cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Influence of Excipients on the Antimicrobial Activity of Tobramycin Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilms.

It is unknown if inactive pharmaceutical ingredients influence the activity of antibiotics they are co-formulated with. Recently it was found that materials acting as carbon nutrient sources for bacteria can promote bacterial dispersion from a biofilm and/or reverse the persister state of a subpopulation of bacteria within the biofilms. Both can make bacteria more susceptible to antibiotics. Thus, the aim was to identify potential excipients to improve antibiotic activity in Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms. We screened 190 potential excipients alone, and in combination with tobramycin sulfate against P. aeruginosa (strain PAO1) grown planktonically or as biofilms. After the excipient screening stage, we investigated the effect of 10 selected excipients against a more virulent strain (luminescent strain UCBPP-PA14). Temporal changes in luminescence, as an indicator of bacterial proliferation, and surviving colony forming units (CFUs) from the treated PA14 biofilms were quantified. Forty-eight materials tested caused a reduction of PAO1 proliferation either alone or combined with tobramycin. L-alanine (p 0.05), and N-acetyl-D-glucosaminitol (p > 0.05) improved the activity of tobramycin measured by PA14 luminometry. Additionally, L-alanine and succinic acid significantly reduced the survival of PA14 biofilms (p < 0.05). L-alanine, succinic acid, and N-acetyl-D-glucosaminitol may be useful as antibiotic adjuvants in future tobramycin anti-biofilm formulations.
Sarcopenic obesity and cognitive performance.

Background Sarcopenia and obesity both negatively impact health including cognitive function. Their coexistence, however, can pose an even higher threat likely surpassing their individual effects. We assessed the relationship of sarcopenic obesity with performance on global- and subdomain-specific tests of cognition. Patients and methods The study was a cross-sectional analysis of data from a series of community-based aging and memory studies. The sample consisted of a total of 353 participants with an average age of 69 years with a clinic visit and valid cognitive (eg, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, animal naming), functional (eg, grip strength, chair stands), and body composition (eg, muscle mass, body mass index, percent body fat) measurements. Results Sarcopenic obesity was associated with the lowest performance on global cognition (Est.Definition1=-2.85±1.38, p=0.039), followed by sarcopenia (Est.Definition1=-1.88±0.79, p=0.017) and obesity (Est.Definition1=-1.10±0.81, p=0.175) adjusted for sociodemographic factors. The latter, however, did not differ significantly from the comparison group consisting of older adults with neither sarcopenia nor obesity. Subdomain-specific analyses revealed executive function (Est.Definition1=-1.22±0.46 for sarcopenic obesity; Est.Definition1=-0.76±0.26 for sarcopenia; Est.Definition1=-0.52±0.27 for obesity all at p<0.05) and orientation (Est.Definition1=0.59±0.26 for sarcopenic obesity; Est.Definition1=-0.36±0.15 for sarcopenia; Est.Definition1=-0.29±0.15 all but obesity significant at p<0.05) as the individual cognitive skills likely to be impacted. Potential age-specific and depression effects are discussed. Conclusion Sarcopenia alone and in combination with sarcopenic obesity can be used in clinical practice as indicators of probable cognitive impairment. At-risk older adults may benefit from programs addressing loss of cognitive function by maintaining/improving strength and preventing obesity.
HITS-CLIP (CLIP-Seq) for Mouse Piwi Proteins

Piwi proteins, such as Aubergine in Drosophila and Miwi and Mili in mice, form a major subclade of the Argonaute family, which comprise a distinct class of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) able to bind small RNAs. Small RNAs can target complementary RNAs. Piwis are essential for the animal germline and bind Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) to form pi-RiboNucleoProteins (piRNPs). Although many piRNAs target retrotransposons for safeguarding genome integrity of the germ cell, whether piRNAs can target other mRNAs for regulatory purposes is still under investigation. Here we present the technical protocol for "High Throughput Sequencing after in vivo Crosslinking and Immunoprecipitation" (HITS-CLIP, CLIP-Seq), adapted for mouse Piwi proteins Mili and Miwi. We also provide general recommendations for the application of this protocol for different RBPs and also for the bioinformatic analysis of the deep sequencing data.
Ethical Issues: Addressing the Sensational Cases and Analyzing the Clinical Practice

Oocyte and embryo donation have long been lightning rods for controversy about assisted reproduction, both because of public divisiveness regarding sensational cases and because of the social concerns that attend changes in reproductive patterns, capacities, and roles. In particular, there is much discussion regarding the minimization of physical risks to oocyte donors, the iteration and development of consensus around what ought to be included in information provided to donors before they give consent to oocyte or embryo donation, and both whether and what children have a right to know about their genetic origins.
Determination of N-(trans-4-isopropylcyclohexanecarbonyl)-D-phenylalanine and its metabolites in human plasma and urine by column-switching high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection.

