cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The sphingolipid salvage pathway in ceramide metabolism and signaling.

Sphingolipids are important components of eukaryotic cells, many of which function as bioactive signaling molecules. Of these, ceramide is a central metabolite and plays key roles in a variety of cellular responses, including regulation of cell growth, viability, differentiation, and senescence. Ceramide is composed of the long-chain sphingoid base, sphingosine, in N-linkage to a variety of acyl groups. Sphingosine serves as the product of sphingolipid catabolism, and it is mostly salvaged through re-acylation, resulting in the generation of ceramide or its derivatives. This recycling of sphingosine is termed the “salvage pathway”, and recent evidence points to important roles for this pathway in ceramide metabolism and function. A number of enzymes are involved in the salvage pathway, and these include sphingomyelinases, cerebrosidases, ceramidases, and ceramide synthases. Recent studies suggest that the salvage pathway is not only subject to regulation, but it also modulates the formation of ceramide and subsequent ceramide-dependent cellular signals. This review focuses on the salvage pathway in ceramide metabolism, its regulation, its experimental analysis, and emerging biological functions.
Enteral versus parenteral therapy for intractable diarrhea of infancy: A prospective, randomized trial

Thirteen infants with intractable diarrhea were classified as having severe or moderate malabsorption on the basis of D-xylose absorption. Within each group (designated severe and moderate), patients were randomly assigned to continuous enteral nutrition (CEN) with an elemental formula or to an alternative therapy: total parenteral nutrition (TPN) for the severe patients or intermittent oral nutrition (ION) with the elemental formula for the moderate patients. Within the severe group, CEN and TPN produced similar correction of malnutrition (6.0 +/- 2.5 weeks vs 6.5 +/- 2.5 weeks for weight to reach the 5th percentile for age, P = 0.69), but CEN was associated with faster resolution of malabsorption and diarrhea (2.8 +/- 0.5 weeks vs 9.8 +/- 1.1 weeks, P = 0.02), fewer complications, and less expensive hospitalization than TPN. The moderate group was too small for clear distinctions between the two therapies. D-xylose absorption effectively distinguished between severe malabsorption (requiring 20.6 +/- 2.6 days of enteral therapy before tolerance of oral feeding) and moderate malabsorption (requiring 11.6 +/- 1.7 days), P less than 0.03. Enteral therapy is more widely applicable in severe intractable diarrhea of infancy than has been appreciated, and can produce superior results to TPN.
The glycoalkaloid content of potato berries

The glycoalkaloid contents of potato (Solanum tuberosum) berries from six of the main UK commercial varieties of potato which freely produce fruits were determined. The significance of the possible occurrence of potato or other solanaceous (e.g. S. nigrum) fruits as toxic contaminants in frozen peas and beans is discussed.
Alteration of NPY and Y1 receptor in dorsomedial and ventromedial areas of hypothalamus in anorectic tumor-bearing rats

Although previous studies have implicated NPY in the etiology of experimental cancer anorexia, the results have been difficult to interpret. Studies have suggested that although NPY level and message were decreased in the dorsomedial hypothalamic area (DMA), they were elevated in the ventromedial hypothalamic area (VMA). To better assess specific intra-area alterations of NPY, Y(1) receptor (Y(1) R), and agouti-related peptide (AgRP) in TB rats, we used radioimmunoassay, quantitative real-time RT-PCR, and immunohistochemistry. We found that NPY and AgRP mRNA were elevated significantly in whole hypothalamus of anorectic TB rats, while Y(1) R mRNA was decreased. Based on two replicates of four pooled samples each, both NPY and AgRP mRNA appeared to be elevated in the VMA of anorectic TB rats, while only AgRP exhibited a similar increase in the DMA. Levels of NPY were elevated in the VMA of both TB and pair-fed (PF) rats, but in the DMA only PF rats exhibited a significant NPY increase. NPY and Y(1) R immunohistochemistry revealed reduced NPY staining in PVN and ARC nucleus of TB and PF rats. Y(1) R immunostaining was also reduced in the ARC and PVN of TB rats, while PF rats exhibited elevated immunostaining in the PVN. These results continue to implicate dysfunction of NPY feeding systems in experimental cancer anorexia and suggest down-regulation of Y(1) R receptors as well as possible problems in NPY translation.
Use of 10% sulfuric acid/dioxane for removal of N‐α‐tertiary‐butyloxycarbonyl group during solid phase peptide synthesis

The hazards and high costs associated with the use of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in the removal of the N-α-tertiary-butyloxycarbonyl (Boc) group during solid phase peptide synthesis prompted an examination of alternative acidolytic reagents for α-amino group deprotection. N-α-Boc-glycine and N-α-Boc-isoleucine resins as well as an N-α-Boc-peptide resin were used to test the lability to various deprotection mixtures of both the N-α-Boc resin group as well as the amino acid or peptide-O benzyl ester resin linkage. Of the combinations tried, several were found, including 10% H2SO4/dioxane, which gave results roughly comparable to 50% TFA/CH2Cl2. Several peptides, 5–10 amino acid residues in length, have been successfully synthesized using the 10% H2SO4/dioxane mixture and were found to be comparable in purity to the same peptides prepared using the standard TFA/CH2Cl2 method of N-α-Boc removal. Thus, for the peptides examined, 10% H2SO4dioxane was found to be an inexpensive, safe, and practical alternative reagent to the more costly and hazardous 50% TFA/CH2Cl2 commonly used in the deprotection step of solid phase peptide synthesis.
Q&A: Halamid® Aqua (Chloramine-T) Approved by FDA to Treat Fish Diseases—What It Means for Fisheries

