cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improvement of fish protein films properties for food packaging through glow discharge plasma application

Abstract Myofibrillar proteins have good film forming ability, that leads to the formation of polymers with interesting properties for food packaging development. However, as other bio-sourced macromolecules, they have limited performance compared to synthetic materials and cold plasma represents a promising strategy to change polymer properties. Alternating current (AC) glow discharge plasma is a novel and innovative approach for surface modification of agro-based films in order to improve their properties. Then, the effects of exposure to AC glow discharge plasma were studied on the physicochemical, microstructural and thermal properties of myofibrillar protein films from fish. Films treated for 2 min showed increased elongation at break and decreased tensile strength, while the opposite behavior was observed after 5 min of treatment. Solubility in water increased with 5 min and water vapor permeability increased with 2 min of plasma treatment. Color and opacity also increased probably as a result of chemical changes because of plasma application. Slight changes were observed in microstructure of the films. Thermal properties results agreed with the modifications observed in physicochemical performance, which might be attributed to polymer surface functionalization and etching. Thus, the AC glow discharge is a promising alternative to other strategies in order to advance properties of myofibrillar protein films for food packaging because it is a dry process, does not cause damage by heating in the material, and does not pollute the environment.
U.S. Financial Aid for Iraq Under the Engagement Policy, 1988–1990

AbstractThis article reframes our understanding of the pre-Gulf War U.S. policy toward Iraq away from the issue of why the Bush administration ignored evidence that Saddam Hussein was not reciproca...
Influence of nanoscale roughness on surface wettability

A number of studies have suggested that microscale asperities enhance bubble-particle attachment efficiency. However, in practice the roughening of particulate surfaces can also lead to a decrease in flotation. In the present investigation it is proposed that nanoscale asperities may be partially responsible for this phenomenon. It is suggested that as inter-asperity separation distances are reduced capillary effects are enhanced, leading to the formation of stable liquid domains that adversely impact bubble-particle adhesion. In addition, obstruction of surfactant self-assembly may occur, further limiting flotation.
Drawing Together and Falling Apart

In many art classrooms across the United States, at some point in the year the art teacher will guide her students in a drawing exercise known as an exquisite corpse. Surrealist artists used the ex...
5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) used in a naturalistic group setting is associated with unintended improvements in depression and anxiety.

Background: A recent epidemiological study suggested that 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) used for spiritual and recreational reasons is associated with subjective improvement in depre...
Psychology and Surveillance Capitalism: The Risk of Pushing Mental Health Apps During the COVID-19 Pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth technologies and mental health apps have been promoted to manage distress in the public and to augment existing mental health services. From a humanistic pe...
Abstract 1379: Entinostat induces PARPi sensitivity across multiple ovarian cancer models

Introduction: Ovarian cancer is a rare, but fatal disease and a leading cause of gynecologic cancer death, in the United States. Poly ADP ribose polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) are promising drugs, most effective in patients with tumors deficient in homologous recombination (HR) genes, mainly BRCA1/2. Our group has published that histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) sensitized HR proficient BRCA wild-type ovarian cancer cells to PARPi, however the mechanism still remains elusive and the efficacy needed to be tested across multiple models. We recently tested Entinostat with and without Olaparib in three different ovarian cancer models, including human/mouse established cell lines, PDX derived primary cell lines and immune-competent/immune-compromised xenograft as well as PDX-derived preclinical mouse models. Objective: To delineate the efficacy of Entinostat to sensitize ovarian tumors to Olaparib across multiple models and determine the underlying mechanism. Methods: HR proficient BRCA wild-type ID8/SKOV3 and PDX derived primary cell lines were treated with Entinostat and Olaparib, alone or in combination and analyzed for cell proliferation. DNA damage was studied using Comet assay. Expression of cell proliferation, DNA damage and repair protein were studied using Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence. Further, ID8-treated immune-competent mouse models, SKOV3-treated immune-compromised mouse model and HGSOC patient derived PDX mouse model generated in our lab were treated with vehicle, Entinostat, Olaparib, or the combination. The mice were monitored for toxicity and body weight measured twice weekly, till tissue harvest or survival. Results: Cell proliferation was significantly decreased (pl 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 1379.
A Rule-Based Data Quality Assessment System for Electronic Health Record Data.

Objective Rule-based data quality assessment in health care facilities was explored through compilation, implementation, and evaluation of 63,397 data quality rules in a single-center case study to assess the ability of rules-based data quality assessment to identify data errors of importance to physicians and system owners. Methods We applied a design science framework to design, demonstrate, test, and evaluate a scalable framework with which data quality rules can be managed and used in health care facilities for data quality assessment and monitoring. Results We identified 63,397 rules partitioned into 28 logic templates. A total of 819,683 discrepancies were identified by 4.5% of the rules. Nine out of 11 participating clinical and operational leaders indicated that the rules identified data quality problems and articulated next steps that they wanted to take based on the reported information. Discussion The combined rule template and knowledge table approach makes governance and maintenance of otherwise large rule sets manageable. Identified challenges to rule-based data quality monitoring included the lack of curated and maintained knowledge sources relevant to data error detection and lack of organizational resources to support clinical and operational leaders with investigation and characterization of data errors and pursuit of corrective and preventative actions. Limitations of our study included implementation within a single center and dependence of the results on the implemented rule set. Conclusion This study demonstrates a scalable framework (up to 63,397 rules) with which data quality rules can be implemented and managed in health care facilities to identify data errors. The data quality problems identified at the implementation site were important enough to prompt action requests from clinical and operational leaders.
Development of an Electroactive Hydrogel as a Scaffold for Excitable Tissues.

