cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Census-based rapid and accurate metagenome taxonomic profiling

Understanding the taxonomic composition of a sample, whether from patient, food or environment, is important to several types of studies including pathogen diagnostics, epidemiological studies, biodiversity analysis and food quality regulation. With the decreasing costs of sequencing, metagenomic data is quickly becoming the preferred typed of data for such analysis. Rapidly defining the taxonomic composition (both taxonomic profile and relative frequency) in a metagenomic sequence dataset is challenging because the task of mapping millions of sequence reads from a metagenomic study to a non-redundant nucleotide database such as the NCBI non-redundant nucleotide database (nt) is a computationally intensive task. We have developed a robust subsampling-based algorithm implemented in a tool called CensuScope meant to take a ‘sneak peak’ into the population distribution and estimate taxonomic composition as if a census was taken of the metagenomic landscape. CensuScope is a rapid and accurate metagenome taxonomic profiling tool that randomly extracts a small number of reads (based on user input) and maps them to NCBI’s nt database. This process is repeated multiple times to ascertain the taxonomic composition that is found in majority of the iterations, thereby providing a robust estimate of the population and measures of the accuracy for the results. CensuScope can be run on a laptop or on a high-performance computer. Based on our analysis we are able to provide some recommendations in terms of the number of sequence reads to analyze and the number of iterations to use. For example, to quantify taxonomic groups present in the sample at a level of 1% or higher a subsampling size of 250 random reads with 50 iterations yields a statistical power of >99%. Windows and UNIX versions of CensuScope are available for download at https://hive.biochemistry.gwu.edu/dna.cgi?cmd=censuscope . CensuScope is also available through the High-performance Integrated Virtual Environment (HIVE) and can be used in conjunction with other HIVE analysis and visualization tools.
Influence of the intensity of constant magnetic field on the structure and properties of composites based on epoxy polymers and Fe (III) or Al(III) oxides

We study the influence of the intensity of constant external magnetic fields on the structure, thermal properties, and electric conductivity of composites based on ED-20 epoxy resin and one of the metal oxides (Al2 O3 or Fe2 O3). It is shown that, under the action of the magnetic field, the Fe2O3 crystallites in the structure of the composite become finer (L ≈ 18 nm → 5.4 nm) and the densities of the initial epoxy polymer, the composites based on this polymer, and one of the metal oxides (Al2 O3 or Fe2 O3) increase, which, in turn, affects the other properties of these compounds, in particular, their specific heat and conductivity.
Vapor pressure of trichlorofluoromethane

Abstract We have used a semiautomated isochoric apparatus to measure the vapor pressure of trichlorofluoromethane (R-11) from 353.15 to 378.15 K, and have compared our results to values in the literature. After evaluating the measurements with weighting to account for experimental accuracy, we have established a recommended vapor pressure equation and a critical pressure P c for R-11.
Clinical Comparison of Hetastarch and Albumin in Postoperative Cardiac Patients

Abstract Hetastarch, 6% hydroxyethyl starch solution, is an artificial colloid proposed for use as a volume expander. There is concern that hetastarch, like dextran, may adversely affect coagulation. To compare the effects of hetastarch with 5% albumin in postoperative patients, 60 consecutive patients who underwent coronary artery bypass were prospectively randomized into two study groups. Both groups were comparable in all respects preoperatively. Group 1 (27 patients) received a mean of 1,241 ml of 5% albumin and Group 2 (33 patients) a mean of 1,210 ml of hetastarch as volume replacement within the first 24 postoperative hours. Indices of postoperative hepatic, renal, and pulmonary function did not differ significantly between the groups immediately postoperatively, at 24 hours postoperatively, or at 7 days postoperatively. Hematocrits, platelet counts, prothrombin times, partial thromboplastin times, and serum fibrinogen levels were comparable between the two groups at all times. The mean volume of chest tube drainage did not differ between the groups (Group 1, 495 ± 216 ml; Group 2, 637 ± 402 ml; not significant), and no patient required reexploration for bleeding. Eighteen percent of Group 1 and 15% of Group 2 patients received banked blood during their hospitalization and required similar amounts (Group 1, 0.37 unit per patient; Group 2, 0.36 unit per patient; not significant). The use of hetastarch as a postoperative volume expander after myocardial revascularization is safe and effective, and results in substantial financial savings.
Nevus sebaceus in association with an intracranial mass

A 7-week-old male infant with a seizure disorder and an extensive sebaceous nevus of the scalp was examined. Computerized axial tomography (CAT) scan identified an intracerebral mass which proved to be a hamartomatous malformation of the brain. The association of intracranial masses with sebaceous nevi should be recognized. CAT scan is useful in the evaluation of infants with extensive lesions of the scalp or midline facial area, especially in the presence of neurologic abnormalities.
Optimal Urban Employment Policies: Notes on Calvo and Quibria

