cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Challenges associated with the incorporation of digital radiography into a picture archival and communication system

Digital radiography (DR) has recently emerged as an attractive alternative to computed radiography (CR) for the acquisition of general radiographic studies in a digital environment. It offers the possibility of improved spatial and contrast resoltuion, decreased radiation dose due to improved effieincy of detection of x-ray photons, and perhaps most improtantly, holds out the promise of increased technologist productivity. To achieve maximum efficiency, DR must be completely integrated into existing information systems, including the hospital and radiology information systems (HIS/RIS) and, when present, the picture archival and communication system (PACS). The early experience with the integration of DR at the Baltimore Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) has identified several challenges that exist to the successful integration of DR. DR has only recently been defined as a separate Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) modality and images obtained will, at first, be listed under the category of CR. Matrix sizes with some DR products on the market exceed the current size limitations of some PACS. The patient throughput may be substantially greater with DR than with CR, and this in combination with the larger size of image files may result in greater demands for network and computer performance in the process of communication with the HIS/RIS and PACS. Additionally, in a hybrid department using both CR and DR, new rules must be defined for prefetching and display of general radiographic studies to permit these examinations to be retrieved and compared together. Advanced features that are planned for DR systems, such as dualenergy subtraction, tomosynthesis, and temporal subtraction, will likely require additional workstation tools beyond those currently available for CR.
The temporal course of visual pattern encoding: effects of pattern goodness.

Subjects typically display superior reproduction of good (redundant, symmetrical) visual patterns compared with poor ones. This pattern goodness effect could conceivably involve encoding processes, short-term memory processes, or response processes. The present experiments explored the time course of wholistic encoding of Garner dot patterns as a function of tachistoscopic exposure time, delay of backward masking, and post-mask shadowing. Within the specific framework of additive factors theory, Experiment I showed: (a) equal rates of encoding for all patterns since comparable slopes were obtained for the recall X processing time functions; and (b) superior absolute recall for good patterns since different intercepts were obtained. Experiment II demonstrated that when degree of encoding was initially equalized for all patterns, the rate of extraction of further information remained constant over available processing time and was unaffected by pattern goodness, slopes and intercepts for good versus poor pa...
Isolation and biogenesis of a new peptide from pancreatic islets

Pancreatic polypeptide (PP) was discovered as a major peptide contaminant of insulin preparations1,2. The peptide is stored in a distinct endocrine cell type3 that is the predominating islet cell in the duodenal part of the pancreas4 and it is released in response to physiological events, including food intake5 and decrease in blood glucose6,7. Furthermore, infusions of PP mimicking physiological fluctuations in plasma concentrations of the peptide affect gastrointestinal functions, by inhibiting exocrine pancreatic secretion8–10 and relaxing the gallbladder10,11. Although the PP cell is more sensitive to small reductions in blood glucose than is the glucagon cell6, many studies have failed to demonstrate any metabolic effect of PP12,13. it is recognized that the biogenesis of secretory peptides by conversion of larger precursors results in multiple peptide fragments of which more than one might be bioactive14–16. Recently we identified a precursor of PP with a molecular weight (Mr) of 8,000–10,000 and showed, by pulse-chase experiments and peptide mapping, that this biosynthetically labelled precursor was converted into a low molecular weight peptide in addition to PP17. We report here the isolation and primary structure of this icosapeptide and show how it arises through an intermediate form by post-translational modification of the COOH-terminal part of the PP precursor. This second product of pro-pancreatic polypeptide conversion might fulfill the physiological potential of the major endocrine cell type of the duodenal pancreas.
Situational Influences on Leisure Satisfaction and Morale in Old Age

The relationship between leisure satisfaction and morale was examined within the context of leisure behavior, health, age, and socioeconomic status. Interviews were conducted with 104 noninstitutional adults aged 65 or older living in an urbanized area. Leisure satisfaction and morale were substantially related, and remained so when statistically tested with various third factors. Multivariate analysis indicated that the most important predictors of morale were leisure satisfaction and socioeconomic status. Self-rated health, the illness index, and age were much less significant as predictors.
Similar patterns of linkage disequilibrium and nucleotide diversity in native and introduced populations of the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum.

The pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, is an emerging genomic model system for studies of polyphenisms, bacterial symbioses, host-plant specialization, and the vectoring of plant viruses. Here we provide estimates of nucleotide diversity and linkage disequilibrium (LD) in native (European) and introduced (United States) populations of the pea aphid. Because introductions can cause population bottlenecks, we hypothesized that U.S. populations harbor lower levels of nucleotide diversity and higher levels of LD than native populations. We sampled four non-coding loci from 24 unique aphid clones from the U. S. (12 from New York and 12 from California) and 24 clones from Europe (12 alfalfa and 12 clover specialists). For each locus, we sequenced approximately 1 kb from two amplicons spaced ~10 kb apart to estimate both short range and longer range LD. We sequenced over 250 kb in total. Nucleotide diversity averaged 0.6% across all loci and all populations. LD decayed slowly within ~1 kb but reached much lower levels over ~10 kb. Contrary to our expectations, neither LD nor nucleotide diversity were significantly different between native and introduced populations. Both introduced and native populations of pea aphids exhibit low levels of nucleotide diversity and moderate levels of LD. The introduction of pea aphids to North America has not led to a detectable reduction of nucleotide diversity or increase in LD relative to native populations.
Methodology or Substance?: A Response to Helmreich

