cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enhanced Quantitative LC-MS/MS Analysis of N-linked Glycans Derived from Glycoproteins Using Sodium Deoxycholate Detergent

Protein glycosylation is a common protein post-translational modification (PTM) in living organisms and has been shown to associate with multiple diseases, and thus may potentially be a biomarker of such diseases. Efficient protein/glycoprotein extraction is a crucial step in the preparation of N-glycans derived from glycoproteins prior to LC-MS analysis. Convenient, efficient and unbiased sample preparation protocols are needed. Herein, we evaluated the use of sodium deoxycholate (SDC) acidic labile detergent to release N-glycans of glycoproteins derived from biological samples such as cancer cell lines. Compared to the filter-aided sample preparation approach, the sodium deoxycholate (SDC) assisted approach was determined to be more efficient and unbiased. SDC removal was determined to be more efficient when using acidic precipitation rather than ethyl acetate phase transfer. Efficient extraction of proteins/glycoproteins from biological samples was achieved by combining SDC lysis buffer and beads beati...
Gonadal Peptide Hormones Modulating FSH Secretion

A variety of hypophysiotropic peptides have been reported to be present in mammalian gonads. Inhibin, a hormone that under most circumstances selectively suppresses the secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) but not luteinizing hormone (LH), has been isolated from the gonadal fluids of several species by four groups and characterized as heterodimeric protein consisting of α- and β-polypeptides associated by disulphide bonds. The amino-acid sequences of the precursors of inhibin a-subunits and two distinct inhibin β-subunits (βA and βB) have been deduced from complementary DNA sequences leading to the determination of the primary structures of porcine, bovine and human inhibins.
HIGHER ORDER ACOUSTIC NONLINEARITIES

Nonlinearity parameter which is expressed as the combination of second and third order elastic constants for solids is the first nonlinear term in the analysis. This nonlinearity parameter can be determined either from the second harmonic generation of a finite amplitude ultrasonic wave or from the so-called acousto-elastic effect, i.e. from the stress dependence of the sound velocity. There are several indications that higher than third order elastic constants could play a role in material characterization, e.g. fourth and fifth order elastic constants enter in the temperature dependence of velocity as functions of stress. Two experimental techniques are presented which are modifications of the acousto-elastic effects to measure second order nonlinearities (related to fourth order elastic constants).
Application of Tissue Culture to the Germplasm Conservation of Temperate Broad-Leaf Trees

The recovery and conservation of a broad genetic pool of wild and domesticated species are essential for the maintenance of plant biodiversity. Traditionalex-situconservation systems (i.e., seed and field collections), alongsidein-situconservation, make a fundamental contribution to the preservation of plant genetic resources. Up to now these approaches have been the only reliable option for the long-term germplasm preservation of woody species, although they have several drawbacks. Numerous forest Angiosperms (e.g.,Acerspp.,Quercusspp., chestnut, horsechestnut, many tropical species) have non-orthodox (recalcitrant) seeds that quickly loose their viability or are subject to a rapid decrease in germinability during storage (Pence, 1995). Moreover, recalcitrant seeds do not tolerate the level of dessication that is commonly required to prolong conservation (Roberts, 1973). As regards temperate fruit trees, the majority of the species belonging to this group are reproduced by vegetative propagation, thus requiring the conservation in clonal orchards of huge numbers of accessions, including old and newly selected cultivars, local varieties and wild material. Table 1, for instance, gives a clear idea of the efforts required today for the preservation of the EuropeanPrunusgermplasm, kept in the field repositories of 21 countries.
A Comprehensive Experiment for an Introductory Course in Microeconomics

I present a classroom experiment designed to help students learn (1) decision-making using marginal analysis; (2) the prediction of the price; (3) the decentralized determination of a price by the market; (4) specialization; (5) the gains from trade; and (6) the ability of a competitive market to create a Pareto-efficient outcome. The innovation of the experiment lies in its comprehensiveness and in the identical opportunities faced by all students. The experiment has two parts. There is a warm-up which is assigned as homework and the experiment proper which takes two 50-minute class sessions. I have run it in classes at the undergraduate introductory level, at the undergraduate intermediate level and at the MA introductory level; these classes have varied in size from 20 to 200 students.
Functional Anatomy of the Enteric Nervous System

Congenital birth defects, of which Hirschsprung’s disease is an example, are among the most difficult of illnesses to study in the human patients who suffer from them. By the time the condition is identified in an affected individual, the process that brought it about is over and done with. It is thus impossible to study the ontogeny of birth defects, such as Hirschsprung’s disease, in a fetus while the problems develop. An investigator seeking to uncover the pathogenesis of such a condition must search, like a detective, for clues left behind by the perpetrator who has fled the scene of a crime. Even the identification of genes that may have mutated, important an achievement as that is, does not, by itself, explain why the defect develops. Human life, moreover, is so precious that human subjects are terrible laboratory animals. As a result, more can often be learned about the origins of human illness by studying animal models, than by investigating the patients themselves. Invasive research, which is only possible on animals, can be used to develop a conceptual framework to devise hypotheses that can subsequently be tested for applicability to human patients. Experiments, based on these hypotheses, can be targeted to what can be confirmed or denied by diagnostic tests or by analyzing the restricted materials available from human subjects. Human biology is thus made approachable by knowledge of animal biology.
Homoplasy, a Moving Target

