cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Severe traumatic brain injury: maximizing outcomes

Severe traumatic brain injury is one of the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. The initial management of traumatic brain injury involves early resuscitation, computed tomography scanning, and surgical evacuation of mass lesions, when indicated. Recent research suggests that the prevention and treatment of secondary brain injury decrease mortality and improve outcomes. Specifically, treatment should address not only cerebral protection but also prevention of injury to other organ systems. To achieve the best outcomes, attention must be focused on optimizing blood pressure and brain tissue oxygenation, maintaining adequate cerebral perfusion pressures, and preventing seizures. In addition, maximizing good outcomes depends on proactively addressing the risk of common sequelae of brain injury, including infection, deep venous thrombosis, and inadequate nutrition. Guidelines developed for the management of severe traumatic brain injury have dramatically improved functional neurological outcomes.
Fatty acid synthesis in aorta Isolation of fatty acid synthetase from chicken aorta

Fatty acid synthesis by subcellular fractions of human aorta was studied by measuring the incorporation of either radioactive acetyl-CoA or malonyl-CoA into long chain fatty acids. The high speed supernatant fraction contained fatty acid synthetase and was capable of de novo fatty acid synthesis. The fatty acid synthetase from chicken aorta was purified 800-fold from the high speed supernatant and was judged to be 10% pure at this level. Its molecular weight was estimated to be 450,000 on the basis of agarose gel filtration chromatography, while under dissociating conditions a molecular weight of 220,000 was obtained on sodium dodecyl sulphate disc gel electrophoresis. Fatty acid synthesis was dependent on acetyl-CoA, malonyl-CoA and NADPH. The major product was free palmitic acid. In enzymatic and physical characteristics the chicken aorta fatty acid synthetase strongly resembles the synthetase isolated from chicken liver. The two enzymes cross-react immuno-chemically and this homology provides the possibility of studying the synthesis and degradation of the aorta synthetase during the development of atherosclerosis.
Plasmolipin—a new player in endocytosis and epithelial development

Polarized vesicle sorting is essential not only for epithelial cell function but also for cell polarization and tissue morphogenesis. Endocytosis is a key determinant of the surface abundance of plasma membrane proteins and is highly regulated. In an important recent paper, Rodriguez‐Fraticelli et al (2015) identify a new player in apical endocytosis—a previously uncharacterized protein called Plasmolipin. They report not only its mechanism of action through binding to an epsin, but also highlight an essential role in regulating Notch signaling, which controls epithelial differentiation.
Disruption of fixed-ratio performance as a function of reinforcement delay

After a pigeon was trained on a fixed-ratio 50 schedule, a delay of reinforcement was introduced and gradually increased to 30 sec. Dependent measures of the bird’s performance were the duration of the pause after reinforcement and the time required to complete the ratio. The mean and standard deviation of both measures increased, suggesting that the 30-sec delay disrupted fixed-ratio performance.
Bond Length and Local Energy Density Property Connections for Non-Transition-Metal Oxide-Bonded Interactions

For a variety of molecules and earth materials, the theoretical local kinetic energy density, G(rc), increases and the local potential energy density, V(rc), decreases as the M−O bond lengths (M = first- and second-row metal atoms bonded to O) decrease and the electron density, ρ(rc), accumulates at the bond critical points, rc. Despite the claim that the local kinetic energy density per electronic charge, G(rc)/ρ(rc), classifies bonded interactions as shared interactions when less than unity and closed-shell when greater, the ratio was found to increase from 0.5 to 2.5 au as the local electronic energy density, H(rc) = G(rc) + V(rc), decreases and becomes progressively more negative. The ratio appears to be a measure of the character of a given M−O bonded interaction, the greater the ratio, the larger the value of ρ(rc), the smaller the coordination number of the M atom and the more shared the bonded interaction. H(rc)/ρ(rc) versus G(rc)/ρ(rc) scatter diagrams categorize the M−O bonded interactions into ...
Effect of soil storage on propanil degradation

