cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of the inflammatory cells in ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms in patients with Marfan syndrome, familial thoracic aortic aneurysms, and sporadic aneurysms

Objective This study sought to characterize the inflammatory infiltrate in ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm in patients with Marfan syndrome, familial thoracic aortic aneurysm, or nonfamilial thoracic aortic aneurysm. Background Thoracic aortic aneurysms are associated with a pathologic lesion termed "medial degeneration," which is described as a noninflammatory lesion. Thoracic aortic aneurysms are a complication of Marfan syndrome and can be inherited in an autosomal dominant manner of familial thoracic aortic aneurysm. Methods Full aortic segments were collected from patients undergoing elective repair with Marfan syndrome (n = 5), familial thoracic aortic aneurysm (n = 6), and thoracic aortic aneurysms (n = 9), along with control aortas (n = 5). Immunohistochemistry staining was performed using antibodies directed against markers of lymphocytes and macrophages. Real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis was performed to quantify the expression level of the T-cell receptor β-chain variable region gene. Results Immunohistochemistry of thoracic aortic aneurysm aortas demonstrated that the media and adventitia from Marfan syndrome, familial thoracic aortic aneurysm, and sporadic cases had increased numbers of T lymphocytes and macrophages when compared with control aortas. The number of T cells and macrophages in the aortic media of the aneurysm correlated inversely with the patient's age at the time of prophylactic surgical repair of the aorta. T-cell receptor profiling indicated a similar clonal nature of the T cells in the aortic wall in a majority of aneurysms, whether the patient had Marfan syndrome, familial thoracic aortic aneurysm, or sporadic disease. Conclusion These results indicate that the infiltration of inflammatory cells contributes to the pathogenesis of thoracic aortic aneurysms. Superantigen-driven stimulation of T lymphocytes in the aortic tissues of patients with thoracic aortic aneurysms may contribute to the initial immune response.
Extracellular Acidosis Protects Ehrlich Ascites Tumor Cells and Rat Renal Cortex against Anoxic Injury

The present study indicates that extracellular acidosis protects Ehrlich ascites tumor cells and rat kidney cortex cells against injury from anoxia. Parameters measured included cell potassium, adenosine 5'-triphosphate, and uptake of vital dyes. Cells survived longer at a p H of 5.6 to 6.5 than at a p H of 7.4; p H 7.9 was most detrimental. These findings indicate that production of protons by anoxic cells may be a protective feedback mechanism.
Geometric Control of Cell Migration

Morphological polarization involving changes in cell shape and redistribution of cellular signaling machinery, initiate the migration of mammalian cells. Golgi complex typically localizes in front of the nucleus, and this frontwards polarization has been proposed to be involved in directional migration. However, the sequence of events remains unresolved. Does Golgi polarization precede directional migration or vice-versa? We address this question by constraining cells to specific areas and shapes then tracking their motile behavior and the spatio-temporal distribution of Golgi apparatus upon release. Results show that while the position of the Golgi complex depends on the cell geometry, the subcellular localization of the Golgi complex does not define the cell's leading edge. Cells constrained within elongated geometries exhibit polarized extension of lamellipodia and upon release, migrate preferentially along the long axis of the cell. Minimally constrained cells released from larger areas however, exhibit retarded migration regardless of lamellipodia protrusion activity.
Mass flux in the ecliptic plane and near the sun deduced from Doppler scintillation

During the late declining phase of the solar cycle, the tilt of the solar magnetic dipole with respect to the Sun's rotation axis leads to large-scale organization of the solar wind, such that alternating regions of high- and low-speed solar wind are observed in the ecliptic plane. In this paper, we use Doppler scintillation measurements to investigate mass flux of these two types of solar wind in the ecliptic plane and inside 0.3 AU, where in situ measurements have not been possible. To the extent that Doppler scintillation reflects mass flux, we find that mass flux in high-speed streams: (1) is lower (by a factor of approximately 2.2) than the mass flux of the average solar wind in the heliocentric distance range of 0.3-0.5 AU; (2) is lower still (by as much as a factor of about 4) than the mass flux of the slow solar wind associated with the streamer belt; and (3) appears to grow with heliocentric distance. These Doppler scintillation results are consistent with the equator to pole decrease in mass flux observed in earlier spectral broadening measurements, and with trends and differences between high- and low-speed solar wind observed by in situ measurements in the range of 0.3-0.1 AU. The mass flux results suggest that the solar wind flow in high-speed streams is convergent towards the ecliptic near the Sun, becoming less convergent and approaching radial with increasing heliocentric distance beyond 0.3 AU. The variability of mass flux observed within equatorial and polar high-speed streams close to the Sun is strikingly low. This low variability implies that, as Ulysses currently ascends to higher latitudes and spends more time in the south polar high-speed stream after crossing the heliocentric current sheet, it can expect to observe a marked decrease in variations of both mass flux and solar wind speed, a trend that appears to have started already.
Precise measurement of the J = 1 to J = 2 fine structure interval in the 2( 3)P state of helium

