cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sniffing out a function for prion proteins.

When prion proteins go wrong, they can do serious damage, but little is known about their normal function, despite their ubiquitous expression in the brain. A new report in this issue suggests a critical role for prions in olfactory discrimination.
Sevoflurane mimics ischemic preconditioning effects on coronary flow and nitric oxide release in isolated hearts.

BackgroundLike ischemic preconditioning, certain volatile anesthetics have been shown to reduce the magnitude of ischemia/ reperfusion injuryviaactivation of K+ adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-sensitive (KATP) channels. The purpose of this study was (1) to determine if ischemic preconditioning (IPC) an
Secondary organic aerosol formation from methacrolein photooxidation: roles of NOx level, relative humidity and aerosol acidity

Environmental context Secondary organic aerosols formed from the oxidation of volatile organic compounds make a significant contribution to atmospheric particulate matter, which in turn affects both global climate change and human health. We investigate the mechanisms of formation and the chemical properties of secondary organic aerosols derived from isoprene, the most abundant non-methane-based, volatile organic compound emitted into the Earth’s atmosphere. However, the exact manner in which these aerosols are formed, and how they are affected by environmental conditions, remains unclear. Abstract Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation from the photooxidation of methacrolein (MACR) was examined in a dual outdoor smog chamber under varied initial nitric oxide (NO) levels, relative humidities (RHs) and seed aerosol acidities. Aerosol sizing measurements and off-line chemical analyses by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and ultra performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionisation high-resolution quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/ESI-HR-Q-TOFMS) were used to characterise MACR SOA formation. Results indicate that both SOA mass and chemical composition largely depend on the initial MACR/NO ratio and RH conditions. Specifically, at lower initial NO levels (MACR/NO = ~2.7) more substantial SOA is formed under dry conditions (5–20 % RH) compared to wet conditions (30–80 % RH). However, at higher initial NO levels (MACR/NO = ~0.9), the maximum SOA formation was marginally higher under wet conditions. Furthermore, UPLC/ESI-HR-Q-TOFMS data suggest that most particle-phase oligomers, which have been previously observed to form from the oxidation of methacryloylperoxynitrate, were enhanced under dry conditions. In addition to 2-methylglyceric acid and organosulfates derived from MACR oxidation, a nitrogen-containing organic tracer compound was found to form substantially in both chamber-generated and ambient aerosol samples collected from downtown Atlanta, GA, during the 2008 August Mini-Intensive Gas and Aerosol Study (AMIGAS). Moreover, increasing aerosol acidity because of additional sulfuric acid appears to have a negligible effect on both SOA mass and most SOA constituents. Nevertheless, increased RH and aerosol acidity were both observed to enhance organosulfate formation; however, elevating RH mediates organosulfate formation, suggesting that wet sulfate aerosols are necessary to form organosulfates in atmospheric aerosols.
Estimation of catecholamines in the brains of embryonic and newly hatched chickens and the effects of reserpine

Reserpine significantly decreased the concentrations of atecholamines (CA) in the brains of 14- and 18-day-old chicken embryos when administered prior to incubation in a dose that has little or no effect upon hatchability. Administration of this drug had profound effects upon the fluorometric estimation of CA in the brains of both embryonic and newly hatched chicks. This can lead to an erroneous interpretation of the quantitative effects of reserpine on CA concentrations in the brain.
CARDIOVASCULAR INVOLVEMENT IN METABOLIC DISEASES

Cardiomyopathies are a group of disorders that result in dysfunction of the contractility of the myocardium anda decrease in cardiac function. Cardiomyopathies may be primary or idiopathic or secondary due to an underlying definable systemic disorder. Cardiomyopathies may be further defined as according to the World Health Organization (WHO) as: 1) congestive or dilated; 2) obstructive as in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; 3) restrictive as in infiltrative disorders such as storage diseases. Two additional categories have been added that include arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy and unclassified cardiomyopathies. A number of metabolic disorders result in cardiomyopathy and are frequently the cause of death in these disorders.
A simple picture for the rotational enhancement of the rate for the F + HCl --> HF + Cl reaction: a dynamical study using a new ab initio potential energy surface.

Quantum scattering calculations for the reaction F + HCl → HF + Cl are performed on a new ground-state ab initio potential energy surface. The reagent rotation is found to have a dramatic effect on the reaction probability. Furthermore, the exit channel rotational thresholds leave a strong imprint on the reaction probabilities and even on the cumulative reaction probability. A very simple vibrationally adiabatic model is shown to account for most aspects of the reaction dynamics. In this model, the fast vibrational motion is adiabatically eliminated leaving the key reaction dynamics represented by a reduced atom + rotor collision. The shape of the adiabatic potential surface immediately yields to a simple and intuitive interpretation for the rotational enhancement of the rate. The rotational enhancement is shown to be an effect of the entrance channel dynamics of the atom−rotor problem.
The misleading effects of composite taxa in supermatrices.

