cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Predictors of diastolic dysfunction among minority patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes.

Aim To determine mutable risk factors for asymptomatic diastolic dysfunction in ethnic minority patients newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
A new species of Mathevotaenia (Cestoda, Anoplocephalidae, Linstowiinae) from the lizard Sceloporus malachiticus (Squamata, Phrynosomatidae) from Panama

Mathevotaenia panamaensis sp. nov. (Cestoda, Anoplocephalidae, Linstowiinae) from a green spiny lizard, Sceloporus malachiticus, collected in Panama is described. This is the first species of Mathevotaenia reported from a lizard host. The new species is most similar to Mathevotaenia bivittata in that mature eggs are concentrated along the lateral margins of the proglottids. Major differences between the two species include oval cirrus sac in M. bivittata, a spherical cirrus sac in M. panamaensis; ovary compact consisting of 10–15 short lobules in M. bivittata, ovary bilobed with each lobe consisting of 3–4 lobules in M. panamaensis.
Goddard Laboratory For Atmospheric Sciences Physical Retrieval System For Remote Determination Of Weather And Climate Parameter From Hirs2 And Msu Observations

At the Goddard Laboratory for Atmospheric Sciences (GLAS) a physically based satellite temperature sounding retrieval system, involving the simultaneous analysis of HIRS2 and MSU sounding data, was developed for determining atmospheric and surface conditions which are consistent with the observed radiances. In addition to determining accurate atmospheric temperature profiles even in the presence of cloud contamination, the system provides global estimates of day and night sea or land surface temperatures, snow and ice cover, and parameters related to cloud cover. Details of the system are described elsewhere. A brief overview of the system is presented, as well as recent improvements and previously unpublished results, relating to the sea-surface intercomparison workshop, the diurnal variation of ground temperatures, and forecast impact tests.
Reply to comment by F. Feser et al. on `Improved global maps and 54-year history of wind-work on ocean inertial motions'

[1] In their comment, Feser et al. [2003] argue that the NCEP Reanalysis surface winds used by Alford [2003; henceforth A03] are artificially high at high frequencies due to temporal aliasing. This possibility is investigated here by direct comparison with buoy winds in the northeastern Atlantic. As in a previous more extensive buoy comparison in the Pacific [Alford, 2001; henceforth A01], no evidence for aliasing of NCEP winds is found.
SICKLE CELL DWARFISM

We use the term sickle cell dwarfism to describe a group of children with sickle cell disease suffering from severe growth and puberal retardation. Three males and 3 females, ranging from 9 to 17 yr., with multiple sickle cell crisis, were found to have a height 5 to 3 SD from mean for black population, markedly retarded bone age, and lack of puberal development. Pituitary and thyroid functions were evaluated by measuring serum concentrations of T3, T4, TSH, LH, FSH, hCH and prolactin (PRL) by immunoassay; adrenal functions by plasma cortisol, urinary 17KS and 17KGS concentrations tnd ACTH and metyrapone tests; gonadal functions by plasma testosterone and estradiol. hGH was stimulated by insulin induced hypoglycemia and PRL by chlorpromazine and compared to 16 and 9 controls respectively. In 5 children there was no increase in serum hGH after hypoglycemia; in all 6 patients basal serum PRL were lower than controls, but chlorpromazine stimulated serum PRL concentration. Synthetic thyrotropin-releasing factor administered to the only child with hypothyroidism produced a normal increase in serum TSH. All 6 patients had low 17KS and 17KGS; 2 had low basal cortisol levels at 8 a.m. and after hypoglycemia. ACTH produced normal increases in plasma cortisol levels in all 6 patients. Metyrapone failed to stimulate adrenal function in 1 child. Basal FSH and LH were no different from normals. These data suggest that sickle cell dwarfism may be the results of hGH deficiency, isolated or combined with other pituitary hormone deficiencies. Hypothalamic dysfunction may be present.
Sensor Driven Robot Systems Testbed

Intelligent robot systeos which operate in a semiautonomous fashion (i.e. , the operator serves only as a high level supervisor) require the integration of sensors and mechanisms cour.)leA by intelligent software. since such robot syste.as operate in the real worl] with imperfect knowledge of that worll, error recovery is an important aspect of any control strategy. Configured with a 6 degree-of-freedom robot manipulator, two dimensional vision and force sensing, the Sensor driven Robot Systems Testbed offers an environment for the development of control concepts for intelligent machine systems. The Sensor Driven Robot Systems Testbed has led to the development of active sensing concepts using complementary sensors and a highly modular control software concept. Both concepts are currently being implemented within the testbed environment.
Long-term results following surgical treatment of elbow deformity in patients with cerebral palsy.

