cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evidence for vasoactive intestinal peptide receptors in apical membranes from tracheal epithelium.

Abstract [ 125 I]VIP (vasoactive intestinal peptide) bound to apical membranes isolated from the bovine tracheal epithelium with a half maximal inhibition by unlabeled VIP (IC 50 ) of 0.6 × 10 −9 M and binding was reversible. Glucagon did not affect [ 125 I]VIP binding to the membranes. [ 125 I]VIP was covalently cross-linked to tracheal membrane proteins using disuccinimidyl suberate. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of labeled tracheal membranes revealed one major [ 125 I]-receptor complex of Mr = 71,000 to which binding of [ 125 I]VIP was inhibited by 10 μM unlabeled VIP. These results are consistent with the presence of a specific, high-affinity receptor for VIP, with a Mr = 71,000, in apical membrane vesicles isolated from the bovine tracheal epithelium.
Another specific effect of prenatal acetazolamide exposure in the mouse.

Subcutaneous injection of pregnant mice on day 8 of gestation with 1,000 mg/kg or 200 mg/kg of an aqueous solution of the sodium salt of acetazolamide, divided into three equal treatments at 8-hour intervals, in two series of experiments performed 8 months apart on separately purchased random bred CD-1 animals, resulted in the occurrence of a novel variant of the frontal bones of the skull when animals exposed in utero were examined at 62 ± 2 days postnatal. In its greatest manifestation this variation consisted of a 2–3 mm posteriad extension of the dorsomedial portion of the posterior margin of both bones, although all degrees of asymmetry and variations in the extent of involvement of the posterior margin of the bones were seen. This frontal extension variant was seen in 30.9 ± 4.7% and 53.1 ± 5.0% of the 97 and 98 specimens in the highdose groups, and in 8.1 ± 2.7% and 14.6 ± 3.7% of the 99 and 89 low-dose specimens in the two series. It was not seen in untreated groups, or to any significant extent in vehicle-treated groups, or in a treatment regime involving exposure during days 9–11 of gestation. It was also not seen in 2,110 specimens from four other series of experiments reported in detail involving the teratogens, trypan blue (two series), 5-bromodeoxyuridine, or 2,4,5-T, or in approximately 1,000 specimens from comparable experiments with a variety of pesticides (Maneb, Captan, Trifluralin, Decamethrin) or Thalidomide. In contrast, a morphologically analogous variant, accessory parietal, in which a suture in the anterodorsal surface of the parietal bones running posteromedial and seemingly delimiting a separate bone, is seen in all series. Although it looks as though frontal extension could be an accessory parietal fused with the frontal bone, observation of the specimens does not strongly support that relationship. Even if that were the case, it happens only in day-8 acetazolamide exposure. From the rather extensive series of observations performed, it would appear that frontal extension is a specific response to in utero exposure to acetazolamide during the day 8 of gestation.
Catalysis by transition metal sulfides: A theoretical and experimental study of the relation between the synergic systems and the binary transition metal sulfides

Abstract Both a systematic experimental study of the promoting effect of the first row transition metals on the hydrodesulfurization (HDS) activity of MoS2 and a systematic theoretical study of the electronic structure of simple clusters which model these catalyst systems have been carried out. A comparison of measured trends in activity with calculated trends in electronic structure makes it possible to establish an electronic basis for the promotion effects observed in the MoS2 systems. Both Co and Ni, which serve as promoters, have the ability to donate electrons to Mo, while Cu, which serves as a poison, withdraws electrons from Mo. The other first row transition metals, which have little effect on the HDS activity of MoS2, do not have the ability to donate to or accept electrons from Mo. Thus promotion is associated with an increase in electron density on Mo while poisoning is associated with a decrease in electron density. These results are consistent with previous results which related particular electronic factors to the HDS activity of binary sulfide catalysts.
Ex Vivo implantation study of minimally invasive glaucoma drainage device

We present in this paper the first ex vivo implantation results of our minimally invasive glaucoma drainage device (GDD.) The GDD is designed to treat glaucoma patients by draining out their extraneous aqueous humor out of the anterior chamber utilizing a MEMS micro-fluidic normally closed (NC) check valve. The NC check valve is encapsulated in protective tubing made from parylene C, which has been proved to be biocompatible in implantation. A new packaging and a bench-top testing procedure is established to characterize the integrated GDD prior to its implantation into enucleated porcine eyes. Pre-implanted characterization curve demonstrates a cracking pressure of 10–20 mmHg of the NC check valve, which agrees with our theoretical design. Ex vivo implantation results show that cracking pressure is measured as 24 mmHg by unloading the eye pressure. The little offset of the cracking pressure comes from the differences between the in vitro and ex vivo testing environments. The hysteresis behavior of the NC check valve is also examined during implantation and is presented here.
A socio-psychological perspective on community participation in health during the Unidad Popular government: Santiago de Chile, from 1970 to 1973

