cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of stage of ripening and ethephon treatment on color content of paprika pepper

Abstract In order to determine the proper time to harvest paprika pepper ( Capsicum annuum L.) fruits to obtain maximum extractable color, two maturity indexes were evaluated. Most consistent results were obtained when fully shriveled fruits were harvested. Foliar applications of ethephon (50, 100, 200 and 500 ppm) were made on two cultivars, ‘Paprika-505’ and ‘Paprika-D.Z.’. Total extractable color and capsanthin content were determined using fully shriveled pericarp tissue. Some flower and leaf abscission was caused by treating plants with 500 ppm ethephon and leaves of plants treated with 200 or 500 ppm ethephon turned yellow. Ethephon stimulated ripening and increased the total extractable color and capsanthin levels of paprika fruits. ‘Paprika-505’ contained more total extractable color and capsanthin than ‘Paprika-D.Z.’ as a result of ethephon treatment.
DC-DC-AC power converter for three-phase four-wire with bidirectional characteristic

This paper proposes a dc-dc-ac three-phase four-wire converter in order to interface dc and ac variables allowing bidirectional power flow. The direct application of this converter is in Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) system and interfacing dc microgrid with a three-phase utility grid. Such a power electronics solution guarantees: (i) full controllability at both dc and ac converter sides, (ii) high level of integration with a reduction of one power switch and its drive circuits, and (iii) implementation of two functions using a unique power conversion stage. Despite proposing a new power converter solution, this paper presents its PWM strategy as well as a suitable control approach. Simulation results validate the theoretical analysis.
A Family of Mycothiol Analogues

A thioglycoside aminotriol scaffold has been elaborated by acylation, reductive alkylation, sulfonation, phosphorylation, and other procedures to produce a library of 40 functionalized thioglycosides that superficially resemble the enzyme‐binding portions of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis detoxifier mycothiol and its metabolic congeners. To the extent that these analogues mimic the transition states derived from substrates of the mycothiol‐associated enzymes, they might prove useful as inhibitors and, ultimately, as drug leads.
Smooth interpolation, Fourier transformation, and two-center overlap integrals for numerical atomic orbitals

A smooth interpolation method for the calculation of Fourier transforms of numerical atomic orbitals is presented and the method is used to calculate two- center overlap integrals. Examples applying various definitions of smoothness are given.
A thermodynamic study of mutant forms of Streptomyces subtilisin inhibitor. I. Hydrophobic replacements at the position of Met103.

Abstract The thermodynamic effects of replacing the Met residue at amino acid position 103 ofStreptomycessubtilisin inhibitor with other non-polar aliphatic residues were studied by means of differential scanning calorimetry. All but the Leu mutant, which is as stable as the wild-type but has different cooperative units in the course of unfolding, showed destabilization in terms of free energy. Similar losses in free energy, however, were caused by different reasons, i.e. by increased entropy for the Ala mutant and by decreased enthalpy for the Ile mutant, with a tendency that increases in entropy are accompanied by increases in enthalpy. The gain in entropy that caused the largest loss in free energy for the Gly mutant was unexpectedly smaller than that for the Ala mutant. The changes in enthalpy and entropy induced by the mutations exhibited some correlations with hydrophobicity, while no clear correlation was found between the changes in free energy and hydrophobicity.
Vulnerability of marked age-0 steelhead to a visual predator

Abstract The assumption that marking does not alter the vulnerability of fish to a visual predator was examined. Similar numbers of age-0 steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss were tagged with binary-coded-wires, tagged with passive integrated transponders, freeze branded, marked with fingerling tags, or left unmarked. All were subjected to age-1 steelhead predators for 24 h in 2.4-m-diameter circular tanks filled with clear well water. Twice as many marked as unmarked age-0 steelhead prey were eaten. There was no significant survival difference among the four marked treatment groups, which suggested that in the laboratory the trauma associated with marking is more important than mark type. We conclude that marking may effect postrelease survival and recommend that mark–recapture experiments be used to empirically determine and correct for differences in survival of marked and unmarked fish.
Transsexuals of Color: Perceptions of Discrimination Based on Transsexual Status and Race/Ethnicity Status

This exploratory study utilized convenience sampling to gather data from 33 self-identified transsexuals of color. Data were collected regarding their experiences of discrimination based on their transsexual status and their race/ethnicity status as well as their perceptions of personal well-being as measured by self- esteem and life satisfaction. Respondents experienced discrimination based on their transsexual status as more aversive than discrimination based on their race/ethnicity in 13 of 16 social venues. However, discrimination based on race/ethnicity was more often related to indices of well-being. The authors compare and contrast these two manifestations of discrimination in the context of a multi-theoretical framework.
Virus removal and recovery in the drinking water treatment train

