cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Acute Onset Human Atrial Fibrillation Is Associated With Local Cardiac Platelet Activation and Endothelial Dysfunction

Objectives The purpose of this study was to determine whether acute onset atrial fibrillation (AF), independent of other risk factors, predisposes to an early prothrombotic state. Background Several risk factors predispose to the hypercoagulable state in human AF, but whether acute onset AF alone is prothrombotic remains unclear. Methods Patients with paroxysmal AF (n = 22) underwent radiofrequency catheter ablation. All patients presented in sinus rhythm. Baseline blood samples were obtained simultaneously from the femoral vein (systemic sample) and the coronary sinus (local cardiac sample). The AF was induced by burst atrial pacing in 14 patients (AF group). A control group (n = 8) underwent atrial pacing at 120 beats/min. Blood samples were recollected after 15 min. Platelet P-selectin expression (CD62) was measured using flow cytometry. Markers of thrombin generation (thrombin antithrombin complex, prothrombin fragment 1.2), inflammation (C-reactive protein, interleukin-6), and nitric oxide were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results Neither local nor systemic platelet activation changed in the control group. In the AF group, local cardiac platelet activation (percent P-selectin [+] platelets) increased significantly (2.2 ± 0.6% to 2.8 ± 1.0%, p = 0.007); however, systemic platelet activation did not change. The AF group had increased local thrombin generation (thrombin antithrombin complex: 8.5 ± 7.6 ng/ml to 33.2 ± 17.4 ng/ml, p = 0.003; prothrombin fragment 1.2: 95.6 ± 45.6 μmol/l to 243.8 ± 120.1 μmol/l, p = 0.003), decreased nitric oxide production (25.2 ± 10.8 μmol/l to 22.3 ± 10.0 μmol/l, p Conclusions Human AF causes local cardiac platelet activation within minutes of onset. The results demonstrate how AF alone, independent of other risk factors, may contribute to the hypercoagulable state.
Glycolate dehydrogenase in green algae.

Abstract Glycolate dehydrogenase was partially purified from Chlamydomonas by Triton X-100 extraction from the cells followed by ammonium sulfate fractionation. The enzyme had no oxidase activity. No glyoxylate formation occurred in the absence of the artificial electron acceptors, dichloroindophenol or phenazine methosulfate. The enzyme preferentially catalyzed the oxidization of glycolate at pH 8.0–8.7, and the Km was 2.2 × 10−4 m . Glycolate dehydrogenase also catalyzes the oxidation of d -lactate with a Km of 1.5 × 10−3 m . The enzyme was sensitive to sulfhydryl inhibitors. No cofactors have been identified. A limited survey was run for the distribution of the two enzymes which catalyze the oxidation of glycolate. Glycolate oxidase couples to oxygen, is cyanide-insensitive, and oxidizes l -lactate. In contrast, glycolate dehydrogenase is cyanide-sensitive and oxidizes d -lactate. Glycolate dehydrogenase activity was found in the green algae, Chlamydomonas, Chlorella, Scenedesmus, Euglena, and Acetabularia, and no glycolate oxidase was detected in these algae. Higher plants had glycolate oxidase activity but no glycolate dehydrogenase. It is suggested that the enzyme for oxidizing glycolate to glyoxylate is a dehydrogenase in algae and an oxidase in the peroxisomes of higher plants.
Pulsus Alternans: Echocardiographic Evidence of Reduced Venous Return and Alternating End-diastolic Fiber Length as Causative Factors

The echocardiographic findings are described in a patient with left heart failure both before and after development of severe pulsus alternans (PA). Right ventricular dimension (RVD) before and after PA was 2.7 and 1.0 cm, respectively. Left atrial dimension (LAD) before and after PA was 4.8 cm and 2.7 cm, respectively. Left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVDd) without PA was 6.7 cm; with PA was 6.0 cm before the strong beat and 5.7 cm before the weak beat. End-diastolic thickness of the left ventricular wall (LVW) was 0.8 cm before the strong beat and 1.1 cm before the weak beat. Thus the weak beat was initiated from a shorter end-diastolic fiber length than the strong beat. The weak beat had no aortic valve opening, and the accompanying phonocardiogram revealed absence of the early ejection sound and aortic component of the second heart sound. Decreased blood volume owing to diuretic therapy most likely contributed to the development of PA, since the RVD, LAD, and LVDd became smaller, the heart rate did not change, and the rhythm was regular.
Recovery of reproductive function by prairie deermice (Peromyscus maniculatus bairdii) from asymptotic populations.

