cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Computational Investigation into Female Susceptibility to Arousal Induced Arrhythmias in Long-Qt Syndrome Type 2

Auditory stimuli are a recognized trigger of arousal-induced torsade de pointes (TdP) in patients with Long QT Syndrome Type 2 (LQT2). There is also clear evidence that the effect of auditory stimulation to modulate ventricular repolarization is more pronounced in women than men, and that female sex is an independent risk factor for long-QT syndrome and increased propensity for torsade de pointes arrhythmias. Indeed, females with LQT2 experience a greater than nine-fold increase in the risk for arousal-triggered cardiac events compared with men in the same age group after the onset of adolescence. In order to reveal the interactions and contributions of rapid bursts of sympathetic activity, sex steroid hormones and differences in ion channels expression in male and female hearts, we have developed a model of the female cardiac cell that includes sex stereoid hormones and experimentally observed reduction in expression of Connexin 43 (Cx43) and repolarization currents IK1, IKr, IKs, and Ito compared to males. These changes were incorporated into the O'Hara-Rudy human ventricular cell model. In order to account for sympathetically mediated arousal, we also incorporated subcellular signaling pathways linked to beta-adrenergic receptors. Finally, Long-QT 2 mutations were incorporated into the model. The model simulations predict that the high estrogen levels and low progesterone levels that occur during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle in females and the interplay between larger net inward currents set the stage for action potential prolongation that in combination with sudden bursts of beta-adrenergic signaling leads to a profoundly increased likelihood of arrhythmia triggers in females compared to males in singe cells and 1-D tissue. The model also predicts a high degree of protection by testosterone in males against arrhythmia triggering.
Effects of γ-hydroxybutyrate on the performance of monkeys in a Go/No-go visual discrimination task

Abstract It has been suggested that monkeys, administered γ-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), manifest a state resembling petit mal status. This implies that an animal would produce erroneous responses immediately prior to, and discontinue behaviors requiring any cognitive effort concurrently with, an episode of GHB-induced generalized 3 cps wave-spike bursts in the EEG. This prediction was not confirmed in the present study. Rhesus macaques ( Macaca mulatta ) were trained to perform in a visual discrimination Go/No-go test. Thereafter bipolar transcortical electrodes were implanted in the hemisphere contralateral to the preferred hand. All monkeys discontinued to lever-press for water reward when administered GHB (125 or 250 mg/kg, esophageal intubation) and exhibited signs of reduced postural control and somnolence punctuated by episodes of hypermotility about 40–50 min after GHB. However, the monkey's difficulties in completing the program were not associated with the development of generalized hypersynchronous EEG activity. While occasional wave-spike bursts did occur, they were poorly regulated, often ‘focal’ (i.e. developed only in isolated areas), and had a frequency of 1.5–2 cps. In this state, animals could be easily roused by sensory stimuli. All of them reacted with a characteristic aversive-aggressive display when confronted by a direct gaze. These effects are interpreted to be more consistent with characterization of GHB activity as that of a potent hypnotic rather than a convulsant agent.
Calculating cost savings in utilization management

A major motivation for managing the utilization of laboratory testing is to reduce the cost of medical care. For this reason it is important to understand the basic principles of cost accounting in the clinical laboratory. The process of laboratory testing includes three distinct components termed the pre-analytic, analytic and post-analytic phases. Utilization management efforts may impact the cost structure of these three phases in different ways depending on the specific details of the initiative. Estimates of cost savings resulting from utilization management programs reported in the literature have often been fundamentally flawed due to a failure to understand basic concepts such as the difference between laboratory costs versus charges and the impact of reducing laboratory test volumes on the average versus marginal cost structure in the laboratory. This article will provide an overview of basic cost accounting principles in the clinical laboratory including both job order and process cost accounting. Specific examples will be presented to illustrate these concepts in various different scenarios.
Effects of Jet Temperature and Nozzle-Lip Thickness on Screech Tones

Imperfectly expanded supersonic jets, invariably, generate discrete frequency sound known as screech tones. In the low supersonic jet Mach-number range of 1.0-1.25, the screech phenomenon is axisymmetric. In this investigation the effects of jet temperature and nozzle-lip thickness on the axisymmetric jet screech modes are studied by numerical simulation. At the present time there is no known way to predict the intensities of screech tones, even empirically, except by numerical simulation. Numerical results of screech frequencies and directivities of heated jets will be reported. The computed screech frequencies are found to agree well with experimental measurements. Computed tone intensities indicate a gradual decrease in the screech amplitude with an increase in jet temperature. Screech tones are known to be sensitive to the presence of acoustic reflection surfaces. Sound reflected off such surfaces could sometimes affect the feedback loop that drives the screech tones. The nozzle lip is a good reflection surface. As a part of this work, the effect of nozzle-lip thickness on screech tone frequency and intensity is investigated. There are good agreements between the computed tone frequencies, intensities, and experiments at several nozzle-lip thickness to jet diameter ratios. Thick lip nozzles, as expected, are found to generate the loudest tones. But the change in sound-pressure level between a thin and a thick lip nozzle is found to be quite modest.
Differential expression and regulation by 20-hydroxyecdysone of mosquito ecdysteroid receptor isoforms A and B.

