cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SPILLS OF NONFLOATING OILS: FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE1

ABSTRACT The Committee on Marine Transportation of Heavy Oils was formed by the National Research Council's Marine Board, in response to a congressional mandate that requested the U.S. Coast Guard to assess the risk of spills of oil, which may sink or be negatively buoyant, and the ability to clean them up. The study was also to assess clean-up technologies and identify and appraise technological and financial barriers that may prevent the prompt response to such discharges. The specific objectives of the study were to: (1) assess the threats posed by the marine transportation of group V oils by characterizing the trade in such oils and, in general terms, the resources at risk; (2) assess the adequacy of cleanup technologies for spills of group V oils and recommend research needs to develop new technology, as appropriate; and (3) identify barriers to effective response and recommend technological, financial, or management measures that would prompt effective response to spills of group V oils. This paper ...
Glacial climate instability in the Northeast Pacific Ocean

RECENT climate records from Greenland ice cores1,2 and North Atlantic sediments3a¤-5 have challenged the long-held notion that Pleistocene climate fluctuates between two relatively stable states (glacials and interglacials). It has been appreciated for some time that the transitions from one state to another are not smooth6, but the new records indicate that the glacial and interglacial periods themselves appear to be punctuated by significant climate variability—several short interstadial events punctuated the last glacial period, for example. But it has not been clear whether this climate instability is a global phenomenon or is peculiar to the North Atlantic region. Here we present climate proxy records from sediment cores from the eastern margin of the North Pacific Ocean, which indicate that climate in this region was also highly unstable during the last glaciation. Our observations suggest that glacial climate instability throughout the Northern Hemisphere might be linked to rapid changes in the size of the Laurentide ice sheet and associated changes in atmospheric circulation.
Nature, Environment and Beauty: An Examination of the Beliefs of Modern Black Churchgoers and John Muir

This qualitative research examined participants in environment-related projects in Miami, Florida, who were Black churchgoers driven by a sense of spirituality and stewardship. An examination of interviews and participant observations demonstrated that participants were strongly influenced by a shared concept of "beauty" in nature. This use of the word and concept of "beauty" to refer to nature was connected both to Black history and religion in inspiring participants' actions and attitudes toward environmental preservation. This emphasis on "beauty" as it relates to nature was independent from, yet quite similar to, the idea and language of spiritual "beauty" displayed in the writings of early U.S. conservationist John Muir. These similarities suggest commonalities where sometimes only division is perceived, and underscore the importance and applicability of interconnectedness in the contemporary environmental protection movement.
Synthetic macrophages: Antigen presentation by liposomes bearing class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and membrane interleukin-1 (IL-1)

Afin de determiner les conditions necessaires a l'activation des cellules T lors du processus de presentation de l'antigene des macrophages synthetiques ont ete prepares a partir de liposomes sur lesquels sont fixes des antigenes d'histocompatibilite de Classe II, des molecules d'interleukine 1 et l'antigene conalbumine
From Private Demons to Public Problems The Work of Mary Cromwell Jarrett

Although Mary Jarrett is an unfamiliar name to most social workers, she was a pioneer in the profession. Her contributions to the fields of social work, social work education, and public health exemplify the challenges of professional women in the early 20th century and illustrate the tensions between gendered and professional interests. Her writing exerted a major influence on social work thinking, while her career exemplified a breadth of practice that foreshadowed the generalist and ecosystems approaches to social work. Credited with inventing the term psychiatric social work, Jarrett articulated a broad approach to the needs of the mentally ill. An advocate for the professionalization of social work, she was one of the original founders of the Smith College School of Social Work. After Smith, Jarrett began a second career in public health. An original thinker in all professional fields, her ideas were farsighted and sound fresh today, more than 60 years after her retirement.
Stress tensor of cosmic and laboratory type-II superconductors

It has recently been pointed out by P. B. Jones that for $B\ensuremath{\ll}{H}_{\mathrm{cl}}$ the anisotropic part of the stress tensor associated with the flux lines in a type-II superconductor could be considerably larger than $\frac{{B}^{2}}{4\ensuremath{\pi}}$, and that consequently the magnetic distortions of a neutron star could be appreciably larger than previously supposed. We calculate the stress tensor of a type-II superconductor using a thermodynamic approach, and find that the magnitude of the anisotropic term is just $\frac{\mathrm{BH}}{4\ensuremath{\pi}}$, which agrees in order of magnitude, but not in detail, with Jones's result. The stress tensor derived here is then compared with that found by Josephson. We find additional terms arising from the strain dependence of the magnetic free energy.
Media violence exposure and executive functioning in aggressive and control adolescents

