cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Copper requirements of the ammonia‐oxidizing archaeon Nitrosopumilus maritimus SCM1 and implications for nitrification in the marine environment

Ammonia oxidizing archaea (AOA) have recently been recognized as the primary nitrifiers in the marine environment; they thus play an important role in the nitrogen cycle. Available genome sequences of AOA indicate that numerous Cu-dependent enzymes are essential for both ammonia oxidation and electron transfer, suggesting a particularly high requirement for copper. However, our knowledge of the copper requirements of AOA and their response to copper limitation in the ocean is nonexistent. Here, we examine the copper requirements of the chemolithoautotrophic AOA Candidatus Nitrosopumilus maritimus SCM1 using a combination of the metal chelators ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane-1,4,8,11-tetraacetic acid and show that ammonia oxidation is limited at free cupric ion concentrations < 10−12.7 mol L−1, which are higher than concentrations frequently reported for many coastal and oceanic regimes. Prolonged exposure of cells to copper starvation for up to 6 d had no effect on the recovery of ammonia oxidation by N. maritimus. In addition, we present evidence that N. maritimus does not produce a copper-binding ligand (chalkophore) under copper limitation and therefore probably relies mainly on acquisition of copper ions from surrounding media. Copper limitation may be an important constraint on archaeal ammonia oxidation throughout the marine environment.
Anemia in the Long-term Ventilator-Dependent Patient With Respiratory Failure

Anemia occurs in virtually all critically ill patients receiving long-term mechanical ventilation and has been associated with increased mortality and poor outcomes. Allogeneic RBC transfusions are routinely administered to critically ill anemic patients, especially during lengthy stays in ICUs or in long-term acute care facilities. Although RBC transfusions are a physiologically rational approach to raising hemoglobin levels, they may increase the risk of complications and have been associated with higher mortality in critically ill patients. Treatment with epoetin alfa, an erythropoiesis-stimulating agent, as a means of reducing transfusion requirements has been studied in the critically ill and in patients receiving long-term mechanical ventilation. Promising results have been reported, including a potential survival benefit, although larger and more definitive studies are needed in order to establish whether raising hemoglobin levels affects clinical outcomes in patients receiving mechanical ventilation.
Correlated responses of fatty acid composition, grain quality and agronomic traits to nine cycles of recurrent selection for increased oil content in oat

Increases in the groat-oil content of oat (Avena sativa L.) increase the energy value of the grain and improve the feasibility of extracting oat oil for use as a vegetable oil. Nine cycles of recurrent selection for greater groat-oil content conducted in a genetically broad-based oat population resulted in dramatic increases in groat-oil content. Our objectives were todetermine if selection for greater groat-oil content affected fatty acid composition, grain quality traits (test weight and seed weight), or agronomic traits (straw yield, biomass, harvest index, heading date, and height). We evaluated 100 random lines from the base (C0) population and each of the nine selection cycle populations in three environments in order to estimate means, genetic variances, heritabilities, and genotypic and phenotypic correlations of grain quality and agronomic traits. We also evaluated 20 random lines from each population to estimate changes in fatty acid contents. Oleate and stearate contents increased over cycles of selection, as did the ratio of unsaturated to saturated fatty acids. Palmitate, linoleate, and linolenate contents and all grain quality and agronomic traits except harvest index decreased over cycles of selection. There was no evidence for reduced genetic variance or heritability in C9 for any trait, but the genotypic and phenotypic correlations between agronomic traits and oil content fluctuated over cycles. Selection for increased groat-oil content improved oil quality but reduced grain quality and agronomic performance of the population.
Ankle fixation need not increase the energetic cost of human walking

We tested whether the metabolic energy cost of walking with the ankles immobilized can be comparable to normal walking. Immobilization of any lower extremity joint usually causes greater energy expenditure. Fixation of the ankle might be expected to eliminate the work it normally performs, to detrimental effect. But fixation using lightweight boots with curved rocker bottoms can also bring some benefits, so that the overall energetic effect might be quite small. We measured oxygen consumption, kinematics, and ground reaction forces in six (N=6) able-bodied human volunteers walking at 1.25 m/s in three conditions: normal walking in street shoes, walking with ankles immobilized by walking boots, and normally with ankles free but also weighted to match the mass of the walking boots. We estimated metabolic energy expenditure, joint work, and overall work performed on the body center of mass as a function of ankle fixation. Ankle fixation with walking boots caused the total rate of energy expenditure for walking to increase by 4.1% compared to normal (P=0.003), but differed by an insignificant amount (0.4% less, P=0.78) compared to walking with equivalent ankle weight. Compared to normal walking, ankle fixation can reduce ankle torque and work during the stance phase, most notably during late stance. This apparently makes up for the loss of ability to push-off as normal. With a suitably lightweight apparatus and curved rocker bottom surface, loss of ankle motion need not increase energy expenditure for walking.
Two autonomous structural modules in the fimbrial shaft adhesin FimA mediate Actinomyces interactions with streptococci and host cells during oral biofilm development