Community participation in health has conventionally been described and analysed from a non-historical perspective, neglecting the central role that disadvantaged communities have played in the construction of health institutions in our societies, alienating collective health from its historical subject. From a socio-psychological perspective, this study explores the experiences of community participation in health during the Unidad Popular government in Santiago de Chile from 1970 to 1973, evidencing a radical pedagogical process inside poor urban settlements, aimed to transform Chilean classist health institutions. These findings contribute to a critical understanding of community participation in health, conceived as a dialectic and transformative action.
Evolution of HCL concentrations in the lower stratosphere from 1991 to 1996 following the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo

In situ measurements of hydrochloric acid (HCI) concentrations in the lower stratosphere from 1991 to 1996 reveal that its abundance relative to that of total inorganic chlorine (CIy) has evolved upwards from HCI/CIy=40% in late 1991 to 70% in 1996.
Cortical neurons: isolation of contrast gain control.

Abstract The selectivity of cortical neurons remains invariant with contrast, even though the contrast-response function saturates. Both the invariance and the saturation might be due to a contrast-gain control mechanism. To test this hypothesis, a drifting grating was used to measure the contrast-response function, while a counterphase grating was simultaneously presented at the null position of the receptive field (where it evokes no response at any contrast). When the contrast of the counterphase grating increased, the contrast-response function shifted primarily to the right. This result is consistent with the hypothesis that there is a fast-acting gain-control mechanism which effectively scales the input contrast by the average local contrast.
Feminist theory, cultural diversity, and women's communication

The essay explores the relationships between race and gender in the study of communication, with major emphasis on analyzing the ways in which feminist theory and research have dealt with non‐white women. An overview of contemporary feminism's problems in dealing with race and pluralism among women is provided, and several options are presented for how to attend to diversity within the study of women's communication. The essay concludes with the proposal to feature culture as the central concept for the study of women's communication.
Educational Poetics: An Aesthetic Approach to Action Research.

In this article, Gitlin and Peck argue that much of the development of action research has been based on a reconstructed view of science (i.e., a science that is more contextual, less law‐like, less causal, but still accurately represents reality and is teacher centered as opposed to researcher centered). In contrast to this reconstructed view of science, the authors suggest it is time to look at the limits and possibilities of basing action research on an aesthetic view of knowledge production. Gitlin and Peck do so by providing an outline of educational poetics that uses imagination and creativity to unearth and challenge limiting conceptions of commonsense as the action research participants enter into a freedom quest, to utilize imagination and creativity, our inherent human potential, to think beyond the categories and codes that tie us to the status quo.
Anchoring a Mentoring Network in a New Faculty Development Program

Intentional mentoring of the next generation of faculty is critical if they are to be successful teacher–scholars. The traditional model of one-on-one mentoring is insufficient given the changing demographics of next-generation faculty members, their particular expectations, the limited professional training they receive in graduate school, and the rapidly changing landscape in higher education. Building a mentoring network with different levels and types of mentoring can help new faculty meet these challenges. A mentoring network that is anchored in an extended new faculty development program and aligns with the needs and expectations of this cohort will better develop the competencies necessary for their success in the professoriate.
The relative importance of DNA methylation and Dnmt2-mediated epigenetic regulation on Wolbachia densities and cytoplasmic incompatibility

Wolbachia pipientis is a worldwide bacterial parasite of arthropods that infects germline cells and manipulates host reproduction to increase the ratio of infected females, the transmitting sex of the bacteria. The most common reproductive manipulation, cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI), is expressed as embryonic death in crosses between infected males and uninfected females. Specifically, Wolbachia modify developing sperm in the testes by unknown means to cause a post-fertilization disruption of the sperm chromatin that incapacitates the first mitosis of the embryo. As these Wolbachia-induced changes are stable, reversible, and affect the host cell cycle machinery including DNA replication and chromosome segregation, we hypothesized that the host methylation pathway is targeted for modulation during cytoplasmic incompatibility because it accounts for all of these traits. Here we show that infection of the testes is associated with a 55% increase of host DNA methylation in Drosophila melanogaster, but methylation of the paternal genome does not correlate with penetrance of CI. Overexpression and knock out of the Drosophila DNA methyltransferase Dnmt2 neither induces nor increases CI. Instead, overexpression decreases Wolbachia titers in host testes by approximately 17%, leading to a similar reduction in CI levels. Finally, strength of CI induced by several different strains of Wolbachia does not correlate with levels of DNA methylation in the host testes. We conclude that DNA methylation mediated by Drosophila’s only known methyltransferase is not required for the transgenerational sperm modification that causes CI.
NCN Trianionic Pincer Ligand Precursors: Synthesis of Bimetallic, Chelating Diamide, and Pincer Group IV Complexes

