cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Antibacterial activity and preliminary screening of phytochemicals of locally available Green Leafy Vegetables in Batticaloa district, Sri Lanka

Plants and plant products are a better alternative, compared to antibiotics and other synthetic drugs, which show negative side effects, including, sensitization reactions and disruption of the metabolic processes in the body via interaction with the body system. Herbal remedies offer deeper healing benefits, while providing lesser side effects, lower costs, and easy access. This study was aimed to investigate the antibacterial activity and the phytochemical properties of three locally available Green Leafy Vegetables (GLVs), namely, Argyreia pomacea (Convolvulaceae), Coccinia grandis (Cucurbitaceae) and Mollugo pentaphylla (Molluginaceae). All leaf samples were collected from different localities of Batticaloa district, Sri Lanka. The leaf extracts from acetone and ethanol at the concentrations of 25.0, 50.0 and 75.0 mg/100μL were tested for antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, using well diffusion method and the qualitative phytochemical properties were also determined. The inhibitory effect was observed at all concentrations of acetone and ethanol extracts of C. grandis against both bacteria. The highest inhibitory effect on E. coli and S. aureus was shown by ethanol extract of all samples. The ethanolic extract of C. grandis at the concentration of 75.0 mg/100μL showed highest antibacterial activity against S. aureus (22.7±0.5 mm) and E. coli showed higher susceptibility to C. grandis (20±0.6 mm) in ethanol extract at 75.0 mg/100μL. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids and tannins in both extracts of C. grandis. Flavonoids were found in the ethanol extracts of A. pomacea and M. pentaphylla.
From what I've heard, this is bad: An examination of Americans' source preferences and information seeking during the COVID-19 pandemic

As an extension of a prior research, the current study examines the relationships among source preferences, need for cognition, information seeking, and protective actions during the COVID-19 pandemic Results derived from a nationally representative sample of American respondents suggest trait need for cognition is not a significant predictor of source preferences, mitigation behaviors, or specific risk perceptions However, those with higher need for cognition, and those who were more reliant on television and internet media felt an elevated sense of overall risk Individuals who collected information from radio, social media, and interpersonal interactions expressed higher levels of specific risk probability, while those reliant on television and websites reported higher levels of general risk perceptions and more mitigation behaviors Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed © 2021 The Author(s)
Annual Research Review: Youth firearm violence disparities in the United States and implications for prevention

Objective Research has identified the United States (U.S.) as a global outlier in its firearm ownership rates, with a correspondingly higher risk of youth firearm violence compared to other countries. The relative extent of disparities in youth firearm violence within the U.S. has been less clear. Little is known about factors in the social ecology driving these disparities and whether current firearm violence prevention approaches sufficiently address them. Method Applying a health disparities framework, we synthesized epidemiological, sociological, and prevention science literatures, emphasizing structural inequalities in youth sociocultural positionality in life course developmental context. We also highlighted findings from national injury data and other studies regarding the magnitude and impacts of youth firearm violence disparities. Results The burden of firearm violence varied markedly at intersections of gender, race, place, developmental stage, and homicidal or suicidal intent. Firearm homicide among Black boys and young men (ages 15-24) was at outlier levels - many times greater than the rates of any other demographic group, developmental stage, or violence intent, particularly in urban settings. Recent research has operationalized structural racism and implicated historically racialized spaces as a root cause of this disparity. In contrast, elevated firearm suicide rates were found among Native and White boys and young men in rural settings; firearm-related cultural attitudes and gender socialization were points of consideration to explain these disparities. We highlighted research-based youth firearm violence preventive interventions, and emphasized gaps in efforts focused on structural and sociocultural factors. Conclusions More explicit attention to reducing firearm homicide among Black boys and young men and firearm suicide among Native and rural White boys and young men is urgently needed and has potential to substantially lower overall rates of firearm violence in the U.S.
Overexpression of the PLK4 Gene as a Novel Strategy for the Treatment of Autosomal Recessive Microcephaly by Improving Centrosomal Dysfunction

Autosomal recessive microcephaly and chorioretinopathy (MCCRP) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by delayed psychomotor development, growth retardation with dwarfism, and ocular abnormalities, and its occurrence has been found to be closely related to variants of the gene encoding centrosomes. However, the association between centrosomal duplication defects and the etiology of microcephaly syndromes is poorly understood. It is well known that polo-like kinase 4 (PLK4) is a key regulator of centriole duplication, and the abnormalities of centrosomal function caused by its protein variation need to be further explored in the pathogenesis of microcephaly. In our study, we found that a patient with microcephaly and chorioretinopathy harbored compound heterozygous missense variants NM_014264.4: c.2221C > T (p.Gln741*) and NM_014264.4: c.2062 T > C (p.Tyr688His) in the PLK4 gene. Overexpression experiments of the variant PLK4 proteins then showed that the G741 variant rather than the T688H variant had lost centrosomal amplification ability, and the G741 variant but not the T688H variant induced centrosomal replication disorder, which further inhibited cell proliferation, cycle division and cytoskeleton morphology in HeLa cells. Moreover, the overexpression of the two variant proteins had inconsistent effects on the target protein PLK4 by western blot analysis, also indicating that T688H variant overexpression is not functionally equivalent to WT-PLK4 overexpression. Therefore, all data support the idea that the PLK4 mutation induces centriolar duplication disorder and reduces the efficiency of mitosis inducing cell death or cell proliferation in the etiology of microcephaly disorder.
Recent Advances in Pharmacological Research on Alcohol

