cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Life with fur and without: experimental field energetics and survival of naked meadow voles

Hair is considered to be a basic mammalian feature that provides protection and insulation, promoting energy conservation and survival. To quantify the functional significance of mammalian pelage, we tested the short-term experimental effects of fur removal in a natural population of the California vole, Microtus californicus, in winter. The daily energy expenditure (DEE) of seven voles was directly measured in the field using stable isotopes, first with the animals in their natural condition and then again after experimental removal of pelage by shaving. The initial mean±SD DEE of 96.0±23.1 kJ/day increased by only about 10%, to 106.3±21.4 kJ/day, following shaving. The voles showed a body mass loss of 5%, about half of which was due to fur removal. Comparing slightly larger samples of all animals whose local survival could be documented, we found 100% survival over the 5 initial days of the experimental manipulation in 16 control animals and nine shaved animals; over the following 3 weeks the survival of shaved mice did not differ significantly from that of controls. We were surprised that the average increase in energy expenditure of voles without fur was so modest, though the range of individual values was great, and likewise we were surprised that shaved voles survived as well as they did. M. californicus survives naturally in winter under conditions of social aggregation that include huddling together of individuals in nests; this situation probably provided our experimentally shaved voles an opportunity to minimize the energetic disadvantages of pelage loss. They may also have employed a variety of compensatory physiological and behavioral responses, including reduction in activity time and food intake, and perhaps a related small decline in body mass. Our limited sample sizes made it difficult to detect subtle differences that may have been biologically significant in the system we studied. Nonetheless, we can reaffirm that fur has an insulative value that promotes energy economy and survival. However, we also conclude that mammalian physiology and behavior are sufficiently complex and flexible that a variety of responses can be deployed to promote survival under unusual circumstances such as those of our experimental test.
Inhibition of human carboxylesterases hCE1 and hiCE by cholinesterase inhibitors

Carboxylesterases (CEs) are ubiquitously expressed proteins that are responsible for the detoxification of xenobiotics. They tend to be expressed in tissues likely to be exposed to such agents (e.g., lung and gut epithelia, liver) and can hydrolyze numerous agents, including many clinically used drugs. Due to the considerable structural similarity between cholinesterases (ChE) and CEs, we have assessed the ability of a series of ChE inhibitors to modulate the activity of the human liver (hCE1) and the human intestinal CE (hiCE) isoforms. We observed inhibition of hCE1 and hiCE by carbamate-containing small molecules, including those used for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. For example, rivastigmine resulted in greater than 95% inhibition of hiCE that was irreversible under the conditions used. Hence, the administration of esterified drugs, in combination with these carbamates, may inadvertently result in decreased hydrolysis of the former, thereby limiting their efficacy. Therefore drug:drug interactions should be carefully evaluated in individuals receiving ChE inhibitors.
Heat capacities of H2O+H2O2, and H2O+N2H4, binary solutions: Isolation of a singular component for Cp of supercooled water

In an effort to examine further the suggestion that anomalies in the properties of supercooled water reflect the approach to a thermodynamic singularity in the vicinity of −45 °C, an attempt has been made to separate the total heat capacity of water into ’’anomalous’’ and ’’normal’’ components. The basis for such a separation used here is extrapolation to zero solute content of Cp of binary aqueous solutions from which the low temperature anomalies have disappeared. We have studied two closely related systems based on the second components H2O2 and N2H4. The low temperature molar Cp isotherms are very unusual. The extrapolations to zero solute of Cp isotherms in the two systems yield similar but not identical ’’normal’’ components for pure water. The corresponding alternative sets of ’’anomalous’’ Cp components vs temperature data, when best‐fitted to the singular point equation Cp(anom)=A (T/Ts−1)−γ, yield within one degree, the same Ts value, 226 K, and exponents either side of the classical value of unity. When the value γ=1.0 is assigned to the anomalous components of the dilute aqueous H2O2 solutions, the best fit Ts values accurately mirror the behavior of the solution homogeneous nucleation temperatures.
The relation of education and R&D to productivity growth

Abstract This paper considers the relation of education and of scientific and technical knowledge developed through R&D to labor productivity growth within the medium term. It is unique in using a total capital approach that includes both private and public physical, human, and knowledge capital formation and in use of a medium term model for determining productivity growth that includes both demand side and supply side effects. Empirical results for the U.S. and 14 other major OECD nations for 5-yr time periods from 1955 through 1980 find education as measured both by the average educational attainment of the labor force and by the percentage of advanced level graduates who bring technology to bear on production to be significant determinants of productivity growth. Gross investment in physical capital also transmits the R&D and has a positive influence, as do higher utilization rates and the technology transfer associated with lower initial productivity levels.
Self-learning simulation method for inverse nonlinear modeling of cyclic behavior of connections

