cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Weighted residual methods in optimal control

Weighted residual methods (WRM) afford a viable approach to the numerical solution of differential equations. Application of WRM results in the transformation of differential equations into systems of algebraic equations in the modal coefficients. This suggests that WRM can be used as a tool for reducing optimal control problems to mathematical programming problems. Thereby, the optimal control problem is replaced by the minimization of a cost function of static coefficients subject to algebraic constraints. The motivation for this approach lies in the profusion of sophisticated computational algorithms and digital computer codes for the solution of mathematical programming problems. In this note the solution of optimal control problems as mathematical programming problems via WRM is illustrated. The example presented indicates that reasonable accuracy is obtained for modest computational effort. While the simplest types of modes-polynomials and piecewise constants-are employed in this note, the ideas delineated can be applied in conjunction with cubic splines for the generation of computational algorithms of enhanced efficiency.
Robotically assisted lung biopsy under CT fluoroscopy: lung cancer screening and phantom study

Lung cancer is an important clinical problem and lung cancer screening may lead to an early diagnosis. CT fluoroscopy-guided lung biopsy is a popular method for obtaining a tissue sample for lung cancer diagnosis. However, the radiation exposure for the physician associated with CT fluoroscopy may limit more widespread adoption of this technique. The use of a robotic needle driver that can hold the needle in a steady and precise manner on the CT fluoroscopy scan plane may provide accurate needle placement without exposing the physician to radiation. This paper will provide background on lung cancer screening, review the CT fluoroscopy-guided lung biopsy procedure, and present the results of the first phantom study to use a robotic needle driver. An interventional radiologist used a robotic needle driver under joystick control to accurately place needles into a simulated lesion in a respiratory motion phantom under CT fluoroscopy guidance.
The “Other” Gender? Reflections on Fieldwork in Benin

While there are undoubtedly real barriers to men doing research on women, these barriers loom larger than they are. Despite the deconstruction of essentialized gender categories, the anthropology o...
Taming the Complexity of STE-based Design Verification Using Program Slicing

This paper presents the development of a hierarchical methodology for speeding-up a symbolic trajectory evaluation (STE) based verification flow, using "program slicing" techniques. An overview of the proposed methodology is described, along with the details of a prototype tool that has been developed to automate the approach. The tool, called FACTOR, has been successfully applied to reduce the size of the RTL implementation of a floating-point unit in an Intelreg Pentiumreg 4 processor model needed for formally verifying an embedded module. The existing proof specification for the module was validated using Forte, Intel's STE tool, on both the original and the reduced model. A comparison of the results demonstrates the effectiveness of the methodology, and its immense potential to scale up the verification flow to larger design sizes
Prediction of event times in the REMATCH Trial.

BackgroundIn clinical trials with time-to-event outcomes, it is common to design the interim analysis plan around the occurrence of designated target numbers of events. As the trial progresses, one may wish to use the accumulating data to predict the calendar times of these events as an aid to logistical planning.PurposeTo demonstrate three models for the prediction of event times using the accumulating data of the Randomized Evaluation of Mechanical Assistance for the Treatment of Congestive Heart Failure (REMATCH) Trial.MethodsWe apply three prediction models – an exponential model, a Weibull model, and a nonparametric model – to the evolving REMATCH data. Using Bayesian simulation methods, we predict the times of the designated landmark events and the end-of-study treatment effect, and calculate the predictive power.ResultsThe models were practical to apply from an early stage of the trial, and gave largely similar predictions. Intervals from the nonparametric model were generally wider and more respon...
Avulsed vertebral rim apophysis in a child.

Trauma to children's spines may result in prolapse of tissue consisting of nucleus pulposus, annulus fibrosus, the cartilagious end plate, or the rim apophysis. An example of the latter is described with respect to its histologic and radiologic features.
An Efficient, Watt-Level Microwave Rectifier Using an Impedance Compression Network (ICN) With Applications in Outphasing Energy Recovery Systems

We present a transmission line based impedance compression network (ICN) for application in RF-to-dc conversion. We show that the ICN is able to significantly compress the undesired input impedance variation that occurs when there is a large variation of input power. We designed and measured an ICN for a 4 W, 4.6 GHz rectifier and show that the impedance is significantly compressed with the ICN. We then demonstrate the ICN in an outphasing system where we achieve up to a 37% improvement in efficiency at back-off power and an overall more efficient design over large input power variation.
The cyclobutane dimers of 5-methylcytosine and their deamination products.

