cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Purchasing power parity

Abstract This paper examines the purchasing power parity (henceforth PPP) using historical data and the cointegration approach. The results indicate that the exchange rate is cointegrated with the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) ratio but not with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) ratio. The cointegrating vector is close to (0, –1). For the CPI-based real exchange rates, however, we cannot reject the random walk hypothesis. The findings caution us on the use of general price indexes that give a large weight to nontraded goods and are therefore subject to long-run deviations from PPP.
From Spencer to E‐P: Eyewitnessing the Progress of Fieldwork

Strangers Abroad Series:Sir Walter Baldwin Spencer (1860–1929), Fieldwork; Franz Boas (1858–1952), The Shackles of Tradition; William Rivers (1864–1922), Everything Is Relatives; Bron-islaw Malinowski (1884–1942), Off the Verandah; Margaret Mead (1901–1978), Coming of Age; Sir Edward Evans-Pritchard (1902–1973), Strange Beliefs.
Graph minimal uncolorability is D P -complete

In their excellent paper, C.H. Papadimitriou and M. Yannakakis [PY] asked whether the minimal-3-uncolorability problem is, among other Critical Problems, $D_{p}$-complete. This paper gives an affirmative answer to the above question. We show that minimal-$k$-uncolorability is $D_{p}$-complete, for all fixed $k \geq 3$. Furthermore, for $k$ = 3, the reduction can be modified by using ``sensitive'''' gadgets to resolve the planar case, bounded vertex degree case and their combination.
Environmentally Degradable Plastics

The relationship between plastics and the environment is a topic of current interest to government agencies, the plastics industry, and the general public. During the 1990s, standardization organizations (ASTM, CEN, ISO) defined terms such as degradable, biodegradable, and compostable, and developed specifications for labeling prerequisites; ISO began to formulate life-cycle assessment (LCA) programs. In some applications (eg, agricultural mulching film and compost bags) biodegradability and compostability serve intrinsic functional purposes; in others (eg, packaging, food service items, and consumer products) they allow disposal by composting, thereby avoiding incineration and landfilling. Activated polyolefins degrade, but by current standards are not compostable. Petroleum-based synthetics that are biodegradable and compostable include poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(glycolic acid), and polycaprolactone; synthetic copolyesters and poly(ester amides) are biodegradable, some are compostable. Commercialized polymers obtained from renewable resources (biomass) include cellulose, starch, poly(lactic acid), microbial polyhydroxyalkanoates, and polymerized vegetable oils. LCA has shown that many of these polymers have lower environmental impacts than conventional petroleum-based plastics. Their properties can be varied through the use of derivitization, additives, and blends. Many other polymeric materials have been studied in the laboratory but not yet commercialized. The future prospects for green plastics depend on technological developments that enhance environmental attributes, improve performance, and lower costs. Keywords: environment; degradable; biodegradable; compostable; starch; poly(lactic acid); polyolefins; triglycerides
Digital mapping of bacterial artificial chromosomes by fluorescence in situ hybridization.

Summary The bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) has become the most popular tool for cloning large DNA fragments. The inserts of most BAC clones average 100–200 kilobases (kb) and molecular characterization of such large DNA fragments is a major challenge. Here we report a simple and expedient technique for physical mapping of BAC inserts. Individual BAC molecules were immobilized on glass slides coated with Poly-L-lysine. The intact circular BAC molecules were visualized by fluorescencein situhybridization using BAC DNA as a probe. The 7.4 kb BAC vector was extended to approximately 2.44 kb per micrometer. Digitally measured linear distances can be transformed into kilobases of DNA using the extension of BAC vector as a standard calibration. We mapped DNA fragments as small as 2 kb directly on circular BAC molecules. A rice BAC clone containing both tandem and dispersed repeats was analyzed using this technique. The distribution and organization of the different repeats within the BAC insert were efficiently determined. The results showed that this technique will be especially valuable for characterizing BAC clones that contain complex repetitive DNA sequences.
Ten-vertex iron-monocarbollide complexes: synthesis and reactivity of the anion [4,9-{Fe(CO)4}-9,9,9-(CO)3-arachno-9,6-FeCB8H11]-