We measure the $J\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}1$ to $J\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}2$ fine structure interval in the $^{3}2P$ state of helium to be 2 291 175.9(1.0) kHz. We use laser excitation of an atomic beam along with an integrated electro-optic modulator technique to obtain this result. The result is consistent $(2.9\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}3.2\mathrm{kHz})$ with what could be considered an earlier version of this experiment but is not in good agreement ( $20\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}5\mathrm{kHz}$ and $22\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}8\mathrm{kHz}$) with the two other precision determinations of this interval. The current theoretical prediction lies between and overlaps the experiments.
THE RETURN OF IMPERIALISM TO SOCIAL SCIENCE

ONE OF THE CURIOUS DEVELOPMENTS in intellectual circles over the past few years is that the subject of imperialism is no longer a bailiwick of the Left. To be sure, so long as colonial empires were in strength, there was no denying the reality of European and American imperial expansion. But over the course of the post-war era, as decolonization rippled through the Third World and the formal mechanisms of colonial control were thrown overboard, any insistence on the continuing salience of imperialism became identified with left-wing ideologies. If it did enter mainstream debates, it was inevitably Soviet or, more generically, Communist imperial ambitions that were subjected to scrutiny.
Effects of cis-malonato-diammino platinum(II) on P-388 lymphocytic leukemia cell metabolism

cis-Malonato-diammino platinum(II) significantly inhibited P-388 lymphocytic leukemia cell proliferation at 10 mg/kg/day. Incorporation studies showed that DNA synthesis was inhibited following in vivo drug therapy. The major inhibitory effects appeared to be on thymidine kinase and dihydrofolate reductase activities and on overall purine synthesis, with marginal effects on DNA polymerase and ribonucleotide reductase activities. In addition to the DNA inhibition, a marked increase in cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate levels was noted, which correlated with a rapid decrease in histone phosphorylation. Other minor effects of the drug included significant reduction of proteolytic activity, suppression of States 4 and 3 respiration, and an increase in adenosine triphosphatase and acid phosphatase activities of P-388 cells.
Degradation of well cement by CO2 under geologic sequestration conditions.

Experiments were conducted to assess the durability of cements in wells penetrating candidate formations for geologic sequestration of CO2. These experiments showed a significant variation in the initial degradation (9 days of exposure) based on the curing conditions. The high-temperature (50 °C) and high-pressure (30.3 MPa) curing environment increased the degree of hydration and caused a change in the microstructure and distribution of the Ca(OH)2(s) phase within the cement. Cement cured at 50 °C and 30.3 MPa (representing sequestration conditions) proved to be more resistant to carbonic acid attack than cement cured at 22 °C and 0.1 MPa. The cement cured at 50 °C and 30.3 MPa exhibited a shallower depth of degradation and displayed a well-defined carbonated zone as compared to cement cured under ambient conditions. This is likely due to smaller, more evenly distributed Ca(OH)2(s) crystals that provide a uniform and effective barrier to CO2 attack.
Spatial Growth of Perturbations in a Turbulent Baroclinic Jet

AbstractThe spatial spreading of infinitesimal disturbances superposed on a turbulent baroclinic jet is explored. This configuration is representative of analysis errors in an idealized midlatitude storm track and the insight gained may be helpful to understand the spreading of forecast errors in numerical weather prediction models.This problem is explored through numerical experiments of a turbulent baroclinic jet that is perturbed with spatially localized disturbances. Solutions from a quasigeostrophic model for the disturbance fields are compared with those for a passive tracer to determine whether disturbances propagate faster than the basic-state flow. Results show that the disturbance spreading rate is sensitive to the structure of the initial disturbance. Disturbances that are localized in potential vorticity (PV) have far-field winds that allow the disturbance to travel downstream faster than disturbances that are initially localized in geopotential, which have no far-field wind. Near the jet, the...
Simple Interpretation of the Verwey Transition in Magnetite

The Verwey transition in magnetite is rationalized in terms of an electronic model involving correlated electron occupancy of nearest-neighbor octahedral site pairs. This formalism can be restated in terms of order-disorder theory. The site pair representation of the lattice is analyzed in terms of possible occupation states that represent respectively the ground state of the system as a trapped electron, a first excited state in which an electron can resonate between the two constituents of a site pair, and a second excited state involving two electrons on neighboring sites. The free energy of this representative assembly is then minimized to obtain the equilibrium configuration. The Verwey transition is driven by the Coulomb repulsive interaction between electrons on neighboring sites. In certain limiting cases one obtains results equivalent to the phenomenological Strassler-Kittel model, which had been successfully used on an empirical basis to analyze both the first- and second-order Verwey transitions that have been experimentally encountered with increasing departures from the ideal 4/3 ratio of oxygen/iron in magnetite.
Interaction of [3H]dipyridamole with the nucleoside transporters of human erythrocytes and cultured animal cells

