cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Aprindine for treatment of supraventricular tachycardias. With particular application to Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.

Abstract Ten patients with recurrent or continuous Supraventricular tachycardia difficult to control with conventional antiarrhythmic agents were treated with aprindine, a new antiarrhythmic drug. Nine patients had Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. An electrophysiologic study was performed before and during oral administration of aprindine. At the time of the first study, circus movement Supraventricular tachycardia was initiated in Patients 1 to 8. During administration of aprindine, circus movement Supraventricular tachycardia could no longer be initiated in Patients 1 to 4 but was initiated with difficulty in Patients 5 and 6 and with greater ease in Patients 7 and 8. In Patient 9, aprindine therapy slowed the ventricular response during atrial flutter from 1:1 conduction over the accessory pathway to 2:1 conduction over the normal pathway; in Patient 10, it slowed the ventricular rate during atrial fibrillation from 140–180 to 80–100 beats/min. Patients 1 to 6, 9 and 10 had an excellent clinical response, but treatment with aprindine was discontinued in Patients 7 and 8. Electrophysiologic evaluation revealed that aprindine produced complete block or increased refractoriness of the accessory pathway in an antegrade direction in all patients and in a retrograde direction in all but two (Patients 7 and 8) tested. Aprindine also slowed conduction in the accessory pathway and, when Supraventricular tachycardia could still be initiated, it occurred at a slower rate. Neurologic side effects occurred primarily during the initial administration and dose adjustment of aprindine.
Puget Sound Metropatterns: Social Separation and Sprawl in the Puget Sound Region

This research identifies the suburban typology of the Puget Sound area through a study of the social and fiscal disparities within the region. Municipal tax base and other demographic data, such as poverty rates measured at the school-level, are used to show wide variations in the capacities of suburban municipalities to provide local public services. The results show clear signs of current fiscal and social stress in the region. A range of regional fiscal, planning, and governance reforms are also evaluated.
Evaluation of fetal blood pH as a reflection of fetal well-being.

Abstract The determination of fetal blood pH prior to delivery is an acceptable and useful technique for following those cases in which fetal distress has become evident. In certain instances, it can predict impending danger to the fetus who is incapable of adjusting to further stresses, and, in others, it can predict a successful outcome in spite of continued evidence of fetal distress. Therefore, it would appear one could institute more confident management in cases presenting with fetal distress. Furthermore, future studies may reveal neonatal therapy is possible to correct for severe acid-base deviations experienced during the process of labor and delivery.
Proinflammatory cytokine responses of cultured equine keratinocytes to bacterial pathogen-associated molecular pattern motifs.

Summary Reasons for performing study: Further knowledge of equine keratinocyte physiology and keratinocyte response to various stimuli is important in developing a better understanding of disease states involving the epidermis. Objectives: To assess the inflammatory cytokine response of cultured equine keratinocytes to various pathogen-associated molecular pattern molecules (PAMPs) from both Gram-negative and positive bacteria likely to be present in equine sepsis. Methods: Keratinocytes were isolated from skin of 2 horses and primary cultures performed. Keratinocytes were harvested for RNA extraction after exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), lipoteichoic acid (LTA), peptidoglycan (PGN), bacterial DNA (CpG), flagellin or maintained in medium (controls) for 4 or 24 h. Real time-quantitative PCR was used to quantify interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and CXCL8 mRNA concentrations. Results: Increases (P 0.05) in cytokine expression by keratinocytes were present after LTA, PGN or CpG exposure. Conclusions: Increased proinflammatory cytokine expression in response to LPS and flagellin indicate that equine keratinocytes have functional TLR4 and TLR5 receptor signalling. However, the lack of keratinocyte stimulation by PGN, LTA or CpG provides no evidence for functional TLR2, TLR9 or NOD receptor signalling. These results suggest that equine keratinocytes are more responsive to PAMPs usually associated with Gram-negative sepsis and unresponsive to PAMPs most commonly associated with Gram-positive sepsis. Potential relevance: The increased incidence of injury of epidermal structures in clinical cases of Gram-negative (vs. Gram-positive) sepsis in the horse may be due to a lack of functional TLR signalling for Gram-positive PAMPs in the equine keratinocyte.
A hall four-point probe on thin plates: Theory and experiment

Abstract A method is described whereby the resistivity and Hall coefficient is determined using four point contacts placed on a Hall plate which is an isotropic, uniformly thick, two-dimensional sheet with a perpendicular magnetic field. A class of boundary-value problems is solved using a new method of images which shows that the Hall effect in specimens is produced by certain images with multivalued potentials. Correction factors are evaluated for a square array of point contacts on five different Hall plates (infinite half-plate, infinite quarter-plate, circle, semicircle and quarter circle), and the solution to a rectangular plate is indicated. The theory is verified experimentally for three of these cases being uniformly doped InAs and Ge.
A common architecture to encourage reuse of natural language/text processing tools

