cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Status of research in vascular access for dialysis

Background. Vascular access issues impose a major financial burden to health care and can be associated with increased morbidity and mortality. In this context, strategies, guidelines and available published information become important tools for health-care facilities and workers. While published data form a sound basis of formulating clinical practice guidelines for vascular access (VA), quality of the medical information is critically important. This study investigates the current status of VA publications. Methods. A PubMed search was performed to capture all articles related to dialysis vascular access published from January 1997 to December 2009. The articles were categorized by publication type, study subject, year of publication and specialty of the authors. Results. A total of 2260 articles from 60 medical journals were identified. Insignificant publications (letters/communications, n = 125) were excluded from the analysis. Therefore, 2135 articles formed the basis for analysis. Sixteen of the 60 journals routinely published on vascular access and generated 1747 articles [nephrology = 7 (publications = 782); radiology = 4 (publications = 333); surgery = 5 (publications = 486)], while 44/60 journals published scarcely and produced 388 articles over the 13-year period. Overall, 1213 (57%) of the articles were published by the direct involvement of nephrologists [nephrologists alone (n = 564); nephrologists in collaboration with others (n = 649)]. There were 1194 observational studies, 444 case reports/series, 375 review/editorials, 51 basic research, 12 meta-analyses and 59 randomized controlled trials published over the 13-year period. The average impact factor for nephrology, radiology and surgery journals that routinely published on vascular access was 4.425, 3.099 and 2.679, respectively. Conclusions. Despite an increased rate of scholarly activity in the area of vascular access, there remains a significant challenge ahead due to the lack of randomized controlled trials and research focusing on the biology of vascular access stenosis.
The serum opacity reaction of Streptococcus pyogenes : frequency of production of streptococcal lipoproteinase by strains of different serological types and the relationship to M protein production

The serum opacity reaction of Streptococcus pyoyenes (Ward & Rudd, 1938) has been found to be associated with a lipoproteinase which acts upon the ocl lipoprotein of the serum of various species to produce opa.lescence (Krumwiede, 1954; Rowen & Martin, 1963). Some observations on the general properties of the streptococcal factor and on the nature of the reaction in aged serum are recorded in an accompanying paper (Hill & Wannamaker, 1968). Although the nature of the reaction is not fully defined and other factors may possibly produce opalescence in serum, the terms serum opacity reaction (SOR) and lipoproteinase will be used interchangeably in this communication. Data presented by Ward & Rudd (1938), Gooder (1961), and Kohler (1963) suggested to us that production of the serum opacity reaction was rather closely associated with serotype a.s determined by M and T antigens. Burthermore, both Gooder and Kohler concluded that strains which were difficult to type by the Mprecipitin method generally produced a, SOR but that M-typable strains rarely produced this reaction. If an inverse relationship between M-antigen and SOR could be substantiated, the serum opacity reaction might be useful as a preliminary test to characterize group A strains as M-positive or M-negative. Further investigation of the production of this enzyme in individuaWl strains in relationship both to serotype and to production of an M-antigen and an investigation of the consistency of production of lipoproteinase by individual strains were therefore undertaken.
Cooperation of Gq, Gi, and G12/13 in Protein Kinase D Activation and Phosphorylation Induced by Lysophosphatidic Acid

To examine the contribution of different G-protein pathways to lysophosphatidic acid (LPA)-induced protein kinase D (PKD) activation, we tested the effect of LPA on PKD activity in murine embryonic cell lines deficient in Galpha q/11 (Galpha q/11 KO cells) or Galpha 12/13 (Galpha 12/13 KO cells) and used cells lacking rhodopsin kinase (RK cells) as a control. In RK and Galpha 12/13 KO cells, LPA induced PKD activation through a phospholipase C/protein kinase C pathway in a concentration-dependent fashion with maximal stimulation (6-fold for RK cells and 4-fold for Galpha 12/13 KO cells in autophosphorylation activity) achieved at 3 µM. In contrast, LPA did not induce any significant increase in PKD activity in Galpha q/11 KO cells. However, LPA induced a significantly increased PKD activity when Galpha q/11 KO cells were transfected with Galpha q. LPA-induced PKD activation was modestly attenuated by prior exposure of RK cells to pertussis toxin (PTx) but abolished by the combination treatments of PTx and Clostridium difficile toxin B. Surprisingly, PTx alone strikingly inhibited LPA-induced PKD activation in a concentration-dependent fashion in Galpha 12/13 KO cells. Similar results were obtained when activation loop phosphorylation at Ser-744 was determined using an antibody that detects the phosphorylated state of this residue. Our results indicate that Gq is necessary but not sufficient to mediate LPA-induced PKD activation. In addition to Gq, LPA requires additional G-protein pathways to elicit a maximal response with Gi playing a critical role in Galpha 12/13 KO cells. We conclude that LPA induces PKD activation through Gq, Gi, and G12 and propose that PKD activation is a point of convergence in the action of multiple G-protein pathways.
Subdivision of the Bézier curve

Any segment between two points on a Bezier curve is itself a Bezier curve whose Bezier polygon is expressed explicitly in terms of the sides of the Bezier polygon associated with the original curve.
Reevaluating the Roles of Eddies in Multiple Barotropic Wind-Driven Gyres