By combining X-ray crystallography and modelling, we describe here the atomic structure of distinct adhesive moieties of FimA, the shaft fimbrillin of Actinomyces type 2 fimbriae, which uniquely mediates the receptor-dependent intercellular interactions between Actinomyces and oral streptococci as well as host cells during the development of oral biofilms. The FimA adhesin is built with three IgG-like domains, each of which harbours an intramolecular isopeptide bond, previously described in several Gram-positive pilins. Genetic and biochemical studies demonstrate that although these isopeptide bonds are dispensable for fimbrial assembly, cell-cell interactions and biofilm formation, they contribute significantly to the proteolytic stability of FimA. Remarkably, FimA harbours two autonomous adhesive modules, which structurally resemble the Staphylococcus aureus Cna B domain. Each isolated module can bind the plasma glycoprotein asialofetuin as well as the polysaccharide receptors present on the surface of oral streptococci and epithelial cells. Thus, FimA should serve as an excellent paradigm for the development of therapeutic strategies and elucidating the precise molecular mechanisms underlying the interactions between cellular receptors and Gram-positive fimbriae.
Tricuspid stenosis secondary to entanglement of ventriculoatrial catheter in the valve leaflets

Abstract Tricuspid stenosis secondary to entanglement of ventriculoatrial shunt catheter was discovered in a patient at autopsy. A brief review of the pertinent literature is included.
GOES direct broadcast service history and future

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) have provided direct broadcast of meteorological data to users since the mid-1970s. For the newest GOES series, GOES-R, GOES Rebroadcast (GRB) will replace the GOES Variable (GVAR) broadcast to continue to make ground-processed sensor data available to the weather operations, research, and Earth science communities on a free and open basis. The GOES-R Series will collect up to 50 times more data than current GOES satellites through instruments capable of advanced temporal, spatial, and spectral performance. Processed data will be broadcast to the user community with improved latency and enhanced resolution when compared to the current system.
KLINEFELTER'S SYNDROME: REPORT OF AN AUTOPSY, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE HISTOLOGY AND HISTOCHEMISTRY OF THE ENDOCRINE GLANDS*

IN 1942 Klinefelter, Reifenstein and Albright (1) described a syndrome of male hypogonadism characterized by gynecomastia, aspermatogenesis without a-leydigism, and increased excretion of gonadotropic hormone. Emphasizing that breast development, hair growth, body build, and secondary sex organs might vary considerably with this testicular picture, Heller and Nelson (2) later expanded the concept of this syndrome to include all patients with small atrophic testes containing hyalinized tubules and clumped Leydig cells, azoospermia, and elevated urinary gonadotropins. This broader clinical concept has subsequently been accepted by Howard, Sniffen, Simmons and Albright (3). The present paper reports the autopsy of such a patient who had received no hormone therapy. The endocrine glands were examined by histologic and histochemical methods and the results related to descriptions in the literature of men whose testes fit Klinefelter's original description.
Medical signal processing applications with Motorola's DSP56001

Premature infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit respond to medications and treatments by altering the frequency patterns of their physiological processes. This alteration can be seen in impedance respiratory waveforms, ventilator sensed airway pressure waveforms, electroencephalograms and blood pressure waveforms. The DSP56001 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) system is used to record, process and evaluate these signals over long periods of time. Pilot studies have been conducted in the tertiary Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Geisinger Medical Center. Respirogram data have been collected from the impedance respiratory monitors of small neonates, along with airway pressure data from the ventilators. The DSP56001 NICU system is able to resolve respiratory waveform data into component frequencies; this data has been recorded and graphically displayed. >
Intramembranous charge movement in frog cut twitch fibers mounted in a double vaseline-gap chamber.