This report details the synthesis of new NCN trianionic pincer ligand precursors and metalation reactions to form group (IV) complexes. N,N′-[1,3-phenylenebis(methylene)]bis-2,6-diisopropylaniline [2,6-iPrNCN]H3 (8) was converted to the N,N′-substituted Si(IV), Sn(IV), Mg(II), and Zn(II) derivatives. [2,6-iPrNCHN](SiMe3)2 (9-Si) and [2,6-iPrNCHN](SnMe3)2 (9-Sn) form by first treating 8 with MeLi followed by Me3MCl, where M = Si or Sn. Single crystal X-ray experiments indicate 8, 9-Si, and 9-Sn have similar structural features in the solid state. [2,6-iPrNCHN](μ-MgCl·THF)2 (12) forms by treating 8 with MeMgCl, and its solid state structure revealed a bis-μ-MgCl bridging unit. The 1H NMR spectrum of 12 reveals a dynamic process occurs in solution. A variable temperature 1H NMR experiment failed to quench the dynamic process. {[2,6-iPrNCHN]Zn}2 (13) forms upon treating {[2,6-iPrNCHN]Li2}2 (10) with anhydrous ZnCl2 and is a dimer in the solid state. Again, dynamic 1H NMR behavior is observed, and a mechanism ...
Resistive training safety and assessment guidelines for cardiac and coronary prone patients.

KELEMEN, M. H. Resistive training safety and assessment guidelines for cardiac and coronary prone patients. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 21, No. 6, pp. 675–677, 1989. The past few years have seen increased use of resistive training programs for cardiac and coronary prone individuals. There is growing evidence that using moderate resistance with frequent repetitions is safe and beneficial. This review provides guidelines for selection and assessment of patients for resistive training programs. For the most part, the criteria for participation in resistive training are the same as those used for the more traditional cardiac and high risk exercise programs.
Structure of a Peptide Adsorbed on Graphene and Graphite

Noncovalent functionalization of graphene using peptides is a promising method for producing novel sensors with high sensitivity and selectivity. Here we perform atomic force microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and molecular dynamics simulations to investigate peptide-binding behavior to graphene and graphite. We studied a dodecamer peptide identified with phage display to possess affinity for graphite. Optical spectroscopy reveals that the peptide forms secondary structures both in powder form and in an aqueous medium. The dominant structure in the powder form is α-helix, which undergoes a transition to a distorted helical structure in aqueous solution. The peptide forms a complex reticular structure upon adsorption on graphene and graphite, having a helical conformation different from α-helix due to its interaction with the surface. Our observation is consistent with our molecular dynamics calculations, and our study paves the way for rational functionalization of graphene using biomo...
Alternative optimal foldover plans for regular fractional factorial split-plot designs

McLeod and Brewster (Technometrics 46:135–146, 2008) considered the construction of optimal foldover plans for regular fractional factorial split plot designs. The construction process was based on the minimum aberration criterion for both the initial design and the combined design derived through the foldover. In this paper we give some additional foldover designs which have desirable properties that may provide viable alternative options to some of the plans provided in McLeod and Brewster (Technometrics 46:135–146, 2008).
Nitric oxide biology and the liver: report of an AASLD research workshop.

Nitric oxide is a gaseous molecule essential to numerous biologic processes, including blood vessel relaxation, neurotransmission, host defense, and others. Some of the many unique aspects of this molecule include the mechanism by which this free radical signals via chemical reaction with protein targets as well as the complex biochemistry by which this molecule is generated and regulated. Many advances over the past 2 decades, particularly a heightened focus on NO in the 1990s, has led to a greater understanding of the role of NO in health and disease. Indeed, NO has recently been recognized as critical in the biology of multiple liver processes and diseases. This review summarizes basic aspects of NO biology and diverse areas of liver-related NO biology in the context of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases Research Workshop held at the 52nd annual meeting in Boston, Massachusetts, on November 2, 2002.
Investigation of particle pairing in liquids

Abstract During the development of a particle interferometric method to size and characterize particles as small as 0.03 μm in liquids, early tests indicated that particles might be traveling as nontouching pairs in some instances. A plausible mechanism for pairing is the van der Waals attraction between particles, an attraction opposed by the double layer repulsion due to ions in the liquid. Electrostatic attraction could also produce transient pairings, followed by agglomeration. Particle pairs would be expected to have different dynamic, electrostatic, statistical, and optical characteristics from single particles. The behavior of particle pairs might be informative with regard to chemical and flow conditions in the liquid. The statistics of particles arriving in nontouching pairs was derived and compared with our data. For highly dilute tap water, there was statistically significant evidence for pairs, with an estimated 0.3% of the particles appearing in pairs. Similar tests did not show the existence of pairs in suspensions of 0.343-μm polystyrene latex. The small fraction of pairs found would not have significant effects in most circumstances nor require alteration of particle counting and analysis methods.
Economic globalization and violent civil conflict: Is openness a pathway to peace?

