cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The rule of bigeminy revisited: A possible marker of triggered activity preceding torsade de pointes

Torsade de pointes (TdP), a form of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia that can lead to sudden cardiac death, is associated with prolongation of repolarization which induces premature ventricular complexes due to early afterdepolarizations (EADs). We hypothesized that analysis of long-term recordings from the open-access Sudden Cardiac Death Holter Database (www.physionet.org) might identify electrocardiographic characteristics that are predictors of TdP. Out of the 23 patients in this database, 14 patients had TdP. These records were analyzed to identify properties of the arrhythmias including the coupling interval and the presence of characteristic arrhythmias such as ventricular bigeminy, or trigeminy. We identified a subgroup of 6 patients (5 females and 1 male, ages 30-89 years, 4 with sinus rhythm and 2 with atrial fibrillation), who displayed the following triad: i) fixed coupling intervals of ventricular ectopic beats to preceding QRS complexes; ii) frequent ventricular bigeminy; and iii) onset of bigeminy following an abnormally long RR interval. Furthermore, the mean corrected QT interval was greater than 0.44s immediately before the onset of bigeminy in all patients. Pick and Langendorf observed that ventricular bigeminy tends to perpetuate itself —“the rule of bigeminy”— and suggested two possible mechanisms, reentry and parasystole. Subsequently, Cranefield suggested that bigeminal rhythms could be due to EADs, where the long compensatory pause following an ectopic beat would predispose towards an EAD which would perpetuate the rhythm. In this subset of patients, our findings are most consistent with the EAD-related mechanism and suggest an electrocardiographic triad of risk for TdP to be tested in larger databases.
Polarization Results of Solar X-Rays from OSO-7

Polarization measurements of solar X-ray events that were obtained with an instrument on OSO-7 are presented. The results appear to be consistent with the results of Tindo et al. on the existence and magnitudes of polarization. A comparison with polarization predictions when X-rays are produced by radial beams of electrons gives two examples of deviations from such a model.
The accumulation of property by southern blacks and whites: Individual-level evidence from a South Carolina cotton county, 1910–1919

Abstract This paper examines new data on wealth and wealth accumulation by blacks and whites in Calhoun County, South Carolina between 1910 and 1919. Despite focusing on a single county, the data utilized in this paper make it possible to explore property accumulation by southern blacks and whites in new ways. Unlike previous studies, this one provides information on both real quantities and dollar assessments. This breakdown reveals that the rapid accumulation of property by blacks was entirely real and not due in part to an increasingly discriminatory assessment policy. By merging the assessment data with individual-level census records, it is possible to examine how wealth and wealth accumulation were influenced by race, gender, age, occupation, and literacy. In particular, the effect of literacy on the wealth of black men in 1910 was found to be economically strong in high wealth quantiles but weak in low wealth quantiles. By 1919, the impact of literacy on the wealth of black men had become economically important across the board. Furthermore, literacy had a significant influence on the relative size of wealth accumulations but offered little protection against low accumulations.
Exclusive electroproduction and the quark structure of the nucleon

Abstract The natural interpretation of deep inelastic scattering is in terms of hard scattering on QCD constituents of the target. We examine the relation between amplitudes measured in exclusive lepto-production and the quark content of the nucleon. We show that in the Bjorken limit, the natural interpretation of amplitudes measured in these hard exclusive processes is in terms of the quark content of the meson cloud and not the target itself. In this limit, the most efficient representation of these exclusive processes is in terms of leading Regge amplitudes.
Measurement of soil mineral nitrogen to predict the response of winter wheat to fertilizer nitrogen after applications of organic manures or after ploughed-out grass

In the autumns of 1985, 1986 and 1987, a total of 84 fields in England and Wales, which had received a recent dressing of organic manure or had recently been ploughed out of grass, was sampled to 90 cm depth to measure soil mineral nitrogen (Nmin i.e. NH4-N and N03-N). Amounts of Nmin varied widely between sites, indicating the difficulty in estimating soil supply following ploughing grass or manure application although type of manure and Nmin were related. Soils contained much inorganic nitrogen where manures containing a large proportion of readily available N (pig slurry or poultry manure) had been applied. Where manures containing straw were applied, Nmin was greater in the second year after application than the first. The relationship between Nmin and response of winter wheat to fertilizer was measured on 62 of the 84 sites sampled; there was no simple relationship between N min and response to N. For fields just ploughed out of grass, the relationship was particularly poor. However, for fields with a history of arable cropping, there was no response to N fertilizer when Nmin was > 300 kg/ha N in either autumn or spring. Below this amount, response to fertilizer N varied considerably even for sites with similar amounts of Nmin. Nmin measurements are of value in identifying soils containing sufficiently large N residues to allow fertilizer applications to be reduced, or even omitted, with confidence. Where residues are smaller, models need to be developed which take into account other factors, such as mineralization of organic nitrogen reserves, which modify nitrogen supply.
Shifting Selves and Product Reviews: How the Effects of Product Reviews Vary Depending on the Self-Views and Self-Regulatory Goals of Consumers

