cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regional patterns of neuronal death after deep hypothermic circulatory arrest in newborn pigs

Abstract Objectives: Deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) widely used during neonatal heart surgery, carries a risk of brain damage. In adult normothermic ischemia, brain cells in certain regions die, some by necrosis and others by apoptosis (programmed cell death). This study characterized regional brain cell death after DHCA in newborn pigs. Methods: Eighteen piglets underwent 90 minutes of DHCA and survived 6 hours, 2 days, or 1 week. Six piglets underwent surgery alone or deep hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass and survived 2 days. Three piglets received no intervention (control). Brain injury was assessed by neurologic and histologic examination and correlated with perioperative factors. Apoptosis and necrosis were identified by light microscopic analysis of cell structure and in situ DNA fragmentation (TUNEL). Results: All groups subjected to DHCA had brain injury by neurologic and histologic examination, whereas the other groups did not. DHCA damaged neurons in the neocortex and hippocampus and occasionally in the striatum and cerebellum. Damaged neurons in the neocortex were mainly apoptotic and in the hippocampus, a mixture of necrotic and apoptotic neurons. Apoptosis and necrosis were apparent in all DHCA groups even though neurologic deficits improved over the week's survival. Neocortical and hippocampal damage correlated with blood glucose, hematocrit, and arterial PO 2 during and after cardiopulmonary bypass. Conclusions: In neonates, neocortical and hippocampal neurons are selectively vulnerable to death after DHCA. Both apoptosis and necrosis contribute to neuronal death, beginning early in reperfusion and continuing for days. These data suggest the need for several neuroprotective strategies tailored to the region and death process, initiated during the operation and continued after the operation. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1999;118:1068-77)
The Global Economic Crisis, Contagion, and Institutions: New Realities in Latin America and Asia

This article uses the current economic crisis in Asia to analyze the impact that economic turmoil—especially economic contagion—in emerging markets can have on the process of social, political, and economic institutionalization and reform in Asia and Latin America. It argues that continued financial instability will result in increased democratization and transparency in Asia, as has happened in Latin America as a result of its struggles to consolidate and reconcile democratization and economic reform from the late 1980s to today. This transformation in Asia will temper the argument that the Asian development model was the path Latin America should have followed. This does not mean, however, that the reform path that the Asian countries choose will be successful or certain. Rather, although many authoritarian tenets of the Asian model will be challenged by calls for political and economic reform, the ultimate degree of liberalization in Asia will be uneven and incomplete, especially if the economic crisis...
MMICs, Modelling, and CAD-Where do we Go from Here?

During the past decade remarkable advances have been made in the integration of microwave circuits on semiconductor chips. This progress could not have taken place without the concomitant advances in the technology of planar circuits, modelling techniques, and computer-aided design (CAD) software. It is evident from developments in the United States and elsewhere that there is an increasing demand for improved circuit performance, higher design accuracy, and greater circuit density on a chip, all with higher yield. Unfortunately, industry's progress in improved device and component modelling, as well as advances in CAD techniques to meet these requirements, have not kept pace. In light of this observation, it is appropriate for us to "take stock" of where we are, where we wish to be in the near future, and what must be done to get there. In general terms, this is the theme of this paper.
Short-term Mobility and Increased Partnership Concurrency among Men in Zimbabwe

Background Migration has long been understood as an underlying factor for HIV transmission, and sexual partner concurrency has been increasingly studied as an important component of HIV transmission dynamics. However, less work has examined the role of short-term mobility in sexual partner concurrency using a network approach. Short-term mobility may be a risk for HIV for the migrant’s partner as well either through the partner’s risk behaviors while the migrant is away, such as the partner having additional partners, or via exposure to the return migrant. Methods Using data from the 2010–11 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey, weighted generalized linear regression models were used to investigate the associations between short-term mobility and partnership concurrency at the individual and partnership levels. Results At the individual level, we find strong evidence of an association between short-term mobility and concurrency. Men who traveled were more likely to have concurrent partnerships compared to men who did not travel and the relationship was non-linear: each trip was associated with a 2% higher probability of concurrency, with a diminishing risk at 60 trips (p<0.001). At the partnership level, short-term mobility by the male only or both partners was associated with male concurrency. Couples in which the female only traveled exhibited less male concurrency. Conclusions Short-term mobility has the ability to impact population-level transmission dynamics by facilitating partnership concurrency and thus onward HIV transmission. Short-term migrants may be an important population to target for HIV testing, treatment, or social and behavioral interventions to prevent the spread of HIV.
The rapidly evolving Pem homeobox gene and Agtr2, Ant2, and Lamp2 are closely linked in the proximal region of the mouse X chromosome.

