cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evolutionary Self-Expressive Models for Subspace Clustering

The problem of organizing data that evolves over time into clusters is encountered in a number of practical settings. We introduce evolutionary subspace clustering, a method whose objective is to cluster a collection of evolving data points that lie on a union of low-dimensional evolving subspaces. To learn the parsimonious representation of the data points at each time step, we propose a non-convex optimization framework that exploits the self-expressiveness property of the evolving data while taking into account representation from the preceding time step. To find an approximate solution to the aforementioned non-convex optimization problem, we develop a scheme based on alternating minimization that both learns the parsimonious representation as well as adaptively tunes and infers a smoothing parameter reflective of the rate of data evolution. The latter addresses a fundamental challenge in evolutionary clustering—determining if and to what extent one should consider previous clustering solutions when analyzing an evolving data collection. Our experiments on both synthetic and real-world datasets demonstrate that the proposed framework outperforms state-of-the-art static subspace clustering algorithms and existing evolutionary clustering schemes in terms of both accuracy and running time, in a range of scenarios.
Assessment of clinical dehydration using point of care ultrasound for pediatric patients in rural Panama

Author(s): Mazza, Genevieve; Romo, Carina Mireles; Torres, Marlene; Duffens, Ali; Vyas, Annasha; Moran, Katherine; Livingston, Joshua; Gonzales, Savannah; Lahham, Shadi; Shniter, Inna; Thompson, Maxwell; Fox, John Christian | Abstract: BackgroundDehydration and its associated symptoms are among the most common chief complaints of children in rural Panama. Previous studies have shown that intravascular volume correlates to the ratio of the diameters of the inferior vena cava (IVC) to the aorta (Ao). Our study aims to determine if medical students can detect pediatric dehydration using ultrasound on patients in rural Panama.MethodsThis was a prospective, observational study conducted in the Bocas del Toro region of rural Panama. Children between the ages of 1 to 15 years presenting with diarrhea, vomiting, or parasitic infection were enrolled in the study. Ultrasound measurements of the diameters of the IVC and abdominal aorta were taken to assess for dehydration.ResultsA total of 59 patients were enrolled in this study. Twenty-four patients were clinically diagnosed with dehydration and 35 were classified to have normal hydration status. Of the 24 patients with dehydration, half (n=12) of these patients had an IVC/Ao ratio below the American threshold of 0.8. Of the remaining asymptomatic subjects, about half (n=18) of these subjects also had an IVC/Ao ratio below the American threshold of 0.8.ConclusionOur study did not support previous literature showing that the IVC/Ao ratio is lower in children with dehydration. It is possible that the American standard for evaluating clinical dehydration is not compatible with the rural pediatric populations of Panama.
SETD3 is an actin histidine methyltransferase that prevents primary dystocia

For more than 50 years, the methylation of mammalian actin at histidine 73 has been known to occur1. Despite the pervasiveness of His73 methylation, which we find is conserved in several model animals and plants, its function remains unclear and the enzyme that generates this modification is unknown. Here we identify SET domain protein 3 (SETD3) as the physiological actin His73 methyltransferase. Structural studies reveal that an extensive network of interactions clamps the actin peptide onto the surface of SETD3 to orient His73 correctly within the catalytic pocket and to facilitate methyl transfer. His73 methylation reduces the nucleotide-exchange rate on actin monomers and modestly accelerates the assembly of actin filaments. Mice that lack SETD3 show complete loss of actin His73 methylation in several tissues, and quantitative proteomics analysis shows that actin His73 methylation is the only detectable physiological substrate of SETD3. SETD3-deficient female mice have severely decreased litter sizes owing to primary maternal dystocia that is refractory to ecbolic induction agents. Furthermore, depletion of SETD3 impairs signal-induced contraction in primary human uterine smooth muscle cells. Together, our results identify a mammalian histidine methyltransferase and uncover a pivotal role for SETD3 and actin His73 methylation in the regulation of smooth muscle contractility. Our data also support the broader hypothesis that protein histidine methylation acts as a common regulatory mechanism.
Phlebotomine Sand Flies and Moth Flies (Psychodidae)

Abstract Flies of the family Psychodidae are widespread and taxonomically diverse. The subfamily Psychodinae contains approximately 4,000 species and has little economic or medical importance. Its most well-known species are the moth flies Psychoda alternata and Clogmia albipunctata due to their widespread association with house drainpipes and sewage treatment plants. The subfamily Phlebotominae, commonly known as sand flies, with nearly 1,000 members, is of high medical importance because of their blood feeding and ability to transmit causative agents of human and animal diseases. Genera of medical importance are Lutzomyia sensu latu confined to the Americas and Phlebotomus distributed throughout the Old World. Leishmaniasis, the major disease, affects an estimated 12 million people worldwide. Other important diseases for which they serve as vectors include vesicular stomatitis, sand fly fever, and bartonellosis. Two phlebotomine species, Lutzomyia longipalpis and Phlebotomus papatasi, are particularly well known because of their ease in colonization and their critical roles in leishmaniasis transmission. Depending on locality and the occurrence of various forms of leishmaniasis, several dozen other phlebotomine species also can be involved as competent vectors.
The role of the physiotherapist in paediatric respiratory medicine

