cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Continuing warfarin therapy is superior to interrupting warfarin with or without bridging anticoagulation therapy in patients undergoing pacemaker and defibrillator implantation

Background Current guidelines recommend stopping oral anticoagulation and starting bridging anticoagulation with intravenous heparin or subcutaneous enoxaparin when implanting a pacemaker or defibrillator in patients at moderate or high risk for thromboembolic events. A limited body of literature suggests that device surgery without cessation of oral anticoagulation may be feasible. Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety of device surgery in orally anticoagulated patients without interrupting warfarin therapy. Methods We performed a retrospective study of 459 consecutive patients on chronic warfarin therapy who underwent device surgery from April 2004 to September 2008. Warfarin was continued in 222 patients during the perioperative period. Warfarin was temporarily held and bridging therapy administered in 123 patients. Warfarin was temporarily held without bridging therapy in 114 patients. Results There were no significant differences with regard to age, sex, or risk factors for thromboembolism in the three groups. Patients who continued taking warfarin had a lower incidence of pocket hematoma ( P = .004) and a shorter hospital stay ( P P = .01). Conclusion Temporarily interrupting anticoagulation is associated with increased thromboembolic events, whereas cessation of warfarin with bridging anticoagulation is associated with a higher rate of pocket hematoma and a longer hospital stay. Continuing warfarin with a therapeutic international normalized ratio appears to be a safe and cost-effective approach when implanting a pacemaker or defibrillator in patients with moderate to high thromboembolic risk.
Real Time Synchrotron Microradiography of Dendrite Coarsening in Sn-13 Wt Pct Bi Alloy

Dendrite coarsening in Sn-13 wt pct Bi alloy was observed in real time with high resolution synchrotron microradiography during continuous cooling and isothermal holding. Coarsening mechanisms such as dendrite remelting from tips toward roots and coalescence between neighboring branches were observed. Dendrite remelting was found to be dominant in the early stage of dendrite growth, whereas coalescence was dominant during isothermal coarsening. Rates of dendrite remelting and coalescence during continuous cooling and isothermal holding were measured from the captured images. The evolution of secondary dendrite arm spacing (DAS) was also measured from the real time observations. These results provided better understanding of dendrite coarsening during alloy solidification.
Hydrogen permeation in the metallic glass Fe40Ni40P14B6

Hydrogen permeation from the gas phase through the metallic glass Fe40Ni40P14B6 (Metglas 2826) was measured with the electrochemical technique over 313 to 353K and 105 to 103 Pa. Specimen surfaces were coated with a thin layer of electrodeposited palladium to eleminate surface impedances to hydrogen entry and exit. Sievert's law behavior was observed over the temperature and pressure ranges studied. An excellent fit to the permeation transients as obtained from Fick's diffusion theory. Diffusivities derived from least squares fitting of permeation trasients were in good agreement with those obtained from time lag measurements. Within the concentration range studied, diffusivity was found to be independent of input hydrogen concentration. The expressions for the permeability coefficient, 2.24 × 1016 exp{[(48.99 ± 2.93) kJ/mol]/RT} atom H/ms Pa12, the diffusivity 8.52 × 10−7 exp{[(−47.07 ± 1.63) kJ/mol]/RT} m2/s, and the solubility, 2.62 × 1022exp{[(−1.92 ± 4.56) kJ/mol]/RT} atom H/m3Pa12, were determined. An annealing treatment at 573K for one hour decreases bot the permeability and diffusivity of hydrogen in the metallic glass.
Egg thiamine concentration affects embryo survival in Lake Erie walleye

We quantified thiamine in eggs of Lake Erie walleye to determine if differences exist between spawning stocks within the Maumee and Sandusky rivers, both of which drain into the Western Basin. In spring 2004, eggs of walleye were collected in the Maumee River at three occasions (early, peak and late of the spawning run) and in the Sandusky River during the spawning run. After collection, eggs were fertilized with a known amount of milt, incubated and embryo survival was determined at the pigmented eyed stage. Thiamine and its derivatives were analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography. Thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) was the most abundant form of vitamin B1 present in eggs (60–95% of the total vitamin B1 concentration). Total thiamine concentrations in walleye eggs from the Maumee and Sandusky rivers at the peak of the spawning run averaged 6.1 ± 1.6 nmol g−1 and 5.0 ± 2.9 nmol g−1, respectively. Our results also indicated that Maumee River stock survival to the eyed stage embryo declined as the spawning season progressed (72%, 59% and 37% in the early, middle and late of spawning run, respectively) as well as the total thiamine and TPP concentrations. At the peak of the spawning run, survival to the eyed stage embryo did not differ significantly between stocks 59% versus 65% in the Maumee and Sandusky rivers, respectively, and thiamine concentrations were not significantly different between sites.
SELECTED REFERENCES ON ROOTWORK