Abstract Paired water samples were collected at four points in the drinking water treatment train. One sample of each pair was used to determine levels of indigenous enteroviruses and bacteriophages at each stage. The other sample was seeded with an enterovirus and two different coliphages to determine if, in the treatment process train, the water was affected in such a way that the efficiency of the chosen method for viral detection would be adversely influenced. Recovery efficiencies with seeded enterovirus varied from 40 to 68%. Coliphage recoveries were considerably lower, ranging from 4 to 12%. Recovery of seeded φX174 from the water samples demonstrated a statistically significant inverse correlation with water temperature. The results indicate the importance of demonstrating the satisfactory performance for recovering particular viruses by the method selected.
Stamping plasmonic nanoarrays on SERS‐supporting platforms

The dielectric property of a nanoparticle-supporting film has recently garnered attention in the fabrication of plasmonic surfaces. A few studies have shown that the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), and hence surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), strongly depends on the substrate refractive index. In order to create higher efficiency SERS-active surfaces, it is therefore necessary to consider the substrate property along with nanoparticle morphology. However, due to certain limitations of conventional lithography, it is often not feasible to create well-defined plasmonic nanoarrays on a substrate of interest. Here, an additive nanofabrication technique, i.e., nanotransfer printing (nTP), is implemented to integrate electron beam lithography (EBL) defined high-aspect-ratio nanofeatures on a variety of SERS-supporting surfaces. With the aid of suitable surface chemistries, a wide range of plasmonic particles were successfully integrated on surfaces of three physically and chemically distinct dielectric materials, namely, polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS), SU-8 photoresist, and glass surfaces, using silicon-based relief pillars. These nTP-created metal nanoparticles strongly amplify the Raman signal and complement the selection of suitable substrates for better SERS enhancement. Our experimental observations are also supported by theoretical calculations. The implementation of nTP to stamp out metal nanoparticles on a multitude conventional/unconventional substrates has novel applications in designing in-built plasmonic microanalytical devices for SERS sensing and other related photonic studies. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Individual differences in neural activity during a facial expression vs. identity working memory task

Facial expressions of emotion constitute a critical portion of our non-verbal social interactions. In addition, the identity of the individual displaying this expression is critical to these interactions as they embody the context in which these expressions will be interpreted. To identify any overlapping and/or unique brain circuitry involved in the processing of these two information streams in a laboratory setting, participants performed a working memory (WM) task (i.e., n-back) in which they were instructed to monitor either the expression (EMO) or the identity (ID) of the same set of face stimuli. Consistent with previous work, during both the EMO and ID tasks, we found a significant increase in activity in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) supporting its generalized role in WM. Further, individuals that showed greater DLPFC activity during both tasks also showed increased amygdala activity during the EMO task and increased lateral fusiform gyrus activity during the ID task. Importantly, the level of activity in these regions significantly correlated with performance on the respective tasks. These findings provide support for two separate neural circuitries, both involving the DLPFC, supporting working memory for the faces and expressions of others.
The Effect of Marek’s Disease Vaccination and Day-Old Debeaking on the Performance of Growing Pullets and Laying Hens

In a 2 X 2 completely randomized factorial design, four hundred day-old Single Comb White Leghorn pullets were randomly assigned to four treatment combinations of vaccinated, non-vaccinated, debeaked and non-debeaked groups. Vaccination and debeaking were performed at day-old by administering 2,000 P.F.U. of HVT vaccine/chick and by removing approximately 2/3 of the upper beak, respectively. All the data were analyzed at 5% level of probability. Vaccination reduced feed consumption significantly only during the early growing period of the first 12 weeks, whereas debeaking caused a significant reduction in feed consumption throughout the experimental period of 80 weeks. Mortality during the 20-week growing period was not affected by either vaccination or debeaking. During the laying period (20-80 weeks of age), vaccination reduced the mortality numerically, while debeaking reduced the mortality significantly. Final body weight, hen-day egg production, egg weight, albumen height and egg shell thickness were not influenced by either vaccination, debeaking or a combination of the two. Debeaking had no effect on the incidence of blood-spotting in the eggs. Vaccination, however, significantly reduced percent blood spots in the eggs. Day-old debeaking effectively prevented the occurrence of cannibalism.
Thin-layer chromatography of lipids

Technique Thin-Layer Chromatography as an Analytical Tool Qualitative Analysis Quantitative Analysis Thin-Layer Chromatography as a Preparative Tool
Experience and the Limits of Governmentality

Following Foucault, ‘critique’ could be regarded as being the art not to be governed in this way or as a project of desubjectivation. In this paper it is shown how such a project could be described as an e‐ducative practice. It explores this idea through an example which Foucault himself gave of such a critical practice: the writing (and reading) of ‘experience books’. Thus it appears that such an e‐ducative practice is a ‘dangerous’, public and uncomfortable practice that is not in need of pastoral care but requires generosity, presence and attention. As such it demands a pedagogy of experience which is to be invented in order to ‘make’ oneself into a question, to transgress the limits of a governmental regime.
Activity patterns of human skeletal muscles: relation to muscle fiber type composition

The muscle activity of normal ambulatory individuals was recorded continuously for 8-hour (working day) periods. Parameters of activity patterns were defined and numerical outcomes for these parameters were compared across a diverse population of muscles. Several pattern parameters, such as the average percentage of time active, were highly correlated with the percentage of type I fibers of a muscle.
Measuring Students' Engagement on College Campuses: Is the NSSE an Appropriate Measure of Adult Students' Engagement?.

