cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of Microaneurysm Closure After Focal Laser Photocoagulation in Diabetic Macular Edema

Purpose To characterize microaneurysm closure following focal laser photocoagulation in diabetic macular edema (DME) using simultaneous fluorescein angiography (FA) and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Design Retrospective observational case series. Methods Leaking microaneurysms (n = 123) were analyzed in eyes (n = 29) with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) that underwent navigated focal laser photocoagulation in DME and were followed at 3, 6, and 12 months. Closure of diabetic microaneurysms was characterized in detail following focal laser using SD-OCT. Results Closure rate of microaneurysms by both FA and SD-OCT was 69.9% (84/123), 79.7% (98/123), and 82.9% (102/123) at 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively. Microaneurysm closure rate increased at 6 and 12 months compared to 3 months (P Conclusions Characterization of microaneurysms following focal laser photocoagulation resulted in hyperreflective spots and complete resolution of all reflectivity using SD-OCT. Smaller microaneurysms and those with heterogeneous lumen were positively associated with microaneurysm closure. These findings provide greater understanding of localized retinal changes following focal laser photocoagulation in DME treatment.
A path analysis model of psychosexuality in young women

Abstract Path analysis is employed to delineate the relationships among sexual behavior variables, including orgasm consistency, masturbation frequency, cognitive sexual arousal, and satisfaction with sexual responsivity. The analysis provides insights into the processes by which the variables are related to one another and generates specific hypotheses for future questionnaire and experimental research. The results are used to develop a psychosexual model for women, which holds that a masturbation/orgasm sequence may be a prerequisite for an understanding of cognitive elements leading to arousal and their physiological concomitants. Once this platform has been established, a single-partner-oriented sexual adjustment is possible, but a frequent exchange of partners at this time may prove detrimental to sexual satisfaction. Later on in life, intercourse frequency may diminish, and moderate sexual dissatisfaction may develop. The implications of this model for further research are explored. Replication and extension of this study with additional measures and older populations of women is recommended.
Fluorescence stopped-flow study of the o-phthaldialdehyde reaction

Abstract The fluorogenic reaction involving three species, namely, a primary amine, o -phthaldialdehyde (OPA), and a thiol compound was studied with the fluorescence stopped-flow technique. The results are consistent with the reaction of the amine with a 1:1 adduct of OPA and the thiol compound. The equilibrium constant for the formation of the adduct, OPAME, from OPA and mercaptoethanol (ME) was determined to be 164 m −1 . A survey of the rates of reaction of OPAME with various amino acids demonstrated that with OPA: ME:amine equal to 1:2.4:1 (total OPA concentration 0.5 to 3.0 × 10 −3 m ), the reaction followed second-order kinetics, with k = 150 to 450 m −1 s −1 at pH 9.O. The differences in rates are discussed in relation to structural differences between the amines. The reaction, when conducted under conditions of excess OPAME yielded pseudo-first-order kinetics, with rates consistent with the second-order rate constants. The rate of reaction of OPAME with alanine was maximal at pH 10.5–11, and a great excess of ME resulted in a slower rate. Slower rates were also observed if ME was replaced by dithiothreitol or 1-propanethiol.
A comparative study of warping and rigid body registration for the prostate and pelvic MR volumes

A three-dimensional warping registration algorithm was created and compared to rigid body registration of magnetic resonance (MR) pelvic volumes including the prostate. The rigid body registration method combines the advantages of mutual information (MI) and correlation coefficient at different resolutions. Warping registration is based upon independent optimization of many interactively placed control points (CP’s) using MI and a thin plate spline transformation. More than 100 registration experiments with 17 MR volume pairs determined the quality of registration under conditions simulating potential interventional MRI-guided treatments of prostate cancer. For image pairs that stress rigid body registration (e.g. supine, the diagnostic position, and legs raised, the treatment position), both visual and numerical evaluation methods showed that warping consistently worked better than rigid body. Experiments showed that < 180 strategically placed CP’s were sufficiently expressive to capture important features of the deformation. q 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Nutritional copper deficiency does not affect sponge granuloma formation in the rat.

Sponge granuloma formation was compared in copper-deficient and copper-sufficient rats following feeding of respective diets for 20, 40, or 60 d. Body weight, total blood hemoglobin, and activities of ceruloplasmin and Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase in plasma were monitored to ascertain copper deficiency. Mean granuloma weights (mg±SEM) in copper-deficient and copper-sufficient groups of rats, respectively, were as follows: 37±2 and 38±2 after 20 d, 22±2 and 23±2 after 40 d, and 19±1 and 21±1 after 60 d on respective diets. Thus, nutritional copper deficiency did not have an effect on sponge granuloma formation in the rat.
TU-G-BRB-06: Conversion of X-Ray Sinogram to Proton Sinogram to Address the Limited-Range Issue in Proton Computed Tomography

