cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Combined inotropic effects of amrinone and epinephrine after cardiopulmonary bypass in humans.

Amrinone, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, and epinephrine, an alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptor agonist, are inotropic drugs used during cardiac surgery to reverse myocardial depression after cardiopulmonary bypass. However, these drugs have not been compared separately, or in combination, in this patient population. We hypothesized that the combination might have complementary actions in improving myocardial function. We, therefore, compared amrinone, epinephrine, and the combination of amrinone and epinephrine in a randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled study in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. Forty patients with ejection fractions > 0.45 were studied. Right ventricular ejection fraction pulmonary artery catheters and radial arterial catheters were inserted before fentanyl-midazolam anesthesia. After separation from bypass, patients received either a placebo (n = 20) or amrinone bolus (1.5 mg/kg, n = 20) at time 0 and a placebo (n = 20) or epinephrine (30 ng.kg-1.min-1, n = 20) infusion at time 5 min. This resulted in four study groups, n = 10 in each group. Data were collected every 2.5 min for 10 min. Epinephrine, amrinone, and the combination of both drugs significantly increased cardiac output, stroke volume, O2 delivery, and left ventricular stroke work. The increase in stroke volume (P < 0.05) was 12 +/- 6, 16 +/- 4, and 30 +/- 4 mL/beat with epinephrine, amrinone, and the combination of amrinone and epinephrine, respectively. The amrinone-epinephrine combination increased stroke volume as much as the sum of amrinone and epinephrine given separately. Systemic vascular resistance and pulmonary vascular resistance decreased with amrinone and amrinone-epinephrine, but not with epinephrine. Epinephrine increased mean arterial and mean pulmonary arterial pressures. Right ventricular ejection fraction did not significantly increase (P = 0.09) with epinephrine, but increased significantly with amrinone (0.45 to 0.53, P = 0.01), and with the combination (0.43 to 0.55, P = 0.006). These data indicate that amrinone and epinephrine effectively increase myocardial performance during cardiac surgery. Right ventricular function especially was improved with amrinone and the combination of amrinone and epinephrine. The combined effects of amrinone and epinephrine may be useful in patients recovering from the ischemia and reperfusion injury resulting from coronary artery bypass grafting.
Friends with benefits or “friends” with deficits? The meaning and contexts of uncommitted sexual relationships among Mexican American and European American adolescents

Abstract Using focus groups, this study sought to understand and compare how Mexican American ( n = 41, M = 16.0 years old, SD = .96) and European American ( n = 34, M = 16.1 years old, SD = .64) youths conceptualize and experience “friends with benefits” relationships (FWBRs). Contrary to the implied nature of friendship, partners did not show caring and viewed FWBRs as a means to meet sexual needs. The “benefits” of this arrangement included guilt-free pleasure, little responsibility, the freedom to date others, or to remain available for a more desirable partner. The inherent deficits of FWBRs, on the other hand, included the potential pitfall of getting emotionally attached. Despite the recognized deficits, European American and Mexican American girls both desired and participated in FWBRs. However, Mexican American girls described more committed “going-out” relationships as ideal, which left them vulnerable to mismatched expectations and emotional upset in FWBRs. Findings outline the socio-emotional contexts of adolescent involvement in FWBRs, as well as underscore the potential for conflicting desires. Recommendations for healthy relationship and sexual health programs are discussed.
Revision total joint arthroplasty: The epidemiology of 63,140 cases in New York state

Recent evidence suggests a substantial rise in the number of revision total joint arthroplasty (TJA) procedures performed. The New York State SPARCS inpatient database was utilized to identify revision total shoulder, knee, and hip arthroplasty procedures between 1993 and 2010. Yearly incidence and related epidemiology were analyzed. A total of 1,806 revision TSA, 26,080 revision TKA, and 35,254 revision THA cases were identified. The population-based incidence of these procedures increased 288%, 246%, and 44% respectively (P<0.001). Revision burden for hip arthroplasty decreased from 16.1% in 2001 to 11.5% in 2010 (P<0.001). The rates of revision TSAs and TKAs increased at a substantially faster rate than that of revision THAs. Revision burden for hip arthroplasty steadily has decreased since 2001.
The Performance Implications of Participating in an Acquisition Wave: Early Mover Advantages, Bandwagon Effects, and The Moderating Influence of Industry Characteristics and Acquirer Tactics

Acquisitions often occur in waves within industries. We extend the theoretical understanding of such waves by drawing upon research on early mover advantage and bandwagon effects to develop argumen...
A Material and Energy Flow Analysis of South Carolina: Past, Present, and Future

Material and energy flows and land use in North America have shifted dramatically in the last several decades and even more dramatically over the last few centuries. As concerns mount regarding the environmental, economic, and social costs of imported energy sources; feasibility studies of energy independence are one tool for guiding energy policy decisions. This paper reviews the changes in land use, material flows, and energy flows in South Carolina over the past 400 years; showing the shift from a near hunter gatherer society, to an export based agrarian society, to the current fossil fuel dependent society. These phases and their impacts are compared and an analysis is carried out to determine the feasibility of maintaining the current system without the input of materials or energy from outside the geographic borders of the state. Historical data is combined with geospatial data sets to determine levels and limits of energy use and availability. Results include an assessment of the feasibility of using biomass, solar thermal, and solar photovoltaic technologies to maintain the current levels of consumption.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Tandem Mass Spectrometric Characterization of Thiol Peptides Modified by the Chemoselective Cationic Sulfhydryl Reagent (4-Iodobutyl)Triphenylphosphonium—