Intramembranous charge movement was measured in cut twitch fibers mounted in a double Vaseline-gap chamber with either a tetraethylammonium chloride (TEA.Cl) or a TEA2.SO4 solution (13-14 degrees C) in the central pool. Charge vs. voltage data were fitted by a single two-state Boltzmann distribution function. The average values of V (the voltage at which steady-state charge is equally distributed between the two Boltzmann states), k (the voltage dependence factor), and qmax/cm (the maximum charge divided by the linear capacitance, both per unit length of fiber) were V = -53.3 mV (SEM, 1.1 mV), k = 6.3 mV (SEM, 0.3 mV), qmax/cm = 18.0 nC/microF (SEM, 1.1 nC/microF) in the TEA.Cl solution; and V = -35.1 mV (SEM, 1.8 mV), k = 10.5 mV (SEM, 0.9 mV), qmax/cm = 36.3 nC/microF (SEM, 3.2 nC/microF) in the TEA2.SO4 solution. These values of k are smaller than those previously reported for cut twitch fibers and are as small as those reported for intact fibers. If a correction is made for the contributions of currents from under the Vaseline seals, V = -51.2 mV (SEM, 1.1 mV), k = 7.2 mV (SEM, 0.4 mV), qmax/cm = 22.9 nC/microF (SEM, 1.4 nC/microF) in the TEA.Cl solution; and V = -34.0 mV (SEM, 1.9 mV), k = 10.1 mV (SEM, 1.1 mV), qmax/cm = 38.8 nC/microF (SEM, 3.2 nC/microF) in the TEA2.SO4 solution. With this correction, however, the fit of the theoretical curve to the data is poor. A good fit with this correction can be obtained with a sum of two Boltzmann distribution functions. The first has average values V = -33.0 mV (SEM, 2.8 mV), k = 11.0 mV (SEM, 0.5 mV), qmax/cm = 10.6 nC/microF (SEM, 1.0 nC/microF) in the TEA.Cl solution; and V = -20.0 mV (SEM, 3.3 mV), k = 17.0 mV (SEM, 2.0 mV), qmax/cm = 36.4 nC/microF (SEM, 2.3 nC/microF) in the TEA2.SO4 solution. The second has average values V = -56.5 mV (SEM, 1.3 mV), k = 2.9 mV (SEM, 0.4 mV), qmax/cm = 13.2 nC/microF (SEM, 1.0 nC/microF) in the TEA.Cl solution; and V = -41.6 mV (SEM, 1.4 mV), k = 2.5 mV (SEM, 0.8 mV), qmax/cm = 11.8 nC/microF (SEM, 1.7 nC/microF) in the TEA2.SO4 solution. When a fiber is depolarized to near V of the second Boltzmann function, a slowly developing "hump" appears in the ON-segment of the current record.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
A navigational aid for persons with severe visual impairments: a project in progress

Persons with severe visual impairments face significant obstacles in achieving independent mobility that is safe and robust in terms of possible emergencies and unfamiliar destinations. Widely used mobility aids such as a guide dog and/or white cane offer only limited solutions to this problem. Proposed retrofits of multistory buildings with fixed-point annunciators (to assist with the wayfinding indoors) are inflexible and costly. The personal navigational aid envisioned below attempts to address many of the problems faced by persons who are blind. This aid will incorporate many of the features of a personal data assistant (PDA), cellular phone, wireless Internet access, and Global Positioning System (GPS) and is currently undergoing initial systems design and review of performance specifications by potential users.
IMPACTS OF FUEL COSTS, DISTANCE-TO-MARKET, AND EQUIPMENT UTILIZATION ON RELATIVE COSTS OF TRAILER-ON-FLATCAR AND TRUCK TRANSPORTATION FOR FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES IN THE SOUTH

Throughout the principal fresh fruit and vege- including backhauls, to determine the combinatable (FFV) growing areas in southeastern and tions of these prices and usage levels necessary southwestern states, trucking is the dominant to make TOFC competitive with trucking for mode for transporting fresh produce to the transporting fresh fruits and vegetables from the northeast and upper Midwest. The dramatic shift Southwest and the Southeast. to trucks in the last 30 years has virtually dis- Two major simplifications are made in the placed the railroads from FFV transportation. In analysis. First, the costs associated with trans1950, 63 percent of all interstate FFV surface portation service quality (speed, reliability, etc.) traffic was by truck. By 1980, the trucking indus- are not estimated and are given only cursory try's share had increased to 90 percent (USDA, treatment. Johnson, Kolsen, and others have 1950, 1980), and in some regions, such as Texas correctly pointed out that rational modal choice and Florida, trucking accounts for more than 98 decisions involve consideration of the full or efpercent of the FFV traffic (Table 1). However, fective costs of transportation alternatives, energy savings, or efficiency and fuel cost con- which includes both direct and service quality cerns, as well as a growing apprehension among costs. There are three reasons for the tangential producers and shippers that there are dangers as- treatment of service costs. First, service quality sociated with almost total dependence on one costs are likely to be highly commodity specific. mode of agricultural transportation, emphasize For example, shippers of perishable and fragile the need for analyses of alternative perishable commodities would be expected to be more senproduce delivery systems. sitive to differences in transit times and handling The feasibility of employing intermodal trans- practices than would shippers of longer-lived and portation of FFV, specifically trailer-on-flatcars more durable produce (Miklius et al.). Second, (TOFC) or piggyback shipments, to alleviate the recent technical, managerial, and regulatory detransportation concerns of southern producers velopments lead to the expectation that service and shippers is examined. TOFC costs and truck- quality differences between trucking and TOFC ing costs are generated over a spectrum of fuel will narrow. Among these developments are new prices and TOFC equipment utilization levels, intermodal vehicle and handling techniques, parTABLE 1. Domestic Fruit and Vegetable Shipments by Mode and Percentage of FFV Volume, 19801
Swirling Flows between Coaxial Cylinders with Injection by Radial Jets