The reagent [arachno-4-CB8H14] reacts with [Fe3(CO)12] in tetrahydrofuran (THF) at reflux temperatures, followed by addition of [N(PPh3)2]Cl, to afford [N(PPh3)2][4,9-{Fe(CO)4}-9,9,9-(CO)3-arachno-9,6-FeCB8H11] (3). In the anion of 3, one iron atom is part of the open CBBFeBB face of a 10-vertex {arachno-9,6-FeCB8} cage, to which the second iron atom is attached via an Fe-Fe bond and an additional exo-polyhedral Fe-B sigma bond. Upon heating 3 in refluxing toluene, the closed 10-vertex species [N(PPh3)2][2,2,2-(CO)3-closo-2,1-FeCB8H9] (4) is obtained, whereas the isomeric compound [N(PPh3)2][6,6,6-(CO)3-closo-6,1-FeCB8H9] (5) is isolated upon heating [closo-4-CB8H9]- and [Fe3(CO)12] in refluxing THF with subsequent addition of [N(PPh3)2]Cl. Protonation of 3 using CF3SO3H in CH2Cl2 gives the charge-compensated compound [4,9-{Fe(CO)4}-4-(mu-H)-9,9,9-(CO)3-arachno-9,6-FeCB8H11] (6), in which the B-Fe sigma bond of the precursor has been converted to a B-H right harpoon-up Fe linkage. In contrast, 3 with {M(PPh3)}+ gives the trimetallic species [1,3,4,9-{MFe(CO)4(PPh3)}-1,3-(mu-H)2-9,9,9-(CO)3-arachno-9,6-FeCB8H9] (M = Cu (7), Ag 8) in which the three metal centers form a V-shaped M-Fe-Fe unit. Compound 6 reacts with PEt3 in the presence of Me(3)NO to yield [4,9-(PEt3)2-9,9-(CO)2-nido-9,6-FeCB8H10] (9). In the latter, the formerly exo-polyhedral {Fe(CO)4} fragment has been replaced by a PEt3 ligand, with a second PEt3 substituting one CO group at the remaining cluster iron vertex. The novel structural features of compounds 3-9 have been confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies.
Atmospheric physics: Scaling tropical rain

Despite the complexity of the processes involved, the statistics of the tropical rain rate are remarkably similar to those of critical phenomena near continuous phase transitions in other — much smaller — physical systems.
Cylindrical elastic-plastic waves due to discontinuous loading at a circular cavity

The plastic waves in rate-independent, isotropically work-hardening media obeying the von Mises yield condition generated by radial stress uniformly applied at a circular cavity of radius r = r0, are studied. Both plane stress and plane strain motions are considered. The radial stress and its time derivative at the cavity may be discontinuous at time t = t0. If the applied radial stress is continuous while its time derivative is not, the discontinuity at (r0, t0) propagates into r >r0 along the characteristics and/or the elastic-plastic boundaries. If the applied radial stress itself is discontinuous, the discontinuity in stress may propagate into r >r0 in the form of a shock wave, or a pseudo centered simple wave, or a combination of both. This is a systematic study on the nature of solutions in the neighborhood of (r0, t0) for all possible combinations of discontinuous loadings applied at (r0, t0). The special cases of linear work-hardening and perfectly-plastic media are also discussed. Finally, the corresponding problem for materials obeying the Tresca yield condition is studied briefly.
Consistency of subtraction method for gravitational mass.

Consistency of subtraction technique for calculating gravitational mass in nonquasi- rectangular coordinates from surface integrals provided by von Freud superpotentials
Plasma wave evidence for lightning on Venus

Plasma wave data from the Pioneer Venus Orbiter provide the largest body of data cited as evidence for lightning on Venus. These data are also the most controversial, mainly because of the ambiguity in mode identification due to limited spectral information. We review some of the more recent studies of the plasma wave data at Venus, and we demonstrate that the characteristics of the 100 Hz waves are consistent with whistler-mode waves propagating vertically from below the ionosphere. We further show that in situ instabilities are too weak to generate whistler-mode waves, mainly because the thermal pressure is comparable with the magnetic field pressure in the ionosphere of Venus. The lower hybrid drift instability has also been suggested as an alternative source for the 100 Hz waves. However, the wave properties are more consistent with whistler-mode propagation; the lower hybrid dirft instability requires very short gradient scale lengths to overcome damping due to collisions. We also note that an apparent association between Langmuir probe anomalies and 100 Hz waves is much lower than previously reported, once we apply a consistent intensity threshold for identifying wave bursts. The lightning hyposthesis remains the most probable explanation of the plasma waves detected at low altitudes in the nightside ionosphere of Venus.
Impact of emergency medicine faculty on door to thrombolytic time

The objective of this study was to determine the impact of Emergency Medicine (EM) faculty presence on timely thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction in the Emergency Department (ED). We performed a retrospective study of data regarding acute myocardial infarction patients in the ED of a large urban teaching hospital. Data were collected from January 1, 1998 to December 31, 1999 when EM faculty were not present in the ED and from January 1, 2001 to December 31, 2002 when they were. We compared median time from patient arrival to thrombolytics, percent of patients receiving thrombolytics within 30 min of arrival, and percent of patients with indications for primary revascularization who received it before and after EM faculty presence. The results indicate that EM faculty presence resulted in a decrease in median time from arrival to thrombolytic administration of 17 min (95% CI: 9, 28). Before EM faculty presence, the median time was 44 min as compared to 24 min post-EM faculty presence. Patients received thrombolytic therapy within 30 min 25.8% of the time before EM faculty presence as compared to 65.4% with EM faculty presence; an absolute increase of 39.6% (95% CI: 23.0%, 56.3%). Primary revascularization occurred in 56.9% of eligible patients pre-EM faculty presence and 81.4% post-EM faculty presence; an increase of 24.5% (95% CI: 13.6%, 35.4%). We conclude that the introduction of Emergency Medicine faculty significantly improved the quality of care for acute myocardial infarction patients in a large urban Emergency Department.
Issues in achieving compliance with antihypertensive treatment in the Latino population.