A simple, rapid and sensitive two column-switching high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method with ultraviolet detection at 210 nm has been developed for the determination of N-(trans-4-isopropylcyclohexanecarbonyl)-d-phenylalanine (AY4166, I) and its seven metabolites in human plasma and urine. Measurements of I and its metabolites were carried out by two column-switching HPLC, because metabolites were classified into two groups according to their retention times. After purification of plasma samples using solid-phase extraction and direct dilution of urinary samples, I and each metabolite were injected into HPLC. The calibration graphs for plasma and urinary samples were linear in the ranges 0.1 to 10 μg ml−1 and 0.5 to 50 μg ml−1, respectively. Recoveries of I and its seven metabolites were over 88% by the standard addition method and the relative standard deviations of I and its metabolites were 1–6%.
Ultra-Cold Collisions of Atoms and Molecules

Publisher Summary Collisions play a crucial role in cold atomic and molecular physics. They provide sources of loss and heating of trapped species and also provide opportunities for precision measurements and for control by magnetic, electric, or electromagnetic fields. Collisions are essential for thermalization in evaporative cooling, and they determine the properties of Bose–Einstein condensates. This chapter provides an overview of theory of cold atomic collisions. Low-energy collisions of neutral atoms or molecules in their electronic ground state are described by standard scattering theoretical methods in terms of well-characterized interatomic interactions. The special aspects of these collisions are due to the quantum threshold properties of the particular species involved. Scattering resonances play an important role in cold atom physics. Some can be tuned by external fields and used as precision spectroscopic probes of interatomic interactions. Tunable resonances can also be used to modify collisional properties, including the macroscopic properties of quantum degenerate gases.
Validation and iteration of CT perfusion defined malignant profile thresholds for acute ischemic stroke.

BackgroundMalignant profile computed tomography perfusion (CTP) lesions are associated with poor outcomes after administration of intravenous tissue-plasminogen activator (IV-tPA) for ischemic stro...
Preoperative risk score for access site failure in ultrasound-guided percutaneous aortic procedures.

Abstract Objective The factors associated with access site failure after ultrasound-guided percutaneous access for aortic endograft procedures remain poorly characterized. We developed a prediction model to risk stratify patients for access site failure. Methods We performed a retrospective institutional review of consecutive patients who underwent endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), fenestrated EVAR (FEVAR), or thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) from 2014 to 2016. We excluded patients undergoing direct aortic access through sternotomy and patients treated with physician-modified endografts, given reporting restrictions. Our primary outcome was groin access site failure, which included bleeding and thrombosis. An 8-point risk model was created for access site failure using multivariable fractional polynomials and internally validated using bootstrapping. Results We identified 469 femoral arteries from 247 patients undergoing endovascular aortic repair procedures (EVAR, 75%; FEVAR, 8.0%; TEVAR, 17%). Surgeons performed percutaneous access in 97.2% of the femoral arteries, with 99.6% ultrasound use. Twenty-seven (5.9%) access site failures occurred (17 bleeding, 10 thrombosis), all treated with groin cutdown, for a successful percutaneous femoral artery access rate of 94%. Of the 215 patients with attempted bilateral percutaneous access, 90% had successful bilateral access. However, FEVAR had lower rates of successful bilateral access (FEVAR, 78%; EVAR, 91%; TEVAR, 94%; P = .03). Factors independently associated with percutaneous access site failure were femoral artery outer wall diameter (per millimeter increase: odds ratio [OR], 0.003 [0.0002-0.1]; P 50% (OR, 22.3 [2.7-183.2]; P Conclusions Percutaneous ultrasound-guided access can be safely performed in almost all patients undergoing endovascular aortic procedures, but access site failures do occur. This risk score can help users select patients with high likelihood of success, identify patients who need close scrutiny with postclosure femoral duplex ultrasound, and provide patient guidance about risk of unplanned groin cutdown.
Snakes in paradise?: insecure python-related coding practices in stack overflow

Despite being the most popular question and answer website for software developers, answers posted on Stack Overflow (SO) are susceptible to contain Python-related insecure coding practices. A systematic analysis on how frequently insecure coding practices appear in SO answers can help the SO community assess the prevalence of insecure Python code blocks in SO. An insecure coding practice is recurrent use of insecure coding patterns in Python. We conduct an empirical study using 529,054 code blocks collected from Python-related 44,966 answers posted on SO. We observe 7.1% of the 44,966 Python-related answers to include at least one insecure coding practice. The most frequently occurring insecure coding practice is code injection. We observe 9.8% of the 7,444 accepted answers to include at least one insecure code block. We also find user reputation not to relate with the presence of insecure code blocks, suggesting that both high and low-reputed users are likely to introduce insecure code blocks.
Longest pattern lock

Pattern lock with nine vertices is a very common way to secure the smart-phone. In this assignment, students are expected to find and draw the longest pattern lock in term of the length of the password under two different rules which decide if a path is a feasible password. This assignment is a great chance for students to apply permutation and brute force they learned in class to solve this real-world problem, which leads them to realize the data structure and algorithm are really helpful and powerful in the real world. Finally, students can easily visualize the pattern lock by using python package matplotlib, which code is provided in the starting code.
Rethinking Design: Ethics, Sustainability, and New Practice

