cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Generalized transduction by phage P22 in Salmonella typhimurium: I. Molecular origin of transducing DNA

Abstract P22, a temperate phage which grows on Salmonella typhimurium, is capable of carrying out generalized transduction in this host. The generalized transducing particles are the same size as P22 phage particles but instead of phage DNA they contain bacterial DNA which was synthesized before phage infection. Further, DNA molecules isolated from the transducing particles have the same molecular weight as P22 DNA, 27 × 106 daltons. Examination of the formation of transducing particles under conditions in which the S. typhimurium recombination system (rec) and/or the P22 recombination system (erf) are defective indicates that neither of these general recombination systems is necessary for the formation of transducing particles.
Mannose-binding lectin deficiency and acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Mannose-binding lectin is a collectin involved in host defense against infection. Whether mannose-binding lectin deficiency is associated with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is debated. Methods: Participants in a s
Pop-up disaster

New analyses of old data show that a devastating earthquake of 1897 stemmed from slippage of a hitherto unknown fault. That event illustrates what might happen elsewhere today.
On acoustic-echo cancellation implementation with multiple cascadable adaptive FIR filter chips

The implementation of an acoustic-echo canceler for a speakerphone using multiple cascadable adaptive FIR (finite impulse response) filter ICs (the DSP 56200) is described. Ideally, canceling acoustic echoes requires a delay line that provides a delay equal to the impulse response time of the echo. It is shown that it is feasible to use the 24-bit-coefficient precision of the DSP56200 to reduce the length of the delay line. Simulation results show that with only 256 taps an echo return loss enhancement (ERLE) greater than 10 dB can be achieved on an echo 1000 samples in length. >
Accuracy evaluation of K and L XRF lead in bone (tibia) measurement by simulation with the specific purpose Monte Carlo code NCSXRF

Lead poisoning in humans has become of increasing interest to medical researchers in the last few years-leading to the development of in vivo X-ray fluorescence (XRF) methods of analysis. These methods suffer from larger minimum detectable concentrations (MDC) than desirable. Monte Carlo simulation is capable of providing an easier and more efficient method of investigating possible improvements in the MDC and accuracy of XRF measurement in bone through the design optimization of XRF systems. The specific purpose Monte Carlo code NCSXRF has been revised to simulate hypothesized XRF systems that measure K X rays or L X rays of lead in tibia. Preliminary results demonstrate the capability of the revised NCSXRF code in the optimization of K and L XRF measurements of lead in tibia.
Laboratory Issues: Use of Nutritional Biomarkers

Biomarkers of nutritional status provide alternative measures of dietary intake. Like the error and variation associated with dietary intake measures, the magnitude and impact of both biological (preanalytical) and laboratory (analytical) variability need to be considered when one is using biomarkers. When choosing a biomarker, it is important to understand how it relates to nutritional intake and the specific time frame of exposure it reflects as well as how it is affected by sampling and laboratory procedures. Biological sources of variation that arise from genetic and disease states of an individual affect biomarkers, but they are also affected by nonbiological sources of variation arising from specimen collection and storage, seasonality, time of day, contamination, stability and laboratory quality assurance. When choosing a laboratory for biomarker assessment, researchers should try to make sure random and systematic error is minimized by inclusion of certain techniques such as blinding of laboratory staff to disease status and including external pooled standards to which laboratory staff are blinded. In addition analytic quality control should be ensured by use of internal standards or certified materials over the entire range of possible values to control method accuracy. One must consider the effect of random laboratory error on measurement precision and also understand the method's limit of detection and the laboratory cutpoints. Choosing appropriate cutpoints and reducing error is extremely important in nutritional epidemiology where weak associations are frequent. As part of this review, serum lipids are included as an example of a biomarker whereby collaborative efforts have been put forth to both understand biological sources of variation and standardize laboratory results.
Interlibrary Loan Service and the MPALS

ABSTRACT Interlibrary Loan Services are affected by changes in the library. The introduction of an online public access catalog with accompanying databases might be expected to greatly increase inter-library loan requests. This article explores the reason why St. John's University experienced a surprising decrease in these requests. It shows that knowledge of a library's holdings can have a significant effect on Interlibrary Loan even when patrons are made aware of many items not held by the library.
Quantitative Trait Loci Associated with Bacterial Brown Spot in Phaseolus vulgaris L.