The photochemical reactions of 5-methylcytosine (m5C), a minor component of mammalian DNA, have been studied at a concentration of 2 mM in frozen 10 mM aqueous NaCl solution at dry ice temperature (194.5 K). For these studies, low-pressure lamps emitting mainly UVB radiation were used. We have isolated and characterized three cyclobutane dimers, namely the cis–anti (c,a) the cis–syn (c,s) and the trans–syn (t,s) forms. While the c,a and the t,s cyclobutane dimers are relatively stable towards deamination upon standing in solution at 277 K, the c,s isomer is gradually converted into the corresponding c,s m5C-thymine (Thy) mixed dimer; this latter reaction occurs considerably faster at 310 K. The t,s cyclobutane dimer is converted into the corresponding m5C-Thy mixed dimer upon incubation at 373 K, while the c,a dimer is converted into a mixture of m5C and c,a mixed dimer when incubated at 310 K. Irradiation of equimolar mixtures of Thy (1 mM) and m5C (1 mM) under similar conditions yields each of the three m5C cyclobutane dimers, as well as significant amounts of c,a, c,s and t,s m5C–Thy mixed cyclobutane dimers. These m5C–Thy dimers undergo decompositions similar in nature to the processes undergone by m5C cyclobutane dimers. Pseudo-first order rate constants for deamination of the c,s m5C homodimer and c,s m5C–Thy heterodimer at various temperatures and at pH 7.7 have been measured and the enthalpies and entropies of activation have been evaluated for the deamination processes for these two compounds. The two dimers have half-lives of about 14 and 22 h, respectively, at 310 K; however, at 273 K, the corresponding half-lives can be evaluated as being around 30 and 36 days, respectively.
Impact of aluminum by single spherical particles as a function of temperature

Abstract An experimental study was undertaken to measure the size of craters formed on the surface of an aluminum target by the impact of steel spheres. Measurements were made as functions of the temperature of the aluminum target and the velocity and size of the impacting particles. A relationship between the crater size and the incident energy was obtained and compared with the predictions of existing models.
Delicious poison: genetics of Drosophila host plant preference

Insects use chemical cues to identify host plants, which suggests that chemosensory perception could be a target of natural selection during host specialization. Five papers using data from the 12 recently sequenced Drosophila genomes examined chemosensory gene function and evolution across specialist and generalist species. A functional study identifies odorant binding proteins that mediate loss of toxin avoidance in a specialist, and targeted genomic studies indicate specialists and island endemics lose chemosensory genes more rapidly than generalist and mainland relatives. Together, these studies suggest a mode of chemoreceptor evolution dominated by birth/death dynamics, coupled with a low level of potential positive selection.
Cavernicoles in Lava Tubes on the Island of Hawaii

Cave-adapted arthropods have evolved in lava tubes in Hawaii. This is the first report of cavernicoles from the Hawaiian islands. The specialization of the cavernicolous insects and the recent origin of the lava tubes suggest that subterranean connections between lava tubes regularly occur and provide dispersal routes. The discovery that lava tubes were colonized by representatives of the adaptively radiating native fauna offers significant potential for evolutionary studies.
Energetic ions in solar γ-ray flares

Solar flares emit line and continuum γ-radiation as well as neutrons and charged particles. These high-energy emissions require the presence of energetic ions within the magnetic structures of the flare proper. We have already learned a great deal about the location and mode of particle acceleration. The observations have now become extensive enough so that we can begin to study the dynamics of the energetic ions within the flare structures themselves. This paper reviews the γ-ray and neutron observations and the theory of their emission, and discusses on this basis the presence of energetic ions deep within the flaring atmosphere.
Independently Controllable Dual-Band Bandpass Filters Using Asymmetric Stepped-Impedance Resonators

This paper presents a dual-band bandpass filter with independent switchability of each passband. By taking advantage of harmonic ratio of asymmetric stepped-impedance resonators, 2.4- and 5.2-GHz resonators are designed. The second resonance of 2.4-GHz resonators is designed to be suppressed by a transmission zero created by extended feed lines. To achieve a wide upper stopband, 5.2-GHz resonators are designed with a scheme that the second peak of these resonators would not appear at a frequency lower than a third peak of 2.4-GHz resonators. Several design graphs for deciding both geometric parameters and transmission zeros are plotted by using the information obtained from electromagnetic simulations. While extracting coupling coefficients between resonators, an external quality factor at 50-Ω port is fixed to determine the precise transmission zeros. Two kinds of feed lines, such as a hook type and a spiral type, are developed, and spiral-type feed lines are chosen for realizing switchable filters. By controlling p-i-n diodes, four states of switchable dual bands are clearly presented in simulations and experiments.
XIS: an XML document integration system

We describe XIS, an XML document integration system. The system is based on an algorithm that computes the top-down edit distance between an XML document and a schema. The complexity of the algorithm is t x s x log s, where t is the size of the document and s is the size of the schema.The system includes a GUI that allows the user to visualize the operations performed on the XML document. Synthesized and real data-sets will be used to show the efficiency and efficacy of the system.
PATCHY: simulating and visualizing the effects of stomatal patchiness on photosynthetic CO2 exchange studies

