cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Selected Interventions in Nuclear Medicine : Gastrointestinal Motor Functions

The measurement of gastrointestinal functions by the use of scintigraphy is established in clinical practice and research. The most commonly used test is the gastric-emptying test, which is acknowledged as the gold standard to measure gastric motility and is conducted according to a consensus statement from the national nuclear medicine and motility societies. Other techniques are somewhat more esoteric (eg, measurement of gastric accommodation with single-photon emission computed tomography) or the scintigraphic approach is not the acknowledged gold standard (eg, colonic transit, rectoanal angle, and emptying, esophageal transit). The performance characteristics of many of the scintigraphic measurements have been published and the pros and cons established in the literature. Pharmacologic interventions may also be used during scintigraphy to aid in diagnosis and treatment. Gastrointestinal scintigraphy is an integral and important component of the assessment of gastrointestinal function.
Caching queues in memory buffers

Motivated by the need for maintaining multiple, large queues of data in modern high-performance systems, we study the problem of caching queues in memory under the following simple, but widely applicable, model. At each clock-tick, any number of data items may enter the various queues, while data-items are consumed from the heads of the queues. Since the number of unconsumed items may exceed memory buffer size, some items in the queues need to be spilled to secondary storage and later moved back into memory for consumption. We provide online queue-caching algorithms under a number of interesting cost models.
Addition of Ammonia and Urea Plus Molasses to High Moisture Snapped Ear Corn at Ensiling

Abstract An experiment determined effects of N additions at ensiling on snapped ear corn. Snapped ear corn containing moisture of 36.7, 30.3, and 24.9% was ensiled with no N addition (control), ammonia hydroxide, or a commercial urea plus molasses product. Nitrogen was added to attain 13% CP, dry basis. Ground snapped ear corn (2.5kg) was ensiled in plastic bags and monitored throughout a 28-d period. Increasing moisture contents decreased pH during the 28-d fermentation. Control and ammonium hydroxide-treated snapped ear corn declined in pH whereas urea plus molasses-treated snapped ear corn increased in pH. Ammonium hydroxide promoted highest production of lactic acid in snapped ear corn of 36.7% moisture. Acetic and propionic acid production was highest in the urea plus molasses-treated snapped ear corn across all three moistures. Urea plus molasses addition promoted the highest butyric acid production in the snapped ear corn with added N. Addition of either urea plus molasses or ammonium hydroxide resulted in less precipitable N after 28 d of fermentation than control. Increasing moisture decreased precipitable N at 28 d in all treatments.
Chemical and probabilistic modelling of complex reactions: A lignin depolymerization example

Abstract A new approach to the analysis of complex reaction systems in terms of model compound information is described using lignin depolymerization as a specific example. Model compound reaction pathways and kinetics were incorporated into a Monte Carlo-based mathematical model of lignin depolymerization. The flexibility of this stochastic modelling approach allowed for the accounting of fundamental differences between model compounds and the moieties within the real systems they are meant to mimic. Moreover, the model is truly a priori since its parameters are deduced from model compound experiments and contain no information from experiments with actual lignins
Mutations in subunit C of the vacuolar ATPase confer resistance to bafilomycin and identify a conserved antibiotic binding site

Bafilomycin A1, a potent inhibitor of vacuolar H(+)-ATPases (V-ATPase), inhibited growth of Neurospora crassa in medium adjusted to alkaline pH. Ninety-eight mutant strains were selected for growth on medium (pH 7.2) containing 0.3 or 1.0 microm bafilomycin. Three criteria suggested that 11 mutant strains were altered in the V-ATPase: 1) these strains accumulated high amounts of arginine when grown at pH 5.8 in the presence of bafilomycin, 2) the mutation mapped to the locus of vma-3, which encodes the proteolipid subunit c of the V-ATPase, and 3) V-ATPase activity in purified vacuolar membranes was resistant to bafilomycin. Sequencing of the genomic DNA encoding vma-3 identified the following mutations: T32I (two strains), F136L (two strains), Y143H (two strains), and Y143N (five strains). Characterization of V-ATPase activity in the four kinds of mutant strains showed that the enzyme was resistant to bafilomycin in vitro, with half-maximal inhibition obtained at 80-400 nm compared with 6.3 nm for the wild-type enzyme. Surprisingly, the mutant enzymes showed only weak resistance to concanamycin. Interestingly, the positions of two mutations corresponded to positions of oligomycin-resistant mutations in the c subunit of F(1)F(0)-ATP synthases (F-ATPases), suggesting that bafilomycin and oligomycin utilize a similar binding site and mechanism of inhibition in the related F- and V-ATPases.
Anticoccidial Activity of Narasin in Broiler Chickens Reared in Floor Pens

