearrangements eliminate nearly 50 Mbp of germline derived DNA, creating a streamlined somatic genome. The transposon-like and other repetitive sequences to be eliminated are identified using a piRNA pathway and packaged as heterochromatin prior to their removal. In this study, we show that LIA5, which encodes a zinc-finger protein likely of transposon origin, is required for both chromosome fragmentation and DNA elimination events. Lia5p acts after the establishment of RNAi-directed heterochromatin modifications, but prior to the excision of the modified sequences. In ∆LIA5 cells, DNA elimination foci, large nuclear sub-structures containing the sequences to be eliminated and the essential chromodomain protein Pdd1p, do not form. Lia5p, unlike Pdd1p, is not stably associated with these structures, but is required for their formation. In the absence of Lia5p, we could recover foci formation by ectopically inducing DNA damage by UV treatment. Foci in both wild-type or UV-treated ∆LIA5 cells contain dephosphorylated Pdd1p. These studies of LIA5 reveal that DNA elimination foci form after the excision of germ-line limited sequences occurs and indicate that Pdd1p reorganization is likely mediated through a DNA damage response.
Gender typicality in children's art development: A cross-cultural study

Abstract Gender typicality in children's art development was examined from drawings of a person in an environment. Participants (n = 700) were aged 6–12 (boys, n = 314; girls, n = 386) were from 13 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and Central America. Inclusion of vehicles, weapons, animals, sports, ground line, Lowenfeld's stage of development, and principal color were observed and analyzed. Boys incorporated vehicles, weapons, and sports more than girls. Girls used more colors than boys. Significant differences were found between some subgroups and countries. Overall there was a significant difference by gender in the following categories: inclusion of vehicles of transportation (χ2 (1, n = 700) = 16.027, p