cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Carbon storage dynamics of temperate freshwater wetlands in Pennsylvania

Healthy wetlands play a significant role in climate change mitigation by storing carbon that would otherwise contribute to global warming, leading to the reduction of water and food resources as well as more extreme weather phenomena. Investigating the magnitude of carbon storage potential of different freshwater wetland systems using multiple ecological indicators at varying spatial scales provides insight and justification for selective wetland restoration and conservation initiatives. We provide a holistic accounting of total carbon values for 193 wetland sites, integrating existing carbon algorithms to rapidly assess each of the following carbon pools: above-ground, below-ground, soil, woody debris, shrub cover, and herbaceous cover. Aspects of soil, vegetation, and ecosystem characteristics and stressors were measured to obtain an overall understanding of the ecosystems ability to store carbon (long-term) along a gradient of human disturbance. Based on a review of the literature, methods were prioritized based on the initial data available from field measurements as well as their practicality and ease in replicating the process in the future. Lacustrine human impounded (88.7 ± 18.0 tC/ha), riverine beaver impounded (116.2 ± 29.4 tC/ha), riverine upper perennial (163.3 ± 11.8 tC/ha), riverine lower perennial (199.2 ± 24.7 tC/ha), riverine headwater complex (159.5 ± 22.2 tC/ha), perennial/seasonal depression (269.6 ± 42.4 tC/ha), and slope (162.2 ± 14.6 tC/ha) wetland types were compared. Overall results showed moderate variability (9.33–835.95 tC/ha) for total carbon storage values across the wetland types, with an average total carbon storage of 174.6 ± 8.8 tC/ha for all wetlands. Results show that carbon storage was significantly higher (p = 0.002) in least disturbed wetland sites. Apart from perennial/seasonal depression wetlands, all reference standard wetlands had greater carbon storage, less disturbance impact, and a greater extent of forest cover than non-reference wetlands. Carbon storage values calculated were comparable to published literature.
Chemical controls on the propagation rate of fracture in calcite.

Calcite (CaCO3) is one of the most abundant minerals in the Earth’s crust, and it is susceptible to subcritical chemically-driven fracturing. Understanding chemical processes at individual fracture tips, and how they control the development of fractures and fracture networks in the subsurface, is critical for carbon and nuclear waste storage, resource extraction, and predicting earthquakes. Chemical processes controlling subcritical fracture in calcite are poorly understood. We demonstrate a novel approach to quantify the coupled chemical-mechanical effects on subcritical fracture. The calcite surface was indented using a Vickers-geometry indenter tip, which resulted in repeatable micron-scale fractures propagating from the indent. Individual indented samples were submerged in an array of aqueous fluids and an optical microscope was used to track the fracture growth in situ. The fracture propagation rate varied from 1.6 × 10−8 m s−1 to 2.4 × 10−10 m s−1. The rate depended on the type of aqueous ligand present, and did not correlate with the measured dissolution rate of calcite or trends in zeta-potential. We postulate that chemical complexation at the fracture tip in calcite controls the growth of subcritical fracture. Previous studies indirectly pointed to the zeta-potential being the most critical factor, while our work indicates that variation in the zeta-potential has a secondary effect.
Introduction to Quantum Logical Information Theory: Talk

Logical information theory is the quantitative version of the logic of partitions just as logical probability theory is the quantitative version of the dual Boolean logic of subsets. The resulting notion of information is about distinctions, differences, and distinguishability, and is formalized using the distinctions (“dits”) of a partition (a pair of points distinguished by the partition). All the definitions of simple, joint, conditional, and mutual entropy of Shannon information theory are derived by a uniform transformation from the corresponding definitions at the logical level. The purpose of this talk is to outline the direct generalization to quantum logical information theory that similarly focuses on the pairs of eigenstates distinguished by an observable, i.e., “qudits” of an observable. The fundamental theorem for quantum logical entropy and measurement establishes a direct quantitative connection between the increase in quantum logical entropy due to a projective measurement and the eigenstates (cohered together in the pure superposition state being measured) that are distinguished by the measurement (decohered in the postmeasurement mixed state). Both the classical and quantum versions of logical entropy have simple interpretations as “two-draw” probabilities for distinctions. The conclusion is that quantum logical entropy is the simple and natural notion of information for quantum information theory focusing on the distinguishing of quantum states.
Persistently increased cell-free DNA concentrations only modestly contribute to outcome and host response in sepsis survivors with chronic critical illness.