Alcohol dependence is a major public health problem. Studies have shown that a person dependent on alcohol often coabuses other substances, such as cocaine. Cocaine is a powerful stimulant whereas ethanol is generally considered to be a depressant, with some stimulating properties. The subjective effects of these two substances in a dependent individual may often appear to be more similar than they are different. Animals also self-administer both substances. Basically, although both substances have anesthetic properties and both act to functionally increase catecholaminergic function, especially that of dopamine, there are some differences in their actions. Both alcohol and cocaine have various effects on several neurotransmitters and systems, which ultimately interact to produce the feeling of well-being avidly sought by many individuals today. This drive often eventually produces a dependence which has associated social and medical consequences. It seems likely that the neurochemical changes that ensue following abuse of these substances underlie the phenomena of dependence, tolerance, and subsequent withdrawal. The apparent similarities and differences between these two substances will be reviewed in this chapter.
Coin Quality, Coin Quantity, and Coin Value in Early China and the Roman World

Coinage developed in different ways in eastern and western Eurasia. In ancient China, early bronze ‘tool money’ came to be replaced by round bronze coins that were supplemented by uncoined gold and silver bullion; whereas in the Greco-Roman world, precious-metal coins dominated from the start, initially in the form of silver coins that were increasingly accompanied and eventually eclipsed by gold issues. The question of which factors determined the value of these coins has been debated for a long time. The Chinese tradition is often said to have favored a ‘chartalistic’ approach, and while a ‘metallistic’ perspective used be common among students of Greco-Roman coinage, putatively fiduciary elements of the Roman currency system are now receiving growing attention. In this paper I will argue that both the intrinsic properties of coins and the volume of the money supply were the principal determinants of coin value, and that fiduciary aspects must not be overrated. This principle is reinforced by the comparative study of two superficially quite different currency systems, in Warring States and Han China and in the Roman Empire.
Translational Oncogenomics and Human Cancer Interactome Networks

An overview of translational, human oncogenomics, transcriptomics and cancer interactomic networks is presented together with basic concepts and potential, new applications to Oncology and Integrative Cancer Biology. Novel translational oncogenomics research is rapidly expanding through the application of advanced technology, research findings and computational tools/models to both pharmaceutical and clinical problems. A self-contained presentation is adopted that covers both fundamental concepts and the most recent biomedical, as well as clinical, applications. Sample analyses in recent clinical studies have shown that gene expression data can be employed to distinguish between tumor types as well as to predict outcomes. Potentially important applications of such results are individualized human cancer therapies or, in general, ‘personalized medicine’. Several cancer detection techniques are currently under development both in the direction of improved detection sensitivity and increased time resolution of cellular events, with the limits of single molecule detection and picosecond time resolution already reached. The urgency for the complete mapping of a human cancer interactome with the help of such novel, high-efficiency / low-cost and ultra-sensitive techniques is also pointed out.
Multiple Vacua and Boundary Conditions of Schwinger-Dyson Equations

We discuss the relationship between the boundary conditions of the Schwinger-Dyson equations and the phase diagram of a bosonic field theory or matrix model. In the thermodynamic limit, many boundary conditions lead to the same solution, while other boundary conditions have no such limit. The list of boundary conditions for which a thermodynamic limit exists depends on the parameters of the theory. The boundary conditions of a physical solution may be quite exotic, corresponding to path integration over various inequivalent complex contours.
Managing risks in RBAC employed distributed environments

Role Based Access Control (RBAC) has been introduced in an effort to facilitate authorization in database systems. It introduces roles as a new layer in between users and permissions. This not only provides a well maintained access granting mechanism, but also alleviates the burden to manage multiple users. While providing comprehensive access control, current RBAC models and systems do not take into consideration the possible risks that can be incurred with role misuse. In distributed environments a large number of users are a very common case, and a considerable number of them are first time users. This fact magnifies the need to measure risk before and after granting an access. We investigate the means of managing risks in RBAC employed distributed environments and introduce a probability based novel risk model. Based on each role, we use information about user credentials, current user queries, role history log and expected utility to calculate the overall risk. By executing data mining on query logs, our scheme generates normal query clusters. It then assigns different risk levels to individual queries, depending on how far they are from the normal clusters. We employ three types of granularity to represent queries in our architecture. We present experimental results on real data sets and compare the performances of the three granularity levels.
Applications of wavelet transform in forecasting incidence of infectious diseases

