cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Production of chemoattractant by Helicobacter pylori.

Helicobacter pylori is present in the antral region of the stomach in a majority of patients with gastritis type B. The specific mechanism whereby the organism participates in the development of disease remains uncertain. Since the organism is not invasive, we postulate thatH. pylori produces a chemoattractant that recruits inflammatory cells to the antral region of the stomach.H. pylori was grown under microaerophilic conditions at 37°C for 72 hr inBrucella broth containing 1% fetal bovine serum. Culture supernates were harvested after removal of organisms by centrifugation and filtration. The putative chemoattractant in culture supernates as well as that which might be present endogenously in the growth medium (negative control) was assayed against human neutrophils (PMN) in modified Boyden blind-well chambers using 3.0-μm membranes. We found thatH. pylori supernates are chemotactic and showed up to 130% activity when compared to the positive chemoattractant control (zymosan-activated serum, a source of C5a). Minimal activity was observed with virgin growth medium. The chemoattractant activity is proportional to the number of colony forming units (CFU) ofH. pylori. Preliminary characterization of the activity shows that the chemoattractant is stable in a boiling water bath for 15 min, activity is lost within 1 hr in acid or alkali, and the chemotactic factor has an approximate molecular weight of 8500 daltons. The factor has no amino-sugar and is negative for the lipid, A portion of lipopolysaccharide. The chemotactic factor may be related to the recruitment of PMN into the lamina propria of the stomach in patients with gastritis, and it may afford an additional target for design of unique therapeutic interventions in chronic gastritis.
Role of temperature and light in the germination ecology of buried seeds of Potentilla recta

Summary Fresh, mature seeds of the perennial weed, Potentilla recta L. (Rosaceae), were buried in early July of 1984 and 1985 and exposed to natural yearly temperature cycles. At monthly intervals for 28 (1984 seeds) and 25.5 (1985 seeds) months, seeds were exhumed and tested in light and darkness at 12/12 h alternating temperature regimes of 15/6, 20/10, 25/15, 30/15 and 35/20°C. At the time of burial, 2–38% of the seeds germinated in light at 15/6 and 20/10°C, but none germinated at any of the other test conditions. During summer, seeds after-ripened, and by October they germinated to 41–87% in light at all thermoperiods. Seeds never gained the ability to germinate in darkness. Although buried seeds subsequently were exposed to low winter and high summer temperatures, they did not re-enter dormancy or exhibit cyclic changes in germination responses. Thus, buried seeds can potentially germinate during any month of the growing season, if a disturbance brings the seeds to the soil surface and moisture is nonlimiting. However, only 23 to 50% of the exhumed seeds germinated at the July and August temperature (35/20°C) in July and August.
Understanding propagation failure as a slow capture near a limit point

This paper investigates the phenomenon of propagation failure in spatially discrete reaction-diffusion systems with excitable kinetics. Excitable kinetics are modeled by the FitzHugh–Nagumo equations. In the limit of weak coupling strength, a traveling pulse propagating in a chain of cells is constructed. The asymptotic solution for the first three cells is studied in detail. A single Riccati equation describes propagation through each cell. From this equation, a first approximation for the critical coupling strength below which the pulse is blocked is obtained. Near this critical coupling strength, propagation or failure results from a slow passage near a limit point leading either to a successful jump (propagation) or to capture by a slowly varying steady state (failure).The analysis of the behavior of the first three cells suggests an algorithmic method to analyze propagation through an arbitrary number of coupled cells. Failure may appear at any cell in the chain but is described by the same Riccati e...
Eros Rahe Dorsum: Implications for internal structure

An intriguing discovery of the NEAR imaging and laser-ranging experiments was the ridge system known as Rahe Dorsum and its possible relation with global-scale internal structure. The curved path of the ridge over the surface roughly defines a plane cutting through Eros. Another lineament on the other side of Eros, Calisto Fossae, seems to lie nearly on the same plane. The NEAR teams interpret Rahe as the expression of a compressive fault (a plane of weakness), because portions are a scarp, which on Earth would be indicative of horizontal compression, where shear displacement along a dipping fault has thrust the portion of the lithosphere on one side of the fault up relative to the other side. However, given the different geometry of Eros, a scarp may not have the same relationship to underlying structure as it does on Earth. The plane through Eros runs nearly parallel to, and just below, the surface facet adjacent to Rahe Dorsum. The plane then continues lengthwise through the elongated body, a surprising geometry for a plane of weakness on a battered body. Moreover, an assessment of the topography of Rahe Dorsum indicates that it is not consistent with displacement on the Rahe plane. Rather, the topography suggests that Rahe Dorsum results from resistance of the Rahe plane to impact erosion. Such a plane of strength might have formed in Eros parent body by a fluid intrusion (e.g., a dike of partial melt) through undifferentiated material, creating a vein of stronger rock. Albedo, color and near-infrared spectra could be consistent with a distinct material composition and such a history, although the instruments resolution was not adequate for a definitive detection of such a spatially limited component. However the plane of strength formed, such structural reinforcing might have enabled and controlled the elongated irregular shape of Eros, as well as Rahe Dorsum.
Capitalism, nature, socialism a theoretical introduction∗

