cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Is Isolation of Arrhythmogenic Pulmonary Veins Sufficient for the Long-term Efficacy of Atrial Fibrillation Ablation?

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the commonest cardiac rhythm disorder, affecting about 5% of elderly patients.1 Despite the wide spread prevalence of AF, treatment options for the condition up until recently, were limited. Antiarrhythmic drug therapy which for a long time had been and to some extent still is the cornerstone for treating these patients, has shown a disappointing (≤ 40%) efficacy for long-term maintenance of sinus rhythm.2 The seminal observations by Haissaguerre and colleagues demonstrating AF initiation from electrical depolarizations in the pulmonary veins (PV) and cure of AF in these patients by radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of the PV focus, has led to the emergence of percutaneous catheter based AF ablation.3 Since its original description in 1998, the AF ablation procedure has evolved considerably.4-7 This evolution was the result of several short comings of the original technique (focal ablation) including the inability to expeditiously target multiple evanescent PV foci effectively and the long term consequences of delivering RF energy within the PVs i.e., occurrence of vein stenosis.8-12 Thus an alternative approach was developed where instead of ablating individual foci within the veins, RF lesions are delivered around the circumference of the PV ostium in order to interrupt PV-left atrial (LA) electrical connections and thus achieve PV isolation (PVI).8 Compared with focal AF ablation, PVI has shown a significant enhancement in long term arrhythmia control while dramatically reducing the occurrence of PV stenosis.11, 13 both of which are welcome developments. A potential reason for the enhanced success of PVI may be that the triggers of AF are clustered in close proximity to the vein ostia. However, an alternative explanation for the enhanced success of PVI is that the procedure inadvertently targets LA tissue (around PV os) and so results in modification of the underlying substrate. This hypothesis has been supported by the observation that anatomically guided circumferential PV ostial ablation without necessarily achieving true PVI (entry / exit block) is equally efficacious in achieving long term AF control.5,6 In fact, this observation has led to the development of an anatomically guided incremental ablation strategy which attempts to substantially modify the AF substrate by extensive LA ablation.14-16 However, such an approach has not consistently demonstrated a significant improvement in long term AF control rates as compared with PVI alone, which would suggest that PVs may be critical to the initiation and / or maintenance of AF.18,19 The purpose of this editorial is to provide the readers with a concise overview on the arrhythmogenic potential of PVs and to discuss how best we can identify and target such veins and whether that translates into long term control of AF.
The defective proton-ATPase of uncA mutants of Escherichia coli: ATP-binding and ATP-induced conformational change in mutant α-subunits

Abstract Mutations in the uncA gene of Escherichia coli cause loss of both oxidative phosphorylation and ATP-driven generation of the transmembrane proton gradient. The uncA gene encodes the α-subunit of the F1-sector of the E. coli membrane proton-ATPase. F1-α-subunit from normal (unc+) E. coli binds ATP tightly (KD = 0.1 μm) and undergoes a large ATP-induced conformational change, but the functional role of the ATP-binding site is currently unknown. There is disagreement in the literature as to whether the ATP-binding site is present or lacking in F1-α-subunit from uncA mutant strains. One obstacle in studying this question is the difficulty of purifying mutant α-subunits in native form. In order to circumvent this difficulty we have studied ATP binding and ATP-induced conformational changes in mixtures of F1 subunits obtained by dissociating uncA mutant F1. Anti-α antibody was used in conjunction with immunoblotting to identify the α-subunits in the mixtures. Retention of native conformation by the α-subunits was demonstrated by the fact that the dissociated α-subunits were fully competent to repolymerize with other F1 subunits to yield intact F1 aggregate. The results show that, contrary to previous reports, α-subunits from three catalytically defective uncA mutants do indeed bind ATP and do undergo an ATP-induced conformational change. The binding affinity of α-subunit for ATP was lower than normal in each of the three mutants, but this is not likely to be a significant factor under physiological conditions.
Two New Species of Monobothrium (Cestoda: Carophyllaeidae) from Catostomid Fishes of the Southeastern United States

Abstract Two caryophyllaeid cestodes are described, Monobothrium fossae sp. n. from the blacktail redhorse Moxostoma poecilurum (Jordan) and Monobothrium mackiewiczi sp. n., from the Alabama hog sucker, Hypentelium etowanum (Jordan) from Alabama. M. ulmeri Calentine and Mackiewicz collected from the silver redhorse Moxostoma anisurum Robin and Raney in Lincoln County, Georgia constitutes a new locality record for the cestode, previously unknown south of Tennessee or east of Oklahoma. A table comparing the five North American species of Monobothrium is presented.
Tyrosine phosphorylation of nuclear-membrane protein emerin by Src, Abl and other kinases