Abstract The anticoccidial activity of the ionophore narasin was tested in 3 floor-pen experiments. Narasin was tested at levels of 40, 60, 80, 100, or 120 ppm and compared against feeding ration containing 80, 100, or 121 ppm monensin or no medication. Feeding at all levels of narasin significantly prevented coccidiosis-induced mortality and improved weight gains and feed conversion ratios compared with the same parameters in groups given unmedicated feed. Protection with narasin was equal to or slightly greater than the protection obtained with monensin. The reduction in intestinal lesion scores was greater with narasin medication than with monensin. Analysis of pooled data from these trials indicated that a level between 48 and 96 ppm narasin would provide the optimum, depending on whether maximum weight gain or optimum feed conversion ratio was desired. Testing for coccidial immunity using the immunity challenge technique indicated that, based on the parameters of weight gain and lesion scores, even levels as low as 40 ppm narasin had enough efficacy to significantly reduce the amount of immunity which developed in medicated birds compared with the level of immunity developed in birds receiving unmedicated feed.
HTR Centennial Celebration: Words of Welcome

Good morning and welcome to all of you who have gathered on this extremely proud day for Harvard Divinity School to mark the centennial celebration of the HTR, the Harvard Theological Review .
Color constellations in the Seattle cityscape

Characteristics of color constellations observed in the Seattle cityscape were as follows: (1) The higher the chroma of hues within the color constellation the more distinct it became. These colors advanced and often appeared to float in a plane independent of the objects of which they were a part. Chroma was the most important characteristic in these constellations. (2) Hue variations within constellations were two steps on the NCS Index (i.e. Y70R to Y90R), and nuance variations were 10% or less (i.e. S1080 to S2070). (3) Color elements in a constellation were usually seen as fragments of buildings, structures, and objects in which their three-dimensional shapes we not as obvious. (4) Size and shape were similar in most color constellations observed.. (5) Color constellations in chroma below c=50 were observed where distance, light, and/or atmospheric conditions obscured edges and the visual field appeared two- dimensional. This was consistent with Swirnoff's findings in model studies where color was the dominant factor in organization only to the monocular observer. (6) Color elements in a color constellation below c equals 50 occurred where background contrast was minimal. (7) Three or more color elements were necessary for the formation of a constellation.
Sensitivity Resonance and Attractor Morphing Quantified by Sensitivity Vector Fields for Parameter Reconstruction

A novel method of parameter variation reconstruction for systems exhibiting chaotic dynamics is presented. The algorithm reconstructs variations of system parameters without the need for explicit system equations of motion, or knowledge of the nominal parameter values. The concept of a sensitivity vector field (SVF) is developed. This construct captures geometrical deformations to the dynamical attractor of the system in state space. These fields are collected by means of a proposed unique approach referred to as point cloud averaging (PCA). PCA is applied to discrete time series data from the system with nominal parameter values (healthy) and the system with changed parameters. Test variations are reconstructed from an optimal basis of SVF snapshots which is generated by means of proper orthogonal decomposition. The method is applied to two system models, a magneto-elastic oscillator (MEO) and an atomic force microscope (AFM). The method is shown to be highly accurate, and capable of identifying multiple simultaneous variations. The success of the method as applied to an AFM and a MEO indicates a potential for highly accurate readings by exploiting the geometric features of observed chaotic vibrations. An exciting new phenomenon referred to as sensitivity resonance was also observed, and some implications regarding its use in further improving algorithm performance are discussed.
Tuberculosis in the workplace: OSHA's compliance experience.

Objective Inspections of 272 facilities were performed between May 1992 and October 1994 to determine compliance with applicable Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements for prevention of tuberculosis (TB) transmission. Design Retrospective record review of two data sources: (1) OSHA's Computerized Integrated Management Information System and (2) an inspector-completed questionnaire on inspection results. Setting/participants Inspections of five types of facilities: healthcare institutions, correctional facilities, homeless shelters, long-term-care facilities for the elderly, and others, including drug treatment centers that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identified as having a higher than expected rate of TB. Methods The OSHA Compliance Memorandum, based on the 1990 CDC Guidelines, which outlined elements of a TB prevention program, was used in performing 272 inspections of facilities between May 1992 and October 1994. Elements of compliance were recorded and reviewed from the IMIS database and inspectors' questionnaires. Results Regulated facilities were not fully compliant with OSHA guidance. Generally, healthcare facilities performed better than other facilities. Most facilities (79%) were compliant with administrative elements of a comprehensive TB control program, such as early identification of known or suspected infectious TB patients and skin testing of workers. Only 29% of inspected facilities were found to have acceptable respiratory protection programs for the prevention of occupational TB. Conclusion Facilities have not been fully compliant with the OSHA memorandum describing protection of workers from TB. Facility compliance was better with some traditionally recognized TB infection control elements, but was weaker in the area of respiratory protection programs. This may reflect a lack of familiarity with the latter type of hazard protection.
Modelling 3D rigid-body object motion and structure estimation with HRR/GMTI measurements

