cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Innovating a Microwave Engineering Conference Program

The International Microwave Symposium (IMS) is the premier annual event of the IEEE Microwave Theory & Techniques Society (MTT-S). This symposium has been held annually for over half a century, and is the world's largest and most prestigious conference on the technology of RF, microwave, millimeter- and submillimeter wave components, devices, circuits, modules, and systems. Although MTT-S, with approximately 12,000 members worldwide, is only the fifth largest of the IEEE Societies, IMS is one of the largest IEEE conferences and attracts approximately 4,000 attendees annually who come to partake in one or more of the three principal components of the IMS: 1) a program of approximately 500 technical and research papers, 2) educational workshops and short courses at the state of the art, with an enrollment of over 2,000, and 3) an industry exhibit that attracts close to 800 exhibitors who display their latest products and services at the symposium for a period of three days.
Use of antisense RNA to confer bacteriophage resistance in dairy starter cultures.

The strategy and implementation of a unique system for engineering bacteriophage resistant starter cultures ofLactococcus lactis employing antisense RNA is reviewed. As a necessary prerequisite for developing this system, we have cloned and sequenced a number of bacteriophage genes coding for minor and major structural proteins. In addition, we have also identified a series of genes whose function(s) is not known but their sequences appear to be conserved in a vast number of isolates. One of these latter sequences, designatedgp51C, codes for a 51-kDa protein which is extremely charged and shares some homology with yeast translation intiation factor. Resistance to a broad class of isometric bacteriophages has been achieved by expression of an antisense RNA targeted against, for example,gp51C. In the best case, expression of the antisensegp51C RNA results is a greater than 99% reduction in the total number of plaque forming units. Additional antisense RNA constructs directed against other bacteriophage genes, including the major capsid protein, also appear effective at inhibiting infection from 40–55% suggesting that this approach may prove useful for engineering a set of truly isogenic strains to be used in a starter culture rotation plan.
Study of peroxidase mechanisms by pulse radiolysis. II. Reaction of horseradish peroxidase compound I with O2

Abstract 1. 1. Sodium formate has no effect upon the absorption spectra and the rates of reaction of horseradish peroxidase (donor: H2O2 oxidoreductase, EC 1.11.1.7) and its derivative Compound I. It is a good radiation protector for horseradish peroxidase in aerated aqueous solutions. 2. 2. The rate of formation of Compound I has been determined in a fast kinetics spectrophotometer at 335 nm. During the conversion of horseradish peroxidase to Compound I, no other intermediates are detectable in the range from 300 to 450 nm. 3. 3. Radiation generated superoxide radicals (O2−), reduce Compound I to Compound II with a rate constant of 1.60·10 6 ± 0.08·10 6 M −1 ·s −1 . 4. 4. A three-dimensional computer presentation (absorbance vs wavelength vs time) shows spectral changes observed after pulse irradiation of an air-saturated formate solution containing horseradish peroxidase. 5. 5. Studies with both pulse radiolysis and γ-ray irradiation indicate that Compound II does not react with O2−.
Biochemical Functionalization of Vertically Aligned Carbon Nanofibres

Because of their unique physical and chemical properties, vertically aligned carbon nanofibres (VACNFs) show promise in improving current analytical measurement techniques. Chemical functionalization schemes will be necessary to fully realize this promise. Functionalization of the VACNFs with biomolecules or other species can impart specific chemical or physical properties. We report on two methods for immobilizing biomolecules on the surface of VACNFs. One attachment scheme makes use of a class of heterocyclic aromatic dye compounds to specifically adsorb onto VACNFs. The second scheme involves covalently coupling biomolecules through cross-linking to carboxylic acid sites on the sidewalls of the carbon nanofibres. The observed adsorption and covalent coupling properties are consistent with the physical structure and chemical characteristics of the VACNFs.
Discharge and Lasing Characteristics of a CW Argon Ion Laser at High Current

Abstract : Argon ion laser experiments have been performed in a large bore, segmented metal plasma tube. The tube is capable of maintaining a steady state discharge current up to 500 amperes in low pressure argon without excessive contamination. The experimental results on the discharge and lasing characteristics agree with recent theory. So far the maximum visible laser output at high discharge current is not yet limited by resonance radiation trapping or other saturation effects, but rather by a low inversion-utilization efficiency. A major cause of such low utilization efficiency is presently attributable to a severe optical degradation of the dielectric cavity mirrors when the internal radiation flux density exceeds a certain limit (i.e., a few kilowatt/sq cm). (Author)
Design and analysis of a flexible body instrument pointing system for the GOES Meteorological Satellites

A servomechanism control system design is presented for the Sounder instrument on board the next generation GOES (NOAA) Meteorological Satellites. The design is presented as a practical aerospace example of a challenging structural-control interaction problem which occurs in control systems with high bandwidth requirements. Structural modeling, compensation, and design techniques which are applicable to systems that contain similar problems are discussed.
OPTICAL ACTIVATION OF ION IMPLANTED AND ANNEALED GAN

