cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prediction of intracerebral haemorrhage expansion with clinical, laboratory, pharmacologic, and noncontrast radiographic variables.

Background Hematoma expansion confers excess mortality in intracerebral haemorrhage, and is potentially preventable if at-risk patients can be identified. Contrast extravasation on initial computed tomographic angiography strongly predicts hematoma expansion but is not very sensitive, and most centers have not yet integrated computed tomographic angiography into acute intracerebral haemorrhage management. We therefore asked whether other presentation variables can predict hematoma expansion. Methods We searched the electronic medical records of a large integrated healthcare delivery system to identify patients with a hospitalization discharge diagnosis of intracerebral haemorrhage between the years 2008 and 2010. Hematoma expansion was defined as radiographic increase by 1/3 or by 12·5 ml within 48 h of presentation. Pre-specified patient demographic and clinical presentation variables were extracted. Stepwise multivariable logistic regression was performed to model hematoma expansion. Because some patients may have died from hematoma expansion without a second head computed tomography, we constructed a separate model including patients that died without a second head computed tomography in 48 h, hematoma expansion or death. Results Ninety-one of 257 patients (35%) had hematoma expansion. Antithrombotic use (odds ratio = 1·9, P = 0·04) and initial mNIHSS (modified National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale; odds ratio = 1·06, P = 0·001) were significant predictors in the hematoma expansion model (area under the Receiver–Operator Characteristics curve, AUROC = 0·6712, pseudo-r2 = 0·0641). 163 of 343 patients (48%) had hematoma expansion or death. Age (odds ratio = 1·02, P = 0·02), initial mNIHSS (odds ratio = 1·07, P < 0·001), and initial hematoma volume (odds ratio = 1·01, P = 0·03) were significant predictors of hematoma expansion or death (AUROC = 0·7579, pseudo-r2 = 0·1722). Conclusion Clinical and noncontrast radiographic variables only weakly predict hematoma expansion. Examination of other indicators, such as computed tomographic angiography contrast extravasation (the ‘spot sign’), may prove more valuable in acute intracerebral haemorrhage care.
Power Management Device Characteristics for Semiconductor Test Instrumentation

Common-mode and magnetic emission performance of isolated dc-dc converter modules are identified as parameters critical to the success of next-generation semiconductor test architecture. Specification and application data from commercial suppliers does not include these parameters - making characterization necessary. This paper provides a brief analysis of system architecture leading to a proposalfor a set of dc-dc converter measurements that enable system design - including a new approach to common mode current measurement. Data from commercially available devices is provided to demonstrate the need for characterization in test instrumentation applications.
ABO-incompatible deceased donor liver transplantation in the United States: A national registry analysis

In the United States, ABO-incompatible liver transplantation (ILT) is limited to emergent situations when ABO-compatible liver transplantation (CLT) is unavailable. We analyzed the United Network for Organ Sharing database of ILT performed from 1990-2006 to assess ILT outcomes for infant (0-1 years; N = 156), pediatric (2-17 years; N = 170), and adult (> 17 years; N = 667) patients. Since 2000, the number of ILT has decreased annually, and there has been decreased use of blood type B donors and increased use of blood type A donors. Furthermore, ILT graft survival has improved for all age groups in recent years, beyond the improved graft survival attributable to era effect based on comparison to respective age group CLT. On matched control analysis, graft survival was significantly worse for adult ILT as compared to adult CLT. However, infant and pediatric ILTs did not have worse graft survival versus age-matched CLT. Adjusted analyses identified age-specific characteristics impacting ILT graft loss. For infants, transplant after 2000 and donor age 50 years were associated with increased risk of ILT graft loss. For adults, life support, repeat transplant, split grafts, and hepatocellular carcinoma were associated with increased risk of ILT graft loss. The current study identifies important trends in ILT in the United States in the modern immunosuppression era, as well as specific recipient, donor, and graft characteristics impacting ILT graft survival that could be utilized to guide ILT organ allocation in exigent circumstances. Liver Transpl 15:883–893, 2009. © 2009 AASLD.
Incidence, adherence, and antibiotic resistance of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species causing human disease

Abstract Fifty-two isolates of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species recovered from the blood or intravenous catheters of patients with clinically significant disease were compared to 60 similar isolates from patients who were presumably colonized. All isolates were identified and evaluated for 1) ability to adhere to smooth surfaces, and 2) resistance to anti-staphylococcal penicillins. S. epidermidis, S. hominis , and S. haemolyticus were the most frequently occurring species, representing 65%, 15%, and 10%, respectively, of disease isolates and 57%, 25%, and 8% of colonizers. The seven other species recovered accounted for only 10% of the total in both groups. Differences in isolation rates of each species within the two groups were not significant and were reflective of their reported incidence in the normal flora. All species of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (except S. capitis and S. cohnii , which were isolated in very small numbers) were capable of adhering to smooth surfaces. S. hominis disease isolates were all capable of adherence, and the difference between the disease isolates and colonizers was statistically significant ( p ). This was not true for any other species that was analyzed nor for all isolates considered as a whole. Resistance to anti-staphylococcal penicillins was documented for all coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species, and was more frequent in S. epidermidis disease isolates than colonizers ( p ). No correlation was found between resistance to antistaphylococcal penicillins and ability to adhere.
THROMBOTIC AND INFLAMMATORY MECHANISMS IN PATIENTS WITH STABLE ANGINA PECTORIS: DIFFERENTIAL EFFECTS OF FIBRINOGEN GENETIC VARIABILITY

