gebhart/patrepeval huggingface dataset:
Adoption of biocontrol agents at the field level for management of mealybugs: challenges and proposed solutions (2010)

To implement biocontrol program effectively in the field, the farmers from three villages of Chikballapur District, Karnataka were trained on mass multiplication of mealybug predator Cryptolamous montrozieri (Mulsant). Training and field level demonstrations of efficacy of the methodologies improves the awareness and faith among farmers. However, actual adoption still remains low. A survey conducted by the authors shows that there are two statistically significant reasons for low adoption rate: (a) perception that chemical pesticides act much faster, and (b) biocontrol agents are not readily available in the villages. In this paper, the authors propose different approaches for countering the above two challenges. Firstly, Economic Threshold Level (ETL) of mealybug (Planococcus citri Risso) on Guava (Psidium guajava L.) infestation was determined. This paper considers 5 damage as the ETL and the statistical analysis shows that ETL is reached when the infestation density is 21 mealybugs per leaf. Farmers should be encouraged to start using IPM/biocontrol methodology as soon as the infestation reaches the ETL. This will eliminate farmer's need of chemical pesticides for immediate result at a later stage. Secondly, a commercially viable production and distribution channel is proposed for addressing the non-availability of biocontrol agents. Authors find that rural women, specially, Self-Help-Groups, are interested in production of biocontrol agents for an additional source of income. For distribution, authors propose to use the conventional channel of village shops for seeds, fertilizers and pesticides. With an attractive commission scheme, commercial insectaries can sell biocontrol agents.Finally, our survey of 61 farmers' a statistically significant correlation between the education levels of farmers with their awareness about crop damages. This reconfirms our belief that spread of education among rural farmers will help to establish environment friendly pest management methodologies at farm level. This will help farmers to minimize the use of toxic insecticides like Dimethoate, Methomyl etc., which are now being used by many farmers. Â© JBiopest.
New, strong cationic hydrogels: Preparation of N,N,N′,N′-tetraallyl piperazinium dibromide and its copolymers with N,N-diallyl morpholinium bromide (2000)

N,N,N′,N′-tetraallyl piperazinium dibromide (TAP) has been prepared in high yields by quaternization of N,N′-diallyl piperazine with allyl bromide. Herein, we have described preparation of nonhydrolysable, strong, cationic hydrogels by copolymerization of TAP with N,N-diallyl morpholinium bromide (DAM) in the presence of t-butyl hydroperoxide as initiator in aqueous solutions. Because the monomer and crosslinker involved consist of quaternary amine functions, these hydrogels are fully cationic and do not carry hydrolysable groups. Contrary to expectations, the quaternary amine hydrogels presented do not show any super absorbency, instead dry gel particles in water undergo spontaneous disintegration with an audible bursting of the particles due to instantaneous, high osmotic pressure. Whereas, in KBr or HBr solutions, the swellings are relatively slow. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 1006–1013, 2000
Protein structural domain identification (1999)

A simple method for the definition of protein structural domains is described that requires only alpha-carbon coordinate data. The basic method, which encodes no specific aspects of protein structure, captures the essence of most domains but does not give high enough priority to the integrity of beta-sheet structure. This aspect was encouraged both by a bias toward attaining intact beta-sheets and also as an acceptance condition on the final result. The method has only one variable parameter, reflecting the granularity level of the domains, and an attempt was made to set this level automatically for each protein based on the best agreement attained between the domains predicted on the native structure and a set of smoothed coordinates. While not perfect, this feature allowed some tightly packed domains to be separated that would have remained undivided had the best fixed granularity level been used. The quality of the results was high and, when compared with a large collection of accepted domain definitions, only a few could be said to be clearly incorrect. The simplicity of the method allowed its easy extension to the simultaneous definition of domains across related structures in a way that does not involve loss of detail through averaging the structures. This was found to be a useful approach to reconciling differences among structural family members. The method is fast, taking less than 1 s per 100 residues for medium-sized proteins.
Genus ophiocytium from China (2003)

