cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Generating insights into human aging from experimental evolution using bats (or other “slow” life history species)

Our understanding of the complex process of aging has benefitted greatly from experimental evolution. The traditional animal models for human aging, however, are all characterized by “fast” life-histories, with rapid development, short lifespan and intensive, early investment in reproduction. This is in sharp contrast to the characteristics of the human life history and so may lead to inappropriate extrapolations about processes important in human aging. In response to these challenges and for better understanding and intervening in processes fundamental to aging in humans, I propose programs of experimental evolution for both delayed reproduction and for accelerated development in a bat species with a significantly slower life history than traditional animal models for human aging.
An instability of the standard model of cosmology creates the anomalous acceleration without dark energy

We identify the condition for smoothness at the centre of spherically symmetric solutions of Einstein's original equations without the cosmological constant or dark energy. We use this to derive a universal phase portrait which describes general, smooth, spherically symmetric solutions near the centre of symmetry when the pressure p=0. In this phase portrait, the critical k=0 Friedmann space-time appears as a saddle rest point which is unstable to spherical perturbations. This raises the question as to whether the Friedmann space-time is observable by redshift versus luminosity measurements looking outwards from any point. The unstable manifold of the saddle rest point corresponding to Friedmann describes the evolution of local uniformly expanding space-times whose accelerations closely mimic the effects of dark energy. A unique simple wave perturbation from the radiation epoch is shown to trigger the instability, match the accelerations of dark energy up to second order and distinguish the theory from dark energy at third order. In this sense, anomalous accelerations are not only consistent with Einstein's original theory of general relativity, but are a prediction of it without the cosmological constant or dark energy.
Group A Streptococcus encounters with host macrophages

Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is a leading human bacterial pathogen with diverse clinical manifestations. Macrophages constitute a critical first line of host defense against GAS infection, using numerous surface and intracellular receptors such as Toll-like receptors and inflammasomes for pathogen recognition and activation of inflammatory signaling pathways. Depending on the intensity of the GAS infection, activation of these signaling cascades may provide a beneficial early alarm for effective immune clearance, or conversely, may cause hyperinflammation and tissue injury during severe invasive infection. Although traditionally considered an extracellular pathogen, GAS can invade and replicate within macrophages using specific molecular mechanisms to resist phagolysosomal and xenophagic killing. Unraveling GAS-macrophage encounters may reveal new treatment options for this leading agent of infection-associated mortality. [Formula: see text].
Identity Construction and Multiple Identities

The chapter begins with exploring Erikson’s conception of personal and social identity development and how social identity has expanded to include cultural identity as a result of sociocultural and political contextual changes. The chapter illustrates multiplicities, complexities, and fluidity involved in multiple identities and their intersections. Understanding cognitive neuroscience information processing models and holistic thinking in order to comprehend interwoven and interlocking relationships among dominant identity, multiple identities, and their intersectionality are illustrated through examples.
Allocation of Cognitive Resources During Prose Comprehension

When readers comprehend prose they identify and utilize schemas that correspond to various levels of structure and domains of knowledge. These processes take time to accomplish. Time is required for readers to process letters, syllables, words, propositions, syntax, and new concepts in sentences. Time is required to integrate the content of different sentences. Some components of reading are interpreted very quickly without difficulty, whereas others are time consuming and demand effort. How do readers distribute resources to different components of reading? This question and some related issues will be explored in this chapter. The focus here is on reading printed material rather than listening to prose.
Orthopaedic surgery at Baylor University Medical Center

(2001). Orthopaedic Surgery at Baylor University Medical Center. Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings: Vol. 14, No. 3, pp. 254-263.
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION AND GENETICS OF ALCOHOL DEHYDROGENASE ISOZYMES IN PEROMYSCUS

ABSTRACT. The genetic control of the main liver alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) was investigated. Genetic crosses and analysis confirmed three alleles of the Adh-6 gene designated Adh-6 F , Adh-6 S and Adh-6 N . These code for electrophoretically fast, slow, and not detectable (null) ADH. Heterozygotes ( Adh-6 F /Adh-6 S ) have a characteristic three banded pattern due to random dimerization of fast and slow polypeptides encoded by the respective alleles. In addition, Adh-6 S /Adh-6 N and Adh-6 F /Adh-6 N genotypes only encode slow and fast ADH respectively. This suggests that there is no polypeptide product of Adh-6 N or that the product cannot dimerize with either fast or slow polypeptide to produce an active hybrid molecule. The exact mechanism is unknown but will be investigated. Older animals contain another liver ADH called Adh-5. This isozyme is not variant at all and is present in Adh-6 N /Adh-6 N genotypes. This suggests that it is under separate genetic control. The subband of Adh-6, however, is concomitantly variant with Adh-6 fast and slow forms and is absent when Adh-6 is absent. This suggests that the subband may be epigenetically formed from the Adh-6 isozyme. Both the eye and stomach contain significant concentrations of Adh-5 but not Adh-6. The liver, kidney, small and large intestines contain Adh-6 only.
Conjunctival Goblet Cells

