cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chapter Nine - Optogenetic Neuromodulation

The recent development of optogenetics, a revolutionary research tool in neuroscience, portends an evolution of current clinical neuromodulation tools. A form of gene therapy, optogenetics makes possible highly precise spatial and temporal control of specific neuronal populations. This technique has already provided several new insights relevant to clinical neuroscience, from the physiological substrate of functional magnetic resonance imaging to the mechanism of deep brain stimulation in Parkinson's disease. The increased precision of optogenetic techniques also raises the possibility of eventual human use. Translational efforts have begun in primates, with success reported from multiple labs in rhesus macaques. These developments will remain of ongoing interest to neurologists and neurosurgeons.
The Patient-Centered Medical Home or System-Based Care: Another False Choice

There is no shortage of proposals for mending the broken U.S. health system. Many can be set aside because they favor their advocates more than they solve critical problems for patients and society. Of those remaining, two will be the focus of this discussion, the Patient-centered Medical Home and System-based Health Care. These are generally presented as alternatives, but we suggest instead that improving delivery of care will require implementing the Medical Home in the context of broader system-based redesigns. This dual approach is most important for chronic disease management, the greatest challenge we face, and the subject of our book.
A Super-Eddington Wind Model for GRO J1655-40

A model for GRO J1655–40 is described in which the hard X/γ-ray behavior, and long delay between the X/γ and radio outbursts, are explained by processes which occur when the accretion rate approaches and exceeds the Eddington limit. The principal feature of the model is a dense, optically thick, super-Eddington wind ejected from the center of the accretion disk. The wind is responsible for determining the luminosity and spectral evolution of the object and for suppressing the formation of a fast, relativistic jet while the accretion rate is above the Eddington limit. Our model makes use of the “magnetic switch” mechanism we recently discovered with MHD simulations of jet production in magnetized accretion disk coronae. A fast jet can be turned on (or off) by increasing (or decreasing) the Alfven velocity in the corona relative to a critical value. Examination of models of sub- and super-Eddington disks shows that V A remains below the critical value while the wind is present, but could exceed it when the wind disappears and a hot, optically thin corona forms.
Isotope Effects in Water: Differences of Structure, Dynamics, Spectrum, and Proton Transport between Heavy and Light Water from ReaxFF Reactive Force Field Simulations

Investigating properties of both heavy and light water at the atomistic level is essential to understanding chemical and biological processes in aqueous solution. However, appropriately describing their difference on the nanoscale is still challenging. Employing ReaxFF reactive molecular dynamics simulations, we systematically study the structure, dynamics, and spectra of heavy and light water. With the water force field potential we developed, the different features between heavy and light water can be simulated appropriately by the classical treatment on large size and time scale. Here, we also report the structural difference between D3O+ and H3O+ in bulk heavy/light water. In addition, the diffusion constants of heavy and light water are successfully reproduced, and the Grotthuss hopping mechanism of proton transport in liquid water is properly described as well. It allows us to study a complex system in heavy/light aqueous environments, such as proton transport, chemical reaction, and tracing the rea...
Novel optogenetic control of mitochondrial energetics rescues electron transport chain inhibition

Mitochondria use an electrochemical proton gradient to produce ATP, the main cellular energy source. This gradient, called the protonmotive force (PMF), also controls substrate uptake, calcium signaling, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and signaling. Despite the central role of the PMF in mitochondrial bioenergetics, current tools to modulate the PMF lack spatial and temporal control in vivo. For example, protonophores are used to irreversibly decrease the PMF, but this pharmacologic approach lacks tissue and mitochondria-selectivity. Importantly, there are no means to increase the PMF. Here, we characterize an optogenetic approach to selectively increase the PMF and affect mitochondrial function in vivo with light. Using a novel mitochondria-targeting strategy we expressed a light-activated proton pump in mitochondria of Caenorhabditis elegans. In response to light, the mitochondria-targeted light-activated proton pump (mtLAPP) increased the PMF in isolated mitochondria and whole animals, observed through tetramethylrhodamine ethyl ester fluorescence. Additionally, optogenetic stimulation of bioenergetics by mtLAPP can overcome toxicity from inhibition of proton-pumping complexes of the mitochondrial electron transport chain. Our results provide a novel method to enhance mitochondrial bioenergetics in whole organisms, and may be used to affect physiologic outputs downstream of the PMF, such as ROS signaling and metabolism.
An Exploratory Survey of Physical Rehabilitation Occupational Therapy Practice Patterns

A computer-assisted survey was developed and administered to 66 occupational therapists working in adult physical rehabilitation to explore how and to what extent occupational therapists evaluate and treat medication management impairments. Approximately 90% of the sample evaluate and treat medication management, but only about 25% addressed medication management on a consistent basis. This suggests that current medication management service provision levels may be insufficient to meet clients' needs. Research is warranted to understand and improve occupational therapists' abilities to address medication management in practice.
Improving the impact resistance and dynamic properties of jute fiber reinforced concrete for rebars design by considering tension zone of FRC

