cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Anaesthetic management of a parturient with myocardial infarction related to cocaine use

Cocaine abuse is common among parturients with an incidence of 11.8 to 20%. Myocardial infarction is a rare and lethal event during pregnancy with an incidence of 1 in 10,000 pregnancies. We present the anaesthetic management of a parturient of 36 wk gestation who suffered a myocardial infarction nine hours before delivery which was temporally related to “crack” cocaine use. The patient’s cardiovascular system became unstable following cocaine use, and she required mechanical ventilatory support and pharmocologic stabilization guided by invasive haemodynamic monitoring. This patient survived a non-Q wave myocardial infarction, but the prognosis of peripartum myocardial infarction remains poor with a mortality rate of 30–40% which is increased if the infarction occurs in the third trimester or postpartum period. The optimal mode and timing of delivery after myocardial infarction is unresolved. The association between cocaine use and myocardial infarction was first described in 1982, and cocaine remains unique among local anaesthestics in its ability to compromise the cardiovascular system through both sympathomimetic effects and vasoconstrictive effects on coronary arteries. Because of the prevalence of substance abuse, cocaine use should be considered in the differential diagnosis of sudden cardiovascular compromise in parturients.
Obtaining solar collector cover plate transmissivities from a solar simulator

Transmissivities, as a function of incident solar angle, were experimentally determined for various commercially available cover-plate materials using actual outdoor and indoor simulated solar conditions. The glazing materials tested were float glass, plexiglass, fiberglass, and several window films. Since the optical properties of many of these materials are not readily available, the transmissivities could not be calculated analytically. Therefore, the experimental method proved to be invaluable. Furthermore, transmissivities determined from indoor data were found to be in close agreement with outdoor results, making the simulator a practical tool. The transmissivities determined and the methods provided in this paper can be valuable in the design of solar collectors.
Evaluating employer programs encouraging the use of alternate transportation modes: Two studies

Since 1976, major Denver metropolitan area firms have been required to encourage employees to use mass transit, carpooling, bicycling, and other “alternate transportation modes” to commute to work. The encouragement programs of 36 firms were clearly associated with greater use of alternate transportation modes, with the portion of variance in alternate transportation use explained by differences in employer programs of approximately 15%. The effects of the programs on deterring alternate mode users from returning to solo driving are consistently weaker than their effects on persuading drivers to try alternate transportation modes initially. Recommendations for the conduct of alternate transportation encouragement programs are made, based on these and other results. In addition, two recommendations are made concerning the evaluation of encouragement programs: that aggregate percentage change in alternate transportation use should not be used as the sole measure of success, and that environmental variables such as the availability of and pressure for use of alternate transportation modes should be measured and controlled.
Comparing deterministic and probabilistic risk assessments for sites contaminated by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)

Deterministic risk assessments provide a single point estimate of risk at a site of concern, while probabilistic risk assessment methods generate a range of values from probability distribution functions (PDFs). This study compares deterministic and probabilistic risk assessment methods for two different sites using uncertainty analysis and evaluates the use of toxic equivalency factors (TEFs) for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in each method. The use of TEFs allowed more of the PAHs to be included which resulted in higher risk estimates for both adults and children at both study sites. Exposure factor variability generated greater uncertainty in risk estimates than sample heterogeneity or toxicity estimates. TEFs allowed for a more complete representation of the toxicity contributions from PAH species present at the study sites. Exposure factor distributions together with TEF estimations for toxicity of PAH species provide an assessment that can reduce and account for uncertainty. Probabilistic risk estimates provide a sensible improvement to deterministic risk estimates by generating a range of risk values, along with an average estimate and the degree of conservatism of those estimates.
Roles for the Phosphatidylinositol Cycle in Early Development

Founded on the seminal studies and writings of Hokin, Michell and Berridge, a vast body of data now exists documenting the central importance of phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) cycle activation in transducing information of many types across the plasma membrane. The great majority of these data derive from studies of terminally differentiated somatic cells. Nevertheless, the fact that many crucial events in animal development also involve transduction of information across the plasma membrane has recently led developmental biologists to search for regulatory roles for PtdIns cycle activity in such developmental processes as oocyte maturation, fertilization, and embryogenesis, with encouraging results. In this paper I briefly review the progress of such studies, beginning with the event in which the PtdIns cycle's role is best understood (fertilization), then progressing both backwards and forwards in developmental time to explore more speculative roles for the PtdIns cycle in oocyte maturation and pattern formation during embryogenesis.
Bacteriophages and biotechnology: a review