Fixed charge chemical modifications on peptides and proteins can impact fragmentation behaviors in tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). In this study, we employed a thiol-specific cationic alkylation reagent, (4-iodobutyl)triphenylphosphonium (IBTP), to selectively modify cysteine thiol groups in mitochondrial proteome samples. Tandem mass spectrometric characteristics of butyltriphenylphosphonium (BTP)-modified peptides were evaluated by comparison to their carbamidomethylated (CAM) analogues using a quadrupole time-of-flight (Q-TOF) instrument under low energy collision-induced dissociation (CID) conditions. Introduction of the fixed charge modification resulted in the observation of peptide and fragment (bn and yn) ions with higher charge states than those observed for CAM-modified analogues. The charged BTP moiety had a significant effect on the neighboring amide bond fragmentation products. A decrease in relative abundances of the product ions at the corresponding cleavage sites was observed compared with those from the CAM-modified derivatives. This effect was particularly noticeable when an Xxx-Pro bond was in the vicinity of a BTP group. We hypothesized that the presence of a phosphonium moiety will reduce the tendency for protonation of the proximal amide bonds in the peptide backbone. Indeed, calculations indicated that proton affinities of backbone amide bonds close to the modified cysteine residues were generally 20–50 kcal/mol lower for BTP-modified peptides than for the unmodified or CAM-modified analogues with the sequence motif -Ala-Cys-Alan-Ala2-, -Ala-Cys-Alan-Pro-Ala-, and -Ala-Pro-Alan-Cys-Ala-, n = 0–3.
Regulation of inducible nitric oxide production by intracellular calcium.

Background. Because increased nitric oxide (NO) production during sepsis can be detrimental to the host, inhibition of NO synthesis by various antagonists has been proposed as a therapeutic option. However, none of these approaches has addressed the possible regulation of inducible NO synthesis (iNOS) by endogenous intracellular signaling mechanisms. The purpose of our study was to determine whether intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) regulates iNOS. Methods. The macrophage cell line RAW 264.7 cells stimulated to produce NO were cultured in the presence or absence of the calcium ionophore A23187, ionomycin, or the Ca2+-adenosine triphosphatase inhibitor thapsigargin. Supernatants and total cellular RNA were recovered for measurement of iNOS messenger RNA (Northern blot) and NO2− (stable end product of NO), respectively. Simultaneous measurement of [Ca2+]i was performed by fluorescence spectrophotometry. Results. The calcium ionophore A23187, ionomycin, and thapsigargin all produced a dose-dependent inhibition of NO end product and iNOS messenger RNA (confirmed by densitometry) with a simultaneous increase in [Ca2+]i, confirmed by fluorescence spectrophotometry. This could not be reversed by exogenous l -arginine and was not observed if these agents were added beyond 0 hours of culture. Conclusions. Although iNOS is traditionally viewed as calcium independent, these data clearly show that [Ca2+]i regulates iNOS messenger RNA induction and end product synthesis. Endogenous cellular second messenger may thus be important in autoregulation of NO synthesis. Alternatives to pharmacologic or antagonist inhibition of NO deserve further investigation.
Microarrays reveal discrete phases in juvenile hormone regulation of mosquito reproduction

Mosquitoes are vectors of some of the world’s most devastating human diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever in the tropics, and encephalitis and West Nile virus in the United States. The female mosquito usually requires a blood meal before she makes a batch of eggs, and one for each subsequent batch thereafter. This repeated blood feeding makes her an exceptional disease vector, picking up a pathogen with one blood meal and then transmitting it on successive meals. After emergence (eclosion) as an adult, the female must mature before she can produce eggs in response to the blood meal. This maturation is initiated by an insect-specific juvenile hormone (JH), a sesquiterpenoid that acts on the fat body (the liver and the adipose tissue of the insect) to increase both its metabolic machinery and its protein-synthesizing capacity so that it can synthesize the yolk protein vitellogenin in response to the blood meal (Fig. 1) (1). JH also directs previtellogenic development of the ovary. In PNAS, Zou et al. (2) show, using microarray analysis, that JH controls the maturation of the fat body of the yellow fever, dengue mosquito Aedes aegypti in a time-dependent manner by regulating three major gene clusters. Early-posteclosion (EPE) gene expression peaks at 6 h, mid-posteclosion (MPE) genes at 24 h, and late-posteclosion (LPE) genes at 66 h after eclosion (Fig. 1). These times correspond to low, intermediate, and high JH titers because JH secretion begins at eclosion and peaks at 36 h (3). The EPE and MPE genes are primarily involved in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, whereas the late genes are primarily for the buildup of the protein-synthesizing machinery based on gene ontology, as discussed below.
Retransplantation for Donor-Derived Neuroendocrine Tumor