Equilibrium binding of [3H]dipyridamole identified high-affinity (Ki∼10nm) binding sites on human erythrocytes (∼5×105 sites/cell) and on HeLa cells (∼5×106 sites/cell). The equilibration of dipyridamole with these sites on human erythrocytes was compatible with a second-order process which proceeded at 22°C with a rate constant of about 6×106m−1 sec−1. Binding of dipyridamole to these sites correlated kinetically with the inhibition of the equilibrium exchange of 500 μm uridine in these cells and was inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner by nucleosides and other inhibitors of nucleoside transport, such as nitrobenzylthioinosine, dilazep and lidoflazine, but not by hypoxanthine, which is not a substrate for the nucleoside transporter of human erythrocytes. The results indicate that the substrate binding site of the transporter is part of the high-affinity dipyridamole binding site. Bound [3H]dipyridamole became displaced from these sites on human erythrocytes by incubation with an excess of unlabeled dipyridamole or high concentrations of nucleosides and inhibitors of nucleoside transport, but neither by hypoxanthine nor sugars. Dissociation of [3H]dipyridamole behaved as a simple first-order process, but the rate constant was about one order of magnitude lower (about 3×10−3 sec−1) than anticipated for typical ligand-protein binding on the basis of the measured association rate and equilibrium constants. The reason for this discrepancy has not been resolved. No high-affinity dipyridamole binding sites were detected on Novikoff rat hepatoma cells, P388, L1210 and S49 mouse leukemia cells or Chinese hamster ovary cells, and their absence correlated with a greater resistance of nucleoside transport in these cells to inhibition by dipyridamole. All cells expressed considerable low affinity (Kd>0.5 μm) and nonspecific binding of dipyridamole.
The other lung--revisited.

We report our initial success with single lung transplantation for emphysema, a procedure undertaken after preliminary reports of success by two other groups
A Field and Laboratory Investigation of Acid Effects on Largemouth Bass, Rock Bass, Black Crappie, and Yellow Perch

Abstract One-half of Little Rock Lake, a small seepage lake in north-central Wisconsin, was gradually acidified by additions of sulfuric acid between August 1983 and November 1990. The ambient pH (6.1) of the lake was reduced at successive 2-year intervals to pH 5.6, 5.1, and 4.7. Responses of largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides, rock bass Ambloplites rupestris, black crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus, and yellow perch Perca flavescens populations to the pH reductions were recorded and compared to the responses of these species during in situ bioassays and laboratory toxicity tests on embryos and larvae. Laboratory results obtained for largemouth bass and rock bass underestimated, black crappie results overestimated, and yellow perch results were similar to effects observed in field studies. In situ bioassays predicted field responses better than did laboratory toxicity tests. Laboratory results showed that monomeric A1 concentrations of approximately 50 μg/L, which were comparable to A1 concentrations in ...
The application of the energy gap law to the S1 energies and dynamics of carotenoids

Abstract The energy gap law for radiationless transitions set forth by Englman and Jortner (Mol. Phys. 18 (1970) 145) has been evaluated for use in deducing the S 1 energies of carotenoids. A simultaneous knowledge of the dynamics and energies of the S 1 states of carotenoids are available for only a few of these molecules owing to the lack of detectable S 1 state fluorescence in many cases. All the available data where the S 1 dynamics and energies of carotenoids are simultaneously known were fit by the energy gap law expression in its full exponential form. The parameters derived from the computer optimization suggest that the weak coupling limit form of the energy gap law is valid for describing the relationship between the dynamics and energetics of carotenoid molecules. The optimal fitting parameters were then used in conjunction with the energy gap law expression to calculate the S 1 energies of several biologically important carotenoids from the lifetimes of their S 1 states. Particularly important is the S 1 energy of β-carotene determined in this analysis to be 14 100 cm −1 .
Intramolecular energy transfer and sensitized luminescence in an einsteinium β-diketone chelate and the lower lying electronic energy levels of Es(III)

Abstract Ultraviolet-light-excited energy transfer and sensitized luminescence have been induced in an 253 Es 3+ β-diketone chelate. The measurements and calculations show that the first excited ( J = 7) energy level in the 5f 10 electronic configuration of Es 3+ is at 9600 cm −1 in aqueous 1M HClO 4 solution, and this fixes the Lande parameter ψ 5f (aqueous) for Es 3+ near +3600 cm −1 .
Influence of fear and frustration on the motivation of self-punitive behavior☆

Abstract Rats were runway trained with reward. Then, each S underwent classical conditioning procedures during which frustrative nonreward was paired with one CS and painful electric shock was paired with another CS in a counterbalanced design. Finally, S s learned to escape from an electrified start box through an electrified runway to a safe goal box. During shockescape extinction, one-third of the S s received either a frustration CS, a fear CS, or a novel stimulus in the now safe start box. Half of the S s in each condition continued to receive shock in the runway. Higher resistance to extinction was observed with shock in the runway. Effect of start-box stimuli was also significant, with most persistence shown by fear CS groups, and least by frustration CS groups. Thus, ( a ) Mowrer's “vicious-circle” hypothesis is supported, and ( b ) fear and frustration are discriminably different states.
Conference address: the accounting education change movement in the United States