Although online product reviews have emerged as an influential source of information, little is known about the persuasive impact of self-regulatory goals on the processing of information in the reviews. This research examines how consumers differently evaluate consumer-generated product reviews framed by promotion goals versus prevention goals depending on their temporarily primed self-construal. The results from two experiments using a digital camera brand (Experiment 1) and a hotel brand (Experiment 2) suggest that individuals whose independent self-view is temporarily more activated rate product reviews with promotion goals as more effective than those with prevention goals. However, the reverse pattern for individuals whose interdependent self-view is temporarily primed was supported only by the results of Experiment 1. Our findings suggest that the proposed interactive effects of self-construal and self-regulatory goals can vary according to product categories. Findings of this research add to our theoretical understanding of regulatory focus and priming research. More important, this study also provides managerial insights into how marketers in the field of electronic commerce should revamp their product review platforms with an emphasis on different types of self-regulatory goals.
Single- and Multistep Resistance Selection Studies on the Activity of Retapamulin Compared to Other Agents against Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes

Retapamulin had the lowest rate of spontaneous mutations by single-step passaging and the lowest parent and selected mutant MICs by multistep passaging among all drugs tested for all Staphylococcus aureus strains and three Streptococcus pyogenes strains which yielded resistant clones. Retapamulin has a low potential for resistance selection in S. pyogenes, with a slow and gradual propensity for resistance development in S. aureus.
Water on Mars

Water on Mars exists at the poles and in the subsurface. It has interacted with crustal rocks, providing geomorphological, geochemical, and mineralogical insights into Mars' geological history and inferences about its biological potential. The roles of water are revealed through studies of altered materials using orbiting-spacecraft imagery and spectroscopy, instruments mounted on rovers, and laboratory measurements on Martian meteorites.
Agricultural Economics: Finding Our Future

The future of agricultural economics will emerge as some blend of opportunism and institutional momentum. The abundance of concern and analysis relating to the land grant system suggests emerging changes in the direction and force of institutional momentum (Bromley, Clevenger, Debertin and Infanger, Hildreth, G. L. Johnson, Schuh, etc.). If the guidance our profession receives from institutional momentum declines abruptly, as I believe it will, the opportunistic choices available and the decisions we make become very important. This paper will discuss (a) expected changes in the land grant system, (b) opportunistic choices in undergraduate teaching, and (c) opportunistic choices in research.
Added sampling improves reproducibility of multipoint motor unit estimates

Motor unit number estimation (MUNE) has been used to track motor unit attrition. Studies have used the modified multiple-point stimulation (MPS) technique, collecting three surface motor unit action potentials (sMUAPs) from 3 sites to calculate MUNE. Factoring additional sMUAPs should theoretically improve reproducibility, but the optimal number has not been defined. We evaluated the effect of increased sMUAP sampling on test-retest reproducibility of the modified MPS MUNE technique and found that MUNE reproducibility increased with additional sampling. Muscle Nerve, 2010.
Absorption phenomena in the treatment of cotton with formaldehyde and cyclic oxymethylenes

Monomeric formaldehyde and the cyclic oxymethylenes tetraoxane and pentaoxane were retained by cotton to similar extents at the high temperatures used in textile finishing, but the mechanisms of absorption appeared to differ. Trioxane, however, was not retained by cotton. The absorption of cyclic oxymethylenes did not seem to involve bonding to cellulose by primary valence bonds. The presence of other substances had a greater effect on the absorption of monomeric formaldehyde than of cyclic oxymethylenes, but changes in extent of absorption were not large enough to influence textile properties of treated fabric.
Parallel event-driven logic simulation algorithms: tutorial and comparative evaluation

Parallel processing offers a viable way to improve the enormous execution time of the simulation of large VLSI designs. Various parallel logic simulation approaches have been proposed in recent years resulting in some ambiguity as to which scheme offers the best parallelism and execution time. To address these issues, the authors provide a detailed comparison of all four major types of event-driven logic simulation algorithms (synchronous, conservative asynchronous with deadlock avoidance, conservative asynchronous with deadlock detection and resolution, and optimistic asynchronous). The comparisons are carried out on an ideal parallel machine capable of extracting all available parallelism in a given algorithm. The simulation execution time, average parallelism and total messages required for a particular simulation algorithm are measured on the ISCAS combinational and sequential benchmark circuits. The use of an ideal parallel machine exposes characteristics of the simulation algorithms independent of the effects caused by particular parallel architectures or implementations. It is shown that a recently developed conservative asynchronous algorithm of the deadlock avoidance type and the optimistic asynchronous algorithm achieve the best parallel execution time results. However, the new conservative algorithm requires much less implementation overhead than the optimistic algorithm.
The relationship between spontaneous allergic conditions and ascorbic acid: An experiment employing skin tests and ascorbic acid on subjects with hay fever