Abstract Cloning of the AaEcR-A isoform, along with the previously cloned AaEcR-B isoform, has permitted us to evaluate the expression of AaEcR isoforms during mosquito vitellogenesis. Mosquito EcR isoform transcripts exhibited dramatically different patterns of expression after a blood meal-triggered activation of vitellogenesis in the fat body. The AaEcR-B transcript level rose sharply by 4-h post blood meal (PBM), coinciding with the small ecdysteroid peak, and then declined reaching its lowest level at 16–24-h PBM. In contrast, the AaEcR-A transcript peaked at 16–20-h PBM, coinciding with the large ecdysteroid peak. AaEcR-B and AaEcR-A transcripts exhibited a striking difference in sensitivity to 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), being maximally activated at 10−8 and 10−6 M, respectively. Both ecdysteroid receptor (EcR) isoform mRNAs were transcribed in a cycloheximide-independent manner, suggesting that they are direct targets of 20E. However, AaEcR-A transcription requires continuous presence of 20E, while AaEcR-B mRNA level rose for 4 h and then declined under the same conditions. These results indicate the mosquito EcR isoforms play distinct physiological functions during vitellogenesis in the mosquito fat body.
Application of Gas Endarterectomy to Atherosclerotic Peripheral Vessels and Coronary Arteries Clinical and Experimental Results

A new technique of endarterectomy is described. It uses carbon dioxide gas, under pressure, to dissect the diseased inner layers of blood-vessel wall from the more normal outer layer. It has been utilized in 89 patients. It remains to be seen what the 5- and 10-year patency rates will be. This must, in large degree, relate to the patient's vascular disease. Finally, we hope that a series of coronary endarterectomies can be done to indicate the applicability of the technique to coronary revascularization.
Launch Period Development for the Juno Mission to Jupiter

The Juno mission to Jupiter is targeted to launch in 2011 and would reach the giant planet about five years later. The interplanetary trajectory is planned to include two large deep space maneuvers and an Earth gravity assist a little more than two years after launch. In this paper, we describe the development of a 21-day launch period for Juno with the objective of keeping overall launch energy and delta-V low while meeting constraints imposed on Earth departure, the deep space maneuvers' timing and geometry, and Jupiter arrival.
NURBS-based Galerkin method and application to skeletal muscle modeling

Non-Uniform Rational B-spline (NURBS) is often used to construct the free-form boundary representation of three-dimensional objects. In this paper, we propose a method for mechanical analysis for deformable bodies by combining NURBS geometric representation and the Galerkin method. The NURBS surface bounding a 3D body is extended to a trivariate NURBS solid by adding another parametric domain represented by additional control points. The displacement field of the body is constructed using the NURBS shape representation with the control point being the generalized coordinates. The interpolated displacement field is directly used to facilitate finite element formulation. In this manner, traditional FEM meshing is not required. In this work, the NURBS-FEM is applied to skeletal muscle modeling. Muscle is modeled as anisotropic, active hyperelastic solids. The directions of the contractile fibers can be uniform or along the tangent direction of NURBS curves. Typical contractive motions of isolated muscle are simulated.
Biotin Reagents for Antibody Pretargeting. 3. Synthesis, Radioiodination, and Evaluation of Biotinylated Starburst Dendrimers

We are investigating the hypothesis that biotin multimers can be used with streptavidin and monoclonal antibody conjugates in cancer pretargeting protocols to provide a method of increasing the amount of radioactivity bound on cancer cells in patients. As part of that investigation, a series of biotinylated Starburst dendrimers (BSBDs) have been prepared and evaluated in vitro and in vivo. In this study, a new biotinidase-stabilized, water-solubilizing biotinylation reagent was prepared and reacted with Starburst (PAMAM) dendrimers, generations 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4. The reaction conditions employed resulted in perbiotinylation of generation 0 (four biotin moieties conjugated), generation 1 (eight biotin moieties conjugated), generation 2 (16 biotin moieties conjugated), and generation 3 (32 biotin moieties conjugated). With generation 4, incomplete biotinylation was achieved resulting in the largest portion of that BSBD having 51 biotin moieties (of 64 possible) conjugated. The ability of each BSBD to cross-...
Room Temperature Phosphorescence Determination of Propranolol in Pharmaceutical Formulations

