cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Crash Course for Preparing Students for a First Course in Computing: Did it Work?

To improve the performance of students in a required core course in computing, we added a voluntary “boot camp” crash course in the first week of the semester. The boot camp students did remarkably better in the course. Using collected data from two semesters (252 students of which 73 voluntarily enrolled in boot camp), we used observational study with matched sampling to evaluate the effectiveness of the boot camp. We were able to show, with a high degree of confidence, that the boot camp had a direct benefit on freshman and sophomore students and/or students with a higher than average external load.
Determinants of patient satisfaction in chronic illness

Objective To determine whether primary care provided by generalists versus subspecialists resulted in different levels of patient satisfaction among persons with chronic illness. Methods A survey containing the Primary Care Provider Questionnaire and the Health Status Questionnaire (HSQ) was mailed to 2 population-based cohorts of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or diabetes mellitus (DM). All subjects were at least 35 years old and Rochester, Minnesota residents. Descriptive statistics, Spearman correlation coefficients, and multiple regression models were used to describe and compare the determinants of patient satisfaction. Results A total of 86 people (74% female) with RA and 208 people (56% male) with DM responded to the survey. Age range was 41–95 years and median disease duration was 8.7 years (RA) and 13.0 years (DM). Most patients described their health as fair or good. After adjusting for sex differences, RA patients were more likely than DM patients to report having a specialist as their primary care doctor. RA patients, whether reporting seeing a specialist or a generalist, had comparable HSQ physical health, mental health, social functioning, vitality, and bodily pain scores. DM patients seeing a specialist had more bodily pain and poorer physical functioning than those seeing a generalist. Across both chronic illnesses and physician specialties, median scores for patient satisfaction ranged from 17–18 for overall satisfaction (maximum 20); 30–33 for interpersonal skills (maximum 35); 23–26 for technical quality (maximum 30); and 20 for access to care (maximum 25). Multiple linear regression models revealed that 6.8–7.3% of the variation in satisfaction could be explained by HSQ scores, patient demographics, and physician specialty. Conclusion Both RA and DM patients were highly satisfied with their care, regardless of the specialty of the provider. Physician specialty, patient demographics, and HSQ scores explained only a small proportion in the variation in satisfaction. These findings point to the need for additional research to further elucidate the determinants of patient satisfaction.
973-113 Elevated C-Reactive Protein at Discharge and at Three Months After Waning of Symptoms in Unstable Angina is Associated with Recurrence of Instability During 12 Months Follow-up

We have previously reported that elevated levels of an acute phase reactant. C-Reactive Protein (CRP), are common in pts with unstable angina (UA) and related to short term outcome. To assess whether the increase of CRP in UA is a transient condition or persists after clinical stabilization, and whether elevated levels of CRP after stabilization are still associated with prognosis, we measured CRP in 34 patients (pts) with UA: blood samples were taken at discharge from the hospital and 3 months (3 M) after the index event (during a stable phase of the disease). Clinical follow-up of all pts was performed for 12 months. Results CRP values (normal l 3 mg/l) are expressed as median and range. At discharge, 13/34 pts (38%) had a CRP value g3 mg/l (9 mg/l, range 3.629.2). and 21/34 pts (62%) had a CRP value l 3 mg/l (2.4 mg/l, range 0.6–2.8). All 13 pts with elevated CRP at discharge, but one, had elevated levels of CRP also at 3 months, and 9 of them had a coronary event (2 pts myocardial infarction, 7 pts recurrence of instability) within one year of follow-up (mean 159 ± 91 days). Conversely, only 1/21 pts with low CRP at discharge had a myocardial infarction at 10 months (p l 0.001 vs pts with elevated levels at dischargel; of note, at 3 months also this pt had increased levels of CRP Conclusions Our data suggest that in pts with UA, elevated CRP levels at discharge and at 3 months (during a quiescent phase of the disease) are associated with new coronary events (recurrence of instability and acute myocardial infarction).
Oxidation behavior of a complex disilicide/tantalum-10 tungsten alloy system at temperatures of 1700 °F (927 °C) to 2700 °F (1482 °C)

Abstract The oxidation behavior of a complex disilicide coating/90 Ta-10 W alloy system was studied utilizing thermogravimetric, X-ray diffraction and electron microprobe analyses. The coating afforded the alloy substrate complete protection against static oxidation for at least 200 h at temperatures between 1700 ° and 2700 °F (927 ° and 1482 °C). The excellent oxidation resistance of the coating system is due to the formation of a protective layer which consists mainly of SiO 2 presumably with some Ti, V, and W in solution and a second dispersed phase of TiO 2 . While this protective layer is glassy at and above 2100 °F (1149 °C) the reaction products became increasingly crystalline with decreasing temperature between 1700 ° and 2000 ° F (927 ° and 1093 °C).
The adenomatoid odontogenic tumor: An unusual clinical presentation

An adenomatoid odontogenic tumor with an unusual clinical expression is presented. The tumor consisted of two lobes, one centrally situated in the maxilla and the other partially in bone and soft tissue.
NMR assignment of S836: a de novo protein from a designed superfamily

Libraries of de novo proteins provide an opportunity to explore the structural potential of biological macromolecules that have not been biased by billions of years of evolutionary selection. Characterization of individual members of such libraries provides insight into the diversity of structure and dynamics accessible to nascent protein superfamilies in the absence of evolutionary optimization. Here we report the backbone and side chain chemical shifts of protein S836 from a superfamily of designed 4-helix bundles.
Investigation of intermittent air exposure on four-stage and one-stage anaerobic semi-continuous mixed-acid fermentations.