This paper is based on a keynote speech made before the British Accounting Association Special Interest Group on Accounting Education in May 2002. Its purpose is to present the author's perspectives about the accounting education change movement in the United States during the decade of the 1990s. The paper questions whether accounting is taught too much from a practical as opposed to a conceptual basis. It also questions whether textbooks have remained sufficiently contemporary and kept pace with the needs of accounting instructors and students. The paper then turns to the issue of professional image, suggesting that recent corporate scandals have tarnished the image of the accounting profession. The recommendations of the so-called change literature are then used as a basis for suggesting that academe must take care not to let analytical skills become a casualty of change. Finally the paper provides suggestions regarding the design and process of scholarly papers on the subject of accounting education.
Analysis of the Structure and Stability of a Backbone-Modified Oligonucleotide: Implications for Avoiding Product Inhibition in Catalytic Template-Directed Synthesis

The structural and thermodynamic origins of the destabilization of a backbone-modified DNA duplex 1, formed between d(CpGpTNTpGpC), containing a single aminoethyl group (−CH2−CH2−NH2+−) in place of the phosphodiester (−O−PO2-−O−) linkage of the central TT dimer, and d(GpCpApApCpG) are investigated. Analyses for the corresponding native duplex and two other related structural analogues of duplex 1 have been compared. Duplex 1 shows a cooperative thermal melting transition that is consistent with a two-state process. At a 2 mM concentration, the melting temperature of duplex 1 is reduced by 17 °C from the native duplex, and this decrease in stability is further assigned to an unfavorable decrease in enthalpy of 7 kcal mol-1 and a favorable increase in entropy of 15 eu mol-1. NMR structural analysis shows that the modified duplex 1 still adopts a canonical B-DNA conformation with Watson−Crick base pairing preserved; however, the CH2 group that replaces the native PO2- group in the modified backbone is flexib...
Communicating with parents of premature infants: who is the informant?

To determine what sources of information are most helpful for neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) parents, who provides NICU parents with the information, and also what expectations parents have regarding obtaining information. A 19-item questionnaire was given to the parents of infants 32 weeks or younger prior to discharge from the NICU. Out of the 101 parents who consented, almost all of the parents (96%) felt that ‘the medical team gave them the information they needed about their baby’ and that the ‘neonatologist did a good job of communicating’ with them (91%). However, the nurse was chosen as ‘the person who spent the most time explaining the baby's condition, ‘the best source of information,’ and the person who told them ‘about important changes in their baby's condition’ (P<0.01). Although the neonatologist's role in parent education is satisfactory, the parents identified the nurses as the primary source of information.
Long-Term Survival of Anoxia Despite Rapid ATP Decline in Embryos of the Annual Killifish Austrofundulus limnaeus

Embryos of the annual killifish Austrofundulus limnaeus can survive for months in the complete absence of oxygen. Survival of anoxia is associated with entry into a state of metabolic dormancy known as diapause. However, extreme tolerance of anoxia is retained for several days of post-diapause development. Rates of heat dissipation in diapause II and 4 days post-diapause II embryos were measured under aerobic conditions and during the transition into anoxia. Phosphorylated adenylate compounds were quantified in embryos during entry into anoxia and after 12 hr of aerobic recovery. Rates of heat dissipation were not affected by exposure to anoxia in diapause II embryos, while post-diapause II embryos experienced a profound decrease in heat dissipation. ATP decreased substantially in both developmental stages upon exposure to anoxia, and all indicators of cellular energetic status indicated energetic stress, at least based on the mammalian paradigm. The rate of decline in ATP is the most acute reported for any vertebrate. The mechanisms responsible for cellular survival despite a clear dysregulation between energy production and energy consumption remain to be identified. Necrotic and apoptotic cell death in response to hypoxia contribute to poor survival during many diseases and pathological conditions in mammals. Understanding the mechanisms that are in place to prevent maladaptive cell death in embryos of A. limnaeus may greatly improve treatment strategies in diseases that involve hypoxia and reperfusion injuries.
Relationship between intracellular pH and chloride in Xenopus oocytes expressing the chloride channel ClC-0.

During maturation of oocytes, Cl− conductance (G Cl) oscillates and intracellular pH (pHi) increases. Elevating pHi permits the protein synthesis essential to maturation. To examine whether changes...
Determination of Magnetite in Dense-Medium Coal Cleaning Plants by the Use of a Davis Tube

Abstract Magnetite losses are generally significant in commercial coal cleaning plants using high-density medium techniques. It is common practice to monitor the cleaned coal, slurries, and refuse using a Davis Tube method in order to isolate and correct unnecessary losses. To ensure the Davis Tube yields correct results, tests were made by comparison with the magnetization determined with a Faraday balance and a vibrating sample magnetometer. The results showed the Davis Tube gives reasonably correct percentage composition of magnetic and non-magnetic fractions, but was not reliable to determine the magnetite concentration in a sample. Further tests showed that commercial heavy-media magnetite has up to a 20 percent lower magnetization than bulk magnetite. Commercial magnetite often contains significant amounts of α- and γ-Fe2O3, in addition to magnetite. As α-Fe2O3 is non-magnetic, it is not removed in the magnetic separator and is discharged in the refuse. It is believed that this is the cause for much...
NATURALLY OCCURRING RADIAL APLASIA IN MINK