Abstract A simple, rapid, and specific procedure was used for the analysis of propranolol in pharmaceutical formulations. The procedure consisted of dissolving (diluting) appropriate quantities of preparations and standards in (with) a 2 M potassium iodide–ethanol–water solution, spotting 5 μl of each resultant solution onto filter paper disks, determining the phosphorescence intensities at room temperature, and comparing sample signal levels with those of standards. The results indicated that room temperature phosphorescence can be easily applied to the analysis of pharmaceutical formulations where active ingredients are generally contained in a wide variety of matrices.
Plant Antitumor Agents. III. A Convenient Separation of Tannins from Other Plant Constituents

Several methods were tested for the nondestructive separation of tannins from other plant constituents which might have antitumor activity. A comparison was made of precipitation of tannins by caffeine or lead acetate and chromatography on polyamide. The caffeine procedure was preferred over lead acetate; both tannins and nontannins were effectively separated and the caffeine conveniently removed. Polyamide was an effective tannin remover; nontannins were easily collected but tannins were irreversibly adsorbed. The application of the caffeine procedure to a variety of plants is described.
Practice at the Crossroads: When practice meets theory, a rumination

Consumer practices, work practices, not to mention management, design and research practices. The notion of “practice” remains core to much of what ethnographers in industry examine, expose and aim to inform. This paper questions: while we study practice(s), while we may frame our research and analysis with sensitivity towards rendering visible the richness or particularity of peoples' practice, what have we really learned about practice? In part aimed at considering whether and how the work performed by ethnographers in industry advances or critiques theories of practice as explored by Bourdieu and others, the paper aims to reconcile the fact that we are “there” at the behest of our business counterparts to have an impact and affect change. So the question shifts from not only how we use and understand concepts of practice to how it frames the expectations of our business partners and stakeholders. What I have found is that there is both productive overlap and significant slippage between our (theoretically buttressed and anthropologically-resonant) notions of practice and the (action-oriented, practical ones) of our business counterparts. This piece is intended as a reflective rumination on the notion of “practice” at the cusp of theory and business to appraise its value, present and future, to both theoretical and business interests.
A rapidly convergent method for equality constrained function minimization

This paper presents a new function minimization algorithm for minimizing nonlinear functions of a finite number of variables subject to nonlinear equality constraints. The algorithm also provides for the explicit handling of upper and lower bounds on each of the independent variables. Although other more general inequality constraint can be transformed into an equality constraint at the expense of introducing an additional slack variable. The algorithm proposed combines the idea of a "balance function," developed independently in References 1 and 2 with a second order method for updating the balance function La grange multipliers originally developed in Reference 3. This updating technique makes use of the current estimate of the inverse Hessian of the balance function which is a byproduct of the unconstrained minimization of the balance function using the Fletcher-Powell algorithm.
Predicting Credit Spreads

Predictions of firm-level credit spreads based on the current spot and forward credit spreads can be significantly improved upon by using the information contained in the shape of the creditspread curve. However, the current credit-spread curve is not a sufficient statistic for predicting future out-of-sample credit spreads; predictions can be significantly improved upon by exploiting the information contained in the shape of the riskless yield curve. In the presence of credit-spread and riskless factors, other macroeconomic, marketwide, and firm-specific risk variables do not significantly improve predictions of credit spreads. These results have important implications for credit-spreads modeling.
State-level renewable electricity policies and reductions in carbon emissions.

Abstract A wide range of renewable electricity policies has been adopted at the state level in the United States, but to date there has been no large-scale, empirical assessment of the effect of these policies on carbon emissions. Such an assessment is important because scholars have pointed out that increases in renewable electricity will not necessarily lead to declines in carbon emissions. We examine the effects of a range of policies across 39 states. We find significant and robust decreases in carbon emissions associated with the introduction of public benefit funds, a form of “carbon tax” adopted by 19 states to date. Our aim in this paper is not to provide a final judgment on these policies, many of which may not have been in place long enough to show strong effects, but to shift the attention of the research community away from proximate measures such as increases in clean electricity generation and onto measurement of lower carbon emissions.
903 Single-Stage Cholecystectomy At the Time of Pancreatic Necrosectomy Is Safe and Prevents Future Biliary Complications: A 20-Year Single Institutional Experience With 217 Consecutive Patients

Introduction Current guidelines recommend cholecystectomy (CCY) during the index admission for mild to moderate biliary pancreatitis as delayed CCY is associated with a substantial risk of recurrent biliary events. Delayed CCY is recommended in severe pancreatitis. The optimal timing of CCY in necrotizing pancreatitis, however, has not been well studied. We sought to determine the safety of single-stage CCY performed at the time of necrosectomy and its effectiveness in preventing subsequent biliary complications.
High pressure processing and its application to the challenge of virus-contaminated foods.