An experimental program has been carried out to investigate a class of flows which is of interest with regard to the aeroelastic flutter of flexible cylinders. The flowfield of interest is the swirling flow between two concentric cylinders, of which the inner one is stationary and the outer one rotates. Air is admitted into the annulus between the cylinders through inlets in the wall of the rotating outer cylinder near one end of the apparatus and is exhausted through an annular outlet surrounding the inner cylinder near the other end. Measurements of the resulting flowfield have been made for a wide range of flow rates, outer cylinder rotational speeds, and inlet geometries. Approximate scaling laws for the velocity field have been developed, and dimensionless parameters have been defined which correlate the effects of the various inlet conditions which were tested. Nomenclature Aan = cross-sectional area of annulus A„ = total cross-sectional area of inlets d = internal diameter of inlet tubes / = inner cylinder structural frequency I = length of inlet tubes m =mass flow, Ibm/sec M = dimensionless momentum flux quantity, Eq. (4) N = number of inlets p,pt = static pressure, pitot pressure r = radius from cylinder axis Rj = radius of inner cylinder (outside) R0 = radius of outer cylinder (inside) R = dimensionless radius = (r-Rt)/(R0 —/?/) t = dimensionless "residence time" quantity, Eq. (5) Um = average axial velocity in the annulus =m/pAan V = magnitude of fluid velocity Vn = average radial velocity in inlets =m/pAn Vt = tangential component of fluid velocity Vz = axial component of fluid velocity z = axial coordinate 0 = yaw angle A = pitot pressure referenced to the static pressure at the inner cylinder =prp(Ri) T =Vtr, circulation T0 =uR20, (ideal) circulation at outer cylinder oj = angular velocity of outer cylinder
Inflammation, metabolic syndrome, and diet responsiveness.

There has been a surge of interest in the role of inflammation in causation of atherosclerosis and acute coronary syndromes. This interest is spurred both by pathological studies showing that ruptured coronary plaques manifest inflammatory characteristics1 and by the demonstration that inflammatory biomarkers in the plasma correlate with risk for acute coronary syndromes.2,3 Among the biomarkers that correlate with acute coronary syndromes, the most robust is C-reactive protein (CRP).4 The liver is known to respond to high levels of cytokines in the circulation with an increased production of CRP. A recent report by the American Heart Association/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (AHA/CDC)4 indicated that CRP measurements may provide incremental information for global risk assessment for coronary heart disease beyond that obtained from established risk factors. These measurements can be made at the discretion of physicians, provided that established risk factors are given priority in global risk assessment. See p 150 Another recent observation of significance is that elevated CRP levels associate with the metabolic syndrome. The latter is a syndrome in which several metabolic risk factors cosegregate in one person. Risk factors of the metabolic syndrome include atherogenic dyslipidemia (raised triglycerides, elevated apolipoprotein B, small LDL particles, and low HDL cholesterol), elevated blood pressure, insulin resistance (±glucose intolerance), a proinflammatory state, and a prothrombotic state.5 Several studies6–8 add support to the concept that a proinflammatory state is one component of the metabolic syndrome. Ridker et al9 have confirmed that elevated CRP associates strongly with metabolic syndrome risk factors; moreover, these workers9 reported that high CRP levels impart risk for major coronary events beyond that imparted by the other metabolic risk factors. The reasons for a link between inflammation and metabolic syndrome are not fully understood. One explanation may be that adipose …
Bifurcation into functional niches in adaptation

One of the central questions in evolutionary biology concerns the dynamics of adaptation and diversification. This issue can be addressed experimentally if replicate populations adapting to identical environments can be investigated in detail. We have studied 501 such replicas using digital organisms adapting to at least two fundamentally different functional niches (survival strategies) present in the same environment: one in which fast replication is the way to live, and another where exploitation of the environment's complexity leads to complex organisms with longer life spans and smaller replication rates. While these two modes of survival are closely analogous to those expected to emerge in so-called r and K selection scenarios respectively, the bifurcation of evolutionary histories according to these functional niches occurs in identical environments, under identical selective pressures. We find that the branching occurs early, and leads to drastic phenotypic differences (in fitness, sequence length, and gestation time) that are permanent and irreversible. This study confirms an earlier experimental effort using microorganisms, in that diversification can be understood at least in part in terms of bifurcations on saddle points leading to peak shifts, as in the picture drawn by Sewall Wright.
Turbulent boundary layer statistics at very high Reynolds number

Measurements are presented in zero-pressure-gradient, flat-plate, turbulent boundary layers for Reynolds numbers ranging from to ( ). The wind tunnel facility uses pressurized air as the working fluid, and in combination with MEMS-based sensors to resolve the small scales of motion allows for a unique investigation of boundary layer flow at very high Reynolds numbers. The data include mean velocities, streamwise turbulence variances, and moments up to 10th order. The results are compared to previously reported high Reynolds number pipe flow data. For , both flows display a logarithmic region in the profiles of the mean velocity and all even moments, suggesting the emergence of a universal behaviour in the statistics at these high Reynolds numbers.
Impulsive manipulation

Examines a little-studied method of manipulation-manipulation by striking an object and letting it slide. There are two parts to this problem: The inverse sliding problem, determining the velocities required to send an object to a desired configuration, and the impact problem, determining how to strike the object in order to achieve those velocities. The authors present a solution to these two problems for the class of rotationally symmetric objects and conclude with some observations about this method of manipulation.
Seedstock Beef Cattle: SPA