Abstract As institutions seek to promote student engagement, the National Survey of Student Engagement has become a measure commonly used to document how institutions are meeting educational goals, but there is some question as to its applicability for certain undergraduate populations. 2010 survey results were analyzed for 125 adult and 69 traditional-age seniors attending a small, private, four-year institution in the U.S. South to evaluate differences between the two groups among 42 items composing five benchmark areas. Results provided support for the hypothesis that adults would score lower than traditional-age students on survey items that are more applicable to traditional students because of their focus on out-of-classroom experiences. Findings of this study have implications for the use of National Survey of Student Engagement benchmarks in assessing adult student engagement.
Therapeutic options for essential thrombocythemia and polycythemia vera.

Several options exist for treating essential thrombocythemia and polycythemia vera. One approach is to assign the patient to a risk category from which treatment recommendations follow. The principal risks of essential thrombocythemia include thrombosis, major hemorrhage, and conversion to leukemia or myelofibrosis. Risk factors for thrombosis include age and prior thrombosis. Smoking and obesity have been implicated in isolated series. High-risk patients with essential thrombocythemia can be defined as those 60 years of age or older or those who have had a thrombosis at any age. These patients should be treated with hydroxyurea. If hydroxyurea cannot be tolerated, anagrelide and interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) are alternatives. Low-dose aspirin (40 to 325 mg) can be used for patients whose platelet counts are 1,500 x 10(9)/L or who have significant cardiovascular risk factors. These patients should have their risk factors treated and may be given low-dose aspirin if the platelet count is 1,500 x 10(9)/L or who have cardiovascular risk factors. The cardiovascular risk factors should be treated, along with phlebotomy alone or with IFN-alpha. Low-dose aspirin is reasonable for those with platelet counts < 1,500 x 10(9)/mL. Anagrelide can be used with phlebotomy in selected patients. Women of childbearing age who are in the low-risk or intermediate-risk group can be treated with phlebotomy alone and low-dose aspirin if the platelet count is < 1,500 x 10(9)/L. For high-risk patients or pregnant patients, IFN-alpha can be added.
Predictors of colorectal cancer screening behaviors among average-risk older adults in the United States.

To critically evaluate recent studies that examined determinants of CRC screening behaviors among average-risk older adults (≥50 years) in the United States. A PUBMED (1996–2006) search was conducted to identify recent articles that focused on predictors of CRC initiation and adherence to screening guidelines among average-risk older adults in the United States. Frequently reported predictors of CRC screening behaviors include older age, male gender, marriage, higher education, higher income, White race, non-Hispanic ethnicity, smoking history, presence of chronic diseases, family history of CRC, usual source of care, physician recommendation, utilization of other preventive health services, and health insurance coverage. Psychosocial predictors of CRC screening adherence are mostly constructs from the Health Belief Model, the most prominent of which are perceived barriers to CRC screening. Evidence suggests that CRC screening is a complex behavior with multiple influences including personal characteristics, health insurance coverage, and physician–patient communication. Health promotion activities should target both patients and physicians, while focusing on increasing awareness of and accessibility to CRC screening tests among average-risk older adults in the United States.
Resección de la primera costilla y escalenectomía para la oclusión crónica de la vena subclavia: ¿cuáles son sus efectos en realidad?

La reseccion de la primera costilla y la escalenectomia es un tratamiento satisfactorio en pacientes con trombosis venosa axilo-subclavia que han respondido al tratamiento trombolitico y para los que se ha demostrado la permeabilidad de la vena subclavia. Sin embargo, el tratamiento de pacientes que presentan una oclusion cronica de esta vena es motivo de controversia. Presentamos a cuatro pacientes con estas caracteristicas que se sometieron a la reseccion de la primera costilla y a una escalenectomia y cuya vena subclavia se permeabilizo espontaneamente en el primer ano despues de la cirugia mientras recibian tratamiento anticoagulante, al igual que el protocolo ecografico usado en nuestro hospital para identificar la repermeabilizacion de la vena. La edad media de estos pacientes fue de 20 (limites de edad 17-23) anos, tres eran hombres, y el cuarto, una mujer. El intervalo medio de tiempo antes de la cirugia cuando se produjo la trombosis inicial fue de 25 (12-34) semanas. Todos los pacientes se encontraban sintomaticos y se sometieron a la reseccion transaxilar de la primera costilla y a una escalenectomia, prestando atencion al abordaje del tendon subclavio. En el postoperatorio recibieron tratamiento de mantenimiento con warfarina y se sometieron a seguimiento con eco-Doppler. Mas tarde, en los cuatro pacientes despues de una media de 7 (2-11) meses, la vena subclavia se repermeabilizo y la anticoagulacion se interrumpio. La permeabilidad resultante de la vena subclavia se correlaciono con una mejora de los sintomas en los cuatro pacientes. En el periodo de seguimiento postoperatorio, a una media de 14 (2-33) meses los pacientes se encontraban asintomaticos. En conclusion, los pacientes sintomaticos seleccionados con oclusion de la vena subclavia pueden tratarse agresivamente con reseccion de la primera costilla y escalenectomia junto con anticoagulacion que dara lugar a la recanalizacion y apertura de la vena con el tiempo. Este tratamiento se correlaciona con una mejora de los sintomas.
Interaction of calmodulin with regulatory peptides