It is argued here that while Helmreich's criticisms of mainstream social psychology are valid, his proposed remedy is not. The inadequacies of the field transcend methodology and, therefore, are not seriously confronted by new methodologies. The chief difficulty is that a preoccupation with scientific respectability has diverted us from those problems and phenomena that establish our identity as a discipline.
Density inversion effect on transient natural convection in a rectangular enclosure

Transient natural convection in a water layer subjected to density inversion is studied numerically by a finite element method. The results illustrate that the temperature difference which determines the position of the maximum density plane in the water layer, can alter flow field and heat transfer substantially. The significant effect of aspect ratio on transient natural convection is also investigated. The heat transfer is maximized in a square enclosure and is less at other aspect ratios.
Effects of the Growth Retardant CCC on Floral Initiation and Growth in Pharbitis nil.

Growth-retarding chemicals such as Amo-1618 (2, 12), CCC [(2-chloroethyl) -trimethyl-ammonium chloride] (2, 11), and Phosfon D (2) reduce the height of many plants, leaving, in most cases, flowering and fruiting unaffected. Thus, of 55 species studied by Cathey and Stuart (2) control of flowering by photoperiod and temperature was unaffected by application of growth retardants. Flowering was delayed by such applications only in the cases of Chrysanthemum and Cleome. In the day-neutral plant tomato Wittwer and Tolbert (13) found that flower clusters in CCC-treated plants appeared earlier and on lower nodes. Application of both CCC and Phosfon caused prompt initiation of flower buds in Rhododendron (10). On the other hand, floral initiation as induced by shift from long to short days in the long-short-day plant Bryophyllum daigrernontianum was fully suppressed by application of CCC (16). The CCCrelated compound, allyl trimethylammonium bromide, reduced stem elongation and flower formation in the cold-requiring rosette plant Beta vulgaris (6). Inhibition of flowering in both Bryophyllum and Beta could be overcome by application of gibberellin A3. No specific effects of growth retardants on floral initiation in short-day plants (SDP) have heretofore been reported. The present paper concerns the effects of the growth retardant CCC on flower formation and growth of the SDP Pharbitis nil and the reversibility of these effects by gibberellin A3.
A subspace tracking algorithm using the fast Fourier transform

E.C. Real et al. have presented an algorithm for fast tracking of a signal subspace or interference subspace for application in adaptive detection or estimation (see ICASSP '97; IEEE Trans. Sig. Processing, vol.47, p.1036-45, 1999). For cases in which the signal matrix is formed from a single-channel discrete-time signal, we show how one can further reduce computation in the fast approximate subspace tracking (FAST) algorithm by using the fast Fourier transform.
Damage of GABAergic neurons in the medial septum impairs spatial working memory and extinction of active avoidance: effects on proactive interference.

The medial septum and diagonal band (MSDB) are important in spatial learning and memory. Based on excitotoxic damage of GABAergic MSDB neurons, we have recently suggested a role for these neurons in controlling proactive interference. The present study sought to test this hypothesis in different behavioral procedures using a new GABAergic immunotoxin. GAT1-saporin (GAT1-SAP) was administered into the MSDB of male Sprague Dawley rats. Following surgery, rats were trained in a reference memory water maze procedure for 5 days, followed by a working memory (delayed match to position) water maze procedure. Other rats were trained in a lever press avoidance procedure after intraseptal GAT1-SAP or sham surgery. Intraseptal GAT1-SAP produced extensive damage of GABAergic while sparing most cholinergic MSDB neurons. Rats treated with GAT1-SAP were not impaired in acquiring a spatial reference memory, learning the location of the escape platform as rapidly as sham rats. In contrast, GAT1-SAP rats were slower than sham rats to learn the platform location in a delayed match to position procedure, in which the platform location was changed every day. Moreover, GAT1-SAP rats returned to previous platform locations more often than sham rats. In the active avoidance procedure, intraseptal GAT1-SAP impaired extinction but not acquisition of the avoidance response. Using a different neurotoxin and behavioral procedures than previous studies, the results of the present study paint a similar picture that GABAergic MSDB neurons are important for controlling proactive interference.
Regulation of Anti-Plasmodium Immunity by a LITAF-like Transcription Factor in the Malaria Vector Anopheles gambiae