The mucus layer of the tear film provides lubrication and protection to the cells of the cornea and conjunctiva from noxious agents and various pathogens. Goblet cells are specialized cells interspersed throughout the stratified squamous cells of the conjunctiva that secrete the majority of mucins present in the mucous layer. Goblet cells also function as a component of the innate immune system with protective signaling responses and as antigen presenting cells. The amount of mucus on the ocular surface is critical as either a decrease or increase is harmful to the ocular surface. The amount of mucin is controlled by the number of goblet cells (proliferation and differentiation), the amount of mucin synthesis, the rate of mucin secretion, and the rate of mucin degradation. This article focuses on the latest information regarding the development and function of goblet cells; the identification of compounds that stimulate goblet cell proliferation and mucus secretion; and the role of goblet cells in innate defense.
Probing the mechanism of bupivacaine drug release from multivesicular liposomes.

Abstract The mechanism of drug release from complex dosage forms, such as multivesicular liposomes (MVLs), is complex and oftentimes sensitive to the release environment. This challenges the design and development of an appropriate in vitro release test (IVRT) method. In this study, a commercial bupivacaine MVL product was selected as a model product and an IVRT method was developed using a modified USP 2 apparatus in conjunction with reverse-dialysis membranes. This setup allowed the use of in situ UV–Vis probes to continuously monitor the drug concentration during release. In comparison to the traditional sample-and-separate methods, the new method allowed for better control of the release conditions allowing for study of the drug release mechanism. Bupivacaine (BPV) MVLs exhibited distinct tri-phasic release characteristics comprising of an initial burst release, lag phase and a secondary release. Temperature, pH, agitation speed and release media composition were observed to impact the mechanism and rate of BPV release from MVLs. The size and morphology of the MVLs as well as their inner vesicle compartments were analyzed using cryogenic-scanning electron microscopy (cryo-SEM), confocal laser scanning microscopy and laser diffraction, where the mean diameters of the MVLs and their inner “polyhedral” vesicles were found to be 23.6 ± 11.5 μm and 1.52 ± 0.44 μm, respectively. Cryo-SEM results further showed a decrease in particle size and loss of internal “polyhedral” structure of the MVLs over the duration of release, indicating erosion and rearrangement of the lipid layers. Based on these results a potential MVL drug release mechanism was proposed, which may assist with the future development of more biorelevant IVRT method for similar formulations.
Complication Profiles by Mastectomy Indication in Tissue Expander Breast Reconstruction.

Background Two-stage implant breast reconstruction is the most commonly performed breast reconstruction procedure. Limited data exist regarding reconstruction complication rates examined by mastectomy indication. Methods Patients who underwent two-stage implant breast reconstruction at Yale New Haven Hospital from 2011 to 2017 were included in the study. Perioperative complications were compared. Chi-square analysis, t tests, and Fisher's exact tests were used to determine significant associations. A binary logistic regression was used to determine variables with a significant impact on the likelihood of mastectomy flap necrosis. Results Between 2011 and 2017, complete perioperative records were available for 141 patients who underwent 226 mastectomies followed by two-stage tissue expander/permanent implant reconstruction. Of the 226 mastectomies, 134 were therapeutic and 92 were prophylactic. On regression analysis, there were no significant differences in demographics, comorbidities, or mastectomy and reconstructive details between the two breast groups except for there being more modified radical mastectomies in therapeutic breasts (p = 0.003). When comparing complications, there was a significantly higher risk of mastectomy flap necrosis in the therapeutic group (p = 0.017). Therapeutic mastectomies had a 9.5 times higher risk of mastectomy flap necrosis than prophylactic mastectomies when adjusted for confounding variables. There were no significant differences in other reconstructive complications between the two groups. Conclusions Patients undergoing therapeutic mastectomies have a significantly higher risk of mastectomy flap necrosis than those undergoing prophylactic mastectomies. Although the underlying cause still needs to be determined, differences in technique may be related to mastectomy flap necrosis. Clinical question/level of evidence Risk, II.
An Analysis of the Business Environment in Kosovo Using Growth Diagnostics Approach

The empirical literature highlights various business environment factors that affect rates of private investment and entrepreneurship as drivers of economic growth. Most of these factors belong to one of the following dimensions: human and physical infrastructure; legal and regulatory institutions (understood as the rules of the game in which firms engage, and the organizations that implement these rules and services); and the quality of the financial system (e.g., cost of and access to finance). Using information from various international and national sources, this chapter examines not only the set of constraints on firm growth but also which among these constraints is the most binding.
Company Type 2: Amassers

An amasser fits the typical profile of a profit maximizing capitalist. The goal is to maximize wealth to the best of one’s ability, following the idea that more is always better. The two subtypes differ based on the intended recipients of that wealth: patriarchs/matriarchs aim to maximize wealth for their families, ideally to secure long-term security; and patrons aim to maximize wealth for their associates (employees). They differ in how they distribute the wealth they create, but are similar in their quests to generate maximum wealth.
A Review of the Literature on Potential Effects of Runoff from Refined Coal-Tar–Based Sealant Coating on Aquatic Organisms