High pressure processing (HPP) is an increasingly popular non-thermal food processing technology. Study of HPP’s potential to inactivate foodborne viruses has defined general pressure levels required to inactivate hepatitis A virus, norovirus surrogates, and human norovirus itself within foods such as shellfish and produce. The sensitivity of a number of different picornaviruses to HPP is variable. Experiments suggest that HPP inactivates viruses via denaturation of capsid proteins which render the virus incapable of binding to its receptor on the surface of its host cell. Beyond the primary consideration of treatment pressure level, the effects of extending treatment times, temperature of initial pressure application, and matrix composition have been identified as critical parameters for designing HPP inactivation strategies. Research described here can serve as a preliminary guide to whether a current commercial process could be effective against HuNoV or HAV.
SAR motion compensation and feature extraction via MCRELAX

This paper studies the problem of extracting target features via synthetic aperture radar (SAR) in the presence of uncompensated aperture motion errors. A parametric data model for a spotlight-mode SAR system is established. The Cramer-Rao bounds (CRBs) for the parameters of the data model are also derived. The CRB analysis shows that the unknown motion errors can significantly affect the accuracy of a common shift of the scatterer positions in the cross- range direction, but have little effect on other target parameters including the accuracy of the relative positions in the cross-range direction. A relaxation-based MCRELAX algorithm for estimating both target features and motion errors is devised. Simulation results show that he mean- squared errors of the parameter estimates obtained by using the MCRELAX algorithm can approach the corresponding CRBs.
The incidence of acute venous injury as a result of proximity penetrating trauma screened with colour flow duplex ultrasound

Abstract Introduction The incidence of acute deep venous thrombosis as a result of penetrating proximity extremity trauma (PPET) to the thigh has been demonstrated to be 16% in a single report. The purpose of the current study is to demonstrate the incidence and clinical significance of venous injury as a result of proximity trauma to the thigh in a large cohort screened with colour flow duplex (CFD) ultrasound and to identify factors predictive of defining a wound in proximity to a major vascular structure. Patients and methods A prospective observational study was conducted from January 1st, 2010 to January 1st, 2012 on all patients presenting with penetrating extremity trauma. Data on injury location, mechanism, associated extremity and non-extremity injuries, use and results of CFD, as well as the admitting trauma surgeon were recorded and analysed. Results 220 thigh wounds with a normal physical examination were identified, of which 167 (75.9%) underwent CFD due to proximity. The incidence of acute venous injury was 4.8% (8/167). 37.5% (3/8) of these injuries resulted in morbidity. Injury mechanism and which attending physician was on call were predictive of a wound being defined as in proximity, whereas an injury with an associated fracture was a negative predictor. Conclusions Occult venous injuries as a result of PPET occur in 4.8% of patients with thigh wounds in proximity to a major vascular structure. The designation of a wound as being in “proximity” was influenced by injury mechanism, associated fractures, and the judgement of the on-call attending. Colour flow duplex is a valuable tool with the ability to identify not only occult arterial injuries, but also venous injuries with the potential to cause significant morbidity as well.
Prophylactic and therapeutic activities of 7-thia-8-oxoguanosine against Punta Toro virus infections in mice

The biological response modifier 7-thia-8-oxoguanosine was evaluated in mice against the hepatotropic Adames strain of Punta Toro virus. When administered intraperitoneally in divided doses, significant protection from death was conferred at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg/day given 24 and 17 h pre-virus inoculation, 25-100 mg/kg/day administered 4 h pre- and 3 h post-virus challenge, and 12.5 to 100 mg/kg/day administered 24 and 31 h after virus inoculation. These doses preventing death reduced liver icterus scores, serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels, and liver and serum virus titers relative to placebo controls. Full daily doses administered at 24 h were somewhat less protective to mice than divided daily doses starting at the same time. The initiation of treatment could be delayed as late as 36 h after virus inoculation, resulting in complete protection from mortality at 100 mg/kg/day. This prevention of death occurred despite the acute nature of the infection which resulted in deaths by 96 h in the placebo-treated controls. These results show that 7-thia-8-oxoguanosine has both prophylactic and therapeutic potential as an anti-Phlebovirus agent. Interferon induction appears to be the reason for antiviral activity in this model, since up to 10,000 units of interferon/ml were induced in mice 1 h after treatment with 100 mg 7-thia-8-oxoguanosine per kg, and antibody to interferon alpha/beta administered shortly after treatment with the nucleoside negated the antiviral effect.
Effect of intensity of agitation on disintegration time of tablets

The effect of the intensity of agitation on the disintegration time of tablets was studied. Preliminary results obtained using tablets fabricated under controlled conditions and selected commercial tablets revealed that the intensity of agitation produced in the test apparatus was not reproducible with fixed geometry for successive runs when the settings were maintained constant. The disintegration times increased at a lower intensity of agitation. The intertablet range values obtained were rather large at the start and increased with a corresponding decrease in the intensity of agitation. The results showed that the measurement of disintegration times with the existing apparatus may not serve as a guide to the pharmaceutical formulator in the preparation of optimal dosage forms of drugs for clinical trial and may not ensure lot-to-lot uniformity of the pharmaceutical product.
Exploring bioanalytical applications of assisted protein reassembly

