cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
[Refractory and resistant hypertension in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: differences in metabolic profile and endothelial function].

Aim. To determine the prevalence of refractory hypertension (RfH) in patients with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), as well as to evaluate whether diabetic patients with RfH significant differ from those with uncontrolled resistant hypertension (RH) in clinical phenotype, metabolic profile and endothelial function. Materials and methods. The study included 193 patients with RH: RH 74 patients with diabetes and 119 patients without DM. Uncontrolled RH and RfH were defined by the presence of uncontrolled blood pressure – BP (≥140 and/or 90 mm Hg) despite the use of >3 but <5 antihypertensive drugs (for RH) and ≥5 antihypertensive drugs, including a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (for RfH). Clinical examination, lab tests were performed. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and vasoreactivity of middle cerebral artery (MCA) using both breath-holding and hyperventilation test were measured by high-resolution ultrasound. Results. The prevalence of refractory hypertension in patients with and without DM was similar (30% vs 28%, respectively). No differences in BP levels, data of echocardiography and clinical phenotype were found between the diabetic groups, but value of HOMA index, plasma resistin level and postprandial glycaemia were higher in patients with RfH. FMD and MCA reactivity to the breath-holding test were worse in patients with RfH, and they had a more pronounced vasoconstrictor response of MCA to the hyperventilation test compared to patients with RH. Conclusion. The prevalence of RfH is the same in patients with and without diabetes. Diabetic patients with refractory hypertension have a more unfavorable metabolic profile and greater impairment of endothelial function than patients with uncontrolled resistant hypertension.
The No-Growth Imperative: Creating Sustainable Communities under Ecological Limits to Growth

Preface 1. Requiem for the Growth Imperative 2. The American Community as a Growth Machine 3. Rationales and Strategies for Stopping Growth in America's Communities 4. The No-Growth Path to Sustainability 5. Envisioning No-Growth Communities Epilogue: Ten Difficult Personal Actions Needed to Save the World
The dark side of disclosure : evidence of government expropriation from worldwide firms

This paper studies the effects of voluntary accounting information disclosure through auditing on firm access to finance, exposure to corruption, and sales growth. Relying on a data set of more than 70,000 firms in 121 countries, the analysis finds that disclosure can be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, audited firms exhibit a slightly lower level of financial constraints than unaudited firms. On the other hand, audited firms face a significantly higher level of corruption obstacles. The net effects of voluntary information disclosure on firm growth are negative, which can largely be explained by the fact that most of the countries in the sample are developing countries where institutions are weak. The beneficial effect of disclosure increases as a country’s property rights protection improves. The qualitative results are robust to considerations of the endogeneity of auditing and to alternative measures of corruption and financial constraints. The findings reveal the dark side of voluntary information disclosure: exposing firms to government expropriation where institutions are weak.
The question of being: foremost hermeneutic pre-condition for interpreting Heidegger

Passats setanta-cinc anys de la publicacio de Ser i temps, aquesta obra encara no s'ha interpretat des de la perspectiva de la questio de l'esser, al marge d'algunes excepcions. Per commemorar el setanta-cinc aniversari de la publicacio de Ser i temps , abordarem aquest tema i ens ocuparem de la seva estructura i de les seves ramificacions hermeneutiques. Tornant a la questio que centra el nostre interes, fixarem l'atencio en l'experiencia d'un fenomen que Heidegger anomena «retro-relacio» o «proto-relacio» de l'esser que constitueix la pre-condicio hermeneutica fonamental a l'hora d'accedir a la totalitat del seu pensament. Aquest article es proposa indicar que aquesta relacio sustenta tant el pensament horitzontal-transcendental de Heidegger com el seu pensament sobre la historia del ser.
Selling versus producing in market fluctuations: A comment

Mark Bils elaborates on Walter Oi's theme of labor as a quasi-fixed factor to explain differences in cyclical employment patterns between production and nonproduction workers. Production-worker employment is more closely linked to output changes, whereas nonproduction-worker employment is smoother and less volatile. In looking at the data in Figure 1 an analyst might be tempted to conclude that nonproduction workers have more quasi-fixed costs than do production workers, but then the basis for explaining the data is circular. Direct measurement of these costs is necessary to apply the theory, yet after all these years a firm basis for measurement has not been developed. Bils goes in a different direction here. Differences in employment are linked to differences in the economic functions served by the two groups: the production of goods on the one hand and the marketing of them on the other. The idea bears some (distant) relation to an older idea that decomposed costs into fixed and variable components. Nonproduction workers are loosely associated with fixed factors and are complements with fixed capital. Production workers are more substitutable with capital. This helps explain the employment data but is complicated by the fact that capital is not entirely fixed. Capital utilization varies -it lies idle some of the time; and marketing is not necessarily associated with fixed capital. Specific content of the idea is obtained from a stylized model in which marketing is subject to a scale economy. When demand changes, the sales force changes by a smaller proportion, implying that measured labor productivity is procyclical and that the output elasticity of labor is less than one. These are two of the main facts to be explained. The production activity is subject to constant returns in this model, so production-worker employment is more or less proportionate to output. If there were scale economies in production as well as in marketing, the relative employment variation between the two types of labor is consistent with the data only if marketing has the greater scale economy.
Mapping the Sky with the COBE Differential Microwave Radiometers