Text analysis systems that handle large amounts of free-form narrative text are beginning to use natural language processing algorithms, employing linguistic-based techniques to deduce meaning. Existing natural language/text processing (NL/TP) systems often serve similar purposes and use similar components, but component reuse is rare. We have designed a domain-designed architecture to promote reusability of NL/TP software and data components. It is constructed from an ontology of the NL/TP domain, which was derived from a survey of NL/TP applications and users, and is represented by an object-oriented model. The architecture also includes interoperability standards, interface protocols, and tools for developing reusable components intended to promote reuse of software and data across a wide range of NL/TP applications and technologies, from keyword searching to semantic analysis. >
Engineering reprogrammable RNA-binding proteins for study and manipulation of the transcriptome

With the expanding interest in RNA biology, interest in artificial RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) is likewise increasing. RBPs can be designed in a modular fashion, whereby effector and RNA-binding domains are combined in chimeric proteins that exhibit both functions and can be applied for regulation of a broad range of biological processes. The elucidation of the RNA recognition code for Pumilio and fem-3 mRNA-binding factor (PUF) homology proteins allowed engineering of artificial RBPs for targeting endogenous mRNAs. In this review, we will focus on the recent advances in elucidating and reprogramming PUF domain specificity, update on several promising applications of PUF-based designer RBPs, and discuss some other domains that hold the potential to be used as the RNA-binding scaffolds for designer RBP engineering.
The properties and regulation of functional acetylcholine receptors on chick ciliary ganglion neurons.

The properties of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) channels on chick ciliary ganglion neurons in culture were examined using patch-clamp recording techniques. Acetylcholine (ACh) was applied by rapid microperfusion. Whole-cell current noise analysis revealed a single class of functional receptors on the neurons. Dose-response studies indicated a Kd of about 36 microM and a Hill coefficient of 1.5–1.7, predicting 2 ACh binding sites per receptor. Both fast and slow components of receptor desensitization were observed. Single-channel recordings from excised outside-out patches of soma membrane exposed to 2–5 microM ACh indicated a single-channel conductance of 40 pS, a reversal potential of -9 mV, a mean open duration of 1 msec, and an opening probability of 0.34. The kinetic behavior of the channels was provisionally described by a 3-closed, 1-open state model for receptor activation. In all of these properties, AChRs of ciliary ganglion neurons resemble those on skeletal muscle fibers. Growing the neurons in an elevated K+ concentration produced a 2–3-fold decrease in peak whole-cell currents induced by ACh under standard test conditions, without altering any of the single-channel properties described above. Neither changes in cholinesterase activity nor receptor distribution accounted for the decrease. Instead, calculations indicated that elevated K+ reduced the ACh response by decreasing the number of functional AChRs on the neurons. No K+-dependent decrease is observed, however, in the number of total receptors on the neurons detected either by a monoclonal antibody specific for the receptor or by an alpha-neurotoxin that binds to the receptor and blocks its function. Moreover, the number of receptors detected by the 2 probes is at least 10-fold greater than the calculated number of functional receptors. The findings suggest that only a small fraction of the AChRs on the neuronal surface is functional and that the cell can alter the ratio of functional and nonfunctional receptors in response to growth conditions.
The conserved carboxyl domain of MorC, an inner membrane protein of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, is essential for membrane function

Morphogenesis protein C (MorC) of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans is important for maintaining the membrane morphology and integrity of the cell envelope of this oral pathogen. The MorC sequence and operon organization were found to be conserved in Gammaproteobacteria, based on a bioinformatic analysis of 435 sequences from representative organisms. Functional conservation of MorC was investigated using an A. actinomycetemcomitans morC mutant as a model system to express MorC homologs from four phylogenetically diverse representatives of the Gammaproteobacteria: Haemophilus influenzae, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Moraxella catarrhalis. The A. actinomycetemcomitans strains expressing the homologous proteins were assessed for sensitivity to bile salts, leukotoxin secretion, autoaggregation and membrane morphology. MorC from the most closely related organism (H. influenzae) was functionally identical to MorC from A. actinomycetemcomitans. However, the genes from more distantly related organisms restored some but not all A. actinomycetemcomitans mutant phenotypes. In addition, deletion mutagenesis indicated that the most conserved portion of the protein, the C-terminus DUF490 domain, was necessary to maintain the integrity of the membrane. Deletion of the last 10 amino acids of this domain of the A. actinomycetemcomitans MorC protein was sufficient to disrupt membrane stability and leukotoxin secretion. The data suggest that the MorC sequence is functionally conserved across Gammaproteobacteria and the C-terminus of the protein is essential for maintaining membrane physiology.
Just a minute: incredible numbers at play at the macro and micro level

So much happens in 1 minute, at both the macro level (the Universe) and the micro level (within the human body). ![Figure][1] Figure. Photo by: Earthlore In 1 minute, the Earth, weighing about 5.95 sextillion (1000 trillion) metric tonnes (roughly the equivalent of 1000 million metric
Economics of ground-water quality monitoring: A survey of experts