Summary: Resume: Zusammenfassung Sassafras sandy loam soil was subjected to various storage conditions after collection and 3′,4′-dichloropropionanilide (propanil) was used for testing the biodegradation potential of the stored soil. Cleavage of propanil was affected drastically after 5 days’ moist storage at 0, 10, 25 or –15° C and by 5 days’ air-drying. In 1 week approximately 90% of the propanil was degraded when fresh soil samples were used. However, 60–80% of residual propanil was found in soil which had been stored under various conditions from 5 to 30 days. Samples air-dried for 10 days were mildly affected as compared with the samples moist-stored at various temperatures, indicating that restricted gas exchange had a detrimental effect on biodegradation in moist-stored samples. These findings show that any biodegradation study should be conducted with fresh soil samples. Effet de la conservation du sol sur la degradation du propanil Un sol argilo sableux a ete soumis apres prelevement a diverses conditions de conservation et du 3,4-dichloropro-pionanilide (propanil) a ete utilise pour estimer le potentiel de biodegradation du sol ainsi conserve. La degradation du propanil aete profondement affectee apres 5 jours de conservation a l'humidite, a 0, 10, 25 ou –15° C et par 5 jours de sechage a l'air. En une semaine, 90 % environ du propanil aete degrade dans le cas oil des echantillons frais de sol ontete utilises. Toutefois, 60 a 80 % de propanil residuel aete retrouve dans un sol conserve pendant 5 a 30 jours dans des conditions variees. Les eechantillons seches k l'air pendant 10 jours ontete moyennement affectes en compar-aison avec les echantillons conserves a l'humiditea des temperatures variees; ceci indique que la restriction des echanges gazeux a un effet defavorable sur la biodegradation dans les echantillons conserves a rhumidite. Ces resultats montrent que toute etude de biodegradation devrait etre conduite avec des echantillons de sol frais. Wirkung der Lagerung von Boden auf den Abbau von Propanil Boden (Sassafras-sandiger-Lehm) wurde nach der Probennahme unter verschiedenen Bedingungen gelagert und, seine biologische Abbaufahigkeit mit 3′,4′-Dichlorpro-pionanilid (Propanil) untersucht. Der Abbau von Propanil wurde nach funftagiger Lagerung des Bodens in feuchtem Zustand bei 0, 10, 25 oder – 25°C und funftagiger Lufttrocknung sehr stark beeinflusst. Wenn frische Bodenproben verwendet wurden, waren nach einer Woche etwa 90% des Herbizids abgebaut. Dagegen waren noch 60–80% des Propanils vorhanden, wenn der Boden unter verschiedenen Bedingungen 5–30 Tage gelagert worden war. Proben die 10 Tage lang luftgetrocknet wurden, waren, verglichen mit den bei verschiedenen Temperaturen feucht gelagerten Bodenproben, nur wenig beeinflusst. Das weist darauf hin, da ein verringerter Gasaustausch sich schadlich auf die im feuchten Zustand gelagerten Proben auswirkte. Diese Ergebnisse zeigen, dass jede Untersuchung des biologischen Abbaus von Herbiziden im Boden mit frischen Bodenproben durchgefuhrt werden sollte.
A comparison of Martian north and south polar cold spots and the long‐term effects of the 2001 global dust storm

[1] In the 1970s, Viking and Mariner observed areas in the polar regions of Mars with winter brightness temperatures below the expected kinetic temperatures for CO2 ice sublimation. These areas have since been termed “cold spots” and have been identified as surface deposits of CO2 atmospheric condensates and, occasionally, active CO2 storms. Three Mars years of data from the Mars Global Surveyor Thermal Emission Spectrometer were used to observe autumn and winter cold spot activity. In this study, cold spots that occur near and on the southern perennial cap were compared to those found near or on the northern perennial cap. On the southern perennial cap, cold spots associated with topographic features (induced by orographic lifting) were less common than cold spots independent of topography, similar to the north. However, the cold spots in the south lasted longer than those observed in the north. There is also evidence that cold spot formation in the south was affected by the global dust storm of 2001, even though the dust storm occurred during the southern spring and summer seasons. Prior to the dust storm, the amount of overall cold spot activity closer to the perennial cap increased and the average CO2 grain size for most of the cold spots increased as well. Following the dust storm, the majority of cold spots in the south increased in size and duration but they did not form north of 62°S latitude, whereas, in other years, cold spots formed as far north as 48°S.
Cultured vascular smooth muscle cells from porcine coronary artery possess A1 and A2 adenosine receptor activity

This study tested the hypothesis that an A1 adenosine receptor capable of inhibiting adenylate cyclase activity is present in porcine coronary vascular smooth muscle cells. In the absence of blockade of the A2 adenosine receptor, the A1 adenosine receptor agonists phenylisopropyladenosine (PIA) and cyclopentyladenosine (CPA) (10−9M) failed to inhibit Gpp(NH)p stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. However, after blockade of the A2 adenosine receptor with 30 nM CGS 15943A, cyclopentyladenosine (10−9M) inhibited Gpp(NH)p stimulated adenylate cyclase activity by 27±3% (4.3±0.7, Mean±SEM; pmoles/min/mg vs 5.9±0.8, P<.05). The data demonstrate that both A1 and A2 adenosine receptors are present in coronary vascular smooth muscle. The results indicate that adenosine may mediate both vasodilation and vasoconstriction in the coronary circulation via A2 and A1 adenosine receptors, respectively.
Separation and Survival in Amish Society

Abstract This paper describes a number of threats to the cultural values and traditions of Old Order Amish society. The influences, upon the Amish, of government legislation, high fertility rates and rising rural land prices are specifically considered, as is the phenomena of increasing factory employment in many Old Order communities. This paper further explores the manner in which the Amish are adapting to external threats to their traditional beliefs and lifestyles. The occupational structure of the Geauga County (Ohio) Amish is analyzed as an empirical case in point and an assessment is made of the impact that widespread factory employment and modernization are having upon that settlement. Finally, several cultural survival strategies, which are being widely employed by the Amish throughout the United States, are described and briefly evaluated including: (1) non-violent resistance to government authority, (2) partial accommodation to factory work, (3) psycho-social techniques of cultural boundary mai...
The Krichever map, vector bundles over algebraic curves, and Heisenberg algebras