The relationship between media violence exposure and executive functioning was investigated in samples of adolescents with no psychiatric diagnosis or with a history of aggressive-disruptive behavior. Age-, gender-, and IQ-matched samples of adolescents who had no Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-fourth edition (DSM-IV; American Psychiatric Association, 1994) diagnosis (N = 27) and of adolescents who had DSM-IV Disruptive Behavior Disorder diagnoses (N = 27) completed measures of media violence exposure and tests of executive functioning. Moderate to strong relationships were found between higher amounts of media violence exposure and deficits in self-report, parent-report, and laboratory-based measures of executive functioning. A significant diagnosis by media violence exposure interaction effect was found for Conners' Continuous Performance Test scores, such that the media violence exposure-executive functioning relationship was stronger for adolescents who had Disruptive Behavior Disorder diagnoses. Results indicate that media violence exposure is related to poorer executive functioning, and this relationship may be stronger for adolescents who have a history of aggressive-disruptive behavior.
The DNA binding activity of TAL-1 is not required to induce leukemia/lymphoma in mice

Activation of the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) gene TAL-1 (or SCL) is the most frequent gain-of-function mutation in pediatric T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). Similarly, mis-expression of tal-1 in the thymus of transgenic mice results in the development of clonal T cell lymphoblastic leukemia. To determine the mechanism(s) of tal-1-induced leukemogenesis, we created transgenic mice expressing a DNA binding mutant of tal-1. Surprisingly, these mice develop disease, demonstrating that the DNA binding properties of tal-1 are not required to induce leukemia/lymphoma in mice. However, wild type tal-1 and the DNA binding mutant both form stable complexes with E2A proteins. In addition, tal-1 stimulates differentiation of CD8-single positive thymocytes but inhibits the development of CD4-single positive cells: effects also observed in E2A-deficient mice. Our study suggests that the bHLH protein tal-1 contributes to leukemia by interfering with E2A protein function(s).
Metal Deposits in Relation to Plate Tectonics

This book was written with two stated objectives: first, to introduce important characteristics of a wide variety of metal deposits to the upper level undergraduate and graduate students and to professional geologists in the mineral industries, and second, to provide a rational basis for the time-space distribution of mineral deposits within a framework of plate tectonics. Sawkins has divided the plate tectonic environments into three major and seven subenvironments: first, convergent plate environments, which are subdivided into principal arcs, the inner sides of principal arcs, and arc-related rifts; second, divergent plate boundary environments, with subdivisions of oceanic crust, intracontinental hotspots, early stages of continental rifting, and advanced stages of rifting; and third, collisional environments. These major and sub-environments are used as the bases for the divisions into parts and chapters, respectively, in this book.
Regulation of pea leaf ribulose-5-phosphate kinase activity.

Ribulose-5-P kinase (ATP: d-ribulose-5-phosphate 1-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.19) from the pea (Pisum salivum) plant has a high apparent affinity for both ATP (Km = 0.069 mM) and ribulose-5-P (Km = 0.17 mM). The enzyme is not inhibited by AMP or ADP and is unaffected by energy charge levels. The oxidative pentose phosphate pathway intermediate, 6-phosphogluconate, is an effective inhibitor. Apparently the residual dark activity of this light-activated reductive pentose phosphate pathway enzyme is reduced by the product of the dark-activated enzyme glucose-5-P dehydrogenase.
DOES HEME OXYGENASE ACTIVITY DEPEND ON THE VINYL SUBSTITUENTS OF HEME

Since cytochrome c and myoglobin are heme proteins, we tested the assumption that their catabolism contributes to endogenous CO production(Vco). Adult mice were injected with NaHCO3 solution or this solution containing equimolar amounts of myoglobin, cytochrome c, freshly dissolved hematin or hematin stored for 24 and 48 hrs. After the injection, each mouse was placed in a glass chamber from which gas was sampled at 4 and 23 hrs. Within 4 hrs of injecting myoglobin or freshly prepared hematin, the Vco was 2 to 4 fold greater than for control mice. Tin protoporphyrin prevented most of this rise in Vco suggesting that heme oxygenase mediated the reaction. In contrast, Vco 4 hrs after injecting either cytochrome c or stored hematin was indistinguishable from control mice. However between 4 to 23 hrs Vco increased and was comparable to myoglobin or fresh hematin treated animals. The cytochrome c heme differs from myoglobin or hemoglobin only in that the 2 vinyl groups are covalently linked to cysteine. Storage of hematin also alters these vinyl groups (NEJM 315:235, 1986). While these in vivo studies suggest that heme cleavage at the α methene bridge requires 2 vinyl groups on the adjacent pyrrole rings, in vitro studies (J Biol Chem 257:9944, 1982) suggest alternative explanations. The delayed increase in Vco from cytochrome c and aged hematin suggests either slow conversion to compounds that are cleaved by heme oxygenase or excretion and CO formation by enteric bacteria.
The Islet β Cell-enriched RIPE3b1/Maf Transcription Factor Regulates pdx-1 Expression

