cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Objectification as Self-affirmation in the Context of a Death-relevant Health Threat

Messages highlighting the risk of unhealthy behaviors threaten the self and can prompt a defensive response. From the perspective of self-affirmation theory, affirming an important value in a domain unrelated to the threat can reduce this defensiveness. Integrating terror management and objectification theory, this study examined objectification as a type of self-affirmation for women who highly value their appearance (i.e., high self-objectifiers) in the context of reactions towards a health message priming the association between breast cancer and death, and promoting the role of breast self-exams as an effective intervention. Self-objectification was found to moderate breast self-exam intentions and reactions to a BSE brochure when women were exposed to an objectifying image in the context of the death-relevant health threat. These findings show that for some women, objectification may provide the psychological fortitude necessary to actively confront threats to the self, and health, and may help to ex...
Learning from Failure: A Cost-Benefit Analysis Study which Resulted in Unfavorable Financial Outcomes.

This article describes a cost-benefit analysis study which resulted in unfavorable financial outcomes and discusses how this result became a learning opportunity for human performance development (HRD) professionals in the organization. Demonstrating the contributions of human performance development/performance improvement (HRD/PI) programs through cost-benefit analysis is a continuing need in organizations. However, most cost-benefit analysis case studies have reported favorable financial results. While these results may help raise the perceived status of the field, in fact, reporting unfavorable results may provide a richer professional learning opportunity than otherwise might be available.
Phylogenetic relationships of Amazonetta, Speculanas, Lophonetta, and Tachyeres: four morphologically divergent duck genera endemic to South America

We studied the phylogenetic relationships of four duck genera endemic to South America: Brazilian teal Amazonetta brasiliensis, spectacled duck Speculanas specularis, crested duck Lophonetta specularioides, and four species of steamer ducks Tachyerespatachonicus, T. leucocephalus, T. pteneres, T. brachypterus. Genetic divergence within and among species was compared using population-level sampling of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region, supplemented with three additional mtDNA genes and six independent nuclear loci from one individual of each species and a variety of outgroup taxa. The monophyly of these four morphologically divergent South American genera was strongly supported. Within this clade, Amazonetta and Speculanas were supported as sister species in all analyses, but different gene regions yielded conflicting or ambiguous results for Lophonetta and Tachyeres. This lack of resolution resulted from little informative variation in nuclear loci and high levels of homoplasy in the mtDNA control region. Control region sequences from the four Tachyeres species fell into two distinct clades. In one clade, T. patachonicus and T. leucocephalus share a set of closely related haplotypes (≤0.6% sequence divergence); while no identical haplotypes were shared between species, the control region phylogeny was insufficiently resolved to either support or reject reciprocal monophyly. The second clade, ~1.7% divergent from the first, comprised haplotypes of the Falkland Islands species T. brachypterus and a captive individual of T. pteneres. These distinctive South American ducks likely experienced two bouts of rapid diversification, thus making analysis of their phylogenetic relationships difficult. Incomplete lineage sorting, founder effects, and perhaps introgression likely have contributed to obscuring the relationships among steamer ducks.
Evidence that the TM1-TM2 Loop Contributes to the ρ1 GABA Receptor Pore

Abstract Considerable evidence indicates the second transmembrane domain (TM2) of the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor lines the integral ion pore. To further delineate the structures that constitute the ion pore and selectivity filter of the ρ1 GABA receptor, we used the substituted cysteine accessibility method with charged reagents to identify anion- and cation-accessible surfaces. Twenty-one consecutive residues were mutated to cysteine, one at a time, in the presumed intracellular end of the first transmembrane domain (TM1; Ala271-Met276), the entire linker connecting TM1 to TM2 (Leu277-Arg287), and the presumed intracellular end of TM2 (Ala288-Ala291). Positively (MTSEA+) and negatively (pCMBS–) charged sulfhydryl reagents, as well as Cd2+, were added extracellularly to test accessibility of the engineered cysteines. Four of the mutants, all at the intracellular end of TM2 (R287C, V289C, P290C, A291C), were accessible to positively charged reagents, whereas seven mutants (A271C, T272C, L277C, W279C, V280C, P290C, A291C) were functionally modified by negatively charged pCMBS–. These seven modified residues were at the intracellular end of TM2, in the TM1-TM2 linker, and at the intracellular end of TM1. In nearly all cases (excluding P290C), the rate and the degree of modification were state-dependent, with greater accessibility in the presence of agonist. Select cysteine mutants were combined with a point mutation (A291E) that converted the pore from chloride- to non-selective. In this case, positively charged reagents could modify residues in the TM1-TM2 linker (Leu277 and Val280), supporting the notion that the modifying reagents were reaching their target through the pore. Taken together, our results suggest that, up to its intracellular end, the TM2 domain is not charge selective. In addition, we propose that the TM1-TM2 linker and the intracellular end of TM1 are along the pathway of the permeating ion. These findings may lend new insights into the structure of the GABA receptor pore.
An in vitro model of light chain deposition disease