ABSTRACTBacterial brown spot (BBS) is caused by Pseu-domonas syringae pv. syringae , an epiphytic, ice nucleation active bacterium and a pathogen of many crop species. In snap bean ( Phaseo-lus vulgaris L.), BBS reduces crop value due to blemishes on the pods. A recombinant inbred line population (EP-RIL) and an inbred backcross population (EEP-IBC) developed from crosses between a BBS-resistant landrace, Puebla 152, and a susceptible cultivar, Eagle, were tested for ice nucleation and number of BBS lesions. The rank correlation between leaf ice nucleation and number of BBS lesions was 0.65. Regions located on linkage groups B1, B3, B6, and B11 were associated with quantitative trait loci (QTL) for both resistance traits in the EP-RIL by com-posite interval mapping. Random amplifi ed poly-morphic DNA (RAPD) marker P1.1500 located on linkage group B1, and AN6.1600 located linkage group B6, were confi rmed in the EEP-IBC popu-lation. These regions explained 13 and 19% of the variation for BBS in the EP-RIL population. The region from linkage group B3 was not con-fi rmed in the EEP-IBC population, but was sig-nifi cantly associated with BBS resistance in an independent population in a previous study. The results indicate that indirect selection for RAPD markers associated with QTL can be effective in introgressing BBS resistance.F. Navarro, Rhinelander Agricultural Research Station, Univ. of Wis-consin, Rhinelander, WI 54501; P. Skroch, Monsanto Co., St. Louis, MO 63167; G. Jung, Dep. of Plant, Soil, and Insect Sciences, Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003; J. Nienhuis, Dep. of Horticulture, Univ. of Wisconsin, 1575 Linden Dr., Madison, WI 53706. Received 3 May 2006. *Corresponding author (nienhuis@wisc.edu).
Quality of Relationships between Youth and Community Service Providers: Reliability and Validity of the Trusting Relationship Questionnaire.

We examined the factor structure and psychometric properties of the Trusting Relationship Questionnaire, a brief measure of relationship quality between youth and community-based service providers involved in their care. Data on youth residing in Therapeutic Foster Care and in Group Homes (N = 296) were collected. We identified a one-factor solution for the child version of the measure and a two-factor structure for the adult version: child's perception of the relationship and adult's perception of the relationship. Both versions appear to be highly reliable and possess adequate levels of construct, criterion, and discriminative validity. While no statistically significant age differences were noted on the parent version, on the child version, older youth were more likely to report lower relationship scores. Gender differences were found on both versions: Female youth reported higher scores on the child version as did adults reporters of relationships with female youth, but only for the first factor—child's perception of the relationship. Overall, the TRQ appears to capture the quality of the relationship between service providers and youth in their care, thus bridging a gap in assessment measures.
Sub-fractionation of human serum leucine aminopeptidase.

OUR earlier starch-gel electrophoretic zymograms1, obtained with 1-leucyl-β-naphthylamide (LBNA) substrate, revealed a single leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) zone for human serum. The substitution of alanyl-β-naphthylamide (ABNA) substrate now consistently reveals, within the diffuse trail behind the primary zone, an additional less-intense zone (Fig. 1a), detectable also for some sera by LBNA. Occasional sera give three or more zones; and one chronic pancreatitis serum has given a remarkable zymogram with five zones which, when observed through a suitable blue filter (Dupont No. 9 plastic ‘Varigam’ filter), can be distinguished as eight zones (Fig. 1b).
Improved fMRI Time-series Registration Using Joint Probability Density Priors

Functional MRI (fMRI) time-series studies are plagued by varying degrees of subject head motion. Faithful head motion correction is essential to accurately detect brain activation using statistical analyses of these time-series. Mutual information (MI) based slice-to-volume (SV) registration is used for motion estimation when the rate of change of head position is large. SV registration accounts for head motion between slice acquisitions by estimating an independent rigid transformation for each slice in the time-series. Consequently each MI optimization uses intensity counts from a single time-series slice, making the algorithm susceptible to noise for low complexity endslices (i.e., slices near the top of the head scans). This work focuses on improving the accuracy of MI-based SV registration of end-slices by using joint probability density priors derived from registered high complexity centerslices (i.e., slices near the middle of the head scans). Results show that the use of such priors can significantly improve SV registration accuracy.
Scaling in Polymer Tubes and Interpretation for Use in Solar Water Heating Systems

An experimental study of the growth of scale on copper, nylon 6,6, semiaromatic high temperature nylon, polypropylene, polybutylene, and Teflon tubes exposed to hard water is presented. Results provide qualitative information on the scaling of polymer tubes in nonisothermal, flowing conditions expected in heat exchangers and solar absorbers. The 89-cm-long tubes were placed in tube-in-shell heat exchangers. The tubes were exposed to flowing water for 1660 h, a 1120-h pretreatment phase using tap water adjusted to supersaturation of about 2 and pH of 8, followed by a 540-h acceleration phase using tap water with an adjusted total calcium concentration of 4×10 -3 M, and a pH of 9. Flow rate was 4 cm/s. A 50% propylene glycol solution at 60°C was maintained on the shell side of the heat exchanger. Sections of the tubes were removed periodically to determine the extent of scaling. Results include scanning electron microscope images of the tube surfaces before and after exposure to the flowing water, x-ray diffraction to determine the crystalline phase content of the observed deposits, and chemical analysis to estimate the mass of calcium carbonate per unit surface area. A model of the scaling process is presented to help interpret the data. The data show conclusively that polymer tubes are prone to scaling. With the exception of nylon 6,6, the scaling rate on the polymers is about the same as that on copper The nylon 6,6 substrate appears to enhance scaling. The enhancement is attributed to hydrolysis of the substrate.
A parallel network that learns to play backgammon