Design is the conception and planning of images, objects, buildings, spaces, experiences, and systems. Design is not the province of a single profession such as architecture, graphic design, or interior design; instead, the process of design is intertwined with the artifacts and experiences in human culture and society. Designed images, objects, facilities, and systems influence how we as humans live our lives: shaping values, culture, and society. In many different design disciplines practitioners are increasingly aware that the choices made during the design process often have environmental consequences. Given the design process is an activity directed by individuals, designers have the opportunity to rethink the guiding philosophies of design and to develop models of ethical design and sustainable design that minimize or eliminate adverse societal and environmental impacts. Designers can be agents for change. This paper examines the nature and function of design in the face of profound environmental change, and serves as a "call for action" for designers to incorporate ethical and sustainable design principles into their daily practices.
STARTING IVs MADE EASIER

Reducing the number of needle sticks while placing IVs reduces the pain and suffering patients endure along with reducing frustration and saving time for health care providers. Presented here is a method of starting IVs based on 20 years of experience which has produced excellent results clinically measured by reduced needle sticks. The technique has also been successfully taught to other health care providers. This technique can be used in combination with vein visualization technology. The authors are happy to collaborate in a formal evaluation of the technique.
Optimizing Decision Making in Hodgkin Lymphoma

Given the success of frontline treatments and the ability to salvage the majority of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) patients after disease progression or recurrence, the short-term overall survival of HL is high. However, this survival comes at a cost to patients in the form of late effects, which can alter both the length and quality of survivorship. To reduce downstream late-effect risk while preserving excellent disease control, modifications have been made in frontline therapy, including changes in indications for radiation, reduction in radiation dose and field among those receiving treatment, risk stratification to determine need for either dose reduction or dose escalation to optimize outcomes, and incorporation of novel agents, initially in the salvage setting and more recently in frontline therapy.
Dynamin-2 controls phagophore maturation

Abstract Autophagy involves rapid growth of phagophores through membrane addition. Newly added membranes are derived from other organelles through vesicles carrying the Atg9 protein. Membrane is delivered by fusing these vesicles with the phagophores. Atg9 is, nevertheless, not incorporated in autophagosomes. We now show that this protein is retrieved from phagophores by fission utilizing Dynamin-2 (Dnm2) as the membrane scission protein. Blocking Atg9 recycling by interfering with Dnm2 helps retain Atg9 in autophagosomes and degrades this protein by autophagy. Dnm2 colocalizes with the BAR domain protein Endophilin-B1 (EndoB1/Bif-1) when autophagy is induced, consistent with transient interactions during Atg9 retrieval. EndoB1 and Dnm2 also control the downstream fusion of phagophores to late endosomes, thus ensuring the completion of phagophores before proceeding to the next stage in the autophagy process. These data provide novel insights into the roles of membrane scission proteins during autophagy.
Psychosocial Factors Are Associated With Risk Acceptance in Upper Extremity Patients.

Objective Patients who help choose their health strategies are more adherent and achieve better health. An important role of the clinician is to verify that a patient's expressed preferences are consistent with what matters most to the patient and not muddled by common misconceptions about symptoms or conditions. Patient choices are influenced by estimation of the potential benefits and potential harms of a given intervention. One method for quantifying these estimations is the concept of maximum acceptable risk (MAR), or the maximum risk that subjects are willing to accept in exchange for a given therapeutic benefit. This study addressed the hypothesis that misconceptions due to unhelpful cognitive bias regarding pain are associated with risk acceptance among people seeking care for an upper extremity condition. Methods We invited 140 new adult patients visiting an upper extremity specialist to complete a survey including demographics, pain intensity, depression and anxiety symptoms, catastrophic thinking, activity limitations, and MAR. Trauma or nontrauma diagnosis was obtained from the treating clinician and recorded by the research assistant. We used bivariate and linear regression analyses to identify factors associated with MAR among this population. Results Accounting for potential confounding in multivariable analysis, higher MAR was associated with older age and greater catastrophic thinking. Conclusions Specialists can be aware that people with more unhelpful cognitive biases may be willing to take more risk. Vigilance for common misconceptions and gentle, incremental reorientation of those misconceptions can increase the probability that people will choose options consistent with what matters most to them.
A Pediatric Case of Abrupt-Onset, Autoantibody-Negative Diabetes With Marked Insulin Resistance Concomitant With COVID-19

By December 2020, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) had claimed the lives of more than 200,000 in the United States alone, with more than 10.8 million people infected (1). As the numbers grow, we continue to learn that this disease has wide-ranging outcomes of varying severity affecting multiple organs (2). Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the novel virus causing COVID-19, uses the ACE 2 receptor to enter human cells. This receptor is expressed in 15 different human organs (3). Moreover, it is avidly expressed in the pancreatic islets, but not on the exocrine pancreas, suggesting that the virus may directly affect β-cells (3). The full effects of COVID-19 on diabetes are yet to be determined, but worse outcomes have been reported in adult patients with obesity, impaired glucose metabolism, and diabetes (4). Furthermore, new-onset diabetes, ketosis in people without diabetes, diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), and worsening metabolic complications in patients with known diabetes have all been reported in adults with COVID-19 (5–7). Some experts have proposed a diabetogenic effect of COVID-19, perhaps presenting as a novel type of diabetes (8). Herein, we describe a case of new-onset, autoantibody-negative diabetes presenting with DKA and marked insulin resistance in an otherwise healthy, nonobese adolescent. A 12-year-old previously healthy White Hispanic boy presented with a 1-week history of abrupt-onset polyuria, polydipsia, headache, and fatigue. He had no weight loss, fever, cough, anosmia, or diarrhea. Laboratory testing revealed DKA, with a blood pH of 7.04, glucose of 381 mg/dL, C-peptide level of 0.6 ng/mL, β-hydroxybutyrate level of 8.2 mmol/L, A1C of 11.3%, and a positive nasopharyngeal reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) test for SARS-CoV-2. There was evidence of pancreatic inflammation (lipase 179 units/L [normal range 15–110]), but no elevation in systematic inflammatory markers, and all autoantibody tests for autoimmune diabetes were negative (Table …
Two-layer spatial frequency domain imaging of compression-induced hemodynamic changes in breast tissue

