cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Extrapharyngeal (anterolateral) approach to the cervical spine

The extrapharyngeal approach to the anterior cervical spine is a safe, rapid surgical exposure. Other surgical exposures such as the posterior, lateral, and intraoral (transpharyngeal) have inherent limitations that this approach avoids. By going anterior to the sternocleidomastoid muscle and great vessels, the surgical exposure of the anterior cervical spine is wide and the vital structures of the neck are visualized and not injured. We have used this extrapharyngeal approach to treat various disease states of the anterior cervical spine, such as trauma, osteomyelitis, neoplasia, and degenerative disease. Major complications have been neural injury, and pharyngeal fistula.
Clinical Aspects of the Ketogenic Diet

The ketogenic diet remains a valuable therapeutic option for patients with intractable epilepsy. Clinical aspects of the diet's success may provide insights into epileptogenesis and anticonvulsant action. The diet's efficacy has been established primarily through large case series. The diet has been used successfully in patients with many different epilepsy syndromes in countries around the world. Potential adverse effects can be avoided with careful attention during the diet's initiation and maintenance phases. In the last decade, variations to the classical ketogenic diet have been utilized. Ketogenic diets now are being used for diseases other than epilepsy. This critical analysis of the diet should provide the impetus for further clinical and basic research into the diet's application and mechanisms of action.
Manufacturing of an optical-quality mirror system for adaptive optics

Manufacturing of optical quality micromachined deformable mirrors for use in adaptive optic (AO) correction is described. Several non-standard manufacturing techniques have been developed to improve optical quality of surface micromachined mirrors. Two challenges to manufacturing optical quality micromachined mirrors are reducing surface roughness and increasing reflectivity. A chemo-mechanical polishing process has been used to improve surface quality of the mirrors, and a gold coating process has been developed to improve the reflectivity without introducing a significant amount of stress in the mirror membrane. Surface reflectivity and topography measurements of optically flat and smooth mirrors are presented. Based on these results, a new 1024 actuator mirror has been designed and is currently being fabricated. Design considerations and performance expectations for this mirror will be presented.
Iodide Retention by Metal Sulfide Surfaces: Cinnabar and Chalcocite

Ion exchange between aqueous protons and surface Hg and Cu sites on cinnabar (HgS) and chalcocite (Cu2S) are examined by potentiometric titrations at 25 °C in 1, 0.1, 0.01, and 0.001 M NaCl solutions. Cinnabar and chalcocite surfaces are negatively charged at pH > 3, presumably due to deprotonation of exposed thiol groups. Despite the anionic nature of the two metal sulfide surfaces, iodide sorbs strongly to both. Measured distribution ratios (Kd) far exceed those reported for all other minerals; maximal Kd's of 1375 mL/g (Cu2S) and 3080 mL/g (HgS) were observed between pH 4 and pH 5 and were substantial at all pH's measured (4 < pH < 10). Iodide sorption apparently occurs by exchange of hydroxyls attached to Hg and Cu sites.
Arcturus: A prototype advanced Ada@@@@ programming environment

The Arcturus system demonstrates several important principles that will characterize advanced Ada programming support environments. These include conceptual simplicity, tight coupling of tools, and effective command and editing concepts. Arcturus supports interactive program development and permits the combined use of interpretive and compiled execution. Arcturus is not complete however, as practical, mature environments for Ada must also support the development, analysis, testing, and debugging of concurrent programs. These issues are currently being explored. Arcturus, therefore is a platform for experimental exploration of key programming environment issues. This paper focuses primarily on the current system, describing and illustrating some of its components, while issues less fully developed are more briefly described.
Discourses on Text Integrity: Information and Interpretation in the Contested Fallout Knowledge Community

In an effort to further understand the nature of the productive consumption of media fans in an era of digital connectivity, this article expands on Levy’s (1997) concept of the knowledge community as it applies to fans of the digital-game series Fallout. Levy proposed that the age of digital-connectivity would usher in knowledge communities where participation was voluntary, aggregate, and democratic. I argue that Baym’s (2000) interpretive and informative practices, which serve as the lynchpins of fan discourse, may be understood as the lynchpins of the knowledge community as well. Further, here interpretive and informative practices are not only used to build community and negotiate values, but also to define status and position within the contested Fallout knowledge community. By testing the knowledge community against such an environment, and integrating it into previous research on the role of fan labor in an era where producers are increasingly interested in that labor, this article proposes an und...
Topiramate effects on the EEG and alertness in healthy volunteers: a different profile of antiepileptic drug neurotoxicity.

