cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Osmotic (aw) effects on growth and ethanol Production of Free and Immobilized Zymomonas mobilis

Abstract Fermentation media containing different concentrations of glycerol were used in batch (free cell) and continuous (immobilized cell) fermentations to investigate the effect of increasing broth osmolality (decreasing water activity) on growth and fermentation rates of Zymomonas mobilis at the high operational temperature of 40 °C. In batch experiments, final cell densities decreased with increasing initial broth osmolalities. Total productivity was reduced at an initial osmolality of 2·8 due to lower cell densities, but specific productivity was not inhibited and the fermentation continued longer. Initial broth osmolalitis of 4·0 (210 g/liter added glycerol) and higher severely inhibited both growth and productivity. The cell viability of batch cultures was maintained longer with glycerol in the fermentation media. In continuous fermentations using a trickle flow immobilized cell reactor, growth as monitored by effluent cell density decreased linearly with increasing osmolality. An 85% reduction in cell density was noted at an osmolality of 4·0 (210 g/liter added glycerol), but then effluent cell density fell only slightly as osmolalities were increased to 9·0. Ethanol productivities were unaffected by increasing osmolality up to a threshold of 2·1 os/kg (120 g/liter glycerol), after which exponential type inhibition commenced with a 75% reduction in productivity rates noted at 6·0 os/dg. Linear inhibition models are proposed for free growth and productivities and immobilized cell growth as a function of osmolality. Data presented indicate glucose inhibition of immobilized cells is osmotic but ethanol inhibition (at 40 °C) is specific as rates with ethanol were lower than osmotic inhibition alone would predict. Immobilized cells showed a lower threshold inhibition level for both growth and productivity when compared with free cells, but a higher tolerance for osmolalities above 5·0 os/kg.
Acinetobacter infection associated with pneumonia in an orangutan

A 23-year old male orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) had been treated for two years for respiratory disease believed to be tuberculosis. Terminally, the animal developed mucopurulent rhinitis and refused food. Necropsy examination revealed diffuse, severe, bilateral chronic pleuritis, fibrinous bronchopneumonia and air sacculitis. Large numbers of gram-negative bacteria seen in the lung histologically were cultured from both the lung and air sacs and identified asAcinetobacter calcoaceticus varietylwoffi. The resistance of the isolatein vitro to ampicillin may have accounted for the lack of clinical response of the ill orangutan.
Robotic virtual endoscopy: development of a multidirectional rigid endoscope.

INTRODUCTION The use of neuroendoscopy has increased in the past 20 years. Despite an increase in the number of indications for use, novel adjuncts and modifications to existing endoscopes remain all but nonexistent. We introduce a robotic virtual endoscope with applications for neurosurgery that could serve as a novel step in the evolution of future endoscopic technologies. METHODS Over the past 8 years, we have worked on the construction of a prototype endoscope with three degrees of freedom that was designed to allow for enhanced safety while maximizing the benefits of virtual field rendition and robotic control. We have developed a prototype to examine a cerebral ventricular model in vitro that functions via either a direct video- or computer-based interface. RESULTS Assessment of viewing angulation with robotic feedback has verified the accuracy of the prototype. Models support the ability of the endoscope to localize regions identified via a software interface. CONCLUSION The endoscope is a rigid virtual robotic endoscope that provides complete visual coverage of a three-dimensional space by controlling an adjustable viewing direction with three degrees of freedom.
The administration of transportation modeling projects: A decision and control process

Transportation modeling is but part of a larger iterative decision and control process. As in all such processes if undue distortion, time delay, phase shift or noise exist, disruption of normal system operation will result. Examples of this include attempts to skip portions of the overall process such as the generation of alternatives, the consideration of criteria in evaluation, the analysis phase or the problem reformulation phase. Essential to successful administration of projects involving modeling is frequent two-way high-level contact between decision maker and modelers, the presence of a coordinator to perform liaison between the typical sociopolitical decision maker and the typical quantitative-technical analyst, the phasing of studies into modestly sized doable pieces, and the recognition of the roles of, and by, both the decision makers and the analysts. Some improvement in communication techniques and role recognition may be expected with the passage of time as more people enter decision-making positions who grew up in the computer era.
Mathematical note on the Kerr effect

The classical theoretical treatment of the Kerr effect is reexamined. This classical theory is in some respects general with regard to the polarizability; little symmetry is assumed, and permanent dipoles are allowed. However, an approximation is made that restricts its application to cases in which saturation effects are negligible. It is shown here that this approximation is in fact unnecessary for the common special case of particles with an axis of symmetry but without a permanent dipole moment. Thus the classical theory of the Kerr effect for this special case is extended to include saturation effects. (These occur when the electrical potential energy of alignment is not extremely small when compared with thermal energies.)
Serum amyloid P is not present in amyloid β deposits of a transgenic animal model