My goal is to present my perspectives on a 50-year exploration of homoplasy in salamanders, using the 1981 Dahlem conference on Evolution and Development (Bonner 1982) as a centerpiece. I summarize my early work on homoplasy and show how it was relevant to the planning of the original conference. I then examine how the conference influenced my later studies, and now, with a 30-year retrospective on the original conference, I will attempt to set some future goals. Because I was involved in planning the original conference, I also present some reflections.
Dynamics of microbial populations mediating biogeochemical cycling in a freshwater lake

Microbial processes are intricately linked to the depletion of oxygen in in-land and coastal water bodies, with devastating economic and ecological consequences. Microorganisms deplete oxygen during biomass decomposition, degrading the habitat of many economically important aquatic animals. Microbes then turn to alternative electron acceptors, which alter nutrient cycling and generate potent greenhouse gases. As oxygen depletion is expected to worsen with altered land use and climate change, understanding how chemical and microbial dynamics impact dead zones will aid modeling efforts to guide remediation strategies. More work is needed to understand the complex interplay between microbial genes, populations, and biogeochemistry during oxygen depletion. Here, we used 16S rRNA gene surveys, shotgun metagenomic sequencing, and a previously developed biogeochemical model to identify genes and microbial populations implicated in major biogeochemical transformations in a model lake ecosystem. Shotgun metagenomic sequencing was done for one time point in Aug., 2013, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing was done for a 5-month time series (Mar.–Aug., 2013) to capture the spatiotemporal dynamics of genes and microorganisms mediating the modeled processes. Metagenomic binning analysis resulted in many metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) that are implicated in the modeled processes through gene content similarity to cultured organism and the presence of key genes involved in these pathways. The MAGs suggested some populations are capable of methane and sulfide oxidation coupled to nitrate reduction. Using the model, we observe that modulating these processes has a substantial impact on overall lake biogeochemistry. Additionally, 16S rRNA gene sequences from the metagenomic and amplicon libraries were linked to processes through the MAGs. We compared the dynamics of microbial populations in the water column to the model predictions. Many microbial populations involved in primary carbon oxidation had dynamics similar to the model, while those associated with secondary oxidation processes deviated substantially. This work demonstrates that the unique capabilities of resident microbial populations will substantially impact the concentration and speciation of chemicals in the water column, unless other microbial processes adjust to compensate for these differences. It further highlights the importance of the biological aspects of biogeochemical processes, such as fluctuations in microbial population dynamics. Integrating gene and population dynamics into biogeochemical models has the potential to improve predictions of the community response under altered scenarios to guide remediation efforts.
Improved Random Projection with $K$ -Means Clustering for Hyperspectral Image Classification

Random projection based dimensionality reduction methods are particularly attractive options for hyperspectral data analysis, due to their data independent representation, reduction in computation time and storage costs, while preserving data separability and important information at lower dimensions. In this work, we combine the benefits of dimensionality reduction using random projections with feature selection using $k$ -means clustering in low dimensions to achieve a two-fold dimensionality reduction. Supervised classification using support vector machine (SVM) was done to study the classification performance. It is experimentally demonstrated that our proposed random projection based $k$ -means feature selection methods offers superior classification performance at far fewer dimensions than original data without dimensionality reduction.
School counselors' changing perceptions of ePortfolios: From graduate students to professionals

Abstract This study examined how alumni perceived their ePortfolio they created during their time as school counseling graduate students and whether they still use either in their work as school counseling professionals. The findings support previous research on school counseling students' utilization of ePortfolios in their graduate program. However, the findings also show a decrease in valuation of ePortfolios by school counseling professionals post-graduation. Lack of time and lack of perceived value by school administrators were the most cited reasons for not continuing to use ePortfolios as professionals or integrating ePortfolios as a tool in comprehensive school counseling programs. Suggestions for increasing the use and valuation of ePortfolios by school counselors are discussed.
Under pressure: Ano1 mediates pressure sensing in the lymphatic system.