Abstract This study evaluated anaerobic mixed-acid countercurrent fermentations in both strict S (minimal oxygen) and relaxed R (high oxygen) conditions. In relaxed fermentations, filter solids and liquids were exposed to air for 90 min every 56 h. The total acid concentrations for four-stage trains were 23.0 (4S) and 22.1 (4R) g/LLiq, and for one-stage trains were 17.2 (1S) and 18.4 (1R) g/LLiq. The strict and relaxed trains had statistically similar exit yields. The strict trains had significantly more high-molecular-weight carboxylic acids. The relaxed trains had slightly higher conversion and slightly lower selectivity, but not significantly. Air exposure had no significant effect on the bacterial profiles of the strict and relaxed fermentations. For all fermentations, the most abundant bacterial genus was Prevotella, a strict anaerobe. This study shows that the mixed-culture community is oxygen tolerant because it maintains fermentation performance during oxygen-induced stress.
Dr. Strange (high) tech or how I learned to stop worrying and love my MLC/3D treatment planning, stereotactic linac.

I have been asked to write a commentary on the developing trends of modern radiation oncology and the present hightech pathway that is being so heavily traveled. At the risk of appearing to be a Socratic gadfly by some (also a curmudgeon and agent provocateur by others), I begin with two quotes: “If you want to cure Hodgkin’s disease, you must learn to think like a Reed-Sternberg cell.” Henry S. Kaplan. “If radiation oncologists treated poliomyelitis, today we would have bigger iron lungs.” Franz Buschke.
An Alternative View of the Labelling Versus Psychiatric Perspectives on Societal Reaction to Mental Illness

The relative explanatory power of psychiatric and social variables in the decision to hospitalize and retain mental health patients has been debated primarily by those committed to either the psychiatric (medical) or the labelling model. The issue is considered here through a critical review of the research literature with a commitment to neither model. The research does not allow for unequivocal conclusions, but there is a clear tendency for admission and discharge of mental patients to be related more to social than to psychiatric variables, particularly when the patients are unwilling to be committed or retained. We argue that the search for the best explanation of the research findings on societal reaction to this form of deviant behavior is not limited to the narrow choice presented by proponents of the labelling and psychiatric perspectives. Specifically, a social learning model is suggested as an alternative paradigm capable of better accounting for the research findings. The most controversial issue in the sociologv of mental illness is that involving the differences between the proponents of the psychiatric (medical) and labelling (societal reaction) models of mental illness. The principal participants in defining the terms of the controversy and stating the claims of the two models are W4'alter Gove (a, b, c, d, e; Gove and Fain; Gove and Howell) in support of the psychiatric perspective and Thomas Scheff (a, b, c, d, e) on behalf of labelling theory. Basically the psychiatric model has been presented as viewing deviant behavior as symptomatic of an underlying psychic pathology. Deviant acts socially defined as insane are seen as the symptoms of this sickness in the same sense that a fever is symptomatic of an underlying physical illness. The psychiatric diagnosis of that illness and decisions about whether or how long to treat it are thought to be scientific judgments unaffected by any variables external to the type, severity, and progress of the mental disease. The labelling perspective, on
L-glutamate complexes of chromium(III)

Abstract Two isomers of K[Cr(L-glu)2] (H2glu = glutamic acid) have been prepared in which glutamate is tridentate and coordinates facially. Both have been assigned a cis-N geometry, one to the trans(Oα) isomer, the other to the trans(Oγ) isomer.
Practical Tilted Mirror Systems

It is demonstrated that realistic unobscured mirror systems may be fabricated using only ordinary (rotationally symmetric) surfaces. The low-order aberrations may be balanced by careful selection of the curvatures and tilt angles. The remaining higher-order aberrations are tolerable for slow systems and may be corrected with slight asymmetric surface departures for faster systems.
Electrically stimulated bilayer hydrogels as muscles

Muscle-like actuators have been made from bilayers of crosslinked polyacrylamide and polyacrylic acid hydrogels sandwiched between electrodes. The polyacrylic acid responds to applied positive polarity field by contracting and expelling water which is taken up by the polyacrylamide layers. Previous studies have shown that the effective swelling modulus of polyacrylamide is much lower than polyacrylic acid. Hence the polyacrylamide acts as a sponge. As the polyacrylic acid layer contracts in the x, y and z directions the polyacrylamide is also pulled in on x and y, so that the whole stack becomes narrower and expands along the z- axis. Reversing the field reverses this effect with a time constant of about 1 minute for 1 mm thick layers with a thickness change of about 10%. Linear changes up to 50% have been obtained. Other gel actuators either transfer water across a sheet and so bend, or contract by expelling water. This new system shows a linear contraction and expansion without a volume change and so can be run (sealed) in a dry environment.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Cellular kinetics in a patient with Sezary syndrome

