cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Length of stay and surgical site complications are not increased after elective incisional hernia in patients with a history of solid organ transplantation.

The incidence of ventral hernia development after solid organ transplantation has been reported to be up to 30%. We aim to determine the impact of previous solid organ transplant on post-operative length of stay (LOS) and surgical site complications in elective ventral hernia repairs. A retrospective review of prospectively collected data from the Abdominal Core Health Quality Collaborative (ACHQC) was conducted to include all patients age 18 years or older who underwent elective incisional hernia repair. Those with and without a history of solid organ transplantation were compared. The primary outcome was in-hospital LOS. Secondary outcomes included 30-day surgical site infection (SSI) rate, 30-day surgical site occurrence requiring procedural intervention (SSOPI) rate, 30-day overall post-operative complications and recurrence. The association between transplant and the LOS was tested with a negative binomial regression model adjusted for the demographic characteristics, comorbidities and hernia characteristics in the model. The population analyzed included 13,452 (98.79%) patients without a history of organ transplantation and 165 (1.21%) patients who had a history of organ transplantation. After adjusting for age, hernia width, BMI, gender, race, insurance type, ASA class, hypertension, dyspnea, OR time > 2 h, abdominal wall SSI history, recurrent hernia, operative approach the median LOS was not significantly different between patients with a history of solid organ transplant [2.8 (2.6, 2.9) days] and those without [2.6 days (2.2, 3.1)] (p = 0.5). The proportion of SSI (2.4% vs 4.04%; p = 0.42), SSOPI (4.2% vs 5.8%; p = 0.38) and recurrence (0.6% vs 0.4%, p = 0.51) was similar between both groups. Other remaining 30-day post-operative were negligible in our sample. There were no significant differences in LOS or infection rates between patients with and without a history of solid organ transplantation despite known risks of immunosuppression and chronic steroid use. Therefore, although these patients have many classic risk factors for poor outcomes, the data suggest that their history of solid organ transplantation should not preclude them from surgery.
COVID-19 Induced Myxedema Madness

Background: Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was first reported in December 31st, 2019 in Wuhan, China. The clinical presentation is variable, including a variety of neuropsychiatric related symptoms. Myxedema Madness is a rare and severe neuropsychiatric complication of hypothyroidism manifested as psychosis.
Increased incidence of gastrointestinal toxicity in canine cancer patients treated with concurrent abdominal radiation therapy and toceranib phosphate.

Receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are used to treat human and canine cancers and may be combined with radiation therapy (RT) to enhance tumor control due their anticancer and antiangiogenic effects; however, recent case reports have emerged describing incidences of gastrointestinal toxicity when antiangiogenic therapies are combined with hypofractionated radiotherapy in human cancer patients. We evaluated the incidence of gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity in dogs receiving concurrent hypofractionated abdominal RT and the TKI toceranib (TOC) compared to those receiving abdominal RT alone, TOC alone, or concurrent non-abdominal RT and TOC. Medical records of canine cancer patients were retrospectively reviewed and identified dogs were included in the following treatment categories: dogs which received RT to a portion of the abdomen and concurrent TOC (n = 19), abdominal RT alone (n-29), TOC alone (n = 20), or non-abdominal RT plus TOC (n = 9). Toxicities were graded using the Veterinary Cooperative Oncology Group - Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events criteria and compared to published data on TOC-associated GI toxicity. Patients receiving TOC while undergoing abdominal RT had significantly increased rates of any grade of diarrhea (p = 0.002), hyporexia (p = 0.0045), and vomiting (p = 0.003), as well as severe hyporexia (p = 0.003) when compared across the treatment groups. This retrospective study reveals significantly increased incidences of GI toxicity when abdominal RT is combined with TOC in canine patients. These findings are in-line with the clinical concerns reported for increased normal tissue toxicity in human patients when antiangiogenics are combined with RT.
Big Fish, Small Ponds: International Crimes in National Courts

The principle of complementarity in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court anticipates that perpetrators of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity will be tried in domestic courts unless there is no state with jurisdiction willing or able to do so. This Article examines the situation where a state might be willing to engage in meaningful local justice but temporarily lacks the capability to do so due to the effects of the conflict. It argues that where the state submits a detailed proposal to the International Criminal Court (ICC) outlining the steps necessary to gain or regain the ability to prosecute those most responsible for the atrocities within two years, it should be allowed time to do so. The capacity building that occurs during this time is vital to promoting and ensuring stability throughout the region and beyond, and it will allow the Court to focus its efforts and resources on those cases for which there is no other forum.
Full band Monte Carlo analysis of the uniaxial stress impact on 4H-SiC high energy transport

SiC is expected to be the next-generation semiconductor material especially for power devices, and some have been put into practical use. However, its stress response has not been completely elucidated, and there are concerns about performance degradation by mechanical stress in the wafer process and packaging. On the other hand, stress engineering may improve its performance.So, in this paper, we estimate the uniaxial stress impact on 4H-SiC by combination of first principal calculation and full-band Monte Carlo simulation. As a result, it was found that the stress dependence of the impact ionization coefficient of 4H-SiC is extremely small, and the risk of breakdown voltage degradation is low by small stress in manufacturing process. On the other hand, the electron mobility increases when tensile stress is applied, and it is expected that the device on-resistance will be reduced by stress engineering.
In vitro perifusion of human hypothalamic and pituitary tissue.