Purpose: To investigate a novel methodology of converting x‐ray sinograms into protonsinogram, which can be used to replace the missing part of an actual protonsinogram due to the limited‐range problem. Methods: Modeling has shown that there exist correlations between proton projection and multispectral x‐ray projection for materials in the human body. Based on these correlations, materials can be categorized into: A) adipose tissue, B) non‐adipose soft tissue, C) bone. These three categories can be identified on a regular x‐ray computed tomography (xCT) image without much effort. With an xCT image and its sinogram available, the x‐ray sinogram can be converted to the corresponding protonsinogram by: 1) converting the x‐ray raysum through adipose and non‐adipose soft tissues using the predetermined relationships and the relative portions of two types of material along the ray; and 2) by correcting for bone if the ray passes through it. In a proof‐of‐principle study, numerical simulations were done. The converted protonsinogram was compared to the simulated one. The converted protonsinogram is used to make up the 200 MeV proton projections through water‐equivalent depth (WED) larger than 20 cm, which are then combined with simulated proton projections through WED < 20 cm for pCT stopping powerreconstruction. Results: A sinogram profile for view angle = 0 showed the converted projections had a mean error of −0.13% (standard deviation 1.7%), RMS error of 0.20%, compared to the simulated one. The pCT stopping powerimagereconstructed using the sinogram with converted part (13.5% of total projections) showed a mean error of only +0.3% (standard deviation 4.6%). Conclusions: The proposed methodology allows one to convert x‐ray sinograms into protonsinograms with a reasonable accuracy, and is particularly useful to address the limited‐range problem of pCT scanning.
Control Mechanisms for the Growth of Isolated Vertically Aligned Carbon Nanofibers

Isolated vertically aligned carbon nanofibers (VACNFs) have been grown using dc plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition, and the effects of the growth conditions on VACNF morphology and composition have been determined in substantial detail. The dependence of the growth rate, tip and base diameters, and chemical composition of isolated VACNFs on the growth parameters is described, including the effects of plasma power and gas mixture. Phenomenological models explaining the observed growth behavior are presented. The results indicate the importance of plasma control for the deterministic growth of isolated VACNFs, which are promising elements for the fabrication of practical nanoscale devices.
Tracking tissue section surfaces for automated 3D confocal cytometry

Three-dimensional cytometry, whereby large volumes of tissue would be measured automatically, requires a computerized method for detecting the upper and lower tissue boundaries. In conventional confocal microscopy, the user interactively sets limits for axial scanning for each field-of-view. Biological specimens vary in section thickness, thereby driving the requirement for setting vertical scan limits. Limits could be set arbitrarily large to ensure the entire tissue is scanned, but automatic surface identification would eliminate storing undue numbers of empty optical sections and forms the basis for incorporating lateral microscope stage motion to collect unlimited numbers of stacks. This walk-away automation of 3D confocal scanning for biological imaging is the first sep towards practical, computerized statistical sampling from arbitrarily large tissue volumes. Preliminary results for automatic tissue surface tracking were obtained for phase-contrast microscopy by measuring focus sharpness (previously used for high-speed autofocus by our group). Measurements were taken from 5X5 fields-of-view from hamster liver sections, varying from five to twenty microns in thickness, then smoothed to lessen variations of in-focus information at each axial position. Because image sharpness (as the power of high spatial frequency components) drops across the axial boundaries of a tissue section, mathematical quantities including the full-width at half-maximum, extrema in the first derivative, and second derivative were used to locate the proximal and distal surfaces of a tissue. Results from these tests were evaluated against manual (i.e., visual) determination of section boundaries.
Prostate cancer: Predicting prostate biopsy results—PCA3 versus phi

Data comparing tests designed to predict the likelihood of finding significant prostate cancer on biopsy are limited. A comparison of two such tests—the Prostate Health Index (phi) and prostate cancer antigen 3 (PCA3) score—has found that phi outperforms PCA3 for predicting clinically significant prostate cancer.
Creep of thin metallic films

Abstract Free-standing films of Al, AlSi (1%) and Cu, 1 μm thick, were prepared by chemical ablation from commercially produced metallizations deposited on Si/SiO 2 substrates. The films were tested at various temperatures and stresses in a specially designed creep apparatus. By varying temperatures and loads, the activation energies and stress dependences for secondary creep were determined. In addition, primary creep curves were generated by adding small load increments during the tests. By evaluating these curves, the activation volumes and dislocation densities were obtained.
Implicit guidance to dynamic stability in rhythmic ball bouncing

While rhythmically bouncing a ball with a racket appears to be a simple task, it requires precise perceptually-guided coordination between racket and ball to be successful. In this task, subjects manipulate a real table tennis racket to rhythmically bounce a virtual ball to a target height in a 2D virtual environment. Stability analyses of the mathematical model of a bouncing ball showed that dynamic stability is indicated when the racket contacts the ball during the decelerating portion of the racket's upward movement [1-3]. Dynamically stable performance implies that small errors converge back to stable performance without requiring active corrections, hence constituting a “smart” solution that skilled performers adopt. Previous studies have shown that practice is needed in order to find this dynamically stable solution. This study examined if a suitably designed perturbation could guide novice subjects to hit with negative racket acceleration earlier in practice. The perturbation was applied to racket velocity at contact. Instead of using the actual racket velocity at contact, the calculation used the velocity value 50 ms prior. Results show that humans can be guided to exploit dynamic stability in coordinative behavior early in practice and maintain dynamic stability even when the guidance is removed.
Origin of spinal cord axons in the lizard regenerated tail: Supernormal projections from local spinal neurons