Although identified only 11 years ago, the Ca2+-activated Cl− channel (CaCC), Ano1, is firmly established as an essential physiological protein. This channel is known by many names—TMEM16a, DOG1, ORAOV2, TAOS2—and mediates many more physiological processes. Several of these Ano1-regulated
Melancholia’s End

Through an examination of the planetary disaster organizing Lars Von Trier’s Melancholia, this essay probes both the stakes of depicting the end of the world and the competency of those in the humanities to undertake such analysis. At bottom, the following draws on Jacques Derrida’s 1984 “No Apocalypse, Not Now (Full Speed Ahead, Seven Missiles, Seven Missives),” as well as more contemporary discussions of Melancholia, in order to accentuate the singularity of the film’s ending, the “necessary” fictional status of the total apocalypse, and the capacity of those who study the expansive literary archive to engage with “real-world” matters.
Application of diffusion-non-monoton distribution to model the radio-electronic equipment operation process

The emergence of reliability as an applied mathematical discipline is associated with the 50-60 years of the last century, when large and complex technical systems began to be created in various branches of technology. In this regard, an acute reliability problem arose, that is, ensuring the functioning and operability of these complex and expensive systems. The whole variety of reliability studies is aimed at solving the following three problems: assessment and prediction of product reliability at the design stages (a priori methods); experimental evaluation of reliability indicators, that is, confirmation of the projected level of reliability according to the results of tests or operation (posterior methods); taking measures to achieve and ensure a given level of reliability by optimizing the maintenance strategy, redundancy, spare parts, etc. (optimization problems) The traditional has developed a certain division in the areas of theory and practice of reliability of machines (mechanical objects, technical systems containing mechanical components) and equipment (electronic products, technical devices containing electronic and radio elements). The main tasks of reliability of machines and equipment - the establishment of patterns of failure and the assessment of quantitative indicators of reliability - can be solved in two different ways. To date, the direction based on the use of only probabilistic concepts (purely probabilistic theory) has received the greatest development in the theory and practice of reliability. The second way to establish quantitative indicators of reliability, in contrast to a purely probabilistic approach, is based on the study of mechano-physico-chemical properties and some physical parameters of products characterizing the technical condition of the latter using probabilistic methods. The methodology for establishing quantitative reliability indicators based on the study of certain physical parameters characterizing the technical condition of products consists in identifying the kinetic laws of degradation processes (building mathematical models of degradation processes) and determining the analytical relationship between these laws and reliability indicators. The article discusses the use of diffusion-nonmonotonic distribution for modeling the process of operation of electronic equipment. Particular attention is paid to the determination of point estimates of distribution parameters based on the results of operational observations.
Collaborative Graduate Education across Multiple Campuses

Multi-institutional approaches to graduate education continue to emerge as a way to better prepare stu- dents for collaborative work. In this article, we describe a graduate course designed to investigate application of conser- vation biology principles by local land use planners. "Where is Conservation Science in Local Planning?" was offered jointly by three institutions and integrated inquiry-guided, collaborative, and computer-mediated learning. Participants collaborated across universities to investigate this question and create products based on their work, including a presenta- tion and two peer-reviewed manuscripts. We used a wiki for brainstorming and collaborative writing, a virtual classroom for work meetings, and video conferencing for building community and making complex decisions. Pre- and post-course questionnaires were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the course for improving skills in collaboration, use of collab- orative technologies, and subject-area knowledge. Student development mirrored those areas where learning was required to consistently support class-wide activities. Students reported that they gained knowledge about collaboration, increased their mastery of communication skills and use of collaborative technologies, and gained knowledge about course subject matter. Students did not indicate significant changes in knowledge or activities related to leadership. Participants gained a fuller understanding of the benefits—collective creativity and enhanced accountability—and drawbacks—time required to build relationships and engage in deliberation—of collaborative research. Faculty participants suggest that future offer- ings continue to follow an inquiry-guided, collaborative learning approach using similar collaborative technologies, but include more explicit guidance about leadership and attempt to generate a smaller number of products.
Abstract 1726: Self-assembling peptide hydrogel for delivery of therapeutically active temozolomide in glioblastoma treatment

