cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mitochondrial tyrosine nitration precedes chronic allograft nephropathy

Endogenous tyrosine nitration and inactivation of manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) has previously been reported to occur during end-stage human renal allograft rejection. In order to determine whether nitration and inactivation of this critical mitochondrial protein might play a contributory role in the onset of transplant rejection, we employed a rodent model of Chronic Allograft Nephropathy (or CAN). Using this model we followed kidney function from 2-52 weeks post-transplant and correlated graft function with levels of nitration in the renal allograft. Tyrosine nitration of both glomerular and tubular structures occurred at 2 weeks post-transplant. At later times (16 weeks) post-transplant, tyrosine nitration appeared to be confined to tubular structures; however glomerular nitration returned at 52 weeks post-transplant. Interestingly, nitration and inactivation of MnSOD occurs prior to the onset of renal dysfunction in this rat model of chronic allograft nephropathy (2 weeks versus 16 weeks post-transplant). Furthermore, we have identified an additional mitochondrial protein, cytochrome c, as being endogenously nitrated during chronic rejection. The kinetics of cytochrome c nitration lagged behind MnSOD nitration and inactivation (4 weeks compared to 2 weeks); suggesting that loss of MnSOD activity likely contributes to elevation of the nitrating species and further nitration of other targets.
Dimensions of Driving Behaviour and Driver Characteristics

Quatre dimensions de la conduite automobile, decrite par ceux qui la pratiquent, mesuree par le questionnaire Conduites en Circulation (BIT), furent etudiees avec plusieurs variables. Les resultats montrent que l‘âge, le sexe et l'ethnie sont correles a la dimension appelee “usurpation de priorite”; le sexe et la frequence de la conduite a“voie d'urgence”; l'ethnie et le mode de voyage prefere a “exteriorisation de la frustration”; le sexe a“destination-orientation d'activite”. Les sujets caucasiens et japonais ont des reactions clairement distinctes de celles des autres conducteurs sur la route. De meme, des quatre dimensions de la conduite automobile, seule “exteriorisation de la frustration” (p. ex. les reactions emotionnelles et directives vis-a-vis des autres chauffeurs) est liee au modele de comportement de Type A, propose par la version etudiante du Jenkins. Cette correlation se produit avec l’âge, le sexe et l'ethnie. Quand elles sont considerees comme liees a ce facteur, plutot qu‘a une mesure composite de la conduite automobile, les differences entre hommes et femmes disparaissent. Done les differences dues au sexe le sont en regard des trois autres facteurs. Four dimensions of self-reported driving behaviour, measured by the Behaviors in Traffic (BIT) questionnaire, were investigated vis-a-vis selected driver characteristics. Age, gender, and ethnicity were found to be related to the dimension that has been labelled “usurpation of right-of-way”; gender and driving frequency to “frceway urgency”; ethnicity and preferred mode of travel to “externally-focused frustration”; and gender to “destination-activity orientation”. Caucasian and Japanese subjects reported distinctly differing reactions to the actions of other drivers on the road. Also, of the four components of driving behaviour, only “externally-focused frustration” (i.e. emotional and directive behaviour towards other drivers on the road) was found to be related to the Type A behaviour pattern as measured by the student version of the Jenkins Activity Survey. This relationship was consistent across age, gender, and ethnicity. When viewed in relation to this factor, rather than in relation to a composite measure of driver behaviour, the reported differences between males and females disappeared. Hence, gender differences were due to the other three factors.
Chick-a-dee call variation in the context of “flying” avian predator stimuli: a field study of Carolina chickadees ( Poecile carolinensis )

Chick-a-dee calls function in social organization in Poecile (chickadee) species. Recent field and aviary studies have found that variation in chick-a-dee calls relates to the type or proximity of avian predator, or level of threat. Earlier studies on calls in the context of predator stimuli have typically used stationary and perched predator models. For chickadees and other small songbirds, more frequently detected and more dangerous avian predatory stimuli are flying predators. In the present study, we tested whether simulated flying avian predator and control models influenced chick-a-dee calling behavior of wild Carolina chickadees, Poecile carolinensis. At 20 independent field sites, chickadee subjects were presented with wooden models that were painted to resemble either a predatory sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter striatus) or a blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) and that were made to “fly” down a zip line near a feeding station chickadees were using. The note composition of chick-a-dee calls was affected by both the flight of stimuli and type of model. Call variation in this flying predator context suggests interesting similarities and differences with experimental findings with congeners. Finally, increased production of certain notes to the flying of both model types provides support for a “Better Safe than Sorry” strategy. When costs of alarm calling are low but costs of discriminating potentially serious threats may be extremely high, individuals should err on the side of caution, and alarm call to any potentially threatening stimulus.
Optical scattering spectroscopy by using tightly focused supercontinuum.

We present analysis of forward optical scattering spectra of a single spherical object illuminated with tightly focused white light supercontinuum based on angular spectrum decomposition and Mie’s scattering theory. The experimental results agree with the theoretical calculations.
A method for murine islet isolation and subcapsular kidney transplantation.