Pavement sealants are frequently applied to parking lots and driveways to improve their appearance and protect the integrity of the underlying asphalt. We performed a comprehensive literature review to summarize the potential impacts of refined coal-tar-based sealant (RCTS) runoff to aquatic organisms and to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the lines of evidence presented in the literature. The studies reviewed included both laboratory and field exposures, with and without exposure to UV light, and measured effects on multiple endpoints associated with bacteria, benthic macroinvertebrates, and fish. Several studies demonstrated that constituents in RCTS runoff can affect survival, growth, behavior, development, and molecular responses of aquatic organisms in controlled laboratory settings. However, translating effects observed in the laboratory to field settings, where runoff is diluted and constituents interact with particulate and dissolved stream constituents (e.g., organic matter), has proven difficult. In this review, we identify the strengths and weaknesses of the existing literature and provide recommendations for study designs and methods to fill the most critical data gaps in understanding the risk of this material to aquatic organisms. Our review highlights the need for environmentally relevant study designs that demonstrate cause-effect relationships under field conditions. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2019;00:1-11. © 2019 SETAC.
What is consciousness

A new idea about what consciousness is and why we have it, reveals a tool of extraordinary power that we could engineer into machines
Abstract TP220: Differential Risk Factors and Outcomes of Ischemic Stroke Due to Cervical Artery

Introduction: Cervical artery dissection (CeAD) is a major cause of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in young adults. Its pathophysiology is distinct from the other etiologies of AIS and is determined b...
Genome-wide association study identifies a role for the progesterone receptor in benign prostatic hyperplasia risk.

BACKGROUND Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is common noncancerous prostate enlargement, which is usually associated with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and can lead to complex urinary, bladder, or kidney diseases. The majority of elderly men will be affected by BPH as age increases. METHODS Here, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of BPH using 1942 cases and 4730 controls from the Electronic Medical Records and Genomics network (eMERGE) as discovery cohort. We then used 5109 cases and 161,911 controls from UK Biobank as validation cohort. RESULTS This GWAS discovered 35 genome-wide significant variants (P < 5 × 10-8), located at 22 different loci in discovery cohort. We validated four significant variants located at four different loci in validation cohort: rs8027714 at 15q11.2, rs8136152 at 22q13.2, rs10192133 at 2q24.2, and rs1237696 at 11q22.1. rs1237696 is an intronic variant on chromosome 11 in the progesterone receptor (PGR) gene (P = 4.21 ×10-8, OR [95% CI] = 1.36 [1.22-1.52]). PGR is a known drug target for BPH as the PGR agonist gestonorone caproate has been used to treat BPH in multiple countries. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that genetic variants identified from BPH GWAS can identify pharmacologic targets for BPH treatment.
Alternative transmission pathways for guinea worm in dogs: implications for outbreak risk and control.

Abstract Guinea worm (Dracunculus medinensis) has exerted a high human health burden in parts of Africa. Complete eradication of Guinea worm disease (dracunculiasis) may be delayed by the circulation of the parasite in domestic dogs. As with humans, dogs acquire the parasite by directly ingesting infected copepods, and recent evidence suggests that consuming frogs that ingested infected copepods as tadpoles may be a viable transmission route (paratenic route). To understand the relative contributions of direct and paratenic transmission routes, we developed a mathematical model that describes transmission of Guinea worm between dogs, copepods and frogs. We explored how the parasite basic reproductive number (R0) depends on parameters amenable to actionable interventions under three scenarios: frogs/tadpoles do not consume copepods; tadpoles consume copepods but frogs do not contribute to transmission; and frogs are paratenic hosts. We found a non-monotonic relationship between the number of dogs and R0. Generally, frogs can contribute to disease control by removing infected copepods from the waterbody even when paratenic transmission can occur. However, paratenic transmission could play an important role in maintaining the parasite when direct transmission is reduced by interventions focused on reducing copepod ingestion by dogs. Together, these suggest that the most effective intervention strategies may be those which focus on the reduction of copepods, as this reduces outbreak potential irrespective of the importance of the paratenic route.
Thin Films as Model Catalysts

One of the primary ambitions driving heterogeneous catalytic research is to establish the relationship between the atomic level physical and chemical properties of the catalyst with the observed catalytic behavior. In the last few decades, a diversity of ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) based surface sensitive characterization methods have been developed that allow for the detailed study of stuctural, compositional, and electronic properties at the atomic level. While these types of techniques offer unique and exciting opportunities in the area of catalysis science, there are some inherent obstacles associated with their employment, not the least of which being that most high surface area industrial catalysts are not suitable for study using modern surface science techniques.
The competitive position of Thailand's apparel industry: Challenges and opportunities for globalization

