cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Program of early development in the mammal: Changes in the patterns and absolute rates of tubulin and total protein synthesis during oocyte growth in the mouse

Abstract Oocytes at several stages of growth have been isolated by enzymatic digestion and/or physical disruption of ovaries excised from juvenile and adult mice. The absolute rates of total protein synthesis and tubulin synthesis in these isolated oocytes were determined by measuring sizes of the endogenous methionine pool and apparent rates of incorporation of [ 35 S]methionine into total protein and tubulin using methods described previously ( R. M. Schultz, M. J. LaMarca, and P. M. Wassarman, 1978 , Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA , 75, 4160; R. M. Schultz, G. E. Letourneau, and P. M. Wassarman, 1979 , Develop. Biol. , 68, 341). The size of the endogenous methionine pool increases approximately 350-fold during oocyte growth, from 0.16 fmole in nongrowing oocytes (12 μm) to 56 fmole in fully grown oocytes (85 μm). Since the volume of mouse oocytes also increases about 350-fold during growth, the concentration of intracellular free methionine remains constant at approximately 170 μ M . The absolute rate of protein synthesis increases from 1.1 to 41.8 pg/hr/oocyte for nongrowing and fully grown mouse oocytes, respectively. Since this represents about a 38-fold increase in the absolute rate of protein synthesis, the rate of synthesis per picoliter of cytoplasm actually decreases nearly 10-fold during oocyte growth. These measurements indicate that the growing mouse oocyte itself is capable of synthesizing only about 50% of the protein found in fully grown oocytes. Tubulin is one of the major proteins synthesized by growing mouse oocytes since the absolute rate of tubulin synthesis is, on the average, 1.8% of total protein synthesis. The absolute rate of tubulin synthesis increases from 0.4 to 0.6 pg/hr/oocyte as the oocyte grows from 40 to 85 μm in diameter. However, overall, the percentage of total protein synthesis devoted to the synthesis of tubulin actually declines somewhat during this phase of growth, from 2 to 1.5%. Although equimolar amounts of tubulin subunits are present in microtubules, the ratio of absolute rate of synthesis of the β subunit to that of the α subunit varies from 1.3 to 2.0 throughout oocyte growth. High-resolution two-dimensional gel electrophoretic analyses of [ 35 S]methionine-labeled proteins reveal that many changes take place in the pattern of protein synthesis during oocyte growth.
The Inner Asian anomaly: Mongolia’s democratization in comparative perspective

Abstract Following the demise of Soviet-type regimes most countries of postcommunist Inner Asia either experienced initial political openings followed by reversion to authoritarianism or moved directly from one type of harsh authoritarianism to another. Mongolia is exceptional. The extent of political opening there during the 1990s far exceeded anything seen in any neighboring country and the gains of the early post-Soviet period were maintained instead of reversed. This paper investigates the causes of Mongolia's relative success and argues that the absence of several factors that are often regarded as propitious for democratization has actually facilitated Mongolia's democratization. The experience of postcommunist Inner Asia casts doubt on some arguments current in thinking on regime change.
Slit design for efficient and accurate MTF measurement at megavoltage x-ray energies

Empirical determination of the modulation transfer function (MTF) for analog and digital mega-voltage x-ray imagers is a challenging task. The most common method used to determine MTF at megavoltage x-ray energies employs a long, narrow slit formed by two parallel, metal blocks in order to form a "slit beam." In this work, a detailed overview of some of the important considerations of slit design is presented. Based on these considerations, a novel, compact slit, using 19 cm thick tungsten blocks, was designed. The prototype slit was configured to attach to the accessory slot of the gantry of a linear accelerator, which greatly simplified the measurement process. Measurements were performed to determine the presampling MTF at 6 MV for an indirect detection active matrix flat panel imager prototype previously developed for megavoltage imaging applications. In addition, the effects of two important slit design parameters, material type and thickness, on the accuracy of MTF determination were investigated via a Monte Carlo-based theoretical study. Empirically determined MTFs obtained from the prototype slit closely match those from an earlier, less compact slit design based on 40 cm thick steel blocks. The results of the Monte Carlo-based theoretical studies indicate that the prototype slit achieves close-to-ideal performance in terms of accurately determining the MTF by virtue of practically 100% beam attenuation in regions other than the slit gap. Furthermore, the theoretical results suggest that it may be possible to achieve even further reductions in slit thickness without compromising measurement accuracy.
Organic photochemistry with 6.7eV photons: 1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridines and tropidine

Abstract Irradiation of the title compounds in hydrocarbon solutions with 185nm light leads to retro-Diels-Alder reactions as the principal process. The imine fragment, CH2=C-CH3 undergoes efficient trimerization, a process which may be promoted by molecular association of the reactant.
Inventories of Asian textile producers, US cotton exports, and the exchange rate

Summary: The present paper develops a model with US cotton exports depending on the stock-to-use ratio, trade weighted exchange rates, and the relative cotton prices. The role of inventories in cotton consumption is examined in five textile producing cotton importers, China, Indonesia, Thailand, South Korea, and Taiwan. Cotton inventory dynamics is diverse among Asian textile producers. Relative prices have negative effect in all markets as expected. Exchange rate elasticities show that effects should be examined for each separate market. Changes in rates of depreciation also have stronger effects than exchange rate. Results reveal that these countries are not all that homogenous.
Effects of abstentions on voting procedures in three‐candidate elections