Since the early pioneering work of Ballinger and Reckard demonstrating that transplantation of islets of Langerhans into diabetic rodents could normalize their blood glucose levels, islet transplantation has been proposed to be a potential treatment for type 1 diabetes 1,2. More recently, advances in human islet transplantation have further strengthened this view 1,3. However, two major limitations prevent islet transplantation from being a widespread clinical reality: (a) the requirement for large numbers of islets per patient, which severely reduces the number of potential recipients, and (b) the need for heavy immunosuppression, which significantly affects the pediatric population of patients due to their vulnerability to long-term immunosuppression. Strategies that can overcome these limitations have the potential to enhance the therapeutic utility of islet transplantation. Islet transplantation under the mouse kidney capsule is a widely accepted model to investigate various strategies to improve islet transplantation. This experiment requires the isolation of high quality islets and implantation of islets to the diabetic recipients. Both procedures require surgical steps that can be better demonstrated by video than by text. Here, we document the detailed steps for these procedures by both video and written protocol. We also briefly discuss different transplantation models: syngeneic, allogeneic, syngeneic autoimmune, and allogeneic autoimmune.
Lossless time-varying impedance synthesis

Finite n-port networks are characterised in terms of their impulse responses. The properties of passivity and losslessness are used to specify the form of the impulse response and to give a synthesis using time-varying transformers and time-invariant inductors, capacitors and gyrators.
The selective inhibition of protein assembly by Gougerotin.

Abstract 1. 1. The mechanism by which the antibiotic gougerotin inhibits the biosynthesis of protein has been investigated. Gougerotin has been shown to inhibit selectively the incorporation of amino acids into protein but not the release of completed protein chains from ribosomes. In this way, inhibition by gougerotin allows a distinction to be drawn between these two stages of protein synthesis. 2. 2. Gougerotin has been shown to exert a competitive inhibition upon the action of puromycin in the cell-free system. These studies have demonstrated the locus of action of gougerotin to be the enzyme which forms the peptide bond during the polymerization of amino acids into protein. 3. 3. The action of puromycin, which involves formation of a peptide bond between an incomplete polypeptide chain and the puromycin molecule, does not require the presence of GTP. 4. 4. Structural similarities of gougerotin, like puromycin, to aminoacyl soluble RNA have been proposed as the basis for the observed action of gougerotin.
Enhancement of intraperitoneal staphylococcal virulence for mice with different bile salts.

THE intraperitoneal injection of a 1 per cent mixture of equal parts of sodium taurocholate and sodium glycocholate followed by an inoculum of Staphylococcus aureus has been previously found to enhance virulence of the latter for mice1. In the light of this observation, effectiveness in this respect of other individual bile salts, as well as the minimal effective concentration of those salts possessing such activity, was investigated.
Effects of lung transplantation on inpatient end of life care in cystic fibrosis

Background The impact of lung transplantation on end of life care in cystic fibrosis (CF) has not been widely investigated.
Invited Review Manganese Superoxide Dismutase in Disease

Manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) is essential for life as dramatically illustrated by the neonatal lethality of mice that are deficient in MnSOD. In addition, mice expressing only 50% of the ...
Phylogeography of the gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) in the eastern United States

Molecular data have been used to show northward post-Pleistocene range expansions from a refugium in the southeastern United States for several mammal species. Fossil and historical records indicate that gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) were not present in the northeastern United States until well after the Pleistocene (ca. 900). To test the hypothesis that gray foxes experienced a post-Pleistocene range expansion we conducted a phylogeographic analysis of gray foxes from across the eastern United States. We sequenced a variable portion of the mitochondrial control region (411 base pairs) from 229 gray fox tissue samples from 15 states, representing the range of all 3 East Coast subspecies. Phylogeographic analyses indicated no clear pattern of genetic structuring of gray fox haplotypes across most of the eastern United States. However, when haplotype frequencies were subdivided into a northeastern and a southern region, we detected a strong signal of differentiation between the Northeast and the rest of the eastern United States. Indicators of molecular diversity and tests for demographic expansion confirmed this division and suggested a very recent expansion of gray foxes into the northeastern states. Our results support the hypothesis that gray foxes 1st colonized the Northeast during a historical period of hemisphere-wide warming, which coincided with the range expansion of deciduous forest. We present the 1st study that analyzes the phylogeographic patterns of the gray fox in the eastern United States.
Treating the Illness: The School Practitioner's Response to Health-Related Student Death and Children's Grief

ABSTRACT Although childhood death from health-related disorders has decreased dramatically in the United States due largely to advances in medical technology, it is an unfortunate fact of life that children can and do die from medical and health-related problems. A possible role for school psychologists in dealing with this situation is providing direct therapeutic services for children grieving the loss of a school friend or classmate due to a health-related disorder. The purpose of this article is to provide school psychologists with information regarding school-based interventions for children's grief following a health-related student death. A developmental framework for conducting grief work with children is presented, along with cultural considerations and recommendations for providing therapeutic supports for children affected by a child's death.
A flexible hyperspectral simulation tool for complex littoral environments