We show that Quibria's insightful observation on the efficacy of urban policy in a model with an urban trade union and an urban informal sector holds, but with a revenue-neutral employment tax-subsidy combination levied on the urban employer. We also draw the relevance of the generalized Harris–Todaro model in providing intuition for the validity of this surprising result.
Transfection of cells with basic fibroblast growth factor and Kaposi fibroblast growth factor genes induce resistance to and receptor modulation of tumor necrosis factor

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) has been shown to inhibit the growth of some cell types and stimulate the proliferation of others by a mechanism that is not understood. In the present study, we investigated the effect of transfection of NIH-3T3 cells with either the basic fibroblast growth factor gene (bFGF) or the kaposi FGF gene (K-fgf) on the growth-modulatory effects of TNF. Our results show that transformation of cells with either gene leads to resistance to the growth-inhibitory effects of TNF. The K-fgf gene was found to be a more potent inducer of cellular resistance than the bFGF gene. The cellular resistance correlated with the inhibition of TNF-induced activation of phospholipase A2 and downmodulation of TNF receptors. Overall, our results indicate that both K-fgf and bFGF play an important role in suppression of antiproliferative effects of TNF.
Relevant priors prefetching algorithm performance for a picture archiving and communication system.

Proper prefetching of relevant prior examinations from a picture archiving and communication system (PACS) archive, when a patient is scheduled for a new imaging study, and sending the historic images to the display station where the new examination is expected to be routed and subsequently read out, can greatly facilitate interpretation and review, as well as enhance radiology departmental workflow and PACS performance. In practice, it has proven extremely difficult to implement an automatic prefetch as successful as the experienced fileroom clerk. An algorithm based on defined metagroup categories for examination type mnemonics has been designed and implemented as one possible solution to the prefetch problem. The metagroups such as gastrointestinal (GI) tract, abdomen, chest, etc, can represent, in a small number of categories, the several hundreds of examination, types performed by a, typical radiology department. These metagroups can be defined in a table of examination mnemonics that maps a particular mnemonic to a metagroup or groups, and vice versa. This table is used to effect the prefetch rules of relevance. A given examination may relate to several prefetch categories, and preferences are easily configurable for a particular site. The prefetch algorithm metatable was implemented in database structured query language (SQL) using a many-to-many fetch category strategy. Algorithm performance was measured by analyzing the appropriateness of the priors fetched based on the examination type of the current study. Fetched relevant priors, missed relevant priors, fetched priors that were not relevant to the current examination, and priors not fetched that were not relevant were used to calculate sensitivity and specificity for the prefetch method. The time required for real-time requesting of priors not previously prefetched was also measured. The sensitivity of the prefetch algorithm was detarmined to be 98.3% and the specificity 100%. Time required for on-demand requesting of priors was 9.5 minutes on average, although this time varied based on age of the prior examination and on the time of day and database traffic. A prefetch algorithm based on metatable examination mnemonic categories can pull the most appropriate relevant priors, reduce the number of missed relevant priors, and therefore reduce the time involved for the manual task of on-demand requests of priors. Network and database traffic can be reduced as well by decreasing the number of priors selected from the archive and subsequently transmitted to the display stations, through elimination of transactions on examinations not relevant to the current study.
Cardiac Surgery in Patients With Body Mass Index of 50 or Greater

BACKGROUND: The seemingly inexorable rise in obesity worldwide is creating a new set of challenges for healthcare providers. Demand for cardiac surgical intervention among patients at extreme levels of obesity (body mass index [BMI] > or = 50) is increasing; however, the risks, benefits, and resources required to meet this need have not been established. METHODS: Between 1993 and 2004, 57 patients with a BMI of 50 or more underwent cardiac surgical procedures at our institution. The mean BMI was 54 +/- 4, weight range was 124 to 226 kg. The mean age of the study group was 55 +/- 12 years, and comorbidities included diabetes mellitus in 29 (51%), hypertension in 40 (70%), hyperlipidemia in 22 (39%), and obstructive sleep apnea in 16 (28%). RESULTS: The operative mortality was 7% (4 patients). Eleven patients (20%) required prolonged intubation (more than 24 hours), and mean intensive care unit stay was 5 +/- 9 days. Wound complications requiring surgery occurred in 3 (5%). Survival at 1 and 5 years was 93% +/- 4% and 76 +/- 8%, respectively. By univariate analysis, age and endocarditis were associated with long-term mortality and major perioperative complications. As a dichotomous variable, BMI greater than 54 was a significant predictor of renal failure and prolonged mechanical ventilation. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac surgery in the patient with a BMI of 50 or greater is associated with significant resource utilization, including prolonged intensive care unit and hospital stay, with prolonged intubation and wound complications relatively common.
Atypical Kawasaki disease with peripheral gangrene and myocardial infarction: Therapeutic implications

We describe a 2-month-old girl with atypical Kawasaki disease (KD) complicated by peripheral gangrene and myocardial infarction. Peripheral ischaemia leading to gangrene is a rare but serious complication of KD in infants younger than 7 months of age. Treatment has been targeted at reducing arterial inflammation, arteriospasm and thrombosis. We report the first patient with incomplete KD and peripheral ischaemia in whom therapy with prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) as vasodilating and antithrombotic agent appeared successful, restoring hand and foot perfusion without significant long-term sequelae. However, PGE1 could have supported development of myocardial infarction by shunting blood away from ischaemic areas distal to a giant coronary artery aneurysm with beginning thrombosis.
Evidence of increased serotonin-1A receptor binding in type 2 diabetes: a positron emission tomography study.

