cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Immigrant Southeast and East Asian mothers' transnational postpartum cultural practices: A meta-ethnography.

OBJECTIVE Southeast and East Asian mothers experience the postpartum period differently than that of the general population. Despite the documented difference, there is limited representation of postpartum cultural practices in nursing and midwifery research. The purpose of this meta-ethnography is to synthesize qualitative findings from studies that examined postpartum cultural practices of Southeast and East Asian mothers globally to ensure better maternal health outcomes. METHODS Noblit and Hare's seven-step meta-ethnographic approach was used. We analyzed constructs, concepts, themes, and metaphors using Krippendorff's content analysis. The guidelines for preferred reporting the synthesis of qualitative research were adhered to enhancing transparency (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses). RESULTS The collaborative search process in the following databases, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Scopus, resulted in eight high quality research studies published between January 2017 and February 2020. Five studies discussed postpartum traditions of immigrant mothers (n = 67) living in North America (n = 67), while three studies explored that of mothers living in Southeast and East Asian. Mothers (n = 132) from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, and Hmong participated. FINDINGS Three themes emerged: (1) importance of maintaining postpartum cultural practices; (2) barriers of "doing-the-month"; and (3) modification: practicality over tradition. Although participants recognized value in postpartum traditions, the lack of social support deterred more immigrant than non-immigrant Southeast and East Asian mothers from "doing-the-month." Due to the influence of western medicine, clinicians' postpartum care suggestions, and use of modern technology (e.g., Internet), Southeast and East Asian mothers had informed choices to adapt, modify, or "break with tradition." CONCLUSION Similarities and differences existed in how each Southeast and East Asian mother accepted and engaged with postpartum cultural practices, a process which aligned with one's definition of health. Maternity care providers should further elicit Southeast and East Asian mothers' needs based on individualized assessments beginning in prenatal care with emphasis on social support for mothers who have recently immigrated and given birth in their adopted countries.
When Politicians Attack: Party Cohesion in the Media

Fostering a positive brand name is the chief benefit parties provide for their members. They do this both by coordinating their activities in the legislative process and by communicating with voters. Whereas political scientists have generally focused on the former, dismissing partisan communication as cheap talk, this book argues that a party's ability to coordinate its communication has important implications for the study of politics. The macro-level institutional setting of a party's communication heavily influences that party's prospects for cohesive communication. Paradoxically, unified government presents the greatest challenge to unified communication within the president's party. As this book argues, the challenge stems primarily from two sources: the constitutional separation of powers and the intervening role of the news media.
Theoretical and Numerical Studies of Anelastic Materials

The paper deals with the formulation of a constitutive equation for anelastic materials for which the stress depends on the current deformation gradient \(\underset{\raise0.3em\hbox{$\smash{\scriptscriptstyle\thicksim}$}}{F}\) and its rate \({\underset{\raise0.3em\hbox{$\smash{\scriptscriptstyle\thicksim}$}}{\dot{F}}}\). Coleman and Mizel1 developed a thermodynamic theory for such a class of materials. The stress tensor is decomposed into an elastic omponent \({\underset{\raise0.3em\hbox{$\smash{\scriptscriptstyle\thicksim}$}}{\sigma } ^e}\) and a dissipative component \({\underset{\raise0.3em\hbox{$\smash{\scriptscriptstyle\thicksim}$}}{\sigma } ^d}\). Thus, let \({\underset{\raise0.3em\hbox{$\smash{\scriptscriptstyle-}$}}{\sigma }} = {\underset{\raise0.3em\hbox{$\smash{\scriptscriptstyle\thicksim}$}}{\hat{\sigma }}}(F,\dot{F})\) and \({\underset{\raise0.3em\hbox{$\smash{\scriptscriptstyle\thicksim}$}}{\sigma } ^e} = {\underset{\raise0.3em\hbox{$\smash{\scriptscriptstyle\thicksim}$}}{\sigma } ^e}(F) = \underset{\raise0.3em\hbox{$\smash{\scriptscriptstyle\thicksim}$}}{\sigma } (F,0)\) and \({{{\underset{\raise0.3em\hbox{$\smash{\scriptscriptstyle\thicksim}$}}{\sigma }}}^{d}} = {{{\underset{\raise0.3em\hbox{$\smash{\scriptscriptstyle\thicksim}$}}{\sigma }}}^{d}}(F,\dot{F}) = \hat{{\underset{\raise0.3em\hbox{$\smash{\scriptscriptstyle\thicksim}$}}{\sigma }}}(F,\dot{F}) - {{{\underset{\raise0.3em\hbox{$\smash{\scriptscriptstyle\thicksim}$}}{\sigma }}}^{\varepsilon }}(F)\). The Clausius-Duhem inequality leads to \({\underset{\raise0.3em\hbox{$\smash{\scriptscriptstyle\thicksim}$}}{T} ^e} = {\sigma _O}\partial \psi /\partial \underset{\raise0.3em\hbox{$\smash{\scriptscriptstyle\thicksim}$}}{F}\) where \({\underset{\raise0.3em\hbox{$\smash{\scriptscriptstyle\thicksim}$}}{T} ^e}\) is the first Piola-Kirch-hoff elastic stress tensor, U is the free energy function. The, dissipative component should satisfy the inequality.
Role of codeine in palliative care