This work describes a visualization tool and sensor testbed that can be used for assessing the performance of both instruments and human observers in support of port and harbor security. Simulation and modeling of littoral environments must take into account the complex interplay of incident light distributions, spatially correlated boundary interfaces, bottom-type variation, and the three-dimensional structure of objects in and out of the water. A general methodology for a two-pass Monte Carlo solution called Photon Mapping has been adopted and developed in the context of littoral hydrologic optics. The resulting tool is an end-to-end technique for simulating spectral radiative transfer in natural waters. A modular design allows arbitrary distributions of optical properties, geometries, and incident radiance to be modeled effectively. This tool has been integrated as part of the Digital Imaging and Remote Sensing Image Generation (DIRSIG) model. DIRSIG has an established history in multi and hyperspectral scene simulation of terrain targets ranging from the visible to the thermal infrared (0.380 - 20.0 microns). This tool extends its capabilities to the domain of hydrologic optics and can be used to simulate and develop active/passive sensors that could be deployed on either aerial or underwater platforms. Applications of this model as a visualization tool for underwater sensors or divers are also demonstrated.
Sine Θ settings for x-ray spectrometers

Abstract Five tables are given for the sine θ settings of x-ray spectrometers utilizing LIF, PET, TAP, and LSD crystals to detect all recorded x-rays with wavelengths in the range ∼0.8–100 A. Table I is structured according to atomic number while Tables II through V list the x-ray transitions in order of ascending sine θ settings. The first five orders of reflection are covered in this tabulation. Theoretical relative intensities are given for K and L emissions. Approximate M intensities are included.
Infrared spectroscopy of CO on NaCl(100) III. Submonolayers and isotopic mixtures

Abstract In this paper we explore lateral interactions within the CO adsorbate on NaCl(100) through its infrared spectroscopy. The infrared absorption of a monolayer of CO on NaCl(100) at 55 K presents a symmetric band that can be fitted to a Lorentzian profile. As the coverage is reduced the integrated absorbance decreases, the band shifts to higher wavenumber, and its profile broadens and becomes less symmetric. These observations are consistent with a random arrangement of the molecules for submonolayer coverages. This spectroscopic behavior is likely due to myriad electric multipolar interactions plus dispersion and repulsion contributions that become diminished as coverage is reduced. Heterogeneities at the surface can also give rise to coverage dependent spectroscopic profiles. Finally, increased mobility of the adsorbate for decreasing coverages can effect the spectroscopic response. Because of these complications the quantitative behavior of the submonolayer absorption frequency and bandshape has not been successfully modeled. Isotopic composition of the monolayer also affects the spectroscopy. Dilution of 12C16O with 13C16O shifts the absorption to lower wavenumber and its band profile becomes broader and asymmetric. A similar behavior is exhibited by the 13C16O band on dilution with 12C16O. Models based on dynamic dipole coupling can account for the spectroscopic behavior of the isotope mixtures in the monolayer.
Spherical deconvolution improves quality of single particle reconstruction

One single-particle reconstruction technique is the reconstruction of macromolecules from projection images of randomly oriented particles (SPRR). In SPRR the reliability and consequent interpretation of the final reconstruction is affected by errors arising from incorrect assignment of projection angles to individual particles. In order to improve the resolution of SPRR we studied the influence of imperfect assignment on 3D blurring. We find that this blurring can be described as a Point Spread Function (PSF) that depends on the distance from geometrical center of the reconstructed volume and that blurring is higher at the periphery. This particular PSF can be described by an almost pure tangential angular function with a negligible radial component. We have developed a reliable algorithm for spherical deconvolution of the 3D reconstruction. This spherical deconvolution operation was tested on reconstructions of GroEL and mitochondrial ribosomes. We show that spherical deconvolution improves the quality of SPRR by reducing blurring and enhancing high frequency components, particularly near the periphery of the reconstruction.
Role of the cholinergic system in the regulation of neurotrophin synthesis

Nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) are members of the family of neurotrophins that are highly expressed in the adult hippocampus, and to a lesser extent, in the cerebral cortex and olfactory bulb. Since neuronal expression of neutrophins is controlled by some neurotransmitters and there is a topographical correlation between neurotrophin expression and cholinergic terminal distribution from the cholinergic basal forebrain (CBF) neurons in these areas, the question arises as to whether the cholinergic system can also regulate neurotrophin gene expression in the CNS. When CBF neurons were selectively and completely destroyed by intraventricular injection of 192 IgG-saporin, resulting in a cholinergic deafferentation of the hippocampus, cortex, and olfactory bulb, there were no significant changes in NGF, BDNF and/or NT-3 mRNA levels in these areas from 1 week to 5 months after the lesion. These results suggest that afferents from CBF neurons may not play a significant role in maintaining basal levels of neurotrophin gene expression in the adult rat brain under physiological conditions. However, potential cholinergic regulation of brain neurontrophin expression may occur under other circumstances.
A Poggean passport for fairness? Why Rawls’ Theory of Justice did not become global