Animal studies have shown diabetes-induced changes in the state and function of the serotonin neuroreceptor system. Diabetes also has induced structural and functional alterations in hippocampus and been associated with altered hypothalamopituitary adrenal axis regulation. In this study, serotonin-1A (5-HT1A) receptor binding was measured in humans with type 2 diabetes (n=6) and healthy controls (n=6), using positron emission tomography (PET) and [carbonyl-11C]WAY 100635. Significantly greater 5-HT1A receptor binding was detected in mesial temporal cortex, including hippocampus (P<0.05) for type 2 subjects (relative to controls). Within the type 2 group, glycosylated hemoglobin and stressed plasma cortisol levels were positively correlated (P<0.02). These findings support previous studies that suggest serotonergic underpinnings to the neurobiology of diabetes and have shown diabetes-induced neurological changes in hippocampus.
EXPERIMENTAL MODELING OF LARGE WHALE ENTANGLEMENT INJURIES

The abrasive impact of commercial fishing gear on right whale fluke tissue was modeled using a reciprocating load generator. A line passing over the leading edge of a fluke specimen was fixed at one end while the other end was loaded in an oscillatory manner. A 24-h abrasion test using an accelerated loading rate of 60 cycles/min and a 9.0-kg load on the fixed end of the most abrasive line tested (old sink line) was used to simulate a whale swimming 2 m/s towing four standard lobster buoys for five days. A tension load of 267 N was generated on the oscillatory side of the fluke. The test line failed to break the skin on the fluke but, instead, produced a compression furrow (maximum depth 0.31 cm) that closely resembled marks found on stranded right (Eubalaena glacialis) and humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae) whales. Different line types (float vs. sink) and ages of rope (new vs. old) produced furrows of varying depths and appearances. Further tests characterizing whale skin/fishing line interactions will provide a better understanding of the mechanisms that govern entanglement injuries and provide a framework for better forensic analysis and interpretation of gear-related injuries observed in large whales.
Discovery of Unexpected Pain in Intubated and Sedated Patients

Background The perceptions of patients who are restrained and sedated while being treated with mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit are not well understood. The effectiveness of sedation used to aid in recovery and enhance comfort during intubation is unknown. Objective To explore the perceptions of patients who were intubated and receiving pain medication while sedated and restrained in the intensive care unit, in particular, their experience and their memories of the experience. Methods In a phenomenological study, 14 patients who were intubated and receiving pain medication while sedated and restrained were interviewed at the bedside. A semistructured interview guide was used. Data were analyzed by using an inductive method consistent with qualitative research. Results Three major themes were identified from the data: lack of memory of being restrained; a perception of being intubated as horrific; nursing behaviors that were helpful and comforting. An unexpected discovery was that sedation may be interfering with pain assessment and management. Conclusion Being intubated can be painful and traumatic despite administration of sedatives and analgesics. Sedation may mask uncontrolled pain for intubated patients and prevent them from communicating this condition to a nurse. Nurses may need to evaluate current interventions in order to provide maximum comfort and promote optimal positive outcomes for intensive care patients who are intubated.
Analog Multipliers and Squarers Using a Multigrid Modulator

This article describes the use of a multigrid vacuum tube as an AM multigrid modulator multiplier. The accuracy of the multiplier is dependent only upon the linear properties of the vacuum tube used and not upon careful adjustment of the operating potentials. It is unusual that such a simple device should give a range of 78 db with only a ±2 per cent full scale error. The advantages and also restrictions of this device along with a complete range of dynamic performance are included in this article.
CONSUMING INTERESTS: Water, Rum, and Coca‐Cola from Ritual Propitiation to Corporate Expropriation in Highland Chiapas

In this article, I trace consumption chains motivated by religious and secular rituals that have promoted demand for water, rum, and soft drinks in Mesoamerican communities for over 2,000 years. It describes transformations in the social organization of water systems, and how these transformations have affected indigenous communities in particular. In preconquest ceremonial centers the collective effort of the entire community contributed to the engineering of water projects and the celebration of deities who ensured the supply of water. Spanish rule brought a new array of saints, often identified with deities of natural forces, and with them cane sugar and rum with which Indians celebrated sacred holidays. Religious fraternities that once promoted imbibing of rum to facilitate communication with the gods and saints during the colonial and independence periods turned to Coca-Cola and other commercial beverages in the 1970s. The Coca-Cola Company promoted the health effects of their nonalcoholic drink and religious brotherhoods provided the infrastructure or local promotion of the drink during celebrations that once served locally distilled cane liquor in the annual cycle of fiestas. Federal concessions for extracting the groundwater of Chiapas now enable the company to produce their internationally sold products along with their newly featured bottled water. Rituals once made to the rain gods as givers of water are supplanted by political concessions to transnational corporations working with local officials in contemporary Mesoamerican communities. The transformation from ritual propitiation of the gods that engaged entire populations in collective action, to the private expropriation of water resources, has a profound impact on indigenous pueblos that are major consumers of these costly products.
A self-calibrating pulse-shape discriminator for identifying neutrinoless double-beta decay events in HPGe spectrometers