For many cells used in tissue engineering applications, the scaffolds upon which they are seeded do not entirely mimic their native environment, particularly in the case of excitable tissues. For instance, muscle cells experience contraction and relaxation driven by the electrical input of an action potential. Electroactive materials can also deform in response to electrical input; however, few such materials are currently suitable as cell scaffolds. We previously described the development of poly(ethyelene glycol) diacrylate-poly(acrylic acid) as an electroactive scaffold. Although the scaffold itself supported cell growth and attachment, the voltage (20 V) required to actuate these scaffolds was cytotoxic. Here, we describe the further development of our hydrogels into scaffolds capable of actuation at voltages (5 V) that were not cytotoxic to seeded cells. This study describes the critical next steps towards the first functional electroactive tissue engineering scaffold.
The Effects of Game and Student Characteristics on Persistence in Educational Games: A Hierarchical Linear Modeling Approach

Persistence is an important part of student success—both in and out of school. To enhance persistence, we first need to assess it accurately. Digital games can be used as vehicles for measuring and enhancing persistence. The purpose of this study is to test the effects of (a) game-level characteristics (i.e., game mechanics and conceptual difficulty), and (b) student-related characteristics (e.g., students’ incoming knowledge and gender) on persistence in a game called Physics Playground . The participants in this study were 137, eighth and ninth-grade students from a K-12 school in Florida. We used a Hierarchical Linear Modeling Approach (HLM) to analyze the data. The major findings are (1) the degree of difficulty relating to both the physics concepts and game mechanics of each game problem are significant predictors of persistence, with the former being more effective than the latter in predicting students’ persistence, and (2) the number of gold and silver trophies students attained in the game were the only significant student-level predictors of persistence. We conclude by discussing the findings, the implications, limitations, and future research related to this study.
A Thematic Analysis of Unpaid School Meals in the News Media

Unpaid meals/meal shaming in schools are highlighted in the news media. The purpose of this study was to understand trends and themes in the media relative to meal shaming/unpaid meals. Two databas...
The Validity of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) Tests on Plasma-Treated Water Through Decomposition of Methylene Blue

Chemical oxygen demand (COD) is a common benchmark test used in the wastewater treatment industry to measure the amount of organic matter in samples. COD tests utilize potassium dichromate, a very strong oxidizer, to digest organic matter in liquids, and a yellow-to-green color change is observed in the process. Such color change can be measured using a spectrophotometer to determine the absorbance and thus the COD value. As plasma-based purification methods are being developed for waste and drinking water treatment, the validity of COD tests on such samples must be established. Here we investigate use of COD tests on water with added admixtures of varying chemical loads.
Computational Piezo-Grains (CPGs) for a highly-efficient micromechanical modeling of heterogeneous piezoelectric–piezomagnetic composites

Abstract Influenced by the need for composites with stronger magneto-electric coupling, we present a novel numerical method called “Computational Piezo-Grains” (CPGs) for modeling different types of piezoelectric/piezomagnetic composites in the microscale. The advantage of this method is that the matrix and the inclusion of a grain can be modeled using only one element in a finite element sense. The geometric shapes of these computational grains mimic the shapes of grains in the microscale and each grain may contain an embedded micro-void or micro-inclusion. The material of the matrix or the inclusion in any grain could be elastic with no couplings, piezoelectric, or piezomagnetic; thus allowing for modeling different configurations of piezo-composites. Lekhnitskii formulation is extended to model any of these composites and is used in the development of these computational grains to express the fields in the matrix and the inclusion of each computational grain.
Prolegomenon to an Ethically Grounded Management Theory

This paper contrasts an alternative, competency-based model of business ethics in light of the failure of deontological ethical models to produce ethical conduct in industry. The model is based on Aristotle's virtue-ethics.
Mediation Research: A Current Review

In this article, we review the mediation literature from the past decade, utilizing a cybernetic mediation paradigm to organize the material. In this paradigm, we note that the type of conflict, country, culture, and mediation institutions affect the mediation process. Within this process, the mediator and disputants interact with each other, attempting to reach their own goals. This interaction produces outcomes for the disputants, the mediators, and other parties. The literature — organized using this paradigm — indicates that mediation is frequently practiced in many venues; the literature also provides an exhaustive list of mediation goals, describes many mediation strategies, and reports manifold mediation outcomes. Unfortunately, the number of studies examining the relative effectiveness of specific strategies (e.g., pressing, relational, and analytic) seems insufficient. Few studies have used control groups or reported observations of mediator and disputants' behavior in actual mediations.
Prodigiosin-like pigments from Actinomadura (Nocardia) pelletieri and Actinomadura madurae.