Naturally occurring radial aplasia was found in 14 of 26 closely related mink examined for forelimb abnormalities. The condition resembles human radial aplasia. Attempts to determine genetic or other causes were unsuccessful
Peptidomimetics: Synthesis, spectroscopy, and computer simulations

Synthesis, spectroscopy, and computer simulations are used in an integrated approach to elucidate secondary structure of oligopeptides. Three lactam-bridge peptides were synthesized and examined. One of these model compounds was shown to prefer a β-turn conformation, as indicated by spectroscopy (CD and nmr), and by computer simulations of minimum potential energy and of molecular dynamics. Partial retro-inverso cyclic analogs of enkephalin were also synthesized and investigated. Biological activity studies of the analogs indicated that the Gly3 carbonyl group and the side-chain orientation of the L-Leu5 residue are important. Hydrogen-bonding patterns for the three analogs are described in terms of the spectroscopic evidence correlated to the molecular dynamics simulations.
Assessing Inpatient Glycemic Control: What Are the Next Steps?

Despite the emergence of glucometrics (i.e., systematic analysis of data on blood glucose levels of inpatients) as a subject of high interest, there remains a lack of standardization on how glucose parameters are measured and reported. This dilemma must be resolved before a national benchmarking process can be developed that will allow institutions to track and compare inpatient glucose control performance against established guidelines and that can also be supported by quality care organizations. In this article, we review some of the questions that need to be resolved through consensus and review of the evidence, and discuss some of the limitations in analyzing and reporting inpatient glucose data that must be addressed (or at least accepted as limitations) before hospitals can commit resources to gathering, compiling, and presenting inpatient glucose statistics as a health care quality measure. Standards must include consensus on which measures to report, the unit of analysis, definitions of targets for hyperglycemia treatment, a definition of hypoglycemia, determination of how data should be gathered (from chart review or from laboratory information systems), and which type of sample (blood or point of care) should be used for analysis of glycemic control. Hospitals and/or their representatives should be included in the discussion. For inpatient glucose control to remain a focus of interest, further dialogue and consensus on the topic are needed.
On Reference Dose (RFD) and Its Underlying Toxicity Data Base

The toxicity data of pesticides were summarized and compared amongst different animal species and types of bioassays. These comparisons showed the expected inter-species and inter-bioassay variability. After quantitative and statistical analysis of these data, it was concluded that, on the average, a 2-year dog bioassay detected toxic responses at similar doses as a 2-year rat study, and that both of these bioassays detected toxic responses at lower doses than either a rat 2-generation bioassay, a rat developmental toxicity study, or a 2-year mouse bioassay. Although these chronic dog and rat bioassays were found to detect toxic responses at lower doses than the other studies listed, this analysis does not reflect the seriousness of the effects that were compared. Within the confines of this analysis, then, it appears that a 2-year dog and rat study, reproductive and developmental bioassays are a sufficient data base on which to estimate high confidence Reference Doses (RfDs), and furthermore, that an additional uncertainty factor is needed to estimate RfDs to account for this inter-species and inter-bioassay variability when fewer than this number of bioassays are available.
The concept of the disability process

Abstract The accident process, by which excessive stress, tension, and denied dependency needs are transformed by an accident or illness into an “acceptable” disability is described, along with a graphic summary of the disability process. Suggestions are given for preventing or minimizing such disability states.
Effects of simultaneous atrioventricular pacing on atrial refractoriness and atrial fibrillation inducibility: role of atrial mechanoelectrical feedback.

Atrial Mechanoelectrical Feedback. Introduction: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of an acute increase in atrial pressure on refractoriness (mechanoelectrical feedback) and the vulnerability to atrial e brillation (AF) and to investigate the effects of autonomic blockade and verapamil on mechanoelectrical feedback in humans. Methods and Results: Right atrial pressure and effective refractory period (ERP) at the right atrial appendage (RAA) and high right atrial septum were measured during sinus rhythm, and during atrial and simultaneous AV pacing at a cycle length of 300 msec, either in the absence (n 5 25) or presence (n 5 22) of pharmacologic autonomic blockade. In another 15 patients, the protocol was performed before and after infusion of verapamil 0.15 mg/kg. In the absence of autonomic blockade, AV pacing resulted in a higher mean right atrial pressure (11.7 6 3.3 vs 4.3 6 3.0 mmHg, P < 0.001) and a shorter atrial RAA ERP (144 6 23 msec vs 161 6 21 msec; P < 0.001) compared with atrial pacing; AF was induced more often during AV pacing (87%) than during atrial pacing (20%) and was related directly to the right atrial pressure (r 5 0.39, P 5 0.004) and indirectly to the RAA ERP (r 5 2 0.42, P < 0.001). The susceptibility to sustained AF was greatly enhanced by autonomic blockade. Verapamil markedly attenuated the shortening of ERP and the propensity for AF that occurred during simultaneous AV pacing. Conclusion: An acute increase in atrial pressure during tachycardia is associated with shortening of atrial refractoriness and a propensity for AF, i.e., atrial mechanoelectrical feedback, which may be enhanced by autonomic blockade and attenuated by calcium channel blockade. (J Cardiovasc
Role of Bulk Water in Hydrolysis of the Rhodopsin Chromophore