Pulse-shape discrimination (PSD) for germanium spectrometers has received attention for varied applications such as microphonic noise rejection, event localization in segmented detector systems, correction of ballistic deficit and trapping, and the separation of gamma events from nuclear recoil and beta decay. A new PSD method has been developed at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) having several unique characteristics. This PSD method: 1) Extracts a few key parameters from each preamplifier output pulse. 2) Is sensitive to interaction multiplicity - a new physical observable. 3) Can isolate various physical regions of a detector. 4) Is self-calibrating allowing optimal discrimination for any detector. 5) Is computationally cheap, requiring no computed libraries-of-pulses. 6) Leverages current state-of-the-art commercial digital spectroscopy hardware platforms. This paper describes the theory and operation of the method with attention to specific application areas in which this method could be useful. The challenge of sensing the neutrinoless double-beta decay of /sup 76/Ge (O/spl nu/ /spl beta//spl beta/-decay) is taken as an example of a single-site-interaction measurement. Experimental data is analyzed and the sensitivity increase expected from this method for neutrino mass probes based on O/spl nu/ /spl beta//spl beta/-decay is presented.
Fluorescence spectroscopy of soluble E. coli SPase I Δ2-75 reveals conformational changes in response to ligand binding.

The bacterial Sec pathway is responsible for the translocation of secretory preproteins. During the later stages of transport, the membrane-embedded signal peptidase I (SPase I) cleaves the signal peptide from a preprotein. We used tryptophan fluorescence spectroscopy of a soluble, catalytically active E. coli SPase I Δ2-75 enzyme to study its dynamic conformational changes while in solution and when interacting with lipids and signal peptides. We generated four single Trp SPase I Δ2-75 mutants, W261, W284, W300, and W310. Based on fluorescence quenching experiments, W300 and W310 were found to be more solvent accessible than W261 and W284 in the absence of ligands. W300 and W310 inserted into lipids, consistent with their location at the enzyme's proposed membrane-interface region, while the solvent accessibilities of W261, W284, and W300 were modified in the presence of signal peptide, suggesting propagation of structural changes beyond the active site in response to peptide binding. The signal peptide binding affinity for the enzyme was measured via FRET experiments and the Kd determined to be 4.4 μM. The location of the peptide with respect to the enzyme was also established; this positioning is crucial for the peptide to gain access to the enzyme active site as it emerges from the translocon into the membrane bilayer. These studies reveal enzymatic structural changes required for preprotein proteolysis as it interacts with its two key partners, the signal peptide and membrane phospholipids. Proteins 2014; 82:596–606. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
TRPC1, STIM1, and ORAI Influence Signal-Regulated Intracellular and Endoplasmic Reticulum Calcium Dynamics in Human Myometrial Cells

To explore the relationship between signal-stimulated increases in intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) and depletion and refilling of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca2+ stores ([Ca2+]L) in human myometrial cells, we measured simultaneous changes in [Ca2+]i and [Ca2+]L using Fura-2 and Mag-fluo-4, respectively, in PHM1-41 immortalized and primary cells derived from pregnant myometrium and in primary cells derived from nonpregnant tissue. Signal- and extracellular Ca2+-dependent increases in [Ca2+]i (SRCE) and ER refilling stimulated by oxytocin and cyclopiazonic acid were not inhibited by voltage-operated channel blocker nifedipine or mibefradil, inhibition of Na+/Ca2+ exchange with KB-R7943, or zero extracellular Na+ in PHM1-41 cells. Gadolinium-inhibited oxytocin- and cyclopiazonic acid-induced SRCE and slowed ER store refilling. TRPC1 mRNA knockdown specifically inhibited oxytocin-stimulated SRCE but had no statistically significant effect on ER store refilling and no effect on either parameter following c...
Characteristics of Lifelong Physically Active Older Adults

Most adults in developed countries fail to accrue enough regular physical activity to prevent or decrease the impact of chronic diseases associated with aging. I conducted semistructured interviews with 16 purposely selected older adults ranging in age from 53 to 70 years to explore the practices of successful lifelong adherents to physical activity. I used an interpretive descriptive approach to data analysis. My findings suggest that both social and competitive motivations were important during early adulthood, although for many participants the latter were more likely to endure over time. Based on these findings, I recommend that programmers be aware of the potential for older participants to be less fulfilled by social motivations as they become more experienced exercisers.
Cholinergic innervation of the simian oxyntic gastric mucosa