Serum amyloid P component (SAP) is associated with amyloid beta (A beta) deposition in Alzheimer disease (AD). Since SAP is exclusively synthesized by peripheral organs, its presence in the brain of AD suggests impairment of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). We studied the association of SAP with A beta deposits in a transgenic mouse model overexpressing beta-protein precursor (betaPP). Both SAP and another extracellular matrix binding protein, basic fibroblastic growth factor bind to the heparinase sensitive sites of A beta deposits in this model. However, no endogenous SAP immunoreactivity was found in the transgenic mouse brain. These results suggest that SAP is not required for A beta deposition, and that this mouse model does not develop the same BBB abnormalities as those seen in AD.
Partial purification of inclusions induced by tobacco etch virus and potato virus Y

Abstract Virus-induced inclusions were partially purified from tobacco plants infected with tobacco etch virus (TEV) or potato virus Y (PVY). Tissue was homogenized in phosphate buffer containing urea. The homogenate was treated with Triton X-100, followed by differential centrifugation, homogenization, filtration, and sucrose density-gradient centrifugation. Light microscopy was useful for monitoring the purification process and for evaluating the purity of the preparations. Electron microscopy revealed striated inclusions in the purified TEV inclusion preparations and striated inclusions, including some pinwheels, in the purified PVY inclusion preparations. Purified TEV inclusions and PVY inclusions were immunogenic and were serologically distinct from each other, from their respective purified viruses, and from host protein. Ultraviolet absorption spectra of the purified TEV and PVY inclusions indicated that their major constituent was protein. Our results show that the lamellar cytoplasmic inclusions induced by TEV or PVY are composed of protein distinct from viral protein and provide further evidence that these inclusions are not aggregates of virus particles.
Nonparametric Estimation and Goodness-of-Fit Testing of Hypotheses for Distributions in Accelerated Life Testing

This paper presents a nonparametric approach to accelerated life testing by deleting the requirement that the common parametric family of life distributions under all the stresses be specified in advance. The requirement that the time transformation function be specified is retained, and a version of the familiar inverse power law is considered. A s-consistent estimate of the failure distribution at use stress, and a test of the hypothesis that the underlying failure distribution belongs to a specified family are given. Approximate s-confidence bounds for the failure distribution at use stress are obtained. The approach is illustrated in an example using real data.
Validation of commercial fiber optic components for aerospace environments (Invited Paper)

Full qualification for commercial photonic parts as defined by the Military specification system in the past, is not feasible. Due to changes in the photonic components industry and the Military specification system that NASA had relied upon so heavily in the past, an approach to technology validation of commercial off the shelf parts had to be devised. This approach involves knowledge of system requirements, environmental requirements and failure modes of the particular components under consideration. Synthesizing the criteria together with the major known failure modes to formulate a test plan is an effective way of establishing knowledge based "qualification". Although this does not provide the type of reliability assurance that the Military specification system did in the past, it is an approach that allows for increased risk mitigation. The information presented will introduce the audience to the technology validation approach that is currently applied at NASA for the usage of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) fiber optic components for space flight environments. The focus will be on how to establish technology validation criteria for commercial fiber products such that continued reliable performance is assured under the harsh environmental conditions of typical missions. The goal of this presentation is to provide the audience with an approach to formulating a COTS qualification test plan for these devices. Examples from past NASA missions will be discussed.
The responses of unstable food chains to enrichment

This article investigates the mean abundances of trophic levels in simple models of two- and three-level food chains as a function of the rate of input of nutrients. The analysis concentrates on cases in which the equilibrium point with all species present is unstable. In most of the models, the instability arises because the consumer species become satiated when food density is high. In unstable two-level systems, bottom level abundance generally increases with increased nutrient input. The abundance of the second level may decrease with increased input. Changes in the intrinsic rate of increase and carrying capacity of the bottom level can have qualitatively opposite effects on trophic level abundances. Refuges for or immigration of the bottom level usually cause both levels to increase in mean abundance with an increased carrying capacity. A variety of different predator—prey models are discussed briefly and the results suggest that increased nutrient input will often increase the abundance of both levels; however, several circumstances can cause the top level to decrease. In three-level systems, an increased carrying capacity can cause extinction of the top level. Extinction may or may not be conditional on the initial densities of the three levels. These results may help explain the observed lack of correlation between productivity and the number of trophic levels in natural food webs, as well as the lack of very long food chains. The results suggest that patterns of abundances across productivity gradients cannot be used to assess the importance of top-down vs bottom-up effects.
Synaptic contacts at nodes of ranvier in central nervous tissue

Parietal cortex, hippocampus and reticular formation of the medulla of normal rabbits were primarily fixed by glutaraldehyde perfusion followed by phosphate buffered osmium tetroxide. In electron micrographs of this material the central nodes of Ranvier exhibitedmost of the features of peripheral nodes. Branching was observed at central nodes which resembled branching of the myelinated axons at peripheral nodes. Two types of synapses were observed at the node. In the first type the axon formed a process which ended in a bouton, synapsing with a dendritic spine, while in the other type the axon bulged at the node to form the bouton.
A new antlion from Dominican amber (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae)

A new fossil species of antlion,Porrerus dominicanus is described from Dominican amber. Extant species ofPorrerus are found only in South America and Panama.A review of the current knowledge of fossil Myrmeleontidae is provided,
Physiatry: medical errors, patient safety, patient injury, and quality of care.