Latino Americans are the largest growing ethnic minority group in the United States. The level of awareness and control of hypertension among Latino Americans has remained virtually unchanged in the past 20 years. Untreated hypertension often progresses and is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Hypertension control can be achieved with simple and well-tolerated medication regimens that are cost-effective and reduce morbidity and mortality in all populations studied. Clinicians can work to increase compliance by developing a basic understanding of the social, demographic, and historical conditions that affect Latino Americans. Language proficiency, cultural scripts, and health beliefs and attitudes influence patient—clinician communication in specific ways among Latino patients. Health care systems and plans should work on creating culturally competent health care programs to serve the needs of this diverse population.
Drosophila cells and ecdysterone: a model system for gene regulation.

WhenDrosophila cell lines are exposed to physiological doses of the steroid molting hormone, ecdysterone, they enter mitotic arrest and differentiate morphologically. These responses are accompanied by specific changes in gene expression. Several enzyme activities (acetylcholinesterase, β-galactosidase, dopa decarboxylase, and catalase) are induced and the synthesis of a cytoplasmic actin and the four small heat-shock proteins is initiated. Several of these ecdysterone inducible genes have been physically isolated and characterized, in several cases by DNA sequencing. Current studies focus on introducing cloned ecdysterone inducible genes into responsive cells by DNA mediated transfection. Once it is clear that these introduced genes acquire the normal pattern of hormone-regulated gene expression in the cell, in vitro mutagenesis can be used before transfection to modify their structure. Transient expression, then, can become a functional assay to define regions of DNA flanking the coding region of inducible genes that are needed for proper gene expression and regulation in cultured cells.
c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) mediates feedback inhibition of the insulin signaling cascade.

Activation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) by proinflammatory cytokines inhibits insulin signaling, at least in part, by stimulating phosphorylation of rat/mouse insulin receptor substrate 1 (Irs1) at Ser307(Ser312 in human IRS1). Here we show that JNK mediated feedback inhibition of the insulin signal in mouse embryo fibroblasts, 3T3-L1 adipocytes, and 32DIR cells. Insulin stimulation of JNK activity required phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and Grb2 signaling. Moreover, activation of JNK by insulin was inhibited by a cell-permeable peptide that disrupted the interaction of JNK with cellular proteins. However, the direct binding of JNK to Irs1 was not required for its activation by insulin, whereas direct binding was required for Ser307 phosphorylation of Irs1. Insulin-stimulated Ser307 phosphorylation was reduced 80% in cells lacking JNK1 and JNK2 or in cells expressing a mutant Irs1 protein lacking the JNK binding site. Reduced Ser307phosphorylation was directly related to increased insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation, Akt phosphorylation, and glucose uptake. These results support the hypothesis that JNK is a negative feedback regulator of insulin action by phosphorylating Ser307 in Irs1.
Resistance to peritonitis following disruption of peritoneal mast cells.

Abstract A single ip injection of distilled water osmotically disrupts almost the entire population of peritoneal mast cells in rats. The metachromatic granules released from disrupted mast cells are phagocytosed by peritoneal macrophages increasing their chemotactic and spreading activities. On this basis a study was carried out to determine whether an ip injection of distilled water, by releasing an abundance of these granules for peritoneal macrophage stimulation, protects rats subsequently exposed to peritonitis. We found that a single ip injection of distilled water lowers the mortality in rats exposed to bacterial peritonitis 2–3 weeks later from 80 to 33%.
Analysis of Water-Level-Rise Effects on Littoral Transport: ABSTRACT

A computer project has included evaluation of the effects of changes in wave height, wave period, wave-approach angle, bottom slope, and water depth on beach erosion. This work is primarily applicable to large lakes where long-term changes in water level may be as much as one or two m. The change in potential erosion is expressed as a ratio of littoral power values. The most important independent variable entering into this ratio is the change in water level. An increase in level of one or two m can give ratios in the range of 100 to 250 and even higher. A ratio of 100 means that, after the rise in level, the littoral component of power, and hence the amount of sand eroded and transported, is initially 100 times as great as prior to the rise. End_of_Article - Last_Page 2207------------
Race, Racism, and Darwinism:

This article examines the views of Darwinist evolution on issues regarding race and how this contributed to the spread of racism in the United States. The writings of Charles Darwin and a myriad of his followers are examined, including Herbert Spencer, Francis Galton, and others. The influence of Darwinism in contributing to the growth of institutional racism and the teaching of scientifically based racist thought is addressed. The article also examines how Darwinist evolutionary thought affected the nation's beliefs about those with special needs and how this contributed to people's perceptions about people of color. The author asserts that the blatant inaccuracies of Darwinist evolution regarding race raise questions about the theory's overall veracity and how teachers should approach instruction regarding Darwin's theory.
An adjoint data assimilation approach to diagnosis of physical and biological controls on Pseudocalanus spp. in the Gulf of Maine-Georges bank region