Nodular glomerulosclerosis results from increased deposition of extracellular matrix proteins and monotypic light chains. The inability of mesangial cells to degrade abnormal levels of tenascin-C—along with the increased expression of some growth factors such as platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)—is crucial to the pathogenesis of light chain deposition disease (LCDD). In order to study the molecular processes contributing to LCDD, we grew mesangial cells in three-dimensional matrices and incubated the cells with free light chains purified from the urine of patients with biopsy-proven LCDD, immunoglobulin-associated amyloid deposits, or myeloma cast nephropathy. Light chains of the latter two cohorts served as controls. Mesangial cells incubated with light chains from patients with LCDD show a significant increase in tenascin-C expression, centrally located within newly formed nodules, along with increased expression of PDGF and TGF-βs, compared to mesangial cells incubated with control light chains. There was less extracellular MMP-7 even though its intracellular expression is markedly increased compared to the control. Addition of active MMP-7 degraded this excess tenascin-C in vitro , a process that could be prevented by an exogenous MMP inhibitor. Our in vitro model recapitulates in vivo findings in patients with LCDD, thus allowing definition of the sequential pathologic processes associated with glomerulopathic light chain interactions with mesangial cells.
Analysis of SO2 oxidation in non-isothermal catalyst pellets using the dusty-gas model

Abstract Analysis of the experimental rate data [13] for SO2 oxidation on a commercial V2O5 catalyst has yielded a model that describes the experimental data well while the rate constant follows the Arrhenius law. This model was subsequently used to adequately predict experimentally determined effectiveness factors using the dusty-gas model flux relations and a single value for the tortuosity factor. The latter analysis validates the excellent properties of the dusty-gas model to properly describe transport in complex systems.
The Role of Dissolution Testing in the Design of Immediate Release Dosage Forms

Dissolution testing is an invaluable tool for the formulation team to use in the design of oral dosage forms. This paper covers dissolution tests for high solubility/high bioavailability compounds, low solubility compounds, and apparently insoluble compounds, as well as accelerated stability testing.
Inventories, Production Smoothing, and the Accelerator: Some Empirical Evidence

Introduction, 149. — A simple production-smoothing model, 150. — Empirical findings, 152. — Conclusions, 157.
Frameshift and intragenic suppressor mutations in a rous sarcoma provirus suggest src encodes two proteins

Abstract We have analyzed two mutations in src responsible for phenotypic reversion and subsequent retransformation of a Rous sarcoma virus-transformed rat cell. Comparison of the nucleotide sequences of cloned proviral DNAs reveals a single base pair insertion approximately 438 bp from the 5′ end of src in the revertant line 000. This frameshift mutation accounts for an 18 kd protein as the prematurely terminated product of src . The mutation is suppressed in the retransformed line (000∗) by a 242 bp duplication that corrects the reading frame to permit synthesis of a 68 kd src protein. A 43 kd src protein with a normal carboxyl terminus is also present in 000 and 000∗ cells. To make this protein, translation must begin at an internal AUG, found just upstream from the frameshift mutation; in both lines, two src proteins appear to be initiated independently from the same mRNA species. Our results imply that a protein of 7 kd is synthesized from a second reading frame within wild-type src .
Purification and properties of the chymotrypsin-like serine proteinase overproduced by Stremptomyces sp. strain C5-A13

The major serine proteinase of Streptomyces sp. strain C5-A13, a proteinase-overproducing mutant strain, was purified to homogeneity. It has a relative molecular mass (Mr) of 19500 as determined by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Superose-6 gel filtration chromatography, a low isoelectric point, optimal activity at pH 8.5–9.5, and an optimal temperature of approx. 55°C. This purified enzyme has a high specific activity on azocasein of 11000 units·mg−1 of protein, a K m of 2.7×10−5 m and a Vmax of 2.0 μmol·min−1·mg−1 of protein when succinyl-alanyl-alanyl-prolyl-phenylalanine p-nitroanilide was used as substrate. It was inhibited by the serine proteinase inhibitors diisopropyl fluorophosphate and phenylmethyl-sulfonyl fluoride but not by ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) or N-tosyl-l-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone. Thus, this serine proteinase appears to be a chymotrypsin-like enzyme and represents nearly 90% of the total extracellular azocasein-hydrolyzing activity produced by strain C5-A13. Since CaCO3 did not stimulate activity of the purified enzyme itself, the carbonate effect may be a transcriptional or translational rather than a post-translational one.
Large Scale Density Inhomogeneities in the Universe

Sachs and Wolfe have recently considered the possibility of large scale density inhomogeneities in the universe with characteristic dimensions of the order of 109 parsecs.1. The suggestion2 that quasi-stellar sources with highly red-shifted spectra are not isotropically distributed has aroused interest in large inhomogeneities. Rees and Sciama3 have suggested that the tendency to cluster of quasi-stellar sources with large z implies that the mass of the universe may not be homogeneously distributed on a scale of z ∼ 1. Although the observational status of the anisotropy of the distribution of these sources is in some doubt4, we have recently obtained results which appear to set rather stringent limits on the magnitude of possible density inhomogeneities in the universe.
Transcriptional Control of Cell Lineage Development in Epicardium-Derived Cells

