cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pediatric Hospitalists in Community Hospitals: Hospital-Based Generalists With Expanded Roles

A few years ago, I was interviewing candidates for a position in our community hospital group. I was telling a resident who was graduating from a highly specialized university program about our range of activities and proudly describing our relationships with community practitioners when she abruptly ended the interview, explaining that she did not want to be what we were; she wanted to be a hospitalist. I was confused. If we were not hospitalists, what were we? “Hospital-based generalists,” she said. Until that exchange, I had no appreciation for a difference between being a pediatric hospitalist and being a hospital-based pediatric generalist. But as I considered her frame of reference, I understood: she was seeking what she knew, a general inpatient niche position within a full department of pediatrics, whereas we aspired to address the care of children everywhere in the hospital as an integral part of a pediatric community providing care for children. The distinction might largely be between the role generally performed by pediatric hospitalists in university/children’s hospitals and what pediatric hospitalists do in community hospitals, activities that may include any or all of the following in addition to inpatient care: newborn nursery care, delivery room resuscitations/stabilization, emergency department consultations, outpatient consultations; procedural sedations, advocacy for the needs of children within an adult-oriented system, and transport medicine. Hospitalists in university/children’s hospitals may perform some of these activities as well, of course, but the expanded scope of activities may well define the unique role of pediatric generalists in community hospitals. The role, or opportunity, …
UV absorption spectrum of low-temperature matrix-isolated NFCl radicals

Abstract The ultraviolet absorption spectrum of NFCl radicals isolated in a low-temperature argon matrix was obtained. The absorption spectrum extends from 300 to 400 nm with a maximum at 360 nm. It consists of several partially resolved bands with an average band separation of 340 ± 20 cm −1 and is assigned to a transition from the ground state to the first excited electronic state involving a progression in ν 2 , the bending mode.
Comparative studies of the effects of fasting on bile salt pool sizes of hamsters and rats

Comparative studies of the effects of fasting on the total bile salt pool sizes of intact and cholecystectomized hamsters and rats were made. Rats, a species which has no gallbladder, are able to maintain the size of their total bile salt pool during 24, 48 and 72 hour fasts by an undetermined effective mechanism. Intact hamsters fasted 24, 48 and 72 hrs maintained and even increased the size of their bile salt pool. Bile salt conservation was effected by storage of the salts in the gallbladder, and to some extent, the small intestine. Cholecystectomized hamsters apparently lack any mechanism to effect bile salt conservation during fasting since their bile salt pool size decreased precipitously during 24 and 48 hr fasts.
THE EFFECTS OF AUTOMOBILE RECALLS ON THE SEVERITY OF ACCIDENTS

The number of automobile recalls in the United States has substantially increased over the last two decades, and after a record of over 30 million cars recalled in 2004, in the last few years it has consistently reached between 15 and 17 million, and in 2010 alone 20 million cars were recalled. Toyota's recall crisis in 2010 illustrates how recalls can affect a large number of American drivers and the defects connected to them can result in loss of life and serious accidents. However, in spite of the increase in public concern over recalls and the loss of property and life attached to them, there is no empirical evidence of the effect of vehicle recalls on safety. This paper investigates whether vehicle recalls reduce accidental harm measured by the severity of injuries in vehicle accidents. The results of our analysis show that if a recall for a new-year model is issued, then the severity of injuries of accidents continuously diminishes during the first year after the recall, something we do not find among cars not subject to recalls. This is because defects are repaired over time but also because drivers react by driving more carefully until the defects are fixed. To minimize the losses attached to having dangerously defective cars on our roads, both quick and timely recall issuance are needed and more detailed information on defects should be delivered to owners of defective vehicles. The latter can be made possible through simple but important policy changes by the U.S. government regarding recall information sharing with drivers and insurance companies. (JEL L51, L62)
Elevated cytosolic calcium of adipocytes in chronic renal failure

Chronic renal failure (CRF) is associated with increased calcium content of, and impaired lipase release from lipid cells. This has been attributed to a rise in the cytosolic calcium ([Ca2+]i) of these cells. However, data on [Ca2+]i of lipid cells in CRF and on the mechanisms responsible for such an abnormality are lacking. To study this issue we examined the [Ca2+]i and ATP content of lipid cells and Vmax of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and Ca2+ ATPase of membrane preparation and Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange of membrane vesicles of adipocytes from normal rats, 6 week CRF, CRF normocalcemic parathyroidectomized (CRF-PTX) and CRF, and normal rats treated with verpamil (CRF-V, normal-V). [Ca2+]i in adipocytes of CRF rats was higher (199 +/- 8.5 nM) and ATP lower (2.9 +/- 0.31 nmol/10(6) cells) than in normal (120 +/- 4.3 nM; 5.7 +/- 0.27 nmol/10(6) cells), CRF-PTX (128 +/- 4.7 nM; 5.8 +/- 0.39 nmol/10(6) cells), normal-V (121 +/- 3.2 nM; 5.3 +/- 0.36 nmol/10(6) cells), CRF-V (123 +/- 7.4 nM; 5.5 +/- 0.30 mmol/10(6) cells). Vmax Ca2+ ATPase and the activity of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and of Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger were reduced in CRF rats as compared to the other four groups of rats. The values in normal, CRF-PTX, CRF-V and normal-V rats were not different.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Latino Older Adults and Mental Health: A Review and Commentary