During tail regeneration most lizards also regenerate the tail spinal cord. The regenerated spinal cord primarily contains neuroepithelium (i.e., the ependymal tube which forms the central canal) and descending axons. The present experiments identify the source of the axons in the regenerated spinal cord. Application of HRP to normal tail spinal cord resulted in labeled cells in the nucleus paraventricularis, the interstitial nucleus of the fasciculus longitudinalis medialis, the nucleus ruber, the medullary reticular formation (including raphe nuclei), as well as in vestibular nuclei. HRP applied to the regenerated spinal cord labeled only 4% of the cells seen in normal animals, and these were confined to rhombencephalic nuclei. The lack of labeling of more rostral nuclei was not due to the death of descending neurons. Application of HRP immediately rostral to the regenerated spinal cord resulted in the labeling of a normal, and in some cases, greater than normal, number of neurons. To quantify the origin of axons in the regenerated spinal cord, electron microscopic montages of the regenerated spinal cord were made and the number of axons counted, before and after various spinal lesions. Only lesions within one spinal segment of the regenerated spinal cord had a significant effect on the number of axons in the regenerated tail spinal cord. This indicated that most of the regenerated axons were of local spinal origin. A significant increase in the number of labeled local spinal neurons was revealed following application of HRP to a regenerated tail spinal cord. These results suggest that while various portions of the lizard central nervous system can grow axons into the regenerating tail spinal cord, the great majority of axons in the regenerate are of local origin and that some of these arise from neurons that do not normally possess descending projections. Finally, to test whether new neurons were participating in the regeneration process, 3H-thymidine was injected during the regrowth of the tail. No labeled spinal cord cells were conclusively identified as neurons. Thus, the regenerating lizard tail spinal cord exhibits robust axonal sprouting from neurons near the site of a spinal transection in a manner reminiscent of sprouting in the mammalian CNS. This sprouting can develop into descending spinal projections that extend for significant distances into the regenerated tail spinal cord and provides a unique model for exploring the requirements for successful axon growth in an adult vertebrate CNS.
Evaluation of Impaired Cerebral Autoregulation by the Valsalva Maneuver

Background and Purpose Transcranial Doppler sonography has recently been used to describe cerebral hemodynamics during the Valsalva maneuver in normal human subjects. Since some changes in flow velocity during the Valsalva maneuver seem to reflect the brain's autoregulatory response to a decrease in cerebral perfusion pressure during the strain, we hypothesized that this method could identify vascular territories with impaired autoregulatory capacity. Methods Eight patients with unilateral (n=7) or bilateral (n=1) severe obstruction of the internal carotid artery and impaired vascular responses to the CO2 reactivity test and to dynamic autoregulation testing were studied. We compared changes in flow velocities and blood pressures during defined phases of the Valsalva maneuver in the patients with the results in a group of 17 normal volunteers. We defined two indices to evaluate autoregulatory capacity based on the response to the Valsalva maneuver. Results During the Valsalva maneuver, changes in flow vel...
NICE: social translucence through UI intervention

Social production systems such as Wikipedia rely on attracting and motivating volunteer contributions to be successful. One strong demotivating factor can be when an editor's work is discarded, or "reverted", by others. In this paper we demonstrate evidence of this effect and design a novel interface aimed at improving communication between the reverting and reverted editors. We deployed the interface in a controlled experiment on the live Wikipedia site, and report on changes in the behavior of 487 contributors who were reverted by editors using our interface. Our results suggest that simple interface modifications (such as informing Wikipedians that the editor they are reverting is a newcomer) can have substantial positive effects in protecting against contribution loss in newcomers and improving the quality of work done by more experienced contributors.
Big data: the next frontier for innovation in therapeutics and healthcare

Advancements in genomics and personalized medicine not only effect healthcare delivery from patient and provider standpoints, but also reshape biomedical discovery. We are in the era of the '-omics', wherein an individual's genome, transcriptome, proteome and metabolome can be scrutinized to the finest resolution to paint a personalized biochemical fingerprint that enables tailored treatments, prognoses, risk factors, etc. Digitization of this information parlays into 'big data' informatics-driven evidence-based medical practice. While individualized patient management is a key beneficiary of next-generation medical informatics, this data also harbors a wealth of novel therapeutic discoveries waiting to be uncovered. 'Big data' informatics allows for networks-driven systems pharmacodynamics whereby drug information can be coupled to cellular- and organ-level physiology for determining whole-body outcomes. Patient '-omics' data can be integrated for ontology-based data-mining for the discovery of new biological associations and drug targets. Here we highlight the potential of 'big data' informatics for clinical pharmacology.
Daily Indicator Review Team (DIRT)