Abstract Prairie deermice greater than 100 days of age and non-reproductive in laboratory populations provided with surplus food and water were paired either with fertile mates or with other inhibited population animals. Following pairing, more than 75 per cent of all animals reproduced. The rates of reproductive recovery did not differ significantly between males and females. The average time required for reproduction by population animals paired with proven mates was less than that for pairs composed of population animals. The significantly slower rate of reproductive recovery for population pairs suggests that mutual stimulation is involved in recovery and is initially lacking or minimal in these pairs. A period of physiological and behavioural adjustment following removal from the populations appears necessary before reproduction. Mechanisms preventing reproduction within the populations are unknown.
Protecting Haiti's Children: Disasters, Trafficking and Human Rights

: Gretchen E Schafft is contributing editor of “Human Rights Forum,” the AAA Committee for Human Rights column in Anthropology News. Keywords: disaster, human rights and advocacy, children and youth, Haiti, Caribbean
Venture capital and high technology entrepreneurship

Abstract Venture capital clearly plays an important role in high technology entrepreneurship. The purpose of this article is to explain the differences among various venture capital complexes focusing on where venture capital is important to innovation and entrepreneurship and conversely where it is not. We do so through an empirical and historical examination of the seven most important venture capital complexes: California (San Francisco/ Silicon Valley), Massachusetts (Boston), New York, Illinois (Chicago), Texas, Connecticut, and Minnesota (Minneapolis). We establish a three-part tripartite typology for explaining the differences between these venture capital complexes: 1) technology-oriented complexes are located close to concentrations of high technology intensive businesses, invest most of their funds locally, and are net attractors of capital; 2) finance-oriented complexes are located around financial institutions and export their capital; and 3) hybrid complexes mix characteristics of both technology and finance-oriented venturing. Our findings have a series of important practical implications. Although venture capital is not absolutely necessary to facilitate high technology entepreneurship, well-developed venture capital networks provide tremendous incentives for entrepreneurship by lowering the difficulties of entering an industry. Venture capitalists use both their experience and their contacts to reduce many of the information and opportunity costs associated with new business formation. The importance of contact networks and information to both deal flow and investment monitoring goes a low way toward explaining why venture capitalists cluster tightly together. The availability of venture capital also attracts entrepreneurs and high quality personnel to a region creating a virtuous circle of new enterprise formation, innovation, and economic development. Private, nonprofit, and subsidized public efforts aimed at providing venture capital and stimulating high technology entrepreneurship must confront the fact that venture capital alone will not magically generate entrepreneurship and economic development. It is important that such efforts recognize the nonfinancial side of venture investing and attract experienced personnel who can tap into established entrepreneurial networks and secure coinvestors. More significantly, establishing public venture funding in an area lacking the requisite entrepreneurial climate or technology infrastructure may create a “catch 22” situation where locally oriented funds invest in bad deals or where venture capital is simply exported to established high technology regions.
The influence of store attitudes and other nonstore shopping patterns on patronage of television shopping programs

Abstract This research investigated perceptions of attributes of television shopping programs relative to those of department and specialty stores and the relationships among attitude toward department and specialty stores, frequencies of shopping from catalogs and on-line shopping systems, and attitude toward television shopping programs. Data were obtained from a mail survey conducted on a random sample of 1,000 U.S. households that subscribed to cable television. Findings showed that overall attitude toward retail stores was significantly and positively related to overall attitude toward television shopping programs. There was also a strong relationship between patronage of television and attitudes toward merchandise, price, atmosphere/entertainment, salesperson service, and general service policy attributes of television shopping programs relative to those of store retailers.
Potential for wild species in cool season food legume breeding

Wild species which are crossable to cultivated pea, lentil, and chickpea have been collected and are maintained in major germplasm collections throughout the world. Wild species of Vicia crossable to the cultivated faba bean have not been found. The primary, secondary, and tertiary gene pools of the cool season food legumes represent potential genetic diversity that may eventually be exploited in cultivated types to overcome biotic and abiotic stresses. Technical difficulties in obtaining hybrids beyond those within the primary gene pool is a major obstacle. Reproductive isolation, embryo breakdown, hybrid sterility, and limited genetic recombination are major barriers to greater use of wild germplasm. Conventional crossing has been successful in producing interspecific hybrids in Lens, Cicer and Pisum and those hybrids are being evaluated for desired recombinants. In vitro culture of hybrid embryos has been successful in overcoming barriers to wider crosses in Lens. The successful transfer of genes from wide sources to cultivated types can be assisted by repeated backcrossing and selection designed to leave behind undesired traits while transferring genes of interest. Molecular marker assisted selection may become a valuable tool in the future use of wild species. In general, too little is known about the possible genetic variation available in wild species that could be valuable in developing resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Current efforts on the use of wide hybridization in the cool season food legumes are reviewed and discussed.
Toll-like receptor 4 in inflammation and angiogenesis: a double-edged sword.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) primarily known for the pathogen recognition and subsequent immune responses are being investigated for their pathogenic role in various chronic diseases. The recent reports correlating the microbial infections with chronic disorders such as atherosclerosis have lead to questions in relation to the role of microbial sensors such as TLR4 in an intriguing phenomenon of the inflammation-induced angiogenesis. This article focuses on the possible mechanisms involved in it.
Evidence for near-frictionless faulting in the 1989 (M 6.9) Loma Prieta, California, earthquake and its aftershocks