Abstract Many children seen under the umbrella of respiratory medicine benefit from physiotherapy. Physiotherapists bring a wide range of skills in the clinical management of this group of patients. These roles include secretion or airway clearance, breathing re-education, inhaled therapy, education for respiratory health, postural and musculoskeletal management, exercise prescription, support with weaning ventilation and admission prevention. Within this article we aim to explore some of the key roles physiotherapists undertake.
Fused s‐triazino heterocycles. XVII. 8,13‐Dihydro‐1,3,7,8,13c‐pentaazabenzo[de]naphthacene, 7H‐1,3,7,8,11b,12,14‐heptaazadibenzo[de,hi]naphthacene and 8H‐1,3,7,8,13,14c‐hexaazabenzo[4,5]cyclohepta[1,2‐a]phenalene, three new ring systems

The reaction of 7,9-dibromo-5-tribromornethyl-2-t-butyl-4-cyano-1,3,6,9b-tetraazaphenalene (1a) with p-toluidine is shown to give 4,6-dibromo-2-t-butyl-8,13-dihydro-13-imino-11-methyl-1,3,7,8,13c-pentaazabenzo[de]naphthacene (4) in two steps with 7,9 dibromo-2-t-butyl-4-cyano-5-p-toluidino-1,3,6,9b-tetraazaphenalene (2b) as the intermediate product. A related annulation reaction of 1a with N-(5-amino-2,4-dimethylphenyl)trimethylacetamide (8) leads in two steps to 9,11-dibromo-2,13-di-t-butyl-4,6-dimethyl-7H-1,3,7,8,11b,12,14-heptaazadibenzo[de,hi]naphthacene (6) with 7,9-dibromo-2-t-butyl-4-cyano-5N-(2,4-dimethyl-5-trimethylacetamidophenyl)amino-1,3,6,9b-tetraazaphenalene (2d) as the intermediate product. In a similar fashion the reaction of 1a with o-phenylenediamine forms 14-amino-4,6-dibromo-2-t-butyl-8H-1,3,7,8,13,14c-hexaazobenzo[4,5]cyclohepta[1,2-a]-phenalene (12) by way of the intermediate 5-N-(2-aminophenyl)amino-7,9-dibromo-2-t-butyl-4-cyano-1,3,6,9b-tetraazaphenalene (2e). The preparation of N-(2,4-dimethyl-5-nitrophenyl)-trimethylacetamide (11) and its reduction to N-(5-amino-2,4-dimethylphenyl)trimethylacetamide (8) is also described.
Unlocking the Secrets of Mitochondria in the Cardiovascular System: Path to a Cure in Heart Failure—A Report from the 2018 National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Workshop

Mitochondria have emerged as a central factor in the pathogenesis and progression of heart failure, and other cardiovascular diseases, as well, but no therapies are available to treat mitochondrial...
Direct Nanoscopic Measurement of Laminar Slip Flow Penetration of Deformable Polymer Brush Surfaces: Synergistic Effect of Grafting Density and Solvent Quality.

A detailed quantitative nanoscopic description of soft surfaces under dynamic flow is lacking, despite its importance. To better understand the role of surface texture in nanoscopic mass transport in complex media, we used Forster resonance energy transfer in combination with total internal reflectance fluorescence microscopy (FRET-TIRFM) to directly measure laminar slip flow penetration depth (slip length) on poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAM) thin films (50-110 nm) of different grafting densities (0.60, 0.38, and 0.27 chain/nm2) in solvents of different qualities created via cononsolvency in situ. Nontrivial synergistic interplay of grafting density and solvent quality on slip length was observed. Slip lengths are typically tens of nm (40-100 nm), increasing and then reaching a plateau with applied linear flow velocity (192-2,952 μm/s) regardless of experimental system. Slip length was systematically larger for lower density films, but the effect of grafting density was more significant in a good solvent than a poor solvent. Interestingly, however, the stagnant film thickness (polymer swollen thickness minus the slip length) collapsed to almost a singular value for a given grafting density regardless of solvent quality, likely suggesting a large gradient of segmental mobility at nonequilibrium. Moreover, we found that slip flow penetrates into soft pNIPAM surfaces more deeply in a good solvent than in a poor solvent and that this behavior was general and independent of grafting density. This behavior is counter to the notion that less interaction between a fluid (probe) and a solid surface promotes slip.
When the Web is your Data Lake: Creating a Search Engine for Datasets on the Web

There are thousands of data repositories on the Web, providing access to millions of datasets. National and regional governments, scientific publishers and consortia, commercial data providers, and others publish data for fields ranging from social science to life science to high-energy physics to climate science and more. Access to this data is critical to facilitating reproducibility of research results, enabling scientists to build on others' work, and providing data journalists easier access to information and its provenance. In this talk, I will discuss our work on Dataset Search, which provides search capabilities over potentially all dataset repositories on the Web. I will talk about the open ecosystem for describing and citing datasets that we hope to encourage and the technical details on how we went about building Dataset Search. Finally, I will highlight research challenges in building a vibrant, heterogeneous, and open ecosystem where data becomes a first-class citizen.
Computation of mode I stress intensity factors for three-dimensional bodies using displacements at an arbitrary location

An approach is developed to determine stress intensity factors using the displacements due to a crack increment in a three-dimensional body. By computing displacements for both the actual loading and a virtual force some distance from the crack, stress intensity factors may be obtained by the finite element method without using special crack elements. Numerical results obtained using coarse meshes for several crack configurations are found to be in good agreement with those available in the literature.
Flamenco nation: the construction of Spanish national identity

Nearly every stereotype has some basis in reality. To be specific, what do sangria, bullfighting and flamenco all have in common? We rightly associate them with Spain. The question is not whether t...
Influences of Antenatal Smoking Cessation Education on Smoking Rates of Incarcerated Women.