Rhodopsin (Rho) is a prototypical G protein-coupled receptor that changes from an inactive conformational state to a G protein-activating state as a consequence of its retinal chromophore isomerization, 11-cis-retinal → all-trans-retinal. The photoisomerized chromophore covalently linked to Lys296 by a Schiff base is subsequently hydrolyzed, but little is known about this reaction. Recent research indicates a significant role for tightly bound transmembrane water molecules in the Rho activation process. Atomic structures of Rho and hydroxyl radical footprinting reveal ordered waters within Rho transmembrane helices that are located close to highly conserved and functionally important receptor residues, forming a hydrogen bond network. Using 18O-labeled H2O, we now report that water from bulk solvent, but not tightly bound water, is involved in the hydrolytic release of chromophore upon Rho activation by light. Moreover, small molecules (and presumably, water) enter the Rho structure from the cytoplasmic side of the membrane. Thus, this work indicates two distinct origins of water vital for Rho function.
Regulation of blood pH in teleost fish

Abstract The nature of pH changes with temperature is similar in both air-breathing and waterbreathing poikilotherms. having a pH-temperature slope of −0.015 to 0.020 U/ C. The means by which this is accomplished are quite different in the two groups. The air-breather behaves in vivo as a Rosenthal. or constant CO 2 content system, with Pa CO 2 , increasing at higher temperatures. The increase in Pa CO 2 , is brought about by a reduction in the ratio V e / 2 . The water-breather, on the other hand, does not change G/ O 2 . so as not to sacrifice oxygen delivery, and consequently does not control Pa CO 2 , by ventilation and perhaps does not control it at all. Instead, the ratio of C t /S CO 2 is controlled by altering blood bicarbonate concentration. Since alteration of Na + and Cl − uptake rates affects blood pH. and alterations of blood pH affect uptake of Na + and Cl − at the gills, the carrier-mediated Na + /H + (NH + 4 ) and Cl − /HCO − 3 (OH − ) mechanisms now known to occur in gills appear to be the primary pH-regulating mechanism in water-breathers. Our knowledge of the role of gut and kidney in pH regulation is incomplete, but on the basis of preliminary information the kidney does not appear to respond to acid challenge.
The Influence of Family Socioeconomic Status on the Post–High School Outcomes of Youth With Disabilities

Using data from the National Longitudinal Transition Study–2, this study considers (a) the extent to which the socioeconomic status (SES) of youth with disabilities predicted their likelihood of hi...
Symmetric Instability in the Outflow Layer of a Major Hurricane

AbstractA set of 327 dropsondes from the NOAA G-IV aircraft was used to create a composite analysis of the azimuthally averaged absolute angular momentum in the outflow layer of major Hurricane Ivan (2004). Inertial instability existed over a narrow layer in the upper troposphere between the 350- and 450-km radii. Isolines of potential and equivalent potential temperature showed that the conditions for both dry and moist symmetric instability were satisfied in the same region, but over a deeper layer from 9 to 12 km. The radial flow maximized at the outer edge of the unstable region. The symmetrically unstable state existed above a region of outward decrease of temperature between the cirrus overcast of the storm and clear air outside. It is hypothesized that the temperature gradient was created as a result of longwave heating within the cirrus overcast and longwave cooling outside the cloudy region. This produced isentropes that sloped upward with radius in the same region that absolute momentum surfaces...
Ceftaroline fosamil for community-acquired bacterial pneumonia and acute bacterial skin and skin structure infection.

Introduction: Bacterial resistance is increasing on a global basis, making treatment options more limited. The development of new agents to meet this threat is a matter of urgency. Ceftaroline fosamil, a member of an advanced cephalosporin class of antimicrobials, is currently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for use in for acute bacterial skin and skin structure infection (ABSSSI) and community-acquired bacterial pneumonia. Ceftaroline displays activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including both methicillin-susceptible and resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Streptococcus pneumoniae (including penicillin- and ceftriaxone-resistant strains), respiratory pathogens (such as Moraxella catarrhalis and Haemophilus influenzae, including beta-lactamase-producing strains) and limited coverage against Enterobacteriaceae. Areas covered: Chemistry, mechanism of action, spectrum of activity, resistance, pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics, indications for use, safety and special...
An empirical comparison of statistical tests for assessing the proportional hazards assumption of Cox's model

