cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prevalence, treatment, and control of hypertension in chronic hemodialysis patients in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is common in chronic hemodialysis patients, yet there are limited data on the epidemiology of hypertension in these patients in the United States. METHODS: We assessed the prevalence, treatment, and control of hypertension in a cohort of 2535 clinically stable, adult hemodialysis patients who participated in a multicenter study of the safety and tolerability of an intravenous iron preparation. Hypertension was defined as an average predialysis systolic blood pressure >150 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure >85 mm Hg, or the use of antihypertensive medications. RESULTS: Hypertension was documented in 86% (n = 2173) of patients. The prevalence of hypertension, in contrast to that observed in the general population, did not increase linearly with age and was not affected by sex or ethnicity. Hypertension was controlled adequately in only 30% (n = 659) of the hypertensive patients. In the remaining patients, hypertension was either untreated (12% [252/2173]) or treated inadequately (58% [1262/2173]). CONCLUSION: Control of hypertension, particularly systolic hypertension, in chronic hemodialysis patients in the United States is inadequate, despite recognition of its prevalence and the frequent use of antihypertensive drugs. Optimizing the use of medications and closer attention to nonpharmacologic interventions, such as adjustment of dry weight, a low-sodium diet, and exercise, may improve control.
Project Facilitate: An Inservice Education Program for Educators and Parents

During recent years, the U.S. Department of Education has funded several projects designed to develop and implement personnel preparation for general and special educators who teach children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD). In this article, the authors describe Project Facilitate, an inservice education program that provides educators as well as parents with a comprehensive overview of AD/HD. The inservice education program involves the use of four self-instructional content manuals: AD/HD General Knowledge Base (GKB), Legal Issues and AD/HD (LI), Assessment of Children with AD/HD (ASSESS), and AD/HD Interventions (INTER). The evaluation of the inservice education program indicated that participants increased their knowledge in the areas of AD/HD general information, legal issues, assessment, and intervention. These findings suggest that Project Facilitate is an effective inservice education program that can empower educators as well as parents in becoming proactive problem solvers w...
Analytical determination of the interference of commerical FM stations with airborne communication and navigation receivers and experimental verifications

This paper summarizes the work performed under contract FA77WA-3932 sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The primary objective of the research sponsored here is the determination of an analytical model capable of predicting the effects of strong interfering FM broadcast stations on air-borne navigational (specifically the localizer receiver) and communication receivers. An analytical model of the RF-amplifier stage, using a third order nonlinearity, of airborne communication and navigation receivers capable of predicting the effects of multiple interfering FM stations is developed. The effects of receiver input filters and IF filtering are modeled. Measurement techniques useful in determining the various parameters of the model are described and evaluated. The effects of different signal powers, different signal frequencies, etc. on the parameters are investigated. Limits are postulated on the accuracy of the model and regions of validity defined. Brute-force interference due to strong interfering FM stations which saturates the front end and intermodulation distortion due to the interaction of two or more FM stations are considered. Various signal characteristics are considered for evaluating the degree of distortion introduced by interfering FM stations. The effects of filtering due to the receiver are considered and the resulting FM-to-AM conversion analytically described. Signal characteristics considered for evaluating distortion include spectral plots of the IF output, peak (cross-) modulation indices, RMS output of an envelope detector, etc. The effects of receiver desensitation due to saturation of the front end by the interfering signals are considered. Experimental results are given to verify theoretical results. A computer program was developed and is decribed here which theoretically predicts the effects of multiple interfering FM stations. Input data include FM station frequencies, powers, location, etc. and the output consist of interfering signal spectral plots at the IF output, peak cross-modulation indices, RMS output of AM detectors, etc. Tradeoff studies indicating the effects of the creation of additional FM stations and/or the results to be expected when one or more stations change their power levels, location, antenna patterns, etc. are illustrated by example. The number of FM stations that can be considered is limited only by the computing facilities available to the user. Consideration into decision criteria that can be reliably used in predicting potential interfering sources are considered. The results of the interference on the Course Deviation Meter (CDI) of a localizer receiver are investigated using single tone FM modulation of the carriers. The results are applied to specific airports where interference problems have occurred and the results obtained by the theoretical model are analyzed.
Phosphorylation of the recombinant ρ1 GABA receptor

Abstract γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mammalian brain. While a growing body of literature indicates that postsynaptic GABA receptors are regulated by phosphorylation, there is discrepancy as to the specific effects of phosphorylation on GABA receptor function. Here, we have identified phosphorylation sites on the human ρ1 GABA receptor for six protein kinases widely expressed in the brain: protein kinase C (PKC); cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA); calmodulin-dependent kinase (CaMKII); casein kinase (CKII); mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK); and cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG). We demonstrate that in nearly all cases, the consensus sites and actual phosphorylation sites do not agree supporting the risk of relying on a sequence analysis to identify potential phosphorylation sites. In addition, of the six kinases examined, only CKII phosphorylated the human ρ2 subunit. Site-directed mutagenesis of the phosphorylation sites, or activation/inhibition of select kinase pathways, did not alter the receptor sensitivity or maximal GABA-activated current of the ρ1 GABA receptor expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes suggesting phosphorylation of ρ1 does not directly alter receptor properties. This study is a first and necessary step towards elucidating the regulation of ρ1 GABA receptors by phosphorylation.
Shear‐Induced orientation in liquid crystalline polymers

