cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mice Reared With Rats: Effects of Preweaning and Postweaning Social Interactions Upon Adult Behaviour

The effects of social interactions upon adult behaviour patterns of C 57 BL/10 mice were studied by manipulating: (i) the type of mother (rat or mouse) which reared the mice ; (2) the composition of the preweaning peer group (rats, mice, or no peers) ; and (3) the composition of the postweaning peer group (rats, mice, or no peers). All three social variables were found to have dramatic effects on both the expression of adult behaviours and the physiological development of mice. Infantile mortality. A higher mortality rate was recorded for rat-reared than for mouse-reared mice. Body weight. Whereas rat-reared mice were heavier than mouse-reared mice at weaning, they were lighter by 77 days of age. Mice reared without littermates before weaning were heavier than group-reared mice between 36 and 49 days of age. And mice housed with other mice after weaning weighed less from 43 through 77 days than those housed either with rats or in isolation. Open-field behaviour. Mouse-reared mice were more active and had shorter latencies than rat-reared mice. Mice housed with rats after weaning were less active, defecated more and had longer latencies than those housed with mice or no peers. Social pref erence. Experimental mice were placed in an apparatus where they could spend time in front of a rat stimulus or a mouse stimulus. The preference for the rat stimulus was stronger in those groups of mice housed with rats after weaning than in those housed with other mice or without peers. Fighting behaviour. More fighting was found in mouse-reared mice than in rat-reared mice; more in mice reared without littermates before weaning than in mice reared with other mice in the litter; and more in mice housed with other mice than those housed with rats or without peers after weaning. The highest rate of fighting was found in mice reared without littermates before weaning but housed with other mice after weaning.
An Adjoint Analysis of the Meridional Overturning Circulation in a Hybrid Coupled Model

Multicentury sensitivities in a realistic geometry global ocean general circulation model are analyzed using an adjoint technique. This paper takes advantage of the adjoint model’s ability to generate maps of the sensitivity of a diagnostic (i.e., the meridional overturning’s strength) to all model parameters. This property of adjoints is used to review several theories, which have been elaborated to explain the strength of the North Atlantic’s meridional overturning. This paper demonstrates the profound impact of boundary conditions in permitting or suppressing mechanisms within a realistic model of the contemporary ocean circulation. For example, the so-called Drake Passage Effect in which wind stress in the Southern Ocean acts as the main driver of the overturning’s strength, is shown to be an artifact of boundary conditions that restore the ocean’s surface temperature and salinity toward prescribed climatologies. Advective transports from the Indian and Pacific basins play an important role in setting the strength of the overturning circulation under “mixed” boundary conditions, in which a flux of freshwater is specified at the ocean’s surface. The most “realistic” regime couples an atmospheric energy and moisture balance model to the ocean. In this configuration, inspection of the global maps of sensitivity to wind stress and diapycnal mixing suggests a significant role for near-surface Ekman processes in the Tropics. Buoyancy also plays an important role in setting the overturning’s strength, through direct thermal forcing near the sites of convection, or through the advection of salinity anomalies in the Atlantic basin.
The effect of immunosympathectomy on the retention and metabolism of noradrenaline.

The retention of radioactive noradrenaline (NA) was measured in different organs of immunosympathectomized (I.S.) mice 30 min after i.v. injection of dl-NA-7–3H (17.9 or 1.79 μg/kg, S.A. 4.7 C/mmole). A striking decrease in the capacity to retain NA-3H was observed in the heart (1.6 per cent of controls) and the submaxillary gland (4.1 per cent of controls). Immunosympathectomy was only partially effective in the intestine and colon (33 and 47 per cent of normal retention, respectively). By contrast, the retention of NA in the I.S. vas deferens was almost doubled. These data support previous investigations indicating that immunosympathectomy has a differential effect on adrenergic neurons located in different organs. A chromatographic analysis of the distribution of 3H among the various NA-metabolites was undertaken in the submaxillary gland, heart and vas deferens. Metabolites, for the most part methylated, accounted for a larger precentage of the total 3H in the extracts from tissues of I.S. animals compared to controls. In the I.S. submaxillary glands of both the mouse and the rat the radioactivity retained after injection occurred mostly in the form of metabolites. Normetanephrine (NM) was predominant in the mouse, while both NM and acid metabolites were significant components in the rat gland. Oxidation to acid metabolites was more extensive in the I.S. heart of the rat compared to the mouse. The chromatography of the retained metabolites in the I.S. vas deferens was not qualitatively different from that of the normal organ.
Modeling laser dynamics using video feedback

The application of feedback to produce bistable states in a molecular system was first considered by Szoke and then extended and demonstrated by Gibbs. The final configuration is similar to a laser, having two resonator mirrors enclosing a molecular system, but with the intensity decreased. Such behavior is similar to a laser at threshold but the control variable is the electrical input and the output is the radiated beam. Video systems can also provide a simple optical feedback system. Such systems are inherently slow, and limited to video rates, however, they possess many control variables and are simple to adjust interactively. Such systems have been used and reported in the literature for image processing and for generation of optical bistable states. Here such a system lends itself readily to modeling certain aspects of laser dynamics.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation among patients with leukemia of all ages in Texas.

