cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Using on-site liver 3-D reconstruction and volumetric calculations in split liver transplantation

Background Split liver transplantation increases the number of grafts available for transplantation. Pre-recovery assessment of liver graft volume is essential for selecting suitable recipients. The purpose of this study was to determine the ability and feasibility of constructing a 3-D model to aid in surgical planning and to predict graft weight prior to an in situ division of the donor liver. Methods Over 11 months, 3-D volumetric reconstruction of 4 deceased donors was performed using Pathfinder Scout© liver volumetric software. Demographic, laboratory, operative, perioperative and survival data for these patients along with donor demographic data were collected prospectively and analyzed retrospectively. Results The average predicted weight of the grafts from the adult donors obtained from an in situ split procedure were 1130 g (930-1458 g) for the extended right lobe donors and 312 g (222-396 g) for left lateral segment grafts. Actual adult graft weight was 92% of the predicted weight for both the extended right grafts and the left lateral segment grafts. The predicted and actual graft weights for the pediatric donors were 176 g and 210 g for the left lateral segment grafts and 308 g and 280 g for the extended right lobe grafts, respectively. All grafts were transplanted except for the right lobe from the pediatric donors due to the small graft weight. Conclusions On-site volumetric assessment of donors provides useful information for the planning of an in situ split and for selection of recipients. This information may expand the donor pool to recipients previously felt to be unsuitable due to donor and/or recipient weight.
Influence of human serum albumin on cytotoxic activity of ON01910.Na

4103 ON 01910.Na is a novel anticancer agent, which acts as a dual kinase inhibitors affecting CDK1, PLK1, VEGFR and PDGFR. Phase I clinical studies are in progress. The interaction of ON 01910.Na with human serum albumin (HSA) was examined in vitro as a function of cell kill effect against Daudi human lymphoma cells. Cells were exposed to ON 01910.Na and HSA for 3 days and cell kill effects were measured by WST-1 assay. Increases in HSA concentration in culture medium, RPMI-1640 plus 20% FBS, resulted in progressive decreases in ON 01910.Na’s cell kill effect. HSA concentration of 2.5 g/dl was chosen because of proximity to physiological concentration. In the presence of HSA 2.5 g/dl, ON 01910.Na at 600 nM or ID90 concentration was hardly cytotoxic (only 10% cell kill effect). Ultrafiltration using Millipore membrane followed by WST-1 assay showed that >90% ON 01910.Na is bound to HSA. The binding occurred within 30 min of exposure at 37°C. Addition of warfarin (a Site I probe), ibuprofen (a Site II probe) and acetylsalicylic acid (a Site I and II binder)(molar ratio with HSA 3:1) into the ON 01910.Na (600 nM)/HSA mixture resulted in restoration of cell kill effects to 30%, 10% and 37% of controls. At higher concentration of ON 01910.Na (2400 nM), which produces nearly total cell kill without HSA but 30% cell kill in the presence of HSA, warfarin, ibuprofen and acetylsalicylic acid restored cell kill effects of ON 01910.Na to 90%, 70% and 100%. Hemin, a Site III probe, was cytotoxic and its color prevented WST-1 assay. These data indicate that ON 01910.Na is a Site I and II binder and HSA-bound ON 01910.Na is biologically inactive. Warfarin almost completely and ibuprofen partially restored HSA’s inactivating effect on ON 01910.Na. Acetylsalicylic acid or similar Site I and II binders may release ON 01910.Na from HSA in vivo and improve biological activity of this compound in clinical setting.
Brief Report: Estimated Prevalence of a Community Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder by Age 4 Years in Children from Selected Areas in the United States in 2010: Evaluation of Birth Cohort Effects.

We compared early-diagnosed autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (defined as diagnosis by age 4 years) between the 2002 and 2006 birth cohorts, in five sites of the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network. In the 2002 cohort, the prevalence/1000 of early-diagnosed ASD was half the 8-year-old prevalence (7.2 vs. 14.7, prevalence ratio [PR] 0.5 [0.4–0.6]). Overall, the prevalence of early-diagnosed ASD did not differ between birth cohorts (PR 1.1 [0.9–1.3]). However, in three sites with complete case ascertainment, the prevalence of early-diagnosed ASD was higher for those born in 2006 versus 2002 (PR 1.3 [1.1–1.5]), suggesting possible improvement in early identification. The lack of change in two sites may reflect less complete case ascertainment. Studies in more recent cohorts are needed.
Limited-Transpiration Rate Under Elevated Atmospheric Vapor Pressure Deficit

The driving force of transpiration rate is the gradient in vapor pressure between the dry atmosphere and the wet interior of leaves, commonly referred to as the vapor pressure deficit (VPD). The other key variable is the resistance to vapor diffusion from the leaves attributed to the aperture of the stomata pores. Partial stomatal closure at modest VPD results in limited-transpiration rate and, hence, conservative use of water. The conservative use of water allows more water to be available to sustain physiological activity later in the growing species. However, in many crop species, the limited-transpiration rate is not commonly expressed in commercial genotypes. Only recently have specific genotypes been identified that express the trait, and these genotypes are now being exploited in breeding programs. These breeding efforts have led to commercial cultivars in maize and soybean resulting in increased yields under dry land conditions.
Acute Compartment Syndrome as a Complication of the Use of Intraoperative Neuromonitoring Needle Electrodes