Axcentive SARL announced recently that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Halamid® Aqua (100% chloramine-T) as a new therapeutic drug for use in fish. Halamid® Aqua is an impo...
On the L 2 error for the p -version of the finite element method over polygonal domains

Abstract For second order linear elliptic problems over smooth domains, it is well known that the rate of convergence of the error in the L2 norm is one order higher than that in the H1 norm. For polygonal domains with re-entrant corners, it has been shown by Wahlbin [Math. Comp. 42 (1984) 1–8] that this extra order cannot be fully recovered when the h-version is used. We prove that this deterioration does not occur for the p-version and that the full extra order is observed. Negative norm estimates are also established.
Genome research and evolution in trypanosomes.

Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma cruzi cause different human diseases. As strategies for immune evasion. T. brucei undergoes antigenic variation whereas T. cruzi becomes an intracellular organism. This fundamental difference is reflected by major differences in their genome organizations. Recent comparisons of their gene sequences indicate that these two trypanosome species are highly divergent evolutionarily.
Effect of thyroid hormone administration on synthesis and degradation of cytochrome c in rat liver

Abstract Thyrotoxicosis can induce increases in the concentrations of the cytochromes of the inner mitochondrial membrane in rat liver. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the increase in hepatic cytochrome c concentration in thyrotoxic rats is maintained by an increase in the rate of synthesis, a decrease in the rate of degradation, or a combination of the two. The turnover of cytochrome c labeled with δ-amino [14C]levulinate was measured in the livers of thyrotoxic rats that were in steady state with respect to liver cytochrome c concentration, liver weight, and body weight. Cytochrome c concentration was increased 3.4-fold in the livers of the thyrotoxic animals. The t 1 2 of liver cytochrome c was 3.7 days in the thyrotoxic and 5.7 days in euthyroid animals. It was calculated that the 3.4-fold increase in cytochrome c concentration was maintained, in the face of a 63% increase in kd, by a 5.5-fold increase in synthesis rate.
Glucolipotoxicity: Fuel Excess and β-Cell Dysfunction

Glucotoxicity, lipotoxicity, and glucolipotoxicity are secondary phenomena that are proposed to play a role in all forms of type 2 diabetes. The underlying concept is that once the primary pathogenesis of diabetes is established, probably involving both genetic and environmental forces, hyperglycemia and very commonly hyperlipidemia ensue and thereafter exert additional damaging or toxic effects on the β-cell. In addition to their contribution to the deterioration of β-cell function after the onset of the disease, elevations of plasma fatty acid levels that often accompany insulin resistance may, as glucose levels begin to rise outside of the normal range, also play a pathogenic role in the early stages of the disease. Because hyperglycemia is a prerequisite for lipotoxicity to occur, the term glucolipotoxicity, rather than lipotoxicity, is more appropriate to describe deleterious effects of lipids on β-cell function. In vitro and in vivo evidence supporting the concept of glucotoxicity is presented first, as well as a description of the underlying mechanisms with an emphasis on the role of oxidative stress. Second, we discuss the functional manifestations of glucolipotoxicity on insulin secretion, insulin gene expression, and β-cell death, and the role of glucose in the mechanisms of glucolipotoxicity. Finally, we attempt to define the role of these phenomena in the natural history of β-cell compensation, decompensation, and failure during the course of type 2 diabetes.
Service Learning, Social Justice, and Campus Health

Healthy campuses are critical so that students can learn and actively participate in shaping and maintaining a strong educational environment. This Viewpoint describes the commonalities between service learning, social justice, campus health, and the goals of Healthy Campus 2010, which was developed from the larger Healthy People 2010 objectives proposed by the US Department of Health and Human Services. The values, methods, and intended results of service learning are closely related to effective health promotion and disease prevention. Service learning focuses on personal and civic responsibility, thus providing students with opportunities for enhancing individual and community health. Service learning also espouses social justice and provides a vehicle for students to learn about, reflect on, and address health disparities. The author cites research concerning the effect of service learning on students in institutions of higher education and their social justice-related behaviors.
A Renaissance of Cytogenetics: Studies in Polyploidy and Chromosomal Evolution