The Haar wavelet transform and the simplex forecasting method are applied to the data set of hepatitis A in the United States to give better predictions of its incidence. Two approaches are presented. The first approach is to filter the data with wavelet decomposition and reconstruction then to use the simplex method on the reconstructed data. The second approach is to apply the simplex method directly to a state space formed by the components of wavelet decomposition. >
The Effect of Thermodynamic Constraints Upon the Mie-Grüneisen Equation of State

Hydrocodes or wave codes, as they are often called, are a common analysis tool in the terminal ballistic community and are expected to become increasingly useful as a design tool as well. These codes are used to analyze a variety of terminal ballistic phenomena which involve impact, detonation, and/or wave propagation. As such, it is vital that the numerical and material modeling formulations which make up this class of codes be on firm scientific footing. One aspect of the material modeling formulations which is very important to hydrocodes is the equation of state, which defines material pressure in terms of other thermodynamic parameters. The equation of state is one of several key material descriptors employed in hydrocodes.
GENES, GLYCOSYLTRANSFERASES AND BLOOD TYPES

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses genes, glycosyltransferases, and blood types. The occurrence of certain oligosaccharides in individual samples of human milk reflect the ability of the donor to synthesize the heterosaccharide chains in complex molecules of cell surfaces and mucous secretions that are the structural determinants of blood type because the same glycosy1transferases are involved in the synthesis of both groups of substances. The presence or absence of four specific enzymes in milk—two fucosy1transferases, a galactosy1transferase, and an N-acetylgalactosaminy1-transferase—correlates with the ABO and Lewis status of the donor and provides a basis for differences among individuals. Cellular antigens, whose structural determinants are carbohydrates, are the secondary gene products and the primary gene products are glycosyltransferases. It is the inherent specificity of these enzymes for the particular sugar transferred and for the type of linkage that determine which specific structures are produced. Many of the major oligosaccharides of human milk contain fucose, and so absence of the fucosyltransferases, which determine Lewis blood type, has a drastic effect on the pattern of oligosaccharides that are found in individual samples.
A Unified Theory of Linear Diffusion in Laminated Media

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the historical development of the problem of diffusion in laminated media and its solution. Various applications that have been made of the theoretical model are discussed. The chapter explains the state and solves a unified model for the linear conduction of heat or the diffusion of mass in laminated composites with the conduction occurring in a direction normal to that of the laminations. Essential to the solution of this model are the extension of Sturm–Liouville theory and the definition of a nonstandard inner product. The chapter compares the solution with the previous ones in the cases of perfect thermal contact and contact resistance at the interfaces. The problem is specialized to that of a two-layer slab, and explicit expressions are derived for the various components of the solution in terms of the parameters of the problem and the eigenvalues. The eigenvalue equation is compared to the previously obtained equations in the limiting cases of perfect thermal contact and linear contact resistance. The chapter also examines the two examples of this specialized problem with specified numerical parameters. The chapter concludes that the utility of the solution depends to a great extent on the determination of the solutions to the eigenvalue equation.
Laramie County Community College Geology of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks GEOL 1035-60

A study of Yellowstoneâs and the Grand Tetonâs earth materials and processes including rocks, minerals, streams, glacial history, geologic structures, earthquakes, and plate tectonics. Students acquire scientific knowledge about the formation of Yellowstoneâs landscape, geothermal features, soils, and geologic hazards. Students will record observations and take notes in a field book that will be assessed as part of their grade.
Aspartate-catalyzed asymmetric epoxidation reactions.

We report enantioselective epoxidation reactions that are catalyzed by aspartic acid-containing peptides. The strategy involves the transient conversion of the aspartate carboxylic acid side chain to the corresponding peracid. Reaction of olefin with the activated catalyst regenerates that catalyst, which may be subjected to multiple turnovers through a carbodiimide-mediated dehydration pathway. Enantioselectivities of up to 92% ee are observed for a class of urethane-substituted olefins.
Experimental Studies of a Polar Vortex I

A description is given of experiments carried out during 1949 and early 1950 that were designed to produce some phenomenon exhibiting effects of the resultant horizontal Coriolis force on a symmetrical vortex that results from the latitude variation of the Coriolis force. A circular cap of dense liquid at the base of a small hemispherical shell filled with liquid was forced to rotate about a vertical axis independently of the rate of rotation of the remaining fluid and containing vessels. Within the ranges of 20 to 150 r.p.m. for the vessel and 0 to 120 relative r.p.m. for the cap vortex, the center of mass of the polar cap never showed appreciable displacements away from the polar axis exept for a range of sufficiently high relative rotations when the vortex was anticyclonic in sense. Numerical checks are given with a simplified calculation in spherical coordinates of the torque equilibrium for the vortex as a whole. DOI: 10.1111/j.2153-3490.1950.tb00325.x
An analogue of the Erdös-Ko-Rado theorem for the Hamming schemes H(n, q)