Ion implantation and the associated annealing was investigated using luminescence and absorption measurements to demonstrate the efficacy of implantation for introducing various classes of dopants into GaN. A wide range of implantation and annealing studies were performed with several dopant species (Zn, Nd, Er, Ar). Room temperature ion implantation was performed on MOCVD grown GaN samples at energies between 200 and 400 keV with doses ranging from 1 × 1013 to 1 × 1015 cm−2. Conventional furnace annealing in flowing NH3 or N2 resulted in good recovery of implantation damage at an annealing temperature of 1000°C for 90 min. However, surface degradation became evident for annealing in an NH3 environment at temperatures above 1000°C. Low temperature photoluminescence showed that the optical activation of the Zn, and the rare earth elements, Er and Nd, was optimum in the NH3 annealing environment at 1000°C.
Reliable Multimedia Transmission Over Cognitive Radio Networks Using Fountain Codes

With the explosive growth of wireless multimedia applications over the wireless Internet in recent years, the demand for radio spectral resources has increased significantly. In order to meet the quality of service, delay, and large bandwidth requirements, various techniques such as source and channel coding, distributed streaming, multicast etc. have been considered. In this paper, we propose a technique for distributed multimedia transmission over the secondary user network, which makes use of opportunistic spectrum access with the help of cognitive radios. We use digital fountain codes to distribute the multimedia content over unused spectrum and also to compensate for the loss incurred due to primary user interference. Primary user traffic is modelled as a Poisson process. We develop the techniques to select appropriate channels and study the trade-offs between link reliability, spectral efficiency and coding overhead. Simulation results are presented for the secondary spectrum access model.
Victorian Field Notes from the Lualaba River, Congo

ABSTRACTThis article examines nineteenth-century British documentation on the Central African village Nyangwe and its inhabitants produced by the three British explorers (David Livingstone, Verney Lovett Cameron, and Henry Morton Stanley) who visited this settlement in the 1870s. In doing so, the article has four principal objectives. First, the article extends recent work on nineteenth-century African urbanization to consider how such urban history might be written with recourse to representations of Nyangwe in the archive of Victorian exploration. Second, the article highlights some of the issues inherent in using the archive for this purpose. Third, the article argues for a new methodology that uses recent historical, anthropological, and linguistic scholarship to link Victorian exploration literature to the local African circumstances out of which that literature emerged. Finally, the article draws on this new methodology to examine Victorian explorer representations of the Wagenya, an African tribe i...
Organic/Inorganic Hybrid Network Materials by the Sol−Gel Approach

Organic/inorganic hybrid materials prepared by the sol−gel approach have rapidly become a fascinating new field of research in materials science. The explosion of activity in this area in the past decade has made tremendous progress in both the fundamental understanding of the sol−gel process and the development and applications of new organic/inorganic hybrid materials. In this review, a brief summary of the research activities in the field of organic/inorganic nanocomposite materials and a general background of the sol−gel chemistry are first given. The emphasis of this report, however, is placed on the synthesis, structure−property response, and potential applications of the organic/inorganic hybrid networks that possess chemical bonding between the organic and inorganic phases, particularly those systems that were developed in our laboratory since 1985.
Calcium antagonists in the treatment of hypertension in patients with ischaemic heart disease.

Are lives saved or heart attacks prevented by antihypertensive therapy, as a result of blood pressure reduction alone, or because of other properties of the antihypertensive medications which are independent of blood pressure lowering? Long-acting calcium antagonists seem to be as effective as thiazide diuretics and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors in preventing all-cause mortality and stroke in patients with hypertension, but are probably inferior to ACE inhibitors in preventing coronary artery disease. In patients with symptomatic coronary artery disease, calcium antagonists are generally as effective as β-blockers in relieving angina and improving exercise time-to-onset of angina or ischaemia. Unstable angina or myocardial infarction require treatment with a β-blocker, with an ACE inhibitor added when necessary for blood pressure control or if there is significant left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. If β-blockers are contraindicated and if there is no LV dysfunction, a non-dihydropyridine ...
Intramolecular Base Stacking of Dinucleoside Monophosphate Anions in Aqueous Solution

Time-dependent motions of 32 deoxyribodinucleoside and ribodinucleoside monophosphate anions in aqueous solution at 310 K were monitored during 40 ns using classical molecular dynamics (MD). In all studied molecules, spontaneous stacking/unstacking transitions occurred on a time-scale of 10 ns. To facilitate the structural analysis of the sampled configurations we defined a reaction coordinate for the nucleobase stacking that considers both the angle between the planes of the two nucleobases and the distance between their mass-centers. Additionally, we proposed a physically meaningful transient point on this coordinate that separates the stacked and unstacked states. We applied this definition to calculate free energies for stacking of all pairwise combinations of adenine, thymine (uracil), cytosine and guanine moieties embedded in studied dinucleosides monophosphate anions. The stacking equilibrium constants decreased in the order 5′-AG-3′ > GA ∼ GG ∼ AA > GT ∼ TG ∼ AT ∼ GC ∼ AC > CG ∼ TA > CA ∼ TC ∼ TT ...
Re: interventions to improving osteoporosis screening: an Iowa Research Network (IRENE) study.

