cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Marketing System and Firms Involved: An Overview

The United States marketing system for fresh fruits and vegetables is unusual in many respects. Many of the commodities handled are highly perishable, and move long distances to market. This has given rise to specialized storage and transportation methods, and to specialized firms that have developed their own methods of operation. This special character of the marketing system exists all the way from farm production through to retail and food service operations. This chapter will provide a broad overview of the system and the firms involved.
Effects of emotion regulation strategy use in response to stressors on PTSD symptoms: An ecological momentary assessment study

Abstract Background Although a burgeoning line of research identifies emotion regulation difficulties as a potential maintenance factor for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), little is known in regard to what emotion regulation strategies individuals with PTSD use in their daily lives, their predictors, and their consequences on later PTSD symptoms. Method The current study utilized ecological momentary assessment (EMA) design to explore prospective relationships between maladaptive and adaptive emotion regulation strategy use and PTSD symptoms in participants with PTSD (N = 30). Participants completed 4 EMAs per day over 8 days, assessing stressors, emotional response, and emotion regulation strategy use. Results Individuals with PTSD most commonly used avoidance as an emotion regulation strategy. Multilevel modeling indicated that baseline PTSD symptoms predicted maladaptive emotion regulation strategy use. After covarying for morning PTSD symptoms, maladaptive emotion regulation prospectively predicted increased PTSD symptoms later in the day. Adaptive emotion regulation strategies did not uniquely predict later PTSD symptoms. Conclusion In line with conceptualizations of difficulties in emotion regulation as a transdiagnostic maintenance factor in PTSD, findings indicate that maladaptive emotion regulation strategies in response to stressors exacerbate PTSD symptoms. The use of adaptive emotion regulation strategies had no positive or negative impact on subsequent PTSD symptoms. Limitations Future studies should utilize longer-term prospective designs.
Muscle Function During Locomotion in Mammals

Mammalian muscles are composed of fibers with different contractile and metabolic properties. Although various systems of classification have been proposed for the different fiber types (Close 1972; Saltin and Gollnick 1983), one that has been used extensively identifies the fibers as either slow-twitch-oxidative (SO), fast-twitch-oxidative-glycolytic (FOG), or fast-twitch-glycolytic (FG) (Peter et al. 1972). The most common method used for identifying the fibers is to histochemically analyze a mitochondrial oxidative enzyme and myofibrillar adenosine triphosphatase activities in muscle cross-sections. This terminology is convenient because the primary physiological and metabolic properties of the fibers are incorporated in the nomenclature. Although the two systems are not completely interconvertible (Nemeth et al. 1979), SO, FOG, and FG fibers are generally the same as those classified as type I, type IIa, and type IIb, respectively
Recovery of ectomycorrhizal fungus communities fifteen years after fuels reduction treatments in ponderosa pine forests of the Blue Mountains, Oregon

Abstract Managers use restorative fire and thinning for ecological benefits and to convert fuel-heavy forests to fuel-lean landscapes that lessen the threat of stand-replacing wildfire. In this study, we evaluated the long-term impact of thinning and prescribed fire on soil biochemistry and the mycorrhizal fungi associated with ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa). Study sites were located in the Blue Mountains of northeastern Oregon where prescribed fire treatments implemented in 1998 and thinning treatments in 2000 included prescribed fire, mechanical thinning of forested areas, a combination of thinning followed by fire, and an untreated control. Soil sampling for this study occurred in 2014 and included four replications of each treatment for a total of 16 experimental units. Differences among treatments in Bray-P, total C and N, and pH were likely driven by the thinning treatments and the resultant deposition of residual slash following harvesting or the consumption of slash by prescribed fire. Similar litter depths across treatments suggest that litter depth stabilizes over time in these forests. After more than a decade of recovery, mycorrhizal fungi in dry inland forests dominated by ponderosa pine that were subjected to fire returned to levels similar to the untreated controls. The results of this study demonstrate the resiliency of these forests to disturbances associated with restoration treatments, providing managers increased flexibility if maintaining abundant and persistent fungal communities for healthy soils is an objective.
Entrepreneurship Education as a Service

This chapter addresses the extension of entrepreneurship education across disciplines and divisions on a university campus. We draw on service science theory to examine how such academic programs may be designed, implemented and assessed. The experience at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in the United States serves as a case study, which we review using the Service Science Canvas, a tool for analysis that incorporates the common elements of service systems. Besides making a methodological contribution to the entrepreneurship literature, the framework developed in this chapter can be used for strategic planning by university leaders and program directors.
Oxygen permeation study and improvement of Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2Ox perovskite ceramic membranes