Dynamic fluorescence measurements of radiationless energy transfer between tryptophan donor groups located within the regulatory peptides Phk13 and Phk5 of glycogen phosphorylase kinase and nitrotyrosine acceptor groups within calmodulin or Phk13 have provided a set of separations and separation distributions which place definite restrictions upon the geometry of the peptide-calmodulin complexes. Phk13 appears to be bent into a hairpin-shaped (beta) -structure. The distributions of separations are suggestive of substantial internal mobility of the complex species.
Panel Session: Future Directions of Software Cybernetics

Summary form only given, as follows. A record of the panel discussion was not made available for publication as part of the conference proceedings. There has been substantial progress in software cybernetics, and at this workshop many new results will be presented. In this panel, the focus will be on identifying research directions which may achieve major breakthrough in software cybernetics. Each panelist will present his point of view on this topic and then we open the discussion to the floor.
An algorithm for the solution of inverse Laplace problems and its application in flaw identification in materials

Abstract An algorithm for solving an inverse problem in steady state heat conduction is developed. In this problem, the location and shape of the inner boundary of a doubly connected domain is unknown. Instead, additional experimental data are provided at several points on the outer boundary. Through an iterative process, the unknown boundary is determined by minimizing a functional. Convergence properties of the algorithm are examined, and the stopping criterion for the iterative process is developed from numerical experiments in a simple case. The scheme is shown to perform well for the complex case of an L-shaped crack in a square domain.
Fluorometric micro determination of citrate in tissue extracts.

An enzymic procedure has been developed for the determination of micro quantities of tissue citrate. The reactions involve the cleavage of citrate by citrate lyase to oxalacetate and its subsequent oxidation of NADH by malic dehydrogenase. The NAD+ thus produced is cycled with lactate, α-ketoglutarate, and, ammonium ion, in the presence of the enzymes lactate dehydrogenase and glutamic dehydrogenase. Conversion of the cycling product (i.e., pyruvate) plus NADH to NAD+ and lactate leads to a strongly fluorescent substance when heated in strong alkali. The fluorescence thus produced from NAD+ can be equated by means of known standards, with the citrate originally present in tissue samples. Data obtained from several tissues are presented to demonstrate the potential applicability of the method to very small tissue samples and even to single cells.
Studies on the oxidative inactivation of enzymes

The activity of ribonuclease after treatment with hydrogen peroxide in a peroxide/enzyme ratio of 55,000 was determined at pH 5.00. Very little loss of activity was found under these conditions. Using a modified Kunitz method, the slope obtained in the presence of H2O2 was −0.072 ± 0.014 compared with a control of −0.086 ± 0.016 (The absolute value of the slope is a measure of enzyme activity.) The presence of 3-aminotriazole caused little effect on the activity in the presence of peroxide (slope −0.080 ± 0.016). These data, together with other information in the literature, suggest that denaturation of the enzyme is a necessary first step for complete inactivation of the enzyme by peroxide. A similar situation may prevail in the case of catalase. 3-Aminotriazole, a known inhibitor of catalase, was found to be unreactive to a series of twelve amino acids. 3-Aminotriazole (3-AT), however, did react with the oxidized form of cystine and cysteine. 3-AT was also found to react strongly with basic hemin alone (especially in the presence of hydrogen peroxide) and in the presence of histidine and acetate. From these data and other information in the literature, a mechanism for the inactivation of catalase caused by 3-AT and H2O2 is suggested.
A new method for isolation of a restriction enzyme from Hemophilus parainfluenzae

Summary A rapid procedure which gives high yields of the restriction enzyme Hpa I from Hemophilus parainfluenzae is described. The procedure effectively removes a second restriction enzyme Hpa II as well as exonucleolytic activity. The optimal ionic conditions for the enzyme are similar to those found for one of the enzymes isolated from Hemophilus influenzae . The enzyme is stable at 37°C for several hours but it is rapidly inactivated at 60°C. Patterns are presented which show the electrophoretic separation of the digestion products of two viral DNAs by this enzyme.
Factors affecting expression of the recF gene of Escherichia coli K-12.