The orientation development characteristics in shear flow of wholly aromatic thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers were studied. Based on the analysis of shear flow in a capillary followed by elongational flow, an experimental setup has been proposed to determine the shear-induced orientation. Experimental results have indicated that shear-induced orientation depends on total shear strain. However, orientation enhancement due to shear flow is much less effective compared with orientation buildup in the case of elongational flow. Thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers that exhibited higher orientability in elongational flow exhibited also higher orientability in shear flow. Finally, to obtain high, shear orientation in processing of thermotropics, special care should be exercised in the design of dies and molds and in optimizing processing conditions, so that high shear rates and/or long shearing times should prevail.
Mojave: a development environment for the Cactus computational framework

This paper presents "Mojave," a set of plug-ins for the Eclipse Integrated Development Environment (IDE), which provides a unified interface for HPC code development and job management. Mojave facilitates code creation, refactoring, building, and running of a set of HPC scientific codes based on the Cactus Computational Toolkit, a computational framework for general problem-solving on regular meshes. Mojave facilitates the development of Cactus applications and the submission of Cactus jobs to high end resources (e.g. XSEDE systems) using built-in Eclipse features, C/C++ Development Tooling (CDT), Parallel Tools Platform (PTP) plug-ins [20], and SimFactory, a Cactus-specific set of command-line utilities [18, 17] (see Fig. 1 for a diagrammatic representation). Mojave extends the above facilities to provide a collaborative way for scientists to share job monitoring information through its Facebook-enabled job sharing feature.
Case study in dimensional deconstruction

We test Arkani-Hamed et al.'s dimensional deconstruction on a model that is predicted to have a naturally light composite Higgs boson, i.e., one whose mass M is much less than its binding scale \Lambda, and whose quartic coupling \lambda is large, so that its vacuum expectation value v \sim M/\sqrt{\lambda} << \Lambda also. We consider two different underlying dynamics--UV completions--at the scale \Lambda for this model. We find that the expectation from dimensional deconstruction is not realized and that low energy details depend crucially on the UV completion. In one case, M << \Lambda and \lambda << 1, hence, v \sim \Lambda. In the other, \lambda can be large or small, but then so is M, and v is still O(\Lambda).
Three methods for reconstructing objects from x rays: A comparative study

Three algorithms for reconstructing objects from their projections are compared. Such algorithms are useful in locating the position and shape of tumors from X rays taken of a patient and in finding the structure of viruses and macromolecules from electron micrographs. The comparisons are carried out from the point of view of overall nearness of the reconstruction to the original, resolution in fine detail, and cost. Detailed comparisons are carried out by the use of experiments on six representative pictures which are reconstructed by all three techniques. The performance of the algorithms is investigated both in the absence and presence of noise. The results of the experiments are discussed with special attention to the applicability of the methods. The three methods under investigation are: (i) an improved version of the direct additive method of Gordon, Bender, and Herman, as proposed by Herman, Lent, and Rowland; (ii) the convolution method of Bracewell and Riddle with a generalization of the implementation proposed by Ramachandran and Lakshminarayanan; (iii) a generalized version of the simultaneous iterative technique of Gilbert.
Rolling Circle DNA Synthesis: Small Circular Oligonucleotides as Efficient Templates for DNA Polymerases

We report that small, single-stranded circular DNA oligonucleotides 26 to 74 nucleotides (nt) in size can behave as catalytic templates for DNA synthesis by several DNA polymerase enzymes. The DNA products are repeating end-to-end multimeric copies of the synthetic circular DNAs, and range from 1 000 to > 12 000 nucleotides in length. Several aspects of this reaction are unusual: first, the synthesis proceeds efficiently despite the curvature and small size of the circles, some of which have diameters significantly smaller than that of the enzyme itself. Second, the synthesis can proceed hundreds of times around the circle, while rolling replication of larger circular plasmid DNAs requires other proteins for processive synthesis. Finally, the synthesis scheme produces multiple copies of the template without the requirement for either heating or cooling cycles and requires less than stoichiometric amounts of primer, unlike other DNA synthesis methods. We report on the scope of this reaction, and demonstrate that the multimeric products can be cleaved enzymatically to short, sequence-defined oligodeoxynucleotides. This new approach to DNA synthesis may be a practical way to produce useful repeating DNAs, and combined with DNA cleavage strategies, it may represent a useful enzymatic approach to short, sequence-defined oligodeoxynucleotides.
A statistical approach to the theory of the central nervous system