Analysis of the unusually diverse right-lateral, left-lateral, reverse, and normal faulting aftershocks of the Loma Prieta earthquake reveals a systematic relation between fault-plane orientation and slip direction; right-lateral aftershock planes strike slightly more north-ward (10°-15°) than the main shock, left-lateral planes strike slightly more westward, reverse planes dip slightly less steeply, and normal planes dip slightly more steeply than the main shock. We demonstrate that these slip patterns are consistent with an approximately uniaxial stress field acting nearly perpendicular to the main-shock fault plane. These results imply an extremely weak fault zone, possibly resulting from near-lithostatic pore pressure.
Use of Scattered Light Particulate Monitors with a Foundry Air Recirculation System

Abstract Three commercially available scattered light particulate monitors (a RAM-S, a PCAM-TX, and an ATI-722) were used for about 4.5 months to continuously monitor the output from an air cleaner in a recirculation system. Of interest in the study were the variation in monitor calibration with time and the monitors' ruggedness and maintenance requirements. There were two concentration levels observed in the recirculation system—a high level of about 7 mg/m3 in the beginning of the study and a low level of about 0.6 mg/m3 for the rest of the study. All of the monitors responded to these levels with adequate sensitivity. The response of all of the monitors varied during the study. Several failures of monitor components were noted. The most serious of these were the light source on the ATI and the pump on the PCAM. Several recommendations for monitor use and improvements in monitor design are given.
Turnover in state hospital social workers

This study reaffirms the findings of the smaller initial study and adds two important new findings. First, in this state system, while social workers believe that they should be performing more therapy, they appear to be committed to humane care. The chronicity of patient illness did not appear to discourage them from this commitment.
Sex and polymorphism as strategies in host-pathogen interactions.

Abstract Sexual reproduction in a polymorphic population generates ever novel recombinations. It is shown that this variety is essential in preventing pathogens from adaptively breaking through immunological host resistance. The theory explains the extensive polymorphism of wild-type populations and catastrophic diseases in genetically homogeneous cultivars. It offers a new model of the selective forces that maintain sex. It interprets self-incompatibility in angiosperms as a mechanism that maintains polymorphism. An analogous mechanism involving sperm selection based on histocompatibility haplotype is postulated for mammalian fertilization. Mate selection involving odor clues is conjectured for eusocial insects. Population regulation of asexual species through pathogens also involves polymorphism. The proposed theory of polymorphism overcomes difficulties present in the balanced and neutral selection theory of mathematical genetics.
Improving code compression using clustered modalities

Instruction pressure is the level of time, space, and power required to manage the instruction stream to support high-speed execution of modern multicore general processor and embedded controller based computing. L1 instruction cache and processor pin bandwidth are examples of direct resource costs imposed by the instruction access demand of a processor architecture. This paper explores the potential for reducing instruction pressure through a combination of variable length binary instruction set and Huffman encoding to reduce the average number of bits per instruction compared to a typical fixed-length fixed-code binary instruction set. The PRECISE (Processor Register Extensions for Collapsed Instruction Set Encoding) methodology addresses the data type, opcode, and register access components of the instruction stream. This paper focuses on opcode compression through a set of benchmark-driven experiments to identify clusters of near optimal ISA fits. The results demonstrate that a small number of distinct binary ISAs can provide reasonably good fits across a broad range of application benchmarks.
Global Religious Movements Across Borders: Sacred Service

Global Religious Movements Across Borders: Sacred Service explores service movements, rooted in religious traditions, that operate as global transnational organizations. This book is an edited coll...
Intracranial hemorrhage and spinal cord injury from a fractured C1-C2 sublaminar cable: case report

Objective This is a unique case report of a fractured atlantoaxial interspinous multistranded cable leading to intracranial hemorrhage and spinal cord injury. Clinical presentation A 61-year-old woman, with a history of rheumatoid arthritis and C1-C2 interspinous wiring with allograft for atlantoaxial instability, presented with neck pain and progressive decline in mental status. Prior to transfer to our institution from a referral hospital, imaging studies revealed progressive hydrocephalus with interval development of subarachnoid and fourth ventricular hemorrhage. Initial and repeat angiographic work-up was negative for vascular lesions. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a subdural hematoma and signal changes at the cervicomedullary junction. Computed tomography of the cervical spine revealed a fractured interspinous cable, intradural penetration, and atlantoaxial instability. Intervention After ventriculostomy, both the patient's mental status and quadriparesis improved to a C on the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scale. During surgery, the fractured cable and subdural hematoma were removed revealing an area of spinal cord impalement. She underwent C1-C3 lateral mass fixation with iliac crest autograft for fusion and was discharged to rehabilitation after a ventriculoperitoneal shunt was placed. At her 6-month follow-up, she was independent and had improved to ASIA E. Computed tomography confirmed fusion. Conclusion Spinal instrumentation eventually fails from pseudarthrosis and can cause neurological injury. In patients with atlantoaxial instability, direct C1-C2 screw fixation with posterior interspinous wiring using autograft offers the best chance for fusion. Cervical spine pathology can cause intracranial hemorrhage, and unconventional causes of injury must be considered when routine workup is negative.
A PSEUDO-SPECTRAL NUMERICAL SCHEME FOR THE SIMULATION OF STEADY AND OSCILLATING WALL-BOUNDED FLOWS