The Differential Microwave Radiometers (DMR) instrument on COBE is designed to determine the anisotropy of the Cosmic Microwave Background by providing all-sky maps of the diffuse sky brightness at microwave frequencies. The principal intent of this lecture is to show how these maps are generated from differential measurements.
Concept Generation and Sketching: Correlations With Design Outcome

Design outcome is influenced by many hard-to-measure factors in the design process. This paper examines four of these factors to understand their possible correlation with design success. First, is the quantity of design concepts linked to design outcome? Second, is the timing of concept generation associated with design outcome? In both of these cases, the sketches created by designers were taken as evidence of concept generation. Third, is the type of sketch linked to design outcome? And finally, what is the role of a novice designer’s prior experience in design outcome? Statistically significant correlations were found between dimensioned drawings generated at the early stages of design and design outcome, and also between a novice designer’s prior fabrication and building experience and design outcome. Ultimately, the goal of this research is to develop paradigms for appropriate graphics- and text-based information tools for design.
The public telephone network

Abstract The public telephone network is often referred to as the ‘highway’ of the information age. The advocates of investments in telecommunications infrastructure evoke the ‘highway analogy’ to underscore its social and economic importance. However, the analogy has not been developed beyond a relatively simple metaphor. In this article the ‘highway analogy’ is used as a heuristic device for model construction. The experience with transportation technologies is used to develop an abstract model for understanding the growth pattern of the emerging telecommunications technologies.
A symbolic logic with exact bounds for cryptographic protocols

This invited talk will describe a formal logic for reasoning about security properties of network protocols with proof rules indicating exact security bounds that could be used to choose key lengths or other concrete security parameters. The soundness proof for this logic, a variant of previous versions of Protocol Composition Logic (PCL), shows that derivable properties are guaranteed in a standard cryptographic model of protocol execution and resource-bounded attack.We will discuss the general system and present example axioms for digital signatures and random nonces, with concrete security properties based on concrete security of signature schemes and pseudorandom number generators (PRG). The quantitative formal logic supports first-order reasoning and reasoning about protocol invariants, taking exact security bounds into account. Proofs constructed in this logic also provide conventional asymptotic security guarantees because of the way that exact bounds accumulate in proofs. As an illustrative example producing exact bounds, we use the formal logic to prove an authentication property with exact bounds of a signature-based challenge-response protocol.
Quantum Monte Carlo Methods in Few-Body Physics

Monte Carlo methods are being used to bridge the gap between few- and many-body quantum systems. In electronic systems, Quantum Monte Carlo methods can be used to study the stability and orientation of various arrangements of atoms and molecules. In nuclear physics, Monte Carlo methods provide a unique opportunity to study light nuclei with realistic nuclear interactions. In this article, we discuss why and how Monte Carlo methods have been adapted to few-body physics, and variety of the recent applications of such methods.
Drug shortages: Implications for medical toxicology.

Context. Drug shortages have significantly increased over the past decade. There are limited data describing how shortages impact medical toxicology of drugs. Objective. To characterize drug shorta...
Autophagy is a cell death mechanism in Toxoplasma gondii

Nutrient sensing and the capacity to respond to starvation is tightly regulated as a means of cell survival. Among the features of the starvation response are induction of both translational repression and autophagy. Despite the fact that intracellular parasite like Toxoplasma gondii within a host cell predicted to be nutrient rich, they encode genes involved both in translational repression and autophagy. We therefore examined the consequence of starvation, a classic trigger of autophagy, on intracellular parasites. As expected, starvation results in the activation of the translational repression system as evidenced by elevation of phosphorylated TgIF2α (TgIF2α-P). Surprisingly, we also observe a rapid and selective fragmentation of the single parasite mitochondrion that leads irreversibly to parasite death. This profound effect was dependent primarily on the limitation of amino acids and involved signaling by the parasite TOR homolog. Notably, the effective blockade of mitochondrial fragmentation by the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyl adenine (3-MA) suggests an autophagic mechanism. In the absence of a documented apoptotic cascade in T. gondii, the data suggest that autophagy is the primary mechanism of programmed cell death in T. gondii and potentially other related parasites.
The Equine Movement Disorder “Shivers” Is Associated With Selective Cerebellar Purkinje Cell Axonal Degeneration