The cost of a monitoring program can be easily ascertained in terms of the expenditures incurred for such items as personnel, supplies, field visits, instrumentation and laboratory analyses. The benefits of a monitoring program, however, cannot be easily evaluated due to the diversity of objectives for which monitoring programs are initiated and operated. The case study and the results of the follow-up exploratory survey reported in this paper were intended to capture the objective as well as the subjective reasons employed by a group of experts in responding to selected socio-economic questions related to the design of monitoring programs. Ninety-seven individuals, through a formal questionnaire, participated in the survey. They showed definite preferences, although there was some variability in responses due to such factors as residential status, institutional affiliation, education, and the length of professional experience. It was clear that the respondents favored the inclusion of cost-effectiveness criteria in monitoring programs; were ambivalent to the idea of initiating a regulatory program to monitor the wells of a large number of private owners; and if such a program were to be initiated they recommended that individual well owners share the bulk of the financial burden. Preliminary results from such exploratory surveys can lead to the framing of insightful research questions or hypotheses for further evaluation. Confirmatory testing of such questions or hypotheses in real world settings is a valuable area for further research.
The Manumiella seelandica global spike: Cooling during regression at the close of the Maastrichtian

Abstract Manumiella seelandica (Lange 1969) Bujak and Davies 1983, emend. Firth 1987 occurs in great abundance, together with a closely related and possibly conspecific form, Isabelidinium? sp., virtually at the end of the Maastrichtian. The abundance of M. seelandica immediately adjacent the Cretaceous/Paleogene (KPg) boundary, and its global distribution, serve as an excellent biostratigraphic marker for dating it. The abundance spike is widely distributed in both Northern and Southern hemispheres, and ranges from locations as far south as Seymour Island, Antarctica to as far north as West Greenland. The global distribution of the M. seelandica spike in such widely separated areas, and the ease with which it is recognized in closely sampled sections, underscores its value in dating. Until recently, this short-lived event was correlated within an interval of global sea level fall and regression which extended from the latest Maastrichtian into the earliest Danian; that is, that the species became numerically abundant as the shoreline approached. However, based on our study of the boundary interval at Bass River in southern New Jersey USA, we propose that an additional factor may have contributed to its origin. Our investigation of this section shows that there is a prominent abundance spike in the 20 cm (7.8 in.)-interval immediately beneath the boundary, and that this interval correlates precisely with the δ18O isotope evidence of cooling. At Bass River, the last 500 ky of the Maastrichtian was a period of global warmth, as revealed by geochemical evidence. However, based on the geochemical evidence, a mild cooling period began within tens of thousands of years of the close of the Cretaceous Period. Based on this correlation, we present the hypothesis that the cooling event played an important role in producing this global assemblage of dinoflagellates. Study of a large number of fossils in the sample situated 15 cm (5.85 in.) beneath the boundary shows that there is considerable variation in overall form and archeopyle excystment in Manumiella seelandica. The same degree of variation was not observed in the samples with fewer specimens.
Total unilateral renal destruction caused by irradiation for Hodgkin's disease

Total unilateral renal destruction has been observed in a patient who previously received irradiation for Hodgkin's disease. The clinical features, after a six-year asymptomatic interval, included recurrent calculi and infection in what was subsequently demonstrated radiographically to be a nonfunctioning kidney. The gross and microscopic characteristics of the nephrectomy specimen have been described and correlated with the magnitude of irradiation and the clinical course.
Absorption and metabolism of three phthalate diesters by the rat small intestine

The in vitro absorption of three phthalate diesters (dimethyl, di-n-butyl and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalates) and their corresponding monoesters was studied using an everted gut-sac preparation from the rat small intestine. All phthalate monoesters were absorbed in significantly greater quantity than their corresponding diesters. Esterases within the mucosal epithelium actively hydrolysed the phthalate diesters during absorption; 81·2% of the dimethyl, 95·5% of the di-n-butyl and 100% of the di-(2-ethylhexyl) esters were hydrolysed to the monoester. When the esterase activity of the mucosa was reduced by intragastric treatment of the rats with the organophosphate S,S,S-tributylphosphorotrithioate (8 mg/kg body weight), the absorption of di-n-butyl phthalate was significantly reduced. In contrast, the absorption of mono-n-butyl phthalate was unaffected by esterase inhibition. Intestinal esterases may play a key role in the absorption and metabolism of phthalate diesters.
A multiplex microsphere bead assay for comparative RNA expression analysis using flow cytometry

Comparative gene-expression profiling is an important tool in understanding molecular signatures of complex diseases as well as the responses of cells and tissues to external factors. With increasing microarray data, disease-specific molecular patterns are emerging but the acquisition of these data is expensive, difficult to customize and not well standardized. Once genome-wide scans identify differentially expressed genes in a given disease, cheaper, more easily customized methods will be needed for evaluating the expression of these genes in large population samples. Here we describe a novel multiplex microsphere bead assay (MBA) to compare gene expression levels. To test this assay we evaluated the expression levels of four transcripts (BRCA1, MGB1, DLG1 and ACT1) in normal and cancerous mammary tissue. The results were consistent with those generated by quantitative real-time PCR.
The human immunodeficiency virus type 2 vpr gene is essential for productive infection of human macrophages.