The project purpose was to examine the impact of smoking cessation education, targeting associated antenatal risks on smoking rates in female prisoners of childbearing age. The project used a pre-/...
Micropuncture technique for femoral access is associated with lower vascular complications compared to standard needle.

OBJECTIVES We compared access-site complications with a Micropuncture 21-gauge (G) needle to a standard 18G needle in patients undergoing femoral-access percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). BACKGROUND Vascular access-site complications are the most common complication after cardiac catheterization. These complications increase patient morbidity and mortality, along with healthcare costs. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed a cohort of 17,844 consecutive patients undergoing PCI. Micropuncture access was used in 2344 patients and a standard 18G needle in 15,500 patients. Primary endpoints included vascular perforation or limb ischemia requiring repair, retroperitoneal bleeding, pseudoaneurysm, arteriovenous fistula, groin hematoma (>4 cm). RESULTS Patients undergoing PCI with Micropuncture were at higher risk: they were on anticoagulation (557 [23.7%] vs. 1,590 [10.2%], p < .001), used steroids more frequently (131 [5.6%] vs. 638 [4.1%], p < .001) and required the use of an intra-aortic balloon pump more often (191 [(8.1%] vs. 896 [5.7%], p < .001). Overall, the access-site complications rate was lower using Micropuncture (58 [2.5%]) versus standard needle (558 [3.6%], p = .005). The Micropuncture group had a significantly lower rate of hematoma than standard needle (32 [1.4%] vs. 309 [1.9%], p = .03). There was no significant difference in the rate of limb ischemia (1 [0.04%] vs. 12 [0.07%], p = .56), perforation (2 [0.08%] vs. 14 [0.09%], p = .93), retroperitoneal bleeding (3 [0.12%] vs. 18 [0.11%], p = .87), pseudoaneurysm (18 [0.76%] vs. 170 [1.09%], p = .14), and arteriovenous fistula (2 [0.08%] vs. 35 [0.22%], p = .16), comparing the Micropuncture group to a standard needle, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Femoral access using a Micropuncture reduced the rate of vascular complications with significant reduction in the rate of groin hematomas.
No Tears for Creon

This essay critiques Professor Martha Nussbaum’s book, LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE: IN DEFENSE OF AMERICA’S TRADITION OF RELIGIOUS EQUALITY (2008). Nussbaum’s thesis is that the entire tradition of religious liberty in America can be both best understood (as a historical exercise) and justified (as a philosophical one) by recourse to the overarching principle of “Equal Respect” – that “[a]ll citizens have equal rights and deserve equal respect from the government under which they live.” Nussbaum insists that Equal Respect pervades the tradition and that all other values of religious liberty are subordinate to it. She examines various free exercise and establishment issues in light of this principle, concluding that the tradition of religious equality is under threat and calling for renewed vigilance in its defense. This piece criticizes Nussbaum’s elevation of the principle of Equal Respect to supreme normative status. It claims that Nussbaum’s single-minded focus on Equal Respect distorts and misunderstands the conflicts actually at issue in many religious liberty disputes. The essay focuses specifically on the inadequacies of her assessment of two prominent religious liberty cases, one in the free exercise and the other in the establishment context. The essay concludes that there are reasons for deep skepticism about Nussbaum’s approach as a comprehensive theory of the religion clauses.
METHENAMINE PROPHYLAXIS FOR RECURRENT URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS IN A TERTIARY REFERRAL CENTER

AbstractIntroduction:Methenamine hippurate (MH) is a urinary antiseptic, indicated for prophylaxis of recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) but with only few and limited studies regarding its e...
Technology-Delivered Intervention Strategies to Bolster HIV Testing

Since the beginning of the HIV epidemic, there have been more than 75 million cases. Currently, there about 1.2 million living with HIV in the USA. Despite current testing recommendations, test rates continue to be suboptimal. Investigators have studied the use of digital technology to promote HIV testing, especially among high-risk populations. PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This non-systematic review provides an overview of the scientific research between 2015 and 2020 focused on the use of digital technology to bolster HIV testing and suggests novel technologies for exploration. RECENT FINDINGS: A total of 40 studies were included in the review that span a wide range of available technology. Studies effectively increased HIV testing among study participants. Generally, participants in the intervention/exposure groups had significantly higher rates of HIV test uptake compared to participants in the comparison groups at study follow-up. For a variety of reasons (e.g., differences in ways the technologies were used and study design), no digital tool clearly performed better than others, but each have the capacity to increase outreach and self-testing. An exploration of the potential use of nascent technologies is also discussed, as well as the authors' experiences using a number of these technologies in our research.
Social priming for nonnative-accented speech