A “probabilistic” rather than a “deterministic” approach to the theory of neural nets is developed. Neural nets are characterized by certain parameters which give the probability distributions of different kinds of synaptic connections throughout the net. Given a “state” of the net (i.e., the distribution of firing neurons) at a given moment, an equation for the state at the next moment of quantized time is deduced. Certain very special cases involving constant distributions are solved. A necessary condition for a steady state is deduced in terms of an integral equation, in general non-linear.
CONTEMPORARY UROLOGICAL INTERVENTION FOR CYSTINURIC PATIENTS: IMMEDIATE AND LONG-TERM IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS

AbstractPurpose: We determined the immediate efficacy of contemporary urological intervention for cystine stones and the impact of such intervention on the subsequent rate of recurrent stone formation.Materials and Methods: A total of 31 cystinuric patients underwent selected intervention for 61 stone events. Patients were subsequently followed at 6 to 12-month intervals while being treated with standard medical therapy. Logistic regression models were used to correlate potential risk factors with the efficacy of the intervention in achieving a stone-free status. Kaplan-Meier estimates of the probability of recurrence-free survivals at 1 and 5 years were generated, and risk factors for stone recurrence were analyzed using the log rank test.Results: Overall stone-free rate was 86.9%, which was not significantly influenced by the initial stone burden or type of intervention selected. The probability of recurrence-free survival at 1 and 5 years was 0.73 and 0.27, respectively, and again this probability was ...
Abnormal Auditory Brainstem Response Among Infants With Prenatal Cocaine Exposure

Objective. To determine the auditory brainstem response (ABR) patterns in infants with prenatal cocaine exposure as detected by meconium analysis. Methods. Meconium drug analysis was done on term infants who were at risk for antenatal illicit drug exposure. Infants who tested positive for cocaine served as the exposed group; those who tested negative served as control subjects. An ABR was done on the infants within 6 days of life. Absolute latencies at 40 and 70 decibels (dB) of waves I, III, and V and interpeak latencies between I and III, III and V, and I and V were measured. Results. Among 58 infants in the study, 21 (35.6%) were positive, by meconium analysis, for cocaine and 5 (8.5%) were positive for cannabinoids. Four infants tested positive for cocaine, although their mothers denied illicit drug use. There was a significant difference in mean maternal age, gravidity, parity, birth weight, and head circumference among cocaine-exposed versus nonexposed infants. The ABR from cocaine-positive infants showed significantly prolonged mean absolute latencies in both ears as compared with nonexposed infants: right ear at 40 dB III (4.823 vs 4.447 milliseconds), 40 dB V (7.400 vs 6.968 milliseconds), 70 dB I (2.111 vs 1.631 milliseconds), and 70 dB III (4.122 vs 3.821 milliseconds); left ear at 40 dB III (4.820 vs 4.444 milliseconds), 40 dB V (7.460 vs 6.860 milliseconds), 70 dB I (2.063 vs 1.741 milliseconds), 70 dB III (4.026 vs 3.656 milliseconds), and 70 dB V (6.568 vs 6.258 milliseconds). The interpeak latency was not significantly different except in 1 cocaine-positive infant: left ear at 40 dB III to V (2.667 vs 2.417 milliseconds). Conclusion. The ABR in neonates who are exposed prenatally to cocaine shows prolonged absolute peak latencies compared with nonexposed neonates and may indicate compromise of the auditory system from gestational exposure to cocaine that will need additional audiologic follow-up. Meconium analysis can more accurately detect the infants who are at risk.
Dosage Compensation: Transcription-Level Regulation of X-Linked Genes in Drosophila

In Drosophila melanogaster , the level of X-linked gene products is found to be equivalent in normal males and females (dosage compensation) and in metafemales (3X;2A); it is also equivalent in triploid females, intersexes (2X;3A) and metamales (XY;3A). In all instances, the expression of X-linked genes is regulated in such a fashion that it is concordant with the level of autosomal gene activity. This means that at least five different transcriptional levels exist for X-linked structural genes; the lowest in metafemales, the highest in metamales, and three different intermediate levels, in females (diploid or triploid), intersexes and males. Two models have been proposed for the regulatory mechanism. These models are discussed and current experimental approaches are reviewed.
POSSIBLE SHATTER CONES IN A VOLCANIC VENT NEAR ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO*

Striated cone structure resembling shatter cones in volcanic vent near Albuquerque, New Mexico
Markov random field based binarization for hand-held devices captured document images

In this paper, a novel Markov random fields (MRF) based binarization algorithm is proposed to segment foreground text from document images captured using hand-held devices (such as cell-phone or digital camera). In the MRF based framework, an edge potential feature is extracted to preserve the strokes of foreground text and to remove isolated noise and an intensity feature is used to smooth the entire document image. Prior to binarization, we use a nonlinear function to enhance the quality of document images which suffer from insufficient or uneven illumination. Experimental results show that our method outperforms other state-of-the-art approaches.
Performance metrics for asynchronous digital circuits applicable to computer-aided design