Publisher Summary In vitro perifusion of hypothalamic or pituitary tissue for the purpose of investigating mechanisms of hypothalamohypophyseal neuroendocrine regulation is a methodology that complements in vivo as well as alternative in vitro techniques, and it circumvents many of their disadvantages. For example, although methods for the collection of hypothalamohypophyseal portal blood have been developed that allow direct quantification of regulatory factor (neurotransmitter, neuromodulator, and releasing factor) release into the portal flow, these techniques usually require use of systemic anesthesia (which must be assumed to alter normal interneuronal dynamics within the hypothalamus) and permit only the activity of a relatively small population of neurons that secrete into the portal flow to be monitored. In vitro perifusion of human hypothalamic and pituitary tissue provides a valuable model for the investigation of hypothalamohypophyseal regulation and interactions that cannot otherwise be directly evaluated in humans. As with other in vitro techniques, this methodology provides a complementary approach to in vivo investigations in both humans and laboratory animals.
Automatic Generation of Update Rules to Enforce Consistency Constraints in Design Databases

Database systems for computer-aided design (CAD) are characterised by structural complexity and nonstandard relationship types. Integrity constraints typically describe the semantics of these relationships. Enforcing such constraints in the face of user-initiated changes to the database is necessary to ensure that the database is consistent and the corresponding design is valid. Typically, update rules are specified to maintain integrity constraints. In this paper, we concentrate on the automatic generation of update rules from integrity constraints. Our methodology generates two types of update rules, which are guaranteed to result in a consistent database state. The database designer is provided with the flexibility of alternative semantics as a result of the two update rule types. Tests for integrity violations and repair actions are both generated during a single analysis. The underlying formalism expresses constraints, updates, and rules within the same language; thus the same proof theory applies to all components. This simplifies the overall analysis and enables concise correctness proofs.
Implications of India's biofuel policies for food, water and the poor

Increasing consensus about the end of cheap oil, the consequences of global warming and the need for rural development are catalyzing the expansion of biofuels like ethanol and biodiesel. While most nations are promoting the expansion of conventional crops, India9s strategy for biofuels is to promote Jatropha curcas , a drought-tolerant, perennial crop with little prior commercial track record. The aim of this paper is three-fold. (1) To compare the characteristics of various crops with their potential as biofuels in order to assess the relative advantages and disadvantages of Jatropha curcas . (2) To analyze the implications of current biofuel policies for food supply, agricultural water demand and the rural poor. (3) To highlight briefly some alternative strategies that can overcome drawbacks in the current strategy. One conclusion is that although Jatropha curcas has a low water requirement, which is an important benefit, it has several other disadvantages. Another recommendation that emerges from this paper is that biofuel policies should also focus on short-duration, multi-purpose and proven drought-tolerant crops like sweet sorghum that can be adopted by small landholders while wasteland rehabilitation policies should focus on broader array of options, which can provide greater direct benefits to the rural poor.
Recentering Anglo/American Folksong: Sea Crabs and Wicked Youths

Reviewed Medium: book Authors: Roger deV. Renwick Year: 2001 Pages: xvi + 183 Publisher: University Press of Mississippi Prices: $42.00 US
Estimating Contributions of Nitrate and Herbicides From Groundwater to Headwater Streams, Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain, United States1

Abstract: Groundwater transport often complicates understanding of surface-water contamination. We estimated the regional flux of nitrate and selected herbicides from groundwater to nontidal headwater streams of the Atlantic Coastal Plain (New Jersey through North Carolina) based on late-winter or spring base-flow samples from 174 streams. Sampled streams were selected randomly, and flux estimates are based on resulting population estimates rather than on empirical models, which have been used previously for similar estimates. Base-flow flux in the estimated 8,834 headwater streams of the study area are an estimated 21,200 kg/day of nitrate (as N) and 5.83, 0.565, and 20.7 kg/day of alachlor, atrazine, and metolachlor (and selected degradates), respectively. Base-flow flux of alachlor and metolachlor is <3% of the total base-flow flux of those compounds plus degradates. Base-flow flux of nitrate and herbicides as a percentage of applications is typically highest in well-drained areas and lowest in areas with abundant poor drainage and anoxic conditions. In Coastal Plain watersheds of Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds, <2% of applied nitrogen reaches headwater streams as base flow. On the Delmarva Peninsula part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, however, more than 10% of such applications are transported through groundwater to streams, and base-flow nitrate flux represents 70% of total nitrogen flux in headwater streams.
CMOS high bandwidth envelope tracking and power amplifiers for LTE carrier aggregation

