cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Center for Computational Biology: resources, achievements, and challenges

The Center for Computational Biology (CCB) is a multidisciplinary program where biomedical scientists, engineers, and clinicians work jointly to combine modern mathematical and computational techniques, to perform phenotypic and genotypic studies of biological structure, function, and physiology in health and disease. CCB has developed a computational framework built around the Manifold Atlas, an integrated biomedical computing environment that enables statistical inference on biological manifolds. These manifolds model biological structures, features, shapes, and flows, and support sophisticated morphometric and statistical analyses. The Manifold Atlas includes tools, workflows, and services for multimodal population-based modeling and analysis of biological manifolds. The broad spectrum of biomedical topics explored by CCB investigators include the study of normal and pathological brain development, maturation and aging, discovery of associations between neuroimaging and genetic biomarkers, and the modeling, analysis, and visualization of biological shape, form, and size. CCB supports a wide range of short-term and long-term collaborations with outside investigators, which drive the center's computational developments and focus the validation and dissemination of CCB resources to new areas and scientific domains.
Abstract C10: A novel combination of a small molecule IAP inhibitor and a TRAIL‐R1 monoclonal antibody synergize to induce apoptosis in pancreatic tumor cell lines

X‐linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) is a critical inhibitory protein regulating the activation of apoptosis. A small molecule IAP inhibitor, HGS1029, that inhibits the anti‐apoptotic activity of multiple IAPs including; XIAP, leading to tumor cell apoptosis, is currently in phase 1 trials. Tumor necrosis factor related apoptosis‐inducing ligand (TRAIL) death receptors, TRAIL‐R1 and TRAIL‐R2, are expressed on the cell surface of many human tumor cells and activation of these receptors induces programmed cell death in a wide of variety human tumor cell lines. Mapatumumab is a fully human agonistic monoclonal antibody that targets and activates cell death via TRAIL‐R1 and has demonstrated robust preclinical activity against many tumor types. Mapatumumab is currently being evaluated in phase 2 clinical trials. Because mapatumumab and HGS1029 target the apoptotic pathway at different points we hypothesized that combining two pro‐apoptotic agents would have synergistic anti‐tumor activity. We assessed the in vitro cytotoxic activity of mapatumumab in combination with the IAP inhibitor, HGS1029, in human pancreatic cell lines. All 8 pancreatic cell lines expressed low to moderate levels of both TRAIL‐R1 and TRAIL‐R2 on the cell surface. Three pancreatic cell lines were resistant (3/8) and 5 were moderately sensitive (5/8) to treatment with mapatumumab alone in an in vitro cytotoxicity assay. Four cell lines showed a very modest response to HGS1029 single agent treatment. When combined, mapatumumab and HGS1029 significantly increased cytotoxicity in these 4 weakly sensitive cell lines. Two of these cell lines were resistant to mapatumumab alone and two were sensitive. EC50 values shifted substantially in the combination treatments when compared to either agent alone. Isobologram analysis revealed this increased cytotoxicity to be synergistic in all cell lines sensitive to the combination. Investigation into the in vivo anti‐tumor activity of this combination is on‐going in murine xenograft models of pancreatic cancer. These results demonstrate the combination of two pro‐apoptotic agents; HGS1029 and mapatumumab, that directly target and activate the apoptotic pathway, can synergize and overcome single agent resistance in pancreatic tumor cell lines. The significant anti‐tumor activity of this novel combination is a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of human cancer. These preclinical data support the evaluation of IAP inhibitors in combination with TRAIL‐R mAbs in future clinical studies. Citation Information: Mol Cancer Ther 2009;8(12 Suppl):C10.
An Exploration of Mothers' Perceptions Regarding Mothering Occupations and Experiences

The objective of this phenomenological study was to explore mothers' perceptions related to the occupational experiences of mothering. Seven women between the ages of 24 and 42, with children ranging in age from 13 months to 18 years, were interviewed in two separate focus groups. Areas addressed in the semi-structured interviews included mothering role descriptions, experiences as mothers, and feelings about mothering. Data were collected by the use of field notes and audio recording. An inductive method of data analysis was used to code the transcribed narratives. Four major themes emerged that included socio-cultural influence, activities and occupations of mothering, range of feelings, and role management. Some differences between older and younger women emerged in the analysis. Perceptions of mothering occupations influence the manner in which mothers participate in their everyday activities. Exploring the perceptions of mothering among women of typical children is valuable for occupational scientists and occupational therapists seeking to understand families better. Increased awareness may lead to more optimal family-centered care.
Computational Kernel Algorithms for Fine-Scale, Multiprocess, Longtime Oceanic Simulations