Abstract 1.1. A general review is given of the conflicting opinions concerning the relationship between ascorbic acid and allergic conditions in human beings. A discussion of the rationale of ascorbic acid therapy is presented. 2.2. The results of an experiment are recorded in which eight young, male adults with hay fever acted as subjects. At various intervals, a total of forty-three control skin tests were made on these subjects with an extract of short ragweed. The plasma levels of ascorbic acid were measured at the time of most skin testing. Then at various intervals large amounts of ascorbic acid were given over a period of several days and, after taking the vitamin, a total of forty-four more skin tests were made on the same eight subjects. The plasma level of ascorbic acid was likewise measured as previously. The average diameters of the erythemas of the two sets of data were compared. 3.3. The conclusion reached was that by the methods used in this experiment there is no evidence that ascorbic acid has any significant effect upon allergic skin reactions due to intracutaneous injection of an extract of short ragweed pollen, although it is realized that this experiment, in itself, cannot entirely prove that ascorbic acid can have no clinical value.
Ammonium and nitrate uptake by aquatic plants from poorly buffered and acidified waters

In the Netherlands, atmospheric deposition of ammonia compounds, particularly ammonium sulphate, is an important source for the acidification of oligotrophic soft waters. As a consequence, the acidified waters are generally nitrogen enriched, ammonium being the dominant N form. In this study, it is examined how this alteration in the nitrogen household affects the aquatic plant communities in acidifying waters. The uptake of ammonium and nitrate by leaves and roots of two groups of freshwater plants has been studied using glass incubation chambers. The forst group (Littorella uniflora (L.) Aschers.; Lobelia dortmanna L.; Luronium natans (L.) Raf.; Echinodorus ranunculoides (L.) Engelm.) is characteristic of nitrogen-poor soft waters, whereas the second group (Juncus bulbosus L.; Sphagnum flexuosum Dozy & Molk.;Agrostis canina L.; Drepanocladus fluitans (Hedw.) Warnst.) often occurs in dense stands in nitrogen-enriched, acid waters. Both groups have typical adaptations to the nitrogen condition of their aquatic environment. The soft-water species show a nitrate-dominated (63–73%) nitrogen utilization, with the roots as the major (83%) uptake site. Moreover, they are able to survive at very low nitrogen concentrations. The acid-tolerant species have an ammonium-dominated (85–90%) nitrogen utilization, with the leaves as the major (71–82%) uptake site. This group profits from the increased ammonium levels in acid waters. It is concluded that in the case of acidification increased ammonium concentrations additionally account for the suppression of typical soft-water communities by communities dominated by Juncus bulbosus and Sphagnum spp.
Special Section: Structure and Complexity in Sociotechnical Systems

(2009). Special Section: Structure and Complexity in Sociotechnical Systems. Journal of Management Information Systems: Vol. 26, No. 1, pp. 13-16.
Postpartum translabial 2D and 3D ultrasound measurements of the anal sphincter complex in primiparous women delivering by vaginal birth versus Cesarean delivery

Introduction and hypothesis Consensus on normal translabial ultrasound (TL-US) anal sphincter complex measurements for postpartum women is lacking. We aimed to evaluate normative measurements in 2D and 3D TL-US for the anal sphincter complex (ASC) at 6 months postpartum and compare these measurements in women who had a vaginal birth (VB) and in those who had a Cesarean delivery (CD).
The emergence of a digital cinema

Paradigmatic change is driving aesthetic change in cinema. This restructuring is not only transforming what is on the screen, but the means of production that put it there. The interplay of technology and culture, along with their dynamics has made this so. Marshall McLuhan's Laws of Media provide an effective lens with which to examine this change. Some preliminary observations on the shape of digital cinema are offered. However to paraphrase Al Jolson, you ain't seen nothin' yet.
Anatomic basis of sequence-dependent predictability exhibited by nigral dopamine neuron firing patterns.

Interspike intervals (ISIs) of dopamine (DA) neurons recorded in the substantia nigra are predicted partially by their immediate prior history. This study was designed to assess neuroanatomic origins of these sequential relationships. ISI data recorded from three groups of nigral DA neurons were studied: 1) 16 neurons recorded in unlesioned animals, 2) 14 neurons recorded after forebrain hemisection, 3) 12 neurons recorded after partial forebrain hemisection that reproduced nonspecific effects of the surgical lesion while leaving forebrain connections intact. As predicted, DA neurons recorded after full forebrain hemisection yielded statistically significant reductions in sequential predictability relative to control neurons and neurons recorded following partial hemisection. These data support the hypothesis that the sequence-dependent behavior of DA neurons arise in part from interactions with forebrain structures. ISI sequences recorded from unlesioned rats demonstrated maximum predictability when an average of 3.7 prior events were incorporated into the forecasting algorithm, thereby suggesting a physiological process whose “depth” of history-dependence is approximately 600–800 msec. Additional studies examining the functional significance of sequence-dependent ISI structure exhibited by nigral DA neurons are indicated. Synapse 39:133–138, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
ATP synthesis during low-flow ischemia: influence of increased glycolytic substrate.