X-linked recessive Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EDMD) is caused by loss of emerin, a nuclear-membrane protein with roles in nuclear architecture, gene regulation and signaling. Phosphoproteomic studies have identified 13 sites of tyrosine phosphorylation in emerin. We validated one study, confirming that emerin is hyper-tyrosine-phosphorylated in Her2-overexpressing cells. We discovered that non-receptor tyrosine kinases Src and Abl each phosphorylate emerin and a related protein, LAP2β, directly. Src phosphorylated emerin specifically at Y59, Y74 and Y95; the corresponding triple Y-to-F (`FFF9) mutation reduced tyrosine phosphorylation by ∼70% in vitro and in vivo. Substitutions that removed a single hydroxyl moiety either decreased (Y19F, Y34, Y161F) or increased (Y4F) emerin binding to BAF in cells. Y19F, Y34F, Y161F and the FFF mutant also reduced recombinant emerin binding to BAF from HeLa lysates, demonstrating the involvement of both LEM-domain and distal phosphorylatable tyrosines in binding BAF. We conclude that emerin function is regulated by multiple tyrosine kinases, including Her2, Src and Abl, two of which (Her2, Src) regulate striated muscle. These findings suggest roles for emerin as a downstream effector and `signal integrator9 for tyrosine kinase signaling pathway(s) at the nuclear envelope.
Time‐optimal output control computations for a class of linear tubular processes

Time-optimal output control of a class of tubular processes described by partial differential equations is considered. A special transformation is used and the time-optimal control is derived by using a lumped-parameter theorem, thus circumventing computational complexity associated with distributed-parameter systems. Time-optimal controls are given for a number of examples, thin-wall steam-to-fluid heat exchangers and single-pipe heat exchangers with wall temperature and wall flux control. In some cases a bang-bang control of a related lumped-parameter process may be taken, for all practical purposes, as optimal, for example, a thin-wall steam-to-air heat exchanger. However, in general, time optimal control is complex, requiring a bang-bang control followed by an infinite number of switches between diminishing non-extremal values. On considere le reglage du debit optimal par unite de temps dans le cas de procedes tubulaires decrits par des equations differentielles et partielles. On utilise une transformation speciale et trouve le reglage optimal par unite de temps au moyen d'un theoreme englobant tous les parametres, evitant ainsi les calculs compliques qu'on rencontre dans les systemes ou les parametres sont traites separement. On indique les controles optimaux par unite de temps pour un certain nombre de cas, y compris des echangeurs a paroi mince pour transmettre la chaleur de la vapeur a un fluide et des echangeurs de chaleur a tuyau simple, lesquels possedent un reglage de la temperature de la paroi et de celle de l'ecoulement sur celle-ci. On peut, dans certains cas, considerer comme optimal pour des fins pratiques un reglage par intervalles d'un procede semblable englobant les parametres, par exemple celui d'un echangeur a paroi mince pour transmettre la chaleur de la vapeur a l'air. Toutefois, le reglage du debit par unite de temps est, en general, complexe et exige un controle par intervalles suivi d'un nombre infini de changements entre les valeurs intermediaires qui diminuent.
Mass spectrometric evidence for the anomalous chemical behavior of 11-dehydrothromboxane B2.

Abstract When we subjected 11-dehydrothromboxane B2 (11-DTXB2), a metabolite of arachidonic acid, to standard chemical derivatization procedures we obtained a mixture of several products. Separation of the components was carried out by gas chromatography and their identification was accomplished through the study of their mass spectra, which are presented here. Anomalous behaviors include methylation of allylic and alcoholic hydroxyl groups by diazomethane, unusually slow derivatization of one of the hydroxyl groups with N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)-trifluoroac-etamide (BSTFA) and etherification of another with ethanol. The underlying causes of these abnormal behaviors are not obvious, but appear to be related, at least in part, to the opening/closure of a lactone ring in the molecule. These observations have some bearing on the development of valid procedures for GC-MS quantification of this important marker of thromboxane A2 synthesis in vivo, and of similar compounds.
The influence of the great inequality on the secular disturbing function of the planetary system.

This paper derives the contributionF2* by the great inequality to the secular disturbing function of the principal planets. Andoyer's expansion of the planetary disturbing function and von Zeipel's method of eliminating the periodic terms is employed; thereby, the corrected secular disturbing function for the planetary system is derived. An earlier solution suggested by Hill is based on Leverrier's equations for the variation of elements of Jupiter and Saturn and on the semi-empirical adjustment of the coefficients in the secular disturbing function. Nowadays there are several modern methods of eliminating periodic terms from the Hamiltonian and deriving a purely secular disturbing function. Von Zeipel's method is especially suitable. The conclusion is drawn that the canonicity of the equations for the secular variation of the heliocentric elements can be preserved if there be retained, in the secular disturbing function, terms only of the second and fourth order relative to the eccentricity and inclinations.
Feasibility study for a new compatible quadruplex video recording standard

All the parameters affecting the performance of a video recording system are critically considered and proposals are made for achieving the necessary quality of output with the tape speed reduced to 6 in/s for 2-in wide tape. The new standard calls for reducing head size, track widths and guard bands. Unwanted beat components in the f.m. system are reduced by adopting a super highband system with the black carrier frequency being about 10 MHz and the white carrier in the 12 to 13 MHz region. A pilot tone error correction system is described. Factors affecting audio recording quality are also discussed.
Murine Cytomegalovirus-associated Arteritis