When traditional single-point target tracking algorithms are directly applied to multiple-point rigid targets, filter divergence and data association problems occur. By introducing the concepts of global motion, local motion and structure parameters, and employing motion-induced invariants on local motion and structure parameters, we have developed several kinematic and measurement models to simultaneously estimate the motion and structure information of a 3D rigid-body target from high range resolution (HRR) and ground moving target indicator (GMTI) measurements. To test the ability of the proposed modelling methods in handling false alarms, occlusions and HRR measurements without correspondence information, several data association approaches are also proposed, that is permutation, combination-permutation, dummy measurements, and dynamically changing the interested number of scattering centres. Simulation results have shown that the proposed modelling methods can successfully estimate both the motion and structure information of an object by using HRR and GMTI measurements with a proper data association method.
Postoperative complications following tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy—who is at risk?☆

Abstract Postoperative complications following a large series of adenotonsillectomies (784 patients) at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia fell into two major categories: hemorrhage and airway problems. Bleeding requiring operative intervention occurred in one child in the immediate postoperative period and in 16 children (2.0%) within 7–10 days. Eight patients (1.0%) had minor bleeding requiring only observation, and 9 others (1.2%) reported mild bleeding at home. Airway obstruction requiring the reinsertion of an airway or intensive care observation occurred in 10 children (1.3%). In general, these children were younger and most had significant underlying medical problems. We conclude that many complications encountered after adenotonsillar surgery are intrinsic to the patient's disease and overall medical condition. Improved surgical and anesthetic techniques have minimized the complications noted in earlier studies.
Substrate-specific modulation of Src-mediated phosphorylation of Ras and caseins by sphingosines and other substrate modulators

Abstract It is important for the understanding of protein kinase action to differentiate between regulation at the enzyme and at the substrate levels. For example, the inhibitors dinitrophenol-tyrosine and tyrphostins acta at the enzyme level to inhibit phosphorylation of all substrates by c- Src and v- Src kinases. In contrast, polylysine acts at the substrte level to stimulate Src -mediated phosphorylation of β-casein but to inhibit phosphorylation of α-casein. Here we demonstrate novel enzyme-specific and substrate-specific modulation of Src kinase activity of potential physiological significance. At the enzyme level, we observed that c- Src kinase prefentially phosphorylates α-casein, while the v- Src kinase prefers β-casein. At the substrate level we observed substrate-specific modulation by physiological factors including sphingosine, sphingosine derivatives and the ganglioside GM 3 . Galactosyl-sphingosine (psychosine) was more effective in stimulating phosphorylation of β-casein and poly(E 1 A 1 Y 1 ) than sphingosine. Glucosyl- and lactosyl-sphingosine were oineffective. Rat was extensively phosphorylated by c Src in the presence of polylsyine, and to a lesser extent in the sphingosine and galactosyl-sphingosine. These unexpected differences point out another potential mechanism for regulation of c Src and v- Src kinase activities and may help to explain some of the pleotypic manifestations of protein tyrosine kinase actions.
Population growth of Varroa jacobsoni Oud in Mediterranean climates of California

In April and October mite-free honey-bee colonies were artificially infested with 50 individuals of Varroa jacobsoni each and treated with the pesticide Apistan® after a period of 24 weeks. Population growth was studied in 24 colonies from April to October and in 6 colonies from October to April. The proportion of Varroa jacobsoni that invaded the test colonies after the initial inoculation was monitored in colonies that were constantly treated with Apistan®. Conservative calculations suggested that the initial mite population in a honey-bee colony increases on average about 300-fold during 1 year in central California. This result excludes the contribution of additional mites that invaded the colonies. The result of the present study demonstrates the high virulence of Varroa jacobsoni in California, where beekeepers are forced to treat infested colonies twice a year
The evolution of ischemic spinal cord injury in function, cytoarchitecture, and inflammation and the effects of adenosine A2A receptor activation

Objective Spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury involves multiple factors that may be modulated by adenosine A 2A receptor activation. This study defines injury progression in terms of function, cytoarchitecture, and inflammation and assesses whether adenosine A 2A receptor activation by ATL-146e limits injury progression. Methods Mature swine were divided into 3 groups: sham thoracotomy, IR (30 minutes of ischemia followed by reperfusion), and ATL (ischemia/reperfusion with ATL-146e administration for the first 3 hours of reperfusion). Subgroups were killed at 0, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours after reperfusion. Function was followed up with Tarlov scores. Spinal cord tissue was evaluated for neuronal viability, microtubule-associated protein–2 immunohistochemistry, and neutrophil sequestration (myeloperoxidase assay). Spinal cord tissue, cerebrospinal fluid, and serum were evaluated for tumor necrosis factor-α by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results Function was significantly impaired at 24, 36, and 48 hours in the IR group compared with the sham and ATL groups ( P P P Conclusions Spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion induced changes in neutrophil sequestration, microtubule-associated protein–2 expression, and neuronal viability within 24 hours of reperfusion. Spinal cord tumor necrosis factor-α increased significantly by 6 to 12 hours after reperfusion. Adenosine A 2A receptor activation attenuates spinal cord inflammation, which may be critical for the preservation of neuronal function and cytoarchitecture after ischemia/reperfusion.
Clinically Relevant Concentrations Of Di (2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate (dehp) Uncouple Cardiac Syncytium