Background—Our goals were to (1) simulate the degree of low-flow ischemia and mixed anaerobic and aerobic metabolism of an acutely infarcting region; (2) define changes in anaerobic glycolysis, oxidative phosphorylation, and the creatine kinase (CK) reaction velocity; and (3) determine whether and how increased glycolytic substrate alters the energetic profile, function, and recovery of the ischemic myocardium in the isolated blood-perfused rat heart. Methods and Results—Hearts had 60 minutes of low-flow ischemia (10% of baseline coronary flow) and 30 minutes of reperfusion with either control or high glucose and insulin (G+I) as substrate. In controls, during ischemia, rate-pressure product and oxygen consumption decreased by 84%. CK velocity decreased by 64%; ATP and phosphocreatine (PCr) concentrations decreased by 51% and 63%, respectively; inorganic phosphate (Pi) concentration increased by 300%; and free [ADP] did not increase. During ischemia, relative to controls, the G+I group had similar CK velo...
Single Molecule DNA Stretching Studies of DNA Intercalation

Many proteins and ligands bind double stranded (ds) DNA by inserting their hydrophobic residues in between the DNA bases, either partially or completely, thereby locally elongating, bending and unwinding the dsDNA. This intercalative binding mode is typical of many proteins that control transcription by locally deforming the dsDNA, such as HMG-type proteins or TATA box binding proteins. Also intercalative binding is typical of many small aromatic molecules that are used either as the research tool for dsDNA imaging (EtBr or Yo-Yo), or as anticancer drugs (ActinomysinD or Ruthenium "threading" intercalators). Conventional approaches to the study of intercalative binding are often limited as many of these molecules also have the non-intercalative binding modes, may cause DNA aggregation, intercalate weakly, or too slowly. Recently the single molecule stretching of polymeric dsDNA with Optical Tweezers in the presence of several intercalating molecules was employed to characterize their equilibrium dissociation constant, DNA elongation and the binding site size. In this theoretical work we discuss how the complete stretching curves of the DNA-intercalator complexes can be used to study the proteins with weak intercalative ability and slow binding kinetics, the effect of intercalators on the dsDNA duplex stability, flexibility and elasticity. In some cases, even the protein-induced dsDNA bending angle and elongation can be quantified based on the intercalator - dsDNA titrations coupled to DNA stretching. This approach also offers a new way to study the contributions of individual intercalating and non-intercalating groups of the protein to its DNA intercalative ability. For some proteins, such as nucleocapsid proteins of retroviruses, discovery of their intercalative nature by DNA stretching may suggest their novel physiological roles.
Continuous mapping of distributed snow depth for mobility models using shaped solutions

Abstract High-resolution ground vehicle mobility models are used by the U.S. Army to investigate new vehicle concepts, conduct force-on-force simulations, and–in the future–support terrain analysis for battle planning. Use of these models in winter conditions requires a method to realistically represent the distribution of snow depth and density over a landscape. The objective of this work was to develop a method to use a recently identified pinched-cone-shaped solution domain to map snow properties. The method was developed with stringent computational and data storage efficiency requirements in mind and is demonstrated by mapping snow depth on the Ethan Allen Firing Range in northern Vermont, USA. The pinched-cone-shaped plots in a cylindrical coordinate system r = F ( θ , z ) where the no-slope snow depth is taken as the vertex (0,0), the radii ( r ) represent the snow depth relative to the no-slope case, and r is a function of azimuth ( θ ) and terrain slope ( z ). The pinched-cone equation uses a circular function with one or two coefficients that describe the slope-azimuth-dependent expansion of the pinched cone as snow depth differentiation increases with increased terrain slope. Equations that relate the expansion coefficients and no-slope snow depth to elevation then permit continuous mapping of snow depth with respect to terrain slope, azimuth, and elevation. The mapping is applied within five forest categories (open, sparse, deciduous, mixed, and conifer). The influence of snow depth and terrain slope on vehicle speed predictions is illustrated.
An important update at the molecular level

In a discussion about the general principles of human diseases, Lewis Thomas emphasizes that ‘…it is necessary to know a great deal about underlying mechanisms before one can really act effectively…’ [1]. The third edition of Molecular Endocrinology, through its wealth of cellular and molecular concepts, serves as an invaluable resource for helping researchers and clinicians build a solid knowledge foundation of these underlying mechanisms.
Source phase shift: A new phenomenon in wave propagation due to anelasticity

The free oscillations of an anelastic earth model due to earthquakes were calculated directly by means of the correspondence principle from wave propagation theory. The formulation made it possible to find the source phase which is not predictable using first order perturbation theory. The predicted source phase was largest for toroidal modes with source components proportional to the radial strain scalar instead of the radial displacement scalar. The source phase increased in relation to the overtone number. In addition, large relative differences were found in the excitation modulus and the phase when the elastic excitation was small. The effect was sufficient to bias estimates of source properties and elastic structure.
Imaging of phase-space evolution of trapped atoms