Thirteen red strains of Actinomadura (Nocardia) pelletieri and three of A. madurae were shown to produce prodigiosin-like pigments. Both of the two major pigments which were observed on thin-layer chromatograms had RF values significantly greater than prodigiosin. The main pigment from A. madurae 953 was shown by mass and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies to be nonylprodigiosin. The major pigment from A. pellitieri had a C11H22 side chain in a ring form, but it was distinctly different from metacycloprodigiosin. “Prodiginine” was proposed as a name for the invariant aromatic portion of the prodigiosin structure.
Theoretical studies of molecules adsorbed on solid surfaces. I. Electronic spectra

Abstract The band shape of electronic spectra for a diatomic molecule adsorbed on a surface is studied using the adiabatic approximation. In this approximation, the Schrodinger equation for the total system is separated into those for electronic motion, intramolecular vibration, and low frequency motions (e.g., hindered molecular rotation and lattice vibration). Our theory is applied to the system of an admolecule on the (001) surface of fcc monatomic crystals. We determine the line shape of a vibronic transition for both chemisorption and physisorption cases. In chemisorption cases, a side band due to the low frequency motions can appear in the line shape of a vibronic transition. On the other hand, in physisorption cases, the line shape is a single peak. Moreover, we suggest theoretically a new experimental technique for exciting adsorbed molecules; for this purpose, we derive equations giving the cross sections for the electronic excitation of admolecules by using ion impact at grazing incidence. The admolecules can be excited by this method; the subsequent light emission can give information on the orientation of the admolecule on the surface and on the admolecule-surface species interaction.
The Consolidation of the Consociational Democracy in Lebanon: The Challenges to Democracy in Lebanon

This dissertation looks at democracy in Lebanon, a country that has a pluralistic society with many societal cleavages. The subject of this study is the consolidation of democracy in Lebanon, described by Arend Lijphart as a "consociational democracy". The research question and sub-question posed are: 1- How consolidated is democracy in Lebanon? 2- What are the challenges facing the consolidation of democracy in Lebanon? The preamble of the 1926 Lebanese Constitution declares the country to be a parliamentary democratic republic. The political regime is a democracy, but one that is not built on the rule of the majority in numbers, since the numbers do not reflect the history of the country and its distinguishing characteristics. The division of power is built on religion, which defies the concept prevailing in western democracies of the separation between church and state. As the internal and the external conditions change, sometimes in a violent manner, the democracy in the country still survives. Today, after the war that ravaged Lebanon from 1975 to 1990, the Syrian occupation that lasted until 2005, the Israeli war in the summer of 2006, and the roadblocks in the face of the overdue presidential election in 2008, democracy is still struggling to stay alive in the country. There is no denying or ignoring the challenges and the attempts against democracy in Lebanon from 1975 to the present. Even with these challenges, there are some strong elements that let democracy survive all these predicaments. The reasons and events of the 1975-1995 war are still being sorted out and only history will clear that up. Can we say today that the Consociational democracy in Lebanon is consolidated? To answer this question Linz & Stepan's three elements of a consolidated democracy are used as the criteria: the constitution of the land, people's attitude towards democracy and their behavior. The analysis examines the Lebanese Constitution, surveys about people's attitude towards democracy, and reported events about their behavior, such as political demonstrations and political violence narrated in the media. The findings of this study show that although the Lebanese find democracy as being the only game in town, the consolidation of democracy in the country still faces some challenges, both internal and external. The study also shows that the criteria used for western democracies need to be adjusted to apply to a society such as the one in Lebanon: plural, religious and traditional.
NUTRITION OF THE PARASITIC PHASE OF COCCIDIOIDES IMMITIS IN A CHEMICALLY DEFINED LIQUID MEDIUM.

In previous reports (Converse, 1955, 1956, 1957) a chemically defined medium was described which supported the growth of the parasitic phase (spherule) of the dimorphic fungus Coccidioides immitis. Certain physicochemical factors were shown to influence the growth of spherules in this medium. The work to be described here is an extension of the investigation of the nutritional and environmental factors which affect the spherulation in vitro of C. tmmitis.
Product Development Process: An Introduction

The product development process is a sequence of all the required activities that a company must perform to develop, manufacture, and sell a product. These activities include marketing, research, engineering design, quality assurance, manufacturing, and a whole chain of suppliers and vendors. The process also comprises all strategic planning, capital investments, management decisions, and tasks necessary to create a new product.
Finite Element Model for Externally Prestressed Composite Beams with Deformable Connection