Although tumor transmission through liver transplantation (LT) is a rare occurrence, the consequences can be devastating, even when a very aggressive management approach is adopted. We report the case of a donor-derived small cell neuroendocrine tumor (NET) in a patient who underwent LT for cholangiocarcinoma. Despite locoregional therapy, chemotherapy and ultimately retransplantation, the patient died from metastases. The high grade nature of the NET was the most important determinant of prognosis in this case. Our experience suggests that retransplantation for donor-derived NET should only be considered when tumor biology is favorable.
High temperature optical and structural degradation of black chrome coatings

Abstract The microstructural basis for the optical degradation of electrodeposited black chrome coatings heated in high vacuum has been investigated via SEM and AES depth profiling. Compaction and agglomeration of the fine chromium particles comprising the film has been observed. The effect is to degrade the optical selectivity of the thin films.
Interfacial studies of crosslinked urethanes: Part II. The effect of humidity on waterborne polyurethanes; a spectroscopic study

In this study we examined isocyanate crosslinking reactions at the film-air (F-A) and film-substrate (F-S) interfaces of waterborne two-component (2K) urethanes as a function of depth and relative humidity (RH) using attenuated total reflectance (ATR) FTIR spectroscopy. Analysis of water/isocyanate reactions revealed urea formation which further interacts with water via H-bonding. Quantitative analysis of isocyanate consumption showed that the rates of film formation for waterborne polyurethanes are faster than equivalent solvent-borne polyurethanes. These studies showed that isocyanate consumption increases at high relative humidities. Examination of isocyanate consumption as a function of depth from the F-A and F-S interfaces showed that the isocyanate concentration increases when going from 0.65 to 1.14 µm.
A new computer approach to the modeling of close binary stars

A new,n-body approach is developed for the modeling of close binary systems, the most commonly occuring star systems known. Both local and long range forces are included. Computer examples of streaming, mass loss, and self-reorganization processes are described and discussed.
Differences in brain enzymes among five inbred strains of mice

Abstract Five inbred strains of mice were measured with respect to the brain enzymes, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), cholinesterase (ChE), aromatic L -amino acid decarboxylase (AAD), L -glutamic acid decarboxylase, and monoamine oxidase and total protein in whole brain and in three anatomically defined sections. Significant phenotypic variation was found for AChE, ChE and AAD; differences among strains were largely confined to non-cortical areas of the brain. The cholinergic enzymes were not distributed among strains in the same way as the noncholinergic enzymes. Moreover, AChE had a somewhat different pattern of distribution among strains than the nonspecific enzyme ChE.
Transplanted mammary epithelium grows in association with host stroma: aging of serially transplanted mammary gland is intrinsic to epithelial cells

Mouse mammary gland displays an irreversible decline in growth rate when propagated by serial transplantation in gland-free mammary fat pads of isogeneic mice. Because transplanted fragments of gland contain both mammary epithelial and stromal elements, the present study was undertaken to distinguish between two possibilities: (1) stromal cells in the implants proliferate in coordination with epithelium as the mammary ductal tree regenerates at each passage, or (2) transplanted epithelial tissue interacts exclusively with host stroma. Mammary xenografts from 18-week-old virgin Sprague-Dawley rats were implanted into gland-free mammary fat pads of athymic Balb/cNu/Nu mice. These rat xenografts regenerated chimeric mammary ductal outgrowths. When sectioned and stained with Hoechst dye 33258, a procedure that provides for unambiguous identification of mouse cell nuclei, rat mammary epithelium was found to be associated with mouse stromal cells; only at the site of transplantation were occasional rat stromal nuclei observed. This indicates that as mouse epithelial tissue becomes progressively aged during serial transfer in young mice, the stromal components are refreshed during each passage. The primary lesion underlying the mammary aging phenomenon must therefore be intrinsic to the epithelial cells.
A Klothoβ Variant Mediates Protein Stability and Associates With Colon Transit in Irritable Bowel Syndrome With Diarrhea

Background & Aims Bile acid (BA) malabsorption of moderate severity is reported in 32% of patients with chronic unexplained diarrhea, including diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D). We hypothesized that variants of genes regulating hepatic BA synthesis play a role in IBS-D. Methods In 435 IBS and 279 healthy subjects, we tested individual associations of 15 common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 7 genes critical to BA homeostasis with symptom-based subgroups using dominant genetic models. In a subset of 238 participants, we tested association with colonic transit. SNP-SNP interactions were investigated based on known protein interactions in BA homeostasis. The function of SNP rs17618244 in Klothoβ ( KLB ) was evaluated using a protein stability assay in HEK293 cells. Results SNP rs17618244 (Arg728Gln in KLB) is associated with colonic transit at 24 hours. G allele (Arg728) compared with A allele (Gln728) is associated with accelerated colonic transit ( P = .0007) in the overall cohort; this association was restricted to IBS-D ( P = .0018). Interaction tests of KLB rs17618244 with 3 nonsynonymous SNPs of fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) revealed that rs1966265 (Val10Ile) and rs351855 (Gly388Arg) modulate rs1768244's association with colonic transit in IBS-D ( P = .0025 and P = .0023, respectively). KLB Arg728 significantly reduced protein stability compared with KLB Gln728, demonstrating KLB rs17618244's functional significance. No significant associations with symptom-based subgroups of IBS were detected. Conclusions A functional KLB gene variant mediating protein stability associates with colonic transit in IBS-D. This association is modulated by 2 genetic variants in FGFR4 . The FGF19-FGFR4-KLB pathway links regulation of BA synthesis to colonic transit in IBS-D.
Quantum theory of parametric frequency conversion