We study the GrassmannianGr x n consisting of equivalence classes of rankn algebraic vector bundles over a Riemann surfaceX with an holomorphic trivialization at a fixed pointp. Commutative subalgebras ofgl(n, Hλ),H λ being the ring of functions holomorphic on a punctured disc aboutp, define flows on the Grassmannian, giving rise to classes of solutions to multi-component KP hierarchies. These commutative subalgebras correspond to Heisenberg algebras in the Kac-Moody algebra associated togl(n, Hλ). One can obtain, by the Krichever map, points ofGr x n (and solutions of mcKP) from coveringsf: Y→X and other geometric data. Conversely for every point ofGr x n and for every choice of Heisenberg algebra we construct, using the cotangent bundle ofGr x n , an algebraic curve coveringX and other data, thus inverting the Krichever map. We show the explicit relation between the choice of Heisenberg algebra and the geometry of the covering space.
The role of open-source software in innovation and standardization in radiology.

The use of open-source software (OSS), in which developers release the source code to applications they have developed, is popular in the software industry. This is done to allow others to modify and improve software (which may or may not be shared back to the community) and to allow others to learn from the software. Radiology was an early participant in this model, supporting OSS that implemented the ACR–National Electrical Manufacturers Association (now Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) standard for medical image communications. In radiology and in other fields, OSS has promoted innovation and the adoption of standards. Popular OSS is of high quality because access to source code allows many people to identify and resolve errors. Open-source software is analogous to the peer-review scientific process: one must be able to see and reproduce results to understand and promote what is shared. The authors emphasize that support for OSS need not threaten vendors; most vendors embrace and benefit from standards. Open-source development does not replace vendors but more clearly defines their roles, typically focusing on areas in which proprietary differentiators benefit customers and on professional services such as implementation planning and service. Continued support for OSS is essential for the success of our field.
Virtual reality modeling language templates for dynamic model construction

The use of our rube Methodology permits the design of computing models that are framed using user-specified aesthetics. For example, we can design a functional block model using 3D blocks and pipes, or alternatively, using rooms and portals. Our recent approach has been to construct dynamic models using the Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) by taking familiar 2D icons, and subsequently mapping these to 3D primitives. We discuss two specific transformations from 2D to 3D within the context of finite state automata and functional block models. These examples are simple and serve as tutorial examples of how more complex transforms can be accomplished.
Calculating pollen concentration of the air

Abstract 1.1. Scheppegrell's table for velocities of fall in feet per second was incorrectly calculated, as a result many reports of pollen concentration per cubic yard based on his formula are much too low. 2.2. For scientific accuracy the actual size of each pollen grain should be considered in calculating pollen concentration of the atmosphere. Allowance should also be for the lower velocity of fall of rough and spiculated pollen. 3.3. Many different units are now in use for expressing results. There should be one standard for giving results of these surveys. The author recommends that the number of pollen per cubic yard computed by the gravity method from the formulas given in Table I be accepted as the standard form.
Transvaginal cholecystectomy learning curve

There are few surgeons in the United States, within private practice and academic centers, currently performing transvaginal cholecystectomies (TVC). The lack of exposure to TVC during residency or fellowship training, coupled with a poorly defined learning curve, further limits interested surgeons who want to apply this technique to their practice. This study describes the learning curve encountered during the introduction of TVC to our academic facility. This study is an analysis of consecutive TVCs performed between August 14, 2009 and August 3, 2012 at an academic center. The TVC patients were divided into sequential quartiles (n = 15/16). The learning curve outcome was measured as the operative time of TVC patients and compared to the operative time of female laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) patients performed during the same time period. Sixty-one patients underwent a TVC with a mean age of 38 ± 12 years and mean BMI was 29 ± 6 kg/m2. Sixty-seven female patients who underwent a LC with average age 41 ± 15 years and average BMI 33 ± 12 kg/m2. The average operative time of LC patients and TVC patients was 48 ± 20 and 60 ± 17 min, respectively. Significant improvement in TVC operative times was seen between the first (n = 15 TVCs) and second quartiles (p = 0.04) and stayed relatively constant for third quartile, during which there was no statistically significant difference between the mean LC operative time for the second and third TVC quartiles The learning curve of a fellowship-trained surgeon introducing TVC to their surgical repertoire, as measured by improved operative times, can be achieved with approximately 15 cases.
Initial observations of thermal plasma composition and energetics from Dynamics Explorer‐1

Initial measurements of thermal ions (0 to 50 eV) at mid-latitudes by the Retarding Ion Mass Spectrometer (RIMS) on DE-1 are presented. These measurements show the plasmapause signature in H(+), He(+), and m/q = 2 ions, an enhancement or torus of O(+) and O(++) in the outer plasmasphere and the suggestion of a disconnection between the ionosphere and the bulge region of the plasmasphere.
Phosphorylation of myosin light chain kinase from vascular smooth muscle by cAMP-and cGMP-dependent protein kinases