Abstract Ba 0.5 Sr 0.5 Co 0.8 Fe 0.2 O x (BSCF) is a promising mixed conducting material with high oxygen permeability, and has proven to be a good candidate for membrane reactors in air separation and catalytic conversion of CH 4 . To determine the factors impacting the oxygen permeation through the BSCF membrane, Pt, Ag catalysts were coated on the membrane surface using photolithography and electron beam evaporation methods. The results showed that the coated catalysts did not increase the oxygen flux of BSCF within the studied thickness range. However, the oxygen flux increased as the thickness of the membrane decreased. To further enhance the oxygen flux, a BSCF membrane with asymmetric geometry was prepared using a dry-pressing method. The effects of the porous substrate and the dense thin layer on the performance of the BSCF asymmetric membrane were studied. The results showed that the oxygen flux increased as the thickness of thin dense layer decreased. Further analysis indicated that the porous substrate still appears to exert a resistance on the oxygen permeation through the membrane.
Research Goals in Astronautics

Research Goals in Astronautics. Progress takes place not only within scientific and engineering specialties but also in the interaction between these specialties. It is, in fact, precisely in the changing interrelationship between fields that the greatest opportunity for invention lies. Solid state electronics and magnetohydrodynamics are two recent examples.
Hesitation Phenomena in English Speech: A Study in Distribution

This paper reports a study of hesitation phenomena in English speech. A description of seven types of hesitation phenomena, is made and each of the seven types discussed individually and in comparison with one another. The results and implications of the study are compared with those of related studies. There is a discussion with particular reference to function words.
Glucocorticoid Regulation of Mucosal Immunity: Effect of Dexamethasone on IgA and Secretory Component (SC)

Immunoglobulin A (IgA), the predominant immunoglobulin at mucosal surfaces of the body, is produced on a daily basis in amounts greater than all other immunoglobulins combined1. As the first line of defense, IgA at mucosal surfaces protects against bacterial and viral infection by antibody interactions which either destroy pathogens or block their adherence to prevent potentially infective agents from entering the body2. To reach mucosal sites, IgA binds to secretory component (SC), the cytoplasmic portion of the polymeric Ig receptor that is synthesized by rat hepatocytes and epithelial cells lining the mucosal surfaces of the body3–6. Following binding, polymeric IgA (pIgA) is transported from serum into the gastrointestinal tract via bile and from tissues into secretions of the respiratory, gastrointestinal and urogenital tracts7–10. Transport through hepatocytes and epithelial cells is similar in that IgA binds covalently to SC and following endocytosis, is released as pIgA-SC complex (secretory IgA)10–11.
Chemical Composition of Gas-Phase Positive Ions during Laboratory Simulations of Titan’s Haze Formation

The organic haze in the atmosphere of Saturn’s moon Titan affects the moon’s atmospheric and surface properties. Ions are known to play an important role in haze formation chemistry; however, the role of ions in laboratory simulations of haze formation is poorly characterized. Here, we use a high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometer with an atmospheric pressure interface to chemically characterize the ambient gas-phase cations formed as haze is produced by the far ultraviolet photolysis of CH4 in N2. These experiments show that the chemical composition of the cations is complex. High molecular weight ions up to m/z 400 are observed, with organic nitrogen ions, including ions with multiple nitrogen atoms, accounting for the majority of the identified ion peaks. Many of the ions identified in this work have been observed in Titan’s upper atmosphere by the Cassini Ion and Neutral Mass Spectrometer. While the chemistry in this study is likely more representative of Titan’s lower atmosphere than of its ...
Navigating the educational pathway: intergenerational dynamics and transcultural negotiations of immigrant Chinese in Luxembourg

ABSTRACTBased on nine months of ethnographic fieldwork, this article explores the contested roles of education in the intergenerational dynamics and transcultural negotiations of immigrant Chinese ...
Not berry hungry? Discovering the hidden food sources of a small fruit specialist, Drosophila suzukii

1. Although polyphagy is widespread among Drosophila, some specialist species have evolved in response to resource competition and other selection factors favouring niche separation. The small fruit specialist Drosophila suzukii Matsumura has evolved a unique serrated ovipositor that allows it to access ripening fruit, a niche unavailable to most Drosophila. However, it is unclear whether ancestral traits (the use of non‐fruit resources) are maintained in this specialist species. 2. In this study, maternal preferences and offspring fitness in response to novel apple, mushroom, and bird manure‐based diets were investigated by comparing oviposition and offspring survival and development on various diets. The effect of those diets on survival at cool temperatures and the effect of natal environment/previous exposure on adult preferences were evaluated. 3. Female D. suzukii accepted non‐fruit diets such as mushroom and bird manure, and offspring completed their larval development on all diets tested. However, D. suzukii did not perform well on diets that included bird manure. By contrast, combinational apple/mushroom diets were associated with greater oviposition, lower mortality, faster development, and larger offspring than other diets. These diets were also associated with increased resistance to cold stress, and preference for these diets was positively affected by previous feeding experience. 4. These data suggest that D. suzukii may use non‐fruit resources when preferred resources are scarce. Given that this pest is adapted to temperate climates, alternative resources might provide seasonal nutritional support when fruit resources are not temporally available, although field data are needed to support this hypothesis.
Multiple domains in ARHGAP36 regulate PKA degradation and Gli activation

