cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Altered ENaC Is Associated With Aortic Baroreceptor Dysfunction in Chronic Heart Failure

Background Abnormal baroreceptor function contributes to attenuated arterial baroreflex sensitivity in chronic heart failure (CHF). As a mechanosensor in mammalian nonepithelium, the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) is an amiloride-sensitive and voltage-independent ion channel. The ENaC is thought to be a component of baroreceptor mechanosensitive ion channels in aortic baroreceptor cell bodies and nerve terminals. In this study, therefore, we measured the expression and activation of the ENaC in nodose neuronal cell bodies and aortic baroreceptor nerve terminals in sham and CHF rats. Methods and results CHF was induced by surgical ligation of left coronary artery. The development of CHF was confirmed by hemodynamic and morphological characteristics. The aortic baroreceptor sensitivity was blunted in anesthetized CHF rats, compared with that in sham rats. The data from immunostaining and western blot analysis showed that the protein of β- and γ-ENaC subunits was expressed in nodose neuronal cell bodies and aortic baroreceptor nerve terminals, whereas the protein of α-ENaC subunit was undetectable. CHF reduced protein expression of β- and γ-ENaC subunits in nodose neuronal cell bodies and aortic baroreceptor nerve terminals. Additionally, the data recorded by the whole cell patch-clamp technique demonstrated that ENaC currents in aortic baroreceptor neurons were lower in CHF rats than that in sham rats. Conclusion These results suggest that reduced protein expression of the ENaC decreases the ENaC activation, which could be involved in attenuation of the aortic baroreceptor sensitivity in the CHF state. Baroreceptors should be a potential therapeutic target for reducing mortality in CHF.
Case Report: Acute Myocardial Infarction Associated with DF-2 Bacteremia After a Dog Bite

This is the first reported case of an acute myocardial infarction probably secondary to DF-2 bacterial septicemia and presumed endocarditis. Selective coronary arteriography revealed a long filling defect causing 95% stenosis of the second diagonal branch of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Multiple blood cultures revealed Decarboxylase Fermentor-2 (DF-2) septicemia that responded to penicillin therapy. Two months status after myocardial infarction recatheterization revealed complete recanalization with slight irregularity of the vessel lumen at the site of previous obstruction.
The Cost of Batterer Programs How Much and Who Pays

This article documents the economic costs of four geographically and programmatically diverse batterer treatment programs and illustrates the components and procedures of a program cost analysis. Such analyses provide an essential component of cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) and can assist policy makers in understanding how the structure and scope of batterer programs influence the costs. Cost per batterer session at the four sites was similar ($22-$32) despite differences in organizational structure and scope of services provided even when cost figures are adjusted ($17-$22) for other services offered by the sites. The estimated cost of program completion in 1995 ranged from $264 to $864. Completion costs that take account of other services that these sites provide range from $261 to $622, with three of the sites reporting completion costs less than $400. Much of the cost of these programs is borne by batterers.
The effect of the inhibitors of protein and nucleic acid synthesis on the coumarin-induced tuberization and growth of excised axillary shoots of potato sprquts ( Solanum tuberosum l.) cultured in vitro

The inhibitors of protein and nucleic acid synthesis; chloramphenicol, para-fluorophenylalanine, actinomycin D, and 5-fluorouracil were evaluated for their effectiveness in inhibiting coumarin-induced tuberization, tuber growth, and the inhibition of.root and shoot growth of excised axillary shoots of potato sprouts culturedin vitro. To date, it has been demonstrated that both kinetin and coumarin readily effect 100 percent tuberization of the shoots culturedin vitro. The results of the present study demonstrate that with the exception of 5-fluorouracil, the inhibitors significantly inhibited the coumarin-induced. tuberization, tuber growth, and root growth whereas in previously published data by Palmer and Smith (6), the inhibitors merely delayed kinetin-induced tuberization. It is suggested that both protein and nucleic acid synthesis are required for the coumarin-induced tuberization processes, and the mode of action of coumarin is distinctly different from that of kinetin.
Perceiving the sweet spot.

Many sports involve aligning a hitting implement with a ball trajectory such that contact is made at the implement's center of percussion or ‘sweet spot’. This spot is not visibly distinct; its perception must be haptic. Although it is functionally defined with respect to contact—it is the point of impact that produces the least vibration in the hand holding the implement—hitting success requires appreciating the location of the sweet spot prior to contact. Two experiments verified that perceivers (novices as well as expert tennis players) distinguished perception of length from perception of the position of the sweet spot simply on the basis of wielding, both for tennis rackets and for bats contrived from wooden rods with attached masses. Results conformed to previous research on dynamic touch in showing that perceiving the lengths of wielded objects, including selectively perceiving partial lengths, is constrained by inertial properties of the object.
A pleiotropic QTL on 2p influences serum Lp-PLA2 activity and LDL cholesterol concentration in a baboon model for the genetics of atherosclerosis risk factors.