Abstract Progress in computer technology has made it possible to make larger calculations with finer grid-scale resolution, and physical processes that were beyond the reach of coarse-resolution models are now simulated directly. This focuses scientific interest toward more turbulent flow regimes and applications toward more realistic modeling of specific regional configurations. In this chapter, we examine the numerical design of oceanic modeling codes specifically suited for modern demands. These are compared with traditional “legacy” oceanic general circulation models and with computational fluid dynamics methods for modern engineering applications. Our primary subject is how the numerical algorithms for different aspects of the discretized partial differential equation system — the computational kernel — combine to yield the overall model performance, with particular focus on avoiding destructive interference among algorithmic components.
Localization by narrow-band autoregressive sources by passive sensor arrays

The authors present a method for estimating the location of narrowband autoregressive (AR) sources with unknown spectral characteristics. Unique localization of multiple sources by antenna arrays requires that the number of sensors be greater than the number of sources. When additional information is given this is no longer true. The authors assume that the signals structure is of the AR type. They present a localization procedure which consists of two stages: in the first one the coefficients of the AR signals are estimated, and in the second the directions of arrival are estimated. Simulation results demonstrate the performance of the algorithm under different scenarios. >
Management of personnel policies to increase the stability of Patriot crew members and their families: a simulation approach

The overwhelming success of the Patriot Air Defense weapon system during Operation Desert Storm has become a double edge sword for the system's enlisted crew members and their families. During the war, the Patriot system became the first proven means of defending against Tactical Ballistic Missile (TBM) attacks. The people and the governments of Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United States praised the Patriot crew members as true heroes. Unfortunately for the Patriot crew members, their success also meant that every country wanted the protection that the system offered. A battalion is now permanently stationed in Korea. Another battalion rotates every six months to Saudi Arabia. The increased number of deployments of the system and the crew members has had a dramatically negative impact on morale, retention and recruitment of Patriot crew members. In this paper, we present a simulation model which allows a personnel manager to vary personnel policies effecting Patriot crew members to determine the impact on the number and frequency of deployments and on unit readiness.
An automated method to detect interstitial adipose tissue in thigh muscles for patients with osteoarthritis

In this paper we explore a method of segmentation of muscle interstitial adipose tissue (IAT) in MR images of the thigh. The objective is to apply the method towards research into biomarkers of osteoarthritis (OA). T1-weighted images of the thigh are intensity standardized through bias field correction and intensity normalization. IAT within the thigh muscles is then segmented using a threshold combined with morphological constraints applied on connected regions in the thresholded image. The morphological constraints can be adjusted to allow for highly sensitive or highly specific IAT segmentation. The use of the morphological constraints improved the specificity of IAT segmentation over a threshold segmentation method from 0.54 to 0.67, while retaining a nearly equivalent sensitivity of 0.82 compared to 0.84. We then present a preliminary statistical analysis to demonstrate the application of the automated IAT segmentation. Finally, we specify a protocol for further exploration of IAT by leveraging the massive imaging dataset of the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI).
Jugular venous vasopressin increases during carotid endarterectomy after cerebral reperfusion.

Abstract Several recent reports have suggested that pressor hormones may be released during and after carotid endarterectomy and that release of these factors may be associated with postoperative hypertension and other postoperative morbidity. We measured vasopressin, adrenocorticotropic hormone, and cortisol in jugular venous blood during carotid endarterectomy under general anesthesia in 43 patients with routine carotid shunting. Jugular venous vasopressin increased significantly after the second period of carotid occlusion for shunt removal and remained increased at closure. Vasopressin did not change during the initial carotid occlusion for shunt placement or during the endarterectomy itself,and neither ACTH nor cortisol changed at any sample time. Greater resting vasopressin and cortisol and larger responses of vasopressin were observed in patients receiving phenylephrine to correct intraoperative hypotension. There were no correlations between postoperative hypertension or postoperative complications and intraoperative hormone values. These results suggest (1) basal intraoperative vasopressin values reflect the blood volume of the patient, (2) increased vasopressin was not related to postoperative morbidity, and (3) intraoperative increases in pressor hormones are most likely physiologic responses to specific stimuli such as hypovolemia or hypotension rather than pathologic phenomena. We speculate that the increase of vasopressin after the second carotid occlusion and reperfusion of the brain may be due to the action of humoral factors released into the carotid circulation from the endarterectomy site. (J Vasc Surg 1992;16:1–9.)
Diode-based tuned ESD protection for 5.25-GHz CMOS LNAs

CMOS diodes are evaluated in terms of figure-of-merit (It2/C) and quality factor. Five 5.25-GHz LNAs with ESD protection are designed and tested; all have high ESD protection levels. The LNA protected with a one-diode variant of the cancellation circuit has RF performance almost identical to that of a sixth, unprotected LNA.
Laser-Induced-Fluorescence-Derived Hall Effect Thruster Ion Velocity Distribution Visualization