Abstract This paper presents an improved self-learning simulation and its application to modeling of ‘cyclic’ behavior of the connections from the results of structural testing. Unlike other inverse modeling approaches such as parameter optimization methods, the proposed method requires no prior knowledge about the behavior and model. It can extract the cyclic connection models by imposing experimental measurements to the dual finite element models as boundary conditions. A new algorithmic tangent formulation during the self-learning simulation has been proposed to improve performances of the self-learning simulation. Moreover, a new neural network (NN) based hysteretic material model is utilized to expedite learning of the cyclic behavior and it is integrated into the improved self-learning simulation method. To guide a practical implementation of the self-learning simulation, numerical procedures are also presented in detail. Using both synthetic and actual experimental data, the self-learning simulation method has proven to be a reliable method to extract nonlinear cyclic models of the local connections from the global response of the framed structures.
Cystone® for 1 year did not change urine chemistry or decrease stone burden in cystine stone formers

Cystine kidney stones frequently recur because inadequate prevention exists. We recruited documented recurrent cystine kidney stone formers (6 men, 4 women, 44 § 17 years) into a 2-phased study to assess safety and eVectiveness of Cystone ® , a herbal treatment used to pre- vent and facilitate passage of cystine kidney stones. The Wrst phase was a randomized double-blinded 12 weeks crossover study assessing the eVect of Cystone ® versus pla- cebo (2 tablets BID) on urinary chemistries. The second phase was an open label 1 year study of Cystone ® to deter- mine if renal stone burden decreased, as assessed by quanti- tative and subjective assessment of CT. There was no statistically signiWcant change of urinary composition from baseline short (6 weeks) or long (52 weeks) term on Cystone ® , including volume (2,525, 2,611, 2,730 ml), pH (6.7, 6.7, 7.05), and cystine excretion (2,770, 2,889, 4,025 mol). Pre and post-CT was available in nine patients. Although seven kidneys lost stones spontaneously or surgically, overall stone burden increased in seven kid- neys, was unchanged in nine, and fell in only two. Quanti- tative scoring increased in both the left and right kidneys (1,602-1667 and 301-2,064 volumetric units, respec- tively). Therefore, this study does not suggest that Cystone ® has a favorable eVect on urinary chemistries that
The Role of Ergonomics in Preventing and Reducing the Burden of Musculoskeletal Conditions

Five important developments this decade can clarify and promote the role of ergonomics in preventing and reducing the burden of musculoskeletal disorders: 1) worldwide acceptance of this decade as the bone and joint decade, 2) changing demographics and 3) change in worker-workplace relationships, 4) research advancements in the laboratory and in the workplace including prospective studies, 5) publication of revised ISO 6385 (2004) [1].
New paradigms in problem solving environments for scientific computing

Computer and computational scientists at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) are studying and designing collaborative problem solving environments (CPSEs) for scientific computing in various domains. Where most scientific computing efforts focus at the level of the scientific codes, file systems, data archives, and networked computers, our analysis and design efforts are aimed at developing enabling technologies that are directly meaningful and relevant to domain scientist at the level of the practice and the science. We seek to characterize the nature of scientific problem solving and look for innovative ways to improve it. Moreover, we aim to glimpse beyond current systems and technical limitations to derive a design that expresses the scientist's own perspective on research activities, processes, and resources. The product of our analysis and design work is a conceptual scientific CPSE prototype that specifies a complete simulation and modeling user environment and a suite of high-level problem solving tools.
Analysis of Horizontal and Vertical Couplings in Bonding Wire Interconnections Using EFIE with Cylindrical Conduction Mode Basis Functions

To clarify the initial step of 3-D interconnection design, this paper shows electrical characteristics of vertically and horizontally coupled bonding wire interconnections. For efficient analysis, solving EFIE with cylindrical CMBF is used, and additional approximation methods and matrix manipulation are discussed.
A Comment on “Corruption by Design”

In an article that appeared in the April 1996 issue of this journal, Melanie Manion analyzed corruption incidence in Chinese enterprise licensing using a multistage game. The model, she concludes, implies that bribery is quite robust and "to move away entirely from the corrupt equilibria... requires very substantial changes in institutional design." Manion models a multistage game with three stages, she solves for the equilibrium in a subgame consisting of the last two stages, but she neglects to check whether this subgame is played in the equilibrium. As a result her conclusion is incorrect. The purpose of this comment is to demonstrate the flaws in Manion's analysis. Copyright 1998 by Oxford University Press.
Integration of simulation and DEA to determine the most efficient patient appointment scheduling model for a specific healthcare setting

Purpose: This study is to develop a systematic approach for determining the most efficient patient appointment scheduling (PAS) model for a specific healthcare setting with its multiple appointments requests characteristics in order to increase patients’ accessibility and resource utilization, and reduce operation cost. In this study, three general appointment scheduling models, centralized scheduling model (CSM), decentralized scheduling model (DSM) and hybrid scheduling model (HSM), are considered. Design/methodology/approach: The integration of discrete event simulation and data envelopment analysis (DEA) is applied to determine the most efficient PAS model. Simulation analysis is used to obtain the outputs of different configurations of PAS, and the DEA based on the simulation outputs is applied to select the best configuration in the presence of multiple and contrary performance measures. The best PAS configuration provides an optimal balance between patient satisfaction, schedulers’ utilization and the cost of the scheduling system and schedulers’ training. Findings: In the presence of high proportion (more than 70%) of requests for multiple appointments, CSM is the best PAS model. If the proportion of requests for multiple appointments is medium (25%-50%), HSM is the best. Finally, if the proportion of requests for multiple appointments is low (less than 15%), DSM is the best. If the proportion is in the interval from 15% to 25% the selected PAS model could be either DSM or HSM based on expert idea. Similarly, if the proportion is in the interval from 50% to 70% the best PAS model could be either CSM or HSM. Originality/value: This is the first study that determines the best PAS model for a particular healthcare setting. The proposed approach can be used in a variety of the healthcare settings. Keywords: data envelopment analysis, discrete event simulation, patient appointment scheduling, multiple appointments, centralized scheduling model, decentralized scheduling model, hybrid scheduling model
The Diagnostic Home Visit: An Aid in Training and Case Consultation