Abstract Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A 2 (Lp-PLA 2 ), the major portion of which is bound to low-density lipoprotein, is an independent biomarker of cardiovascular disease risk. To search for common genetic determinants of variation in both Lp-PLA 2 activity and LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) concentration, we assayed these substances in serum from 679 pedigreed baboons. Using a maximum likelihood-based variance components approach, we detected significant evidence for a QTL affecting Lp-PLA 2 activity (LOD=2.79, genome-wide P =0.039) and suggestive evidence for a QTL affecting LDL-C levels (LOD=2.16) at the same location on the baboon ortholog of human chromosome 2p. Because we also found a significant genetic correlation between the two traits ( ρ G =0.50, P 2 activity and LDL-C concentration. These bivariate analyses improved the evidence (LOD=3.19, genome-wide P =0.015) for a QTL at the same location on 2p, corresponding to the human cytogenetic region 2p24.3–p23.2. The QTL-specific correlation between the traits ( ρ Q =0.62) was significantly different from both zero and 1 ( P [ ρ Q =0]=0.047; P [ ρ Q =1]=0.022), rejecting the hypothesis of co-incident linkage and consistent with incomplete pleiotropy at this locus. We conclude that polymorphisms at the QTL described in this study exert some genetic effects that are shared between Lp-PLA 2 activity and LDL-C concentration.
Two‐dimensional spatially selective spin inversion and spin‐echo refocusing with a single nuclear magnetic resonance pulse

A new class of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) pulses that provides simultaneous spatially selective inversion of nuclear spins in two dimensions following a single pulse application is described and demonstrated. The two‐dimensional selective pulses consist of a single square‐ or amplitude‐modulated π rf pulse applied in the presence of an amplitude‐modulated magnetic field gradient that reorients through the two dimensions during the rf pulse. For example, square and Gaussian rf pulses produce sharply peaked sombrero‐, egg‐carton‐, and stalagmite‐shaped profiles of spin inversion in the xz plane when applied in the presence of a gradient that rotates or describes a figure eight in the xz plane. The theoretical profiles, computed by numerical integration of the Bloch equation, are in good agreement with experimental results obtained by incorporating the pulses into a conventional NMR imaging sequence. The pulses are directly applicable to restricted field‐of‐view high‐resolution imaging for the ameliora...
An Approximate Spectral Method for Accurate Solution of Fourier and Non-Fourier Heat Conduction Problems

A new form of the pseudo-spectral method is presented. The method is theoretically simple yet robust enough to produce very accurate solutions to hyperbolic and parabolic PDE's while avoiding the effects of Gibb's phenomenon. Moreover the method uses a relatively small amount of computational memory. The method is based on the observation that an analytical function may be well represented in a set of small neighborhoods that share common boundaries, called sub-domains, by low order Chebyshev polynomials. A collocation solution scheme is used in each sub-domain to march facilitate a time. Throughout this process the Chebyshev expansion coefficients of the highest order terms are monitored. If these coefficients grow beyond a specified small size, the new sub-domains are then redefined so that the function is again well represented by Chebyshev polynomial expansions. An approach for the determination of computational sub-domains of the physical domain for the special case of a discontinuous function is discussed. The strategy for solving the PDE's is presented. The method is then applied to Fourier and non-Fourier heat conduction problems
Improved percentile estimation for the two-parameter Weibull distribution

Abstract This paper presents an improvement of a technique recently published to estimate the parameters of the two-parameter Weibull distribution. A simple percentile method is used to estimate the two parameters. Computer simulation is employed to compare the proposed method with the maximum likelihood estimation and graphical methods results. A set of frequently-used and newer expressions for estimating the cumulative density are examined. Comparisons are made with both complete and censored data. The primary advantage of the method is its computational simplicity. Results indicate that with respect to Mean Square Error and estimation of the characteristic value with complete data, the percentile method cannot outperform the maximum likelihood method, although differences are minor in many instances. However, with censored data, improvements over the maximum likelihood are observed. When the shape parameter is estimated, the percentile method is quite competitive with that of maximum likelihood for both complete and censored data under a variety of conditions.
A method for spatially averaging small-scale bottom roughness

Abstract The estimation of spatial averages and variability of the topographic roughness length for field sites with randomly scattered bottom roughness requires that one determine upstream areas of influence and horizontal averaging scales for various measuring heights z above bottom. The area of influence is determined from internal boundary layer theory to be between 10 and 200 z upstream, and the averaging length is estimated from Townsend's turbulent response time to be about 0.3 z ln( z z 0 ). The averaging scheme does not account for wave or sediment-transport effects and would not apply accurately to large abrupt roughness changes.
SIMULATIONS OF FIELD-PLATED AND RECESSED GATE GALLIUM NITRIDE-BASED HETEROJUNCTION FIELD-EFFECT TRANSISTORS