Traditional treatment methods for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) including resection, radiation, and chemotherapy have been largely unsuccessful, with a current 5-year survival rate of 5.6%. In this project we examine the potential of nanosized self-assembling peptide hydrogels to locally deliver and convert temozolomide (TMZ), an FDA-approved pH-sensitive prodrug, for GBM treatment. The peptide hydrogel is designed to load TMZ into the hydrophobic regions of the hydrogels, and during hydrogel degradation in vivo, convert TMZ into its active form. Hydrogel characterization, drug loading and release cellular uptake, and viability are examined to determine the in vitro efficacy of this delivery method. A combination of dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and circular dichroism (CD) are used to characterize size and structure of the hydrogels. High performance liquid chromatography and microcentrifuge dialysis are used to quantify drug loading and release from the hydrogels. Flow cytometry, fluorescent imaging, and cell viability assays are used to determine uptake and anti-cancer effects of the drug-loaded hydrogels on glioblastoma cells. Our results show high drug loading efficiency and uptake in drug-resistant T98G and non-resistant LN-18 glioblastoma cell lines using several of our tunable peptide formulations. CD has shown that all peptide formulations form mostly beta-sheet and random structures during self-assembly. SEM and DLS show that certain formulations are fairly consistent in size and structure; we are focused on refining preparation methods to further improve uniform size and structure for these formulations and those that exhibit promising drug loading and uptake. Using a pH-sensitive dye, we have shown that as the peptides degrade, the degradation products cause the local pH to become basic, confirming that more TMZ will convert more quickly as the hydrogels degrade. Preliminary cell viability studies have shown promising results for anti-cancer effects of the drug-loaded hydrogels. Future studies for the project will include further cell viability studies to confirm preliminary results with the most promising peptide formulations once uniform self-assembly has been achieved. Finally, this project will culminate in an in vivo study to confirm the overall anti-cancer effect of the drug-loaded peptide hydrogels in a tumor model of GBM. Acknowledgements: This research was supported in part by the National Science Foundation EPSCoR Program under NSF Award # OIA-1655740. Citation Format: Megan Pitz, Margaret Elpers, Arica Gregory, Alexandra Nukovic, Angela Alexander-Bryant. Self-assembling peptide hydrogel for delivery of therapeutically active temozolomide in glioblastoma treatment [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 1726.
Is discrimination widespread? Testing assumptions about bias on a university campus.

Discrimination has persisted in our society despite steady improvements in explicit attitudes toward marginalized social groups. The most common explanation for this apparent paradox is that due to implicit biases, most individuals behave in slightly discriminatory ways outside of their own awareness (the dispersed discrimination account). Another explanation holds that a numerical minority of individuals who are moderately or highly biased are responsible for most observed discriminatory behaviors (the concentrated discrimination account). We tested these 2 accounts against each other in a series of studies at a large, public university (total N = 16,600). In 4 large-scale surveys, students from marginalized groups reported that they generally felt welcome and respected on campus (albeit less so than nonmarginalized students) and that a numerical minority of their peers (around 20%) engage in subtle or explicit forms of discrimination. In 5 field experiments with 8 different samples, we manipulated the social group membership of trained confederates and measured the behaviors of naive bystanders. The results showed that between 5% and 20% of the participants treated the confederates belonging to marginalized groups more negatively than nonmarginalized confederates. Our findings are inconsistent with the dispersed discrimination account but support the concentrated discrimination account. The Pareto principle states that, for many events, roughly 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes. Our results suggest that the Pareto principle also applies to discrimination, at least at the large, public university where the studies were conducted. We discuss implications for prodiversity initiatives. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
In-season weather data provide reliable yield estimates of maize and soybean in the US central Corn Belt

Weather conditions regulate the growth and yield of crops, especially in rain-fed agricultural systems. This study evaluated the use and relative importance of readily available weather data to develop yield estimation models for maize and soybean in the US central Corn Belt. Total rainfall (Rain), average air temperature (Tavg), and the difference between maximum and minimum air temperature (Tdiff) at weekly, biweekly, and monthly timescales from May to August were used to estimate county-level maize and soybean grain yields for Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and Minnesota. Step-wise multiple linear regression (MLR), general additive (GAM), and support vector machine (SVM) models were trained with Rain, Tavg, and with/without Tdiff. For the total study area and at individual state level, SVM outperformed other models at all temporal levels for both maize and soybean. For maize, Tavg and Tdiff during July and August, and Rain during June and July, were relatively more important whereas for soybean, Tavg in June and Tdiff and Rain during August were more important. The SVM model with weekly Rain and Tavg estimated the overall maize yield with a root mean square error (RMSE) of 591 kg ha-1 (4.9% nRMSE) and soybean yield with a RMSE of 205 kg ha-1 (5.5% nRMSE). Inclusion of Tdiff in the model considerably improved yield estimation for both crops; however, the magnitude of improvement varied with the model and temporal level of weather data. This study shows the relative importance of weather variables and reliable yield estimation of maize and soybean from readily available weather data to develop a decision support tool in the US central Corn Belt.
Blood Pressure and Hypertension Management

The prevention and management of hypertension remains a significant public health problem. The recent recommendations for the management of high blood pressure by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) have redefined hypertension at a blood pressure of 130/80 mmHg or greater. Blood pressure management requires an understanding of both non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic interventions, as well as the major cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. The recommended approach to treating blood pressure in patients with hypertension starts with the appropriate measurement of blood pressure, with an increased emphasis on home and ambulatory monitoring. This is followed by blood pressure staging and if Stage 1 (130–139/80–89 mmHg) or Stage 2 (≥140/90 mmHg), and then the initiation of nonpharmacologic interventions such as smoking cessation in tobacco users, a vegetable-rich diet, daily walking and/or exercise three times a week, and other healthy lifestyle strategies. For those with a blood pressure of ≥130/80 mmHg who have a 10-year atherosclerotic CV disease (ASCVD) risk of ≥10%, the initiation of pharmacologic therapy is recommended with a target blood pressure of <130/80 mmHg for most adults. This risk level captures the majority of people with hypertension who could benefit from pharmacologic therapy. Optimal blood pressure control necessitates an appropriate sensitivity to and an understanding of demographic, socio-cultural, and other factors that may act as barriers to a recommended care plan and promotion of adherence to not only improve blood pressure control but to address cardiovascular risk factors to reduce premature morbidity and mortality.
Pediatric Mastocytosis: Recognition and Management