The mosquito is the obligate vector for malaria transmission. To complete its development within the mosquito, the malaria parasite Plasmodium must overcome the protective action of the mosquito innate immune system. Here we report on the involvement of the Anopheles gambiae orthologue of a conserved component of the vertebrate immune system, LPS-induced TNFa transcription factor (LITAF), and its role in mosquito anti-Plasmodium immunity. An. gambiae LITAF-like 3 (LL3) expression is up-regulated in response to midgut invasion by both rodent and human malaria parasites. Silencing of LL3 expression greatly increases parasite survival, indicating that LL3 is part of an anti-Plasmodium defense mechanism. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays identified specific LL3 DNA-binding motifs within the promoter of SRPN6, a gene that also mediates mosquito defense against Plasmodium .F urther experiments indicated that these motifs play a direct role in LL3 regulation of SRPN6 expression. We conclude that LL3 is a transcription factor capable of modulating SRPN6 expression as part of the mosquito anti-Plasmodium immune response.
Atomic force microscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy studies of large-scale unstable growth formed during GaAs(001) homoepitaxy

Abstract Atomic force and scanning tunneling microscopy studies have been performed on GaAs(001) films grown by molecular beam epitaxy. Multilayered mounds are seen to evolve when the growth conditions favor island nucleation. As the epilayer thickness is increased, these features grow in all dimensions but the angle of inclination remains approximately constant at 1°. The mounding does not occur on surfaces grown in step flow. We propose that the multilayered features are due to an unstable growth mode which relies on island nucleation and the presence of a step edge barrier.
ANTICOAGULANT THERAPY IN “ACUTE PROGRESSIVE” GLOMERULONEPHRITIS

6 azotemic patients in whom renal biopsy showed crescent formation, focal necrosis and fibrin deposition (“acute progressive” glomerulonephritis), were examined by plasma fibrinogen chromatography, a technique for quantifying fibrinogen/fibrin complexes, monomeric fibrinogen, and smaller fibrinogen derivatives in plasma. Serially, pathological concentrations of fibrinogen/fibrin complexes (> 20%) were invariably demonstrated, a finding indicative of intravascular fibrin deposition, presumably intraglomerular. Heparin followed by phenindione/dipyridamole therapy resulted in return of plasma fibrinogen chromatographic findings to normal. Therapy was continued for 2 years until, on termination, chromatographic findings remained normal. Serial renal evaluation by CIN, CPAH, 24-hour protein excretion and urinary sediments demonstrated substantial improvement in all patients by two months. In all cases, CIN was normal at one year and 2-year repeat biopsies showed apparent absence of active disease. In contrast, 2 patients with similar renal biopsy pathology did not demonstrate increased levels of fibrinogen complexes: these patients failed to respond to anticoagulant therapy. Our results suggest that “positive” plasma fibrinogen chromatographic findings are indicative of intrarenal fibrin deposition and that control of this process by long-term anticoagulant therapy is of clinical benefit.
A Childhood Fibrolamellar Hepatocellular Carcinoma With Increased Aromatase Activity and a Near Triploid Karyotype

We report a 15-year-old boy with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) of the fibrolamellar type. He presented with advanced disease and a non-resectable tumor. Clinical features included marked gynecomastia which had been present for 3 years, failure to enter puberty, and failure to thrive. These features might have been due to a high aromatase activity of the tumor. The course of the illness suggested that the tumor had been present for at least 3 years prior to diagnosis. At diagnosis the patient had multiple metastases which included infiltrated ascites. Cytogenetic analysis of the ascites revealed a near triploid karyotype with cell-to-cell variation and an abnormality of chromosome 1 q. This to our knowledge is the first karyotype report of fibrolamellar HCC in a child.
Conformal bounds for the first eigenvalue of the p-Laplacian

Abstract Let M be a compact, connected, m -dimensional manifold without boundary and p > 1 . For 1 p ≤ m , we prove that the first eigenvalue λ 1 , p of the p -Laplacian is bounded on each conformal class of Riemannian metrics of volume one on M . For p > m , we show that any conformal class of Riemannian metrics on M contains metrics of volume one with λ 1 , p arbitrarily large. As a consequence, we obtain that in two dimensions λ 1 , p is uniformly bounded on the space of Riemannian metrics of volume one if 1 p ≤ 2 , respectively unbounded if p > 2 .
Eulerian rotations of deformed nuclei for TDDFT calculations

Abstract We discuss three practical methods for performing Eulerian rotations of Slater determinants in a three-dimensional Cartesian geometry. In addition to the straightforward application of the active form of the quantum mechanical rotation operator, we introduce two methods using a passive position-space rotation followed by an active spin-space rotation, one after variation and the other before variation. These methods can be used to initialize reactions involving deformed nuclei where a particular alignment of the deformed nuclei with respect to the collision axis is desired. We show that doing the rotation before the variation is the most efficient way of generating such initial states.
The Utility of Clinicians Ratings of Anxiety Using the Pediatric Anxiety Rating Scale (PARS)

