cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vascular Inflammatory Cells in Hypertension

Hypertension is a common disorder with uncertain etiology. In the last several years, it has become evident that components of both the innate and adaptive immune system play an essential role in hypertension. Macrophages and T cells accumulate in the perivascular fat, the heart and the kidney of hypertensive patients, and in animals with experimental hypertension. Various immunosuppressive agents lower blood pressure and prevent end-organ damage. Mice lacking lymphocytes are protected against hypertension, and adoptive transfer of T cells, but not B cells in the animals restores their blood pressure response to stimuli such as angiotensin II or high salt. Recent studies have shown that mice lacking macrophages have blunted hypertension in response to angiotensin II and that genetic deletion of macrophages markedly reduces experimental hypertension. Dendritic cells have also been implicated in this disease. Many hypertensive stimuli have triggering effects on the central nervous system and signals arising from the circumventricular organ seem to promote inflammation. Studies have suggested that central signals activate macrophages and T cells, which home to the kidney and vasculature and release cytokines, including IL-6 and IL-17, which in turn cause renal and vascular dysfunction and lead to blood pressure elevation. These recent discoveries provide a new understanding of hypertension and provide novel therapeutic opportunities for treatment of this serious disease.
Interrelationship between diabetes and periodontitis: Role of hyperlipidemia

Diabetes mellitus and periodontitis are both common, chronic diseases. It is generally accepted that the inter-relationship between diabetes mellitus and periodontitis is a two-way relationship, i.e. the presence of one condition tends to increases the risk and severity of the other, and vice versa. Mechanisms for this two-way relationship are largely unknown. Hyperlipidemia is a group of disorders characterized by an excess of lipids in the bloodstream. Hyperlipidemia increases the risk of diabetes and peridontitis. On the other hand, diabetes and periodontitis could result in hyperlipidemia. The purposes of this review were: (1) examine the two-way relationship between diabetes mellitus and periodontitis; (2) discuss the potential synergistic interactions of hyperlipidemia to both diabetes mellitus and periodontitis; and (3) explore the mechanisms through which hyperlipidemia affects the development of both diseases. The effects of hyperlipidemia on insulin secretion and pro-inflammatory cytokines production (TNF-α, IL-1β) play an important role on the pathogenesis of diabetes and periodontitis. A model is proposed suggesting the important role of hyperlipidemia in the two-way relationship between diabetes and periodontitis. As our understanding of the inter-relationship expands between hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and periodontitis, therapeutic strategies aimed at limiting hyperlipidemia should be advocated for the clinical management of diabetes and periodontitis.
Transgender Transitions: Sex/Gender Binaries in the Digital Age

In Chaps. 4 and 5 we examined the rhetoric used to define and describe lesbians and gay men in digital media and how the rhetoric perpetuated by the capitalist culture reinscribes way of being for these identities that hinge on stereotypical sexual performance and gender identity. Ultimately, these lesbian/gay digital identities depend on product consumption as a way of assimilating to a heteronormative ideal. In this chapter, we see this phenomenon playing out even more dramatically within the trans community, consumption, focusing not only on products, but permanent and—many would argue—dangerous body modifications. Instead of defying sex/gender/sexuality systems, today’s transqueers often police these systems with body modification and rhetoric that reflect strident masculine or feminine gender mandates. Due to the severity of the gender/sex binaries, transqueer individuals are caught in a web of surgeries and hormones in order to convince others and themselves that they have “corrected” or “realigned” their sex with their gender. Television, film, Internet communities, and websites teach us that trans people need to modify and then unveil their bodies for scrutiny, “proving” to themselves and their audience that their sex/gender align with static binaries.
Neural networks based concrete airfield pavement layer moduli backcalculation

The Heavy Weight Deflectometer (HWD) is a Non-Destructive Test (NDT) equipment used to assess the structural condition of airfield pavement systems. This paper presents an Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) based approach for non-destructively estimating the stiffness properties of rigid airfield pavements subjected to full-scale dynamic traffic testing using simulated new generation aircraft gears. HWD tests were routinely conducted on three Portland Cement Concrete (PCC) test items at the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) National Airport Pavement Test Facility (NAPTF) to verify the uniformity of the test pavement structures and to measure pavement responses during full-scale traffic testing. Substantial corner cracking occurred in all three of the rigid pavement test items after 28 passes of traffic had been completed. Trafficking continued until the rigid items were deemed failed. The study findings illustrate the potential of ANN-based models for routine and real-time structural evaluation of rig...
Designing clinical trials to address the needs of childhood and adult asthma: The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's AsthmaNet

In 2008, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute announced its intent to support a new asthma network known as AsthmaNet. This clinical trials consortium, now in its fifth year, has been charged with developing and executing clinical trials to address the most important asthma management questions and identify new treatment approaches in pediatric and adult patients. This review will discuss the organization of AsthmaNet and the scientific context in which the network was developed and began its work, report the results of an internal priority-setting exercise designed to guide the network's scientific strategy, and highlight the portfolio of clinical trials, proof-of-concept studies, and mechanistic studies planned for the 7-year period of the network to update the global asthma community regarding the progress and processes of the network.
Physiologic Evaluation of Angina Pectoris