ABSTRACTDeLisa JA: Physiatry: Medical errors, patient safety, patient injury, and quality of care. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2004;83:575–583.
Proposals for Ballistocardiographic Nomenclature and Conventions: Revised and Extended Report of Committee on Ballistocardiographic Terminology

The committee's first report, published in Circulation for June 1953, recommended a terminology and certain conventions for recording ballistocardiograms of the type then in use. However, it soon became apparent that the committee's work was far from complete. Increasing knowledge of ballistic theory soon began to throw light on the relations of records secured by various instruments to one another, and a rapid advance in instrumentation began to provide records related to, but often not identical with, those which had been provided with a standard terminology by the committee in its first report. Accordingly, the committee has continued its labors to provide the rapidly advancing field with a uniform terminology. While they were thus engaged, attention was called to the fact that the designation of spatial axes previously recommended for vector ballistocardiograms differed from that which had been recommended for electrocardiograms by another committee of the American Heart Association. The advantages of...
Simultaneous Increase in Seebeck Coefficient and Conductivity in a Doped Poly(alkylthiophene) Blend with Defined Density of States

The Seebeck coefficient, a defining parameter for thermoelectric materials, depends on the contributions to conductivity of charge carriers at energies away from the Fermi level. Highly conductive materials tend to exhibit conductivity from carriers close to the Fermi level. In this article, we propose polymer blends in which ground state hole carriers, created by doping a minor additive component, are mainly at an orbital energy set below the hole energy of the major component of the blend. Transport, however, is expected to occur through the major component. This leads to a regime in which hole conductivity and Seebeck coefficient may be increased in parallel. While the absolute conductivity of the composite, and thus ZT, are not particularly high, this work demonstrates a route for designing thermoelectric materials in which increases in Seebeck coefficient and conductivity do not cancel each other.
The Use of Prochiral Centers for Demonstrating Asymmetric Stacking in Aggregates of Azulenylazulenium Cyanine Dyes

The diastereotopic methyl signals detected at low temperatures or high concentrations of an azulenylazulenium salt containing prochiral centers are consistent only with a model involving monomers in rapid equilibration with dimers in the staggered (“brickwork”) arrangement and not in the “card-stacked” arrangement.
Crisis Compliance: Using Information Technology to Predict, Prevent and Prevail over Disasters

This article develops the concept of crisis compliance (CC)â€”defined as making appropriate use of IT, and non-IT methodologies to predict, prevent, and prevail over disasters. CC emerges from Lallyâ€™s Target Shield and Weapon Model, which is grounded in the theories of crisis management, normal accident theory, and high reliability organizations. CC is then applied to a case study involving Hurricane Katrina, with examples drawn from other recent disasters. Emerging IT-based crisis management initiatives will be examined with an emphasis on how the impacts of Hurricane Katrina could have been mitigated. Recommendations for predicting, preventing, and prevailing over future disasters will emerge from the analysis.
Diagnostic accuracy of bronchial brush cytology and the added value of immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in situ hybridization of pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors

