cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Emerging nondestructive approaches for meat quality and safety evaluation—A review

Meat is one of the most consumed agro-products because it contains proteins, minerals, and essential vitamins, all of which play critical roles in the human diet and health. Meat is a perishable food product because of its high moisture content, and as such there are concerns about its quality, stability, and safety. There are two widely used methods for monitoring meat quality attributes: subjective sensory evaluation and chemical/instrumentation tests. However, these methods are labor-intensive, time-consuming, and destructive. To overcome the shortfalls of these conventional approaches, several researchers have developed fast and nondestructive techniques. Recently, electronic nose (e-nose), computer vision (CV), spectroscopy, hyperspectral imaging (HSI), and multispectral imaging (MSI) technologies have been explored as nondestructive methods in meat quality and safety evaluation. However, most of the studies on the application of these novel technologies are still in the preliminary stages and are carried out in isolation, often without comprehensive information on the most suitable approach. This lack of cohesive information on the strength and shortcomings of each technique could impact their application and commercialization for the detection of important meat attributes such as pH, marbling, or microbial spoilage. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of recent nondestructive technologies (e-nose, CV, spectroscopy, HSI, and MSI), as well as their applications and limitations in the detection and evaluation of meat quality and safety issues, such as contamination, adulteration, and quality classification. A discussion is also included on the challenges and future outlooks of the respective technologies and their various applications.
Effects of number of largemouth bass per live-well compared to environmental conditions on post release tournament survival

Abstract As live release black bass (Micropterus spp.) tournaments increase in popularity, stress associated with live-well confinement may result in increased mortality rates. Variation in number of bass in tournament angler live-wells is common due to a suite of factors (e.g., regulations, number of anglers per boat, angler success), but the effect on delayed tournament mortality relative to other environmental factors is unknown. Largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides were collected and tagged following tournament weigh-ins (n = 80) and monthly electrofishing events (n = 15) in 2018 and 2019 at Brushy Creek Lake, Iowa, USA. A Cormack-Jolly-Seber model in Program MARK was used to evaluate the duration of reduced post-tournament survival (0–7 day) and the effects of number of bass per live-well (1–15 individuals) compared to environmental covariates (air and water temperature) and bass total length on post-tournament survival. Models indicated bass survival was reduced for three days following tournament capture and was negatively related to water temperature, number of bass in live-well, and number of initial tournament mortalities. Largest effects of all covariates on tournament survival occurred at high water temperatures but were reduced at cooler water temperatures. Daily survival probability ranged from 0.9792 (95 % CI: 0.9757, 0.9822) at 5.71 °C to 0.8927 (95 % CI: 0.8720, 0.9103) at 28.79 °C on day of tournament capture. Survival also decreased from 0.9819 (95 % CI: 0.9592, 0.9921) with one bass in the live-well to 0.9632 (95 % CI: 0.4167, 0.9990) with fifteen bass in the live-well. However, the effect number of bass in a live-well has on overall tournament survival is likely minimal due to the infrequency ten or more bass were confined per live-well. Our study provides information on the effect number of bass in a live-well has on post-release tournament survival while providing management insights to improve post-tournament survival for recreational bass fisheries.
Calibration of mechanics-based pavement predictive framework for top-down cracking performance of flexible pavement considering wheel wander effect

Abstract This study presents a pavement analysis framework for top-down cracking (TDC) for flexible pavements with considerations of the effects of lateral wheel wander on the long-term pavement performance. A mechanics-based pavement analysis framework developed for predicting TDC is adopted and extended to account for the influence of lateral wheel wander on long-term pavement performance. The mechanics-based pavement analysis model was developed based on the HMA Fracture Mechanics with thresholds introduced to capture the changes in the asphalt concrete mixture resistances to damage and fracture. The fracture resistance and healing propensity of mixture are correlated to mixture morphology to account for the contribution of mixture morphology to these key mixture properties. A failure-curve calibration methodology is developed and implemented using pavement sections with well-documented performance histories from Florida. By accounting for a more realistic representation of the traffic conditions, the calibrated framework delivered accurate predictions of the long-term top-down cracking performance of the pavement sections considered in the study. The TDC performance of pavement for non-wheel wander scenario is evaluated to simulate the loading characteristic of autonomous trucks. A comparative evaluation of the pavement performance for traffic conditions with lateral wheel wander, and the non-wheel wander case was performed. As expected, the results indicate a higher level of accumulated damage in the non-wheel wonder case. The crack initiation time (i.e., the number of years to initiation of cracks) of all pavement sections for non-wheel wander cases is earlier than those with lateral wheel wander. The results show that the non-wheel wander case (autonomous truck scenario) can account for about a 20% reduction in pavement life depending on the traffic volume, pavement structure, materials, and climatic conditions. In addition, the results further exhibit that pavement sections with different traffic volumes exhibited a varying degree of sensitivity to the effect of wheel wander on the long-term performance.
Stereotactic Magnetic Resonance Imaging

