cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regional Prefrontal Resting-State Functional Connectivity in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Abstract Background Prefrontal subregions, including the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (PFC), dorsomedial PFC, and dorsolateral PFC (DLPFC), are differentially implicated in the pathophysiology of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), though few existing studies have examined subregional differences in resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC). We hypothesized that PTSD would involve weaker positive rsFC between ventromedial PFC, dorsomedial PFC, and other default mode network regions and increased negative rsFC between DLPFC and posterior default mode network regions. Additionally, we hypothesized that prefrontal regions exhibiting group differences in rsFC would be characterized by alterations in cortical thickness. Methods Participants included 36 healthy control subjects, 30 trauma-exposed control subjects, and 21 individuals with current DSM-IV PTSD resulting from community-acquired trauma. Participants completed the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale, questionnaires (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Adverse Childhood Events, Life Events Checklist, Beck Depression Inventory), structural neuroimaging, and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. rsFC of DLPFC, ventromedial PFC, and dorsomedial PFC seeds was evaluated in SPM12 and CONN. Cortical thickness for regions with significant rsFC findings was assessed using FreeSurfer. Results Relative to both healthy control and trauma-exposed control subjects, individuals with PTSD showed increased negative rsFC between the DLPFC and a region of precuneus. This finding was associated with increased overall symptom severity but not with trauma load or childhood trauma exposure. Greater negative DLPFC-precuneus connectivity was associated with greater bilateral precuneus thickness. Conclusions Given participation of precuneus subregions in the central executive network, increased anticorrelation between right DLPFC and precuneus in this sample may reflect increased opposition between anterior and posterior central executive network hubs in PTSD.
Use of Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry for the Identification of Pathogenic Vibrio in Fish.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is a rapid, cost-effective method for identification of a broad range of bacterial taxa, but its accuracy for Vibrio spp. from samples of aquatic animal origin is unknown. We used DNA sequence analysis targeting two conserved genes, rpoB and rpoD, as the identification standard for 5 reference strains and 35 Vibrio spp. field isolates obtained from diagnostic aquaculture samples. Overall, MALDI-TOF MS correctly identified 100% of the five reference strains to the genus level and 80% (4 of 5) to the species level. For field isolates, 83% (29 of 35) were correctly identified to the genus level, and 49% (17 of 35) were correctly identified to the species level. Eight (23%) field isolates were incorrectly identified at the species level. The MALDI-TOF MS method produced no identification for 17% (6 of 35) of the field isolates. Using traditional culture identification, 100% of the five reference strains were correctly identified to the species level. All 35 field isolates were correctly identified to the genus level; 51% (18 of 35) of the isolates were identified correctly to the species level, while 29% (10 of 35) were misidentified at the species level. Overall, MALDI-TOF MS was comparable to phenotypic identification, and accuracy will likely improve with enhancement of MALDI-TOF MS database robustness.
An Integrated Perspective for Reappraising Effects of Word-of-Mouth Communication of Negative Corporate Publicity and Consumer Status: An Abstract

Negative publicity and the company’s response to it are among the most critical factors affecting consumers’ buying decisions (Advertising Age 1995). Because corporate publicity is considered one of the most credible sources of information, it has more influence than other means of communications (Bond and Kirshenbaum 1998). The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (2016) in recent research estimated that the overall cost of corporate negative publicity to businesses globally is 5% of annual revenue. Furthermore, consumers are more sensitive to negative information as opposed to positive information (Fiske 1980). As of now, theoretical framework for how consumers respond to negative publicity and the mechanisms for optimizing strategies to offset the negative effects are inconclusive. Kroloff (1988) compared the impact of negative and positive media exposure and found that negative publicity has a larger impact on corporate brand image than positive news. Some literature studies find that consumers respond in a homogeneous manner to negative publicity (Pearson and Mitroff 1993).
Extra-adrenal pheochromocytoma presenting as inverse takotsubo-pattern cardiomyopathy treated with surgical resection.

Pheochromocytoma is a rare catecholamine-secreting tumour that is typically located in the adrenal medulla or along the sympathetic ganglia. The typical symptoms are episodic in nature and include tachycardia, sweating and headache. These tumours can present as transient, reversible cardiomyopathy similar to takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM). TCM is characterised by transient hypokinesis of the left ventricular apex and is typically induced by emotional stress. We describe the case of a 26-year-old woman with a medical history significant for headaches who presented initially to her family physician with nausea, vomiting, headache and hypertension. She was started on lisinopril 10 mg daily. One week later, she presented to the emergency department with substernal severe chest pressure. Her troponin level was elevated. Coronary angiogram showed normal coronary arteries and left ventriculogram showed inverse TCM pattern. Serum catecholamines were very elevated confirming pheochromocytoma. She was successfully treated with alpha-blockers followed by surgical resection.
Right ventricular myocardial performance index in pediatric patients with bronchopulmonary dysplasia-related pulmonary hypertension.