Patients with stable angina pectoris are characterized by increased levels of thrombotic and inflammatory biomarkers including fibrinogen, interleukin 6 (IL-6) and sCD40L. However, it is unclear, whether fibrinogen genetic variability could modify these processes in those patients. Thus, we
Prefixing with paradichlorobenzene to facilitate chromosome study.

A technic was developed which resulted in preparations containing many mitotic divisions with chromosomes well fixed and stained, rod-shaped, and spread throughout the cell. This technic has given good results with guayule (Parthenium argentatum), Crepis, Allium, Pisum, Lycopersicon, Tradescantia, and other plants. Material is prefixed in a saturated solution of paradichlorobenzene for 1-4 hours, fixed in 65% acetic acid (or other suitable fixative) for 12-24 hours, hydrolyzed in 10% HCl for 10-30 minutes at 60° C, rinsed in water, transferred to a drop of 45% acetic acid on a slide, and smeared and stained in aceto-orcein. The preparation may be made permanent by separating slide and cover glass in 1 part glacial acetic acid to 1 part absolute alcohol, putting them in absolute alcohol, and then recombining them with a drop of euparol.
The Association of Nurses in AIDS Care position paper on harm reduction and HIV care for drug users: Integrating harm-reduction methods and HIV care

As the epidemic of HIV disease continues to grow among drug users and their sexual partners, new ways must be adopted to de prevention work, outreach, and service delivery to this population. The Harm Reduction Model offers methods of working with drug users, which are in contrast to traditional methods based on confrontation and that require abstinence before change can occur. This position paper examines the Harm Reduction Model and outlines areas in which the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care can play a role in the expansion of harm-reduction-based intervention and policies.
Proton, calcium, and magnesium binding by peptides containing γ‐carboxyglutamic acid

gamma-Carboxyglutamic acid (Gla) is believed to bind Ca [II] ions and Mg [II] ions in prothrombin and other coagulation proteins. Binding constants for H+, Ca [II] ions, and Mg [II] ions to Gla-containing peptides are determined using pH and ion selective electrode titrations. The binding constants for peptides containing a single Gla residue are similar to the constants for malonic acid. Peptides containing two Gla residues in sequence (di-Gla peptides) bind Ca [II] ions and Mg [II] ions more strongly. KMgL for the di-Gla peptides is similar to the site-binding constant for Ca [II] ions in denatured BF1. These di-Gla peptides may be useful analogs for metal binding by the disordered Gla domain in BF1.
Convenient, Rapid Synthesis of Ag Nanowires

The rapid, microwave-assisted aerobic synthesis of silver nanowires based on the polyol method is described. Benchtop dissolution of NaCl and AgNO3 (ratio 1:6 to 1:3) in ethylene glycol and subsequent heating using microwave irradiation (300 W) in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone generates Ag nanowires in ∼80% yield in 3.5 min. Upon purification, microscopy (TEM, SEM) and powder X-ray diffraction reveal a uniform set of crystalline Ag nanowires with dimensions of 45 nm × 4−12 μm. Wire formation is highly dependent upon the microwave heating power, time, and NaCl:AgNO3 ratio because of the rapid heating process and the presence of O2 as an etching coreagent. Extended microwave heating causes the wires to fuse if in proximity or degrade to shorter wires presumably via the etching reaction. In the absence of O2/Cl-, the wires melt upon extended microwave heating (>4 min), suggesting that nanowire melting may contribute to the observed morphology under etching conditions. Compared to existing wet-chemical...
The effect of the phase of prestimulus alpha activity on the averaged visual evoked response.

The relationship between the latencies and amplitudes of the N1 and P2 components of the averaged visual evoked potential (EP) and the phase of the alpha activity immediately preceding the time of the stimulus, has been investigated in 7 male subjects. Low intensity flashes, delivered randomly between 2 and 6 whole seconds, were used as the stimuli. The phase angle of the EEG at the moment of stimulation was computed for all trials containing more than 100 μV2 of prestimulus alpha power. The single trials were grouped into 8 classes on the basis of the phase angle value, and averaged EPs for each individual were computed from these groups. In addition, averaged EPs were computed in 3 ways: (1) a grand average consisting of all artifact-free trials, (2) an ‘alpha average’ consisting of all trials containing more than 100 μV2 of prestimulus alpha power, and (3) a ‘non-alpha average’ consisting of all trials with less than 100 μV2 of prestimulus alpha power. Each of these 3 averages were cross-correlated with the phase-selective averages. It was found that the particular N1 component assessed in this experiment may possibly be entrained alpha activity, and that the measured P2 component is not an alpha process, yet it is influenced by the amount of prestimulus alpha activity.
A color atlas of meteorites in thin section, by Dante S. Lauretta and Marvin Killgore

Book Review: A Color Atlas of Meteorites in Thin Section, Dante S. Lauretta, Marvin Killgore. Golden Retriever Publications/Southwest Meteorite Press (2004).
Understanding disparities in leukemia: a national study.