Bacteriophages are viruses whose hosts are bacterial cells. Like all viruses, phages are metabolically inert in their extra-cellular form, reproducing only after infecting suitable host bacteria. Discovered over 80 years ago, they have played a key role in the development of modern biotechnology. Their initial isolation appeared to offer the first therapeutic for the control of infectious disease. The discovery of antibiotics in the 1940s eclipsed bacteriophage-based therapies although, with the increase in multiply drug-resistant pathogens, bacteriophages are being re-evaluated as the basis of new therapeutic strategies. Their defined host specificity facilitated their application in the typing and identification of a wide range of bacteria. Bacteriophage typing schemes were developed for most groups of pathogenic of bacteria and more recently their host specificity has been applied to the development of bacterial detection and diagnostic strategies. The advance in molecular biology over the past 30 years has been built on the study of phage structure and genetics carried out through the 1950s and 1960s. Restriction endonucleases which form the basis of molecular cloning were developed following studies of phage infection and many phage enzymes provide tools for the molecular biologist. The technique of phage display has more recently provided a powerful technique for the identification and optimisation of ligands for antibodies and other biomolecules. In the environment they have been widely applied as tracers, as indicators of pollution and in the monitoring and validation of biological filters. While providing a valuable resource to the development of modern biotechnology, their ability to mobilise and transfer toxin genes in the environment is viewed with concern. They also present a continuing challenge to the fermentation and in particular, the dairy industry, where phage infection can prove commercially disastrous. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry
Strategic arms control for the future: Asymmetrical, yet equitable reductions∗

(1980). Strategic arms control for the future: Asymmetrical, yet equitable reductions. Arms Control: Vol. 1, No. 3, pp. 309-329.
Optimum design of broadband n-way rectangular power dividers with arbitrary power division and impedance matching

A novel n -way rectangular power divider is presented, which has the capability of design for arbitrary power division among its output ports and arbitrary specification of impedances at all its terminal ports. Consequently, the impedance matching is also realised by its configuration. An accurate equivalent circuit is derived for the power divider, which is used to develop a design procedure by the method of least squares. Two prototype models, namely a three-way and a four-way dividers are fabricated and measured for different terminal impedances and power division ratios. The agreement among the results from the proposed design procedure, full-wave computer simulation and measurement is noteworthy.
Identification of a major polypeptide component of the sea urchin fertilization envelope

Abstract A monoclonal antibody (MAb No. 25-16), raised against purified cortical secretory vesicles (CVs) from the eggs of Strongylocentrotus purpuratus , has been used to identify a previously uncharacterized CV-derived polypeptide component of the sea urchin fertilization envelope (FE). MAb No. 25-16, an IgG 1 , bound to a group of proteins with M r ≈ 200,000 on immunoblots of CVs. This same group of proteins also was detected in fertilization product and in soft FEs prepared from early embryos, indicating that the antigen is released at fertilization by CV exocytosis and becomes incorporated into the FE. The multiple components recognized by MAb No. 25-16 apparently did not result from proteolysis during sample preparation or differential N-linked glycosylation. No simplification of the SDS-gel or immunoblot patterns was observed when samples of fertilization product or cell surface complex were prepared in the presence of a cocktail of protease inhibitors; nor was a change in mobility of any of the antigen forms detected following treatment with endoglycosidase F. Upon partial denaturation and reduction of the protein by incubation at room temperature in the presence of SDS and dithiothreitol, the antigen was shown to undergo a decrease in relative mobility on SDS-PAGE. Complete reduction and denaturation, by boiling in dithiothreitol-containing SDS sample buffer or by an on-blot reduction technique, resulted in loss of the epitope. The protein component recognized by MAb No. 25-16 underwent a striking increase in mobility on SDS-PAGE after chelation of calcium ions with EGTA. Immunogold labeling on thin sections of unfertilized eggs revealed that the antigen is located in the spiral lamellar cores of all CVs. In fertilized eggs, fixed 5 min after insemination, the antigen was detected in the FE. Based on these biochemical and immunological data, we suggest that the antigen recognized by MAb No. 25-16 is released exocytotically from the CVs into the perivitelline space at fertilization and becomes incorporated into the FE. The abundance of this antigen suggests that it may function as a structural component of the FE.
In the line of duty: A descriptive analysis of police assaults and accidents

Common in the literature are discussions of the dangerousness of the police occupation. In particular, numerous studies have examined the circumstances surrounding the murder and assault of police officers. Relatively little is known, however, about how these dramatic events fit into the larger context of police injury incidents. This article reports the results of analyses based on 2,073 officer injury incidents (reports) gathered from a large U.S. midwestern municipal police department. Findings and implications are discussed.
A Memoir of Mefloquine Amnesia: A Review of The Answer to the Riddle Is Me by David Stuart MacLean

“I was standing when I came to. Not lying down. And it wasn't a gradual waking process. It was darkness darkness darkness, then snap. Me. Now awake.” So begins David Stuart MacLean's fascinating ne...
Methods for Analyzing Multivariate Phenotypes in Genetic Association Studies