Background: Bronchial brush (BB) cytology carries low sensitivity for detecting neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs), including typical carcinoid (TC) tumors of the lung. We aimed to investigate the detection of neuroendocrine tumors including TC through BB routine cytology cell block (CB), immunohistochemistry (IHC), and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Materials and Methods: A SNOMED search showed 187 lung biopsy or resection specimens from 2008 through 2011 containing neuroendocrine or carcinoid in the diagnosis. Residual BB specimens retained in PreservCyt were used to prepare a ThinPrep slide for FISH analysis. CBs were stained with H and E and IHC for chromogranin and synaptophysin. Results: Of the 187 cases, 16 had residual BB material available within 1 year of diagnosis and were used in CB preparation for IHC and FISH slides. Cytologic evaluation determined 1 case positive for malignancy (small cell lung carcinoma [SCLC]), 1 suspicious for adenocarcinoma, and 14 negative for malignancy. On the basis of histologic diagnosis, FISH was performed. SCLC showed polysomy (86% abnormal cells); 2 TC tumors showed a gain of 7p12 (15% abnormal cells) and a gain of 5q15 (72% abnormal cells), respectively. Two cases had CBs with positive immunoreactivity for chromogranin and synaptophysin. The sensitivity for detection of NEC was 18.8%, 15.4%, and 25% for cytologic evaluation, CB, and FISH, respectively. Conclusion: Neuroendocrine tumors, including TC are difficult to detect with BB cytologic evaluation, most likely because tumor cells lack in the specimen. Assessment of further studies is needed to explore the role of cytology and ancillary methods for detection of these tumors.
Abstract 524: Cyclooxygenase pathway in ovarian cancer.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC Objectives: To examine the role of the cyclooxygenase (COX) pathway in ovarian cancer. Cyclooxygenases, specifically COX1 and COX2, are frequently overexpressed in malignancies and lead to the synthesis of prostaglandins. A particularly important prostaglandin, PGE2 is exported from the cell into the extracellular milieu by the multi-drug resistance protein 4 (MRP4) transporter where it acts in a paracrine and autocrine manner by activating a family of G-protein coupled receptors (EP1-4). PGE2 is transported into the cell by the prostaglandin transporter (PGT) and catabolized by 15-prostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-PGDH). It has been previously shown that COX1, rather than COX2, is overexpressed in ovarian cancer. Little is known about the role of other members of this pathway, including EP receptors, PGT, MRP4, and 15-PGDH, in this disease. Methods: HOSE (benign immortalized ovarian epithelial cells) and two ovarian cancer cell lines, SKOV3 and OVCAR3, were grown under standard conditions. Cells were harvested and RNA and protein were isolated. Quantitative RT-PCR was done using the SYBR Green protocol to examine the expression of members of the cyclooxygenase pathway and expressed relative to HOSE cells. Results: In both ovarian cancer cell lines relative to HOSE, expression of COX2, PGT, EP4, and EP1 was decreased. In SKOV3 cells, COX1 and 15-PGDH expression was decreased but MRP4 levels were comparable to levels detected in HOSE cells. In OVCAR3 cells, COX1 and 15-PGDH expression levels were increased and MRP4 was decreased relative to HOSE cells. PGE2 levels in media will be measured to determine the net effect of these changes. Protein levels of the members of the cyclooxygenase pathway will be determined by western blot. Conclusions: It is clear that several members of the cyclooxygenase pathway are expressed differently in malignant versus normal ovarian cells. Studies in progress will determine the functional significance of these differences. Citation Format: Gautam G. Rao, Tyler Kochel, Namita Kundu, Jocelyn Reader, Amy Fulton. Cyclooxygenase pathway in ovarian cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 524. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-524
Analysis of Hydrophilic Metabolites in Physiological Fluids by HPLC-MS using a Silica Hydride- Based Stationary Phase

Aqueous normal-phase chromatography was used for the analysis of metabolites in human saliva and urine samples. The column was packed with a silica hydride type separation material. Several gradients were tested with different mobile phase additives in order to produce retention for amino acids, small organic acids, and carbohydrates. Detection was done by TOF MS. In some cases the relative concentration levels of various metabolites in human saliva were compared for normal patients and patients with pancreatic cancer or pancreatitis. The reproducibility of retention of individual metabolites in these complex matrices was tested for several compounds.
A Feminist Critical Study of a Master's Exam in Teacher Education

This article discusses the findings of a qualitative case study that examined the experiences of teacher candidates in a master's degree exit assessment pilot at a university in the southwestern region of the United States. Data (gathered from classroom observations, written documents, and interviews of eight teacher candidates and nine faculty members) were collected and analyzed throughout the study using a feminist critical lens. Findings reveal that the Master's Alternative Assessment Cohort (MAAC) Pilot created conditions that allowed participants to empower themselves in traditional, personal, and reciprocal ways through an assessment process that was collaborative, open for some negotiation, and encouraged social change. Conversely, there also were situations throughout the process in which the participants felt disempowered. Findings also revealed instances in which collaboration perpetuated social relationships and attitudes that promoted racial inequities.
Ethanol Withdrawal-Associated Drinking and Drinking in the Dark: Common and Discrete Genetic Contributions

Individual mice differ in the dose of ethanol they will ingest voluntarily when it is offered during limited access periods in the circadian dark, a phenotype called drinking in the dark (DID). Substantial genetic variation in DID has been reported across a few standard inbred mouse strains, and a line of High Drinking in the Dark (HDID) mice has been established through selective breeding on the blood ethanol concentration (BEC) they attain at the end of a drinking session. Here, we report ethanol DID data for 23 inbred mouse strains, including 11 not previously reported, corroborating the genetic contributions to this trait. We also report data on a different ethanol drinking trait, the increased intake seen after multiple cycles of chronic intermittent exposure to ethanol vapor (CIE). Drinking escalated significantly during ethanol withdrawal. However, HDID mice and their HS controls showed equivalent escalation during withdrawal, demonstrating that withdrawal-associated drinking escalation is not a clear genetic correlate of selection on DID. Across inbred strains, DID is substantially genetically correlated with previously-published two-bottle ethanol preference drinking data assessed under conditions of continuous ethanol access. Although inbred strain data for withdrawal-associated drinking are not available, the current pattern of results suggests that withdrawal-associated drinking is genetically distinct from DID, while genetic contributions to DID and two-bottle preference drinking are substantially similar.
Single-particle energy levels in a Nilsson well