BACKGROUND Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is an effective but expensive medical procedure to which some ethnic minorities, the elderly, and those without insurance have been shown to have limited access. The purpose of the current study was to determine whether socioeconomic factors were associated with HSCT usage rates in patients with leukemia. METHODS The authors identified 6574 patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, acute myelogenous leukeima, chronic myelogenous leukemia, or other leukemias from the 1999 Texas Hospital Inpatient Discharge Public Use Data File. Of these patients, 1604 received an autologous or allogeneic HSCT. The authors assessed patients' ethnicity, payer status, age, gender, and comorbid medical conditions. Logistic regression was used to control for patient characteristics and to evaluate associations among payer status, ethnicity, and HSCT use. P ≤ 0.05 indicated statistical significance. RESULTS Patients who self-paid had the highest rate of HSCT use in all age groups (32%; P ≤ 0.01) and in the adult group (36%; P = 0.11). Elderly patients with Medicare had a low rate of HSCT use (17%; P = 0.13). Logistic regression showed no statistically significant associations between payer status or ethnicity and HSCT use. However, elderly women were significantly less likely to undergo HSCT than elderly men (odds ratio, 0.34; P ≤ 0.01). CONCLUSIONS The lack of statistically significant differences in HSCT use among adult patients with leukemia was surprising because previous studies had shown differences in HSCT by ethnicity and insurance. Cancer 2004. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
Rings, modules, and algebras in infinite loop space theory

We give a new construction of the algebraic K-theory of small permutative categories that preserves multiplicative structure, and therefore allows us to give a unified treatment of rings, modules, and algebras in both the input and output. This requires us to define multiplicative structure on the category of small permutative categories. The framework we use is the concept of multicategory (elsewhere also called colored operad), a generalization of symmetric monoidal category that precisely captures the multiplicative structure we have present at all stages of the construction. Our method ends up in the Hovey?Shipley?Smith category of symmetric spectra, with an intermediate stop at a category of functors out of a particular wreath product.
Predictors of repeated "no-showing" to clinic appointments.

Abstract Objective To determine the variables that contribute to repeated patient non-compliance with showing up to clinic appointments. Study design Retrospective chart review. Setting Single tertiary care academic institution. Subjects and Methods Patients who did not show up to 3 or more clinic appointments in the otolaryngology department in the Henry Ford Health System in metro Detroit, Michigan between July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012 area were compared to control patients randomly chosen from those who had appointments on the same day with the same provider as the no-show patients. Results 105 patients were identified who no-showed to 3 or more clinic appointments. Younger age, black race, and lower income were all found to be significant factors for patients missing appointments in a multiple variate model. On logistic regression, Medicaid insurance, closer distance from home to appointment, less bus transfers, and less time by bus travel were also found to correlate with no-showing. Conclusion Age, race, and income are significantly related to patient non-compliance with clinic appointments. Paradoxically, proximity to the clinical appointment location is also significantly related – we hypothesize this may be the result of significant income inequality in the metro Detroit population distribution. Follow up studies include analyzing factors that precluded patient access and interventions to improve compliance and decrease cost.
Cultural Differentials Modify Change: Comparativeness of the SADC and the US

A mixed research methodology was deployed to show that cultural differences and perceived risk-taking must be considered in charting competences in advancing household enterprises in the Southern African Development Communities and the USA. The consequences were that triumphant households were those that took cognizance of multiculturalism in assessing and measuring performance. Multiple Linear Regression analysis demonstrated that capacity must be customized to suit organizational vision and that the vital predictor of perceived success in the USA was performance orientation while uncertainty avoidance topped the list in the SADC. Results indicate that diversity was understood in all successful enterprises.
Dissolved organic matter and the dissipation of chlorine in estuarine water and seawater

Dissolved organic matter in estuarine water and seawater collected in the summers of 1980 and 1981 in the James River, Virginia and the mouth of Chesapeake Bay were separated into fractions according to their nominal molecular weights (NMW) by ultrafiltration. Estuarine waters contained higher concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Among the fractions, between 66–89% of the DOC was found in the fraction with NMW below 10,000. Estuarine waters also had higher chlorine demands. At a dose of 5 mg l−1, in 23 h, about 90% of the added chlorine disappeared in estuarine waters, whereas, in seawater, only 60–75% of the chlorine had dissipated. At least two-thirds of the chlorine demand occurred in the first 5 h. About 10–30% of the chlorine demand may be attributed to the fraction with NMW above 10,000. The remaining chlorine demand was distributed almost equally between the fractions with ranges of NMW of 1000–10,000 and below 1000. If reactivity is measured in terms of organic chlorine demand (ΔClo) per unit weight of DOC, the fractions with lower NMW (< 1000 and 1000–10,000) always had a higher reactivity towards chlorine. Between these two fractions, the one with NMW between 1000 and 10,000 exhibited higher reactivity more frequently. The highest reactivity found was 1.4 mg ΔClo mg−1 DOC.
The NASA Environmentally Responsible Aviation Project/General Electric Open Rotor Test Campaign