Abstract The frequency conversion of electromagnetic fields is treated quantum mechanically through an analysis of a simple theoretical model. Two modes of the field are considered to be coupled by a parameter which oscillates at the difference frequency. The fields are described by means of a time-dependent density operator, which is assumed to have a P representation at t = 0. It is shown that such a system possesses a P representation at all later times, and its time dependence is found to have a particularly simple oscillatory character. The exchange of density operators between the two modes is illustrated explicity for several sets of initial conditions.
Use of the principal component method in the maximum likelihood estimation procedure of the logit model

Abstract The maximum likelihood estimates of a qualitative response market are solved by an iterative procedure. When severe multicollinearity exists among the explanatory variables, this procedure may fail to converge. In this note, using a bank-failure model, we demonstrate how the principle component method can make the iterative procedure converge when it fails to do so in the untransformed model.
Seismic augmentation of acoustic monitoring of mortar fire

The US Army Corps of Engineers Research and Development Center participated in a joint ARL-NATO TG-53 field experiment and data collect at Yuma Proving Ground, AZ in early November 2005. Seismic and acoustic signatures from both muzzle blasts and impacts of small arms fire and artillery were recorded using 7 seismic arrays and 3 acoustic arrays. Arrays comprised of 12 seismic and 12 acoustic sensors each were located from 700 m to 18 km from gun positions. Preliminary analysis of signatures attributed to 60mm, 81mm, 120 mm mortars recorded at a seismic-acoustic array 1.1 km from gun position are presented. Seismic and acoustic array f-k analysis is performed to detect and characterize the source signature. Horizontal seismic data are analyzed to determine efficacy of a seismic discriminant for mortar and artillery sources. Rotation of North and East seismic components to radial and transverse components relative to the source-receiver path provide maximum surface wave amplitude on the transverse component. Angles of rotation agree well with f-k analysis of both seismic and acoustic signals. The spectral energy of the rotated transverse surface wave is observable on the all caliber of mortars at a distance of 1.1 km and is a reliable source discriminant for mortar sources at this distance. In a step towards automation, travel time stencils using local seismic and acoustic velocities are applied to seismic data for analysis and determination of source characteristics.
Partisan Probing and Democratic Decisionmaking Rethinking the Nimby Syndrome

In this paper, I focus on Minnesota's unsuccessful attempt to site a hazardous waste stabilization and containment facility, but argue that this should not be seen as another siting failure due to irrational and self-interested citizens who subverted a well-conceived and essential disposal facility, Through a detailed comparison of citizen and elite claims about the facility, I show that many of the sources of disagreement between citizens and siting officials involve value trade-offs rather than technical issues, and contend that state officials’ views on these matters should not take precedence. Through “partisan probing,” citizens actually contribute to effective policymaking rather than detract from it.
Improving computer skill training: Behavior modeling, symbolic mental rehearsal, and the role of knowledge structures

Effective computer skill training is vital to organizational productivity. Two experiments (N = 288) demonstrated that the behavior modeling approach to computer skill training could be substantially improved by incorporating symbolic mental rehearsal (SMR). SMR is a specific form of mental rehearsal that establishes a cognitive link between visual images and symbolic memory codes. As theorized, the significant effects of SMR on declarative knowledge and task performance were shown to be fully mediated by changes in trainees' knowledge structures. The mediational role of knowledge structures is expected to generalize to other training interventions and cognitive skill domains. Our findings have the immediate implications that practitioners should use SMR for improving the effectiveness of computer skill training.
Creating Roles to Retain the Experienced Mature Nurse in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit

Creative strategies are needed to retain the mature (older/aging) experienced nurse in clinical settings. In the post-anesthesia care unit, as in other perioperative and critical care units, it is essential to keep skilled practitioners in their specialty. These skills take years to develop and are necessary to deliver safe patient care. A strategy focused on retaining experienced nurses is necessary to ensure the transference of knowledge from baby boomers to future generations, especially Generation Y the generation large enough to fill the nursing void left when baby boomers retire. The goal is to create roles attractive enough to entice mature nurses to continue working. This will require the development of multiple strategies such as improving working conditions and enhancing communication and team building between multiple generations that currently make up the workforce. Retaining the mature experienced nurse will make a difference in the quality of care, enhance the quality of nursing orientation and education, and contribute to the quality of patient care.
A subband approach to adaptive acoustic echo cancellation