Laser-induced fluorescence is used to measure ion velocity distributions in a Hall effect thruster plume. Images of ion velocity scaled to fluorescence peak magnitude provide a graphical illustration of the complex interactions between accelerated ion populations. Both axial and radial velocities are sampled at a single cross section approximately 0.6 diameters downstream of the thruster exit.
Genetic composition of zooxanthellae between and within colonies of the octocoral Plexaura kuna , based on small subunit rDNA and multilocus DNA fingerprinting

In intracellular symbiosis, the host is both the symbiotic partner and the habitat for the symbiont. Physical conditions may vary within a host individual, leading to niche partitioning within a host according to symbiont genotype. In this study, the algal symbionts (zooxanthellae) inhabiting the octocoral Plexaura kuna (Lasker, Kim, Coffroth) were characterized. Zooxanthellae are currently divided into clades based on sequence variation of the small and large subunit ribosomal gene and internal transcribed spacer regions. Zooxanthellae isolated from the top and bottom of a P. kuna colony, from colonies sampled at various depths and geographic locations (Bahamas, Florida Keys, Panama and St. Croix, USVI), from 1988 to 1998, all belonged to clade B. Since symbiont variability within a host is an individual-level question, in the second part of the study, multilocus DNA fingerprinting was used. Each genetically distinct P. kuna colony (i.e. non-clonemate) hosted a unique prominent zooxanthella genotype. This zooxanthella genotype was found at both the top and the bottom of the host colony, although physical conditions differed between these areas. The existence of one prominent zooxanthella genotype throughout a colony may indicate a fixed symbiont-acquisition period or the active maintenance of a host–symbiont genotypic association.
RpoS Proteolysis Is Regulated by a Mechanism That Does Not Require the SprE (RssB) Response Regulator Phosphorylation Site

In Escherichia coli the response regulator SprE (RssB) facilitates degradation of the sigma factor RpoS by delivering it to the ClpXP protease. This process is regulated: RpoS is degraded in logarithmic phase but becomes stable upon carbon starvation, resulting in its accumulation. Because SprE contains a CheY domain with a conserved phosphorylation site (D58), the prevailing model posits that this control is mediated by phosphorylation. To test this model, we mutated the conserved response regulator phosphorylation site (D58A) of the chromosomal allele of sprE and monitored RpoS levels in response to carbon starvation. Though phosphorylation contributed to the SprE basal activity, we found that RpoS proteolysis was still regulated upon carbon starvation. Furthermore, our results indicate that phosphorylation of wild-type SprE occurs by a mechanism that is independent of acetyl phosphate.
SHRIMP U-Pb dating of recurrent Cryogenian and Late Cambrian–Early Ordovician alkalic magmatism in central Idaho: Implications for Rodinian rift tectonics

Composite alkalic plutonic suites and tuffaceous diamictite, although discontinuously exposed across central Idaho in roof pendants and inliers within the Idaho batholith and Challis volcanic-plutonic complex, define the >200-km-long northwest-aligned Big Creek-Beaverhead belt. Sensitive high-resolution ion microprobe (SHRIMP) U-Pb zircon dates on these igneous rocks provide direct evidence for the orientation and location of the Neoproterozoic–Paleozoic western Laurentian rift margin in the northern U.S. Cordillera. Dating delimits two discrete magmatic pulses at ca. 665–650 Ma and 500–485 Ma at the western and eastern ends, respectively, of this belt. Together with the nearby 685 Ma volcanic rocks of the Edwardsburg Formation, there is a 200 Ma history of recurrent extensional magmatic pulses along the belt. A similar history of recurrent uplift is reflected in the stratigraphic record of the associated miogeoclinal and cratonal platform basins, suggesting that the Big Creek–Beaverhead belt originated as a border fault during continental rift events. The magmatic belt is paired with the recurrently emergent Lemhi Arch and narrow miogeoclinal facies belts and it lies inboard of a northwest-striking narrow zone of thinned continental crust. These features define a northeast-extending upper-plate extensional system between southeast Washington and southeast Idaho that formed a segment of the Neoproterozoic–Paleozoic miogeocline. This segment was flanked on the north by the St. Mary–Moyie transform zone (south of a narrow southern Canadian upper-plate margin) and on the south by the Snake River transfer zone (north of a broad Great Basin lower-plate margin). These are the central segments of a zigzag-shaped Cordilleran rift system of alternating northwest-striking extensional zones offset by northeast-striking transfers and transforms. The data substantiate polyphase rift and continental separation events that included (1) pre- and syn-Windermere rifting, (2) Windermere margin subsidence, (3) late Ediacaran-Cambrain rifting, and (4) well-developed late Ediacaran-Devonian passive margin subsidence and deposition. Timing and geometries support synchronous but opposing divergence along Cordilleran and Atlantic rifts with a junction in Southern California–Sonora.
The Effects of an After-School Tutoring Program on the Academic Performance of At-Risk Students and Students with LD:

Improving the educational outcomes for students who are at risk for academic failure is an important issue for educators and policymakers. Recently, before- and after-school tutoring programs have been identified as having the potential to turn academic failure into academic success. Two studies were conducted to determine the efficacy of an after-school tutoring program. Results of the studies showed that at-risk students and students with learning disabilities who were failing classes could earn average or better grades on quizzes and tests if they had the support of trained adult tutors. Additionally, researchers found that tutors could teach strategies during their tutoring sessions and that students could learn the strategies while they worked on their class assignments. Finally, researchers found that some students continued to be successful after tutoring ended, indicating that they were able to use the strategy they had learned in a generative fashion.
Making Universal Access a Reality—What More Do We Need to Know?

countries grew from 240,000 in 2001 to 1 .3 million in 2005 [ 1 ] . Although this represented a significant increase, it still fell significantly short of universal access. Moreover, whereas a substantial share of HIV-infected people in Brazil and Thailand, and later in Botswana, were receiving treatment, only a fraction of the affected people in most other developing countries were receiving treatment. Building on initial efforts to expand access to antiretroviral therapy (ART), the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution in 2005 that committed its members to universally implement a package to prevent HIV infection and provide care and treatment for people living with HI V by 20 1 0 [ 2 ]. The G8 the group of 8 industrialized nations then also committed to work with the World Health Organization (WHO) and
A Generative Model for Statistical Determination of Information Content from Conversation Threads

We present a generative model for determining the information content of a message without analyzing the message content. Such a tool is useful for automated analysis of the vast contents of online communication which are extensively contaminated by uninformative content, spam, and broadcast. Content analysis is not feasible in such a setting. We propose a purely statistical methodology to determine the information value of a message, which we denote the Information Content Factor (ICF). Underlying our methodology is the definition of information in a message as the message's ability to generate conversation. The generative nature of our model allows us to estimate the ICF of a message without prior information on the participants. We test our approach by applying it to separating spam/broadcast messages from non-spam/non-broadcast. Our algorithms achieve 94% accuracy when tested against a human classifier which analyzed content.
The export effect of immigration into the USA

Much has been written on the connection between migration and international trade. Human history provides important examples of migrations leading to increased trade activity, with perhaps the most well-known example of the ‘Overseas Chinese’. This study investigates the trade-related importance of Chinese and other immigrants into the USA. Previous studies may have underestimated (or overestimated) the relationship between trade and migration with nations treated as featureless plains rather than as varied landscapes. This study contends that an understanding of the immigration–trade relationship can be improved upon by examining the specific pattern and destination of immigration into specific US states. Using state level export data to 28 immigrant source countries in 1993, a strong immigration–trade link is found, reinforcing conclusions made by previous research using country level data. The compelling connection between immigration and trade found in this study and others suggests that future change...
Usefulness of a new indicator test for the diagnosis of peripheral and autonomic neuropathy in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Aims The aim of the present study was to assess the performance of a new indicator test (NIT), based on the measurement of sweat production after exposure to dermal foot perspiration, in the diagnosis of both peripheral sensorimotor polyneuropathy ( PSN) and autonomic neuropathy in patients with diabetes. Methods One hundred and seventeen diabetic patients were examined. PSN was assessed using the neuropathy symptoms score, the neuropathy disability score and the vibration perception threshold. Cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) was assessed using the battery of the four classical standardized tests proposed by Ewing et al ., Diabetes Care 1985; 8 : 491–498. Sudomotor dysfunction was assessed using the NIT. Results Fifty patients (42.7%) had PSN and 44 patients (37.6%) had CAN. Of the 50 patients with PSN, 43 had a positive NIT (sensitivity 86%) and, out of the 67 patients without PSN, a negative NIT was obtained in 45 patients (specificity 67%). The positive and the negative predictive value of the NIT in detecting PSN were 66.2 and 86.5%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of NIT in detecting CAN was 59.1 and 46.5%, respectively. In the case of severe CAN, the sensitivity was increased to 80.9% and the specificity to 50%. Conclusions The NIT has good sensitivity and negative predictive value for diagnosis of PSN and can be used as a screening method for detection of this complication in patients with diabetes. In addition, the test has a low sensitivity for detection of autonomic neuropathy in patients with milder forms of CAN.
Gravitational and Inertial Mass of Bodies of Interacting Electrical Charges

Starting from the equations of motion of particles interacting with both electromagnetic and gravitational fields, the (passive) gravitational mass (Mg) and the inertial mass (Mi) of the total system of interacting charges is calculated. It is found that in both Einstein's General Relativity and the scalar-tensor gravitational theory of Brans and Dicke,Mg andMi are both equal to the Special Relativistic energy of the system of interacting charged particles. Therefore, both theories are compatible with the high accuracy measurements of theMg/Mi ratio of laboratory objects.
Structural Localization of the E3 Glycoprotein in Attenuated Sindbis Virus Mutants