Abstract Background Although early survival from sepsis has improved with timely resuscitation and source control, survivors frequently experience persistent inflammation and develop chronic critical illness. We examined whether increased copy number of endogenous alarmins, mitochondrial DNA, and nuclear DNA are associated with the early “genomic storm” in blood leukocytes and the development of chronic critical illness in hospitalized patients with surgical sepsis. Methods A prospective, observational, cohort study of critically ill septic patients was performed at a United States tertiary health care center. Blood samples were obtained at multiple time points after the onset of sepsis. Droplet Digital polymerase chain reaction (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Hercules, CA) was performed to quantify RHO (nuclear DNA) and MT-CO2 (mitochondrial DNA) copies in plasma. Leukocyte transcriptomic expression of 63 genes was also measured in whole blood. Results We enrolled 112 patients with surgical sepsis. Two experienced early death, 69 recovered rapidly, and 41 developed chronic critical illness. Both mitochondrial DNA and nuclear DNA copy number were increased in all sepsis survivors, but early nuclear DNA, and not mitochondrial DNA, copy number was further increased in patients who developed chronic critical illness. Cell-free DNA copy number was associated with in-hospital but not long-term (180-day and 365-day) mortality and were only weakly correlated with leukocyte transcriptomics. Conclusion Increased cell-free DNA copy number persists in survivors of sepsis but is not strongly associated with leukocyte transcriptomics. Nuclear DNA but not mitochondrial DNA copy number is associated with adverse, short-term, clinical trajectories and outcomes.
Chest Imaging for Precision Medicine

Over the past 125 years, medical imaging has advanced from simple plain film radiography to advanced, multi-modality functional imaging. Throughout that time researchers have leveraged the technology to gain new insights into chest diseases and identify findings correlated with specific patient phenotypes, thereby enabling the ever more precise application of medical care. In this chapter we detail this history and focus on how chest imaging in particular has expanded on the “signs and symptoms” approach to medicine and provides detailed information that enables the personalization of care for chest diseases.
Potential Adverse Drug Events with Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) Due to Drug–Drug Interactions

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the primary psychoactive ingredient in cannabis. While the safety of THC and cannabis has been extrapolated from millennia of recreational use, medical marijuana programs have increased exposure among medically complex individuals with comorbid conditions and many co-prescribed medications. Thus, THC should be recognized as a pharmacologically complex compound with potential for drug–drug interactions and adverse drug events. This review summarizes potential adverse drug events related to THC when combined with other medications. Metabolic drug–drug interactions are primarily due to THC conversion by CYP3A4 and CYP2C9, which can be impacted by several common medications. Further, CYP2C9 polymorphisms are highly prevalent in certain racial groups (up to 35% in Caucasians) and increase the bioavailability of THC. THC also has broad interactions with drug-metabolizing enzymes and can enhance adverse effects of other medications. Pharmacodynamic interactions include neurological effects, impact on the cardiovascular system, and risk of infection. General clinical recommendations for THC use include starting with low doses and titrating to desired effects. However, many interactions may be unavoidable, dose-limiting, or a barrier to THC-based therapy. Future work and research must establish sufficient data resources to capture medical marijuana use for such studies. Meanwhile, clinicians should balance the potential risks of THC and cannabis and the lack of strong evidence of efficacy in many conditions with patient desires for alternative therapy.
Inflammatory biomarkers in acute coronary syndromes: part IV: matrix metalloproteinases and biomarkers of platelet activation.

This final part of our review series addresses matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and biomarkers of platelet activation and concludes with a general discussion of biomarkers in acute coronary syndromes (ACS). ### Metalloproteinases MMPs are zinc-dependent endoproteases with collagenase and/or gelatinase activity (Table). Degradation of collagen fibrils compromises plaque stability and the integrity of the endothelial basement membrane, predisposing advanced atheromas to rupture.1 View this table: Inflammatory Biomarkers in ACS #### MMP-1, -2, and -9 MMP-1, a collagenase expressed in the interstitium, is quickly upregulated in animal models of coronary ischemia/reperfusion. MMP-2 is a gelatinase capable of degrading type IV collagen, the major collagen of the subendothelial basement membrane. MMP-9 is a gelatinase widely implicated in ventricular remodeling and the development of heart failure.2 MMPs are highly expressed in atherosclerotic plaques, with selective enrichment at the shoulder regions.3 Patients with ACS have increased plasma levels of MMP-1, -2, and -9.4 The time course of elevation is highly variable: some groups have found that MMP-1, -2, and -9 levels are not elevated at presentation but that they increase during the subsequent 7 to 14 days.5 Other groups have reported no significant elevation in MMP-2 but a rapid rise and fall of MMP-9 within the first week after ACS. Few data exist on the association, if any, between MMP levels during ACS and cardiovascular outcomes. In a study of 24 patients with ACS, elevations in MMP-1 at 7 and 14 days after ACS were negatively correlated with left ventricular ejection fraction.6 The slow elevation of MMP levels after ACS and the lack of clinical outcome data do not currently make MMPs useful biomarkers for therapeutic decision making or risk stratification in ACS. They do, however, remain an active area of investigation as a therapeutic target. #### Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein A Pregnancy-associated plasma protein A …
Pseudophakic Retinal Detachments

Pseudophakic retinal detachments have become much more common in recent years because of the increased popularity of intraocular lenses. This report will describe our experiences in managing a large consecutive series of pseudophakic eyes in which retinal detachment occurred following cataract extraction.
Tiers of Cataloging: A Trim Model Approach for Metadata Capacity