Abstract Objective Previous quantitative EEG (QEEG) studies of carbamazepine (CBZ), oxcarbazepine (OXC), and phenytoin (PHT) revealed a pattern of EEG slowing and an increase in drowsiness on the awake maintenance task (AMT). EEG slowing has been shown to correlate with negative effects on cognitive tests. Topiramate (TPM) is a novel AED with relatively large negative effects on cognitive function. We tested the hypothesis that TPM would induce significant slowing of EEG background rhythms and an increase in AMT drowsiness. Methods Forty healthy volunteers were randomized to TPM, gabapentin (GBP), or placebo. Doses were escalated as tolerated to a maximum of 400 mg/day for TPM or 3600 mg/day for GBP, over a 10-week period, followed by a minimum 2-week plateau period. Volunteers underwent an EEG, cognitive tests, and the AMT prior to starting an AED and again 12 weeks later. The EEG was captured using a structured recording protocol and quantified using the fast Fourier transform. Four target measures were derived from the averaged occipital electrodes (peak frequency of the dominant posterior rhythm, median frequency, percentage theta, and percentage delta). Test–retest changes for all measures were scored against similar test–retest distributions previously obtained from untreated healthy volunteers. Results TPM produced no significant change in any of the four target EEG measures or on the AMT, even though several target cognitive tests revealed moderate or greater negative effects. There were also no significant changes in the placebo group. GBP slowed the peak and median frequency EEG measures and increased the percentage of theta and delta activity. Neither TPM, GBP, nor placebo caused a significant increase in drowsiness on the AMT. Conclusions TPM has a unique neurotoxicity profile. It has no effect on EEG background measures or on the AMT, but induces moderate to large negative changes in many cognitive test scores. This profile differs from those of CBZ, OXC, PHT, and GBP.
Neuroprotection and lifespan extension in Ppt1 −/− mice by NtBuHA: therapeutic implications for INCL

Infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (INCL) is a devastating childhood neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disease (LSD) that has no effective treatment. It is caused by inactivating mutations in the palmitoyl-protein thioesterase-1 (PPT1) gene. PPT1 deficiency impairs the cleavage of thioester linkage in palmitoylated proteins (constituents of ceroid), preventing degradation by lysosomal hydrolases. Consequently, accumulation of lysosomal ceroid leads to INCL. Thioester linkage is cleaved by nucleophilic attack. Hydroxylamine, a potent nucleophilic cellular metabolite, may have therapeutic potential for INCL, but its toxicity precludes clinical application. We found that a hydroxylamine derivative, N-(tert-Butyl) hydroxylamine (NtBuHA), was non-toxic, cleaved thioester linkage in palmitoylated proteins and mediated lysosomal ceroid depletion in cultured cells from INCL patients. In Ppt1(-/-) mice, which mimic INCL, NtBuHA crossed the blood-brain barrier, depleted lysosomal ceroid, suppressed neuronal apoptosis, slowed neurological deterioration and extended lifespan. Our findings provide a proof of concept that thioesterase-mimetic and antioxidant small molecules such as NtBuHA are potential drug targets for thioesterase deficiency diseases such as INCL.
Marginality and the Academic

The question of social and psychological separation of the academic and intellectual in American society is raised. The empirical literature, although in short supply, suggests that the academic is socially isolated from the larger society and experiences attitudinal alienation. Interviews with sixty-one college and university professors tended to confirm this view, but particularly so among those respondents who identified themselves as intellectuals.
Data assimilation considerations for improved ocean predictability during the Gulf of Mexico Grand Lagrangian Deployment (GLAD)

Abstract Ocean prediction systems rely on an array of assumptions to optimize their data assimilation schemes. Many of these remain untested, especially at smaller scales, because sufficiently dense observations are very rare. A set of 295 drifters deployed in July 2012 in the north-eastern Gulf of Mexico provides a unique opportunity to test these systems down to scales previously unobtainable. In this study, background error covariance assumptions in the 3DVar assimilation process are perturbed to understand the effect on the solution relative to the withheld dense drifter data. Results show that the amplitude of the background error covariance is an important factor as expected, and a proposed new formulation provides added skill. In addition, the background error covariance time correlation is important to allow satellite observations to affect the results over a period longer than one daily assimilation cycle. The results show the new background error covariance formulations provide more accurate placement of frontal positions, directions of currents and velocity magnitudes. These conclusions have implications for the implementation of 3DVar systems as well as the analysis interval of 4DVar systems.
Comparison of methods of infesting whorl-stage corn with fall armyworm larvae.

In tests comparing the effectiveness of 3 methods of infesting whorl-stage corn with Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), the modified “Bazooka” proved to be the best method based on resultant visual damage ratings. The “Bazooka” is a device made primarily of Plexiglas, and larvae of fall armyworms can be mechanically dispensed into whorls of corn plants. It was easier and more efficient than using the camel-hair brush or pinning egg masses into the whorl. Infestation of every plant per plot produced higher leaf-damage ratings than infestation of either every 2nd or every 3rd plant/plot. Differences in leafdamage ratings were detected at infestation rates of 10, 20 and 40 larvae/plant. Rates of 20 or 40 larvae/plant should be used to insure adequate infestations at the 10–12 leaf stage.
Bone growth factors.