Abstract. In this study, computer modelling has been used to simulate and analyse the effects which non-homogeneous stomatal conductance (patchiness) might have on the appearance of the macroscopic relationship between photosynthetic CO2 assimilation (A) and intercellular CO2 (Q) in leaves. The problem was formalized using the assumptions that (1) the biochemical model of Farquhar, von Caemmerer & Berry applies [Planta, 149, 78–90 (1980)]; (2) that the parameters for the model are fixed for the period required to determine the relationship; (3) that the distribution of conductances in any leaf area is normal (but restricted to positive values); and (4) that the leaf is perfectly heterobaric. The model is interactive, allowing the user to explore–well beyond the conditions for which data are presented here–the effects of carboxylation capacity, photosynthetic electron transport rate and photorespiration over a range of possible conductances and degrees of patchiness. Regardless of the parameters used in the model, the results fail to predict the change in appearance of the A-C1 curve which has been attributed to patchiness in other reports: even when conductance varies with a standard deviation of twice its mean value, the effects on the curve are minor. The need for reconsideration of the methods currently used to interpret gas exchange studies is indicated.
Extended analyses: Promoting mathematical inquiry with preservice mathematics teachers

This paper describes the implementation of extended analysis tasks (EATs) in a required mathematics course for prospective high school mathematics teachers, and investigates the mathematical discovery promoted through engagement with these tasks. Extended analysis tasks are designed to move students beyond the problem context to the underlying mathematical structure of the problem. The results of this study revealed that with careful implementation, these tasks were effective for generating powerful mathematical thinking in preservice mathematics teachers, improving their problem solving, and generally enhancing the habits-of-mind exhibited by successful mathematicians (Carlson & Bloom, 2005).
Myocardial contrast echocardiography to assess perfusion in a mouse model of ischemia/reperfusion injury

Noninvasive approaches for measuring anatomical and physiological changes resulting from myocardial ischemia / reperfusion injury in the mouse heart have significant value since the mouse provides a practical, low-cost model for modeling human heart disease. In this work, perfusion was assessed before, during and after an induced closed- chest, coronary ischemic event. Ultrasound contrast agent, similar to MP1950, in a saline suspension, was injected via cannulated carotid artery as a bolus and imaged using a Siemens Sequoia 512 scanner and a 15L8 intraoperative transducer operating in second harmonic imaging mode. Image sequences were transferred from the scanner to a PC for analysis. Regions of interest were defined in septal and anterior segments of the myocardium. During the ischemic event, when perfusion was diminished in the anterior segment, mean video intensity in the affected segment was reduced by one half. Furthermore, following reperfusion, hyperemia (enhanced blood flow) was observed in the anterior segment. Specifically, the mean video intensity in the affected segment was increased by approximately 50% over the original baseline level prior to ischemia. Following the approach of Kaul et al., [1], gamma variate curves were fitted to the time varying level of mean video intensity. This foundation suggests the possibility of quantifying myocardial blood flow in ischemic regions of a mouse heart using automated analysis of contrast image data sets. An improved approach to perfusion assessment using the destruction-reperfusion approach [2] is also presented.
Electrical Stimulation of Mature Cow Carcasses and Its Effect on Tenderness, Myofibril Protein Degradation and Fragmentation

The effect of electrical stimulation was studied in the semi-membranosus, longissimus dorsi and triceps brachii of cow carcasses. Only one side of each carcass was stimulated (300V a.c., 120 sec). In each muscle, temperature, pH and myofibril fragmentation index (MF1) were measured and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis performed at 0, 3, 6, 24, 72, and 168 hr post-stimulation while steaks for shear test were taken at 24, 72, and 168 hr. Electrical stimulation resulted in higher MF1, lower pH, higher temperature and lower shear force compared to the control but the time of appearance of the 30,000 dalton protein was not affected. Electrical stimulation improves tenderness by myofiber disrupture.
Cat-scratch disease of the head and neck in a pediatric population: Surgical indications and outcomes

Objective To identify the presentation of pediatric patients with head and neck manifestations of cat-scratch disease, one of the most common causes of subacute or chronic lymphadenitis in children, and to determine surgical indications and outcomes. Study Design Case series. Subjects and Methods All pediatric patients from infancy to age 19 years who presented with clinical symptoms of cat-scratch disease and had an IgG serological test result of more than 1:128 for Bartonella henselae . Results Nine patients had cat-scratch disease of the head and neck. Median age at presentation was 4 years; median time from symptom onset to presentation was 20 days. Six (67%) children underwent surgical procedures, and median time from presentation to surgical procedure was 43 days. Conclusion Despite conservative treatment, a minority of pediatric patients with cat-scratch disease may require surgical drainage of abscess and removal of lymph nodes. Surgical treatment provides tissue for diagnosis, is generally well tolerated, affords improved recovery, and has minimal complications.
Low-Impedance VHF and UHF Capacitive Silicon Bulk Acoustic-Wave Resonators—Part II: Measurement and Characterization

In this part of the paper, extensive measurement results on the resonance, frequency tuning, and temperature characteristics of the silicon bulk acoustic-wave resonators (SiBARs) that were described in Part I will be presented and justified. Bulk acoustic wave resonators, high-aspect- ratio polysilicon and single-crystal silicon (HARPSS), MEMS, micromachining, micromechanical resonators, silicon resonators.
Measurement of associations in periodontal diseases using statistical methods for dependent data.