Codeine is designated as one of the essential medicines of palliative care for symptoms such as pain and diarrhea. Essential drugs for palliative care are drugs that are effective for the treatment of common symptoms in palliative medicine, easily available, and are affordable. Codeine is recommended for the management of mild to moderate pain and is available as a combination product or as a stand-alone opioid. It is a prodrug and exhibits an affinity to μ-opioid receptors 200 times lower than morphine. Codeine is metabolized in the liver to inactive metabolites, which account for 90 percent of the transformed product, and morphine, which accounts for 10 percent of the transformed product and provides the main analgesic effect. The production of morphine is dependent on cytochrome oxidase 2D6 enzyme activity, which may not be fully active in some populations. The purpose of this review is to examine the efficacy of codeine for common symptoms encountered in palliative medicine, which has led to its designation as an essential medicine for palliative care.
Water and Watersheds Research: Discovery and Broader Impacts

Water and watershed concerns integrate research challenges with human needs and they reflect the global urgency of many strategic, socioeconomic, and environmental crises. Issues of water availability (quantity, quality, timing), ecosystem functions and services, and human health and safety provide ample opportunity for new discoveries and the employment of existing knowledge to meet educators’ and decision makers’ needs.
Fine (≪0.5 ps) and course tuning (≫15 ps) of optical delays using acousto-optic mixing with a 1-pm tunable laser

We demonstrate a new technique for fine tuning of optical delays using cascaded acousto-optic modulators. A 256-ns delay with ≪0.5-ps resolution is shown for 40-Gb/s RZ-OOK with no system penalty.
Using multiple beams to identify radio frequency interference in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence

[1] The Allen Telescope Array (ATA) is a multiuser instrument and will perform simultaneous radio astronomy and radio search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) observations. It is a multibeam instrument, with 16 independently steerable dual-polarization beams at four different tunings. Here we describe a new method for identifying radio frequency interference (RFI) that leverages the unique attributes of the ATA. Given four beams at one tuning, it is possible to distinguish RFI from true ETI signals by pointing the beams in different directions. Any signal that appears in more than one beam can be identified as RFI and ignored. We discuss the effectiveness of this approach using realistic simulations of the fully populated 350 element configuration of the ATA as well as the interim 32 element configuration. Over a 5 min integration period, we find RFI rejection ratios exceeding 50 dB over most of the sky.
PALEOCLIMATE RECONSTRUCTION | Paleotempestology

This article provides an overview of paleotempestology, an emerging field of science that studies past tropical cyclone activity by means of geological or archival techniques. Overwash sand layers preserved in the sediments of coastal back-barrier lakes and marshes can provide proxy evidence of paleohurricane landfalls. Other promising proxies and archives include storm-generated beach ridges, marine microfossils, pollen and phytoliths in coastal sediments, and stable isotopic signals recorded in tree rings and speleothems. Historical documentary evidence of hurricane and typhoon activities during the past several centuries can be obtained from newspapers, plantation diaries, and early instrumental records in the United States, mariners’ logbooks in British archives, colonial records in Spanish archives, and official histories, unofficial literature, and local gazettes in China. Paleotempestological studies from the United States and Caribbean coasts, Australia, China, and Japan have revealed a pattern of millennial- to century-scale variations in tropical cyclone activities that can be related to global and regional climate changes during the late Holocene.
Comparison of methods to calculate relative permeability from capillary pressure in consolidated water‐wet porous media

[1] The Brooks and Corey relative permeability model has been accepted widely as a way to calculate relative permeability using capillary pressure data. However, the Purcell model was found to be the best fit to the experimental data of the wetting-phase relative permeability in the cases studied here, as long as the measured capillary pressure curve had the same residual saturation as the relative permeability curve. The differences between the experimental data of relative permeability and the data calculated using the Purcell relative permeability model for the wetting phase were almost negligible. A physical model was developed to explain the insignificance of the effect of tortuosity on the calculation of the wetting-phase relative permeability. For the nonwetting-phase, the relative permeabilities calculated using the models were very close to the experimental values in drainage except for the Purcell model. However, in the case of imbibition, the relative permeabilities calculated using the models were different from the experimental data. This study showed that relative permeability could be calculated satisfactorily by choosing a suitable model, especially in drainage processes. In the reverse procedure, capillary pressure could also be computed once relative permeability data are available.
The intersection of grids and networks: where the rubber hits the road