Bone volume is determined by the relative rates of bone formation and bone resorption. Recent research in several laboratories suggests that growth factors may act locally to modulate bone formation by stimulating osteoblast proliferation and activity. A number of bone-derived growth factors have been isolated and characterized from bone matrix extracts and from media conditioned by bone cells and bone organs in culture. The growth factors found in bone matrix include insulinlike growth factors I and II, transforming growth factor-beta, acidic and basic fibroblast growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor, and bone morphogenetic proteins. Conditioned medium from bone cells contains several of these growth factors and also hematopoietic factors. These bone matrix-derived growth factors have different biologic activities, including mitogenic, differentiating, chemotactic, and osteolytic activities. Evidence suggests that bone cells produce substantial quantities of growth factors for extracellular storage in bone matrix. Apart from being produced for extracellular storage, it is possible that growth factors secreted by bone cells have acute effects on their neighboring osteoblastic cells, i.e., paracrine action, or on themselves, i.e., autocrine action. The release of matrix-stored growth factors by bone resorption may mean that growth factors act as delayed paracrine agents, e.g., osteoblasts deposit growth factors in bone and later when these growth factors are released from bone via bone resorption, the growth factors stimulate osteoblast precursors to proliferate. The findings that bone is a storehouse for growth factors and that bone cells in culture produce and respond to bone growth factors suggest bone growth factors may act as potential determinants of local bone formation. This review is focused on the structure, regulation, and biologic actions of the known bone growth factors.
Use of an acceleration data logger to measure diel activity patterns in captive whitetip reef sharks, Triaenodon obesus

Traditional telemetry methods have been used to quantify the horizontal and vertical displacement of marine species, but are unable to identify specific physical activities such as swimming or gliding, resting, foraging, or spawning. We tested the utility of an acceleration data logger to quantify activity patterns of three captive whitetip reef sharks (Triaenodon obesus ) in an enclosed lagoon using internal and external attachment methods. Data obtained using both attachment methods allowed swimming and resting behavior to be differentiated. All sharks showed constant swimming for 5–14 hours post-tagging before adopting a pattern of daytime rest and nocturnal activity throughout the 6–16 day deployments. Sharks showed a diel activity pattern, spending 10–24% of their time swimming during the day, and 42–67% swimming at night. Overall, sharks spent an average of 35 ± 11% (mean ± SD) of their time swimming. Mean tailbeat frequency was found to be 0.89 ± 0.03 beats s−1 in one shark for which it was measured. Respirometry experiments that measured the metabolic rate of two neonate whitetips showed significantly higher metabolic rates at night compared to the day. When taken in conjunction with the acceleration data, these results suggest that whitetips are nocturnally active and show diel circadian rhythms shortly after birth. Our study demonstrates that acceleration data loggers can be used to quantify activity patterns and offer promise for quantifying energy budgets of various reef sharks both in captivity and in the field.
Long QT Syndrome

The hereditary long QT syndrome (LQTS) is a genetic channelopathy with variable penetrance that is associated with increased propensity to syncope, polymorphous ventricular tachycardia (torsades de pointes), and sudden arrhythmic death. This inherited cardiac disorder constitutes an important cause of malignant ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death in young individuals with normal cardiac morphology. Risk assessment in affected LQTS patients relies upon a constellation of electrocardiographic, clinical, and genetic factors. Administration of beta-blockers is the mainstay therapy in affected patients, and primary prevention with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator or left cervicothoracic sympathetic denervation are therapeutic options in patients who remain symptomatic despite beta-blocker therapy. Accumulating data from the International LQTS Registry have recently facilitated a comprehensive analysis of risk factors for aborted cardiac arrest or sudden cardiac death in pre-specified age groups, including the childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and post-40 periods. These analyses have consistently indicated that the phenotypic expression of LQTS is time dependent and age specific, warranting continuous risk assessment in affected patients. Furthermore, the biophysical function, type, and location of the ion-channel mutation are currently emerging as important determinants of outcome in genotyped patients. These new data may be used to improve risk stratification and for the development of gene-specific therapies that may reduce the risk of life-threatening cardiac events in patients with this inherited cardiac disorder.
SU-FF-T-63: Comparison of Optimized Interstitial HDR Brachytherapy Plans Using Adaptive Simulated Annealing Algorithm and Physical, Biological and Hybrid Cost Functions

Purpose: Comparing the optimized interstitial High Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy plans based on physical, biological and hybrid cost functions. Method and Materials: Using an Adaptive Simulated Annealing (ASA) algorithm we have developed a method to optimize dwell times for HDR brachytherapytreatment planning. Three cost functions are used: (1) a function based on doses to PTV; (2) a logistic function based on generalized Equivalent Uniform Dose (gEUD) of PTV and organs‐at‐risk (OAR), and (3) a hybrid function, which includes physical dose‐based objectives of PTV and gEUD‐based objectives of PTV and OAR. We applied these functions to three gynecological cancer cases. Optimizations are run up to 75000 iterations. The prescription dose is normalized to the isodose volume covering 95% of the PTV. Plans are evaluated by DVH, isodose distributions, gEUD, tumor control probability (TCP), normal tissue complication probability (NTCP), homogeneity index (HI), and overdose index (OI) of the target and OARs. Results: The optimized results of three cases based on the three cost functions are summarized. The physical model produces best target dose uniformity and lowest target maximum dose. However, the doses to OARs are also the highest. The gEUD model is able to increase gEUD to the target, reduce gEUD to the OARs, but produce less uniform dose and larger hot spots in the target. By choosing proper penalty factors, the hybrid model can produce balanced plans to achieve high gEUD to the target, low gEUD to the OARs and smaller hot spots on target. Conclusion: We are able to optimize the dwell times of interstitial HDR brachytherapy using an ASA algorithm. The optimization results can be controlled by choosing different cost functions and penalty factors depending on clinical needs of patients.
Gas permeability of powders solidified at high and ultrahigh cooling rates