Purpose Disparities in solid tumors have been well studied. However, disparities in hematologic malignancies have been relatively unexplored on population-based levels. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between race/ethnicity and acute leukemia mortality.
The Asymmetry of Image Registration and Its Application to Face Tracking

Most image registration problems are formulated in an asymmetric fashion. Given a pair of images, one is implicitly or explicitly regarded as a template and warped onto the other to match as well as possible. In this paper, we focus on this seemingly arbitrary choice of the roles and reveal how it may lead to biased warp estimates in the presence of relative scaling. We present a principled way of selecting the template and explain why only the correct asymmetric form, with the potential inclusion of a blurring step, can yield an unbiased estimator. We validate our analysis in the domain of model-based face tracking. We show how the usual active appearance model (AAM) formulation overlooks the asymmetry issue, causing the fitting accuracy to degrade quickly when the observed objects are smaller than their model. We formulate a novel, "resolution-aware fitting" (RAF) algorithm that respects the asymmetry and incorporates an explicit model of the blur caused by the camera's sensing elements into the fitting formulation. We compare the RAF algorithm against a state-of-the-art tracker across a variety of resolutions and AAM complexity levels. Experimental results show that RAF significantly improves the estimation accuracy of both shape and appearance parameters when fitting to low-resolution data. Recognizing and accounting for the asymmetry of image registration leads to tangible accuracy improvements in analyzing low-resolution imagery
Modulation of melphalan resistance in glioma cells with a peripheral benzodiazepine receptor ligand-melphalan conjugate.

Peripheral benzodiazepine receptors (PBRs) are located on the outer membrane of mitochondria, and their density is increased in brain tumors. Thus, they may serve as a unique intracellular and selective target for antineoplastic agents. A PBR ligand-melphalan conjugate (PBR-MEL) was synthesized and evaluated for cytotoxicity and affinity for PBRs. PBR-MEL (9) (i.e., 670 amu) was synthesized by coupling of two key intermediates: 4-[bis(2-chloroethyl)-amino]-L-phenylalanine ethyl ester trifluoroacetate (6) and 1-(3'-carboxylpropyl)-7-chloro-1,3-dihydro-5-phenyl-2H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one (8). On the basis of receptor-binding displacement assays in rat brain and glioma cells, 9 had appreciable binding affinity and displaced a prototypical PBR ligand, Ro 5-4864, with IC 50 values between 289 and 390 nM. 9 displayed differential cytotoxicity to a variety of rat and human brain tumor cell lines. In some of the cell lines tested including rat and human melphalan-resistant cell lines, 9 demonstrated appreciable cytotoxicity with IC 50 values in the micromolar range, lower than that of melphalan alone. The enhanced activity of 9 may reflect increased membrane permeability, increased intracellular retention, or modulation of melphalan's mechanisms of resistance. The combined data support additional studies to determine how 9 may modulate melphalan resistance, its mechanisms of action, and if target selectivity can be achieved in in vivo glioma models.
A theoretical study of solvation energies of FCH2COO−, FCH2COOH, and F2CHCOO−

A continuum and a discrete-continuum models are used to determine the solvation energies of FCH2COO−, FCH2COOH, and F2CHCOO−. For the anions, the continuum model provides results closer to the experiment, while for the acid, the addition of one water molecule improves the continuum-only energy.
Effect of a redox electrolyte in mixed solvents on the photovoltaic performance of a dye-sensitized solar cell

Abstract The effect of the iodide/triiodide redox electrolyte in various organic solvents on the photoelectrochemical properties of bis(tetrabutylammonium) cis-bis(thiocyanato)bis(4-carboxy-2,2′-bipyridine-4′-carboxylato)ruthenium(II)-sensitized nanocrystalline TiO2 solar cells was studied. Solvents with large donor numbers dramatically enhanced the open-circuit voltage (Voc), but usually reduced the short-circuit photocurrent density (Jsc). For a mixed solvent of tetrahydrofuran (THF) and acetonitrile, Voc increased and the fill factor decreased with increasing THF concentration, but Jsc remained relatively constant. As the partial charge of the N or O atom of the solvent molecule increased, Voc increased, but Jsc was unchanged up to a certain value of the partial charge (for THF, −0.46). For cells using 0.3 M 4-tert-butylpyridine and 20 vol% THF in the electrolyte, a short-circuit photocurrent density of 18.23 mA cm−2, an open-circuit voltage of 0.73 V, a fill factor of 0.73, and an overall conversion efficiency of 9.74% were obtained.
A Comparison of Forecast Errors in CAM2 and CAM3 at the ARM Southern Great Plains Site