Summary form only given. As distributed systems, grids depend completely on networks to provide the communication related services that interconnect the grid system components. Various sorts of grid services need to be able to specify, and request of the network, quality of service, transport services, and monitoring services, etc. Additionally there are services such as identity and rights management, temporary storage and compute relative to network locale, etc., that may be most advantageously provided to grids by the network organization. From the network point of view, the world is fragmented into many different administrative domains (autonomous systems). There may or may not be a common control plane for resource management related to QoS, resource allocation and allocation management are dealt with independently in each different AS, transport service definition and availability are AS dependent, monitoring and measurement may or may not be provided and may or may not be considered a good thing, the parent organization may be long-lived and able to provide highly secure and persistent information services, or it may be a contractor that rotates every few years, etc., etc. This paper discusses some of the issues and approaches to providing network related grid services in the real world of multiple network domains.
Nerve growth factor increases nicotinic ACh receptor gene expression and current density in wild-type and protein kinase A-deficient PC12 cells

Although neuronal nicotinic ACh receptors (nAChR) play a key role in synaptic transmission and information transfer in the nervous system, little is known about the molecular mechanisms that govern the expression of the multiple subunits that form the receptors and determine their functional properties. Using electrophysiological and molecular biological approaches, we have investigated the NGF-mediated regulation of nAChR expression in rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells and protein kinase A (PKA)-deficient PC12 cells. We report that NGF treatment increases steady state levels of mRNA encoding the alpha 3, alpha 5, alpha 7, beta 2, and beta 4 subunits, increases the occurrence of ACh-induced single-channel activity in excised patches, and increases ACh-induced macroscopic current density, all by mechanisms independent of PKA activity.
Comprehensive Quality Programming and Accountability: Eight Essential Strategies for Implementing Successful Prevention Programs

This article presents strategies that can be used to improve the state of the practice of prevention programs. Although these strategies have broad application to all forms of prevention and intervention programs, this article focuses on the application of such strategies to youth and family prevention programs. If positive changes in the lives of the youth and families in our communities are to be realized, it is imperative that effective and quality prevention programs reach these populations. We present a series of eight specific strategies, collectively referred to as Comprehensive Quality Programming (CQP), and an overview of an effective method for using such strategies to continuously improve programs. The use of CQP will be illustrated with three examples, including an evaluation of a school-based mentoring program.
A taste for temperance: how American beer got to be so bland

ABSTRACTThis article examines the historical origins of bland American beer. The US was not strongly associated with a particular beer type until German immigrants popularised lager beer. Lager, refreshing and mildly intoxicating, met the demands of America's growing working class. Over time, American lager became lighter and blander. This article emphasises America's uncommonly strong temperance movement, which put the industry on the defensive. Brewers pushed their product as ‘the beverage of moderation,’ and consumers sought out light, relatively non-intoxicating beers. The recent ‘craft beer revolution’ is explained as a backlash aided by a changing consumer culture and improved information technology.
Coping with a medical malpractice suit.

In this article, I discuss how and why physicians react to an accusation of malpractice and the range of strategies that they can use to diminish the emotional disequilibrium that accompanies this experience. Information presented here is based on survey and interview studies and extensive clinical experience. ​experience.,​, Table 1 Before the complaint: useful attributes of clinicians Competent practice, including good risk-management procedures Adequate self-knowledge A balanced personal and professional life A capacity for intimacy and sharing Good relationships with patients, their families, and other health professionals View it in a separate window Table 2 Common postcomplaint experiences Symptoms may develop during any of these stages when adequate coping fails The complaint is served: initial feelings of surprise, shock, outrage, anxiety, or dread Consultation with lawyer: depending on the initial assessment of the case, reactions of anger, denial, concern, reassurance, panic Lengthy period of denials and intrusions: active attempts to erase thoughts about the case, followed by automatic reminders and intrusive thoughts about it; becoming preoccupied by ruminating excessively—exacerbated whenever case-related activity increases, such as before the deposition, when experts testify, and before and during the trial Working through the lengthy process, during which physicians psychologically and intellectually “process” the meaning of the case, their role in it, and their approach to their own defense Relative completion of response: physicians change in many ways as a result of being sued; ideally, adaptations lead to greater competence and a more satisfying personal and professional life View it in a separate window Medical work is highly stressful, and physicians increasingly feel loss of control over their clinical decision making. Nonetheless, most physicians are competent and achieve a reasonable level of satisfaction in their personal and professional lives that serves as good preparation for managing the litigation experience (box 1). Physicians are especially challenged, however, when an unexpected outcome—such as an unanticipated death—occurs. If this event is followed by a charge of malpractice, they may feel suddenly over-whelmed and “out of control,” with their ability to function temporarily compromised.
Frequency and electrode contributions to localization in bilateral cochlear implants

Abstract Localization ability, using six different listening conditions, was studied on four adult bilateral implant listeners to better understand the frequency and electrode contributions to localization. Results suggest that localization is best when the full spectrum is presented to all frequencies and that localization is severely impaired if the spectrum is split between ears. Localization is better when the high-frequency only spectrum is presented compared to when the low-frequency only spectrum is presented. However, localization is still possible with only low-frequency information. In addition, some localization is possible when stimulating only one electrode. Even the best localization performance in any conditions did not approach that of listeners with normal hearing.
A depauperate benthic assemblage from the nutrient-poor sediments of the Puerto Rico Trench