The home visit has long been recognized as a useful vehicle for diagnosis and therapy. It has a potential for another useful function in that home observations can provide the teaching therapist and consultant with the vivid details of family interaction necessary to useful supervision. Parents may be poor observers and/or reporters of problem situations; they may also be reluctant to describe for various reasons. The student therapist may become bewildered, frustrated, and discouraged over the lack of material or inability to help. This report describes how supervisors can then use home observations as a source of fresh diagnostic hypotheses, and as a basis for reformulation of treatment goals or of technical approaches.
Strategic Technology Options in the Wireless Industry: A Case Study for U.S. Wireless Carriers

The major U.S. wireless operators already have announced their plans for the evolution of their networks towards 3G, but some uncertainties remain, such as emergence of new technologies (WiMAX and WLAN) and the consolidation among operators (AT&T Mobile and Sprint Nextel). The article discusses a real option based model for technology decisionsand applies it to the U.S. wireless industry as a case study. We also discuss what decisions must be made, what the outcomes are, and how the options model is validated. The preliminary results show that the evolution of wireless network technologies between generations (inter-generations migration scenario) is desirable (a positive net option value), but not desirable (a negative net option value) within generations (intra-generation migration scenario), in the U.S.
Effects of the phytoestrogen coumestrol on locomotor and fear-related behaviors in female mice.

Abstract Effects of the estrogenic plant isoflavonoid coumestrol (COUM) on locomotor activity and fear-related behaviors in both the absence and the presence of estradiol benzoate (EB) were examined in adult ovariectomized Swiss-Webster mice. In a running wheel paradigm conducted over 10 days, with treatment beginning 12 days prior to testing, daily subcutaneous (sc) injections of 10 μg of COUM did not influence locomotor activity, whereas even the low dose of EB supplied by sc Silastic implant (2.5 μg lasting 5 weeks) produced a significant increase in locomotor activity over animals receiving vehicle alone. In animals receiving both COUM and EB, locomotor activity was significantly diminished compared to the activity observed in animals receiving EB alone. The same animals were also tested in three behavioral paradigms having known activity and fear components (open field, dark/light transition, elevated plus-maze). COUM did not produce significant effects in these assays. However, in an associative fear learning paradigm (fear conditioning), COUM produced significantly less freezing (“fearfulness”) in the conditioned fear task than with animals receiving vehicle or a low dose of EB, which did not differ from each other. Unlike EB, which has comparable affinities for estrogen receptor (ER) α and ERβ, COUM has a higher affinity for ERβ than for ERα. COUM might disrupt estrogen-enhanced locomotor activity by altering the dynamic by which EB acts on the brain through these two ER isoforms. The conditioned fear result suggests that COUM may produce additional effects through alternative pathways.
Independent Influence of Gait Speed and Step Length on Stability and Fall Risk

With aging, individuals' gaits become slower and their steps shorter; both are thought to improve stability against balance threats. Recent studies have shown that shorter step lengths, which bring the center of mass (COM) closer to the leading foot, improve stability against slip-related falls. However, a slower gait, hence lower COM velocity, does the opposite. Due to the inherent coupling of step length and speed in spontaneous gait, the extent to which the benefit of shorter steps can offset the slower speed is unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate, through decoupling, the independent effects of gait speed and step length on gait stability and the likelihood of slip-induced falls. Fifty-seven young adults walked at one of three target gait patterns, two of equal speed and two of equal step length; at a later trial, they encountered an unannounced slip. The results supported our hypotheses that faster gait as well as shorter steps each ameliorates fall risk when a slip is encountered. This appeared to be attributable to the maintenance of stability from slip initiation to liftoff of the recovery foot during the slip. Successful decoupling of gait speed from step length reveals for the first time that, although slow gait in itself leads to instability and falls (a one-standard-deviation decrease in gait speed increases the odds of fall by 4-fold), this effect is offset by the related decrease in step length (the same one-standard-deviation decrease in step length lowers fall risk by 6 times).
Eleven New Heavily Reddened Field Wolf?Rayet Stars