INTRODUCTION This study aims to assess the utility of right ventricular myocardial performance index (RVMPI) as a potential echocardiographic tool to evaluate and serially follow patients with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and pulmonary hypertension (PH). METHODS We performed a retrospective chart review of all hemodynamic cardiac catheterizations performed January 2011 to December 2016 in patients born premature and with diagnosed BPD up to 4 years of age-excluding patients with significant congenital heart defects. Echocardiograms performed within 24 hours of the cardiac catheterization were reviewed, and a blinded RVMPI was calculated. The primary endpoint was correlation of invasive catheterization hemodynamics to noninvasive echocardiographic RVMPI measurement. RESULTS A total of 49 individual patients met complete study criteria, and 10 of those patients underwent repeat cardiac catheterization. Median age at the time of assessment was 8 months (25%-75%, 4-18 months), and the cohort had a calculated RVMPI mean of 0.39 (±0.19), with 73% (43/59) having a RVMPI >0.28. A statistically significant correlation was found between the RVMPI and the baseline hemodynamics during catheterization with regard to the initial mean pulmonary arterial pressure (r = 0.58; P < 0.01) as well as the calculated pulmonary vascular resistance (r = 0.34; P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates the utility of RVMPI for evaluation of PH in patients with prematurity and BPD. An increased RVMPI by noninvasive echocardiography was found to correlate with increased mean pulmonary arterial pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance measured during invasive cardiac catheterization. Large-scale validation of this study is being planned.
Physical interactions between Gsx2 and Ascl1 regulate the balance between progenitor expansion and neurogenesis in the mouse lateral ganglionic eminence

Abstract The Gsx2 homeodomain transcription factor is required to maintain neural progenitor identity in the lateral ganglionic eminence (LGE) within the developing ventral telencephalon, despite its role in upregulating the neurogenic factor Ascl1. How Gsx2 maintains cells as progenitors in the presence of a pro-differentiation factor is unclear. Here, we show that Gsx2 and Ascl1 are co-expressed in dividing subapical progenitors within the LGE ventricular zone (VZ). Moreover, we show that while Ascl1 misexpression promotes neurogenesis in dorsal telencephalic progenitors that do not express Gsx2, co-expression of Gsx2 with Ascl1 inhibits neurogenesis in these cells. To investigate the mechanisms underlying this inhibition, we used a cell-based luciferase assay to show that Gsx2 reduced the ability of Ascl1 to activate target gene expression in a dose-dependent and DNA binding-independent manner. Yeast 2-hybrid and co-immunoprecipitation assays revealed that Gsx2 physically interacts with the basic-Helix-Loop-Helix (bHLH) domain of Ascl1, and DNA binding assays demonstrated that this interaction interferes with the ability of Ascl1 to form homo- or heterodimers with E-proteins such as Tcf3 on DNA. To further assess for in vivo molecular interactions between these transcription factors within the telencephalon, we modified a proximity ligation assay for embryonic tissue sections and found that Ascl1:Gsx2 interactions are enriched within VZ progenitors, whereas Ascl1:Tcf3 interactions predominate in basal progenitors. Altogether, these findings suggest that physical interactions between Gsx2 and Ascl1 limit Ascl1:Ascl1 and Ascl1:Tcf3 interactions, and thereby inhibit Ascl1-dependennt neurogenesis and allow for progenitor expansion within the LGE.
Trapping Yb 171 atoms into a one-dimensional optical lattice with a small waist

In most experiments with atoms trapped in optical lattices, the transverse size of the optical lattice beams is of the order of tens of micrometers, and loading many atoms into smaller optical lattices has not been carefully investigated. We report trapping 1500 $^{171}\mathrm{Yb}$ atoms in a one-dimensional optical lattice generated by a narrow cavity mode at a distance of 0.14 mm from a mirror surface. The simplest approach of loading atoms from a mirror magneto-optical trap overlapped with the cavity mode allows the adjustment of the loading position by tuning a uniform bias magnetic field. The number of atoms trapped in the optical lattice exhibits two local maxima for different lattice depths, with a global maximum in the deeper lattice. These results open a way to quantum mechanical manipulation of atoms based on strong interaction with a tightly focused light field.
Identifying Beehive Frames Ready For Harvesting

Harvesting of honey is a laborious job which requires the daily inspection of every frame within every hive of every apiary. Apiaries are easily scalable via the addition of new hives or the addition of expansion boxes to existing hives but the scaling of human labor to meet the added work needed to inspect, harvest, and maintain the added frames is costly and often nonexistent. Existing Internet of Things (IoT) beekeeping and monitoring systems on the market are very costly and do not provide per-frame information to beekeepers. Although they are successful in generating a slew of useful information regarding the strength, condition, and even overall honey yields of a hive over time, they fall short in enabling beekeepers to know exactly which frames are ready for harvesting without a physical inspection of each. Therefore, they neither contribute to the labor reduction associated with harvesting nor are they effective in the prevention of swarming, a condition where a hive colony reproduces via exiting the hive and leaving behind the larvae of the next generation - thus halting honey production. The only way to truly reduce honey harvest labour and swarming is to collect per-frame weight data which is a complex and costly task and has therefore been avoided in existing solutions. Our initial results in collecting per-frame weight have confirmed the complexity and costliness of this task though have also provided us with a clear path to the reduction of both the complexity and cost of a per-frame harvesting scheduler. We utilized low cost off-the-shelf force sensors along with a mathematical model for data normalization which produces accurate data. However, the complexity and cost must still be reduced via the design and development of new custom sensors in order to create a viable and marketable product.
Data Transfer and Reuse Analysis Tool for GPU-Offloading Using OpenMP