In the present paper, 10 species and one variety of Ophiocytium from China wer reported. Among them, there were 3 species of Ophiocytium variabile Bohlin, O ilkae (Istvanffi) Heering and O maius Nageli, where were new records in China, and a new variety of O maius var minor H L Li et Q X Wang.
Steam Reforming of Natural Gas: Intrinsic Kinetics, Diffusional Influences, and Reactor Design (1982)

The intrinsic kinetics of the catalytic steam reforming of natural gas were determined from experiments in a tubular reactor in the temperature range of 823-953°K and in the pressure range of 5-15 bar. With catalyst rings of the size used in industrial operation, pronounced concentration gradients occur inside the catalyst. The effective diffusivity required in the simulation of these gradients was obtained from the molecular and Knudsen diffusivities, the internal void fraction and the tortuosity factor. The latter was determined by the dynamic gas chromatographic method, using the Van Deemter equation. The tortuosity factor was found to vary between 4.39 and 4.99 and to be independent of temperature. The reformer tube operation was simulated on the basis of a set of continuity-, energy- and momentum equations using one and two dimensional heterogeneous models. Intraparticle gradients in the rings were accounted for by the use of the generalized modulus concept.
Collision-free path planning for a robot with two arms cooperating in the 3-D work space (2002)

Investigates the collision-free path planning problem for a robot with two arms cooperating in 3-D work space. We have shown that motion constraints placed on the given robot can be equivalently represented as motion constraints placed on the end effector of the robot if two robot arms simultaneously hold the same object. By using this representation the given robot is shrunk to a point with its position being represented by its end effector and the obstacles are represented as forbidden regions in the work space. Thus, the problem of planning the motion for a robot is reduced to that of planning the motion for its end effector. The mapping function which maps the obstacles into their corresponding forbidden regions has been derived. We have proved that the forbidden region of an obstacle can be computed by mapping the boundary of the obstacle with the use of the derived mapping function. A potential field which is governed by a harmonic function in the 3-D work space has been computed and its gradient has been utilized in searching for the collision-free path. Simulation results are reported to verify the proposed method.
Unique Hydrogen Bonding Correlating with a Reduced Band Gap and Phase Transition in the Hybrid Perovskites (HO(CH<sub>2</sub>)<sub>2</sub>NH<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub>PbX<sub>4</sub> (X = I, Br) (2004)

The first hybrid perovskites incorporating alcohol-based bifunctional ammonium cations, (HO(CH(2))(2)NH(3))(2)PbX(4) (X = I, Br), have been prepared and characterized. (HO(CH(2))(2)NH(3))(2)PbI(4) adopts a monoclinic cell, a = 8.935(1) A, b= 9.056(2) A, c = 10.214(3) A, beta = 100.26(1) degrees , V = 813.3(3) A(3), P2(1)/a, and Z = 2, and (HO(CH(2))(2)NH(3))(2)PbBr(4) is orthorhombic, a = 8.4625(6) A, b = 8.647(1) A, c = 19.918(2) A, V = 1457.5(2) A(3), Pbcn, and Z = 4. In the layered structures, a unique hydrogen-bond network connects adjacent perovskite layers, owing to OH....X, NH(3)(+)....X, and intermolecular NH(3)(+)...OH interactions. Its impact on the bonding features of the inorganic framework and on the quite short interlayer distance, in the case of (HO(CH(2))(2)NH(3))(2)PbI(4), is shown. As a result, a significant red shift of the exciton peaks (lambda = 536 nm (X = I), lambda = 417 nm (X = Br)), compared to other PbX(4)(2)(-)-based perovskite hybrids, is observed, revealing a reduced band gap. A reversible structural transition occurs at T = 96 degrees C (X = I) and T = 125 degrees C (X = Br). An orthorhombic cell of the high-temperature phase of (HO(CH(2))(2)NH(3))(2)PbI(4) with a(HT) = 18.567(6) A, b(HT) = 13.833(6) A, c(HT) = 6.437(2) A, and V = 1653 A(3) is proposed from powder X-ray diffraction. A change in the hydrogen bonding occurs, with molecules standing up in the interlayer space and OH parts probably interacting together, leading to a more conventional situation for ammonium groups and a more distorted perovskite layer. This is in accordance with the blue shift of the exciton peak to lambda = 505 nm (X = I) or to lambda = 374 nm (X = Br) during the phase transition.
The Cyclooxygenase Inhibitor Flurbiprofen Reduces Radiation‐Induced Angiogenic Growth Factor Secretion of Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell Lines (2004)