Abstract There has been little systematic assessment of the impact of globalization on armed conflict within states. Drawing from bargaining theories of conflict, we posit that the global marketplace functions as an “audience” that rewards or punishes the policy choices of states. Globalization, which connotes an increased exposure to this marketplace, increases the relevance of the “costs” that this “audience” may impose. These prospective costs thus encourage peace and stability, as states that are integrated into the global economy have more to lose by instigating and sustaining violent conflict within their borders. Employing a two-stage Heckman Model, we assess the impact of various facets of globalization, including access to information, trade, foreign investment and aid flows, on intrastate conflict within the developing countries for 1990–1996.
Biophysical and Biochemical Characterization of Acrolein-Modified Apolipoprotein E

Apolipoprotein E (apoE), an anti-atherogenic apolipoprotein, plays a significant role in the metabolism of lipoproteins. It lowers plasma lipid levels by acting as a ligand for low-density lipoprotein receptors (LDLr). ApoE mediates this function via essential lysine residues that interact with the LDLr. Our preliminary study shows that rats exposed to environmental tobacco smoke displayed oxidative modification of apoE and dissociation of lipoprotein-bound apoE. The objective of this project is to study the effect of oxidative stress (specifically acrolein) mediated in vitro modification on the structure and function of recombinant rat apoE. SDS-PAGE and RP-HPLC confirmed that the protein was purified to homogeneity with no signs of degradation. Acrolein modification of apoE was confirmed by Western blot analysis. Circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopy revealed that the secondary and tertiary structures of acrolein-modified apoE were affected with significant difference in the overall fold of the modified protein. Modified apoE also demonstrated a decrease in binding affinity for heparin and lipid binding ability. Lastly, the LDLr binding ability of acrolein-modified apoE was significantly impaired. Overall, we conclude that acrolein disrupts the structural and functional integrity of apoE, which is likely to affect its role in maintaining plasma cholesterol homeostasis. Our data provide a molecular basis for the potential role of oxidative stress mediated Modification of apoE in altering lipoprotein metabolism, with direct implications in cardiovascular disease.Funded by CSULB, TRDRP 17RT-0165 (VN), NIH HL096365 (VN), McNair Scholar Program, CSU Long Beach (TT), NSF HRD-0802628 (TT), and CSULB Women and Philanthropy scholarship (TT).
Avoidance and escape responses of the sub-antarctic limpet Nacella edgari (Powell) (Mollusca: Gastropoda) to the sea star Anasterias perrieri (Smith) (Echinodermata: Asteroidea)

The sub-antarctic limpet Nacella edgari (Powell) (Patellidae) has avoidance and escape responses to the sea star Anasterias perrieri (Smith) (Asteriidae) in a kelp forest and in the laboratory. Nacella edgari was preyed upon in the field by A. perrieri, but frequency of capture was low, suggesting the effectiveness of defensive behaviors. Both avoidance and escape responses by the limpet consisted of extension and waving of the pallial tentacles, mushrooming and rotation of the shell and flight. However, escape responses were characterized by greatly intensified rotation of the shell through a horizontal plane. This study extends the evaluation of defensive responses in gastropods to a species which occurs in the southern Indian Ocean.
The impact of teachers’ individualized practices on gifted students in rural, heterogeneous classrooms

Several factors have increased teachers’ frustrations in the regular classroom as they try to meet the needs of students with varying levels of ability. Limited educational funding, the attitude that gifted students can do without special services, and a push for increased heterogeneous grouping have all contributed to the teacher's problem. The Mustard Seed Project was developed and supported by a grant from the Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education program to train teachers to differentiate for student needs by curricular adaptations. The training for teachers modeled the process of individualization for each learner's level, pace and style. A follow‐up support system of human and material resources was implemented to sustain the teachers through the difficult transition required of change. The sites participating in this study were all rural, ethnically diverse, and economically disadvantaged. Profiles of six gifted fifth‐graders were developed using interviews and classroom observations. The r...
Determination of vitamin A derivatives in fortified foods and commercial vitamin supplements by high-performance liquid chromatography.

Description d'une technique de dosage du retinol, de l'acetate de retinyle et du palmitate de retinyl, dans des echantillons de jaune d'oeuf ou de produits enrichis en vitamines (cereales pour petit dejeuner, yogourt, boissons, etc.)
Pelvic Fracture and Associated Urologic Injuries

Successful management of patients with major pelvic injuries requires a team approach including orthopedic, urologic, and trauma surgeons. Each unstable pelvic disruption must be treated aggressively to minimize complications and maximize long-term functional outcome. Commonly associated urologic injuries include injuries of the urethra, corpora cavernosa (penis), bladder, and bladder neck. Bladder injuries are usually extraperitoneal and result from shearing forces or direct laceration by a bone spicule. Posterior urethral injuries occur more commonly with vertically applied forces, which typically create Malgaigne-type fractures. Common complications of urethral disruption are urethral stricture, incontinence, and impotence. Acute urethral injury management is controversial, although it appears that early primary realignment has promise for minimizing the complications. Impotence after pelvic fracture is predominantly vascular in origin, not neurologic as once thought.
Multiobjective traffic signal timing optimization using non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the application of non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm in solving the multiobjective signal timing optimization problem (MOSTOP). Three n-objective signal timing optimization problems with m-constraint, which cover both deterministic and stochastic traffic patterns, are defined and solved in this study. Mathematical approximations of the resulting Pareto Frontiers are presented to evaluate the trade-off among various objectives and thus provide the most appropriate alternatives for all potential situations of the intersection traffic signal design.
Feature set selection for impulse radar based landmine detection