Systematics and evolutionary biology are being bolstered by a renaissance in cytogenetics and comparative genomics as illustrated by reviewing Peter Raven's integration of cytogenetics and phylogenetics and by presenting updates to his work in three key research areas. The first area is the evolution of chromosomes during the origin of the angiosperms. Raven's analysis of chromosome numbers in the Annonales and other basal angiosperms inspired modern genomic comparisons that have revealed paleopolyploid events, which appear to have occurred early and often during flowering plant diversification. Second, Raven's characterization of chromosome evolution in various genera of Onagraceae is updated in light of a contemporary Onagraceae phylogeny. The possible construction of ancestral karyotypes in the Onagraceae is feasible using techniques that have been successful in analyses of genomic blocks in the Poaceae and Brassicaceae. Third, Raven's work on catastrophic speciation identified the importance of chromosomal rearrangements in the evolution of Clarkia Pursh and the ability of new species to inhabit different environments. Current work in Brassica L. has shown that phenotypic changes contributing to speciation events can arise from relatively few chromosomal rearrangements. A fusion of systematics and cytogenetics is opening new areas of research, with phylogenomics allowing ancestral genome reconstruction, the incorporation of genome-level characters into phylogenetic analyses, and new theories about evolution on a genomic scale.
Gene Families of Cuticular Proteins Analogous to Peritrophins (CPAPs) in Tribolium castaneum Have Diverse Functions

The functional characterization of an entire class of 17 genes from the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, which encode two families of Cuticular Proteins Analogous to Peritrophins (CPAPs) has been carried out. CPAP genes in T. castaneum are expressed exclusively in cuticle-forming tissues and have been classified into two families, CPAP1 and CPAP3, based on whether the proteins contain either one (CPAP1), or three copies (CPAP3) of the chitin-binding domain, ChtBD2, with its six characteristically spaced cysteine residues. Individual members of the TcCPAP1 and TcCPAP3 gene families have distinct developmental patterns of expression. Many of these proteins serve essential and non-redundant functions in maintaining the structural integrity of the cuticle in different parts of the insect anatomy. Three genes of the TcCPAP1 family and five genes of the TcCPAP3 family are essential for insect development, molting, cuticle integrity, proper locomotion or fecundity. RNA interference (RNAi) targeting TcCPAP1-C, TcCPAP1-H, TcCPAP1-J or TcCPAP3-C transcripts resulted in death at the pharate adult stage of development. RNAi for TcCPAP3-A1, TcCPAP3-B, TcCPAP3-D1 or TcCPAP3-D2 genes resulted in different developmental defects, including adult/embryonic mortality, abnormal elytra or hindwings, or an abnormal ‘stiff-jointed’ gait. These results provide experimental support for specialization in the functions of CPAP proteins in T. castaneum and a biological rationale for the conservation of CPAP orthologs in other orders of insects. This is the first comprehensive functional analysis of an entire class of cuticular proteins with one or more ChtBD2 domains in any insect species.
Measures for controllability, observability and fixed modes

Measures are introduced that provide quantitative information about relative controllability and observability of a linear multivariable system. The proposed measures are directly related to frequency-domain characteristics such as zeros and residues, and to time-domain characteristics such as eigenvectors, controllability and observability Gramians and eigenvalue sensitivity. A simple and computationally efficient formula involving a quadratic form in the input (output) matrix and the left (right) eigenvector is presented for the calculation of controllability (observability) measure. For systems with repeated eigenvalues, the measures are shown to be proportional to the distances of transmission zeros of certain subsystems and the eigenvalues. The results are extended to decentralized systems, where a measure for fixed modes is proposed. >
Embedding Leadership Development in Construction Engineering and Management Education

Construction engineering and management professionals work in complex and adaptive environments where teams are formed rapidly within organizations and external partners. Whether they are pursuing new clients, assembling a project team, or executing field operations, construction organizations are seen as facilitators and focal points of communication. In this capacity, they are expected to provide key leadership functions. Leadership involves decision making and judgment and requires a particular set of competencies and traits, such as visioning, communication, honesty, integrity, continuous learning, courage, tolerance for ambiguity, and creativity Walesh 2004 . These competencies and traits are in part known as “soft skills.” We have observed that the current generation of college graduates has deficiencies in the basic traits required for leadership. The particular weaknesses orient around their interpersonal skills. This may be attributable to the increased use of technology, resulting in fewer opportunities to interact with peers and educators, thus limiting the skill development needed in this area. A frequent overreliance on electronic and informal communication mechanisms results in diminished opportunities to develop and receive feedback on their interpersonal skills. In the last 10 years the concept of emotional intelligence has emerged as the science behind leadership and a much more accurate predictor of success than other forms of measure. In his powerful research defining the components of emotional intelligence at work, Gorman 1998 cites the following core traits: selfawareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skill. Increasing awareness of the value of emotional intelligence Goleman et al. 2002 as a key attribute of success and leadership have raised questions about how educational programs that focus strictly on technical skills miss the mark when it comes to developing leadership abilities. In a study performed at the University of Colorado, students in liberal arts programs were found to have steadily increasing emotional quotients throughout their four years of undergraduate education measured with the BarOn Emotional Quotient-Inventory .
Endovascular versus open repair for descending thoracic aortic rupture: institutional experience and meta-analysis