The underlying scientific objective here is to determine the mechanisms that control seasonal variations in the abundance of Pseudocalanus spp. in the Georges Bank–Gulf of Maine region. It is postulated that the observed distributions result from the interaction of the population dynamics with the climatological circulation. The problem is posed mathematically as a 2-D advection–diffusion–reaction equation for a scalar variable. Given an initial distribution of animals, we seek the population dynamics source term R(x,y) such that integration of the forward model will result in predictions3 that minimize the sum of squares of differences with observed concentrations at a later time. An adjoint data assimilation technique has been designed for these purposes. This approach has been used to invert for the population dynamics associated with the transition between bimonthly (i.e. for 2 months) climatological Pseudocalanus spp. distributions derived from MARMAP data. Vertically averaged velocity and diffusivity fields diagnosed from hydrodynamical simulations of the climatological flow are specified. Solutions converge rapidly, and the procedure reduces the cost function by an order of magnitude within 50 iterations. The resulting population dynamics vary considerably in space and time, as does the balance between local tendency, physical transport and biological source terms. Generally speaking, the patterns in population dynamics are not inconsistent with current knowledge concerning potential controls such as predation and food limitation. Analysis of the solutions indicates that the Pseudocalanus spp. population centres located in the western Gulf of Maine and on Georges Bank may be self-sustaining, in contrast to prior studies which characterize the former as a source region for the latter.
Inhibition of rat hypothalamic somatostatin release by somatostatin: evidence for somatostatin ultrashort loop feedback

To determine whether hypothalamic somatostatin (SRIF) release might be modulated by a negative feedback loop, we examined the effects of exogenous SRIF on the release of SRIF immunoreactivity from dispersed adult rat hypothalamic cells. Added SRIF-(1–14) caused dose-dependent inhibition of endogenous SRIF release in this system (IC50, 140 pm). SRIF-(1–28) and Tyr1-SRIF also inhibited SRIF release, whereas other peptides present in the hypothalamus were without demonstrable effects when tested at a concentration of 100 pm. Ala9-SRIF, a SRIF analog with reduced bio- and immunoreactivities, had no effect on SRIF release at concentrations as high as 1 nm. SRIF release from hypothalamic cells increased with lengthening periods of incubation from 1–3 h, but the increase was not linear in nature. Likewise, when hypothalamic cell density in the incubation medium was increased, less than the expected increment in SRIF release was observed. Conversely, when the incubation volume was increased and cell density was r...
Perceptions of personal and governmental actions to improve responses to disasters such as Superstorm Sandy

Superstorm Sandy made landfall in New Jersey on 29 October 2012, leaving tens of thousands homeless, businesses destroyed, and 90% of New Jersey residents without electricity. Widespread infrastructure and property damage, health-related issues, and social dislocations still remain among the challenges. We interviewed 756 people in central and coastal New Jersey to ascertain damage levels, what they would do differently next time, and what governments should do differently. To deal with future events, people thought that they should prepare, buy generators and other supplies, and evacuate sooner. Their actions dealt with preparedness, rather than recovery or resiliency. However, the subjects felt that governmental agencies also had a responsibility for emergency actions, recovery, and resiliency. Preparedness included better warnings and helping to prepare homes for the impending storm. During the storm, people thought government should have faster evacuations, communications, and provide shelter, securit...
Single-drug multiligand conjugates : Synthesis and preliminary cytotoxicity evaluation of a paclitaxel-dipeptide scorpion molecule

To improve the targeting properties of receptor-directed drug-peptide conjugates, a multiligand approach was proposed and a model “scorpion” conjugate (6, Figure 1), consisting of two peptide “claws” and a paclitaxel (PTX) “tail”, was synthesized. The cell surface receptor-directed peptide used in this single-drug multiligand (SDML) model was a segment of the amphibian peptide bombesin (BBN) which had the Y6Q7W8A9V10G11H12L13M14-NH2 sequence, designated here as BBN[6−14] (2, Figure 2). Due to the lipophilic nature of both PTX and BBN[6−14], compound 6 had a low water solubility. To enhance the solubility, PEG derivatives of this conjugate were prepared with the polymer inserted either in the claws or in the tail regions. In a preliminary random screening, conjugate 6 showed superior cytotoxic activity in several GRPR-positive human cancer cell lines as compared to free PTX and two single-drug single-ligand (SDSL) conjugates. In a receptor blocking experiment, addition of excess unconjugated BBN[6−14] liga...
The electron excitation cross section for the metastable 1s3 level in Ne

Abstract The apparent and direct electron excitation cross sections of the metastable 1s3 level of ne are measured using laser-induced fluorescence. The direct electron excitation cross section a has peak value of 2.8 x 10-19 cm2 at 20 eV. The effect of the 16.9 eV negative ion resonance is observed in the cross sections.
Ajulemic acid (IP-751): Synthesis, proof of principle, toxicity studies, and clinical trials