We have determined the three-dimensional structures of the wild-type Sindbis virus and two of its mutants that retain the E3 sequence within PE2. Using difference imaging between these mutants and the wild-type virus, we have assigned a location for the 64-amino-acid sequence corresponding to E3 in the mutant spike complex. In the wild-type virus, the spike is composed of an E1-E2 heterotrimer. The E3 protein was found to protrude midway between the center of the spike complex and the tips. Based on these results and the work of others, we propose a distribution for the functional domains of the spike proteins within the structure of wild-type Sindbis virus. Within the structure of the virus, the E1 domains form the central portion of the spike complex, while the tips are formed by the E2 domains that flare out from the center of the complex. The structural similarity between these Sindbis virus mutants and Ross River virus suggests that E3 may also be present in the latter, which is also a member of the Alphavirus genus.
Rapamycin Treatment Improves Neuron Viability in an In Vitro Model of Stroke

Ischemic stroke is the leading cause of serious, long-term adult disability and is associated with sensorimotor and cognitive impairments due to neuronal degeneration. Currently, recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rTPA) is the only FDA-approved medical therapy for treatment of patients with acute ischemic stroke. However, rTPA can only be given within 3 hours of symptom onset, and only 2% of patients are eligible. Therefore, there is an urgent need for novel neuroprotective treatment options for ischemic stroke. An emerging treatment for a diverse range of neurological disorders associated with neurodegeneration is rapamycin, a key modulator of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway. The mTOR pathway is the primary regulator of the cellular response to nutrient availability, changes in energy status and stress as seen following ischemia and reperfusion. However, rapamycin’s effects on mTORC1 and mTORC2 are poorly understood in neurons. In the current study we show that rapamycin can prevent the activation of both mTORC1 and mTORC2 in cortical neurons and improve cell survival following oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD), an in vitro model of ischemic stroke. This work further supports the investigation of rapamycin as a novel neuroprotectant for ischemic stroke.
TOWARDS RELIABLE BIRD SURVEYS: ACCOUNTING FOR INDIVIDUALS PRESENT BUT NOT DETECTED

COUNTS OF BIRDS seen, heard, or captured are commonly used to elucidate avian-habitat relationships, investigate responses of avian populations to management treatments or to environmental disturbances, estimate spatial distribution of species, and monitor population trends. The point-count method, in which an observer records all birds detected within either a fixed or an unlimited distance from a point during a specified time period (Ferry and Frochot 1970, Hutto et al. 1986), is the most widely used counting method in bird population studies (Ralph et al. 1995, Rosenstock et al. 2002). Point counts and other methods that are based on observed counts to estimate abundance, such as mist netting (Karr 1981), rely on the assumption that numbers of individuals detected (e.g. seen, heard, or captured) represent a constant proportion of actual numbers present across space and time. That is, if the true number of birds within a surveyed area increases by 20% during successive samples, observed counts are assumed to increase by the same percentage. Similarly, counts in different areas during the same time period are assumed to represent the same proportion of birds present within each of those areas. The validity of this proportionality assumption has been questioned for decades (e.g. Burnham 1981) because the many factors affecting detection probabilities of individuals (i.e. probability of correctly identifying the presence of an individual) are neither constant within and among species and habitats nor constant across time (e.g. see Thompson et al. 1998; and Rosenstock et al. 2002 and references therein). Nonetheless, ornithologists continue to rely on survey meth-
Psychiatrists’ Attitudes Toward Non-Pharmacologic Factors Within the Context of Antidepressant Pharmacotherapy

Recent meta-analyses of antidepressant clinical trials have suggested that up to 82 % of response can be attributed to non-medication-related factors. The present study examines psychiatrists’ attitudes regarding non-pharmacologic factors within the context of antidepressant pharmacotherapy. A web-based, 20-question cross-sectional survey was distributed to 101 staff psychiatrists and 48 post-graduate trainees in psychiatry at an academic hospital in Boston, MA. Demographics, practice characteristics, beliefs about non-pharmacologic factors affecting prescribing practices, perceived response and remission rates, and opinions about the need for further investigations in the psychopharmacology process were assessed. Overall completion rate was 53 %. The final sample included 79 responses. The medians for clinician-perceived response rates (54 %) and remission rates (33 %) were in agreement with published rates. The reported median of the what portion of clinical outcomes is believed to be due to placebo effects (26 %) was numerically lower than suggested by literature. The contribution of the active ingredients of medications was perceived to be significantly higher than the contribution of patient characteristics and clinician characteristics. A longer time since graduation from medical school was significantly associated with higher belief in the effect of the active ingredients of antidepressant medications and with less perceived importance of placebo effects. These findings suggest a discrepancy between empirical evidence and psychiatrists’ beliefs on the impact of placebo effects on clinical outcomes. Educating antidepressant prescribers about the evidence based on psychosocial mediators of placebo effects’ contribution to outcome may represent a promising strategy for improving clinical outcomes.
Stem Cells in Aggregate Form to Enhance Chondrogenesis in Hydrogels