Rupture of thoracic aneurysm, acute type B dissection, blunt thoracic trauma, and penetrating aortic ulcer can present with a similar clinical profile of thoracic aortic rupture. We report a meta-analysis of comparative studies evaluating endoluminal graft versus open repair of these lesions as well as the early experience from our institution. We searched the following databases for reports of endovascular versus open repair of acute descending thoracic aortic rupture: Medline/PubMed, OVID, EMBASE, CINAHL, ClinicalTrials.gov, the Cochrane central register of controlled trials and the Cochrane database of systematic reviews. We used the random-effects model to calculate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for mortality, paraplegia/paraparesis and stroke rates. Also, the medical records of the patients treated in our institution with this technique from 2000 to 2008 were reviewed. Demographics, comorbidities and operative procedure information were retrieved. Outcomes examined were mortality, paraplegia and stroke. Meta-analysis indicates that endoluminal graft repair is accompanied by lower procedure related mortality (OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.26-0.78, p=0.005) and paraplegia rates (OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.08-0.65, p=0.005), as compared to open repair. There was no difference in stroke rate between the two methods (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.26-2.8, p=0.8). We have treated 13 patients with endoluminal stent-grafts. No conversion to open repair was necessary. Stroke rate was 15%, no patient died as a result of the stent-graft placement, one patient died as a result of massive head injury (overall 30-day mortality: 7.5%). There were no spinal cord ischemic complications. Our experience and meta-analysis indicate that thoracic endograft repair has low mortality and spinal cord complication rates for treatment of acute thoracic aortic rupture. If this method proves to be durable, it could replace open repair as the treatment of choice for these critically ill patients.
User-level internet path diagnosis

Diagnosing faults in the Internet is arduous and time-consuming, in part because the network is composed of diverse components spread across many administrative domains. We consider an extreme form of this problem: can end users, with no special privileges, identify and pinpoint faults inside the network that degrade the performance of their applications? To answer this question, we present both an architecture for user-level Internet path diagnosis and a practical tool to diagnose paths in the current Internet. Our architecture requires only a small amount of network support, yet it is nearly as complete as analyzing a packet trace collected at all routers along the path. Our tool, tulip, diagnoses reordering, loss and significant queuing events by leveraging well deployed but little exploited router features that approximate our architecture. Tulip can locate points of reordering and loss to within three hops and queuing to within four hops on most paths that we measured. This granularity is comparable to that of a hypothetical network tomography tool that uses 65 diverse hosts to localize faults on a given path. We conclude by proposing several simple changes to the Internet to further improve its diagnostic capabilities.
Myth and Mystique in Art and Design Education: A review of the confused state of visual art/design education in the Art and Design Departments in the Polytechnics and some of its implications for the schools

Art and Design Departments in Polytechnics are obliged, th r o u gh the R oyal C h arter given to CNAA, to apply practical research, as opposed to the more p ur e research of the Universities (what is the difference?) ; in the Polytechnic ga l lop to Supertech the so - ca l led 'exceptionally able' student is being squeezed right o u t ' of t h e market; the vocational courses are receiving relatively less a n d less money ; sixt h - form Col l eges are emulating art schools in their foundation depar t ments ; inmany cases a secon d ary visual education is unrelated to tertiary visual educati o n";and no - one see m s very conce r ned; and the infrastructure becomes more a reme d ial expression centre t h a n an app li ed cohesive part of the whole . A brief glimpse int o the disorgan i se d system of art/des i gn education reveals an insular structure travel l ing both vertica ll y an d horizo n ta ll y . T h ere i s no genera l ly accepted concept of art as anyone invo l ved (e.g . , the m an - i n - t h e - street, the teacher, the student) could recognise: it exis t s , or non - exists, o n too many l eve l s. It is shrouded in myth and mystique; it is too easi l y inf l ue n ce d by w h im a nd f a n cy; it s infrastructure is filled with contradictions. Ofte n public consumptio n is d ictated by the voices nearest the microphone , they not realising in the pub li city - ridden h i erarchy voices out of ea r shot co ul d be much nearer the truth. Any supernova exponentia l soon di es out in the vastness of traditiona l ised , ritual i sed space - - space occup i ed by non - reference bodies totally out of proportion to their educatio n al worthiness to the ge n e r al pu bli c.
How do cognitive function and knowledge affect heart failure self-care?

Despite extensive patient education, few heart failure (HF) patients master self-care. Impaired cognitive function may explain why patient education is ineffective. A concurrent triangulation mixed...
Differences in tibial rotation during walking in ACL reconstructed and healthy contralateral knees.