The Pem gene encodes a homeodomain-containing protein expressed in reproductive tissue that may function as a transcription factor regulating spermatogenesis and sperm maturation. We have mapped the Pem gene to the proximal end of the mouse X chromosome, placing it within the Hprt region. Based on the mapping of Pem and other loci in three separate Mus musculus x Mus spretus backcross panels, we established the order of markers within this segment of the Hprt region as: Agtr2-Pem-Ant2-DXMit50-Lamp2-DXMit49. In contrast to some other regions of the X chromosome, which have been rearranged during the evolution of mammals, we show that the order of gene loci within this Hprt region is conserved in mice and human. The finding that the mouse Ant2 and Pem loci are tightly linked suggests that human ANT2 may be useful as a marker for isolating the human PEM gene, which has been impervious to cloning by conventional hybridization methods because of its rapid evolution.
The good man singing well: Stevie wonder as noble lover

This essay examines Stevie Wonder's ethical reputation, lyrical corpus, and musical style. The ethical appraisal considers such classical virtues as liberality, humility, and piety; the lyrical analysis draws on Plato's six hierarchical levels of love; and the analysis of Wonder's musical style applies Marshall McLuhan's notion of electric technology and the restoration of tribal involvement. Both the reinforcing and the message‐conveying aspects of Wonder's style are examined. Though the essay is grounded in fact, the evaluation is unavoidably subjective. The overall assessment of Wonder is one of virtually unqualified praise. Wonder is viewed as a creative messenger of love and goodness.
SU‐GG‐I‐147: Can Compressive Sensing Improve Low‐Contrast Object Detectability in Accelerated MRI Applications?

Purpose: Compressive Sensing (CS) methods can reduce image artifacts when reconstructing undersampled data sets. Most MRI applications of CS, however, have focused on high contrast objects such as gadolinium‐enhanced vessels, rather than on low‐contrast object detectability (LCOD). Using a novel computational framework, we rigorously examine whether CS reconstruction can improve the LCOD performance of several standard techniques for undersamped MRIreconstruction — across a variety of undersampling rates and strategies. Methods and Materials: The American College of Radiology (ACR) quality control (QC) phantom was imaged on a GE 14.0 1.5T MRI using our routine quality assurance protocol and an 8‐channel head coil. The raw k‐space data corresponding to the 5.1% contrast detectability plane was retrospectively undersampled along the phase‐encoded direction at 10 different rates (10–100%) and, for each, using 3 different distribution strategies: 1) low‐frequency band only; 2) uniform sampling; 3) random sampling (Poisson Disk). For the latter case, 5 sampling instances were generated at each rate. Each undersampled data set was reconstructed using 3 different strategies: 1) zero‐filling with root sum‐of‐squares combination; 2) Tikhonov‐SENSE; and 3) Compressive Sensing (L1‐minimization, finite difference sparsity). Reconstruction results were then analyzed with our in‐house developed QC software to automatically determine the fraction of complete visually detectable spokes which, is a measure of LCOD performance. Results: Across all sampling rates and under all sampling strategies, the LCOD score for CS reconstructions was consistently equal to or higher than that of the other two reconstruction methods. The CS advantage was especially pronounced at very low sampling rates (≤30%). Conclusion: Although most CS work to date has focused on high‐contrast objects, CS reconstructions consistently improved LCOD compared to several standard MRIreconstruction techniques for undersampled data. These results suggest that CS reconstruction is useful not only for undersampled high contrast objects, but can improve LCOD as well.
THE EFFECT OF SODIUM CHLORIDE ON PHAGE FORMATION BY STAPHYLOCOCCI AT ELEVATED TEMPERATURES

In experiments with the K strain of Staphylococcus aureus and the K race of bacteriophage suspended in tryptose phosphate broth and maintained at 42 degrees C. it was found that the presence of 1 M NaCl produced certain drastic changes in the relationship between the host cells and the infecting virus: 1. Staphylococci grown at 42 degrees C. in plain broth or in NaCl-broth are "activated," i.e. when growth is stopped by lowering the temperature to 5 degrees C. and phage is added, the activity titre immediately displays a rise of 15- to 16-fold. 2. 1 M NaCl tends to prevent the sorption of phage by cocci and this effect is more pronounced at 42 degrees C. than at 5 degrees C. When the activation test is conducted at 5 degrees C. (the usual temperature) most of the phage is picked up by the cells and the described increase in activity titre follows. If the test takes place at 42 degrees C. there is little sorption and correspondingly little rise in phage titre. 3. Mixtures of staphylococci and phage incubated at 42 degrees C. in NaCl-broth fail to produce phage; the final plaque and activity titres are identical with the initial titres. Here, also, the influence of 1 M NaCl in preventing contact of phage with cocci appears to account for the results. 4. Similar mixtures held at 42 degrees C. in plain broth exhibit a drop of about 60 per cent in activity and plaque titres. The loss of phage may be due to adsorption on dead cells accumulating in the suspension or to the thermolability of the bacterium-phage complex, or to both.
Americans in Transition: Implications for Community Colleges of a New Study about Adult Learners.