Experimental results on phase-space imaging of a laser- cooled atomic cloud are presented. Both position and velocity information are encoded in the frequency of the signal coherently radiated from the cloud. This encoding is achieved by application of a position-dependent magnetic field. Fourier transformation of the signal yields a projection of the phase-space density of the atoms. Imprinting a structure on the cloud we observe its time `sheering' evolution in the phase-space. Since the projection direction is determined by the imposed field gradient, we can reconstruct the phase-space structure of the cloud.
Decentralization of breast cancer surgery in the United States

BACKGROUND Physician volume of at least 15–30 annual breast cancer operations has been associated with higher 5-year survival rates. The authors sought to determine whether surgical volumes for breast cancer in the United States frequently reach this threshold. METHODS The authors conducted a retrospective cohort study of 987 surgeons who operated on 8105 Medicare patients with breast cancer during 1994–1995 in 6 areas in the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results tumor registry. The 2-year physician volume of breast cancer operations was estimated among Medicare patients (approximating the on-average annual volumes for patients of all ages) and its association was examined with physician characteristics and with 3 measures of surgical care. RESULTS The median 2-year Medicare volume for breast cancer surgeons was 6, and 79% of physicians performed ≤ 12 operations. Approximately 50% of patients were cared for by physicians who performed ≤ 12 operations over 2 years, and 10% of patients were cared for by physicians who performed ≥ 30 operations. Surgeon characteristics of age, female gender, general surgery board certification, and academic affiliation were associated with modestly higher volumes of breast cancer surgery. Higher surgeon volumes were associated with higher patient receipt of breast-conserving surgery, testing for hormone receptors, and lymph node dissection during mastectomy. CONCLUSIONS Most physicians who perform breast cancer surgery perform few annual operations in Medicare patients, and lower volumes are associated with differences in surgical processes of care. Because patients in the Medicare age group comprise almost 50% of all incident breast cancer cases, surgical volumes for patients of all ages also are likely to be low. It is likely that only approximately 10% of patients in the United States are treated by surgeons who performing at least 30 annual operations. Cancer 2004. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
Oceanographic distributions of cadmium, zinc, nickel, and copper in the North Pacific

Abstract Vertical profiles of Cd, Zn, Ni, and Cu have been determined at three stations in the North Pacific and in the surface waters on a transect from Hawaii to Monterey, California. The distributions found are oceanographically consistent and provide a needed confirmation and extension of several recent studies on the marine geochemistries of these metals. Cadmium concentrations average 1.4 pmol/kg in surface waters of the central North Pacific and show a strong correlation with the labile nutrients, phosphate and nitrate, increasing to values of 1.1 nmol/kg at depths corresponding to the phosphate maximum. Zinc is depleted in surface waters of the central gyre to an average value of 0.07 nmol/kg and increases to a deep maximum of 9 nmol/kg exhibiting a strong correlation with the nutrient silicate. Nickel concentrations average 2.1 nmol/kg in surface central gyre waters and increase to a deep maximum of 11 nmol/kg. Nickel is best correlated with a combination of phosphate and silicate. Copper averages less than 0.5 nmol/kg in surface waters of the central North Pacific and increases gradually to values of 5 nmol/kg in bottom waters. The Cu profiles show evidence of intermediate and deep water scavenging. The involvement of these metals in the internal biogeochemical cycles of the sea is responsible for their distributions which are predictable on the basis of oceanographic parameters.
A comparison of intermittent and continuous arrest for prolonged hypothermic cardioplegia.

Abstract A study was carried out to evaluate the best method of myocardial preservation in the pig-heart model. Two techniques for employing hypothermic potassium cardioplegia during prolonged ischemic arrest were compared. One entailed three one-hour periods of arrest interrupted with 30-minute intervals of reperfusion (intermittent arrest), and the other involved a single period of continuous hypothermic cardioplegic arrest (continuous arrest) of three hours' duration. In order to evaluate intermittent versus continuous cardioplegic arrest, prearrest and postarrest contractility, compliance, myocardial perfusion, and left ventricular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and creatine phosphate (CP) levels were compared in 28 animals. The results show significant deterioration in myocardial contractility and compliance following three-hour cardioplegic arrest whether the arrest was intermittent or continuous. However, there were significant differences between the two groups studied. The animal having continuous arrest had less functional impairment than the animal having intermittent arrest. Myocardial perfusion 30 minutes following continuous arrest returned to prearrest levels whereas there was significant depression in perfusion in the group with intermittent arrest. This represented severe coronary vasoconstriction. The ATP level after completion of arrest is significantly higher in the group having continuous arrest and remains higher throughout the final reperfusion period. On the basis of these studies, it is thought that intermittent reperfusion may lead to a reperfusion injury, which is primarily reflected in decreased perfusion, contractility, and compliance. While hypothermic potassium cardioplegia does not optimally protect the myocardium during prolonged (three hour) ischemic arrest, the alternative of intermittent arrest provides poorer myocardial preservation.
Stable isotopes, ecological integration and environmental change: wolves record atmospheric carbon isotope trend better than tree rings