Summary This article expounds the traditional Marxist theory of the contradiction between forces and relations of production, over‐production of capital and economic crisis, and the process of crisis‐induced restructuring of productive forces and production relations into more transparently social, hence potentially socialist, forms. This exposition provides a point of departure for an “ecological Marxist”; theory of the contradiction between capitalist production relations and forces and the conditions of production, under‐production of capital and economic crisis, and the process of crisis‐induced restructuring of production conditions and the social relations thereof also into more transparently social, hence potentially socialist, forms. In short, there may be not one but two paths to socialism in late capitalist society. While the two processes of capital over‐production and underproduction are by no means mutually exclusive, they may offset or compensate for one another in ways which create the appe...
Non-specific incorporation of H3-thymidine into the chloroplasts of Spirogyra grevilleana

Abstract In the last few years, DNA has been detected in the chloroplasts of a variety of species by several experimental techniques. [See reviews by Gibor and Granick (1964) and Iwamura, (1966) .] One of the earliest reports of chloroplast DNA was based on autoradiographic observations of H3-thymidine (H3-TdR) incorporation into chloroplasts of Spirogyra sp. ( Stocking and Gifford, 1959 ). In these experiments, however, suitable nuclease controls were not performed. We have repeated these experiments and have found that H3-TdR is incorporated non-specifically in Spirogyra grevilleana and, therefore, is an inadequate method for demonstration of chloroplast DNA in this organism.
The microbiome in asthma

The application of recently developed sensitive, specific, culture-independent tools for identification of microbes is transforming concepts of microbial ecology, including concepts of the relationships between the vast complex populations of microbes associated with ourselves and with states of health and disease. Although most work initially focused on the community of microbes (microbiome) in the gastrointestinal tract and its relationship to gastrointestinal disease, interest has expanded to include study of the relationships of the airway microbiome to asthma and its phenotypes and to the relationships between the gastrointestinal microbiome, development of immune function, and predisposition to allergic sensitization and asthma. Here we provide our perspective on the findings of studies of differences in the airway microbiome between asthmatic patients and healthy subjects and of studies of relationships between environmental microbiota, gut microbiota, immune function, and asthma development. In addition, we provide our perspective on how these findings suggest the broad outline of a rationale for approaches involving directed manipulation of the gut and airway microbiome for the treatment and prevention of allergic asthma.
Convexity and concavity of eigenvalue sums

It is well known thatσ(H), the sum of the negative eigenvalues of a Hermitian matrixH, is a concave and increasing function ofH. In contrast to this, we prove that forA nonsingular Hermitian andP positive definite, the functionP↦σ(AP)=σ(P 1/2 AP 1/2) is convex and decreasing. Several other results of this nature are also proved.
Cat's claw: an Amazonian vine decreases inflammation in osteoarthritis

Cat's claw (Uncaria tomentosa and Uncaria guianesis) is a medicinal plant from the Amazon commonly used to treat disorders such as arthritis, gastritis and osteoarthritis. The mechanism of cat's claw appears to be as an inhibitor of TNFalpha and antioxidant. Understanding the processes in osteoarthritis may facilitate and clarify the potential role of cat's claw as a complementary therapy to assist in the reduction of pro-inflammatory mediators and effectors. The clinical relevance of this therapy as a viable modality of intervention will be discussed.
Brief light stimulation during the mouse nocturnal activity phase simultaneously induces a decline in core temperature and locomotor activity followed by EEG-determined sleep.

Light exerts a variety of effects on mammals. Unexpectedly, one of these effects is the cessation of nocturnal locomotion and the induction of behavioral sleep (photosomnolence). Here, we extend th...
Entropies and combinatorics of random branching processes and context-free languages

The entropies and combinatorics of trees that branch according to fixed but finite numbers of rules are studied. Context-free grammars are used to categorize the ways in which nodes branch to yield daughter nodes, thus providing an organized setting to examine the entropies for random branching processes whose realizations are trees and whose probabilities are determined by probabilities associated with the substitution rules of the grammar. Normalized entropy rates H are derived for the critical branching rate and supercritical branching rate processes. An equipartition theorem is proved for the supercritical processes. A strong departure from classical theorems for Markov sources occurs for supercritical branching processes as the typical sets have supergeometric growth rates. The combinatorics of the set of all trees that can be generated from the context-free substitution rules is also studied. >
Feeding Thyroprotein and Sex Hormones to Laying Hens

Abstract A SERIES of reports from this laboratory on the feeding of thyroprotein to White Leghorn hens of increasing age has indicated that in the younger birds, the addition of thyroid hormone to the feed was without effect during the fall and winter months but appeared to be responsible for more sustained egg production during the spring and summer (Turner et al. 1947). Production strain Rhode Island Red birds showed a similar seasonal response (Turner et al. 1945). With advancing age, the Leghorns have begun to show a more marked difference in egg production throughout the year. These differences in response to thyroprotein-feeding have been interpreted as indicating that the White Leghorns and Rhode Island Reds included in these experiments have received an inheritance for the secretion of optimum amounts of thyroid hormone under the environmental conditions of the fall and winter. In the spring and summer, with increasing environmental temperature . . .
Vertical Radar Profiling: Influence of Survey Geometry on First-Arrival Traveltimes and Amplitudes