Abstract This study tested the hypotheses that in patients with a successful anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, the internal–external rotation, varus–valgus, and knee flexion position of reconstructed knees would be different from uninjured contralateral knees during walking. Twenty-six subjects with unilateral ACL reconstructions (avg 31 years, 1.7 m, 68 kg, 15 female, 24 months past reconstruction) and no other history of serious lower limb injury walked at a self-selected speed in the gait laboratory, with the uninjured contralateral knee as a matched control. Kinematic measurements of tibiofemoral motion were made using a previously-described point-cluster technique. Repeated-measures ANOVA ( α =0.017) was used to compare ACL-reconstructed knees to their contralateral knees at four distinct points during the stance phase of walking. An offset towards external tibial rotation in ACL-reconstructed knees was maintained over all time points (95%CI 2.3±1.3°). Twenty-two out of twenty-six individuals experienced an average external tibial rotation offset throughout stance phase. Varus–valgus rotation and knee flexion were not significantly different between reconstructed and contralateral knees. These findings show that differences in tibial rotation during walking exist in ACL reconstructed knees compared to healthy contralateral knees, providing a potential explanation why these patients are at higher risk of knee osteoarthritis in the long-term.
Assessment Planning for Distance Education Library Services: Strategic Roadmaps for Determining and Reporting Organizational Performance and Value

ABSTRACT Through a review of the literature, the author sought to identify what assessment planning practices exist in libraries, how the assessment planning process works in libraries, and what components constitute a library assessment plan. The findings suggest that, while libraries determine and report a great many aspects of organizational performance, general assessment planning (which encompasses total organizational impact and value) is not frequently used or integrated into the library's comprehensive strategic planning process, and it does not always effectively cover the scope of the assessment activities and information needed by organizational leaders and administrators to develop effective strategic plans and decisions. This lack of integration creates disconnects between the library's ability to determine and report organizational value and the library's need to provide accountability evidence to stakeholders and use the performance measurement results effectively in executing strategic pla...
Lead exposure increases levels of β-amyloid in the brain and CSF and inhibits LRP1 expression in APP transgenic mice

Lead (Pb) is an environmental factor suspected of contributing to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). In AD, it has been postulated that increased production and/or decreased metabolism/clearance of β-amyloid (Aβ) may lead to amyloid plaque deposition as well as a cascade of other neuropathological changes. It has been suggested that Pb exposure may be associated with AD-like pathology and severe memory deficits in humans. Therefore, we investigated whether Pb exposure could induce Aβ accumulation in the brain. In this study, we demonstrated that acute Pb treatments lead to increased levels of Aβ in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and brain tissues. Interestingly, Pb treatments did not affect Aβ production in brain neurons. Furthermore, Pb treatments significantly decreased LRP1 protein expression in the choroid plexus (CP). Our results suggest disrupted LRP1-mediated transport of Aβ in this region may be responsible for the Aβ accumulation in brain.
Chemical sensing thresholds for mine detection dogs

Mine detection dogs have been found to be an effective method to locate buried landmines. The capabilities of the canine olfaction method are from a complex combination of training and inherent capacity of the dog for odor detection. The purpose of this effort was to explore the detection thresholds of a limited group of dogs that were trained specifically for landmine detection. Soils were contaminated with TNT and 2,4-DNT to develop chemical vapor standards to present to the dogs. Soils contained ultra trace levels of TNT and DNT, which produce extremely low vapor levels. Three groups of dogs were presented the headspace vapors from the contaminated soils in work environments for each dog group. One positive sample was placed among several that contained clean soils and, the location and vapor source (strength, type) was frequently changed. The detection thresholds for the dogs were determined from measured and extrapolated dilution of soil chemical residues and, estimated soil vapor values using phase partitioning relationships. The results showed significant variances in dog sensing thresholds, where some dogs could sense the lowest levels and others had trouble with even the highest source. The remarkable ultra-trace levels detectable by the dogs are consistent with the ultra-trace chemical residues derived from buried landmines; however, poor performance may go unnoticed without periodic challenge tests at levels consistent with performance requirements.
Effects of a potato cysteine proteinase inhibitor on midgut proteolytic enzyme activity and growth of the southern corn rootworm, Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae).

The major proteinase activity in extracts of larval midguts from the southern corn rootworm (SCR), Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi, was identified as a cysteine proteinase that prefers substrates containing an arginine residue in the P1 position. Gelatinzymogram analysis of the midgut proteinases indicated that the artificial diet-fed SCR, corn root-fed SCR, and root-fed western corn rootworms (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera) possess a single major proteinase with an apparent molecular mass of 25 kDa and several minor proteinases. Similar proteinase activity pH profiles were exhibited by root-fed and diet-fed rootworms with the optimal activity being slightly acidic. Rootworm larvae reared on corn roots exhibited significantly less caseinolytic activity than those reared on the artificial diet. Midgut proteolytic activity from SCR was most sensitive to inhibition by inhibitors of cysteine proteinases. Furthermore, rootworm proteinase activity was particularly sensitive to inhibition by a commercial protein preparation from potato tubers (PIN-II). One of the proteins, potato cysteine proteinase inhibitor-10, PCPI-10, obtained from PIN-II by ion-exchange chromatography, was the major source of inhibitory activity against rootworm proteinase activity. PCPI-10 and E-64 were of comparable potency as inhibitors of southern corn rootworm proteinase activity (IC 50 =31 and 35 nM, respectively) and substantially more effective than chicken egg white cystatin (IC50 =121 nM). Incorporation of PCPI-10 into the diet of SCR larvae in feeding trials resulted in a significant increase in mortality and growth inhibition. We suggest that expression of inhibitors such as PCPI10 by transgenic corn plants in the field is a potentially attractive method of host plant resistance to these Diabrotica species.  2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
USE OF ULTRAFILTRATION/REVERSE OSMOSIS SYSTEMS FOR THE CONCENTRATION AND FRACTIONATION OF WHEY