An expression has been derived for determining the duration of vacuum treatment of compacts from a powder of flake-lamellar particle shape, produced by solidification at ultrahigh cooling rates. The expression can be employed also for calculating the times of degassing of spherical powders. The coefficient of air permeability of a compact from a given fraction of a powder of flake-lamellar particle shape is independent of the height (thickness) of the compact. Air permeability varies as a function of compact density. An assembly of several compacts has, at any given relative density, the same resistance to evacuation as a single compact of the same thickness. (The height of the compacts investigated was smaller than their diameter, and their density therefore did not vary significantly along their vertical axes.)
Play it again, SAM

Some discoveries are new, others old. Here, we consider one of each from NASA's Curiosity rover. The new discovery, reported by Mahaffy et al. ( 1 ) on page 412 of this issue, is a remarkable measurement of the deuterium-hydrogen (D/H) ratio in a Gale crater mudstone from 3 billion years ago. On page 415, Webster et al. ( 2 ) report on the latest chapter in the muddy matter of methane on Mars. What links them is that both were made using the tunable laser spectrometer (TLS), part of the SAM (Sample Analysis at Mars) package on the rover.
Comment on: Accurate and fast numerical solution of Poisson s equation for arbitrary, space-filling Voronoi polyhedra: Near-field corrections revisited

This is a Comment on the paper by Alam, Wilson, and Johnson [Phys. Rev. B 84, 205106 (2011)], proposing the solution of the near-field corrections (NFCs) problem for the Poisson equation for extended, e.g., space-filling charge densities. We point out that the problem considered by the authors can be simply avoided by means of performing certain integrals in a particular order, whereas, their method does not address the genuine problem of NFCs that arises when the solution of the Poisson equation is attempted within multiple-scattering theory. We also point out a flaw in their line of reasoning, leading to the expression for the potential inside the bounding sphere of a cell that makes it inapplicable for certain geometries.
The effect of whey protein hydrolyzate average molecular weight on the lactic acid fermentation

The batch fermentation of whey permeate to lactic acid was improved by supplementing the broth with enzyme-hydrolyzed whey protein. Hydrolyzates prepared with endoprotease were more stimulatory to acid production rates than were those prepared with exo/endo protease. The effect of hydrolyzate average molecular weight on acid production is presented. Results show that the hydrolyzate having an average molecular weight of 700 is the most stimulatory to acid production rates.
Salt Induction and the Partial Purification/Characterization of Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxylase Protein-Serine Kinase from an Inducible Crassulacean-Acid-Metabolism (CAM) Plant, Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.

Treatment of the common ice plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum) with high salinity caused the well-documented increase in phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) protein and a concomitant rise in the activity of a Ca(2+)-independent PEPC-kinase (PEPC-PK). When the plants were irrigated with 0.5 M NaCl, PEPC protein level and PEPC-PK activity started to increase after 2 days of treatment and continued to rise for the next 8 days, attaining about a 14- and 8-fold total increase, respectively. This salt-induced PEPC-kinase activity was detected only in leaves harvested from the stressed plants at night. This highly regulated protein kinase was partially purified about 3500-fold from these darkened, salt-stressed plants by sequential fast-protein liquid chromatography on phenyl-Sepharose, blue dextran-agarose, and Superdex 75. The gel-filtration data indicated that the native PEPC-kinase has a molecular weight around 33,000. Complementary analysis by denaturing electrophoresis and subsequent in situ renaturation and assay of PEPC-kinase activity revealed two major PEPC-PK polypeptides with approximate molecular masses of 39 and 32 kDa. The partially purified M. crystallinum PEPC-kinase readily phosphorylated PEPCs purified from maize, M. crystallinum, and tobacco leaves and a recombinant sorghum enzyme. In contrast, this Ca(2+)-independent protein kinase phosphorylated neither a recombinant sorghum mutant PEPC in which the target residue (Ser-8) was changed by site-directed mutagenesis to Asp nor histone III-S, casein, and bovine serum albumin. The optimal pH for PEPC-PK activity was pH 8.0 and this activity was affected by both the substrate (phosphoenolpyruvate) and the negative allosteric effector (L-malate) of PEPC in a pH-dependent manner. Overall, the molecular properties of this highly regulated PEPC-kinase from M. crystallinum are strikingly similar to those reported recently by this laboratory for the reversibly light-activated C4 enzyme from maize (Arch. Biochem. Biophys., 1993, 304, 496-502, and 307, 416-419).
Neutrons from the D-D Reactions