Cellular kinetics and proliferation of Sezary cells (SC) were studied in a 48-year-old woman with Sezary syndrome (SS). In vitro flash labeling indices of peripheral blood (PB) SC were studied by labeling with tritiated thymidine (3HTdR) and tritiated cytidine (3HCdR). Intradermal SC were labeled in vivo by local injection of 3HTdR followed by skin biopsies of the injected sites. Traffic patterns of DNA labeled PB SC were studied by intravenous 3HTdR followed by sampling of PB, skin, lymph node (LN), and bone marrow (BM). Fluxes of PB SC in various tissues were investigated by autotransfusion of 3HCdR labeled PB SC followed by serial sampling of PB, LN, BM, and skin. In vitro response of PB SC followed by serial sampling of PB, LN, BM, and skin. In vitro response of PB SC to phytohemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (Con A), and pokeweed (PWM) were also investigated. The results from these studies in this patient indicate that 1) proliferation of SC was primarily in the skin, 2) there was a negligible flux of SC from blood into skin, LN, and BM, and 3) the mitogenic response of PB mononuclear cells (mostly SC) to PHA, PWM, and Con A was poor.
Slavery in the American Republic: Developing the Federal Government, 1791–1861. By David F. Ericson. (Lawrence, KS: University Press of Kansas, 2011. Pp. ix, 298. $37.50.)

In this closely reasoned, carefully defended work, the author argues that the presence of slavery in the United States acted in important ways to enhance the development of the federal government. ...
Muscle deficiency and neonatal death in mice with a targeted mutation in the myogenin gene

Myogenin is a muscle-specific transcription factor that can induce myogenesis in a variety of cell types in tissue culture. To test myogenin's role in vivo, mice homozygous for a targeted mutation in the myogenin gene were generated. These mice survive fetal development but die immediately after birth and show a severe reduction of all skeletal muscle. Myogenin-mutant mice differ from mice carrying mutations in genes for the related myogenic factors Myf5 and MyoD, which have no muscle defects. Myogenin is therefore essential for the development of functional skeletal muscle.
Reconstruction of the pediatric burned hand.

SUMMARY It is clear that reconstruction of pediatric hand bums is a complicated task (Fig. 8), and attention to details during the acute phase of injury may be surgeons' greatest ally in subsequent functional rehabilitation of the hand. Reducing edema, maintaining digital circulation, limiting inflammation, and mobilizing the limb early are key parameters to assure return of function during the acute phase of injury. Although children may present with neglected contractures at a later date, even grade IV contractures can be surgically approached with hopes of improving hand function. Loss of the thumb in children with very large total body surface area burns can be approached reliably by lengthening of the thumb using first-to-second metacarpal transfers, as described by Littler. 10 Although electrical injuries represent only a small fraction of patients admitted to our hospitals, children who present with viable insensate hands can have reliable sensory return more than 1 year after injury using nonvascularized cable nerve grafts if soft tissue coverage is adequate. As surgical procedures continue to evolve in delayed reconstruction of the hand, one would expect children to show better results than those seen in adult patients. A more aggressive surgical approach, with increased optimism, therefore is required when addressing children with complex hand burns requiring reconstruction.
Coordinate stretching and interface location I. Star models in quasi-static equilibrium☆

Abstract The use of the coordinate stretching procedure of Poincare and Lighthill is investigated for its applicability to the question of interface location in two-point boundary-value problems. The case in which an interface separates zones of convective and radiative equilibrium in star models is used to exemplify the technique. We discuss briefly the necessary conditions for choosing the arbitrary Poincare-Lighthill function, and we formulate the linearized problem by making a particular choice for the function.
The Critical Role of IFN-γ in Experimental Coronavirus Retinopathy

Purpose Experimental coronavirus retinopathy (ECOR) is an animal model of progressive retinal disease that is first manifest as an acute retinal inflammation followed by chronic, immune-associated retinal degeneration in genetically susceptible, BALB/c mice. In retinal degeneration-resistant CD-1 mice, only the acute infection is seen. In the present study, interferon (IFN)-gamma production during ECOR was studied and its role evaluated in the clearance of infectious virus from the retina. Methods BALB/c, CD-1, and IFN-gamma-deficient (IFN-gamma gko) mice were inoculated with the JHM strain of murine coronavirus by the intravitreal route. Mouse eyes were evaluated for infiltrating cells and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) expression by immunocytochemical staining. Isolated retinas were analyzed for IFN-gamma mRNA by RT-PCR, and sera were evaluated for IFN-gamma protein by ELISA assays. Results Virus infection in BALB/c mice was associated with an increase in the incidence and levels of systemic IFN-gamma. Moreover, IFN-gamma mRNA was detected within the retinas of infected animals during the acute phase of the disease but was not detected in normal or mock-injected animals. IFN-gamma mRNA was detected at the time of T-cell infiltration, and earlier studies have shown that this is temporally related to granzyme B gene expression and the clearance of infectious virus from the retina. Retinal IFN-gamma mRNA was also associated with the upregulation of MHC class I and II molecules within the retina. When this infection occurred in IFN-gamma gko mice, the virus was unchecked, and the infection led to death. Conclusions These studies indicate that generation of IFN-gamma by cells infiltrating the retina is an essential part of an immune mechanism responsible for noncytolytic clearance of infectious virus from the retina.
Mitotic inhibition of GRASP65 organelle tethering involves Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) phosphorylation proximate to an internal PDZ ligand