The Standardized Performance Analysis (SPA) for seed stock beef cattle (SPA-SB) is a recommended set of production and financial performance analysis guidelines developed specifically for the seedstock cow-calf, replacement heifer, and the sale bull enterprises. These guidelines were developed by members of the National Cattlemen's Association (NCA) and the National Integrated Resource Management Coordinating Committee to provide beef cattle producers with a comprehensive, standardized means of measuring, analyzing, and reporting the performance and profit-ability of an operation. This article describes and illustrates through an example the performance measures chosen. NCA certifies software and education materials conforming to the Seedstock SPA Guidelines.
Winery Tasting-Room Employee Training: Putting Wine First in Oregon

ABSTRACTOregon wineries have become increasingly reliant on tasting-room employees to increase wine distribution. Properly training tasting-room employees is essential to increasing sales of wine at wineries. In this study, the researchers explore the methods, techniques, and practices employed to train Oregon tasting-room employees. The results indicate managers perceive product knowledge as the most common form of training needed for tasting-room employees to succeed. Sales incentives were not consistent in the findings of the training programs. Three out of every four managers responded that job shadowing was the most popular form of training in their tasting rooms.
The transformation of a landscape: culture and ecology in southeastern Arizona

Soujtheastern Arizona hosts one of the most unique and ecologically diverse landscapes in America. It is the meeting place of four major North American bioregions: the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts, and the Rocky Mountain and Sierra Madrean forests. Each of these reaches the limits of its range in southeastern Arizona. The mountains and valleys here contain a rich, unparalleled mix of plant and animal species, attracting the attention of biologists from all over the world.' In the past one hundred years, however, the landscape has undergone significant changes, both physically and culturally, Following United States acquisition of this territory in 1853 (the Gadsden Purchase), Anglo-Americans slowly but steadily established hegemony over the land and its indigenous inhabitants, the Chiricahua Apache, displacing both a culture and an ecology. Coveting the rich natural resources, armed with powerful technologies, and motivated by a belief in their destiny to conquer and civilize the wilderness, the new American culture occupied and radically transformed the landscape. Scientists now judge the huge scale of ecological alterations that occurred in southern Arizona during the late 19th and early 20th centuries as comparable in scope to those that occurred during the late pleistocene.2 From almost any perspective these changes proved undesirable: An indigenous people lost their land and way of life; a healthy, stable environment deteriorated; and the natural resource productivity of the land significantly declined. Climatic factors played some role (the region's climate appears to have become
Influence of age and mammary development upon mammary carcinogenesis following injection of milk agent.

SummaryEmploying male mice, transplanting ovaries and injecting active milk agent virus at different ages, an experiment was carried out to specifically test the relationship of the state of mammary glad development at the time of the introduction of the milk agent to mammary carcinogenesis. The result would indicate that the relative non-susceptibility of older mice is not due to greater mammary gland development at the time of virus infection.
Gambling Disorder in the DSM-5: Opportunities to Improve Diagnosis and Treatment Especially in Substance Use and Homeless Populations

Purpose of review This paper reviews recent research related to the revisions of the gambling disorder (GD) criteria, including the elimination of the illegal acts criterion and the lowered diagnostic threshold.
What are the True Advantages of a Pediatric Appendicitis Clinical Pathway

Multiple protocols have been described for pediatric appendicitis, but few have been compared with off-protocol treatment. We performed such a comparison. Children treated for appendicitis by three pediatric surgeons over a 28-month period were studied. A protocol of primary wound closure without drains, standardized use of antibiotics, and patient discharge according to predetermined clinical criteria was compared with individualized drain use, antibiotic selection, and discharge timing. Three hundred ninety-seven children were treated, 43 per cent on pathway (Group I) and 57 per cent off pathway (Group II). The two groups showed similar incidence of acute (45% vs 46%), complicated (50% vs 49%), and normal (5%) appendix. Among patients with simple appendicitis, Group I had less postoperative antibiotic use (16% vs 80% P < 0.001), shorter hospital stays (1.44 vs 1.89 days, P = 0.001), and decreased hospital charges ($9,289 vs $10,751, P = 0.001). Among patients with complicated appendicitis, Group I had less drain placement (4% vs 27%, P < 0.001), less use of discharge antibiotics (13% vs 39%, P < 0.001), and no readmission (0% vs 5%, P = 0.05). Infectious complications were similar between the two groups. A clinical pathway decreases the use of unnecessary antibiotics, hospital stay, and charges for simple appendicitis. It decreases the use of unnecessary drains, and eliminates readmissions after complicated appendicitis.
Laser Ablation of Recurrent Malignant Gliomas: Current Status and Future Perspective.