Epicardial derivatives, including vascular smooth muscle cells and cardiac fibroblasts, are crucial for proper development of the coronary vasculature and cardiac fibrous matrix, both of which support myocardial integrity and function in the normal heart. Epicardial formation, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and epicardium-derived cell (EPDC) differentiation are precisely regulated by complex interactions among signaling molecules and transcription factors. Here we review the roles of critical transcription factors that are required for specific aspects of epicardial development, EMT, and EPDC lineage specification in development and disease. Epicardial cells and subepicardial EPDCs express transcription factors including Wt1, Tcf21, Tbx18, and Nfatc1. As EPDCs invade the myocardium, epicardial progenitor transcription factors such as Wt1 are downregulated. EPDC differentiation into SMC and fibroblast lineages is precisely regulated by a complex network of transcription factors, including Tcf21 and Tbx18. These and other transcription factors also regulate epicardial EMT, EPDC invasion, and lineage maturation. In addition, there is increasing evidence that epicardial transcription factors are reactivated with adult cardiac ischemic injury. Determining the function of reactivated epicardial cells in myocardial infarction and fibrosis may improve our understanding of the pathogenesis of heart disease.
On path-sequential labellings of cycles

Abstract A k-sequential labelling of the cycle C n is a labelling of its vertices with the integers {0,1,…, n −1} such that the n sums of k adjacent labels themselves form a set of consecutive integers. By demonstrating that a k-sequential labelling of C mn can be obtained from a k-sequential labelling of C n , we make significant progress toward proof of a conjecture of Vanderkam which states that such a labelling is possible if and only if n and k are not both even.
Schwannomas of the jugular foramen.

Schwannomas of the jugular foramen are relatively uncommon tumors. The growth and initial presentation of these tumors are variable and may not be associated with neuropathies of cranial nerves IX, X and XI. Seven patients with jugular fossa schwannomas are presented. Auditory brain stem response, electronystagmogram, computed cranial tomography, and carotid angiography arc helpful in diagnosis and preoperative evaluation. The surgical approach should be individualized to the lesion and may include transmastoid with extended facial recess, translabyrinthine, retrolabyrinthine, and infratemporal/cervical approaches.
Water and chemical balance in surgery of the colon

Abstract Following operations upon the colon resulting in disturbed function of the alimentary tract, dehydration and changes in body chemistry may rapidly become factors of prime importance. Dehydration usually plays the most important role in the disturbance of metabolism in general. As a result of dehydration there develops impairment of circulation and oxygenation, impairment of kidney function, retention of metabolic waste products, and disturbance of the heat regulating mechanism. Acid-base imbalance develops when there are extreme changes in body chemistry. Although the clinical terms “alkalosis” and “acidosis” are frequently loosely used and poorly understood, they must be considered in the changes of chemical balance associated with surgical diseases of the gastro-intestinal tract. The treatment of dehydration alone is relatively simple, but in surgical conditions dehydration is so much involved with changes in the body chemistry and metabolism that therapy becomes complicated. The judicious administration of water and sodium chloride tends to restore body chemistry to normal but does not entirely fulfill all therapeutic requirements of disturbed metabolism and pathologic changes that may result from water, chemical, and food deficiency. In a study of water and chemical balance from the surgical standpoint the loss of water and chlorides are not alone to be considered, but a broad view must be taken of changes in body chemistry and metabolism which may result not only from the disease but from the surgery instituted to cure or alleviate the disease.
TH-D-M100E-07: Determining the Geometric and Dosimetric Accuracy of MRI Based IMRT Treatment Plan for Patients with Prostate, Brain, and Head and Neck Cancers

Purpose: To determine the geometric and dosimetric accuracy of MRI‐based IMRT treatment plan for patients with prostate, brain, and head and neck cancers.Methods and Material:CT simulation images were obtained for prostate, brain and head and neck cancer patients in treatment position with required immobilization. T1 and T2 weighted MRIimages were also obtained for these patients. Contours for organs‐at‐risk (OARs) and planning target volumes (PTVs) from CTimages were copied to the MR images. Contours created for OAR and PTV in MR images were verified by a radiation oncologist. The intensity map from CT‐based plans and the contoured MR images were used to create MR‐based treatment plans with both homogenous and inhomogeneous tissue density (average HU from CT was assigned to MR structure). Treatment plans (Varian Eclipse TPS) were created by assigning water equivalent homogenous tissue density to CT‐based plan compared to CT‐based plan with inhomogeneity correction. We evaluated the geometric accuracy of MR‐based plans by determining the percent difference of structure volumes between CT and MR‐based contours. Furthermore, we evaluated the dosimetric accuracy of MR based treatment plans by comparing DVH, isodose lines, absolute dose and MUs. Results: The mean absolute dose difference between approved CT plan and one with homogenous tissue density in CT was < 1% for the anatomical sites. Volume differences between MR based and CT based contours were as great 25% ± 5 and dose differences varied 20% ± 1 5 depending on the initial structure volume. Less than 2% MU variation was observed between CT and MR‐based treatment plans using contours from CT and with uniform or non‐uniform electron density. Conclusion: Homogenous tissue density could be used for MR‐based treatment planning for prostate and head cases. Further, better dose coverage equivalent to CT‐based plan could be achieved by optimizing structures contoured on MR images.
Trajectory prediction credibility concept