ceedings of a Symposium on Culture and Health: Implications for Health Policy in Rural South Carolina. Melba S. Varner, ed. Pp. 33-79. Charleston, SC: College of Charleston Center for Metropolitan Affairs and Public Policy. Baer, Hans A. 1982 Toward a Systematic Typology of Black Folk Healers. Paper presented to the meetings of the Southern Anthropological Society, Boone, NC. Bauer, W. W. 1969 Potions, Remedies, and Old Wives Tales. Garden City, NY: Doubleday. Benyon, E. 1938 The Voodoo Cult among Negro Migrants in Detroit. American Journal of Sociology 43:894-907. Bims, Hamilton 1976 Voodoo, Astrology, Satanism, Spirits? Americans of All Races Swear by Them. Ebony Magazine. Brewer, J. Mason 1968 American Negro Folklore. Chicago: Quadrangle Books. Brown, Ray 1958 Popular Beliefs and Practices from Alabama. Berkeley: University of California Press. Burgin, Charles Edward 1960 The Extraction of Pain from Burns. North Carolina Folklore 13:17-19.
Stereoscopic retinal scanning laser display with integrated focus cues for ocular accommodation

We describe a full-color stereoscopic display that varies the focus of objects at different distances in a displayed scene to match vergence and stereoscopic retinal disparity demands, better approximating natural vision. In natural vision, the oculomotor processes of accommodation (eye focus) and vergence (angle between lines of sight of two eyes) are reflexively linked such that a change in one drives a matching change in the other. Conventional stereoscopic displays require viewers to decouple these processes, and accommodate at a fixed distance while dynamically varying vergence to view objects at different stereoscopic distances. This decoupling generates eye fatigue and compromises image quality when viewing such displays. In contrast, our display overcomes this cue conflict by using a deformable membrane mirror to dynamically vary the focus of luminance-modulated RGB laser beams before they are raster-scanned and projected directly onto the retina. The display has a large focal range (closer than the viewer's near point to infinity) and presents high-resolution (1280x480) full-color images at 60 Hz. A viewer of our display can shift accommodation naturally from foreground to background of a stereo image, thereby bringing objects at different distances into and out of focus. Design considerations and human factors data are discussed.
Der Einfluss einer Einjährigen Ausschliesslichen Fleischkost bei Zwei Menschen

Die klinischen und Laboratoriums untersuchungen erlauben die Annahme, das die Gesundheit der 2 Manner, die 1 Jahr lang ausschlieslich Fleisch asen, keinerlei Schaden erlitt.
Probing the multifactorial basis of Plasmodium falciparum quinine resistance: evidence for a strain-specific contribution of the sodium-proton exchanger PfNHE.

Abstract Quinine (QN) continues to be an important treatment option for severe malaria, however resistance to this drug has emerged in field isolates of the etiologic agent Plasmodium falciparum. Quantitative trait loci investigations of QN resistance have mapped three loci of this complex trait. Two coincide with pfcrt and pfmdr1, involved in resistance to chloroquine (CQ) and other quinoline-based antimalarials. A third locus on chromosome 13 contains the sodium-proton exchanger (pfnhe) gene. Previous studies have associated pfnhe polymorphisms with reduced QN sensitivity in culture-adapted field isolates. Here, we provide direct evidence supporting the hypothesis that pfnhe contributes to QN resistance. Using allelic exchange, we reduced pfnhe expression by introducing a truncated 3′ untranslated region (UTR) from pfcrt into the endogenous pfnhe 3′UTR. Transfections were performed with 1BB5 and 3BA6 (both CQ- and QN-resistant) as well as GC03 (CQ- and QN-sensitive), all progenies of the HB3×Dd2 genetic cross. RNA and protein analyses of the ensuing recombinant clones demonstrated a ∼50% decrease in pfnhe expression levels. A statistically significant 30% decrease in QN IC50 values was associated with these decreased expression levels in 1BB5 and 3BA6 but not in GC03. CQ, mefloquine and lumefantrine IC50 values were unaltered. Cytosolic pH values were similar in all parental lines and recombinant clones. Our observations support a role for pfnhe in QN resistance in a strain-dependent manner, which might be contingent on pre-existing resistance to CQ and/or QN. These data bolster observations that QN resistance is a complex trait requiring the contribution of multiple transporter proteins.
Two transatlantic sections: meridional circulation and heat flux in the subtropical North Atlantic Ocean