We report the results of a medium-narrowband 2 μm line survey covering 5.8 deg^2 near the Galactic plane. We confirm 11 new field Wolf-Rayet stars along three lines of sight probing the inner Galaxy, demonstrating the capability to uncover distant and highly reddened populations of Galactic wind-borne emission-line stars suffering extinction as high as A_V ~ 40 and as distant as 9 kpc down to modest magnitude limits of K_s ~ 12.5. All stars are of subtype WC7-8, with median distance d = 6 kpc and median extinction A_(Ks) = 2.5. Over the fields surveyed, the density of Wolf-Rayet stars to limiting magnitude K_s ~ 12.5 was found to be 1.9 deg^(–2). We compare this to models which predict their distribution within the Galaxy and find that, even neglecting survey and subtype incompleteness, they consistently underpredict the number of newly discovered stars along the surveyed lines of sight.
Hypothalamus, hypertension, and exercise

The hypothalamus is a well-known autonomic regulatory region of the brain involved in integrating several behaviors as well as cardiorespiratory activity. Our laboratory has shown that the caudal hypothalamus modulates the cardiorespiratory responses associated with exercise. In addition, other findings from this laboratory and others have implicated alterations in this same brain region in spontaneously hypertensive rats as contributing factors of the elevated levels of arterial pressure in hypertension. Several studies have revealed a gamma-amino-butyric acid (GABAergic) deficiency in the caudal hypothalamus of spontaneously hypertensive rats that contributes to the tonic disinhibition and overactivity of this pressor region. Because chronic exercise is able to increase cardiovascular health in the hypertensive rat, we hypothesized that exercise-induced caudal hypothalamic plasticity partially underlies the beneficial effects of physical activity. In this review we discuss initial findings from this lab that support this hypothesis. Our experiments demonstrate that chronic exercise alters gene expression and neuronal activity in the caudal hypothalamus of the spontaneously hypertensive rat. These findings describe a potential mechanism by which chronic exercise lowers blood pressure in the hypertensive individual.
Creating Item Characteristic Curves from Logist and Bical Output

Several SAS Graph programs are presented for convenient graphical presentation of item and test characteristic curves and related functions from one, two, or three parameter IRT models. Inspection of these graphs can greatly facilitate understanding and use of tabular output of such commercial programs as LOGIST and BICAL.
The DOCK180/Elmo complex couples ARNO-mediated Arf6 activation to the downstream activation of Rac1.

Summary Cell motility requires extensions of the plasma membrane driven by reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton. Small GTPases, particularly the Rho family, are key regulators of this process [1–3]. A second class of GTPases, the ADP-ribosylation factors (ARFs), have also been implicated in the regulation of the actin cytoskeleton and motility [4]. ARF6 is intimately involved in the regulation of Rac activity [5–9]; however, the mechanisms by which ARF activation leads to activation of Rac remain poorly understood. We have previously shown that expression of the ARF-GEF ARNO in MDCK cells induces robust activation of Rac, the formation of large lamellipodia, and the onset of motility [9]. We report here that ARNO-dependent activation of Rac is mediated by a bipartite Rac GEF, the Dock180/Elmo complex. Both DOCK180 and Elmo colocalize extensively with ARNO in migrating MDCK cells. Importantly, both a catalytically inactive Dock180 mutant and an Elmo mutant that fails to couple to Dock180 block ARNO-induced Rac activation and motility. In contrast, a similar mutant of the Rac GEF β-PIX fails to inhibit ARNO-induced Rac activation or motility. Together, these data suggest that ARNO and ARF6 coordinate with the Dock180/Elmo complex to promote Rac activation at the leading edge of migrating cells.
Biogeochemistry of a forested watershed in the central Adirondack Mountains: Temporal changes and mass balances

Information on atmospheric inputs, water chemistry and hydrology were combined to evaluate elemental mass balances and assess temporal changes in elemental transport from 1983 through 1992 for the Arbutus Lake watershed. This watershed is located within a northern hardwood ecosystem at the Huntington Forest within the central Adirondack Mountains of New York (USA). Changes in water chemistry, including increasing NO3 − concentrations (1.1 μmol c , L−1 yr-1), have been detected during this study period. Starting in 1991 hydrological flow has been measured from Arbutus Lake and these measurements were compared with predicted flow using the BROOK2 hydrological simulation model. The model adequately (r2=0.79) simulated flow from this catchment and was used to estimate drainage for earlier periods when direct hydrological measurements were not available. Modeled drainage water losses coupled with estimates of wet and dry atmospheric deposition were used to calculate solute budgets. Export of SO4 2− (831 mol c ha−1 yr−1) from the greater Arbutus Lake watershed exceeded estimates of atmospheric deposition in an adjacent hardwood stand suggesting an additional source of S. These large drainage losses of SO4 2− also contributed to the drainage fluxes of basic cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, K+ and Na+). Most of the atmospheric inputs of inorganic N were retained (average of 74% of wet precipitation and 85% total deposition) in the watershed. There were differences among years (56 to 228 mol ha−1 yr−1) in drainage water losses of N with greatest losses occurring during a warm, wet period (1989–1991).
Toxicity of three organophosphorus compounds and pyrethrins to malathion-resistant Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae)

