cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electrophysiologic differences in young patients with atrial fibrillation: Influence of preexcitation

Abstract Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation is a common arrhythmia, which may occur in young patients without known structural heart disease, with or without preexcitation. Elimination of an accessory pathway in these patients may prevent not only orthodromic and antidromic tachycardia but also atrial fibrillation. However, abnormalities of atrial conduction and refractoriness have been reported, suggesting that atrial fibrillation may still recur in these patients. In a review of all electrophysiologic studies performed at the authors' institution since January 1990 in patients under age 60 years of age without identifiable heart disease, 24 patients with atrial fibrillation were identified whose electrophysiologic measurements of a right atrial conduction and effective refractory period of the right atrium and accessory pathway were in sinus rhythm. Of these patients, 12 had preexcitation and the other 12 did not. These patients were compared with age- and sex-matched control subjects, 12 with preexcitation without atrial fibrillation and 13 without preexcitation or atrial fibrillation, respectively. Electrophysiologic abnormalities were noted in patients with atrial fibrillation, depending on the presence or absence of preexcitation. In patients with preexcitation, these abnormalities were a shorter refractory period of the right atrium (212±33 ms) and of the accessory pathway (251 ± 27 ms), compared with control subjects (241 ± 27 ms, P P P
On global solutions and monodromy groups of differential equations having at least two singularities on the Riemann sphere

Abstract In this paper, global closed form solutions of multi-parameter families of second order linear differential equations having at least two singular points on the Riemann sphere C are determined. Some of these equations have an arbitrary finite number of regular and/or irregular singular points while others have infinitely many isolated singular points which accumulate to a finite number of singular points on C . Therefore, these equations are generalizations of well-known equations of mathematical physics including Euler's equation, the hypergeometric equation and Heun's equation. The monodromy groups of all of these equations are determined.
Architectural accessibility and reading complexity of US state e-government for older adult users

The US aging population can benefit greatly from e-government resources because of their immediate availability. Unfortunately, older adults may encounter web barriers preventing access to e-government resources. This study assessed potential barriers associated with state e-government in terms of link descriptions, navigational depth, and reading complexity. Results showed that most state sites were not readily accessible by older adults. Only 5% had descriptive homepage links navigating directly to senior resources. Fifteen percent required navigation through four or more secondary pages to access senior resources. Over 91% of sampled content targeting seniors had a reading grade level higher than eighth grade.
Coagulopathy secondary to vitamin K deficiency caused by severe diarrhea.

The presentation of an ill appearing patient with profuse diarrhea should raise a concern for systemic effects beyond dehydration. We describe a woman who presented to the Emergency Department (ED) due to severe diarrhea who had a significant coagulopathy secondary to depletion of vitamin K dependent clotting factors.
A flaw in equations for predicting chromatic differences

Many formulas for predicting perceived color differences require that three terms be squared prior to the extraction of the square root of their sums. Two of these terms relate to chromatic differences measured along tritan and red-green axes. The root-mean-square calculational procedure predicts that the relative directions of simultaneous chromaticity changes along these principal axes should not affect the perceived color difference. Experimental data are presented which strongly disconfirm this prediction.
Shift operators and state-affine system theory

Using a transform representation, a state-affine realization theory for a Volterra series input-output map is presented. The approach involves the definition of certain shift operators on linear spaces associated with the transforms of the kernals in the Volterra series. The result is a realization algorithm that is extremely easy to implement. The approach also yields a theory of minimality, span-reachability, and observability for infinite degree state-affine systems.
Evaluation of the temperature integral by programmable calculator

Abstract In the analysis of TG curves to extract kinetic data approximation of the temperature integral must be made. Currently available programmable calculators and small computers make it possible to do numerical integration quickly and accurately as part of the kinetic treatment. It is necessary, however, to understand the limits of accuracy of the results and the factors affecting the computations. The results of several of these factors have been evaluated. The data presented provide a basis for evaluating and comparing such numerical methods.
Returns to scale in the Eastern United States logging industry

Abstract This study utilized financial records of private logging firms to examine if returns to scale exist in the logging industry in the Eastern United States. A total of 658 observations of contractor's logging costs and production collected for fiscal years 1988–2007 from 12 states were used in the analysis. A Cobb–Douglas production function was estimated based on six cost input categories using fixed and random effects estimation procedures for testing panel data. A Hausman specification test indicated that the fixed effects model was the preferred estimation procedure. The results of the F-test suggested that at best there were constant returns to scale, and at worst these logging operations were characterized by decreasing returns to scale. This finding indicates that strategies for improving competitiveness of the logging industry need to focus, to a greater extent, on profits and emphasize recovery of all logging costs as variable costs.
A Deflationary Theory Of Diachronic Identity