The enzyme, myosin light chain kinase, has been purified to homogeneity from bovine aortic vascular smooth muscle. Approximately 10 mg of enzyme could be obtained from 1 kg of fresh aortas with an overall yield of 26% of the original activity. The vascular myosin light chain kinase has a molecular weight of 160 000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Antiserum raised to the aortic myosin light chain kinase in rabbits strongly inhibited phosphotransferase activity. In addition, the antiserum was used to identify myosin kinase in a crude homogenate of vascular smooth muscle by radioimmunoblotting. A single species of the enzyme (Mr = 160 000) was identified. The bovine aortic myosin kinase could be phosphorylated by both cyclic AMP- and GMP-dependent protein kinases. Approximately 2 mols PO4/mole of enzyme could be incorporated by the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase in the absence of calmodulin. If Ca2+ and calmodulin were included in the reaction mixture, phosphate incorporation by the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase was reduced to 1 mol and phosphorylation by cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase was completely inhibited. These results were confirmed by tryptic peptide mapping. Two distinct phosphopeptides were identified: site-1 and site-2. Both could be phosphorylated by the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase but only site-1 was phosphorylated by the cyclic GMP-dependent enzyme. In the presence of Ca2+ and calmodulin, phosphorylation by cAMP-dependent protein kinase was restricted to site-1. The effect of phosphorylation on myosin light chain kinase activity was determined. Only phosphorylation by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase was found to alter the requirement of myosin kinase for calmodulin. The K0.5 (i.e. the concentration of calmodulin required for half-maximal enzyme activation) for calmodulin was 5 nM for the unphosphorylated myosin kinase. With 2 mol PO4/mol myosin kinase incorporated, the K0.5 for calmodulin was increased to 82 nM. When only 1 mol PO4/mol myosin kinase was incorporated, no effect on calmodulin requirement was observed. Moreover, single site phosphorylation had no effect on other activity parameters, including Km for ATP and for light chains. Our studies suggest that cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase may play an important role in the regulation of vascular myosin kinase activity. Moreover, our results indicate that cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase does not affect calmodulin-activation of myosin kinase or several other activity parameters.
Genome amplification of chromosome 20 in breast cancer

Recurrent gain and amplification of the long arm of chromosome 20 (20q) has been observed in a wide variety of cancers. This suggests that a gene or genes encoded on 20q play important roles in contributing to the cancer phenotype when overexpressed. In the quest to discover cancer genes, this region of the genome has been exhaustively studied, and the results demonstrate remarkable complexity. Multiple regions of low and high-level 20q copy number gain correlate with poor clinical prognosis and appear to contribute to the cancer phenotype, especially aspects of immortalization, genome instability, apoptosis, and increased proliferation. Gene discovery efforts have revealed a number of interesting candidate genes on chromosome 20 that may contribute to oncogenic progression. The study of 20q serves as a model for positional cloning enthusiasts, demonstrating the path typically taken when moving from initial discovery of an important genomic abnormality to identification of genes likely to be significant players in disease progression. This review will summarize approximately a decade of study on 20q and is structured as moving from an introduction to the techniques used in 20q analyses, to the details of 20q genomic complexity and its involvement with cancer, and finally to a detailed gene-specific look at this region.
A study of the effects of bias in criterion functions for temporal data clustering

In this paper, we study the bias associated with modeling methods and criterion functions used in temporal data clustering. In particular, we experimentally study two approaches on clustering discrete valued uni-variate temporal data. The first approach uses Markov chain models to capture the temporal relations encoded in data. The similarity between two sequences is computed as the average sequence to model likelihood. The second approach is distance based where Levenshtein string edit distance is applied to compute the edit distance between two sequences. Experiments are performed using these two approaches on web user data and on CS student online lab performance data. The characteristics of clustering results obtained from the two approaches are analyzed and recommendation about the suitable application for each approach is given.
In vivo fluorescence determinations of phytoplankton chlorophyll a

The in vivo fluorescence yield of chlorophyll a in Chlorella pyrenoidosa is shown to vary with the availability of nitrate, trace elements, and with the presence of mercury. The fluorescence yield of Phaeodactylum tricornutum also varies with culture conditions and comparisons of Cyclotella nana and Chaetoceros galvestonensis show a species-dependent variation. Both types of yield fluctuations are eliminated when photosynthetic electron transport is blocked by adding 3-(3,4dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU) to phytoplankton: the in vivo fluorescence yield becomes maximal and a constant function of cellular chlorophyll a, regardless of growth conditions or of the species examined. Preliminary observations of samples from the Caribbean Sea also indicate a constant in vivo fluorescence yield in the presence of DCMU.
Identifying stable fixed order systems from time and frequency response data