An investigation has been made of the neutron spectra resulting from D-D reactions for a range of incident deuteron energies of 4.75 to 7.33 Mev, using a pulsed-beam time-of-flight method. In addition to mono-energetic neutrons from the reaction $\mathrm{D}(d, n){\mathrm{He}}^{3}$, a continuum of neutrons is observed corresponding to $\mathrm{D}(d, np)\mathrm{D}$. The yield of the latter reaction has been measured at about 0.5-Mev intervals at zero degrees, and at an energy of 6.3 Mev an angular distribution has been obtained for both reactions. At 6.3-Mev deuteron energy and at zero degrees the yield of the continuum for neutron energies above 0.95 Mev is 17% of the yield of monoenergetic neutrons. The yield from both reactions is strongly forward in the laboratory reference frame, and for the breakup process increases rapidly with increase in energy above threshold.
Dynamic Unstructured Method for Relative Motion of Multibody Configuration at Hypersonic Speeds

Conclusions Oil  lm interferometryprovedeasierto use in a  ight-testenvironment than anticipated, and interference fringe images suf cient to allow determinationof skin friction within§10% uncertaintywere obtainedfor each ightat nearlyall oil line locations.The locationof boundary-layertransitionwas evident from abrupt change in fringe spacing. Despite the relatively simple nature of the instrumentation and data recording used in this experiment, it was possible to obtain skin friction measurements at a large number of locations simultaneously. Using self-adhesive Mylar sheets to provide an optical surface made it possible to measure skin friction without modi cation of the aircraft. This method offers the possibility of making detailed skin friction measurements in  ight testing more cheaply and easily than is possible with other methods.
Causes of Visual Acuity Loss among Patients with AIDS and Cytomegalovirus Retinitis in the Era of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy

Purpose To quantitate the frequencies of the common causes of visual acuity loss for patients with AIDS and cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Design Multicenter prospective observational study. Participants Three hundred seventy-nine patients (494 eyes) with CMV retinitis. Methods Follow-up every 3 months with medical history, ophthalmologic examination, and laboratory testing. Main Outcome Measures Loss of visual acuity across the 20/50 or worse and 20/200 or worse thresholds and doubling of the visual angle; frequencies of causes of such vision loss. Results Overall, involvement of the posterior pole with CMV retinitis (zone 1 retinitis) accounted for approximately one half of incident visual acuity loss of 20/50 or worse, 20/200 or worse, and of doubling of the visual angle. Cataract and retinitis-related retinal detachment were the second and third most common causes of vision loss, accounting for 22% to 33% and 13% to 20% of vision loss for the 3 outcomes, respectively. In subset analysis, cataract and cystoid macular edema (CME) accounted for approximately 50% of incident vision loss in eyes of patients with longstanding CMV retinitis and immune recovery at baseline, but these complications accounted for Conclusions In the HAART era, zone 1 involvement and retinal detachment remain the most common causes of visual acuity loss among patients with CMV retinitis. Cataract and CME also are common causes of loss of visual acuity, primarily in those patients with HAART-induced immune recovery.
Not with a Ten-Foot Pole: Core Stigma, Stigma Transfer, and Improbable Persistence of Men's Bathhouses

We examine how organizations that suffer core stigma---disapproval for their core attributes---survive. We explain how men's bathhouses avoid negative attention and minimize the transfer of stigma to their network partners, including customers, suppliers, and regulators, through careful management of their business activities. Using observational, archival, and interview data across different institutional environments, we find that, in response to suffering core stigma, men's bathhouses use a variety of strategies to shield their partners depending, in part, on the level of hostility that they face in their environment. Our work contributes to the emerging literature on organization-level stigma, especially by focusing on how core-stigmatized organizations are able to survive and by drawing attention to the special problem of stigma transfer. Our findings also focus attention on the use of legitimacy in organization studies and call for further examinations of core-stigmatized and other illegitimate organizations to expand our theoretical domain to the fullest range of organizational processes and outcomes.
Small Ubiquitin-Like Modifier Modulates Abscisic Acid Signaling in Arabidopsis

