cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Source Apportionment of Particulate Matter in the U.S. and Associations with Lung Inflammatory Markers

Size-fractionated particulate matter (PM) samples were collected from six U.S. cities and chemically analyzed as part of the Multiple Air Pollutant Study. Particles were administered to cultured lung cells and the production of three different proinflammatory markers was measured to explore the association between the health effect markers and PM. Ultrafine, fine, and coarse PM samples were collected between December 2003 and May 2004 over a 4-wk period in each city. Filters were pooled for each city and the PM samples were extracted then analyzed for trace metals, ions, and elemental carbon. Particle extracts were applied to cultured human primary airway epithelial cells, and the secreted levels of interleukin-8 (IL-8), heme oxygenase-1, and cyclooxygenase-2 were measured 1 and 24 h following exposure. Fine PM sources were quantified by the chemical mass balance (CMB) model. The relationship between toxicological measures, PM sources, and individual species were evaluated using linear regression. Ultrafine and fine PM mass were associated with increases in IL-8 (r(2) = .80 for ultrafine and r(2) = .52 for fine). Sources of fine PM and their relative contributions varied across the sampling sites and a strong linear association was observed between IL-8 and secondary sulfate from coal combustion (r(2) = .79). Ultrafine vanadium, lead, copper, and sulfate were also associated with increases in IL-8. Increases in inflammatory markers were not observed for coarse PM mass and source markers. These findings suggest that certain PM size fractions and sources are associated with markers of lung injury or inflammation.
The Making of the Urban Middle Class in South Korea (1961–1979): Nation-Building, Discipline, and the Birth of the Ideal National Subjects*

This article examines the process through which the state nurtured urban middle-class formation during the Park Chung Hee regime in South Korea. While existing studies have focused on the size and characteristics of the middle class, few studies explore the political process or mechanisms through which the middle class was on the rise as a mainstream force. This article argues that urban middle-class formation was a political–ideological project of the authoritarian state to reconstruct the nation and strengthen the regime’s political legitimacy. In particular, this article explores the two concurrent processes of urban middle-class formation in Korea: one is the growth of the middle class in an objective sense, as a result of state-directed economic development; and the other is the production of urban middle-class norms. Drawing on the discourses of the Korean government and the media disseminated during from 1961 to 1979, I trace how the formation of the middle class in Korea was intertwined with modernity and nationalism in order to consolidate state power.
Environmental impact of the nuclear fuel cycle: Fate of actinides

The resurgence of nuclear power as a strategy for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions has, in parallel, revived interest in the environmental impact of actinides. Just as GHG emissions are the main environmental impact of the combustion of fossil fuels, the fate of actinides, consumed and produced by nuclear reactions, determines whether nuclear power is viewed as an environmentally “friendly” source of energy. In this article, we summarize the sources of actinides in the nuclear fuel cycle, how actinides are separated by chemical processing, the development of actinide-bearing materials, and the behavior of actinides in the environment. At each stage, actinides present a unique and complicated behavior because of the 5f electronic configurations.
Easily and Noneasily Ionizable Element Matrix Effects in Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Spectrometry

Changes in analyte emission intensities occur when either easily or non-easily ionizable elements are present as concomitant species at a concentration of 0.05 M. The direction (enhancement or depression of emission signals) and magnitude of the matrix effect are strongly dependent on radial and vertical location in the plasma. At some heights in the ICP, matrix-induced depressions of the emission intensity in the center are equal to enhancements off-center. As a result, no change in the line-of-sight emission intensity is observed. Initial fluorescence measurements suggest that the number of analyte ions in the normal analytical zone decreases in the presence of each of the concomitant species studied. However, it appears that the presence of concomitant species enhances the fraction of ions that are excited and that therefore emit light. The presence of Na and K resulted in larger enhancements in the fraction of ions excited than did the presence of Fe, Ni, or Ba.
Fog Water and Ecosystem Function: Heterogeneity in a California Redwood Forest

Fog is thought to influence ecological function in coastal forests worldwide, yet few data are available that illuminate the mechanisms underlying this influence. In a California redwood forest we measured water and nitrogen (N) fluxes from horizontally moving fog and vertically delivered rain as well as redwood tree function. The spatial heterogeneity of water and N fluxes, water availability, tree water use, and canopy N processing varied greatly across seasons. Water and N fluxes to soil (annual average of 98% and 89%, respectively) across the whole forest occurred primarily in the rain season and was relatively even across the whole forest. In contrast, below-canopy flux of fog water and N declined exponentially from the windward edge to the forest interior. Following large fog events, soil moisture was greater at the windward edge than anywhere else in the forest. Physiological activity in redwoods reflected these differences in inputs across seasons: tree physiological responses did not vary spatially in the rain season, but in the fog season, water use was greater, yet water stress was less, in trees at the windward edge of the forest versus the interior. In both seasons, vertical passage through the forest changed the amount of water and form and concentration of N, revealing the role of the tree canopy in processing atmospheric inputs. Although total fog water inputs were comparatively small, they may have important ecosystem functions, including relief of canopy water stress and, where there is fog drip, functional coupling of above- and belowground processes.
Affinity Measures Based on the Graph Laplacian