With the amount of available sequence data rapidly increasing, supermatrices are at the forefront of systematic studies. As an alternative to supertrees, supermatrices utilize a total evidence approach where different genes and other lines of data are merged into a single data matrix, which is then analyzed in an attempt to obtain the phylogeny that best explains the data. However, questions may arise when combining data sets in which one or more taxa do not have sequences available for each individual gene. Two possible solutions to this situation are to either leave all taxa separate and code unavailable sequences as missing, or to combine taxa at a level for which monophyly is assumed a priori. By reanalyzing the previous work of Madsen et al. (2001), we show that combining taxa may yield misleading results, i.e., hypotheses of relationships that are not supported by the underlying data.
Depletion approximation in semiconductor trap filling analysis: Application to EL2 in GaAs

Abstract The relative change in capacitance ΔC C , due to trap-filling caused by a change in surface potential ΔV , is the basis of deep level transient spectroscopy (DLTS) and several related experiments. Here we formulate an exact analysis of ΔC C , involving a numerical (N) solution of the Poisson equation, and compare with experiment and with a new analytical formula derived from a depletion-approximation (DA) solution of the Poisson equation, but without the limitations on trap density inherent in older DA formulas. Limits on the agreement of the N and DA solutions are established as a function of ΔV for the important case of EL2 in GaAs.
Duodenal atresia with major duodenal papilla within duodenal atretic segment: A case report

Abstract Duodenal atresia is a common cause of neonatal bowel obstruction and presents with numerous anomalies. Ampullary anomalies are rare, but one must consider potential abnormalities to both the biliary ductal system and the ampulla of Vater to avoid injuries. This case presents a solitary biliary duct draining into an atretic duodenal segment. A persistent narrow communicating channel within the atretic segment prevented complete biliary obstruction. A sphincteroplasty in association with a standard duodenal atresia repair provided an excellent solution to an uncommon problem.
Vibration of beams and plate strips with three-dimensional flexibility

Studies making use of higher vibration modes and frequencies have indicated a need for a more accurate beam theory. Equations of motion are developed here that give a more accurate representation of the dynamic behavior of a beam than conventional beam theory. Results are obtained using these equations for the natural vibrations of simply-supported aluminum beams of rectangular cross-sections. These results are compared to results from conventional beam theory, and they are examined to identify where various effects are important.
Knowledge Representation and Reasoning in a Real‐Time Operational Control System: The Shipboard Piloting Expert System (SPES)*

This paper describes a knowledge representation approach and reasoning implementation in a real-time knowledge-based control system (KBCS) for navigating ships in restricted waters. This shipboard piloting expert system (SPES) is being developed as an intelligent node in Sperry Marine's ExxBridge integrated ship's bridge system (IBS) for Exxon Shipping Company tankers. The SPES is intended to provide decision support to ships' navigation officers while piloting large vessels in restricted waters, and to reduce the information overload under which they labor, by incorporating local, transit-specific, and shiphandling knowledge, and by providing requisite decision support in a timely fashion. As such, the system provides decision support to (1) senior ships' pilots training junior pilots; (2) ships' masters training junior deck officers in the essentials of good piloting and shiphandling; and (3) watchstanding deck officers utilizing the system's on-line reminder and assist capabilities, or off-line simulation and contingency planning functionality.
Postradiation biopsy and histological effects in early-stage prostatic cancer treated with 125iodine implants

One hundred twenty patients with adenocarcinoma of the prostate were treated with 125I irradiation to the prostate and pelvic lymphadenectomy. Clinical stages were A-2 (13 pts), B-1 (34 pts), B-2 (49 pts), and C-1 (24 pts). The tumors were well differentiated in 44%, moderately differentiated in 39% and poorly differentiated in 17%. Nineteen of 22 patients with positive lymph nodes had either moderately or poorly differentiated tumors. A total radiation dosage between 15,000 and 24,000 rads per year were given to all patients. Seventy-six patients had been rebiopsied at 1 year, and 26 were positive for malignancy (34%). Thirty-eight patients had rebiopsy at 2 years, and 16 were positive (42%). Forty-four percent of the postradiation biopsies were of a different histologic grade from the primary lesion. Radiation injury was identified in 95% of the posttreatment biopsies and were moderate or severe in 71%. One hundred one patients are living from 1 to 9 years. Eight patients have died of metastatic carcinoma, and 11 have died of cardiovascular problems.
Single-chip H.324 videoconferencing

The C82 multimedia-processing DSP helps vendors respond to cost-sensitive consumer and PC markets. As shown here, it implements H.324 videoconferencing over analog phone lines.
Energy-based control design for a solid state transformer

This paper addresses the control design for a three-stage solid stage transformer (SST). When two or more independently controlled converter stages are cascaded, which is the case for the three-stage SST, the interaction among the stages can lead to instability. Normally, the input and output impedances of the cascaded stages need to be examined according to the impedance criterion to ensure stability. In this paper, a novel energy-based control design method is proposed for the three-stage SST that enables decoupled control design for the rectifier and DC-DC stages, which avoids the need for the impedance checking and hence significantly simplifies the control design. The energy-based concept also works well with the power control methods commonly used such as those based on the DQ frame or the instantaneous reactive power (IRP) p-q theory, which allows for simple reactive power or power factor control. The design of the various control loops of the SST is described in detail in this paper and validated through simulations.
Clarification of the goals of the national institutes of health symposium on bariatric surgery outcomes.

