cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stress Cardiomyopathy: A Syndrome of Catecholamine-Mediated Myocardial Stunning?

During the past few years, a novel syndrome of heart failure and transient left ventricular systolic dysfunction precipitated by acute emotional or physical stress has been described. While patients with "stress cardiomyopathy"(SCM) typically present with signs and symptoms that resemble an acute coronary syndrome, it has become clear that this syndrome has unique clinical features that can readily be distinguished from acute infarction.In particular, in contrast to the irreversible myocardial injury seen with infarction, the myocardial dysfunction of SCM is completely reversible and occurs in the absence of plaque rupture and coronary thrombosis. There is increasing evidence that exaggerated sympathetic stimulation may play a pathogenic role in the development of SCM. Plasma catecholamine levels have been found to be markedly elevated in some patients with SCM, and the syndrome has been observed in other clinical states of catecholamine excess such as central neurologic injury and pheochromocytoma.Further, intravenous catecholamines can precipitate SCM in humans and can reproduce the syndrome in animal models. The precise mechanism in which excessive sympathetic stimulation may result in transient left ventricular dysfunction remains controversial. Abnormal myocardial blood flow due to sympathetically mediated microvascular dysfunction has been suggested and is supported by decreased coronary flow reserve during the acute phase of this syndrome. An alternative explanation is the direct effect of catecholamines on cardiac myocytes, possibly through cyclic AMP-mediated calcium overload. This manuscript will review the clinical and diagnostic features of SCM and will summarize the evidence supporting a sympathetically mediated pathogenesis. Clinical risk factors that appear to increase susceptibility to SCM, possibly by modulating myocyte and microvascular sensitivity to catecholamines, will also be highlighted.
Medically unexplainable somatic symptoms: a coat with many psychiatric colors.

To the Editor: Medically unexplainable somatic symptoms consist of physical symptoms that cannot be readily explained by physical examination or ancillary testing. These unexplained symptoms emerge in up to one-third of all primary care consultations,1,2 with the majority being chronic or recurrent.2 Medically unexplained somatic symptoms are characterized by more medical visits,3 referrals to specialists,4 adjunctive testing,4 psychosocial morbidity,1 and physical disability at follow-up.1 Thus, this minority of commonplace “unexplainables” accounts for a disproportionate use of overall health care resources.
Linking human behaviour to environmental effects using a case study of urban rodent control

Pest control is common in many land use activities and can affect non‐target species. Our objectives were to evaluate, among chemical rodent control product (rodenticide) users, awareness of non‐target effects on wildlife and willingness to change rodent control behaviour given knowledge of possible local non‐target effects. Approximately half of respondents to a resident survey in California (USA) practised rodent control; of these, approximately 45% were chemical rodenticide users. Few (10%) were aware of possible non‐target effects. Then, we asked subjects about their potential to pursue each of four rodent control behaviours: continue current use, change product use, reduce use, or stop use. Most respondents indicated that they were most likely to change their rodent control behaviour given the knowledge that rodenticides were possibly affecting non‐target wildlife. Among the four behaviours, the greatest frequency of respondents indicated a potential change of product(s) used. Concern about rodentici...
Expression and Purification of Recombinant Tick Anticoagulant Peptide (Y1W/D10R) Double Mutant Secreted bySaccharomyces cerevisiae☆

Abstract A double mutant of tick anticoagulant peptide (TAP) was cloned as a chimeric fusion with the yeast α-mating factor pre-proleader peptide. Expression in yeast ( Saccharomyces cerevisiae ) resulted in the secretion of the TAP mutein into the culture medium. An HPLC-based assay was used to screen yeast strains to find those giving highest expression levels. Efficiency of cleavage at the junction of the leader-TAP mutein varied from strain to strain, and a rapid purification method followed by N-terminal sequence analysis was used to identify a host strain that minimized undesirable cleavage products. A purification scheme was developed which separated the TAP mutein from improperly processed peptides present in the medium. This scheme employed cation-exchange chromatography and reversed-phase HPLC. Scale-up of the process was successful and produced 100 mg of fully functional TAP mutein of >96% homogeneity from a 50-L yeast culture.
How thermal are (certain) thermal plasmas

Summary form only given, as follows. In a recent study Gao et al. (1999) have examined the assumption of a Maxwellian electron distribution function for an inductively coupled argon plasma at atmospheric pressure. By solving the Boltzmann equation the authors demonstrate that in fact deviations from a Maxwellian distribution can be detected. In this presentation we revisit the conclusions obtained by Gao et al. (1999). At atmospheric pressures and excitation frequencies of 3.0 MHz and 27.1 MHz it is not obvious that the electron distribution function (EDF) can be derived from the steady-state Boltzmann equation. For low degrees of ionization and at atmospheric pressure, the EDF would show a strong temporal modulation in the high energy part due to inelastic collisions. At high degrees of ionization, Coulomb collisions can dampen these oscillations and lead to a less modulated EDF tail. In this presentation, we discuss the EDF formation for the conditions presented. We present results from solutions of the electron Boltzmann equation and discuss possible deviations from non-Maxwellian distribution functions.
Cancellation of diffuse jammer multipath by an airborne adaptive radar