Abstract A comprehensive table of energy levels of a single particle in a Nilsson well has been computed, using as a basis the coupled representation |j, j3〉. The energy levels are also shown in graphs as a function of the nuclear deformation. Tables relating the various deformation parameters in common use and giving the energy levels for very small deformation are also presented. The decoupling parameter is also computed for all K= 1 2 states.
Large-Scale Wave Kinematics Measurements of Regular Waves and Large-Amplitude Wave Groups

An experiment was performed to measure and characterize wave kinematics in an experimental basin. The experiment is part of an ongoing effort to improve predictions and measurements of ship motions in waves, including more accurate characterization of the near-field wave environment and its influence on ship motions. The primary objective of this experiment was to measure and characterize the wave kinematics of regular waves of varying steepness and scaled irregular seaways, including irregular waves with embedded wave groups. Measurements, including free-surface elevations and velocity field measurements under the free surface, are presented and discussed.
Education: An Exchange of Ideas Among Three Humanistic Psychologists

The following dialogue is a fantasized version of a discussion among the participants of this study (C. Rogers, V. Frankl, A. Maslow), led by a philosopher from the field of health education, Delbert Obertueffer. Because three of these scholars are already deceased it was necessary to bring them together by way of the imagination. All of the statements made by characters in the dialogue are either direct quotes from their writings or phrases we wrote that express their basic philosophy. The direct quotes have citations, while the phrases we have created seem “on their own.” Furthermore, we have taken the liberty to impose nonsexist language where the meaning of original text is not altered. We hope that by reviewing the writings of these great leaders, we can emphasize aspects to be applied to education today.
THE NEURAL CONTROL OF BEHAVIOR IN SEA ANEMONES

![Figure][1] Robert Josephson writes about Carl Pantin's 1935 ground breaking publications on sea anemone neurophysiology. Pdf files of Pantin's papers can be accessed as supplemental data at [jeb.biologists.org][2] In the early 1930s Carl Pantin spent several months at the Stazione
Identification of ω-oxocarboxylic acids as acetal esters in aerosols using capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Abstract An homologous series of ω,ω-dimethoxycarboxylic acid methyl esters (acetal esters) has been identified in the most polar methyl ester fraction separated from remote aerosol samples by liquid chromatography. These compounds were separated by silica gel column chromatography and their structures determined by capillary gas chromatography (GC) and GC—mass spectrometry with a synthesized standard. The acetal esters are originally present in the samples as ω-oxocarboxylic acids, which are derivatized to acetal esters during treatment with boron trifluoride in methanol. This method enables the determination of ω-oxocarboxylic acids in environmental samples as their acetal esters.
Excitonic molecules: A possible new form of chemical bonding

Abstract If a band edge has N equivalent minima in the Brillouin zone, it is possible consistent with the exclusion principle to place 2 N identical electrons in the same molecular orbital. This theorem suggest the possible stability of exciton molecular complexes, (exc) 8 in Ge and (exc) 12 in Si.
Effect of Uniform Magnetic Field on Equilibrium Combustion Compositions: Constant Volume

The impact of a uniform magnetic field on equilibrium combustion characteristics under constant volume conditions has been explored. An expression for Helmholtz free energy in terms of Gibbs free energy, which includes a magnetic field contribution, has been developed. With use of the method of Lagrange multipliers, changes in the Helmholtz free energy for a mixture of paramagnetic and diamagnetic ideal gases are minimized. The magnetic susceptibility of paramagnetic ideal gases has been calculated using the Curie‐Weiss law. A model reaction of methane in air is used to examine quantitatively the changes in mole fractions as a function of temperature and magnetic induction for all product species. Equilibrium mole fractions have been plotted as a function of temperature and magnetic field strength for all product species. The variation of equilibrium pressure as a function of temperature and magnetic field strength has also been examined. As expected, the results indicate that the equilibrium pressure increases with increasing temperature. At a specified temperature, the equilibrium pressure decreases with increasing magnetic field strength. The results indicate that within the temperature range considered, the magnetic field decreases the mole fraction of most of the product species except for CO2 ,N 2 ,H 2O, and CH4. Fo ra nincrease in magnetic induction of 0.00‐0.04 T, the maximum equilibrium mole fraction of NO was observed to decrease considerably. Nomenclature A = Helmholtz free energy a ij = atoms of element j in product i B = magnetic induction b j = atoms of element j in reaction C = damping constant E = iteration error G = Gibbs free energy gL = Lande’s g factor
Recognition of the centromere-specific histone Cse4 by the chaperone Scm3