Prior work indicates that a speaker’s race/ethnicity can prime a listener to expect native versus nonnative (foreign) accents. In the present study, we replicate the findings of McGowan (2015) and then address novel topics including the effect of social primes on perceptual adaptation. Using a matched-guise design, we examined the effect of race information on the perception of, and adaptation to, Mandarin Chinese-accented English in babble. Subjects randomly assigned an East Asian female’s face during the speech perception task showed an advantage over subjects assigned a White female’s face or a silhouette (control) face (as measured by transcription accuracy). Performance across trials indicated that although subjects in the control group initially perform worse than those in the East Asian prime group, they perceptually adapt more rapidly to the Mandarin accent, eventually reaching a similar level of performance. Subjects in the White prime group, however, do not adapt as rapidly as those in the control group. In a second experiment, we aim to expand on this work by examining similar priming effects for Arabic-accented English (with Middle Eastern, White, or control primes), and uncommon combinations of minority race/ethnicity primes with nonnative accents (e.g., an East Asian face with an Arabic accent).
Mothers' Adaptation in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: An Examination of the Effects of Meaning Making, Control and Self-Enhancement on Depression

MOTHERS’ ADAPTATION IN THE NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT: AN EXAMINATION OF THE EFFECTS OF MEANING MAKING, CONTROL AND SELFENHANCEMENT ON DEPRESSION By Claire C. Russell, B.A. A Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2010 Major Director: Marilyn Stern Professor, Department of Psychology With over 400,000 infants being hospitalized in the NICU annually, it is important to understand adjustment in their mothers. Taylor’s cognitive theory of adaptation asserts that three factors, meaning making, control, and self-enhancement, influence positive adjustment in a crisis situation such as a NICU hospitalization. Since it has never been examined, the purpose of the current study was to test the utility of Taylor’s model in mothers with an infant in the NICU. Data was collected from mothers with an infant in the NICU (N = 181) and the main hypothesis was that meaning making, control, and self-enhancement would explain a significant portion of variance in depression scores in mothers with an infant in the NICU. Results from this study did not support this hypothesis. Still, this study is important in guiding future research to better understand the adjustment process of mothers with an infant
Predator-Prey Models

In the ecological models of the previous chapters much attention is given to the dynamics of a single population. In contrast, in this chapter we concentrate on the dynamics of interspecies interactions. The two-species model consists of a predator population and a prey population. Both are present within a given area with a specified carrying capacity. The birth rates for predators and prey are given exogenously, yet the number of births depends on predator-prey interaction and the carrying capacity of their ecosystem. Similarly, the deaths of predators and prey depend on their interaction—the prey consumed by predators.
Phenotypic variation and sexual dimorphism in anadromous threespine stickleback: implications for postglacial adaptive radiation

Ancestral properties can influence patterns of evolutionary diversification, but ancestors can rarely be observed directly. We examined variation and sexual dimorphism of morphological traits in an anadromous threespine stickleback population representing the ancestral form for resident postglacial stickleback populations in the area. A combination of traditional and geometric morphometric methods were used to study variation over multiple years in an anadromous population that breeds in Rabbit Slough, Cook Inlet, Alaska. Major armor anomalies were extremely rare but their occurrence at measurable frequencies suggests that significant standing variation for armor phenotypes exists in anadromous populations. Sexual dimorphism was a major source of variation, and most traits differed significantly between sexes, particularly head length, length of the pelvic girdle, and body shape. Consequently, some degree of sexual dimorphism appears to be the ancestral condition for many traits in derived resident freshwater stickleback radiations. Morphological variation among years, especially in body shape, was significant in both sexes, but the magnitude of annual variation was always less than variation due to other factors. Phenotypic means were relatively stable over short time scales. Postglacial stickleback radiations are among the most enlightening cases of adaptive radiation, and our detailed study of variation in an anadromous stickleback population provides crucial insight into a key component of adaptive radiation, the variation on which directional selection acts at the onset of the radiation. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 95, 465–478. ADDITIONAL KEYWORDS: Alaska – ancestral variation – evolutionary diversification – Gasterosteus aculeatus – geometric morphometrics.
The N-Effect: Beyond Winning Probabilities

The N-effect reveals that the motivation to compete increases as the number of competitors decreases, controlling for overall expected payoffs (Garcia and Tor, 2009). In their thoughtful commentary, Mukherjee and Hogarth (in press) astutely reason that, given ability differences in the population, the greater sampling error (SE) in small-N settings increases weaker competitors' individual probability of winning, potentially causing a motivation gain on their part. The present commentary explains why SE is an unlikely theoretical account for Garcia and Tor's (2009) N-effect findings and experimentally demonstrates the persistence of the N-effect where an SE effect should not appear.
Taxonomy of Information Literacy Competencies