Multivariate phenotypes are frequently encountered in genetic association studies. The purpose of analyzing multivariate phenotypes usually includes discovery of novel genetic variants of pleiotropy effects, that is, affecting multiple phenotypes, and the ultimate goal of uncovering the underlying genetic mechanism. In recent years, there have been new method development and application of existing statistical methods to such phenotypes. In this paper, we provide a review of the available methods for analyzing association between a single marker and a multivariate phenotype consisting of the same type of components (e.g., all continuous or all categorical) or different types of components (e.g., some are continuous and others are categorical). We also reviewed causal inference methods designed to test whether the detected association with the multivariate phenotype is truly pleiotropy or the genetic marker exerts its effects on some phenotypes through affecting the others.
Transposable elements suppress recombination in all meiotic eukaryotes, including automictic ancient asexuals: a reply to Schön and Martens

I discuss three problems with the argument that ancient asexual lineages lack meiosis and recombination resulting in a diminution of (potentially disadvantageous) transposable elements and other forms of repetitive DNA. First, all ancient asexuals are probably automictic, hence could retain meiotic recombination in the guise of gene conversion. Second, transposable elements alter recombination rates, not vice versa. Third, increasing the number of transposable elements and other forms of repetitive DNA reduces meiotic recombination rate. Ancient asexuals lack those transposable elements that are transmitted via outcrossing, and this has nothing to do with meiotic recombination.
Chlorine nitrate - The sole product of the ClO + NO2 + M recombination

A laser operating at 266 nm is used to photolyze the product of the ClO + NO2 + M reaction, and the yield of Cl atoms, measured by resonance fluorescence, is found to be identical with that from equivalent concentrations of ClONO2. This is interpreted as a strong indication that no other isomers are formed in the recombination reaction. Evidence for isomers is surveyed, and the apparent forward-and-reverse-rate constant discrepancy is explained as a probable uncertainty in the thermochemistry.
Physiology of Brood Incubation in the Bumblebee Queen, Bombus vosnesenskii

ONE of the parameters affecting the rate of growth and reproduction of poikilothermic organisms is temperature. In social insects such as bumblebees1–3, which must build up their colonies rapidly to complete the cycle within a single season, the maintenance of a high nest temperature would permit the more rapid development of the poikilothermic eggs, larvae and pupae. Although heat production by bumblebees in their nests4 has been observed since the last century, little is known about nest temperature regulation in the initial stages of colony founding5–7. The queen initiating the colony in the spring perches on her brood clump containing the eggs which develop into the first set of workers1–6. I report here on the temperatures of the brood clump, the attending queen, and her thermoregulatory physiology.
Forecasting automobile warranty performance in presence of ‘maturing data’ phenomena using multilayer perceptron neural network

Automobile companies that spend billions of dollars annually towards warranty cost, give high priority to warranty reduction programs. Forecasting of automobile warranty performance plays an important role towards these efforts. The forecasting process involves prediction of not only the specific months-in-service (MIS) warranty performance at certain future time, but also at future MIS values. However, ‘maturing data’ (also called warranty growth) phenomena that causes warranty performance at specific MIS values to change with time, makes such a forecasting task challenging. Although warranty forecasting methods such as log-log plots and dynamic linear models appear in literature, there is a need for applications addressing the well recognized issue of ‘maturing data’. In this paper we use an artificial neural network for the forecasting of warranty performance in presence of ‘maturing data’ phenomena. The network parameters are optimized by minimizing the training and testing errors using response surface methodology. This application shows the effectiveness of neural networks in the forecasting of automobile warranty performance in the presence of the ‘maturing data’ phenomena.
Efferents from the medial anterior hypothalamic area in the guinea pig.

Abstract Medial anterior hypothalamic connections were studied with H 3 -proline and autoradiography. Most of the axons projected to other hypothalamic nuclei. The major pathways were found ventral medial to the fornix and in the periventricular tract. Substantial projections were apparent in the ventromedial and dorsomedial nuclei with less label in the arcuate nucleus. The dorsal premammillary nuclei were labeled bilaterally, particularly with more caudal injections of anterior hypothalamus. Efferents were evident in the posterior hypothalamus and continued into the central gray of the midbrain. Labeled fibers reached the ventral tegmental area and in the reticular formation were traced only through pons. Rostral projections were to the medial and lateral preoptic areas and ventral lateral septum. The bed nucleus of stria terminalis was labeled and a very few fibers reached the medial amygdaloid nucleus. The periventricular nucleus of thalamus was labeled.
New inhibitors of histamine-N-methyltransferase.