Large-scale patterns of isotope ratios are detectable in the tissues of organisms, but the variability in these patterns often obscures detection of environmental trends. We show that plants and animals at lower trophic levels are relatively poor indicators of the temporal trend in atmospheric carbon isotope ratios (d 13 C) when compared with animals at higher trophic levels. First, we tested how differences in atmospheric d 13 C values were transferred across three trophic levels. Second, we compared contemporary d 13 C trends (1961–2004) in atmospheric CO2 to d 13 C patterns in a tree species (jack pine, Pinus banksiana), large herbivore (moose, Alces alces) and large carnivore (grey wolf, Canis lupus) from North America. Third, we compared palaeontological (approx. 30 000 to 12 000 14 C years before present) atmospheric CO2 trends to d 13 C patterns in a tree species (Pinus flexilis, Juniperus sp.), a megaherbivore (bison, Bison antiquus) and a large carnivore (dire wolf, Canis dirus) from the La Brea tar pits (southern California, USA) and Great Basin (western USA). Contrary to previous expectations, we found that the environmental isotope pattern is better represented with increasing trophic level. Our results indicate that museum specimens of large carnivores would best reflect large-scale spatial and temporal patterns of carbon isotopes in the palaeontological record because top predators can act as ecological integrators of environmental change.
Fixed-dose combination and single active ingredient drugs: a comparative cost analysis.

Background: Fixed-dose combination (FDC) drugs are formulations of two or more active ingredients. Objectives: To assess the pricing structure and price difference of all US FDA-approved FDCs and single drugs included in the combination. Methods: Data were collected from the FDA Orange Book and Drugs@FDA. Average Wholesale Price (AWP) unit price data were derived from The Red Book. Results: The FDA approved 117 FDC. The average AWP difference percentage between the FDC and the sum of the single drugs in the FDC is 84.9 ± 26.2%, and varied by therapeutic class (p < 0.001). The FDC AWP averaged 83.3 ± 23.4% of the single drug AWP sum when there are no generics, and 95.1 ± 42.3% (p < 0.01) when there are two generic single active ingredients in the FDC. Conclusions: The price difference between FDC and single active ingredients in the combination is correlated with the therapeutic class, the year of FDC approval, and the number of single ingredients in the combination that have generics.
Studies on the evolution of multiple somatosensory representations in primates: the organization of anterior parietal cortex in the New World Callitrichid, Saguinus.

Because members of the New World family, Callitrichidae, are generally regarded as the most primitive of monkeys, we studied the organization of somatosensory cortex in the tamarin (Saguinus) in hopes of better understanding differences in the organization of anterior parietal cortex in primates and how these differences relate to phylogeny. In most prosimian primates only one complete representation of cutaneous receptors has been found in the region of primary cortex, S-I, while in all Old and New World monkeys studied to date, two cutaneous representations exist in distinct architectonic fields, areas 3b and 1. In detailed microelectrode mapping studies in anesthetized tamarins, only one complete representation responsive to low-threshold cutaneous stimulation was evident in the S-I region. This topographic representation was in a parietal koniocortical field that architectonically resembles area 3b of other monkeys, and the general somatotopic organization of the field was similar to that of area 3b of other monkeys. Cortex rostral to the single representation was generally unresponsive to somatosensory stimuli, or required more intense stimulation for neural activation. Cortex caudal to the representation, in the region of area 1 of other monkeys, was generally either unresponsive or responded to only high-threshold stimulation, although some recording sites were activated by low-threshold tactile stimulation. The present evidence, together with that from previous studies, suggests that the single, complete body surface representation in Saguinus is homologous to the S-I representation found in some prosimians (Galago, Perodicticus) and the area 3b cutaneous representation found in New World Cebidae (Aotus, Saimiri, and Cebus) and Old World Macaca. Cortex rostral to S-I in Saguinus has the appearance of areas 3a and 4 of other primates. The cortex caudal to S-I in Saguinus, while resembling area 1 in some ways, does not have all of the features of area 1 of other monkeys. In particular, the field was not easily activated by low-threshold cutaneous stimuli, as area 1 is in other monkeys, and therefore a second cutaneous representation of all body parts was not demonstrated. Thus, cortex in the expected location of area 1 of Saguinus was not as responsive as area 1 of other monkeys, and it somewhat resembled the high-threshold fringe zones found caudal to S-I in anesthetized prosimians and some nonprimates. The results raise the possibility that the area 1 cutaneous representation that is characteristic of other New World monkeys and Old World monkeys evolved from a less responsive precursor along the caudal border of S-I in early monkeys.
A vida abundante: a teologia da prosperidade na América Latina