In this paper, we address the problem of identifying fixed order stable SISO systems from time and frequency domain data. Given measurements of time and frequency response corrupted by process and measurement noise, we aim at finding a fixed order stable plant whose response matches the data collected (within the noise bounds) and whose ℌ ∞ norm is below a prescribed level. It is shown the problem can be solved by finding a point in a set defined by polynomial inequalities and the sparse structure of the polynomials is exploited to develop an efficient system identification algorithm. Further computational improvements are obtained by reformulating the problem as a rank constrained one and using efficient convex relaxations of rank minimization. Numerical examples are provided to illustrate the efficiency of the proposed algorithms.
Entanglement generated between a single atom and a laser pulse

We quantify the entanglement generated between an atom and a laser pulse in free space. We find that the entanglement calculated using a simple closed-system Jaynes-Cummings Hamiltonian is in remarkable agreement with a full open-system calculation, even though the free-space geometry is far from the strong-coupling regime of cavity QED. We explain this result using a simple model in which the atom couples weakly to the laser, while coupling strongly to the vacuum. Additionally we place an upper bound on the total entanglement between the atom and all paraxial modes using a quantum trajectories unravelling. This upper bound provides a benchmark for atom-laser coupling.
A TCP-aware call admission control scheme for packet-switched wireless networks

Traditional call admission control (CAC) schemes only consider call-level performance and are believed to be sufficient for the circuit-switched wireless network. Since the future wireless network will become packet-switched, the packet-level performance should not be ignored. This is especially true when the TCP-type of applications are running over such packet-switched wireless networks, because TCP congestion control algorithm will exhaust all the available resource until packet loss occurs. In order to regulate the TCP applications to friendly coexist with other types of services, we propose a TCP-aware CAC scheme. We analyze the system performance under the scenario that call holding time is independent of the system state. Simulations results for different performance metrics are presented to show that the proposed scheme can effectively improve the system performance in terms of call blocking probability, call-level throughput (call/min) and the link utilization.
Nephrobronchial Fistula and Lung Abscess Resulting From Nephrolithiasis and Pyelonephritis

There are multiple etiologies reported as causes of lung abscess; however, this differential rarely includes intra-abdominal abnormalities other than extension of a hepatic process. We describe a patient who was found to have a lung abscess and empyema resulting from the development of a nephrobronchial fistula secondary to nephrolithiasis and pyelonephritis. The patient had no urinary symptoms or known abdominopelvic infection and the etiology of lung abscess was only incidentally discovered after chest CT revealed extension of pleural fluid below the diaphragm.
Disruption of hyaluronan synthase-2 abrogates normal cardiac morphogenesis and hyaluronan-mediated transformation of epithelium to mesenchyme

We identified hyaluronan synthase-2 (Has2) as a likely source of hyaluronan (HA) during embryonic development, and we used gene targeting to study its function in vivo. Has2(-/-) embryos lack HA, exhibit severe cardiac and vascular abnormalities, and die during midgestation (E9.5-10). Heart explants from Has2(-/-) embryos lack the characteristic transformation of cardiac endothelial cells into mesenchyme, an essential developmental event that depends on receptor-mediated intracellular signaling. This defect is reproduced by expression of a dominant-negative Ras in wild-type heart explants, and is reversed in Has2(-/-) explants by gene rescue, by administering exogenous HA, or by expressing activated Ras. Conversely, transformation in Has2(-/-) explants mediated by exogenous HA is inhibited by dominant-negative Ras. Collectively, our results demonstrate the importance of HA in mammalian embryogenesis and the pivotal role of Has2 during mammalian development. They also reveal a previously unrecognized pathway for cell migration and invasion that is HA-dependent and involves Ras activation.
Downregulation of Dlx5 and Dlx6 expression by Hand2 is essential for initiation of tongue morphogenesis

Lower jaw development is a complex process in which multiple signaling cascades establish a proximal-distal organization. These cascades are regulated both spatially and temporally and are constantly refined through both induction of normal signals and inhibition of inappropriate signals. The connective tissue of the tongue arises from cranial neural crest cell-derived ectomesenchyme within the mandibular portion of the first pharyngeal arch and is likely to be impacted by this signaling. Although the developmental mechanisms behind later aspects of tongue development, including innervation and taste acquisition, have been elucidated, the early patterning signals driving ectomesenchyme into a tongue lineage are largely unknown. We show here that the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor Hand2 plays key roles in establishing the proximal-distal patterning of the mouse lower jaw, in part through establishing a negative-feedback loop in which Hand2 represses Dlx5 and Dlx6 expression in the distal arch ectomesenchyme following Dlx5- and Dlx6-mediated induction of Hand2 expression in the same region. Failure to repress distal Dlx5 and Dlx6 expression results in upregulation of Runx2 expression in the mandibular arch and the subsequent formation of aberrant bone in the lower jaw along with proximal-distal duplications. In addition, there is an absence of lateral lingual swelling expansion, from which the tongue arises, resulting in aglossia. Hand2 thus appears to establish a distal mandibular arch domain that is conducive for lower jaw development, including the initiation of tongue mesenchyme morphogenesis.
Tolerating failures in the bag-of-tasks programming paradigm