GRASP65 links cis-Golgi cisternae via a homotypic, N-terminal PDZ interaction, and its mitotic phosphorylation disrupts this activity. Neither the identity of the PDZ ligand involved in the GRASP65 self-interaction nor the mechanism by which phosphorylation inhibits its interaction is known. Phospho-mimetic mutation of known cyclin-dependent kinase 1/cyclin B sites, all of which are in the C-terminal “regulatory domain” of the molecule, failed to block organelle tethering. However, we identified a site phosphorylated by Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) in the GRASP65 N-terminal domain for which mutation to aspartic acid blocked tethering and alanine substitution prevented mitotic Golgi unlinking. Further, using interaction assays, we discovered an internal PDZ ligand adjacent to the PLK phosphorylation site that was required for tethering. These results reveal the mechanism of phosphoinhibition as direct inhibition by PLK1 of the PDZ ligand underlying the GRASP65 self-interaction.
Fabrication of cellulase protein fibers through concentric electrospinning

Abstract Cellulase catalyzes the hydrolysis of cellulose to glucose and is of great interest for biofuel production. Cellulase fibers with diameters ranging from 100 to 500 nm were fabricated for the first time by core–shell electrospinning. The enzymes in the core were cross-linked using glutaraldehyde and the PEO outer shell washed away using water and methanol to produce a free standing nonwoven enzyme fiber mat. The activity of the cross-linked protein fibers was determined to be 24% that of the free enzyme for hydrolysis of an insoluble paper substrate. Also, the cellulase was complexed with Ca 2+ and electrospun for EDX analysis. Elemental mapping of Ca 2+ showed fibers that cross-linked cellulase fibers maintained the fibrous morphology after washing away the PEO shell.
A comparison of some approaches to the diabatic wind profile

Several expressions for the wind profile in diabatic flow were compared with each other. Although the forms compared appear quite different, it was found that a great deal of similarity existed among them. It was concluded that accuracy of wind observations will have to be improved before it can be stated conclusively that one expression best describes the observed profiles.
Longitudinal and lateral-directional coupling effects on nonlinear unsteady aerodynamic modeling from flight data.

To investigate the coupling effects between the longitudinal and lateral-directional aerodynamics, a nonlinear normal force model, set up with a fuzzylogic algorithm by using one longitudinal maneuver flight of an F-16XL configuration, is used to predict the normal force coefficients for the same configuration in a rapid rolling maneuver with large amplitudes. It is found that significant discrepancies between the predicted values and those from flight data analysis occur when roll rates are high. Pitch damping is also shown to be dependent on pitch rates, and roll rates as well. Furthermore, the time rate of angle of attack may cause the roll and yaw derivatives to vary significantly. Airplane maneuvering time history effects are seen to significantly alter the longitudinal and lateraldirectional stability characteristics.
Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal osteomyelitis in children.

Objective Little attention has been given to acute hematogenous osteomyelitis (AHO) caused by group A β-hemolytic Streptococcus (GABHS), although up to 10% of cases are caused by this microorganism. The objective of this study was to define the clinical and laboratory characteristics of AHO caused by GABHS. Methods. Between January 1983 and June 1999, 29 patients were treated at Children’s National Medical Center with AHO caused by GABHS. The characteristics of these patients were compared with those of 28 patients with AHO caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae and those of a matched sample of 45 patients with AHO caused by Staphylococcus aureus . Results. Median ages of children with GABHS, S pneumoniae , and S aureus AHO were 36.0, 13.7, and 96.0 months, respectively. On admission, patients with GABHS AHO had a mean temperature of 38.9 ± 1.3°C and a mean white blood cell count of 17 000 ± 7800/mm 3 , findings similar to those from patients with S pneumoniae AHO. Patients with S aureus AHO had significantly lower admission temperature (38.1 ± 1.1°C) and white blood cell count (10 600 ± 4900/mm 3 ). Varicella infection was the risk factor in 5 cases (17%) of GABHS AHO, whereas none of the cases of AHO caused by S pneumoniae and S aureus was associated with varicella infection. Adjacent septic arthritis occurred in 22%, 28%, and 61% of children with GABHS, S aureus , and S pneumoniae AHO, respectively. Admission erythrocyte sedimentation rate and frequency of bacteremia were similar in all groups. However, time to normalization of erythrocyte sedimentation rate was longer for GABHS and S aureus than for S pneumoniae AHO. GABHS, like S pneumoniae , affected fewer nonextremity bones compared with S aureus . Conclusions. GABHS should be considered in preschool- and early school-aged children who are suspected of having AHO and whose clinical and laboratory features are characterized by high fever and marked leukocytosis. It should also be highly considered in any child with AHO associated with varicella infection.
Radiation Heat Transfer Between Diffuse-Gray Surfaces Using Higher Order Finite Elements