In the high performance computing sector, researchers and application developers expend considerable effort to port their applications to GPU-based clusters in order to take advantage of the massive parallelism and energy efficiency of a GPU. Unfortunately porting or writing an application for accelerators, such as GPUs, requires extensive knowledge of the underlying architectures, the application/algorithm and the interfacing programming model, such as CUDA, HIP or OpenMP. Compared to native GPU programming models, OpenMP has a shorter learning curve, is portable and potentially also performance portable. To reduce the developer effort, OpenMP provides implicit data transfer between CPU and GPU. OpenMP users may control the duration of a data object’s allocation on the GPU via the use of target data regions, but they do not need to. Unfortunately, unless data mappings are explicitly provided by the user, compilers like Clang move all data accessed by a kernel to the GPU without considering its prior availability on the device. As a result, applications may spend a significant portion of their execution time on data transfer. Yet exploiting data reuse opportunities in an application has the potential to significantly reduce the overall execution time. In this paper we present a source-to-source tool that automatically identifies data in an OpenMP program which do not need to be transferred between CPU and GPU. The tool capitalizes on any data reuse opportunities to insert the pertinent, optimized OpenMP target data directives. Our experimental results show considerable reduction in the overall execution time of a set of micro-benchmarks and some benchmark applications from the Rodinia benchmark suite. To the best of our knowledge, no other tool optimizes OpenMP data mappings by identifying and exploiting data reuse opportunities between kernels.
Swift Reveals a ~5.7 Day Super-orbital Period in the M31 Globular Cluster X-Ray Binary XB158

The M31 globular cluster X-ray binary XB158 (a.k.a. Bo 158) exhibits intensity dips on a 2.78 hr period in some observations, but not others. The short period suggests a low mass ratio, and an asymmetric, precessing disk due to additional tidal torques from the donor star since the disk crosses the 3:1 resonance. Previous theoretical three-dimensional smoothed particle hydrodynamical modeling suggested a super-orbital disk precession period 29 ± 1 times the orbital period, i.e., ~81 ± 3 hr. We conducted a Swift monitoring campaign of 30 observations over ~1 month in order to search for evidence of such a super-orbital period. Fitting the 0.3-10 keV Swift X-Ray Telescope luminosity light curve with a sinusoid yielded a period of 5.65 ± 0.05 days, and a >5σ improvement in χ2 over the best fit constant intensity model. A Lomb-Scargle periodogram revealed that periods of 5.4-5.8 days were detected at a >3σ level, with a peak at 5.6 days. We consider this strong evidence for a 5.65 day super-orbital period, ~70% longer than the predicted period. The 0.3-10 keV luminosity varied by a factor of ~5, consistent with variations seen in long-term monitoring from Chandra. We conclude that other X-ray binaries exhibiting similar long-term behavior are likely to also be X-ray binaries with low mass ratios and super-orbital periods.
Children's Physical Activity Levels in a Physical Activity-Focused Afterschool Program: A Pilot Study.

Child inactivity, overweightness, and obesity are recognized problems in the United States. Despite characterization as an “epidemic,” children continue to fall short in meeting physical activity r...
Periplasmic-binding protein-based biosensors and bioanalytical assay platforms: Advances, considerations, and strategies for optimal utility

Abstract Periplasmic binding proteins provide gram-negative bacteria with mechanisms for nutrient uptake and sensing their environments through recognition and transport of small molecules and ions. In the assay development realm, the biosensing niche that these proteins fulfill is the recognition and detection of non-immunogenic targets, including inorganic ions, vitamins, amino acids, and sugars with affinities in the low nM to low μM range. These proteins have been applied in a variety of homogeneous and heterogeneous platforms including those based on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, surface plasmon resonance, immunomagnetic separation, and fluorescence resonance energy transfer. Their binding repertoire is largely limited to their natural targets, although progress has been made in engineering the target specificity by grafting alternate binding pockets and understanding the stability limitations inherent in engineering proteins for non-native targets. There has been significant interest in the glucose-galactose binding protein as an alternative to enzymes for diabetic glucose monitoring, but emerging applications for these proteins include environmental and microbiological sensing. Within, a comprehensive review of sensor advances is presented from a perspective of assay design, engineering challenges, and practical application. Immobilization strategies, labeling considerations, and overcoming stoichiometric signal limitations to yield optimal performance are discussed.
Deep Brain Stimulation of the Subgenual Cingulate Cortex for the Treatment of Chronic Low Back Pain.