ARHGAP36 is a Rho GTPase-activating protein (GAP) family member that contributes to spinal cord development and tumorigenesis. This multidomain protein is composed of N-terminal sequences that vary between splice isoforms, the GAP-like region, and a unique C-terminal domain, and previous studies have revealed an N-terminal arginine-rich region that promotes protein kinase A catalytic subunit (PKAcat) degradation and Gli transcription factor activation. Although these signaling mechanisms can account for at least some aspects of ARHGAP36-dependent physiology, the functional roles of other structural elements in ARHGAP36 are not well understood. To address this question, we have mapped the ARHGAP36 structure-activity landscape with both domain- and amino acid-level resolution. We observe that ARHGAP36-mediated Gli activation in cultured mammalian cells can be autoinhibited by isoform-specific N-terminal sequences, which also regulate ARHGAP36 trafficking and the subcellular targeting of PKAcat pools. ARHGAP36 autoinhibition is counteracted by the GAP-like and C-terminal domains, which promote protein trafficking to the plasma membrane and primary cilium, respectively. In addition, our studies provide evidence that the GAP-like domain conditionally suppresses the N-terminal arginine-rich region and regulates ARHGAP36 binding to several interactors, including the prolyl oligopeptidase-like protein PREPL and the E3 ubiquitin ligase PRAJA2. Thus, multiple domains within ARHGAP36 can modulate its activity state, subcellular localization, and protein binding, potentially providing a means for achieving tissue-specific ARHGAP36 functions.
Assessing the utility of monitoring IgA multiple myeloma patients with quantitative serum IgA levels.

e20515Background: IgA monoclonal proteins (MCPs), unlike IgG MCPs, often migrate in the beta region on serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP) which can lead to underestimation of their size due to th...
Treatment outcomes and target delineation utilizing CT and MRI in 13 dogs treated with a uniform stereotactic radiation therapy protocol (16 Gy single fraction) for pituitary masses: (2014-2017)

Canine pituitary tumours are increasingly treated with stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT). Here, we report clinical outcomes in dogs treated with single-fraction SRT; we also explore technical aspects of SRT treatment planning. A single-institution retrospective study was performed, including any dog with a pituitary mass (PM) that was treated using a standardized single-fraction (16 Gy) SRT protocol between 2014 and 2017. Via medical records review, 13 cases were identified. Nine dogs neurologically improved after SRT. Four dogs experienced MRI-documented tumour volume reduction. Nine dogs experienced neurologic decline in 1.5 to 18 months after SRT and were euthanized. The median overall survival time was 357 days, with 15% alive 18 months after SRT. To better understand whether SRT target delineation is predictably altered by use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in addition to computed tomography (CT), two radiation oncologists (RO) retrospectively re-evaluated all imaging studies used for SRT planning in these 13 cases. Gross tumour volume (GTV) was contoured on co-registered CT and MRIs for each case. In seven cases, CT alone was deemed inadequate for GTV contouring by at least one RO. T1 post-contrast MRI was considered the ideal image for GTV contouring in 11 cases. Contouring on MRI yielded larger GTV than CT for 11 cases. Inter-observer variability existed in each case and was greater for MRI. In summary, use of co-registered CT and MRI images is generally considered advantageous for PM delineation when using SRT. Notably, survival times reported herein are shorter than what has previously been reported for PM treated with finely fractionated full-course RT protocols.
Creativity as potentially valuable improbable constructions

We argue that creative ideas are potentially valuable improbable constructions. We arrive at this formulation of creativity after considering several problems that arise for the theories that suggest that creativity is novelty, originality, or usefulness. Our theory avoids these problems. But since we also derive our theory of creativity from the scientific commitments of a more general theory of cognitive development, a theory called rational constructivism, our theory is unique insofar as it explains creativity in both adults and children through reference to a set of computational mechanisms that have been posited on the basis of independently plausible experimental research.
Growth, Vitality, and Cash Flows: High-Frequency Evidence from 1 Million Small Businesses

This report introduces a newly augmented small business data asset to empirically address questions of small business growth, vitality, and economic contribution. We built a sample of 1.3 million de-identified small businesses with Chase Business Banking accounts active between October 2012 and February 2018. The over 3.1 billion transactions we analyze from these businesses provide a novel view of daily revenues, expenses, and financing cash flows for individual small businesses. We use this data asset to develop a revised segmentation of the small business sector and empirically characterize three distinct dimensions of cash flow regularity: the frequency of the cash flows, the consistency of the timing, and the volatility of cash flow amounts. Using clustering techniques, we identified seven types of cash flow management problems that small businesses face. We found that firms that grow organically with limited use of external financing generate the majority of small business revenue and payroll but also are the most likely to exit the market. Moreover, nonemployer small businesses are five times more likely to exit the market than to hire employees. Additionally, entrepreneurship and dynamic growth are not limited to specific pockets of the country. Across the 25 cities we tracked, all had a large share of small businesses that grew organically. We also found that new firms that grow organically are more likely to have irregular cash flows related to timing, while those growing with external financing often have sporadic revenues. These findings provide a nuanced lens into how different firm types contribute to the economy and the importance of cash flow management to small business success.
Survival Analysis Using Surgeon Skill Metrics and Patient Factors to Predict Urinary Continence Recovery After Robot-assisted Radical Prostatectomy.