Abstract The demand for the safety of structures against severe loading (e.g. impact) is increasing day by day. Structures safety is generally associated with the materials used for construction. To achieve economy without compromising the strength requirements, fibers are being used to enhance concrete’s mechanical properties and impact resistance. However, the effectiveness of natural fibers in concrete under impact loading needs to be investigated in details. In this study, the behavior of jute fiber reinforced concrete (JFRC) under impact and dynamic loadings is experimentally investigated. Small slab panels of plain concrete (PC) and JFRC, without and with steel reinforcements, are tested for flexural strength and impact resistance. A simplified drop-weight test is used to find the impact resistance in the laboratory. Reinforcement in slab is designed using tension zone of FRC and its value is compared with ACI design. Dynamic elastic modulus, resonance frequencies and damping ratios are found for different specimens as per ASTM standard C215. Basic mechanical properties are also determined. Fracture surface is examined at micro level through scanning electron microscope (SEM) under impact and flexure loads. Significant improvement in impact resistance of concrete is seen by incorporation of jute fibers. Impact resistance of JFRC is enhanced up to 6 times as compared to PC. Dynamic elastic modulus and damping ratio are also enhanced by 68% and 100%, respectively. Flexure and split-tension strengths are increased by 20% and 8%, respectively. It is concluded that about 28% steel reinforcement in slabs can be reduced by the use of short jute fibers in concrete.
Intravenous Immunomodulatory Nanoparticle Treatment for Traumatic Brain Injury

Objective There are currently no definitive disease-modifying therapies for traumatic brain injury (TBI). In this study, we present a strong therapeutic candidate for TBI, immunomodulatory nanoparticles (IMPs), which ablate a specific subset of hematogenous monocytes (hMos). We hypothesized that prevention of infiltration of these cells into brain acutely after TBI would attenuate secondary damage and preserve anatomic and neurologic function. Methods IMPs, composed of US Food and Drug Administration-approved 500nm carboxylated-poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid, were infused intravenously into wild-type C57BL/6 mice following 2 different models of experimental TBI, controlled cortical impact (CCI), and closed head injury (CHI). Results IMP administration resulted in remarkable preservation of both tissue and neurological function in both CCI and CHI TBI models in mice. After acute treatment, there was a reduction in the number of immune cells infiltrating into the brain, mitigation of the inflammatory status of the infiltrating cells, improved electrophysiologic visual function, improved long-term motor behavior, reduced edema formation as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging, and reduced lesion volumes on anatomic examination. Interpretation Our findings suggest that IMPs are a clinically translatable acute intervention for TBI with a well-defined mechanism of action and beneficial anatomic and physiologic preservation and recovery. Ann Neurol 2020;87:442-455.
Epidemiological characteristics of malaria in Luoyang City from 2004 to 2012

Objective To understand the epidemiological characteristics of malaria in Luoyang City and to provide scientific evidence for prevention and control measures.Methods A descriptive epidemiological analysis was conducted based on the epidemic monitoring data of malaria in Luoyang from 2004 to 2012.Results A total of 147 malaria cases was reported in Luoyang during the period,including 71 cases of Plasmodium vivax malaria,62 cases of P.falciparum malaria,2 cases of P.ovale malaria and 13 cases undistinguished,and among them 2 cases were died.The annual incidence was between 0.079 and 0.443 per 100 000 cases.The rate of male/female was 6.74 ∶ 1.The majority of cases was young adult people,and people aged 20-45 years old accounted for 74.15％(109/147) of all cases.The major populations infected with malaria were farmers and workers,accounting for 55.78％ (82/147) and 14.29％ (21/147),respectively.Imported cases accounted for 76.19％ (112/147) of all cases.Moreover,65.52％ (97/147) cases occurred from March to July in each year.Conclusion Malaria incidence was increasing in Luoyang City during 2004-2012 and most of malaria were imported cases. Key words: Malaria; Epidemiological characteristics; Monitoring
Detection of Hydroxyl Radicals Using Cerium Oxide/Graphene Oxide Composite on Prussian Blue

A composite sensor consisting of two separate inorganic layers of Prussian blue (PB) and the composite of cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeNPs) and graphene oxide (GO), is tested with •OH radicals. The signals from the interaction between the composite layers and •OH radicals are characterized using cyclic voltammetry (CV). The degradation of PB in the presence of H2O2 and •OH radicals is observed and its impact on the sensor efficiency is investigated. The results show that the composite sensor differentiates between the solutions with and without •OH radicals by the increase of oxidation current in the presence of •OH radicals. The redox response shows a linear relation with the concentration of •OH radicals where the limit of detection, LOD, is found at 60 µM (100 µM without the PB layer). When additional composite layers are applied on the composite sensor to prevent the degradation of PB layer, the PB layer is still observed to be degraded. Furthermore, the sensor conductivity is found to decrease with the additional layers of composite. Although the CeNP/GO/PB composite sensor demonstrates high sensitivity with •OH radicals at low concentrations, it can only be used once due to the degradation of PB.
Peripheral Nerve Regeneration