Purpose To evaluate the long-term results of surgical intervention for elbow flexion deformity in cerebral palsy. We hypothesized that improvements in elbow extension and flexion posture angle at ambulation would be maintained over time with preservation of active flexion. Methods A total of 23 patients (23 elbows) were available for long-term follow-up. Patients had fixed elbow contractures less than 45° and were treated with partial elbow muscle lengthening. Active and passive range of motion and elbow flexion posture during ambulation were measured at each follow-up, and longitudinal results were compared. Results Active extension and flexion posture angle during ambulation improved 12° and 63°, respectively, with an 8° loss of active flexion. Conclusions Soft tissue lengthening of the anterior elbow can provide statistically significant lasting improvements in active extension and flexion posture during ambulation in patients with cerebral palsy. Our long-term findings substantiate previously reported short-term results. Type of study/level of evidence Therapeutic IV.
The thermal field of radiofrequency probes at chondroplasty settings.

Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this experimental study was to evaluate the thermal field produced with monopolar and bipolar radiofrequency probes located at increasing heights from the target treatment site. Type of Study: Experimental study. Methods: Two bipolar (ACD-50, ArthroCare, Sunnyvale, CA; VAPR-TC, Mitec Surgical Products, Westwood, MA) and one monopolar (Vulcan TAC-C II, Oratec Interventions, Menlo Park, CA) radiofrequency probes were placed in a screw-driven stage that allowed for 0.25-mm incremental height-position changes. ArthroCare ACD-50 was evaluated at settings 2 and 8. The Mitek VAPR-TC was evaluated at setting 65°C and V2-20 desiccation mode. The Oratec Vulcan TAC-C II system was evaluated at preset 2, power 15, set temperature 70°C. The RF-probes were evaluated at variable distances from 0 to 2 mm. A fluoroptic thermometer was used to evaluate the temperatures within a room temperature 0.9% normal saline arthroscopic simulation chamber. Results: The ACD-50 setting 2 at 0 mm was 89.1°C; at 0.5 mm, 71.2°C; and at 2 mm it was 37.3°C. The ACD-50 setting 8 at 0 mm was 87.3°C; at 0.5 mm, 42.5°C; and at 2 mm, 33.6°C. The Mitek VAPR-TC at 0 mm was 53.1°C; at 0.5 mm, 42.5°C; and at 2 mm, 26.8°C. The Oratec Vulcan at 0 mm was 73.9°C; at 0.5 mm, 60.3°C; and at 2 mm, 29.0°C. Each of these radiofrequency systems produced characteristic thermal fields at these settings. Conclusions: The temperature decreases with increasing distance characteristically for each radiofrequency probe. This is clinically important because altering radiofrequency probe location may cause large variations in articular cartilage thermal exposure.
BIOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON BLACK GRAM (PHASEOLUS MUNGO): I. Solubilization and Electrophoretic Characterization of The Proteins.

Protein content of 60 mesh, dehydrated, defatted black gram (Phaseolus mungo) meal was 28.5%. Sodium carbonate (0.5–1.0%), te trasodium pyrophosphate (0.5%), and sodium dodecyl sulfate (0.5–5%) extracted more than 76 gram Lowry's protein per 100 gram Kjeldahl protein. On the considerations of contaminating residue in the final product and disruption of native structure of the proteins these chemical agents were unsuitable. Sodium sulfate at 10% level was judged to be the best protein solubilizer. The phenol-acetic acid-mercaptoethanol-urea (PAMU) system in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was more efficient in resolving protein subunits than the sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) gel system. PAMU dissociated total black gram proteins in one major and 7–8 other sharp bands. Proteins separated on PAMU gel were run on the flat bed polyacrylamide gel containing SDS system. The proteins were then separated in 13 subunits, the molecular weight of the major one was 55,000. Defatting with n-hexane improved protein extraction by 6%. Solubilized proteins contained 81% globulins, 13% albumins, 4% ethanol soluble proteins, and 2% acetic acid soluble proteins.
More Than Just Plain Old Technology Adoption: Understanding Variations in Teachers' Use of an Online Planning Tool

This paper examines variability in teachers’ usage patterns as they interacted with an online teacher support tool, the Curriculum Customization Service (CCS), in their professional work. Understanding variation of use with technology provides information about why users, and in this case teachers, use certain elements in their planning and teaching. By mining the usage log files of over 40 teachers who used the CCS over a year-long period, we analyzed for variability using a framework developed in marketing research to characterize appropriation of technology. This analysis helped reveal different kinds of teachers’ patterns along two dimensions: frequency and variability of use. We then turned to qualitative records of teachers’ experiences during the year to better understand why those variations appeared. Focusing on the experiences of several teachers, using their log files with interview and observation data, we distilled “contextual contingencies” that influenced how they chose to use the CCS.
Trade, People and Places: A Social Economic–Geographic Approach to Comparative Institutional Advantage