Unique inflammatory lesions affecting the ascending aorta and pulmonary artery of BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice infected with murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) were identified in a pilot and two subsequent experiments to characterize the potential effect of MCMV infection on diet-induced atherosclerotic lesions. Suckling BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice were inoculated with MCMV and subsequently fed either a commercial mouse diet or a synthetic atherogenic diet from weaning. The three experiments varied with respect to the age of the mice at the time of MCMV inoculation and the dose of virus given. The conditions of MCMV exposure were progressively modified in the three experiments to increase the prevalence of MCMV-associated inflam- matory lesions in the pulmonary artery and aorta. In the final experiment, in which suckling mice were inoculated at 9 days of age, MCMV-associated artentic lesions had an observed prevalence at 8 weeks post-inoculation of 87.5% (743) in BALB/c mice on the normal diet and 100% (8/8) in C57BL/6 mice on the normal diet and in both strains on the atherogenic diet. The inflammatory lesions in both vessels were characterized by mononuclear cell infiltrates containing CD3 +, CD4+, and CD8-t lymphocytes. The cellular infiltrates were often more intense on the adventitial surface and infiltrated into the overlying tunica media. The intima was infiltrated by mononuclear cell infiltrates that appeared to contain more macrophages and fewer lymphocytes than did the adventitial infiltrates. Although the prevalence of inflammatory lesions in the pulmonary artery and ascending aorta was independent of the atherogenic diet, lipid accumulation with formation of foam cells within the inflammatory foci was clearly dependent on exposure to the atherogenic diet in both strains. Total arterial lipid accretion in MCMV-inoculated mice of both strains was greater than that in their noninoculated counterparts because of the occurrence of inflammation-associated lipid accretion in addition to the lipid accumulation induced by the atherogenic diet alone. MCMV-associated arteritis can serve as a useful model to examine more fully the possible role of human cytomegalovirus infections in enhancing the pathogenesis of human athero- sclerosis.
Multiplicity analysis of intraparticle char combustion

Abstract This study presents a detailed investigation of the steady-state multiplicity structure of the combustion of porous char particles in an environment of oxygen and nitrogen. Particular emphasis was placed on the effects of thermal radiation on the steady-state features of the problem. A shooting method and a method based on B-spline collocation were employed for the solution of the model equations and the direct location of singular points of the solution loci. Our extensive numerical computations showed that the key parameters for the appearance of multiplicity of solutions higher than three, up to five steady states, are the effective diffusivity and effective thermal conductivity in the porous medium. however, multiplicity of five steady states is found only in a rather small region of the parametric space which lies outside the domain of “feasible” parameter values for low and intermediate porosity values.
Circadian modulation of ultradian oscillation in the body temperature of the golden hamster

Abstract 1. 1. The body temperature rhythm of 52 golden hamsters maintained under a 14L:10D light-dark cycle or constant illumination in the laboratory was recorded by telemetry. 2. 2. Daily or circadian rhythmicity was observed in all animals. High-frequency (ultradian) oscillations were observed in most animals, although they were less regular than circadian oscillations. 3. 3. The amplitude of ultradian oscillations was greater during the dark phase of the light-dark cycle than during the light phase. 4. 4. As determined by chi-square periodogram analysis of 10-day blocks of data, the most common period of ultradian oscillations was 8 h for hamsters maintained under a 14:10 h light-dark cycle and 12 h for hamster maintained under constant light or constant darkness. In animals whose circadian rhythmicity was eliminated by suprachiasmatic lesions, the most common period of ultradian oscillations was 5 h. 5. 5. It is concluded that the body temperature rhythm of golden hamsters has a significant ultradian component that is only under partial control of the circadian system.
A chromatographic study of abnormal urinary amino acid excretion in mutant mice.

Summary Paper chromatography has revealed a proteinuria and generalized aminoaciduria in young mice homozygous for the mutation brain hernia at a time prior to the development of severe polycystic disease. As the polycystic disease becomes established, the urine becomes more dilute than normal. The urine of very young mice of both mutant and normal genotypes has proved to be excellent material for the chromatographic analysis of amino acids. The author acknowledges with thanks many helpful discussions with Prof. L. C. Dunn during the course of this project.
Group Ignition of a Cloud of Coal Particles