A Igreja Universal do Reino de Deus (IURD) e uma das denominacoes que crescem mais rapidamente no inicio do seculo XXI. Tal como a maioria das megaigrejas que crescem dessa forma, a IURD e pentecostal em suas crencas e praticas e inovadora em sua liturgia, utilizando musica de louvor contemporânea, culto de adoracao altamente participativo, incorporando agressivamente tecnicas de marketing modernas na evangelizacao. E uma variacao moderna do pentecostalismo, enfatizando a transformacao miraculosa da vida, em termos de corpo, espirito, estilo de vida e padroes de consumo (teologia da prosperidade). A IURD dirige-se aos desejos e necessidades materiais das pessoas que vivem em um mundo onde o sucesso e medido quase que exclusivamente pela riqueza e pelo consumo, onde o pecado e a graca sao definidos, respectivamente, pela pobreza e pela fortuna. Esse texto explorara as raizes norte-americanas da teologia da prosperidade e examinara sua expansao por meio da IURD e de outras igrejas do “evangelho da riqueza e da saude”. O texto sugere que a popularidade atual da teologia da prosperidade e uma resposta parcial aos desafios de politicas economicas neoliberais e das pressoes da economia global.
Design Configurations for Very High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor Designed to Generate Electricity and Hydrogen

The High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor is being envisioned that will generate not just electricity, but also hydrogen to charge up fuel cells for cars, trucks and other mobile energy uses. INL engineers studied various heat-transfer working fluids—including helium and liquid salts—in seven different configurations. In computer simulations, serial configurations diverted some energy from the heated fluid flowing to the electric plant and hydrogen production plant. In anticipation of the design, development and procurement of an advanced power conversion system for HTGR, this study was initiated to identify the major design and technology options and their tradeoffs in the evaluation of power conversion system (PCS) coupled to hydrogen plant. In this study, we investigated a number of design configurations and performed thermal hydraulic analyses using various working fluids and various conditions (Oh, 2005). This paper includes a portion of thermal hydraulic results based on a direct cycle and a parallel intermediate heat exchanger (IHX) configuration option.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Well-posedness of a model order reduction for singularly perturbed linear stochastic systems

An order reduction problem for the state estimation of singularly perturbed linear systems is shown to be a well-posed problem, whereas the corresponding order reduction control problem is ill-posed. This observation plays an important role in the concept of multimodeling and in the slow—fast decomposition control problem for singularly perturbed linear stochastic systems.
Scarification and branding

Scarification is the deliberate cutting of skin, removal of skin, abrasion to skin, branding of skin, use of chemicals on skin, or use of a cauterization tool on skin with the intention of creating a scar. Clear evidence for scarification dates back to 3300 bce. Practices of scarification have varied throughout time. Beauty, ritual, eroticism, and therapy are common reasons for scarification practices. The practice has largely been positive in traditional cultures throughout Africa, South America, and Papua, New Guinea. In Europe and North America, the gay and lesbian sadomasochist and modern primitive cultures have innovated on scarring methods. In doing so, they have created cutting and branding practices that result in art, personal expression, and ritual. Keywords: body modification; branding; LGBT ; sadomasochism; scarification
DO THE STEREOTYPES FIT? MAPPING GENDER‐SPECIFIC OUTCOMES AND RISK FACTORS*

It has generally been accepted that boys and girls differ in their behavioral and emotional responses to stressful family events. These gender differences could be due to either different family risk factors affecting boys and girls or to boys coping differently in response to the same negative family events. These two alternative hypotheses form the basis of our analysis. Specifically, using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY), we assess whether and how (1) marital discord, (2) marital stability and change, (3) harsh discipline, and (4) maternal deviance impact three different outcomes for males and females: delinquency, alcohol use, and depression. Multivariate analyses reveal that, although females generally display more vulnerabilities to specific dimensions of family life than males, the responses to these risk factors are not constrained to gender-stereotypic outcomes.
Inhibition is not required for the production of transient spiking responses from retinal ganglion cells.

Ganglion cells responding only transiently to changes in illumination are found in many different vertebrate retinas. The interactions underlying formation of these transient responses are still poorly understood. Two recently proposed hypotheses are (1) functional inhibitory pathways are necessary for transient response production, and (2) direct inhibition of the ganglion cell has little effect on its output. Here, we examine these conclusions by using cell-attached patch-clamp recordings of spiking, whole-cell recordings of synaptic currents, and computer modeling. We found that picrotoxin (a GABA A and GABA C receptor antagonist), bicuculline (a GABA A receptor antagonist), and strychnine (a glycine receptor antagonist), applied either singly or in combination, always failed to convert transient responses to sustained responses. Application of the GABA B antagonist CGP35348 in the presence of picrotoxin and strychnine also failed to convert transient responses into sustained responses. Whole-cell recordings of synaptic currents at various holding potentials indicated that direct inhibitory inputs to ganglion cells limit the duration of net excitation, implying that direct inhibition does act to truncate the ganglion cell spiking response. Computer simulations using spiking and synaptic data from combined cell-attached and whole-cell recordings supported this interpretation. We conclude that inhibitory pathways are not required for generation of transient responses, but these pathways do serve to modulate transient ganglion cell spiking responses. We find that this modulation occurs, in part, via inhibitory inputs directly to the ganglion cell.
The Finescale Response of Lowered ADCP Velocity Profiles