Abstract Background It has been shown that metrics recorded for instrument kinematics during robotic surgery can predict urinary continence outcomes. Objective To evaluate the contributions of patient and treatment factors, surgeon efficiency metrics, and surgeon technical skill scores, especially for vesicourethral anastomosis (VUA), to models predicting urinary continence recovery following robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). Design, setting, and participants Automated performance metrics (APMs; instrument kinematics and system events) and patient data were collected for RARPs performed from July 2016 to December 2017. Robotic Anastomosis Competency Evaluation (RACE) scores during VUA were manually evaluated. Training datasets included: (1) patient factors; (2) summarized APMs (reported over RARP steps); (3) detailed APMs (reported over suturing phases of VUA); and (4) technical skills (RACE). Feature selection was used to compress the dimensionality of the inputs. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis The study outcome was urinary continence recovery, defined as use of 0 or 1 safety pads per day. Two predictive models (Cox proportional hazards [CoxPH] and deep learning survival analysis [DeepSurv]) were used. Results and limitations Of 115 patients undergoing RARP, 89 (77.4%) recovered their urinary continence and the median recovery time was 166 d (interquartile range [IQR] 82–337). VUAs were performed by 23 surgeons. The median RACE score was 28/30 (IQR 27–29). Among the individual datasets, technical skills (RACE) produced the best models (C index: CoxPH 0.695, DeepSurv: 0.708). Among summary APMs, posterior/anterior VUA yielded superior model performance over other RARP steps (C index 0.543–0.592). Among detailed APMs, metrics for needle driving yielded top-performing models (C index 0.614–0.655) over other suturing phases. DeepSurv models consistently outperformed CoxPH; both approaches performed best when provided with all the datasets. Limitations include feature selection, which may have excluded relevant information but prevented overfitting. Conclusions Technical skills and “needle driving” APMs during VUA were most contributory. The best-performing model used synergistic data from all datasets. Patient summary One of the steps in robot-assisted surgical removal of the prostate involves joining the bladder to the urethra. Detailed information on surgeon performance for this step improved the accuracy of predicting recovery of urinary continence among men undergoing this operation for prostate cancer.
Optimizing the near-field and far-field properties of tips in tip-enhanced Raman scattering

The process of tip-enhanced Raman scattering (TERS) depends critically on the morphology near the apex of the tip used in the experiment. Many tip designs have focused on optimization of electromagnetic enhancement in the near-field, which is controlled to a large extent by subtle details at the nanoscale that remain difficult to reproduce in the tip fabrication process. The use of focused ion beams (FIB) permit modification of larger features on the tip in a reproducible manner, yet this approach cannot produce sub-20-nm structures important for optimum near-field enhancement. Nonetheless, FIB milling offers excellent opportunities for improving the far-field radiation properties of the tip-antenna, a feature that has received relatively little attention in the TERS research community. In this work, we use finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations to study both the near-field and far-field radiation efficiency of several tip-antenna systems that can be constructed with FIB techniques in a feasible manner. Starting from blunt etched tips, we find that excellent overall enhancement of the TERS signal can be obtained with pillar-type tips. Furthermore, by applying vertical grooves on the tip's shaft, the overall efficiency can be improved even more, producing TERS signals that are up to 10-fold stronger than signals obtained from an ideal (unmodified) sharp tip of 10-nm radius. The proposed designs constitute a feasible route toward a tip fabrication process that not only yields more reproducible tips but also promises much stronger TERS signals.
Transcriptional Pausing as a Mediator of Bacterial Gene Regulation.

Cellular life depends on transcription of DNA by RNA polymerase to express genetic information. RNA polymerase has evolved not just to read information from DNA and write it to RNA but also to sens...
Defining Definiteness in Turoyo

This paper puts forth an expanded typology of definiteness marking, which includes not only ‘strong’ and ‘weak’ but also ‘super-weak’. It also proposes a methodology for identifying ‘super-weak’ definites, and applies it to Ṭuroyo, an endangered Semitic language. Data from questionnaires and interviews shows that Ṭuroyo’s definite article has a very wide distribution, including anti-uniqueness effects with exclusives, suggesting ‘super-weak’ status. Syntactic factors also affect their distribution: We find definiteness-spreading uses with demonstratives and possessives, even in non-contrastive environments, and superlative adjectives appear to compete for the article’s syntactic position. On the semantic side, we propose that Ṭuroyo’s definiteness-markers are not ‘weak’ but ‘super-weak’ articles. To explain their anaphoric uses, typical of ‘strong’ articles, we propose that the typology is arranged as a cline ordered by entailment, so that stronger articles entail weaker ones.
Prescribed 3-D Direct Writing of Suspended Micron/Sub-micron Scale Fiber Structures via a Robotic Dispensing System.