Airborne surveillance radars need to operate in an environment that can include the presence of ground clutter, standoff jammers, and diffuse jammer multipath. It is demonstrated here that a phased-array radar that employs adaptive spatial degrees of freedom, plus two different sets of adaptive temporal degrees of freedom can effectively cancel the aforementioned interference to an acceptable level. The two different sets of temporal taps required for each antenna element consist of one set spaced by the pulse repetition interval, so as to cancel ground clutter, and another spaced by about one-half of the reciprocal of the radar bandwidth, so as to cancel the diffuse jammer multipath which may enter through the main beam of the radar, as well as its sidelobes. Using the ideal covariance matrix, a simulation has been developed, and the necessary conditions for cancellation are analyzed and discussed. It is also shown that the cancellation can be performed either with the antenna elements or a set of beams, but that the beam space approach requires fewer space-time degrees of freedom for nearly the same level of cancellation as the element space approach. >
Comparison of Methods for DNA Isolation from Food Samples for Detection of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia Coli by Real-Time PCR

In this study, food samples were intentionally contaminated with Escherichia coli O157:H7, and then DNA was isolated by using four commercial kits. The isolated DNA samples were compared by using real-time PCR detection of the Shiga toxin genes. The four kits tested worked similarly.
Water resources simulation in the Rio Grande basin using coupled models

Regional assessments of water resources under global climate change require models that can resolve management, land use, and climate effects. Los Alamos National Laboratory is developing a coupled model of water resources that places a river basin in its global context. The upper Rio Grande basin above El Paso, Texas is the testbed for this model. The model structure and computational approach are emphasize and issues such as nonlinear feedback between components and spatial and temporal scaling of processes are discussed. Using simulations of regional meteorology, the effects of high spatial resolution simulations on the distribution of precipitation are demonstrated.
Pharmacologic Inhibition of MEK Signaling Prevents Growth of Canine Hemangiosarcoma

Angiosarcoma (AS) is a rare neoplasm of endothelial origin that has limited treatment options and poor five-year survival. As a model for human AS, we studied primary cells and tumorgrafts derived from canine hemangiosarcoma (HSA), which is also an endothelial malignancy with similar presentation and histology. Primary cells isolated from HSA showed constitutive ERK activation. The MEK inhibitor CI-1040 reduced ERK activation and the viability of primary cells derived from visceral, cutaneous, and cardiac HSA in vitro. HSA-derived primary cells were also sensitive to sorafenib, an inhibitor of B-Raf and multi-receptor tyrosine kinases. In vivo, CI-1040 or PD0325901 decreased the growth of cutaneous cell-derived xenografts and cardiac-derived tumorgrafts. Sorafenib decreased tumor size in both in vivo models, although cardiac tumorgrafts were more sensitive. In human AS, we noted that 50% of tumors stained positively for phosphorylated ERK1/2 and that the expression of several MEK-responsive transcription factors was up-regulated. Our data showed that MEK signaling is essential for the growth of HSA in vitro and in vivo and provided evidence that the same pathways are activated in human AS. This indicates that MEK inhibitors may form part of an effective therapeutic strategy for the treatment of canine HSA or human AS, and it highlights the utility of spontaneous canine cancers as a model of human disease.
Surface rate processes and vapor pressures of magnetic solids

Abstract We present a theory of surface rate processes in magnetic solids that takes into account the coupling between magnetic and positional degrees of freedom of the atoms. This mechanism leads to an enhancement of the sublimation current over Arrhenius behavior as T c is approached from below, with a discontinuous derivative at T c . We also calculate the equilibrium vapor pressure, a quantity which exhibits marked departures from the behavior encountered in non-magnetic solids.
Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Prostatectomy for High-Risk Prostate Cancer: Technical Considerations and Review of the Literature

Men with high-risk prostate cancer are at significant risk of progressive, symptomatic disease leading to metastases or death from prostate cancer. Surgery—specifically robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP)—is increasingly being considered as a key component of a multimodal strategy to treat these patients. Herein, we review key technical considerations of performing RALP with bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy in men with high-risk disease. Recent literature supporting the increasing role of surgery either alone or in combination with adjuvant therapies to treat men with high-risk prostate cancer is also reviewed.
Software optimization for MPSoC: a mpeg-2 decoder case study