Several advances in nerve cell culture, development of new biomaterials, and genetic techniques have led to the introduction to innovative techniques for nerve regeneration. Analytically, natural or artificial grafts used to bridge nerve gaps have four central components germane to regeneration: scaffold/substrate, growth factors, extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules, and cells. A graft might have a combination or all of the four components. The grafts are classified as isotropic or anisotropic on the basis of distribution of these four components within the graft. In isotropic grafts, the components are distributed uniformly within the graft, with no directional cues. In anisotropic grafts one or more of these components are distributed anisotropically, usually along the direction of regeneration, to direct the axonal growth towards the distal target. Isotropic natural materials used as scaffolds include veins, skeletal muscle fibers, and collagen, and synthetic scaffolds are advantageous because they can be tailored in terms of their mechanical, chemical, and structural properties to augment nerve regeneration. Several anisotropic scaffolds are fabricated to affect neuronal behavior. Neuronal-growth supporting cells could be incorporated with longitudinally aligned filaments and gels in nerve guidance conduits (NGCs) to enhance nerve regeneration. Biodegradable conduits of a copolymer of lactic and glycolic acids (PLGA) with longitudinally aligned channels are used for nerve regeneration. The channels, with the lumen coated with laminin, and seeded with Schwann cells, show regeneration comparable to nerve autografts over a 7-mm nerve gap in rats.
Quantifying the natural variation in lesion counts over time in untreated hidradenitis suppurativa: Implications for outcome measures and trial design.

Background Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) demonstrates high placebo response rates in clinical trials, possibly due to the natural variability of the disease. No quantification of variability in lesion counts of untreated disease has been undertaken. Objective To quantify the variability of untreated HS. Methods Deidentified individual patient data from the placebo arms of PIONEER studies were analyzed, and measurements of within-subject coefficients of variation were examined. Variability was stratified by disease-associated variables (Hurley stage, BMI, sex, smoking, family history) and body site. Results Analysis of within-subject coefficients of variation demonstrated that half of the participants had a middle spread [difference between 75th and 25th percentiles of the subject's abscess and nodule counts] greater than 33% and 40% of their median abscess and nodule counts, and 25% of the subjects had a middle spread greater than 70% and 78% of their median abscess and nodule counts in PIONEER I and II, respectively. Hurley stage 2 participants had significantly greater within-subject variation than Hurley stage 3 patients. Variation was greater in the axillary and groin regions than in other anatomical locations. Limitations Limitations include the use of precollected clinical trial data. Conclusion The within-subject variability of the lesion counts in untreated HS was greater than previously appreciated. This has profound effects on outcome measures and the conduct of future clinical trials of HS.
A Comparison of serological responses when modified-live infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus vaccine, Mannheimia haemolytica bacterin-toxoid and Leptospira pomona bacterin are administered with needle-free versus conventional needle-based injection in Holstein dairy calves

A total of 104, five- to ten-month old Holstein heifers and steers were blocked by age within sex-group, randomized to treatment and vaccinated with 5-way modified-live virus vaccine, Mannheimia haemolytica bacterin-toxoid and 5-way Leptospira bacterin utilizing either needle-free or conventional needle-and-syringe injection techniques. Blood samples were collected from all animals at the time of vaccination and 21 days later, and the serum analyzed for antibody titers to infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) virus as the indicator of serological response to the 5-way viral vaccine, Mannheimia haemolytica (MH) leukotoxin, and Leptospira pomona (LP) as the indicator of serological response to the 5-way Leptospira bacterin. On day 21 the serological response of heifers to the IBR fraction of the 5-way viral vaccine, MH bacterin and LP fraction of the 5-way Leptospira bacterin were not significantly different between routes of administration. On day 21 the serological response of steers to the IBR fraction of the 5-way viral vaccine and MH bacterin was significantly higher for the needle-free route of administration, while the serological response to the LP fraction was not significantly different between routes of administration.
94. Machine vision image guided system in spinal fusion surgery: Early clinical experience