Reassembly of protein from its peptide fragments is a technique that can have many applications in the bioanalytical field. Typically, a reporter protein fragmented into its two peptides is employed as a label in this study. This fragments of peptide can reassemble yielding an active functional reporter. This reassembly of the protein can be assisted by non-covalently interacting peptides or proteins, which are attached to the fragmented reporter. This technique has been employed in several applications including study of protein–protein interactions, antibody screening, immunoassays, and high-throughput screening. This review focuses on different reporters employed in the study of reassembly of proteins and applications of this strategy in bioanalysis.
Modifying Structure: A Resource for Improved Student Achievement at the Middle Level.

Many middle grade schools use teaming or other organizational models to create smaller teaching and learning units. The value of such struc tures lies in the conditions that result when teachers and students engage in thoughtful, collaborative work that affects the success of middle level students.
The progress Portfolio: promoting reflective inquiry in complex investigation environments

Scientific inquiry in complex data-rich environments is a goal of much educational reform, but students require supports to manage the complexity of such investigations. We propose an approach to providing this support by making the processes and products of an investigation into explicit objects for reflection. We describe design research exploring ways to promote reflective inquiry among middle-school and high-school science students. We outline obstacles facing students in conducting investigations and give an overview of the design principles for our inquiry-support software environment, the Progress Portfolio. The specific tools provided by the Progress Portfolio for capturing, annotating, organizing, and presenting data are described in detail. We conclude with a discussion of pilot studies conducted with middle-school and high-school students.
THE ROLE OF THROMBOSPONDIN-1 IN TUMOR PROGRESSION AND ANGIOGENESIS

Thrombospondin (TSP-1) is a large glycoprotein secreted by platelets and synthesized by many cell types, including endothelial and tumor cells. Although controversy exists about the biological function of TSP-1, the following observations suggest that TSP-1 may potentiate tumor progression. (1) Tumor metastases in mice are promoted by TSP-1 and inhibited by anti-TSP-1 antibodies. (2) TSP-1 promotes tumor cell adhesion, migration and invasion. (3) TSP-1 promotes angiogenesis in the rat aorta model. (4) TSP-1 up-regulates the plasminogen activator system through a mechanism involving the activation of TGF-beta 1. (5) Human tumors express increased levels of the CSVTCG-specific TSP-1 receptor. (6) Tumor stroma is enriched in TSP-1. (7) Cancer patients have high blood levels of TSP-1. (8) Poor patient survival correlates with a higher expression of the CSVTCG-specific TSP-1 receptor on tumor cells. In this paper we discuss the evidence that TSP-1 promotes tumor progression and present a hypothetical scheme for its mechanism of action.
Component mode synthesis approaches for quantum mechanical electrostatic analysis of nanoscale devices

In this paper, two component mode synthesis (CMS) approaches, namely, the fixed interface CMS approach and the free interface CMS approach, are presented and compared for an efficient solution of 2-D Schrodinger-Poisson equations for quantum-mechanical electrostatic analyses of nanostructures and devices with arbitrary geometries. In the CMS approaches, a nanostructure is divided into a set of substructures or components and the eigenvalues (energy levels) and eigenvectors (wave functions) are computed first for all the substructures. The computed wave functions are then combined with constraint or attachment modes to construct a transformation matrix. By using the transformation matrix, a reduced-order system of the Schrodinger equation is obtained for the entire nanostructure. The global energy levels and wave functions can be obtained with the reduced-order system. Through an iteration procedure between the Schrodinger and Poisson equations, a self-consistent solution for charge concentration and potential profile can be obtained. Numerical calculations show that both CMS approaches can largely reduce the computational cost. The free interface CMS approach can provide significantly more accurate results than the fixed interface CMS approach with the same number of retained wave functions in each component. However, the fixed interface CMS approach is more efficient than the free interface CMS approach when large degrees of freedom are included in the simulation.
A bandwidth efficient OFDM transmission scheme

In this paper, a new bandwidth efficient OFDM transmission scheme is proposed. A bandwidth efficient iterative scheme for OFDM systems without using cyclic prefix was proposed before [3] which works well when a channel does not have a deep spectral null. But such a frequency domain deep null is common in a wireless channel. A bandwidth efficient scheme proposed in this paper works well regardless of the existence of spectral null. In the proposed scheme, OFDM symbols are recovered in two steps. In the first step, only a small portion of the time domain OFDM symbol is recovered by the frequency domain 1-tap equalizer. In the second step, the recovered small portion and the tail part of the previous symbol are used for the cyclic reconstruction and tail cancellation. Simulation experiments are conducted to validate the proposed scheme.
A digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM) print service for chest imaging