Computer-aided design (CAD) circuit techniques for synchronous circuits generally improve the quality of a circuit based on previously specified performance metrics such as cycle-time, latency and throughput (often expressed in terms of the clock period). Limited techniques to minimize worst-case delays and physical area of asynchronous circuits have been developed. Optimization algorithms for these circuits must recognize their average-case speed and control performance by using quantifiable metric specification to asynchronous circuits. The types of asynchronous circuits and the factors affecting their performance are surveyed in this paper. Techniques to compute and optimize the cycle-time, latency and throughput are analyzed to determine what these terms mean in the context of asynchronous circuits and the performance analysis of these circuits.
The structure of nuclei near 78Ni from isomer and decay studies

Recent progress in experimental decay studies in the region of the doubly magic nucleus 78Ni is discussed. In particular new data on low-energy excitations in nickel isotopes has been obtained in experiments employing fragmentation reactions. The experimental data are confronted with different shell-model calculations. The position of the 2+ energy levels and behavior of 8+ isomers in even-even 70–76Ni isotopes has been interpreted.
Diastolic Flow Parameters Are Not Sensitive in Predicting Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Patients Undergoing Hybrid Procedure

Background Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in neonates with complex single-ventricle anatomy undergoing stage I palliation. Hybrid approach is another option for initial single-ventricle palliation. The goal of this study was to determine if there were differences in echocardiographic indices between patients undergoing the hybrid procedure who developed NEC vs. those that did not develop NEC. Methods Retrospective chart review was performed on patients who underwent the hybrid procedure. Patients were included if an echocardiogram with adequate Doppler tracings through the patent ductus arteriosus stent was available. Echocardiographic indices measured included antegrade velocity-time integral (VTI), retrograde VTI, effective VTI, VTI regurgitant fraction, VTI retrograde/VTI antegrade ratio, calculated cardiac output, peak antegrade velocity through the ductal stent, retrograde/antegrade time ratio, and percent regurgitant time. Indices were compared in patients who developed NEC (NEC Group) and those who did not develop NEC (No NEC Group). NEC was defined as a Bell Stage ≥2. Results Sixty-nine patients met inclusion criteria. Eight of the 69 patients developed NEC. There was no significant difference between the NEC and No NEC Group for antegrade VTI (10.4 ± 3.2 cm vs. 12.7 ± 4.4 cm), retrograde VTI (5.3 ± 1.5 cm vs. 6.1 ± 2.2 cm), effective VTI (5.1 ± 2.9 cm vs. 6.6 ± 3.3 cm), VTI regurgitant fraction (53.6 ± 14.7% vs. 49.7 ± 13.6%), and VTI retrograde/VTI antegrade ratio (0.54 ± 0.15 vs.0.50 ± 0.14). Cardiac output (4.2 ± 1.4 L/min/m2 vs. 4.8 ± 1.8 L/min/m2) and peak velocity (117.5 ± 28.9 cm/s and 142.4 ± 42.6 cm/s) were also not different between the NEC and No NEC Groups. Furthermore, retrograde/antegrade time ratios (1.6 ± 0.2 vs. 1.7 ± 0.3) and percent retrograde time (60.6 ± 3.0% vs. 62.0 ± 4.0%) were not different between the NEC and No NEC Groups. Conclusion Echocardiographic indices were not sensitive in determining the development of NEC in patients undergoing the hybrid procedure. Larger studies with more sensitive imaging techniques are required to help risk stratify NEC in this complex patient population.
Fear of Crime Among Residents of Three Communities in Accra, Ghana:

The current literature on fear of crime in Africa is limited because of the almost exclusive focus on the United States and other Western nations. In Ghana, very little is known about the extent of...
Leadership Behaviors in Information Technology Project Management: An Exploratory Study

While IT projects continue to have a poor reputation for successful outcomes, there is increasing evidence that the project manager's skills can be critical for effective project team performance. The aim of this exploratory study was to examine the leadership behaviors of IT project managers, with the goal of exploring the types of leadership behaviors they used to keep their projects on track. We used an interpretive critical incident method to explore this under-investigated area, interviewing 23 experienced IT project managers from 11 different organizations. Results showed that these managers relied predominantly on task behaviors to ensure efficiency in their projects and boundary-spanning behaviors to manage intra- andinter-organizational collaborations. The prevalence of boundary-spanning behaviors suggests organizations should ensure that personnel in project management roles have both task-oriented knowledge and boundary-spanning skills to bridge the gap between the team and wider stakeholder groups, both within and external to the organization.
Maternal multiple micronutrient supplementation and pregnancy outcomes in developing countries: meta-analysis and meta-regression

Abstracts in بيرع , 中文, Francais, Pусский and Espanol at the end of each article. Objective To systematically review randomized controlled trials comparing the effect of supplementation with multiple micronutrients versus iron and folic acid on pregnancy outcomes in developing countries.Methods MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched. Outcomes of interest were birth weight, low birth weight, small size for gestational age, perinatal mortality and neonatal mortality. Pooled relative risks (RRs) were estimated by random effects models. Sources of heterogeneity were explored through subgroup meta-analyses and meta-regression.Findings Multiple micronutrient supplementation was more effective than iron and folic acid supplementation at reducing the risk of low birth weight (RR: 0.86, 95% confidence interval, CI: 0.79–0.93) and of small size for gestational age (RR: 0.85; 95%CI: 0.78– 0.93). Micronutrient supplementation had no overall effect on perinatal mortality (RR: 1.05; 95% CI: 0.90–1.22), although substantial heterogeneity was evident (
Programmable via Using Indirectly Heated Phase-Change Switch for Reconfigurable Logic Applications