This article deals with decision making in living systems at the levels of the organization, society, or supranational system. Abstention rates have a significant effect on the propensities of different voting procedures to elect the global Condorcet majority candidate in a three-candidate election when it exists. Hence any comparison of voting procedures that is concerned about the election of a global Condorcet candidate should reckon with abstention rates that may obtain for different procedures. Precise and approximate Condorcet propensities as functions of abstention rates are derived for the following voting rules for large electorates: Condorcet rules, including Black's rule; weighted scoring rules, including plurality and Borda rules; approval voting; and runoff elections in which a weighted scoring rule is used to eliminate one of the three candidates after the first ballot.
Men and women as portrayed in the lyrics of contemporary music

(1983). Men and women as portrayed in the lyrics of contemporary music. Popular Music and Society: Vol. 9, No. 2, pp. 19-26.
Effect of Intraesophageal Electrode Position on Signal Amplitude of the Crural Diaphragm Electromyogram

We studied the effect of electrode position relative to the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) on the crural diaphragm electromyogram (EMG) recording in 15 healthy human subjects. Three coil electrodes, each 1 cm in axial length and spaced 1 cm apart, were positioned on the distal 5 cm of a 6-cm-long Dent sleeve device. Bipolar EMG signals were recorded simultaneously from proximal and distal pairs of electrodes during spontaneous respiration, maximum inspiration with open airway, and maximum inspiration with closed airway. The catheter was positioned so that the side hole at the proximal margin of the sleeve recorded esophageal pressure just above the upper end of the LES. During spontaneous inspiration, the amplitude of the proximal diaphragm EMG signal was significantly higher than the distal. There was a significant difference in the amplitude of the two diaphragm EMG signals during maximum inspiration with open airway, and nearly significant differences in the two EMG signals during maximum inspiration with closed airway. We found that electrode position strongly influences the amplitude of the crural diaphragm EMG signals as measured by intraesophageal electrodes. Assessment of the crural diaphragm EMG with only one pair of electrodes may underestimate the signal amplitude.
Numerical simulation of elastic-plastic solid mechanics using an Eulerian stretch tensor approach and HLLD Riemann solver

An Eulerian, multi-material numerical method is described for computing dynamic problems involving large deformations in elastic-plastic solids. This approach addresses algorithm failures associated with reconnection and change in topology observed in previously proposed formulations. Among the information contained in the deformation gradients commonly employed for defining constitutive laws suitable for solids, only the symmetric matrix tensor obtained from a polar decomposition of the elastic component of the deformation is required to determine the stress state. The numerical utilization of this symmetric tensor, associated with material stretch, eliminates undesirable, discontinuous deformation states produced by local rigid-body rotations at same-material reconnecting interfaces. Such states appear even where stress states in impacting regions are similar. The temporal evolution of the stretches neither modifies the eigenstructure of the system of equations nor changes its size. We also present a new multi-material approximate Riemann solver based on the HLLD approach, previously applied to other hyperbolic systems, in which waves of distinct velocity exist, for example, as in magnetohydrodynamics. This solver is employed in combination with the modified ghost fluid method (M-GFM) in the description of multi-material interfaces. These composite algorithms enable numerical simulations of the Richtmyer-Meshkov instability (i.e., the instability produced by the interaction of an interface separating materials of different density with a shock wave at an angle) in converging geometries for solid materials that would have previously led to the failure of the method.
Notes on Research Associated With Values Clarification and Value Therapy

This article critically reviews research on two ways of practicing Values Clarification and Value Therapy. It views Values Clarification research as derived from its widespread practice, whereas Value Therapy is seen as derived from experimental research. In evaluations of the claims of the Glaser-Kirschenbaum article in this issue, two studies that sought to enhance self-esteem are described as related to Values Clarification goals. In evaluations of the claims of the research cited in the Rokeach-Regan article, one Value Therapy study, by Greenstein, is examined in detail. The author suggests a need to consider how these approaches work with different age groups.
Magnetic instability with increasing hybridization in cerium compounds

A synthesis of a phenomenological theory of orbitally driven magnetic ordering of moderately delocalized light rare-earth systems and ab initio electronic structure calculations has been applied to investigate the change in magnetic behavior on going from CeSb to CeTe, both of which have rocksalt structure with a small decrease in lattice parameter. The hybridization-potential matrix elements and the band energies entering the Anderson-lattice Hamiltonian are obtained from linear-muffin-tin-orbital (LMTO) electronic-structure calculations with the Ce 4f states treated as core states. The position of the Ce 4f energy level relative to the Fermi energy and the intra-atomic Coulomb energy U are obtained by use of a sequence of three total-energy supercell calculations with one out of four Ce sites constrained to ${\mathit{f}}^{\mathit{n}}$ occupation with n=0,1,2, successively. The calculations elucidate the origins, in the electronic structure, of the variation of the f-state resonance width and hybridization potential on going from CeSb to CeTe, and the resultant sensitivity of the hybridization dressing of the crystal-field splitting and the hybridization-induced exchange interactions to chemical environment. The effect of opening up successive angular momentum scattering channels of the ab initio calculated two-ion exchange-interaction matrix on the nature of the magnetic ordering is examined. The calculated magnitude and range dependence of the two-ion exchange interactions changes sharply from CeSb to CeTe, yielding a change in magnetic behavior in qualitative agreement with experiment. The nonlinear hybridization effects on the hybridization dressing of the crystal-field splitting have been examined. These effects, which are associated with the self-consistent determination of both the band states and f states in the presence of band-f hybridization, are found to be small in both systems.
Physical and flow properties of pecan shells—Particle size and moisture effects