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a widely used plasticizer found in a variety of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) medical products. The results of studies in experimental animals suggest that DEHP leached from flexible PVC tubing may cause health problems in some patient populations. While the cancerogenic and reproductive effects of DEHP are well recognized, little is known about the potential adverse impact of phthalates on the heart. This study used preparations of confluent, synchronously beating cultures of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes to examine possible adverse effects of clinically relevant concentration of DEHP on cardiac tissue. Seventy two hour-long exposure to 50 μg/ml DEHP led to a marked decrease in conduction velocity and asynchronous cell beating in DEHP-treated samples but not in time-matched controls. The mechanism behind DEHP-induced changes was a loss of junctional connexin-43, documented using western blot analysis, dye-transfer assay and immunofluorescence. Use of organelle-specific connexin-43 antibodies, IF1 and CT1, allowed for further analysis of changes in intracellular distribution of connexin-43. In DEHP-treated samples the amount of gap-junctional connexin-43 (IF1-sensitive) was significantly decreased as compared to the controls. In contrast, Golgi and perinuclear (CT1-sensitive) staining was more pronounced. The data suggests that DEHP modifies connexin-43 trafficking and protein assembly into functional gap junctions, which impairs the electrical behavior of a cardiac cell network. Applicability of these findings to human patients remains to be established.
Acridine Yellow G Blocks Glioblastoma Growth via Dual Inhibition of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor and Protein Kinase C Kinases

Amplification of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), frequently expressed as a constitutively active deletion mutant (EGFRvIII), occurs commonly in glioblastoma multiformes (GBM). However, blockade of EGFR is therapeutically disappointing for gliomas with PTEN deletion. To search for small molecules treating this aggressive cancer, we have established a cell-based screening and successfully identified acridine yellow G that preferentially blocks cell proliferation of the most malignant U87MG/EGFRvIII cells over the less malignant U87MG/PTEN cells. Oral administration of this compound markedly diminishes the brain tumor volumes in both subcutaneous and intracranial models. It directly inhibits EGFR and PKCs with IC50 values of ∼7.5 and 5 μm, respectively. It dually inhibits EGFR and PKCs, resulting in a blockade of mammalian target of rapamycin signaling and cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase, which leads to activation of apoptosis in the tumors. Hence, combinatorial inhibition of EGFR and PKCs might provide proof of concept in developing therapeutic agents for treating malignant glioma and other human cancers.
Polynomial isomorphisms of combinatorial objects

LetB andB? be any isomorphic cyclic combinatorial objects such as graphs, digraphs, designs, or simplicial complexes. It is shown that if there are certain polynomials of degreen in the automorphism group ofB and some other technical conditions are satisfied thenB andB? are isomorphic by a polynomial of degreen + 1. The technical conditions involve the order of the automorphism group ofB.
Modeling the performance of rechargeable lithium-based cells: design correlations for limiting cases

We use simplified models based on porous-electrode theory to describe the discharge of rechargeable lithium batteries and derive analytic expressions for the cell potential, specific energy, and average power in terms of the relevant system parameters. The resulting theoretical expressions are useful for design and optimization purposes and also can be used as a tool for the identification of system limitations from experimental data. The system treated is an ohmically-limited cell with no concentration gradients having an insertion reaction whose open-circuit potential depends linearly on state-of-charge. Although the slope of the open-circuit potential controls the reaction distribution in the porous electrode, we find that the cell potential is independent of this slope. The results are applied to a cell of the form Li|polymer|LiyMn2O4 in order to illustrate their utility.
Density and age-specific mortality

Age-specific mortality rates decelerate at older ages in laboratory populations in the Medfly Ceratitis capitata. This has been interpreted by Carey et al. (1992) to reflect a slowing of the aging process, but might also be explained by declining adult density. Here it is argued that the density explanation, as presented by Graves and Mueller (1993), is unpersuasive for several reasons: extrapolations from Drosophila to Medflies are unjustified; the range of densities they studied is 2-120 times higher than that used in other studies; they ignore data on Medflies held in isolation, which rule out density effects; their own data suggest that initial cohort density has no effect on mortality rates at older ages, which is the relevant part of the life cycle; their experiment is too small to provide accurate estimates of mortality; new Medfly experiments executed at multiple densities show decelerating and then declining mortality rates at advanced ages for all densities. When Drosophila survivorship experiments are done on a sufficiently large scale they also show a deceleration of mortality at older ages that is not attributable to density effects. The deceleration of mortality rates is most likely a real facet of aging, and will have to be taken into consideration in any synthesis of the genetics and evolution of aging.
The Progressive Agent of Mischief: The Whiskey Ration and Temperance in the United States Army

(2005). The Progressive Agent of Mischief: The Whiskey Ration and Temperance in the United States Army. The Historian: Vol. 67, No. 2, pp. 199-216.
Do microbial processes regulate the stability of a coral atoll's enclosed pelagic ecosystem?