The innervation of the oxyntic gastric mucosa was studied by light and electron microscopy in the rhesus monkey. An abundant net of acetylcholinesterase-positive nerves was seen in the lamina propria, with many slender fibers noted close to the basal lamina of the glands. Electron microscopic observation disclosed the presence of nerve fibers containing axons and varicosities in the lamina propria, often in very close proximity to the epithelial glandular cells. Nerve endings partly enveloped by a Schwann cell were occasionally seen in direct contact with a parietal cell.
Towards automatic extraction of monolingual and bilingual terminology

In this paper, we make use of linguistic knowledge to identify certain noun phrases, both in English and French, which are likely to be terms. We then test and compare different statistical scores to select the "good" ones among the candidate terms, and finally propose a statistical method to build correspondences of multi-words units across languages.
Performance analysis of generalized selection combining with switching constraints

Generalized selection combining (GSC), in which the best L/sub c/ out of L independent diversity channels are linearly combined has been previously proposed and analyzed for Rayleigh fading channels. GSC is a less complex alternative to maximal ratio combining (MRC) that provides a performance gain over traditional selection combining (SC). Both MRC and SC are special cases of CSC, with L/sub c/=L and L/sub c/=1, respectively. We show that CSC also dramatically reduces the impact of switching rate constraints, whereby a selection must be held for the duration of a packet.
Phase angle of porous coating admittance and its effect on boundary-layer stabilization

Passive control of hypersonic boundary-layer transition using feltmetal and regular porous coatings has recently motivated many researches. The stabilization effects of porous coating on hypersonic boundary layers over flat plates and cones has been demonstrated by theoretical analyses, experiments, and numerical simulations. Previous results showed that both feltmetal and regular porous coatings significantly stabilize Mack’s second mode, whereas Mack’s first mode is moderately destabilized by porous coatings. Up to now, there is no work reported on how to deal with the first mode destabilization and increase the stabilization efficiency of porous coating. In this paper, we analyzed the porous coating admittance and noticed it was the phase angle of admittance that induces the phase discrepancy between the velocity and pressure perturbations on the wall. The effect of the admittance phase angle on Mack’s first mode destabilization and Mack’s second mode stabilization is then studied by series of numerical simulations for artificial porous coatings. The results showed that the phase angle of porous coating admittance has a critical role on boundary-layer stabilization. Specifically, the destabilization of Mack’s first mode is closely related to the phase angle of porous coating admittance, i.e., the destabilization effect decreases with the phase angle of admittance decreasing. The relation between admittance phase angle and first mode destabilization is quite useful for the design of new porous coating.
Characterizing T Cell Movement within Lymph Nodes in the Absence of Antigen

The recent application of two-photon microscopy to the visualization of T cell movement has presented trajectories of individual T cells within lymphoid organs both in the presence and in the absence of Ag-loaded dendritic cells. Remarkably, even though T cells largely move along conduits of the fibroblastic reticular cell network, they appear to execute random walks in lymphoid organs rather than chemotaxis. In this study, we analyze experimental trajectories of T cells using computer simulations of idealized random walks. Comparisons of simulations with experimental data provide estimates of key parameters that characterize T cell motion in vivo. For example, we find that the distance moved before turning is about twice the distance between intersections in the fibroblastic reticular cell network, suggesting that at an intersection a T cell will turn onto a new fiber ∼50% of the time. Although the calibrated model appears to offer an accurate representation of T cell movement, it has also uncovered inconsistencies across different experimental data sets.
Circulation statistics in the evaluation of collection development

Purpose – This article aims to describe how circulation statistics may be used to evaluate collection development policies.Design/methodology/approach – The circulation statistics of books acquired by a science library in a specific year are analyzed by publisher, publication date, and subject.Findings – The paper finds that older books circulated more than recently published titles purchased at the same time. Circulation averages varied considerably between publishers.Research limitations/implications – Checkouts are an imprecise measure of value. Number of items not purchase costs is the denominator of all averages used; there is a data bias against inexpensive books.Originality/value – The procedure outlined can be used generally to evaluate collection development policies.
New Developments in the Field of Vitamin B12: Reactions of the Cobalt Atom in Corrins and in Vitamin B12 Model Compounds

Studies with vitamin B12 model compounds such as the cobaloximes provide a basis for the understanding of the mode of action of corrinoid coenzymes in enzymatic reactions. They also widen our knowledge of the properties and reactions of organocobalt compounds. The present article outlines the most important nonenzymatic reactions of cobalt in vitamin B12 and in model compounds of the cobaloxime type.
Perspective-taking with robots: experiments and models