Additional Contributions:We thank Charles H. Yoon, MD, PhD, at the Department of Surgery of Brigham andWomen’s Hospital and HarvardMedical School andMandeep S. Saund, MD, at the Department of Surgery of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard VanguardMedical Associates, and Harvard Medical School for their advice on and contributions to this work. There was no compensation awarded to these additional contributors.
The role of brain acetylcholine in the pressor response to centrally injected neostigmine

In unanaesthetized rats, neostigmine (2.5 mug) injected into the cerebral ventricles produces a rise in arterial blood pressure. The effect on the rise was examined after lowering the acetylcholine (ACh) level of the brain by hemicholinium (HC-3) similarly injected.The pressor response was not significantly altered 2 h after injection of 50 mug HC-3 when the ACh level was reduced by 54%. It was greatly attenuated 2 h after injection of 75 mug when the ACh level was reduced by 76%. However, a similar attenuation was observed as early as 30 min after this injection when the ACh level was reduced by 18% only.It is concluded that the pressor response is not mediated by undestroyed ACh but is a direct central effect of neostigmine.
The State of the Art in Feminist Scholarship in Communication

The emergence of feminist scholarship in the field of communication follows, in many respects, a semilar historical trajectory to that of feminist visibility in the culture at large. When the second wave of feminism emerged in public consciousness around 1970, communication scholars began to attend more closely to the role of gender in communication practices. That attention was inflected by the concerns of the women’s movement—exposing sexism and sex-role socialization, interrogating the role of power in relations between men and women, understanding how awareness of the influence of gender requires rethinking claims of universality based on male experience and behaviors. In rhetorical studies, these emphases produced such germinal scholarship as Karlyn Kohrs Campbell’s 1973 essay, “The Rhetoric of Women’s Liberation: An Oxymoron,” which argued that second-wave feminist rhetoric could not be adequately understood through traditional rhetorical models. In interpersonal communication, they led to a question
Transition structures and exo/endo stereoselectivities of concerted [6 + 4] cycloadditions with density functional theory

Density functional theory transition structures were located for three concerted [6 + 4] cycloaddition reactions involving cis-hexatriene and butadiene, cyclopentadiene and cycloheptatriene, and cyclopentadiene and tropone. Geometries, energies, and entropies were computed at the Becke3LYP/6-31G* level. The activation energy of the concerted [6 + 4] cycloaddition of hexatriene and butadiene is 33.3 kcal/mol, about 8 kcal/mol above the activation energy of the butadiene plus ethylene [4 + 2] cycloaddition. The endo concerted [6 + 4] transition state is 1.1 kcal/mol higher than the exo. The [6 + 4] reaction of cyclopentadiene and cycloheptatriene has a barrier of 25.9 kcal/mol, while the cyclopentadiene–tropone barrier drops to 20.7 kcal/mol.
II. Growth failure due to diseases of the proximal tubule

DYSFUNCTION of the proximal tubules is being recognized with greater frequency as a cause of growth failure. A large number of syndromes have been described in which proximal tubular function is deficient, although not all of them produce growth failure. Dwarfism is the most common sign of this type of renal disease. In some of the proximal tubular syndromes, dwarfism can be ascribed directly to the disturbance in renal function, and therapy directed to the renal defect may lead to improvement in the growth rate. In other syndromes, no evident connection can be found between the tubular defect and the growth failure, and the demonstration of renal abnormality is useful chiefly as an aid in diagnosing the underlying defect.
Metal–carbon nanocomposites as the oxygen electrode for rechargeable lithium–air batteries

Abstract A key constituent in developing lithium–air batteries is the oxygen electrode, which facilitates the oxygen reduction reaction during the discharge process and the oxidation reaction of Li2O2 during the charge process. In this article, we report on the electrocatalytic activity of platinum, iridium, and platinum–iridium alloy in an oxygen electrode. The average crystallite size of the previous metal nanoparticles was less than 2 nm, which were uniformly dispersed on the surface of chained Ketjenblack powder. Both chronoamperometry analysis and cell testing showed that Pt–Ir/C electrode exhibited superior activity and is the best electrode in this research. The discharge potentials for all three catalysts are similar, ∼2.81 V vs. Li/Li+, and the discharge overpotential (∼0.15 V) is very low. The charge overpotential for Pt–Ir/C composites was around 0.6 V.
Injection-locked clock receiver for monolithic optical link in 45nm SOI

This paper presents a compact, low-power injection-locked clock receiver for large-scale integrated optical interconnects. The injection-locked design provides high input sensitivity when compared to the TIA-less integrating clock receiver design. It also breaks the gain/bandwidth tradeoff of a traditional transimpedance amplifier (TIA) receiver, with a self-adjusting mechanism to increase robustness. The receiver is designed in 45nm SOI and shown to operate from 1.0 GHz to 3.0 GHz while consuming from 186μW to 444 μW, with an input sensitivity from 8.6μA to 33.2μA and output jitter σ within 1 %UI.
Conversion of D-xylose into ethanol by the yeast Pachysolen tannophilus