Electrocardiographic and ballistocardiographic observations have been the only objective methods easily available for assessment of the state of the coronary circulation. As has been pointed out, however, these methods give only indirect information concerning the hemodynamic status and functional adequacy of the coronary circulation. The extensive pathologic studies of the coronary arteries in angina pectoris”2 have demonstrated that these vessels seldom show a single vascular disturbance, but more often, demonstrate diffuse involvement of the entire coronary vascular tree leading to increased large vessel resistance to blood flow. Physiological principles have been applied to the understanding of other cardiac problems, particularly valvular, congenital and constrictive heart disease and congestive heart failure. They have led to the development of objective hemodynamic methods of evaluation which would appear to be of value for the coronary circulation as well. We have attempted such an approach. Our findings are based on a correlative clinical, electrocardiographic and cardiac catheterization study of 43 patients. Coronary sinus catheterization was performed and coronary blood flow measured by the nitrous oxide technique’ as modified by Goodale and Hackel.4 Diastolic coronary vascular resistance was calculated.5 The group of 43 patients was subdivided as follows: Group 1 was the normal group, composed of 10 patients with negative histories, physical examinations and resting and post-exercise electrocardiograms. Group 2 was the abnormal group, composed of 23 patIents with typical angina pectoris and positive electrocardiographic examinations. Group 3 was designated the unknown group, composed of 10 patients, all of whom complained of atypical chest pain, and In whom the resting and exercise electrocardiograms were negative or equivocal. Three of these patients had left ventricular hypertrophy secondary to aortlc valve disease. The open columns in Figure 1 summarize the results of resting studies performed in normals, in patients with coronary artery disease and in those with increased left ventricular work. Coronary flow was essentially the same in all three groups; in the coronary group it was actually 19 per cent above normal. Diastolic coronary vascular resistance, which encompasses coronary inflow time as well as perfusion pressure, is perhaps the most useful index of the cross-sectional area of the coronary vascular bed. Again, no difference was found among these groups. In a recent report evaluating internal mammary ligation for angina pectoris, nitrous oxide flows were performed at rest. The authors found no difference in values before and after ligation, and therefore, concluded
Preceptor Development: Providing Effective Feedback, Part 2:

An integral part of providing effective feedback to pharmacy residents occurs during the evaluation process. Residency evaluation involves measuring and documenting performance as it relates to standardized residency outcomes, goals, and learning objectives. Evaluations may be formative or summative and include the preceptor's evaluation of the resident's performance, the resident's self-assessments, and the resident's evaluation of the preceptor and learning experience. Evaluations are more structured than feedback, and they involve documentation of the verbal feedback that was provided throughout the learning experience. This article will focus on the preceptor's role in providing effective resident evaluations based on specific learning activities.
Designing, Teaching, and Evaluating Two Complementary Mixed Methods Research Courses.

Teaching mixed methods research is difficult. This longitudinal explanatory study examined how two classes were designed, taught, and evaluated. Curriculum, Research, and Teaching (EDCS-606) and Mixed Methods Research (EDCS-780) used a research proposal generation process to highlight the importance of the purpose, research question and methodology relationship following eight interactive features: (a) problem/focus of the study; (b) intended audience; (c) the role of the researcher; (d) theory, (e) exploratory, explanatory, confirmatory, and/or critical design; (f) how the project is ‘‘bound’’; (g) sampling; and (h) validity/ credibility issues. Advanced organizers and concept maps were included in the introductory and advanced research classes to support students. Analysis of the case studies revealed the curricula and strategies markedly improved student dissertation and thesis proposals.
Prospective trial with optical molecular imaging for percutaneous interventions in focal hepatic lesions

Optical molecular imaging is a safe, accurate adjunctive imaging modality that can be performed during percutaneous hepatic interventions with existing clinical equipment and with minimal added procedure time.
On the validity of boundary layer analysis for flow and mass transfer caused by rotation during the solution growth of large, single crystals

The rate of growth of single crystals from liquid solutions depends on coupled kinetic and transport phenomena. However, when continuum transport is limiting, the maximum crystal growth rate is determined by the rate of solute transport through the liquid phase to the growing crystal. We examine the validity of simple scaling and boundary layer theories to assess the behavior of a model solution crystal growth system, namely the growth of potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) from high-temperature solutions. The approximation of the transport to a crystal rotating steadily in a supersaturated solution is based on the classical analytical solution for flow driven by a semi-infinite rotating disk and associated mass transfer. Our results indicate that this boundary layer analysis is reasonable as long as the solution container is very large, the geometry of the system is nearly axisymmetric, and the imposed flows are predominantly steady. For many practical systems, these conditions do not hold and such boundary layer analyses are expected to be in considerable error.
A Protocol for Efficient Tunable Laser Utilization to Support Incremental Upgrade in a WDM-PON

We present a novel protocol to achieve better utilization of tunable lasers across different user groups in a WDM-PON. We demonstrate the protocol's advantage to support incremental upgrade of bandwidth with increasing user bandwidth request.
Coxsackievirus B4 infection of spinal sympathetic ganglion.