Abstract A class of connectionist networks is described that has learned to play backgammon at an intermediate-to-advanced level. The networks were trained by back-propagation learning on a large set of sample positions evaluated by a human expert. In actual match play against humans and conventional computer programs, the networks have demonstrated substantial ability to generalize on the basis of expert knowledge of the game. This is possibly the most complex domain yet studied with connectionist learning. New techniques were needed to overcome problems due to the scale and complexity of the task. These include techniques for intelligent design of training set examples and efficient coding schemes, and procedures for escaping from local minima. We suggest how these techniques might be used in applications of network learning to general large-scale, difficult “real-world” problem domains.
Phosphatidylazidothymidine and phosphatidyl-ddC: assessment of uptake in mouse lymphoid tissues and antiviral activities in human immunodeficiency virus-infected cells and in Rauscher leukemia virus-infected mice.

During the early stages of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, although symptoms are absent and viral replication in peripheral blood mononuclear cells is low, substantial levels of HIV replication can be documented in lymphoid tissue [G. Pantaleo, C. Graziosi, J.F. Demarest, L. Butini, M. Montroni, C.H. Fox, J.M. Orenstein, D.P. Kotler, and A.S. Fauci, Nature (London) 362:355-358, 1993, and J. Embretsen, M. Zupancic, J.L. Ribas, A. Burke, P. Racz, K. Tenner-Tacz, and A.T. Haase, Nature (London) 362:359-362, 1993]. This observation suggests that earlier treatment of HIV infection may be indicated and that strategies for enhancing drug targeting to the lymphoid tissue reservoris of HIV infection may be beneficial. To address this issue, we synthesized dioleoylphosphatidyl-ddC (DOP-ddC) and dipalmitoylphosphatidyl-3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (DPP-AZT), phospholipid prodrugs which form lipid bilayers and which are readily incorporated into liposomes. The anti-HIV activity of DOP-ddC was similar to that of ddC in HIV type 1-infected HT4-6C cells, but DPP-AZT was considerably less active than AZT in HT4-6C cells. Liposomes containing DOP-[3H]ddC or DPP-[3H]AZT administered intraperitoneally to mice produced greater levels of total radioactivity over time in plasma, spleen, and lymphoid tissue relative to the results with [3H]ddC and [3H]AZT, respectively. DPP-AZT administered intraperitoneally in liposomes as a single daily dose to mice infected with Rauscher leukemia virus prevented increased spleen weight and reverse transcriptase levels in serum with a dose-response roughly comparable to that of AZT given continuously in the drinking water. DOP-ddC, DPP-AZT, and lipid conjugates of other antiretroviral nucleosides may provide higher levels of drug over time in plasma and in lymph nodes and spleen, important reservoirs of HIV infection, and may represent an interesting alternative approach to antiviral nucleoside treatment of AIDS.
Prostate laser vaporization is safe and effective in elderly men

Introduction: There are few data on the safety and efficacy of laser photoselective vaporization (LVP) in elderly men. We compared the safety and efficacy of LVP for the treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men ≥75 years, who we defined as elderly, to those Materials and Methods: Safety and efficacy outcomes in elderly men undergoing LVP for lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to BPH from 2005 to 2012 were compared with men Results: Of 202 patients, 49 (24%) were elderly (range: 75-95 years) and 153 (76%) were Conclusions: Despite a higher prevalence of preoperative comorbidity and urinary retention, elderly LVP patients experienced perioperative safety and shorter term efficacy outcomes comparable to younger men.
Heavy ion stripping in tandem accelerator terminals

Abstract The behavior of thin carbon film when bombarded by heavy ions (Z>16) is discussed. A summary of useful formulae for estimating the average equilibrium charge states for heavy ions in both gas and carbon foil strippers are given together with a semi-empirical formula to estimate the charge-state distributions. A summary of the present status of multiple scattering calculations and energy straggling measurements in solid strippers is given.
Role of grain boundary engineering in the SCC behavior of ferritic–martensitic alloy HT-9

Abstract This paper focuses on the role of grain boundary engineering (GBE) in stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of ferritic–martensitic (F–M) alloy HT-9 in supercritical water (SCW) at 400 °C and 500 °C. Constant extension rate tensile (CERT) tests were conducted on HT-9 in as-received (AR) and coincident site lattice enhanced (CSLE) condition. Both unirradiated and irradiated specimens (irradiated with 2 MeV protons at 400 °C and 500 °C to a dose of 7 dpa) were tested. Ferritic–martensitic steel HT-9 exhibited intergranular stress corrosion cracking when subjected to CERT tests in an environment of supercritical water at 400 °C and 500 °C and also in an inert environment of argon at 500 °C. CSL-enhancement reduces grain boundary carbide coarsening and cracking susceptibility in both the unirradiated and irradiated condition. Irradiation enhanced coarsening of grain boundary carbides and cracking susceptibility of HT-9 for both the AR and CSLE conditions. Intergranular (IG) cracking of HT-9 results likely from fracture of IG carbides and seems consistent with the mechanism that coarser carbides worsen cracking susceptibility. Oxidation in combination with wedging stresses is the likely cause of the observed environmental enhancement of high temperature IG cracking in HT-9.
Marx's social ethics and critique of traditional morality