Purpose – Recent liberalization of the world's textile and apparel trade policies and the consequent changes in trade patterns posited threats to smaller textile- and apparel-exporting nations, including Thailand. Thus it is important to understand how the new trade environment affects the competitiveness of Thailand's apparel industry. This study seeks to provide insights into how Thailand's apparel industry has responded to increasingly fierce global competition by drawing on Porter's theory of The Competitive Advantage of Nations. Design/methodology/approach – To assess the competitiveness of the Thai industry, the study triangulated data from various sources, including secondary statistics, media reports, and relevant industry publications. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were also conducted, and participants included key executives from Thailand's apparel industry, government officials, and academics. The interviews were conducted at various locations in three Thai provinces: Bangkok, Nonthaburi, and Samutsakorn, over a two-week period. Findings – Findings revealed the existence of four determinants supporting the Thai apparel industry: basic v. specialized factors; sophisticated and demanding consumer market; the presence of interdependent economic agents; and strategies and structure of Thai companies and domestic rivals. These four determinants are identical to the “diamonds” outlined in Porter's theory of The Competitive Advantage of Nations and a new source of competitiveness. Furthermore, the Thai government was found to play an important role, by providing support to enhance the global competitiveness of Thai companies. Originality/value – The study is among the first to attempt to provide insights into the competitive national advantage of the Thai apparel industry. Based on the findings, the outlook is positive for the continued success of Thailand's apparel industry in the global arena.
Receivers' reactions to dissonant use of communication technology in the workplace: effects on communication strategies and the perceived usefulness of technology

This study examined receivers' reactions to the dissonant use of communication technology in the workplace and how they respond to it. Results of an online questionnaire indicate communication technology misuse is viewed by organizational members (N = 114) as a routine negative side effect of media use in the workplace with dire implications for work relationships. The incidence and severity of communication technology misuse is far greater than had been perceived previously with most types of misuse eliciting a moderate to high degree of concern from media users. The concern over media misuse is further illustrated by organizational members' admission they have a moderate to high intolerance for media misuse committed by coworkers, superiors, and subordinates. This concern is further underscored by the predominance of direct (voice) and punitive (exit) responses of media users' when blame is attributed to their communication partner, rather than the technology used in the incident. Communication technology appears to be misused most often while communicating about routine work-related matters with coworkers using email. Out of 15 different types of communication technology misuse, using technology to avoid others and broadcasting messages to others were the most frequently experienced types of technology misuse respectively. Respondents' written accounts of communication technology misuse most often described coworkers who intentionally and unintentionally broadcast messages to others and coworkers and superiors who made poor matches between the technology used (usually email) and the sensitivity of the message (usually negative feedback or confidential information). More than half of the respondents indicated the technology misuse they described in their story represented a pattern of behavior, rather than a single event, and was considered a moderate to high cause for concern. A key purpose of the study was to test a model of communication technology misuse. While tests of absolute model fit were nonsignificant, post hoc analyses reveal experience with the technology in the incident and relationship satisfaction with one's communication partner are stronger predictors of perceived usefulness of technology and exit, voice, loyalty, and neglect then attributions of blame for the misuse incident. Theoretical contributions and practical implications, along with limitations of the study, are discussed in light of the results.
Promoting Fiscal Responsibility: Transparency, Rules and Independent Fiscal Authorities

Hemming and Kell explore the link between fiscal adjustments that took place in OECD countries during the 1990s and changes introduced in budgetary frameworks with a view to promoting fiscal responsibility. They review the reforms that have tried to counter the deficit bias by improving transparency and accountability of policy makers and by introducing fiscal rules. They emphasize that efforts to increase transparency are particularly important both in their own right and as a precondition for other lines of action and that public opinion should be informed about fiscal policy objectives, assumptions and projections and public sector accounts. Hemming and Kell highlight the pros and cons of different rules and conclude that a combination of expenditure ceilings to constrain short-term pressures and a medium-term debt ceiling can be a valuable solution. The creation of an independent fiscal authority, with some powers to set fiscal policy independent of government, would be highly controversial. This depends on the multiple objectives and instruments of fiscal policy and the redistributive and political implications of fiscal decisions.
Fourth-Grade Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Exceptional Students' Concepts of Number Line

This study examined the understanding of number line concepts by 4th grade culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) students with disabilities who were in bilingual special education classes. Performance levels and strategies used by CLD students with disabilities (n = 30), students with learning disabilities (SLD, n = 23), and general education students (SGE, n = 21), were examined on number line based on word problems. CLD students with disabilities demonstrated difficulty due to several factors beyond lack of language competence, including failure to apply number line to the problems and limited range of strategies. Students with disabilities were less likely to attempt mental computation or guessing, and more likely to make paper and pencil computational errors than students in general education.
Association of an abnormality of neutrophil chemotaxis in human periodontal disease with a cell surface protein.