Abstract Complex marine ecosystems contain multiple feedback cycles that can cause unexpected responses to perturbations. To better predict these responses, complicated models are increasingly being developed to enable the study of feedback cycles. However, the sparseness of ecological data often limits the direct empirical parameterization of all model parameters. Here we use a Bayesian inverse analysis approach to synthesize empirical data and ecological theory derived from published studies of a coral atoll's enclosed pelagic ecosystem (Takapoto Atoll, French Polynesia). We then use the estimates of flux magnitudes to parameterize probabilistic compartment models with two forms of heterotrophic consumption: (1) “bottom-up” donor-controlled heterotrophic consumption and (2) “top-down” mass-action heterotrophic consumption. We explore how the flux magnitudes affect the ecosystem's stability properties of resilience, reactivity, and resistance under both assumptions for heterotrophic consumption. The models suggest that the microbial uptake of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) regulates the long term rate of return to steady state following a temporary or pulse perturbation (resilience), and the cycling of carbon between abiotic pools and heterotrophic compartments regulates the short-term response (reactivity). In the bottom-up process model, the sensitivity of steady state masses following a sustained or press perturbation (resistance) is highest for the DOC pool following a sustained change to the microbial uptake rate of DOC. Further, a change in the microbial uptake of DOC propagates through the ecosystem and affects the steady state values of zooplankton. The analysis suggests that the food web is highly dependent on the recycling between the abiotic and biotic carbon pools, particularly as mediated by the microbial consumption of DOC, and this recycling determines how the ecosystem responds to perturbations.
Electron microscopy of Pityrosporum canis "pachydermatis".

Summary: An ultrastructural study of P. canis recently isolated from canine otitis externa showed that the cell wall is comprised of three distinct strata that stain differently with 5 % aqueous uranyl acetate and Reynold's lead citrate. The cell wall observed was much thicker than that of P. orbiculare and other yeasts. The indentation of the innermost layer is more distinctive, strongly developed and seemed to be characteristic of the genus. The nucleus possesses a nucleolus that is heavily granular and centrally located. The pattern of the asexual spore formation “budding process” is fully described and shown to differ completely from the other yeasts of family cryptococcaceae. Zusammenfassung: Eine ultrastrukturelle Untersuchung von P. canis, das kurzlich von einer Otitis externa bei einem Hund isoliert wurde, zeigte, das die Zellwand aus 3 deutlich abgrenzbaren Schichten besteht, die sich untersdiiedlich mit 5%iger Uranyl-acetat-Losung und mit Reynolds Bleizitratlosung farben. Die beobachtete Zellwand war wesentlich dicker als die von P. orbiculare und anderen Hefen. Indentationen der innersten Schicht sind deutlicher, stark ausgepragt und scheinen fur diese Gattung besonders charakteristisch zu sein. Der Zellkern besitzt einen Nucleolus, der stark granuliert und zentral lokalisiert ist. Der Ablauf der asexuellen Sporenbildung als Sprossungsprozes wird beschrieben. Es wird gezeigt, das dieser Prozes sich vollstandig von ahnlichen Prozessen anderer Hefen der Familie Cryptococcaceae unterscheidet.
Fuzzy set ordination along an elevation gradient on a mountain in Vermont, USA

Fuzzy set ordination was used to examine relationships between tree species and site factors on Mt. Ascutney, Vermont, USA. Prism plots were estab- lished at four elevations (455, 610, 760 and 915 m) along contour lines that encircled the mountain. In addi- tion to elevation, which was the most important factor affecting tree species composition, slope, aspect and exposure to solar radiation all affected composition; however, these latter three factors were important only at 455 m. Topographic position was important at higher elevations as well. The responses of tree species to any of these factors were highly individualistic. Plots of the upper bounds of relative basal area of each species against the apparent elevation of sites where that species was found were useful in predicting how important an individual species could become over the course of forest succession. For example, northern hardwoods, which comprise the most common forest type of this region, are not very common on this mountain. This approach shows, however, that they are currently at levels well below their potential maximum; this is prob- ably due to past disturbance.
AN FGF RECEPTOR SIGNALING PATHWAY IS REQUIRED FOR THE NORMAL CELL MIGRATIONS OF THE SEX MYOBLASTS IN C. ELEGANS HERMAPHRODITES