MRI, unlike CT, produces images with spatial inaccuracies caused by perturbations in the magnetic field. These inaccuracies are caused by nonuniformity of the magnetic field. Perturbation of the magnetic field uniformity by the stereotactic frame and localizer may occur, as can perturbations of the magnetic field unique to the individual patient. Perturbations unique to the individual are called susceptibility artifacts. All of these problems must be eliminated or corrected before a scan can be incorporated into a stereotactic procedure.
Preliminary Evaluation of Fiber Composite Reinforcement of Truck Frame Rails

The use of graphite fiber/resin matrix composite to effectively reinforce a standard steel truck frame rail is studied. A preliminary design was made and it was determined that the reinforcement weight could be reduced by a factor of 10 when compared to a steel reinforcement. A section of a 1/3 scale reinforced rail was fabricated to demonstrate low cost manufacturing techniques. The scale rail section was then tested and increased stiffness was confirmed. No evidence of composite fatigue was found after 500,000 cycles to a fiber stress of 34,000 psi. The test specimen failed in bending in a static test at a load 50 percent greater than that predicted for a non-reinforced rail.
The experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model of MS: utility for understanding disease pathophysiology and treatment

While no single model can exactly recapitulate all aspects of multiple sclerosis (MS), animal models are essential in understanding the induction and pathogenesis of the disease and to develop therapeutic strategies that limit disease progression and eventually lead to effective treatments for the human disease. Several different models of MS exist, but by far the best understood and most commonly used is the rodent model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). This model is typically induced by either active immunization with myelin-derived proteins or peptides in adjuvant or by passive transfer of activated myelin-specific CD4+ T lymphocytes. Mouse models are most frequently used because of the inbred genotype of laboratory mice, their rapid breeding capacity, the ease of genetic manipulation, and availability of transgenic and knockout mice to facilitate mechanistic studies. Although not all therapeutic strategies for MS have been developed in EAE, all of the current US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved immunomodulatory drugs are effective to some degree in treating EAE, a strong indicator that EAE is an extremely useful model to study potential treatments for MS. Several therapies, such as glatiramer acetate (GA: Copaxone), and natalizumab (Tysabri), were tested first in the mouse model of EAE and then went on to clinical trials. Here we discuss the usefulness of the EAE model in understanding basic disease pathophysiology and developing treatments for MS as well as the potential drawbacks of this model.
Myeloperoxidase of the leucocyte of normal human blood: III. Isolation of the peroxidase granule

Abstract Biochemical and morphological evidence of a green particulate isolated for the first time from the leucocyte of normal human blood indicates that the particulate fulfills sufficient criteria to suggest that it is a lysosome. The presence of peroxidase, β-glucuronidase, and acid phosphatase, and the absence of enzymes of the electron transport system, support this. The human leucocytic lysosome is heavier than that reported for the guinea pig and lighter than that of the horse. Its distribution in a number of animal species as measured by the peroxidase content of the neutrophile suggests that its content per cell is remarkably constant in nature.
Sparse Sets, Tally Sets, and Polynomial Reducibilities

The properties of resource-bounded reducibilities have received a great deal of attention in the study of structural complexity theory. Recently, the properties of the corresponding reduction classes and degrees of sparse sets and of tally sets have been investigated. In some cases this has been done in the context of properties of reducibilities, which in other cases the motivation was quite different. There are some important examples of results about sparse sets and tally sets, and these include the following:
Spatial Concentration of Institutional Property Ownership: New Wave Atomistic or Traditional Urban Clustering

NCREIF investors acquire property in counties that meet socioeconomic filtering criteria. In contrast to atomistic predictions, these investors acquire their apartment buildings, offices, retail facilities, and warehouses in density clusters. These clusters follow a model of a negative exponential demand curve, a model that previously explained the technologically caused density gradient of urban areas. Institutional investors signal their belief that clustering of properties is a value dimension.
The impact of isometric handgrip testing on left ventricular twist mechanics