A variety of histamine agonists, antagonists and their analogs were tested for their ability to inhibit histamine-N-methyltransferase. In earlier studies, we had shown that the enzyme is inhibited noncompetitively by the histamine H2-receptor agonist, Dimaprit, and we had suggested that the enzyme possessed an inhibitory site with an affinity for both Dimaprit and histamine. The most potent inhibitors had, in addition to a side chain ammonium group, a thiourea or imidazole group which, like the imidazole group of histamine, is capable of prototropic tautomerism. The H1-receptor agonists, 2-pyridyl-β-ethylamine and 2-thiazolyl-β-ethylamine, which do not undergo prototropic tautomerism, were only weakly inhibitory. There was no correlation, however, between pharmacological and inhibitory activity. The most potent inhibitor (Ki∼ 10−6 M) was a Dimaprit analog, SKF 91488, which has no histamine agonist activity. SKF 91488, therefore, may be especially useful in studies of histamine metabolism.
Fourier transform digital holographic adaptive optics imaging system

A Fourier transform digital holographic adaptive optics imaging system and its basic principles are proposed. The CCD is put at the exact Fourier transform plane of the pupil of the eye lens. The spherical curvature introduced by the optics except the eye lens itself is eliminated. The CCD is also at image plane of the target. The point-spread function of the system is directly recorded, making it easier to determine the correct guide-star hologram. Also, the light signal will be stronger at the CCD, especially for phase-aberration sensing. Numerical propagation is avoided. The sensor aperture has nothing to do with the resolution and the possibility of using low coherence or incoherent illumination is opened. The system becomes more efficient and flexible. Although it is intended for ophthalmic use, it also shows potential application in microscopy. The robustness and feasibility of this compact system are demonstrated by simulations and experiments using scattering objects.
131I conversion ratio in domestic birds.

The 131I conversion ratio (CR) in chickens at 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours following injection of 131I was increased by TSH administration. In radiothyroidectomized chickens and in birds with hereditary hypothyroidism, 24-hour and 48-hour CR's were below normal; but 72-hour and 96-hour values were normal or above normal. A possible explanation for this seemingly anomalous situation is presented. Experiments with chickens and turkeys showed that the following are important sources of variation in CR: (1) genotype (species, strain), (2) sex, (3) age, (4) time elapsed between 131I injection and drawing of blood, and (5) interactions among the foregoing. In chickens, significant strain differences in cR agreed well with other indicators of thyroid state. Limited data indicate that the CR in Japanese quail is lower than that in chickens. Data on Pekin ducklings show that the CR reaches a maximum at least as high as that in the chicken. The avian CR appears usually to reach a plateau by 48–72 hours following 131I injection, instead of continually rising, as might be expected from theoretical considerations. In chickens, the maximum mean value is usually no greater than 75–80%, and in many cases is less than that.
Investigation of Dominant Failure Mode(s) for Field-Aged Crystalline Silicon PV Modules Under Desert Climatic Conditions

The first step in developing a life prediction model for photovoltaic (PV) modules is the identification of dominant failure modes/mechanisms for given environmental and operating conditions. Although important, the literature is very scarce. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) approach consists of identifying the weakest link in module construction and the failure modes or mechanisms susceptible to the link are considered dominant. The failure mode and effects analysis/failure mode and effects criticality analysis approach, proposed and tried by a few authors, provides a more analytical alternative. It uses the risk priority number (RPN) as a ranking metric for failure modes prioritization. The RPN is a product of three parameters: severity of a failure (S), occurrence of the failure (O), and detection of the failure (D). Typically, the values for S, O, and D are assigned based on qualitative analyses. As such, the values assigned for the failure modes to those factors are highly subjective, leading to considerable variations from one analyst or design team to another. The main objective of this study is to move as far away as possible from this traditionally subjective approach to a formal, objective, and data-driven determination of RPN. The approach described in this paper relies on quantitative measures and sizable datasets. For the hot and dry climatic conditions of Phoenix, Arizona USA, solder bond failures and encapsulant discoloration are found to be the dominant failure modes.
Analysis of RNA polymerase-promoter complex formation

Bacterial promoter identification and characterization is not as straightforward as one might presume. Promoters vary widely in their similarity to the consensus recognition element sequences, in their activities, and in their utilization of transcription factors, and multiple approaches often must be used to provide a framework for understanding promoter regulation. Characterization of RNA polymerase-promoter complex formation in the absence of additional regulatory factors (basal promoter function) can provide a basis for understanding the steps in transcription initiation that are ultimately targeted by nutritional or environmental factors. Promoters can be localized using genetic approaches in vivo, but the detailed properties of the RNAP-promoter complex are studied most productively in vitro. We first describe approaches for identification of bacterial promoters and transcription start sites in vivo, including promoter-reporter fusions and primer-extension. We then describe a number of methods for characterization of RNAP-promoter complexes in vitro, including in vitro transcription, gel mobility shift assays, footprinting, and filter binding. Utilization of these methods can result in determination of not only basal promoter strength but also the rates of transcription initiation complex formation and decay.
A sensitive, specific assay for tissue collagenase using telopeptide-free [3H]acetylated collagen.