The subject of the presented study is the definition of a suitable methodology for a qualitative assessment of the various parameters of Airborne/Ground based Trajectory Prediction (TP). The main goal is to develop the tool for describing the relevant credibility1 of TP, which can be used for the assessment of various TP including the internal FMS TP, down-linked TP as well as TP as a product of Ground based TP engine. This additional description available for particular TP segments can be used as supplemental information for other arbitrary purposes — for example Ground/Airborne Based Conflict Detection & Resolution systems.
Very Low Mass Stars, Black Dwarfs and Planets

Hydrogen-rich stars of very low mass (M ≲ 0.08 M⊙) never go through hydrogenburning thermonuclear reactions and, in a time scale much shorter than the age of the Galaxy, become completely degenerate objects or black dwarfs. The number of the very-low-mass (VLM) black dwarfs is expected to be very large and they are likely to make a significant contribution to the total mass of the Galaxy. Processes of star and planet formation are discussed and it is concluded that the luminous and dark objects of mass 0.001 M⊙-0.08 M⊙ beyond the solar system are not likely to be planets. Formation of Jupiter is discussed and it is suggested that the mass of Jupiter at the time of formation was smaller than its present mass.
Multi-walled carbon nanotube growth on oxidized silicon substrates using cyclohexane precursor by chemical vapor deposition

Abstract Randomly oriented multi-walled nanotubes (MWNTs) are grown by a thermal chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process from cyclohexane precursor on a 20% copper–80% nickel (Cu–Ni) catalyst on oxidized silicon substrates. This combination of precursor and catalyst, to our knowledge, has been employed for the first time to demonstrate growth of multi-walled carbon nanotubes. The effects of annealing, gas ambient and catalyst layer thickness on the morphology of the grown carbon layers are discussed. The low resistivity values of the MWNTs grown on oxidized silicon substrates are attractive for their potential use in photonic devices and display applications.
No, brain biopsy need not be done in every patient suspected of having herpes simplex encephalitis.

The recognition of herpes simplex as the cause of viral encephalitis has become increasingly important with the availability of acyclovir for its treatment. The drug has improved substantially the serious morbidity and mortality of herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE). This has made early treatment essential in suspected cases because treatment begun after the onset of coma diminishes greatly the chance of a good outcome. A recent Scandinavian symposium on herpes virus infections and acyclovir summarizes the literature through 1984. 1 The conventional wisdom regarding the role of temporal lobe biopsy in establishing the diagnosis of herpes simplex encephalitis has been well stated by Drs Hanley, Johnson, and Whitley in their thoughtful analysis of the problem. They emphasize also that other diagnoses have been established in some cases by the biopsy. There is no doubt that tissue diagnosis is invaluable in studying the epidemiology of the viral encephalitides. But, should biopsy
On the evaluation of the characteristic polynomial via symmetric function theory

The use of power sum symmetric functions leads to Newton's identities, which relate the traces of various powers ofA, the adjacency matrix of a graph, and the coefficients of the characteristic polynomials. While it is possible to solve Newton's identities and generate the coefficients by recursion or, alternatively, to derive them by sequential manipulations (yielding the explicit formulas), we show how the results can be expressed using a combinatorial approach and relate the evaluation of the coefficients to selected Young diagrams.
Oral glutamine decreases bacterial translocation and improves survival in experimental gut-origin sepsis

Background: Glutamine has been shown to be an important dietary component for the maintenance of gut metabolism. The purpose of this study was to assess the potential benefit of glutamine-enriched diets on experimental gut-derived sepsis. Methods: BALB/c mice were fed either 2% glutamine-supplemented or 1% glycine-supplemented (near-isonitrogenous control) AIN-76A diets. Control mice received either nonsupplemented AIN-76A or regular Purina Rodent Laboratory Mouse Chow 5001 diets. After 10 days of feeding, the mice were transfused with allogeneic blood (from C3H/HeJ mice), and the feeding protocols were continued for an additional 5 days. The mice then underwent gavage with 10 10Escherichia coli labeled with either indium-111 oxine or [14C]glucose followed immediately by a 20% burn injury. Some mice were observed 10 days postburn for survival rates. Others were killed 4 hours after burn, and the mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, and spleen were harvested to determine radionuclide and bacterial colony counts....
Pressure-Swing Adsorption Separation of H2S from CO2 with Molecular Sieves 4A, 5A, and 13X

The separation of bulk quantities of H2S from CO2 was investigated through a series of pressure-swing adsorption experiments utilizing 4A, 5A, and 13X molecular sieves. High selectivity of H2S over CO2 was encountered for all sieves, particularly for the 13X and 5A. Practically pure CO2 was produced in the adsorption stage with fresh 5A and 13X sieves, at high product recovery rates. Efficient H2S purification was obtained with fresh 5A and regenerated 4A zeolites. The experimental results were in line with theoretical predictions of the literature.
Bridging the Rubicon: Phylogenetic analysis reveals repeated colonizations of marine and fresh waters by thalassiosiroid diatoms

