cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Of Nesting Dolls and Trojan Horses: A Survey of Legal and Policy Issues Attendant to Vehicle-to-Grid Battery Electric Vehicles

Beginning in the late twentieth century, the U.S. auto industry briefly attempted to turn the clock back to the early days of automobile manufacturing by offering (on a very small scale) light duty vehicles powered solely by electricity. The story of how that fad evaporated has been told in print and on celluloid and warrants no retelling here. However, like a phoenix from its ashes, the idea of a domestic fleet of light duty vehicles with electric motors and drive trains instead of internal combustion engines has been reborn, with gusto. Growing concerns about the effects of climate change, legislative decrees to increase the total percentage of renewable energy resources in the domestic fuel portfolio, fears about the volatility of oil prices and the nations that own the resource, and hopes for a “green” economy based on technological innovation and American grit, all have contributed to this resurgence. Moreover, improvements in battery technology coupled with a growing demand for greater fuel efficiency have created the current moment whereby several global auto makers (Chevrolet, Nissan, Tesla, Ford, Fisker, and Toyota) plan to roll out plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) in the immediate future.1 Concomitant to the movement toward electric vehicles, smart grid technology2 has developed and is being implemented via several pilot pro-
Yeast inorganic pyrophosphatase. II. Kinetics of Mg 2+ activation.

The kinetics of the Mg2+ activation of crystalline yeast inorganic pyrophosphatase have been thoroughly investigated from pH 7.40 to pH 9.05 using a sensitive isotope assay in order to determine the role of the divalent metal ion activator in the reaction. A computer program has been devised for calculating the concentration of each of the various components of the complex equilibrium involving Mg2+ and inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi). The reaction rate was measured over a wide range of Mg2+ and PPi concentrations, and the concentration dependence of the measured rate was kinetically analyzed by a computerized algorithm for nonlinear regression. The computer analysis included the testing of several plausible kinetic models for goodness of fit to the data, and determination of best values of kinetic parameters for the various models. The simplest kinetic model which provides a good fit to all of the data involves binding of free Mg2+ by the enzyme followed by binding of PPi ligands. Both MgPPi and Mg2PPi are substrates; at pH 7.40 the latter is hydrolyzed 22% as rapidly as the former. Free PPi is bound but is not hydrolyzed at a significant rate. On the basis of these kinetic studies we propose two roles for the metal ion in this reaction: activation of the enzyme to a form which binds substrate, and formation of substrate by complexing with PPi. These roles are entirely consistent with our previously reported equilibrium binding studies of this enzyme.
In vivo molecular mapping of the tumor microenvironment in an azoxymethane-treated mouse model of colon carcinogenesis.

Background and Objective Development of miniaturized imaging systems with molecular probes enables examination of molecular changes leading to initiation and progression of colorectal cancer in an azoxymethane (AOM)-induced mouse model of the disease. Through improved and novel studies of animal disease models, more effective diagnostic and treatment strategies may be developed for clinical translation. We introduce use of a miniaturized multimodal endoscope with lavage-delivered fluorescent probes to examine dynamic microenvironment changes in an AOM-treated mouse model. Study Design/Materials and Methods The endoscope is equipped with optical coherence tomography (OCT) and laser induced fluorescence (LIF) imaging modalities. It is used with Cy5.5-conjugated antibodies to create time-resolved molecular maps of colon carcinogenesis. We monitored in vivo changes in molecular expression over a five month period for four biomarkers: epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR), transferrin receptor (TfR), transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFβ1), and chemokine (C-X-C motif) receptor 2 (CXCR2). In vivo OCT and LIF images were compared over multiple time points to correlate increases in biomarker expression with adenoma development. Results This system is uniquely capable of tracking in vivo changes in molecular expression over time. Increased expression of the biomarker panel corresponded to sites of disease and offered predictive utility in highlighting sites of disease prior to detectable structural changes. Biomarker expression also tended to increase with higher tumor burden and growth rate in the colon. Conclusion We can use miniaturized dual modality endoscopes with fluorescent probes to study the tumor microenvironment in developmental animal models of cancer and supplement findings from biopsy and tissue harvesting. Lasers Surg. Med. 47:40–49, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Building Digital Libraries Made Easy: Toward Open Digital Libraries

Digital libraries (DLs) promote a sharing culture among those who contribute and those who use resources. This same approach works when building Open Digital Libraries (ODLs). Leveraging the intellectual and practical investment made in the Open Archives Initiative through an eXtended Protocol for Metadata Harvesting (XPMH), one can build lightweight protocols to tie together key components that together make up the core of a DL. DL developers in various settings have learned how to apply this framework in a few hours. The ODL approach has been effective with the Computer Science Teaching Center (www.cstc.org), the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (www.ndltd.org), and AmericanSouth.org. Hence, to support our Computing and Information Technology Interactive Digital Educational Library (www.citidel.org) and to provide a generic capability for other parts of the US National Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education Digital Library (www.nsdl.org), we are developing a "DL-in-a-box" toolkit. When lightweight protocols, pools of components, and open standard reference models are combined carefully, as suggested in the OCKHAM discussions, both the DL user and developer communities can benefit from the principle of sharing.
A chromosomal Agrobacterium tumefaciens gene required for effective plant signal transduction.