Abstract The Puerto Rico Trench contains a low-density-biomass assemblage of macrofauna and meiofauna. The depauperate character of this assemblage is primarily the result of the low percentage and refractory nature of organic matter in the sediments. Recent turbidite flows may have contributed to the paucity of fauna. Sediments from this portion of the Puerto Rico Trench are the result of pelagic sedimentation interspersed with thin laminae that probably originated as turbidity flows from the northern and eastern, or deep-sea, walls of the trench. These recently deposited pelagic clays are low in available organic matter. Bioturbation and other mechanical and geochemical processes have not compacted these sediments into a stable, habitable substrate. The “oligotrophic” assemblages found in the Puerto Rico Trench contrast with “eutrophic” hadal assemblages which inhabit coarser-grained, organic-rich sediments. These types of sediments usually originate as turbidity flows from the walls of island-arc trenches proximal to shallow-water shelves and provide a substrate of higher shear strength and greater nutritive value.
Platelet von Willebrand factor determination does not improve the diagnosis of patients with suspected Type 1 von Willebrand disease

Establishing a laboratory diagnosis of a bleeding disorder can be challenging for some patients who present with mucocutaneous bleeding symptoms. A common clinical scenario is an older patient with a prior diagnosis of von Willebrand disease (VWD) or a family history of VWD, who now has von Willebrand factor (VWF) values repeatedly within the normal range. Plasma VWF antigen levels have been shown to increase with age. Whether platelet VWF increases with age is unknown. We hypothesized that platelet VWF does not increase with age and low platelet VWF levels, despite normal plasma levels, could be a reason for continued bleeding symptoms in some patients. Therefore, we compared the platelet and plasma VWF antigen and activity as well as the platelet function analyzer (PFA)-100 closure times in 35 patients with a history of mucocutaneous bleeding symptoms and consistently normal levels of VWF antigen and activity, despite a prior history of a VWD diagnosis and/or a positive family history of VWD. Overall in our patients (bleeders), the platelet VWF values correlated with the plasma values and only three patients had reduced platelet VWF. In the bleeding group, the PFA-100 results showed an inverse correlation with plasma and platelet values, which was stronger for the plasma values. Therefore, platelet VWF determination was not helpful in the diagnosis of suspected mild type 1 VWD.
Genetic Requirements for Potassium Ion-Dependent Colony Spreading in Bacillus subtilis

Undomesticated strains of Bacillus subtilis exhibit extensive colony spreading on certain soft agarose media: first the formation of dendritic clusters of cells, followed by spreading (pellicle-like) growth to cover the entire surface. These phases of colonization are dependent on the level of potassium ion (K(+)) but independent of flagella, as verified with a mutant with a hag gene replacement; this latter finding highlights the importance of sliding motility in colony spreading. Exploring the K(+) requirement, directed mutagenesis of the higher-affinity K(+) transporter KtrAB, but not the lower-affinity transporter KtrCD, was found to inhibit surface colonization unless sufficient KCl was added. To identify other genes involved in K(+)-dependent colony spreading, transposon insertion mutants in wild-type strain 3610 were screened. Disruption of genes for pyrimidine (pyrB) or purine (purD, purF, purH, purL, purM) biosynthetic pathways abolished the K(+)-dependent spreading phase. Consistent with a requirement for functional nucleic acid biosynthesis, disruption of purine synthesis with the folic acid antagonist sulfamethoxazole also inhibited spreading. Other transposon insertions disrupted acetoin biosynthesis (the alsS gene), acidifying the growth medium, glutamine synthetase (the glnA gene), and two surfactin biosynthetic genes (srfAA, srfAB). This work identified four classes of surface colonization mutants with defective (i) potassium transport, (ii) surfactin formation, (iii) growth rate or yield, or (iv) pH control. Overall, the ability of B. subtilis to colonize surfaces by spreading is highly dependent on balanced nucleotide biosynthesis and nutrient assimilation, which require sufficient K(+) ions, as well as growth conditions that promote sliding motility.
Regulation of Endocytic Sorting by ESCRT–DUB-Mediated Deubiquitination

Endocytosis of cell surface receptors mediates cellular homeostasis by coordinating receptor distribution with downstream signal transduction and attenuation. Post-translational modification with ubiquitin of these receptors, as well as the proteins that comprise the endocytic machinery, modulates cargo progression along the endocytic pathway. The interplay between ubiquitination states of cargo and sorting proteins drives trafficking outcomes by directing endocytosed material toward either lysosomal degradation or recycling. Deubiquitination by specific proteinases creates a reversible system that promotes spatial and temporal organization of endosomal sorting complexes required for transport (ESCRTs) and supports regulated cargo trafficking. Two dubiquitinating enzymes—ubiquitin-specific protease 8 (USP8/Ubpy) and associated molecule with the SH3 domain of STAM (AMSH)—interact with ESCRT components to modulate the ubiquitination status of receptors and relevant sorting proteins. In doing so, these ESCRT–DUBs control receptor fate and sorting complex function through a variety of mechanisms described herein.
Expression of PTPRO during mouse development suggests involvement in axonogenesis and differentiation of NT-3 and NGF-dependent neurons