We suggest that to enable effective human-robot interaction, robots should be able to interact in a way that is natural to and preferred by humans. Using human-compatible representations and reasoning mechanisms should help in developing skills which support effective human-robot interaction. In this paper, we present two studies that examine a critical human-robot-interaction component: perspective-taking. We find that when a person asks a robot to perform a task with some ambiguity to the robot, the person prefers the robot to either ask for clarification or take the person's perspective and act appropriately.
Objective characterization of the relative afferent pupillary defect in MS

Abstract Objective To develop an objective and precise neurophysiologic method from which to identify and characterize the presence and magnitude of relative afferent pupillary defects (RAPD) in patients with MS. Methods Binocular infrared pupillometry was performed in 40 control subjects and 32 MS patients with RAPDs, using two precisely defined sequences of alternating light flashes (right–left and left–right). We analyzed three distinct pupillary metrics in response to light stimulation. These included percent diameter change (DC), constriction curve area (CCA), which measures change in diameter over time, and the phase-plane curve area (PCA) which measures change in diameter with change in velocity. Direct and consensual response ratios (for each eye) were computed and analyzed for each metric in response to both the first flash (i.e. first phase) and second flash (i.e. second phase) of the ‘swinging flashlight’ test. Results Second flash pupillary response metric asymmetry ratios yielded the highest discriminatory power for RAPD detection. Receiver operating characteristic areas under the curve for each of the pupillary metric response asymmetry ratios were as follows: diameter change: 0.97; constriction curve area: 0.96; phase-plane curve area: 0.95 (p Conclusions Second flash (i.e. the second phase of the swinging light test) pupillary metric response asymmetry ratios are highly sensitive and specific for the confirmation and characterization of an RAPD in patients with MS. This objective neurophysiologic method may be useful for studying the relationship between a stereotyped reflex, and nervous system architecture, with potential ramifications for detecting and monitoring neuroprotective and restorative effects of novel agents in MS treatment trials.
Transverse time-dependent spin correlation functions for the one-dimensional XY model at zero temperature

Abstract We compute exactly the transverse time-dependent spin-spin correlation functions 〈Sx1(0)SxR+1(t)〉 and 〈Sy1(0)SyR+1(t)〉 at zero temperature for the one-dimensional XY model that is defined by the hamiltonian H N = - Σ N i=1 [(1 + γ)S x i S x i+1 + (1 − γ)S y i S y i+1 + hS z i ] . We then analyze these correlation functions in two scaling limits: (a) γ fixed, h → 1, R → ∞, t → ∞ such that ‖(h − 1)/γ‖[R 2 − γ 2 t 2 ] 1 2 is fixed, and (b) h fixed less than one, γ → 0+, R → ∞, t → ∞ such that γ[R 2 − (1 − h 2 )t 2 ] 1 2 is fixed. In these scaling regions we give both a perturbation expansion representation of the various scaling functions and we express these scaling functions in terms of a certain Painleve transcendent of the third kind. From these representations we study both the small and large scaling variable limits in both the space-like and time-like regions.
Considering Transgender People in Education A Gender-Complex Approach

Schools serve as a setting in which students come to understand gender, but transgender students (those who transgress societal gender norms) are largely left out of discussions of education. The high level of harassment that transgender students face poses sizable obstacles to school success. If the field of education is committed to equity and social justice, then teacher education programs must prepare educators to teach gender in more complex ways that take into consideration the existence and needs of transgender people. This article is intended to begin the discussion of transgender issues in teacher education by providing a rationale for why teacher educators need to care about transgender issues, presenting definitions of basic terms and concepts related to gender and transgender, offering a new framework for understanding gender privilege and oppression, and examining three previously proposed or existing types of gender education and proposing gender-complex education as an alternative, and expl...
Root Dynamics in Restored and Naturally Regenerated Atlantic White Cedar Wetlands

This work addressed the seasonal and successional factors of root dynamics in natural and restoration Atlantic white cedar (AWC) wetlands. Using minirhizotrons and soil root cores, fine root dynamics were measured in a chronosequence of reference and restoration AWC wetlands to compare trends in ecosystem development after canopy harvest. Seasonal fine root abundance, production, and mortality were sampled during a 439-day period in one restoration and three reference AWC wetlands. Soil cores were collected to measure fine root biomass and to determine allometric relationships between root length and biomass. Significant seasonal variation of root dynamics was observed in the young reference and restoration sites. The mature and intermediate-aged sites exhibited little seasonal variability in root abundance and mortality. Root production was variable but not seasonally consistent. Results suggest that root dynamics become less seasonal as AWC communities shift from herbaceous to woody vegetation dominance. No trend in fine root abundance along the chronosequence was observed, suggesting that roots rapidly reestablish following tree harvest. Measurements of annual root length production suggest increasing annual production with decreasing stand age. However, a reversal of this trend was observed when using production estimates calculated from minirhizotron measurements and root length–mass relationships. These findings underscore the importance of supplementing minirhizotron data with root allometric relationships when analyzing vegetation gradients. Overall, results indicate substantial differences in the form and quantity of root contributions to soil organic matter in the restoration site compared to that in the reference chronosequence. Higher initial planting densities of AWC are recommended to achieve similar contributions of roots to soil organic matter accumulation in the restoration site.
Thermogenic responsiveness to β‐adrenergic stimulation is augmented in exercising versus sedentary adults: role of oxidative stress