Abstract Malathion-resistant red flour beetles, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), were tested for susceptibility to Bay 77488 ( o , o -diethyl phosphorothioate o -ester with phenylglyoxylonitrile oxime), Bay 78182 ( o , o -diethyl phosphorothioate o -ester with ( o -chlorophenyl)glyoxylonitrile oxime), diazinon, and pyrethrins by topical applications. The malathion-resistant beetles showed 13·3-fold resistance to pyrethrins, 19·7-fold resistance to Bay 78182, 7·7- and 10·7-fold resistance to diazinon, and only 4·5- and 9·5-fold resistance to Bay 77488. Only about one-quarter as much Bay 77488 as malathion was required for the ld 50 in the resistant beetles. About one-third as much Bay 78182 as malathion was required. Diazinon and pyrethrins were less toxic than malathion to the resistant insects.
Context for revising the association for specialists in group work training standards

Abstract The revised standards for the training of group workers, recently adopted by the Association for Specialists in Group Work Executive Board (April 1991) are presented, preceded by a context for their development.
Analysing the 1811–1812 New Madrid earthquakes with recent instrumentally recorded aftershocks

Although dynamic stress changes associated with the passage of seismic waves are thought to trigger earthquakes at great distances, more than 60 per cent of all aftershocks appear to be triggered by static stress changes within two rupture lengths of a mainshock. The observed distribution of aftershocks may thus be used to infer details of mainshock rupture geometry. Aftershocks following large mid-continental earthquakes, where background stressing rates are low, are known to persist for centuries, and models based on rate-and-state friction laws provide theoretical support for this inference. Most past studies of the New Madrid earthquake sequence have indeed assumed ongoing microseismicity to be a continuing aftershock sequence. Here we use instrumentally recorded aftershock locations and models of elastic stress change to develop a kinematically consistent rupture scenario for three of the four largest earthquakes of the 1811-1812 New Madrid sequence. Our results suggest that these three events occurred on two contiguous faults, producing lobes of increased stress near fault intersections and end points, in areas where present-day microearthquakes have been hitherto interpreted as evidence of primary mainshock rupture. We infer that the remaining New Madrid mainshock may have occurred more than 200 km north of this region in the Wabash Valley of southern Indiana and Illinois--an area that contains abundant modern microseismicity, and where substantial liquefaction was documented by historic accounts. Our results suggest that future large mid-plate earthquake sequences may extend over a much broader region than previously suspected.
Counting the genes for stable RNA in the nucleus and chloroplasts of Euglena

Abstract Improved procedures for counting the genes for ribosomal and 4 S RNA in the nucleus and chloroplasts of Euglena are described. These procedures exploit (a) the chloroplast-free strain ZHB, (b) the flotation method for purifying chloroplasts, (c) Hg 2+ /Cs 2 SO 4 density gradients to fractionate large quantities of DNA and (d) more efficient conditions of DNA · RNA hybridization, particularly for 4 S RNA. We find that the average Euglena cell in an exponentially growing culture contains 800 nuclear genes for each cytoplasmic rRNA and 800–880 chloroplast genes for chloroplast rRNA. Each chloroplast chromosome of molecular weight 92 · 10 6 contains two genes for each rRNA. The number of nuclear genes for 4 S RNA is approx. 760. The total number of chloroplast genes for 4 S RNA is approx. 10 000, or 22–25 on each chloroplast chromosome.
Endothelin degradation by vascular smooth muscle cells

Abstract The mechanism(s) of degradation of the potent vasoconstrictor endothelin-1 (ET-1) by rat vascular smooth muscle A-10 cells, which possess the ET A receptor subtype, was investigated by incubating [ 125 I]ET-1 (0.1 nM) with cells for 0–4 h at 37°C in the presence and absence of lysosomal enzyme inhibitors, NH 4 Cl and chloroquine, and a neutral endopeptidase inhibitor, phosphoramidon. The assay buffer and cell extracts were analyzed by reverse-phase HPLC, and the radioactivity in the fractions was measured. In the absence of inhibitors, most of the radioactivity in the medium was in the form of [ 125 I]Tyr after a 4 h incubation. When [ 125 I]ET-1 was incubated with A-10 cells at 4°C, six radiolabeled peaks, including some [ 125 I]Tyr and about 30% of the original [ 125 I]ET-1, were present in the medium. In the presence of 5 μM chloroquine there was no [ 125 I]Tyr peak in the medium, indicating that internalization and putative lysosomal degradation of ET-1 were blocked. NH 4 Cl (50 and 100 mM) also reduced the amount of [ 125 I]Tyr formed. The presence of ET-1 fragments indicated that, in addition to lysosomal degradation, some of the ligand is metabolized by enzymes located on the cell membrane; we demonstrated, however, that secreted proteases from A-10 cells are not involved in the degradation of ET-1. The neutral endopeptidase inhibitor, phosphoramidon, did not completely inhibit the metabolism of [ 125 I]ET-1 to [ 125 I]Tyr. These results establish that various cell-associated enzymes are capable of degrading ET-1 in A-10 cells. Moreover, analysis of the cell lysates indicated the presence of a relatively stable pool of ET-1-occupied receptors or compartmentalized ET-1, protected from cell proteases, which may contribute to the potent contractility of ET-1.
In situ imaging of dealloying during nanoporous gold formation by transmission X-ray microscopy