A novel concept for a programmable via using an indirectly heated phase-change switch is proposed and fabricated successfully. In this device concept, circuits associated with the programmable via are decoupled from the configuration circuits by using an independently contacted heater electrode. We demonstrate the prototype device in a standard 180-nm CMOS copper back-end technology.
An Interactive Program for the Solution of Linear Models

An easy to use program for the interactive solution of linear models is described. The program allows one to enter and to edit simply the complex design matrix, and then separately to solve the linear model. The interactive nature of the program results in a great saving of time for the student. In addition, teleprinter output is timed carefully so that one has the feeling of actually doing the computations.
Perceived Discrimination and Ethnic Affirmation: Anglo Culture Orientation as a Moderator Among Mexican‐Origin Adolescent Mothers

This study examined whether Anglo culture orientation modified the association between adolescents' perceived ethnic discrimination and ethnic identity affirmation over time in a sample of Mexican-origin adolescent mothers (N = 205, Mage = 16.24 years). Results indicated that perceived ethnic discrimination was significantly associated with decreases in ethnic identity affirmation over time for adolescents reporting high Anglo culture orientation, but no relation existed for adolescents reporting low Anglo culture orientation. Findings suggest that a person–environment mismatch (i.e., between adolescents' perceptions of their connection to Anglo culture and the messages they receive from others regarding that connection in terms of perceived ethnic discrimination) may be detrimental to adolescents' development of positive feelings about their ethnicity.
Extranucleosomal DNA Binding Directs Nucleosome Sliding by Chd1

Chd1- and ISWI-type chromatin remodelers can sense extranucleosomal DNA and preferentially shift nucleosomes toward longer stretches of available DNA. The DNA-binding domains of these chromatin remodelers are believed to be responsible for sensing extranucleosomal DNA and are needed for robust sliding, but it is unclear how these domains contribute to directional movement of nucleosomes. Here, we show that the DNA-binding domain of Chd1 is not essential for nucleosome sliding but is critical for centering mononucleosomes on short DNA fragments. Remarkably, nucleosome centering was achieved by replacing the native DNA-binding domain of Chd1 with foreign DNA-binding domains of Escherichia coli AraC or Drosophila melanogaster engrailed. Introducing target DNA sequences recognized by the foreign domains enabled the remodelers to rapidly shift nucleosomes toward these binding sites, demonstrating that these foreign DNA-binding domains dictated the direction of sliding. Sequence-directed sliding occluded the target DNA sequences on the nucleosome enough to promote release of the remodeler. Target DNA sequences were highly stimulatory at multiple positions flanking the nucleosome and had the strongest influence when separated from the nucleosome by 23 or fewer base pairs. These results suggest that the DNA-binding domain's affinity for extranucleosomal DNA is the key determinant for the direction that Chd1 shifts the nucleosome.
Complexity, Correlations and Fluctuations in Many-Particle Systems

After 40 years of imaginative developments in many-body theory there seem to be new opportunities for insights based on recent research in chaos and an ill-defined subject often called complexity. We can mention that complexity is different from “complicated”. New geometrical issues occur and dynamical concepts and computational methods continue to emerge.
Wellness in School and Mental Health Systems: Organizational Influences

Previously, improving counselor wellness focused on helping counselors cope with stressful environments. More recently, research has begun to emphasize healthy work environments. This article makes suggestions for organizations to enhance wellness in mental health practice and schools by changing policies, increasing professional identification, supporting counselor wellness, and improving safety.
Relations between Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and personality: beyond Axis I-Axis II comorbidity

Most research on relations between Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and personality addresses only comorbidity rates between OCD and Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD). We first investigated empirical OCD-OCPD relations, but then also examined patterns of dimensional traits in OCD patients versus students and general outpatients. Results did not support a specific OCD-OCPD relation and the implications of this conclusion are discussed. Regarding traits, OCD patients shared with other patients elevated negative affectivity and lower positive affectivity. Differences on several lower order dimensions, including lower scores on manipulativeness, mistrust, and disinhibition distinguished the personality profile of OCD patients from others. Also noteworthy was a pattern of very low self-image for OCD patients, as suggested by the combination of low self-esteem and low entitlement scores. Overall, OCD patients showed a more specific pattern of personality pathology than did general outpatients, who were elevated more generally across personality disorders and negative affectivity scales.
Diminished Basal Phosphorylation Level of Phospholamban in the Postinfarction Remodeled Rat Ventricle: Role of β-Adrenergic Pathway, Gi Protein, Phosphodiesterase, and Phosphatases