The demand for higher data rated has lead to the utilization of both higher frequency bands, where power amplifiers (Pas) are inherently less linear, as well as carrier aggregation (CA) where linearity requirements are more stringent. In addition, cost reducing tactics for large volume applications naturally lead to CMOS based PAs which are less linear than the commonly used GaAs PAs. Envelope tracking techniques, together with digital signal processing (DSP), provide a method for achieving the linearity and efficiency required for CMOS PAs. This paper reviews the new technical challenges associated with envelope tracking methods for high data rate PAs utilized in carrier agg regation systems.
Taking Blessings Seriously: A Comment on Ronald R. Garet's "To Secure the Blessings"

This short piece provides the outline of a commentary on Professor Garet's work, "To Secure the Blessings." In it, I attempt to isolate what the distinctively "liberal" aspect of Professor Garet's reading is, what the distinctively "Christian" aspect is, and in so doing to reconstruct the the tradition of liberal Christian constitutional thought which Professor Garet is recuperating by way of a close reading of the "blessings" paragraph in the Constitution's preamble.
Azinphosmethyl and fenvalerate washoff from cotton plants as a function of time between application and initial rainfall

Understanding pesticide foliar washoff is important in pest management, in development of integrated management systems, and in environmental modeling. This study was conducted to determine the effect of elapsed time between spray application and initial rainfall on insecticide washoff from foliage. Azinphosmethyl and fenvalerate were applied to mature cotton plants as tank-mixed emulsifiable concentrates with a water carrier. DT50s (50% disappearance time) for azinphosmethyl and fenvalerate were 3.9 and 237 h, respectively. Simulated rain (51 mm in 1 h) was applied to the cotton plants at times ranging from 2 to 146 h after insecticide application to determine washoff characteristics for both compounds. Residues of both insecticides became increasingly resistant to wash-off with increasing time interval between insecticide application and initial rainfall, e.g., about 95% of the plant Xload washed off 2 h after application, whereas at 146 h <50% washed off. The mean amounts of both insecticides washed from the plants decreased with time and were related to the mean plant loads. The results of this study show that foliar pesticide application should be delayed when rain is imminent.
Diet and psoriasis, part III: role of nutritional supplements.

Patients with psoriasis are increasingly turning to the use of alternative and complementary medicine to manage their psoriasis. Patients often inquire about what dietary supplements may be beneficial, including the use of oral vitamin D, vitamin B12, selenium, and omega-3 fatty acids in fish oils. In this review we examine the extent to which each of these common nutritional interventions has been studied for the treatment of psoriasis. We weighed evidence from both controlled and uncontrolled prospective trials. The evidence of benefit was highest for fish oils. For other supplements, there is need for additional large, randomized clinical trials to establish evidence of efficacy.
Computing spectra of linear operators using the Floquet-Fourier-Hill method

In order to establish the stability of an equilibrium solution U of an infinite-dimensional dynamical system u ? = X ( u ) , one is interested in the spectrum of the linear operator LU] obtained by linearizing the dynamical system around U. We use a spectrally accurate method for the computation of the spectrum of the maximal extension of the operator LU]. The method is particularly well-suited to the case of periodic U, although no periodic boundary conditions on the perturbations are imposed. By incorporating the fundamentals of Floquet theory, an almost uniform approximation to the entire spectrum of the maximal extension is obtained, as opposed to an approximation of a few selected elements. The numerical component of the method is limited to: (i) choosing the size of the matrices to be used; and (ii) an eigenvalue solver, such as the QR algorithm. Compared to often-used finite-difference approaches, the method is an order of magnitude faster for comparable accuracy. We illustrate that the method is efficiently extended to problems defined on the whole line.
First assessment of needle-based confocal laser endomicroscopy during EUS-FNA procedures of the pancreas (with videos).