Thomas Pogge has been challenging liberal thinking on global politics, often through critical engagement with John Rawls’ work. Pogge presents both normative and empirical arguments against Rawls: normatively, Rawls’ domestic Theory of Justice (TJ) and global Law of Peoples (LP) are incompatible ideal theories; empirically, LP is too removed from the actual world to guide the foreign policy of liberal societies. My main purpose here is to contest the first, ideal theory criticism in order to direct more attention to the second, non-ideal objection. I argue against Pogge that TJ and LP can be read as coherent, once one employs a Rousseauian rather than Pogge’s economic Kantian reading of TJ. The first two sections present Pogge’s view of TJ and contrast it with a Rousseauian alternative that is less cosmopolitan and economic and much more focused on the democratic and sovereign context of justice as fairness. The third section seeks to refute Pogge’s incoherence arguments, which encompass the identity of the parties to the international original position, their motivations and their decisions. Instead of a conclusion, the last section emphasizes LP’s non-ideal problems, and suggests that insofar as LP is the most robust liberal ideal theory of global politics, its empirical failure indicates the need to shift global justice theorizing even more to the non-ideal realm. Keywords: Rawls; Pogge; global justice; ideal theory; non-ideal theory; cosmopolitanism; statism; Rousseau; Kant; democracy (Published: 19 November 2010) Citation: Ethics & Global Politics, Vol. 3 , No. 4, 2010, pp. 277-301, DOI: 10.3402/egp.v3i4.5385
TESTOSTERONE SUPPLEMENTATION FOR ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION: RESULTS OF A META-ANALYSIS

Purpose: To our knowledge a causal relationship between altered levels of androgens and erectile dysfunction has not yet been established. We reviewed the literature to assess the usefulness of androgen replacement for erectile dysfunction.Materials and Methods: Meta-analysis was chosen as the method of evaluating the literature. Study inclusion criteria were testosterone given as the only therapy for erectile dysfunction and a clearly stated definition of response for evaluating treatment success or failure.Results: We evaluated 73 articles obtained by a MEDLINE search of 1966 to 1998 and included 16 in our study. The overall response rate was 57%. In the 9 series with response rate by etiology patients with primary versus secondary testicular failure had a response rate of 64% versus 44% (p <0.001). Intramuscular and oral methods of delivery were equivalent with a response rate of 51.3% and 53.2%, respectively. However, the response to transdermal therapy was significantly different from that of intramu...
Diet, exercise, and complementary therapies after primary treatment for cancer

Summary Every year, more than 10 million people are diagnosed with cancer worldwide. In view of the substantial improvements in early detection and treatment, even more patients can expect to be alive 5 years after diagnosis. With improvements in longevity, the late-occurring adverse effects of cancer and its treatment are becoming increasingly apparent. Healthy lifestyle behaviours that encompass regular exercise, weight control, healthy nutrition, and some complementary practices—eg, support groups, imagery—have the potential to greatly reduce cancer-treatment-associated morbidity and mortality in cancer survivors and can enhance quality of life. Here, we aim to review the strength of evidence for recommendations for exercise, weight management, nutritional practices, and related complementary therapies; assess the perceived needs of cancer survivors for health information and how they can access this information; and discuss the resources available to oncology care providers and patients about healthy lifestyle behaviours. Overall, this review provides important information to oncology care providers who counsel their patients on preventive lifestyle practices to maximise health and longevity after a diagnosis of cancer.
In Vivo Evolution of a Novel, Syncytium-Inducing and Cytopathic Feline Leukemia Virus Variant

Studies of feline leukemia virus (FeLV) have illustrated the importance of the genotype of the infecting virus in determining disease outcome. In FeLV infections, as in other retroviral infections, it is less clear how virus variants that evolve from the transmitted virus affect pathogenesis. We previously reported an analysis of the genotypic changes that occur in the viral envelope gene ( env ) in cats infected with a prototype transmissible FeLV clone, 61E (J. Rohn, M. Linenberger, E. Hoover, and J. Overbaugh, J. Virol. 68:2458–2467, 1994). In one cat, each variant (81T) had evolved, in addition to scattered amino acid changes, a four-amino-acid insertion with respect to 61E. This insertion was located at the same site in the extracellular envelope glycoprotein where the immunodeficiency-inducing molecular clone 61C possesses a six-amino-acid insertion critical for its pathogenic phenotype, although the sequences of the insertions were distinct. To determine whether acquisition of the four-amino-acid insertion was associated with a change in the replication or cytopathic properties of the virus, we constructed chimeras encoding 81T env genes in a 61E background. One representative chimeric virus, EET(TE)-109, was highly cytopathic despite the fact that it replicated with delayed kinetics in the feline T-cell line 3201 compared to the parental 61E virus. The phenotype of this virus was also novel compared to other FeLVs, including both the parental virus 61E and the immunodeficiency-inducing variant 61C, because infection of T cells was associated with syncytium formation. Moreover, in single-cycle infection assays, the 81T-109 envelope demonstrated receptor usage properties distinct from those of both 61E and 61C envelope. Thus, these studies demonstrate the evolution of a novel T-cell cytopathic and syncytium-inducing FeLV in the host. The 81T virus will be valuable for dissecting the mechanism of T-cell killing by cytopathic variants in the FeLV model.
Diagnosing thyroid lymphoma: steroid administration may result in rapid improvement of dyspnea : a report of two cases.