Latinos are the largest and fastest growing minority population in the United States, and within that, the proportion of elderly Latinos is also increasing at a very rapid rate. This is due to an increase in longevity and improved health care. Depression and other mental health disorders are common in this group, yet few services exist at present that are culturally appropriate and that have been found, in randomized trials, to be effective with them. Part of the reason for this lag in research and development of clinical services is due to the multiple barriers to seeking and receiving mental health services that exist in Latino communities. This article reviews these barriers as well as existing programs that address them and therefore hold promise as mental health interventions. Although there is an increasing amount of research on older adults in this country, Latino older adults still remain underrepresented in research and underserved clinically. This article also highlights the need to increase app...
Ionization and fragmentation of C60 by highly charged, high-energy xenon ions.

${\mathrm{C}}_{60}$ vapor was bombarded by $^{136}\mathrm{Xe}^{35+}$ and $^{136}\mathrm{Xe}^{18+}$ ions in the energy range 420--625 MeV to study the various ionization and fragmentation processes that occur. Since the center-of-mass energies used in this work exceeded those of previous studies by several orders of magnitude, new excitation and dissociation modes were expected and indeed found. Positive ions were extracted from the interaction region and their times of flight were measured both singly and in coincidence with other ionic fragments. A wide range of stable charge states and cluster sizes from monatomic carbon up to ${\mathrm{C}}_{60}$ was observed. Even-numbered carbon fragments dominated the heavier mass range but both even and odd carbon numbers occurred at lower masses. Evidence was found for three qualitatively different ionization and fragmentation channels suggesting different ranges of collision impact parameters: ionization of the parent ${\mathrm{C}}_{60}$ molecule, loss of even numbers of carbon atoms, and ``multifragmentation'' into many small fragments. This latter mode included the production of singly charged ${\mathrm{C}}_{\mathit{n}}^{+}$ fragments with all values of n being observed from n=1 up to at least n=19. We interpret our results in terms of a theoretical model that indicates that the total interaction cross section contains comparable contributions from (a) excitation of the giant dipole plasmon resonance, and (b) large-energy-transfer processes that lead to multiple fragmentation of the molecule. The distribution of fragment cluster masses for n\ensuremath{\lesssim}20 is reproduced by a ``percolation theory'' description analogous to that used to describe multifragmentation of nuclei by high-energy protons. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
Counting the number of solutions in combustion and reactive flow problems

Computational methods and comparison theory enable, when combined, an enhanced capability for counting the number of solutions in combustion equations. Very good lower bounds for the last turning point reveal a stable high temperature “explosion branch” for very small positive exothermicity.
Management of Traumatic Wounds and a Novel Approach to Delivering Wound Care in Children

Significance: The costs and morbidity of pediatric traumatic wounds are not well known. The literature lacks a comprehensive review of the volume, management, and outcomes of children sustaining soft tissue injury. We briefly review the existing literature for traumatic wounds such as open fractures and burns. Such injuries require dedicated wound care and we propose a novel approach for more efficient and more effective delivery of dedicated pediatric wound care. Recent Advances: New pediatric literature is emerging regarding the long-term effects of wound care pain in traumatic injuries-especially burns. A variety of wound dressings and alternative management techniques exist and are geared toward reducing wound care pain. Our institution utilizes a unique model to provide adequate sedation and pain control through a dedicated pediatric wound care unit. We believe that this model reduces the cost of wound care by decreasing emergency department and operating room visits as well as hospital length of stay. Critical Issues: First, medical costs related to pediatric traumatic wound care are not insignificant. The need for adequate pain control and sedation in children with complex wounds is traditionally managed with operating room intervention. Afterward, added costs can be from a hospital stay for ongoing acute wound management. Second, morbidities of complex traumatic wounds are shown to be related to the acute wound care received. Future Directions: Further guidelines are needed to determine the most effective and efficient care of complex traumatic soft tissue injuries in the pediatric population.
Effect of Regular Anisotropic Permanent Bending on the Diffusional Spinning and Fluorescence Polarization Anisotropy of Short DNA Fragments Studied by Brownian Dynamics Simulation

The effects of regular permanent bends on the rotational Brownian motions of flexurally and torsionally deformable DNA models are investigated by Brownian dynamics simulations. Directionality of th...
Advances in on-chip photodetection for applications in miniaturized genetic analysis systems