Significance: Longitudinal tracking of hemodynamic changes in the breast has shown potential for neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) outcome prediction. Spatial frequency domain imaging (SFDI) could be suitable for frequent monitoring of shallow breast tumors, but strong sensitivity to superficial absorbers presents a challenge. Aim: We investigated the efficacy of a two-layer SFDI inverse model that accounts for varying melanin concentration in the skin to improve discrimination of optical properties of deep tissue of the breast. Approach: Hemodynamic changes in response to localized breast compression were measured in 13 healthy volunteers using a handheld SFDI device. Epidermis optical thickness was determined based on spectral fitting of the model output and used to calculate subcutaneous optical properties. Results: Optical properties from a homogeneous model yielded physiologically unreasonable absorption and scattering coefficients for highly pigmented volunteers. The two-layer model compensated for the effect of melanin and yielded properties in the expected range for healthy breast. Extracted epidermal optical thickness was higher for higher Fitzpatrick types. Compression induced a decrease in total hemoglobin consistent with tissue blanching. Conclusions: The handheld SFDI device and two-layer model show potential for imaging hemodynamic responses that potentially could help predict efficacy of NAC in patients of varying skin tones.
Presence of Intracardiac Thrombus at the Time of Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation Is Associated With an Increased Risk of Stroke and Death

Abstract Background Heart failure predisposes to intracardiac thrombus (ICT) formation. There are limited data on the prevalence and impact of preexisting ICT on postoperative outcomes in left ventricular assist device patients. We examined the risk for stroke and death in this patient population. Methods and Results We retrospectively studied patients who were implanted with HeartMate (HM) II or HM3 between February 2009 and March 2019. Preoperative transthoracic echocardiograms, intraoperative transesophageal echocardiograms and operative reports were reviewed to identify ICT. There were 525 patients with a left ventricular assist device (median age 60.6 years, 81.8% male, 372 HMII and 151 HM3) included in this analysis. An ICT was identified in 44 patients (8.4%). During the follow-up, 43 patients experienced a stroke and 55 died. After multivariable adjustment, presence of ICT increased the risk for the composite of stroke or death at 6-month (hazard ratio [HR] 1.82, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.00–3.33, P = .049). Patients with ICT were also at higher risk for stroke (HR 2.45, 95% CI 1.14–5.28, P = .021) and death (HR 2.36, 95% CI 1.17–4.79 P = .016) at 6 months of follow-up. Conclusions The presence of ICT is an independent predictor of stroke and death at 6 months after left ventricular assist device implantation. Additional studies are needed to help risk stratify and optimize the perioperative management of this patient population.
Real-World Use of Bone Modifying Agents in Metastatic Castration-Sensitive Prostate Cancer.

Background Bone modifying agent (BMA) therapy is recommended for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) but not metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC). BMA treatment in mCSPC may therefore constitute overuse. Methods In this retrospective cohort study using linked Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare data, we included patients diagnosed with stage IV prostate adenocarcinoma from 2007-2015, who were age ≥66 years at diagnosis and received androgen deprivation or antiandrogen therapy. We excluded patients who had previously received BMAs or had existing osteoporosis, osteopenia, hypercalcemia, or prior bone fracture. The primary outcome was receipt of BMA (zoledronic acid or denosumab) within 180 days of diagnosis (emergence of CRPC within this time frame is unlikely). Secondary outcome was BMA within 90 days. Exposures of interest included practice location (physician office vs. hospital outpatient) and specialty (medical oncologist vs. urologist) of treating physician. Results Our sample included 2,627 patients, of which 52.9% were treated by medical oncologists and 47.1% by urologists; 77.7% and 22.3% received care in physician office and hospital outpatient locations, respectively. Overall, 23.6% received a BMA within 180 days; 18.4% did within 90 days. BMA therapy was more common among patients treated by oncologists (odds ratio = 8.23, 95% confidence interval = 6.41 to 10.57) and in physician office locations (odds ratio = 1.33, 95% confidence interval = 1.06 to 1.69). Utilization has increased: 17.3% of patients received BMAs from 2007-2009 (17.3% zoledronic acid, 0% denosumab), and 28.1% from 2012-2015 (8.4% zoledronic acid, 20.3% denosumab). Conclusions Among mCSPC patients who had no evidence of high osteoporotic fracture risk, over one-quarter received BMAs in recent years. This overuse may lead to excess costs and toxicity.
Perioperative Issues and Sleep-Disordered Breathing