Abstract In vertical radar profiling (VRP), the receiver antenna is located within a borehole while the transmitter antenna is placed at varying offsets from the borehole. VRP surveys are primarily used to reconstruct subsurface georadar velocities by inverting direct-wave traveltimes. We examine the VRP technique and associated concepts that need to be considered when acquiring, analyzing and interpreting VRP data. Using simple ray-based models, we investigate the occurrence of waves critically refracted at the earth's surface for common near-surface velocity distributions and acquisition geometries. Our analysis demonstrates that these refracted waves are major limiting factors in VRP surveying. They interfere with the direct arrivals and hence reduce the reliability of direct-arrival traveltimes and amplitudes. To avoid waves critically refracted at the earth's surface in the recorded data, near-offset transmitter locations are preferred. We also analyze the amplitude sensitivity of the VRP antenna configuration, which is represented by an infinitesimal horizontal dipole located at the interface between two half-spaces and an infinitesimal vertical dipole in full-space. By combining the far-field radiation patterns of these two dipoles, we determine transmitter–receiver combinations for which maximum sensitivity is expected. A key result is that medium to far offsets between the transmitter and the borehole provide the highest amplitude signals. As a consequence, there is a natural trade-off between the requirement to avoid waves critically refracted at the earth's surface and the quest to record high-amplitude data. Finally, we apply the developed concepts in analyzing a multi-offset VRP field data example. This field data example illustrates how multiple offsets between the transmitter antenna and the borehole allow high-quality data to be measured over a large depth range.
Gender, Ethnicity, and Self-Employment: A Multilevel Analysis across US Metropolitan Areas:

Rates of self-employment differ among ethnic groups, between men and women, and by place. Using the 2000 5% Public Use Microdata Samples and hierarchical regression modeling, I examine in this study how metropolitan labor-market characteristics influence the probability of self-employment among non-Hispanic whites, blacks, Hispanics, and Asians in the United States, separately for men and women. The results show that, after controlling for individual-level characteristics, metropolitan labor-market characteristics—including macroeconomic conditions, overall business structure, ethnic composition, and residential segregation—significantly influence self-employment patterns across ethnic and gender groups.
Time-domain DORT method for ultrawideband electromagnetic fields under dispersive and conductive random media

Time-domain via a time-reversal operator decomposition (TD-DORT) method has been extended to impenetrable scatterers in dispersive and conductive random media. Effects of dispersion and losses on the TRO have been considered. It has been observed that although dispersion and/or losses result in decrease on the TRO eigenvalues, localization information can still be extracted from the phase information. Using phase information along with the attenuation compensation results in a focusing performance closer to that achieved in a nondispersive and lossless case. For cases where background medium is both inhomogeneous and dispersive (and/or lossy) and only statistical information available, it is not possible to exactly compensate for the dispersive and/or loss effects. However, a satisfactory approximate compensation can be achieved for low fluctuations (under Born approximation) and losses by using ensemble averages.
Endocarditis risk of the USCI PDA umbrella for transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus.

BACKGROUNDThe USCI PDA Umbrella is a device to close patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) by a transcatheter technique. Human clinical trials have shown excellent efficacy in reducing or eliminating the PDA shunt, but concerns remain about the risk of infection with this device. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk of infection using an animal model.METHODS AND RESULTSSusceptibility to developing endocarditis was tested by injecting a single intravenous dose of group L streptococcus. Ten piglets with a closed ductus served as controls. Two of these developed valvular vegetations. PDA was produced in 19 animals by balloon dilation of the ductus. Seven of 7 animals with PDA at the time of bacterial injection developed endarteritis of the ductus and valvular vegetations. A PDA Umbrella was placed in the remaining 12 animals, and bacteria were injected 2 weeks after device implantation. Infection was evident in the PDA Umbrella only in the single animal in which the Umbrella had embolized and been lef...
Anion concentration-dependent partitioning mechanism in the extraction of uranium into room-temperature ionic liquids

The mode of partitioning of uranyl ion between nitrate-containing aqueous phases and various N,N'-dialkylimidazolium-based room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) in the presence of tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP) is shown to change from an ion-exchange process to one involving extraction of a neutral uranyl-TBP-nitrato complex as the aqueous nitrate concentration is increased. Increasing the hydrophobicity of the RTIL cation eventually leads to nitrato complex extraction as the predominant mode of partitioning, regardless of nitrate concentration.
Fatal Air Embolism to the Right Side of the Heart during Pneumonectomy for Carcinoma: Result of Broncho-Azygous Vein Communication and Positive-Pressure Ventilation

A 59-year-old white man had an extensive bronchogenic carcinoma of the right upper lobe. During the course of pneumonectomy, the patient died unexpectedly. At autopsy, massive right-sided air embolism was evident, associated with broncho-azygous vein communication. The cause of the air embolism and subsequent death was almost certainly related to positive-pressure ventilation, allowing entry of air into the systemic venous system through the broncho-azygous vein communication. Because of the clinical implications of this problem, the case is reported, and suggestions for management are offered.
Reaction of the nucleotide analogue 2-[(4-bromo-2,3-dioxobutyl)thio]adenosine 2',5'-bisphosphate at the coenzyme site of wild-type and mutant NADP(+)-specific glutamate dehydrogenases from Salmonella typhimurium.