Abstract The authors compare short forecast errors and the balance of terms in the moisture and temperature prediction equations that lead to those errors for the Community Atmosphere Model versions 2 and 3 (CAM2 and CAM3, respectively) at T42 truncation. The comparisons are made for an individual model column from global model forecasts at the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program (ARM) Southern Great Plains site for the April 1997 and June–July 1997 intensive observing periods. The goal is to provide insight into parameterization errors in the CAM, which ultimately should lead to improvements in the way processes are modeled. The atmospheric initial conditions are obtained from the 40-yr ECMWF Re-Analysis (ERA-40). The land initial conditions are spun up to be consistent with those analyses. The differences between the model formulations that are responsible for the major differences in the forecast errors and/or parameterization behaviors are identified. A sequence of experiments is performed, accu...
Delamination in collisional orogens

During continental collision, the weight of the downgoing slab may lead to extensional shearing in the descending plate, permitting separation of the downdip, dense oceanic lithosphere from the adjacent lighter continental lithospher. Separation may occur by means of a lithosphere-penetrating normal-sense shear zone, by means of pure shear necking of the lithosphere, or by some combination of these mechanisms. During separation, the continental crust attached to the lower plate may undergo an episode of extensional tectonics. The proximity of asthenosphere to crust may result in syntectonic regional metamorphism and plutonism. If the continents continue to converge following delamination, a compressive tectonic regime will be reestablished in the crust. The subsequent cooling of asthenosphere at the base of the crust may lead to the establishment of a continuous flat Moho. The likely imbrication of crustal and mantle lithologies during delamination and during the subsequent compressive tectonic regime, as well as underplating associated with syntectonic plutonism, may account for the seismic complexities observed at Moho depths beneath some mountain belts.
Effect on advanced age on p-aminohippurate-induced inhibition of renal tubular secretion in male fischer 344 rats

The effect of aging on glomerular filtration, effective renal plasma flow and on the responsiveness of the renal tubular anion secretory system to inhibition by 4-aminobenzoylglycine (p-aminohippurate, PAH) was examined in young (5-month) and old (22-month) Fischer 344 male rats. Plasma clearance, protein binding and renal extraction of [131I]o-iodohippurate, [125I]iothalamate and HPLC-purified [99mTc]mercaptoacetyltriglycine (MAG3), were used as in vivo probes of renal function. The effect of advanced age, without concomitant PAH, on the disposition of these markers was initially determined in ketamine anesthetized, temperature-maintained male rats, ages 5, 14 and 22 months by means of constant infusion clearance studies. Aging per se decreased (P less than 0.05) the kidney-weight normalized or body weight-normalized GFR and effective renal plasma flow rates. GFR values averaged 1.67, 1.43 and 1.32 ml/min per g kidney for the 5-, 14- and 22-month-old rats, respectively. Kidney- or body weight-normalized clearances of MAG3 and o-iodohippurate showed similar (25-27%) decreases, whereas the absolute values (ml/min) for GFR, o-iodohippurate and MAG3 clearance rates were not altered by aging. The effective filtration fraction, extraction ratio and plasma protein binding were also unchanged by advanced age. Overall, the age-related decreases in renal function were minimal in Fischer-344 rats, compared to other species. Differences in data normalization, species and gender account, in part, for discrepancies observed when comparing results in different studies on the effects of advanced age on renal function. Subsequently, we examined the effect of aging on the renal responsiveness to inhibition of tubular anion secretion using constant rate PAH infusion studies, adjusted for age-related changes in renal function. Aging did not alter PAH-induced inhibition of iodohippurate secretion. Inhibition of MAG3 elimination was more pronounced in the old rats compared to the young controls.
Treatment of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting after Outpatient Surgery with the 5-HT3 Antagonist Ondansetron

BackgroundPostoperative nausea and vomiting following outpatient surgery can significantly delay discharge. This study evaluates the safety and efficacy of ondansetron (a new 5-HT, antagonist) in the treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients following outpatient surgery.MethodsFive
Universal relationship between optical emission and absorption of complex systems: An alternative approach.

Analyses based on the theories of Kennard and of Stepanov (KS) often claim to support an assumption that emitting manifolds associated with excited electronic states are in thermal equilibrium. KS predict a certain linear F(\ensuremath{\nu}) with slope -h/${\mathit{k}}_{\mathit{BT}}$, where T is ambient temperature. Variation in T*(\ensuremath{\nu})=-(h/${\mathit{k}}_{\mathit{B}}$)/(dF/d\ensuremath{\nu}) reveals the likelihood of extensive excited-state nonequilibration. T*(\ensuremath{\nu}), not necessarily an actual temperature, reduces to T under fast relaxation. Its observed variation in certain systems can be modeled with coupled submanifolds far from the equilibrium envisaged by KS. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
Admission Income and Historic Houses: Higher Revenue Is associated with Price Policy. More Services and Less Education.