Several language processing tasks can be inherently represented by a weighted graph where the weights are interpreted as a measure of relatedness between two vertices. Measuring similarity between arbitary pairs of vertices is essential in solving several language processing problems on these datasets. Random walk based measures perform better than other path based measures like shortest-path. We evaluate several random walk measures and propose a new measure based on commute time. We use the psuedo inverse of the Laplacian to derive estimates for commute times in graphs. Further, we show that this pseudo inverse based measure could be improved by discarding the least significant eigenvectors, corresponding to the noise in the graph construction process, using singular value decomposition.
Role of Agrobacterium tumefaciens ChvA Protein in Export of β-1,2-Glucan

Functional chvA and chvB genes are required for attachment of Agrobacterium tumefaciens to plant cells, an early step in crown gall tumor formation. Strains defective in these loci do not secrete normal amounts of cyclic {beta}-1,2-glucan. Whereas chvB is required for {beta}-1,2-glucan synthesis, the role of chvA in glucan synthesis or export has not been clearly defined. We found that cultures of chvA mutants contained as much neutral {beta}-1,2-glucan in the cell pellets as did the wild type, with no detectable accumulation of glucan in the culture supernatant. The cytoplasm of chvA mutant cells contained over three times more soluble {beta}-1,2-glucan than did the cytoplasm of the wild-type parent. Unlike the wild type, chvA mutants contained no detectable periplasmic glucan. The amino acid sequence of chvA is highly homologous to the sequences of bacterial and eucaryotic export proteins, as observed previously in the case of ndvA, a rhizobial homolog of chvA. Strong sequence homology within this family of export proteins is concentrated in the carboxy-terminal portions of the proteins, but placement of consensus ATP-binding sites, internal signal sequences, and hydrophobic domains are conserved over their entire lengths. These data suggest a model for {beta}-1,2-glucan synthesis in A. tumefaciens in whichmore » glucan is synthesized inside the inner membrane with the participation of ChvB and transported across the inner membrane with the participation of ChvA.« less
Application of spectral karyotyping to the analysis of the human chromosome complement of interspecies somatic cell hybrids

Mouse-human somatic cell hybrids have been extensively used in the molecular genetic dissection of human disease-related chromosome rearrangements because of their ability to selectively and randomly eliminate human chromosomes. This technology allows the isolation of structural chromosome abnormalities, which then allows determination of the precise molecular address of chromosome breakpoints associated with deletions and translocations, down to the nucleotides involved. The main confounding problem with the analysis of somatic cell hybrids is determining the exact chromosome complement unequivocally and quickly. Spectral karyotyping can identify each of the individual human chromosomes in a normal metaphase spread, as well as structural chromosome rearrangements-although, because of potential cross-hybridization between the human probe and mouse DNA sequences during the hybridization reaction, it has not been determined whether the same analysis will selectively identify human chromosomes on a mouse background. We show (to our knowledge, for the first time) that, under modified conditions of chromosomal in situ suppression hybridization, the standard spectral karyotyping probe does not cross-react with mouse chromosomes and can be used to identify subtle structurally rearranged chromosomes in hybrid cells. This analysis allows for the rapid and unequivocal identification of the human chromosome complement in these hybrids, as well as structural chromosome rearrangements that occur between mouse and human chromosomes that might otherwise confound the analysis.
Capacity Improvement Potential for the New York Metroplex System

The New York airspace is the most congested in the U.S. air transportation network. Increasing capacity in this area is critical to ensure the balanced growth of trac across the U.S. This analysis quanties the potential for improvement in airspace capacity by measuring the capacity envelopes for six dierent congurations of the New York airspace and comparing them to the maximum observed capacities at each airport. The comparison shows that the total airspace capacity is at least 20% lower than the combined capacity of the four airports. This nding suggests that if the New York airports could operate without any interactions, substantial capacity gains could be achieved. These gains can be realized by optimizing the delivery and acceptance of trac to and from these airports. The increased precision of navigation technologies to be used in the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) will enable some of this additional capacity to be attained. The study also considers some examples of additional capacity gains that could be realized by changing approach and departure procedures to reduce inter-airport interaction using NextGen technologies. Such procedural changes can attain large additional capacity benets by allowing each airport to operate close to their decoupled capacity.
MKK3 and -6-dependent activation of p38α MAP kinase is required for cytoskeletal changes in pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells induced by ICAM-1 ligation

Previous studies demonstrated that neutrophil adherence induces ICAM-1-dependent cytoskeletal changes in TNF-α-treated pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells that are prevented by a pharmacologi...
Supply Auctions and Relational Contracts for Procurement