right, morality, and ethics (the family, civil society, and the state) from Hegel and through the process of his Feuerbachian transformative method and critique began to analyze the process of social production and the class society.31 The separation of non-moral from moral human goods would not be possible within a moral philosophy built around the concept of social ethics and species-being. This fragmentation of human goods into distinct realms is only possible in a moral philosophy that also fragments and alienates man from nature, man from society, practical reason from social rationality, individual freedom from social structures, etc. If the latter sort is the criterion by which moral philosophy is measured and judged, then Marx did not base his analysis on a system of ethics. But understanding the Marxist concept of ethics entails that one also understand the revolution that oc curred in moral philosophy, critical social science, and the reconceptualization of the social world in a conceptual framework that through Hegel returns to This content downloaded from 157.55.39.144 on Wed, 07 Sep 2016 05:23:57 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
Enzymatic activity and half-lives of capsaicin, dihydrocapsaicin, and pentadecanoic acid methyl ester in soil sprayed with hot pepper extract

Pest management is facing economic and ecological challenges in the United States and worldwide due to pest resistance, human and environmental hazards caused by use of synthetic pesticides. Natural product-based pesticides offer advantages that they are specific to the target species and typically have unique modes of action with little mammalian toxicity. Studies conducted at Kentucky State University revealed that the insecticidal and acaricidal performance of crude extracts from the fruits of Capsicum species justified the need for developing a natural pesticide formulation for agricultural use. Analysis of hot pepper extracts indicated the presence of three compounds having pesticidal efficacy: capsaicin, dihydrocapsaicin, and pentadecanoic acid methyl ester. The main objectives of this investigation were to: i) determine the half-live (T1/2 value) of capsaicin, dihydrocapsaicin, and pentadecanoic acid methyl ester in soil sprayed with hot pepper formulation and ii) assess the impact of hot pepper fo...
Jupiter: Its Red Spot and Disturbances in 1970-1971

Photographic observations of Jupiter and its Red Spot between Dec. 11, 1970, and Oct. 12, 1971, are reported. The Red Spot had a mean rotation period of 9 hr 55 min 38.5 sec, the shortest to be observed since the apparition of 1931-1932. The outstanding event of the apparition was an outburst of activity in the South Equatorial Belt which was similar in many ways to the great disturbance of 1928.
The role of elective lymph node dissection in the management of patients with thick cutaneous melanoma

A retrospective search of patients seen at the Duke Melanoma Clinic from 1970 to 1986 identified 308 clinically Stage I patients, with 4.0 to 10.0 mm cutaneous melanomas. Five-year and ten-year survival was 56% and 43%, respectively. Elective lymph node dissection (ELND) was done in 116 patients (37.7%); there was no difference in disease-free interval (DFI) or survival between these patients versus patients treated with wide excision only (P = 0.9). Thirty-two patients (27.6%) had pathologically positive nodes on ELND. These patients had a shorter DFI (P = 0.05) and survival (P = 0.03) compared with patients with negative node dissections. When further divided by Breslow's thickness, this difference persisted in patients with 4.0 to 6.0 mm lesions (P = 0.01). However, for thicker lesions (greater than 6.0 mm), there was no difference in survival between the node-negative and node-positive groups (P = 0.9). The mean follow-up was 7.1 years. Elective lymph node dissection was not done in 192 patients; 78 of these recurred first in the regional nodes. These 78 patients were compared with the 32 patients who had pathologically positive nodes by ELND to see if patient survival was improved by early removal of nodal disease. There was no difference in DFI (P = 0.5) or survival (P = 0.3) between these two groups. It is concluded that ELND may provide prognostic information for patients with thick cutaneous melanomas. However, there was no change in DFI or ultimate survival when patients were followed, and nodes removed when clinically positive. The authors do not recommend ELND for patients with thick melanomas because the risk of distant metastases outweighs any benefit of regional node dissection.
English-language writing instruction in Poland

Abstract Second language writing scholars have undertaken descriptions of English-language writing instruction in a variety of international settings, describing the role of various contextual factors in shaping English-language writing instruction. This article describes English-language writing instruction at various levels in Poland, noting how it is both limited and enhanced by a variety of factors, including the prestige enjoyed by English in Poland, due in part to the perception that English will help advance one's career; a perceived need to “catch up” with other European countries that have stronger traditions of English-language teaching; and the resulting motivation among many Poles for learning English. This article also describes how EFL writing instruction in Poland is influenced by pressure to prepare students for the writing sections of various English-language exams, by the lack of developed traditions of L1 and EFL writing instruction, and by the use at the university level of EFL writing teachers from English-dominant countries.
Eosinophilia and endomyocardial fibrosis