Recurrent malignant glioma continues to be a clinical challenge, and repeat surgery is an option in only select patients. Stereotactic laser ablation, a new minimally invasive technique, can be used as an alternative to surgery. We review the current literature on laser ablation for recurrent malignant gliomas as well as discuss practical and theoretical advantages and disadvantages of this emerging technique in comparison with repeat surgery or radiation. We also discuss the potential for laser ablation to augment adjuvant therapies, namely, chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy. Abbreviations BBB, blood-brain barrierBVZ, bevacizumabHGG, high-grade gliomaLITT, laser interstitial thermotherapyTMZ, temozolomide.
De-encapsulation of network packets for network protocol reverse engineering

In certain forensic or military investigations, it may be of interest to monitor an unknown network. When doing such, it may be difficult to discern packet payloads from the encapsulation layers of the protocols being implemented. The network protocols used may not be standard, thus it can be challenging to de-encapsulate the layers to determine the locations of the packet payloads. Starting with the implementation of a hidden Markov model we identify key bifurcations in a non-time-stamped capture of packets. We then distinguish common lengths between bifurcations to find the locations of similarly structured data segments. Subsequently, we perform a cross-covariance of a small data segment over the entire dataset. Repeating this cross-covariance process with various segments we identify the locations of similar structures, which are likely to be packet headers. Where there is a strong cross-covariance we remove the bytes, leaving only the packet payloads. Through this series of relatively simple processes we are able to identify the headers within a small margin of error.
Dynamics of Senate Retirements

Although there is a large literature on the career decisions of House members, there is a dearth of critical scholarship examining retirement decisions in the Senate. This study aims to address this under-explored topic and identify the key factors in Senate retirement decisions. With a less demanding election schedule, greater power afforded to individual senators, more prestige attached to the office, and fewer attractive options for progressive ambition, we find that Senate retirement decisions differ substantially from patterns observed in the House. Among other things, the partisan retirement differential that is so obvious and persistent in the House (with Republican MCs retiring at higher rates than Democrats) is markedly absent in the Senate. We explore this and other inter-chamber differences, discussing both their empirical and normative ramifications, and noting their importance for our understanding not only of the two chambers but also of the two parties.
Interpolating and extrapolating with hmsIST: seeking a t max for optimal sensitivity, resolution and frequency accuracy

Non-Uniform Sampling has the potential to exploit the optimal resolution of high-field NMR instruments. This is not possible in 3D and 4D NMR experiments when using traditional uniform sampling due to the long overall measurement time. Nominally, uniformly sampled time domain data acquired to a maximum evolution time tmax can be extended to high resolution via a virtual maximum evolution time t*max while extrapolating with linear prediction or iterative soft thresholding (IST). At the high resolution obtainable with extrapolation of US data, however, the accuracy of peak positions is compromised as observed when comparing inter- and intra-residue peaks in a 3D HNCA experiment. However, the accuracy of peak positions is largely improved by spreading the same number of acquired time domain data points non-uniformly over a larger evolution time to an optimal tmax followed by extrapolation to a total t*max and processing the data with an appropriate reconstruction method, such as hmsIST. To explore the optimum value of experimentally measured tmax to be reached non-uniformly with a given number of sampling points we have created test situations of time-equivalent experiments and evaluate sensitivity and accuracy of peak positions. Here we use signal-to-maximum-noise ratio as the decisive measure of sensitivity. We find that both sensitivity and resolution are optimal when PoissonGap sampling to a tmax of about ½*T2 *. Digital resolution is further enhanced by extrapolating the range of acquired time domain data to 2*T2 * but without measuring experimental points beyond ½*T2 *.
Radiometric sensitivity contrast metrics for spectral remote sensors

The calculation, interpretation, and implications of radiometric sensitivity metrics for Earth-observing multispectral and hyperspectral imaging sensors are discussed. The most commonly used sensor performance metric is signal-to-noise ratio, from which additional noise equivalent quantities can be computed, including noise equivalent spectral radiance (NESR), noise equivalent delta reflectance ( NE Δ ρ ), noise equivalent delta emittance ( NE Δ ϵ ), and noise equivalent delta temperature ( NE Δ T ). For hyperspectral sensors, these metrics are typically calculated from an at-aperture radiance (typically generated by MODTRAN) that includes both target radiance and nontarget (atmosphere and background) radiance. Unfortunately, these calculations treat the entire at-aperture radiance as the desired signal, even when the target radiance is only a fraction of the total (such as when sensing through a long or optically dense atmospheric path). To overcome this limitation, an augmented set of metrics based on a contrast signal-to-noise ratio, including their noise equivalent counterparts (CNESR, CNE Δ ρ , CNE Δ ϵ , and CNE Δ T ), is developed. These contrast metrics better quantify sensor performance in an operational environment that includes remote sensing through the atmosphere.
Differences in liquid cloud droplet effective radius and number concentration estimates between MODIS Collections 5.1 and 6 over global oceans.