Microfabrication techniques have become increasingly popular in the development of next generation DNA analysis devices. Improved on-chip fluorescence detection systems may have applications in developing portable hand-held instruments for point-of-care diagnostics. Miniaturization of fluorescence detection involves construction of ultra-sensitive photodetectors that can be integrated onto a fluidic platform combined with the appropriate optical emission filters. We have previously demonstrated integration PIN photodiodes onto a microfabricated electrophoresis channel for separation and detection of DNA fragments. In this work, we present an improved detector structure that uses a PINN+ photodiode with an on-chip interference filter and a robust liquid barrier layer. This new design yields high sensitivity (detection limit of 0.9 ng µl−1 of DNA), low-noise (S/N ~ 100/1) and enhanced quantum efficiencies (>80%) over the entire visible spectrum. Applications of these photodiodes in various areas of DNA analysis such as microreactions (PCR), separations (electrophoresis) and microfluidics (drop sensing) are presented.
(InAs)m(GaAs)n superlattice grown by beam-separation MBE method

Abstract (InAs) m (GaAs) n superlattices were successfully grown by a new MBE method. Improved surface morphology was obtained even in the case of large mismatch to the InP substrate and large period of the superlattice. The elastic strain in epilayers was also studied by measuring the relation between the composition of EPMA method and the lattice mismatch of X-ray diffraction method.
Uptake and transpiration of 1,2-dibromoethane by leaves

Tobacco and radish leaves sorbed 1,2-dibromoethane (EDB) in the vapor phase or took up EDB dissolved in water. Sorption of EDB vapor by the leaf blades was controlled primarily by diffusion resistance of the leaf stomata, but was also influenced by the nature of the leaf surface. EDB taken up from solution through the petiole was transported to the leaf blade, from where it exhibited a high escaping tendency relative to the transpiration of water. These processes may affect transport and persistence of soil fumigants.
High energy density physics and high resolution point projection imaging with X-pinch plasmas (invited)

Summary form only given. X pinch plasmas are produced by exploding two metal wires that cross and touch at a single point (in the form of an X) using a 200-400 kA, 100 ns (FWHM) current pulse. A magnetically driven implosion near the original cross point of the wires leads to the emission of one or more 2.5 keV are emitted; the duration of these bursts can be 10/sup 28/eV/cm/sup 3/ at the moment of the X-ray burst. Furthermore, their volume power density is >10/sup 21/ W/cm/sup 3/ with a surface flux of >10/sup 16/ W/cm/sup 2/. Radiographs of the X pinch implosion process show that a z-pinch forms in the region of the original wire cross point about 2 ns before the characteristic X-ray bursts occur. The z-pinch implodes and gaps develop in the radiographic images coincident in time and space with the X-ray burst(s). Immediately following the moment of X-ray burst emission, explosive disassembly of the z-pinch occurs on a 1 ns time scale, accompanied by the launching of shockwaves into the surrounding material. Time-integrated spectroscopic measurements of X pinch radiation indicate electron temperatures of 500-1300 eV, depending of the wire material, and in some cases densities in excess of 10/sup 22//cm/sup 3/. Time-resolved spectroscopic measurements using an X-ray streak camera are presently underway that may reveal the physical mechanisms which lead to the generation of the X-ray bursts.
Improved daily precipitation nitrate and ammonium concentration models for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

Daily precipitation nitrate and ammonium concentration models were developed for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed (USA) using a linear least-squares regression approach and precipitation chemistry data from 29 National Atmospheric Deposition Program/National Trends Network (NADP/NTN) sites. Only weekly samples that comprised a single precipitation event were used in model development. The most significant variables in both ammonium and nitrate models included: precipitation volume, the number of days since the last event, a measure of seasonality, latitude, and the proportion of land within 8 km covered by forest or devoted to industry and transportation. Additional variables included in the nitrate model were the proportion of land within 0.8 km covered by water and/or forest. Local and regional ammonia and nitrogen oxide emissions were not as well correlated as land cover. Modeled concentrations compared very well with event chemistry data collected at six NADP/AirMoN sites within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Wet deposition estimates were also consistent with observed deposition at selected sites. Accurately describing the spatial distribution of precipitation volume throughout the watershed is important in providing critical estimates of wet-fall deposition of ammonium and nitrate.
Accumulation, activation and interindividual variation of the epidermal TP53 protein in response to ionizing radiation in organ cultured human skin.

Abstract Pond, C. D., Leachman, S. A. and Warters, R. L. Accumulation, Activation and Interindividual Variation of the Epidermal TP53 Protein in Response to Ionizing Radiation in Organ Cultured Human Skin. Radiat. Res. 161, 739–745 (2004). In this study, we examined effects of low-dose ionizing radiation on organ cultured human foreskin and, in particular, on the epidermis. Diagnostic, therapeutic, natural environmental and incidental exposures to moderate to low doses of radiation are inevitable and, although information on cultured cells continues to accumulate, little is known about the effects of low-dose radiation on human tissues. Our hypothesis is that ex vivo organ cultured foreskin is a simple and reliable model to study the biochemical effects of low-dose radiation exposure on skin. A model such as this will aid in the identification and quantification of low-dose radiation-induced changes in proteins in human skin and may be useful in the development of a precise, non-invasive, and reliable ass...
Chemoprevention of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced colon cancer in mice by naturally occurring organosulfur compounds.