Coxsackievirus B4 infection of a spinal sympathetic ganglion of a squirrel monkey is described. Chromatolysis and neuronophagia were extensive. It is suggested that such viral sympathetic ganglial infections may be responsible for dysfunction of organ systems.
Bantu Authorities and Betterment in Natal: The Ambiguous Responses of Chiefs and Regents, 1955–1970

While the Maphumulo and Nyavu chiefs, regents, and izinduna at Table Mountain (Pietermaritzburg, Natal) agreed to establish bantu authorities in early 1955, well before many other KwaZulu/Natal chiefdoms, they and their successors did little thereafter to suggest continued support for the apartheid system of African administration. Examining the actions of these apartheid-era traditional leaders requires avoiding depictions of chiefs as resisting or not resisting, with what Frederick Cooper called the capital ‘R’. Exactly what is or is not being resisted must be clear. Apartheid needs to be unpacked, as does the chiefdoms' internal politics that influenced the actions of traditional leaders. Rural opposition to the bantu authorities system included battles against collaborative chiefs, against the traditional authority system itself, and in support of traditional authorities. At Table Mountain, the people attacked symbols of betterment and the bantu authorities system, making clear to their leaders that c...
Giant magneto-optic effects and the approach to the heavy-fermion state

Abstract Giant magneto-optic Kerr rotations occur in a number of cerium and uranium chalcogenides and pnictides. Some of these materials (e.g. CeTe, UTe) show distinct evidence of correlated-electron behavior, including incipient heavy- fermion behavior. The giant magneto-optic behavior originates in the coupling of light to the large partially itinerant orbital polarization present in these materials. The approach to the heavy-fermion state is characterized by a washout (broadening away) of what band theory would predict to be strong structure in the magneto-optic dispersion; and magneto-optic behavior appears to be a very sensitive probe of the approach to the heavy-fermion state.
Truncation of the bechhofer-kiefer-sobel sequential procedure for selecting the multinomial event which has the largest probability (ii): extended tables and an improved procedure

In an earlier article the authors studied the performance of a truncated version of a vector-at-a-time sequential sampling procedure proposed by Bechhofer, Kiefer and Sobel for selecting the multinomial event which has the largest probability. Among the performance characteristics studied for both the original (open) basic procedure (P*B:) and the truncated (closed) procedure (P*B:T:) were the achieved probability of a correct selection, and BT the expected number of vector-observations (n) to terminate sampling when the event probabilities are in the so-called least-favorable and equal-parameter configurations. These were compared with the same quantities for a competing (closed) procedure of Ramey and Alam (R-A). All three procedures guarantee the same requirement on the probability of a correct selection. The truncated procedure was shown to be greatly superior to the untruncated version both in terms of E{n} and Var{n}, and also to be superior to the R-A procedure.¶A limited set of truncation numbers ...
Fine-scale spatial patterns in the demersal fish and invertebrate community in a northwest Atlantic ecosystem

Abstract The abundance, biomass, diversity, and species composition of the demersal fish and invertebrate community in Rhode Island Sound and Block Island Sound, an area identified for offshore renewable energy development, were evaluated for spatial and seasonal structure. We conducted 58 otter trawls and 51 beam trawls in the spring, summer and fall of 2009–2012, and incorporated additional data from 88 otter trawls conducted by the Northeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program. We used regionally-grouped abundance, biomass, diversity, and size spectra to assess spatial patterns in the aggregate fish community, and hierarchical cluster analysis to evaluate trends in species assemblages. Our analyses revealed coherent gradients in fish community biomass, diversity and species composition extending from inshore to offshore waters, as well as patterns related to the differing bathymetry of Rhode Island and Block Island Sounds. The fish communities around Block Island and Cox's Ledge are particularly diverse, suggesting that the proximity of hard bottom habitat may be important in structuring fish communities in this area. Species assemblages in Rhode Island and Block Island Sounds are characterized by a combination of piscivores (silver hake, summer flounder, spiny dogfish), benthivores (American lobster, black sea bass, Leucoraja spp. skates, scup) and planktivores (sea scallop), and exhibit geographic patterns that are persistent from year to year, yet variable by season. Such distributions reflect the cross-shelf migration of fish and invertebrate species in the spring and fall, highlighting the importance of considering seasonal fish behavior when planning construction schedules for offshore development projects. The fine spatial scale (10 s of kms) of this research makes it especially valuable for local marine spatial planning efforts by identifying local-scale patterns in fish community structure that will enable future assessment of the ecological impacts of offshore development. As such, this knowledge of the spatial and temporal structure of the demersal fish community in Rhode Island and Block Island Sounds will help to guide the placement of offshore structures so as to preserve the ecological and economic value of the area.
Hospitalizations for Cardiovascular Disease in African Americans and Whites with HIV/AIDS