A recent study sponsored by the College Entrance Examination Board, and authored by Carol Alsanian and Henry Brickell, focuses on the return to formal learning by the nation's adult population. The study, entitled Americans in Transition, attempts to explore, at least in part, some of the reasons behind this phenomenon. The authors find that as the broader society undergoes increasingly rapid technological, social, and value transitions, individuals (in this case, adults between 25 and 70 years of age) also undergo similar “idiosyncratic” transitions. Alsanian and Brickell found that 83% of adults returning or contemplating returning to formal learning do so as a result of a “trigger,” or significant, event in their lives. This trigger begins a transition in the individual's life and supplies the impetus for him or her to seek additional learning. While the study indentifies several aspects of life as prime areas for a trigger and subsequent transition to occur, Alsanian and Brickell found that more trigg...
Pathways from social support to service use among caregivers at risk of child maltreatment

Abstract The purpose of this study was to test pathways from social support to service use among caregivers at risk of child maltreatment, which involved four mediating variables-family functioning, psychosomatic problems, child maltreatment allegation, and perceived needs. I used a subsample of data (n = 1000) of Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect (LONGSCAN). The model fitted the data well and supported some of the hypothesized pathways. The effect of social support on service use was mediated by family functioning and psychosomatic symptoms, which in turn was associated with caregivers' perceived needs for outside assistance for a personal or emotional problem. The hypothesized pathways from perceived family functioning and psychosomatic symptoms through CPS report were not supported. The study's findings contribute to understanding the role that social support can play in caregivers' seeking service use for emotional or personal problems.
On the design of debond-resistant bimaterials

Abstract Structures composed of bonded layers of dissimilar materials are common in a variety of applications. In many such structures, residual or applied stresses can lead to initiation of interface debonding near free edges. It is well known that the local elastic stress fields near the free edge of bonded dissimilar quarter planes can exhibit singular behavior, with the order of the stress singularity determined by the material mismatch. A fracture mechanics-type approach to the design of debond-resistant bimaterials is adopted herein, which assumes that the local interface tractions governing initiation of debonding can be completely described by the order of the stress singularity and a suitably defined free-edge stress intensity factor. The global plane elasticity problem considered in this study is that of a bimaterial strip composed of isotropic layers with a uniform edge pressure applied to the top layer, which is a general model of differential expansion. Finite element results are presented for dimensionless free-edge stress intensity factors over a wide range of practical material mismatches and relative layer thicknesses. Trends in the dimensionless free-edge stress intensity factors are used to identify strategies for designing debond-resistant bimaterials. The results of this study motivate a comparison between free-edge singularity and interface crack approaches to bimaterial design, which is the focus of Part II.
Reconfigurable broadband infrared circularly polarizing anisotropic impedance surfaces synthesised via Bézier surfaces

A reconfigurable long-wave infrared circularly polarizing anisotropic metasurface is presented. The polarizing metasurface is comprised of an anisotropic impedance surface consisting of a periodic array of metal structures synthesized via optimized Bezier surfaces. Additionally, a phase change material that facilitates reconfigurability is integrated into the metamaterial substrate.
A flexible synthetic route to isoxazolidine β-proline analogs

The function and higher order structure of β-proline oligomers have been relatively unexplored compared to other foldamer classes due in part to synthetic challenges associated with substituted monomers. Here we report a flexible synthesis of di- and trisubstituted isoxazolidine β-proline monomers that enables access to a wide range of densely functionalized analogs suitably protected for solid-phase synthetic protocols. This strategy utilizes chiral isoxazolines as key intermediates and can readily provide single stereoisomers of the target molecules.
An Evaluation of Parental Concerns and Misperceptions About Heart Murmurs

This study sought to determine the extent of anxiety and misperceptions about heart murmurs for consenting parents of 182 children referred for first-time pediatric cardiology assessment (including echocardiography) of a heart murmur. From questionnaires completed before assessment, 22% of parents indicated that they were extremely concerned, and only 16% could define a heart murmur as a sound made by the heart. From 1-month follow-up questionnaires obtained from parents of children without heart disease at assessment, 10% continued to believe that their child had a heart problem. Cardiology assessment may not provide complete reassurance to all families and additional interventions may be necessary.
A multicellular 3D heterospheroid model of liver tumor and stromal cells in collagen gel for anti-cancer drug testing

Two-dimensional (2D) monolayer cultures are the standard in vitro model for cancer research. However, they fail to recapitulate the three-dimensional (3D) environment and quickly lose their function. In this study, we developed a new 3D multicellular heterospheroid tumor model in a collagen hydrogel culture system that more closely mimics the in vivo tumor microenvironment for anti-cancer drug testing. Three aspects of cancer were chosen to be modeled based on their ability to resist anti-cancer drugs: 3D, multicellularity, and extracellular matrix (ECM) barrier. The hanging drop method and co-culture of liver carcinoma with stromal fibroblasts were used to form controlled and uniform heterospheroids. These heterospheroids were then encapsulated in collagen gel in order to create a 3D model of liver cancer that would act more similarly to in vivo ECM conditions. The 3D heterospheroid tumor model was tested with an anti-cancer drug to determine how each of the above aspects affects drug resistance. The results demonstrate that the 3D heterospheroid model is more resistant to drug over 2D monolayer and homospheroid cultures, indicating stromal fibroblasts and collagen hydrogel culture system provides more resistance to anti-cancer drug. This study will provide useful information toward the development of improved biomimetic tumor models in vitro for cancer research in pre-clinical drug development.
The significance of women's pregnancy-related locus of control beliefs for adherence to recommended prenatal health regimens and pregnancy outcomes