Abstract Pecan shells are the byproduct of the processing of pecans for human consumption. The potential use of these shells for bioenergy and other value-added applications requires information on the physical and flow properties. These properties are needed for the design of storage, processing and handling equipment. The effects of particle size and moisture content on bulk density, particle density, tap density, compressibility, angle of repose, cohesion, angle of internal friction and flowability were quantified in this study. Equilibrium moisture relations for the shells were also determined at temperatures ranging from 10 to 50 °C. The densities (bulk, particle and tap) significantly decreased and compressibility significantly increased with increases in particle size and moisture content. Increasing the moisture content reduced its flowability from free flowing (flow index of 15.77) at a moisture content of 4.2% (w.b.) to cohesive (flow index 3.14) at a moisture content of 24.6% (w.b.). The cohesive strength of pecan shells also increased with particle size (0.58 to 1.14 kPa) and with moisture content (0.36 to 1.69 kPa). An average angle of internal friction of 41.28° was obtained and was not significantly affected by moisture content and particle size. The angles of repose of pecan shells varied from 33.1 degrees to 46.3 degrees. The equilibrium moisture relation curves for the shells were sigmoidal in shape and showed that pecan shells should be stored at moisture contents of less than 18.03% (w.b.) to minimize microbial activity. The equilibrium moisture relation curves were best predicted by the modified Henderson equation.
Apoptosis and the BCL-2 gene family - patterns of expression and prognostic value in STAGE I and II follicular center lymphoma

Abstract Purpose: The prognostic significance of spontaneous levels of apoptosis and Bcl-2, Bax, and Bcl-x protein expression in follicular center lymphoma (FCL) is unknown. The objectives of this retrospective study were (1) to investigate the relationship between pretreatment apoptosis levels and long-term treatment outcome in patients with Stage I and II FCL; (2) to define the incidence and patterns of Bax and Bcl-x protein expression in human FC; and (3) to determine the relationship of Bcl-2, Bax, and Bcl-x expression with spontaneous apoptosis levels and clinical outcome in localized FCL. Methods and Materials: Between 1974 and 1988, 144 patients with Stage I or II FCL were treated. Hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) stained tissue sections of pretreatment specimens were retrieved for 96 patients. Treatment consisted of regional radiation therapy (XRT) for 25 patients, combined modality therapy (CMT) consisting of combination chemotherapy and XRT for 57 patients, and other treatments for 14 patients. Median follow-up for living patients was nearly 12 years. The apoptotic index (AI) was calculated by dividing the number of apoptotic cells by the total number of cells counted and multiplying by 100. Expression of Bcl-2, Bax, and Bcl-x proteins was assessed using immunohistochemistry. Results: The mean and median AI values for the entire group were 0.53 and 0.4, respectively (range: 0–5.2). The AI strongly correlated with cytologic grade, with mean AI values of 0.25 for grade 1, 0.56 for grade 2, and 0.84 for grade 3 ( p p = 0.014). For patients treated with CMT, an AI p = 0.0145) and overall survival (OS) ( p = 0.0081). An AI Conclusion: The level of spontaneous apoptosis in pretreatment specimens correlates with cytologic grade of FCL and is a significant predictor of FFR and OS for patients with localized FCL receiving CMT.
Intrinsic disorder mediates the diverse regulatory functions of the Cdk inhibitor p21

NMR reveals the dynamic stretching ability of the subdomain LH of the intrinsically disordered p21, providing a physical basis for the binding and functional diversity in its cell cycle regulatory role as a modulator of Cdk–cyclin complexes.
Mapping students' ideas to understand learning in a collaborative programming environment

Recent studies in learning programming have largely focused on high school and college students; less is known about how young children learn to program. From video data of 20 students using a graphical programming interface, we identified ideas that were shared and evolved through an elementary school classroom. In mapping these ideas and their resulting changes in programs and outputs, we were able to identify the contextual features which contributed to how ideas moved through the classroom as students learned. We suggest this process of idea mapping in visual programming environments as a viable method for understanding collaborative, constructivist learning as well as a context under which experiences can be developed to improve student learning.
Modularity of 2-adic Barsotti-Tate representations

We prove a modularity lifting theorem for two dimensional, 2-adic, potentially Barsotti-Tate representations. This proves hypothesis (H) of Khare-Wintenberger, and completes the proof of Serre’s conjecture. The main new ingredient is a classification of connected finite flat group schemes over rings of integers of finite extensions of ℚ2.
Rings with two-generated ideals