Abstract Therapeutic advances have resulted in an epidemiological shift in the predominant causes of hospitalization for patients with HIV/AIDS. An emerging cause for hospitalization in this patient population is cardiovascular disease (CVD); however, data are limited regarding how this shift affects different racial groups. The objective of this observational, retrospective study was to evaluate the association between race and hospitalization for CVD in African Americans and whites with HIV/AIDS and to compare the types of CVD-related hospitalizations between African Americans and whites with HIV/AIDS. Approximately 1.5 million hospital discharges from the US National Hospital Discharge Surveys for the years of 1996 to 2008 were identified. After controlling for potential confounders, the odds of CVD-related hospitalization in patients with HIV/AIDS were 45% higher for African Americans than whites (odds ratio [OR]=1.45, 95% CI, 1.39–1.51). Other covariates that were associated with increased odds of ho...
A new development and interpretation of the Navier–Stokes fluid which reveals why the “Stokes assumption” is inapt

Abstract In this short paper I present an alternate way of describing fluids in general, and the Navier–Stokes fluid in particular, from a phenomenological point of view, that shows clearly that the putative assumption conjectured by Stokes is not a reasonable assumption. I also show that the procedure presented here is more suited for incorporating constraints such as that of incompressibility, as well as having other advantages. The approach also helps to pinpoint several serious errors in the justifications that are provided in classical texts for the development of the Navier–Stokes model. Finally, from the point of view of the role that causality plays in Newtonian mechanics, the approach suggested is the preferable approach.
Next generation attack fighter conceptual design study

Abstract Current Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps fighter/attack aviation aircraft are 1970s-vintage designs which will reach the ends of their service lives in the early part of the next century. While the Air Force is developing the highly-advanced F-22, it cannot be used to replace all current assets, especially F-16’s, simply due to cost. A “low-end” complementary design is required, much as the F-16 was the “low” of a “high-low mix” with F-15’s. The Navy’s F-18 E/F will have improved characteristics compared to earlier versions, but it does not fully utilize newer technologies and specifically will not have the attainable levels of stealth and range-payload performance, nor will it offer next-generation STOVL capability for the Marines. RAND’s Project Air Force conducted research into the tradeoffs in requirements specification for a next-generation attack fighter during the period from 1993 to 1995. As a part of that, this author developed and analyzed a representative notional design concept for a Next-Generation Attack Fighter (NGAF), then conducting trade studies of range, performance, payload, and technologies, followed by study of alternative approaches to attaining tri-service capability.
Isoflurane inhibits bronchopulmonary C-fiber-mediated apneic response to phenylbiguanide by depressing 5-HT3 receptor function in anesthetized rats.

Abstract A previous study by the authors has shown that isoflurane (ISO), a commonly used volatile anesthetic, has an excitatory effect on bronchopulmonary C-fibers (PCFs). Since selective stimulation of PCFs by action on local 5-HT 3 receptors could evoke an apnea, this current study addresses whether inhalation of ISO would facilitate the PCF 5-HT 3 receptor-mediated apneic response and, if so, how. In anesthetized and spontaneously breathing rats, inhalation of 5% ISO markedly inhibited the apneic response to intra-atrium injection of phenylbiguanide (PBG, 25 μg/kg), a 5-HT 3 receptor agonist, which was contrary to the hypothesis. Extracellular recording of the nodose ganglion neurons in anesthetized, paralyzed and ventilated rats revealed that ISO attenuated the PBG-elicited excitation of pulmonary C neurons. Furthermore, using the patch clamp technique, it was found that ISO depressed the PBG-induced inward current of the pulmonary C neurons labeled with 1,1′-dioctadecyl-3,3,3′,3′-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate (DiI) instilled previously into the lungs. These results suggest that ISO inhibits PCF 5-HT 3 channel functions, and thereby attenuates PCF excitatory response to PBG, likely contributing to the diminution of the PBG-induced apnea by ISO in rats.
1-bit memory using one electron: Parametric oscillations in a Penning trap

The parametric oscillation of a single trapped electron is studied and used to measure enhanced spontaneous emission. Hysteresis in this motion provides a 1-bit memory to store information about excitations made with the electron ``in the dark.'' The time dependence and stability criteria for the parametric excitation are examined. The cyclotron motions for one and two electrons are also studied.
Variability and New Design Paradigms

In the late- and post-silicon eras, variation of all nanometer processes will continue to increase significantly. The industry is gradually addressing this situation and exposing more variability information to the designer. According to the Gigascale Systems Research Center, the deterministic era will be over for most on-chip applications and alternatives must be found. The author of this sidebar looks forward to the time when the two will meet: when more revolutionary design techniques will find their way into practical designs, and when one of the computational paradigms will suddenly be needed to cope with an unexpected surge in variability or reliability in a particular design or technology.
Braess paradox: Maximum penalty in a minimal critical network