The objective of the present work is to present and validate a pseudo-spectral numerical scheme based on a variational formulation for the solution of three-dimensional, time-dependent wall-bounded forced and natural convective flows. One of the novel aspects of this numerical scheme is the use of rescaled Legendre-Lagrangian interpolants to represent the velocity and temperature in one direction. These interpolants were obtained by dividing the Legendre Lagrangian interpolants of same order by the square root of the corresponding weight used for Gauss-Lobatto quadrature. Results from two specific problems are presented as part of the validation process: Rayleigh-Benard convection and steady and unsteady channel flow driven by an external oscillating streamwise pressure gradient.
Capillary electrophoretic protein separations in polyacrylamide-coated silica capillaries and buffers containing ionic surfactants

Abstract Capillary electrophoretic protein separations of high efficiency and resolution were obtained using polyacrylamide-coated silica capillaries and buffers containing ionic surfactants. The presence of micellar concentrations of sodium dodecyl sulfate or cetyltrimethyl- ammonium chloride minimized protein-capillary wall interactions, and facilitated concurrent separations of a mixture of both acidic and basic proteins, while the polyacrylamide coating provided increased resolution and migration time reproducibility via a reduction in electroosmotic flow. Attempts to obtain size-based protein separations via sieving through buffers containing the hydrophilic polymers methylcellulose and polyethylene glycol were unsuccessful.
Design of a new user interface for APL

Much progress has been made in APL systems during the last 10 years, however, most implementations still use the standard del editor, systems commands and a character oriented, user-typed, command interface. Even the APL systems available for new graphics based workstation systems, such as Macintosh and Sun, do not fully exploit the user interface standards for those systems. It is now time to consider establishing a new standard user interface for APL running on hardware systems which support bit mapped graphics displays and a pointing device. This paper presents such a design which is based in part on the Macintosh user interface, but includes special features for handling the APL workspace environment.
Complicity and Imitation in Storytelling: A Pragmatic Folklorist's Perspective

Experience is a process that continually gives us new material to digest. We handle this intellectually by the mass of beliefs of which we find ourselves already possessed, assimilating, rejecting, or rearranging in different degrees. Some … are recent acquisitions of our own, but most of them are common-sense traditions of the race.
Validation of the Alzheimer’s Prevention and Risk Knowledge Score (APRKS) (s19.003)

Objective: Determine content and concurrent validity of six multiple choice questions (MCQ) on Alzheimer’s disease (AD) prevention and risk reduction by correlating scores with the previously validated Alzheimer’s Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS). Background: Internet-based educational interventions have potential to broadly impact knowledge, behavioral change, and participation in clinical trials. Alzheimer’s Universe (www.AlzU.org), an online AD educational platform and learning management system has demonstrated significant improvements in patient/caregiver AD knowledge, and increased interest in clinical trial participation, yet valid instruments to assess knowledge of AD prevention and risk reduction do not currently exist. Design/Methods: An evidence-based AD curriculum and online lessons were developed by a multi-disciplinary, expert team. Identical lesson content and length were arranged in both written blog-post and interactive webinar formats. Users were AD caregivers, at risk individuals, or patients with mild AD, recruited from Facebook.com. MCQs were used to assess AD knowledge. Results: Over five weeks, 824 users registered for an account and 332 participated in AD lessons (40.3[percnt]). Users assigned to interactive webinar format displayed significant increases in pre- vs. post-test scores compared to users assigned to written blog-post format. MCQ validity testing displayed adequate discrimination and difficulty indices. MCQs as a whole had poor internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha 0.44) and poor correlation with previously validated ADKS (spearman’s rho 0.3, p-value 0.3). All items displayed adequate discriminative ability between high and low scorers and adequate difficulty. Conclusion: MCQs were valid on the individual level. However, additional work is required to develop valid scales of essential AD prevention and risk related knowledge, and belief constructs, that determine behavioral intent. Based on these data, we will further refine MCQs on www.AlzU.org and aim to study effectiveness of 25 interactive webinars vs. blog-post lessons in a randomized, within-subjects design trial on learning, behavioral change, and attitudes toward clinical trial participation. Disclosure: Dr. Isaacson has received personal compensation for activities with Novartis and Accera, Inc. as a consultant. Dr. Gordon has nothing to disclose. Dr. Seifan has nothing to disclose.
Multi-User Operation in mmWave Wireless Networks