Abstract This report describes four factors which affect expression of the recF gene from strong upstream λ promoters under temperature-sensitive cI At2-encoded repressor control. The first factor was the long mRNA leader sequence consisting of the Escherichia coli dnaN gene and 95% of the dnaA gene and λ bet, N (double amber) and 40% of the exo gene. When most of this DNA was deleted, RecF became detectable in maxicells. The second factor was the vector, pBEU28, a runaway replication plasmid. When we substituted pUC118 for pBEU28, RecF became detectable in whole cells by the Coomassie blue staining technique. The third factor was the efficiency of initiation of translation. We used site-directed mutagenesis to change the mRNA leader, ribosome-binding site and the 3 bp before and after the translational start codon. Monitoring the effect of these mutational changes by translational fusion to lacZ , we discovered that the efficiency of intiation of translation was increased 30-fold. Only an estimated two- or threefold increase in accumulated level of RecF occurred, however. This led us to discover the fourth factor, namely sequences in the recF gene itself. These sequences reduce expression of the recF-lacZ fusion genes 100-fold. The sequence responsible for this decrease in expression occur in four regions in the N-terminal half of recF . Expression is reduced by some sequences at the transcriptional level and by others at the translational level.
Design of Double-helix Point Spread Functions for 3D Super-resolution Imaging

The application specific design of double-helix point spread functions enables control of parameters such as the efficiency and depth of field. We demonstrate a design and implementation in single molecule super-resolution microscopy.
Status of Divisions of the International Geologic Time Scale

Each chronostratigraphic unit of the International Geologic Time Scale will be defined at its base by a Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) or Global Standard Stratigraphic Age (GSSA). Nearly 50 GSSPs and 10 GSSAs have now been ratified. Ideally, the GSSP coincides with events having a global correlation potential. The international stage divisions of some systems, such as the Jurassic or Neogene, are similar to traditional usage in European geology. However, in order to utilize global correlation horizons, the international stage divisions of other systems, such as the Ordovician or Permian, have required assembling new stage nomenclatures or hybrids of different regional stages. A reference table by the International Commission on Stratigraphy itemizes the current or potential GSSP and GSSA definitions of all international geologic time units.
Model and Observational Analysis of the Northeast U.S. Regional Climate and Its Relationship to the PNA and NAO Patterns during Early Winter

Abstract The relationship between the large-scale circulation and regional climate of the northeast United States is investigated for early winter using observational data and the State University of New York at Albany regional climate model. Simulated patterns of temperature, precipitation, and atmospheric circulation compare well with observations, despite a cold, dry bias. Ten December runs are analyzed to investigate the impact of the Pacific–North American (PNA) pattern on temperature, precipitation, clouds, and circulation features. During a positive PNA pattern, the simulated and observed eastern U.S. jet shifts to the southeast, coinciding with cold, dry conditions in the Northeast. This shift and intensification of the upper-level jet stream during a positive PNA pattern coincides with a greater frequency of cyclones and anticyclones along a distinct southwest–northeast track. Despite increased cyclone activity, total wintertime precipitation is below normal during a positive PNA pattern because ...
When does lag structure really matter in optimizing advertising expenditures

A paper by Bultez and Naert in the May 1979 issue of Management Science tentatively concludes that profits are relatively insensitive to misspecification of the lag structure of advertising. We examine the conditions under which a firm's profits are most likely to be sensitive to the misspecification of the lag structure. Our analysis indicates how this sensitivity is related to a the form of the true lag structure, b the demand function, c the cost function, and d the firm's discount rate.
Effects of an early handling-like procedure and individual housing on anxiety-like behavior in adult C57BL/6J and DBA/2J mice.

Manipulations of rearing conditions have been used to examine the effects of early experience on adult behavior with varying results. Evidence suggests that postnatal days (PND) 15–21 are a time of particular susceptibility to environmental influences on anxiety-like behavior in mice. To examine this, we subjected C57BL/6J and DBA/2J mice to an early handling-like procedure. Pups were separated from dams from PND 12–20 for 30 minutes daily or received standard care. On PND 21, pups were weaned and either individually- or group- housed. On PND 60, anxiety-like behavior was examined on the elevated zero-maze. Although individually- housed animals took longer to enter an open quadrant of the maze, they spent more time in the open than group-housed animals. Additionally, we observed a trend of reduced anxiety-like behavior in C57BL/6J, but not DBA/2J mice that underwent the handling-like procedure.
Biochemistry of 1,3-butadiene metabolism and its relevance to 1,3-butadiene-induced carcinogenicity.

Abstract Recently, the roles of specific P450 isoforms, myeloperoxidase (MPO), GSH-S-transferase and epoxide hydrolase in the metabolism of 1,3-butadiene, and its major oxidative metabolite, butadiene monoxide (BM), were investigated. The results provided evidence for P450s 2A6 and 2E1 being major catalysts of 1,3-butadiene oxidation in human liver microsomes. cDNA-expressed human P450s 2E1, 2A6, and 2C9 catalyzed BM oxidation to meso-and (±)-diepoxybutane (DEB), but the rates of BM oxidation in mouse, rat, or human liver microsomes were much lower than the rates of 1,3-butadiene oxidation in these tissues. Human MPO catalyzed 1,3-butadiene oxidation to BM, but MPO incubations with BM did not yield DEB. Rates of BM formation in mouse and human liver microsomes were similar and were nearly 3.4-fold higher than that obtained with rat liver microsomes. However, rat liver epoxide hydrolase activity was nearly 2-fold higher than that of mouse liver microsomes. Rat and mouse liver GSH-S-transferases exhibited similar BM conjugation kinetics, but rats excreted more BM-mercapturic acids compared to mice given low equimolar doses of BM. BM reacted with guanosine and adenosine to yield N7-, N2-, and N1-guanosinyl and N6-adenosinyl adducts, respectively. These results may contribute to a better understanding of the biochemical basis of 1,3-butadiene-induced carcinogenicity.
Comparison of intensity-modulated radiotherapy and 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy as adjuvant therapy for gastric cancer