Left ventricular (LV) rotation occurs due to contraction of obliquely oriented myocardial fibres. Left ventricular twist (LVT) results from rotation of the apex and base in opposite directions. Although LVT is altered in various cardiac diseases, physiological factors that affect LVT remain incompletely understood. Isometric handgrip testing (IHGT), a well-established laboratory-based technique to increase LV afterload, was performed for 3 min at 40% maximum force generation in healthy human subjects (n = 18, mean age 29.7 ± 2.7 years). Speckle-tracking echocardiography was used to measure LV volumes, LV apical and basal rotation, peak systolic LVT and peak early diastolic untwisting rate (UTR) at rest and at peak IHGT. IHGT led to significant increase in systemic blood pressure (systolic, 120.6 ± 9.7 vs. 155.6 ± 14.5 mmHg, P < 0.001; diastolic, 67.5 ± 6.4 vs. 94.1 ± 21.1 mmHg, P < 0.001) and LV end-systolic volume (44.2 ± 7.8 vs. 50.5 ± 10.8 ml, P = 0.005), as well as a significant increase in heart rate (62.8 ± 11.7 vs. 84.7 ± 13.8 beats min−1; P < 0.001). IHGT produced a significant acute reduction in LV stroke volume (63.9 ± 12.0 vs. 49.4 ± 7.8 ml, P < 0.001). In this setting, there was a significant decrease in peak systolic apical rotation (11.9 ± 3.0 vs. 8.6 ± 2.2 deg, P < 0.001) and a resultant 25% decrease in peak systolic LVT (16.6 ± 2.8 vs. 12.5 ± 2.8 deg, P < 0.001). The magnitude of peak early diastolic UTR did not change (−114.5 ± 26.4 vs. −110.6 ± 39.8 deg s−1, P = 0.71). Peak systolic apical rotation and LVT decrease during IHGT in healthy humans. This impairment of LV twist mechanics may in part underlie the LV dysfunction that can occur in the clinical context of acute increase in afterload.
Application of an ecological framework to examine barriers to the adoption of safer conception strategies by HIV-affected couples

Safer conception interventions can significantly reduce the risk of horizontal HIV transmission between HIV-serodiscordant partners. However, prior to implementing safer conception interventions, it is essential to understand potential barriers to their adoption so that strategies can be developed to overcome these barriers. This paper examines potential barriers to the adoption of safer conception strategies by HIV-affected couples in Iringa, Tanzania using an ecological framework. We interviewed 30 HIV-positive women, 30 HIV-positive men and 30 health providers engaged in delivering HIV-related services. We also conducted direct observations at five health facilities. Findings suggest that there are multiple barriers to safer conception that operate at the individual, relational, environmental, structural, and super-structural levels. The barriers to safer conception identified are complex and interact across these levels. Barriers at the individual level included antiretroviral adherence, knowledge of HIV status, knowledge and acceptability of safer conception strategies, and poor nutrition. At the relational level, unplanned pregnancies, non-disclosure of status, gendered power dynamics within relationships, and patient-provider interactions posed a threat to safer conception. HIV stigma and distance to health facilities were environmental barriers to safer conception. At the structural level there were multiple barriers to safer conception, including limited safer conception policy guidelines for people living with HIV (PLHIV), lack of health provider training in safer conception strategies and preconception counseling for PLHIV, limited resources, and lack of integration of HIV and sexual and reproductive health services. Poverty and gender norms were super-structural factors that influenced and reinforced barriers to safer conception, which influenced and operated across different levels of the framework. Multi-level interventions are needed to ensure adoption of safer conception strategies and reduce the risk of HIV transmission between partners within HIV-serodiscordant couples.
Approximations of the mean resequencing waiting time in M/GI/c systems

The problem of obtaining approximate formulas for mean resequencing waiting times of M/GI/c queueing systems is considered. Two assumptions, commonly used in the study of M/GI/c systems, to derive the formulas are adopted. The formulas are quite accurate and the accuracy increases as c becomes larger. The relative differences between simulation results and the ones calculated by the formulas are below 4%, even for larger server utilization ( rho ). For small rho , the differences are below 1%. Both small rho , the differences are below 1%. Both numerical and simulation results indicate that when the squared coefficient of variation of service time distribution is greater than 1, the mean resequencing waiting time is likely to be very large. >
Detecting people using mutually consistent poselet activations

Bourdev and Malik (ICCV 09) introduced a new notion of parts, poselets, constructed to be tightly clustered both in the configuration space of keypoints, as well as in the appearance space of image patches. In this paper we develop a new algorithm for detecting people using poselets. Unlike that work which used 3D annotations of keypoints, we use only 2D annotations which are much easier for naive human annotators. The main algorithmic contribution is in how we use the pattern of poselet activations. Individual poselet activations are noisy, but considering the spatial context of each can provide vital disambiguating information, just as object detection can be improved by considering the detection scores of nearby objects in the scene. This can be done by training a two-layer feed-forward network with weights set using a max margin technique. The refined poselet activations are then clustered into mutually consistent hypotheses where consistency is based on empirically determined spatial keypoint distributions. Finally, bounding boxes are predicted for each person hypothesis and shape masks are aligned to edges in the image to provide a segmentation. To the best of our knowledge, the resulting system is the current best performer on the task of people detection and segmentation with an average precision of 47.8% and 40.5% respectively on PASCAL VOC 2009.
Narrow-band filter techniques for the detection and measurement of evoked responses.