This paper discusses feature reduction methods for classification of multi-dimensional data. The application in mind is landmine detection using a ground penetrating impulse radar. By classifying detected objects, the false alarm rate in a landmine detection system can be greatly reduced. The measured data is mapped to feature vectors that are supposed to represent the data. To keep the classifier fast and simple the dimension of the feature vectors should be as low as possible. Four different methods for feature reduction are here compared and evaluated on real data from an impulse radar system. The different performance, resulting from the different design criteria of the methods, are discussed in this paper.
Reduced-Complexity Cyclotomic FFT and Its Application to Reed-Solomon Decoding

Cyclotomic fast Fourier transform (CFFT) was recently proposed and shown to be efficient for lengths up to 511. In this paper, we propose a novel algorithm to reduce the additive complexity of CFFT. When used in transform-domain Reed-Solomon decoders, our improved CFFT reduces the complexity of the transform portion by up to 72%.
Image Processing Using Pointed Fuzzy Sets

Pointed fuzzy sets are introduced and are shown to provide a useful model for describing and manipulating grey values of images. Algebraic operations involving grey values and points in the integral lattice induce corresponding basic operations on images from which important image processing algorithms are described.
High performance liquid chromatography analysis of 2-mercaptoethylamine (cysteamine) in biological samples by derivatization with N-(1-pyrenyl) maleimide (NPM) using fluorescence detection

Abstract 2-Mercaptoethylamine (cysteamine) is an aminothiol compound used as a drug for the treatment of cystinosis, an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder. Because of cysteamine's important role in clinical settings, its analysis by sensitive techniques has become pivotal. Unfortunately, the available methods are either complex or labor intensive. Therefore, we have developed a new rapid, sensitive, and simple method for determining cysteamine in biological samples (brain, kidney, liver, and plasma), using N-(1-pyrenyl) maleimide (NPM) as the derivatizing agent and reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a fluorescence detection method (λex = 330 nm, λem = 376 nm). The mobile phase was acetonitrile and water (70:30) with acetic acid and o-phosphoric acid (1 mL/L). The calibration curve for cysteamine in serine borate buffer (SBB) was found to be linear over a range of 0–1200 nM (r2 = 0.9993), and in plasma and liver matrix, the r2 values were 0.9968 and 0.9965, respectively. The coefficients of the variation for the within-run and between-run precisions ranged from 0.68 to 9.90% and 0.63 to 4.17%, respectively. The percentage of relative recovery ranged from 94.1 to 98.6%.
Learning to Control an Unstable System with Forward Modeling

The forward modeling approach is a methodology for learning control when data is available in distal coordinate systems. We extend previous work by considering how this methodology can be applied to the optimization of quantities that are distal not only in space but also in time.
A 3-D Finite Deformation Anisotropic Visco-Plasticity Model for Fiber Composites

A 3-D finite deformation anisotropic visco-plasticity model is presented for fiber composites in total Lagrangian co-ordinates. The plastic potential function is given by a quadratic function in st...
Noninvasive detection of coronary artery disease using parametric spectral analysis methods

The detection of coronary artery disease by noninvasive analysis of isolated diastolic heart sounds is considered. It is based on identifying features associated with turbulent blood flow in partially occluded coronary arteries. The application of two types of parametric spectral analysis-autoregressive methods and eigenvector methods-to identify the additional signal components is discussed. Results obtained with one eigenvector method, (the MUSIC method) for spectra obtained from an angioplasty patient and results obtained with the autoregressive model in a comparison study of ten diseased and five normal patients are presented and discussed. >
On-Chip Power-Grid Simulation Using Latency Insertion Method

Ensuring the integrity of the power supply in the power distribution networks (PDNs) of a chip is essential for building reliable high-performance chips. To ensure the power integrity, accurate, and memory- and time-efficient simulation approaches for simulating the power-supply noise in the on-chip PDN are essential. In this paper, a finite-difference formulation based on the latency insertion method (LIM) has been employed for simulating the power-supply noise in the on-chip PDN. A new common-mode type equivalent circuit has been proposed. In this equivalent circuit, a capacitance to ideal ground may not be present at all the nodes. Further, the nodes can be capacitively coupled to each other. To avoid inverting a large nonbanded matrix, a small capacitance to ground is added to a node that did not have any capacitance to ground, and a small series inductance is added to any floating capacitor that did not have any series inductance. Approximate closed-form expressions to compute the values of these capacitances to ground and series inductances have been proposed. The accuracy of the LIM-enabled transient simulation and the accuracy of the proposed closed-form expressions have been demonstrated. The memory and time complexity of the simulation for each time step have been shown to be O(Nn) each, where Nn is the number of nodes in the equivalent circuit. Stability condition is derived for the first time for multidimensional inhomogeneous RLC circuit. A upper bound of the time step is derived from the stability condition. Using this bound on the time step, the runtime of the overall transient simulation has been estimated to be approximately proportional to Nn 2-2.5 for Nn in the order of millions.
Post myocardial infarction stratification and the signal-averaged electrocardiogram