BACKGROUND CONTEXT Computer-assisted navigation improves accuracy of pedicle screw placement. The machine vision image guided system (MvIGS), 7D Surgical, was developed to streamline surgical workflow and allow intraoperative navigation registration in seconds, without intraoperative radiation. This study presents the early clinical outcomes of spinal fusion with MvIGS. PURPOSE To identify outcomes of spinal fusion with intraoperative MvIGS use. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING Retrospective case series. PATIENT SAMPLE Adult patients who underwent spinal fusion with MvIGS at a single institution. OUTCOME MEASURES Primary outcome was postoperative complication. Secondary outcomes included readmissions, reoperations, and radiation exposure. METHODS Spinal fusion cases in adult patients (n=50) with intraoperative MvIGS at a single institution with three attending surgeons were reviewed. Baseline demographics, comorbidities, # fused levels, surgical indications, operative time, estimated blood loss (EBL), perioperative and 30-day complications, unplanned readmissions and reoperations were collected. Pre-, intra- and postoperative radiation exposure was totaled. RESULTS Across 50 patients, mean age was 61±17 years, and 44% were female. Mean ASA and CCI were 2.86±0.57 and 2.82±2.15, respectively. 24% had BMI >30, 6% actively used tobacco and 22% were diabetic. Indication for surgery included degenerative disease (33/50), deformity (1/50), tumor (5/50), infection (2/50) and trauma (9/50). Mean fusion length was 5.5±2.2 levels, and 12% (6/50) were revision cases. Mean operative time was 285±128 minutes and EBL was 544±601 mL. Most patients were discharged home (46%), skilled nursing facility (22%) or rehabilitation (24%). There were 7 (14%) complications, 4 (8%) readmissions and 2 (4%) reoperations. One reoperation was for a wound dehiscence, while the other was for lateral pedicle screw placement. Median total patient radiation exposure was 49.8±78.4mGy. Median registration time was 83±21s. CONCLUSIONS MvIGS is a safe and effective method of intraoperative navigation for spinal fusion surgery. The optical topographic imaging technology allows rapid registration and can be used for a variety of indications. FDA DEVICE/DRUG STATUS 7D Surgical System (Approved for this indication)
Are informal transfers driven by strategic risk-sharing or fairness? Evidence from an experiment in Kenya

Abstract Individuals often manage low and risky earnings using informal transfers, which are influenced by both fairness norms and the desire for informal risk-sharing. This paper develops an experiment that allows us to disentangle these motives when income can depend on effort. The empirical analysis shows that people are equally likely to give transfers from high-income to low-income partners when income is due to chance as when both participants exert effort to increase expected income; however, participants are less likely to give transfers when one or both partners do not exert effort. These transfers are more likely due to risk-sharing than inequity aversion.
The differential for chest pain: when the most common cause is not the answer-a case of de novo esophageal bezoar.

BACKGROUND Having a broad differential and knowing how to manage the different possibilities in a patient with chest pain is important. Esophageal bezoars are rare entities and are even less common in patients without any recent hospitalizations, known achalasia, or nasogastric tubes. Despite their rarity, having it in one's differential, and knowing how to manage it is important. CASE PRESENTATION This case presents a patient with mega-esophagus secondary to an esophageal bezoar; and runs through the gamut of morbid chest pathophysiology, its differential, work-up, and management. The case is interesting in that the patient's initial presentation brings to mind a bevy of feared chest issues to include myocardial infarction, dissection, pulmonary embolus, achalasia, and perforation. CONCLUSION This clinical case highlights more than just the rare diagnosis of esophageal bezoar. It also goes through initial resuscitation, key concerns, "can't miss diagnoses", and finally discusses the feared end state of an esophageal perforation.
The Sharp Edge of the Sword: A Case of Sustainable Development

For many readers, the triangulated answers of Part II provide no straightforward policy and program for sustainable development or the science to underlie it. Readers will still want to know what to differentiate, what “needs” matter more, what to do about the unmanageable, and how to respond if population growth is not halted or percapita consumption reduced—in short, they want a kind of certainty that the complexity of the sustainable development issue does not at all provide. For others, it is enough to know that keeping options open for the future will always be complicated, never assured, and necessarily sensitive to all manner of local differences, contingencies, perverse feedback cycles, inevitable surprises, and case-by-case analyses that subvert the Cell 1 drive to generalize to all cases, everywhere, all the time.
Using Energy Audits to Enhance Experiential Energy Education

ABSTRACT This article describes the development of techniques for integrating energy audits into an energy education program targeted to provide experiential educational to accelerate the development of related knowledge and skills. These techniques were refined in the classroom during the fall of 2005 as part of an electrical/mechanical engineering course concerned with the design and analysis of systems for the production, conversion, and use of energy. Major goals of the class were (1) to facilitate the development of analytic capabilities and skills for the design and optimization of various energy systems in commercial businesses and industry in new ways; and (2) to enhance the speed, quality, and efficiency of learning. The approach has resulted in increasing both the level of understanding and the rate at which it is obtained. This is accomplished by directly involving students in energy audit and research activities and by using computer visualization tools to facilitate the development of needed ...
Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer Observations of O VI Absorption in the Galactic Halo