Localized juvenile periodontitis (LJP) is characterized by severe, early-onset, molar and incisor bone loss; neutrophil chemotaxis disorders; and a high prevalence of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans infection. LJP is further characterized by significant familial aggregation of the disease. Recent work in our laboratory has demonstrated the selective depletion of a surface glycoprotein of 110,000 Mr (GP110) from LJP neutrophils by using surface labeling with [14C]formaldehyde and autofluorography. The function of GP110 is unknown; however, it does not appear to be a chemotactic factor receptor. Rather, it is bound by a monoclonal antibody (NCD-1) that recognizes a neutrophil differentiation antigen and which itself alters neutrophil chemotactic and secreting functions. To quantify GP110 on LJP and normal neutrophils, fluorescein-labeled NCD-1 was bound to neutrophils and the amount of fluorescence was evaluated by using cytofluorography. Our results indicate that there is a quantifiable reduction (40%) of GP110 on the surface of LJP and GJP neutrophils, compared with controls. Other patients with neutrophil defects express normal quantities of GP110, suggesting disease specificity. Our data suggest that GP110 may be a useful disease marker for LJP and may provide a useful probe for the study of neutrophil chemotactic function and dysfunction. Images
Tetra­ethyl­ammonium tris­(thio­cyanato-κN)[tris­(1H-pyrazol-1-yl-κN2)methane]­nickelate(II)

The title salt, (C8H20N)[Ni(NCS)3(C10H10N6)], consists of a tetra­ethyl­ammonium cation and an anion comprising an octa­hedral NiII atom surrounded by three N atoms from a tripodal tris­(pyrazol-1-yl)methane ligand, and three thio­cyanate ligands, each bound at the N-atom end. The ligand Ni—N distances range from 2.097 (2) to 2.127 (2) A for the tripodal ligand and from 2.045 (2) to 2.075 (2) A for the thio­cyanate ligands. The dihedral angles between the three pyrazole rings are 59.03 (12), 53.09 (10) and 67.90 (10)°.
Thin film CdTe homojunctions by MOCVD (solar cells)

Polycrystalline solar cell thin-films of cadmium telluride (CdTe) have been deposited on glass and SnO/sub 2/:F/glass substrates at 350 degrees -400 degrees C by the reaction of dimethylcadmium (DMCd) and diisopropyltellurium (DIPTe) in a hydrogen atmosphere. The DMCd/DIPTe molar ratio in the reaction mixture is an important factor, affecting the deposition rate, conductivity type, and the incorporation of dopants. The deposited films are p-type at a DMCd/DIPTe molar ratio of 0.6 or less and are n-type at higher ratios. Extrinsically doped CdTe films have been deposited for the first time by using ethyldimethylindium and arsine as the n- and p-type dopant, respectively. The electrical properties of undoped and doped CdTe films have been characterized. Thin-film CdTe homojunctions have been prepared by the successive in-situ deposition of extrinsically doped n- and p-CdTe films on SnO/sub 2/:F/glass substrates and their properties investigated. >
Ordination on the basis of fuzzy set theory

Fuzzy set theory is an extension of classical set theory where elements of a set have grades of membership ranging from zero for non-membership to one for full membership. Exactly as for classical sets, there exist operators, relations, and mappings appropriate for these fuzzy sets. This paper presents the concepts of fuzzy sets, operations, relations, and mappings in an ecological context. Fuzzy set theory is then established as a theoretical basis for ordination, and is employed in a sequence of examples in an analysis of forest vegetation of western Montana, U.S.A. The example ordinations show how site characteristics can be analyzed for their effect on vegetation composition, and how different site factors can be synthesized into complex environmental factors using the calculus of fuzzy set theory. In contrast to current ordination methods, ordinations based on fuzzy set theory require the investigator to hypothesize an ecological relationship between vegetation and environment, or between different vegatation compositions, before constructing the ordination. The plotted ordination is then viewed as evidence to corroborate or discredit the hypothesis. I am grateful to Dr R. D. Pfister (formerly USDA Forest Service) for kind permission to publish data from a Forest Service study. I would like to gratefully acknowledge the helpful comments and criticisms of Drs. G. Cottam, J. D. Aber, T. F. H. Allen, E. W. Beals, I. C. Prentice, C. G. Lorimer, and two anonymous reviewers.
Automated Oracle Data Selection Support

The choice of test oracle—the artifact that determines whether an application under test executes correctly—can significantly impact the effectiveness of the testing process. However, despite the prevalence of tools that support test input selection, little work exists for supporting oracle creation. We propose a method of supporting test oracle creation that automatically selects the oracle data —the set of variables monitored during testing—for expected value test oracles. This approach is based on the use of mutation analysis to rank variables in terms of fault-finding effectiveness, thus automating the selection of the oracle data. Experimental results obtained by employing our method over six industrial systems (while varying test input types and the number of generated mutants) indicate that our method—when paired with test inputs generated either at random or to satisfy specific structural coverage criteria—may be a cost-effective approach for producing small, effective oracle data sets, with fault finding improvements over current industrial best practice of up to 1,435 percent observed (with typical improvements of up to 50 percent).
Abnormal floral development of a tobacco mutant with elevated polyamine levels