Background Challenges in EUS-guided FNA (EUS-FNA) include sampling error, nondiagnostic cytology, and limited on-site cytological evaluation. A prototype needle-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (nCLE) probe is a submillimeter probe that provides real-time imaging at the microscopic level through the FNA needle. Objective To evaluate the feasibility of nCLE during EUS-FNA of pancreatic lesions. Design Feasibility study. Setting Multicenter, tertiary care. Patients Eighteen patients presenting for EUS-FNA. Interventions Patients were injected with 2.5 mL of 10% fluorescein. The lesion was interrogated with the nCLE probe positioned at the tip of a 19-gauge FNA needle. Main Outcome Measurements Device integrity, technical ease, safety, and image acquisition. Results Cases included 16 cysts and 2 masses. There were no device malfunctions. Technical challenges were encountered in 6 of 18 attempts to image and reflected challenges with a postloading technique, the longer ferule tip, and a transduodenal approach. Technical feasibility to perform imaging with nCLE during a pancreatic EUS-FNA procedure was achieved in 17 of 18 cases. Ten cases had good to very good image quality. Two serious adverse events occurred; both were pancreatitis requiring hospitalization. Limitations Limited sample size, small number of patients with confirmed pathological diagnosis, lack of coregistered pathology and images. Conclusions nCLE in the pancreas is technically feasible via a 19-gauge needle under endosonographic guidance. Future studies will address identification of structures, diagnostic accuracy, and complication profiles. The rate of pancreatitis needs to be further clarified and mitigated.
Measurements of the Effective Delayed-Neutron Fraction in Two Fast Critical Experiments

The effective delayed-neutron fractions of 235U and 239Pu have been determined for two fast critical assemblies from measurements of the absolute fission rate and the apparent reactivity worths of ...
Using vicon bodybuilder and plug-in-gait to generate L5/S1 angles, forces and moments

Currently the most widely used and accepted Vicon model is the Plug-in-Gait (PIG). Unfortunately, the PIG output value for the lumbar section only provides the angle difference between the thorax and the pelvis. Because the PIG is so widely used by advanced biomechanical analysts for defining body segment kinematics for aerospace and other industries, it would be a great advantage to be able to enhance the fidelity of the PIG model outputs by attaching body regions, such as spinal sections. Thus, the work explained in this paper describes how a virtual lumbar segment which generates model angle output values for the L5/S1 can be easily added to the PIG body segment definition, using the BodyBuilder (BB) for Biomechanics programming language. The methodology described in this paper utilizes the original PIG marker set and does not require any additional markers. Furthermore, the same method and model can provide L5/S1 forces and moments.
Lymphocyte proliferative response to fertilization antigen in patients with antisperm antibodies

The fertilization antigen, immunopurified from human testes, activated lymphocytes from three of the six men and women with antisperm antibodies. Lymphocytes from none of the six men and women without antibodies were activated with fertilization antigen. Another sperm surface antigen, the germ cell antigen, immunopurified from murine testes, did not activate lymphocytes from any of the individuals with or without antisperm antibodies. These results indicate that the men and women with antisperm antibodies are sensitized against fertilization antigen and not germ cell antigen. These results reinforce our previous findings on the involvement of fertilization antigen in immunoinfertility in humans.
Enhancement of the Simon effect by response-location precues: Evaluation of the stimulus-identification account

Abstract Proctor et al. (1992) showed that precuing the likely response location with 80% validity enhanced the Simon effect (faster responding when stimulus location, though irrelevant, corresponds with response location than when it does not), consistent with earlier findings of Verfaellie et al. (1988). Hasbroucq and Possamai (1994) reinterpreted Proctor et al.'s results as showing evidence that the magnitude of the Simon effect depends on irrelevant precuing of stimulus location. In the first part of the paper, we examine their argument and note logical deficiencies of it. In the second part, we report results of two experiments in which the magnitude of the Simon effect was found to depend on precue validity and whether the orientation of the response locations was the same as that for the precue direction. These results fit comfortably with the view that the response-location precues affect response-selection processes, but are difficult to reconcile with the hypothesis that the precues affect stimulus-identification processes.
The contribution of reverse shoulder arthroplasty to utilization of primary shoulder arthroplasty

Background We assessed the contribution of reverse shoulder arthroplasty to overall utilization of primary shoulder arthroplasty and present age- and sex-stratified national rates of shoulder arthroplasty. We also assessed contemporary complication rates, mortality rates, and indications for shoulder arthroplasty, as well as estimates and indications for revision arthroplasty. Methods We used the Nationwide Inpatient Samples for 2009 through 2011 to calculate estimates of shoulder arthroplasty and assessed trends using Joinpoint (National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD) regression. Results The cumulative estimated utilization of primary shoulder arthroplasty (anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty, hemiarthroplasty, and reverse shoulder arthroplasty) increased significantly from 52,397 procedures (95% confidence interval [CI], 47,093-57,701) in 2009 to 67,184 cases (95% CI, 60,638-73,731) in 2011. Reverse shoulder arthroplasty accounted for 42% of all primary shoulder arthroplasty procedures in 2011. The concomitant diagnosis of osteoarthritis and rotator cuff impairment was found in only 29.8% of reverse shoulder arthroplasty cases. The highest rate of reverse shoulder arthroplasty was in the 75- to 84-year-old female subgroup (77 per 100,000 persons; 95% CI, 67-87). Revision cases comprised 8.8% and 8.2% of all shoulder arthroplasties in 2009 and 2011, respectively, and 35% of revision cases were because of mechanical complications/loosening whereas 18% were because of dislocation. Conclusions The utilization of primary shoulder arthroplasty significantly increased in just a 3-year time span, with a major contribution from reverse shoulder arthroplasty in 2011. Indications appear to have expanded because a large percentage of patients did not have rotator cuff pathology. The burden from revision arthroplasties was also substantial, and efforts to optimize outcomes and longevity of primary shoulder arthroplasty are needed.
Utf1: Goldilocks for ESC Bivalency