The Open Rotor is a modern version of the UnDucted Fan (UDF) that was flight tested in the late 1980ʼs through a partnership between NASA and General Electric (GE). Tests were conducted in the 9ʼx15ʼ Low Speed Wind Tunnel and the 8ʼx6ʼ Supersonic Wind Tunnel starting in late 2009 and completed in early 2012. Aerodynamic and acoustic data were obtained for takeoff, approach and cruise simulations. GE was the primary partner, but other organizations were involved such as Boeing and Airbus who provided additional hardware for fuselage simulations. This test campaign provided the acoustic and performance characteristics for modern open rotor blades designs." NASA and GE conducted joint systems analysis to evaluate how well new blade designs would perform on a B737 class aircraft, and compared the results to an advanced higher bypass ratio turbofan." Acoustic shielding experiments were performed at NASA GRC and Boeing LSAF facilities to provide data for noise estimates of unconventional aircraft configurations with Open Rotor propulsion systems." The work was sponsored by NASAʼs aeronautics programs, including the Subsonic Fixed Wing (SFW) and the Environmentally Responsible Aviation (ERA) projects."
Early-time evolution of a radiative shock

Abstract We have performed high-energy-density physics experiments with large radiative fluxes, relevant to radiative shocks in our universe. These experiments were performed at the Omega Laser facility and used a laser irradiance of 7.2 × 1014 W cm−2 to launch a Be disk into low-density Xe gas. The radiative shocks were observed early in time as the dense shocked Xe layer began to form. The average shock position indicates that the shock is moving over 130 km s−1. Data are compared to simulation output from the CRASH code, which was developed at the Center for Radiative Shock Hydrodynamics at the University of Michigan.
Higher order theories for thick cylindrical shells

A variational derivation is used to obtain 10th and 12th order shell theories along with the associated boundary conditions. A computer program produces the coefficients in the reductions of the sets of equilibrium equations to equivalent single 10th and 12th order equations. Exact solutions for closed shells which decay in the axial direction are obtained and compared with exact three dimensional solutions in order to assess the accuracy of the shell theory as an approximation to the elasticity theory.
RICH Theory: The Promotion of Happiness.

The acronym RICH stands for resources, intimacy, competence, and health. These characteristics are purported to define psychological health, which is assumed to be synonymous with happiness. The four characteristics encompass all possible reinforcers, are relatively obtainable by all individuals, are interrelated to the extent they incorporate each other in their definitions, and function to guide both the diagnosis of individual functioning, and the design of interventions. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 41: 43–49, 2004.
CW Spectroscopy Of Ultrafast Relaxation In Semiconductor Heterostructures

Steady state hot luminescence measurements can be used to determine hot carrier distributions and relaxation rates for extremely fast processes with low injected carrier densities. Luminescence gives a direct measure of the distribution of hot carriers in a semiconductor. We discuss experiments which probe the distribution of electrons high in the conduction band. These measurements have been used in GaAs to determine the LO phonon emission time by a hot electron(100 fs), the F to L intervalley scattering rate (250 fs for an electron initially about 70 meV above the bottom of the L-valleys), and the r to X intervalley scattering rate (30 fs for an electron about 85 meV above the bottom of the X-valleys). Recent experiments which measure the relaxation of hot electrons in the presence of a high density of cold electrons in bulk GaAs and GaAs quantum wells are presented.
Variation in Number and Drainage Pattern of Pulmonary Veins Draining into the Left Atrium

Abstract Pulmonary veins carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium of the heart. The variation in the number and drainage pattern of pulmonary veins is frequent and this knowledge is valuable for various procedures involving the pulmonary veins. The present study is done on 29 hearts obtained from formalin fixed cadavers from the dissecting room of department of anatomy, MAMC, Agroha, Hisar. The left atrium of these hearts was studied from external aspect for the number of pulmonary veins draining into left atrium and from internal aspect for the drainage pattern. In 13 out of 29 hearts (44.8%), variation in number of pulmonary vein was observed. In the present study the most common variation of right pulmonary veins is three veins with two ostia (10.3%) and the most common variation of left pulmonary veins is a single vein with a single ostium (17.2%).The variations of pulmonary veins are quite common with an equivocal variability in right-sided and left-sided drainage patterns. A classification is proposed to describe these variations to facilitate communication with referring clinicians.
Extension of the doubling method to inhomogeneous sources