Large-scale picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) have not been widely implemented in this or other countries. In almost all radiology departments film remains the medium for diagnostic interpretation and image archive. Chest imaging is the dominant screening examination performed within most imaging departments and as such, is an extremely high-volume, low-margin examination. Digital technologies are being applied to chest imaging to overcome limitations of screen-film receptors (limited latitude) and current film management systems (singleimage copy). Efficient management of images and information is essential to the success of a chest imaging program. In this article we report on a digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM)-based centralized printing network for chest imaging. The system components and their operational characteristics are described. Our experience integrating DICOM-compliant equipment supplied by several vendors is described. We conclude that the print model supported by DICOM is adequate for cross-sectional (eg, computed tomography and magnetic resonance) imaging but is too simplistic to be generally applied to projection radiography.
Uncertainty, expectations of devaluation, and the real exchange rate

Abstract This essay is concerned with the extent to which expectations of depreciation and the degree of uncertainty with respect to the future exchange rate policy may modify the pricing behavior of the domestic firm. It turns out that the optimal price under uncertainty will be larger than in the certain case, if the ‘price loss’, due to under-estimation of demand, is larger than the marginal cost of holding inventories. The model was tested with data for Argentina for the period before the collapse of the exchange rate system in March 1981.
The release of methyl chloride from potato tubers

Freshly harvested Norchip and Kennebec tubers release varied amounts of methyl chloride (CH3Cl) during suberization. Maximum rates of CH3Cl release, ranging from 98-690 ng CH3Cl/kg tubers/hr under laboratory and commercial conditions, were attained 2–3 days following harvest. Release rates thereafter decreased 10-40-fold by the 7th day of suberization. The period of rapid decrease in CH3Cl release corresponds to the reported time required by cut tuber tissue to initiate resistance to water loss. Cutting of newly harvested and suberized Kennebec tubers reestablished the high release rates of CH3Cl measured during the early stages of suberization. The enhancement of CH3Cl release by tissue cutting was not demonstrated by two varieties stored for 10 months. Suberization differences between early and late harvested Norchip tubers were better differentiated by their respective rates of CH3Cl release than by CO2 generation. These preliminary findings suggest the rate of CH3Cl release could be applied to assess harvest damage and monitor the suberization process. Methyl chloride has previously been reported as the major nonindustrial chlorocarbon in the atmosphere that is linked to a replenishable, natural source.
Dynamic OCT measurements of corneal biomechanical properties after UV cross-linking in the rabbit

Structural properties of the cornea determine the shape and optical quality of the eye. Keratoconus, a structural degeneration of the cornea, is often treated with UV-induced collagen cross-linking to increase tissue resistance to further deformation and degeneration. Optimal treatments would be customized to the individual and consider preexisting structural properties as well as the effects induced by treatment and this requires the capability to noninvasively measure tissue properties. The purpose of this study is to use novel methods of optical elastography to study the effects of UV-induced corneal collagen cross-linking in the rabbit eye. Low-amplitude (<1μm) elastic flexural waves were generated using focused air-pulse stimulation. Elastic wave propagation was measured over a 10x10mm area using Phase Stabilized Swept Source Optical Coherence Elastography (PhS-SSOCE) with a sensitivity of ~ 10 nm. Wave amplitude and velocity were computed and compared in tissues before and after UV cross-linking. Wave amplitude was decreased by the cross-linking treatment, while wave velocity was greater in cross-linked tissue than it was in the untreated cornea. Decreased wave amplitude and increased wave velocity after cross-linking is consistent with increased tissue stiffness. This was confirmed by conventional mechanical tension testing. These results demonstrate that the combination of the PhS-SSOCE and focused air pulse stimulation is capable of measuring low amplitude tissue motion and quantifying corneal stiffness.
Behavioral and hormonal effects of attachment object separation in surrogate-peer-reared and mother-reared infant rhesus monkeys

Mother-reared and surrogate-peer-reared rhesus monkeys were separated from their respective attachment objects at 6 months of age and tested for the following 9 weeks to determine their home-cage behavior and their pituitary-adrenocortical responses to stress. Both groups displayed a strong immediate behavioral response to separation which was characterized by increased vocalization, increased locomotion, and decreased self-play. However, the surrogate-peer-reared infants showed a subsequent recovery in their levels of self-play whereas the mother-reared infants instead developed stereotypic behavior patterns such as repetitive pacing. The 2 groups displayed similar plasma cortisol responses to weekly sessions in an apparatus equipped with animated toy "monsters". Mother-reared but not surrogate-peer-reared subjects, however, also manifested elevated cortisol levels when an animal in an adjacent cage was captured and removed for stress testing. Mother-reared infant monkeys thus responded in a stronger and more prolonged manner to the loss of their attachment object than surrogate-peer-reared infants. These results suggest that infant rhesus monkeys form stronger attachments to monkey mothers than to inanimate surrogate mothers, a phenomenon which has not been as clearly demonstrated using other indices of attachment strength.
Recent progress in converting biomass to biofuels and renewable chemicals in sub- or supercritical water