Conversations about what a unit can or cannot do based on staffing volume can be difficult. When libraries make cuts, each unit needs to do more with less or try to say no. Unit leaders need to be ...
Pulsing and pedestrian life: ideology in motion in Mitzpe Ramon, Israel:

This article examines what I call ‘pulsing’ – visible surges of pedestrian activity. It applies a selection of Torsten Hagerstrand’s time-geographic vocabulary in an ethnographic case-study of Mitz...
Acute Endotheliitis (Type 3 Hypersensitivity Vasculitis) in Ten COVID-19 Autopsy Brains

Central nervous system (CNS) involvement in COVID-19 may occur through direct SARS-CoV-2 invasion through peripheral or cranial nerves or through vascular endothelial cell infection. The renin-angiotensin system may play a major part in CNS morbidity. Effects of hypoxia have also been implicated in CNS lesions in COVID-19. This communication reports on ten consecutive autopsies of individuals with death due to COVID-19 with decedent survival ranging from 30 minutes to 84 days after admission. All ten brains examined had neutrophilic microvascular endotheliitis present in variable amounts and variably distributed. Importantly, this acute stage of type 3 hypersensitivity vasculitis can be followed by fibrinoid necrosis and inner vascular wall sclerosis, but these later stages were not found. These results suggest that a vasculitis with autoimmune features occurred in all ten patients. It is possible that viral antigen in or on microvascular walls or other antigen-antibody complexes occurred in all ten patients proximate to death as a form of autoimmune vasculitis.
Verification, validation, and certification of modeling and simulation applications

Certifying that a large-scale complex modeling and simulation (M&S) application can be used for a set of specific purposes is an onerous task, which involves complex evaluation processes throughout the entire M&S development life cycle. The evaluation processes consist of verification and validation activities, quality assurance, assessment of qualitative and quantitative elements, assessments by subject matter experts, and integration of disparate measurements and assessments. Planning, managing, and conducting the evaluation processes require a disciplined life-cycle approach and should not be performed in an ad hoc manner. The purpose of this tutorial paper is to present structured evaluation processes throughout the entire M&S development life cycle. Engineers, analysts, and managers can execute the evaluation processes presented herein to be able to formulate a certification decision for a large-scale complex M&S application.
Fight, flight, and free will: The effect of trauma informed psychoeducation on perceived culpability and punishment for juvenile and adult offenders.

Justifications for punishment are generally grounded in retribution or consequentialism. Retribution is rooted in and legitimized by common sense notions of free will, claiming that offenders freely and rationally choose to commit a criminal act, and are therefore deserving of punishment. Consequentialism does not necessitate a reliance on a belief in free will, and views punishment as means to a valuable end. In recent years, neuroscientific research has challenged the notion of free will, providing one pathway for a public shift away from retribution and towards consequentialism. To date, no studies have examined whether educating participants about biopsychosocial effects of trauma that are often outside of conscious awareness may contribute to free will doubt. This study used a 2 (biopsychosocial information, neutral information) × 2 (juvenile offender, adult offender) between subjects design and measured beliefs in free will, judgments of culpability, and justifications for punishment. Results showed a main effect of trauma informed psychoeducation on free will beliefs, such that individuals who watched a trauma video had lower free will beliefs compared to individuals who watched a control video. Direct effects of trauma informed psychoeducation on sentence severity and on justifications for punishment were nonsignificant. However, mediation analyses revealed that free will beliefs had an indirect effect on the relations between trauma informed psychoeducation and perceived culpability and that perceived culpability had an indirect effect on the relations between trauma informed psychoeducation and retribution, consequentialism, and punishment severity.
Expected and possible unexpected consequences of ending the eviction moratorium

Abstract The U.S. Supreme Court ended the federal moratorium on evictions that was in effect from May 2020-August 2021 during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The end of an unprecedented national eviction moratorium has public health implications for housing, health, and homelessness. Accumulation of eviction filings, unpaid rent, tenant moral hazards, deteriorated tenant-landlord relationships, and increased transmission of COVID-19 and rates of homelessness are possible consequences that need to be prepared for as the federal eviction moratorium has ended. Innovative approaches and solutions can be taken that build upon existing knowledge and infrastructure for rental assistance, legal aid, and homeless prevention.
After the adoption of Renewable Portfolio Standards: Go greener or back to grey?

Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) is a state-level policy that mandates renewable energy supply or sales goals in the U.S. In some states like California, Hawaii, and Oregon, renewable energy pro...
Racism and Health Care in America: Legal Responses to Racial Disparities in the Allocation of Kidneys

African Americans have long been subjected to racism within the health care sector of the United States. During earlier eras of American history, including the pre-Civil War, Reconstruction and Jim Crow time periods, blatant racism in the health care sector was prevalent. Following the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, more overt forms of racism dissipated. Now, at the dawn of the twenty-first century, racism within the health care industry manifests itself in more subtle forms. A modern day example of the abominable and often governmentally sanctioned health care that African Americans receive is racial discrimination in the allocation of transplantable kidneys. Despite having a greater incidence of kidney failure than European Americans, African Americans are less likely to be the recipients of transplantable kidneys and spend considerably longer periods of time on kidney allocation waiting lists than European Americans. This Note proposes and analyzes various responses to disparities in kidney allocation on the basis of race including public education, organ donation publicity campaigns, presumed consent to donation laws, the creation of criteria for placement on an United Network for Organ Sharing kidney allocation waiting list, alteration of kidney allocation guidelines, and litigation under both the Equal Protection Clause of the United States Constitution and Title VI of the Civil Rights of 1964.
The thermodynamic effect of fluorine as a substituent: Allylic CF3 and CF2H

Abstract Cope rearrangements of 7,7,7-trifluoro-1,5-heptadiene and 7,7-difluoro-1,5-heptadiene were examined to gain quantitative understanding of the thermodynamic effect of allylic fluorine substitution. Group value contributions to ΔH f 's were thus able to be determined for allylic fluorine-substituted carbon groups: C(F) 3 (C d ) = −166.0, C(F) 2 (H)(C d )= −107.6 and C(F)(H) 2 (C d ) = −52.2 kcal/mole.
Dephosphorylation of the inhibitor component of troponin by phosphorylase phosphatase.

Abstract Phosphorylase phosphatase from rabbit skeletal muscle, when purified 700-fold, dephosphorylated the 22,000 molecular weight subunit of troponin (TNI). The endogenous phosphate in TNI and that incorporated by phosphorylase kinase were both totally removed at identical rates. Five criteria were established to show that dephosphorylation of TNI was catalyzed by phosphorylase phosphatase and not a contaminant in the preparation: (a) co-purification of TNIand phosphorylase-phosphatase activities; (b) identical patterns of the activities on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; (c) parallel heat denaturation and (d) fluoride inhibition of the activities; (e) competitive effects when both TNI and phosphorylase a were present. The Km for phosphorylase a was 6.8 µm, and 21.2 µm for TNI. The Vmax with TNI was approximately 4-fold greater than with phosphorylase a.
Political ecology and ecological resilience:: An integration of human and ecological dynamics

Abstract The biosphere is increasingly dominated by human action. Consequently, ecology must incorporate human behavior. Political ecology, as long as it includes ecology, is a powerful framework for integrating natural and social dynamics. In this paper I present a resilience-oriented approach to political ecology that integrates system dynamics, scale, and cross-scale interactions in both human and natural systems. This approach suggests that understanding the coupled dynamics of human-ecological systems allows the assessment of when systems are most vulnerable and most open to transformation. I use this framework to examine the political ecology of salmon in the Columbia River Basin.
Biotechnology Reveals New Routes to Synthesis and Structural Control of Silica and Polysilsesquioxanes

1 Introduction 2 Overview of Silica Synthesis in the Experimental Systems 3 Silicon Transport 4 Search for Intracellular Silicon Carriers or Conjugates 5 Control of Polycondensation 6 Conclusions 7 Acknowledgments Keywords: silica synthesis in experimental systems; silicon transport; search for intracellular silicon carriers or conjugates; biotechnology and new routes to synthesis and structural control; polycondensation control; polycationic peptides and accelerating silicic acid condensation; self-assembling diblock copolypeptides; silicateins in sponges and silaffins in diatoms - silica formation controlling molecular mechanisms
Symbolic Interdependence and Post-Break-Up Distress:: A Reformulation of the Attachment Construct

The attachment construct has been held as the principle means for explaining variation in the impact of relationship disruption. The construct has been criticized recently and there is evidence that theorists would welcome its reformulation. In the present study attachment is reformulated as an outcome of "symbolic interdependence," an organismic construct describing the extent to which a couple has constructed a shared view of the world. Predictions which follow from this reformulation were tested in a longitudinal study of break-ups within a sample of premarital couples.
Linked Transformation of Bacterial and Prophage Markers in Bacillus subtilis 168 Lysogenic for Bacteriophage φ105

Level of competence reached by Bacillus subtilis 168 lysogenic for temperate phage φ 105 was reduced compared to that reached by nonlysogenic cells. This effect was probably related to an alteration of the bacterial surface. Deoxyribonucleic acid extracted from φ 105 lysogenic bacteria was used to transform other lysogenic bacteria. About 25% linkage was found between the bacterial phe-1 marker and prophage marker ts N15. The order of a few prophage markers relative to phe-1 was established in three-factor crosses. The usefulness of this system for a study of the linkage between an integrated prophage genome and that of its host was discussed.
σ-Cumulenic transition metal compounds. Remarkably stable cobaloxime complexes; (R)2CCCHCo(dmg)2py

Abstract Interaction of NaCo(dmg) 2 py with (R) 2 CC(OSO 2 CF 3 )CCH in methanol provides a simple route to novel, stable cumulenyl complexes (R) 2 CCCCHCo(dmg) 2 py, where R = CH 3 or C 6 H 5 . In the case of R = H the stable ene-yne complex H 2 CC(CCH)Co(dmg) 2 py was isolated. The formation and properties of these complexes are discussed.
Studies of ethanol actions on recombinant δ-containing γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptors yield contradictory results