T HE CAUSE OF DEATH in patients who are discharged from the hospital following myocardial infarction (MI) is attributable to three factors: (1) reinfarction resulting in heart failure or a fatal arrhythmia, (2) cardiac rupture, and (3) primary ventricular tachyarrhythmia. Several studies’-” have demonstrated that the majority of patients who die suddenly have a sustained ventricular tachycardia that degenerates into ventricular fibrillation, and a minority have a bradyarrhythmia. Factors that precipitate the arrhythmic event remain poorly understood but likely include ischemia, drugs, premature ventricular depolarizations, and the presence of a substrate with slow conduction characteristics.” Mortality in patients with MI has decreased significantly in the last few years. This decrease has been shown for both early and late mortality. The significant decline in mortality is related to several factors.l’-‘” Among these are (1) the institution of coronary care units, (2) reduction in arrhythmic deaths resulting from ventricular fibrillation, (3) the use of intravenous and oral P-blocking agents, and (4) the use of thrombolytic agents. Whereas in 1966 the l-year mortality was 14% and the 6-year mortality was 42% for patients discharged from the hospital, today in the era of thrombolytic therapy the mortality is in the range of 3% to 5% for 1 year and likely 11% to 13% for 6 years” accounting for a 60% to 75% reduction in mortality. It is likely that mortality will remain high in patients who do not undergo thrombolysis, who are more than 70 years of age, who have multiple infarctions, and who have severe left ventricular dysfunction as well as ventricular arrhythmias. Thus, risk stratification assumes importance so that one can identify low-risk patients who require no intervention and highrisk patients who may require interventional therapy. A variety of tests have been used for risk stratification of patients post-MI. These tests have included exercise electrocardiogram (ECG), 24-hour Holter monitoring, radionuclear angiography, coronary angiography, and programmed ventricular stimulation.z”-3” In recent years the technique of signal averaging in association with high gain amplification has been used to detect late potentials,“‘-3y which are high frequency low amplitude signals that occur in the terminal part of the QRS complex and/or the ST segment. These late potentials have been postulated to be noninvasive markers of the arrhythmic substrate, which is characterized by slow inhomogenous propagation of conduction.l” The purpose of this article is to review the role of the signal-averaged ECG in risk stratification of patients post-MI..
Redundant command generator tracker control technique for self-repairing flight control systems

The command generator tracker (CGT) technique is used to design an explicit model following scheme in which the stabilizing feedback control law is designed to be a redundant control law. The scheme is applicable to the selfrepairing flight control system concept. The A-7D DIGITAC aircraft linearized data, at one flight condition and one type of impairment, is employed to demonstrate the validity of the approach. The employment of a redundant control law will increase the survivability and operational reliability of the aircraft and will enhance its maintainability during the combat and peace time missions.
Mixture models for assessing differential expression in complex tissues using microarray data

Motivation: The use of DNA microarrays has become quite popular in many scientific and medical disciplines, such as in cancer research. One common goal of these studies is to determine which genes are differentially expressed between cancer and healthy tissue, or more generally, between two experimental conditions. A major complication in the molecular profiling of tumors using gene expression data is that the data represent a combination of tumor and normal cells. Much of the methodology developed for assessing differential expression with microarray data has assumed that tissue samples are homogeneous. Results: In this paper, we outline a general framework for determining differential expression in the presence of mixed cell populations. We consider study designs in which paired tissues and unpaired tissues are available. A hierarchical mixture model is used for modeling the data; a combination of methods of moments procedures and the expectation--maximization algorithm are used to estimate the model parameters. The finite-sample properties of the methods are assessed in simulation studies; they are applied to two microarray datasets from cancer studies. Commands in the R language can be downloaded from the URL http://www.sph.umich.edu/~ghoshd/COMPBIO/COMPMIX/.
A Systematic Probabilistic Approach for Estimation in Dense Wireless Sensor Networks

In this paper we present a novel systematic approach for inference of missing observations in environmental monitoring wireless sensor networks (WSNs). This capability is important in that it enables sensor networks to effectively estimate the missing data when observation is incomplete to address two critical challenges in WSNs: (1) how to achieve sensor node failure tolerant and robust data collection in harsh environments, and (2) how to minimize energy consumptions through putting some sensor nodes into sleep alternatively. In our approach, we use Markov random fields (MRFs) to model the spatial correlation in sensor networks. Our MRF model is constructed by using iterative proportional fitting (IPF), and then Loopy belief propagation (LBP) is employed to perform the approximate inference given an incomplete network observation. We demonstrate our approach using real-world sensed soil moisture data in environmental monitoring. Our preliminary results show the great promise of the proposed approach.
Salivary testosterone and body composition among Ariaal males.