Substantive theories of diachronic identity have been offered for different kinds of entities. The kind of entity whose diachronic identity has received the most attention in the literature is person, where such theories as the psychological theory, the body theory, the soul theory, and animalism have been defended. At the same time, Wittgenstein's remark that ‘to say of two things that they are identical is nonsense, and to say of one thing that it is identical with itself is to say nothing at all’ suggests that the idea of further analysing identity is mistaken at root. I shall offer a simple, deflationary theory that reduces diachronic identity to quantification, synchronic identity and existence at a spacetime location (or at a time, for non-spatial entities). On logical grounds, the theory is guaranteed to have no counterexamples. Because the theory is guaranteed to have no counterexamples, all the imaginative examples offered as intuitive support for theories of personal identity are going to be eit...
Identification of molecular markers associated with leptine production in a population of Solanum chacoense Bitter

Solanum chacoense Bitter, a wild relative of the cultivated potato, produces several glycoalkaloids, including solanine, chaconine, and the leptines. The foliar-specific leptine glycoalkaloids are believed to confer resistance to the Colorado Potato Beetle (CPB). Using two bulked DNA samples composed of high- and low-percent leptine individuals from a segregating F1 population of S. chacoense, we have identified two molecular markers that are closely linked to high percent solanine+chaconine and, conversely, to nil/low percent leptine. One of these, a 1,500-bp RAPD product (UBC370-1500), had a recombination value of 3% in the F1 progeny, indicating tight linkage. UBC370-1500 mapped to the end of the short arm of potato chromosome 1, in the region of a previously mapped major QTL for solanidine, from a S. tuberosum (solanidine)×S. berthaultii (solasodine) cross. Taken together, these results suggest that either (1) a major locus determining solanidine accumulation in Solanum spp. is on chromosome 1 in the region defined by the RFLP markers TG24, CT197, and CT233, or (2) this region of chromosome 1 may harbor two or more important genes which determine accumulation of steroidal aglycones. These findings are important for the genetics of leptine (as well as other glycoalkaloid) accumulation and for the development of CPB-resistant potato varieties.
Hunting and overhunting in the Levantine Late Middle Palaeolithic

We examine the larger mammals from late Middle Palaeolithic Kebara Cave (Israel), and offer eight principal conclusions concerning Neanderthal hunting activities at the site. (1) Regardless of prey size, most procurement was by hunting, not scavenging. The major prey were gazelle and fallow deer, but also aurochs, red deer, and boar. (2) Hunting was seasonal, with most hunts in winter and/or spring. (3) Hunters took male and female deer in similar numbers, but a preponderance of female gazelle. These sex ratios probably reflect local availability and encounter rates. (4) More juvenile deer than juvenile gazelle were taken. The frequency of juveniles has not been severely impacted by taphonomic processes. Because of their small size and limited body fat, juveniles were probably low-ranked resources by comparison to their adult counterparts and may often have been excluded from the hunters' optimal diet. If so, fluctuations in the numbers of juveniles do not track changes in hunting season, but instead indi...
Wallerian degeneration and hyperalgesia after peripheral nerve injury are glutathione-dependent

Experimental inflammatory compression injury to the sciatic nerve (chronic constriction injury, CCI) induces Wallerian degeneration of axons and damages non-neuronal cells at the injury site in association with the development of exaggerated pain-like behavior, or hyperalgesia, to noxious thermal stimuli in the affected anatomical area. We examined whether glutathione, one of whose many functions is an important endogenous antioxidant, influenced resulting neuropathology and hyperalgesia following CCI. Dietary supplementation of the amino acid N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC), a rate-limiting component of glutathione production, beginning 1 day prior to CCI significantly diminished both Wallerian degeneration, measured by quantitative morphometry of myelinated fibers, and thermal hyperalgesia. NAC treatment raised nerve glutathione levels compared to untreated nerves, as indicated using hemeoxygenase-1 (hsp32) immunoreactivity as a marker of glutathione depletion. Because NAC is also known to have antioxidant abilities, studies simultaneously inhibited glutathione synthesis, and results demonstrated no significant reduction in resulting neuropathology or hyperalgesia. Delaying NAC administration to post-injury times consistently decreased hyperalgesia, although not significantly. This study identifies glutathione levels, and presumably oxidative stress, as important determinants of the neuropathological and behavioral consequences of nerve injury, and suggests that dietary supplementation of NAC constitutes an effective pre-emptive therapeutic strategy for situations involving painful nerve injury, such as occurs during surgery.
Multi-level non-LTE radiative transfer in expanding shells

Abstract We present a new and general method for the solution of complex multi-level non-LTE radiative transfer problems both in static and moving media. The method is based on the approximate Λ-iteration method and is a direct extension of the scheme devised by Rybicki and Hummer (1991). We demonstrate that this method is able to treat both active continua and overlapping lines with relatively small amount of computer resources. Some simplified test cases are presented and discussed.
Yersinia enterocolitica: Guidelines for Serologic Diagnosis of Human Infections