"Shivers" is a progressive equine movement disorder of unknown etiology. Clinically, horses with shivers show difficulty walking backward, assume hyperflexed limb postures, and have hind limb tremors during backward movement that resembles shivering. At least initially, forward movements are normal. Given that neither the neurophysiologic nor the pathologic mechanisms of the disease is known, nor has a neuroanatomic locus been identified, we undertook a detailed neuroanatomic and neuropathologic analysis of the complete sensorimotor system in horses with shivers and clinically normal control horses. No abnormalities were identified in the examined hind limb and forelimb skeletal muscles nor the associated peripheral nerves. Eosinophilic segmented axonal spheroids were a common lesion. Calretinin-positive axonal spheroids were present in many regions of the central nervous system, particularly the nucleus cuneatus lateralis; however, their numbers did not differ significantly from those of control horses. When compared to controls, calretinin-negative, calbindin-positive, and glutamic acid decarboxylase-positive spheroids were increased 80-fold in Purkinje cell axons within the deep cerebellar nuclei of horses with shivers. Unusual lamellar or membranous structures resembling marked myelin decompaction were present between myelin sheaths of presumed Purkinje cell axons in the deep cerebellar nuclei of shivers but not control horses. The immunohistochemical and ultrastructural characteristics of the lesions combined with their functional neuroanatomic distribution indicate, for the first time, that shivers is characterized by end-terminal neuroaxonal degeneration in the deep cerebellar nuclei, which results in context-specific hypermetria and myoclonus.
Small vesicle bouton synapses on the distal half of the lateral dendrite of the goldfish Mauthner cell: freeze-fracture and thin section study.

To understand principles of synaptic integration, it is necessary to define the types of synapses on a particular neuron and their distribution. Thin sectioning and double replica freeze-fracture techniques were employed to characterize the small vesicle bouton (SVB) synapses on the distal half of the Mauthner (M) cell lateral dendrite, which probably mediate a remote dendrite inhibition. Throe morphologically distinct SVB synapses, types A, B, and C, were found. These three SVB synapses form roughly 90% of the synapses on the distal half of the lateral dendrite, with types A and B being most common. The SVB A synapse is characterized by mostly oval and round synaptic vesicles, a discrete presynaptic active zone with a highly variable shape, and a postsynaptic active zone with no apparent particle aggregate in either the E or P face. At the SVB B synapse, most of the synaptic vesicles are flat. A very high particle density is present throughout the presynaptic P face, and vesicle attachment sites are dispersed over much of the presynaptic membrane, Postsynaptic P face particle aggregates are subjacent to the presynaptic vesicle attachment sites, and are often large and anastomosing. The SVB C synapse is characterized by synaptic vesicle profiles that vary from flattened to round. The SVB C cytoplasm was unclouded by the flocculent material that characterized SVBs A and B. The presynaptic active zones at the SVB C synapse are discrete, and macular or oblong. No particle aggregates are apparent in the postsynaptic active zone. Small, macular particle aggregates were found in nonactive zone regions of the postsynaptic E face of all three types of SVBs. Small subsurface cisterns were also observed underlying the M cell membrane at all three types of SVB synapses. Neither the postsynaptic E face aggregates nor the subsurface cisterns were ever observed directly subjacent to presynaptic active zones, but were often seen adjacent to active zones. Short, straight rows of particles and short cylinders were often seen in both pre- and postsynaptic surrounding zone regions of SVB A and C synapses. These structures are thought to represent tight junctions.
FOS expression induced by interleukin-1 or acute morphine treatment in the rat hypothalamus is attenuated by chronic exposure to morphine

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is a cytokine involved in a variety of biological activities. It has been hypothesized that the immunomodulatory effects of IL-1 are the result of both direct action on immune cells and indirect action on a regulatory cascade mediated through the hypothalamus. Chronic exposure to substances of abuse, such as morphine, appears to modulate immunoresponsiveness by mechanisms not yet defined. The expression of FOS, the protein product of the c-fos proto-oncogene, has been widely used as an anatomical marker for monitoring neuronal activity. We have previously shown that acute treatment with either morphine or IL-1 induces FOS immunoreactivity in the rat brain, including the paraventricular (PVN) and supraoptic (SON) nuclei of the hypothalamus. In this study, using immunocytochemical staining of FOS, we demonstrate that chronic exposure to morphine attenuates the cellular responsiveness to IL-1 and to morphine in the PVN and SON, whereas pretreatment with naloxone, an opiate receptor antagonist, does not reverse the effect of IL-1 on FOS expression. The results not only confirm that the PVN and SON are neuroanatomical sites where the actions of both morphine and IL-1 converge, but also indicate that chronic exposure to morphine may desensitize the cellular response involved in hypothalamic functions through an IL-1-dependent pathway.
Effects of prostaglandins E1 and E2 on activity in laryngeal and pharyngeal afferent fibers.

Abstract Prostaglandins (PG) E 1 and E 2 were applied topically to the receptive fields of feline laryngeal and pharyngeal sensory receptors, while action potentials were recorded from single - or few-fiber preparations of the superior laryngeal nerve. When initially dissolved in ethanol, PGs stimulated these sensory receptors. If ethanol was not used as a solvent for the PGs, they did not stimulate the sensory receptors. Similarly, local application of dilute (0.025%, v/v) solutions of ethanol alone excited the receptors, whereas phosphate buffer alone did not. Thus PGE 1 and PGE 2 do not themselves stimulate sensory receptors in the larynx and pharynx. These findings suggest that irritant properties of PGEs on upper airways are attributable to the ethanol used as a solvent.
Microchip capillary electrophoresis coupled to sinusoidal voltammetry for the detection of native carbohydrates.