Introduction:: Thyroid nodules, whether benign or malignant, are slow growing masses. There are certain clinical situations where sudden rapid growth may occur and cause acute respiratory compromise secondary to tracheal compression. Case Presentation:: Here we describe two patients with suddenly enlarging thyroid nodules, who developed acute respiratory compromise in the absence of tracheal compression. Their symptoms rapidly improved with administration of corticosteroids, and in subsequent workup, both were diagnosed as thyroid lymphoma. Conclusions:: The potent effect of corticosteroids in the rapid improvement of respiratory compromise associated with thyroid lymphoma represents an important clinical finding. This opens the possibility for the favorable response to corticosteroid therapy to be regarded as a possible preliminary diagnostic tool for thyroid lymphoma in acute respiratory distress patients in the absence of tracheal compression. Subsequent retrospective studies are necessary to verify this hypothesis.
A physically based, two-dimensional, finite-difference algorithm for modeling variably saturated flow

Abstract A computationally simple, numerical algorithm capable of solving a wide variety of two-dimensional, variably saturated flow problems is developed. Recent advances in modeling variably saturated flow are incorporated into the algorithm. A physically based form of the general, variably saturated flow equation is solved using finite differences (centered in space, fully implicit in time) employing the modified Picard iteration scheme to determine the temporal derivative of the water content. The algorithm avoids mass-balance errors in unsaturated regions and is numerically stable. The resulting system of linear equations is solved by a preconditioned conjugate gradient method, which is known to be computationally efficient for the type of equation set obtained. The algorithm is presented in sufficient detail to allow others to implement it easily, and is verified using four published, illustrative sets of experimental data.
Some Consequences of an Infinite-Exponent Partition Relation

Beginning with Ramsey's theorem of 1930, combinatorists have been intrigued with the notion of large cardinals satisfying partition relations. Years of research have established the smaller ones, weakly ineffable, Erdos, Jonsson, Rowbottom and Ramsey cardinals to be among the most interesting and important large cardinals in set theory. Recently, cardinals satisfying more powerful infinite-exponent partition relations have been examined with growing interest. This is due not only to their inherent qualities and the fact that they imply the existence of other large cardinals (Kleinberg [2], [3]), but also to the fact that the Axiom of Determinacy (AD) implies the existence of great numbers of such cardinals (Martin [5]). That these properties are more often than not inconsistent with the full Axiom of Choice (Kleinberg [4]) somewhat increases their charm, for the theorems concerning them tend to be a little odd, and their proofs, circumforaneous. The properties are, as far as anyone knows, however, consistent with Dependent Choice (DC). Our basic theorem will be the following: If k > ω and k satisfies k →( k ) k then the least cardinal δ such that has a δ -additive, uniform ultrafilter. In addition, if AC ω is assumed, we will show that δ is greater than ω , and hence a measurable cardinal. This result will be strengthened somewhat when we prove that for any k , δ , if then .
Predator-prey interactions, reosurce depression and patch revisitation

Generalist predators may be confronted by different types of prey in different patches: sedentary and conspicuous, cryptic (with or without refugia), conspicuous and nonsocial, or conspicuous and social. I argue that, where encounter rates with prey are of most importance, patch revisitation should be a profitable tactic where prey have short "recovery" times (conspicuous, nonsocial prey), or where anti-predator response (e.g. shoaling) may increase conspicuousness. Predictions are made for how temporal changes in prey encounter rates should affect revisit schedules and feeding rates for the 4 different prey types.
Application of Virtual Reality Methods to Obesity Prevention and Management Research

There is a great need for empirical evidence to inform clinical prevention and management of overweight and obesity. Application of virtual reality (VR) methods to this research agenda could present considerable advantages. Use of VR methods in basic and applied obesity prevention and treatment research is currently extremely limited. However, VR has been employed for social and behavioral research in many other domains where it has demonstrated validity and utility. Advantages of VR technologies as research tools include the ability to situate hypothetical research scenarios in realistic settings, tight experimental control inherent in virtual environments, the ability to manipulate and control any and all scenario elements, and enhanced behavioral measurement opportunities. The means by which each of these features could enhance obesity prevention and management research is discussed and illustrated in the context of an example research study. Challenges associated with the application of VR methods, such as technological limitations and cost, are also considered. By employing experimental VR methods to interrogate clinical encounters and other health-related situations, researchers may be able to elucidate causal relationships, strengthen theoretical models, and identify potential targets for intervention. In so doing, researchers stand to make important contributions to evidence-based practice innovation in weight management and obesity prevention.
Environmental Effects on Transpiration and Leaf Water Potential in Avocado