In the United States the diagnosis of human infection due to Yersinia enterocolitica is usually achieved by recovery of the microorganism. Serology as a diagnostic adjunct has been used minimally because of the absence of sufficient guidelines for interpretation of agglutinin titers. The serologic response among three groups of subjects (control, febrile, and infected) was assessed, and the serologic diagnosis of Y. enterocolitica infection was found to be multifactorial. Except in well-circumscribed outbreaks, agglutinin titers must be interpreted on an individual basis, taking into consideration the patient's age and underlying disease and the antibiotics and immunosuppressive agents being administered. Other factors affecting interpretation are the prevalence of a given serogroup of Y. enterocolitica in the community, the nature of antigen used, and the awareness of prozone phenomena. Agglutinin titers in the range of 1:128 in previously normal, healthy individuals are suggestive of infection; negative or minimal titers (greater than or equal to 1:32) do not rule out yersiniosis in an infant or in an immunosuppressed patient. Serology appears to be a secondary alternative to the more definitive cultural endeavors for use in diagnosis.
In Vivo Inactivation of the Mycobacterial Integral Membrane Stearoyl Coenzyme A Desaturase DesA3 by a C-Terminus-Specific Degradation Process

DesA3 (Rv3229c) from Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a membrane-bound stearoyl coenzyme A Delta(9) desaturase that reacts with the oxidoreductase Rv3230c to produce oleic acid. This work provides evidence for a mechanism used by mycobacteria to regulate this essential enzyme activity. DesA3 expressed as a fusion with either a C-terminal His(6) or c-myc tag had consistently higher activity and stability than native DesA3 having the native C-terminal sequence of LAA, which apparently serves as a binding determinant for a mycobacterial protease/degradation system directed at DesA3. Fusion of only the last 12 residues of native DesA3 to the C terminus of green fluorescent protein (GFP) was sufficient to make GFP unstable. Furthermore, the comparable C-terminal sequence from the Mycobacterium smegmatis DesA3 homolog Msmeg_1886 also conferred instability to the GFP fusion. Systematic examination revealed that residues with charged side chains, large nonpolar side chains, or no side chain at the last two positions were most important for stabilizing the construct, while lesser effects were observed at the third-from-last position. Using these rules, a combinational substitution of the last three residues of DesA3 showed that either DKD or LEA gave the best enhancement of stability for the modified GFP in M. smegmatis. Moreover, upon mutagenesis of LAA at the C terminus in native DesA3 to either of these tripeptides, the modified enzyme had enhanced catalytic activity and stability. Since many proteases are conserved within bacterial families, it is reasonable that M. tuberculosis will use a similar C-terminal degradation system to posttranslationally regulate the activity of DesA3 and other proteins. Application of these rules to the M. tuberculosis genome revealed that approximately 10% the proteins encoded by essential genes may be susceptible to C-terminal proteolysis. Among these, an annotation is known for less than half, underscoring a general lack of understanding of proteins that have only temporal existence in a cell.
The periodic abnormalities of the temperospatial QRS vector in isolated right ventricular overwork.

Abstract The scalar vector leads X, Y, and Z of 43 patients who had heart conditions which caused isolated overwork of the right ventricle were recorded, using the orthogonal lead system of Helm-Frank. With the aid of an electronic computer, polar coordinates of the temperospatial heart vector representing the time-varying resultant potential of ventricular activation were calculated and plotted automatically on a linear time base by the computer output. These data were compared with those in 154 healthy adults reported on previously. The resulting differences, which could be ascribed to chronic overwork and hypertrophy of the right ventricle, were of three characteristic types: (1) abnormal rightward deviation of the heart vector during the period from 40 to 50 msec. after the onset of ventricular activation; (2) abnormal anterior tilting of the heart vector during the period from 35 to 75 msec.; and (3) an abnormal momentary reduction in the spatial magnitude of the heart vector during the period from 40 to 55 msec. The results were compared with a recently reported study of left ventricular overwork, and the pattern of deviation of right and left ventricular overwork is presented graphically against the background of the region of normal scatter to demonstrate the importance of the time function display for the discernment of the characteristic abnormalities.
Near-optimal motion planning for nonholonomic systems using multi-point shooting method

A nonlinear optimal control scheme is developed for mechanical systems subject to nonholonomic constraints. Using the performance criteria involving the final state errors and control effort, the motion planning of nonholonomic systems can be recast as a nonlinear optimal control problem. Based on the variational principle, an optimal path and control depend on the solution of the two-point boundary value problem. A numerical algorithm such as multi-point shooting method can be used to find the solution of the two-point boundary value problem. The proposed optimal control scheme is also applied to an automated vehicle. The simulation results clearly indicate that the optimal control scheme requires smaller control energy and shorter path in comparison to the geometric phase method to steer the nonholonomic system from the initial position to the final position.
Estimated Distributions for Average Daily Consumption of Total and Self-Caught Fish for Adults in Michigan Angler Households