We have previously isolated two mutant cell lines of Nicotiana tabacum defective in polyamine metabolism1. One of these two cell lines, a temperature-sensitive mutant ts4, regenerated into light green plantlets with short internodes that could be maintained only in shoot cultures. The other cell line, Rt1, a revertant of the ts4 line, also had short internodes, but was dark green, and produced flowers with a second row of petals in place of anthers2. We describe here a second example of an N. tabacum mutant with altered polyamine metabolism and floral development: in this case a cell line selected as resistant to a spermidine synthesis inhibitor regenerates to give plants producing flowers with anthers in the place of ovules.
Supersymmetry Breaking by Instantons

It is shown that instantons generate a superpotential in supersymmetric QCD with $N$ colors and $N\ensuremath{-}1$ flavors.
Afternoon harvest increases readily fermentable carbohydrate concentration and voluntary intake of gamagrass and switchgrass baleage by beef steers

Our objective was to determine if harvest in the morning (AM, 0600) vs. the afternoon (PM, 1800) affects composition and voluntary DMI of gamagrass (GG) or switchgrass (SG) stored as baleage. Iuka GG (Tripsacum dactyloides L.) and Alamo SG (Panicum virgatum L.) were cut with a mower-conditioner, immediately round-baled, wrapped in plastic, and stored as baleage. Beef steers (255 +/- 7 kg of BW) were assigned (5 steers/treatment) to GG/AM, GG/PM, SG/AM, or SG/PM. Ad libitum intake was measured for 21 d (7-d adjustment and 14-d intake estimate) followed by 7-d adjustment and 5-d digestion and N balance study. Chewing behavior was recorded during the balance study. Compared with AM, PM had more (P < 0.01) starch (9.3 vs. 4.7 g/kg of DM), total nonstructural carbohydrate (30.4 vs. 19.0 g/kg of DM), and monosaccharides (17.1 vs. 11.2 g/kg of DM). Compared with AM, PM had less (P = 0.05) acetate (13.0 vs. 18.6 g/kg of DM) and propionate (0.29 vs. 0.82 g/kg of DM) and tended (P < 0.13) to have less lactate (2.9 vs. 3.5 g/kg of DM) and butyrate (3.9 vs. 5.1 g/kg of DM). Compared with SG, GG had more (P = 0.01) DM (324 vs. 242 g/kg of baleage), CP (114 vs. 97 g/kg of DM), lactate (4.8 vs. 1.6 g/kg of DM), starch (9.4 vs. 4.7 g/kg of DM), total nonstructural carbohydrate (34.2 vs. 15.2 g/kg of DM), and monosaccharides (20.8 vs. 7.4 g/kg of DM). However, GG had a lower (P = 0.01) pH (5.32 vs.5.79) and less (P < 0.01) ethanol (18.7 vs. 27.3 g/kg of DM), acetate (12.3 vs. 19.2 g/kg of DM), propionate (0.00 vs. 1.11 g/kg of DM), and butyrate (0.6 vs. 8.4 g/kg of DM). Daily DMI (2.16 vs. 1.83% of BW) and digestible DMI (1.15 vs. 0.95% of BW) were greater (P = 0.03) for PM than AM. Plasma urea N concentrations at the end of the ad libitum intake phase were greater (P = 0.01) for AM (3.91 mM) than for PM (2.31 mM) and greater (P = 0.07) for GG (3.51 mM) than for SG (2.71 mM). Steers fed PM spent more time eating (P = 0.04) and less time resting (P = 0.01) during meals than steers fed AM. Apparent digestibility of DM and fiber components was not affected (P < 0.18) by treatment. Apparent digestibility and retention of N decreased from PM to AM for SG, but increased for GG (P = 0.05). Retention of N as a percentage of N intake or N digested decreased more from PM to AM for SG than for GG (P < 0.05). We conclude that increased nonstructural carbohydrate content of the PM harvest of these grasses stored as baleage caused increased voluntary intake and improved use of dietary N by beef steers.
Patterns of breath intervals during non-nutritive sucking in full-term and ‘at risk’ preterm infants with normal neurological examinations

Abstract The interaction between respiration and non-nutritive sucking rhythms was investigated in 12 sleeping, normal, full-term, newborn infants and in 14 preterm infants who were examined repeatedly at 34, 40 and 46 wk of conceptional age. Full-term infants showed a shortening of breath intervals in the middle of sucking bursts and a lengthening of the breath interval spanning the end of sucking bursts. The differences were more marked in females than males. A rhythm interaction between sucking and respiration was also observed in preterm infants as young as 34 wk of conceptional age. Clinical neurological examinations did not discriminate between pretern infants above and below a median score for optimal obstetric conditions, but the interaction between breathing and sucking rhythms made such a discrimination, most clearly in females. Preterm infants with lower optimal obstetric scores showed less change of breath durations during sucking than preterms with higher scores. It was concluded that interaction of concurrent motor rhythms may be a sensitive index of central nervous system integrity in newborn infants, even when there are no clinical neurological signs of nervous system dysfunction.
A comparative study of the effects of sedimentation on symbiotic and asymbiotic colonies of the coral Astrangiadanae Milne Edwards and Haime 1849