Abstract Transatlantic hydrographic sections were obtained in mid-1981 along latitudes 24.5° and 36.25°N. The tracks nearly duplicated sections made 23 years earlier as part of the International Geophysical Year. A total of 215 stations were occupied: data from a conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) probe and water samples for analyses of oxygen, nutrient, and other tracer concentrations were collected from the ocean surface to near bottom. The 1981 sections are described and displayed, and the circulation is compared to that of the earlier survey. Large-scale meridional velocity and basin-integrated transport are compared in the 1981 and IGY sections, using a hierarchy of geostrophic models. In the simplest model, a reference level is based on the gross thermohaline flow and consideration of water mass characteristics. The only transport constraint is that the geostrophic plus Ekman flows sum to zero. Subsequent models impose mass conservation in a set of layers and then conservation of potential vorticity in a single layer. Distributions of salinity and potential vorticity on density surfaces are examined in order to identify layers in which an advective balance of tracer distribution is plausible and where gradients are strong enough to be of practical use. It was found that the 1981 and IGY sections have similar features in their large-scale velocity fields and similar zonally averaged meridional transport. In each case, net northward transports of approximately 17 Sv of surface and intermediate water (above σ 2 = 36.82) were balanced by equal southward flow in the deep water. A significant shift toward greater depth occurred in the depth distribution of the deep southward flow in the 1981 sections. The wind-driven subtropical gyre is superimposed on this thermohaline overturning, and transport calculations in the gyre interior show the Sverdrup relation to be of questionable direct applicability. Ocean heat transport in 1981 was found to be about 1.2 × 10 15 W across 24°N and 0.8 × 10 15 W across 36°N. These values are indistinguishable from those obtained from the IGY data and from computations of air-sea heat exchange. The steadiness of the heat transport is attributed to the invariance of the zonally averaged meridional circulation.
Carbamoyl phosphate synthetase (glutamine-hydrolyzing): increased activity in cancer cells

The specific activity of carbamoyl phosphate synthetase (glutamine-hydrolyzing), the first and rate-limiting enzyme of de novo uridine 59-triphosphate biosynthesis, was increased in 13 transplantable hepatomas, particularly in the rapidly growing tumors (5.7- to 9.5-fold), and the rise was correlated with tumor growth rates. Thus, synthetase activity was linked with both hepatic neoplastic transformation and progression. Synthetase specific activity was so elevated in a transplantable sarcoma (18-fold) and a kidney adenocarcinoma (5-fold). The increased activity should enhance the capacity of the pathway and should confer selective advantages to cancer cells.
Geology in the 1996 USGS Seismic-hazard Maps, Central and Eastern United States

The current (1996) national probabilistic seismic-hazard maps utilize information about geologic structure and tectonics of the central and eastern U.S. to compensate for uncertainty that arises from the short seismicity record. Geology was incorporated into the maps mainly as seven source zones that are delineated in three distinct ways. The North American stable continental region is divided into two large zones, the sparsely seismic Precambrian craton and the more active Phanerozoic rim. Five other source zones are much smallerqthe Wabash Valley source zone is within the craton, whereas the Reelfoot Rift, eastern Tennessee, Charleston, and Charlevoix source zones are in the Phanerozoic rim of the continent. We document these zones and explain and justify their use. The seven zones provide a foundation from which we suggest a criterion for including more geology in future maps.
COMPLEX DYNAMICS IN A KEYNESIAN GROWTH MODEL

This paper develops a non-linear differential-delay model of the Keynesian system. The non-linearities derive from a non-linear relationship between capacity utilization and profitability, interacting with the effect of profitability on rates of investment. Local stability properties are established analytically, and numerical techniques indicate the possibility of chaotic behavior for some configurations of parameters. The results suggest that profitability and growth can interact to produce some of the apparently stochastic components of growth cycles.
Proton beam therapy following resection for childhood ependymoma

Proton radiation therapy is a form of radiation with physical properties that can provide an advantage in normal tissue sparing compared to the more commonly used photon therapy. The greatest benefit may be for young patients with tumors requiring relatively high doses of radiation and adjacent to critical structures. Children with central nervous system ependymomas meet these criteria and have a very high likelihood of benefit from proton radiation. At present, proton radiation is limited to select centers. However, knowledge of many of the physical advantages of proton therapy has spread rapidly over the past several years, and its availability is becoming more widespread.
Abstract 4378: Aflatoxin B1 inhibits LPS-induced TNF-alpha production in RAW 264.7 cells

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), a potent hepatocarcinogen, is known to impair specific and nonspecific immune responses. Recent studies suggested that AFB1 affects macrophage functions. Macrophages play an important role in a host defense against tumors and bacteria. In addition, some macrophage products, including tumor necrosis alpha (TNF-alpha), can be cytotoxic. In the present study, we investigated the effect of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) on LPS-induced TNF-alpha production by a mouse macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7 cells. Cells were pretreated with increasing concentrations of AFB1 for 2 hours followed by stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 6 h. The concentration of TNF-alpha released in the culture medium was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). AFB1 at 1, 10, 50 or 100 µM reduced the production of TNF-alpha induced by LPS. Compared to vehicle control, there was a greater reduction of TNF-alpha production with increased concentration of AFB1 pretreatment and LPS stimulation. AFB1 at 100 µM decreased the synthesis of both TNF-alpha mRNA and protein in RAW 264.7 cells. To explore the mechanism of AFB1 activation by RAW 264.7 cells, we examined the expression of CYP3A4 and CYP3A11, two isoforms of cytochrome p450 known to activate AFB1. Our data indicated that CYP3A11 but not CYP3A4 was significantly expressed in RAW 264.7 cells. These results suggest that AFB1 pretreatment suppresses LPS-induced TNF production in RAW 264.7 cells. (Supported by NIH grant R01ES04139.) Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4378.
uScan: a lightweight two-tier global sensing coverage design