The yeast Pachysolen tannophilus has been identified as being able to convert an aldopentose, D-xylose, into ethanol. A feature of the conversion is that it can take place under aerobic conditions.
Group Behavioral Therapy for Adolescents With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Preliminary Outcomes

A clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of a 7-week group behavioral therapy program for adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Group sessions included therapist-assisted exposure and response prevention exercises, information regarding OCD, and the extensive use of behavioral homework assignments. An additional family session was conducted to educate families about OCD and to encourage participation in the group member's behavioral program. At the end of the group, all clients showed improvement on their Children's Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale scores; 6-month follow-up revealed further improve ment. Our findings provide preliminary support for the efficacy of group behavioral therapy for adolescents with OCD.
Shock tube measurements of species time-histories in monomethyl hydrazine pyrolysis

Abstract The first measurements of NH 2 and NH 3 time-histories in monomethyl hydrazine (MMH) pyrolysis were performed behind reflected shock waves in a shock tube using laser absorption techniques. An improved measurement of MMH using IR laser absorption is also presented. MMH concentrations of ∼1% in Ar were employed, over the temperature range 941–1252 K, at pressures near 2 atm. NH 2 was measured at the peak of the overlapping A ˜ A 1 ← X 2 B 1 ( 090 ← 000 ) Σ P Q 1 , N 7 doublet lines at 16739.90 cm −1 (597.4 nm). NH 3 and MMH were measured using direct absorption of CO 2 laser lines at 9.22 and 10.22 μm, respectively. These measurements were then compared to a current comprehensive MMH pyrolysis mechanism based on the work of Sun et al. (2009) and Zhang et al. (2010). Based on the measurements of NH 2 and NH 3 , it was possible to measure rate coefficients for two key reactions in the MMH pyrolysis system: (1) CH 3 NHNH 2 → CH 3 NH + NH 2 (2) CH 3 NHNH 2 + NH 2 → CH 3 NNH 2 + NH 3 These rates combined with the measured overall MMH decomposition rate strongly imply that Reaction (1) is the dominant MMH decomposition channel. The following rate coefficients (2 atm, 900–1300 K) were uniquely determined: K 1 = 1.50 × 10 58 * T - 12.84 exp ( - 39580 / T ) s - 1 K 2 = 3.70 × 10 14 exp ( - 2620 / T ) cm 3 mol - 1 s - 1 Based on the MMH measurement, the value of the CH 3 decomposition channel is 0–20% of the NH 2 channel, and a value of 1.64 × 10 58 * T −12.84 exp(−39580/T) s −1 is recommended for the overall unimolecular decomposition of MMH. Further analysis of the NH 2 measurements indicate that the rate of the following reaction used in the Princeton mechanism should also be significantly increased: (4) CH 3 NNH + NH 2 → CH 3 NN + NH 3 The changes to the MMH pyrolysis mechanism recommended in this work result in greatly improved agreement between measured and modeled NH 2 , NH 3 , and MMH time-histories over the entire range of the study.
High-Sensitivity CW NMR Probe for Low Temperatures and Ultrahigh Frequencies

A double-tuning technique for tank-circuit design is presented for continuous-wave NMR measurements at ultrahigh frequencies and very low temperatures (in the millikelvin range) where long lossy transmission lines must be used to reduce the transfer of heat to the sample region. The technique uses two separate sets of tuning capacitors, one set at low temperatures to match the tank circuit closely (but not exactly) to a lossy (low thermal conductivity) transmission line, and a second set to achieve an accurate match to 50 Ω at the input of a quadrature hybrid-tee bridge. The system allows for a stable, tunable, wide frequency coverage and an improvement in the signal-to-noise ratio by a factor of about 40 over conventional probe designs. The absorption signal of a monolayer coverage of hydrogen absorbed on boron nitride (≈1017spins) with a filling factor of 10−5has been observed at 50 mK with an applied RF field of 3 mG.
Amino acid digestibility and energy concentration in a novel source of high-protein distillers dried grains and their effects on growth performance of pigs.