Beta-adrenergic receptor (beta-AR) modulation of resting and postprandial energy expenditure (EE) is augmented in regularly exercising compared with sedentary adults, but the underlying physiological mechanisms are unknown. Differences in thermogenic responsiveness to beta-AR stimulation, perhaps secondary to reactive oxygen species (ROS) bioactivity, may be involved. To determine habitual exercise-related differences in beta-AR thermogenic responsiveness and the possible influence of ROS, we measured the percentage increase in EE (DeltaEE%; indirect calorimetry, ventilated hood method) above resting EE in response to non-specific beta-AR stimulation (intravenous isoproterenol (isoprenaline): 6, 12 and 24 ng (kg fat-free mass)-1 min-1) in 25 sedentary (11 males; 51+/-4 years; body mass index 25.0+/-0.8 kg m-2, maximal oxygen uptake 29+/-1 ml kg-1 min-1 (mean+/-s.e.m.)) and 14 habitually aerobic exercising (9 males, 46+/-6 years, 23.1+/-0.7 kg m-2, 44+/-3 ml kg-1 min-1) healthy adults under normal (control) conditions and during acute intravenous administration of a potent antioxidant, ascorbic acid (vitamin C; 0.04 g (kg fat-free mass)-1). DeltaEE% was greater (P=0.02) in the habitually exercising (8.6+/-1.2, 12.9+/-1.2, 20.0+/-1.4) versus sedentary (6.3+/-0.7, 10.4+/-0.8, 16.0+/-1.0) adults. Ascorbic acid increased (P=0.01) DeltaEE% only in the sedentary adults (to 9.5+/-0.9, 12.4+/-0.7, 18.5+/-0.8), abolishing baseline group differences. DeltaEE% was not related to the amount of body fat, sex, or any other baseline characteristic. Thermogenic responsiveness to beta-AR stimulation is augmented in habitually exercising adults. The mechanism is ascorbic acid dependent, suggesting that it may be linked to decreased ROS bioactivity. Our findings advance a novel mechanism by which habitual physical activity may modulate EE in humans, with potential implications for energy balance and body weight control.
The Differential Agglutination Test as a Diagnostic Aid in Cases of Toxoplasmic Lymphadenitis

Lymphadenopathy (LN) is the most common clinical manifestation of acute acquired toxoplasma infection in humans. The diagnosis of toxoplasmic lymphadenitis (TL) is established by serological methods and/or lymph node biopsy. In the United States, the differential agglutination (of acetone [AC]-fixed versus that of formalin [HS]-fixed tachyzoites) test (AC/HS test) has primarily been used in assessments of pregnant women as a component of the toxoplasma serological profile to distinguish between recently acquired infections and infections acquired in the distant past. We studied the AC/HS test in patients with TL to define its usefulness in diagnosing individuals presenting with LN and to determine its kinetics after the onset of LN. One hundred nine consecutive patients (158 serum samples) diagnosed serologically and by lymph node biopsy as having TL were studied. Specific patterns in the AC/HS test were noted to be dependent on the time from the clinical onset of LN (COLN). Acute AC/HS patterns were observed for more than 75% of patients who according to their histories had developed their TL within 6 months after COLN. Acute patterns were not observed beyond the 12th month except for a single patient for whom an acute pattern (400/800) persisted to the 13th month after COLN. Equivocal patterns were observed up to 36 months after COLN. Nonacute patterns were observed only for serum samples drawn at least 13 months after COLN. A nonacute pattern in an individual at less than 12 months after COLN should suggest an etiology other than TL. In such cases, investigation for alternative causes, including malignancy, should be instigated.
An ab initio direct classical trajectory study of s-tetrazine photodissociation

The photodissociation of s-tetrazine via a three-body fragmentation channel (C2N2H2→2HCN+N2) has been studied by ab initio direct classical trajectory calculations using Hartree–Fock and density functional methods with split valence and polarized basis sets [HF/3-21G, HF/6-31G(d) and B3LYP/6-31G(d)]. The calculated transition state is planar. At our most reliable method (CBS-APNO), the heat of reaction and barrier height are −53.0 kcal mol−1 and 41.1 kcal mol−1, respectively. To simulate the experimental photolysis of s-tetrazine, trajectories were started from a microcanonical ensemble at the transition state with 12 kcal mol−1 excess energy distributed among the vibrational modes and the transition vector. At all levels of theory, the HCN product has a very broad rotational distribution, ranging up to J=64, and has extensive excitation of the bending vibration. By contrast, N2 is produced with low J and with only a small amount of vibrational excitation in agreement with experiments. In accord with the experiment, the relative translation motion of the products receives about 80–83% of the available energy.
Relationship of physical health status and health practices