Using traditional software profiling to optimize embedded software in an MPSoC design is not reliable. With multiple processors running concurrently and programs interacting, traditional profiling on individual processors cannot capture useful execution information to assist software optimization. A new method to model parallel executions of interacting programs is needed. In this paper, we consider the software optimization problem for throughput-constrained MPSoC designs. We define the "longest delay path" as a sequence of steps leading to a throughput constraint violation and propose an algorithm to build up the path dynamically during simulation. Using an industrial-strength MPEG-2 decoder design in our case study and custom instructions for software optimization, we show that we can optimize the software efficiently in MPSoC designs using frequently executed statement information from the longest delay path.
Rotator graphs: an efficient topology for point-to-point multiprocessor networks

Rotator graphs, a set of directed permutation graphs, are proposed as an alternative to star and pancake graphs. Rotator graphs are defined in a way similar to the recently proposed Faber-Moore graphs. They have smaller diameter, n-1 in a graph with n factorial vertices, than either the star or pancake graphs or the k-ary n-cubes. A simple optimal routing algorithm is presented for rotator graphs. The n-rotator graphs are defined as a subset of all rotator graphs. The distribution of distances of vertices in the n-rotator graphs is presented, and the average distance between vertices is found. The n-rotator graphs are shown to be optimally fault tolerant and maximally one-step fault diagnosable. The n-rotator graphs are shown to be Hamiltonian, and an algorithm for finding a Hamiltonian circuit in the graphs is given. >
Reciprocal inhibition of inhibition: A circuit motif for flexible categorization in stimulus selection

Summary As a precursor to the selection of a stimulus for gaze and attention, a midbrain network categorizes stimuli into "strongest" and "others." The categorization tracks flexibly, in real time, the absolute strength of the strongest stimulus. In this study, we take a first-principles approach to computations that are essential for such categorization. We demonstrate that classical feedforward lateral inhibition cannot produce flexible categorization. However, circuits in which the strength of lateral inhibition varies with the relative strength of competing stimuli categorize successfully. One particular implementation—reciprocal inhibition of feedforward lateral inhibition—is structurally the simplest, and it outperforms others in flexibly categorizing rapidly and reliably. Strong predictions of this anatomically supported circuit model are validated by neural responses measured in the owl midbrain. The results demonstrate the extraordinary power of a remarkably simple, neurally grounded circuit motif in producing flexible categorization, a computation fundamental to attention, perception, and decision making.
Modeling and validation of autoinducer-mediated bacterial gene expression in microfluidic environments.

Biosensors exploiting communication within genetically engineered bacteria are becoming increasingly important for monitoring environmental changes. Currently, there are a variety of mathematical models for understanding and predicting how genetically engineered bacteria respond to molecular stimuli in these environments, but as sensors have miniaturized towards microfluidics and are subjected to complex time-varying inputs, the shortcomings of these models have become apparent. The effects of microfluidic environments such as low oxygen concentration, increased biofilm encapsulation, diffusion limited molecular distribution, and higher population densities strongly affect rate constants for gene expression not accounted for in previous models. We report a mathematical model that accurately predicts the biological response of the autoinducer N-acyl homoserine lactone-mediated green fluorescent protein expression in reporter bacteria in microfluidic environments by accommodating these rate constants. This generalized mass action model considers a chain of biomolecular events from input autoinducer chemical to fluorescent protein expression through a series of six chemical species. We have validated this model against experimental data from our own apparatus as well as prior published experimental results. Results indicate accurate prediction of dynamics (e.g., 14% peak time error from a pulse input) and with reduced mean-squared error with pulse or step inputs for a range of concentrations (10 μM–30 μM). This model can help advance the design of genetically engineered bacteria sensors and molecular communication devices.
A Dialogical Model for Business Correspondence.

Despite the fact that letters and memos are the most prevalent forms of written discourse in the business community, there has been little theoretical study of professional correspondence as a dist...
Graphs without One-Factors

Suppose G is a regular graph of degree d and suppose G — W has a component with p vertices, where p is no greater than d. The number of edges within the component is at most \(\frac{{p(p - 1)}}{2}\). This means that the sum of the degrees of these p vertices in G — W is at most p(p — 1). But in G each vertex has degree d, so the sum of the degrees of the p vertices is pd, whence the number of edges joining the component to W must be at least pd — p(p — 1). For fixed d and for integer p satisfying 1 ≤ p ≤ d this function has minimum value d (achieved at p = 1 and p = d). So any odd component with d or fewer vertices is joined to W by d or more edges.
A reliable active scanning scheme for the IEEE 802.11 MAC layer handoff