Competition and cooperation between type II and type III receptor protein tyrosine phosphatases (RPTPs) regulate axon extension and pathfinding in Drosophila. The first step to investigate whether RPTPs influence axon growth in the more complex vertebrate nervous system is to identify which neurons express a particular RPTP. We studied the expression of mouse PTPRO, a type III RPTP with an extracellular region containing eight fibronectin type III domains, during embryogenesis and after birth. Mouse PTPRO mRNA is expressed exclusively in two cell types: neurons and kidney podocytes. Maximal expression in the brain was coincident with mid to late gestation and axonogenesis in the brain. We cloned two cDNAs, including a splice variant without sequence coding of 28 amino acids within the juxtamembrane domain that was found mostly in kidney. In situ hybridization detected mPTPRO mRNA in the cerebral cortex, olfactory bulb and nucleus, hippocampus, motor neurons, and the spinal cord midline. In addition, mPTPRO mRNA was found throughout dorsal root, cranial, and sympathetic ganglia and within kidney glomeruli. Mouse PTPRO mRNA was observed in neuron populations expressing TrkA, the high-affinity nerve growth factor receptor, or TrkC, the neurotrophin-3 receptor, and immunoreactive mPTPRO and TrkC colocalized in large dorsal root ganglia proprioceptive neurons. Our results suggest that mPTPRO is involved in the differentiation and axonogenesis of central and peripheral nervous system neurons, where it is in a position to modulate intracellular responses to neurotrophin-3 and/or nerve growth factor.
Adrenal Nodular Hyperplasia in Hereditary Leiomyomatosis and Renal Cell Cancer

Purpose: The condition hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell carcinoma is characterized by cutaneous leiomyomas, uterine fibroids and aggressive papillary renal cell carcinoma. A number of our patients with hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell carcinoma had atypical adrenal nodules, which were further evaluated to determine whether these nodules were associated with hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell carcinoma.Materials and Methods: Patients with hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell carcinoma underwent a comprehensive clinical and genetic evaluation. We reviewed the clinical presentation, anatomical and functional imaging, endocrine evaluation, pathological examination and germline mutation testing results.Results: Of 255 patients with hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell carcinoma 20 (7.8%) had primary adrenal lesions, including 4 with bilateral adrenal lesions and 4 with multiple nodules. Two patients had adrenocorticotropic hormone independent hypercortisolism. A total of 27 adrena...
Sociodemographic characteristics and drinking status as predictors of older women's health.

Abstract As part of a U.S. national survey of women's drinking and life experiences, the authors used responses from a subsample (n = 245) of women aged 55-90 years (M = 65.8 years) to examine the relationship of sociodemographic characteristics (income, marital status, and occupational status) and drinking status to several health outcomes (self-perceived general health, depression, sexual satisfaction, and sexual dysfunction). In all analyses, the authors controlled for respondent age. Results indicated that higher household income predicted greater lifetime and current sexual satisfaction with a partner as well as higher general health ratings. Women drinkers also reported better general health than did abstainers. An interaction between marital status (married or cohabitating vs. nonmarried) and employment status (employed vs. nonemployed) was a predictor of general health ratings. The authors found significant contrasts among the 4 groups when they controlled for age, income, and drinking status: (a)...
Quasi-Cleavage and Martensite Habit Plane.

Abstract Quasi-cleavage (QC) is often observed on the fracture surfaces of hydrogen embrittled iron and steels. For quenched-and-tempered martensitic high strength steels, most QC facets show geometrical markings that are made up of fine oblong elements arrayed at well defined angles. To better understand this mode of failure, scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM) and etch-pit analysis have been applied to the study of quasi-cleavage and of martensitic structure in an AISI 4340 steel (tempered at 478 K). A special technique was developed for determining martensite habit planes without the need for concomitant presence of retained austenite or annealing twins in the microstructure. Quasi-cleavage in this AISI 4340 steel has been shown to be cleavage along {110} α′ planes through martensites, and {225} γ have been unambiguously determined as the martensite habit planes. The methods of analyses are described. The relationship between surface features of QC facets and the martensitic microstructure and the possible interaction between hydrogen and slip are discussed. Potential application of the analysis method to studies of martensitic transformation is considered.
Differing strategies for organizing anterior and posterior body pattern in Drosophila embryos