Abstract A ‘simplest anti-symmetric’ two-path network is described which exhibits the well-known Braess paradox: the user travel costs being higher after the paths are joined by a transversal link (bridge). This network, herein named a ‘Minimal Critical Network’, clearly demonstrates the essence of the paradox with the minimum number of independent parameters, a minimum of mathematical complexity and a maximum Braess penalty. Although the Braess paradox has been studied extensively in the past, this ‘simplest’ network has been overlooked. The critical ranges of flow, and of user travel cost, all agree with the theorems of Frank, thus extending the validity of those theorems to a wider range of networks. Only one result, showing the effects of bridge congestion, contrasts with Frank's conclusion. Examples are given of techniques, some old and some new, which modify or eliminate this paradoxical behavior. A discussion of the good effects (non-paradoxical) of a bridge (especially a two-way bridge) is also included for the first time. Our Minimal Critical Network and graphical solution technique give a clear understanding of the paradox for this network. They are also especially useful for analysis of sensitivity to such extensions as, e.g. changes in parameters, elastic demand, general non-linear (even non-continuous) cost functions, two-way bridges, tolls and other methods to control the paradox, and diverse populations of users. We show that the paradox occurs in a simpler network than previously noted, and with a larger Braess penalty than previously noted.
North American weather‐type frequency and teleconnection indices

The impact of teleconnections upon the surface climate has largely been examined via a response in monthly mean temperature or total precipitation. In this paper, a different approach is undertaken, by examining the response of synoptic weather-type frequencies to different teleconnection phases. For over 330 stations in the USA and Canada, the Spatial Synoptic Classification scheme has classified each day in each station's period of record into one of seven weather-type categories, based on thermal, moisture, and other characteristics. The differences in how frequently these different weather types occur in different phases of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and Pacific–North American (PNA) teleconnection patterns is assessed, for Canadian stations from 1953 to 1993, and for US stations from 1950 to 1999. For PNA, a significant shift in the transitional frequency is observed, suggesting changes in storm track. Concomitantly, a large shift in Dry Polar and Moist Tropical frequencies is observed across the continent. Across the West, in +PNA wintertime months far fewer Dry Polar days are observed. Across the eastern USA, these polar intrusions are more common, and Moist Tropical is diminished significantly. The frequency of the transitional situation is also correlated with NAO phase, with differences as large as a factor of two across much of Canada and the northern USA. In northeastern Canada, there is a large replacement of Moist Polar conditions with Dry Polar conditions during +NAO. Farther south, however, across the eastern USA, both polar weather types occur much less often with +NAO. Although previous research has discovered eastern North American connections to the NAO, this research has shown that the connections often extend into the interior West during much of the year. Particularly strong in the spring, Dry Tropical conditions are much more common with +NAO throughout much of the continent, as far west as the Great Basin. Copyright © 2003 Royal Meteorological Society.
Device for Producing Staple-Core / Cotton-Wrap Ring Spun Yarns

This paper describes a device that effectively produces a unique staple-core/cotton- wrap composite yarn on a slightly modified ring spinning frame. Such a yam consists of a man-made staple fiber core that is wrapped with cotton fibers. The core provides high strength and other functional characteristics, while the wrap provides the tradi tional look, feel, and comfort of cotton. Polyester staple-core/cotton-wrap yams of coarse, medium, and medium-fine counts have been successfully produced by this new device. The yarns have been knitted on a small sample knitter without difficulty or special treatment, indicating that they can be woven without problems. A simple method of estimating the so-called "cotton sheath attachment draft" for a particular size and twist yarn is described. A computer model shows the estimated sheath at tachment drafts for 37-tex (Ne 16) polyester staple-core/cotton-wrap composite yarns spun with different twist multiples. Typical production parameters, quality test data. and magnif...
Systematics of North American Froelichia (Amaranthaceae subfam. Gomphrenoideae) I: Identification of consistent morphological variation and segregation of species complexes

Phenetic analyses of morphological variation were used to elucidate distinctiveness and circumscription of taxa within, the genus Froelichia in North America. Preserved specimens representing all recognized taxa and one suspected hybrid taxon were measured for 39 continuous and discrete characters and subjected to univariate and multivariate analyses. Principal coordinate analysis indicated the presence of three distinct groups of species with intergradation of morphological intermediates. Two of the groups corresponded to two large complexes of species, the F. floridana complex of the south-central and southeastern United States and the F. interrupta complex, principally of Mexico, while the third consisted of F. gracilis native to the southern United States and adjoining Mexico. Discriminant analysis on each of the two complexes indicated morphologically distinct forms within each morphologically variable complex. The use of novel characters for the discrimination of taxa resulted in the identification of less plastic traits among the recognized species. Use of these newly discovered traits provides more reliable means for the identification of taxa. An instance of potential, hybridization among three taxa in southern Texas was additionally explored with the putative hybrid taxa exhibiting an intermediate combination of morphological traits between each of the putative parents.
High Repetition Rate, Low Jitter, Fundamentally Mode-locked Soliton Er-fiber Laser