Sleep-disordered breathing in the perioperative setting poses an increase in both perceived and demonstrated challenges for health care providers. Some of these challenges relate to identifying patients at high risk for obstructive sleep apnea prior to surgery. Other management challenges include identifying the proper monitoring techniques, using the correct mix of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic strategies to manage these patients, and identifying the proper and safe disposition strategy after surgery. Additional populations, such as pediatrics and the morbidly obese, are also highlighted, which may help address questions in populations that are frequently managed in the critical care setting postoperatively.
Climatic Systems Analysis

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a discussion on analysis of climatic system. Fundamental physical equations that provide the deterministic basis for such an analysis of the climatic system are illustrated. Some systematics of the averaging process for climatic variability based on the discussion is also explained. A simple two-component climatic feedback system is formulated containing some speculative elements that can serve as a prototype illustrating the application of the above sequence of steps in a dynamical systems analysis. Physical considerations are discussed that are relevant in forming climate models in general, focusing on the consequences of the disparate “time constants” of the various domains of the climate system, and the integral mass and energy constraints on the system. Results from studies of atmospheric equilibration to its lower boundary state are presented, leading up to the presentation of a special two-component system for longer term variability that serves as a prototype for the application of the systems analysis approach.
An open access wideband multiantenna wireless testbed with remote control capability

This paper introduces an open access wideband multiantenna wireless testbed. The testbed is configured as a four transmit antenna by four receive antenna system based on software defined radio technology. It operates in the 2.4 GHz ISM band and supports an RF bandwidth compatible to IEEE 802.11a/g standard. A robotic positioning system has been developed to automatically control the position and orientation of the antenna array, which makes automated testing possible and greatly reduces engineering time. The testbed is configured such that it can be controlled by any computer on the Internet. This makes remote debugging and testing possible. This characteristic of test automation and remote access through Internet was designed into the testbed to make it a valuable resource to the other researchers. A set of software has been developed to support research using the testbed, with the current focus on MIMO channel characterization and MIMO-OFDM packet communications. A data acquisition system and an offline processing system have been developed for the testbed and have been used for over the air testing to produce results for the ongoing IEEE 802.11n standardization activity.
Encephalomyocarditis Virus Infection of Mouse Plasmacytoma Cells I. Inhibition of Cellular Protein Synthesis

Mouse plasmacytoma ascites tumor cells (MOPC 460) were efficiently infected with encephalomyocarditis virus. Inhibition of host protein synthesis was evident after 2 h and complete by 4 h postinfection. The mechanism by which virus infection results in inhibition of host cell protein synthesis was studied in vitro. Cell-free protein-synthesizing systems, prepared from uninfected and infected cells, were found to be equally active with respect to their abilities to translate cellular and viral mRNAs. The plasmacytoma cell-free system was also shown to be insensitive to the addition of double-stranded viral RNA. Host cellular mRNA was isolated from uninfected and infected cells. No difference in the amount or size distribution of the mRNA was detected. However, the mRNA from infected cells was translated only 46 to 49% as actively as that from uninfected cells. mRNA isolated from cells in which initiation of protein synthesis was inhibited with pactamycin was similarly inactivated. Simultaneous addition of viral RNA and cellular mRNA to the plasmacytoma cell-free system resulted in a complete suppression of the translation of the cellular message, whereas viral RNA was translated normally.
An Abstract Interpretation Scheme for Groundedness, Freeness, and Sharing Analysis of Logic Programs

Static global analyses based on abstract interpretation have been used to derive properties of programs. The analyses differ in the expressiveness of the abstract domains and the precision and efficiency of the domain operations. We extend an abstract domain defined by Jacobs and Langen and present new abstract domain operations to derive freeness, groundness, and sharing of variables in logic programs. Analysis of non-trivial programs shows that our method is more precise and more efficient than previous proposals.
The Role of Nonpartisan Staff in the Legislative Process

This short paper explains why the value of nonpartisan staff in the legislative process may stem primarily from the staff’s responsibilities to serve a broad group of legislators with heterogeneous interests, rather than on the “nonpartisan” nature of the staff. An earlier version of this paper was delivered in April, 2013, as the keynote address to a tax symposium sponsored by the Northwestern University Law School in celebration of the centennial of the modern income tax.
Quadruple Velocity Correlations and Pressure Fluctuations in Isotropic Turbulence

It is shown that the correlation of fluctuating static pressure (in an incompressible and homogeneous turbulence) with any fluctuating quantity in the flow field can be expressed in terms of the correlation of the same quantity with two or more components of the velocity. The correlations of pressure with itself are investigated in detail for the case of isotropic turbulence. These correlations can be expressed in terms of correlations involving two velocity components at a point and two velocity components at another point. A postulated relation between the fourth-order and second-order correlations is investigated. This relation is satisfied, for example, if the joint probability density of the four components of velocity is Gaussian. The consequences of this relation are compared with the measurements of the fourth-order correlations. The root mean square (r.m.s.) pressure and pressure gradients are computed from second-order correlation for a range of turbulence Reynolds Numbers. Since the pressure gradient is related to diffusion of marked particles from a source, the computed pressure gradient level is compared with that calculated from a set of diffusion measurements.
Utility of STIR MRI in pediatric cervical spine clearance after trauma