Post-translational modification of proteins by small polypeptides, such as ubiquitin, has emerged as a common and important mechanism for regulating protein function. Small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) is a small protein that is structurally related to but functionally different from ubiquitin. We report the identification and functional analysis of AtSUMO1, AtSUMO2, and AtSCE1a as components of the SUMO conjugation (sumoylation) pathway in Arabidopsis. In yeast-two hybrid assays, AtSUMO1/2 interacts specifically with a SUMO-conjugating enzyme but not with a ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme. AtSCE1a, the Arabidopsis SUMO-conjugating enzyme ortholog, conjugates SUMO to RanGAP in vitro. AtSUMO1/2 and AtSCE1a colocalize at the nucleus, and AtSUMO1/2 are conjugated to endogenous SUMO targets in vivo. Analysis of transgenic plants showed that overexpression of AtSUMO1/2 does not have any obvious effect in general plant development, but increased sumoylation levels attenuate abscisic acid (ABA)–mediated growth inhibition and amplify the induction of ABA- and stress-responsive genes such as RD29A. Reduction of AtSCE1a expression levels accentuates ABA-mediated growth inhibition. Our results suggest a role for SUMO in the modulation of the ABA signal transduction pathway.
Modelling the discrimination of 13CO2 above and within a temperate broad-leaved forest canopy on hourly to seasonal time scales

Fluxes and concentrations of carbon dioxide and 13CO2 provide information about ecosystem physiological processes and their response to environmental variation. The biophysical model, CANOAK, was adapted to compute concentration profiles and fluxes of 13CO2 within and above a temperate deciduous forest (Walker Branch Watershed, Tennessee, USA). Modifications to the model are described and the ability of the new model (CANISOTOPE) to simulate concentration profiles of 13CO2, its flux density across the canopy–atmosphere interface and leaf-level photosynthetic discrimination against 13CO2 is demonstrated by comparison with field measurements. The model was used to investigate several aspects of carbon isotope exchange between a forest ecosystem and the atmosphere. During the 1998 growing season, the mean photosynthetic discrimination against 13CO2, by the deciduous forest canopy (Δcanopy), was computed to be 22·4‰, but it varied between 18 and 27‰. On a diurnal basis, the greatest discrimination occurred during the early morning and late afternoon. On a seasonal time scale, the greatest diurnal range in Δcanopy occurred early and late in the growing season. Diurnal and seasonal variations in Δcanopy resulted from a strong dependence of Δcanopy on photosynthetically active radiation and vapour pressure deficit of air. Model calculations also revealed that the relationship between canopy-scale water use efficiency (CO2 assimilation/transpiration) and Δcanopy was positive due to complex feedbacks among fluxes, leaf temperature and vapour pressure deficit, a finding that is counter to what is predicted for leaves exposed to well-mixed environments.
Continuous inversion angiography

A subtractive time-of-flight technique for magnetic resonance angiography is described. In this approach, the arterial supply to an organ is inverted in a steady-state fashion by applying off-resonance irradiation in the presence of a linear magnetic field gradient. An angiogram is formed by subtracting an image acquired with arterial inversion from a control image acquired with no arterial inversion. A single coil is used to apply both the inversion and observation pulses. Intracranial angiograms obtained from normal volunteers using a two-dimensional projective implementation of this technique at 1.5 T illustrate excellent small vessel detail and background suppression.
An overview of harms associated with β-lactam antimicrobials: where do the carbapenems fit in?

The US Institute of Medicine's focus on patient safety has motivated hospital administrators to facilitate a culture of safety. As a result, subcommittees of the pharmacy and therapeutics committee have emerged in many hospitals to focus on adverse events and patient safety. Antimicrobial harms have gained the attention of practicing clinicians and hospital formulary committees, because they top the list of drugs that are associated with adverse events and because of certain serious harms that have ultimately led to the withdrawal of some antimicrobial agents. In the near future, several antimicrobials in the late phase of development will become available for clinical use (ceftobiprole, ceftaroline, and telavancin), and others (doripenem and dalbavancin) have recently joined the armamentarium. Because new antimicrobials will become part of the treatment armamentarium, it is important to discuss our current understanding of antimicrobial harms in general. Although not thought of as traditional adverse events, Clostridium difficile infection and development of resistance during therapy are adverse events that occur as a result of antimicrobial exposure and therefore are discussed. In addition, a distillation of our current understanding of β-lactam specific adverse events will be provided. Finally, new methods of administration are being evaluated that may influence peak concentration-related antimicrobial adverse events.
A modular data analysis pipeline for the discovery of novel rna motifs

This dissertation presents a modular software pipeline that searches collections of RNA sequences for novel RNA motifs. In this case the motifs incorporate elements of primary and secondary structure. The motif search pipeline breaks up sets of RNA sequences into shortened segments of RNA primary sequence. The shortened segments are then folded to obtain low energy secondary structures. The distance estimation module of the pipeline then calculates distances between the folded bricks, and then analyzes the resulting distance matrices for patterns. An initial implementation of the pipeline is applied to synthetic and biological data sets. This implementation introduces a new distance measure for comparing RNA sequences based on structural annotation of the folded sequence as well as a new data analysis technique called non-linear projection. The modular nature of the pipeline is then used to explore the relationships between several different distance measures on random data, synthetic data, and a biological data set consisting of iron response elements. It is shown that the different distance measures capture different relationships between the RNA sequences. The non-linear projection algorithm is used to produce 2-dimensional projections of the distance matrices which are examined via inspection and k-means multiclustering. The pipeline is able to successfully cluster synthetic RNA sequences based only on primary sequence data as well as the iron response elements data set. The dissertation also presents a preliminary analysis of a large biological data set of HIV sequences.
Measuring morphological features using light-scattering spectroscopy and Fourier-domain low-coherence interferometry