Abstract This paper examines the theoretical underpinning of contemporary trade policies through a social economics lens. The paper offers a social economic critique of the theory of comparative advantage and the recently developed theory of comparative institutional advantage. Subsequently, the paper develops a more comprehensive and general theory of comparative institutional advantage consistent with the principles and methodology of social economics. Furthermore, it suggests ways in which this social economic–geographic version of the theory of comparative institutional advantage can be used in the construction of trade policies which are more likely to have a beneficial impact on the welfare of communities and to foster the fulfilling of human needs and potential. This version of the theory serves to reorient the focus of economic policy to the welfare of the community and the income-generating possibilities of trade. And it serves as a superior guide to policymaking because it is better able to defi...
A Clinical Investigation of Nocturnal Polyuria in Patients With Nocturia: A Diurnal Variation in Arginine Vasopressin Secretion and its Relevance to Mean Blood Pressure

Purpose: Nocturia is a common lower urinary condition in the elderly population and nocturnal polyuria is recognized as a major factor responsible for nocturia. A functional change in osmotic or nonosmotic control regarding the water-salt balance with aging may contribute to nocturnal polyuria. This study evaluated plasma arginine vasopressin secretion function in symptomatic patients with nocturnal polyuria and the impact of mean blood pressure on nocturnal polyuria.Materials and Methods: A total of 29 patients who had nocturnal polyuria with 3 or more voids nightly and were screened with a 24-hour voiding diary were evaluated for their diurnal rhythm of arginine vasopressin secretion and osmotic response during a 5% hypertonic saline infusion test. Moreover, the relationships between the severity of nocturnal polyuria, ie the nocturnal polyuria index, or mean voided volume and mean blood pressure were assessed.Results: Decreased nocturnal baseline arginine vasopressin according to plasma osmolality was ...
Developmental Life Cycle of Leishmania—Cultivation and Characterization of Cultured Extracellular Amastigotes

The biochemistry and immunology of Leishmania promastigotes has been extensively studied; this is due primarily to the facility with which this stage, in contrast to the amastigotes stage, can be maintained in axenic culture. Several attempts to axenically culture lines of Leishmania amastigotes have been reported in the literature. This paper summarizes methods of adaptation (low pH, elevated temperature and culture medium) and characterization of several axenic lines of Leishmania amastigotes. Based on morphological, biological, immunological and biochemical evidence, these organisms appear to resemble amastigotes from infected macrophages or tissue. The axenically cultured amastigotes appear to be distinct from shocked (heat, serum deprivation, stressed) Leishmania promastigotes in the plethora of proteins synthesized, growth (multiplication) in culture, and developmental regulation observed. These data suggest that Leishmania organisms have a significant developmental response to certain signals (pH, temperature) mimicking their in vivo macrophage milieu. The response to other environmental parameters characteristic of the host-macrophage remain to be determined. These axenically cultured amastigotes should be of interest for further immunological, biochemical and developmental investigations of the disease-maintaining stage of this parasite.
An improved technique for mating European Pine shoot moth, Rhyacionia buoliana (Lepidoptera: Olethreutidae) in the laboratory.

An improved cage arrangement resulted in 73% of the female European pine shoot moths being mated during a 48-hour test. Key factors were continual airflow from females to males and a light-to-dark illumination change. The ponderosa pine tip moth, Rhyacionia zozana (Kearf.), the black-headed budworm, Acleris gloverana (Wlsm.), and two species of spruce budworm, Choristoneura occidentalis Freeman and C . viridis Freeman, were also tested in the apparatus with some success in every case.
A Virtual Lab in Research Methods

A hands-on lab for a lower division research methods course used an online format with Web page, Web forms, an e-mail listproc, and chat room. The virtual section received a higher rating for overall value than did the in-person labs. Students liked its convenience and flexibility. There were no significant differences in examination performance between students who took the online lab and 12 others who requested it, but could not be accommodated. Compared with the traditional course, more time was required in constructing assignments and communicating with students. A major advantage was eliciting responses from all students in contrast with the usual lab section.
A Drug Burden Index to Define the Functional Burden of Medications in Older People

Background Older people carry a high burden of illness for which medications are indicated, along with increased risk of adverse drug reactions. We developed an index to determine drug burden based on pharmacologic principles. We evaluated the relationship of this index to physical and cognitive performance apart from disease indication. Methods Data from the Health, Aging, and Body Composition Study on 3075 well-functioning community-dwelling persons aged 70 to 79 years were analyzed by multiple linear regression to assess the cross-sectional association of drug burden index with a validated composite continuous measure for physical function, and with the Digit Symbol Substitution Test for cognitive performance. Results Use of anticholinergic and sedative medications was associated with poorer physical performance score (anticholinergic exposure, 2.08 vs 2.21, P P P = .045; sedative exposure, 34.0 vs 35.5, P = .01). Associations were strengthened when exposure was calculated by principles of dose response. An increase of 1 U in drug burden index was associated with a deficit of 0.15 point ( P P = .01) on the Digit Symbol Substitution Test. These values were more than 3 times those associated with a single comorbid illness. Conclusions The drug burden index demonstrates that anticholinergic and sedative drug exposure is associated with poorer function in community-dwelling older people. This pharmacologic approach provides a useful evidence-based tool for assessing the functional effect of exposure to medications in this population.
Synchronizing Visual and Language Processing: An Effect of Object Name Length on Eye Movements