Mastocytosis is a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by the accumulation of clonal mast cells in organs such as the skin and bone marrow. In contrast to adults, most affected children have only cutaneous involvement. This article reviews the molecular pathogenesis, skin findings, mast cell mediator-related symptoms, evaluation, and management of childhood-onset mastocytosis, noting differences from adult-onset disease. Current classification of cutaneous mastocytosis and the natural histories of different variants in pediatric patients are highlighted, with a focus on clinical manifestations with prognostic implications. A practical algorithm is provided to guide clinical assessment, laboratory and other investigations, and longitudinal monitoring, including recognition of hepatosplenomegaly as a marker of systemic disease and utilization of allele-specific quantitative PCR (ASqPCR) to detect KIT mutations in the peripheral blood. Updated information and consensus-based recommendations regarding possible triggers of mast-cell degranulation (e.g., physical, medications) are discussed, with an emphasis on patient-specific factors and avoiding excessive parental concern. Lastly, an individualized, stepwise approach to treatment of symptoms, skin-directed therapy, and potential use of kinase inhibitors for severe systemic disease is outlined.
Manipulation of IRE1-Dependent MAPK Signaling by a Vibrio Agonist-Antagonist Effector Pair.

ABSTRACT Diverse bacterial pathogens employ effector delivery systems to disrupt vital cellular processes in the host (N. M. Alto and K. Orth, Cold Spring Harbor Perspect Biol 4:a006114, 2012, https://doi.org/10.1101/cshperspect.a006114). The type III secretion system 1 of the marine pathogen Vibrio parahaemolyticus utilizes the sequential action of four effectors to induce a rapid, proinflammatory cell death uniquely characterized by a prosurvival host transcriptional response (D. L. Burdette, M. L. Yarbrough, A Orvedahl, C. J. Gilpin, and K. Orth, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 105:12497–12502, 2008, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0802773105; N. J. De Nisco, M. Kanchwala, P. Li, J. Fernandez, C. Xing, and K. Orth, Sci Signal 10:eaa14501, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1126/scisignal.aal4501). Herein, we show that this prosurvival response is caused by the action of the channel-forming effector VopQ that targets the host V-ATPase, resulting in lysosomal deacidification and inhibition of lysosome-autophagosome fusion. Recent structural studies have shown how VopQ interacts with the V-ATPase and, while in the ER, a V-ATPase assembly intermediate can interact with VopQ, causing a disruption in membrane integrity. Additionally, we observed that VopQ-mediated disruption of the V-ATPase activates the IRE1 branch of the unfolded protein response (UPR), resulting in an IRE1-dependent activation of ERK1/2 MAPK signaling. We also find that this early VopQ-dependent induction of ERK1/2 phosphorylation is terminated by the VopS-mediated inhibitory AMPylation of Rho GTPase signaling. Since VopS dampens VopQ-induced IRE1-dependent ERK1/2 activation, we propose that IRE1 activates ERK1/2 phosphorylation at or above the level of Rho GTPases. This study illustrates how temporally induced effectors can work as in tandem as agonist/antagonist to manipulate host signaling and reveals new connections between V-ATPase function, UPR, and MAPK signaling. IMPORTANCEVibrio parahaemolyticus is a seafood-borne pathogen that encodes two type 3 secretion systems (T3SS). The first system, T3SS1, is thought to be maintained in all strains of V. parahaemolyticus to maintain survival in the environment, whereas the second system, T3SS2, is linked to clinical isolates and disease in humans. Here, we found that first system targets evolutionarily conserved signaling systems to manipulate host cells, eventually causing a rapid, orchestrated cells death within 3 h. We have found that the T3SS1 injects virulence factors that temporally manipulate host signaling. Within the first hour of infection, the effector VopQ acts first by activating host survival signals while diminishing the host cell apoptotic machinery. Less than an hour later, another effector, VopS, reverses activation and inhibition of these signaling systems, ultimately leading to death of the host cell. This work provides example of how pathogens have evolved to manipulate the interplay between T3SS effectors to regulate host signaling pathways.
Near real time estimation of neighboring actual and imminent wave fields in the vicinity of a floating body