A field study was conducted to determine how atmospheric and edaphic conditions influenced the water relations of avocado trees (Persea americana Mill. cv. Bacon). With high and low levels of incident photosynthetically active radiation (PAR, 400–700 nm wave length), and either wet or dry soil, leaf conductance decreased as the absolute humidity difference from leaf to air increased. For any water stress treatment, conductance was higher at high PAR than at low PAR. Both conductance and transpiration were higher in well-watered trees than in stressed trees, and in prestressed trees levels were intermediate to unstressed and stressed trees. A model for water flux through the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum was used to examine the relationship of leaf xylem pressure potential to transpiration in well-watered trees and in trees stressed by dry soil. There was a close linkage between leaf xylem pressure potential and transpiration in unstressed and previously stressed trees with high or low PAR, i.e. similar potentials occurred with equivalent transpiration regardless of previous treatment or time of day. In stressed trees, xylem pressure potential was lower than in unstressed trees both during the day and night, and at a given transpiration rate the potential was lower after 1400 h than before that time. The model indicated that in stressed trees xylem pressure potential was uncoupled from transpiration, presumably because of altered resistance in the soil-root portion of the transport system.
Time-domain finite methods for electromagnetic wave propagation and scattering

Time-domain finite methods are considered by many as good candidates for the powerful, versatile, and accurate numerical simulation of complex electromagnetic phenomena. However, some concerns still remain about the accuracy of these methods, and questions keep being raised about their modeling versatility. By reviewing the key characteristics of several of these finite methods, and considering the various sources of the associated discretization and numerical error, it is argued that their proper use permits the accurate modeling of electromagnetic scattering and propagation phenomena associated with structures of electrical size and complexity beyond the capabilities of present frequency-domain finite and integral equation methods. >
Characteristics of Hippocampal Primed Burst Potentiation in vitro and in the Awake Rat

A pattern of electrical stimulation based on 2 prominent physiological features of the hippocampus, complex spike discharge and theta rhythm, was used to induce lasting increases in responses recorded in area CA1 of hippocampal slices maintained in vitro and from the hippocampus of behaving rats. This effect, termed primed burst (PB) potentiation, was elicited by as few as 3 stimuli delivered to the commissural/associational afferents to CA1. The patterns of stimulus presentation consisted of a single priming pulse followed either 140 or 170 msec later by a high-frequency burst of 2-10 pulses; control stimulation composed of unprimed high-frequency trains of up to 10 pulses had no enduring effect. Of all intervals tested, only 140 and 170 msec delays between the priming and burst stimuli were effective. PB potentiation could be induced both homo- and heterosynaptically. In the latter case, the priming pulse and burst stimuli were delivered to different dendritic fields; under these conditions, the PB effect was confined to the "burst" pathway. PB potentiation is not dependent on somal spiking; dendritic activation appears to be both necessary and sufficient for lasting changes to occur. Two findings indicate that PB potentiation and LTP have common mechanisms: (1) The effects of PB stimulation and LTP were not additive, in that saturation of the enhancement by PB stimulation eliminated any further increases in response with LTP stimulation; and (2) both PB potentiation and LTP were prevented if the N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonists 2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid or phencyclidine were added to the in vitro perfusion medium. Recordings from the hippocampus of awake rats demonstrated that PB potentiation of the CA1 population spike and slope of the EPSP are reliably induced under physiological conditions. This extensive characterization of PB stimulation provides novel information regarding the physiological and pharmacological basis of a possible role of endogenous rhythms in the processing and storage of information.
Experimental and theoretical dosimetry of the RIC-100 phosphorus-32 brachytherapy source for implant geometries encountered in the intraoperative setting

Abstract Purpose Experimental and theoretical dosimetry of the RIC-100 phosphorus-32 brachytherapy source is presented for implant geometries that may occur in an intraoperative setting during treatment of localized spinal tumors with temporary superficial radiation. Dose variation, due to source shape and size, is evaluated, and nonideal implant conditions are simulated. Methods and Materials Calibration, depth dose, and dose profiles were evaluated for several implant geometries and source sizes. Experimental measurements were performed using EBT3 gafchromic film. Theoretical calculations were performed using dose point kernel (DPK) formalism, which simulates isotropic, monoenergetic point sources distributed uniformly throughout the source and emitting electrons radially outward. Results Calibration and depth dose for RIC-100 are independent of source size for diameters >1 cm. Sources should be ordered with physical dimensions ∼0.2 cm larger than the target size, in all dimensions, to deliver >90% prescription dose to target edges. Relative dose profile shape is approximately constant as a function of target depth. Air gaps between the source and target cause narrower dose profile widths and shallower depth dose in the therapeutic range. DPK for RIC-100 agrees with published P-32 kernels, and DPK calculations agree with measurement (within 5%) for many depths and geometries. Conclusions Intraoperative placement and measurement dosimetry of RIC-100 require careful setup due to steep dose gradients. Physical source dimensions should be chosen carefully based on treatment site dimensions, and air gaps between source and target should be minimized, to prevent underdosing the target in the lateral extent. Radiological scaling should be used to calculate expected dose when nonwater materials are used in experimental measurements, such as calibration or depth dose.
Non-cardiac surgery in the heart failure patient