Sort test systems (STS) quality events limit manufacturing output capability. Sort does not possess an automated process control system. The daily indicator review team (DIRT) was created in Q2 '04 to focus on detection, reaction, and reducing STS quality events with the overall goal of improving sort manufacturing efficiency. This forum has evolved from an engineering led team to a manufacturing led team. This abstract presents the operational and tactical model of the DIRT and illustrates the DIRT's role in the identification of chronic technical issues and the continuous output improvements of the sort test systems
Clinical Outcome in a Contemporary Series of Restaged Patients with Clinical T1 Bladder Cancer

Abstract Objectives To evaluate the indications for early and deferred cystectomy and to report the impact of this tailored approach on survival. Design, setting, and participants We retrospectively studied 523 patients seen at our institution who were initially diagnosed with T1 disease between 1990 and 2007. Measurements Variables analyzed included age, gender, multifocality, multifocal T1 disease, carcinoma in situ, grade, recurrence rate, and restaging status. End points were overall and disease-specific survival. Results and limitations A restaging transurethral resection (TUR) was performed in 523 patients. Of the patients who underwent restaging, 106 (20%) were upstaged to muscle-invasive disease and 417 patients were considered true clinical T1 (cT1); 84 of the latter group underwent immediate cystectomy. The median follow-up for survivors was 4.3 yr. The cumulative incidence of disease-specific death at 5 yr was 8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 5–13%), 10% (95% CI, 5–17%), and 44% (95% CI, 35–56%) for those restaged with lower than T1, T1, and T2 disease, respectively. Immediate cystectomy was more likely in patients with cT1 disease at restaging than in those with disease lower than cT1, but there were no other obvious differences in clinical characteristics between those with and without immediate cystectomy. Survival was not statistically different for patients who underwent an immediate cystectomy versus those who were maintained on surveillance with deferred cystectomy if deemed appropriate. Of 333 patients who did not undergo immediate cystectomy, 59 had a deferred cystectomy, and the likelihood of deferred cystectomy was greater in those with T1 disease on restaging TUR (hazard ratio: 2.40; 95% CI, 1.43–4.01; p =0.001). Conclusions Restaging TUR should be performed in patients diagnosed with cT1 bladder cancer to improve staging accuracy. Patients with T1 disease on restaging are at higher risk of progression and should be considered for early cystectomy.
Whipspiders (Arachnida: Amblypygi) in amber from the Early Eocene and mid-Cretaceous, including maternal care

Two new genera and species of fossil whipspiders (Chelicerata: Arachnida: Amblypygi) are described from Tertiary and Cretaceous ambers of southern Asia. Paracharonopsis cambayensis Engel & Grimaldi, new genus and species, preserved in Cambay amber of Ypresian age from western India is the first Tertiary and Asian fossil of the Paleoamblypygi, a highly relict taxon that includes the Late Carboniferous genus Graeophonus Scudder and the living West African species Paracharon caecus Hansen. Paracharonopsis cambayensis is one of the few examples in Cambay amber of a biotic connection to Africa; most taxa show widespread or Laurasian distributions. Kronocharon prendinii Engel & Grimaldi, new genus and species, is the first Cretaceous amber whipspider and putatively a sister group to the Phrynoidea (= Apulvillata). The holotype female of K. prendinii is preserved with the remains of three nymphs near her, documenting the Early Cretaceous presence of the extended maternal care so distinctive for the order, and a behavioral repertoire widespread among arachnids.
Modeling of traveling-wave amplification photodetectors (TAP detectors)

High speed, high efficiency, low noise and high saturation power are the characteristics desired for detectors in high bit-rate long-haul optical communication systems. We present the modeling of Traveling-wave Amplification Photodetectors (TAP detectors). These novel monolithic devices combine optical gain and absorption in a distributed fashion along a traveling-wave structure, providing high-responsivity and high-speed performance, without sacrificing saturation power. We present the models used to simulate the behavior of these devices, as well as their results. We show that TAP detectors have higher saturation power than other detectors with the same bandwidth-efficiency product, at the price of a small noise penalty, which is also calculated. The result is a net increase in the dynamic range.
Sexuality and Intimacy After Definitive Treatment and Subsequent Androgen Deprivation Therapy for Prostate Cancer

There are more than 2 million prostate cancer survivors in the United States. Primary therapy with surgery or radiation results in permanent changes in sexual function. More than half of these men are subsequently treated with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) at some point. The addition of ADT further compromises sexuality, intimacy, and a couple's relationship. This review will highlight the challenges faced by patients and couples and reveal the tremendous need for better education of physicians, patients, and couples as well as for more research in sexuality and intimacy with the goal of improving quality of life for this large population of survivors. Suggestions for clinicians to better help patients and their partners regarding sexuality and intimacy are offered.
Alleviating memory bottlenecks using multi-level memory