This paper presents a finite element model for the nonlinear analysis of beams prestressed by external slipping cables. The formulation involves composite beams with deformable shear connection; the simpler kinematical model of reinforced concrete beams can be analyzed as a special case. Cables can have general paths and can slip with no friction at the deviators. General nonlinear constitutive laws can be used for the materials, i.e., concrete, reinforcements, beam steel, shear connectors, and tendons. The proposed approach can be implemented in existing nonlinear finite element programs with no additional iterative procedures. Results of some applications are shown in order to illustrate the potential of the proposed approach in the analysis of steel-concrete continuous composite beams up to failure. Comparisons with experimental tests are performed to validate the numerical results.
Solutions of a Lagrangian system on 2

Abstract A Lagrangian system on 𝕋2 that has been studied earlier under a geometrical condition and found to possess a pair of solutions, H±, homoclinic to periodic solutions, v±, of a given homotopy type, is considered further. It is shown with the aid of H± and variational arguments that, in fact, there is a much richer structure of homoclinics and heteroclinics to v±. Indeed, the system admits chaotic solutions.
Vaccination with major outer membrane protein proteosomes elicits protection in mice against a Chlamydia respiratory challenge

Abstract Vaccines formulated with the Chlamydia muridarum native major outer membrane protein (nMOMP) have so far been shown to elicit the most robust protection against this pathogen. nMOMP is a membrane protein and therefore, detergents are used to keep it in solution. Detergents however, have toxic effects. To address this limitation, we tested a nMOMP proteosome vaccine and compared its ability to elicit protection against nMOMP solubilized in the detergent Z3-14. The two preparations were formulated with or without CpG + Montanide (C/M). As a control antigen we used ovalbumin. Mice vaccinated with nMOMP developed strong humoral and cell mediated Chlamydia-specific immune responses. Based on the IgG2a/IgG1 levels in serum and amounts of IFN-γ in splenocytes supernatants the immune responses were predominantly Th1-biased. The animals were subsequently challenged intranasally with 2 × 103 Chlamydia inclusion forming units (IFU) and the course of the infection was followed for 10 days when the mice were euthanized. Based on changes in body weight, weight of the lungs and number of IFU recovered from the lungs, mice immunized with nMOMP-Ps and nMOMP + Z3-14 adjuvanted with C/M showed the most robust protection. In summary, nMOMP-Ps should be considered as Chlamydia vaccine candidates.
Ballistic-electron-emission microscopy of semiconductor heterostructures

Ballistic-electron-microscopy has developed from its beginning as a probe of Schottky barriers into a powerful nanometer-scale method for characterizing semiconductor interfaces and hot-electron transport. Recent applications include band offsets, electron scattering, confined states, interfacial defects, and insulating layers.
Anodic oxidation — an improved technique in the chemical recovery and refinement of isotopic thallium

Abstract The Electromagnetic Isotope Separations Program of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory has been involved in the seperation, chemical recovery and refinement of the stable isotopes of thallium since 1947. The initial interest was in obtaining chemically pure, isotopically enriched samples of each of the stable isotopes of thallium for basic physical research. Recently, the major emphasis has shifted to 203Tl which is used to produce the radiopharmaceutical isotope 201Tl. Two persistent problems in the chemistry of isotopic thallium have been the production of unoxidized, homogeneous ingots of thallium metal and the elimination of sulfur contamination in thallic oxide. The application of anodic oxidation in the chemistry has resulted in a significant reduction of the problems previously encountered as well as considerable improvement in the chemical purity of the product. The details of this procedure and a general description of all of the appropriate thallium chemistry will be presented. In addition, the generalization of the technique to the refinement of other elements will be discussed.
Pregnancy and psychiatric drugs.

An estimated 3 percent of all newborns have congenital malformations (1). Although the majority of developmental defects are of unknown origin, 3 percent are caused by drugs and environmental chemicals (2). During pregnancy most drugs are metabolized, degraded, and eliminated in the maternal circulatory system (3,4). The fetal excretory and metabolic pathways are not fully developed during the first trimester (3), and thus psychotropic drugs, like many other drugs, may accumulate in developing brains and other organs, with the potential for abnormal development. This article reviews the risks involved in the use of four categories of psychotropic drugs: antidepressants, antipsychotics, anxiolytics, and lithium. Antidepressants. Cyclic antidepressants have been associated with an increased risk of teratogenicity in the human fetus (3,5-7), although conclusive proof of their etiologic role is lacking. Infants born to women receiving tricycic antidepressants immediately before delivery have also shown signs of heart failure, tachycardia, myoclonus, respiratory distress, and urinary retention (5,7,8). Withdrawal symptoms have been observed in some infants whose
When the private sphere goes public: exploring the issues facing family caregiver organizations in the development of long-term care policies.