In the IEEE 802.11 wireless local area networks (WLANs) with fixed access points (APs), handoff occurs when a mobile station (MS) with a communication in progress changes its associated AP from one to another. It is important to minimize the handoff latency because the active communications of a MS are interrupted before the handoff completes. Such a design needs to take into consideration the high error rate of WLANs. The IEEE 802.11 medium access control (MAC) protocol recommends an active scanning mode for the handoff process. The probe delay of the active scanning may increase greatly if the probe request is lost. However, the successful transmission of the probe request is very unpredictable due to the high collision probability and the lack of any acknowledgement. In this paper, we propose a highly reliable active scanning scheme which can be implemented with the current IEEE 802.11 channel scanning procedure. It is indicated to efficiently increase the reliability of channel scanning, especially in a noisy environment, by performing the probe request loss detection and retransmission. Furthermore, the proposed scheme reduces the overall handoff latency by providing a higher priority for management frames over data frames.
Mental Representations in Fraction Comparison Holistic Versus Component-Based Strategies

In this study, we investigated the mental representations used in a fraction comparison task. Adults were asked to quickly and accurately pick the larger of two fractions presented on a computer screen and provide trial-by-trial reports of the types of strategies they used. We found that adults used a variety of strategies to compare fractions, ranging among just knowing the answer, using holistic knowledge of fractions to determine the answer, and using component-based procedures such as cross multiplication. Across all strategy types, regression analyses identified that reaction times were significantly predicted by numerical distance between fractions, indicating that the participants used a magnitude-based representation to compare the fraction magnitudes. In addition, a variant of the problem-size effect (e.g., Ashcraft, 1992) appeared, whereby reaction times were significantly predicted by the average cross product of the two fractions. This effect was primarily found for component-based strategies, indicating a role for strategy choice in the formation of mental representations of fractions.
Individual differences in inhibitory control and children's theory of mind.

This research examined the relation between individual differences in inhibitory control (IC; a central component of executive functioning) and theory-of-mind (ToM) performance in preschool-age children. Across two sessions, 3- and 4-year-old children ( N � 107) were given multitask batteries measuring IC and ToM. Inhibitory control was strongly related to ToM, r � .66, p � .001. This relation remained significant controlling for age, gender, verbal ability, motor sequencing, family size, and performance on pretend-action and mental state control tasks. Inhibitory tasks requiring a novel response in the face of a conflicting prepotent response (Conflict scale) and those requiring the delay of a prepotent response (Delay scale) were significantly related to ToM. The Conflict scale, however, significantly predicted ToM performance over and above the Delay scale and control measures, whereas the Delay scale was not significant in a corresponding analysis. These findings suggest that IC may be a crucial enabling factor for ToM development, possibly affecting both the emergence and expression of mental state knowledge. The implications of the findings for a variety of executive accounts of ToM are discussed.
Decreased dose of radiation to dogs during acquisition of elbow radiographs using draped shielding

Protective lead equivalent shielding of patients is not routinely used in veterinary radiology. The goal of this study was to determine whether the use of lead equivalent shielding results in a significant reduction in dose of radiation to dogs during acquisition of elbow radiographs. The authors measured radiation doses in the primary beam and over and under protective lead equivalent shielding that was placed at the level of the eyes, body and gonads during acquisition of elbow radiographs using 0.01 mSv sensitivity dosimetry badges. Shielding consisted of 0.5 mm lead equivalent aprons and thyroid shields placed over bodies and eyes, respectively. All badges in the primary beam-detected radiation. Shielding significantly decreased the dose of radiation with significantly less scatter and tube leakage radiation detected under compared with over shielding (P=0.0001). The dose of radiation detected over shielding was significantly greater than zero (P=0.0001), while that under shielding did not differ significantly from zero (P=0.09). Based on these results, the authors recommend protective shielding be used on veterinary patients during radiography.
The EGF receptor and notch signaling pathways control the initiation of the morphogenetic furrow during Drosophila eye development.

The onset of pattern formation in the developing Drosophila retina begins with the initiation of the morphogenetic furrow, the leading edge of a wave of retinal development that transforms a uniform epithelium, the eye imaginal disc into a near crystalline array of ommatidial elements. The initiation of this wave of morphogenesis is under the control of the secreted morphogens Hedgehog (Hh), Decapentaplegic (Dpp) and Wingless (Wg). We show that the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor and Notch signaling cascades are crucial components that are also required to initiate retinal development. We also show that the initiation of the morphogenetic furrow is the sum of two genetically separable processes: (1) the ‘birth’ of pattern formation at the posterior margin of the eye imaginal disc; and (2) the subsequent ‘reincarnation’ of retinal development across the epithelium.
A Stochastic Model of Space-Time Variability of Mesoscale Rainfall: Statistics of Spatial Averages