Clinician ratings of anxiety hold the promise of clarifying discrepancies often found between child and parent reports of anxiety. The Pediatric Anxiety Rating Scale (PARS) is a clinician-administered instrument that assesses the frequency, severity, and impairment of common pediatric anxiety disorders and has been used as a primary outcome measure in several landmark treatment trials. However, no data on nonanxious youth have been published. The purpose of this study was to address this gap by examining clinician’s ratings of anxiety on the PARS in a volunteer sample of youth without anxiety disorders (n = 84; ages 7–12; 51% female, 75% Caucasian). The nonanxious sample was comprised of youth with (At-risk; n = 36) and without (Healthy; n = 48) anxious parents. Data were also used to evaluate the reliability (i.e., internal consistency), convergent, and divergent validity of the clinician-rated PARS. In addition, a receiver operating curve analysis was used to determine optimum cut off scores indicative of clinical levels of anxiety by comparing PARS scores between these nonanxious youth and a clinically anxious sample (n = 77) randomized in the Research Units of Pediatric Psychopharmacology (RUPP) anxiety study (RUPP 2001). Results indicated that anxious and nonanxious youth were significantly different on all PARS severity items. Optimum cutoff scores of 11.5 (5-item total score) and 17.5 (7-item total score) discriminated youth with and without anxiety disorders. Cronbach alphas for the Healthy and At-risk sample were .90 and .91 and .75 and .81 for the 5- and 7-item total PARS scores respectively, supporting the measure’s internal consistency among nonanxious youth. PARS total scores were positively correlated with other measures of anxiety (i.e., the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders) for the At-risk but not Healthy subsample. PARS scores were not significantly correlated with depressive symptoms (i.e., Children’s Depression Inventory). Overall, findings support the utility of clinician’s assessments of anxiety symptoms for nonanxious youth. Using the PARS can help facilitate determining whether a child’s anxiety level is more similar to those with or without an anxiety disorder.
Temperature dependence of signal loss in precision-wound optical fiber

The thermal characteristics of excess signal loss in unjacketed multimode optical fibers are examined experimentally and theoretically. An unjacketed optical fiber is repeatedly wound under several different tensions and excess optical loss is measured at various temperatures using an Optical Time Domain Reflecto-meter. It is found that excess optical loss increases below 0°C. The fiber buckling model, used in the thermal analysis of jacketed fibers, is considered for the theoretical evaluation of fiber buckling caused by the mismatch of thermal expansion coefficients between the fiber and coating. The mode coupling theory is used to analyze microbending of the fiber caused by lateral shrinkage of the coating and Young's modulus increase at low temperature in the presence of initial fiber imperfections. A comparison of the data and theoretical results indicates that imperfections at the crossovers are the prime contributor to excess loss at low temperature. Results of the data show that excess optical loss at low temperature increases with winding tension.
Consultation with the Specialist: Nephropathic Cystinosis

1. William A. Gahl, MD, PhD* 1. 2. *Head, Section on Human Biochemical Genetics, Heritable Disorders Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD. A 10-month-old boy is hospitalized with presumed viral gastroenteritis and 10% dehydration. According to his medical records, he has not grown since 6 months of age despite various changes in formulas and diet. The parents report that he has been excessively thirsty and irritable over the past 2 months, and his diapers needed changing 10 times per day. On physical examination, height and weight are at the fifth percentile, dehydration is noted, and tenderness is present over the wrists and ankles. Urinalysis shows a specific gravity of 1.001, a trace of protein, 2+ glucose, and 1 to 5 red blood cells/high power field. Serum potassium is 2.9 mEq/L and carbon dioxide content is 12 mEq/L. The urine output over the first 24 hours of hospitalization is 2,300 mL. Nephropathic cystinosis is a rare, autosomal recessive storage disease caused by a deficiency of the lysosomal membrane carrier necessary for removal of cystine, a disulfide amino acid, from lysosomes. In the absence of its transporter, cystine accumulates within lysosomes, crystallizing in many tissues (including kidney, liver, intestine, spleen, and cornea) because of its low solubility. Subsequent cell death is considered the primary cause of the specific tissue and organ involvement. The most common type of cystinosis, called nephropathic or infantile, is manifested primarily as kidney disease. The incidence is estimated to be 1 in 100,000 to 200,000 live births, but only approximately 350 individuals currently are alive who have cystinosis in the United States. Adolescent or juvenile cystinosis resembles nephropathic cystinosis, but there is later onset of renal disease. Benign or adult cystinosis is not associated with renal disease; only corneal crystal formation occurs. Individuals heterozygous for cystinosis are always entirely normal. The gene for nephropathic cystinosis recently has been mapped to the short arm of chromosome 17. Signs and symptoms of …
Filter Transfer Function Synthesis

In this paper we shall discuss a method for the synthesis of transfer functions which have one or more steady-state frequency bands throughout which a constant-amplitude level is approximated. Filters and amplifiers are familiar examples of circuits which commonly use transfer functions of this kind. The salient points of this method as applied to some low-pass filter examples will be considered herein.
Recursive, In-Place Algorithm For The Hexagonal Orthogonal Oriented Quadrature Image Pyramid

Pyramid image transforms have proven useful in image coding and pattern recognition. The hexagonal orthogonal oriented quadrature image pyramid (HOP), transforms an image into a set of orthogonal, oriented, odd and even bandpass subimages. It operates on a hexagonal input lattice and employs seven kernels, each of which occupies a neighborhood consisting of a point and a hexagon of six nearest neighbors. The kernels consist of one lowpass and six bandpass kernels that are orthogonal, self-similar, and localized in space, spatial frequency, orientation, and phase. The kernels are first applied to the image samples to create the first level of the pyramid, then to the lowpass coefficients to create the next level. The resulting pyramid is a compact, efficient image code. Here, a recursive, in-place algorithm for computation of the HOP transform is described. The transform may be regarded as a depth-first traversal of a tree structure. It is shown that the algorithm requires a number of operations that is on the order of the number of pixels.
Informal Mentors and Education: Complementary or Compensatory Resources?.