SUMMARY Though family caregiving forms the backbone of the long-term care system in the United States, long-term care policies have traditionally focused on paid services that frail older people and people with disabilities utilize for their day-to-day functioning. Part of the exclusion of family caregiving from the long-term care discourse stems from the traditional separation of the private sphere, where family caregiving occurs, from the public sphere of policy making. However, the passage of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP) and Medicaid waiver legislation may reflect recent changes in the government's position on their role in addressing issues related to the “private spheres.” In this article, we explore the nature of family caregiving in the United States, the divide between the public and private spheres and provide an overview of family caregiving-related policies and programs in the U.S. In our review, we examine the provisions in the ...
A procedure for finding an improved upper bound on the number of optimal design points

Knowing an upper bound on the number of optimal design points greatly simplifies the search for an optimal design. Caratheodory's Theorem is commonly used to identify an upper bound. However, the upper bound from Caratheodory's Theorem is relatively loose when there are three or more parameters in the model. In this paper, an alternative approach of finding a sharper upper bound for classical optimality criteria is proposed. Examples are given to demonstrate how to use the new approach.
Real-Time Radar Rainfall Estimation. Part I: Algorithm Formulation

Abstract A multicomponent radar-based algorithm for real-time precipitation estimation is developed. The algorithm emphasizes the combined use of weather radar observations and in situ rain gauge rainfall measurements. The temporal and spatial scales of interest are hourly to storm-total accumulations for areas of 4 km2 to approximately 16 km2. The processing steps include beam–height-effect correction, vertical integration, convective–stratiform classification, conversion from radar observables to rainfall rate, range-effect correction, and transformation of the estimated rainfall rates from polar coordinates to a Cartesian grid. Additionally, the algorithm applies advection correction to the gridded rainfall rates to minimize the temporal sampling effect and, subsequently, aggregates the corrected rainfall rates to 1-hourly, 3-hourly, and storm-total accumulations. The system applies different parameter values for convective and stratiform regimes. The calibration of the system is formulated as a global...
Subway train-related fatalities in New York City: accident versus suicide

We examined the characteristics of subway train-related fatalities in New York City between Jan. 1, 2003 and May 31, 2007 in order to determine which factors are useful in differentiating accident from suicide. Subway train-related deaths with homicide and undetermined manners also are included. During this period, there were 211 subway train-related fatalities. The manners of death were: suicide (n = 111), accident (n = 76), undetermined (n = 20), and homicide (n = 4). The causes of death were blunt trauma (n = 206) and electrocution (n = 5). Torso transection and extremity amputation were more frequent in suicides. Antidepressant medications were more frequently detected in suicides, whereas cocaine and ethanol were more frequent in accidents. However, autopsy findings should be weighed in the context of the entire evaluation along with other circumstantial and investigative findings. In unwitnessed deaths where additional information is unavailable or discrepant, the most appropriate manner of death usually is undetermined.
Nutrition: Vitamin A supplementation—maternal and neonatal survival

The health responses to antenatal vitamin A supplementation evaluated in randomized intervention trials were recently systematically reviewed by van den Broek and colleagues. The importance of this update is reflected in the persistence of vitamin A deficiency during pregnancy and its potential to affect maternal and infant health and survival in many low-income countries.
The association between revisions of financial analysts' earnings forecasts and security-price changes

Abstract Using virtually all publicly available analyst earnings forecasts for a sample of 58 companies in the 1980–1986 period (over 23,000 individual forecasts by 100 analyst firms), our evidence indicates that individual analyst earnings forecasts are informative, even when they are preceded by earnings forecasts made by other analysts or by corporate accounting disclosures. However, our results indicate that analysts earnings forecasts contain only roughly 66% of the information reflected by security prices prior to the forecast-release date.
A natural mutation-led truncation in one of the two aluminum-activated malate transporter-like genes at the Ma locus is associated with low fruit acidity in apple

Acidity levels greatly affect the taste and flavor of fruit, and consequently its market value. In mature apple fruit, malic acid is the predominant organic acid. Several studies have confirmed that the major quantitative trait locus Ma largely controls the variation of fruit acidity levels. The Ma locus has recently been defined in a region of 150 kb that contains 44 predicted genes on chromosome 16 in the Golden Delicious genome. In this study, we identified two aluminum-activated malate transporter-like genes, designated Ma1 and Ma2, as strong candidates of Ma by narrowing down the Ma locus to 65-82 kb containing 12-19 predicted genes depending on the haplotypes. The Ma haplotypes were determined by sequencing two bacterial artificial chromosome clones from G.41 (an apple rootstock of genotype Mama) that cover the two distinct haplotypes at the Ma locus. Gene expression profiling in 18 apple germplasm accessions suggested that Ma1 is the major determinant at the Ma locus controlling fruit acidity as Ma1 is expressed at a much higher level than Ma2 and the Ma1 expression is significantly correlated with fruit titratable acidity (R (2) = 0.4543, P = 0.0021). In the coding sequences of low acidity alleles of Ma1 and Ma2, sequence variations at the amino acid level between Golden Delicious and G.41 were not detected. But the alleles for high acidity vary considerably between the two genotypes. The low acidity allele of Ma1, Ma1-1455A, is mainly characterized by a mutation at base 1455 in the open reading frame. The mutation leads to a premature stop codon that truncates the carboxyl terminus of Ma1-1455A by 84 amino acids compared with Ma1-1455G. A survey of 29 apple germplasm accessions using marker CAPS(1455) that targets the SNP(1455) in Ma1 showed that the CAPS(1455A) allele was associated completely with high pH and highly with low titratable acidity, suggesting that the natural mutation-led truncation is most likely responsible for the abolished function of Ma for low pH or high acidity in apple.
Innate immune responses to Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection.