Ignition of an isolated single coal particle is known to occur either heterogeneously or homogeneously. While single-particle studies may be useful for dilute coal sprays, their application to burners is limited since ignition occurs in the vicinity of the burners where the spray is dense. Rather than considering an isolated particle, one must consider a collection of particles in order to determine the change in ignition characteristics resulting form particle interactions. Thus, group combustion models have been developed essentially to predict the ignition and combustion characteristics of a larger number of interacting drops/particles. This paper presents results of the ignition characteristics of a spherical cloud of uniformly distributed coal particles in quiescent surroundings using a simple group combustion model. For the conditions studied, the results are as follows: (1) Ignition is heterogeneous if the cloud is dilute and homogeneous if the cloud is dense under the same ambient conditons; (2) there is a minimum ignition time for a given set of initial conditions corresponding to a certain cloud denseness; (3) ignition time is less sensitive to the denseness of the cloud at higher ambient temperatures; and (4) decreased proximate volatile matter can result in either increased or decreased ignition timemore » depending on the cloud denseness (ignition mode). Qualitative comparisons to experimental data are given; however, these comparisons should be approached with caution since the experimental conditions and geometries may be vastly different than those used in the numerical study presented here.« less
Assessment of mandibular growth and response to functional appliance treatment in prepubertal patients with different auxologic categories

Objective To assess mandibular growth and response to functional appliance treatment in different Petrovic's auxologic categories and to investigate diagnostic and prognostic usefulness of the Lavergne-Petrovic's flow diagram. Materials and methods Eighteen patients with class II malocclusion (ANB>/=4 degrees , dental class II) were selected and divided into 4 groups according to the auxologic categories. Category 2 group had 4 patients, category 3 group had 5, category 4 group had 5 and category 5 group had 4. In order to obtain patient's growth curves and detect the correct treatment time, patient's height was measured every 3 months. This method was supported by the cervical vertebral maturation method for the assessment of mandibular growth. Functional appliance and/or class II elastics, during the fixed appliance phase, were used to correct skeletal and dental relationships. Average treatment time was 31 months (Range 28-36 months). CoGn and ANB were detected in pre-treatment and post-treatment radiographs in order to assess mandibular growth. Results The highest growth was in category 5, the lowest in category 2. Rotational type improvement was generally observed. Conclusions In prepubertal class II patients, treatment success not only depends on appliance choice, clinician's ability and correct treatment time, but also on individual growth potential and facial type. Therefore Lavergne-Petrovic's flow diagram could become a great diagnostic and prognostic aid for the orthodontist.
Crime can be prevented if schools teach juvenile offenders to read

Abstract The research shows that learning how to read is a major problem that juvenile offenders face when they attend school. This problem has the most significant affect on their overall academic success in school. For juvenile offenders learning how to read is also critical to a successful transition from a detention center to a school setting. Schools cannot address the needs of youths involved in the juvenile justice system without considering their educational needs. Several studies have shown crime and education are inextricably tied together and that factors like level of achievement in school, student grade retention, school attendance, and graduation rates are related to criminal activity. When students fail to succeed in the school environment, they might choose to search for some other area in which to excel. Incarcerated youths who attend school typically experience chronic academic and behavioral difficulties, truancy, grade retention, and suspension. In addition, their formal ties to schooling are typically disrupted by their dropping out, being expelled, or effectively “pushed out”. This article addresses the following three questions: (1) “What is the reading achievement of the juvenile offender?” (2) “What is the relationship between the reading achievement of juvenile offenders and recidivism?” and (3) “What can schools do to improve the reading achievement of juvenile offenders?”
The use of electricity for house heating in the Tennessee Valley

TODAY several hundred thousand homes throughout the country are being heated satisfactorily with electricity and the number is growing quite rapidly. Five years ago the majority of electrically heated homes were concentrated in only a few areas, but now the use of electric heating is spreading into many places where there was none as recent as 2 years ago. A number of factors are responsible for this widening use. Among the more influential of these is the increasing cost of fuels and the tremendous growth of summer air-conditioning loads on electric distribution systems. Many electric utilities are actively promoting heating to offset the summer peaks created by air conditioning.
Low Fatigue in Epitaxial Pb(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3 on Si Substrates with LaNiO3 Electrodes by RF Sputtering

Epitaxial PZT (001) thin films with a LaNiO3 bottom electrode were deposited by radio-frequency (RF) sputtering onto Si(001) single-crystal substrates with SrTiO3/TiN buffer layers. Pb(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3 (PZT) samples were shown to consist of a single perovskite phase and to have an (001) orientation. The orientation relationship was determined to be PZT(001)[110]∥LaNiO3(001)[110]∥SrTiO3 (001)[110]∥TiN(001)[110]∥Si(001)[110]. Atomic force microscope (AFM) measurements showed the PZT films to have smooth surfaces with a roughness of 1.15 nm. The microstructure of the multilayer was studied using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Electrical measurements were conducted using both Pt and LaNiO3 as top electrodes. The measured remanent polarization P r and coercive field E c of the PZT thin film with Pt top electrodes were 23 μC/cm2 and 75 kV/cm, and were 25 μC/cm2 and 60 kV/cm for the PZT film with LaNiO3 top electrodes. No obvious fatigue after 1010 switching cycles indicated good electrical endurance of the PZT films using LaNiO3 electrodes, compared with the PZT film with Pt top electrodes showing a significant polarization loss after 108 cycles. These PZT films with LaNiO3 electrodes could be potential recording media for probe-based high-density data storage.
Injective modules and prime ideals