People living within an information culture possess different expectations and abilities with technology and digital systems because of their use of and exposure to technology. The first section of the paper reviews the situation of IT education and the need to address the shortage of professionals in the information-related professions. The shortage of IT professionals generates an attempt by educational institutions to develop programs that may or may not adequately address the shortage. Along with the shortage problem, concerns about information literacy are being raised among educators and professionals. To model a connection between information literacy levels and IT education, Bloom’s educational objective taxonomy is presented. In conjunction with Bloom’s taxonomy, the five-component representation of information systems is presented. If an awareness of information systems enables one to be more information literate and if being more information literate enables one to handle IT situations better, then a representation connecting information systems and information literacy would offer insights to IT education. These two representations, Bloom’s Taxonomy and the five-component representation of information systems, are combined to develop a relationship between growth in competency through education and the field of information systems. The second section proposes an information literacy competency taxonomy, (ILC taxonomy). The ILC taxonomy expresses the relationship between growth in competency and understanding of information systems. Educational programs can be represented through the ILC taxonomy in terms of the degree of attention committed to the content characterized by each area of the ILC taxonomy. The third section suggests how different programs can be expressed through the ILC taxonomy. Ultimately, the ILC taxonomy provides a tool for identifying what skills and behaviors within a spectrum of information literacy competencies individuals should be expected to possess, given an educational program.
Temperature termination and the thermal characteristics of NiCd and NiMH batteries

The temperature of a battery under charge is a characteristic parameter that can be used to control the charge to a Ni-Cd or a Ni-MH battery. As the battery reaches full charge, the internal cell temperature rises dramatically. Detecting this temperature increase can be used as an effective method of terminating charge to a battery. Temperature termination is an excellent approach assuming constant current cannot be used, and providing that any problems involved with sensing temperature accurately and reliably are taken into account. Nickel-cadmium and nickel-metal hydride batteries heat differently during charge, but both chemistries display a rapid increase in temperature as they enter overcharge. The rapid increase in temperature can be used to signal the onset of overcharge. However, every sustained rise of 5/spl deg/C in temperature at high charge rates will cut battery lifetimes in half as a result of subjecting a battery to repeated overcharging. Therefore, the temperature rise must be kept as small as possible. Thermistors can be used as a temperature sensor in such circumstances. >
Methods of detecting extrasolar planets: I. Imaging

Abstract It is proposed that the presence or absence of Jupiter-like planets, and perhaps even Venus-like planets, around nearby stars be studied with a 2-m telescope in Earth orbit. According to the Abbe theory of imaging, the coherence of the light from an unresolvable star can be used to discriminate between planet light and scattered light from the star. Most scattered light is shown to arise from the imperfect figure of the telescope surface, but an analog of a phase contrast trast microscope can be used to control the figure automatically. A number of arrangements are possible for using the interference properties of light to cancel the residual scattered starlight by two to three orders of magnitude without affecting the planet light.
Modeling of simultaneous switching ground noise for BiCMOS drivers

A model of simultaneous switching ground noise for the BiCMOS driver is presented. Level I SPICE-type MOSFET and Gummel-Poon BJT device models are used for the analysis. Immunity of the quiet BiCMOS driver to noise present at the ground and power connections is also investigated.
Use of spatial surrogates to assess the potential for non-point source pollution in large watersheds

Sediment represents a major non-point source pollutant throughout the world. In addition to reduced agricultural productivity as the result of the loss of fertile soil, soil erosion also can have significant water-quality impacts in downstream waterbodies, reducing water transparency, degrading aquatic habitats and reducing the operational life and water storage capacity of reservoirs producing hydroelectric power. Various other pollutants also can absorb to sediment particles, creating additional downstream water-quality concerns for humans and the natural environment. In view of its human and environmental significance, two indices (an erosion index and runoff index) were developed to identify areas within the US portion of the Rio Grande Basin exhibiting physical characteristics conducive to producing significant non-point source pollution loads, focusing on land erosion as a sediment source. The erosion index is an adaptation of the Universal Soil Loss Equation, being the product of rainfall erosivity (R factor), soil erodibility (K factor), and a topographic factor (LS factor). The erosion index correlated well with measurements of sediment yields from runoff plots. The Curve Number was used as the runoff index. In conjunction with identified pollutant-generating land uses, or source landscapes, these indices were used to identify sub-watersheds within the US portion of the Rio Grande Basin that merit further investigation for non-point source pollution prevention and control via the use of hydrologic modelling techniques.
Role of NADPH oxidase and xanthine oxidase in mediating inducible VT/VF and triggered activity in a canine model of myocardial ischemia.

Background: Ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation (VT/VF) of focal origin due to triggered activity (TA) from delayed afterdepolarizations (DADs) is reproducibly inducible after anterior coronary artery occlusion. Both VT/VF and TA can be blocked by reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS). We tested the hypothesis that inhibition of NADPH oxidase and xanthine oxidase would block VT/VF. Methods: 69 dogs received apocynin (APO), 4 mg/kg intraveneously (IV), oxypurinol (OXY), 4 mg/kg IV, or both APO and OXY (BOTH) agents, or saline 3 h after coronary occlusion. Endocardium from ischemic sites (3-D mapping) was sampled for Rac1 (GTP-binding protein in membrane NADPH oxidase) activation or standard microelectrode techniques. Results (mean ± SE, * p < 0.05): VT/VF originating from ischemic zones was blocked by APO in 6/10 *, OXY in 4/9 *, BOTH in 5/8 * or saline in 1/27; 11/16 VT/VFs blocked were focal. In isolated myocardium, TA was blocked by APO (10−6 M) or OXY (10−8 M). Rac1 levels in ischemic endocardium were decreased by APO or OXY. Conclusion: APO and OXY suppressed focal VT/VF due to DADs, but the combination of the drugs was not more effective than either alone. Both drugs inhibited ischemic Rac1 with inhibition by OXY suggesting ROS-induced ROS. The inability to totally prevent VT/VF suggests that other mechanisms also contribute to ischemic VT.
Laminate package trends for high-speed system interconnects