A 3-axis dispensing system is utilized to control the initiating and terminating fiber positions and trajectory via the dispensing software. The polymer fiber length and orientation is defined by the spatial positioning of the dispensing system 3-axis stages. The fiber diameter is defined by the prescribed dispense time of the dispensing system valve, the feed rate (the speed at which the stage traverses from an initiating to a terminating position), the gauge diameter of the dispensing tip, the viscosity and surface tension of the polymer solution, and the programmed drawing length. The stage feed rate affects the polymer solution’s evaporation rate and capillary breakup of the filaments. The dispensing system consists of a pneumatic valve controller, a droplet-dispensing valve and a dispensing tip. Characterization of the direct write process to determine the optimum combination of factors leads to repeatedly acquiring the desired range of fiber diameters. The advantage of this robotic dispensing system is the ease of obtaining a precise range of micron/sub-micron fibers onto a desired, programmed location via automated process control. Here, the discussed self-assembled micron/sub-micron scale 3D structures have been employed to fabricate suspended structures to create micron/sub-micron fluidic devices and bioengineered scaffolds.
Computation of Stable Crack Growth Using the J -Integral

Crack growth of almost 8 mm in a standard C(T) specimen is computed in ten steps by tracking a J-resistance curve for 7475-T7351 aluminum. Some discussion is presented as to why the far-fieldJ is preferable to near-field quantities for this procedure. The analysis did not track the companion force-displacement curve.
Structural dynamics of bacterial ribosomes. IV. Classification of ribosomes by subunit interaction.

Abstract Previous studies in this series (M. Noll et al. , 1973a,b; Noll & Noll, 1974) have established that in Escherichia coli the ability of subunits to form vacant 70 S ribosome couples at 10 m m -Mg 2+ is a stringent condition for activity in the translation of natural messenger (R17 RNA). The present study examines the structural basis of subunit interaction. It is found that vacant ribosome couples prepared by various methods fall into two classes, “tight” couples and “loose” couples, that differ in the affinity of their subunits for each other. Detection and separation of the two particle species is possible by ultracentrifugation. When analyzed on sucrose gradients at 6 m m -Mg 2+ and moderate speed (30,000 revs/min), tight couples sediment as undissociated 70 S ribosomes, whereas loose couples are completely dissociated and sediment as 30 S and 50 S subunits. At 15 m m -Mg 2+ in the gradient, both species sediment as a 70S peak. At 10 m m -Mg 2+ and 60,000 revs/min, two peaks (63 S and 55 S) are seen because the high hydrostatic pressure causes more pronounced dissociation of the loose than of the tight couples. Association is dependent on the state of each subunit. Removal of Mg 2+ produces 30 S b-particles that are unable to associate with 50 S subunits unless reconverted to the 30 S a-form by thermal activation according to Zamir et al. (1971). In the dissociated state, 50 S subunits tend to change irreversibly to a 50 S b-modification that produces loose couples upon association with 30 S a-subunits. The 50 S a → 50 S b transition could not be related to breaks in 23 S RNA detectable by sedimentation analysis. However, mild treatment of 50 S a-subunits with RNase produces particles that associate with 30 S a-subunits to couples that are less stable than the loose couples resulting from a dissociation/association step. Fresh S-30 extracts contain only tight couples (approx. 80%) and subunits (approx. 20%). Our results suggest that loose couples are artefacts derived from tight couples by a structural or conformational modification. Interaction-free subunits that previously were found to form a primitive initiation complex with poly(U) and tRNA Phe (Schreier & Noll, 1970,1971), and to be active in phenylalanine polymerization, are shown to consist of the b-form of each subunit. It is likely that conflicting results obtained in the study of the mechanism of initiation and other aspects of ribosome function are due to the lack of structural criteria required for standardizing the ribosome preparation used by different investigators. This study provides simple methods and criteria to classify and separate physically all ribosome and ribosome subunits that have been observed into well-defined classes of predictable activity.
A Clinical Presentation of Tumefactive Multiple Sclerosis Mimicking Acute Ischemic Stroke on MRI

Tumefactive multiple sclerosis (MS) is characterized by a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) finding of a large, inflammatory demyelinating lesion with or without contrast enhancement.Â The description of non-tumefactive MS lesions is well established for a variety of MRI sequences; however, explanation of MRI characteristics for tumefactive MS lesions is limited.Â The findings on diffusion weighted imaging and apparent diffusion coefficient in active MS plaques are well known, but little is known about these sequences in tumefactive MS. There is data to support the use of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in addition to basic MR sequences when differentiating tumefactive MS from other lesions such as non-tumefactive MS plaques. The patient in this case report presented with an acute right-sided hemiparesis with a discrete hypodensity on head computer tomography, which was thought to be an ischemic stroke. The initial MRI examination showed a finding that could be consistent with ischemic stroke having decreased apparent diffusion coefficient and increased diffusion restriction. However, a subsequent MRI examination clearly revealed a demyelinating process through development of other white matter lesions. The study attempts to underline that tumefactive demyelinating disease can mimic the clinical and imaging presentation of acute ischemic stroke; therefore, cautious interpretation with clinical correlation is required for correct diagnosis.
Molecular cloning of a human fucosyltransferase gene that determines expression of the Lewis x and VIM-2 epitopes but not ELAM-1-dependent cell adhesion.