Object Although MRI with short-term T1 inversion recovery (STIR) sequencing has been widely adopted in the clearance of cervical spine in adults who have sustained trauma, its applicability for cervical spine clearance in pediatric trauma patients remains unclear. The authors sought to review a Level 1 trauma center's experience using MRI for posttraumatic evaluation of the cervical spine in pediatric patients. Methods A pediatric trauma database was retrospectively queried for patients who received an injury warranting radiographic imaging of the cervical spine and had a STIR-MRI sequence of the cervical spine performed within 48 hours of injury between 2002 and 2011. Demographic, radiographic, and outcome data were retrospectively collected through medical records. Results Seventy-three cases were included in the analysis. The mean duration of follow-up was 10 months (range 4 days–7 years). The mean age of the patients at the time of trauma evaluation was 8.3 ± 5.8 years, and 65% were male. The majority...
Using Formal Methods to Construct a Software Component Library

Reusing software may greatly increase the productivity of software engineers and improve the quality of developed software. Software component libraries have been suggested as a means for facilitating reuse. Using formal specifications to represent software components facilitates the determination of reusable software because they more precisely characterize the functionality of the software, and the well-defined syntax makes processing amenable to automation. This paper presents an approach, based on formal methods, to the classification and organization of reusable software components. From a set of formal specifications, a two-tiered hierarchy of software components is constructed. The formal specifications represent software that has been implemented and verified for correctness. The hierarchical organization of the software component specifications provides a means for storing, browsing, and retrieving reusable components that is amenable to automation. A prototype browser that provides a graphical framework for the classification and retrieval process is also described.
Chapter 10 Naturally Occurring Modified Nucleosides in DNA

Publisher Summary Most DNAs contain minor amounts of 5-methyl cytosine (m 5 C), N 6 -methyl adenine (m 6 A), or N 4 -methyl cytosine (m 4 C). Any one or more of these can be found in most bacterial DNAs. Some lower eukaryotes have m 5 C, m 6 A, or both as a minor base in their genomes. In the DNA of all investigated vertebrates and higher plants, m 5 C, and only m 5 C, is the naturally occurring modified base. The levels and patterns of m 5 C in vertebrate genomes are tissue-specific. Some vertebrate DNA methylation has been linked to the regulation of gene transcription. As for m 6 A in the Escherichia coli genome, m 5 C in the DNA of eukaryotes may function in controlling DNA repair, replication, and rearrangements as well as in control of transcription. However, although bacterial DNA methylation is often involved in restriction-modification systems, there is no evidence for this function in the case of vertebrate DNA methylation. Vertebrate DNA methylation may, however, be an important determinant of chromatin structure. In addition to methylated bases present as minor DNA components, other modified bases are major components of certain bacteriophage genomes. These have one of their bases, usually a pyrimidine, largely or completely replaced by the modified derivative. The derivatives include glucosylated 5-hydroxy-methyl-cytosine, uracil, 5-hydroxymethyluracil, 5-(4-aminobutylamino­methyl)uracil, and glucosylated and glucuronic acid-1-phosphoryl­ated 5-(4',5'-dihydroxypentyl)uracil.
Ethanol exposure in early adolescence inhibits intrinsic neuronal plasticity via sigma-1 receptor activation in hippocampal CA1 neurons.

Background: We demonstrated previously that rats exposed to chronic intermittent ethanol (CIE) vapors in early adolescence show increased magnitudes of long-term potentiation (LTP) of excitatory transmission when recorded at dendritic synapses in hippocampus. Large amplitude LTP following CIE exposure is mediated by sigma-1 receptors; however, not yet addressed is the role of sigma-1 receptors in modulating the intrinsic properties of neurons to alter their action potential firing during LTP. Methods: Activity-induced plasticity of spike firing was investigated using rat hippocampal slice recordings to measure changes in both field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs) and population spikes (pop. spikes) concomitantly at dendritic inputs and soma of CA1 pyramidal neurons, respectively. Results: We observed unique modifications in plasticity of action potential firing in hippocampal slices from CIE exposed adolescent rats, where the induction of large amplitude LTP by 100 Hz stimulations was accompanied by reduced CA1 neuronal excitability––reflected as decreased pop. spike efficacy and impaired activity-induced fEPSP-to-spike (E-S) potentiation. In contrast, LTP induction in ethanol-naive control slices resulted in increased spike efficacy and robust E-S potentiation. E-S potentiation impairments emerged at 24 hours after CIE treatment cessation, but not before the alcohol withdrawal period, and were restored with bath-application of the sigma-1 receptor selective antagonist BD1047, but not the NMDA receptor antagonist d-AP5. Further evidence revealed a significantly shortened somatic fEPSP time course in adolescent CIE-withdrawn hippocampal slices during LTP; however, paired-pulse data show no apparent correspondence between E-S dissociation and altered recurrent feedback inhibition. Conclusions: Results here suggest that acute withdrawal from adolescent CIE exposure triggers sigma-1 receptors that act to depress the efficacy of excitatory inputs in triggering action potentials during LTP. Such withdrawal-induced depression of E-S plasticity in hippocampus probably entails sigma-1 receptor modulation of 1 or several voltage-gated ion channels controlling the neuronal input–output dynamics.
Localized Spatio-Temporal Constraints for Accelerated CMR Perfusion