Abstract This study examined the relationships among women's pregnancy-related health beliefs, compliance with prenatal health guidelines, and perinatal outcomes. The principal measures in this study were the Pregnancy Belief Scales which explore three factors: (1) pregnant women's degree of perceived control or internality wit h respect to their pregnancy and birth outcomes, (2) the extent to which pregnant women believe that ‘chance’ or (3) ‘powerful others’ affects their pregnancy and birth outcomes. Sixty-two (62) pregnant African-American and Caucasian lower- and middleclass women participated in this study. Measures of compliance with recommended prenatal health guidelines, and pregnancy and perinatal outcomes were also obtained. Results indicated that women's perceptions of their control of their pregnancy and perinatal outcomes was related to compliance with prenatal health regimens during pregnancy, which in turn, was related to actual pregnancy and birth outcomes. The implications of these findi...
Multistage Adipose-Derived Stem Cell Myogenesis: An Experimental and Modeling Study

Adipose-derived stem/stromal cells (ASCs) possess great potential as an autologous cell source for cell-based regenerative therapies. We have previously shown that mimicking the natural dynamic muscle loading patterns enhances differentiation capacity of ASCs into aligned myotubes. In particular, the application of uniaxial cyclic strain significantly increased ASC myogenesis in monolayer cultures. In this study, we demonstrate that the temporal expression of key myogenic markers Pax3/7, Desmin, MyoD and myosin heavy chain closely mimics patterns described for muscle satellite cells. Using these lineage markers, we propose that the progression from undifferentiated ASCs to myotubes can be described as transitions through discrete stages. Based on our experimental data, we developed a compartmental kinetic stage-transition model to provide a quantitative description of the differentiation of ASCs to terminally differentiated myotubes. The model describing ASCs’ myogenic differentiation in response to biophysical cues could help to obtain a deeper understanding of factors governing the biological responses and provide clues for experimental methods to increase the efficiency of ASC myogenesis for the development of improved muscle regenerative therapies.
Philip McCord Morse 1903-1985-A Remembrance

Philip M. Morse, friend and mentor of two generations of operations researchers, and first president of the Operations Research Society, died in Concord, Massachusetts, on September 5, 1985. In many ways, Philip Morse was a symbol of operations research over the past four decades.
Partial pressures of Te2 and thermodynamic properties of Ga-Te system

The partial pressures of Te2 in equilibrium with Ga(1-x)Te(x) samples were measured by optical absorption technique from 450 to 1100 C for compositions, x, between 0.333 and 0.612. To establish the relationship between the partial pressure of Te, and the measured optical absorbance, the calibration runs of a pure Te sample were also conducted to determine the Beer's Law constants. The partial pressures of Te2 in equilibrium with the GaTe(s) and Ga2Te3(s)compounds, or the so-called three-phase curves, were established. These partial pressure data imply the existence of the Ga3Te4(s) compound. From the partial pressures of Te2 over the Ga-Te melts, partial molar enthalpy and entropy of mixing for Te were derived and they agree reasonable well with the published data. The activities of Te in the Ga-Te melts were also derived from the measured partial pressures of Te2. These data agree well with most of the previous results. The possible reason for the high activity of Te measured for x less than 0.60 is discussed.
Foundation stiffness identification for offshore platforms

Abstract A system identification method for optimally estimating major uncertain parameters affecting the behavior of offshore structures, such as the foundation stiffness, using ambient or forced response measurements is presented. The main features of the system identification algorithm are: 1. 1. The generation of a quasi-structural model, expressed as a polynomial function analytically relating measured response parameters to the uncertain variables, in order to avoid expensive computer analysis using a detailed finite element model for the structure-foundation system. 2. 2. Optimization of the uncertain variables using a least-squares error minimization criterion. Two methods for obtaining numerical solutions, a generalized Newton-Raphson root finding algorithm and the Davidson-Fletcher-Powell gradient search method, are compared for accuracy and efficiency. An extensive sensitivity analysis is performed to: (a) assess and improve upon an algorithm originally applied to bridge structures, (b) study the influence of uncertainty in initially supplied parameter values on the accuracy of the iterative identification algorithm, and (c) investigate the effect of using partial modal information on the accuracy of parameter estimates. Finally, the system identification algorithm is applied to field data from an operating Gulf of Mexico caisson-type gas production platform to identify optimal values for the stiffnesses of a simple spring model for the foundation and to assess the stiffness contribution of grout filling the annulus between the caisson and an inner drive pile down to the mudline.
Outcome and Six Month Follow Up of Patients After Ultra Rapid Opiate Detoxification (URODSM)