Fish consumption rates play a critical role in the assessment of human health risks posed by the consumption of fish from chemically contaminated water bodies. Based on data from the 1989 Michigan Sport Anglers Fish Consumption Survey, we examined total fish consumption, consumption of self-caught fish, and consumption of Great Lakes fish for all adults, men, women, and certain higher risk subgroups such as anglers. We present average daily consumption rates as compound probability distributions consisting of a Bernoulli trial (to distinguish those who ate fish from those who did not) combined with a distribution (both empirical and parametric) for those who ate fish. We found that the average daily consumption rates for adults who ate fish are reasonably well fit by lognormal distributions. The compound distributions may be used as input variables for Monte Carlo simulations in public health risk assessments.
Comparison and Impact of Substrate Noise Generated by Clocked and Clockless Digital Circuitry

A pseudo-random number generator implemented in asynchronous logic generates one-fifth the RMS substrate noise compared to the equivalent design in synchronous logic. An asynchronous 8051 processor generates one-third the RMS substrate noise as the equivalent synchronous design. The SNR of a second order delta-sigma modulator (DSM) is not affected by substrate noise due to an asynchronous processor while it experiences 15 dB degradation when the synchronous 8051 processor is clocked near integer multiples of the DSM sampling frequency.
Overview of the Symposium on Public Health Significance of Genomics and Eco-Genetics

Genomic and genetic information is rapidly becoming a major element in public health research and emerging public health practice. This symposium reviews the methods, findings, and significance of genome-wide association studies from epidemiological and statistical points of view. We examine infectious and inflammatory components of gene-environment interaction in the respiratory system. We note the need for nutrient and dietary data and many other kinds of environmental exposure data in population-based genomic studies. Then we explore the sufficiency of a well-informed family history for public health and family counseling purposes. Finally, in an era of direct-to-consumer genomic test promotion, we review the evidence on the critical question, will genetic risk profiles motivate individuals and families to choose more healthful behaviors? This symposium builds on the foundation of the symposium on Public Health Genetics in Volume 21 (2000) of the Annual Review of Public Health.
A high-performance capabilities-based network protocol

Capabilities-based networks present a fundamental shift in the security design of network architectures. Instead of permitting the transmission of packets from any source to any destination, routers deny forwarding by default. For a successful transmission, packets need to positively identify themselves and their permissions to the router. A major challenge for a high-performance implementation of such a network is an efficient design of the credentials that are carried in the packet and the verification procedure on the router. Based on our prior work on the design of packet credentials, we present a network protocol that implements these concepts. Our prototype implementation shows that there is some connection setup cost associated with this type of secure communication. However, once a connection is established, the throughput performance of a capabilities-based connection is similar to that of conventional TCP.
PLANT HOMOLOGOUS TO PARAFIBROMIN Is a Component of the PAF1 Complex and Assists in Regulating Expression of Genes within H3K27ME3-Enriched Chromatin

The human Paf1 complex (Paf1C) subunit Parafibromin assists in mediating output from the Wingless/Int signaling pathway, and dysfunction of the encoding gene HRPT2 conditions specific cancer-related disease phenotypes. Here, we characterize the organismal and molecular roles of PLANT HOMOLOGOUS TO PARAFIBROMIN (PHP), the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) homolog of Parafibromin. PHP resides in an approximately 670-kD protein complex in nuclear extracts, and physically interacts with other known Paf1C-related proteins in vivo. In striking contrast to the developmental pleiotropy conferred by mutation in other plant Paf1C component genes in Arabidopsis, loss of PHP specifically conditioned accelerated phase transition from vegetative growth to flowering and resulted in misregulation of a very limited subset of genes that included the flowering repressor FLOWERING LOCUS C. Those genes targeted by PHP were distinguished from the bulk of Arabidopsis genes and other plant Paf1C targets by strong enrichment for trimethylation of lysine-27 on histone H3 (H3K27me3) within chromatin. These findings suggest that PHP is a component of a plant Paf1C protein in Arabidopsis, but has a more specialized role in modulating expression of a subset of Paf1C targets.
Magnetic-Field Sensitivity Enhancement by Magnetoelectric Sensor Arrays

We have investigated an array of magnetoelectric (ME) detection sensor units and an equivalent scheme by which to model their magnetic-field detection sensitivity. The signal response, noise level, and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of an array of m units connected in parallel and serial modes have been analyzed. Our research shows that ME arrays in parallel increase the signal and noise currents by factors of m and radicm, respectively, while ME arrays in series do not increase the signal current but reduce the noise by radicm. Accordingly, we predict and experimentally confirm that the SNR increases by a factor of radicm, for both serial and parallel modes.
The application of allometric scaling principles to predict pharmacokinetic parameters across species