Are visual and verbal processing systems functionally independent? Two experiments (one using line drawings of common objects, the other using faces) explored the relationship between the number of syllables in an object's name (one or three) and the visual inspection of that object. The tasks were short-term recognition and visual search. Results indicated more fixations and longer gaze durations on objects having three-syllable names when the task encouraged a verbal encoding of the objects (i.e., recognition). No effects of syllable length on eye movements were found when implicit naming demands were minimal (i.e., visual search). These findings suggest that implicitly naming a pictorial object constrains the oculomotor inspection of that object, and that the visual and verbal encoding of an object are synchronized so that the faster process must wait for the slower to be completed before gaze shifts to another object. Both findings imply a tight coupling between visual and linguistic processing, and h...
Chronic fatigue syndrome: traditional and community-based approaches to rehabilitation

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a controversial condition defined by 6 months or more of unexplained fatigue, and at least four out of eight cognitive and physical symptoms. Over the past 2 decades, CFS has been the subject of significant debate regarding its definition, cause and recommended treatment. Because a cure for the syndrome has not yet been located, efforts to improve functioning and overall quality of life through rehabilitation represent the most practised form of treatment to date. However, controversy remains as to which approach to rehabilitation is most effective for individuals with CFS. Interventions which take place within real-world environments and utilise community-based organizations such as centres for independent living offer a newly explored means of support and rehabilitation. The present paper reviews a variety of approaches to rehabilitation for individuals with CFS, describing their applications with different types of patients, and providing critical commentary on the research methodologies used to evaluate them. Innovative community-based rehabilitation programmes and their outcomes are described as an alternative with some promise that may compliment more traditional approaches.
Integrated Pricing Modeling for Digital Services Providers in Web 2.0 Envrionment

Apart from Web services enablement technology and infrastructure, services pricing strategies determine its ultimate outcome for any services delivery in the community-based collaboration environment such as Web 2.0 enabled service market. In this paper, we model pricing strategies by taking services' demands into consideration. We show that the presented different pricing models are complement to each other. They fit the needs of different consumer types such as savvy consumers or causal consumers. One implication of the analysis is to design flexible pricing schemes within Web 2.0 services market as much as possible.
Effect of Cage Size and Bird Density on Performance of Six Commercial Strains of Layers

Abstract THE trend toward housing egg-producing strains of chickens at high densities results from rising costs of buildings, equipment and labor. Cages are used more with birds housed at high densities. Logan (1965) reported if birds are to be housed at high densities cages should be used, while floor housing is advantageous for low densities. Effects of cage size, number of birds per cage, and bird density on performance of egg-producing birds have been widely studied (Shupe and Quisenberry, 1961; Lowe and Heywang, 1964; Moore et al., 1965; Cook and Dembnicki, 1966; Elmslie et al., 1966; Wilson et al., 1967; and Champion and Zindel, 1968). In general, egg production declined and mortality increased as bird population or bird density increased. Several researchers found that responses of layer strains differ significantly with various cage-size and bird-density environments (Gowe, 1956; Francis, 1957a; Cook and Dembnicki, 1966; Elmslie et al., 1966; Wilson et al.,…
Oxidation behavior of ferritic-martensitic and ODS steels in supercritical water

Abstract Ferritic–martensitic and ODS alloys are primary candidates for application as cladding and structural materials in the Generation IV Supercritical Water Reactor. One of the main in-service degradation mechanisms for these alloys is uniform corrosion. This article analyzes the oxide microstructure formed on these alloys to better understand their oxidation behavior. Corrosion tests were performed in both steam and supercritical water (SCW) at 500 and 600 °C. The oxide microstructure was analyzed using microbeam synchrotron radiation diffraction and fluorescence associated with electron microscopy. The oxide forms a three-layer structure with an outer layer containing only Fe 3 O 4 , an inner layer containing a non-uniform (Fe,Cr) 3 O 4 spinel structure, and a diffusion layer containing a mixture of metal grains and chromium-rich precipitates. A marker experiment located the original water–metal interface as the outer–inner layer interface implying a mechanism where iron migrates outwards to form the outer layer and oxygen diffuses inwards to form the inner layer.
The Public and the Religious in Hooker's Polity

Richard Hooker's work seems relevant to two of the major human projects of our time, the search for unity within the Church and the attempt by modern states to establish their rival ideologies in the world. Hooker's fraternal patience with his Puritan opponents has frequently been noted, as well as his courage in daring to suggest publicly in Elizabethan England that even Roman Catholics might be saved. It would seem likely on the face of it that so irenic a figure could contribute much to ecumenical discussion. With regard to the war for the minds and souls of men in which some statesmen regard their countries as now engaged, one would also expect to find material for reflection in Of The Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity, a work in which ultimate convictions and values are treated in intimate relation to their possible social embodiment and political enforcement.
NSF Director to resign