Far-ultraviolet spectra of 11 active galactic nuclei observed by Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) are analyzed to obtain measures of O VI λ1031.93 absorption occurring over very long paths through Milky Way halo gas. Strong O VI absorption is detected along 10 of 11 sight lines. Values of log[N(O VI) sin |b|] range from 13.80 to 14.64, with a median value of 14.21. The observations reveal the existence of a widespread but irregular distribution of O VI in the Milky Way halo. Combined with estimates of the O VI midplane density, n0 = 2 × 10-8 cm-3, from the Copernicus satellite, the FUSE observations imply an O VI exponential scale height of 2.7 ± 0.4 kpc. We find that N(C IV)/N(O VI) ranges from ~0.15 in the disk to ~0.6 along four extragalactic sight lines. The changing ionization state of the gas from the disk to the halo is consistent with a systematic decrease in the scale heights of Si IV, C IV, N V, to O VI from ~5.1 to ~2.7 kpc. While conductive heating models can account for the highly ionized atoms at low |z|, a combination of models (and processes) appears to be required to explain the highly ionized atoms found in the halo. The greater scale heights of Si IV and C IV compared to O VI suggests that some of the Si IV and C IV in the halo is produced in turbulent mixing layers or by photoionization by hot halo stars or the extragalactic background.
Semi supervised multi kernel (SeSMiK) graph embedding: identifying aggressive prostate cancer via magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy

With the wide array of multi scale, multi-modal data now available for disease characterization, the major challenge in integrated disease diagnostics is to able to represent the different data streams in a common framework while overcoming differences in scale and dimensionality. This common knowledge representation framework is an important pre-requisite to develop integrated meta-classifiers for disease classification. In this paper, we present a unified data fusion framework, Semi Supervised Multi Kernel Graph Embedding (SeSMiKGE). Our method allows for representation of individual data modalities via a combined multi-kernel framework followed by semi- supervised dimensionality reduction, where partial label information is incorporated to embed high dimensional data in a reduced space. In this work we evaluate SeSMiK-GE for distinguishing (a) benign from cancerous (CaP) areas, and (b) aggressive high-grade prostate cancer fromindolent low-grade by integrating information from 1.5 Tesla in vivo Magnetic Resonance Imaging (anatomic) and Spectroscopy (metabolic). Comparing SeSMiK-GE with unimodal T2w, MRS classifiers and a previous published non-linear dimensionality reduction driven combination scheme (ScEPTre) yielded classification accuracies of (a) 91.3% (SeSMiK), 66.1% (MRI), 82.6% (MRS) and 86.8% (ScEPTre) for distinguishing benign from CaP regions, and (b) 87.5% (SeSMiK), 79.8% (MRI), 83.7% (MRS) and 83.9% (ScEPTre) for distinguishing high and low grade CaP over a total of 19 multi-modal MRI patient studies.
Neurobiología de la psicopatía

Esta cada vez mas claro que la comprension de la neurobiologia de la psicopatia se extiende mucho mas alla de identificar las regiones cerebrales que pueden estar implicadas. La genetica, los neurotransmisores y las hormonas influyen en el funcionamiento de las estructuras cerebrales y la conectividad entre ellas. En la futura investigacion sera importante identificar como estos sistemas interaccionan para producir la constelacion exclusiva de rasgos y conducta caracteristicos de la psicopatia. Por ultimo, mediante la consideracion de las similitudes y diferencias entre este problema y otros trastornos de las emociones, podremos comprender los posibles mecanismos que producen y mantienen este proceso, al igual que posibles metodos de tratamiento.
Excitation of wave packets

The large transform bandwidth of a picosecond or subpicosecond laser pulse can simultaneously and coherently excite many electronic states of an atom or molecule. The resulting superposition state has a number of properties very different from those of an ordinary energy eigenstate.
Risk-prediction tool for identifying hospitalized children with a predisposition for development of venous thromboembolism: Peds-Clot clinical Decision Rule.

Summary. Background: The prevalence of VTE is increasing in tertiary pediatric hospitals. Identification of high-risk populations using uniform criteria is required to develop evidence-based VTE prevention guidelines. Objective: To develop a VTE risk prediction rule, the Peds-Clot clinical Decision Rule (PCDR), to identify high-risk children who were at increased risk of developing VTE. Methods: This retrospective case-control study developed the PCDR using a derivation cohort (173 cases, 346 controls) and validated it on a separate validation cohort (100 cases, 100 controls). A uniform data collection strategy was applied to derive both the samples. Conditional logistic regression analyses were used to develop a risk-prediction model. Each significant predictor was assigned a score based on its beta coefficient and the PCDR was developed. ROC curves were derived to test the performance of the PCDR. Results: Characteristics of derivation and validation cohorts were comparable. Six risk factors (positive blood stream infection, central venous catheter, direct admission to ICU/NICU, hospitalization for ≥ 7 days, immobilization for > 72 h, and use of birth control pills) formed the final risk prediction model (risk score range, 0.5–9.5). A risk score of 3 or more identified high-risk children at a sensitivity of 70% and specificity of 80% and AUC of 0.852 (95% confidence interval, 0.814–0.890). The application of a risk score to the validation sample showed sensitivity 57% and specificity 88% and an AUC of 0.875 (95% confidence interval, 0.82–0.924). Conclusion: Incorporation of the PCDR in routine clinical care can be an attractive strategy to identify high-risk hospitalized children with a predisposition for VTE. The clinical utility of the PCDR needs validation in prospective studies.
Singularity Locus for the Endpoint Map of Serial Manipulators with Revolute Joints