In this paper, we investigate the problem of multi-user spatial division multiple access (MU SDMA) operation in mmWave wireless networks, within which directional antennas are used to combat the high path loss incurred in the 60GHz band. We study the feasibility of MU SDMA in mmWave networks and propose two MAC protocols to support CSMA/CA based uplink and downlink MU SDMA transmissions. The proposed protocols adopt virtual carrier sensing and allows multiple users to communicate with an access point (AP) simultaneously. Performance analysis and simulation results both show that the proposed protocols can achieve considerable performance improvements over a system that supports only single user (SU) operation.
The impact of parenting on gay male couples' relationships, sexuality, and HIV risk

Parenthood changes couples' relationships across multiple domains, generally decreasing relationship quality, sexual satisfaction, and sexual frequency. Emerging research suggests that gay couples who are parenting might experience similar challenges. However, such changes might have even more profound implications for gay couples' health, and in particular their HIV risk, given the somewhat different ways in which they negotiate and tolerate sexual behaviors with outside partners. We aimed to examine these issues in a qualitative analysis of interviews from 48 gay male couples who were actively parenting children. Findings suggest that parenthood increases men's commitment to their primary relationship while simultaneously decreasing time and energy for relationship maintenance, and generally decreasing sexual satisfaction. These challenges alone did not generally result in greater infidelity or HIV risk, as most men reported successfully coping with such changes through a combination of acceptance and revaluing what is important in their relationships. Additionally, couples reported negotiating agreements regarding sex with outside partners that closely resemble those documented in studies of gay couples who are not parents. Men reported that parenthood typically decreased their opportunities to engage in sex with outside partners, but also posed barriers to talking about these behaviors with their partners and healthcare providers. HIV-related sexual risk behavior was relatively rare, but nevertheless present in some men. Providers should assess sexual function as a regular part of their work with gay couples who parent, and facilitate opportunities for men to discuss their sexual agreements both with their primary partners and with relevant healthcare providers.
The impact of mid-depth recirculations on the distribution of tracers in the North Atlantic

An interesting feature of the waters carried equatorward by the Deep Western Boundary Current in the North Atlantic is their sharp vertical differentiation in tracer concentration and, accordingly, tracer age. In this work I demonstrate that the strui:ture and lateral extent of the recirculations in the intermediate and deep North Atlantic have substantive differences with depth that can help explain the observed pattern of transient tracers such as tritium, 3He and CFCs. While recirculations are present at all depths spanned by the boundary current, the distinct tracer minimum occurs at the depth where the recirculation extent is maximized. Overall, the effect of the large-scale recirculation at intermediate depths is to lengthen mixing pathways and to provide an alternate route for North Atlantic deep waters to enter the subtropical basin.
Critical Gerontology and Education for Older Adults.

Complementary meanings of educational gerontology are considered to introduce a discussion of the role of “critical gerontology” as a theoretical stance in education for older adults. The sources of critical gerontology are traced to the movement toward interpretive social science in the past decade and to the interdisciplinary dynamics of gerontology as an emerging field of inquiry and practice. Examples of the intentions and uses of critical gerontology and its meaning for education are offered in accounts of the history of the social construction and of wisdom and religion in the postmodern life course.
Inflammation-induced intestinal hyperemia in the rat: role of neutrophils.

Both experimental colitis and human inflammatory bowel disease are characterized by an increased colonic blood flow. The objective of this study was to define the role of neutrophils in the colonic hyperemia associated with acetic acid-induced colitis in rats. One, two, and five days after the acetic acid enema, the colon was separated into five segments. Regional blood flow to each segment was measured using the radioactive microsphere technique. Tissue-associated myeloperoxidase activity was used as an index of neutrophil infiltration. Rectal blood flow and myeloperoxidase activity increased progressively after the acetic acid enema. At 5 days there were 3.9- and 4.6-fold increases in myeloperoxidase activity and blood flow, respectively. Comparable changes were noted in all bowel segments. The results suggest a temporal relationship between colonic blood flow and the extent of neutrophil infiltration. To assess directly the role of circulating and infiltrated neutrophils as mediators of the colitis-induced hyperemia, animals were rendered neutropenic ~8 h before the enema and neutropenia was maintained for another 24 h. Neutropenia did not modify the colitis-induced intestinal hyperemia normally observed at 24 h. We conclude from these findings that vasoactive agents derived from neutrophils do not mediate the increased colonic blood flow in this model of ulcerative colitis.
Anatomical organization of retinotopic motion-sensitive pathways in the optic lobes of flies.