Abstract Wild-type glutamate dehydrogenase (EC 1.4.1.4) from Salmonella typhimurium reacts at 25 °C in 0.1 m phosphate buffer, pH 7, with the nucleotide analogue 2-[(4-bromo-2,3-dioxobutyl)thio]-adenosine 2′,5′-bisphosphate (2-BDB-TA 2′,5′-DP) to give 78% inactivation. Protection against inactivation was achieved with NADPH, indicating that modification occurred in the region of the coenzyme binding site. After reaction of the enzyme with 2-BDB-TA 2′,5′-DP, the dioxo moiety of the bound reagent was reduced with [3H]NaBH4. The radioactive peptide which corresponds to the sequence Leu282-Cys283-Glu284-Ile285-Lys286 was isolated by HPLC from tryptic digests of inactive modified enzyme but was absent in digests of active enzyme modified in the presence of NADPH. Mutant enzyme E284Q was 64% inactivated by 2-BDB-TA 2′,5′-DP and modification of the corresponding Leu282-Lys286 peptide was found, while neither mutant enzyme C283I nor C283I:E284Q was inactivated by the nucleotide analogue and no corresponding radioactive peptides were found. These results show that cysteine-283 is the target of the reagent and is located near the coenzyme binding site. The nucleotide analogue 2-[(4-bromo-2,3-dioxobutyl)thio]-1,N6-ethenoadenosine 2′,5′-bisphosphate (2-BDB-TeA 2′,5′-DP) has also been shown to react with cysteine-283 (L. Haeffner-Gormley et al., 1991, J. Biol. Chem. 266, 5388–5394). However, the predominant form of the Leu282-Lys286 peptide after reaction with 2-BDB-TA 2′,5′-DP contained only 0.17 mol tritium/mol leucine, whereas the 2-BDB-TϵA 2′,5′-DP-modified peptide contained 1.80 mol tritium/mol leucine; these results indicate that the reaction product of 2-BDB-TeA 2′,5′-DP retains two reducible carbonyl groups while these are not available in the product of 2-BDB-TA 2′,5′-DP. It is suggested that cysteine-283 reacts primarily at a carbonyl group of 2-BDB-TA 2′,5′-DP to form a thiohemiacetal derivative, while it reacts at the methylene group of 2-BDB-TϵA 2′,5′-DP with displacement of bromide. Both nucleotide analogues also yielded, in small amount, a crosslinked peptide containing the sequences 282–286 and 299–333, indicating proximity between these regions in the native structure.
Field-Flow Fractionation in the Determination of Rates of Surfactant Adsorption to Colloidal Substrates

Abstract The biomedically interesting process of coating surfaces with poly(ethylene oxide)-containing surfactants has prompted a study of the kinetics of adsorbing Pluronic® F108 on model substrates consisting of polystyrene nanospheres. The sedimentation field-flow fractionation method (sdFFF) is found to offer an accurate and precise way to quantify the mass uptake without the need for potentially perturbing labeling reactions. The pseudo-irreversible adsorption from a 4% solution of the polymeric surfactant is found to be 80% complete within the first hour, with the remaining surface population proceeding to completion during an additional nine hour period. These findings are verified by a more conventional method based on chemical analysis. The potential problems of basing the rate analysis on measured levels of depletion, as opposed to the direct assessment of uptake provided by sdFFF, are discussed.
Global Force for Branding: A Study of Attitudes, Intentions, the Military, and the Wars Overseas

Through the years, the United States Armed Forces has advertized to the citizens of America in times of peace and war. The present study explores the attitudes and intentions regarding the military by two groups of study participants during the United States’ active engagement in Afghanistan and Iraq. One group of participants viewed a military ad and one group was asked to recall a military ad. Mediation analysis revealed partially mediated relationships among attitude toward the ad, attitude toward the military (where the military has “brand” characteristics), and the discussion of one's own intention to enlist in the armed forces as well as one's intention to recommend enlisting to friends and family. Post hoc analysis indicated that sex has a strong direct effect on enlistment discussion intentions. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Effect of psoralen and near UV on vertebrate cells in culture: comparison of laser with standard lamp.