We examine the competition between procurement auctions and long-term relational contracts that emerges from the increased usage of electronic marketplaces. Procurement auctions create supply chain efficiencies by selecting the least costly bidder, and long-term relational contracts ensure the quality of the procured products or services when these have nonverifiable attributes. The following two-layer supply chain model is analyzed: Suppliers of an industrial part with nonverifiable quality trade with several manufacturers that utilize that part in the production of an end product. A price-based reverse auction is used for the procurement of low-quality parts, and a relational long-term contract is used for high-quality parts. A formal model of the competition between the two procurement models identifies conditions under which the two coexist, and conditions under which one will push the other out of the market. Market and product parameters that increase the relative economic appeal of the relational contract are determined. It is demonstrated that the competition from the auction market can either facilitate or undermine the relational contract compared with a benchmark case of a monopolist supplier. This implies that competition between the two procurement models plays an important role in the supply of high-quality products.
Visibility on cathode-ray tube screens, signals on a P7 screen seen at different intervals after excitation.

When signal images appear on the phosphorescent screen of a cathode-ray tube, they persist for some time before disappearing from view. This study investigated the visibility of signal images on one type of screen at different intervals from excitation to final disappearance.Data were furnished by five observers viewing signal images on a P-7 screen of a PPI cathode-ray tube. It was found that the tube bias, which sets the brightness intensity of the rotating sweep, affects both the level of visibility and the duration of visibility. Increasing the bias, and hence dimming the scope, makes the signal traces visible over a longer period of time. Greatest visibility, at intervals longer than seven seconds after excitation, was obtained at the highest bias used. For more recent signals, optimum visibility results from using a lower bias but which yet presents a dim sweep. At high biases, a signal is at maximum visibility at the instant when it is excited by the sweep. At low biases, a signal is most visible immediately after its excitation. These patterns of visibility can be explained in terms of the contrast of the brightness level of the signal image with that of the scope background and by the lessened differential sensitivity of the eye at low intensities.
Water availability and land subsidence in the Central Valley, California, USA

The Central Valley in California (USA) covers about 52,000 km2 and is one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world. This agriculture relies heavily on surface-water diversions and groundwater pumpage to meet irrigation water demand. Because the valley is semi-arid and surface-water availability varies substantially, agriculture relies heavily on local groundwater. In the southern two thirds of the valley, the San Joaquin Valley, historic and recent groundwater pumpage has caused significant and extensive drawdowns, aquifer-system compaction and subsidence. During recent drought periods (2007–2009 and 2012-present), groundwater pumping has increased owing to a combination of decreased surface-water availability and land-use changes. Declining groundwater levels, approaching or surpassing historical low levels, have caused accelerated and renewed compaction and subsidence that likely is mostly permanent. The subsidence has caused operational, maintenance, and construction-design problems for water-delivery and flood-control canals in the San Joaquin Valley. Planning for the effects of continued subsidence in the area is important for water agencies. As land use, managed aquifer recharge, and surface-water availability continue to vary, long-term groundwater-level and subsidence monitoring and modelling are critical to understanding the dynamics of historical and continued groundwater use resulting in additional water-level and groundwater storage declines, and associated subsidence. Modeling tools such as the Central Valley Hydrologic Model, can be used in the evaluation of management strategies to mitigate adverse impacts due to subsidence while also optimizing water availability. This knowledge will be critical for successful implementation of recent legislation aimed toward sustainable groundwater use.
Applications of composite materials

Engineering materials constitute the foundation of technology, whether the technology pertains to structural, electronic, thermal, electrochemical, environmental, biomedical or other applications. The history of human civilization evolved from the Stone Age to the Bronze Age, the Iron Age, the Steel Age and to the Space Age (simultaneously the Electronic Age). Each age is marked by the advent of certain materials. The Iron Age brought tools and utensils. The Steel Age brought rails and the Industrial Revolution. The Space Age was brought about by structural materials (e.g., composite materials) that are both strong and lightweight. The Electronic Age was brought about by semiconductors. Materials include metals, polymers, ceramics, semiconductors and composite materials.
18F FDG PET/CT evaluation of pediatric sarcomas