There are a variety of exciting hydrogel technologies being explored for cartilage regenerative medicine. Our overall goal is to explore whether using stem cells in an aggregate form may be advantageous in these applications. 3D stem cell aggregates hold great promise as they may recapitulate the in vivo skeletal tissue condensation, a property that is not typically observed in 2D culture. We considered two different stem cell sources, human umbilical cord Wharton’s jelly cells (hWJCs, currently being used in clinical trials) and rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSCs). The objective of the current study was to compare the influence of cell phenotype, aggregate size, and aggregate number on chondrogenic differentiation in a generic hydrogel (agarose) platform. Despite being differing cell sources, both rBMSC and hWJC aggregates were consistent in outperforming cell suspension control groups in biosynthesis and chondrogenesis. Higher cell density impacted biosynthesis favorably, and the number of aggregates positively influenced chondrogenesis. Therefore, we recommend that investigators employing hydrogels consider using cells in an aggregate form for enhanced chondrogenic performance.
Diethyl trans-2,5-bis-(4-methoxy-benzyl-sulfan-yl)-1,4-dimethyl-3,6-dioxopiperazine-2,5-carboxyl-ate.

The title compound, C28H34N2O8S2, was synthesized as part of a project to develop synthetic routes to analogues of sporidesmins, a class of secondary metabolite produced by the filamentous fungi Chaetomium and Pithomyces sp. The complete molecule is generated by crystallographic inversion symmetry: the methoxy group is essentially coplanar with the benzene ring to which it is bonded, a mean plane fitted through the non-H atoms of the aromatic ring and the meth­oxy group having an r.m.s. deviation of 0.0140 A. Similarly, the ester group is also essentially planar (r.m.s. deviation of a plane fitted through all non-H atoms is 0.0101 A). There is only one independent C—H⋯O inter­action, which links together adjacent mol­ecules into a two-dimensional sheet in the bc plane.
Advancing PET imaging of central 5-HT2a receptors with [18F]MDL100907: Passing the stumbling blocks in late-stage Ni-mediated [18F]fluorination

554 Objectives Non-invasive brain imaging with PET is not routinely used in clinical practice. A primary explanation is that effective biomarkers for mental illness are often not available. When available, radiotracers that may be used as biomarkers are not optimized. The serotonin 2a receptor (5HT2a) is implicated in the pathophysiology of many neuropsychiatric disorders. Although PET ligands exist for imaging 5HT2a in humans, there is a continued effort to improve these agents with a particular focus on the development of F18 labeled radiotracers. The benchmark by which these new radiotracers for 5HT2a compared is the C11 labeled MDL100,907. Thus, direct F18 labeling of MDL100,907 is our major goal which has been extremely challenging with conventional F18 labeling methods. Methods We describe an innovative approach to labeling [18F] MDL100907 using a late-stage Ni-mediated oxidative reaction, which is the only method that we know of that can operate at room temperature in the presence of water and lead to high specific activity F18 labeling. We have found the Ni mediated fluorination chemistry was best performed in buffered conditions, which opens a new door for applying modern F18 chemistry to PET imaging. Results The highly selective yet conventionally inaccessible 5-HT2a antagonist, [18F]MDL100907 was synthesized using Ni-mediated late-stage [18F]fluorination in Siemens GN automated synthesizer. The [18F]MDL 100907 was then compared with [11C]MDL100907 for PET imaging 5-HT2a receptors in the same baboon on the same day. The regional distribution of [18F]MDL100907 is in great accordance with the known distribution of [11C]MDL100907. Conclusions Given the longer half-life (110 minute) and higher resolution of fluorine-18, [18F]MDL100907 would be more valuable to the neuroscience community for imaging central 5-HT2a receptors and studying brain-related disorders. Human PET imaging with [18F]MDL100907 is in progress.
Switched Tracking Control of the Lower Limb During Asynchronous Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation: Theory and Experiments

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) induces muscle contractions via electrical stimuli. NMES can be used for rehabilitation and to enable functional movements; however, a fundamental limitation is the early onset of fatigue. Asynchronous stimulation is a method that can reduce fatigue by utilizing multiple stimulation channels to segregate and switch between different sets of recruited motor units. However, switching between stimulation channels is challenging due to each channel’s differing response to stimulation. To address this challenge, a switched systems analysis is used in the present work to design a controller that allows for instantaneous switching between stimulation channels. The developed controller yields semi-global exponential tracking of a desired angular trajectory for a person’s knee-joint. Experiments were conducted in six able-bodied individuals. Compared to conventional stimulation, the results indicate that asynchronous stimulation with the developed controller yields longer durations of successful tracking despite different responses between the stimulation channels.
On Ecological Security Protection of Water Resources Development ——Analysis on “water resources development in western areas”