Surgical intervention and radiotherapy still represent the gold standard in the therapy of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), although often with unsatisfactory results. Radiation might induce the expression and secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) by unknown mechanisms. These two highly active proangiogenic and cytoprotective factors might contribute to a limited therapeutic success by promoting revascularization and cytoprotection of the radiated tumor. The aim of the present study was to analyze the potential of the cyclooxygenase inhibitor flurbiprofen to reduce radiation-induced increase of VEGF and bFGF secretion of tumor cells. We analyzed the expression of VEGF and bFGF at 72 h after radiation with 30 Gy in four SCC cell lines (De-pt, Hun, Lau, and A549) in cell culture with or without added flurbiprofen. Controls were not exposed to radiation and were analyzed at the same time after culture in the same media. We observed increased VEGF levels in all and increased bFGF levels in three of four lines after radiation. In irradiated cultures with flurbiprofen, VEGF was reduced between 13% and 26% and bFGF was reduced between 84% and 93% compared with radiated cultures without flurbiprofen. We found no reduction of VEGF and bFGF secretion in the unirradiated cultures despite added flurbiprofen. We conclude that flurbiprofen is able to alter the radiation-induced secretion of these two growth factors and might be useful in decreasing the resistance of SCC to radiation.
Using overlays to support collaborative interaction with display walls (2012)

Large-scale display walls, and the high-resolution visualizations they support, promise to become ubiquitous. Natural interaction with them, especially in collaborative environments, is increasingly important and yet remains an on-going challenge. Part of the problem is a resolution mismatch between low-resolution input devices and high-resolution display walls. In addition, enabling concurrent use by multiple users is difficult - for example, how would this large workspace be managed for multiple users and what novel collaborative interactions could occur? In this paper, we present an overlay interface element superimposed on wall-display applications to help constrain interaction, focus attention on subsections of a display wall, and facilitate a collaborative multi-user workflow.
Archaeal Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthesis: Diversity Replaces Dogma (1999)

Accurate aminoacyl-tRNA synthesis is essential for faithful translation of the genetic code and consequently has been intensively studied for over three decades. Until recently, the study of aminoacyl-tRNA synthesis in archaea had received little attention. However, as in so many areas of molecular biology, the advent of archaeal genome sequencing has now drawn researchers to this field. Investigations with archaea have already led to the discovery of novel pathways and enzymes for the synthesis of numerous aminoacyl-tRNAs. The most surprising of these findings has been a transamidation pathway for the synthesis of asparaginyl-tRNA and a novel lysyl-tRNA synthetase. In addition, seryl- and phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetases that are only marginally related to known examples outside the archaea have been characterized, and the mechanism of cysteinyl-tRNA formation in Methanococcus jannaschii and Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum is still unknown. These results have revealed completely unexpected levels of complexity and diversity, questioning the notion that aminoacyl-tRNA synthesis is one of the most conserved functions in gene expression. It has now become clear that the distribution of the various mechanisms of aminoacyl-tRNA synthesis in extant organisms has been determined by numerous gene transfer events, indicating that, while the process of protein biosynthesis is orthologous, its constituents are not.
ChemInform Abstract: Endothelin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors (1998)

Abstract ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
Thermal Stability of DNA Quadruplex–Duplex Hybrids (2013)