To determine if testosterone is negatively related to acute and/or chronic nutritional status among men in a subsistence society, saliva samples and anthropometric measures were compared among nomadic and settled Ariaal pastoralists of northern Kenya. Fifty-six nomadic men and 62 settled men facing drought conditions, estimated ages 22-96 years, were sampled. Measures included height, weight, four skinfolds, and %body fat by bioelectric impedance (BIA). Saliva samples were assayed for testosterone using radioimmunoassay. Overall, both body mass index (BMI) (avg. = 17.8 +/- 6.0 kg/m(2)) and salivary testosterone (T) levels (avg. am value = 176.8 +/- 74.8 pmol/l) were low compared to values from Western populations. Comparison of the two subpopulations revealed no significant difference in height, weight, BMI, or lean body mass. However, nomadic males exhibited significantly smaller skinfolds. Evening, but not morning, salivary T values differed between the subpopulations. Age-related changes in body composition included a significant decline in BMI with age, related to loss of body fat, but with little change in lean body mass. Age-related declines in BMI and %body fat were more pronounced among the nomadic males. am salivary T values declined with age; again, the decline was significantly greater among nomadic males. pm salivary T levels showed no significant decline with age. When controlled for residence and age, salivary T was positively related to %body fat and WHR ratio, but not lean body mass. These results provide evidence that salivary T is related to acute nutritional status among males in an energetically stressed subsistence population, in accordance with life history theories of somatic allocation.
OLFACTORY MEMORY FORMATION IN DROSOPHILA: From Molecular to Systems Neuroscience

The olfactory nervous system of insects and mammals exhibits many similarities, which suggests that the mechanisms for olfactory learning may be shared. Molecular genetic investigations of Drosophila learning have uncovered numerous genes whose gene products are essential for olfactory memory formation. Recent studies of the products of these genes have continued to expand the range of molecular processes known to underlie memory formation. Recent research has also broadened the neuroanatomical areas thought to mediate olfactory learning to include the antennal lobes in addition to a previously accepted and central role for the mushroom bodies. The roles for neurons extrinsic to the mushroom body neurons are becoming better defined. Finally, the genes identified to participate in Drosophila olfactory learning have conserved roles in mammalian organisms, highlighting the value of Drosophila for gene discovery.
Potential toxicity and aerobic biodegradability of sodium silicate chemical grout leachate

Large quantities of organic reagents are used in sodium silicate grouts for the stabilization of granular soils prior to construction projects. However, the fate and effects of these reagents in the subsurface are unknown. In this study, leachate from sodium silicate grouted soil specimens was tested for acute toxicity using Daphnia magna and Vibrio fisheri (Microtox®) assays. Additionally, a soil biometer test was used to measure the aerobic biodegradability of the grout leachate. Median lethal concentrations (LC50s) ranged from 1,220 to 3,260 mg/L as total organic carbon (TOC) for the D. magna test and from 4,500 to 22,180 mg/L as TOC for the Microtox test. More than 80% of the organics contained in the grout leachate were biologically converted to carbon dioxide in less than 30 d. The grout was found to be far less toxic than other common organic chemicals such as phenol.
The Quest for Global Narcotics Policy Change: Does the United States Matter?

The prohibition approach to narcotics control has been in existence for decades with little or no change to the existing policy. This article explores the global drug prohibition regime, the quest for policy change and why the US matters to any change in policy. Drawing on key scholarly works and interviews from experts in the field, the article employs the theory of policy paradigm (orders of change) to explain the types of policy change occurring within the US/global narcotics regime. The hegemonic stability theory also provides some explanations for the dominant role of the US in shaping the global narcotics regime. The key finding reveals that the US and the global narcotics regime are undergoing first and second order changes in policy.
Success in a High School Completion Program and Its Relation To Field Dependence—Independence

This study explored the cognitive style of field dependence-independence (FDI) and its relation to performance on the General Educational Development Test (GED), performance on the Test of Adult Ba...
Polarization and charge-transfer effects in aqueous solution via Ab initio QM/MM simulations