Abstract In this paper a novel subband-based acoustic echo canceller (AEC) is proposed for teleconferencing applications. The proposed AEC consists of K non-overlapping main subbands and K auxiliary subbands. The auxiliary subbands are introduced in order to provide frequency coverage in the non-overlapping region between the neighboring main subbands. The main and auxiliary bands are constructed using the discrete Fourier transform (DFT) filter bank approach. Owing to the complex modulation feature implied in the DFT filter bank, the proposed structure consists of ( K 2 + 1) distinct main subbands and ( K 2 + 1) distinct auxiliary subbands. Central to computational efficiency of the proposed AEC is the down-sampling of the auxiliary bands by a factor of two compared to the main bands. The normalized mean squares algorithm (NLMS) is employed for updation of subband adaptive filter coefficients. The proposed subband AEC is implemented both in a real-time teleconferencing system employing a floating-point DSP chip and in simulation for the case of K = 16 i.e. nine distinct main bands and nine distinct auxiliary bands.
Parents: Dilemmas for Professionals

ABSTRACT A professional critically examines her practices towards parents whilst an educational psychologist. Aspects of the power relationship are explored, including acting as a friend, the trappings of professionalism, privacy and confidentiality, interprofessional trust, and the provision of services. A tentative conclusion reached is that these create dilemmas which are part of the workings of the system within which the educational psychologist works, and that professional survival is the underlying motive.
The Alleged Importance of Being Tough, Really Tough

Christina Hoff Sommers and Sally Satel, a philosopher and a psychiatrist, now both policy analysts at the American Enterprise Institute, write in their recent book One Nation Under Therapy: How the Helping Culture Is Eroding Self-Reliance that empirically unsupported psychological theories ultimately descended from the cultural upheavals of the 1960s have slowly wormed their way into the educational and social scientific mainstream. These theories, the authors argue, promote a view of the human person as someone who is ‘too fragile for this world’, and in need of ceaseless counseling and coddling from the cradle to the grave. The case the authors make for their thesis is, I argue, uneven – strong in specific cases, but weak and overwrought in many others. In the end, I argue, they misidentify the main cause of the increasing shallowness that, to a growing number of critics, is slowly infesting contemporary social science and education.
Alternative Possibilities and Causal Histories

TWO INCOMPATIBILIST INTUITIONS The claim that moral responsibility for an action requires that the agent could have done otherwise is surely attractive. Moreover, it seems reasonable to contend that a requirement of this sort is not merely a necessary condition of little consequence, but that it plays a significant role in explaining why an agent is morally responsible. For if an agent is to be blameworthy for an action, it seems crucial that she could have done something to avoid being blameworthy – that she could have done something to get herself off the hook. If she is to be praiseworthy for an action, it seems important that shecould have done something less admirable. Libertarians have often grounded their incompatibilism precisely in such intuitions. As a result, they have often defended the following principle of alternative possibilities: (1) An action is free in the sense required for moral responsibility only if the agent could have done otherwise than she actually did. or a similar principle about choice: (2) An action is free in the sense required for moral responsibility only if the agent could have chosen otherwise than she actually did. I shall argue that despite resourceful attempts to defend conditions of this sort, any such requirement that is relevant to explaining why an agent is morally responsible for an action falls to counterexamples. I maintain instead that the most plausible and fundamentally explanatory incompatibilist principles concern the causal history of an action, and not alternative possibilities.
Management Theory: Functional and Evolutionary

It is the central thesis of this paper that the enterprise can usefully be described as a man-directed, dynamic network of processes and facilitating systems, and that a useful model of the adminis...
Aerenchyma development and oxygen transport in the estuarine cordgrasses Spartina alterniflora and S. anglica

Abstract Spartina alterniflora and Spartina anglica are intertidal cordgrasses that have the capacity to develop extensive aerenchyma systems. Aerenchyma may supply submerged portions of the plant with atmospheric oxygen as well as lower metabolic demands of the plant. These physiological benefits help to make Spartina grasses formidable invasive species in areas where they have been introduced. Aerenchyma development was investigated in S. alterniflora and S. anglica maintained in greenhouse experiments under flooded and drained soil conditions. Amounts of aerenchyma along the lengths of roots were calculated from digital images of serial root cross-sections using image analysis software. Maximal aerenchyma formation occurred in S. alterniflora following exposure to flooded conditions, while aerenchyma in S. anglica did not increase under the same conditions. Aerenchyma function was investigated by testing individual Spartina plants for their ability to transport oxygen from leaves to roots. Oxygen transport capacities provided information about the plants’ oxygen demands and the overall effectiveness of their aerenchyma systems. S. anglica plants were able to transport substantial oxygen to their roots, but no oxygen transport was detected in S. alterniflora plants under the same conditions. Increased aerenchyma formation in flooded S. alterniflora did not enhance oxygen transport and may function primarily in reducing metabolic oxygen demands.
Using parameters in architectural views to support heterogeneous design and verification