Let be a non-empty collection of right ideals of a ring R . A right R-module X is called -injective provided each R-homomorphism ϕ: A → X with A in can be lifted to an R-homomorphism θ: R→X . If R is a commutative Noetherian ring and . = Spec R then every -injective R-module is injective. On the other hand, if R is a commutative Noetherian integral domain of finite global dimension and a non-empty collection of prime ideals of R containing the zero ideal such that every -injective R-module is injective then = Spec R.
Thromboxane A2 receptor density increases during chronic exposure to thromboxane A2 receptor antagonists after porcine carotid bypass

Domestic swine (n=12 in each group) were randomized to daily treatment with the thromboxane A2 (TXA2) receptor antagonist BMS-180291 (group I), aspirin (group II), or no drug (group III) prior to prosthetic carotid graft implantation. Platelet and arterial wall receptor density were measured by equilibrium binding using 125I-BOP. At 6 weeks, means (s.e.m.) platelet receptor density (pmol/mg) had increased in groups I (3.3(0.6) versus 1.8(0.3); Plt0.05) and II (2.6(0.6) versus 1.7(0.2); P<0.05), but not in group III (1.3(0.3) versus 1.2(0.2)). Aortic membrane TXA2 receptor density (fmol/mg) was significantly greater (P<0.05) in groups I (150(50)) and II (68(10)) compared with group III (39(6)). Chronic exposure to a TXA2 receptor antagonist or aspirin is associated with increased platelet and aortic receptor density in pigs. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.
Extracellular MicroRNAs Activate Nociceptor Neurons to Elicit Pain via TLR7 and TRPA1

Intracellular microRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of gene expression. The role of extracellular miRNAs in neuronal activation and sensory behaviors are unknown. Here we report an unconventional role of extracellular miRNAs for rapid excitation of nociceptor neurons via toll-like receptor-7 (TLR7) and its coupling to TRPA1 ion channel. miRNA-let-7b induces rapid inward currents and action potentials in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. These responses require the GUUGUGU motif, only occur in neurons coexpressing TLR7 and TRPA1, and are abolished in mice lacking Tlr7 or Trpa1. Furthermore, let-7b induces TLR7/TRPA1-dependent single-channel activities in DRG neurons and HEK293 cells overexpressing TLR7/TRPA1. Intraplantar injection of let-7b elicits rapid spontaneous pain via TLR7 and TRPA1. Finally, let-7b can be released from DRG neurons by neuronal activation, and let-7b inhibitor reduces formalin-induced TRPA1 currents and spontaneous pain. Thus, secreted extracellular miRNAs may serve as novel pain mediators via activating TLR7/TRPA1 in nociceptor neurons.
No nailing fins to the floor: ambivalent femininities in Anna Melikian's The Mermaid

ABSTRACTAnna Melikian's Rusalka/The Mermaid (2007) stands out in its multiple inscriptions of femininity, as well as in its inconsistencies regarding gender treatment. While the film offers many possibilities for rethinking woman's alterity, Melikian's compliance with traditional gender values complicates the film's sustained analysis. This essay navigates through The Mermaid's conflicting femininities by closely looking at its visual, aural and narrative techniques.
An enantioselective approach to carbapenem antibiotics: formal synthesis of (+)-thienamycin

Abstract An enantioselective synthesis of intermediates in syntheses of thienamycin ( 15 ) and epithienamycin-C ( 16 ) is described.
What's OR-MS?

I believe that college departments' programs fall into two essential categories. The more common and less interesting type is that of the directed program, that is to say, the one which has been set either by the head of the department or by past tradition. As teachers are added to the staff the program goes on without any real searching thought. The other type of program is one that is genuinely thought out by the persons responsible and reflects the methods, ideas, capacities and caprices of various members of the faculty, although sometimes one vigorous member of the group essentially puts his stamp on the program. We will call this type the “freely evolved” program and this is the kind we will talk about.
BDF-like methods for nonlinear dynamic analysis

We present several time integration algorithms of second-order accuracy that are numerically simple and effective for nonlinear elastodynamic problems. These algorithms are based on a general four-step scheme that has a resemblance to the backward differentiation formulas. We also present an extension to the composite strategy of the Bathe method. Appropriate values for the algorithmic parameters are determined based on considerations of stability and dissipativity, and less dissipative members of each algorithm have been identified. We demonstrate the convergence characteristics of the proposed algorithms with a nonlinear dynamic problem having analytic solutions, and test these algorithms with several three-dimensional nonlinear elastodynamic problems involving large deformations and rotations, employing St. Venant-Kirchhoff and compressible Neo-Hookean hyperelastic material models. These tests show that stable computations are obtained with the proposed algorithms in nonlinear situations where the trapezoidal rule encounters a well-known instability.
Neurotensin elevates cytosolic calcium in small cell lung cancer cells.