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs), consisting of thousands of low-cost sensor nodes, have been used in many application domains such as military surveillance [1], habitat monitoring [4] and scientific exploration [6]. Limited power supplies and difficulties in harvesting ambient energy make energy conservation a critical issue to address. As one of solutions, energyefficient sensing coverage extends system lifetime by leveraging on the redundant deployment of sensor nodes. Existing algorithms [5, 7, 8, 9] are designed to be well distributed and localized with solid performance gains. While the state-of-the-art is encouraging, we believe there are some aspects that need further investigation. In most algorithms, extending system lifetime is achieved essentially through coordination among neighboring nodes. The local node density, therefore, imposes a theoretical upper bound on the system lifetime, if a continuous sensing coverage or a partial coverage is required. Such a bound can be surpassed through global scheduling. However, the overhead of global scheduling would increase significantly if the coordination among the nodes goes beyond the neighborhood. To address these issues, we introduce a two-tier global scheduling method, called uScan. At the first level, coverage is scheduled to activate different portions of an area. We propose an optimal scheduling algorithm to minimize area breach. At the second level, sets of nodes are selected to cover active portions. Interestingly, we show that it is possible to obtain optimal set-cover results in linear time if the layout of areas satisfies certain conditions. We have implemented and evaluated our design on the Berkeley TinyOS/Mote platform [2], using 30 MicaZ motes. The results indicate that uScan is a lightweight solution with significant energy savings, compared with localized solutions.
Emergence of Power Laws in Networked Control Systems

In this paper we study multiple systems connected over an unreliable communication network. The links in the networks are modeled as drop-out channels. We consider the closed loop Mean Square stability of multi agent systems formations, and use our analysis result to evaluate the fragility of the networked system to packet losses or link drop-outs. We present a case where the packet drops can lead to loss of Mean Square stability. Systems that are not Mean Square stable have heavy tail distributions of their states. Simulations show the power law nature of such distributions. While having identical agents may lead to a simplified nominal stability analysis and to scalable solutions, it does not seem to reduce the complexity of the Mean Square stability analysis. We show that fading networks, which are spatially invariant in the mean, do not suffer from this limitation and allow for the maximal tolerable uncertainty to be distributed arbitrarily among the links.
Using others' words: conversational use of reported speech by individuals with aphasia and their communication partners.

Reported speech, wherein one quotes or paraphrases the speech of another, has been studied extensively as a set of linguistic and discourse practices. Researchers agree that reported speech is perv...
Obesity modifies the association between plasma phospholipid polyunsaturated fatty acids and markers of inflammation: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Obesity modifies the association between plasma phospholipid polyunsaturated fatty acids and markers of inflammation: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis
Do Business Communication Technology Tools Meet Learner Needs

While institutions of higher education are enthusiastically embracing technology-mediated learning (TML), little research has been conducted to identify factors that influence student use of TML tools or determine whether use of them increases student learning. This study of business communication students at two universities found that (1) students tend to be sensing, visual, active, and sequential learners; (2) perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use of TML tools are positively associated with perceived learning success; (3) learning styles do influence the students' usage behavior of certain TML tools; and (4) students' sensing/intuitive learning style is related to their perceived learning success.
A mass spectrometric determination of the conformation of dimeric apolipoprotein A-I in discoidal high density lipoproteins.

Discoidal forms of high density lipoproteins (HDL) are critical intermediates between lipid-poor apolipoprotein A-I (apo A-I), the major protein constituent of HDL, and the mature spherical forms that comprise the bulk of circulating particles. Thus, many studies have focused on understanding apoA-I structure in discs reconstituted in vitro. Recent theoretical and experimental work supports a “belt” model for apoA-I in which repeating amphipathic helical domains run parallel to the plane of the lipid disc. However, disc-associated apoA-I can adopt several tertiary arrangements that are consistent with a belt orientation. To distinguish among these, we cross-linked near-neighbor Lys groups in homogeneous 96 A discs containing exactly two molecules of apoA-I. After delipidation and tryptic digestion, mass spectrometry was used to identify 9 intermolecular and 11 intramolecular cross-links. The cross-linking pattern strongly suggests a “double-belt” molecular arrangement for apoA-I in which two apoA-I molecu...
Methods and Accuracy of Sexing Sockeye Salmon Using Ultrasound for Captive Broodstock Management

AbstractUltrasound has been widely used to noninvasively examine the internal anatomy and reproductive status of many fish species. Since 2003, ultrasonography has been an integral part of broodstock management for Endangered Species Act–listed endangered Redfish Lake Sockeye Salmon Oncorhynchus nerka. Initial ultrasound screenings for each year's broodstock were conducted 3 to 4 months prior to anticipated maturation, before external signs of maturation developed. In keeping with the natural life history of these fish, this permitted the separation of nonmaturing fish from maturing fish so the immature fish could maintain feeding and growth. It also permitted maturing seawater-reared fish to be transferred to freshwater for final maturation. Designing a spawning matrix to maintain genetic diversity requires knowledge of the sex of each fish before spawning. Approximately 1 month prior to spawning, a second ultrasound was performed to verify sex identification and thus ensure the accuracy of the spawning ...
PASS: a parallel speech understanding system