Ajulemic acid (CT-3, IP-751,1’,1’-dimethylheptyl-Δ8 acid) (AJA) has a cannabinoid-derived structure; however, there is no evidence that it produces psychotropic actions when given at therapeutic doses. In a variety of animal assays, AJA shows efficacy in models for pain and inflammation. Furthermore, in the rat adjuvant arthritis model, it displayed a remarkable action in preventing the destruction of inflamed joints. A phase-2 human trial with chronic, neuropathic pain patients suggested that AJA could become a useful drug for treating this condition. Its low toxicity, particularly its lack of ulcerogenicity, further suggests that it will have a highly favorable therapeutic index and may replace some of the current anti-inflammatory/analgesic medications. Studies to date indicate a unique mechanism of action for AJA that may explain its lack of adverse side effects.
Cranial electrotherapy stimulation and transcranial pulsed current stimulation: A computer based high-resolution modeling study

article i nfo The field of non-invasive brain stimulation has developed significantly over the last two decades. Though two techniques of noninvasive brain stimulation — transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) — are becoming established tools for research in neuroscience and for some clinical applications, related techniques that also show some promising clinical results have not been devel- oped at the same pace. One of these related techniques is cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES), a class of transcranial pulsed current stimulation (tPCS). In order to understand further the mechanisms of CES, we aimed to model CES using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-derived finite element head model including cortical and also subcortical structures. Cortical electric field (current density) peak intensities and distribu- tions were analyzed. We evaluated different electrode configurations of CES including in-ear and over-ear montages. Our results confirm that significant amounts of current pass the skull and reach cortical and subcortical structures. In addition, depending on the montage, induced currents at subcortical areas, such as midbrain, pons, thalamus and hypothalamus are of similar magnitude than that of cortical areas. Incre- mental variations of electrode position on the head surface also influence which cortical regions are modu- lated. The high-resolution modeling predictions suggest that details of electrode montage influence current flow through superficial and deep structures. Finally we present laptop based methods for tPCS dose design using dominant frequency and spherical models. These modeling predictions and tools are the first step to advance rational and optimized use of tPCS and CES.
Phosphorylation of nucleosides with polyphosphoric acid.

Abstract 1. Adenosine, cytidine, guanosine, uridine, deoxycytidine, and thymidine are phosphorylated with polyphosphoric acid at temperatures ranging from 0° to 22° in yields of identified phosphates ranging from 25 % to 45 %. Deoxyadenosine and deoxyguanosine are not phosphorylated under these conditions. 2. The products formed were separated by ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and on AG1 resin. Mono-, di-, tri-, and higher polyphosphates were found. 3. Phosphorylaton occurs at the hydroxyl groups of the pentose moiety. 4. These findings are considered relative to the theory of prebiological chemistry.
The Volatile Acids and The Volatile Oxidizable Substances of Cream and Experimental Butter

In judging the fitness of cream for butter-making, the odor is generally considered as one of the most important factors. Van Slyke and Baker ~ observe that there is a characteristic flavor due, not to lactic acid, but to the presence of some volatile compound which appears in milk even before it begins to taste sour. In this study; the volatile acids and the "oxidizability value ''8 of cream and butter have been considered in their relation to the quality of cream and of the butter made from different grades of cream and the changes that take place during storage under different conditions. A method for determining the rancidity of fat and oils, is given by Issoglio, 4 who found that when the "oxidizabiHty value" is above 15, that the fat is rancid or that some other change has taken place. Brill and Parker, 4 working on cocoanut off, found that although some samples, which were undoubtedly rancid, gave a low oxidizability value, however, when this value was high, the oil was always rancid. Kerr ~ found results that, in the main, confirmed the standards set by Issoglio, but, observing that most of the oxidizable substances are soluble in water, preferred to wash the fat or oil with water and oxidize the washings rather than distil with steam. In order to measure the oxidizable substances produced by decomposition in cream and butter, the original sample, in
Potassium ion channel openers, Maxipost and Retigabine, protect against peripheral salicylate ototoxicity in rats.

Sodium Salicylate (SS) reliably induces a sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus when administered in high doses. Recent animal modeled studies indicate that potassium channel openers such as Maxipost and Retigabine (RTG) can block SS- or noise-induced tinnitus respectively; however, the origins and mechanisms are poorly understood. Since SS blocks the same potassium channels that Maxipost and RTG open, we postulated that these drugs might influence peripheral auditory function. To test this hypothesis Maxipost or RTG were administered alone or in combination with SS in rats. When administered alone, Maxipost and RTG had no effect on distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) or compound action potentials (CAPs). However when Maxipost or RTG were administered with SS, Maxipost prevented the SS-reduced CAP amplitudes at high frequencies (≥20 kHz) and RTG prevented SS-reduced CAP amplitudes at low frequencies (≤8 kHz). These results suggest that Maxipost and RTG can protect against peripheral damage and therefore reduce the incidence of tinnitus.
Facilitation of ventricular tachycardia initiation by procainamide during programmed ventricular stimulation in patients with heart failure