We report on two-dimensional isothermal simulations of recessed gate and field-plated AlGaN-GaN HFETs with submicron gates. The optimization of the recessed gate shape allows us to reduce the electric field at the drain-side gate edge by approximately 30%. Our simulations reveal a dramatic increase of the effective gate length with increasing drain-to-source bias with a commensurate decrease of the cutoff frequency (up to 40% decrease for 50V). To improve the cutoff frequency for the high drain-to-source bias, we suggest using the second field plate connected to the drain with a small gap between the two field plates. In this design, the electric field in the gap between the gate and the drain field plate is higher leading to a significant reduction of the effective gate length and, as a consequence, to an increase in the cutoff frequency at high drain-to-source biases (compared to the conventional design).
Cunei: open-source machine translation with relevance-based models of each translation instance

The Cunei machine translation platform is an open-source system for data-driven machine translation. Our platform is a synthesis of the traditional example-based MT (EBMT) and statistical MT (SMT) paradigms. What makes Cunei unique is that it measures the relevance of each translation instance with a distance function. This distance function, represented as a log-linear model, operates over one translation instance at a time and enables us to score the translation instance relative to the specified input and/or the current target hypothesis. We describe how our system, Cunei, scores features individually for each translation instance and how it efficiently performs parameter tuning over the entire feature space. We also compare Cunei with three other open-source MT systems (Moses, CMU-EBMT, and Marclator). In our experiments involving Korean---English and Czech---English translation Cunei clearly outperforms the traditional EBMT and SMT systems.
Ultrasonic morphology of corpora lutea and central luteal cavities during the estrous cycle and early pregnancy in heifers.

Ultrasonography was used once daily to quantify corpora lutea, central luteal cavities, and luteinized tissue during interovulatory intervals (n=66) and during Days 0 to 60 of pregnancy (n=14) in nulliparous Holstein heifers (ovulation=Day 0). The corpus luteum of the estrous cycle was detectable by ultrasonography in most heifers from the day of ovulation (mean, Day 0.5) and extending into the regressive phase beyond the next ovulation (mean, Day 1.4+/-0.2 after the next ovulation). During pregnancy, the corpus luteum was detected until Day 60 (end of study). Maximal central luteal cavity area detected on Days 0 to 20 was used retrospectively to group luteal glands into four cavity categories: no, small, medium, and large. These categories corresponded to approximate cavity diameters of 10 mm, respectively. The incidence of each cavity category was similar between interovulatory intervals and pregnancies (combined incidence, 17/80, 8/80, 33/80, and 22/80 for no, small, medium, and large cavities, respectively; total with cavities, 63/80, 79%). Mean day of first detection of a central cavity was earliest for large cavities during interovulatory intervals (means, Days 4.7, 4.4, and 3.0 for small, medium, and large cavities, respectively; P<0.04) and during pregnancies (means, Days 5.5, 4.2, and 3.3, respectively; NS). However, the day that the cavities reached maximum size (range of means, Days 5.5 to 7.0) did not differ among categories. Mean day of last detection of the central cavity was significantly different among cavity categories during interovulatory intervals (means, Days 9.3, 11.1, and 17.4 for small, medium, and large cavities, respectively) and pregnancies (means, Days 7.0, 8.8, and 20.2, respectively). Time of loss of central cavities was similar between nonbred and pregnant heifers, and there was no significant difference among cavity categories in the length of the interovulatory interval (mean, 20.1 d). Luteal tissue area was not significantly different among cavity categories during interovulatory intervals. There were no indications that cavities were functionally important. Luteal tissue area increased linearly in pregnant heifers on Days 21 to 60 (mean slope, 2.6 mm2/day).
Coherent pulse propagation, a dispersive, irreversible phenomenon

The initial value problem for the propagation of a pulse through a resonant two‐level optical medium is solved by the inverse scattering method. In general, an incident pulse decomposes not only into a special class of pulses to which the medium is transparent but also yields radiation which is absorbed by the medium. In this respect ``this problem'' has properties markedly different from other dispersive and reversible wave phenomena some of which are tractable by the inverse scattering method. Indeed, it is remarkable that in the present case the method still applies. In particular, we show that, while there are an infinite number of local conservation laws, the integrated densities, and in particular the energy, are only conserved for a very special class of initial conditions. The theoretical results obtained are in close agreement with all the qualitative features observed in the experiments on coherent pulse propagation. Finally, we also show that causality is preserved. Two new and novel features are introduced and briefly discussed. First, we show that if the homogeneous broadening effect is a function of position in the medium, the pulses may speed up and slow down accordingly, without losing their permanent identities. Second, we have found a new kind of solution mode corresponding to a proper eigenvalue of the scattering problem which is not a bound state.
A clinician-friendly version of the interpersonal circumplex: structural analysis of social behavior (SASB).

Like the original interpersonal Circumplex (IPC). the Structural Analysis of Social Behavior (SASB) model was developed in the clinic. Different from and more complicated than the IPC, the SASB model nonetheless is parsimonious. It is consistent with Leary's (1957) original goal of bringing objectivity and clarity to the diagnostic process while acknowledging the complexity and variety of human nature. SASB applications extend from diagnosis into the domains of etiology and treatment. Specific advantages that accrue from the SASB model's more complex structure and assessment techniques include, the ability to: (a) define both hostile and friendly differentiation, (b) specifically link social learning experiences with self-concept, (c) define several predictive principles on an a priori basis and confirm them in a variety of data sets, (d) assess personality at all 5 of Leary's levels, (e) define normality and pathology in qualitative rather than quantitative terms, (f) compare and contrast self-ratings wi...
Data publication consensus and controversies.