Abstract. Differences in cloud droplet effective radius and cloud droplet number concentration (CDNC) estimates inferred from the Aqua–MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) collections 5.1 (C5.1) and 6 (C6) cloud products (MYD06) are examined for warm clouds over global oceans for the year 2008. Individual pixel level retrievals for both collections are aggregated to 1° × 1° and compared globally and regionally for the three main spectral channel pairs used for MODIS cloud optical property retrievals. Comparisons between both collections are performed for cases in which all three effective radii retrievals are classified by the MODIS cloud product as valid. The contribution to the observed differences of several key MYD06 Collection 6 algorithm updates are also explored, with a focus on changes to the surface reflectance model, assumed solar irradiance, above-cloud emission, cloud-top pressure (CTP), and pixel registration. Global results show a neutral to positive (> 50 cm−3) change for C6-derived CDNC relative to C5.1 for the 1.6 and 2.1 µm channel retrievals, corresponding to a neutral to −2 µm difference in droplet effective radius (re). For 3.7 µm retrievals, CDNC results show a negative change in the tropics, with differences transitioning toward positive values with increasing latitude spanning −25 to +50 cm−3 related to a +2.5 to −1 µm transition in effective radius. Cloud optical thickness (τ) differences were small relative to effective radius and found to not significantly impact CDNC estimates. Regionally, the magnitude and behavior of the annual CDNC cycle are compared for each effective radius retrieval. Results from this study indicate significant inter-collection differences in aggregated values of effective radius due to changes to the precomputed retrieval lookup tables (LUTs) for ocean scenes, changes to retrieved cloud-top pressure, solar irradiance, or above-cloud thermal emission, depending upon spectral channel. The observed differences between collections may have implications for existing MODIS-derived climatologies and validation studies of effective radius and CDNC.
Genetics and Partitioning for Biomass of Prairie Cordgrass Compared to Switchgrass on Marginal Cropland

Prairie cordgrass (Spartina pectinata Link) has potential as a bioenergy crop in poorly drained cropland in much of temperate North America. Our objectives were (1) describe morphological differences between two prairie cordgrass populations and switchgrass for biomass production and pattern of biomass accumulation in leaf and stem tissue, (2) estimate genetic variation for biomass production and other agronomic traits in a population of prairie cordgrass from South Dakota, and (3) increase knowledge of the impact of insects on biomass production of prairie cordgrass. On poorly drained cropland in South Dakota, a natural population of prairie cordgrass (SD CG) from South Dakota produced 75% more biomass than a natural population from North Dakota, and a selected population of prairie cordgrass produced >2 times the biomass of switchgrass. However, when prairie cordgrass was fed on by larvae of the four-lined borer [(Resapamea stipata (Morr.)], yield of the two species was similar. Prairie cordgrass had a lower frequency of reproductive tillers (RTRs) and larger leaves than switchgrass. SD CG had high genetic variation for disease resistance, moderate genetic variation for biomass yield, and low genetic variation for inflorescences m−2. Seven out of 57 half-sib families from SD CG produced more biomass than “summer” switchgrass during a year with normal precipitation, whereas only one family did so during a drought year. RTR declined rapidly with stand age. The four-lined borer was identified as a serious threat to biomass production of prairie cordgrass in eastern South Dakota.
Citizen Support for Domestic Drone Use and Regulation

Recently, governments, commercial firms, and individuals have increased their use of unmanned aerial vehicles (i.e., “drones”). As with many new technologies, drone use has outpaced government over...
Telecommunications: A realistic strategy for the revitalization of American cities

Abstract There is much speculation and debate on the impact of telecommunications on the economic and social fabric of cities and urban areas. Many scholars excitedly predict radical changes in the nature of city and urban life as telecommunication systems weave their way into the fabric of urban culture. This paper identifies major theoretical approaches to studying the relationship between the city and telecommunications, identifies the extent of integration of telecommunications with planning, assesses its impacts as a strategy for economic revitalization, evaluates its needs as an industry and assesses its impact on the revitalization of cities.
Press Forging Behavior of KCl Crystals and Resultant Strengthening

Use of alkali halides for optical components of laser systems has been limited by the fact that single crystals deform and fracture at low stresses. As dislocation processes are responsible for both the yield and fracture of these materials, one should be able to strengthen by alloying (1) and forming polycrystalline materials (2,3,4) or possibly a combination of both.
A Rhetoric for Educational Research

In the spirit of rhetoric, this chapter offers a rhetoric for educational research. One direction within which to explore the thematic of this volume on language in education is into the realm of rhetoric. Its tradition within western thought is as old as history; its standard story is not new, although from near-ignominy there is a relatively recent resurgence of interest and scholarship. Also potentially significant is a rhetorical orientation toward contemporary educational theory, specifically applicable to educational research explored herein. The chapter is organized into two parts. The first part, background, provides framing for the second, more developed part, exemplar. Following introduction, sections of part one overview two conceptions of rhetoric, the first named “extension” as a general orientation toward inquiry and the second named “tradition” as a brief history of the classical formulation. A brief section makes connection to philosophy of education. Sections of part two begin with consideration of educational research and to rhetoric of science. Then the concept of ethos is overviewed as a lead into a special contribution from the late American literary theorist, Wayne Booth (whose work is referenced throughout). The last substantive section applies Booth’s concept of the implied author – and its ethos – to an exemplary document from educational research.
High-Speed Free-Space Optical Continuous Variable-Quantum Key Distribution Based on Kramers–Kronig Scheme