Innate immune responses play a critical role in controlling acute infections due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa in both mice and in humans. In this review we focus on innate immune recognition and clearance mechanisms that are important for controlling P. aeruginosa in the mammalian lung, with particular attention to those that influence the outcome of in vivo infection in murine models.
Total Phenolic Content And Antioxidant Potential Of Commercial Grape Juice

Abstract LEARNING OUTCOME: antioxidant potential of commercial grape juice to that of red wine. The phenolic antioxidants in red wine have been proposed as an explanation for the lower death rate from coronary heart disease (CHD) in France. The death rate is lower even though the French consume saturated fat and cholesterol in amounts comparable to those consumed by Americans. The oxidative modification of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) has been linked to the development of atherosclerosis, the principle cause of CHD. The phenolics in red wine and grapes have been shown to prevent the oxidation of human LDL in vitro. The purpose of the present study was to determine the phenolic content and antioxidant potential of commercial grape juice. The phenolic content of six samples of red (Concord) grape juice and three samples of white grape juice (Welch, Inc.) and a sample of red wine (Petite Sirah without added sulfite) was determined with the Folin-Ciocalteu colorimetric assay using gallic acid as the standard. The antioxidant potential of these samples was also determined by measuring the hexanal formed by the copper mediated peroxidation of freshly prepared LDL, which had been isolated from normolipidemic males, using headspace gas chromatography. All samples were measured in duplicate. The concentration of total phenolics in the white and red grape juice samples varied from 254 to 389 mg/L gallic acid equivalents (GAE) (mean=324) and 1407 to 2246 mg/L GAE (mean=1760), respectively. The red wine contained 3630 mg/L GAE. Based on hexanal formation, when samples of juice and red wine were diluted to contain the equivalent of 10 μM gallic acid, white and red grape juice inhibited the oxidation of LDL on average by 72 and 62%, respectively. Petite Sirah inhibited LDL oxidation by only 52%. However, when inhibition was based on the concenttration of total phenolics concentration the antioxidant activity of the white juice was 15% that of red wine, whereas red grape juice was 60% that of red wine. Thus, our results confirm that grape juice, especially red grape juice, is a significant source of phenolic antioxidants that protect against CHD.
The mechanism of energy transfer in the antenna of photosynthetic purple bacteria

Abstract The mechanism of energy transfer in the antenna system of purple bacteria is investigated by combination of photon echo spectroscopy and disordered exciton theory. In the B800 component of light harvesting complex 2 (LH2), a picture of incoherent hopping between monomers provides an excellent description of the photon echo data recorded as a function of excitation wavelength. In the B850 pigments of LH2, and to a somewhat greater extent in the B875 pigments of light harvesting complex 1 (LH1), the excitation is delocalized over several pigments. The observed dynamics correspond to relaxation between exciton states as a result of exciton–phonon coupling. Nonetheless, a picture of “hopping” between small groups of molecules provides a crude description of the motion of the excitation in B850, and B875. The electronic coupling required to simulate the experimental absorption spectrum and photon echo data is larger in LH1 than in LH2 (B850).
Thermodynamic stability and structural features of the J4/5 loop in a Pneumocystis carinii group I intron.

The J4/5 loop of the group I intron in the mouse-derived fungal pathogen Pneumocystis carinii is the docking site for the first step of the RNA-catalyzed self-splicing reaction and thus is a model of a potential drug target. This purine-rich asymmetric internal loop, 5‘GGAAG/3‘UAGU, is also thermodynamically more stable than other internal loops with two GU closing pairs and three nucleotides opposite two nucleotides. The results from optical melting, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and functional group substitution experiments suggest that the GU closing pairs form and that sheared GA pairs form in the internal loop. The NMR spectra show evidence of conformational dynamics, and several GA pairings are possible. Thus, this dynamic loop presents several possible structures for potential binding of drugs that target group I self-splicing introns. The results also contribute to understanding the structural and dynamic basis for the function and thermodynamic stability of this loop.
Synthesis and characterization of the thiolato rhenium(III) complexes cis- and trans-[Re(SC6H4X-p)2(DMPE)2]PF6, X = H, Me or Cl, DMPE = l,2-bis(dimethylphosphino)ethane. Single crystal structural analysis of cis-[Re(SPh)2(DMPE)2]PF6