Background The use of intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring (IOM) has become commonplace in many neurosurgical procedures as a tool to reduce the risk of complications through the early identification of reversible neurologic compromise. Although complications related to IOM itself are exceedingly rare, recognizing their clinical presentation in the postoperative neurosurgical patient is essential for the early identification and implementation of appropriate treatment. Case Description The authors present a case report of a patient who developed postoperative acute compartment syndrome in the right arm after placement of neuromonitoring needles for routine IOM during endovascular treatment of a left internal carotid artery aneurysm. Before the procedure, the patient received dual antiplatelet therapy and was noted to have a P2Y12 reaction unit value within therapeutic range. The patient had not received other anticoagulation therapy and had no family or personal history of hematologic or coagulopathic disorders. Immediately after an uncomplicated endovascular intervention, the patient began to develop symptoms of forearm swelling, tightness, and tenderness to palpation; pain with wrist flexion and extension; and paresthesias of the distal digits of the hand. She had eventual loss of a palpable radial pulse. The patient underwent emergent fasciotomies of multiple forearm compartments and had immediate return of a palpable radial pulse. Conclusions This case represents the first report of post-procedural compartment syndrome resulting from placement of neuromonitoring needles for routine IOM. Although it is a particularly rare complication of IOM, compartment syndrome represents a surgical emergency that carries significant morbidity if not immediately recognized and treated.
Dietary cravings and aversions in the postpartum period.

Although food cravings and aversions are commonly experienced by pregnant women, the degree to which they persist in the postpartum period is unknown. This study examines this issue in both lactating and nonlactating women. A random sample of 463 subjects was selected from all prenatal patients receiving care at a large health maintenance organization (HMO). Even though almost all of the subjects reported craving some food or beverage during the last trimester of pregnancy and half reported some aversion, those phenomena dropped markedly in the postpartum period. Evaluation of dietary quality as related to food cravings revealed no clear association; that is, the data provided no evidence to support the hypothesis that cravings are caused by dietary deficiencies or that they result in significantly augmented intake of key nutrients found in those foods. Overall, food cravings and aversions do not continue into the postpartum period at a higher rate than one would expect in the adult female population; manifestation of food cravings/aversions is not related to dietary quality. J Am Diet Assoc 89:647-651, 1989.
Demythifying Behavioral Consultation.

Since behavioral consultation was first described 20 years ago, a number of assumptions have emerged in the literature and gained legendary status despite being based either on weak or non-existent...
Safety and Clinical Outcomes of Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy in Kidney Transplant Patients: A Systematic Review.

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the safety and outcomes of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) in renal transplant recipients (RTRs) based on available literature. Materials and Methods: A ...
License to tweak: Artistic license at first-tier Indian apparel suppliers

Abstract Many artists and designers do not have full control over the production and interpretation of their work. Their sphere of influence is governed by art world parameters like artistic license, defined as the moral authorization of creative performance. Globalization is changing the distribution of task assignments and the allocation of credit in many industries, but fashion is particularly interesting because of its commercial power and cultural relevance. This article explores how fashion design is increasingly distributed through global value chains. Based on 11 months of ethnographic fieldwork at first-tier Indian apparel exporters, I show how buyers and suppliers collaborate in the administrative practice of “tweaking.” Consonant with a global shift toward trade in services (not just tasks like assembly), buyers from Western brands assume and expect design and tweaking from suppliers as part of full-package manufacturing. I discuss the routines, legality, and violations of tweaking as a mode of artistic license, as well as the social psychology of creative attribution. While Western brand designers maintain exclusive claims to innovation, Indian supply-side designers are more likely to accept the realities of distributed creativity. By contrasting the Western ethic of aesthetic individualism with the transnational industry routine of “tweaking,” we gain a new clarity about the distribution of creativity and the limits of artistic license.
Effect of Conical Free Stream on Shock Stand-Off Distance

In many experimental studies of hypersonic flow in blow-down wind tunnels or shock tunnels, the flow is accelerated from rest through a conical nozzle. While a contoured nozzle is designed for a particular ratio of specific heats or a particular gas, a conical nozzle is more versatile as it can be used for any gas. Examples of such investigations are [1–3]. These were performed in the T5 piston-driven reflected shock tunnel at Caltech. It is important to understand the effect of the conicity of the free stream produced by a conical nozzle. The present work investigates how it affects the shock wave stand-off distance in axisymmetric flow over a convex blunt body. Previous work on the effect of free-stream conicity notably includes a study of its effect on pressure distribution and drag in flow over blunted slender bodies by [4], in which theoretical results based on the Newtonian approximation were compared with experiments.
Electronic Interactions in Verdazyl Biradicals