Organosulfur compounds (OSCs) present in garlic and onion oil have been shown to inhibit chemical carcinogenesis. In this study, we compared the chemopreventive efficacy of five lipid- and four water-soluble OSCs using the murine nuclear aberration assay. Administration of diallyl sulfide and S-allyl cysteine p.o. at a dose of 200 mg/kg 3 h prior to i.p. 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) injection (20 mg/kg) significantly inhibited colonic nuclear damage in female C57Bl/6J mice by 47% and 36%, respectively. The inhibitory effect of S-allyl cysteine was found to be dose dependent. The other OSCs did not affect the level of DMH-induced nuclear toxicity. Furthermore, the incidence and frequency of colonic tumors induced by DMH (20 mg/kg, 10 weekly i.p. injections) in female CF-1 mice were significantly inhibited by S-allyl cysteine pretreatment, given 3 h prior to each carcinogen injection. These data indicate that the allyl group coupled to a single sulfur atom might play an important structural role in inhibition of DMH-induced colonic nuclear toxicity and carcinogenesis. OSCs containing allyl groups stimulated glutathione S-transferase activity in both the liver and colon. However, their saturated analogues stimulated little or no hepatic and colonic glutathione S-transferase activity. Induction of hepatic and colonic glutathione S-transferase might assist in detoxification of carcinogens and could be necessary for some aspects of chemoprevention.
Aligning mouse models of asthma to human endotypes of disease

Substantial gains in understanding the pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying asthma have been made using preclinical mouse models. However, because asthma is a complex, heterogeneous syndrome that is rarely due to a single allergen and that often presents in the absence of atopy, few of the promising therapeutics that demonstrated effectiveness in mouse models have translated into new treatments for patients. This has resulted in an urgent need to characterize T helper (Th) 2-low, non-eosinophilic subsets of asthma, to study models that are resistant to conventional treatments such as corticosteroids and to develop therapies targeting patients with severe disease. Classifying asthma based on underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms, known as endotyping, offers a stratified approach for the development of new therapies for asthma. In preclinical research, new models of asthma are being utilized that more closely resemble the clinical features of different asthma endotypes, including the presence of interleukin-17 and a Th17 response, a biomarker of severe disease. These models utilize more physiologically relevant sensitizing agents, exacerbating factors and allergens, as well as incorporate time points that better reflect the natural history and chronicity of clinical asthma. Importantly, some models better represent non-classical asthma endotypes that facilitate the study of non-Th2-driven pathology and resemble the complex nature of clinical asthma, including corticosteroid resistance. Placing mouse asthma models into the context of human asthma endotypes will afford a more relevant approach to the understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms of disease that will afford the development of new therapies for those asthmatics that remain difficult to treat.
Neural oscillations arising from a linear current with negative conductance

Slow neural oscillations are known to depend on regenerative inward currents. The voltage range in which these currents dominate the neuron's activity is typically limited to the negative-slope conductance range of their IV curve. At low voltages, these currents are not active and at high voltages, outward currents and spike-activity dominate. We find that the contribution of such currents to neural oscillations can be approximated by a linear current with negative slope conductance (INL). Here we explore the minimal set of requirements to produce neural oscillations in the presence of INL with the goal of elucidating how other current types shape the properties of oscillations.
Kinetics of binding of 2,4-dinitrophenyl and 2,4,6-trinitrophenyl haptens to homologous and heterologous rabbit antibodies.

Abstract Initial rates of binding of ge-N-Dnp aminocaproic acid (DnpAC) by rabbit anti-Dnp antibody are shown to be first-order in both reactants. Second-order rate constants for the binding of hapten by an antibody site at 25° average 0·8 × 108 1.mole−1 sec −1 for anti-Dnp antibodies + DnpAC, for anti-Tnp antibodies + ϵ-N-Tnp-aminocaproic acid (TnpAC) and for anti-Tnp antibodies + DnpAC, and half this figure for anti-Dnp antibodies + TnpAC. A conformational change on binding is proposed for the latter case. Activation enthalphies for these kinetic systems, avaraging 4–6 kcal mole−1, and substantial heat capacity on activation are discussed in the light of possible diffusion control of reaction rates. The apparent heterogeneity in forward rates observed for the binding of homologous aminocaproate haptens by both anti-Dnp and anti-Tnp antibodies can be accounted for by a set of two rate constants, one of which is 1·4 × 1081.mole−1 sec−1 for 75–85 per cent of the sites and the other is 0·2 × 1081.mole −1 sec−1 for the remaining 15–25 per cent. Comparison of the kinetics of ϵ-N-Dnp-L-lysine binding by anti-Dnp antibody and Fab fragments eliminates the possibility that the apparent heterogeneity is due to site interaction in the divalent antibody. The fact that the calculated distribution of forward rate constants is very narrow when compared to the Sips distribtuion of equilibrium constants justifies characterizing the forward reaction by a single rate constant when the dissociation reaction is under study. The distribution of reverse rate constants can thus be calculated from this representative single forward rate constant and observed distribution of equilibrium constants. On this basis the observed kinetics of dissociation on dilution of aminocaproate hapten-antibody complexes is satisfactorily predicted from independent equilibrium and forward rate measurements.
Geographic variation among herbivore populations in tolerance for a chemically rich seaweed