2014 Objectives The staging of pediatric sarcomas includes MRI of the primary tumor, CT of the chest to survey for lung metastases, and 99mTc MDP bone scintigraphy to assess the presence of bonel metastases. Several groups used FDG PET/CT in the evaluation of these patients. We present our experience with FDG PET/CT in pediatric bone and soft tissue sarcomas. Methods This retrospective review included 58 patients (26 males, 32 females; mean age: 12.8 ± 10.8 years) with soft tissue (n = 33) or bone sarcomas (n = 25). We compared the sensitivities and specificities of FDG PET/CT and CT alone for the evaluation of the primary tumor, lung metastases and other metastases, using biopsy results and clinical follow-up as reference standards. SUV(max) of the primary tumors, metastases and pulmonary lesions were recorded. Results Although the results are altered by selection bias, CT alone and FDG PET/CT had 100% and 96.9% sensitivity, as well as 96.2% and 100% specificity, respectively, for primary lesion detection. The soft tissue primary tumors had an average SUV(max) of 5.6 (range: 1.0-12.6), while the bone primary tumors had an average SUV(max) of 7.5 (range: 2.5-15.5). Difference in SUVmax was not significant between soft tissue primary tumors and bone primary tumors (P= 0.13). For the evaluation of lung metastases, dedicated chest CT and PET/CT had sensitivity of 75.5% and 75.5%, as well as specificity of 92.9% and 95.2%, respectively. Of the 12 pulmonary lesions detected by CT, PET alone did not identify 2. In the evaluation of other metastases, CT alone had 93.1% sensitivity and 89.7% specificity, while PET/CT had 95.8% sensitivity, 91.2% specificity. Conclusions The addition of FDG PET to CT alone in a combined PET/CT examination improves the performance of both separate examinations for lesion detection in pediatric sarcomas. As previously reported, dedicated chest CT is more sensitive than FDG PET in detecting lung lesions.
Three questions for historians of science in the modern middle east and north africa

What was science, who was involved in it, and where did it unfold in the modern Middle East and North Africa? These are the three questions raised in this piece. The following notes echo my past research on the growth and societal relevance of biomedical sciences in Iran, and are also informed by a new interest in social sciences and, more particularly, in the establishment in 1927 of the Social Science Research Section at the American University of Beirut (AUB; called Syrian Protestant College until 1920) and its subsequent work. A handful of social scientists led by the American Stuart Dodd and financed by the US Rockefeller Foundation, which was active worldwide, helped turn AUB into a hub not only of education, but more than before, of research too. Covering wide swathes of the “Near East,” these social scientists framed that region as an extraordinary “laboratory” for social science researc
Vulcanization Chemistry. Sulfur, Nt-Butyl-2-Benzothiazole Sulfenamide Formulations Studied by High Performance Liquid Chromatography

Abstract The paper reports on the sulfur vulcanization chemistry of cis-polyisoprene formulations accelerated with N-t-butyl-2-benzothiazole sulfenamide. High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) is utilized to examine the kinetics of accelerator—sulfur disappearance and the formation—disappearance profiles of extra-network cure intermediates across the vulcanization process. Cure profile measurements are reported on three formulations covering a wide range of sulfur—accelerator ratios. Also unique aspects of the analytical methodology are highlighted. The observed cure-intermediate concentration profiles reinforce earlier theories about the chemical details of sulfurization and subsequent crosslinking. On all formulations, benzothiazole polysulfides (S1−S4) reach a maximum concentration at the scorch midpoint coincident with slope changes in reactant and product profiles. Although pendant-accelerator crosslink precursors are not measured directly, their presence is implied from material balance calcu...
Dynamic Characterization of a Magnetoelectric Cantilever for Actuation and Sensing

This article continues our work to develop magnetoelectric materials as self-sensing actuators. Our research is directed at developing a two-segment cantilever device with closed-loop control. The actuator under study is fabricated as a laminated composite of the magnetostrictive material Iron-Gallium (Galfenol) and a Lead-Zirconate-Titanate piezoelectric material (PZT-5H). The mechanical and electrical characteristics of a single-segment cantilever are modeled using the equation of motion developed from variational principles in earlier work and are compared with experimental data from other groups. Additionally, parametric analysis is performed to determine the effect of varying the thickness fraction of the piezoelectric layer on the frequency response characteristics of the actuator. When applied to the dynamic behavior of the actuator, the model predicts behavior that closely resembles experimental results published by other groups. Parametric analysis of the piezoelectric layer thickness fraction indicates that the design of a magnetoelectric cantilever self-sensing actuator can be optimized by varying the thickness fraction.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Optical mapping of conduction in early embryonic quail hearts with light-sheet microscopy(Conference Presentation)