Combined ab initio quantum mechanical and molecular mechanical (QM/MM) simulations coupled with the block-localized wave function energy decomposition (BLW-ED) method have been conducted to study the solvation of two prototypical ionic systems, acetate and methylammonium ions in aqueous solution. Calculations reveal that the electronic polarization between the targeted solutes and water is the primary many-body effect, whereas the charge-transfer term only makes a small fraction of the total solute-solvent interaction energy. In particular, the polarization effect is dominated by the solvent (water) polarization.
AN INITIAL INVESTIGATION OF THE POTENTIAL FOR HERMETIC PURDUE IMPROVED CROP STORAGE (PICS) BAGS TO IMPROVE INCOMES FOR MAIZE PRODUCERS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Pests like the larger grain borer (P. truncatus) and the maize weevil (S. zeamis) cause significant storage losses for African maize producers. The value of storage protection to a market-oriented farmer is a function of price seasonality, value loss prevention, and their opportunity costs of capital. Evidence suggests that hermetic technologies like Purdue Improved Crop Storage (PICS) bags can be effective against these key maize storage pests, but sustainable technology transfer requires that it be profitable for producers. This analysis references dry weight loss figures from key life science articles and builds on previous value loss research to provide a geographic model for potential storage technology adoption. PICS bag profitability with one and two years of use are compared with the profitability of leading insecticides Sofagrain (deltamethrin (0.5%) and pirimiphos-methyl (1.5%)) and Actellic Super (permethrin (0.3%)+ pirimiphos-methyl (1.6%)). Market regions in Tanzania, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, and Ghana are analyzed. Results show superior profitability with PICS technology, and high potential for adoption in Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Ghana.
The Effect of Treated High-Vanadium Fuel on Gas Turbine Load, Efficiency, and Life

Tests were run on four inter-cooled regenerative high-temperature gas turbines of like design to measure the effect of burning several different residual fuels. Some of the tests were made with the help and co-operation of the Central Vermont Public Service Corporation on two of their units at Rutland, Vermont. Other tests were made at Bangor, Maine, with the help and co-operation of The Esso Research and Engineering Company, and the Bangor Hydroelectric Company, on the two units in the Graham Station. The results of the tests can be summarized as follows:1. After a few hundred hours of intermittent operation, the first-stage nozzle area reaches a steady-state condition wherein it oscillates between zero and a maximum of about 8 percent reduction in area due to oil ash. The maximum reduction varies from 4 percent to 8 percent, depending on the fuel;2. With continuous operation the first-stage nozzle area does not reach a steady-state value in 100 hours but plugs more or less continuously at rates varying from 5 to 24 percent per hundred hours, depending on the fuel. The load decreases also at rates varying from one to twenty percent in the same period;3. Increasing the magnesium content of the fuel with respect to its vanadium content increases the deposition rate, but increasing the aluminum with respect to the vanadium content has the opposite effect;4. Substantial temperature changes due to load variations and changes of firing temperature have little or no effect on dislodging the ash, but shutdowns in excess of two hours duration cause recoveries of over 70 percent in the area and over 50 percent in the load;5. Introducing about 15 pounds of spent refinery catalyst into the low-pressure compressor inlet results in more than 40 percent recovery in the nozzle area and about the same recovery in the load. This cleaning operation, followed by a shutdown, results in practically complete recovery in both load and area during subsequent operation.A test was run for 2400 hours with a single residual fuel containing about 360 ppm of vanadium following 2700 hours operation on distillate fuel. Comparisons of the gas-path parts with those of two other units of the same design, one using a residual oil having 80 ppm of vanadium and the other using natural gas, lead to the following conclusions:1. The life of the gas-path parts is no different whether a high vanadium or a low vanadium residual fuel is used;2. The corrosion of the nozzles and buckets is not much greater with treated residual oil than with natural gas.Copyright © 1958 by ASME
Suitability of Irradiated or Freeze-Killed Horn Fly (Diptera: Muscidae) Pupae as Hosts for Hymenopteran Parasitoids

The suitability of horn fly, Haematobia irritans (L.), pupae killed by irradiation or freezing as hosts for Spalangia cameroni (Perkins) was examined. Irradiation at 50 kR completely inhibited eclosion of adult horn flies; they were initially as suitable as live horn fly pupae as hosts for S. cameroni . However, suitability declined if irradiated pupae were stored >2 wk at 5°C. Freeze-killed horn fly pupae consistently produced fewer S. cameroni than live pupae, but frozen pupae could be stored for extended periods without a further decline in suitability. Pachycrepoideus vindemiae (Rondani) reproduced as well on freeze-killed horn fly pupae as it did on live or irradiated pupae.
A Parallel Multiblock Boundary Fitted Dynamic Mesh Solver for Simulating Flows with Complex Boundary Movement

In this study, a parallel numerical solution procedure for unsteady incompressible flow in a boundary fitted dynamic grid is presented. A collocated finite volume multiblock approach in a general curvilinear coordinate is used with Cartesian velocities and pressure as dependent variables. The Navier-Stokes equations are solved using a fractional-step algorithm. The dynamic grid algorithm is implemented by satisfying the space conservation law by computing the grid velocities in terms of the volume swept by the faces. The generation of a new grid in a multiblock approach is achieved by using a combination of spring analogy and Trans-Finite interpolation. The spring analogy is used to compute the displacement of block corners, after which Trans-Finite interpolation is applied independently on each computational block. The moving grid algorithm is validated in a heaving airfoil and the robustness of rezoning algorithm is tested by simulating dragonfly flight, which is characterized by complex boundary movements with substantial grid deformation.