Abstract The effect of heavy sedimentation on corals was examined in the laboratory using both symbiotic and asymbiotic colonies of Astrangia danae Milne Edwards and Haime. Colonies receiving applications of clean fine sand at a rate of 200mg·cm −2 once per day for 4 wk were not different from controls with respect to symbiotic index, colony weights, growth rates, or net oxygen exchange rates. Slight adverse effects relative to controls were noted after increasing the sand applications to three times per day, which became more evident during a 2-wk period of starvation combined with the sand applications. Starved symbiotic colonies were more susceptible than starved asymbiotic colonies to the sediment loading. After the starvation period, sediment-exposed colonies processed for histopathological examination revealed loss of mucous secretory cells in the epidermis, compared to starved controls, along with an increase in mucoid material accumulations in the gastrodermis and calicoblastic epithelium. These results are consistent with previous field observations that sediment loading is harmful to stony corals. However, damage may be minimal as long as adequate nutrients, from either internal (zooxanthellae) or external (Zooplankton, particulates) sources, are available to the coral animal to meet the additional energy expenditures required to rid themselves of sediment.
The gustatory competence of the lingual epithelium requires neonatal innervation

Abstract The rat vallate papilla is bilaterally innervated by the IXth nerve whose axons are required for the normal development of its several hundred taste buds. Temporary denervation during the developmental sensitive period for taste buds prevented most vallate taste buds from forming. Specifically, removing one IXth nerve and crushing the other in 3 day old neonates eliminated axons from the vallate papilla for about 10 days and by adulthood resulted in a mean ± 1 S.E.M. of 48 ± 12 vallate taste buds. Two explanations for the shortfall of adult vallate taste buds were evaluated: either 10 days of neonatal denervation impaired the gustatory competence of the vallate papilla, or the IXth nerve's trophic support of taste buds failed to recover after nerve crush on day 3. In adults, it was found that a IXth nerve previously crushed on day 3 would support numerous vallate taste buds (183 ± 27), provided that the vallate papilla had been continuously innervated by the contralateral IXth nerve during neonatal development. Consequently, taste neurons, whose axons had been crushed on day 3, seemed to survive and retain their trophic capacity to support taste buds in adults. To test for diminished competence of the gustatory epithelium, one IXth nerve was crushed on day 3 while the contralateral IXth nerve was removed. Beginning on day 75, the chorda tympani nerve was substituted for the re-innervating axons of the crushed IXth nerve. The cross-innervating chorda tympani ultimately supported only 51 ± 10 vallate taste buds. In contrast, in vallate papillae that developed without interruption of the contralateral IXth nerve during the sensitive period, the cross-innervating chorda tympani by itself supported more than four times as many vallate taste buds (214 ± 22). Evidently, a neonatal period of denervation permanently restricts the gustatory competence of the vallate epithelium; nerve-dependent precursors of taste receptor cells probably died or gpermanently changed their fate.
Probabilistic assessment of volcanic hazard to radioactive waste repositories in Japan: Intersection by a dike from a nearby composite volcano

Geologic hazards such as volcanism must be assessed when evaluating potential sites for the geologic disposal of high-level radioactive waste. The Japanese islands comprise one of the more volcanically active regions on Earth and the risk of volcanism to a geologic repository is being evaluated as part of the Japanese high-level radioactive waste-disposal program. One hazard that is being evaluated as part of volcanic risk assessment is the possible intersection of a repository by a dike, if a composite volcano were to form near a repository during the long (100 k.y.) performance period of the repository. In this paper we use the characteristics of a well-exposed radial dike system at the Summer Coon volcano in Colorado to define Monte Carlo simulations that estimate the probability of a dike intersection of a repository as a function of volcano distance, dike length and density, and repository area. The models indicate that the probability of intersection declines rapidly as a function of distance from a volcano, as dike density decreases due to the radial dike geometry. The probability of intersection for a mafic dike set with shorter average length declines more rapidly than that of a silicic dike set with longer average length. However, mafic dikes have a higher probability of intersecting a repository close to a volcano (<5–6 km) because they are more numerous than longer silicic dikes. The probability of a silicic dike intersecting a repository is ≤10−2 at distances greater than 15 km from the volcano, decreasing to ≤10−4 at distances greater than 30 km.
Real-Time Estimation of Time-Varying Bending Modes Using Fiber Bragg Grating Sensor Arrays

An important challenge in launch vehicle simulation and control is created by the time-varying mass and inertia of the vehicle, as well as the consequent changes in modal frequencies and modal shapes of the structure as propellant is exhausted. Estimating modal information from a limited number of onboard sensors is inadequate for attitude control of a launch vehicle in real time, and the use of additional conventional sensors is unwarranted because of the mass penalty and complexity. This limitation has forced mission planners to base vehicle control schemes on pre-calculated modal information from finite element models. Recent advances in fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor technology enable locating a large number of sensing elements along a rocket's structure with a negligible mass penalty. This opens the path for real-time modal estimation and control. This paper presents a novel approach for the real-time estimation of mode shapes on a variable mass structure using FBG sensor arrays. The method is vali...
Purification of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (human herpesvirus 8) and analyses of the structural proteins