Abstract The dealloying process is directly imaged, for the first time, by using transmission X-ray microscopy for the case of an Ag–30 at.% Au wire dealloyed under free corrosion in nitric acid. The propagation of a sharp dealloying front separating the alloy from nanoporous Au was observed by two-dimensional real-time in situ imaging at 30 nm resolution and measured in detail in three dimensions by an ex situ nanotomography technique at fixed time intervals. The rate of the dealloying front propagation is independent of the dealloying time up to a 3 μm depth, indicating that the dealloying process to this depth is dominated by interfacial effects (i.e. gold surface diffusion and/or silver dissolution) rather than long-range transport effects (i.e. diffusion of acid and corrosion product in and out of the porous layer). The constant dealloying rate corresponds to a constant silver flux and a constant current density, even though the potential might be fluctuating under free corrosion conditions and the interfacial area is shrinking as a function of time. Free corrosion in this system generates a high current density, implying it is driven by a chemical potential difference that is much higher than the critical potential.
Electrokinetic Power Generation from Liquid Water Microjets

Although electrokinetic effects are not new, only recently have they been investigated for possible use in energy conversion devices. We have recently reported the electrokinetic generation of molecular hydrogen from rapidly flowing liquid water microjets [Duffin et al. JPCC 2007, 111, 12031]. Here, we describe the use of liquid water microjets for direct conversion of electrokinetic energy to electrical power. Previous studies of electrokinetic power production have reported low efficiencies ({approx}3%), limited by back conduction of ions at the surface and in the bulk liquid. Liquid microjets eliminate energy dissipation due to back conduction and, measuring only at the jet target, yield conversion efficiencies exceeding 10%.
A simplified method for determining regurgitant fraction by Doppler echocardiography in patients with aortic regurtitation

Abstract Objectives. This study attempted to develop and validate a simple method for calculating aortic regurgitant fraction by use of pulsed wave Doppler echocardiography. Background. Although several investigators have been able to determine aortic regurgitant fraction by Doppler echocardiography, the methods used require accurate determination of the cross-sectional areas of intracardiac sites at which the volumetric flow is calculated. Methods. Our concept was based on a constant relation that exists between the cross-sectional area of the left ventricular outflow tract and the mitral valve annulus in normal subjects. To verify this, we used Doppler echocardiography to measure the flow velocity integral of the left ventricular outflow tract and the mitral annulus in the apical view in 50 normal subjects (32 men, 18 women, mean age 34 years). Results. Close correlation (r = 0.95) was observed between the flow velocity integral (FVI) of the outflow tract (OT) and that of the mitral annulus (MA): FVIMA/FVIOT= 0.77. Because mitral flow equals aortic flow in normal subjects, the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the mitral annulus to that of the outflow tract was 1/0.77. In patients with aortic regurgitation, the regurgitant fraction (RF) = (Aortic flow − Mitral flow)/Aortic flow = 1 − Mitral flow/Aortic flow. Substituting 0.77 for the area component of flow, RF = 1 − (1/0.77) · (FVIMA/FVIOT). To evaluate the accuracy of this method, we compared the regurgitant fraction derived by Doppler echocardiography with that from catheterization findings in 20 patients with aortic regurgitation (an isolated lesion was found in 14). The regurgitant fraction by catheterization was the difference between total (angiographic) and forward (thermodilution) stroke volumes as a percent of total flow. Good correlation was observed between catheterization and Doppler regurgitant fraction (r = 0.88, SEE 9%, p Conclusions. Thus, regurgitant fraction can be estimated from Doppler echocardiography in patients with aortic regurgitation by a method that requires only measurements of the flow velocity integral from the mitral annulus and left ventricular outflow tract.
A time-limited residential unit for young adults with epilepsy and mild cognitive impairment: Results of a prospective pre–post-study

Summary Introduction This study examined the effects of a time-limited residential unit for young adults with epilepsy and mild cognitive impairment in a German epilepsy centre. Residents spend approximately 3 years in this unit to gain more independence and better seizure control. Methods Fifty-two individuals were interviewed about 4 weeks after admission (T1) and again at discharge (T2) using the PESOS scales on health-related quality of life (HRQOL), the depression scale D-S′, the Symptom Checklist 90-R, an item on overall quality of life (QOL), and scales on activities of daily living (ADL), life satisfaction and work related problems. Changes in these self-rating scales were computed and related to changes in seizure frequency and to later support needs following rehabilitation in the residential unit. Results The frequency of epileptic seizures had declined at the time of discharge. Twenty-nine individuals could move to supported housing, 23 moved to long-term residential units. Some self-rating scales reflected changes of seizure frequency, but a main effect was not detected. Residents assigned to supported housing and those assigned to longer residential care differed significantly in changes of HRQOL, overall QOL, ADL and clinical ratings, controlling for effects of seizure status. Improvements were only found in residents moving to supported housing. However, both groups could not be selected by available information at T1. Discussion The time-limited residential unit yields positive effects in about half of their clients with epilepsy and mild cognitive impairment. Effects have to be related to a group with well-known difficulties in many aspects of living before admission. Improvements of subjective health status do not seem to be solely attributable to reduction of seizure frequency. Other determining factors for good or poor rehabilitation outcome remain to be identified.
784-3 Prognostic Significance of Intimal Thickening Detected by Intracoronary Ultrasound in Heart Transplant Recipients