Anatomical methods have identified conserved neuronal morphologies and synap- tic relationships among small-field retinotopic neurons in insect optic lobes. These conserved cell shapes occur across many species of dipteran insects and are also shared by Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera. The suggestion that such conserved neurons should participate in motion computing circuits finds support from intracellular recordings as well as older studies that used radioactive deoxyglucose labeling to reveal strata with motion-specific activity in an achromatic neuropil called the lobula plate. While intracellular recordings provide detailed information about the motion- sensitive or motion-selective responses of identified neurons, a full understanding of how arrange- ments of identified neurons compute and integrate information about visual motion will come from a multidisciplinary approach that includes morphological circuit analysis, the use of genetic mutants that exhibit specific deficits in motion processing, and biomimetic models. The latter must be based on the organization and connections of real neurons, yet provide output properties similar to those of more traditional theoretical models based on behavioral observations that date from the 1950s. Microsc. Res. Tech. 62:132-150, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Microfluidic Device for Coupling Capillary Electrophoresis and Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Mass Spectrometry

We have designed and fabricated a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic device for coupling capillary electrophoresis (CE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS). The coupling is advantageous in biological research because CE has the power of separating analytes in a sample based on mobility difference and MALDI-MS provides accurate and sensitive mass analysis of the analytes. The goal is realized by fractionating the separated analytes inside the microfluidic device and pushing the analyte fractions into open reservoirs. Each analyte fraction is then mixed with a matrix solution and deposited on a MALDI target for MALDI-MS. Therefore, a two-step analysis of analytes in the form of CE-MALDI-MS is achieved by using the microfluidic device.
Effect of Heat Treatment on the Pore Structure and Drying Shrinkage Behavior of Hydrated Cement Paste

The effect of a short heat treatment on hydrated cement paste has been investigated by measuring the weight and length changes of specimens as they undergo various combinations of heating, drying, and resaturation. Heating a cement paste to 60°C coarsens the capillary pore system, decreases the volume of mesopores, and increases the degree of polymerization of the silicates. In addition, the saturated weight of the paste is permanently decreased by a heat treatment. This weight loss can be explained by conversion of bound hydroxyl groups into liquid water during polymerization of the C-S-H gel phase. These experiments help reconcile and interpret published results describing the properties of cement cured at various temperatures, the effects of a short heat treatment on cement paste, and the thermal expansion behavior of saturated and dry cement paste.
Case Study of Fluvial Modeling of River Responses to Dam Removal

A plan was made to remove Matilija Dam on the Ventura River. With dam removal, the delta in the reservoir and the downstream channel were expected to undergo major changes in morphology. The FLUVIAL-12 model was employed to simulate reservoir and river channel responses after dam removal. As a first step, the model was calibrated using the Ventura River data to establish its validity. In calibration, the model was used to simulate the fluvial processes starting from the time of dam completion. The simulated sediment deposition above the Matilija Dam matches closely with the deposits measured by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. A large amount of sediment was stored in the reservoir; some of the stored sediment would be transported downstream after dam removal. An important consequence of dam removal is the major increase of sediment release to the river channel downstream. The sediment supply to the downstream reach is not only from the stored sediment in the reservoir but also from natural sediment inflow from the upstream watershed. Therefore, sediment supply to the downstream reach will exceed the natural sediment flow before the dam presence. This situation tends to overload the downstream reach with sediment, resulting in excessive deposition. The amount of sediment release from the area above the removed dam is closely related to the changes in reservoir morphology. It is necessary to model changes in the channel bed profile and channel width during erosion in order to determine the amount of sediment removal. The amount of sediment release may not be simulated using an erodible-bed model but it may be determined using an erodible boundary model.
Field Effect Transistors in Audio Amplifiers

This paper describes some of the pertinent design factors in using Field Effect Transistors (FETs) in audio amplifiers. Emphasis is placed upon practical circuits utilizing FETs with practical parameter specifications. Design factors are included for bias design, signal handling ability, thermal stability, and factors involved for low noise design.
Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome: a clinical review