Multiple-gyre ocean models have a weaker mean subtropical circulation than single-gyre calculations with the same viscosity and subtropical forcing. Traditionally, this reduction in circulation is attributed to an intergyre eddy vorticity flux that cancels some of the wind input, part of which does not require a Lagrangian mass exchange (theory of dissipative meandering). Herein the intergyre eddy vorticity flux is shown to be a controlling factor in barotropic models at high Reynolds number only with exactly antisymmetric gyres and slip boundary conditions. Almost no intergyre flux occurs when no-slip boundary conditions are used, yet the subtropical gyre is still significantly weaker in multiple-gyre calculations. Sinuous modes of instability present only in multiple gyres are shown here to vastly increase the eddy vorticity transport efficiency. This increase in efficiency reduces the mean circulation necessary for equilibrium. With slip boundary conditions, the intergyre eddy transport is possibly much larger. However, with wind forcing relevant for the ocean—two unequal gyres—a mean flow flux of vorticity rather than an eddy flux between the regions of opposing wind forcing is increasingly important with increasing Reynolds number. A physical rationalization of the differing results is provided by diagnosis of the equilibrium vorticity budget and eddy transport efficiency. Calculations varying 1) boundary conditions, 2) sources and sinks of vorticity, 3) eddy transport efficiency, and 4) the degree of symmetry of the gyres are discussed.
Vaccine-Resistant Malaria

To ensure efficacy against wild poliovirus, Jonas Salk methodically classified circulating polio strains before choosing three to use in his inactivated vaccine.1 Several other successful vaccines against viruses and bacteria have likewise included immunogen variants that were selected through careful assessments of pathogen genetic diversity and strain-specific protective immunity. In contrast, virtually all vaccines against the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, including RTS,S/AS01, have been designed with the use of genetic sequences that are derived from a single, well-characterized reference strain thought to be of West African origin — 3D7. In light of the extreme diversity of malaria parasites, could . . .
Comments, with reply, on "A spiral nerve cuff electrode for peripheral nerve stimulation" by G.G. Naples et al

The commenters, on the basis of the history of cuff electrodes, express the opinion that the use of the cuff electrode for peripheral nerve stimulation described by G.G. Naples et al. (ibid., vol.35, no.11, p.905-16, 1988) has little future. In a reply, the authors of the original paper vigorously dispute this assertion. >
Plane Wave Reverse Time Migration in VTI Media using Green’s Function

We propose an efficient and accurate plane wave reverse time migration (RTM) imaging condition using frequency domain plane wave Green’s functions. The proposed imaging condition can be applied in anisotropic media, as well as in isotropic media. Based on the discrete Fourier transform (DFT), a procedure is developed to extract frequency plane wave Green’s functions from time domain wave fields that include anisotropy. The rapid expansion method (REM) is implemented for the decoupled P wave equation in an acoustic vertical transversely isotropic (VTI) medium to compute time wave fields. Only plane wave Green’s functions need to be computed for imaging, which leads to a fast migration scheme. Furthermore, the proposed imaging condition can generate ray-parameter common image gathers (CIGs). Therefore, the migration approach can be a useful tool for anisotropic parameter analysis. The proposed method is demonstrated to be efficient and effective through one synthetic example.
Nucleic acid content of visna virus.

SummaryVisna virus grown in sheep choroid plexus cells was concentrated by centrifugation and purified by isopynic gradient centrifugation in cesium chloride. Peak infective virus came to equilibrium at a buoyant density of 1.18–1.20 g/ml. 3H–uridine and 32P-orthophosphate added during infection were recovered in density-gradient fractions containing maximal amounts of infective virus. 3H–thymidine added to infected cells was not detected in fractions containing infective virus. The results indicate that visna virus contains RNA.
Trona at extreme conditions: A pollutant-sequestering material at high pressures and low temperatures

Single-crystal X-ray diffraction of trona, Na 3 CO 3 HCO 3 ·2H 2 O, was measured between 100 and 340 K at ambient pressures, and the infrared and Raman spectra of this material characterized to ~25 GPa. The thermal expansion of trona is greatest in the b direction, which is due to a particularly large expansion of the long Na 2 -O 1 and the short Na 2 -O 4 bonds within the sodium septahedron in the trona structure. This crystallographic direction is associated with the distance between neighboring carbonate groups and neighboring water molecules within the structure. The dimensions of the carbonate group undergo no systematic changes over this temperature range, and the disordered hydrogen atom within the structure does not order at temperatures down to 100 K. Thus, detailed changes in the geometry of the sodium polyhedra primarily modulate the response of trona to decreases in temperature. The infrared and Raman spectra undergo discontinuous and reversible changes at ~7 and ~14.5 GPa: the former of these phase transitions is likely associated with a shift primarily in the sodium-oxygen polyhedra, while the latter also involves shifts in bonding of the carbonate groups. New assignments are suggested for portions of the vibrational spectrum based on the high-pressure results. Resonance effects between different vibrational modes are observed, including the observation of a transmission maximum associated with a resonant interaction between the carbonate symmetric stretching vibration and a broad mode at similar frequencies. The behavior of trona under extreme conditions is useful for understanding CO 2 -vapor-saturated alkali-rich systems, and late-stage peralkaline magmatic processes and, in its usage as both a sorbent and scrubber of SO 2 and CO 2 in flue gasses and lignite coals.
EFFECTS OF INJECTOR GEOMETRY ON SUBMERGED GAS BUBBLE FORMATION