Abstract —Three weeks after myocardial infarction (MI) in the rat, remodeled hypertrophy of noninfarcted myocardium is at its maximum and the heart is in a compensated stage with no evidence of heart failure. Our hemodynamic measurements at this stage showed a slight but insignificant decrease of +dP/dt but a significantly higher left ventricular end-diastolic pressure. To investigate the basis of the diastolic dysfunction, we explored possible defects in the β-adrenergic receptor–G s/i protein–adenylyl cyclase–cAMP–protein kinase A–phosphatase pathway, as well as molecular or functional alterations of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca 2+ -ATPase and phospholamban (PLB). We found no significant difference in both mRNA and protein levels of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca 2+ -ATPase and PLB in post-MI left ventricle compared with control. However, the basal levels of both the protein kinase A–phosphorylated site (Ser16) of PLB (p16-PLB) and the calcium/calmodulin–dependent protein kinase-phosphorylated site (Thr17) of PLB (p17-PLB) were decreased by 76% and 51% in post-MI myocytes ( P sα protein level, or adenylyl cyclase activity. Inhibition of phosphodiesterase and G i protein by Ro-20-1724 and pertussis toxin, respectively, did not correct the decreased p16-PLB or p17-PLB levels. Stimulation of β-adrenoceptor or adenylyl cyclase increased both p16-PLB and p17-PLB in post-MI myocytes to the same levels as in sham myocytes, suggesting that decreased p16-PLB and p17-PLB in post-MI myocytes is not due to a decrease in the generation of p16-PLB or p17-PLB. We found that type 1 phosphatase activity was increased by 32% ( P 2+ ] i transient. In summary, prolonged relaxation of post-MI remodeled myocardium could be explained, in part, by altered basal levels of p16-PLB and p17-PLB caused by increased protein phosphatase 1 activity.
X-band backscatter from the ocean at low-grazing angles

In 2005 and 2006, we mounted an X- band Doppler radar on ships that operated in the South China Sea and off the coast of New Jersey, respectively. The measurements were made only at W polarization in 2005 but at both HH and W polarization in 2006. On average, VV normalized radar cross sections, sigma0(VV), behaved at grazing angles between 1 and 2 degrees in much the same manner that they do at higher grazing angles. In particular, they showed the second-harmonic dependence on the angle between the antenna-look direction and the wind direction that is characteristic of scatterometry. sigma0(HH), on the other hand, showed little evidence of the second harmonic component, maximizing with the antenna looking into the wind and minimizing in the opposite direction. For both polarizations, sigma0 was generally well above that expected from Bragg scattering and the polarization ratio sigma0(VV) / sigma0(HH) was much smaller. Surface signatures of internal waves (IWs) off the New Jersey coast were much weaker when the antennas looked in the direction of internal wave propagation than when they looked opposite this direction. Interestingly, for the nonlinear internal waves found in the South China Sea, the opposite phenomenon occurred: W signatures were stronger looking in the direction of IW propagation than opposite to it.
Maternal serum B12 levels and risk for Neural tube defects in a Texas-Mexico border population

PURPOSE: Neural tube defects (NTDs) are common birth defects that can be prevented with folate fortification and supplementation. Studies suggest that other nutrients may also be essential to neural tube closure and have a potential role in risk reduction, with vitamin B12 mentioned most often. We determined the effect of maternal serum B12 levels, measured postpartum, on the risk of NTDs among a high risk Mexican American population. METHODS: The case-control study included 157 Mexican American women with NTD-affected pregnancies and 186 Mexican American women with normal pregnancies, who were residents of Texas-Mexico border counties and delivered during 1995 to 2000. RESULTS: Compared with women in the highest vitamin B12 quintile, women in the lowest quintile showed a strong risk effect (odds ratio (OR) = 3.0, confidence interval (CI): 1.4, 6.3); while those in the 2nd and 3rd quintiles showed moderate risk effects (OR = 1.6, CI = 0.7, 3.6 and OR = 1.7, CI = 0.8, 3.8, respectively). Adjusting for obesity, vitamin supplements, dietary folate, dietary B12, red blood cell folate, and other covariates did not materially change these estimates. CONCLUSIONS: Insufficient levels of serum B12, which are not normally indicative of a classical vitamin B12 deficiency nor stem from an inadequate diet, may be an important etiologic factor for NTDs in this population.
A failure to induce heritable changes in four generations of the White Leghorn chicken by inter- and intra-specific blood transfusion*†

1. A three-year study was conducted to test the efficacy of inter- and intra-specific blood transfusions in domestic poultry for inducing heritable changes in the recipients. The latter were pure-bred White Leghorns. Pure-bred Broad Breasted Bronze turkeys and New Hampshire chickens served as blood donors to two distinct lines of recipients. All injections started when the recipient chicks were 2–5 days old. Altogether, more than 3000 chicks from blood injected lines were involved in the study, conducted between 1959 and 1961 and distributed between the parental and three subsequent generations. Each injected chick received a total of some 155 ml. of whole blood in the course of a five-month injection period. An adequate number of control (non-injected) birds was used throughout. Observations were made on plumage colour, body-weight, egg-weight, egg-shell colour, fertility and hatchability. Furthermore, blood plasma and muscle tissue of appropriate birds were subjected to immunological, chromatographic and electrophoretic analyses.2. On the basis of all these criteria, no evidence of heritable shifts in the direction of the donor organism was discerned among birds belonging to either of the two treated lines.
Evaluation of a barrier to inhibit lesser mealworm (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and dermestidae movement in high-rise, caged-layer poultry facilities.