Abstract The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) genetic determinant(s) responsible for tropism in human T cells or macrophages are not well defined. We studied the role of the HIV type 2 (HIV-2) nef and vpr genes in viral tropism. HIV-2 mutants, lacking either vpr or nef genes, or both vpr and nef, were obtained by site-specific mutagenesis of a biologically active HIV-2 proviral clone (HIV-2sbl/isy), which is infectious in both human T cells and macrophages. Viral progeny carrying mutations of nef, vpr, or of both nef and vpr genes replicated more efficiently than the parental virus in primary human peripheral blood cells and in the human Hut 78 T-cell line. In contrast, the HIV-2 nef- mutant infected human macrophages as efficiently as the parental virus, whereas viruses lacking the vpr gene either alone or in conjunction with the lack of the nef gene did not replicate in macrophages. Thus, some lack of nef in HIV-2 enhances viral replication in T cells and does not interfere with viral replication in primary macrophages, whereas vpr is essential for replication of HIV-2 in human macrophages. Because the parental HIV-2sbl/isy cloned virus also infects rhesus macaques, the use in animal studies of these HIV-2 mutants with differences in cell tropism and rates of replication will be highly useful in understanding the mechanism of viral infectivity and possibly pathogenicity in vivo.
The revival of classical rhetoric for modern composition studies: A survey

Whatever dates Composition historians suggest as the beginning of modern composition studies whether it's 1949-50 with the founding of the Conference on College Composition and Communication, or 1961 with the publication of Richard Braddock, Richard Lloyd-Jones, and Lowell Schoer's Research in Written Composition, or 1971 with the publication of Janet Emig's The Composing Processes of Twelfth Graders they all agree that the modern study of written communication is at least two decades old, with its gradual emergence occurring over a decade or so. One way of marking the emergence of this new discipline is to look for the rise of what Robert Connors has called "a coherently evolved theory" of composition (Introduction xii). In fact, the journal literature of the 1950s and early 1960s is full of suggestions for a theoretical foundation for the study and teaching of writing. Finding a coherent theory that the field could embrace, however, was problematic.
Detection and measurement of ice thickness using microprocessor-controlled resonant transducers

An ice detection system consisting of a resonant piezoelectric sensing-element and microprocessor control has been developed to automatically and distinctly sense ice and water films up to 0.5 mm thick. Accretion of ice and/or water on the sensor surface modifies the effective mass and/or stiffness of the vibrating transducer; these variations are sensed by measuring the changes in transducer resonant frequency. In case of ice films, resonant frequency of the transducer increases steadily from 14 kHz for a 0.06 mm-thick layer to 28 kHz when the ice film is 0.45 mm thick. In contrast, the transducer resonant frequency decreases slightly from 10 kHz for a 0.06 mm-thick layer of water to 9.5 kHz for a 0.45 mm-thick film. Repeatability experiments revealed test-to-test variations of 3.8% and 0.7% for ice and water films, respectively. A portable, low-power, microprocessor-controlled electronic circuit has been designed and implemented to automate the resonant frequency measurement and determine the thickness of ice/water present on the transducer surface.
Algorithmic nonlinear macromodeling: Challenges, solutions and applications in Analog/Mixed-Signal validation

Analog/Mixed-Signal validation at the system level is becoming increasingly important as more electrical bugs are caused by the interaction among various circuit blocks. While hand-crafted behavioral models and linear models are still most widely used among designers, there is an increasing need for automatic behavioral modeling tools which capture low-level nonlinear behaviors in the circuit. This paper discusses challenges and difficulties of algorithmic nonlinear macromodeling, and reviews a series of recently developed techniques. In particular, we study the behavioral modeling problem from the perspective of projection in the state space defined by voltages and currents. We review a few nonlinear macromodeling techniques from the projection perspective, and demonstrate the model accuracy and computational efficiency compared to transistor-level models and linear models.
Thiophene‐based ionic liquids: synthesis, physical properties, self‐assembly, and oxidative polymerization

Preparation and polymerization of methylimidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs) that incorporate a thiophene moiety at the terminus of a C{sub 10} alkyl chain are described. Both a bromide and nitrate salt of the amphiphilic thiophene IL self-assembles in water (albeit the nitrate to a lesser extent), adopting columnar mesophases. Polarized optical microscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) studies show that at low water content the IL-water binary mixtures form liquid crystalline mesophases possessing significant short-range ordering due to strong {pi} interactions between adjacent thiophene moieties. At higher water content, the short-range ordering is lost, but long-range ordering persists up to ca. 45% (w/w) water. The chemical oxidative coupling of the nitrate monomer yields a highly water-soluble polymer. Electrochemical studies show that the polymer possesses a high oxidation potential (1.95 V) and thus, is resistant to chemical doping. In dilute aqueous solution, electronic absorption spectroscopy and X-ray scattering show the polymer adopts a random, coil-like conformational state. Slight improvement in the polymer conformation can be achieved by exchange of the counter anion.
Early stimulation and maternal care as related to infant capabilities and individual differences