Abstract The vir gene products of Agrobacterium tumefaciens carry out the transfer of T-DNA to the plant genome. Effective transcriptional induction of the vir genes by plant signal molecules is controlled by two vir gene products, VirA and VirG. In this study we have identified and cloned a chromosomal region which is also required for vir gene induction. Transposon insertions within this region reduce induction significantly and strongly attenuate virulence, resulting in a restricted host range for infection. The reduction in vir gene transcription can be partially overcome by high concentrations of the inducer molecule acetosyringone. Expression of virG at low pH and low phosphate concentrations, which is independent of plant signals, is not affected by these mutations. Sequence analysis of the region revealed two divergent open reading frames, which we have designated chvE and ORF1. Several transposon insertions mapped in chvE; this resulted in attenuated virulence. chvE codes for a putative protein which is homologous to two periplasmic receptor proteins involved in chemotaxis and uptake of sugars. Whether ORF1 is required for virulence is uncertain. One transposon insertion resulting in avirulence maps in or near the 5' end of ORF1, and several which do not affect virulence map in its 3' end. ORF1 codes for a putative protein which is homologous to a family of transcriptional activator proteins.
Meta-Analysis of the Prognostic Impact of Stroke Volume, Gradient, and Ejection Fraction After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation

The prognostic implications of several baseline preprocedural variables in patients with severe native valve aortic stenosis (AS) undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) are unclear. The goal of this study was to determine the impact of reduced stroke volume index (SVI), low gradient (LG), and reduced ejection fraction (EF) on all-cause mortality. We searched MEDLINE, CENTRAL, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Scopus through October 13, 2014. We evaluated the association between low SVI ( 2 ), LG ( I 2 = 32%; and for EF I 2 = 17%). LG was associated with increased mortality after TAVI compared to high mean gradient (≥40 mm Hg; HR 1.60, 95% CI 1.30 to 1.97, I 2 = 36%). Low SVI was associated with increased mortality after TAVI compared to normal SVI (HR 1.59, 95% CI 1.23 to 2.05, I 2 = 27%). In conclusion, low SVI, LG, and low EF are each associated with higher mortality after TAVI. These findings highlight the importance of including these variables into TAVI risk algorithms and will better inform shared decision-making before TAVI.
Learning to throw to maximum distances: Do changes in release angle and speed reflect affordances for throwing?

Abstract Bingham, Schmidt, and Rosenblum (Bingham, G. P., Schmidt, R. C., & Rosenblum, L. D. (1989). Hefting for a maximum distance throw: A smart perceptual mechanism. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 15, 507–528) found that skilled throwers could heft objects and select the weight in each size that they could throw to a maximum distance. Bingham et al. hypothesized that this affordance affects hefting and throwing in the same way so that hefting provides a window on throwing. Zhu and Bingham (Zhu, Q., & Bingham, G. P. (submitted for publication). Learning to perceive the affordance for long distance throwing: Smart mechanism or function learning? Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance) found that unskilled throwers could not perceive this affordance, but they acquired the ability to perceive it as they acquired skill at throwing. The affordance property consists of a relation between object size and weight. We now investigated whether object size and weight come to affect throwing as it is learned and if so, how? Three groups of unskilled adults practiced throwing for a month, each with a different set of objects: constant size, constant weight, or constant density. Release angle and speed became more consistent as distances of throws improved, but only speeds exhibited mean changes. Object weight affected mean release speeds, following a power law, as found by Cross (Cross, R. (2004). Physics of overarm throwing. American Journal of Physics, 72, 305–312). Speeds decreased as weight increased. These findings showed that the affordance was not reflected directly in throwing performance and the hypothesis of Bingham et al. (1989) about how the affordance is perceived was not supported. An alternative account is now proposed.
The Directed Orienteering Problem

This paper studies vehicle routing problems on asymmetric metrics. Our starting point is the directed k-TSP problem: given an asymmetric metric (V,d), a root r∈V and a target k≤|V|, compute the minimum length tour that contains r and at least k other vertices. We present a polynomial time $O(\frac{\log^{2} n}{\log\log n}\cdot\log k)$ -approximation algorithm for this problem. We use this algorithm for directed k-TSP to obtain an $O(\frac{\log^{2} n}{\log\log n})$ -approximation algorithm for the directed orienteering problem. This answers positively, the question of poly-logarithmic approximability of directed orienteering, an open problem from Blum et al. (SIAM J. Comput. 37(2):653–670, 2007). The previously best known results were quasi-polynomial time algorithms with approximation guarantees of O(log 2 k) for directed k-TSP, and O(log n) for directed orienteering (Chekuri and Pal in IEEE Symposium on Foundations in Computer Science, pp. 245–253, 2005). Using the algorithm for directed orienteering within the framework of Blum et al. (SIAM J. Comput. 37(2):653–670, 2007) and Bansal et al. (ACM Symposium on Theory of Computing, pp. 166–174, 2004), we also obtain poly-logarithmic approximation algorithms for the directed versions of discounted-reward TSP and vehicle routing problem with time-windows.
Scalable and Parallel Boosting with MapReduce