Introduction: Interspecies allometric scaling provides a simple and fast option to interpolate or extrapolate drug dose or pharmacokinetic parameters to a species of interest. Over the years, new scaling methods have been developed in order to improve the performance of these predictions. It is critical to choose appropriate allometric scaling approach(es) to analyze the available pharmacokinetic data. Areas covered: This review provides updated information on the latest allometric scaling methods developed for the most frequently interpolated or extrapolated pharmacokinetic parameters. The different degrees of success and advantages/disadvantages of different methods are compared and contrasted. The pitfalls that affect the accuracy of prediction and the solutions to avoid the risk of prediction errors are discussed. The application of allometric scaling in veterinary medicine is presented. Expert opinion: Although interspecies allometric scaling needs further refinements and has limitations, it is still...
Calculated Effect of Alloy Additions on the Saturation Magnetization of Fe0.80B0.20

The great number of different local environments in amorphous alloys leads to the evolution of complicated non collinear magnetic structures. Alloy additions can affect the magnetic structure in surprising ways. For example, replacement of a small amount of Fe with Co increases the saturation magnetization even though Co has a much smaller moment than Fe. The calculated behavior of the magnetic structure of (Fe(1-x)Mx) 0.8B0.2 with M=Co, Cr, Zr, and Mn 2Zr are presented.
Bearing and Shear Failure of Pipe-Pin Hinges Subjected to Earthquakes

Pipe-pin rotational two-way column hinges were developed by bridge designers at the California Department of Transportation. An extensive experimental and analytical study was undertaken to understand the behavior of pipe-pin hinges and develop design guidelines. As part of the study, six 1:3.5 scale push-off tests were carried out to assess the bearing capacity of the concrete against the pipe. The tests showed that the bearing strength of concrete is as high as twice the concrete compressive strength because of the confining effect of the concrete and reinforcement. In addition, to determine the shear capacity of the concrete-filled steel pipe, six concrete-filled pipe specimens were tested in pure shear, and an empirical design equation was developed to assess their shear strength. In the analytical studies, ABAQUS finite-element (FE) package was used to perform a series of detailed nonlinear analyses. The results showed that the FE models accurately simulated the behavior of the push-off specimens and...
Reversals of the Earth's Magnetic Field

J.A. Jacobs of Cambridge University has written a concise, authoritative, and up-todate text on reversals of the earth's magnetic field. Chapter 1 is a concise summary of the basic attributes of the geomagnetic field and its behavior in different time frames. It explains spherical harmonic analysis of the field and presents the history of acquisition of the data that best represent the recent field. Lastly, it includes a short summary of the origin and electrodynamics of the magnetic field, outlining the current theoretical basis for its generation.
Increased CDK1 activity determines the timing of kinetochore-microtubule attachments in meiosis I.

Chromosome segregation during cell division depends on stable attachment of kinetochores to spindle microtubules. Mitotic spindle formation and kinetochore–microtubule (K-MT) capture typically occur within minutes of nuclear envelope breakdown. In contrast, during meiosis I in mouse oocytes, formation of the acentrosomal bipolar spindle takes 3–4 h, and stabilization of K-MT attachments is delayed an additional 3–4 h. The mechanism responsible for this delay, which likely prevents stabilization of erroneous attachments during spindle formation, is unknown. Here we show that during meiosis I, attachments are regulated by CDK1 activity, which gradually increases through prometaphase and metaphase I. Partial reduction of CDK1 activity delayed formation of stable attachments, whereas a premature increase in CDK1 activity led to precocious formation of stable attachments and eventually lagging chromosomes at anaphase I. These results indicate that the slow increase in CDK1 activity in meiosis I acts as a timing mechanism to allow stable K-MT attachments only after bipolar spindle formation, thus preventing attachment errors.
Obstructing ventral hernias are not independently associated with surgical site infections

Abstract Background Delayed operative intervention in the setting of adhesive bowel obstruction has been recently shown to increase the rate of surgical site infection (SSI), raising the concern for bacterial translocation. The effect of obstruction on SSI rate in patients with ventral hernia is unknown. The aim of this study was to assess the association between bowel obstruction and SSI in patients undergoing ventral hernia repair (VHR). Materials and methods This study is a retrospective database review. Patients undergoing isolated VHR from 2005–2011 were identified from the American College of Surgeons' National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Demographics, comorbidities, and 30-d outcomes were analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression was used for variables with a P value of Results A total of 68,811 patients underwent isolated VHR; 53.1% were male with mean age of 53 ± 15 y and body mass index of 32 ± 8. Hernia-related obstruction was found in 17,058 (24.8%). In patients with obstruction, SSI was more frequent (3.2% versus 2.6%, P Conclusions Obstruction in patients undergoing VHR is not independently associated with SSI. Our results suggest that mesh implantation remains a viable option in this setting. Other confounding comorbid conditions should be assessed at the time of surgical intervention to identify patients appropriate for mesh repair.
Effects of moose Alces alces population density and site productivity on the canopy geometries of birch Betula pubescens and B. pendula and Scots pine Pinus sylvestris