Abstract A relatively simple narrow-band filter system has been described for obtaining a numerical measurement of the level of evoked responses due to cyclic peripheral stimulation. Main points of the system are: 1. 1. It is a.c. coupled and stable, and may be used in a non-shielded environment. 2. 2. The whole system may be checked rapidly with a calibration signal. 3. 3. Once set up, the operating controls are a calibrated attenuator and a “start” buttom. 4. 4. Absolute values of the signal levels are obtained, in real time. The stability of the measurements may be estimated reasonably well. 5. 5. The system may be used with: ( a ) no stimulation, as a frequency analyzer; ( b ) non-electrical stimulation; ( c ) electrical stimulation. Signal/noise ratios obtained at 32 c/sec have been 20–28 db for photic stimulation, and 15–19 db for mild electrical stimulation of the distal median nerve.
The Effect of Inclusion Type on the Toughness of 4340 Steel

The fracture toughness of ultra high strength steels can be improved for a constant inclusion volume fraction by increasing the inclusion spacing or by making the inclusion particles more resistant to void nucleation. One can increase the inclusion spacing by adding rare earth elements to form large and widely spaced inclusions. One can make the sulfide particles more resistant to void nucleation by adding small amounts of titanium to form small, closely spaced particles of titanium carbosulfide (Ti2CS). The fine particles of Ti2CS particles are much more resistant to void nucleation than other sulfide types, and this increased resistance to void nucleation can result in significant improvements in toughness. In this work, we considered three heats of 4340 steel in which the sulfur has been gathered in different ways. In one heat the sulfur has been gathered as particles of MnS. In a second an addition of lanthanum has been made to getter the sulfur as particles of La2O2S. In the third heat an addition of...
Identifiability of nonlinear dynamical systems

This paper considers identifiability of a class of nonlinear systems described by {x(t) = f[t, x(t), u(t), ?]; x(to) = xo} and associated nonlinear discrete observation process y(ti) = h[x(ti), u(ti), ?]. Sufficient conditions for local and global identifiability of parameters ? are established for deterministic systems and noiseless observations.
SU-E-T-192: FMEA Severity Scores - Do We Really Know?

Purpose: Failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) is a subjective risk mitigation technique that has not been applied to physics-specific quality management practices. There is a need for quantitative FMEA data as called for in the literature. This work focuses specifically on quantifying FMEA severity scores for physics components of IMRT delivery and comparing to subjective scores. Methods: Eleven physical failure modes (FMs) for head and neck IMRT dose calculation and delivery are examined near commonly accepted tolerance criteria levels. Phantom treatment planning studies and dosimetry measurements (requiring decommissioning in several cases) are performed to determine the magnitude of dose delivery errors for the FMs (i.e., severity of the FM). Resultant quantitative severity scores are compared to FMEA scores obtained through an international survey and focus group studies. Results: Physical measurements for six FMs have resulted in significant PTV dose errors up to 4.3% as well as close to 1 mm significant distance-to-agreement error between PTV and OAR. Of the 129 survey responses, the vast majority of the responders used Varian machines with Pinnacle and Eclipse planning systems. The average years of experience was 17, yet familiarity with FMEA less than expected. Survey reports perception of dose delivery error magnitudemore » varies widely, in some cases 50% difference in dose delivery error expected amongst respondents. Substantial variance is also seen for all FMs in occurrence, detectability, and severity scores assigned with average variance values of 5.5, 4.6, and 2.2, respectively. Survey shows for MLC positional FM(2mm) average of 7.6% dose error expected (range 0–50%) compared to 2% error seen in measurement. Analysis of ranking in survey, treatment planning studies, and quantitative value comparison will be presented. Conclusion: Resultant quantitative severity scores will expand the utility of FMEA for radiotherapy and verify accuracy of FMEA results compared to highly variable subjective scores.« less
Nicotinic receptors modulate olfactory bulb external tufted cells via an excitation-dependent inhibitory mechanism

Olfactory bulb (OB) glomeruli, the initial sites of synaptic processing of odor information, exhibit high levels of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) expression and receive strong cholinergic input from the basal forebrain. The role of glomerular nAChRs in olfactory processing, however, remains to be elucidated. External tufted (ET) cells are a major source of excitation in the glomerulus and an important component of OB physiology. We have examined the role of nAChRs in modulating ET cell activity using whole-cell electrophysiology in mouse OB slices. We show here that the activation of glomerular nAChRs leads to direct ET cell excitation, as well as an increase in the frequency of spontaneous postsynaptic GABAergic currents. β2-containing nAChRs, likely the α4β2*-nAChR subtype (* represents the possible presence of other subunits), were significant contributors to these effects. The nAChR-mediated increase in spontaneous postsynaptic GABAergic current frequency on ET cells was, for the most part, dependent on glutamate receptor activation, thus implicating a role for excitation-dependent inhibition within the glomerulus. β2-containing nAChRs also regulate the frequency of miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents on ET cells, implying nicotinic modulation of dendrodendritic signaling between ET and periglomerular cells. Our data also indicate that nAChR activation does not affect spontaneous or evoked transmission at the olfactory nerve-to-ET cell synapse. The results from this study suggest that ET cells, along with mitral cells, play an important role in the nicotinic modulation of glomerular inhibition.
Affine theorem for two-dimensional Fourier transform

The well known shift and similarity theorems for the Fourier transform generalise to two dimensions but new theorems come into existence in two dimensions. Simple theorems for rotation and shear distortion are examples. A theorem is presented which determines what the Fourier transform becomes when the function domain is subjected to an affine co-ordinate transformation. The full theorem contains a variety of simpler theorems as special cases. It may prove useful in its general form in image processing where sequences of affine transformations are applied.
Trees to treehoppers: genetic variation in host plants contributes to variation in the mating signals of a plant-feeding insect.