Opposing anterior and posterior morphogen systems specify the segmented body pattern of Drosophila. The anterior morphogen, bicoid, exerts a direct instructive influence on head and thoracic pattern by triggering different outcomes according to changes in its concentration along the body. In contrast the posterior morphogen, nanos, simply defines where abdominal patterning can occur by eliminating an otherwise ubiquitous repressor, hunchback protein, from the posterior half of the embryo. Within this hunchback-free domain the pattern of abdominal segments must be specified by other morphogens, possibly by shorter range gradients of the products of zygotic gap genes Kruppel, knirps and tailless.
FUNCTIONAL COUPLING OF CA2+ CHANNELS AND RYANODINE RECEPTORS IN CARDIAC MYOCYTES

Abstract In skeletal muscle, dihydropyridine receptors are functionally coupled to ryanodine receptors of the sarcoplasmic reticulum in triadic or diadic junctional complexes. In cardiac muscle direct physical or functional couplings have not been demonstrated. We have tested the hypothesis of functional coupling of L-type Ca2+ channels and ryanodine receptors in rat cardiac myocytes by comparing the efficacies of Ca2+ in triggering Ca2+ release when the ion enters the cell via the Ca2+ channels or the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger. Ca2+ transported through the Ca2+ channels was 20-160 times more effective than Ca2+ influx via the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger in gating Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum, suggesting privileged communication between Ca2+ channels and ryanodine receptors. In support of this hypothesis we found that Ca2+ channels were inactivated by Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum, even though the myoplasmic Ca2+ concentrations were buffered with 10 mM EGTA. The data thus suggest privileged cross signaling between the dihydropyridine and ryanodine receptors such that Ca2+ flux through either the Ca2+ channel or the ryanodine receptor alters the gating kinetics of the other channel.
Renal manifestations in toddlers with Takayasu's arteritis and malignant hypertension.

Three children under the age of 3 years presented with malignant hypertension, proteinuria, and acute kidney injury. Takayasu’s arteritis was diagnosed on the basis of clinical symptoms of weight loss and low grade fever in conjunction with elevated sedimentation rate and radiographic evidence of aortic and renal artery stenosis. One patient had a renal biopsy which showed arteriolar sclerosis and focal glomerulosclerosis. All three patients required multiple antihypertensive agents, ultimately including angiotensin receptor blockers and/or angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors. The vasculitis was treated with pulse corticosteroids followed by cyclophosphamide in one patient and mycophenolate mofetil as maintenance therapy in all. Follow-up has ranged from 2 to 8 years. Although global renal function has normalized in each patient, two have unilateral non-function of one kidney. The last patient has persistent aortic and renal artery stenosis with complex collateralization requiring ongoing medical and anticipated surgical management.
Pressure changes in the medial and lateral plantar and tarsal tunnels related to ankle position: a cadaver study.

Background: Pressure in the tarsal tunnel has been shown to be elevated when the ankle is pronated. We hypothesized that this also would be true for the medial plantar and lateral plantar tunnels b...
An iterative algorithm for interference detection and cancellation using multiple receiver antennas

An iterative algorithm is presented to obtain the direction of arrival, magnitude, and phases of all desired and interference signals exist within a communication environment using a circular array of receiver antennas. The proposed method is able to detect all electromagnetic signals crossing through the receiver platform even if they have the same frequency and polarization so long as they are not in very close angular proximity compared to the receiver antenna beam-width. The algorithm operate in frequency domain and can handle wide bandwidth signals.
Hexagonal ferrite materials for phase shifter applications at millimeter wave frequencies

The effect of anisotropy field and saturation induction on phase shift at millimeter-wave frequencies has been examined for hexagonal ferrite materials. The analysis was done for both uniaxial and planar anisotropy at three particular frequencies of technological interest, 30, 60, and 90 GHz. The work was concerned primarily with materials; a simple thin slab device configuration was used for the analysis. Limitations on materials parameters due to propagation cutoff, phase error degradation over a specified bandwidth, and low field loss were also considered. The results indicate that any improvement in phase shift over conventional cubic ferrites will require a high saturation magnetization, comparable to that of Li-Zn ferrite, and moderate (6-10-kOe) to large (20-30-kOe) anisotropy fields, depending on the frequency. >
Towards a jus in bello of Guerrilla Warfare

Can guerrilla wars be fought morally? This essay explores this question by using a single case study, that of the Lebanese Hizballah. The intention of this study is to contribute to our understanding of the jus in bello of guerrilla warfare. Because this case study involves an Islamic resistance movement, a second intention is to contribute to a greater understanding of a movement of people condemned as terrorists in U.S. law and popular perception.I find evidence to indicate a jus in bello principle unique to guerrilla warfare. This principle, which I call the principle of respect, requires that guerrillas show respect for the lives and property of noncombatants. I find the morality of ordinary people to be the source of the jus in bello of guerrilla warfare.
Life history of a dominant polychaete, Polygordius jouinae, in inner continental shelf sands of the Mid-Atlantic Bight, USA