Real time estimation of actual and imminent wave fields in the vicinity of ships and floating structures are important for safe and efficient operations. Historically, three main approaches have been cited in the open literatures with varying degrees of accuracies: the use of wave buoys, ship radars (e.g. X-band and K-band radars) / satellite and ship motions. This paper presents two methods to predict approaching waves using ship motions by employing artificial neural networks and machine learning. Another method based on Short Time Fourier Transform (STFT) of the ship motion data was also used for cross comparison. Both methods were tested in head sea condition only with different ship speeds and sea states. The method based on machine learning estimates the wave elevations as time series, whereas STFT gives its estimates as spectrum. Both methods gave very good results.
Dairy Production Medicine and Herd Monitoring

In a major shift toward preventive medical services in dairy practice, veterinarians are taking a more active role in the overall management and planning on dairies.1,2 Veterinarians are routinely offering services like nutritional consultation, housing design, and financial advice that were considered outside the realm of veterinary medicine in the past. The dairy practitioner is adapting to the role of herd health and productivity consultant. This evolution will expand the opportunity for veterinary services to dairy farmers, and will be a profitable interchange for practitioner and producer alike. As is always the case, there is a price to pay for this new opportunity. Veterinarians will need to develop the new practice skills to complete in this arena. These areas include nutrition, computers and record systems, finances, and effective marketing of these services. We must convince dairymen to look to veterinarians for new and different services. Veterinarians need to develop effective ways to deliver these services to their clients and to charge for their efforts.1,5
Bonding and Structure on Semiconductor Surfaces

Since the early days of surface science and vacuum technology, it has been known that semiconductor surfaces exhibit a rich variety of reconstructed structures. Through the years, an assortment of surface analytical tools and theoretical methods have been developed to probe the arrangement and bonding of atoms on semiconductor surfaces [17.1].
Gauge translations and the Berry phase

Quantization of an SO(4,1) gauge theory is carried out leading to a Hamiltonian which describes the kinetic energy of an object moving on a space endowed with a connection. In the nonrelativistic limit, an association is made between the translational gauge component and Berry's connection.
Advanced ectopic pregnancy

Abstract 1. 1. A study of advanced ectopic pregnancies, as herein defined, occurring at Freedmen's Hospital during the 10 year period 1948 through 1957, is presented. 2. 2. This series comprises 17 abdominal, 2 intraligamentous, and 11 tubal pregnancies. 3. 3. The incidence of ectopic pregnancies in our hospital is very high, 1 in 84 pregnancies; as is the incidence of abdominal pregnancies, 1 in 1,746 pregnancies. 4. 4. An attempt is made to correlate pathogenesis of the abdominal pregnancies to difficulty of diagnosis and surgical management. 5. 5. Those clinical findings which we felt to be most helpful are discussed.
Armenia Banking and Insurance Sector: Key Issues and Recommendations for Development

This paper analyzes some major developmental issues in the specific areas of the Armenian banking sector (particularly raised by the Armenian authorities) and insurance sector and provides recommendations for addressing those issues. The paper argues that over the past seven years, the Armenian economy has been improving. GDP growth rate increased at a stable pace from 3.3 percent in 1999 to 6.0 percent in 2000, 9.6 percent in 2001, and 12.9 percent in 2002. Such robust economic growth provides opportunities and a good environment for financial sector development. The paper also argues that the Armenian authorities should promote the financial sector development. Although Armenia's economy has made good progress, its financial sector is still underdeveloped. The ratio of Armenia's financial sector (which is dominated by the banking sector) assets to GDP ratio is one of the smallest in the ECA region. Consequently, it is critical to examine the Armenian financial sector and address the obstacles to its development so that the momentum of the Armenian economic growth can be sustained.
A novel approach to vortex core region detection

In this paper we present a simple and efficient vortex core region detection algorithm based on ideas derived from combinatorial topology. These ideas originated from Sperner's lemma, which by itself is of little value to detecting vortex cores. However, we take these ideas from the lemma and apply them in a point-based fashion to detecting vortex core regions. The resulting algorithms for both 2D and 3D are quite simple and very efficient compared to existing ones. We applied our algorithms to both numerically simulated and procedurally generated datasets to illustrate the efficacy of our approach.
Schools as Racial Spaces: Understanding and Resisting Structural Racism.