Few studies have examined the impact of mentoring (developing a special relationship with a nonparental adult) on educational achievement and attainment in the general population. In addition, prior research has yet to clarify the extent to which mentoring relationships reduce inequality by enabling disadvantaged youths to compensate for the lack of social resources or to promote inequality by serving as a complementary resource for advantaged youths. The results of a nationally representative sample of youths show (1) a powerful net influence of mentors on the educational success of youths and (2) how social background and parental, peer, and personal resources condition the formation and effectiveness of mentoring relationships. The findings uncover an interesting paradox—that informal mentors may simultaneously represent compensatory and complementary resources. Youths with many resources are more likely than are other young people to have mentors, but those with few resources are likely to benefit mor...
Terahertz characterization of zinc oxide nanowires using parallel-plate waveguides

We present a new material parameter extraction method utilizing parallel-plate waveguides (PPWG) with terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS). It can be applied to natively grown samples as thin as a micron, it is repeatable and accurate, and it enables the characterization of thin films and nanostructures on conductive substrates for a variety of materials and growth conditions. The dielectric response and the complex conductivity are measured and fit with theoretic models for chemical-bath deposited zinc oxide nanowires.
Quality of Carrots Dehydrated by Three Home Methods

Sensory attributes, moisture and carotene contents, and energy requirements were assessed for carrots treated by home dehydration and storage practices. Flavor was less intense in carrots dehydrated in a convection oven, microwave oven, or a food dehydrator than in the freshly cooked control sample, but sweetness and texture did not differ. The convection oven consumed the least, and the food dehydrator the most, energy for the dehydration process. The microwave oven was the least convenient of the three methods because it required transferring the partially dehydrated product to a conventional oven to finish drying. Re tention of carotene in dehydrated carrots during subsequent storage (10 weeks) was favored by refrigerator rather than room temperature.
Insecticidal effects of Artemisia dracunculus L. (Asteraceae) essential oil on adult of Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae) under laboratory conditions

Aphis gossypii Glover (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) is one of the most important pests of agriculture worldwide. To control the pest population, research on the use of the environmental and plant-based compounds has increased in recent decades. So, in this study, effect of fumigant toxicity of Artemisia dracunculus L. essential oil on adults of the mentioned pest was studied. The essential oil of this plant was subjected to hydro-distillation using a Clevenger apparatus. All bioassay examinations were conducted at 27 ± 2 and 65 ± 5 °C relative humidity and a photoperiod of 16:8 h (light:dark). This research was performed in a completely random design with six treatments in different concentrations and times to evaluate the level of LC50 and LT50. Each treatment was evaluated in three replicates for different concentrations and times with each replicate consisting of 20 same-age adult pests. The results showed that the use of the essential oil of A. dracunculus L. shows significant mortality of pest 24 h after ...
The Importance of Student Involvement: A Dialogue with Alexander Astin

This article is based on an interview with Alexander W. Astin, professor of higher education and director of the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA. Astin offered several implications of his theory of student involvement for students, faculty members, and administrators. He also commented on excellence as the development of students' talents and on the characteristics of today's college students, as reflected in the findings of an ongoing national study of over 5 million students, 100,000 faculty and staff members, and over 1,200 institutions of higher education.
Using 3D visualization to enhance understanding of computer network state

Computers networks have introduced incredibly large data sets that need to be understood by human analysts. Traditional methods of presenting these large data sets to humans are typically cumbersome and ineffective. This paper introduces an architecture that takes advantage of human visual processing skills and represents network data as a 3D abstraction that a user can interact with and explore.
OPTIMAL DESIGNS FOR INTERPOLATION

Optimal designs for interpolation are characterized both for the unbiased estimation of a polynomial mean and for the minimax linear estimation of more general means. In general, computer search is required to find the optimal designs except in the symmetric polynomial case where formulas are given in terms of trigonometric functions.
CHOCOLATE: Calculi of Higher Order COmmunication and LAmbda TErms (preliminary report)

We propose a general definition of higher-order process calculi, generalizing CHOCS [Tho89] and related calculi, and investigate its basic properties. We give sufficient conditions under which a calculus is finitely-branching and effective. We show that a suitable notion of higher-order bisimulation is a congruence for a subclass of higher-order calculi. We illustrate our definitions with a simple calculus strictly stronger than CHOCS.
Anger in young men and subsequent premature cardiovascular disease: the precursors study.