Global maps of rainfall are of great importance in connection with modeling of the earth s climate. Comparison between the maps of rainfall predicted by computer-generated climate models with observation provides a sensitive test for these models. To make such a comparison, one typically needs the total precipitation amount over a large area, which could be hundreds of kilometers in size over extended periods of time of order days or months. This presents a difficult problem since rain varies greatly from place to place as well as in time. Remote sensing methods using ground radar or satellites detect rain over a large area by essentially taking a series of snapshots at infrequent intervals and indirectly deriving the average rain intensity within a collection of pixels , usually several kilometers in size. They measure area average of rain at a particular instant. Rain gauges, on the other hand, record rain accumulation continuously in time but only over a very small area tens of centimeters across, say, the size of a dinner plate. They measure only a time average at a single location. In making use of either method one needs to fill in the gaps in the observation - either the gaps in the area covered or the gaps in time of observation. This involves using statistical models to obtain information about the rain that is missed from what is actually detected. This paper investigates such a statistical model and validates it with rain data collected over the tropical Western Pacific from ship borne radars during TOGA COARE (Tropical Oceans Global Atmosphere Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere Response Experiment). The model incorporates a number of commonly observed features of rain. While rain varies rapidly with location and time, the variability diminishes when averaged over larger areas or longer periods of time. Moreover, rain is patchy in nature - at any instant on the average only a certain fraction of the observed pixels contain rain. The fraction of area covered by rain decreases, as the size of a pixel becomes smaller. This means that within what looks like a patch of rainy area in a coarse resolution view with larger pixel size, one finds clusters of rainy and dry patches when viewed on a finer scale. The model makes definite predictions about how these and other related statistics depend on the pixel size. These predictions were found to agree well with data. In a subsequent second part of the work we plan to test the model with rain gauge data collected during the TRMM (Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission) ground validation campaign.
Visual Constructive and Visual–Motor Skills in Deaf Native Signers

Visual constructive and visual-motor skills in the deaf population were investigated by comparing performance of deaf native signers (n=20) to that of hearing nonsigners (n=20) on the Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration, Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test, Wechsler Memory Scale Visual Reproduction subtest, and Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale Paper Folding and Cutting subtest. Deaf signers were found to perform similarly to hearing controls, suggesting that these tests are valid assessment instruments to use with deaf individuals.
NCOA5 , a molecular link between type 2 diabetes and liver cancer

It is reported that nuclear receptor co-activator 5 (NCOA5) is a possible susceptibility gene to both type 2 diabetes (T2D) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The link between these two diseases is an important area of study with the growing prevalence of T2D. Thus, discovery of a genetic link may have great impact on the field. The group used NCOA5 +/– mice to observe the effects of the gene’s haploinsufficiency on the symptoms of T2D and HCC and claimed NCOA5’s regulation of IL-6 in the pathogenesis of the diseases.
Could removal of project-level knowledge flow obstacles contribute to software process improvement? A study of software engineer perceptions

ContextSoftware process improvement (SPI) is one type of innovation often formulated to address problems such as uncontrollable costs, schedule overruns, and poor end product quality. This study investigates SPI through the application of knowledge management (KM) at the software project level, viewing KM, when applied in software development, as complementary to SPI. ObjectiveThis study advances the use of KM in SPI by investigating impediments to the use and flow of knowledge within an individual software development project. Our proposition is that the removal of obstacles to project-level knowledge flow (K-flow) will enhance SPI. We investigate this proposition by exploring the problems associated with project K-flows as seen by software project team members. MethodWe conducted a descriptive case study of an industrial software development project, in which we collected data concerning project knowledge sources and K-flows using semi-structured interviews. Using this data, we constructed a diagnostic project knowledge map (K-map). The K-map was analyzed to identify K-flow obstacles and potential solutions. Questionnaires based on these obstacles and solutions were formulated to probe software engineers' perceptions of the effect of the solutions on SPI. ResultsFindings from participant questionnaires reveal that software engineers perceive that the removal or mitigation of project-level K-flow obstacles generally reduces the time to perform their work, helps them to meet their deadlines, and improves their work quality, thus resulting in SPI. ConclusionsThis study provides support for the usefulness of project-level K-flow obstacle removal for SPI. It provides a unique project-level perspective, using input from the project's software engineers. It also explains and supports the use of K-mapping for the identification of project-level K-flow obstacles. With this approach, practitioners gain insight into SPI in "real time" as a project is executed. These insights may help to enhance their current and future SPI efforts.
Tunneling Nanotubes: Intercellular Conduits for Direct Cell-to-Cell Communication in Cancer

Tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) are actin-based cytoplasmic extensions that directly transfer cellular cargo between connected cells. Intercellular transport of signaling molecules and regulatory RNAs are an integral part of defining the tumor microenvironment and intratumoral heterogeneity. The TNT-based cellular mode of molecular signaling affects multiple cell functions including cellular reprograming, tumor evasion, and chemotherapy resistance. In this chapter we will discuss various concepts of intercellular communication in cancer via TNTs and highlight the potential role played by TNTs in cancer pathobiology.
Can Novel Management Practice Improve Soil and Environmental Quality and Sustain Crop Yield Simultaneously