This paper presents recent work on developing methods for analyzing radiation heat transfer between diffuse-gray surfaces using p-version finite elements. The work was motivated by a thermal analysis of a High Speed Civil Transport (HSCT) wing structure which showed the importance of radiation heat transfer throughout the structure. The analysis also showed that refining the finite element mesh to accurately capture the temperature distribution on the internal structure led to very large meshes with unacceptably long execution times. Traditional methods for calculating surface-to-surface radiation are based on assumptions that are not appropriate for p-version finite elements. Two methods for determining internal radiation heat transfer are developed for one and two-dimensional p-version finite elements. In the first method, higher-order elements are divided into a number of sub-elements. Traditional methods are used to determine radiation heat flux along each sub-element and then mapped back to the parent element. In the second method, the radiation heat transfer equations are numerically integrated over the higher-order element. Comparisons with analytical solutions show that the integration scheme is generally more accurate than the sub-element method. Comparison to results from traditional finite elements shows that significant reduction in the number of elements in the mesh is possible using higher-order (p-version) finite elements.
Characterization of an Intron Splice Enhancer that Regulates Alternative Splicing of Human GH Pre-mRNA

Splicing of pre-mRNA transcripts is regulated by consensus sequences at intron (intervening sequence, IVS) boundaries and the branch site. In vitro studies have shown that the small introns of some genes also require intron splice enhancers (ISE) to modulate splice site selection. An autosomal dominant form of isolated GH deficiency (IGHD-II) is caused by mutations in IVS3 of the GH-1 gene that cause exon 3 (E3) skipping, resulting in truncated hGH products that prevent secretion of normal hGH. Interestingly, some of these IGHD-II mutations perturb an ISE that is buried in IVS3. We localized this ISE by quantitating the effects of deletions within IVS3 on E3 skipping. The importance of individual nucleotides to ISE function was determined by analyzing the effects of point mutants and additional deletions. Our results show that (i) an ISE with a G 2 X 1-4 G 3 motif resides in IVS3 of GH-1;(ii) both runs of Gs are required for ISE function; (iii) a single copy of the ISE regulates E3 skipping and (iv) ISE function can be modified by an adjacent AC element. Our findings reveal a new mechanism by which mutations can cause inherited human endocrine disorders and suggest that (i) ISEs may regulate splicing of transcripts of other genes and (ii) mutations of these ISEs or of the transacting factors that bind them may cause other genetic disorders.
Injection of bovine parathyroid poly(A)+ RNA into xenopus oocytes confers sensitivity to high extracellular calcium

Parathyroid cells detect increments in the extracellular [Ca2+], which lead to substantial increases in intracellular free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) and, ultimately, to suppression of parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion. To determine whether mRNA from parathyroid tissue could confer sensitivity to high extracellular Ca2+, we isolated and injected total bovine parathyroid poly(A)+ RNA into Xenopus laevis oocytes. To assess translational activity of the RNA, PTH released into the media was measured. Intact PTH was detected in the medium for ≤48 h, and injection of increasing amounts of RNA (∼0.5–50 ng/oocyte) led to the release of greater quantities of PTH. We screened for the expression of a putative Ca2+ sensor molecule by measuring 45Ca efflux from preloaded oocytes, in response to raising extracellular [Ca2+] from 0.7 to 5.7 mM. This increment in [Ca2+] stimulated 45Ca efflux by 249 ± 52 cpm over 20 min from eggs injected with parathyroid poly(A)+ RNA (n = 22). This response was significantly greater than 45Ca efflux from any group of controls exposed to the same change in extracellular Ca2+ (p < 0.02), including oocytes injected with either water, cRNA for the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) BB receptor, or T cell poly(A)+ RNA. Size-fractionation of poly(A)+ RNA over sucrose gradients demonstrated that mRNA, which induced responsiveness to high extracellular Ca2+, was present in fractions with transcripts of ˜5–9 kB. Injection of these fractions also conferred sensitivity to the presence of Ba2+ or Sr2+ (both at 5 mM) in the media. These findings establish that parathyroid cells express mRNA for a molecule capable of detecting changes in the extracellular divalent cation concentration. This molecule may play a role in secretory responses mediated by Ca2+ in the parathyroid.
Activity‐dependent Wnt 7 dendritic targeting in hippocampal neurons: Plasticity‐ and tagging‐related retrograde signaling mechanism?