Three experiments were conducted to evaluate a novel source of high-protein distillers dried grains produced by Buhler Inc. (HP-DDG Buhler) and fed to growing pigs. The standardized ileal digestibil- ity (SID) of AA in HP-DDGBuhler and in soybean meal (SBM) was determined in Exp. 1. Nine pigs (109.8 ± 2.78 kg of BW) were fitted with a T-cannula in the distal ileum and allotted to a triplicated 3 × 3 Latin square design with 3 diets and 3 periods per square. Diets containing HP-DDGBuhler or SBM as the only source of AA and an N-free diet were formulated. The SID of indispensable AA was less (P < 0.01) in HP- DDGBuhler than in SBM (Arg, 87.5 vs. 93.9%; His, 76.7 vs. 88.7%; Ile, 76.4 vs. 87.5%; Leu, 77.8 vs. 86.8%; Lys, 75.4 vs. 88.4%; Met, 82.8 vs. 88.4%; Phe, 77.9 vs. 87.3%; Thr, 72.5 vs. 83.5%; Trp, 85.1 vs. 91.0%; Val, 73.3 vs. 84.3%). The DE and ME in HP-DDGBuhler and in corn were measured in Exp. 2 using 16 growing bar- rows (24.6 ± 1.66 kg of BW). A corn-based diet and a diet containing 50% corn and 48.2% HP-DDGBuhler were formulated. The total collection method and the difference procedures were used. The concentrations of DE and ME in HP-DDGBuhler were greater (P < 0.001) than in corn (5,043 vs. 4,002 kcal/kg of DM and 4,690 vs. 3,921 kcal/kg of DM, respectively). Experiment 3 was a 9-wk growth assay using 40 pigs (initial BW: 58.2 ± 2.28 kg) allotted to 5 dietary treatments, with 8 replicates of individually housed pigs per treatment. Treatments included a control diet based on corn and SBM and 4 diets in which HP-DDGBuhler replaced 33, 66, 66, or 100% of the SBM in the control diet. All HP- DDGBuhler diets contained supplemental Lys and Thr to provide similar concentrations of SID Lys and Thr in all diets; one of the diets in which HP-DDG Buhler replaced 66% of the SBM and the diet in which HP- DDGBuhler replaced 100% of the SBM also contained crystalline Trp. Dietary treatments had no effect on ADG (1.15, 1.13, 1.16, 1.12, and 1.14 kg), ADFI (3.33, 3.35, 3.39, 3.30, and 3.33 kg), or G:F (0.35, 0.34, 0.34, 0.34, and 0.34 kg/kg). Carcass traits of pigs fed the diet in which HP-DDGBuhler replaced 100% of the SBM were not different from those of pigs fed the control diet. In conclusion, HP-DDGBuhler contains more DE and ME than corn, but has decreased SID values for AA compared with SBM. Soybean meal can be replaced by HP-DDGBuhler in diets fed to finishing pigs without any effect on growth performance or carcass characteristics, provided that diets are adequate in indispensable AA.
Catecholamines, Corticosteroids and Thyroid Hormones in Nonshivering Thermogenesis under Different Environmental Conditions

Abstract : Because of the well-established calorigenic action of thyroxine, the increase in heat production resulting from cold exposure and the numerous evidences of an increased thyroid activity in cold-acclimated animals, the thyroid hormones came to be known as the hormones of the slow adaptation to prolonged cold exposure. Moreover, the elevated basal metabolism became generally identified with cold adaptation and considered as the principal adjustment responsible for the increased heat production observed in these animals. In attempting to find the biochemical or enzymatic reactions responsible for this thermogenesis, many investigators turned to factors or chemical reactions which were known to be controlled or at least affected by thyroxine. Studies have revealed that non-shivering thermogenesis mediated through noradrenaline can be accompanied by a combination of high thyroid activity and low adrenocortical activity or the reverse. In general, there is no doubt that both hormones are essential for development of cold adaptation. However, in view of the different patterns of thyroid and adrenal cortex adjustments which can accompany non-shivering thermogenesis, it may be concluded that an hyperactivity of these glands may be relatively unimportant for the maintenance of non-shivering thermogenesis.
Semiparametric mixtures of regressions

We present an algorithm for estimating parameters in a mixture-of-regressions model in which the errors are assumed to be independent and identically distributed but no other assumption is made. This model is introduced as one of several recent generalizations of the standard fully parametric mixture of linear regressions in the literature. A sufficient condition for the identifiability of the parameters is stated and proved. Several different versions of the algorithm, including one that has a provable ascent property, are introduced. Numerical tests indicate the effectiveness of some of these algorithms.
Condensins promote coorientation of sister chromatids during meiosis I in budding yeast.

The condensin complex is a key determinant of higher-ordered chromosome structure. We show here that the complex is also important for the correct alignment of chromosomes on the meiosis I spindle. Unlike during mitosis and meiosis II, when sister chromatids attach to microtubules emanating from opposite spindle poles (biorientation), accurate meiosis I chromosome segregation requires that sister chromatids attach to microtubules emanating from the same spindle pole (coorientation). The monopolin complex, consisting of Lrs4, Csm1, and the meiosis-specific component Mam1, brings about meiosis I coorientation. We find that in the absence of functional condensin complexes, a fraction of sister kinetochores biorient on the meiosis I spindle and association of the monopolin complex subunit Mam1 with kinetochores is decreased. Our studies uncover a new locus-specific effect of the condensin complex.
Design and evaluation of an active ripple filter using voltage injection

Active ripple filters can affect substantial reductions in power converter input and output ripple components, allowing considerable reduction in passive component size. This paper investigates a hybrid passive/active filter topology that achieves ripple reduction by injecting a compensating voltage ripple across a series filter element. Both ripple feedforward and feedback are employed. The design of sensor, amplifier, and injector circuitry suitable for the application are investigated. The experimental results demonstrate the feasibility and high performance of the new approach, and illustrate its potential benefits. It is demonstrated that the proposed approach is most effective in cases where it is desirable to minimize the amount of capacitance in the filter.
Facing procedural complications as a cardiovascular trainee.

For centuries, “ primum non nocere ,” or “first, do no harm,” has been one of the main bioethical principles taught to medical students around the world. However, almost all interventions undertaken by healthcare professionals are accompanied by some potential for harm. Even a simple
Serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2 as a marker of intimal hyperplasia.