In this era of data abundance, it has become critical to process large volumes of data at much faster rates than ever before. Boosting is a powerful predictive model that has been successfully used in many real-world applications. However, due to the inherent sequential nature, achieving scalability for boosting is nontrivial and demands the development of new parallelized versions which will allow them to efficiently handle large-scale data. In this paper, we propose two parallel boosting algorithms, AdaBoost.PL and LogitBoost.PL, which facilitate simultaneous participation of multiple computing nodes to construct a boosted ensemble classifier. The proposed algorithms are competitive to the corresponding serial versions in terms of the generalization performance. We achieve a significant speedup since our approach does not require individual computing nodes to communicate with each other for sharing their data. In addition, the proposed approach also allows for preserving privacy of computations in distributed environments. We used MapReduce framework to implement our algorithms and demonstrated the performance in terms of classification accuracy, speedup and scaleup using a wide variety of synthetic and real-world data sets.
Modulation of phosphoenolpyruvate synthase expression increases shikimate pathway product yields in E. coli

Product yields in microbial synthesis are ultimately limited by the mechanism utilized for glucose transport. Altered expression of phosphoenolpyruvate synthase was examined as a method for circumventing these limits. Escherichia coli KL3/pJY1.216A was cultured under fed-batch fermentor conditions where glucose was the only source of carbon for the formation of microbial biomass and the synthesis of product 3-dehydroshikimic acid. Shikimate pathway byproducts 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonic acid, 3-dehydroquinic acid, and gallic acid were also generated. An optimal expression level of phosphoenolpyruvate synthase was identified, which did not correspond to the highest expression levels of this enzyme, where the total yield of 3-dehydroshikimic acid and shikimate pathway byproducts synthesized from glucose was 51% (mol/mol). For comparison, the theoretical maximum yield is 43% (mol/mol) for synthesis of 3-dehydroshikimic acid and shikimate pathway byproducts from glucose in lieu of amplified expression of phosphoenolpyruvate synthase.
Purification, stabilization, and characterization of rat hepatic triglyceride lipase.

Abstract Hepatic triglyceride lipase (H-TGL) was purified to near homogeneity from heparin-containing rat liver perfusates with the following column chromatography steps: heparin-Sepharose affinity chromatography, anion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel, and gel filtration on Ultrogel AcA 34. A final specific activity of 45,000 μmol fatty acid/mg/h was obtained with an overall 31% recovery of catalytic activity. The heparin-Sepharose step resulted in a 20-fold purification, while the DEAE and gel filtration steps led to further purification with complete recovery of activity. An extensive survey of various detergents as potential stabilizers of H-TGL activity led to the selection of Triton N-101 for use in the column buffers of the DEAE and gel filtration steps. Relative to initial H-TGL activity upon dilution in buffer without detergent, recoveries between 90 and 100% were consistently obtained with Triton N-101-containing buffers following a 24-h incubation at 20°C. In contrast after a 24-h incubation at 20°C those control samples lacking detergent were at least 95% inactivated. The highly purified H-TGL exhibited a single major band by sodium dodecyl sulfate-electrophoresis. The use of DEAE chromatography and stabilization of H-TGL with Triton N-101 are the improvements in purification that resulted in an 8-fold enhancement in specific activity relative to the highest previous report of purification from rat liver perfusates.
Voting in Senate Elections: A Review and Future Research Agenda

This article focuses on the neglected side of congressional elections–voting in Senate contests. We summarize and discuss the extant literature on voting in Senate elections, comparing it to the much more well developed research on House contests. We then suggest a future research agenda for studies of Senate elections–an agenda that can take advantage of the 1988-1992 NES Senate Election Study.
System of systems engineering: an emerging multidiscipline

In this paper, we present System of Systems Engineering (SOSE) as a developing multidiscipline, spanning across and drawing from a variety of disciplines to address complex situations; situations are characterised by ambiguity, high uncertainty and emergence. This paper is organised to: (1) provide an assessment of the current state of SOSE field development, (2) suggest the nature of complex issues for which traditional approaches are falling short to include the corresponding challenges facing SOSE development, (3) describe two perspectives of the SOSE response to complex situations and (4) establish an emerging paradigm for SOSE as a multidiscipline based on current research. This paper concludes with the implications for further development of research and practice for SOSE.
Pulmonary segmentectomy: results and complications.