Edward A. Knapp, director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) since late 1982, will resign his post later this year to return to research at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. President Ronald Reagan has announced his intention to nominate Erich Bloch, vice president for technical personnel development at the IBM Corp., as Knapp's successor. Following formal nomination by President Reagan, the Senate must confirm Bloch as NSF director. If Bloch is confirmed, he is likely to bring to NSF the greater emphasis on engineering that the agency has sought in response to requests from Congress and the engineering community during the last year.
Native American Postcolonial Psychology

Native American Postcolonial Psychology. Eduardo Duran and Bonnie Duran. Albany: State University of New York Press, 1995. 227 pp.
Case 60: Respiratory Arrest After Extubation

It is late in the evening. You are taking over a case from one of your colleagues. The patient is an American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I (ASA 1), 14-year-old girl, 52 kg, and 5′5″. She is having an operation for nonunion of a fractured tibia. The patient is supine and the head is beside the anesthesia machine. Your colleague gives you a full report. You note gas flows, the anesthetic record, and the vital signs. The oxygen tank is full and the pipeline pressure is normal. The suction is attached and working. The patient is otherwise healthy and she has no allergies. There has been minimal blood loss, due to the use of a tourniquet. She is intubated with a #7 endotracheal tube (ETT) and mechanically ventilated. You note no Guedel airway in her mouth, but an esophageal stethoscope with a temperature sensor (DeRoyal, 200 DeBusk Lane, Powell. TN 37849)
Wildland Fire and Eastern States Diversity

The frequency, severity and extent of wildland fires are largely a function of interactions deriving from ecosystem, atmospheric and demographic processes. Science explains universally applicable characteristics of wildland fire, but practical application of fire science requires knowledge of a diverse array of regionally to locally specific conditions. These include ecosystems and how they have evolved, land use history and land use change, demographic trends, fire history and current risk, and the ability of fire managers to bring resources and experience to emergencies in a timely manner. The 95th meridian divides the continental United States in terms of ecosystems, climate, demographics and fire regimes. Fire management and research funding favors the west, but over half of our forests, 70% of our people and the bulk of wildland urban interface (WUI) lands are in the east. Efficient application of fire science information for eastern fire management will benefit from strategies that account for climate, ecosystem, demographic and fire regime diversity of the eastern United States.
Adjustable hybrid resampling approach to computationally efficient probabilistic inference of structural damage based on vibration measurements

This paper presents a novel Adjustable Hybrid Resampling (AHR) approach to deriving samples representing probabilistic distributions of unknown damage indexes through Bayesian inference based on vibration measurements. The AHR is motivated by the need for reducing computational cost in identifying damage in real-world structures and evaluating its associated uncertainties, and is developed through alternative implementation of two newly developed resampling processes—the reserved sample resampling (RSR) and the direct resampling (DR)—in the transitional Markov chain Monte Carlo (TMCMC) simulation for Bayesian inference. The AHR is able to rapidly identify important regions where samples highly populate, and have the capacity to transform samples to more optimal positions, achieving the desired trade-off between computational expense and accuracy in an adjustable manner controlled by decision-makers. The proposed AHR approach and its efficiency and accuracy are illustrated and examined through identification of damage in truss joints and members by using simulated measurements. The limitation of this study and future research direction in this regard is also discussed.
Transportation System-of-Systems Simulator for Multimodal Demand and Emissions Forecasts

An accurate forecast for future transportation demand and emissions is important for all stakeholders in the National Airspace System. Due to uncertainties in future socio-economic variables and technologies, a scenario-based forecast and analysis is essential. In this sense an interactive simulation environment that provides capability to explore various future possibilities is desired. A Transportation System-of-Systems Simulator (TSS) was envisioned to answer the above challenges. This system-of-system level parametric tradeoff environment includes ground and aviation modes of transportation to capture dynamics in terms of mode choice, mode shift, and introduction of new modes for long distance travel within the continental United States. Parameters can be varied and their impacts on the time series of system level metrics can be interactively observed. Commonly used metrics Revenue Passenger Miles (RPM) and Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) are tracked. Resulting CO2 and NOx are quantified to measure environmental impact.
4-Heptanone in the Mandibular Gland Secretion of the Nearctic Ant, Zacryptocerus varians (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

The mandibular gland secretion of Zacryptocerus varians contains 4-heptanone and 4- heptanol, natural products not previously identified in insects. Their function in the biology of this species is discussed.
Two Paths to the Promotion of Democracy During U.S. Military Interventions

This article argues that presidents adopt "pro-liberalization policies" during military interventions for one of two reasons. Presidents' initial choices are most affected by the security conditions in the broad international environment and within the country in question. If presidents initially adopt "non-liberalization" policies, however, liberal internationalist attacks from Congress can often compel presidents to shift to pro-liberalization policies during the course of an intervention. Under these circumstances, presidents use the promotion of democracy to build domestic political consensus and "policy legitimacy" for U.S. interventions. This article tests the argument through an analysis of the universe of cases of the adoption of pro-liberalization and non-liberalization policies during twentieth-century U.S. military interventions.
High-Throughput, Noninvasive Imaging of Root Systems