Background A primary component in the development of intimal hyperplasia (IH) in response to vascular injury is basement membrane remodeling. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play a major role in this process by degradation of basement membrane proteins, mainly collagen type IV. Vascular injury initiates an inflammatory cascade with the release of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF α ), interleukin-1beta (IL-1 β ), and C-reactive protein (CRP). We hypothesize serum levels of these elements may serve as biomarkers of the development of IH. Methods and Results At baseline, 2, 7, 10, and 14 days post-balloon angioplasty of the carotid artery, rat tissue samples were stained with Masson trichrome elastin to examine IH. Intima:media ratios (I:M) increased significantly over time postinjury. Serum samples were collected at the time of tissue sampling, and levels of MMP-2, MMP-9, collagen type IV, TNF α , IL-1 β , and CRP were assayed using sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). MMP-2 serum levels at 7, 10, and 14 days postinjury were significantly elevated compared with baseline. Other elements were not significantly elevated. Conclusion Early and persistent elevation in the serum levels of MMP-2 may be a useful biomarker of basement membrane remodeling and the presence of IH.
Nutrient composition and selected enzyme activities in Sechium edule Sw, the mirliton

Samples of vegetable pear (mirliton), Sechium edule, SW, fresh tissue were analyzed for moisture and dry matter. Dry matter was further analyzed for crude protein, ether-extractable material, pectin, crude fiber, ash, selected minerals, and nitrogen-free extract. Fresh mirlitons contain 94% moisture. Carotene was not detected. The mirliton does not contain detectable amounts of lipoxygenase or polyphenol oxidase activity (compared to activity in mushroom). Amino acid concentrations in the seed were approximately twice those of the flesh. Methio-nine was detected in the seed but not in the tissue. The data suggest that the mirliton can be a new fresh vegetable crop for the southern area and for processing into frozen food products.
Measurement of Uterine Radiation Exposure from Lymphoscintigraphy Indicates Safety of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy during Pregnancy

There is an increased incidence of breast cancer occurring during pregnancy. Controversy exists as to the safety of performing lymphoscintigraphy during pregnancy and no studies have reported the measured dose of uterine radiation. We performed an institutional review board (IRB)-approved prospective study of uterine radiation resulting from lymphoscintigraphy. Abdominal, perineal, and urinary radiation was measured in 14 breast cancer patients and total uterine dose was calculated. The average dose of 99m-Tc sulfur colloid was 39 ± 20 MBq (1.04 ± 0.53 mCi). Measured abdominal and pelvic radiation exposure demonstrated no correlation with patient age or body mass index. The average abdominal radiation exposure was 1.17 ± 0.87 μGy. The average perineal radiation exposure was 0.23 ± 0.17 μGy. The average dose to the uterus from bladder radioactivity determined from voided urine was 0.44 ± 0.44 μGy. The average radiation dose to the uterus (average of abdominal and perineal doses plus contribution from bladder dose) was 1.14 ± 0.76 μGy. One patient was 16 weeks pregnant at the time of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and total calculated uterine dose was 1.67 μGy, suggesting that pregnancy does not significantly alter measured uterine radiation. These data were compared with the average background radiation, which is 3,000 μGy per year or 8.2 μGy per day. The measured uterine dose of radiation from lymphoscintigraphy for SLNB was significantly less than the average daily background radiation. We conclude that lymphoscintigraphy does not expose the fetus to significant radiation and concern of radiation exposure should not preclude the use of SLNB during pregnancy.
Automatic test procedure generation from system specifications

Automated aids to generating test procedures for electronic systems from top-level system specifications are described. A five-phase design methodology which incorporates VHSIC description language, (VHDL) modeling allows concurrent development of complex systems and associated test procedures. The methodology proceeds in a top-down fashion, progressively adding design detail in each phase. A proprietary software tool combined with VHDL modeling allow test information to automatically migrate through each phase. This allows system implementation to be verified against the original top-level specification. This method of automated test procedure generation provides significant insight into system operation. >
In Utero Disappearance of the Corpus Callosum Secondary to Extensive Brain Injury

The corpus callosum is the largest white matter tract connecting the 2 cerebral hemispheres. Its embryologic development has been studied extensively. 1 At 11 to 12 weeks' gestation, axons begin to cross the lamina terminalis to form the corpus callosum. Development generally proceeds anterior to posterior (from germ to body to splenium) with the exception of the rostrum, which forms last. The mature crescentic shape of the corpus callosum is essentially complete by 18 to 20 weeks. As the brain matures, thickening of the corpus continues until after birth. Basic knowledge of normal callosal development is essential to the understanding of callosal abnormalities. If the normal developmental process is disturbed, the corpus callosum may be completely absent (agenetic) or partially formed (hypogenetic). Because of the anterior-to-posterior development process, when the corpus callosum is hypogenetic, it is the posterior portion that is most affected.2 Developmental abnormalities of the corpus callosum may be isolated but more often are associated with other central nervous system anomalies, including Dandy-Walker malformation, holoprosencephaly, Chiari malformation, chromosomal abnormalities, and many other syndrome complexes. 3 in addition to developmental abnormalities of the corpus callosum, abnormalities of the corpus callosum in the fetus can be destructive in origin.4 A recent unfortunate case of attempted in utero treatment of a fetus with a large sacrococcygeal teratoma proved that the finding of complete absence of the corpus callosum can be secondary, occurring in the setting of extensive brain injury.
A Theory of Merger-Driven IPOs