Abstract An analogue of the Erdos-Ko-Rado Theorem is proved for the Hamming scheme H ( n , q ).
A magnetic spectrometer for nuclear microanalysis of concentration distributions

The construction and calibration of a magnetic spectrometer for studies of /sup 18/O distributions within a solid sample using the /sup 18/O(p, alpha )/ sup 15/N reaction is discussed. This approach allows probing deeper concentration profiles than does the present absorber-foil technique. A detailed description of the use of this spectrometer in nuclear microanalytical experiments is also given. (auth)
Optically induced metastable paramagnetic centers in amorphous SiO2

Abstract Paramagnetic centers have been induced in amorphous SiO2 by exposure to sub-bandgap light of various wavelengths. The EPR spectrum for each of the individual defects has been isolated. One type of defect accounts for more than half of the total spin density, suggestive of a negative-U pair of valence-alternation defects. The behavior of another center is consistent with a second pair of charged defects which do not interconvert.
Cereals and Rickets IX. The Availability of Phytin-P to the Chick

Abstract THE calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D requirements of the growing chick have been the subject of much research. The literature reveals no fixed nor generally applicable value for the amounts of Ca and P required nor for the proportion in which these elements must be present in a chick ration. Hart and associates (1927 pointed out that the Ca/P ratio could vary within certain wide limits, at least to a value of 7:1, without affecting growth or bone development, provided that generous amounts of the antirachitic factor were supplied. Bethke, Kennard, Kick, and Zinzalian (1929) stated that “the optimum, or near optimum, ratio of calcium to phosphorous for the growing chick lies between 3:1 and 4:1.” They also pointed out that, within certain limits, the ratio of Ca/P was more important than the amount of these elements in the ration. Massengale (1929) reported that a rachitogenic diet low in Ca . . .
From M–P to MA–P: Multinationality alignment and performance

Rather than searching for a universal optimal level of multinationality for all firms, we argue that firm-specific attributes should result in firm-specific optimal levels of multinationality. Specifically, we draw upon transaction cost and internalization theory to argue that there will be different optimal levels of multinationality for individual firms, and if firms internalize foreign operations to an extent less than or greater than their individual optimal levels, transaction costs will increase and performance will decrease. To test this idea, we use transaction cost models in the context of large US law firms during the time period from 1986 through 2008 to estimate firm-specific optimal multinationality. Next, we test relationships between alignment with, or deviations from, firm-specific optimal levels of multinationality and performance (MA–P). Consistent with the MA–P hypothesis, insufficient and excessive levels of multinationality are both negatively related to financial performance. In addition, excessive multinationality is positively associated with downside performance risk. One key implication is that an MA–P approach may offer greater theoretical validity and clarity than traditional multinationality and performance (M–P) approaches.
241 ADIPOSE TISSUE DEVELOPMENT IN OFFSPRING OF DIABETIC MOTHERS

Macrosomia and increased adiposity are well-recognized sequelae in newborn infants of diabetic mothers. However, the long-term consequences of such alterations remain controversial. In order to prospectively evaluate these factors, 23 infants of gestaional diabetic mothers, IGDMs,(mean birthweight 3.6kg.), 8 infants of Class B and C insulin-dependent diabetic mothers, IDMS, (mean birthweight 3.2kg.) and 11 control infants (mean birth-weight 3.1kg.) have been studied sequentially over the past 9-10 years. Increased numbers of adipose tissue cells were found in the IGDMs as early as age one (mean 6.2 × 109 total adipocytes) and have persisted to date with mean values of 19.8 × 109 adipocytes, 52% greater than normal, at age 6.8 years and 28.4 × 109 at age 9.4 years. Concomitantly, obesity (greater than 130% ideal body weight for height and age) was found in only 3 infants at age one but in 19 IGDMs by ages 6-9. In the IDM group at age one, no infants were obese, but by age 7, six had become obese having a mean of 18.6 × 109 total adipocytes. Adipose cell size was increased above 0.50 ug lipid/cell in both IGDMs and IDMs by age 6. Normal weight children were born only to mothers of normal weight prior to pregnancy. In vitro studies of adipocyte metabolism revealed blunting of epinephrine-stimulated lipolysis beginning as early as age one month and persisting to date in all obese children. The data indicate the importance of in utero factors in the development of childhood obesity.
High-Brightness Wavelength-Beam-Combined Eyesafe Diode Laser Stacks

At 1450 nm, we have demonstrated 20-W wavelength-beam-combined output from a 25- element single bar (M2 ~ 1.9 times 10), and 80-W cw from a 6-bar diode stack (M2 ~ 36 times 68).
Population genetic structure and ecotoxicology.