Developing the water resources in large scale will bring great risks to ecological systems.It is reported that the water resources of western areas has been developed and utilized wildly since 2003 and it has greatly threatened the eco-system of the West. But the regimes of the environmental regulations, which are designed to prevent such harmful influence, don't work as it should be. If we want to protect the western environment and avoid the ecological risks, we should build the mechanism to protect the economical interests of western areas and optimize the environmental and resources management system.
Study on Strengthening Mechanisms of Tunnel Face Reinforced by Bonding-type Glass Fiber Bolts

Collapses occur frequently when soft ground is tunneled through.Bonding-type glass fiber bolts are installed into the advance core soil of tunnels and grouting is executed,which can effectively improve the cohesion C,internal friction angle  and elastic modulus E of the advance core soil,in turn improves the strength and stiffness of the advance core soil,restrict the ground surface settlement and enhance the tunnel face stability.The strengthening mechanisms of tunnel face reinforced by bonding-type glass fiber bolts are studied to obtain the improving magnitude of cohesion C,internal friction angle  and elastic modulus E of the advance core soil so as to avoid tunnel collapses.The technology is trialed in Liuyanghe tunnel,which demonstrates that bonding-type glass fiber bolts can effectively improve the strength of the advance core soil and can guarantee the stability of the tunnel face and the surrounding rock mass during tunnel construction.
Ethyl pyruvate modulates delayed paralysis following thoracic aortic ischemia reperfusion in mice.

Objective Delayed paralysis is an unpredictable problem for patients undergoing complex repair of the thoracic/thoracoabdominal aorta. These experiments were designed to determine whether ethyl pyruvate (EP), a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agent, might ameliorate delayed paralysis following thoracic aortic ischemia reperfusion (TAR). Methods C57BL6 mice were subjected to 5 minutes of thoracic aortic ischemia followed by reperfusion for up to 48 hours. Mice received either 300 mg/kg EP or lactated ringers (LR) at 30 minutes before ischemia and 3 hours after reperfusion. Neurologic function was assessed using an established rodent scale. Spinal cord tissue was analyzed for markers of inflammation (keratinocyte chemoattractant [KC], interleukin-6 [IL-6]), microglial activation (ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule-1 [Iba-1]), and apoptosis (Bcl-2, Bax, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling [TUNEL] staining) at 24 and 48 hours after TAR. Nissl body stained motor neurons were counted in the anterior horns sections from L1-L5 segments. Results Ninety-three percent of the LR mice developed dense delayed paralysis between 40 and 48 hours after TAR, whereas only 39% of EP mice developed delayed paralysis ( P P P P P P P Conclusions The protection provided by EP against delayed paralysis correlated with preservation of motor neurons, higher expression of antiapoptotic molecules, decreased microglial cell activation, and decreased spinal cord inflammation. EP may be a treatment for humans at risk for delayed paralysis.
The outcome and complications of vascularised fibular grafts.

AimsFree vascularised fibular grafting has been used for the treatment of large bony defects for more than 40 years. However, there is little information about the risk factors for failure and whet...
Volume Assessment in Heart Failure

Acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) represents a heterogeneous group of disorders with various etiologies, and the optimal treatments for each disorder may be different, based on volume and perfusion status. History and physical exam findings such as orthopnea, lower extremity edema, and pulmonary rales are recommended by guidelines, but may have limited accuracy. Biomarkers such as BNP may also aid in the diagnosis of volume overload. Noninvasive measures, such as chest radiography or phonocardiography, may also have limited use. We will also discuss the currently available literature on newer modalities, such as ultrasound measurement of inferior vena cava diameter (IVCd) and bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA).
A High-Resolution Palynological Analysis, Axel Heiberg Island, Canadian High Arctic

A high-resolution sampling protocol was used to study the microflora from a two-meter thick siltstone unit located between two prominent coals representing Metasequoia-dominated swamp forests from the middle Eocene (ca. 45 million years old) Buchanan Lake Formation at Napartulik, Axel Heiberg Island, Nunavut, Canada. This detailed analysis facilitated the reconstruction of the local vegetation history and provided possible explanations for the changes seen in the local shifting vegetation patterns. These changes are likely due to two phenomena: environmental disturbances, such as flooding and/or climate change and floral succession. Members of the Pinaceae dominated the local flora at times when the area was relatively dry, whereas Metasequoia Miki was predominant when local environmental conditions were more mesic. The pollen data provide evidence of successional processes and suggest that the local vegetation responded to climatic and environmental changes. More importantly, the pollen data indicate that the local floodplain vegetation was part of a larger, dynamic floral mosaic within a regional polar broad-leaved deciduous forest community and that periods of prolonged environmental stasis were generally limited to the swamp forest communities. Two major fern spikes were identified in the sequence and large-scale flooding was identified as being the likely disturbance factor responsible for landscape level reorganization.
Toward Improved Electromagnetic Tracking for Handheld Robotics