Salinity imposes a significant barrier to the distribution of many organisms, including diatoms. Diatoms are ancestrally marine, and the number of times they have independently colonized fresh waters and the physiological adaptations that facilitated these transitions remain outstanding questions in diatom evolution. The colonization of fresh waters by diatoms has been compared to "crossing the Rubicon," implying that successful colonization events are rare, irreversible, and lead to substantial species diversification. To test these hypotheses, we reconstructed the phylogeny of Thalassiosirales, a diatom lineage with high diversity in both marine and fresh waters. We collected approximately 5.3kb of DNA sequence data from the nuclear (SSU and partial LSU rDNA) and chloroplast genomes (psbC and rbcL) and reconstructed the phylogeny using parsimony and Bayesian methods. Alternative topology tests strongly reject all previous colonization hypotheses, including monophyly of the predominantly freshwater Stephanodiscaceae. Results showed at least three independent colonizations of fresh waters, and whereas previous accounts of freshwater-to-marine transitions have been discounted, these results provide compelling evidence for as many as three independent re-colonizations of the marine habitat, two of which led to speciation events. This study adds valuable phylogenetic context to previous debate about the nature of the salinity barrier in diatoms and provides compelling evidence that, at least for Thalassiosirales, the salinity barrier might be less formidable than previously thought.
Microscopic deformation in a heated unidirectional graphite-epoxy composite

Both in-plane and out-of-plane displacements were determined in patches of the toughened 1962-ERLX epoxy bounded by three closely packed high-modulus P75S graphite fibers. The P75S/1962-ERLX composite was unidirectional, with an average fiber volume of 60 percent. On heating to 44 C from room temperature, the epoxy confined between clusters of three fibers sank in a trough beneath the plane of the fiber ends by 50-120 nm. When the maximum temperature achieved in the prior thermal cycles exceeded 100 C the depth of the trough increased. However, when cycles exceeding 100 C were followed by thermal cycles of decreasing amplitude, chosen to reduce interfacial stress relaxation, the depth of the trough decreased. The results illustrate the feasibility of deducing quantitative data on local deformation from high-resolution strain measurements on cut surfaces.
Denoising of 4D cardiac micro-CT data using median-centric bilateral filtration

Bilateral filtration has proven an effective tool for denoising CT data. The classic filter utilizes Gaussian domain and range weighting functions in 2D. More recently, other distributions have yielded more accurate results in specific applications, and the bilateral filtration framework has been extended to higher dimensions. In this study, brute-force optimization is employed to evaluate the use of several alternative distributions for both domain and range weighting: Andrew's Sine Wave, El Fallah Ford, Gaussian, Flat, Lorentzian, Huber's Minimax, Tukey's Bi-weight, and Cosine. Two variations on the classic bilateral filter which use median filtration to reduce bias in range weights are also investigated: median-centric and hybrid bilateral filtration. Using the 4D MOBY mouse phantom reconstructed with noise (stdev. ~ 65 HU), hybrid bilateral filtration, a combination of the classic and median-centric filters, with Flat domain and range weighting is shown to provide optimal denoising results (PSNRs: 31.69, classic; 31.58 median-centric; 32.25, hybrid). To validate these phantom studies, the optimal filters are also applied to in vivo, 4D cardiac micro-CT data acquired in the mouse. In a constant region of the left ventricle, hybrid bilateral filtration with Flat domain and range weighting is shown to provide optimal smoothing (stdev: original, 72.2 HU; classic, 20.3 HU; median-centric, 24.1 HU; hybrid, 15.9 HU). While the optimal results were obtained using 4D filtration, the 3D hybrid filter is ultimately recommended for denoising 4D cardiac micro-CT data because it is more computationally tractable and less prone to artifacts (MOBY PSNR: 32.05; left ventricle stdev: 20.5 HU).
An exact aggregation/disaggregation algorithm for large scale markov chains

Many Markov chain models have very large state spaces, making the computation of stationary probabilities very difficult. Often the structure and numerical properties of the Markov chain allows for more efficient computation through state aggregation and disaggregation. In this article we develop an efficient exact single pass aggregation/disaggregation algorithm which exploits structural properties of large finite irreducible mandatory set decomposable Markov chains. The required property of being of mandatory set decomposable structure is a generalization of several other Markov chain structures for which exact aggregation/disaggregation algorithms exist. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Ultrafast studies of stimulated emission and gain in solid films of conjugated polymers

Abstract The recent discovery of gain narrowing in conjugated polymers has placed new emphasis on understanding the details of stimulated emission (SE) and gain in these plastic laser materials. In this Letter, the results of ultrafast SE and photoinduced absorption (PA) measurements on films of poly(2-butyl-5-(2′-ethyl-hexyl)-1,4-phenylenevinylene) (BuEH-PPV), a conjugated polymer that demonstrates gain narrowing above threshold, are presented. The ≈ 60 ps SE gain decay time of BuEH-PPV is significantly longer than that of most other conjugated polymers, allowing ample time for lasing to occur. We argue that the existence of gain is limited by a dynamic blue-shift of the PA resulting from interchain interactions.
Land evaluations that consider soil compaction