SUMMARY– Existing ultrafiltration/reverse osmosis technology provides a means of fractionating and concentrating cheese whey into liquid fractions containing a variety of protein: lactose ratios. These ratios may range from about 1:8 (raw whey) through 3:5 (a “skim milk equivalent”) to 2:1 or higher. If a two- or three-stage ultrafiltration system were used with water injection between stages, a product with a protein:lactose ratio of 20:1 could be obtained. The exact protein:lactose ratio in the concentrate stream is a function of the permeability and selectivity characteristics of the membrane, and the system design and operating conditions. Some of the sanitation problems associated with the introduction of these new unit operations in the dairy and food processing industries are also treated at length.
Reaction of carbon monoxide with ozone and oxygen atoms

The reaction between ozone and carbon monoxide was reinvestigated in the range of 80–160°C. The previously reported rate law −d[O3]/dt = ka[O3][CO] + kb[O3]2 was confirmed and simulated using a mechanism based on an impurity-initiated chain reaction. When the CO was sufficiently purified, kb tended to zero and ka reduced to the value expected for the thermal decomposition of O3. Subsequent reactions of O atoms with CO produced chemiluminescence which was used to measure k3 for as 10−14.0±0.3 exp[−(1630 ± 325)/T] cm3 molecule−1 s−1. The implications of this are discussed.
Characterization of SuperLig® 639 Rhenium and Technetium Resin with Batch Contact and Column Tests

Two new (2013) lots of SuperLig® 639 ion exchange resin (IBC Advanced Technologies, American Forks, UT) were tested for the first time above typical sodium concentrations (7.8 M sodium, along with typical 5 M concentration) in highly alkaline solutions. Batch contact and ion exchange column tests characterized rhenium (perrhenate) adsorption as a surrogate for pertechnetate. The work supports technetium removal options for Supplemental Low Activity Waste processing at the Hanford River Protection Project Waste Treatment Plant (WTP). The current work found that the resin performs well in the 7.8 M sodium simulant despite complete floating of the beads. A notable difference in performance between the two new resin lots was found. Resin loading overall versus temperature, potassium concentration, and rhenium/nitrate ratios is consistent with previous data and expectations despite the high sodium concentration and floating of the resin beads.
Unsupervised disaggregation of low frequency power measurements

Fear of increasing prices and concern about climate change are motivating residential power conservation efforts. We investigate the effectiveness of several unsupervised disaggregation methods on low frequency power measurements collected in real homes. Specifically, we consider variants of the factorial hidden Markov model. Our results indicate that a conditional factorial hidden semi-Markov model, which integrates additional features related to when and how appliances are used in the home and more accurately represents the power use of individual appliances, outperforms the other unsupervised disaggregation methods. Our results show that unsupervised techniques can provide perappliance power usage information in a non-invasive manner, which is ideal for enabling power conservation efforts.
Combined Nsmc And Pseudo-Spectral Finite-Difference Method For Inverting A Buried Object Location

There is a wide-range of different inverse scattering methodologies (single and double dipole models, the standardized excitation approach (SEA), the normalized surface magnetic charge model (NSMC), etc) currently being used or developed for discrimination of UXO from non-UXO items. In order to utilize these approaches, first the buried object’s location and orientation have to be inverted, which usually is done by solving a time consuming, ill-posed inverse-scattering problem. In order to avoid the standard ill poised inversion procedure for location and orientation, here the NSMC is combined with a pseudo-spectral finite different (PSFD) method for inverting for the location of the buried object. In the NSMC model, over the entire magneto-quasi static regime, the scattered magnetic field outside the object is reproduced mathematically by equivalent magnetic charges. The amplitudes of the NMC, which is proportional to the primary field, are determined directly from measurement data. At the end the integrated total NSMC is employed for discriminating objects of interested from nonhazardous items. Note that the model takes into account the scatterer’s heterogeneity as well as nearand far-field effects. In addition, the NSMC that are distributed on a surface conformal to the measurement surface, can be used to extend the EMI magnetic field above the measurement surface and to generate spatially distributed monostatic as well as bi-static data. In this paper, a buried object’s location is determined by first extending the secondary measured magnetic field from xoy surface at z=h height to its parallel surface at z=h+dz/2 height. Then the PSFD method is employed in the curl and divergence free Maxwell’s equations to find the scattered magnetic field everywhere below the measurement xoy surface at z=h height, inside the observation volume. From the distribution of this calculated magnetic field the buried object’s location is estimated. To demonstrate the applicability of the combined NSMC and PSFD algorithm, several numerical tests are presented.
A sulfate conundrum: Dissolved sulfates of deep-saline brines and carbonate-associated sulfates