Abstract Collagenase is assayed by incubation with soluble, telopeptide-free collagen extracted from rat skin and labeled with [2- 3 H]acetic anhydride. Collagen is cleaved by collagenase and the resulting fragments are digested with trypsin and chymotrypsin. Undigested collagen is recovered by precipitation with trichloroacetic acid, collected on glass-fiber filters, and quantitated by liquid scintillation spectrometry. This procedure combines features of the Cawston and Barrett (T. E. Cawston and A. J. Barrett, 1979, Anal. Biochem. 99, 340–345) and the Ryhanen et al. (L. Ryhanen et al. , 1982, Collagen Rel. Res. 2, 117–130) methods. The first method provides a simple way to prepare large quantities of uniform substrate, while the second increases the specificity of the assay by removal of the labeled telopeptides. The assay is reproducible and linear with time and enzyme concentration. It is approximately 10× more sensitive than the Cawston and Barrett method and can readily detect 1–8 mU collagenase (1 unit equals 1 μg collagen cleaved/min at 30°C). The substrate is resistant to elastase, trypsin, and chymotrypsin and is completely degraded by bacterial collagenase. Collagenase is the only tissue metalloprotease found, to date, that cleaves the substrate.
Aortic translocation for the management of transposition of the great arteries with a ventricular septal defect, pulmonary stenosis, and hypoplasia of the right ventricle

A 2-month-old patient with transposition of the great arteries, a ventricular septal defect, pulmonary stenosis, and severe hypoplasia of the right ventricle successfully underwent a biventricular repair utilizing the aortic translocation technique. Advantages of this surgical repair over the Rastelli procedure in the management of this complex congenital heart lesion are discussed.
A reordering and mapping algorithm for parallel sparse Cholesky factorization

A judiciously chosen symmetric permutation can significantly reduce the amount of storage and computation for the Cholesky factorization of sparse matrices. On distributed memory machines, the issue of mapping data and computation onto processors is also important. Previous research on ordering for parallelism has focussed on idealized measures like execution time on an unbounded number of processors, with zero communication costs. In this paper, we propose an ordering and mapping algorithm that attempts to minimize communication and performs load balancing of work among the processors. Performance results on an Intel iPSC/860 hypercube are presented to demonstrate its effectiveness. >
Behavioral contracts and behavioral subtyping

Component-based software manufacturing has the potential to bring division-of-labor benefits to the world of software engineering. In order to make a market of software components viable, however, producers and consumers must agree on enforceable software contracts. In this paper, we show how to enforce contracts if components are manufactured from class and interface hierarchies. In particular, we focus on one style of contract: pre- and post-conditions. Programmers annotate class and interface methods with pre- and post-conditions and the run-time system checks these conditions during evaluation. These contracts guarantee that methods are called properly and provide appropriate results. In procedural languages, the use of pre- and post-condition contracts is well-established and studies have demonstrated its value. In object-oriented languages, however, assigning blame for pre- and post-condition failures poses subtle and complex problems. Specifically, assigning blame for malformed class and interface hierarchies is so difficult that none of the existing contract monitoring tools correctly assign blame for these failures. In this paper, we show how to overcome these problems in the context of Java. Our work is based on the notion of behavioral subtyping.
The molecular immunology of mucositis: implications for evidence-based research in alternative and complementary palliative treatments.

The terms ‘mucositis’ and ‘stomatitis’ are often used interchangeably. Mucositis, however, pertains to pharyngeal-esophago-gastrointestinal inflammation that manifests as red, burn-like sores or ulcerations throughout the mouth. Stomatitis is an inflammation of the oral tissues proper, which can present with or without sores, and is made worse by poor dental hygiene. Mucositis is observed in a variety of immunosuppressed patients, but is most often consequential to cancer therapy. It appears as early as the third day of intervention, and is usually established by Day 7 of treatment. Mucositis increases mortality and morbidity and contributes to rising health care costs. The precise immune components involved in the etiology of mucositis are unclear, but evidence-based research (EBR) data has shown that applications of granulocyte–macrophage-colony stimulating factor prevent the onset or the exacerbation of oropharyngeal mucositis. The molecular implications of this observation are discussed from the perspective of future developments of complementary and alternative treatments for this condition. It must be emphasized that this article is meant to be neither a review on mucositis and the various treatments for it, nor a discussion paper on its underlying molecular immunology. It is a statement of the implications of EBR for CAM-based interventions for mucositis. It explores and discusses the specific domain of molecular immunology in the context of mucositis and its direct implications for EBR research in CAM-based treatments for mucositis.
Fission-Track Age Bearing on the Permian-Triassic Boundary and Time of the Sonoma Orogeny in North-Central Nevada

A fission-track age on zircon from a welded tuff in the Rochester Rhyolite, a part of the Lower Triassic Koipato Group of central Nevada, is 225 ± 30 m.y. This age corresponds with existing lead-alpha dates on rocks considered to be related to the volcanic rocks in the Koipato Group and indicates that the Early Triassic is at least about 225 m.y. old and the Permian-Triassic boundary somewhat older. The age also gives a minimum age for emplacement of the Golconda thrust during the Sonoma orogeny.
Medical treatment of intracranial atherosclerosis has been shown to be superior.