Abstract A commutative ring R is said to have the two-generator property if each ideal of R can be generated by two elements, and is said to be stable if each regular ideal of R is projective over its endomorphism ring. It is known that for a one-dimensional local Macaulay ring the two-generator property implies stability but not conversely. We extend some of the known results on rings with the two-generator property to stable rings, and determine conditions under which stable rings have the two-generator property. We also extend a structure theorem for certain finitely generated torsionfree modules over rings with the two-generator property, and some of its consequences for cancellation of direct summands, to one-dimensional rings which may not have finite integral closure, and remove the finite integral closure hypothesis from a characterization of Greither of commutative group rings with the two-generator property.
Examining Non-Tenure Track Faculty Perceptions of How Departmental Policies and Practices Shape Their Performance and Ability to Create Student Learning at Four-Year Institutions

This study examines a major shift in the professoriate from tenure track to a non-tenure track faculty (NTTF), with two-thirds of the faculty now being off the tenure track. While some studies suggest negative outcomes as a result of students taking courses with NTTF, none of the studies examine the working conditions of the NTTFs. This qualitative case study fills that gap in our understanding through interviews with 107 faculty within 25 departments in 3 four year campuses examines and compares NTTF in departments that have supportive policies in place versus those that do not. The results presented in the findings clearly demonstrate that NTTF perceive that departmental policies shape their performance and ability to create quality learning experiences. Unsupportive policies impact preparation, advising possibilities, create poor curricular designs, result in missing key materials, among many other negative results. Findings identify a set of policies that negatively and positively shape performance and that can be the focus of changes among leaders on college campuses.
Elevated serum IL-8 is associated with the presence of hepatocellular carcinoma and independently predicts survival

Tumor immune responses have prognostic importance to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Serum cytokines may differentiate HCC patients from cirrhotic patients or have prognostic significance. Serum IL-8 was elevated in 90 HCC patients compared to 180 cirrhotic controls, whereas IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-7, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, IL-15, IL-17, IL-21, and VEGF were similar. IL-8 predicted HCC presence with an area under the receiver-operator curve (ROC) of 0.68. HCC patients with highest IL-8 had worse survival. Multivariate analysis showed that high IL-8 (HR 2.15; 95%CI:1.21-3.74) and stage (HR 1.92; 95%CI:1.22-3.97) independently predicted mortality; while viral etiology was protective (HR 0.69; 95%CI:0.41-0.98). Therefore, HCC IL-8 mediated events may be worthy of future investigation.
HIGH SPECTRAL RESOLUTION REMOTE SENSING OF FOREST CANOPY LIGNIN, NITROGEN, AND ECOSYSTEM PROCESSES

Remote sensing of foliar chemistry has been recognized as an important element in producing large-scale, spatially explicit estimates of forest ecosystem function. This study was designed to determine whether data from NASA's Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) could be used to determine forest canopy chemistry at a spatial resolution of 20 m, and if so, to use that information to drive an ecosystem pro- ductivity model. Foliage and leaf litter were sampled on 40 plots at Blackhawk Island, Wisconsin, and Harvard Forest, Massachusetts, to determine canopy-level nitrogen and lignin concentrations. At the time of the field sampling, AVIRIS data were acquired for both study areas. Calibration equations were developed, relating nitrogen and lignin to selected first-difference spectral bands (R2 = 0.87 and 0.77, respectively). Calibration equa- tions were evaluated on the basis of inter- and intrasite statistics. These equations were applied to all image pixels to make spatially explicit estimates of canopy nitrogen and lignin for both study sites. These estimates of nitrogen and lignin concentrations were then used with existing models to predict net ecosystem productivity at Harvard Forest and nitrogen mineralization rates at Blackhawk Island.
Bimolecular and unimolecular contributions to the disparate self-chemical ionizations of α-pinene and camphene isomers

The contributions of molecular and fragment ions toward the disparate self-chemical ionization (SCI) of α-pinene and camphene isomers were investigated. A kinetic model was constructed to predict the SCI outcomes for these two C10H16 isomers. A major portion of the camphene molecular ions (isolated 500 ms after the 10 ms EI event at 24 eV) unimolecularly dissociated within 200 s of the ionization event. Conversely, under similar experimental conditions, the α-pinene molecular ions as well as the major fragment ions of α-pinene and camphene showed no unimolecular dissociation. The α-pinene and camphene molecular ions yielded product ions through two different reaction mechanisms (direct charge-transfer {CT} and indirect proton transfer {PT}). The isolated terpene fragment ions at m/z 93 and 121 reacted with their respective neutrals to produce [M + H]+. Proton affinity (PA) bracketing experiments, PA additivity schemes, and alkene PA versus adiabatic ionization energy (IE) linear correlation indicated that the PAs of camphene and α-pinene were comparable (∼210 ± 2 kcal · mol−1). The observed [M + H]+ SCI terpene ions were mainly the products of various fragment ion reactions.
Cellular localization of PRL-1 and PRL-2 gene expression in normal adult human tissues.