Optical mapping (OM) using fluorescent voltage-sensitive dyes (VSD) to measure membrane potential is currently the most effective method for electrophysiology studies in early embryonic hearts due to its noninvasiveness and large field-of-view. Conventional OM acquires bright-field images, collecting signals that are integrated in depth and projected onto a 2D plane, not capturing the 3D structure of the sample. Early embryonic hearts, especially at looping stages, have a complicated, tubular geometry. Therefore, conventional OM cannot provide a full picture of the electrical conduction circumferentially around the heart, and may result in incomplete and inaccurate measurements. Here, we demonstrate OM of Hamburger and Hamilton stage 14 embryonic quail hearts using a new commercially-available VSD, Fluovolt, and depth sectioning using a custom built light-sheet microscopy system. Axial and lateral resolution of the system is 14µm and 8µm respectively. For OM imaging, the field-of-view was set to 900µm×900µm to cover the entire heart. 2D over time OM image sets at multiple cross-sections through the looping-stage heart were recorded. The shapes of both atrial and ventricular action potentials acquired were consistent with previous reports using conventional VSD (di-4-ANNEPS). With Fluovolt, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is improved significantly by a factor of 2-10 (compared with di-4-ANNEPS) enabling light-sheet OM, which intrinsically has lower SNR due to smaller sampling volumes. Electrophysiologic parameters are rate dependent. Optical pacing was successfully integrated into the system to ensure heart rate consistency. This will also enable accurately gated reconstruction of full four dimensional conduction maps and 3D conduction velocity measurements.
Atherosclerotic Renal Artery Occlusion Extending Into Branches: Successful Revascularization in Situ With A Branched Saphenous Vein Graft

AbstractIn some patients successful renal revascularization can be done after complete renal artery occlusion. We report on a patient with atherosclerotic occlusion of the renal artery and its branches in whom an aortorenal bypass with a branched saphenous vein graft was performed in situ, with cure of hypertension and reversal of azotemia. This is a useful and versatile technique for replacing the renal artery and its major branches.
Nutritional Complications and Emergencies

Successful management of bariatric patients involves vigilant preoperative and postoperative planning for prevention of complications. Short- and long-term consequences following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding, and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy include a wide range of nutritional deficiencies. Risk factors for nutritional complications may include poor dietary intake, noncompliance with the postoperative regimen, or the type of surgical procedure. Because both the preoperative and postoperative prevalence of vitamin and mineral deficiency in bariatric patients are higher than the in general population, nutritional care demands an appreciation of bariatric physiology and patient behavior.
Authoritarian Abdication: Bargaining Power and the Role of Firms in Migrant Welfare

Throughout the Arabian Gulf, the immigration law known as the kafala formally delegates to firms and other “sponsors” control over migrants’ mobility, housing, and general welfare. These states have abdicated almost any responsibility over migrants, giving firms nearly unchecked power over their workers’ daily lives. In this paper, I consider the welfare implications of this system and explore the conditions under which migrants can extract concessions from firms. Drawing on a nationally representative survey from Qatar, I show that migrant satisfaction, workplace difficulties, and overall quality of life varies widely across camps and firms. In explaining this variation, I argue that welfare crucially depends on an individual’s bargaining power. Migrants with a contract or credible exit options hold greater bargaining power, which strongly associates with improved perceptions of welfare. All told, contracts and exit options appear to provide even the most vulnerable workers a means of protection within authoritarian states.
Computational higher-dimensional type theory

Formal constructive type theory has proved to be an effective language for mechanized proof. By avoiding non-constructive principles, such as the law of the excluded middle, type theory admits sharper proofs and broader interpretations of results. From a computer science perspective, interest in type theory arises from its applications to programming languages. Standard constructive type theories used in mechanization admit computational interpretations based on meta-mathematical normalization theorems. These proofs are notoriously brittle; any change to the theory potentially invalidates its computational meaning. As a case in point, Voevodsky's univalence axiom raises questions about the computational meaning of proofs. We consider the question: Can higher-dimensional type theory be construed as a programming language? We answer this question affirmatively by providing a direct, deterministic operational interpretation for a representative higher-dimensional dependent type theory with higher inductive types and an instance of univalence. Rather than being a formal type theory defined by rules, it is instead a computational type theory in the sense of Martin-Lof's meaning explanations and of the NuPRL semantics. The definition of the type theory starts with programs; types are specifications of program behavior. The main result is a canonicity theorem stating that closed programs of boolean type evaluate to true or false.
Outcome of Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation in Patients with Low Ventricular Ejection Fraction

BACKGROUND: High-dose therapy and Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo SCT) is a potentially curative treatment for patients with hematologic malignancies. A high risk of regimen-related toxicity limits this treatment only for patients with excellent organ-system function. A low left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of ≤ 45% is considered to be a major risk factor for post-transplant cardiac toxicity and nonrelapse mortality (NRM). However, several patients with advanced hematologic malignancies and low LVEF can potentially benefit from this therapy. To address this issue, we evaluated the frequency of cardiac toxicity and NRM in 56 patients with low LVEF undergoing allo SCT. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis on 56 patients with baseline low LVEF who received allo SCT between January 2000 and February 2006 at our institution. Pre-transplant evaluation included an electrocardiogram and bidimensional echocardiogram or gated cardiac scan. Cardiac toxicity was defined as congestive heart failure (CHF), atrial/ventricular arrhythmia or an acute coronary syndrome. Of the 56 patients, 22 received a myeloablative regimen (16 busulfan-based, 6 total body irradiation-based) while 34 patients received a fludarabine-based reduced intensity conditioning regimen. RESULTS: Twenty-three patients (41%) received allo SCT from an unrelated donor. Acute leukemia was the reason for allo SCT in 32 (57%) patients. Baseline LVEF within 30 days pre-transplant ranged 20 to 45%. At their 6 month follow-up, cardiac toxicity was seen in 7 (12%) patients. Toxicity included congestive heart failure (CHF) in 4 (7%) and atrial fibrillation (AF) in 4 (7%). One patient had both CHF and AF. There were no documented episodes of acute coronary syndrome. Cumulative incidence of NRM at 100 days was 12%; none of the deaths were attributable to cardiac causes. These results were comparable to allo SCT performed in patients with normal LVEF. Variables such as age, LVEF, type of transplant, or the underlying disease did not emerge as significant predictors of post-transplant cardiac toxicity or NRM. CONCLUSION: Patients with low LVEF (
Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Syndrome