Enrollment in the Stenting versus Aggressive Medical Therapy for Intracranial Arterial Stenosis (SAMMPRIS) trial was prematurely terminated in April 2011 when safety concerns arose regarding the periprocedural risk of endovascular therapy in trial participants. The early results, published in September 2011, cited a significant increase in the 30-day risk of stroke or death with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting (PTAS) with aggressive medical therapy compared with aggressive medical therapy alone (14.7% vs 5.8%, p=0.0002).1 The SAMMPRIS trial results demonstrate that the superiority of aggressive medical therapy alone in patients with recently symptomatic and severe intracranial atherosclerosis was driven more by an excessive periprocedural risk with intervention than the better than expected response to the risk factor management regimen. Why was the periprocedural stroke and death rate higher than expected? It is well known that event rates are strictly defined and meticulously monitored in the setting of clinical trials and are often higher than those cited in self-reported case series and loosely monitored registries.2 Although the new American Stroke Association definition for ischemic stroke includes an event of any duration accompanied by neuroimaging evidence of infarction and captures minor clinical events with positive MRI diffusion-weighted abnormalities, the definition of ischemic stroke used in the SAMMPRIS trial was more conservative. Ischemic stroke was defined as a neurologic deficit detected by a bedside examination at least 24 h after the onset of symptoms and attributed to cerebral ischemia; hemorrhagic stroke was defined as a symptomatic intracerebral, subarachnoid or intraventricular hemorrhage. The estimates of the periprocedural risks of PTAS using the Wingspan stent system were derived from case series and aggregate data from 387 patients entered into two phase I trials and two post-marketing registries.3–5 Compared with the phase I trial, the post-marketing registries reported acceptable periprocedural risks of 5.4–6.2% with high …
Modern and Postmodern Metaphors of Self, Mind and Memory

Throughout the history of psychology, metaphors have been used to describe and explain psychological phenomena. The term metaphor derives from the Greek word “metapherein” which means to transfer the quality of one entity to another (Peavy, 1993, p. 11). While discourse on metaphor can be traced to Aristotle (330 B. C./1924), the role that metaphor is believed to play in relating to and understanding the external world is viewed very differently from modern and postmodern perspectives. Modernist thinkers, for example, have viewed metaphors as a stylistic form of speech or simile that is used to make comparisons. Consequently, within the modernist tradition, metaphors are often described as mere ornaments of language and not a constitutive part of language and understanding. By way of contrast, postmodern scholars suggest that metaphors are basic to understanding, and consequently that they are not so much a form of speech but rather a fundamental form of thought (Leary, 1990). For instance, scientists and linguistics such as Black (1962), Gould (1983), Kuhn (1993), Lakoff and Johnson (1980) have studied the way in which metaphors function as a constitutive part of communication as well as of scientific inquiry. When viewed as a constitutive aspect of language, metaphors actively contribute to our understanding of experience rather than “merely” being mirrors that reflect reality. Thus postmodern scholars suggest that perceived realities may change as the metaphors used to understand “reality” change.
A Note on Coefficient Adjustment Using Sos Constraints

We examine two coefficient adjustment methods proposed in the literature, and we show by example that the second is not valid. We provide a modified approach that subsumes both methods, generalizing the first and correcting the second.
A leukocyte type of 12-lipoxygenase is expressed in human vascular and mononuclear cells : evidence for upregulation by angiotensin II

The lipoxygenase (LO) pathway has been implicated in leading to accelerated atherosclerosis. However, the precise type of LO present in unstimulated human aortic smooth muscle cells (HSMC), endothelial cells (HAEC), and monocytes (MO) is not clear. In this study, we used a specific reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method to analyze the type of LO mRNA expressed in normal HSMC, HAEC, and MO. In all three cell types, a 333-base-pair band was seen when primers and probes specific for the leukocyte type of 12-LO were used, suggesting that a leukocyte type of 12-LO is expressed in these cell types. Western immunoblotting analysis in cultured HSMC, HAEC, and MO using a polyclonal peptide antibody to the leukocyte type of 12-LO showed a specific 72-kD band that is identical to the molecular weight of the leukocyte type of 12-LO. These results indicate that a leukocyte type of 12-LO RNA and protein are expressed in HSMC, HAEC, and MO. Further, angiotensin II upregulates 12-LO activity and expression in HSMC, supporting a role for this 12-LO pathway in human vascular disease.
The Limitations of Resistance Coupled Amplification

It is demonstrated that the frequency response curve of a resistance coupled amplifier is identical to that of an idealized tuned amplifier. Certain theoretical limitations on the stage gain and the band of frequencies amplified are derived, and the practical limitations are estimated. The use of a pliodynatron as a resistance coupled amplifier in order to overcome certain of the limitations is suggested. Curves and formulas are presented which will aid in the design of amplifiers by Luck's method. Analogous formulas for tuned amplifiers are derived.
Victim of Success: American Dominance and Terrorism