Previous investigations have shown that the sedentary amphipod Ampithoe longimana escapes consumers by selectively living on and eating chemically defended seaweeds in the genus Dictyota. However, A. longimana and Dictyota overlap only in the southern portion of the amphipod's range; Dictyota is not available to amphipods from more northerly regions. We used this disjunction in distribution to test the hypothesis that A. longimana populations co-occurring with Dictyota would have greater tolerance for the seaweed's chemical defenses and would display higher feeding preference for, and fitness on, the seaweed than would more northerly populations. We also evaluated the genetic vs. phenotypic basis of these patterns and attempted to detect trade-offs between tolerance for Dictyota and ability to use other plants as foods. Such geographic studies of herbivory have been conducted using terrestrial insects, but few studies have focused on other her- bivores, and this is especially true for marine systems. In multiple-choice feeding assays with both field-collected and laboratory-reared adults, a North Carolina population of A. longimana sympatric with Dictyota more readily fed on Dictyota and was more resistant to Dictyota's deterrent chemistry than was a Connecticut population from outside of Dic- tyota's geographic range. When raised on Dictyota menstrualis and D. ciliolata, A. lon- gimana juveniles from North Carolina grew faster, matured faster, and produced more reproductive females than did Connecticut juveniles. The differential tolerance for Dictyota has a genetic basis, as it was maintained through two generations grown to maturity in a common environment. When several northern and southern populations were assayed, they displayed similar regional differences in feeding preferences. Though southern juveniles had higher fitness onDictyota than northern juveniles, south- ern juveniles performed as well as northern juveniles when raised on seven other seaweeds, including seaweeds (e.g., Fucus vesiculosus and Sargassum filipendula ) that produce sec- ondary metabolites in a different class from those found in Dictyota. Thus, tolerating Dictyota did not incur detectable performance trade-offs when juveniles were confined to feeding on alternative seaweeds. Our results suggest that the evolution of host preferences may depend more on the host value as a refuge from enemies than on minimizing the costs of tolerating plant secondary metabolites.
Data deduplication in a hybrid architecture for improving write performance

Big Data computing provides a promising new opportunity for scientific discoveries and innovations. However, it also poses a significant challenge to the high-end computing community. An effective I/O solution is urgently required to support big data applications run on high-end computing systems. In this study, we propose a new approach namely DDiHA, Data Deduplication in Hybrid Architecture, to improve the write performance for write-intensive big data applications. The DDiHA approach utilizes data deduplications to reduce the size of data volumes before they are transfered and written to the storage. A hybrid architecture is introduced to facilitate data deduplications. Both theoretical study and prototyping verification were conducted to evaluate the DDiHA approach. The initial results have shown that, given the same compute resources, the DDiHA system outperformed the conventional architecture, even though it introduces additional computation workload from data deduplications. The DDiHA approach reduces the data size transferred across the network and improves the I/O system performance. It has a promising potential for write-intensive big data applications.
N-variant IC design: methodology and applications

We propose the first method for designing N-variant sequential circuits. The flexibility provided by the N-variants enables a number of important tasks, including IP protection, IP metering, security, design optimization, self-adaptation and fault-tolerance. The method is based on extending the finite state machine (FSM) of the design to include multiple variants of the same design specification. The state transitions are managed by added signals that may come from various triggers depending on the target application. We devise an algorithm for implementing the N-variant IC design. We discuss the necessary manipulations of the added signals that would facilitate the various tasks. The key advantage to integrating the heterogeneity in the functional specification of the design is that we can configure the variants during or post-manufacturing, but removal, extraction or deletion of the variants is not viable. Experimental results on benchmark circuits demonstrate that the method can be automatically and efficiently implemented. Because of its lightweight, N-variant design is particularly well-suited for securing embedded systems. As a proof-of-concept, we implement the N-variant method for content protection in portable media players, e.g., iPod. We discuss how the N-variant design methodology readily enables new digital rights management methods.
Calculated sensitivities of several optical radiometric indices for vegetation canopies