Abstract Over the past 2 or 3 decades, the use of heavy machinery has caused increasing compaction of soils. It is this important that soil compaction be recognized and properly dealt with in land evaluation systems so that the problem can be addressed by the farmer in his farming systems. This paper discusses the four most common approaches to land evaluation. Some of the merits of each system are discussed and the data requirements of each are described. The Soil Potential System is identified as the approach that most nearly resembles the thinking of the farmer as he evaluates his farming practices. Systematic data collection on root paths and on crop yields is advocated instead of indirect measures such as penetrometer tests that are sometimes used as surrogates for crop performance. The need for improved description of compacted soil horizons in soil profile descriptions is noted. The Fertility Capability Classification System is cited as a promising approach to improved land evaluation for soil compaction.
Use of physiological responses in Mytilus trossulus as integrative bioindicators of sewage pollution.

Mussels, Mytilus trossulus (average shell length 43±0.8 mm), were sampled from a beach in Alaska that received untreated sewage for several years, a second beach adjacent to a secondary wastewater outfall, and two nearby reference beaches. Survival time in air, byssal thread production rate, and prevalence of trematode parasites were determined for each group. Tolerances to aerial exposure was significantly lower (P<0.05) at both sewage outfall sites than at the reference sites. Mussels exposed to untreated sewage produced fewer byssal threads and had a significantly higher prevalence of encysted trematodes than mussels from the other beaches, including the secondary wastewater site. Survival in air, byssal thread production, and trematode prevalence in mussels may be useful indicators in evaluating the longterm health of beaches exposed to sewage.
Brain-machine interfaces for real-time speech synthesis

This paper reports on studies involving brain-machine interfaces (BMIs) that provide near-instantaneous audio feedback from a speech synthesizer to the BMI user. In one study, neural signals recorded by an intracranial electrode implanted in a speech-related region of the left precentral gyrus of a human volunteer suffering from locked-in syndrome were transmitted wirelessly across the scalp and used to drive a formant synthesizer, allowing the user to produce vowels. In a second, pilot study, a neurologically normal user was able to drive the formant synthesizer with imagined movements detected using electroencephalography. Our results support the feasibility of neural prostheses that have the potential to provide near-conversational synthetic speech for individuals with severely impaired speech output.
μ-Bromido-bis{μ-2,2′-[4,7-diaza­decane-1,10-diylbis(nitrilo­methanylyl­idene)]diphenolato}tricopper(II) bromide dimethyl­formamide disolvate

The complex mol­ecule of the title compound, [Cu3Br(C22H28N4O2)2]Br·2C3H7NO, contains three copper atoms, two of which are five-coordinate within a square-pyramidal environment and linked by a bridging Br atom occupying the apical position in each square pyramid. The remaining Cu atom is four-coordinate but with considerable tetra­hedral disortion [the dihedral angle between the two chelate planes is 69.21 (7)°]. There are two mol­ecules of dimethyl­formamide (DMF) present as solvent mol­ecules, one of which is disordered over two equivalent conformations with occupancies of 0.603 (5) and 0.397 (5). The amine H atoms are involved in both inter- and intra­molecular hydrogen-bonding inter­actions with the Br and O atoms of the cation, as well as with the O atom of the ordered DMF mol­ecule.
SV40-Mediated Immortalization

Simian virus 40 (SV40) has been extensively used as a model system for mammalian cell replication and gene expression and has served as a highly effective “probe” for cellular functions. This has also been the case for understanding carcinogenesis since viral gene expression can result in altered cell proliferation and appearance of multiple “transformed” cell phenotypes associated with tumors. Both human and rodent SV40-transformed fibroblasts show reduced growth factor (i.e. serum) requirements, multilayer growth with increased saturation density and focus formation, and anchorage independence with growth in semi-solid media such as agar or agarose. Most relevant to this chapter, SV40 also increases the frequency at which cells become immortal. It should be noted that SV40 affects a wide variety of cell types (Tooze 1981) but this discussion will focus on fibroblasts, for convenience. Its effect on immortalization is particularly striking in human cells. Mouse cells have a quite limited life span in culture (approximatelyl0–20 generations) but can spontaneously become immortal at a measurable frequency; infection with wild-type SV40 results in almost 100% occurrence (Tevethia et al. 1998). On the other hand, normal human diploid fibroblasts virtually never spontaneously become immortal even within the greater life span of 50–60 generations observed with newborn or fetal cells in culture (McCormick and Maher 1988).
Methionine-activating enzyme and catechol-O-methyl transferase activity in normal and leukemic white blood cells.

IT has been found recently in these laboratories that the leucocytes of patients with chronic myelocytic leukaemia have significant elevations of the important methyl donor, S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) (ref. 1).
Study of the development and evolution of neointestine in a rat model.