Wnt proteins have emerged as transmembrane signaling molecules that regulate learning and memory as well as synaptic plasticity at central synapses (Inestrosa and Arenas (2010) Nat Rev Neurosci 11:77-86; Maguschak and Ressler (2011) J Neurosci 31:13057-13067; Tabatadze et al. (2012) Hippocampus 22: 1228-1241; Fortress et al. (2013) J Neurosci 33:12619-12626). For example, there is both a training-selective and Wnt isoform-specific increase in Wnt 7 levels in hippocampus seven days after spatial learning in rats (Tabatadze et al. (2012) Hippocampus 22: 1228-1241). Despite growing interest in Wnt signaling pathways in the adult brain, intracellular distribution and release of Wnt molecules from synaptic compartments as well as their influence on synaptic strength and connectivity remain less well understood. As a first step in such an analysis, we show here that Wnt 7 levels in primary hippocampal cells are elevated by potassium or glutamate activation in a time-dependent manner. Subsequent Wnt 7 elevation in dendrites suggests selective somato-dendritic trafficking followed by transport from dendrites to their spines. Wnt 7 elevation is also TTX-reversible, establishing that its elevation is indeed an activity-dependent process. A second stimulation given 6 h after the first significantly reduces Wnt 7 levels in dendrites 3 h later as compared to non-stimulated controls suggesting activity-dependent Wnt 7 release from dendrites and spines. In a related experiment designed to mimic the release of Wnt 7, exogenous recombinant Wnt 7 increased the number of active zones in presynaptic terminals as indexed by bassoon. This suggests the formation of new presynaptic release sites and/or presynaptic terminals. Wnt signaling inhibitor sFRP-1 completely blocked this Wnt 7-induced elevation of bassoon cluster number and cluster area. We suggest that Wnt 7 is a plasticity-related protein involved in the regulation of presynaptic plasticity via a retrograde signaling mechanism as previously proposed (Routtenberg (1999) Trends in Neuroscience 22:255-256). These findings provide support for this proposal, which offers a new perspective on the synaptic tagging mechanism (Redondo and Morris (2011) Nat Rev Neurosci 12:17-30).
A Study of Outlier Analysis Techniques for Delay Testing

This work provides a survey study of several outlier analysis techniques and compares their effectiveness in the context of delay testing. Three different approaches are studied, an Euclidean-distance based algorithm, random forest, and one-class support vector machine (SVM), from which more advanced methods are derived and analyzed. We conclude that one-class SVM using a polynomial kernel is most effective for detecting delay defects, while keeping overkills minimized. The best models were successfully validated and a feasible approach to delay testing using one-class SVM is proposed.
Antisense Expression of the Peptide Transport Gene AtPTR2-B Delays Flowering and Arrests Seed Development in Transgenic Arabidopsis Plants

Previously, we identified a peptide transport gene, AtPTR2-B, from Arabidopsis thaliana that was constitutively expressed in all plant organs, suggesting an important physiological role in plant growth and development. To evaluate the function of this transporter, transgenic Arabidopsis plants were constructed expressing antisense or sense AtPTR2-B. Genomic Southern analysis indicated that four independent antisense and three independent sense AtPTR2-B transgenic lines were obtained, which was confirmed by analysis of the segregation of the kanamycin resistance gene carried on the T-DNA. RNA blot data showed that the endogenous AtPTR2-B mRNA levels were significantly reduced in transgenic leaves and flowers, but not in transgenic roots. Consistent with this reduction in endogenous AtPTR2-B mRNA levels, all four antisense lines and one sense line exhibited significant phenotypic changes, including late flowering and arrested seed development. These phenotypic changes could be explained by a defect in nitrogen nutrition due to the reduced peptide transport activity conferred by AtPTR2-B. These results suggest that AtPTR2-B may play a general role in plant nutrition. The AtPTR2-B gene was mapped to chromosome 2, which is closely linked to the restriction fragment length polymorphism marker m246.
Rapid near infrared spectroscopic method for the detection of spoilage in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fillet.

The possibility of using visible and short-wavelength near-infrared (SW-NIR: 600 to 1100 nm) spectroscopy to detect the onset of spoilage and to quantify microbial loads in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) was investigated. Spectra were acquired on the skin and flesh side of intact trout fillet portions and on minced trout muscle samples stored at 4 °C for up to 8 d or at room temperature (21 °C) for 24 h. Principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares (PLS) chemometric models were developed to predict the onset and degree of spoilage. PCA results showed clear segregation between the control (day 1) and the samples held 4 d or longer at 4 °C. Clear segregation was observed for samples stored 10 h or longer at 21 °C compared with the control (0 h), indicating that onset of spoilage could be detected with this method. Quantitative PLS prediction models for microbial loads were established. For trout fillets, 4 °C: R = 0.97, standard error of predic- tion (SEP) = 0.38 log colony-forming units (CFU)/g (flesh side); R = 0.94, SEP = 0.53 log CFU/g (skin side); R = 0.82, SEP = 0.82 log CFU/g for minced fish held at 21 °C. These results indicate that SW-NIR in combination with multivariate statistical methods can be used to detect and monitor the spoilage process in rainbow trout and quantify microbial loads rapidly and accurately.
Observations of the ionospheric impact of M-class solar flares on local and hemispheric scales