A series of bisverdazyl biradicals in which the atoms bearing the greatest spin density are separated by several different aromatic spacer groups has been prepared in order to compare their properties to those of the nonspaced 1,1‘,5,5‘-tetramethyl-6,6‘-dioxo-3,3‘-bisverdazyl (1). In addition, the 6,6‘-dithio derivative (1,1‘,5,5‘-tetramethyl-6,6‘-dithio-3,3‘-bisverdazyl (7)) was prepared. Cyclic voltammograms of 1,4-bis(1,5-dimethyl-6-oxo-3-verdazyl)benzene (5) and 2,5-bis(1,5-dimethyl-6-oxo-3-verdazyl)thiophene (6) both show a single two-electron oxidation near 700 mV. In contrast 1, 7, and 1,3-bis(1,5-dimethyl-6-oxo-3-verdazyl)benzene (4) display two one-electron oxidation waves, with the first oxidative wave appearing also near 700 mV. The absorption spectrum of each of these biradicals was red-shifted from the maximum observed for 1. Biradicals 4, 5, and 6 exhibited linear Curie plots, although a curved Curie plot was observed for 7 with J = 560 cm-1.
Soluble dietary fiber workshop.

The participants of the soluble dietary fiber workshop were a diverse group with a wide range of reasons for attending. Two issues of interest to most members of the group were the analysis of all components in the dietary fiber complex (not just the soluble fraction) and the physiological effects of soluble fiber. A major portion of our time was spent reviewing methods of fiber analysis (1,2). We did not have a good discussion of our topic—what is the most meaningful way to measure soluble dietary fiber, nor did we reach a consensus on other questions raised by the participants. These other questions included how to present soluble fiber in data bases, g/100 g or serving, or % of total fiber; and what should be the approach to measuring specific components of the fiber complex, such as polydextroses, inulin, oligosaccharides and undigested starch.
Nonlinear Controllability and Observability

The properties of controllability, observability, and the theory of minimal realization for linear systems are well-understood and have been very useful in analyzing such systems. This paper deals with analogous questions for nonlinear systems.
Heterologous Expression and Engineering of the Nitrogenase Cofactor Biosynthesis Scaffold NifEN

NifEN plays a crucial role in the biosynthesis of nitrogenase, catalyzing the final step of cofactor maturation prior to delivering the cofactor to NifDK, the catalytic component of nitrogenase. The difficulty in expressing NifEN, a complex, heteromultimeric metalloprotein sharing structural/functional homology with NifDK, is a major challenge in the heterologous expression of nitrogenase. Herein, we report the expression and engineering of Azotobacter vinelandii NifEN in Escherichia coli. Biochemical and spectroscopic analyses demonstrate the integrity of the heterologously expressed NifEN in composition and functionality and, additionally, the ability of an engineered NifEN variant to mimic NifDK in retaining the matured cofactor at an analogous cofactor-binding site. This is an important step toward piecing together a viable pathway for the heterologous expression of nitrogenase and identifying variants for the mechanistic investigation of this enzyme.
Using a mark-recapture model to estimate beaching probability of seabirds killed in nearshore waters during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

During a marine oil spill, injured birds often die on the water, some eventually washing ashore, but others becoming waterlogged and sinking or being scavenged before reaching the shoreline. Birds that disappear before they can be deposited on the shoreline are difficult to enumerate, but they commonly represent a large fraction of total oil spill–related mortality. As part of the process of quantifying the overall impact to seabirds resulting from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, it was necessary to estimate the number of dead birds lost at sea. We conducted a study to estimate the beaching probability of birds that died at sea in the Gulf of Mexico in the areas most heavily used by seabirds and impacted by the spill. Using a mark-recapture analysis to derive the beaching probability from our field study data, we estimated that dead birds afloat at sea had about a 0.1414 probability of beaching in areas searched during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Sensitivity analyses of our model and requisite assumptions suggested that if our assumptions were violated, the “true” beaching probability could be anywhere between 0.11 and 0.16. These estimates are much lower than beaching probabilities estimated for seabirds killed during the Exxon Valdez oil spill in the waters of Alaska, for example, likely reflect higher rates of decomposition and scavenging in the warmer waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Our estimate suggests that bird carcasses that washed onshore during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill represented only 14% of those killed at sea during the spill.
Prolonged dislocation and delay to surgery are associated with higher rates of heterotopic ossification in operatively treated terrible triad injuries.