Abstract Electrophoretic analyses of population genetic structure, both in the laboratory and in the field, have documented significant shifts in allozyme genotype frequencies in a variety of aquatic taxa as a result of environmental impacts. Studies are documented which indicate that contaminants may select for individuals with tolerant allozyme genotypes, causing the potential loss of individuals with sensitive genotypes. This may diminish the genetic variability and fitness of affected populations and make them more susceptible to extinction following a subsequent stress. Future research involving population genetic structure and ecotoxicology should focus on determining the mechanism of sensitivity, documenting multigenerational effects of chronic laboratory exposure on population genetic composition, investigating whether previously stressed and genetically impacted populations are more susceptible to further natural and/or anthropogenic stressors, and establishing the utility of population genetic structure as a sensitive monitor of impacts in aquatic systems and their subsequent remediation.
Preparation, 13C NMR/DFT/IGLO Study of Benzylic Mono- and Dications, and Attempted Preparation of a Trication1

Substituted benzylic mono- and dications were prepared and investigated by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy and DFT/IGLO calculations. Combined experimental and theoretical study suggest that the struct...
A Similar Metabolism of Chlorotoluron in Cell Suspension Cultures from Near-Isogenic Susceptible and Tolerant Lines of Wheat

Abstract The metabolism of the herbicide chlorotoluron was followed in cell suspension cultures of wheat. The cultures originated from plants of the susceptible variety Corin, the tolerant variety Clement, and six near-isogenic lines, 9S, 10S, 16S, 17T, 18T, and 24T [susceptible (S) and tolerant (T), respectively]. The six lines had the genetic background of the susceptible variety Chinese Spring, but the three lines 17T, 18T, and 24T contained a gene for tolerance (Sul) transferred from the variety Cappelle-Desprez. The cultures from Corin and Clement produced identical patterns of metabolites which were also identical to those found in plants. The rate of metabolism of the herbicide was slightly higher in the cell culture of Clement (T) than in Corin (S), as reported for the corresponding plants. Patterns of metabolites were similar in the cell cultures from the six isogenic lines. The rate of metabolism was the same in 9S, 10S, 16S, 18T, and 24T, and lower in 17T, so that a differential rate of metabolism was not found between T and S cell cultures. The occurrence of a differential rate of metabolism as the primary mechanism of varietal selectivity of wheat to chlorotoluron is discussed.
Environmental enrichment decreases responding for visual novelty

Previous research has demonstrated that rats reared in an enriched condition (EC) with novel objects and social partners self-administer less amphetamine compared to rats raised in an isolated condition (IC). However, it is unclear if the enrichment-induced decrease in stimulant self-administration generalizes to non-drug rewards such as those provided by novel environmental stimuli. In the current study, EC, IC, and social condition (SC) rats were raised from 21 to 51 days of age before being tested in a two-lever operant conditioning chamber in which responding on one lever (active lever) resulted in illumination of a cue light. In Experiment 1, rats were initially assessed for baseline responding (no contingency) and then the contingent light was introduced. EC rats responded less than IC rats for the contingent light stimulus; however, EC rats also displayed a lower rate of baseline responding. In Experiment 2, rats were trained initially to lever press for a sucrose reward to decrease differences in baseline responding. While sucrose pretraining decreased baseline response differences between groups, EC rats still responded less for the contingent light stimulus than IC or SC rats. These results suggest that environmental enrichment decreases the incentive value of visual novelty.
Internal-reflection-spectroscopy study of adsorption of water on CaF2 surfaces

The infrared internal-reflection spectra of CaF2 trapezoids in air indicate the presence of an adsorbed water film. This adsorption has been studied in a vacuum system in which the trapezoids were cleaned by baking and then exposed to water vapor. Study of the absorptance and the ratio of s- to p-polarized absorptance in the 3400 cm−1 spectral region indicates that the index of refraction of the film and the product of the extinction coefficient and the film thickness can be obtained. Analysis suggests that the index of refraction and extinction coefficient of the film on polished CaF2 surfaces are somewhat less than that of bulk water. The simplest implication is that the film has an expanded or open structure.
Side Chain Liquid Crystalline Ionic Polysiloxanes

Abstract A variety of side chain liquid crystalline ionic polysiloxanes with quaternized ammonium groups incorporated into the mesogenic moiety or into the spacer have been synthesized and studied by a combination of DSC, TGA, polarizing microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The polysiloxanes exhibit a nematic mesophase. Due to their flexible main chain, the transition temperatures are low. Thermal stability and liquid crystallinity of quaternized and unquaternized polysiloxanes are compared. It appears that in these ionic polymers the geometry of the mesogenic group plays an important part in the development of the mesophase.
Evaluation of condensed molasses fermentation solubles as a nonprotein nitrogen source for ruminants.