Abstract This paper gives a general theory for applying the doubling method to spatially inhomogeneous radiation sources whose angular and spatial variations separate. In particular, inhomogeneous sources of thermal radiation may be efficiently treated by the methods herein, as well as direct and specularly-reflected beams of radiation which do not lie along a quadrature direction for the intensity. Doubling rules for a linear-in-optical-depth source (which may approximate a source of thermal radiation) and for an exponential-in-optical-depth source are derived as special cases.
Some policy lessons from the opening of the Korean insurance market

This article examines the recent dispute between the United States and the Republic of Korea over the opening of Korea's insurance market to U.S. companies. The article assesses the interests and motivations of both countries that lay behind the formal arguments presented during the negotiation process. It also analyzes whether the longrun interests of both developing and industrial countries would be well served by the approach to the opening of the market adopted in this case-sharing the rent while continuing to regulate the insurance market. The analysis suggests that the opening of a developing country's insurance market (or the wider financial services market) would serve the long-run interests of both developing and industrial countries only if it were accomplished in the context of overall domestic liberalization of the finance industry. "Opening" of the market, if this means only the sharing of the rents that were generated by regulation of the market, is unlikely to be beneficial to developing countries. This examination of the recent United States-Korea trade dispute over the limitations placed on the access of U.S. firms to the Korean insurance market provides an opportunity to investigate the interests and motivations of industrial and developing countries with respect to international transactions in financial services. The article also derives some policy lessons for other developing countries that may face a similar trade negotiation environment. Section I of the article briefly discusses the policies of the government of the Republic of Korea with respect to the insurance market, describes the structure and size of the market, and suggests some reasons for the strong interest of U.S. firms in entering the market. Section II introduces the trade dispute, and describes the issues between the two countries and their respective positions on these issues during the negotiations pursued under Section 301 of the U.S. Trade Act (see appendix). It also investigates the motivations underlying the formal arguments during negotiations and describes the bargaining counters The author is an economist in the Technical Department of the Asia Region of the World Bank. This article was prepared for the World Bank Conference on Developing Countries' Interests and International Transactions in Services, Washington, D.C., July 15-16, 1987. The author is grateful to J. Michael Finger and Brian Hindley for their valuable suggestions, to Jagdish Bhagwati and Andrej Olechowski for helpful comments, and to Peter Bocock for editorial assistance.
Preincubation storage of turkey eggs: Impact on rate of early embryonic development

1. The effect of cooling and storage on preincubation development of turkey embryos was examined. 2. Fresh laid eggs were stored at 15 degrees C for 3, 7, or 14 d (group 1) or held initially at room temperature (21 degrees C) for 6 to 9 h and subsequently stored at 15 degrees C for 3, 7, or 14 d (group 2). 3. Most embryos in eggs from both groups progressed developmentally to Stage-8, just prior to onset of hypoblast formation. There were no significant differences in embryo development either within or between groups. 4. It is concluded that under the conditions of this study, egg cooling and storage augment development of the embryo, albeit only slightly.
Smale horseshoe structure in the firing rate model

The firing rate model in the form of nonlinear integrodifferential equations can characterize spatiotemporal patterns of a continuum neural field. These patterns are associated with a wide range of neurobiological phenomena, such as persistent activity and propagating waves in neural networks. To understand the substrates of neural circuitry that supports the localized stationary patterns, we study the existence of multi-bump pulse solutions of an integral equation that is the equilibrium equation of the firing rate model. If the integral coupling function, which describes the spatial connection among the network of neurons, is even and its positive half solves a second order linear ordinary differential equation (ODE), then the multi-bump pulse solutions of the integral equation are homoclinic solutions of a reversible fourth order ODE. It was known previously that the corresponding ODEs are conservative for a class of oscillatory and decaying coupling functions [1]. We show that for the Amari-type firing rate model, which assumes the Heaviside firing rate function and "Mexican hat" coupling functions that decay exponentially, the corresponding ODEs are also conservative. Then, by analyzing the configurations of stable and unstable manifolds (see the figure below) in the corresponding reversible, conservative ODE system, we establish the existence of the Smale horseshoe for an open set of model parameters such as the decay rate of the coupling and the threshold of the Heaviside firing rate function. Consequently, even for the Amari-type firing rate model there are countably many symmetric and asymmetric multi-bump stationary pulse solutions as well as spatially chaotic stationary solutions. Furthermore, the robustness of the Smale horseshoe implies that similar solutions also exist for nonsaturating piecewise-linear firing rate functions with small gains and for smooth firing rate functions that are "close" to the Heaviside or piecewise-linear case. Figure 1 Multi-bump pulse solutions correspond to intersections between the stable and unstable manifolds of the equilibrium state in the fourth order reversible ODE system. Since the ODE system is conservative, the intersections between these manifolds can be ...
Epinephrine Binding to Rat Adipocytes and Their Subcellular Fractions1