Abstract Pancreatic duodenal homeobox factor-1, PDX-1, is required for pancreas development, islet cell differentiation, and the maintenance of β cell function. Selective expression in the pancreas appears to be principally regulated by Area II, one of four conserved regulatory sequence domains found within the 5′-flanking region of thepdx-1 gene. Detailed mutagenesis studies have identified potential sites of interaction for both positive- and negative-acting factors within the conserved sequence blocks of Area II. The islet β cell-enriched RIPE3b1 transcription factor, the activator of insulin C1 element-driven expression, was shown here to also stimulate Area II by binding to sequence blocks 4 and 5 (termed B4/5). Accordingly, B4/5 DNA-binding protein's molecular mass (i.e. 46 kDa), binding specificity, and islet β cell-enriched distribution were identical to RIPE3b1. Area II-mediated activation was also unaffected upon replacing B4/5 with the insulin C1/RIPE3b1 binding site. In addition, the chromatin immunoprecipitation assay showed that the Area II region of the endogenous pdx-1 gene was precipitated by an antiserum that recognizes the large Maf protein that comprises the RIPE3b1 transcription factor. These results strongly suggest that RIPE3b1/Maf has an important role in generating and maintaining physiologically functional β cells.
Heart rate characteristics in neonatal sepsis: a promising test that is still premature.

There have been many reports of different heart rate–variability metrics and their association with sepsis in neonates, children, and adults.1–8 Common to all has been a lack of specificity between subjects, although sensitivity to dynamic changes within subjects has been very high. In this issue of Pediatrics , Griffin et al9 report on a specific group of measures (or metrics) of heart rate variability, termed the heart rate characteristics (HRC) index, and its association with blood-culture–proven sepsis in neonates. The basis for their research is the poor diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the current clinical and laboratory evaluation of an infant for suspected sepsis. Current neonatal practice includes careful examination for sepsis-associated physical findings including temperature instability, tachycardia, tachypnea, apnea, prolonged capillary refill time, hypotension, and/or decreased urine output. Corroborative laboratory tests include significant elevation or depression of the white blood cell (WBC) count, the presence of immature neutrophils, metabolic acidosis (lowered pH and/or bicarbonate or elevated lactate), thrombocytopenia, coagulopathy, or evidence of renal or hepatic dysfunction. Of course, the “gold standard” is a positive culture of blood, cerebrospinal fluid, or urine, but there is an unacceptably long turn-around time for results (often ≥24–48 hours) and … Address correspondence to Brahm Goldstein, MD, FCCM, Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Clinical Research Office, Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, 707 SW Gaines St, Mail Code: CDRCP, Portland, OR 97239. E-mail: goldsteb{at}ohsu.edu
Computer simulation of enzymatic reactions

We are entering a period where it is becoming possible to obtain quantitative insights into protein structure and function using computer simulation techniques. Information from these techniques, used in conjunction with structural data from X-ray and NMR studies and biochemical data from mutagenesis and kinetic studies, will lead to a deeper understanding of the catalytic efficiency of enzymes. This review summarizes the recent advances in the computer simulation of enzymatic reactions, summarizes recent applications to enzymatic systems, and points out new directions that this rapidly evolving field will take in the future.
Silicon microchannel devices with different electrode geometry: Spatiotemporal behavior of microplasmas

Summary form only given. Microdischarges produced in silicon microchannel devices having a series of different electrode geometry have been studied by optical microscopy. As previously reported1, the device has a microchannel with a width of 50 μm and a depth of ~30 μm fabricated on a 380 μm thick Si wafer that is overcoated with multi-dielectric film. The top electrode is a metal electrode layer deposited on the top of multi-dielectric layer with a thickness of ~0.1 μm and is patterned by lithography as a transverse (or interdigitate) geometry with an edge-to-edge spacing of 50-100 μm along the rim of the channel. Also, in this presentation, we included another device structures which having a different volume of free space on the top of the device to observe the propagation of surface discharges through this space. Propagation of the microplasmas along the channel as well as the discussion of the coupling phenomena of the plasma waves perpendicular to the Si channel will be presented.
Double-Δ (1232) formation in pion-nucleus absorption

Abstract Double- Δ (1232) formation following pion absorption in and above the 3.3 resonance region is shown to provide an important absorption mechanism for heavy nuclei, if the Δ N → ΔΔ interaction behaves according to SU (4) quark model rules. The ΔΔ configuration is formed preferentially in T = 2 states and decays predominantly by emission of four nucleons, unlike the standard π NN → Δ N → NN two-nucleon process. We show that this mechanism is able to explain some of the striking features observed in proton emission spectra following π ± -nucleus absorption in the Δ region.
Signal background estimation and baseline correction algorithms for accurate DNA sequencing

Accurate identification of a DNA sequence depends on the ability to precisely track the time varying signal baseline in all parts of the electrophoretic trace. We propose a statistical learning formulation of the signal background estimation problem that can be solved using an Expectation-Maximization type algorithm. We also present an alternative method for estimating the background level of a signal in small size windows based on a recursive histogram computation. Both background estimation algorithms introduced here can be combined with regression methods in order to track slow and fast baseline changes occurring in different regions of a DNA chromatogram. Accurate baseline tracking improves cluster separation and thus contributes to the reduction in classification errors when the Bayesian EM (BEM) base-calling system, developed in our group (Pereira et al., Discrete Applied Mathematics, 2000), is employed to decide how many bases are "hidden" in every base-call event pattern extracted from the chromatogram.
Human brain calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is concentrated in the locus caeruleus