A specialized nucleosome is a component of all eukaryotic kinetochores. The core of this nucleosome contains a centromere-specific histone, CENP-A (the Cse4 gene product in budding yeast), instead of the usual H3. Assembly of a centromeric nucleosome depends on a specific chaperone, called Scm3 in yeast and HJURP in higher eukaryotes. We describe here the structure of a complex formed by an N-terminal fragment of Scm3 with the histone-fold domains of Cse4, and H4, all prepared as recombinant proteins derived from the budding yeast Kluyveromyces lactis. The contacts of Scm3 with Cse4 explain its selectivity for the centromere-specific histone; key residues at the interface are conserved in HJURP, indicating a common mechanism for centromeric-histone deposition. We also report the structure of a (Cse4 : H4)2 heterotetramer; comparison with the structure of the Scm3:Cse4:H4 complex shows that tetramer formation and DNA-binding require displacement of Scm3 from the nucleosome core. The two structures together suggest that specific contacts between the chaperone and Cse4, rather than an altered overall structure of the nucleosome core, determine the selective presence of Cse4 at centromeres.
A Spot of Coffee in Crisis Nicaraguan Smallholder Cooperatives, Fair Trade Networks, and Gendered Empowerment

Comparison of responses to the post-1999 coffee crisis of three smallholder cooperatives participating in Fair Trade and conventional commodity networks suggests that agrarian-reform histories, gender relations, and bottom-up organizing practices influenced members’ sense of empowerment. Although most small-scale farmers suffered a decline in their sense of empowerment, the Fair Trade cooperatives found opportunity in the midst of the crisis. In addition to documenting North-South inequalities, this research reveals the uneven gender relationships within producer cooperatives, finds the lowest empowerment levels in a cooperative connected only with conventional coffee trade networks, and chronicles the achievements of a women’s Fair Trade cooperative.
The metabolism of fructose in liver; isolation of fructose-I-phosphate and inorganic pyrophosphate.

Fructose is converted to glucose in a dialyzed liver homogenate fortified with an oxidizable substrate, Mg++ and a catalytic amount of ATP. In the presence of fluoride, the conversion of fructose to glucose is inhibited, and an acid-labile phosphate ester accumulates. Isolation and characterization by its strong negative specific rotation, hydrolysis constant in acid, and liberation of inorganic phosphate on forming the osazone, identified this ester as funcoose-1-phosphate. Another acid-labile phosphate ester which accumulated even in the absence of a phosphate acceptor was isolated as the crystalline sodium salt and identified as inorganic pyrophosphate. A protein fraction precipitated from liver extract between 0.45 and 0.55 saturation with ammonium sulfate catalyzed the conversion of fructose-1-phosphate to hexose-6-phosphate. This mutase reaction was accelerated by Mg++ ions and inhibited by fluoride. In liver homogenate, in the absence of fluoride, the mutase reaction is followed by dephosphorylation of hexose-6-phosphate to free glucose and inorganic phosphate. These three enzymatic reactions explain the mechanism of conversion of fructose to glucose in the liver. The formation of fructose-1-phosphate by liver fructokinase is not inhibited by glucose, in contrast to the strong inhibition glucose exerts on the phosphorylation of fructose by yeast and brain hexokinase. Fructose utilization in the liver is thus independent of glucose utilization, the latter being catalyzed by a separate enzyme. The liver fructokinase is much more active in an aerobic system with catalytic amounts of ATP than in an anaerobic system with an excess of ATP. A summary of the enzymatic reactions concerned with the metabolism of fructose in various tissues is presented.
Homocystine uptake in isolated rat renal cortical tubules

Isolated rat renal cortical tubules were used to study the nature of homocystine entry into the tubule cell and its transport interactions with cystine and the dibasic amino acids. The uptake of homocystine with time was progressive, reaching a steady state after 60 min. of incubation. Analysis of the intracellular pool after 5 and 30 min. of incubation revealed that virtually all of the transported homocystine had been converted to other metabolites of the transsulfuration pathway. The major metabolite was cystathionine with a somewhat lesser, but still significant amount as S-adenosylhomocysteine. A kinetic analysis showed that two systems for cellular entry of homocysteine existed with a Km1 of 0.17 mM and a Km2 of 7.65 mM. Arginine and lysine inhibited homocystine uptake via the low Km, high affinity system, but appeared not to inhibit the high Km, low affinity system. Cystine inhibited the low Km, high affinity system, but had an indeterminate effect on the high Km, low affinity system. Homocystine inhibited the uptake of cystine, lysine and arginine by isolated rat renal cortical tubules. The inhibition of homocystine on cystine uptake appeared to occur on both the high and low Km system for tubule cell entry of cystine. The data suggest that the low Km system for homocystine transport is shared with cystine and the dibasic amino acids. These data extend the knowledge of homocystine metabolism and provide a rational basis for new approaches to the treatment of homocystinuria.
Storage and Bacterial Contamination Effects on Myofibrillar Proteins and Shear Force of Beef