Condensed molasses fermentation solubles (CMS), an effluent from the production of lysine, was evaluated as a nonprotein nitrogen supplement for ruminants by measuring the availability of its nitrogen to rumen microorganisms grown in batch cultures and by comparing CMS to urea as a source of supplemental nitrogen for growing cattle. In vitro dry matter digestion studies showed that, with 1 ml or less of rumen inoculum, microbial digestion was enhanced more (P less than .05) by the addition of CMS than by the addition of urea to 100 mg of cellulose. These stimulatory effects of CMS were absent when either the amount of inoculum (5.0 ml) or cellulose (250 mg) was increased and when wheat straw or alfalfa replaced cellulose as the substrate. Growth rate and feed intake for cattle fed a high-cob/cracked-corn diet containing 2.5 or 5.0% CMS were lower (P less than .05) than for cattle fed the control diet containing urea. Digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber were reduced (P less than .05) by the addition of CMS. Addition of CMS also decreased feed utilization, although the differences were not statistically significant. In conclusion, the nitrogen in CMS was available to rumen microorganisms growth in batch culture; however, CMS was not satisfactory as a substitute for all the urea in a diet for growing cattle containing over 45% of dietary N from the supplemental N source.
Some recommendations for the practitioner to improve the precision of experimentally determined protein folding rates and ϕ values

The mechanism by which proteins fold from an initially random conformation into a functional, native structure remains a major unsolved question in molecular biology. Of particular interest to the protein folding community is the structure that the protein adopts in the folding transition state (the highest free energy state on the pathway from unfolded to folded), as that state forms the barrier that defines the folding pathway. Unfortunately, however, unlike those of the initial, unfolded state and the final, folded state of the protein, the structure in the transition state cannot be directly assessed via experiment. Instead, experimentalists infer the structure of the transition state, often by estimating changes in its free energy by measuring the effects of amino acid substitutions on folding and unfolding rates (Phi-value analysis). In this article we show how to obtain more efficient estimates of these important quantities via improved experimental designs, and how to avoid common pitfalls in the analysis of kinetic data during the extraction of these parameters.
SPONTANEOUS AND INDUCED MALIGNANT NEOPLASMS IN MONKEYS

Early reports of spontaneous neoplasms in wild animals noted an apparent paucity of such lesions in certain groups especially in monkeys. Furthermore some attempts to induce neoplasms in monkeys apparently have not met with the success that similar attempts have achieved in other species. These observations suggest that monkeys may be more resistant generally to the development of neoplasms than man and other species. Any resistance to the development of neoplasms in monkeys would be of interest in itself and also would influence their usefulness in the laboratory study of neoplasms. The accumulation of further pertinent evidence in recent years is sufficient to warrant a reexamination of these earlier observations. (authors)
Stationary points of a single-layer perceptron for nonseparable data models

Abstract A single-layer perceptron divides the input signal space into two regions separated by a hyperplane. In many applications, however, the training signal of the adaptive algorithm represents more complicated decision regions that may not be linearly separable. For these cases, it is usually not obvious how the adaptive algorithm of a single-layer perceptron will perform, in terms of its convergence properties and the optimum location of the hyperplane boundary. In this paper, we determine the stationary points of Rosenblatt's learning algorithm for a single-layer perceptron and two nonseparable models of the training data. Our analysis is based on a system identification formulation of the training signal, and the perceptron input signals are modeled as independent Gaussian sequences. Expressions for the corresponding performance function are also derived, and computer simulations are presented that verify the analytical results.
GSIFT: geometric scale invariant feature transform for terrain data

In this work, we introduce GSIFT (Geometric Scale Invariant Terrain Feature Transform), geometric descriptors that are invariant to translation, rotation, and scaling. SIFT (Scale Invariant Feature Transform) descriptors have been found to be very successful in a variety of computer vision tasks. GSIFT expands SIFT by using the novel technique of binding features at different scales to associate priorities/importance to features based on its scale and persistence among different scales. As a first step to obtain scale invariance, we create a multi-scale pyramid for detecting important features such as maxima, minima, and saddle points for 1D and 2D height fields. We use relative height histograms as GSIFT with support regions determined by the priority of the feature. We use symmetric chi-square as the similarity measure to compare geometric features. Experiments with GSIFT and SIFT (on images constructed from height fields) on both synthetic and real height field data sets show that GSIFT provide comparable and in some cases, better results for data registration. GSIFT has the added advantage that it can be used by scientists in compressing and registering (or non-registering) height data, where it is important for them to understand which features to keep/discard or why the registration is good/poor, when the data is obtained at different scales from independent sources.
Metal ion complexes of cytidinediphosphocholine.