A quantitative survey of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in brain, peripheral nerve and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was performed using radioimmunoassay (RIA) with antiserum against synthetic hCGRP. High levels (approximately 2000-15,000 fmol/mg protein) were found in the dorsal spinal cord, dorsal nerve and trigeminal nerve. Relatively large amounts (500-2000) were found in parts of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, peripheral nerve and, for the first time, in the locus caeruleus. Low levels of CGRP (less than 500) were detected in the cerebrum, subcortical nuclei and cerebellum. CGRP, not previously reported in CSF, was detectable in all of 27 CSF specimens with mean values of 30 +/- 4.5 pmol/L (SE). Simultaneous plasma CGRP levels were higher and, when elevated by antihypertensive treatment were not increased in CSF, just as astronomical plasma levels of calcitonin in medullary carcinoma of the thyroid are not reflected in CSF. Our data confirm and extend the results of previous human and animal studies with evidence of species variation: humans have low CGRP levels in subcortical nuclei whereas high levels have been found in rat caudate-putamen and amygdala. The high level of CGRP in the locus caeruleus, the major source of noradrenergic neurotransmission in the CNS, is in harmony with the presumed functions of the LC and the very potent hemodynamic activity of CGRP.
Wiener path intersections and local time

Abstract We study intersection properties of Wiener processes in the plane. For each positive integer k we show that k independent Wiener processes intersect almost surely in a set of Hausdorff dimension two, and that the set of points a single process visits at least k distinct times also has dimension two. We construct a functional on configurations of k independent Wiener processes that measures the extent to which the trajectories of the k processes intersect. We prove certain L p estimates for this functional and show that it is a local time for a certain vector-valued multiparameter stochastic process.
Effect of sex hormones on neuromuscular control patterns during landing.

Abstract The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of sex hormones across menstrual cycle phases on lower extremity neuromuscular control patterns during the landing phase of a drop jump. A repeated-measures design was utilized to examine sex hormone effects in 26 recreationally active eumenorrheic women. Varus/valgus knee angle and EMG activity from six lower extremity muscles were recorded during three drop jumps from a 50 cm platform in each phase of the menstrual cycle. Blood assays verified sex hormone levels and cycle phase. The semitendinosus muscle exhibited onset delays (p ⩽ 0.006) relative to ground contact during the luteal phase, and demonstrated a significant (p ⩽ 0.05) difference between early and late follicular phases. Muscle timing differences between the gluteus maximus and semitendinosus were decreased (p ⩽ 0.05) in the luteal compared to early follicular phases. These results suggest a different co-contractive behavior between the gluteus maximus and semitendinosus, signifying a shift in neuromuscular control patterns. It appears that female recreational athletes utilize a different neuromuscular control pattern for performing a drop jump sequence when estrogen levels are high (luteal phase) compared to when they are low (early follicular phase).
Presentation of Type B Peptide–MHC Complexes from Hen Egg White Lysozyme by TLR Ligands and Type I IFNs Independent of H2-DM Regulation

In APCs, presentation by MHC II molecules of the chemically dominant peptide from the protein hen egg white lysozyme (HEL) generates different conformational isomers of the peptide-MHC II complexes (pMHC). Type B pMHCs are formed in early endosomes from exogenous peptides in the absence of H2-DM, whereas in contrast, type A pMHC complexes are formed from HEL protein in late vesicles after editing by H2-DM. Thus, H2-DM edits off the more unstable pMHC complexes, which are not presented from HEL. In this study, we show that type B pMHC complexes were presented from HEL protein only after stimulation of dendritic cells (DC) with TLR ligands or type I IFN. Type I IFN contributed to most TLR ligand-induced type B pMHC generation, as presentation decreased in DC lacking the receptor for type I IFNs (IFNAR1(-/-)). In contrast, presentation of type A pMHC from HEL and from peptide was minimally affected by TLR ligands. The relative effectiveness of CD8α(+) DC or CD8α(-) DC in presenting type B pMHC complexes varied depending on the TLR ligand used. The mechanisms of generation of type B pMHC from HEL protein with TLR stimulation did not involve H2-DM or release of peptides. DC from H2-DM-deficient mice in the presence of TLR ligands presented type B pMHC. Such DC showed a slight enhancement of HEL catabolism, but peptide release was not evident. Thus, TLR ligands and type I IFN alter the pathways of presentation by MHC II molecules of DC such that type B pMHCs are generated from protein Ag.
Wafer-scale fabrication of periodic polymer attolitre microvial arrays

Wafer-size periodic polymer attolitre microvial arrays of varying depth have been fabricated by templating from spin-coated 2D non-close-packed colloidal crystal-polymer nanocomposites.
Identifying inmates at risk for disciplinary infractions: a comparison of two measures of psychopathy.