Current methods for designing cyber-physical systems lack a unifying framework due to the heterogeneous nature of the constituent models and their respective analysis and verification tools. There is a need for a formal representation of the relationships between the different models. Our approach is to define these relationships at the architectural level, associating with each model a particular view of the overall system base architecture. This architectural framework captures critical structural and semantic information without including all the details of the various modeling formalisms. This paper introduces the use of logical constraints over parameters in the architectural views to represent the conditions under which the specifications verified for each model are true and imply the system-level specification. Interdependencies and connections between the constraints in the architectural views are managed in the base architecture using first-order logic of real arithmetic to ensure consistency and correct reasoning. The approach is illustrated in the context of heterogeneous verification of a leader-follower vehicle scenario.
Gamma-glutamylcysteine: A substrate for glutathione 5-transferases

Abstract A new high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the separation of γ-glutamylcysteine (GC) from glutathione (GSH) following derivatization with l-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) was developed using a Vydac C 18 column and an acetonitrile-trifluoroacetic acid gradient. When the derivatization of GC. GSH, cysleine, and cysteinylglycine was performed with GSH S -transferase, peak heights for the GC and GSH derivatives were accentuated markedly, suggesting that GC, like GSH, is an enzyme substrate. Subsequently, GC was found to be a substrate for five purified forms of rat hepatic GSH S -transferase. However, the K m for GC was about 6–20 times higher than that for GSH. GSH was a competitive inhibitor of GC-CDNB conjugation, indicating that GC and GSH share the same binding site on the transferase. However, endogenous hepatic GC content in led rats was only 5.8 ±0.1 nmoles/g, three orders of magnitude lower than GSH. Thus, under normal circumstances. GC would not be expected to contribute to detoxification reactions catalyzed by the GSH S -transferases. Its weak interaction with the GSH site of the GSH S -transferases supports the role of the glycine moiety of GSH in enhancing this interaction.
From Neuroelectrodynamics to Thinking Machines

Natural systems can provide excellent solutions to build artificial intelligent systems. The brain represents the best model of computation that leads to general intelligent action. However, current mainstream models reflect a weak understanding of computations performed in the brain that is translated in a failure of building powerful thinking machines. Specifically, temporal reductionist neural models elude the complexity of information processing since spike timing models reinforce the idea of neurons that compress temporal information and that computation can be reduced to a communication of information between neurons. The active brain dynamics and neuronal data analyses reveal multiple computational levels where information is intracellularly processed in neurons. New experimental findings and theoretical approach of neuroelectrodynamics challenge current models as they now stand and advocate for a change in paradigm for bio-inspired computing machines.
Unrecognized congenital posterior urethral minivalves in men

Abstract Removal of small congenital posterior urethral valves, unrecognized in prior urologic investigations of 10 men, relieved “prostatic” symptoms in 9. In follow-ups (5–20 years, average 12.5 years), 3 have experienced a recurrence attributed to bladder neck obstruction in 2 and to unknown causes in 1. Bladder neck incision carried out in 2, cured 1. The other was lost to follow-up.
Forecasting potato late blight in Minnesota

Periods of 10 hours or more concurrent temperature ≤75° F. and relative humidity ≥90 per cent followed by temperature maxima < 95° F. were used to predict potato late blight development. One favorable period a week was considered sufficient for limited reproduction and subsistence of the fungus in the foliage.
Know your anatomy: perineural involvement of basal and squamous cell carcinoma on the face.

. Knowledge of facial anatomy, particularly innervation, is basic to performing dermatologic surgery. There are clinical implications for cutaneous oncology (tumor spread), anesthesia, and postoperative complications, such as motor or sensory deficits. Perineural invasion of the facial nerves by squamous and basal cell carcinomas (SCCs and BCCs) occurs occasionally. We present three representative cases of both sensory and motor nerve involvement by SCC and BCC. The anatomy of the nerve supply of the face is summarized and the literature on perineural invasion by SCC and BCC is reviewed.
Geophysical Characterization of Smelting Wastes: A Case History

The wastes at some smelting sites release toxic chemicals into ground water and streams, thereby contaminating aquifers and destroying aquatic habitat. The thicknesses of slag piles at a smelting site in Midvale, Utah, were determined using geophysical methods; this information was needed to estimate the cost of removing or isolating slag that has the potential to contaminate ground water. From a small-scale preliminary investigation that included terrain-conductivity profiling, low-frequency resistivity measurements, and induction logging, the electrical resistivities of the slag and the underlying sediment were determined to be approximately 100 {Omega}-m and 15 {Omega}-m, respectively. Because electromagnetic measurements are affected by such significant contrasts, terrain-conductivity profiling and time-domain electromagnetic soundings were used to determine the thicknesses of the slag piles. In this case study, the authors emphasize three principles that might help investigators at other smelter sites. First, a small-scale preliminary investigation saves time and money because those geophysical methods that have the greatest likelihood of success can be determined. Second, when the results from several geophysical methods are consistent, the confidence in the interpretation increases. Third, geophysical characterization is not always successful.
Microcomputerized ultrahigh-speed transient digitizer and luminescence lifetime instrument

Abstract A high-speed transient digitizer and a versatile luminescence lifetime insrument are described. A Z-80-based microcomputer permits rapid acquisition of transients, signal averaging, baseline subtraction, single or double exponential decay fitting, deconvolution, and graphics display of the transient and its semilogarithmic plot of decays on an oscillo-scope or an X-Y plotter. Data can also be transferred to more powerful computers for further data reduction or higher quality plots. Applications that exploit the speed and convenience of the system are described.
Electrocardiographically documented unnecessary, spontaneous shocks in 241 patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators.