Generation of low jitter 167 fs pulses at a fundamental repetition rate of 194 MHz from a passively mode-locked soliton Er-fiber laser via nonlinear polarization rotation is reported. Performance of the laser and potential applications are discussed.
Incorporate Imaging Characteristics Into an Arteriovenous Malformation Radiosurgery Plan Evaluation Model

Purpose To integrate imaging performance characteristics, specifically sensitivity and specificity, of magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) into arteriovenous malformation (AVM) radiosurgery planning and evaluation. Methods and Materials Images of 10 patients with AVMs located in critical brain areas were analyzed in this retrospective planning study. The image findings were first used to estimate the sensitivity and specificity of MRA and DSA. Instead of accepting the imaging observation as a binary (yes or no) mapping of AVM location, our alternative is to translate the image into an AVM probability distribution map by incorporating imagers' sensitivity and specificity, and to use this map as a basis for planning and evaluation. Three sets of radiosurgery plans, targeting the MRA and DSA positive overlap, MRA positive, and DSA positive were optimized for best conformality. The AVM obliteration rate (ORAVM) and brain complication rate served as endpoints for plan comparison. Results In our 10-patient study, the specificities and sensitivities of MRA and DSA were estimated to be (0.95, 0.74) and (0.71, 0.95), respectively. The positive overlap of MRA and DSA accounted for 67.8% ± 4.9% of the estimated true AVM volume. Compared with plans targeting MRA and DSA–positive overlap, plans targeting MRA-positive or DSA-positive improved ORAVM by 4.1% ± 1.9% and 15.7% ± 8.3%, while also increasing the complication rate by 1.0% ± 0.8% and 4.4% ± 2.3%, respectively. Conclusions The impact of imagers' quality should be quantified and incorporated in AVM radiosurgery planning and evaluation to facilitate clinical decision making.
Biochemical and pharmacological evidence for opioid receptor multiplicity in the central nervous system.

Abstract Evidence from a variety of experimental models has suggested the existence of mu1, mu2 and delta binding sites for morphine and the enkephalins in the central nervous system. Additional biochemical experiments now support this concept of a common high affinity site for opiates and opioid peptides. Mu sites have now been implicated in a number of pharmacological actions, including supraspinal analgesia, prolactin release, and catalepsy, but not in others (spinal analgesia, respiratory depression, and the guinea pig ileum). The hypothesis of mu1 sites was supported by the unique opioid meptazinol, which selectively bound to mu1 sites. As expected from its mu1 binding selectivity, its analgesic actions in the mouse, localized supraspinally, were antagonized by the selective mu1 antagonist naloxonazine and it had no respiratory depressant actions. Other binding studies suggested the presence of discrete SKF10, 047-selective (KD approximately 5 nM) binding sites in rat brain which differed from both kappa sites and the previously reported PCP-binding sigma sites. Additional binding and autoradiograpical studies have also implied the presence of β-endorphin, or epsilon, sites in the CNS.
Pharmacotherapy in Alzheimer's disease: basis and rationale

Alzheimer's disease is a slowly progressive disorder involving deterioration of both intellect and personality. The neuropathological features of Alzheimer's disease include abundant neurocortical senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Drug therapies of Alzheimer's disease have been based on empirical observations of the signs and symptoms of the disease and have included the use of hypnotics to reverse insomnia or inverse sleep rhythms; anxiolytics to relieve anxiety, tension and restlessness antipsychotics to "tranquilize" or control psychotic symptoms, such as delusions and hallucinations; stimulants to overcome withdrawn behavior or lethargy; and lastly, antidepressants to control depression. Our growing knowledge of neuropathological and neurochemical changes associated with normal aging and Alzheimer's disease has made it possible to explore and develop pharmacologically-based therapies in Alzheimer's disease. Recent research has revealed behavioral symptoms associated with underlying biochemical changes in either the cholinergic, dopaminergic/ GABAergic (gama-aminobutyric acid) noradrenergic, serotoninergic, neurochemical and/or neuropeptidergic systems. Pharmacological strategies involving manipulation of these systems as a means of relieving Alzheimer's disease symptoms will be reviewed from several perspectives, e.g., those involving transmitter substitution, enzyme inhibition and direct specific receptor stimulation.
A clonogenic common myeloid progenitor that gives rise to all myeloid lineages

Haematopoietic stem cells give rise to progeny that progressively lose self-renewal capacity and become restricted to one lineage. The points at which haematopoietic stem cell-derived progenitors commit to each of the various lineages remain mostly unknown. We have identified a clonogenic common lymphoid progenitor that can differentiate into T, B and natural killer cells but not myeloid cells. Here we report the prospective identification, purification and characterization, using cell-surface markers and flow cytometry, of a complementary clonogenic common myeloid progenitor that gives rise to all myeloid lineages. Common myeloid progenitors give rise to either megakaryocyte/erythrocyte or granulocyte/macrophage progenitors. Purified progenitors were used to provide a first-pass expression profile of various haematopoiesis-related genes. We propose that the common lymphoid progenitor and common myeloid progenitor populations reflect the earliest branch points between the lymphoid and myeloid lineages, and that the commitment of common myeloid progenitors to either the megakaryocyte/erythrocyte or the granulocyte/macrophage lineages are mutually exclusive events.
Prospects for the introduction of wide area monitoring using environmental sampling for proliferation detection