The ionospheric impact of a series of M-class solar flares that occurred on 12 March 2015 is described. A combination of data sets from GPS receivers and two different colocated radio telescopes, the very large array (VLA) and the long wavelength array (LWA), was used to detect and characterize flare-induced irregularities. The data demonstrate that each flare causes a rapid step-like increase in total electron content (TEC) of about 0.2 total electron content units (TECU), 1 TECU = 1016 el m−2. The rise times of these steps are on the order of 1–3 min. The GPS data show signs of traveling ionospheric disturbances likely associated with gravity waves whose magnitudes were temporarily enhanced by the impact of two of the flares. Increased activity within the horizontal TEC gradients observed with the VLA was apparent for several minutes following the flare X-ray peak. The properties of these VLA-detected disturbances are strongly indicative of field-aligned irregularities within the plasmasphere. They initially form at two altitudes, approximately 2600 and 5600 km. Those that form higher quickly disappear, whereas those that form lower appear to descend over a period of ∼7 min to an altitude of roughly 1450 km before disappearing. LWA observations of ionospheric reflections of the HF radio station WWV show a significant and brief (∼few minutes) Doppler frequency disturbance near the onset of TEC enhancement, followed by a ∼5 min drop in received power, indicating increased ionization in the D region.
Hemichannels Formed by Connexin 43 Play an Important Role in the Release of Prostaglandin E 2 by Osteocytes in Response to Mechanical Strain

Osteocytes embedded in the matrix of bone are mechanosensory cells that translate strain into signals and regulate bone remodeling. Our previous studies using osteocyte-like MLO-Y4 cells have shown that fluid flow shear stress (FFSS) increases connexin (Cx) 43 protein expression, prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) release, and intercellular coupling, and PGE(2) is an essential mediator between FFSS and gap junctions. However, the role of Cx43 in the release of PGE(2) in response to FFSS is unknown. Here, the FFSS-loaded MLO-Y4 cells with no or few intercellular channels released significantly more PGE(2) per cell than those cells at higher densities. Antisense Cx43 oligonucleotides and 18 beta-glycyrrhetinic acid, a specific gap junction and hemichannel blocker, significantly reduced PGE(2) release by FFSS at all cell densities tested, especially cells at the lowest density without gap junctions. FFSS, fluid flow-conditioned medium, and PGE(2) increased the activity of dye uptake. Moreover, FFSS induced Cx43 to migrate to the surface of the cell; this surface expressed Cx43 developed resistance to Triton-X-100 solublization. Our results suggest that hemichannels formed by Cx43, instead of intercellular channels, are likely to play a predominant role in the release of intracellular PGE(2) in response to FFSS.
Dermatological diseases in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Context: There are a variety of dermatological diseases that are more commonly seen in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and renal transplants than the general population. Evidence Acquisitions: Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), Google Scholar, Pubmed (NLM), LISTA (EBSCO) and Web of Science has been searched. Results: Some cutaneous diseases are clearly unique to this population. Of them, Lindsay’s Nails, xerosis cutis, dryness of the skin, nephrogenic systemic fibrosis and acquired perforating dermatosis have been described in chronic kidney disease patients. The most common malignancy found in all transplant recipients is non-melanoma skin cancer. Conclusions: It is important for patients and physicians to recognize the manifestations of skin disease in patients suffering from chronic kidney disease to mitigate the morbidity associated with these conditions.
Site-specific gene delivery to stented arteries using magnetically guided zinc oleate-based nanoparticles loaded with adenoviral vectors

Gene therapeutic strategies have shown promise in treating vascular disease. However, their translation into clinical use requires pharmaceutical carriers enabling effective, site-specific delivery as well as providing sustained transgene expression in blood vessels. While replication-deficient adenovirus (Ad) offers several important advantages as a vector for vascular gene therapy, its clinical applicability is limited by rapid inactivation, suboptimal transduction efficiency in vascular cells, and serious systemic adverse effects. We hypothesized that novel zinc oleate-based magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) loaded with Ad would enable effective arterial cell transduction by shifting vector processing to an alternative pathway, protect Ad from inactivation by neutralizing factors, and allow site-specific gene transfer to arteries treated with stent angioplasty using a 2-source magnetic guidance strategy. Ad-loaded MNPs effectively transduced cultured endothelial and smooth muscle cells under magnetic conditions compared to controls and retained capacity for gene transfer after exposure to neutralizing antibodies and lithium iodide, a lytic agent causing disruption of free Ad. Localized arterial gene expression significantly stronger than in control animal groups was demonstrated after magnetically guided MNP delivery in a rat stenting model 2 and 9 d post-treatment, confirming feasibility of using Ad-loaded MNPs to achieve site-specific transduction in stented blood vessels. In conclusion, Ad-loaded MNPs formed by controlled precipitation of zinc oleate represent a novel delivery system, well-suited for efficient, magnetically targeted vascular gene transfer.—Chorny, M., Fishbein, I., Tengood, J. E., Adamo, R. F., Alferiev, I. S., Levy, R. J. Site-specific gene delivery to stented arteries using magnetically guided zinc oleate-based nanoparticles loaded with adenoviral vectors.
Robust and efficient quantization and coding for control of multidimensional linear systems under data rate constraints

SUMMARY Recently, we reported results on coding strategies for scalar feedback systems with data-rate-limited feedback channels in which the data-rate constraints are time varying. Such rate-varying channels are typically encountered in communication networks in which links between nodes are subject to noise, congestion, and intermittent disruption. The present paper describes results of extending this research into the multidimensional domain. An important consideration is that for systems of dimension greater than one, many classical feedback designs cannot be realized for operation near the theoretical minimum possible data rate. A novel control coding scheme will be presented, and in terms of this, it will be shown that the advantages of coarse signal quantization that had been reported earlier for scalar systems remain in the multidimensional case. The key is to allocate the communication bandwidth efficiently among faster and slower modes. We discuss various strategies that allocate bandwidth by scheduling the time slots assigned to each mode. In particular, we propose a ‘robust attention varying’ technique, whose merit will be discussed in terms of its robustness with respect to time-varying communication channel capacity and also in terms of how well it operates when the feedback channel capacity is near the theoretical minimum data rate. Copyright # 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Correlation of electroretinographic findings and peripheral retinal nonperfusion in patients with sickle cell retinopathy.