Limited primary memory and slow secondary memory device speeds are bottlenecks in many modern computer systems. They lead to drastic reduction in the throughput of such computer systems (thrashing) as the degree of multiprogramming (DMP) is increased. Alleviation of the problem by using a multilevel mass storage between the primary and the secondary memory systems is proposed. Analytic techniques applied to evaluate the proposal show that considerable performance gain can be obtained. >
GROWTH, PHYSIOLOGY, AND CHEMISTRY OF MYCORRHIZAL AND NONMYCORRHIZAL TYPHA LATIFOLIA SEEDLINGS

We investigated the impact of arbuscular mycorrhizae fungi on common cattails (Typha latifolia), a ubiquitous wetland plant species. The mycorrhizal relationship, which involves the exchange of fungal-acquired nutrients and plant-produced carbon, has been shown to elicit a range of physiological and biochemical responses in host plants. Growth, photosynthetic activity, biomass accumulation, and nutrition were compared between seedlings inoculated with viable mycorrhizal fungal spores and control seedlings given a sterilized inoculum. Plants were grown in inundated soils at three levels of phosphorous availability under glasshouse conditions for 11 weeks. The presence of arbuscules and hyphae was confirmed in all inoculated plants with levels of infection reaching 23.1 and 34.1%, respectively. Control plants were taller and had greater above- and below-ground biomass. Photosynthetic rates measured at week 11 of the experiment were significantly higher in mycorrhizal plants than in control plants. Mycorrhizal plants had higher concentrations of N, P, and C in their shoots and higher concentrations of N in their roots. Our results suggest that under greenhouse conditions, the fungus acts to reduce host plant growth despite increased mineral nutrition and photosynthetic activity.
Evolution of archosaurian body plans: skeletal adaptations of an air‐sac‐based breathing apparatus in birds and other archosaurs

Living birds represent the only extant sauropsid group in which pulmonary air sacs pneumatize the postcranial skeleton. Notable in this regard is an extraordinary degree of variability, ranging from species that are completely apneumatic to those characterized by air within the entire postcranial skeleton. Although numerous factors (e.g., body size) have been linked with "relative" pneumaticity, comparative studies examining this system remain sparse. This project sought to (1) characterize whole-body patterns of skeletal pneumaticity in distantly related neognath birds and (2) evaluate putative relationships among relative pneumaticity, body size and locomotor specializations. Pneumaticity profiles were established for 52 species representing 10 higher-level groups. Although comparisons reveal relatively conserved patterns within most lower-level clades, apparent size- and locomotor-thresholds do impart predictable deviations from the clade norm. For example, the largest flying birds (vultures, pelicans) exhibit hyperpneumaticity (i.e., pneumaticity of distal limb segments) relative to smaller members of their respective clades. In contrast, skeletal pneumaticity has been independently lost in multiple lineages of diving specialists (e.g., penguins, auks). The application of pneumaticity profiling to extinct archosaurs reveals similar trends in body size evolution, particularly when examining patterns of pneumaticity in a size-diverse assemblage of pterosaurs (flying "reptiles"). As a fundamental organizing system, skeletal pneumaticity may play a role in relaxing constraints on body size evolution by allowing volumetric increases without concomitant increases in body mass. Not only might this be critical for taxa (birds, pterosaurs) exploiting the energetically costly aerial environment, but could be beneficial for any large-bodied terrestrial vertebrates such as the dinosaurs.
Chinese Higher Education in an Open-Door Era

China is opening its doors to foreign higher education providers at a time when competition and markets are being expanded domestically. Today, about 1,400 foreign higher education institutions have been approved by various education authorities in China to operate in the country.
Ground operation of space-based telerobots will enhance productivity

Due to the limited human resources which will be available on the US Space Station, automation and robotics technologies are being developed to enhance the productivity on the Space Station. The author explores the need for space telerobots which can be operated from the ground taking into consideration the resulting time delay, the technology involved, and some currently planned experiments. The proposed experiments include a remote link with the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) robotics laboratory, and the Telerobot Intelligent Interface Flight Experiment (TRIIFEX). It is concluded that there is a need to develop and implement ground-remote telerobotics technology which can effectively operate in the time-delay environment. This capability will enable servicing operations in polar and geosynchronous orbits and assist EVA (extravehicular activity) astronauts on the Space Station. >
Hydrologic and land-energy feedbacks of agricultural water management practices

Recent studies demonstrate strong interdependence between groundwater dynamics, land surface water and energy fluxes over some regions, including significant negative correlation between latent heat flux and groundwater depth. Other studies show that irrigation increases latent heat flux and decreases the Bowen ratio (ratio of sensible to latent heat flux), with subsequent feedbacks on local and regional climate. We use an integrated hydrologic model to evaluate impacts of groundwater pumping, irrigation, and combined pumping and irrigation on groundwater storage, land surface fluxes, and stream discharge over the Little Washita River watershed in the Southern Great Plains of North America. Pumping and irrigation are shown to impact simulated water and energy fluxes at local and watershed scales, with the magnitude of impacts governed by local water table depth. When pumping and irrigation are combined, irrigation has a dominant impact on spatially distributed surface energy processes while pumping has a dominant impact on basin-integrated hydrologic conditions.
Mechanisms of Phosphorus Acquisition for Ponderosa Pine Seedlings under High CO 2 and Temperature