Recent evidence suggests that the PRL-1 and −2 phosphatases may be multifunctional enzymes with diverse roles in a variety of tissue and cell types. Northern blotting has previously shown widespread expression of both transcripts; however, little is known about the cell type-specific expression of either gene, especially in human tissues. Therefore, we investigated expression patterns for PRL-1 and −2 genes in multiple normal, adult human tissues using in situ hybridization. Although both transcripts were ubiquitously expressed, they exhibited strikingly different patterns of expression. PRL-2 was expressed heavily in almost every tissue and cell type examined, whereas PRL-1 expression levels varied considerably both between tissue types and between individuals. Widespread expression of PRL-1 and −2 in multiple organ systems suggests an important functional role for these enzymes in normal tissue homeostasis. In addition, the variable patterns of expression for these genes may provide distinct activities ...
Therapy model for advanced intracerebral B16 mouse melanoma using radiation therapy combined with immunotherapy

A reproducible therapy model for advanced intracerebral B16 melanoma is reported. Implanted tumors (D0), suppressed by a single 15 Gy radiosurgical dose of 100 kVp X-rays (D8), were further suppressed by a single ip injection of a Treg-depleting mAb given 2 days prior to the initiation (D9) of four weekly then eight bi-monthly sc injections of GMCSF-transfected, mitotically disabled B16 cells. The trends of seven independent experiments were similar to the combined result: The median (days) [SD/total N] of survival went from 15[1.09/62] (no treatment control) to 35.8[8.8/58] (radiation therapy only) to 52.5[13.5/57] (radiation therapy plus immunotherapy). Within 2 weeks after immunization, tumors in mice receiving radiation therapy plus immunotherapy were significantly smaller than tumors in mice treated only with radiosurgery. Splenocytes and lymph node cells from immunized mice showed increased interferon γ production when cultured with syngeneic tumor cells. We suggest that our model will be useful for the development and testing of novel combination therapies for brain tumors.
Evaluation of a technique for identification of Shiga-like toxin-producing Escherichia coli by using polymerase chain reaction and digoxigenin-labeled probes

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique for the identification of Shiga-like toxin (SLT)-producing Escherichia coli was assessed by using 95 strains of SLT-producing E. coli and 5 Shigella dysenteriae type 1 strains. PCR was used for the amplification of slt gene sequences from whole bacterial colonies. A digoxigenin-labeled DNA probe was used for identification of the PCR products in a spot blot hybridization assay. Modifications were made to adapt this technique for the proper identification of 10 SLT-producing isolates which were refractory to the heat lysis step that was used to liberate whole-cell DNA for PCR and 6 isolates which gave nonspecific amplification products. The sensitivity and specificity of this assay were each 99% when compared with toxin neutralization results by using SLT-specific monoclonal antibodies. These values indicate that this detection technique could be suitable for use in a clinical laboratory.
Protecting Human Rights: The Legitimacy of Judicial System Reforms in EL Salvador

Abstract Research on democratic transitions in Latin America often ignore the importance of judicial systems — and related institutions — in achieving ‘liberal democracy’ and effectively safeguarding human rights, as contrasted with the restoration of ‘electoral democracy.’ This proves especially problematic in the instances of the former military-dominated authoritarian regimes of Central America. This article examines the efforts at judicial system and related reforms in El Salvador since the 1992 Peace Accords, and relates those reforms to popular perceptions, both of previous institutions and of the institutional reforms and new institutions that have been created as part of the peace-making process. The reported survey research results suggest that the reforms on which liberal democracy in El Salvador depends, while generally viewed positively in the abstract, still rest on shaky foundations.
INTERPHOTORECEPTOR RETINOID‐BINDING PROTEIN AND α‐TOCOPHEROL PRESERVE THE ISOMERIC AND OXIDATION STATE OF RETINOL

Retinol decomposes rapidly into a number of products, including its aldehyde form, retinal, when introduced into buffer in phospholipid vesicles or ethanol. Interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein at low concentrations is found to protect retinol from isomerization and oxidation. The addition of alpha-tocopherol to either liposomes or an ethanolic-buffer solution also prevents decomposition. Neither of these agents interferes with the successful regeneration of pigment with 9-cis retinal in rod outer segment preparations or the restoration of sensitivity by retinoids in isolated rod photoreceptors.
Analysis of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Gene Expression in Latently Infected Resting CD4+ T Lymphocytes In Vivo