Abstract Background Heterotopic ossification (HO) formation after complex elbow injuries can significantly impact function. Prior studies have reported a 3%-45% incidence of HO following elbow trauma in a heterogeneous cohort of fracture patterns. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the prevalence of and identify risk factors for HO specifically in patients with terrible triad injuries. Methods A total of 61 patients (64 elbows) underwent operative treatment for terrible triad injuries with an average follow-up period of 19.8 months (range, 3-138 months). The medical records were reviewed for demographic data, duration of dislocation, number of reduction attempts, time to surgery, presence of radiographic HO, elbow motion at final follow-up, functional limitations, and need for secondary procedures. Results Radiographic HO developed in 77% of patients, and 63% had some level of functional restriction. Thirteen patients (26%) underwent a secondary procedure for HO excision. Patients with HO had a longer time to surgery (4.9 days vs. 2.8 days, P = .02), longer duration of dislocation (21 hours vs. 6 hours, P = .04), and reduced flexion-extension (94° vs. 112°, P = .04) and pronation-supination (109° vs. 163°, P = .002) arcs of motion compared with patients without HO. HO was also more likely to develop in patients who required closed reduction than in those with spontaneous reduction prior to presentation. Conclusion The prevalence of radiographic and clinically relevant HO after terrible triad injuries was higher than previously reported. Persistent dislocation necessitating a closed reduction, a longer duration of dislocation, and a delay to surgery were associated with the development of HO. Providers should consider earlier surgical stabilization or urgent referral to a specialist for patients with unstable injuries.
Tuning the charge blocking layer to enhance photomultiplication in organic shortwave infrared photodetectors

Emerging infrared photodetectors have reported a high level of gain using trap-assisted photomultiplication mechanisms enabling significant enhancements in their sensitivity. This work investigates a series of interfacial materials in order to understand how charge blocking layers facilitate trap-assisted photomultiplication in organic shortwave infrared detectors. The hole blocking layers induce accumulation of photogenerated holes at the interface, which in turn lowers the electron injection barrier and enables photomultiplication. In addition to examining photoresponse characteristics, the device dark current is analyzed by fitting to a charge injection model to quantify injection barriers. This demonstrates that the electric field induced barrier lowering effect plateaus with increasing applied bias. Among the interfaces studied, the best detectivity is observed using the hole blocking layer bathophenanthroline (Bphen), which reduces the probability of recombination and extends the lifetime of trapped holes to increase photomultiplication. This leads to a responsivity of 5.6 A W−1 (equivalent external quantum efficiency = 660% at 1050 nm) and detectivity of 109 Jones with broadband operation from 600 nm to 1400 nm.
Nationalizing Nature: Iguazu Falls and National Parks at the Brazil-Argentina Border

Today, one-quarter of all the land in Latin America is set apart for nature protection. In Nationalizing Nature, Frederico Freitas uncovers the crucial role played by conservation in the region's territorial development by exploring how Brazil and Argentina used national parks to nationalize borderlands. In the 1930s, Brazil and Argentina created some of their first national parks around the massive Iguazu Falls, shared by the two countries. The parks were designed as tools to attract migrants from their densely populated Atlantic seaboards to a sparsely inhabited borderland. In the 1970s, a change in paradigm led the military regimes in Brazil and Argentina to violently evict settlers from their national parks, highlighting the complicated relationship between authoritarianism and conservation in the Southern Cone. By tracking almost one hundred years of national park history in Latin America's largest countries, Nationalizing Nature shows how conservation policy promoted national programs of frontier development and border control.
Reliability and Construct Validity of the edTPA for Music Education

The purpose of this study was to examine the psychometric quality of Educative Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA) scores for 136 preservice music teachers at a Midwest university. I addressed t...
The Intersection of Counseling Microskills and Qualitative Interviewing and Reporting in the Study of Sensitive Topics

Sensitive topics evaluation presents both a maze and a minefield to qualitative evaluators due to their complexity and their potential to create areas of misanalysis. For novice and experienced qua...
Long-Term Safety and Tolerability of BMP7 and HGF Gene Overexpression in Rabbit Cornea.

Purpose Tissue-targeted localized BMP7+HGF genes delivered into the stroma via nanoparticle effectively treats corneal fibrosis and rehabilitates transparency in vivo without acute toxicity. This study evaluated the long-term safety and tolerability of BMP7+HGF nanomedicine for the eye in vivo. Methods One eye each of 36 rabbits received balanced salt solution (group 1, naive; n = 12), naked vector with polyethylenimine-conjugated gold nanoparticles (PEI2-GNP; group 2, naked-vector; n = 12), or BMP7+HGF genes with PEI2-GNP (group 3, BMP7+HGF; n = 12) via a topical delivery technique. Safety and tolerability measurements were performed by clinical biomicroscopy in live rabbits at predetermined time intervals up to 7 months. Corneal tissues were collected at 2 months and 7 months after treatment and subjected to histology, immunofluorescence, and quantitative real-time PCR analyses. Results Clinical ophthalmic examinations and modified MacDonald-Shadduck scores showed no significant changes in corneal thickness (P = 0.3389), tear flow (P = 0.2121), intraocular pressure (P = 0.9958), epithelial abrasion, or ocular abnormality. Slit-lamp, stereo, confocal, and specular biomicroscopy showed no signs of blepharospasm chemosis, erythema, epiphora, abnormal ocular discharge, or changes in epithelium, stroma, and endothelium after BMP7+HGF therapy for up to 7 months, as compared with control groups. Throughout the 7-month period, no significant changes were recorded in endothelial density (P = 0.9581). Histological and molecular data were well corroborated with the subjective clinical analyses and showed no differences in the naive, naked-vector, and BMP7+HGF groups. Conclusions Localized BMP7+HGF therapy is a safe, tolerable, and innovative modality for the treatment of corneal fibrosis. Translational relevance Nanoparticle-mediated BMP7+HGF combination gene therapy has the potential to treat corneal fibrosis in vivo without short- or long-term toxicity.
Procedural Elements for Computer Graphics