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is committed to strengthening and streamlining the overall effectiveness of the IAEA safeguards system within the context of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The IAEA has investigated the use of environmental monitoring techniques and a variety of techniques were studied as part of extensive field trials. The efficacy of long-range monitoring depends on the availability of mobile signature isotopes or compounds and on the ability to distinguish the nuclear signatures from background signals and attribute them to a source. The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) also requires a variety of environmental sampling and analysis techniques. This paper serves as a scientific basis to start discussions of environmental sampling techniques that could be considered for wide-area monitoring for the detection of undeclared nuclear activities within the NPT or for the possible future use within the CTBT.
PARTICLE CONCENTRATION MEASUREMENTS BY LASER IMAGING FOR A TURBULENT DISPERSION

ABSTRACT A laser imaging system has been developed which can be used for investigating the particle concentration variation in explosive test apparatus such as the Ciba-Geigi and Hartmann Bomb during turbulent dispersions of air-particle mixtures. The pulsed UV (337 nm) laser imaging system using a 500X optical and electronic magnification system has a measurement volume of 900 µm by 675 µm and an in-focus depth of field of 780 µm for a 32 µm diameter particle. Particles in the measurement control volume are imaged every 33 ms during the dispersion process and viewed in real time but stored for later analysis on a video tape system. This paper presents the results of investigating the lycopodium particle concentration variations during the dispersion process of 0.200 grams of lycopodium particles in the Hartmann Bomb explosive test apparatus. Data were taken at the center line and at a radius ratio of 0.5 at a height of 0.102 m (4 inches) above the base of the Hartmann lucite tube. Twenty-five separate di...
THE EFFECT OF INTERRUPTION OF THE SUPRAOPTICOHYPOPHYSEAL TRACTS ON THE ANTIDIURETIC, PRESSOR AND OXYTOCIC ACTIVITY OF THE POSTERIOR LOBE OF THE HYPOPHYSIS1

The theory that the secretory activity of the posterior lobe of the hypophysis is regulated in the mammal and in man through a diencephalic-hypophyseal mechanism has received wide recognition, although up to the present time little positive experimental evidence has been offered in support of this contention. In a recent series of articles evidence has been presented which indicates that the secretion of the antidiuretic principle by the posterior lobe is regulated through the supraoptic nuclei of the hypothalamus and the tracts which arise from them (1, 2, 3, 4). It has been shown that when the supraoptico-hypophyseal tracts are interrupted bilaterally in the cat and monkey by appropriate lesions in the anterior hypothalamus a diabetes insipidus develops which is always associated with marked degenerative changes in the pars nervosa and atrophy of the supraoptic nuclei. Because of the constant association of atrophy of the pars nervosa with diabetes insipidus in these forms, it was concluded that this di...
Modern Inquisitions: Peru and the Colonial Origins of the Civilized World

Introduction: Three accused heretics Inquisition as bureaucracy Mysteries of state Globalization and guinea pigs States and stains New Christians and New World fears The Inca's witches Becoming Indian Afterwords
Comparison of leaf processing rates under different temperature regimes in three headwater streams

1. We studied the effects of different temperature regimes on leaf litter processing in three forested Appalachian headwater streams of different pH (mean pH = 4.2, 6.5, 7.5). 2. We compared leaf breakdown rates, microbial biomass and macroinvertebrate shredder density and biomass between two 12-week processing periods (October–January and November–February) in each stream. Leaf processing rates were calculated both as k (day–1) and kd (degree day–1). 3. There were no significant differences in processing rates (k day–1) between the two study periods for any leaf species in any stream. The average difference in temperature between the two study periods was 175 degree days. Shredder density was significantly higher during the earlier study period on 40% of the sample dates, but shredder biomass was not significantly different between the two study periods. ATP concentration was significantly higher during the early study period for 60% of the sample dates. 4. More significant differences in these variables (shredder density and biomass, ATP concentration) were seen among the three study streams than between the two study periods. This indicates that in this study other factors, particularly stream pH, contributed more to processing rate variation than did differences in thermal regime.
The HIV-1 seroprevalence rate of injured patients admitted through California emergency departments