. A survey of 800 historic houses in England. Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland, which produced detailed data on 108, indicates that restaurants, gardens and souvenir shops are most beneficially related to income. Collections increase visitor numbers, particularly for houses with larger revenues. The higher the number of amusements and services, the higher the annual income. But educational and interpretive services do not appear to increase visitor numbers. Houses have some latitude to increase admission charges. Only 20 percent of the properties showed a profit. With more effective and cost-efficient advertising, an appropriate pricing policy and a reconsideration of promotional and educational programs, more might cover their costs.
Premature Infants: Perspectives on NICU-MT Practice

Music research began in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) over 25 years ago. Initially, medical staff resisted the idea that music therapy could impact premature infant medical outcomes. Today NICU-MT is well known in the U.S. with over 300 specially trained Board Certified Music Therapists (MT-BCs), and it is evolving in international settings . Over 50 research studies in refereed journals provide evidence-based methodology for NICU-MT and document important and unique infant benefits from music Quality of medical services is evaluated by benchmarks of benefit that are also economical and efficient. NICU-MT is underutilized and improves both medical and developmental outcomes for infants while reducing medical costs. For these reasons, it is an important new benchmark of quality NICU care. It behooves the profession to describe and promulgate specialized NICU-MT treatment techniques. Because of the extreme fragility and unique needs of premature infants still undergoing fetal development, it is also timely that the music therapy profession begins to develop specialized training for clinical treatment in this area. This article offers a perspective on NICU-MT by integrating music research with developmental theory, medical treatment, and MT clinical practice. It also provides suggestions for development of the specialization of NICU-MT. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
A Neural Network Approach for Force and Contour Error Control in Multi-Dimensional End Milling Operations

The problem of controlling the average resultant cutting force together with the contour error in multi-dimensional end milling operations is considered in this study. Two sets of neural networks are used in the control system. The first set is used to specify the feed rate to maintain a desired cutting force. This feed rate is resolved along the feed axes using a parametric interpolation algorithm so that the desired part shape is obtained. The second set is used to make corrections to the feed rate components specified by the parametric interpolation algorithm to minimize the contour error caused by the dynamic lag of the closed-loop servo systems controlling the feed drives. In addition, the control system includes a feedforward input to compensate for static friction effects. Experimental results are presented for machining two-dimensional circular slots and a three-dimensional spherical surface to show the validity of the proposed approach.
Neutron-diffraction study of the magnetic properties of perovskite-like compounds LaBO3

Abstract A neutron diffraction study has been carried out on the series of compounds LaBO 3 in which B is a trivalent ion of one of the 3- d transition group elements Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni. Magnetic ordering transitions for LaMnO 3 , LaCrO 3 , and LaFeO 3 were found at Neel temperatures of 100°K, 320°K, and 750°K, respectively. The latter two compounds are found to order in a simple interpenetrating sublattice structure: LaMnO 3 as previously reported forms ferromagnetic layers which alternate in sign from layer to layer. No magnetic ordering, at temperatures down to 4.2°K, was observed for LaCoO 3 or LaNiO 3 .
Why women fail/succeed in ministry: Psychological factors

A study was made of the most and least successful women minister graduates of Christian Theological Seminary since 1959. Significant differences were found in several scales of the CTMM, the ACL and the MMPI. These indicated, for example, higher intelligence, a better self-image, more openness to feelings and to general human faults plus alternative viewpoints, more leadership ability and ability to take charge of their own lives, for the more successful women. Implications for helpful interventions were discussed.
Rorschach Scores in the Manic State

(1954). Rorschach Scores in the Manic State. The Journal of Psychology: Vol. 38, No. 2, pp. 427-437.
Variceal bleeding and computed tomography.

Abstract A demonstration of variceal bleeding by computed tomography in a patient with portal hypertension.
Inequalities and comparisons of the Cauchy, Gauss, and logistic distributions

In this note, some inequalities and basic results including characterizations and comparisons of the Cauchy, logistic, and normal distributions are given. These results lead to necessary and sufficient conditions for the stochastic and dispersive ordering of the corresponding absolute random variables.
Mechanisms of Spontaneous Calcium Wave Generation During Beta-Adrenergic Stimulation in Rabbit Ventricular Myocytes

The beta-adrenergic signaling pathway represents the principal positive inotropic mechanism of the heart. While the effects of beta-adrenergic stimulation on L-type Ca channel Ca influx and SERCA-mediated sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca uptake are well established, the effects on SR Ca release through ryanodine receptor (RyR) release clusters remains highly controversial. Here, we examine SR Ca release in rabbit ventricular myocytes in the form of spontaneous Ca waves during beta-adrenergic stimulation with isoproterenol under controlled cytosolic and SR [Ca]. Cytosolic Ca was monitored using high-affinity Ca indicators indo-1 or rhod-2, while SR Ca was measured directly using the low-affinity Ca indicator fluo-5N or indirectly using the amplitude of the cytosolic Ca transient in response to 10 mM caffeine. Under control conditions, Ca waves were not observed following rest from 0.75 Hz pacing. In the presence of isoproterenol (500 nM), SR Ca content increased by 34% and spontaneous Ca waves were observed in 67% of cells during rest after pacing. However, when post-rest cytosolic Ca and SR Ca content were experimentally matched to control conditions using low extracellular Ca (100 uM versus 2 mM) and SERCA inhibition (7.5 uM cyclopiazonic acid), spontaneous Ca waves were never observed in the presence of isoproterenol. In contrast, pharmacological sensitization of the RyR with 250 uM caffeine induced Ca waves under control conditions (8/12 cells) and in the presence of isoproterenol at matched cytosolic Ca and SR Ca content (7/12). Together, these data suggest that spontaneous Ca release during beta-adrenergic stimulation is a result of increased RyR sensitivity in response to increased SR Ca content, and is not due to direct alterations in RyR function by the beta-adrenergic signaling cascade.
Securing your e-mail