Recently in Cell, Jia et al. (2012) reported novel Utf1-controlled mechanisms of maintaining pluripotency and self-renewal in embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Utf1 buffers bivalent gene expression by competitive binding with polycomb repressive complex 2 and initiation of mRNA degradation.
Exploring vector fields with distribution-based streamline analysis

Streamline-based techniques are designed based on the idea that properties of streamlines are indicative of features in the underlying field. In this paper, we show that statistical distributions of measurements along the trajectory of a streamline can be used as a robust and effective descriptor to measure the similarity between streamlines. With the distribution-based approach, we present a framework for interactive exploration of 3D vector fields with streamline query and clustering. Streamline queries allow us to rapidly identify streamlines that share similar geometric features to the target streamline. Streamline clustering allows us to group together streamlines of similar shapes. Based on user's selection, different clusters with different features at different levels of detail can be visualized to highlight features in 3D flow fields. We demonstrate the utility of our framework with simulation data sets of varying nature and size.
Optical sectioning by holographic coherence imaging: a generalized analysis

A theory of optical sectioning by image plane holography is developed, emphasizing the use of broad-spectrum holographic methods to enhance the process. It is shown that a broad-spectrum source in a grating interferometer imitates the behavior of a monochromatic broad source.
Integration versus interactive activation: The joint influence of stimulus and context in perception

Abstract Empirical results from both reading and speech perception indicate that stimulus and context information have independent influences on perceptual recognition. Massaro (1989) argued that these data are inconsistent with an interactive activation and competition (IAC) model ( McClelland & Rumelhart, 1981 ), and consistent with the fuzzy logical model of perception (FLMP) Massaro, 1979 , Massaro, 1989 . McClelland (1991) then modified the interactive activation model to be stochastic rather than deterministic and to use a best one wins (BOW) decision rule, allowing it to predict independent influences of stimulus and context. When tested against real data, however, the network proposed by McClelland and extended by us gives a poorer description of actual empirical results than the FLMP. To account for the dynamics of information processing, the SIAC model, an interactive model based on the Boltzmann machine, and the FLMP are formulated to make quantitative predictions of performance as a function of processing time. It is shown that the dynamic FLMP provides a better description of the time course of perceptual processing than does interactive activation. The SIAC and Boltzmann models have difficulty predicting 1) context effects given little processing time and 2) a strong stimulus influence given substantial processing time. Finally, we demonstrate that the FLMP predicts that context can improve the accuracy of performance, in addition to providing a bias to respond with the alternative supported by context. In summary, there is now both empirical and theoretical evidence in favor of the FLMP over SIAC models of pattern recognition. We therefore argue that interactive activation is both less consistent with empirical results and not necessary to describe the joint influence of stimulus and context in language perception.
In situ Materials Characterization using the Tissue Diagnostic Instrument

Abstract An understanding of the mechanical behavior of polymers is critical towards the design, implementation, and quality control of such materials. Yet experiments and method for the characterization of material properties of polymers remain challenging due the need to reconcile constitutive assumptions with experimental conditions. Well-established modes of mechanical testing, such as unconfined compression or uniaxial tension, require samples with specific geometries and carefully controlled orientations. Moreover, producing specimens that conform to such specifications often requires a considerable amount of sample material. In this study we validate a micromechanical indentation device, the Tissue Diagnostic Instrument (TDI), which implements a cyclic indentation method to determine the material properties of polymers and elastomeric materials. Measurements using the TDI require little or no sample preparation, and they allow the testing of sample materials in situ . In order to validate the use of the TDI, we compared measurements of modulus determined by the TDI to those obtained by unconfined compression tests and by uniaxial tension tests within the limit of small stresses and strains. The results show that the TDI measurements were significantly correlated with both unconfined compression ( p r 2 = 0.92) and uniaxial tension tests ( p r 2 = 0.87). Moreover, the measurements across all three modes of testing were statistically indistinguishable from each other ( p = 0.92; ANOVA) and demonstrate that TDI measurements can provide a surrogate for the conventional methods of mechanical characterization.
Synthesis of Optimum Gain Functions for Static Power Converters