. 4′-Aminoethyl-4,5′,8-trimethylpsoralen, a DNA photoreagent, was used in conjunction with near UV light to modify cell growth and morphology. Since near UV radiation is needed to trigger the photoreactions, various doses of classical and laser near UV light were exposed to cells growing in media containing psoralen. It was found that near UV light caused a reduction in cell viability as indicated by complete inhibition of growth. The specificity of psoralens for nucleic acids was also investigated by using a tritium labeled psoralen derivative and tracing its appearance in different fractions of DNA from treated and untreated cells.
Some thermodynamic aspects of polymer adhesion

Recently developed techniques permit the estimation of the surface free energy of polymers and the separation of this free energy into dispersion and hydrogen-bonding components. These techniques have been used to calculate the thermodynamic reversible work of adhesion of a vinylidene chloride copolymer coating to propylene film. The changes in work of adhesion upon immersion of the coated polypropylene in water and surfactant solutions were calculated. When the calculated work of adhesion was negative, spontaneous separation of the coating from the polypropylene occurred upon immersion in all cases. When the calculated work of adhesion was positive, no separation was observed in agreement with theory.
Functional signature of recovering cortex: dissociation of local field potentials and spiking activity in somatosensory cortices of spinal cord injured monkeys.

Abstract After disruption of dorsal column afferents at high cervical spinal levels in adult monkeys, somatosensory cortical neurons recover responsiveness to tactile stimulation of the hand; this reactivation correlates with a recovery of hand use. However, it is not known if all neuronal response properties recover, and whether different cortical areas recover in a similar manner. To address this, we recorded neuronal activity in cortical area 3b and S2 in adult squirrel monkeys weeks after unilateral lesion of the dorsal columns. We found that in response to vibrotactile stimulation, local field potentials remained robust at all frequency ranges. However, neuronal spiking activity failed to follow at high frequencies (≥ 15 Hz). We suggest that the failure to generate spiking activity at high stimulus frequency reflects a changed balance of inhibition and excitation in both area 3b and S2, and that this mismatch in spiking and local field potential is a signature of an early phase of recovering cortex (
Melting, pinning and forced flow of magnetic bubble arrays

Abstract We review recent experiments on magnetic bubble arrays in thin garnet films performed to study the structural and dynamical properties of two-dimensional solids. Magnetic bubbles are viewed directly, and the motion of topological defects in the arrays is followed easily. Observations indicate that bubble arrays undergo a continuous hexatic-to-liquid melting transition as a function of density. At high densities, away from the transition, we observe a hexatic glass produced by substrate roughness in the sample. In order to study collective transport of magnetic bubble arrays we use disks of permalloy to create an interface across which the array varies smoothly from pinned to unpinned. The unpinned part of the bubble array is then forced to flow past the interface. Time-resolved images of the flowing array near the interface indicate that the gliding motion of interacting dislocations lead to slip events which add to produce macroscopic shear flow.
Detection of changes in human affect dimensions using an Adaptive Temporal Topic model

There is an increasing demand for applications that can detect changes in human affect or behavior especially in the fields of health care and crime detection. Detection of changes in continuous human affect dimensions from multimedia data precedes the exact prediction of an emotion as a continuum. With the growth in the dimensions of emotion space there is a need to discover latent descriptors (topics) that can explain these complex states. Considering that at every time step the audio/video frames constitute a set of such latent topics, the presence and absence of changes in emotion should effect the topics in those frames. Based on this assumption an Adaptive Temporal Topic model (ATTM) based change detection algorithm is presented that, at each time step, detects whether a significant change in human affect has occurred. ATTM is a probabilistic topic model that extends Latent Dirichlet Allocation model by incorporating the temporal dependencies between human audio/video `documents' and generates refined topics. The topics assigned to a document by ATTM are adapted to the presence or absence of a change in the affect dimension at that time step. ATTM along with different regression models has been tested on the multimodal Audio Visual Emotion Challenge (AVEC 2012) data and has shown promising results in comparison to existing temporal and non-temporal topic models.
Cross-National Differences in Academic Achievement: Why the United States Lags behind Other Rich Nations

This article tests the hypothesis that national differences in academic achievement scores of 15-year-olds in 25 developed nations in 2003, 2006, and 2009 can be explained by national differences in national health and family economic security programs, levels of parental education, and national differences in motivation to strive for high levels of academic achievement. We also test for the additional impact, if any, of national differences in educational system characteristics. We then ask what variables account for the low scores of American students on math, science, and reading achievement tests. More highly developed national family health and economic security programs and higher student levels of motivation for academic achievement in other rich countries help explain why scores in the United States are relatively low. Low academic qualifications and prestige for teachers and a lack of national educational goals also differentiate the United States from nations with higher achievement scores.
Reversal of the ΔdegP Phenotypes by a Novel rpoE Allele of Escherichia coli