The sex myoblasts (SMs) in C. elegans hermaphrodites undergo anteriorly directed cell migrations that allow for the proper localization of the egg-laying muscles. These migrations are controlled in part by a signal emanating from gonadal cells that allows the SMs to be attracted to their precise final positions flanking the center of the gonad. Mutations in egl-15 alter the nature of the interaction between the gonad and the SMs, resulting in the posterior displacement of the SMs. Here we show that egl-15 encodes a receptor tyrosine kinase of the fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) subfamily with multiple roles in development. Three genes were identified that behave genetically as activators or mediators of egl-15 activity. One of these genes, sem-5, encodes an adaptor molecule that transduces signals from a variety of receptor tyrosine kinases. Like egl-15 and sem-5, the other two genes may similarly act in FGFR signaling pathways in C. elegans.
Catheter Ablation Therapy for Supraventricular Arrhythmias

The supraventricular arrhythmias include a wide spectrum of disorders including, in descending order of frequency, atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, atrioventricular nodal reentry, Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, and atrial tachycardia. While not life-threatening in most cases, they may cause important symptoms, such as palpitations, chest discomfort, breathlessness, anxiety, and syncope, which significantly impair quality of life. Medical therapy has variable efficacy, and most patients are not rendered free of symptoms. Research over the past several decades has revealed fundamental mechanisms involved in the initiation and maintenance of all of these arrhythmias. Knowledge of mechanisms has in turn led to highly effective surgical and catheter-based treatments. Atrial fibrillation remains a therapeutic challenge but is also yielding to investigation and therapeutic efforts. The supraventricular arrhythmias and their treatment are described in this report.
Yawning and Stretching Predict Brain Temperature Changes in Rats: Support for the Thermoregulatory Hypothesis

Recent research suggests that yawning is an adaptive behavior that functions to promote brain thermoregulation among homeotherms. To explore the relationship between brain temperature and yawning we implanted thermocoupled probes in the frontal cortex of rats to measure brain temperature before, during and after yawning. Temperature recordings indicate that yawns and stretches occurred during increases in brain temperature, with brain temperatures being restored to baseline following the execution of each of these behaviors. The circulatory changes that accompany yawning and stretching may explain some of the thermal similarities surrounding these events. These results suggest that yawning and stretching may serve to maintain brain thermal homeostasis.
Inheritance of Resistance to Verticillium dahliae in Diploid Interspecific Potato Hybrids

ABSTRACT Verticillium wilt is a serious disease in potato and is caused primarily by the soilborne fungi Verticillium dahliae and V. albo-atrum. Host plant resistance to the disease offers an option for long-term, inexpensive, and environmentally sound control. High levels of resistance to stem colonization have been identified in two diploid hybrids between the cultivated potato and wild Solanum spp. An intercross between the two clones produced a 3:1 ratio of resistant to susceptible clones. A cross between a susceptible clone and one of the resistant clones also produced a 3:1 resistant:susceptible ratio. These data can be explained by a two-gene model, in which dominant alleles of both genes must be present to confer resistance. The two-gene model also explains data from previous research with wild Solanum spp. A simple mode of inheritance should improve the probability of producing resistant offspring when resistant hybrids are used as parents in a breeding program.
Measurement of data structure complexity

Abstract A new measure of software complexity is introduced. This new complexity metric describes the data structure complexity of operands in a program from a functional point of view. The computational methodology for the metric is presented. An empirical study is included to show the behavior of the new metric in relation to an existing set of validated metric primitives. This study shows that the new metric measures a source of variation not accounted for in the set of metric primitives. It provides additional resolution on the description of differences among data structures among program elements. As a result, a new complexity domain, that of data structure, may be added to an emerging complexity domain model.
Social Implications of Obstetric Fistula: An Integrative Review

Obstetric fistula is a devastating complication of obstructed labor that affects more than two million women in developing countries, with at least 75,000 new cases every year. Prolonged pressure of the infant's skull against the tissues of the birth canal leads to ischemia and tissue death. The woman is left with a hole between her vagina and bladder (vesicovaginal) or vagina and rectum (rectovaginal) or both, and has uncontrollable leakage of urine or feces or both. It is widely reported in scientific publications and the media that women with obstetric fistula suffer devastating social consequences, but these claims are rarely supported with evidence. Therefore, the true prevalence and nature of the social implications of obstetric fistula are unknown. An integrative review was undertaken to determine the current state of the science on social implications of obstetric fistula in sub-Saharan Africa.
Dominant-negative Mutants of Grb2 Induced Reversal of the Transformed Phenotypes Caused by the Point Mutation-activated Rat HER-2/Neu