Abstract The γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptors (GABA A -Rs) display a wide variety of subunit combinations. Drugs such as benzodiazepines have shown differential effects based on GABA A -R subunit composition. Actions of alcohols and volatile anesthetics generally do not vary markedly with subunit composition, with low concentrations of ethanol being poor modulators of these receptors. Recent studies showed α 4/6 - and δ-containing GABA A -Rs (located extrasynaptically and responsible for tonic currents in selective brain regions) presenting high sensitivity to low concentrations of ethanol, but these results have not been obtained in other laboratories. We carried out additional experiments varying the receptor level of expression, and GABA and ethanol concentration, but no sensitivity to low concentrations of ethanol was detected. We will discuss these results and attempt an analysis of the possible causes for the discrepancies.
Striatal D2 Receptors and LTD: Yes, but Not Where You Thought They Were

D1 and D2 dopamine receptors are expressed in disjoint subsets of striatal projection neurons, the direct and indirect pathways, respectively. This differential distribution of receptors forms the basis for explanations of many aspects of basal ganglia function and dysfunction, but it seems incompatible with some other important properties of striatal neurons. In this issue of Neuron, Wang et al. discover the mechanism of D2 sensitivity of long term depression at synapses on the striatal projection neuron. They show that D2 dependence of LTD does not depend on dopamine receptors of on the projection cell but is mediated by dopamine-induced changes in release of acetylcholine by interneurons that contact projection cells of both types.
Review: phenothiazines relieve acute migraine headaches in the ED and are better than other active agents for some outcomes.

Source Citation Kelly AM, Walcynski T, Gunn B. The relative efficacy of phenothiazines for the treatment of acute migraine: a meta-analysis. Headache. 2009;49:1324-32. 19496829
Solubility of rhodochrosite (MnCO3) in water and seawater

Abstract The solubility product of rhodochrosite (MnCO 3 ) was measured in seawater, deionized water and dilute NaCl solutions. The solubility product extrapolated to infinite dilution at 25.0 C was (2.60 ± 0.07)× 10 −11 . The stoichiometric solubility product measured in seawater of 34.27%. salinity was (3.24 ± 0.23) × 10 −9 at 25.0 C and (2.28 ± 0.24) × 10 −9 at 3.3 C. The stoichiometric solubility product is in good agreement with the value calculated from an ion association model. The enthalpy of the reaction is in fair agreement with the estimated value.
A Comparison of the Effects of Amide and Acid Groups at the C-Terminus on the Collision-Induced Dissociation of Deprotonated Peptides

The dissociative behavior of peptide amides and free acids was explored using low-energy collision-induced dissociation and high level computational theory. Both positive and negative ion modes were utilized, but the most profound differences were observed for the deprotonated species. Deprotonated peptide amides produce a characteristic cm–2 – product ion (where m is the number of residues in the peptide) that is either absent or in low abundance in the analogous peptide acid spectrum. Peptide acids show an enhanced formation of cm–3 –; however, this is not generally as pronounced as cm–2 – production from amides. The most notable occurrence of an amide-specific product ion is for laminin amide (YIGSR-NH2) and this case was investigated using several modified peptides. Mechanisms involving 6- and 9-membered ring formation were proposed, and their energetic properties were investigated using G3(MP2) molecular orbital theory calculations. For example, with C-terminal deprotonation of pentaglycine amide, formation of cm–2 – and a 6-membered ring diketopiperazine neutral requires >31.6 kcal/mol, which is 26.1 kcal/mol less than the analogous process involving the peptide acid. The end group specific fragmentation of peptide amides in the negative ion mode may be useful for identifying such groups in proteomic applications.
Robust Ligand-Based Modeling of the Biological Targets of Known Drugs

Systematic annotation of the primary targets of roughly 1000 known therapeutics reveals that over 700 of these modulate approximately 85 biological targets. We report the results of three analyses. In the first analysis, drug/drug similarities and target/target similarities were computed on the basis of three-dimensional ligand structures. Drug pairs sharing a target had significantly higher similarity than drug pairs sharing no target. Also, target pairs with no overlap in annotated drug specificity shared lower similarity than target pairs with increasing overlap. Two-way agglomerative clusterings of drugs and targets were consistent with known pharmacology and suggestive that side effects and drug-drug interactions might be revealed by modeling many targets. In the second analysis, we constructed and tested ligand-based models of 22 diverse targets in virtual screens using a background of screening molecules. Greater than 100-fold enrichment of cognate versus random molecules was observed in 20/22 cases. In the third analysis, selectivity of the models was tested using a background of drug molecules, with selectivity of greater than 80-fold observed in 17/22 cases. Predicted activities derived from crossing drugs against modeled targets identified a number of known side effects, drug specificities, and drug-drug interactions that have a rational basis in molecular structure.
A new technique for endoscopic carpal tunnel decompression