The optimization of transfer characteristics of static power converters has been largely based on converter definition in terms of its circuit configuration. Since converter circuits lack mathematical definition, this approach has failed to produce a comprehensive optimization procedure. Instead, it has led to several unwieldy optimization schemes with limited range of application. A different approach, which employs a more effective converter definition, is discussed. With this, approach, the converter is defined in terms of its ideal gain function, which has an exact mathematical definition. An optimization procedure transforms the ideal gain function into an " optimum" gain function compatible with the switching characteristics of static converters. This procedure is subsequently employed with various classes of static converters to obtain their respective optimum gain functions. A thorough analysis of the resulting converter characteristics demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed optimization approach. In particular, converters with optimum gain functions are clearly shown to generate the minimum possible (for switching converters) harmonic distortion.
On the Mechanism of Pacific Multidecadal Climate Variability in CCSM3: The Role of the Subpolar North Pacific Ocean

Abstract Previous analyses of the Community Climate System Model, version 3 (CCSM3) standard integration have revealed pronounced multidecadal variability in the Pacific climate system. The purpose of the present work is to investigate physical mechanism underlying this Pacific multidecadal variability (PMV). To better isolate the mechanism that selects the long multidecadal time scale for the PMV, a few specifically designed sensitivity experiments are carried out. When the propagating Rossby waves are blocked in the subtropics from the midbasin, the PMV remains outstanding. In contrast, when the Rossby waves are blocked beyond the subtropics across the entire North Pacific, the PMV is virtually suppressed. It suggests that the PMV relies on propagating Rossby waves in the subpolar Pacific, whereas those in the subtropics are not critical. A novel mechanism of PMV is advanced based on a more comprehensive analysis, which is characterized by a crucial role of the subpolar North Pacific Ocean. The multidec...
Regulation of cardiovascular cellular processes by S-nitrosylation.

Abstract Background Nitric oxide (NO), a highly versatile signaling molecule, exerts a broad range of regulatory influences in the cardiovascular system that extends from vasodilation to myocardial contractility, angiogenesis, inflammation, and energy metabolism. Considerable attention has been paid to deciphering the mechanisms for such diversity in signaling. S-nitrosylation of cysteine thiols is a major signaling pathway through which NO exerts its actions. An emerging concept of NO pathophysiology is that the interplay between NO and reactive oxygen species (ROS), the nitroso/redox balance, is an important regulator of cardiovascular homeostasis. Scope of review ROS react with NO, limit its bioavailability, and compete with NO for binding to the same thiol in effector molecules. The interplay between NO and ROS appears to be tightly regulated and spatially confined based on the co-localization of specific NO synthase (NOS) isoforms and oxidative enzymes in unique subcellular compartments. NOS isoforms are also in close contact with denitrosylases, leading to crucial regulation of S-nitrosylation. Major conclusions Nitroso/redox balance is an emerging regulatory pathway for multiple cells and tissues, including the cardiovascular system. Studies using relevant knockout models, isoform specific NOS inhibitors, and both in vitro and in vivo methods have provided novel insights into NO- and ROS-based signaling interactions responsible for numerous cardiovascular disorders. General significance An integrated view of the role of nitroso/redox balance in cardiovascular pathophysiology has significant therapeutic implications. This is highlighted by human studies where pharmacologic manipulation of oxidative and nitrosative pathways exerted salutary effects in patients with advanced heart failure. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Regulation of Cellular Processes by S-nitrosylation.
Bcl-2 proteins regulate ER membrane permeability to luminal proteins during ER stress-induced apoptosis

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced apoptosis may arise from multiple environmental and pharmacological causes, but the precise mechanism(s) involved are not completely known. Members of Bcl-2 protein family are important regulators of apoptosis. In this study, we report that in a process dependent on the proapoptotic Bcl-2 members Bax and Bak, exogenously expressed fluorescent protein localized to the ER lumen is released into the cytosol in cells undergoing ER stress. Upon ER stress induction, endogenous ER luminal proteins are also released into the cytosol in a similar manner accompanied by translocation and anchorage of Bax to the ER membrane. In addition, Bax and truncated-Bid (tBid) mediate a global increase in ER membrane permeability to ER luminal proteins in vitro. Importantly, antiapoptotic Bcl-XL antagonizes the effects of proapoptotic Bcl-2 proteins on ER membrane permeability. Consistent with Bax translocation to the ER membrane in whole apoptotic cells, there is also increased tight association of Bax with the ER membrane correlated with the increase in ER membrane permeability in vitro. Overall, these data suggest that the regulation of ER membrane permeability by Bcl-2 proteins could be an important molecular mechanism of ER stress-induced apoptosis.
Visualizing disease associations: graphic analysis of frequency distributions as a function of age using moving average plots (MAP) with application to Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