An evaluation of a mechanical barrier to prevent movement of adult and larval lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer); larder beetle, Dermestes lardarius L.; and hide beetle, Dermestes maculatus De Geer was conducted in caged-layer poultry facilities in New York and Maine. The barrier, a plastic collar wrapped around building support posts, proved highly effective at preventing movement of adult lesser mealworms. Significantly more lesser mealworm larvae were recovered from cardboard collar beetle traps placed below both washed and unwashed barriers than from traps placed above washed and unwashed barriers. Similarly, significantly more adult Dermestes were recovered from traps placed below washed barriers than from above both washed and unwashed barriers. The level of fly specking on the barrier was found to have no significant impact on the numbers of adult lesser mealworms and adult and larval Dermestes recovered either above or below barriers. Fly specking level did significantly impact the numbers of lesser mealworm larvae recovered above the barrier. Although washed barriers provided the greatest deterrent to adult lesser mealworms, the presence of the barrier, regardless of the level of fly specking, provided a significant deterrent to beetle climbing success. Washed barriers further reduced climbing success by lesser mealworm larvae by 17%, Dermestes adults by 7–28%, and Dermestes larvae by 33–38%. The high level of climbing observed by adult lesser mealworms suggests that the impact of adult beetle movement toward birds should be considered in its importance in building damage, disease transmission, feed infestation, and bird productivity and health. Observations on cost and maintenance of the barrier are discussed.
Kinetics and Mechanisms of Monolayer Interactions II: Effect of Chain Length of Alkyl Ionic Surfactants on Their Interaction with Dipalmitoyl Glycerol, Dipalmitoyl Phosphatidylethanolamine, and Dipalmitoyl Lecithin

Abstract The energies of activation of the interaction cf alkyl trimethylammonium surfactants with dipalmitoyl glycerol, dipalmitoyl phosphatidylethanolamine, and dipalmitoyl lecithin monolayers spread at the air-water interface were estimated from the increase of the surface pressure with the concentration of the injected surfactant. The energies of activation are a linear function of the chain length of the injected surfactant for the six-, eight-, 12-, and 16-carbon chains studied. The ionic groups of the polar hydrophilic moiety of dipalmitoyl lecithin were not equivalent in the perturbation that an attached surfactant ion produces in the surface pressure of the monolayer. The energies of activation per methylene group of the hydrocarbon chain and per polar ionic head of the injected surfactant were calculated and were compared with those that correspond to the energies of adsorption of these groups at hydrocarbon-water and air-water interfaces.
Active surveillance for low-risk prostate cancer:

Overtreatment of prostate cancer has become evident as studies comparing radical prostatectomy vs watchful waiting have shown that radical treatment benefits only a proportion of patients. Active surveillance was introduced as a management option for prostate cancer at low-risk of progression with the aim to closely observe for disease progression or change of tumour characteristics and offer active treatment if and when necessary. Active surveillance has been reserved for patients with Gleason 6 localised disease and low PSA; however, selection criteria may be widened as intermediate-term outcomes demonstrate excellent safety, efficacy and patient acceptance.
Impact Of Innovative Environment On Economic Growth: An Examination Of State Per Capita GDP And Personal Income

This study investigates how the overall innovative environment will affect the economic growth of a place, in particular, a state. Using the Innovation Index and its component indexes as a measure of the innovative environment prevailing in the states, it is found that the more innovative a state is, the higher its per capita real GDP and per capita personal income are. These relations are statistically significant. The higher per capita personal income is associated with both the availability of human capital for innovative activities and the presence of the economic dynamics that facilitate those activities. At the same time, the higher per capita real GDP has been brought about by the availability of such human capital only.
Four-Year Degree and Employment Findings From a Randomized Controlled Trial of a One-Year Performance-Based Scholarship Program in Ohio

ABSTRACTA college degree is often viewed as a key step toward better employment and higher earnings. Many community college students, however, never graduate and cannot reap the financial benefits associated with a college degree. Although existing research suggests that financial aid interventions can modestly improve students' short-term academic outcomes, there is little rigorous evidence on the critical question of whether such interventions improve graduation rates or employment outcomes. This study helps to fill that gap using a randomized controlled trial involving over 2,000 community college students in Ohio. It focuses on a student population composed predominantly of low-income mothers. The study includes four years of post-random assignment data to examine the long-term impact of a performance-based scholarship program—financial aid that is contingent on academic performance—on degree receipt, employment, and earnings. The findings provide evidence that the one-year program made a lasting impa...
The Retina as a Surrogate Marker for Pediatric Cerebral Malaria