Abstract Background Segmentectomy is an anatomic pulmonary parenchymal-sparing resection performed for certain benign lesions and on selected patients with lung cancer. We reviewed our experience with segmentectomy in this highly select group of patients. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the records of 61 patients (5% of all anatomic resections) undergoing 62 segmentectomies from 1991 to 2001. Wedge resections were excluded. The operative indications were suspected or known lung cancer (43), benign disease (12), and metastatic cancer to the lung (7). Median follow-up for patients with malignancy was 28 months (range 1 to 89 months). Actuarial survival was calculated using the Kaplan–Meier method. Results Segmentectomy was performed in 43 lung cancer patients with pathologic stages of Ia-22, Ib-14, IIa-2, IIb-1, IIIa/IIIb-2, and IV-2. All resection margins were negative for malignancy. Segmentectomy for benign diseases included granulomatous disease (5), pulmonary abscess (2), plasmacytoma (1), and others (4). Complications occurred in 39% (24/62) of patients, including atelectasis requiring bronchoscopy (10/62, 16%), pneumonia (9/62, 14%), air leak more than 7 days (5/62, 8%), and supraventricular dysrhythmias (6/62, 10%). In-hospital mortality was 3% (2 patients). Median length of hospital stay was 6 days (range 4 to 66 days). In the lung cancer patients the locoregional recurrence rate was 0% and the distant recurrence rate was 20%. The 4-year actuarial survival for patients with lung cancer was 72%. Conclusions Pulmonary segmentectomy has acceptable morbidity and mortality in selected patients with both benign and malignant lung disease and remains a useful procedure in a thoracic surgeon's armamentarium. Distant, not locoregional recurrence, was responsible for the cancer deaths.
The Lee Obesity Index vindicated

Correlations are reported for rats between the Lee Obesity Index and percent body fat. At weaning, rats were divided into 4 groups; supermarket diet and ovariectomy, supermarket diet and sham surgery. Lab Chow pellets and ovariectomy, and Lab Chow pellets and sham surgery. Four other groups received the treatments as adults. Eighteen and fifteen weeks later, respectively, the rats were measured for Obesity Index and were sacrificed for carcass analysis. The Obesity Index correlated well with percent body fat for animals made obese by diet; but it was not generally reliable for ovariectomized rats or for pellet fed sham operated controls. The Percent body fat also correlated well with body weight and with a simple weight/length ratio for rats made obese by diet. Thus, while the Obesity Index can reliably predict percent body fat, it may be no better at doing this than are some simpler measures.
A comparison of α-linolenic acid (18:30ω3) and γ-linolenic acid (18:3ω6) in phosphatidylcholine bilayers

Abstract α-Linolenic acid (18:3Δ9,12,15), an omega-3, and γ-linolenic acid (18:3Δ6,9,12), on omega-6, are two 18 carbon fatty acids which vary only by the position of their unsaturations. Here we compare these two isomeric fatty acids to understand better what effect location of the double bond has on fluidity, fusion and permeability in phosphatidylcholine (PC) bilayers. Any difference measured between the two fatty acids may be attributed primarily to the position of the unsaturation. The fatty acids were investigated as both free acids added to PC bilayers and mixed chain 18:0,α-18:3 and 18:0,γ-18:3 phosphatidylcholines. Fluorescence polarization of a series of anthracene stearic acid probes and 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene indicates that 20 mol% incorporation of the fatty acids in dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine bilayers broadened and depressed the onset temperature of the gel to liquid crystalline phase transition. In the liquid crystalline state, polarization (P) values for membranes containing the two fatty acids were essentially the same. Similar results were obtained in the liquid crystalline state of the mixed chain PCs using the same set of fluorescent probes. In contrast to the fluidity measurements where little difference was detected between the fatty acids, α-linolenic acid produced greater enhancement of fusion and permeability properties, relative to γ-linoleic acid. This was demonstrated by resonance energy transfer (fusion) and osmotic swelling in isotonic erythritol (permeability). It is concluded that these two fatty acids affect the fusogenic and permeability properties of PC bilayers differently, while exhibiting little difference in their influence on bilayer fluidity. From these experiments a distinction can be made between the effects of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids on membranes.
Optical model of the blood in large retinal vessels.

Several optical techniques that investigate blood contained within the retinal vessels are available or under development. We present a mechanical model that simulates the optical properties of the eye, the retinal vessels, and the ocular fundus. A micropipette is chosen as the retinal vessel model, and a mechanical housing is con- structed to simulate the eyeball. Spectralon is used to simulate the retinal layers. Filling the eye with fluid index matched to the glass pipette eliminates reflection and refraction effects from the pipette. An apparatus is constructed and used to set the oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide concentrations in whole human blood. These whole blood samples are pumped through the pipette at 34 mL/min. Mea- surements made in the model eye closely resemble measurements made in the human eye. This apparatus is useful for developing the science and testing the systems that optically investigate blood and blood flow in the large retinal vessels. © 2000 Society of Photo-Optical Instru- mentation Engineers. (S1083-3668(00)00404-4)
Nitrogen adsorption studies of coated and chemically modified chromatographic silica gels

A series of physically coated and/or chemically bonded silica gel samples was characterized by means of nitrogen adsorption at 77 K in a relative pressure range from 10-6 to 0.99. The LiChrospher S...
Standard deviation analysis of the mastoid fossa temperature differential reading: a potential model for objective chiropractic assessment.