We have used the human Lewis blood group fucosyltransferase cDNA and cross-hybridization procedures to isolate a human gene that encodes a distinct fucosyltransferase. Its DNA sequence predicts a type II transmembrane protein whose sequence is identical to 133 of 231 amino acids at corresponding positions within the catalytic domain of the Lewis fucosyltransferase. When expressed by transfection in cultured cell lines, this gene determines expression of a fucosyltransferase capable of efficiently utilizing N-acetyllactosamine to form the Lewis x determinant (Gal beta 1—-4[Fuc alpha 1—-3]GlcNAc). By contrast, biochemical and flow cytometry analyses suggest that the enzyme cannot efficiently utilize the type II acceptor NeuNAc alpha 2—-3Gal beta 1—-4GlcNAc, to form the sialyl Lewis x determinant. In Chinese hamster ovary cells, however, the enzyme can determine expression of the alpha 2—-3-sialylated, alpha 1—-3-fucosylated structure known as VIM-2, a putative oligosaccharide ligand for ELAM-1. Cell adhesion assays using VIM-2-positive, sialyl Lewis x-negative transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells indicate that surface expression of the VIM-2 determinant is not sufficient to confer ELAM-1-dependent adhesive properties upon the cells. These results demonstrate that substantial structural similarities can exist between mammalian glycosyltransferases with closely related enzymatic properties, thus facilitating isolation of their cognate genes by cross-hybridization methods. The results further suggest that cell surface expression of the VIM-2 determinant is not necessarily sufficient to mediate ELAM-1-dependent cell adhesion.
Lattice dynamics in BaxSr1-xTiO3 thin films studied by Raman spectroscopy

We present a Raman spectroscopy study of the lattice-dynamical properties of the BaxSr1−xTiO3 thin films with x=0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.35, and 0.5 in the temperature range of 5–300K. Soft phonon modes were observed, and the temperature dependence of their frequencies and Raman intensities were investigated. The Raman spectra of the BaxSr1−xTiO3 films are compared with the single crystals of the same compositions. The essential differences in the lattice-dynamical properties of the thin films and single crystals are observed, such as the forbidden first-order Raman scattering in the films well above the phase-transition temperature in bulk, hardening of the soft phonon modes in films compared to crystals, and significantly larger range of the soft-mode overdamping in the films. On the other hand, the lattice-dynamics behavior in the BaxSr1−xTiO3 films is found similar to that of the relaxor ferroelectrics. Analogous to the relaxors, the presence of the polar nanoregions existing in the films at the temperatures...
A Political Economy in an Ecological Web

Behavior matters more to environmental policy than most people think. This paper illustrates why this point needs repeating in four ongoing policy debates in the United States – Children's health risk, ozone/particulate matter (PM), climate change, and endangered species.
The Effect of C 22 on Orbit Energy and Angular Momentum

The effect of the C 22 gravity field term on a particle is evaluated analytically over one orbit to find the change in orbit energy and angular momentum as an explicit function of the orbital inclination, argument of pericenter, longitude of the ascending node, orbit parameter and eccentricity. Changes in orbit energy and angular momentum are shown to be proportional to a family of integrals which can be parameterized in terms of eccentricity and non-dimensional pericenter radius.
Robust Detection of Textured Contact Lenses in Iris Recognition Using BSIF

This paper considers three issues that arise in creating an algorithm for the robust detection of textured contact lenses in iris recognition images. The first issue is whether the accurate segmentation of the iris region is required in order to achieve the accurate detection of textured contact lenses. Our experimental results suggest that accurate iris segmentation is not required. The second issue is whether an algorithm trained on the images acquired from one sensor will well generalize to the images acquired from a different sensor. Our results suggest that using a novel iris sensor can significantly degrade the correct classification rate of a detection algorithm trained with the images from a different sensor. The third issue is how well a detector generalizes to a brand of textured contact lenses, not seen in the training data. This paper shows that a novel textured lens type may have a significant impact on the performance of textured lens detection.
Space-time focusing performance of time-reversal beamforming in rich-scattering indoor channels

We analyze the space-time focusing performance of conventional time-reversal (TR) beamforming in single-user wireless scenarios. We use two indoor wideband channel models to investigate, under uncorrelated scattering, spatial focusing performance of TR increases versus bandwidth and delay spread. We also examine the time focusing performance w.r.t. variations in channel parameters and number of antennas.
Improved aqueous scrubber for collection of soluble atmospheric trace gases