The development of a microchip electrophoresis system involving integrated frequency based electrochemical detection is described. The use of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) as the channel substrate greatly simplifies the fabrication process while decreasing cost and time consumption. Characterization of this system is accomplished through the detection of native carbohydrates at planar copper electrodes. Various photolithographic techniques are explored in the optimization of electrode area. Separation efficiency of 1 x 10 5 theoretical plates per meter is demonstrated. Sinusoidal voltammetry utilizes information in the frequency domain to achieve sensitive detection through either of two approaches, maximization of signal or minimization of noise. Mass detection limits (S/N = 3) of less than 200 amol have been accomplished for glucose and sucrose. Sinusoidal voltammetry also facilitated the selective isolation of an analyte signal from a pair of chromatographically unresolved species through the use of phase discrimination.
Destruction of Enteroviral Ribonucleic Acid Infectivity by Phosphodiesterase.

SummaryInfectivity of RNA from ECHO 7 and 12 and Coxsackie A9 viruses was destroyed by snake venom phosphodiesterase (SVP) whereas the infectivity of the corresponding intact viruses was unaffected by this enzyme. At 25° using ECHO 7 RNA and 2 μg SVP per ml, rate of inactivation was constant through approximately 20 minutes, then progressively decreased.
Fringe-Field Switching with a Negative Dielectric Anisotropy Liquid Crystal

We report a high performance negative dielectric anisotropy (Δe) liquid crystal for fringing field switching (n-FFS) display. We compare the electro-optic characteristics of FFS cells using positive and negative Δe LCs. With comparable driving voltage and response time, the n-FFS cell has advantages in higher transmittance, single gamma curve, less cell gap sensitivity and slightly wider viewing angle. LC director deformation distribution is analyzed to explain these performance differences.
Theory of point contact spectroscopy in correlated materials

We developed a microscopic theory for the point-contact conductance between a metallic electrode and a strongly correlated material using the nonequilibrium Schwinger-Kadanoff-Baym-Keldysh formalism. We explicitly show that, in the classical limit, contact size shorter than the scattering length of the system, the microscopic model can be reduced to an effective model with transfer matrix elements that conserve in-plane momentum. We found that the conductance dI/dV is proportional to the effective density of states, that is, the integrated single-particle spectral function A(ω = eV) over the whole Brillouin zone. From this conclusion, we are able to establish the conditions under which a non-Fermi liquid metal exhibits a zero-bias peak in the conductance. This finding is discussed in the context of recent point-contact spectroscopy on the iron pnictides and chalcogenides, which has exhibited a zero-bias conductance peak.
Prazosin selectively antagonizes neuronal responses mediated by alpha1-adrenoceptors in brain.

The ability of systemically and locally administered prazosin to block α1-adrenoceptors was examined in two brain areas in the rat. Using single unit recording of neurons in the lateral geniculate and dorsal raphe nuclei, evidence was obtained for the selective blockade of α1-adrenoceptors by both intravenous and iontophoretic prazosin. Since effective systemic doses of prazosin were within the clinical range, it appears likely that brain α1-adrenoceptors would be blocked during prazosin therapy in humans.
MUC1 overexpression results in mammary gland tumorigenesis and prolonged alveolar differentiation.

MUC1 is a transmembrane mucin that was initially cloned from malignant mammary epithelial cells as a tumor antigen. More than 90% of human breast carcinomas overexpress MUC1. Numerous studies have demonstrated an interaction between MUC1 and other oncogenic proteins such as β-catenin, erbB receptors and c-Src, but a functional role for MUC1 in transformation has not been identified. We previously reported the development of transgenic mice that overexpress human MUC1 in the mouse mammary gland (MMTV-MUC1). Analysis of these transgenic mice at an early age demonstrated the ability of MUC1 to potentiate EGF-dependent activation of MAP kinase signaling pathways in the lactating mammary gland. We now report that multiparous MMTV-MUC1 transgenic mice stochastically develop unifocal mammary gland carcinomas late in life. Molecular analysis of these tumors shows a tumor-specific coimmunoprecipitation between MUC1 and β-catenin. Examination of the contralateral glands in MMTV-MUC1 transgenics demonstrates that the development of frank carcinomas is accompanied by a failure of multiparous glands to undergo postlactational involution. Furthermore, uniparous MMTV-MUC1 transgenic mice display decreased postlactational apoptosis, elevated whey acidic protein expression and aberrant pErk2 activation. These findings are the first to determine that MUC1 overexpression promotes in vivo transformation of the mammary gland.
Reactivity of ester groups on insoluble polymer supports