The implantation of fragmented rat intestinal epithelium into the omentum of syngeneic animals results in the formation of a cyst containing neointestine. The purpose of our project was to study the evolution of this neointestine-containing cyst over time. Harvested jejunum and ileum of neonatal DA rats (6 to 8 days old) was digested with collagenase type XI and dispase at room temperature. The resulting organoid units, containing clusters of intestinal epithelium with stem cells were seeded onto a polyglactin polymer mesh (100,000 units per mesh). The absorbable mesh was implanted in the omentum or peritoneal wall of an adult syngeneic animal. Animals were sacrificed at weekly intervals to harvest the neointestinal cysts. The lumen of the neointestine cysts was full of mucous while the wall of the cyst was covered by intestinal mucosa. HE PAS staining identified goblet cells. The size of the cyst was maximal between 4 and 8 weeks postimplantation tending to regress thereafter. Neointestinal cysts are a consistent finding after implantation of intestinal epithelium organoids into the omentum or peritoneal wall in the rat model. The cysts reach a maximal size at 4 to 8 weeks postimplantation, tending to regress thereafter.
Adhesion between Cerebroside Bilayers

The structure, hydration properties, and adhesion energy of the membrane glycolipid galactosylceramide (GalCer) were studied by osmotic stress/X-ray diffraction analysis.(1) Fully hydrated GalCer gave a repeat period of 67 A, which decreased less than 2 A with application of applied osmotic pressures as large as 1.6 x 10(9) dyn/cm(2). These results, along with the invariance of GalCer structure obtained by a Fourier analysis of the X-ray data, indicated that there was an extremely narrow fluid space (less than the diameter of a single water molecule) between fully hydrated cerebroside bilayers. Electron density profiles showed that the hydrocarbon chains from apposing GalCer monolayers partially interdigitated in the center of the bilayer. To obtain information on the adhesive properties of GalCer bilayers, we incorporated into the bilayer various mole ratios of the negatively charged lipid dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol (DPPG) to provide known electrostatic repulsion between the bilayers. Although 17 and 20 mol % DPPG swelled (disjoined) the GalCer bilayers by an amount predictable from electrostatic double-layer theory, 5, 10, 13, and 15 mol % DPPG did not disjoin the bilayers. By calculating the magnitude of the electrostatic pressure necessary to disjoin the bilayers, we estimated the adhesion energy for GalCer bilayers to be about -1.5 erg/cm(2), a much larger value than that previously measured for phosphatidylcholine bilayers. The observed discontinuous disjoining with increased electrostatic pressure and this relatively large value for adhesion energy indicated the presence of an attractive interaction, in addition to van der Waals attraction, between cerebroside bilayers. Possible attractive interactions are hydrogen bond formation and hydrophobic interactions between the galactose headgroups of apposing GalCer bilayers.
Prebrowned Fried Chicken 1. Evaluation of Cooking Methods

Abstract Chicken for a prebrowned fried chicken product was soaked in phosphate (Kena) and/or salt for 16 hours, then fried, to evaluate the effect of marination solutions. This was followed by an evaluation of eight cooking methods. These methods included precooking by: steaming, simmering, boiling, all followed by breading, battering and breading then frying to brown; and breading, battering and breading followed by deep fat frying to doneness. Also included were four methods involving steaming after breading and/or battering and breading. The methods were evaluated by taste paneling for tenderness, juiciness, flavor and overall acceptability. Shear press values, total moisture and yields were determined. Marination in 1–3% Kena improved flavor and yield, reduced shear values and increased total moisture when compared to the unsoaked control. Adding salt with the Kena improved flavor as well, after four days of refrigerated storage. Evaluation of the cooking methods indicated that simmering was slightly the best of the precook methods. The most desirable product, on the basis of shear values, total moisture and yields, was made by breading, battering, and breading, frying 20 seconds, steaming until done, then refrying 20 seconds. Taste panel scores showed no significant differences among the methods used, when the crust was removed before evaluation to avoid bias due to differences in seasonings.
Nutrient Content and in vitro Dry Matter Digestibility of Silages Made from Various Grain Sorghum and Sweet Sorghum Cultivars

ABSTRACT In the tropics, sorghum is an important grain and forage crop. However, information on silage made from various cultivars including nutrient content and digestibility for livestock is not available. Therefore, silages made from eleven grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench) and ten sweet sorghum varieties were studied to determine the effect of sorghum variety and type on nutrient content and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD). Silage samples were analyzed for Ca, P, Mg, K, Mg, crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), gross energy (GE), neutral-detergent fiber (NDF), acid-detergent fiber (ADF), cellulose, acid-detergent lignin (ADL) and IVDMD. Results from silage analysis revealed significant (P < 0.05) varietal differences in CP, Ca, P, Mg, K, Na, GE, ash, NDF, ADL, cellulose, hemicellulose contents and IVDMD among grain sorghum varieties. However, the silage values for EE and NDF contents were not significantly different. Similarly, sweet sorghum varieties were significantly different...
Effects of a protease-expressing recombinant baculovirus on nontarget insect predators of Heliothis virescens