Abstract Sulfates in deeply circulating brines and carbonate-associated sulfates (CAS) within sedimentary units of the Cambrian strata in the Illinois Basin record a complex history. Dissolved sulfate within the Mt. Simon Sandstone brines exhibits average δ34 S SO 4 values of 35.4‰ and δ18 O SO 4 values of 14.6‰ and appears to be related to Cambrian seawater sulfate, either original seawater or sourced from evaporite deposits such as those in the Michigan Basin. Theoretical and empirical relationships based on stable oxygen isotope fractionation suggest that sulfate within the lower depths of the Mt. Simon brines has experienced a long period of isolation, possibly several tens of millions of years. Comparison with brines from other stratigraphic units shows the Mt. Simon brines are geochemically unique. Dissolved sulfate from brines within the Ironton-Galesville Sandstone averages 22.7‰ for δ34 S SO 4 values and 13.0‰ for δ18 O SO 4 values. The Ironton-Galesville brine has mixed with younger groundwater, possibly of Ordovician to Devonian age and younger. The Eau Claire Formation lies between the Mt. Simon and Ironton-Galesville Sandstones. The carbonate units of the Eau Claire and stratigraphically equivalent Bonneterre Formation contain CAS that appears isotopically related to the Late Pennsylvanian-Early Permian Mississippi Valley-type ore pulses that deposited large sulfide minerals in the Viburnum Trend/Old Lead Belt ore districts. The δ34SCAS values range from 21.3‰ to 9.3‰, and δ18OCAS values range from +1.4‰ to −2.6‰ and show a strong covariance (R2 = 0.94). The largely wholesale replacement of Cambrian seawater sulfate signatures in these dolomites does not appear to have affected the sulfate signatures in the Mt. Simon brines even though these sulfide deposits are found in the stratigraphically equivalent Lamotte Sandstone to the southwest. On the basis of this and previous studies, greater fluid densities of the Mt. Simon brines may have prevented the less dense Mississippi Valley-type fluids from interacting with these deeply circulating brines. Progressive in situ quartz cementation that occurred in the Mt. Simon Sandstone contemporaneous to the ore pulses may also have precluded fluid migration. The Mt. Simon brines appear to be a mixture of evaporated connate Cambrian seawater, recirculating deep-seated crystalline basement brines, and meteoric water.
Study on Households Consumption of Animal Food in Poverty-Stricken Regions——Evidence from Western Rural China

Food security of poor rural households had always been received extensive attention.Based on a field survey among 138 households in three western provinces,the results showed that household food security in poor regions was still a thorny problem.Economic analysis indicated that income,education,labor ratio and household stock-raising had significant impact on food consumption.Policy advices were proposed,including grain assistance,the developing of local food resources,and poverty reduction to enhance food security for poor rural households.
Shoaling of Solitary Waves on Small Slopes

It is proposed that solitary waves can be used as the initial wave shape to simulate the shoaling and breaking of large, long waves on a beach. Experiments were conducted with solitary waves to determine criteria for wave growth, celerity, and breaking height on various beach slopes. Various analytical means of representing shoaling waves are considered. Further considerations are given to the method of characteristics as a means of analyzing shoaling waves, and a qualitative analysis is presented of the effect of vertical acceleration terms on the characteristics solution. A comparison is made between experimental results and the analytical solutions.
Activity patterns, time use, and travel of millennials: a generation in transition?

Millennials, defined in this study as those born between 1979 and 2000, became the largest population segment in the United States in 2015. Compared to recent previous generations, they have been f...
Genetics of morphological trait expression

Introduction McKusick's (1990) massive compendium Mendelian Inheritance in Man catalogs more than 12,000 autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, and X-linked phenotypes, only 41 of which are dental variables. Fully one-third of these are developmental defects of the enamel and dentine, including several varieties of amelogenesis imperfecta. After such defects, seven phenotypes with allegedly simple modes of inheritance are variants of hypodontia (missing teeth). The remaining dental traits run the gamut from fused teeth and dental ankylosis to syndromes involving dental abnormalities. With few exceptions, these dental phenotypes are rare, reported in only one or a few families. For commonly occurring crown and root traits, McKusick notes only six with presumed simple modes of inheritance. Listed as autosomal dominants are Carabelli's anomaly, upper lateral incisor interruption grooves (dens invaginatus), premolar odontomes (dens evaginatus), upper central incisor winging, and shovel-shaped incisors. Taurodontism is listed as an autosomal recessive. Judiciously, McKusick marks none of these entries with an asterisk, his method for signifying phenotypes with well established modes of inheritance. Despite the seeming paucity of simple genetic markers in the dentition, it is almost axiomatic that tooth development in general and dental morphology in particular are under strong hereditary control. Gabriel (1948:7) asserts ‘there can be no doubt of a genetic pattern for tooth morphology extending to even minute detail of root formation.’ Kraus and Furr (1953:554) add ‘It often has been stated in the past, and constantly reiterated at the present time, that the entire dentition, in its gross morphology, is governed strictly by the action of genes.’ From an anthropological vantage, Moorrees (1962:101) notes that ‘The use of the dentition as a criterion of race stems from the recognition that form and size of the teeth, for the most part, are genetically determined.’ In a review of the genetics of dental development, Garn (1977:82) concludes ‘It is true that by all conventional tests, dental development is to a larger extent under genetic control than is known for most other calcified tissues, including even the round bones of the hand and foot.’ Comments to this effect are common in the dental literature, but deducing the nature of this genetic control has not been straightforward for any facet of normal human dental variation, including tooth size, morphology, and number.
Patients' perceptions of why, how, and by whom dialysis treatment modality was chosen