Community genetics research has demonstrated ‘bottom-up’ effects of genetic variation within a plant species in shaping the larger community with which it interacts, such as compositions of arthropod faunas. We demonstrate that such cross-trophic interactions also influence sexually selected traits. We used a member of the Enchenopa binotata species complex of treehoppers (Hemiptera: Membracidae) to ask whether male mating signals are influenced by host plant genetic variation. We reared a random sample of the treehoppers on potted replicates of a sample of host plant clone lines. We found that treehopper male signals varied according to the clone line on which they developed, showing that genetic variation in host plants affects male treehoppers' behavioural phenotypes. This is the first demonstration of cross-trophic indirect genetic effects on a sexually selected trait. We discuss how such effects may play an important role in the maintenance of variation and within-population phenotypic differentiation, thereby promoting evolutionary divergence.
Dietary Polyphenols, Berries, and Age-Related Bone Loss: A Review Based on Human, Animal, and Cell Studies

Bone loss during aging has become an increasing public health concern as average life expectancy has increased. One of the most prevalent forms of age-related bone disease today is osteoporosis in which the body slows down bone formation and existing bone is increasingly being resorbed by the body to maintain the calcium balance. Some causes of this bone loss can be attributed to dysregulation of osteoblast and osteoclast activity mediated by increased oxidative stress through the aging process. Due to certain serious adverse effects of the currently available therapeutic agents that limit their efficacy, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has garnered interest as a natural means for the prevention of this debilitating disease. Natural antioxidant supplementation, a type of CAM, has been researched to aid in reducing bone loss caused by oxidative stress. Naturally occurring polyphenols, such as anthocyanins rich in berries, are known to have anti-oxidative properties. Several studies have been reviewed to determine the impact polyphenol intake—particularly that of berries—has on bone health. Studies reveal a positive association of high berry intake and higher bone mass, implicating berries as possible inexpensive alternatives in reducing the risk of age related bone loss.
A Two-year Survey of the Algal Community in a Woodland Stream from Southeastern Ohio

A survey of the algal flora for a minimally polluted stream in southeastern Ohio was conducted over a two-year period (17 sampling dates) as part of an all-taxa biotic survey. Four algal categories were sampled: macroalgae (readily visible with the naked eye), microalgae (associated with macroalgae), erosional periphyton (microalgae from riffles), and depositional periphyton (microalgae from pools). A total of 217 infrageneric taxa were collected. There were 25 cyanobacteria, 74 chlorophytes, 6 chrysophytes, 3 cryptophytes, 86 diatoms, 4 dinophytes, 12 euglenophytes, 1 raphidophyte, 3 rhodophytes, and 3 tribophytes. A seasonal trend was observed in species richness; fall had the most taxa (136), followed by winter (107), summer (100), and spring (82). Approximately half of the taxa occurred in samples from more than one season, but only 15% were present year-round. Overall, species richness was not correlated to any stream parameter. However, diatom species richness was positively correlated to pH, and both diatom and soft-bodied algal richness were negatively affected by nutrient loading. For the soft-bodied algae, the microalgae category was the most species-rich followed by the depositional periphyton, erosional periphyton, and macroalgae. For the diatoms, the depositional periphyton had higher species richness than the erosional periphyton. Five diatom and 17 soft-bodied algal taxa previously unreported from the Unglaciated Western Alleghany Plateau were identified from this stream reach. This study highlights the need for multiple samplings in different seasons to capture the total species richness, since only a small fraction of the taxa were collected year-round and one third of the diatoms collected were rare.
C-terminal Movement during Gating in Cyclic Nucleotide-modulated Channels

Activation of cyclic nucleotide-modulated channels such as CNG and HCN channels is promoted by ligand-induced conformational changes in their C-terminal regions. The primary intersubunit interface of these C termini includes two salt bridges per subunit, formed between three residues (one positively charged and two negatively charged amino acids) that we term the SB triad. We previously hypothesized that the SB triad is formed in the closed channel and breaks when the channel opens. Here we tested this hypothesis by dynamically manipulating the SB triad in functioning CNGA1 channels. Reversing the charge at positions Arg-431 and Glu-462, two of the SB triad residues, by either mutation or application of charged reagents increased the favorability of channel opening. To determine how a charge reversal mutation in the SB triad structurally affects the channel, we solved the crystal structure of the HCN2 C-terminal region with the equivalent E462R mutation. The backbone structure of this mutant was very similar to that of wild type, but the SB triad was rearranged such that both salt bridges did not always form simultaneously, suggesting a mechanism for the increased ease of opening of the mutant channels. To prevent movement in the SB triad, we tethered two components of the SB triad region together with cysteine-reactive cross-linkers. Preventing normal movement of the SB triad region with short cross-linkers inhibited channel opening, whereas longer cross-linkers did not. These results support our hypothesis that the SB triad forms in the closed channel and indicate that this region expands as the channel opens.
Polyoma virus ‘hexamer’ tubes consist of paired pentamers