Recent research on the capabilities of newborns and their individual differences is reviewed. Experimental results suggest that the newborn is a great deal. more capable of organized responses than has been assumed and that he is most responsive to stimulus configurations which are inherent in the mother and her care. In the earliest weeks of life, the mother is thus a sufficient source of both affective and cognitive stimulation for the “average expectable” infant. In cases of unavoidable or avoidable deficit in maternal care, compensatory stimulation may be beneficial. The stimulation requirements differ in kind with the premature, the institutional infant, the ghetto child, and the neglected child. For optimal development and to counteract special vulnerabilities, differences in the infants’ innate endowment also differentially affect stimulation requirements. Illustrations are given. For the studies of individual differences to be most useful, they should not only pinpoint special vulnerabilities, but...
Synthesis of Fully Protected Nucleoside- Folic Acid Conjugated Phosphoramidites and Their Incorporation into Antisense Oligonuleotides

Abstract A novel synthesis of the nucleoside-folic acid conjugates has been accomplished. This approach allowed us to synthesize several analogs, which were converted to phosphoramidites and successfully incorporated into therapeutically active antisense oligonucleotides.
"Situational" Interactions - A Worthwhile Concept?

Systematic study of the structure and function of organizations was advanced impressively by the application and elaboration of the concept interaction. Social systems have been described in terms of who interacts with whom, how often they interact, and the extent to which individuals originate or respond in these interactions. In describing industrial and other work organizations, four types of interaction linkages ("sets") are frequently considered as the important components to examine.1 They are the interactions between:
Stress-related alterations of acyl and desacyl ghrelin circulating levels: Mechanisms and functional implications

Ghrelin is the only known peripherally produced and centrally acting peptide hormone that stimulates food intake and digestive functions. Ghrelin circulates as acylated and desacylated forms and recently the acylating enzyme, ghrelin-O-acyltransferase (GOAT) and the de-acylating enzyme, thioesterase 1/lysophospholipase 1 have been identified adding new layers of complexity to the regulation of ghrelin. Stress is known to alter gastrointestinal motility and food intake and was recently shown to modify circulating ghrelin and GOAT levels with differential responses related to the type of stressors including a reduction induced by physical stressors (abdominal surgery and immunological/endotoxin injection, exercise) and elevation by metabolic (cold exposure, acute fasting and caloric restriction) and psychological stressors. However, the pathways underlying the alterations of ghrelin under these various stress conditions are still largely to be defined and may relate to stress-associated autonomic changes. There is evidence that alterations of circulating ghrelin may contribute to the neuroendocrine and behavioral responses along with sustaining the energetic requirement needed upon repeated exposure to stressors. A better understanding of these mechanisms will allow targeting components of ghrelin signaling that may improve food intake and gastric motility alterations induced by stress.
In defence of differentiating pilgrimage from tourism

There has been a recent trend to conclude that it is impossible, or at least unproductive, to differentiate pilgrimage from tourism. We challenge this trend by arguing that pilgrimage can be defined and distinguished from tourism by examining how these words are used literally. We conclude that pilgrimage can be defined as a journey claimed to be undertaken for reasons involving religious sacrifice, and that applying the word pilgrimage to tourism is only an example of the use of metaphor. We describe the advantages of establishing a definition of pilgrimage, and explain how our definition may be improved upon through further testing.
Wnt1 and Wnt5a affect endothelial proliferation and capillary length; Wnt2 does not

Blood vessel growth is critical for embryonic development and contributes to pathologies including cancer and diabetic retinopathy. A growing body of evidence suggests that signaling via the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway contributes to angiogenesis, and that paracrine Wnt signaling might alter endothelial cell function. To test the hypothesis that Wnt signaling promotes endothelial cell proliferation and vessel growth, we treated bovine aortic endothelial cells with Wnt1, Wnt2 and Wnt5a derived from coculture with Wnt-expressing fibroblasts. Endothelial cells cultured in the presence of Wnt1 displayed increased Wnt/beta-catenin signaling, proliferation and capillary stability in vitro. Wnt5a, which primarily signals via an alternate Wnt pathway, the Wnt/Ca(++) pathway, decreased both cell number and capillary length. Wnt2, which in other cell types activates the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway, did not activate signaling, affect cell number or increase capillary length. These results suggest that Wnt/beta-catenin and Wnt/Ca(++) signals might have opposing effects on angiogenesis.
A clinical marker for arterial wall healing: The double line