The incidence and cause of electrocardiographically documented spontaneous implantuble Cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) discharges for a rhythm other than ventricular tachycardia (VT) or fibrillation (VF) (unnecessary shocks) were determined in 241 patients who underwent ICD implantation between March 1983 and November 1991. During follow-up of 24 ± 20 months, 54 of 241 patients (22%) received a total of 132 unnecessary ICD shocks confirmed by Holler or telemetry monitoring or stored electrograms (Egs) from the ICD. The rhythm preceding these unnecessary ICD shocks was atrial fibrillation in 30 patients, sinus or supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) in 11 patients, antitachycardia pacing triggered by atrial fibrillation or SVT resulting in VT in 5 patients, nonsustained VT in 3 patients, and normal sinus or pacemaker rhythm in 10 patients. Unnecessary ICD discharges occurred most frequently during the first week after implantation or generator replacement (18 of 54 patients [33%]). Unnecessary ICD discharges could be documented more often by stored Egs in patients with devices with Eg storage capability (Ventritex Cadence(tm), 19 of 54 patients [35%]) than by Holter or telemetry monitoring in patients with devices without Eg storage capabilities (34 of 193 patients [18%], P < 0.01), despite a shorter mean follow-up duration of 14 ± 9 months versus 26 ± 21 months, respectively. Only six of 54 patients (11%) in whom unnecessary ICD discharges occurred had recurrent unnecessary shocks during 22 ± 20 months of follow-up after treatment directed at the cause of the first episode or device reprogramming to preclude non-VT rhythm detection. In conclusion, unnecessary ICD shocks are a frequent complication of ICD therapy occurring in at least 22% of patients. The cause of these shocks is most frequently atrial fibrillation with a rapid ventricular response. The availability of Eg storage capabilities facilitates the diagnosis of the electrical event precipitating inappropriate ICD shocks. Diagnosis of the cause of unnecessary shocks allows for the institution of therapy that may reduce the risk for subsequent events.
High Rhodotorula sequences in skin transcriptome of patients with diffuse systemic sclerosis.

Previous studies have suggested a role for pathogens as a trigger of systemic sclerosis (SSc), although neither a pathogen nor a mechanism of pathogenesis is known. Here we show enrichment of Rhodotorula sequences in the skin of patients with early, diffuse SSc compared with that in normal controls. RNA-seq was performed on four SSc patients and four controls, to a depth of 200 million reads per patient. Data were analyzed to quantify the nonhuman sequence reads in each sample. We found little difference between bacterial microbiome and viral read counts, but found a significant difference between the read counts for a mycobiome component, R. glutinis. Normal samples contained almost no detected R. glutinis or other Rhodotorula sequence reads (mean score 0.021 for R. glutinis, 0.024 for all Rhodotorula). In contrast, SSc samples had a mean score of 5.039 for R. glutinis (5.232 for Rhodotorula). We were able to assemble the D1–D2 hypervariable region of the 28S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) of R. glutinis from each of the SSc samples. Taken together, these results suggest that R. glutinis may be present in the skin of early SSc patients at higher levels than in normal skin, raising the possibility that it may be triggering the inflammatory response found in SSc.
Variation in megafaunal assemblages on the continental margin south of New England

Abstract Megafaunal assemblages at four locations on the slope south of New England were surveyed using a towed camera sled, with photographs taken at automatic 15 s intervals. A total of 284,692 organisms were seen in 94,380 m2 of sea floor viewed. Classification and ordination analysis defined four megafaunal zones that corresponded to different regions of the slope: an upper slope zone, an upper-middle slope zone, a transitional zone on the lower-middle slope, and a lower slope zone. Each of these zones could be further subdivided into shallow and deep portions of higher species similarity. Faunal densities were high in the upper and lower slope zones and low in the two middle slope zones. The boundaries between zones were frequently marked by abrupt shifts in faunal density and trophic structure. High species overlap between adjacent zones suggested a pattern of continual species turnover along the depth gradient, with zones representing regions of lesser faunal changes separated by regions of greater faunal change. Species replacement with depth was very abrupt in steep areas and gradual in flat areas. The pattern of species turnover and the depths of faunal boundaries varied among geographic locations, reflecting differences in local topography and geology. Patterns of density, and species composition, with depth were very similar at three of the locations but differed significantly at the eastern edge of Georges Bank, a site characterized by very steep topography and numerous glacial erratics and outcrops. Faunal assemblages in zones were frequently dominated by one or two very abundant species, and the boundaries between zones usually reflected the depth limits of these species. At each location, depths of major faunal boundaries coincided with relative changes in slope declivity rather than absolute angles of inclination. Environmental heterogeneity provided by different substrata may further enhance species turnover along the depth gradient. Variable relief also may allow extension of depth ranges by providing refuge from predation and/or altering food resources. Factors controlling the distribution of megafaunal assemblages on sediment-covered slopes may be related to the effect of local topography on current intensities and related differences in food availability.
Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy in the Detection of Head and Neck Precancerous Lesions.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to determine the feasibility of using probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (pCLE) in the diagnostic differentiation of non-neoplastic lesions from precancerous and cancerous lesions of head and neck patients.Study DesignDiagnostic test evaluation.SettingLouisiana State University Health Shreveport.Subjects and MethodsIntravenous injection of fluorescein was given to patients with precancerous and cancerous head and neck lesions (n = 21) followed by the use of a 1.8-mm GastroFlex probe in the oral cavity with subsequent biopsies of selected areas. Probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy images were compared to histologic evaluation of visualized sites using sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV), and positive predictive value (PPV).ResultsThe dorsal surface of the tongue was not well visualized. The remaining nonkeratinized subsites, including the buccal mucosa, floor of mouth, and ventral tongue, were well visualized. Diagnoses based on pCLE images corre...
BLOOD GROUP ANTIBODIES IN HUMAN URINE.