Background Anger can trigger myocardial ischemia and may be an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease, but its effect on early compared with late onset of disease is unclear. Methods We performed a prospective study of 1055 men followed up for 32 to 48 years to examine the risk of premature and total cardiovascular disease (CVD) associated with anger responses to stress during early adult life. Highest level of anger was defined as a self-report of all 3 possible anger reactions to stress (expressed or concealed anger, gripe sessions, and irritability) on a checklist questionnaire administered in medical school. Premature disease was defined as events before age 55 years. Results During a median follow-up period of 36 years, 205 men developed CVD (cumulative incidence at 76 years, 34.5%), of whom 77 men developed premature disease (cumulative incidence before 55 years, 7.9%). The highest level of anger was associated with an increased risk of premature CVD (adjusted relative risk, 3.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-8.6), including premature coronary heart disease (relative risk, 3.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-11.8) and premature myocardial infarction (relative risk, 6.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.8-22.3), compared with lower levels of anger. When CVD events after age 55 years were included, there was no longer a statistically significant association between anger and CVD. Conclusion High level of anger in response to stress in young men is associated with an increased risk of subsequent premature CVD, particularly myocardial infarction.
Tumor necrosis factor enhances GD3 ganglioside expression in cultured human melanocytes

Abstract Human skin melanocytes and melanocytes cultured in vitro express GM3 ganglioside almost exclusively, whereas malignant melanomas express high levels of both GM3 and GD3. We now show that treatment of cultured melanocytes with tumor necrosis factor-α, particularly in the presence of tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, results in a change in morphology from spindle-shaped to epithelioid and greatly enhanced expression of GD3 ganglioside. This effect is specific and no other ganglioside is affected, except that GM3 expression (which is already high) is also increased. In contrast, these agents did not enhance the already high expression of GD3 on melanoma cells. This result provides an example of the plasticity of glycolipid expression in mammalian cells and their susceptibility to the influence of biological agents.
Social and Academic Conditions among Blacks and Whites in a Rural Southern Desegregated School System

Students, teachers, and administrators in a Northeast Texas community were given questionnaires in 1981 to ascertain information on social and academic conditions among blacks and whites (student body is one-third black and two-thirds white) after desegregation in 1970. The return rate from the fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students (N=441) was 91 percent and 69 percent from teachers and administrators (N=78). It was concluded that academic performance of students did not improve after desegregation. Interracial contact was limited between the races, especially outside of school. Blacks tended to take a more active part in initiating an integrated situation. Teachers and administrators suggested more involvement of parents in making desegregation a more positive experience academically and socially.
RFLP analysis of mitochondrial DNA in two cytoplasmic male sterility systems (CMS-D2 and CMS-D8) of cotton

Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) in higher plants is a maternally inherited trait and CMS-associated genes are known to be located in the mitochondrial genome. However, CMS-inducing genes in CMS-D2 and CMS-D8 of Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L., AD1) are currently unknown. The objective of this study was to identify potential candidate DNA or gene sequences for CMS-D2 and CMS-D8 through restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. Seven mtDNA gene probes and five restriction enzymes were first used to compare D2 (from G. harknessii Brandegee) and AD1 cytoplasms. With cox1, cox2, and atp1 as probes, RFLP polymorphisms were detected with one or more restriction enzyme digestions. The most notable difference was an additional fragment in the normal AD1 cytoplasm detected by cox2 in digests of three enzymes, and by cox1 and atp1 in digests with PstI. The RFLP analysis was then conducted among CMS-D2, CMS-D8 (from G. trilobum (DC.) Skovst.), and AD1 cytoplasms. Two probes from maize, atp1 and atp6, detected polymorphism among the different cytoplasmic lines. However, no difference in RFLP patterns was noted between male sterile (A) and restorer (R) lines with the D2 or D8 cytoplasm, indicating that the presence of the D2 or D8 restorer gene does not affect mtDNA organization in Upland cotton. The results demonstrate that RFLP using atp1 and atp6 as probes can distinguish the three cytoplasms. The atp1 and atp6 in CMS-D8 and these two genes together with cox1 and cox2 in CMS-D2 could be the candidates of CMS-associated genes in the mitochondrial genome, providing information for further molecular studies and developing PCR-based markers for the CMS cytoplasms in breeding. This research represents the first work using RFLP to analyze the genetic basis of CMS in cotton.
Ionophore-induced metabolism of phospholipids and eicosanoid production in porcine aortic endothelial cells: selective release of arachidonic acid from diacyl and ether phospholipids.