The Kaposis's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) infected BCBL-1 cell line, adapted to and grown in medium containing 10% horse serum, was induced to lytic replication with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) for virus production. Supernatants from induced cells were filtered through a 0.45-microm filter and virions were concentrated by polyethylene glycol extraction and high speed centrifugation. The virus was purified by a glycerol gradient zonal centrifugation step followed by isopycnic separation using positive density negative viscosity gradients. Two visible bands were detected after the final centrifugation step: an upper band that contained a homogenous population of purified virions and a lower band that contained aggregates of purified virus and other cellular debris. Fractionation of purified virion preparations by SDS-PAGE revealed 32 bands with estimated molecular weights between 19 and 280 K in silver stained gels. The glycoprotein bands in purified virus were identified with biotinylated lectins and horseradish peroxidase-labeled streptavidin. Two lectins were used to identify the KSHV glycoproteins: concanavalin A and Ricinus communis agglutinin I. Eight distinct glycoproteins were detected with these lectins. In addition, antisera from KS patients were used to detect immunoreactive proteins in purified virions. An apparent immunodominant band of Mr 94,000 (94 K) was recognized by patients' antisera. Other proteins detected with some of the KS antisera tested corresponded to molecular weights of 57 K, 70 K, 180 K, 200 K and 240 K. The 94 K band was identified as gp94 by Endo F digestion.
Glutamine Protects Intestinal Epithelial Cells: Role of Inducible HSP70

In this in vitro study, the authors test the premise that glutamine (Gln) protects intestinal epithelial cells under conditions of stress via induction of heat shock proteins. Gln (0-20 mM) or its non-metabolizable analogue, 6-diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine (DON, 0400 μM), was added for 2 hours to IEC-18 cells that had previously been grown for two days to near confluence in Gln-free and serum-free culture media (Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium). Induction of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) under these conditions was assessed by Western blots using the monoclonal antibody C92, which recognizes only the inducible form of HSP70. HSP70 mRNA abundance was assessed with Northern blot analysis using a cDNA probe specific for inducible HSP70. Radiolabeled cells (51Cr) treated with Gln or DON were subsequently exposed to heat (49°C for 30-240 minutes) or an oxidant, monochloramine (NH2Cl, 2 μM), and cell injury was quantitated by calculating the percent of 51Cr release. Finally, Gln or DON was added to cells cultured ...
Measurement of feline cytokine gene expression by quantitative-competitive RT-PCR

We have developed a method to quantitate feline cytokine gene expression using competitive RT-PCR. Feline cytokine specific primers were developed that encompass an intron, thus allowing differentiation of cDNA vs. genomic DNA amplification products. The PCR products of the primers were verified by sequencing and Southern blot analysis. For quantitation, a non-homologous RNA competitor was created for each cytokine of interest. The competitor was designed to yield an RT-PCR product 10-20% larger than the native sequence, thereby allowing differentiation of the two products by electrophoresis on an agarose gel. Both competitor and native sequences used the same primer sequences for RT (oligo dT) and PCR (cytokine specific). The amplification efficiency of the competitor and native sequence was shown to be identical which allowed comparison at any point during the amplification, including the plateau phase. The quantity of starting cytokine mRNA was determined by interpolation from a standard curve. As little as 1 microgram of total cellular RNA was required per cytokine determination. The assay can routinely quantify as few as 1000 copies of template and spans a range of up to 4 log.
CCl4-induced alterations in Ca++ homeostasis in chlordecone and phenobarbital pretreated animals.

Abstract Male S-D rats were maintained on normal powered diet or on the same diet containing 10 ppm chlordecone or 225 ppm phenobarbital for 15 days. On day 15, all the animals received a single ip injection of either corn oil or a subtoxic dose of CCl 4 (25–200 μl/kg) in corn oil vehicle (1 ml/kg). The animals were sacrificed 12 hrs later. Liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 and Ca ++ levels in whole liver, mitochondria, microsomes and cytosol were determined. Cytochrome P-450 induction was greater with phenobarbital pretreatment than with chlordecone but the CCl 4 induced destruction of cytochrome P-450 was almost similar in both groups and progressive with the dose of CCl 4 . CCl 4 given to animals on normal diet in a dose range of 25–200 μ l/kg did not significantly alter the cytochrome P-450 levels. These findings are consistent with greater bioactivation of CCl 4 after the above two pretreatments. There was a massive accumulation of Ca ++ in chlordecone and phenobarbital pretreated animals after CCl 4 administration. Cytosolic Ca ++ levels remained high despite the mitochondrial and microsomal sequestration. This perturbation of hepatocellular Ca ++ homeostasis might lead to hepatic lesion and hepatic failure. Chlordecone or phenobarbital alone do not alter hepatic Ca ++ levels. These findings suggest that excessive accumulation of Ca ++ may be causally related to the progression of hepatotoxic response due to CCl 4 in chlordecone treated animals.