Abstract Objectives -(1) Evaluate the safety and efficacy of Ultra Rapid Opiate Detoxification (UROD); and (2) evaluate six month outcome data of patients choosing this method. Design -Two center parallel group clinical trial. No grant funding. Setting -Two academic medical centers. Participants -Ninety-three men and 27 women, aged 18 to 55 years, with opiate dependency self selected to undergo detoxification. Interventions -UROD followed by naltrexone maintenance and an aftercare program. UROD and aftercare costs were the responsibility of the patients and/or their significant others. Main Outcomes Measure -(1) Completion of UROD as determined by a non reactive response to a naloxone challenge test under anesthesia and non reactive response to naltrexone administration before discharge. (2) Patient outcome as determined at six month follow up of UROD patients' self reported relapse free status confirmed by urine drug screen, significant other reports, and/or therapist reports. Results -One hundred percen...
Mechanism of atrioventricular nodal facilitation in rabbit heart: role of proximal AV node

The phenomenon of atrioventricular (AV) nodal “facilitation,” described in traditional “black box”-functional studies, implies enhanced AV nodal dromotropic function. We investigated the role of at...
Subzero Water Permeability Parameters of Mouse Spermatozoa in the Presence of Extracellular Ice and Cryoprotective Agents

Optimization of techniques for cryopreservation of mammalian sperm is limited by a lack of knowledge regarding water permeability characteristics during freezing in the presence of extracellular ice and cryoprotective agents (CPAs). Cryomicroscopy cannot be used to measure dehydration during freezing in mammalian sperm because they are highly nonspherical and their small dimensions are at the limits of light microscopic resolution. Using a new shape-independent differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) technique, volumetric shrinkage during freezing of ICR mouse epididymal sperm cell suspensions was obtained at cooling rates of 5 and 20 degrees C/min in the presence of extracellular ice and CPAs. Using previously published data, the mouse sperm cell was modeled as a cylinder (122-microm long, radius 0.46 microm) with an osmotically inactive cell volume (V(b)) of 0.61V(o), where V(o) is the isotonic cell volume. By fitting a model of water transport to the experimentally obtained volumetric shrinkage data, the best-fit membrane permeability parameters (L(pg) and E(Lp)) were determined. The "combined best-fit" membrane permeability parameters at 5 and 20 degrees C/min for mouse sperm cells in solution are as follows: in D-PBS: L(pg) = 1.7 x 10(-15) m(3)/Ns (0.01 microm/min-atm) and E(Lp) = 94.1 kJ/mole (22.5 kcal/mole) (R(2) = 0.94); in "low" CPA media (consisting of 1% glycerol, 6% raffinose, and 15% egg yolk in D-PBS): L(pg)[cpa] = 1.7 x 10(-15) m(3)/Ns (0.01 microm/min-atm) and E(Lp)[cpa] = 122.2 kJ/mole (29.2 kcal/mole) (R(2) = 0.98); and in "high" CPA media (consisting of 4% glycerol, 16% raffinose, and 15% egg yolk in D-PBS): L(pg)[cpa] = 0.68 x 10(-15) m(3)/Ns (0.004 microm/min-atm) and E(Lp)[cpa] = 63.6 kJ/mole (15.2 kcal/mole) (R(2) = 0.99). These parameters are significantly different than previously published parameters for mammalian sperm obtained at suprazero temperatures and at subzero temperatures in the absence of extracellular ice. The parameters obtained in this study also suggest that damaging intracellular ice formation (IIF) could occur in mouse sperm cells at cooling rates as low as 25-45 degrees C/min, depending on the concentrations of the CPAs. This may help to explain the discrepancy between the empirically determined optimal cryopreservation cooling rates, 10-40 degrees C/min, and the numerically predicted optimal cooling rates, greater than 5000 degrees C/min, obtained using suprazero mouse sperm permeability parameters that do not account for the presence of extracellular ice. As an independent test of this prediction, the percentages of viable and motile sperm cells were obtained after freezing at two different cooling rates ("slow" or 5 degrees C/min; "fast," or 20 degrees C/min) in both the low and high CPA media. The greatest sperm motility and viability was found with the low CPA media under fast (20 degrees C/min) cooling conditions.
Significant parameters in estimating the striking distance of lightning strokes to overhead lines

The lightning discharge starts at the cloud end for strokes to level grounds or to low objects. In the initial stage, the leader stroke proceeds downwards without being influenced by grounded objects. As the charge of the cloud is lowered along the leader stroke, the electric field on the surface of the grounded objects increases. Finally, at a certain distance of the tip of the leader stroke from the grounded object, the critical electric field for breakdown of air at the surface of the grounded object if reached, and an upward streamer starts from the object to meet the leader stroke. This distance of the leader tip from the grounded object which produces the upward streamer is called the striking distance. The striking distance is a very significant parameter in estimating the lightning performance of overhead power lines. The longer the striking distance the higher will be the attractiveness of an overhead line to a lightning stroke; therefore, the probability of a line outage will be higher. Golde in his extensive research identified the relationship between the striking distance and the return-stroke current. Whitehead formalized this relation by a series of analytical July expressions, the most widely used being given by rs = 8 (kA)0.65 (m) (1) where / = return-stroke current in kA. Eriksson combined the effects of both the structure height H and the return-stroke current in kiloamperes on the attractive radius Ra of prominent structures, such as transmission-line towers in the following equation. Ra=0.84H0.6 (kA)0.
Retrograde aortic dissection during cardiopulmonary bypass: "nonoperative" management.