For e-mail at least, I can safely say security has arrived. I provide an overview of cryptography and the protocols that enable it to work with e-mail. I explain the need for secure e-mail. I provide a short lesson on cryptography. I discuss the human and legal aspects, and I explain how to try out secure e-mail.
Direct continuous fluorometric assay for monoamine oxidase B

The first direct and continuous fluorometric assay for monoamine oxidase B (MAO B) has been developed. E-2,5-Dimethoxycinnamylamine hydrochloride was designed and synthesized and was found to be an excellent substrate for MAO B (Km = 218 microM, Kcat = 435 min-1). This compound has an intense purple fluorescence when irradiated at lambda ex = 343 nm (lambda em = 393 nm) in Tris buffer, pH 9.0, or sodium phosphate buffer, pH 7.2, but under the same conditions, the corresponding aldehyde, the product of the MAO-catalyzed oxidation of E-,5-dimethoxycinnamylamine hydrochloride, does not fluoresce. The activity of MAO B, therefore, can be determined efficiently and rapidly by continuously following the decrease in fluorescence at 393 nm at enzyme concentrations as low as 100 nM. The change in fluorescence is linear up to a substrate concentration of 500 microM.
GAS EXCHANGE IN THE ROOTS OF MANGROVES

ALONG THE southern and western coasts of the Florida peninsula occurs one of the greatest developments of mangrove swamp in the world. Rhizophora mangle L., the red mangrove, perching on its arched stilt roots, is the dominant species and the most marine. Another important component is Avicennia nitida Jacq., the black mangrove, which is restricted to the tidal zone and reaches its most luxuriant development on intertidal mud flats in more sheltered inland localities. Both species have a considerable tolerance for fresh water (Davis, 1943). Familiar to anyone who has visited the mangrove region are the air roots which protrude in great numbers from the mud under and around Avicennia bushes or trees. A single tree may produce several thousand of these air roots, usually 20-30 cm. high and a centimeter thick, soft and spongy, and studded with little whitish lenticels. In the mud they connect to radially-running main roots, which are also soft and spongy and contain large amounts of air (fig. 1). The vertical air-roots are often referred to as pneumatophores because it is believed that they may have the function of aerating the root system which lies buried in the mud. If one of the arching stilt roots of Rhizophora is dug out of the mud it is found to terminate in a bunch of long, spongy, finger-thick, and air-filled roots (fig. 2). The stilt root has a conspicuous development of lenticels, and one may wonder whether these might serve as ventilating ports for the mud roots. If they do, one might ask by what process the ventilation takes place, as it seems almost incredible that the voluminous roots down in the mud could be effectively ventilated by simple diffusion alone, through little lenticels high up on the stilt roots. One might also wonder how such a system, which gets its oxygen from the air, avoids getting jammed with nitrogen. However, before worrying over how the ventilation comes about one must first establish that such ventilation does take place, and this is the object of the present investigation. GAS EXCHANGE IN SUBMERGED ROOTS OF VARIOUS PLANTS.-Several investigators have analyzed the gases in roots of plants growing in water or mud which is poor in oxygen. In general these roots have been found to be aerated; how is usually not clear. Conway (1937), in a series of experiments on the sedge Cladium mariscus R. Br., found that air spaces were continuous from the leaves down into the roots. The gas connections were particularly free
Firm performance in a liberalized environment: Empirical evidence from a developing country

Abstract This study examines environmental correlates of firms' performance in a developing country that has recently instituted market reforms. Results were based on a survey of the chief executive officers of top manufacturing companies in Nigeria. The findings suggest that not all environmental changes have had a significant impact on firm performance. Specifically, only improved financial infrastructure and production costs had a significant positive effect on firms' performance. However, overall, improved firm performance has resulted from a more liberalized business environment. Thus, the results of improved performance at the firm level support early findings of better macroeconomic performance. It also supports theories purporting the role of liberalized environments in improving business climates.
Glucocorticoid and cAMP increase fatty acid synthetase mRNA in human fetal lung explants.