Abstract This paper continues the analysis previously reported of physical health status in an adult population and its relationship to various independent variables. Data for the study were gathered by questionnaires completed by a probability-based sample of adult residents of Alameda County, California, in 1965. Physical health is measured along a spectrum ranging from severe disability to high energy level with absence of chronic conditions or symptoms. The “ridit” which places each individual along the spectrum can be averaged for comparison of groups, and can be adjusted for differences due to age and sex. This paper examines the relation between common health practices, including hours of sleep, regularity of meals, physical activity, smoking and drinking, and physical health status. Good practices are shown to be associated with positive health, and the relationship of these activities was cumulative; those who followed all of the good practices being in better health, even though older, than those who failed to do so. This association was found to be independent of age, sex, and economic status.
Performance-Energy Tradeoffs for Matrix Multiplication on FPGA-Based Mixed-Mode Chip Multiprocessors

Chip multiprocessing has demonstrated to be a promising approach in microprocessor design. With ever-increasing concerns for energy consumption, performance-energy trade-offs are often necessary, especially in the design of real-time embedded systems. This paper presents our performance and energy study on an in-house developed FPGA-based mixed-mode chip multiprocessor, where the SIMD (single-instruction, multiple-data), MIMD (multiple-instruction, multiple-data) and M-SIMD (Multiple-SIMD) computing modes can coexist simultaneously in one system. We propose performance-energy trade-off techniques based on the observation that SIMD and MIMD tasks involve substantially different granularities of computation and communication, which result in different time and energy behaviors; this provides us with opportunities to realize various performance-energy objectives. Generalized matrix-matrix multiplication (MMM) is employed as an example to illustrate our approach. Experimental results on a Xilinx Virtex II XC2V6000-5 FPGA demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach
From Model-Driven Development to Model-Driven Engineering

Summary form only given. The adoption of model-driven methods for software development is rapidly gaining momentum, stimulated greatly by the emergence of new modeling language standards and corresponding tools. The ability of models to highlight the important aspects of a system while abstracting away the irrelevant bits provides a very effective means of coping with the often overwhelming complexity of modern software systems. However, model-driven development (MDD) is still deemed inappropriate for real-time and embedded software by many practitioners even though the complexity of their systems often exceeds that encountered in other domains.
Telecommunications infrastructure and regional income convergence in China: panel data approaches

The conditional convergence framework constitutes the theoretical basis for different dynamic panel data approaches. But models with different specifications or estimated by different methods may have very different results. This study empirically tests the results by applying different panel data approaches to the study of telecommunications infrastructure in regional economic growth across China. Specifically, the pattern of regional economic growth across 29 regions in China from 1986 to 2002 is examined. The results suggest the system GMM estimation is more likely to produce consistent and efficient estimates than OLS and fixed-effect estimation. Findings indicate a significant and positive relationship between telecommunications infrastructure and regional economic growth in China and the empirical results from different estimations suggest robust results for this particular assessment.
Muscle atrophy in chronic kidney disease results from abnormalities in insulin signaling

Muscle atrophy is a significant consequence of chronic kidney disease that increases a patient's risk of mortality and decreases their quality of life. The loss of lean body mass results, in part, from an increase in the rate of muscle protein degradation. In this review, the proteolytic systems that are activated during chronic kidney disease and the key insulin signaling pathways that regulate the protein degradative processes are described.
Lionel W. McKenzie and the Proof of the Existence of a Competitive Equilibrium

The theorem proving the existence of general equilibrium in a competitive economy, which necessarily involved specifying the conditions under which such an equilibrium would exist, is an extraordinary achievement of twentieth-century economics. The discovery is commonly attributed to the paper by Kenneth Arrow and Gerard Debreu, "Existence of an Equilibrium for a Competitive Economy," which was published in the July 1954 issue of Econometrica. However it is less well-known, even within the economics profession, that Lionel McKenzie published a paper in the previous issue of Econometrica, "On Equilibrium in Graham's Model of World Trade and Other Competitive Systems,” which discussed many of the same themes. Over the past decade the new availability of archival material, the papers of Lionel McKenzie, Robert Solow, Gerard Debreu, and Leonid Hurwicz, permits a reexamination of the events surrounding the publication of both Econometrica papers in 1954. The discussion raises general issues concerning “simultaneous discovery,” “priority,” and “credit” in economic research, and opens a window into some academic practices of that time.
Can Patients Safely Undergo Electroconvulsive Therapy While Receiving Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors

A review of the experience of monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI) and anesthesia finds few well-documented complications, although theoretic risks of cardiovascular reactions are discussed. Laboratory studies and actual case experiences of patients treated with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and MAOI suggest that the risks have been exaggerated. It is recommended that the anesthesia usually used for ECT-methohexital, succinylcholine, and optionally atropine or glycopyrrolate-may be safely given with careful blood pressure monitoring. If cardiovascular support is required, a direct-acting sympathomimetic should be administered.