Little is known about management practices that can simultaneously improve soil and environmental quality and sustain crop yields. The effects of novel and traditional management practices that included a combination of tillage, crop rotation, and N fertilization on soil C and N, global warming potential (GWP), greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI), and malt barley (Hordeum vulgarie L.) yield and quality were examined under non-irrigated and irrigated cropping systems from 2008 to 2011 in eastern Montana and western North Dakota, USA. In loamy soil under non-irrigated condition in eastern Montana, novel and traditional management practices were no-till malt barley-pea (Pisum sativum L.) with 80 kg N ha-1 and conventional till malt barley-fallow with 80 kg N ha-1, respectively. In sandy loam soil under irrigated and non-irrigated conditions in western North Dakota, novel and traditional management practices included no-till malt barley-pea with 67 (non-irrigated) to 134 kg N ha-1 (irrigated) and conventional till malt barley with 67 (non-irrigated) to 134 kg N ha-1 (irrigated), respectively. Compared with the traditional management practice, soil organic C (SOC) and total N (STN) at 0–120 cm were 5% greater with the novel management practice under non-irrigated condition in eastern Montana and under irrigated condition in western North Dakota, but were not different under non-irrigated condition in western North Dakota. In both places under irrigated and non-irrigated conditions, total applied N rate, residual soil NO3-N content at 0–120 cm, global warming potential (GWP), and greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI) were 15 to 70% lower with the novel than the traditional management practice. Malt barley yield and quality were not different between the two practices in both places. Novel management practices, such as no-till malt barley-pea with reduced N rate, can simultaneously enhance soil and environmental quality, reduce N input, and sustain crop yield compared with traditional practices in the northern Great Plains, USA.
Study on the Photo-Oxidation of Blood Plasma and Tissues in Buckwheat Disease

Conclusions1. There is no abnormal increase of the oxygen consumption during irradiation of plasma and tissues of various organs of guinea pigs made susceptible to light after prolonged feeding with buckwheat. 2. There is no conclusive evidence that the susceptibility to light of animals in buckwheat disease is due to a photodynamic substance.
Dynamic characteristics of a continuous rotating beam model with a rubbing fault

Aiming at a rubbing fault between a flexible blade and a rigid casing,taking a bar blade as a studying object,the blade was simplified as a rotating cantilever beam model.In addition,its analytic model was deduced using Hamilton's principle and a variational equation.According to the decentration relation between a disc and a casing,the clearance changing function between a blade tip and a casing was derived,it was used to figure out if a rubbing occurs.Considering the effect of centrifugal rigidization,spinning softening and Coriolis force,the numerical simulation of a bladecasing rubbing was performed by using Newmark-β explicit numerical integral algorithm.The results showed that due to Coriolis force,the coupling occurs between the blade's axial displacement and its transverse displacement;after the rubbing force disappears,the free vibration frequency of the blade's axial displacement is its bending dynamic one;at high rotating speed,the influence of the blade's transverse displacement on its axial displacement is weakened,and the randomness of the blade's bending vibration becomes larger.
Public relations concept and building of student's self-confidence

The students were educated with concept of public relations(PR) and mental qualities being necessary for publicists for setting up their self-confidence.There were 405 students taking PR as an elective course were chosen as subjects,and the teaching results were examined by applying theory teaching,class discussion and questionnaire.The research showed that the self-confidence can be improved in students through training and practice of PR concept,but there were significant differences in students' self-identity among different universities,specialties and school years.Relative education and training should be strengthened.
A Descending Vesicopressor Pathway in the Monkey

SummaryThe location of a descending vesicopressor pathway in the spinal cord was investigated in Macaca mulatta, lightly anesthetized (pentobarbital) and immobilized in a stereotaxic frame. The lateral columns of the spinal cords were explored with stimulating microelectrodes moved 250 to 500 μ between stimuli using dorsoventral penetration. Detrusor activity was monitored using a pressure transducer connected to an intravesical catheter. A descending vesicopressor pathway was outlined in the lateral funiculus of spinal cord segments C6 through T1 by mapping the points of maximum detrusor response. These points of maximum detrusor response were found in an area near the junction of the dorsal and ventral halves of the lateral columns extending from the region of the denticulate ligament laterally, to the spinal cord gray medially.The author wishes to thank Dr. Edward W. Lauer and Dr. Charles L. Votaw in whose laboratories and under whose guidance much of this work was done. My appreciation goes also to Mr...
The State Encoding Methodology