We describe early efforts in design and development of an In-Loop Electromagnetic Tracker (ILEMT), designed to meet the demanding latency and resolution requirements for handheld robotic systems that perform active stabilization of hand motion during microsurgery. The objective is to surpass the best commercial electromagnetic trackers in latency while matching them in root-bandwidth/resolution. The concept is to use frequency-domain multiplexing for fast measurement and high accuracy during rapid motion, and bifrequency dual-path eddy-current compensation (reducing distortion from metals without sacrificing speed). The use of two widely spaced carrier frequencies (e.g., 300 Hz and 10 kHz) enables a particularly simple way of reducing the eddy-current interference caused by nonferrous metals. Previously, metal compatibility has come at the price of reduced measurement speed.
Automatic assessment of dysarthria severity level using audio descriptors

Dysarthria is a motor speech impairment, often characterized by speech that is generally indiscernible by human listeners. Assessment of the severity level of dysarthria provides an understanding of the patient's progression in the underlying cause and is essential for planning therapy, as well as improving automatic dysarthric speech recognition. In this paper, we propose a non-linguistic manner of automatic assessment of severity levels using audio descriptors or a set of features traditionally used to define timbre of musical instruments and have been modified to suit this purpose. Multitapered spectral estimation based features were computed and used for classification, in addition to the audio descriptors for timbre. An Artificial Neural Network (ANN) was trained to classify speech into various severity levels within Universal Access dysarthric speech corpus and the TORGO database. An average classification accuracy of 96.44% and 98.7% was obtained for UA speech corpus and TORGO database respectively.
Quasi-steady diffusion-controlled droplet evaporation and condensation

This theoretical investigation deals with the vaporization or condensation rate of a motionless liquid droplet using the quasi-steady diffusion-controlled model. A single-component liquid droplet is considered to be undergoing a phase change within a binary mixture of ideal gases (vapor plus noncondensable gas). Droplet vaporization rates corresponding to specified ambient conditions have been calculated by numerical solution of the variable-property governing equations. Results are presented for water and a series of pure hydrocarbon liquids for a range of ambient conditions of interest. A dimensionless correlation is given for the hydrocarbon vaporization and condensation rates. The pressure variation in the region surrounding a droplet undergoing vaporization or condensation has been investigated by numerical integration of the momentum equation. The resulting calculations indicate that the pressure decreases with increasing distance from the droplet for condensation as well as vaporization. Finally, criteria are given for estimating when the pressure gradient and viscous dissipation may be of significance in the energy equation.
Effects of Treated Wastewater Effluent Irrigation on Terrestrial Salamanders

Since 1983, State Game Lands 176 in Centre Co.,Pennsylvania, U.S.A., has been spray irrigated withtreated wastewater effluent as an alternative to thedirect discharge of treated effluent into surfacewaters. Although the effects of wastewater irrigationon birds and mammals had been studied, its effects onamphibians were unknown. We examined the physiological and behavioral responses of juvenile Jefferson salamanders (Ambystoma jeffersonianum Green) to effluent-irrigated soils and wastewater effluent in the field and laboratory to assess the effects of wastewater irrigation on the terrestrial phase of this species. Salamanders confined to irrigated soils for 35 d showed no difference in six physiological parameters (growth, body water concentration, and body sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium levels) compared to those enclosed on unirrigated soils. Salamanders on wastewater effluentsoaked substrates for the same duration in thelaboratory had higher body sodium concentration thanthose on deionized water soaked substrates, likely dueto elevated sodium levels in wastewater effluent.Salamanders demonstrated no `preference' for irrigatedor unirrigated soils over three days when allowed achoice between the two substrates in behavioral tests. These results suggest wastewater effluent irrigationis not acutely toxic to terrestrial A.jeffersonianum under natural conditions. Long-termadverse effects wastewater irrigation on terrestrialJefferson salamanders are still possible, andexaminations of salamander growth and survival overlonger durations are needed to assess the holisticimpacts of wastewater spraying on this species.
Safety and mobility trade-off assessment of a microscopic variable speed limit model

In this paper a three part traffic simulation environment is utilized to quantify the multi-objective optimization frontier of variable speed limit (VSL) control. Specifically the trade-off between safety and mobility performance is quantified for a VSL control algorithm designed to homogenize vehicle speeds within a freeway incident region. A microscopic driver model for VSL traffic previously developed by the authors is implemented in VISSIM's API module and simulation is controlled via a MATLAB COM interface. Results indicate an inverse relationship between safety and mobility performance, forcing jurisdictions designing VSL systems to either conduct multi-objective optimization or set a dominant policy objective (safety versus mobility). Control algorithm parameters that invoke VSL adjustment more frequently produce greater safety benefits but also greater mobility impairments. Freeway volume had no significant effect on VSL performance in this study.