Abstract Confluent cultures of porcine aortic endothelial cells were prelabeled with 1 μM [ 14 C]arachidonic acid complexed to 1 μM bovine serum albumin. After washing, the cells were stimulated with 1 μM A23187 for time intervals between 30 s and 30 min. Cellular lipids were extracted and separated into major lipid classes and phospholipid subclasses. The external medium was analyzed for released radioactive eicosanoids. The time-course of total release of 14 C radioactivity demonstrated a biphasic nature of A23187-induced changes in endothelial cell lipids. Early, from 30 s to 5 min, substantial losses of [ 14 C]arachidonic acid from diacylphosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylinositol, as well as an abrupt increase in diacylphosphati-dylcholine-associated radioactivity were observed. These initial changes coincided with the release of 14 C-labeled cyclooxygenase products. Later changes (5–30 min) included a sustained progressive loss of 14 C radioactivity from alkenyl (alk-1-enyl) acylphosphatidylethanolamine and diacylphosphatidylcholine. These later changes coincided with the elaboration of 14 C-labeled lipoxygenase products. Although unequivocal assignments cannot be made, the data suggest that specific pools of arachidonic acid provide precursors for individual classes of eicosanoids.
Levodopa/carbidopa and entacapone in the treatment of Parkinson's disease: efficacy, safety and patient preference.

Levodopa (LD) is the oldest, most efficacious and best-tolerated drug for dopaminergic substitution of patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Its main drawback is its short half-life, which supports onset of motor complications in the long term. Therefore well-informed PD patients mostly accept LD therapy as late as possible. Recent LD trials indicate that a combination of LD with carbidopa (CD) and the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitor entacapone (EN) may reduce the onset of these motor complications to a certain extent. This observation is further supported by pharmacokinetic trials and experimental research, but there is still a need to confirm this in a clinical trial, which is under way. Additionally, combined LD/CD/EN was superior to LD/CD administration regarding cognition, muscle behavior and gastrointestinal function in small clinical trials. Moreover there is accumulating evidence that combined COMT inhibition with LD administration reduces homocysteine synthesis. In the long term, homocysteine elevation supports onset of arteriosclerosis-related disorders, which are more frequent in PD patients according to epidemiological studies than in the normal healthy population. The introduction of LD/CD/EN in one tablet supported patients’ preference of COMT inhibition as an essential component of LD/DDI therapy, as this combination reduced number and size of tablets.
Parallel Block Jacobi Eigenvalue Algorithms Using Systolic Arrays

Abstract Systolic arrays have become established in principle, if not yet in practice, as a way of increasing computational speed for problems in linear algebra, such as computing eigenvalues, by exploiting low-level parallelism. Any systolic device that is actually implemented in silicon will necessarily have an upper limit on the size of problem it can solve. In this paper we consider the questions of whether such a systolic device for symmetric eigenvalue problems can be used to solve larger problems, and if so, whether such use would place any constraints on the design of the underlying systolic array. We will see that the answer to both questions is yes, although the restrictions on the systolic array are mild. Our approach is to partition a large matrix into blocks that are small enough to be processed by the systolic device, and a Jacobi-like process is then carried out at the block level. If multiple copies of the systolic device are available, then this block Jacobi process can itself be implemented with a higher-level parallelism. To make any progress it is necessary to reorder the matrix between calls to the systolic arrays. We consider several possible reordering strategies.
Sports injuries: emergency assessment and field-side care

1. Anthony Luke, MD* 2. Lyle Micheli, MD† 1. 2. *Fellow, Division of Sports Medicine, Harvard University, Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA. 3. 4. †Director, Division of Sports Medicine, Associate Clinical Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Harvard University, Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA. After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Describe the steps for assessing a fallen athlete. 2. List the requirements for clearing an athlete to return to play. 3. Describe the procedure for handling a suspected cervical injury. 4. Delineate the procedure for handling a child or adolescent who has a concussion or transient neurologic deficit. 5. List the primary factors to consider when dealing with heat-related illnesses. 6. Describe the appropriate procedure for handling a suspected significant eye injury. Sports injuries are very common in the pediatric population; approximately one third of injuries from all causes in children are sports-related. Primary care physicians are becoming more involved in sports medicine both in the office and on the sidelines of athletic events. This article is designed to provide a practical guide to increase knowledge and facilitate management of urgent and emergent problems in pediatric sports medicine. Fortunately, most sports injuries are nonemergent musculoskeletal injuries, but certain problems must be addressed immediately. The initial on-site approach to an injured athlete as well as management of neck injuries in children, head injuries, heat-related illnesses, and ophthalmologic problems receive particular emphasis in this article. Any physician who assumes the role of team doctor should be knowledgeable and prepared for the acute management of these injuries. Recommendations for their prevention also are offered. A sports physician should work to improve awareness of sports injury prevention through counseling and promoting interventions that help reduce injuries. For more detailed, definitive management of sports injuries in a tertiary care setting, the reader is directed to the Suggested Reading. Management of the athlete who has collapsed begins before the injury occurs with proper preparation. Depending on the location and level of the event, resources may be limited. At the very least, it is imperative that the physician has quick access to a …
Phonocardiography nonlinear multiple measurements in discovering the abnormalities in the bioprosthetic heart valves