Clinical studies of periodontal diseases often involve obtaining observations for variables measured at multiple sites within each patient studied. These observations are thus inherently dependent, and the use of standard statistical methods to measure associations among the variables is inappropriate since they ordinarily assume independence among observations. Methods are suggested for extending standard statistical methods to the situation where data are dependent. For example, if the sensitivity and specificity of a diagnostic test is of interest, the usual binomial distribution, which assumes independence, can be replaced with the correlated binomial, and these characteristics can still be estimated in the presence of correlated data. In situations where the interrelationships of several variables to a response would ordinarily be investigated using multiple linear or logistic regression, the presence of correlated data such as that arising from clinical studies of periodontal disease requires that adjustments be made to account for the correlation. One of the most promising methods for taking such correlation into account is the use of generalized estimating equation (GEE) methodology, which is described in this paper and employed in two examples. The two examples involve measuring the association of levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) with tissue destruction, and the evaluation of the effects of metronidazole and surgery on attachment level in different groups of chronic periodontitis patients. Several statistical approaches and their conclusions are compared for each of the examples. GEE methodology allows the extension of standard regression models to situations involving dependent data while maintaining the ease of interpretation associated with regression results.
Ontology for modeling and simulation

This paper establishes what makes an ontology different in Modeling and Simulation (M&S) from other disciplines, vis-a-vis, the necessity to capture a conceptual model of a system in an explicit, unambiguous, and machine readable form. Unlike other disciplines where ontologies are used, such as Information Systems and Medicine, ontologies in M&S do not depart from a set of requirements but from a research question which is contingent on a modeler. Thus, the semiotic triangle is used to present that different implemented ontologies are representations of different conceptual models whose commonality depends on which research question is being asked. Ontologies can be applied to better capture the modeler's perspective. The elicitation of ontological, epistemological, and teleological considerations is suggested. These considerations may lead to better differentiation between conceptualizations, which for a computer are of importance for use, reuse and composability of models and interoperability of simulations.
Reduced complexity content-based image retrieval using vector quantization

We present a low complexity approach for content-based image retrieval (CBIR) using vector quantization (VQ). The VQ codebooks serve as generative image models and are used to represent images while computing their similarity. The hope is that encoding an image with a codebook of a similar image will yield a better representation than when a codebook of a dissimilar image is used. Experiments performed on a color image database support this hypothesis, and retrieval based on this method compares well with previous work. Our basic method "tags" each image with a thumbnail and a small VQ codebook of only 8 entries, where each entry is a 6 element color feature vector. In addition, we consider augmenting feature vectors with x-y coordinates associated with the entry.
Structural analysis of the inactive state of the Escherichia coli DNA polymerase clamp-loader complex.

Clamp-loader complexes are heteropentameric AAA+ ATPases that load sliding clamps onto DNA. The structure of the nucleotide-free Escherichia coli clamp loader had been determined previously and led to the proposal that the clamp-loader cycles between an inactive state, in which the ATPase domains form a closed ring, and an active state that opens up to form a “C” shape. The crystal structure was interpreted as being closer to the active state than the inactive state. The crystal structure of a nucleotide-bound eukaryotic clamp loader [replication factor C (RFC)] revealed a different and more tightly packed spiral organization of the ATPase domains, raising questions about the significance of the conformation seen earlier for the bacterial clamp loader. We describe crystal structures of the E. coli clamp-loader complex bound to the ATP analog ATPγS (at a resolution of 3.5 A) and ADP (at a resolution of 4.1 A). These structures are similar to that of the nucleotide-free clamp-loader complex. Only two of the three functional ATP-binding sites are occupied by ATPγS or ADP in these structures, and the bound nucleotides make no interfacial contacts in the complex. These results, along with data from isothermal titration calorimetry, molecular dynamics simulations, and comparison with the RFC structure, suggest that the more open form of the E. coli clamp loader described earlier and in the present work corresponds to a stable inactive state of the clamp loader in which the ATPase domains are prevented from engaging the clamp in the highly cooperative manner seen in the fully ATP-loaded RFC-clamp structure.
The evolution of RuBisCO stability at the thermal limit of photoautotrophy