Purpose : B-mode imaging of a normal arterial wall shows two echo-dense lines separated by an echolucent zone. Immediately after carotid endarterectomy, this double-line pattern is no longer detectable, but it subsequently reappears in some patients. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that the postoperative double line is associated with a lower incidence of carotid restenosis. Methods : Carotid arteries were serially studied with B-mode ultrasound imaging at 2 weeks and 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months after carotid endarterectomy. The wall of the common carotid artery 1 to 2 cm distal to the proximal endarterectomized shelf was analyzed for the presence, quality, and thickness of double lines. All hemodynamically significant stenoses (≥50% diameter reducing) were documented with standard duplex scanning criteria. Results : Twenty-four carotid arteries in 23 patients were studied for a mean of 14.7 months (range, 3 to 24 months). A double line developed in 21 common carotid arteries (87.5%) at a mean time of 3.2 months (range, 0.5 to 9.0 months) after surgery with a mean thickness of 0.65 mm (SD=0.17 mm) at the time of initial detection. A single hemodynamically significant stenosis developed in this group. All three of the remaining arteries that did not form the double-line pattern developed hemodynamically significant stenoses. Carotid restenosis was more likely to occur in arteries that did not form double lines ( p Conclusions : The majority of carotid arteries re-form a double line after endarterectomy. These arteries are less likely to develop restenotic lesions caused by myointimal hyperplasia.
Study on the SSO damping characteristic and damping control of Mongolia-China HVDC transmission system

The interaction exists between the China-Mongolia High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) converters and turbine-generators at the coal-electricity base, and negative electrical damping provided by HVDC may cause subsynchronous oscillation(SSO). This paper studies on the SSO damping controller (SSDC) principle, SSDC input signal select, SSDC broadband design and narrowband design approach, etc. The SSO characteristics and damping control ability of the various turbine-generators and power output, etc. are researched.
Silent pituitary apoplexy: Subclinical infarction of an adrenocorticotropin-producing pituitary adenoma

A young woman developed intermittent headaches and progressive hyperpigmentation after bilateral adrenalectomy for Cushing's disease. Results of sellar polytomography were abnormal. Her plasma ACTH levels increased to 4750-7340 pg/ml and did not rise with insulin-induced hypoglycemia. Although she experienced no clinical features associated with spontaneous infarction of a pituitary tumor, plasma ACTH levels fell to 474-575 pg/ml, and hemorrhagic necrosis was found in a 5-mm chromophobe adenoma at transsphenoidal surgery. Postoperatively, ACTH levels returned to normal (51-88 pg/ml), with the rest of her anterior pituitary function remaining intact 4 yr later. Spontaneous infarction of pituitary microadenomas may be subclinical, resulting in improvement of pituitary hormone hypersecretion without impairment of other anterior pituitary hormone secretion.
Regulation and Secretion of Proopiomelanocortin Peptides from Isolated Perifused Dog Pituitary Pars Intermedia Cells

The dog pituitary pars intermedia (PI) appears to consist of relative large numbers of ACTH-containing cells in addition to the more abundant αMSH-containing cells. Since regulation of PI secretion probably varies across mammalian species, this study was undertaken to identify substances potentially involved in the control of dog PI POMC peptide secretion and to determine if these substances altered the secretion of immunoreactive (IR) ACTH and IR-αMSH in a parallel fashion. Pituitary neurointermediate lobes from dogs were collected and dispersed, and the PI cells obtained were perifused. For comparison, rat PI and pars distalis (PD) cells as well as dog PD cells were similarly collected and perifused. Dog PI cells secreted IRαMSH at a basal rate of 125 ± 59 (mean ± SD) pg/min · 105 cells and IR-ACTH at a rate of 40 ± 9 pg/min · 105 cells (molar IRαMSH/IR-ACTH = 10). In contrast, secretion rates for IRαMSH and IR-ACTH from perifused rat PI cells were 171 ± 108 and 3 ± 2 pg/min · 105 cells, respectively (m...
Operating procedure synthesis using local models and distributed goals

Abstract A strategy is proposed for the systematic synthesis of operating procedures for chemical processing systems which is based on modified means-ends analysis and planning with constraints. Planning issues arising from the use of distributed operating goals are addressed. A modelling method is presented which combines local causal models for identifying unit manipulations with numerical models to verify effects of process manipulations and to determine feasibility. The implementation of this strategy is illustrated with the planning of startup operations for a heat exchange network.
Quality function deployment for the good of soccer

Abstract This article presents a model for prioritizing and designing rule changes for the game of soccer in order to make it more attractive to soccer enthusiasts. The model, which is loosely based on quality function deployment (QFD), incorporates market segments, sports enthusiast interests, soccer activities, and rules of the game as rows and columns of interconnected QFD matrices. In addition, analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is used to determine the intensity of the relationship between the row and column variables of each matrix, while analytic network process (ANP) is used to determine the intensity of synergy effects among column variables. Finally, a trend extrapolation forecasting technique is used to suggest rule change specifications. The model fine-tunes and adds precision to the otherwise ad hoc process concerning the improvement of the game of soccer, and can provide insight about improvements in other professional sports.
The New Corporate Environmentalism and The Ecology of Commerce