While terrorist attacks against American interests represent an important topic, few studies use international relations theory and a rigorous statistical methodology to examine their occurrence. I...
Some Combinatorial Aspects of Paired Comparisons

SYNOPTIC ABSTRACTIn paired comparison experiments, two alternatives, of a set of alternatives exhibiting some common but quantitatively intractable quality, are compared at a time. We assume that judgments on each pair may end up in ties apart from one alternative being preferred to another. In such a situation, we define and find (a) a measure of consistency in preference of judges - distribution of the measure and related tests of hypotheses, (b) a measure of agreement among the judges – distribution and related tests of hypotheses. We also find distributions of scores obtained by the alternatives (objects) and of their related functions and answer the questions like (i) what score must a specified object get to be regarded as significantly better than average? (ii) what constitutes a significant difference in scores between two specified objects?
The frozen library: a model for twenty-first century libraries

Far from being ‘paperless’, libraries of the 21st century will not wholly convert from print to electronic formats, as many have predicted. Instead, libraries of the future will combine information in many formats, print and non‐print, and partition their collections into various electronic, computerised, media and print formats: in effect ‘freezing’ portions of the collection in their most appropriate formats based on the content and usage of the materials, in somewhat the same way as libraries of the late 20th century ‘froze’ their catalogues during their retrospective conversion projects. As part of the coming climatic adaptation, a new and important occupation of future libraries will be the design, construction and maintenance of unique, value‐added databases to hold information that is immediately pertinent to the specific needs of the library's patrons. In this new type of librarianship, the lines separating librarian, researcher and publisher will become flexible in order to capture information needed immediately by library users.
Iterative Development of an Application to Support Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Data Analysis of Proteins

The CONNecticut Joint University Research (CONNJUR) team is a group of biochemical and software engineering researchers at multiple institutions. The vision of the team is to develop a comprehensive application that integrates a variety of existing analysis tools with workflow and data management to support the process of protein structure determination using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). The use of multiple disparate tools and lack of data management, currently the norm in NMR data processing, provides strong motivation for such an integrated environment. This manuscript briefly describes the domain of NMR as used for protein structure determination and explains the formation of the CONNJUR team and its operation in developing the CONNJUR application. The manuscript also describes the evolution of the CONNJUR application through four prototypes and describes the challenges faced while developing the CONNJUR application and how those challenges were met.
Transforming the it Organization for the State of Virginia

Abstract State government IT organizations have traditionally been quite decentralized, but several factors are currently moving them toward increased centralization. Based on research primarily from private sector organizations, this article first describes some advantages and disadvantages associated with various IS governance designs. Following a brief discussion of special governance issues in state governments, the current transformation underway for the IT organization in the state of Virginia is then presented, along with a discussion of key success factors.
Lymphatics in lymphangioleiomyomatosis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

The primary function of the lymphatic system is absorbing and transporting macromolecules and immune cells to the general circulation, thereby regulating fluid, nutrient absorption and immune cell trafficking. Lymphangiogenesis plays an important role in tissue inflammation and tumour cell dissemination. Lymphatic involvement is seen in lymphangio- leiomyomatosis (LAM) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). LAM, a disease primarily affecting females, involves the lung (cystic destruction), kidney (angiomyolipoma) and axial lymphatics (adenopathy and lymphangioleiomyoma). LAM occurs sporadically or in association with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). Cystic lung destruction results from proliferation of LAM cells, which are abnormal smooth muscle-like cells with mutations in the TSC1 or TSC2 gene. Lymphatic abnormalities arise from infiltration of LAM cells into the lymphatic wall, leading to damage or obstruction of lymphatic vessels. Benign appearing LAM cells possess metastatic properties and are found in the blood and other body fluids. IPF is a progressive lung disease resulting from fibroblast proliferation and collagen deposition. Lymphangiogenesis is associated with pulmonary destruction and disease severity. A macro- phage subset isolated from IPF bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) express lymphatic endothelial cell markers in vitro, in contrast to the same macrophage subset from normal BALF. Herein, we review lymphatic involvement in LAM and IPF.
Perceptual Information of Images and the Bias in Homogeneity-based Segmentation

Semantic image segmentation aims to partition an image into separate regions, which ideally corresponds to different real-world objects. Many segmentation algorithms have been proposed, exploiting a wide variety of image features and characteristics. It has been shown through empirical studies that segmentation methods that assume a good segmentation partitions an image into different homogeneous regions are likely to fail in non-trivial situations, while methods based on perceptual organization generally generate more favorable segmentations. Yet no formal justification has been provided. In this paper, we propose an information measure for images, the perceptual information, based on human visual perception organization. Using perceptual information, we justify that homogeneity-based segmentation methods are inherently biased, and by incorporating knowledge, perceptual organization can overcome the bias and generate better segmentations.
Molecular Mechanisms Controlling Functional Voltage-Gated K+Channel Diversity and Expression in the Mammalian Heart