To the Editor: I read with great interest the original research article, “Interventions to Improving Osteoporosis Screening: An Iowa Research Network (IRENE) Study”[1][1] in the July/August 2009 edition of the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine . Nationally, the current screening
Developmental change in the cross-modal Stroop effect.

E. M. Elliott, Cowan, and Valle-Inclan (1998) reported a cross-modal Stroop-like interference effect in adults when an auditory distractor (a color or noncolor word) occurred simultaneously with a color patch to be named. Response times were slower with color as opposed to noncolor distractors. To distinguish two accounts of this phenomenon, we tested 4- to 11-year-olds and adults. Thesuppression hypothesis posits that the irrelevant word enters a phonological buffer and is injurious to color naming if the participant is unable to suppress its representation in time. Theconcurrent processing hypothesis states that interference occurs when the distractor and the color name are lexically accessed at the same time. Our finding that the cross-modal Stroop effect occurred in young children even with a distractor presented 500 msec in advance of the color patch favors the suppression account. Development in executive functioning may also contribute to the interference effect’s becoming progressively weaker with age.
Analysis of anatomic variability in children with low mathematical skills

Mathematical difficulty affects approximately 5-9% of the population. Studies on individuals with dyscalculia, a neurologically based math disorder, provide important insight into the neural correlates of mathematical ability. For example, cognitive theories, neuropsychological studies, and functional neuroimaging studies in individuals with dyscalculia suggest that the bilateral parietal lobes and intraparietal sulcus are central to mathematical performance. The purpose of the present study was to investigate morphological differences in a group of third grade children with poor math skills. We compare population averages of children with low math skill (MD) to gender and age matched controls with average math ability. Anatomical data were gathered with high resolution MRI and four different population averaging methods were used to study the effect of the normalization technique on the results. Statistical results based on the deformation fields between the two groups show anatomical differences in the bilateral parietal lobes, right frontal lobe, and left occipital/parietal lobe.
Earth-Orbiting Coherent Doppler LIDAR: Overall System Efficiency And The Potential For Improvement

The global winds measurement application of coherent Doppler lidar is discussed, emphasizing the importance of optimizing overall system efficiency. Major loss categories are briefly assessed, and the implications of potential improvements in receiver efficiency are highlighted.
Regional Similarities in Seasonal Mortality across the United States: An Examination of 28 Metropolitan Statistical Areas

Human mortality exhibits a strong seasonal pattern with deaths in winter far exceeding those in the summer. While the pattern itself is clear, there have been very few studies examining whether the magnitude or timing of seasonal mortality varies considerably across space. Thus, the goal of this study is to conduct a comprehensive geographic analysis of seasonal mortality across the United States and to uncover systematic regional differences in such mortality. Unique seasonal mortality curves were created for 28 metropolitan statistical areas across the United States, and the amplitude and timing of mortality peaks were determined. The findings here indicate that the seasonality of mortality exhibits strong spatial variation with the largest seasonal mortality amplitudes found in the southwestern United States and the smallest in the North, along with South Florida. In addition, there were strong intra-regional similarities that exist among the examined cities, implying that environmental factors are more important than social factors in determining seasonal mortality response. This work begins to fill a large gap within the scientific literature concerning the geographic variation and underlying causes of seasonal mortality across the United States.
Reproductive value and appropriateness of response to predators by White-Crowned Sparrows

Twenty-five pair of breeding Whitecrowned Sparrows were presented with a live snake and models of a hawk, jay, and junco. Pairs were tested either when the female was brooding eggs, feeding nestlings, or fledglings. It was found that the snake was responded to the most when the pair had nestlings, very little when the female was brooding eggs, and at a moderate level with fledglings. The hawk and jay models were responded to the least with eggs, more with nestlings, and the most with fledglings. The junco model elicited little response. Both the pattern and level of response is influenced by whether or not the stimulus represents an effective predator at the particular stage of the breeding cycle. They also are influenced by the reproductive value of the progeny. A model is suggested that includes two factors: stimulus value and reproductive value. We propose that this combined model is more suitable than a single factor one.
Sharp crack and blunt notch toughness behavior of quenched and tempered AISI 4340 steel

Abstract Precracked and blunt notch Charpy tests of AISI 4340 steel were carried out by instrumented Charpy tests for a variety of heat treatments. Scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and optical microscopy were carried out to characterize microstructure and fracture surfaces. Results show that in precracked conditions high temperature austenitization at 1200 °C produces a twofold increase in the dynamic fracture toughness in the as-quenched condition compared with conventional austenitization at 870 °C, whereas in blunt notch testing conventional austenitization produces a better dynamic fracture toughness. High temperature austenitization, together with a large austenitic grain size, also results in substantial amounts of autotempered ϵ carbide in the as-quenched structure. These structural features are employed to seek an explanation for the anomalous toughness behavior in sharp crack and blunt notch testing of quenched and tempered AISI 4340 steel.
Modification of F1-ATPase from yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae with 5′-p-[3H]fluorosulfonylbenzoyl adenosine