We present measurements of morphological features in a thick turbid sample using light-scattering spectroscopy (LSS) and Fourier-domain low-coherence interferometry (fLCI) by processing with the dual-window (DW) method. A parallel frequency domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) system with a white-light source is used to image a two-layer phantom containing polystyrene beads of diameters 4.00 and 6.98 μm on the top and bottom layers, respectively. The DW method decomposes each OCT A-scan into a time-frequency distribution with simultaneously high spectral and spatial resolution. The spectral information from localized regions in the sample is used to determine scatterer structure. The results show that the two scatterer populations can be differentiated using LSS and fLCI.
Linking transcriptional responses to organismal tolerance reveals mechanisms of thermal sensitivity in a mesothermal endangered fish.

Forecasting species' responses to climate change requires understanding the underlying mechanisms governing environmental stress tolerance, including acclimation capacity and acute stress responses. Current knowledge of these physiological processes in aquatic ectotherms is largely drawn from eurythermal or extreme stenothermal species. Yet many species of conservation concern exhibit tolerance windows and acclimation capacities in between these extremes. We linked transcriptome profiles to organismal tolerance in a mesothermal endangered fish, the delta smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus), to quantify the cellular processes, sublethal thresholds and effects of thermal acclimation on acute stress responses. Delta smelt initiated rapid molecular changes in line with expectations of theoretical thermal limitation models, but also exhibited diminished capacity to modify the expression of some genes and cellular mechanisms key to coping with acute thermal stress found in eurytherms. Sublethal critical thresholds occurred 4–6 °C below their upper tolerance limits, and thermal acclimation shifted the onset of acute thermal stress and tolerance as predicted. However, we found evidence that delta smelt's limited thermal plasticity may be partially due to an inability of individuals to effectively make physiological adjustments to truly achieve new homoeostasis under heightened temperatures, resulting in chronic thermal stress. These findings provide insight into the physiological basis of the diverse patterns of thermal tolerances observed in nature. Moreover, understanding how underlying molecular mechanisms shape thermal acclimation capacity, acute stress responses and ultimately differential phenotypes contributes to a predictive framework to deduce species' responses in situ to changes in selective pressures due to climate change.
Introduction to Monte Carlo simulation

This is an introductory tutorial on Monte Carlo simulation, a type of simulation that relies on repeated random sampling and statistical analysis to compute the results. In this paper, we will briefly describe the nature and relevance of Monte Carlo simulation, the way to perform these simulations and analyze results, and the underlying mathematical techniques required for performing these simulations. We will present a few examples from various areas where Monte Carlo simulation is used, and also touch on the current state of software in this area.
The tempted brain eats: Pleasure and desire circuits in obesity and eating disorders

What we eat, when and how much, all are influenced by brain reward mechanisms that generate "liking" and "wanting" for foods. As a corollary, dysfunction in reward circuits might contribute to the recent rise of obesity and eating disorders. Here we assess brain mechanisms known to generate "liking" and "wanting" for foods and evaluate their interaction with regulatory mechanisms of hunger and satiety, relevant to clinical issues. "Liking" mechanisms include hedonic circuits that connect together cubic-millimeter hotspots in forebrain limbic structures such as nucleus accumbens and ventral pallidum (where opioid/endocannabinoid/orexin signals can amplify sensory pleasure). "Wanting" mechanisms include larger opioid networks in nucleus accumbens, striatum, and amygdala that extend beyond the hedonic hotspots, as well as mesolimbic dopamine systems, and corticolimbic glutamate signals that interact with those systems. We focus on ways in which these brain reward circuits might participate in obesity or in eating disorders.
Children with High‐Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders and Co‐occurring Anxiety Symptoms: Implications for Assessment and Treatment

PURPOSE. The purpose of this article is to provide guidance and recommendations for children with high-functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and anxiety, including suggestions for assessment and intervention. CONCLUSIONS. Children with ASD are at increased risk for developing clinical anxiety symptoms. Anxiety symptoms can impact school performance, peer relationships, and family functioning. Emerging clinical research has demonstrated the potential positive impact of modified cognitive behavioral therapy to reduce anxiety symptoms in children with ASD. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS. Modifications necessary to make cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) protocols accessible to children with ASD are presented, along with specific suggestions for evaluating and treating anxiety symptoms.
Background execution of time warp programs