Study objectives: To measure the HIV seroprevalence of injured emergency department patients in a number of California hospitals and to examine the relationship between ED seroprevalence and local AIDS incidence. Design: Prospective blinded testing for HIV-1 antibody was performed on routinely collected blood samples. Setting: Ten California hospitals; group 1 included three hospitals from counties of high AIDS incidence (more than 40 cases per 100,000 population), group 2 included three hospitals from counties of intermediate AIDS incidence (20 to 40 cases per 100,000 population); and group 3 included four hospitals from counties of low AIDS incidence (less than 20 cases per 100,000 population). Type of participants: Eligible patients were all adult trauma victims admitted to a participating hospital through the ED during a consecutive three-month period occurring between June and November 1989. Measurements: HIV-1 antibody testing was done using enzyme immunoassay confirmed by immunofluorescence assay. Equivocal results were confirmed by Western blot. Mann-Whitney U test, χ 2 test, and multiple logistic regression were used where appropriate. Results: There were 2,264 patients with adequate blood samples for serologic testing. The seroprevalence rates for hospitals in groups 1, 2, and 3 were significantly different ( χ 2 = 8.44, P = .02): Group 1, 2.5% (19 of 756; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.5% to 3.9%); group 2, 0.9% (10 of 1,078; CI, 0.5% to 1.7%); and group 3, 0.5% (two of 430; CI, 0.06% to 1.7%). Conclusion: This study suggests that local AIDS incidence rates do not necessarily predict the seroprevalence rates of injured patients who are admitted through local EDs.
Peptide YY (PYY) gene polymorphisms in the 3'-untranslated and proximal promoter regions regulate cellular gene expression and PYY secretion and metabolic syndrome traits in vivo.

Rationale: Obesity is a heritable trait that contributes to hypertension and subsequent cardiorenal disease risk; thus, the investigation of genetic variation that predisposes individuals to obesity is an important goal. Circulating peptide YY (PYY) is known for its appetite and energy expenditure-regulating properties; linkage and association studies have suggested that PYY genetic variation contributes to susceptibility for obesity, rendering PYY an attractive candidate for study of disease risk. Design: To explore whether common genetic variation at the human PYY locus influences plasma PYY or metabolic traits, we systematically resequenced the gene for polymorphism discovery and then genotyped common single-nucleotide polymorphisms across the locus in an extensively phenotyped twin sample to determine associations. Finally, we experimentally validated the marker-on-trait associations using PYY 3′-untranslated region (UTR)/reporter and promoter/reporter analyses in neuroendocrine cells. Results: Four common genetic variants were discovered across the locus, and three were typed in phenotyped twins. Plasma PYY was highly heritable (P < 0.0001), and genetic pleiotropy was noted between plasma PYY and body mass index (BMI) (P = 0.03). A PYY haplotype extending from the proximal promoter (A-23G, rs2070592) to the 3′-UTR (C+1134A, rs162431) predicted not only plasma PYY (P = 0.009) but also other metabolic syndrome traits. Functional studies with transfected luciferase reporters confirmed regulatory roles in altering gene expression for both 3′-UTR C+1134A (P < 0.001) and promoter A-23G (P = 0.0016). Conclusions: Functional genetic variation at the PYY locus influences multiple heritable metabolic syndrome traits, likely conferring susceptibility to obesity and subsequent cardiorenal disease.
Incremental value of myocardial viability for prediction of long-term prognosis in surgically revascularized patients with left ventricular dysfunction

Abstract Objectives We assessed the incremental long-term prognostic value of myocardial viability in surgically revascularized (CABG) patients with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. Background Clinical factors, medical therapy, the degree of LV dysfunction, and stress-induced ischemia may affect the relative prognostic value of myocardial viability. Methods Patients with coronary disease and ventricular dysfunction (mean ejection fraction 33% by echocardiography, 25% by angiography) were studied with dobutamine echocardiography. Follow-up (mean −4.9 years) was obtained in 95 patients (85% triple-vessel disease) who underwent CABG. Results The use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, advanced heart failure, rest, low- and peak-dose wall motion scores were univariate predictors of cardiac death. The extent of contractile reserve and ischemia were not predictive. Low-dose score was the strongest multivariate predictor of death (p Conclusions Low-dose score, representing the extent of viable myocardium, has incremental prognostic value as a predictor of long-term outcome in CABG patients with LV dysfunction.
Pericyte Signaling in the Neurovascular Unit

Brain pericytes are intimately associated with capillary endothelial cells, separated only by basement membrane. Pericyte research has been hampered by absence of pericyte-specific immunochemical markers. The vast array of pericyte functions include contractility, immunologic, migratory, and angiogenic. Pericytes have stem cell potential, contribute to the integrity of the blood-brain barrier, and have a regulatory role for hemostasis in the brain. Improvement in pericyte identification is likely to lead to marked increase in appreciation of the role of pericytes in the neurovascular unit.
An empirical investigation of firm public and private knowledge

Many studies examine firm private knowledge, but purport to be generalizable to the totality of firm knowledge, both public and private. This study demonstrates that public and private firm knowledge are empirically separable constructs that have significant and yet different influences on innovative outcomes. The example of product development effectiveness within this study shows that both public and private knowledge are significantly related to product development quality; however, public knowledge is negatively related to quality lapses while private knowledge is positively related to quality lapses. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.