Abstract The instantaneous rate of food intake for mammalian herbivores is controlled by the geometry of plant communities which regulates the encounter rate with bites, bite mass and the processing rate of bites. The geometry of plant canopies is fractal because bite density only occupies a fraction of the entire dimension of the tree canopy and scales allometrically with the search resolution of herbivores. We tested the hypothesis that both the population density of moose Alces alces and site productivity alter the fractal geometry of plant canopies as well as bite mass, and therefore the mechanisms regulating herbivore functional response. Sapling birch Betula pubescens and B. pendula and Scots pine Pinus sylvestris in northern coastal Sweden were sampled in five exclosures that spanned the range of site productivities for the region. Within each exclosure and over four years, the effects of four population densities of moose (0, 10, 30, and 50 moose/1,000 ha) were experimentally simulated within trea...
Design, fabrication and evaluation of tunnel transit-time diodes for V-band and W-band power generation

The authors have successfully designed and tested GaAs p/sup +/n/sup +/n/sup -/n/sup +/ single-drift tunnel injection transit-time (TUNNETT) diodes for V-band and W-band operation. The basic structure and electric field profile of the device are shown. Both designs operated within the range of frequencies expected. The V-band devices produced 26 mW at 58 GHz with 1.4% efficiency. The W-band devices produced 33 mW at 93.5 GHz with 2.65% efficiency. The oscillations had a clean spectrum. The devices were fabricated from molecular beam epitaxy (MBE)-grown material. >
Hemodynamic determinants of cardiogenic shock

Eighteen healthy mongrel dogs were continuously monitored after induction of myocardial infarction and shock by selective injection of 0.2 ml of metallic mercury into the circumflex branch of the left coronary artery. Seven of the dogs expired within 48 h. Among the rest, the longest survival was 11 days, with an average of 5 days. Left ventricular d P/dt max. was the best parameter in differentiating the severity of shock in these two groups of dogs. The decrease of d P/dt was significantly greater over the period of monitoring in the expired dogs, indicating a marked depression of myocardial contractility as the cause of their death. These dogs also had a larger infarct weight at postmortem. By the fourth hour of monitoring, 40% decrease in d P/dt max., along with similar changes in cardiac output and stroke volume, helped in early diagnosis of pump failure in the expired animals. In contrast, the surviving animals showed in all the hemodynamic parameters a distinct trend of improvement by the fifth hour. Therefore, measurement of left ventricular pressure is important in early diagnosis and prognosis in cardiogenic shock. Based on these observations, we have proposed a plan for institution of therapy in cardiogenic shock. The significance of these observations is discussed.
A practical generalization of Fourier-based learning

This paper presents a search algorithm for finding functions that are highly correlated with an arbitrary set of data. The functions found by the search can be used to approximate the unknown function that generated the data. A special case of this approach is a method for learning Fourier representations. Empirical results demonstrate that on typical real-world problems the most highly correlated functions can be found very quickly, while combinations of these functions provide good approximations of the unknown function.
Stroke centers: proof of concept and the concept of proof.

See related article, pages 1102–1107. If we could magically go into the future approximately 50 years, I suspect we would look back at the current time with fond memories. I say this because we may now be living through the “Golden Era” of stroke care. Over the past 10 to 20 years, there have been several major advances in the care of patients with cerebrovascular disease. These include the ability to image in great detail the brain and related vessels, the widespread availability and use of tissue plasminogen activator, the use of endovascular approaches to treat ischemic strokes and aneurysms, and the formation of stroke centers in many parts of the world. These developments have greatly improved our ability to accurately diagnose and treat patients with stroke and improve their outcomes. In 2000, the Brain Attack Coalition (BAC) published recommendations for the formation of Primary Stroke Centers (PSCs).1 This effort was based on concerns that the level of acute stroke care in the United States was uneven at best and suboptimal in many cases. The BAC drew from the experience of Trauma Centers as a paradigm to better organize and enhance the care of patients with an acute stroke. Trauma and stroke do share several important features: (1) both occur without warning; (2) both have very limited time windows to treat and have an improved outcome and (3) both require specialized care facilities, personnel, and protocols to provide optimal care. Many elements of a PSC have been shown to effect a good or improved outcome, including stroke …
Management of a project to train small manufacturers in problem and process simulation techniques: a strategy to enhance the global competitiveness of small industry

A partnership was formed between the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the State of Kansas to establish the mid-America Manufacturing Technology Center (MAMTC). The alliance intends to assist small manufacturers in Kansas in becoming more globally competitive. The engineering management program at the University of Kansas has formed an alliance with NIST/MAMTC to provide simulation training and consulting services to small industry in the region. The authors describe the organization, management, and structure of the project. Examples of manufacturing problems solved by simulation techniques are provided. >
Is Duct Excision Still Necessary for All Cases of Suspicious Nipple Discharge