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) syndrome is a bilateral granulomatous panuveitis characterized by serous retinal detachments and a spectrum of extraocular findings. The disease is thought to arise from a T-cell driven autoimmune response to melanocytes. The fundus features may vary at the time of ophthalmic examination due to the multiple clinical stages of VKH, thus it is important to be aware of these different presentations. The initial treatment in the acute uveitic stage is corticosteroids with a slow taper over three to six months. Relapsing or recurrent stages may require systemic, steroid-sparing immunomodulatory therapy. The visually significant complications of the disease include cataract, glaucoma, choroidal neovascularization, and subretinal fibrosis.
Metabolite Profiling as a Functional Genomics Tool

Plants accumulate a very large number of small molecules (phytochemicals) with important functions in the ecology of plants and in the protection against biotic and abiotic stress conditions. Little is known on how phytochemical biosynthetic pathways are regulated, which is a key step to successfully engineering plant metabolism. Plant natural products are usually not essential, and genetic analyses often fail to identify phenotypes associated with the absence of these compounds. We have investigated the use of metabolite profiling of plant cells in culture to establish the function of transcription factors suspected to control plant metabolic pathways.
Effects of in vitro exposure to dibutyl phthalate, mono-butyl phthalate, and acetyl tributyl citrate on ovarian antral follicle growth and viability

Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) is present in consumer products and the coating of some oral medications. Acetyl tributyl citrate (ATBC) has been proposed as an alternative to DBP because DBP causes endocrine disruption in animal models. Following ingestion, DBP is converted to its main metabolite mono-butyl phthalate (MBP) which has been detected in >90% of human follicular fluid samples. Previous studies show that DBP reduces the number of antral follicles present in the ovaries of mice. Thus, this study was designed to evaluate the effects of DBP, MBP, and ATBC on in vitro growth and viability of mouse ovarian antral follicles. Antral follicles were isolated from CD-1 females (PND32-37) and treated with vehicle, DBP, MBP, or ATBC (starting at 0.001 and up to 1000 μg/ml for DBP; 24-72 h). Follicle diameter, ATP production, qPCR, and TUNEL were used to measure follicle growth, viability, cell cycle and apoptosis gene expression, and cell death-associated DNA fragmentation, respectively. While MBP did not cause toxicity, DBP exposure at ≥10 μg/ml resulted in growth inhibition followed by cytoxicity at ≥500 μg/ml. ATBC increased the number of nongrowing follicles at 0.01 μg/ml and did not affect ATP production, but increased TUNEL positive area in treated follicles. Gene expression results suggest that cytotoxicity in DBP-treated follicles occurs via activation of cell cycle arrest prior to follicular death. These findings suggest that concentrations of DBP ≥10 μg/ml are detrimental to antral follicles and that ATBC should be examined further as it may disrupt antral follicle function at low concentrations.
Characterizing Adult Cervical Deformity and Disability Based on Existing Cervical and Adult Deformity Classification Schemes at Presentation and Following Correction