An Erratum for this article has been published in Behavioral Sciences & the Law 18(2-3) 2000, p409. Poythress, Edens, and Lilienfeld (1998) recently reported a moderately strong correlation between Hare's (1991) Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) and a newly developed self-report measure of psychopathy, the Psychopathic Personality Inventory (PPI) of Lilienfeld and Andrews (1996), in an ethnically diverse sample of 50 inmates from a youthful offender prison. The present study reports follow-up data regarding disciplinary infractions in this sample and examines the utility of the PCL-R and PPI for identifying those at risk for institutional misbehavior. Generally modest, but statistically significant, correlations were obtained between both measures and indices of aggressive institutional behavior. Multiple regression analyses revealed that both measures accounted for common variance in the criterion but that neither accounted for significant unique variance. RESULTS are discussed in terms of the clinical utility of these measures in populations of young offenders. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Language: en
Work in progress - Instructor credibility: An analysis of engineering students’ reflective writing for evidence of attitude shifts

It is a common, puzzling, and often disheartening experience for teachers at all levels to realize that they may have little credibility in the eyes of their students, especially regarding the applicability of the lessons taught in the classroom to 'real world' situations. This paper analyzes the results of using a reflective writing/research paper in a freshman engineering design course to assist students in making real world connections to classroom topics. In addition to writing a standard research paper on topics related to engineering design, students were required to write a personal reflection on the assignment before and after its completion. Comparisons of these pre-assignment and post-assignment reflections show a substantial shift in the students' attitudes toward the credibility of their instructor and the choice of curriculum and topics for the course. The results also show that students spent time in metacognitive reflection on their own beliefs about the applicability of course work to the world of the working engineer. While not every student experienced these attitude shifts, review of these papers did show a substantial enough positive shift occurred through this writing process to promote further research in this area.
Raman spectroscopy and biomarker analysis reveal multiple carbon inputs to a Precambrian glacial sediment

Extractable biomarkers can help elucidate the environment and biota of ancient glaciations, although the method must be applied with care, as glacial sediments have a potential for incorporation of older detrital carbon. In Phanerozoic glacial sediments, the distinct elemental, molecular and isotopic compositions of the terrestrial and marine biomass allow discrimination between primary marine and redeposited terrestrial organic matter. However, as the Proterozoic biosphere was largely microbial and marine, biomarker and isotopic analyses are insufficient for distinguishing primary organic matter from secondary reworked organic matter. Here, we report the combined application of Raman spectroscopy and biomarker analysis to Precambrian glacial sediments, which, together, allows discrimination between mixed pools of organic carbon and provides a promising new approach for rapidly screening Precambrian sediments for immature organic matter amenable to biomarker analysis.
Tree register allocation

This paper presents tree register allocation, which maps the lifetimes of the variables in a program into a set of trees, colors each tree in a greedy style, which is optimal when there is no spilling, and connects dataflow between and within the trees afterward. This approach generalizes and subsumes as special cases SSA-based, linear scan, and local register allocation. It keeps their simplicity and low throughput cost, and exposes a wide solution space beyond them. Its flexibility enables control flow structure and/or profile information to be better reflected in the trees. This approach has been prototyped in the Phoenix production compiler framework. Preliminary experiments suggest this is a promising direction with great potential. Register allocation based on two special kinds of trees, extended basic blocks and the maximal spanning tree, are found to be competitive alternatives to SSA-based register allocation, and they all tend to generate better code than linear scan.
Obstacle discovery in distributed actuator and sensor networks

Distributed active sensing is a new sensing paradigm, where active sensors (aka actuators) as illuminating sources and passive sensors as receivers are distributed in a field, and collaboratively detect events of interest. In this paper, we study the fundamental properties of distributed actuator and sensor networks (DASNs) in detecting and localizing obstacles. A novel notion of “exposure” is defined, which quantifies the dimension limitations in detectability. Using simple geometric constructs, we propose polynomial-time algorithms to compute the exposure and bounding regions where the center of the obstacles may lie.
Dynamic imaging of glucose flux impedance using FRET sensors in wild-type Arabidopsis plants

Quantitative and dynamic analysis of metabolites and signalling molecules is limited by technical challenges in obtaining temporally resolved information at the cellular and compartmental level. Real-time information on signalling and metabolite levels with subcellular granularity can be obtained with the help of genetically encoded FRET (Forster resonance energy transfer) nanosensors. FRET nanosensors represent powerful tools for gene discovery, and analysis of regulatory networks, for example by screening mutants. However, RNA silencing has impaired our ability to express FRET nanosensors functionally in Arabidopsis plants. This drawback was overcome here by expressing the nanosensors in RNA silencing mutants. However, the use of silencing mutants requires the generation of homozygous lines deficient in RNA silencing as well as the mutation of interest and co-expression of the nanosensor. Here it is shown that dynamic changes in cytosolic glucose levels can readily be quantified in wild-type Arabidopsis plants at early stages of development (7-15 d) before silencing had a major effect on fluorescence intensity. A detailed protocol for screening 10-20 mutant seedlings per day is provided. The detailed imaging protocol provided here is suitable for analysing sugar flux in young wild-type plants as well as mutants affected in sugar signalling, metabolism, or transport using a wide spectrum of FRET nanosensors.
Hybrid Host/Network Topologies for Massive Storage Clusters