In the analysis of survival data using the Cox proportional hazard (PH) model, it is important to verify that the explanatory variables analysed satisfy the proportional hazard assumption of the model. This paper presents results of a simulation study that compares five test statistics to check the proportional hazard assumption of Cox's model. The test statistics were evaluated under proportional hazards and the following types of departures from the proportional hazard assumption: increasing relative hazards; decreasing relative hazards; crossing hazards; diverging hazards, and non-monotonic hazards. The test statistics compared include those based on partitioning of failure time and those that do not require partitioning of failure time. The simulation results demonstrate that the time-dependent covariate test, the weighted residuals score test and the linear correlation test have equally good power for detection of non-proportionality in the varieties of non-proportional hazards studied. Using illustrative data from the literature, these test statistics performed similarly.
Six Application Mechanisms Required for Wireless Access in Vehicular Environments (WAVE)

This paper presents six application mechanisms required by the use cases planned for deployment using the wireless access in vehicular environments standards. The use cases analyzed represent all known use cases that have been proposed in various organizations. With building blocks of secure communication, prioritization of the communication channel, and multi-hop networking, standardization of the six mechanisms will allow application developers to define applications and application messages.
The Pathophysiology of Gastroesophageal Reflux

Based upon pH monitoring studies, up to 50 reflux episodes a day into the esophagus (below pH 4.0) are considered normal. Exposure to gastric refluxate does not result in the development of disease in the majority of the population, implying that there are intrinsic defense mechanisms that act to maintain mucosal integrity. It is proposed that mucosal inflammation and Barrett’s esophagus occur when reflux is in excess and/or there is a breakdown in the defense mechanisms. The integrity of the human esophageal mucosa depends on several defense mechanisms that protect it against corrosive refluxate. These protective mechanisms can be classified as pre-epithelial (lower esophageal sphincter, peristalsis, and saliva), epithelial (structural defenses, epidermal growth factor, transforming growth factor, Na+/H+ exchanger, carbonic anhydrase, and heat shock proteins), and post-epithelial (blood supply) defenses. In the esophagus, peristalsis and salivary bicarbonate provide for restoration of neutral pH after a reflux episode has occurred. The larynx has no comparable acid clearance mechanism and is therefore much more susceptible to damage by gastric reflux than the esophagus, with three or fewer reflux episodes per week causing laryngeal symptoms and endoscopic findings.
Is it possible to totally resect an acoustic tumor and conserve hearing

Over the last 19 years there has been increasing interest in the conservation of hearing while acoustic tumors are being resected. As enthusiasm has increased for the conservation surgery, so has controversy. The key to the controversy is a dissociation between gross anatomic and histologic observations. The purpose of this paper is to summarize our laboratory experiments and clinical observations in three areas: (1) Our experiments and observations suggest that it is probably not possible to totally resect an acoustic tumor medial to Scarpa's ganglion and conserve hearing. (2) It has not been possible to predict from preoperative auditory and vestibular function tests the number of fibers present within the cochlear and vestibular nerves lateral to the tumor, nor the number of fibers in small aggregates that may pass the tumor periphery. (3) If microscopic amounts of tumor are left behind, is that significant? It is too early to answer this question.
Asynchronous Communications to Support Distributed Work in the National Airspace System

This research involved the evaluation of a multimodal asynchronous communications tool to support collaborative analysis of post-operations in the National Airspace System (NAS). Collaborating authors have been shown to provide different feedback with asynchronous speech based communications compared to text. Voice synchronized with pointing in asynchronous annotation systems has been found to be more efficient in scheduling tasks, than voice-only, or text only communication. This research investigated how synchronized voice and pointing annotation over asynchronously shared slide shows composed of post operations graphical and tabular data differs in its effect compared to text based annotation, as collections of flights ranked low by standard performance metrics are discussed by FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and airline representatives. The results showed the combined problem solving and message creation time was shorter when working in the voice and pointing mode than the text based mode, witho...
Timing Insecticide Control of Rhododendron Borer with Pheromone Trap Catches of Males

Spray treatments for control of Synanthedon rhododendri (Beutenmuller) were successful when they were timed to coincide with male flight activity by using a pheromone trap baited with isomers of 3,13-octadecadien-1-ol acetate. Male flight in Maryland begins in the last week in May and ceases within the first week of July. When chlorpyrifos was applied to rhododendron plants on 15 June and again on 6 July, the borer was completely controlled, and good control was obtained with only one application. Lindane gave partial control; acephate was relatively ineffective. The highest number of larvae recovered was 55 from an untreated plant.
Analysis on Epidemiological Characteristics of Measles in Linwu County from 2003 to 2006