We present a theoretical and algorithmic method for describing the singularity locus for the endpoint map of any serial manipulator with revolute joints. As a surface of revolution around the first joint, the singularity locus is determined by its intersection with a fixed plane through the first joint. The resulting plane curve is part of an algebraic curve called the singularity curve. Its degree can be computed from the specialized case of all pairs of consecutive joints coplanar, when the singularity curve is a union of circles, counted with multiplicity two. Knowledge of the degree and a simple iterative procedure for obtaining sample points on the singularity curve lead to the precise equation of the curve.
Suppression of phospholipase Dα1 induces freezing tolerance in Arabidopsis: Response of cold-responsive genes and osmolyte accumulation

Phospholipase D (PLD; EC 3.1.4.4) plays an important role in membrane lipid hydrolysis and in mediation of plant responses to a wide range of stresses. PLDalpha1 abrogation through antisense suppression in Arabidopsis thaliana resulted in a significant increase in freezing tolerance of both non-acclimated and cold-acclimated plants. Although non-acclimated PLDalpha1-deficient plants did not show the activation of cold-responsive C-repeat/dehydration-responsive element binding factors (CBFs) and their target genes (COR47 and COR78), they did accumulate osmolytes to much higher levels than did the non-acclimated wild-type plants. However, a stronger expression of COR47 and COR78 in response to cold acclimation and to especially freezing was observed in PLDalpha1-deficient plants. Furthermore, a slower activation of CBF1 was observed in response to cold acclimation in these plants compared to the wild-type plants. Typically, cold acclimation resulted in a higher accumulation of osmolytes in PLDalpha1-deficient plants than in wild-type plants. Inhibition of PLD activity by using lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LPE) also increased freezing tolerance of Arabidopsis, albeit to a lesser extent than did the PLD antisense suppression. Exogenous LPE induced expression of COR15a and COR47 in the absence of cold stimulus. These results suggest that PLDalpha1 plays a key role in freezing tolerance of Arabidopsis by modulating the cold-responsive genes and accumulation of osmolytes.
Identification of synthetic lethality of PRKDC in MYC-dependent human cancers by pooled shRNA screening

MYC family members are among the most frequently deregulated oncogenes in human cancers, yet direct therapeutic targeting of MYC in cancer has been challenging thus far. Synthetic lethality provides an opportunity for therapeutic intervention of MYC-driven cancers. A pooled kinase shRNA library screen was performed and next-generation deep sequencing efforts identified that PRKDC was synthetically lethal in cells overexpressing MYC. Genes and proteins of interest were knocked down or inhibited using RNAi technology and small molecule inhibitors, respectively. Quantitative RT-PCR using TaqMan probes examined mRNA expression levels and cell viability was assessed using CellTiter-Glo (Promega). Western blotting was performed to monitor different protein levels in the presence or absence of RNAi or compound treatment. Statistical significance of differences among data sets were determined using unpaired t test (Mann–Whitney test) or ANOVA. Inhibition of PRKDC using RNAi (RNA interference) or small molecular inhibitors preferentially killed MYC-overexpressing human lung fibroblasts. Moreover, inducible PRKDC knockdown decreased cell viability selectively in high MYC-expressing human small cell lung cancer cell lines. At the molecular level, we found that inhibition of PRKDC downregulated MYC mRNA and protein expression in multiple cancer cell lines. In addition, we confirmed that overexpression of MYC family proteins induced DNA double-strand breaks; our results also revealed that PRKDC inhibition in these cells led to an increase in DNA damage levels. Our data suggest that the synthetic lethality between PRKDC and MYC may in part be due to PRKDC dependent modulation of MYC expression, as well as MYC-induced DNA damage where PRKDC plays a key role in DNA damage repair.
Inactivation of bovine plasma amine oxidase by haloallylamines.

Abstract Various 2- and 3-haloallylamines were synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of the quinone-dependent bovine plasma amine oxidase (BPAO). 3-Haloallylamines, which were previously found to be good inhibitors of the flavin-dependent mitochondrial monoamine oxidase (MAO), exhibited a time-dependent inactivation of BPAO, with the 2-phenyl analogs being more potent than the 2-methyl analogs. No plateau of enzyme activity loss was observed, suggestive of a lack of competitive partitioning to normal turnover. The ( E )- and ( Z )-2-phenyl-3-fluoro analogs were the most potent (low μM IC 50 s), with the corresponding 3-bromo and 3-chloro analogs being >10-fold less potent. In each case, the Z -isomers were more potent than the E -isomers, the reverse of the configurational inhibitory preference observed with MAO. In contrast to the 2-phenyl analogs, 3-phenyl-2(or 3)-chloroallylamines displayed a partitioning behavior, consistent with these being both substrates and inactivators of BPAO.
Long term stability of electromanipulated protoplasts of Glycine max var. Acme and a Catharanthus roseus mutant.