Abstract Seven patients are reported in whom retrograde aortic dissection occurred, 2 during valve replacement and 5 during coronary artery bypass, among 770 patients perfused through the common femoral artery. Successful management included: (1) immediate cessation of cardiopulmonary bypass; (2) removal of the arterial cannula and its replacement in the ascending aorta, usually through both lumens of the dissection; (3) completion of the operation by suturing the proximal ends of saphenous vein grafts to both lumens of the dissection in the ascending aorta; and (4) no treatment of the dissection itself. One patient died of other causes 30 days postoperatively. Follow-up from 2 to 3 1/2 years in 6 long-term survivors has revealed no complications related to the dissection. Saphenous vein graft function is apparently satisfactory.
Dislocation substructure in single crystals of hexagonal Ag-Al oriented for prismatic slip

Abstract Single crystals of hexagonal Ag-33 at·% Al oriented for prismatic slip were strained in tension at various temperatures between 77°K and 500°K. Surface slip lines were examined by optical microscopy and the dislocation substructure was studied by transmission electron microscopy as a function of temperature and strain. Below 400°K all crystals deform by repeated yielding. The dislocation substructure consists of broad slip bands containing a high density of perfect, nonbasal-vacancy loops and clusters of helical dislocations aligned along the traces of prismatic planes. Above 400°K repeated yielding is not observed and the dislocation distribution is uniform. A correlation is found between the surface slip lines, the load drops in the stress-strain curves and the internal slip bands. The formation of loops in slip bands provide an explanation for the anomalous behavior of the critical resolved shear stress reported in earlier investigations of this alloy.
Comparison of a multi-purpose hall with three well-known concert halls

The results of detailed measurements are used to compare acoustical conditions in a multi-purpose hall with those in three famous concert halls. The values of five modern acoustics measures are presented for each hall. Significant differences are expected and found between the multi-purpose hall and the dedicated concert halls. The paper is intended to demonstrate the value of using extensive modern measurements to more reliably evaluate acoustical conditions in auditoria
Exploding the Myth of Scientific Support for the Theory of Black Intellectual Inferiority

This article is a review of the theoretical and empirical literature on the question of genetic differences in intelligence between races. The belief that Blacks are genetically less intelligent th...
Ecologically and geologically relevant isotope signatures of C, N, and S: okenone producing purple sulfur bacteria part I

Purple sulfur bacteria (PSB) are known to couple the carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycling in euxinic environments. This is the first study with multiple strains and species of okenone-producing PSB to examine the carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and sulfur (S) metabolisms and isotopic signatures in controlled laboratory conditions, investigating what isotopic fractionations might be recorded in modern environments and the geologic record. PSB play an integral role in the ecology of euxinic environments and produce the unique molecular fossil okenane, derived from the diagenetic alteration of the carotenoid pigment okenone. Cultures of Marichromatium purpuratum 1591 (Mpurp1591) were observed to have carbon isotope fractionations (13_e_biomass – CO_2), via RuBisCO, ranging from −16.1 to −23.2‰ during exponential and stationary phases of growth. Cultures of Thiocapsa marina 5653 (Tmar5653) and Mpurp1591 had a nitrogen isotope fractionation (15_e_biomass – NH4) of −15‰, via glutamate dehydrogenase, measured and recorded for the first time in PSB. The δ^(34)S_VCDT values and amount of stored elemental sulfur for Mpurp1591 cells grown autotrophically and photoheterotrophically were dependent upon their carbon metabolic pathways. We show that PSB may contribute to the isotopic enrichments observed in modern and ancient anoxic basins. In a photoheterotrophic culture of Mpurp1591 that switched to autotrophy once the organic substrate was consumed, there were bulk biomass δ13C values that span a broader range than recorded across the Late Devonian, Permian–Triassic, Triassic–Jurassic, and OAE2 mass extinction boundaries. This finding stresses the complexities in interpreting and assigning δ13C values to bulk organic matter preserved in the geologic record.
Noninvasive determination of hemoglobin saturation in dogs by derivative near-infrared spectroscopy