A new one-portal technique for endoscopic carpal tunnel release (ECTR) is introduced with its clinical results. The incision is made at the palmar aspect of the hand. A custom-made glass tube with a groove is inserted, and under endoscope observation, a meniscus knife is pushed forward along the groove to release the flexor retinaculum. This new technique has been studied in ten fresh cadaver hands and used in 123 patients' hands. Results of the cadaver study showed that the flexor retinaculum was released completely in all ten hands. No injuries to tendons, nerves, or arteries were noted. In one case the cotton tip was lost from the stick. All clinical releases were performed uneventfully except for three cases of neuropraxia of the digital nerve of the radial side of the ring finger, one laceration of the motor branch of the median nerve, one mild infection, one loss of cotton tip from the cotton swab stick, and one case of chipping of the glass tube. The case with the laceration of the motor branch of the median nerve occurred early in the series and required the conventional open incision to repair the nerve. The cases with loss of cotton from the stick and chipping of the tube also required a conventional incision to remove the cotton and glass chip. Advantages of this one-portal technique with the glass tube include less scar tenderness than with two-portal techniques, decreased risk of injury to the superficial palmar arch and ulnar nerve because of the distal approach, a view of pathology in the carpal tunnel through the glass tube, and confirmation of release of the flexor retinaculum.
508. Development of Optimized AAV2 Vector Biosynthesis and Purification Processes To Support High Capacity Production of Clinical Vectors of High Purity and Potency

With the objective of establishing a capability to produce clinical grade gene transfer vectors, we have developed and implemented a novel AAV2 vector manufacturing process that enables scalable production and purification of AAV vectors of high purity, potency and safety. Biosynthesis of vector particles is achieved using transient transfection of HEK293 cells in the absence of helper virus. Our helper and packaging plasmids, in conjuction with an optimized transfection protocol, enable biosynthesis of approx. 100,000 vg per cell. The complete harvest (cells and media) is concentrated 5- fold and diafiltered by tangential flow filtration using a 100kDa NMWC membrane. Following cell lysis and clarification, AAV2 particles (vectors and empty particles) are separated from host cellular impurities by cation exchange chromatography. Highly efficient nuclease digestion is achieved by adding Benzonase to the column bound vector under conditions optimized to remove residual nucleic acids. This step was found to be highly effective for the removal of trace levels of vector-associated nucleic acids (host cellular and residual plasmid DNA) implicated in aggregation of subsequently purified vector particles. The eluate from the cation exchange resin is then subjected to a single gradient CsCl ultra-centrifugation step to separate empty capsids from the vector particles. In light of recent studies that AAV2 capsid protein contains epitopes recognized by cytotoxic T cells in a hemophilia B clinical study (Manno et al., Nat. Med. 2006), we have included the gradient step because we believe that removal of excess viral capsids reduces the potential for vector immunogenicity. A single gradient ultracentrifugation using laboratory scale equipment is sufficient to process (ie. remove empty capsid from) up to 1.0 E15 vg per centrifugation run, providing sufficient capacity to support clinical trials for current applications. A series of AAV2-hFIX vectors lots produced using this process gave a high degree of consistency in purity as assessed by SDS-PAGE silver staining analysis and potency as assessed in vitro by transduction of HepG2 cells, and in vivo by tail vein injection in C57/B6 mice. In comparison studies, the combined column / CsCl gradient purified vector demonstrated potency in vivo equal to or superior to vector purified by gradient ultracentrifugation or column chromatography alone. This combination of process steps has enabled us to initiate clinical vector production of AAV2 vectors of high safety, purity, and potency and at a capacity to meet the requirements of a range of clinical studies.
Dendritic cells in the CNS: immune regulators and therapeutic targets for multiple sclerosis treatment

Dendritic cells (DCs) are essential antigen-presenting cells responsible for initiating cellular immune responses. The increasing interest in the mechanisms of DC trafficking has created new and exciting opportunities for bench-to-bedside therapies to treat autoimmune diseases of the central nervous system (CNS). However, tracking the migration of DCs in the CNS has proved to be more problematic owing to their low number in the immunologically privileged environment of the brain and high diversity as a cell population. A significant contributor to immune privilege in the brain is the blood–brain barrier, a unique structure recognized to regulate the entry of immune cells into the brain. Currently, it is hypothesized that the migration of DCs across the blood–brain barrier is critically important for the initiation of immune responses of CNS autoimmunity. This review summarizes the present knowledge on DC trafficking in the CNS and the main functions of these cells in initiating CNS autoimmunity. Selective...
Viscoelastic Properties of Plasma Membranes Varies with Cholesterol Level