A long-standing question in evolutionary biology is how organisms adapt to novel environments. In North American hot springs, diversification of a clade of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus into hotter environments has resulted in the unique innovation of a light-driven ecosystem at temperatures up to 74°C, and temperature adaptation of photosynthetic carbon fixation with the Calvin cycle contributed to this process. Here, we investigated the evolution of thermostability of the Calvin cycle enzyme ribulose-1, 5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO) during Synechococcus divergence. Circular dichroism thermal scans revealed that the RuBisCO of the most thermotolerant Synechococcus lineage is more stable than those of other lineages or of resurrected ancestral enzymes. Using site-directed mutagenesis, we next identified four amino acid substitutions that together increased stability and activity of this enzyme at higher temperatures. These are clustered near critical subunit interfaces distant from the active site. Each of the four amino acids is also observed in a less thermostable Synechococcus RuBisCO, and the impact on stability of three of these appears to be epistatic. Recombination analyses that allow for recurrent mutation as well as patterns of synonymous variation surrounding these sites suggest that the evolution of a more thermostable RuBisCO may have involved homologous recombination. Our results provide insights on the molecular evolutionary processes that shape niche differentiation and ecosystem function.
Reconstruction of Phantom SPECT Scans Acquired with a Slit-Slat Collimator

A slit-slat collimator merges the properties of pinhole and fan-beam collimation. The slit allows high sensitivity and fine resolution for points near the slit, as does a pinhole. The slats, which are normal to the axis of rotation, provide axial collimation, resulting in nearly independent axial slices and complete sampling for points for circular orbits. The collimator differs from pinhole in that a circular orbit is sufficient to avoid axial-blurring artifacts from incomplete sampling. It differs from fan-beam in that both the best resolution and best sensitivity are obtained near the collimator, whereas fan-beam's sensitivity is best at the focal line. In this study, the SPECT performance of an early prototype collimator is evaluated. The collimator was placed on a lead box attached to a gamma camera. Micro hot-rod and cold-rod phantoms and a mini cold-rod phantom were rotated about a line parallel to the slats normal. Two different slit widths, 1.0 mm and 3.0 mm, were used. The projections were reconstructed slice by slice using an MLEM algorithm (50 iterations). The configuration of this early prototype allowed only a large radius of rotation (80 mm), hurting sensitivity and resolution. Despite this, the reconstruction was able to resolve 3.2 mm hot rods and 4.0 mm cold rods when the slit width was 3 mm. Hot rods of diameter 1.6 were resolved using the 1 mm slit, although sensitivity was reduced by a factor of 3. These resolutions are consistent with theoretical expectations for the resolutions at these configurations. The properties of this collimator make it a good choice for scanning mid-size objects.
Chemokine expression in the monocytic cell line THP-1 in response to purified shiga toxin 1 and/or lipopolysaccharides.

Infections with Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing bacteria are associated with bloody diarrhea and postdiarrheal sequelae, including hemolytic uremic syndrome and central nervous system (CNS) abnormalities. Stx-induced intestinal, renal, and CNS vascular lesions may involve a localized production of proinflammatory cytokines in target organs, as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) up-regulate Stx receptor globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) expression on vascular endothelial cells. However, leukocyte recruitment to injured sites may also exacerbate vascular damage. A cytokine macroarray analysis of transcripts derived from macrophage-like THP-1 cells treated with Stx1, lipopolysaccharides (LPS), or both demonstrated a consistent up-regulation of TNF-α, IL-1β, and four genes encoding the chemokines interleukin-8 (IL-8), macrophage inflammatory protein-1α (MIP-1α), MIP-1β, and growth-related oncogene beta (GRO-β). Real-time PCR analysis verified the macroarray results. Northern blot analyses after the addition of the transcriptional inhibitor actinomycin D revealed increased IL-8 mRNA stability in THP-1 cells treated with Stx1 or Stx1 plus LPS. Finally, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay data for Stx1- plus LPS-treated cells demonstrated a poor correlation between IL-8, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, and GRO-β mRNA levels and protein production, indicating a posttranscriptional regulatory effect. Our data suggest that in response to Stx1 and LPS, macrophages may be a source of chemokines that promote tissue damage through leukocyte recruitment and activation.
Contribution of the periaqueductal gray to the suppression of pain affect produced by administration of morphine into the intralaminar thalamus of rat.

Abstract The parafascicular nucleus (nPf) of the intralaminar thalamus is implicated in the processing of pain affect in both animals and humans. Administration of morphine into nPf results in preferential suppression of the affective reaction to noxious tail shock in rats. The involvement of the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray in mediating the antinociceptive action of morphine injected into nPf was evaluated. Vocalizations that occur after tail shock offset (vocalization afterdischarges) are a validated rodent model of pain affect and were preferentially suppressed by injection of morphine into nPf. Vocalizations that occur during tail shock were suppressed to a lesser degree, whereas spinal motor reflexes (tail flick and hind limb movements) were unaffected by injection of morphine into nPf. Inactivation of the vPAG via the microinjection of muscimol (GABAA agonist) produced dose-dependent antagonism of morphine-induced increases in vocalization thresholds. The results demonstrate that a functional link between the nPf and vPAG in generating the antinociceptive action of morphine injected into nPf. Perspective Microinjection of morphine into nucleus parafascicular preferentially suppressed rats' affective reaction to noxious stimulation. This affective analgesia was reversed by inactivation of the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray. Understanding the neurobiology underlying the suppression of pain affect will provide insights into new treatments for pain and its associated affective disorders.
Myeloid-Specific Expression of Human Lysosomal Acid Lipase Corrects Malformation and Malfunction of Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells in lal−/− Mice