Abstract Cytidine-5′-diphosphocholine (CDPcholine) forms a complex with Mg 2+ and Mn 2+ ions as indicated by the broadened 31 P NMR peaks of CDPcholine in the presence of these ions. Additional evidence for the complex is the decrease in absorption at 360 nm when CDPcholine is added to solutions of 8-hydroxyquinoline and Mg 2+ . The stability constant of the Mg-CDPcholine complex was found to be 20 M −1 .
Experiential learning, Cases, and Simulations in Business Communication:

The inclusion of cases and simulations in our curricula may reflect a funda mental paradigm shift in American higher education. Now, colleges must do more than instruct; they must also prove that l...
Imaging of Formaldehyde Adsorption and Diffusion on TiO2(110)

Surface reactions of formaldehyde with reduced TiO2(110) surfaces have been studied using variable-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and density functional theory (DFT). STM images taken from a same area at various temperatures clearly show that formaldehyde preferentially adsorbs on the bridge-bonded oxygen (Ob) vacancy (VO) defect sites. Bias-dependent STM images show that the STM features corresponding to both the Ti-bound CH2O and the VO-bound CH2O are positioned between the Ob row and the Ti row. While the VO-bound formaldehyde rotates at 95 K, the Ti-bound CH2O does not. The VO-bound CH2O starts to diffuse along the Ob row as –CH2– at ~170 K and starts to diffuse along the Ti row as an intact molecule at ~215 K. However, the stabilities and the configurations of the Ti-bound and VO-bound formaldehyde calculated using DFT are not in line with the experimental results. The discrepancy between the experiment and theory indicates the presence of a complex charge distribution related to the surface defects.
Improving stem cell mobilization strategies: future directions

Autologous hematopoietic SCT (auto-HSCT) provides hematopoietic support after high-dose chemotherapy and is the standard of care for patients with multiple myeloma (MM) or chemosensitive relapsed high- or intermediate-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). However, yields of hematopoietic stem cells vary greatly between patients, and the optimal strategy to mobilize hematopoietic stem cells into peripheral blood for collection has not been defined. Current mobilization strategies consist of cytokines alone or in combination with chemotherapeutic agents. Cytokine-only mobilization regimens are well tolerated, but their utility is limited by suboptimal PBSC yields. When a myelosuppressive chemotherapeutic agent is added to a cytokine mobilization regimen, PBSC collections improve two- to five-fold. This benefit is tempered by increased toxicity, morbidity and resource utilization. All current regimens fail to mobilize sufficient hematopoietic stem cells to proceed to transplantation in 5-30% of patients, necessitating additional mobilization attempts or precluding transplantation, which may negatively affect patient outcomes and survival. Improved strategies to mobilize stem cells would increase the availability of auto-HSCT and optimize engraftment and outcomes in patients with MM or NHL. Novel agents used in conjunction with cytokines have the potential to increase PBSC collections without introducing additional morbidity, thereby improving patient outcomes.
Diel vertical migration by males, females, copepodids and nauplii in a limnetic population of diaptomus (Copepoda)

Diel vertical migration (DVM) by the sexes and life history stages of the copepod Diaptomus novamexicanus (Herrick) was investigated during two summers in a subalpine lake (Castle Lake, California, USA). Migratory behavior was quantified repeatedly by 1300 and 21–2200 hr sampling in the epilimnion. Population density and vertical distribution were estimated routinely at 1300 hr and at 2200 hr on selected dates. Males had greater night to day biomass differentials and ratios than females. The sexes showed comparable DVM participation (% of total biomass migrating) and amplitudes of migration (distance of ascent). Copepodids displayed higher participation, night/day ratios and amplitudes than younger copepods, but adult participation differed only from that of nauplii. Active participation in high amplitude ascents thus increased with age and was greatest in adult males. Analysis suggests that such relative behaviors probably occur in most limnetic Diaptomus, and that the magnitude of ascent into the epilimnion is associated with daytime vertical distribution.
Ambiguity aversion: the explanatory power of indeterminate probabilities

Daniel Ellsberg presented in Ellsberg (The Quarterly Journal of Economics 75:643–669, 1961) various examples questioning the thesis that decision making under uncertainty can be reduced to decision making under risk. These examples constitute one of the main challenges to the received view on the foundations of decision theory offered by Leonard Savage in Savage (1972). Craig Fox and Amos Tversky have, nevertheless, offered an indirect defense of Savage. They provided in Fox and Tversky (1995) an explanation of Ellsberg’s two-color problem in terms of a psychological effect: ambiguity aversion. The ‘comparative ignorance’ hypothesis articulates how this effect works and explains why it is important to an understanding of the typical pattern of responses associated with Ellsberg’s two-color problem. In the first part of this article we challenge Fox and Tversky’s explanation. We present first an experiment that extends Ellsberg’s two-color problem where certain predictions of the comparative ignorance hypothesis are not confirmed. In addition the hypothesis seems unable to explain how the subjects resolve trade-offs between security and expected pay-off when vagueness is present. Ellsberg offered an explanation of the typical behavior elicited by his examples in terms of these trade-offs and in section three we offer a model of Ellsberg’s trade-offs. The model takes seriously the role of imprecise probabilities in explaining Ellsberg’s phenomenon. The so-called three-color problem was also considered in Fox and Tversky (1995). We argue that Fox and Tversky’s analysis of this case breaks a symmetry with their analysis of the two-color problem. We propose a unified treatment of both problems and we present a experiment that confirms our hypothesis.
Accelerated Publication: Evolution of stress gradients in Cu films and features induced by capping layers