: Despite the low likelihood of malignancy, it is recommended that all women with pathologic nipple discharge undergo duct excision based on the inadequate sensitivity of diagnostic modalities. However, these data originates prior to recent improvements in breast imaging. We performed a retrospective review of patients evaluated in the setting of modern diagnostic breast imaging. Of 175 women referred to our breast clinic with a primary complaint of nipple discharge, 142 (81%) had suspicious discharge. Of the 23 patients who opted for observation over duct excision, with a mean follow-up of 3.3 years, none have been diagnosed with cancer. Among patients who proceeded with surgery, cancer was diagnosed in seven patients (5%). Six of the seven patients had either an abnormal mammogram or ultrasound. Among 46 patients with suspicious nipple discharge, a normal physical exam and normal diagnostic mammogram/ultrasound, only one malignancy (2%) was identified in a 79-year-old patient with a personal history of breast cancer. In selected patients with suspicious nipple discharge, but normal physical exam and diagnostic imaging, short-term observation with repeat evaluation seems reasonable for patients who do not desire duct excision.
Intelligence and security informatics

L'article traite des technologies de l'information utilisees dans le domaine de la securite nationale, de l'intelligence et du renseignement, dans le contexte des attaques terroristes du 11 septembre 2001. Les AA. proposent un cadre de recherche axe sur la decouverte de connaissances a partir de bases de donnees, pour la lutte contre la criminalite et le terrorisme. Six classes de technologies sont identifiees : partage d'information et collaboration, fouille d'associations criminelles, classification et clusterisation des crimes, fouille de donnees de renseignement, analyse spatio-temporelle des modeles de crimes, analyse des reseaux criminels. L'analyse de huit etudes de cas (allant de la detection de fausse identite a un portail Web intelligent permettant de controler les sites web criminels) demontrent le potentiel des technologies d'intelligence et de securite informatique pour contribuer aux missions critiques de la defense nationale.
The role of demographic factors in the institutionalization of the elderly.

This study, based on data from the 1980 census, is concerned with clarifying the relation of demographic factors to institutionalization of the very old. Particular scrutiny was given to the role o...
Endoscopic assessment of failed fundoplication: a case for standardization.

Preoperative endoscopic assessment of the failed fundoplication is instrumental in diagnosis and surgical management. Endoscopy is a routine and essential part of the workup for a failed fundoplication, but no clear guidelines exist for reporting endoscopic findings. This study aimed to compare endoscopic findings reported by community physicians (gastroenterologists and surgeons) with the findings of the authors (esophageal center) for patients who underwent reoperative intervention after a previous antireflux procedure. Retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database was performed to identify patients who underwent reoperation after a failed antireflux operation between 1 December 2003 and 30 June 2010. Endoscopic findings as reported by the outside physician and by the esophageal center endoscopist were reviewed and compared. During the study period, 229 patients underwent reoperation. Of these patients, 20 did not have endoscopy performed by an outside physician and were excluded from the study, leaving 208 patients. The endoscopic reports of the esophageal center physician included 97 cases of hiatal hernia (64 type 1 and 33 types 2 and 3), 52 slipped fundoplications, 61 disrupted fundoplications, 30 intrathoracic fundoplications, 25 twisted fundoplications, 14 two-compartment stomachs, and 27 cases of Barrett’s esophagus. Outside physicians identified 68% of the hiatal hernias and 61% of the paraesophageal hernias reported by the authors. Only 32% of the outside reports mentioned a previous fundoplication. Furthermore, only 17% of the slipped fundoplications and 30% of the disrupted fundoplications were so described. Outside physicians identified 19 of the 27 patients with Barrett’s esophagus. Fundoplication changes described by the general endoscopist are inadequate. With an increasing population of patients who have undergone prior antireflux surgery, incorporation of fundoplication assessment in an endoscopic curriculum may be helpful.
An Overview of MicroRNA

Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as central posttranscriptional regulators of gene expression. miRNAs regulate many key biological processes, including cell growth, death, development and differentiation. This discovery is challenging the central dogma of molecular biology. miRNAs have been known to be involved in development, cell proliferation and apoptosis. Several reports have recently shown that miRNAs might also be involved in filtering out gene expression noise by regulating positive regulatory loops in cells. Loss- or gain-of-function of specific miRNAs appears to be a key event in the genesis of many diverse diseases. Recent studies have shown that miRNAs are important during heart development and adult cardiac physiology, and modulate a diverse spectrum of cardiovascular functions in vivo. miRNAs have been shown to regulate pathways controlled by genes like p53, MYC and RAS, which are closely related to cancer. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of miRNA binding sites are associated with gene expression levels of the target alleles and cancer. Finally, these miRNA studies also have implications for understanding complex pathways, e.g., interactions between miRNAs, cell signaling and transcription factors, involved in human diseases, and can lead to potential opportunities in manipulating miRNAs as therapeutic targets.
Antiphase Domain Boundaries in Thin Films of Magnetite