The effects of injector geometry on bubble formation from submerged gas injection were studied under isothermal conditions. Three free-standing capillary tubes (0.2, 0.5, and 1.0 mm diameters) and three plate-orifices with the same diameters were used as injectors. Compressed air was used as the gas, while water mixed with glycerin was used as the liquid. A common Weber number range was maintained in the experiments to investigate bubble diameter dependence on the Weber number. The flow regimes and the bubble diameters were documented using high-speed photography. In general, it was observed that larger bubble sizes were formed with the plate orifices than with the tube injectors. This could be due to the increased area available for the anchoring of the bubbles in the case of plate orifices. An increase in liquid viscosity resulted in large bubbles and a reduced bubble formation rate because of increased drag forces.
Succession of Adult Coleoptera in Bovine Manure in East Central South Dakota

A two-year study was conducted in east central South Dakota to determine the species and succession pattern of adult Coleoptera in bovine manure. A total of 38 species, representing the families Histeridae, Hydrophilidae, Scarabaeidae and Staphylinidae, was collected. Three species, Platystethus americanus Erichson, Cercyon pygmaeus (Illiger), and C. quisquilius L., accounted for 50+% of all beetles recovered. Succession patterns indicated that hydrophilids immediately aggregated on the manure, but as the dung aged the number of hydrophilids decreased. The staphylinids occurred in greatest number on manure 72 hours old, and the scarabs on dung aged 47—72 hours. The histerids, which occurred in the fewest numbers, were found most frequently on 72-hr-old manure.
Favorable associations with alcohol and impaired self-regulation: A behavioral economic analysis

Abstract Background Recent research has demonstrated that both poor self-regulation and favorable implicit associations toward alcohol can play important roles in predicting drinking. Less well studied, however, is how the interplay between implicit associations and self-regulation may impact decisions about alcohol consumption. Behavioral economics is one important tool that may provide insight into the cognitive processes that impact demand for alcohol and drinking decisions. Methods Healthy young adult participants completed an Implicit Association Task (IAT) that measured the strength of associations between approach/avoid attributes and target alcohol/neutral images. Impaired self-regulation was assessed by a classic delay discounting task. Participants also completed an Alcohol Purchase Task (APT), which yields multiple behavioral economic indices, chief among which are intensity (the number of drinks a participant would consume if the drinks were free) and elasticity (the degree to which an increased per-drink price impacts the number of drinks consumed in a hypothetical drinking situation). Finally, participants completed a timeline follow-back assessment of past-90-day drinking. Results Findings indicated that implicit approach associations toward alcohol predicted increased demand for alcohol on the APT. Although delay discounting did not have a direct effect on demand for alcohol, there was a significant interaction between IAT and delay discounting, such that higher implicit alcohol approach associations predicted particularly high demand for alcohol among participants with poorer self-regulation. APT and IAT, in turn, predicted self-reported drinking behavior. Conclusions These results suggest that favorable attitudes toward alcohol, together with poor self-regulation, can significantly impact drinking decisions in healthy young adults.
Agomelatine:a new antidepressant drug

Agomelatine as a new antidepressant drug with a potent agonist of melatonin receptors and an antagonist of the serotonin 5-HT2C receptor subtype is now being in late-phase trials for the treatment of major depressive disorder(MDD)as well as other antidepressants but with further more improvement of symptoms of depression and fewer adverse reactions.Agomelatine appears to have efficient effect on the circadian rhythm especially for improving sleep quality;without sexual dysfunction and discontinuation symptoms.The article provides an up-to-date review and progress of the agent.
Performance prediction of multinomial pattern matching under ideal point response variations

Typical ATR performance metrics are based on the results of empirical studies on truthed datasets where it is difficult to fully sample the space of expected variation yielding potentially false generalizations of empirical performance results to a rigorous performance assessment. This is especially difficult when many sources of variation can exist in the data, typically referred to as operating conditions. Here, we propose a general method to analytically predict the classification performance of the MPM algorithm when samples are assumed realizations of two separate MPM template parametrizations differing as a function of a single, conditionally independent operation condition. This performance prediction approach is then used to investigate the role the ideal point response has in the classification performance of synthetic aperture radar targets. The exact trade-off we study is coherently processing an aperture to yield a single higher resolution image versus non-coherently processing the aperture to yield multiple lower resolution looks of a scene. Experiments are conducted using SAR imagery from the Air Force Research Laboratories Civilian Vehicle dataset. An additional performance analysis presents an analytic approach to predict algorithm performance under additive white Gaussian noise for a general N q allowing the performance loss under IPR variations to be mapped to an equivalent loss in signal-to-noise ratio.
IgA and Cancer