Abstract The ability of neurotensin (NT) to elevate cytosolic Ca 2+ in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cells was investigated using the fluorescent Ca 2+ indicator Fura 2-AM. Using SCLC cell line NCI-H345, NT elevated cytosolic Ca 2+ levels in a concentration-dependent manner. Using a 10 nM dose, NT and C-terminal fragments such as NT(8–13) but not N-terminal fragments such as NT(1–8) elevated the cytosolic Ca 2+ levels. Because EGTA (5 mM) did not affect the NT response, NT may cause release of Ca 2+ from intracellular stores. These data indicate that SCLC NT receptors may use Ca 2+ as a second messenger.
Closed Anticyclones of the Subtropics and Midlatitudes: A 54-Yr Climatology (1950–2003) and Three Case Studies

The pioneering large-scale studies of cyclone frequency, location, and intensity conducted by Fred Sanders prompt similar questions about lesser-studied anticyclone development. The results of a climatology of closed anticyclones (CAs) at 200, 500, and 850 hPa, with an emphasis on the subtropics and midlatitudes, is presented to assess the seasonally varying distribution and hemispheric differences of these features. To construct the CA climatology, a counting program was applied to twice-daily 2.5° NCEP-NCAR reanalysis 200-, 500-, and 850-hPa geopotential height fields for the period 1950–2003. Stationary CAs, defined as those CAs that were located at a particular location for consecutive time periods, were counted only once.
Effects of adrenalectomy on open-field behavior in rats.

Abstract Two experiments investigated the effects of adrenalectomy (Adx) on open-field defecation and activity in Long-Evans hooded rats. In the first it was found that Adx females defecated significantly more than unoperated controls. In Expt 2 both males and females were included, as well as the appropriate sham-operated groups. Adrenalectomy significantly increased defecation in both sexes as compared to either sham-operated or intact controls. The significantly lower home-cage defecation of Adx groups appears to rule out a general increase in defecation as an explanation of this effect. Adx rats were also significantly less active than controls on Days 3 and 4 of testing as a result of a greater drop in activity over the four days of testing. The defecation scores and activity pattern displayed by Adx animals is characteristic of more “emotional” rats.
The Drought Policy Bureaucracy, Decentralization, and Policy Networks in Post-Apartheid Namibia:

In Namibia in 1990, apartheid was ended, and a democratic form of government was installed; 2 years later, the national government established a system of partially decentralized regional governments. At the same time, the government reacted to the severe drought of 1992 by instituting a national drought relief bureaucracy with particular attention to the predominantly Black African communal areas, which incorporated the new regional councils. This, in turn, created the opportunity for those councils to serve as organizational nodes within widening policy and informational networks related to the drought relief process. These networks incorporated village leaders, ministry officials, and the regional councillors and helped to assure the effective implementation of the drought relief program. This suggests a strong (although not determining) link between informational networks and policy outcomes. This article also makes clear that provided sufficient behavioral responsibility, subnational governmental bod...
Violation of Bell’s inequality for two coupled quantum dots confined in a cavity

A system of two coupled quantum dots entangled through their interaction with a cavity mode, including F\"orster and exciton-phonon interactions, exhibits violation of Bell's inequality at certain interaction times of these dots with the field mode. The effects of relative positions of these dots in the cavity and exciton-phonon and F\"orster interaction strengths on the violation of Bell's inequality are discussed.
Relationships between physical symptoms and pubertal development

Abstract Introduction The purpose of this study was to examine relationships between physical symptoms and pubertal status and timing in adolescents. Method This descriptive study was based on cross-sectional analysis of survey data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health including a school-based sample of more than 20,000 adolescents in grades 7 through 12. Self-reported physical symptoms during the past 12 months were examined. Pubertal development was measured as pubertal status (early, mid, and advanced pubertal) and timing (early timing, on time, and late timing). Results Headaches and musculoskeletal pains were the most commonly reported symptoms among advanced pubertal status respondents. Headache was more prominent among girls; among boys, musculoskeletal complaints were predominant. For both sexes, on-time developers were less likely to report physical symptoms when compared with the two off-timing groups. Among girls, pubertal status and timing were more closely associated with various types of symptoms. Discussion This study underscores the importance of both the objective signs of pubertal changes and youngsters' own perception of their pubertal changes in assessing and addressing physical symptoms.
Testing a Model for Organizational Growth

The reviving interest in the study of organizations has led to a spectacular increase in empirical studies of formal groups. Interest in organizations goes back almost to the beginning of man's recorded speculation about the universe. Recent studies have differed from the earlier ones not only in method and wealth of material but also in the degree of concern with what may be called the internal logic of organization. The political philosophers from Plato to Krabbe and Mary Follett have been concerned with an ethical or normative basis for organizational authority. Sociologists and institutional economists have been generally concerned with the social function of organizations. Only with the emergence of social psychology as a more or less autonomous discipline has the study of the behavior of organizations become a focus of interest.
Magnitude and location of historical earthquakes in Japan and implications for the 1855 Ansei Edo earthquake