Context: Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS) is a rare life-threatening autoimmune disease characterized by disseminated intravascular thrombosis resulting in multiorgan failure. Evidence Acquisitions: Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), Google Scholar, PubMed (NLM), LISTA (EBSCO) and Web of Science have been searched. Results: CAPS is due to antiphospholipid antibodies directed against a heterogeneous group of proteins that are associated with phospholipids. These autoantibodies activate endothelial cells, platelets, and immune cells, thereby promoting a proinflammatory and prothrombotic phenotype. Furthermore, antiphospholipid antibodies inhibit anticoagulants, impair fibrinolysis, and activate complements. Although CAPS can affect a variety of organs and tissues, the kidneys, lungs, central nervous system, heart, skin, liver, and gastrointestinal tract are most commonly affected. The systemic inflammatory response syndrome, likely to extensive tissue damage, accompanies CAPS. The most frequent renal manifestations are hypertension, proteinuria, hematuria, and acute renal failure.In the majority of patients with CAPS, a precipitating factor such as infection, surgery, or medication can be identified. Antiphospholipid antibodies such as lupus anticoagulant and antibodies against cardiolipin, β2-glycoprotein I, and prothrombin are serological hallmark of CAPS. Laboratory tests often reveal antinuclear antibodies, thrombocytopenia, and anemia. Despite widespread intravascular coagulation, blood films reveal only a small number of schistocytes. In addition, severe thrombocytopenia is uncommon. Conclusions: Histologically, CAPS is characterized by acute thrombotic microangiopathy. CAPS must be distinguished from other forms of thrombotic microangiopathies such as hemolytic-uremic syndrome, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and heparin-induced thrombocyt openia. CAPS is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Therefore, an aggressive multidisciplinary treatment strategy is indicated. Anticoagulation, immunosuppression, plasma exchange, intravenous immunoglobulins, and anti-platelet agents, used in various combinations, have resulted in improved patient outcome.
Three-Dimensional Tracer Structure and Behavior as Simulated in Two Ozone Precursor Experiments

Abstract The GFDL 11-level general circulation/tracer model is used for two experiments designed to prepare the way for a self-consistent model of atmospheric ozone. The first experiment invokes a very simple condition at the top model level, an instantaneous relaxation to a specified 10 mb average observed ozone value. The tracer is inert below the top level until it is removed in the lower troposphere. The second experiment introduces a simplified, but reasonably realistic ozone chemistry at the top level including Chapman, nitrogen and hydrogen loss processes. Below the top level, ozone is inert, and is removed in the lower troposphere by the same mechanism as in the first experiment. These two experiments, in spite of their very different middle stratospheres, show remarkably similar behavior in the lower stratosphere. A comparison of model values and fluxes with available observations shows general qualitative agreement as well as some notable discrepancies. In the second experiment, a detailed analy...
Stochastic swarm control with global inputs

Micro- and nanorobots can be built in large numbers, but generating independent control inputs for each robot is prohibitively difficult. Instead, micro- and nanorobots are often controlled by a global field. In previous work we conducted large-scale human-user experiments where humans played games that steered large swarms of simple robots to complete tasks such as manipulating blocks. One surprising result was that humans completed a block-pushing task faster when provided with only the mean and variance of the robot swarm than with full-state feedback. Inspired by human operators, this paper investigates controllers that use only the mean and variance of a robot swarm. We prove that the mean position is controllable, and show how an obstacle can make the variance controllable. We next derive automatic controllers for these and a hybrid, hysteresis-based switching control to regulate the first two moments of the robot distribution. Finally, we employ these controllers as primitives for a block-pushing task.
Laparoscopic transhiatal esophagectomy for Barrett's esophagus with high grade dysplasia.

BACKGROUND A number of case reports have described the application of minimally invasive surgical techniques to accomplish esophagectomy. However, most reports have employed thoracoscopic or laparoscopic techniques to perform esophagectomy in addition to an "access" incision which often approaches a standard laparotomy or thoracotomy. CASE REPORT This report describes a total laparoscopic transhiatal esophagectomy in a 55 year old female with Barrett's esophagus and high grade dysplasia. CONCLUSIONS The patient had an uneventful recovery and was discharged home on the fourth day after a total laparoscopic esophagectomy. This report demonstrates the technical feasibility of this complex procedure by a minimally invasive approach.
Framing food-related salmonella outbreaks in leading U.S. newspapers and TV networks: Attribution of responsibilities and crisis response strategies

This study examines how three leading U.S. newspapers, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and USA Today and three mainstream TV networks, ABC, CBS, and NBC frame the attribution of responsibility for three recent food-related salmonella outbreaks. By assessing the way in which mass media assign responsibilities for causing and alleviating the three most recent food-borne diseases, content analysis reveals that the U.S. media tend to assign the responsibility for resolving salmonella outbreak to governments rather than food business, which is distinguished to the previous findings that mass media have the bias to over-attribute epidemics to individuals. The attribution of salmonella responsibility has been framed differently across salmonella cases, but uniformly across media outlets. In addition, a distinction between newspaper and television is detected when discussing the government’s responsibility. The implications for crisis communication are also discussed, by taking both causal and treatment responsibility into account to select appropriate communication strategies.
Rewarded responding under inescapable stress and later performance under stress