Summary Protoplasts of soybean and an indole-alkaloid-free Madagascar periwinkle (vinca) were fused by electromanipulation. Callus cultures of these protoplasts were maintained in hormone-free semi-solid medium for nearly thirteen years. The stability of these cultures was tested by analysis of nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. One fusion, out of the five finally tested, was regarded as exhibiting the characteristics of both the genomes from the original fused protoplasts while the others presented dominantly the ITS region of soybean.
Immersion into visual media: new applications of image understanding

Using images to interface machines and humans offers an exciting new application domain for image understanding (IU). This article describes two such applications: digital libraries that bring visual data to the user, and virtualized reality that brings users to the visual data. The digital library calls on IU techniques such as scene segmentation and content analysis, and joins together natural language analysis and IU. Virtualized reality uses precise, dense, and video-rate stereo reconstruction techniques.
Differential requirements for segment polarity genes in wingless signaling

The segment polarity genes wingless and engruiled are required throughout development of Drosophila. During early embryogenesis, these two genes are expressed in adjacent domains, in an inter-dependent way. Later, their expression is regulated by different mechanisms and becomes maintained by auto-regulation. To dissect the genetic requirements for the initial signaling between wingless and engrailed expressing cells, we have previously used a transgenic Drosophila strain that expresses wingless under the control of the heat shock promoter (HS-wg). Focusing on the later phases of wingless and engruiled regulation, we have now extended these studies, using embryos carrying various combinations of segment polarity mutations and the HS-wg transgene. We confirm some of the existing models of regulation of the expression of wingfess and engrailed. In addition, we find that HS-wg embryos require engruifed for induction of ectopic endogenous wingless expression. Signaling from engrailed cells to this novel wingless expression domain is dependent on hedgehog but also on porcupine. We further demonstrate a novel requirement for hedgehog in maintenance of expression of engruiled itself.
Community Development Corporations, Policy Networks, and the Rescaling of Community Development Advocacy:

Some argue that, as place-bound, development-oriented entities dependent upon capital, community development corporations (CDCs) are ineffective political agents beyond the boundaries of the disadvantaged neighborhoods they serve. In response I ask: how have CDCs worked through policy networks to rescale the ‘spaces of engagement’ for community development policy beyond the local? Data gathered through document analysis, a survey, and interviews point to three distinct phases of the CDC rescaling project: (1) linking the local through a national network; (2) expanding spaces of engagement through state policy networks; and (3) a national network of networks. CDC policy networks have had uneven success in establishing their legitimacy, proving CDC effectiveness as agents of local economic development, overcoming ‘militant particularisms’, and mobilizing both the state and capital. CDCs can expand their spaces of engagement beyond the local through policy networks if they successfully develop boundary-spann...
Correlation of oxidation-reduction changes of intracellular reduced pyridine nucleotide and changes in electroencephalogram of the rat in anoxia.

Correlation of Oxidation-Reduction Changes of Intracellular Reduced Pyridine Nucleotide and Changes in Electroencephalogram of the Rat in Anoxia
Governing Change: Land-Use Change and the Prevention of Nonpoint Source Pollution in the North Coastal Basin of California

Many rural areas in the United States and throughout much of the postindustrial world are undergoing significant ecological, socioeconomic, and political transformations. The migration of urban and suburban dwellers into rural areas has led to the subdivision of large tracts of land into smaller parcels, which can complicate efforts to govern human–environmental problems. Non-point source (NPS) pollution from private rural lands is a particularly pressing human–environmental challenge that may be aggravated by changing land tenure. In this article, I report on a study of the governance and management of sediment (a common NPS pollutant) in the North Coastal basin of California, a region undergoing a transition from traditional extractive and agricultural land uses to rural residential and other alternative land uses. I focus on the differences in the governance and management across private timber, ranch, residential, vacation, and other lands in the region. I find that (1) the stringency and strength of sediment regulations differ by land use, (2) nonregulatory programs tend to target working landscapes, and (3) rural residential landowners have less knowledge of sediment control and report using fewer sediment-control techniques than landowners using their land for timber production or ranching. I conclude with an exploration of the consequences of these differences on an evolving rural landscape.
Eficacia y seguridad de la atorvastatina en la práctica médica habitual en España (estudio Zar)