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of measles in Lingwu County from 2003 to 2006,and to provide the scientific basis for establishment of control and prevention strategies.Methods Descriptive epidemiological study was conducted to analyze the incidence and antibody level of measles among the floating and resident healthy children in Lingwu during the period of 2003～2006.Results A total of 211 measles cases had been reported in Lingwu within the last 4 years and the average annual incidence was 17.67/100,000.Higher incidence(89 cases,89.99/100,000)was found in the floating children as compared with that from the local resident ones(132 cases,10.59/100,000).Among the 3～7 years-old healthy children,the ratio of protective antibodies against measles in the floating children was 45.57% and it was lower than that in the resident children(72.67%);there were statistically significant difference between them(χ2=22.56,P0.005).Conclusions An increasing of measles cases among the floating children has contributed to an ascending trend on incidence of measles in our county.It is a best way to control and eliminate measles that carry out intensifying vaccination timely,especially among the floating children with low-level protective antibodies and blank immunization against measles.
American Federalism in an Era of Partisan Polarization: The Intergovernmental Paradox of Obama’s "New Nationalism"

This article examines the growing impact of partisan polarization on intergovernmental relations under the Obama Administration. Increasingly, red and blue states have taken different trajectories in implementing Obama Administration policies, with resistance from many conservative state leaders and enthusiasm from Democrats. To manage these challenges, the Administration has turned to an array of old and new tools for accommodating territorial variations in politics and policy: opt outs for reluctant or resistant states, accommodation for states that wish to go beyond federal standards, aggressive use of waivers, and so forth. This “variable speed federalism” model—marked by increasingly diverse patterns of state implementation of national policies—has been the paradoxical outgrowth of what President Obama once hoped would become a “new nationalism.” This article explores these themes in more detail, briefly recapping the principal domestic accomplishments of the Obama Administration, examining emerging patterns of intergovernmental relations, and discussing the increased federal tolerance of state diversity in federal intergovernmental programs.
[Therapy refractory unilateral chronic blepharokeratoconjunctivitis as the chief manifestation of auto-aggression syndrome. Clinico-histopathologic findings].

Autoaggressive syndromes as causes of diseases underlying chronic blepharitis and keratoconjunctivitis that are refractory to treatment are often difficult to recognize. Patients: Three female patients (age 21, 25, 41 years) and one male patient (age 42 years) had suffered from a right-(4 × ) or left-(1 × ) handed treatment-refractory blepharokeratoconjunctivitis for 1, 2 ,11 and 30 months prior to admission. In each case more than 5 ophthalmologists and 2–6 eye hospitals had been consulted, and extraocular surgery had been performed 1–4 times. Results: Patients presented with a visual acuity of 0.3 p (1 × ), 0.1 (1 × ), FC (1 × ), HM (1 × ). In three patients contact eczema of the facial skin and lids and a corneal pannus were observed; in two patients we saw purulent pseudomembranous and in two patients chronic cicatrizing keratoconjunctivitis. Conjunctival smears grew P. aeruginosa, and S. aureus; impression cytology showed infiltration with neutrophils and epithelial keratinization; histopathology indicated chronic inflammatory, partly purulent subepithelial and stromal conjunctival infiltrate with hyper- and parakeratosis fibrous strands and epithelial cell loss; the lower lids showed parakeratosis, focal necrosis, intercellular edema and a lymphohistiocytic round-cell infiltrate. Furthermore, multiple allergies to antibiotics and preservatives (4 × ), lacerations of the arms and legs (2 × ) and an irritative-toxic dermatitis (1 × ) were substantiated. In the patients who agreed to a psychiatric consultation, somatized-agitated longing for care combined with a dependent and infantile personality (1 × ) and reactive depression (2 × ) were verified. Conclusions: In patients suffering from treatment-refractory unilateral chronic blepharokeratoconjunctivitis correlated with the hand, one must take into consideration the fact that other factors may be involved: possible exacerbation prior to examinations; multiple inpatient diagnostic and surgical procedures in different locations; histopathological mixed inflammatory patterns; and psychiatric syndromes.
Magnetotransport of multiple-band nearly antiferromagnetic metals due to hot-spot scattering

Multiple-band electronic structure and proximity to antiferromagnetic (AF) instability are the key properties of iron-based superconductors. We explore the influence of scattering by the AF spin fluctuations on transport of multiple-band metals above the magnetic transition. A salient feature of scattering on the AF fluctuations is that it is strongly enhanced at the Fermi surface locations where the nesting is perfect (``hot spots'' or ``hot lines''). We review derivation of the collision integral for the Boltzmann equation due to AF-fluctuations scattering. In the paramagnetic state, the enhanced scattering rate near the hot lines leads to anomalous behavior of electronic transport in magnetic field. We explore this behavior by analytically solving the Boltzmann transport equation with approximate transition rates. This approach accounts for return scattering events and is more accurate than the relaxation-time approximation. The magnetic-field dependences are characterized by two very different field scales: the lower scale is set by the hot-spot width and the higher scale is set by the total scattering amplitude. A conventional magnetotransport behavior is limited to magnetic fields below the lower scale. In the wide range in-between these two scales, the longitudinal conductivity has linear dependence on the magnetic field and the Hall conductivity has quadratic dependence. The linear dependence of the diagonal component reflects growth of the Fermi-surface area affected by the hot spots proportional to the magnetic field. We discuss applicability of this theoretical framework for describing of anomalous magnetotransport properties in different iron pnictides and chalcogenides in the paramagnetic state.