BACKGROUND Adult cervical deformity (ACD) classifications have not been implemented in a prospective ACD population and in conjunction with adult spinal deformity (ASD) classifications. OBJECTIVE To characterize cervical deformity type and malalignment with 2 classifications (Ames-ACD and Schwab-ASD). METHODS Retrospective review of a prospective multicenter ACD database. Inclusion: patients ≥18 yr with pre- and postoperative radiographs. Patients were classified with Ames-ACD and Schwab-ASD schemes. Ames-ACD descriptors (C = cervical, CT = cervicothoracic, T = thoracic, S = coronal, CVJ = craniovertebral) and alignment modifiers (cervical sagittal vertical axis [cSVA], T1 slope minus cervical lordosis [TS-CL], modified Japanese Ortphopaedic Association [mJOA] score, horizontal gaze) were assigned. Schwab-ASD curve type stratification and modifier grades were also designated. Deformity and alignment group distributions were compared with Pearson χ2/ANOVA. RESULTS Ames-ACD descriptors in 84 patients: C = 49 (58.3%), CT = 20 (23.8%), T = 9 (10.7%), S = 6 (7.1%). cSVA modifier grades differed in C, CT, and T deformities (P < .019). In C, TS-CL grade prevalence differed (P = .031). Among Ames-ACD modifiers, high (1+2) cSVA grades differed across deformities (C = 47.7%, CT = 89.5%, T = 77.8%, S = 50.0%, P = .013). Schwab-ASD curve type and presence (n = 74, T = 2, L = 6, D = 2) differed significantly in S deformities (P < .001). Higher Schwab-ASD pelvic incidence minus lumbar lordosis grades were less likely in Ames-ACD CT deformities (P = .027). Higher pelvic tilt grades were greater in high (1+2) cSVA (71.4% vs 36.0%, P = .015) and high (2+3) mJOA (24.0% vs 38.1%, P = .021) scores. Postoperatively, C and CT deformities had a trend toward lower cSVA grades, but only C deformities differed in TS-CL grade prevalence (0 = 31.3%, 1 = 12.2%, 2 = 56.1%, P = .007). CONCLUSION Cervical deformities displayed higher TS-CL grades and different cSVA grade distributions. Preoperative associations with global alignment modifiers and Ames-ACD descriptors were observed, though only cervical modifiers showed postoperative differences.
2 – Circuit Analysis: A Graph-Theoretic Foundation

This chapter provides an introduction to certain basic results in graph theory and their application in the analysis of electrical circuits. The theory of graphs plays a fundamental role in discovering structural properties of electrical circuits. This chapter develops most results that form the foundation of graph theoretic study of electrical circuits. Graphs permit easy pictorial representations. In a pictorial representation, each vertex is represented by a dot, and each edge is represented by a line joining the dots associated with the edge. In directed graphs, an orientation or direction is assigned to each edge. The chapter also explains graph and electrical networks. An electrical network is an interconnection of electrical network elements, such as resistances, capacitances, inductances, voltage, and current sources. Each network element is associated with two variables: the voltage variable v(t) and the current variable i(t). The physical relationship between the current and voltage variables of network elements is specified by Ohm's law. For voltage and current sources, the voltage and current variables are required to have specified values..
Lessons of Landsat: From Experimental Program to Commercial Land Imaging, 1969–1989

In 1972, the USA launched the first civilian land remote sensing satellite, the Earth Resources Technology Satellite, later renamed Landsat 1. The satellite was a highly innovative apparatus that, as the first of its kind, offered a wide range of applications for environmental monitoring and data gathering. However, in order for users to apply Landsat images to terrestrial problems, openly available and affordable data had to be accessible to all potential users. By 1978, the Carter and later Reagan administrations viewed Landsat as an operational program rather than an experimental project. Thus, they began the process of commercializing Landsat, and met budgetary and programmatic issues that nearly caused the satellite program to cease operations. This chapter argues that the availability of Landsat data fluctuated from 1972 until roughly 1978, when data became available to many users at affordable pricing, but by 1984 Landsat became a commercial entity and began to stifle innovations in Landsat data application. (Brian Jirout)
A mechanism for all polymerases

Replication of the genome is one of the most fundamental of biological activities, hence the interest in the mechanism by which the enzymes concerned -- the polynucleotide polymerases -- carry out the process. The co-crystal structures of the DNA polymerase that replicates bacteriophage T7, and of theBacillus stearothermophilusDNA polymerase large fragment, provide significant insights into the catalytic mechanism, fidelity and processivity of DNA polymerases.
Uncertainty in lidar derived canopy height models in three unique forest ecosystems

NEON conducts annual LiDAR flights over several ecologically unique sites within the continental United States. One of the products derived from the LiDAR acquisitions is a canopy height model (CHM), required to make inferences about vegetation structure and annual changes in growth. It is hypothesized that the flight acquisition parameters are sufficient to allow NEON's CHMs to detect inter-annual change in growth at the NEON forest plot scale. To test this hypothesis, a series of overlapping LiDAR flight lines were collected over a sample forest area at three unique ecosystems. The repeat data allowed empirical quantification of uncertainty in CHMs. When related to the growth rate of the dominant species, this allowed estimation of the time required to separate true change from CHM uncertainty and conclude growth had occurred. Results highlight that each forest eco-system displays unique sources of uncertainty, and that annual changes in NEON forest plots are generally achievable with the exception of plots with minimal canopy cover.
Introduction to Nuclear Energy