The life history of the polychaete Polygordius jouinae Ramey, Fiege, and Leander 2006 was studied in the sandy sediments of the LEO-15 research area off the coast of Tuckerton, New Jersey (39°27.69′N, 74°15.81′W). Divers collected sediment cores biweekly, from February 2004 to November 2005 to examine the temporal patterns of abundance and size–frequency distributions of P. jouinae. These parameters were also examined (for the first time) for P. jouinae in samples taken in ambient sediments and in three reciprocal 3 to 5-day sediment transplant experiments that were part of a previous, unrelated study at coarse sand and muddy sand sites (∼3 km apart) at LEO-15 in the summers of 1994 and 1995. Analysis of these previous data along with the current data provided a larger set of values for P. jouinae, as well as further insight into the life history, habitat selection, and dispersal of P. jouinae (not considered in previous studies). Polygordius jouinae is gonochoristic and the population was mostly composed of sexually mature individuals in late May 2004 and 2005. The reproductive period usually occurs from May to August and individuals that spawn generally have a 1-year life span. Non-spawning individuals of P. jouinae could potentially live longer than 1 year and therefore the population may sometimes consist of individuals of two generations. Recruitment begins no later than July as recently settled individuals (≤9 mm body length), which were not present during the first week of June 1995, 2004, and 2005, first appeared in July in all 3 years. The smallest individual was 2.01 mm long and 0.07 mm wide and this provides the first estimate of size at initial recruitment. Although some worms in sediment trays likely settled as larvae, most worms were recently settled juveniles (length categories 6 and 9 mm) transported in from the surrounding sediments, presumably as a consequence of re-suspension or bed load transport. As expected, larger individuals were present later in September. Although it is unknown whether P. jouinae were transported actively or passively these data suggest that recently settled juveniles are capable of habitat selection (prefer sand over mud) and show that post-settlement transport and selection influence community structure.
Material ejection and surface morphology changes during transient heat loading of tungsten as plasma-facing component in fusion devices

We investigated the effect of edge-localized mode like transient heat events on pristine samples for two different grades of deformed tungsten with ultrafine and nanocrystalline grains as potential candidates for plasma-facing components. Pulses from a laser beam with durations ?1?ms and operating in the near infrared wavelength were used for simulating transient heat loading in fusion devices. We specifically focused on investigating and analysis of different mechanisms for material removal from the sample surface under repetitive transient heat loads. Several techniques were applied for analysing different mechanisms leading to material removal from the W surface under repetitive transient heat loads which include witness plates for collected ejected material, and subsequent analysis using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy, visible imaging using fast-gated camera, and evaluating thermal emission from the particles using optical emission spectroscopy. Our results show a significantly improved performance of polycrystalline cold-rolled tungsten compared to tungsten produced using an orthogonal machining process under repetitive transient loads for a wide range of the power densities.
Magnetic Field (g-Value) Dependence of Proton Hyperfine Couplings Obtained from ESEEM Measurements: Determination of the Orientation of the Magnetic Axes of Model Heme Complexes in Glassy Media

Electron spin echo envelope modulation (ESEEM) studies were utilized to characterize the coupling between protons of axially bound pyrazole ligands (PzH) and the unpaired electron of low-spin tetraphenylporphyrinatoiron(III) chloride. Samples were prepared in mixed-solvent glasses to maximize the resolution of the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signals. X-band two-pulse ESEEM experiments at 4.2 K in deuterated solvent glasses demonstrated that this coupling results in 0.2−0.7 MHz shifts of the να + νβ proton sum combination peak from twice the Larmor frequency. These shifts have been investigated across most of the EPR absorption spectrum of [TPPFe(PzH)2]+Cl-. Two-pulse ESEEM spectra were simulated at different magnetic field positions. Combination peaks were observed from both distant protons (DP) (β-pyrrole, ortho-phenyl, and β-pyrazole) and near protons (NP) (α-H of the pyrazole ligands). For the simulations, the orientation of the nearest four protons of the pyrazole ligands with respect to the...
Stage dependent and androgen inductive expression of orphan receptor TR4 in rat testis

In this study, we investigated the expression of TR4 in different stages of seminiferous tubules and the relationship between TR4 and androgen in rat testis. We found that TR4 was stage-dependently expressed in rat seminiferous tubules, T withdrawal induced by high doses of testosterone undecanoate and ethane dimethane sulfonate inhibit TR4 expression in rat testis, and testosterone induced TR4 expression in co-cultured primary germ/Sertoli cells. Furthermore, we demonstrated that androgen receptor could enhance TR4-mediated transactivation activity in testis cells in the presence of testosterone. Together, these data indicate that the expression of TR4 in rat testis is stage dependent and androgen inductive, and suggest the important role of orphan receptor TR4 in spermatogenesis.
Tailored quartz pins for high-density microsensor array fabrication