Analyzing schools as racial spaces can help researchers examine the role of teachers in the perpetuation of structural racism in schools. Based on ethnographic and autoethnographic work, this article offers examples of schools as racial spaces, spaces where whiteness controlled access. It also highlights four teachers who pursued racial equity in their teaching, and how a structural understanding of race was key to their efforts. It makes the argument that racial spaces analysis can help researchers work with teachers to understand structural racism and to better counter it in school practices.
p38 MAPK inhibitors in COPD

p38 MAPK signalling upregulates inflammation and is known to be increased in COPD. This study investigated whether p38 inhibitors PF75 and PF32 suppressed release of inflammatory cytokines from macrophage-lineage cells. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) were isolated from non-smokers (NS), smokers (S) and COPD patients. Cells were pre-treated with either p38 inhibitor or dexamethasone (DEX) prior to stimulation with LPS. Cell media was harvested at 24h and cytokine release (IL-6, CXCL8, IL-10 and TNF) measured by ELISA. Both p38 inhibitors and DEX suppressed cytokine release in a concentration-dependent manner in PBMC and MDM. There were no differences between subject groups. p38 inhibitors suppress release of inflammatory cytokines and may have a therapeutic role in COPD.
Characterization of low dimensional molybdenum sulfide nanostructures

Abstract It is presented a detailed structural characterization of a nanostructured form of molybdenum disulfide. The material consists of a layer of highly textured molybdenum sulfide growing off a molybdenum dioxide core. The structure and chemical composition of the synthesized nanostructured sulfide was compared to two well-known forms of molybdenum disulfide, i.e. a commercial molybdenite sample and a poorly crystalline sulfide. X-ray diffraction, high-resolution electron microscopy and electron diffraction showed that the material reported here presents crystalline nanodomains with a crystal structure corresponding to the 2H polytype of molybdenum disulfide. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to demonstrate the differences between our sulfide and other materials such as amorphous MoS 3 , oxysulfides and poorly crystalline MoS 2 , corroborating the molybdenite-2H stacking in this form of sulfide. The material under study showed a high proportion of crystalline planes different from the basal plane.
Actively controlled multiple-sensor system for feature extraction

Typical vision systems which attempt to extract features from a visual image of the world for the purposes of object recognition and navigation are limited by the use of a single sensor and no active sensor control capability. To overcome limitations and deficiencies of rigid single sensor systems, more and more researchers are investigating actively controlled, multisensor systems. To address these problems, we have developed a self-calibrating system which uses active multiple sensor control to extract features of moving objects. A key problem in such systems is registering the images, that is, finding correspondences between images from cameras of differing focal lengths, lens characteristics, and positions and orientations. The authors first propose a technique which uses correlation of edge magnitudes for continuously calibrating pan and tilt angles of several different cameras relative to a single camera with a wide angle field of view, which encompasses the views of every other sensor. A simulation of a world of planar surfaces, visual sensors, and a robot platform used to test active control for feature extraction is then described. Motion in the field of view of at least one sensor is used to center the moving object for several sensors, which then extract object features such as color, boundary, and velocity from the appropriate sensors. Results are presented from real cameras and from the simulated world.
Systems engineering analysis of image quality

A linear systems approach (multiplying MTFs or convolving PSFs) to performing a complete systems engineering analysis of image quality is described. This includes not only the traditional diffraction analysis and the evaluation of image degradation from residual design errors: but also includes image degradation due to scattering effects from residual optical fabrication errors, assembly and alignment errors, and all other potential error sources appearing in a detailed error budget tree. The effects of mosaic detector arrays upon systems performance and the optimum system design will also be discussed. This analysis allows optical fabrication tolerances to be determined during the design phase of a program, frequently resulting in substantial cost and schedule savings. Inaccuracies in the linear systems assumption will be presented for several different applications.
Necessity of defining biomarkers for use in ecological risk assessments

Biomarkers have been classified into three separate categories that correspond to three major parameters necessary to conduct ecological risk assessments. To conduct an accurate ecological risk assessment, ecological effects as well as exposure and susceptibility to contaminants must be well-characterized following identification or formulation of a problem. In each of these processes, well-defined biological indicators can be used in certain cases to help make inexpensive predictions regarding the bioavailability (exposure), mechanism of action (effect) and uncertainty of response (susceptibility) elicited by various anthropogenic substances. The following discussion helps define each category and how they may be used in a risk assessment setting.
Quantitative structure-toxicity relationships with osmotically stressed Artemia salina nauplii

Abstract Aquatic animals subjected to osmotic stress may show an increased toxicity response to water contaminants. Artemia salina cysts were hatched and raised in 50% or 25% artificial seawater at 19°C and the resulting Stage II nauplii were exposed to various organic chemicals to determine immobilisation concentrations (IC50.24h). Simple linear regressions were used to compare the IC50 values at both salinities to n-octanaol/water partition coefficients. The fundamental equation is described by log 1/C50 = a + b × log P. Positive linear regressions were observed at both salinities indicating a nonspecific-type toxicity. The regression and correlation parameters were not significantly different between the two relationships. As the salinity was decreased, however, the intercepts increased and the slopes decreased in a slight but consistent fashion. The present quantitative model appears to be relatively insensitive to changes in the toxicity of organic chemicals to osmotically stressed A. salina nauplii.
Variables Influencing Results, and the Precise Definition of Steps in Gram Staining as a Means of Standardizing the Results Obtained