One may ask the question: Why a book devoted to alternative energy should have three chapters on nuclear energy? After all nuclear power plants and nuclear energy have been the pariahs in every environmentalist’s mind for decades. The accidents at the Three-Mile Island, Chernobyl and Fukushima Dai-ichi power plants have contributed to the horrific images of large-scale environmental disasters. The answer to this question is very simple: Global warming, caused by the anthropogenic emission of carbon dioxide is a very serious threat for our planet. Nuclear power plants have the capability to produce a significant part of our electric power at relatively low cost and without any carbon dioxide emissions. A case in point: If in 2008 the United States would have produced 50%, of its electric power from nuclear energy, instead of approximately 25% it actually produced, the country would have exceeded by 150% its quota from the Kyoto Protocol without any other changes in the rest of its energy mix. Other OECD countries, such as France and Japan produce more than 70% of their electricity from nuclear power plants. The fundamental concepts of atomic physics with emphasis on the nuclear fission reactions are given in this chapter. At first, the structure of the atom is explained, basic definitions of the atom and the subatomic particles are given succinctly and useful numbers pertaining to the atoms and the nuclear reactions are calculated. Secondly, the nuclear reactions are introduced and the physical principles governing these reactions are explained. Examples of nuclear reactions include radioactive decay and carbon dating. Thirdly, the several ways of interaction of neutrons with nuclei are explained and fission is introduced. The subjects of nuclear fission, chain reactions, nuclear fuels and thermal neutrons are explained in detail. The role of the cross-sections of the naturally occurring nuclear fuels is explained in the fission process as well as in the sustenance of the chain reaction in conventional reactors. The neutron cycle in a nuclear reactor and the striving for the production and conservation of the thermal neutrons are elucidated. Fourthly, the basic concepts of fuel conversion and breeding are given as an introduction to breeder reactors. Finally, a few useful numbers are computed on the utilization of natural uranium as a fuel in the conventional nuclear reactors.
Amino Acids Essential to Catalysis by Prostaglandin Endoperoxide Synthase

The recent availability of cDNAs containing the entire coding region of prostaglandin endoperoxide (PGH) synthase (1–3) and the development of constructs which can be used for expressing the enzyme in vitro (4–6) permits the use of site-directed mutagenesis to characterize this enzyme (4–7). It is now possible to compare properties of mutagenized PGH synthases to the native enzyme in order to determine the effects of modifying any amino acid on the cyclooxygenase and/or hydroperoxidase activities, the size and spectral properties of the protein, and subtle changes in kinetic constants. Accordingly, we have applied mutagenesis procedures to identify amino acids which are important in cyclooxygenase and hydroperoxidase catalysis, heme binding, and the interaction of PGH synthase with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Here we present a summary of these studies in the context of developing a model for the cyclooxygenase and peroxidase active sites of the enzyme.
Incorporating Unannounced Meals and Exercise in Adaptive Learning of Personalized Models for Multivariable Artificial Pancreas Systems.

Background:Despite the recent advancements in the modeling of glycemic dynamics for type 1 diabetes mellitus, automatically considering unannounced meals and exercise without manual user inputs rem...
Real-Time Frequency-Agile $\mathrm{Circuit}$ Reconfiguration for S-Band Radar Using a High-Power Tunable Resonant Cavity Matching Network

In the dynamic spectrum access paradigm, operating frequency and bandwidth are assigned in real time. Presently the S-band radar allocation is highly coveted for spectrum sharing with wireless communications. To share the band with wireless systems, next-generation radar transmitters must be able to reconfigure in both frequency and spectrum usage in real time. We demonstrate S-band reconfigurability of a high-power tunable evanescent-mode cavity matching network capable of 90 $\mathrm{w}$ of RF power handling. The system can switch between different operating frequencies, optimizing its power-added efficiency (PAE) while meeting simultaneous adjacent-channel power ratio (ACPR) constraints. This reconfiguration capability provides a useful building block for dynamic coexistence of a radar transmitter with other wireless systems in the S band.
Continuous glucose monitoring identifies relationship between optimized glycemic control and post-discharge acute care facility needs.

Hyperglycemia is an independent risk factor in hospitalized patients for adverse outcomes, even if patients are not diabetic. We used continuous glucose monitoring to evaluate whether glycemic control (hyperglycemia) in the first 72 h after an intensive care admission was associated with the need for admission to a post discharge long-term medical facility. We enrolled 59 coronary artery bypass grafting patients. Poor glycemic control was defined as greater than 33% of continuous glucose monitoring values 180 mg/dL (group 1); and then these patients were reevaluated with a less strict definition of poor glycemic control with greater than 25% of continuous glucose values 180 mg/dL (group 2). In group 1 4/10 (40.0%) whose glucose was not well controlled went to an extended care post discharge facility as opposed to 6/49 (12.2%) that were well controlled. In reevaluation as group 2, 5/14 (35.7%) whose glucose was not well controlled went to an extended care post discharge facility as opposed to 5/45 (11.1%) who were well controlled. Admission to a post discharge facility was increased in patients with poor glycemic control p = 0.045 and p = 0.042 for group 1 and group 2, and with odds ratios of 4.8 (95% CI 1.0–22.5) and 4.4 (95% CI 1.0–19.4), respectively.