Objectives Despite converging basic scientific and clinical evidence of the link between chronic pain and depression, existing therapies do not often take advantage of this overlap. Here, we provide a critical review of the literature that highlights the intersection in brain networks between chronic low back pain (CLBP) and depression and discuss findings from previous deep brain stimulation (DBS) studies for pain. Based on a multidimensional model of pain processing and the connectivity of the subgenual cingulate cortex (SCC) with areas that are implicated in both CLBP and depression, we propose a novel approach to the treatment of CLBP using DBS of the SCC. Materials and methods A narrative review with literature assessment. Results CLBP is associated with a shift away from somatosensory representation toward brain regions that mediate emotional processes. There is a high degree of overlap between these regions and those involved in depression, including the anterior cingulate cortex, medial prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, and amygdala. Whereas targets sites from previous DBS trials for pain were not anatomically positioned to engage these areas and their associated networks, the SCC is structurally connected to all of these regions and as well as others involved in mediating sensory, cognitive, and affective processing in CLBP. Conclusions CLBP and depression share a common underlying brain network interconnected by the SCC. Current data and novel technology provide an optimal opportunity to develop clinically effective trials of SCC DBS for CLBP.
Cochlear Implantation in the Setting of Menière's Disease After Labyrinthectomy: A Meta-Analysis.

Objective Characterize the speech recognition and sound source localization of patients with unilateral Meniere's disease who undergo labyrinthectomy for vertigo control with simultaneous or sequential cochlear implantation. Databases reviewed PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases. Methods The search was performed on May 6, 2020. The keywords utilized included: "Meniere's disease AND cochlear implant"; "cochlear implant AND single sided deafness"; "cochlear implant AND vestibular"; and "labyrinthectomy AND cochlear implant". Manuscripts published in English with a publication date after 1995 that assessed adult subjects (≥18 years of age) were included for review. Subjects must have been diagnosed with Meniere's disease unilaterally and underwent labyrinthectomy with simultaneous or sequential cochlear implantation. Reported outcomes with cochlear implant (CI) use included speech recognition as measured with the Consonant-Nucleus-Consonant (CNC) word test and/or sound source localization reported in root-mean squared (RMS) error. The method of data collection and study type were recorded to assess level of evidence. Statistical analysis was performed with Wilcoxon signed ranks test. Results Data from 14 CI recipients met the criteria for inclusion. Word recognition comparisons between the pre-operative interval and a post-activation interval demonstrated a significant improvement with the CI (p = 0.014), with an average improvement of 23% (range -16-50%). Sound source localization post-operatively with the CI demonstrated an average RMS error of 26° (SD 6.8, range 18.7-43.1°) compared to the 42° (SD 19.1, range 18-85°) in the pre-operative or CI off condition, these two conditions were not statistically different (p = 0.148). Conclusion Cochlear implantation and labyrinthectomy in adult patients with Meniere's disease can support improvements in speech recognition and sound source localization for some CI users, though observed performance may be poorer than traditional CI candidates.
Experimentally Inferred Fusion Yield Dependencies of OMEGA Inertial Confinement Fusion Implosions.

Statistical modeling of experimental and simulation databases has enabled the development of an accurate predictive capability for deuterium-tritium layered cryogenic implosions at the OMEGA laser [V. Gopalaswamy et al.,Nature 565, 581 (2019)10.1038/s41586-019-0877-0]. In this letter, a physics-based statistical mapping framework is described and used to uncover the dependencies of the fusion yield. This model is used to identify and quantify the degradation mechanisms of the fusion yield in direct-drive implosions on OMEGA. The yield is found to be reduced by the ratio of laser beam to target radius, the asymmetry in inferred ion temperatures from the l=1 mode, the time span over which tritium fuel has decayed, and parameters related to the implosion hydrodynamic stability. When adjusted for tritium decay and l=1 mode, the highest yield in OMEGA cryogenic implosions is predicted to exceed 2×10^{14} fusion reactions.
A Seamless Workflow for Design and Fabrication of Multimaterial Pneumatic Soft Actuators

Soft robotic actuators offer a range of attractive features relative to traditional rigid robots including inherently safer human-robot interaction and robustness to unexpected or extreme loading conditions. Soft robots are challenging to design and fabricate, and most actuators are designed by trial and error and fabricated using labor-intensive multi-step casting processes. We present an integrated collection of software tools that address several limitations in the existing design and fabrication workflow for pneumatic soft actuators. We use implicit geometry functions to specify geometry and material distribution, a GUI-based software tool for interactive exploration of computational network representations of these implicit functions, and an automated tool for generating rapid simulation results of candidate designs. We prioritize seamless connectivity between all stages of the design and fabrication process, and elimination of steps that require human intervention. The software tools presented here integrate with existing capabilities for multimaterial additive manufacturing, and are also forward-compatible with emerging automated design techniques. The workflow presented here is intended as a community resource, and aimed at lowering barriers for the discovery of novel soft actuators by experts and novice users. The data gathered from human-interaction with this tool will be used by future automation tools to enable fully-automated soft actuator design based on high-level specifications.
Phosphatidylinositol Specific Phospholipases C: Structure and Mechanism of Action

Phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) catalyzes the cleavage of the P-O bond in phosphatidylinositol and its several phosphorylated congeners via intramolecular nucleophilic attack of the 2-hydroxyl group of inositol on the phosphorus atom to produce inositol phosphate and diacylglycerol end products [1, 2, 3, 4]. This enzyme is a key effector of the signal transduction cascade activated by the agonist-receptor binding event [5]. In general, the PI-PLC-type enzymes can be separated into several categories, based on origin, substrate specificity, metal-ion dependency and structure [2.3]. In our work we have focussed on Ca2+-independent, bacterial PI-PLC from B. thuringiensis (btPLC) [1,4] due to the fact that the bacterial enzymes are very stable, readily expressed in E. coli and use simple substrates that are easier to synthesize chemically. Once understood in detail, the mechanism of bacterial PI-PLC could then be used as the basis for further investigation of the more complex Ca2+-dependent mammalian enzymes [2,3].
Tunneling Spectroscopy of Organic Monolayers and Single Molecules

Basic concepts in tunneling spectroscopy applied to molecular systems are presented. Junctions of the form M-A-M, M-I-A-M, and M-I-A-I?-M, where A is an active molecular layer, are considered. Inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy (IETS) is found to be readily applied to all the above device types. It can provide both vibrational and electron spectroscopic data about the molecules comprising the A layer. In IETS there are no strong selection rules (although there are preferences) so that transitions that are normally IR, Raman, or even photon-forbidden can be observed. In the electronic transition domain, spin and Laporte forbidden transitions may be observed. Both vibrational and electronic IETS can be acquired from single molecules. The negative aspect of this seemingly ideal spectroscopic method is the thermal line width of about 5 kBT. This limits the useful measurement of vibrational IETS to temperatures below about 10 K. In the case of most electronic transitions where the intrinsic linewidth is much broader, useful experiments above 100 K are possible. One further limitation of electronic IETS is that it is generally limited to transitions with energy less than about 20,000 cm?1. IETS can be identified by peaks in d2 I/dV 2 vs bias voltage plots that occur at the same position (but not necessarily same intensity) in either bias polarity.
Theoretical Problems of the Global Atmospheric Electric Circuit

A current-flow model of the global atmospheric electric circuit is proposed which deviates from the commonly used spherical capacitor model in the following points, (a) It does not stop at the ionospheric level but extends to infinity, (b) The zero potential is placed at infinity and the earth carries a driving potential of about – 300 kV, the ionosphere has a potential of about – 30 μV. The conductivity is assumed to increase exponentially to infinity. This model has the advantage that the fair and foul weather part of the atmospheric electric circuit can be treated separately and later superimposed to the complete picture. This allows us to calculate the fair-weather condition with the simple assumption that the earth is the negative current source and infinity is the only current sink. We don’t have to specify that only thunderheads are the generators for the positive current, but may include later any generator such as the austausch generator or Frenkel’s general cloud generator. Furthermore, because the ionosphere is not a priori assumed to be an equipotential layer of infinite conductivity as it is in the spherical capacitor model, it will be possible to extend this model to the inclusion of the geomagnetic field. Mathematical solutions for several atmospheric-electric fair-weather problems are given and discussed. The conductivity function includes the austausch layer with day and night variations on a global scale. The fundamental significance of the power density W = Ei (the product of field and current density) at the ground as a global parameter is pointed out, a parameter which has been used by R. Reiter with great success in his correlation of terrestrial atmospheric electric and solar events. The independence of the power density at the mountain top from diurnal variations of the austausch layer is established. The problem of mapping up and down of electric disturbances caused either by conductivity variations or convection currents is discussed. It seems possible that potential differences found at a 10 km altitude level are caused by convection currents in or below the 10 km region but are not necessarily caused by potential difference at the ionospheric level. Procedures are given to determine if a potential difference at a certain level is caused by a disturbance above or below this level.
Chapter 4 Doping of Wide-band-gap II-VI Compounds–Theory

Publisher Summary Doping of the wide-band-gap semiconductors still suffers from considerable shortcomings. It is, therefore, important to develop a sound theoretical understanding of the mechanisms that determine doping levels in these materials. This chapter provides an overview of these mechanisms, providing a general description aimed at fostering physical insights. The chapter describes the theoretical formalism that underlies the calculation of defects, impurities, and doping levels in a semiconductor. It also provides information about first-principles calculations that can produce key values required in the formalism and results for native defects. Results for p - and n -type doping in various II-VI compounds are discussed. Various comparisons between theory and experiment and additional comparisons with experiment are described in the chapter.
Native Portal Vein Embolization for Persistent Hyperoxaluria Following Kidney and Auxiliary Partial Liver Transplantation