Lysosomal acid lipase (LAL) cleaves cholesteryl esters and triglycerides to generate free fatty acids and cholesterol in lysosomes. LAL deficiency causes expansion of CD11b(+)Gr-1(+) immature myeloid cells, loss of T cells, and impairment of T cell function. To test how myeloid cell LAL controls myelopoiesis and lymphopoiesis, a myeloid-specific doxycycline-inducible transgenic system was used to reintroduce human lysosomal acid lipase (hLAL) expression into LAL gene knockout (lal(-/-)) mice. Expression of hLAL in myeloid cells of lal(-/-) mice reversed abnormal myelopoiesis in the bone marrow starting at the granulocyte-monocyte progenitor stage and reduced systemic expansion of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). Myeloid hLAL expression inhibited reactive oxygen species production and arginase expression in CD11b(+)Gr-1(+) cells of lal(-/-) mice. Structural organization of the thymus and spleen was partially restored in association with reduced infiltration of CD11b(+)Gr-1(+) cells in these mice. In the thymus, reconstitution of myeloid cell LAL restored development of thymocytes at the double-negative DN3 stage. Myeloid cell LAL expression improved the proliferation and function of peripheral T cells. In vitro coculture experiments showed that myeloid hLAL expression in lal(-/-) mice reversed CD11b(+)Gr-1(+) myeloid cell suppression of CD4(+) T cell proliferation, T cell signaling activation, and lymphokine secretion. Blocking stat3 and NF-κB p65 signaling by small-molecule inhibitors in MDSCs achieved a similar effect. Injection of anti-Gr-1 Ab into lal(-/-) mice to deplete MDSCs restored T cell proliferation. These studies demonstrate that LAL in myeloid cells plays a critical role in maintaining normal hematopoietic cell development and balancing immunosuppression and inflammation.
Maintenance of the postabsorptive plasma glucose concentration: insulin or insulin plus glucagon?

The prevalent view is that the postabsorptive plasma glucose concentration is maintained within the physiological range by the interplay of the glucose-lowering action of insulin and the glucose-ra...
The Trefoil Peptide Family

The unique three-loop structure of the trefoil motif, formed by intrachain disulfide bonds in a 1-5, 2-4, 3-6 configuration between six conserved cysteine residues, is the defining feature of a recently recognized family of peptides. Expression of trefoil peptides is closely related to that of mucin glycoproteins in diverse biological sources. Three distinct members of the family (pS2, intestinal trefoil factor, and spasmolytic polypeptide) are produced in the mammalian gastrointestinal tract by mucus-secreting cells and targeted primarily for luminal secretion. The compact structure of the trefoil motif may be responsible for marked resistance of trefoil peptides to proteolytic digestion, enabling them to function in the harsh environment of the gastrointestinal lumen. Trefoil peptides are ectopically expressed adjacent to areas of inflammation within the gastrointestinal tract and may play an important role in both maintaining the barrier function of mucosal surfaces and facilitating healing after injury.
Making the Case for the Nurse as the Leader of Care Coordination

Care coordination has emerged as an effective model of care that contributes to healthcare reform's triple aim of decreasing costs, understanding the needs of individuals, and improving outcomes. This paper provides an argument that nurses should be the leaders of care coordination. Relationships among care coordination, nursing education, and professional values are made to show a common thread that ties the foundations of each. Benefits to outcomes and improved costs by nurses are also presented as defense for this claim. Rebuttals to arguments against this claim attempt to repudiate their worth and continue to show nursing's strategic position to assume this role.
Energy Metabolism During Larval Development of Green and White Abalone, Haliotis fulgens and H. sorenseni

An understanding of the biochemical and phys- iological energetics of lecithotrophic development is useful for interpreting patterns of larval development, dispersal potential, and life-history evolution. This study investigated the metabolic rates and use of biochemical reserves in two species of abalone, Haliotis fulgens (the green abalone) and H. sorenseni (the white abalone). Larvae of H. fulgens utilized triacylglycerol as a primary source of endogenous energy reserves for development (50% depletion from egg to metamorphic competence). Amounts of phospholipid re- mained constant, and protein dropped by about 30%. After embryogenesis, larvae of H. fulgens had oxygen consump- tion rates of 81.7 5.9 (SE) pmol larva 1 h 1 at 15 °C through subsequent development. The loss of biochemical reserves fully met the needs of metabolism, as measured by oxygen consumption. Larvae of H. sorenseni were exam- ined during later larval development and were metabolically and biochemically similar to H. fulgens larvae at a compa- rable stage. Metabolic rates of both species were very sim- ilar to previous data for a congener, H. rufescens, suggesting that larval metabolism and energy utilization may be con- served among closely related species that also share similar developmental morphology and feeding modes.
An airing of the Clean Air Act.