The discovery that the 72 capsomeres of the icosahedrally symmetric polyoma virus capsid are all pentamers1 shows that the expected quasi-equivalent bonding specificity2 is not conserved in the assembly of this virus coat protein. Tubular particles produced by polyoma and other papovaviruses seem to be polymorphic aggregates of capsomeres3 that may arise through variation in switching of the bonding specificity. Electron micrographs of wide and narrow classes of tubes were analysed by Kiselev and Klug4 using optical diffraction and optical filtering methods. The wide type were called ‘hexamer’ tubes because they consist of approximately hexagonally arrayed capsomeres that were assumed to be hexamers4, in accord with the quasi-equivalence theory of icosahedral virus particle construction2. The narrow type were called ‘pentamer’ tubes because the capsomeres are arrayed in a particular ‘pentagonal tessellation’ which arises from the pairing of pentamers across 2-fold axes of the surface lattice4. Our reexamination of negatively-stained polyoma virus tubes by digital image processing of low-irradiation electron micrographs shows that all tubes are assemblies of paired pentameric capsomeres. We report here that the packing arrangement of the pentamers in the hexamer tubes is simply related to the pentagonal tessellation4 representing the packing in the narrow pentamer tubes. In all the tube structures examined, at least one pairwise contact between neighbouring pentamers closely resembles the contact between the pentavalent and hexavalent capsomeres in the icosahedral capsid1.
ORFcor: Identifying and Accommodating ORF Prediction Inconsistencies for Phylogenetic Analysis

The high-throughput annotation of open reading frames (ORFs) required by modern genome sequencing projects necessitates computational protocols that sometimes annotate orthologous ORFs inconsistently. Such inconsistencies hinder comparative analyses by non-uniformly extending or truncating 5′ and/or 3′ sequence ends, causing ORFs that are in fact identical to artificially diverge. Whereas strategies exist to correct such inconsistencies during whole-genome annotation, equivalent software designed to correct subsets of these data without genome reannotation is lacking. We therefore developed ORFcor, which corrects annotation inconsistencies using consensus start and stop positions derived from sets of closely related orthologs. ORFcor corrects inconsistent ORF annotations in diverse test datasets with specificities and sensitivities approaching 100% when sufficiently related orthologs (e.g., from the same taxonomic family) are available for comparison. The ORFcor package is implemented in Perl, multithreaded to handle large datasets, includes related scripts to facilitate high-throughput phylogenomic analyses, and is freely available at www.currielab.wisc.edu/downloads.html.
Decreased opsonic activity for Staphylococcus aureus in neonatal and late gestation maternal sera.

Heat-killedStaphylococcus aureus (ATCC strain 25923) andEscherichia coli K-12 were used as target microorganisms for opsonization by serum from neonates or mothers at various stages of pregnancy or postpartum. The level of opsonic activity was evaluated by titrating serum for the ability to coat bacteria for recognition by normal human PMN. Recognition of the organisms was quantitated by measuring the PMN Superoxide anion generation response to opsonized organisms. Studies show that opsonic activity forS. aureus was markedly decreased in serum from mothers in their second and third trimesters of pregnancy, in cord blood, and from infants at two weeks of age. Decreased activity was not observed in maternal serum in the first trimester of pregnancy and returned to control levels shortly after delivery. No significant difference was seen in opsonic activity forE. coli in these sera. The reduction in serum opsonic activity in mothers during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy suggests a systemic suppression of maternal immune responses during fetal development. This decreased activity is also observed in neonatal sera.
Measurement of the binding forces between von Willebrand factor and variants of platelet glycoprotein Ibα using optical tweezers