The movement to bring datasets into the scholarly record as first class research products (validated, preserved, cited, and credited) has been inching forward for some time, but now the pace is quickening. As data publication venues proliferate, significant debate continues over formats, processes, and terminology. Here, we present an overview of data publication initiatives underway and the current conversation, highlighting points of consensus and issues still in contention. Data publication implementations differ in a variety of factors, including the kind of documentation, the location of the documentation relative to the data, and how the data is validated. Publishers may present data as supplemental material to a journal article, with a descriptive “data paper,” or independently. Complicating the situation, different initiatives and communities use the same terms to refer to distinct but overlapping concepts. For instance, the term published means that the data is publicly available and citable to virtually everyone, but it may or may not imply that the data has been peer-reviewed. In turn, what is meant by data peer review is far from defined; standards and processes encompass the full range employed in reviewing the literature, plus some novel variations. Basic data citation is a point of consensus, but the general agreement on the core elements of a dataset citation frays if the data is dynamic or part of a larger set. Even as data publication is being defined, some are looking past publication to other metaphors, notably “data as software,” for solutions to the more stubborn problems.
Convex orders for linear combinations of random variables

Abstract Linear combinations ∑i=1kbiXi and ∑i=1kaiXi of random variables X1,…,Xk are ordered in the sense of the decreasing convex order and the Laplace order, where (b1,…,bk) is majorized by (a1,…,ak), when the underlying random variables are independent but possibly nonidentically distributed, and the joint density is arrangement increasing, respectively. Finite mixture distributions ∑i=1kaiFXi(x) and ∑i=1kbiFXi(x) are compared in the sense of the usual stochastic order, the convex order and higher-order stochastic dominance. The comparison between ∑i=1kIbiXi and ∑i=1kIaiXi is also studied for binary random variables I a i ,I b i (i=1,…,k) . Some applications in economics and reliability are described.
Project UHV Test Line Research on the Corona Performance of a Bundle Conductor at 1000 kV

A bundle of 4 subconductors 2-in (5.08 cm) in diameter was tested on the Project UHV single-phase test line. Radio noise, corona loss, audible noise, electrostatic field effects were continuously measured in order to investigate the effects of weather variables. Translation of the results to a 1000-kV, 3-phase line shows that audible noise will be the main obstacle to the use of this bundle.
New results in obsidian hydration dating

Abstract A number of source‐specific obsidian hydration rates are proposed for California obsidian sources. Based on these findings, two major modifications are suggested as refinements of the present obsidian hydration dating technique: (1) source‐specific obsidian hydration rates should be determined for individual obsidian sources within a given geographic region, and (2) which will necessitate the identification of the source of each obsidian artefact for greater precision of obsidian hydration dating results.
Spanwise homogeneous buoyancy-drag model for Rayleigh–Taylor mixing and experimental evaluation

A buoyancy-drag model for Rayleigh–Taylor (RT) mixing is developed on the premise that the bubble and spike regions behave as distinct and spanwise homogeneous fluids. Then, mass conservation is applied accross the mixing zone to obtain their average mixture densities dynamically. These are used to explicitly calculate the inertia and buoyancy terms in the evolutionary equation. The only unknown parameter in the model is the Newtonian drag constant C∼2.5±0.6, which is determined from turbulent RT experiments over various Atwood numbers A and acceleration histories g(t). The bubble (i=2) and spike (i=1) amplitudes are found to obey the familiar hi=αiAgt2 for a constant g and hi∼tθi for an impulsive g. For bubbles, both α2 and θ2 are insensitive to A. For the spikes, both α1 and θ1 increase as a power law with the density ratio. However, θ1 is not universal because it depends on the initial value of h1/h2.
Fluid-solid interaction of reactor core components, a preliminary analysis

Abstract A simple analytical model is used to examine the mechanical interaction of LMFBR core components with the surrounding coolant. Approximating a subassembly duct by a single degree of freedom oscillator and the coolant by a thin layer of viscous fluid, the problem was reduced to a nonlinear differential equation governing the motion of the oscillator. Approximate analytical and numerical solutions are presented which enable parametric studies useful in LMFBR core design.
Formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their radicals in a nearly sooting premixed benzene flame