This article identifies Paul Hawken’s The Ecology of Commerce (TEoC) as a foundational work for scholars interested in the greening of business, sustainable enterprise, and environmental policy. TEoC was published in the early 1990s and was instrumental in launching and amplifying a social movement we refer to as the New Corporate Environmentalism (NCE). It also influenced research on organizations and the natural environment, which today is a vibrant field addressing major themes in business strategy, organizational change and development, organizational sociology, and other timely areas of study. In addition, TEoC provokes thinking about one of the most debated environmental questions of our time: How far can we go with green capitalism? Hawken sets his sights on ending industrialism as we know it and on developing a restorative economy based on technological innovation, sweeping structural reform, and radical process redesign. Although TEoC is replete with reverence for nature, in concert with other sy...
Insect abundance and colonization rate in Fontinalis neo-mexicana (Bryophyta) in an Idaho Batholith stream, U.S.A.

Insect colonization rate and abundance in the aquatic moss, Fontinalis neo-mexicana were examined in the South Fork Salmon River, Idaho, June 1978–August 1979 to determine the importance of moss as a habitat for insects. The insect communities in moss as well as in the underlying and adjacent mineral substrates were examined. Insects were sampled with a nylon organdy net in moss and with a Hess bottom sampler in mineral substrate.
Settlement of Spiny Lobster, Panulirus Argus (Latreille, 1804), in Florida: Pattern Without Predictability?

We used plankton nets, floating postlarval collectors, and arrays of benthic settling devices, along with diver surveys of juvenile lobster abundance and nursery habitat structure, to estimate the spatial pattern of settlement, abundance of settlers, and characteristics of postsettlement juvenile Panulirus argus populations in Florida Bay, the primary nursery for spiny lobsters in Florida. Within a 200 km 2 region of Florida Bay, settlement was patchy and locally unpredictable, although settlement occurred at most sites each lunar phase. However, the number of postlarvac entering inlets to the bay was significantly correlated with regional settlement, and areas with abundant red macroalgae (settlement substrate) and numerous sponges (benthic juvenile shelter) were the most productive sites, even though settlement within them varied widely during lunar influxes. Floating collector catches accurately estimated the number of postlarvae in the water column at inlets, but results from collectors deployed in the bay did not correlate with the number of postlarvae settling on benthic collectors nearby. Estimates of postsettlement mortality in the field yield a natural mortality of about 97% in the year following settlement.
Inactivation of a putative flagellar motor switch protein FliG1 prevents Borrelia burgdorferi from swimming in highly viscous media and blocks its infectivity

The flagellar motor switch complex protein FliG plays an essential role in flagella biosynthesis and motility. In most motile bacteria, only one fliG homologue is present in the genome. However, several spirochete species have two putative fliG genes (referred to as fliG1 and fliG2) and their roles in flagella assembly and motility remain unknown. In this report, the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi was used as a genetic model to investigate the roles of these two fliG homologues. It was found that fliG2 encodes a typical motor switch complex protein that is required for the flagellation and motility of B. burgdorferi. In contrast, the function of fliG1 is quite unique. Disruption of fliG1 did not affect flagellation and the mutant was still motile but failed to translate in highly viscous media. GFP-fusion and motion tracking analyses revealed that FliG1 asymmetrically locates at one end of cells and the loss of fliG1 somehow impacted one bundle of flagella rotation. In addition, animal studies demonstrated that the fliG1- mutant was quickly cleared after inoculation into the murine host, which highlights the importance of the ability to swim in highly viscous media in the infectivity of B. burgdorferi and probably other pathogenic spirochetes.
Ship motion measurement filter design

A procedure is presented for designing Kalman filters to measure linear and angular ship motion parameters using realistic models of the ship motion dynamics. The design is based on the state space modeling of ship motion dynamics. The designed filters exhibited significant accuracy improvement (order of magnitude) over filters which do not model ship dynamics. The sensitivity of the filter mechanization to mismodeling of dynamics is investigated. Bounding filter design techniques are used to minimize the effects of mismodeling. The particular measurement system investigated consisted of linear and angular accelerometers in a strapdown mode. The design techniques are also applicable to inertial instruments in a stable inertial platform mode.
The Slow Sea Surface Temperature Mode and the Fast-Wave Limit: Analytic Theory for Tropical Interannual Oscillations and Experiments in a Hybrid Coupled Model

Abstract A modified shallow water model with simplified mixed layer dynamics and a sea surface temperature (SST) equation is employed to gain a theoretical understanding of the modes and mechanisms of coupled air-sea interaction in the tropics. Approximations suggested by a scaling analysis are used to obtain analytic results for the eigenmodes of the system. A slow time scale, unstable eigenmode associated with the time derivative of the SST equation is suggested to be important in giving rise to interannual oscillations. This slow SST mode is not necessarily linked to conventional equatorial oceanic wave modes. A useful limit of this mode is explored in which the wave speed of uncoupled oceanic wave modes is fast compared to the time scales that arise from the coupling. This is referred to as the fast-wave limit. The dispersion relationship in this limit is used to present a number of coupled feedback mechanisms, which contribute simultaneously to the instability of the SST mode. It is suggested that in...
Spectroscopic study of the effect of laser heating on collagen stability: implications for tissue welding