The authors present a parallel computational model for the integration of speech and natural language processing. The model adopts a hierarchically-structured knowledge base and memory-based parsing techniques. Processing is carried out by passing multiple markers in parallel through the knowledge base. Speech-specific problems such as insertion, deletion, substitution, and word boundaries have been analyzed and their parallel solutions are provided. The complete system has been implemented on a parallel machine and is operational. Results show a 80% sentence recognition rate for the air traffic control domain. A 10-fold speed-up can be obtained over an identical sequential implementation with an increasing speed advantage as the size of the knowledge base grows. >
Technical overview of VP8, an open source video codec for the web

VP8 is an open source video compression format supported by a consortium of technology companies. This paper provides a technical overview of the format, with an emphasis on its unique features. The paper also discusses how these features benefit VP8 in achieving high compression efficiency and low decoding complexity at the same time.
Concurrent programming on microcomputers

The design and implementation of a well-defined set of extensions to the UCSD Pascal System which support concurrent programming is described. The extensions provide for dynamic process creation and interprocess communication using messages. The extensions are designed to be consistent with the UCSD Pascal System philosophy of providing a compact, portable environment for microcomputer software development. The concurrent programming capability extends the range of applications of the UCSD Pascal System to distributed systems, real-time process control, and simulation of discrete processes.
Back-to-Back Reflector Antennas With Reduced Moment of Inertia for Spacecraft Spinning Platforms

A back-to-back reflector antenna system with reduced moment of inertia is proposed in order to address the demanding problem of supporting large reflector antennas on spinning platforms. The configuration provides additional potential advantages, such as reducing the spinning speed by half for a given sampling rate when both back-to-back reflectors are utilized. Geometrical parameters of the reflector are determined such that the moment of inertia of the rotating system is reduced. It is shown that these back-to-back reflectors suffer from a high cross-pol level in the asymmetrical plane due to the large feed offset angle. Two different methods are explored to alleviate the high cross-pol level problem. In the first method, a sub reflector is utilized to minimize the cross-pol level by satisfying the Mizugutchi condition. In the second method, a tri-mode matched feed horn is suggested to achieve a similar result. The suppressed cross-pol level puts forward the gravitationally balanced back-to-back reflector antenna systems as a potential candidate for future spacecraft antennas on spinning platforms.
Role of decreased cardiac output in isoproterenol-induced cardiovascular teratogenesis in chick embryos.

Studies employing microcinematography, time-lapse microphotography, electrocardiography, and bioelectrical impedance cardiography indicate that a decrease in cardiac output may be important in isoproterenol-induced cardiovascular teratogenesis in the chick embryo and merits further investigation. It has been demonstrated by microcinematography that the rate of flow through embryonic chick hearts (Hamburger-Hamilton developmental stages 24–26) treated with 7.5 × 10−4 M isoproterenol is less than that observed before or without drug administration. Bioelectrical impedance cardiograms have confirmed the above observations. Furthermore, isoproterenol induced momentary asystoles and depressed heart rates for as long as 1–2 hours. Pretreatment of embryos with practolol, a β-1 adrenergic receptor antagonist, induced more normal cardiac performance after isoproterenol administration. Time-lapse microphotographs demonstrated morphological alterations, indicating possible venous pressure changes in the vitelline system. Those findings are consistent with a hypothesis that practolol prevents isoproterenol-induced acute heart failure in the embryonic chick.
Palaeointensity in the pelagic realm: marine sediment data compared with archaeomagnetic and lake sediment records

Summary. Four box cores collected from the Ontong-Java plateau during the Eurydice expedition have been used to make relative geomagnetic palaeointensity measurements. Rock magnetic measurements on the sediments show that they are characterized by a uniform magnetic mineralogy, and that they are suitable for relative intensity estimates. These are obtained by normalizing the NRM by an ARM imparted in a low DC bias field. The palaeoceanographic event known as the preservation spike is used to establish a crude time-scale for the record so that it may be compared with other data from the same region, and also with global palaeointensity estimates. The marine sediment data are quite similar to Australian intensity data from lake sediments and archaeomagnetic sources, but as might be expected exhibit some obvious differences from the global record.
The electronic spectrum of the UO2 molecule.

The electronic spectrum of the UO2 Molecule has been determined using multiconfigurational wave functions together with the inclusion spin-orbit coupling. The molecule has been found to have a (5fphi)(7s), (3)Phi(2u), ground state. The lowest state of gerade symmetry, H-3(4g), corresponding to the electronic configuration (5f)(2) was found 3330 cm(-1) above the ground state. The computed energy levels and oscillator strengths were used for the assignment of the experimental spectrum in the energy range 17000-19000 and 27000-32000 cm(-1).
Interventional advances in long-term stroke prevention.