The present study employs a radiative transfer model for a vegetation canopy to compute several quantities used in remote sensing applications and to determine the sensitivity of these radiometric quantities to several of the important problem parameters. Attention is given to the ratio of near IR to visible reflected intensities in the nadir direction, the ratio of the fraction of incident energy reflected in the near IR to that in the visible, the normalized difference between the near IR and visible nadir-reflected intensities, and the visible intensity transmitted in a given downward direction. A realistic radiative transfer model is proposed for calculating these radiometric quantities. With these models, the sensitivity of the reflected and transmitted quantities to various canopy and illumination conditions are then determined. The sensitivity of the calculated quantities are presented as a function of the leaf area index of the canopy, and, for the reflected quantities, also as a function of the fraction of visible light absorbed in the canopy.
The effect of dipyridamole on adenosine uptake by platelets ex vivo

Abstract The inhibition of adenosine uptake by human platelets in the presence of dipyridamole was measured under ex vivo and in vitro conditions. The uptake of [14C]-adenosine by platelets from 12 human volunteers given various dosages of dipyridamole (0.48 to 3.6 mg/kg body weight) correlated with the concentration of the drug in the plasma. On the average, the concentrations of dipyridamole required to produce 50% inhibition of adenosine uptake under in vitro and ex vivo conditions were 0.22 μM and 0.17 μM, respectively. The inhibition of adenosine uptake by platelets of rabbits injected with dipyridamole also correlated with the dosage given. It is suggested that the pharmacological action of dipyridamole on the platelets can be monitored by measuring dipyridamole level in plasma and 14C adenosine uptake by the platelets.
$Ka$ -Band Low-Loss and High-Isolation Switch Design in 0.13- $\mu{\hbox {m}}$ CMOS

This paper presents designs and measurements of Ka-band single-pole single-throw (SPST) and single-pole double-throw (SPDT) 0.13-CMOS switches. Designs based on series and shunt switches on low and high substrate resistance networks are presented. It is found that the shunt switch and the series switch with a high substrate resistance network have a lower insertion loss than a standard designs. The shunt SPST switch shows an insertion loss of 1.0 dB and an isolation of 26 dB at >35 GHz. The series SPDT switch with a high substrate resistance network shows excellent performance with 2.2-dB insertion loss and isolation at 35 GHz, and this is achieved using two parallel resonant networks. The series-shunt SPDT switch using deep n-well nMOS transistors for a high substrate resistance network results in an insertion loss and isolation of 2.6 and 27 dB, respectively, at 35 GHz. For series switches, the input 1-dB compression point (1P1) can be significantly increased to with the use of a high substrate resistance design. In contrast, of shunt switches is limited by the self-biasing effect to 12 dBm independent of the substrate resistance network. The paper shows that, with good design, several 0.13- CMOS designs can be used for state-of-the-art switches at 26-40 GHz.
Iterative blind deconvolution algorithm applied to phase retrieval

The iterative blind deconvolution algorithm proposed by Ayers and Dainty [ Opt. Lett.13, 547 ( 1988)] and improved on by Davey et al. [ Opt. Commun.69, 353 ( 1989)] is applied to the problem of phase retrieval, which is a special case of the blind deconvolution problem. A close relationship between this algorithm and the error-reduction version of the iterative Fourier-transform phase-retrieval algorithm is shown analytically. The performance of the blind deconvolution algorithm is compared with the error-reduction and hybrid input–output versions of the iterative Fourier-transform algorithm by reconstruction experiments on real-valued, nonnegative images with and without noise.
Securitization and Loan Performance: Ex Ante and Ex Post Relations in the Mortgage Market

This study examines the relation between securitization and loan performance using a comprehensive dataset from a major national mortgage lender. Loans remaining on the bank's balance sheet ex post incurred higher delinquency rates than sold loans, contrasting the negative relation between screening efforts and ex ante probability of loan sale explored by prior studies. Moreover, the performance gap between sold and retained loans was wider among the subsample of loans that were perceived as easier to resell. The investors'seeming advantage over the originating bank can mostly be explained by information revealed during the time between loan origination and sale.
Comparative Activity of the Codling Moth Granulovirus Against Grapholita molesta and Cydia pomonella (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

The granulovirus of codling moth, Cydia pomonella L., CpGV, is now com- mercialized for codling moth control in pome fruit in the USA and Canada. It is highly spe- cific for codling moth and related species. Comparative assays of CpGV against neonate larvae of another introduced tortricid pest, the oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta Busck, revealed a 557 and 589 fold lower susceptibility of neonate larvae compared with the LC50 and LC95 values derived for C. pomonella. Since its introduction into North America, the oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta Busck, has become a widely established pest of peach, nectarine, apricot, and apple (Rothschild and Vickers 1991). There is little information regarding naturally occurring disease of the oriental fruit moth, with the exception of mi- crosporidia in adults (Simchuk and Komarova 1983) and Bacillus thuringiensis in larvae (Grassi and Deseo 1984). Although field trials with various formulations of B. thuringiensis have been reported for oriental fruit moth, re- sults indicate that it is relatively ineffective (Rothschild and Vickers 1991).
Repetition-induced changes in BOLD response reflect accumulation of neural activity