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are associated with health hazardous effects, and combustion processes are major sources of their presence in atmospheric aerosols. In the present work, chemical reaction pathways of PAH formation have been investigated by means of the modeling of a nearly sooting, low-pressure, premixed, laminar, one-dimensional benzene/oxygen/argon flame (equivalence ratio =1.8, 30% argon, gas velocity at burner at 298 K v =50 cm s −1 , pressure=2.67 kPa). This flame has been investigated by Bittner and Howard using molecular-beam sampling coupled to mass spectrometry. More recently, Benish extended the set of available data for radicals up to 201 amu and for stable species up to 276 amu using nozzle-beam sampling followed by radical scavenging with dimethyl disulfide and subsequent analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. An existing kinetic model has been refined. Density functional theory computations were used to update the thermodynamic database, while transition state theory followed by a bimolecular quantum Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel analysis allowed for the determination of kinetic data relevant for the present study. The reaction of phenylacetylene radicals with acetylene is shown to be limiting for the concentration of 1-naphthyl radicals, while naphthalene is formed mainly by self-combination of cyclopentadienyl. The insufficient consumption of PAH as well as acetylene beyond the reaction zone gives some evidence of the need of additional PAH growth pathways involving acetylene but thermodynamically more favorable than subsequent hydrogen-abstraction/acetyleneaddition reactions. A new pathway for acenaphthylene formation is suggested and consists of benzyne recombination followed by hydrogen attack and isomerization.
Effects of turbulence on nonpremixed ignition of hydrogen in heated counterflow

Abstract Experiments were conducted to determine the effects of turbulence on the temperature of a heated air jet required to ignite a counterflowing cold hydrogen/nitrogen jet. In contrast to pseudo-turbulent flows, where turbulence was generated by only a perforated plate on the fuel side, resulting in little effect on ignition in a hydrogen system, fully turbulent flows with perforated plates on both sides of the flow were found to produce noticeable effects. The difference was attributed to the fact that in fully turbulent flows, a significantly larger range of turbulent eddies extend to smaller scales than in pseudo-turbulent flows. At atmospheric pressure, the lowest turbulence intensity studied had ignition temperatures notably lower than laminar ones, while further increases in turbulence intensity resulted in rising ignition temperatures. As a result, optimal conditions for nonpremixed hydrogen ignition exist in weakly turbulent flows where the ignition temperature is lower than can be obtained in other laminar or turbulent flows at the same pressure. Similar trends were seen for all fuel concentrations and at all pressures in the second ignition limit (below 3–4 atm). At higher pressures, turbulent flows caused the ignition temperatures to continue to follow the second limit resulting in ignition temperatures higher than the laminar values. The extension of the second limit ends at the highest pressures (7 to 8 atm) where evidence of third limit behavior appears. Three mechanisms were noted to explain the experimental results. First, turbulent eddies similar in size to the ignition kernel can promote discrete mixing of otherwise isolated pockets of gas. Second, this mixing can promote HO2 chain branching pathways, which can account for the enhanced ignition noted in the second limit where reaction is governed by crossover temperature chemistry. Third, turbulence limits the excursion times available for reaction, inordinately affecting the slower HO2 reactions. This is responsible for the increasing ignition temperature with turbulence intensity and pressure.
Public school music: Notes on the public provision of a quasi-private good

This paper uses a version of theBergstrom/Goodman median voter model toexamine whether there are aspects ofpublicness to public school music. It alsoexamines whether the provision of publicschool music is an example of the abilityof small groups to seek benefits forthemselves at the expense of larger groups. School music programs provide a uniquesetting in which it is possible to separatethe demand for school music programs by theconsumers of school music (the privatebeneficiaries) from the demand for schoolmusic programs by those who do not directlyconsume the product. If those who are notdirect consumers of music programs appearto value school music programs as a publicgood, their valuation cannot be confusedwith a jointly consumed private good, orconsumption of a private good with scaleeconomies, because they are not themselvesconsuming it as a private good. Using datafrom the 1987 Schools and Staffing Survey,the results from a logarithmic, normative,demand model show that (parents of)nonmusic students appear to value musicprograms as a public good. Once it isprovided for music students, additionalproportions of nonmusic students do notdemand additional music classes. In thatmodel, music students appear to value musicclasses as a private good. In thepositive, additive, demand model, moremusic students mean that more music classeswill be provided. Further, since music isvalued as a non-subtractable public goodwhose costs can easily be spread,increasing numbers of non-music studentsalso result in (slightly) more musicclasses.
Shape optimization for 2-D mixed-mode fracture using Extended FEM (XFEM) and Level Set Method (LSM)

Weight and service life are often the two most important considerations in design of structural components. This research incorporates a novel crack propagation analysis technique into shape optimization framework to support design of 2-D structural components under mixed-mode fracture for: (1) maximum service life, subject to an upper limit on volume, and (2) minimum weight subject to specified minimum service life. In both cases, structural performance measures are selected as constraints and CAD dimensions are employed as shape design variables. Fracture parameters, such as crack growth rate and crack growth direction are computed using extended finite element method (XFEM) and level set method (LSM). XFEM employs special enrichment functions to incorporate the discontinuity of structural responses caused by the crack surfaces and crack tip fields into finite element approximation. The LSM utilizes level set functions to track the crack during the crack propagation analysis. As a result, this method does not require highly refined mesh around the crack tip nor re-mesh to conform to the geometric shape of the crack when it propagates, which makes the method extremely attractive for crack propagation analysis. An accurate and efficient semi-analytical design sensitivity analysis (DSA) method is developed for calculating gradients of fracture parameters. Two different approaches--a batch-mode, gradient-based, nonlinear algorithm and an interactive what-if analysis--are used for optimization. An engine connecting rod example is used to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed method.
A case of biphasic ichthyosiform dermatosis: light and electron microscopic study.