As described in Section 4.3.4, a valid Signal Transition Graph specification can be implemented with a logic circuit if and only if the STG has the Complete State Coding property ([27], [88]). This, informally, amounts to say that the signals specified by the STG completely define the circuit state. Until now the burden of satisfying the CSC property has been placed mostly on the designer. Kondratyevet al.([66, 134]) and Vanbekbergenet al.([123]) addressed this problem, but only in the limited case of STGs whose underlying PN is a Marked Graph.
Three-dimensional, time-dependent, MHD model of a solar flare-generated interplanetary shock wave

Three-dimensional model of the propagation of an interplanetary shock wave into a representative ambient three-dimensional heliospheric solar wind is demonstrated. The numerical MHD simulation is initialized by assuming a peak shock velocity of 1000 km sec-1 at the center of a right circular cone of 18° included angle at 18 solar radii. Examination of the shocked plasma and IMF parameters reveals several fundamental results that differ from our earlier 2D and 2-1/2D simulations under similar input conditions that were confined to the ecliptic plane. The differences include: (i) diminution of the solar wind peak velocity occurs in the 3D example because of flow divergence introduced in the heliolatitudinal direction; (ii) concentration of the peak density at each radius in an annular region with the minimum density at the central axis due, again, to flow divergence; (iii) similar behavior of the IMF magnitude that starts (near the sun) with peaks at high latitudes and to the west of the simulated flare’s central meridian; and (iv) twisted, helical-like, IMF rotation due to a large amplitude, non-linear Alfven wave in the shocked plasma. The amplitude is highest along the central axis and decays to a minimum at the sides of the MHD shock where the fast-mode jump conditions prevail.
Mycobacterium avium-Intracellulare Complex (MAC) Producing a Periportal Pseudotumor in a Patient With HIV and a Normal CD4 Count

Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex (MAC) is an opportunistic infection typically associated with profound immunosuppression, such as AIDS. The presentation of disseminated MAC can be subtle and mimic systemic symptoms associated with lymphoma; abdominal pseudotumor is an exceptionally rare presentation. In the era of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART), opportunistic infections are increasingly rare, and secondary prophylaxis for MAC may be discontinued after adequate therapy and immune reconstitution. Recurrence of disseminated MAC after adequate therapy may be due to macrolide resistance, but with an adequate CD4 T-cell count and undetectable HIV viral load, recurrence raises questions of more subtle immune dysregulation.
Twice Daily Fludarabine and Cytarabine Combination Is Effective in Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia, High-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes, and Blast Phase Chronic Myeloid Leukemia,

Abstract 3629 Background: High dose cytarabine containing regimens are still considered standard options for patients (pts) with AML relapsing after a first CR lasting more than 12 months. In a phase I study, 65 patients received fludarabine 15 mg/m2 every 12 hours and cytarabine 0.5 g/m2. Five days of administration were found to be safe and effective with a CR rate of 28%. Aim: This phase II study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the combination of twice daily fludarabine and cytarabine (BIDFA) in patients with refractory/relapsed (R/R) acute myeloid leukemia (AML), high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), and chronic myeloid leukemia in myeloid blast phase (CML-BP). Methods: Pts with R/R AML, intermediate-2 and high-risk MDS, and CML-BP, whose disease relapsed or was refractory to frontline and/or salvage therapy were eligible. Pts with performance status 0–3 and adequate organ function, received fludarabine 15 mg/m2 intravenously (IV) q12 hours on Days 1 to 5 and cytarabine 0.5 g/m2 IV over 2 hours q12 hours on Days 1 to 5. Gentuzumab ozogamycin (GO) was administered at 3 mg/m2 IV on day 1 in the first 59 pts. Pts with CML-BP were allowed to receive concomitant tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Results: 107 pts were enrolled. The median age was 62 years (range, 19 to 85). 93 pts had AML, 5 had high-risk MDS, and 9 had CML-BP. All pts had received prior therapy. 65 (61%) pts had failed previous intensive chemotherapy, while 42 (39%) had failed targeted and hypomethylating agents. Cytogenetics analysis showed diploid karyotype in 36 (33%) and unfavorable chromosomal abnormalities involving chromosome 5 and 7 in 22 (21%). Of the 107 pts, 52 were in first salvage: first CR duration of less than 12 months in 43 (40%) pts, and more than 12 months in 9 (9%). Overall, 22 pts (21%) achieved complete remission (CR) and 5 (5%) achieved a complete remission without platelet recovery (CRp), for an overall response rate (ORR) of 26% (Table 1). The CR rates for patients with relapsed AML with first CR duration (CRD1) ≥12 months, relapsed AML with CRD1 Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Balancing Near-Field Enhancement, Absorption, and Scattering for Effective Antenna–Reactor Plasmonic Photocatalysis