Depolarization-activated, Ca2+-independent, outward K+ currents contribute to determining the magnitude and the duration of action potentials in cardiac cells. Several distinct types of voltage-gated K+ currents that serve these functions have been characterized (Anumonwo et al., 1991; Barry and Nerbonne, 1996). Important among these are the transient outward currents, I to,f and I to,s’ and several components of delayed rectification, including I Kr (I Kr(rapid)), I Ks (I K(slow)), and I Kur (I K(ultrarapid)), and others. There are interspecies differences in the expression of the various voltage-gated, cardiac K+ currents, as well as regional differences amongst myocytes from different regions of the heart within a single species. These distinct K+ current expression patterns contribute to the variability in action potential waveforms recorded in different regions of the heart (Antzelevitch et al., 1994; Barry and Nerbonne, 1996). Importantly, however, the time- and voltage-dependent properties of the various I t0 and I K currents in different cardiac cell types (and species) are quite similar, suggesting that the molecular identity of the K+ channels underlying these currents is predictable. A number of voltage-gated K+ channel (Kv) pore-forming (α) and accessory (β and minK) subunits are expressed in or have been cloned from the heart. A variety of experimental approaches have been exploited to define the relationships between these subunits and the functional voltage-gated K+ channels in cardiac cells. Considerable progress has been made in defining these relationships, and all of the results obtained to date (discussed in detail in subsequent sections) suggest that distinct molecular entities underlie the electrophysiologically distinct types of voltage-gated K+ currents/ Channels in myocardial cells.
Electroactive polymers as actuators

Electroactive polymers (EAP) are actuators that most closely emulate biological muscles compared to any other actuators that are human-made; therefore they earned the moniker “artificial muscles.” The materials that were developed in the early days of this field generated limited actuation strain and therefore received relatively little attention. However, over the last years a series of EAP materials has emerged that exhibits a significant shape change in response to electrical stimulation. Their capability allowed the production and demonstration of various exciting and novel mechanisms including robot fish, catheter steering elements, miniature grippers, loudspeakers, fishlike blimps, and dust-wipers. Novel applications such as microfluidic systems and tissue engineering have also emerged. The impressive advances in improving their actuation strain are attracting the attention of many engineers and scientists from many different disciplines. These materials are particularly attractive to biomimetic applications since they can be used to make biologically inspired intelligent robots and other mechanisms. Increasingly, EAP-actuated mechanisms are being engineered with large application potential. This chapter reviews the state of the art, challenges, and potential applications of EAP materials.
Approaches to the Byzantine Family. Edited by Leslie Brubaker and Shaun Tougher. (Farnham, United Kingdom: Ashgate, 2013. Pp. xxv, 417. $119.95.)

This timely and handsome collection of solid, well‐conceived, and original studies by twenty‐one diverse international contributors investigates an important but insufficiently understood subject: ...
Probabilities of Consecutive Integers in Lotto

(2001). Probabilities of Consecutive Integers in Lotto. Mathematics Magazine: Vol. 74, No. 3, pp. 216-222.
Book Review: Paths to Development in Asia: South Korea, Vietnam, China, and Indonesia

(2013). Book Review: Paths to Development in Asia: South Korea, Vietnam, China, and Indonesia. South East Asia Research: Vol. 21, No. 2, pp. 355-359.
Relationships between coprophilous fungi and fecal substrates in a Colorado grassland.

A survey was made of the kinds of fungi which developed fructifications on different coprophilous substrates from a semiarid grassland in Colorado. Fifty-three species were found on approximately 6...
Deliberative Justice and Collective Identity A Virtues-Centered Perspective

Drawing upon insights from virtue ethics, this essay develops a concept of collective identity specifically suited to deliberative democracy: a virtues-centered theory of deliberative justice. View...
Analysis on the Results of Occupational Health Examination of Dust- exposed Workers in Xiangtan City

Objective To investigate the occupational health status of dust- exposed workers in Xiangtan city in 2011, and provide a decision basis for controlling occupational diseases. Methods The results of occupational health examination of 3, 805 dust- exposed workers were retrospectively surveyed and comprehensively analyzed. Results There were 79 workers diagnosed with pneumoconiosis and the detection rate was 2. 08%. 2, 065 workers were diagnosed with the common diseases and abnormal single- parameter,with the detection rate of 54. 27%. The abnormality rates were color Doppler ultrasound( 22. 97%), ECG( 16. 01%),hypertension( 11. 59%),urine routine test( 6. 78%),blood routine test( 6. 20%) and chest X- ray( 3. 55%) orderly. Conclusions Regularly conducting physical examination among dust- exposed workers plays an important role in reducing or controlling pneumoconiosis.