Age-related variation in marker frequency can be a confounder in association studies, leading to both false positive and false negative findings and subsequently to inconsistent reproducibility. We have developed a simple method, based on a novel extension of moving average plots (MAP), which allows investigators to inspect the frequency data for hidden age-related variations. MAP uses the standard case-control association data and generates a birds-eye view of the frequency distributions across the age spectrum; a picture in which one can see if, how, and when the marker frequencies in cases differ from that in controls. The marker can be specified as an allele, genotype, haplotype, or environmental factor; and age can be age at onset, age when subject was last known to be unaffected, or duration of exposure. Signature patterns that emerge can help distinguish true disease associations from spurious associations due to age effects, age-varying associations from associations that are uniform across all ages, and associations with risk from associations with age-at-onset. Utility of MAP is illustrated by application to genetic and epidemiological association data for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. MAP is intended as a descriptive method, to complement standard statistical techniques. Although originally developed for age patterns, MAP is equally useful for visualizing any quantitative trait.
Nutritional status and lung function in patients with emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

This study compared the nutritional status of patients with emphysema and chronic bronchitis and examined the relationship between lung dysfunction and nutritional depletion in patients with emphysema. There was no evidence of nutritional depletion in patients with chronic bronchitis (n = 4). In contrast, patients with emphysema (n = 14) were somatically depleted. They exhibited lower values for percent ideal body weight (%IBW), arm muscle circumference (AMC), and triceps skin fold thickness (TSF) (p
Clinical and experimental microsurgery in China: an historical note.

Despite a slow begining, experimental microsurgery in China may now be on its way to developing a sound research effort to complement the advances made in clinical microsurgery. The development and advances made in both clinical and experimental microsurgery in China since 1946 are reviewed. The experimental and clinical efforts of Professor Wang Suy Hwa and Drs. Yang Dong Yue and Gu Ye Dong in this development are discussed.
Nanofluidic devices for single molecule identification

In this letter, detection of target protein molecules has been demonstrated by a two-dimensional (2D) photon burst analysis technique and microfluidic channel device. Individual molecule events are scatter plotted in terms of their photon counts and burst width in 2D photon burst analysis. Detection of target protein is verified by a higher counts-per-bin for rabbit anti-HA polyclonal antibody sample than that of the control sample from the 2D photon burst analysis. Since this is microfluidic single molecule detection scheme, it has the advantages of high sensitivity, small sample consumption and reduced processing time, comparing to the conventional immunological ensemble measurements, such as western blot, immuno-precipitation, etc.
Nonlinear variants of KdV and KP equations with compactons, solitons and periodic solutions

Abstract In this paper we study the nonlinear dispersion of new variants of the KdV and the KP equations with positive and negative exponents. The approach stems mainly from the sine–cosine method. The study reveals compactons, solitons, solitary patterns and periodic solutions for these models.
The effect of prolonged lithium treatment on the synthesis rate and turnover of monoamines in brain regions of rats

Abstract The effect of prolonged lithium treatment on the dteady state levels and turnover rates of serotonin (5-HT), norepinephrine and dopamine was studied in the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, diencephalon, brain stem and hypothalamus. In normal rats, all 3 monoamines showed significant differences in the steady state levels and turnover rates among brain regions. The highest and lowest rates of synthesis of both 5-HT and norepinephrine were found in the hypothalamus and cerebellum respectively, while the rate of synthesis of dopamine was highest in the diencephalon and lowest in the cerebellum. Prolonged lithium treatment produced a significant change on 5-HT levels only in the hypothalamus (46% reduction) and brain stem (26% reduction) but no significant change in the other regions. There was no significant alteration in both norepinephrine and dopamine levels in any of the 5 discrete areas studied. The turnover rate of 5-HT was slight but not significantly changed by lithium in whole brain studies. However, a significant effect was observed in regional studies. The cerebellum showed a 37% increase in the synthesis rate whereas the hypothalamus showed a 51.1% reduction. The turnover rates of both norepinephrine and dopamine were not significantly affected in most brain regions by prolonged lithium treatment. The mean concentration of lithium in the serum and whole brain were 1.96 meq/l and 0.88 meq/kg respectively. These findings suggest that there may be a variable relationship between the tissue concentration and synthesis rates of the monoamines under both normal conditions and lithium treatment. It was concluded that the observed differences in the action of lithium on monoamines in the regions studied may be related to the morphology of these discrete areas.
Ecology: Nitrogen from the deep.

Ecosystems acquire nitrogen from the atmosphere, but this source can't account for the large nitrogen capital of some systems. The finding that bedrock can also act as a nitrogen source may help solve the riddle. See Letter p.78 Bioavailable nitrogen commonly limits plant growth in natural ecosystems. In the absence of humans, this essential nutrient is thought to come mainly from the atmosphere through bacterial metabolism. Morford et al. present measurements of the nitrogen concentration and isotopic composition of rocks, soil and leaves to demonstrate that bedrock is a further, hitherto-overlooked source of bioavailable nitrogen to forests in the western United States. Furthermore, the forests growing above nitrogen-rich geology store appreciably more carbon than their impoverished counterparts. The authors suggest that this novel pathway might be a universal phenomenon.
Ontogeny of activin B and follistatin in developing embryonic mouse pancreas: implications for lineage selection.