Thirty-two steaks from the longissimus muscle, fifth rib to third lumbar vertebra, were obtained from youthful carcass beef. Half were sterilized by ultraviolet light and all vacuum packaged and stored for 1, 14, 28 or 57 days at 2°C. After storage, steaks were examined for microbial populations, myofibril fragmentation index (MFI), cooking characteristics and shear force (SF). Aerobic and anaerobic counts decreased during storage. Psychrotrophic counts were low throughout. Sterilization had no effect on SF or MFI. Cooking loss tended (P < 0.09) to increase with time of storage. SF values decreased and MFI values increased through day 14, but remained relatively constant after that. Results of SDS-PAGE, SF and MFI indicate major changes in proteolysis of myofibrils and tenderness were completed by day 14.
Morphological approach for autonomous and adaptive system: The construction of three-dimensional artificial model based on self-reconfigurable modular agents

Abstract This paper presents a decentralized approach, inspired by biological cells, for the automatic construction of user-defined three-dimensional structures. Using high-level specification as an input, the proposed system enables the guaranteed construction of user-specified structures. By investigating the evolutionary aspects of morphogenesis, which is regulated by the interplay of the cell processes such as differential cell adhesion, gene-regulation, and inter-cellular signaling, an approach was developed that allows for the construction of an arbitrary structure via swarms of identical, independent, and autonomous multi-agents.
Phase variation and host immunity against high molecular weight (HMW) adhesins shape population dynamics of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae within human hosts

Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) is a bacterium that resides within the human pharynx. Because NTHi is human-restricted, its long-term survival is dependent upon its ability to successfully colonize new hosts. Adherence to host epithelium, mediated by bacterial adhesins, is one of the first steps in NTHi colonization. NTHi express several adhesins, including the high molecular weight (HMW) adhesins that mediate attachment to the respiratory epithelium where they interact with the host immune system to elicit a strong humoral response. hmwA, which encodes the HMW adhesin, undergoes phase variation mediated by 7-base pair tandem repeats located within its promoter region. Repeat number affects both hmwA transcription and HMW-adhesin production such that as the number of repeats increases, adhesin production decreases. Cells expressing large amounts of HMW adhesins may be critical for the establishment and maintenance of NTHi colonization, but they might also incur greater fitness costs when faced with an adhesin-specific antibody-mediated immune response. We hypothesized that the occurrence of large deletion events within the hmwA repeat region allows NTHi cells to maintain adherence in the presence of antibody-mediated immunity. To study this, we developed a mathematical model, incorporating hmwA phase variation and antibody-mediated immunity, to explore the trade-off between bacterial adherence and immune evasion. The model predicts that antibody levels and avidity, catastrophic loss rates, and population carrying capacity all significantly affected numbers of adherent NTHi cells within a host. These results suggest that the occurrence of large, yet rare, deletion events allows for stable maintenance of a small population of adherent cells in spite of HMW adhesin specific antibody-mediated immunity. These adherent subpopulations may be important for sustaining colonization and/or maintaining transmission.
On a Class of Stable Random Dynamical Systems: Theory and Applications

Abstract We consider a random dynamical system in which the state space is an interval, and possible laws of motion are monotone functions. It is shown that if the Markov process generated by this system satisfies a splitting condition, it converges to a unique invariant distribution exponentially fast in the Kolmogorov distance. A central limit theorem on the time-averages of observed values of the states is also proved. As an application we consider a system that captures an interaction of growth and cyclical forces: of two possible laws, one is monotone, but the other is unimodal with two periodic points. Journal of Economic Literature Classification Numbers: C6, D9.
Brain Injuries from Blast

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) from blast produces a number of conundrums. This review focuses on five fundamental questions including: (1) What are the physical correlates for blast TBI in humans? (2) Why is there limited evidence of traditional pulmonary injury from blast in current military field epidemiology? (3) What are the primary blast brain injury mechanisms in humans? (4) If TBI can present with clinical symptoms similar to those of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), how do we clinically differentiate blast TBI from PTSD and other psychiatric conditions? (5) How do we scale experimental animal models to human response? The preponderance of the evidence from a combination of clinical practice and experimental models suggests that blast TBI from direct blast exposure occurs on the modern battlefield. Progress has been made in establishing injury risk functions in terms of blast overpressure time histories, and there is strong experimental evidence in animal models that mild brain injuries occur at blast intensities that are similar to the pulmonary injury threshold. Enhanced thoracic protection from ballistic protective body armor likely plays a role in the occurrence of blast TBI by preventing lung injuries at blast intensities that could cause TBI. Principal areas of uncertainty include the need for a more comprehensive injury assessment for mild blast injuries in humans, an improved understanding of blast TBI pathophysiology of blast TBI in animal models and humans, the relationship between clinical manifestations of PTSD and mild TBI from blunt or blast trauma including possible synergistic effects, and scaling between animals models and human exposure to blasts in wartime and terrorist attacks. Experimental methodologies, including location of the animal model relative to the shock or blast source, should be carefully designed to provide a realistic blast experiment with conditions comparable to blasts on humans. If traditional blast scaling is appropriate between species, many reported rodent blast TBI experiments using air shock tubes have blast overpressure conditions that are similar to human long-duration nuclear blasts, not high explosive blasts.
Multiple organ failure: by the time you predict it, it's already there.