To test the hypothesis that elevated atmospheric CO # and elevated temperature, simulating current and predicted future growing season conditions, act antagonistically on phosphorus acquisition of ponderosa pine, seedlings were grown in controlled-environment chambers in a two temperature (25}10 ∞C and 30}15 ∞C)‹two CO # (350 and 700 ll’") experimental design. Mycorrhizal seedlings were watered daily with a nutrient solution with P added in organic form as inositol hexaphosphate (64 ppm P). Thus seedlings were challenged to use active forms of P acquisition. Elevated CO # increased the relative growth rate by approx. 5% which resulted in an approx. 33% increase in biomass after 4 months. There was no main eect of temperature on growth. Increased growth under elevated CO # and temperature was supported by increases in specific absorption rate and the specific utilization rate of P. The contribution of mycorrhizae to P uptake may have been greater under simulated future conditions, as elevated CO # increased the number of mycorrhizal roots. There was no main eect of temperature on root phosphatase activity, but elevated CO # caused a decrease in activity. The inverse pattern of root phosphatase activity and mycorrhizal infection across treatments suggests a physiological coordination between these avenues of P acquisition. The concentration of oxalate in the soil increased under elevated CO # and decreased under elevated temperature. This small molecular weight acid solubilizes inorganic P making it available for uptake. Increased mycorrhizal infection and exudation of oxalate increased P uptake in ponderosa pine seedlings under elevated CO # , and there was no net negative eect of increased temperature. The increased carbon status of pine under elevated CO # may facilitate uptake of limiting P in native ecosystems. # 1997 Annals of Botany Company
Application of a novel method for phosphorus determinations in the oligotrophic North Pacific Ocean

Phosphorus (P) is an essential macronutrient and is present in seawater as both dissolved inorganic (primarily orthophosphate, Pi) and organic compounds. Current analytical techniques measure soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) as a surrogate for Pi and soluble nonreactive phosphorus as a surrogate for dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP). A new method provides a measure of Pi concentrations directly and eliminates interference from other reactive P compounds. The same method can also be used to make direct measurements of non-Pi phosphorus (NPiP) concentrations (i.e., [total dissolved P] — [Pi]) with greater precision and accuracy limits than current methods provide. With this new method, Pi concentrations in North Pacific surface waters were found to be lower, by up to 50% or more, than SRP concentrations measured with standard autoanalyzer techniques. Mean (±SD) N-PiP concentrations in the deep (>1,000 m) North Pacific were determined to be 16.2 ± 12.5 nM. These results have significant implications for turnover and residence times of dissolved P pools and for utilization of DOP in the deep sea. This new method for Pi and N-PiP measurements has numerous potential applications in marine and freshwater research.
Ionic mechanisms of anoxic injury in mammalian CNS white matter: role of Na+ channels and Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger

White matter of the mammalian CNS suffers irreversible injury when subjected to anoxia/ischemia. However, the mechanisms of anoxic injury in central myelinated tracts are not well understood. Although white matter injury depends on the presence of extracellular Ca2+, the mode of entry of Ca2+ into cells has not been fully characterized. We studied the mechanisms of anoxic injury using the in vitro rat optic nerve, a representative central white matter tract. Functional integrity of the nerves was monitored electrophysiologically by quantitatively measuring the area under the compound action potential, which recovered to 33.5 +/- 9.3% of control after a standard 60 min anoxic insult. Reducing Na+ influx through voltage-gated Na+ channels during anoxia by applying Na+ channel blockers (TTX, saxitoxin) substantially improved recovery; TTX was protective even at concentrations that had little effect on the control compound action potential. Conversely, increasing Na+ channel permeability during anoxia with veratridine resulted in greater injury. Manipulating the transmembrane Na+ gradient at various times before or during anoxia greatly affected the degree of resulting injury; applying zero-Na+ solution (choline or Li+ substituted) before anoxia significantly improved recovery; paradoxically, the same solution applied after the start of anoxia resulted in more injury than control. Thus, ionic conditions that favored reversal of the normal transmembrane Na+ gradient during anoxia promoted injury, suggesting that Ca2+ loading might occur via reverse operation of the Na+)-Ca2+ exchanger. Na(+)- Ca2+ exchanger blockers (bepridil, benzamil, dichlorobenzamil) significantly protected the optic nerve from anoxic injury. Together, these results suggest the following sequence of events leading to anoxic injury in the rat optic nerve: anoxia causes rapid depletion of ATP and membrane depolarization leading to Na+ influx through incompletely inactivated Na+ channels. The resulting rise in the intracellular [Na+], coupled with membrane depolarization, causes damaging levels of Ca2+ to be admitted into the intracellular compartment through reverse operation of the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger. These observations emphasize that differences in the pathophysiology of gray and white matter anoxic injury are likely to necessitate multiple strategies for optimal CNS protection.
Application of Singular Perturbation Theory to Hydraulic Pump Controlled Systems