A 12 year old boy died after a 3 year course of recurrent and progressive heart failure. His cardiac symptoms began with a marked leukocytosis (white blood cell count 188,500/mm3) due to eosinophilia (90 percent). In 6 months, the leukocytosis and eosinophilia subsided, but the patient's heart failure progressed over the next 2 1/2 years. At autopsy there was no evidence of leukemia, but a severe endocardial fibrosis extending into the myocardium was found. The origin of endomyocardial fibrosis, although unknown, appears to have been related to the eosinophilia in this patient.
Thermoelectric properties of Re6GaxSeyTe15−y (0 ≤ x ≤ 2; 0 ≤ y ≤ 7.5)

Abstract Thermoelectric properties of Re6GaxSeyTe15−y (0 ≤ x ≤ 2; 0 ≤ y ≤ 7.5) were studied in the temperature range 90–320 K. The measurements revealed p-type semi-conductivity in all samples. Relatively high values of the Seebeck coefficients, α, were obtained in all samples. The electrical resistivities and room temperature Seebeck coefficients increased as selenium concentrations increased, for each value of x. The room temperature Seebeck coefficients and resistivities decreased as gallium content increased, for each value of y. Low carrier concentrations were found at room temperatures, in agreement with large Seebeck coefficient values. Measurements suggested hopping conduction between 150 K and 280 K for all samples. Temperature dependences of the Seebeck coefficient below 150 K were accounted for by phonon drag effect. The power factors for the samples were calculated. Theoretical discussions of dependences of the measured quantities on temperature and composition are given. Usefulness of these materials as thermoelectrics is also discussed.
The sources of developmental differences in children's incidental processing during discrimination trials

Abstract Crane and Ross reported that second graders learned more than sixth graders about attributes made relevant after solution of a discrimination task. Here two experiments are reported that enlighten the sources of this developmental difference. Both make use of an experimental technique whereby children verbalize their hypotheses during solution of a discrimination problem. The results indicate that ten-year-olds do not learn about incidental attributes that they tested while irrelevant in the pre-solution period, but that five-year-olds and seven-year-olds do. Children of all three ages process incidental information about attributes that they did not sample pre-solution. With some qualification, the incidentally processed information is retained throughout a five-minute delay interval. The results bear on developmental trends in the distribution of attention and on theoretical accounts of incidental learning in discrimination tasks.
An elaborated model of fly small-target tracking

Flies have the capability to visually track small moving targets, even across cluttered backgrounds. Previous computational models, based on figure detection (FD) cells identified in the fly, have suggested how this may be accomplished at a neuronal level based on information about relative motion between the target and the background. We experimented with the use of this "small-field system model" for the tracking of small moving targets by a simulated fly in a cluttered environment and discovered some functional limitations. As a result of these experiments, we propose elaborations of the original small-field system model to support stronger effects of background motion on small-field responses, proper accounting for more complex optical flow fields, and more direct guidance toward the target. We show that the elaborated model achieves much better tracking performance than the original model in complex visual environments and discuss the biological implications of our elaborations. The elaborated model may help to explain recent electrophysiological data on FD cells that seem to contradict the original model.
Targeting Melanoma: Endothelin B Receptor Makes an Encore

Melanoma is an aggressive cancer and, as such, is a frequent target of new therapies, including new small-molecule inhibitors, immunotherapies, and antisense-directed agents. In a recent paper by Asundi et al. , the authors evaluated the potential therapeutic utility of targeting the endothelin B
Kinetics of oxidative regeneration of zeolites

The analysis of the kinetic data on the oxidation of nondesorbed macromolecules in NaX zeolites confirms a hypothesis concerning two mechanisms of deactivation of microporous adsorbents in multicycle processes. An equation to describe the kinetics of two-stepoxidation of nondesorbed substances is suggested.
Rates and risk factors for progression to incident dementia vary by age in a population cohort.

Objective: To estimate rate of progression from normal cognition or mild impairment to dementia, and to identify potential risk and protective factors for incident dementia, based on age at dementia onset in a prospective study of a population-based cohort (n = 1,982) aged 65 years and older. Methods: Following the cohort annually for up to 5 years, we estimated incidence of dementia (Clinical Dementia Rating ≥1) among individuals previously normal or mildly impaired (Clinical Dementia Rating 0 or 0.5). In the whole cohort, and also stratified by median onset age, we examined several vascular, metabolic, and inflammatory variables as potential risk factors for developing dementia, using interval-censored survival models. Results: Based on 67 incident cases of dementia, incidence rate (per 1,000 person-years) was 10.0 overall, 5.8 in those with median onset age of 87 years or younger, and 31.5 in those with onset age after 87 years. Adjusting for demographics, the risk of incident dementia with onset age of 87 years or younger (n = 33) was significantly increased by baseline smoking, stroke, low systolic blood pressure, and APOE*4 genotype, and reduced by current alcohol use. Among those with dementia with onset after 87 years (n = 34), no risk or protective factor was significant. Conclusion: Risk and protective factors were only found for incident dementia with onset before the median onset age of 87 years, and not for those with later onset. Either unexplored risk factors explain the continued increase in incidence with age, or unknown protective factors are allowing some individuals to delay onset into very old age.
From quantum field theory to hydrodynamics: Transport coefficients and effective kinetic theory.