Background and Objective Thrombus formation is initiated by adhesion of the platelet receptor, glycoprotein (GP) Ib-IX-V complex, to its adhesive ligand, von Willebrand factor (vWf), in the subendothelium or plasma. The vWf-binding domain of GP Ib-IX-V is in the GP Ibα subunit of the complex and contains a leucine-rich repeat region. The adhesion of different leucine-rich repeats was studied using optical tweezers in order to determine which ones were critical for the vWf/GP Ibα interaction. Study Design/Materials and Methods Canine GP Ibα does not normally bind to human vWf, and thus canine-human GP Ibα chimeras were constructed by sequentially replacing human GP Ibα structural regions with their canine counterparts. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, which are frequently used to express platelet GP complexes, were transfected with the chimeric proteins. Optical tweezers (λ = 830 nm) were used to investigate bond strengths between vWf and different GP Ibα canine-human chimeras. Since vWf does not bind GP Ibα without high shear stress, the compounds botrocetin and ristocetin were used to induce binding between human vWf and the chimeras. Results All human-canine GP Ibα chimeras bound to vWf in the presence of botrocetin. Replacement of the N-terminal flanking sequence and the first leucine-rich repeat resulted in lower GP Ibα/vWf bond strengths than the wild-type human GP Ibα/vWf bond strength (P < 0.05). Chimeras lacking the second leucine-rich repeat did not adhere to vWf with ristocetin acting as modulator. Conclusion The N-terminal flanking sequence and the first leucine-rich repeat of GP Ibα were found to be important but not necessary for GP Ibα to adhere to vWf. The second leucine-rich repeat was found to be critical for GP Ibα to bind vWf and could potentially be used in the development of a novel recombinant anti-thrombotic drugs. Lasers Surg. Med. 30:306–312, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
CLINICAL AND HEMODYNAMIC OBSERVATIONS AFTER COMBINED AORTIC AND MITRAL REPLACEMENT.

Twelve patients have been observed from 6 to 19 months after combined aortic and mitral valvular replacement with Starr-Edwards prostheses. Eleven patients have had postoperative right- and left-heart catheterizations. The clinical and hemodynamic findings are described. Nine patients are well. Three others have less than satisfactory results, although one of these is improved. It is concluded that bivalvular replacement is now practical in selected patients and provides gratifying results in most individuals so treated.
Tourist merchandise’ as a means of generating local benefits from ecotourism

Long term protection of national parks and nature reserves is very difficult unless economic benefits can be secured for local people. Ecotourism offers a possible income source, provided that there is a means of local revenue capture from the visitors. This article examines the sale of handicrafts and other ‘tourist merchandise’ as a possible means of generating local benefits. The article considers issues of supply and demand, new product development, marketing, and the sustainability of supply of materials used as inputs. It concludes that strong possibilities exist for market development and creation of new, sustainable, culturally acceptable products. Of particular interest are active linking of tourist merchandise production to agricultural or forestry projects that provide a sustainable supply of inputs, use of ‘craft as performance’ to promote product sale, and development of products that educate tourists about park resources and local cultures.
Fifty Years of Cereal Leaf Beetle in the U.S.: An Update on Its Biology, Management, and Current Research

Cereal leaf beetle, Oulema melanopus L., is an introduced insect pest of small grains first recorded in the United States in the early 1960s. Since its introduction from Europe or Asia into Michigan, cereal leaf beetle has rapidly spread and can now be found in most states. Cereal leaf beetle feeds on numerous species of grasses and is considered a major pest of oats, barley, and wheat. Although several studies have investigated cereal leaf beetle biology and population dynamics, numerous gaps remain in understanding the mechanisms that influence its spread and distribution, which makes predicting pest outbreaks difficult. Because of the difficulty in predicting when and where pest outbreaks will occur many growers in the southeast apply insecticides on a calendar basis rather than using a threshold-based integrated pest management approach. Our challenge is to develop new information and procedures that will encourage growers to reevaluate the way they are approaching spring-time insect control in wheat, and consider adoption of the integrated pest management approach. This article is a review of cereal leaf beetle biology, past and present management practices, and current research being conducted.
Characterization and localization of phosphatidylglycerophosphate and phosphatidylserine synthases in Rhodobacter sphaeroides.

Catalytic properties and membrane associations of the phosphatidylglycerophosphate (PGP) and phosphatidylserine (PS) synthases of Rhodobacter sphaeroides were examined to further characterize sites of phospholipid biosynthesis. In preparations of cytoplasmic membrane (CM) enriched in these activities, apparent Km values of PGP synthase were 90 μM for sn-glycerol-3-phosphate and 60 μM for CDP-diacylglycerol; the apparent Km of PS synthase for l-serine was near 165 μM. Both enzymes required Triton X-100 with optimal PS synthase activity at a detergent/CDP-diacylglycerol (mol/mol) ratio of 7.5:1.0, while for optimal PGP synthase, a range of 10–50:1.0 was observed. Unlike the enzyme in Escherichia coli and several other Gram-negative bacteria, the PS synthase activity had a specific requirement for magnesium and was tightly associated with membranes rather than ribosomes in crude cell extracts. Sedimentation studies suggested that the PGP synthase ws distributed uniformly over the CM in both chemoheterotrophically and photoheterotrophically grown cells, while the PS synthase was confined mainly to a vesicular CM fraction. Solubilized PGP synthase activity migrated as a single band with a pI value near 5.5 in a chromatofocusing column and 5.8 on isoelectric focusing; in the latter procedure, the pI was shifted to 5.3 in the presence of CDP-diacylglycerol. The PGP synthase activity gave rise to a single polypeptide band in lithium dodecyl sulfatepolyacrylamide gel electrophoresis at 4°C.
Salt fingers observed in the mediterranean outflow.