As the performance of processors and their associated supporting components increases with improvements in process technologies, the demand on packaging solutions is also increasing. High-speed devices require complex thermal, power delivery and signal integrity solutions at relatively low cost to be competitive in the present marketplace. This paper presents the rapidly evolving laminate package trends and advances for high-speed system-level interconnects. The importance of properly designing the substrate for high-speed signaling is discussed including identification of key parameters and design tradeoffs.
Fully differential switched-current memory cell with low charge-injection errors

A fully differential switched-current memory cell with low charge-injection errors is proposed. The cell uses constant-voltage switching to obtain signal-independent charge injection, which is rejected using suitable differential structures. The cell is designed using a 0.35 /spl mu/m digital CMOS process. Simulation results of the cell with a clock frequency of 13 MHz and with input signal amplitudes nearly as high as the bias current (600 /spl mu/A) show a total harmonic distortion of -66 dB, a current transfer error of less than 0.4% and a signal-to-noise ratio of 60 dB.
Infants' coding of location in continuous space.

Abstract The ability to code location in continuous space is fundamental to spatial behavior. Existing evidence indicates a robust ability for such coding by 12 months, but systematic evidence on earlier origins is lacking. A series of studies investigated 5-month-olds’ ability to code the location of an object hidden in a sandbox, using a looking-time paradigm. In Experiment 1, after familiarization with a hiding-and-finding sequence at one location, infants looked longer at an object being disclosed from a location 12 inches (30 cm) away than at an object emerging from the hiding location, showing they were able to code location in continuous space. In Experiment 2, infants reacted with greater looking when objects emerged from locations 8 inches (20 cm) away from the hiding location, showing that location coding was more finely grained than could be inferred based on the first study. In Experiment 3, infants were familiarized with an object shown in hiding-and-finding sequences at two different locations. Infants looked longer at objects emerging 12 inches (30 cm) away from the most recent hiding location than to emergence from the other location, showing that infants could code location even when events had previously occurred at each location. In Experiment 4, after familiarization with two objects with different shapes, colors, and sounding characteristics, shown in hiding-and-finding sequences in two locations, infants reacted to location violations as they had in Experiment 3. However, they did not react to object violations, that is, events in which the wrong object emerged from a hiding location. Experiment 5 also found no effect of object violation, even when the infants initially saw the two objects side by side. Spatiotemporal characteristics may play a more central role in early object individuation than they do later, although further study is required.
Parentification and Maternal HIV Infection: Beneficial Role or Pathological Burden?

Parentification, along with parenting and child adjustment, were examined in 23 9-through 16-year-old youth from families affected by maternal HIV infection and 20 same-age peers whose mothers were not infected. Children whose mothers were HIV-positive reported to more often engage in parental role behaviors, relative to children of HIV-negative mothers. This difference remained even after controlling for the effects of current drug use, number of adults per child in the household, and marital status. Findings revealed a beneficial relationship between parentification and both child adjustment and parenting, particularly among families affected by maternal HIV infection. When relationships were examined separately by HIV status, the pattern of results suggested that parentification, which involves increased emotional closeness, rather than role-related tasks, which may involve increased responsibility of household maintenance, seems to foster an association with concurrent positive parenting and child adjustment among families coping with HIV/AIDS. Directions for future research, including the need for methodological advances in the field are discussed.
A versatile method for preparation of hydrated microbial–latex biocatalytic coatings for gas absorption and gas evolution

We describe a latex wet coalescence method for gas-phase immobilization of microorganisms on paper which does not require drying for adhesion. This method reduces drying stresses to the microbes. It is applicable for microorganisms that do not tolerate desiccation stress during latex drying even in the presence of carbohydrates. Small surface area, 10–65 μm thick coatings were generated on chromatography paper strips and placed in the head-space of vertical sealed tubes containing liquid to hydrate the paper. These gas-phase microbial coatings hydrated by liquid in the paper pore space demonstrated absorption or evolution of H2, CO, CO2 or O2. The microbial products produced, ethanol and acetate, diffuse into the hydrated paper pores and accumulate in the liquid at the bottom of the tube. The paper provides hydration to the back side of the coating and also separates the biocatalyst from the products. Coating reactivity was demonstrated for Chlamydomonas reinhardtii CC124, which consumed CO2 and produced 10.2 ± 0.2 mmol O2 m−2 h−1, Rhodopseudomonas palustris CGA009, which consumed acetate and produced 0.47 ± 0.04 mmol H2 m−2 h−1, Clostridium ljungdahlii OTA1, which consumed 6 mmol CO m−2 h−1, and Synechococcus sp. PCC7002, which consumed CO2 and produced 5.00 ± 0.25 mmol O2 m−2 h−1. Coating thickness and microstructure were related to microbe size as determined by digital micrometry, profilometry, and confocal microscopy. The immobilization of different microorganisms in thin adhesive films in the gas phase demonstrates the utility of this method for evaluating genetically optimized microorganisms for gas absorption and gas evolution.
CT of blunt tracheal rupture.