We report on a quartz pin that can be interfaced easily to existing pin printers. The new pin surface can be reversibly derivatized using silanization chemistry, allowing one to reliably print a wi...
Electrical resistivity due to vacancies and impurities in aluminium: Band structure effects in the defect scattering in polyvalent metals

Abstract The residual resistivity due to vacancies and impurity atoms in aluminum is calculated including the effect of Brillouin zone intersection with the Fermi surface. The result indicates the significance of this effect in the electron scattering by defects in polyvalent metals.
A Comparative Study of Residual Stress Distribution Induced by Hard Machining Versus Grinding

This study investigates the residual stress distribution induced by hard machining and grinding and compares its impact on fatigue parameters. The residual stress distribution below hard turned and ground surfaces is investigated after a thermally damaged layer is removed. Fatigue parameters are computed based on the residual stress distribution to compare the impact of the residual stress distribution on the fatigue performance. Rolling contact fatigue tests are then performed to substantiate the computations. The effect of residual stresses on crack initiation depth is shown to be significant for the ground specimen. The maximum shear stress at crack initiation depth of the hard turned specimen is smaller than that of the ground specimen. Due to a significant increase in crack initiation life, the predicted rolling contact fatigue life of the hard turned specimen is longer than that of the ground specimen. The overall average in the ratios of predicted life to experimental life for the hard turned specimen is closer to 1 than that for the ground specimen. The results demonstrate that the hard turned specimen shows better rolling contact fatigue performance and better accuracy in the fatigue life prediction.
Civic Participation and Risky Sexual Behavior Among Urban U.S. Men Who Have Sex with Men

Drawing on the social capital literature, we hypothesized that civic engagement, as measured by participation in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender–related community activities, would be an important protective factor with respect to sexual risk behavior. Accordingly, we examined the association between participation and three measures of risky sexual behavior in a group of men who have sex with men (MSM) who were part of the four-city, 1996–1998 Urban Men's Health Study. In these analyses, we used the subsample of adult MSM who reported same-gender sex in the past year and were not HIV positive (N = 1857). Compared to those reporting no civic participation, those with the lowest and highest levels of participation were no more likely to engage in risky sexual behavior, but those with the second highest level had an increased likelihood of risky sexual behavior. Abstention from drugs, having a male primary partner, higher income, a college degree, and being older than 29 years of age all reduced the ...
Membrane Structure of Protein Kinase C and Calmodulin Binding Domain of Myristoylated Alanine Rich C Kinase Substrate Determined by Site-Directed Spin Labeling†

Cysteine-substituted peptides based on the membrane, calmodulin, and protein kinase C binding domain of the myristoylated alanine rich C kinase substrate (MARCKS) were synthesized and derivatized with a sulfhydryl reactive proxyl nitroxide. These spin-labeled peptides were used in combination with continuous wave power saturation electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy to determine the position and structure of the peptide on membranes containing phosphatidylserine. These peptides bind at the membrane interface, with nitroxide side chains in the central and C-terminal regions lying several angstroms below the level of the head group. In contrast, the N-terminus of the peptide is extended out of the membrane interface so that the two N-terminal residues are positioned on the aqueous side of the head group. When bound to the membrane, the N-terminal segment of this peptide is sensitive to the membrane surface charge density. Higher charge densities decrease the amplitude of side chain motions at the N-terminus and bring this end of the peptide closer to the membrane interface. When the location of successive residues along the bilayer normal is compared, no helical trend is seen, and no evidence for aggregation of the peptide is found. The EPR spectra of double spin-labeled peptides also show no evidence for a helical structure. Thus, these basic peptides are in an extended configuration at the membrane interface with hydrophobic side chains oriented inward toward the membrane hydrocarbon.
Right coronary artery fistula as a result of delayed right atrial perforation by a passive fixation lead.

Delayed lead perforation (DLP) is an uncommon complication of permanent pacemaker and defibrillator implantation, especially that of the right atrium (RA).1 Lead perforation is considered delayed when it occurs >30 days after implantation. The incidence of DLP has been reported to be ≈0.8% and is more common in elderly individuals.1,2 With the yearly increase in implanted devices, and the advance in imaging modalities, this complication is more likely to be encountered. To our knowledge, delayed right atrial perforation involving a passive fixation lead remains extremely rare and has never been reported. We describe a case of an asymptomatic right atrial DLP resulting in a pseudoaneurysm and right coronary artery (RCA) fistula, diagnosed incidentally 53 months after the implantation of a passive atrial lead. Our patient is a 67-year-old man with a medical history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis, coronary artery bypass grafting, and ischemic cardiomyopathy. The patient had a dual-chamber implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implanted for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death. A passive fixation lead (5594 CapSureR SP Novus, Medtronic; Indianapolis, IN) was implanted in the RA appendage, and the right ventricular lead (6949 Sprint Fidelis, Medtronic) was implanted in the apical septum without difficulty. The initial atrial pacing threshold was 0.5 V at 0.4 ms and 1.5 V at 0.4 ms for the ventricular lead. The initial …