Abstract Endovascular angioplasty and stent placement are rapidly emerging therapeutic modalities for selected patients with carotid arterial occlusive disease. Prospective analyses of several large studies have shown that although carotid endarterectomy is the standard of care for most patients, it is associated with significant morbidity and mortality in high-risk patients. When carotid endarterectomy is not feasible in patients with conditions such as contralateral occlusions, recurrent stenosis, and pre-existing cranial palsies, carotid stenting is the treatment of choice. Adjunctive administration of potent antiplatelet agents such as clopidogrel and aspirin appears to reduce the risk of stroke. Currently available embolization-prevention devices and nitinol stents greatly reduce the mortality and morbidity because of embolization during carotid stenting. The spectrum of carotid diseases that can be safely treated with endovascular intervention will increase as new and safer options become available. Copyright © 2001 by National Stroke Association
Future therapies for heart failure

The treatment of heart failure has changed as the understanding of the disease evolves. Heart failure remains the only cardiovascular disease that continues to rise in both incidence and prevalence, despite recent advances in treating symptoms and thwarting disease progression. Many opportunities exist for improving patient outcomes with pharmaceutical agents and technologies available now or in the near future. This article discusses recently approved drugs and devices and clinical trials that may affect the management of this challenging disease.
Growth hormone exerts acute vascular effects independent of systemic or muscle insulin-like growth factor I.

Context: Endothelial dysfunction is common in patients with GH deficiency who are at increased risk for premature cardiovascular death. GH regulates vascular tone and reactivity in humans. Objective: Our objective was to explore the mechanisms underlying the GH’s acute vascular effects. Design and Study Setting: There were 10 healthy, lean and young, volunteers studied after an overnight fast. GH was infused systemically for 6 h at 0.06 μg/kg·min. Biopsy of the vastus lateralis muscle was done in seven subjects before and after GH infusion. Human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) were incubated with GH in vitro. Results: GH infusion increased plasma GH to 32.9 ± 1.5 ng/ml and forearm blood flow by 66% (P < 0.001). GH infusion did not significantly change plasma IGF-I concentrations, muscle IGF-I mRNA expression, and muscle Akt phosphorylation, suggesting a lack of IGF-I action in muscle. Because it was reported that GH exerts an acute vascular effect via a nitric oxide (NO)-dependent mechanism, we performe...
Nutritional Assessment of Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Acute Respiratory Failure

In order to determine the likelihood of pre-existing nutritional deficits in medical patients with acute respiratory failure, a nutritional assessment survey was performed on 18 control patients with stable COPD and nine patients with COPD and acute respiratory failure. Significant differences were noted with the respiratory failure group having deficits in percentage of ideal body weight (mean difference 19 percent), triceps skinfold thickness (mean difference 4.4 mm), and arm muscle circumference (mean difference 3.3 cm). Significant deficits were also found in measurements of serum transferrin and retinol binding proteins, creatinine height index and total lymphocyte counts. Body protein and fat stores were markedly depleted in almost half of the patients with respiratory failure. These data suggest that protein-calorie malnutrition is likely to be present in patients with COPD and acute respiratory failure. Nutritional support for this population should be initiated at the onset of the illness. Nutritional repletion should be considered one goal of such therapy.
Voters and Parliaments in the German Revolution of 1848: An Analysis of the Prussian Constituent Assembly

THE Revolution of 1848 is a favorite subject for historians of Germany because, in so many ways, it inaugurated contempo? rary German history. It is a significant "watershed" in political, social, and even intellectual history. But our understanding of this great upheaval is nonetheless still vexingly deficient. In particular, the politi? cal impact of pre-March social change, though it is the subject of much recent inquiry, is not well understood.1 German society was so complex, so diverse, and in such a bewildering state of transition that general observations are hard to make; what is true in one place is often false in another. So there is no comprehensive study, for example, ofthe agrar? ian uprisings of 1848, and opinions differ widely on their scope, inten? sity, and significance. The role of the working class is also murky and unclear, partly because that class was beginning its long-term transformation from a traditional guild artisanate to a modern factory proletariat, a process which greatly complicates sociological definitions. Elections are an important measure of mass political attitudes and behavior, and they would normally be used as evidence in this sort of investigation. But the elections of 1848 have not received much atten-
Late Pleistocene Lizards from Fowlkes Cave, Culberson County, Texas

Abstract Fossils of five or more genera and six species of lizards were identified from late Pleistocene sediments of Fowlkes Cave, Culberson County, Texas. The most abundant species was the roundtail horned lizard Phrynosoma modestum (45 individuals), a common lizard in the Recent Chihuahuan Desert, but the greatest number of fossils represented ≥83 individuals of Phrynosomatidae genus and species indeterminate. Fossils identified to at least the generic level appear to represent xeric-adapted lizards that occur in habitats typical of the Chihuahuan Desert that occur around the cave today.
Phosphorylation of ETS1 by Src family kinases prevents its recognition by the COP1 tumor suppressor.