Objective The purpose of this qualitative study was to elicit patients' perceptions of why, how, and by whom their dialysis treatment modality--hemodialysis or continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD)--was chosen. Design The study design utilized a naturalistic method of inquiry employing a qualitative approach. The research was guided by the life-death decisions in health care framework developed by Degner and Beaton and the Neuman Systems Model. Sample/setting Twenty-two informants were recruited from inpatient and outpatient renal dialysis units at a large urban tertiary care center on the east coast of the United States. Methods Data were collected by individual, focused, semi-structured in-depth interviews. Results A grounded theory, "Patient's Choice of a Treatment Modality versus Selection of Patient's Treatment Modality" emerged from the data provided by the informants. The theory consisted of 11 themes that addressed the why, how, and by whom of decision-making: self decision; access-rationing decision; significant other decision; to live decision; physiologically dictated decision; expert decision; to-be-cared-for decision; independence verses dependence decision; no patient choice in making decision; patient preference/choice; and switching modalities due to patient preference/choice. Conclusion The themes reflected two patterns of decision-making: the patient and/or significant other chose the treatment modality, and the treatment modality was selected because of clinical or practical circumstances.
Raman Spectroscopy of Adsorbed Molecules

Raman spectroscopy has become a powerful tool for investigating the structures and reactions of molecules adsorbed on surfaces. As recently as a few years ago, it was generally thought that the Raman technique would not offer sufficient sensitivity to examine adsorption at low coverages on low-surface- area materials; two developments have radically altered that view, however. The important discovery of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and the application of multichannel optical techniques for unenhanced surface Raman spectroscopy have increased the effective sensitivity of the method so that it is now possible to study adsorbates at coverages on the order of 1 % of a monolayer. In SERS, the scattered intensities can be more than a million times larger than expected from gas-phase Raman scattering cross sections and the density of adsorbed molecules. The origin of this enormous effect has stimulated a great deal of research activity over the past few years, and the general features of the mechanisms involved are reasonably well understood. The increased intensity of SERS makes it possible to study adsorption and surface chemical processes at low coverages and even make time-resolved measurments using conventional Raman instrumentation. In addition, the surface selectivity of the technique ensures that the processes under observation originate on or very close to the surface.
An Experimental and Molecular Dynamics Study of Red Fluorescent Protein mCherry in Novel Aqueous Amino Acid Ionic Liquids

The search for biocompatible ionic liquids (ILs) with novel biochemical and biomedical applications has recently gained greater attention. In this report, we characterize the effects of two novel amino acid–based aqueous ILs composed of tetramethylguanidinium (TMG) and amino acids on the structure and stability of a widely used red fluorescent protein (mCherry). Our experimental data shows that while the aspartic acid-based IL (TMGAsp) has effects similar to previously studied conventional ILs (BMIBF4, EMIAc, and TMGAc), the alanine-based IL (TMGAla) has a much stronger destabilization effect on the protein structure. Addition of 0.30 M TMGAla to mCherry decreases the unfolding temperature from 83 to 60 °C. Even at 25 °C, TMGAla results in a blue shift of the mCherry absorbance and fluorescence peaks and an increased Stokes shift. Molecular dynamics simulations show that the chromophore conformation and its interaction with mCherry with TMGAla are changed relative to those with TMGAsp or in the absence of...
Doing More About Health Care Disparities: Moving Past Description to Action

In this issue of Pediatrics , Goyal et al1 report race- and ethnicity-based differences in the receipt of antibiotics for acute respiratory viral illnesses over a 1-year period from sites participating in the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network. In their report, Goyal et al1 demonstrate that, regardless of race, non-Hispanic white children were given or prescribed antibiotics at a higher rate than non-Hispanic black patients or Hispanic children. Unfortunately, the findings in this study do not come as a surprise. Not only have researchers in other studies found differences in prescribing antibiotics in various pediatric practice settings but differences in all aspects of care, such as use of diagnostic testing, pain management, and even hospitalization rates.2–5 One of the challenges in assessing racial and ethnic disparities is in understanding the degree to which they are attributable to confounding factors such as socioeconomic status and access to care. In their study, Goyal et al1 control for insurance status but no other measures of socioeconomic status. Nonetheless the overall weight of scientific evidence supports that significant disparities exist on the basis of race and ethnicity. There was a time when results like this would have shocked us. That time is gone. We must recognize that we are biased in our treatment of patients. This does not mean we accept this fact. We should strive to provide care in our clinics and emergency departments that is of high … Address correspondence to Marvin B. Harper, MD, Division of Emergency Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115. E-mail: marvin.harper{at}childrens.harvard.edu