The high demand for large scale storage capacity calls for the availability of massive storage solutions with high performance interconnects. Although cluster file systems are rapidly improving and have the potential to allow extremely large numbers of commodity storage nodes to be pooled into a single large file-system, the number of ports on individual switches has not been increasing as quickly - the largest switches available today support fewer than 2,000 Gigabit Ethernet ports. Our goal, therefore, is to develop a new interconnect topology that can connect hundreds of thousands of nodes and achieve performance comparable to a single switch of equivalent size. At the same time, such a new topology should be readily buildable using inexpensive components. Our proposed architecture exploits the multiple Ethernet ports that are now standard on servers and combines host- based routing and forwarding with network-based switching to allow massively large storage clusters to be built. Simulation results have shown that our proposed design achieves 72% to 90% of the performance of a single switch capable of accommodating all storage nodes, but our approach scales to hundreds of thousands of nodes. Furthermore, we use common off-the-shelf layer-2 switches rather than more expensive models that support layer-3 routing. Finally, our approach is resilient to network faults because it maintains multiple paths between storage nodes.
Neuronal models for cognitive processes: networks for learning, perception and imagination.

Model neuronal mechanisms are described in detail and organized into a functional system which can perform a wide variety of high level visualcognitive tasks. A conservative estimate of the number of nerve cells required to realize the complete system in the human brain indicates that it can be accommodated within the visual areas of a single cortical hemisphere leaving a “surplus” capacity of ∼ 6·62 x 108 visual neurons in the occupied hemisphere.
Simulation of the beam response of distributed signals

Conventional beamforming methods are generally formulated in terms of far-field point sources, with emitted signals following a single path to an array. This is generally not true for sources with appreciable spatial extent, such as close aboard targets in the near field of a sonar array. In an effort to make an Acoustic Submarine Sonar simulation process more realistic, a model has been developed for incorporating the uncertainty associated with spatial target extent into the beamforming module of the simulator. It is assumed that the amplitudes of small volume elements of a spread source are statistically independent and that the observation update time /spl Delta/T is short enough for the distances from the array center to the source volume elements to remain approximately constant during /spl Delta/T. It is shown that the beam response of an extended source may be expressed as a convolution of the beampattern of a point source and a "directivity factor" for the spread source. Equivalently, this may be thought of as an average of the beampattern weighted by the probability density function (PDF) representing the spatial distribution of a source about its center of mass angular coordinates. Results are derived theoretically for the general three-dimensional (3-D) array case, and then specialized to two- and one-dimensional (2-D and 1-D) arrays. Because beamforming is done in azimuth and elevation, a PDF that best allows modeling of directional response properties should be chosen. The choice in this analysis for volumetric and planar arrays is the von Mises-Fisher distribution, which is a function of the angular deviations of the source elements from the center of mass and a parameter that incorporates the uncertainty associated with target distance, size, and aspect angle. Results are presented for spherical, hull, and towed linear arrays.
Coupling of Charge Displacement to Na Current Activation is Impaired for DIIS4 Mutations in HypoPP

All eight missense mutations of NaV1.4 associated with hypokalemic periodic paralysis (HypoPP) occur at arginine residues in S4 voltage sensors. These R/X mutations create an anomalous ion conduction pathway, detected as a gating pore current (Igp) in the oocyte. A critical question is how large is the gating pore conductance in HypoPP muscle, since this will determine susceptibility to depolarization-induced weakness. Large discrepancies for estimates of Igp relative to peak INa have been reported; Igp / INa = ∼ 1:100 when currents are measured with TTX (Igp) and without (INa) in the same egg, whereas the conductance ratio γgp / γNa = ∼ 1:1000 based on measurement of Igp and maximal “on” gating charge displacement, Qon.To resolve this issue, we measured Qon, INa, and Igp in oocytes expressing WT or R672G channels. Robust gating pore currents were observed for R672G channels, with Igp/Qon = 65.2 nA/nC at −140 mV. The ratio of INa(-10 mv) to Qon was decreased 2.3-fold for R672G channels compared to WT. This decoupling may also account for the 2x reduction of INa in muscle fibers from R669H knock-in HypoPP mouse for which mRNA levels were not reduced. For R672G, the measured currents had a ratio of Igp(-140) / INa(-10) = 0.025 or 1:40. This current ratio can be converted to an equivalent conductance ratio by accounting for (i) decoupling 2.3, (ii) Popen_max = 0.25, (iii) driving force of 140 mV for Igp and 50 mV for INa. All together, these factors are ∼25 and yield an equivalent conductance ratio of 1: 40 x 25 = 1 : 1000; thereby resolving the discrepancy in the literature.Supported by NIAMS and MDA.
Overrunning of shelf water in the southern Mid-Atlantic Bight