Abstract Activin, a member of the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily, has been shown to be a critical regulator in exocrine and endocrine pancreas formation. The purpose of our study was to describe the ontogeny of activin B and its inhibitor, follistatin, in developing pancreas and to elucidate potential mechanisms for exocrine and endocrine lineage selection. Mouse embryonic pancreata were dissected at various ages (day 10 [E10.5] to birth [E18.5]), sectioned, and immunostained for activin B (one of two existing isomers, A and B), follistatin, insulin and glucagon. In addition, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was employed to determine the messenger RNA expression of follistatin in isolated pancreatic epithelia and mesenchyme of various ages. Activin B was first detected at E12.5 in epithelial cells coexpressing glucagon. At E16.5 these coexpressors appeared as clusters in close proximity to early ducts. By E18.5 activin B was localized to forming islets where cells coexpressed glucagon and were arranged in the mantle formation characteristic of mature alpha cells. Follistatin was found to be ubiquitous in pancreatic mesenchyme at early ages by immunohistochemical analysis, disappearing sometime after E12.5. Follistatin reappeared in E18.5 islets and remains expressed in adult islets. Follistatin messenger RNA was first detected in epithelium at E11.5, preceding its protein expression in islets later in gestation. We propose that mesenchyme-derived follistatin inhibits epithelium-derived activin at early embryonic ages allowing for unopposed exocrine differentiation and relative suppression of endocrine differentiation. At later ages the decrease in the amount of mesenchyme relative to epithelium and the subsequent drop in follistatin levels liberates epithelial activin to allow differentiation of endocrine cells to form mature islets by the time of birth.
Monthly rainfall‐distribution in southern California, with special reference to soil‐erosion problems

Experience in southern California In the excessively wet season of 1940–41 indicated that each step toward the reduction of erosion-losses on dry-farmed bean land would be to provide for the growth of a winter covercrop in those seasons when rainfall is above normal. This premise gave rise to the following questions: (1) What constitutes a normal rainfall-season? (2) How often may normal, abnormal, and subnormal seasons be expected? (3) Is it possible to classify the season according to amount and distribution of rainfall, into a few recognizable types? (4) If such a classification is possible, is there any relation between the type of season and the erosion ail cropping hazard, especially on dry-farmed lima-bean lands? And (5) is there a definite sequence among the types of seasons, that is, may we expect two or three excessively wet seasons in a row.
Stability and Charging Characteristics of the Comma Head Region of Continental Winter Cyclones

AbstractThis paper presents analyses of the finescale structure of convection in the comma head of two continental winter cyclones and a 16-storm climatology analyzing the distribution of lightning within the comma head. A case study of a deep cyclone is presented illustrating how upper-tropospheric dry air associated with the dry slot can intrude over moist Gulf air, creating two zones of precipitation within the comma head: a northern zone characterized by deep stratiform clouds topped by generating cells and a southern zone marked by elevated convection. Lightning, when it occurred, originated from the elevated convection. A second case study of a cutoff low is presented to examine the relationship between lightning flashes and wintertime convection. Updrafts within convective cells in both storms approached 6–8 m s−1, and convective available potential energy in the cell environment reached approximately 50–250 J kg−1. Radar measurements obtained in convective updraft regions showed enhanced spectral ...
“A shot of economic adrenalin”: Reconstructing “The elderly” in the retiree-based economic development literature

Abstract This article considers the reconstruction of elderly identities in the retiree-based economic development literature made up of academic and popular sources. Drawing from post-structuralist theories of representation and the body, I ask how elderly bodies are represented and what they are used to represent in this literature. Identities are shown to be both embodied and emplaced and the politics surrounding identity formation is shown to be spatialized. The transformations in elderly identities are situated within a transition between modernity and postmodernity.
Climate, Snow Cover, Glaciers, and Runoff in the Tien Shan, Central Asia

: The Pica Shan, a mountainous region located on the northern periphery of central Asia, has a wide range of climatic and hydrological conditions. On the basis of long term data from 348 meteorological and glaciological stations, the annual distribution of precipitation in different regions and elevational zones of the Tien Shan was calculated. Major climatic features are the entrance of moisture during spring-summer, small winter precipitation, decrease of precipitation towards the east and the center of the mountains or with distance up valleys, and increase of precipitation with altitude up to crest-lines of ranges. Annual total evaporation from snow can be 50–60 mm per year, reaching 30 percent of snow accumulation. Four main groups of rivers were identified: rivers with mainly snow nourishment, rivers with mainly glacial nourishment, rivers with mainly rain nourishment, and rivers with mainly ground water nourishment. Coefficient of runoff variation in Tien Shan's rivers is about 0.20, and coefficient of glacial runoff variation is about 0.15. Glacial runoff is 15–20 percent of the total volume of river runoff.