Objective: Validate an at-risk population to study multiple organ failure and to determine the importance of organ dysfunction 24 hours after injury in determining the ultimate severity of multiple organ failure. Methods: We evaluated 105 patients admitted to five academic trauma centes during a 1-year period who survived for more than 24 hours with Injury Severity Scores < 25 and who received 6 or more units of blood. Organ dysfunction was scored daily with a modified multiple organ failure scoring system made up of individual adult respiratory distress syndrome score, renal dysfunction, hepatic dysfunction, and cardiac dysfunction scores. Multiple organ failure (MOF) severity was quantitated using the maximum daily multiple organ failure score and the cumulative sum of daily multiple organ failure scores for the first 7 days (MOF 7) and 10 days (MOF 10). Independent variables included markers of tissue injury, shock, host factors, physiologic response, therapeutic factors, and organ dysfunction within the first 24 hours after admission. Data were subjected to a conditional stepwise multiple regression analysis, first excluding and then including 24-hour MOF as an independent variable. Results: Of the 105 high-risk patients, 69 (66%) developed a maximum daily multiple organ failure score ≥ 1; 50 (72%) did so on day 1 one and 60 (87%) did so by day 2. In multiple regression models, the multiple correlation coefficient increased from 0.537 to 0.720 when maximum MOF was the dependent variable, from 0.449 to 0.719 when maximum daily MOF was the dependent variable, from 0.519 to 0.812 when MOF 7 was the dependent variable, and from 0.514 to 0.759 when MOF 10 was the dependent variable. Conclusion: We have confirmed that the population of patients with Injury Severity Scores ≥ 25 who received 6 or more units of blood represent a high-risk group for the development of multiple organ failure. Our data also indicate that multiple organ failure after trauma is established within 24 hours of injury in the majority of patients who develop it. It appears that multiple organ failure is already present at the time when most published models are trying to predict whether or not it will occur.
Hydrogen sulphide demand of long‐lived vestimentiferan tube worm aggregations modifies the chemical environment at deep‐sea hydrocarbon seeps

Lamellibrachia luymesi is a long-lived vestimentiferan polychaete that produces biogenic habitat at hydrocarbon seeps on the upper Louisiana slope of the Gulf of Mexico. Lamellibrachia luymesi relies on endosymbiotic, chemoautotrophic bacteria for nutrition which are supplied with hydrogen sulphide acquired from seep sediments by the tube worms. In this study, an individual-based model is developed for L. luymesi aggregations. The results show that aggregations can persist for centuries because of extremely low mortality rates. Recruitment patterns reflect intraspecific competition for settlement space, with the recruitment period estimated between 11 and 68 years. Substantial hydrogen sulphide requirements are estimated for large aggregations of L. luymesi, exceeding 30 mmol h−1. In addition to modifying habitat through physical structure, L. luymesi may be considered to be an ecosystem engineer because of its profound effect on the chemical environment at hydrocarbon seep sites.
Affluence, Inequality, and Educational Achievement: A Structural Analysis of 97 Jurisdictions across the Globe

How does economic inequality affect societies' average levels of student achievement, and how might the answer to this question inform our understanding of U.S. students' achievement in cross-national perspective? Analyses of country-level data (N = 97) from three recent international studies reveal that while more affluent countries exhibit higher average achievement than less affluent countries, more unequal countries have lower average achievement than less unequal countries—even net of affluence and other factors. This helps explain why U.S. students score relatively low compared to their counterparts in other developed nations. I discuss the implications of these findings for understanding the role of stratification in societies generally and for raising achievement in the U.S. specifically.
A wire delay-tolerant reconfigurable unit for a clustered programmable-reconfigurable processor

Wire delay is rapidly becoming a major bottleneck in reconfigurable systems, creating a significant gap between the clock rates of reconfigurable logic and custom circuits. In this paper, we describe the design of the reconfigurable clusters on the Amalgam clustered programmable-reconfigurable processor. Amalgam's reconfigurable clusters are divided into four segments of reconfigurable logic, limiting the length of individual wires in the cluster. They support pipelining of wire delays by providing pipeline registers at the intersections between wires in the reconfigurable cluster, retiming buffers at the inputs and outputs of logic blocks, and register queues that reduce the amount of inter-cluster synchronization required in programs. Together, these mechanisms increase the clock rates of Amalgam's reconfigurable clusters by up to 70%, allowing Amalgam to maintain a 2.6x performance advantage over a purely-programmable processor in a wide range of fabrication processes.
Emotion suppression and mortality risk over a 12-year follow-up

Objective Suppression of emotion has long been suspected to have a role in health, but empirical work has yielded mixed findings. We examined the association between emotion suppression and all-cause, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality over 12 years of follow-up in a nationally representative US sample.