In recent years criticism of excessive and inefficient regulation has frequently been voiced. Environmental regulations in particular have been a target. Some critics charge that environmental benefits have been pursued too aggressively without sufficient regard to the cost of controls. Others, without attacking the desirability of the benefits, argue that pollution reduction has been unnecessarily costly. Yet there are also those who claim that antipollution legislation has not been implemented sufficiently and effectively and that progress toward air and water quality goals has been disappointingly slow. Causes of these problems, depending on the source of the criticism, include failure to incorporate economic rationality and economic incentives into regulations, overzealous regulators, weak enforcement efforts, and insufficient funding to support timely and effective implementation of complex statutes. These conflicting viewpoints are part of the debate currently surrounding the Clean Air Act whose reauthorization by Congress is considerably behind schedule. Reauthorization of the act has been held up by conflict over proposals to add acid rain control measures and proposals to change existing provisions. Each of the books under review offers a timely opportunity for an increased understanding of the crucial issues in the debate over the Clean Air Act. Each provides insight on important components of the act and its implementation. Among the subjects addressed by the authors are the administrative burden created by the numerous and complex requirements of the Clean Air Act, the impact of judicial review and public input on administrative decision making and air quality policy, and the application of principles of economic efficiency to air quality policy. The conclusions reached by the authors are sobering, provocative, and instructive.
Electrolyte and water composition of muscle and liver in hereditary obese-hyperglycemic syndrome of mice.

Summary1. Samples of striated muscle and liver from fasted mice with the hereditary obese-hyperglycemic syndrome were analyzed for water, fat, potassium, sodium, and chloride. 2. Some degree of intracellular dehydration and a greater degree of extracellular dehydration was observed without change in concentration of intracellular potassium.
Protein Induced Aggregation of Conjugated Polyelectrolytes Probed with Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy: Application to Protein Identification

The interaction of a series of water-soluble conjugated polyelectrolytes with varying backbone structure, charge type (cationic and anionic), and charge density with a set of seven different proteins is explored by using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS). The FCS method affords the diffusion time for a particular CPE/protein pair, and this diffusion time is a reflection of the aggregation state of the polymer/protein in the solution. The diffusion time is larger for oppositely charged CPE/protein combinations, reflecting the tendency toward the formation of CPE/protein aggregates in these systems. However, by careful analysis of the data, other factors emerge, including possible effects of hydrophobic interaction in specific CPE/protein systems. The final diffusion time for each CPE/protein mixture varies and the diffusion time response pattern created by the six-CPE array for a typical protein is unique, and this effect was leveraged to develop a sensor array for protein identification by using...
A Method To Examine the Need for Duplicate Testing of Common Coagulation Tests

A statistical protocol for evaluating the need for duplicate coagulation testing was developed. It requires at least 32 sets of duplicate prothrombin times or partial thromboplastin times over the expected range of results. In addition to the statistical procedures, clinical evaluation of the duplicates is required.
Mass Acute Occupational Poisoning Diagnosis and Appraisal: A Case Report and Discussion

This article discussed problems behind a mass acute occupational poisoning, including irregularities in operations such as using inferior materials in the factory, obstacles to collecting evidence, low public awareness to the designated medical institutions providing medical care services to occupational diseases, delayed diagnosis, and few laws and regulations on identification of mass occupation diseases. Suggestions were subsequently proposed: strengthening law enforcement and protection of the rights and interests of workers, improving the network and procedure of occupational disease diagnosis appraisa.
Surveillance study on injuries death cause in 1997～2006 population sampling in Huai-an City

Objective To learn about deaths of the rural residents from injury and poisoning and the change tendency in Huai'an City,in order to provide the government reference information for health planning and prevention.Methods By methods of de- scriptive and analytical epidemiology,based on the International Classification of Diseases-10 Edition (ICD-10),we monitored deaths of sampling population from injury and poisoning in Huai'an city.Results From 1997 to 2006,the annual average total mortality of residents in sampling monitoring points in Huai'an City was 412/10 million (4 794/116 240).Injury and poisoning ranked the third in causes of death by the annual average total mortality in descending order,of which the mortality was 38/10 mil- lion (442/116 240),accounting for 9.22% of the total deaths.There was an annual increasing trend of deaths from injury and poi- soning.Suicide,resulting in 139 deaths,was the first cause of death from injury and poisoning,accounting for 31.4%;remaining traffic injuries,accidental poisoning,falling injuries,and drowning ranked in turn.Conclusion Injury and poisoning was an im- portant cause of death of the rural residents in Huai'an City.Suicide was the first cause of death from injury and poisoning.
RESEACH ON THE SHOOTING OF PHYLLOSTACHYS GLAUCA AND THE HEIGHT GROWTH RHYTHM OF YOUNG BAMBOO