We propose a model that links a firm’s decision to go public with its subsequent takeover strategy. A private bidder does not know its true valuation, which affects its gain from a potential takeover. Consequently, a private bidder pursues suboptimal restructuring policy. An alternative route is to complete an initial public offering first. An IPO reduces valuation uncertainty, leading to more efficient acquisition strategy, therefore enhancing firm value. We calibrate the model using data on IPOs and M&As. The resulting comparative statics generate several novel qualitative and quantitative predictions, which complement the predictions of other theories linking IPOs and M&As. For example, the time it takes a newly public firm to attempt an acquisition of another firm is expected to increase in the degree of valuation uncertainty prior to the firm’s IPO and it is expected to decrease in the valuation surprise realized at the time of the IPO. We test these and other empirical predictions of the model and find strong support for them.
The Use of Isotopes in the Study of Sugar Transport in Mammalian Cells and Tissues

Permeability studies are attempts to describe, as nearly as possible in molecular terms, processes which reflect specific functions of cells and tissues at the level of cellular organization. Research in this rapidly expanding field does not lend itself easily to experimentation and progress depends to a large extent on refinements of old methods and the introduction of new ones. A great versatility and diversity in methods is needed in order to approach the solution of problems which encompass the fields of physiology, morphology, and biological and physical chemistry.
Comprehensive integration of nutrition into medical training

Nutrition must be integrated into the medical school curriculum to train physicians who can effectively provide nutrition care for the prevention and management of chronic diseases. This article describes the comprehensive nutrition curriculum developed at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Two fundamental principles have guided the school's approach to medical nutrition education: 1) nutrition content must be broad in nature and be vertically integrated across the preclinical and clinical years and continued through postgraduate training, and 2) active adult learning (eg, "learning by doing") should be practiced whenever possible. From our experience, we have identified several key elements important for the successful integration of nutrition into the curriculum. First, identifying a core group of committed faculty to advocate for nutrition and serve as role models and having a physician nutrition specialist at the helm provides constant momentum for the advancement of nutrition education. Second, establishing a network of linkages with other elements of the existing curriculum creates the opportunity to add nutrition content without necessarily adding time. The third key element is an emphasis on incorporating nutrition in clinical training. Students must be routinely exposed to physicians practicing nutrition for nutrition to become part of standard patient care. This can be accomplished through multiple exposures to nutrition throughout the curriculum (ie, vertical integration). Finally, a coordinator is needed to monitor the many "fronts" of the integrated nutrition curriculum and to continue networking and program implementation.
Elwha River Sediments: Phosphorus Characterization and Dynamics Under Diverse Environmental Conditions

Abstract Two large dams on the Elwha River, Olympic Peninsula, Washington, will be removed over a 2–3 year period starting in 2011. Sediments that have accumulated in reservoirs behind these dams will be exposed to new physical and chemical conditions that could affect P distribution and availability in the oligotrophic river system. Coarse sediments from a reservoir delta and fine sediments from a reservoir bottom were collected. The sediments were analyzed for physical and chemical characteristics relevant to P availability. The fine sediments had 20 to 200% greater concentrations of C, N, amorphous Fe, Fe-bound P, Ca-bound P and organic P than the coarse sediments. Both sediment types had relatively low P concentrations compared with published values for eutrophic systems. Both fine and coarse sediments immobilized large quantities of added P, but fine sediments maintained dissolved P concentrations at half the level of coarse sediments. A 300 h incubation of sediments under diverse environmental condi...
Implicit parallelism with ordered transactions

Implicit Parallelism with Ordered Transactions (IPOT) is an extension of sequential or explicitly parallel programming models to support speculative parallelization. The key idea is to specify opportunities for parallelization in a sequential program using annotations similar to transactions. Unlike explicit parallelism, IPOT annotations do not require the absence of data dependence, since the parallelization relies on runtime support for speculative execution. IPOT as a parallel programming model is determinate, i.e., program semantics are independent of the thread scheduling. For optimization, non-determinism can be introduced selectively.We describe the programming model of IPOT and an online tool that recommends boundaries of ordered transactions by observing a sequential execution. On three example HPC workloads we demonstrate that our method is effective in identifying opportunities for fine-grain parallelization. Using the automated task recommendation tool, we were able to perform the parallelization of each program within a few hours.
Hubble Space Telescope Ultraviolet and Ground-based Optical Spectropolarimetry of IRAS Quasi-stellar Objects: Dusty Scattering in Luminous Active Galactic Nuclei*