This review covers recent research and development undertaken in converting biomass (lignocelluloses, carbohydrates, waste vegetable oil and algae) to biofuels and renewable chemicals using sub- or supercritical water (SCW) as thermochemical reaction media. Applications of SCW technology in pretreating biomass for bioethanol production by fermentation and in hydrogen/methane production by gasification are not covered in this review. The focus is on research progress in understanding the conversion characteristics of model biomass compounds, such as hemicellulose, cellulose, triglycerides and, to a lesser extent, real heterogeneous biomass in SCW. Specific attention is given to promising reaction pathways and novel process development in SCW conversion of biomass and its model compounds. There are good opportunities for the use of biomass feedstocks and SCW technology in the production of liquid fuels for the transportation sector, as well as renewable chemicals for the chemical industry. However, a broad ...
Regulation of the formation of stable adducts between acetaldehyde and blood proteins

Abstract Recent reports have described increased levels of a fast-moving hemoglobin (Hb) fraction in alcoholic patients and formation in vitro of stable adducts between acetaldehyde and Hb as well as between acetaldehyde and albumin. In the present study, we have found that factors other than acetaldehyde concentration can influence the rate of stable adduct formation. HbAo was purified and its 2,3-diPglycerate removed by dialysis. Under anaerobic condition and at 37°, acetaldehyde (5 μM) reacted with deoxyHbAo to form 0.26±0.02 (±SEM) nmol of stable adduct/149 nmol Hb in 2 hr. By comparison, acetaldehyde reacted more slowly with oxyHbAo and carbonylHbAo; the rates were 0.21±0.01 ( p p p p in vivo .
Cardiac Allograft Vascular Disease Relationship to Microvascular Cell Surface Markers and Inflammatory Cell Phenotypes on Endomyocardial Biopsy

Background Cardiac allograft vascular disease is characterized by accelerated and diffuse intimal proliferation involving both the microvasculature and epicardial vessels. Because in vivo documentation of this complication is now possible with intracoronary ultrasound imaging, we can examine the relationship of intimal proliferation to markers of immunity and endothelial activation. We hypothesize that alterations of microvascular cell surface markers likely mirror changes in the epicardial vessels that may be important in the pathophysiology of intimal proliferation. Methods and Results Forty-three heart transplant patients were examined by intracoronary ultrasound more than 1 year after transplantation, and these images were analyzed to obtain mean intimal thickness and intimal thickness class (I through IV), calculated from the mean thickness and circumferential involvement. Right ventricular endomyocardial biopsies obtained at the time of intracoronary ultrasound were examined by immunohistochemistry to detect microvascular expression of histocompatibility leukocyte antigen (HLA) classes I and II (HLA ABC, DR, DP, and DQ); endothelial-specific antigen detected by the monoclonal antibody E 1.5; intercellular adhesion molecules (ICAM-1); CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes and macrophages (CD 14+). Microvascular antigen expression was graded 1 through 5 on the basis of the diffuseness of positive staining. The number of each inflammatory cell phenotype present per high-power field was counted. By ANOVA, scores for HLA DR, HLA DQ, and E1.5 expression were lower in intimal thickness classes II, III, and IV compared with class I. This inverse relationship was significant by linear regression analysis of mean intimal thickness. Inflammatory cells were not significantly correlated with intimal thickening. Rejection incidence was higher, and time since transplantation longer, in intimal thickness classes II, III, and IV compared with class I. Conclusion Transplant coronary artery intimal proliferation is associated with alteration of microvascular endothelial cell surface markers. These changes in cell surface antigen expression could provide the substrate for coronary artery intimal proliferation and narrowing.
An algorithm for source signal extraction from the peripheral nerve

Extracting physiological signals to control external devices such as prosthetics is a field of research that offers great hope for patients suffering from disabilities. In this paper, a novel source signal extraction algorithm, based on the source localization method Champagne, is presented. The algorithm constructs spatial filters that not only maximizes the signal to noise ratio (SNR > 13dB) of the source activities but also minimizes the cross-talk interference between the sources 10 log(P (source of interest)/P (interference sources) > 14 dB.
Effect of continuous quality improvement analysis on the delivery of primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction

A successful primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) program requires a learning process whereby the efficiency of the cardiac catheterization laboratory to deliver prompt intervention can be refined. The purpose of this study was to (1) quantify this learning process in terms of shortening the time to reperfusion, (2) examine the changes in strategy that allowed for this, and (3) determine if expedited reperfusion by primary PTCA improved patient outcomes. A database of all primary PTCA procedures was established in February 1, 1994. Continuous quality assurance analysis was performed, and program modifications introduced as needed. Patients were separated into early (group A = February 1, 1994 through January 31, 1995) and late (group B1 = February 1, 1995 through June 31, 1995, and group B2 = July 1, 1995 through December 31, 1995) cohorts. Time intervals to certain treatment landmarks were compared among groups. In-hospital outcomes were tabulated. Fifty-two consecutive patients were included (group A = 19, group B1 = 17, group B2 = 16). Time intervals shortened significantly (group A vs group B1 vs group B2) with the time from hospital presentation to first balloon inflation decreasing progressively (from 205 to 119 to 97 minutes; p <0.001). Most of this decrease was obtained by shortening the time from hospital presentation to xylocaine administration (158 to 85 to 72 minutes; p <0.005), although the time from xylocaine to first balloon inflation also decreased (from 47 to 33 to 24 minutes; p <0.005). Parallel decreases for in-hospital mortality (26% vs 0%; p = 0.004), adverse events (47% vs 18%; p = 0.05), and length of hospital stay (13.3 +/- 13.7 vs 8.4 +/- 4.4 days; p = NS) were demonstrated for groups A versus B1 and B2. A learning effect following initiation of a primary PTCA program is demonstrated in which reperfusion was more rapidly achieved as the result of procedural changes directed by quality improvement analysis with a concurrent improvement in in-hospital outcomes.
A model of wine tourist behaviour: a festival approach

The study constructs a temporal model of wine tourist behaviour on the basis of the social psychologist' theory of consumer attitudes and related concepts with regard to past behaviour, satisfaction, perceived value and behavioural intentions. More importantly, this study added two dimensions to this model by proposing that satisfaction and perceived value had an impact on the attendees' intentions (i) to visit a local winery and (ii) to buy local wine products. Using a path analysis approach and data collected from the attendees at a regional wine festival, the study examined the above relationships. The results of this path analysis can be summarised as: (i) past behaviour influenced the intention to revisit and the level of perceived value, but had no effect on the level of satisfaction; (ii) perceived value strongly affected the level of satisfaction; (iii) satisfaction had a strong impact on future intentions to revisit and also an effect on intentions to visit local wineries and to buy local wine products; and (iv) perceived value affected the intentions to revisit the festival and to visit local wineries but did not influence the intentions to buy local wines. It is believed that the results of the present study will be useful to organisers of wine festivals and/or wine tourism developers. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Antigen-matched donor blood in the transfusion management of patients with sickle cell disease.

BACKGROUND: Alloimmunization to red cell antigens is a significant risk in chronically transfused patients with sickle cell disease. Antigen matching, by decreasing the likelihood of alloantibody development, may significantly facilitate long-term management while decreasing morbidity. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The transfusion records of 86 patients who underwent chronic transfusion for sickle cell disease at a tertiary-care medical center were reviewed retrospectively to determine the efficacy of an antigen-matching program in the prevention of alloimmunization to clinically significant red cell antigens. Recipients were phenotyped and given units matched for the K, C, E, S, and Fya or Fyb antigens. RESULTS: None (0%) of the 40 patients who received antigen-matched transfusions showed any evidence of alloimmunization, while 16 (34.8%) of the 46 patients who received both antigen-matched and non-antigen-matched transfusions developed clinically significant alloantibodies. The cost was 1.8 to 1.5 times that for a standard transfusion protocol. CONCLUSION: On the basis of this experience, it is recommended that transfusion centers engaged in the management of chronically transfused sickle cell anemia patients consider providing antigen-matched units for such patients. This is recommended not only because it prevents alloimmunization but also because such a program provides additional clinical benefits to the patient that may outweigh the higher costs of the process.
A new approach to the problem of wave fluctuations in localized smoothly varying turbulence

In the past, smoothly varying turbulence has been studied by changing the structure constant to the function C_{n}^{2}(\bar{r} ). The purpose of this paper is to show that this approach is insufficient, and that a random process developed by Silverman can be used to describe the wave fluctuations in localized smoothly varying turbulence. The localized turbulence is characterized by a correlation function which is a product of a function of the average coordinate and a function of the difference coordinate. The corresponding spectrum is also given by a product of a function of the difference wavenumber and a function of the average wavenumber. They are related to each other through two Fourier transform pairs. Making use of the preceding representations, the fluctuations of a wave propagating through such a turbulence can be given either by the integrals with respect to the two wavenumbers or by a convolution integral of the structure constant C_{n}^{2}(\bar{r} ) and a function involving the outer scale of the turbulence L_{0} . It is shown that for a plane wave case, if the distance L is within ( L_{0}^{2}/\lambda ), then the usual formula given by Tatarski is valid. But if the distance is between L_{0}^{2}/\lambda and (bL_{0})/\lambda where b is the total transverse size of the turbulence, the variance of the wave is nearly constant, and if L \gg (bL_{0})/\lambda , the variance decays as L^{-2} . Similar conclusions are shown for a spherical wave case. Some examples are shown illustrating the effectiveness of this method.