Type 1 primary hyperoxaluria (PH1) causes renal failure, for which isolated kidney transplantation (KT) is usually unsuccessful treatment due to early oxalate stone recurrence. Although hepatectomy and liver transplantation (LT) corrects PH1 enzymatic defect, simultaneous auxiliary partial liver transplantation (APLT) and KT have been suggested as an alternative approach. APLT advantages include preservation of the donor pool and retention of native liver function in the event of liver graft loss. However, APLT relative mass may be inadequate to correct the defect. We here report the first case of native portal vein embolization (PVE) to increase APLT to native liver mass ratio (APLT/NLM-R). Following initial combined APLT-KT, both allografts functioned well, but oxalate plasma levels did not normalize. We postulated the inadequate APLT/NLM-R could be corrected by trans-hepatic native PVE. The resulting increased APLT/NLM-R decreased serum oxalate to normal levels within 1 month following PVE. We conclude that persistently elevated oxalate levels after combined APLT-KT for PH1 treatment, results from inadequate relative functional capacity. This can be reversed by partial native PVE to decrease portal flow to the native liver. This approach might be applicable to other scenarios where partial grafts have been transplanted to replace native liver function.
Zirkulierende Körperflüssigkeiten (Blut, Lymphe)

Die Aufgabe des zirkulierenden Systems ist Transport von Nahrstoffen und Sauerstoff zu den Geweben, Abtransport von CO2 und Stoffwechselprodukten, Regulation der Korpertemperatur sowie Verteilung von Hormonen und anderer die Zelltatigkeit beeinflussender Substanzen. Das Blut als Trager dieser Substanzen wird vom Herzen durch das in sich geschlossene System der Blutgefase gepumpt. Das Herz des Warmbluters besteht — im Gegensatz zum Herzen mancher niederer Lebewesen — aus 2 nacheinander geschalteten Pumpen. Der linke Ventrikel pumpt das Blut uber Arterien und Arteriolen in die Capillaren, wo die Austauschvorgange mit der Interstitialflussigkeit stattfinden; die Capillaren munden in die Venolen und uber die Venen erfolgt der Ruckflus des Blutes zum rechten Herzen (groser oder Korper-Kreislauf). Der rechte Vorhof gibt sein Blut an den rechten Ventrikel ab, der es durch die Gefase der Lungen (kleiner oder Lungen-Kreislauf) in den linken Vorhof und Ventrikel pumpt; in den Capillaren des kleinen Kreislaufs erfolgt die Aquilibrierung des Blutes mit der Alveolarluft (O2- und CO2-Austausch). Ein Teil der Gewebsflussigkeit gelangt in ein anderes System geschlossener Gefase (Lymph-Gefassystem), welche die Lymphe links uber Ductus thoracicus und rechts uber Ductus lympha-ticus dexter in das Venensystem ableiten. Die Erfullung der Hauptaufgabe des Kreislaufs — die Erhaltung ausreichender capillarer Durchblutung — erfordert komplexe Regulationsmechanismen, wobei die Sicherung der Durchblutung von Herz, Gehirn und Lungen eine Sonderstellung einnimmt.
A Minimum Channel Switch Routing Protocol for Cognitive Radio Ad Hoc Networks

We propose a new local spectrum knowledge-based minimum channel switch routing (MCSR) protocol for cognitive radio ad hoc networks (CRAHNs). CRAHNs have a mix of primary users (PUs) who own a licensed spectrum and secondary users (SUs) who do not own a channel. SUs attempt to make use of the licensed channels owned by the PUs when the latter are not active. We model a network of SUs with links in whose neighborhood there exists at least one unused PU channel. Each SU chooses a preferred PU channel - the channel that is available for a majority of the nodes in its neighborhood. Nevertheless, nodes along an SU-SU path may have to undergo channel switches to complete transmission and reception. MCSR aims at minimizing the number of channel switches per hop along an SU-SU path, the protocol prefers to use paths that would incur fewer switches per hop. MCSR models the weight of an SU-SU edge as 0 if the two end nodes of the edge have the same preferred PU channel or as 1 otherwise, and chooses the SU-SU path whose sum of edge weights is the minimum. We compare the performance of MCSR with that of a minimum hop-based shortest path routing (SPR) protocol in a CRAHN environment. We observe MCSR to incur a relatively lower percentage of switches per hop, but the tradeoff is a slight increase in the average hop count per path.
Nuclear Spin Analogues of Gyromagnetism: Case of the Zero-Field Barnett Effect

A short review of the history and elementary principles of gyromagnetic effects is presented. The Barnett effect is considered as a mechanism for inducing nuclear spin magnetization in solids by sample spinning in zero and low field. Simu- lations of rotation induced adiabatic and non-adiabatic magnetization derived from initial dipolar order in homonuclear dipole-dipole coupled spins are carried out. Aspects of the converse Einstein-de Haas effect are included.
Valuation in the Supreme Court