Investigators from Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Research Program, Malawi; University of Liverpool, UK; Michigan State University, USA; Vancouver General Hospital, Canada; and Ophthalmology Centers in Edinburgh, UK, review the evidence for associations between retina and brain neurovasculature, and the extent to which malarial retinopathy reflects cerebrovascular damage.
Use of Consumer Judgment Models in Promotion Planning

A real problem in the application of models to the creation of promotional strategy lies in the identification of the belief system underlying consumer attitudes towards a product. This article dis...
Lattice stress states of superhard tungsten tetraboride from radial x-ray diffraction under nonhydrostatic compression

In this work, we examine the lattice behavior of the economically interesting superhard material, tungsten tetraboride (${\mathrm{WB}}_{4}$), in a diamond anvil cell under nonhydrostatic compression up to 48.5 GPa. From the measurements of lattice-supported differential stress, significant strength anisotropy is observed in ${\mathrm{WB}}_{4}$. The (002) planes are found to support the highest differential stress of 19.7 GPa within the applied pressure range. This result is in contrast to ${\mathrm{ReB}}_{2}$, one of the hardest transition metal borides known to date, where the same planes support the least differential stress. A discontinuous change in the slope of c/a ratio is seen at 15 GPa, suggesting a structural phase transition that has also been observed under hydrostatic compression. Speculations on the possible relationship between the observed structural changes, the strength anisotropy, and the orientation of boron-boron bonds along the $c$ direction within the ${\mathrm{WB}}_{4}$ structure are included.
Metanorms and antisocial punishment

AbstractContributions to public goods benefit all group members, yet research shows that generous group members are sometimes punished. We argue that when such antisocial punishment efforts are public, the consistency of group member contributions will encourage individuals to punish atypically generous group members. Similarly, when behavior of group members is consistent, the publicness of punishment will increase antisocial punishment. Both of these effects will be weaker for individuals who are interested in getting to know the generous deviant. We test our hypotheses in a public goods experiment and find support. Our findings contribute to the norms literature, in particular, to understanding of antisocial punishment.
Heliothis spp. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Captures Pheromone Traps: Species Composition and Relationship to Oviposition in Cotton

Male tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens (F.), and bollworm, Heliothis zea (Boddie), moths were effectively sampled with wire cone traps (TP 75-50) baited with sex pheromones. Total trap catches for 1984, 1985, and 1986 were 28,362 (8 traps), 49,795 (10 traps), and 63,030 (10 traps), respectively. Catches of tobacco budworms increased in the Heliothis spp. traps from 11.7 and 16.1% during 1984 and 1985, respectively, to 41.5% during 1986. Tobacco budworm consistently comprised a higher percentage of the population in June and September than in July and August. A positive correlation was observed between the total number tobacco budworm and bollworm male moths captured in pheromone traps and oviposition in cotton fields. Correlation coefficients with r values of 0.69, 0.48, and 0.83 were obtained for 1984, 1985, and 1986, respectively, and were found to be highly significant for approximately a 5-6-wk period during late June and July.
Functional survival of ovarian homografts within millipore filter chambers in the castrate rat.

ConclusionHomografts of the rat ovary do not depend on vascularization to maintain the production of estrogenic substances up to 60 days. Semipermeable millipore filter membranes were used to form a chamber in which to embed ovarian transplants in previously castrated recipients. These chambers excluded leucocytes and prohibit vascularization, yet permitted passage of gonadotropic hormones. Vaginal smears and uterine weights demonstrated the production of estrogens from these grafts two months later. The functional survival of similar preparations in the monkey is now under investigation.
Dancing on Coastline——A Research on Design Method of High-tech Software Industry Park Based on Kingsoft Industry Park, Zhuhai

Through the actual design of Kingsoft industry park in Zhuhai,some practical exploration into the design of high-tech software industry park has been made and the new designing concept of high-tech software industry park has been put forward.
Organization of the gene encoding the human Kell blood group protein.

Kell is one of the major blood group systems in human erythrocytes. It is a complex system containing a large number of different antigens. Previously we cloned the Kell cDNA, which was predicted to encode an integral membrane protein with 731 amino acids. Now we have isolated overlapping genomic clones and determined the exon-intron structure of the KEL gene; it spans approximately 21.5 kb with its coding sequence being organized in 19 exons that range in size from 63 bp to 288 bp. The size of introns ranges from 93 bp to approximately 6 kb. The donor and acceptor splice sites all conform to the consensus splicing sequences. Exon 1 encodes only the initiation amino acid, methionine, and contains a consensus Sp1 binding site. The single membrane spanning region of Kell protein is encoded in exon 3 and the putative zinc endopeptidase active site is in exon 16. The amino acids encoded by the 19 exons are identical to those of a person with a common Kell phenotype, as determined by RNA polymerase chain reaction of peripheral blood. Amplification of cDNA 552 ends, derived from human fetal liver, indicated three transcription initiation sites located 30, 81, and 120 bp upstream of the initiation codon. The 552 flanking region of KEL from -176 does not contain a TATA sequence, but has possible GATA-1 binding sites and has significant promoter activity when determined by chloramphenicol acetyltransferase activity in K562 cells.