Intracoronary ultrasound (ICUS) is a sensitive tool for the detection of intimal thickening in coronary arteries of heart transplants recipients. However, the prognostic significance of this intimal thickening has not been proven. During a one year period, 90 transplant recipients had ICUS examination at the time of their annual angiogram. For each ICUS study an intimal index (II), defined as the ratio of the plaque area to the area within the media, was measured for the most diseased segment imaged. The angiogram at the time of ICUS was reviewed for the presence of visually apparent coronary artery disease (V-CADI· Those patients (n = 19) with V-CAD present at the time of ICUS were excluded from the study. The time since transplantation for the 71 pts without V-CAD ranged from 1 to 15 yrs, with a mean of 4.2 yrs and median of 3.9 yrs. The subsequent annual follow-up angiograms of the 71 patients without V-CAD at the time of ICUS were reviewed for the development of V-CAD. Mean duration of angiographic follow-up was 2.0 yrs (range 1–3 yrs). V-CAD developed on follow-up angiograms in 13 of the 71 pts. Mean time to development of V-CAD was 1.5 yrs. Forty-six patients had II l 0.3, 4 (9%) of whom subsequently developed V-CAD. Twenty-five patients had II ≥ 0.3, 9 (36%) of whom developed V-CAD. Odds ratio for future V-CAD between pts with II l 0.3 and II 2: 0.3 was 5.9 (95% CI 1.8 to 19.0, difference significant at p l 0.01 by Fisher's Exact test). In a subgroup of 22 patients more than 5 years post transplantation at the time of ICUS, 12 had II l 0.3 and 10 had II 2 ≥ 0.3. In this subgroup none of the 12 pts with II l 0.3 developed V-CAD and only 1 of the 10 with II g 0.3 developed V-CAD (difference not significant). Conclusion — Among patients more than 1 year and less than 5 years post-transplantation without visually apparent angiographic coronary artery disease, the presence of moderate to severe intimal thickening by ICUS is predictive of the future development of angiographically apparent CAD. Intimal thickening as detected by ICUS is of prognostic significance in patients with angiographically silent transplant coronary artery disease.
Reduced Markov chains at stochastic spin models

Abstract From Glauber's stochastic spin model in discrete time, reduced Markov-chain models are constructed. The transition matrices of the reduced models utilize equilibrium correlation functions of the full N-spin system; however, the reduced models involve the time-dependent behavior of only a cluster of spins. The reduced models have as an invariant vector the exact marginal equilibrium probability for the spins in the cluster. In that sense, the reduced models have the same equilibrium as the N-spin Glauber model, but will, in general, display a different time dependence. One of the reduced models is solved exactly here for a one-dimensional lattice, a square lattice, and a simple-cubic lattice.
Enhanced analgesia with opioid antagonist administration

Background: Pain, not responsive to opioid analgesics, remains a problem for patients with chronic and cancer pain as well as their families, and clinicians. Opioid antagonists have various uses in pain and palliative care. Their use in the reversal of tolerance and hyperalgesia remains at the basic science level and has limited clinical exposure. Objective: To improve symptom control and quality of life in patients with pain not responsive to opioid analgesics. Design: Present three cases in which patients have undergone administration of opioid antagonists for the purpose of analgesia. Methods: Patients on opioids analgesics received parenteral opioid antagonist, naloxone. Complete withdrawal under a sedative or conscious sedation was allowed and then the opioid at smaller doses was restarted and analgesia was observed. Results: All patients had improved analgesia on a significantly lower dose of opioid analgesics. Conclusions: Only three patients who have received this procedure were presented yet all ...
Diagnostic and prognostic accuracy of the exercise electrocardiogram in patients with preexisting right bundle branch block

Abstract The value of exercise testing in patients with right bundle branch block (RBBB) is uncertain. A retrospective review of 3609 patients who underwent exercise testing identified 163 (4.5%) with preexisting RBBB. After excluding those with coronary artery bypass graft(s), 133 patients remained and 48 (36%) had a prior myocardial infarction. Angiograms were available for 30 (23%) patients. After a mean follow-up of 33 ± 23 months, seven patients had a fatal or nonfatal myocardial infarction. Twenty five (19%) patients had ≥1 mm of non-upsloping ST depression in leads V 5 or V 6 . With angiographic disease or previous myocardial infarction used as endpoints of coronary artery disease, the exercise test had a sensitivity of 27% (1656), a specificity of 87% (6777), and a predictive accuracy of 62% (82133), ( χ 2 = 4.04, p = 0.04). There were 24 deaths, a 10% annual mortality rate. Univariate analysis of clinical, exercise, and angiographic data revealed that nonsurvivors had a lower peak systolic blood pressure, a lower exercise capacity in METS, and a higher prevalence of coronary artery disease ( p = 0.0001, p = 0.02, p = 0.03, respectively). Left ventricular ejection fraction and the amount of additional ST depression during exercise did not differ significantly ( p = NS). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that systolic blood pressure (area = 0.741, z = 5.22, p z = 3.12, p = 0.009) were predictive of mortality, whereas additional ST depression during exercise (area = 0.588, z = 0.70, p = 0.24) was not. Therefore in individuals with preexisting RBBB the exercise test is insensitive, but specific, for diagnosing coronary artery disease and mortality is related to the presence of coronary artery disease. Systolic blood pressure and exercise capacity are stronger predictors of mortality than is exercise-induced ST depression.
Maskin's Theorem with limited veto power