A study was made of the comparative rates of reaction of active ester functional groups (p-nitrophenyl and 2,4-dinitrophenyl esters) situated on three types of insoluble support polymers and on small, soluble analogs of the polymer molecules. The supports consisted of a styrene—divinylbenzene bead-type polymer (2% DVB), a styrene—divinylbenzene popcorn polymer (0.2% DVB), and a popcorn polymer with 2,3-dimethylbutadiene and substituted styrene units in the chain. p-Nitrophenyl benzoate and 2,4-dinitrophenyl p-isopropylbenzoate were used as soluble analogs. Rates of aminolysis by small molecules (2-aminoethanol and n-tetradecylamine) in pyridine and of solvolysis in alcohols catalyzed by both small (N-methylimidazole) and large (polyvinylimidazole) molecules were determined. With the small amines, finely divided particles of popcorn and bead type styrene polymers reacted at about the same rate, which was approximately 1/5 the rate of reaction of the homogeneous analogs. With a high molecular weight reagent, polyvinylimidazole, the heterogeneous reactions were much slower and the popcorn polymer reacted faster than the bead polymer. In catalyzed solvolyses, the styrene popcorn derivative reacted faster in benzyl alcohol and slower in 1-hexanol than the dimethylbutadiene popcorn polymer derivatives.
CEREBRAL ASYMMETRY: CHANGES IN FACTORS AFFECTING ITS DEVELOPMENT*

The present study offered further support for the notion that hemispheric differences are present during early infancy. Moreover, in addition to finding evidences are present during early infancy. Moreover, in addition to finding evidence of electrophysiological differences between male and female infants, discrete components of the AEP response were identified and isolated that were responsive to specific aspects of the acoustic stimuli. Information concerning temporal differences in the processing of these elements was also obtained.
Alteration of the blood-retinal barrier by sodium iodate: Kinetic vitreous fluorophotometry and horseradish peroxidase trace studies

The intraocular dynamics of fluorescein were examined in the rat eye after systemic administration of graded concentrations of sodium iodate. A comparatively selective alteration of the outward transport component was achieved immediately after systemic administration of sodium iodate (20 mg/kg), as demonstrated by a marked reduction of the rate of fluorescein loss from the vitreous (normal, t 2 1 =1·4 hr; n =9; sodium iodate, t 2 1 =4·8 hr; n =6). A different type of barrier alteration was observed when higher doses of sodium iodate wereused (60 mg/kg). The penetration of fluorescein into the vitreous increased dramatically, approaching plasma levels and following them thereafter indicating that a situation of free diffusion was achieved. The structural changes, examined by electron microscopy using horseradish peroxidase,correlated well with the intraocular fluorescein dynamics. There was moderate damage in the retinal pigment epithelium immediately after the lower dose of sodium iodate was injected and complete breakdown of the retinal pigment epithelium, with extensive cellular destruction and direct apposition between photoreceptors and Bruch's membrane, when higher doses of sodium iodate were administered.
Analysis of communication patterns in critical care environments

Efficient and effective communication processes are critical for patient health and safety. Communication processes for patient admission within the UVa Surgical and Trauma Intensive Care Unit (SICU) vary depending on situational factors. Trauma personnel in the SICU are also involved in patient admission to the Operating Room (OR). In order to better understand communication patterns and identify inefficiencies and variation, an analysis of the patient admission processes from the Emergency Department (ED) to the OR and ED to SICU is performed. To identify potential inefficiencies within patient admission, key sub-processes with high variability were identified. Process models were constructed to depict the current practices of each step and the associated communication patterns between stakeholders. Interviews, surveys, and focus groups were also conducted with trauma personnel to gauge opinions on the patient admission processes and to collect estimated waiting times at each step in the processes. Based on findings from interviews, process completion times were compiled and analyzed using Hurwicz Alpha Criterion. Results of the study indicate that communication processes with consults and the bed center, both located outside of the SICU, are variable and inconsistent. This variability in communication is a result of a lack of situational awareness and procedures external to the SICU.
The uncertain connection between verbal theories and research hypotheses in social psychology

Abstract Examples spanning 20 years and various areas of social psychology illustrate the great difficulty of knowing what implications do or do not follow the postulates of verbally stated theories. Reliance on verbally stated theories in preference to mathematical or computer-simulation models thus severs a vital link in the hypothetico-deductive chain.
Highly selective GC stationary phases consisting of binary mixtures of polymeric ionic liquids

GC stationary phases composed of binary mixtures of two polymeric ionic liquids (PILs), namely, poly(1-vinyl-3-hexylimidazolium) bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]imide (poly(ViHIm-NTf(2)))/poly(1-vinyl-3-hexylimidazolium) chloride (poly(ViHIm-Cl)) and poly(1-vinyl-3-hexadecylimidazolium) bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]imide (poly(ViHDIm-NTf(2)))/poly(1-vinyl-3-hexadecylimidazolium) chloride (poly(ViHDIm-Cl)), were evaluated in terms of their on-set bleed temperature and separation selectivity. A total of six neat or binary PIL stationary phases were characterized using the solvation parameter model to investigate the effects of the polymeric cation and anion and PIL composition on the system constants of the resulting stationary phases. The hydrogen bond basicity of the mixed poly(ViHIm-NTf(2))/poly(ViHIm-Cl) stationary phases was enriched linearly with the increase in the poly(ViHIm-Cl) content. Results revealed that tuning the composition of the stationary phase allowed for fine control of the retention factors and separation selectivity for alcohols and carboxylic acids as well as selected ketones, aldehydes, and aromatic compounds. A reversal of elution order was observed for particular classes of analytes when the weight percentage of the chloride-based PIL was increased.
Note sur le négativisme schizophrénique