Publisher Summary Immunoglobulins (Igs) are produced from differentiated B lymphocytes. They bind antigens and inactivate or remove offending toxins, microbial agents, and other foreign substances hostile to the body. The chapter describes the general classification of Igs: IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD and IgE. IgA comprises of 7–15% of the total serum immunoglobulin and is the predominant immunoglobulin in body secretions such as gastrointestinal tract secretions, saliva, tears, nasal secretions , and human milk. The chapter discusses the association of IgA deficiency and neoplasia. Both B and T lymphocytes are developmentally derived from a common stem cell and factors that influence their differentiation and maturation explains some of the observational findings in patients with neoplasms. IgA and anti-IgA antibodies are helpful in the diagnosis and prognosis of some neoplasms..The chapter describes the alteration in immunoresponses or a relative immunodeficiency and its association with lymphoproliferative disorders, plasmacytoma, multiple myeloma, primary gastric lymphoma, gastrointestinal cancer, small bowel, and other neoplasms.
Phenotypic Screens Identify Parasite Genetic Factors Associated with Malarial Fever Response in Plasmodium falciparum piggyBac Mutants

ABSTRACT Malaria remains one of the most devastating parasitic diseases worldwide, with 90% of the malaria deaths in Africa in 2013 attributable to Plasmodium falciparum. The clinical symptoms of malaria include cycles of fever, corresponding to parasite rupture from red blood cells every 48 h. Parasite pathways involved in the parasite’s ability to survive the host fever response, and indeed, the functions of ~40% of P. falciparum genes as a whole, are still largely unknown. Here, we evaluated the potential of scalable forward-genetic screening methods to identify genes involved in the host fever response. We performed a phenotypic screen for genes linked to the parasite response to febrile temperatures by utilizing a selection of single-disruption P. falciparum mutants generated via random piggyBac transposon mutagenesis in a previous study. We identified several mutants presenting significant phenotypes in febrile response screens compared to the wild type, indicating possible roles for the disrupted genes in this process. We present these initial studies as proof that forward genetics can be used to gain insight into critical factors associated with parasite biology. IMPORTANCE Though the P. falciparum genome sequence has been available for many years, ~40% of its genes do not have informative annotations, as they show no detectable homology to those of studied organisms. More still have not been evaluated via genetic methods. Scalable forward-genetic approaches that allow interrogation of gene function without any pre-existing knowledge are needed to hasten understanding of parasite biology, which will expedite the identification of drug targets and the development of future interventions in the face of spreading resistance to existing frontline drugs. In this work, we describe a new approach to pursue forward-genetic phenotypic screens for P. falciparum to identify factors associated with virulence. Future large-scale phenotypic screens developed to probe other such interesting phenomena, when considered in parallel, will prove a powerful tool for functional annotation of the P. falciparum genome, where so much remains undiscovered.
Inheritance of Sterile Brachytic and Sterile Dwarf Plants in Peanut

ABSTRACT Infraspecific cross combinations between the two subspecies of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L. ssp. hypogaea and ssp. fastigiata) result in sterile brachytic plants. These sterile brachytic plants have short stem internodes with clustering of the four leaflets without apparent rachis, shortened petiole, and absent of flowers. In the present study, phenotypically similar sterile dwarf plants were also found but with apparently fertile pollen, female sterile flowers, and visible rachis and petiolate leaflets, within subspecies hypogaea cross combination. Inheritance data suggested two or four recessive genes controlling the sterile brachytic plants found in F2 populations between the two subspecies hypogaea x fastigiata crosses. However, only one recessive gene (sdw) was proposed for the similar sterile dwarf plants found in different F2 populations within ssp. hypogaea x hypogaea crosses.
Design and Performance of a Surgical Tool Tracking System for Minimally Invasive Surgery

The technique of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) introduces new interfaces as compared to more traditional open surgical techniques. These interfaces impose motion constraints and forces on the tool(s) and hand(s). These interfaces are not well characterized, yet surgical simulators and surgical robots are being developed without this vital information. Much work has been done by our group with regard to measuring and analyzing the forces and torques being applied by the surgeons during two common laparoscopic procedures in order to objectively evaluate skill level. However, it is assumed that quantifying tool position would help to further discriminate skill level by allowing analysis of power and energy production by the surgeon: expert surgeons are hypothesized to exert less effort, as measured by mechanical work, than a non-expert during the course of an operation. A system for measuring these motions, as well as the forces and torques applied during surgery is described and evaluated.
Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Randomized Clinical Trial of the Effect of the Dietary Supplement S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine (AdoMet) on Plasma Homocysteine (Hcy) Levels in Healthy Human Subjects.