Abstract We weaken the no-veto power condition of Maskin [Maskin, E.,1999. Nash equilibrium and welfare optimality. Rev. Econ. Stud. 66, 23–38] to limited veto power, and prove that any monotonic social choice rule is Nash implementable if it satisfies this weaker condition. The result is obtained by using the canonical Maskin mechanism without modification . An immediate corollary is that the weak core is Nash implementable in any coalitional game environment. An example is given to show that the strong core need not be implementable, even when it is monotonic.
The Causes of Property Variations of Ibad-Titanium Nitride

The influence of the growth conditions on the composition, microstructure, and mechanical properties of TiN formed with low energy Ar+ ion bombardment during reactive physical vapor deposition was studied. The ratios of the incident ion and atom fluxes at the growth surface were varied systematically and were found to have a strong influence on both the composition and the microstructure of the films. These changes correlated well with measured changes in mechanical and optical properties. The films were examined using Auger electron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and their mechanical properties were studied using hardness, friction, and wear testing.
Finite level models of biological systems.

This paper attempts to define the concept of finite level models within the context of systems theory and to indicate the applicability of this concept to biological systems. The rationale for finite level models is considered, and the concepts of quantization and the techniques for achieving it are described. The utility of these models, particularly for hypothesis testing, is examined in some detail.
Erythropoietic protoporphyria: Juvenile protoporphyrin hepatopathy cirrhosis and death

Severe hepatic cirrhosis and failure in erythropoietic protoporphyria is rare. An 11-year-old boy is described who developed protoporphyrin hepatopathy (protoporphyrin 5.75 mg/gm liver wet weight), cirrhosis, and liver failure and died.
Lung function in sickle cell disease

Although some of the most severe complications of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) tend to be acute and severe (e.g. acute chest syndrome, stroke etc.), the chronic ones can be equally debilitating. Prominent among them is the effect that the disease has on lung growth and function. For many years the traditional teaching has been that SCD is associated with the development of a restrictive lung defect. However, there is increasing evidence that this is not a universal finding and that at least during childhood and adolescence, the majority of the patients have a normal or obstructive pattern of lung function. The following article reviews the current knowledge on the effects of SCD on lung growth and function. Special emphasis is given to the controversies among the published articles in the literature and discusses possible causes for these discrepancies.
Enzymatic reactions involving novel mechanisms of carbanion stabilization

The reactions catalyzed by orotidine monophosphate decarboxylase, oxalate decarboxylase, organomercurial lyase and phosphopantothenoylcysteine decarboxylase involve putative high-energy carbanion intermediates that cannot be stabilized by delocalization. Mechanistic and structural studies on each of these enzymes are described that suggest different strategies for carbanion stabilization. Both orotidine monophosphate decarboxylase and organomercurial lyase are likely to avoid carbanion formation by protonating the fragmenting bond, oxalate decarboxylase stabilizes an acyl carbanion using an adjacent radical and phosphopantothenoylcysteine decarboxylase stabilizes its carbanion by delocalization into a transient thioaldehyde.
Fuel reforming using dielectric barrier discharge and reformed fuel effects on BUNSEN flame

Methane and propane have been reformed using a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) and the effect of the reformed fuel species on the combustion was investigated at a BUNSEN burner. The main output species of the DBD fuel reformer are composed of mixtures of hydrogen and other small hydrocarbons. DBD fuel reformer shows the characteristic of filamentary microdischarge. The conversion rate was less than 10% due to the low power loading of the DBD reactor. The reformed fuel species affect the BUNSEN burner flame significantly at high equivalence ratio and have an minor effect at stoichiometric and lean operating conditions. Experimental and numerical analyses are needed to investigate the effect of the reformed fuel on the combustion phenomena.
A Quasi Block Cholesky algorithm for fast direct solution of integral-equation method based on the PMCHWT formulation

FAST direct integral-equation methods are important in many engineering applications, for instance, design optimization and simulating high-Q structures [1][2]. Matrix compression is a key because arithmetic operations of compressed matrix blocks involve less floating point operations (FLOPs). Studies show much improved computational efficiency when these methods were applied to metallic structures [1][2]. In this article, we propose a Quasi Block Cholesky (QBC) algorithm for fast direct solution of the Poggio-Miller-Chang-Harrington-Wu-Tsai (PM-CHWT) formulation for dielectric bodies [3]. Unlike the EFIE, which results in symmetric impedance matrices, impedance matrices of the PMCHWT formulation are asymmetric but have well-defined symmetric/skew-symmetric patterns. The QBC algorithm explores this feature and halves both memory and CPU time as compared to regular block LU decomposition. With single-level Adaptive Cross Approximation (ACA) method for matrix compression [4], the resultant CPU time scales around O(N2) and memory scales around O(N3/2).