The binding of epinephrine to adipocytes and adipocyte plasma membrane, mitochondrial and microsomal fractions was characterized. Scatchard analysis of epinephrine binding to adipocytes revealed two orders of binding sites with association constants of 5.3 × l06M–1 and 1.1 × lO5M–1. The total binding capacity for each site was 0.8 and 17 pmoles epinephrine per mg protein, respectively. Adipocyte plasma membranes had a high and low affinity binding site with association constants of 2.4 × l06M–1 and 3.1 × lO4M–1 and maximal binding of 8 and 170 pmoles per mg protein. The dissociation constants derived from the high affinity association constant for adipocytes and plasma membranes were consistent with the level of hormone necessary to cause a half-maximal increase of adenylate cyclase, cyclic AMP and lipolysis. The binding sites on the adipocyte could be accounted for by the sites on the plasma membrane since the plasma membrane protein constitute about 10% of the adipocyte protein. The high affinity associ...
Study of instabilities in a quasi-2D MHD duct flow with an inflectional velocity profile

Abstract The mechanisms responsible for instabilities and a transition to turbulence in liquid metal duct flows of a fusion blanket are not understood very well, which limits predictive capabilities for heat and material transport in a blanket. In order to elucidate such mechanisms in quasi-two-dimensional (Q2D) magnetohydrodynamic flows with inflection points, an experimental and computational effort is underway to electromagnetically induce a Q2D turbulent flow through the injection of current at the Hartmann walls. In such a flow, inflectional instabilities arise at the two locations where current is supplied. In the experiments, Hartmann wall inductive velocimetry is employed as the main flow diagnostics. The electric potential field is measured using an array of small probes embedded in the wall material, and the fluctuating velocity field is reconstructed from the potential data using Ohm's law. First experimental data have been taken, which are in qualitative agreement with the pre-experimental analysis, where the flows are numerically simulated using a Q2D flow model.
Galactosyl transferase activity of chloroplast envelopes from senescent soybean cotyledons

Abstract During the senescence of photosynthetic tissues, the level of chloroplast galactolipids markedly declines. The final assembly of these lipids occurs in the plastid envelope. An investigation was made to determine the activity of plastid envelope UDP-galactose-diglyceride galactosyl transferase (galactosyl transferase), which makes this final assembly, in envelopes from greening and senescing soybean cotyledons. When the tissue greened there was an increase in the galactosyl transferase activity. As the tissue senesced there was a decline of the activity of this enzyme as well as a decrease in cotyledon chlorophyll, nucleic acid, protein, mono- and di-galactosyl diacylglycerols, phosphatidyl glycerol, phosphatidyl ethanolamine and phosphatidyl choline levels. It is suggested that the decreased plastid envelope galactosyl transferase activity in senescent tissue may explain, at least in part, the decreased levels of mono- and digalactosyl diacylglycerols in these tissues.
Restoration of Biogeochemical Function in Mangrove Forests

Forest structure of mangrove restoration sites (6 and 14 years old) at two locations (Henderson Creek [HC] and Windstar [WS]) in southwest Florida differed from that of mixed-basin forests (>50 years old) with which they were once contiguous. However, the younger site (HC) was typical of natural, developing forests, whereas the older site (WS) was less well developed with low structural complexity. More stressful physicochemical conditions resulting from incomplete tidal flushing (elevated salinity) and variable topography (waterlogging) apparently affected plant survival and growth at the WS restoration site. Lower leaf fall and root production rates at the WS restoration site, compared with that at HC were partly attributable to differences in hydroedaphic conditions and structural development. However, leaf and root inputs at each restoration site were not significantly different from that in reference forests within the same physiographic setting. Macrofaunal consumption of tethered leaves also did not differ with site history, but was dramatically higher at HC compared with WS, reflecting local variation in leaf litter processing rates, primarily by snails (Melampus coffeus). Degradation of leaves and roots in mesh bags was slow overall at restoration sites, however, particularly at WS where aerobic decomposition may have been more limited. These findings indicate that local or regional factors such as salinity regime act together with site history to control primary production and turnover rates of organic matter in restoration sites. Species differences in senescent leaf nitrogen content and degradation rates further suggest that restoration sites dominated by Laguncularia racemosa and Rhizophora mangle should exhibit slower recycling of nutrients compared with natural basin forests where Avicennia germinans is more abundant. Structural development and biogeochemical functioning of restored mangrove forests thus depend on a number of factors, but site-specific as well as regional or local differences in hydrology and concomitant factors such as salinity and soil waterlogging will have a strong influence over the outcome of restoration projects.
Parthenolide Specifically Depletes Histone Deacetylase 1 Protein and Induces Cell Death through Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated

Histone deacetylases (HDACs), enzymes involved in chromatin remodeling, are promising targets for anticancer drug development. Several HDAC inhibitors (HDACi) are in clinical trials. One limitation of present HDACi is their nonspecificity, affecting many HDACs with similar effectiveness. We have identified a small molecule, the sesquiterpene lactone parthenolide (PN), which specifically depletes HDAC1 protein without affecting other class I/II HDACs. HDAC1 depletion occurred through proteasomal degradation and resulted in transcriptional consequences comparable to those observed with pan-HDACi. Surprisingly, HDAC1 depletion did not occur through the inflammation mediator IKK2, a known PN target and regulator of HDAC1. Rather, PN promoted HDAC1 depletion and cell death through the DNA-damage-transducer ataxia telangiectasia mutated. Our study suggests that modulating cellular HDAC protein levels with small molecules provides an alternative approach to specific HDAC inhibition and effective cancer treatment.
770-3 Effects of the Hyperthyroid State on Calcium Transients and Cell Length in Single Rat Ventricular Myocytes

It has been proposed that the hyperthyroid (HT) state has a direct effect on myocardial contractility by enhancing the function of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) ATP-dependent Ca pump. We tested this hypothesis by simultaneously measuring cytosolic Ca transients and cell length in single ventricular myocytes isolated from HT rats. Rats were made HT by daily injection of 1 mg thyroxin for 18 days and cells were isolated by enzymatic dissociation. Ca transients were measured with fura-2 and cell length by a video edge detector during field stimulation over a range of frequencies (0.3–6 Hz). Experiments were performed at room temperature. HT cells showed a marked decrease in the time to reach peak shortening and 50% and 90% relaxation compared to cells from euthyroid (ET) rats. This effect on cell length corresponded to identical changes in the Ca transients. With higher stimulation frequencies, ET cells displayed increasing diastolic Ca levels as well as larger Ca transients with systole consistent with enhanced Ca loading of the SR. The HT cells did not have an appreciable change in diastolic or systolic Ca levels with higher stimulation frequencies. Additionally, the HT celis remained viable and without evidence of Ca overload at significantly higher frequencies than ET celis. Thus, although the HT cells did not show the initial enhanced contractility of the ET cells in response to higher stimulation frequencies, they were much more resistant to Ca overload which eventually caused functional deterioration in the ET cells at the highest range of stimulation frequencies. This finding, in addition to the marked increase in the rates of diastolic relaxation and Ca sequestration in the HT celis can be explained by enhanced activity of the SR-bound Ca pump. A model for the effect of the HT state on ventricular function mediated via the SR pump is proposed.
Intrapericardial denervation of the heart

Abstract A one-stage, low mortality, surgical procedure for complete intrapericardial denervation of the dog heart is described. Examination of chronotropic, inotropic, and dromotropic influences of the autonomic cardiac nerves before and after the operation permits confirmation of the completeness of denervation. If after initial surgery residual responses remain, reexploration, further transection of tissue, and restimulation can be implemented until total denervation is accomplished. Attention is focused upon the characteristic shifts in the P wave and alterations in the T wave of the ECG during stimulation of the left sympathetics reflecting pacemaker and repolarization changes. Application of the technique results in a heart devoid of direct or reflex neural influences in the chronic animal model without using pharmacologic depleting compounds with untoward side effects.
Imaging of apoptosis in the heart with nanoparticle technology

Apoptosis plays an important role in the loss of cardiomyocytes in both ischemic injury and heart failure. Pioneering work with single photon emission computed tomography imaging of 99 Tcannexin showed that cell death in the heart could be imaged in vivo. Over the last 5 years a significant amount of experience with annexin-labeled magnetic nanoparticles, principally AnxCLIO-Cy5.5, has also been gained. Here, we review the experience with AnxCLIO-Cy5.5 in the heart and compare this experience to that of earlier studies with 99 Tc-annexin. The imaging of apoptosis with AnxCLIO-Cy5.5 provides valuable insights not only into molecular imaging in the heart but, more broadly, into the use of nanoparticle technology for molecular imaging in general.
Atrial pacing to estimate total sinoatrial conduction time in children

s)with those generated by the atrial pacing method (TSACT N).In this study, TSACT in 55 patients, age 0.5, was measured using both techniques . TSACTN was performed at a mean 90% (TSACTN-90) (n= 32)or a mean 95% (TSACT N _45and(n = 38) of sinus cycle length (SCL) . When data generated during determination of TSACT N _94and TSACTswere compared, SCL and recovery cycle length (REC) were similar for both techniques . Likewise, TSACTs (128 ± 40 ms) and TSACT N_94(126 ± 74 ms) were not significantly different . Coefficient of correlation was r =0.82, p < 0.001. Chi-square analysis demonstrated a strong association of normal and abnormal values between TSACT $and TSACTN_90.In contrast, when values generated during TSACTN-95 and TSACTswere compared, TSACT sexceeded TSACT N_95(137 ± 38 vs 105 ± 58 ms; p< 0.001) . Values for SCL and REC were similar while correlation between TSACT determined by the two techniques remained strong (r =0.82, p <0.001) . Despite a good correlation between TSACT N _90and TSACTs,individual differences in magnitude and direction were noted between the two techniques . In summary, TSACT N_90 approximates TSACT sin children . TSACTN_ 90is preferable to TSACT N_95,probably due to more complete sinus node capture during atrial pacing . However, the behavior of the sinus node in response to extrastimuli (single or train) precludes favoring one technique over the other . More precise evaluation of sinoatrial conduction will require direct recording of sinus node activity
Controllability properties of nonlinear systems induced by lifting