Abstract F 1 -ATPase was isolated from yeast S. cerevisiae . The constituent subunits 1 and 2 were purified by gel permeation chromatography, and their amino acid compositions determined. Both subunits have a similar composition except for 1 2 cystine, methionine, leucine, histidine, and tryptophan. When F 1 is treated for three hours with 5′-p-[ 3 H]fluorosulfonylbenzoyl adenosine in dimethylsulfoxide, 90% of the activity is lost. Disc gel electrophoresis of the modified complex showed that over 90% of the label was associated with subunit 2. A labelled peptide from a S. aureus digest of subunit 2 was isolated and sequenced. It had the following amino acid sequence: His-Try ∗ -Asp-Val-Ala-Ser-Lys-Val-Gln-Glu, whereby Tyr ∗ is the modified amino acid residue. This sequence shows homology to other sequences obtained from maize, beef heart, and E. coli F 1 -ATPases.
Mapping QTLs contributing to Ustilago maydis resistance in specific plant tissues of maize.

Quantitative trait loci (QTL) contributing to the frequency and severity of Ustilago maydis infection in the leaf, ear, stalk, and tassel of maize plants were mapped using an A188 × CMV3 and W23 × CMV3 recombinant inbred (RI) populations. QTLs mapped to genetic bins 2.04 and 9.04–9.05 of the maize genome contributed strongly (R2 = 18–28%) to variation in the frequency and severity of U. maydis infection over the entire plant in both populations and within the majority of environments. QTLs mapped to bins 3.05, 3.08, and 8.00 in the A188 × CMV3 population and bin 4.05 in both populations significantly contributed to the frequency or severity of infection in only the tassel tissue. QTLs mapped to bin 1.07 in the A188 × CMV3 population and bin 7.00 in the W23 × CMV3 population contributed to U. maydis resistance in only the ear tissue. Interestingly, the CMV3 allele of the QTL mapped to bin 1.10 in the A188 × CMV3 population significantly contributed to U. maydis susceptibility in the ear and stalk but significantly increased resistance in the tassel tissue. Digenic epistatic interactions between the QTL mapped to bin 5.08 and four distinct QTLs significantly contributed to the frequency and severity of infection over the entire plant and within the tassel tissue of the A188 × CMV3 population. Several QTLs detected in this study mapped to regions of the maize genome containing previously mapped U. maydis resistance QTLs and genes involved in plant disease resistance.
O-034 Criteria for assessment of endovasal techniques for idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH)

Purpose The debate about the effect of venous sinus outflow improvement in IIH—does it simply mitigate a consequence of primary raised intracranial pressure, or does it address the cause of raised intracranial pressure itself remains controversial. With reference to this question, we present the evaluation of endovascular manomentry and treatment in 12 patients with refractory IIH. Materials and Methods All patients (11 f, 1 m; 16 to 34-year-old; BMI kg/m2: 20–85) were referred with history of progressive headache, visual disturbance, or change of personality. They underwent MRI, MRV, catheter phlebography, and manometry of dural sinuses (pullback pressure measurement in multiple locations between the sagittal sinus and superior vena cava). In 6 cases, percutaneous angioplasties of dural sinuses with compliant balloons (4 and 4.5 mm) were considered. Results The opening lumbar CSF pressure has been elevated in all patients between 30 cm 120 cm H2O. The venography (MRV, conventional) revealed subtle stenotic lesions of lateral sinuses in all cases. Regarding the gradients across the sinus stenosis (AG), the cases were divided in 3 groups: I. AG up to 15 mm Hg—6 cases (4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12 mm); II. AG up to 30 mm Hg—4 cases (21, 25, 26, 30 mm); III. Ag above 30 mm Hg—2 cases (50, 35 mm). Angioplasties were performed for patients in II and III group. In 4 cases (JV/jugular vein pressure 8, 10, 12, 16 mm Hg) there was a durable dramatic improvement with resolving of symptoms. In 2 cases (JV pressure 22 and 24 mm Hg) there was transitory improvement. Conclusion The consideration for balloon angioplasty was predicated on the notion that venous outflow obstruction plays some part in the etiology of symptoms and signs in patients with IIH. Those with considerable durable improvement included cases with distinct elevated AG (50, 35, 25, 21 mm Hg) and moderate elevation of JV pressure (8, 10, 12, 16 mm). These with lack of clinical efficacy included cases with elevated AG (26, 30 mm Hg), but also with distinct JV pressure (22, 24 mm Hg). All of the treated patients had AG above 21 mm Hg, but only those with JV pressure below 16 mm Hg responded extremely well. The group I was considered for medical therapy, because AG below 15 mm Hg seems not predictable for successful treatment. Perhaps some cases of IIH are exacerbated by a coexistent effect of pre-existent anatomic narrowing of the lateral sinuses with elevated across gradients, and perfusion improvement breaks the iterative cycle. The lack of clinical response after angioplasty (or stenting) reflects probably on the both: the lack of exposed AG, and the elevation of JV pressure due to central venous pressure elevation. Alternatively, IIH may include two populations: one truly idiopathic (with central venous pressure elevation, without associated sinus flow obstruction, not responding to angioplasty), and the other with additional exacerbated IIH by preexistent venous outflow obstruction (responding to angioplasty). This would have clear implications for clinical management.
Survival ofRhizobium trifolii in soil following inoculation of arrowleaf clover