19-year-old man presented with mild respiratory distress, subcutaneous emphysema, and decreased right-sided breath sounds after a high-speed vehicle crash. A supine chest radiograph showed a large right pneumothorax, right first rib and clavicle fractures, and pneumomediastinum. A large air leak and pneumothorax (Fig. 1A) persisted despite two tube thoracostomies. CT aortography showed a persistent large right pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, and a tracheal rupture (Fig. 1B). Operative bronchoscopy confirmed the injury, which was repaired primarily. Tracheobronchial injuries affect approximately 3% of all patients who sustain blunt chest trauma. Eighty percent of intrathoracic tracheobronchial injuries are within 2.5 cm of the carina, most commonly involving the proximal right main stem bronchus. Eighty percent of these patients die within 2 hr from associated injuries [1]. Fifty to one hundred percent of patients who sustain blunt tracheobronchial injuries have major associated injuries, including esophageal perforation in up to 20%. The most frequent symptoms of all blunt airway injuries are dyspnea (76‐100%) and hoarseness (46%). The most common clinical signs are subcutaneous emphysema (35‐85%) and hemoptysis (14‐25%) [2]. Conventional chest radiography shows pneumomediastinum in 60% and pneumothorax in up to 70% of injuries. Other supportive radiographic signs include overdistention of endotracheal tube cuff, displacement of endotracheal tube, or, in the case of complete transsection, the fallen lung sign of Kumpe [3, 4]. A persistent pneumothorax with a large air leak despite a well-placed chest tube also suggests this diagnosis, as in our patient. Rarely, a pneumothorax with no air leak at thoracostomy occurs when mediastinal soft tissue or blood obstructs the ruptured bronchus. CT is indicated in the stable patient for the evaluation of possible associated injuries. An unrevealing CT scan does not obviate bronchoscopy if intrathoracic tracheal rupture is suspected. The presence of significant air leak alone is sufficient to mandate bronchoscopy without the need for advanced imaging.
Glutamate-supported calcium movements in rat liver mitochondria: Effects of anions and pH

Abstract Ca 2+ efflux from rat liver mitochondria in the presence of glutamate is stimulated by a decrease in pH from 7.3 to 6.8 and the rate is dependent on the phosphate concentration. During Ca 2+ (13 μ m ) uptake and release at low pH (+ phosphate), swelling is minimal, but a large oxidation of pyridine nucleotides and sustained membrane depolarization occurs. The depolarization (but not Ca 2+ efflux) is reversed by ruthenium red. An absolute requirement for phosphate to support Ca 2+ efflux is demonstrated by using acetate or lactate to support Ca 2+ uptake (efflux is depressed at pH 6.8). Preincubation with mersalyl, to block phosphate movements, with subsequent phosphate addition preceeding Ca 2+ uptake also inhibits efflux. β-Mercaptoethanol then stimulates efflux concomittent with membrane repolarization. Ca 2+ efflux is not a simple result of collapse of ΔpH since nigericin inhibits phosphate transport and Ca 2+ release. Following Ca 2+ uptake at pH 6.8, respiratory inhibition occurs, but oxygen consumption coupled to ATP synthesis can be stimulated by succinate (+ rotenone). Addition of succinate allows reuptake of Ca 2+ , reduction of pyridine nucleotides, and repolarization of the membrane potential. Respiratory inhibition is also seen with nigericin, but no Ca 2+ efflux is observed. Coupled respiration with glutamate is seen at pH 6.8 following Ca 2+ uptake in the presence of lactate with subsequent addition of phosphate to promote Ca 2+ efflux. We conclude that Ca 2+ efflux is not a consequence of respiratory inhibition, but is mediated solely by phosphate movements. The inhibitory effect of Mg 2+ on Ca 2+ efflux is probably due to Mg 2+ -dependent inhibition of the Ca 2+ diffusion potential so that the compensatory increase in ΔpH due to membrane depolarization does not occur and phosphate entry is slowed.
Where National Board Examinations pass and fail in evaluating knowledge of surgical clerks.

Abstract The aim of this study is to test a multiple choice test generated by the computer (CGE) with the National Board Examination (NBE) used for evaluation of surgical clerks. The CGE was developed and tested over a 2-year period prior to the study. It resembles the NBE in length and format but is geared to content covered in the 12-week surgical rotation. The research question concerned whether the CGE could replace the NBE. One hundred seventy-two students were randomly assigned to four groups at the end of each quarter of the year. They were tested twice, 1 day apart as follows: 1. NBE-NBE; 2. CGE-CGE; 3. NBE-CGE; 4. CGE-NBE. Correlations between NBE and CGE were in the moderate range. Analysis of variance between scores on CGE and NBE showed differences that were almost of borderline significance ( P
Heterogeneity of poly(I).poly(C)-induced human fibroblast interferon mRNA species