Given a control system \(F\) with state space \(P\) and a control system \(f\) with state space \(M\), we define a notion of what it means for a mapping \(\varPhi :P\rightarrow M\) to lift the system \(f\) to \(F\). Roughly speaking, this means that trajectories of \(f\) can be associated to trajectories of \(F\) in such a manner that lifted trajectories of \(F\) are mapped by \(\varPhi \) back to the corresponding trajectories of \(f\). In this situation, we establish a fairly general sufficient condition for controllability properties of \(f\) to induce (or be lifted to) corresponding controllability properties for the system \(F\) via the mapping \(\varPhi \). We give two applications of this result. In the first application, \(F\) and \(f\) are linear systems and \(\varPhi \) is a linear mapping. In the second application, \(\varPhi \) defines a fiber-bundle structure on \(P\) over \(M\). These applications are in fact closely related to known results obtained by other researchers, but our objective is to show that these two seemingly disparate situations can be treated under the guise of a common framework. We also address an existence question: given a (controllable) system \(f\) on the state space \(M\) and a mapping \(\varPhi :P\rightarrow M\), when can the system \(f\) be lifted to a (controllable) system \(F\) on the state space \(P\) via the mapping \(\varPhi \)? Our final result shows that if \(\varPhi :P\rightarrow M\) is a \(k\)-fold covering space of \(M\) that lifts a system \(f\) on \(M\) to a system \(F\) on \(P\), then the global controllability of \(f\) implies the global controllability of \(F\).
Combined cardiomyopathy and skeletal myopathy: a variant with atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia.

VLAY, S., et al.: Combined Cardiomyopathy and Skeletal Myopathy: A Variant with Atrial Fibrillation and Ventricular Tachycardia. This article describes a family characterized by combined cardiomyopathy and nonspecific skeletal myopathy who present in the third to fifth decades with cardiac manifestations but earlier have evidence of subtle skeletal muscle dysfunction. They differ from previously defined syndromes and potentially represent a different genetic expression or mutation. Cardiomyopathy presents with atrial arrhythmias including AF and atrial flutter. Life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias occur next with onset of ventricular dysfunction. Electrophysiological study revealed sustained monomorphic VT. Affected family members benefitted from an ICD and progression to congestive heart failure (CHF) occurred late. Skeletal myopathy continues with marked progressive muscle weakness and inability to ambulate without assistance. Genetic analysis is currently ongoing. Neurological evaluation in all three family members revealed nonspecific myopathy affecting the psoas and iliopsoas muscles. Atrophy and wasting of the facial and temporalis muscles were common. Skeletal muscle biopsy revealed myofiber atrophy consistent with myopathy.
Social-Distance Preferences among Female and Male Medical Students and Cardiac Patients toward Various Diseases and Disabilities:

Attitudinal differences of several non-disabled groups and one disabled group (cardiac) toward 33 disease/disability entities were investigated by using a modification of the Bogardus Social Distance Scale. 33 disease/disabilities were substituted for the original race names used by Bogardus. The scale was administered to several medical fraternities and a group of cardiac surgery patients. Significant differences were found between fraternity men and cardiacs on disease/disabilities which are usually not eligible for vocational services and between male and female medical students on the distance categories of “would marry” and “would not allow in home.” The results indicate definite attitudinal differences among non-disabled groups as well as between the disabled and non-disabled.
The Effect of Plasmon Field on the Coherent Lattice Phonon Oscillation in Electron-Beam Fabricated Gold Nanoparticle Pairs

By using electron beam lithography, we fabricated pairs of gold nanoparticles with varying interparticle separation. Double-beam femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy was used to determine the coherent lattice oscillation frequency as a function of the interparticle separation in the presence of the plasmon field excited by the monitoring probe light. We found that the fractional shift in the coherent lattice phonon oscillation frequency follows an exponential decay with respect to the interparticle gap scaled by the disc diameter with the same decay constant as that previously observed for the fractional shift in the surface plasmon electronic oscillation resonance frequency. This strongly suggests that it is the near-field coupling between the particles that shifts both the coherent electronic oscillation (plasmon) frequency and the coherent lattice oscillation (phonon) frequency. The similar trend in the effect of interparticle coupling on the plasmon frequency and the phonon frequency is essentially a reflection of the universal scaling behavior of the distance decay of the interparticle plasmonic near-field. It is shown that the observed decrease in the lattice oscillation frequency with decrease in the interparticle distance is the result of a reduction in the effective free electron density within each nanoparticle pair partner as a result of the polarizing perturbation of the plasmonic field of the other nanoparticle in the pair.
Serrated polyposis syndrome