Abstract BACKGROUND: S-adenosyl-L-methionine (AdoMet or SAM-e®) is a commonly used nutritional supplement available in the United States since 1999. AdoMet is metabolized to homocysteine (Hcy), a potential cardiovascular risk factor. A few open-label, single-arm studies have reported on the effect of exogenous AdoMet on the levels of Hcy in humans; however, this has not been tested in a double-blind, randomized clinical trial. As a nutritional supplement, AdoMet is subject only to limited regulation by the FDA, despite being used to treat clinical diseases such as depression and osteoarthritis. AdoMet is the methyl donor for small molecule, DNA, RNA, and protein methylation reactions; therefore, further understanding the biology of the AdoMet/Hcy system is important. We hypothesized that exogenous AdoMet would increase plasma Hcy levels. METHODS: In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial, 93 healthy human subjects were screened and 52 were treated with placebo (26) or 800 mg per day AdoMet (26) pills for 4 weeks. Pre- and post-treatment Hcy levels were measured. The primary endpoint was change in Hcy level. Secondary endpoints included an interim Hcy level, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels, lipid profile, and transaminases. Exclusion criteria included pregnancy and concurrent use of medications associated with changes in Hcy. RESULTS: Of 52 subjects enrolled, 45 were evaluable at the end of treatment. Subject characteristics and dropout rates were similar between placebo and control groups. Adverse events were minor and were not different between placebo and AdoMet. The primary endpoint, change in Hcy, was not significantly different between the groups (mean (umol/L), baseline: 7.43 (placebo), 8.25 (AdoMet), P=0.358; 4 week: 7.66 (placebo), 8.06 (AdoMet), P = 0.683; Baseline − 4 week: 0.23 (placebo), −0.19 (AdoMet), P = 0.427). No statistically significant difference in change in Hcy or hsCRP at 2 or 4 weeks was noted. This was true for both absolute differences as well as relative percent changes. A small decrease in ALT was observed at 2 weeks in the AdoMet group compared to the placebo group (P = 0.027). AdoMet is used in the treatment of liver diseases. There was a small, but statistically significant (P = 0.028) decrease in total cholesterol in the AdoMet group as compared to the placebo group. Interestingly, a subject with the highest baseline Hcy level had a decline in Hcy on AdoMet. Study limitations include no evaluation of AdoMet serum levels or measurement of the effect of AdoMet on DNA methylation patterns. CONCLUSIONS: AdoMet seems well tolerated and in a dose of 800 mg/day for 4 weeks does not appear to significantly affect Hcy levels in the blood. Future clinical trials of AdoMet should monitor Hcy levels with extended use of AdoMet to confirm its safety with long term use. Clinicaltrials.gov ID: NCT00284011 .
The GENI Test Automation Framework for New Protocol Development

The National Science Foundation’s GENI testbed provides an open infrastructure environment for researchers to develop networking protocols from the ground up. During implementation and testing of a networking protocol, researchers typically begin with small scale topologies to show initial proof of concept before moving on to larger scale topologies. For small scale topologies, it is feasible to manually deploy, compile, and execute protocol code and collect performance metrics. However, when testing with topologies of tens of nodes or larger, the manually intensive task of code deployment, compilation, execution, and metrics collection becomes infeasible. To combat this issue, we present an automation framework for the GENI testbed that requires very little user interaction and utilizes existing GENI APIs and constructs, including the manifest RSPEC file, to perform automated testing of a networking protocol. In this article, we provide the details of the automation framework and its use in the development and evaluation of a new Layer 2.5 protocol, namely the Multi Node Label Routing protocol. The framework can also be used for collection of performance metrics in an automated fashion.
Aspirin to Prevent Preeclampsia

Not long after the physiological effects of prostacyclin (epoprostenol) and thromboxane on platelets and vessel walls were elucidated,1 it was suggested that many of the pathophysiological features of preeclampsia might be explained by disordered eicosanoid metabolism. The effects of aspirin in low concentrations, including reductions in platelet aggregation and constriction of arterial smooth muscle, made it an attractive choice for potentially ameliorating the pathophysiological effects of preeclampsia. The largest trial to date of aspirin to prevent preeclampsia in pregnant women, the Collaborative Low-Dose Aspirin Study in Pregnancy (CLASP),2 which involved more than 9300 women at high risk for preeclampsia or . . .
Dynamic vortex arrays created by starfish larvae

This paper is associated with a video winner of a 2016 APS/DFD Milton van Dyke Award for work presented at the DFD Gallery of Fluid Motion. The original video is available from the Gallery of Fluid Motion, https://doi.org/10.1103/APS.DFD.2016.GFM.V0055
“What citizens can see of the state”: Police and the construction of democratic citizenship in Latin America:

Police exercise the state’s monopoly of legitimate use of force, a fundamental state function that shapes the construction of citizenship. What are the implications for citizenship when that monopo...
Improved androgenesis of interspecific potato and efficiency of SSR markers to identify homozygous regenerants

Three interspecific diploid potato hybrids between selections of Solanum phureja Juz. & Buk. and S. chacoense Bitt. were used in anther culture experiments to construct a monoploid family. Different aspects of the anther culture process were affected by the treatments, such as: growing conditions of donor plants, ways of preparing the anther culture medium, and conditions of anthers in culture. Genotype and date of culture initiation were among the most significant sources of variation. Significant improvements in anther culture response were achieved by growing plants at 30°C and by a heat shock of 35°C for 12 h given to anthers in culture, which gave an increase of up to 40% in embryo yield. However, the heat shock reduced the plant regeneration rate. The majority of regenerated plants was diploid, suggesting that there were several recessive lethal alleles in heterozygous status in the anther-donor. Among the regenerants, the homozygotes could be successfully identified by simple sequence repeat analysis, using eight polymorphic primer pairs.
Clinical comparison of four minute IQ-SPECT imaging with conventional parallel hole collimated SPECT/CT