To clarify the role of the Shc-Grb2-Sos trimer in the oncogenic signaling of the point mutation-activated HER-2/neu receptor tyrosine kinase (named p185), we interfered with the protein-protein interactions in the Shc•Grb2•Sos complex by introducing Grb2 mutants with deletions in either amino- (ΔN-Grb2) or carboxyl- (ΔC-Grb2) terminal SH3 domains into B104-1-1 cells derived from NIH3T3 cells expressing the point mutation-activated HER-2/neu. We found that the transformed phenotypes of the B104-1-1 cells were largely reversed by the ΔN-Grb2. The effect of the ΔC-Grb2 was much weaker. Biochemical analysis showed that the ΔN-Grb2 was able to associate Shc but not p185 or Sos, while the ΔC-Grb2 bound to Shc, p185, and Sos. The p185-mediated Ras activation was severely inhibited by the ΔN-Grb2 but not the ΔC-Grb2. Taken together, these data demonstrate that interruption of the interaction between Shc and the endogenous Grb2 by the ΔN-Grb2 impairs the oncogenic signaling of the activated p185, indicating that (i) the ΔN-Grb2 functions as a strong dominant-negative mutant, and (ii) Shc/Grb2/Sos pathway plays a major role in mediating the oncogenic signal of the activated p185. Unlike the ΔN-Grb2, ΔC-Grb2 appears to be a relatively weak dominant-negative mutant, probably due to its ability to largely fulfill the biological functions of the wild-type Grb2.
Implementing and Integrating Effective Teaching Strategies Including Features of Lesson Study in an Elementary Science Methods Course.

Teacher preparation programs have been under attack by policy makers in the last decade, and teacher educators are constantly striving to improve their programs. Yet, there are several research-based practices that have been shown to be effective for developing teachers. In this article, the author summarizes a study in one science methods course that included adaptations and updates of several of these practices integrated with newer strategies featuring elements of Japanese lesson study. Some of these practices include collaboration, critique, revision, and reflection. Video technology is utilized for reflection and to record updated forms of microteaching. The voices of the preservice teachers illustrate the value and challenge of these practices.
Photoisomerization and photo-induced optical anisotropy of polymethacrylate containing aminonitroazobenzene chromophores in the side chain

Photoresponsive side chain copolymer and homopolymer containing an aminonitroazobenzene were synthesized for studying photoisomerization behavior and photo-induced anisotropy.Trans-to-cis photoisomerization was observed under the exposure of a circularly polarized visible light with UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy. Reorientation of polar azobenzene molecules induced optical anisotropy under a linearly polarized light at 532 nm. Polarized absorption spectroscopy was employed to investigate the anisotropy of the polymer film during irradiation of the excitation light. Layers of two photosensitive polymers were used for aligning liquid crystal (LC) molecules instead of one of the rubbed polyimide layers in the conventional twisted nematic cell. For producing homogeneous alignment of a nematic LC molecule, a linearly polarized light was exposed to the films of two polymers. The stability of the LC alignment upon the linearly polarized light exposure was also studied.
Phenotypic heterogeneity of B cells in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma.

Although some studies have examined the expression of aberrant markers such as CD2, CD7, CD10, CD13, CD33, and CD34 on B cells in chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL), a uniform multiparametric analysis of the frequency of expression of these markers using stringent criteria is lacking. By using 3-color flow cytometry, we analyzed 117 cases (bone marrow, 71; blood, 31; lymph nodes, 15) for coexpression of aberrant markers with CD19. Marker expression was considered positive when present on at least 20% of CD19+ cells. Of 117 cases, 40 (34.2%) showed expression of 1 or more aberrant markers. Expression of 4 aberrant markers was seen in 1 case, 3 in 4 cases, 2 in 15 cases, and 1 in 20 cases. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and the log-rank test revealed that the group with aberrant markers showed significantly shortened overall survival compared with the group without aberrant markers (P < .001). There is considerable phenotypic heterogeneity in CLL/SLL, and expression of aberrant markers indicates aggressiveness.
Peripheral autofluorescence findings in age-related macular degeneration

. Purpose: To describe the peripheral autofluorescent findings in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) using ultrawide-field imaging. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the ultra-wide-field autofluorescent images of all patients diagnosed with AMD or macular drusen at the Department of Ophthalmology of Weill Cornell Medical College from July 2010 to September 2011. Peripheral autofluorescent phenotypes included normal autofluorescence, focal pinpoint hyperfluorescence, granular fluorescent changes, patchy hypofluorescence, and reticular hypofluorescence. Results: One hundred and ten consecutive patients (220 eyes) with a diagnosis of AMD or macular drusen were imaged using ultra-wide-field autofluorescent technology during the study period. Eighty-three patients (157 eyes) were included in the final analysis. Peripheral autofluorescent abnormalities were present in 63.6% of eyes with AMD versus 35.7% of control eyes (p = 0.049). Granular fluorescent changes (p = 0.0001) and patchy hypofluorescence (p = 0.0015) were more common in eyes with advanced AMD than in eyes with early AMD or control eyes. Granular fluorescent changes were also more common in eyes with choroidal neovascularization (p = 0.026) or geographic atrophy (p = 0.0001). Patchy hypofluorescence (0.0001) was more common in eyes with geographic atrophy. Conclusions: Peripheral autofluorescent abnormalities are common in eyes with AMD. The peripheral findings in eyes with AMD may represent different phenotypes, which may indicate different environmental or genetic factors in the development of AMD. Characterizing the different peripheral phenotypes may have implications for diagnosis and treatment of AMD subtypes.
DHEA and the skeleton (through the ages).