The evaluation of hydrodynamic transport coefficients in relativistic field theory, and the emergence of an effective kinetic theory description, is examined. Even in a weakly-coupled scalar field theory, interesting subtleties arise at high temperatures where thermal renormalization effects are important. In this domain, a kinetic theory description in terms of the fundamental particles ceases to be valid, but one may derive an effective kinetic theory describing excitations with temperature dependent properties. While the shear viscosity depends on the elastic scattering of typical excitations whose kinetic energies are comparable to the temperature, the bulk viscosity is sensitive to particle non-conserving processes at small energies. As a result, the shear and the bulk viscosities have very different dependence on the interaction strength and temperature, with the bulk viscosity providing an especially sensitive test of the validity of an effective kinetic theory description.
Cirrhosis, bile acids and gut microbiota: Unraveling a complex relationship

A picture is now starting to emerge regarding the liver-bile acid-microbiome axis. Increasing levels of the primary bile acid cholic acid (CA) causes a dramatic shift toward the Firmicutes, particularly Clostridium cluster XIVa and increasing production of the harmful secondary bile acid deoxycholic acid (DCA). During progression of cirrhosis, the microbiome, both through their metabolism, cell wall components (LPS) and translocation lead to inflammation. Inflammation suppresses synthesis of bile acids in the liver leading to a positive-feedback mechanism. Decrease in bile acids entering the intestines appears to favor overgrowth of pathogenic and pro-inflammatory members of the microbiome including Porphyromonadaceae and Enterobacteriaceae. Decreasing bile acid concentration in the colon in cirrhosis is also associated with decreases in Clostridium cluster XIVa, which includes bile acid 7α-dehydroxylating bacteria which produce DCA. Rifaximin treatment appears to act by suppressing DCA production, reducing endotoxemia and harmful metabolites without significantly altering microbiome structure. Taken together, the bile acid pool size and composition appear to be a major regulator of microbiome structure, which in turn appears to be an important regulator of bile acid pool size and composition. The balance between this equilibrium is critical for human health and disease.
Is there a congenital varicella syndrome

A female infant born at term to a mother who had had varicella between 13 and 15 weeks' gestation presented with low birth weight, microphthalmia, bilateral cataracts, micrognathia, hypotrophic left lower limb, and skin lesions involving the left lumbar segments. Additional clinical features included generalized hypotonia, hyporeflexia, intermittent myoclonic seizures, and neurogenic bladder. The child's death at 61/2 months of age was precipitated by bronchopneumonia; the autopsy provided confirmatory evidence of encephalomyelitis, dorsal radiculitis, chorioretinitis, and cataracts. The teratogenic potential of varicella-zoster virus is suggested by the marked similarity of the clinical and pathologic findings in the patient described here and in four other infants with a history of maternal varicella in early pregnancy.
Catalytic dehydrogenation of 2-butanol with ZnO and CuO

Abstract The kinetics of the catalytic gas-phase dehydrogenation reaction of 2-butanol have been studied in the 189–248 °C temperature range for ZnO and in the 129–200 °C temperature range for CuO, using a gas-flow system. The effect of oxygen pretreatment of these semiconducting catalysts on the reaction rate and activation energy supports a reaction mechanism for the rate-limiting step involving oxygen surface states and hole charge transfer to the adsorbed alcohol at the catalyst surface. In the temperature ranges studied the only significant reaction of 2-butanol was dehydrogenation to 2-butanone.
Microgeographic genetic differentiation in a colonial ascidian ( Botryllus schlosseri ) population

Limited gene flow via the restricted dispersal of larvae and gametes is expected to result in the genetic differentiation of populations of clonal invertebrates on small spatial scales. However, occasional dispersal events over greater distances may generate sufficient gene flow to maintain genetic homogeneity. We applied a spatial autocorrelation approach that does not require a priori definitions of subdivision boundaries to examine genetic differentiation within a continuous population of the colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri (Pallas) at two allozyme and five polychromatism loci. Colonies were sampled in July 1992, on a 12 by 18 m grid superimposed on a shallow subtidal (1 to 3 m) population in the Damariscotta River estuary in Maine, USA. Low but significant levels of positive autocorrelation were detected over very small spatial scales ( 8 m). This pattern indicates significant genetic differentiation over distances of 8 to 21 m, and is consistent with genetic drift and inbreeding creating small scale genetic structure.
Corrosion Behavior of Type 304L Stainless Steel in UREX+ Nitric Acid Solutions Using Immersion and Rotating Cage Techniques

UREX+ is an advanced separation process for treatment of spent nuclear fuels where the separation of radioactive ions is accomplished in centrifugal contactors made of Type 304L (UNS S30403) stainless steel. This research work was focused on corrosion behavior of Type 304L (UNS S30403) stainless steel at experimental parameters simulating the environment of a centrifugal contactor during its operation. Corrosion studies were completed using the immersion and rotating cage (RC) corrosion techniques. In this investigation corrosion coupons were exposed to three different nitric acid (HNO3) solutions. Corrosion rates in 5 M HNO3 and 5 M HNO3 + 0.1 M hydrofluoric acid (HF) + 0.1 M Zr4+ solutions were lower than 0.0127 mm/y. The relatively high corrosion rates in 5 M HNO3 + 0.1 M HF solutions were reduced by the addition of Zr4+ ions that behave as corrosion inhibitors forming Zr-F complex ions. The inhibitor efficiency of Zr4+ ions reached an average of 99.61%. Corrosion results were mainly a function of the ...
The establishment of axenic seed and embryo cultures of endangered Hawaiian plant species: special review of disinfestation protocols