1132 Objectives The objective of this study was to quantitatively compare attenuation corrected (AC) SPECT using IQ-SPECT performed in four min with conventional parallel hole collimated SPECT/CT performed in 15-20 min. Methods 110 pts referred for indicated SPECT perfusion imaging with Tc-99m tracers were evaluated with AC SPECT. Imaging was performed with both parallel hole collimation using a Siemens Symbia T16 SPECT/CT and the same system with the IQ-SPECT modification employing SMARTZOOM collimators and cardio-centric orbits. Standard SPECT/CT was performed over 180° orbits at 3° increments for 15-20 sec per view into 128x128 matrices and 4.8 mm pixels. Study time was 15-20 min and images were AC using CT images acquired before SPECT with the integrated CT. IQ-SPECT images were acquired over 208° cardio-centric orbits with 17 views per detector for 9 sec per view to 128x128 matrices and 4.80 mm pixels, total study time of 4 min, and corrected for AC. Normal databases were created from 30 low likelihood normal males and 22 low likelihood females. Standard 17 segment scoring and blackout polarmap analyses were employed (Corridor4DM). Results Images were scored from 0 - unacceptable to 4 - excellent. Image quality was similar for the two methods, p=NS. Among 13 low likelihood normals not included in the normal databases, 11 were normal with IQ-SPECT and 12 were normal with standard SPECT/CT (p=NS). There were 14 pts with document coronary heart disease (CHD). The summed stress scores were similar with IQ-SPECT and standard SPECT/CT (13.9±10.2 as 12.4±11.4 respectively, p=NS). Blackout polarmap analysis demonstrated similar results for IQ-SPECT and standard SPECT/CT (27.8±18.7 as 23.9±22.5 respectively, p=NS). Angiographic correlations were similar with a trend to increased sensitivity with IQ-SPECT, 12 versus 8 true positives, p=NS by SSS and 13 versus 9 true positives, p=NS by blackout analyses. Conclusions Quantitative analyses of IQ-SPECT and standard parallel hole collimated SPECT/CT provides images of comparable quality, normalcy and sensitivity
Characterization of value locality in Java programs

This chapter studies the file caching characteristics of the industry-standard webserving benchmark SPECwev99 and develops an optimal cost model for balancing performance and disk and RAM costs, where "cost" can be very broadly defined. The model is applied to a realistic 32-bit address hardware configuration to demonstrate a solution that eliminates file accesses as potential webserving bottleneck for very high workload levels.
Diffusion models for gas production from coals: Application to methane content determination

Abstract Experimental studies of methane diffusion from coal cuttings have been analysed with both a unipore diffusion model and a bi-disperse pore structure diffusion model to determine the time range of each model's validity. Initial desorption, during the first 50% of volume desorbed, can be adequately described by the unipore model. For Fruitland coals of the San Juan Basin, the unipore diffusion coefficient varied by less than a factor of 2 from a value of 1 × 10−5s−1 despite large variations in sample depth and location. The unipore diffusion model has been successfully incorporated into a lost-gas-correction-factor determination as part of a new technique to delineate coal-bed methane. To describe methane diffusion over the full timescale of desorption, a more complex model which more accurately represents the observed bi-disperse pore structure of coal is required. Using that model the observed desorption rate is described over all the desorption. This model is especially applicable as a source term in describing overall well production.
Diffusion of oxygen in plasma and blood.

Quantitative analysis of oxygen transport in blood requires accurate values for the oxygen diffusion coefficient (D) in blood plasma and in whole blood. There has been a controversy over the effect of plasma composition on D. One group [1] has found a precipitous drop in plasma D with small changes in the concentrations of various common plasma proteins. This would have profound physiological and pathological consequences [2,3]. Other groups [4,5,6] have found D in solutions of plasma proteins to be well-behaved, decreasing regularly with increasing protein concentration. None of these measurements, however, have been made on natural human plasma. The present study, which used freshly drawn human plasma, found that D decreased almost linearly with total protein content, even in very abnormal plasmas. It also found that the D in plasma and its serum were identical and that serum could be stored frozen for several months without changing its D. From measurements of D in plasma, and literature values for D in packed red blood cells, D in whole blood was estimated.
Effects of Parathion on the Mammalian Nervous System

Parathion is a widely used, highly toxic organophosphate insecticide. It is oxidatively desulfurated in vivo to its active metabolite, paraoxon, by liver and extrahepatic tissue in a number of mammalian and other vertebrate species (Hitchcock and Murphy, 1971; Poore and Neal, 1972; Whitehouse and Ecobichon, 1975). Paraoxon is a powerful inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) (for example, see reviews by O’Brien, 1967; Corbett, 1974; Main, 1976). For this reason, paraoxon is believed to produce hyperactivity at cholinergic synapses and junctions by reducing the rate of breakdown of acetylcholine (ACh), which in turn results in a buildup of ACh (DuBois et al., 1949; Stewart, 1952; Wecker et al., 1977). The fact that the symptomatology results from excess ACh, rather than from the inhibited AChE per se, was demonstrated by Schaumann (1960), who produced nearly 100 percent inhibition of AChE in mice with a number of different anticholinesterases, including parathion, and was able to save the animals with high doses of atropine to protect against the accumulating ACh.
Imaging of Hepatic Fibrosis