Objective This study describes a model for statistically analyzing follow-up numeric-based chiropractic spinal assessments for an individual patient based on his or her own baseline.
Involving Salient Stakeholders Beyond the Technocratic View on Change

Business process change involving information technology has become notorious for high failure rates. Apparently, the larger the project scope and size, the higher the failure rate. Also, as a major factor among others associated with failure, past research has identified an overemphasis on technical validity and functionality at the expense of the social and institutional process side in change projects. Yet, even if important factors had been correctly and completely identified, the social process, within which they interact, might have remained obscured. Furthermore, long-term, large-scale change projects, particularly when they encompass IT components as major building blocks, defy the conventional start-to-closeout, detailed project planning. Rather, they unfold in a stepwise fashion with alternative paths towards a coarse goal, particularly in environments with distributed powers, as in the public sector. For this process and this environment, the author proposes that participatory action research (...
Genetic Diversity of the M RNA Segment among Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus Isolates in China

The complete nucleotide sequences of the medium (M) segment of seven Chinese isolates of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus were determined. The M-segment RNA of CCHF virus comprises 5356-5377 nucleotides depending on the isolate and encodes a protein comprising 1689-1697 amino acids in a viral complementary sense. Phylogenetic analysis of the M segment showed that the Chinese CCHF virus isolates were clustered into three groups, one of which was more closely related to a Nigerian isolate. Pairwise comparison of a precursor protein showed that amino-terminal regions comprising 250 amino acids were extraordinary heterogeneous, with a 22.4% identity in amino acids being observed between the most distantly related isolates. Since all the viruses were isolated from 1966 to 1988 within a restricted area in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region in western China, the results indicate that a multisource virus population is endemic in this region.
Purification of bovine retinal pigment epithelial cells by dissociation in calcium free buffers and centrifugation in Ficoll density gradients followed by "recovery" in tissue culture.

Abstract Bovine retinal pigment epithelial cells were dissociated from the basement membrane in calcium free buffer. The cells were then purified by centrifugation in discontinuous Ficoll density gradients. Purity was monitored by direct counting of the various components by phase contrast microscopy. Purified retinal pigment epithelial cells were then kept (for at least 18 hr) in tissue culture medium at 37°C to allow the cells to “recover”. The cells so obtained showed better than 90% viability by the dye exclusion assay after 48 hr incubation. Overall recovery of purified pigment epithelial cells was over 50% with a relative purification of about 10 to over 200 for various cellular and subcellular contaminants.
The Internet in industrial channels: its use in (and effects on) exchange relationships

The effects of the Internet on the long‐term viability of buyer/seller exchange relationships is examined within the US plastics industry. The author poses two possible scenarios: the Internet causes firms to be “drawn apart” due to the decrease of switching costs of changing suppliers; or firms become “closer” due to the communication efficiencies gained from the technology. A series of regression models lends support to the latter hypothesis. Along with this analysis, comparisons are made between Internet users and non‐users with regard to company size and position in the firm. Findings also show that Internet users tend to communicate with suppliers and customers more frequently using traditional modes than non‐users.
SU-E-T-383: Using a Force Gauge to Detect the Treatable Length of a HDR Catheter

Purpose: Complex interstitial implant using flexible catheters often introduces tight curvatures or kinks in the catheters. The purpose of this study is to utilize a force gauge to determine potential blockage in HDR catheters, thus helping to create optimal deliverable treatment plans and to avoid potential treatment emergencies. Method and Materials: A VariSource iX HDR machine was used in this study. A compact digital force gauge from Wagner Instruments (Greenwich, CT) was used to measure the friction encountered in the catheters. A stainless steel telescoping‐type tube, about 5 cm long when retracted, was used to guide the check wire while it is being pushed into the catheter. A flexible catheter wrapped around a cylinder was used to find out the maximum push force of the VariSource HDR machine. The farthest position that the HDR machine's check cable advanced before reporting a blockage was marked, and the force gauge was then used to push a check wire to the same position and the gauge's reading was recorded. Results: The maximum push force of the VariSource HDR machine as measured using the catheter‐around‐cylinder method was found to be about 1.4 lb. For a patient implant, once the problematic catheter(s) were identified during CT simulation, a treatment plan was developed using only unblocked catheters and reachable dwell positions. Conclusions: By using a force gauge to identify potential blockage in catheters a prior, optimal HDR treatment plan is developed using only unblocked catheters and treatable dwell positions. This avoids the need for modifying the plan at the time of treatment and reduces potential treatment emergencies.
Scenarios for Bridging up the Productivity Gaps along the Romanian Vegetable Supply Chain