SUMMARY Serrated polyposis syndrome, also called hyperplastic polyposis, is a condition characterized by numerous neoplastic polyps throughout the colon and rectum. The polyps possess a distinct serrated morphology. The term serrated refers to the ‘saw-tooth’ pattern formed by epithelial cells in the colonic crypts on standard histologic preparations. Historically, serrated lesions have been lumped together under the term ‘hyperplastic polyps’, and were assumed to carry no malignant potential. Over the past decade, however, an increasing body of evidence suggests that serrated lesions exist along a spectrum and represent an alternative molecular pathway to the development of colorectal cancer in contrast to the traditional adenocarcinoma sequence. Although a hallmark genetic signature for serrated polyposis syndrome remains unidentified, this is an area of active investigation.
A papillary muscle guided motion estimation method for gated cardiac imaging

This research aims to develop a new feature guided motion estimation method for the left ventricular wall in gated cardiac imaging. The guiding feature is the “footprint” of one of the papillary muscles, which is the attachment of the papillary muscle on the endocardium. Myocardial perfusion (MP) PET images simulated from the 4-D XCAT phantom, which features papillary muscles, realistic cardiac motion with known motion vector field (MVF), were employed in the study. The 4-D MVF of the heart model of the XCAT phantom was used as a reference. For each MP PET image, the 3- D “footprint” surface of one of the papillary muscles was extracted and its centroid was calculated. The motion of the centroid of the “footprint” throughout a cardiac cycle was tracked and analyzed in 4-D. This motion was extrapolated to throughout the entire heart to build a papillary muscle guided initial estimation of the 4-D cardiac MVF. A previous motion estimation algorithm was applied to the simulated gated myocardial PET images to estimate the MVF. Three different initial MVF estimates were used in the estimation, including zero initial (0-initial), the papillary muscle guided initial (P-initial), and the true MVF from phantom (T-initial). Qualitative and quantitative comparison between the estimated MVFs and the true MVF showed the P-initial provided more accurate motion estimation in longitudinal motion than the 0-initial with over 70% improvement and comparable accuracy with that of the T-initial. We concluded that when the footprint can be tracked accurately, this feature guided approach will significantly improve the accuracy and robustness of traditional optical flow based motion estimation method.
Anesthetic management of the pediatric patient undergoing solid organ transplantation

Solid organ transplantation is now routinely performed at many institutions. Pediatric organ recipients present difficult challenges to pediatric anesthesiologists. Physiologic, anatomic, and pharmacologic derangements in this population may make both the surgical procedure and the anesthetic management complicated. This article presents an overview of the unique problems and the strategies to solve them in this population.
The stimulating and inhibiting effects of weapons on Aggressive behavior

Evidence is presented suggesting that firearms violence is an important social problem. Research strongly suggests that the effectiveness of firearms as a cause of death and injury may be due to their widespread availability, their lethality, and the impulsivity of their use. The investigation of a possible causal link between firearms and impulsive aggression led to Berkowitz and LePage's (1967) weapons effect experiment. The results suggested that weapons can increase the instigation to aggression in aroused an uninhibited individuals. The researchers reasoned that weapons might stimulate aggression by classical conditioning processes resulting from learned associations between aggressive acts and weapons. Although a few studies have failed to reproduce an aggression-enhancing effect of weapons, the original finding has been replicated in several countries with diverse subject groups both in field and laboratory settings. However, these studies also indicate that many individuals may react with anxiety or fear in the presence of weapons and inhibit aggressive reactions. Manipulations of evaluation apprehension, subject suspiciousness, and/or hypothesis awareness about the purpose of the weapons in the experiments all seem to lead to reduced levels of aggressive response in the presence of weapons. These findings offer a possible explanation for the few failures to replicate the original weapons effect; if researchers used apprehensive subjects or subjects who were aware of possible experimental deceptions, they were more likely to observe an inhibitory reaction rather than an aggression-enhancing effect of weapons.
Contradictions and Concordances in American Colonization Models

The traditional view of American colonization during the late Pleistocene has largely been conditioned on early conceptions of the timing and extent of continental glaciations and the age and distribution of archeological sites. A review of newer, high resolution genetic data, both from modern populations and ancient DNA samples, along with the emergence of several early archeological sites in both North and South America, and reconsiderations of the glacial dynamics in North America indicate that some aspects of the traditional view need reconsideration. It seems obvious from archeological data that a preglacial occupation of the Americas needs to be closely examined. Accumulating molecular genetic data raises new questions about the timing and population size of the initial colonization(s), while a closer examination of glacial models suggests that a number of routes into the Americas may have been available until fairly late in the last glacial cycle.