Introduction to computer graphics raster scan graphics clipping visible lines and visible surfaces rendering.
Blood Pressure Measurement

Blood pressure is one fundamental vital sign, and its measurement is of great importance to medical professionals and the general public alike. This article describes direct and indirect methods of measuring blood pressure. There are many techniques of blood pressure measurement in the market, and more are being investigated in the laboratories and tested in the field. A number of these techniques are covered here, giving particular emphasis to the oscillatory techniques extensively employed in devices targeted for clinical use as well as those targeted for home use. Also included are limitations of different techniques, possible remedies to those limitations, and an analysis of the accuracy of a variety of blood pressure measurement devices. Keywords: auscultatory; oscillatory; noninvasive techniques; hypertension; prehypertension
Tandem mass spectrometry of model peptides modified with trans-2-hexenal, a product of lipid peroxidation

Small molecules formed during lipid peroxidation can react with the basic groups in proteins through different mechanisms. Recently, substituted pyridinium moieties were observed during in vitro incubations of lysine-containing peptides with 2-alkenals. To explore the dissociation behavior of peptides with pyridinium-derivatized lysine residues, the peptide ions created through either matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization or electrospray ionization were studied with tandem mass spectrometry. The permanently charged pyridinium ions fragment primarily through the charge-remote processes. Under high energy collision-induced dissociation, a number of diagnostic ions were observed that could potentially be used to identify modified residues in proteins. The origins of these ions were studied using deuterium exchange and higher-order mass spectrometry experiments using an ion trap instrument. Rational structures for these ions are proposed.
Efficient donor screening for rare red cell phenotypes

The search for blood donors with rare red cell phenotypes has frequently involved the targeting of a specific population with a high frequency of sought-for antigens. The attempt to recruit and identify donors in minority populations has often been inefficient and has risked offending individuals in the targeted group. A successful and cost-efficient method for identifying blood donors with rare red cell phenotypes has been developed and has attracted large numbers of donors to participate with a minimum of potential problems. Oklahoma has a large Native American population, and a large percentage of blood donors are Indians. In this study we obtained information concerning the donor's racial background. More than 4000 blood donors representing 30 different Indian tribes participated in the program. Samples of blood from the donors were screened for a variety of red cell antigens. Four Di(a + b −) and four RzRz were identified. Most participants in the study were from the Cherokee, Creek, and Choctaw tribes. The red cell phenotypes in these tribes are reported and compared to previous studies. Continuing studies of this population include HLA typing for our hemapheresis program.
Activation of adenosine A1 and A2 receptors differentially modulates calcium channels and glycinergic synaptic transmission in rat brainstem.

Summary Multiple types of calcium channels are responsible forcalcium influx that triggers transmitter release in the mammalian CNS. To test the contribution of each cal- cium channel type on synaptic modulation, we recorded calcium currents from somata of presynaptic interneur- ons and unitary glycinergic postsynaptic currents in the rat brainstem. In interneuron somata, A 1 receptor acti- vation inhibited predominantly N-type (ω-conotoxin GVIA-sensitive) and, to a lesser extent, P-type (ω-agatoxin IVA-sensitive) channels. At the presynaptic terminal, N- and P-type channels mediated synaptic transmission. ω-CgTx occluded synaptic inhibition by A 1 receptor acti- vation, suggesting that synaptic inhibition was mediated predominantly by N-type channel inhibition. A 2 receptor activation facilitated synaptic transmission, probably through potentiation of P-type channels at the presynap- tic terminal.
Accounting for human behavior, local conditions and organizational constraints in humanitarian development models

The current trend in foreign aid is toward small-scale sustainable development projects in partnership with defined communities. However, these projects are subject to the influences of self-interested human behavior, poorly defined community structures and resources and organizational constraints that can prevent full realization of development models. Under these constraints, attempting participatory community development models to the exclusion of other techniques may not be the most effective way to achieve positive change. Instead, development agencies should consider adopting other proven elements of development in combination with the spirit of community development to achieve a positive impact within the community and organizational structures and ensure accountability for success. A small-scale attempted, sustainable development case study in Rwanda is reviewed, as well as a new concept for larger scale development integrating ‘carbon credits’. Additionally, a development accreditation organization is proposed to ensure additional accountability in this field.
Transformation of Mycoplasma capricolum and Examination of DNA Restriction Modification in M. capricolum and Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides

Abstract Plasmids pIKΔ and pIKΔ-erm have recently been developed as mycoplasmal cloning vectors. In this report, we demonstrate that these plasmids can replicate in Mycoplasma capricolum , a mycoplasmal species for which transformation had not previously been characterized. Both plasmids are stably maintained at a higher copy number than in their parental species, Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides . We have also examined the possibility of one or more restriction-modification systems affecting transformation frequencies in both species.
Apoptotic mechanisms and the synaptic pathology of schizophrenia

The cortical neuropathology of schizophrenia includes neuronal atrophy, decreased neuropil, and alterations in neuronal density. Taken together with evidence of decreased synaptic markers and dendritic spines, the data suggest that synaptic circuitry is altered. Recent neuroimaging studies also indicate that a progressive loss of cortical gray matter occurs early in the course of schizophrenia. Although the mechanisms underlying these deficits are largely unknown, recent postmortem data implicate a role for altered neuronal apoptosis. Apoptosis, a form of programmed cell death, is regulated by a complex cascade of pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins. Apoptotic activation can lead to rapid neuronal death. However, emerging data also indicate that sub-lethal apoptotic activity can lead to a limited form of apoptosis in terminal neurites and individual synapses to cause synaptic elimination without cell death. For example, in Alzheimer's disease, a localized apoptotic mechanism is thought to contribute to early neurite and synapse loss leading to the initial cognitive decline. Recent studies indicate that apoptotic regulatory proteins and DNA fragmentation patterns are altered in several cortical regions in schizophrenia. This paper will review converging lines of data that implicate synaptic deficits in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and propose an underlying role for apoptotic dysregulation.
Sample-path optimization of convex stochastic performance functions

In this paper we propose a method for optimizing convex performance functions in stochastic systems. These functions can include expected performance in static systems and steady-state performance in discrete-event dynamic systems; they may be nonsmooth. The method is closely related to retrospective simulation optimization; it appears to overcome some limitations of stochastic approximation, which is often applied to such problems. We explain the method and give computational results for two classes of problems: tandem production lines with up to 50 machines, and stochastic PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique) problems with up to 70 nodes and 110 arcs.
Wild-Type myoblasts rescue the ability of myogenin-null myoblasts to fuse in vivo

Abstract Skeletal muscle is formed via a complex series of events during embryogenesis. These events include commitment of mesodermal precursor cells, cell migration, cell–cell recognition, fusion of myoblasts, activation of structural genes, and maturation. In mice lacking the bHLH transcription factor myogenin, myoblasts are specified and positioned correctly, but few fuse to form multinucleated fibers. This indicates that myogenin is critical for the fusion process and subsequent differentiation events of myogenesis. To further define the nature of the myogenic defects in myogenin-null mice, we investigated whether myogenin-null myoblasts are capable of fusing with wild-type myoblastsin vivousing chimeric mice containing mixtures of myogenin-null and wild-type cells. Chimeric embryos demonstrated that myogenin-null myoblasts readily fused in the presence of wild-type myoblasts. However, chimeric myofibers did not express wild-type levels of muscle-specific gene products, and myofibers with a high percentage of mutant nuclei appeared abnormal, suggesting that the wild-type nuclei could not fully rescue mutant nuclei in the myofibers. These data demonstrate that myoblast fusion can be uncoupled from complete myogenic differentiation and that myogenin regulates a specific subset of genes with diverse function. Thus, myogenin appears to control not only transcription of muscle structural genes but also the extracellular environment in which myoblast fusion takes place. We propose that myogenin regulates the expression of one or more extracellular or cell surface proteins required to initiate the muscle differentiation program.
Catalase: Kinetics of Photooxidation

The kinetics of photooxidation of catalase is a four-step consecutive reaction, if each of the four porphyrin moieties acts independently. The rate of enzyme inactivation is a first-order reaction resulting from destruction of a single porphyrin. The kinetics of absorbancy is more complex, depending upon the absorption probabilities of each of the microspecies. With equal probabilities. the log of the sum of the normalized absorptivities is a linear function of time.
Sanctified Violence: Monotheist Militancy as the Tie That Bound Christian Rome and Islam

The history of jihad is often cited by modern critics of Islam as proof of the essential irrationality of Islam as a system of belief. This conceit has a long history in anti-Muslim polemic, and is part of the earliest Christian responses to Islam's appearance. In fact, however, close reading of our earliest Muslim texts suggests that as Muslims of the first centuries after the appearance of the Prophet Muhammad sought to understand and explain the place of jihad within Islam, they frequently described the institution and practice of jihad as closely kindred with well-established modes of Christian piety, whether these were holy war waged by Christian Roman emperors, or the ascetic labors and zealous, sometimes violent, striving of Christian monks. Accordingly, this article argues, if, as some now suggest, the institution of jihad underscores within Islam some penchant for fanaticism or violence undertaken in God's name, so too is the call to jihad legible as an echo of the penchant for violence individual Christians and whole Christian communities have manifested since long before the birth of Muhammad.
Rationale for Left Atrial Appendage Exclusion