In individuals with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection, a small reservoir of resting memory CD4(+) T lymphocytes carrying latent, integrated provirus persists even in patients treated for prolonged periods with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). This reservoir greatly complicates the prospects for eradicating HIV-1 infection with antiretroviral drugs. Therefore, it is critical to understand how HIV-1 latency is established and maintained. In particular, it is important to determine whether transcriptional or posttranscriptional mechanisms are involved. Therefore, HIV-1 DNA and mRNAs were measured in highly purified populations of resting CD4(+) T lymphocytes from the peripheral blood of patients on long-term HAART. In such patients, the predominant form of persistent HIV-1 is latent integrated provirus. Typically, 100 HIV-1 DNA molecules were detected per 10(6) resting CD4(+) T cells. Only very low levels of unspliced HIV-1 RNA ( approximately 50 copies/10(6) resting CD4(+) T cells) were detected using a reverse transcriptase PCR assay capable of detecting a single molecule of RNA standard. Levels of multiply spliced HIV-1 RNA were below the limit of detection (<50 copies/10(6) cells). Only 1% of the HIV-1 DNA-positive lymphocytes in this compartment could be induced to up-regulate HIV-1 mRNAs after cellular activation, indicating that most of the proviral DNA in resting CD4(+) T cells either carries intrinsic defects precluding transcription or is subjected to transcriptional control mechanisms that preclude high-level production of multiply spliced mRNAs. Nevertheless, by inducing T-cell activation, it is possible to isolate replication-competent virus from resting CD4(+) T lymphocytes of all infected individuals, including those on prolonged HAART. Thus, a subset of integrated proviruses (1%) remains competent for high-level mRNA production after cellular activation, and a subset of these can produce infectious virus. Measurements of steady-state levels of multiply spliced and unspliced HIV-1 RNA prior to cellular activation suggest that infected resting CD4(+) T lymphocytes in blood synthesize very little viral RNA and are unlikely to be capable of producing virus. In these cells, latency appears to reflect regulation at the level of mRNA production rather than at the level of splicing or nuclear export of viral mRNAs.
Drinking Water Treatment Residuals: A Review of Recent Uses

Coagulants such as alum [Al2(SO4)3 x 14H2O], FeCl3, or Fe2(SO4)3 are commonly used to remove particulate and dissolved constituents from water supplies in the production of drinking water. The resulting waste product, called water-treatment residuals (WTR), contains precipitated Al and Fe oxyhydroxides, resulting in a strong affinity for anionic species. Recent research has focused on using WTR as cost-effective materials to reduce soluble phosphorus (P) in soils, runoff, and land-applied organic wastes (manures and biosolids). Studies show P adsorption by WTR to be fast and nearly irreversible, suggesting long-term stable immobilization of WTR-bound P. Because excessive WTR application can induce P deficiency in crops, effective application rates and methods remain an area of intense research. Removal of other potential environmental contaminants [ClO4-, Se(+IV and +VI), As(+III and +V), and Hg] by WTR has been documented, suggesting potential use of WTR in environmental remediation. Although the creation of Al plant toxicity and enhanced Al leaching are concerns expressed by researchers, these effects are minimal at circumneutral soil pH conditions. Radioactivity, trace element levels, and enhanced Mn leaching have also been cited as potential problems in WTR usage as a soil supplement. However, these issues can be managed so as not to limit the beneficial use of WTR in controlling off-site P losses to sensitive water bodies or reducing soil-extractable P concentrations.
Teaching health care ethics: the importance of moral sensitivity for moral reasoning

Abstract My discussion reflects on the nature of moral sensitivity. The inquiry is guided by a pedagogical concern: if the goal of teaching practical-minded nurses about health care ethics is to develop the capacity to be aware of ethical implications of certain acts, events and treatments in the health care setting as well as the skills to resolve ethical dilemmas, it seems important to have a clear sense of what it means to be morally sensitive. How, for example, does a health care worker come to recognize in a particular and institutionally defined situation his or her moral responsibilities towards the other? What exactly is moral sensitivity? Is it something that academic philosophers can teach? I argue that moral sensitivity is a capacity for relatedness indispensable to moral theorizing that can be either cultivated or undermined and therefore ought not to be ignored by educators nor those responsible for ethically weighted decision-making situations.
Preventing unauthorized islanding: cyber-threat analysis

Intelligent software agents offer great potential in aiding the operation of electric power grids. These agents are networked applications that could be vulnerable to cyber attacks. Our goal is to design algorithms to detect or prevent such attacks. Before delving into this particular type of application, cyber attacks in general are filtered to develop a taxonomy of the types of threat that can occur. Any applications executing on a network have possible vulnerabilities that can be exploited by system hackers. Developing security solutions is an ongoing arms race between security professionals and hackers. Attack methods are generally unique to the application or system that are targeting, but underlying these strategies are common techniques. Although the purposes or consequences of attacks varies and are usually particular to the domain, the classes of consequences are limited. The national vulnerability database maintains reported vulnerabilities from industry, the private sector and government. By selecting a sampling of this vast database, we have formulated attack strategy categories and consequence categories. With these categories, a concise dissection of these specific type reports may be possible and an organized understanding of the vulnerabilities of networked applications results so threat prevention and detection algorithm can be developed.
Free Amino Acids and Other Nitrogenous Fractions in Wine Grapes