The clinical, light microscopic, and fine structural features of an unusual case of ichthyosiform dermatosis are presented. Clinically, this 44 year old Caucasian male had been affected by stable ichthyosis hystrix-like lesions on his extremities since infancy. In middle age, clinically different, but histologically similar lesions developed in the form of scaly plaques all over his trunk as a second phase. Microscopically, the epidermis consisted of abnormally large prickle cells, which faded without formation of a distinct granular layer into a thick and mainly orthokeratotic stratum corneum. The cytoplasm of the prickle cells showed division into inner and outer zones separated by a peculiar shell. While the exoplasmatic zone had fairly normal structures including well developed tonofilament-desmosome complexes, the inner zone was devoid of tonofilaments, but rich in mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and other organelles. The shell appeared to consist of disorganized tonofilaments associated in higher layers with small keratohyalin granules. While no structured membranes divided the zones, there seemed to be a phase boundary which prevented keratohyalin granules and tonofilaments from entering the endoplasm. The term biphasic ichthyosiform dermatosis thus seems applicable on the clinical as well as on the fine structural level.
Purification and Characterization of Plasma Membrane-Associated Human Sperm α-l-Fucosidase

Abstract Detergent and salt extraction studies, as well as cytochemical localization with fluorescein isothiocyanate-bovine serum albumin-l-fucose, have provided further evidence for the plasma membrane association of a novel human sperm, α-l-fucosidase. This α-l-fucosidase has been solubilized and purified 8600-fold to high specific activity (35 000 U/mg protein) by affinity chromatography on agarose-C24-fucosylamine. To our knowledge, this is the first report concerning the purification and characterization of a mammalian plasma membrane-associated α-l-fucosidase. Both SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis indicated the α-l-fucosidase is highly purified and contains a single subunit with a molecular mass of 51 kDa. N-glycanase studies indicated the subunit contains N-glycans, and lectin blot analysis detected the presence of mannose, but no terminal galactose or sialic acid residues. Isoelectric focusing indicated the presence of two major α-l-fucosidase isoforms (pIs 6.5 and 6.7) and a possible minor isof...
Examination by radioligand binding of the α1-adrenoceptors in the mesenteric arterial vasculature during the development of salt-sensitive hypertension

Previous experiments have suggested that the vascular smooth muscle of Dahl salt-sensitive (DS) rats may possess a difference in the α1-adrenoceptor population or its transduction processes compared to Dahl salt-resistant (DR) rats. The purpose of the current research is to study the role of α1-adrenoceptors in the specific supersensitivity to norepinephrine (NE) seen prior to and early in the development of hypertension in the DS rat. Experiments in isolated perfused superior mesenteric arterial vasculature from DS rats chronically fed a high (7%) salt diet for 5 days or 3 weeks, in the absence or presence of an elevation in systolic blood pressure, respectively, demonstrated a specific supersensitivity to NE relative to DR rats. The enhanced responsiveness was specific to NE after 5 days of high salt since no differences in sensitivity of these preparations was observed to either KCl or 5-HT. A small but significant elevation in sensitivity to KCl following 3 weeks of treatment suggests that multiple factors may contribute to tissue responsiveness at this time. Radioligand binding experiments were performed using [125I]-HEAT to study the α1-adrenoceptor population and its subtypes. Saturation experiments using membranes prepared from the superior mesenteric arterial vasculature or mesenteric arterial branches showed no significant differences in overall α1-adrenoceptor population between DS and DR rats fed a high-salt diet for 5 days or 3 weeks. Competition experiments using membranes prepared from the superior mesenteric arterial branches in the presence of the α1A-subtype selective antagonist 5-methylurapidil showed two binding sites (high and low affinity) in these resistance vessels but no significant differences in nature or ratio of these sites between the DS and DR groups. These results suggest that changes in the α1-adrenoceptor population are not responsible for the specific supersensitivity to NE, which may be an early event in the induction and development of hypertension.
Causes of Concavity in Longitudinal Profiles of Rivers

A smooth concave configuration represents the most common quasi-equilibrium profile of alluvial rivers. In the present paper a generalized, unified set of models for the longitudinal profile of rivers is presented. Various independent effects that drive concavity in longitudinal rivers are considered and classified. The driving mechanisms considered here are (1) horizontal wavelike progradation of the river profile, (2) abrasion of bed particles, (3) aggradation of the river profile balancing subsidence at a constant speed, and (4) the effect of tributaries adding sediment and water to the main stem of the river. For simplicity it is assumed that the long-term supply of water and sediment is constant; hence a single discharge, that is, bank-full discharge, is used as an approximate characterization of the hydrologic regime for each point along the river. Sediment sorting has been studied elsewhere and is excluded from this analysis. The river is assumed to have uniform bed material, although the mean size may vary downstream. It is concluded that the quasi-equilibrium longitudinal profile created by each of the first three driving mechanisms mentioned above is concave. The degree of concavity varies, however, depending on a set of physical conditions that can be identified by a set of dimensionless numbers. A comparison of these numbers reveals the relative importance of the driving mechanisms for concavity. A condition for concavity driven by the fourth mechanism, that is, tributary input, is delineated.
Alfentanil for urgent caesarean section in a patient with severe mitral stenosis and pulmonary hypertension.