Purpose To develop and evaluate an image reconstruction technique for cardiac MRI (CMR) perfusion that uses localized spatio-temporal constraints. Methods CMR perfusion plays an important role in detecting myocardial ischemia in patients with coronary artery disease. Breath-hold k-t–based image acceleration techniques are typically used in CMR perfusion for superior spatial/temporal resolution and improved coverage. In this study, we propose a novel compressed sensing-based image reconstruction technique for CMR perfusion, with applicability to free-breathing examinations. This technique uses local spatio-temporal constraints by regularizing image patches across a small number of dynamics. The technique was compared with conventional dynamic-by-dynamic reconstruction, and sparsity regularization using a temporal principal-component (pc) basis, as well as zero-filled data in multislice two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) CMR perfusion. Qualitative image scores were used (1 = poor, 4 = excellent) to evaluate the technique in 3D perfusion in 10 patients and five healthy subjects. On four healthy subjects, the proposed technique was also compared with a breath-hold multislice 2D acquisition with parallel imaging in terms of signal intensity curves. Results The proposed technique produced images that were superior in terms of spatial and temporal blurring compared with the other techniques, even in free-breathing datasets. The image scores indicated a significant improvement compared with other techniques in 3D perfusion (x-pc regularization, 2.8 ± 0.5 versus 2.3 ± 0.5; dynamic-by-dynamic, 1.7 ± 0.5; zero-filled, 1.1 ± 0.2). Signal intensity curves indicate similar dynamics of uptake between the proposed method with 3D acquisition and the breath-hold multislice 2D acquisition with parallel imaging. Conclusion The proposed reconstruction uses sparsity regularization based on localized information in both spatial and temporal domains for highly accelerated CMR perfusion with potential use in free-breathing 3D acquisitions. Magn Reson Med 72:629–639, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Minimum cycle bases of direct products of graphs with cycles

We construct a minimum cycle basis for the direct product G × C q where G is a connected non-bipartite graph and C q is an odd cycle. These bases are expressed in terms of the cycle structure of the symmetric digraph on G .
Relationship Between Isokinetic Average Force, Peak Force, Average Torque, and Peak Torque of the Shoulder Internal and External Rotator Muscle Groups

This study examined the relationship between concentric and eccentric average force, peak force, average torque, and peak torque of the shoulder internal and external rotator muscle groups in 33 male subjects. Testing of the nondominant side was accomplished with the shoulder at 90 degrees of abduction and the arm in the frontal plane. Peak values for both force and torque were obtained from the highest point in the strength curves, whereas average values were obtained across the entire curve. Correlation matrices found a relationship between the isokinetic parameters of r = 0.86 to 0.97 for concentric external rotation, r = 0.94 to 0.99 for eccentric external rotation, r = 0.86 to 0.96 for concentric internal rotation, and r = 0.55 to 0.97 for eccentric internal rotation. The strong relationship between average and peak force and torque suggests any of these isokinetic parameters may be used for assessment of human muscular performance. Factors that potentially confound the interchangeable use of these parameters include damp, ramp, preload, and the range of motion through which isokinetic assessment occurs.
(2S)‐(2α,3β,8aβ)‐Hexahydro‐3‐(hydroxymethyl)‐8a‐methyl‐2‐phenyl‐5H‐oxazolo[3,2‐a]pyridin‐5‐one

(2S)-(1; R1 = Me, R2 = H R3 = H) [116950-01-7] C15H19NO3 (MW 261.35) InChI = 1S/C15H19NO3/c1-15-9-5-8-13(18)16(15)12(10-17)14(19-15)11-6-3-2-4-7-11/h2-4,6-7,12,14,17H,5,8-10H2,1H3/t12-,14-,15+/m0/s1 InChIKey = HMPLCFQDHIGQMF-AEGPPILISA-N (2S)-(2; R1 = Et, R2 = H, R3 = H) [101979-96-8] C16H21NO3 (MW 275.38) InChI = 1S/C15H19NO3/c1-15-9-5-8-13(18)16(15)12(10-17)14(19-15)11-6-3-2-4-7-11/h2-4,6-7,12,14,17H,5,8-10H2,1H3/t12-,14-,15+/m0/s1 InChIKey = HMPLCFQDHIGQMF-AEGPPILISA-N (2S)-(3; R1 = Me, R2, R3 = C4H4 (benzo)) [101979-99-1] C19H19NO3 (MW 309.39) InChI = 1S/C16H21NO3/c1-2-16-10-6-9-14(19)17(16)13(11-18)15(20-16)12-7-4-3-5-8-12/h3-5,7-8,13,15,18H,2,6,9-11H2,1H3/t13-,15-,16+/m0/s1 InChIKey = ATCFHZPGPVLBLS-CWRNSKLLSA-N [127998-41-8] InChI = 1S/C19H19NO3/c1-19-15-10-6-5-9-14(15)11-17(22)20(19)16(12-21)18(23-19)13-7-3-2-4-8-13/h2-10,16,18,21H,11-12H2,1H3/t16-,18-,19+/m0/s1 InChIKey = IMYLILVJFCUBND-YTQUADARSA-N (chiral templates for the synthesis of enantiopure 4,4-dialkyl-2-cyclohexenones, 6,6-dialkyl-2-cyclohexenones, and 4,4-dialkyl-1(4H)-naphthalenones1) Physical Data: 1 mp 98–99 °C; [αd] +13.5°. 2 mp 83–85 °C; [αd] +12.6°. 3 mp 91 °C; [αd] +166.7°. Preparative Methods: the chiral bicyclic lactams are easily procured via condensation of commercially available (1S,2S)-(+)-2-amino-1-phenyl-1,3-propanediol and the appropriate δ-keto acid (eq 1).1, 2 Similar bicyclic lactams have been prepared from other amino alcohols and have been extensively utilized in the stereocontrolled formation of quaternary carbon–carbon bonds.1, 3 (1) Handling, Storage, and Precautions: no special precautions are warranted.
Tactile Vocabulary for Tactile Displays