Antiarrhythmic drugs occasionally facilitate, rather than prevent, ventricular tachycardia. The purpose of this study was to assess the incidence of procainamide facilitation of ventricular tachycardia initiation during programmed electrical stimulation in patients with no history of spontaneous sustained ventricular tachycardia but who are at high risk. Twenty patients with advanced heart failure (mean left ventricular ejection fraction 0.19 +/- 0.09) and nonsustained ventricular tachycardia and in whom sustained ventricular tachycardia was not inducible by programmed electrical stimulation in the basal state were studied. Six patients had coronary artery disease, 13 had idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, and 1 had valvular heart disease. All patients received programmed stimulation from the right ventricular apex with one to three extra-stimuli before and after the intravenous infusion of 10 mg/kg of procainamide (serum level 6.6 +/- 2.4 mcg/l). In two patients (10%) sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia was initiated only after the administration of procainamide. One of these patients later died in ventricular tachycardia during hyperkalemia. Of the noninducible patients, during a follow-up period of 6 +/- 5 months, two died suddenly and one developed symptomatic ventricular tachycardia. Thus, procainamide can unmask potential reentry circuits in some patients who have not had spontaneous sustained ventricular tachycardia. In patients with heart failure, this risk, as assessed by programmed stimulation after a single dose of procainamide, appears to be low.
Observation of incipient black holes and the information loss problem

We study the formation of black holes by spherical domain wall collapse as seen by an asymptotic observer, using the functional Schr\"odinger formalism. To explore what signals such observers will see, we study radiation of a scalar quantum field in the collapsing domain wall background. The total energy flux radiated diverges when backreaction of the radiation on the collapsing wall is ignored, and the domain wall is seen by the asymptotic observer to evaporate by nonthermal ``pre-Hawking radiation'' during the collapse process. Evaporation by pre-Hawking radiation implies that an asymptotic observer can never lose objects down a black hole. Together with the nonthermal nature of the radiation, this may resolve the black hole information loss problem.
The effect of order estimation on estimating the peak frequency of an autoregressive spectral density

SUMMARY The effect of estimating the order of an autoregressive process on estimating the peak frequency is examined. For consistent order determining methods it is shown that the asymptotic results are the same as for the case when the order is known. For the order criteria which asymptotically overestimate the order, the peak frequency estimator is shown to be a consistent estimator of the true peak frequency.
Nursing Home Perspectives on the Admission of Morbidly Obese Patients From Hospitals to Nursing Homes.

Purpose of the Study: Care challenges have been described for hospitalized morbidly obese (MO) patients. These challenges likely persist post discharge. As a result, nursing homes (NHs) may be reluctant to admit these patients, potentially leaving them “stranded in hospitals”. This study identified issues NHs consider in admission decisions for MO patients transitioning from hospitals. Design and Method: Approved surveys were mailed to nursing directors at federally-certified NHs in Arkansas (n = 234) and Pennsylvania (n = 710) to collect NH experience in the admission of patients weighing ≥325 pounds. Analyses included descriptive and inferential statistics to summarize and identify predictors of MO patient admission decisions. Results: In total, 360 surveys were returned (38.1% response rate). Although two-thirds of respondents reported patient size as an admission barrier, only 6% reported that MO patients were always refused admission. Adjusted analysis showed that NHs with adequate staff were signifi...
Uniformly Loaded, Rotationally Restrained Rectangular Plate and Corner Singularities

AbstractThe basic problem of a uniformly loaded rectangular plate with rotationally restrained edges is studied. An efficient, accurate method of eigenfunction superposition is used to determine important design parameters such as maximum deflection, maximum moment, maximum shear, and magnitude of the corner force. As the rotational spring stiffness decreases, oscillatory behavior of the edge shear gradually becomes monotonic. Corner forces exist whenever at least one adjacent edge is not clamped and become maximal when both edges are simply supported.
Pulsed microjet control of supersonic impinging jets via low-frequency excitation

Several fluid flow problems related to propulsion and power generation exhibit strong acoustic resonances. Produced due to interactions of the acoustics with other underlying unsteady mechanisms such as unsteady heat release or shear flow instability, these resonances manifest as large and sustained pressure oscillations. Active control of such resonances has been shown to be highly effective, resulting in a dramatic reduction in the acoustic resonances using a very small fraction of the system energy. In this paper, a specific fluid flow problem is discussed, that of supersonic impinging jets, and the control of the acoustic resonances that are produced by these jets, via detailed experimental investigations. The actuator used for active control consists of a pulsed microjet, by which it is shown that in a scaled supersonic experimental facility acoustic resonances can be reduced, utilizing a fraction of the mass flowrate needed with a steady microjet. Several parameters related to pulsed injection are v...
Selective cleavage of the C-C bonds of aminoethyl groups, via a multistep pathway, by a pincer iridium complex.

A pincer-ligated iridium complex is found to react with N-ethylamines, HN(Et)R (R = cyclohexyl, tert-butyl, ethyl), to give the corresponding iridium isocyanide complexes (PCP)Ir(CH3)(H)(CNR) (PCP = κ3-2,6-(tBu2PCH2)2C6H3). This novel, regioselective C−C bond cleavage reaction occurs readily under mild conditions (25−45 °C). The reaction is shown to proceed via initial dehydrogenation of the amine to give the corresponding imine (N-ethylidenealkylamine). The ethylidene sp2 C−H bond then undergoes addition to iridium, followed by methyl migration.
Rheological characterization of mayonnaise. Part I: Slippage at different oil and xanthan gum concentrations