Resume Le negativisme schizophrenique est le plus souvent tire du cote negatif de la psychose. On s’attachera ici a faire valoir la dimension subjective dans ce symptome caracteristique de la schizophrenie. Apres un rapide rappel de la litterature consacree a ce sujet, nous tenterons, avec l’appui de la theorie psychanalytique, de rendre compte notamment de ce mode particulier de reponse du sujet a l’egard de la jouissance, celle du sujet lui-meme, en exces, et celle, intrusive, de l’Autre.
Beyond expert systems: Learning programs in large-physics control systems

Abstract Recently, expert systems have been used in diagnosing problems in a variety of areas. The use of many of these systems has resulted in savings of time and money. Despite these advantages expert systems are still difficult to construct and this is one factor preventing their more widespread use. One particular inefficiency is commonly referred to as the “knowledge-acquisition bottleneck”, the process whereby the problem-solving and diagnostic knowledge is codified. Machine learning systems are problem-solving programs that have been used successfully in many fields to overcome this bottleneck. Learning systems are able to systematically or heuristically search a hypothesis space of possible solutions while avoiding an exhaustive combinatorially large search. The input to the learning system is given in abstract terms and the program is left to learn the generalizations based on regularities in the training data given to it. This paper reviews learning systems and discusses several paradigms: rule-based induction, neural nets and genetic algorithms. Comparisons between learning systems and conventional adaptation techniques will be discussed such as conventional knowledge acquisition, operations research, statistical analysis and closed feedback systems. Examples of potential applications of learning systems to monitoring, design and analysis in large-physics control systems will be given.
Application of a dual diffractive model to the reaction π+d → dπ+π+π− at 13 GeV/c☆

Abstract A dual diffractive model is applied to the reaction π+d → dπ+π+π−P at 13 GeV/c. The model is based on that used to describe the reaction K−p → K−π+π−p at 10 GeV/c. For this π+d reaction there are a smaller number of free or quasi free parameters, due to Bose-symmetry, than in the K−p reaction. In addition, the basic assumption of the model, which is the dominance of a diffractive production mechanism, is well satisfied. Reasonable overall agreement is obtained at 13 GeV/c but the predicted energy dependence of this reaction is not in agreement with experimental data.
Excitonic spectrum of an undoped quantum well in electric field

Abstract The effect of the valence band coupling on the excitonic spectrum of an undoped GaAsAl x Ga 1−x As quantum well subjected to a normal electric field is examined. The exciton states are split because of the spin-splitting of the hole subbands. The binding energies of the (00h) and (001) excitons are noticeably increased. The transition strength of the “forbidden” (01h) exciton is enhanced both by the electric field and the strong mixing of the hole states. The binding of the 001 exciton is further increased because it exhibits a Fano-like resonance with the electron-heavy hole continuum.
Thymic Hyperplasia Presenting as Anterior Mediastinal Mass in 2 Patients With Graves Disease

Graves disease is an autoimmune thyroid condition characterized by the production of autoantibodies against the thyrotropin receptor. The autoantibodies mimic the effect of the hormone on thyroid cells, which stimulates autonomous production of thyroxine and triiodothyronine. It has been hypothesized that cross-reactivity of autoantibodies may result in Graves ophthalmopathy and dermopathy. A seldom-recognized feature of Graves disease is thymic hyperplasia. We report 2 patients with Graves disease and incidentally discovered anterior mediastinal masses presumed to be thymic hyperplasia. In both cases, these masses regressed spontaneously after treatment of hyperthyroidism.
Protein Targeting to Glycogen/PPP1R5: Screening of Coding and Flanking Genomic Regions for Polymorphisms and Association Analysis with Insulin Action in Pima Indians

Abstract Insulin resistance, a major predictor of type 2 diabetes mellitus, is genetically inherited in Pima Indians, a population with a high prevalence of the metabolically complex disease. Protein targeting to glycogen/PPP1R5 has recently been identified as a potential regulator of glycogen synthase, the rate-limiting enzyme of the insulin-induced glycogenesis. The gene is located on chromosome 10q23-24, where there is a suggestive linkage to insulin action in this population, establishing it as a functional and positional candidate gene. In this study, we discovered 2 novel polymorphisms upstream of the 5′UTR of the gene, with only one found in Pima Indians, but no polymorphism in the coding sequence. The genotype frequencies of the polymorphism and transcript levels of the gene in skeletal muscle do not correlate with insulin action in the subjects. These results exclude any significant role of protein targeting to glycogen/PPP1R5 in insulin resistance in Pima Indians.
Atrial natriuretic hormones originating from the N-terminus of the atrial natriuretic factor prohormone.