In this era of increasingly procedural cardiology, many physicians regard the cognitive exercise of preoperative evaluation for non-cardiac surgery as an onerous task. In reality, the preoperative period affords a window of opportunity for the consulting cardiologist to minimise surgical risk by maximising medical treatment, directing appropriate testing, and communicating effectively with the surgical team. Many physicians are unaware that nearly half of all perioperative deaths are related to cardiac events, and they may greatly underestimate the degree to which heart failure contributes to this cardiac mortality. It is imperative as a consulting cardiologist to develop a consistent approach to heart failure patients in order to avoid unnecessary, and potentially dangerous, preoperative diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. In this article we will briefly review recent data relating to predictors of surgical risks, and propose an approach for integrating the clinical evaluation of cardiac status and surgical risk in order to provide a frame of reference for preoperative consultation. We have no hard evidence, either observational or in the form of prospective, randomised trials, to support many of our current recommendations. The landmark studies of preoperative risk assessment focused primarily on identifying ischemic risk with a lesser emphasis on heart failure.1 2 Our suggestions are based on heart failure data extrapolated from these studies, as well as from broad experience at a high volume cardiac centre. There are four major determinants of risk for any cardiac patient undergoing non-cardiac surgery: urgency of the surgery; complexity of the procedure; extent of medical comorbidities; and the extent and severity of the underlying heart disease. Shah and associates underscored the importance of these variables in their evaluation …
Study on Conditions and Countermeasures of Modern Agriculture Development of China State Farms

This article reviews the development of China State Farm’Modern Agriculture,and summarizes its achieves.It also analyzes the advantages and opportunities for the State Farm to construct modern agriculture,including re-sources,industrial scale,technology and human resources.It points out the problems and challenges existing in produc-tion,distribution and development of economics and society.From the perspectives of law and regulation,positive ex-ternal of modern agriculture,scaled producing,food security,agricultural manufacture and services,it puts forward the countermeasures and suggestions on boosting the reform and development of modern agriculture of China state farms.
Spectral geometric albedo and bolometric Bond albedo of Neptune's satellite Triton from Voyager observations

The spectral geometric albedo and the bolometric Bond albedo of Triton are calculated using data from the Voyager spacecraft photopolarimeter and science experiments. The geometric albedo is not inconsistent with the presence of a weak absorption feature in Triton's spectrum near 0.75 micron. The bolometric Bond albedo (0.65) is consistent with the 38 K daytime surface temperature of Triton. The results are also in agreement with the 37.5 K temperature of nitrogen at an infrared basal pressure of 14 microbar.
On maximal actions and w-maximal actions of finite hypergroups

Sunder and Wildberger (J. Algebr. Comb. 18, 135---151, 2003) introduced the notion of actions of finite hypergroups, and studied maximal irreducible actions and *-actions. One of the main results of Sunder and Wildberger states that if a finite hypergroup K admits an irreducible action which is both a maximal action and a *-action, then K arises from an association scheme. In this paper we will first show that an irreducible maximal action must be a *-action, and hence improve Sunder and Wildberger's result (Theorem 2.9). Another important type of actions is the so-called w-maximal actions. For a w-maximal action ?:K?Aff?(X), we will prove that ? is faithful and |X|?|K|, and |K| is the best possible lower bound of |X|. We will also discuss the strong connectivity of the digraphs induced by a w-maximal action.
Cytoskeletal regulation of pulmonary vascular permeability

The endothelial cell (EC) lining of the pulmonary vasculature forms a semipermeable barrier between the blood and the interstitium of the lung. Disruption of this barrier occurs during inflammatory...
Extraterritorial Audits, Tax Competitors, and Narratives: Hyatt

In Hyatt v. California Franchise Tax Board, a Nevada jury returned a nearly $400 million tort verdict against the California Franchise Tax Board because of the FTB's allegedly abusive audit of a taxpayer who claims he relocated from high-tax California to low-tax Nevada. Befitting the case's fascinating nature and its potential significance, Hyatt has been the subject of considerable commentary. This article will explore aspects of the decision that have not yet been deeply probed. In particular, Hyatt illustrates the use and power of narrative in litigation and in policymaking.
Dual-Calibration Technique for Improving Static Linearity of Thermometer DACs for I/O