[1] Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) intensity assignments IJMA are used to derive intensity attenuation models suitable for estimating the location and an intensity magnitude Mjma for historical earthquakes in Japan. The intensity for shallow crustal earthquakes on Honshu is equal to −1.89 + 1.42MJMA − 0.00887Δh − 1.66logΔh, where MJMA is the JMA magnitude, Δh = (Δ2 + h2)1/2, and Δ and h are epicentral distance and focal depth (km), respectively. Four earthquakes located near the Japan Trench were used to develop a subducting plate intensity attenuation model where intensity is equal to −8.33 + 2.19MJMA −0.00550Δh − 1.14 log Δh. The IJMA assignments for the MJMA7.9 great 1923 Kanto earthquake on the Philippine Sea–Eurasian plate interface are consistent with the subducting plate model; Using the subducting plate model and 226 IJMA IV–VI assignments, the location of the intensity center is 25 km north of the epicenter, Mjma is 7.7, and MJMA is 7.3–8.0 at the 1σ confidence level. Intensity assignments and reported aftershock activity for the enigmatic 11 November 1855 Ansei Edo earthquake are consistent with an MJMA 7.2 Philippine Sea–Eurasian interplate source or Philippine Sea intraslab source at about 30 km depth. If the 1855 earthquake was a Philippine Sea–Eurasian interplate event, the intensity center was adjacent to and downdip of the rupture area of the great 1923 Kanto earthquake, suggesting that the 1855 and 1923 events ruptured adjoining sections of the Philippine Sea–Eurasian plate interface.
The cost-effectiveness of intensive national school-based anti-tobacco education: results from the tobacco policy model.

Objectives. School-based anti-tobacco education using the “social influences” model is known to reduce smoking among youth by 5–56%. Program effectiveness, however, dissipates in 1–4 years. Consequently, opinion leaders have questioned whether a more intensive national educational effort would be economically efficient. To address this question, we evaluated the cost-effectiveness of enhanced nationwide school-based anti-tobacco education relative to the status quo. Methods. To estimate cost-effectiveness, we created the Tobacco Policy Model, a system dynamics computer simulation model. The model relies on secondary data and is designed to calculate the expected costs and public health gains of any tobacco policy or intervention over any time frame. Results. Over 50 years, cost-effectiveness is estimated to lie between $4,900 and $340,000 per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY), depending on the degree and longevity of program effectiveness. Assuming a 30% effectiveness that dissipates in 4 years, cost-effectiveness is $20,000/QALY. Sensitivity analysis reveals that cost-effectiveness varies with cost, survival, and quality-of-life estimates but cost-effectiveness ratios generally remain favorable. Conclusions. Although not cost saving, a much more intensive school-based anti-tobacco educational effort would be an economically efficient investment for the nation.
Update on in vitro cytotoxicity assays for drug development

Background: in vitro cytotoxicity testing provides a crucial means of ranking compounds for consideration in drug discovery. The choice of using a particular viability or cytotoxicity assay technology may be influenced by specific research goals. Objective: Although the high-throughput screening (HTS) utility is typically dependent upon sensitivity and scalability, it is also impacted by signal robustness and resiliency to assay interferences. Further consideration should be given to data quality, ease-of-use, reagent stability, and matters of cost-effectiveness. Methods: Here we focus on three main classes of assays that are at present the most popular, useful, and practical for HTS drug discovery efforts. These methods measure: i) viability by metabolism reductase activities; ii) viability by bioluminescent ATP assays; or iii) cytotoxicity by enzymes ‘released’ into culture medium. Multi-parametric technologies are also briefly discussed. Results/conclusion: Each of these methods has its relative merits...
Do Democracies Attract Portfolio Investment? Transnational Portfolio Investments Modeled as Dynamic Network

For many, transnational capital is an important driving force of economic globalization. However, we know little about the political determinants for cross-border portfolio investments. Recent econ...
Cloning and characterization of the human colipase cDNA.

Pancreatic lipase hydrolyzes dietary triglycerides to monoglycerides and fatty acids. In the presence of bile salts, the activity of pancreatic lipase is markedly decreased. The activity can be restored by the addition of colipase, a low molecular weight protein secreted by the pancreas. The action of pancreatic lipase in the gut lumen is dependent upon its interaction with colipase. As a first step in elucidating the molecular events governing the interaction of lipase and colipase with each other and with fatty acids, a cDNA encoding human colipase was isolated from a {lambda}gt11 cDNA library with a rabbit polyclonal anti-human colipase antibody. The full-length 525 bp cDNA contained an open reading frame encoding 112 amino acids, including a 17 amino acid signal peptide. The predicted sequence contains 100% of the published protein sequence for human colipase determined by chemical methods, but predicts the presence of five additional NH{sub 2}-terminal amino acids and four additional COOH-terminal amino acids. Comparison of the predicted protein sequence with the known sequences of colipase from other species reveals regions of extensive identity. The authors report, for the first time, a cDNA for colipase. The cDNA predicts a human procolipase an suggests that there may also bemore » processing at the COOH-terminus. The regions of identity with colipase from other species will aid in defining the interaction with lipase and lipids through site-specific mutagenesis.« less
Reaction chemistry and reaction engineering principles in catalyst design