HE O'Fallon decision is now more than twelve months old. Perhaps the exuberance of the apos tles of "reproduction" cost and the depression of the devotees of "prudent investment" cost have both sufficiently adjusted themselves to normal to now appreciate that neither won a victory in the O'Fallon decision.1 The O'Fallon decision declares no new law. Yet it is one of great importance and far-reaching in its consequences. In 1897, in the oft quoted decision of Smyth v. Ames,2 the Supreme Court announced the theory of valuation of a railroad or a public utility for rate mak ing purposes required by the Fourteenth Amendment of the Federal Constitution. The public interest in that case was almost as keen as in the O'Fallon case. In
The Interpretation of Interpersonal Utility Comparisons: Positive, Normative and Descriptive

While interpersonal utility comparisons are indispensable to the determination of utility maxima, their interpretation as either normative or positive produces awkward conclusions. This paper alternatively reinterprets interpersonal utility comparisons as descriptive and value-laden rather than as either normative or positive. On this basis they are characterized as functional concepts, and are thus argued to be objective. This treatment suggests that it is possible to derive evaluative statements from descriptive ones, contrary to the usual view of the is-ought problem. Recent philosophy of the language results are employed to support these views.
Minimizing power dissipation in chip to chip optical interconnects using optimal modulators and laser power

We optimize the laser power and quantum well (QW) modulator metrics (contrast ratio (CR), insertion loss (IL)) to minimize power dissipation in short distance, modulator based, optical interconnects. We correspondingly quantify the optimal CR/IL modulator requirements as a function of various bit rates and a parameter dictated by voltage swing. This ultimately yields higher aggregate I/O bandwidth for chip to chip communication in power limited chips.
Light response of phytoplankton in the South Atlantic Ocean: Interpretation of obervations and application to remote sensing

A simplified, nonspectral derivation of a classical theory in plant physiology is presented and used to derive an absorption-based primary productivity algorithm. Field observations from a meridional transect (4 deg N to 42 deg S) in the Atlantic Ocean are then described and interpreted in this theoretical context. The observations include photosynthesis-irradiance curve parameters (alpha and P(sub max)), chlorophyll a and phaeopigment concentration, and estimated phytoplankton absorption coefficients at wavelength = 440 nm (a(sub ph)(440)). Observations near the top (50% I(sub 0)) and bottom (6% I(sub 0)) of the euphotic zone are contrasted. At both light levels, alpha, P(sub max), a(sub ph)(440), and pigment concentration varied similarly along the transect: values were highest at the equator and at the southern end of the transect and lowest in the central South Atlantic. It is concluded that this pattern was related to increased nutrient availability due to equatorial upwelling in the north, and increased wind mixing in the south. At the 50% light level, alpha increased relative to a(sub ph) at the southern end of the transect. This result appears to reflect a large-scale meridional (southward) increase in the average quantum efficiency of the photosynthetic units of the phytoplankton. A correlation analysis of the data reveals that at the 50% light level, variations in P(sub max) were more closely related to a(sub ph)(440) than chlorophyll concentration and that phytoplankton absorption explains 90% of the variability in P(sub max). In theory, this shows that the ratio of the average quantum efficiency of the photosynthetic units of the phytoplankton to the product of their average absorption cross section and turnover time is relatively constant. This result is used to simplify the absorption-based primary productivity algorithm derived previously. The feasibility of using this model to estimate production rate from satellite ocean color observations is discussed. It is concluded that an absorption-based algorithm should provide more accurate production rate estimates than one based upon chlorophyll (pigment) concentration.
A dynamic model of ex vivo granulopoiesis

Abstract Evaluating kinetics in hematopoietic cultures is complicated by the distribution of cells over various stages of differentiation and by the presence of cells from different lineages. Growth factors and other parameters can greatly affect the lineage and maturation stage of a culture. In order to resolve the kinetics and more clearly define the differential effects of O 2 tension (pO 2 ), pH, and IL-3 on granulopoiesis, a mathematical model-based approach was undertaken. Granulocytic differentiation is described within a continuous, deterministic framework in which cells develop from primitive granulocytic progenitors to mature neutrophils. The model predicts distributed cell populations by incorporating independent rates of growth, death, differentiation, and transition between quiescence and active cycling. The response of these four model processes to changes in the culture environment was examined. Model simulations of experimental data revealed that (i) pO 2 effects are exerted only on the growth rate, (ii) pH effects between pH 7.25 and 7.4 on growth and differentiation are coupled; however, with increasing pH values, especially at pH 7.6, the death rate for cells in the early stages of differentiation becomes increasingly significant, and (iii) the absence of IL-3 markedly enhances the rate of differentiation through the myeloblast window in the differentiation pathway. The combined effects of these environmental factors can be predicted based on changes in the model parameters derived from the individual effects. Integrating experimental data with mathematical modeling can be used to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the regulation of granulopoiesis by pO 2 , pH, IL-3, and other conditions, and to improve culture strategies.
Characterization of heme c peptides by mass spectrometry

Liquid secondary ion mass spectrometry, also called fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, has been used to determine proteolytic hydrolysis sites for peptides derived from c-type cytochromes that contain covalently attached heme c. An unexpected fragmentation occurs that breaks the covalent thioether bonds between the heme and the peptide, and the heme fragment further rearranges to give rise to an intense ion at m/z of 617 that corresponds to protonated iron protoporphyrin IX. The observation of this ion fragment can be used to unambiguously identify the presence of authentic heme c in peptides or peptide mixtures at the subnanomole level.
Syntheses, photophysical properties, and application of through-bond energy-transfer cassettes for biotechnology.