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfate ester, DHEAS, are the most abundant steroids in the human circulation, although their exact biological significance is not completely understood. DHEA(S) levels are high in fetal life, decrease after birth, and show a marked pubertal increase to a maximal level during young adulthood. In healthy adults, DHEAS levels decline to 10–20% of peak levels by age 70 yr. This review summarizes information concerning the role of DHEA in skeletal physiology, including modulation of the skeletal insulin-like growth factor regulatory system, and its effects on secretion of proresorptive cytokines. The pattern of secretion of DHEA throughout the life cycle is discussed, as well as its potential usefulness in specific disease states as an agent with anabolic and antiosteolyic effects on bone.
Do noncontingent vouchers increase drug use

Data from 2 contingency management trials, targeting opiate or cocaine use, were used to investigate whether noncontingent vouchers inadvertently reinforce drug use. The control group in each trial received noncontingent vouchers matched in value and frequency to those received by experimental groups, but independent of urinalysis. Vouchers were offered thrice weekly for 8 weeks (opiates) or 12 weeks (cocaine). Both dose-response and temporal associations of noncontingent voucher receipt with drug-positive urines were assessed. Drug use was unrelated to frequency of noncontingent voucher delivery and noncontingent voucher receipt when being drug positive was unassociated with risk of subsequent drug use, with one exception: cocaine use in the cocaine study (relative risk = 1.05, 95% confidence interval: 1.01-1.09). Overall, results do not indicate a causal relationship between noncontingent voucher receipt and increased drug use.
Taking IT Management Services to a Cloud

While IT management services represent a mature subject in the IT business arena, the emerging cloud generation of management services require critical enhancements to the current processes and technologies in order to deliver IT management remotely with rapid on-boarding and minimal labor involvement from experts, to be affordable and scale up to the promise of the cloud. Traditional Remote Infrastructure Management (RIM) service providers use their own Network Operations Centers (NOC) to remotely monitor and manage customers’ IT infrastructure. The primary business value for RIM services is that it helps global enterprises to small and medium businesses (SMB) to outsource the burden of managing their IT infrastructure. Although the IT management service itself delivered this way is more affordable, the RIM customer on-boarding process particularly is not, taking between one to two months of expensive labor. This paper describes what and how IT management processes, technologies and skills can be improved to provide remote customer on-boarding at an appropriate speed for delivery from the cloud. Our contributions consist of major enhancements in a key on-boarding area, namely IT discovery. Experimental results show that our approach aligns the RIM on-boarding methods to the cloud expectations both from a time as well as quality perspective.
The public shell: Vehicle for venture financing

Abstract A public shell is generally defined as an inactive public corporation. It may or may not have assets or a publicly trading stock. However, for purposes here it must have valid SEC and domicile-State legal standing to permit its reactivation by merger with, or acquisition of, an operating company. After many years of clouded regard because of promoters' stock abuses, acceptance of using a shell to go public has considerably widened. This has been due to clarified and tighter SEC policies, rising costs of an IPO, and innovative financial uses of a shell by businessmen and investment bankers. Supply of shells probably still greatly exceeds demand for shells because of the mortality rate of the waves of new issues of recent years, the lack of cleanness of many of these shells and still lagging sophistication in their use. Nevertheless, advertising analysis indicates that in the past year alone companies “going public the back door” has at least trebled the number a decade ago. The greater part of this increase, also, appears to be accountable by ventures. For venture start-ups public access via merger with a shell can produce economies in legal/accounting costs and opportunity cost in time. It is also a means of becoming public when an initial public offering is not feasible due to market condition or nature of business. If the stock is trading it can encourage initial venture capital investment. The concept impact can vault the stock price even before earnings eventuate. Or exciting prospects can entice an exaggerated price/earnings ratio on tiny earnings. These events can even facilitate additional financing to prolong viability. But once the venture decides to use a shell for public access, the caveats of the route must be considered. In addition to valid registration and cleanness, such aspects as stockholder list, market sponsorship, control and dilution problems must be matched to the venture's financial aims. Cost of the shell can vary between $25,000–$100,000 depending on the outcome of these considerations, terms of payment, and general attractiveness of the venture entering the shell. Finally, speculative merits of shell stocks compared with the OTC Index of Industrial Stocks show that for equal holding periods, a market basket of revived-shell stocks bought soon after revival and sold around their highs, during the past decade would have produced multiple total returns compared to the less speculative index market basket. This optimum buy-sell period usually fell between 18 months and two years. But these returns presume not only sagacious timing, but that sales of stock of the typically small companies constituting shell-revivals could actually be made at the prices shown in the National Securities Dealers Pink Sheets. Beyond the optimum holding period, shell-descended companies become increasingly subject to valuation factors similar to those accorded to long established companies in related industries.
Is India a major power

India has just enough power to resist the influence of others but must still make great strides before it can attain significant power over other states and, thus, in the international system at large.