• This study examined the relationship between the proportion of peripheral retinal nonperfusion and electroretinogram measures in one untreated eye of 44 patients with sickle cell retinopathy. The proportion of peripheral retinal nonperfusion was derived from fluorescein angiographic frames covering 180° of the temporal periphery. The extent of peripheral retinal capillary nonperfusion was greater in patients with peripheral retinal neovascularization compared with those without neovascularization. Reductions in electroretinogram a- and b-wave amplitudes were found in patients with and without neovascularization. However, such reductions were of greater frequency and magnitude in patients with neovascularization. Electroretinogram abnormalities were restricted to reductions in amplitude; implicit times were generally normal. In terms of the variables of the b-wave luminance-response function, abnormalities were restricted to reductions in the amplitude variable R max ; values of logK and n were generally within the normal range. Across all patients, there was a significant negative correlation between electroretinogram amplitude measures and capillary nonperfusion, indicating that the electroretinogram provides information about the functional consequences of peripheral capillary nonperfusion in sickle cell retinopathy.
Growth and Development of Colonies of the Red Imported Fire Ant, Solenopsis invicta

A study of new colonies of Solenopsis invicta Buren showed that from their inception in early May until fall when weather stops development, the colonies had grown from a single queen and 15–20 workers to approximately 7000 workers. The following spring, when colonies were one year old, a few produced sexual forms, but in general the colonies were not sexually mature until 2 years, when the population had increased to approximately 25,000 workers. When 3 years old, the populations had increased to approximately 50,000 workers, and in all respects the colonies appeared to be fully matured. In the same period, the mound of these colonies had grown from a small single vertical burrow approximately 7 cm deep and 1.5 cc in volume, to a large mound 60 cm in diameter, 30 cm high, extending below the ground 2 meters, and containing up to 40 liters of galleries, tunnels, and rooms.
Glycated albumin: a marker of glycaemic status in rats with experimental diabetes:

Summary Monoclonal antibodies that specifically recognize non-enzymatically glycated epitopes residing in albumin were used to measure levels of glycated albumin in the plasma of control and streptozotocin diabetic rats. Standard or sample was incubated with monoclonal antibody immobilized onto preactivated tubes, and binding was detected with enzyme-conjugated polyclonal antibody to rat albumin and substrate. Rat glycated albumin exhibited a linear dose response in the assay, and plasma samples contained between 30-100 ILg/50 ILL Levels were significantly increased in diabetic compared with control rats, and correlated positively and significantly with mean blood glucose concentrations measured in the fasting and fed states. The results indicate that glycated albumin levels measured by immunoassay reflect recent integrated glycaemia and provide an objective index of glycaemic status in the rat experimental model of diabetes.
Connections of the lobus inferior hypothalami of the clearnose skate Raja eglanteria (Chondrichthyes).

The afferent and efferent connections of the lobus inferior hypothalami of the clearnose skate were demonstrated by the anterograde and retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase. The main source of afferents is from the midbrain tegmentum and telencephalon. The major midbrain input is from cells of the ipsilateral nucleus tegmentalis laterals and the caudal tegmental area. Another prominent, mostly ipsilateral, projection arises from nucleus F of the isthmic region. A few labeled cells also occur in the nucleus interpeduncularis, nucleus raphes superior, and lateral reticular formation. Afferents from the telencephalon arise from cells of the area preoptica, area superficialis basalis, striatum, nucleus septalis lateralis, and area subpallialis 1. Of the pallial structures, the pallium mediale and anterior as well as posterior subdivisions of the pallium dorsale pars centralis appear to have strong projections to the inferior lobe. Efferent connections of the inferior lobe consist of ascending and descending pathways. Fibers of the main ascending efferent pathway course within the basal forebrain bundle and distribute to subpallial areas. The descending efferent pathways course within the tractus lobobulbaris and tractus lobocerebellaris. Of these, the former is traceable to the level of the facial motor nucleus, issuing fibers enroute to the midbrain tegmentum and to the lateral reticular formation. The lobocerebellar tract courses dorsolateral to the lobobulbar tract, and its fibers terminate within the ipsilateral granular ridge of the rostral pole of the cerebellar corpus. There appears to be a topological organization of the inferior lobe connections. In general, pallial areas project mainly to the lateral subdivision of the inferior lobe nucleus at midlobic levels, whereas connections with the brainstem arise from or terminate within the dorsal and intermediate subdivisions at midlobic as well as caudal levels. The widespread ascending and descending connections indicate that the hypothalamic inferior lobe of the clearnose skate is a major relay center between the telencephalon and brainstem.