Fundamento La hipercolesterolemia desempena un importante papel en el desarrollo de la enfermedad cardiovascular. El beneficio de un estricto control lipidico ha sido puesto en evidencia con toda claridad tanto en estudios de prevencion primaria como secundaria. Las sociedades cientificas han establecido unas recomendaciones para el tratamiento de las concentraciones elevadas de colesterol en funcion de los factores de riesgo cardiovascular asociados. El grado de cumplimiento de estas recomendaciones dista bastante de lo deseable. Pacientes y metodos El estudio Zar es un estudio de farmacovigilancia en 15.000 pacientes dislipemicos que analizo la eficacia y seguridad de la atorvastatina en las condiciones de la practica medica habitual de la asistencia primaria en Espana. Resultados Los resultados del estudio demostraron la elevada prevalencia de factores de riesgo cardiovascular en esta poblacion (un 77% con ³ 2 factores de riesgo o con antecedentes de cardiopatia isquemica), y la gravedad de su hipercolesterolemia, que requeria reducciones medias de colesterol unido a lipoproteinas de baja densidad (cLDL) de un 29% para conseguir los objetivos terapeuticos. El tratamiento con la dosis inicial (10 mg) de atorvastatina durante 12 semanas controlo a la mayoria de estos pacientes (un 53%), consiguiendo unas reducciones medias del cLDL de un 30%. Asimismo, el tratamiento con atorvastatina disminuyo un 22% la concentracion serica de trigliceridos. La concentracion de colesterol unido a lipoproteinas de alta densidad (cHDL) aumento globalmente un 17% con el tratamiento, que fue tanto mas eficaz cuanto mas bajas eran las cifras basales, alcanzando aumentos de hasta un 61% en pacientes con un cHDL inicial inferior a 28 mg/dl. El perfil de seguridad de la atorvastatina fue excelente, notificandose reacciones adversas unicamente en el 0,5% de los pacientes. Conclusion Los resultados confirman la eficacia y seguridad de la atorvastatina en las condiciones habituales de prescripcion en nuestra poblacion.
An LPV Approach to Obstacle-Sensitive Trajectory Regulation

The paper focuses on the control of vehicular systems along trajectories in the presence of obstacles. We design parameter-dependent controllers which guarantee closed-loop stability and performance of the vehicle’s regulation loop. In addition, the control strategy changes depending on the position of the vehicle in the obstacle environment so that the critical outputs are given the most attention. We also provide a fast and easy-to-implement algorithm for online controller construction. Last, the proposed approach is applied to a three-degree-of-freedom helicopter.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Advanced proteomic liquid chromatography

Liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry is the predominant platform used to analyze proteomics samples consisting of large numbers of proteins and their proteolytic products (e.g., truncated polypeptides) and spanning a wide range of relative concentrations. This review provides an overview of advanced capillary liquid chromatography techniques and methodologies that greatly improve separation resolving power and proteomics analysis coverage, sensitivity, and throughput.
Prostaglandin F2α added to extended boar semen at processing elicits in vitro myometrial contractility after 72 hours of storage

Abstract Improved fertility will maximize productivity of the swine industry. Myometrial contractility is an essential component in the fertilization process because it is the mechanism by which spermatozoa are transported to the site of fertilization. In the present study, we evaluated the potential use of PGF2α supplementation to the extended pig semen in regard to inducing myometrial contractility of sows. Extended boar semen (80 mL) was supplemented with PGF2α (5 mg) for 72 h at 17 ± 1° C. Cumulative doses of 0.1, 1, 10 and 100 μL of the mixture were tested on uterine strips obtained from diestrus sows. An increase in myometrial contractility was recorded with PGF2α supplementation when compared to extended semen or extender treatment alone after 72 h of incubation. Addition of PGF2α to the extended boar semen at the time of the experiment did not differ from the 72 h treated group. The results from this study support that PGF2α preparations can be added to extended doses of boar semen at processing to enhance myometrial contractility at the time of insemination for up to 72 h.
The Geopolitics of Malcolm X

Geographers and other social scientists have largely neglected Malcolm X as a critical theorist. Unlike the attention accorded to Franz Fanon, the writings and speeches of Malcolm X have remained unexplored for their potential contribution to political geographic thought. As a corrective, in this paper we situate Malcolm X within the rubric of critical geopolitics and postcolonial theory. We contend that Malcolm X, during the last year of his life, was formulating a geopolitics of oppression. We further assert that the geopolitics of Malcolm X were decidedly critical and anti-colonial, and that his discourse foreshadows elements of contemporary social theory. Specifically, Malcolm X instructed his audiences to educate themselves about the relationships between imperial power and he addressed the politics of representation by representing the issues of American racial oppression as one of global oppression.
From Techniques to Process: Explorations beneath the Tip of the Iceberg.

Abstract This article examines the nature of reading instruction in classrooms across the country, considers why problem situations exist, and suggests strategies for improvement. Recent observational studies suggest that reading instruction may be characterized as materials dominated. This mechanistic kind of instruction has been widely criticized. Research on teacher planning and decision‐making provides some insight into why the situation exists. Among the many sources of information that influence teachers’ decisions about reading instruction, the least influential appears to be theoretical knowledge of the reading process. Suggestions are made for refocusing preservice and inservice education to help teachers make informed instructional decisions independent of manuals and materials.
Exploring nonlinearity to identify genes and intergenic regions in genomes

Abstract In a previous paper (Physica A 312 (2002) 458) we presented an analysis, which established that DNA sequences exhibit significant nonlinear structure. More specifically, we found that both coding and non-coding sequences exhibit nonlinearity, but coding sequences are more nonlinear than non-coding sequences. Here, we extend this result and we propose an approach which explores nonlinearity to predict genes and intergenic regions in sequenced genomes. Our results compare favorably to other commonly used approaches in this problem.