The purpose of this review is to discuss the current imaging techniques for non-invasive assessment of liver fibrosis (LF). Elastography-based techniques are the most widely used imaging methods for the evaluation of LF. Currently, MR elastography (MRE) is the most accurate non-invasive method for detection and staging of LF. Ultrasound-based vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) is the most widely used as it can be easily performed at the point of care but has technical limitations especially in the obese. Innovations and technical improvements continue to evolve in elastography for improving accuracy and avoiding misinterpretation from confounding factors. Other imaging methods including diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), hepatocellular contrast-enhanced (HCE) MRI, T1 relaxometry, T1ρ imaging, textural analysis, liver surface nodularity, susceptibility-weighted imaging, and perfusion imaging are promising but need further evaluation and clinical validation. MRE is the most accurate imaging technique for assessment of LF.
Field potential 1/f activity in the subcallosal cingulate region as a candidate signal for monitoring deep brain stimulation for treatment-resistant depression.

In four patients with treatment-resistant depression undergoing therapeutic deep brain stimulation (DBS), we present the first longitudinal observations of local field potentials (LFP) from the sub...
Diversionary cheap talk: economic conditions and US foreign policy rhetoric, 1945-2010

ABSTRACTThis study explains how the economy affects the foreign policy rhetoric used by American presidents. When economic conditions deteriorate, presidents criticize foreign nations to boost thei...
Small Molecules Targeting H3K9 Methylation Prevent Silencing of Reactivated FMR1 Alleles in Fragile X Syndrome Patient Derived Cells

In fragile X syndrome (FXS), expansion of a CGG repeat tract in the 5'-untranslated region of the FMR1 gene to >200 repeats causes transcriptional silencing by inducing heterochromatin formation. Understanding the mechanism of FMR1 silencing is important as gene reactivation is a potential treatment approach for FXS. To date, only the DNA demethylating drug 5-azadeoxycytidine (AZA) has proved effective at gene reactivation; however, this drug is toxic. The repressive H3K9 methylation mark is enriched on the FMR1 gene in FXS patient cells and is thus a potential druggable target. However, its contribution to the silencing process is unclear. Here, we studied the effect of small molecule inhibitors of H3K9 methylation on FMR1 expression in FXS patient cells. Chaetocin showed a small effect on FMR1 gene reactivation and a synergistic effect on FMR1 mRNA levels when used in combination with AZA. Additionally, chaetocin, BIX01294 and 3-Deazaneplanocin A (DZNep) were able to significantly delay the re-silencing of AZA-reactivated FMR1 alleles. These data are consistent with the idea that H3K9 methylation precedes DNA methylation and that removal of DNA methylation is necessary to see the optimal effect of histone methyl-transferase (HMT) inhibitors on FMR1 gene expression. Nonetheless, our data also show that drugs targeting repressive H3K9 methylation marks are able to produce sustained reactivation of the FMR1 gene after a single dose of AZA.
Heim Sequences and Why Most Unqualified ‘Would’-Counterfactuals Are Not True

The apparent consistency of Sobel sequences (example below) famously motivated David Lewis to defend a variably strict conditional semantics for counterfactuals. If Sophie had gone to the parade, s...
An Examination of the Effect of New Venture Ideation Exercises on Entrepreneurial Intentions

Entrepreneurship programming has become a popular choice among higher education students. Entrepreneurial intent is regarded as a strong predictor of entrepreneurial behavior and success of entrepr...
Table Talk: revision of an observational tool to characterize the feeding environment in early care and education settings.

The Table Talk tool is an observational assessment of early care and education teacher (ECET) mealtime practices. The Table Talk Revised (TT-R) tool incorporates new constructs that emerged from qualitative research and teases apart existing categories to improve nuance of data capture. The objective of this study was to evaluate the TT-R, document interrater reliability for the TT-R, and report on ECET feeding communications in broader settings than previously studied (i.e., beyond a single Lunch and Head Start only). Trained observers conducted mealtime observations in classrooms (Nclassroms = 63, 10 sites) during Breakfast and two Lunches for both Lead and Assistant ECETs (N = 126). Classrooms were spread across Head Start in an urban area (60%), Head Starts in a rural area (24%), and a state-funded preschool (16%). On average, there were 22.17 (SD = 10.92) total verbal feeding communications at Breakfast, 37.72 (SD = 15.83) at Lunch1, and 34.39 (SD = 15.05) at Lunch2 with meals averaging 25 min. The most commonly observed supportive statement category was Exploring Foods for Lead (Breakfast = 1.61, Lunch1 = 3.23, Lunch2 = 2.70) and Assistant ECETs (Breakfast = .89, Lunch1 = 2.03) except for Lunch2 which was Encourages Trying in a Positive Way (Lunch2 = 1.30). The most commonly observed unsupportive statement category was Firm Behavioral Control for both Lead (Breakfast = 3.61, Lunch1 = 5.84, Lunch2 = 5.51) and Assistants ECETs (Breakfast = 3.11, Lunch1 = 6.38, Lunch2 = 4.32). The majority of Interclass Correlation Coefficients indicating interrater reliability were in the excellent range (64%) for commonly occurring statement categories, and 14 of the 19 low frequency statement categories had > 80% agreement. Overall, items added to the Table Talk tool performed well, and interrater reliability was favorable. Our study also documented differences between Lead and Assistant teachers in mealtime practices and illustrated differing patterns of interaction between lunches and breakfast, important findings to inform future research and practice. The TT-R may be a useful measurement tool for monitoring and evaluating ECET practices in mealtime environments as well as informing intervention.
EUS-guided pancreatic ductal intervention: A comprehensive literature review