Anti-A, anti-B, and anti-D were found in the urine of individuals undergoing active immunization, but no isoagglutinins were detected in urine of non-immunized donors. Relative homogeneity of the antibodies is indicated by the close correspondence of titers by multiple technics. That γ1M-globulins do not contribute to urinary antibody activity is indicated by the lack of effect of mercaptoethanol and by failure to obtain a precipitation line in agar with anti-γ1M-globulin. Although anti-γ1A-globulin precipitates urinary protein, it fails to agglutinate urinary anti-D sensitized RBC as it does serum anti-D sensitized cells. Urinary blood group antibody activity seems to be associated principally with -γ2-globulins.
Extending the Applicability of the Nonlinear Poisson−Boltzmann Equation: Multiple Dielectric Constants and Multivalent Ions†

A new version of the DelPhi program, which provides numerical solutions to the nonlinear Poisson−Boltzmann (PB) equation, is reported. The program can divide space into multiple regions containing ...
Decay of heterogenous detritus: A general model

Abstract A new, general model of decay of organic matter assumes that the various constituents of the decaying mass have (1) different rates of decomposition and (2) different rates of transformation to more or less decomposable forms. Existing models of the decay process are special cases of the general model that share three assumptions: (a) no transformation of detrital components, (b) equal rates of decay for one or two homogeneous constituents of the decaying mass, and (6) a uniform distribution of each type of constituent at the beginning of decay. A solution of the general model that relaxes these three assumptions fits previously published data closely. The general model unites existing models, permits comparisons of their assumptions, and provides a theoretical framework for developing and evaluating particular models that embody assumptions more in harmony with empirical knowledge of decay mechanisms.
Global estimation of CO emissions using three sets of satellite data for burned area

Abstract Using three sets of satellite data for burned areas together with the tree cover imagery and a biogeochemical component of the Integrated Science Assessment Model (ISAM) the global emissions of CO and associated uncertainties are estimated for the year 2000. The available fuel load (AFL) is calculated using the ISAM biogeochemical model, which accounts for the aboveground and surface fuel removed by land clearing for croplands and pasturelands, as well as the influence on fuel load of various ecosystem processes (such as stomatal conductance, evapotranspiration, plant photosynthesis and respiration, litter production, and soil organic carbon decomposition) and important feedback mechanisms (such as climate and fertilization feedback mechanism). The ISAM estimated global total AFL in the year 2000 was about 687 Pg AFL. All forest ecosystems account for about 90% of the global total AFL. The estimated global CO emissions based on three global burned area satellite data sets (GLOBSCAR, GBA, and Global Fire Emissions Database version 2 (GFEDv2)) for the year 2000 ranges between 320 and 390 Tg CO. Emissions from open fires are highest in tropical Africa, primarily due to forest cutting and burning. The estimated overall uncertainty in global CO emission is about ±65%, with the highest uncertainty occurring in North Africa and Middle East region (±99%). The results of this study suggest that the uncertainties in the calculated emissions stem primarily from the area burned data.
Crystal structure of (±)-(3aR,5R,8bR)-5-hydroper-oxy-2-phenyl-6-tosyl-4,5,6,8b-tetra-hydro-pyrrolo-[3,4-e]indole-1,3(2H,3aH)-dione.

The title compound, C23H20N2O6S, crystallizes as a racemate in the space group P-1, with an overall L- or J-shape to each mol­ecule. Centrosymmetric pairs of mol­ecules are tandem hydrogen bonded between the hydro­per­oxy H atom and carbonyl O atom. A different centrosymmetric pairing has stacked S-tolyl rings, and a third pairing is L,J-inter­locked by the short leg. Except for stacked tolyl pairs, neighboring π-systems are much closer to orthogonal than coaxial. The title compound is the first example of a hydro­peroxide obtained from the autoxidation of a Diels–Alder adduct of a 2-vinyl­pyrrole.