The presence of voids in Cu metallization represents a key reliability issue for ultra-large scale integration technology. In particular, the interface between the Cu and capping layers represents a critical location where the stress state of the Cu must be experimentally determined. Glancing-incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD) can be used to investigate depth-dependent stress distributions within electroplated Cu films induced by overlying capping layers. A combination of conventional X-ray diffraction measurements and GIXRD results revealed that strain gradients were created in Cu films and patterned features possessing a SiC"xN"yH"z cap, where an increased in-plane tensile stress was generated near the film/cap interface due to the constraint imposed by the SiC"xN"yH"z layer during cooling from the cap deposition temperature. Cu films possessing a CoWP cap, deposited at lower temperatures where the Cu experienced only elastic deformation, did not exhibit depth-dependent stress distributions. However, all Cu samples exposed to the SiC"xN"yH"z deposition temperature developed stress gradients regardless of the capping material. Although in situ annealing of SiC"xN"yH"z capped Cu films decreased the stress gradient as the sample temperature approached that of the cap deposition, the gradient reappeared upon cooling to room temperature.
The effects of a constant volume deformation on the magnetization of an artificial sediment

Abstract Anhysteretic remanent magnetization (DC field = 1 Oe, peak AC field = 1000 Oe) was given to an artificial sediment consisting of a kaolinite matrix and a 0.03% magnetic fraction of needle-shaped magnetite grains. The mean grain size of the clay flakes and the magnetite needles was approximately 0.5 μm. This sediment was subjected to plane strain while maintaining constant volume. The axis of maximum compression was shortened by as much as 331/3% , which produced no significant change in the direction of magnetization with a decrease in intensity of 28%. A continuous deformation model, in which the magnetite needles are embedded in a plastically deforming linearly homogeneous medium, failed to explain these results. A discontinuous deformation model was more successful. In this model, deformation occurs mainly in shear zones bounding blocks which translate along the shears. Only those magnetite grains in the shear zones rotate, and from symmetry considerations no net change in the direction of magnetization is predicted. Because magnetite grains rotate in opposite directions in complementary sets of shears, the model predicts a decrease in intensity comparable to that which was observed.
Histochemical alterations of acute and chronic doxorubicin cardiotoxicity

Histochemical alterations of acute and chronic doxorubicin (DOX) cardiotoxicity in the mouse were assessed by the localization of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), coenzyme Q10 (CoQ), cytochrome oxidase (COX), creatine phosphokinase (CPK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), reduced glutathione (GSH), and intracellular calcium. Isolated myocytes intensely stained for calcium were found at 72 and 120 h under the acute protocol; altered staining patterns of SDH, CoQ, and COX, were evident at 120 h. Chronically, two patterns of intracellular calcium staining were evident: (1) intensely stained myocytes as found in the acute protocol; and (2) multiple discrete intracellular deposits suggestive of mitochondrial localization. Altered staining patterns of SDH, CoQ, COX, CPK, and LDH under the chronic protocol were only seen after abnormal staining was evident in trichrome stained sections. The presence of characteristic vacuolated myocardial cells in both acute and chronic protocols was confirmed by one micron epon-embedded toluidine blue stained sections and electron microscopy. These histochemical findings suggest that DOX alters the functional integrity of mitochondrial respiratory chain enzymes in the myocardial cell.
Free volume and the annealing and antiplasticizing of bisphenol A polycarbonate

Annealing below the glass transition temperature and the addition of an antiplasticizer are each known to increase the yield stress and the density of glassy bisphenol A polycarbonate. We have studied the combined effects of annealing and antiplasticizing to see if the individual effects would interfere with one another, as might be expected if the same free volume were involved in each. We find that the effects, even when they individually approach saturation, remain additive. This suggests that the free volume in the glass has at least two parts, one of which is affected by annealing and the other by antiplasticization. The available data indicate that the rate at which the yield stress changes with measured volume is different for the two parts.
Hans‐Georg Gadamer's truth and method

TRUTH AND METHOD. By Hans‐Georg Gadamer. New York: The Seabury Press, 1975; pp. xxvi+551. $22.50.
Substitution of methionine 435 with leucine, isoleucine, and serine in tumor necrosis factor alpha converting enzyme inactivates ectodomain shedding activity

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) converting enzyme (TACE) is a zinc metalloprotease that has emerged as a general sheddase, which is responsible for ectodomain release of numerous membrane prote...