Cholesterol is an important lipid component of mammalian cell plasma membranes. It contributes to the biophysical properties of the membrane, and plays an important role in the regulation of the membrane protein function.In this study, effects of cholesterol on viscoelastic properties of the plasma membrane are investigated. We use optical tweezers to extract nanotubes (tethers) from the plasma membrane of human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells. We obtain time-resolved tether force measurements under cholesterol depleted and cholesterol enriched conditions. Using these data, elastic and viscous parameters of the plasma membrane are quantified and correlated to the changes in the membrane cholesterol level.Acknowledgements: This work was supported by Bourns College of Engineering and the Bioengineering Center at University of California, Riverside, and grants provided by NIH (2R01-DC02775) and NSF (BES-0522862).
Hybrid model of neutrino masses and oscillations: Bulk neutrinos in the split-fermion scenario

Higher-dimensional models of neutrino physics with one or more right-handed neutrinos in the bulk have attracted considerable attention in recent years. However, a critical issue for such models is to find a way of introducing the required flavor dependence needed for generating neutrino oscillations. In this paper, we point out that a natural minimal framework that accomplishes this can be constructed by combining the bulk-neutrino hypothesis for right-handed neutrinos with the split-fermion scenario for left-handed neutrinos. This combination leads to a unique flavor signature for neutrino phenomenology which easily incorporates large flavor mixing angles. This hybrid scenario also has a number of additional important features. For example, one previous difficulty of the split-fermion scenario applied to neutrinos has been that the mass matrix is exponentially sensitive to neutrino displacements within the brane. However, in our hybrid scenario, the interactions between the brane and bulk naturally convert this dependence from exponential to linear. Another important feature is that our hybrid scenario provides its own natural regulator for Kaluza-Klein sums. Thus, in our scenario, all Kaluza-Klein summations are manifestly finite, even in cases with multiple extra dimensions. But most importantly, our mechanism completely decouples the effective neutrino flavor mixing angles from the sizes of the overlaps between the neutrino wave functions within the brane. Thus, we are able to obtain large neutrino mixing angles even when these neutrinos have significant spatial separations and their overlaps vanish.
A probe trial procedure for the study of children's discrimination learning and transfer

Abstract A discrimination reversal problem was presented to 192 children varying in age from 3 to 5 years. At the end of both the initial learning and transfer trials, probe trials were introduced to ascertain the response rule describing children's choices. Results were analyzed in terms of a binary division of the children according to their responses to the probe stimuli; children who responded errorlessly (concept responders) were contrasted with children who made errors on the probes (instance responders). Using this criterion, it was found that many children transferred in a way different from the way they learned the initial problem. There was no difference in the proportion of younger and older children responding conceptually to the original problem, but older children were more likely to transfer conceptually when standard geometric blocks were used as stimuli. Future studies must consider the possiblity that learning and transfer may be accomplished by different processes whose application differs with age, the nature of the stimuli, and the stage of training.
Comparative characterization of the virulence gene clusters (lipooligosaccharide [LOS] and capsular polysaccharide [CPS]) for Campylobacter coli, Campylobacter jejuni subsp. jejuni and related Campylobacter species

Abstract Campylobacter jejuni subsp. jejuni and Campylobacter coli are leading causes of gastroenteritis, with virulence linked to cell surface carbohydrate diversity. Although the associated gene clusters are well studied for C. jejuni subsp. jejuni, C. coli has been largely neglected. Here we provide comparative analysis of the lipooligosaccharide (LOS) and capsular polysaccharide (CPS) gene clusters, using genome and cluster sequence data for 36 C. coli strains, 67 C. jejuni subsp. jejuni strains and ten additional Campylobacter species. Similar to C. jejuni subsp. jejuni, C. coli showed high LOS/CPS gene diversity, with each cluster delineated into eight gene content classes. This diversity was predominantly due to extensive gene gain/loss, with the lateral transfer of genes likely occurring both within and between species and also between the LOS and CPS. Additional mechanisms responsible for LOS/CPS diversity included phase-variable homopolymeric repeats, gene duplication/inactivation, and possibly host environment selection pressure. Analyses also showed that (i) strains of C. coli and Campylobacter upsaliensis possessed genes homologous to the sialic acid genes implicated in the neurological disorder Guillain–Barre syndrome (GBS), and (ii) C. coli LOS classes were differentiated between bovine and poultry hosts, potentially aiding post infection source tracking.
Using Point-of-View Video Modeling to Teach Play to Preschoolers With Autism

This study evaluated the effectiveness of point-of-view video modeling in teaching selected toy-play skills to two preschoolers with autism. This type of modeling involved the experimenters carryin...
Cyclotron resonance in a Wigner crystal: A mean-field approach.