DNA has the capacity to adopt several distinct structural forms, such as duplex and quadruplex helices, which have been implicated in cellular processes and shown to exhibit important functional properties. Quadruplex-duplex hybrids, generated from the juxtaposition of these two structural elements, could find applications in therapeutics and nanotechnology. Here we used NMR and CD spectroscopy to investigate the thermal stability of two classes of quadruplex-duplex hybrids comprising fundamentally distinct modes of duplex and quadruplex connectivity: Construct I involves the coaxial orientation of the duplex and quadruplex helices with continual base stacking across the two components; Construct II involves the orthogonal orientation of the duplex and quadruplex helices with no base stacking between the two components. We have found that for both constructs, the stability of the quadruplex generally increases with the length of the stem-loop incorporated, with respect to quadruplexes comprising nonstructured loops of the same length, which showed a continuous drop in stability with increasing loop length. The stability of these complexes, particularly Construct I, can be substantially influenced by the base-pair steps proximal to the quadruplex-duplex junction. Bulges at the junction are largely detrimental to the adoption of the desired G-quadruplex topology for Construct I but not for Construct II. These findings should facilitate future design and prediction of quadruplex-duplex hybrids.
Heterogeneity in β-Adrenergic Receptor Kinase Expression in the Lung Accounts for Cell-specific Desensitization of the β2-Adrenergic Receptor (1997)

The principal mechanism of homologous desensitization of the beta-adrenergic receptor (beta2AR) is phosphorylation of the receptor by the betaAR kinase (betaARK) or other closely related G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs). However, within a single organ such as the lung where many cell types express the receptor, the presence or extent of beta2AR desensitization in different cells has been noted to be highly variable. We hypothesized that such variability in desensitization is due to significant cell-type differences in betaARK expression and/or function. To approach this, in situ hybridization was carried out in the lung and indeed revealed heterogeneity in betaARK gene expression. Quantitative studies using ribonuclease protection assays with cell lines revealed that the level of betaARK mRNA in airway smooth muscle cells was approximately 20% of that in bronchial epithelial cells and approximately 11% of that in mast cells (6.65 +/- 0.96 versus 32.6 +/- 4.0 and 60.7 +/- 1.5 relative units, respectively, p < 0. 001). betaARK2 gene expression was not detected in any of these cells. At the protein level, betaARK expression in airway smooth muscle cells was nearly undetectable, being approximately 10-fold less than that expressed on mast cells. The activities of the GRKs in cell extracts were assessed in vitro by quantitating their ability to phosphorylate rhodopsin in the presence of light. Consistent with the gene and protein expression results, a marked discrepancy in activities was observed between extracts derived from mast cells (90.7 +/- 0.5 relative units) as compared to airway smooth muscle cells (9.28 +/- 0.6 relative units, p < 0.001). In contrast, the activities of protein kinase A (the other kinase that phosphorylates beta2AR) in these extracts were not different. We predicted, then, that airway smooth muscle beta2AR would undergo minimal short-term (5 min) agonist-promoted desensitization as compared to the beta2AR expressed on mast cells. Mast cell cAMP reached maximal levels after 90 s and did not further increase over time, indicative of receptor desensitization in this cell. In contrast, cAMP levels of airway smooth muscle cells did not plateau, increasing at a rate of 103 +/- 9% per min, consistent with little desensitization over the study period. We conclude that there is significant cell-type variation in expression of betaARK and that such variation is directly related to the extent of short-term agonist-promoted desensitization of the beta2AR.
Kinetic models of hydrocarbon generation (1990)

We are carrying out an integrated program of laboratory experiments, kinetics modeling, and basin thermal history modeling in order to better understand the natural breakdown of organic matter into oil and gas. Our kinetic models of organic maturation are being used to better understand the coupling of generation, cracking, expulsion, and overpressuring in both the laboratory and geologic setting. Currently we are carrying out chemical experiments and developing more efficient chemical kinetic modeling schemes to obtain a better understanding of expulsion and cracking from lean source rocks and from hydrogen-poor (terrestrial) organic source material. We verify the chemical kinetic models by integrating them with thermal history models of hydrocarbon-producing sediments and comparing predicted and observed characteristics of the hydrocarbon occurrence in a variety of settings. We intend to apply this approach to evaluate the potential for deep gas resources in the Pacific Northwest and in the Louisiana Gulf Coast. 11 refs., 4 figs.
Detection of serum antibodies to retroviral proteins in patients with primary sjögren's syndrome (autoimmune exocrinopathy) (1990)

Primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is considered a benign autoimmune disease; it is characterized by lymphoid infiltration of salivary and lacrimal glands, often accompanied by the presence of serum autoantibodies, particularly anti-Ro (SS-A) and anti-La (SS-B). There are important immunologic similarities between primary SS and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. To investigate for a possible immune response to retroviral proteins in primary SS, we performed immunoblotting against human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) proteins using sera from 47 patients with primary SS. Moderate-to-strong reactivity, suggesting the presence of serum antibodies, was found in 14 patients (30%). Of 120 normal subjects, only 1 showed moderate positivity. All 14 positive SS sera reacted against p24 (gag) but failed to react against gp41 or gp120 (env). This response did not reflect hypergammaglobulinemia since immunoglobulin concentrations among the 29 SS patients studied were the same in sera that contained and sera that did not contain anti-gag reactivity. Two sera also reacted against p17 gag. Four reacted against HIV-2 core proteins, but none reacted with core proteins of human T lymphotropic virus-I. Only 1 of the 14 sera reacted against Ro (SS-A), and 1 other reacted against La (SS-B). These results identify a subset of SS patients characterized by 1) the presence of serum antibodies to HIV-1 group-specific, but not type-specific, proteins, and 2) the relative absence of anti-Ro (SS-A) and anti-La (SS-B) autoantibodies. In this latter respect, these SS patients constitute a subpopulation that resembles patients with HIV-induced SS-like disease.
Shock tunnel skin friction measurement in a supersonic combustor (1998)

Shock tunnel measurements are reported of skin friction with supersonic hydrogen-air combustion in a constant area duct. A floating element skin friction gauge was used, in which the shear force was applied directly to a piezoceramic measuring element. The experiments were conducted at stagnation enthalpies of 5.7 and 6.8 MJ kg, a precombustion Mach number of approximately 4.5, and with a maximum duct Reynolds number of 1.3x10. The measurements showed that the skin friction coefficient was unaffected by supersonic combustion, and could be predicted by the correlation of Spalding and Chi. Measurements of heat transfer also established that Reynolds analogy could be used in both the fuel-off and fuel-on flows.
Refueling System Fabrication and Testing (1987)

Handling equipment is installed at the rotating shield plug of the reactor vessel after a shutdown for refueling or for replacing of defective fuel subassemblies. Core subassemblies are unloaded (after a short decay time) inside sodium-filled cans by means of a shielded gas-cooled flask and are placed in a sodium-cooled storage vessel for activity decay. To locate a fuel pin defect in the core, suspicious fuel subassemblies are extracted from the core and leak tested above the core using the in-vessel handling machine. Handling machines are developed from corresponding KNKII equipment supported by prototype tests performed in an Interatom sodium test facility. Handling of core subassemblies and of other radioactive components outside the reactor vessel is done by a multipurpose transfer machine. The sodium-cooled fuel storage has a capacity of one core loading of fuel subassemblies. Handling operations are remotely controlled. Provisions are made for an outer dimensional control of fuel subassemblies in the course of a refueling shutdown. The preoperational tests under sodium are completed, and some of the reflector subassemblies have been loaded into the core under sodium. These tests and operations have shown reliable equipment performance.
Aberrant Receptor-Mediated Endocytosis of Schistosoma mansoni Glycoproteins on Host Lipoproteins (2006)

Transfer of parasite antigens to host cells via host lipoproteins disrupts lipid homeostasis in immune cells, promotes neutrophil apoptosis, may result in aberrant antigen presentation in host cells, and thus cause an inefficient immune response against the pathogen.