Salt fingers, convection cells which constitute a possible mixing mechanism of the ocean, have now been observed in the Mediterranean outflow. The fingers, 6 millimeters in diamneter and 24 centimeters long, were photographed below the salinity maximum of the outflow, in an interface 22 centimeters thick where temperature and salinity decreased O. 15°C and 0.03 per mil, respectively.
The vectorcardiogram and electrocardiogram before and after valvulotomy for pulmonic stenosis.

Abstract 1. 1. The electrocardiograms and vectorcardiograms of twelve patients were correlated with hemodynamic data before and after pulmonic valvulotomy. All patients preoperatively had a severe degree of pulmonic stenosis, with right ventricular systolic pressures of 99 mm. Hg or higher. 2. 2. Preoperatively, neither the level of right ventricular systolic pressure nor the systolic gradient across the pulmonic valve correlated closely with the components of the electrocardiogram or configuration of the QRSsE loop of the vectorcardiogram. Inverted T waves in the precordial leads and the greatest rightward deviation of the electrical axis tended to be present in patients with the highest right ventricular pressures. 3. 3. Following surgery, changes in the electrocardiogram and vectorcardiogram in any given case accurately reflected changes in the right ventricular load. Incomplete regression of electrocardiographic or vectordardiographic signs of right ventricular hypertrophy in our series indicated either an inadequate period of observation, incomplete correction of the stenotic lesion, or the presence of other hemodynamically significant defects. This suggests that serial cardiographic studies postoperatively provide a readily available method for evaluating the results of pulmonic valvulotomy.
Time Series Analysis by Modified Least-Squares Techniques

Abstract This paper presents a procedure for estimating the components in an economic time series assuming a constant seasonal component and a trend which may be estimated locally by a polynomial. The procedure is to estimate the trend and seasonal components for each consecutive two-year time span of quarterly data using conventional least-square techniques. Thus, for each quarter in the series, except the first seven and last seven, there are eight estimates for each of these components. A weighted average of these estimates is obtained using weights such that the variance of the average is a minimum. This procedure is used to adjust male unemployment in the United States for seasonal variation, and the results compare favorably with the official adjustment of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Inactivation of Ascaris suum Eggs by Ammonia

Uncharged ammonia is known to cause inactivation of a number of wastewater pathogens, but its effect on Ascaris eggs has never been isolated or quantified. The objectives of this research were to determine the conditions under which ammonia inactivates eggs of the swine Ascaris species, Ascaris suum, and to quantify the impact of ammonia on the U.S. EPA's requirements for alkaline treatment to produce Class A sludge. Eggs were incubated in controlled, laboratory solutions such that the effects of ammonia concentration and speciation, pH, and temperature could be separated. With a 24-h incubation, the inactivation at all pH levels (range 7-11) was not statistically different in the absence of ammonia. The presence of ammonia (0-1000 ppm as N) significantly increased Ascaris egg inactivation at pH 9 and 11, and the ovicidal effect was directly related to the concentration of the uncharged NH3 species. Increasing temperatures (32-52 degrees C) caused increased inactivation at all pH levels and ammonia concentrations. The current EPA treatment requirements to produce Class A biosolids by alkaline treatment have temperature, pH, and time requirements, but do not account for the effectof differences in ammonia concentration on inactivation. To illustrate the potential savings in temperature and pH that could be achieved when accounting for ammonia inactivation, the combinations of ammonia concentration, temperature, and pH neededto achieve 99% inactivation after 72 h were determined. The presence of ammonia at concentrations encountered in sludges and feces (up to 8000 ppm as N) allowed for 99% egg inactivation to be achieved at temperatures up to 14 degrees C lower than ammonia-free controls. Thus, environmentally relevant concentrations of ammonia may significantly increase the rate of Ascaris egg inactivation during alkaline stabilization.
Patient education: the importance of instructional time and active patient involvement.

Classroom and patient education research both support the premise that allocated instructional time and active learner involvement influence relevant outcomes. Unfortunately, these two common sense variables have not often been applied in either classrooms or health care settings. In this paper, the educational literature supporting the importance of instructional time and active involvement will be briefly reviewed. The application and significance of time-related variables in patient education will then be discussed and suggestions for improving patient education programs offered.
Geometric constraint satisfaction using optimization methods

Abstract The numerical approach to solving geometric constraint problems is indispensable for building a practical CAD system. The most commonly-used numerical method is the Newton–Raphson method. It is fast, but has the instability problem: the method requires good initial values. To overcome this problem, recently the homotopy method has been proposed and experimented with. According to the report, the homotopy method generally works much better in terms of stability. In this paper we use the numerical optimization method to deal with the geometric constraint solving problem. The experimental results based on our implementation of the method show that this method is also much less sensitive to the initial value. Further, a distinctive advantage of the method is that under- and over-constrained problems can be handled naturally and efficiently. We also give many instructive examples to illustrate the above advantages.