Analyses of two years (1992 and 1993) of high-resolution sea surface temperature satellite images of the southern Mid Atlantic Bight (MAB), showed that unusually extensive overhang of shelf water occurs episodically, and coherently over along shelf distances of several 100 km. These episodes are dubbed overrunning of the Slope Sea by shelf water. The overrunning volume has a ‘‘face’’ and a ‘‘back’’ (southern and northern limit). It transports substantial quantities of shelf water southward, and does not retreat onto the shelf, but eventually joins the western edge of the Gulf Stream in the vicinity of Chesapeake Bay. The combined analyses of satellite imagery and various in situ data further demonstrated that the shelf waters overrunning the Slope Sea were not mere surface features but reached depths between 40 and 60 m. Results confirm previous concepts on shelf circulation, shelf–slope exchange and fate of shelf water. They also shed new light on shelf water budget: overrunning of the Slope Sea and southwest transport by upper slope current constitutes an important conduit for shelf water transport. Winter storms move the shelf–slope front, and with it shelf water, offshore to distances 10–40 km. The offshore displacement of shelf water can be related to the onshore veering of the Gulf Stream near Cape Hatteras, producing a blocking effect on the shelf circulation. Such a blocking effect of the southwestward flow of shelf water in the MAB appeared to be the reason for the overrunning of shelf water off New Jersey. In addition, the excess fresh water discharge from the St. Lawerence was also observed to be related to the overflow of shelf water off New Jersey. � 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Management of neonatal sepsis by Gram-negative pathogens

For the pediatrician and neonatologist who care for term and preterm infants, the challenge remains to keep these infants free of infection after delivery in special-care nurseries and neonatal intensive care units. Studies of complications associated with term infants at risk due to maternal factors, as well as preterm infants after early delivery, have demonstrated that sepsis is a major cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity. Infections due to Gram-negative organisms are increasingly being reported from neonatal units. Moreover, Gram-negative organisms that are multidrug resistant are on the increase and pose a formidable clinical challenge. In this article, we review current epidemiology, risk factors, clinical features, diagnosis, therapy and preventive measures related to Gram-negative infections in neonates.
Secure and efficient access to outsourced data

Providing secure and efficient access to large scale outsourced data is an important component of cloud computing. In this paper, we propose a mechanism to solve this problem in owner-write-users-read applications. We propose to encrypt every data block with a different key so that flexible cryptography-based access control can be achieved. Through the adoption of key derivation methods, the owner needs to maintain only a few secrets. Analysis shows that the key derivation procedure using hash functions will introduce very limited computation overhead. We propose to use over-encryption and/or lazy revocation to prevent revoked users from getting access to updated data blocks. We design mechanisms to handle both updates to outsourced data and changes in user access rights. We investigate the overhead and safety of the proposed approach, and study mechanisms to improve data access efficiency.
Short- and long-term effects of training on dental hygiene faculty members' capacity to write SOAP notes

Calibration among faculty is challenging to achieve and maintain. In this study, calibration refers to the training process by which standardization of chart documentation in a SOAP note format was achieved. In the SOAP format, chart entries by health care providers are written in the following categories: Subjective data, Objective data, Assessment, and Plans. The primary training "effect" or outcome that was measured in this study was the capacity of faculty members to write a SOAP note that adhered to prescribed standards for chart documentation. This study was conducted to assess the short-term effects of training and determine whether faculty members' capacity to write appropriately constructed SOAP notes could be sustained for one year. Eight dental hygiene faculty members at the University of Minnesota participated in a pre-training assessment in which they prepared a SOAP note based on a patient case, completed a training session on writing SOAP notes, and completed a post-training test shortly after training that also consisted of writing a SOAP note based on a patient's case. One year later, a follow-up test, similar to the pre- and post-tests, was conducted. Each component of the SOAP note was compared and scored against a gold standard benchmark score of 29 that represented the number of items that should have been included in an ideal SOAP note in the estimation of the investigators, based on chart documentation guidelines of the University of Minnesota Dental Hygiene Division. The mean score for the pre-test was 18.25 (SD=2.82), which represented 63 percent of the benchmark gold standard score of 29. The post-test mean score immediately after training was 24.63 (SD=2.13; 84.9 percent of the benchmark score), and the one-year follow-up mean score was 22.75 (SD=1.83; 78.4 percent of the gold standard benchmark). From the pre-test to the post-test administered in close approximation to the SOAP note training, faculty members' approximation of the gold standard benchmark increased by 35 percent, or 6.28 points, and from the post-test to the follow-up test one year subsequently, approximation of the benchmark score decreased by approximately 1 percent or 1.88 points. Friedman's test indicated that the differences in mean scores for the pre-test, post-test, and follow-up test were significant. The Sign test was used for post hoc tests; alpha was adjusted using Bonferroni's procedure. Conclusions support a hypothesis that faculty capacity to write a SOAP note that adheres to standards can be increased through training and that the effects can be maintained over a period of approximately one year.
At 5 years, transcatheter aortic valve replacement had similar rates of mortality and stroke as surgical aortic valve replacement in high-risk patients