Arrowleaf clover (Trifolium vesiculosum Savi) is an annual forage legume that is sown in south-eastern USA when temperature and moisture conditions may not be suitable for survival of inoculant rhizobia. Survival of two antibiotic-resistant strains of rhizobia on seed or quartz particles was evaluated under controlled conditions in the laboratory. At 30°C and 75% r.h., lime coating of inoculated seed, soil pH (4.2 and 6.7), and surface or subsurface sowing of inoculated seed did not significantly (P = 0.05) affect the survival of either rhizobial strain. The use of gum arabic as an inoculant adhesive resulted in better rhizobial survival than sucrose or water, but even with gum arabic treatment the population of strain 162Y10 declined fromc. 10,000/seed to less than ten/seed in six days. Survival of strain 162Y15 appeared better andc. 200 rhizobia/seed survived for six days. When inoculated seed were incubated at 45°C, soil pH, method of sowing, lime coating of the seed, and r.h. (75% and 100%) did not influence rhizobial survival. The gum arabic adhesive enhanced survival over the use of sucrose but survival was still poor. No viable rhizobia were detected after two days of incubation. High r.h. (100%) and 30°C favoured survival and growth of both rhizobial strains when inoculated onto quartz particles placed on, or mixed into, soil at pH 4.2. Coating inoculated quartz particles with lime increased the growth of rhizobia under these conditions, but sucrose and gum arabic were equally effective as inoculant adhesives.
Comprehensive microscopy of the esophagus in human patients with optical frequency domain imaging

Background Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a cross-sectional, high-resolution imaging modality that has been shown to accurately differentiate esophageal specialized intestinal metaplasia (SIM) from gastric cardia at the squamocolumnar junction (SCJ) and diagnose high-grade dysplasia and intramucosal carcinoma in patients with SIM. The clinical utility of OCT has been limited, however, by its inability to acquire images over large areas. Objective The aim of this study was to use recently developed high-speed OCT technology, termed optical frequency domain imaging (OFDI), and a new balloon-centering catheter (2.5 cm diameter) to demonstrate the feasibility of large area, comprehensive optical microscopy of the entire distal esophagus (∼6.0 cm) in patients. Design A pilot feasibility study. Setting Massachusetts General Hospital. Patients Twelve patients undergoing routine EGD. Results Comprehensive microscopy of the distal esophagus was successfully performed in 10 patients with the OFDI system and balloon catheter. There were no complications resulting from the imaging procedure. Volumetric data sets were acquired in less than 2 minutes. OFDI images at the SCJ showed a variety of microscopic features that were consistent with histopathologic findings, including squamous mucosa, cardia, SIM with and without dysplasia, and esophageal erosion. Limitations Inability to obtain direct correlation of OFDI data and histopathologic diagnoses. Conclusions Comprehensive volumetric microscopy of the human distal esophagus was successfully demonstrated with OFDI and a balloon-centering catheter, providing a wealth of detailed information about the structure of the esophageal wall. This technique will support future studies to compare OFDI image information with histopathologic diagnoses.
On Jourdain's principle

Abstract This paper reexamines the effect of the validity, or the lack thereof, of the commutation rule for kinematically possible, or admissible, and virtual variations i.e. dδ(…) vs δd(…), on the form of Jourdain's principle (JP), in general quasivariables. It is shown that JP is independent of any such rule. A similar independence holds in the derivation of the equations of motion from Lagrange's principle.
The impact of adult roles on drinking among women in the United States

This paper examines the impact of three adult roles-spouse, parent, and worker-on psychological distress and drinking among a national sample of 10,193 women in the United States, using the 1992 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA). We found that the spouse and worker roles are negatively associated with the level of psychological distress, and the parent role is positively correlated with it. Controlling for level of psychological distress, those workers generally are more likely to be drinkers, but, among drinkers, they do not consume alcoholic beverages more than non-workers. The family roles do not affect a woman's likelihood of being a drinker. However, among the drinkers, being a spouse or a parent is negatively related with level of alcohol consumption. Separating three aspects of drinking behavior-whether a woman drinks at all and, if she drinks, her levels of alcohol consumption and problem drinking-our findings suggest that drinking is not a unidimensional construct. A woman's roles influence various dimensions of her drinking differently.
Organization of Nanoparticles on Soft Polymer Surfaces

We investigate the organization of gold nanocrystals on thin, fluid films consisting of polymer chains tethered by one end to an underlying substrate in a polymer brush configuration. The thickness of the polymer brush is comparable to the nanocrystal size. Thinner polymer brushes are found to suppress aggregation of the nanoparticles, leading to stable, elongated particle-rich domains. The results suggest new approaches for modification of macroscopic surfaces with nanoscopic particles.
The comparative effects of verapamil and a new dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker on digoxin pharmacokinetics.