RseA sequesters RpoE (σE) to the inner membrane of Escherichia coli when envelope stress is low. Elevated envelope stress triggers RseA cleavage by the sequential action of two membrane proteases, DegS and RseP, releasing σE to activate an envelope stress reducing pathway. Revertants of a ΔdegP ΔbamB strain, which fails to grow at 37°C due to high envelope stress, harbored mutations in the rseA and rpoE genes. Null and missense rseA mutations constitutively hyper-activated the σE regulon and significantly reduced the major outer membrane protein (OMP) levels. In contrast, a novel rpoE allele, rpoE3, resulting from the partial duplication of the rpoE gene, increased σE levels greater than that seen in the rseA mutant background but did not reduce OMP levels. A σE-dependent RybB::LacZ construct showed only a weak activation of the σE pathway by rpoE3. Despite this, rpoE3 fully reversed the growth and envelope vesiculation phenotypes of ΔdegP. Interestingly, rpoE3 also brought down the modestly activated Cpx envelope stress pathway in the ΔdegP strain to the wild type level, showing the complementary nature of the σE and Cpx pathways. Through employing a labile mutant periplasmic protein, AcrAL222Q, it was determined that the rpoE3 mutation overcomes the ΔdegP phenotypes, in part, by activating a σE-dependent proteolytic pathway. Our data suggest that a reduction in the OMP levels is not intrinsic to the σE-mediated mechanism of lowering envelope stress. They also suggest that under extreme envelope stress, a tight homeostasis loop between RseA and σE may partly be responsible for cell death, and this loop can be broken by mutations that either lower RseA activity or increase σE levels.
Are late-glacial climate oscillations recorded in varves of the upper Connecticut Valley, northeastern United States?

Abstract Ernst Antevs' original varve chronology for the upper Connecticut Valley in New England (USA), published in 1922 and 1928, has been extended and a 14C calibration has been established based on 1736+3 −20 5 varves containing terrestrial plant macrofossils at Newbury, Vermont. Varve deposition at Newbury began in a glacial lake (12.1 14C kyr BP) and persisted in a non-glacial lake (to at least 10.4 14C kyr BP). The calibrated Newbury varve stratigraphy and associated glacial events may be compared to climatic events recognized in cores from modern lakes in eastern North America and Europe and in Greenland ice cores. Thickness of glacial varves at Newbury is difficult to correlate to climate because of the thinning of varves in response to ice recession, flood events, and lake level changes that obscure thickness changes resulting from climate change. The Littleton-Bethlehem Read-vance (11.9–11.8 14C kyr BP), that is tied to the varves, may correspond to Older Dryas (GI-1d) cooling. Non-glacial (aft...
Characterization of monoclonal antibodies derived from lymphocytes from Graves' disease patients in a cytochemical bioassay for thyroid stimulators.

Monoclonal antibodies 208F7 and 307H6, derived from Graves' lymphocytes, were previously shown to stimulate thyroid function. We characterized these antibodies in the ultrasensitive cytochemical bioassay for thyroid stimulators. Bell-shaped dose-response curves were obtained for both antibodies, confirming their actions as thyroid stimulators; 307H6 was 107 times more potent than 208F7, and the ascending limb of the response curve to 307H6 was not significantly different from that of a reference preparation of thyroid-stimulating antibodies, namely LATS-B. Stimulation by both 208F7 and 307H6 was inhibited by antihuman, but not antimouse, immunoglobulin. Stimulation by 208F7, but not 307H6, was inhibited by 11E8 (a monoclonal antibody raised against the TSH receptor), which is a relatively potent inhibitor of TSH, but not thyroid-stimulating antibodies. These findings together with previous observations on the interactions of 208F7 and 307H6 with thyroid cells in both the presence and absence of TSH and of...
Exact multiplicity and numerical computation of solutions for two classes of non-autonomous problems with concave–convex nonlinearities

Abstract We establish the exact multiplicity of positive solutions, and the global solution structure for two classes of problems on circular domains. The first class involves non-autonomous concave–convex problems on a ball in R n , and the second one deals with concave–convex problems on a “thin” annulus in R n . We illustrate our results by numerical computations, using a novel algorithm, which involves continuation in a global parameter.
Concentration- and time-response characteristics of plaque isolates of Agrotis ipsilon multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus derived from a field isolate.

Abstract Plaque isolates derived from the Illinois field isolate of Agrotis ipsilon multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus are distinguished by the presence or absence of a small deletion in the baculovirus egt (ecdysteroid UDP-glucosyltransferase) coding sequence. In concentration–response and time-response bioassays with both plaque and field isolates, plaque isolates with a mutated egt gene were less pathogenic against A. ipsilon larvae than other isolates, but killed larvae faster. Mixed infections with isolates representing the two different egt genotypes caused the same level of mortality as the field isolate and a plaque isolate with a wild-type egt gene.
Morphology of the capsule-like portion of the reactive membranes on intraocular lens implants

The glass-membrane-like capsules probably are the practically most important part of the separating membranes that typically form on intraocular lens implants in the human eye. With time in the eye, these clear capsules become tougher, more firmly adherent, and less eosinophilic. Their formation occurs early after implantation and is associated with the reactions of intraocular macrophages. Examples of well developed capsules are presented to show that only few cells are needed for their maintenance and that they can be of irregular thickness. Cell life on the film-like capsules is demonstrated using the examples of blood-eating macrophages, epitheliod cells, and melanocytes. Attachment of fibrous structures containing zonular fibers to the haptics is recorded.
The role of sinking fecal pellets in stratified euphotic zones