A simple technique for making distributed programs that are based on the bag-of-tasks programming paradigm, in which the problem space is divided up and parceled out to processes as independent subtasks, fault tolerant is presented. The technique is based on adding a conditional swap operator to Linda, a system for programming distributed applications whose most notable feature is an associative memory called tuple space. The way in which this new operator is used to achieve fault-tolerance in programs is described and illustrated by a simple program for DNA sequencing. Extensions for dynamic subtask creation are described. A straightforward way to implement the atomic swap operator within an existing fault-tolerant version of Linda is also presented. >
Synthetic Analogs of FTY720 [2-Amino-2-(2-[4-octylphenyl]ethyl)-1,3-propanediol] Differentially Regulate Pulmonary Vascular Permeability in Vivo and in Vitro

Novel therapies are needed to address the vascular endothelial cell (EC) barrier disruption that occurs in inflammatory diseases such as acute lung injury (ALI). We previously demonstrated the potent barrier-enhancing effects of both sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) and the structurally similar compound FTY720 [2-amino-2-(2-[4-octylphenyl]ethyl)-1,3-propanediol] in inflammatory lung injury. In this study, we examined the therapeutic potential of several novel FTY720 analogs to reduce vascular leak. Similar to S1P and FTY720, the (R)- and (S)-enantiomers of FTY720 phosphonate and enephosphonate analogs produce sustained EC barrier enhancement in vitro, as seen by increases in transendothelial electrical resistance (TER). In contrast, the (R)- and (S)-enantiomers of FTY720-regioisomeric analogs disrupt EC barrier integrity in a dose-dependent manner. Barrier-enhancing FTY720 analogs demonstrate a wider protective concentration range in vitro (1–50 μM) and greater potency than either S1P or FTY720. In contrast to FTY720-induced EC barrier enhancement, S1P and the FTY720 analogs dramatically increase TER within minutes in association with cortical actin ring formation. Unlike S1P, these FTY720 analogs exhibit differential phosphorylation effects without altering the intracellular calcium level. Inhibitor studies indicate that barrier enhancement by these analogs involves signaling via Gi-coupled receptors, tyrosine kinases, and lipid rafts. Consistent with these in vitro responses, the (S)-phosphonate analog of FTY720 significantly reduces multiple indices of alveolar and vascular permeability in a lipopolysaccharide-mediated murine model of ALI (without significant alterations in leukocyte counts). These results demonstrate the capacity for FTY720 analogs to significantly decrease pulmonary vascular leakage and inflammation in vitro and in vivo.
ABCA1 and ABCG1 or ABCG4 act sequentially to remove cellular cholesterol and generate cholesterol-rich HDL

Recent developments in lipid metabolism have shown the importance of ATP binding cassette transporters (ABCs) in controlling cellular and total body lipid homeostasis. ABCA1 mediates the transport of cholesterol and phospholipids from cells to lipid-poor apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), whereas ABCG1 and ABCG4 mediate the transport of cholesterol from cells to lipidated lipoproteins. ABCA1, ABCG1, and ABCG4 are all expressed in cholesterol-loaded macrophages, and macrophages from ABCA1 and ABCG1 knockout mice accumulate cholesteryl esters. Here, we show that the lipidated particles generated by incubating cells overexpressing ABCA1 with apoA-I are efficient acceptors for cholesterol released from cells overexpressing either ABCG1 or ABCG4. The cholesterol released to the particles was derived from a cholesterol oxidase-accessible plasma membrane pool in both ABCG1 and ABCG4 cells, which is the same pool of cholesterol shown previously to be removed by high density lipoproteins. ABCA1 cells incubated with apoA-I generated two major populations of cholesterol- and phospholipid-rich lipoprotein particles that were converted by ABCG1 or ABCG4 cells to one major particle population that was highly enriched in cholesterol. These results suggest that ABCG1 and ABCG4 act in concert with ABCA1 to maximize the removal of excess cholesterol from cells and to generate cholesterol-rich lipoprotein particles.
Biological Soil Crust Rehabilitation in Theory and Practice: An Underexploited Opportunity

Biological soil crusts (BSCs) are ubiquitous lichen–bryophyte microbial communities, which are critical structural and functional components of many ecosystems. However, BSCs are rarely addressed in the restoration literature. The purposes of this review were to examine the ecological roles BSCs play in succession models, the backbone of restoration theory, and to discuss the practical aspects of rehabilitating BSCs to disturbed ecosystems. Most evidence indicates that BSCs facilitate succession to later seres, suggesting that assisted recovery of BSCs could speed up succession. Because BSCs are ecosystem engineers in high abiotic stress systems, loss of BSCs may be synonymous with crossing degradation thresholds. However, assisted recovery of BSCs may allow a transition from a degraded steady state to a more desired alternative steady state. In practice, BSC rehabilitation has three major components: (1) establishment of goals; (2) selection and implementation of rehabilitation techniques; and (3) monitoring. Statistical predictive modeling is a useful method for estimating the potential BSC condition of a rehabilitation site. Various rehabilitation techniques attempt to correct, in decreasing order of difficulty, active soil erosion (e.g., stabilization techniques), resource deficiencies (e.g., moisture and nutrient augmentation), or BSC propagule scarcity (e.g., inoculation). Success will probably be contingent on prior evaluation of site conditions and accurate identification of constraints to BSC reestablishment. Rehabilitation of BSCs is attainable and may be required in the recovery of some ecosystems. The strong influence that BSCs exert on ecosystems is an underexploited opportunity for restorationists to return disturbed ecosystems to a desirable trajectory.
Focal infections in pregnancy