Left atrial appendage (LAA) is the source of most systemic emboli in patients with atrial fibrillation. Oral anticoagulant therapy reduces stroke risk by two-thirds. New oral agents have advantages over warfarin but are associated with bleeding and drug intolerance. Device therapy for atrial appendage ligation or occlusion is an alternative to drug therapy, without the cumulative incidence of bleeding or the need for anticoagulation. In the more than half century since the early reports of surgical LAA excision, the author has added considerable detail to our understanding of the rationale for LAA exclusion, which constitutes the subject of this article.
Liquid water on Mars

Abstract The factors which affect fusion and evaporation of ice under a variety of Martian surface conditions are examined. It is found that a frost or ice deposit will pass through a transient liquid phase in temperate latitudes during summer, if the ice is partly or wholly dust covered. The barrier to free gaseous diffusion which the surface material presents is, under favorable (and definable) conditions, more than adequate to force the water to remain in the liquid state until its evaporation is complete. Furthermore, for a realistic range of regolith particle sizes and porosities, and depths of burial of the ice, the lifetime of the ice can be considerably longer than the duration of a single diurnal warming cycle. Current knowledge of the seosonal and diurnal behavior of the atmospheric vapor is summarized and discussed as it relates to the availability of surface ice at temperate latitudes.
Stimulus preferences and discrimination in neonatal ducklings.

Neonatal ducklings which do not distinguish between a particular imprinting surrogate and some other model, may be able to learn to discriminate between the two with heat as reenforcement. When the reenforcement is a drink of water, some pairs of models are discriminated, but not others; there is no concordancy between discriminability in this and the imprinting context. The peculiar effectiveness of certain imprinting surrogates can therefore not be attributed to the sensory capacities of the ducklings.
Transient severe mitral and tricuspid regurgitation following blunt chest trauma

6. Sambas PN. Traumatic heart disease. Curr Probl Cardiol 1982;7:3. Maguire R. Interstitial aneurysm of the interauricular septum. Tram Path01 Sot Lond 1887:38:1SO. Orbison JL, Mostofi FK. Hematoma of the interatriai septum. AM HEART J 1956;51:636. Fyke FE, Seward JB, Edwards WD, et al. Primary cardiac tumors: experience with thirty consecutive patients since the introduction of two-dimensional echocardiography. J Am Co11 Cardiol 1985;5:1465. Mike11 FL, Asinger RW, Rourke T, Hodges M, Sharma B, Francis GS. Two-dimensional echocardiographic demonstration of left atria1 thrombi in patients with prosthetic mitral valves. Circulation 1979;60:1183.
Biomedical Image Analysis at the Cellular Level

Summary form only given. The future of biomedical image analysis is no longer in anatomical imaging but in imaging of pathways and mechanisms at the cellular level and below. In this talk I present image analysis techniques for rolling leukocytes observed in vivo. Rolling leukocytes are activated white blood cells. The motion, shape, flux, number and position of these cells are important indicators of the inflammatory process. Measuring image-derived parameters are vital to validating anti-inflammatory drugs and to understanding the basic mechanism of inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis and arthritis. To date, these image features are typically derived manually due to the difficulty associated with intravital image clutter, noise, occlusion, instability, poor contrast, contrast changes and shape deformation. The first part of the talk details tracking methods used for rolling leukocytes. These are divided into two categories: active contour approaches and particle filter approaches. The second portion of the talk focuses on novel cell detection methods for intravital microscopy. The methods include a level set solution, the gradient inverse coefficient of variation (GICOV) technique, and the more recent Poisson inverse gradient approach. For both detection and tracking, real video data examples show the efficacy of the developed techniques. New directions in cellular image analysis are discussed including high content screening and future work in image analysis for systems biology.
Subjective quality evaluations using crowdsourcing

This paper presents a system and methodology for crowdsourcing subjective quality evaluations. The goal of this work is to study the feasibility of fast, inexpensive, and reliable subjective quality evaluations with crowdsourcing. We present a web-based system for conducting subjective quality evaluations using crowdsourcing platform. The results were evaluated by comparison with the formal subjective tests conducted by MPEG as a part of video standardization process. High quality compressed videos with known MOS values are used as references in subjective evaluations instead of the original lossless videos to address the bandwidth limitations. The results show that crowdsourcing can be a reliable platform for subjective quality evaluations.
STATE-DEPENDENT GAP ACCEPTANCE

This paper considers a traffic problem in which vehicles queue up according to a Poisson process on a single-lane entrance ramp prior to merging into a major stream of vehicular traffic. In order to then prevent the ramp queue from becoming too large, a model is proposed which considers a lowering of the critical gap as the ramp queue size increases. With the critical gap assumed to be a nonincreasing function of the number of vehicles on the ramp at instances that correspond to departure times of lead vehicles from the ramp queue, the resultant model is an M/G/1 model queue with state-dependent service times. Some general results are obtained for this model and a specific case discussed in moderate detail.
Relative efficiency of ambiguous vs. directly measured haplotype frequencies.