Root systems are complex structures key to plant health. The three-dimensional distribution of the root system, known as the root architecture, is important for optimal uptake of water and nutrients, as well as anchorage in the soil. Despite the importance of root systems, little is known about the genes that control root architecture, in part because of the difficulty of non-destructively viewing root systems. The Benfey lab has developed a gel-based imaging method to non-invasively examine root system architecture over time. Root systems of a variety of plant species can be quickly imaged daily or weekly. The platform is relatively inexpensive, high-throughput, and is ideally suited for researchers aiming to understand the genetic control of root architecture. Here we describe the application of this method to rice and maize root systems.
Unities, Diversities and Reinterpretation

Chinese religion is neither simply unified nor simply diverse. The varying social relations of its adherents allow interpretation and reinterpretation of religious symbols to create both unities and diversities. Approaching these interpretations as active processes in a social context has helped analyze three main points about Chinese religion in Taiwan: (1) Different groups utilize fundamentally diverse styles of interpretation. At one extreme, the popular tradition offers no systematic explanations for most religious acts. People interpret much of their religion piecemeal, in relation to the immediate social context. The religious ideologies of the state cult and accomplished Buddhists or Taoists are more systematized or more passive. Institutionalized social relations, such as those promoted by the state or a monastery, develop religious ideologies most fully, and they control interpretation by enforcing their own version of orthodoxy. (2) Religious interpretations may change as social conditions change. Less ideologized interpretations may change more flexibly, because they escape most institutional control. More ideologized beliefs change as their institutions change, or when those institutions lose control over their ideologies. (3) Unities and diversities across styles of interpretation rest on the particular social relations of the people involved. Basic unities — like a religious concern for secular politics, community and kinship — persist because they fit the experience of many social groups. Groups like the state or the priestly elite push for unity by trying to universalize their own positions. Yet the flexibility of religion allows diverse social groups to offer very different reinterpretations of unified concerns.
Hippocampal PER1: a circadian sentinel controlling RSKy activity during memory formation

Studies have demonstrated a pronounced dependence of memory formation on circadian time; however, the numerous mechanisms underlying this reliance are only beginning to be understood. While the 24-h cellular clock controls various aspects of hippocampal memory formation, its consolidation in particular (i.e., its conversion from short-term to long-term memory), appears to be heavily dependent on circadian activity in hippocampal neurons. Hippocampal memory consolidation requires phosphorylation of the cAMP Response Element-Binding protein, CREB, which upon phosphorylation promotes the transcription of genes necessary for long-term memory formation. Rhythmic cAMP/ERK-MAPK activity upstream of CREB is a necessary component. This Editorial highlights a study by Rawashdeh and coworkers, in which the authors establish the circadian clock gene Period1 (Per1) as a regulator of CREB phosphorylation in the mouse hippocampus, and thus reveal a functional link between circadian rhythms and learning efficiency. Read the highlighted article 'Period1 gates the circadian modulation of memory-relevant signaling in mouse hippocampus by regulating the nuclear shuttling of the CREB kinase pP90RSK' on page 731.
Introduction to special issue: Self-regulation of appetite-it's complicated.

Objective A meeting of multidisciplinary biobehavioral scientists and National Institutes of Health (NIH) program staff was convened by the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives, Office of the Director, NIH to examine mechanisms associated with humans' ability to self-regulate appetite and appetitive behavior. Methods Based upon prior discussions of the NIH Obesity Research Task Force Behavioral Phenotyping Work Group, the premise was adopted that, in modern society, multiple factors on multiple levels interact to create circumstances wherein self-control of appetite is difficult, leading to overconsumption of unhealthy foods versus healthy eating patterns, contributing to our current levels of obesity. Through presentations and group discussions, the panel examined how foundational processes/mechanisms directly and indirectly affect appetitive behavior and how these processes can be manipulated to affect food intake and thereby weight. The meeting identified evidence-based mechanisms with the potential to impact self-regulation of appetite and appetitive states (hunger, satiety, food wanting, restraint, reward) and associated behaviors such as overconsumption, eating in the absence of hunger, food seeking, and decision-making that could inform novel weight intervention strategies in free-living, nonlaboratory settings. Conclusion The three summary papers contained in this issue represent the synthesis of the material presented at the meeting and the panel's recommendations on how existing evidence regarding mechanisms and pathways to appetitive behavior can be used to inform future research and novel prevention and intervention strategies to impact prevalence of obesity.
Sparsity-promoting optimal control of systems with symmetries, consensus and synchronization networks