Abstract The euphotic zone at the VERTEX II oligotrophic sediment trap station (18°N, 108°W) can be viewed for simplicity a as two-layered system with (1) an upper mixed layer (0–40 m) of relatively high primary production, low chlorophyll concentration, and low zooplankton biomass, and (2) a lower layer (40–100 m) containing the chlorophyll and particulate organic carbon maxima, higher zooplankton biomass, and relatively low primary production. Particle traps at 30 m yielded no particulate carbon flux, while traps at 120 m registered 38 mg C m−2 d−1, with many visible fecal pellets. Zooplankton in the upper layer apparently produced small pellets which were recycled in situ. Fecal pellet carbon production by 200–2000 μm zooplankton in the lower layer, however, was 30% of trap-measured C flux. Tiny pellets produced by 53–200 μm zooplankton were mostly recycled within the euphotic zone, regardless of which euphotic layer the animals were inhabiting when collected. Comparisons are made between the relative contributions of sinking fecal pellets when the VERTEX II euphotic zone is considered as a single uniform layer rather than as a two-layered system. In addition, comparison of the VERTEX II data with data from the eutrophi VERTEX Vc site (35°50′N, 122°30′W) suggests that zooplankton can be more significantly coupled to carbon flux out of the bottom layers of oligotrophic euphotic zones than to carbon flux out of unlayered eutrophic euphotic zones.
Efficient Design Strategy for Whole-Cell and Cell-Free Biosensors based on Engineered Riboswitches

We have applied dual genetic selection to design a bacterial riboswitch with improved sensitivity by employing a high-affinity heterologous thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) aptamer and modified selection conditions in Escherichia coli. The cells transformed with the engineered TPP riboswitches were characterized as whole-cell biosensors. The riboswitches were further studied in cell-free translation systems where they exhibited characteristics similar to those in vivo and a shorter response time for analysis. The flexibility of the riboswitch-based biosensors to accommodate different reporter genes was also demonstrated. Tuning of biosensor characteristics in vivo enables efficient development of aptamer-based whole-cell and cell-free biosensors.
Map positions of the 5' ends of eight mRNAs synthesized from the late genes in the vaccinia virus HindIII D fragment.

Abstract The map positions of the 5′ ends of eight late mRNAs from the vaccinia virus Hind III D fragment were determined by a combination of S1 nuclease-protection studies and by primer extension analysis. For genes D2, D8, D10, and Di 1, a single set of 5′ ends can be observed by S1 nuclease analysis which maps just upstream from the translation start site for each gene. For genes D3, D6, and D11a the situation is more complex. In addition to the ATG proximal family of protected DNA fragments, multiple larger protected DNA fragments map to sites up to several hundred base pairs upstream from the coding region. When primer extension mapping is carried out, large extended products are observed in all cases but that of gene D10. For genes D2, D8, and D13, these large DNA products are heterogenous in length and much longer than the S1 nuclease-protected DNA fragments. This has been observed previously for the late mRNA from the 11 K gene by Bertholet et al. [(1987) . Cell 50, 153]. In the case of mRNA from genes D3 and D6, however, the lengths of the extended DNA primers agree with the lengths of the S1 nuclease-protected DNA fragments. Therefore, for genes D3 and D6, the 5' regions of the mRNA must be derived from transcription of the DNA sequences upstream from the coding region of each gene. Since the structures at the 5' ends of the late mRNA assume more than one form, there maybe multiple pathways for generating late mRNA.
Model Study of Safety Grating for Culvert Inlet

The design of a safety grating for a culvert inlet as investigated using a physical model. The objectives of such a grating are: (1) To prevent a person who falls into the drainageway from being carried into and through the culvert; and (2) to prevent the person from being pinned against the grating. The basic design of the grating, recommended by previous researchers, was tested using a 1:10 scale model. Testing was performed over a wide spectrum of flood flows, including flows that exceed the culvert capacity. The grating has only a minor effect on the head‐discharge relationship, causing a slight increase‐in the headwater required to pass given discharge. However, the grating may act as a debris control structure and vigilant maintenance may be required to prevent clogging of the culvert inlet. Neutrally buoyant objects were introduced to the flow to assess the performance of the grating. Because of the parabolic shape of the grating, an object carried to the culvert tends to be pushed up the grating a...
Mutational analysis of the tobacco vein mottling virus genome.