More than one third of the USA’s federally listed endangered and threatened plants are endemic to Hawaii. Because of the accelerating rate of environmental pressures resulting from habitat degradation to loss, the Hawaiian Rare Plant Program (HRPP, Lyon Arboretum, Honolulu, Hawaii) utilizes in vitro culture and seed storage to rescue, recover, and restore Hawaii’s most critically endangered native plant taxa. These in vitro methods complement existing ex situ and in situ efforts in the state. Wild-collected seeds tend to be hard to clean, and obtaining contamination-free seeds or embryos without damage or over sterilization is one of the most difficult obstacles in the successful establishment of in vitro cultures. Loss of rare and valuable propagation material occurs when seed samples succumb to contamination or mortality during the initial disinfestation stage. This study reviews pre-treatments and provides examples of three general disinfestation protocols successfully used in the HRPP to establish axenic ovule and embryo cultures of some endangered Hawaiian species. Three disinfestation protocols are described: bleach sterilization, gas sterilization, and ethanol dip and flame. Since 1998, the HRPP has been successful in establishing in vitro cultures of 135 endangered Hawaiian plant taxa representing 30 genera.
An epidemiologically significant epitope of a 1998 human influenza virus neuraminidase forms a highly hydrated interface in the NA-antibody complex.

The crystal structure of the complex between neuraminidase (NA) of influenza virus A/Memphis/31/98 (H3N2) and Fab of monoclonal antibody Mem5 has been determined at 2.1 A resolution and shows a novel pattern of interactions compared to other NA-Fab structures. The interface buries a large area of 2400 A2 and the surfaces have high complementarity. However, the interface is also highly hydrated. There are 33 water molecules in the interface ≥95% buried from bulk solvent, but only 13 of these are isolated from other water molecules. The rest are involved in an intricate network of water-mediated hydrogen bonds throughout the interface, stabilizing the complex. Glu199 on NA, the most critical side-chain to the interaction as previously determined by escape mutant analysis and site-directed mutation, is located in a non-aqueous island. Glu199 and three other residues that contribute the major part of the antigen buried surface of the complex have mutated in human influenza viruses isolated after 1998, confirming that Mem5 identifies an epidemiologically important antigenic site. We conclude that antibody selection of NA variants is a significant component of recent antigenic drift in human H3N2 influenza viruses, supporting the idea that influenza vaccines should contain NA in addition to hemagglutinin.
Childhood Movement Skills: Predictors of Physical Activity in Anglo American and Mexican American Adolescents?

We assessed the relationship between young children's movement skills and their physical activity in early adolescence. Balance, agility, eye-hand coordination, and skinfold thicknesses in 207 Mexican American and Anglo American children (104 boys, 103 girls) were measured at ages 4, 5, and 6 years. Habitual physical activity was assessed at the age of 12 years by two interviewer-administered 7-day recalls. Ethnic differences in movement skills were not found. Young girls were better at jumping and balancing, and young boys were better at catching. Tracking of skills was low, and children's early childhood skills were not related to their physical activity 6 years later. Further studies involving additional movement skills and other populations are recommended to determine if enhanced movement skills in children promote subsequent physical activity.
The effect of thyroid dysfunction and fasting on placenta inner ring deiodinase activity in the rat.

The placenta contains iodothyronine 5-deiodinase activity (P5-Dase) that probably acts on iodothyronines in the fetal circulation to convert T4 to rT3 and T3 to 3,3′-T2. Since thyroid status and fasting have profound effects on iodothyronine deiodinases in other tissues, the present studies were performed to determine if these perturbations affected P5-Dase. Control and treated rats were mated and killed near term on the 20th day of gestation. P5-Dase was determined in placenta homogenates enriched with dithiothreitol by measuring the conversion of T4 to rT3. In four of five studies, P5-Dase was similar in dams that underwent thyroidectomy (Tx) on day 7 of gestation and sham Tx dams. P5-Dase was not altered in dams that were treated with methimazole (MMI) to induce maternal and fetal hypothyroidism. Treatment of dams with supraphysiological doses of T4, beginning on the seventh day of gestation, did not significantly affect P5-Dase. In three of four studies, P5-Dase was similar in fed dams to values in da...
Rejected But Still There: Shifting the focus in applicant reactions to the promotional context

Applicant reactions continue to be an important area of research. Yet a unique category of individuals generally overlooked in applicant reactions research is internal candidates for promotion. This is unfortunate and surprising, as these candidates often possess greater awareness of the procedures used to create the selection process, have greater familiarity with other candidates for comparisons, and have greater investment in the process than external, entry-level applicants. Understanding this situation is important because internal candidates who fail the process are retained as members of the organizational workforce. Consequently, applicant reactions within the promotional context could profoundly impact important organizational outcomes such as job satisfaction, morale, retention, contextual performance, and the effectiveness of the newly promoted staff. This paper highlights relevant theories and key candidate outcomes pertinent to applicant reactions in a promotional context. Theoretical propositions and suggestions for future research are developed to encourage further investigations related to reactions of internal candidates.
Learning preferences of caregivers of asthmatic children.