The reaction of trans-[ReOCl3(PPh3)2] with excess arenethiol and DMPE [l,2-bis(dimethylphosphino)-ethane] produces both cis and trans isomers of the air stable arenethiolato-ReIII complexes [Re(SC6H4X-p)2-(DMPE)2]+ (X = H, Me or Cl). These complexes have been characterized by FAB mass spectroscopy, u.v.-vis. spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and elemental analyses. The cis geometry of [Re(SPh)2(DMPE)2]+ is confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Averaged structural parameters are Re−S = 2.293(4) A, Re−P (trans to P) = 2.415(5) A, Re−P (trans to S) = 2.486(6) A, and Re−S−C = 118.5(5)°. Cyclic voltammetry measurements in DMF showed reversible ReIII/ReII redox couples in the -0.43 V to -0.53 V range for cis isomers and -0.48 V to 0.60 V for trans isomers, both versus Ag/AgCl (3 M NaCl). Irreversible couples were observed for ReII/ReI and ReIV/ReIII. The relative predominance of cis and trans isomers in the synthesis of [Re(SR)2(DIP)2] + and [Tc(SR)2(DIP)2] + (DIP = diphosphine) complexes are discussed, and lead to the conclusion that the geometry is primarily determined by steric considerations.
Spatial tuning of auditory neurons in the superior colliculus of the echolocating bat, Myotis lucifugus

Abstract The azimuthal selectivity of auditory neurons was examined in the superior colliculus of the little brown bat, Myotis lucifugus. Frequency-modulated (FM) sounds, synthesized to mimic biosonar signals the echolocating bat naturally hears, were delivered from a loudspeaker moving across the front of the unanesthetized animal. Neurons were classified on the basis of their spatial tuning into two general classes: (i) hemifield units (34%) were broadly tuned to the contralateral side irrespective of sound pressure level; (ii) azimuth-sensitive units (66%) were sharply tuned to different azimuths at sound pressures near their minimum thresholds (MTs). A distinguishing feature of these azimuth-sensitive neurons is that they responded maximally to a sound source located at a preferred azimuth (best azimuth) for levels as high as 30 dB above their MT. Mapping experiments provide evidence of a sequential representation of best azimuth along the rostrocaudal extent of the superior colliculus, with sounds originating from 0–10° ipsilateral coded at the rostral end, and from 30–40° contralateral coded at the caudal end. The highly directional echolocation system of Myotis probably accounts for the limited azimuthal representation of echo-source spanning mainly 40° to either side of its line of flight.
The Problem of Ethical Vagueness for Expressivism

Ethical vagueness has garnered little attention. This is rather surprising since many philosophers have remarked that the science of ethics lacks the precision that other fields of inquiry have. Of the few philosophers who have discussed ethical vagueness the majority have focused on the implications of vagueness for moral realism. Because the relevance of ethical vagueness for other metaethical positions has been underexplored, my aim in this paper is to investigate the ramifications of ethical vagueness for expressivism. Ultimately, I shall argue that expressivism does not have the resources to adequately account for ethical vagueness, while cognitivism does. This demonstrates an advantage that cognitivism holds over expressivism.
Geomagnetism and the aurora

In 1741, Celsius and Hiorter pointed out the simultaneous occurrence of an aurora and a magnetic storm. About the same time some aspects of the aurora were related to the usual geomagnetic field. Now we know that auroras occur most frequently in regions about 23° from the geomagnetic poles. Normal auroral arcs are nearly at right-angles to the geomagnetic meridian. The rays of the aurora are closely parallel to the lines of magnetic force.
"Marden-Walker syndrome": neuropathologic findings in two siblings.

Neuropathologic examination of two siblings with phenotypic features consistent with Marden-Walker syndrome revealed central nervous system abnormalities which include reduction in the number of spinal anterior horn cells. The occurrence of these changes in a sibling pair provides strong evidence for a genetic etiology. The relationship between the neuropathologic changes and other phenotypic manifestations in this syndrome and in the closely related syndrome of Pena-Shokeir are discussed.
The Expression of the Molecular Chaperone Calnexin Is Decreased in Cancer Cells Grown as Colonies Compared to Monolayer

Differential display was used to identify genes which were differentially expressed when HT-29 human colon adenocarcinoma cells were grown as monolayers attached to plastic or as colonies in soft agarose. One of the gel bands differentially displayed corresponded to a 171 bp fragment that showed 99% identity with a sequence of mRNA for human calnexin. The decrease in calnexin gene expression by HT-29 cells growing as colonies in soft agarose was confirmed by reverse transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR) using calnexin-specific primers. We also used RT-PCR to show that the expression of calnexin was decreased in HT-29 cells and MCF-7 human breast adenocarcinoma cells growing in suspension in poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate)-coated wells compared to cells growing as monolayers. The results suggest that there is a signal for the up-regulation of calnexin expression when cells contact a substrate which allows cell adhesion.
Do schools and golf courses represent emerging pathways for crayfish invasions

Prevention is frequently promoted as the most desirable management strategy for biological invasions. Crayfish introductions are typically associated with aquaculture and bait bucket releases, but here we report two alternate pathways that may be responsible for the recent invasion of Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852) and Orconectes virilis (Hagen, 1870) in Washington State, U.S.A. Using distributional data and personal interviews we identified (1) school science programs, which use crayfish as laboratory organisms, as a likely pathway of introductions, and (2) golf courses bordering lakes, in which ponds have been constructed and are suspected to be stocked with O. virilis to control aquatic macrophytes. Particularly concerning, we found the highly invasive crayfish Orconectes rusticus (Girard, 1852) in use as a laboratory organism at multiple schools, although this species is not known to be established in the region. Vector management is critical for interrupting the transfer of invasive species, and our study has identified two emerging pathways that require greater research attention and stricter regulation.
Hounding theoretical economists

An economist who makes such an insightful remark on his profession is not without promise. On balance, however, in this book Lekachman does not deliver the much needed critical evaluation of the economics profession by an economist of stature.
Scan tracking coordinates for improved centering of Stratus OCT scan pattern.