Haplotypes are useful for both fine-mapping of susceptibility loci and evaluation of sequence variation at multiple sites along a chromosome. However, they are difficult to directly measure over long stretches of DNA in diploid organisms. Consequently, multiple genetic markers are typically measured, without linkage phase information, giving rise to a subject's diplotype. From diplotype data, haplotypes are often inferred by pedigree information, or treated as partially missing data when haplotype frequencies are estimated among unrelated subjects. This latter ambiguity can increase the variance of the estimated haplotype frequencies. Douglas et al. ([2001] Nat. Genet. 28:361–364) recently quantified the relative efficiency of estimating haplotype frequencies from the diplotypes of unrelated subjects, relative to directly measured haplotypes via somatic cell hybrids (conversion technology), and demonstrated that unknown linkage phase can lead to a large loss of efficiency. However, their results were based on linkage equilibrium among marker loci, which may not be realistic for closely linked markers. We extend their relative efficiency calculations by several aspects: 1) allowance for linkage disequilbrium (LD) among marker loci; 2) evaluation of different patterns of LD; and 3) evaluation of nuclear families with and without parents. We show that although the loss in efficiency of haplotype frequencies among unrelated subjects decreases as LD increases to its maximum value, the general conclusions of Douglas et al. ([2001] Nat. Genet. 28:361–364) hold true for a variety of LD patterns and magnitudes. However, our results also demonstrate that trios of parents+one child are highly efficient for haplotype frequency estimation, that additional children offer little information, and that siblings without parents can be grossly inefficient. Genet. Epidemiol. 23:426–443, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Joy in the Act of Drawing: Maybeck's Palace of Fine Arts

Joy in the Act of Drawing: Maybeck's Palace of Fine Arts focuses on Bernard Maybeck's working drawings for the surviving fragment of the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco. Because it was originally designed as a temporary structure, it has been dismissed by some critics as the roughly detailed product of a speedy production process. However, Alexander Ortenberg shows that the working drawings were carefully produced in accordance with the professional standards of American Beaux-Arts architecture. What appear to be crude details were the product of thoughtful study, in which the charcoal of the earlier sketches was translated into the hard ink line of working drawings. Exploiting the liveliness of the drawing medium, Maybeck invented architectural details that preserved the freshness of his initial sketches and helped to define the theatrical character of the building.
Calculation to determine the mass of daughter ions in metastable decay

Abstract A new method is presented for determining the mass of products resulting from metastable decay in a reflectron time-of-flight mass-spectrometer. The validity of the calculation was confirmed through comparison to experimental values obtained while studying a water cluster and a methanol cluster system.
Preference for vibrational over translational energy in a gas-surface reaction.

State-resolved gas-surface reactivity measurements revealed that vibrational excitation of ν3 (the antisymmetric C-H stretch) activates methane dissociation more efficiently than does translational energy. Methane molecules in the vibrational ground state require 45 kilojoules per mole (kJ/mol) of translational energy to attain the same reactivity enhancement provided by 36 kJ/mol of ν3 excitation. This result contradicts a key assumption underlying statistical theories of gas-surface reactivity and provides direct experimental evidence of the central role that vibrational energy can play in activating gas-surface reactions.
The Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers: Unfinished Business:

The International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families reflects a compromise between guaranteeing migrants international human rights and ...
Enrichment of dissolved phenolic material in the surface microlayer of coastal waters

The sea surface microlayer often has greater concentrations of dissolved organic material (DOM) than subsurface water1–5, but the chemical nature of this material remains unresolved. Most studies of microlayer organic chemistry have focused on lipid6–9 and hydrocarbon components10,11. Carbohydrate material can account for a significant fraction of the microlayer DOM4 supporting IR spectroscopic evidence which suggests that the microlayer material is predominantly carbohydrate-proteinaceous complexes12. Some similarity of the microlayer DOM to marine humic material has been noted12–14. We report here preferential enrichment of dissolved phenolic material in the surface microlayer of coastal waters.
Severe acute asthma: an attempt to identify the quiet before the storm.

Asthma is a serious and prevalent public health problem that spans the entire world. It is estimated that asthma affects over 300 million people worldwide.[1][1] Its prevalence is approximately 21 million citizens in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.[2][
Production of m-methyltyrosine and p-hydroxymethylphenylalanine from p-methylphenylalanine by phenylalanine hydroxylase.

Abstract The metabolism of p -methylphenylalanine by phenylalanine hydroxylase has been studied, and three products have been found, m -methyltyrosine, p -methyl- m -hydroxyphenylalanine ( p -methyl- m -tyrosine), and p -hydroxymethylphenylalanine. The production of m -methyltyrosine provides an example of the hydroxylation-in-duced migration of alkyl groups. The appearance of p -methyl- m -hydroxyphenyl-alanine suggests the migration of a hydroxyl group. The formation of p -hydroxy-methylphenylalanine demonstrates an unexpected side-chain hydroxylation by a pteridine-requiring enzyme normally involved in aromatic hydroxylation.