In recent years, the productivity of agri-food sector has become again a subject of interest due global challenges caused by increasing food demand in new emerging countries, non-food uses of agricultural production for biofuels, and the impact of technology and innovation on productivity in agriculture, including the fast development of large retail chains, which can lead to growth and poverty alleviation in both rural and urban areas. Interest in this topic is marked mainly by higher volatily prices and production of vegetables and the current incapacity of the Romanian vegetable producers to fully cover the domestic demand. The aim of this paper is the analysis of productivity in primary production and processing sector level, using as methodology specific indicators andÂ scenarios to bridge up production gaps so that the demand is fully covered by the domestic production. The results show that in case of a realistic scenario, taking into account the growth rates of the area cultivated with vegetables under greenhouses and plastic tunnels by over 50 % in the last five years, this goal is possible. However, the scenario might become achievable only in the case that the organization level increases significantly from about 1% at present to about 30%, the average organization level in the European Uninon.
Intimate partner violence in Latina and non-Latina women

Background No single study has delineated the prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) over multiple time periods for Latina versus non-Latina women and compared the health of abused Latina women to the health of abused non-Latina women using multiple health indicators. The objective of this study was to describe the prevalence of IPV over multiple time periods and the association between lifetime IPV exposure and current health in Latina and non-Latina women. Methods A total of 3429 women (mean age=47 years) were randomly sampled from a large U.S. healthcare system; 139 (4%) were Latina. During a telephone survey, past-5-year and past-year IPV prevalence was assessed using five questions on physical and psychological abuse from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), and ten questions from the Women's Experience with Battering Scale; lifetime IPV prevalence was assessed using the BRFSS questions. Current physical, social, and mental health was assessed using well-validated questionnaires. Results Prevalence of IPV for Latina versus non-Latina women was, respectively: 44.6% vs 44% lifetime; 20.1% vs 14.5% for the past 5 years; and 11.5% vs 7.8% for the past year. In models adjusted for age and income, women with a lifetime IPV history had significantly worse health compared to non-abused women across many health indicators; for example, Latina women with a lifetime IPV history had Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36) subscale scores that were 5.62 (mental health) to 7.77 (vitality) points lower than those for non-abused Latina women; depression prevalence more than two times higher; and more physical symptoms. Adverse IPV-related health was significantly worse for Latina than non-Latina women for overall mental health functioning ( p p p Conclusions This exploratory study showed that IPV is common in Latina and non-Latina women, and adverse IPV-related mental health was pronounced in Latina women.
Enhancing the Anion-Transport Selectivity of Multilayer Polyelectrolyte Membranes by Templating with Cu2+

Alternating deposition of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes on porous supports is an attractive way to synthesize selective, ultrathin ion-separation membranes. This study reports the use of Cu2+ as a template in poly(acrylic acid) (PAA)/poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) membranes to control fixed charge density and hence enhance anion-transport selectivity. Alternating deposition of PAA partially complexed with Cu2+ and PAH on porous alumina supports followed by removal of Cu2+ and deprotonation results in fixed −COO- sites in these films. Cu2+-templated PAA/PAH membranes show a 4-fold increase in Cl-/SO42- transport selectivity compared to pure PAA/PAH membranes deposited under similar conditions. Cross-linking of these templated membranes further increases Cl-/SO42- selectivity by an order of magnitude to a value of 610. Changing the top layer of cross-linked, Cu2+-templated membranes from negatively charged PAA to positively charged PAH decreases Cl-/SO42- selectivity 10-fold, indicating that Don...
Neuroestrogen, rapid action of estradiol, and GnRH neurons ☆

Estradiol plays a pivotal role in the control of GnRH neuronal function, hence female reproduction. A series of recent studies in our laboratory indicate that rapid excitatory actions of estradiol directly modify GnRH neuronal activity in primate GnRH neurons through GPR30 and STX-sensitive receptors. Similar rapid direct actions of estradiol through estrogen receptor beta are also described in mouse GnRH neurons. In this review, we propose two novel hypotheses as a possible physiological role of estradiol in primates. First, while ovarian estradiol initiates the preovulatory GnRH surge through interneurons expressing estrogen receptor alpha, rapid direct membrane-initiated action of estradiol may play a role in sustaining GnRH surge release for many hours. Second, locally produced neuroestrogens may contribute to pulsatile GnRH release. Either way, estradiol synthesized in interneurons in the hypothalamus may play a significant role in the control of the GnRH surge and/or pulsatility of GnRH release.
The alignment of interstellar grains

The magnetic-field alignment of interstellar silicate grains containing superparamagnetic (SPM) inclusions is investigated theoretically. It is shown that the observed dependence of polarization on wavelength can be fully explained in terms of the alignment mechanisms and the size distribution of the SPM grains, at least for interstellar polarizations peaking at wavelength 550 nm or higher. The implications of this finding for models of grain coagulation and shattering are considered.
Cultivating donors with effective programming

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide suggestions for developing events to engage donors and prospective donors.Design/methodology/approach – The paper discusses and gives examples of programming to inspire support over time.Findings – This paper proposes that for some segments of a library's stakeholder base, social gatherings can be effective means to cultivate relationships and build interest in philanthropic support.Originality/value – The value of this paper is in its suggestions for promoting the library's needs and opportunities through events.
STUDIES ON THE FORMATION OF COLLAGEN II. THE INFLUENCE OF GROWTH RATE ON NEUTRAL SALT EXTRACTS OF GUINEA PIG DERMIS