BACKGROUND: The current study was performed to compare the clinical outcomes and toxicity in patients treated with postoperative chemoradiotherapy for gastric cancer using intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) versus 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D CRT). METHODS: Fifty-seven patients with gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer were treated postoperatively: 26 with 3D CRT and 31 with IMRT. Concurrent chemotherapy was capecitabine (n = 31), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) (n = 25), or none (n = 1). The median radiation dose was 45 Gy. Dose volume histogram parameters for kidney and liver were compared between treatment groups. RESULTS: The 2-year overall survival rates for 3D CRT versus IMRT were 51% and 65%, respectively (P = .5). Four locoregional failures occurred each in the 3D CRT (15%) and the IMRT (13%) patients. Grade ≥2 acute gastrointestinal toxicity was found to be similar between the 3D CRT and IMRT patients (61.5% vs 61.2%, respectively) but more treatment breaks were needed (3 vs 0, respectively). The median serum creatinine from before radiotherapy to most recent creatinine was unchanged in the IMRT group (0.80 mg/dL) but increased in the 3D CRT group from 0.80 mg/dL to 1.0 mg/dL (P = .02). The median kidney mean dose was higher in the IMRT versus the 3D CRT group (13.9 Gy vs 11.1 Gy; P = .05). The median kidney V20 was lower for the IMRT versus the 3D CRT group (17.5% vs 22%; P = .17). The median liver mean dose for IMRT and 3D CRT was 13.6 Gy and 18.6 Gy, respectively (P = .19). The median liver V30 was 16.1% and 28%, respectively (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Adjuvant chemoradiotherapy was well tolerated. IMRT was found to provide sparing to the liver and possibly renal function. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.
The Supranational Politics of Jean Monnet: Ideas and Origins of the European Community. By Frederic J. Fransen. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2001. Pp. 157. $64.95.

This book is the most recent contribution to the somewhat arcane subfield of â€œMonnet Studies.â€ Research for it was undertaken in the mid-1990s, at about the time when the two big biographies of â€œl'Inspirateurâ€ by Francois Duchene and Eric Roussel appeared, but apparently competed before the publication of the next landmark in the literature, the anthology edited by G. Bossuat and A. Wilkens (Jean Monnet, l'Europe, et les chemins de la paix. Paris: Publications de la Sorbonne, 1998). Since in a number of important cases the individual articles written for the latter delve much deeper into the topics that Fransen covers in this short book, The Supranational Politics of Jean Monnet is unfortunately already rather dated.
Heart region segmentation from low-dose CT scans: an anatomy based approach

Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death in developed countries. The concurrent detection of heart diseases during low-dose whole-lung CT scans (LDCT), typically performed as part of a screening protocol, hinges on the accurate quantification of coronary calcification. The creation of fully automated methods is ideal as complete manual evaluation is imprecise, operator dependent, time consuming and thus costly. The technical challenges posed by LDCT scans in this context are mainly twofold. First, there is a high level image noise arising from the low radiation dose technique. Additionally, there is a variable amount of cardiac motion blurring due to the lack of electrocardiographic gating and the fact that heart rates differ between human subjects. As a consequence, the reliable segmentation of the heart, the first stage toward the implementation of morphologic heart abnormality detection, is also quite challenging. An automated computer method based on a sequential labeling of major organs and determination of anatomical landmarks has been evaluated on a public database of LDCT images. The novel algorithm builds from a robust segmentation of the bones and airways and embodies a stepwise refinement starting at the top of the lungs where image noise is at its lowest and where the carina provides a good calibration landmark. The segmentation is completed at the inferior wall of the heart where extensive image noise is accommodated. This method is based on the geometry of human anatomy and does not involve training through manual markings. Using visual inspection by an expert reader as a gold standard, the algorithm achieved successful heart and major vessel segmentation in 42 of 45 low-dose CT images. In the 3 remaining cases, the cardiac base was over segmented due to incorrect hemidiaphragm localization.
Dysregulated response to mycobacterial cord factor trehalose-6,6'-dimycolate in CD1D-/- mice.