In this paper, we use singular perturbation theory to simplify control designs for hydraulic systems and to make designs more feasible for engineering practice. The paper presents the derivations, simulations and experimental tests of control laws for a hydraulic displacement-controlled actuator. Analyses of applied conditions and stability proofs are provided. The developed control design procedure is simplified and is robust to variations in the bulk modulus. The proposed design is simulated with cases of different control input models. Experiments are conducted on a novel hydraulic circuit. The results show that position tracking error exponentially decays and control efforts are dominated by low-frequency signals.
Development and Treatment of Tertiary Hyperparathyroidism in Patients with Pseudohypoparathyroidism Type 1B

Context: Pseudohypoparathyroidism type 1B (PHP1B) patients have PTH resistance at the renal proximal tubule and develop hypocalcemia and secondary hyperparathyroidism. Hyperparathyroid bone disease also develops in some patients. PHP1B patients are at theoretical risk of developing tertiary hyperparathyroidism. Setting: Patients were studied in a clinical research center. Patients: Five female PHP1B patients presented with hypercalcemia and elevated PTH. Intervention: Patients either underwent parathyroidectomy (n = 4) or received cinacalcet (n = 1). Main Outcome Measures: Serum calcium and PTH were serially measured before and after intervention. Results: Five PHP1B patients developed concomitantly elevated serum calcium and PTH levels (range, 235–864 ng/liter) requiring termination of calcium and vitamin D therapy (time after diagnosis, 21–42 yr; median, 34 yr), consistent with tertiary hyperparathyroidism. Four patients underwent parathyroidectomy with removal of one (n = 2) or two (n = 2) enlarged par...
Far-infrared near field microscopy

We report on a near-field THz microscopic probe based on a low temperature (LT) grown GaAs photoconducting antenna. The near-field probe consists of an integrated aperture-type probe and photoconducting antenna. In this design, the antenna dipole is located in the near field region of the aperture so that the strong evanescent THz electric field is preferentially detected. A schematic diagram of the near-field detector is presented.
Critical Theory and the Seducement of the 'Art of the Possible'

In order to remedy the difficulties arising from his lifeworld/system distinction, such as the inability of his theory to account for the possibility of legitimate political power, Jurgen Habermas' attention turned toward greater abstraction through an appeal to legal theory as the basis of political consensus in the face of problems of diversity, complexity and pluralism in the modern world. This turn is made possible by an appropriation of some concepts of liberal theory, specifically John Rawls's ideas of "overlapping consensus" and "reflective equilibrium." The author argues that Habermas' insufficiently critical appropriation of these concepts leads to an inadequate account of political power that takes the existing political order as already legitimate, thereby compromising the critical thrust of his own theory.
Dendronized supramolecular polymers self-assembled from dendritic ionic liquids

The synthesis, structural, and retrostructural analysis of a library of self-assembling dendrons containing triethyl and tripropyl ammonium, pyridinium and 3-methylimidazolium chloride, tetrafluoroborate, and hexafluorophosphate at their apex are reported. These dendritic ionic liquids self-assemble into supramolecular columns or spheres which self-organize into 2D hexagonal or rectangular and 3D cubic or tetragonal liquid crystalline and crystalline lattices. Structural analysis by X-ray diffraction experiments demonstrated the self-assembly of supramolecular dendrimers containing columnar and spherical nanoscale ionic liquid reactors segregated in their core. Both in the supramolecular columns and spheres the noncovalent interactions mediated by the ionic liquid provide a supramolecular polymer and therefore, these assemblies represent a new class of dendronized supramolecular polymers. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 4165–4193, 2009
Chronic insulin hypoglycemia induces GLUT-3 protein in rat brain neurons

Near-normalization of glycemia reduces the risks of chronic diabetic complications but increases the risk of serious hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia can impair neuronal function in the brain and diminish awareness of subsequent hypoglycemic episodes, yet little is known about how neurons adapt to hypoglycemia. This study tests the hypothesis that isoform-specific alterations in brain glucose transport proteins occur in response to chronic hypoglycemia. To study this, groups of rats were injected with approximately 25 U/kg ultralente insulin daily at 1700 for 8 days to maintain hypoglycemia. Vascular-free and microvessel membrane fractions from brain were prepared for immunoblot analysis of GLUT-1 and GLUT-3 by use of isoform-specific antisera. Insulin treatment reduced blood glucose levels from 4.0 +/- 0.1 (vehicle-injected controls) to 1.7 +/- 0.1 mmol/l on day 8 (P < 0.001) and increased GLUT-3 protein expression (175.6% of control; P < 0.05). Microvascular GLUT-1 (55 kDa) tended to increase (195.6% of controls; P = 0.08) variably, whereas nonvascular GLUT-1 (45 kDa) was unchanged. We conclude that neuronal glucose transport protein (GLUT-3) expression adapts to chronic hypoglycemia. This adaptation may spare neuronal energy metabolism but could dampen neuronal signaling of glucose deprivation.
Presidential address. Sex and schistosomes: an interesting biological interplay with control implications.