Three classes of human interferons (IFNs) have been defined on the basis of their immunological properties: the ‘Le’ or ‘α’ IFN, mainly derived from leukocyte or lymphoblastoid cells; the ‘F’ or ‘β’ IFN, mainly derived from fibroblast cultures; and the‘T’, ‘immune’ or ‘γ’ IFN, mainly derived from mitogen- or antigen-stimulated lymphoid cells1. Whereas several individual species of Le IFN have been purified to homogeneity2–4, it is generally considered that F IFN represents a single protein5,6. Thus current efforts to clone human fibroblast IFN mRNA sequences are based on the observation that F IFN mRNA sediments in sucrose gradients as a single RNA species of size corresponding to 12–14 S (refs 7–10). We show here, using gel electrophoresis of mRNA, that two populations of translationally active human fibroblast IFN mRNA molecules exist—an abundant ‘14 S’ species and a scarce ‘11 S’ species. Microinjection of either species of mRNA into Xenopus oocytes leads to the synthesis of biologically active F-type human IFN. These data agree with and complement recent RNA hybridization studies of Weissenbach et al.10.
Further studies of the effects of somatostatin and related peptides in area CA1 of rabbit hippocampus.

1. In slice studies of mature and immature CA1 hippocampal pyramidal cells from rabbit, somatostatin 14 (SS14), the related peptide somatostatin 28(1–12) [SS(1–12)], and the synthetic analogue of somatostatin 14, SMS-201995 (SMS), had similar effects. When pressure-ejected onto cell somata, these peptides elicited depolarizations, often accompanied by action potential discharge. When applied to dendrites, the peptides produced depolarizations or hyperpolarizations. 2. When a large amount of one of the three somatostatin-related (SS) peptides was applied to the slice at some distance from the impaled cell, hyperpolarizations were observed that were not always blocked by tetrodotoxin (TTX) or low Ca2+. Since SS peptides were also found to depolarize interneurons in area CA1, it seems likely that the hyperpolarizations that were blocked by TTX or low Ca2+ were mediated via excitation of interneurons that in turn hyperpolarized pyramidal cells. 3. All SS peptides also had long-lasting effects on CA1 pyramidal cells that led to spontaneous firing of action potentials and an increase in the number of action potentials discharged in response to a given depolarizing current pulse; the spontaneous discharge effect was blocked by TTX or low Ca2+ plus Mn2+ and, thus, appeared to have a presynaptic mechanism. However, the increase in discharge in response to a constant depolarizing current pulse was not dependent on intact synaptic transmission and, therefore, was attributable to a direct postsynaptic effect of the SS peptides.
New selection rules and symmetry relations for Regge--Regge cuts

Abstract Using SU(3) and duality constraints, Worden has shown that the Finkelstein cut selection rule requires that all odd signature Regge-Regge cuts are strongly suppressed in meson-baryon scattering. We have extended Worden's analysis by constructing the SU(3) coefficients, for the Gribov vertices, that are appropriate for dual resonance models. By combining the coefficients for two Gribov vertices and preserving the Finkelstein rule, a complete set of symmetry relations is obtained. Examples of these relations are that Regge-Regge cuts do not contribute to meson-meson scattering when the external mesons have overall odd C parity, and that the I = 2 part of Δ photoproduction cannot arise from Regge-Regge cuts.
A free gait algorithm for quadrupedal walking machines

Abstract A free gait is a computer generated, rule-based gait for a walking machine to walk on rough terrain. Based on a given terrain map, the gait algorithm selects footholds for leg placements and determines the movements of legs and body. In the past, a few free gaits for hexapods have been developed. For quadrupeds, the only report on free gait was briefly mentioned in a paper by Hirose [ Int. J. Robotics Res. , 3 (2) (1984)]. In this paper, a free gait algorithm for a quadrupedal walking chair is developed. For quadrupeds, the stability margin is small due to a small number of legs and the choices of a leg to be lifted are limited. Hence, deadlock situations may occur quite often. Many special techniques are incorporated into the algorithm in order to reduce deadlocks. This free gait algorithm adopts the wave-crab gaits as the primary gait because they are periodic and can provide good stability. The algorithm also adopts a non-periodic free gait to handle terrain with higher concentration of forbidden areas. This algorithm is evaluated under different terrain conditions using computer simulations. The results show that the performance is satisfactory on randomly generated rough terrain and needs improvement on manually generated rough terrain.
On Pulfrich-illusion eye movements and accommodation vergence during visual pursuit.

Abstract When the Pulfrich illusion is perceived with stationary fixation, and visual pursuit of the pendulum is then initiated, rapid vergence changes occur which correspond to the illusory elliptical path. During steady-state visual tracking of the illusion, however, the eyes move along a planar path without systematic changes in vergence. These latter pursuit movements with monocular filter involve large fixation disparities relative to unobstructed vision (0.5° to 1° divergence); hence, it is proposed that the planar tracking path probably results from strong dominance of the oculomotor system by stimuli from the unobstructed eye. During visual tracking with monocular filter and a target moving along a nonillusory elliptical path in depth, appropriate changes in vergence occur, but comparable vergence changes also arise when the target is fully hidden from one eye. This response apparently represents a superposition of accommodation vergence upon smooth pursuit movements; similar responses also occur during monocular tracking of a target moving around a circular path in depth.