Efficient photocatalysis requires multifunctional materials that absorb photons and generate energetic charge carriers at catalytic active sites to facilitate a desired chemical reaction. Antenna–reactor complexes are an emerging multifunctional photocatalytic structure where the strong, localized near field of the plasmonic metal nanoparticle (e.g., Ag) is coupled to the catalytic properties of the nonplasmonic metal nanoparticle (e.g., Pt) to enable chemical transformations. With an eye toward sustainable solar driven photocatalysis, we investigate how the structure of antenna–reactor complexes governs their photocatalytic activity in the light-limited regime, where all photons need to be effectively utilized. By synthesizing core@shell/satellite (Ag@SiO2/Pt) antenna–reactor complexes with varying Ag nanoparticle diameters and performing photocatalytic CO oxidation, we observed plasmon-enhanced photocatalysis only for antenna–reactor complexes with antenna components of intermediate sizes (25 and 50 nm)...
A Robust PS II Mimic: Using Manganese/Tungsten Oxide Nanostructures for Photo Water Splitting

Photosystem II is able to catalyze water-splitting reaction to achieve energy storage on the large scale at room temperature and neutral pH in green plants, algae, and cyanobacteria. The three-dimensional structure of photosystem II with oxygen-evolving activity has been determined at an atomic level, which provides a thorough image with the specific position of each atom in the Mn4CaO5 cluster. These advancements have significantly enhanced our understanding of the mechanisms of water splitting in photosynthesis and offered a unique opportunity for solar fuel production. Inspired by the natural photosynthesis, great progresses in using earth abundant elements based artificial catalytic systems have been made to achieve artificial catalysis in photo water splitting. In this chapter, I describe a robust PS II mimic containing manganese/tungsten oxide nanostructure to accomplish the photo water splitting chemistry. The synthesis, structural characterization, photo water splitting activity, and possible mechanism of the manganese/tungsten oxide system are presented and discussed. This PS II mimic shows a compelling working principle by combining the active catalysts in water splitting with semiconductor hetero-nanostructures for effective solar energy harnessing and is highly likely to offer novel technology for transforming the solar energy into our future energy systems.
Autonomic Nervous System: Central Thermoregulatory Control

The thermoregulatory system of mammals and birds has evolved with a complement of autonomic and behavioral motor outputs. The central nervous system thermoregulatory centers located in the preoptic and anterior hypothalamus integrate sensory inputs relaying thermal information from the core and skin, resulting in the generation of effector signals to control motor outputs for heat production, conservation, and heat dissipation. The thermoregulatory centers are also affected by nonthermal stimuli such as hypoxia, hypoglycemia, and hypotension. Acting in a coordinated manner, the thermoregulatory system continuously maintains the core temperature within relatively narrow limits, over a wide range of environmental temperatures, from soon after birth up to the impending point of death.
Photoreceptor disruption and vision loss associated with central serous retinopathy.

Abstract Purpose To present ophthalmic imaging findings in the case of a 40-year-old male with sustained visual loss after a single episode of acute central serous retinopathy (CSR). Observations A male subject presented with visual acuity decline to 20/50 OS and was diagnosed with acute CSR. The initial pigment epithelial detachment and subretinal fluid resolved within 6 weeks, but visual acuity remained impaired. Using directional optical coherence tomography (D-OCT) and confocal and split-detector adaptive optics scanning light ophthalmoscopy (AOSLO), we imaged pathologic alterations in the photoreceptor mosaic of the affected eye. A foveal region of intermittent missing cones, a temporal parafoveal region of confluent missing cones, and a nasal parafoveal region of misdirected cones were observed. Conclusions and Importance Pathologic alterations in photoreceptor microanatomy underlie residual visual acuity deficits in this case of acute CSR. Observations of missing cones correlated well across all imaging modalities in the fovea and the temporal parafoveal region of missing cones. However, in the nasal parafovea where cones were present but misdirected, D-OCT and AOSLO may be able to identify and image photoreceptors with greater fidelity as compared to non-directional SDOCT (spectral domain OCT). D-OCT may thus have a clinical role in rapidly assessing photoreceptor mosaic integrity in pathology.
Fluid and Electrolyte Balance in the Elderly

This article reviews physiologic and pathophysiologic changes in the metabolism of water, sodium, and potassium in elderly individuals. In each case, these changes are related to common clinical syndromes, and areas that are ripe for clinical investigation are highlighted.
Percutaneous Image-Guided Ablation in the Treatment of Osseous Metastases from Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Introduction Percutaneous image-guided ablation is an emerging minimally invasive therapy for patients with metastatic bone disease for whom radiation therapy is ineffective or contraindicated. The purpose of this study was to examine the safety and efficacy of percutaneous ablation in achieving pain palliation and local tumor control of osseous metastases from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Structuring bodywork: control and agency in athlete injury discourse

This qualitative case study employs structuration theory to reveal d/Discourses in tension within athletic injury treatment and rehabilitation (i.e. a National Collegiate Athletic Association Divis...