Abstract 1. 1. This study of 843 pregnancies shows that 14.8 per cent of the patients had definitely infected teeth and about 4.27 per cent had tonsils which could be considered harboring foci of inection. 2. 2. The incidence of pyelitis in the entire group was 3.56 per cent, whereas, the incidence was 17.5 per cent where infected teeth were allowed to remain during the pregnancy. 3. 3. The incidence of hypertensive toxemia in the entire group was 3.32 per cent. In the patients with infected teeth it was 5 per cent. In patients with infected tonsils it was 7.6 per cent. 4. 4. The incidence of abortion was 5.6 per cent for the 843 cases. In patients with infected teeth not removed, 20 per cent aborted. In those patients with infected tonsils, 15.4 per cent aborted. 5. 5. The incidence of abortion which could be attributed to the removal of foci was 3.5 per cent for extraction of infected teeth and 4.3 per cent for removal of tonsils. These figures are lower than the incidence for the entire group.
Dynamic accuracy of recreation-grade GPS receivers in oak-hickory forests

The study, using 20 individual instruments of one model of recreational-grade Global Positioning Systems (GPS) receiver, was conducted in a mature predominantly deciduous forest in the southern United States. The true area was delineated from the eight test points that were very accurately located from monuments using survey-grade instrument and protocols, within the Whitehall Forest GPS Test Site in northeast Georgia. These sameeighttestpointswereusedascontrolsduringthedynamichorizontalaccuracyassessmentsofGPStechnology conducted within the forest. The test points are very precise compared with recent published literature. Our hypotheses were that the areas determined with the 20 receivers were not significantly different from the true areas, and the percentage of the area of agreement and the variation of the vertices around the true boundary were not different in winter and summer seasons. Also, based on the distribution of the vertices around the true boundary, we conducted simulations for larger areas. The average area of agreement was �93 per cent during the winter season, and �84 per cent during the summer season. The variation in sample areas was also greater for data collected during the summer, and data from the winter had higher association as measured by area of agreement with the true study area than data from the summer. A ranking of receivers by average area during each season did not reveal significant problems within the set of receivers tested. In conclusion, data collected during each season were not significantly different. Given the distribution of vertices around the true boundary of the study area, simulations of larger land areas revealed that there would be a 2 per cent or less error for mature, deciduous forests of greater than �25 ha in size in both winter and summer seasons.
Efficient computation of the topology of level sets

This paper introduces two efficient algorithms that compute the Contour Tree of a 3D scalar field F and its augmented version with the Betti numbers of each isosurface. The Contour Tree is a fundamental data structure in scientific visualization that is used to preprocess the domain mesh to allow optimal computation of isosurfaces with minimal overhead storage. The Contour Tree can also be used to build user interfaces reporting the complete topological characterization of a scalar field, as shown in Figure 1.The first part of the paper presents a new scheme that augments the Contour Tree with the Betti numbers of each isocontour in linear time. We show how to extend the scheme introduced in [3] with the Betti number computation without increasing its complexity. Thus, we improve on the time complexity from our previous approach [10] from O(m log m) to O(n log n + m), where m is the number of tetrahedra and n is the number of vertices in the domain of F.The second part of the paper introduces a new divide-and-conquer algorithm that computes the Augmented Contour Tree with improved efficiency. The central part of the scheme computes the output Contour Tree by merging two intermediate Contour Trees and is independent of the interpolant. In this way we confine any knowledge regarding a specific interpolant to an oracle that computes the tree for a single cell. We have implemented this oracle for the trilinear interpolant and plan to replace it with higher order interpolants when needed. The complexity of the scheme is O(n + t log n), where t is the number of critical points of F. For the first time we can compute the Contour Tree in linear time in many practical cases when t = O(n1 - e).Lastly, we report the running times for a parallel implementation of our algorithm, showing good scalability with the number of processors.
Study of Factors Affecting Students' Performance in three Sci­ence Classes: General Biology, Botany, and Microbiology at Fayetteville State University