We present the case of a parturient with severe mitral stenosis and pulmonary hypertension who received general anaesthesia using alfentanil for urgent Caesarean section. Alfentanil promoted haemodynamic stability and allowed immediate postoperative extubation. Epidural morphine provided postoperative analgesia. This combination permitted early ambulation and prevention of thromboembolism. A disadvantage of this technique, neontal respiratory depression, was promptly reversed with a single dose ofnaloxone. The anaesthetic management of mitral stenosis in pregnancy is discussed and the neonatal pharmacokinetics of maternally administered alfentanil are presented.
SU-GG-AUD-08: Real-Time Three-Dimensional Position and Orientation Data of a Brachytherapy Robot Using Magnetic Tracking

Purpose: To incorporate a magnetic tracking system with a brachytherapyrobot to provide real‐time information on position and orientation of anatomical structures. Methods and Materials: A custom‐built six‐degree‐of‐ freedom robot was engineered for highly accurate prostate brachytherapy implantations. The robot was tested and optimized in phantom to provide sub‐millimeter error in seed placement. However, an implantation's accuracy may be limited by the ability to transfer 3‐D anatomical data and convert it to the robot's coordinate frame. This transformation is difficult if the imager is not fixed, because the transformation from anatomical coordinates to robot coordinates changes dynamically. We tested the characteristics of a Minibird II tracking system (Ascension Technology, Burlington, VT) which consists of a transmitter that emits a magnetic field and a sensor to provide feedback of position and orientation. Multiple sensors can be added to determine the relationship between the robot and an ultrasound probe, for example. An analysis of the Minibird's accuracy in relationship to the highly precise movements of the robot in three dimensions was performed. Results: The robot's movement compared to the magnetic tracker's positional information over 24 cm of travel was within 1.21%, 0.77% and 1.18% in the x, y, and z directions respectively. Conclusion: Using magnetic tracking, a robot designed for brachytherapy implantation may use nearly any imaging modality to acquire anatomical data. A sensor may attach to a free‐hand ultrasound probe or fluoroscopy machine, for example. This opens the possibility of using the robot for needle insertions other than prostate LDR procedures with a rectal probe. The robot can be modified easily for accurate needle targeting of many soft tissue structures. Lastly, the cost of magnetic tracking is small (in equipment and upkeep cost) when compared to 3‐D infrared tracking, while also eliminating the “line‐of‐sight” issues that may occur with those systems.
Inside-outside stereoisomerism. III: The synthesis of trans-bicyclo[4.3.1]decan-10-one

Abstract The synthesis of trans -bicyclo[4.3.1]decan-10-one, the smallest bicycloalkane to possess the inside-outside stereochemical relationship, is described, in which the trans intrabridgehead stereochemistry is established via the intramolecular dioxolenone photocycloaddition.
Role of the pharmacist in managing hypertension in patients with diabetes.

The role of pharmacists in the collaborative management of drug therapy continues to expand. A substantial body of evidence indicates that pharmacists’ involvement in collaborative drug therapy management improves outcomes and reduces health care costs in patients with a variety of diseases. In
Thermic stress syndrome

Abstract The term, “thermic stress syndrome” includes heat stroke, malignant hyperpyrexia, sudden death syndrome in athletes, idiopathic recurrent rhabdomyolysis with myoglobinuria, exercise myoglobinuria, and fulminant hyperthermia porcine stress syndrome; these may be variants of the same malady. This often fatal pharmacogenetic disorder is precipitated by stress—physical, thermic, or anesthetic related. Physical and laboratory findings, although not completely described in all these syndromes, appear similar. Deaths can be prevented by identifying susceptible individuals, by taking simple preventive measures, by early recognition, and by immediate treatment.
Effect of rotor design tip speed on aerodynamic performance of a model VTOL lift fan under static and crossflow conditions.

Results are presented for a wind tunnel investigation of three single VTOL lift fan stages designed for the same overall total pressure ratio at different rotor tip speeds. The stages were tested in a model lift fan installed in a wing pod. The three stages had essentially the same aerodynamic performance along the operating line. However, differences in stage thrust characteristics were obtained when a variation in back pressure was imposed on the stages by cross-flow effects and thrust-vectoring louvers.
Equivalent complex permeability and conductivity of Litz wire in wireless power transfer systems

In this paper the skin and proximity effect losses for Litz wire winding used in wireless power transfer system is calculated using exact 2-D method. Based on those losses the equivalent complex permeability and conductivity are calculated for each strand in the bundle. Due to specific properties of Litz wire, the whole bundle is homogenized using isotropic complex permeability and conductivity and is simulated numerically in Finite Element (FE) verifying the analytical and experimental results.
Changes in extracellular fluid levels of calcium, phosphate and citrate ions in nephrectomized rats following parathyroidectomy.