Recent exposure to a stimulus improves performance with subsequent identification of that same stimulus. This ubiquitous, yet simple, memory phenomenon is termed priming and has been linked to another widespread phenomenon called repetition suppression, which is a repetition-induced reduction in human brain activation as measured using fMRI. Here, competing models of the neural basis of repetition suppression were tested empirically. In a backward masking paradigm, we found that effectively masked object stimuli showed repetition enhancement of brain activation instead of suppression. This finding is consistent with an Accumulation model, but is inconsistent with a Suppression model of neural activity. Enhanced activation and the improved behavioral performance usually associated with priming are both explained by a shift in peak latency of the population neural activity elicited during identification.
All-Optical Network Coding

We investigate the application of network coding to all-optical networks from both the algorithmic and infrastructural perspectives. We study the effectiveness of using network coding for optical-layer dedicated protection of multicast traffic that provides robustness against link failures in the network. We present a heuristic for solving this problem and compare it with both inefficient optimal methods and non-network-coding approaches. Our experiments show that our heuristic provides near-optimal performance while significantly outperforming existing approaches for dedicated multicast protection. We also propose architectures for specialized all-optical circuits capable of performing the processing required for network coding and show how these devices can be effectively deployed in an all-optical multicast network.
Exercise-Induced Premature Ventricular Beats Should We Do Anything Differently?

Exercise testing has typically been used to diagnose myocardial ischemia and to risk stratify patients with known coronary disease. The interpretation of stress testing has rested largely on the development of ST-segment changes and the presence of anginal symptoms.1 Stress tests have also been used to help categorize and treat various cardiac arrhythmias.2 Single ventricular premature beats (VPBs) that occur at rest or during exercise are a cause of anxiety for patients and their physicians. However, the implications of exercise-induced VPBs are unclear. The prevalence and clinical significance of VPBs during and after exercise have been investigated for many years.3,4 Most of the studies have focused on the predictive value of exercise-induced VPBs in patients referred for diagnostic exercise testing.5–9 Of these, 3 studies7–9 showed no correlation between any exercise-induced VPBs and all-cause mortality over a follow-up period of 3 to 5 years. One study showed an association between frequent VPBs and mortality, but only after 8 years,6 and another large study determined that frequent VPBs occurring after exercise might be more predictive of mortality than VPBs occurring during exercise.5 See p 2417 Over the last several years, 4 studies, including that by Morshedi-Meibodi et al in the present issue of Circulation ,10–13 have been conducted in asymptomatic subjects with no evidence of cardiovascular disease. Busby …
Dysplastic Vessels After Surgery for Brain Arteriovenous Malformations

Background and Purpose — The cause and clinical significance of residual dysplastic vessels after surgery for brain arteriovenous malformations (AVM) are unclear. We studied predictors and frequency of residual dysplastic vessels on cerebral angiography after AVM surgery. Methods — The 240 prospectively enrolled surgical patients from the New York AVM Databank underwent 269 AVM-related surgical procedures. Reported postoperative brain angiographic findings were classified post hoc as showing (1) persistent dysplastic vessels, (2) a residual AVM, (3) focal hyperemia in the surgical bed, (4) other changes, or (5) a normal angiogram. Univariate and multivariate models were applied to test for an association between residual dysplastic vessels and patient age, sex, preoperative AVM size, anatomic AVM location, number of embolization procedures before surgery, and the time interval between AVM surgery and the postoperative angiogram. Results — Of the 224 documented postoperative angiograms, 78 (35%) showed dysplastic vessels, 24 (11%) had evidence for a residual AVM, 16 (7%) showed focal hyperemia, 6 (2%) revealed other findings, and 100 (45%) were normal. The number of cases showing angiographic evidence for dysplastic vessels was significantly associated with increasing size of the AVM (in millimeter increments; P =0.0001); the mean diameter of AVMs in patients showing dysplastic vessels after surgery was significantly larger (41 mm, SD ±14) than in those without residual dysplastic vessels (27 mm, SD ±13; P <0.001). Symptomatic postoperative intracerebral hemorrhage occurred in 4 patients (1%), in 2 of whom dysplastic vessels were seen on the postoperative angiogram. Conclusions — The findings suggest that persistent dysplastic vessels may be found in approximately one third of angiograms after AVM surgery. Preoperative AVM size was found to be an independent predictor for the occurrence of dysplastic vessels on the postoperative angiogram.
BLM Mutation and Colorectal Cancer Susceptibility