On montre qu'un cristal de Wigner bidimensionnel en presence d'un champ magnetique eleve possede un spectre d'absorption micro-ondes distinctif qui peut servir de signature experimentale de sa presence. Le theoreme de Kohn ne s'applique pas dans ce cas parce que la symetrie de translation du systeme est brisee explicitement par l'ancrage du cristal de Wigner
Gapless Fermi surfaces in superconducting Ce Co In 5

According to Tanatar et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 95, 067002 (2005)], the low-temperature thermal conductivity in ${\mathrm{Ce}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{La}}_{x}\mathrm{Co}{\mathrm{In}}_{5}$, a multiband $d$-wave superconductor, reveals unexpected dependence on the concentration of defects as if one or more Fermi surface sheets remained ungapped below superconducting transition. The interior gap superfluidity mechanism, or unbalanced pairing, recently proposed by Liu and Wilczek [Phys. Rev. Lett. 90, 047002 (2003)] has been invoked as a possible origin of gaplessness. We indicate that the Fermi surface anisotropy in the real $\mathrm{Ce}\mathrm{Co}{\mathrm{In}}_{5}$ makes this explanation highly implausible. We emphasize the fundamental difference between unbalanced pairing of different Fermi entities and the formation of superconducting gaps on Fermi surfaces belonging to different bands. We also argue that interband interactions between electrons always induce a finite order parameter on all Fermi surfaces below the temperature of a superconducting transition. We calculate specific heat and thermal conductivity in a two-band model for a $d$-wave superconductor in the presence of defects. In our simple model, superconductivity originates on one Fermi surface, inducing a smaller gap on the other one. Impurities diminish the induced gap and increase the density of states, restoring rapidly the Wiedemann-Franz law for this Fermi surface. Our calculations are in agreement with experiment.
Presynapses go nuclear

Decades of research has shown that long-term changes in synaptic function ultimately require changes in gene expression. Recent work has focused on nuclear signaling by calcium and protein messengers initiated at postsynaptic sites. In this issue of The EMBO Journal, Ivanova and colleagues show that shuttling of CtBP-1 between presynaptic areas and nuclei regulates gene expression, which reminds us that presynaptic zones should not be ignored when considering synapse-to-nucleus signaling.
Anaphylaxis in children: current understanding and key issues in diagnosis and treatment.

Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that is rapid in onset and may cause death. Since it is unpredictable and potentially fatal, prompt recognition and treatment are vital to maximize a positive outcome. The occurrence of anaphylaxis is increasing across all ages in the United States, with increased risk of worse outcome in teenagers/young adults and in those with comorbid conditions such as asthma. Gaps in the assessment of patient-specific risk factors, identification and prevention of triggers, recognition of signs/symptoms, and pharmacologic treatment of anaphylaxis have been identified at the physician and caregiver/patient level. A PubMed literature search (January 2000–December 2011) was conducted to identify publications on childhood anaphylaxis using the following terms: food allergy, food allergens, food hypersensitivity, epinephrine, epinephrine auto-injectors, anaphylactic triggers, and anaphylaxis. This review will critically appraise these key issues and highlight strategies that might result in improved management of anaphylaxis in children.
Observations regarding the history of the study of computer personnel

The goal of this study is contrast the original concerns regarding computer/information systems personnel from the early days of computing with emergent concerns reflecting the accumulation of evolution of both computing technology and IS management in the subsequent years. Our approach to this is to review the proceedings of the Computer Personnel Research group, by analyzing the very first proceedings (1962), analyzing the first five proceedings (1964 to 1969), and the last five proceedings (2006 to 2011). Our intention is to present a broad picture of trends and we use observations of particular studies to this end.For this study we selected three perspectives that highlight changes from the earliest days to the present. The first is based on a close reading and consideration of the first "conference" in 1962 and the discussion it generated. The second considers the themes and topics of articles in the first five conferences running from 1964 to 1969. Finally we identify and comment on the array of themes and topics that the CPR conferences have addressed in the most recent five years.
Transmit diversity for TDD systems

Multiple input multiple output (MIMO) communications have been a hot research area in recent years. Most literature makes the assumption that the channel information is not known at the transmitter but known perfectly at the receiver. We focus on the situation where both the transmitter and the receiver know the channel information. We consider a transmit diversity scheme that maximizes the signal to noise ratio at the receiver. We analyze its performance in terms of capacity, duality and asymptotic behavior. By simulation, we compare this scheme with Alamouti's transmit diversity to show the advantage of utilizing the channel side information to improve the performance of the wireless systems.
Inhibition of epidermal cell migration by concanavalin A in skin wounds of the adult newt

Pigment cell migration was used as an indicator to study the effects of the plant lectin, concanavalin A (con A), on epidermal cell closure of skin wounds. Continuous immersion of wounded animals in 10-100 microng/ml of con A greatly slowed but did not stop epidermal cell migration. Thus, untreated animals closed wounds in 12 to 24 hours while some treated wounds were still open after three days. Removal from con A after 24 hours, allowed inhibited wounds to close faster than those left in con A. Brief (30-minute) immersion of wounded animals in con A, either before or after migration had begun, suppressed closure for four to eight hours, demonstrating that the affinity for con A persists as epidermal cells migrate. When the left forelimb of bilaterally wounded animals was immersed in con A, it caused suppression of migration only on the immersed side, indicating a local rather than systemic site of action. Mixture with its competing sugar, alpha methyl D mannoside, abolished the effects of con A. The mechanism by which this lectin suppresses epidermal cell migration is unknown but clearly involves binding of the molecule to glycoprotein or glycolipid receptors on the cell surface.