Schistosome parasites are muticellular eucaryotic organisms that have a complex life cycle. The egg stage produced by the worm pairs is important in transmission of the parasite and responsible for pathogenesis. For 1 species, Schistosoma mansoni, the female worm produces approximately 300 eggs per day (Moore and Sandground, 1956). The eggs, after they are deposited by the female schistosome, incite a granulomatous inflammatory reaction (Damian, 1987). Approximately half of the deposited eggs reach the outside environment by passing through the wall of the intestine and being voided with excreta, to continue the life cycle. The other 50% are swept up in the circulation and filter out in the periportal tracts of the liver, resulting in periportal fibrosis, portal hypertension, and the serious sequelae of intestinal schistosomiasis such as hepatosplenomegaly and esophageal and gastric varicies.
Quantitative instruments for predicting risk … and benefit*

Many studies have examined the information content that can be garnered from noninvasive stress testing to inform patient management. For exercise electrocardiography (ECG), optimal interpretation does not involve simply whether ST segment depression is present. Recent literature has examined
Comparative effectiveness of antihypertensive treatment for older children with primary hypertension: study protocol for a series of n-of-1 randomized trials

Children are increasingly being diagnosed with primary hypertension. The absence of comparative effectiveness research of antihypertensive medications in children has contributed to considerable differences in prescribing practices among physicians treating children with primary hypertension. Even if parallel-group trials had established a best overall choice for most of these children, the best medication for an individual may differ from the best overall medication. This project consists of a series of systematically administered n-of-1 trials among older children to verify the need for ongoing antihypertensive treatment and, if so, to identify the preferred single drug therapy from among the three major classes of drugs commonly used for primary hypertension (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, and diuretics). We will determine whether one of these is the preferred therapy for the great majority of patients. The “preferred” therapy is the drug which produces normal ambulatory blood pressure, with the greatest reduction in blood pressure without unacceptable side effects. We will recruit 50 patients from the Houston Pediatric and Adolescent Hypertension Program clinic. For each patient, the three drugs will be prescribed in random order and each drug will be taken for 2 weeks. The effectiveness of each therapy will be measured with 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, and tolerability will be assessed using a side effect questionnaire. Participants will rotate through treatment periods, repeating drugs and adjusting doses until the preferred therapy is identified. In assessing whether one of the medications is most effective for the majority of subjects, the primary outcome will be the percentage of participants for whom each drug is selected as the preferred therapy. We hypothesize that no drug will be selected for the great majority of the subjects, a finding that would support consideration of clinical use of n-of-1 trials. Secondary analyses will explore whether patient characteristics predict which medication will be selected as a preferred drug. This study will help optimize care of participating patients and provide evidence regarding the usefulness of n-of-1 trials in identifying appropriate treatment for children with hypertension and potentially other disorders. Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02412761 (registered 4/8/2015).
MRI-Guided Focused Ultrasound

Magnetic resonance imaging-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) surgery is a noninvasive, image-guided therapeutic method that integrates focused ultrasound (FUS), the therapeutic component, with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the image-guidance component, into a real-time therapy delivery system. High intensities, resulting in localized heating due to absorption of the acoustic wave, can be achieved in the focal zone without damaging the surrounding tissues. MRI is used preoperatively for target definition and treatment planning, intraoperatively for procedure monitoring and control, and postoperatively for treatment validation. Main applications for MRgFUS to date are for symptom relief for uterine fibroids and bone metastases with oncological applications under investigation for breast, liver, and prostate cancer. In our view, the most promising application for this technology will be in the brain, and they are thermal ablations for brain tumors and functional neurosurgery, and nonthermal, nonablative uses for disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) or blood clot and hematoma dissolution by liquification as well as the promising application of neuromodulation. The disruption of the BBB by FUS can be used for targeted delivery of therapeutic agents including potentially genes or even stem cells. This article reviews the current status of these different treatments for this unique technology.
Effects of nitrite infusion on skeletal muscle vascular control during exercise in rats with chronic heart failure

Chronic heart failure results in impaired skeletal muscle O2 delivery and thus exercise tolerance due, in part, to reduced nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. Here, we demonstrate the vascular effec...
Comparison of an Oropharyngeal pH Probe and a Standard Dual pH Probe for Diagnosis of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux

Objectives:We compared the ability of an oropharyngeal (OP) aerosol-detecting pH probe and a standard dual pH probe in measuring laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR).Methods:Fifteen subjects with LPR sym...
PGC1a rescue retinal pigment epithelial cells from oxidative damage: implication for age-related macular degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in the elderly population of industrialized countries. AMD is thought to occur, at least in part, from oxidative damage to t...