Two experiments were conducted to identify a set of tactile patterns that could be recognized with high accuracy when presented using a tactile display on the back. These patterns could then serve as tactons to communicate simple commands and directions. The tactile display comprised a 4-by-4 array oftactors that was worn across the back. In the first experiment a set of seven commonly used military hand and arm signals were converted into tactile patterns that subjects were required to identify. When both a visual representation of the tactile pattern and a picture of the hand signal were available, subjects attained a mean score of 98% correct. In the second experiment involving 15 tactile patterns, performance was excellent with a mean score of 98% correct. These patterns provide the basis for developing a tactile vocabulary
The function of the extraocular muscles, the theory of the coplanarity of the fixation planes.

Abstract A theory of visuomotor kinematics is derived from evidence obtained by a video method that allows the eyes to gaze freely in any direction with the head stabilized in any position in space, allows the head to move freely while the eyes are stabilized in different gaze directions, and allows the eyes to move in sync with the head. Frame by frame analysis reveals no wheel-rotation (torsion) around the visual line in any gaze direction. There is dynamic rolling around the visual line during head tilt but no static counter-rolling when the head is held steady in any position. Lateral rotations are wheel-rotations around a vertical polar axes fixed in the eyes. Vertical rotations occur around collinear axes fixed in the orbits. Oblique rotations consist of successive arcs of longitude and latitude, which project as slopes (the tangent to a point on a curve). All eye movements are commutative. Head movements enable the eyes to fixate any point at any angle in 3-D space. Conclusion The extraocular muscles are programmed by the brain to maintain the fixation planes of the two eyes coplanar in all stable head positions and in all gaze directions. The retinas are in dynamic equilibrium with the brain and with each other in all head positions. The extraocular muscles function to maintain conjugacy, retinal correspondence, and retinotopy. The retinas are oriented to the brain and not to the horizon.
POPULATION DIFFERENCES IN INDIGENOUS FUSARIUM SPECIES BY CORN CULTURE OF PRAIRIE SOIL

Six species of Fusarium were identified among approximately 7,000 cultures isolated from roots and soils collected from prairies and cornfields in southern Minnesota. In both soil sources, F. oxysporum and F. solani predominated, followed in order by F. roseum, F. episphaeria, F. tricinctum, and F. moniliforme. The same order was obtained for the 28 species of prairie grasses and forbs as for corn. From prairie plant and corn roots, respectively, F. oxysporum was isolated from 64 and 90 %; F. solani, 26 and 80 %; F. roseum, 8 and 35 %;
Predictors of outcomes in patients with primary retroperitoneal dedifferentiated liposarcoma undergoing surgery.

Background Although sarcoma histology is recognized as a prognostic factor, most studies of retroperitoneal sarcomas report results combining multiple histologies and are inadequately powered to identify prognostic factors specific to a particular histology. We reviewed our experience with retroperitoneal dedifferentiated liposarcoma (RP DDLPS) to identify factors predictive of outcomes. Study Design All patients with RP DDLPS treated at our institution between 1998 and 2008 were reviewed. Multivariable Cox regression analyses were performed to identify factors predictive of progression-free survival (PFS), local recurrence-free survival (LRFS), distant recurrence-free survival (DRFS), and overall survival (OS). Results We identified 119 patients with primary DDLPS. Median tumor size was 20.5 cm; 21% were multifocal. French Federation of Cancer Centers Sarcoma Group tumor grades were intermediate in 53% of patients and high in 28% (unknown 19%). Resections were complete (R0/R1) in 80% of patients and incomplete (R2) in 11% (unknown 9%). Tumors were removed intact in 72% of patients and fragmented in 16% (unknown 12%). Median follow-up was 74.1 months. One hundred patients (84%) experienced recurrence or progression, with 92% occurring in the retroperitoneum. Median PFS, LRFS, DRFS, and OS were 21.1, 21.5, 45.8, and 59.0 months, respectively, and were significantly worse with R2 resection. On multivariate analysis, tumor integrity (intact vs fragmented) was predictive of PFS, multifocality predicted LRFS, and extent of resection (R0/R1 vs R2), grade, and tumor integrity predicted OS. Conclusions In this cohort of primary RP DDLPS, factors under surgeon control (tumor integrity, extent of resection) and reflective of tumor biology (grade, multifocality) impact patient outcomes.