Conflicting conclusions have been reported about interaction of calcium channel blockers with digoxin. The effects of verapamil (240 mg/day) and a new dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker, isradipine (15 mg/day), on the pharmacokinetics of 1 mg intravenous digoxin were compared. All 24 volunteer subjects were healthy, male, nonobese, and aged 18 to 38 years. Groups of 12 subjects received each oral agent over 15 days, with collections of blood and urine for 72 hours after intravenous digoxin. Significant (P < 0.05) reduction in nonrenal (7.01 ± 1.97 to 4.00 ± 1.86 L/hr) and total clearance (14.1 ± 2.6 to 11.5 ± 2.5 L/hr) were induced by verapamil, without change in renal clearance. A near-significant (P < 0.1) increase in peripheral volume of distribution contributed to prolonged elimination half-life (23.1 ± 4.4 to 34.3 ± 9.7 hours). By contrast, isradipine caused only a 9% reduction in volume of distribution. Verapamil causes digoxin accumulation by reducing nonrenal elimination. No evidence of clinically relevant interaction of isradipine with digoxin was seen. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1987) 42, 66–71; doi:10.1038/clpt.1987.109
A novel low molecular weight ecdysiotropin in post-diapause, pre-hatch eggs of the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar L. (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae)

Abstract Extracts of post-diapause, pre-hatch eggs of the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar L. were examined for prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH)-like activity using an in vitro assay involving last-instar prothoracic glands (PGs). The eggs were extracted in water, eluted from a low-pressure C18-silica cartridge in 60% acetonitrile, and fractionated on a high-performance, size-exclusion column. The primary ecdysiotropic activity eluted with an estimated molecular weight of 2.1 kDa far below the 4–7 kDa size determined for the low molecular weight PTTHs (bombyxins). Dose-response analysis revealed that the maximum activation was reduced by 75% by organic solvent extraction, but the remaining activity retained the ability to maximally activate the PGs 10-fold in vitro. At least some of the ecdysiotropic activity in the post-diapause, pre-hatch egg is localized in the brain of the pharate larva, and this activity increases dramatically prior to hatch when eggs are incubated at 25°C.
Sulfur dioxide poisoning as a cause of asthma

This report discusses 3 cases of asthmatic attack following exposure to SO/sub 2/ from leaking refrigerators. This report speculates that primary effects are inflammatory destructive lesions in upper tract which predispose bronchi to bacterial attack followed by hypersensitivity to bacterial products (complex of bronchial asthma) in certain susceptible individuals. SO/sub 2/, like cold, exercise, or overeating, may be included in the same category of nonspecific precipitating causes. No immunologic case for specificity of SO/sub 2/ was observed.
The Roles of 5′-HS2, 5′-HS3, and the γ-Globin TATA, CACCC, and Stage Selector Elements in Suppression of β-Globin Expression in Early Development

The roles of HS2 and HS3 from the human β-globin locus control region and of the TATA, CACCC, and stage selector elements of the γ-globin promoter, in competitive inhibition of β-globin gene expression in early development, were tested using stable transfections of HEL and K562 cells. Cells with an HS3γβ construct demonstrate that HS3 exhibits enhancing activity, but compared with HS2, this site participates less consistently in the inhibition of embryonic/fetal β-globin expression. In cells with HS3HS2γβ constructs, the two HS sites act in concert to more effectively enhance γ-globin gene expression and to drive stage-specific expression of the γ- and β-globin genes. A γ-globin gene with a –161 promoter can competitively inhibit β-globin gene expression. HS3HS2γβ constructs were used to determine the effects of γ-globin promoter mutations within this region on competition. The CACCC and TATA elements, but not the stage selector element, inhibit inappropriate embryonic/fetal stage expression of the β-globin gene. The mutation in the γ-globin TATA element results in the use of two major alternative transcription start sites. The data suggest that proteins binding to the γ-globin CACCC and TATA elements interact with those binding to HS2 and/or HS3 to preclude β-globin transcription in early development.
Multiplexed oversampling digitizer in 65 nm CMOS for column-parallel CCD readout

A digitizer designed to read out column-parallel charge-coupled devices used for high-speed X-ray imaging is presented. The digitizer is included as part of the High-Speed Image Preprocessor with Oversampling integrated circuit. The digitizer module comprises a multiplexed, oversampling, 12-bit, 80 MS/s pipelined analog-to-digital converter and a bank of four fast-settling sample-and-hold amplifiers to instrument four analog channels. The analog-to-digital converter multiplexes and oversamples to reduce its area to allow integration that is pitch-matched to the columns of the imager. Novel design techniques are used to enable oversampling and multiplexing with a reduced power penalty. The analog-to-digital converter exhibits 188 μV-rms noise which is less than 1 LSB at a 12-bit level. The prototype is implemented in a commercially available 65-nm CMOS process. The digitizer will be applied to the development of a proof-of-principle 2D, 10 Gigapixel/s X-ray detector.
Orchestration of the inflammatory response in ischemia-reperfusion injury