Abstract Two series of mayonnaise samples were prepared and used as model mayonnaise to study the slip phenomenon during shear measurements. The slip phenomenon, which is due to the non-homogenous stress field and/or direct fluid-geometry surface interactions, was examined by setting different gaps in a parallel disk rheometer. The magnitude of the slip velocity was greatly affected by the oil concentration and/or xanthan gum concentration as well as the applied shear stress during the shear measurement. The true shear rate could be corrected with measured apparent shear rate using a simple model, but the applied shear stress was limited due to the weak structure of the mayonnaise sample and measuring range limits of plate-plate geometry.
Subdiffraction, Luminescence-Depletion Imaging of Isolated, Giant, CdSe/CdS Nanocrystal Quantum Dots

Subdiffraction spatial resolution luminescence depletion imaging was performed with giant CdSe/14CdS nanocrystal quantum dots (g-NQDs) dispersed on a glass slide. Luminescence depletion imaging used a Gaussian shaped excitation laser pulse overlapped with a depletion pulse, shaped into a doughnut profile, with zero intensity in the center. Luminescence from a subdiffraction volume is collected from the central portion of the excitation spot, where no depletion takes place. Up to 92% depletion of the luminescence signal was achieved. An average full width at half-maximum of 40 ± 10 nm was measured in the lateral direction for isolated g-NQDs at an air interface using luminescence depletion imaging, whereas the average full width at half-maximum was 450 ± 90 nm using diffraction-limited, confocal luminescence imaging. Time-gating of the luminescence depletion data was required to achieve the stated spatial resolution. No observable photobleaching of the g-NQDs was present in the measurements, which allowed ...
On the stability of low-order perturbed polynomials

It is shown that for low-order perturbed continuous system polynomials (N≤6), stability can be guaranteed by checking very simple conditions based on the Hermite-Biehler theorem. This result is analogous to a recent result by Anderson et al. based on Kharitonov's conditions
Electroluminescence from light-emitting diodes fabricated from conducting polymers

Abstract Diodes with excellent current-voltage characteristics can be fabricated using metals with low work function as contacts to thin films of p-type π polymers. Charge injection at the rectifying contact leads to radiative recombination and efficient electroluminescence, i.e. to polymer light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Even at this very early stage of development, the polymer LEDs show special promise. They have low turn-on voltages (approximately 3 V), they have relatively high quantum efficiency (1% photons out per electron in), they exhibit different colors (both green and orange have been fabricated using different polymers), and they have been fabricated on both rigid (glass) and flexible (Mylar) substrates.
In utero hematopoietic cell transplantation: induction of donor specific immune tolerance and postnatal transplants.

In utero hematopoietic cell transplantation (IUHCT) is a nonmyeloablative nonimmunosuppressive transplant approach that allows for donor cell engraftment across immunologic barriers. Successful engraftment is associated with donor-specific tolerance. IUHCT has the potential to treat a large number of congenital hematologic, immunologic and genetic diseases either by achieving high enough engraftment levels following a single IUHCT or by inducing donor specific tolerance to allow for nontoxic same-donor postnatal transplants. This review evaluates donor specific tolerance induction achieved by IUHCT. Specifically it addresses the need to achieve threshold levels of donor cell engraftment following IUHCT to consistently obtain immunologic tolerance. The mechanisms of tolerance induction including partial deletion of donor reactive host T cells by direct and indirect antigen presentation and the role of regulatory T cells in maintaining tolerance are reviewed. Finally, this review highlights the promising clinical potential of in utero tolerance induction to provide a platform on which postnatal cellular and organ transplants can be performed without myeloablative or immunosuppressive conditioning.
Structure-inhibitory profiles of nucleosides for the human intestinal N1 and N2 Na+-nucleoside transporters

Purpose: To determine the structure-inhibitory profiles of nucleosides for the N1 and N2 Na+-nucleoside transporters of the human intestine. Methods: The uptake of 3H-labeled prototypic substrates of the N1 (inosine) and N2 (thymidine) transporters into human intestinal brush border membrane vesicles was measured by a rapid filtration technique in the presence and absence of various uridine and adenosine analogs and antiviral and anticancer nucleoside drugs (100 and 1000 μM). Results: In the ribose ring, the 3′-oxygen is required for inhibition of uptake of nucleosides by both the N1 and N2 transporters. The structural requirements for such inhibition differ with respect to modifications on the 5′ position of the sugar ring or on the base. The N2 transporter is more tolerant to these substitutions than is the N1 transporter. The 6 position on uracil and the 8 position on adenine are critical for inhibition of uptake of nucleosides by both the N1 and N2 nucleoside transporters. Conclusions: These data are the first evidence that the binding site(s) of the human N1 and N2 transporters differ in their interaction with analogs of their common substrates, uridine and adenosine. Such studies can provide insight into the critical structural determinants of the substrate necessary for recognition by the Na+-nucleoside transporters of the human intestine.
Applying quantitative methods to the prediction of full functional recovery in adult rehabilitation patients.