The total amount of neutral salt-extractible collagen in the skin of growing, suckling guinea pigs amounted to about 10 per cent of the total collagen of the dennis. This is roughly equivalent to a 1 to 2 day increment in dermal collagen incident to growth. Fourteen days of static weight maintained by limited caloric intake reduced the neutral salt-extractible collagen to very low levels. Following this period, 5 to 7 days of steady weight gain induced by ad lib. feeding was required to produce significant increases in this collagen fraction. Return to control levels occurred within 12 days of continuous growth. The amount of collagen extracted from the dermis of young guinea pigs with cold neutral salt solutions varied directly with growth rate (weight gain) and was greatly diminished after short periods of restricted caloric intake. Two days of fasting diminished the total extracted collagen by one-half. Three consecutive extractions with citrate buffer pH, 3.5, of the residues remaining after exhaustive saline extraction removed 40 per cent more collagen from the skins of actively growing animals than from those of animals fasted for 2 days. However, subsequent extraction of residues with dilute acetic acid equalized the total amount of collagen extracted at acid pH from the two groups. The viscosity of cold neutral extracts was unrelated to the concentrations of non-collagenous proteins and carbohydrates but varied directly with the collagen content.
Economics, Environmental Impacts, and Supply Chain Analysis of Cellulosic Biomass for Biofuels in the Southern US: Pine, Eucalyptus, Unmanaged Hardwoods, Forest Residues, Switchgrass, and Sweet Sorghum

The production of six regionally important cellulosic biomass feedstocks, including pine, eucalyptus, unmanaged hardwoods, forest residues, switchgrass, and sweet sorghum, was analyzed using consistent life cycle methodologies and system boundaries to identify feedstocks with the lowest cost and environmental impacts. Supply chain analysis was performed for each feedstock, calculating costs and supply requirements for the production of 453,592 dry tonnes of biomass per year. Cradle-to-gate environmental impacts from these modeled supply systems were quantified for nine mid-point indicators using SimaPro 7.2 LCA software. Conversion of grassland to managed forest for bioenergy resulted in large reductions in GHG emissions due to carbon uptake associated with direct land use change. By contrast, converting forests to cropland resulted in large increases in GHG emissions. Production of forest-based feedstocks for biofuels resulted in lower delivered cost, lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and lower overall environmental impacts than the agricultural feedstocks studied. Forest residues had the lowest environmental impact and delivered cost per dry tonne. Using forest-based biomass feedstocks instead of agricultural feedstocks would result in lower cradle-to-gate environmental impacts and delivered biomass costs for biofuel production in the southern U.S.
SCALING AND UNIVERSALITY IN POLYMER REACTION KINETICS

This review highlights recent developments in the theory of reacting polymer solutions and melts, where reactive groups are attached to macromolecules. Reaction kinetics of this type govern the evolution of many polymerizations and have been extensively measured using photophysical techniques. Three related theoretical approaches are described and illustrated with examples: (1) simple scaling arguments, (2) renormalization group methods and (3) the self-consistent method of Wilemski and Fixman. AM three approaches predict that two distinct universality classes of reaction kinetics exist, with different scaling laws for rate constants k: mean field (MF) and diffusion-controlled (DC). Increasing chain length or time drives kinetics to one behavior or the other, depending only on the regime of polymer concentration ϕ. Dilute solutions (good solvents) obey MF kinetics because a pair of reactive groups in close proximity is unlikely to react; the mean number of collisions is very small. This is universally true, independently of the group chemistry. In melts, by contrast, reaction is very likely because many collisions occur and thus kinetics are intrinsically DC. In semi-dilute solutions, as ϕ increases from dilute towards the melt a transition occurs, from MF to DC kinetics. At the transition point k is peaked. A range of experimental studies are discussed and their findings compared with theory.
Locks with constrained sharing (extended abstract)

In this paper, we propose a new mode for locks that permits sharing in a constrained manner. We develop a family of locking protocols, the strictest of which is the two phase locking protocol while the most permissive recognizes all conflict-preserving serializable histories. This is the first locking-based protocol that can recognize the entire class of conflict-preserving serializable histories.
Measurement of T‐cell CD69 expression: A rapid and efficient means to assess mitogen‐ or antigen‐induced proliferative capacity in normals