An in vivo method utilizing derivative near-infrared spectroscopy was developed to noninvasively determine cerebral venous hemoglobin O2 saturation (SVO2). The method was tested on eight pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs ventilated with differing inspired O2 mixtures to force changes in SVO2 over a wide range. Spectral data obtained by transilluminating the tissues surrounding the superior sagittal sinus (SS) were transformed into first derivative units for correlation with SVO2 data measured from the SS. Linear regression analysis was applied to data obtained from five dogs and used to build a three-wavelength algorithm for predicting brain SVO2. In three dogs, SVO2 was varied to test this equation ability to predict SVO2. The standard deviation of differences between measured SVO2 and SVO2 predicted from 31 separate spectra was 3.2%. These predicted values, when regressed against the sampled SVO2, yielded an r value of 0.97. The results demonstrate that during hypoxic hypoxia (HH) it is possible to noninvasively quantify SVO2 with the use of infrared spectroscopy.
Hereditary neutropenia: dogs explain human neutrophil elastase mutations

Mutations in ELA2, the gene encoding neutrophil elastase (NE), cause the human diseases cyclic neutropenia (CN) and severe congenital neutropenia (SCN). Numerous mutations are known, but their lack of consistent biochemical effect has proven puzzling. The recent finding that mutation of AP3B1, which encodes the β subunit of adaptor protein complex 3 (AP3), is the cause of canine CN suggests a model for the molecular basis of hereditary neutropenias, involving the mistrafficking of NE: AP3 recognizes NE as a cargo protein, and their interaction implies that NE is a transmembrane protein. Computerized algorithms predict two NE transmembrane domains. Most CN mutations fall within predicted transmembrane domains and lead to excessive deposition of NE in granules, whereas SCN mutations usually disrupt the AP3 recognition sequence, resulting in excessive transport to the plasma membrane.
Commentary: Selected samples and nebulous measures: some methodological difficulties in life-course epidemiology

Introduction Ramsay et al.’s article contributes to a growing body of research on early life characteristics that predict health in adulthood. This research demonstrates that adults who lived in deprived socio-economic circumstances as children aremore likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease than adults who had privileged childhoods; an association that holds even among people with comparable indicators of adult socio-economic position (SEP). These articles provide a welcome impetus to consider how adult health is shaped by early life experiences, but they face a number of methodological problems that compromise causal inference regarding the effects of childhood social conditions on adult health. In this commentary, I wish to focus on just two of these problems: loss to follow-up and inadequate measurement. Throughout, I assume that the primary causal question of interest is how adult health would differ if we intervened to change childhood SEP, and a secondary causal question is how adult health would differ if we intervened to change not only childhood SEP but also adult SEP or adult behavioural risk factors. My goal in highlighting these difficulties is to prompt life-course researchers to present evidence addressing these possible biases, and improve our ability to interpret the now well-established association between early childhood circumstances and adult health.
Fully alternating, triaxial electric or magnetic fields offer new routes to fluid vorticity

Noncontact methods of generating strong fluid vorticity are important to problems involving heat and mass transfer, fluid mixing, active wetting, and droplet transport. Furthermore, because zero or even negative shear viscosities can be induced, vorticity can greatly extend the control range of the smart fluids used in magnetorheological devices. In recent work we have shown that a particular class of ac/ac/dc triaxial fields (symmetry-breaking rational fields) can create strong vorticity in magnetic particle suspensions and have presented a theory of the vorticity that is based on the symmetry of the 2-d Lissajous trajectories of the field and its converse. In this paper we demonstrate that there are three countably infinite sets of fully alternating ac/ac/ac triaxial fields whose frequencies form rational triads that have the symmetry required to drive fluid vorticity. The symmetry of the 3-d Lissajous trajectories of the field and its converse can be derived and from this the direction of the vorticity axis can be predicted, as can the dependence of the sign of the vorticity on the phase relations between the three field components. Experimental results are presented that validate the symmetry theory. These discoveries significantly broaden the class of triaxial fields that can be exploited to produce strong noncontact flow.
Impact of an Emergent Norovirus Variant in 2009 on Norovirus Outbreak Activity in the United States

In October 2009, a new genogroup II, type 4 (GII.4) norovirus variant was identified in the United States. We collected norovirus outbreak data from 30 states to assess whether this new strain was associated with increased acute gastroenteritis activity. No increase in norovirus outbreaks was observed during the 2009-2010 winter.
Performance analysis of a clock generator PLL under TID effects

Phase-Locked Loops (PLLs) are widely used as frequency synthesizers for clock signal generation. In aerospace environment, however, the performance of the PLL can be degraded due to the radiation exposure, which causes degradation of the parameters of its components. Thereby, this article presents a performance analysis of a clock generator PLL under TID effects. Output frequency, power consumption and control voltage variations are analyzed for different accumulated doses and compared with normal operating results, evidencing the performance degradation. PLL functional failures were also observed and discussed. The circuit was designed in a 0.35μm CMOS process and the simulations were performed using HSPICE simulator.
Reflections on solving the puzzle of Class II malocclusion

Arguably, teeth that stick out represent a significant concern to the orthodontist; and there is much ado about its etiology and gadgets of treatment. In the midst of ever-so-present commercialism, lecture–circuit preaching, and science bashing, the inevitable query would have to be—is the Class II malocclusion treated better today than 50 or 60 years ago? Simply put, does knowledge of etiology or the plethora of gadgets affect timing, treatment planning, mechanics, and outcome of treatment? This discourse will argue in the absence of knowledge to affect growth in the craniofacial region, best clinician׳s best judgment is the best that can be done.
System in a package design of a RF front end system using application specific reduced order models