Abstract The purpose of this project was to construct a pilot prognostic index for use in research and clinical practice that would predict functional recovery in adult rehabilitation patients at discharge using clinical characteristics at admission to rehabilitation (independent performance of seven activities of daily living and three basic mobility tasks). We constructed the index from retrospectively collected data on 1,020 adult rehabilitation patients who underwent rehabilitation between 1980 and 1986. Adjusting for patient characteristics, the odds of recovering independent function doubled for each ten-point increase in the 100-point functional status score measured at admission to rehabilitation (odds ratio=2.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.9 to 2.4). The odds increased by a factor of 1.9 (95% CI=1.1 to 3.2) in patients with an impairment considered more functionally reversible and by a factor of 2.1 (95% CI=1.3 to 3.4) in patients transferred from an acute hospital. The odds of functional recovery decreased in those over 79 years of age, in those who were unemployed before hospitalization, and as the number of comorbid conditions increased. Our findings demonstrate the feasibility of developing quantitative estimates of functional prognosis. Prior to use, the index should be externally validated in different rehabilitation facilities.
Monitoring Wetland Habitat Restoration in Southern California Using Airborne Multi spectral Video Data

Remote sensing provides a complementary approach to field sampling to assess whether restored wetland areas provide suitable habitat for the Light-footed Clapper Rail (Rallus longirostris levipes). Habitat requirements for the clapper rail are specified by the composition of vegetation species and their spatial extent in its nesting home range. A major saltmarsh construction project has been completed at the Sweetwater Marsh National Wildlife Refuge (''the refuge''), San Diego County. In this paper we describe the application of image classification techniques to high-spatial-resolution digital video imagery (0.8-m pixels) to delimit patches of different marsh vegetation at the refuge. Using maps of vegetation types derived from multispectral imagery, we estimated the area occupied by each vegetation type in potential clapper mil home ranges. Preliminary field-checking results indicate that this approach is an accurate, noninvasive and cost-efficient means of providing ecological information for restoration monitoring in southern California's remnant wetlands.
Optimal exporting of exhaustible resources with endogenous trade revenue: The case of a resource-scarce and capital-short economy

This paper discusses a dynamic trade problem of a resource-scarce and capital-short open economy. In this economy, exhaustible resources are traded for foreign capital. Different from previous research on similar topics, the models in this paper allows for endogenous export revenue. The optimal trade behavior of the economy is discussed here. The efficiency conditions for the optimal trading under various assumptions are derived. These conditions correspond to the noted Hotelling rules in a closed economy. Finally, policy implications of the results are presented.
The benefits and costs of biologic registers.

The era of biological therapy has arrived, and we would do well to learn the lessons of the ‘steroid era’, in which too many years passed before the side effects of these new ‘wonder drugs’ were fully appreciated. Will biological agents be as good as we hope, will they have complications we have not anticipated, and will they be affordable? Pharmacovigilance is the name of the game. Furthermore, it is clear from the Vioxx ® (Merck & Co., Inc., New Jersey, NY) experience that the normal 6–12 months of pharmacovigilance carried out by pharmaceutical companies could be too short a time to make any balanced judgements. In order to circumvent these problems, several countries—Sweden, Germany and the United Kingdom, for example—have established biological registers to determine the long-term outcome of treating patients with tumor-necrosis-factor (TNF) blockers, principally in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The largest register established to date is the British Society for Rheumatology (BSR)’s Biologics
Linguistic relativity and the diagnosis of schizophrenia.

sounds much closer to English "she" than to either "he" or "it." What this woman was doing is standard procedure for individuals unaccustomed to speaking a particular second language: she was substituting the similar sounds of a word in her native language (that had a similar or related meaning) for a word in the unfamiliar language. I wish I could end this tale happily; but I was never allowed to speak to the patient myself, even though I had arranged for an interpreter from the large Samoan community in San Francisco to come and talk to both the patient and social worker. No one was allowed to see the patient after my conversation with the social worker, even though I sent some of my students in various guises to Highland Hospital. I later found she had been transferred to a psycRiatric ward.
Families on the color-line: patrolling borders and crossing boundaries

Abstract Multiracial couples and families are becoming increasingly more common, yet opposition to these relationships still exists even if it is often hidden in color-blind language. In this lingering societal opposition to black-white unions, the strongest opposition often comes from the couples’ families. The social institution of the family plays an integral role in reproducing the dominant ideologies of race that exist in society, and more specifically a racialized discourse that actively discourages interracial unions. Families reproduce racial boundaries, by patrolling who their members can and cannot become involved with. In our society where group membership is all-important and identity is based primarily on one’s racial group, families object to individuals from different “racial” groups redefining themselves apart from their racial identities. Drawing from in-depth interviews with black-white couples, the responses of their white and black families will be explored to illustrate how families express opposition to black-white interracial relationships. In both white and black families, certain discourses are used when discussing black-white relationships that reproduce the image of these unions as different, deviant, even dangerous. Interracial relationships and marriage often bring forth certain racialized attitudes and beliefs about family and identity which otherwise are not expressed.
Numerical Investigation of Variable Property Effects on Laminar Natural Convection of Gases Between Two Horizontal Isothermal Concentric Cylinders

Etude par une methode de differences finies. Calcul des distributions de vitesse, de temperature et du transfert de chaleur