A new concentration technique for the extraction and enrichment of water-soluble atmospheric trace gases has been developed. The gas scrubbing technique efficiently extracts soluble gases from a large volume flow rate of air sample into a small volume of refluxed trapping solution. The gas scrubber utilizes a small nebulizing nozzle that mixes the incoming air with an aqueous extracting solution to form an air/droplet mist. The mist provides excellent interfacial surface areas for mass transfer. The resulting mist sprays upward through the reaction chamber until it impinges upon a hydrophobic membrane that virtually blocks the passage of droplets but offers little resistance to the existing gas flow. Droplets containing the scrubbed gases coalesce on the membrane and drip back into the reservoir for further refluxing. After a suitable concentration period, the extracting solution containing the analyte can be withdrawn for analysis. The nebulization-reflex concentration technique is more efficient (maximum flow of gas through the minimum volume of extractant) than conventional bubbler/impinger gas extraction techniques and is offered as an alternative method.
Effects of Spawning Container Type and Placement Depth on Channel Catfish Spawning Success in Ponds

Abstract During three successive spawning seasons, spawning containers were placed at depths ranging from 0.6 to 1.2 m in a brood-fish pond stocked with channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus). When dissolved oxygen levels remained above 4 mg/L, depth had no effect on spawning success. Fish, averaging as large as 4.1 kg, preferred a metal spawning container with a 16-cm-diameter opening to a metal container with a larger opening and to two types of plastic containers.
CT in congenitally-corrected transposition of the great vessels

Congenitally-corrected transposition of the great vessels (CTGV) may be detected de novo in adulthood and the plain radiographic findings may be ambiguous or they may be mimicked by a mediastinal mass. CT readily shows the malposition of the aorta and pulmonary artery, and may also show associated congenital heart lesions. The following cases demonstrate the CT findings in CTGV and the distinction of CTGV from conditions resembling it on radiographs.
λφ4 q-Renormalization program

A regularization scheme for quantum field theories given in aq-mutator algebra for the internal momentum space in a loop integration is constructed. We show Feynman integrals that are finite forq≠ 1but diverse asq → 1. Using this regularization scheme, we propose a renormalization program in q-mutator space (q-renormalization program) for theλf4 theory as an example, up to some one-loop diagrams. This work paves the way to obtaining physically measurable quantities from quantum field theories over spaces that neither commute nor anticommute.
Quantitative analysis of cyclic AMP waves mediating aggregation in Dictyostelium discoideum

We have previously reported the detection of cAMP waves within monolayers of aggregating Dictyostelium discoideum cells (K. J. Tomchik and P.N. Devreotes, 1981, Science 212, 443-446). The computer-assisted analysis presented here of the fluorographic images of the cAMP waves reveals (1) all the waves have a consistent width and height; (2) cAMP concentrations within centers of concentric aggregation territories oscillate periodically while at spiral centers the concentration builds up to a plateau value within 2 mm; (3) cells within the region of intersection of two oppositely directed cAMP waves are stimulated to produce more cAMP than those responding to a single wave; (4) cells start to move when the cAMP level begins to increase and cease movement when the peak cAMP concentration reaches the cell.
Fine Roots vs. Needles: A Comparison of 13C and 15N Dynamics in a Ponderosa Pine Forest Soil

Plant allocation patterns may affect soil C and N storage due to differences in litter quality and the depth of plant C and N inputs into the soil. We studied the dynamics of dual-labeled (13C/15N) Pinus ponderosa needles and fine roots placed at two soil depths (O and A horizon) in a temperate conifer forest soil during 2 y. Input of C as fine roots resulted in much more C retained in soil (70.5 ± 2.2% of applied) compared with needle C (42.9 ± 1.3% of applied) after 1.5 y. Needles showed faster mass loss, rates of soil 13CO2 efflux, and more 15N immobilized into microbial biomass than did fine roots. The larger proportion of labile C compounds initially present in needles (17% more needle C was water soluble than in fine roots) likely contributed to its shorter C residence time and greater degree of transformation in the soil. A double exponential decay function best described the rate of 13C loss, with a smaller initial pulse of C loss from fine roots (S1k1) and a slower decay rate of the recalcitrant C pool for fine roots (0.03 y−1) compared with (0.19 y−1) for needles. Soil 13C respiration, representing heterotrophic respiration of litter C, was much more seasonal from the O horizon than from the A. However, offsetting seasonal patterns in 13C dynamics in the O horizon resulted in no net effect of soil depth on total 13C retention in the soil after 1.5 y for either litter. Almost 90% of applied litter N was retained in the soil after 1.5 y, independent of litter quality or soil depth. Very small amounts of 13C or 15N (<3% of applied) moved to the horizon above or below the placement depth (i.e., O to A or A to O). Our results suggest that plant allocation belowground to fine roots results in more C retained and less N mineralized compared with allocation aboveground to needles, primarily due to litter quality differences.
A comparison of unmet needs for dental and medical care among persons with HIV infection receiving care in the United States.