Abstract Optimal control problems in systems with symmetries and consensus/synchronization networks are characterized by structural constraints that arise either from the underlying group structure or the lack of absolute measurements for part of the state vector. Our objective is to design controller structures and resulting control strategies that utilize limited information exchange between subsystems in large-scale networks. To obtain controllers with low communication requirements, we seek solutions to regularized versions of the H 2 optimal control problem. Non-smooth regularization terms are introduced to tradeoff network performance with sparsity of the feedback-gain matrix. In contrast to earlier results, our framework allows the state-space representations that are used to quantify the system’s performance and sparsity of the static output-feedback controller to be expressed in different sets of coordinates. We show how alternating direction method of multipliers can be leveraged to exploit the underlying structure and compute sparsity-promoting controllers. In particular, for spatially-invariant systems, the computational complexity of our algorithm scales linearly with the number of subsystems. We also identify a class of optimal control problems that can be cast as semidefinite programs and provide an example to illustrate our developments.
Outcomes for critical limb ischemia are driven by lower extremity revascularization volume, not distance to hospital

Abstract Objective The objective of this study was to identify relationships among geographic access to care, vascular procedure volume, limb preservation, and survival in patients diagnosed with critical limb ischemia (CLI). Methods Using New York State administrative data from 2000 to 2013, we identified a patient's first presentation with CLI defined by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision diagnosis and procedure codes. Distance from the patient's home to the index hospital was calculated using the centroids of the respective ZIP codes. A multivariable logistic regression model was employed to estimate the impact of distance, major lower extremity amputation (LEA) volume, and lower extremity revascularization (LER) volume on major amputation and 30-day mortality. Volumes and distances were analyzed in quintiles. The farthest distance quintile and the highest procedure volume quintiles were used as references for generating odds ratios (ORs). Results There were 49,576 patients identified with an initial presentation of CLI. The median age was 73 years, 35,829 (73.2%) had Medicare as a primary insurer, 11,395 (23.0%) had a major amputation, and 4249 (8.6%) died within 30 days of admission. Patients in the closest distance quintile were more likely to undergo amputation (OR, 1.53 [1.39-1.68]; P P P P = .0033) and lower odds of amputation (OR, 0.180 [0.142-0.227]; P Conclusions Rates of major amputation are inversely associated with distance from the index hospital, whereas rates of both major amputation and mortality are inversely associated with LER volume. Rates of major amputation and mortality are directly associated with LEA volume. We believe that unless it is otherwise contraindicated, these data support consideration for selective referral of CLI patients to high-volume centers for LER regardless of distance. Within the context of value-based health care delivery, policy supporting regionalization of CLI care into centers of excellence may improve outcomes for these patients.
Racial Disparities in Health Service Utilization Among Medicare Fee-for-Service Beneficiaries Adjusting for Multiple Chronic Conditions.

Objective: To examine racial disparities in health services utilization in Hawaii among Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries aged 65 years and above. Method: All-cause utilization of inpatient, o...
Ethical Issues in Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology

An expanded knowledge base in child and adolescent psychopharmacology has imposed a consideration of ethical issues including prescribing in the face of the lack of a large scientific data base, critical developmental neuropharmacologic issues of children, informed consent issues, and special issues with research. This article addresses these and other selected topics in the ethics of pediatric psychopharmacology.
Use of the Borg scale in exercise prescription for overweight youth.

Twenty overweight children, ages 9-15 years, participated in a study on the usefulness of the Borg 6-20 perceived exertion (RPE) scale as a means for exercise prescription. As a criterion measure, they cycled at four intensities, based on pre-determined % peak power, giving RPE ratings at each load. During two return visits subjects were asked to set the resistance on the ergometer (cycle tasks) and to walk or run around an oval track (track tasks) at intensities they perceived as RPE = 7, 10, 13 and 16. HR-on-RPE regressions were compared among the criterion, cycle and track tasks. Cycle and track lines differed from the criterion (p less than .001). Subjects were, however, able to discriminate among each of the RPE prescriptions on the cycle. They overestimated intensities on the track tasks. We conclude that overweight children need additional instruction in using the Borg scale for exercise prescription.
Abstract 2818: Safety, Feasibility and Signal of Activity of Intra-carotid Allogenic Mesenchymal Stem Cell therapy in a Large Animal Stoke Model