We have designed fluores- cent "through-bond energy-transfer cassettes" that can harvest energy of a relatively short wavelength (e.g., 490 nm), and emit it at appreciably longer wavelengths without significant loss of intensity. Probes of this type could be particularly useful in biotech- nology for multiplexing experiments in which several different outputs are to be observed from a single excitation source. Cassettes 1-4 were designed, prepared, and studied as model systems to achieve this end. They were synthe- sized through convergent routes that feature coupling of specially prepared fluorescein- and rhodamine-derived fragments. The four cassettes were shown to emit strongly, with highly effi- cient energy transfer. Their emission maxima cover a broad range of wave- lengths (broader than the four dye cas- settes currently used for most high- throughput DNA sequencing), and they exhibit faster energy-transfer rates than a similar through-space energy- transfer cassette. Specifically, energy- transfer rates in these cassettes is around 6-7 ps, in contrast to a similar through-space energy-transfer system shown to have a decay time of around 35 ps. Moreover, the cassettes are con- siderably more stable to photobleach- ing than fluorescein, even though they each contain fluorescein-derived do- A This was confirmed by bulkfluo- A measurements, and in single- molecule-detection studies. Modifica- tion of a commercial automated DNA- sequencing apparatus to detect the emissions of these four energy-transfer cassettes enabled single-color dye- primer sequencing.
Beyond the Birds and the Bees: Learning Inequality through Sexuality Education

This article reviews the literature on the roles that schools, peers, and parents play in young people's sexuality education. We argue that the sexuality education children receive is far from just the facts; rather, it is an education in the maintenance of inequality. Sexuality education, as it is currently conceived, includes implicit and explicit messages that reinforce a hegemonic sexuality that is rooted in and bolsters inequalities of race, class, gender, and sexuality. After reviewing the contemporary sociological research on the sexuality education of children, we offer curricular directions for fostering more equal and empowering models of sexuality education.
Oxidative atom-transfer to a trimanganese complex to form Mn6(μ6-E) (E = O, N) clusters featuring interstitial oxide and nitride functionalities.

Utilizing a hexadentate ligand platform, a trinuclear manganese complex of the type (HL)Mn3(thf)3 was synthesized and characterized ([HL]6– = [MeC(CH2N(C6H4-o-NH))3]6–). The pale-orange, formally divalent trimanganese complex rapidly reacts with O-atom transfer reagents to afford the μ6-oxo complex (HL)2Mn6(μ6-O)(NCMe)4, where two trinuclear subunits bind the central O-atom and the (HL) ligands cooperatively bind both trinuclear subunits. The trimanganese complex (HL)Mn3(thf)3 rapidly consumes inorganic azide ([N3]NBu4) to afford a dianionic hexanuclear nitride complex [(HL)2Mn6(μ6-N)](NBu4)2, which subsequently can be oxidized with elemental iodine to (HL)2Mn6(μ6-N)(NCMe)4. EPR and alkylation of the interstitial light atom substituent were used to distinguish the nitride from the oxo complex. The oxo and oxidized nitride complexes give rise to well-defined Mn(II) and Mn(III) sites, determined by bond valence summation, while the dianionic nitride shows a more symmetric complex, giving rise to indistingui...
Spatial dispersion of trees in an old-growth temperate hardwood forest over 60 years of succession

Abstract An analysis of spatial dispersion was conducted for individual tree species in the old-growth forest at the Davis-Purdue Research Forest in Indiana. This 20.6 ha stand has been left largely undisturbed by exogenous factors since its acquisition by Purdue in 1917. It is the only long-term study plot of its size for a temperate hardwood forest with x–y coordinates (rectangular plot) for all species above 10 cm diameter. Full censuses have been conducted spanning 60 years (1926, 1976 and 1986). Ripley’s L(t) function revealed that most species are characterized by some form of aggregation, agreeing with a prior evaluation from 1981. Heterogeneity of spatial structure was evident between two large plots, indicating that differences in site quality and history had influenced spatial structure. Shade-intolerant species were numerically dominant and spatially aggregated in 1926 but have declined over the 60-year interval and become more random in spatial dispersion. Shade-tolerant species have increased in number and become more aggregated over time, or they exhibit little change in spatial structure. Examples of the latter include Acer saccharum and Ulmus americana, species that experienced explosive population growth. These contrasting patterns are masked by stand-level patterns that show a trend toward uniformity over the same time frame. These data reveal that changes in dispersion accompany the demographic failure experienced by numerous tree species in Central Hardwood old-growth stands, and these changes may feed back into a negative population cycle and further impede regeneration. The simultaneous manipulation of dispersion and density should be considered as a tool for influencing forest succession and promoting regeneration of desired tree species.