Oncoproteins and tumor suppressors antagonistically converge on critical nodes governing neoplastic growth, invasion, and metastasis. We discovered that phosphorylation of the ETS1 and ETS2 transcriptional oncoproteins at specific serine or threonine residues creates binding sites for the COP1 tumor suppressor protein, which is an ubiquitin ligase component, leading to their destruction. In the case of ETS1, however, phosphorylation of a neighboring tyrosine residue by Src family kinases disrupts COP1 binding, thereby stabilizing ETS1. Src-dependent accumulation of ETS1 in breast cancer cells promotes anchorage-independent growth in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. These findings expand the list of potential COP1 substrates to include proteins whose COP1-binding sites are subject to regulatory phosphorylation and provide insights into transformation by Src family kinases.
Incidental splenic injury during abdominal vascular surgery: a case-controlled analysis.

Abstract Background: The small but finite risk of postsplenectomy sepsis is generally regarded as a firm indication for splenic preservation after iatrogenic injury, especially in the young. But splenectomy may be preferable in patients who sustain splenic injuries during vascular operations because of the potential for continued bleeding associated with anticoagulation. The purpose of this study was to determine the perioperative morbidity of incidental splenectomy among patients undergoing abdominal vascular operations. Study Design: We studied 17 patients who underwent incidental splenectomy at the time of abdominal vascular operations. Complete data collected on each subject included preoperative and postoperative blood counts, operative indications and details, transfusion requirements, length of hospital stay, and outcomes. Using age- and gender-matched case controls undergoing identical vascular operations from the same period, we evaluated the complication rate and outcomes of patients who underwent splenectomy for iatrogenic injuries of the spleen, versus those who did not sustain splenic injuries. Results: The estimated prevalence of iatrogenic splenic injury during the study period was 0.5%. Mean operative time, estimated blood loss, and duration of mechanical ventilation tended to be greater in the splenectomy patients, but the differences did not achieve statistical significance. Splenorrhaphy was attempted in seven patients, but continued bleeding mandated spleen removal in all cases. Splenectomy patients had a higher transfusion requirement (p = 0.03) and a longer mean length of stay (p = 0.03) than controls. Compared with controls, there was a higher prevalence of infectious complications in the splenectomy patients (p = 0.015), but there was no difference in the prevalence of thromboembolic complications between groups. Two of the splenectomy patients died in the postoperative period from multisystem organ failure, and one died of a missed splenic injury. Conclusions: These data suggest that incidental splenectomy during abdominal vascular operations is associated with increased postoperative infectious complications and prolonged hospitalization.
Real-time navigator approach to motion problems in coronary MRA

This paper is a summary discourse on the real time navigator approach to suppressing motion effects in coronary magnetic resonance angiography. The concept of the navigator approach, characteristics of coronary motion, design of navigator echoes for motion measurements, and navigator algorithms for motion effect suppression are reviewed and discussed. At the conclusion, an efficient and effective navigator method is suggested for suppressing motion effects in coronary MRA.
Gene Therapy for Infectious Diseases

Gene therapy is being investigated as an alternative treatment for a wide range of infectious diseases that are not amenable to standard clinical management. Approaches to gene therapy for infectious diseases can be divided into three broad categories: (i) gene therapies based on nucleic acid moieties, including antisense DNA or RNA, RNA decoys, and catalytic RNA moieties (ribozymes); (ii) protein approaches such as transdominant negative proteins and single-chain antibodies; and (iii) immunotherapeutic approaches involving genetic vaccines or pathogen-specific lymphocytes. It is further possible that combinations of the aforementioned approaches will be used simultaneously to inhibit multiple stages of the life cycle of the infectious agent.
Anaerobic Bioremediation of Acid Mine Drainage using Emulsified Soybean Oil

Batch incubation and flow-through column experiments were conducted to evaluate the use of emulsified soybean oil for in situ treatment of acid mine drainage. Addition of soybean oil, soluble substrates, and a microbial inoculum to the batch incubations resulted in complete depletion of SO4, 50% reduction in Fe, and an increase in pH to >6. A one time injection of emulsified soybean oil, lactate, yeast extract, and a microbial inoculum stimulated SO4 and metal ion reduction for s 300 days in laboratory columns packed with mine tailings receiving influent solutions with a pH s 3 and s 5. In all emulsion treated columns, SO4 and Fe were reduced, pH increased to >6, and Al, Cu and Zn removal efficiency was 99% or greater. Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn were removed as metal sulfides and/or carbonates with removal efficiency decreasing with increasing metal sulfide solubility. The low pH and high heavy metals concentrations did not significantly inhibit biological activity. However, SO4 removal with associated precipitation of metal sulfides may have been limited by the short hydraulic retention time (6-7 days) of the columns. There was a significant hydraulic conductivity loss in one of the four treated columns, indicating that hydraulic conductivity loss may be an issue under certain conditions.
In Vivo Validation of a Hybrid Tracking System for Navigation of an Ultrathin Bronchoscope Within Peripheral Airways

