Compact Representation of Photosynthesis Dynamics by Rule-based Models (Full Version)

Traditional mathematical models of photosynthesis are based on mass action kinetics of light reactions. This approach requires the modeller to enumerate all the possible state combinations of the modelled chemical species. This leads to combinatorial explosion in the number of reactions although the structure of the model could be expressed more compactly. We explore the use of rule-based modelling, in particular, a simplified variant of Kappa, to compactly capture and automatically reduce existing mathematical models of photosynthesis. Finally, the reduction procedure is implemented in BioNetGen language and demonstrated on several ODE models of photosynthesis processes. This is an extended version of the paper published in proceedings of 5th International Workshop on Static Analysis and Systems Biology (SASB) 2014.Comment: SASB 2014 full pape

When should you suspect community-acquired MRSA? How should you treat it?

There are no clinical or epidemiologic features that will help you to clearly distinguish community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections (CA-MRSA) from methicillin-sensitive (CA-MSSA) infections (strength of recommendation [SOR]: B, prospective cohort studies). Incision and drainage is the primary therapy for purulent skin and soft tissue infections (SOR: B, randomized, controlled clinical trials [RCTs]). There are inadequate data evaluating the role of oral antibiotics for MRSA (SOR: B, single RCT)

What treatment works best for tennis elbow?

Topical or oral nonsteroidal anti- inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), corticosteroid injection, and acupuncture are more helpful than placebo in treating lateral epicondylitis, or tennis elbow (strength of recommendation [SOR]: B, multiple systematic reviews of randomized, controlled trials [RCTs] of limited quality and individual RCTs). A corticosteroid injection is effective for short-term therapy--as long as 6 weeks--but produces no long-term improvement. Physiotherapy or a wait-and-see approach are superior to corticosteroid injection at 52 weeks (SOR: B, RCTs)

A review of methods for experimentally determining linear optics in storage rings

In order to maximize the brightness and provide sufficient dynamic aperture in synchrotron radiation storage rings, one must understand and control the linear optics. Control of the horizontal beta function and dispersion is important for minimizing the horizontal beam size. Control of the skew gradient distribution is important for minimizing the vertical size. In this paper, various methods for experimentally determining the optics in a storage ring will be reviewed. Recent work at the National Synchrotron Light Source X-Ray Ring will be presented as well as work done at laboratories worldwide