During late fetal development, synthesis of surfactant phospholipid requires a large supply of fatty acid precursor. Fatty acid synthetase is a regulatory enzyme for de novo fatty acid synthesis in lung as well as other lipogenic tissues. In this study, we report hormonal induction of FAS mRNA in human fetal lung explants (16–23 week gestation) cultured up to 7 days in Waymouth's medium (no serum) supplemented with dexamethasone (Dex, 10 nM) or agents that increase cAMP (8-Br-cAMP, 0.1 mM; isobutylmethylxanthine, 0.1 mM; forskolin, 0.01 mM; PGE1, 0.01 mM). Exposure of explants to Dex or cAMP agents increased FAS mRNA content by 6 h and maximal stimulation occurred at 72 h for Dex (approx. 3-fold increase) and 24 h for cAMP (approx. 2-fold increase). In the presence of both Dex and cAMP there was a synergistic increase in FAS mRNA content at all times (approx. 11-fold increase at 72 h). Induction of FAS mRNA was specific for steroids with glucocorticoid activity, reversible on removal of hormone, and was half-maximal at 2–3 nM Dex consistent with receptor mediation. Actinomycin D blocked induction by Dex but not by cAMP suggesting a transcriptional effect by glucocorticoid but not by cAMP. T3, which increases phosphatidylcholine synthesis, did not induce FAS mRNA. The findings indicate that both glucocorticoid and cAMP increase FAS gene expression consistent with an important role for FAS in regulating the supply of fatty acid for surfactant phospholipid synthesis.
Neonatal handling alters learning in adult male and female rats in a task-specific manner.

Abstract We demonstrated that early life manipulations (neonatal isolation, neonatal handling, maternal separation) impaired fear conditioning in adult rats [Kosten, T.A., Miserendino, M.J.D., Bombace, J.C., Lee, H.J., Kim, J.J., 2005. Sex-selective effects of neonatal isolation on fear conditioning and foot shock sensitivity. Behav. Brain Res. 157, 235–244.; Kosten, T.A., Lee, H.J. and Kim, J.J., 2006. Early life stress impairs fear conditioning in adult male and female rats. Brain Res. 1087, 142–150.]. Although we found few effects on somatic responses to footshock, deficits in conditioned fear may reflect altered emotional reactivity to aversive stimuli not learning deficits. Here we test neonatal handling effects on learning and memory tasks that vary by aversive stimuli. Neonatal handling was chosen because it alters emotional reactivity in adult rats. Litters of Sprague–Dawley rats were assigned to neonatal handling (15-min separation from dam and nest on postnatal days 1–21) or control (nonseparated) conditions. Adult male and female rats with or without neonatal handling experience were compared on: (1) inhibitory avoidance that involves footshock; (2) a circular maze task that involves escape from bright light; and (3) object recognition that presumably does not involve aversive stimuli. Neonatal handling impaired inhibitory avoidance but enhanced object recognition. There were no differences in circular maze performance. In addition, sex differences emerged in both the inhibitory avoidance and object recognition tasks; female rats perform better in inhibitory avoidance and worse in object recognition compared to male rats. These data suggest that neonatal handling alters learning and memory in a task-specific manner that may reflect alterations in emotional reactivity or differential effects of the manipulation on unknown neurohormonal mechanisms.
Difficult Aortic Stump Closure

• A technique is described for closure of the distal part of the aorta during aortofemoral reconstruction. With this technique, the inferior mesenteric artery may be revascularized locally in many situations, eliminating the need for reimplantation. The closure of the difficult aortic stump may be facilitated. Direct removal of calcified atheromatous plaque under direct vision obviates the need for heavy needles or for special vascular punches. In turn, this may reduce the potential risk of distal embolism and facilitates hemostatic closure of the excluded aortic segment. ( Arch Surg 1982;117:980-981)
Sanctuary, House-Peace, and the Traditionalism of Alfred's Laws

Prior to the reign of Alfred the Great, sanctuary protections appear to have been offered only by ecclesiastical buildings and restricted to those hoping to avoid punishment. Alfred's laws extend these protections even to private dwellings as well as to persons threatened with non-official forms of violence (such as feuds). They would thus seem to be innovative, yet scholarship has resisted the notion that these laws constitute reforms; some have been assumed to depend on much older Germanic folk-laws on feuding. The present article suggests that these laws show the king attempting to give the rituals and expectations of penance a more pronounced place in England's secular law, an aim more explicitly evident in other clauses of his code. The protection that these laws afford, it is argued, inheres not in the buildings in which the violence takes place but is instead contingent on the behaviour of disputants.
Noise and signal detection in digital x-ray detectors using the spatial definition of SNR

For task specific evaluation of imaging systems it is necessary to obtain detailed descriptions of their noise and deterministic properties. In the past we have developed an experimental and theoretical methodology to estimate the deterministic detector response of a digital x-ray imaging system, also known as the H matrix. In this paper we have developed the experimental methodology for the evaluation of the quantum and electronic noise of digital radiographic detectors using the covariance matrix K. Using the H matrix we calculated the transfer of a simulated coronary artery constriction through an imaging system's detector, and with the covariance matrix we calculated the detectability (or Signal-to-Noise Ratio) and the detection probability. The eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the covariance matrix were presented and the electronic and quantum noise were analyzed. We found that the exposure at which the electronic noise equals the quantum noise at 90 kVp was 0.2 μR. We compared the ideal Hotelling observer with the Fourier definition of the SNR for a toroidal stenosis on a cylindrical vessel. Because of the shift-invariance and cyclo-stationarity assumptions, the Fourier SNR overestimates the performance of imaging systems. This methodology can be used for task specific evaluation and optimization of a digital x-ray imaging system.
Fetal biometry in the Brachmann‐de Lange syndrome