Transbronchial biopsy of peripheral lung nodules is hindered by the inability to access lesions endoluminally due to the large diameter of conventional bronchoscopes. An ultrathin scanning fiber bronchoscope has recently been developed to advance image-guided biopsy several branching generations deeper into the peripheral airways. However, navigating a potentially complex 3-D path to the region of interest presents a challenge to the bronchoscopist. An accompanying guidance system has also been developed to track the bronchoscope through the airways, and display its position and intended path on a virtual display. Intraoperative localization of the bronchoscope was achieved by combining electromagnetic tracking (EMT) and image-based tracking (IBT). An error-state Kalman filter was used to model the disagreement between the two tracking sources. The positional tracking error was reduced from 14.22 and 14.92 mm by independent EMT and IBT, respectively, to 6.74 mm using the hybrid approach. Hybrid tracking of the scope orientation and respiratory motion compensation further improved tracking accuracy and stability, resulting in an average tracking error of 3.33 mm and 10.01°.
Automated design of finite state machine predictors for customized processors

Customized processors use compiler analysis and design automation techniques to take a generalized architectural model and create a specific instance of it which is optimized to a given application or set of applications. These processors offer the promise of satisfying the high performance needs of the embedded community while simultaneously shrinking design times.Finite State Machines (FSM) are a fundamental building block in computer architecture, and are used to control and optimize all types of prediction and speculation, now even in the embedded space. They are used for branch prediction, cache replacement policies, and confidence estimation and accuracy counters for a variety of optimizations.In this paper, we present a framework for automated design of small FSM predictors for customized processors. Our approach can be used to automatically generate small FSM predictors to perform well over a suite of applications, tailored to a specific application, or even a specific instruction. We evaluate the use of these customized FSM predictors for branch prediction over a set of benchmarks.
Physiological aspects of Taxus brevifolia seeds in relation to seed storage characteristics

Water relations, desiccation tolerance and longevity of Taxus brevifolia (Nutt.) seeds were studied to determine the optimal stage of development and storage conditions for seeds of this species. Seeds equilibrated to a range of relative humidities (RHs) had unusually low water contents which can be accounted for by the high lipid content of gametophyte tissues (71% of the dry mass). Water relations of embryonic tissue were more typical of those reported for other seed species. The water content below which freezing transitions were not observable in the embryo was ca 0.24 g H 2 O (g dry weight) -1 (g g -1 ) for all maturity classes studied. Embryos did not achieve significant levels of desiccation tolerance (survival to water contents less than 0.5 g g -1 ) until the latter stages of development when dry matter was maximal. Mature embryos could be dried to 0.025 g g -1 (seed water content of 0.010 g g -1 ) with no loss of viability. Thus, at the latter stages of development, embryo water content could be optimized to avoid both desiccation and freezing damage. Survival of mature seeds declined over a 2-year period when seeds were stored at temperatures between 5 and 35°C and RHs between 14 and 75%, corresponding to seed water contents between 0.015 and 0.07 g g -1 . The deterioration rate was slowest for seeds stored at the lowest RH and temperature. Our data indicate that seeds of Taxus brevifolia show orthodox rather than recalcitrant storage characteristics, but that the optimum water content for storage was extremely low. The results suggest that even if stored at optimal water contents and low temperatures, T brevifolia seeds will be relatively short lived. The high quantity of lipids or reducing sugars may be contributing factors in the poor storage characteristics.
Grain growth and void formation in dielectric-encapsulated Cu thin films

Grain growth in 40-nm-thick Cu films encapsulated by over- and under-layers of SiO2, Al2O3, Si3N4, and MgO was investigated. The films were magnetron sputter deposited onto cooled SiO2/Si substrates in an ultrahigh vacuum purity environment. Ex situ annealing was performed at 400 and 800 °C in 1 atm reducing gas. Films deposited at −120 °C exhibited more extensive grain growth after annealing than films deposited at −40 °C. Films annealed at room temperature had grain sizes less than 35 nm. All films exhibited some void formation after annealing at 400 and 800 °C, but the films encapsulated in Al2O3 exhibited the lowest area fraction of voids. The mean grain sizes of the Al2O3-encapsulated films, as measured by the linear intercept method, were 86 and 134 nm after annealing at 400 and 800 °C, respectively.
Republic or democracy

While ‘republic’ is used to distinguish regimes without monarchs from other constitutional forms, in other respects the word is taken to be a virtual synonym for democracy. Up to the present century, however, the two words had very different histories. The republican form was almost always held to retain constitutional safeguards against the ‘excesses’ or ‘follies’ of democracy. This would be of little consequence were it not for the fact that many present republican constitutions have been carried forward from a time when the previous distinctions were carefully maintained. In historical terms, the identification of republic with democracy — as is almost universally done in the United States — is problematical. Difficulties associated with the (former) distinction could well be inherited or absorbed by those wishing to emulate the US experience, including some of those who advocate a republic for Australia.