INTRODUCTION: Promising pre-clinical data shows benefits of intra-carotid allogenic mesenchymal stem cell (MSCs) therapy in ischemic stroke (IS) in small animal stroke models. Intra-carotid (IC) delivery of MSCs may be superior to intravenous (IV) delivery. However, due to the large size (15-50 microns) of MSCs, there is a concern that they may cause microvascular occlusion during IC administration. There is a need for large animal experiments to confirm positive results in small animal models as has been recommended by STAIR and STEPS consortia. HYPOTHESIS: We tested the hypothesis that IC administration of allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is feasible and safe in a large animal (canine) stroke model.. METHODS: We performed 1-3 hrs of reversible middle cerebral artery occlusion (rMCAo), in10 female mongrel dogs weighing 40-60 lbs, using an endovascular retrievable coil occlusion of the MCA with a transfemoral arterial approach. At 1 - 72 hrs after rMCAo, animals were assigned to the following treatment groups: A. IC saline placebo (saline) or B. IC allogeneic MSCs or C. IV allogeneic MSCs. Primary outcome measures were: development of angiographic occlusion post-IC MSC or saline infusion, change in MRI infarct volume or new ischemic lesions, and neurological deficit score (NDS) at 4 weeks. Dosing of MSCs was based on extrapolated maximum tolerated dose calculated in a rat study of IC MSCs in our laboratory. RESULTS: Successful IC administration of MSCs was possible in all animals assigned to the treatment group. Animals receiving IC MSCs at 1× 10^6 or 10 × 10^6 (n=6) there were no clinical adverse events or neurological worsening during or 4 weeks post treatment. There were no angiographic decreases in flow or occlusions during or after IC MSC delivery. In the two animals with additional TCD monitoring during IC MSC delivery there were no changes in flow velocity or HITS signals indicating emboli. There was no worsening in MRI infarct volume ([Fig 1][1].) amongst the IC MSC groups. A dramatic decrease in infarct volume was noted, in 2 animals in the IC MSC group with minimal infarct related atrophy at one month. None of the animals in the IV MSC or IC saline groups (n=2 in each group) showed a significant change in MRI infarct volume, and major infarct related atrophy was noted. CONCLUSION: IC MSC administration in a large animal rMCAo model is feasible & safe. [Fig1][1]: In vivo coronal MRI FLAIR sequences in IC delivery of MSCs in canine stroke model. There is a signal of biologic activity seen with IC MSC delivery. A. Baseline infarct at 48 hours after rMCAo. B. Infarct evolution at 29 days after IC administration of 10×10^6 MSCs. ![Figure][2] [1]: #F1 [2]: pending:yes
Delayed enhancement abnormalities as a substrate for persistent atrial fibrillation: bright horizons or white noise?

It has been posited that persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) is maintained by the underlying substrate rather than triggers alone [(1)][1]. This has resulted in the use of adjunctive substrate-modifying ablation strategies for this group of patients. These include, in addition to antral pulmonary
Report of the Committee on Archeological Nomenclature

The following report has been prepared by Prof. John H. Wright, Mr J. D. McGuire, Mr F. W. Hodge, Mr W. K. Moorehead, and Dr C. Peabody, chairman. The recent illness and death of Professor Wright deprived the Committee of his advice and suggestion during the final drafting ; with this exception the report is unanimous.
Algal Physiology at High Temperature, Low pH, and Variable pCO 2 Implications for Evolution and Ecology

Modeling ancient ecosystems challenges the experimental biologist. Through both visual and chemical analysis, the fossil record provides invaluable information on past community composition and hints at the physiology of the members of the ecosystem. The molecular fossil record, as revealed through DNA sequence analysis, helps identify modern relatives of ancient communities. But to more fully understand ancient ecosystems, experimental work on modern analogs (actualistic paleontology) is essential. Furthermore, modern analogs of ancient ecosystems must be studied under appropriate physical conditions. The earth’s environment has changed considerably in the 3.5 or so billion years since life arose. Atmospheric levels of inorganic carbon (Ci) were probably higher, and free oxygen was rare. Surficial fluxes of solar UVB (280 to 320 nm) radiation were probably substantially higher, and day length was shorter. Ocean temperature and pH may have been similar to modern conditions. Interestingly, some of the same environmental factors are again changing, albeit modestly compared to the shifts that have occurred since the Precambrian. Atmospheric pCO2 is rising primarily as a by-product of fossil fuel combustion, and surficial UVB fluxes are rising as a result of the depletion of stratospheric ozone. The associated phenomena of increasing temperature and acidity due to such factors as atmospheric deposition of industrial SO2 emissions and droughtare becoming problems for some temperate aquatic ecosystems (e.g., Yan et al., 1996; Gorham, 1996).
Introduction to Q-Theory

Working in the context of Projective Determinacy (PD), we introduce and study in this paper a countable ∏^1_(2n+1) set of reals Q_(2n+l) and an associated real y^0_(2n+l) for each n ≥ 0 (real means element of ω^ω in this paper). Our theory has analytical (descriptive set theoretic) as well as set theoretic aspects, strongly interrelated with each other.
Imaging the Photoreceptor Mosaic with Adaptive Optics: Beyond Counting Cones

Recent years have seen an explosion in the development of novel ophthalmic imaging devices, delivering noninvasive views of the living retina. Adaptive optics (AO) imaging systems enable resolution of individual cells in the living retina. Analysis of these images has been limited to measures of cone density and regularity. Here, we introduce a small case series where the information in the high-resolution image extends beyond these standard metrics. These images should serve as the basis for evolving discussion as to how best to interpret AO retinal images.