SUMMARY 1. Four peptide hormones consisting of amino acids 1–30 (Long Acting Sodium Stimulator), 31–67 (Vessel Dilator), 79–98 (Kaliuretic Stimulator) and 99–126 (Atrial Natriuretic Factor [ANF]) originate from the same 126 amino acid ANF prohormone. 2. Each of these four peptide hormones circulates as a distinct peptide with vessel dilator and long acting sodium stimulator circulating at 10- to 24-fold higher concentrations than ANF while kaliuretic stimulator circulates at a three-fold higher concentration than ANF. 3. Each of these peptide hormones is released with an increase in central volume causing stretch of the atrium of the heart and with rapid heart beats greater than 125 beats/min. 4. Each of these peptide hormones lowers blood pressure, causes a diuresis and enhances sodium and/or potassium excretion. 5. In disease states which retain sodium and water such as congestive heart failure (CHF), each of these atrial peptides increases in the circulation proportionately to the severity of sodium retention, but of the radioimmunoassays to each of these hormones only the vessel dilator radioimmunoassay differentiates between mild (class I) CHF and healthy individuals.
Effect of the K+/H+ ionophore nigericin on response of A549 cells to photodynamic therapy and tert-butylhydroperoxide.

Abstract The K+/H+ ionophore negericin dramatically increases killing of V79 cells and A549 cells by photodynamic therapy (PDT) sensitized by chloroaluminum phthalocyanine. Previous studies suggested that the interaction between PDT and nigericin is related to the ability of this ionophore to reduce intracellular pH (pHi). The present study was undertaken to test the possibility that nigericin, by lowering pHi, inhibits reductive detoxification of PDT-produced peroxides by enzymes of the glutathione (GSH) redox cycle and the pentose cycle. To test this possibility we examined the effects of nigericin on the toxicity and metabolism of a model peroxide, tert-butylhydroperoxide (tert-BOOH), in A549 cells, a cell line in which the GSH redox cycle is known to be the principal pathway for reduction and detoxification of tert-BOOH. We found that nigericin equilibrates pHi of A549 cells with extracellular pH (pHe) in a time-dependent manner. It increases the toxicity of tert-BOOH toward A549 cells, inhibits loss of tert-BOOH from the buffer overlying the cells, and reduces the rate of 14CO2 release from radiolabelled glucose, which is measure of pentose cycle activity. These effects are significantly greater at pHe 6.40 than at 7.40. Monensin, a Na+/H+ ionophore which does not reduce pHi, does not enhance the toxicity of tert-BOOH and has only a minimal effect on tert-BOOH reduction. These data suggest that nigericin-induced inhibition of peroxide detoxification is at least a plausible mechanism by which the ionophore might interact with PDT.
Immunohistochemical localization of interleukin-10 in human oral and pharyngeal carcinomas.

Objectives/Hypothesis: Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is an immunosuppressive cytokine with numerous, well-described effects on the human cellular and humoral immune response. The oncogenic potential of IL-10 has been previously investigated in bronchogenic carcinoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, Waldeyer's ring carcinoma, and serum supernatants of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). The purpose of the study was to determine the prevalence and cellular localization of IL-10 in human SCCHN. Study Design: Immunohistochemistry of archival tissues. Methods: Paraffin-embedded archival tissues were retrospectively obtained from 98 patients with oral and pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Using a standard immunohistochemical technique, these specimens were stained with a polyclonal antibody to IL-10. Results: Using these methods, we found specific localization of antigenic IL-10 to individual tumor cells in 65% of tumors studied. Intensity of staining was significantly, but inversely, related to tumor grade and N stage; there also existed a significant staining predisposition for oral cavity lesions when samples from this site were compared with tissues derived from elsewhere in the pharynx. Furthermore, IL-10 was not localized to normal epithelial keratinocytes or inflammatory cells at the level of sensitivity achieved by the immunohistochemical methods used in the study. Conclusions: The findings demonstrate that IL-10 can be specifically localized to human oral and pharyngeal cancer cells. These data also suggest an inverse association for both tumor grade and N stage with specific tumor marker staining. Future studies should investigate the role of this cytokine in the pathogenesis of human SCCHN.
Identification of the protein firmly bound to the ends of bacteriophage φ29 DNA

Abstract The linear DNA duplex of the Bacillus subtilis phage φ29 is firmly associated at its ends with protein which is essential for transfectivity. The DNA-protein complex was isolated from phage particles (subsequently labeled with 125I by lactoperoxidase-catalyzed iodination) and also from phage-infected cells labeled in vivo with [35S]methionine. The purified complexes were digested with DNase I and phosphodiesterase and the proteins were analyzed by electrophoresis in discontinuous-pH SDS-polyacrylamide gels and in SDS-urea gels of high cross-linkage. The main protein, peak from both sources of DNA has a molecular weight of about 31,000. Occasionally, low-molecular weight protein was observed which probably represents fragments of the larger protein. Digestion of φ29 DNA with the restriction endonuclease EcoRl and analysis of purified terminal restriction fragments indicated that proteins of the same molecular weight bind firmly at each end of the DNA molecule. We postulate that the 31,000-dalton protein may be specified by gene 3, the product of which affects both transfection and DNA replication.
Acoustic analysis using numerical solutions of the Navier-Stokes equations