Several studies have reported the effects of class time on overall students’ performances, but there are just few on the influence of factors as absences, gender, class section, class difficulty or semester. The objectives of this study were to an alyze the effects of the above mentioned factors (absences, class time, gender, class difficulty and semester) on college students’ performance in three science classes: Principles of Biology (BIOL 150), General Botany (BOTN 210), and Microbiology & Immunology (BIOL 330) over a period of 3 years. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) for absences showed signifi cant differences for the number of those between the different semesters (fall, spring, and summer) and that students tend to miss more classes (P>0.05) during fall and spring than summer semesters. Gender (P>0.3515) and class section (P>0.0608) do not seem to significantly affect the aver age grades in general biology and microbiology. Regarding gender, significant differences were observed in BOTN 210 between females and males average grades. Females tend to do better than males at least in this class. There was a moderate but strongly significant negative correlation (-0.59, P>0.0001***) between the average grades and the number of absences in almost all classes. ANOVA also showed significant differences for the average grades between the differ ent class times at P>0.0020*. The Tukey-Kramer test revealed that students perform better in morning classes compared to afternoon classes. The class time plays a significant role in the number of absences as well. Analysis showed that the most “convenient” time for students is late morning or after
vPnP: Automated coordination of power and performance in virtualized datacenters

Both power and performance are important issues in today's datacenters. It is hard to achieve optimization in both aspects on shared infrastructures due to system dynamics. Previous work mostly emphasized on either aspect or relied on models that were trained off-line for specific workload. In this paper, we present vPnP, a feedback control-based coordination system that provides guarantees on a service level agreement with respect to performance and a power budget in virtualized environments. This system can adapt gracefully to workload change. It consists of two self-tuning model predictors and a utility function optimizer. The predictors correlate system resource allocation to power and performance, respectively. The optimizer finds the optimal solution for a tradeoff between power and performance. Experimental results using TPC-W benchmark show vPnP can achieve different levels of tradeoff in a more flexible way than an existing two-layer feedback control approach. More importantly, vPnP shows its robustness over a variety of workloads. It reduces performance relative deviation by 17% compared with the two-layer feedback controller.
Vibrio vulnificus Biotype 3 Multifunctional Autoprocessing RTX Toxin Is an Adenylate Cyclase Toxin Essential for Virulence in Mice

ABSTRACT Vibrio vulnificus is an environmental organism that causes both food-borne and wound infections with high morbidity and mortality in humans. The annual incidence and global distribution of infections associated with this pathogen are increasing with climate change. In the late 1990s, an outbreak of tilapia-associated wound infections in Israel was linked to a previously unrecognized variant of V. vulnificus designated biotype 3. The sudden emergence and clonality of the outbreak suggest that this strain may be a true newly emergent pathogen with novel virulence properties compared to those of other V. vulnificus strains. In a subcutaneous infection model to mimic wound infection, the multifunctional autoprocessing RTX (MARTX) toxin of biotype 3 strains was shown to be an essential virulence factor contributing to highly inflammatory skin wounds with severe damage affecting every tissue layer. We conducted a sequencing-based analysis of the MARTX toxin and found that biotype 3 MARTX toxin has an effector domain structure distinct from that of either biotype 1 or biotype 2. Of the two new domains identified, a domain similar to Pseudomonas aeruginosa ExoY was shown to confer adenylate cyclase activity on the MARTX toxin. This is the first demonstration that the biotype 3 MARTX toxin is essential for virulence and that the ExoY-like MARTX effector domain is a catalytically active adenylate cyclase.
High Genetic Diversity of Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae Isolates from Two Children Attending a Day Care Center

Twenty-one nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) isolates from the throats of two healthy children were genotyped by multilocus sequence typing. Nine unique sequence types (STs) were identified. These STs were scattered throughout the phylogenetic tree of reported NTHi STs, demonstrating the high level of NTHi diversity found in colonized children.
The role of vaginal brachytherapy in the treatment of surgical stage i papillary serous or clear cell endometrial cancer

Objectives The optimal adjuvant therapy for International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage I papillary serous (UPSC) or clear cell (CC) endometrial cancer is unknown. We report on the largest single-institution experience using adjuvant high-dose-rate vaginal brachytherapy (VBT) for surgically staged women with FIGO stage I UPSC or CC endometrial cancer. Methods and Materials From 1998-2011, 103 women with FIGO 2009 stage I UPSC (n=74), CC (n=21), or mixed UPSC/CC (n=8) endometrial cancer underwent total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy followed by adjuvant high-dose-rate VBT. Nearly all patients (n=98, 95%) also underwent extended lymph node dissection of pelvic and paraortic lymph nodes. All VBT was performed with a vaginal cylinder, treating to a dose of 2100 cGy in 3 fractions. Thirty-five patients (34%) also received adjuvant chemotherapy. Results At a median follow-up time of 36 months (range, 1-146 months), 2 patients had experienced vaginal recurrence, and the 5-year Kaplan Meier estimate of vaginal recurrence was 3%. The rates of isolated pelvic recurrence, locoregional recurrence (vaginal + pelvic), and extrapelvic recurrence (including intraabdominal) were similarly low, with 5-year Kaplan-Meier estimates of 4%, 7%, and 10%, respectively. The estimated 5-year overall survival was 84%. On univariate analysis, delivery of chemotherapy did not affect recurrence or survival. Conclusions VBT is effective at preventing vaginal relapse in women with surgical stage I UPSC or CC endometrial cancer. In this cohort of patients who underwent comprehensive surgical staging, the risk of isolated pelvic or extrapelvic relapse was low, implying that more extensive adjuvant radiation therapy is likely unnecessary.