Abstract: Films of Fe3O4 were prepared by sputter deposition onto MgO substrates of both 〈100〉 and 〈110〉 orientations. The films used in this study were mainly 50 nm thick. X-ray diffraction, Mossbauer spectroscopy, and other techniques revealed that the films were stoichiometric single crystals. Electron microscopy showed that the films were essentially dislocation free. Despite this high degree of perfection, the magnetic properties of the films were inconsistent with bulk single crystal properties. For example, the magnetization of the films did not saturate in fields as large as 7 Tesla, while bulk single crystals saturate by 0.1 Tesla.
High prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus in the Reed-Sternberg cells of Hodgkin's disease occurring in Peru

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Hodgkin's disease (HD). This study was undertaken to determine whether the association of EBV with HD showed geographical variation, as in Burkitt's lymphoma. We studied 32 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded cases of HD occurring in Peru. EBV DNA-RNA in situ hybridization was performed using a 30-base biotinylated antisense oligonucleotide complementary to the EBER1 gene of EBV. EBV immunohistochemistry was also performed, using a monoclonal antibody (MoAb) to the latent membrane protein (LMP1) of EBV. Identification of the precise cellular subset staining with EBV was accomplished via double-labeling with MoAbs directed against Reed-Sternberg cells (LeuM1/CD15) and B cells (L26/CD20). EBV RNA was identified in all or virtually all of the Reed-Sternberg cells and variants in 30 of the 32 (94%) cases of HD by in situ hybridization. LMP1 expression was identified in 83% of the EBER1-positive cases. Double-labeling studies confirmed the localization of EBV RNA to CD15-expressing Hodgkin's cells. This study found an extremely high prevalence of EBV in Peruvian HD, in contrast to the much lower percentage of EBV-associated cases of HD occurring in "Western" patients.
Generation of O2 from BaSO4 Using a CO2−Laser Fluorination System for Simultaneous Analysis of δ18O and δ17O

With the observation of mass-independent isotopic anomalies in numerous atmospheric molecules, the ability to measure both delta17O and delta18O in a range of samples is needed. Sulfate oxygen isotopic studies conventionally report only delta18O values. Recent findings indicate that sulfate delta17O and delta18O values, particularly the delta17O value (= delta17O - (0.52)(delta18O)), can provide independent information on the origin, mixing, and transformation of sulfate in the atmospheric and surface environments, which is not resolvable by only delta18O measurements. Existing methods for analyzing sulfate delta17O and delta18O are extremely laborious and demand high-purity BrF5. Here we report a novel method of generating O2 directly from Barite (BaSO4) for simultaneous analysis of delta18O and delta17O by isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS). The method utilizes a CO2-laser fluorination system that can also be used to quantitatively generate O2 from silicates and oxides. Partial but consistent oxygen yields from BaSO4 are obtained for samples >4 mg. Correction factors of +9.4% for delta18O and 4.89% for delta17O are obtained, and there is no deviation in the delta17O value due to the nonquantitative O2 generation. The system may process more than a dozen samples per working day, with analytical error of +/-0.05% and +/-0.8% for delta17O and delta18O, respectively. This new method is ideal for studies emphasizing an accurate sulfate delta17O value.
Test for Toxicity of Coniine to a Polyphagous Herbivore, Heliothis zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Piperidine alkaloids in poison hemlock, Conium maculatum L. (Umbelliferae), are responsible for the plant's acute toxicity toward mammals and other vertebrates. Because of this property, these compounds are often assumed to be toxic to insect herbivores as well. One of these alkaloids, coniine, was bioassayed for toxicity, growth inhibition, and feeding deterrency in the polyphagous species Heliothis zea (Boddie) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Contrary to expectations, coniine showed no biological activity toward H. zea at the concentrations tested.
A Simplified Method for the Estimation of Lecithin in Amniotic Fluid

A simplified method for the determination of lecithin in amniotic fluid by thin-layer chromatography is described. The results are similar to those found in previous reports and are suitable for the clinical prediction of foetal lung maturity. Factors which may influence the interpretation of the results are discussed.
Furthering a behavior analytic account of self- control using relational frame theory

The understanding of self-control from a behavior analytic perspective has developed over the past several decades. Researchers have refined the concept of self-control and developed empirical interventions to support the utilization of self-control training in translational and applied settings. This paper describes self-control training, how interventions have been implemented, and suggestions for future research. Future directions include implementing self-control training procedures from a Relational Frame Theory perspective.
Letter by Gutierrez and Elkind Regarding Article, "Patterns and Implications of Intracranial Arterial Remodeling in Patients With Stroke".

We read with interest the article by Qiao et al,1 in which the authors affirm that there exists evidence of brain arterial outward remodeling that accommodates an expanding intracranial plaque. Our published data from a postmortem sample of brain arteries, however, suggests that such compensatory responses are not found.2 The reasons for this discrepancy may lie in the methods used for each study. First, and most important, the definition of plaque burden used in this study does not represent true plaque burden (ie, intima area) but rather it represents the proportion of the interadventitial area occupied by the wall area. Given this limitation, stating that brain arteries can accommodate plaque burden ≤55% before the lumen narrows is not …