'Package aware' IC Design has not only become advantageous, but also essential towards optimum performance of high-end systems. This is specifically true in RF front-end systems where the circuit performance is highly sensitive to package parasitics. Here, an intuitive design methodology has been presented that can help in the package aware design of the RF front end system using reduced order models. The reduced order models, whose order is based on the application of the package pins, are generated using krylov's sub space technique. This technique allows for a fine balance between the need for accuracy and time efficiency, during design and layout of the RF front-end.
Population Differentiation and Rapid Evolution of Egg Color in Accordance with Solar Radiation

Abstract African populations of the Village Weaver (Ploceus cucullatus) are subject to brood parasitism by the egg-mimicking Diederik Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx caprius), which has resulted in high variation in egg color between individuals. Considering the nesting environment of the Village Weaver and the putative pre-parasitism ancestral egg color, I hypothesize that blue-green pigment may protect Village Weaver embryos from solar radiation. On this basis, more intense (more chromatic) blue-green egg colors may have evolved by natural selection in Village Weavers in the absence of Diederik Cuckoos. Moreover, even in African populations that are parasitized, Village Weaver eggs may have diverged in accordance with nesting light environments. In accordance with the proposed hypothesis, over the past two centuries two introduced populations have evolved more intense blue-green egg colors compared with their source populations. Two African source populations also differ from each other in the predicted direction,...
An examination of the quality and utility of interviewer observations in the National Survey of Family Growth

Summary. Survey agencies have started to use interviewer observations collected on all sample units to adjust survey estimates for non-response. Ideally, these observations should be related to both response indicators and key survey variables. However, these observations are typically judgements that are made by the interviewers, making them potentially prone to measurement error. Presenting analyses of data from the National Survey of Family Growth in the USA, this study examines the quality and utility of these interviewer observations and considers the implications of measurement errors in these observations for the effectiveness of non-response adjustments.
Calculating energy-saving potentials of heat-island reduction strategies

Abstract We have developed summary tables (sorted by heating- and cooling-degree-days) to estimate the potential of heat-island reduction (HIR) strategies (i.e., solar-reflective roofs, shade trees, reflective pavements, and urban vegetation) to reduce cooling-energy use in buildings. The tables provide estimates of savings for both direct effect (reducing heat gain through the building shell) and indirect effect (reducing the ambient air temperature). In this analysis, we considered three building types that offer the most savings potential: residences, offices, and retail stores. Each building type was characterized in detail by Pre-1980 (old) or 1980 + (new) construction vintage and with natural gas or electricity as heating fuel. We defined prototypical-building characteristics for each building type and simulated the effects of HIR strategies on building cooling- and heating-energy use and peak power demand using the DOE-2.1E model and weather data for about 240 locations in the US. A statistical analysis of previously completed simulations for five cities was used to estimate the indirect savings. Our simulations included the effect of (1) solar-reflective roofing material on building ( direct effect ), (2) placement of deciduous shade trees near south and west walls of building ( direct effect ), and (3) ambient cooling achieved by urban reforestation and reflective building surfaces and pavements ( indirect effect ). Upon completion of estimating the direct and indirect energy savings for all the locations, we integrated the results in tables arranged by heating- and cooling-degree-days. We considered 15 bins for heating-degree-days, and 12 bins for cooling-degree-days. Energy use and savings are presented per 1000 ft 2 of roof area. In residences heated with gas and in climates with greater than 1000 cooling-degree-days, the annual electricity savings in Pre-1980 stock ranged from 650 to 1300 kWh/1000 ft 2 ; for 1980 + stock savings ranged 300–600 kWh/1000 ft 2 . For residences heated with electricity, the savings ranged from 350 to 1300 kWh/1000 ft 2 for Pre-1980 stock and 190–600 kWh/1000 ft 2 for 1980 + stocks. In climates with less than 1000 cooling-degree-days, the electricity savings were not significantly higher than winter heating penalties. For gas-heated office buildings, simulations indicated electricity savings in the range of 1100–1500 kWh/1000 ft 2 and 360–700 kWh/1000 ft 2 , for Pre-1980 and 1980 + stocks, respectively. For electrically heated office buildings, simulations indicated electricity savings in the range of 700–1400 kWh/1000ft 2 and 100–700 kWh/1000 ft 2 , for Pre-1980 and 1980 + stocks, respectively. Similarly, for gas-heated retail store buildings, simulations indicated electricity savings in the range of 1300–1700 kWh/1000 ft 2 and 370–750 kWh/1000 ft 2 , for Pre-1980 and 1980 + stocks, respectively. For electrically heated retail store buildings, simulations indicated electricity savings in the range of 1200–1700 kWh/1000 ft 2 and 250–750 kWh/1000 ft 2 , for Pre-1980 and 1980 + stocks, respectively.