Ischemia to nerve can cause fiber degeneration and reperfusion following ischemia [ischemia-reperfusion (IR)] adds the additional insult of an inflammatory response and oxidative injury. Limited information is available on the molecular mediators and their endoneurial targets. In this study, using a highly reproducible animal model of IR injury to nerve and selective immunolabeling methods [for nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), cytokines, and inflammatory cells] over an expanded time frame, we evaluated the temporal pattern and localization of mediators of the inflammatory response. Sixty rats were used. Nine groups (N=6 each) underwent complete hind limb ischemia for 4 h, followed by reperfusion durations of 0, 3, 12, 24, and 48 h, and 7, 14, 28, and 42 days. One group underwent sham operation (N=6). The earliest change was ICAM-1 expression in the microvessel (endothelial cell) followed almost immediately by NF-kappaB activation with axonal expression (24 and 48 h), followed by endoneurial edema and ischemic fiber degeneration (7 and 14 days). Granulocytic infiltration was followed by endoneurial infiltration of mononuclear phagocytes (14 days), expression of interleukin 6 (IL-6) (microvessels), and subsequent Schwann cell NF-kappaB expression. Granulocytes, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and IL-6-positive cells were observed primarily within the epineurium. IR results in changes in a number of interacting networks of targets and inflammatory mediators. NF-kappaB activation has a central orchestrating role involving both the axon and the Schwann cell in effecting the inflammatory response.
Shaping and Increasing Verbalizations in an Autistic Child in Response to Visual-Color Stimulation

It was hypothesized that systematic visual-color consequences contingent upon verbalizations would be effective in augmenting the rate of sounds as well as shaping specific words and word approximations, in a six-yr.-old autistic child. It was found that verbalizations were augmented over a base rate in a free operant situation. However, in a prompt-response contingency food was significantly more powerful in shaping specific sounds. Reasons for the difference were discussed.
Synthesis of 2-amino-6-chloro- and 2,6-diammopunne 3-oxides

N-Oxidation of 2-amino-6-chloropurine to the 3-oxide provided a convenient intermediate for the synthesis of 2-amino-6-substituted purine 3-oxides, including the previously unavailable 2,6-diaminopurine 3-oxide. Thiation of the 6-halogen was accompanied by reduction of the N-oxide. The properties of the 1- and 3-oxides of 2,6-diaminopurine are compared.
Enhanced fatigue resistance in older adults during repeated sets of intermittent contractions.

Reportedly, muscle fatigue in older individuals is greater, less than, or similar to young individuals, potentially because of differences in muscle groups studied, type of contraction, continuous vs. intermittent contractions, exercise duration, duty cycle, and contraction speed. During a single set of isokinetic mode knee extensions, muscle fatigue is similar between older and younger individuals. However, repeated sets may favor the more oxidative nature of muscle from older adults and may be necessary to reveal age-associated enhanced fatigue resistance. The purpose of this investigation was to compare muscular fatigue induced by repeated sets of intermittent isokinetic mode knee extensions in older and younger males. Nineteen older (mean ± SD) (66 ± 6 yr) and 16 younger (21 ± 2 yr) men completed 5 sets of 30 isokinetic mode knee extensions at 180 degrees/second. In the analysis of absolute fatigue, both groups significantly decreased torque production during each set, with young men having significantly higher torque production during all 5 sets. Relative fatigue was significantly greater in young participants during sets 2 through 5 (old vs. young: set 2: 17.1 vs. 26.6%; set 3: 25.5 vs. 39.7%; set 4: 28.1 vs. 45.1%; set 5: 29.3 vs. 46.4%; overall relative fatigue: old 22.2%; young 38.1%). These data indicate enhanced fatigue resistance in older men, which was revealed using repeated sets of intermittent contractions. Resistance to muscle fatigue is only one component of healthy aging muscle, and perhaps exercise interventions targeted toward prevention of falls in the elderly should focus on improved muscle power rather than fatigability/sustainability of contractions.
Ball Milling-Induced Combustion in Powder Mixtures Containing Titanium, Zirconium, or Hafnium

Abstract Ball milling induces self propagating high temperature reactions in many highly exothermic powder mixtures. This phenomenon has been studied in a variety of reactions with titanium, zirconium, and hafnium. Several oxides (CuO, Cu 2 O, NiO, Fe 3 O 4 , and ZnO) were reduced with Ti, Zr, and Hf and the borides, carbides, silicides, and sulfides of these metals were prepared from elemental mixtures. The ignition time is much shorter with Zr than with either Ti or Hf whenever oxygen or sulfur is involved in the reaction, but no similar variation is observed for the formation of borides, carbides, and silicides. It is suggested that the fast diffusion of oxygen in ZrO 2 and very likely of sulfur in ZrS 2 are responsible for this behavior.
You Don't De-Friend the Dead: An Analysis of Grief Communication by College Students Through Facebook Profiles