SUMMARY: The concentration of eight free amino acids, total nitrogen, amino-acid fraction nitrogen, and nonamino-acid-fraction nitrogen in the juices of 26 red- and 23 white-wine varieties of grapes was determined at early and late stages of fruit maturity. Proline was the most prominent amino acid in 31 of the varieties at early harvest and in 45 of the varieties at late harvest while arginine was the main amino acid in 16 and 3 varieties at early and late harvest, respectively. “Salvador” and “Scarlet” were the only varieties in which α-alanine was the predominant amino acid. The concentration of total nitrogen in the juices of the various varieties ranged from 44 to 256 mg/100 ml and the amino-acid fraction nitrogen ranged from 26 to 171 mg/100 ml juice. The amino acid fraction and nonamino acid fraction nitrogen in the juices ranged from 53 to 76% and 23 to 56% of total Kjeldahl nitrogen respectively. Alanine, γ-aminobutyric acid, arginine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, proline, serine and theronine accounted for 29 to 72% of the total nitrogen and 47 to 96% of the amino acid fraction nitrogen. Arginine contributed the most nitrogen of the amino acids, accounting for 6 to 44% of the total nitrogen in the juices of the various fruits.
Microbial community variation and its relationship with nitrogen mineralization in historically altered forests

Past land use can impart soil legacies that have important implications for ecosystem function. Although these legacies have been linked with microbially mediated processes, little is known about the long-term influence of land use on soil microbial communities themselves. We examined whether historical land use affected soil microbial community composition (lipid profiles) and whether community composition was related to potential net nitrogen (N) mineralization rates in southern Appalachian (USA) forest stands abandoned from agriculture or logging and reforested >50 yr ago. Microbial community composition was determined by a hybrid procedure of phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) and fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) analysis. We found that community composition varied significantly with past land use. Communities in formerly farmed stands had a higher relative abundance of markers for gram-negative bacteria and a lower abundance of markers for fungi compared with previously logged and reference (i.e., no disturbance history) stands. Potential net N mineralization rates were negatively correlated with fungal and gram-negative bacterial markers in both farmed and reference stands, and fungal abundance and soil bulk density effectively predicted mineralization rates in all stands. Our results indicate that the alteration of microbial communities by historical land use may influence the ecosystem processes they mediate. This is in contrast to typical expectations about microbial community resilience to change. Here, the decrease in fungal abundance observed from disturbance appeared to result in decreased nitrogen mineralization over the long term.
Additive effects on palladium-catalyzed deprotonative-cross-coupling processes (DCCP) of sp3 C–H bonds in diarylmethanes

Palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions have become one of the most useful tools in modern organic chemistry. Current methods to achieve direct functionalization of sp3 C–H bonds of arenes and heteroarenes often employ substrates with appropriately placed directing groups to enable reactivity. Examples of intermolecular arylation methods of weakly acidic sp3 C–H bonds in the absence of directing groups, however, are still limited. We describe herein a study on the use of additives in Pd-catalyzed deprotonative-cross-coupling processes (DCCP) of sp3 C–H bonds of diarylmethanes with aryl bromides at room temperature. These studies resulted in development of four new efficient Pd-catalyzed DCCP using additives that enabled the generation of a range of sterically and electronically diverse aryl- and heteroaryl containing triarylmethanes in good to excellent yields. Additive identification and optimization of all reaction conditions (additive loading, solvent and temperature) were performed using high-throughput experimentation (HTE). The approach outlined herein is expected to be generalizable to other C–H functionalization reactions involving the deprotonation of weakly acidic C–H bonds.
Objective Measurement of the Diastolic and Systolic Ophthalmic Arterial Pressures

intraocular pressure/pulse amplitude (IOP/PA) relation to evaluate the systolic ophthalmic arterial pressure. 9 Their procedure was made on eyes of conscious subjects, either seated or lying supine, using the Langham tonometer to record the IOP and its pulse amplitude in the undisturbed eye, and then repeating the recordings after inducing stepwise increments of the IOP ( Fig. 26.1 ). The IOP was increased by application of suction to a plastic cup of diameter 10 mm placed a few millimeters temporal to the limbus of the anesthetized cornea. During the procedure the patient observed a fixation light approximately 6 ft above the face and reported when a change in vision occurred. In healthy eyes, the light remained essentially unchanged as the IOP was increased from the initial IOP of approximately 15 mmHg to more than 60 mmHg. Then, with further increased suction an IOP was reached at which the pulse amplitude decreased rapidly to 0 over a span of approximately 5 mmHg. At this IOP there was a fading of vision from the periphery inward. A complete loss of vision occurred at a mean IOP of 80–85 mmHg in healthy adults. The pulse and vision reappeared when the IOP was reduced by a few mmHg. On the basis of observations on many normal and disclosed eyes a complete loss of vision occurs simultaneously with the complete loss of pulsatility. A typical plot of the pulse amplitudes in pairs of undisturbed eyes and at increased IOP is shown in Fig. 26.2 . The upper limit of the IOP/ PA relation is the IOP at which the PA is of 0 amplitude, blood flow through the eye ceases, and vision is lost. This is, by definition, the ophthalmic arterial systolic pressure. In a group of 40 adult healthy subjects with no apparent ocular abnormalities the mean ophthalmic arterial systolic pressure was 82 ± 1.2 (40) mmHg and the corresponding mean brachial systolic pressure was 126 ± 2.1 (40) mmHg. 26
Grip Strength Assessment and Early Outcomes in Hospitalized Acute Decompensated Heart Failure: A Prospective Study