Numerical solutions of the time-dependent compressible Navier-Stokes equations are employed to analyze the unsteady features of jet flows which contribute to jet noise. The turbulent-mass flux spectra are examined in detail in the numerical analysis, and MacCormack's explicit finite difference algorithm is used to solve the governing equations. The computational grid is based on an axisymmetric jet with simple exponential stretching used to optimize the resolution of critical unsteady flow features. The time-varying numerical data are analyzed, and the time averages of the velocity and turbulence-intensity profiles are shown to agree with experimental data. Grid refinement and longer run times improved the prediction of the experimental mass-flux spectra. The numerical procedure can be extended to 3D jet-flow configurations to study the related 3D unsteady flow features.
Objectives for adopting advanced manufacturing systems: promise and performance

Presents the results of an exploratory investigation of the level of importance that firms place on several business and technical objectives when they are considering AMT adoption. Mail survey data obtained from 125 manufacturing firms in the USA that had adopted a wide variety of AMT are used in this analysis. On average, these firms had placed the highest levels of importance on improving product quality, reducing manufacturing leadtimes, reducing per unit production costs and improving responsiveness to changing customer needs. Lower levels of importance were reported for the market‐based objectives of increasing market share and gaining earlier entrance to market. In addition, although firms had also ascribed lower levels of importance to the organizational adaptation benefits of developing an integrated organization and developing management expertise, they were satisfied that implementation of the technologies had a positive influence on achieving these benefits. Exploratory factor analysis revealed that the 15 benefits that were investigated in this study can be viewed as representing three interdependent dimensions: technical/operational objectives, total quality management‐based objectives, and business or marketing‐based objectives.
Optimized packet formation in multi-level security wireless data acquisition networks

The limited channel capacity and the varying propagation conditions of radio signals have motivated research for boosting the achievable throughput in wireless networks. Among the effective optimization strategies is to dynamically adjust the packet size either to better suit the channel conditions or to minimize the number of overhead bits in the individual packets. However, multi-levels of security requirements impose constraints on the data mix in the packet payload and may diminish the gains achievable by contemporary packet-size optimization schemes. This paper presents a novel bandwidth optimization algorithm for wireless data acquisition networks where strict confidentiality requirements and access restriction policies have to be observed. The algorithm exploits the classification of data in minimizing the number of packet transmissions as well as the overhead within the individual packets. The idea is to combine the transmission of packets based on the time sensitivity and security attributes of the data in the payload. The performance of the proposed algorithm is validated through mathematical analysis and through simulation. The simulation results confirm the effectiveness of the algorithm in boosting data throughput in the network. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Aromatase in breast cancer and the role of aminoglutethimide and other aromatase inhibitors.

Approximately one third of human breast carcinomas are hormoen dependent and regress upon reduction of circulating estrogen levels. Traditional treatment strategies utilized surgical ablative methods to lower estrogen concentrations as treatment of breast cancer. Currently, investigative emphasis is focused upon development of highly specific antiestrogens and inhibitors of estrogen production. The enzyme, aromatase, as the terminal step in estrogen biosynthesis, is a logical target for blockade with potent and specific inhibitors. The earliest available aromatase antagonist, aminoglutethimide, suppresses estrogen production to the same extent as surgical ablation and is an effective treatment for breast cancer. Aminoglutethimide, however, blocks other cytochrome P-450-mediated steroid hydroxylations, requires concomitant glucocorticoid administration, and is associated with initial side effects. Several more specific inhibitors by destroying aromatase irreversibly as well as by competitive inhibition. One of these, 4-hydroxy-androstenedione, has been intensively studied in animals and is undergoing clinical trial. New data regarding these inhibitors further emphasize the key role of aromatase in estrogen production and the practical utility of blocking this enzyme.
ATMosphere: a system for atm microdeposit services in rural contexts

This paper describes strategies to lower the cost of providing Automated Teller Machine microdeposit services in rural contexts. Microdeposits represent a growing market in the developing world, but the cost of running a conventional ATM network is prohibitive due to the capital investment required to deploy networks and terminals.Our novel contributions are to use the Short Message Service (SMS) over high-penetration GSM cellular networks in conjunction with a system using location awareness to intelligently distribute available balances among machines. This allows us to provide high levels of service while simultaneously reducing risk to the financial institution and lowering per-transaction cost.Using a simulation of ATM usage patterns and distributions, our primary results under our model are: (1) transaction cost per user per year can be optimized to less than USD 0.18 given an SMS loss rate of approximately 10% while (2) customer withdrawal success rate can be maintained at approximately 98% with (3) a maxim urn of 5% of funds on deposit available in cash in ATMs at any given time.These results make wide deployment of rural ATM services by financial institutions feasible and economically viable in the near term using existing commodity technology.