The author has continuously observed 3 years on the shooting of Phyllostachys glauca and the height growth rhythm of young bamboo,and then,the result is that: the Phylloostachys glauca general shoots in late April,and the growth cycle is 40～70 days and also the growth rhythm shows slowly-quickly-slowly;and the rate of degrad shoot is 87.5%;however,the rate of growing bamboo shoot and the DBH will decreace when the shooting time delays.
A De Novo-Assembly Based Data Analysis Pipeline for Plant Obligate Parasite Metatranscriptomic Studies

Current and emerging plant diseases caused by obligate parasitic microbes such as rusts, downy mildews, and powdery mildews threaten worldwide crop production and food safety. These obligate parasites are typically unculturable in the laboratory, posing technical challenges to characterize them at the genetic and genomic level. Here we have developed a data analysis pipeline integrating several bioinformatic software programs. This pipeline facilitates rapid gene discovery and expression analysis of a plant host and its obligate parasite simultaneously by next generation sequencing of mixed host and pathogen RNA (i.e. metatranscriptomics). We applied this pipeline to metatranscriptomic sequencing data of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) and its obligate downy mildew parasite Peronospora belbahrii, both lacking a sequenced genome. Even with a single data point, we were able to identify both candidate host defense genes and pathogen virulence genes that are highly expressed during infection. This demonstrates the power of this pipeline for identifying genes important in host-pathogen interactions without prior genomic information for either the plant host or the obligate biotrophic pathogen. The simplicity of this pipeline makes it accessible to researchers with limited computational skills and applicable to metatranscriptomic data analysis in a wide range of plant-obligate-parasite systems.
Teaching evidence-based medicine skills: an exploratory study of residency graduates' practice habits.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The long-term effect of teaching critical appraisal (CA) and evidence-based medicine (EBM) skills is unknown. This study explores long-term behaviors and learner satisfaction after a 3-year longitudinal CA/EBM curriculum. METHODS: Telephone interviews were conducted with 1996-1998 graduates of an academic family medicine residency program with an established CA/EBM curriculum. The graduates were all in clinical practice. RESULTS: Ten of 17 graduates met inclusion criteria and consented to be interviewed. Their age range was 31-58, and all had been in practice 3 to 5 years. Six were female. Most participants did not regularly practice CA or use EBM skills. Instead, colleagues were the most commonly used information source. Time constraints and clinical production pressure were the primary barriers to practicing EBM. Despite not practicing CA and EBM, participants generally were satisfied with their training in these skills. Respondents said they used continuing education meetings and reading journals to keep current. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, residents instructed in CA and EBM skills did not regularly practice these skills. Time and workload pressures appear to be major barriers to these behaviors. Those training residents to integrate EBM into clinical practice should evaluate short- and long-term clinically oriented behaviors to assure educational effectiveness.
A Regulatory Perspective II

Publisher Summary This chapter takes the regulatory perspective from the view of the Voluntary Safety Programs Branch at FAA Headquarters. As a policy office, the Voluntary Safety Programs Branch sponsors Crew Resource Management (CRM) research, meets annually with all of the researchers, reviews airline training and checking scenarios, fields questions from airline and FAA field personnel, and reviews CRM assessment strategies of all air carriers subject to the policies of the branch. The branch's programs provide a major source of CRM data to the airlines and the FAA. This chapter addresses the role of the FAA in the history of the development of CRM as falling into three broad categories—the enforcement of minimal regulatory requirements, the encouragement of practices that exceed the regulatory minimums, and the funding of research programs that in part allow the FAA to determine where to draw the line between what will be strictly mandated and what will be simply encouraged. The power of the FAA's decision to support both voluntary and regulatory programs allows innovation to flourish. The prescriptive regulatory programs establish minimal standards for all to meet, while the voluntary programs allow each air carrier to exceed those standards in a manner that reflects that carrier's own unique safety culture.
Examination of Trifluoroethanol Interactions with Trp-Cage through MD Simulations and Intermolecular Nuclear Overhauser Effects

Molecular dynamics simulations of the protein model Trp-cage in 42% 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE)–water at 318 K have been carried out with the goal of exploring solvent fluorine–peptide hydrogen nuclear spin cross-relaxation. TFE5 and TFE6 models of TFE developed in previous work from this laboratory were used with the TIP5PE model of water. System densities and component translational diffusion coefficients were well predicted by the simulations, as were many of the cross-relaxation parameters (ΣHF) for which experimental values are available. However, the calculated ΣHF values were too small for some hydrogens of the Trp6 indole ring and for amino acid hydrogens near this residue in the native structure. Simulations carried out with unfolded versions of Trp-cage suggest that underestimates of ΣHF are the result of insufficient sampling of conformational motions that expose these hydrogens to interactions with solvent molecules during simulations of the native peptide. Consideration of the relative amoun...
Professional Development Resources

Column description. The Internet Resources column is designed to be a clearinghouse for free, online websites or apps; each column focuses on a theme relevant to current issues and trends in academic libraries and features resources selected to make the lives of public services librarians easier. Any comments about the column, including suggestions for themes or recommendations of web resources, can be directed to Melissa Mallon.