Collagen is believed to play a major role in laser tissue welding. Furthermore, the fundamental fusion mechanism(s) may include thermal denaturation of the collagen fibers. An in vitro investigation of the effect of laser heating (1.9 micrometer diode laser) on collagen conformation was performed. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra of native and heated porcine cornea were obtained. A low-frequency shift in the amide A band of collagen around 3320 cm-1 indicated that conformational changes associated with denaturation occurred. Samples heated using a temperature feedback controlled 1.9 micrometer diode laser showed a gradual decrease in the amide A peak frequency with increasing temperature, as did samples heated in a water bath. Complete denaturation was achieved at temperatures above 85 degrees Celsius for both heating protocols. Water loss induced by laser heating may have reduced the mobility of the collagen polypeptide chains, and contributed to the elevated denaturation temperature.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
HIV-1 selectively exploits cross-reactive CTL “help” to promote dysfunctional programming of pro-inflammatory dendritic cells

Background The ability of HIV-1 to rapidly accumulate mutations provides the virus with an effective means of escaping CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses. Here we describe how subtle alterations in CTL epitopes expressed by naturally occurring HIV-1 variants can result in an incomplete escape from pre-existing CTL recognition to create a pro-inflammatory environment, providing the virus with a selective advantage.
Inner-City Reinvestment: Neighborhood Characteristics and Spatial Patterns Over Time:

Renovation activity within 68 census tracts comprising old New Orleans, Louisiana, neighborhoods, as measured by real estate transfer (sales) rates, were estimated from a series of social, demographic, housing and locational characteristics of the tracts. The physical remnants of the nineteenth-century city - as measured by architectural design, age of housing and to some extent location of earlier wealthy neighborhoods - were more predictive of the popularity of an area for renovation than were the current social characteristics of the tracts as reflected in their racial composition, lack of poverty and age structure characteristics. It is concluded that while gentrification supports the belief from ecological theory that the wealthy may find many 'niches' within the urban area to be optimal residential locations, especially if the structures are considered very architecturally desirable, the renovation movement has brought into question earlier assumptions about the importance to middle-income home buye...
Approximate line shapes for hydrogen

Two independent methods are presented for calculating radiative transport within hydrogen lines. In Method 1, a simple equation is proposed for calculating the line shape. In Method 2, the line shape is assumed to be a dispersion profile and an equation is presented for calculating the half half-width. The results obtained for the line shapes and curves of growth by the two approximate methods are compared with similar results using the detailed line shapes by Vidal et al.
Using discourse predictions for ambiguity resolution

In this paper we discuss how we apply discourse predictions along with non context-based predictions to the problem of parse disambiguation in Enthusiast, a Spanish-to-English translation system (Woszcyna et al., 1993; Suhm et al., 1994; Levin et al., 1995). We discuss extensions to our plan-based discourse processor in order to make this possible. We evaluate those extensions and demonstrate the advantage of exploiting context-based predictions over a purely non context-based approach.
Is ezetimibe/simvastatin no better than simvastatin alone? Lessons learned and clinical implications.

The impact of the ENHANCE trial reveals more about the political climate than it does about the effects of ezetimibe on the progression of atherosclerosis.
Adult onset juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

The term “juvenile rheumatoid arthritis” (JRA) is used to designate a chronic polyarthritic process of onset in childhood. Discussion of the possibility of an adult form of JRA is revived. Fifteen patients who are believed to have JRA are described briefly; they are notable for the fact that their disease began after age 16.
A Descriptive Study of the Creative and Social Behavior of Four Highly Original Young Children

ABSTRACT The paper reports findings of a study describing and analyzing the creative and social behavior of four highly original children in the context of 1 year's preschool experience. Videotape, interview, participant observation, and artifact data were collected to construct the descriptions. The study attempted to answer the following questions: (1) Do young children identified as highly original by the "Starkweather Originality Test" also demonstrate originality in play and products? (2) Are common patterns of play choice demonstrated by highly original children? (3) Were there similar identifiable creative characteristics among the four children? (4) Were there characteristics of social competence evident among the children? (5) What strategies did each child use to satisfy social goals? (6) Were there common patterns of peer social behavior among the children? Each of the children is described in terms of demographic characteristics, creative characteristics, and social characteristics. Conclusions indicate that all four children had high levels of inner imagination, that each of them had a speciality area for creative expression, and that all four children were independent, persistent, fluent with ideas, and expressively elaborate. Socially, all four had different levels of social competence and used different patterns of social behavior. (DB)