Background. People learn in different ways: visually, aurally, by reading/writing, and kinesthetically. In our clinic, we use color-coded Asthma Action Cards to educate our patients and their caregivers on asthma management. Our teaching is largely aural based, with the cards providing reading and visual stimulation and hands-on practice with devices offering kinesthetic stimulation. Objective. We sought to determine the learning styles of the caregivers of our asthmatic children. Methods. Caregivers in our Asthma/Allergy Clinic completed the Visual-Aural-Read/Write-Kinesthetic (VARK) questionnaire anonymously, and the responses were evaluated on the basis of previously validated scoring instructions. Results. Analysis of 98 respondents showed that 42% had a single learning modality preference, and the remaining 58% were multimodal learners. Of those who reported a single mode of learning, 61% preferred kinesthetic, 27% preferred reading/writing, and less than 1% each preferred aural or visual stimuli. Of...
The evolution of the G4 + 1 and its impact on international harmonization of accounting standards

Abstract This research consists of a historical review of the formation and work of the G4 + 1 and an assessment of the impact of the group's work on the standards published by its member bodies. From the perspective of the user-driven model of financial reporting, the research supports the view that a significant achievement of the IASC is its successful efforts to build relationships with national standard setters, particularly the Anglo-Americans that comprise the G4. During the 1990s, the G4 + 1 has reaped substantial benefits from its cooperative endeavors and has contributed much to accounting thought and regulation. Criticisms of the G4 + 1 are also explored. Specifically, some argue the G4 + 1 is an effort to maintain Anglo-Saxon dominance of accounting. Others fear the IASC 's continuing existence and dominance as the international accounting standard setting body may be threatened by the G4. In concluding, the future of the G4 + 1 is considered in relation to the restructuring of the IASC. An argument is made that if the restructuring proposal is modified to address G4 concerns continued cooperation between the G4 and IASC is likely. However, if the restructuring plan is implemented in its present form, the G4 and IASC may begin working independently with the result being the development of two competing sets of internationally recognized standards.
Cloning, expression, and in vitro activity of human endostatin.

Endostatin, a 20 kDa C-terminal fragment of collagen XVIII, is a specific inhibitor of endothelial cell proliferation and angiogenesis. In the present study, we have expressed human endostatin in a yeast expression system (10 mg/L). The recombinant protein was expressed in a soluble form and purified to homogeneity. It specifically inhibited the proliferation and migration of endothelial cells. In addition, we report for the first time that endostatin caused G1 arrest of endothelial cells. Also, we show that endostatin treatment resulted in apoptosis of HUVE and HMVE cells and that all of these effects do not occur in nonendothelial cells. Collectively, these findings demonstrate the expression of a biologically active form of human endostatin in yeast and provide important mechanistic insight into endostatin action on endothelial cells.
Encoding, repetition, and the mirror effect in recognition memory: Symmetry in motion

Attention/likelihood theory has been used to explain the mirror effect in recognition memory. The theory also predicts that any manipulation that affects the recognition of old items will also affect recognition of the new items—more specifically, that all the underlying distributions will move and that they will move symmetrically on the decision axis. In five experiments, we tested this prediction. The first two experiments used encoding tasks during study to change recognition performance for high- and low-frequency words. The results show symmetrical dispersion of the underlying distributions. The final three experiments used repetition to increase recognition performance. Repetition produced a symmetrical pattern of movement that was different from that produced by encoding task. This pattern is, however, also covered by attention/likelihood theory. A further extension of the theory was used to predict response times.
Stress bounds for bars in torsion

Upper bounds for the maximum shear stress in the St. Venant torsion problem are derived with the aid of the theory of subharmonic functions. The main result is a bound that is determined in a simple manner by the magnitude of the applied twisting moment and two parameters peculiar to the cross section: the radius of the largest circle contained in it and the minimum curvature of the curve that bounds it.
Factors affecting the microsomal incorporation of amino acids into non-particulate proteins

Abstract Although the formation of non-particulate proteins by isolated rat-liver microsomes can be increased by employment of a suitable reaction system, synthesis stops after about 20 min at 37°. This cessation of synthesis does not appear to be due to a lack of the activating or transfer enzymes necessary for the incorporation of every amino acid into protein, or to the formation of an inhibitor. Instead, the cessation seems to be due to the inactivation of two components of the reaction system: a rapid, incorporation-linked inactivation of the microsome, and a slower inactivation or consumption of some non-particulate factor necessary for the release of completed proteins from the microsome. Synthesis of non-particulate proteins can be increased considerably by substituting ribosomes for microsomes and by adding fresh non-particulate factor at intervals during the reaction.