The Brachmann-de Lange syndrome (BDLS) is diagnosed in children on the basis of a distinctive clinical phenotype which includes retarded physical growth. Because there are no genetic or biochemical tests at present, the antenatal detection of the syndrome may depend upon identification of some aspect of the phenotype in the fetus using ultrasound imaging. We studied the growth of 23 subsequently diagnosed fetuses with the BDLS using standard biometric parameters defined by prenatal ultrasound imaging. Sonographic studies were obtained through a national parents' group, the Cornelia de Lange Syndrome Foundation. Assessment of fetal growth was made using four standardized measurements: the biparietal diameter, head circumference, femur length, and abdominal circumference. These values were compared to established tables of normal fetal growth and established ratios of fetal body proportions. The cross-sectional growth curve derived using all measurements collected as a composite group indicates that growth retardation would be first detected as early as 25 weeks. In five fetuses with measurements both before and after 25 weeks of gestation, longitudinal growth curves indicated that the diagnosis of "small for gestational age" would have been suggested between 20 and 25 weeks. The mean fetal weight estimates closely followed the fifth centile curve of normal fetuses both before and after 25 weeks. Cephalic indices in BDLS fetuses indicated either frank brachycephaly (25%), or were at the upper portion of the normal range. Femur lengths were relatively short (less than 90% of their expected length) ion 4 of the 11 fetuses where such information could be obtained.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
A Damage Model for Disordered Structures in Ion Irradiated Silicon

Medium-range order has been observed in ion-implanted amorphous silicon, suggesting a paracrystalline structure for this material. The origin of a paracrystalline structure may be due to an energy spike phenomenon. To evaluate the influence of energy spikes on a particular process, we have attempted to calculate the characteristic energy in a spike. However, the observed depth dependence of amorphous structures in as-implanted silicon is puzzling. To explain this, we simulated the depth distribution of cascade events in a particular energy range. We found a great increase of point defect concentration and cascade events as the depth increases. This result could explain the experimental depth dependence.
Accuracy of Sexually Violent Person Assessments of Juveniles Adjudicated for Sexual Offenses

This study reviewed the records of 198 juveniles who were committed to secured custody after being adjudicated delinquent for a sexually violent offense that qualified them for possible commitment under a Sexually Violent Person's (SVP) civil commitment law. For an individual to be committed, the statute requires that the individual have a qualifying mental disorder and is "likely," to commit a future act of sexual violence. Each youth was screened by at least two expert examiners in a two-step process. Fifty-four of the youth were found to meet the commitment criteria in an initial examination and were subject to an SVP petition. The remaining 144 were screened out. Subsequent criminal charges were collected over a 4.97-year mean follow-up. The results showed that the prevalence rates for general sexual offending and felony sexual offending did not differ between youth who were screened out and those who were subject to a petition. Among petitioned youth, 11.76% were charged with a new sexual offense including 9.80% who were charged with a felony sexual assault. By comparison, 17.36% of the youth that were screened out were charged with a sexual offense including 13.19% who were charged with a felony sexual assault, a nonsignificant difference. Language: en
The generalized orthonormal expansion of functions with multiple-valued inputs and some of its applications

The fundamental concept of generalized orthonormal expansion, which generalizes the ring forms of the Shannon expansion to logic with multivalued (MV) inputs and standard trivial functions of an arbitrary number of variables, is introduced. Some applications of the generalized orthonormal expansion are presented, including several generalizations of canonical forms both known from the literature and new. These include a family of canonical tree circuits, which are considered for binary and multivalued input cases. They can be multilevel or flattened to two-level AND-EXOR circuits. >
Optimizing communication overlap for high-speed networks

Modern networking hardware supports true non-blocking communicationand effective exploitation of this feature can lead to significantapplication performance improvements. We believe that algorithm design and optimization techniques that hide latency by taking advantage of communication overlap will facilitate obtaining good parallel efficiency and performance on the highly concurrent contemporary systems. Finding an optimal, performance portable implementation when using non-blocking communication primitives is non-trivial and intimidating to many application developers. In this paper we present a methodology for discovering optimal message sizes and schedules for a variety of application scenarios. This is achieved by combining an analytic model that takes into account the variability of performance parameters with system scale and load with heuristics designed to avoid network congestion. We perform experiments to understand network behavior in the presence of overlap and purge the optimization space for any system based on either resource or implementation constraints. Our approach isable to choose optimal or nearly optimal implementation parameters fora variety of highly non-trivial scenarios and networks with different performance characteristics. Implementations based on parameters chosen by the models are able to hide over 90% of communicationoverhead in all cases.