We have analyzed the expression of the activation antigen CD69 on normal human T cells by flow cytometry following stimulation with mitogens and recall antigen. These data were compared to parallel studies assessing the proliferative response using the 3H-thymidine (3H-TdR) incorporation assay. Three different mitogens (PHA, ConA, and CD2/CD2R) induced maximal expression of CD69 at 24 h, which remained stable throughout the 72 h culture period. The mitogen-stimulated cells initiated DNA synthesis as determined by the 3H-TdR assay (72 h) while nonstimulated cells failed to upregulate CD69 or incorporate 3H-TdR. We next compared T cell CD69 expression (n = 12) following stimulation with either CD2/CD2R (5 micrograms/ml) or the recall antigen, tetanus toxoid (1:1500). Cell proliferation was determined by the 3H-TdR assay at 72 h (CD2/CD2R) or 120 h (tetanus toxoid). Evaluation of CD69 expression at 6 h predicted CD2/CD2R but not tetanus responder status as defined by 3H-TdR incorporation. However, when 4 known tetanus responders (3H-TdR) were evaluated over time, it was found that at 48 h the fluorescence intensity (of CD69) on tetanus-stimulated CD3+ cells increased markedly compared with nonstimulated cells (range of increase 43-850%). One individual whose cells failed to respond to tetanus toxoid (3H-TdR and CD69) did respond normally to CD2/CD2R. These observations suggest that flow cytometric evaluation of T cell CD69 expression following mitogen (6 h) or antigen (48 h) stimulation may provide an accurate screen of T-cell responsiveness in normals.
Adrenergic signaling in heart failure: a balance of toxic and protective effects

Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction involves activation of the sympathetic nervous system and chronic hyperactivation of the sympatho-adrenergic receptors (ARs) β-ARs and α1-ARs, which are thought to be cardiotoxic and worsen pathological remodeling and function. Concurrently, the failing heart manifests significant decreases in sympathetic nerve terminal density, decreased cardiac norepinephrine levels, and marked downregulation of β-AR abundance and signaling. Thus, a state of both feast and famine coexist with respect to the adrenergic state in heart failure. For the failing heart, the hyperadrenergic state is toxic. However, the role of hypoadrenergic mechanisms in the pathophysiology of heart failure is less clear. Cardiotoxic effects are known to arise from the β1-AR subtype, and use of β-AR blockers is a cornerstone of current heart failure therapy. However, cardioprotective effects arise from the β2-AR subtype that counteract hyperactive β1-AR signaling, but unfortunately, β2-AR cardioprotective signaling in heart failure is inhibited by β-AR blocker therapy. In contrast to current dogma, recent research shows β1-AR signaling can also be cardioprotective. Moreover, for some forms of heart failure, β2-AR signaling is cardiotoxic. Thus for both β-AR subtypes, there is a balance between cardiotoxic versus cardioprotective effects. In heart failure, stimulation of α1-ARs is widely thought to be cardiotoxic. However, also contrary to current dogma, recent research shows that α1-AR signaling is cardioprotective. Taken together, recent research identifies cardioprotective signaling arising from β1-AR, β2-AR, and α1-ARs. A goal for future therapies will to harness the protective effects of AR signaling while minimizing cardiotoxic effects. The trajectory of heart failure therapy changed radically from the previous and intuitive use of sympathetic agonists, which unfortunately resulted in greater mortality, to the current use of β-AR blockers, which initially seemed counterintuitive. As a cautionary note, if the slow adoption of beta-blocker therapy in heart failure is any guide, then new treatment strategies, especially counterintuitive therapies involving stimulating β-AR and α1-AR signaling, may take considerable time to develop and gain acceptance.
Demineralization of caries-affected transparent dentin by citric acid: an atomic force microscopy study.

Abstract Objectives: This study determined recession rates of peritubular dentin and intertubular dentin in citric acid solution (0.018 M, pH=2.5) for caries-affected transparent dentin, one of the major components of dentin substrate as altered by caries, with comparisons made with non-carious dentin. Methods: Transparent dentin was identified by sagittally sectioning five obviously carious teeth. Sections were then cut through the transparent dentin area perpendicular to the course of the dentinal tubules. Polished dentin samples of the transparent dentin and non-carious dentin were prepared with an internal reference layer and studied at specific intervals for citric acid etching in an atomic force microscope (AFM). Results: At baseline, transparent dentin was identified by dentinal tubules that were largely occluded with mineral deposits that on etching proved to be acid resistant. Peritubular dentin etched rapidly and linearly over time until it could no longer be measured, yielding etching rates for transparent dentin that could not be distinguished from normal dentin. The normal and transparent intertubular dentin surfaces began etching at nearly the same rate, but then surface recession stabilized after less than 1 μm depth change for both dentin types. Significance: Most previous studies have focused on demineralization and bonding to normal dentin, although many bonding procedures involve altered dentin substrates, such as those modified by caries. In this study, peritubular and intertubular dentin from normal and caries-affected dentin exhibited similar behavior. The major difference was the presence of acid resistant mineral in most of tubule lumens in the transparent dentin.
The use of the Piezoelectric Composite Oscillator Technique for Measuring the Viscoelasticity of Liquid Crystals

The development of liquid crystalline mixtures with short electro-optic switching times has made possible an array of new products, including hand-held televisions and lap-top computers with flat panel displays. Whereas the switching times for materials with long switching times has been correlated with their steady shear viscosities, this is not true for materials with short switching times. Since such materials exhibit viscoelasticity in dynamic tests conducted at ultrasonic frequencies, we expect the dynamic moduli to correlate with their switching times. The viscoelastic properties of pure MBBA were measured using a piezoelectric ultrasonic composite oscillator technique. The measurement technique and the relation between the linear viscoelastic behavior and the electro-optic switching behavior will be discussed.