Results of a Gram staining procedure varied with modifications of each of the steps involved. The best Gram differentiation was obtained when crystal violet and iodine solutions of high concentrations were used, and when n-propyl alcohol was used as the decolorizer. The decolorization step must be carefully quantitated, and one of the most important variables observed was whether a slide was brought into the decolorizer wet, or dry. Dry slides took 6 to 12 times as long to decolorize as wet. Wash steps, following crystal violet, and following the decolorizer, also greatly influence results by causing Gram-positive organisms to appear to be Gram-negative. The results indicated that Gram-stain procedures should not be varied to suit the whims of individual operators, and that each step could be specifically defined both as to the reagent used, and the procedure to be followed.The followng Gram procedure is recommended for heat-fixed bacterial smears on glass slides. Flood the slide with Hucker's crystal vio...
Preschoolers’ flexible use of talker information during word learning

Abstract Previous research suggests that preschool-aged children use novel information about talkers’ preferences (e.g. favorite colors) to guide on-line language processing. But can children encode information about talkers while simultaneously learning new words, and if so, how is talker information encoded? In five experiments, children learned pairs of early-overlapping words (geeb, geege); a particular talker spoke each word. Across experiments, children learned labels for novel referents, showing an advantage for original-voice repetitions of words which appeared to stem mainly from semantic person-referent mappings (who liked what referent). Specifically, children looked to voice-matched referents when a talker asked for their own favorite (“I want to see the geege”) or when the liker was unspecified (“Point to the geege”), but they looked to voice- mis matched referents when a talker asked on behalf of the other talker (“Conor wants to see the geege”). Initial looks to voice-matched referents were flexibly corrected when later information became available (Anna saying “Find the geege for Conor ”). Voice-matching looks vanished when talkers labeled the other talker’s favorite referent during learning, possibly because children had learned two conflicting person-referent mappings: Anna- likes -geeb vs. Anna- talks-about -geege. Results imply that children’s language input may be conditioned on talker context quite early in language learning.
A novel genetic modifier of p53, mop1, results in embryonic lethality

The heterogeneity that occurs in the tumor spectrum and latency in Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) patients with inherited mutations in p53 suggest risk modifiers at loci other than the major gene. We developed a mouse model to investigate these risk modifiers. Inbred CE/J mice, which succumb to multiple types of tumors similar to those found in LFS, were crossed with the p53-null 129/Sv (129-Trp53tm1Tyj) mouse. In this cross, we uncovered evidence for a genetic modifier of p53, mop1, based on an unexpected mix of genotypes in the F2 progeny from Mendelian expectations. A model in which a recessive CE/J allele in combination with p53 heterozygosity or homozygosity results in lethality most closely fits the data. Using simple-sequence length polymorphism analysis of the entire genome, we identified a putative chromosomal region for this modifier of p53 on mouse chromosome 11 centromeric to p53.
Development of an ELISA for myeloperoxidase on microplate: Normal reference values and effect of temperature on specimen preparation

Abstract Background Myeloperoxidase (MPO), a leukocyte enzyme, is implicated in both the pathogenesis and the progression of atherosclerosis. Methods We developed a sandwich ELISA on microplate using commercial antibodies for the measurement of plasma MPO. Results The in-house ELISA has a sensitivity of 15 ng/ml. Both within-day and between-day imprecision were Conclusions We believe that this ELISA for MPO is useful to assess risk for inflammation, oxidative stress, nitrosative stress, and for predicting cardiac events.
The determining set in the infinite horizon problem of optimal control

This paper will study the adjoint vector in the infinite horizon optimal control problem. The approach used is to translate the adjoint vector, by means of the fundamental solution of the homogeneous variational equation, back to the initial time. Thus, the set of adjoint vectors ‘satisfying the maximum principle’ will be formed at the initial time. This set will be called the ‘determining set’ and will then be used to ascertain conditions of optimality. Properties, applications and an example of the determining set are given.
A journey toward Bioorthogonal Profiling of Protein Methylation inside living cells

Human protein methyltransferases (PMTs) play essential roles through methylating histone and nonhistone targets. It is very challenging to profile global methylation (or methylome) in the context of relevant cellular settings. Unlike other posttranslational modifications such as lysine acetylation or Ser/Thr/Tyr/His phosphorylation, methylation of lysine or arginine does not significantly alter its physical properties (e.g. charge and size) and therefore may not be probed readily by conventional biological tools such antibodies. It is also not trivial to assign unambiguously dynamic methylation events to specific PMTs given their potential redundancy. This review focuses on the decade-long progress in developing complementary chemical tools to elucidate targets of designated PMTs. One of such efforts was to develop the Bioorthogonal Profiling of Protein Methylation (BPPM) technology in vitro and inside living cells.