Introduction: The prevalence, correlates and impact of the frail phenotype in acute decompensatedheart failure (ADHF) remain sparsely studied.Handgrip strength (HGS) is a validated and easily measurable parameter which may increase the feasibility of overall frailty evaluation in routine clinical assessment. Hypothesis: The discriminatory ability of weak HGS to identify hospitalized ADHF patients with more advanced disease and at increased risk of unfavorable hospitalization outcomes was investigated. Methods Patients with ADHF requiring in-hospital treatment with intravenous diuretic therapy were enrolled. Comprehensive clinical, laboratory and echocardiographic parameters were prospectively collected and HGS was measured within 24 hours of admission using a hand dynamometer (Jamar, Inc.). Patients performed a maximal isometric contraction with their dominant hand 3 times. Weak HGS was defined as a maximal value below the genderand body mass index-derived cut-offs provided by the Fried criteria. Unfavorable hospitalization outcome was defined as death, length of stay longer than the median, or discharge to a non-independent living setting. Results: 88 consecutive patients (mean age 64616yrs, 66% men, mean LVEF 32615%) completedHGSassessment.WeakHGSwaspresent in 70% (n562) of the population. Characteristics of patients with and without weak HGS are shown in Table 1. Following exclusion of those undergoing ventricular assist device implant pre-discharge (n56), 52% (n543) of the remaining patients experienced an unfavorable outcome. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, weak HGS (OR 6.9, 95% CI 1.3-37, p50.03) significantly predicted unfavorable hospitalization outcome, independent of other significant clinical variables (atrial fibrillation vs. sinus rhythm, lack of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor antagonist therapy and lower admission systolic blood pressure). On likelihood ratio test, weak HGS provided incremental value to these parameters (final X2 23.1, p50.03) for prediction of short-term adverse outcome. Conclusions: Weak hand grip strength is a common finding in a tertiary referral ADHF population, and is associated with a greater burden of cardiovascular and renal disease, lower hemoglobin and worse nutritional parameters. Prospective admission assessment of this simple clinical measure provided independent and incremental value for prediction of unfavorable hospitalization outcomes. Grip strength may represent a useful, feasible marker of early risk in the ADHF population.
Disciplining sexual harassers: What’s fair?

To avoid liability for hostile environment sexual harassment under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, and to minimize the negative effects of such conduct on victims’ morale and perhaps their performance, employers must implement remedial measures that are capable of ending the harassment or even preventing it. Determining what constitutes adequate remedial action is difficult, and employers may administer excessively severe disciplinary penalties to ensure legal compliance. But such a response would contravene the tenets of just cause and industrial due process. This investigation examines relevant arbitration decisions to determine how labor arbitrators have balanced these competing interests. That is, it delineates the criteria that should be used to ensure that the disciplinary penalties levied against employees who sexually harass others are both adequate and fair.
Image-domain Waveform Tomography With Two-way Wave-equation

We propose an image-domain velocity model building method using the two-way wave equation and extended seismic images. We show that common-image-point gathers can effectively extract velocity information from steep reflections imaged with the two-way wave propagator. Such gathers have the advantages over conventional common-image gathers that they are capable of characterizing reflections with arbitrary dip and that they are computationally cheap especially for wide-azimuth imaging. We develop a waveform tomography procedure based on the adjoint-state method and commonimage-point gathers. Synthetic examples show that the information from steep reflections improve the resolution of velocity estimation, thus potentially leading to more accurate and faster converging inversion.
Nutritional Factors Affecting Synnema and Dark Pigment Formation by Ceratocystis Ulmi

Modifying the nutritional constituents of a defined agar medium containing low levels of glucose, asparagine, and linoleic acid affected formation of synnemata and dark mycelial pigment by Ceratocystis ulmi. Except for a darkly pigmented variant, no pigment or synnemata were formed on the glucose and asparagine medium without linoleic acid. With the addition of linoleic acid, or the substitution of glucose with potassium acetate and/or asparagine with tyrosine, the medium was suitable for both dark pigment and synnemata formation by some C. ulmi isolates. Media without linoleic acid also supported pigment and synnema formation by some isolates when acetate and/or tyrosine were used as the carbon or nitrogen sources, respectively. Generally, C. ulmi isolates known to be more aggressive produced more synnemata and dark pigment on the media containing glucose and linoleic acid than did those isolates known to be less aggressive. Pathogenicity and cultural characteristics vary among isolates of Ceratocystis ulmi (Buism.) Moreau, the Dutch elm disease fungus (3, 5-7, 10-13, 19, 24), and an association has been shown to exist between pathogenicity and certain cultural characters (3, 6, 10, 11, 19). Synnema production on elm wood (19) and synnema and dark pigment formation on a defined synnema production medium (SPM) (10, 13) are associated with pathogenicity. More aggressive isolates generally produce more synnema on elm wood (19) and SPM (10, 13) and more pigment on SPM (13) than less aggressive ones. Since SPM is a defined medium, more in-depth studies on the nutritional factors affecting in vitro synnema and pigment production by C. ulmi now are possible. This report presents the results of studies conducted to determine the effects of varying the carbon, nitrogen, and/or linoleic