Abstract The baculovirus AcMLF9.ScathL expresses a basement membrane-degrading protease and represents a new class of recombinant baculovirus insecticides. Risk assessment studies were conducted according to the requirements of the US Environmental Protection Agency to investigate potential negative effects of consumption of Heliothis virescens larvae infected with AcMLF9.ScathL, on two common predators, the lacewing Chrysoperla carnea , and the ladybird beetle Coleomegilla maculata . Predators were reared on one of three feeding regimes consisting of H. virescens larvae that were uninfected or infected with AcMLF9.ScathL or AcMNPV C6. Control regimes consisted of Sitotroga cerealella eggs for C. carnea and Ostrinia nubilalis eggs and aphids for C. maculata . Survival of C. carnea fed Sitotroga eggs or AcMLF9.ScathL-infected H. virescens was significantly higher than for C. carnea fed H. virescens that were uninfected or infected with AcMNPV C6. There were no significant differences in development rates between C. carnea fed H. virescens infected with AcMNPV C6 or AcMLF9.ScathL. Baculoviruses ingested by C. carnea larvae remained viable within the digestive tract until adult emergence but had no detrimental effect on egg production. There was no evidence of adverse effects of AcMLF9.ScathL on C. maculata although this species exhibited low survival on diets composed exclusively of H. virescens . In choice tests, neither predator exhibited a preference between uninfected H. virescens and H. virescens infected with AcMNPV C6 or AcMLF9.ScathL. The data suggest that use of AcMLF9.ScathL in pest management would pose no greater risk to insect predators in the environment than use of the wild-type virus AcMNPV C6.
Stability of elliptical vortices from “Imperfect–Velocity–Impulse” diagrams

In 1875, Lord Kelvin proposed an energy-based argument for determining the stability of vortical flows. While the ideas underlying Kelvin’s argument are well established, their practical use has been the subject of extensive debate. In a forthcoming paper, the authors present a methodology, based on the construction of “Imperfect–Velocity–Impulse” (IVI) diagrams, which represents a rigorous and practical implementation of Kelvin’s argument for determining the stability of inviscid flows. In this work, we describe in detail the use of the theory by considering an example involving a well-studied classical flow, namely the family of elliptical vortices discovered by Kirchhoff. By constructing the IVI diagram for this family of vortices, we detect the first three bifurcations (which are found to be associated with perturbations of azimuthal wavenumber m = 3, 4 and 5). Examination of the IVI diagram indicates that each of these bifurcations contributes an additional unstable mode to the original family; the stability properties of the bifurcated branches are also determined. By using a novel numerical approach, we proceed to explore each of the bifurcated branches in its entirety. While the locations of the changes of stability obtained from the IVI diagram approach turn out to match precisely classical results from linear analysis, the stability properties of the bifurcated branches are presented here for the first time. In addition, it appears that the m = 3, 5 branches had not been computed in their entirety before. In summary, the work presented here outlines a new approach representing a rigorous implementation of Kelvin’s argument. With reference to the Kirchhoff elliptical vortices, this method is shown to be effective and reliable.
Induction of stathmin mRNA during liver regeneration

Stathmin is a 19 kDa phosphoprotein, and is proposed to play a role in signal transduction in response to various extracellular stimuli that promote cellular growth and/or differentiation. We examined stathmin mRNA expression during development and liver regeneration in mice. Stathmin mRNA expression declined during the post-natal period and was undetected in adult liver. 36 h after partial hepatectomy, stathmin mRNA was rapidly induced and remained at elevated levels for at least 10 days. In situ hybridization experiments confirmed that stathmin mRNA expression occurred in hepatocytes. These results indicate that the stathmin gene expression appears to be repressed during the post-natal liver development, and is de-repressed by liver regeneration, which suggests that stathmin may be a good molecular marker of liver plasticity.
Triangulation in cross-cultural research of child development in Jamaica.

Triangulation is the use of multiple concepts and methods to study a single phenomenon. Ethnographic field studies and standardized measures of development were used in a study of long-term effects of perinatal cannabis (marijuana) use in Jamaica. The study was launched in 1983 in order to evaluate the effects of cannabis (or ganja as it is called in Jamaica) consumption during pregnancy and lactation on infants from birth to school age in rural communities. Some researchers reported symptoms such as increased startles high-pitched cry in the newborn shortened gestation and low birth weight. The project was based in St. Thomas where ganja use is widespread. The ethnographic part involved home observations and interviews of each child in selected communities. The clinical component included monitoring 60 pregnant women (30 users and 30 nonusers) and their offspring from birth through age 5. The instruments for evaluation included the Brazelton Neonatal Assessment Scale (BNAS) the Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID) the McCarthy Scales of Childrens Abilities (MSCA for children aged 2 years 6 months to 8 years 6 months) and the Behavioral Style Questionnaire (BSQ for temperament in 3 to 7 year olds). The MSCA and BSQ had to be adapted to local culture partly because of different uses of words in the rural dialect and cultural experience. The MSCA modifications included the elimination of time limits changes in language and culturally correct alternative responses. Five of 72 items on the BSQ were modified. Most scores fell in the middle range of about 4 similar to the North American scores except for the lower mean in the category of Threshold of Responsiveness because of an unanticipated cultural difference. The adjustments made did not compromise the comparability of the findings.