EUS has opened a new frontier in endoscopic techniques for accessing pancreatic ducts in patients with failed ERCP. The major indications of EUS-guided pancreatic duct intervention (EUS-PDI) are main pancreatic duct (MPD) strictures due to chronic pancreatitis or strictures of pancreaticojejunal or pancreaticogastric anastomosis after Whipple resection, which lead to recurrent acute pancreatitis. EUS-guided pancreaticogastro or duodenostomy offers an alternative to surgery when transpapillary drainage fails or is not possible. We provide an expert commentary and a brief overview on this relatively novel technique utilizing EUS-PDI creation in patients with impaired drainage of the MPD who have failed other conventional endoscopic techniques for MPD drainage and either are poor surgical candidates or are reluctant to undergo surgery.
ALLOCATING THE ROLES FOR CONTRACTS AND JUDGES IN THE CLOSELY HELD FIRM

When cases continue to be debated decades after they were decided it is usually because of how they changed the law at the time of the decision and/or because of what they contribute to resolving new legal problems arising in the current period.1 This Article uses those two benchmarks to analyze Wilkes v. Springside Nursing Home, Inc.2 and its immediate precedent from the prior year, Donahue v. Rodd Electrotype Co.3 Looking at these cases in the context of the changes to the law at the time they were decided (the focus of Part I below), their most lasting impact was not on the equal opportunity principle, or de facto dividend regulation, or even partnership fiduciary duty rules, but on how they changed the dominant legal framework for viewing the closely held firm. In­ deed the primary change following those cases has been in the legis­ lative and judicial embracing of a greater role for judicial involvement as opposed to just leaving parties to their own con­ tracting as the preferred legal response to address the specific pre­ dicament of investors in a closely held firm. The particular legal remedy in those cases, an enhanced fiduci­ ary duty among participants in a closely held corporation, is only one of five that have developed since then as widely accepted legal principles in this area.4 The other four—statutes providing judges
Evaluating dose constraints for radiation induced liver damage following magnetic resonance image guided Stereotactic Body radiotherapy

Abstract This study reports dose corresponding to visible radiation induced liver damage following Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) for liver metastasis, and the optimal time for follow up scans using post radiation imaging. Diagnostic magnetic resonance scans of nine patients treated with liver SBRT using a 0.35 T MRI-guided radiotherapy system were analyzed. The dice coefficients between the region of visible liver damage and the delivered dose were calculated. A median dose of 35 Gy correlated most closely with the visible radiation induced liver damage. We compared scans over two to nine months and observed maximal dice coefficients at two to five months post radiation. We have presented a new method for developing treatment planning guidelines for liver SBRT.
Association of Geometric Characteristics of Knee Anatomy (Alpha Angle and Intercondylar Notch Type) With Noncontact ACL Injury

Background:The femoral intercondylar notch type and the alpha angle (the angle between the femoral notch roof and the long axis of the femur) are easily measured in clinical settings; however, thei...
Soil Physics Companion

Introduction, A.W. Warrick Physical Properties of Primary Particles, J.M. Skopp Particle Density Particle Shape Particle Size Distribution Specific Surface Area Bulk Density and Porosity References Dynamic Properties of Soil, R. Horn and T. Baumgartl Introduction Processes in Aggregate Formation Determination of Mechanical Parameters Effect of Soil Structure and Dynamics on Strength and Stress/Strain Processes Further Dynamic Aspects in Soils Modeling Dynamic Coupled Processes Conclusions References Soil Water Content and Water Potential Relationships, D. Or and J.M. Wraith Introduction Soil Water Content Soil Water Energy Soil Water Content-Energy Relationships Resources References Soil Water Movement, D.E. Radcliffe and T.C. Rasmussen Introduction Flow in Saturated Soil Flow in Unsaturated Soil Measurement of Hydraulic Parameters Numerical Models of Water Flow Concluding Remarks References Water and Energy Balances at Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Interfaces, S.R. Evett Introduction Energy Balance Equation Water Balance Equation References Solute Transport, F.J. Leij and M.Th. van Genuchten Introduction The Advection-Dispersion Equation Solutions of the Advection-Dispersion Equation Stream Tube Models References Soil Structure, B.D. Kay and D.A. Angers Characteristics, Significance, and Measurement of Soil Structure Soil Factors Influencing Structure Other Factors Influencing Soil Structure Interpreting Data on Soil Structure References Soil Gas Movement in Unsaturated Systems, B.R. Scanlon, J.P. Nicot, and J.M. Massmann General Concepts Related to Gas Movement Transport of a Homogeneous Gas Multicomponent Gas Transport Methods Applied Numerical Modeling Applications of Gas Transport Theory Derivation of Equations References Soil Spatial Variability, D.J. Mulla and A.B. McBratney Variability in Soil Properties from Soil Classification Classical Measures of Variability Geostatistics Sampling Design References