The effects of learning to perform a rewarded bar-press response under inescapable shock upon later performance under inescapable shock were studied. Rats underwent one of three treatments: bar-press for water during inescapable shock (RR), yoked shock control (SC), or no-treatment control (C). The Ss then learned to panel-press for food, and were subsequently tested to determine the degree to which inescapable shock interfered with panel-pressing. The Ss in the RR group were less disrupted than SC or C Ss, and C Ss were the most disrupted. The possibility of results being mediated by a learned expectancy was suggested.
The Genus Laelaspis, with Descriptions of Three New Species (Acarina: Laelaptidae)

Laelaspis , sometimes regarded as a subgenus of Hypoaspis , is restored to generic status. References to description and distinctive morphological characters of the female are given for each of the 12 previously described species, and full descriptions and figures for Laelaspis vitzthutni ( Gymnolaelaps vitzhumi Womersley, 1956), n. comb., and L. lundi (Veracruz), L. piloscutuli (Veracruz and Panama Canal Zone), and L. brevipilis (California), n. spp. L. vitzthumi , described from Queensland, Australia, is widely distributed in the southeastern United States and has been cultured in the laboratory. Observations on the biology of various species are included. Laelaspis has not previously been known from North America, and still is unknown from South America and Asia. One species, L. austriacus Sellnick, 1951, is removed to the genus Gymnolaelaps .
Vein of Galen malformation: correlation of clinical presentation, arteriography, and MR imaging.

To test the value of currently proposed angiographic categorizations of vein of Galen malformations and a hypothesis regarding the causes of vein of Galen malformations and of accompanying hydrocephalus, as well as to assess the relative utility of MR imaging and CT in clinical evaluation, we reviewed the clinical and radiologic records of 34 patients with vein of Galen malformations. Patients were divided into two groups on the basis of the angiographic demonstration of either an arteriovenous malformation nidus or a direct arteriovenous fistula to the wall of the vein of Galen or one of its tributaries. Patients with such a nidus (n = 17) could be distinguished from those with arteriovenous fistulas alone (n = 17) on the basis of age at presentation (p less than .01) and presenting symptoms. Venous constraints, thought to be etiologically important, were identified in 31 of 34 patients. The presence or absence of hydrocephalus was explainable by mass effect in only 24 of 32 patients. In seven of 32 cases, no obvious mass effect was seen in the presence of hydrocephalus, but arteriographic evidence of venous hypertension was present in all patients with hydrocephalus. MR provided improved depiction of both arterial and venous anatomy as compared with CT. Parenchymal abnormalities were uncommon. No patients had subarachnoid hemorrhages. We conclude that MR is superior to CT in the clinical evaluation of vein of Galen malformations, that the angiographic finding of a nidus separates patients with vein of Galen malformations into clinical and therapeutically relevant groups, and that simple mass effect on the aqueduct is not an adequate explanation for all cases of hydrocephalus in patients with this disease.
Phase Separation Experiments Near the Critical Point

Those who study phase separation in fluids, alloys, glasses, and liquid mixtures have found it useful to classify the process as being either nucleation1 or spinodal decomposition,2,3 These processes are respectively associated with metastability and instability. When a simple fluid, initially in one phase, is quenched into a metastable state, incipient droplets of the second phase will spontaneously grow in size provided they are large enough. Droplets of subcritical radius collapse and disappear due to surface tension. Homogeneous nucleation occurs when local thermodynamic fluctuations produce a sufficient number density of critical sized droplets or bubbles. The phenomonon is associated therefore with the presence of a thermodynamic barrier. This barrier (or more accurately, a saddle point)4,5 must be crossed if phase separation is to occur. Experimentally one finds that if a system is supercooled by an amount δT, phase separation does not take place until a certain critical value δTN is reached. Then the nucleation rate (in droplets/sec) suddenly changes from an unmeasurably small to an unmeasurably large value, and phase separation takes place.
France: Scientists to be evaluated by new rules

New mechanisms for evaluating the work of some 25 000 French university scientists could soon be introduced, after the changes were approved by the French national research council (CNRS) last month. The proposals will now go to Claude Allegre, the education and research minister, for final agreement. Allegre also plans to set up a new National Science Council to advise the government on science policy. The council will contain about 20 high-profile scientists and economists to advise it on everything from mad-cow disease to nuclear waste.
The Guilty Mind

The doctrine of mens rea can be expressed in this way: MRP: If A is culpable for performing φ , then A performs φ intentionally in circumstances in which it is impermissible to perform φ . The Sermon on the Mount suggests the following principle: SMP: If A intends to perform φ in circumstances in which it would be impermissible for A to perform φ , then A’s intending to perform φ makes A as culpable as A would be were A to perform φ . MRP and SMP are principles representative of intentionalism, a family of views that emphasizes the importance of intention to judgments about culpability. This essay examines an intentionalist’s defense of MRP with respect to lying, strict criminal liability, and the distinction between intention and foreseeability, along with a defense of SMP with respect to failed attempts, and self-defense.