A load distribution system is proposed to enable a single Time War progmm to execute in background, s readang over a colfection of possibly heterogeneous worlstations (including multiprocessor hosts), utilizing whatever otherwise unused CPU cycles are available. The system uses a simple processor allocation policy to dynamicall add or delete hosts from the set of processors utilized b tbe Time Warp progmm during its execution. A load bayancing algorithm as used that allocates logical processes (LPs) to processors, taking into account other computations executing on the host from the system or other user applications. A clustering mechanism is used to group collections of lo ical processes, together, ,reducing process migration overleads and helping to retain locality of communacatzon for simulations containing large number of LPs. An initial, prototy e implementation of the load distribution system is Lscribed that executes on, a homogeneous network of Silicon Gmphics workstatzons. Initial experiments indicate this ap roach shows promise in enabling e cient execution of &me Warp programs ”in backgroung on distributed computing platforms.
SOURCE, DESTINATION, AND ENTROPY Reassessing the Role of Information Theory in Communication Research

Although Shannon and Weaver's The Mathematical Theory of Communication has had a profound impact on the development of communication research, few scholars have adapted Shannon's concepts to their research questions. The authors argue that the failure to recognize the difference between the two fundamental orientations in Shannon's theory—the relationship between source and destination and the technical characteristics of transmission channels—has retarded the use of Shannon's concepts, especially his measure of information. Taking care to differentiate between these two aspects of information theory, the authors review the small body of empirical research inspired by Shannon's theory. They find that Shannon's entropy measure is especially useful in the study of human systems because it permits researchers to analyze categorical data using quantitative statistical tools.
Engaging children in the development of obesity interventions: Exploring outcomes that matter most among obesity positive outliers

Abstract Objective To explore outcomes and measures of success that matter most to ‘positive outlier’ children who improved their body mass index (BMI) despite living in obesogenic neighborhoods. Methods We collected residential address and longitudinal height/weight data from electronic health records of 22,657 children ages 6–12 years in Massachusetts. We defined obesity “hotspots” as zip codes where >15% of children had a BMI ≥95th percentile. Using linear mixed effects models, we generated a BMI z-score slope for each child with a history of obesity. We recruited 10–12 year-olds with negative slopes living in hotspots for focus groups. We analyzed group transcripts and discussed emerging themes in iterative meetings using an immersion/crystallization approach. Results We reached thematic saturation after 4 focus groups with 21 children. Children identified bullying and negative peer comparisons related to physical appearance, clothing size, and athletic ability as motivating them to achieve a healthier weight, and they measured success as improvement in these domains. Positive relationships with friends and family facilitated both behavior change initiation and maintenance. Conclusions The perspectives of positive outlier children can provide insight into children's motivations leading to successful obesity management. Practice implications Child/family engagement should guide the development of patient-centered obesity interventions.
Adolescence And Media

It is argued in this article that to develop richer models and more effective pedagogical tools, studies exploring the relationship between mass media and young people need to foreground media use in the context of young peoples' daily lives, as well as in the context of more broad social and political issues that shape how specific media forms are constructed, deployed, and taken up by young people. Focusing primarily on major trends of the media effects tradition, the dominant paradigm among social scientists, this article surveys and assesses four key themes of effects research concerning adolescents: heavy media consumption, media violence, sexuality, and media and young women. Recent research developments concerning young people and new or digital media forms also are considered, and arguments about media and youth culture from a political economy perspective are reviewed briefly.
Covering Arrays of Strength Three

A covering array of size N, degree k, orderv and strength t is a k \times N array with entries from a set of v symbols such that in any t \times N subarray every t \times 1 column occurs at least once. Covering arrays have been studied for their applications to drug screening and software testing. We present explicit constructions and give constructive upper bounds for the size of a covering array of strength three.
Exercise training in swine promotes growth of arteriolar bed and capillary angiogenesis in heart

Exercise training induces coronary vascular adaptations. The goal of this study was to contrast the effects of training on capillary and arteriolar growth. Minipigs were trained for 1, 3, 8, and 16 wk and compared with controls. Maximal O2 consumption increased continuously throughout the study. Capillary and arteriolar densities and diameters, and proliferation of vascular cells in these vessels, were determined in perfusion-fixed tissue. The arterioles were subdivided into five groups according to diameter: 10-19.9, 20-30, 31-40, 41-70, and 71-120 microgram. The total vascular bed cross-sectional area increased by 37% at 16 wk, mainly because of an increase in the number of the small arterioles and an increase in the diameter of the larger vessels. Capillary density increased at 3 wk and then returned to control levels by 16 wk; concomitantly, the number of arterioles (20-30 microgram) increased at 16 wk. We speculate that the "extra" capillaries observed at 3 wk were the source of the new arterioles.
First Case Study: Predicting Muscle Fatigue from EMG Signals

Most of the previous chapters discussed some application issues on a number of areas. This chapter discusses a case study in detail. The emphasis is on some comparative issues with other data mining techniques that do not use logic-based approaches. This chapter also provides a link to the data used in this study.
Multiple Imputation and Analysis with SAS

In this chapter, I provide step-by-step instructions for performing multiple imputation and analysis with SAS version 9. I describe the use of PROC MI for multiple imputation but also touch on two other ways to make use of PROC MI for handling missing data when hypothesis testing is not the issue: (a) direct use of the EM algorithm for input into certain analysis programs, and (b) generating a single data set imputed from EM parameters.