We propose and experimentally investigate a high-speed Kramers–Kronig (KK) scheme based continuous-variable quantum key distribution (CV-QKD) system over a free-space optical (FSO) channel. The atmospheric turbulence channel is emulated by three spatial light modulators on which three randomly generated azimuthal phase patterns yielding Andrews’ spectrum are recorded. The proposed KK scheme enables a low-complexity implementation, insensitivity to laser phase noise, low detection noise, and accurate channel transmittance monitoring. In addition, eight state CV-QKD protocols and 10-channels wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) scheme are experimentally verified to obtain a high secure key rate. In our experiment, the minimum transmittance of 0.6 is required to guarantee the secure transmission, and a total SKR of 2.1 Gb/s can be obtained at the mean transmittance in weak turbulence regime.
Climate and human influence on late Holocene fire regimes in the British Virgin Islands

Global climate change poses significant threats to the Caribbean islands. Yet, little is known about the long-term disturbance regimes in island ecosystems. This research investigates 2000 yr of natural and anthropogenic fire disturbance through the analysis of a latitudinal transect of sediment records from coastal salt ponds in the British Virgin Islands (BVI). The two research objectives in this study are (1) to determine the fire regime history for the BVI over the last 2000 yr and (2) to explore ecological impacts from anthropogenic landscape modification pre- and post-European settlement. The magnitude of anthropogenic landscape modification, including the introduction of agriculture, was investigated through a multiproxy approach using sedimentary records of fossil pollen and charcoal. Our results suggest fire regimes from Belmont Pond, Thatch Island, and Skeleton Pond have been influenced by human activity, particularly during the postsettlement era, from 500 cal yr BP to modern. Our results suggest that fire regimes during the Medieval Climate Anomaly were responding to changes in climate via dominant atmospheric drivers. The presettlement fire regimes from these islands suggest that fires occurred every 90 to 120 yr. This research represents a significant data contribution to a region with little disturbance and vegetation data available.
Answer to October 2011 Photo Quiz

Answer: Disseminated Penicillium marneffei. Penicillium marneffei is a highly pathogenic fungus that was first isolated in the 1950s from the bamboo rat in central Vietnam. The primary infection with this organism is typically pulmonary, but disseminated infection, including fungemia and
Relationship of symptoms associated with ICU-survivorship: An integrative literature review

Abstract Background The number of adults who survive a critical illness involving admission to an intensive care unit is increasing. These survivors have an increased risk of developing impairments in cognition, physical function and psychological health. Objective This integrative literature review examined the literature for studies exploring the relationships among two or more of the variables of interest, i.e. cognitive, physical, and psychological symptoms (depressive, anxiety, or posttraumatic stress) in intensive care unit survivors post-hospital discharge. Methods A literature search was conducted using PubMed, CINHAL and PsycINFO databases. Findings While all 13 studies included in the review explored some aspect of a relationship among the variables of interest, none explored associations among all three variables. Five studies explored physical function and psychological symptoms, four studies explored cognitive impairment and psychological symptoms and five studies explored the association among different psychological symptoms. Inconsistencies were found in the study designs, follow-up time frames, patient populations and measures used. Conclusions Further research using well-designed methodologies and standardized instruments is warranted. Gaining a better understanding of the relationships among these impairments has the potential to contribute to the development of screening guidelines, preventative strategies, and treatments.
Construction of a bacterial consortium for the biofiltration of benzene, toluene and xylene emissions

On equal parts of benzene, toluene and p-xylene (BTX), a stable bacterial consortium was enriched for removal of BTX vapours from air. As demonstrated by gas chromatographic monitoring, this consortium removed all three BTX components but was able to grow only on benzene and/or toluene. A Pseudomonas putida strain, PPO1, isolated from this consortium behaved in an identical manner. When immobilized on a porous peat/perlite column, both the consortium and the PPO1 isolated removed all three BTX components from metered air streams. However, due to the accumulation of products from the incompletely metabolized p-xylene, the removal rates were unsatisfactory and declined further with time. P. putida ATCC 33015 bearing the TOL plasmid was capable of growing on toluene, on para- and on meta- xylene isomers, but not on benzene. When the PPO1 and ATCC 33015 strains were immobilized, in equal parts, on peat/perlite columns a much improved and sustainable removal of all three BTX components was observed at the rate of 40–50 g/h. m3 filter bed. Due to the dominance of the ring-hydroxylating pathways over the TOL pathway, the classical enrichment approach did not result in a consortium capable of the sustained removal of all BTX components. However, a rationally formulated consortium consisting of members with complementary metabolic abilities was capable of this task and should be of use both in industrial emission control and in soil venting operations.