Lowered acoustic Doppler current profiler (LADCP) velocity profiles are compared with simultaneous higherresolution expendable current profiler (XCP) profiles to determine the lowered ADCP’s response at short wavelengths. Although lowered ADCP spectra are attenuated in comparison to XCP spectra for vertical wavelengths as large as 150 m, the signals are coherent for wavelengths between 50 and 1200 m. A model spectral transfer function based on the expected response for the lowered ADCP reproduces the observed attenuation. Spectrally corrected LADCP data can be used to infer turbulent eddy diffusivities to within a factor of 3‐4 using a finescale parameterization.
Rheumatoid arthritis disease measurement: a new old idea

In many medical treatment areas, the use of treatment targets has led to improved outcomes, including a reduction in end-organ damage. In rheumatology, appropriate targets appear elusive, although preventing joint damage, minimizing disability and improving mortality are end results on which most clinicians would agree. Sophisticated measures of disease activity, particularly in early disease, have only recently been objectively evaluated. Swollen joint count, tender joint count, acute-phase reactants, citrullinated antibody titres (ACPAs), patient and physician assessment of disease activity, radiographs and other imaging modalities such as US and MRI may all be appropriate to measure. A number of composite measures have been proposed as possible or practical methods for defining RA disease activity. Some require testing of acute-phase reactants, but several do not. ACR20/50/70 scores are useful for measuring change from visit to visit, while others (DAS28, HAQ, Simplified Disease Activity Index, Clinical Disease Activity Index and Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data) assess disease activity at a single point. Disease measures have now been used in myriad clinical trials and studies. The FIN-RACo, TICORA, CAMERA and BeSt trials employed measures of disease activity at predetermined points to guide treatment decisions. These trials supported the consistent use of objective measures to derive significant benefits from treat-to-target strategies. The concept that objective measures can guide aggressive treatment to reach a defined optimal end point or target is a strategy that rheumatologists hopefully might now agree is critically important.
Periadolescent Mice Show Enhanced ΔFosB Upregulation in Response to Cocaine and Amphetamine

Children and adolescents are increasingly exposed to psychostimulants, either illicitly or for the treatment of common neuropsychiatric conditions, such as attention deficit disorder with and without hyperactivity. Despite the widespread use of psychomotor stimulants in younger age groups, little is known regarding the chronic molecular neuroadaptive responses to these agents in the immature brain. Here we demonstrate that, after chronic administration of the psychostimulants cocaine and amphetamine, the transcription factor ΔFosB is upregulated in the nucleus accumbens of periadolescent mice but not in post-weanling or adult mice. Induction of ΔFosB also occurs exclusively in the caudate putamen of periadolescent mice after amphetamine administration. These results demonstrate the unique plasticity in the adolescent brain of a critical molecule that regulates psychostimulant action and suggest that these neuroadaptive changes may be involved in the mediation of enhanced addictive tendencies in the adolescent relative to the adult.
Time Series Mining Approach for Noninvasive Intracranial Pressure Assessment: An Investigation of Different Regularization Techniques

A data mining framework has been proposed to estimate intracranial pressure (ICP) non-invasively in our previous work. In the corresponding approach, the feature vector extracted from arterial blood pressure (ABP) and flow velocity (FV) is translated to the estimated errors by the mapping function for each entry in the database. In this paper, three different mapping function solutions, linear least squares (LLS), truncated singular value decomposition (TSVD) and standard Tikhonov regularization (STR) are systemically tested to compare the possible effects of different solutions on the non-invasive ICP estimation. The conducted comparison demonstrated that the selection of mapping function solution actually influences the estimation. Among the tested three solutions for mapping function, TSVD and STR show better ICP estimation performance with smaller ICP errors than LLS.
Digital Class E Power Amplifier for The RF Band

The paper describes a digital approach to adjust (in controlled fashion) the output power of an RF circuit using 0.5 mum digital CMOS technology. This circuit would serve as power driver that minimizes the wasted power and maximizes the delivered power to the load. The power amplifier consists of an array of parallel NMOS transistors connected to an (all-onchip) modified class E power amplifier. The overall circuit functions as a direct digital to RF filtered amplitude converter. The results show that the maximum output power achieved is 8 dBm using a 3V power supply and occupying 0.18mum2
Serum leptin concentrations and satiety in Parkinson's disease patients with and without weight loss

We compared serum leptin and satiety measures in 18 Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with unintended weight loss (WL) and 18 PD patients whose weight was stable (WS). Mean serum leptin concentrations tended to be lower in WL than WS patients, but this did not reach statistical significance. Body mass index correlated with serum leptin concentrations. Ratings of hunger, satiety, fullness, and thirst did not differ between groups. However, the mean sensation of fullness before meals correlated with serum leptin in the entire cohort of patients, particularly in the WL group. The results indicate that unintended weight loss in PD patients is unlikely to be due to abnormal serum leptin concentrations.