This research examined how various members of a social network interact with the Facebook (FB) profile page of a friend who has died. From 43 in-depth qualitative interviews, FB friends of deceased FB users maintained their FB connection with the deceased. Most participants who visited the profile found it helpful to look at pictures; a few wrote messages to the deceased as a coping mechanism. In some instances, a spouse or parent controlled the profile, which respondents universally viewed as having a negative effect on their ability to cope with their loss.
Analysis of coupon incentive-based demand response with bounded consumer rationality

Incentive-based demand response in electric distribution grid has been recently proposed as an alternative to price-based mechanism. In this paper, the performance of a coupon incentive-based demand response (CIDR) in a real world setting is formulated and critically assessed. In the scheme of CIDR, load serving entities (LSEs) issue coupons to consumers whenever real-time wholesale price spikes are expected, thus avoiding further loss when price-affecting contingencies happen in near real-time. expected outcome of CIDR with bounded rational consumers are formulated and analyzed. It is shown that there exists fundamental connection between scheme of CIDR and conventional price-based demand response. Game theoretical models are introduced as a means to capturing the interactions between load serving entities and consumers with bounded rationality. Numerical examples obtained from Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) illustrate the efficacy of proposed analysis.
Geological reference materials for standardization and quality assurance of instrumental neutron activation analysis

Results are presented from the INAA of 34 elements in NIST and USGS geological reference materials that were analysed relative to multielemental SRM-1633a Coal Flyash standards. The data compare favorably with works reported by other investigators. The application of historical control charts for continuous monitoring of quality assurance and detection of systematic errors is demonstrated.
Post–Mohs Micrographic Surgical Margin Tissue Evaluation with Permanent Histopathologic Sections

Background. Incomplete resection of nonmelanoma skin cancer is associated with a relatively high rate of recurrent tumors. Mohs micrographic surgery provides microscopic evaluation of tumor margins to ensure complete excision of nonmelanoma skin cancers at high risk of recurrence. Objective. This purpose of this study is to confirm the histologic accuracy of Mohs excision of facial skin cancers by evaluating an additional layer of tissue with permanent histopathologic sections after Mohs excision. Methods. Two hundred ninety-six Mohs cases were identified, which, after excision, were sent to a single plastic surgeon for reconstruction. This plastic surgeon routinely takes an additional layer and sends for permanent histopathologic evaluation at the time of reconstruction. A review of the pathology reports and tissue specimens on these patients provides valuable data on tumor margins and the effectiveness of the Mohs technique for tumor excision. Results. Two excisions of nodular basal cell cancer were determined by the pathologist to have positive tumor involvement on post-Mohs permanent tissue. On additional review, one specimen was interpreted to be more consistent with follicular epithelium, and the second was verified as a focus of nodular basal cell cancer. Conclusion. These data support the high reliability of Mohs surgery for margin control.
A Microbial Sulfolipid. I. Isolation and Physiological Studies

SYNOPSIS. A sulfolipid, isolated from the phytoflagellate, Ochromonas danica, and from its medium, constitutes over 50% of the sulfur of the cells. It is bound to protein and excreted by the phytoflagellate. When the S35-labeled sulfolipid was placed in the medium it was incorporated by the cells without cleavage of the sulfate group. Thus it passes back and forth between the growth medium and the cells. The sulfolipid has been found in O. danica, O. malhamensis, Tetrahymena pyriformis, Chlamydomonas sp., Pseudomonas sp. (sea water bacterium). It was identified in the culture medium of O. danica, O. malhamensis, Chlorella pyrenoidosa, and Streptomyces griseus. Preliminary evidence was obtained for its presence in the growth medium of white clover and sorghum.
Opera Thugs and Passionate Fandom

Using life stories and observing opera fans in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Claudio E. Benzecry shows how passion for a cultural object develops, gets refined and sustained over time and the consequenc...
Prevalence and Risk Factors for Hepatitis C Virus Infection Among Adolescents in Detention

Objective To assess the prevalence and correlates of hepatitis C virus infection in a sample of detained adolescents. Design/Setting/Participants Cross-sectional prevalence study with 10- to 18-year-old adolescents who were consecutively admitted to a juvenile detention center in San Antonio, Tex. Main Outcome Measures The prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection and associated risk factors. Results Of the 1002 participants, 75% were Hispanic and the mean age was 15 years. Twenty adolescents had laboratory data consistent with hepatitis C virus infection, giving an overall prevalence of 2.0% (95% confidence interval, 1.2-3.1). All adolescents infected with hepatitis C virus were Hispanic (13 boys and 7 girls). Although a high proportion of the participants reported having had intranasal drug use (55.6%), tattooing (50.5%), or body piercing (25.3%), the only factor significantly associated with hepatitis C virus infection was having a history of injection drug use. Injection drug use was reported by 5.3% of the participants but by 95% (19/20) of those infected with the hepatitis C virus. Conclusions This study indicates that injection drug use was linked with the majority of hepatitis C virus infections in this population of detained adolescents, similar to findings in adults. These adolescents reported a high frequency of other behaviors that could potentially pose a risk for contracting bloodborne infections. Effective prevention and awareness programs in a detention setting need to be comprehensive and include screening, hepatitis A and B immunizations, and risk-reduction counseling.