Abstract This paper describes the benefit for potentially rectifying the multiple nonlinear Phonocardiography measurements so that we can apply the linear independent component analysis( ICA) to separate blindly the sources of heart valve murmuring in order to find a noninvasive way to discover abnormalities in the Bioprosthetic heart valves. At the beginningthe paper will discuss a new design of measurement of the PCG signal based on the (ICA). The second part of the paper willshow a comparison between the classification using the classical Fourier transform as a source of features and using the ICAsources of the same features. The last part of this paper will discuss various ways to over come the nonlinear square detectlaw, and the lack ofmultiple independent readings, which is essential in the implementation ofthe ICA algorithm. Introduction Bioprosthetic heart valve implants are used in place of mechanical valve implants in-patients with coronarydifficulties. These implants have the advantage oflow thrombogenecity, which eliminates the need for anticoagulants that arenormally required for patients with mechanical prosthesis. However, the main disadvantage of bioprosthectic valves is their
On An Argument Against Closure

Analyse de l'argument developpe par F. P. Ramsey contre l'existence des universaux complexes et contre la propriete disjonctive de la cloture qui representent des fonctions propositionnelles de l'exemple suivant : ou bien Socrate est sage ou bien Platon est fou. Distinguant le sujet et le predicat grammaticaux, ainsi que les differentes references et attributions de proprietes au sein d'une proposition, l'A. souligne la possibilite d'un triple enonce du probleme de Ramsey qui constitue la trinite des moyens comprehensibles pour exprimer la meme chose identique dans le cadre de la logique des predicats
Carbon isotope (δ13C) stratigraphy across the Silurian–Devonian transition in North America: evidence for a perturbation of the global carbon cycle

Carbon isotope (δ13C) analyses of marine carbonates spanning the Silurian–Devonian transition are compared from three richly fossiliferous, well-dated sequences in North America. The three sections, in the central Appalachian Mountains (West Virginia), Great Basin (Nevada), and the southern Mid-continent (Oklahoma), reveal positive δ13C shifts beginning in the late Pridoli and reaching peak values as heavy as +5.8‰ in the earliest Lochkovian following the first occurrence of the conodont species Icriodus woschmidti and the graptolite Monograptus uniformis. A positive shift in δ13C is also recorded at this time in Gondwanan regions, including the global stratotype section and point for the Silurian–Devonian boundary at Klonk in the Czech Republic, as well as in sections in the Carnic Alps of Austria (Cellon), and Queensland, Australia. The available data from Euramerica and Gondwana are consistent with a scenario linking seawater δ13C enrichment to a eustatic drop during the Silurian–Devonian transition. Seawater δ13C likely increased as a result of enhanced carbonate weathering during exposure and erosion of older Silurian platform deposits. In addition, the fall in sea level appears to have enhanced nutrient delivery to the oceans and triggered an increase in organic carbon burial rates at or near the Silurian–Devonian boundary, as indicated by organic-rich deposition in Gondwanan basins. In terms of its magnitude, the Silurian–Devonian δ13C excursion of ≥+5‰ appears to be among the largest well-documented events in the Paleozoic, comparable to the shifts in the Late Ordovician and Early Mississippian.
Near-field effects on seismically excited highway bridge equipped with nonlinear viscous dampers

Near-field ground motions cause significant damage to highway bridges because of high peak ground accelerations and high peak ground velocities of long period pulses. To quantitatively assess the influence of near-field ground motions on seismically excited highway bridges, a ground motion model consisting of both pulse-type low frequency (near-field) and broadband frequency (far-field) components is proposed. In this model, the effects of the local site condition and the seismic source are taken into consideration by varying relative contributions of near-field pulse-type and far-field broadband random ground motion components in the synthetic ground motion. Extensive numerical simulations are carried out to quantify effects of pulse-type component and soil-structure interaction through a parametric study. Simulation results demonstrate that pulse-type components in ground motions amplify the response quantities of the highway bridge significantly over those by the broadband component. Nonlinear viscous ...
Segregation to and Phase Transition at Σ5 (310)/[001] Tilt Grain Boundaries in Ni3−xAl1+x Alloys

The free energy simulation method and EAM type potentials are employed to study segregation to the Σ5 (310)/[001] tilt grain boundary and its free energy in ordered Ni3−xAl1+x alloys. For 300K≤T≤900K, there is weak Al and Ni segregation to the grain boundary in the stoichiometric and Ni-rich (76.6 at. %) alloys, respectively. In the Al-rich (73.5 at. %) alloy, however, there is strong Al segregation. Al segregation induces the formation of a thin, orderedx AlNi layer at the boundary. The width of this layer grows as the temperature is decreased to approximately 6 A at 300K. The grain boundary segregation decreases the grain boundary free energy by less than 10% in the stoichiometric and Ni-rich alloys, and by 30% in the Al-rich alloys, respectively. These results suggest a new model to explain the observed brittleness of grain boundaries in polycrystalline Ni3Al. In this model, the brittleness of Ni3Al alloys is attributed to the formation of an intrinsically brittle, thin AlNi layer at grain boundaries. This brittle layer can be removed by increasing the grain boundary Ni content - either by changing the alloy composition or due to cosegregation with B.