Abstract A strategy for the design of new catalyst systems is outlined. Using information from known reaction chemistries, novel catalyst systems can be prepared by “remodeling” the known catalysts to effectively combine their reaction chemistries with known reaction engineering concepts. Three examples of this strategy are illustrated. A brief discussion concerning the future prospects for this strategy of catalyst design is presented.
Flavonoids inositol esters and pantolactone homologues from marshallia tenuifolia

Abstract The chloroform extract of the aerial parts of Marshallia tenuifolia afforded p -hydroxybenzaldehyde, three new prenylated derivatives of 2,4-dihydroxy-6-methoxybenzaldehyde, one new 7,6-pyranoflavonol, a new 7,8-pyranoflavan-3-ol and a new prenylated flavan-3-ol, four new polyacylated derivatives of d - (or l -) inositol, a homologue of pantolactone and a diangelyl glucoside of the latter. The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods.
Work Is Desirable/Loathsome

Interpreting and predicting the social world requires assumptions about human tendencies. Empirical validation of such premises, however, is not available. They are, essentially, beliefs held by th...
The Developmental Model of Supervision as Reflected in the Experiences of Field Supervisors and Graduate Students.

Schools of social work invest an enormous amount of time and money training new field instructors to ensure their ability to help students integrate the knowledge, skill, and values of the profession. Some schools, like the one described here, frame their training in the context of a developmental model of supervision. Such models presume that student professional development follows a series of sequential, hierarchical stages from less to more competent and that supervision interventions differ at each stage of development. There is, however, limited empirical support to suggest how supervisors (field instructors) use these models while training MSW students. Using a mixed method design, this study demonstrates that the sampled supervisors assumed different roles and varied their approach to supervision and the type of feedback provided on process recordings, in accordance with developmental models, when working with first- and second-year MSW students. These findings have implications for training field...
Genetic Similarity, Extrapair Paternity, and Offspring Quality in Savannah Sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis)

The occurrence of extrapair paternity (EPP) in birds is often attributed to the action of good-genes sexual selection whereby females ‘‘trade up’’ on male genetic quality by allocating fertilizations to males with better genes than those possessed by their social mate. To date, most studies of EPP in birds focus on absolute measures of male quality as a criterion for female choice, although multiple mating by females in other taxa is more commonly ascribed to benefits associated with the individual optimization of offspring genotypes. Here, we examine whether the genetic similarity of social mates predicts female mating patterns in a population of Savannah sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis) where as many as 70% of adults produce extrapair young (EPY). We consider the influence of genetic similarity across all stages of a female’s decision-making process, from pair formation through the decision to produce EPY, to the allocation of fertilizations to specific extrapair sires. In a 4-year study of 175 males, 206 females, and 506 offspring, females were more likely to produce EPY when paired to genetically similar males, but they did not appear to be influenced by the size, age, mass, individual heterozygosity, and genetic diversity of their social mates. In paired comparisons, females were almost twice as likely to decrease their genetic similarity to males when producing EPY as they were to increase it. Nonetheless, females did not select especially dissimilar males when mating outside the pair-bond nor did they pair disassortatively with respect to genetic similarity. Relative measures of male quality may influence mating patterns in birds, but only at some points in a female’s decision-making process. Key words: EPP, genetic compatibility, microsatellites, relatedness, sexual selection. [Behav Ecol]
Partial network coding with cooperation: A cross-layer design for multi-hop wireless networks

In this paper we propose a partial network coding with cooperation (PNC-COOP) scheme that mitigates error propagation due to channel imperfections and achieves acceptable throughput in wireless ad hoc networks. It combines opportunistic network coding with decode-and-forward cooperative diversity. The proposed PNC-COOP is a decentralized strategy which provides substantial benefits when transmission power is a concern. Simulation of a 16-node wireless mesh network when PNC-COOP is applied to 11–15% of the transmitted packets results in 5 dB BER performance improvement compared to opportunistic network coding. It reduces the average transmitted energy per node by 9–10% as well as the overall average transmitted energy of the network by 3.5%.
Biochemical changes associated with development and reversal of cardiac hypertrophy in spontaneously hypertensive rats

This study is the first report describing the sequence of biochemical alterations of myocardium during the progression of naturally occurring hypertrophy in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and then with its reversal by alpha-methyldopa therapy. Changes in DNA, RNA, hydroxyproline, as well as incorporation of 14C lysine into cardiac myosin, were compared with the pattern found in suitably matched controls. A significant increase in RNA, hydroxyproline, and 14C incorporation was observed in SHRs. Antihypertensive treatment caused reversal of hypertrophy and normalization of all biochemical parameters except hydroxyproline, the concentration of which increased significantly as myocardial weight decreased. These compositional changes may help explain the conflicting result of the haemodynamic effects of cardiac hypertrophy.