Commentary on: Kapadia SR, Leon MB, Makkar RR, et al., PARTNER trial investigators. 5-year outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve replacement compared with standard treatment for patients with inoperable aortic stenosis (PARTNER 1): a randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2015;385:2485–91 and Mack MJ, Leon MB, Smith CR, et al ., PARTNER 1 trial investigators. 5-year outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve replacement or surgical aortic valve replacement for high surgical risk patients with aortic stenosis (PARTNER1): a randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2015;385:2477–84.[OpenUrl][1][CrossRef][2][PubMed][3] When calcific aortic stenosis is associated with symptoms, particularly congestive heart failure, it is also associated with a risk of death when not corrected surgically. Unfortunately, the frequency of the disease increases with age and patients who are most likely to have it are those who are at highest risk for open cardiac surgery. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is an emerging treatment that is considerably less invasive than surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). The PARTNER investigators compared TAVR to conservative medical therapy in patients who were not candidates for SAVR (Kapadia and colleagues) and compared TAVR to SAVR in patients who were at high risk for SAVR (Mack and colleagues). Two studies were performed as part of the PARTNER programme. Inclusion criteria were identical with the exception of perceived surgical risk. In Kapadia and colleagues study, two cardiovascular surgeons and an interventional cardiologist had to agree that … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DLancet%26rft.volume%253D385%26rft.spage%253D2485%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1016%252FS0140-6736%252815%252960290-2%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F25788231%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60290-2&link_type=DOI [3]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=25788231&link_type=MED&atom=%2Febmed%2Fearly%2F2015%2F08%2F21%2Febmed-2015-110216.atom
Molecular geometry inspired positioning for aerial networks

The advances in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and wireless sensor technology made it possible to deploy aerial networks and to collect information in three dimensional (3D) space. These aerial networks enable high quality observation of events as multiple UAVs coordinate and communicate for data collection. The positioning of UAVs in aerial networks is critical for effective coverage of the environment and data collection. UAV systems have their characteristic constraints for node positioning such as dynamic topology changes or heterogeneous network structure. The positioning methods for two dimensional (2D) scenarios cannot be used for aerial networks since these approaches become NP-hard in 3D space.In this paper, we propose a node positioning strategy for UAV networks. We propose a wireless sensor and actor network structure according to different capabilities of the nodes in the network. The positioning algorithm utilizes the Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion (VSEPR) theory of chemistry, which is based on the correlation between molecular geometry and the number of atoms in a molecule. By using the rules of VSEPR theory, the actor nodes in the proposed approach use a lightweight and distributed algorithm to form a self organizing network around a central UAV, which has the role of the sink. The limitations of the basic VSEPR theory are eliminated by extending the approach for multiple central data collectors. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed system provides high connectivity and coverage for the aerial sensor and actor network.
Nanoscale Patterning of Extracellular Matrix Alters Endothelial Function under Shear Stress.

The role of nanotopographical extracellular matrix (ECM) cues in vascular endothelial cell (EC) organization and function is not well-understood, despite the composition of nano- to microscale fibrillar ECMs within blood vessels. Instead, the predominant modulator of EC organization and function is traditionally thought to be hemodynamic shear stress, in which uniform shear stress induces parallel-alignment of ECs with anti-inflammatory function, whereas disturbed flow induces a disorganized configuration with pro-inflammatory function. Since shear stress acts on ECs by applying a mechanical force concomitant with inducing spatial patterning of the cells, we sought to decouple the effects of shear stress using parallel-aligned nanofibrillar collagen films that induce parallel EC alignment prior to stimulation with disturbed flow resulting from spatial wall shear stress gradients. Using real time live-cell imaging, we tracked the alignment, migration trajectories, proliferation, and anti-inflammatory behav...
Pharmacology of Drugs used for Anesthesia and Sedation

This article reviews and defines the concepts underlying modern pharmacologic science, such as the study of pharmacokinetics, pharmodynamics, and drug interactions. Differences in anesthetic and sedative effects observed among species may be explained, in part, by varying pharmacokinetics and dynamics unique to each species. Pharmacokinetic data from ruminants and swine for many of the commonly used anesthetics and adjunctive sedatives are included. The receptor mechanism mediating the actions of anesthetics and sedatives is also reviewed. Rationale for combining eNS depressant drugs and analgesics to achieve "balanced anesthesia" and other favorable drug interactions is discussed. Several drug combinations used in ruminants and swine are provided in table form.