We present UV and optical spectropolarimetry of two highly polarized IRAS-selected quasi-stellar objects (QSOs), IRAS 13349+2438 and the broad absorption line QSO (BALQSO) IRAS 14026+4341. The polarization in both objects rises rapidly toward the blue, peaks near 3000 A in the rest frame and remains nearly constant for shorter wavelengths. The rest frame optical polarized flux density spectra also increase rapidly toward the blue but then decrease dramatically below 3000 A. This distinctive wavelength dependence of polarized flux shows that the polarization is produced by dust scattering. As for many Seyfert, radio, and hyperluminous infrared galaxies (HIGs), the lower polarization of the weak [O III] λλ4959, 5007 lines in IRAS 13349+2438 suggests that the scattering grains lie interior to or mixed with the narrow-line gas. We construct full radiative transfer models of these systems consisting of a dusty sphere of modest optical depth illuminated axisymmetrically from within by a power-law QSO spectrum. We show that this simple model successfully reproduces the qualitative polarization properties of the objects. Despite similarities to other IRAS-selected BALQSOs, our faint object spectrograph spectropolarimetry of IRAS 13349+2438 does not reveal broad absorption lines. IRAS 14026+4341 has an Al III broad absorption line in both scattered and total flux density. We discuss these two objects in terms of both orientation and evolutionary unified schemes for QSOs, BALQSOs, and HIGs.
Prevalence and behavioural risk factors of Staphylococcus aureus nasal colonization in community-based injection drug users

The aims of this study were to identify Staphylococcus aureus nasal colonization prevalence, behavioural risk factors, and to determine staphylococcal protein A (spa) types in community-based injection drug users (IDUs). Nasal swabs were collected and methicillin susceptibility testing and spa/SCCmec typing were performed on S. aureus isolates. Generalized estimating equations were used to report adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Of the 440 participants, 24·1% were colonized and 5·7% had methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Colonization was associated with age, employment/marital status, and the presence of scabs but not with sexually transmitted disease co-infection, HIV status, antibiotic use, hospitalization, or drug treatment programme participation. The USA300 MRSA clone spa types were most common, but 15/49 spa types were new to one of the international databases. Community-based IDUs appear to have different risk factors compared to IDUs from clinical studies. In addition, the number of newly identified spa types indicates a diverse, understudied population.
Surgical treatment of refractory life-threatening ventricular tachycardia

Aortocoronary bypass, with or without myocardial resection, was used to treat eight patients with refractory life-threatening ventricular tachycardia. All patients had documented evidence of coronary artery disease without recent myocardial infarction and were totally disabled by recurrent ventricular tachycardia while receiving aggressive medical treatment. Angiographic studies showed abnormalities of left ventricular contractions in all patients, including aneurysms in four, localized hypokinetic areas in two and diffusely poor contractility in two. Operative treatment consisted of resection of the aneurysm or localized hypokinetic area in six patients and aortocoronary bypass grafting to at least one major coronary artery in all eight patients. Seven patients are alive an average of 17 months after operation and all are free of major ventricular arrhythmias. We conclude that surgical treatment should be considered in patients with coronary artery disease who have life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias that cannot be prevented or controlled with drug therapy.
Pregnancy enhances endothelium-dependent relaxation of ovine uterine artery: role of NO and intracellular Ca2+

The present study tested the hypothesis that the pregnancy-associated increase in endothelium-dependent relaxation of the uterine artery was mediated primarily by an increase in nitric oxide (NO) r...
Dun & Bradstreet connects with Japan

Description de la base DNJA (Dun and Bradstreet Japan), base- redigee en anglais- de donnees financieres sur les firmes japonaises. Etude comparative de cette base avec la base TOKU (TEIKORU)
Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Travel: From Boudoir to Bordello.

Travel has historically been an important risk factor for acquisition of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Travel is often associated with a sense of adventure, periods of loneliness, and exploration away from one’s home environment—which often form a milieu in which sexual activity can occur with new partners. Survey data clearly demonstrate that out-of-country travel is associated with recruitment of new sex partners and increased STI risk. Pretravel counseling to prevent STI risk is variable, and there is little evidence that it modifies risk behavior. Some travel occurs specifically for sexual purposes, such as the sexual tourism junkets to Southeast Asian destinations which became popular during the 1980s or the more recent rise in the popularity of circuit parties for men who have sex with men. Some travel situations pose particularly high risks. For example, military deployments and assignments to work camps such as those for oil extraction occur in the context of large groups of individuals of reproductive age, often predominantly males, exposed to high levels of stress in unfamiliar environments. Additionally, over the past decade, the Internet has dramatically changed the ability to identify sexual partners while traveling.
Effect of Casing and Tip Modifications on the Performance of an Axial Flow Stage

This paper is a presentation of a computational study focused on modifications to the rotor blade tip and casing end wall for the purpose of enhancing the performance and increasing the stall margin of a model turbofan stage. Grooves in the casing outboard of the rotor blade tips, as well as a very small ring protruding inward from the casing just upstream of the leading edge and downstream of the trailing edge of the rotor blade constitute the modifications that will be examined. The results will be compared to experiment as well as simulations of the baseline configuration in order to demonstrate the degree of effectiveness of the respective modifications. It is felt that this work serves as a good starting point for further investigations into possible improvements of performance and stability for both fan and compressor stages.