Objective: To describe and evaluate a technique to optimizescan centering during the Stratus optical coherence tomography(OCT) image acquisition process using currently available scantracking coordinates.Design: Observational clinical study.Participants: Twelve eyes of six normal subjects were examinedusing the Fast retinal nerve ﬁber layer (RNFL) thickness and theFast Optic Disc acquisition protocols.Methods: At visit 1, 3 consecutive measurements (trials) were takenby 2 diﬀerent operators with the scan subjectively centered on theoptic disc for the Fast RNFL thickness protocol and Fast OpticDisc protocol. At visit 2, 3 consecutive measurements were takenby positioning the scan using scan tracking coordinates. The scancoordinates were recorded twice by each operator and the limits ofagreement and Bland-Altman plots were used to estimate agree-ment. The within subjects standard deviation (Sw) and thecoeﬃcient of variation (CV) were calculated for RNFL and opticdisc parameters for each operator separately and diﬀerences byscan positioning method were evaluated using a 3-way (trial xoperator x visit) analysis of variance for repeated measures.Results: The Sw and CV for the RNFL thickness parameters weregenerally higher when the scan was subjectively centered on the disccompared to when using the newly describedcoordinate system (eg,for operator 2, temporal sector Sw was 1.60±0.78 and 4.09±0.99and CV was 2.2% and 5.7% with and without coordinate use,respectively). For the Fast RNFL protocol, the use of scan trackingcoordinates resulted in signiﬁcantly less variability than subjectiveplacement of the scan circle using the landmark feature (currentlyrecommended technique) in the temporal sectors only. Nosigniﬁcant diﬀerence was found for any of the optic discparameters. Bland-Altman plots showed good agreement withineach operator for calculating scan coordinates suggesting thistechnique is reproducible.Conclusions: Reproducibility of RNFL thickness measurementsgenerally improves with the use of scan tracking coordinates,particularly in the temporal sector. However, small changesin the position of the scan do not signiﬁcantly aﬀect thereproducibility of optic disc parameters.Key Words: imaging, Stratus optical coherence tomography, retinalnerve ﬁber layer thickness, reproducibility
Bone Mineral Density, Bone Turnover, and Systemic Inflammation in Non-cirrhotics with Chronic Hepatitis C

© 2015 Springer Science+Business Media New York Background: Whether chronic HCV, a disease characterized by systemic inflammation, impacts bone mineral density (BMD) independent of cirrhosis is unknown. Aim: We aimed to evaluate the association between BMD, systemic inflammation, and markers of bone turnover in chronic HCV without cirrhosis. Methods: Non-cirrhotics, 40–60 years old, with chronic HCV underwent measurement of: (1) BMD by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan and (2) serum markers of systemic inflammation and bone turnover. By Chi-squared or t test, we compared those with normal versus low BMD. Results: Of the 60 non-cirrhotics, 53 % were female and 53 % Caucasian. Mean (SD) age was 53.3 years (5.7), total bilirubin 0.7 mg/dL (0.3), creatinine 0.8 mg/dL (0.2), and body mass index 28.4 kg/m2 (6.5). Low BMD was observed in 42 %: 30 % had osteopenia, 12 % had osteoporosis. Elevated tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin-6, and C-reactive protein levels were found in 26, 32, and 5 %, respectively, but did not differ by BMD group (p > 0.05). Patients with low BMD had higher serum phosphorus (4.1 vs. 3.5 mg/dL) and pro-peptide of type 1 collagen (P1NP; 73.1 vs. 47.5 ng/mL) [p < 0.05], but similar bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, serum C-telopeptide, and parathyroid hormone levels. Conclusions: Low BMD is prevalent in 40- to 60-year-old non-cirrhotics with chronic HCV, but not associated with systemic inflammatory markers. Elevated P1NP levels may help to identify those at increased risk of bone complications in this population. Chronic HCV should be considered a risk factor for bone loss, prompting earlier BMD assessments in both men and women.
On inverse translation of machine language

The goals of my research were to investigate some of the problems involved in translating machine language programs into high level procedural languages and to develop a systematic methodology for this process. It was assumed that the source program was produced either manually or by a compiler. A translator was implemented to accept programs coded in Knuth's MIXAL (assembly language for the MIX machine) and produce an "equivalent" PL/1 version.