In this paper, we propose a dual-calibration technique to improve the matching accuracy of digital-to-analog converter (DAC) elements and improve nonlinearity induced static errors in a current-steering thermometer DAC. The novelty of the proposed dual-calibration scheme lies in obtaining best samples from the error distribution using redundancy for improved matching followed by adaptively reordering these samples to reduce error accumulation. This technique exploits the 2-D nature of the DAC to achieve lower calibration time. We consider the statistical basis for each of these methods and demonstrate statistical modeling of the proposed technique. We demonstrate a 38% reduction in differential nonlinearity (DNL) and 55% reduction in integral nonlinearity (INL) through simulations. We fabricated an 8-bit current steering thermometer DAC in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company 65-nm CMOS process. With only 2 redundant cells per row, we show an improvement of 36% in DNL and 50% in INL from the measurement of 16 chips over the baseline DAC.
Using the galactose-α-1,3-galactose enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to predict anaphylaxis in response to cetuximab.

BACKGROUND Cetuximab is a monoclonal antibody against epidermal growth factor receptor with activity against head and neck cancer and colorectal cancer. Anaphylaxis in response to cetuximab is a significant clinical problem in the Southeastern United States with a grade 3/4 infusion reaction rate of 14%. Previous retrospective data have suggested that the presence of preformed immunoglobulin E antibodies against galactose-α-1,3-galactose in serum can predict anaphylaxis in response to cetuximab. METHODS Sixty patients were prospectively screened as part of the entry criteria for a phase 2 study of neoadjuvant carboplatin, nab-paclitaxel, and cetuximab. Patients were recruited at 2 academic medical centers known to have high anaphylaxis rates: the University of North Carolina and Vanderbilt. Only patients with a negative laboratory result were treated on the clinical protocol. RESULTS No patient experienced anaphylaxis; the negative predictive value was thus 100%. Other than smoking history, the demographics were similar for assay-positive subjects and assay-negative subjects. CONCLUSIONS Subjects with a negative test result can be safely treated with cetuximab. Further research is required regarding the optimal cutoff for positivity and the positive predictive value. Cancer 2016;122:1697-701. © 2016 American Cancer Society.
Brave New Worlds? The Once and Future Information Ethics

I highlight several aspects of current and future d evelopments of the internet, in order to draw from these in turn specific consequences of particular s ignificance for the ongoing development and expansion of information ethics. These consequence s include changing conceptions of self and privacy in both Western and Eastern countries, and correlative shifts from the communication technologies of literacy and print to a “secondary orality.” These consequences in turn imply that current and future information ethics should focus on developing a global but pluralistic virtue ethics one that may offset the anti-democratic dangers of such secondary orality. (95 words)
A Computational Study of the Ignition of Premixed Methane and Oxygen via a Hot Stream

With new priorities today that had not existed in the past, the development of new technology has caused the reevaluation of fuels that have been traditionally used. One such resource is methane which may see new implementations in engine technology. A great deal of research into non-premixed methane-air systems has been carried out, but premixed ignition has not been as studied. This study computationally focuses on the ignition of methane and oxygen mixtures in a counterflow configuration by a heated stream. Most combustion systems have non-uniform and/or non-homogenous flow, species, and temperature fields. This configuration allows for the study of both chemical kinetics as well as convective-diffusive transport effects. The effects of strain rate, pressure, and equivalence ratio on ignition are examined. A catalytic simulation code is used to generate ranges of combustion product composition and temperature when using a catalytic reactor for the hot stream. The vitiation of these into the hot stream is conducted to determine their influence on ignition. A combined case simulating the potential of a catalytic igniter is also run to confirm the feasibility of such a technology.
Reactions of unsaturated fatty alcohols. V. Preparation and properties of some copolymers of unsaturated fatty vinyl ethers with lower alkyl vinyl ethers

Soybean vinyl ethers derived from soybean alcohols were copolymerized with lower alkyl vinyl ethers,e.g., ethyl, butyl, isobutyl, 2-chloroethyl, 2-methoxyethyl, and 2-ethylhexyl, in methylene chloride at −30°C., using boron trifluoride etherate catalyst. Molecular weights ranging from 2,000 to 4,000 were obtained on these copolymers by cryoscopic measurements in cyclohexane. An analytical method, using infrared spectroscopy, was employed to determine the composition of the copolymers.
Cost minimization analysis of telepathology.

Telepathology is gaining acceptance as a mode of providing pathology services to remote sites, but its economic feasibility is unknown. A dynamic robotic telepathology service between the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Iron Mountain, MI, and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI, provides diagnostic services for routine and frozen section surgical pathology cases at Iron Mountain. We conducted a cost minimization analysis of this service by building a model to compare telepathology and on-site pathology in Iron Mountain and a courier method oftransporting specimens from Iron Mountain to Milwaukee for diagnosis. Base case analysis showed the courier method to be the most economic; telepathology was less costly than on-site pathology. If the costs of telepathology equipment and telecommunication are lowered to reflect current cost, then telepathology becomes the favored option. Telepathology can be an economic mode of providing pathology services to a remote site.