The biologic effects of the mycobacterial glycolipid trehalose-6,6′-dimycolate (TDM) include granuloma formation and macrophage activation and are dependent on physical conformation. In mice, the group II CD1 surface molecule CD1d has been implicated in glycolipid presentation. The importance of CD1d interactions in pathology has yet to be established. We hypothesized that mice lacking CD1d (CD1D-/-) would demonstrate dysregulated granulomatous response to TDM, compared with CD1D+/- heterozygous controls. Mice were intravenously injected with TDM-coated polystyrene-divinylbenzene beads and examined for histologic response and for changes in inflammatory cytokine and chemokine mRNA. Control CD1D heterozygous mice demonstrated a granulomatous response, which peaked at day 5. Increased mRNA for tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and macrophage inflammatory protein-1α (MIP-1α) correlated with development of granulomas, with very little change in interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-...
Is the transcellular pathway is an important contributor to water flow across rat aortic endothelium

Plasma, mostly water and solutes, advects low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) across the arterial endothelium. Subendothelial LDL deposition triggers pre-artherogenic lesion formation. This water flux is believed to occur paracellularly. We investigate the potential significance of the transcelluar pathway through the ubiquitous aquaporin-1 (AQP1) water channel protein to total transmural water flow. AQP1 downregulation by means of small interference RNA (siRNA) induces a significant decrease in Rat aortic endothelial cells (RAECs) permeability to water and small solutes in vitro. In vitro water flux (Jv) decreased by 56.4%. This large reduction is likely only partially due to the direct effects of the suppressing the transcellular AQP1 pathway. Suppression of this pathway increases flow resistance, likely causing the transmural pressure to compresses the cells against the rigid support and increases cell-cell overlap, which likely acocunts for the balance of the Lp reduction. A study of RAEC permeability to tetramethylrhodamine (TAMRA) and tetramethyl-rhodamine-iso-thiocyanate (TRITC)-albumin, solutes traverse only the cell-cell junctions, provides evidence consistent with this interpretation. AQP1's suppression led to a 21.6% drop in TAMRA permeability and a 26.3%/16.5% drop in albumin permeability under convection/diffusion respectively, consistent with increased cell-cell overlap. AQP1, might affect lipid transport in a beneficial way with regard to disease progression.
Beyond the filter bubble: interactive effects of perceived threat and topic involvement on selective exposure to information

We investigated participants' preferential selection of information and their attitude moderation in an online environment. Results showed that even when opposing views were presented side-to-side, people would still preferentially select information that reinforced their existing attitudes. Preferential selection of information was, however, influenced by both situational (e.g., perceived threat) and personal (e.g., topic involvement) factors. Specifically, perceived threat induced selective exposure to attitude consistent information for topics that participants had low involvement. Participants had a higher tendency to select peer user opinions in topics that they had low than high involvement, but only when there was no perception of threat. Overall, participants' attitudes were moderated after being exposed to diverse views, although high topic involvement led to higher resistance to such moderation. Perceived threat also weakened attitude moderation, especially for low involvement topics. Results have important implication to the potential effects of "information bubble" - selective exposure can be induced by situational and personal factors even when competing views are presented side-by-side.
An experimental evaluation of a passive anti-roll tank system

Abstract The effectiveness of the passive anti-roll tank system aboard the R/V Yaquina was determined. Measurements of ship roll, effective waveslope and tank water transfer were analyzed using a systems analysis technique. Time series of the inputs and outputs of the ship-tank system and of the tank itself were processed using spectral analysis methods to obtain system transfer functions for stabilized and unstabilized configurations. Comparison of these transfer functions showed that the anti-roll tank system has a significant and beneficial effect on the rolling performance of the vessel.
Causasilty among wildfire, ENSO, timber harvest, and urban sprawl: The vector autoregression approach

Abstract This article demonstrates the applicability of vector autoregression (VAR) modeling in probing the causality relationships among wildfire, El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO), timber harvest, and urban sprawl in the U.S. The VAR approach allows for the multi-directional, multi-faceted interactions among the variables concerned and enables us to portray the temporal impacts of ENSO, the volume of timber harvested, and urban sprawl on wildfire. The empirical analysis, though intended mainly for illustration, reveals that an individual factor may not affect wildfire activity (number of fires and area burned) when acting alone, but can significantly influence fire activity when coupled with other factors, and that wildfire activity has feedback effects on other variables. The impact of a change in ENSO, the volume of timber harvested, and urban population density on wildfire activity could last two decades with the most noticeable impact occurring in the initial 5–10 years. Though ENSO, timber harvest, and urban sprawl all Granger-cause wildfire activity, the impulse response functions show that wildfire activity is more responsive to urban population density than to the volume of timber harvested or ENSO. Thus, controlling urban sprawl represents another option for wildfire mitigation; and integrative wildfire management is essential.
Tracks in Ti and Zr from MeV C60+ impacts☆

Damage tracks recently have been observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in crystalline targets of Ti and Zr that have been bombarded by 18 MeV C_(60)^+ ions. Although enhanced damage has been seen in Ti from MeV/amu Pb and U ion bombardment, the track diameters from C_(60) irradiation are much larger, i.e., 200 A vs 50 A. In this note I show that the phenomenon is somewhat different in the case of large molecular ions than for energetic single ions — even though the amount of energy deposition is similar in the two cases. The model presented here not only explains the new observations quantitatively but also provides a way to estimate how the damage might change for other cluster energies and species.
Spatial smoothing systematically biases the localization of reward-related brain activity.