Abstract We have used a cDNA clone of the polyvirus, tobacco vein mottling virus, to construct 19 mutants bearing 12-nt insertions in the viral genome. These mutants display a variety of phenotypes in inoculated tobacco plants or protoplasts. All mutants with insertions in P3, Cl, 6K, Nla, or Nlb failed to produce detectable amounts of progeny viral RNA in protoplasts or plants which suggests that they all may be directly involved in replication. Mutants (one in P1 and one in HCpro) presumably affected in polyprotein processing also did not replicate in plants or protoplasts. Seven mutants, with insertions in the 5′ noncoding region, P1, HCpro, or CP regions of the genome, were able to infect protoplasts. Three of the 7 mutants (1 in the 5′ noncoding region and 2 in HCpro) were able to infect protoplasts but not plants. The remaining 4 mutants replicated in protoplasts and were able to cause systemic infection in plants. The mutation in the CP had no effect on virus accumulation or symptom development in inoculated plants, whereas the other 3 (1 in P1 and 2 in HCpro) induced cyclical patterns of symptom expression. These symptoms ranged from very mild to wild-type-like as new leaves emerged and, as the plants continued to grow, this pattern was repeated. These results support the assignment of roles in replication to five coding regions in the genome and demonstrate that sequence alterations in many parts of other regions of the viral genome may have pronounced effects on replication and the expression of disease symptoms.
Role of CXCR3 and CCR5 in allograft rejection.

Abstract Chemokines are known to participate in allograft rejection by mediating leukocyte trafficking. Despite redundancy in chemokine family, several chemokine-chemokine receptor interactions have proven critical in alloimmune responses. We sought to determine the effect of combined blockade of CXCR3 and CCR5, two critical chemokine receptors, in acute rejection. Methods Heterotopic heart transplantation was performed using BALB/c to B6/129 mice deficient in CCR5. Following transplantation these mice were treated with goat anti-CXCR3 serum every other day. In the control group, BALB/c hearts were transplanted in wild type B6/129 recipients and treated with goat serum alone. No immunosuppression was given to either group. Recipient mice were then assessed daily for allograft function by abdominal palpation, and graft survival was confirmed by laparotomy. Results The donor hearts in the control group were rejected at 6 ± 1 days posttransplantation. Combined blockade of CXCR3 and CCR5 prolonged allograft survival versus control; all allografts survived to 24 days. In addition, there was a decrease in graft infiltrating CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes in the experimental group at 24 days. Conclusion Combined CXCR3 and CCR5 blockade is effective in prolonging allograft survival in a fully MHC mismatched murine model. Combined chemokine blockade holds promise in control of acute rejection in organ transplantation.
Characteristic temperature curves for various fire severities

The temperature curves described here characterize the temperature course of ventilation controlled fires of various severities. They are intended as basic exposure curves for fire-resistive design.
Applicability of the Diffusion Approximation in Inverse Models of Tissue Reflectance Spectra

For tissue optical properties of ?s 4~10 mm-1, ?a 0.01~0.25 mm-1 and g=0.84, the surface spatially resolved diffuse reflectance for diffusion theory were compared to Monte Carlo predictions. For source detector separations of 0.5~3 mm, the absolute percent errors ranged from 0 to ~30%.
Finding small balanced separators

Let G be an n-vertex graph that has a vertex separator of size k that partitions the graph into connected components of size smaller than α n, for some fixed 2/3 ≤ α
Psychosocial Thriving During Late Pregnancy: Relationship to Ethnicity, Gestational Weight Gain, and Birth Weight

Objective To test the relationships between psychosocial thriving (depressive symptoms, health-related lifestyle) and gestational weight gain and birth weight. To test the influences of ethnicity on the relationships between psychosocial thriving and gestational weight gain and birth weight. Design Baseline data taken from the Austin New Mothers Study. Setting A community hospital in Texas. Participants 305 low-risk African American, Hispanic, and White women with full-term pregnancies, singleton births, and Medicaid coverage. Main Measures Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, Self Care Inventory, Food Habits Questionnaire, gestational weight gain, and birth weight. Results Newborns of African American women had lower birth weights (3,240 g) than newborns of Hispanic (3,422 g) or White women (3,472 g), even though no ethnic differences were found among the mothers on psychosocial variables. Late in pregnancy, women had high levels and prevalence (> 70%) of depressive symptoms regardless of ethnicity, and 50% exceeded recommended gestational weight gains. In full regression models, psychosocial variables were not significant predictors of gestational weight gain or birth weight. Ethnicity also was not a significant moderator of weight outcomes. Conclusions Psychosocial thriving late in pregnancy was unrelated to gestational weight gain or birth weight. Ethnicity did not moderate psychosocial-weight relationships. Although ethnic differences were not found on psychosocial variables, high levels of depressive symptoms and greater than recommended gestational weight gains were prevalent. These findings have implications for maternal health during and beyond pregnancy.
Crimea 2011 International Conference: Libraries and Information Resources in the Modern World of Science, Culture, Education and Business

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a conference report of Crimea 2011 that the author attended in June 2011. The conference is held in Sudak, Crimea, Ukraine, each year and is organized by the Russian National Public Library of Science and Technology.Design/methodology/approach – The author attended the conference and compiled a report.Findings – The Crimea Conference has a special relationship with IFLA and highlights library developments in Russia and the former Soviet Union countries.Originality/value – This is an original review of the conference, which is the premiere annual library conference for Russian and Ukrainian librarians, as well as librarians from the former Soviet Union countries. For librarians with a focus on Russian area studies and Eastern Europe, the Crimea is an event not to be missed.