Objective: Oral health conditions associated with HIV disease are frequently more severe than those of the general population, making access to both dental and medical care important. Using the domains specified in the Behavioral Model of Health Services Use, this paper examines the correlates of unmet needs for dental and medical care in a nationally representative sample of patients with HIV. Methods: This investigation is a cross-sectional study using baseline data from the HIV Cost and Services Utilization Study (HCSUS), the first nationally representative study of persons in care for HIV. Using probability-based techniques, 4,042 people were randomly selected in January 1996, and 2,864 (71%) completed a structured interview that included questions on unmet needs for dental and medical care. Regression analysis was used to identify variables associated with having unmet needs for dental care only, medical care only, and both medical and dental care. Results: Of the estimated 230,900 people in treatment for HIV in the United States, approximately 58,000 had unmet medical or dental needs based on self-reported data. Unmet dental needs were more than twice as prevalent as unmet medical needs (32,900 vs 14,300), and 11,600 people were estimated to have both types of unmet needs. Multinomial logit regression showed that persons with low income had increased odds of reporting unmet needs for both dental and medical care. The uninsured and those insured by Medicaid without dental benefits had more than three times the odds of having unmet needs for both types of care than did the privately insured. Conclusions: To serve both the dental and medical needs of diverse populations affected by HIV disease, greater coordination of services is needed. In addition, state insurance programs for people with HIV should consider the feasibility of expanding their benefit structure to include dental care benefits.
Bronchial smooth muscle hypoplasia in mouse embryonic lungs exposed to a laminin β1 chain antisense oligonucleotide

Abstract We used an antisense oligonucleotide (ODN) to inhibit laminin (LM) β 1 chain synthesis in mouse embryonic lung explants and cell cultures. The ODN spanned 17 bases located 13 bases downstream the initiation codon and contained phosphorothioate and C-5 propynyl pyrimidine modifications. Penetration of the ODN into the lung explants was confirmed by fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) tagging. 50 μM of antisense ODN decreased LM β 1 chain synthesis by 82±6.9% with no significant changes in the synthesis of other LM chains. The same antisense probe but without C-5 propynyl pyrimidine modification, another 17-mer ODN complementary to the LM β 1 initiation codon, and a 17-mer ODN complementary to the LM α 1 initiation codon had no antisense activity. Lung explants exposed to the active LM β 1 antisense ODN showed decreased LM-1 and collagen type IV deposition at the epithelial–mesenchymal interface and an arrest in bronchial smooth muscle (SM) development. Histological examination and cell motility assays suggested that this arrest was due to impaired spreading and migration of SM cell precursors over the defective basement membrane (BM). Our studies indicate that β 1-chain containing LMs play a role in bronchial myogenesis.
Microstructural investigation of AA 2195 T81 chips formed during a metal-cutting process

In this study, the microstructure of AA 2195 T81 metal-cutting chips formed during a turning operation were characterized using microscopy and diffraction techniques. At a constant strain of 2, the resulting strain rate imposed on the metal was varied from 0.8 × 104 to 2.6 × 105 s−1. At strain rate of 0.8 × 104 s−1, the resulting microstructure contained regions of 100 nm ultrafine grains. At the highest strain rate of 2.6 × 105 s−1, 150–200 nm ultrafine grains were observed plus overaged precipitates. The grain size increment and appearance of overaged precipitates with the higher strain rate is conjectured to be a result of temperature increment and not of direct strain rate.
Insect responses to invasive shrubs: Implications to managing thicket habitats in the northeastern United States

Abstract In the northeastern United States, many species are affiliated with early-successional forests and shrublands, collectively referred to as thickets. The abundance of these habitats has declined substantially in recent decades and, of those that remain, many have been colonized by exotic shrubs. We investigated how invasive shrubs may affect these habitats by focusing on possible changes to local insect communities because insects represent a diverse assemblage that is known to respond to changes in plant composition. Additionally, modifications of insect communities may affect the suitability of habitats to other organisms that prey on them. We compared insect abundance, richness, and phenology among four sites with different levels of exotic shrub cover using flight-intercept traps and beat sampling of individual shrubs. Captive lepidopteran larvae also were used to investigate preferences for foliage from native and exotic shrubs and short-term survival when larvae were exclusively fed foliage from either native or exotic shrubs. Habitats with a large proportion of cover by invasive shrubs had an abundance of generalist and pest insects, whereas sites dominated by native shrubs supported more lepidopterans, more herbivorous insects, and more rare species. Captive lepidopteran larvae avoided foliage from invasive shrubs and a majority of those provided with such a diet died. We conclude that invasive shrubs may alter local insect communities and that those modifications can reduce the suitability of thicket habitats to other organisms (e.g., nesting songbirds). The enhancement and expansion of thicket habitats has become a management priority in the region, yet activities that are applied to maintain these habitats (e.g., controlled burns, mowing, and cuts) can increase the likelihood of exotic plant invasions. We summarize guidelines that may help avoid a management dilemma when dealing with this issue.