Neuroimaging methods with enhanced spatial resolution such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI) suggest that the subcortical striatum plays a critical role in human reward processing. Analysis of FMRI data requires several preprocessing steps, some of which entail tradeoffs. For instance, while spatial smoothing can enhance statistical power, it may also bias localization towards regions that contain more gray than white matter. In a meta-analysis and reanalysis of an existing dataset, we sought to determine whether spatial smoothing could systematically bias the spatial localization of foci related to reward anticipation in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc). An activation likelihood estimate (ALE) meta-analysis revealed that peak ventral striatal ALE foci for studies that used smaller spatial smoothing kernels (i.e. 7mm FWHM). Additionally, subtraction analysis of findings for studies that used smaller versus larger smoothing kernels revealed a significant cluster of differential activity in the left relatively anterior NAcc (Talairach coordinates: -10, 9, -1). A second meta-analysis revealed that larger smoothing kernels were correlated with more posterior localizations of NAcc activation foci (p<0.015), but revealed no significant associations with other potentially relevant parameters (including voxel volume, magnet strength, and publication date). Finally, repeated analysis of a representative dataset processed at different smoothing kernels (i.e., 0-12mm) also indicated that smoothing systematically yielded more posterior activation foci in the NAcc (p<0.005). Taken together, these findings indicate that spatial smoothing can systematically bias the spatial localization of striatal activity. These findings have implications both for historical interpretation of past findings related to reward processing and for the analysis of future studies.
Voluntary wheel running selectively augments insulin-stimulated vasodilation in arterioles from white skeletal muscle of insulin-resistant rats.

Background Exercise (RUN) prevents declines in insulin-mediated vasodilation, an important component of insulin-mediated glucose disposal, in rats prone to obesity and insulin resistance. Objective Determine whether RUN (1) improves insulin-stimulated vasodilation after insulin resistance has been established, and (2) differentially affects arterioles from red and white muscle. Methods Insulin signaling and vasoreactivity to insulin (1–1000 μIU/mL) were assessed in 2A from the Gw and Gr of SED OLETF rats at 12 and 20 weeks of age (SED12, SED20) and those undergoing RUN (RUN20) or caloric restriction (CR20; to match body weight of RUN) from 12 to 20 weeks. Results Glucose and insulin responses to i.p. glucose were reduced in RUN20, elevated in SED20 (p < 0.05 vs. SED12), and maintained in CR20. Insulin-stimulated vasodilation was greater in Gw but not Gr, 2As of RUN20 (p < 0.01 vs. all groups), and was improved by ET-1 receptor inhibition in Gw 2As from SED20 and CR20 (p < 0.05). There were no differences in microvascular insulin signaling among groups or muscle beds. Conclusions RUN selectively improved insulin-mediated vasodilation in Gw 2As, in part through attenuated ET-1 sensitivity/production, an adaptation that was independent of changes in adiposity and may contribute to enhanced insulin-stimulated glucose disposal.
Head-operated computer controls: effect of control method on performance for subjects with and without disability

Head-operated computer controls provide an alternative means of computer access for people with physical disabilities. A person's ability to use such head controls may be reduced if he or she experiences neck movement limitations. Five experimental methods of compensating for neck movement limitations were evaluated in comparison to a standard head control interface. Twenty-two subjects without disabilities and three subjects with multiple sclerosis performed icon acquisition exercises using the standard interface and each of the five experimental compensation methods. Subjects without disabilities had less tendency to overshoot the target icons when using an interface with decreased sensitivity or one in which head movements controlled cursor velocity rather than cursor position (p<0.05). Subjects with multiple sclerosis tended to be more accurate when using an interface with increased sensitivity, and had less tendency to overshoot icons when using head movements to control cursor velocity rather than cursor position. Overall, subjects tended to demonstrate faster performance when using an interface with reduced sensitivity.
Scopolamine, atropine and conditioned fear.

Two experiments, designed to determine the effects of anticholinergics on fear-conditioning, are reported. The results indicate that scopolamine and atropine were not effective in reducing the conditioning of fear. These experiments indicate that previous findings suggestive of attenuated habituation with the antichiolnergics, cannot reasonable be accounted for in terms of a general memory deficit. Other data pertinent to this finding are discussed.
Additions to the Human Plasma Proteome via a Tandem MARS Depletion iTRAQ-Based Workflow

Robust platforms for determining differentially expressed proteins in biomarker and discovery studies using human plasma are of great interest. While increased depth in proteome coverage is desirable, it is associated with costs of experimental time due to necessary sample fractionation. We evaluated a robust quantitative proteomics workflow for its ability (1) to provide increased depth in plasma proteome coverage and (2) to give statistical insight useful for establishing differentially expressed plasma proteins. The workflow involves dual-stage immunodepletion on a multiple affinity removal system (MARS) column, iTRAQ tagging, offline strong-cation exchange chromatography, and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Independent workflow experiments were performed in triplicate on four plasma samples tagged with iTRAQ 4-plex reagents. After stringent criteria were applied to database searched results, 689 proteins with at least two spectral counts (SC) were identified. Depth in proteome coverage was assessed by comparison to the 2010 Human Plasma Proteome Reference Database in which our studies reveal 399 additional proteins which have not been previously reported. Additionally, we report on the technical variation of this quantitative workflow which ranges from ±11 to 30%.