UCH of the recent interest in parathyroid physiology has pertained to its extrarenal function. Numerous reports have shown that x serum calcium changes could be produced in nephrectomized animals both by parathyroidectomy and the administration of parathyroid extract (1-4). Among the most impressive of these studies was the report by Grollman (5) in which he was able to control the serum calcium level of nephrec- tomized-parathyroidectomized dogs maintained by peritoneal lavage. The extrarenal action of the parathyroids has also been emphasized by Munson and his collaborators (6) who have reported on the variations in the ratio of various parathyroid extracts in their ability to raise serum calcium levels and to increase the excretion of phosphate by the kidney. Also, in regard to extrarenal influences, it has been observed in several different species that parallel elevations of serum citric acid and calcium levels occurred following parathyroid extract administration (7). While the ratio of calcium to c...
Effects of extracellular DNA on plasminogen activation and fibrinolysis

The increased levels of extracellular DNA found in a number of disorders involving dysregulation of the fibrinolytic system may affect interactions between fibrinolytic enzymes and inhibitors. Double-stranded (ds) DNA and oligonucleotides bind tissue-(tPA) and urokinase (uPA)-type plasminogen activators, plasmin, and plasminogen with submicromolar affinity. The binding of enzymes to DNA was detected by EMSA, steady-state, and stopped-flow fluorimetry. The interaction of dsDNA/oligonucleotides with tPA and uPA includes a fast bimolecular step, followed by two monomolecular steps, likely indicating slow conformational changes in the enzyme. DNA (0.1–5.0 μg/ml), but not RNA, potentiates the activation of Glu- and Lys-plasminogen by tPA and uPA by 480- and 70-fold and 10.7- and 17-fold, respectively, via a template mechanism similar to that known for fibrin. However, unlike fibrin, dsDNA/oligonucleotides moderately affect the reaction between plasmin and α2-antiplasmin and accelerate the inactivation of tPA and two chain uPA by plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), which is potentiated by vitronectin. dsDNA (0.1–1.0 μg/ml) does not affect the rate of fibrinolysis by plasmin but increases by 4–5-fold the rate of fibrinolysis by Glu-plasminogen/plasminogen activator. The presence of α2-antiplasmin abolishes the potentiation of fibrinolysis by dsDNA. At higher concentrations (1.0–20 μg/ml), dsDNA competes for plasmin with fibrin and decreases the rate of fibrinolysis. dsDNA/oligonucleotides incorporated into a fibrin film also inhibit fibrinolysis. Thus, extracellular DNA at physiological concentrations may potentiate fibrinolysis by stimulating fibrin-independent plasminogen activation. Conversely, DNA could inhibit fibrinolysis by increasing the susceptibility of fibrinolytic enzymes to serpins.
Improved kinetics and stabilities in Mg-substituted LiMnPO4

LiMgxMn1−xPO4 (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5) crystals were prepared hydrothermally. The presence of Mg2+ was found to improve the kinetics, utilization, and physical stability of the crystals during chemical and electrochemical delithiation, as well as the thermal stability of the delithiated phase. The best performance was found in the sample with 20% substitution. The positive effect of Mg2+ was attributed to the reduced volume mismatch between the lithiated and delithiated phases, and to more favorable particle morphologies. Mg2+ dilutes the concentration of Jahn–Teller active ion, Mn3+, and reduces local strains between the phases, and thereby increases the structural stability of the crystals. The result is a reduction in fracturing and decrepitation, which translates to improved electrochemical performance. Although the thermal stability improved with increasing Mg substitution, the heat evolved during reaction with electrolyte remains proportional to the Mn content and therefore to the theoretical capacity.
High-resolution, flat-field, plane-grating, f/10 spectrograph with off-axis parabolic mirrors.

A high-resolution, flat-field, plane-grating, f/10 spectrometer based on the novel design proposed by Gil and Simon [Appl. Opt. 22, 152 (1983)] is demonstrated. The spectrometer design employs off-axis parabolic collimation and camera mirrors in a configuration that eliminates spherical aberrations and minimizes astigmatism, coma, and field curvature in the image plane. In accordance with theoretical analysis, the performance of this spectrometer achieves a high spatial resolution over the large detection area, which is shown to be limited only by the quality of its optics and their proper alignment within the spatial resolution of a 13 μm×13 μm pixelated CCD detector. With a 1500 lines/mm grating in first order, the measured spectral resolving power of λ/Δλ=2.5(+/-0.5)×104 allows the clear resolution of the violet Ar(I) doublet at 419.07 and 419.10 nm.