Bloom syndrome (BS) was first described by Dr. David Bloom in 1954 after he observed a small number of patients of Ashkenazi Jewish origin with erythematous lesions of the face and small stature (Bloom 1954). Approximately 10 years later, the chromosomal instability and cancer predisposition of BS were reported (German et al. 1965). BS is a rare autosomal recessive disorder in which affected individuals show preand postnatal growth retardation, sun-sensitive facial erythema, immunodeficiency, and male infertility. Those affected are predisposed to a plethora of cancers, most commonly occurring before the age of 25 (German 1993). Carcinomas are observed with highest frequency, followed by leukemias and lymphomas (German and Ellis 1998). Cytologically, the hallmark of BS is elevated sister chromatid exchange (SCE), approximately 5to 10-fold higher than in cells from unaffected individuals. SCE is often used as a diagnostic marker of BS, although molecular genetic mutational analysis is available. Other cytological features of BS include quadriradial structures, telomere associations, and chromosome breaks (German 1964; German et al. 1965; Chaganti et al. 1974). The disease gene for BS, known as BLM, maps to chromosome 15q26.1 and encodes a 159-kDa protein that is a member of the recQ family of helicases (Ellis et al. 1995). This family of helicases is highly conserved throughout evolution; multicellular organisms have multiple recQ-like helicase genes in contrast to unicellular organisms that have only one. The BLM gene encodes a protein that contains a central helicase domain. Carboxy terminal to the helicase domain is the conserved RQC domain (recQC-terminal) that defines this family of helicases, and the HRDC domain (helicase, RNaseD and C-terminal), a domain common to RNA helicases. A nuclear localization signal is also present in the C terminus of most eukaryotic recQ-like helicases. The human recQ-like helicases have very little Chapter 8.6 BLM Mutation and Colorectal Cancer Susceptibility
Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Without Onsite Cardiac Surgery: Ready for Take-Off?

The first nonstop transatlantic crossing occurred in 1919, in a World War I–era twin-engine biplane flown by British aviators from St. John’s, Newfoundland, to Galway, Ireland, in over 16 h [(1)][1], launching an era of long-distance air travel. In 1953, given the unreliability of early airplane
Electronic Communications and the Plain View Exception: More 'Bad Physics'

The application of Fourth Amendment law, and in particular the Exclusionary Rule, has long faltered in efforts by courts to apply doctrines developed for physical objects to searches and seizures of electronic communications. As the volume of such communications explodes, the application of the so-called "plain view" exception has proven especially troublesome, threatening the foundation on which federal and state wiretapping law have evaded Constitutional challenges.
Lacan, Kant, and Sade

L'A. etudie la solution qu'apportent Kant et Sade, selon Lacan, au probleme freudien des relations entre la nature de l'existence humaine et le developpement de l'esprit. Dans son essai intitule «Kant et Sade», Lacan souligne l'echec de leur pretendue reponse a un probleme qu'il reinterprete lui-meme dans le sens de la meconnaissance du desir de l'enfant. L'A. montre que Lacan n'a pas tenu compte de l'ironisme de Sade, signe qu'aucune reponse n'est possible
THE QUANTITATIVE GENETICS OF SEXUAL DIMORPHISM IN SILENE LATIFOLIA (CARYOPHYLLACEAE). I. GENETIC VARIATION.

It is widely recognized that there are basic conflicts between the resource needs of a plant for paternal versus maternal functions. In dioecious species, these divergent demands, and the selection pressures they impose, can lead to the evolution of sexual dimorphism. The present study was conducted to assess the potential for the evolution of sexual dimorphism in Silene latifolia by evaluating the genetic variation and genetic correlation between characters and between the sexes for a range of growth and reproductive characters. Sexual dimorphism is largely restricted to reproductive characters, particularly flower number and flower size. A canonical correlation analysis revealed considerable intercorrelation between growth characters, such as germination date, height, and leaf size, and reproductive characters; plants that grow fast early on also flower earlier, and plants that produce big leaves also produce big flowers. There was genetic variation for several sexually dimorphic characters; much of the focus in this analysis was on flower size, particularly calyx diameter. Finally, genetic correlations within and between the sexes were found that limit the rate of evolutionary divergence between the sexes. The genetic results suggest that S. latifolia has been subject to divergent selection on the two sexes for a long period of time, bringing about a gradual fixation of sex-limited gene effects, so that the remaining genetic effects are expressed in both sexes. Genetic correlations between the sexes that arise from this residual variation impose limits on further evolutionary change.
An American Dilemma: Black Teenage Childbearing

This study investigates the relationship between African American teenage childbearing and both chronic and concentrated poverty. It considers the city of Chicago, Illinois that has a substantial Black population and discernable inner-city communities, and in which economic conditions did not improve over several decades. Results of the study indicate that welfare reform had a negative impact in worsening the economic circumstance of Black teen mothers. Several demographic variables are used as control variables such as ethnic and immigrant populations. Health status is also considered as a possible barrier to employment and income. Educational achievement, at least high school completion was not a deterrent to the impoverishment of young African American mothers.